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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 7, 2016
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
NGL ENERGY PARTNERS LP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
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27-3427920
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
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6120 South Yale Avenue, Suite 805, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136
(918) 481-1119
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
H. Michael Krimbill
Chief Executive Officer
NGL Energy Partners LP
6120 South Yale Avenue
Suite 805
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136
(918) 492-0990
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
G. Michael O'Leary
Henry Havre
Andrews Kurth LLP
600 Travis Street, Suite 4200
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 220-4200
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are to be offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box.
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If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.
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If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.
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If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.
o
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.
o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities
or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large
accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large accelerated filer
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Accelerated filer
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Non accelerated filer
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(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
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Smaller reporting company
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Each Class of Securities
to be Registered
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Amount to be
Registered(1)
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Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per
Security(4)(5)
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Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price(5)
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Amount of
Registration
Fee(6)
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Common Units issuable upon conversion of Class A Convertible Preferred Units
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19,942,169(2)
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$315,086,270.20
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$36,518.50
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Common Units issuable upon exercise of Warrants
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4,375,112(3)
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$69,126,769.60
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$8,011.79
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Total:
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24,317,281
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$384,213,039.80
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$44,530.29
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(1)
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Pursuant
to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act, the number of common units representing limited partner interests ("
common
units
") in NGL Energy Partners, LP (the "
Partnership
") being registered on behalf of the selling unitholders named in this
prospectus (the "
selling unitholders
") shall be adjusted to include any additional common units that may become issuable as a result of any unit
distribution, split, combination or similar transaction.
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(2)
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Includes
19,942,169 common units issuable upon conversion of 19,942,169 Class A Convertible Preferred Units (the "
preferred
units
"), which preferred units were issued by the Partnership to the selling unitholders named in this prospectus in a private placement.. The initial conversion ratio is one
preferred unit in exchange for one common unit; however, the conversion ratio is subject to adjustment.
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(3)
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Includes
4,375,112 common units issuable upon exercise of warrants to purchase common units (the "
warrants
"), which
warrants were issued by the Partnership to certain of the selling unitholders named in this prospectus in a private placement.
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(4)
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The
proposed maximum offering price per common unit will be determined from time to time in connection with, and at the time of, the sale by the holder of such unit.
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(5)
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Estimated
solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act on the basis of the average of the high
and low sales prices of the common units on November 4, 2016 of $15.80, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.
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(6)
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Calculated
in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act.
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall
file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or
until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any State where the offer or sale
is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, dated November 7, 2016
PROSPECTUS
NGL ENERGY PARTNERS LP
24,317,281
Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests
This prospectus relates to an aggregate 24,317,281 common units representing limited partner interests ("common units") in NGL Energy
Partners LP (the "Partnership") issuable to the selling unitholders named in this prospectus or in any supplement to this prospectus or any transferee, assignee or other successor-in-interest
of any such selling unitholder (collectively, the "selling unitholders") upon conversion of 19,942,169 Class A Convertible Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in the
Partnership (the "preferred units") and exercise of warrants to purchase 4,375,112 common units (the "warrants"). The preferred units are initially convertible into common units on a one-for-one
basis; however, the conversion ratio is subject to adjustment. See "Description of the Preferred Units."
We
will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common units by the selling unitholders. For a more detailed discussion of the selling unitholders, see "Selling Unitholders."
The
common units may be offered from time to time by the selling unitholders for their own account in accordance with the provisions set forth under "Plan of Distribution." The selling
unitholders may offer the common units for sale to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of commissions, discounts or concessions. The selling
unitholders may sell the common units at any time at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices, at varying prices
determined at the time of sale or at prices otherwise negotiated. This prospectus describes the general manner in which the common units may be offered and sold by the selling unitholders. If
necessary, the specific manner in which the common units may be offered or sold will be described in a supplement to this prospectus.
You
should carefully read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any information under the headings "Where You Can Find More Information" and "Information Incorporated
by Reference" before you purchase any of our common units.
Our
common units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "NGL." On November 7, 2016, the last reported sale price of our common units on the NYSE was
$17.30 per common unit.
Investing in the common units involves risks. You should carefully read and consider the risk factors described under "Risk Factors" beginning on
page 6 of this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement and in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined
if this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is ,
2016.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In making your investment decision, you should rely only on
the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. Neither we nor any selling unitholder has authorized anyone to provide you with any other
information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the respective dates on the front covers of those
documents. You should not assume that the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date the respective information was filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are not an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, common units in any jurisdiction where the offer or
sale is not permitted.
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a shelf registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") using a "shelf" registration process. Under this shelf registration process, the selling unitholders may offer from time to time up to
24,317,281 common units issuable upon conversion of 19,942,169 preferred units and exercise of warrants to purchase 4,375,112 common units. The preferred units are initially convertible into common
units on a one-for-one basis; however, the conversion ratio is subject to adjustment. Each time a selling unitholder sells securities, the selling unitholder may be required to provide you with this
prospectus and, in certain cases, a supplement to this prospectus containing specific information about the selling unitholder and the terms of the securities being offered.
If
necessary, the specific manner in which the common units may be offered and sold will be described in a supplement to this prospectus or a free writing prospectus. Any prospectus
supplement or free
writing prospectus may add, update or change information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Any statement made or incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be modified
or superseded by any inconsistent statement made in a prospectus supplement or a free writing prospectus. Therefore, you should read this prospectus (including any documents incorporated by reference)
and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus before you invest in our common units.
This
prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, or the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement, parts of which are omitted
as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information about us and about the common units, please refer to the information below and to the registration statement and the
exhibits that are a part of the registration statement.
Unless
otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, all references to "NGL," "Partnership," "Registrant," "we," "our," "ours" and "us" refer to NGL Energy Partners LP
and its subsidiaries. When we refer to "you" in this section, we mean all purchasers of the securities being offered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, whether they are the
holders or only indirect owners of those securities.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"). You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC's Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the
operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our filings with the SEC also are available from the SEC's internet site at www.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxy and
information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically. You may obtain a copy of these filings at no cost by writing or telephoning us at the following address: NGL
Energy Partners LP, 6120 South Yale Avenue, Suite 805, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136; telephone number (918) 481-1119.
We
also make all periodic and other information filed or furnished with the SEC available, free of charge, on our website at www.nglenergypartners.com as soon as reasonably practicable
after such information is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Except as otherwise set forth herein, information on our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into
this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.
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INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" into this prospectus the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose
important information to you by referring you to those documents. Any statement contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in any subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such earlier statement.
Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed
below:
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our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016;
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our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2016;
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our Current Reports on Form 8-K or Form 8-K/A, filed with the SEC on February 18, 2014, April 27, 2016,
May 13, 2016, May 31, 2016, June 28, 2016, July 14, 2016, July 19, 2016, August 18, 2016, August 24, 2016, and October 24, 2016 (in each case,
excluding any information furnished and not filed with the SEC); and
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the description of our common units as set forth in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on May 9, 2011.
All
documents that we file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (i) after the date of the initial registration statement, of which
this prospectus forms a part, and prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement and (ii) after the date of this prospectus and before all of the common units offered by this
prospectus are sold, are incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the date of filing of the documents, unless we specifically provide otherwise in each case (excluding any information
furnished and not filed with the SEC). Information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and may replace information previously filed with the SEC.
You
may obtain, without charge, a copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to those documents that are not specifically incorporated
by reference into those documents, by writing or telephoning us at the following address: NGL Energy Partners LP, 6120 South Yale Avenue, Suite 805, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136; telephone
number (918) 481-1119.
You
should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with any information. You should not
assume that the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of each document.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference herein and therein contain various forward-looking
statements and information that are based on our beliefs and those of our general partner, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to us. These forward-looking statements
are identified as any statement that does not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference herein
or therein, words such as "anticipate," "project," "expect," "plan," "goal," "forecast," "estimate," "intend," "could," "believe," "may," "will" and similar expressions and statements regarding our
plans and objectives for future operations, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although we and our general partner believe that the expectations on which such forward-looking
statements are based are reasonable, neither we nor our general partner can give assurances that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of
risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary
materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected. Among the key risk factors that may impact our consolidated financial position and results of operations
are:
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the prices of crude oil, natural gas liquids, refined products, ethanol, and biodiesel;
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energy prices generally;
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the general level of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids production;
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the general level of demand for crude oil, natural gas liquids, refined products, ethanol, and biodiesel;
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the availability of supply of crude oil, natural gas liquids, refined products, ethanol, and biodiesel;
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the level of crude oil and natural gas drilling and production in producing areas where we have water treatment and disposal facilities;
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the prices of propane and distillates relative to the prices of alternative and competing fuels;
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the price of gasoline relative to the price of corn, which impacts the price of ethanol;
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the ability to obtain adequate supplies of products if an interruption in supply or transportation occurs and the availability of capacity to
transport products to market areas;
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actions taken by foreign oil and gas producing nations;
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the political and economic stability of foreign oil and gas producing nations;
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the effect of weather conditions on supply and demand for crude oil, natural gas liquids, refined products, ethanol, and biodiesel;
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the effect of natural disasters, lightning strikes, or other significant weather events;
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the availability of local, intrastate and interstate transportation infrastructure with respect to our truck, railcar, and barge transportation
services;
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the availability, price, and marketing of competing fuels;
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the impact of energy conservation efforts on product demand;
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energy efficiencies and technological trends;
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governmental regulation and taxation;
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the impact of legislative and regulatory actions on hydraulic fracturing, waste water disposal and on the treatment of flowback and produced
water;
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hazards or operating risks related to transporting and distributing petroleum products that may not be fully covered by insurance;
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the maturity of the crude oil, natural gas liquids, and refined products industries and competition from other marketers;
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loss of key personnel;
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the ability to hire drivers;
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the ability to renew contracts with key customers;
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the ability to maintain or increase the margins we realize for our terminal, barging, trucking, water disposal, recycling, and discharge
services;
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the ability to renew leases for our leased equipment and storage facilities;
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the nonpayment or nonperformance by our counterparties;
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the availability and cost of capital and our ability to access certain capital sources;
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a deterioration of the credit and capital markets;
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the ability to successfully identify and consummate strategic acquisitions, and integrate acquired assets and businesses;
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changes in the volume of hydrocarbons recovered during the wastewater treatment process;
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changes in the financial condition and results of operations of entities in which we own noncontrolling equity interests;
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changes in applicable laws and regulations, including tax, environmental, transportation and employment regulations, or new interpretations by
regulatory agencies concerning such laws and regulations and the impact of such laws and regulations (now existing or in the future) on our business operations;
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the costs and effects of legal and administrative proceedings;
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any reduction or the elimination of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard;
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changes in the jurisdictional characteristics of, or the applicable regulatory policies with respect to, our pipeline assets; and
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other risks and uncertainties, including those described under "Risk Factors."
Given
these risks and uncertainties, we caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this prospectus are made
only as of the date hereof. Except as required by state and federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new
information, future events, developments or otherwise.
ABOUT NGL ENERGY PARTNERS LP
We are a Delaware limited partnership formed in September 2010. As part of our formation, we acquired and combined the assets and operations of
NGL Supply, Inc., primarily a wholesale propane and terminaling business founded in 1967, and Hicksgas Gifford, Inc. and Hicksgas, LLC, primarily a retail propane business founded
in 1940. We completed our initial public offering in May 2011. Subsequent to our formation, we significantly expanded our operations through business combination
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transactions.
We and our subsidiaries own and operate a vertically integrated energy business with five primary businesses: crude oil logistics, water solutions, natural gas liquids logistics, retail
propane and refined products and renewables.
Our
principal executive offices are located at 6120 South Yale Avenue, Suite 805, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136, and our telephone number is (918) 481-1119.
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common units involves risk. Before you invest in our common units you should carefully consider the risk factors included
in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2016, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, our Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, and our other reports filed from time to time with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as the same may
be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by our filings under the Exchange Act, as well as any prospectus supplement. Before making any investment decision, you should carefully
consider these risks as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus or in any applicable prospectus supplement. For more information, see the section entitled
"Where You Can Find More Information" beginning on page 1 of this prospectus. If any of the risks discussed in the foregoing documents were to occur, our business, financial condition, results
of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Risk Related to the Offering
Sales by the selling unitholders of the common units covered by this prospectus could adversely affect the
trading price of our common units.
We are registering for resale an aggregate 24,317,281 common units issuable to the selling unitholders upon conversion of 19,942,169 preferred
units and exercise of warrants to purchase 4,375,112 common units. These common units represent approximately 22.6% of our currently outstanding common units. Subject to certain exceptions, we are
obligated to keep this prospectus current so that, once issued, the common units can be sold in the public market at any time. The resale of all or a substantial portion of the common units in the
public market, or the perception that these sales might occur, could cause the market price of our common units to decrease and may make it more difficult for us to sell our equity securities in the
future at a time and upon terms that we deem appropriate.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
The common units to be offered and sold using this prospectus will be offered and sold by the selling unitholders. We will not receive any
proceeds from the sale of common units by the selling unitholders.
We
will incur all of the costs associated with the registration of the shares offered by this prospectus other than underwriting discounts and commissions, if any. Please read "Plan of
Distribution."
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DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON UNITS
The following description of our common units and of certain provisions of Delaware law is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference
to our certificate of limited partnership, as amended, our Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (our "partnership agreement") and the registration rights agreement described
herein. We suggest that you read the complete text of our certificate of limited partnership, our partnership agreement and the registration rights agreement, which we have incorporated by reference
as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
The Common Units
The common units represent limited partner interests in NGL Energy Partners LP. The holders of common units are entitled to participate
in partnership distributions and exercise the rights or privileges available to limited partners under our partnership agreement.
Listing
Our common units are traded on the NYSE under the symbol "NGL." Any additional common units that we issue also will be traded on the NYSE.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
Duties.
Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, a division of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, serves as the registrar and transfer
agent for the
common units. We will pay all fees charged by the transfer agent for transfers of common units, except the following that must be paid by unitholders:
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surety bond premiums to replace lost or stolen certificates, taxes and other governmental charges in connection therewith;
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special charges for services requested by a common unitholder; and
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other similar fees or charges.
There
will be no charge to our unitholders for disbursements of our cash distributions. We will indemnify the transfer agent, its agents and each of their stockholders, directors,
officers and employees against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence or
intentional misconduct of the indemnified person or entity.
Resignation or Removal.
The transfer agent may resign, by notice to us, or be removed by us. The resignation or removal of the transfer
agent will
become effective upon our appointment of a successor transfer agent and registrar and its acceptance of the appointment. If no successor is appointed, our general partner may act as the transfer agent
and registrar until a successor is appointed.
By transfer of common units in accordance with our partnership agreement, each transferee of common units shall be admitted as a limited partner
with respect to the common units transferred when such transfer and admission are reflected in our books and records. Each transferee:
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automatically becomes bound by the terms and conditions of, and is deemed to have executed, our partnership agreement;
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represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to become bound by our partnership agreement; and
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gives the consents, waivers and approvals contained in our partnership agreement.
Our
general partner will cause any transfers to be recorded on our books and records from time to time as necessary to accurately reflect the transfers.
We
may, at our discretion, treat the nominee holder of a common unit as the absolute owner. In that case, the beneficial holder's rights are limited solely to those that it has against
the nominee holder as a result of any agreement between the beneficial owner and the nominee holder.
Common
units are securities, and any transfers are subject to the laws governing the transfer of securities. In addition to other rights acquired upon transfer, the transferor gives the
transferee the right to become a substituted limited partner in our partnership for the transferred common units.
Until
a common unit has been transferred on our books, we and the transfer agent may treat the record holder of the unit as the absolute owner for all purposes, except as otherwise
required by law or stock exchange regulations.
Registration Rights
We have entered into the registration rights agreement with certain third parties (the "registration rights parties") pursuant to which we
agreed to register for resale under the Securities Act common units owned by the registration rights parties. In connection with our initial public offering, we granted registration rights to the
individuals and entities that owned all of our then-outstanding common units, and subsequently, we have granted registration rights in connection with several acquisitions. We will not be required to
register such common units if an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available with respect to the number of common units desired to be sold.
Subject
to limitations specified in the registration rights agreement, the registration rights of the registration rights parties include the following:
Demand Registration Rights.
Certain registration rights parties deemed "Significant Holders" under the registration rights
agreement may, to the
extent that they continue to own more than 4% of our common units, require us to file a registration statement with the SEC registering the offer and sale of a specified number of common units,
subject to limitations on the number of requests for registration that can be made in any twelve-month period as well as customary cutbacks at the discretion of the underwriters relating to a
potential offering. All other registration rights parties are entitled to notice of a Significant Holder's exercise of its demand registration rights and may include their units in such registration.
We can only be required to file a total of nine registration statements upon the Significant Holders' exercise of these demand registration rights and are only required to effect demand
registration to the extent such holders hold registerable securities and if the aggregate proposed offering price to the public is at least $10.0 million.
Piggyback Registration Rights.
If we propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act to register our
common units, the
registration rights parties are entitled to notice of such registration and have the right to include their units in the registration, subject to limitations that the underwriters relating to a
potential offering may impose on the number of common units included in the registration. The registration rights parties also have the right to include their units in our future registrations,
including secondary offerings of our common units.
Expenses of Registration.
With specified exceptions, we are required to pay all expenses incidental to any registration of common
units, excluding
underwriting discounts and commissions.
The
registration rights described above will continue, with respect to any particular unitholder, for so long as the registration rights parties hold common units eligible for
registration under the terms of the registration rights agreement.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED UNITS AND WARRANTS
General
In June 2016, we completed a private placement of $240 million aggregate principal amount of preferred units and warrants. We issued
19,942,169 preferred units at a purchase price of approximately $12.035 per preferred unit (the "preferred unit purchase price") and warrants exercisable for 4,375,112 common units. The following
description of the preferred units and warrants is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our partnership agreement, the form of warrant and the registration rights agreement entered
into in connection with the private placement.
We suggest that you read the complete text of our partnership agreement, the form of warrant, and the registration rights agreement, which we have incorporated by reference as exhibits to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Preferred Units
Distributions.
Our partnership agreement provides that holders of preferred units are entitled to receive a cumulative,
quarterly cash distribution
in arrears at an annual rate of 10.75% (or $0.3234 per quarter) on each preferred unit then owned by such holder (the "preferred unit distribution amount"). If we fail to pay in full in cash the
distribution payable on any outstanding preferred unit in respect of a given quarter, then the preferred unit distribution amount shall be (i) $0.3310 per quarter for the period beginning on
the default effective date and ending on the 180th day immediately following the default effective date and (ii) $0.3385 per quarter from and after the 181st day immediately
following the default effective date, until such time as all accrued and unpaid distributions on the preferred units are paid in full in cash. Unless and until the distribution payable on each
outstanding preferred unit in respect of a given quarter, together with any previously accrued and unpaid distributions on the preferred units, has been paid in full, we may not declare or pay any
distributions on any class or series of securities that, with respect to distributions and liquidation, ranks junior to the preferred units ("junior securities"), including the common units, or any
class or series of securities that, with respect to distributions and liquidation, ranks
pari passu
with the preferred units ("parity securities"),
other than distributions on parity securities that are declared and paid
pro rata
with distributions on the preferred units, as described in the
partnership agreement.
Conversion.
At any time after May 11, 2019 (the "initial conversion date"), each holder of preferred units will have the
right, subject to
certain conditions, to convert all or any portion of the preferred units then held by such holder into common units at the conversion rate then in effect. The preferred units are convertible into
common units on a one-for-one basis;
provided
,
however
, that if the volume-weighted average trading
price of a common unit on the principal national securities exchange on which the common units are then listed or admitted to trading for the fifteen consecutive trading days ending on the trading day
immediately preceding the initial conversion date (such price, the "adjusted VWAP price") is less than preferred unit purchase price, then at all times on and after the initial conversion date, each
preferred unit will convert into a number of common units, rounded down to the nearest whole number, equal to the quotient of (i) the preferred unit purchase price, divided by (ii) the
greater of (a) the adjusted VWAP price and (b) $5.00.
At
any time after May 11, 2024, we will have the right to convert all of the outstanding preferred units into common units at the conversion rate then in effect, provided that we
have paid in full all quarterly distributions on the outstanding preferred units and that certain conversion conditions described in the partnership agreement have been satisfied.
Conversions
of preferred units may be settled, at our election, in common units, cash or a combination of common units and cash.
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Redemption.
At any time after May 11, 2017, we will have the right to redeem all of the outstanding preferred units at a
price per preferred
unit equal to the preferred unit purchase price multiplied by the redemption multiple then in effect, as described in the partnership agreement.
Change of Control.
Upon a Change of Control (as defined in the partnership agreement), each holder of preferred units shall have
the right, at its
election, to either (i) require us to redeem the preferred units then held by such holder at a price per preferred unit equal to the product of (a) the preferred unit purchase price,
multiplied by (b) the change of control redemption multiple then in effect; (ii) if we are the surviving entity of such Change of Control, continue to hold preferred units; or
(iii) convert all of the preferred units then held by such holder at the conversion rate then in effect.
Voting.
The preferred units vote together with the common units, as a single class, with each preferred unit having such voting
rights as it would
have if it were converted into common units at the conversion rate then in effect, except that the preferred units will be entitled to vote as a separate class on any matter on which unitholders are
entitled to vote that adversely affects the rights, powers, privileges or preferences of the preferred units in relation to other classes of partnership interests or as required by law. See "Our
Partnership AgreementVoting Rights." Holders of preferred units also have preemptive rights with respect to the issuance of parity securities or any class or series of securities that,
with respect to distributions and liquidation, ranks senior to the preferred units ("senior securities"), subject to certain exceptions. See "Our Partnership AgreementIssuance of
Additional Partnership Interests."
Liquidation.
The preferred units rank senior to the junior securities, including the common units, in respect of liquidation.
Upon liquidation, each
holder of preferred units shall be entitled to receive, in respect of each preferred unit then owned, a liquidation preference (the "preferred unit liquidation preference") equal to the sum of the
preferred unit purchase price (subject to adjustments for any splits, combinations or recapitalization with respect to the preferred units), plus all accrued but unpaid and accumulated distributions,
if any, on such preferred unit to, but not including, the liquidation date. The preferred units have no stated maturity and are not subject to mandatory redemption or any sinking fund and will remain
outstanding indefinitely unless redeemed by us or converted into common units at our election or the election of the holders of preferred units or in connection with a Change of Control.
Warrants
The warrants are exercisable at an exercise price of $0.01 per common unit (subject to customary adjustments). The warrants do not include
anti-dilution adjustments for economic dilution, including any such economic dilution resulting from the issuance of common units below a particular price. Incidental to their ownership of the
warrants, we have granted the holders of the warrants preemptive rights (proportional to their common unit ownership on an as exercised basis) with respect to any issuance of common units, subject to
certain exceptions, including the issuance of common units pursuant to an at-the-market program, any employee benefit or compensation program, policy or arrangement, certain mergers and acquisitions,
certain firm commitment public offerings, exercises of warrants or options and any dividends, splits or other reclassifications. Each warrant is exercisable in thirds, with the holder thereof being
entitled to exercise such warrant for one-third of the common units issuable thereunder on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date on which such warrant was issued.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the partnership agreement) or in the event we exercise our redemption right (as described above) with respect
to the preferred units, all unvested warrants shall immediately vest and be exercisable in full. Unexercised warrants will expire on the eighth anniversary of the date on which such warrant was
issued. The warrants will not participate in cash distributions.
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Registration Rights
We have entered into a registration rights agreement, as amended, with the initial purchasers of the preferred units and warrants, pursuant
which we have agreed to register for resale the common units issued or issuable upon conversion of the preferred units and exercise of the warrants (the "registrable securities"). Pursuant to the
registration rights agreement, within 180 days of May 11, 2016, we are required to prepare and file a registration statement to permit the public resale of the registrable
securities, as well as any common units issued in lieu of cash as liquidated damages under the registration rights agreement, as described below. We are also required to use our commercially
reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective no later than 360 days after the initial closing (the "registration statement deadline").
If
the registration statement is not declared effective on or prior to the registration statement deadline, then we will be liable to the holders of registrable securities for liquidated
damages in accordance with a formula, and subject to the limitations, set forth in the registration rights agreement. Such liquidated damages are payable in cash, or if payment in cash would breach
any covenant or a cause a default under any credit facility or other debt instrument that we have filed with the SEC, then such liquidated damages are payable in common units. In addition, the
registration rights agreement grants the holders of registrable securities piggyback registration rights under certain circumstances. These registration rights are transferable to affiliates of the
initial purchasers and, in certain circumstances, to third parties.
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OUR PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
We have summarized below selected provisions of our partnership agreement. However, because this summary is not complete it is subject to and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to our partnership agreement, we suggest that you read the complete text of our partnership agreement, which we have incorporated by reference as an exhibit to
the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Organization and Duration
Our partnership was organized in September 2010 and will have a perpetual existence.
Purpose
Our purpose, as set forth in our partnership agreement, is limited to any business activity that is approved by our general partner and that
lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized under Delaware law; provided, that our general partner shall not cause us to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that
the general partner determines would be reasonably likely to cause us to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes.
Although
our general partner has the ability to cause us and our subsidiaries to engage in activities other than the businesses that we currently conduct, our general partner has no
obligation to do so and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interests of us
or the limited partners. Our general partner is generally authorized to perform all acts it determines to be necessary or appropriate to carry out our purposes and to conduct our business.
Cash Distributions
Our partnership agreement specifies the manner in which we will make cash distributions to holders of our common units and other partnership
securities as well as to our general partner in respect of its general partner interest and its incentive distribution rights.
Capital Contributions
Unitholders are not obligated to make additional capital contributions, except as described below under "Limited Liability."
For
a discussion of our general partner's right to contribute capital to maintain its 0.1% general partner interest if we issue additional units, please read "Issuance of
Additional Partnership Interests."
Voting Rights
The following is a summary of the unitholder vote required for approval of the matters specified below. Matters that require the approval of a
"unit majority" require the approval of a majority of the common units (including the preferred units voting on an as-converted basis), and matters that require the approval of a "preferred unit
majority" require the approval of a majority of the outstanding preferred units, voting separately as a class with one vote per preferred unit.
In
voting their common units, our general partner and its affiliates will have no fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good
faith or in the best interests of us or the limited partners.
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|
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Action
|
|
Voting Right
|
Issuance of additional units
|
|
No approval right in respect of common unit issuances. Approval of a preferred unit majority is required for issuance of additional preferred units or any senior securities. Approval of a preferred unit majority is also
required for issuance of any parity securities, if (i) at the time of such issuance there are any accrued and unpaid distributions on the preferred units or (ii) pro forma for the issuance of such parity securities, our Adjusted Leverage
Ratio (as defined in the partnership agreement) would exceed 5.50.
|
Amendment of our partnership agreement
|
|
Certain amendments may be made by our general partner without the approval of the unitholders. Other amendments generally require the
approval of a unit majority and/or a preferred unit majority . See "Amendment of our Partnership Agreement."
|
Merger of our partnership or the sale of all or substantially all of our assets
|
|
Unit majority in certain circumstances. See "Merger, Consolidation, Conversion, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets."
|
Dissolution of our partnership
|
|
Unit majority. Please read "Dissolution."
|
Continuation of our business upon dissolution
|
|
Unit majority. Please read "Dissolution."
|
Withdrawal of our general partner
|
|
Prior to the first day of the first quarter beginning after May 17, 2021 (tenth anniversary of the closing date of our initial public
offering), the approval of a unit majority, excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates, is generally required for the withdrawal of our general partner. See "Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner."
|
Removal of our general partner
|
|
Not less than 66
2
/
3
% of the outstanding units, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates. See
"Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner."
|
Transfer of our general partner interest
|
|
Our general partner may transfer all, but not less than all, of its general partner interest in us without a vote of our unitholders to an
affiliate or another person in connection with its merger or consolidation with or into, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets to, such person. The approval of a unit majority, excluding common units held by our general partner and its
affiliates, is required in other circumstances for a transfer of the general partner interest to a third party prior to the first day of the first quarter beginning after May 17, 2021 (tenth anniversary of the closing date of our initial public
offering). See "Transfer of General Partner Interest."
|
Transfer of incentive distribution rights
|
|
No approval rights after the first day of the first quarter beginning after May 17, 2021 (tenth anniversary of the closing date of our
initial public offering) and limited approval rights prior to that time. See "Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights."
|
Transfer of ownership interests in our general partner
|
|
No approval required at any time. See "Transfer of Ownership Interests in the General Partner."
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If
any person or group other than our general partner and its affiliates acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of any class of units, that person or group loses voting rights on
all of its units. This loss of voting rights does not apply to (i) any person or group who acquired the units from our general partner or its affiliates; (ii) any person or group who
acquired the units directly or indirectly from our general partner of its affiliates, provided that our general partner notifies such transferees that the limitation does not apply; (iii) to
any person or group who acquired 20% or more of any class of units with the prior approval of the general partner; (iv) the initial purchasers of the preferred units or their permitted
affiliates with respect to their ownership (beneficial or of record) of the preferred units (or the common units issued upon conversion thereof) or the warrants (or the common units issued on exercise
thereof); or (v) any holder of preferred units in connection with any vote, consent or approval of the holders of the preferred units as a separate class.
Applicable Law; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction
Our partnership agreement is governed by Delaware law. Our partnership agreement requires that any claims, suits, actions or
proceedings:
-
-
arising out of or relating in any way to our partnership agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce the
provisions of our partnership agreement or the duties, obligations or liabilities among limited partners or of limited partners, or the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, the limited partners or
us);
-
-
brought in a derivative manner on our behalf;
-
-
asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, or other employee of us or our general partner, or owed by our
general partner, to us or the limited partners;
-
-
asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the "Delaware LP Act"); and
-
-
asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, in
each case regardless of whether such claims, suits, actions or proceedings sound in contract, tort, fraud or otherwise, are based on common law, statutory, equitable, legal or other grounds, or are
derivative or direct claims.
By
purchasing a common unit, a limited partner is irrevocably consenting to these limitations and provisions regarding claims, suits, actions or proceedings and submitting to the
exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in connection with any such claims, suits, actions or proceedings.
Limited Liability
Assuming that a limited partner does not participate in the control of our business within the meaning of the Delaware LP Act and that it
otherwise acts in conformity with the provisions of our partnership agreement, the limited partner's liability under the Delaware LP Act will be limited, subject to possible exceptions, to the
amount of capital such limited partner is obligated to contribute to us for its common units plus its share of any undistributed profits and assets. However, if it were determined that the right, or
exercise of the right, by the limited partners as a group:
-
-
to remove or replace our general partner;
-
-
to approve some amendments to our partnership agreement; or
-
-
to take other action under our partnership agreement;
constituted
"participation in the control" of our business for the purposes of the Delaware LP Act, then the limited partners could be held personally liable for our obligations under the laws
of
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Delaware,
to the same extent as our general partner. This liability would extend to persons who transact business with us under the reasonable belief that the limited partner is a general partner.
Neither our partnership agreement nor the Delaware LP Act specifically provides for legal recourse against our general partner if a limited partner were to lose limited liability through any
fault of our general partner. While this does not mean that a limited partner could not seek legal recourse, we know of no precedent for this type of a claim in Delaware case law.
Under
the Delaware LP Act, a limited partnership may not make a distribution to a partner if, after the distribution, all liabilities of the limited partnership, other than
liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interests and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to specific property of the partnership, would exceed the fair value of
the assets of the limited partnership. Neither liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interests nor liabilities that are nonrecourse to the partnership are counted for purposes of
determining whether a distribution is permitted. For the purpose of determining the fair value of the assets of a limited partnership, the Delaware LP Act provides that the fair value of
property subject to liability for which recourse of creditors is limited shall be included in the assets of the limited partnership only to the extent that the fair value of that property exceeds the
nonrecourse liability. The Delaware LP Act provides that a limited partner who receives a distribution and knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution was in violation of the
Delaware LP Act shall be liable to the limited partnership for the amount of the distribution for three years. Under the Delaware LP Act, a substituted limited partner of a limited
partnership is liable for the obligations of its assignor to make contributions to the partnership, except that such person is not obligated for liabilities unknown to it at the time it became a
limited partner and that could not be ascertained from our partnership agreement.
Our
subsidiaries conduct business in numerous states and we may have subsidiaries that conduct business in other states in the future. Maintenance of our limited liability as a member of
the operating company may require compliance with legal requirements in the jurisdictions in which the operating company conducts business, including qualifying our subsidiaries to do business there.
Limitations
on the liability of members or limited partners for the obligations of a limited liability company or limited partnership have not been clearly established in many
jurisdictions. If, by virtue of our ownership interest in our operating company or otherwise, it were determined that we were conducting business in any state without compliance with the applicable
limited partnership or limited liability company statute, or that the right or exercise of the right by the limited partners as a group to remove or replace our general partner, to approve some
amendments to our partnership agreement, or to take other action under our partnership agreement constituted "participation in the control" of our business for purposes of the statutes of any relevant
jurisdiction, then the limited partners could be held personally liable for our obligations under the law of that jurisdiction to the same extent as our general partner under the circumstances. We
will operate in a manner that our general partner considers reasonable and necessary or appropriate to preserve the limited liability of the limited partners.
Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests
Our partnership agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional partnership interests and options, rights, warrants and
appreciation rights relating to partnership interests for the consideration and on the terms and conditions determined by our general partner without the approval of the unitholders, except as
described herein.
We
have and may continue to fund acquisitions through the issuance of additional common units or other partnership interests. Holders of any additional common units we issue will be
entitled to share equally with the then-existing holders of common units in our distributions of available cash (subject to certain waivers of distributions that parties have or may agree to in the
future). In addition,
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the
issuance of additional common units or other partnership interests may dilute the value of the interests of the then-existing holders of common units in our net assets.
In
accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of our partnership agreement, we may also issue additional partnership interests that, as determined by our general partner, may have
special voting rights to which the common units are not entitled or may have other preferences, rights, powers and duties, which may be senior to existing classes and series of partnership interests.
In addition, our partnership agreement does not prohibit our subsidiaries from issuing equity securities, which may effectively rank senior to the common units.
We
may not issue any additional preferred units or any senior securities without the approval of a preferred unit majority. In addition, we may not issue any parity securities, without
the approval of a preferred unit majority, if (i) at the time of such issuance there are any accrued and unpaid distributions on the preferred units or (ii) pro forma for the issuance of
such parity securities, our Adjusted Leverage Ratio would exceed 5.50.
Upon
issuance of additional partnership interests (other than the issuance of common units upon a reset of the incentive distribution rights) our general partner will be entitled, but
not required, to make additional capital contributions to the extent necessary to maintain its 0.1% general partner interest in us. Our general partner's 0.1% general partner interest in us will be
reduced if we issue additional units in the future (other than in those circumstances described above) and our general partner does not contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain
its 0.1% general partner interest. Moreover, our general partner will have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates or the beneficial owners
thereof or any of their respective affiliates, to purchase common units or other partnership interests whenever, and on the same terms that, we issue those interests to persons other than our general
partner and its affiliates and such beneficial owners, to the extent necessary to maintain the percentage interest of our general partner and its affiliates and such beneficial owners or any of their
respective affiliates, including such interest represented by common units, that existed immediately prior to each issuance.
The
holders of common units will not have preemptive rights under our partnership agreement to acquire additional common units or other partnership interests. The holders of preferred
units shall have preemptive rights with respect to any issuance of parity securities or senior securities, subject to certain exceptions, including the issuance of securities to the owners of another
entity in connection with the acquisition of such entity or the issuance of securities pursuant to any plan or program authorized by our general partner or any dividend, split or other
reclassification, provided that with respect to any dividend, split or reclassification of parity securities, the preferred units are given ratable treatment. The holders of the warrants shall have
preemptive rights (proportional to their common unit ownership on an as exercised basis) with respect to any issuance of common units by the Partnership, subject to certain exceptions, including the
issuance of common units pursuant to an at-the-market program, any employee benefit or compensation program, policy or arrangement, certain mergers and acquisitions, certain firm commitment public
offerings, exercises of warrants or options and pursuant to any dividends, splits or other reclassifications.
Amendment of our Partnership Agreement
General.
Amendments to our partnership agreement may be proposed only by or with the consent of our general partner. However, to the
full extent
permitted by law, our general partner will have no duty or obligation to propose any amendment and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited
partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interests of us or the limited partners. To adopt a proposed amendment, other than the amendments discussed below, our general partner
is required to seek written approval of the holders of the number of units required to approve the amendment or to call a meeting of the limited partners to
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consider
and vote upon the proposed amendment. Except as described below, an amendment must be approved by a unit majority.
Prohibited Amendments.
No amendment may be made that would:
-
-
enlarge the obligations of any limited partner without its consent, unless approved by at least a majority of the type or class of limited
partner interests so affected; or
-
-
enlarge the obligations of, restrict, change or modify in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable,
reimbursable or otherwise payable by us to our general partner or any of its affiliates without the consent of our general partner, which consent may be given or withheld at its option.
The
provision of our partnership agreement preventing the amendments having the effects described in the clauses above can be amended upon the approval of the holders of at least 90.0%
of the outstanding units (including units owned by our general partner and its affiliates).
Without
the consent of a preferred unit majority, no amendment to our partnership agreement may be made that would:
-
-
adversely alter or change the rights, powers, privileges or preferences or duties and obligations of the preferred units; or
-
-
modify the terms of the preferred units.
No Unitholder Approval.
Our general partner may generally make amendments to our partnership agreement without the approval of any
limited partner to
reflect:
-
-
a change in our name, the location of our principal place of business, our registered agent or our registered office;
-
-
the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of partners in accordance with our partnership agreement;
-
-
a change that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue our qualification as a limited partnership
or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that neither we nor any of our subsidiaries will be treated as an association taxable as
a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated);
-
-
an amendment that is necessary, in the opinion of our counsel, to prevent us or our general partner or its directors, officers, agents or
trustees from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or "plan asset" regulations adopted
under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), whether or not substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed;
-
-
an amendment that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of
additional partnership interests and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to the partnership interests;
-
-
any amendment expressly permitted in our partnership agreement to be made by our general partner acting alone;
-
-
an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a merger agreement that has been approved under the terms of our partnership agreement;
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-
any amendment that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation by us of, or our investment in, any
corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, as otherwise permitted by our partnership agreement;
-
-
a change in our fiscal year or taxable year and related changes;
-
-
conversions into, mergers with or conveyances to another limited liability entity that is newly formed and has no assets, liabilities or
operations at the time of the conversion, merger or conveyance other than those it receives by way of the conversion, merger or conveyance; or
-
-
any other amendments substantially similar to any of the matters described in the clauses above or the following paragraph.
Our
general partner may also make amendments to our partnership agreement, without the approval of any limited partner, if our general partner determines that those
amendments:
-
-
do not adversely affect in any material respect the limited partners (or any particular class of limited partners);
-
-
are necessary or appropriate to satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or
regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware LP Act);
-
-
are necessary or appropriate to facilitate the trading of units or to comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any
securities exchange on which the units are or will be listed for trading;
-
-
are necessary or appropriate for any action taken by our general partner relating to splits or combinations of partnership interests under the
provisions of our partnership agreement; or
-
-
are required to effect the intent of the provisions of our partnership agreement or are otherwise contemplated by our partnership agreement.
Opinion of Counsel and Unitholder Approval.
Our general partner will not be required to obtain an opinion of counsel that an amendment
will not
result in a loss of limited liability to the limited partners or result in our being treated as an entity for federal income tax purposes in connection with any of the amendments described above under
"No Unitholder Approval." No other amendments to our partnership agreement will become effective without the approval of holders of at least 90.0% of the outstanding units unless we first
obtain an opinion of counsel to the effect that the amendment will not affect the limited liability under applicable law of any of our limited partners.
In
addition to the above restrictions, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any type or class of outstanding units in relation to other
classes of units will require the approval of at least a majority of the type or class of units so affected. Any amendment that reduces the voting percentage required to take any action and any
amendment which increases the voting percentage for the removal of our general partner or the calling of a special meeting must be approved by the affirmative vote of limited partners whose aggregate
outstanding units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced or increased, as applicable.
Merger, Consolidation, Conversion, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets
A merger, consolidation or conversion of us requires the prior consent of our general partner. However, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
our general partner will have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the
limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interest of us or the limited partners.
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In
addition, our partnership agreement generally prohibits our general partner, without the prior approval of a unit majority, from causing us to sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of
all or substantially all of our assets in a single transaction or a series of related transactions. Our general partner may, however, in our best interests, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a
security interest in all or substantially all of our assets without such approval. Our general partner may also sell all or substantially all of our assets under a foreclosure or other realization
upon those encumbrances without such approval. Finally, our general partner may consummate any merger without the prior approval of our unitholders if we are the surviving entity in the transaction,
our general partner has received an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters, the transaction would not result in an amendment to our partnership agreement (other than an
amendment that the general partner could adopt without the consent of the limited partners), each of our units outstanding immediately prior to the transaction will be a substantially identical unit
of our partnership following the transaction and the partnership interests to be issued do not exceed 20% of our outstanding partnership interests (other than the incentive distribution rights)
immediately prior to the transaction.
If
the conditions specified in our partnership agreement are satisfied, our general partner may convert us or any of our subsidiaries into a new limited liability entity or merge us or
any of our subsidiaries into, or convey all of our assets to, a newly formed entity, if the sole purpose of that conversion, merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in our legal form into
another limited liability entity, our general partner has received an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters and the governing instruments of the new entity provide the limited
partners and our general partner with the same rights and obligations as contained in our partnership agreement. Our unitholders are not entitled to dissenters' rights of appraisal under our
partnership agreement or applicable Delaware law in the event of a conversion, merger or consolidation, a sale of substantially all of our assets or any other similar transaction or event.
Dissolution
We will continue as a limited partnership until dissolved under our partnership agreement. We will dissolve
upon:
-
-
the election of our general partner to dissolve us, if approved by the holders of units representing a unit majority;
-
-
there being no limited partners, unless we are continued without dissolution in accordance with applicable Delaware law;
-
-
the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of our partnership; or
-
-
the withdrawal or removal of our general partner or any other event specified in our partnership agreement that results in its ceasing to be
our general partner other than by reason of a transfer of its general partner interest in accordance with our partnership agreement or its withdrawal or removal following the approval and admission of
a successor.
Upon
a dissolution under the last clause above, the holders of a unit majority may also elect, within specific time limitations, to continue our business on the same terms and conditions
described in our partnership agreement by appointing as a successor general partner an entity approved by the holders of a unit majority, subject to our receipt of an opinion of counsel to the effect
that:
-
-
the action would not result in the loss of limited liability under Delaware law of any limited partner; and
-
-
neither our partnership nor any of our subsidiaries would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise be taxable as an
entity for federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of that right to continue (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).
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Liquidation and Distribution of Proceeds
Upon our dissolution, unless our business is continued, the liquidator authorized to wind up our affairs will, acting with all of the powers of
our general partner that are necessary or appropriate, liquidate our assets and apply the proceeds of the liquidation as described in the partnership agreement. The liquidator may defer liquidation or
distribution of our assets for a reasonable period of time or distribute assets to partners in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to our partners.
Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner
Except as described below, our general partner has agreed not to withdraw voluntarily as our general partner prior to 11:59 p.m. Central
Time on the first day of the first quarter beginning after May 17, 2021 (the tenth anniversary of the closing date of our initial public offering) without obtaining the approval of a unit
majority, excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates, and furnishing an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters. On or after 11:59 p.m. Central
Time on the first day of the first quarter beginning after May 17, 2021 (the tenth anniversary of the closing date of our initial public offering), our general partner may withdraw as general
partner without first obtaining approval of any unitholder by giving 90 days' written notice, and that withdrawal will not constitute a violation of our partnership agreement. Notwithstanding
the information above, our general partner may withdraw without unitholder approval upon 90 days' notice to the limited partners if at least 50% of the outstanding common units are held or
controlled by one person and its affiliates, other than our general partner and its affiliates. In addition, our partnership agreement permits our general partner, in some instances, to sell or
otherwise transfer all of its general
partner interest in us without the approval of the unitholders. See "Transfer of General Partner Interest" and "Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights."
Upon
withdrawal of our general partner under any circumstances, other than as a result of a transfer by our general partner of all or a part of its general partner interest in us, the
holders of a unit majority may select a successor to that withdrawing general partner to continue the business of the partnership. If a successor is not elected, or is elected but an opinion of
counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters cannot be obtained, we will be dissolved, wound up and liquidated, unless within a specified period after that withdrawal, the holders of a unit
majority agree in writing to continue our business and to appoint a successor general partner. Please read "Dissolution."
Our
general partner may not be removed unless that removal is approved by the vote of the holders of not less than 66
2
/
3
% of the outstanding units, voting together as a
single class, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates, and we receive an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters. Any removal of our general partner is
also subject to the approval of a successor general partner by the vote of a unit majority (including units held by our general partner and its affiliates). The ownership of more than
33
1
/
3
% of the outstanding units by our general partner and its affiliates gives them the practical ability to prevent our general partner's removal.
In
the event of the removal of our general partner under circumstances where cause exists or withdrawal of our general partner where that withdrawal violates our partnership agreement, a
successor general partner will have the option to purchase the general partner interest and incentive distribution rights of the departing general partner for a cash payment equal to the fair market
value of those interests. Under all other circumstances where our general partner withdraws or is removed by the limited partners, the departing general partner will have the option to require the
successor general partner to purchase the general partner interest and the incentive distribution rights of the departing general partner or its affiliates for fair market value. In each case, this
fair market value will be determined by agreement between the departing general partner and the successor general partner. If no agreement is reached, an independent investment banking firm or other
independent expert selected
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by
the departing general partner and the successor general partner will determine the fair market value. Or, if the departing general partner and the successor general partner cannot agree upon an
expert, then an expert chosen by agreement of the experts selected by each of the departing general partner and the successor general partner will determine the fair market value.
If
the option to purchase described above is not exercised by either the departing general partner or the successor general partner, the departing general partner's general partner
interest and all of its or
its affiliates' incentive distribution rights will automatically convert into common units equal to the fair market value of those interests as determined by an investment banking firm or other
independent expert selected in the manner described in the preceding paragraph.
In
addition, we will be required to reimburse the departing general partner for all amounts due the departing general partner, including, without limitation, all employee-related
liabilities, including severance liabilities incurred as a result of the termination of any employees employed for our benefit by the departing general partner or its affiliates.
Transfer of General Partner Interest
Prior to the first day of the first quarter beginning after May 17, 2021 (the tenth anniversary of the closing date of our initial public
offering), except for transfer by our general partner of all, but not less than all, of its general partner interest to (i) an affiliate of our general partner (other than an individual) or
(ii) another entity as part of the merger or consolidation of our general partner with or into another entity or the transfer by our general partner of all or substantially all of its assets to
another entity, our general partner may not transfer all or any of its general partner interest to another person without the approval of a unit majority, excluding common units held by our general
partner and its affiliates. On or after the first day of the first quarter beginning after May 17, 2021 (the tenth anniversary of the closing date of our initial public offering), our general
partner may transfer all or any part of its general partner interest in us to another person without the approval of the unitholders. As a condition of this transfer, the transferee must, among other
things, assume the rights and duties of our general partner, agree to be bound by the provisions of our partnership agreement and furnish an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax
matters.
Our
general partner may, at any time, transfer common units to one or more persons, without unitholder approval.
Transfer of Ownership Interests in the General Partner
At any time, the owners of our general partner may sell or transfer all or part their ownership interests in our general partner to an affiliate
or a third party without unitholder approval.
Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights
Prior to the first day of the first quarter beginning after May 17, 2021 (the tenth anniversary of the closing date of our initial public
offering), the consent of a unit majority (excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates) will be required to transfer the incentive distribution rights, except for transfers
to an affiliate or to another person as part of our general partner's merger or consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of its assets, the sale of all of the ownership interests in our general
partner, the pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage of the incentive distribution rights in favor of a person providing bona-fide debt financing to such holder as security or collateral for
such debt financing and the transfer of incentive distribution rights in connection with exercise of any remedy of such person in connection therewith. After the expiration of this period, the
incentive distribution rights may be freely transferred.
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Change of Management Provisions
Our partnership agreement contains specific provisions that are intended to discourage a person or group from attempting to remove NGL Energy
Holdings LLC as our general partner or from otherwise changing our management. Please read "Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner" for a discussion of certain consequences
of the removal of our general partner. If any person or group, other than our general partner and its affiliates, acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of any class of units, that person or
group loses voting rights on all of its units. This loss of voting rights does not apply in certain circumstances. Please read "Meetings; Voting."
Limited Call Right
If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own more than 80% of the then-issued and outstanding limited partner interests of any
class, our general partner will have the
right, which it may assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates or beneficial owners thereof or to us, to acquire for cash all, but not less than all, of the limited partner interests of the
class held by unaffiliated persons as of a record date to be selected by our general partner, on at least 10 days, but not more than 60 days', notice. The purchase price in the event of
this purchase is the greater of:
-
-
the highest price paid by our general partner or any of its affiliates for any limited partner interests of the class purchased within the
90 days preceding the date on which our general partner first mails notice of its election to purchase those limited partner interests; and
-
-
the average of the daily closing prices of the partnership securities of such class over the 20 consecutive trading days preceding the date
three days before the date the notice is mailed.
As
a result of our general partner's right to purchase outstanding limited partner interests, a holder of limited partner interests may have its limited partner interests purchased at an
undesirable time or a price that may be lower than market prices at various times prior to such purchase or lower than a unitholder may anticipate the market price to be in the future. The tax
consequences to a unitholder of the exercise of this call right are the same as a sale by that unitholder of its common units in the market. See "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax
ConsequencesDisposition of Common Units."
Non-Citizen Assignees; Redemption
If our general partner, with the advice of counsel, determines we are subject to U.S. federal, state or local laws or regulations that, in the
reasonable determination of our general partner, create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property that we have an interest in because of the nationality, citizenship or other
related status of any limited partner, then our general partner may adopt such amendments to our partnership agreement as it determines necessary or advisable
to:
-
-
obtain proof of the nationality, citizenship or other related status of the limited partner or transferees (and their owners, to the extent
relevant); and
-
-
permit us to redeem the units held by any person whose nationality, citizenship or other related status creates substantial risk of
cancellation or forfeiture of any property or who fails to comply with the procedures instituted by our general partner to obtain proof of the nationality, citizenship or other related status. The
redemption price in the case of such a redemption will be the average of the daily closing prices per unit for the 20 consecutive trading days immediately prior to the date set for redemption.
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Non-Taxpaying Assignees; Redemption
If our general partner, with the advice of counsel, determines that our not being treated as an association taxable as a corporation or
otherwise taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, coupled with the tax status (or lack of proof thereof) of one or more of our limited partners, has, or is reasonably likely to
have, a material adverse effect on the maximum applicable rates chargeable to customers by us, then our general partner may adopt such amendments to our partnership agreement as it determines
necessary or advisable to:
-
-
obtain proof of the U.S. federal income tax status of the limited partner or transferees (and their owners, to the extent relevant); and
-
-
permit us to redeem the units held by any person whose tax status has or is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the maximum
applicable rates or who fails to comply with the procedures instituted by our general partner to obtain proof of the U.S. federal income tax status. The redemption price in the case of such a
redemption will be the average of the daily closing prices per unit for the 20 consecutive trading days immediately prior to the date set for redemption.
Meetings; Voting
Except as described below regarding certain persons or groups owning 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, record holders of units
on the record date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, meetings of our limited partners and to act upon matters for which approvals may be solicited.
Our
general partner does not anticipate that any meeting of our unitholders will be called in the foreseeable future. Any action that is required or permitted to be taken by the
unitholders may be taken either at a meeting of the unitholders or without a meeting, if consents in writing describing the action so taken are signed by holders of the number of units necessary to
authorize or take that action at a meeting. Meetings of the unitholders may be called by our general partner or by unitholders owning at least 20% of the outstanding units of the class for which a
meeting is proposed. Unitholders may vote either in person or by proxy at meetings. The holders of a majority of the outstanding units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called,
represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum, unless any action by the unitholders requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of the units, in which case the quorum will be
the greater percentage.
Each
record holder of a unit has a vote according to its percentage interest in us, although additional limited partner interests having special voting rights could be issued. See
"Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests." However, if at any time any person or group, other than those specified in "Voting Rights", acquires, in the aggregate,
beneficial ownership of 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, that person or group will lose voting rights on all of its units and the units may not be voted on any matter and will not
be considered to be outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of unitholders, calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes. Common units held in
nominee or street name account will be voted by the broker or other nominee in accordance with the instruction of the beneficial owner unless the arrangement between the beneficial owner and its
nominee provides otherwise.
Any
notice, demand, request, report or proxy material required or permitted to be given or made to record holders of common units under our partnership agreement will be delivered to the
record holder by us or by the transfer agent.
Status as Limited Partner
By transfer of common units in accordance with our partnership agreement, each transferee of common units shall be admitted as a limited partner
with respect to the common units transferred
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when
such transfer and admission are reflected in our books and records. Except as described under "Limited Liability," the common units will be fully paid, and unitholders will not be
required to make additional contributions.
Indemnification
Under our partnership agreement, in most circumstances, we will indemnify the following persons, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from
and against all losses, claims, damages or similar events:
-
-
our general partner;
-
-
any departing general partner;
-
-
any person who is or was an affiliate of our general partner or any departing general partner;
-
-
any person who is or was an officer, director, manager, managing member, fiduciary or trustee of our partnership, our subsidiaries, or any
entity described in the three bullet points above or any of their affiliates;
-
-
any person who is or was serving, at the request of our general partner or any departing general partner or any of their respective affiliates,
as a director, officer, manager, managing member, fiduciary or trustee of another person owing a fiduciary duty to us or our subsidiaries;
-
-
any person who controls our general partner or any departing general partner; and
-
-
any person designated by our general partner.
However,
our partnership agreement provides that these persons will not be indemnified if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction
determining that, with respect to the matter for which the person is seeking indemnification, the person acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal
matter, acted with knowledge that the person's conduct was unlawful.
Any
indemnification under these provisions will only be out of our assets. Our general partner will not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or lend funds or
assets to us to enable us to effectuate, indemnification. We may purchase insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by persons for our activities, regardless of whether we
would have the power to indemnify the person against liabilities under our partnership agreement.
Reimbursement of Expenses
Our partnership agreement requires us to reimburse our general partner and its affiliates for all expenses they incur or payments they make on
our behalf. These expenses include salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to persons who perform services for us or on our behalf and expenses allocated to our general partner by
its affiliates. Our general partner is entitled to determine the expenses that are allocable to us and our subsidiaries.
Books and Reports
Our general partner is required to keep appropriate books of our business at our principal offices. These books will be maintained for both tax
and financial reporting purposes on an accrual basis. For tax purposes, our fiscal year is the calendar year. For fiscal reporting purposes, our fiscal year ends March 31st of each year.
We
will furnish or make available to record holders of our common units, within 90 days after the close of each fiscal year, an annual report containing audited consolidated
financial statements and a report on those consolidated financial statements by our independent public accountants. Except for
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our
fourth quarter, we will also furnish or make available summary financial information within 45 days after the close of each quarter. We will be deemed to have made any such report available
if we file such report with the SEC or make the report available on a publicly available website which we maintain.
We
will furnish each record holder with information reasonably required for federal and state tax reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of each calendar year. This
information is expected to be furnished in summary form so that some complex calculations normally required of partners can be avoided. Our ability to furnish this summary information to our
unitholders will depend on their cooperation in supplying us with specific information. Every unitholder will receive information to assist
it in determining its federal and state tax liability and in filing its federal and state income tax returns, regardless of whether it supplies us with the necessary information.
Right to Inspect Our Books and Records
Our partnership agreement provides that a limited partner can, for a purpose reasonably related to its interest as a limited partner, the
reasonableness of which having been determined by our general partner, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such limited partner's own expense, have furnished to
it:
-
-
a current list of the name and last known address of each partner;
-
-
a copy of our tax returns;
-
-
information as to the amount of cash, and a description and statement of the agreed value of any other property or services, contributed or to
be contributed by each partner and the date on which each partner became a partner;
-
-
copies of our partnership agreement, our certificate of limited partnership and all amendments thereto;
-
-
information regarding the status of our business and our financial condition; and
-
-
any other information regarding our affairs as is just and reasonable.
To
the full extent permitted by law, our general partner may, and intends to, keep confidential from the limited partners trade secrets or other information the disclosure of which our
general partner believes is not in our best interests or could damage us or our business or that we are required by law or by agreements with third parties to keep confidential.
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
This section is a summary of material U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to prospective unitholders who are individual
citizens or residents of the United States and, unless otherwise noted in the following discussion, is the opinion of Winston & Strawn LLP (counsel to our general partner and us) insofar
as it relates to legal conclusions with respect to matters of U.S. federal income tax law. This section is based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Internal
Revenue Code"), existing and proposed Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Internal Revenue Code (the "Treasury Regulations") and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which
are subject to change. Changes in these authorities, which could have retroactive effect, may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below.
The
following discussion does not comment on all U.S. federal income tax matters affecting us or our unitholders. Moreover, the discussion focuses on unitholders who are individual
citizens or residents of the United States and has only limited application to corporations, estates, entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, trusts, nonresident aliens,
U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long term residents of the United States and generally does not address unitholders subject to specialized tax treatment, such as banks, insurance companies and
other financial institutions, tax-exempt organizations, government instrumentalities and agencies, foreign persons (including, without limitation, controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign
investment companies and foreign persons eligible for the benefits of an applicable income tax treaty with the United States), individual retirement accounts ("IRAs") and other tax-qualified
retirement plans, real estate investment trusts ("REITs"), mutual funds, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities, persons whose
"functional currency" is not the U.S. dollar, persons holding their units as part of a "straddle," "hedge," "conversion transaction" or other risk reduction transaction, and persons deemed to sell
their units under the constructive sale provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and, other than to the extent set forth below, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code. Any prospective unitholder that is an employee of ours or otherwise receives units in exchange for services may also be subject to different rules that are not described herein. This
discussion also does not address the tax consequences to a shareholder, beneficiary or other owner of a unitholder. This discussion only comments to a limited extent on state, local and foreign tax
consequences. Accordingly, we strongly encourage each prospective unitholder to consult, and rely on, his own tax advisor in analyzing the federal, state, local, foreign tax, tax treaty and other
consequences particular to him of the ownership or disposition of common units. Prospective unitholders should also consult their tax advisors regarding the federal income tax consequences of owning
or disposing of the units (including those discussed herein) and the potential for changes in the relevant tax authority and tax laws governing the units.
Unless
otherwise noted, all statements as to matters of U.S. federal income tax law and legal conclusions with respect thereto, but not as to factual matters or estimates, contained in
this section are the opinion of Winston & Strawn LLP as of the date hereof. It must be emphasized that this opinion is based on various assumptions and representations as to factual
matters (please read "Partnership Status"), including representations made by us in a factual certificate provided by one of our officers. In addition, this opinion is based upon our
factual representations set forth in this document.
An
opinion of counsel represents only that counsel's best legal judgment and does not bind the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") or the courts. Accordingly, the opinions and
statements made herein may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS. Any contest of this sort with the IRS may materially and adversely impact the market for the common units and the prices
at which common units trade. In addition, the costs of any contest with the IRS, principally legal, accounting and related fees, will result in a reduction in cash available for distribution to our
unitholders and our general partner and thus will be borne indirectly by our unitholders and our general partner. Furthermore, the
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tax
treatment of us, or of an investment in us, may be significantly modified by future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions. Any modifications may or may not be retroactively
applied.
For
the reasons described below, Winston & Strawn LLP has not rendered an opinion with respect to the following specific U.S. federal income tax issues: (i) the
treatment of a unitholder whose common units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of common units (please read "Tax Consequences of Unit OwnershipTreatment of
Short Sales"); (ii) whether our monthly convention for allocating taxable income and losses is permitted by existing Treasury Regulations (please read "Disposition of Common
UnitsAllocations Between Transferors and Transferees"); and (iii) whether our method for taking into account Section 743 adjustments is sustainable (please read
"Tax Consequences of Unit OwnershipSection 754 Election," "Disposition of Common Units" and "Uniformity of Units").
Partnership Status
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a partnership is not a taxable entity and incurs no U.S. federal income tax liability. Instead, each
partner of a partnership is required to take into account his share of items of income, gain, loss and deduction of the partnership in computing his U.S. federal income tax liability, regardless of
whether cash or property distributions are made to him by the partnership. Distributions by a partnership to a partner are generally not taxable to the partner unless the amount of money (including,
in certain circumstances, marketable securities) distributed to him is in excess of the partner's adjusted tax basis in his partnership interest.
Section 7704
of the Internal Revenue Code provides that a publicly traded partnership will, as a general rule, be taxed as a corporation. However, an exception, referred to herein
as the "Qualifying Income Exception," exists with respect to publicly traded partnerships of which 90% or more of the gross income for every taxable year consists of "qualifying income." Qualifying
income includes income and gains derived from the transportation, processing, storage and marketing of crude oil, natural gas and products thereof, including the retail and wholesale marketing of
propane, the transportation of propane and natural gas liquids, and certain related hedging activities. Other types of qualifying income include interest (other than interest income from a financial
or insurance business and certain interest income based on the net income or profits of any person), dividends, gains from the sale of real property and gains from the sale or other disposition of
capital assets held for the production of income that otherwise constitutes qualifying income. We estimate that less than 7% of our current gross income is not qualifying income; however this estimate
could change from time to time. Based upon and subject to this estimate, the factual representations made by us and our general partner and a review of the applicable legal authorities,
Winston & Strawn LLP is of the opinion that at least 90% of our current gross income constitutes qualifying income. The portion of our income that is qualifying income may change from
time to time.
No
ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS and the IRS has made no determination as to our status (or the status of our non-corporate subsidiaries) for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. Instead, we will rely on the opinion of Winston & Strawn LLP on such matters. It is the opinion of Winston & Strawn LLP that, based upon the Internal Revenue
Code, its regulations, published revenue rulings and court decisions and the representations made by us, we are classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
In
rendering its opinion, Winston & Strawn LLP has relied on factual representations made by us and our general partner. The representations made by us and our general
partner upon which Winston & Strawn LLP has relied include the following:
-
-
we have not elected and will not elect to be treated as a corporation;
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-
-
for each taxable year, more than 90% of our gross income has been and will be income that Winston & Strawn LLP has opined or will
opine is "qualifying income" within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code; and that
-
-
no amount of interest received by us has been (i) derived in the conduct of a financial or insurance business, or (ii) determined
or based, in whole or in part, on the net income or profits of any person.
We
believe that these representations have been true in the past and would expect that it is reasonable to believe that these representations will continue to be true in the future.
If
we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, other than a failure that is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after discovery (in
which case the IRS may also require us to make adjustments with respect to our unitholders or pay other amounts), we will be treated as if we had transferred all of our assets, subject to liabilities,
to a newly formed corporation, on the first day of the year in which we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, in return for stock in that corporation, and then distributed that stock to the
unitholders in liquidation of their interests in us. This deemed contribution and liquidation should be tax-free to unitholders and us so long as we, at that time, do not have liabilities in excess of
the tax basis of our assets. Thereafter, we would be treated as a taxable C corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
The
present U.S. federal income tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships, including us, or an investment in our common units may be modified by administrative, legislative or
judicial interpretation at any time. For example, on May 6, 2015, the Department of Treasury and the IRS issued proposed regulations that, if finalized in their current form, would restrict the
types of natural resource activities that generate qualifying income for publicly traded partnerships. We believe the income that we treat as qualifying income satisfies the requirements for
qualifying income under the proposed regulations. However, the proposed regulations could be changed before they are finalized and could take a position that is contrary to our interpretation of
Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code. In addition, from time to time, the President and members of the U.S. Congress propose and consider substantive changes to the existing U.S. federal
income tax laws that affect publicly traded partnerships. We are unable to predict whether any such changes will ultimately be enacted. However, it is possible that a change in law could affect us and
may be applied retroactively. Any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in our units.
If
we were treated as an association taxable as a C corporation in any taxable year, either as a result of a failure to meet the Qualifying Income Exception or otherwise, our items of
income, gain, loss and deduction would be reflected only on our tax return rather than being passed through to our unitholders, and our net income would be taxed to us at corporate rates. In addition,
any distribution made by us to a unitholder would be treated as either taxable dividend income, to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, or, in the absence of earnings and
profits, a nontaxable return of capital, to the extent of the unitholder's tax basis in his common units, or taxable capital gain, after the unitholder's tax basis in his common units is reduced to
zero. Accordingly, taxation of us as a C corporation would result in a material reduction in our after-tax cash flow and a unitholder's after-tax return and thus would likely result in a substantial
reduction of the value of the units.
The
discussion below is based on Winston & Strawn LLP's opinion that we will be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Limited Partner Status
We will treat unitholders who become limited partners of NGL Energy Partners LP as part of an offering as partners of NGL Energy
Partners LP for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Also, beneficial owners of common units whose units are held in street name or by a nominee and who have the right
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to
direct the nominee in the exercise of all substantive rights attendant to the ownership of their common units will be treated as partners of NGL Energy Partners LP for U.S. federal income
tax purposes.
A
beneficial owner of common units whose units have been transferred to a short seller to complete a short sale would appear to lose his status as a partner with respect to those units
for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Please read "Tax Consequences of Unit OwnershipTreatment of Short Sales."
A
unitholder who is not a partner for U.S. federal income tax purposes would not be entitled to pass-through taxation based upon his distributive share of the income, gain, deductions or
losses of NGL Energy Partners LP, so that any cash distributions received by a unitholder who is not a partner for U.S. federal income tax purposes would therefore appear to be fully taxable as
ordinary income. These holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences of holding common units in NGL Energy Partners LP. The references to
"unitholders" in the discussion that follows are to persons who are treated as partners in NGL Energy Partners LP for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Entity-Level Taxation
Even though NGL Energy Partners LP (as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) generally is not subject to U.S. federal
income tax, certain of our business activities and operations are conducted through subsidiaries treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The taxable income, if any, of our
subsidiaries that are treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income taxes, which may reduce the cash available for distribution
to us and, in turn, to our unitholders. Moreover, taxable distributions from such subsidiaries generally would be characterized as dividend income to us, and such character should flow through to
unitholders. In the future, we may conduct additional operations through these subsidiaries or additional subsidiaries that are subject to corporate-level income taxes. Moreover, some of our
subsidiaries and our operations may be subject to income tax and other taxes in the jurisdictions in which they are organized or from which they receive income. Such taxation will reduce the amount of
cash we have available for distribution to our unitholders.
Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership
Flow-Through of Taxable Income.
Subject to the discussion under "Entity-Level Taxation" above and "Entity-Level
Collections" below, we generally will not pay any U.S. federal income tax. Instead, each unitholder will be required to report on his income tax return his distributive share of our income, gains,
losses and deductions without regard to whether we make cash or property distributions to him. Consequently, we may allocate income to a unitholder even if he has not received a cash distribution.
Each unitholder will be required to include in income his allocable share of our income, gains, losses and deductions for our taxable year ending with or within his taxable year. Our taxable year ends
on December 31.
Treatment of Distributions.
Distributions by us to a unitholder generally will not be taxable to the unitholder for U.S. federal
income tax purposes,
except to the extent the amount of any money (including, for this purpose, marketable securities) distributed exceeds his tax basis in his common units immediately before such distribution. Our cash
distributions in excess of a unitholder's tax basis generally will be considered to be gain from the sale or exchange of the common units, taxable in accordance with the rules described under
"Disposition of Common Units" below. Any reduction in a unitholder's share of our liabilities for which no partner, including the general partner, bears the economic risk of loss
("nonrecourse liabilities") will be treated as a distribution by us of cash to that unitholder. To the extent our distributions cause a unitholder's "at-risk" amount to be less than zero at
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the
end of any taxable year, he must recapture any losses deducted in previous years. Please read "Limitations on Deductibility of Losses."
A
decrease in a unitholder's percentage interest in us because of our issuance of additional common units will decrease his share of our nonrecourse liabilities, and thus will result in
a corresponding deemed distribution of cash. This deemed distribution may constitute a non-pro rata distribution. A non-pro rata distribution of money or property may result in ordinary income to a
unitholder, regardless of his tax basis in his common units, if the distribution reduces the unitholder's share of our
"unrealized receivables" (including depreciation recapture) and/or substantially appreciated "inventory items," each as defined in the Internal Revenue Code, and collectively, "Section 751
Assets." To that extent, he will be treated as having been distributed his proportionate share of the Section 751 Assets and then having exchanged those assets with us in return for the non-pro
rata portion of the actual distribution made to him. This latter deemed exchange will generally result in the unitholder's realization of ordinary income, which will equal the excess of (i) the
non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (ii) the unitholder's tax basis (which may be zero) for the share of Section 751 Assets deemed relinquished in the exchange.
Basis of Common Units.
A unitholder's initial tax basis for his common units will be the amount he paid for the common units
plus his share of our
nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will be increased by his share of our income and by any increases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will be decreased, but not below zero, by
distributions from us, by the unitholder's share of our losses, by any decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities and by his share of our expenditures that are not deductible in computing
taxable income and are not required to be capitalized. A unitholder will have no share of our debt that is recourse to our general partner, but will have a share, generally based on his share of our
profits, of our nonrecourse liabilities. Please read "Disposition of Common UnitsRecognition of Gain or Loss."
Limitations on Deductibility of Losses.
The deduction by a unitholder of his share of our losses will be limited to the tax
basis in his units and,
in the case of an individual unitholder, estate, trust, or a corporate unitholder (if more than 50% of the value of the corporate unitholder's stock is owned directly or indirectly by or for five or
fewer individuals or some tax-exempt organizations) to the amount for which the unitholder is considered to be "at risk" with respect to our activities, if that is less than his tax basis. A common
unitholder subject to these limitations must recapture losses deducted in previous years to the extent that distributions cause his at-risk amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year.
Losses disallowed to a unitholder or recaptured as a result of these limitations will carry forward and will be allowable as a deduction to the extent that his at-risk amount is subsequently
increased, provided such losses do not exceed such common unitholder's tax basis in his common units. Upon the taxable disposition of a unit, any gain recognized by a unitholder can be offset by
losses that were previously suspended by the at-risk limitation but may not be offset by losses suspended by the basis limitation. Any loss previously suspended by the at-risk limitation in excess of
that gain would no longer be utilizable and would not be available to offset a unitholder's salary or active business income.
In
general, a unitholder will be at risk to the extent of the tax basis of his units, excluding any portion of that basis attributable to his share of our nonrecourse liabilities,
reduced by (i) any portion of that basis representing amounts otherwise protected against loss because of a guarantee, stop loss agreement or other similar arrangement and (ii) any
amount of money he borrows to acquire or hold his units, if the lender of those borrowed funds owns an interest in us, is related to the unitholder or can look only to the units for repayment. A
unitholder's at-risk amount should increase or decrease as the tax basis of the unitholder's units increases or decreases, other than tax basis increases or decreases attributable to increases or
decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities.
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In
addition to the basis and at-risk limitations on the deductibility of losses, the Internal Revenue Code contains certain passive loss limitations, which generally provide that
individuals, estates, trusts and some closely-held corporations and personal service corporations can deduct losses from passive activities, which are generally trade or business activities in which
the taxpayer does not materially participate, only to the extent of the taxpayer's income from those passive activities. The passive loss limitations are generally applied separately with respect to
each publicly traded partnership. Consequently, any passive losses we generate will only be available to offset our passive income generated in the future and will not be available to offset income
from other passive activities or investments, including our investments or a unitholder's investments in other publicly traded partnerships, or salary or active business income. Passive losses that
are not deductible because they exceed a unitholder's share of income we generate may be deducted in full when he disposes of his entire investment in us in a fully taxable transaction with an
unrelated party. The passive loss limitations are applied after other applicable limitations on deductions, including the at-risk rules and the basis limitation.
A
unitholder's share of our net income may be offset by any suspended passive losses from his investment in us, but it may not be offset by any other current or carryover losses from
other passive activities, including those attributable to other publicly traded partnerships.
Limitations on Interest Deductions.
The deductibility of a non-corporate taxpayer's "investment interest expense" is generally
limited to the amount
of that taxpayer's "net investment income." Investment interest expense includes:
-
-
interest on indebtedness properly allocable to property held for investment;
-
-
our interest expense attributed to portfolio income; and
-
-
the portion of interest expense incurred to purchase or carry an interest in a passive activity to the extent attributable to portfolio income.
The
computation of a unitholder's investment interest expense will take into account interest on any margin account borrowing or other loan incurred to purchase or carry a unit. Net
investment income includes gross income from property held for investment and amounts treated as portfolio income under the passive loss rules, less deductible expenses, other than interest, directly
connected with the production of investment income, but generally does not include gains attributable to the disposition of property held for investment or (if applicable) qualified dividend income.
The IRS has indicated that the net passive income earned by a publicly traded partnership will be treated as investment income to its unitholders. In addition, the unitholder's share of our portfolio
income will be treated as investment income.
Entity-Level Collections.
If we are required or elect under applicable law to pay any federal, state, local or foreign income
tax on behalf of any
unitholder or our general partner or any former unitholder, we are authorized to pay those taxes from our funds. That payment, if made, will be treated as a distribution of cash to the unitholder on
whose behalf the payment was made. If the payment is made on behalf of a person whose identity cannot be determined, we are authorized to treat the payment as a distribution to all current
unitholders. We are authorized to amend our partnership agreement in the manner necessary to maintain uniformity of intrinsic tax characteristics of units and to adjust later distributions, so that
after giving effect to these distributions, the priority and characterization of distributions otherwise applicable under our partnership agreement is maintained as nearly as is practicable. Payments
by us as described above could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf of an individual unitholder in which event the unitholder would be required to file a claim in order to obtain a
credit or refund.
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Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction.
In general, if we have a net profit, determined on a "book" basis for purposes
of maintaining capital
accounts, our general partner and the unitholders generally will be allocated a pro rata share of our items of income, gain, loss and deduction in accordance with their percentage interests in us. At
any time that distributions are made to the common units in excess of distributions to the subordinated units, or incentive distributions are made to our general partner, gross income will be
allocated to the recipients to the extent of these distributions. If we have a net loss, determined on a "book" basis for purposes of maintaining capital accounts, that loss will be allocated first to
our general partner and the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us to the extent of their positive capital accounts, as adjusted to take into account the unitholders' share of
nonrecourse debt, and, second, to our general partner.
Each
unitholder's distributive share of our taxable income or loss should be its allocated share of our net profit or loss, described above, as adjusted for his share of
Section 704(c) allocations and reverse Section 704(c) allocations described below, and as further adjusted based upon any Section 743(b) adjustment for that unitholder, as
described below.
Specified
items of our taxable income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated under Section 704(c) of the Internal Revenue Code (or the principles of Section 704(c) of
the Internal Revenue Code) to account for (i) any difference between the tax basis and fair market value of our assets at the time of an offering and (ii) any difference between the tax
basis and fair market value of any property contributed to us by the general partner or its affiliates that exists at the time of such contribution, together, referred to in this discussion as the
"Contributed Property." The effect of these allocations, referred to as "Section 704(c) Allocations," to a unitholder purchasing common units from us in an offering will be essentially the same
as if the tax bases of our assets were equal to their fair market values at the time of such purchase. In the event we issue additional common units or engage in certain other transactions in the
future, "reverse Section 704(c) Allocations," similar to the Section 704(c) Allocations described above, will be made to the general partner and our other unitholders immediately prior
to such issuance or other transactions to account for the difference between the "book" basis for purposes of maintaining capital accounts and the fair market value of all property held by us at the
time of such issuance or future transaction. In addition, items of recapture income will be allocated to the extent possible to the unitholder who was allocated the deduction giving rise to the
treatment of that gain as recapture income in order to minimize the recognition of ordinary income by some unitholders. Finally, although we do not expect that our operations will result in the
creation of negative capital accounts, if negative capital accounts nevertheless result, items of our income and gain will be allocated in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the negative
capital account balances as quickly as possible.
An
allocation of items of our income, gain, loss or deduction, other than an allocation required by the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the difference between a partner's "book"
capital account, credited with the fair market value of Contributed Property, and "tax" capital account, credited with the tax basis of Contributed Property, referred to in this discussion as the
"Book-Tax Disparity," will generally be given effect for U.S. federal income tax purposes in determining a partner's share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction only if the allocation has
substantial economic effect. In any other case, a partner's share of an item will be determined on the basis of his interest in us, which will be determined by taking into account all the facts and
circumstances, including:
-
-
his relative contributions to us;
-
-
the interests of all the partners in profits and losses;
-
-
the interest of all the partners in cash flow; and
-
-
the rights of all the partners to distributions of capital upon liquidation.
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Winston & Strawn LLP is of the opinion that, with the exception of the issues described in "Section 754 Election" and
"Disposition of Common UnitsAllocations Between Transferors and Transferees," allocations under our partnership agreement will be given effect for U.S. federal income tax
purposes in determining a partner's share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction.
Treatment of Short Sales.
A unitholder whose units are loaned to a "short seller" to cover a short sale of units may be
considered as having disposed
of those units. If so, he would no longer be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those units during the period of the loan and may recognize gain or loss from the disposition. As a
result, during this period:
-
-
any of our income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to those units would not appear to be reportable by the unitholder; and
-
-
while not entirely free from doubt, all cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those units would appear to be fully taxable for
U.S. federal income tax purposes as ordinary income.
Because
there is no direct or indirect controlling authority on the issue relating to partnership interests, Winston & Strawn LLP has not rendered an opinion regarding the
tax treatment of a unitholder whose common units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of common units; therefore, unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the
risk of gain recognition from a loan to a short seller are urged to consult a tax advisor to discuss whether it is advisable to modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their
brokers from borrowing and loaning their units. The IRS has previously announced that it is studying issues relating to the tax treatment of short sales of partnership interests. Please also read
"Disposition of Common UnitsRecognition of Gain or Loss."
Alternative Minimum Tax.
Each unitholder will be required to take into account his distributive share of any items of our income,
gain, loss or
deduction for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. The current minimum tax rate for noncorporate taxpayers (other than a married individual filing separately) is 26% of alternative minimum taxable
income that doesn't exceed a statutory amount, as adjusted for inflation ($186,300 for 2016) and 28% on any additional alternative minimum taxable income. Prospective unitholders are urged to consult
with their tax advisors as to the impact of an investment in units on their liability for the alternative minimum tax.
Tax Rates.
Under current law, the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income of individuals is
39.6% and the highest
marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to long-term capital gains (generally, capital gains on certain assets held for more than twelve months) of individuals is 20%. However, these rates
are subject to change by new legislation at any time.
Section 1411
of the Internal Revenue Code and the U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder impose a 3.8% tax ("NIIT") on "net investment income" (within the meaning of the
Internal Revenue Code) earned by certain individuals, estates and trusts in excess of certain statutory threshold amounts. For these purposes, "net investment income" generally includes a unitholder's
allocable share of our gross income and any net gain realized by a unitholder from a sale of units, less certain allocable deductions. In the case of an individual, the tax will be imposed on the
lesser of (i) the unitholder's net investment income from all investments, and (ii) the amount by which the unitholder's modified adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000 (if the
unitholder is married and filing jointly or a surviving spouse), $125,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing separately) or $200,000 (in any other case). In the case of an estate or trust, the
tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) undistributed net investment
income, and (ii) the excess adjusted gross income over the dollar amount at which the highest income tax bracket applicable to an estate or trust begins for such taxable year. The U.S.
Department of the Treasury and the IRS have issued guidance in the form of Treasury
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Regulations
regarding the NIIT. Prospective unitholders should consult with their tax advisors as to the impact of the NIIT on an investment in our common units.
Section 754 Election.
We have made the election permitted by Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code. That election
is irrevocable
without the consent of the IRS unless there is a constructive termination of the partnership. Please read "Disposition of Common UnitsConstructive Termination." The election
will generally permit us to adjust a common unit purchaser's tax basis in our assets ("inside basis") under Section 743(b) of the Internal Revenue Code to reflect his purchase price. This
election does not apply with respect to a person who purchases common units directly from us. The Section 743(b) adjustment belongs to the purchaser and not to other unitholders. For purposes
of this discussion, a unitholder's inside basis in our assets will be considered to have two components: (i) his share of our tax basis in our assets ("common basis") and (ii) his
Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis.
We
have adopted the remedial allocation method as to all our properties. Where the remedial allocation method is adopted, the Treasury Regulations under Section 743 of the
Internal Revenue Code require a portion of the Section 743(b) adjustment that is attributable to recovery property that is subject to depreciation under Section 168 of the Internal
Revenue Code and whose book basis is in excess of its tax basis to be depreciated over the remaining cost recovery period for the property's unamortized Book-Tax Disparity. Under Treasury Regulation
Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6), a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to property subject to depreciation under Section 167 of the Internal Revenue Code, rather than cost recovery
deductions under Section 168, is generally required to be depreciated using either the straight-line method or the 150% declining balance method. Under our partnership agreement, our general
partner is authorized to take a position to preserve the uniformity of units even if that position is not consistent with these and any other Treasury Regulations. Please read "Uniformity
of Units."
Although
Winston & Strawn LLP is unable to opine as to the validity of this approach because there is no direct or indirect controlling authority on this issue, we intend
to depreciate the portion of a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to unrealized appreciation in the value of Contributed Property, to the extent of any unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, using
a rate of depreciation or amortization derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the property's unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, or treat that portion as
non-amortizable to the extent attributable to property which is not amortizable. We believe this method is consistent with the methods employed by
other publicly traded partnerships but is arguably inconsistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6), which is not expected to directly apply to a material portion of our assets.
To the extent this Section 743(b) adjustment is attributable to appreciation in value in excess of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, we will apply the rules described in the Treasury
Regulations and legislative history. If we determine that this position cannot reasonably be taken, we may take a depreciation or amortization position under which all purchasers acquiring units in
the same month would receive depreciation or amortization, whether attributable to common basis or a Section 743(b) adjustment, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a
direct interest in our assets. This kind of aggregate approach may result in lower annual depreciation or amortization deductions than would otherwise be allowable to some unitholders. Please read
"Uniformity of Units." A unitholder's tax basis for his common units is reduced by his share of our deductions (whether or not such deductions were claimed on an individual's income tax
return) so that any position we take that understates deductions will overstate the common unitholder's basis in his common units, which may cause the unitholder to understate gain or overstate loss
on any sale of such units. Please read "Disposition of Common UnitsRecognition of Gain or Loss." The IRS may challenge our position with respect to depreciating or amortizing
the Section 743(b) adjustment we take to preserve the uniformity of the units. If such a challenge were sustained, the gain from the sale of units might be increased without the benefit of
additional deductions.
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A
Section 754 election is advantageous if the transferee's tax basis in his units is higher than the units' share of the aggregate tax basis of our assets immediately prior to the
transfer. In that case, as a result of the election, the transferee would have, among other items, a greater amount of depreciation deductions and less gain or more loss on a sale of our assets.
Conversely, a Section 754 election is disadvantageous if the transferee's tax basis in his units is lower than those units' share of the aggregate tax basis of our assets immediately prior to
the transfer. Thus, the fair market value of the units may be affected either favorably or unfavorably by the election. A basis adjustment is required regardless of whether a Section 754
election is made in the case of a transfer of an interest in us if we have a substantial built-in loss immediately after the transfer, or if we distribute property and have a substantial basis
reduction. Generally a built-in loss or a basis reduction is substantial if it exceeds $250,000.
The
calculations involved in the Section 754 election are complex and will be made on the basis of assumptions as to the value of our assets and other matters. For example, the
allocation of the Section 743(b) adjustment among our assets must be made in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code. The IRS could seek to reallocate some or all of any Section 743(b)
adjustment allocated by us to our tangible assets to goodwill instead. Goodwill, as an intangible asset, is generally nonamortizable or amortizable over a longer period of time or under a less
accelerated method than our tangible assets. We cannot assure you that the determinations we make will not be successfully challenged by the IRS and that the deductions resulting from them will not be
reduced or disallowed altogether. Should the IRS require a different basis adjustment to be made, and should, in our opinion, the expense of compliance exceed the benefit of the election, we may seek
permission from the IRS to revoke our
Section 754 election. If permission is granted, a subsequent purchaser of units may be allocated more income than he would have been allocated had the election not been revoked.
Tax Treatment of Operations
Accounting Method and Taxable Year.
We use the year ending December 31 as our taxable year and the accrual method of
accounting for U.S.
federal income tax purposes. Each unitholder will be required to include in income his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our taxable year ending within or with his taxable year. In
addition, a unitholder who has a taxable year ending on a date other than December 31 and who disposes of all of his units following the close of our taxable year but before the close of his
taxable year must include his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction in income for his taxable year, with the result that he will be required to include in income for his taxable year his share
of more than twelve months of our income, gain, loss and deduction. Please read "Disposition of Common UnitsAllocations Between Transferors and Transferees."
Tax Basis, Depreciation and Amortization.
The tax basis of our assets will be used for purposes of computing depreciation and
cost recovery
deductions and, ultimately, gain or loss on the disposition of these assets. The U.S. federal income tax burden associated with the difference between the fair market value of our assets and their tax
basis immediately prior to an offering generally will be borne by our general partner and other unitholders holding interests in us prior to any such offering. Please read "Tax
Consequences of Unit OwnershipAllocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction."
To
the extent allowable, we may elect to use the depreciation and cost recovery methods that will result in the largest deductions being taken in the early years after assets subject to
these allowances are placed in service. Please read "Uniformity of Units." Property we subsequently acquire or construct may be depreciated using accelerated methods permitted by the
Internal Revenue Code.
If
we dispose of depreciable property by sale, foreclosure or otherwise, all or a portion of any gain, determined by reference to the amount of depreciation previously deducted and the
nature of the property, may be subject to the recapture rules and taxed as ordinary income rather than capital gain. Similarly, a unitholder who has taken cost recovery or depreciation deductions with
respect to property
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we
own will likely be required to recapture some or all of those deductions as ordinary income upon a sale of his interest in us. Please read "Tax Consequences of Unit
OwnershipAllocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction" and "Disposition of Common UnitsRecognition of Gain or Loss."
The
costs we incur in selling our units (called "syndication expenses") must be capitalized and cannot be deducted currently, ratably or upon our termination. There are uncertainties
regarding the classification of costs as organization expenses, which may be amortized by us, and as syndication expenses, which may not be amortized by us. The underwriting discounts and commissions
we incur will be treated as syndication expenses.
Valuation and Tax Basis of Our Properties.
The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of units
will depend in part on
our estimates of the relative fair market values, and the tax bases, of our assets. Although we may from time to time consult with professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, we will make
many of the relative fair market value estimates ourselves. These estimates and determinations of basis are subject to challenge and will not be binding on the IRS or the courts. If the estimates of
fair market value or basis are later found to be incorrect, the character and amount of items of income, gain, loss or deductions previously reported by unitholders might change, and unitholders might
be required to adjust their tax liability for prior years and might incur interest and penalties with respect to those adjustments.
Disposition of Common Units
Recognition of Gain or Loss.
Gain or loss will be recognized on a taxable sale of units equal to the difference between the
amount realized and the
unitholder's tax basis for the units sold. A unitholder's amount realized will be measured by the sum of the cash and the fair market value of other property received by him plus his share of our
nonrecourse liabilities. Because the amount realized includes a unitholder's share of our nonrecourse liabilities, the gain recognized on the sale of units could result in a tax liability in excess of
any cash received from the sale. Prior distributions from us that in the
aggregate were in excess of cumulative net taxable income for a common unit and, therefore, decreased a unitholder's tax basis in that common unit will, in effect, become taxable income if the common
unit is sold at a price greater than the unitholder's tax basis in that common unit, even if the price received is less than his original cost.
Except
as noted below, gain or loss recognized by a unitholder, other than a "dealer" in units, on the sale or exchange of a unit will generally be taxable as capital gain or loss.
Capital gain recognized by an individual on the sale of units held for more than twelve months will generally be taxed at the U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to long-term capital gains.
However, a portion of this gain or loss, which will likely be substantial, will be separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss under Section 751 of the Internal Revenue Code to the
extent attributable to assets giving rise to "unrealized receivables" (including potential recapture items such as depreciation recapture) or to "inventory items" we own. Ordinary income attributable
to unrealized receivables or inventory items may exceed net taxable gain realized upon the sale of a unit and may be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss realized on the sale of a unit.
Thus, a unitholder may recognize both ordinary income and a capital loss upon a sale of units. Capital losses may offset capital gains and no more than $3,000 of ordinary income, in the case of
individuals, and may only be used to offset capital gains in the case of corporations. Both ordinary income and capital gain recognized on a sale of units may be subject to the NIIT in certain
circumstances. Please read "Tax Consequences of Unit OwnershipTax Rates."
The
IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a partnership in separate transactions must combine those interests and maintain a single adjusted tax basis for all those
interests. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of those interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated to the interests sold using an "equitable apportionment" method, which
generally means that the tax basis allocated to the interest sold equals an amount that bears the same relation to the partner's tax
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basis
in his entire interest in the partnership as the value of the interest sold bears to the value of the partner's entire interest in the partnership. Treasury Regulations under Section 1223
of the Internal Revenue Code allow a selling unitholder who can identify common units transferred with an ascertainable holding period to elect to use the actual holding period of the common units
transferred. Thus, according to the ruling discussed above, a common unitholder will be unable to select high or low basis common units to sell as would be the case with corporate stock, but,
according to the Treasury Regulations, he may designate specific common units sold for purposes of determining the holding period of units transferred. A unitholder electing to use the actual holding
period of common units transferred must consistently use that identification method for all subsequent sales or exchanges of common units. A unitholder considering the purchase of additional units or
a sale of common units purchased in separate transactions is urged to consult his tax advisor as to the possible consequences of this ruling and application of the Treasury Regulations.
Specific
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code affect the taxation of partnership interests, by treating a taxpayer as having sold an "appreciated" partnership interest, one in which
gain would be recognized if it were sold, assigned or terminated at its fair market value, if the taxpayer or related persons enter(s) into:
a
short sale;
an
offsetting notional principal contract; or
a
futures or forward contract, in each case, with respect to the partnership interest or substantially identical property.
Moreover,
if a taxpayer has previously entered into an appreciated financial position that is a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract or a futures or forward contract
with respect to the partnership interest, the taxpayer will be treated as having sold that position if the taxpayer or a related person then acquires the partnership interest or substantially
identical property. The Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized to issue regulations that treat a taxpayer that enters into transactions or positions that have substantially the same effect as
the preceding transactions as having constructively sold the financial position.
Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees.
In general, our taxable income and losses will be determined annually, will be
prorated on a monthly
basis and will be subsequently apportioned among the unitholders in proportion to the number of units owned by each of them as of the opening of the applicable exchange on the first business day of
the month, which we refer to in this disclosure as the "Allocation Date." However, gain or loss realized on a sale or other disposition of our assets other than in the ordinary course of business will
be allocated among the unitholders on the Allocation Date in the month in which that gain or loss is recognized. As a result, a unitholder transferring units may be allocated income, gain, loss and
deduction realized after the date of transfer.
Although
simplifying conventions are contemplated by the Internal Revenue Code and we believe most publicly traded partnerships employ such simplifying conventions, all aspects of this
method may not be permitted under existing Treasury Regulations. The Department of the Treasury and the IRS have issued Treasury Regulations pursuant to which a publicly traded partnership may use a
similar monthly simplifying convention to allocate tax items among transferor and transferee unitholders. Nonetheless, the regulations do not specifically authorize all aspects of the proration method
we have adopted. Accordingly, Winston & Strawn LLP is unable to opine on the validity of this method of allocating income and deductions between transferor and transferee unitholders. If
this method is not allowed
under the Treasury Regulations, or only applies to transfers of less than all of the unitholder's interest, our taxable income or losses might be reallocated among the unitholders. We are authorized
to revise our method of allocation between transferor and transferee unitholders, as well as unitholders whose interests vary during a taxable year, to conform to a method permitted under the Treasury
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Regulations.
A unitholder who owns units at any time during a quarter and who disposes of them prior to the record date set for a cash distribution for that quarter will be allocated items of our
income, gain, loss and deductions attributable to that quarter through the month of disposition but will not be entitled to receive that cash distribution.
Notification Requirements.
A unitholder who sells any of his units is generally required to notify us in writing of that sale
within 30 days
after the sale (or, if earlier, January 15 of the year following the sale). A purchaser of units who purchases units from another unitholder is also generally required to notify us in writing
of that purchase within 30 days after the purchase. Upon receiving such notifications, we are required to notify the IRS of that transaction and to furnish specified information to the
transferor and transferee. Failure to notify us of a purchase may, in some cases, lead to the imposition of penalties. However, these reporting requirements do not apply to a sale by an individual who
is a citizen of the United States and who effects the sale or exchange through a broker who will satisfy such requirements.
Constructive Termination.
We will be considered to have technically terminated for U.S. federal income tax purposes if there are
sales or exchanges
which, in the aggregate, constitute 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a twelve-month period. For purposes of measuring whether the 50% threshold is reached, multiple
sales of the same interest are counted only once. A constructive termination results in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders. In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year
other than a fiscal year ending December 31, the closing of our taxable year may result in more than twelve months of our taxable income or loss being includable in his taxable income for the
year of termination. A constructive termination occurring on a date other than December 31 will result in us filing two tax returns (and unitholders receiving two Schedules K-1 if the
relief discussed below is unavailable) for one fiscal year and the cost of the preparation of these returns will be borne by all common unitholders. We would be required to make new tax elections
after a termination, including a new election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code, and a termination would result in a deferral of our deductions for depreciation. A termination
could also result in penalties if we were unable to determine that the termination had occurred. Moreover, a termination might either accelerate the application of, or subject us to, any tax
legislation enacted before the termination. The IRS has announced a relief procedure whereby if a publicly traded partnership that has technically terminated requests and the IRS grants special
relief, among other
things, the partnership will not be required to provide more than a single Schedule K-1 to each unitholder for the tax years in which the termination occurs.
Uniformity of Units
Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of units, we must endeavor to maintain uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics of
the units to a purchaser of these units. In the absence of uniformity, we may be unable to comply completely with a number of U.S. federal income tax requirements, both statutory and regulatory. A
lack of uniformity can result from a literal application of Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6). Any non-uniformity could have a negative impact on the value of the units. Please read
"Tax Consequences of Unit OwnershipSection 754 Election."
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We intend to depreciate the portion of a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to unrealized appreciation in the value of Contributed Property, to the
extent of any unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, using a rate of depreciation or amortization derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the property's unamortized
Book-Tax Disparity, or treat that portion as nonamortizable, to the extent attributable to property the common basis of which is not amortizable, consistent with the regulations under
Section 743 of the Internal Revenue Code, even though that position may be inconsistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6), which is not expected to directly apply to a
material portion of our assets. Please read "Tax Consequences of Unit OwnershipSection 754 Election." To the extent that the Section 743(b) adjustment is
attributable to appreciation in value in excess of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, we will apply the rules described in the Treasury Regulations and legislative history. If we determine that this
position cannot reasonably be taken, we may adopt a depreciation and amortization position under which all purchasers acquiring units in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization
deductions, whether attributable to common basis or a Section 743(b) adjustment, based upon the same applicable methods and lives as if they had purchased a direct interest in our assets. If
this position is adopted, it may result in lower annual depreciation and amortization deductions than would otherwise be allowable to some unitholders and risk the loss of depreciation and
amortization deductions not taken in the year that these deductions are otherwise allowable. This position will not be adopted if we determine that the loss of depreciation and amortization deductions
will have a material adverse effect on the unitholders. If we choose not to utilize this aggregate method, we may use any other reasonable depreciation and amortization method to preserve the
uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of
any units that would not have a material adverse effect on the unitholders. In either case, and as stated above, under "Tax Consequences of Unit OwnershipSection 754
Election," Winston and Strawn LLP has not rendered an opinion with respect to these methods. Moreover, the IRS may challenge any method of depreciating the Section 743(b) adjustment
described in this paragraph. If this challenge were sustained, the uniformity of units might be affected, and the gain from the sale of units might be increased without the benefit of additional
deductions. Please read "Disposition of Common UnitsRecognition of Gain or Loss."
Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors
Ownership of units by employee benefit plans, other tax-exempt organizations, non-resident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign
persons raises issues unique to those investors and, as described below, may have substantially adverse tax consequences to them. If you are a tax-exempt entity or a non-U.S. person, you should
consult your tax advisor before acquiring or investing in our common units. Employee benefit plans and most other organizations exempt from U.S. federal income tax, including IRAs and other retirement
plans, are subject to U.S. federal income tax on unrelated business taxable income. Virtually all of our income allocated to a unitholder that is a tax-exempt organization is expected to be unrelated
business taxable income and consequently will be taxable to it.
Non-resident
aliens and foreign corporations, trusts or estates that own units will be considered to be engaged in business in the United States because of the ownership of such units.
Furthermore, it is probable that they will be deemed to conduct such activities through a permanent establishment in the United States within the meaning of any applicable tax treaty. As a
consequence, they will be required to file U.S. federal tax returns to report their share of our income, gain, loss or deduction and pay U.S. federal income tax at regular rates on their share
of our net income or gain. Moreover, under rules applicable to publicly traded partnerships, distributions to foreign unitholders generally will be subject to withholding at the highest applicable
effective tax rate. Each foreign unitholder must obtain a taxpayer identification number from the IRS and submit that number to our transfer agent on a Form W-8BEN, Form W-8BEN-E or
applicable substitute form in order to obtain credit for these withholding taxes. A change in applicable law may require us to change these procedures.
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In
addition, because a foreign corporation that owns units will be treated as engaged in a U.S. trade or business, that corporation may be subject to the U.S. branch profits tax at a
rate of 30%, in addition to regular U.S. federal income tax, on its share of our earnings and profits, as adjusted for changes in the foreign corporation's "U.S. net equity," which is effectively
connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade
or business. That tax may be reduced or eliminated by an income tax treaty between the United States and the country in which the foreign corporate unitholder is a "qualified resident." In addition,
this type of unitholder is subject to special information reporting requirements under Section 6038C of the Internal Revenue Code.
A
foreign unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a common unit will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized from the sale or disposition of that unit to the extent
the gain is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the foreign unitholder. Under a ruling published by the IRS, interpreting the scope of "effectively connected income," a foreign
unitholder would be considered to be engaged in a trade or business in the United States by virtue of the U.S. activities of the partnership, and part or all of that unitholder's gain would be
effectively connected with that unitholder's indirect U.S. trade or business. Moreover, under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, a foreign common unitholder (other than certain
"qualified foreign pension funds" (or an entity all of the interests of which are held by such a qualified foreign pension fund), which generally are entities or arrangements that are established and
regulated by foreign law to provide retirement or other pension benefits to employees, do not have a single participant or beneficiary that is entitled to more than 5% of the assets or income of the
entity or arrangement and are subject to certain preferential tax treatment under the laws of the applicable foreign country) generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax upon the sale or
disposition of a common unit if (i) he owned (directly or constructively applying certain attribution rules) more than 5% of our common units at any time during the five-year period ending on
the date of such disposition and (ii) 50% or more of the fair market value of all of our assets consisted of U.S. real property interests at any time during the shorter of the period during
which such unitholder held the common units or the five-year period ending on the date of disposition.
Administrative Matters
Additional Withholding Requirements.
Withholding taxes may apply to certain types of payments made to "foreign financial
institutions" (as
specifically defined in the Internal Revenue Code) and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on U.S. source interest (including original issue discount),
dividends and rents (and other fixed, determinable, annual and periodical income) ("FDAP Income"), and gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any property of a type which can produce
U.S. source interest or dividends ("Gross Proceeds"), payable to a foreign financial institution or to certain non-financial foreign entities, unless (i) the foreign financial institution
undertakes certain diligence and reporting, (ii) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any "substantial U.S. owners" (within the meaning of the Internal Revenue
Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial U.S. owner or (iii) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption
from these rules. In general, and except to the extent otherwise provided in an applicable intergovernmental agreement between the United States and the jurisdiction in which a given foreign financial
institution is located,
such foreign financial institution that is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in clause (i) above must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury requiring, among other
things, that it undertake to identify "accounts" held by certain U.S. persons or U.S.-owned foreign entities, annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on payments to
non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders.
Treasury
Regulations provide that such rules will generally apply to payments of FDAP Income currently and to Gross Proceeds on or after January 1, 2019. Thus, to the extent we
have FDAP
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Income
or Gross Proceeds on or after January 1, 2019 that are not treated as effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business (please see above, "Tax-Exempt Organizations and
Other Investors") unitholders who are foreign financial institutions or certain other non-U.S. entities may be subject to withholding on distributions they receive from us, or their distributive share
of our income, pursuant to the rules described above. A foreign entity located in a jurisdiction that has an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to
different rules. Each prospective unitholder should consult his own tax advisor regarding the applicability of these withholding provisions to an investment in our common units.
Information Returns and Audit Procedures.
We intend to furnish to each unitholder, within 90 days after the close of each
calendar year,
specific tax information, including a Schedule K-1, which describes his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our preceding taxable year. In preparing this information, which will
not be reviewed by counsel, we will take various accounting and reporting positions, some of which have been mentioned earlier, to determine each unitholder's share of income, gain, loss and
deduction. We cannot assure you that those positions will yield a result that conforms to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, Treasury Regulations or administrative interpretations of the
IRS. Neither we nor Winston & Strawn LLP can assure prospective unitholders that the IRS will not successfully contend in court that those positions are impermissible. Any challenge by
the IRS could negatively affect the value of the units.
The
IRS may audit our U.S. federal income tax information returns. Adjustments resulting from an IRS audit may require each unitholder to adjust a prior year's tax liability, and
possibly may result in an audit of his return. Any audit of a unitholder's return could result in adjustments not related to our returns as well as those related to our returns.
Moreover,
recently enacted legislation, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, changes the audit procedures for large partnerships and in certain circumstances would
permit the IRS to assess
and collect taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) resulting from partnership-level federal income tax audits directly from us in the year in which the audit is completed. If we are
required to make payments of taxes, penalties and interest resulting from audit adjustments, our cash available for distribution to our unitholders might be substantially reduced. Pursuant to this new
legislation, we are required to designate an eligible person to act as the "Partnership Representative" with exclusive authority to act on our behalf in connection with federal income tax audits,
requests by us for administrative adjustments, and any judicial proceedings arising in connection with those matters. Actions taken by the Partnership Representative will be binding on us and all of
our unitholders. We anticipate that our general partner or its designee will act as the Partnership Representative.
Partnerships
generally are treated as separate entities for purposes of U.S. federal tax audits, judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS and tax settlement proceedings.
The tax treatment of partnership items of income, gain, loss and deduction are determined in a partnership proceeding rather than in separate proceedings with the partners. The Internal Revenue Code
requires that one partner be designated as the "Tax Matters Partner" for these purposes. Our partnership agreement names NGL Energy Holdings LLC, our general partner, as our Tax Matters
Partner.
The
Tax Matters Partner has made and will make some elections on our behalf and on behalf of unitholders. In addition, the Tax Matters Partner can extend the statute of limitations for
assessment of tax deficiencies against unitholders for items in our returns. The Tax Matters Partner may bind a unitholder with less than a 1% profits interest in us to a settlement with the IRS
unless that unitholder elects, by filing a statement with the IRS, not to give that authority to the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner may seek judicial review, by which all the unitholders
are bound, of a final partnership administrative adjustment and, if the Tax Matters Partner fails to seek judicial review, judicial review may be sought by any unitholder having at least a 1% interest
in profits or by any group of unitholders
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having
in the aggregate at least a 5% interest in profits. However, only one action for judicial review will go forward, and each unitholder with an interest in the outcome may participate.
A
unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the treatment of any item on his U.S. federal income tax return that is not consistent with the treatment of the item
on our return.
Intentional
or negligent disregard of this consistency requirement may subject a unitholder to substantial penalties.
Nominee Reporting.
Persons who hold an interest in us as a nominee for another person are required to furnish to
us:
-
-
the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the beneficial owner and the nominee;
-
-
a statement regarding whether the beneficial owner is:
-
1)
-
a
person that is not a U.S. person;
-
2)
-
a
foreign government, an international organization or any wholly owned agency or instrumentality of either of the foregoing; or
-
3)
-
a
tax-exempt entity;
-
-
the amount and description of units held, acquired or transferred for the beneficial owner; and
-
-
specific information including the dates of acquisitions and transfers, means of acquisitions and transfers, and acquisition cost for
purchases, as well as the amount of net proceeds from transfers.
Brokers
and financial institutions are required to furnish additional information, including whether they are U.S. persons and specific information on units they acquire, hold or
transfer for their own account. A penalty of $250 per failure, up to a maximum of $3,000,000 per calendar year, is imposed by the Internal Revenue Code for failure to report that information to us.
The nominee is required to supply the beneficial owner of the units with the information furnished to us.
Accuracy-Related Penalties.
An additional tax equal to 20% of the amount of any portion of an underpayment of tax that is
attributable to one or more
specified causes, including negligence or disregard of rules or regulations, substantial understatements of income tax and substantial valuation misstatements, is imposed by the Internal Revenue Code.
No penalty will be imposed, however, for any portion of an underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause for that portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith regarding that
portion.
For
individuals, a substantial understatement of income tax in any taxable year exists if the amount of the understatement exceeds the greater of 10% of the tax required to be shown on
the return for the taxable year or $5,000 ($10,000 for most corporations). The amount of any understatement subject to penalty generally is reduced if any portion is attributable to a position adopted
on the return:
for
which there is, or was, "substantial authority"; or
as
to which there is a reasonable basis and the pertinent facts of that position are disclosed on the return.
If
any item of income, gain, loss or deduction included in the distributive shares of unitholders might result in that kind of an "understatement" of income for which no "substantial
authority" exists, we must disclose the pertinent facts on our return. In addition, we will make a reasonable effort to furnish sufficient information for unitholders to make adequate disclosure on
their returns and to take other actions as may be appropriate to permit unitholders to avoid liability for this penalty. More stringent rules apply to "tax shelters," which we do not believe includes
us, or any of our investments, plans or arrangements.
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A
substantial valuation misstatement exists if (a) the value of any property, or the adjusted basis of any property, claimed on a tax return is 150% or more of the amount
determined to be the correct amount of the valuation or adjusted basis, (b) the price for any property or services (or for the use of property) claimed on any such return with respect to any
transaction between persons described in Section 482 of the Internal Revenue Code is 200% or more (or 50% or less) of the amount determined under Section 482 of the Internal Revenue Code
to be the correct amount of such price, or (c) the net Section 482 transfer price adjustment for the taxable year exceeds the lesser of $5 million or 10% of the taxpayer's gross
receipts.
No
penalty is imposed unless the portion of the underpayment attributable to a substantial valuation misstatement exceeds $5,000 ($10,000 for most corporations). If the valuation claimed
on a return is 200% or more than the correct valuation or certain other thresholds are met, the penalty imposed increases to 40%. We do not anticipate making any valuation misstatements.
In
addition, the 20% accuracy-related penalty also applies to any portion of an underpayment of tax that is attributable to transactions lacking economic substance. To the extent that
such transactions are not disclosed, the penalty imposed is increased to 40%. Additionally, there is no reasonable cause defense to the imposition of this penalty to such transactions.
Reportable Transactions.
If we were to engage in a "reportable transaction," we (and possibly you and others) would be required
to make a detailed
disclosure of the transaction to the IRS. A transaction may be a reportable transaction based upon any of several factors, including the fact that it is a type of tax avoidance transaction publicly
identified by the IRS as a "listed transaction" or that it produces certain kinds of losses for partnerships, individuals, S corporations, and trusts in excess of $2 million in any single year,
or $4 million in any combination of 6 successive tax years. Our participation in a reportable transaction could increase the likelihood that our U.S. federal income tax information return (and
possibly your tax return) would be audited by the IRS. Please read "Information Returns and Audit Procedures."
Moreover,
if we were to participate in a reportable transaction with a significant purpose to avoid or evade tax, or in any listed transaction, you may be subject to the following
additional consequences:
accuracy-related
penalties with a broader scope, significantly narrower exceptions, and potentially greater amounts than described above at "Accuracy-Related Penalties";
for
those persons otherwise entitled to deduct interest on U.S. federal tax deficiencies, nondeductibility of interest on any resulting tax liability; and
in
the case of a listed transaction, an extended statute of limitations.
We
do not expect to engage in any "reportable transactions."
Recent Legislative Developments.
The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships, including us, or
an investment in our
common units may be modified by administrative, legislative or judicial interpretation at any time. For example, from time to time, members of the U.S. Congress propose and consider substantive
changes to the existing U.S. federal income tax laws that affect publicly traded partnerships. We are unable to predict whether any legislative changes will ultimately be enacted. However, it is
possible that a change in law could affect us and may, if enacted, be applied retroactively. Any modification to the U.S. federal income tax laws and interpretations thereof could make it more
difficult or impossible to meet the exception for us to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Please read "Partnership Status." Any such changes could increase
the taxable income allocable to our unitholders and could negatively impact the value of an investment in our common units.
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State, Local, Foreign and Other Tax Considerations
In addition to U.S. federal income taxes, you likely will be subject to other taxes, such as state, local and foreign income taxes,
unincorporated business taxes, and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that may be imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we do business or own property or in which you are a resident.
Although an analysis of those various taxes is not presented here, each prospective unitholder should consider their potential impact on his investment in us. We currently own property or do business
in almost all states. Most of these states impose an income tax on individuals and an income or franchise tax on corporations and other entities. We may also own property or do business in other
jurisdictions in the future. Although you may not be required to file a return and pay taxes in some jurisdictions because your income from that jurisdiction falls below the filing and payment
requirement, you will be required to file income tax returns and to pay income taxes in many of these jurisdictions in which we do business or own property and may be subject to penalties for failure
to comply with those requirements. In some jurisdictions, tax losses may not produce a tax benefit in the year incurred and may not be available to offset income in subsequent taxable years. Some of
the jurisdictions may require us, or we may elect, to withhold a percentage of income from amounts to be distributed to a unitholder who is not a resident of the jurisdiction. Withholding, the
amount of which may be greater or less than a particular unitholder's income tax liability to the jurisdiction, generally does not relieve a nonresident unitholder from the obligation to file an
income tax return. Amounts withheld will be treated as if distributed to unitholders for purposes of determining the amounts distributed by us. Please read "Tax Consequences of Unit
OwnershipEntity-Level Collections." Based on current law and our estimate of our future operations, our general partner anticipates that any amounts required to be withheld will not be
material.
It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate the legal and tax consequences of an investment in us under the laws of pertinent jurisdictions and,
therefore, each prospective unitholder is urged to consult, and depend upon, his tax counsel or other advisor with regard to those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each unitholder to file
all state, local and foreign, as well as U.S. federal, tax returns that may be required of him. Winston & Strawn LLP has not rendered an opinion on the state, local or foreign tax
consequences of an investment in us. In addition, the Winston & Strawn LLP opinion only addresses the U.S. federal income tax consequences specifically discussed above, and is subject to
all of the limitations set forth herein and does not discuss any of the tax consequences to persons who are subject to special treatment as disclosed herein.
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INVESTMENT IN NGL ENERGY PARTNERS LP BY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
An investment in us by an employee benefit plan is subject to additional considerations because the investments of these plans are subject to
the fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA, and the restrictions imposed by Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code and provisions under any federal, state,
local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or ERISA, or, collectively, the Similar Laws. For these purposes the term "employee
benefit plan" includes, but is not limited to, qualified pension, profit-sharing and stock bonus plans, Keogh plans, simplified employee pension plans and tax deferred annuities or individual
retirement accounts or annuities, or IRAs, established or maintained by an employer or employee organization, and entities whose underlying assets are considered to include "plan assets" of such
plans, accounts and arrangements. Among other things, consideration should be given to:
-
-
whether the investment is prudent under Section 404(a)(1)(B) of ERISA and any other applicable Similar Laws;
-
-
whether in making the investment, the plan will satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 404(a)(1)(C) of ERISA and any other
applicable Similar Laws;
-
-
whether the investment will result in recognition of unrelated business taxable income by the plan and, if so, the potential after-tax
investment return. Please read "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax ConsiderationsTax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors"; and
-
-
whether making such an investment will comply with the delegation of control and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA, the Internal
Revenue Code and any other applicable Similar Laws.
The
person with investment discretion with respect to the assets of an employee benefit plan, often called a fiduciary, should determine whether an investment in us is authorized by the
appropriate governing instrument and is a proper investment for the plan.
Section 406
of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code prohibit employee benefit plans from engaging in specified transactions involving "plan assets" with
parties that, with respect to the plan, are "parties in interest" under ERISA or "disqualified persons" under the Internal Revenue Code unless an exemption is available. A party in interest or
disqualified person who engages in a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to excise taxes and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. In addition, the
fiduciary of the ERISA plan that engaged in such a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code.
In
addition to considering whether the purchase of common units is a prohibited transaction, a fiduciary should consider whether the plan will, by investing in us, be deemed to own an
undivided interest in our assets, with the result that our general partner would also be a fiduciary of such plan and our operations would be subject to the regulatory restrictions of ERISA, including
its prohibited
transaction rules, as well as the prohibited transaction rules of the Internal Revenue Code, ERISA and any other applicable Similar Laws.
The
Department of Labor regulations provide guidance with respect to whether, in certain circumstances, the assets of an entity in which employee benefit plans acquire equity interests
would be deemed "plan assets." Under these regulations, an entity's assets would not be considered to be "plan assets" if, among other things:
-
-
the equity interests acquired by the employee benefit plan are publicly offered securitiesi.e., the equity interests are
widely held by 100 or more investors independent of the issuer and
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Our
assets should not be considered "plan assets" under these regulations because it is expected that the investment will satisfy the requirements of the first bullet above.
In
light of the serious penalties imposed on persons who engage in prohibited transactions or other violations, plan fiduciaries contemplating a purchase of common units should consult
with their own counsel regarding the consequences under ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code and other Similar Laws.
SELLING UNITHOLDERS
This prospectus relates to 24,317,281 common units issuable to the selling unitholders upon conversion of 19,942,169 preferred units and
exercise of warrants to purchase 4,375,112 common units. The following table sets forth information about the maximum number of common units that may be offered from time to time by each selling
unitholder under this prospectus. The selling unitholders identified below may currently hold or acquire at any time common units in addition to those registered hereby. In addition, the selling
unitholders identified below may sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of some or all of their common units in private placement transactions exempt from or not subject to the registration
requirements of the Securities Act.
To
our knowledge, none of the selling unitholders has, or has had within the past three years, any position, office or other material relationship with us or any of our predecessors or
affiliates, other than their ownership of units and, pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Board Representation and Observation Rights Agreement, dated June 24, 2016, among us, our
general partner, certain of the selling unitholders named in this prospectus and Highstar Capital IV, L.P. ("Highstar"), Highstar's right to (i) designate one director to serve on the
board of directors of our general partner and (ii) appoint a single representative to attend all meetings (including telephonic) of the full board of directors of our general partner in an
observer capacity, in each case subject to certain restrictions.
None
of the selling unitholders listed in the table below is a broker-dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act. Each of the selling unitholders listed in the table
below is an affiliate of a broker-dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act and certifies that it purchased the preferred units and warrants in the ordinary course of business, and
at the time of the purchase of such securities, it had no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute such securities.
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We
have prepared the table and the related notes based on information supplied to us by the selling unitholders on or prior to November 7, 2016. We have not sought to verify such
information. Other information about the selling unitholders may change over time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name of Selling Unitholder
|
|
Preferred Units
Beneficially Owned
Prior to the
Offering
|
|
Warrant Exercise
Units Beneficially
Owned Prior to the
Offering(1)
|
|
Common Units
Beneficially
Owned Prior to
the Offering(2)
|
|
Number of
Common Units
to be Sold
Pursuant to this
Prospectus(3)(4)(5)
|
|
Highstar NGL Prism/IV-A Interco LLC(6)
|
|
|
5,637,025
|
|
|
1,236,709
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
6,873,734
|
|
Highstar NGL Main Interco LLC(7)
|
|
|
3,918,598
|
|
|
859,699
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
4,778,297
|
|
NGL CIV A, LLC(8)
|
|
|
8,309,237
|
|
|
1,822,963
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
10,132,200
|
|
NGL Prism/IV-A Blocker, LLC(9)
|
|
|
2,077,307
|
|
|
455,741
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
2,533,050
|
|
-
(1)
-
Common
units issuable upon exercise of warrants.
-
(2)
-
Calculated
in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.
-
(3)
-
As
of November 7, 2016, no preferred units have been converted and no warrants have been exercised. Assumes the conversion of all preferred units on a
one-for-one basis and the exercise of all warrants.
-
(4)
-
Under
certain circumstances, the preferred units may be converted into common units on a greater than one-for-one basis. See "Description of the Preferred Units and
WarrantsPreferred UnitsConversion."
-
(5)
-
Pursuant
to Rule 416 of the Securities Act, this registration statement also shall cover any additional common units that become issuable, in connection with
the common units registered for resale hereby, as a result of any unit distribution, split, combination or similar transaction.
-
(6)
-
Howard
Marks, Bruce Karsh, Jay Wintrob, John Frank, David Kirchheimer, Steve Kaplan and Sheldon Stone are the natural persons who may be deemed to have shared
voting, investment and/or dispositive power with respect to the equity securities listed in the preceding table held by Highstar NGL Prism/IV-A Interco LLC.
-
(7)
-
Howard
Marks, Bruce Karsh, Jay Wintrob, John Frank, David Kirchheimer, Steve Kaplan and Sheldon Stone are the natural persons who may be deemed to have shared
voting, investment and/or dispositive power with respect to the equity securities listed in the preceding table held by Highstar NGL Main Interco LLC.
-
(8)
-
Howard
Marks, Bruce Karsh, Jay Wintrob, John Frank, David Kirchheimer, Steve Kaplan and Sheldon Stone are the natural persons who may be deemed to have shared
voting, investment and/or dispositive power with respect to the equity securities listed in the preceding table held by NGL CIV A, LLC.
-
(9)
-
Howard
Marks, Bruce Karsh, Jay Wintrob, John Frank, David Kirchheimer, Steve Kaplan and Sheldon Stone are the natural persons who may be deemed to have shared
voting, investment and/or dispositive power with respect to the equity securities listed in the preceding table held by NGL Prism/IV-A Blocker, LLC.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
As of the date of this prospectus, we have not been advised by the selling unitholders as to any plan of distribution for the common units
included in this prospectus. The selling unitholders may choose not to sell any of their common units. The common units may from time to time be offered for sale by the selling unitholders, or by
their partners, pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest, either directly by such selling unitholder or other person, or through underwriters, dealers or agents or on any exchange
on which the common units may from time to time be traded, in the over-the-counter market, in independently negotiated transactions or otherwise, at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at prices otherwise negotiated. The methods by which the common units
may be sold include:
-
-
underwritten transactions;
-
-
privately negotiated transactions;
-
-
exchange distributions and/or secondary distributions;
-
-
sales in the over-the-counter market;
-
-
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers;
-
-
broker-dealers may agree with the selling unitholders to sell a specified number of such units at a stipulated price per unit;
-
-
a block trade (which may involve crosses) in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the common units as agent but may
position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
-
-
purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by such broker or dealer for its own account pursuant to this prospectus;
-
-
offerings at other than a fixed price on or through the facilities of any stock exchange on which the common units are then listed for trading
or to or through a market maker other than on a stock exchange;
-
-
short sales;
-
-
through the writing of options on the common units (including the issuance by the selling unitholders of derivative securities), whether or not
the options are listed on an options exchange;
-
-
through the distributions of the common units by any selling unitholder to its partners, members, stockholders or other security holders;
-
-
a combination of any such methods of sale; and
-
-
any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The
selling unitholders may offer and sell some or all of the common units included in this prospectus by or through broker-dealers, who may act as agent or may purchase common units as
principal and thereafter resell the common units from time to time:
-
-
in or through one or more transactions (which may involve crosses and block transactions) or distributions;
-
-
on the NYSE;
-
-
in the over-the-counter market; or
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-
-
in private transactions.
Broker-dealers
or underwriters may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may receive commissions from purchasers of the common units for whom they
may act as agents. If any broker-dealer purchases the common units as principal, it may affect resales of the common units from time to time to or through other broker-dealers, and other
broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of concessions or commissions from the purchasers of common units for whom they may act as agents.
In
connection with sales of the common units under this prospectus, the selling unitholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, who may in turn engage in short sales
of the common units in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling unitholders also may sell common units short and deliver them to close out the short positions or loan or pledge the
common units to broker-dealers that in turn may sell them.
From
time to time, one or more of the selling unitholders may pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in some or all of the common units owned by them. The pledgees, secured
parties or persons to whom the common units have been hypothecated will, upon foreclosure in the event of default, be deemed to be selling unitholders. The number of a selling unitholder's common
units offered under this prospectus will decrease as and when it takes such actions. The plan of distribution for that selling unitholder's common units will otherwise remain unchanged. In addition, a
selling unitholder may, from time to time, sell the common units short, and, in those instances, this prospectus may be delivered in connection with the short sales and the common units offered under
this prospectus may be used to cover short sales.
The
selling unitholders or their respective underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may make sales of the common units that are deemed to be an at-the-market offering as defined in
Rule 415 of the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, which includes sales of common units made directly
on or through the stock exchange on which the common units are then listed for trading, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
The
selling unitholders and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents who participate in the distribution of the common units may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of
the Securities Act. To the extent any of the selling unitholders are, or are affiliates of, broker-dealers, they are, according to SEC interpretation, "underwriters" within the meaning of the
Securities Act. Underwriters are subject to the prospectus delivery requirements under the Securities Act. If the selling unitholders are deemed to be underwriters, the selling unitholders may be
subject to certain statutory liabilities under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
If
the selling unitholders use one or more underwriters in the sale of common units, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account, and they may resell these
securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The securities may be
offered and sold to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more of such firms. To the extent required, the names of
the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, as well as other important information, will be set forth in one or more prospectus supplements. In that event, the discounts and commissions
the selling unitholders will allow or pay to the underwriters, if any, and the discounts and commissions the underwriters may allow or pay to dealers or agents, if any, will be set forth in, or may be
calculated from, the prospectus supplements. Any underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents who participate in any sale of the common units may also engage in transactions with, or perform services
for, us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of their businesses.
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We
have agreed to pay the costs and expenses of the registration and offering of the common units offered hereby. We will not pay any underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions
or similar fees or arrangements allocable to the selling unitholders' sale of common units, which will be paid by the selling unitholders.
We
have agreed to indemnify, in certain circumstances, the selling unitholders against certain liabilities to which they may become subject in connection with the sale of the common
units included in this prospectus, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act. The selling unitholders have agreed to indemnify us in certain circumstances against certain liabilities to
which we may become subject in connection with the sale of such common units, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act. We and the selling unitholders may agree to indemnify
underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of the common units included in this prospectus against certain liabilities to which they may become subject in connection
with the sale of such common units, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
In
addition, any common units covered by this prospectus that qualify for sale under Rule 144 or Rule 144A of the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 or
Rule 144A rather than pursuant to this prospectus. The common units covered by this prospectus may also be sold to non-U.S. persons outside the U.S. in accordance with Regulation S under
the Securities Act rather than pursuant to this prospectus. The common units may be sold in some states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the common
units may not be sold unless it has been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and complied with.
The
selling unitholders and other persons participating in the sale or distribution of the common units will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, including Regulation M. This regulation may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the common units by the selling unitholders and any other person. The
anti-manipulation rules under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of common units in the market and to the activities of the selling unitholders and their affiliates. Furthermore, Regulation M
may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the common units to engage in market-making activities with respect to the particular common units being distributed for a period
of up to five business days before the distribution. These restrictions may affect the marketability of the common units and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities
with respect to the common units.
A
prospectus and accompanying prospectus supplement in electronic form may be made available on the websites maintained by the underwriters of a given offering. The underwriters may
agree to allocate a number of securities for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Such allocations of securities for internet distributions will be made on the same basis as other
allocations. In addition, securities may be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who resell securities to online brokerage account holders.
The
aggregate maximum compensation the underwriters will receive in connection with the sale of any securities under this prospectus and the registration statement of which it
forms a part will not exceed 10% of the gross proceeds from such sale.
Because
the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") views our Common Units as interests in a direct participation program, any offering of Common Units under the registration
statement of which this prospectus forms a part will be made in compliance with FINRA Rule 2310.
To
the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution. The place and time of delivery for the securities in
respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
In
connection with offerings of securities under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and in compliance with applicable law, underwriters, brokers or
dealers may engage in
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Table of Contents
transactions
that stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at levels above those that might otherwise prevail in the open market. Specifically, underwriters, brokers or dealers may
over-allot in connection with offerings, creating a short position in the securities for their own accounts. For the purpose of covering a syndicate short position or stabilizing the price of the
securities, the underwriters, brokers or dealers may place bids for the securities or effect purchases of the securities in the open market. Finally, the underwriters may impose a penalty whereby
selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other brokers or dealers for distribution of the securities in offerings may be reclaimed by the syndicate if the syndicate repurchases previously
distributed securities in transactions to cover short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the
securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market, and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. These transactions may be effected on or through the
stock exchange on which the common units are then listed for trading, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
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LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the securities will be passed upon by Andrews Kurth LLP, as our counsel. Winston &
Strawn LLP will render an opinion on the material U.S. federal income tax considerations regarding the securities. If certain legal matters in connection with an offering of the securities made
by this prospectus and a related prospectus supplement are passed on by counsel for the selling unitholders or underwriters of such offering, that counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus
supplement related to that offering.
EXPERTS
The audited consolidated financial statements and management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of
NGL Energy Partners LP and subsidiaries incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the
reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The
combined financial statements of Gavilon Energy (The Energy Business Units of Gavilon, LLC) as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the related combined statements of
operations, comprehensive income (loss), equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2012, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance
upon the report of KPMG LLP ("KPMG"), independent auditors, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The Partnership has agreed to indemnify and hold KPMG
harmless against and from any and all legal costs and expenses incurred by KPMG in successful defense of any legal action or proceeding that arises as a result of KPMG's consent to the incorporation
by reference of its audit report on the past financial statements of Gavilon Energy (The Energy Business Units of Gavilon, LLC) incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
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Table of Contents
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following is a statement of the estimated expenses to be incurred by NGL Energy Partners LP in connection with the registration of
the securities under this Registration Statement, all of which will be borne by NGL Energy Partners LP:
|
|
|
|
|
SEC Registration Fee
|
|
$
|
44,530.29
|
|
Legal Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
|
*
|
Accounting Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
|
*
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
$
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
*
-
These
fees are calculated based on the number of issuances and amount of securities offered and, accordingly, cannot be estimated at this time.
ITEM 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
NGL Energy Partners LP
Subject to any terms, conditions or restrictions set forth in our partnership agreement, Section 17-108 of the Delaware Revised Uniform
Limited Partnership Act empowers a Delaware limited partnership to indemnify and hold harmless any partner or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever. The section of
the prospectus entitled "Our Partnership AgreementIndemnification" discloses that we will generally indemnify officers, directors and affiliates of our general partner to the fullest
extent permitted by the law against all losses, claims, damages or similar events and is incorporated herein by reference.
Under
our partnership agreement, in most circumstances, we will indemnify the following persons, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against all losses, claims, damages or
similar events:
-
-
our general partner, NGL Energy Holdings LLC (our "general partner");
-
-
any departing general partner;
-
-
any person who is or was an affiliate of our general partner or any departing general partner;
-
-
any person who is or was a manager, managing member, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of our partnership, our
subsidiaries, our general partner, any departing general partner or any of their affiliates;
-
-
any person who is or was serving as a manager, managing member, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another person
owing a fiduciary duty to us or our subsidiaries;
-
-
any person who controls our general partner or any departing general partner; and
-
-
any person designated by our general partner.
Any
indemnification under these provisions will only be out of our assets. Unless our general partner otherwise agrees, it will not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to
contribute or lend funds or assets to us to enable us to effectuate, indemnification. We may purchase insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by persons for our
activities, regardless of whether we would have the power to indemnify the person against liabilities under our partnership agreement.
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NGL Energy Holdings LLC
Section 18-108 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the "Delaware LLC Act"), provides that, subject to such standards
and restrictions, if any, as are set forth in its limited liability company agreement, a Delaware limited liability company may, and shall have the power to, indemnify and hold harmless any member or
manager or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever. The limited liability company agreement of NGL Energy Holdings LLC, our general partner, provides that our
general partner shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of our general partner, or is or was serving at the request of our general partner as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (an "indemnitee"), against expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees), judgments, fines
and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding to the full extent permitted by the Delaware LLC Act, upon
such determination having been made as to such indemnitee's good faith and conduct as is required by the Delaware LLC Act. The limited liability company agreement of our general partner also
provides that expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by our general partner in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding
to the extent, if any, authorized by our general partner's sole member in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware LLC Act, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the
indemnitee to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified by our general partner. Officers, directors and affiliates of our general partner
are also indemnified by us, as described above.
Directors' and Officers' Liability Insurance
Our general partner maintains directors' and officers' liability insurance policies covering its officers and directors against liabilities
asserted and expenses incurred in connection with their activities as officers and directors of our general partner or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries, including the Partnership. These
insurance policies may be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of our general partner's directors and officers for liabilities, including reimbursement of expenses incurred, arising under the
Securities Act or otherwise.
Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, the registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is
therefore unenforceable.
ITEM 16. Exhibits.
(a) See
the Exhibit Index on the page immediately preceding the exhibits for a list of exhibits filed as part of this registration statement on Form S-3, which
Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) Financial
Statement Schedules
Not
Applicable.
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ITEM 17. Undertakings.
(a) The
undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To
file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To
include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof)
which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of
securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may
be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum
aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is
contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement; and
(iii) To
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement;
provided
,
however
, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (ii), and (iii) do not apply if the
registration statement is on Form S-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is
contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That,
for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To
remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That,
for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) If
the registrant is relying on Rule 430B:
(A) Each
prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus
was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each
prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to
an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed
to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities
in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for
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liability
purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in
the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no
statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration
statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made
in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or
(ii) If
the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering,
other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration
statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in
a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of
sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document
immediately prior to such date of first use.
(b) The
undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual
report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to
section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(d) The
undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For
purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration
statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act
shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For
the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Tulsa, State of
Oklahoma, on November 7, 2016.
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NGL ENERGY PARTNERS LP
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By:
|
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NGL ENERGY HOLDING LLC.,
its general partner
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By:
|
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/s/ H. MICHAEL KRIMBILL
|
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Name:
|
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H. Michael Krimbill
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Title:
|
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Chief Executive Officer
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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Signature
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Title
|
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Date
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/s/ H. MICHAEL KRIMBILL
H. Michael Krimbill
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Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
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|
November 7, 2016
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/s/ ROBERT W. KARLOVICH III
Robert W. Karlovich III
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
|
|
November 7, 2016
|
/s/ LAWRENCE W. THUILLIER
Lawrence W. Thuillier
|
|
Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
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|
November 7, 2016
|
/s/ CHRISTOPHER BEALL
Christopher Beall
|
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Director
|
|
November 7, 2016
|
/s/ SHAWN W. COADY
Shawn W. Coady
|
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Director
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|
November 7, 2016
|
/s/ JAMES M. COLLINGSWORTH
James M. Collingsworth
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Director
|
|
November 7, 2016
|
II-5
Table of Contents
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Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
/s/ STEPHEN L. CROPPER
Stephen L. Cropper
|
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Director
|
|
November 7, 2016
|
/s/ BRYAN K. GUDERIAN
Bryan K. Guderian
|
|
Director
|
|
November 7, 2016
|
/s/ JAMES C. KNEALE
James C. Kneale
|
|
Director
|
|
November 7, 2016
|
/s/ VINCENT J. OSTERMAN
Vincent J. Osterman
|
|
Director
|
|
November 7, 2016
|
/s/ JOHN RAYMOND
John Raymond
|
|
Director
|
|
November 7, 2016
|
/s/ PATRICK WADE
Patrick Wade
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Director
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November 7, 2016
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II-6
Table of Contents
EXHIBIT LIST
|
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Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
|
1.1
|
**
|
Underwriting Agreement.
|
|
2.1
|
|
LLC Interest Transfer Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2013, by and among Oilfield Water Lines, LP, as the Representative, OWL Pearsall SWD, LLC, OWL Pearsall Holdings, LLC, NGL Energy Partners,
LP and High Sierra Water-Eagle Ford, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on August 7, 2013).
|
|
2.2
|
|
LLC Interest Transfer Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2013, by and among Oilfield Water Lines, LP, as the Representative, OWL Karnes SWD, LLC, OWL Karnes Holdings, LLC, NGL Energy Partners,
LP and High Sierra Water-Eagle Ford, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on August 7, 2013).
|
|
2.3
|
|
LLC Interest Transfer Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2013, by and among Oilfield Water Lines, LP, OWL Cotulla SWD, LLC, Terry Bailey, as trustee of the PJB Irrevocable Trust, NGL Energy Partners,
LP and High Sierra Water-Eagle Ford, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on August 7, 2013).
|
|
2.4
|
|
LLC Interest Transfer Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2013, by and among Oilfield Water Lines, LP, OWL Nixon SWD, LLC, Terry Bailey, as trustee of the PJB Irrevocable Trust, NGL Energy Partners,
LP and High Sierra Water-Eagle Ford, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on August 7, 2013).
|
|
2.5
|
|
LLC Interest Transfer Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2013, by and among Oilfield Water Lines, LP, HR OWL, LLC, OWL Operating, LLC, Lotus Oilfield Services, L.L.C., OWL Lotus, LLC, NGL Energy
Partners, LP, High Sierra Water-Eagle Ford, LLC and High Sierra Transportation, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.5 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on August 7,
2013).
|
|
2.6
|
|
Equity Interest Purchase Agreement, dated November 5, 2013, by and among NGL Energy Partners LP, High Sierra Energy, LP, Gavilon, LLC and Gavilon Energy Intermediate, LLC (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on December 5, 2013).
|
|
4.1
|
|
First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 3, 2011, by and among the Partnership, Hicks Oils & Hicksgas, Incorporated, NGL Holdings, Inc., Krim2010, LLC,
Infrastructure Capital Management, LLC, Atkinson Investors, LLC, E. Osterman Propane, Inc. and the other holders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File
No. 001-35172) filed on October 7, 2011).
|
|
4.2
|
|
Amendment No. 1 and Joinder to First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement dated as of November 1, 2011 by and between NGL Energy Holdings LLC and SemStream (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on November 4, 2011).
|
II-7
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
|
4.3
|
|
Amendment No. 2 and Joinder to First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 3, 2012, by and among NGL Energy Holdings LLC, Liberty Propane, L.L.C., Pacer-Enviro Propane, L.L.C.,
Pacer-Pittman Propane, L.L.C., Pacer-Portland Propane, L.L.C., Pacer Propane (Washington), L.L.C., Pacer-Salida Propane, L.L.C. and Pacer-Utah Propane, L.L.C. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File
No. 001-35172) filed on January 9, 2012).
|
|
4.4
|
|
Amendment No. 3 and Joinder to First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 1, 2012, by and between NGL Energy Holdings LLC and Downeast Energy Corp. (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on May 4, 2012).
|
|
4.5
|
|
Amendment No. 4 and Joinder to First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 19, 2012, by and between NGL Energy Holdings LLC and NGP M&R HS LP LLC (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on June 25, 2012)
|
|
4.6
|
|
Amendment No. 5 and Joinder to First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 1, 2012, by and among NGL Energy Holdings LLC and Enstone, LLC (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on October 3, 2012).
|
|
4.7
|
|
Amendment No. 6 and Joinder to First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 13, 2012, by and between NGL Energy Holdings LLC and Gerald L. Jensen, Thrift Opportunity Holdings,
LP, Jenco Petroleum Corporation, Caritas Trust, Animosus Trust and Nitor Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on November 19, 2012).
|
|
4.8
|
|
Amendment No. 7 and Joinder to First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2013, by and among NGL Energy Partners LLC, Oilfield Water Lines, LP and Terry G.
Bailey (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on August 7, 2013).
|
|
4.9
|
|
Amendment No. 8 and Joinder to First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2015, by and among NGL Energy Holdings LLC and Magnum NGL Holdco LLC (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-35172) for the year ended March 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on June 1, 2015).
|
|
4.10
|
|
Amendment No. 9 and Joinder to First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 25, 2016, by and among NGL Energy Holdings LLC and Magnum NGL Holdco LLC (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-35172) for the year ended March 31, 2016 filed with the SEC on May 27, 2016).
|
|
4.11
|
|
Note Purchase Agreement, dated June 19, 2012, by and among NGL and the purchasers named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172)
filed on June 25, 2012).
|
|
4.12
|
|
Amendment No. 1 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 15, 2013, among the Partnership and the purchasers named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on
Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on January 18, 2013).
|
II-8
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
|
4.13
|
|
Amendment No. 2 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2013, among the Partnership and the purchasers named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K
(File No. 001-35172) filed on May 9, 2013).
|
|
4.14
|
|
Amendment No. 3 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated September 30, 2013, among NGL Energy Partners LP and the holders of NGL's 6.65% senior secured notes due 2022 signatory thereto (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on October 3, 2013).
|
|
4.15
|
|
Amendment No. 4 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 5, 2013, among the Partnership and the purchasers named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on
Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on November 8, 2013).
|
|
4.16
|
|
Amendment No. 5 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2013, among the Partnership and the purchasers named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on
Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on December 30, 2013).
|
|
4.17
|
|
Amendment No. 6 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2014, among the Partnership and the purchasers named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on
Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on July 3, 2014).
|
|
4.18
|
|
Amendment No. 7 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2014 and effective as of December 26, 2014, among the Partnership and the purchasers named therein (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on January 2, 2015).
|
|
4.19
|
|
Amendment No. 8 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2015, among the Partnership and the purchasers named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.18 to the Annual Report on
Form 10-K (File No. 001-35172) for the year ended March 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on June 1, 2015).
|
|
4.20
|
|
Amendment No. 9 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2015, among the Partnership and the purchasers named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q (File No. 001-35172) for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on February 9, 2016).
|
|
4.21
|
|
Amendment No. 10 to Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 9, 2016, among the Partnership and the purchasers named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.21 to the Annual Report on
Form 10-K (File No. 001-35172) for the year ended March 31, 2016 filed with the SEC on May 27, 2016).
|
|
4.22
|
|
Indenture, dated as of October 16, 2013, by and among NGL Energy Partners LP, NGL Energy Finance Corp., the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on October 16, 2013).
|
|
4.23
|
|
Forms of 6.875% Senior Notes due 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on October 16, 2013).
|
|
4.24
|
|
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 2, 2013, among NGL Energy Partners LP, NGL Energy Finance Corp., the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries party thereto, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank
National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.19 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on May 30, 2014).
|
II-9
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
|
4.25
|
|
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 22, 2014, among NGL Energy Partners LP, NGL Energy Finance Corp., the Guaranteeing Subsidiary party thereto, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National
Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.20 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on May 30, 2014).
|
|
4.26
|
|
Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 31, 2014, among NGL Energy Partners LP, NGL Energy Finance Corp., the Guaranteeing Subsidiary party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-35172) for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 filed with the SEC on November 10, 2014).
|
|
4.27
|
|
Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 1, 2014, among NGL Energy Partners LP, NGL Energy Finance Corp., the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries party thereto, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank
National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.25 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-35172) for the year ended March 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on June 1, 2015).
|
|
4.28
|
|
Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 17, 2015, among NGL Energy Partners LP, NGL Energy Finance Corp., the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries party thereto, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank
National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.26 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-35172) for the year ended March 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on June 1, 2015).
|
|
4.29
|
|
Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 21, 2015, among NGL Energy Partners LP, NGL Energy Finance Corp., the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries party thereto, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank
National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-35172) for the quarter ended September 30, 2015 filed with the SEC on November 9,
2015).
|
|
4.30
|
|
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 16, 2013, by and among NGL Energy Partners LP, NGL Energy Finance Corp., the Guarantors listed therein on Exhibit A and RBC Capital Markets, LLC
as representative of the several initial purchasers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on October 16, 2013).
|
|
4.31
|
|
Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 2, 2013, by and among NGL Energy Partners LP and the purchasers set forth on Schedule A thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on December 5, 2013).
|
|
4.32
|
|
Indenture, dated as of July 9, 2014, by and among NGL Energy Partners LP, NGL Energy Finance Corp., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on July 9, 2014).
|
|
4.33
|
|
Forms of 5.125% Senior Notes due 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on July 9, 2014).
|
|
4.34
|
|
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 9, 2014, by and among NGL Energy Partners LP, NGL Energy Finance Corp., the guarantors listed therein on Exhibit A and RBS Securities Inc. as
representative of the several initial purchasers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed on July 9, 2014).
|
II-10
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
|
4.35
|
|
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 31, 2014, among NGL Energy Partners LP, NGL Energy Finance Corp., the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-35172) for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 filed with the SEC on November 10, 2014).
|
|
4.36
|
|
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 1, 2014, among NGL Energy Partners LP, NGL Energy Finance Corp., the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries party thereto, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank
National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.32 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-35172) for the year ended March 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on June 1, 2015).
|
|
4.37
|
|
Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 17, 2015, among NGL Energy Partners LP, NGL Energy Finance Corp., the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries party thereto, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank
National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.33 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-35172) for the year ended March 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on June 1, 2015).
|
|
4.38
|
|
Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 21, 2015, among NGL Energy Partners LP, NGL Energy Finance Corp., the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries party thereto, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank
National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-35172) for the quarter ended September 30, 2015 filed with the SEC on November 9,
2015).
|
|
4.39
|
|
Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 11, 2016, by and among NGL Energy Partners LP and Highstar NGL Prism/IV-A Interco LLC and Highstar NGL Main Interco LLC (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed with the SEC on June 28, 2016).
|
|
4.40
|
|
Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 24, 2016, by and among NGL Energy Partners LP and Highstar NGL Prism/IV-A Interco LLC, Highstar NGL Main Interco LLC and NGL CIV A, LLC
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed with the SEC on June 28, 2016).
|
|
4.41
|
|
Indenture, dated as of October 24, 2016, by and among NGL Energy Partners LP, NGL Energy Finance Corp., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed with the SEC on October 24, 2016).
|
|
4.42
|
|
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 24, 2016, by and among NGL Energy Partners LP, NGL Energy Finance Corp., the guarantors listed therein on Exhibit A and Barclays Capital Inc. as
representative of the several initial purchasers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35172) filed with the SEC on October 24, 2016).
|
|
5.1
|
*
|
Opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP.
|
|
8.1
|
*
|
Opinion of Winston & Strawn as to tax matters.
|
|
23.1
|
*
|
Consent of Grant Thornton LLP.
|
|
23.2
|
*
|
Consent of KPMG, LLP.
|
|
23.8
|
*
|
Consent of Andrews Kurth LLP (contained in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).
|
|
23.9
|
*
|
Consent of Winston & Strawn (contained in the opinion filed as Exhibit 8.1).
|
II-11
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
|
24.1
|
|
Powers of Attorney (included in Part II as part of the signature page of the Registration Statement).
|
-
-
Previously
filed.
-
*
-
Filed
herewith.
-
**
-
To
be filed as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K of the registrant filed at a later date in connection with a specific offering, if any.
II-12
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