UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the fiscal year ended | |||||
or | |||||
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the transition period from to
Commission file number: 001-35779
(Exact name of registrant as Specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (512 ) 473-2662
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” or an “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||||||||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | |||||||||
| Emerging growth company | |||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C.7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of common units held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2023, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was $1.0 billion. This calculation does not reflect a determination that such persons are affiliates for any other purpose.
As of February 8, 2024, there were 103,001,911 common units outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: NONE
Table of Contents
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Glossary
The abbreviations, acronyms, and industry terminology used in this Annual Report are defined as follows:
| COVID-19 | novel coronavirus 2019 | |||||||
| Credit Agreement | Seventh Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 8, 2021, by and among USA Compression Partners, LP, as borrower, the guarantors party thereto from time to time, the lenders party thereto from time to time, as may be amended from time to time, and any predecessor thereto if the context so dictates | |||||||
| CPI | Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers | |||||||
| DERs | distribution equivalent rights | |||||||
| DRIP | distribution reinvestment plan | |||||||
| EBITDA | earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization | |||||||
| EIA | United States Energy Information Agency | |||||||
| Energy Transfer | Energy Transfer LP, for periods following its merger with Energy Transfer Operating, L.P., and Energy Transfer Operating, L.P. for periods prior to such merger | |||||||
| Exchange Act | Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended | |||||||
| GAAP | generally accepted accounting principles of the United States of America | |||||||
| LNG | Liquefied natural gas | |||||||
| NYSE | New York Stock Exchange | |||||||
| Preferred Units | Series A Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in USA Compression Partners, LP | |||||||
| SEC | United States Securities and Exchange Commission | |||||||
| Senior Notes 2026 | $725.0 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due on April 1, 2026 | |||||||
| Senior Notes 2027 | $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due on September 1, 2027 | |||||||
| SOFR | Secured Overnight Financing Rate | |||||||
| U.S. | United States of America | |||||||
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PART I
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains “forward-looking statements.” All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this report are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our plans, strategies, prospects, and expectations concerning our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Many of these statements can be identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “project,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue,” “if,” “outlook,” “will,” “could,” “should,” or similar words or the negatives thereof.
Known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those represented within these forward-looking statements are described below, in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” and in Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements include, among other things:
•changes in economic conditions of the crude oil and natural gas industries, including any impact from the ongoing military conflict involving Russia and Ukraine or the heightened tensions in the Middle East;
•changes in general economic conditions, including inflation or supply chain disruptions;
•changes in the long-term supply of and demand for crude oil and natural gas, including as a result of actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response to world health events, and the resulting disruption in the oil and gas industry and impact on demand for oil and gas;
•competitive conditions in our industry, including competition for employees in a tight labor market;
•changes in the availability and cost of capital, including changes to interest rates;
•renegotiation of material terms of customer contracts;
•actions taken by our customers, competitors, and third-party operators;
•operating hazards, natural disasters, epidemics, pandemics, weather-related impacts, casualty losses, and other matters beyond our control;
•the deterioration of the financial condition of our customers, which may result in the initiation of bankruptcy proceedings with respect to certain customers;
•the restrictions on our business that are imposed under our long-term debt agreements;
•information technology risks including the risk from cyberattacks, cybersecurity breaches, and other disruptions to our information systems;
•the effects of existing and future laws and governmental regulations; and
•the effects of future litigation.
New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict or anticipate all factors that could affect results reflected in the forward-looking statements contained herein. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements included in this report are based on information available to us as of the date of this report and speak only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements.
ITEM 1. Business
USA Compression Partners, LP (the “Partnership”) is a growth-oriented Delaware limited partnership. We are managed by our general partner, USA Compression GP, LLC (the “General Partner”), which is wholly owned by Energy Transfer.
All references in this section to the Partnership, as well as the terms “our,” “we,” “us,” and “its” refer to USA Compression Partners, LP, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires or where otherwise indicated.
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Overview
We believe that we are one of the largest independent providers of natural gas compression services in the U.S. in terms of total compression fleet horsepower. We have been providing compression services since 1998 and completed our initial public offering in January 2013. On April 2, 2018, we acquired all of the equity interests in CDM Resource Management LLC and CDM Environmental & Technical Services LLC (the “CDM Acquisition”).
As of December 31, 2023, we had 3,775,660 horsepower in our fleet. We provide compression services to our customers primarily in connection with infrastructure applications, including both allowing for the processing and transportation of natural gas through the domestic pipeline system and enhancing crude oil production through artificial lift processes. As such, our compression services play a critical role in the production, processing, and transportation of both natural gas and crude oil.
We provide compression services in shale plays throughout the U.S., including the Utica, Marcellus, Permian Basin, Delaware Basin, Eagle Ford, Mississippi Lime, Granite Wash, Woodford, Barnett, Haynesville, Niobrara, and Fayetteville shales. Demand for our services is driven by the domestic production of natural gas and crude oil. As such, we have focused our activities in areas with attractive natural gas and crude oil production, which generally are found in these shale and unconventional resource plays. According to studies promulgated by the EIA, the production and transportation volumes in these shale plays are expected to collectively increase over the long term. Furthermore, changes in production volumes and pressures of shale plays over time require a wider range of compression service levels than in conventional basins. We believe we are well-positioned to meet these changing operating conditions due to the operational design flexibility inherit within our compression-unit fleets.
Our business largely focuses on compression services serving infrastructure applications, including centralized natural gas gathering systems and processing facilities, which utilize large horsepower compression units, typically in shale plays. We also provide compression services in more mature basins, including gas lift applications on crude oil wells targeted by horizontal drilling techniques. Gas lift is a process by which natural gas is injected into the production tubing of an existing producing well to reduce hydrostatic pressure and allow the oil to flow at a higher rate. This process, and other artificial-lift technologies are critical to the enhancement of oil production from horizontal wells operating in tight shale plays.
We operate a modern fleet of compression units, with an average age of approximately 11 years. We acquire our compression units primarily from third-party fabricators who build the units to our specifications, utilizing specific components from original equipment manufacturers and assembling the units in a manner that provides us the ability to meet certain operating condition thresholds. Our standard new-build compression units generally are configured for multiple compression stages, which allows us to operate our units across a broad range of operating conditions. The design flexibility of our units, particularly in midstream applications, allows us to enter into longer-term contracts and reduces the redeployment risk of our horsepower in the field. Our modern and standardized fleet, decentralized field level operating structure and technical proficiency in predictive and preventive maintenance and overhaul operations have enabled us to achieve average service run times consistently at or above the levels required by our customers and maintain high overall utilization rates for our fleet.
As part of our services, we engineer, design, operate, service, and repair our compression units and maintain related support inventory and equipment. The compression units in our modern fleet are designed to be easily adaptable to fit our customers’ changing compression requirements. Focusing on the needs of our customers and providing them with reliable and flexible compression services in geographic areas of attractive production helps us to generate stable and predictable cash flows in the near term.
We provide compression services to our customers under fixed-fee contracts with initial contract terms that typically range from six months to five years, depending on the application and location of the compression unit. We typically continue to provide compression services at a specific location beyond the initial contract term, either through contract renewal or on a month-to-month or longer basis. We primarily enter into fixed-fee contracts whereby our customers are required to pay our monthly fee even during periods of limited or disrupted throughput, which enhances the stability and predictability of our cash flows. We are not directly exposed to commodity price risk because we do not take title to the natural gas or crude oil involved in our services and because the natural gas used as fuel by our compression units is supplied by our customers without cost to us.
We provide compression services to major oil companies and independent producers, processors, gatherers and transporters of natural gas and crude oil. Regardless of the application for which our services are provided, our customers rely on the availability of the equipment used to provide compression services and our expertise to maximize the throughput of product, reduce fuel costs and minimize emissions. Our customers may have compression demands in conjunction with their field development projects in areas of the U.S. where we are not currently operating, and we continually consider further expansion of our geographic areas of operation in the U.S. based upon the level of customer demand. Our modern, flexible fleet of
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compression units, which have been designed to be rapidly deployed and redeployed throughout the country, provides us with opportunities to expand into other areas with both new and existing customers.
We also own and operate a fleet of equipment used to provide natural gas treating services, such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide removal and natural gas cooling and dehydration, to natural gas producers and midstream companies.
Our assets and operations are organized into a single reportable segment and all are located and operated within the U.S. See our consolidated financial statements, and the notes thereto, in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for financial information on our operations and assets; such information is incorporated herein by reference.
Our Operations
Compression Services
We provide compression services for a fixed monthly service fee. As part of our services, we engineer, design, operate, service, and repair our fleet of compression units and maintain related support inventory and equipment. In certain instances, we also engineer, design, install, operate, service, and repair certain ancillary equipment used in conjunction with our compression services. We consistently have provided average service run times at or above the levels required by our customers. In general, our team of field technicians services only our compression fleet and ancillary equipment. In limited circumstances, and for established customers, we will agree to service third-party owned equipment. We do not own any compression fabrication facilities.
Our Compression Fleet
The fleet of compression units that we own and use to provide compression services consists of specially engineered compression units that utilize standardized components, principally engines manufactured by Caterpillar Inc. and compressor frames and cylinders manufactured by Ariel Corporation. Our units can be rapidly and cost effectively modified for specific customer applications. As of December 31, 2023, the average age of our compression units was approximately 11 years. Our modern, standardized compression unit fleet is powered primarily by the Caterpillar 3400, 3500, and 3600 engine classes, which range from 401 to 5,000 horsepower per unit. These larger-horsepower units, which we define as 400 horsepower per unit or greater, represented 87.0% of our total fleet horsepower (including compression units on order) as of December 31, 2023. The remainder of our fleet consists of smaller-horsepower units ranging from 40 horsepower to 399 horsepower that are used primarily in gas lift applications. We believe the average age and overall composition of our compressor fleet result in fewer mechanical failures, lower fuel usage, and reduced environmental emissions.
The following table provides a summary of our compression units by horsepower as of December 31, 2023:
| Unit Horsepower | Fleet Horsepower | Number of Units | Horsepower on Order (1) | Number of Units on Order (1) | Total Horsepower | Number of Units | Percent of Total Horsepower | Percent of Units | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Small horsepower | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| <400 | 499,752 | 2,946 | — | — | 499,752 | 2,946 | 13.0 | % | 54.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Large horsepower | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ≥400 and <1,000 | 416,983 | 715 | — | — | 416,983 | 715 | 10.9 | % | 13.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ≥1,000 | 2,858,925 | 1,714 | 52,500 | 21 | 2,911,425 | 1,735 | 76.1 | % | 32.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total large horsepower | 3,275,908 | 2,429 | 52,500 | 21 | 3,328,408 | 2,450 | 87.0 | % | 45.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total horsepower | 3,775,660 | 5,375 | 52,500 | 21 | 3,828,160 | 5,396 | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
________________________
(1)As of December 31, 2023, we had 21 large horsepower units, consisting of 52,500 horsepower, on order for expected delivery during 2024.
Many of our compression units contain devices that enable us to monitor the units remotely through cellular and satellite networks to supplement our technicians’ on-site monitoring visits. We intend to continue to selectively add remote monitoring systems to our new and existing fleet during 2024 where beneficial from an operational and financial standpoint. All of our compression units are designed to automatically shut down if operating conditions deviate from a pre-determined range.
We adhere to routine, preventive, and scheduled maintenance cycles. Each of our compression units is subjected to rigorous sizing and diagnostic analyses, including lubricating oil analysis and engine exhaust emission analysis. We have proprietary field-service automation capabilities that allow our service technicians to electronically record and track operating,
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technical, environmental, and commercial information at the discrete unit level. These capabilities allow our field technicians to identify potential problems and often act on them before such problems result in down-time.
Generally, we expect each of our compression units to undergo a major overhaul between service deployment cycles. The timing of these major overhauls depends on multiple factors, including run time and operating conditions. A major overhaul involves the periodic rebuilding of the unit to materially extend its economic useful life or to enhance the unit’s ability to fulfill broader or more diversified compression applications. Because our compression fleet is comprised of units of varying horsepower that have been placed into service with staggered initial on-line dates, we are able to schedule overhauls in a way that avoids excessive annual maintenance capital expenditures and minimizes the revenue impacts of down-time.
We believe that our customers, by outsourcing their compression requirements, can achieve higher compression run-times, which translates into increased volumes of either natural gas or crude oil production and, therefore, increased revenues. Utilizing our compression services also allows our customers to reduce their operating, maintenance, and equipment costs by allowing us to efficiently manage their changing compression needs. In many of our service contracts, we guarantee our customers availability (as described below) ranging from 95% to 98%, depending on field-level requirements.
Marketing and Sales
Our marketing and client service functions are performed on a coordinated basis by our sales team and field technicians. Salespeople, applications engineers, and field technicians qualify, analyze, and scope new compression applications as well as regularly visit our customers to ensure customer satisfaction, determine a customer’s needs related to existing services being provided, and determine the customer’s future compression service requirements. This ongoing communication allows us to quickly identify and respond to our customers’ compression requirements.
Customers
Our customers consist of approximately 275 companies in the energy industry, including major integrated oil companies, public and private independent exploration and production companies, and midstream companies. Our ten largest customers accounted for approximately 39%, 38%, and 39% of our total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
Suppliers and Service Providers
The principal manufacturers of components for our natural gas compression equipment include Caterpillar Inc., Cummins Inc., and Arrow Engine Company for engines; Air-X-Changers and Alfa Laval (US) for coolers; and Ariel Corporation, Cooper Machinery Services Gemini products, and Arrow Engine Company for compressor frames and cylinders. We also rely primarily on four vendors, A G Equipment Company, Alegacy Equipment, LLC., Standard Equipment Company, and Genis Holdings LLC, to package and assemble our compression units. Although we primarily rely on these suppliers, we believe alternative sources for natural gas compression equipment generally are available if needed. However, relying on alternative sources may increase our costs and change the standardized nature of our fleet. We have not experienced any material supply problems to date. Lead-times for new Caterpillar engines and new Ariel compressor frames have in the recent past varied between six months to over one year due to changes in demand and supply allocations, and as of December 31, 2023, lead-times for such engines and frames are approximately one year. Please read Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Business – We depend on a limited number of suppliers and are vulnerable to product shortages and price increases, which could have a negative impact on our results of operations”.
Competition
The compression services business is highly competitive. Some of our competitors have a broader geographic scope and greater financial and other resources than we do. On a regional basis, we experience competition from numerous smaller companies that may be able to more quickly adapt to changes within our industry and changes in economic conditions as a whole, more readily take advantage of available opportunities, and adopt more aggressive pricing policies. Additionally, the historical availability of attractive financing terms from financial institutions and equipment manufacturers has made the purchase of individual compression units more affordable to our customers. We believe that we compete effectively on the basis of price, equipment availability, customer service, flexibility in meeting customer needs, quality and reliability of our compressors, and related services. Please read Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Business – We face significant competition that may cause us to lose market share and reduce our cash available for distribution”.
Seasonality
Our results of operations have not historically been materially affected by seasonality, and we do not currently have reason to believe that seasonal fluctuations will have a material impact in the foreseeable future.
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Insurance
We believe that our insurance coverage is customary for the industry and adequate for our business. As is customary in the energy services industry, we review our safety equipment and procedures, and carry insurance against most, but not all, risks of our business. Losses and liabilities not covered by insurance would increase our costs. The compression business can be hazardous, involving unforeseen circumstances such as uncontrollable flows of gas or well fluids, fires and explosions, or environmental damage. To address the hazards inherent in our business, we maintain insurance coverage that, subject to significant deductibles, includes physical damage coverage, third-party general liability insurance, employer’s liability, environmental and pollution, and other coverage, although coverage for environmental- and pollution-related losses is subject to significant limitations. Under the terms of our standard compression services contract, we are responsible for maintaining insurance coverage on our compression equipment. Please read Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors – General Risk Factors – We do not insure against all potential losses and could be seriously harmed by unexpected liabilities”.
Governmental Regulations
We are subject to stringent and complex federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to protection of human health, safety, and the environment. These regulations include compliance obligations for air emissions, water quality, wastewater discharges, and solid and hazardous waste disposal, as well as regulations designed for the protection of human health and safety, and threatened or endangered species. Compliance with these environmental laws and regulations may expose us to significant costs and liabilities and cause us to incur significant capital expenditures in our operations. We often are obligated to provide information to customers in obtaining permits or approvals in our operations from various federal, state, and local authorities. Permits and approvals can be denied or delayed, which may cause us to lose potential and current customers, interrupt our operations, and limit our growth and revenue. Moreover, failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil, and criminal penalties, imposition of remedial obligations, and the issuance of injunctions delaying or prohibiting operations. Private parties also may have the right to pursue legal actions to enforce compliance as well as to seek damages for non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations or for personal injury or property damage. While we believe that our operations are in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and that continued compliance with current requirements would not have a material adverse effect on us, we cannot predict whether our cost of compliance will materially increase in the future. Any changes in, or more stringent enforcement of, existing environmental laws and regulations, or passage of additional environmental laws and regulations that result in more stringent and costly pollution control equipment, waste handling, storage, transport, disposal, or remediation requirements could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial position.
We do not believe that compliance with current federal, state, or local laws and regulations will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. We cannot assure you, however, that future events such as changes in existing laws or regulations or enforcement policies, the promulgation of new laws or regulations, or the development or discovery of new facts or conditions or unforeseen incidents will not cause us to incur significant costs. The following is a discussion of material environmental and safety laws that relate to our operations. We believe that we are in substantial compliance with all of these environmental laws and regulations. Please read Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Governmental Legislation and Regulation – We and our customers are subject to substantial environmental regulation, and changes in these regulations could increase our and their costs or liabilities and result in decreased demand for our services”.
Air emissions. The Clean Air Act (“CAA”) and comparable state laws regulate emissions of air pollutants from various industrial sources, including natural gas compressors, and impose certain monitoring and reporting requirements. Such emissions are regulated by air emissions permits, which are applied for and obtained through various state or federal regulatory agencies. Our standard natural gas compression contract provides that the customer is responsible for obtaining air emissions permits and assuming the environmental risks related to site operations. In some instances, our customers may be required to aggregate emissions from a number of different sources on the theory that the different sources should be considered a single source. Any such determinations could have the effect of making projects more costly than our customers expected and could require the installation of more costly emissions controls, which may lead some of our customers not to pursue certain projects.
Increased obligations of operators to reduce air emissions of nitrogen oxides and other pollutants from internal combustion engines in transmission service have been imposed by governmental authorities. For example, in 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published new regulations under the CAA to control emissions of hazardous air pollutants from existing stationary reciprocal internal combustion engines, also known as Quad Z regulations. The rule requires us to undertake certain expenditures and activities, including purchasing and installing emissions control equipment on certain compressor engines and generators.
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In recent years, the EPA has lowered the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (“NAAQS”) for several air pollutants. For example, in 2015, the EPA finalized a rule strengthening the primary and secondary standards for ground-level ozone, both of which are eight-hour concentration standards of 70 parts per billion (the “2015 NAAQS”). In December 2020, the EPA announced its decision to retain, without changes, the 2015 NAAQS. After the EPA revises a NAAQS standard, the states are expected to establish revised attainment/non-attainment regions. State implementation of the 2015 NAAQS could result in stricter permitting requirements, delay, or prohibit our customers’ ability to obtain such permits, and result in increased expenditures for pollution-control equipment, which could impact our customers’ operations, increase the cost of additions to property and equipment, and negatively impact our business.
In 2012, the EPA finalized rules that establish new air emissions controls for oil and natural gas production and natural gas processing operations. Specifically, the EPA’s rule package included New Source Performance Standards (“NSPS”) to address emissions of sulfur dioxide and volatile organic compounds (“VOCs”) and a separate set of emissions standards to address hazardous air pollutants frequently associated with crude oil and natural gas production and processing activities. The rules established specific new requirements regarding emissions from compressors and controllers at natural gas processing plants, dehydrators, storage tanks, and other production equipment, as well as the first federal air standards for natural gas wells that are hydraulically fractured. In June 2016, the EPA expanded these regulations when it published additional NSPS, known as Subpart OOOOa, that require certain new, modified, or reconstructed facilities in the oil and gas sector to reduce methane gas and VOC emissions. These Subpart OOOOa standards expanded the 2012 NSPS by mandating certain equipment-specific emissions control practices, requiring additional controls for pneumatic controllers and pumps as well as compressors, and imposing leak detection and repair requirements for natural gas compressor and booster stations. In addition, in December 2023, the EPA issued rules to further reduce methane and VOC emissions from new and existing sources in the oil and gas sector.
Any additional regulation of air emissions from the oil and gas sector could result in increased expenditures for pollution control equipment, which could impact our customers’ operations and negatively impact our business.
We also are subject to air regulation at the state level. For example, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”) has finalized revisions to certain air permit programs that significantly increase the air permitting requirements for new and certain existing oil and gas production and gathering sites for 15 counties in the Barnett Shale production area. The final rule establishes new emissions standards for engines, which could impact the operation of specific categories of engines by requiring the use of alternative engines, compressor packages, or the installation of aftermarket emissions control equipment. The rule became effective for the Barnett Shale production area in April 2011, with the lower emissions standards becoming applicable between 2015 and 2030 depending on the type of engine and the permitting requirements. The cost to comply with the revised air permit programs is not expected to be material at this time. However, the TCEQ has stated it will consider expanding application of the new air permit program statewide. At this point, we cannot predict the cost to comply with such requirements if the geographic scope is expanded.
There can be no assurance that future requirements compelling the installation of more sophisticated emissions control equipment would not have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash available for distribution.
Climate change. Methane, a primary component of natural gas, and carbon dioxide, a byproduct of the burning of natural gas, are examples of greenhouse gases (“GHGs”). The U.S. Congress, from time to time, has considered legislation to reduce GHG emissions. At the federal level, the government could seek to pursue legislative, regulatory, or executive initiatives that may impose significant restrictions on fossil-fuel exploration and production and use, such as limitations or bans on hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells, bans or restrictions on new leases for production of minerals on federal properties, and imposing restrictive requirements on new pipeline infrastructure or fossil-fuel export facilities. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA 2022”) imposes a methane emissions charge on certain oil and gas facilities, including onshore petroleum and natural gas production facilities, that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of carbon dioxide equivalent gas per year and exceed certain emissions thresholds. In January 2024, the EPA issued a proposed rule to impose and collect the methane emissions charge authorized under the IRA 2022. We do not believe that this methane fee will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Other energy legislation and initiatives could include a carbon tax or cap-and-trade program. At the state level, many states, including the states in which we or our customers conduct operations, have adopted legal requirements that have imposed new or more stringent permitting, disclosure, or well construction requirements on oil and gas activities. In addition, almost half of the states have begun to address GHG emissions, primarily through the planned development of emissions inventories or regional GHG cap-and-trade programs. Depending on the particular program, we could be required to control GHG emissions or to purchase and surrender allowances for GHG emissions resulting from our operations.
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Independent of the U.S. Congress, the EPA undertook to adopt regulations controlling GHG emissions under its existing CAA authority. For example, in 2009, the EPA officially published its findings that emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other GHGs endanger human health and the environment, allowing the agency to proceed with the adoption of regulations that restrict emissions of GHG under existing provisions of the CAA. In 2009 and 2010, the EPA adopted rules regarding regulation of GHG emissions from motor vehicles and required the reporting of GHG emissions in the U.S. from specified large GHG emissions sources, including petroleum and natural gas facilities such as natural gas transmission compression facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.
In addition, from time to time, there have been various proposals to regulate hydraulic fracturing at the federal level. Hydraulic fracturing involves the injection of water, sand, and chemicals under pressure into the rock formation to stimulate oil and gas production. Any limitations or bans on hydraulic fracturing at the federal level could increase the costs of operations for our customers who operate on federal land, and negatively impact our business.
Some states also have passed legislation or regulations regarding hydraulic fracturing. For example, in 2019, Colorado passed Senate Bill 19-181, which delegates authority to local governments to regulate oil and gas activities and requires the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to minimize emissions of methane and other air contaminants. Some local communities have adopted additional restrictions for oil and gas activities, such as requiring greater setbacks, and some groups are petitioning local governments to ban hydraulic fracturing. If additional regulatory measures are adopted that ban or restrict production of natural gas through hydraulic fracturing, our customers could experience delays, limitations, or prohibitions on their activities. Such delays, limitations, or prohibitions could result in decreased demand for our services.
Litigation risks also are increasing, as several cities, local governments, and other plaintiffs have sued companies engaged in the exploration and production of fossil fuels in state and federal courts, alleging various legal theories to recover for the impacts of alleged global warming effects, such as rising sea levels. Many of these suits allege that the companies have been aware of the adverse effects of climate change for some time but defrauded their investors by failing to adequately disclose those impacts. Although a number of these lawsuits have been dismissed, others remain pending and the outcome of these cases remains difficult to predict.
At the international level, nearly 200 nations entered into an international climate agreement at the 2015 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, under which participating countries did not assume any binding obligation to reduce future emissions of GHGs but instead pledged to voluntarily limit or reduce future emissions. The Paris Agreement went into effect on November 4, 2016, and the U.S. formally rejoined in February 2021. The U.S. has established an economy-wide target of reducing its net GHG emissions by 50-52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving net zero GHG emissions economy-wide by no later than 2050. In addition, certain U.S. city and state governments have announced their intention to satisfy their proportionate obligations under the Paris Agreement.
Although it is not currently possible to predict with specificity how any proposed or future GHG legislation, regulation, agreements or initiatives will impact our business, any legislation or regulation of GHG emissions that may be imposed in areas in which we conduct business or on the assets we operate, including a carbon tax or cap-and-trade program, could result in increased compliance or operating costs, additional operating restrictions, or reduced demand for our services, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Notwithstanding potential risks related to climate change, the EIA estimates that crude oil and natural gas will continue to represent a major share of energy use through 2050. However, recent activism directed at shifting funding away from companies with energy-related assets could result in limitations or restrictions on certain sources of funding for the energy sector, which could have an adverse effect on our ability to obtain external financing.
Finally, some scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of GHG in Earth’s atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant weather-related effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, droughts, floods, and other climatic events. If any of those effects were to occur, they could have an adverse effect on our or our customers’ assets and operations, or result in increased cost or difficulty obtaining insurance. Another possible consequence of climate change is increased volatility in seasonal temperatures. The market for natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) and natural gas generally is impacted by periods of colder weather and warmer weather, so any changes in climate could affect the market for these fuels, and thus demand for our services. Despite the use of the term “global warming” as a shorthand for climate change, some studies indicate that climate change could cause some areas to experience temperatures substantially colder than their historical averages. As a result, it is difficult to predict how the market for our services could be affected by increased temperature volatility.
We recognize the need to decrease emissions and integrate alternative energy sources into our operations, and we actively pursue economically beneficial opportunities to reduce our environmental footprint. To that end, we have continued the commercialization of dual-drive technology in our natural gas compression services, deploying our first compression units with dual-drive technology in the third quarter of 2022. Dual-drive technology offers the ability to switch compression drivers
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between an electric motor and a natural gas engine, to reduce our emissions of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and VOCs.
Water discharge. The Clean Water Act (“CWA”) and analogous state laws impose restrictions and strict controls with respect to the discharge of pollutants, including spills and leaks of oil and other substances, into waters of the U.S. The discharge of pollutants into regulated waters is prohibited, except in accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the EPA or an analogous state agency. The CWA and regulations implemented thereunder also prohibit the discharge of dredge and fill material into regulated waters, including jurisdictional wetlands, unless authorized by an appropriately issued permit. The CWA also requires the development and implementation of spill prevention, control, and countermeasures, including the construction and maintenance of containment berms and similar structures, if required, to help prevent the contamination of navigable waters in the event of a petroleum hydrocarbon tank spill, rupture, or leak at such facilities. In addition, the CWA and analogous state laws require individual permits or coverage under general permits for discharges of storm water runoff from certain types of facilities. Federal and state regulatory agencies can impose administrative, civil, and criminal penalties as well as other enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance with discharge permits or other requirements of the CWA and analogous state laws and regulations.
Our compression operations do not generate process wastewaters that are discharged to waters of the U.S. In any event, our customers assume responsibility under the majority of our standard natural gas compression contracts for obtaining any permits that may be required under the CWA, whether for discharges or developing property by filling wetlands. On January 18, 2023, the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a final rule revising the standard for what constitutes jurisdictional waters and wetlands subject to the protections and requirements of the CWA (“2023 WOTUS Rule”). On May 25, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated parts of the 2023 WOTUS Rule in its decision in Sackett vs. EPA. In response to Sackett, the EPA issued a final rule conforming its definition of WOTUS to the Sackett decision and narrowing federal jurisdiction under the CWA. That rule became effective on September 8, 2023. Changes to the jurisdictional reach of the CWA could cause our customers to face increased costs and delays due to additional permitting and regulatory requirements, and possible challenges to permitting decisions.
Safe Drinking Water Act. A significant portion of our customers’ natural gas production is developed from unconventional sources that require hydraulic fracturing as part of the completion process. Legislation to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act (“SDWA”) to repeal the exemption for hydraulic fracturing from the definition of “underground injection” and require federal permitting and regulatory control of hydraulic fracturing, as well as legislative proposals to require disclosure of the chemical constituents of the fluids used in the fracturing process, have been proposed from time to time and the U.S. Congress continues to consider legislation to amend the SDWA. Several states also have proposed or adopted legislative or regulatory restrictions on hydraulic fracturing, including prohibitions on the practice. We cannot predict the future of such legislation and what additional, if any, provisions would be included. If additional levels of regulation, restrictions, and permits were required through the adoption of new laws and regulations at the federal or state level, or if the agencies that issue the permits develop new interpretations of those requirements, it could lead to delays, increased operating costs, and process prohibitions that could reduce demand for our compression services, which could materially adversely affect our revenue and results of operations.
Site remediation. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) and comparable state laws may impose strict, joint, and several liability without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct on certain classes of persons that contributed to the release of a hazardous substance into the environment. These persons include the current and former owners and operators of the site where the hazardous substance release occurred and any company that transported, disposed of, or arranged for the transport or disposal of the hazardous substance released at the site. Under CERCLA, such persons may be liable for the costs of remediating the hazardous substances that have been released into the environment, for damages to natural resources, and for the costs of certain health studies. In addition, where contamination may be present, neighboring landowners and other third parties sometimes file claims for personal injury, property damage, and recovery of response costs. While we generate materials in the course of our operations that may be regulated as hazardous substances, we have not received notification that we may be potentially responsible for cleanup costs under CERCLA at any site.
While we do not currently own or lease any material facilities or properties for storage or maintenance of our idle compression units, we may use third-party properties for such storage and possible maintenance and repair activities. In addition, our revenue-generating compression units typically are installed on properties owned or leased by third-party customers and operated by us pursuant to terms set forth in the natural gas compression services contracts executed by those customers. Under most of our natural gas compression services contracts, our customers must contractually indemnify us for certain damages we may suffer as a result of the release into the environment of hazardous and toxic substances. We are not currently responsible for any remedial activities at any properties we use; however, there always is the possibility that our future use of those properties may result in spills or releases of petroleum hydrocarbons, wastes, or other regulated substances into the environment that may cause us to become subject to remediation costs and liabilities under CERCLA, the Resource
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Conservation and Recovery Act or other environmental laws. We cannot provide any assurance that the costs and liabilities associated with the future imposition of such remedial obligations upon us would not have a material adverse effect on our operations or financial position.
Safety and health. The Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”) and comparable state laws strictly govern the protection of the health and safety of employees. The OSHA hazard communication standard, the EPA community right-to-know regulations under Title III of CERCLA, and similar state statutes require that we organize and, as necessary, disclose information about hazardous materials used or produced in our operations to various federal, state, and local agencies, as well as to employees.
Human Capital Management
USA Compression Management Services, LLC (“USAC Management”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the General Partner, performs management, administrative and operating services for us, and provides us with personnel to manage and operate our business. All of our employees, including our executive officers, are employees of USAC Management. As of December 31, 2023, USAC Management had 822 full-time employees. None of our employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements. We consider our employee relations to be good.
Our employees are our greatest asset, and we seek to attract and retain top talent by fostering a culture that is guided by our four pillars of people, culture, equipment, and service. These four pillars rest on a foundation of safety and guide our values in a manner that respects all people with a commitment to safety and the environments where we operate.
Ethics and Values. We are committed to operating our business in a manner that honors and respects all people and the communities in which we do business. We recognize that people are our most critical resource, and we are committed to hiring and investing in our employee base. We value employees for what they bring to our organization by embracing those from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We believe that one of the keys to our successes over time has been the cultivation of an atmosphere of inclusion and respect. These are the principles upon which we build and strengthen relationships among our people, our unitholders, our customers, and those within the communities we support.
We believe strict adherence to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is not only right, but is in our best interest and the best interest of our unitholders, our customers, and the industry in general. In all instances, our policies require that the business of the Partnership be conducted in a lawful and ethical manner. Every employee acting on behalf of the Partnership must adhere to our policies. Please refer to Part III, Item 10 “Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance” for additional information on our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
Commitment to Safety. We have a strong commitment to safety. We provide continuous training opportunities for employees, including training that is required by applicable laws, regulations, standards, and permit conditions. Our safety standards and expectations are clearly communicated to all employees with the expectation that each individual has the obligation to make safety their highest priority. Our safety culture promotes an open environment for discovering, resolving, and sharing safety challenges. We strive to eliminate unwanted safety events and support our safety culture through a comprehensive program that includes a dedicated field operations-based safety team, monthly employee safety meetings, and safety audits, among other things. A portion of our senior management bonuses and field leadership bonuses are dependent on our safety performance. We promote employee empowerment, leadership, communication, and personal responsibility to comply with standard operating procedures and regulatory requirements, effective risk reduction processes, and personal wellness. Our goal is operational excellence, which includes maintaining an injury- and incident-free workplace. To achieve this, we strive to hire and maintain a highly qualified and dedicated workforce, and create a safety culture with safety accountability as part of our daily operations. The OSHA Total Recordable Incident Rate (“TRIR”) is a key performance indicator by which we evaluate the success of our safety program. TRIR provides a measure of occupational safety performance for the year by calculating the number of recordable incidents compared to the total number of hours worked by all employees. Out of approximately 1.85 million hours worked in 2023, our TRIR was 0.65 for 2023 versus the 2023 industry average of 0.90. We believe our low TRIR speaks to our investment in and focus on safety.
Available Information
Our website address is usacompression.com. We make available, free of charge at the “Investor Relations” section of our website, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The information contained on our website does not constitute part of this report.
The SEC maintains a website that contains these reports at sec.gov.
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ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
As described in Part I “Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” this report contains forward-looking statements regarding us, our business, and our industry. The risk factors described below, among others, could cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements. If any of the following risks were to materialize, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In that case, we might not be able to continue to pay our current quarterly distribution on our common units or increase the level of such distributions in the future, and the trading price of our common units could decline.
Risk Factor Summary
Risks Related to Our Business
•We may not generate sufficient cash from operations following the establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses, including cost reimbursements to the General Partner, to enable us to make cash distributions on our common units at the current level.
•An extended reduction in the demand for, or production of, natural gas or crude oil could adversely affect the demand for our services or the prices we charge for our services, which could result in a decrease in our revenues and cash available for distribution to unitholders.
•We have several key customers. The loss of any of these customers would result in a decrease in our revenues and cash available for distribution.
•We face significant competition that may cause us to lose market share and reduce our cash available for distribution.
•Our customers may choose to vertically integrate their operations by purchasing and operating their own compression fleet, increasing the number of compression units they currently own, or using alternative technologies for enhancing crude oil production, which could result in a decrease in our revenues and cash available for distribution to unitholders.
•A significant portion of our services are provided to customers on a month-to-month basis, and we cannot be sure that such customers will continue to utilize our services. A discontinuation of our services by a significant number of these customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash available for distribution.
•Our debt level, including any increases in interest rates, may limit our flexibility in obtaining additional financing, pursuing other business opportunities, and paying distributions.
•We depend on a limited number of suppliers and are vulnerable to product shortages and price increases, which could have a negative impact on our results of operations.
•We may be unable to grow our cash flows if we are unable to expand our business, which could limit our ability to maintain or increase the level of distributions to our common unitholders.
•Our ability to fund purchases of additional compression units and expansion capital expenditures in the future is dependent on our ability to access external capital, and if we are unable to access this external capital, we may be limited in our ability to grow our operations or maintain or increase our distributions.
Risks Related to Governmental Legislation and Regulation
•We and our customers are subject to substantial environmental regulation, and changes in these regulations could increase our and their costs or liabilities and result in decreased demand for our services.
•New regulations, proposed regulations, and proposed modifications to existing regulations under the Clean Air Act, if implemented, could result in increased compliance costs.
Risks Inherent in an Investment in Us
•Holders of our common units have limited voting rights and are not entitled to elect the General Partner or its directors.
•Energy Transfer owns and controls the General Partner, and the General Partner has sole responsibility for conducting our business and managing our operations. The General Partner and its affiliates, including Energy Transfer, have conflicts of interest with us and limited fiduciary duties, and they may favor their own interests to the detriment of us and our unitholders.
•The Partnership Agreement limits the General Partner’s fiduciary duties to our unitholders.
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•The Partnership Agreement restricts the remedies available to our unitholders for actions taken by the General Partner that otherwise might constitute breaches of fiduciary duty.
•The Partnership Agreement restricts the voting rights of unitholders owning 20% or more of our common units.
•We may issue additional limited partner interests without the approval of unitholders, subject to certain Preferred Unit approval rights, which would dilute unitholders’ existing ownership interests and may increase the risk that we will not have sufficient available cash to maintain or increase our per-common-unit distribution level.
•Energy Transfer may sell, and the holders of the Preferred Units have sold and may continue to sell, our common units in the public or private markets, and such sales could have an adverse impact on the trading price of our common units.
•The General Partner has a call right that may require holders of our common units to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price.
•Unitholders may not have limited liability if a court finds that limited partner actions constitute control of our business.
•Unitholders may have liability to repay distributions that were wrongfully distributed to them.
•Our Partnership Agreement designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our unitholders, which would limit our unitholders’ ability to choose the judicial forum for disputes with us or our General Partner’s directors, officers, or other employees.
Tax Risks to Common Unitholders
•Our tax treatment depends on our status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. If the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) were to treat us as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or if we were to become subject to material additional amounts of entity-level taxation for state tax purposes, then our cash available for distribution would be substantially reduced.
•The tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships or an investment in our common units could be subject to potential legislative, judicial, or administrative changes or differing interpretations, possibly applied on a retroactive basis.
•Our unitholders’ share of our income will be taxable to them for federal income tax purposes even if they do not receive any cash distributions from us. Unitholders may not receive cash distributions from us equal to their share of our taxable income or even equal to the actual tax due from them with respect to that income.
•If the IRS makes audit adjustments to our income tax returns for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, it (and some states) may assess and collect any taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustments directly from us, in which case our cash available for distribution to our unitholders might be substantially reduced.
•Tax gain or loss on the disposition of our common units could be more or less than expected.
•Unitholders will be subject to limitation on their ability to deduct interest expense incurred by us.
•Non-U.S. unitholders will be subject to U.S. taxes and withholding with respect to their income and gain from owning our units.
•We treat each purchaser of our common units as having the same tax benefits without regard to the actual common units purchased. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of our common units.
•We generally prorate our items of income, gain, loss, and deduction for federal income tax purposes between transferors and transferees of our units each month based on the ownership of our units on the first day of each month, instead of on the basis of the date a particular unit is transferred. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could change the allocation of items of income, gain, loss, and deduction among our unitholders.
•We have adopted certain valuation methodologies in determining a unitholder’s allocations of income, gain, loss, and deduction. The IRS may challenge these methodologies or the resulting allocations, and such a challenge could adversely affect the value of our common units.
•As a result of investing in our common units, you will likely become subject to state and local taxes and income tax return filing requirements in jurisdictions where we operate or own or acquire properties.
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Risks Related to Our Business
We may not generate sufficient cash from operations following the establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses, including cost reimbursements to the General Partner, to enable us to make cash distributions on our common units at the current level.
To make cash distributions at our current distribution rate of $0.525 per common unit per quarter, or $2.10 per common unit per year, we will require available cash of $54.1 million per quarter, or $216.3 million per year, based on the number of common units outstanding as of February 8, 2024.
Furthermore, our Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”) prohibits us from paying distributions on our common units unless we have first paid the quarterly distribution on the Preferred Units, including any previously accrued but unpaid distributions on the Preferred Units. The Preferred Unit distributions require $11.2 million quarterly, or $44.9 million annually, based on the number of Preferred Units outstanding as of February 8, 2024 and the distribution rate of $24.375 per Preferred Unit per quarter, or $97.50 per Preferred Unit per year.
Under our cash distribution policy, the amount of cash we can distribute to our unitholders principally depends on the amount of cash we generate from our operations, which will fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on, among other things:
•the level of production of, demand for, and price of natural gas and crude oil, particularly the level of production in the regions where we provide compression services;
•the fees we charge, and the margins we realize, from our compression services;
•the cost of achieving organic growth in current and new markets;
•the ability to effectively integrate any assets or businesses we acquire;
•the level of competition from other companies; and
•prevailing global and regional economic and regulatory conditions, and their impact on us and our customers.
In addition, the actual amount of cash we will have available for distribution will depend on other factors, including:
•the levels of our maintenance and expansion capital expenditures;
•the level of our operating costs and expenses;
•our debt service requirements and other liabilities;
•state sales and use taxes that may be levied on us by the states in which we operate;
•fluctuations in our working capital needs;
•restrictions contained in the Credit Agreement or the Indentures (the “Indentures”) governing the Senior Notes 2026 and Senior Notes 2027 (collectively, the “Senior Notes”);
•the cost of acquisitions;
•fluctuations in interest rates;
•the financial condition of our customers;
•our ability to borrow funds and access the capital markets; and
•the amount of cash reserves established by the General Partner.
An extended reduction in the demand for, or production of, natural gas or crude oil could adversely affect the demand for our services or the prices we charge for our services, which could result in a decrease in our revenues and cash available for distribution to unitholders.
The demand for our compression services depends on the continued demand for, and production of, natural gas and crude oil. Demand may be affected by, among other factors, natural gas prices, crude oil prices, weather, availability of alternative energy sources, governmental regulation, geopolitical events, global health pandemics, and the overall demand for energy. Any extended reduction in the demand for natural gas or crude oil could depress the level of production activity and result in a decline in the demand for our compression services, which could result in a reduction in our revenues and our cash available for distribution.
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In particular, lower natural gas or crude oil prices over the long term could result in a decline in the production of natural gas or crude oil, respectively, resulting in reduced demand for our compression services. For example, in 2020, following disputes between the members of OPEC+ about production levels and the price of crude oil, and amid the outbreak of COVID-19, the price of crude oil declined rapidly beginning in March of that year. During 2020, the North American rig count reached a low of 247 rigs in August of 2020, down from 790 rigs at the end of January of that year, the price of WTI crude oil briefly went negative in April 2020, down from $51.58 per barrel at the end of January of that year, and Henry Hub natural gas spot reached a low of $1.33 per MMBtu in September 2020, down from $1.91 per MMBtu at the end of January of that year. The decline in commodity prices and the demand for and production of crude oil and natural gas resulted in a decline in the demand for our compression services, which caused a reduction of our revenues and our cash available for distribution in 2020 and 2021.
In addition, a small portion of our fleet is used in gas lift applications in connection with crude oil production using horizontal drilling techniques. During periods of low crude oil prices, we typically experience pressure on service rates and utilization from our customers in gas lift applications, and we experienced such effects in 2020, as an example. Any future decreases in the rate at which crude oil and natural gas reserves are developed, whether due to increased governmental regulation, low commodity pricing environment, limitations on exploration and production activity, or other factors, could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Additionally, unconventional sources, such as shales, tight sands, and coalbeds, can be less economically feasible to produce in low commodity price environments, in part due to costs related to compression requirements, and a reduction in demand for natural gas or gas lift for crude oil may cause such sources of natural gas or crude oil to become uneconomic to drill and produce, which has negatively impacted, and may again in the future negatively impact, the demand for our services. Further, if demand for our services decreases, we may be asked to renegotiate our service contracts at lower rates.
We have several key customers. The loss of any of these customers would result in a decrease in our revenues and cash available for distribution.
We provide compression services under contracts with several key customers. The loss of one of these key customers may have a greater effect on our financial results than for a company with a more diverse customer base. Our ten largest customers accounted for approximately 39%, 38%, and 39% of our total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. The loss of all or even a portion of the compression services we provide to our key customers, as a result of competition or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash available for distribution.
We face significant competition that may cause us to lose market share and reduce our cash available for distribution.
The natural gas compression business is highly competitive. Some of our competitors have a broader geographic scope and greater financial and other resources than we do. Our ability to renew or replace existing contracts with our customers at rates sufficient to maintain current revenue and cash flows could be adversely affected by the activities of our competitors and our customers. If our competitors substantially increase the resources they devote to the development and marketing of competitive services or substantially decrease the prices at which they offer their services, we may be unable to compete effectively. Some of these competitors may expand or construct newer, more powerful, or more flexible compression fleets, which would create additional competition for us. All of these competitive pressures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash available for distribution.
Our customers may choose to vertically integrate their operations by purchasing and operating their own compression fleet, increasing the number of compression units they currently own, or using alternative technologies for enhancing crude oil production, which could result in a decrease in our revenues and cash available for distribution to unitholders.
Our customers that are significant producers, processors, gatherers, and transporters of natural gas and crude oil may choose to vertically integrate their operations by purchasing and operating their own compression fleets in lieu of using our compression services. The historical availability of attractive financing terms from financial institutions and equipment manufacturers facilitates this possibility by making the purchase of individual compression units more affordable to our customers. In addition, there are many technologies available for the artificial enhancement of crude oil production, and our customers may elect to use these alternative technologies instead of the gas lift compression services we provide. Such vertical integration, increases in vertical integration, or use of alternative technologies could result in decreased demand for our compression services, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and reduce our cash available for distribution.
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A significant portion of our services are provided to customers on a month-to-month basis, and we cannot be sure that such customers will continue to utilize our services. A discontinuation of our services by a significant number of these customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash available for distribution.
Our contracts typically have initial terms between six months to five years, depending on the application and location of the compression unit. After the expiration of the initial term, the contract continues on a month-to-month or longer basis until terminated by us or our customers upon notice as provided for in the applicable contract. For the year ended December 31, 2023, approximately 22% of our compression services on a revenue basis were provided on a month-to-month basis to customers who continue to utilize our services following expiration of the primary term of their contracts. These customers can generally terminate their month-to-month compression services contracts on 30 days’ written notice. If a significant number of these customers were to terminate their month-to-month services, or attempt to renegotiate their month-to-month contracts at substantially lower rates, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash available for distribution.
Our debt level, including any increases in interest rates, may limit our flexibility in obtaining additional financing, pursuing other business opportunities, and paying distributions.
As of December 31, 2023, we had $2.3 billion of total debt, net of amortized deferred financing costs, outstanding under our Credit Agreement and Senior Notes.
The Credit Agreement has an aggregate commitment of $1.6 billion (subject to availability under our borrowing base). The Credit Agreement matures on December 8, 2026, except that if any portion of the Senior Notes 2026 are outstanding on December 31, 2025, the Credit Agreement will mature on December 31, 2025. As of December 31, 2023, we had outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement of $871.8 million and $728.2 million of remaining unused availability of which, due to restrictions related to compliance with the applicable financial covenants, $529.1 million was available to be drawn.
As of December 31, 2023, we had $725.0 million and $750.0 million aggregate principal amount outstanding on our Senior Notes 2026 and Senior Notes 2027, respectively. The Senior Notes 2026 and Senior Notes 2027 accrue interest at the rate of 6.875% per year.
Our ability to incur additional debt also is subject to limitations in the Credit Agreement, including certain financial covenants. As of December 31, 2023, our leverage ratio under the Credit Agreement was 4.10x. Financial covenants in the Credit Agreement permit a maximum leverage ratio of 5.25 to 1.00 (except that we may increase the applicable Total Leverage Ratio by 0.25 for any fiscal quarter during which a Specified Acquisition (as defined in the Credit Agreement) occurs and the following two fiscal quarters, but in no event shall the maximum Total Leverage Ratio exceed 5.50 to 1.00 for any fiscal quarter as a result of such increase); an Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of not less than 2.50 to 1.00; and a Secured Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of not greater than 3.00 to 1.00 or less than 0.00 to 1.00. As of February 8, 2024, we had outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement of $927.5 million and outstanding letters of credit of $0.5 million.
Our level of debt could have important consequences to us, including the following:
•our ability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, or other purposes may not be available, or such financing may not be available on favorable terms;
•we will need a portion of our cash flow to make payments on our indebtedness, reducing the funds that otherwise would be available for operating activities, future business opportunities, and distributions; and
•our debt level will make us more vulnerable than our competitors with less debt to competitive pressures or a downturn in our business or the economy generally.
Our ability to service our debt will depend on, among other things, our future financial and operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, regulatory, and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. In addition, our ability to service our debt under the Credit Agreement could be impacted by market interest rates, as all of our outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement are subject to variable interest rates that fluctuate with changes in market interest rates. A substantial increase in the interest rates applicable to our variable-rate indebtedness outstanding could have a material negative impact on our cash available for distribution. Based on our December 31, 2023, variable-rate indebtedness outstanding, a one percent increase in the effective interest rate would result in an annual increase in our interest expense of approximately $8.7 million. If our operating results are not sufficient to service our current or future indebtedness, we could be forced to take actions such as reducing the level of distributions on our common units, curtailing or
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delaying our business activities, acquisitions, investments or capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing our debt, or seeking additional equity capital. We may be unable to affect any of these actions on terms satisfactory to us or at all.
We depend on a limited number of suppliers and are vulnerable to product shortages and price increases, which could have a negative impact on our results of operations.
The substantial majority of the components for our natural gas compression equipment are supplied by Caterpillar Inc., Cummins Inc., and Arrow Engine Company for engines; Air-X-Changers and Alfa Laval (US) for coolers; and Ariel Corporation, Cooper Machinery Services Gemini products, and Arrow Engine Company for compressor frames and cylinders. Our reliance on these suppliers involves several risks, including price increases and a potential inability to obtain an adequate supply of required components in a timely manner. In addition, supply chain disruptions (including those caused by COVID-19 lockdowns or geopolitical events, such as the ongoing military conflict involving Russia and Ukraine) may harm our suppliers and further complicate existing supply chain constraints. We also rely primarily on four vendors, A G Equipment Company, Alegacy Equipment, LLC., Standard Equipment Company, and Genis Holdings LLC, to package and assemble our compression units. We do not have long-term contracts with these suppliers or packagers, and a partial or complete loss of any of these sources could have a negative impact on our results of operations and could damage our customer relationships. Some of these suppliers manufacture the components we purchase in a single facility, and any damage to that facility or slowdown or closure of that facility for any reason, including labor shortages or labor disputes, could lead to significant delays in delivery of completed compression units to us.
Additionally, if we are not able to pass along increases to our costs due to inflation on parts, fluids, labor, and other aspects of our business, it may adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows.
We may be unable to grow our cash flows if we are unable to expand our business, which could limit our ability to maintain or increase the level of distributions to our common unitholders.
A principal focus of our strategy is to maintain or increase our per-common-unit distribution by expanding our business over time. Our future growth will depend on several factors, some of which we cannot control. These factors include our ability to:
•develop new business and enter into service contracts with new customers;
•retain our existing customers and maintain or expand the services we provide them;
•maintain or increase the fees we charge, and the margins we realize, from our compression services;
•recruit and train qualified personnel and retain valued employees;
•expand our geographic presence;
•effectively manage our costs and expenses, including costs and expenses related to growth;
•complete accretive acquisitions;
•obtain required debt or equity financing on favorable terms for our existing and new operations; and
•meet customer-specific contract requirements or pre-qualifications.
If we do not achieve our expected growth, we may not be able to maintain or increase the level of distributions on our common units, likely causing the market price of our common units to decline.
Pandemics and other public health crises may have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Pandemics and other public health crises could significantly reduce the demand for, price of, and level of production of natural gas and crude oil, which could have an adverse impact on our business and results of operations. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic that began in early 2020 caused volatility in the capital markets and negatively impacted the worldwide economy, including the oil and gas industry. Demand for crude oil and natural gas declined in 2020 due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated government-imposed restrictions and decreased consumer demand. This reduced demand also contributed to a decline in commodity prices and production. These declines had a negative impact on many of our customers involved in the domestic exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas, which in turn had an adverse effect on our business and results of operations. A resurgence of COVD-19, or the emergence of a different pandemic, could once again reduce the demand for, price of, and level of production of natural gas and crude oil in the regions where we provide compression services, which potentially could cause:
•a negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition;
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•the deterioration of the financial condition of our customers, suppliers, and vendors;
•a hindrance on our ability to pay distributions, service our debt and other liabilities, and comply with certain restrictive financial covenants in the Credit Agreement and the Indentures;
•renegotiations of our service contracts at lower rates; and
•additional costs to us, which could be significant, in connection with litigation and bankruptcies resulting from customer financial deterioration.
Furthermore, market volatility could increase our cost of capital and block our access to the equity and debt capital markets, which could eventually impede our ability to grow, make distributions to our unitholders at current levels, and comply with the terms of our debt agreements.
Additionally, if any pandemic were to significantly spread into our workforce, this could hinder our ability to provide services and otherwise perform our contractual obligations to our customers. The duration of any pandemic and the magnitude of its repercussions cannot be reasonably estimated, and depending on the duration and severity of the pandemic, it could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our ability to fund purchases of additional compression units and expansion capital expenditures in the future is dependent on our ability to access external capital, and if we are unable to access this external capital, we may be limited in our ability to grow our operations or maintain or increase our distributions.
The Partnership Agreement requires us to distribute all of our available cash to our unitholders (excluding prudent operating reserves). We expect that we will rely primarily on cash generated by operating activities and, where necessary, borrowings under the Credit Agreement, to fund operating costs and working capital requirements. We expect to fund expansion capital expenditures through borrowings under the Credit Agreement and the issuance of debt and equity securities. However, we may not be able to obtain equity or debt financing on terms favorable to us or at all. To the extent we are unable to finance growth through external sources efficiently, our ability to maintain or increase the level of distributions on our common units could be significantly impaired. In addition, because we distribute all of our available cash, excluding prudent operating reserves, we may not grow as quickly as businesses that are able to reinvest their available cash to expand ongoing operations.
There are no limitations in the Partnership Agreement on our ability to issue additional equity securities, including securities ranking senior to the common units, subject to certain restrictions in the Partnership Agreement limiting our ability to issue units senior to or pari passu with the Preferred Units. To the extent we issue additional equity securities, including common units and preferred units, the payment of distributions on those additional securities may increase the risk that we will be unable to maintain or increase our per-common-unit distribution level. Similarly, our incurrence of borrowings or other debt to finance our growth strategy would increase our interest expense, which in turn would decrease our cash available for distribution.
The terms of the Credit Agreement and the Indentures restrict our current and future operations, particularly our ability to respond to changes or to take certain actions, may limit our ability to pay distributions and may limit our ability to capitalize on acquisitions and other business opportunities.
The Credit Agreement and the Indentures contain a number of restrictive covenants that impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us and may limit our ability to engage in acts that may be in our long-term best interest, including restrictions on our ability to:
•incur additional indebtedness;
•pay dividends or make other distributions or repurchase or redeem equity interests;
•prepay, redeem, or repurchase certain debt;
•issue certain preferred units or similar equity securities;
•make investments;
•sell assets;
•incur liens;
•enter into transactions with affiliates;
•alter the businesses we conduct;
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•enter into agreements restricting our subsidiaries’ ability to pay distributions; and
•consolidate, merge, or sell all or substantially all of our assets.
In addition, the Credit Agreement contains certain operating and financial covenants that require us to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy other financial condition tests. Our ability to comply with those covenants and meet those financial ratios and tests can be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial, and industry conditions. If market or other conditions deteriorate, our ability to comply with these covenants may be impaired.
A breach of the covenants or restrictions under the Credit Agreement or the Indentures could result in an event of default, in which case a significant portion of our indebtedness may become immediately due and payable and any other debt to which a cross-acceleration or cross-default provision applies also may be accelerated, our lenders’ commitment to make further loans to us may terminate, and we may be prohibited from making distributions to our unitholders. We might not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments. If we were unable to repay amounts due and payable under the Credit Agreement, those lenders could proceed against the collateral securing that indebtedness. We may not be able to replace the Credit Agreement, or if we are, any subsequent replacement of the Credit Agreement or any new indebtedness could be equally or more restrictive.
These restrictions may negatively affect our ability to grow in accordance with our strategy. In addition, our financial results, substantial indebtedness, and credit ratings could adversely affect the availability and terms of our financing. Please read Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources – Revolving Credit Facility and – Senior Notes”.
The deterioration of the financial condition of our customers could adversely affect our business.
During times when the natural gas or crude oil markets weaken, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, our customers are more likely to experience financial difficulties, including being unable to access debt or equity financing, which could result in a reduction in our customers’ spending for our services. For example, our customers could seek to preserve capital or reduce expenses by using lower-cost providers of compression services, not renewing month-to-month contracts, determining not to enter into any new compression service contracts, or seeking lower contract prices for our services. A significant decline in commodity prices may cause certain of our customers to reconsider their near-term capital budgets, which may impact large-scale natural gas infrastructure and crude oil production activities. Reduced demand for our services could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
We are exposed to counterparty credit risk. Nonpayment and nonperformance by our customers, suppliers, or vendors could reduce our revenues, increase our expenses, and otherwise have a negative impact on our ability to conduct our business, operating results, cash flows, and ability to make distributions to our unitholders.
Weak economic conditions and widespread financial distress, such as what resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, did and could again reduce the liquidity of our customers, suppliers, or vendors, making it more difficult for them to meet their obligations to us. We therefore are subject to heightened risks of loss resulting from nonpayment or nonperformance by our customers, suppliers, and vendors. Severe financial problems encountered by our customers, suppliers, and vendors could limit our ability to collect amounts owed to us, or to enforce the performance of obligations owed to us under contractual arrangements. In the event that any of our customers was to enter into bankruptcy, we could lose all or a portion of the amounts owed to us by such customer, and we may be forced to cancel all or a portion of our service contracts with such customer at significant expense to us. For example, as of December 31, 2023, one customer accounted for 17% of our trade accounts receivable, net balance. If this customer was to enter bankruptcy or failed to pay us, it could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
In addition, nonperformance by suppliers or vendors who have committed to provide us with critical products or services could raise our costs or interfere with our ability to successfully conduct our business.
The Preferred Units have rights, preferences, and privileges that are not held by, and are preferential to the rights of, holders of our common units.
The Preferred Units rank senior to our common units with respect to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation. These preferences could adversely affect the market price for our common units, or could make it more difficult for us to sell our common units in the future.
In addition, distributions on the Preferred Units accrue and are cumulative, at the rate of 9.75% per annum on the original issue price, which amounts to a quarterly distribution of $24.375 per Preferred Unit, or $97.50 per Preferred Unit per year. If we do not pay the required distributions on the Preferred Units, we will be unable to pay distributions on our common units.
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Additionally, because distributions on the Preferred Units are cumulative, we will have to pay all unpaid accumulated distributions on the Preferred Units before we can pay any distributions on our common units. Also, because distributions on our common units are not cumulative, if we do not pay distributions on our common units with respect to any quarter, our common unitholders will not be entitled to receive distributions covering any prior periods if we later recommence paying distributions on our common units.
The Preferred Units are convertible into common units in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement by the holders of the Preferred Units or by us in certain circumstances. Our obligation to pay distributions on the Preferred Units, or on the common units issued following the conversion of the Preferred Units, could impact our liquidity and reduce the amount of cash flow available for working capital, capital expenditures, growth opportunities, acquisitions, and other general Partnership purposes. Our obligations to the holders of the Preferred Units also could limit our ability to obtain additional financing or increase our borrowing costs, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition. See Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Restrictions in the Partnership Agreement related to the Preferred Units may limit our ability to make distributions to our common unitholders and our ability to capitalize on acquisition and other business opportunities.
The operating and financial restrictions and covenants in the Partnership Agreement related to the Preferred Units could restrict our ability to finance future operations or capital needs, or to expand or pursue our business activities. The Partnership Agreement restricts or limits our ability (subject to certain exceptions) to:
•pay distributions on any junior securities, including our common units, prior to paying the quarterly distribution payable to the holders of the Preferred Units, including any previously accrued and unpaid distributions;
•issue any securities that rank senior to or pari passu with the Preferred Units; however, we will be able to issue an unlimited number of securities ranking junior to the Preferred Units, including junior preferred units and additional common units; and
•incur Indebtedness (as defined in the Credit Agreement) if, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, the Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) determined as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter would exceed 6.5x, subject to certain exceptions.
A prolonged or severe sudden downturn in the economic environment could cause an impairment of identifiable intangible assets and reduce our earnings.
We have recorded $245.7 million of identifiable intangible assets, net, as of December 31, 2023. Any event that causes a reduction in demand for our services could result in a reduction of our estimates of future cash flows and growth rates in our business. These events could cause us to record impairments of identifiable intangible assets. For example, for the year ended December 31, 2020, we recognized a $619.4 million impairment of goodwill as a result of the economic downturn caused by the response to COVID-19.
If we determine that any of our identifiable intangible assets are impaired, we will be required to take an immediate charge to earnings with a corresponding reduction of partners’ capital resulting in an increase in balance sheet leverage as measured by debt to total capitalization.
Impairment to the carrying value of long-lived assets could reduce our earnings.
We have a significant number of long-lived assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Under GAAP, we are required to review our long-lived assets for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable or such assets will no longer be utilized in the operating fleet. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If business conditions or other factors cause the expected undiscounted cash flows to decline, we may be required to record non-cash impairment charges. Events and conditions that could result in impairment in the value of our long-lived assets include changes in the industry in which we operate, competition, advances in technology, adverse changes in the regulatory environment, or other factors leading to a reduction in our expected long-term profitability. For example, for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, we evaluated the future deployment of our idle fleet assets under then-current market conditions and retired 42, 15, and 26 compression units, respectively, representing approximately 37,700, 3,200, and 11,000 of aggregate horsepower, respectively, that previously were used to provide compression services in our business. As a result, we recorded impairments of compression equipment of $12.3 million, $1.5 million, and $5.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
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Our ability to manage and grow our business effectively may be adversely affected if we lose key management or operational personnel.
We depend on the continuing efforts of our executive officers and the departure of any of our executive officers could have a significant negative effect on our business, operating results, financial condition, and on our ability to compete effectively in the marketplace.
Additionally, our ability to hire, train, and retain qualified personnel will continue to be important and could become more challenging as we grow and to the extent energy industry market conditions are competitive. When labor markets are tight, such as when general industry conditions are favorable, the competition for experienced operational and field technicians increases as other energy and manufacturing companies’ needs for the same personnel increases. Our ability to grow or even to continue our current level of service to our current customers could be adversely impacted if we are unable to successfully hire, train, and retain these important personnel.
We may be unable to grow successfully through acquisitions, which may negatively impact our operations and limit our ability to maintain or increase the level of distributions on our common units.
From time to time, we may choose to make business acquisitions, such as the CDM Acquisition, to pursue market opportunities, increase our existing capabilities, and expand into new geographic areas of operations. While we have reviewed acquisition opportunities in the past and will continue to do so in the future, we may not be able to identify attractive acquisition opportunities or successfully acquire identified targets.
Any acquisitions we do complete may require us to issue a substantial amount of equity or incur a substantial amount of indebtedness. If we consummate any future material acquisitions, our capitalization may change significantly, and unitholders will not have the opportunity to evaluate the economic, financial, and other relevant information that we will consider in connection with any future acquisition. Furthermore, competition for acquisition opportunities may escalate, increasing our costs of pursuing acquisitions or causing us to refrain from making acquisitions.
Also, our reviews of proposed business or asset acquisitions are inherently imperfect because generally it is not feasible to perform an in-depth review of each such proposal given time constraints imposed by sellers. Even if performed, a detailed review of assets and businesses may not reveal existing or potential problems, and may not provide sufficient familiarity with such business or assets to fully assess their deficiencies and potential. Inspections may not be performed on every asset, and environmental problems, such as groundwater contamination, may not be observable even when an inspection is undertaken.
Integration of assets acquired in past acquisitions or future acquisitions with our existing business can be complex, time-consuming, and costly, particularly in the case of material acquisitions such as the CDM Acquisition, which significantly increased our size and expanded the geographic areas in which we operate. A failure to successfully integrate acquired assets with our existing business in a timely manner may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
The difficulties of integrating past and future acquisitions with our business include, among other things:
•operating a larger combined organization in new geographic areas and new lines of business;
•hiring, training, or retaining qualified personnel to manage and operate our growing business and assets;
•integrating management teams and employees into existing operations and establishing effective communication and information exchange with such management teams and employees;
•diversion of management’s attention from our existing business;
•assimilation of acquired assets and operations, including additional regulatory programs;
•loss of customers;
•loss of key employees;
•maintaining an effective system of internal controls in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as well as other regulatory compliance and corporate governance matters; and
•integrating new technology systems for financial reporting.
If any of these risks or other unanticipated liabilities or costs were to materialize, we may not realize the desired benefits from past and future acquisitions, resulting in a negative impact on our results of operations. For example, subsequent to the CDM Acquisition the attrition rate of specialized field technicians exceeded our projections and, as a result, we incurred
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unanticipated costs in 2018 to utilize third-party contractors to service our compression units at a greater cost than we would have incurred to compensate employees to perform the same work.
We may not be successful in integrating acquisitions into our existing operations within our anticipated time frame, which may result in unforeseen operational difficulties, diminished financial performance, or require a disproportionate amount of our management’s attention. In addition, acquired assets may perform at levels below the forecasts used to evaluate their acquisition value, due to factors beyond our control. If the acquired assets perform at levels below the forecasts, then our future results of operations could be negatively impacted.
The CDM Acquisition could expose us to additional unknown and contingent liabilities, which liabilities could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and cash flow.
The CDM Acquisition could expose us to additional unknown and contingent liabilities. We performed due diligence in connection with the CDM Acquisition and attempted to verify the representations made by Energy Transfer in connection therewith, but there may be unknown and contingent liabilities of which we are currently unaware. Energy Transfer has agreed to indemnify us for losses or claims relating to the operation of the business or otherwise only to a limited extent and for a limited period of time, and certain of Energy Transfer’s indemnification obligations have lapsed. There is a risk that we could ultimately be liable for obligations relating to the CDM Acquisition for which indemnification is not available, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and cash flow.
From time to time, we are subject to various claims, tax audits, litigation, and other proceedings that could ultimately be resolved against us and require material future cash payments or charges, which could impair our financial condition or results of operations.
The size, nature, and complexity of our business make us susceptible to various claims, tax audits, litigation, and binding arbitration proceedings. We are currently, and may in the future become, subject to various claims, which, if not resolved within amounts we have accrued, if any, could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows, including our ability to pay distributions. Similarly, any claims, even if fully indemnified or insured, could negatively impact our reputation among our customers and the public, and make it more difficult for us to compete effectively or obtain adequate insurance in the future. See Part I, Item 3 “Legal Proceedings” and Note 17 to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for additional information regarding certain proceedings to which we are a party.
Risks Related to Governmental Legislation and Regulation
We and our customers are subject to substantial environmental regulation, and changes in these regulations could increase our and their costs or liabilities and result in decreased demand for our services.
We are subject to stringent and complex federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including laws and regulations regarding the discharge of materials into the environment, emissions controls, and other environmental protection and occupational health and safety concerns, as discussed in detail in Item 1 “Business – Our Operations – Governmental Regulations”. Environmental laws and regulations may, in certain circumstances, impose strict liability for environmental contamination, which may render us liable for remediation costs, natural resource damages, and other damages as a result of our conduct that was lawful at the time it occurred or the conduct of, or conditions caused by, prior owners or operators or other third parties. In addition, where contamination may be present, neighboring landowners and other third parties sometimes file claims for personal injury, property damage, and recovery of response costs. Remediation costs and other damages arising as a result of environmental laws and regulations, and costs associated with new information, changes in existing environmental laws and regulations, or the adoption of new environmental laws and regulations could be substantial and could negatively impact our financial condition or results of operations. Moreover, failure to comply with these environmental laws and regulations may result in the imposition of administrative, civil, and criminal penalties and the issuance of injunctions delaying or prohibiting operations.
We conduct operations in a wide variety of locations across the continental U.S. These operations require U.S. federal, state, or local environmental permits or other authorizations. Our operations may require new or amended facility permits or licenses from time to time with respect to storm water discharges, waste handling, or air emissions relating to equipment operations, which subject us to new or revised permitting conditions that may be onerous or costly to comply with. Additionally, the operation of compression units may require individual air permits or general authorizations to operate under various air regulatory programs established by rule or regulation. These permits and authorizations frequently contain numerous compliance requirements, including monitoring and reporting obligations and operational restrictions, such as emissions limits. Given the wide variety of locations in which we operate, and the numerous environmental permits and other authorizations that
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are applicable to our operations, we may occasionally identify or be notified of technical violations of certain requirements existing under various permits or other authorizations. We could be subject to penalties for any noncompliance in the future.
Additionally, some states also have passed legislation or regulations regarding hydraulic fracturing. For example, in 2019, Colorado passed Senate Bill 19-181, which delegates authority to local governments to regulate oil and gas activities and requires the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to minimize emissions of methane and other air contaminants. Some local communities have adopted additional restrictions for oil and gas activities, such as requiring greater setbacks, and some groups are petitioning local governments to ban hydraulic fracturing. If additional regulatory measures are adopted that ban or restrict production of natural gas through hydraulic fracturing, our customers could experience delays, limitations, or prohibitions on their activities. Such delays, limitations, or prohibitions could result in decreased demand for our services.
In our business, we routinely deal with natural gas, crude oil, and other petroleum products at our worksites. Hydrocarbons or other hazardous substances or wastes may have been disposed or released on, under, or from properties used by us to provide compression services or idle compression unit storage or on or under other locations where such substances or wastes have been taken for disposal. These properties may be subject to investigatory, remediation, and monitoring requirements under federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations.
The modification or interpretation of existing environmental laws or regulations, the more vigorous enforcement of existing environmental laws or regulations, or the adoption of new environmental laws or regulations also may negatively impact crude oil and natural gas exploration and production, gathering, and pipeline companies, including our customers, which in turn could have a negative impact on us.
New regulations, proposed regulations, and proposed modifications to existing regulations under the Clean Air Act, if implemented, could result in increased compliance costs.
New regulations or proposed modifications to existing regulations under the Clean Air Act (“CAA”), as discussed in detail in Item 1 “Business – Our Operations – Governmental Regulations”, may lead to adverse impacts on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash available for distribution. For example, in 2015, the EPA finalized a rule strengthening the primary and secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (“NAAQS”) for ground level ozone, both of which are eight-hour concentration standards of 70 parts per billion (the “2015 NAAQS”). In December 2020, the EPA announced its decision to retain, without changes, the 2015 NAAQS. After the EPA revises a NAAQS standard, the states are expected to establish revised attainment/non-attainment regions. State implementation of the 2015 NAAQS could result in stricter permitting requirements, delay, or prohibit our customers’ ability to obtain such permits, and result in increased expenditures for pollution-control equipment, which could negatively impact our customers’ operations, increase the cost of additions to property and equipment, and negatively impact our business.
In 2012, the EPA finalized rules that establish new air emissions controls for oil and natural gas production and natural gas processing operations. Specifically, the EPA’s rule package included New Source Performance Standards (“NSPS”) to address emissions of sulfur dioxide and volatile organic compounds (“VOCs”) and a separate set of emissions standards to address hazardous air pollutants frequently associated with crude oil and natural gas production and processing activities. The rules established specific new requirements regarding emissions from compressors and controllers at natural gas processing plants, dehydrators, storage tanks, and other production equipment, as well as the first federal air standards for natural gas wells that are hydraulically fractured. In June 2016, the EPA expanded these regulations when it published additional NSPS, known as Subpart OOOOa, that required certain new, modified, or reconstructed facilities in the oil and gas sector to reduce methane gas and VOC emissions. These Subpart OOOOa standards expanded the 2012 NSPS by mandating certain equipment-specific emissions control practices, requiring additional controls for pneumatic controllers and pumps as well as compressors, and imposing leak detection and repair requirements for natural gas compressor and booster stations. In addition, in December 2023, the EPA issued rules to further reduce methane and VOC emissions from new and existing sources in the oil and gas sector.
Any additional regulation of air emissions from the oil and gas sector could result in increased expenditures for pollution control equipment, which could impact our customers’ operations and negatively impact our business.
Climate change legislation, regulatory initiatives, and litigation could result in increased compliance costs and restrictions on our customers’ operations, which could materially adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations.
Climate change continues to attract considerable public and scientific attention. Methane, a primary component of natural gas, and carbon dioxide, a byproduct of the burning of natural gas, are examples of greenhouse gases (“GHGs”). The U.S. Congress, from time to time, has considered legislation to reduce GHG emissions. In August 2022, the IRA 2022 was passed, which imposes a methane emissions charge on certain oil and gas facilities, including onshore petroleum and natural gas production facilities, that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of carbon dioxide equivalent gas per year and exceed certain
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emissions thresholds. In January 2024, the EPA issued a proposed rule to impose and collect the methane emissions charge authorized under the IRA 2022. In addition, federal or state governmental agencies could seek to pursue legislative, regulatory, or executive initiatives that restrict GHG emissions. Other energy legislation and initiatives could include a carbon tax or cap-and-trade program. Independent of the U.S. Congress, and as discussed in detail in Item 1 “Business – Our Operations – Governmental Regulations”, the EPA has taken steps to adopt regulations controlling GHG emissions under its existing CAA authority. Further, although Congress has not passed such legislation, many states have begun to address GHG emissions, primarily through the planned development of emissions inventories or regional GHG cap-and-trade programs. Depending on the particular program, we could be required to control GHG emissions or to purchase and surrender allowances for GHG emissions resulting from our operations.
Federal and possibly state governments may impose significant restrictions on fossil-fuel exploration, production, and use such as limitations or bans on hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells, bans or restrictions on new leases for production of minerals on federal properties, and impose restrictive requirements on new pipeline infrastructure or fossil-fuel export facilities. Litigation risks also are increasing, as a number of cities, local governments, and other plaintiffs have sued companies engaged in the exploration and production of fossil fuels in state and federal courts, alleging various legal theories to recover for the impacts of alleged global warming effects, such as rising sea levels. Many of these suits allege that the companies have been aware of the adverse effects of climate change for some time but defrauded their investors by failing to adequately disclose those impacts. Although a number of these lawsuits have been dismissed, others remain pending and the outcome of these cases remains difficult to predict.
Although it is not currently possible to predict with specificity how the IRA 2022 or any proposed or future GHG legislation, regulation, agreements, or initiatives will impact our business, any legislation or regulation of GHG emissions that may be imposed in areas in which we conduct business or on the assets we operate, including a carbon tax or cap-and-trade program, could result in increased compliance or operating costs, additional operating restrictions, or reduced demand for our services, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
In March 2022, the SEC announced its intention to promulgate rules requiring climate disclosures. Although the form and substance of these requirements is not yet known, this may result in additional costs to comply with any such disclosure requirements. In January 2024, the Biden administration announced a moratorium on approvals of applications for LNG export authorizations by the United States Department of Energy (“DOE”) while the DOE conducts studies related to the cumulative impact of LNG exports on domestic natural gas prices, climate change, and other matters. The moratorium on these approvals is expected to continue for several months and it is uncertain as to timing or conclusions of these studies and the resulting effect on the DOE approval process related to applications for LNG export authorizations. As a result, it is difficult to predict whether changes to the DOE’s approval process will have a negative effect on the prospects for future LNG export projects and on demand for domestic natural gas production that would be supported by these new LNG projects.
Climate change may increase the frequency and severity of weather events that could result in severe personal injury, property damage, and environmental damage, which could curtail our or our customers’ operations and otherwise materially adversely affect our cash flows.
Some scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of GHG in Earth’s atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant weather-related effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, droughts, floods, and other climatic events. If any of those effects were to occur, they could have an adverse effect on our assets and operations, including damages to our or our customers’ facilities and assets from powerful wind or rising waters. We may experience increased insurance costs, or difficulty obtaining adequate insurance coverage, for our assets in areas subject to more frequent severe weather. We may not be able to recoup these increased costs through the rates we charge our customers. Extreme weather events could cause damage to property or facilities that could exceed our insurance coverage and our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Another possible consequence of climate change is increased volatility in seasonal temperatures. The market for NGLs and natural gas generally is impacted by periods of colder weather and warmer weather, so any changes in climate could affect the market for those fuels, and thus demand for our services. Despite the use of the term “global warming” as a shorthand for climate change, some studies indicate that climate change could cause some areas to experience temperatures substantially colder than their historical averages. As a result, it is difficult to predict how the market for our services could be affected by increased temperature volatility.
A climate-related decrease in demand for crude oil and natural gas could negatively affect our business.
Supply and demand for crude oil and natural gas is dependent on a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include, among others, the potential adoption of new government regulations, including those related to fuel conservation measures and climate change regulations, technological advances in fuel economy, and energy generation
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devices. For example, legislative, regulatory, or executive actions intended to reduce emissions of GHGs, such as the IRA 2022, could increase the cost of consuming crude oil and natural gas, or provide incentives to encourage alternative forms of energy, thereby potentially causing a reduction in the demand for crude oil and natural gas. A broader transition to alternative fuels or energy sources, whether resulting from potential new government regulation, carbon taxes, or consumer preferences, could result in decreased demand for crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs. Any decrease in demand for these products could consequently reduce demand for our services and could have a negative effect on our business.
Also, recent activism directed at shifting funding away from companies with energy-related assets could result in a reduction of funding for the energy sector overall, which could have an adverse effect on our ability to obtain external financing as well as negatively affect the cost of, and terms for, financing to fund capital expenditures or other aspects of our business.
Increased attention to ESG matters and conservation measures may adversely impact our business.
Increasing attention to, and societal expectations on companies to address, climate change and other environmental and social impacts, investor and societal expectations regarding voluntary environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) disclosures, and consumer demand for alternative forms of energy may result in increased costs, reduced demand for fossil fuels and consequently demand for our services, reduced profits, increased risk of investigations and litigation, and negative impacts on the value of our assets and access to capital. Increasing attention to climate change and environmental conservation, for example, may result in demand shifts for crude oil and natural gas products, and additional governmental investigations and private litigation against us or our customers. To the extent that societal pressures, political, or other factors are involved, it is possible that such liability could be imposed without regard to our causation of or contribution to the asserted damage, or to other mitigating factors.
In addition, organizations that provide information to investors on corporate governance and related matters have developed ratings processes for evaluating companies on their approach to ESG matters. Unfavorable ESG ratings and recent activism directed at shifting funding away from companies with energy-related assets could lead to increased negative investor sentiment toward us and our industry and to the diversion of investment to other industries, which could have a negative impact on our access to and costs of capital. Additionally, to the extent ESG matters negatively impact our reputation, we may not be able to compete as effectively to recruit or retain employees, which may adversely affect our operations.
Such ESG matters also may impact our customers or suppliers, which may adversely impact our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Increased regulation of hydraulic fracturing could result in reductions of, or delays in, natural gas production by our customers, which could adversely impact our revenue.
A significant portion of our customers’ natural gas production is developed from unconventional sources that require hydraulic fracturing as part of the production process. Hydraulic fracturing involves the injection of water, sand, and chemicals under pressure into the rock formation to stimulate gas production. Several states have adopted, or are considering adopting, regulations that could impose more stringent permitting, public disclosure, or waste restrictions that may restrict or prohibit hydraulic fracturing. In addition, from time to time, there have been various proposals to regulate hydraulic fracturing at the federal level. Any new laws or regulations regarding hydraulic fracturing could negatively impact our customers’ ability to produce natural gas, which could adversely impact our revenue.
State and federal regulatory agencies also have recently focused on a possible connection between the operation of injection wells used for oil and gas waste disposal and seismic activity. Similar concerns have been raised that hydraulic fracturing also may contribute to seismic activity. When caused by human activity, such events are called induced seismicity. Developing research suggests that the link between seismic activity and wastewater disposal may vary by region, and that only a very small fraction of the tens of thousands of injection wells have been suspected to be, or have been, the likely cause of induced seismicity. In March 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey identified six states with the most significant hazards from induced seismicity, including Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arkansas. In light of these concerns, some state regulatory agencies have modified their regulations or issued orders to address induced seismicity. Increased regulation and attention given to induced seismicity could lead to greater opposition to, and litigation concerning, oil and gas activities utilizing hydraulic fracturing or injection wells for waste disposal, which could indirectly impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations. In addition, these concerns may give rise to private tort suits against our customers from individuals who claim they are adversely impacted by seismic activity they allege was induced. Such claims or actions could result in liability to our customers for property damage, exposure to waste and other hazardous materials, nuisance, or personal injuries, and require our customers to expend additional resources or incur substantial costs or losses. This could in turn adversely affect the demand for our services.
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We cannot predict the future of any such legislation or tort liability. If additional levels of regulation, restrictions, and permits were required through the adoption of new laws and regulations at the federal or state level or the development of new interpretations of those requirements by the agencies that issue the required permits, that could lead to operational delays, increased operating costs, and process prohibitions that could reduce demand for our compression services, which would materially adversely affect our revenue and results of operations.
Risks Inherent in an Investment in Us
Holders of our common units have limited voting rights and are not entitled to elect the General Partner or its directors.
Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, our common unitholders only have limited voting rights on matters affecting our business and, therefore, limited ability to influence management’s decisions regarding our business. Common unitholders have no right to elect the General Partner or the board of directors of the General Partner (the “Board”). Energy Transfer is the sole member of the General Partner and has the right to appoint the majority of the members of the Board, including all but one of its independent directors. Also, pursuant to that certain Board Representation Agreement entered into by us, the General Partner, Energy Transfer, and EIG Veteran Equity Aggregator, L.P. (along with its affiliated funds, “EIG”) in connection with our private placement of Preferred Units and warrants to EIG, EIG Management Company, LLC has the right to designate one of the members of the Board for so long as the holders of the Preferred Units hold more than 5% of the Partnership’s outstanding common units in the aggregate (taking into account the common units that would be issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Units and exercise of the warrants).
If our common unitholders are dissatisfied with the General Partner’s performance, they have little ability to remove the General Partner. Common unitholders are currently unable to remove the General Partner because the General Partner and its affiliates own a sufficient number of our common units to prevent its removal. The vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of all outstanding common units is required to remove the General Partner, and Energy Transfer currently owns over 33 1/3% of our outstanding common units. As a result of these limitations, the price of our common units may decline because of the absence or reduction of a takeover premium in the trading price.
Furthermore, the Partnership Agreement contains provisions limiting the ability of common unitholders to call meetings or to obtain information about our operations, as well as other provisions limiting our common unitholders’ ability to influence the manner or direction of management.
Energy Transfer owns and controls the General Partner, and the General Partner has sole responsibility for conducting our business and managing our operations. The General Partner and its affiliates, including Energy Transfer, have conflicts of interest with us and limited fiduciary duties, and they may favor their own interests to the detriment of us and our unitholders.
Energy Transfer owns and controls the General Partner and appoints all of the officers and a majority of the directors of the General Partner, some of whom also are officers and directors of Energy Transfer. Although the General Partner has a fiduciary duty to manage us in a manner that is beneficial to us and our unitholders, the directors and officers of the General Partner also have a fiduciary duty to manage the General Partner in a manner that is beneficial to its owner. Conflicts of interest will arise between the General Partner and its owner, on the one hand, and us and our unitholders, on the other hand. In resolving these conflicts of interest, the General Partner may favor its own interests and the interests of its owner over our interests and the interests of our unitholders. These conflicts include the following situations, among others:
•neither the Partnership Agreement nor any other agreement requires Energy Transfer to pursue a business strategy that favors us;
•Energy Transfer and its affiliates are not prohibited from engaging in businesses or activities that are in direct competition with us or from offering business opportunities or selling assets to our competitors;
•the General Partner is allowed to take into account the interests of parties other than us, such as its owner, in resolving conflicts of interest;
•the Partnership Agreement limits the liability of and reduces the fiduciary duties owed by the General Partner, and also restricts the remedies available to our unitholders for actions that, without such limitations, might constitute breaches of fiduciary duty;
•except in limited circumstances, the General Partner has the power and authority to conduct our business without unitholder approval;
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•the General Partner determines the amount and timing of asset purchases and sales, borrowings, issuance of additional partnership interests, and the creation, reduction, or increase of cash reserves, each of which can affect the amount of cash that is distributed to our unitholders;
•the General Partner determines the amount and timing of any capital expenditures and whether a capital expenditure is classified as a maintenance capital expenditure, which reduces operating surplus, or an expansion capital expenditure, which does not reduce operating surplus. This determination can affect the amount of cash that is distributed to our unitholders;
•the General Partner determines which costs it incurs are reimbursable by us;
•the General Partner may cause us to borrow funds in order to permit the payment of cash distributions;
•the Partnership Agreement permits us to classify up to $36.6 million as operating surplus, even if it is generated from asset sales, non-working capital borrowings, or other sources that otherwise would constitute capital surplus;
•the Partnership Agreement does not restrict the General Partner from causing us to pay it or its affiliates for any services rendered to us, or entering into additional contractual arrangements with any of these entities on our behalf;
•the General Partner currently limits, and intends to continue limiting, its liability for our contractual and other obligations;
•the General Partner may exercise its right to call and purchase all of our common units not owned by it and its affiliates if together those entities at any time own more than 80% of our common units;
•the General Partner controls the enforcement of the obligations that it and its affiliates owe to us; and
•the General Partner decides whether to retain separate counsel, accountants, or others to perform services for us.
The General Partner’s liability for our obligations is limited.
The General Partner has included, and will continue to include, provisions in its and our contractual arrangements that limit its liability under such contractual arrangements so that the counterparties to such arrangements have recourse only against our assets, and not against the General Partner or its assets. The General Partner may therefore cause us to incur indebtedness or other obligations that are nonrecourse to it. The Partnership Agreement provides that any action taken by the General Partner to limit its liability is not a breach of the General Partner’s fiduciary duties, even if we could have obtained more favorable terms without such limitation on liability. In addition, we are obligated to reimburse or indemnify the General Partner to the extent that it incurs obligations on our behalf. Any such reimbursement or indemnification payments would reduce our amount of cash otherwise available for distribution.
The Partnership Agreement limits the General Partner’s fiduciary duties to our unitholders.
The Partnership Agreement contains provisions that modify and reduce the fiduciary standards to which the General Partner otherwise would be held by state fiduciary duty law. For example, the Partnership Agreement permits the General Partner to make a number of decisions in its individual capacity, as opposed to its capacity as the General Partner, or otherwise free of fiduciary duties to us and our unitholders. This entitles the General Partner to consider only the interests and factors that it desires and relieves it of any duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting, us, our affiliates, or our limited partners. Examples of decisions that the General Partner may make in its individual capacity include:
•how to allocate business opportunities among us and its affiliates;
•whether to exercise its limited call right;
•how to exercise its voting rights with respect to the common units it owns; and
•whether or not to consent to any merger or consolidation of the Partnership or amendment to the Partnership Agreement.
By purchasing a unit, a unitholder agrees to become bound by the provisions of the Partnership Agreement, including the provisions discussed above.
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The Partnership Agreement restricts the remedies available to our unitholders for actions taken by the General Partner that otherwise might constitute breaches of fiduciary duty.
The Partnership Agreement contains provisions that restrict the remedies available to unitholders for actions taken by the General Partner that otherwise might constitute breaches of fiduciary duty under state fiduciary duty law. For example, the Partnership Agreement:
•provides that whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes, or declines to take, any other action in its capacity as the General Partner, the General Partner is required to make such determination, or take or decline to take such other action, in good faith, and will not be subject to any higher standard imposed by the Partnership Agreement, Delaware law, or any other law, rule, or regulation, or at equity;
•provides that the General Partner will not have any liability to us, or our unitholders, for decisions made in its capacity as general partner so long as such decisions are made in good faith, meaning that it believed that the decisions were in the best interest of the Partnership;
•provides that the General Partner and its officers and directors will not be liable for monetary damages to us, our limited partners or their assignees resulting from any act or omission unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that the General Partner or its officers and directors, as the case may be, acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the conduct was criminal; and
•provides that the General Partner will not be in breach of its obligations under the Partnership Agreement or its fiduciary duties to us or our unitholders if a transaction with an affiliate or the resolution of a conflict of interest is:
•approved by the conflicts committee of the Board, although the General Partner is not obligated to seek such approval;
•approved by the vote of a majority of our outstanding common units, excluding any common units owned by the General Partner and its affiliates;
•on terms no less favorable to us than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties; or
•fair and reasonable to us, taking into account the totality of the relationships among the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to us.
In a situation involving a transaction with an affiliate or a conflict of interest, any determination by the General Partner must be made in good faith. If an affiliate transaction or the resolution of a conflict of interest is not approved by our common unitholders or the conflicts committee and the Board determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to the affiliate transaction or conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in the last two bullets above, then it will be conclusively deemed that, in making its decision, the Board acted in good faith.
The Partnership Agreement restricts the voting rights of unitholders owning 20% or more of our common units.
Common unitholders’ voting rights are further restricted by a provision of the Partnership Agreement providing that any units held by a person or group that owns 20% or more of such class of units then outstanding, other than, with respect to our common units, the General Partner, its affiliates, their direct transferees, and their indirect transferees approved by the General Partner (which approval may be granted in its sole discretion) and persons who acquired such common units with the prior approval of the General Partner, cannot vote on any matter.
The general partner interest or the control of the General Partner may be transferred to a third party without unitholder consent.
The General Partner may transfer its general partner interest to a third party in a merger or in a sale of all or substantially all of its assets without the consent of the common unitholders. Furthermore, the Partnership Agreement does not restrict the ability of Energy Transfer to transfer all or a portion of its ownership interest in the General Partner to a third party. The new owner of the General Partner would then be in a position to replace the majority of the Board, and all of the officers, of the General Partner with its own designees and thereby exert significant control over the decisions made by the Board and the officers of the General Partner.
An increase in interest rates may cause the market price of our common units to decline.
The market price of master limited partnership units, like other yield-oriented securities, may be affected by, among other factors, implied distribution yield. The distribution yield is often used by investors to compare and rank yield-oriented securities
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for investment decision-making purposes. Therefore, increases or decreases in interest rates may affect whether or not certain investors decide to invest in master limited partnership units, including ours, and a rising interest rate environment could have an adverse impact on our common unit price and impair our ability to issue additional equity or incur debt to fund growth or for other purposes, including distributions.
We may issue additional limited partner interests without the approval of unitholders, subject to certain Preferred Unit approval rights, which would dilute unitholders’ existing ownership interests and may increase the risk that we will not have sufficient available cash to maintain or increase our per-common-unit distribution level.
The Partnership Agreement does not limit the number or timing of additional limited partner interests that we may issue, including limited partner interests that are convertible into or senior to our common units, without the approval of our common unitholders as long as the newly issued limited partner interests are not senior to, or pari passu with, the Preferred Units. With the consent of a majority of the Preferred Units, we may issue an unlimited number of limited partner interests that are senior to our common units and pari passu with the Preferred Units.
If a substantial portion of the Preferred Units are converted into common units, common unitholders could experience significant dilution. Furthermore, if holders of such converted Preferred Units were to dispose of a substantial portion of these common units in the public market, whether in a single transaction or series of transactions, it could adversely affect the market price of our common units. In addition, these sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, could make it more difficult for us to sell our common units in the future.
Our issuance of additional common units, including pursuant to our DRIP, or other equity securities of equal or senior rank, such as additional preferred units, will have the following effects:
•our existing common unitholders’ proportionate ownership interest in us will decrease;
•our amount of cash available for distribution to common unitholders may decrease;
•our ratio of taxable income to distributions may increase;
•the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding common unit may be diminished; and
•the market price of our common units may decline.
Energy Transfer may sell, and the holders of the Preferred Units have sold and may continue to sell, our common units in the public or private markets, and such sales could have an adverse impact on the trading price of our common units.
As of February 8, 2024, Energy Transfer beneficially owns an aggregate of 46,056,228 common units in us. As of February 8, 2024, the holders of our Preferred Units (the “Preferred Unitholders”) have converted a portion of their Preferred Units into 1,998,850 common units, in accordance with the formula set forth in our Partnership Agreement. Additionally, the warrants held by the Preferred Unitholders have been exercised and net settled in full for 2,894,796 common units, all of which have been sold by the Preferred Unitholders. We have granted certain registration rights to Energy Transfer and its affiliates with respect to any common units they own, and have filed a registration statement with the SEC for the benefit of the Preferred Unitholders with respect to any common units they may receive upon conversion of the Preferred Units or exercise of the warrants. Energy Transfer may, and the Preferred Unitholders may continue to, sell such common units. Any sales of these common units in the public or private markets could have an adverse impact on the price of our common units.
The General Partner has a call right that may require holders of our common units to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price.
If at any time the General Partner and its affiliates own more than 80% of our outstanding common units, the General Partner will have the right, but not the obligation, which it may assign to any of its affiliates or to us, to acquire all, but not less than all, of our common units held by unaffiliated persons at a price that is not less than their then-current market price, as calculated pursuant to the terms of the Partnership Agreement. As a result, holders of our common units may be required to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price. These holders also may incur a tax liability on a sale of their common units. As of December 31, 2023, the General Partner and its affiliates (including Energy Transfer), beneficially own an aggregate of approximately 46% of our outstanding common units.
Unitholders may not have limited liability if a court finds that limited partner actions constitute control of our business.
Under Delaware law, unitholders could be held liable for our obligations to the same extent as a general partner if a court determined that the right of limited partners to remove our General Partner or to take other action under the Partnership Agreement constituted participation in the “control” of our business. Additionally, under Delaware law, the General Partner has
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unlimited liability for the obligations of the Partnership, such as our debts and environmental liabilities, except for those contractual obligations of the Partnership that are expressly made without recourse to the General Partner.
The limitations on the liability of holders of limited partner interests for the obligations of a limited partnership have not been clearly established in some of the states in which we do business. Unitholders could have unlimited liability for obligations of the Partnership if a court or government agency determined that (i) we were conducting business in a state, but had not complied with that particular state’s partnership statute; or (ii) a unitholder’s right to act with other unitholders to remove or replace the General Partner, to approve some amendments to the Partnership Agreement, or to take other actions under the Partnership Agreement constituted “control” of our business.
Unitholders may have liability to repay distributions that were wrongfully distributed to them.
Under certain circumstances, unitholders may have to repay amounts wrongfully returned or distributed to them. Under Section 17-607 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “Delaware Act”), we may not make a distribution if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets. The Delaware Act provides that for a period of three years from the date of an impermissible distribution, limited partners who received the distribution and who knew at the time of the distribution that it violated Delaware law will be liable to the limited partnership for the distribution amount. Liabilities to partners on account of their interest in the Partnership and liabilities that are nonrecourse to the Partnership are not counted for purposes of determining whether a distribution is permissible.
Our Partnership Agreement designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our unitholders, which would limit our unitholders’ ability to choose the judicial forum for disputes with us or our general partner’s directors, officers, or other employees.
Our Partnership Agreement provides that, with certain limited exceptions, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, any other court located in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction) shall be the exclusive forum for any claims, suits, actions, or proceedings (i) arising out of, or relating in any way to the Partnership Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce the provisions of the Partnership Agreement), any partnership interest 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, (ii) asserting a claim arising out of any other instrument, document, agreement, or certificate contemplated by any provision of the Delaware Act relating to the Partnership or the Partnership Agreement, (iii) asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Act, or (iv) arising out of the federal securities laws of the U.S. or securities or anti-fraud laws of any governmental authority.
The exclusive forum provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. To the extent that any such claims may be based on federal law claims, Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation or similar governing documents has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that a court could find the choice of forum provisions contained in our Partnership Agreement to be inapplicable or unenforceable, including with respect to claims arising under the U.S. federal securities laws. This exclusive forum provision may limit the ability of a limited partner to commence litigation in a forum that the limited partner prefers, or may require a limited partner to incur additional costs in order to commence litigation in Delaware, each of which may discourage such lawsuits against us or our General Partner’s directors or officers. Alternatively, if a court were to find this exclusive forum provision inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings described above, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could negatively affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
The NYSE does not require a publicly traded partnership like us to comply with certain of its corporate governance requirements.
Our common units are listed on the NYSE. Because we are a publicly traded partnership, the NYSE does not require us to have a majority of independent directors on the Board, or to establish a compensation committee, or a nominating and corporate governance committee. Accordingly, unitholders do not have the same protections afforded to investors in certain corporations that are subject to all of the NYSE corporate governance requirements. Please read Part III, Item 10 “Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance”.
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Tax Risks to Common Unitholders
Our tax treatment depends on our status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. If the IRS were to treat us as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or if we were to become subject to material additional amounts of entity-level taxation for state tax purposes, then our cash available for distribution would be substantially reduced.
The anticipated after-tax economic benefit of an investment in our common units largely depends on us being treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. We have not requested a ruling from the IRS on this or any other tax matter affecting us.
Despite the fact that we are a limited partnership under Delaware law, it is possible in certain circumstances for a partnership such as ours to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Although we do not believe based on our current operations that we are or will be so treated, a change in our business or a change in current law could cause us to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or otherwise subject us to taxation as an entity.
If we were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, we would pay federal income tax on our taxable income at the corporate tax rate, and likely would pay state and local income tax at varying rates. Distributions generally would be taxed again as corporate dividends (to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits), and no income, gains, losses, deductions, or credits would flow through to you. Because taxes would be levied on us as a corporation, our cash available for distribution also would be substantially reduced. Therefore, if we were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, there would be a material reduction in the anticipated cash flow and after-tax return to our unitholders, likely causing a substantial reduction in the value of our common units.
Changes in current state law may subject us to additional entity-level taxation by individual states. Because of widespread state budget deficits and other reasons, several states are evaluating ways to subject partnerships to entity-level taxation through the imposition of state income, franchise, and other forms of taxation. For example, we are required to pay the Texas Margin Tax on our gross income apportioned to Texas. Imposition of any similar taxes by any other state may reduce the cash available for distribution substantially, and therefore, negatively impact the value of an investment in our common units.
The tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships or an investment in our common units could be subject to potential legislative, judicial, or administrative changes or differing interpretations, possibly applied on a retroactive basis.
The present 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 changes or differing interpretations at any time. Members of the U.S. Congress have proposed and considered substantive changes to the existing federal income tax laws that would affect publicly traded partnerships, including elimination of partnership tax treatment for certain publicly traded partnerships. In addition, the Treasury Department has issued, and in the future may issue, regulations interpreting those laws that affect publicly traded partnerships. There can be no assurance that there will not be further changes to U.S. federal income tax laws or the Treasury Department’s interpretation of the qualifying income rules in a manner that could impact our ability to qualify as a partnership in the future.
Any modification to the federal income tax laws and interpretations thereof may or may not be applied retroactively and could make it more difficult or impossible for us to meet the exception for certain publicly traded partnerships to be treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. We are unable to predict whether any changes or other proposals will ultimately be enacted. Any future legislative changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in our common units. Unitholders are urged to consult with their own tax advisor with respect to the status of regulatory or administrative developments and proposals, and their potential effect on their investment in our common units.
Our unitholders’ share of our income will be taxable to them for federal income tax purposes even if they do not receive any cash distributions from us. Unitholders may not receive cash distributions from us equal to their share of our taxable income or even equal to the actual tax due from them with respect to that income.
Our unitholders will be treated as partners to whom we will allocate taxable income. Unitholders are required to pay federal income taxes and, in some cases, state and local income taxes, on their share of our taxable income, irrespective of whether they receive cash distributions from us. Unitholders may not receive cash distributions from us equal to their share of our taxable income or even equal to the actual tax due from them with respect to that income.
We may engage in transactions to de-lever the Partnership and manage our liquidity that may result in income and gain to our unitholders. For example, if we sell assets and use the proceeds to repay existing debt or fund capital expenditures, you may be allocated taxable income and gain resulting from the sale. The ultimate effect of any such allocations will depend on the
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unitholder’s individual tax position with respect to its units. Unitholders are encouraged to consult their tax advisors with respect to the consequences of transactions that may result in income and gain to unitholders.
If the IRS contests the federal income tax positions we take, the market for our common units may be adversely impacted and the cost of any IRS contest will reduce our cash available for distribution.
We have not requested a ruling from the IRS with respect to our treatment as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or any other matter affecting us. The IRS may adopt positions that differ from the positions we take, and the IRS’s positions may ultimately be sustained.
It may be necessary to resort to administrative or court proceedings to sustain some or all of the positions we take. A court may not agree with some or all of the positions we take. Any contest with the IRS, and the outcome of any IRS contest, may have a materially adverse impact on the market for our common units and the price at which they trade. In addition, our costs of any contest with the IRS will be borne indirectly by our unitholders because the costs will reduce our cash available for distribution.
If the IRS makes audit adjustments to our income tax returns for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, it (and some states) may assess and collect any taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustments directly from us, in which case our cash available for distribution to our unitholders might be substantially reduced.
For tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, if the IRS makes audit adjustments to our income tax returns, it (and some states) may assess and collect any taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustments directly from us. Our U.S. Federal income tax returns for years 2019 and 2020 are currently under examination by the IRS. To the extent possible under applicable rules, the General Partner may pay such taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) directly to the IRS or, if we are eligible, elect to issue a revised Schedule K-1 to each unitholder and former unitholder with respect to an audited and adjusted return. No assurances can be made that such election will be practical, permissible, or effective in all circumstances. As a result, our current unitholders may bear some or all of the tax liability resulting from such audit adjustment, even if such unitholders did not own units during the tax year under audit. If, as a result of any such audit adjustment, we are required to make payments of taxes, penalties, and interest, our cash available for distribution to our unitholders may be reduced. See Note 17 to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for additional information regarding the current IRS examination.
Tax gain or loss on the disposition of our common units could be more or less than expected.
If our unitholders sell common units, they will recognize a gain or loss for federal income tax purposes equal to the difference between the amount realized and their tax basis in those common units. Because distributions in excess of their allocable share of our net taxable income decrease their tax basis in their common units, the amount, if any, of such prior excess distributions with respect to the common units a unitholder sells will, in effect, become taxable income to the unitholder if it sells such common units at a price greater than its tax basis in those common units, even if the price received is less than its original cost. In addition, because the amount realized includes a unitholder’s share of our nonrecourse liabilities, a unitholder that sells common units may incur a tax liability in excess of the amount of cash received from the sale.
A substantial portion of the amount realized from a unitholder’s sale of our units, whether or not representing gain, may be taxed as ordinary income to such unitholder due to potential recapture items, including depreciation recapture. Thus, a unitholder may recognize both ordinary income and capital loss from the sale of units if the amount realized on a sale of such units is less than such unitholder’s adjusted basis in the units. Net capital losses only offset capital gains and, in the case of individuals, up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year. In the taxable period in which a unitholder sells its units, such unitholder may recognize ordinary income from our allocations of income and gain to such unitholder prior to the sale and from recapture items that generally cannot be offset by any capital loss recognized on the sale of units.
Unitholders will be subject to limitation on their ability to deduct interest expense incurred by us.
Our ability to deduct interest paid or accrued on indebtedness properly allocable to a trade or business (“business interest”) may be limited in certain circumstances. Generally, our deduction for business interest is limited to the sum of our business interest income and 30% of our “adjusted taxable income.” For the purposes of this limitation, our adjusted taxable income is computed without regard to any business interest expense or business interest income, and for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, shall be reduced by depreciation and amortization to the extent such depreciation or amortization is not capitalized into cost of goods sold with respect to inventory. As a result of this limitation, the amount of taxable income allocated to our unitholders in the taxable year in which the limitation is in effect will increase, which was $95.1 million for tax year 2022, and any future limitations on our ability to deduct business interest may similarly increase taxable income allocated
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to our unitholders. In certain circumstances, a unitholder may be able to utilize a portion of a business interest deduction subject to this limitation in future taxable years. Unitholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the impact of this business interest deduction limitation on an investment in our units.
Tax-exempt entities face unique tax issues from owning our common units that may result in adverse tax consequences to them.
Investment in our common units by tax-exempt entities, such as employee benefit plans and individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”) raises issues unique to them. For example, virtually all of our income allocated to organizations that are exempt from U.S. federal income tax, including IRAs and other retirement plans, will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to them. Tax-exempt entities should consult a tax advisor before investing in our common units.
Non-U.S. unitholders will be subject to U.S. taxes and withholding with respect to their income and gain from owning our units.
Non-U.S. unitholders generally are taxed and subject to income tax filing requirements by the U.S. on income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business (“effectively connected income”). A unitholder’s share of our income, gain, loss, and deduction, and any gain from the sale of our units generally will be considered effectively connected income. As a result, distributions to a non-U.S. unitholder will be subject to withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate and a non-U.S. unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a unit also will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the gain realized from the sale or disposition of that unit. In addition to the withholding tax imposed on distributions of effectively connected income, distributions to a non-U.S. unitholder also will be subject to a 10% withholding tax on the amount of any distribution in excess of our cumulative net income. We intend to treat all of our distributions as being in excess of our cumulative net income for such purposes and subject to such 10% withholding tax. Accordingly, distributions to a non-U.S. unitholder will be subject to a combined withholding tax rate equal to the sum of the highest applicable effective tax rate and 10%.
Moreover, upon the sale, exchange, or other disposition of a unit by a non-U.S. unitholder, the transferee generally is required to withhold 10% of the amount realized on such transfer if any portion of the gain on such transfer would be treated as effectively connected income. Treasury regulations provide that the “amount realized” on a transfer of an interest in a publicly traded partnership generally will be the amount of gross proceeds paid to the broker effecting the applicable transfer on behalf of the transferor. Treasury regulations and recent Treasury guidance further provide that for a transfer of an interest in a publicly traded partnership that is effected through a broker on or after January 1, 2023, the obligation to withhold is imposed on the transferor’s broker. Non-U.S. unitholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the impact of these rules on an investment in our units.
We treat each purchaser of our common units as having the same tax benefits without regard to the actual common units purchased. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of our common units.
Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of common units, we have adopted certain methods for allocating depreciation and amortization deductions that may not conform to all aspects of existing Treasury Regulations. A successful IRS challenge to the use of these methods could adversely affect the amount of tax benefits available to you. It also could affect the timing of these tax benefits or the amount of gain from your sale of common units and could have a negative impact on the value of our common units or result in audit adjustments to your tax returns.
We generally prorate our items of income, gain, loss, and deduction for federal income tax purposes between transferors and transferees of our units each month based on the ownership of our units on the first day of each month, instead of on the basis of the date a particular unit is transferred. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could change the allocation of items of income, gain, loss, and deduction among our unitholders.
We generally prorate our items of income, gain, loss, and deduction for federal income tax purposes between transferors and transferees of our units each month based on the ownership of our units on the first day of each month (the “Allocation Date”), instead of on the basis of the date a particular unit is transferred. Similarly, we generally allocate (i) certain deductions for depreciation of capital additions, (ii) gain or loss realized on a sale or other disposition of our assets, and (iii) in the discretion of the General Partner, any other extraordinary item of income, gain, loss, or deduction based on ownership on the Allocation Date. Treasury Regulations allow a similar monthly simplifying convention, but such regulations do not specifically authorize all aspects of our proration method. If the IRS were to challenge our proration method, we may be required to change the allocation of items of income, gain, loss, and deduction among our unitholders.
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A unitholder whose common units are the subject of a securities loan (e.g., a loan to a “short seller” to cover a short sale of common units) may be considered as having disposed of those common units. If so, such unitholder would no longer be treated for federal income tax purposes as a partner with respect to those common units during the period of the loan and may recognize gain or loss on the disposition.
Because there are no specific rules governing the federal income tax consequences of loaning a partnership interest, a unitholder whose common units are the subject of a securities loan may be considered to have disposed of the loaned common units. In that case, the unitholder may no longer be treated for federal income tax purposes as a partner with respect to those common units during the period of the loan to the short seller and the unitholder may recognize gain or loss on such disposition. Moreover, during the period of the loan, any of our income, gain, loss, or deduction with respect to those common units may not be reportable by the unitholder and any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those common units could be fully taxable as ordinary income. Unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition from a securities loan are urged to consult a tax advisor to determine whether it is advisable to modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing their common units.
We have adopted certain valuation methodologies in determining a unitholder’s allocations of income, gain, loss, and deduction. The IRS may challenge these methodologies or the resulting allocations, and such a challenge could adversely affect the value of our common units.
In determining the items of income, gain, loss, and deduction allocable to our unitholders, we must routinely determine the fair market value of our assets. Although we may from time to time consult with professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, we make many fair market value estimates using a methodology based on the market value of our common units as a means to measure the fair market value of our assets. The IRS may challenge these valuation methods and the resulting allocations of income, gain, loss, and deduction.
A successful IRS challenge to these methods or allocations could adversely affect the timing or amount of taxable income or loss being allocated to our unitholders. It also could affect the amount of gain recognized from our unitholders’ sale of common units, have a negative impact on the value of the common units, or result in audit adjustments to our unitholders’ tax returns without the benefit of additional deductions.
As a result of investing in our common units, you likely will become subject to state and local taxes and income tax return filing requirements in jurisdictions where we operate or own or acquire properties.
In addition to federal income taxes, our unitholders likely will be subject to other taxes, including state and local taxes, unincorporated business taxes and estate, inheritance, or intangible taxes that are imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we conduct business or control property now or in the future, even if they do not live in any of those jurisdictions. Our unitholders likely will be required to file state and local income tax returns and pay state and local income taxes in some or all of these various jurisdictions. Further, our unitholders may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with state and local filing requirements.
We currently conduct business and control assets in several states, many of which currently impose a personal income tax on individuals. Many of these states also impose an income tax on corporations and other entities. As we make acquisitions or expand our business, we may control assets or conduct business in additional states or foreign jurisdictions that impose an income tax. It is our unitholders’ responsibility to file all foreign, federal, state, and local tax returns and pay any taxes due in these jurisdictions. Unitholders should consult with their own tax advisors regarding the filing of such tax returns, the payment of such taxes, and the deductibility of any taxes paid.
General Risk Factors
If we fail to develop or maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to report our financial results accurately or prevent fraud, which likely would have a negative impact on the market price of our common units.
Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports, prevent fraud, and to operate successfully as a publicly traded partnership. Although we continuously evaluate the effectiveness of, and improve our internal controls, our efforts to develop and maintain our internal controls may not be successful, and we may be unable to maintain effective controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future or to comply with our obligations under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Section 404”). For example, Section 404 requires us to, among other things, review and report annually on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, our independent registered public accountants are required to assess the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.
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Any failure to develop, implement, or maintain effective internal controls or to improve our internal controls could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. Given the difficulties inherent in the design and operation of internal controls over financial reporting, we can provide no assurance as to our independent registered public accounting firm’s conclusions about the effectiveness of our internal controls, and we may incur significant costs in our efforts to comply with Section 404. Ineffective internal controls will subject us to regulatory scrutiny and may result in a loss of confidence in our reported financial information, which could have an adverse effect on our business and likely would have a negative effect on the trading price of our common units.
We do not insure against all potential losses and could be seriously harmed by unexpected liabilities.
Our operations are subject to inherent risks such as equipment defects, malfunctions, and failures, and natural disasters that can result in uncontrollable flows of gas or well fluids, fires, and explosions. These risks could expose us to substantial liability for personal injury, death, property damage, pollution, and other environmental damages. Our insurance may be inadequate to cover our liabilities. Further, insurance covering the risks we face or in the amounts we desire may not be available in the future or, if available, the premiums may not be commercially justifiable. If we were to incur substantial liability and such damages were not covered by insurance or were in excess of policy limits, or if we were to incur liability at a time when we are not able to obtain liability insurance, our business, results of operations, and financial condition could be adversely affected.
Cybersecurity breaches and other disruptions of our information systems could compromise our information and operations and expose us to liability, which would cause our business and reputation to suffer.
We rely on our information technology infrastructure to process, transmit, and store electronic information critical to our business activities. In recent years, there has been a rise in the number of cyberattacks on other companies’ network and information systems by state-sponsored and other criminal organizations, as well as data security incidents caused by human error, vulnerabilities in software and other technologies, or vendor and supply chain incidents. As a result, the risks associated with such an event continue to increase and we frequently detect, respond to and mitigate security incidents. A significant failure, compromise, breach, or interruption of our information systems or inadequacies in our incident response processes could result in loss of confidential information, a disruption of our operations, customer dissatisfaction, damage to our reputation, a loss of customers or revenues, privacy or cybersecurity related litigation, and potential regulatory fines. If any such failure, interruption, or similar event results in improper disclosure of information maintained in our information systems and networks or those of our customers, suppliers, or vendors, including personnel, customer, pricing, and other sensitive information, we also could be subject to liability under relevant contractual obligations and laws and regulations protecting personal data and privacy. Our financial results also could be adversely affected if our or our vendors’ information systems are breached or an employee causes our information systems to fail, either as a result of inadvertent error or by deliberately tampering with or manipulating such systems.
Terrorist attacks, the threat of terrorist attacks, or other sustained military campaigns may adversely impact our results of operations.
The long-term impact of terrorist attacks and the magnitude of the threat of future terrorist attacks on the energy industry in general, and on us in particular, are not known at this time. Uncertainty surrounding sustained military campaigns may affect our operations in unpredictable ways, including disruptions of crude oil and natural gas supplies and markets for crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs, and the possibility that infrastructure facilities could be direct targets of, or indirect casualties of, an act of terror. Changes in the insurance markets attributable to terrorist attacks may make insurance against such attacks more difficult for us to obtain, if we choose to do so. Moreover, the insurance that may be available to us may be significantly more expensive than our existing insurance coverage. Instability in the financial markets resulting from terrorism or war also could negatively affect our ability to raise capital.
ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
ITEM 1C. Cybersecurity
Risk Management and Strategy
Our cybersecurity program is led by our IT department and our Cybersecurity Steering Committee, which consists of IT leadership and certain of our senior management. The members of our IT leadership team have an average of over 25 years of experience in IT operations and over 10 years of experience in IT security, including cybersecurity risk identification and mitigation. Our IT department stays informed of current developments in cybersecurity threats and preventative measures and continuously updates our cybersecurity program based on this knowledge. Additionally, our Cybersecurity Steering Committee
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meets on a regular basis to assess, identify and manage material cyber risks. We also engage with a range of external specialists, including cybersecurity firms, consultants, and auditors in evaluating and testing our cybersecurity risk management systems, as well as specialized third-party companies that assist in monitoring our information systems. Our collaboration with these third parties includes regular audits, threat assessments, and consultation on security enhancements. These partnerships enable us to access specialized knowledge and insights which we leverage to continuously improve and modernize our cybersecurity program. We use industry-leading security tools, regularly perform security risk assessments and tool reviews with independent third parties to evaluate program effectiveness, and regularly update our security roadmap. Our IT department monitors industry news and updates to stay aware of the cybersecurity landscape, including incidents or issues that may arise involving our third-party service providers. We perform cybersecurity diligence on certain of our third-party service providers, and for third-party service providers with access to our internal information systems, we require them to review and agree to our relevant cybersecurity policies. Our cybersecurity program is designed to align with the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s five-phase Cybersecurity Framework (Identify-Protect-Detect-Respond-Recover). We have integrated cybersecurity risk management into our overall risk management system, ensuring that cybersecurity risks are taken into consideration when managing business objectives and operational needs.
We require all our employees to take monthly training and testing on cybersecurity threats, including how to recognize and properly respond to phishing and social engineering schemes. We have deployed a phishing detection system to report suspicious emails, which are flagged for further review. We install and regularly update antivirus software on all company managed systems and workstations to detect and prevent malicious code from impacting our systems. We have an incident response plan in place in the event of a cybersecurity incident to guide our response and mitigation actions, which includes requiring our IT team to escalate incidents of a certain severity to the appropriate members of management.
As of the date of this report, we have not identified any risks from cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any previous cybersecurity incidents, that have materially affected us, our business strategy, results of operation or financial condition. While we have designed our cybersecurity program with the purpose of minimizing risk and protecting our assets, no cybersecurity measures can eliminate all risks. Therefore, there remains a possibility that we could experience a cybersecurity incident that could have a material impact on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. For more information on this risk, read Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors – General Risk Factors –Cybersecurity breaches and other disruptions of our information systems could compromise our information and operations and expose us to liability, which would cause our business and reputation to suffer.”
Governance
Our IT leadership updates the Cybersecurity Steering Committee on cybersecurity risks and incidents, ensuring that management is kept aware of USAC’s cybersecurity postures and risks. The Cybersecurity Steering Committee is overseen by, and management periodically provides an update to, the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors regarding our cybersecurity posture and risks, ensuring that the Audit Committee has knowledge and oversight of significant cybersecurity matters and can provide guidance on critical cybersecurity issues.
ITEM 2. Properties
We do not currently own or lease any material facilities or properties for storage or maintenance of our compression units. As of December 31, 2023, our headquarters consisted of 19,225 square feet of leased office space located at 111 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701.
ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we and our subsidiaries may be involved in various claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. In management’s opinion, the resolution of such matters is not expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
See Note 17 to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report for more information on certain of these proceedings.
ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
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PART II
ITEM 5. Market For Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Our Partnership Interests
As of February 8, 2024, we had 103,001,911 common units outstanding. Energy Transfer owns 100% of the membership interests in the General Partner and, as of February 8, 2024, beneficially owns approximately 45% of our outstanding common units.
As of February 8, 2024, we had outstanding 460,000 Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership, all of which were held by EIG Veteran Equity Aggregator LP and FS Specialty Lending Fund (collectively, the “Preferred Unitholders”). The Preferred Units rank senior to our common units with respect to distributions and liquidation rights. The holders of the Preferred Units are entitled to receive cumulative quarterly cash distributions equal to $24.375 per Preferred Unit.
The Preferred Units are convertible, at the option of the holder, into common units in accordance with the terms of our Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”). As of April 2, 2023, we have the option to redeem all or any portion of the Preferred Units then outstanding, subject to certain minimum redemption threshold amounts, for a redemption price set forth in the Partnership Agreement. On or after April 2, 2028, each holder of the Preferred Units will have the right to require us to redeem all or a portion of their Preferred Units, subject to certain minimum redemption threshold amounts, for a redemption price set forth in the Partnership Agreement, which we may elect to pay up to 50% in common units, subject to certain additional limits.
Our common units, which represent limited partner interests in us, are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “USAC.”
There is no established public trading market for the Preferred Units, all of which are owned by the Preferred Unitholders. Please read Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Note 11 – Preferred Units and – Note 12 – Partners’ Deficit”.
Holders
At the close of business on February 8, 2024, based on information received from the transfer agent of the common units, we had 68 holders of record of our common units. The number of record holders does not include holders of common units held in “street name” or persons, partnerships, associations, corporations, or other entities identified in security position listings maintained by depositories.
Selected Information from the Partnership Agreement
Set forth below is a summary of the significant provisions of the Partnership Agreement that relate to available cash.
Available Cash
The Partnership Agreement requires that, within 45 days after the end of each quarter, we distribute all of our available cash to unitholders of record on the applicable record date, first to the holders of the Preferred Units and then to the common unitholders. The Partnership Agreement generally defines available cash, for each quarter, as cash on hand at the end of a quarter plus cash on hand resulting from working capital borrowings made after the end of the quarter less the amount of reserves established by the General Partner to provide for the proper conduct of our business, comply with applicable law, the Credit Agreement or other agreements; and provide funds for distributions to our unitholders for any one or more of the next four quarters. Working capital borrowings are borrowings made under a credit facility, commercial paper facility, or other similar financing arrangement, and in all cases are used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to partners, and with the intent of the borrower to repay such borrowings within twelve months from sources other than working capital borrowings.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
None.
Sales of Unregistered Securities; Use of Proceeds from Sale of Securities
None.
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Equity Compensation Plan
For disclosures regarding securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans, see Part III, Item 12 “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Unitholder Matters”.
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]
ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, the notes thereto, and the other financial information appearing elsewhere in this report. The following discussion includes forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties. See Part I “Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors”.
Discussion and analysis of our operating highlights and financial results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, is included under the headings in Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Operating Highlights, Financial Results of Operations, Liquidity and Capital Resources, and Critical Accounting Estimates” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February 14, 2023.
Overview
We provide compression services in shale plays throughout the U.S., including the Utica, Marcellus, Permian Basin, Delaware Basin, Eagle Ford, Mississippi Lime, Granite Wash, Woodford, Barnett, Haynesville, Niobrara, and Fayetteville shales. Demand for our services is driven by the domestic production of natural gas and crude oil. As such, we have focused our activities in areas with attractive natural gas and crude oil production, which generally are found in these shale and unconventional resource plays. According to studies promulgated by the EIA, the production and transportation volumes in these shale plays are expected to collectively increase over the long term. Furthermore, changes in production volumes and pressures of shale plays over time require a wider range of compression service levels than in conventional basins. We believe we are well-positioned to meet these changing operating conditions due to the operational design flexibility inherit within our compression-unit fleets.
Our business largely focuses on compression services serving infrastructure applications, including centralized natural gas gathering systems and processing facilities, which utilize large horsepower compression units, typically in shale plays. We also provide compression services in more mature basins, including gas lift applications on crude oil wells targeted by horizontal drilling techniques. Gas lift is a process by which natural gas is injected into the production tubing of an existing producing well to reduce hydrostatic pressure and allow the oil to flow at a higher rate. This process, and other artificial-lift technologies are critical to the enhancement of oil production from horizontal wells operating in tight shale plays.
General Trends and Outlook
A significant portion of our assets are utilized in natural gas infrastructure applications typically located in U.S. onshore shale plays, primarily at centralized gathering systems and processing facilities utilizing large-horsepower compression units. Given the infrastructure nature of these applications, the continued need for additional natural gas compression throughout the production cycle, and the long-term investment horizon of our customers, we generally have experienced stability in service rates and higher sustained fleet utilization rates relative to other businesses more directly tied to drilling activity and wellhead-specific economics. In addition to our natural gas infrastructure applications, a portion of our small- and large-horsepower fleet is used in connection with gas-lift applications for crude oil production targeted by horizontal drilling techniques.
We deliver natural gas compression services in connection with domestic natural gas production that primarily occurs in natural gas basins, such as the Marcellus, Utica, and Haynesville Shales, and in crude oil basins where “associated” natural gas is produced alongside crude oil, such as in the Permian and Delaware Basins, Eagle Ford, and the Mid-Continent. Relative stability in commodity prices over much of the past decade encouraged investment in domestic exploration and production and midstream infrastructure across the energy industry, particularly in low-cost U.S. onshore shale basins that feature crude oil and associated gas production. The development of these basins has created additional incremental demand for natural gas compression as it is a critical method to transport associated gas volumes or enhance crude oil production through gas lift.
Following a sustained period of general stability and moderate growth for the midstream sector and the broader energy industry, the events of 2020—including the COVID-19 pandemic and worldwide crude oil price dislocations related to actions taken by members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) and Russia (together with OPEC and other allied producing countries, “OPEC+”)—impacted participants across the energy industry, including us and our customers. The significant price volatility in both crude oil and natural gas adversely impacted energy companies’ financial performance,
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and combined with reduced and uncertain future demand, created a market environment that compelled industry participants to pivot toward a renewed focus on restoring balance sheet strength, driven in part by undertaking meaningful reductions in capital investment.
Since 2020, the general energy industry recovered substantially from the low commodity prices and reduced economic activity, driven by continued demand growth for crude oil and natural gas that occurred as worldwide economic recovery from COVID-19 lock-downs commenced. This continued demand growth for crude oil and natural gas resulted in continued growth in capital expenditures by industry participants resulting in record U.S. crude oil and natural gas production in 2023, according to the EIA’s January 2024 Short-Term Energy Outlook (“EIA Outlook”), as the commodity-price backdrop remained constructive. Although our business is focused on providing compression services that do not bear direct exposure to commodity prices, our business exhibits indirect exposure to commodity prices as overall levels of drilling activity and production are influenced by prevailing commodity prices. Accordingly, we experienced increased demand for our compression services in 2023 as evidenced by marked improvements to our fleet utilization rates and pricing for our services.
According to the EIA Outlook, global consumption of petroleum and liquids fuels increased 2% in 2023 and will continue to increase over 1.0 million barrels per day (“bpd”) in each of 2024 and 2025. The EIA Outlook estimates that annual U.S. crude oil production averaged 12.9 million bpd in 2023, up 1.0 million bpd from 2022, primarily due to production growth in the Permian region of western Texas and eastern New Mexico. In 2024 and 2025, the EIA Outlook expects U.S. crude oil production growth to continue, albeit at a slower rate, estimating average production of 13.2 million bpd for 2024 and 13.4 million bpd in 2025, which would represent new records for annual average crude oil production. The estimated increase in crude oil production is due in part to the expectation that crude oil prices will remain economic for producers. The EIA Outlook estimates that West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices will average $78 per barrel and $75 per barrel for 2024 and 2025, respectively. However, the EIA Outlook notes several key uncertainties that could affect future prices. Heightened tensions around the critical Red Sea shipping channel and other developments in the Middle East have the potential to disrupt global oil trade flows and drive-up global oil prices further should they escalate or persist. We expect that anticipated crude oil production increases likewise will increase associated natural gas production volumes throughout 2024, thereby increasing demand for our compression services, particularly in the Permian and Delaware Basins.
Unlike crude oil, natural gas production and prices have been influenced by different factors, including the nonexistence of an OPEC+ equivalent for the global natural gas market, which makes natural gas price discovery dependent on market supply and demand dynamics rather than by a centralized market coordinator. Over the past several years, increased natural gas production in the U.S., driven by large volumes of associated gas produced from shale sources, has been a major driver of an overall decline in natural gas prices. The EIA Outlook expects dry natural gas production to increase by 1.5 billion cubic feet per day (“bcf/d”) in 2024 and by 1.3 bcf/d in 2025, resulting in record dry natural gas production each year.
Significant demand for natural gas is driven by domestic power generation which has benefited from a lower-price environment. These low prices, combined with a general shift away from coal-fired power plants due to emissions concerns, has resulted in power generation becoming, and remaining, the largest use of natural gas in the U.S., and has created a relatively resilient baseload demand for natural gas. The demand for domestic natural gas also continues to benefit from the construction of LNG export infrastructure, which enables industry participants to benefit from attractive global natural gas prices. According to the EIA Outlook, the U.S. witnessed record LNG exports of 11.8 bcf/d during 2023 and expects LNG exports to set new records of 12.4 bcf/d and 14.4 bcf/d in 2024 and 2025, respectively, as new LNG export capacity continues to ramp up creating incremental baseload global demand.
Overall, the EIA Outlook expects U.S. natural gas consumption to increase by almost 2 bcf/d in 2024, primarily reflecting increased exports, both by pipeline and LNG, but also increased residential and commercial consumption due to the expectation of colder weather in 2024 as compared to 2023, which outpaces supply growth during 2024 by 0.7 bcf/d. Further, the EIA Outlook expects U.S natural gas consumption to increase another 2.4 bcf/d in 2025, driven primarily by LNG exports while baseload demand remains consistent, and for demand growth to exceed supply growth by 1.0 bcf/d in 2025. Natural gas prices averaged $2.54 per million British thermal units (“MMBtu”) in 2023 and the EIA Outlook expects natural gas prices to increase on average to $2.66/MMBtu and $2.95/MMBtu in 2024 and 2025, respectively. However, the EIA Outlook notes the potential exists for natural gas prices to rise significantly due to the uncertainty of weather impacts on residential and commercial heating demand in the winter and air conditioning demand from the electric power sector in the summer. We expect the baseload natural gas demand described above to continue to support long-term domestic natural gas production.
The broader outlook for commodity prices remained constructive during 2023. Although we believe the longer-term outlook for natural gas fundamentals remains positive for 2024 and beyond, the uncertainty created by the heightened tensions in the Middle East, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the slowing global economy and general geopolitical events on the demand for crude oil and natural gas may have a varying impact on our business. Given these uncertainties, we believe it prudent to reduce
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our estimated 2024 growth capital expenditures to between $115.0 million and $125.0 million, compared to 2023 growth capital expenditures of $275.4 million.
Ultimately, the extent to which our business will be impacted by the factors described above, as well as future developments beyond our control, cannot be predicted with reasonable certainty. However, we continue to believe that overall, the long-term demand for our compression services will continue given the necessity of compression in facilitating the transportation and processing of natural gas as well as the production of crude oil.
Operating Highlights
The following table summarizes certain horsepower and horsepower-utilization percentages for the periods presented and excludes certain gas-treating assets for which horsepower is not a relevant metric.
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Increase | |||||||||||||||
| Fleet horsepower (at period end) (1) | 3,775,660 | 3,716,854 | 1.6 | % | |||||||||||||
| Total available horsepower (at period end) (2) | 3,831,444 | 3,826,854 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||
| Revenue-generating horsepower (at period end) (3) | 3,433,775 | 3,199,548 | 7.3 | % | |||||||||||||
| Average revenue-generating horsepower (4) | 3,328,999 | 3,067,279 | 8.5 | % | |||||||||||||
| Average revenue per revenue-generating horsepower per month (5) | $ | 18.86 | $ | 17.35 | 8.7 | % | |||||||||||
| Revenue-generating compression units (at period end) | 4,237 | 4,116 | 2.9 | % | |||||||||||||
| Average horsepower per revenue-generating compression unit (6) | 792 | 765 | 3.5 | % | |||||||||||||
| Horsepower utilization (7): | |||||||||||||||||
| At period end | 94.3 | % | 91.8 | % | 2.5 | % | |||||||||||
| Average for the period (8) | 93.4 | % | 88.6 | % | 4.8 | % | |||||||||||
(1)Fleet horsepower is horsepower for compression units that have been delivered to us (and excludes units on order). As of December 31, 2023, we had 52,500 large horsepower on order for expected delivery during 2024.
(2)Total available horsepower is revenue-generating horsepower under contract for which we are billing a customer, horsepower in our fleet that is under contract but is not yet generating revenue, horsepower not yet in our fleet that is under contract but not yet generating revenue and that is subject to a purchase order, and idle horsepower. Total available horsepower excludes new horsepower on order for which we do not have an executed compression services contract.
(3)Revenue-generating horsepower is horsepower under contract for which we are billing a customer.
(4)Calculated as the average of the month-end revenue-generating horsepower for each of the months in the period.
(5)Calculated as the average of the result of dividing the contractual monthly rate, excluding standby or other temporary rates, for all units at the end of each month in the period by the sum of the revenue-generating horsepower at the end of each month in the period.
(6)Calculated as the average of the month-end revenue-generating horsepower per revenue-generating compression unit for each of the months in the period.
(7)Horsepower utilization is calculated as (i) the sum of (a) revenue-generating horsepower, (b) horsepower in our fleet that is under contract, but is not yet generating revenue, and (c) horsepower not yet in our fleet that is under contract but not yet generating revenue and that is subject to a purchase order, divided by (ii) total available horsepower less idle horsepower that is under repair. Horsepower utilization based on revenue-generating horsepower and fleet horsepower was 90.9% and 86.1% as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively.
(8)Calculated as the average utilization for the months in the period based on utilization at the end of each month in the period. Average horsepower utilization based on revenue-generating horsepower and fleet horsepower was 89.2% and 82.9% for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively.
The 1.6% increase in fleet horsepower as of December 31, 2023, compared to December 31, 2022, primarily was due to compression units added to our fleet to meet incremental demand from customers for our compression services, partially offset by compression units impaired since the previous period.
The 7.3% increase in revenue-generating horsepower and 2.9% increase in revenue-generating compression units as of December 31, 2023, compared to December 31, 2022, primarily were driven by both the redeployment of, and addition of new, large-horsepower compression units due to increased demand for our services commensurate with increased production levels
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in the basins in which we operate. The above-stated factors also drove the 8.5% increase in the average revenue-generating horsepower for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022.
The 8.7% increase in average revenue per revenue-generating horsepower per month for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily was due to higher market-based rates on newly deployed and redeployed compression units, and CPI-based and other market-based price increases on existing customer contracts that occur as market conditions permit.
The 3.5% increase in average horsepower per revenue-generating compression unit for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, was driven by both the redeployment of, and addition of new, large-horsepower compression units.
Horsepower utilization increased to 94.3% as of December 31, 2023, compared to 91.8% as of December 31, 2022. The increase primarily was due to an increase in revenue-generating horsepower, which was driven by a combination of the redeployment of certain previously idle compression units as well as the deployment of new compression units added to the fleet. The increase in horsepower utilization resulted from increased demand for our services, consistent with increased production levels in the basins in which we operate. The above-stated factors also drove the increase in average horsepower utilization for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022.
Horsepower utilization based on revenue-generating horsepower and fleet horsepower increased to 90.9% as of December 31, 2023, compared to 86.1% as of December 31, 2022. The increase in horsepower utilization based on revenue-generating horsepower and fleet horsepower primarily was driven by the redeployment of certain previously idle compression units as well as the deployment of new compression units added to the fleet. The increase in horsepower utilization based on revenue-generating horsepower and fleet horsepower resulted from increased demand for our services, consistent with increased production levels in the basins in which we operate. The above-stated factors also drove the increase in average horsepower utilization based on revenue-generating horsepower and fleet horsepower for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022.
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Financial Results of Operations
Year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | Increase | ||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||
| Contract operations | $ | 802,562 | $ | 673,214 | 19.2 | % | |||||||||||
| Parts and service | 21,890 | 15,729 | 39.2 | % | |||||||||||||
| Related party | 21,726 | 15,655 | 38.8 | % | |||||||||||||
| Total revenues | 846,178 | 704,598 | 20.1 | % | |||||||||||||
| Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||||||
| Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization | 284,708 | 234,336 | 21.5 | % | |||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 246,096 | 236,677 | 4.0 | % | |||||||||||||
| Selling, general, and administrative | 72,714 | 61,278 | 18.7 | % | |||||||||||||
| Loss (gain) on disposition of assets | (1,667) | 1,527 | * | ||||||||||||||
| Impairment of compression equipment | 12,346 | 1,487 | * | ||||||||||||||
| Total costs and expenses | 614,197 | 535,305 | 14.7 | % | |||||||||||||
| Operating income | 231,981 | 169,293 | 37.0 | % | |||||||||||||
| Other income (expense): | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (169,924) | (138,050) | 23.1 | % | |||||||||||||
| Gain on derivative instrument | 7,449 | — | * | ||||||||||||||
| Other | 127 | 91 | 39.6 | % | |||||||||||||
| Total other expense | (162,348) | (137,959) | 17.7 | % | |||||||||||||
| Net income before income tax expense | 69,633 | 31,334 | 122.2 | % | |||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 1,365 | 1,016 | 34.4 | % | |||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 68,268 | $ | 30,318 | 125.2 | % | |||||||||||
*Not meaningful.
Contract operations revenue. The $129.3 million increase in contract operations revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily was due to (i) an 8.7% increase in average revenue per revenue-generating horsepower per month, as a result of higher market-based rates on newly deployed and redeployed compression units, and CPI-based and other market-based price increases on existing customer contracts that occur as market conditions permit, (ii) an 8.5% increase in average revenue-generating horsepower as a result of increased demand for our services, consistent with increased production levels in the basins in which we operate, and (iii) a $24.2 million increase in revenue attributable to natural gas treating services.
Average revenue per revenue-generating horsepower per month associated with our compression services provided on a month-to-month basis did not differ significantly from the average revenue per revenue-generating horsepower per month associated with our compression services provided under contracts in their primary term during the period.
Parts and service revenue. The $6.2 million increase in parts and service revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily was due to an increase in maintenance work performed on units at customer locations that are outside the scope of our core maintenance activities and that are offered as a convenience, and in directly reimbursable freight and crane charges that are the financial responsibility of the customers. Demand for retail parts and services fluctuates from period to period based on varying customer needs.
Related-party revenue. Related-party revenue was earned through related-party transactions that occur in the ordinary course of business with various affiliated entities of Energy Transfer. The $6.1 million increase in related-party revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily was due to (i) an increase in revenues attributable to natural gas treating services driven by increased demand for these services from these entities, (ii)
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increased average revenue-generating horsepower under contract with these entities, and (iii) increased average revenue per revenue-generating horsepower per month, consistent with the overall increase to our contract operations revenue.
Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization. The $50.4 million increase in cost of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily was due to (i) a $26.0 million increase in direct expenses, primarily driven by fluids and parts due to higher costs and increased usage associated with increased revenue-generating horsepower, (ii) a $13.6 million increase in direct labor costs due to increased headcount associated with increased revenue-generating horsepower and higher employee costs, (iii) a $5.1 million increase in retail parts and service expenses, for which a corresponding increase in parts and service revenue also occurred, (iv) a $1.6 million increase in other indirect expenses primarily due to increased consumption and costs of supplies associated with increased revenue-generating horsepower, (v) a $1.5 million increase in expenses related to our vehicle fleet, primarily due to increased usage and maintenance costs associated with increased revenue-generating horsepower, and (vi) a $1.4 million increase in non-income taxes associated with increased revenue-generating horsepower in taxable jurisdictions.
Depreciation and amortization expense. The $9.4 million increase in depreciation and amortization expense for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily was due to new compression units placed in service to meet incremental demand from customers and overhauls and major improvements to compression units.
Selling, general, and administrative expense. The $11.4 million increase in selling, general, and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily was due to (i) a $6.3 million increase in unit-based compensation expense, primarily attributable to mark-to-market changes to our unit-based compensation liability that occurred as a result of changes to our per-unit trading price as of December 31, 2023, (ii) a $2.2 million increase to the allowance for credit losses, resulting from a $1.5 million increase to the provision for expected credit losses in the current period versus a $0.7 million reversal of previously recognized credit losses in the prior comparable period, and (iii) a $2.1 million increase in employee-related expenses, driven by increased headcount and higher employee costs.
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets. The $1.7 million gain on disposition of assets for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the $1.5 million loss on disposition of assets for the year ended December 31, 2022, were related to various asset disposals.
Impairment of compression equipment. The $12.3 million and $1.5 million impairments of compression equipment during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, primarily resulted from our evaluation of the future deployment of our idle fleet assets under then-current market conditions. The primary circumstances supporting these impairments were: (i) unmarketability of certain compression units into the foreseeable future, (ii) excessive maintenance costs associated with certain fleet assets, and (iii) prohibitive retrofitting costs that likely would prevent certain compression units from securing customer acceptance. These compression units were written down to their estimated salvage values, if any.
As a result of our evaluations during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we retired 42 and 15 compression units, respectively, with approximately 37,700 and 3,200 aggregate horsepower, respectively, that previously were used to provide compression services in our business.
Interest expense, net. The $31.9 million increase in interest expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily was due to higher weighted-average interest rates and increased borrowings under the Credit Agreement.
The weighted-average interest rate applicable to borrowings under the Credit Agreement was 7.68% and 4.48% for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively, and average outstanding borrowings under our Credit Agreement were $757.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $580.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Gain on derivative instrument. In April 2023, we entered into an interest-rate swap in which we pay a fixed interest rate and receive floating interest rate payments that are indexed to the one-month SOFR. The $7.4 million gain on derivative instrument for the year ended December 31, 2023 resulted from the increase in fair value of the interest-rate swap due to an increase in the interest-rate forward curve during the year. We had no derivative instruments outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2022.
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Other Financial Data
The following table summarizes other financial data for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other Financial Data: (1) | 2023 | 2022 | (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||||
| Gross margin | $ | 315,374 | $ | 233,585 | 35.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Adjusted gross margin | $ | 561,470 | $ | 470,262 | 19.4 | % | ||||||||||||||
Adjusted gross margin percentage (2) | 66.4 | % | 66.7 | % | (0.3) | % | ||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 511,939 | $ | 425,978 | 20.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA percentage (2) | 60.5 | % | 60.5 | % | — | % | ||||||||||||||
DCF | $ | 281,113 | $ | 221,499 | 26.9 | % | ||||||||||||||
DCF Coverage Ratio | 1.35 | x | 1.08 | x | 25.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
(1)Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow (“DCF”), and DCF Coverage Ratio are all non-GAAP financial measures. Definitions of each measure, as well as reconciliations of each measure to its most directly comparable financial measure(s) calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, can be found below under the caption “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.
(2)Adjusted gross margin percentage and Adjusted EBITDA percentage are calculated as a percentage of revenue.
Gross margin. The $81.8 million increase in gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, was due to (i) a $141.6 million increase in revenues, offset by (ii) a $50.4 million increase in cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization, and (iii) a $9.4 million increase in depreciation and amortization.
Adjusted gross margin. The $91.2 million increase in Adjusted gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, was due to a $141.6 million increase in revenues, offset by a $50.4 million increase in cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization.
Adjusted EBITDA. The $86.0 million increase in Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily was due to a $91.2 million increase in Adjusted gross margin, partially offset by a $5.1 million increase in selling, general, and administrative expenses, excluding unit-based compensation expense, severance charges, and transaction expenses.
DCF. The $59.6 million increase in DCF for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily was due to (i) a $91.2 million increase in Adjusted gross margin, (ii) a $6.2 million increase in cash received on derivative instrument, and (iii) a $1.0 million decrease in distributions on Preferred Units, partially offset by (iv) a $31.9 million increase in cash interest expense, net, (v) a $5.1 million increase in selling, general, and administrative expenses, excluding unit-based compensation expense, severance charges, and transaction expenses, and (vi) a $1.5 million increase in maintenance capital expenditures.
DCF Coverage Ratio. The increase in DCF Coverage Ratio for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily was due to the increase in DCF, partially offset by increased distributions due to an increase in the number of outstanding common units.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
We operate in a capital-intensive industry, and our primary liquidity needs include financing the purchase of additional compression units, making other capital expenditures, servicing our debt, funding working capital, and paying cash distributions on our outstanding preferred and common equity. Our principal sources of liquidity include cash generated by operating activities, borrowings under the Credit Agreement, and issuances of debt and equity securities, including common units under the DRIP.
We believe cash generated by operating activities and, where necessary, borrowings under the Credit Agreement will be sufficient to service our debt, fund working capital, fund our estimated expansion capital expenditures, fund our maintenance capital expenditures, and pay distributions to our unitholders through 2024.
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Because we distribute all of our available cash, which excludes prudent operating reserves, we expect to fund any future expansion capital expenditures or acquisitions primarily with capital from external financing sources, such as borrowings under the Credit Agreement and issuances of debt and equity securities, including under the DRIP.
We are not aware of any regulatory changes or environmental liabilities that we currently expect to have a material impact on our current or future operations. Please see “Capital Expenditures” below.
Capital Expenditures
The compression services business is capital intensive, requiring significant investment to maintain, expand, and upgrade existing operations. Our capital requirements primarily have consisted of, and we anticipate that our capital requirements will continue primarily to consist of, the following:
•maintenance capital expenditures, which are capital expenditures made to maintain the operating capacity of our assets and extend their useful lives, to replace partially or fully depreciated assets, or other capital expenditures that are incurred in maintaining our existing business and related operating income; and
•expansion capital expenditures, which are capital expenditures made to expand the operating capacity or operating-income capacity of assets, including by acquisition of compression units or through modification of existing compression units to increase their capacity, or to replace certain partially or fully depreciated assets that at the time of replacement were not generating operating income.
We classify capital expenditures as maintenance or expansion on an individual-asset basis. Over the long term, we expect that our maintenance capital expenditure requirements will continue to increase as the overall size and age of our fleet increases. Our aggregate maintenance capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, were $25.2 million and $23.8 million, respectively. We currently plan to spend approximately $32.0 million in maintenance capital expenditures during 2024, including parts consumed from inventory.
Without giving effect to any equipment that we may acquire pursuant to any future acquisitions, we currently have budgeted between $115.0 million and $125.0 million in expansion capital expenditures for 2024. Our expansion capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, were $275.4 million and $145.1 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 2023, we had binding commitments to purchase $53.4 million worth of additional compression units and serialized parts, all of which is expected to be settled within the next twelve months.
Other Commitments
As of December 31, 2023, other commitments include operating and finance lease payments totaling $22.7 million, of which we expect to make payments of $5.4 million to be settled in the next twelve months. For a more detailed description of our lease obligations, please refer to Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 271,885 | $ | 260,590 | |||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (232,653) | (129,945) | |||||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (39,256) | (130,610) | |||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities. The $11.3 million increase in net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily was due to (i) an increase in cash inflows from a $91.2 million increase in Adjusted gross margin, partially offset by (ii) a $45.2 million increase in inventory purchases and (iii) a $34.6 million increase in cash paid for interest expense, net of capitalized amounts.
Net cash used in investing activities. The $102.7 million increase in net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily was due to a $104.3 million increase in capital expenditures, for purchases of new compression units, overhauls and major improvements, and purchases of other equipment, partially offset by a $1.7 million increase in proceeds from disposition of property and equipment.
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Net cash used in financing activities. The $91.4 million decrease in net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily was due to (i) an $96.2 million increase in net borrowings under the Credit Agreement, partially offset by (ii) a $3.5 million increase in cash paid related to net settlement of unit-based awards and (iii) a $1.6 million increase in common unit distributions.
Revolving Credit Facility
As of December 31, 2023, we had outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement of $871.8 million and $728.2 million of remaining unused availability of which, due to restrictions related to compliance with the applicable financial covenants, $529.1 million was available to be drawn. The $196.0 million increase in available borrowing capacity compared to as of December 31, 2022 was due to (i) a $127.5 million increase from the inclusion of recurring tax expenses as of December 31, 2023, consistent with the calculation of EBITDA under the Credit Agreement, and (ii) a $68.5 million increase from improved financial and operating performance as of December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with all of our covenants under the Credit Agreement.
As of February 8, 2024, we had outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement of $927.5 million and outstanding letters of credit of $0.5 million.
The Credit Agreement matures on December 8, 2026, except that if any portion of the Senior Notes 2026 are outstanding on December 31, 2025, the Credit Agreement will mature on December 31, 2025.
The Credit Agreement provides for an asset-based revolving credit facility to be made available to the Partnership in an aggregate amount of $1.6 billion. The Partnership’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by the guarantors party to the Credit Agreement, which currently consists of all of the Partnership’s subsidiaries. In addition, under the Credit Agreement the Partnership’s Secured Obligations (as defined therein) are secured by: (i) substantially all of the Partnership’s assets and substantially all of the assets of the guarantors party to the Credit Agreement, excluding real property and other customary exclusions; and (ii) all of the equity interests of the Partnership’s U.S. restricted subsidiaries (subject to customary exceptions).
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a per-annum interest rate equal to, at the Partnership’s option, either the Alternate Base Rate or SOFR plus the applicable margin. “Alternate Base Rate” means the greatest of (i) the prime rate, (ii) the applicable federal funds effective rate plus 0.50%, and (iii) one-month SOFR rate plus 1.00%. The applicable margin for borrowings varies (a) in the case of SOFR loans, from 2.00% to 2.75% per annum, and (b) in the case of Alternate Base Rate loans, from 1.00% to 1.75% per annum, and are determined based on a total-leverage-ratio pricing grid. In addition, the Borrower is required to pay commitment fees based on the daily unused amount of the Credit Agreement in an amount equal to 0.375% per annum. Amounts borrowed and repaid under the Credit Agreement may be re-borrowed, subject to borrowing base availability.
The Credit Agreement contains various covenants with which the Partnership and its restricted subsidiaries must comply, including, but not limited to, limitations on the incurrence of indebtedness, investments, liens on assets, repurchasing equity and making distributions, transactions with affiliates, mergers, consolidations, dispositions of assets, and other provisions customary in similar types of agreements. The Partnership also must maintain, on a consolidated basis, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter a Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of not greater than 5.25 to 1.00 (except that the Partnership may increase the applicable Total Leverage Ratio by 0.25 for any fiscal quarter during which a Specified Acquisition (as defined in the Credit Agreement) occurs and the following two fiscal quarters, but in no event shall the maximum Total Leverage Ratio exceed 5.50 to 1.00 for any fiscal quarter as a result of such increase); an Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of not less than 2.50 to 1.00; and a Secured Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of not greater than 3.00 to 1.00 or less than 0.00 to 1.00. The Credit Agreement also contains various customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants, and events of default.
We expect to remain in compliance with our covenants under the Credit Agreement throughout 2024. If our current cash flow projections prove to be inaccurate, we expect to be able to remain in compliance with such financial covenants by taking one or more of the following actions: issue equity in a public or private offering; request a modification of our covenants from our bank group; reduce distributions from our current distribution rate or suspend distributions altogether; delay discretionary capital spending and reduce operating expenses; or obtain an equity infusion pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.
For a more detailed description of the Credit Agreement, including the covenants and restrictions contained therein, see Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”.
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Senior Notes
As of December 31, 2023, we had $725.0 million and $750.0 million aggregate principal amount outstanding on our Senior Notes 2026 and Senior Notes 2027, respectively.
The Senior Notes 2026 are due on April 1, 2026, and accrue interest at the rate of 6.875% per year. Interest on the Senior Notes 2026 is payable semi-annually in arrears on each of April 1 and October 1.
The Senior Notes 2027 are due on September 1, 2027, and accrue interest at the rate of 6.875% per year. Interest on the Senior Notes 2027 is payable semi-annually in arrears on each of March 1 and September 1.
For more detailed descriptions of the Senior Notes 2026 and Senior Notes 2027, see Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.
Derivative Instrument
In April 2023, we entered into an interest-rate swap to manage interest-rate risk associated with the floating-rate Credit Agreement, and in October 2023, we modified this interest-rate swap. See Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for more information regarding the interest-rate swap.
DRIP
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, distributions of $1.9 million and $2.1 million, respectively, were reinvested under the DRIP resulting in the issuance of 87,808 and 124,255 common units, respectively.
Such distributions are treated as non-cash transactions in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report.
See Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for more information regarding the DRIP.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted Gross Margin
Adjusted gross margin is a non-GAAP financial measure. We define Adjusted gross margin as revenue less cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense. We believe Adjusted gross margin is useful to investors as a supplemental measure of our operating profitability. Adjusted gross margin primarily is impacted by the pricing trends for service operations and cost of operations, including labor rates for service technicians, volume, and per-unit costs for lubricant oils, quantity and pricing of routine preventative maintenance on compression units, and property tax rates on compression units. Adjusted gross margin should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, gross margin or any other measure presented in accordance with GAAP. Moreover, our Adjusted gross margin, as presented, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Because we capitalize assets, depreciation and amortization of equipment is a necessary element of our cost structure. To compensate for the limitations of Adjusted gross margin as a measure of our performance, we believe it is important to consider gross margin determined under GAAP, as well as Adjusted gross margin, to evaluate our operating profitability.
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The following table reconciles Adjusted gross margin to gross margin, its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, for each of the periods presented (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | 846,178 | $ | 704,598 | |||||||
| Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization | (284,708) | (234,336) | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | (246,096) | (236,677) | |||||||||
| Gross margin | $ | 315,374 | $ | 233,585 | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 246,096 | 236,677 | |||||||||
| Adjusted gross margin | $ | 561,470 | $ | 470,262 | |||||||
Adjusted EBITDA
We define EBITDA as net income (loss) before net interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, and income tax expense (benefit). We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA plus impairment of compression equipment, impairment of goodwill, interest income on capital leases, unit-based compensation expense (benefit), severance charges, certain transaction expenses, loss (gain) on disposition of assets, loss (gain) on derivative instrument, and other. We view Adjusted EBITDA as one of management’s primary tools for evaluating our results of operations, and we track this item on a monthly basis as an absolute amount and as a percentage of revenue compared to the prior month, year-to-date, prior year, and budget. Adjusted EBITDA is used as a supplemental financial measure by our management and external users of our financial statements, such as investors and commercial banks, to assess:
•the financial performance of our assets without regard to the impact of financing methods, capital structure, or the historical cost basis of our assets;
•the viability of capital expenditure projects and the overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities;
•the ability of our assets to generate cash sufficient to make debt payments and pay distributions; and
•our operating performance as compared to those of other companies in our industry without regard to the impact of financing methods and capital structure.
We believe Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors because, when viewed in conjunction with our GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliations, it may provide a more complete assessment of our performance as compared to considering solely GAAP results. We also believe that external users of our financial statements benefit from having access to the same financial measures that management uses to evaluate the results of our business.
Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss), operating income (loss), cash flows from operating activities, or any other measure presented in accordance with GAAP. Moreover, our Adjusted EBITDA, as presented, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
Because we use capital assets, depreciation, impairment of compression equipment, loss (gain) on disposition of assets, and the interest cost of acquiring compression equipment also are necessary elements of our aggregate costs. Unit-based compensation expense related to equity awards granted to employees also is a meaningful business expense. Therefore, measures that exclude these cost elements have material limitations. To compensate for these limitations, we believe that it is important to consider net income (loss) and net cash provided by operating activities as determined under GAAP, as well as Adjusted EBITDA, to evaluate our financial performance and liquidity. Our Adjusted EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income (loss) and net cash provided by operating activities, and these excluded items may vary among companies. Management compensates for the limitations of Adjusted EBITDA as an analytical tool by reviewing comparable GAAP measures, understanding the differences between the measures, and incorporating this knowledge into their decision making.
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The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to net income and net cash provided by operating activities, its most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, for each of the periods presented (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 68,268 | $ | 30,318 | |||||||
| Interest expense, net | 169,924 | 138,050 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 246,096 | 236,677 | |||||||||
| Income tax expense | 1,365 | 1,016 | |||||||||
| EBITDA | $ | 485,653 | $ | 406,061 | |||||||
| Unit-based compensation expense (1) | 22,169 | 15,894 | |||||||||
| Transaction expenses (2) | 46 | 27 | |||||||||
| Severance charges | 841 | 982 | |||||||||
| Loss (gain) on disposition of assets | (1,667) | 1,527 | |||||||||
| Gain on derivative instrument | (7,449) | — | |||||||||
| Impairment of compression equipment (3) | 12,346 | 1,487 | |||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 511,939 | $ | 425,978 | |||||||
| Interest expense, net | (169,924) | (138,050) | |||||||||
| Non-cash interest expense | 7,279 | 7,265 | |||||||||
| Income tax expense | (1,365) | (1,016) | |||||||||
| Transaction expenses | (46) | (27) | |||||||||
| Severance charges | (841) | (982) | |||||||||
| Cash received on derivative instrument | 6,245 | — | |||||||||
| Other | 1,448 | (851) | |||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities | (82,850) | (31,727) | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 271,885 | $ | 260,590 | |||||||
________________________
(1)For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, unit-based compensation expense included $4.4 million and $4.4 million, respectively, of cash payments related to quarterly payments of DERs on outstanding phantom unit awards and $0.3 million and $1.3 million, respectively, related to the cash portion of the settlement of phantom unit awards upon vesting. The remainder of unit-based compensation expense for all periods was related to non-cash adjustments to the unit-based compensation liability.
(2)Represents certain expenses related to potential and completed transactions and other items. We believe it is useful to investors to exclude these expenses.
(3)Represents non-cash charges incurred to decrease the carrying value of long-lived assets with recorded values that are not expected to be recovered through future cash flows.
Distributable Cash Flow
We define DCF as net income (loss) plus non-cash interest expense, non-cash income tax expense (benefit), depreciation and amortization expense, unit-based compensation expense (benefit), impairment of compression equipment, impairment of goodwill, certain transaction expenses, severance charges, loss (gain) on disposition of assets, change in fair value of derivative instrument, proceeds from insurance recovery, and other, less distributions on Preferred Units and maintenance capital expenditures.
We believe DCF is an important measure of operating performance because it allows management, investors, and others to compare the cash flows that we generate (after distributions on the Preferred Units but prior to any retained cash reserves established by the General Partner and the effect of the DRIP) to the cash distributions that we expect to pay our common unitholders.
DCF should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss), operating income (loss), cash flows from operating activities, or any other measure presented in accordance with GAAP. Moreover, our DCF, as presented, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
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Because we use capital assets, depreciation, impairment of compression equipment, loss (gain) on disposition of assets, the interest cost of acquiring compression equipment, and maintenance capital expenditures are necessary components of our aggregate costs. Unit-based compensation expense related to equity awards granted to employees also is a meaningful business expense. Therefore, measures that exclude these cost elements have material limitations. To compensate for these limitations, we believe that it is important to consider net income (loss) and net cash provided by operating activities as determined under GAAP, as well as DCF, to evaluate our financial performance and liquidity. Our DCF excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income (loss) and net cash provided by operating activities, and these excluded items may vary among companies. Management compensates for the limitations of DCF as an analytical tool by reviewing comparable GAAP measures, understanding the differences between the measures, and incorporating this knowledge into their decision making.
The following table reconciles DCF to net income and net cash provided by operating activities, its most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, for each of the periods presented (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 68,268 | $ | 30,318 | |||||||
| Non-cash interest expense | 7,279 | 7,265 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 246,096 | 236,677 | |||||||||
| Non-cash income tax benefit | (52) | (151) | |||||||||
| Unit-based compensation expense (1) | 22,169 | 15,894 | |||||||||
| Transaction expenses (2) | 46 | 27 | |||||||||
| Severance charges | 841 | 982 | |||||||||
| Loss (gain) on disposition of assets | (1,667) | 1,527 | |||||||||
| Change in fair value of derivative instrument | (1,204) | — | |||||||||
| Impairment of compression equipment (3) | 12,346 | 1,487 | |||||||||
| Distributions on Preferred Units | (47,775) | (48,750) | |||||||||
| Maintenance capital expenditures (4) | (25,234) | (23,777) | |||||||||
| DCF | $ | 281,113 | $ | 221,499 | |||||||
| Maintenance capital expenditures | 25,234 | 23,777 | |||||||||
| Transaction expenses | (46) | (27) | |||||||||
| Severance charges | (841) | (982) | |||||||||
| Distributions on Preferred Units | 47,775 | 48,750 | |||||||||
| Other | 1,500 | (700) | |||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities | (82,850) | (31,727) | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 271,885 | $ | 260,590 | |||||||
________________________
(1)For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, unit-based compensation expense included $4.4 million and $4.4 million, respectively, of cash payments related to quarterly payments of DERs on outstanding phantom unit awards and $0.3 million and $1.3 million, respectively, related to the cash portion of the settlement of phantom unit awards upon vesting. The remainder of unit-based compensation expense for all periods was related to non-cash adjustments to the unit-based compensation liability.
(2)Represents certain expenses related to potential and completed transactions and other items. We believe it is useful to investors to exclude these expenses.
(3)Represents non-cash charges incurred to decrease the carrying value of long-lived assets with recorded values that are not expected to be recovered through future cash flows.
(4)Reflects actual maintenance capital expenditures for the period presented. Maintenance capital expenditures are capital expenditures made to maintain the operating capacity of our assets and extend their useful lives, replace partially or fully depreciated assets, or other capital expenditures that are incurred in maintaining our existing business and related cash flow.
DCF Coverage Ratio
DCF Coverage Ratio is defined as the period’s DCF divided by distributions declared to common unitholders in respect of such period. We believe DCF Coverage Ratio is an important measure of operating performance because it permits management, investors, and others to assess our ability to pay distributions to common unitholders out of the cash flows that we generate. Our DCF Coverage Ratio, as presented, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
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The following table summarizes our DCF Coverage Ratio for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| DCF | $ | 281,113 | $ | 221,499 | |||||||
| Distributions for DCF Coverage Ratio (1) | $ | 208,856 | $ | 205,559 | |||||||
| DCF Coverage Ratio | 1.35 | x | 1.08 | x | |||||||
________________________
(1)Represents distributions to the holders of our common units as of the record date.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements. These financial statements were prepared in conformity with GAAP. As such, we are required to make certain estimates, judgments, and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods presented. We base our estimates on historical experience, available information, and other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates; however, actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The accounting estimates that we believe require management’s most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments, and that are the most critical to its reporting of results of operations and financial position are as follows:
Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, which include property and equipment, and intangible assets, comprise a significant amount of our total assets. Long-lived assets to be held and used by us are reviewed to determine whether any events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. For long-lived assets to be held and used, we base our evaluation on impairment indicators such as the nature of the assets, the future economic benefit of the assets, the consistency of performance characteristics of compression units in our idle fleet with the performance characteristics of our revenue-generating horsepower, any historical or future profitability measurements, and other external market conditions or factors that may be present. If such impairment indicators are present or other factors exist that indicate the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable, we determine whether an impairment has occurred through the use of an undiscounted cash flows analysis. If an impairment has occurred, we recognize a loss for the difference between the carrying amount and the estimated fair value of the asset. The fair value of the asset is measured using quoted market prices or, in the absence of quoted market prices, is based on an estimate of discounted cash flows, the expected net sale proceeds compared to other similarly configured fleet units we recently sold, a review of other units recently offered for sale by third parties, or the estimated component value of similar equipment we plan to continue to use.
Potential events or circumstances that reasonably could be expected to negatively affect the key assumptions we used in estimating whether or not the carrying value of our long-lived assets are recoverable include the consolidation or failure of crude oil and natural gas producers, which may result in a smaller market for our services and may cause us to lose key customers, and cost-cutting efforts by crude oil and natural gas producers, which may cause us to lose current or potential customers or achieve less revenue per customer. If our projections of cash flows associated with our units decline, we may have to record an impairment of compression equipment in future periods.
For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we evaluated the future deployment of our idle fleet assets under then-current market conditions and retired 42 and 15 compression units, respectively, representing approximately 37,700 and 3,200 of aggregate horsepower, respectively, that previously were used to provide compression services in our business. As a result, we recorded impairments of compression equipment of $12.3 million and $1.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively. The primary circumstances supporting these impairments were: (i) unmarketability of certain compression units into the foreseeable future, (ii) excessive maintenance costs associated with certain fleet assets, and (iii) prohibitive retrofitting costs that likely would prevent certain compression units from securing customer acceptance. These compression units were written down to their estimated salvage values, if any.
Estimated Useful Lives of Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is carried at cost. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis using useful lives that are estimated based on assumptions and judgments that reflect both historical experience and expectations regarding future use of
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our assets. The use of different assumptions and judgments in the calculation of depreciation, especially those involving useful lives, likely would result in significantly different net book values of our assets and results of operations.
Commitments and Contingencies
From time to time, we and our subsidiaries may be involved in various claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. Additionally, our compliance with state and local sales tax regulations is subject to audit by various taxing authorities. Certain taxing authorities have either claimed or issued an assessment that specific operational processes, which we and others in our industry regularly conduct, result in transactions that are subject to state sales taxes. We and others in our industry have disputed these claims and assessments based on either existing tax statutes or published guidance by the taxing authorities.
We utilize both internal and external counsel in evaluating our potential exposure to adverse outcomes from orders, judgments, or settlements. While we are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of these actions, the accounting standard for contingencies requires management to make judgments about future events that are inherently uncertain. We are required to record a loss during any period in which we believe a contingency is probable and can be reasonably estimated. To the extent that actual outcomes differ from our estimates, or additional facts and circumstances cause us to revise our estimates, our earnings will be affected. We expense legal costs as incurred, and all recorded legal liabilities are revised, as required, as better information becomes available to us.
We currently are protesting certain assessments made by the Oklahoma Tax Commission (“OTC”). We believe it is reasonably possible that we could incur losses related to this assessment depending on whether the administrative law judge assigned by the OTC accepts our position that the transactions are not taxable and we ultimately lose any and all subsequent legal challenges to such determination. We estimate that the range of losses we could incur is from $0 to approximately $25.8 million, including penalties and interest.
Our U.S. federal income tax returns for years 2019 and 2020 currently are under examination by the IRS. The IRS has issued preliminary partnership examination changes, along with imputed underpayment computations, for the 2019 and 2020 tax years. Under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, there are several procedural steps, including an appeals process, to complete before a final imputed underpayment, if any, is determined. Based on discussions with the IRS, we estimate a potential range of loss from a final imputed underpayment of $0 to approximately $26.4 million, including interest, for potential adjustments resulting from the IRS examinations. Once a final partnership imputed underpayment, if any, is determined, our General Partner may elect to either pay the imputed underpayment (including any applicable penalties and interest) directly to the IRS or, if eligible, issue a revised information statement to each unitholder, and former unitholder, with respect to an audited and adjusted return.
Allowance for Credit Losses
We maintain an allowance for credit losses for our trade accounts receivable based on specific customer collection issues and historical experience.
Our determination of the allowance for credit losses requires us to make estimates and judgments regarding our customers’ ability to pay amounts due. We continuously evaluate the financial strength of our customers and the overall business climate in which our customers operate, and make adjustments to the allowance for credit losses as necessary. We evaluate the financial strength of our customers by reviewing the aging of their receivables owed to us, our collection experiences with the customer, correspondence, financial information, and third-party credit ratings. We evaluate the business climate in which our customers operate by reviewing various publicly available materials regarding our customers’ industry, including the solvency of various companies in the industry.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, we recognized a $1.5 million increase to the provision for expected credit losses. Unfavorable developments related to customers in bankruptcy was the primary factor supporting the recognized increase to the allowance for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2023.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, we recognized a reversal of $0.7 million to the provision for expected credit losses. Favorable market conditions for customers, attributable to sustained increases in commodity prices, was the primary factor supporting the recognized decrease to the allowance for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”, Note 18 for recent accounting pronouncements affecting us.
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ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Commodity Price Risk
Market risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices. We do not take title to any natural gas or crude oil in connection with our rendered services, and accordingly, we do not bear direct exposure to fluctuating commodity prices. However, the demand for our compression services depends on the continued demand for, and production of, natural gas and crude oil. Sustained low natural gas or crude oil prices over the long term could result in a decline in the production of natural gas or crude oil, which could result in reduced demand for our compression services. We do not intend to hedge our indirect exposure to fluctuating commodity prices. A one percent decrease in average revenue-generating horsepower during the year ended December 31, 2023 would result in an annual decrease of approximately $7.5 million and $5.0 million in our revenue and Adjusted gross margin, respectively. Adjusted gross margin is a non-GAAP financial measure. For a reconciliation of Adjusted gross margin to gross margin, its most directly comparable financial measure, calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, please read Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Non-GAAP Financial Measures”. Please also read Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Business – An extended reduction in the demand for, or production of, natural gas or crude oil could adversely affect the demand for our services or the prices we charge for our services, which could result in a decrease in our revenues and cash available for distribution to unitholders.”
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to market risk due to variable interest rates under the Credit Agreement.
As of December 31, 2023, we had $871.8 million of variable-rate indebtedness outstanding at a weighted-average interest rate of 7.98%. Based on our December 31, 2023 variable-rate indebtedness outstanding, a one percent increase or decrease, respectively, in the effective interest rate would result in an annual increase or decrease in our interest expense of approximately $8.7 million.
For further information regarding our exposure to interest rate fluctuations on our debt obligations, see Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.
In April 2023, we entered into an interest-rate swap to manage interest-rate risk associated with the floating-rate Credit Agreement. In October 2023, we modified this interest-rate swap. As of December 31, 2023, the interest-rate swap’s notional principal amount was $700 million, with a termination date of December 31, 2025. Under the interest-rate swap, we pay a fixed interest rate, which as of December 31, 2023 was 3.9725%, and receive floating interest rate payments that are indexed to the one-month SOFR. Based on the fixed interest rate as of December 31, 2023, a one percent increase or decrease in the SOFR interest-rate forward curve would result in an increase or decrease, respectively, in the fair value of this interest-rate swap of $14.8 million, prior to any discount factors or credit valuation adjustments.
For further information regarding our interest-rate swap, see Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.
Credit Risk
Our credit exposure generally relates to receivables for services provided. If any significant customer of ours should have credit or financial problems resulting in a delay or failure to pay the amount it owes us, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Please see Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors – Risk Related to Our Business – We are exposed to counterparty credit risk. Nonpayment and nonperformance by our customers, suppliers, or vendors could reduce our revenues, increase our expenses, and otherwise have a negative impact on our ability to conduct our business, operating results, cash flows, and ability to make distributions to our unitholders.”
ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The financial statements and supplementary information specified by this Item are presented in Part IV, Item 15 “Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules”.
ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
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ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As required by Rule 13a-15(b) of the Exchange Act, we have evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures, and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC. Based on the evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2023, at the reasonable assurance level.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for us. Our internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the preparation and fair presentation of our published financial statements.
There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any control system, however well designed, including the possibility of human error and the possible circumvention or overriding of controls. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Management must make judgments with respect to the relative cost and expected benefits of any specific control measure. The design of a control system also is based in part on assumptions and judgments made by management about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that a control will be effective under all potential future conditions. As a result, even an effective system of internal control over financial reporting can provide no more than reasonable assurance with respect to the fair presentation of financial statements and the processes under which they were prepared.
Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the 2013 Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control – Integrated Framework. Based on this assessment, our management believes that, as of December 31, 2023, our internal control over financial reporting was effective. Grant Thornton LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm that audited our consolidated financial statements included herein, also has audited the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, as stated in their report, which is included herein.
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors of USA Compression GP, LLC and
Unitholders of USA Compression Partners, LP
Opinion on internal control over financial reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of USA Compression Partners, LP (a Delaware limited partnership) and subsidiaries (the “Partnership”) as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). In our opinion, the Partnership maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by COSO.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated financial statements of the Partnership as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, and our report dated February 13, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for opinion
The Partnership’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Partnership in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and limitations of internal control over financial reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
Houston, Texas
February 13, 2024
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Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) during the last fiscal quarter that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. Other Information
During the three months ended December 31, 2023, none of the Company’s directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act) informed the Company of the adoption , modification or termination
•On November 13, 2023 , Eric D. Long , our President and Chief Executive Officer and Director , adopted an equity trading plan in accordance with Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) under the Exchange Act. The plan provides for the sale of up to a maximum of 196,859 of our common units. The first trade under the plan will not occur until February 16, 2024 at the earliest, and the plan will terminate on or before November 8, 2024.
ITEM 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
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PART III
ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance
Board of Directors
Our general partner, USA Compression GP, LLC (the “General Partner”), manages our operations and activities. The General Partner is wholly owned by Energy Transfer LP (“Energy Transfer”). The General Partner has a board of directors (the “Board”) that manages our business, and the Board has appointed executive officers of the General Partner. References to “our officers” and “our directors” in this section refers to the officers and directors of the General Partner. The Board is not elected by our unitholders and is not subject to re-election on a regular basis in the future. As the sole member of the General Partner, Energy Transfer is entitled under the limited liability company agreement of the General Partner (the “GP LLC Agreement”) to appoint all directors of the General Partner, subject to rights and restrictions contained in other agreements. The GP LLC Agreement provides that the Board shall consist of between two and eleven persons.
The Board is comprised of eight members, all of whom were designated by Energy Transfer. Pursuant to a Board Representation Agreement (the “Board Representation Agreement”) among us, the General Partner, Energy Transfer, EIG Veteran Equity Aggregator, L.P. (along with its affiliated funds, “EIG”), and EIG Management Company, LLC (“EIG Management”), entered into on April 2, 2018 (the “Transactions Date”) in connection with our private placement to EIG and FS Specialty Lending Fund (formerly known as FS Energy and Power Fund) (“FSSL”) of Preferred Units and warrants to purchase common units of the Partnership (the “Warrants”), EIG Management has the right to designate one member of the Board for so long as EIG and FSSL own, in the aggregate, more than 5% of the Partnership’s outstanding common units (taking into account the common units issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Units and exercise of the Warrants). EIG Management has not designated a board member following the resignation of its previous designee, Matthew S. Hartman, on November 20, 2023. Three members of the Board are independent as defined under the independence standards established by the NYSE and the SEC. Although the NYSE does not require a publicly traded limited partnership like us to have a majority of independent directors on the Board or to establish a compensation committee or a nominating committee, the Board has elected to have a standing compensation committee (the “Compensation Committee”). We do not have a nominating committee in light of the fact that Energy Transfer and EIG currently collectively have the right to appoint all of the members of the Board.
Eric D. Long, our President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), is currently the only management member of the Board. The non-management members of the Board meet in executive session without any members of management present at least twice a year. Mr. William S. Waldheim presides at such meetings. Interested parties can communicate directly with non-management members of the Board by mail in care of the General Counsel and Secretary at USA Compression Partners, LP, 111 Congress Avenue, Suite 2400, Austin, Texas 78701. Such communications should specify the intended recipient or recipients. Commercial solicitations or similar communications will not be forwarded to the Board.
As a limited partnership, NYSE rules do not require us to seek unitholder approval for the election of any of our directors. We do not have a formal process for identifying director nominees, nor do we have a formal policy regarding consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees. We believe, however, that the individuals appointed as directors have experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to our business and have a history of service in senior leadership positions with the qualities and attributes required to provide effective oversight of the Partnership.
Independent Directors. The Board has determined that each of Glenn E. Joyce, W. Brett Smith, William S. Waldheim are, and prior to his departure Matthew S. Hartman was, an independent director under the standards established by the NYSE and the Exchange Act. The Board considered all relevant facts and circumstances and applied the independence guidelines of the NYSE and the Exchange Act in determining that none of these directors has any material relationship with us, our management, the General Partner or its affiliates, or our subsidiaries.
Mr. Smith is President of, and owns limited partnership interests in, Promontory Exploration, LP, Rubicon Oil & Gas II LP, and Quientesa Royalty LP, which entities own non-operating working or royalty interests in wells and receive proceeds from liquids production purchased by a subsidiary of Energy Transfer under agreements with well operators. The Board determined that Mr. Smith’s association with these entities did not preclude the independence of Mr. Smith.
Mr. Hartman is a Managing Director at EIG, and, since the Transactions Date, EIG has owned over 80% of the Preferred Units and outstanding warrants in the Partnership. Additionally, during 2023 prior to Mr. Hartman’s departure, EIG owned common units in us as a result of the exercise of the warrants. The Board determined that EIG’s ownership interest in the Partnership did not preclude the independence of Mr. Hartman because (i) EIG’s ownership interest in the Partnership did not confer voting rights sufficient to participate in the control of the Partnership or influence its management, (ii) the Board Representation Agreement does not grant EIG a sufficient number of seats on the Board to significantly influence or control its
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decision making or materially influence the management or operation of the Partnership, and (iii) the Board has determined that ownership of even a significant amount of the Partnership’s securities does not, by itself, preclude a finding of independence.
The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
The Board administers its risk oversight function as a whole and through its committees. It does so in part through discussion and review of our business, financial reporting, and corporate governance policies, procedures, and practices, with opportunity to make specific inquiries of management. In addition, at each regular meeting of the Board, management provides a report of the Partnership’s operational and financial performance, which often prompts questions and feedback from the Board. The audit committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”) provides additional risk oversight through its quarterly meetings, where it discusses policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, reviews contingent liabilities and risks that may be material to the Partnership, and assesses major legislative and regulatory developments that could materially impact the Partnership’s contingent liabilities and risks. The Audit Committee also is required to discuss any material violations of our policies brought to its attention on an ad-hoc basis. Additionally, the Compensation Committee reviews our overall compensation program and its effectiveness at both linking executive pay to performance and aligning the interests of our executives and our unitholders.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Audit Committee. The Board appoints the Audit Committee, which is comprised solely of directors who meet the independence and experience standards established by the NYSE and the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Joyce, Smith, and Waldheim, and prior to his departure, Mr. Hartman. Mr. Waldheim serves as chairman of the Audit Committee. The Board determined that Mr. Waldheim is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of SEC Regulation S-K, and that each of Messrs. Joyce, Smith, Waldheim is, and prior to his departure Mr. Hartman was, “independent” within the meaning of the applicable NYSE and Exchange Act rules governing audit committee independence. The Audit Committee assists the Board in its oversight of the integrity of our financial statements and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as well as the effectiveness of our corporate policies and internal controls. The Audit Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate our independent registered public accounting firm, approve all auditing services and related fees and the terms thereof, and pre-approve any non-audit services to be rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee also is responsible for confirming the independence and objectivity of our independent registered public accounting firm. Our independent registered public accounting firm is given unrestricted access to the Audit Committee.
The charter of the Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee Charter”) is available under the Investor Relations tab on our website at usacompression.com. We will provide a copy of the Audit Committee Charter to any of our unitholders without charge upon written request to Investor Relations, 111 Congress Avenue, Suite 2400, Austin, TX 78701.
Compensation Committee. The NYSE does not require a listed limited partnership like us to have a compensation committee. However, the Board established the Compensation Committee to, among other things, oversee our compensation program described below in Part III, Item 11 “Executive Compensation.” The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Joyce, Smith, and Waldheim and is chaired by Mr. Joyce. The Compensation Committee establishes and reviews general policies related to our compensation and benefits, and is responsible for making recommendations to the Board with respect to the compensation and benefits of the Board. In addition, the Compensation Committee administers the USA Compression Partners, LP 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and as may be further amended or replaced from time to time (the “LTIP”).
Under the charter of the Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee Charter”), a director serving as a member of the Compensation Committee may not be an officer of, or employed by, the General Partner, us, or our subsidiaries. During 2021, none of Mr. Joyce, Mr. Smith, or Mr. Waldheim was an officer or employee of Energy Transfer or any of its affiliates, or served as an officer of any company with respect to which any of our executive officers served on such company’s board of directors. In addition, none of Mr. Joyce, Mr. Smith, or Mr. Waldheim is a former employee of Energy Transfer or any of its affiliates.
The Compensation Committee Charter is available under the Investor Relations tab on our website at usacompression.com. We will provide a copy of the Compensation Committee Charter to any of our unitholders without charge upon written request to Investor Relations, 111 Congress Avenue, Suite 2400, Austin, TX 78701.
Conflicts Committee. As set forth in the GP LLC Agreement, the General Partner may, from time to time, establish a conflicts committee to which the Board will appoint independent directors and which may be asked to review specific matters that the Board believes may involve conflicts of interest between us, our limited partners, and Energy Transfer. Such conflicts committee will determine the resolution of the conflict of interest in any matter referred to it in good faith. The members of the
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conflicts committee may not be officers or employees of the General Partner or directors, officers, or employees of its affiliates, including Energy Transfer, and must meet the independence and experience standards established by the NYSE and the Exchange Act to serve on the Audit Committee, and certain other requirements. Any matters approved by the conflicts committee in good faith will be conclusively deemed to be fair and reasonable to us, approved by all of our partners, and not a breach by the General Partner of any duties it may owe us or our unitholders.
Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Ethics
The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines (the “Guidelines”) that outline important policies and practices regarding our governance and provide a framework for the function of the Board and its committees. The Board also has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) that applies to the General Partner and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including us, and to all of its and their directors, employees, and officers, including its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and principal accounting officer. We intend to post any amendments to the Code, or waivers of its provisions applicable to our directors or executive officers, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, on our website. The Guidelines and the Code are available under the Investor Relations tab on our website at usacompression.com. We will provide copies of the Guidelines and the Code to any of our unitholders without charge upon written request to Investor Relations, 111 Congress Avenue, Suite 2400, Austin, TX 78701.
Note that the preceding internet addresses are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be hyperlinked. Accordingly, no information found on or provided at those internet addresses or on our website in general is intended or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein.
Directors and Executive Officers
The following table shows information as of February 8, 2024 regarding the current directors and executive officers of USA Compression GP, LLC.
| Name | Age | Position with USA Compression GP, LLC | ||||||||||||
| Eric D. Long | 65 | President and Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||||||||||||
| G. Tracy Owens | 61 | Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer | ||||||||||||
| Eric A. Scheller | 60 | Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | ||||||||||||
| Christopher W. Porter | 40 | Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | ||||||||||||
| Sean T. Kimble | 59 | Vice President, Human Resources | ||||||||||||
| Christopher R. Curia | 68 | Director | ||||||||||||
| Glenn E. Joyce | 66 | Director | ||||||||||||
| Thomas E. Long | 67 | Director | ||||||||||||
| Thomas P. Mason | 67 | Director | ||||||||||||
| W. Brett Smith | 64 | Director | ||||||||||||
| William S. Waldheim | 67 | Director | ||||||||||||
| Bradford D. Whitehurst | 49 | Director | ||||||||||||
The directors of the General Partner hold office until the earlier of their death, resignation, removal, or disqualification or until their successors have been elected and qualified. Officers serve at the discretion of the Board. There are no family relationships among any of the directors or executive officers of the General Partner.
Eric D. Long has served as our President and CEO since September 2002 and has served as a director of the General Partner since June 2011. Mr. Long co-founded USA Compression in 1998 and has over 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. From 1980 to 1987, Mr. Long served in a variety of technical and managerial roles for several major pipeline and oil and natural gas producing companies, including Bass Enterprises Production Co. and Texas Oil & Gas. Mr. Long then served in a variety of senior officer level operating positions with affiliates of Hanover Energy, Inc., a company primarily engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, and transporting natural gas. In 1993, Mr. Long co-founded Global Compression Services, Inc., a compression services company. Mr. Long was formerly on the board of directors of the Wiser Oil Company, a NYSE listed company from May 2001 until it was sold to Forest Oil Corporation in May 2004. Mr. Long received his bachelor’s degree, with honors, in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Texas.
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As a result of his professional background, Mr. Long brings to us executive level strategic, operational, and financial skills. These skills, combined with his over 40 years of experience in the oil and natural gas industry, including in particular his experience in the compression services sector, make Mr. Long a valuable member of the Board.
G. Tracy Owens has served as Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer of the Company since April 2017, and was designated as our principal financial officer in October 2023. Prior to joining us in 2017, Mr. Owens served as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC, the general partner of Southcross Energy Partners, L.P. (“Southcross”) from August 2015 until December 2016. Before joining Southcross, Mr. Owens served as Controller for Alon USA Energy, Inc. (“Alon”) since 2006. Prior to joining Alon, Mr. Owens served as Controller for Hunt Refining Company from 1996 until 2006 and as Senior Manager at KPMG LLP from 1986 until 1996. Mr. Owens received a BBA in Accounting from Baylor University in 1986. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Eric A. Scheller has served as our Vice President, Chief Operating Officer since June 2020. Prior to that, Mr. Scheller served as our Vice President – Fleet Operations since April 2018, and prior to that was our Vice President, Operations & Performance Management beginning in August 2015. Prior to joining us, Mr. Scheller was a Director at Sapient Global Markets since August 2013. Before Sapient, Mr. Scheller was a consultant in private practice advising midstream and chemicals firms from January 2012 to July 2013. Prior to that, he held several positions with Enterprise Products Partners LP from November 2004 to December 2011, most recently as Regional Director, Pipeline & Storage Services. Mr. Scheller holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering (Math minor), a Masters of Chemical Engineering, and an M.B.A., all from the University of Houston. Mr. Scheller also is a CFA ® charterholder.
Christopher W. Porter has served as our Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since January 2017, and, prior to that, had served as our Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary since October 2015. From January 2010 through October 2015, Mr. Porter practiced corporate and securities law at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, representing public and private companies, including master limited partnerships, in capital markets offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. Mr. Porter holds a B.B.A. degree in accounting from Texas A&M University, a M.S. degree in finance from Texas A&M University, and a J.D. degree from The George Washington University.
Sean T. Kimble has served as our Vice President, Human Resources since June 2014. Mr. Kimble brings to us over twenty-five years of human resources leadership experience. Prior to joining us, he was most recently the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Millard Refrigerated Services from January 2011 to May 2014 where he led all aspects of human resources. Before joining Millard, he was the Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Vice President of Human Resources at MV Transportation from March 2005 to February 2009 where he led human resources, safety, labor relations, and various other operating support functions. Mr. Kimble holds a B.S. in marketing from Sacramento State University and an M.B.A. from Saint Mary’s College of California. Mr. Kimble also completed the University of Michigan’s Strategic HR and Strategic Collective Bargaining Programs.
Christopher R. Curia has served on the Board since April 2018. Mr. Curia also has served as a director on the board of directors of the general partner of Sunoco LP, a subsidiary of Energy Transfer LP, since August 2014 and as its Executive Vice President-Human Resources since April 2015. Mr. Curia was appointed the Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of the general partner of Energy Transfer LP in April 2015. Mr. Curia joined Energy Transfer Operating, L.P. (“ETO”), a subsidiary of Energy Transfer LP which has since merged with Energy Transfer LP, in July 2008. Prior to joining ETO, Mr. Curia held HR leadership positions at both Valero Energy Corporation and Pennzoil, and has more than three decades of Human Resources experience in the oil and gas field. Mr. Curia holds a master’s degree in Industrial Relations from the University of West Virginia.
Mr. Curia was selected to serve on the Board due to the valuable perspective he brings from his extensive experience working as a human resources professional in the energy industry, and the insights he brings to the Board on matters such as succession planning, compensation, employee management, and acquisition evaluation and integration.
Glenn E. Joyce has served on the Board since April 2018. Mr. Joyce was with Apex International Energy (“Apex”) for over six years, most recently as their Chief Administrative Officer from January 2017 through April 2022. Prior to joining Apex, he spent over 17 years with Apache Corporation where his last position was Director of Global Human Resources in which he managed the HR functions of the international regions of Apache (Australia, Argentina, UK, Egypt). Previously, he worked for Amoco and was involved in international operations in many different countries. Mr. Joyce received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Texas A&M University.
Mr. Joyce was selected to serve on the Board due to his extensive experience in senior human resources leadership positions in the energy industry.
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Thomas E. Long has served on the Board since April 2018. Mr. Long was appointed as Co-Chief Executive Officer of the general partner of Energy Transfer LP effective January 2021. Since May 2022, Mr. Long also has served as a director of Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. Mr. Long previously served as the Chief Financial Officer of the general partner of Energy Transfer LP from February 2016 until January 2021. Mr. Long also has served as a director of the general partner of Energy Transfer LP since April 2019. Mr. Long served as Co-Chief Executive Officer of ETO’s general partner from January 2021 until its merger into Energy Transfer LP in April 2021 and was previously its Chief Financial Officer. He also served on the board of directors of the general partner of Sunoco LP from May 2016 until May 2021. Mr. Long also served as the Chief Financial Officer and as a director of PennTex Midstream Partners, LP’s general partner from November 2016 to July 2017. Mr. Long also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Regency GP LLC from November 2010 to April 2015.
Mr. Long was selected to serve on the Board because of his understanding of energy-related corporate finance gained through his extensive experience in the energy industry.
Thomas P. Mason has served on the Board since April 2018. Since December 2022, Mr. Mason has served as the Executive Vice President and President – LNG of the general partner of Energy Transfer LP. Mr. Mason became the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the general partner of Energy Transfer LP in December 2015, and served as the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and President – LNG from October 2018 following the merger of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. until December 2022 when he resigned from his role as General Counsel. In February 2021, Mr. Mason assumed leadership responsibility over Energy Transfer LP’s newly created Alternative Energy Group, which focuses on the development of alternative energy projects aimed at continuing to reduce Energy Transfer LP’s environmental footprint throughout its operations. Mr. Mason previously served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of ETO’s general partner from April 2012 to December 2015, as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary from June 2008 and as General Counsel and Secretary from February 2007. Prior to joining ETO, he was a partner in the Houston office of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. Mr. Mason also previously served on the Board of Directors of the general partner of Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. from October 2012 to April 2017 and also served on the Board of Directors of the general partner of PennTex Midstream Partners, LP from November 2016 to July 2017.
Mr. Mason was selected to serve on the Board because of his decades of legal experience in securities, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance in the energy sector.
W. Brett Smith has served on the Board since April 2021. Mr. Smith also has served as President and Managing Partner of Rubicon Oil & Gas, LLC since October 2000, President of Rubicon Oil & Gas II, LP since May 2005, President of Quientesa Royalty LP since February 2005, President of Acton Energy LP since October 2008 and President of Promontory Exploration, LP since 2017. Mr. Smith was President of Rubicon Oil & Gas, LP from October 2000 to May 2005. For more than 30 years Mr. Smith has been active in assembling exploration prospects in the Permian Basin, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and the Rocky Mountain areas. Mr. Smith served on the board of directors of the general partner of ETO and on its audit committee from February 2018 through April 2021. Mr. Smith also previously served on the board of directors of Sunoco LP and was a member of its audit and compensation committees.
Mr. Smith was selected to serve on the Board based on his experience as an executive in the oil and gas industry, as well as his recent experience on the board of another publicly traded limited partnership.
William S. Waldheim has served on the Board since April 2018. Mr. Waldheim also served on the board of directors of Southcross Energy Partners GP, LLC from February 2020 through April 2022. Mr. Waldheim served as a director and a member of the Audit, Finance & Risk Committee of Enbridge Energy Company, Inc. and Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. from February 2016 through December 2018. He previously served as President of DCP Midstream LP where he had overall responsibility for DCP Midstream’s affairs including commercial, trading, and business development until his retirement in 2015. Prior to this, Mr. Waldheim was President of Midstream Marketing and Logistics for DCP Midstream and managed natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids marketing and logistics. From 2005 to 2008, he was Group Vice President of Commercial for DCP Midstream, managing its upstream and downstream commercial business. Mr. Waldheim started his professional career in 1978 with Champlin Petroleum as an auditor and financial analyst and served in roles involving NGL and crude oil distribution and marketing. He served as Vice President of NGL and Crude Oil Marketing for Union Pacific Fuels from 1987 until 1998 at which time it was acquired by DCP Midstream.
Mr. Waldheim was selected to serve on the Board because of his broad and extensive experience in senior leadership roles in the energy industry and his financial and accounting expertise.
Bradford D. Whitehurst has served on the Board since April 2019. Since November 2022, Mr. Whitehurst has served as the Executive Vice President of Tax and Corporate Initiatives of the general partner of Energy Transfer LP. From January 2021 through November 2022, Mr. Whitehurst was the Chief Financial Officer of the general partner of Energy Transfer LP. Prior to that, Mr. Whitehurst served as their Executive Vice President – Head of Tax since August 2014. Mr. Whitehurst also served as
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the Chief Financial Officer of the general partner of ETO from January 2021 until its merger into Energy Transfer LP in April 2021, and prior to that was their Executive Vice President – Head of Tax since August 2014. Prior to joining Energy Transfer LP, Mr. Whitehurst was a partner in the Washington, DC office of Bingham McCutchen LLP and an attorney in the Washington, DC offices of both McKee Nelson LLP and Hogan & Hartson. Mr. Whitehurst has specialized in partnership taxation and has advised Energy Transfer LP in his role as outside counsel since 2006.
Mr. Whitehurst was selected to serve on the Board because of his strong background in the energy sector and specialized knowledge of the taxation structure and issues unique to partnerships.
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that the members of the Board, our executive officers, and persons who own more than 10 percent of a registered class of our equity securities file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our common units and other equity securities with the SEC and any exchange or other system on which such securities are traded or quoted. To our knowledge and based solely on a review of Section 16(a) forms filed electronically with the SEC, we believe that all reporting obligations of the members of the Board, our executive officers and greater than 10 percent unitholders under Section 16(a) were satisfied during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Common Unit Ownership by Directors and Executive Officers
We encourage our directors and executive officers to invest in and retain ownership of our common units, but we do not require such individuals to establish and maintain a particular level of ownership.
Reimbursement of Expenses of the General Partner
The General Partner does not receive any management fee or other compensation for its management of us, but we reimburse the General Partner and its affiliates for all expenses incurred on our behalf, including the compensation of employees of the General Partner or its affiliates that perform services on our behalf. These expenses include all expenditures necessary or appropriate to the conduct of our business and that are allocable to us. The Partnership Agreement provides that the General Partner will determine in good faith the expenses that are allocable to us. There is no cap on the amount that may be paid or reimbursed to the General Partner or its affiliates for compensation or expenses incurred on our behalf.
ITEM 11. Executive Compensation
As is commonly the case with publicly traded limited partnerships, we have no officers, directors, or employees. Under the terms of the Partnership Agreement, we are ultimately managed by the General Partner, which is controlled by Energy Transfer. All of our employees, including our executive officers, are employees of USA Compression Management Services, LLC (“USAC Management”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the General Partner. References to “our officers” and “our directors” refer to the officers and directors of the General Partner.
Compensation Discussion & Analysis
Named Executive Officers
The following disclosure describes the executive compensation program for the named executive officers identified below (the “NEOs”). For the year ended December 31, 2023, the NEOs were:
•Eric D. Long, President and CEO;
•G. Tracy Owens, Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer;*
•Michael C. Pearl, Former Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer;*
•Eric A. Scheller, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer;
•Christopher W. Porter, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary; and
•Sean T. Kimble, Vice President, Human Resources.
*Mr. Pearl left the Partnership effective October 5, 2023. Effective October 6, 2023, Mr. Owens was designated by the Board as the principal financial officer of the Company.
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Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
Since our initial public offering in 2013, we have consistently based our compensation philosophy and objectives on the premise that a significant portion of each NEO’s total compensation should be incentive-based or “at-risk” compensation. We share Energy Transfer’s philosophy that the NEOs’ total compensation levels should be competitive in the marketplace for executive talent and abilities. The Compensation Committee generally targets a competitive range at or near the 50th percentile of the market for aggregate compensation consisting of the three main components of our compensation program: base salary, annual discretionary cash bonus, and long-term equity incentive awards. The Compensation Committee believes that a desirable balance of incentive-based compensation is achieved by: (i) the payment of annual discretionary cash bonuses that consider (a) the achievement of the financial and operational performance objectives for a fiscal year set at the beginning of such fiscal year and (b) the individual contributions of each NEO to our level of success in achieving the annual financial and operational performance objectives, and (ii) the annual grant of time-based restricted phantom unit awards under the LTIP, which awards are intended to incentivize and retain our key employees for the long-term and motivate them to focus their efforts on increasing the market price of our common units and the level of cash distributions we pay to our common unitholders.
The following charts illustrate the level of at-risk incentive compensation we awarded in 2023 to our CEO and, on an averaged basis, the other NEOs. Compensation has been annualized for NEOs that served for only a portion of 2023. “Variable/at-risk” compensation is comprised of long-term equity incentive awards and annual discretionary cash bonuses, and “fixed” compensation is comprised of base salary.
Our compensation program is structured to achieve the following:
•compensate executive officers with an industry-competitive total compensation package of competitive base salaries and significant incentive opportunities yielding a total compensation package in a competitive range at or near the 50th percentile of the market;
•attract, retain, and reward talented executive officers and key members of management by providing a total compensation package competitive with those of their counterparts at similarly situated companies;
•motivate executive officers and key employees to achieve strong financial and operational performance;
•ensure that a significant portion of each executive officer’s compensation is performance-based or “at risk” compensation; and
•reward individual performance.
Methodology to Setting Compensation Packages
Our executive compensation program is administered by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee considers market trends in compensation, including the practices of identified competitors, and the alignment of the compensation program with the Partnership’s compensation philosophy described above. Specifically, for the NEOs, the Compensation Committee:
•establishes and approves target compensation levels for each NEO;
•approves Partnership performance measures and goals;
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•determines the mix between cash and equity compensation, short-term, and long-term incentives and benefits;
•verifies the achievement of previously established performance goals; and
•approves the resulting cash or equity awards to the NEOs.
The Compensation Committee also considers other factors such as the role, contribution, skills, experience, and performance of an individual relative to his or her peers at the Partnership, and internal compensation levels within Energy Transfer and its subsidiaries (the “Energy Transfer Group”). The Compensation Committee does not assign a specific weight to these factors, but rather makes a subjective judgment taking all of these factors into account.
The Compensation Committee reviews and approves all compensation for the NEOs. In determining the compensation for the NEOs, the Compensation Committee takes into account input and recommendations from the CEO with respect to the compensation of the other NEOs. In this context, the CEO considers comparative compensation data and evaluates the individual performance of each of the other NEOs and their respective contributions to the Partnership. The recommendations from the CEO are then reviewed by the Compensation Committee, which may accept the recommendations or make adjustments to the recommended compensation based on the Compensation Committee’s assessment of the individual’s performance, contributions to the Partnership, and internal compensation levels within the Energy Transfer Group. The CEO’s compensation is reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee based on comparative compensation data, including within the Energy Transfer Group, and the Compensation Committee’s independent evaluation of the CEO’s contributions to the Partnership’s performance.
The Compensation Committee periodically compares results for the annual base salary, annual cash bonus, and long-term equity incentive awards of the NEOs against data for compensation levels for specific executive positions reported in published executive compensation surveys within each of the (i) energy industry and (ii) overall market. The Compensation Committee also reviews publicly filed peer group executive compensation disclosures pertaining to certain executive roles, utilizing this data as an important reference point.
Periodically, we engage a third-party consultant to provide the Compensation Committee with market information regarding compensation levels at peer companies to assist in evaluating compensation levels for our executives, including the NEOs. In 2023, we engaged Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC (“Meridian”), the independent compensation advisor to Energy Transfer, to conduct a report on market information and compensation levels of our peer companies (the “2023 Meridian Report”). The Compensation Committee utilized the 2023 Meridian Report when setting NEO compensation for the 2024 year and when determining the number of equity awards that should be granted to our NEOs in December 2023, which were based on the 2024 base salaries of the NEOs. In connection with the engagement of Meridian for the 2023 Meridian Report, based on the information presented to it, the Compensation Committee assessed the independence of Meridian under applicable SEC and NYSE rules and concluded that Meridian’s work for the Compensation Committee did not raise any conflicts of interest.
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For purposes of the 2023 Meridian Report, our peer group included the following companies:
| Company | Ticker | |||||||
| 1. Antero Midstream Corporation | AM | |||||||
| 2. Archrock, Inc. | AROC | |||||||
| 3. Cactus, Inc. | WHD | |||||||
| 4. Enerflex Ltd. | EFX.TO | |||||||
| 5. EnLink Midstream, LLC | ENLC | |||||||
| 6. Expro Group Holdings N.V. | XPRO | |||||||
| 7. Genesis Energy, L.P. | GEL | |||||||
| 8. Helmerich & Payne, Inc. | HP | |||||||
| 9. Kodiak Gas Services, Inc. | KGS | |||||||
| 10. NuStar Energy L.P. | NS | |||||||
| 11. Oil States International, Inc. | OIS | |||||||
| 12. Pro Petro Holding Corp. | PUMP | |||||||
| 13. RPC, Inc. | RES | |||||||
| 14. Select Water Solutions, Inc. | WTTR | |||||||
| 15. Summit Midstream Partners, LP | SMLP | |||||||
| 16. Sunoco LP | SUN | |||||||
| 17. TETRA Technologies, Inc. | TTI | |||||||
Prior to this, in 2021, we had also engaged Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC to prepare a similar report. In 2022, the Compensation Committee determined that this report was completed recently enough to be utilized as a data source in reviewing and setting 2023 NEO compensation levels, but did have Meridian update the report to account for the impact of inflation. As a result, the Compensation Committee relied on the results of the report completed in 2021 (as updated in 2022, the “2021 Meridian Report”), for information on base salary, bonus, and general compensation items for 2023 for the NEOs. As discussed above, the Compensation Committee utilized the 2023 Meridian Report when determining the value of equity awards that should be granted to our NEOs in December 2023.
In connection with the engagement of Meridian in 2021, based on the information presented to it, the Compensation Committee assessed the independence of Meridian under applicable SEC and NYSE rules and concluded that Meridian’s work for the Compensation Committee did not raise any conflicts of interest.
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For purposes of the 2021 Meridian Report, our peer group included the following companies:
| Company | Ticker | |||||||
| 1. Antero Midstream Corporation | AM | |||||||
| 2. Archrock, Inc. | AROC | |||||||
| 3. Crestwood Equity Partners LP | CEQP | |||||||
| 4. DCP Midstream, LP | DCP | |||||||
| 5. Enerflex Ltd. | EFX.TO | |||||||
| 6. EnLink Midstream, LLC | ENLC | |||||||
| 7. Equitrans Midstream Corporation | ETRN | |||||||
| 8. Exterran Corporation | EXTN | |||||||
| 9. Genesis Energy, L.P. | GEL | |||||||
| 10. Holly Energy Partners, L.P. | HEP | |||||||
| 11. Martin Midstream Partners L.P. | MMLP | |||||||
| 12. NuStar Energy L.P. | NS | |||||||
| 13. Summit Midstream Partners, LP | SMLP | |||||||
| 14. TETRA Technologies, Inc. | TTI | |||||||
| 15. Western Midstream Partners, LP | WES | |||||||
Elements of the Compensation Program
Compensation for the NEOs primarily consists of the following elements and corresponding objectives:
| Compensation Element | Primary Objective | |||||||
| Base salary | To recognize performance of job responsibilities and to attract and retain individuals with superior talent. | |||||||
| Annual incentive compensation | To promote near-term performance objectives and reward individual contributions to the achievement of those objectives. | |||||||
| Long-term equity incentive awards | To emphasize long-term performance objectives, encourage the maximization of unitholder value, and retain key executives by providing an opportunity to participate in the ownership of the Partnership. | |||||||
| Retirement savings (401(k)) plan | To provide an opportunity for tax-efficient savings. | |||||||
| Other elements of compensation and perquisites | To attract and retain talented executives in a cost-efficient manner by providing benefits comparable to those offered by similarly situated companies. | |||||||
Base Salary for 2023
Base salaries for the NEOs generally have been set at a level deemed appropriate by the Compensation Committee to attract and retain individuals with superior talent. Base salary increases are determined based on the job responsibilities, demonstrated proficiency and performance of the NEO, and market conditions. In connection with determining base salaries for each of the NEOs for 2023, the Compensation Committee and CEO considered cost of living increases, internal compensation levels within the Energy Transfer Group, and comparable salaries for certain executive roles within our peer group contained in the 2021 Meridian Report. The Compensation Committee provided each NEO with an increase to his base salary for the 2023 year.
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The 2023 base salaries and 2022 base salaries for the NEOs, including our CEO, are set forth in the following table:
| Name and Principal Position | 2023 Base Salary ($) | 2022 Base Salary ($) | |||||||||||||||
| Eric D. Long, President and Chief Executive Officer | 711,330 | 683,972 | |||||||||||||||
| G. Tracy Owens, Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer | 325,000 | (1) | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| Michael C. Pearl, Former Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | 416,000 | (3) | 400,000 | (4) | |||||||||||||
| Eric A. Scheller, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | 385,000 | 360,500 | |||||||||||||||
| Christopher W. Porter, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | 374,400 | 360,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Sean T. Kimble, Vice President, Human Resources | 338,000 | 325,000 | |||||||||||||||
(1)Mr. Owens’s base salary was increased to $325,000 effective October 9, 2023 in connection with his designation as principal financial officer of the Company. The amount above reflects his annualized base salary for 2023 after this increase. See “– Summary Compensation Table” below for the salary received by Mr. Owens in 2023.
(2)Mr. Owens was not an NEO in 2022; therefore, only his 2023 base salary is reported.
(3)Mr. Pearl left the Partnership effective October 5, 2023. The amount above reflects his annualized base salary for 2023. See “– Summary Compensation Table” below for the salary received by Mr. Pearl in 2023.
(4)Mr. Pearl joined the Partnership effective August 9, 2022. The amount above reflects his annualized base salary for 2022. Mr. Pearl received $160,000 in base salary in 2022.
Annual Cash Incentive Compensation for 2023
Each of the NEOs is entitled to participate in the USA Compression Partners, LP Amended and Restated Annual Cash Incentive Plan (the “Bonus Plan”) and their potential bonus is governed by the Bonus Plan and, for Messrs. Porter and Kimble, also governed by their respective employment agreements. The Compensation Committee acts as the administrator of the Bonus Plan under the supervision of the full Board, and has the discretion to amend, modify, or terminate the Bonus Plan at any time.
In February 2024, the Compensation Committee made the determination to pay annual cash bonus awards to executives, including the NEOs, under the Bonus Plan attributable to the year ended December 31, 2023. Although the Bonus Plan generally is based on our satisfaction of certain performance measures that were previously established for the 2023 year, the Compensation Committee retains the authority to use its business judgement to make decisions or adjustments to the Bonus Plan’s funding pool or the individual bonus awards resulting from the guidelines set forth below. The Bonus Plan contains four payout factors and corresponding percentages that comprise the total annual target bonus for all eligible employees, including the NEOs (the “Annual Target Bonus Pool”), as shown in the following chart.
| Bonus Plan Payout Factors | ||||||||
| Payout Factor | % of Total Annual Target Bonus | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA Budget Target Payout Factor | 30% | |||||||
| Distributable Cash Flow Budget Target Payout Factor | 30% | |||||||
| Leverage Ratio Budget Target Payout Factor | 30% | |||||||
| Safety Budget Target Payout Factor | 10% | |||||||
Each of the Adjusted EBITDA Budget Target Payout Factor (the “Adjusted EBITDA Factor”) and the Distributable Cash Flow, or DCF, Budget Target Payout Factor (the “DCF Factor”) assign payout factors from 0% to 120% based on the percentage of the Partnership’s budgeted Adjusted EBITDA and DCF, respectively, achieved for the year, as shown in the following chart.
| Adjusted EBITDA and DCF Factors | ||||||||
| % of Budget Target | Bonus Pool Payout Factor | |||||||
| Greater than or equal to 110% | 1.20x | |||||||
| 109.9% – 105.0% | 1.10x | |||||||
| 104.9% – 95.0% | 1.00x | |||||||
| 94.9% – 90.0% | 0.90x | |||||||
| 89.9% – 80.0% | 0.75x | |||||||
| Less than 80.0% | 0.00x | |||||||
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For the 2023 year, the Compensation Committee set the Adjusted EBITDA Budget Target at $501.7 million and the DCF Budget Target at $269.9 million.
The Leverage Ratio Budget Target Payout Factor (the “Leverage Ratio Factor”) assigns payout factors based on the Partnership’s achievement of its budgeted Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Partnership’s Credit Agreement, provided that, for purposes of calculating the Leverage Ratio for the Bonus Plan, EBITDA attributable to the full plan year is used in lieu of any other time period) for the year, as shown in the following chart.
| Leverage Ratio Factor | ||||||||
| Range within Budget Target | Bonus Pool Payout Factor | |||||||
| More than 0.250 below budget target | 1.20x | |||||||
| 0.250 – 0.125 below | 1.10x | |||||||
| 0.124 below – 0.125 above | 1.00x | |||||||
| 0.126 – 0.375 above | 0.70x | |||||||
| 0.376 – 0.500 above | 0.50x | |||||||
| Greater than 0.500 above | 0.00x | |||||||
For the 2023 year, the Compensation Committee set the Leverage Ratio Budget Target at 4.55x.
The Safety Budget Target Payout Factor (the “Safety Factor”) assigns payout factors based on the Partnership’s Total Recordable Incident Rate, or TRIR (as calculated by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration), against the Partnership’s TRIR target, as shown in the following chart.
| Safety Factor | ||||||||
| % of Target | Bonus Pool Payout Factor | |||||||
| Less than 100% | 1.00x | |||||||
| 100% – 105% | 0.90x | |||||||
| 105.1% – 110% | 0.80x | |||||||
| 110.1% – 115% | 0.70x | |||||||
| 115.1% – 125% | 0.60x | |||||||
| Greater than 125% | 0.00x | |||||||
For the 2023 year, the Compensation Committee set the Safety Target (as defined in the Bonus Plan) at 0.90.
The establishment and amount of the bonus pool is 100% discretionary and subject to approval and/or adjustment by the Compensation Committee. In determining bonuses for the NEOs, the Compensation Committee takes into account whether the Partnership achieved or exceeded its targeted performance objectives. In the case of the NEOs, their bonus pool targets for the 2023 year range from 50% to 130% of their respective annual base salary.
For the 2023 year, the Compensation Committee set a target bonus amount (the “Target Bonus”) for each NEO, other than Mr. Owens, prior to the first quarter of the 2023 year, which was set as a percentage of the NEO’s base salary. Mr. Owens’s Target Bonus was set by the Compensation Committee in October 2023. For the bonus applicable to the 2023 year, the Target Bonus, as a percentage of base salary and as a dollar amount, is reflected in the table below.
| Name | Percentage of Base Salary | Target Amount ($) | |||||||||||||||
| Eric D. Long, President and Chief Executive Officer | 130 | % | 924,729 | ||||||||||||||
| G. Tracy Owens, Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer | 50 | % | 150,362 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| Michael C. Pearl, Former Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | 100 | % | 416,000 | ||||||||||||||
| Eric A. Scheller, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | 100 | % | 385,000 | ||||||||||||||
| Christopher W. Porter, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | 90 | % | 336,960 | ||||||||||||||
| Sean T. Kimble, Vice President, Human Resources | 90 | % | 304,200 | ||||||||||||||
________________________
(1)Mr. Owens’s Target Bonus was based three-quarters on his base salary of $292,632 and one-quarter on his increased base salary of $325,000.
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The annual cash bonus pool targets for 2023 were based on the determination of the Compensation Committee in consultation with Meridian (other than for Mr. Owens), and in consideration of the available compensation data and the role, contribution, skills, experience, and performance of an individual relative to his or her peers at the Partnership.
Target Bonuses, if any, are paid within one week following delivery by our independent auditor of the audit of our financial statements for the year to which the Target Bonus relates, but in any case, no later than March 15 of the year following the year to which the Target Bonus relates. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we achieved (i) Adjusted EBITDA of $511,938,973, resulting in an Adjusted EBITDA Bonus Pool Payout Factor of 1.00; (ii) DCF of $281,112,503, resulting in a DCF Bonus Pool Payout Factor of 1.00; (iii) Leverage Ratio, as calculated for the purposes of the Bonus Plan, of 4.43x, resulting in a Leverage Ratio Bonus Pool Payout Factor of 1.00; and (iv) a TRIR of 0.65 resulting in a Safety Bonus Pool Payout Factor of 1.00. Based on these payout factors, the awards made pursuant to the Bonus Plan with respect to the year ended December 31, 2023 equal 100% of each NEOs Target Bonus and were as follows:
| Name (1) | Bonus ($) | ||||||||||
| Eric D. Long, President and Chief Executive Officer | 924,729 | ||||||||||
| G. Tracy Owens, Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer | 150,362 | (2) | |||||||||
| Eric A. Scheller, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | 385,000 | ||||||||||
| Christopher W. Porter, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | 336,960 | ||||||||||
| Sean T. Kimble, Vice President, Human Resources | 304,200 | ||||||||||
________________________
(1)Mr. Pearl left the Partnership prior to the payout of the Target Bonuses for the year ended December 31, 2023. Accordingly, no bonus payment was made to Mr. Pearl for 2023.
(2)Mr. Owens’s Target Bonus was based three-quarters on his base salary of $292,632 and one-quarter on his base salary of $325,000.
Amounts received after October 2023 by the NEOs pursuant to the Bonus Plan are subject to certain clawback policies, and may be subject to repayment in part or in full if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement.
Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards
The LTIP, which has been in effect since 2013, is designed to promote our interests, as well as the interests of our unitholders, by rewarding our officers, directors, and certain of our employees for delivering desired performance results, as well as by strengthening our ability to attract, retain, and motivate qualified individuals to serve as officers, directors, and employees. The LTIP provides for the grant, from time to time at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, of unit awards, restricted units, phantom units, unit options, unit appreciation rights, DERs, and other common unit-based awards, although since our initial public offering in 2013, the Compensation Committee has only granted awards of phantom units with DERs under the LTIP. The Compensation Committee acts as the administrator of the LTIP. Each phantom unit (“Phantom Unit”) represents the right to receive (as applicable) a common unit or an amount of cash equal to the fair market value of a common unit (or a combination thereof) upon the vesting of such Phantom Unit pursuant to the LTIP, the applicable award agreement thereunder (“Phantom Unit Agreement”), and as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion. The outstanding, unvested Phantom Units granted under the LTIP and held by the NEOs are reflected below in “– Outstanding Equity Awards as of December 31, 2023.”
Our current Phantom Unit Agreement provides for (i) incremental vesting over five years in two tranches ((a) 60% on the third December 5 following the grant and (b) 40% on the fifth December 5 following the grant), (ii) vesting of 100% of the outstanding, unvested Phantom Units in the event of (a) a Change in Control (as defined under the LTIP and set forth below under “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control”) or (b) the NEO’s death or Disability (as defined under the LTIP and set forth below under “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control”), (iii) vesting of 40% of the outstanding, unvested Phantom Units if the NEO voluntarily retires between the ages of 65–68 and has been employed by us, our General Partner, or our or its affiliates for at least 10 years (with the remaining 60% being forfeited), and (iv) vesting of 50% of the outstanding, unvested Phantom Units if the NEO voluntarily retires at or over the age 68 and has been employed by us, our General Partner, or our or its affiliates for at least 10 years (with the remaining 50% being forfeited). The vesting of the Phantom Units are subject, in each case, to the NEO’s continued employment with us until the relevant vesting date.
The target level of annual long-term incentive awards granted in December 2023 for each of the NEOs is expressed below as a percentage of the NEO’s base salary. In determining the level of the December 2023 grants of Phantom Units to the NEOs, the Compensation Committee, taking into account the role, contribution, skills, experience, and performance of an NEO relative to his or her peers at the Partnership, award levels within the Energy Transfer Group, and market and other data contained in the 2023 Meridian Report, determined each of the NEOs’ long-term incentive targets. Due to the fact that determinations were made in late 2023, the base salaries used for these calculations with respect to Messrs. Long, Scheller, Porter and Kimble were
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the then-determined base salaries set for the 2024 calendar year. The Compensation Committee granted Mr. Owens a set amount of long-term incentive awards, based on the factors described above. Each NEO’s December 2023 grant value is shown in the following table:
Long-Term Incentive Target Amounts Awarded December 5, 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Name (1) | Percentage of Base Salary | Grant Date Amount ($) | ||||||||||||
| Eric D. Long, President and Chief Executive Officer | 500 | % | 3,698,915 | |||||||||||
| G. Tracy Owens, Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer | 62 | % | 200,000 | |||||||||||
| Eric A. Scheller, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | 200 | % | (2) | 840,000 | ||||||||||
| Christopher W. Porter, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | 200 | % | 820,000 | |||||||||||
| Sean T. Kimble, Vice President, Human Resources | 175 | % | 615,160 | |||||||||||
________________________
(1)Mr. Pearl left the Partnership prior to the grant of the long-term incentive awards for 2023. Accordingly, no long-term incentive award was granted to Mr. Pearl for 2023.
(2)In addition to the grant awarded to Mr. Scheller in December 2023, the Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Scheller an LTIP award on February 17, 2023 for 18,753 Phantom Units, with 60% of the Phantom Units vesting on December 5, 2025, and the remaining 40% of the Phantom Units vesting on December 5, 2027.
Under the LTIP, the Compensation Committee has the discretion to determine whether any portion of Phantom Units should be settled in cash upon vesting. On October 27, 2023, the Compensation Committee approved the current default settlement method for Phantom Units of 50% in cash (valued based on the closing price on the NYSE of the Partnership’s common units on the date of vesting) and 50% in common units for all vesting of Phantom Units occurring during 2024. However, the Compensation Committee has also specified that employees may elect to decrease the percentage of this cash settlement. If an employee affirmatively requests in writing that the percentage of cash settlement be set at a specific amount that is less than 50% (and such employee agrees to pay out of his or her own funds the amount of any required federal withholding to the extent that the cash portion is insufficient for the Partnership to withhold and pay such amounts on the employee’s behalf), the Compensation Committee approves in advance such lesser cash settlement percentage.
Each award of Phantom Unit granted to an employee, including the NEOs, is granted in tandem with a corresponding award of DERs, which entitles the recipient to receive an amount in cash on a quarterly basis equal to the product of (a) the number of Phantom Units granted under such award to the grantee that remain outstanding and unvested as of the record date for the distribution on the Partnership’s common units for such quarter and (b) the quarterly distribution with respect to the Partnership’s common units.
Awards granted pursuant to the LTIP are subject to certain clawback features, and the award may not vest or settle if we determine that the recipient committed certain acts of misconduct, as more particularly described in the LTIP.
Retention Phantom Unit Awards
In each of 2018 and 2019, the Compensation Committee approved an additional grant of Phantom Units to Mr. Long in recognition of the importance of Mr. Long to the Partnership’s long-term success and to encourage his retention by providing additional time-based compensation. These Phantom Units are referred to as “Retention Units” and were issued pursuant to Retention Phantom Unit Agreements entered into between our General Partner and Mr. Long on the grant date of the award (the “Retention Agreements”). The Compensation Committee has not awarded any Retention Units to our NEOs subsequent to 2019. The Retention Units vest incrementally, with 60% of the Retention Units vesting on the third December 5 following the grant and 40% on the fifth December 5 following the grant. The Retention Agreements also provide for the vesting of 100% of the then-unvested Retention Units upon (i) Mr. Long’s termination of employment without Cause or for Good Reason (each as defined in the Retention Agreement and set forth below under “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control”), (ii) a Change in Control (as defined under the LTIP and set forth below under “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control”), or (iii) Mr. Long’s death or Disability (as defined under the LTIP and set forth below under “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control”). In addition, Mr. Long’s Retention Agreements provide for vesting of 40% of the outstanding, unvested Phantom Units if Mr. Long voluntarily retires at age 65 or older and has been employed by us, our General Partner, or our or its affiliates for at least 10 years (with the remaining 60% being forfeited). The vesting of the Retention Units are subject, in each case, to Mr. Long’s continued employment with us until the relevant vesting date. In accordance with the foregoing vesting schedule, as of December 31, 2023, the Retention Units granted to Mr. Long in 2018 were fully vested.
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For additional information regarding the remaining Retention Agreement, please see “– Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control-Retention Phantom Unit Agreement” below.
Benefit Plans and Perquisites
We provide the NEOs with certain other benefits and perquisites, which we do not consider to be a significant component of our overall executive compensation program, but which we recognize as an important factor in attracting and retaining talented executives. The NEOs are eligible under the same plans as all other employees with respect to our (i) medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance benefits and (ii) a defined contribution plan that is tax-qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “401(k) Plan”). In addition, we currently provide one or more NEOs with an annual automobile allowance and club memberships. The Compensation Committee has determined it is appropriate to offer these perquisites in order to provide compensation opportunities competitive with those offered by similarly situated public companies. In determining the compensation payable to the NEOs, the Compensation Committee considers perquisites in the context of the total compensation the NEOs are eligible to receive. However, given the fact that perquisites represent a relatively small portion of the NEOs’ total compensation, the availability of these perquisites does not materially influence the Compensation Committee’s decision making with respect to other elements of the NEOs’ total compensation. The value of personal benefits and perquisites we provided to each of the NEOs in 2023 is set forth below in “– Summary Compensation Table.”
Employment Agreements
Each of Messrs. Porter and Kimble is party to an employment agreement with us (together, the “Employment Agreements”), each of which has been extended on a year-to-year basis and will be automatically extended for successive twelve-month periods unless either party delivers written notice to the other at least 90 days prior to the end of the current employment term. Please see the description of the Employment Agreements under “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” for further details on the terms of the Employment Agreements.
Separation Agreement
Mr. Pearl resigned from his positions on October 5, 2023. In recognition of his service and contributions to the Partnership, the Compensation Committee approved a separation payment of $500,000 (the “Separation Payment”) to Mr. Pearl. The Separation Payment was paid in a lump sum and was contingent upon Mr. Pearl’s execution of a Separation and Restrictive Covenant Agreement and Full Release and Waiver of Claims pursuant to which he released all claims against us, and which provides for certain non-disparagement and confidentiality obligations.
Risk Assessment Related to Our Compensation Structure
We believe our compensation program for all of our employees, including the NEOs, is appropriately structured and not reasonably likely to result in material risk to us because it is structured in a manner that does not promote excessive risk-taking that could damage our reputation, negatively impact our financial results, or reward poor judgment. We also have allocated our compensation among base salary and short- and long-term compensation in such a way as to not encourage excessive risk-taking. Furthermore, all business groups and employees receive similar compensation components of base pay and short-term incentives. We typically offer long-term equity incentives to employees at the director level or above, and we use Phantom Units rather than unit options for these equity awards because Phantom Units retain value even in a depressed market, so employees are less likely to take unreasonable risks to get or keep options “in-the-money.” Finally, the time-based vesting pursuant to our Phantom Unit agreement over three to five years for our currently outstanding long-term incentive awards ensures that our employees’ interests align with those of our unitholders with respect to our long-term performance.
Accounting and Tax Considerations
We account for the equity compensation expense for equity awards granted under our LTIP in accordance with GAAP, which requires us to estimate and record an expense for each equity award over the vesting period of the award. For employees, Phantom Units are accounted for as a liability and are re-measured at fair value at the end of each reporting period using the market price of the Partnership’s common units. Phantom Units granted to independent directors do not have a cash settlement option; therefore, we account for these awards as equity. During the requisite service period, compensation cost is recognized using the proportionate amount of the award’s fair value that has been earned through service to date.
Because we are a master limited partnership and the General Partner is a limited liability company, section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), which generally precludes public corporations (as defined pursuant to regulations issued under section 162(m)) from taking a tax deduction for individual compensation to certain of its executive officers in excess of $1 million, does not apply to the compensation paid to the NEOs and, accordingly, the Compensation Committee did not consider its impact in making the compensation recommendations discussed above.
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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
We do not have any Compensation Committee interlocks. Messrs. Joyce, Smith, and Waldheim are the only members of the Compensation Committee, and during 2023 neither Mr. Joyce nor Mr. Smith nor Mr. Waldheim was an officer or employee of Energy Transfer or any of its affiliates, or served as an officer of any company with respect to which any of our executive officers served on such company’s board of directors. In addition, neither Mr. Joyce nor Mr. Smith nor Mr. Waldheim is a former employee of Energy Transfer or any of its affiliates.
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the section of this report entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” with management of the Partnership and approved its inclusion in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
| Compensation Committee | ||
| Glenn E. Joyce (Chairman) | ||
| William S. Waldheim | ||
| W. Brett Smith | ||
The foregoing report shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference by any general statement or reference to this Annual Report on Form 10-K into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate this information by reference, and otherwise shall not be deemed filed under those Acts.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table provides information concerning compensation of our NEOs for the fiscal years presented below, as applicable.
| Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) (1) | Unit Awards ($) (2) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) (3) | All Other Compensation ($) (4)(5) | Total ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eric D. Long | 2023 | 711,330 | — | 3,698,902 | 924,729 | 1,699,814 | 7,034,775 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | 2022 | 683,972 | — | 3,556,634 | 854,965 | 1,556,768 | 6,652,339 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 664,050 | — | 2,735,885 | 854,965 | 1,504,151 | 5,759,051 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| G. Tracy Owens | 2023 | 300,102 | — | 199,990 | 150,362 | 95,091 | 745,545 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael C. Pearl | 2023 | 320,000 | — | — | — | 634,437 | 954,437 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | 2022 | 160,000 | — | 1,335,984 | 158,904 | 14,991 | 1,669,879 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eric A. Scheller | 2023 | 385,000 | — | 1,224,995 | 385,000 | 377,573 | 2,372,568 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | 2022 | 360,500 | — | 769,997 | 324,450 | 298,387 | 1,753,334 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 350,000 | — | 720,997 | 324,450 | 214,883 | 1,610,330 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Christopher W. Porter | 2023 | 374,400 | — | 819,978 | 336,960 | 354,327 | 1,885,665 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | 2022 | 360,000 | — | 748,798 | 324,000 | 307,310 | 1,740,108 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 330,000 | — | 719,995 | 305,910 | 241,983 | 1,597,888 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sean T. Kimble | 2023 | 338,000 | — | 615,159 | 304,200 | 324,521 | 1,581,880 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President, Human Resources | 2022 | 325,000 | 9,750 | 591,496 | 292,500 | 298,908 | 1,517,654 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 325,000 | — | 568,749 | 301,275 | 268,950 | 1,463,974 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)In 2022, Mr. Kimble was granted a one-time lump sum payment of $9,750 by the Compensation Committee.
(2)The Phantom Unit values reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards calculated in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718, disregarding the estimated likelihood of forfeitures. For a discussion of the assumptions utilized in determining the fair value of these awards, please see Note 15 in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.
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(3)Represents the awards earned under the Bonus Plan for each of the NEOs. Amounts earned for the 2023 year will be paid after the Partnership’s audited financials are finalized.
(4)See the chart below for a detailed breakdown of amounts reported in this column for 2023:
| Name | DERs | Automobile Allowance | Employer 401(k) Contributions | Club Membership Dues | Parking | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Long | $ | 1,638,603 | $ | 18,000 | $ | 16,500 | $ | 17,792 | $ | 8,919 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mr. Owens | $ | 80,086 | — | $ | 15,005 | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mr. Pearl | $ | 115,249 | — | $ | 16,000 | — | $ | 3,188 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mr. Scheller | $ | 360,099 | — | $ | 16,500 | — | $ | 974 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mr. Porter | $ | 334,171 | — | $ | 16,500 | — | $ | 3,656 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Kimble | $ | 303,780 | — | $ | 16,500 | — | $ | 4,241 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(5)Mr. Pearl left the Partnership effective October 5, 2023. In connection with his departure, he received a separation payment of $500,000.
Grants of Plan-Based Awards during the Year Ended December 31, 2023
The below reflects awards granted to our NEOs under the LTIP and our Bonus Plan during 2023.
| Name | Grant Date | Approval Date of Equity-Based Awards | Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1) | All Other Unit Awards: Number of Units (#) (2) (3) | Grant Date Fair Value of Unit Awards ($) (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Target ($) | Maximum ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eric D. Long | 2/10/2023 | 924,729 | 1,091,180 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | 12/5/2023 | 10/27/2023 | 157,803 | 3,698,902 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| G. Tracy Owens | 10/5/2023 | 150,362 | 177,427 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer | 12/5/2023 | 10/27/2023 | 8,532 | 199,990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael C. Pearl | 2/10/2023 | 416,000 | 490,880 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eric A. Scheller | 2/10/2023 | 385,000 | 454,300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | 2/17/2023 | 2/17/2023 | 18,753 | 384,999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/5/2023 | 10/27/2023 | 35,836 | 839,996 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Christopher W. Porter | 2/10/2023 | 336,960 | 397,613 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | 12/5/2023 | 10/27/2023 | 34,982 | 819,978 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sean T. Kimble | 2/10/2023 | 304,200 | 358,956 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President, Human Resources | 12/5/2023 | 10/27/2023 | 26,244 | 615,159 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
________________________
(1)These awards were granted in 2023 pursuant to our Bonus Plan. The potential payout pursuant to these awards could be zero, thus we have not reflected a threshold amount in the table above. Actual amounts earned for 2023 have been reflected within the Summary Compensation Table above.
(2)The Phantom Units granted to our NEOs on December 5, 2023 were granted pursuant to our LTIP and will vest incrementally, with 60% of the Phantom Units vesting on December 5, 2026, and the remaining 40% of the Phantom Units vesting on December 5, 2028. The Phantom Units granted to Mr. Scheller on February 17, 2023 were granted pursuant to our LTIP and will vest incrementally, with 60% of the Phantom Units vesting on December 5, 2025, and the remaining 40% of the Phantom Units vesting on December 5, 2027. All these Phantom Units will also vest in full upon a Change in Control (as defined in the LTIP) or the death or Disability (as defined in the LTIP) of the NEO. If the NEO retires after attaining the age of 65 and has been employed by us, our General Partner, or our or its affiliates for at least 10 years, 60% of his then-unvested Phantom Units granted in 2023, will be forfeited, and the remainder will vest, at the time of retirement. If the NEO is at or over age 68 at the time of retirement and has been employed by us, our General Partner, or our or its
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affiliates for at least 10 years, 50% of his then-unvested Phantom Units granted in 2023 will be forfeited, and the remainder will vest, at the time of retirement.
(3)The Phantom Units granted to our NEOs on December 5, 2023, and to Mr. Scheller on February 17, 2023, were granted in tandem with a corresponding DER.
(4)The reported grant date fair value of unit awards was calculated by multiplying the closing price of the Partnership’s common units on the grant date by the number of units granted, as required by FASB ASC Topic 718. The closing price of the Partnership’s common units was $20.53 on February 17, 2023, and $23.44 on December 5, 2023.
Outstanding Equity Awards as of December 31, 2023
The following table provides information regarding Phantom Units granted to the NEOs pursuant to the LTIP in each of the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 that were outstanding as of December 31, 2023, as well as the scheduled vesting schedule for each outstanding award. Potential acceleration events or change in control treatment for the Phantom Units are described below in the section titled “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.” None of the NEOs held any outstanding option awards as of December 31, 2023.
| Name (8) | Number of Outstanding Phantom Units (#) | Market Value of Outstanding Phantom Units ($) (9) | |||||||||||||||
| Eric D. Long, President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||||||||||||||
| 2019 Grants | 83,527 | (1)(2) | 1,906,921 | ||||||||||||||
| 2020 Grant | 85,408 | (3) | 1,949,865 | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 Grant | 182,880 | (4) | 4,175,150 | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 Grant | 193,611 | (5) | 4,420,139 | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 Grant | 157,803 | (6) | 3,602,642 | ||||||||||||||
| G. Tracy Owens, Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer | |||||||||||||||||
| 2019 Grant | 3,773 | (2) | 86,138 | ||||||||||||||
| 2020 Grant | 4,822 | (3) | 110,086 | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 Grant | 10,026 | (4) | 228,894 | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 Grant | 8,165 | (5) | 186,407 | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 Grant | 8,532 | (6) | 194,786 | ||||||||||||||
| Eric A. Scheller, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | |||||||||||||||||
| 2019 Grant | 12,578 | (2) | 287,156 | ||||||||||||||
| 2020 Grant | 19,694 | (3) | 449,614 | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 Grant | 48,195 | (4) | 1,100,292 | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 Grant | 41,916 | (5) | 956,942 | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 February Grant | 18,753 | (7) | 428,131 | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 Grant | 35,836 | (6) | 818,136 | ||||||||||||||
| Christopher W. Porter, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | |||||||||||||||||
| 2019 Grant | 12,679 | (2) | 289,462 | ||||||||||||||
| 2020 Grant | 18,568 | (3) | 423,907 | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 Grant | 48,128 | (4) | 1,098,762 | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 Grant | 40,762 | (5) | 930,596 | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 Grant | 34,982 | (6) | 798,639 | ||||||||||||||
| Sean T. Kimble, Vice President, Human Resources | |||||||||||||||||
| 2019 Grant | 13,951 | (2) | 318,501 | ||||||||||||||
| 2020 Grant | 18,287 | (3) | 417,492 | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 Grant | 38,018 | (4) | 867,951 | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 Grant | 32,199 | (5) | 735,103 | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 Grant | 26,244 | (6) | 599,151 | ||||||||||||||
________________________
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(1)On December 5, 2019, Mr. Long received a grant of 41,764 Retention Units pursuant to the LTIP and a Retention Agreement, of which 16,705 remain unvested as of December 31, 2023. These remaining unvested Retention Units will vest on December 5, 2024.
(2)Includes Phantom Units granted pursuant to the LTIP on December 5, 2019, to the following NEOs, of which the following remain unvested as of December 31, 2023: Mr. Long – 66,822; Mr. Owens – 3,773; Mr. Scheller – 12,578; Mr. Porter – 12,679; and Mr. Kimble – 13,951. These remaining unvested Phantom Units will vest on December 5, 2024.
(3)Includes Phantom Units granted pursuant to the LTIP on December 5, 2020, to the following NEOs, of which the following remain unvested as of December 31, 2023: Mr. Long – 85,408; Mr. Owens – 4,822; Mr. Scheller – 19,694; Mr. Porter – 18,568; and Mr. Kimble – 18,287. These remaining unvested Phantom Units will vest on December 5, 2025.
(4)Includes Phantom Units granted pursuant to the LTIP on December 5, 2021, to the NEOs as follows: Mr. Long – 182,880; Mr. Owens – 10,026; Mr. Scheller – 48,195; Mr. Porter – 48,128; and Mr. Kimble – 38,018. The Phantom Units granted on December 5, 2021, vest incrementally, with 60% of the Phantom Units vesting on December 5, 2024, and the remaining 40% of the Phantom Units vesting on December 5, 2026.
(5)Includes Phantom Units granted pursuant to the LTIP on December 5, 2022, to the NEOs as follows: Mr. Long – 193,611; Mr. Owens – 8,165; Mr. Scheller – 41,916; Mr. Porter – 40,762; and Mr. Kimble – 32,199. The Phantom Units granted on December 5, 2022, vest incrementally, with 60% of the Phantom Units vesting on December 5, 2025, and the remaining 40% of the Phantom Units vesting on December 5, 2027.
(6)Includes Phantom Units granted pursuant to the LTIP on December 5, 2023, to the NEOs as follows: Mr. Long – 157,803; Mr. Owens – 8,532; Mr. Scheller – 35,836; Mr. Porter – 34,982; and Mr. Kimble – 26,244. The Phantom Units granted on December 5, 2023, vest incrementally, with 60% of the Phantom Units vesting on December 5, 2026, and the remaining 40% of the Phantom Units vesting on December 5, 2028.
(7)Mr. Scheller was awarded an LTIP award on February 17, 2023 for 18,753 Phantom Units, with 60% of the Phantom Units vesting on December 5, 2025, and the remaining 40% of the Phantom Units vesting on December 5, 2027.
(8)Mr. Pearl left the Partnership effective October 5, 2023, at which time Mr. Pearl’s unvested equity awards were forfeited.
(9)The market value of Phantom Units is calculated by multiplying $22.83, the closing price of the Partnership’s common units on December 29, 2023, the last trading day of 2023, by the number of Phantom Units outstanding.
Units Vested During the Year Ended December 31, 2023
The following table provides information regarding the vesting of Phantom Units held by the NEOs during 2023. There are no options outstanding on the Partnership’s common units.
| Name | Number of Phantom Units Vested (#) | Value Realized on Vesting ($) (6) | |||||||||||||||
| Eric D. Long, President and Chief Executive Officer | 234,861 | (1) | 5,505,142 | ||||||||||||||
| G. Tracy Owens, Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer | 11,350 | (2) | 266,044 | ||||||||||||||
| Michael C. Pearl, Former Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Eric A. Scheller, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | 35,028 | (3) | 821,056 | ||||||||||||||
| Christopher W. Porter, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | 38,992 | (4) | 913,972 | ||||||||||||||
| Sean T. Kimble, Vice President, Human Resources | 42,202 | (5) | 989,215 | ||||||||||||||
________________________
(1)Mr. Long settled approximately 50% of his newly vested Phantom Units in cash in the amount of $2,752,583 (before taxes), which cash settlement was reported as a disposition of those Phantom Units. The remaining 117,430 vested Phantom Units were settled in our common units following such cash settlement.
(2)Mr. Owens settled approximately 50% of his newly vested Phantom Units in cash in the amount of $133,045 (before taxes), which cash settlement was reported as a disposition of those Phantom Units. The remaining 5,674 vested Phantom Units were settled in our common units following such cash settlement.
(3)Mr. Scheller settled approximately 50% of his newly vested Phantom Units in cash in the amount of $410,528 (before taxes), which cash settlement was reported as a disposition of those Phantom Units. The remaining 17,514 vested Phantom Units were settled in our common units following such cash settlement.
(4)Mr. Porter settled approximately 50% of his newly vested Phantom Units in cash in the amount of $456,986 (before taxes), which cash settlement was reported as a disposition of those Phantom Units. The remaining 19,496 vested Phantom Units were settled in our common units following such cash settlement.
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(5)Mr. Kimble settled approximately 50% of his newly vested Phantom Units in cash in the amount of $494,607 (before taxes), which cash settlement was reported as a disposition of those Phantom Units. The remaining 21,101 vested Phantom Units were settled in our common units following such cash settlement.
(6)The value realized on the vesting of Phantom Units was calculated by multiplying $23.44, the closing price of the Partnership’s common units on the date of vesting (December 5, 2023) by the number of Phantom Units vesting on such date.
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
The NEOs are entitled to severance payments and/or other benefits upon certain terminations of employment and, in certain cases, in connection with a Change in Control (as defined in the LTIP and as described below) of the General Partner. All capitalized terms used in the following description but not defined therein will have the definitions set forth in the referenced document.
Retention Phantom Unit Agreement
On December 5, 2019, Mr. Long entered into a Retention Agreement providing for a grant of Retention Units that vest incrementally, with 60% of the Retention Units vesting on December 5, 2022, and 40% of the Retention Units vesting on December 5, 2024. For the purposes of the following description, the “Company” means USA Compression GP, LLC. The Retention Agreement provides for the vesting of 100% of the then-unvested Retention Units upon (i) Mr. Long’s termination of employment by the Company without Cause or for separation by Mr. Long for Good Reason (each as defined in the Retention Agreement and described below), (ii) a Change in Control (as defined under the LTIP and as described below), or (iii) Mr. Long’s death or Disability (as defined under the LTIP and as described below). In the event of Mr. Long’s termination of employment by the Company without Cause or separation by Mr. Long for Good Reason, provided that Mr. Long executes and does not revoke a general release and waiver of claims, Mr. Long will also be entitled to a severance payment intended to capture the value of future distributions associated with Retention Units forfeited for tax withholding purposes upon vesting (the “Release Payment”). Pursuant to the terms of Mr. Long’s Retention Agreement, upon Mr. Long’s termination of employment due to voluntary retirement, provided that Mr. Long is at least 65 years of age at the time of such retirement and has been employed by the Company, the Partnership or their Affiliates for at least 10 years, 40% of his then-outstanding, unvested Retention Units will receive accelerated vesting and the remaining 60% will automatically be forfeited at the time of his retirement.
As used in the Retention Agreement, “Cause” means (1) the commission by Mr. Long of a criminal or other act that involves dishonesty, misrepresentation or moral turpitude; (2) engagement by Mr. Long in any willful or deliberate misconduct which causes or is reasonably likely to cause economic damage to the Company, the Partnership or any of its and their subsidiaries or injury to the business reputation of the Company, the Partnership or its or their subsidiaries; (3) engagement in any dishonest or fraudulent conduct by Mr. Long in the performance of Mr. Long’s duties on behalf of the Company, the Partnership or its or their subsidiaries, including, without limitation, the theft or misappropriation of funds or the disclosure of confidential or proprietary information; (4) a knowing breach by Mr. Long of any fiduciary duty applicable to Mr. Long in performance of Mr. Long’s duties as contained in the organizational documents of the Company, the Partnership or any of its or their subsidiaries; (5) the continuing failure or refusal of Mr. Long to satisfactorily perform the essential duties of Mr. Long for the Company; (6) improper conduct materially prejudicial to the business of the Company, the Partnership or any of its or their subsidiaries; (7) the material disregard or violation by Mr. Long of any policy or procedure of the Company; or (8) any other conduct materially detrimental (as determined in the sole reasonable judgment of the Company) to the Company’s, the Partnership’s or its or their subsidiaries’ business. With respect to a termination for Cause pursuant to clauses (5), (6), (7), and (8) above, such termination will not be considered for Cause unless Mr. Long has been given written notice specifying in detail the conduct that allegedly constitutes grounds to terminate for Cause and an opportunity for 30 days after receipt of such notice to cure such grounds, if curable. Termination for Cause under clauses (1), (2), (3), or (4) above cannot be cured by the individual and no such notice to cure will be delivered.
“Good Reason” is defined under the Retention Agreement as the occurrence, during the Restricted Period (as defined in the Retention Agreement) and without Mr. Long’s prior written consent, of any one or more of the following: (1) a material reduction in Mr. Long’s current title; (2) a more than 10% reduction by the Company in Mr. Long’s rate of annual base salary, annual bonus target or annual long-term incentive target, each determined as of the grant date; (3) a material diminution in Mr. Long’s authority, duties, reporting relationship or responsibilities that is inconsistent in a material and adverse respect with Mr. Long’s authority, duties, reporting relationship or responsibilities with the Partnership on the grant date, provided that such material diminution is also accompanied with any associated reduction in Mr. Long’s annual base salary, annual bonus target or annual long-term incentive target, determined based on Mr. Long’s highest annual base salary, annual bonus target or annual long-term incentive target during the most recent 365-day period prior to the date the change described in this clause (3) occurs; or (4) a change of 50 miles or more in the geographic location of Mr. Long’s principal place of employment as of the grant date. For any resignation to be treated as based on “Good Reason” under the Retention Agreement, the following must occur: (x) Mr.
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Long must provide written notice to the Company of the existence of the Good Reason condition within a period not to exceed 30 days of the initial existence of the condition; (y) the Company shall have not less than 30 days following its receipt of such during which it may remedy the condition; and (z) Mr. Long’s termination of employment must occur within the 90 day period after the initial existence of the condition specified in such notice. Further, no act or omission shall be “Good Reason” if Mr. Long has consented in writing to such act or omission.
Employment Agreements
As previously noted, each of Messrs. Porter and Kimble is party to an Employment Agreement providing for certain payments and benefits upon certain terminations of employment. For the purposes of the following description, the “Company” means USAC Management with respect to Messrs. Porter and Kimble. All capitalized terms used in the following description but not defined therein will have the definitions set forth in the referenced document.
The Employment Agreements provide for the following in the event of a termination of the NEO without Cause or by the NEO with Good Reason (each as defined in the Employment Agreements and set forth below): (i) semi-monthly severance payments for the one-year period following the NEO’s Separation from Service (the “Severance Period”) in an amount totaling the higher of the NEO’s Base Salary for (a) the current year and (b) any previous year during the term of the Employment Agreement (the “Severance Payment”); (ii) the entire amount of any earned Annual Bonus for the year preceding the year in which the NEO is terminated by the Company for “convenience” (as defined in the Employment Agreements and set forth below) or resigns for Good Reason; (iii) a pro rata portion (based on the number of days the NEO was employed during the year) of any earned Annual Bonus for the year in which the NEO is terminated without Cause or resigns for Good Reason; (iv) continued health insurance benefits for the NEO and his eligible dependents for a period of 24 months following his Separation from Service (the “Coverage Period”), as follows: (a) for the first 12 months of the Coverage Period, the Company will provide such health insurance coverage at its own expense (other than the NEO’s monthly cost-sharing contribution under the Company’s group health plan, as in effect at the time of the NEO’s Separation from Service); (b) for the following six months of the Coverage Period, such health insurance coverage will be at the NEO’s sole expense; and (c) for the final six months of the Coverage Period, the Company will be responsible for the proportion of the cost of such health insurance coverage that the NEO covered in the first 12 months of the Coverage Period; and the NEO will be responsible for the proportion that the Company covered during the first 12 months of the Coverage Period; and (v) within 30 days of the NEO’s Separation from Service, all earned but unpaid base salary and paid time off. The NEO’s right to the Severance Payment and continued health insurance benefits described in (i) and (iv) of the preceding sentence are subject to (1) the NEO’s execution of a release of claims against the Company within 45 days of such NEO’s Separation from Service and (2) the NEO’s compliance with the continuing obligations under his Employment Agreement, including confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicit obligations.
In the event of the termination of Mr. Porter’s or Mr. Kimble’s employment by the Company without Cause or by the NEO with Good Reason within two years of a “change in control event” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(i)(5), the Severance Payment will be paid in a lump sum on the Company’s first regular payroll date that occurs on or after 30 days after the date of the NEO’s Separation from Service.
In the event of a termination of Mr. Porter’s or Mr. Kimble’s employment due to death or Disability (as defined in the Employment Agreements), the Company shall pay the following to the NEO or the NEO’s estate: (i) the entire amount of any earned Annual Bonus for the year preceding the year in which the NEO dies or becomes Disabled; (ii) a pro rata portion (based on the number of days employed during the year) of any earned Annual Bonus for the year in which the NEO dies or becomes Disabled; and (iii) all earned but unpaid base salary and paid time off. In the event of the NEO’s death during the Severance Period, the Severance Payment will be paid in a lump sum within 30 days of his death.
As used in the Employment Agreements, a termination for “convenience” generally means an involuntary termination for any reason, including, under certain circumstances, a failure to renew the employment agreement at the end of an initial term or any renewal term, other than a termination for “Cause.” “Cause” is defined in the Employment Agreements to mean (i) any material breach of the Employment Agreement, including the material breach of any representation, warranty or covenant made under the Employment Agreement by the NEO, (ii) the NEO’s breach of any applicable duties of loyalty to the Company or any of its affiliates, gross negligence or material misconduct, or a significant act or acts of personal dishonesty or deceit, taken by the NEO, in the performance of the duties and services required of the NEO that is demonstrably and significantly injurious to the Company or any of its affiliates, (iii) conviction of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude, (iv) the NEO’s willful and continued failure or refusal to perform substantially the NEO’s material obligations pursuant to the Employment Agreement or follow any lawful and reasonable directive from the CEO or the Board, as applicable, other than as a result of the NEO’s incapacity, or (v) a violation of federal, state or local law or regulation applicable to the business of the Company that is demonstrably and significantly injurious to the Company.
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“Good Reason” is defined in the Employment Agreements to mean (i) a material breach by the Company of the Employment Agreement or any other material agreement with the NEO, (ii) a material reduction in the NEO’s base salary, other than a reduction that is generally applicable to all similarly situated employees of the Company, (iii) a material reduction in the NEO’s duties, authority, responsibilities, job title or reporting relationships, (iv) a material reduction by the Company in the facilities or perquisites available to the NEO, other than a reduction that is generally applicable to all similarly situated employees, or (v) the relocation of the geographic location of the NEO’s current principal place of employment by more than 50 miles from the location of the NEO’s principal place of employment as of the effective date of the Employment Agreement.
“Disability” is defined in the Employment Agreements as the NEO being unable to perform essential functions of his position, with reasonable accommodation, due to an illness or physical or mental impairment or other incapacity which continues for a period in excess of 20 consecutive weeks. The determination of Disability will be made by a physician selected by the NEO and acceptable to the Company or its insurers.
Change in Control Benefits – LTIP
On November 1, 2018, the Compensation Committee adopted the Phantom Unit Agreement, which (i) provides for incremental vesting of Phantom Units over five years (60% on the third December 5 following the grant and 40% on the fifth December 5 following the grant) and (ii) provides for vesting of 100% of the outstanding, unvested Phantom Units in the event of (a) a Change in Control (as defined under the LTIP and set forth below) or (b) the death or Disability of the NEO. Also, under the Phantom Unit Agreement, if the NEO has been employed by the Company, the Partnership, or their Affiliates for at least 10 years and is at least 65 at the time of his voluntary retirement, 60% of his then-unvested Phantom Units will be forfeited, and the remainder will vest, at the time of retirement. If the NEO has been employed by the Company, the Partnership or their Affiliates for at least 10 years and is at or over age 68 at the time of his voluntary retirement, 50% of his then-unvested Phantom Units will be forfeited, and the remainder will vest, at the time of retirement. For purposes of this description, the “Company” means USA Compression GP, LLC.
A “Change in Control” as defined under the LTIP means the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) any “person” or “group” within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company, Energy Transfer, an Affiliate of the Company (as determined immediately prior to such event), or an Affiliate of, or successor to, Energy Transfer, shall become the beneficial owner, by way of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or otherwise, of 50% or more of the combined voting power of the equity interests in the Company or the Partnership; (ii) the limited partners of the Partnership approve, in one or a series of transactions, a plan of complete liquidation of the Partnership; (iii) the sale or other disposition by either the Company or the Partnership of all or substantially all of its assets in one or more transactions to any Person other than the Company, the Partnership, Energy Transfer, an Affiliate of the Company (as determined immediately prior to such event), the Partnership, or an Affiliate of, or successor to, Energy Transfer; or (iv) a transaction resulting in a Person other than the Company, Energy Transfer, an Affiliate of the Company (as determined immediately prior to such event), or an Affiliate of, or successor to, Energy Transfer being the sole general partner of the Partnership.
However, if an LTIP award is subject to section 409A of the Code, a “Change in Control” will be defined in accordance with section 409A of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Disability” as defined under the LTIP means, as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion exercised in good faith, a physical or mental condition of the NEO that would entitle him or her to payment of disability income payments under the Company’s or the Partnership’s or one of its subsidiaries’ long-term disability insurance policy or plan for employees as then in effect; or in the event that an NEO is not covered, for whatever reason, under the Company’s or the Partnership’s or one of its subsidiaries’ long-term disability insurance policy or plan for employees or the Company or the Partnership or one of its subsidiaries does not maintain such a long-term disability insurance policy, “Disability” means a total and permanent disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code; provided, however, that if a Disability constitutes a payment event with respect to any award which provides for the deferral of compensation and is subject to section 409A of the Code, then, to the extent required to comply with section 409A of the Code, the NEO must also be considered “disabled” within the meaning of section 409A(a)(2)(C) of the Code. A determination of Disability may be made by a physician selected or approved by the Compensation Committee and, in this respect, NEOs shall submit to an examination by such physician upon request by the Compensation Committee.
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
Except as otherwise noted, the values in the table below assume that a Change in Control occurred on December 31, 2023, and/or that the NEO’s employment terminated on that date, as applicable. The amounts actually payable to any NEO can only be calculated with certainty upon actual termination or a Change in Control. Except as otherwise noted, the value of the acceleration of the LTIP awards was calculated using the value of $22.83, which was the closing price of the Partnership’s common units on December 29, 2023, the last trading day of 2023.
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| Executive Benefits and Payments | Change in Control followed by termination without “Cause” or for “Good Reason” ($) (10) | Termination of Employment without “Cause” or for “Good Reason” ($) (10) | Termination of Employment because of Death or Disability ($) (11) | Termination by the Executive Other Than for “Good Reason” ($) (12) | Continued Employment Following Change of Control ($) (13) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eric D. Long | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salary | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bonus | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accelerated Vesting of Phantom Units (1) | 15,673,343 | — | (3) | 15,673,343 | — | (3) | 15,673,343 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accelerated Vesting of Retention Units (2) | 381,375 | 381,375 | 381,375 | — | (4) | 381,375 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Release Payment under Retention Agreements (5) | 60,827 | 60,827 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Totals | 16,115,545 | 442,202 | 16,054,718 | — | 16,054,718 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| G. Tracy Owens | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salary | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bonus | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accelerated Vesting of Phantom Units (1) | 806,310 | — | 806,310 | — | 806,310 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Totals | 806,310 | — | 806,310 | — | 806,310 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael C. Pearl (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salary | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bonus | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accelerated Vesting of Phantom Units | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Totals | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eric A. Scheller | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salary | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bonus | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accelerated Vesting of Phantom Units (1) | 4,040,271 | — | 4,040,271 | — | 4,040,271 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Totals | 4,040,271 | — | 4,040,271 | — | 4,040,271 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Christopher W. Porter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salary (7) | 401,458 | 401,458 | 27,058 | 27,058 | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bonus (8) | 660,960 | 660,960 | 660,960 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accelerated Vesting of Phantom Units (1) | 3,541,367 | — | 3,541,367 | — | 3,541,367 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Health and Welfare Plan Benefits (9) | 28,072 | 28,072 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Totals | 4,631,857 | 1,090,490 | 4,229,385 | 27,058 | 3,541,367 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sean T. Kimble | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vice President, Human Resources | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salary (7) | 364,000 | 364,000 | 26,000 | 26,000 | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bonus (8) | 596,700 | 596,700 | 596,700 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accelerated Vesting of Phantom Units (1) | 2,938,198 | — | 2,938,198 | — | 2,938,198 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Health and Welfare Plan Benefits (9) | 28,072 | 28,072 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Totals | 3,926,970 | 988,772 | 3,560,898 | 26,000 | 2,938,198 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
________________________
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(1)In the event of the NEO’s cessation of service for any reason, other than as set forth below, 100% of the NEO’s Phantom Units that have not vested prior to or in connection with such cessation of service shall be automatically forfeited. If the NEO retires after attaining the age of 65 and has been employed by us, our General Partner, or our or its affiliates for at least 10 years, 60% of his then-unvested Phantom Units will be forfeited, and the remainder will vest, at the time of retirement and, if the NEO is at or over age 68 at the time of retirement and has been employed by us, our General Partner, or our or its affiliates for at least 10 years, 50% of his then-unvested Phantom Units will be forfeited, and the remainder will vest, at the time of retirement. In the event of the death or Disability (as defined under the LTIP) of the NEO, 100% of the then-unvested Phantom Units shall vest in full immediately prior to such NEO’s cessation of service due to death or Disability. In the event of a Change in Control (as defined under the LTIP), 100% of the NEO’s outstanding, unvested Phantom Units would vest.
(2)The remaining Retention Agreement for Mr. Long provides that 100% of the outstanding, unvested Retention Units held by Mr. Long will vest immediately prior to Mr. Long’s Separation from Service for the following reasons: (i) termination of Mr. Long by the Company without Cause or by Mr. Long with Good Reason, and (ii) upon the death or Disability of Mr. Long. In the event of a Change in Control (as defined under the LTIP), 100% of Mr. Long’s outstanding, unvested Retention Units would vest. Also, if Mr. Long terminates his employment due to retirement and he is at the time of retirement 65 years of age or older, 40% of his then-unvested Retention Units will vest and the remaining 60% of his then-unvested Retention Units will be forfeited.
(3)If Mr. Long's separation was also due to voluntary retirement, 40% of his Phantom Units would vest, valued at $6,269,337.
(4)If Mr. Long's separation was also due to voluntary retirement, 40% of his Retention Units would vest, valued at $152,550.
(5)Provided that Mr. Long executes and does not revoke a general release and waiver of claims, Mr. Long will be entitled to the Release Payment, which is intended to capture the value of future distributions associated with Retention Units forfeited for tax withholding purposes, which payment would be paid within 60 days of Mr. Long’s date of separation. The tax withholding rate as of December 31, 2023, for Mr. Long applicable to the vesting of the Retention Units would have been 39.35%.
(6)Mr. Pearl left the Partnership effective October 5, 2023. In recognition of his service and contributions to us and as approved by our Compensation Committee, we paid Mr. Pearl a separation payment of $500,000 (the “Separation Payment”). The Separation Payment was paid in a lump sum and was contingent upon Mr. Pearl’s execution of a Separation and Restrictive Covenant Agreement and Full Release and Waiver of Claims pursuant to which he released all claims against us, and which provides for certain non-disparagement and confidentiality obligations. Mr. Pearl also received $16,000 of earned but unpaid base salary as of October 5, 2023, the date of his departure, bringing the total amount received by Mr. Pearl pursuant to his departure to $516,000.
(7)The listed salary for each of Messrs. Porter and Kimble represents his accrued but unused paid time off as of December 31, 2023 plus, with respect to the first two columns, his base salary as of December 31, 2023. Any accrued but unused paid time off owed to Mr. Porter or Mr. Kimble would be paid within 30 days of the date of his termination of employment, and the base salary would be paid out as set forth in footnote (10).
(8)The listed bonus amount for each of Messrs. Porter and Kimble is his pro rata bonus awarded with respect to the year ended December 31, 2023, and his bonus awarded with respect to the year ended December 31, 2022.
(9)In the event of Mr. Porter’s or Mr. Kimble’s termination by the Company without Cause or by the NEO with Good Reason, he and his eligible dependents will be entitled to continued health insurance benefits for the Coverage Period, as follows: (a) for the first 12 months of the Coverage Period, the Company will provide such health insurance coverage at its own expense (other than the NEO’s monthly cost-sharing contribution under the Company’s group health plan, as in effect at the time of the NEO’s Separation from Service); (b) for the following six months of the Coverage Period, such health insurance coverage will be at the NEO’s sole expense; and (c) for the final six months of the Coverage Period, the Company will be responsible for the proportion of the cost of such health insurance coverage that the NEO covered in the first 12 months of the Coverage Period; and the NEO will be responsible for the proportion that the Company covered during the first 12 months of the Coverage Period. Messrs. Long, Owens, and Scheller are not currently party to any contractual arrangements providing for continued health insurance coverage by the Company following a termination of employment.
(10)The Employment Agreements for each of Messrs. Porter and Kimble provide that upon termination by the Company without Cause or by the NEO for Good Reason, the NEO is entitled to receive one times his base salary, payable in equal semi-monthly installments over the course of one year provided, that any such installment payments that would otherwise be paid prior to the Company’s first regular payroll date that occurs on or after the 60th day following the date of Employee’s Separation from Service (the “First Pay Date”) shall be paid on the First Pay Date. Upon the death of Mr. Porter or Mr. Kimble during this one-year period, his salary payment will be accelerated and all remaining Severance Payments (as defined in the Employment Agreements) would be paid in a lump sum within 30 days of his death. If such termination occurs within two years after a “change in control event” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(i)(5), the Severance Payment will be made in a lump sum on the first regular payroll date that occurs on or after 30 days of the NEO’s termination date.
(11)Upon the death or Disability (as defined in the Employment Agreements) of Mr. Porter or Mr. Kimble, he (or his estate) will be entitled to his pro rata bonus awarded with respect to the year ended December 31, 2023, and his bonus awarded with respect to the year ended December 31, 2022.
(12)In the event of the termination of employment by any of the NEOs without Good Reason, the NEO will be entitled to all earned but unpaid annual base salary. None of the NEOs had earned but unpaid annual base salary as of December 31, 2023.
(13)The NEOs are not entitled to a certain level of compensation in the event of continued employment following a Change in Control, but for purposes of this table it is assumed that the NEO would continue to receive a level of base salary, bonus, benefits, and other
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compensation in the event of continued employment following a Change in Control that is the same as, or similar to, the amounts shown in the Summary Compensation Table. Accordingly, no additional amounts are shown for salary, bonus, or health and welfare plan benefits because those amounts would remain as in effect at the time of the Change in Control, and only the acceleration values of outstanding equity at the time of a Change of Control have been reflected.
CEO Pay Ratio
Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, require us to provide certain information about the relationship of the annual total compensation of our employees and the annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, Eric Long (our “CEO”). The employees providing services to us are directly employed by USAC Management, therefore we do not have employees for purposes of the pay ratio rules. Rather than providing a pay ratio disclosure that contemplates no employees, we have determined that the disclosure that would be most aligned with the spirit of the pay ratio rules and that would provide our unitholders with more meaningful information would be to provide a ratio using the median employee from the USAC Management employee population. All references to “our” employees within this section shall refer to the applicable USAC Management employees.
For 2023, our last completed fiscal year:
•The median of the annual total compensation of all employees (other than the CEO) was $113,178.
•The annual total compensation of our CEO, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table included elsewhere within this Form 10-K, was $7,034,775.
•Based on this information, for 2023 the ratio of the annual total compensation of Mr. Long to the median of the annual total compensation of all employees was reasonably estimated to be 62.2 to 1.
To identify the median of the annual total compensation of all our employees, as well as to determine the annual total compensation of our median employee and our CEO, we took the following steps:
•We determined that, as of December 31, 2023, our employee population consisted of approximately 822 individuals with all of these individuals located in the U.S. This population consisted of our full-time employees, as we did not have any part-time employees, temporary employees or seasonal workers as of December 31, 2023.
•We selected December 31, 2023, as our identification date for determining our median employee because it enabled us to make such identification in a reasonably efficient and economic manner.
•We used a consistently applied compensation measure to identify our median employee of comparing the amount of salary or wages, bonuses, compensation received from equity award vesting, and any other compensation items reported to the Internal Revenue Service on Form W-2 for 2023.
•We identified our median employee by consistently applying this compensation measure to all of our employees included in our analysis. Since all of our employees, including our CEO, are located in the U.S., we did not make any cost-of-living adjustments in identifying the median employee.
•After we identified our median employee, we combined all of the elements of such employee’s compensation for the 2023 year in accordance with the requirements of Item 402(c)(2)(x) of Regulation S-K, resulting in annual total compensation of $113,178.
•With respect to the annual total compensation of our CEO, we used the amount reported in the “Total” column of our 2023 Summary Compensation Table included in this Form 10-K.
Director Compensation
For the year ended December 31, 2023, our CEO was the only NEO who also served as a director, and he did not receive additional compensation for his service on the Board. Mr. Long’s compensation as an NEO is reflected in the Summary Compensation Table above. Officers, employees, paid consultants, or advisors of us or the General Partner or its affiliates who also serve as directors do not receive additional compensation for their service as directors. Other than Mr. Hartman, our directors who are not officers, employees, paid consultants, or advisors of us or the General Partner or its affiliates receive cash and equity-based compensation for their services as directors. Our director compensation program is subject to revision by the Board from time to time.
The following table shows the total fees earned and other compensation paid in cash to each independent director during 2023.
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| Name | Fees Paid in Cash ($) | Unit Awards ($) (1) | All Other Compensation ($) (2) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matthew S. Hartman (3) | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Glenn E. Joyce | 130,000 | 99,993 | 50,219 | 280,212 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| William S. Waldheim | 132,500 | 99,993 | 50,219 | 282,712 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| W. Brett Smith | 122,500 | 99,993 | 28,585 | 251,078 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
________________________
(1)Represents the grant date fair value of our Phantom Units, calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 718. For a detailed discussion of the assumptions utilized in coming to these values, please see Note 15 in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”. As of December 31, 2023, the independent members of the Board who receive equity awards held the following number of outstanding equity awards under the LTIP: Mr. Joyce: 16,355 Phantom Units; Mr. Smith: 12,112 Phantom Units and Mr. Waldheim: 16,355 Phantom Units. The Phantom Units granted in 2023 to Messrs. Joyce, Smith, and Waldheim vest incrementally, with 60% of the Phantom Units vesting on December 5, 2025, and the remaining 40% of the Phantom Units vesting on December 5, 2027. In the event of the director’s cessation of service due to death, Disability, or a Change in Control, 100% of his outstanding, unvested Phantom Units will vest immediately prior to such event.
(2)Amounts in this column reflect the value of DERs received by the directors with respect to their outstanding Phantom Unit awards. For Messrs. Joyce, Waldheim, and Smith, the amount shown includes DERs paid with respect to the Partnership’s quarterly distribution on its common units with respect to each quarter in the 2023 year.
(3)Mr. Hartman was appointed to the Board pursuant to the Board Representation Agreement, and did not receive compensation for his service on the Board. Mr. Hartman resigned from our Board on November 20, 2023.
On July 30, 2018, the Board adopted the Amended and Restated Outside Director Compensation Policy (the “Director Compensation Policy”), which provides for: (i) an annual cash retainer of $100,000; (ii) an annual cash retainer for acting as the Chairman of the Audit Committee and for acting as Chairman of the Compensation Committee; (iii) an annual cash retainer for membership on the Audit Committee and for membership on the Compensation Committee; (iv) an undetermined fixed sum for membership on a special or conflicts committee; (v) an annual equity grant with a value of $100,000; and (vi) a one-time director onboarding equity award of 2,500 Phantom Units. The Phantom Units granted pursuant to the Director Compensation Policy vest incrementally over five years and all outstanding, unvested Phantom Units vest in full in the event of the director’s death, Disability, or upon a Change in Control (each as defined in the LTIP). The Director Compensation Policy does not provide for per meeting attendance fees.
The following chart summarizes the Director Compensation Policy.
| Compensation Element | Director Compensation Detail | |||||||
| Annual Cash Retainer | $100,000 | |||||||
| Committee Chair Cash Retainer | Audit Committee: $25,000 Compensation Committee: $15,000 | |||||||
| Committee Membership Retainer (if not Committee Chair) | Audit Committee: $15,000 Compensation Committee: $7,500 | |||||||
| Initial Phantom Unit Award | 2,500 Phantom Units | |||||||
| Annual Phantom Unit Award | $100,000 value | |||||||
| DERs on Unvested Phantom Units | Yes (paid on a current basis) | |||||||
| Phantom Unit Vesting Schedule | 60% vest on third December 5 following grant 40% vest on fifth December 5 following grant | |||||||
| Change-in-Control | Unvested Phantom Units vest in full | |||||||
| Cessation of Service due to Death or Disability | Unvested Phantom Units vest in full | |||||||
| Attendance Fee Per Meeting | None | |||||||
| Reimbursement of Out-of-Pocket Expenses | Yes | |||||||
| Indemnification | Yes, to fullest extent permitted under Delaware law | |||||||
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Unitholder Matters
Pursuant to the terms of an Equity Restructuring Agreement the Partnership entered into on January 15, 2018, with the General Partner and Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (the “Equity Restructuring Agreement”), at any time after the first
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anniversary of the Transactions Date, Energy Transfer has the right to contribute (or cause any of its subsidiaries to contribute) to the Partnership all of the outstanding equity interests in any of its subsidiaries that owns the General Partner Interest (as defined in the Equity Restructuring Agreement) in exchange for $10,000,000 (the “GP Contribution”); provided that the GP Contribution will occur automatically if at any time following the Transactions Date (i) Energy Transfer or one of its affiliates owns, directly or indirectly, the General Partner Interest and (ii) Energy Transfer and its affiliates collectively own less than 12,500,000 of the Partnership’s common units.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of the Partnership’s common units and Preferred Units as of February 8, 2024, held by:
•each person who beneficially owns 5% or more of the Partnership’s outstanding common units;
•all of the directors of the General Partner;
•each NEO of the General Partner; and
•all directors and current executive officers of the General Partner as a group.
As of February 8, 2024, there were 103,001,911 common units outstanding. Except as indicated by footnote, the persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all common units shown as beneficially owned by them and their address is 111 Congress Avenue, Suite 2400, Austin, Texas 78701. Any fractional common units are rounded down to the nearest whole number.
The table also presents information with respect to Energy Transfer’s common units beneficially owned as of February 8, 2024, by each current director and named executive officer of the General Partner and by all directors and executive officers of the General Partner as a group. As of February 8, 2024, Energy Transfer had 3,367,757,556 common units outstanding. Any fractional common units are rounded down to the nearest whole number.
| USA Compression Partners, LP | Energy Transfer LP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name of Beneficial Owner | Common Units Beneficially Owned | Percentage of Common Units | Common Units Beneficially Owned | Percentage of Common Units | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Energy Transfer LP (1) (2) | 46,056,228 | 44.71 | % | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||||
| EIG Veteran Equity Aggregator, L.P. (3) | 19,339,427 | 15.81 | % | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Invesco Ltd. (4) | 12,526,020 | 12.16 | % | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ALPS Advisors, Inc. (5) | 8,772,895 | 8.52 | % | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Eric D. Long (6) | 577,841 | * | 10,144 | * | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| G. Tracy Owens | 24,909 | * | — | * | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael C. Pearl (7) | — | * | — | * | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eric A. Scheller | 83,782 | * | — | * | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Christopher W. Porter | 38,515 | * | 3,400 | * | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sean T. Kimble | 72,918 | * | 500 | * | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Christopher R. Curia | — | * | 512,131 | * | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Glenn E. Joyce | 24,138 | * | — | * | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas E. Long | — | * | 1,075,649 | * | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas P. Mason | — | * | 891,285 | * | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| W. Brett Smith | 1,500 | * | 38,339 | * | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| William S. Waldheim | 24,138 | * | — | * | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bradford D. Whitehurst (8) | 3,616 | * | 663,131 | * | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| All directors and officers as a group (12 persons) (9) | 851,357 | * | 3,194,579 | * | ||||||||||||||||||||||
________________________
*Less than 1%.
(1)Energy Transfer LP has shared voting and dispositive power over 46,056,228 common units based on a Schedule 13D/A filed on August 5, 2019 with the SEC. The Schedule 13D/A was filed jointly by Energy Transfer LP, LE GP, LLC, Kelcy L. Warren, USA Compression GP, LLC, Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C., Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., and Energy Transfer Operating, L.P. (collectively, the
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“Energy Transfer Reporting Companies”). The principal business address of each of the Energy Transfer Reporting Companies, other than USA Compression GP, LLC, is 8111 Westchester Drive, Suite 600, Dallas, Texas 75225. The principal business address of USA Compression GP, LLC is 111 Congress Avenue, Suite 2400, Austin, Texas 78701.
(2)Includes 8,000,000 common units held by USA Compression GP, LLC.
(3)EIG owns approximately 387,011 Preferred Units, which are convertible into 19,339,427 common units at the election of the holder. Upon conversion of all 387,011 Preferred Units, EIG would have sole voting and dispositive power over 19,339,427 common units of the Partnership based on the Schedule 13D/A filed on January 26, 2024, with the SEC and our records. The principal business address of EIG Veteran Equity Aggregator, L.P. is 600 New Hampshire Ave NW, STE. 1200, Washington, DC 20037.
(4)Invesco Ltd. has the sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of and sole power to vote or to direct the vote of 12,526,020 common units based on a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 12, 2024, with the SEC. Invesco Ltd., in its capacity as a parent holding company to its investment advisers, may be deemed to beneficially own these 12,526,020 common units which are held of record by clients of Invesco Ltd. The principal business address of Invesco Ltd. is 1331 Spring Street NW, Suite 2500, Atlanta GA 30309.
(5)The Schedule 13G was filed jointly by ALPS Advisors, Inc., an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 (“AAI”) and Alerian MLP ETF, an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Alerian”). AAI and Alerian have the shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of and shared power to vote or to direct the vote of 8,772,895 common units based on a Schedule 13G filed on February 5, 2024, with the SEC. AAI furnishes investment advice to certain investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”). In its role as an investment advisor, AAI has voting and/or investment power over the common units owned by the Funds, and may be deemed to be the beneficial ownership of the common units held by the Funds. All 8,772,895 common units are owned by the Funds and AAI disclaims beneficial ownership. Alerian MLP ETF, one of the Funds to which AAI provides investment advice, has an interest of 8,772,895 common units, or 8.52% in us. The principal business address of AAI and Alerian is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203.
(6)Includes 503,885 of our common units held directly by Mr. Long, 17,592 of our common units held by Aladdin Partners, L.P., a limited partnership affiliated with Mr. Long, and 56,364 of our common units held by certain trusts of which Mr. Long is the trustee. The Energy Transfer LP common units reported as owned by Mr. Long include 4,000 common units held by Aladdin Partners, L.P., and 6,144 common units held by certain trusts of which Mr. Long is the trustee.
(7)Based on information contained in our records as of October 5, 2023.
(8)Mr. Whitehurst holds 328,617 of Energy Transfer LP’s common units in a margin account.
(9)Includes our directors and current executive officers.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The Board adopted the LTIP in January 2013. On November 1, 2018, the Board approved and adopted the First Amendment to the LTIP (the “First Amendment”) with immediate effectiveness. The First Amendment (i) increased the number of common units available to be awarded under the LTIP by 8,590,000 common units (which brought the total number of common units available to be awarded under the LTIP to 10,000,000 common units); (ii) provided that common units withheld to satisfy the exercise price or tax withholding obligations with respect to an award will not be considered to be common units that have been delivered under the LTIP; (iii) for awards granted on or after April 3, 2018, modifies the definition of “Change in Control” under the LTIP to refer to Energy Transfer and its Affiliates (as defined under the LTIP) and successors; (iv) updated the tax withholding provision of the LTIP; and (v) extended the term of the LTIP until November 1, 2028.
The following table provides certain information with respect to the LTIP as of December 31, 2023:
| Plan Category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plan (excluding securities reflected in the first column) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | — | N/A | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | 1,923,032 | N/A | 5,743,870 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
________________________
(1)As of December 31, 2023, we had 7,666,902 common units available under the LTIP before giving effect to the outstanding awards of 1,923,032 Phantom Units. Pursuant to the terms of the LTIP, other than director Phantom Unit awards, awards of Phantom Units may be settled in cash or common units at the discretion of the Board or a committee thereof. Any Phantom Unit settled in cash will not result in the actual delivery of a common unit. Additionally, Phantom Units withheld to satisfy the exercise price or tax withholdings of an award
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and Phantom Units that are forfeited, cancelled, or otherwise terminate or expire without the actual delivery of common units will be available for delivery pursuant to other awards.
For more information about the LTIP, please see Note 15 in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions, and Director Independence
Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions
Services Agreement
We entered into that certain Services Agreement with USAC Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of the General Partner, effective on January 1, 2013 (the “Services Agreement”), pursuant to which USAC Management provides to us and the General Partner management, administrative and operating services, and personnel to manage and operate our business. We or one of our subsidiaries pays USAC Management for the allocable expenses it incurs in its performance under the Services Agreement. These expenses include, among other things, salary, bonus, cash incentive compensation, and other amounts paid to persons who perform services for us or on our behalf and other expenses allocated by USAC Management to us. USAC Management has substantial discretion to determine in good faith which expenses to incur on our behalf and what portion to allocate to us.
On October 28, 2022, the Services Agreement was amended to extend its term to December 31, 2027. The Services Agreement may be terminated at any time by (i) the Board upon 120 days’ written notice for any reason in its sole discretion or (ii) USAC Management upon 120 days’ written notice if: (a) we or the General Partner experience a Change of Control (as defined in the Services Agreement); (b) we or the General Partner breach the terms of the Services Agreement in any material respect following 30 days’ written notice detailing the breach (which breach remains uncured after such period); (c) a receiver is appointed for all or substantially all of our or the General Partner’s property or an order is made to wind up our or the General Partner’s business; (d) a final judgment, order or decree that materially and adversely affects the ability of us or the General Partner to perform under the Services Agreement is obtained or entered against us or the General Partner, and such judgment, order or decree is not vacated, discharged or stayed; or (e) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us or the General Partner occur. USAC Management will not be liable to us for their performance of, or failure to perform, services under the Services Agreement unless its acts or omissions constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Transactions with Energy Transfer
We provide compression and related services to entities affiliated with Energy Transfer, which became a related party of ours on April 2, 2018. As of December 31, 2023, Energy Transfer has ownership and control of the General Partner and ownership of approximately 46% of our limited partner interests (including the 8,000,000 common units owned by the General Partner). We recognized $21.7 million in revenue from compression and related services from entities affiliated with Energy Transfer for the year ended December 31, 2023. We may provide compression and related services to entities affiliated with Energy Transfer in the future, and any significant transactions will be disclosed.
The following table summarizes payments and revenues between us and Energy Transfer during 2023.
| Transaction | Explanation | Amount/Value | ||||||||||||
2023 quarterly distributions on limited partner interests | Represents the aggregate amount of distributions made to Energy Transfer in respect of the Partnership’s common units during 2023. | $ | 96.7 million | |||||||||||
| Revenue for compression and related services | Represents the aggregate amount of revenue recognized for providing compression services to entities affiliated with Energy Transfer for the full year 2023. | $ | 21.7 million | |||||||||||
Conflicts of Interest
Conflicts of interest exist, and may arise in the future, as a result of the relationships between the General Partner and its affiliates, including Energy Transfer, on the one hand, and the Partnership and its limited partners, on the other hand. The directors and officers of the General Partner have fiduciary duties to manage the General Partner in a manner beneficial to its
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owners. At the same time, the General Partner has a fiduciary duty to manage the Partnership in a manner beneficial to us and our unitholders.
Whenever a conflict arises between the General Partner or its affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership and its limited partners, on the other hand, the General Partner will resolve that conflict. The Partnership Agreement contains provisions that modify and limit the General Partner’s fiduciary duties to the Partnership’s unitholders. The Partnership Agreement also restricts the remedies available to the Partnership’s unitholders for actions taken by the General Partner that, without those limitations, might constitute breaches of its fiduciary duty.
The Partnership Agreement provides that the General Partner will not be in breach of its obligations under the Partnership Agreement or its fiduciary duties to us or our unitholders if a transaction with an affiliate or the resolution of a conflict of interest is (a) approved by the conflicts committee of the Board, although the General Partner is not obligated to seek such approval; (b) approved by the vote of a majority of our outstanding common units, excluding any common units owned by the General Partner and its affiliates; (c) on terms no less favorable to us than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties; or (d) fair and reasonable to us, taking into account the totality of the relationships among the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to us.
The General Partner may, but is not required to, seek the approval of such resolution from the conflicts committee of the Board. In connection with a situation involving a conflict of interest, any determination by the General Partner must be made in good faith, provided that, if the General Partner does not seek approval from the conflicts committee and the Board determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to the conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in subclauses (c) or (d) above, then it will conclusively be deemed that, in making its decision, the Board acted in good faith. Unless the resolution of a conflict is specifically provided for in the Partnership Agreement, the General Partner or the conflicts committee may consider any factors that it determines in good faith to be appropriate when resolving a conflict. When the Partnership Agreement provides that someone act in good faith, it requires that person to reasonably believe he is acting in the best interests of the Partnership. Please read Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors – Risks Inherent in an Investment in Us”.
Procedures for Review, Approval, and Ratification of Related Person Transactions
The Audit Committee reviews and considers related party transactions with affiliates of Energy Transfer for compression and related services. The Audit Committee has authorized the General Partner’s management to enter into transactions for compression and related services with entities affiliated with Energy Transfer on arms-length terms taking into account then-current market conditions applicable to the services to be provided, and any such transaction shall be deemed approved by the Audit Committee. If other conflicts or potential conflicts of interest arises between the General Partner and its affiliates, including Energy Transfer, on the one hand and the Partnership and its limited partners, on the other hand, the resolution of any such conflict or potential conflict is addressed as described under “Conflicts of Interest.”
Pursuant to the Partnership’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Corporate Governance Guidelines, directors, officers, and employees are required to disclose any situations that reasonably would be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest and report it to their supervisor, the Partnership’s general counsel, or the Board, as appropriate.
Director Independence
Please see Part III, Item 10 “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance – Board of Directors” for a discussion of director independence matters.
84
ITEM 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The following table sets forth fees paid for professional services rendered by Grant Thornton LLP (“Grant Thornton”) during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Audit fees (1) | $ | 1.0 | $ | 1.0 | |||||||
| Audit-related fees | — | — | |||||||||
| Tax fees | — | — | |||||||||
| All other fees | — | — | |||||||||
Total | $ | 1.0 | $ | 1.0 | |||||||
________________________
(1)Expenditures classified as “Audit fees” above were billed to the Partnership and include the audits of our annual financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, reviews of our quarterly financial statements, and fees associated with comfort letters and consents related to securities offerings and registration statements.
The Audit Committee has adopted the Audit Committee Charter, which is available on our website and which requires the Audit Committee to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee does not delegate its pre-approval responsibilities to management or to an individual member of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee approved 100% of the services described above.
85
PART IV
ITEM 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)Documents filed as a part of this report.
2.Financial Statement Schedule
All other schedules have been omitted because they are not required under the relevant instructions.
3.Exhibits
The following documents are filed as exhibits to this report:
| Exhibit Number | Description | |||||||
| 2.1 | ||||||||
| 2.2 | ||||||||
| 3.1 | ||||||||
| 3.2 | ||||||||
| 4.1 | ||||||||
| 4.2 | ||||||||
| 4.3 | ||||||||
| 4.4 | ||||||||
| 4.5 | ||||||||
| 4.6 | ||||||||
| 4.7 | ||||||||
86
| 4.8 | ||||||||
| 4.9* | ||||||||
| 10.1 | ||||||||
| 10.2† | ||||||||
| 10.3† | ||||||||
| 10.4† | ||||||||
| 10.5† | ||||||||
| 10.6†* | ||||||||
| 10.7 | ||||||||
| 10.8 | ||||||||
| 10.9 | ||||||||
| 10.10† | ||||||||
| 10.11† | ||||||||
| 10.12† | ||||||||
| 10.13† | ||||||||
| 10.14† | ||||||||
87
| 10.15† | ||||||||
| 10.16† | ||||||||
| 10.17† | ||||||||
| 10.18† | ||||||||
| 10.19† | ||||||||
| 10.20 | ||||||||
| 21.1* | ||||||||
| 22.1* | ||||||||
| 23.1* | ||||||||
| 31.1* | ||||||||
| 31.2* | ||||||||
| 32.1# | ||||||||
| 32.2# | ||||||||
| 97.1* | ||||||||
| 101* | Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022; (ii) our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021; (iii) our Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital (Deficit) for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021; (iv) our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021; and (v) the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | |||||||
* Filed Herewith.
# Furnished herewith; not considered to be “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section.
† Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
88
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP | |||||||||||
| By: | USA Compression GP, LLC, | ||||||||||
| its General Partner | |||||||||||
| Date: | February 13, 2024 | By: | /s/ Eric D. Long | ||||||||
| Eric D. Long | |||||||||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||||||||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||||||||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on February 13, 2024.
| Name | Title | |||||||
| /s/ Eric D. Long | President and Chief Executive Officer and Director | |||||||
| Eric D. Long | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||||
| /s/ G. Tracy Owens | Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer | |||||||
| G. Tracy Owens | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||||||
| /s/ Christopher R. Curia | Director | |||||||
| Christopher R. Curia | ||||||||
| /s/ Glenn E. Joyce | Director | |||||||
| Glenn E. Joyce | ||||||||
| /s/ Thomas E. Long | Director | |||||||
| Thomas E. Long | ||||||||
| /s/ Thomas P. Mason | Director | |||||||
| Thomas P. Mason | ||||||||
| /s/ W. Brett Smith | Director | |||||||
| W. Brett Smith | ||||||||
| /s/ William S. Waldheim | Director | |||||||
| William S. Waldheim | ||||||||
| /s/ Bradford D. Whitehurst | Director | |||||||
| Bradford D. Whitehurst | ||||||||
89
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID Number | F-2 | ||||
F-3 | |||||
F-4 | |||||
F-5 | |||||
F-6 | |||||
F-7 | |||||
F-7 | |||||
F-7 | |||||
F-10 | |||||
F-10 | |||||
F-11 | |||||
F-12 | |||||
F-12 | |||||
F-15 | |||||
F-15 | |||||
F-16 | |||||
F-20 | |||||
F-22 | |||||
F-24 | |||||
F-26 | |||||
F-26 | |||||
F-27 | |||||
F-27 | |||||
F-28 | |||||
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors of USA Compression GP, LLC and
Unitholders of USA Compression Partners, LP
Opinion on the financial statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of USA Compression Partners, LP (a Delaware limited partnership) and subsidiaries (the “Partnership”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in partners’ capital (deficit), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Partnership as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”), and our report dated February 13, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion.
Basis for opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Partnership’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Partnership’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Partnership in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical audit matters
Critical audit matters are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. We determined that there are no critical audit matters.
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
We have served as the Partnership’s auditor since 2017.
February 13, 2024
F-2
USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except unit amounts)
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | |||||||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for credit losses of $ | |||||||||||
| Related-party receivables | |||||||||||
| Inventories | |||||||||||
| Derivative instrument | |||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | |||||||||||
| Total current assets | |||||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | |||||||||||
| Lease right-of-use assets | |||||||||||
| Identifiable intangible assets, net | |||||||||||
| Other assets | |||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Liabilities, Preferred Units, and Partners’ Deficit | |||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Accrued liabilities | |||||||||||
| Deferred revenue | |||||||||||
| Total current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Long-term debt, net | |||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | |||||||||||
| Derivative instrument, long term | |||||||||||
| Other liabilities | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities | |||||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | |||||||||||
| Preferred Units | |||||||||||
| Partners’ deficit: | |||||||||||
Common units, | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Warrants | |||||||||||
| Total partners’ deficit | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total liabilities, Preferred Units, and partners’ deficit | $ | $ | |||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-3
USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per unit amounts)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||
| Contract operations | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Parts and service | |||||||||||||||||
| Related party | |||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | |||||||||||||||||
| Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||||||
| Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general, and administrative | |||||||||||||||||
| Loss (gain) on disposition of assets | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Impairment of compression equipment | |||||||||||||||||
| Total costs and expenses | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | |||||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense): | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Gain on derivative instrument | |||||||||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||||||||
| Total other expense | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Net income before income tax expense | |||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income | |||||||||||||||||
| Less: distributions on Preferred Units | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common unitholders’ interests | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||||||||
| Weighted average common units outstanding – basic | |||||||||||||||||
Weighted average common units outstanding – diluted | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic net income (loss) per common unit | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||||||||
| Diluted net income (loss) per common unit | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||||||||
| Distributions declared per common unit for respective periods | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-4
USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital (Deficit)
(in thousands)
| Common Units | Warrants | Total | |||||||||||||||
Partners’ capital ending balance, December 31, 2020 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Vesting of phantom units | — | ||||||||||||||||
Distributions and DERs, $ | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common units under the DRIP | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Unit-based compensation for equity-classified awards | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Net loss attributable to common unitholders’ interests | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||
Partners’ capital ending balance, December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| Vesting of phantom units | — | ||||||||||||||||
Distributions and DERs, $ | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common units under the DRIP | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Unit-based compensation for equity-classified awards | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Exercise and conversion of warrants into common units | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Net loss attributable to common unitholders’ interests | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||
Partners’ capital (deficit) ending balance, December 31, 2022 | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Vesting of phantom units | — | ||||||||||||||||
Distributions and DERs, $ | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common units under the DRIP | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Unit-based compensation for equity-classified awards | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Exercise and conversion of warrants into common units | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to common unitholders’ interests | — | ||||||||||||||||
Partners’ deficit ending balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | ||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-5
USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||||||||
| Provision for expected credit losses | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Amortization of debt issuance costs | |||||||||||||||||
| Unit-based compensation expense | |||||||||||||||||
| Deferred income tax benefit | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Loss (gain) on disposition of assets | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of derivative instrument | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Impairment of compression equipment | |||||||||||||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable and related-party receivables, net | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Inventories | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Other assets | |||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable | |||||||||||||||||
| Accrued liabilities and deferred revenue | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures, net | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from insurance recovery | |||||||||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from revolving credit facility | |||||||||||||||||
| Payments on revolving credit facility | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Cash paid related to net settlement of unit-based awards | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Cash distributions on common units | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Cash distributions on Preferred Units | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred financing costs | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Other | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Supplemental cash flow information: | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized amounts | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Cash paid for income taxes | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Supplemental non-cash transactions: | |||||||||||||||||
| Non-cash distributions to certain common unitholders (DRIP) | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Transfers from inventories to property and equipment, net | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Changes in capital expenditures included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Changes in financing costs included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||
| Exercise and conversion of warrants into common units | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-6
(1)Organization and Description of Business
Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “our,” “we,” “us,” “the Partnership,” and similar language refer to USA Compression Partners, LP, collectively with its consolidated subsidiaries.
We are a Delaware limited partnership. Through our operating subsidiaries, we provide natural gas compression services to customers under fixed-term contracts in the natural gas and crude oil industries, using compression packages that we design, engineer, own, operate, and maintain. We also own and operate a fleet of equipment used to provide natural gas treating services, such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide removal, cooling, and dehydration. We provide compression services in shale plays throughout the U.S., including the Utica, Marcellus, Permian Basin, Delaware Basin, Eagle Ford, Mississippi Lime, Granite Wash, Woodford, Barnett, Haynesville, Niobrara, and Fayetteville shales.
USA Compression GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, serves as our general partner and is referred to herein as the “General Partner.” The General Partner is wholly owned by Energy Transfer.
The Partnership is a borrower under a revolving credit facility and its subsidiaries are guarantors of that revolving credit facility (see Note 10). The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Partnership and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned by us.
Net income (loss) attributable to partners is allocated to our common units and participating securities using the two-class income allocation method. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Our common units trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “USAC”.
(2)Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
Our accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and pursuant to SEC rules and regulations.
Use of Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, which includes the use of estimates and assumptions by management that affect the reported amounts in these consolidated financial statements and the accompanying results. Although these estimates were based on management’s available knowledge of current and expected future events, actual results could differ from these estimates.
Significant Accounting Policies
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Trade Accounts Receivable
Trade accounts receivable are recorded at their invoiced amounts.
Allowance for Credit Losses
We evaluate allowance for credit losses with reference to our trade accounts receivable balances, which are measured at amortized cost. Due to the short-term nature of our trade accounts receivable, we consider the amortized cost of trade accounts receivable to equal the receivable’s carrying amounts, excluding the allowance for credit losses.
F-7
Our determination of the allowance for credit losses requires us to make estimates and judgments regarding our customers’ ability to pay amounts due. We continuously evaluate the financial strength of our customers and the overall business climate in which our customers operate, and make adjustments to the allowance for credit losses as necessary. We evaluate the financial strength of our customers by reviewing the aging of their receivables owed to us, our collection experiences with the customer, correspondence, financial information, and third-party credit ratings. We evaluate the business climate in which our customers operate by reviewing various publicly available materials regarding our customers’ industry, including the solvency of various companies in the industry.
Inventories
Inventories consist of serialized and non-serialized parts primarily used on compression units. All inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Serialized parts inventories are determined using the specific-identification cost method, while non-serialized parts inventories are determined using the weighted-average cost method. Purchases of inventories are considered operating activities within the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are carried at cost except for (i) certain acquired assets which are recorded at fair value on their respective acquisition dates and (ii) impaired assets which are recorded at fair value as of the last impairment evaluation date for which an adjustment was required. Overhauls and major improvements that increase the value or extend the life of compression equipment are capitalized and depreciated over to five years . Ordinary maintenance and repairs are charged to cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization.
When property and equipment is retired or sold, the associated carrying value and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from our accounts and any related gains or losses are recorded within our Consolidated Statements of Operations within the period of sale or disposition.
Capitalized interest is calculated by multiplying our monthly effective interest rate on outstanding variable-rate indebtedness by the amount of qualifying costs, which include upfront payments to acquire certain compression units. Capitalized interest was $0.9 million, $0.9 million, and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The carrying value of long-lived assets that are not expected to be recovered from future cash flows are written-down to estimated fair value. We test long-lived assets for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that a long-lived asset’s carrying value may not be recoverable or will no longer be utilized within the operating fleet. The most common circumstance requiring compression units to be evaluated for impairment involves idle units that do not meet the desired performance characteristics of our revenue-generating horsepower.
The carrying value of a long-lived asset is not recoverable if the asset’s carrying value exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset, an impairment loss equal to the amount of the carrying value exceeding the fair value of the asset is recognized. The fair value of the asset is measured using quoted market prices or, in the absence of quoted market prices, based on an estimate of discounted cash flows, the expected net sale proceeds compared to the other similarly configured fleet units that we recently sold, or a review of other units recently offered for sale by third parties, or the estimated component value of the equipment we plan to continue using.
Identifiable Intangible Assets
Identifiable intangible assets are recorded at cost and amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which is the period over which the assets are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to our future cash flows. The estimated useful lives of our intangible assets range from 15 to 25 years.
We assess identifiable intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. We did no
F-8
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract with our customer are satisfied; generally, this occurs with the provision of services or the transfer of goods. Revenue is measured at the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for providing services or transferring goods. Incidental items, if any, that are immaterial in the context of the contract are recognized as expenses. Refer to Note 13 for more detailed information about revenue recognition for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021.
Income Taxes
USA Compression Partners, LP is organized as a partnership for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes. As a result, our partners are responsible for U.S. federal and state income taxes on their distributive share of our items of income, gain, loss, or deduction. Net earnings for financial statement purposes may differ significantly from taxable income reportable to unitholders as a result of differences between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities.
Texas also imposes an entity-level income tax on partnerships that is based on Texas sourced taxable margin (the “Texas Margin Tax”). Texas Margin Tax impacts are included within our consolidated financial statements. Our wholly owned finance subsidiary, USA Compression Finance Corp. (“Finance Corp”), is a corporation for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes and any resulting tax impacts attributable to Finance Corp are included within our consolidated financial statements. Refer to Note 9 for more detailed information about the Texas Margin Tax for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021.
Pass-Through Taxes
Sales taxes incurred on behalf of, and passed through to, customers are accounted for on a net basis.
Fair-Value Measurements
Accounting standards applicable to fair-value measurements establish a framework for measuring fair value and stipulate disclosures about fair-value measurements. The standards apply to recurring and non-recurring financial and non-financial assets and liabilities that require or permit fair-value measurements. Among the required disclosures is the fair-value hierarchy of inputs we use to value an asset or a liability. The three levels of the fair-value hierarchy are described as follows:
Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access at the measurement date.
Level 2 inputs are those other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.
As of December 31, 2023, and 2022, our financial instruments primarily consisted of cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable, and long-term debt, and as of December 31, 2023, a derivative instrument. The book values of cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, and trade accounts payable are representative of fair value due to their short-term maturities. Our revolving credit facility applies floating interest rates to amounts drawn under the facility; therefore, the carrying amount of our revolving credit facility approximates its fair value.
The fair value of our Senior Notes 2026 and Senior Notes 2027 were estimated using quoted prices in inactive markets and are considered Level 2 measurements.
The following table summarizes the aggregate principal amount and fair value of our Senior Notes 2026 and Senior Notes 2027 (in thousands):
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
Senior Notes 2026, aggregate principal | $ | $ | |||||||||
Fair value of Senior Notes 2026 | |||||||||||
Senior Notes 2027, aggregate principal | |||||||||||
Fair value of Senior Notes 2027 | |||||||||||
F-9
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Interest-rate swap | $ | $ | |||||||||
Refer to Note 8 for additional information on the interest-rate swap.
Operating Segment
We operate in a single business segment, the compression services business.
(3)Trade Accounts Receivable
The allowance for credit losses, which was $2.3 million and $1.2 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, represents our best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses included within our existing accounts receivable balance.
The following summarizes activity within our trade accounts receivable allowance for credit losses balance (in thousands):
| Allowance for Credit Losses | |||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2021 | $ | ||||
| Current-period provision for expected credit losses | ( | ||||
| Write-offs charged against the allowance | ( | ||||
| Recoveries collected | |||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 | |||||
| Current-period provision for expected credit losses | |||||
| Write-offs charged against the allowance | ( | ||||
| Recoveries collected | |||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | $ | ||||
Unfavorable developments related to customers in bankruptcy was the primary factor supporting the recognized increase to the allowance for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Favorable market conditions for customers, attributable to sustained increases in commodity prices, was the primary factor supporting the recognized decrease to the allowance for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2022.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we recognized a reversal of $2.7 million to the current-period provision for expected credit losses. Improved market conditions for customers resulting from improved commodity prices was the primary factor supporting the recorded decrease to the allowance for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2021.
(4)Inventories
Components of inventories are as follows (in thousands):
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
Serialized parts | $ | $ | |||||||||
Non-serialized parts | |||||||||||
| Total inventories | $ | $ | |||||||||
F-10
(5) Property and Equipment and Identifiable Intangible Assets
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Compression and treating equipment | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Computer equipment | |||||||||||
| Automobiles and vehicles | |||||||||||
| Leasehold improvements | |||||||||||
| Buildings | |||||||||||
| Furniture and fixtures | |||||||||||
| Land | |||||||||||
| Total property and equipment, gross | |||||||||||
| Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total property and equipment, net | $ | $ | |||||||||
Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
| Compression and treating equipment, acquired new | |||||
| Compression and treating equipment, acquired used | |||||
| Furniture and fixtures | |||||
| Vehicles and computer equipment | |||||
| Buildings | |||||
| Leasehold improvements | |||||
Depreciation expense on property and equipment was $216.7 million, $207.3 million, and $209.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2021, there were gains on disposition of assets of $1.7 million and $2.6 million, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2022, there was a loss on disposition of assets of $1.5 million.
For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, we evaluated the future deployment of our idle fleet assets under then-current market conditions and retired 42 , 15 , and 26 compression units, respectively, representing approximately 37,700 , 3,200 , and 11,000 of aggregate horsepower, respectively, that previously were used to provide compression services in our business. As a result, we recorded impairments of compression equipment of $12.3 million, $1.5 million, and $5.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
The primary circumstances supporting these impairments were: (i) unmarketability of certain compression units into the foreseeable future, (ii) excessive maintenance costs associated with certain fleet assets, and (iii) prohibitive retrofitting costs that likely would prevent certain compression units from securing customer acceptance. These compression units were written down to their estimated salvage values, if any.
F-11
Identifiable Intangible Assets
Identifiable intangible assets, net consisted of the following (in thousands):
| Customer Relationships | Trade Names | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Gross balance as of December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Accumulated amortization | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Net balance as of December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Gross balance as of December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Accumulated amortization | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Net balance as of December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, was $29.4 million, $29.4 million, and $29.4 million, respectively.
The expected amortization of the intangible assets for each of the five succeeding years is as follows:
| Year Ending December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | $ | |||||||
| 2025 | ||||||||
| 2026 | ||||||||
| 2027 | ||||||||
| 2028 | ||||||||
(6) Other Current Liabilities
Components of other current liabilities included the following (in thousands):
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Accrued interest expense | |||||||||||
| Accrued unit-based compensation liability | |||||||||||
| Accrued capital expenditures | |||||||||||
(7) Lease Accounting
Lessee Accounting
We maintain both finance leases and operating leases, primarily related to office space, warehouse facilities, and certain corporate equipment. Our leases have remaining lease terms of up to six years
We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, accrued liabilities, and operating lease liabilities within our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Finance leases are included in property and equipment, accrued liabilities, and other liabilities within our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
ROU lease assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU lease assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available on the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. ROU lease assets also include any lease payments made and exclude lease incentives. Our lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable costs such as our proportionate share of actual costs for utilities, common area maintenance, property taxes, and insurance are not included in the lease liability and are recognized in the period in which they are incurred.
F-12
For short-term leases (leases that have terms of twelve months or less upon commencement), lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis and no ROU assets are recorded. For certain equipment leases, such as office equipment, we account for the lease and non-lease components as a single-lease component.
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases consisted of the following (in thousands):
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Operating leases: | |||||||||||
| Lease right-of-use assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
| ( | ( | ||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Finance leases: | |||||||||||
| Property and equipment, gross | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Accumulated depreciation | ( | ( | |||||||||
| ( | ( | ||||||||||
| ( | ( | ||||||||||
Components of lease expense consisted of the following (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income Statement Line Item | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease costs: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease cost | Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease cost | Selling, general, and administrative | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating lease costs | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finance lease costs: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of lease assets | Depreciation and amortization | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term lease costs: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term lease cost | Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term lease cost | Selling, general, and administrative | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total short-term lease costs | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Variable lease costs: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Variable lease cost | Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Variable lease cost | Selling, general, and administrative | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total variable lease costs | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total lease costs | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
F-13
The weighted-average remaining lease terms and weighted-average discount rates were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average remaining lease term: | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating leases | |||||||||||||||||
| Finance leases | |||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average discount rate: | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating leases | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||
| Finance leases | % | % | % | ||||||||||||||
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases consisted of the following (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating cash flows from operating leases | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||
| Operating cash flows from finance leases | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Financing cash flows from finance leases | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations: | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating leases | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Finance leases | |||||||||||||||||
Maturities of lease liabilities as of December 31, 2023, consisted of the following (in thousands):
| Operating Leases | Finance Leases | Total | |||||||||||||||
| 2024 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2026 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2027 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2028 | |||||||||||||||||
| Thereafter | |||||||||||||||||
| Total lease payments | |||||||||||||||||
| Less: present-value discount | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Present value of lease liabilities | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
As of December 31, 2023, we have no t entered into any additional leases that have not yet commenced that create significant rights and obligations.
Lessor Accounting
In 2014, we granted a bargain purchase option to a customer with respect to certain compressor packages leased to the customer. The bargain purchase option provided the customer with an option to acquire the equipment at a value significantly less than the fair market value at the end of the lease term.
During 2021, the customer exercised its bargain purchase option resulting in a gain of $1.1 million recognized within loss (gain) on disposition of assets for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Prior to the customer exercising its bargain purchase option, revenue and interest income related to the lease was recognized over the lease term. We recognized maintenance revenue within contract operations revenue and interest income within interest expense, net. Maintenance revenue and interest income recognized for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $0.3 million and $0.1 million, respectively.
F-14
Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842 Leases provides lessors with a practical expedient to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease components and, instead, to account for those components as a single component if the non-lease components otherwise would be accounted for under ASC Topic 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC Topic 606”) and certain conditions are met. Our contract operations services agreements meet these conditions, and we consider the predominant component to be the non-lease components, resulting in the ongoing recognition of revenue following ASC Topic 606 guidance.
(8) Derivative Instrument
In April 2023, we entered into an interest-rate swap to manage interest-rate risk associated with the floating-rate Credit Agreement. The interest-rate swap’s notional principal amount was $700 million and had a termination date of April 1, 2025. Under the interest-rate swap, we paid a fixed interest rate of 3.785 % and received floating interest-rate payments that were indexed to the one-month SOFR.
In October 2023, we modified our existing interest-rate swap to continue to manage interest-rate risk associated with the floating-rate Credit Agreement. The notional principal amount under the modified interest-rate swap remains $700 million and the termination date was extended from April 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025. Under the modified interest-rate swap, we pay a fixed interest rate of 3.9725 % and continue to receive floating interest rate payments that are indexed to the one-month SOFR.
We do not apply hedge accounting to our currently outstanding derivative. Our derivative is carried on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value and is classified as current or long-term depending on the expected timing of settlement, and gains and losses associated with the derivative instrument are recognized currently in gain on derivative instrument within the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Cash flows related to cash settlements for the periods presented are classified as operating activities within the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
The following table summarizes the location and fair value of our derivative instrument on our Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands):
| Assets | Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance Sheet Classification | 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative instrument | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative instrument, long term | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following table summarizes the location and amounts recognized related to our derivative instrument within our Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| Gain on derivative instrument | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
(9) Income Tax Expense
We are subject to the Texas Margin Tax, which applies a tax to our gross margin. We do not conduct business in any other state where a similar tax is applied. The Texas Margin Tax requires certain forms of legal entities, including limited partnerships, to pay a tax of 0.75 % on its “margin,” as defined in the law, based on annual results. The tax base to which the tax is applied is the least of (i) 70 % of total revenues for federal income tax purposes, (ii) total revenue less cost of goods sold, or (iii) total revenue less compensation for federal income tax purposes.
Components of our income tax expense are as follows (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||
Current tax expense | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax benefit | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
| Total income tax expense | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
F-15
Deferred income tax balances are the direct effect of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities at the enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the taxes are actually paid or recovered.
The tax effects of temporary differences related to property and equipment, identifiable intangible assets, and goodwill that gives rise to deferred tax assets (liabilities), included net within other liabilities, are as follows (in thousands):
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Deferred tax assets: | |||||||||||
| Goodwill | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Property and equipment | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Identifiable intangible assets | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total deferred tax liabilities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities, net | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||
ASC Topic 740 Income Taxes (“ASC Topic 740”) provides guidance on measurement and recognition in accounting for income tax uncertainties and provides related guidance on derecognition, classification, disclosure, interest, and penalties. As of December 31, 2023, we had no material unrecognized tax benefits (as defined in ASC Topic 740). We do not expect to incur interest charges or penalties related to our tax positions, but if such charges or penalties are incurred, our policy is to account for interest charges and penalties as income tax expense within the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Our U.S. Federal income tax returns for years 2019 and 2020 currently are under examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). Refer to Note 17 for more detailed information about our IRS examinations. Examinations of our Texas Margin Tax returns for report years 2018 through 2021 were completed in 2023 by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts with no material adjustments. In general, USA Compression and its subsidiaries are no longer subject to examination by the IRS, and most state jurisdictions, for the 2018 and prior years.
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 provides that any tax adjustments (including any applicable penalties and interest) resulting from partnership audits generally will be determined at the partnership level for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. To the extent possible under these rules, our General Partner may elect to either pay the taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) directly to the IRS or, if eligible, issue a revised information statement to each unitholder, and former unitholder, with respect to an audited and adjusted return. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 allows a partnership to elect to apply these provisions to any return of the partnership filed for partnership taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment, November 2, 2015. We do not intend to elect to apply these provisions for any tax return filed for partnership taxable years beginning before January 1, 2018.
(10) Debt Obligations
Our debt obligations, of which there is no current portion, consisted of the following (in thousands):
| December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
Senior Notes 2026, aggregate principal | $ | $ | |||||||||
Senior Notes 2027, aggregate principal | |||||||||||
Less: deferred financing costs, net of amortization | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total senior notes, net | |||||||||||
| Revolving credit facility | |||||||||||
Total long-term debt, net | $ | $ | |||||||||
Revolving Credit Facility
The Credit Agreement matures on December 8, 2026, except that if any portion of the Senior Notes 2026 are outstanding on December 31, 2025, the Credit Agreement will mature on December 31, 2025.
F-16
The Credit Agreement has an aggregate commitment of $1.6 billion (subject to availability under our borrowing base). The Partnership’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by the guarantors party to the Credit Agreement, which currently consists of all of the Partnership’s subsidiaries. In addition, under the Credit Agreement the Partnership’s Secured Obligations (as defined therein) are secured by: (i) substantially all of the Partnership’s assets and substantially all of the assets of the guarantors party to the Credit Agreement, excluding real property and other customary exclusions; and (ii) all of the equity interests of the Partnership’s U.S. restricted subsidiaries (subject to customary exceptions).
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a per-annum interest rate equal to, at the Partnership’s option, either the Alternate Base Rate or SOFR plus the applicable margin. “Alternate Base Rate” means the greatest of (i) the prime rate, (ii) the applicable federal funds effective rate plus 0.50 %, and (iii) one-month SOFR rate plus 1.00 %. The applicable margin for borrowings varies (a) in the case of SOFR loans, from 2.00 % to 2.75 % per annum, and (b) in the case of Alternate Base Rate loans, from 1.00 % to 1.75 % per annum, and are determined based on a total-leverage-ratio pricing grid. In addition, the Borrower is required to pay commitment fees based on the daily unused amount of the Credit Agreement in an amount equal to 0.375 % per annum. Amounts borrowed and repaid under the Credit Agreement may be re-borrowed, subject to borrowing base availability.
The Credit Agreement permits us to make distributions of available cash to unitholders so long as (i) no default under the facility has occurred, is continuing, or would result from the distribution; (ii) immediately prior to and after giving effect to such distribution, we are in compliance with the facility’s financial covenants; and (iii) immediately prior to and after giving effect to such distribution, we have availability under the Credit Agreement of at least $100 million. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains various covenants that may limit, among other things, our ability to (subject to exceptions):
•grant liens;
•make certain loans or investments;
•incur additional indebtedness or guarantee other indebtedness;
•enter into transactions with affiliates;
•merge or consolidate;
•sell our assets; and
•make certain acquisitions.
The Credit Agreement also contains various financial covenants, including covenants requiring us to maintain:
•a minimum EBITDA to interest coverage ratio of 2.50 to 1.00, determined as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, with EBITDA and interest expense annualized for the most-recent fiscal quarter;
•a ratio of total secured indebtedness to EBITDA not greater than 3.00 to 1.00 or less than 0.00 to 1.00, determined as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, with EBITDA annualized for the most-recent fiscal quarter; and
•a maximum funded debt-to-EBITDA ratio, defined in the Credit Agreement as the Total Leverage Ratio, determined as of the last day of each fiscal quarter with EBITDA annualized for the most-recent fiscal quarter, of 5.25 to 1.00. In addition, the Partnership may increase the applicable ratio by 0.25 for any fiscal quarter during which a Specified Acquisition (as defined in the Credit Agreement) occurs and for the following two fiscal quarters, but in no event shall the maximum ratio exceed 5.50 to 1.00 for any fiscal quarter as a result of such increase.
For purposes of the above covenants, EBITDA is calculated as set forth in the Credit Agreement. If a default exists under the Credit Agreement, the lenders will be able to accelerate the maturity on the amount then outstanding and exercise other rights and remedies.
In connection with entering into the Credit Agreement, we paid certain upfront fees and arrangement fees to the arrangers, syndication agents and senior managing agents of the Credit Agreement in the amount of $10.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2021. These fees were capitalized to loan costs and are amortized over the remaining term of the Credit Agreement.
As of December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with all of our covenants under the Credit Agreement.
As of December 31, 2023, we had outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement of $871.8 million and $728.2 million of remaining unused availability of which, due to restrictions related to compliance with the applicable financial covenants, $529.1 million was available to be drawn. The borrowing base consists of eligible accounts receivable, inventory,
F-17
and compression units. The largest component, representing 93 % of the borrowing base as of December 31, 2023, was eligible compression units. Eligible compression units consist of compressor packages that are under service contracts, leased or rented, and carried in the financial statements as fixed assets.
Our weighted-average interest rate in effect for all borrowings under the Credit Agreement for the year ended December 31, 2023, was 7.68 %, and our weighted-average interest rate under the Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2023, was 7.98 %. There were no letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2023.
The Credit Agreement is a “revolving credit facility” that includes a lockbox arrangement, whereby remittances from customers are forwarded to a bank account controlled by the administrative agent and are applied to reduce borrowings under the facility.
Senior Notes 2027
On March 7, 2019, the Partnership and Finance Corp co-issued the Senior Notes 2027. The Senior Notes 2027 mature on September 1, 2027, and accrue interest at the rate of 6.875 % per year. Interest on the Senior Notes 2027 is payable semi-annually in arrears on each of March 1 and September 1.
We may redeem all or a part of the Senior Notes 2027 at redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on September 1 of the years indicated below:
| Year | Percentages | ||||
| 2023 | % | ||||
| 2024 | % | ||||
| 2025 and thereafter | % | ||||
If we experience a change of control followed by a ratings decline, unless we have previously exercised, or concurrently exercise, our right to redeem the Senior Notes 2027 (as described above), we may be required to offer to repurchase the Senior Notes 2027 at a purchase price equal to 101 % of the principal amount repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the repurchase date.
The indenture governing the Senior Notes 2027 (the “2027 Indenture”) contains certain financial covenants that we must comply with in order to make certain restricted payments as described in the 2027 Indenture. As of December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with such financial covenants under the 2027 Indenture.
The Senior Notes 2027 are fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “2027 Guarantees”), jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by all of our existing subsidiaries (other than Finance Corp), and will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by each of our future restricted subsidiaries that either borrows under, or guarantees, the Credit Agreement or guarantees certain of our other indebtedness (collectively, the “Guarantors”). The Senior Notes 2027 and the 2027 Guarantees are general unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of the Guarantors’, Finance Corp’s, and our existing and future senior indebtedness and senior to the Guarantors’, Finance Corp’s, and our future subordinated indebtedness, if any. The Senior Notes 2027 and the 2027 Guarantees effectively are subordinated in right of payment to all of the Guarantors’, Finance Corp’s, and our existing and future secured debt, including debt under the Credit Agreement and guarantees thereof, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and are structurally subordinate to all indebtedness of any of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Senior Notes 2027.
Senior Notes 2026
On March 23, 2018, the Partnership and Finance Corp co-issued the Senior Notes 2026. The Senior Notes 2026 mature on April 1, 2026, and accrue interest at the rate of 6.875 % per year. Interest on the Senior Notes 2026 is payable semi-annually in arrears on each of April 1 and October 1.
F-18
We may redeem all or a part of the Senior Notes 2026 at redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on April 1 of the years indicated below:
| Year | Percentages | ||||
| 2023 | % | ||||
| 2024 and thereafter | % | ||||
If we experience a change of control followed by a ratings decline, unless we have previously exercised, or concurrently exercise, our right to redeem the Senior Notes 2026 (as described above), we may be required to offer to repurchase the Senior Notes 2026 at a purchase price equal to 101 % of the principal amount repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the repurchase date.
The indenture governing the Senior Notes 2026 (the “2026 Indenture”) contains certain financial covenants that we must comply with in order to make certain restricted payments as described in the 2026 Indenture. As of December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with such financial covenants under the 2026 Indenture.
The Senior Notes 2026 are fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “2026 Guarantees”), jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by the Guarantors. The Senior Notes 2026 and the 2026 Guarantees are general unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of the Guarantors’, Finance Corp’s, and our existing and future senior indebtedness and senior to the Guarantors’, Finance Corp’s, and our future subordinated indebtedness, if any. The Senior Notes 2026 and the 2026 Guarantees effectively are subordinated in right of payment to all of the Guarantors’, Finance Corp’s, and our existing and future secured debt, including debt under the Credit Agreement and guarantees thereof, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and are structurally subordinate to all indebtedness of any of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Senior Notes 2026.
We have no assets or operations independent of our subsidiaries, and there are no significant restrictions on our ability to obtain funds from our subsidiaries by dividend or loan. Each of the Guarantors is 100 % owned by us. None of the assets of our subsidiaries represent restricted net assets pursuant to Rule 4-08(e)(3) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Subsidiary Guarantors
The Partnership may from time to time file a Registration Statement on Form S-3 with the SEC to register the issuance and sale of, among other securities, debt securities, which may be co-issued by Finance Corp (together with the Partnership, the “Issuers”) and fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by the Partnership’s operating subsidiaries for the benefit of each holder and the trustee. Such guarantees are expected to be subject to release, subject to certain limitations, as follows (i) upon the sale, exchange or transfer, by way of a merger or otherwise, to any person that is not our affiliate, of all of our direct or indirect limited partnership or other equity interest in such subsidiary guarantor; or (ii) upon delivery by an Issuer of a written notice to the trustee of the release or discharge of all guarantees by such subsidiary guarantor of any debt of the Issuers other than obligations arising under the indenture governing such debt and any debt securities issued under such indenture, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantees.
Maturities of long-term debt for each of the five succeeding years are as follows (in thousands):
| Year Ending December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | $ | |||||||
| 2025 | ||||||||
| 2026 (1) | ||||||||
| 2027 | ||||||||
| 2028 | ||||||||
________________________
(1) The Credit Agreement matures on December 8, 2026, except that if any portion of the 6.875 % Senior Notes 2026 are outstanding on December 31, 2025, the Credit Agreement will mature on December 31, 2025.
F-19
(11) Preferred Units
Preferred Unit and Warrant Private Placement
On April 2, 2018, we completed a private placement of $500 million in the aggregate of (i) newly authorized and established Preferred Units and (ii) two tranches of warrants to purchase common units with certain investment funds managed, or advised, by EIG Global Energy Partners. We issued the holders of the Preferred Units an aggregate of 500,000 Preferred Units with a face value of $1,000 per Preferred Unit, a tranche of warrants with the right to purchase 10,000,000 common units with a strike price of $19.59 per common unit, and a tranche of warrants with the right to purchase 5,000,000 common units with a strike price of $17.03 per common unit. Refer to Note 12 for further information on these warrants.
On November 13, 2018, the Partnership filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 to register 41,202,553 common units that are potentially issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Units and exercise of the warrants described above.
The Preferred Units rank senior to our common units with respect to distributions and liquidation rights. The holders of the Preferred Units are entitled to receive cumulative quarterly cash distributions equal to $24.375 per Preferred Unit.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, 500,000
We have declared and paid per-unit quarterly cash distributions to the holders of the Preferred Units of record as follows:
| Payment date | Distribution per Preferred Unit | |||||||
| February 5, 2021 | $ | |||||||
| May 7, 2021 | ||||||||
| August 6, 2021 | ||||||||
| November 5, 2021 | ||||||||
Total 2021 distributions | $ | |||||||
| February 4, 2022 | $ | |||||||
| May 6, 2022 | ||||||||
| August 5, 2022 | ||||||||
| November 4, 2022 | ||||||||
Total 2022 distributions | $ | |||||||
| February 3, 2023 | $ | |||||||
| May 5, 2023 | ||||||||
| August 4, 2023 | ||||||||
| November 3, 2023 | ||||||||
Total 2023 distributions | $ | |||||||
Announced Quarterly Distribution
On January 11, 2024, we declared a cash distribution of $24.375 per unit on our Preferred Units. The distribution was paid on February 2, 2024, to the holders of the Preferred Units of record as of the close of business on January 22, 2024.
Redemption and Conversion Features
As of April 2, 2023, 100 % of the Preferred Units are convertible, at the option of the holder, into common units in accordance with the terms of our Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”). The conversion rate for the Preferred Units is the quotient of (i) the sum of (a) $1,000 , plus (b) any unpaid cash distributions on the applicable Preferred Unit, divided by (ii) $20.0115 for each Preferred Unit. As of December 31, 2023, the Preferred Units are convertible into a maximum number of 24,985,633 common units, assuming there are no unpaid cash distributions on the Preferred Units.
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The holders of the Preferred Units are entitled to vote on an as-converted basis with the common unitholders and (as proportionately adjusted for unit splits, unit distributions, and similar transactions) will have certain other class voting rights with respect to any amendment to the Partnership Agreement that would adversely affect any rights, preferences, or privileges of the Preferred Units. In addition, upon certain events involving a change of control, the holders of the Preferred Units may elect, among other potential elections, to convert their Preferred Units to common units at the then change of control conversion rate.
As of April 2, 2023, we have the option to redeem all or any portion of the Preferred Units then outstanding, subject to certain minimum redemption threshold amounts, for a redemption price set forth in the Partnership Agreement. On or after April 2, 2028, each holder of the Preferred Units will have the right to require us to redeem all or a portion of their Preferred Units, subject to certain minimum redemption threshold amounts, for a redemption price set forth in the Partnership Agreement, which we may elect to pay up to 50 % in common units, subject to certain additional limits. The Preferred Units are presented as temporary equity within the mezzanine section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets because the redemption provisions on or after April 2, 2028 are outside the Partnership’s control.
The Preferred Units were recorded at their issuance date fair value, net of issuance cost. Net income allocations increase the carrying value and declared distributions decrease the carrying value of the Preferred Units. As the Preferred Units are not currently redeemable, and it is not probable that they will become redeemable, adjustment to the initial carrying value is not necessary and would only be required if it becomes probable that the Preferred Units would become redeemable.
January 2024 Conversion
On January 12, 2024, the holders of the Preferred Units elected to convert 40,000 Preferred Units into 1,998,850 common units. These Preferred Units were converted into common units and, for our fourth-quarter 2023 distribution, the holders received the common unit distribution of $0.525 on the 1,998,850 common units in lieu of the Preferred Unit distribution of $24.375 on the converted 40,000 Preferred Units.
Changes in the Preferred Units’ balance are as follows (in thousands):
| Preferred Units | |||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2020 | $ | ||||
Net income allocated to Preferred Units | |||||
Cash distributions on Preferred Units | ( | ||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2021 | |||||
Net income allocated to Preferred Units | |||||
Cash distributions on Preferred Units | ( | ||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 | |||||
Net income allocated to Preferred Units | |||||
Cash distributions on Preferred Units | ( | ||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | $ | ||||
Refer to Note 14 for information about the rights EIG Veteran Equity Aggregator, L.P. (along with its affiliated funds, “EIG”) has to designate one of the members of the board of directors of the General Partner (the “Board”).
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(12) Partners’ Deficit
Common Units
The change in common units outstanding were as follows:
| Common Units Outstanding | |||||
| Number of common units outstanding, December 31, 2020 | |||||
| Vesting of phantom units | |||||
| Issuance of common units under the DRIP | |||||
| Number of common units outstanding, December 31, 2021 | |||||
Vesting of phantom units | |||||
Issuance of common units under the DRIP | |||||
| Exercise and conversion of warrants into common units | |||||
| Number of common units outstanding, December 31, 2022 | |||||
| Vesting of phantom units | |||||
| Issuance of common units under the DRIP | |||||
| Exercise and conversion of warrants into common units | |||||
| Number of common units outstanding, December 31, 2023 | |||||
As of December 31, 2023, Energy Transfer held 46,056,228 common units, including 8,000,000 common units held by the General Partner and controlled by Energy Transfer.
The limited partners holding our common units have the following rights, among others:
•right to receive distributions of our available cash within 45 days after the end of each quarter, so long as we have paid the required distributions on the Preferred Units for such quarter;
•right to transfer limited partner unit ownership to substitute limited partners;
•right to approve certain amendments of the Partnership Agreement;
•right to electronic access of an annual report, containing audited financial statements and a report on those financial statements by our independent public accountants, within 90 days after the close of the fiscal year end; and
•right to receive information reasonably required for tax reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of the calendar year.
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Cash Distributions
We have declared and paid per-unit quarterly distributions to our limited partner unitholders of record, including holders of our common and phantom units, as follows (dollars in millions, except distribution per unit):
| Payment Date | Distribution per Limited Partner Unit | Amount Paid to Common Unitholders | Amount Paid to Phantom Unitholders | Total Distribution | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| February 5, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| May 7, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 6, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 5, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total 2021 distributions | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| February 4, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| May 6, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 5, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 4, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total 2022 distributions | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| February 3, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| May 5, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 4, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 3, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total 2023 distributions | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Announced Quarterly Distribution
On January 11, 2024, we announced a cash distribution of $0.525 per unit on our common units. The distribution was paid on February 2, 2024, to common unitholders of record as of the close of business on January 22, 2024.
DRIP
During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, distributions of $1.9 million, $2.1 million, and $1.8 million, respectively, were reinvested under the DRIP resulting in the issuance of 87,808 , 124,255 , and 118,399 common units, respectively.
On August 5, 2020, we filed a registration statement on Form S-3 for the issuance of up to 5,000,000 units under the DRIP.
Warrants
On April 27, 2022, the tranche of warrants with the right to purchase 5,000,000 common units with a strike price of $17.03 per common unit was exercised in full by the holders. The exercise of these warrants was net settled by the Partnership for 534,308 common units.
On October 27, 2023, the tranche of warrants with the right to purchase 10,000,000 common units with a strike price of $19.59 per common unit was exercised in full by the holders. The exercise of the warrants was net settled by the Partnership for 2,360,488 common units.
As of December 31, 2023, no warrants remained outstanding.
The warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2022 were presented within the equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets in accordance with GAAP as they were indexed to the Partnership’s common units, and required physical settlement or net settlement in the Partnership’s common units. The warrants were valued at issuance using the Black-Scholes-Merton model.
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Income (Loss) Per Unit
The computation of income (loss) per unit is based on the weighted average number of participating securities, which includes our common units and certain equity-based awards outstanding during the applicable period. Basic income (loss) per unit is determined by dividing net income (loss) allocated to participating securities after deducting the amount distributed on Preferred Units, by the weighted-average number of participating securities outstanding during the period. Income (loss) attributable to unitholders is allocated to participating securities based on their respective shares of the distributed and undistributed earnings for the period. To the extent cash distributions exceed net income (loss) attributable to unitholders for the period, the excess distributions are allocated to all participating securities outstanding based on their respective ownership percentages.
Diluted income (loss) per unit is computed using the treasury stock method, which considers the potential issuance of limited partner units associated with our long-term incentive plan and warrants. Unvested phantom units and unexercised warrants are not included in basic income (loss) per unit, as they are not considered to be participating securities, but are included in the calculation of diluted income (loss) per unit to the extent they are dilutive, and in the case of warrants to the extent they are considered “in the money.”
For the year ended December 31, 2023, approximately 1,167,000 and 873,000 incremental unvested phantom units and “in the money” outstanding warrants, respectively, represent the difference between our basic and diluted weighted-average common units outstanding.
For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, approximately 980,000 and 829,000 incremental unvested phantom units, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per unit because the impact was anti-dilutive. For the year ended December 31, 2022, approximately 42,000 incremental “in the money” then-outstanding warrants were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per unit because the impact was anti-dilutive. For the year ended December 31, 2021, our outstanding warrants were not included in the computation as they were not considered “in the money” for the period.
(13) Revenue Recognition
Disaggregation of Revenue
The following table disaggregates our revenue by type of service (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||
Contract operations revenue | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Retail parts and services revenue | |||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
The following table disaggregates our revenue by timing of provision of services or transfer of goods (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| Services provided over time: | |||||||||||||||||
| Primary term | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Month-to-month | |||||||||||||||||
| Total services provided over time | |||||||||||||||||
| Services provided or goods transferred at a point in time | |||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Contract operations revenue
Revenue from contracted compression, natural gas treating, and maintenance services is recognized ratably as services are provided to our customers under our fixed-fee contracts over the term of the contract. Initial contract terms typically range from six months to five years . However, we usually continue to provide compression services at a specific location beyond the initial contract term, either through contract renewal or on a month-to-month or longer basis. We primarily enter into fixed-fee contracts whereby our customers are required to pay our monthly fee even during periods of limited or disrupted throughput. Services generally are billed monthly, one month in advance of the commencement of the service month, except for certain
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customers who are billed at the beginning of the service month, and payment generally is due 30 days after receipt of our invoice. Amounts invoiced in advance are recorded as deferred revenue until earned, at which time they are recognized as revenue. The amount of consideration we receive and revenue we recognize is based on the fixed-fee rate stated in each service contract.
Variable consideration exists in select contracts when billing rates vary based on actual equipment availability or volume of total installed horsepower.
Our contracts with customers may include multiple performance obligations. For such arrangements, we allocate revenues to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone service fee. We generally determine standalone service fees based on the service fees charged to customers or use expected cost plus margin.
The majority of our service performance obligations are satisfied over time as services are rendered at selected customer locations on a monthly basis and based on specific performance criteria identified in the applicable contract. The monthly service for each location is substantially the same service month-to-month and is promised consecutively over the service contract term. We measure progress and performance of the service consistently using a straight-line, time-based method as each month passes, because our performance obligations are satisfied evenly over the contract term as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided by our service. If variable consideration exists, it is allocated to the distinct monthly service within the series to which such variable consideration relates. We have elected to apply the invoicing practical expedient to recognize revenue for such variable consideration, as the invoice corresponds directly to the value transferred to the customer based on our performance completed to date.
There are typically no material obligations for returns or refunds. Our standard contracts do not usually include material non-cash consideration.
Retail parts and services revenue
Retail parts and services revenue primarily is earned on directly reimbursable freight and crane charges that are the financial responsibility of the customers and maintenance work on units at customer locations that are outside the scope of core maintenance activities. Revenue from retail parts and services is recognized at the point-in-time the part is transferred or service is provided and control is transferred to the customer. At such time, the customer has the ability to direct the use of the benefits of such part or service after we have performed our services. We bill upon completion of the service or transfer of the parts, and payment generally is due 30 days after receipt of our invoice. The amount of consideration we receive and revenue we recognize is based on the invoice amount. There are typically no material obligations for returns, refunds, or warranties. Our standard contracts do not usually include material variable or non-cash consideration.
Deferred Revenue
We record deferred revenue when cash payments are received or due in advance of our performance. Components of deferred revenue were as follows (in thousands):
| December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance sheet location | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
Current (1) | Deferred revenue | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Noncurrent | Other liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
________________________
(1)We recognized $61.4 million of revenue during the year ended December 31, 2023, related to our deferred revenue balance as of December 31, 2022.
Performance Obligations
As of December 31, 2023, the aggregate amount of transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations related to our contract operations revenue was $1.0 billion. We expect to recognize these remaining performance obligations as follows (in thousands):
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | Thereafter | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Remaining performance obligations | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) Transactions with Related Parties
We provide natural gas compression and treating services to entities affiliated with Energy Transfer, which as of December 31, 2023, owned approximately 46 % of our limited partner interests and 100 % of the General Partner.
Revenue recognized from those entities affiliated with Energy Transfer on our Consolidated Statement of Operations were as follows (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| Related-party revenues | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
We had approximately $0 and $52,000 within related-party receivables on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, from those entities affiliated with Energy Transfer.
Pursuant to the Board Representation Agreement entered into by us, the General Partner, Energy Transfer, and EIG, in connection with our private placement of Preferred Units and warrants to EIG, EIG Management Company, LLC has the right to designate one of the members of the Board for so long as the holders of the Preferred Units hold more than 5 % of the Partnership’s outstanding common units in the aggregate (taking into account the common units issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Units and exercise of the warrants).
(15) Unit-Based Compensation
Long-Term Incentive Plan
In January 2013, the Board adopted the USA Compression Partners, LP 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended, the “LTIP”), which is available for certain employees, consultants, and directors of the General Partner and any of its affiliates who perform services for us. The LTIP provides for awards of unit options, unit appreciation rights, restricted units, phantom units, DERs, unit awards, profits interest units, and other unit-based awards. Under the LTIP, the maximum number of common units available for issuance is 10,000,000 and the term of the LTIP is until November 1, 2028. Awards that are forfeited, canceled, paid, or otherwise terminate or expire without the actual delivery of common units will be available for delivery pursuant to other awards. The LTIP is administered by the Board or a committee thereof.
The General Partner’s executive officers, certain of its employees, and certain of its independent directors were granted these awards to incentivize them to help drive our future success and to share in the economic benefits of that success. All employees with phantom units have the option to have a portion of their award settled in cash and a portion settled in common units upon vesting, unless otherwise approved by the Board or a committee thereof. The amount that can be settled in cash is in excess of the employee’s minimum statutory tax-withholding rate. ASC Topic 718 Compensation – Stock Compensation requires the entire amount of an award with such features to be accounted for as a liability. Under the liability method of accounting for unit-based compensation, we re-measure the fair value of the award at each financial statement date until the award vests or is forfeited. The fair value is measured using the market price of the Partnership’s common units. During the requisite service period (the vesting period of the awards), compensation cost is recognized using the proportionate amount of the award’s fair value that has been earned through service to date. Phantom units granted to independent directors do not have a cash settlement option and as such, we account for these awards as equity. Each phantom unit is granted in tandem with a corresponding DER, which entitles the recipient to receive an amount in cash on a quarterly basis equal to the product of (i) the number of the recipient’s outstanding, unvested phantom units on the record date for such quarter and (ii) the quarterly distribution declared by the Board for such quarter with respect to the Partnership’s common units.
During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, an aggregate of 476,959 , 603,365 , and 638,903 , respectively, phantom units (including the corresponding DERs) were granted under the LTIP to the General Partner’s executive officers, certain of its employees, and independent directors. The phantom units (including the corresponding DERs) awarded are subject to restrictions on transferability, customary forfeiture provisions, and time vesting provisions. These phantom unit awards vest incrementally, with 60 % of the phantom units vesting on December 5 of the third year following the grant and the remaining 40 % vesting on December 5 of the fifth year following the grant.
Phantom units vest in full upon a change in control. Award recipients do not have all the rights of a unitholder in the Partnership with respect to the phantom units until the units have vested.
As of December 31, 2023, and 2022, our total unit-based compensation liability was $21.9 million and $17.7 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, we recognized $22.2 million, $15.9 million, and
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$15.5 million of compensation expense associated with these awards, respectively, recorded in selling, general, and administrative expense. During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, amounts paid related to the cash settlement of vested awards under the LTIP were $6.4 million, $3.0 million, and $3.2 million, respectively.
The total fair value and intrinsic value of the phantom units vested under the LTIP was $7.3 million, $4.1 million, and $4.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
The following table summarizes information regarding phantom unit awards for the periods presented:
| Number of Units | Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Unit | ||||||||||
| Phantom units outstanding at December 31, 2020 | $ | ||||||||||
| Granted | |||||||||||
| Vested | ( | ||||||||||
| Forfeited | ( | ||||||||||
| Phantom units outstanding at December 31, 2021 | $ | ||||||||||
Granted | |||||||||||
Vested | ( | ||||||||||
Forfeited | ( | ||||||||||
| Phantom units outstanding at December 31, 2022 | $ | ||||||||||
Granted | |||||||||||
Vested | ( | ||||||||||
Forfeited | ( | ||||||||||
| Phantom units outstanding at December 31, 2023 | $ | ||||||||||
The unrecognized compensation cost associated with phantom unit awards was an aggregate $21.6 million as of December 31, 2023. We expect to recognize the unrecognized compensation cost for these awards on a weighted-average basis over a period of approximately 2.7 years.
(16) Employee Benefit Plans
A 401(k) plan is available to all of our employees. The plan permits employees to contribute up to 20 % of their salary, up to the statutory limits, which was $22,500 for 2023. The plan provides for discretionary matching contributions by us on an annual basis. Aggregate matching contributions made to employees’ 401(k) plans were $3.8 million, $3.2 million, and $3.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
(17) Commitments and Contingencies
(a)Major Customers and Concentration of Credit Risk
One customer accounted for approximately 11 % of total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023. No customer accounted for 10% or more of total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2022 or 2021.
As of December 31, 2023, one customer accounted for 17 % of our trade accounts receivable, net balance. As of December 31, 2022, one customer accounted for 13 % of our trade accounts receivable, net balance.
Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents and trade accounts receivable. Our cash and cash equivalents have a zero-loss expectation because we maintain minimal balances in our cash and cash equivalents’ accounts and have no history of loss. Trade accounts receivable are due from companies of varying size engaged principally in oil and natural gas activities throughout the U.S.; therefore, our customers may be similarly affected by changes in economic and other conditions within the industry. We perform periodic evaluations of our customers’ financial condition, including monitoring our customers’ payment history and current credit worthiness to manage this risk. We generally do not obtain collateral for trade receivables, but we may require payment in advance. Payment terms are on a short-term basis and in accordance with industry practice. We consider this credit risk to be limited due to these companies’ financial resources, the nature of the products and services we provide, and the terms of our customer agreements.
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(b)Litigation
From time to time, we and our subsidiaries may be involved in various claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. In management’s opinion, the resolution of such matters is not expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
(c)Tax Contingencies
Our compliance with state and local sales tax regulations is subject to audit by various taxing authorities. Certain taxing authorities have either claimed or issued an assessment that specific operational processes, which we and others in our industry regularly conduct, result in transactions that are subject to state sales taxes. We and others in our industry have disputed these claims and assessments based on either existing tax statutes or published guidance by the taxing authorities.
We currently are protesting certain assessments made by the Oklahoma Tax Commission (“OTC”). We believe it is reasonably possible that we could incur losses related to this assessment depending on whether the administrative law judge assigned by the OTC accepts our position that the transactions are not taxable and we ultimately lose any and all subsequent legal challenges to such determination. We estimate that the range of losses we could incur is from $0 to approximately $25.8 million, including penalties and interest.
Our U.S. federal income tax returns for years 2019 and 2020 currently are under examination by the IRS. The IRS has issued preliminary partnership examination changes, along with imputed underpayment computations, for the 2019 and 2020 tax years. Under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, there are several procedural steps, including an appeals process, to complete before a final imputed underpayment, if any, is determined. Based on discussions with the IRS, we estimate a potential range of loss from a final imputed underpayment of $0 to approximately $26.4 million, including interest, for potential adjustments resulting from the IRS examinations. Once a final partnership imputed underpayment, if any, is determined, our General Partner may elect to either pay the imputed underpayment (including any applicable penalties and interest) directly to the IRS or, if eligible, issue a revised information statement to each unitholder, and former unitholder, with respect to an audited and adjusted return.
(d)Equipment Purchase Commitments
Our future capital commitments are comprised of binding commitments under purchase orders for new compression units ordered but not received. The commitments as of December 31, 2023, were $53.4 million, all of which is expected to be settled within the next twelve months.
(e)Environmental
The Partnership’s operations are subject to federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations regarding water quality, hazardous and solid waste management, air quality control, and other environmental matters. These laws, rules, and regulations require the Partnership to conduct its operations in a specified manner and to obtain and comply with a wide variety of environmental registrations, licenses, permits, inspections, and other approvals. Failure to comply with applicable environmental laws, rules, and regulations may expose the Partnership to significant fines, penalties, and/or interruptions in operations. The Partnership’s environmental policies and procedures are designed to achieve compliance with such applicable laws, rules, and regulations. These evolving laws, rules, and regulations, and claims for damages to property, employees, other persons, and the environment resulting from current or past operations may result in significant expenditures and liabilities in the future.
(18) Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2023, Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. ASU 2023-09 improves and enhances income tax disclosure requirements, including new disclosures related to tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. The amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2025, with early adoption permitted. ASU 2023-09 is to be applied on a prospective basis, with retrospective application permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, of the amendments to ASU 2023-09 on our consolidated financial statements.
In November 2023, FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. ASU 2023-07 improves and enhances reportable segment disclosure requirements, including new disclosures related to significant segment expenses. The amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after
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December 15, 2023, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. ASU 2023-07 is to be applied on a retrospective basis. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, of the amendments to ASU 2023-07 on our consolidated financial statements.
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Exhibit 4.9
DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES
REGISTERED UNDER SECTION 12 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
The following description of the common units representing limited partner interests in USA Compression Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership,” “we,” “us,” and “our”), is based upon our Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, as amended, which we refer to as our “partnership agreement,” and applicable provisions of law. The following summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of applicable law and to our partnership agreement. References to our “general partner” refer to USA Compression GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and our general partner.
Common Units
The common units represent limited partner interests in us. Holders of common units are entitled to receive partnership distributions and exercise the rights or privileges available to limited partners under our partnership agreement. For a description of the rights and preferences of holders of common units in and to distributions, please read this section and “How We Make Cash Distributions.” For a description of voting rights, rights of distribution upon liquidation and other rights and privileges of limited partners, including our common unitholders, under our partnership agreement, please read “The Partnership Agreement.”
Transfers of Common Units
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:
•represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to become bound by our partnership agreement;
•automatically becomes bound by the terms and conditions of, and is deemed to have executed, our partnership agreement; and
•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 no less frequently than quarterly.
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 common unit as the absolute owner for all purposes, except as otherwise required by law or stock exchange regulations.
How We Make Cash Distributions
Set forth below is a summary of the significant provisions of our partnership agreement that relate to cash distributions.
Distributions of Available Cash
General. Our partnership agreement requires that, within 45 days after the end of each quarter, we distribute all of our available cash to unitholders of record on the applicable record date.
Definition of available cash. Available cash, for any quarter, consists of all cash on hand at the end of that quarter:
•less, the amount of cash reserves established by our general partner to:
•provide for the proper conduct of our business;
•comply with applicable law, our revolving credit facility or other agreements; and
•provide funds for distributions to our unitholders for any one or more of the next four quarters;
•plus, if our general partner so determines, all or a portion of cash on hand on the date of determination of available cash for the quarter resulting from working capital borrowings made after the end of the quarter.
Working capital borrowings are borrowings that are made under a credit facility, commercial paper facility or similar financing arrangement, and in all cases, are used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to partners and with the intent of the borrower to repay such borrowings within twelve months from sources other than additional working capital borrowings.
Series A Preferred Units. Record holders of the Series A preferred units are entitled to receive cumulative quarterly distributions equal to $24.375 per Series A preferred unit. We cannot pay any distributions on any junior securities, including any of the common units, prior to paying the quarterly distribution payable on the Series A preferred units, including any previously accrued and unpaid distributions thereon.
Operating Surplus and Capital Surplus
General. All cash distributed will be characterized as either “operating surplus” or “capital surplus.” Our partnership agreement requires that we distribute available cash from operating surplus differently than available cash from capital surplus.
Operating surplus. Operating surplus for any period consists of:
•$36.6 million (as described below); plus
•all of our cash receipts beginning January 18, 2013, the closing date of our initial public offering (our “IPO”), excluding cash from interim capital transactions, which include the following:
•borrowings (including sales of debt securities) that are not working capital borrowings;
•sales of equity interests;
•sales or other dispositions of assets outside the ordinary course of business; and
•capital contributions received;
provided that cash receipts from the termination of a commodity hedge or interest rate hedge prior to its specified termination date shall be included in operating surplus in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of such commodity hedge or interest rate hedge; plus
•working capital borrowings made after the end of the period but on or before the date of determination of operating surplus for the period; plus
•cash distributions paid on equity issued to finance all or a portion of the construction, acquisition or improvement of a capital improvement (such as equipment or facilities) in respect of the period beginning on the date that we enter into a binding obligation to commence the construction, acquisition or improvement of a capital improvement and ending on the earlier to occur of the date the capital improvement or capital asset commences commercial service and the date that it is abandoned or disposed of; plus
•cash distributions paid on equity issued to pay the construction period interest on debt incurred, or to pay construction period distributions on equity issued, to finance the capital improvements referred to above; less
•all of our operating expenditures (as defined below) after the closing of our IPO; less
•the amount of cash reserves established by our general partner to provide funds for future operating expenditures; less
•all working capital borrowings not repaid within twelve months after having been incurred; less
•any loss realized on disposition of an investment capital expenditure.
As described above, operating surplus does not reflect actual cash on hand that is available for distribution to our unitholders and is not limited to cash generated by our operations. For example, it includes a basket of $36.6 million that will enable us, if we choose, to distribute as operating surplus cash we receive in the future from non-operating sources such as asset sales, issuances of securities and long-term borrowings that would otherwise be distributed as capital surplus. In addition, the effect of including, as described above, certain cash distributions on equity interests in operating surplus will be to increase operating surplus by the amount of any such cash distributions. As a result, we may also distribute as operating surplus up to the amount of any such cash that we receive from non-operating sources.
The proceeds of working capital borrowings increase operating surplus and repayments of working capital borrowings are generally operating expenditures, as described below, and thus reduce operating surplus when made. However, if a working
capital borrowing is not repaid during the twelve-month period following the borrowing, it will be deemed repaid at the end of such period, thus decreasing operating surplus at such time. When such working capital borrowing is in fact repaid, it will be excluded from operating expenditures because operating surplus will have been previously reduced by the deemed repayment.
We define operating expenditures in the partnership agreement, and it generally means all of our cash expenditures, including, but not limited to, taxes, reimbursement of expenses to our general partner and its affiliates, payments made under interest rate hedge agreements or commodity hedge contracts (provided that (i) with respect to amounts paid in connection with the initial purchase of an interest rate hedge contract or a commodity hedge contract, such amounts will be amortized over the life of the applicable interest rate hedge contract or commodity hedge contract and (ii) payments made in connection with the termination of any interest rate hedge contract or commodity hedge contract prior to the expiration of its stipulated settlement or termination date will be included in operating expenditures in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of such interest rate hedge contract or commodity hedge contract), officer compensation, repayment of working capital borrowings, debt service payments and maintenance capital expenditures (as defined below), provided that operating expenditures will not include:
•repayment of working capital borrowings deducted from operating surplus pursuant to the penultimate bullet point of the definition of operating surplus above when such repayment actually occurs;
•payments (including prepayments and prepayment penalties) of principal of and premium on indebtedness, other than working capital borrowings;
•expansion capital expenditures (as defined below);
•investment capital expenditures (as defined below);
•payment of transaction expenses relating to interim capital transactions;
•distributions to our partners; or
•repurchases of equity interests except to fund obligations under employee benefit plans.
Capital surplus. Capital surplus is defined in our partnership agreement as any distribution of available cash in excess of our cumulative operating surplus. Accordingly, capital surplus would generally be generated by:
•borrowings other than working capital borrowings;
•sales of our equity and debt securities; and
•sales or other dispositions of assets for cash, other than inventory, accounts receivable and other assets sold in the ordinary course of business or as part of normal retirement or replacement of assets.
Characterization of cash distributions. Our partnership agreement requires that we treat all available cash distributed as coming from operating surplus until the sum of all available cash distributed since January 18, 2013, the closing date of our IPO, equals the operating surplus from January 18, 2013 through the end of the quarter immediately preceding that distribution. Our partnership agreement requires that we treat any amount distributed in excess of operating surplus, regardless of its source, as capital surplus. We do not anticipate that we will make any distributions from capital surplus.
Capital Expenditures
Maintenance capital expenditures are those capital expenditures required to maintain our long-term operating capacity and/or operating income. Capital expenditures made solely for investment purposes will not be considered maintenance capital expenditures.
Expansion capital expenditures are those capital expenditures that we expect will increase our operating capacity or operating income over the long term. Expansion capital expenditures will also include interest (and related fees) on debt incurred to finance all or any portion of the construction of such capital improvement in respect of the period that commences when we enter into a binding obligation to commence construction of a capital improvement and ending on the earlier to occur of the date any such capital improvement commences commercial service and the date that it is abandoned or disposed of. Capital expenditures made solely for investment purposes will not be considered expansion capital expenditures.
Investment capital expenditures are those capital expenditures that are neither maintenance capital expenditures nor expansion capital expenditures. Investment capital expenditures largely will consist of capital expenditures made for investment purposes. Examples of investment capital expenditures include traditional capital expenditures for investment purposes, such as purchases of securities, as well as other capital expenditures that might be made in lieu of such traditional investment capital expenditures, such as the acquisition of a capital asset for investment purposes or development of facilities that are in excess of
the maintenance of our existing operating capacity or operating income, but which are not expected to expand, for more than the short term, our operating capacity or operating income.
As described above, neither investment capital expenditures nor expansion capital expenditures will be included in operating expenditures, and thus will not reduce operating surplus. Because expansion capital expenditures include interest payments (and related fees) on debt incurred to finance all or a portion of the construction or improvement of a capital asset (such as gathering compressors) in respect of the period that begins when we enter into a binding obligation to commence construction of the capital asset and ends on the earlier to occur of the date the capital asset commences commercial service or the date that it is abandoned or disposed of, such interest payments are also not subtracted from operating surplus. Losses on disposition of an investment capital expenditure will reduce operating surplus when realized and cash receipts from an investment capital expenditure will be treated as a cash receipt for purposes of calculating operating surplus only to the extent the cash receipt is a return on principal.
Capital expenditures that are made in part for maintenance capital purposes, investment capital purposes and/or expansion capital purposes will be allocated as maintenance capital expenditures, investment capital expenditures or expansion capital expenditures by our general partner.
Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus
Our partnership agreement requires that we make distributions or payments of available cash from operating surplus for any quarter in the following manner:
•first, as distributions or payments with respect to the Series A preferred units (as described above under “-Distributions of Available Cash”); and
•thereafter, to the holders of common units, pro rata.
Distributions from Capital Surplus
How distributions from capital surplus will be made. Our partnership agreement generally provides that we may not declare or pay any distribution from capital surplus without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 662/3% of the Series A preferred units. In the event a distribution from capital surplus is so approved, we may make distributions of available cash from capital surplus, as if they were from operating surplus.
General Partner Interest
Our general partner owns a non-economic general partner interest in us, which does not entitle it to receive cash distributions. However, to the extent our general partner owns common units or other equity securities in us, it is entitled to receive cash distributions on any such interests. Similarly, to the extent our general partner owns units that have voting rights, it is entitled to exercise its voting power with respect to such interests.
Distributions of Cash upon Liquidation
If we dissolve in accordance with our partnership agreement, we will sell or otherwise dispose of our assets in a process called a liquidation. We will first apply the proceeds of liquidation to the payment of our creditors. We will distribute any remaining proceeds to the unitholders, in accordance with their capital account balances, as adjusted to reflect any gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of our assets in liquidation; provided, that any cash or cash equivalents for distributions shall be distributed with respect to the Series A preferred units (up to the positive balance in the associated capital accounts), prior to any distribution of cash or cash equivalents with respect to our common units or other junior securities.
The Partnership Agreement
The following is a summary of certain material provisions of our partnership agreement that relate to ownership of our common units.
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 purchase common units or other partnership interests we may issue to maintain its current percentage interest if we issue additional common units or other partnership interests, 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.
In voting their units, our general partner and its affiliates 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.
| Issuance of additional units | No approval right, subject to certain limitations on issuing units ranking senior to, or pari passu with, the Series A preferred units without the approval of the holders of 662/3% or more of the outstanding Series A preferred units, voting separately as a class. | |||||||
| Amendment of our partnership agreement | Certain amendments may be made by our general partner without the approval of unitholders. Other amendments generally require the approval of a unit majority or at least the requisite percentage of the type or class of limited partner interests materially and adversely affected by the amendment. Please read “-Amendment of the Partnership Agreement.” | |||||||
| Merger of our partnership or the sale of all or substantially all of our assets | Unit majority in certain circumstances. Please read “-Merger, 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 | Our general partner can withdraw by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice to our unitholders. Please read “-Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner.” | |||||||
| Removal of our general partner | Not less than 662/3% of the outstanding units (excluding Series A preferred units), voting as a single class, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates. Please read “-Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner.” | |||||||
| Transfer of our general partner interest | Our general partner may transfer all or any part of its general partner interest in us without a vote of our unitholders. | |||||||
| Transfer of ownership interests in our general partner | No approval right. | |||||||
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 any person or group that acquires the units from our general partner, its affiliates, their direct transferees and their indirect transferees approved by our general partner in its sole discretion or to any person or group who acquires the units with the specific prior approval of our general partner.
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 the partnership agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce the provisions of the partnership agreement), any partnership interest 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;
•asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, or the Delaware Act, or other similar applicable statutes;
•asserting a claim arising out of any other instrument, document, agreement or certificate contemplated by any provision of the Delaware Act relating to the Partnership or the partnership agreement; and
•arising out of the federal securities laws of the U.S. or securities or antifraud laws of any governmental authority shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, any other court located in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction, 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.
The exclusive forum provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or
any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. To the extent that any such claims may be based upon federal law claims, Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
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, or if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, any other court located in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction 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 Act and that he otherwise acts in conformity with the provisions of the partnership agreement, his liability under the Delaware Act is limited, subject to possible exceptions, to the amount of capital he is obligated to contribute to us for his common units plus his share of any undistributed profits and assets. However, if a court were to determine that the right, or exercise of the right, by the limited partners as a group to take any action under the partnership agreement constituted “participation in the control” of our business for the purposes of the Delaware Act, then the limited partners could be held personally liable for our obligations under the laws of 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 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.
Under the Delaware Act, a limited partnership may not make a distribution to a partner if, after the distribution, all liabilities of the limited partnership, other than liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interests and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to specific property of the partnership, would exceed the fair value of the assets of the limited partnership. For the purpose of determining the fair value of the assets of a limited partnership, the Delaware Act provides that the fair value of property subject to liability for which recourse of creditors is limited shall be included in the assets of the limited partnership only to the extent that the fair value of that property exceeds the nonrecourse liability. The Delaware Act provides that a limited partner who receives a distribution and knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution was in violation of the Delaware Act shall be liable to the limited partnership for the amount of the distribution for three years. Under the Delaware Act, a substituted limited partner of a limited partnership is liable for the obligations of his assignor to make contributions to the partnership, except that such person is not obligated for liabilities unknown to him at the time he became a limited partner and that could not be ascertained from the partnership agreement.
Our subsidiaries conduct business in several states and we may have subsidiaries that conduct business in other states in the future. Maintenance of our limited liability as a member of our operating companies 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 companies 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 other equity securities that are equal in rank with or junior to our common units for the consideration and on the terms and conditions determined by our general partner without the approval of the unitholders.
It is possible that we will 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. In addition, 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. In addition, our partnership agreement does not prohibit our subsidiaries from issuing equity interests, which may effectively rank senior to the common units. However, our partnership agreement does prohibit us from issuing additional partnership interests that rank senior to, or pari passu with, the Series A preferred units without the affirmative vote of 662/3% of the outstanding Series A preferred units.
Upon issuance of additional partnership interests (other than the issuance of common units upon the conversion of Series A preferred units) 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, 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 beneficial owners, to the extent necessary to maintain the percentage interest of the general partner and its affiliates, including such interest represented by common units, that existed immediately prior to each issuance. The holders of common units do not have preemptive rights under our partnership agreement to acquire additional common units or other partnership interests.
Conversion of the Series A Preferred Units
Each unitholder who holds Series A preferred units may elect to convert its Series A preferred units into common units. Each Series A preferred unit is convertible into the number of common units equal to 1,000 divided by $20.0115, adjusted as required under our partnership agreement, including for any Series A unpaid distributions.
Amendment of the Partnership Agreement
General. Amendments to our partnership agreement may be proposed only by our general partner. However, our general partner has 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. In order 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 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 a majority of the type or class of limited partner interests so affected; or
•enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable 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 in its sole discretion.
The provision of our partnership agreement preventing the amendments having the effects described in the bullets above can be amended upon the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the outstanding units, voting as a single class (including units owned by our general partner and its affiliates).
In addition, no amendment may be made that is materially adverse to any of the rights, preferences and privileges of the Series A preferred units, without the approval of the holders of 662/3% of the Series A 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) a change in our name, the location of our principal place of business, our registered agent or our registered office;
b) the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of partners in accordance with our partnership agreement;
c) a change that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue our qualification as a limited partnership or other entity 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 or taxed);
d) any amendments that our general partner determines:
•do not adversely affect the limited partners considered as a whole (or any particular class of limited partners) in any material respect;
•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;
•are necessary or appropriate to facilitate the trading of limited partner interests or to comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any securities exchange on which the limited partner interests 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 units under the provisions of our partnership agreement; or
•are required to effect the intent expressed in the prospectus used in our IPO or the intent of the provisions of our partnership agreement or are otherwise contemplated by our partnership agreement;
e) a change in our fiscal year or taxable year and related changes;
f) 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, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, whether or not substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed;
g) an amendment that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of additional partnership interests or the right to acquire partnership interests;
h) any amendment expressly permitted in our partnership agreement to be made by our general partner acting alone;
i) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a merger agreement that has been approved under the terms of our partnership agreement;
j) 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 or other entity, as otherwise permitted by our partnership agreement;
k) amendments to effect 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
l) any other amendments substantially similar to any of the matters described above.
Opinion of counsel and unitholder approval. Any amendment that our general partner determines adversely affects in any material respect one or more particular classes of limited partners requires the approval of at least a majority of the class or classes so affected, but no vote is required by any class or classes of limited partners that our general partner determines are not adversely affected in any material respect. 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 requires the approval of at least a majority of the type or class of units so affected. Any amendment that is materially adverse to any of the rights, preferences and privileges of the Series A preferred units requires the approval of at least 662/3% of the outstanding Series A preferred units, voting separately as a class. Any amendment that reduces the voting percentage required to take any action, other than to remove the general partner or call a meeting, is required to be approved by the affirmative vote of limited partners whose aggregate outstanding units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced. Any amendment that increases the voting percentage required to remove the general partner or call a meeting of unitholders must be approved by the affirmative vote of limited partners whose aggregate outstanding units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be increased. For amendments of the type not requiring unitholder approval, our general partner is not required to obtain an opinion of counsel that an amendment will neither result in a loss of limited liability to the limited partners nor result in our being treated as a taxable entity for federal income tax purposes in connection with any of the amendments. No other amendments to our partnership agreement will become effective without the approval of holders of at least 90% of the outstanding units, voting as a single class, 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.
Merger, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets
A merger, consolidation or conversion of us requires the prior consent of our general partner. However, our general partner has 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.
In addition, our partnership agreement generally prohibits our general partner, without the prior approval of the holders 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, 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 a material amendment to the partnership agreement (other than an amendment that the general partner could adopt without the consent of the limited partners), each of our units will be an identical unit of our partnership following the transaction and the partnership interests to be issued do not exceed 20% of our outstanding partnership interests 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 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 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 units representing 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, our operating companies nor any of our other 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).
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 “How We Make Cash Distributions-Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation.” 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
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. In addition, our partnership agreement permits our general partner to sell or otherwise transfer all of its general partner interest in us without the approval of the unitholders.
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. 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 662/3% of the outstanding units (excluding Series A preferred 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 the holders of a majority of the outstanding common units, voting as a class. The ownership of more than 331/3% of the outstanding units by our general partner and its affiliates gives them the 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 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 has the option to require the successor general partner to purchase the general partner interest 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 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 them will determine the fair market value.
If the option described above is not exercised by either the departing general partner or the successor general partner, the departing general partner’s general partner interest 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.
Change of Management Provisions
Our partnership agreement contains specific provisions that are intended to discourage a person or group from attempting to remove USA Compression GP, 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, subject to certain exceptions. This loss of voting rights does not apply in certain circumstances. Please read “-Voting Rights.”
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 (excluding Series A preferred units), 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 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, 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 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 his 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 his common units in the market.
Non-Citizen Assignees; Redemption
If we are or become subject to federal, state or local laws or regulations that, in the reasonable determination of the 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 or assignee, we may redeem the units held by the limited partner or assignee at their current market price. In order to avoid any cancellation or forfeiture, the general partner may require each limited partner or assignee to furnish information about his nationality, citizenship or related status. If a limited partner or assignee fails to furnish information about this nationality, citizenship or other related status within 30 days after a request for the information or the general partner determines after receipt of the information that the limited partner or assignee is not an eligible citizen, the limited partner or assignee may be treated as a non-citizen assignee. In addition to other limitations on the rights of an assignee that is not a substituted limited partner, a non-citizen assignee does not have the right to direct the voting of his units and may not receive distributions in kind upon our liquidation.
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 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.
Right to Inspect Our Books and Records
Our partnership agreement provides that a limited partner can, for a purpose reasonably related to his interest as a limited partner, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at his own expense, have furnished to him:
•a current list of the name and last known address of each record holder;
•copies of our partnership agreement, our certificate of limited partnership and related amendments and any powers of attorney under which they have been executed;
•information regarding the status of our business and our financial condition (provided that this obligation shall be satisfied to the extent the limited partner is furnished our most recent annual report and any subsequent quarterly or periodic reports required to be filed, or which would be required to be filed, with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act); and
•any other information regarding our affairs as the general partner determines in its sole discretion is just and reasonable.
Our general partner keeps confidential from the limited partners trade secrets or other information the disclosure of which our general partner believes in good faith is not in our best interests or that we are required by law or by agreements with third parties to keep confidential.
Exhibit 10.6
SEPARATION AND RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT AND FULL RELEASE AND WAIVER OF CLAIMS
This Separation and Restrictive Covenant Agreement and Full Release and Waiver of Claims (this “Agreement”) is by and between USA Compression Management Services, LLC (“USAC”) on behalf of itself and its parents, its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively with USAC, the “Partnership”) and Michael C. Pearl (“Employee”).
WHEREAS, Employee will resign from employment and Employee’s employment with the Partnership shall terminate effective October 5, 2023 (the “Termination Date”);
WHEREAS, the Partnership will provide Employee a lump sum of $500,000.00, which is a payment Employee would not otherwise be entitled, less all applicable taxes and required governmental withholdings (the “Separation Payment”), in exchange for the Employee’s full and proper execution of this Agreement;
WHEREAS, in order to achieve a final and amicable resolution of the employment relationship in all its aspects, the Partnership has agreed, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement as set forth below, to provide consideration to the Employee in exchange for the Employee’s full and proper execution of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants set forth in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1.Separation from Employment. Employee’s employment with the Partnership shall terminate effective as of the Termination Date.
2.Consideration for Signing. As consideration for this Agreement the Partnership agrees to the following:
(a)Employee shall receive the Separation Payment, which is contingent upon the full and proper execution of this Agreement.
(b)The Separation Payment shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Date (as defined herein).
The consideration given to Employee hereunder in the form of the Separation Payment is expressly conditioned upon Employee’s full compliance with the terms and conditions set forth herein, including Employee’s agreement to waive any and all claims that the provisions of this Agreement are not fully enforceable as written in its entirety, and Employee’s agreement not to sue or otherwise pursue any legal claim contrary to the foregoing waiver. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, and in addition to any and all other remedies and alternatives which may be available at law or in equity, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of the provisions of this Agreement by Employee, the Partnership may (in its sole discretion) cease without further obligation to Employee to make the payment set forth in this section.
3.Release of Claims. Employee stipulates, agrees, and understands that for and in consideration of the mutual covenants set forth in this Agreement, specifically including the payment and consideration set forth in Section 2 above, the same being good and valuable consideration, Employee hereby acting of Employee’s own free will, voluntarily and on behalf of him or herself, Employee’s heirs, administrators, executors, successors and assigns, RELEASES, ACQUITS and forever DISCHARGES the Partnership and its respective past and present parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, specifically including USA Compression GP, LLC (the “Company”) and Energy Transfer LP, partners, directors, officers, owners, shareholders, successors, employees, predecessors, joint employers, successor employers and agents, and each of them (collectively “Released Parties”), of and from any and all debts, obligations, claims, counterclaims, demands, judgments, and/or causes of action of any kind whatsoever, including, but not limited to, under the Employee Phantom Unit Agreements entered into by the Employee dated August 9, 2022 and December 5, 2022 (collectively, the “Unit Award Agreements”) and any other equity award agreement entered into between the Employee and the Released Parties (whether known or unknown, in tort, contract, at law or in equity, by statute or regulation, or on any basis), based on facts occurring at any time before, or at the time of, Employee’s signing of this Agreement, for any damages or other remedies of any kind, including, without limitation, direct or indirect,
Exhibit 10.6
consequential, compensatory, actual, punitive, or any other damages, attorneys’ fees, expenses, reimbursements, costs of any kind or reinstatement of any of the foregoing. This release includes, but is not limited to, any and all rights or claims, demands, and/or causes of action arising out of Employee’s employment with the Partnership, or relating to purported employment discrimination, retaliation or violations of civil rights, if any, including, but not limited to, claims arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, Executive Order 11246, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or any other applicable federal, state, or local statute or ordinance or any other claim, whether statutory or based on common law, arising by reason of Employee’s employment with the Partnership or circumstances related thereto, or by reason of any other matter, cause, or thing whatsoever, from the first date of employment with the Partnership to the date and time of execution of this Agreement.
Excluded from this Agreement are any claims that cannot be waived by law, including but not limited to, the right to file a charge with or participate in an investigation conducted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any applicable federal, state, or local government agency and to recover any appropriate relief in any such proceeding. Employee is waiving, however, the right to any monetary recovery or relief should the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any other agency or commission pursue any claims on Employee’s behalf.
Employee has a period of twenty-one (21) days in which to consider this Agreement, which will end on the close of business on October 26, 2023. Employee may choose to sign this Agreement prior to the expiration of the twenty-one (21) day period, but is not required to do so. Once Employee signs the Agreement, Employee shall have a period of seven (7) days from the date Employee signs the Agreement to revoke the Agreement. The Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until the eighth day after Employee signs the Agreement (the “Effective Date”). To revoke this Agreement, Employee must provide written notice of revocation to Sean Kimble, 111 Congress Ave., Suite 2400, Austin, Texas 78701 before 11:59 p.m., Austin, Texas time on the last day of the seven (7) day revocation period. No payments under this Agreement shall be due until the expiration of the seven (7) day revocation period. The Employee is expressly advised and encouraged to exercise the Employee’s right to consult with an attorney of the Employee’s choice in considering whether to sign this Agreement. The Employee affirms that the Employee (i) has consulted or had an opportunity to consult with an attorney or a representative of Employee’s choosing; and (ii) is not relying on any advice from the Partnership or its agents or attorneys in Employee’s decision to execute this Agreement. Employee further acknowledges that he/she has carefully read this Agreement, that the Employee understands the contents and meaning of this Agreement and that Employee’s execution of this Agreement is knowing and voluntary.
4.Not An Employment Agreement. This Agreement is not, and nothing herein shall be deemed to create, a contract of employment between the Employee and the Partnership.
5.Confidentiality of Agreement. Employee agrees not to discuss, disclose or otherwise communicate any of the terms of this Agreement, including without limitation the amounts of the payments or other consideration provided, to anyone except to Employee’s attorney, tax advisor and Employee’s spouse, if any, or as required by law. Employee understands and agrees that, as a result of this binding promise of strict confidentiality, Employee may not hereafter discuss or otherwise communicate with, among other persons, any of the Partnership’s current or former employees regarding the terms, including the payments or other consideration, included in this Agreement.
6.Non-Disparagement. Employee agrees to refrain from making any oral or written statements to a third party about any of the Released Parties that are derogatory, disparaging, malicious, obscene, threating, harassing, intimidating, discriminatory, slanderous, libelous or defamatory with the effect of damaging the business or reputation of the Partnership or Energy Transfer LP, or any of their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, directors, officers or employees. In the event of the breach or threatened breach of the provisions of this Non-Disparagement provision by Employee that has or will result in actual demonstrable harm, the Partnership and Energy Transfer LP, shall each be entitled to obtain injunctive relief to enjoin such breach or threatened breach, in addition to all other remedies and alternatives which may be available at law or in equity. Employee acknowledges that the remedies contained in the Agreement for violation of this Agreement of the Non-Disparagement provision are not the exclusive remedies.
Exhibit 10.6
Further, the Partnership shall refrain from publishing any oral or written statements about Employee that are derogatory, disparaging malicious, obscene, threating, harassing, intimidating, discriminatory, slanderous, libelous or defamatory and which are designed to harm Employee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee acknowledges and understands that while the Partnership shall advise its officers and directors of the existence of this obligation, it cannot control their actions, but if made aware of such oral or written statements will take reasonable efforts to cause such statements to be discontinued. A violation or threatened violation by the Partnership of this paragraph that has or will result in actual demonstrable harm to Employee may be enjoined by the courts, in addition to any all rights and remedies otherwise afforded by law.
7.Confidential and Proprietary Information. Employee acknowledges that they have agreed to certain confidentiality provisions contained in the Nondisclosure and Assignment of Inventions Agreement executed at the time of Employee’s initial hiring. Employee also acknowledges that they agreed to certain confidentiality provisions contained in the Unit Award Agreements (collectively, the
“Confidentiality Provisions”). Employee agrees that the Confidentiality Provisions shall in no way be terminated by this Agreement and shall remain in force as provided for by the terms of the Confidentiality Provisions, including any restriction limitations contained therein. Employee further acknowledges that if Employee were to use or disclose, directly or indirectly, the Confidential Information, that such use and/or disclosure would cause the Partnership irreparable harm and injury for which no adequate remedy at law exists. Therefore, in the event of the breach or threatened breach of the provisions of this Confidentiality Provisions by Employee, the Partnership shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief to enjoin such breach or threatened breach, in addition to all other remedies and alternatives which may be available at law or in equity. Employee acknowledges that the remedies contained in the Agreement for violation of this Agreement of the Confidentiality Provisions are not the exclusive remedies which the Partnership may pursue.
“Confidentiality Provisions”). Employee agrees that the Confidentiality Provisions shall in no way be terminated by this Agreement and shall remain in force as provided for by the terms of the Confidentiality Provisions, including any restriction limitations contained therein. Employee further acknowledges that if Employee were to use or disclose, directly or indirectly, the Confidential Information, that such use and/or disclosure would cause the Partnership irreparable harm and injury for which no adequate remedy at law exists. Therefore, in the event of the breach or threatened breach of the provisions of this Confidentiality Provisions by Employee, the Partnership shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief to enjoin such breach or threatened breach, in addition to all other remedies and alternatives which may be available at law or in equity. Employee acknowledges that the remedies contained in the Agreement for violation of this Agreement of the Confidentiality Provisions are not the exclusive remedies which the Partnership may pursue.
8.Non-Admission. This Agreement, and the payment of money and other consideration provided by the Partnership under this Agreement, is not an admission or indication of any wrongdoing by the Partnership or the Employee.
9.Entire Agreement. Employee agrees that, with the exception of the provisions of the Nondisclosure and Assignment of Inventions Agreement and the Confidentiality Provisions, this Agreement constitutes the complete agreement between the parties regarding the matters addressed herein, and that no other representations have been made by the Partnership and that the terms hereof may not be modified except by a written instrument signed by the Partnership and the Employee.
10.Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement should be held to be void, voidable, or unenforceable, the remaining portions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.
11.Interpretation Under State Law. This Agreement shall be construed under the laws of the State of Texas without regard to the conflicts of laws provisions thereunder.
12.Headings. The headings used in this Agreement are inserted solely for convenience and shall not be used to interpret the meaning of this document.
13.Knowing and Voluntary. By signing below, Employee knowingly and voluntarily accepts this Agreement and does so of Employee’s own free will.
[Signature Page Follows]
Exhibit 10.6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective as of the Effective Date.
| PARTNERSHIP: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| a Delaware limited partnership | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By: | USA Compression GP, LLC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Its: | General Partner | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| /s/ Sean Kimble | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sean Kimble, Vice President of Human Resources | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dated: | 10/05/2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EMPLOYEE: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| /s/ Michael Pearl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By: | Michael Pearl | Date: | 10/05/2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Please return executed originals of this Agreement by regular mail to Sean Kimble, 111 Congress Ave., Suite 2400, Austin, Texas 78701.
Exhibit 21.1
List of Subsidiaries
USA Compression Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation
USA Compression Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
USAC Leasing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
Exhibit 22.1
Subsidiary Guarantors and Co-Issuer
Each of the following direct or indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of USA Compression Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”) is either (i) a co-issuer of or (ii) guarantees, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis, each of the registered debt securities of the Partnership listed below:
Co-Issuer
1.USA Compression Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation
Subsidiary Guarantors
1.USA Compression Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
2.USAC Leasing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
Registered Debt Securities of the Partnership co-issued by the Co-Issuer and guaranteed by each of the Subsidiary Guarantors
1.6.875% Senior Notes due 2026
2.6.875% Senior Notes due 2027
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We have issued our reports dated February 13, 2024, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting included in the Annual Report of USA Compression Partners, LP on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. We consent to the incorporation by reference of said reports in the Registration Statements of USA Compression Partners, LP on Forms S-3 (File No. 333-228361 and File No. 333-240380) and on Forms S-8 (File No. 333-228362 and File No. 333-187166).
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
Houston, Texas
February 13, 2024
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A) AND RULE 15D-14(A)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED
I, Eric D. Long, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of USA Compression Partners, LP (the “registrant”);
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a)designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b)designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c)evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d)disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a)all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b)any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: February 13, 2024 | |||||
| /s/ Eric D. Long | |||||
| Name: | Eric D. Long | ||||
| Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A) AND RULE 15D-14(A)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED
I, G. Tracy Owens, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of USA Compression Partners, LP (the “registrant”);
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a)designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b)designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c)evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d)disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a)all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b)any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: February 13, 2024 | |||||
| /s/ G. Tracy Owens | |||||
| Name: | G. Tracy Owens | ||||
| Title: | Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer | ||||
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. §1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of USA Compression Partners, LP (the “Partnership”) for the year ended December 31, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), Eric D. Long, as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership’s general partner, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to his knowledge:
1.the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2.the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership.
| /s/ Eric D. Long | ||
| Eric D. Long | ||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Date: February 13, 2024 | ||
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to the Partnership and will be retained by the Partnership and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. §1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of USA Compression Partners, LP (the “Partnership”) for the year ended December 31, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), G. Tracy Owens, as Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer of the Partnership’s general partner, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to his knowledge:
1.the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2.the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership.
| /s/ G. Tracy Owens | ||
| G. Tracy Owens | ||
| Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer | ||
Date: February 13, 2024 | ||
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to the Partnership and will be retained by the Partnership and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
Exhibit 97.1
USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION CLAWBACK POLICY
Adopted as of November 30, 2023
This Executive Officer Incentive Compensation Clawback Policy (the “Policy”) has been adopted by the Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of USA Compression GP, LLC (the “General Partner”), the general partner of USA Compression Partners, LP (together with its subsidiaries, the “Partnership” and, together with its subsidiaries, the General Partner and any subsidiary of the General Partner whose employees provide services to the Partnership, the “Company”). Unless otherwise defined in this Policy, capitalized terms shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in Section IV.
I.Purpose
The purpose of this Policy is to enable the Partnership to recover erroneously awarded Incentive-Based Compensation from Executive Officers in the event the Partnership is required to prepare an Accounting Restatement. This Policy is designed to comply with, and shall be interpreted in a manner that is intended to be consistent with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) rules and the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) Listed Company Manual.
II.Clawback of Executive Incentive Compensation
a.Recovery. In the event of an Accounting Restatement, the Administrator shall cause the Partnership (or other Company member) to, as to any Executive Officer who Received Incentive-Based Compensation, recover reasonably promptly the incremental amount of Incentive-Based Compensation Received by such Executive Officer during the Relevant Recovery Period that is in excess of the amount that would have been Received based upon the Accounting Restatement, computed without regard to any taxes paid. For Incentive-Based Compensation based on the Partnership’s unit price or total unitholder return, where the amount of erroneously awarded Incentive-Based Compensation is not subject to mathematical recalculation directly from the information in the Accounting Restatement, (i) the amount must be based on a reasonable estimate of the effect of the Accounting Restatement on the unit price or total unitholder return upon which the Incentive-Based Compensation was Received and (ii) the Partnership shall maintain documentation of the determination of that reasonable estimate and provide such documentation to the NYSE. The determination of the amount of erroneously awarded Incentive-Based Compensation to be recovered from each Executive Officer shall be determined by the Administrator. The obligation to recover erroneously awarded Incentive-Based Compensation is not dependent on if or when restated financial statements are filed.
b.Applicability. This Policy applies to all Incentive-Based Compensation Received by an individual:
i.After beginning service as an Executive Officer;
ii.Who served as an Executive Officer at any time during the performance period for such Incentive-Based Compensation;
iii.During the Relevant Recovery Period; and
iv.On or after October 2, 2023.
1
Exhibit 97.1
III.Exceptions
a.The Administrator (or, if the Administrator is not a committee of the Board responsible for the Company’s executive compensation decisions and composed entirely of independent directors, a majority of the independent directors serving on the Board) may determine not to seek recovery from an Executive Officer in whole or in part to the extent it determines in its sole discretion that such recovery would be impracticable because:
i.The direct expense paid to a third party to assist in enforcing this Policy would exceed the amount to be recovered (after having made a reasonable attempt to recover such erroneously awarded Incentive-Based Compensation, documenting such reasonable attempt(s) to recover, and providing that documentation to the NYSE); or
ii.Recovery would likely cause an otherwise tax-qualified retirement plan, under which benefits are broadly available to employees of the Company, to fail to meet the requirements of 26 U.S.C. 401(a)(13) or 26 U.S.C. 411(a) and regulations thereunder.
IV.Defined Terms
a.“Accounting Restatement” means an accounting restatement required to be prepared by the Partnership due to the material noncompliance of the Partnership with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, including any required accounting restatement to correct an error in previously issued financial statements that is material to the previously issued financial statements, or that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period.
b.“Accounting Restatement Date” means the earlier to occur of:
i.The date the Board, a committee of the Board, or the officer or officers of the Partnership or General Partner authorized to take such action if Board action is not required, concludes, or reasonably should have concluded, that the Partnership is required to prepare an Accounting Restatement; and
ii.The date a court, regulator, or other legally authorized body directs the Partnership to prepare an Accounting Restatement.
c.“Administrator” means the Compensation Committee.
d.“Executive Officer” means each individual who is currently or was previously designated as an “officer” of the Partnership as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. For the avoidance of doubt, the identification of an Executive Officer for purposes of this Policy shall include each executive officer who is or was identified pursuant to Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K.
e.“Financial Reporting Measure” means any measure that is determined and presented in accordance with the accounting principles used in preparing the Partnership’s financial statements, and any other measure that is derived wholly or in part from any such measures, including unit price and total unitholder return. A Financial Reporting Measure is not required to be presented within the Partnership’s financial statements or included in a filing with the SEC.
f.“Incentive-Based Compensation” means any compensation that is granted, earned, or vested based wholly or in part upon the attainment of a Financial Reporting Measure. Incentive-Based Compensation is deemed “Received” in the Partnership’s fiscal period during which the Financial Reporting Measure specified in the Incentive-Based Compensation is attained, even if the payment or grant of the Incentive-Based Compensation occurs after the end of that period.
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Exhibit 97.1
g.“Relevant Recovery Period” means the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the Accounting Restatement Date, and includes any transition period resulting from a change in the Partnership’s fiscal year within or immediately following those three completed fiscal years (except that a transition period that comprises a period of at least nine months shall count as a completed fiscal year).
V.Administration
a.This Policy shall be administered by the Administrator. The Administrator is authorized to interpret and construe this Policy and to make all determinations necessary, appropriate or advisable for the administration of this Policy, in each case, to the extent permitted under the rules and regulations issued by the SEC or the NYSE. All determinations and decisions made by the Administrator pursuant to the provisions of this Policy shall be final, conclusive and binding on all affected individuals.
b.The Compensation Committee may amend, supplement or modify this Policy from time to time, including to address the requirements rules and regulations issued by the SEC or the NYSE.
VI.Prohibition of Indemnification
The Company is prohibited from indemnifying any Executive Officer against the loss of erroneously awarded compensation repaid, returned or recovered pursuant to the terms of this Policy or any claims relating to the enforcement of the Company’s rights under this Policy.
VII.Miscellaneous
a.The Partnership shall file all disclosures with respect to this Policy in accordance with the requirements of the Federal securities laws, including the disclosure required by applicable SEC filings.
b.The validity, construction, and effect of the Policy and any determinations relating to the Policy shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its conflicts of laws principles. The Administrator (and each member thereof) shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any officer or employee of the Company, legal counsel, independent auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Policy.
c.Any right of recovery under this Policy is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other remedies or rights of recovery that may be available to the Company under applicable law, regulation, or rule or pursuant to the terms of any policy of the Company or any provision in any employment agreement, equity award agreement, compensatory plan, agreement or other arrangement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be no duplication of recovery of the same Incentive-Based Compensation under this Policy and any other such rights or remedies.
d.This Policy shall be binding and enforceable against all Executive Officers and their beneficiaries, heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives.
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