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Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 2012

Registration No. 333-174803

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Amendment No. 7
to

Form S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  4922
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  75-2771546
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

100 Congress Avenue, Suite 450
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 473-2662

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

J. Gregory Holloway
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
100 Congress Avenue, Suite 450
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 473-2662

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

Copies to:

Sean T. Wheeler
Keith Benson

Latham & Watkins LLP
811 Main Street, Suite 3700
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 546-5400

 

Mike Rosenwasser
E. Ramey Layne

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
666 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10103
(212) 237-0000

        Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

        If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.    o

        If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

        If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

        If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer ý
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company o

        The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.


Table of Contents

The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion, dated August 9, 2012


PROSPECTUS

LOGO

USA Compression Partners, LP

Common Units

Representing Limited Partner Interests

          This is the initial public offering of our common units. We are offering            common units in this offering. No public market currently exists for our common units. We currently estimate that the initial public offering price will be between $            and $            per common unit. Our common units have been approved for listing (subject to official notice of issuance) on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "USAC".

          Investing in our common units involves risks. Please read "Risk Factors" beginning on page 22 of this prospectus.

          These risks include the following:

          We are an "emerging growth company" within the meaning of the federal securities laws and will be eligible for reduced reporting requirements.

 

Per Common Unit
  Total
   
 

Public Offering Price

  $             $          
 

Underwriting Discounts and Commissions

  $             $          
 

Proceeds to USA Compression Partners, LP (before expenses)

  $             $          

 

          We have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional            common units on the same terms and conditions as set forth above if the underwriters sell more than             common units in this offering.

          Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

          The underwriters expect to deliver the common units on or about            , 2012.

Barclays   Goldman, Sachs & Co.   J.P. Morgan   Wells Fargo Securities



Raymond James   RBC Capital Markets   UBS Investment Bank



                    , 2012


Table of Contents

GRAPHIC


Table of Contents


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
  Page  

Summary

    1  
   

Overview

    1  
   

Natural Gas Compression Fundamentals

    3  
   

Business Strategies

    3  
   

Competitive Strengths

    4  
   

Recent Developments

    5  
 

Our Relationship with Riverstone

    6  
 

Risk Factors

    6  
 

Partnership Structure and Offering-Related Transactions

    7  
 

Organizational Structure After the Offering

    8  
 

Our Management

    9  
 

Principal Executive Offices and Internet Address

    9  
 

Summary of Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties

    9  
 

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

    10  
 

The Offering

    11  
 

Summary Historical and Pro Forma Financial and Operating Data

    16  
 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    19  

Risk Factors

   
22
 
   

Risks Related to Our Business

    22  
   

Risks Inherent in an Investment in Us

    32  
   

Tax Risks to Common Unitholders

    40  

Use of Proceeds

   
45
 

Capitalization

   
46
 

Dilution

   
47
 

Our Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions

   
48
 
   

General

    48  
   

Our Minimum Quarterly Distribution

    49  
   

Pro Forma Cash Available for Distribution for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2011 and June 30, 2012

    51  
   

Estimated Cash Available for Distribution for the Twelve Months Ending June 30, 2013

    53  
   

Assumptions and Considerations

    56  

Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash Distributions

   
60
 
   

Distributions of Available Cash

    60  
   

Operating Surplus and Capital Surplus

    61  
   

Capital Expenditures

    63  
   

Subordination Period

    64  
   

Distributions of Available Cash From Operating Surplus During the Subordination Period

    65  
   

Distributions of Available Cash From Operating Surplus After the Subordination Period

    66  
   

General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights

    66  
   

Percentage Allocations of Available Cash From Operating Surplus

    67  
   

General Partner's Right to Reset Incentive Distribution Levels

    67  
   

Distributions From Capital Surplus

    70  
   

Adjustment to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels

    70  
   

Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation

    71  

Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial and Operating Data

   
73
 

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   
78
 
   

Overview

    78  
   

General Trends and Outlook

    78  
   

Factors That Affect Our Future Results

    79  

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  Page  
   

How We Evaluate Our Operations

    80  
   

Accounting Terminology and Principals

    82  
   

Operating Highlights

    83  
   

Financial Results of Operations

    86  
   

Effects of Inflation

    92  
   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

    92  
   

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

    96  
   

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

    96  
   

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

    98  

Natural Gas Compression Industry

   
99
 

Business

   
101
 
   

Overview

    101  
   

Business Strategies

    102  
   

Competitive Strengths

    103  
   

Our Operations

    104  

Management of USA Compression Partners, LP

   
113
 
   

Directors and Executive Officers

    114  
   

Reimbursement of Expenses of Our General Partner

    116  
   

Executive Compensation

    117  
   

Summary Compensation Table

    117  
   

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2011

    120  
   

Severance and Change in Control Arrangements

    121  
   

Director Compensation

    122  
   

2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan

    123  

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

   
125
 

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

   
126
 
   

Distributions and Payments to Our General Partner and its Affiliates

    126  
   

Agreements Governing the Transactions

    127  
   

Relationship with Penn Virginia Resource Partners

    127  
   

Procedures for Review, Approval and Ratification of Related-Person Transactions

    128  

Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties

   
129
 
   

Conflicts of Interest

    129  
   

Fiduciary Duties

    134  

Description of the Common Units

   
137
 
   

The Units

    137  
   

Transfer Agent and Registrar

    137  
   

Transfer of Common Units

    137  

The Partnership Agreement

   
139
 
   

Organization and Duration

    139  
   

Purpose

    139  
   

Cash Distributions

    139  
   

Capital Contributions

    139  
   

Voting Rights

    140  
   

Applicable Law; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction

    141  
   

Limited Liability

    142  
   

Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests

    143  
   

Amendment of the Partnership Agreement

    143  
   

Merger, Consolidation, Conversion, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets

    145  
   

Dissolution

    146  
   

Liquidation and Distribution of Proceeds

    147  
   

Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner

    147  

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Table of Contents

 
  Page  
   

Registration Rights

    148  
   

Transfer of General Partner Interest

    149  
   

Transfer of Ownership Interests in the General Partner

    149  
   

Change of Management Provisions

    149  
   

Limited Call Right

    149  
   

Non-Citizen Assignees; Redemption

    150  
   

Meetings; Voting

    150  
   

Status as Limited Partner

    151  
   

Indemnification

    151  
   

Reimbursement of Expenses

    151  
   

Books and Reports

    151  
   

Right to Inspect Our Books and Records

    152  

Units Eligible for Future Sale

   
153
 

Material Federal Income Tax Consequences

   
154
 
   

Partnership Status

    154  
   

Limited Partner Status

    156  
   

Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership

    156  
   

Tax Treatment of Operations

    163  
   

Disposition of Common Units

    164  
   

Uniformity of Units

    166  
   

Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors

    167  
   

Administrative Matters

    168  
   

Recent Legislative Developments

    170  
   

State, Local, Foreign and Other Tax Considerations

    170  

Investment in USA Compression Partners, LP by Employee Benefit Plans

   
172
 

Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)

   
174
 

Validity of the Common Units

   
180
 

Experts

   
180
 

Where You Can Find More Information

   
180
 

Forward-Looking Statements

   
180
 

Index to Financial Statements

   
F-1
 

Appendix A—Form of Partnership Agreement

       

Appendix B—Glossary of Terms

       

        You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or any other information to which we have referred you in connection with this offering. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor the sale of common units means that information contained in this prospectus is correct after the date of this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the common units in any circumstances under which the offer or solicitation is unlawful.

        Until                        , 2012 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade our common units, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers' obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

iii


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SUMMARY

        This summary provides a brief overview of information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our common units. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the historical and pro forma financial statements and the notes to those financial statements included in this prospectus. Unless indicated otherwise, the information presented in this prospectus assumes an initial public offering price of $           per common unit and that the underwriters' option to purchase additional common units is not exercised. You should read "Risk Factors" for more information about important risks that you should consider carefully before buying our common units. We include a glossary of some of the terms used in this prospectus as Appendix B.

        References in this prospectus to "USA Compression," "we," "our," "us," "the Partnership" or like terms refer to USA Compression Partners, LP and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including USA Compression Partners, LLC ("USAC Operating"). References to "USA Compression Holdings" refer to USA Compression Holdings, LLC, the owner of USA Compression GP, LLC, our general partner. References to "Riverstone" refer to Riverstone/Carlyle Global Energy and Power Fund IV, L.P., and affiliated entities, including Riverstone Holdings LLC.


Overview

        We are a growth-oriented Delaware limited partnership and, based on management's significant experience in the industry, we believe we are one of the largest independent providers of compression services in the U.S. in terms of total compression unit horsepower. As of June 30, 2012, we had 858,900 horsepower in our fleet and 66,539 horsepower on order for delivery, of which 51,039 is expected to be delivered between July 2012 and September 2012, and 15,500 is expected to be delivered between October 2012 and December 2012. We employ a customer-focused business philosophy in partnering with our diverse customer base, which is comprised of producers, processors, gatherers and transporters of natural gas. Natural gas compression, a mechanical process whereby natural gas is compressed to a smaller volume resulting in a higher pressure, is an essential part of the production and transportation of natural gas. 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' dynamic compression requirements. By focusing on the needs of our customers and by providing them with reliable and flexible compression services, we are able to develop long-term relationships, which lead to more stable cash flows for our unitholders. From 2003 through the second quarter of 2012, our average horsepower utilization was over 90%. We have been providing compression services since 1998.

        We focus primarily on large-horsepower infrastructure applications. As of June 30, 2012, we estimate that over 90% of our revenue generating horsepower was deployed in large-volume gathering systems, processing facilities and transportation applications. We utilize a modern fleet, with an average age of our compression units of approximately five years. Our standard new-build compression unit is generally configured for multiple compression stages, allowing us to operate our units across a broad range of operating conditions. This flexibility 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 above the levels required by our customers.

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        The following table provides a summary of our compression units by horsepower as of June 30, 2012 (including additional new compression unit horsepower on order for delivery between July 2012 and December 2012):

Unit Horsepower
  Fleet
Horsepower
  Horsepower
on Order(1)
  Total
Horsepower(2)
  Percentage
of Total
Horsepower
 

<500

    140,891     2,653     143,544     15.5 %

>500 <1,000

    107,679     8,280     115,959     12.5 %

>1,000

    610,330     55,606     665,936     72.0 %
                   

Total

    858,900     66,539     925,439     100.0 %
                   

(1)
51,039 of this horsepower is expected to be delivered between July 2012 and September 2012, and 15,500 of this horsepower is expected to be delivered between October 2012 and December 2012.

(2)
Comprised of 1,177 compression units, including 55 new compression units on order.

        We generally provide compression services to our customers under long-term, fixed-fee contracts, with initial contract terms of up to five years. We typically continue to provide compression services to our customers beyond their initial contract terms, either through contract renewals or on a month-to-month basis. Our customers are typically required to pay our monthly fee even during periods of limited or disrupted natural gas flows, which enhances the stability and predictability of our cash flows. We are not directly exposed to natural gas price risk because we do not take title to the natural gas we compress 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 primarily in shale plays, including the Fayetteville, Marcellus, Woodford, Barnett, Eagle Ford and Haynesville shales. We believe compression services for shale production will increase in the future. According to the Annual Energy Outlook 2012 prepared by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, or EIA, natural gas production from shale formations will increase from 23% of total U.S. natural gas production in 2010 to 49% of total U.S. natural gas production in 2035. Not only are the production and transportation volumes in these and other shale plays increasing, but the geological and reservoir characteristics of these shales are also particularly attractive for compression services. The changes in production volume and pressure of shale plays over time result in a wider range of compression requirements than in conventional basins. We believe we are well-positioned to meet these changing operating conditions as a result of the flexibility of our compression units. While our business focus is largely compression serving shale plays, we also provide compression services in more mature conventional basins. These conventional basins require increasing amounts of compression as they age and pressures decline, which we believe will provide an additional source of stable and growing cash flows for our unitholders.

        For the year ended December 31, 2011, our business generated revenues, net income and net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and certain other adjustments, or Adjusted EBITDA, of $98.7 million, $0.1 million and $51.3 million, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, our business generated revenues, net income and Adjusted EBITDA of $56.0 million, $2.2 million and $29.7 million, respectively. Please read "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for an explanation of Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP.

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Natural Gas Compression Fundamentals

        Demand for our compression services is directly linked to the production and consumption of natural gas. We believe we will be able to build our business organically by capitalizing on the following positive long-term fundamentals for the domestic natural gas compression services industry:


Business Strategies

        Our principal business objective is to increase the quarterly cash distributions that we pay to our unitholders over time while ensuring the ongoing stability and growth of our business. We expect to achieve this objective by executing on the following strategies:

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Competitive Strengths

        We believe that we are well positioned to successfully execute our business strategies and achieve our principal business objective because of the following competitive strengths:

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        The compression services business is highly competitive. Some of our competitors have a broader geographic scope, as well as greater financial and other resources than we do. Smaller companies that compete with us may be able to more quickly adapt to changes within our industry and changes in economic conditions as a whole. Additionally, the current availability of attractive financing terms makes the purchase of individual compression units increasingly affordable to our customers. For further discussion of the risks that we face, please read "Risk Factors."


Recent Developments

        On June 1, 2012, we amended our revolving credit facility to increase the overall commitments under the facility from $500 million to $600 million. In addition, on June 1, 2012, we entered into a fourth amended and restated credit agreement, or the amended and restated credit agreement, to, among other things, permit the offering-related transactions. This amended and restated credit agreement will become effective only upon the closing of this offering. Please read "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Description of Revolving Credit Facility" for a description of the terms of the amended and restated revolving credit facility.

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Our Relationship with Riverstone

        Over 97% of the equity in USA Compression Holdings is owned by Riverstone, with the balance owned by our current officers and employees and a small, non-controlling investor. Riverstone, a global energy- and power-focused private equity firm founded in 2000, has raised over $19 billion of assets under management across seven investment funds. Riverstone conducts buyout and growth capital investments in the midstream, exploration and production, energy services, power and renewable sectors of the energy industry. With offices in New York, London and Houston, Riverstone has committed approximately $17.8 billion to 84 investments in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. As the owner of our general partner, approximately      % of our outstanding common units, all of our subordinated units and all of our incentive distribution rights, USA Compression Holdings and Riverstone are incentivized to support and promote the successful execution of our business plan.


Risk Factors

        An investment in our common units involves risks. Below is a summary of certain key risk factors that you should consider in evaluating an investment in our common units. This list is not exhaustive. Please read the full discussion of these risks and other risks described under "Risk Factors."


Risks Related to Our Business


Risks Inherent in an Investment in Us

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Tax Risks to Common Unitholders


Partnership Structure and Offering-Related Transactions

        We were formed in 2008 as a Texas limited partnership and converted to a Delaware limited partnership in 2011. USA Compression Holdings currently holds all of our limited partner interests. In order to maximize operational flexibility, we will conduct our operations through subsidiaries. At or prior to the closing of this offering, the following transactions, which we refer to as the offering-related transactions, will occur:

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Organizational Structure After the Offering

        The following diagram depicts our organizational structure and ownership after giving effect to this offering and the related offering-related transactions.

Public Common Units

      %(1)

Common Units held by USA Compression Holdings

      %(1)

Subordinated Units held by USA Compression Holdings

    49.0 %

Incentive Distribution Rights

          (2)

General Partner Interest

    2.0 %
 

Total

    100.0 %
       

(1)
Assumes the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional common units.

(2)
Incentive distribution rights represent a potentially variable interest in distributions and thus are not expressed as a fixed percentage. Please read "Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash Distributions—General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights."

GRAPHIC

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Our Management

        Our general partner has sole responsibility for conducting our business and for managing our operations and is controlled by USA Compression Holdings, which is controlled by Riverstone. Our general partner will not receive any management fee or other compensation in connection with the management of our business or this offering, but it will be entitled to reimbursement of all direct and indirect expenses incurred on our behalf, which we expect to be approximately $                        for the year ending December 31, 2012. Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner will determine in good faith the expenses that are allocable to us.

        The board of directors of our general partner will initially be comprised of five members, all of whom will be designated by USA Compression Holdings and one of whom will be independent. In compliance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, a second independent director will be appointed to the board of directors of USA Compression GP, LLC within 90 days of listing and a third independent director will be appointed within twelve months of listing. Neither our general partner nor its board of directors will be elected by our unitholders. USA Compression Holdings is the sole member of our general partner and will have the right to appoint our general partner's entire board of directors, including the independent directors.


Principal Executive Offices and Internet Address

        Our principal executive offices are located at 100 Congress Avenue, Suite 450, Austin, Texas 78701 and our telephone number is (512) 473-2662. Our website is located at www.usacpartners.com and will be activated in connection with the closing of this offering. We will make our periodic reports and other information filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, available, free of charge, through our website, as soon as reasonably practicable after those reports and other information are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Information on our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.


Summary of Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties

        Our general partner has a legal duty to manage us in a manner beneficial to our partners. This legal duty originates in statutes and judicial decisions and is commonly referred to as a "fiduciary duty." However, the officers and directors of our general partner also have fiduciary duties to manage our general partner in a manner beneficial to its owner, USA Compression Holdings. Certain of the officers and directors of our general partner are also officers and directors of USA Compression Holdings. As a result, conflicts of interest will arise in the future between us and holders of our common units, on the one hand, and USA Compression Holdings and our general partner, on the other hand. For example, our general partner will be entitled to make determinations that affect the amount of distributions we make to the holders of common and subordinated units, which in turn has an effect on whether our general partner receives incentive distributions.

        Our partnership agreement limits the liability of, and reduces the fiduciary duties owed by, our general partner to holders of our common units. Our partnership agreement also restricts the remedies available to holders of our common units for actions that might otherwise constitute a breach of our general partner's fiduciary duties. By purchasing a common unit, the purchaser agrees to be bound by the terms of our partnership agreement, and pursuant to the terms of our partnership agreement each holder of common units consents to various actions and potential conflicts of interest contemplated in the partnership agreement that might otherwise be considered a breach of fiduciary or other duties under applicable state law.

        For a more detailed description of the conflicts of interest and the fiduciary duties of our general partner, please read "Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties."

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Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

        We are an "emerging growth company" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. For as long as we are an emerging growth company, we will not be required to:

        We will remain an emerging growth company for five years unless, prior to that time, we have more than $1.0 billion in annual revenues, have a market value for our common units held by non-affiliates of more than $700 million, or issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period. We may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these reduced obligations. We have availed ourselves of the reduced reporting obligations with respect to executive compensation disclosure in this prospectus, and expect to continue to avail ourselves of the reduced reporting obligations available to emerging growth companies in future filings. For as long as we take advantage of the reduced reporting obligations, the information that we provide unitholders may be different than might be provided by other public companies in which you hold equity interests.

        We are also choosing to "opt out" of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards available to emerging growth companies, and as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. Under federal securities laws, our decision to opt out of the extended transition period is irrevocable.

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The Offering

Common units offered to the public

              common units.

 

            common units, if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional common units.

Units outstanding after this offering

 

            common units and            subordinated units, representing a            % and 49.0% limited partner interest in us, respectively. The exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional common units will not affect the total number of units outstanding or the amount of cash needed to pay the minimum quarterly distribution on all units. Our general partner will own a 2.0% general partner interest in us.

Use of proceeds

 

We expect to receive net proceeds from the issuance and sale of common units offered by this prospectus of approximately $       million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses.

 

We will use the net proceeds from this offering (excluding the net proceeds from any exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional common units) to repay indebtedness outstanding under our revolving credit facility. We will incur indebtedness under our revolving credit facility to fund capital expenditures, terminate interest rate swaps related to our revolving credit facility and for working capital needs. We have incurred indebtedness from time to time under our revolving credit facility to fund capital expenditures and for working capital purposes and on December 15, 2011 we used borrowings under the facility to purchase the compression units previously leased from Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, or Caterpillar. On June 1, 2012, we amended our revolving credit facility to increase the overall commitments under the facility from $500 million to $600 million and entered into our amended and restated credit facility, which will become effective only upon the closing of this offering, to, among other things, permit the offering-related transactions. At June 30, 2012, the interest rate on amounts borrowed under the revolving credit facility was 3.0%. Affiliates of each of the underwriters participating in this offering are lenders under our revolving credit facility and will receive a substantial portion of the proceeds from this offering pursuant to the repayment of a portion of the borrowings thereunder. Please read "Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Conflicts of Interest/FINRA Rules."

 

We will use the net proceeds from any exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional common units to redeem from USA Compression Holdings a number of common units equal to the number of common units issued upon the exercise of the underwriters' option.

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Cash distributions

 

Our general partner will adopt a cash distribution policy that will require us to pay a minimum quarterly distribution of $      per unit ($      per unit on an annualized basis) to the extent we have sufficient cash from operations after establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses, including payments to our general partner and its affiliates. We refer to this cash as "available cash," and it is defined in our partnership agreement included in this prospectus as Appendix A and in the glossary included in this prospectus as Appendix B. Our ability to pay the minimum quarterly distribution is subject to various restrictions and other factors described in more detail under the caption "Our Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions." For the first quarter that we are publicly traded, we will pay a prorated distribution covering the period from the completion of this offering through September 30, 2012, based on the actual length of that period.

 

Our partnership agreement requires that we distribute all of our available cash each quarter in the following manner:

 

•       first, 98.0% to the holders of common units and 2.0% to our general partner, until each common unit has received the minimum quarterly distribution of $        , plus any arrearages from prior quarters;

 

•       second, 98.0% to the holders of subordinated units and 2.0% to our general partner, until each subordinated unit has received the minimum quarterly distribution of $        ; and

 

•       third, 98.0% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2.0% to our general partner, until each unit has received a distribution of $        .        

 

If cash distributions to our unitholders exceed $          per unit in any quarter, our general partner will receive, in addition to distributions on its 2.0% general partner interest, increasing percentages, up to 48.0%, of the cash we distribute in excess of that amount. We refer to these distributions as "incentive distributions." Please read "Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash Distributions."

 

The amount of pro forma available cash generated during the year ended December 31, 2011 would have been sufficient to allow us to pay the full minimum quarterly distribution on all common units and a cash distribution of $          per quarter ($          on an annualized basis), or approximately          % of the minimum quarterly distribution, on all of our subordinated units for such period.

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The amount of pro forma available cash generated during the twelve months ended June 30, 2012 would have been sufficient to allow us to pay the full minimum quarterly distribution on all common units and a cash distribution of $          per quarter ($          on an annualized basis), or approximately          % of the minimum quarterly distribution, on all of our subordinated units for such period.

 

We believe that, based on our estimated cash available for distribution as described under the caption "Our Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions," we will have sufficient cash available for distribution to pay the minimum quarterly distribution of $          per unit on all common and subordinated units and the corresponding distributions on our general partner's 2.0% interest for the four-quarter period ending June 30, 2013. This estimate is based in part on the assumption that we will institute a distribution reinvestment plan, or DRIP, following completion of this offering, and that USA Compression Holdings will reinvest under the DRIP all distributions it receives on its common and subordinated units in additional newly issued common units, and that our general partner will make capital contributions to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest in us. We have not assumed participation in the DRIP by any public unit holder. Please read "Risk Factors" and "Our Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions."

Subordinated units

 

USA Compression Holdings will initially own all of our subordinated units. The principal difference between our common and subordinated units is that in any quarter during the subordination period, holders of the subordinated units are not entitled to receive any distribution until the common units have received the minimum quarterly distribution plus any arrearages in the payment of the minimum quarterly distribution from prior quarters. Subordinated units will not accrue arrearages.

Conversion of subordinated units

 

The subordination period will end on the first business day after we have earned and paid at least (i) $          (the minimum quarterly distribution on an annualized basis) on each outstanding unit and the corresponding distribution on our general partner's 2.0% interest for each of three consecutive, non-overlapping four-quarter periods ending on or after September 30, 2015 or (ii) $          (150.0% of the annualized minimum quarterly distribution) on each outstanding unit and the corresponding distributions on our general partner's 2.0% interest and the related distribution on the incentive distribution rights for the four-quarter period immediately preceding that date.

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When the subordination period ends, all subordinated units will convert into common units on a one-for-one basis, and all common units thereafter will no longer be entitled to arrearages. For a description of the subordination period, please read "Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash Distributions—Subordination Period."

General Partner's right to reset the target distribution levels                                                                                                                                                                   

 

Our general partner has the right, at any time when there are no subordinated units outstanding and it has received incentive distributions at the highest level to which it is entitled (48.0%) for each of the prior four consecutive fiscal quarters, to reset the initial target distribution levels at higher levels based on our cash distributions at the time of the exercise of the reset election. Following a reset election by our general partner, the minimum quarterly distribution will be adjusted to equal the reset minimum quarterly distribution, and the target distribution levels will be reset to correspondingly higher levels based on the same percentage increases above the reset minimum quarterly distribution.

 

If our general partner elects to reset the target distribution levels, it will be entitled to receive common units and to maintain its general partner interest. The number of common units to be issued to our general partner will equal the number of common units that would have entitled the holder to an average aggregate quarterly cash distribution in the prior two quarters equal to the average of the distributions to our general partner on the incentive distribution rights in the prior two quarters. Please read "Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash Distributions—General Partner's Right to Reset Incentive Distribution Levels."

Issuance of additional units

 

We can issue an unlimited number of units without the consent of our unitholders. Please read "Units Eligible for Future Sale" and "The Partnership Agreement—Issuance of Additional Partnership Units."

Limited voting rights

 

Our general partner will manage and operate us. Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, our unitholders will have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business. Our unitholders will have no right to elect our general partner or its directors on an annual or continuing basis. Our general partner may not be removed except by a vote of the holders of at least 662/3% of the outstanding units voting together as a single class, including any units owned by our general partner and its affiliates, including USA Compression Holdings. Upon consummation of this offering, USA Compression Holdings will own an aggregate of          % of our common and subordinated units. This will give USA Compression Holdings the ability to prevent the involuntary removal of our general partner. Please read "The Partnership Agreement—Voting Rights."

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Limited call right

 

If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own more than 80% of the outstanding common units, our general partner has the right, but not the obligation, to purchase all of the remaining common units at a price that is not less than the then-current market price of the common units, as calculated pursuant to the terms of our partnership agreement. At the end of the subordination period (which could occur as early as September 30, 2013), assuming no additional issuances of common units (other than upon the conversion of the subordinated units), USA Compression Holdings will own an aggregate of approximately          % of our outstanding common units. Following completion of this offering, we intend to institute a DRIP. USA Compression Holdings has informed us that it intends to reinvest under the DRIP all distributions it receives on its common and subordinated units. To the extent that USA Compression Holdings participates in the DRIP, its percentage ownership of us will increase relative to public unit holders that do not participate in the DRIP. For additional information about this right, please read "The Partnership Agreement—Limited Call Right."

Estimated ratio of taxable income to distributions

 

We estimate that if you own the common units you purchase in this offering through the record date for distributions for the period ending December 31, 2015, you will be allocated, on a cumulative basis, an amount of federal taxable income for that period that will be    % or less of the cash distributed to you with respect to that period. For example, if you receive an annual distribution of $          per unit, we estimate that your average allocable federal taxable income per year will be no more than $          per unit. Please read "Material Federal Income Tax Consequences—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Ratio of Taxable Income to Distributions."

Material tax consequences

 

For a discussion of other material federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to prospective unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the U.S., please read "Material Federal Income Tax Consequences." All statements of legal conclusions contained in "Material Federal Income Tax Consequences," unless otherwise noted, are the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP with respect to the matters discussed therein.

Exchange listing                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

Our common units have been approved for listing (subject to official notice of issuance) on the NYSE under the symbol "USAC".

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Summary Historical and Pro Forma Financial and Operating Data

        The following table presents our summary historical financial and operating data and pro forma financial data for the periods and as of the dates presented. The following table should be read together with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the historical and pro forma financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

        The summary historical financial and operating data has been prepared on the following basis:

        We were acquired by USA Compression Holdings on December 23, 2010, which we refer to as the Holdings Acquisition. In connection with this acquisition, our assets and liabilities were adjusted to fair value on the closing date by application of "push-down" accounting. Due to these adjustments, our audited consolidated financial statements are presented in two distinct periods to indicate the application of two different bases of accounting between the periods presented: (i) the periods prior to the acquisition date for accounting purposes, using a date of convenience of December 31, 2010, are identified as "Predecessor," and (ii) the periods from December 31, 2010 forward are identified as "Successor." Please read note 1 to our audited financial statements as of December 31, 2011 included elsewhere in this prospectus.

        The summary pro forma financial information for the year ended December 31, 2011 and as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2012 is derived from our unaudited pro forma financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The pro forma adjustments have been prepared as if the transactions described below had taken place on June 30, 2012, in the case of the pro forma balance sheet, or as of January 1, 2011, in the case of the pro forma statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2011 and for the six months ended June 30, 2012. These transactions include:

        The pro forma financial information should not be considered as indicative of the historical results we would have had or the results we will have after this offering.

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        The following table includes the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA. We define Adjusted EBITDA as our net income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation expense, impairment of compression equipment, share-based compensation expense, restructuring charges, management fees, expenses under our operating lease with Caterpillar and certain fees and expenses related to the Holdings Acquisition. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, please read "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

 
  Historical   Pro Forma  
 
  Predecessor    
  Successor(1)    
   
 
 
  Year Ended
December 31,
 


  Year
Ended
December 31,

   
   
   
   
 
 
  Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2011
  Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2012
  Year
Ended
December 31,
2011
  Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2012
 
 
  2009   2010    
  2011  
 
  (in thousands, except per unit and operating data)
   
 

Revenues:

                                               
 

Contract operations

  $ 93,178   $ 89,785       $ 93,896   $ 45,363   $ 54,907   $ 93,896   $ 54,907  
 

Parts and service

    2,050     2,243         4,824     1,291     1,087     4,824     1,087  
                                   
 

Total revenues

    95,228     92,028         98,720     46,654     55,994     98,720     55,994  

Costs and expenses:

                                               
 

Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    30,096     33,292         39,605     18,318     18,144     39,605     18,144  
 

Selling, general and administrative(2)

    9,136     11,370         12,726     5,599     8,418     12,726     8,418  
 

Restructuring charges(3)

                300             300      
 

Depreciation and amortization

    22,957     24,569         32,738     15,815     19,661     32,738     19,661  
 

(Gain) loss on sale of assets

    (74 )   (90 )       178     146     203     178     203  
 

Impairment of compression equipment

    1,677                              
                                   
 

Total costs and expenses

    63,792     69,141         85,547     39,878     46,426     85,547     46,426  
                                   

Operating income

    31,436     22,887         13,173     6,776     9,568     13,173     9,568  

Other income (expense):

                                               
 

Interest expense

    (10,043 )   (12,279 )       (12,970 )   (6,436 )   (7,249 )   (6,239 )   (4,600 )
 

Other

    25     26         21     14     16     21     16  
                                   
 

Total other expense

    (10,018 )   (12,253 )       (12,949 )   (6,422 )   (7,233 )   (6,218 )   (4,584 )
                                   

Income before income tax expense

    21,418     10,634         224     354     2,335     6,955     4,984  
                                   

Income tax expense(4)

    190     155         155     71     96     155     96  
                                   

Net income

  $ 21,228   $ 10,479       $ 69   $ 283   $ 2,239   $ 6,800   $ 4,888  
                                   
 

Adjusted EBITDA

 
$

56,917
 
$

51,987
     
$

51,285
 
$

24,985
 
$

29,745
 
$

51,285
 
$

29,745
 

Pro forma net income per limited partner unit:

                                               
 

Common unit

                                               
 

Subordinated unit

                                               

Other Financial Data:

                                               
 

Capital expenditures(5)

  $ 29,580   $ 18,886       $ 133,264   $ 31,198   $ 106,595              
 

Cash flows provided by (used in):

                                               
   

Operating activities

    42,945     38,572         33,782     21,008     18,022              
   

Investing activities

    (26,763 )   (18,768 )       (140,444 )   (30,626 )   (105,313 )            
   

Financing activities

    (16,545 )   (19,804 )       106,662     9,618     87,295              

Operating Data (at period end, except averages)—unaudited

                                               
 

Fleet horsepower(6)

    582,530     609,730         722,201     657,225     858,900              
 

Total available horsepower(7)

    582,530     612,410         809,418     672,686     884,235              
 

Revenue generating horsepower(8)

    502,177     533,692         649,285     558,421     759,498              
 

Average revenue generating horsepower(9)

    489,243     516,703         570,900     538,850     709,124              
 

Revenue generating compression units

    749     795         888     814     948              
 

Average horsepower per revenue generating compression unit(10)

    655     667         692     676     768              
 

Horsepower utilization(11)

                                               
   

At period end

    92.0 %   91.8 %       95.7 %   93.0 %   94.9 %            
   

Average for the period(12)

    92.7 %   92.6 %       92.3 %   91.1 %   95.6 %            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
  Predecessor    
  Successor(1)    
  Pro Forma  

Balance Sheet Data (at period end):

                                               
 

Working capital(13)

  $ (4,678 ) $ (3,984 )     $ (11,295 ) $ (10,671 ) $ (19,480 )       $ (19,480 )
 

Total assets

    352,757     614,718         727,876     630,396     827,403           827,553  
 

Long-term debt

    260,470     255,491         363,773     265,319     452,650           268,644  
 

Partners' capital

    72,626     338,954         339,023     339,237     341,262           525,418  

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(1)
Reflects the push-down of the purchase accounting for the Holdings Acquisition.

(2)
Pro forma selling, general and administrative expense does not include incremental general and administrative expenses we expect to incur as a result of being a publicly traded partnership. We expect these expenses to total approximately $3.1 million per year.

(3)
During the year ended December 31, 2011, we incurred $0.3 million of restructuring charges for severance and retention benefits related to the termination of certain administrative employees. These charges are reflected as restructuring charges in our consolidated statement of operations. We paid approximately $0.1 million of these restructuring charges in the three months ended March 31, 2012, and paid the remaining $0.2 million in the three-month period ending June 30, 2012.

(4)
This represents the Texas franchise tax (applicable to income apportioned to Texas) which, in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 740 "Income Taxes," or ASC 740, is classified as income tax for reporting purposes.

(5)
On December 15, 2011, we purchased all the compression units previously leased from Caterpillar for $43 million and terminated all the lease schedules and covenants under the facility. This amount is included in capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2011. On December 16, 2011, the Partnership entered into an agreement with a compression equipment supplier to reduce certain previously made progress payments from $10 million to $2 million. The Partnership applied this $8 million credit to new compression unit purchases from this supplier in the six months ended June 30, 2012. Before the application of this credit, capital expenditures were $114.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

(6)
Fleet horsepower is horsepower for compression units that have been delivered to us (and excludes any units on order). As of June 30, 2012, we had 66,539 of additional new compression unit horsepower on order, of which 51,039 horsepower is expected to be delivered between July 2012 and September 2012, and 15,500 horsepower is expected to be delivered between October 2012 and December 2012.

(7)
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 not yet generating revenue that is subject to a purchase order and idle horsepower. Total available horsepower excludes new horsepower on order for which we do not have a compression services contract.

(8)
Revenue generating horsepower is horsepower under contract for which we are billing a customer.

(9)
Calculated as the average of the month-end revenue generating horsepower for each of the months in the period.

(10)
Calculated as the average of the month-end horsepower per revenue generating compression unit for each of the months in the period.

(11)
Horsepower utilization is calculated as (i)(a) revenue generating horsepower plus (b) horsepower in our fleet that is under contract, but is not yet generating revenue plus (c) horsepower not yet in our fleet that is under contract 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 at each applicable period end was 86.2%, 87.5% and 89.9% for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively, and 85.0% and 88.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

(12)
Calculated as the average utilization for the months in the period based on utilization at the end of each month in the period.

(13)
Working capital is defined as current assets minus current liabilities.

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

        We include in this prospectus the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA. We view Adjusted EBITDA as one of our primary management tools, and we track this item on a monthly basis both as an absolute amount and as a percentage of revenue compared to the prior month, year-to-date and prior year and to budget. We define Adjusted EBITDA as our net income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation expense, impairment of compression equipment, share-based compensation expense, restructuring charges, management fees, expenses under our operating lease with Caterpillar and certain fees and expenses related to the Holdings Acquisition. 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:

        We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors because, when viewed with our GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliations, it provides a more complete understanding of our performance than GAAP results alone. We also believe that external users of our financial statements benefit from having access to the same financial measures that management uses in evaluating the results of our business.

        Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income, operating income, cash flows from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP as measures of operating performance and liquidity. Moreover, our Adjusted EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

        Adjusted EBITDA does not include interest expense, income taxes, depreciation expense, impairment of compression equipment, share-based compensation expense, restructuring charges, management fees, expenses under our operating lease with Caterpillar and certain fees and expenses related to the Holdings Acquisition. Because we borrow money under our revolving credit facility and have historically utilized operating leases to finance our operations, interest expense and operating lease expense are necessary elements of our costs. Because we use capital assets, depreciation and impairment of compression equipment is also a necessary element of our costs. Expense related to share-based compensation expense related to equity awards to employees is also necessary to operate our business. Therefore, measures that exclude these elements have material limitations. To compensate for these limitations, we believe that it is important to consider both net income and net cash provided by operating activities determined under GAAP, as well as Adjusted EBITDA, to evaluate our financial performance and our liquidity. Our Adjusted EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income and net cash provided by operating activities, and these measures may vary among companies. Management compensates for the limitations of Adjusted EBITDA as an analytical tool by reviewing the comparable GAAP measures, understanding the differences between the measures and incorporating this knowledge into management's decision-making processes.

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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:

 
  Historical   Pro Forma  
 
  Predecessor    
  Successor    
   
 
 
  Year Ended
December 31,
 


  Year
Ended
December 31,

   
   
   
   
 
 
  Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2011
  Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2012
  Year
Ended
December 31,
2011
  Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2012
 
 
  2009   2010    
  2011  
 
  (in thousands)
   
 
                                                 

Net income

 
$

21,228
 
$

10,479
     
$

69
 
$

283
 
$

2,239
 
$

6,800
 
$

4,888
 
 

Interest expense

   
10,043
   
12,279
       
12,970
   
6,436
   
7,249
   
6,239
   
4,600
 
 

Depreciation and amortization

    22,957     24,569         32,738     15,815     19,661     32,738     19,661  
 

Income taxes

    190     155         155     71     96     155     96  
 

Impairment of compression equipment(1)

    1,677                              
 

Share-based compensation expense

    269     382                          
 

Equipment operating lease expense(2)

    553     2,285         4,053     2,130         4,053      
 

Riverstone management fee(3)

                1,000     250     500     1,000     500  
 

Restructuring charges(4)

                300             300      
 

Fees and expenses related to the Holdings Acquisition(5)

        1,838                          
                                   
 

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 56,917   $ 51,987       $ 51,285   $ 24,985   $ 29,745   $ 51,285   $ 29,745  
                                   
 

Interest expense

    (10,043 )   (12,279 )       (12,970 )   (6,436 )   (7,249 )            
 

Income tax expense

    (190 )   (155 )       (155 )   (71 )   (96 )            
 

Equipment operating lease expense

    (553 )   (2,285 )       (4,053 )   (2,130 )                
 

Riverstone management fee

                (1,000 )   (250 )   (500 )            
 

Restructuring charges

                (300 )                    
 

Fees and expenses related to the Holdings Acquisition

        (1,838 )                            
 

Other

    288     3,362         (920 )   (352 )   (512 )            
 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                                               
   

Accounts receivable and advance to employee

    1,865     (336 )       (976 )   (951 )   (495 )            
   

Inventory

    (3,680 )   503         1,974     1,059     (226 )            
   

Prepaids

    608     (18 )       (219 )   (20 )   498              
   

Other non-current assets

    (4 )   1         (2,601 )   (1,617 )   (591 )            
   

Accounts payable

    (857 )   (825 )       1,987     3,966     (5,182 )            
   

Accrued liabilities and deferred revenue

    (1,406 )   455         1,730     2,825     2,630              
                                       

Net cash provided by operating activities

  $ 42,945   $ 38,572       $ 33,782   $ 21,008   $ 18,022              
                                       

(1)
Represents non-cash charges incurred to write down long-lived assets with recorded values that are not expected to be recovered through future cash flows.

(2)
Represents expenses for the respective periods under the operating lease facility with Caterpillar, from whom we historically leased compression units and other equipment. On December 15, 2011, we purchased the compression units that were previously leased from Caterpillar for $43 million and terminated all the lease schedules and covenants under the facility. As such, we believe it is useful to investors to view our results excluding these lease payments.

(3)
Represents management fees paid to Riverstone for services performed during 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012. As these fees will not be paid by us following this offering, we believe it is useful to investors to view our results excluding these fees.

(4)
During the year ended December 31, 2011, we incurred $0.3 million of restructuring charges for severance and retention benefits related to the termination of certain administrative employees. These charges are reflected as restructuring charges

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    in our consolidated statement of operations. We paid approximately $0.1 million of these restructuring charges in the three months ended March 31, 2012, and paid the remaining $0.2 million in the three month period ended June 30, 2012. We believe that it is useful to investors to view our results excluding this non-core expense.

(5)
Represents one-time fees and expenses related to the Holdings Acquisition. These fees and expenses are not related to our operations, and we do not expect to incur similar fees or expenses in the future as a publicly traded partnership.

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RISK FACTORS

        Limited partner interests are inherently different from capital stock of a corporation, although many of the business risks to which we are subject are similar to those that would be faced by a corporation engaged in the compression services business. You should consider carefully the following risk factors together with all of the other information included in this prospectus in evaluating an investment in our common units.

        If any of the following risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In that case, we may be unable to pay the minimum quarterly distribution to our unitholders, the trading price of our common units could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.


Risks Related to Our Business

We may not have sufficient cash from operations following the establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses, including cost reimbursements to our general partner, to enable us to pay our minimum quarterly distributions to holders of our common units and subordinated units.

        In order to pay our minimum quarterly distribution of $            per unit per quarter, or $            per unit per year, we will require available cash of approximately $             million per quarter, or approximately $             million per year, based on the number of common units, subordinated units and the 2.0% general partner interest to be outstanding immediately after completion of this offering. Under our cash distribution policy, the amount of cash we can distribute to our unitholders principally depends upon the amount of cash we generate from our operations, which will fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on, among other things:

        In addition, the actual amount of cash we will have available for distribution will depend on other factors, including:

        For a description of additional restrictions and factors that may affect our ability to make cash distributions, please read "Our Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions."

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On a pro forma basis we would not have had sufficient cash available for distribution to pay the full minimum quarterly distribution on all of our units for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 and June 30, 2012.

        The amount of cash available for distribution we need to pay the minimum quarterly distribution for four quarters on the common units, the subordinated units and the 2.0% general partner interest to be outstanding immediately after this offering is approximately $             million. Our pro forma cash available for distribution generated during the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 and June 30, 2012 of $33.6 million and $33.0 million, respectively, would have been sufficient to allow us to pay the full minimum quarterly distribution on all of the common units, but would only allow us to pay        % and      %, respectively, of the full minimum quarterly distribution on all of the subordinated units during those periods. For a calculation of our ability to make distributions to unitholders based on our pro forma results for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 and June 30, 2012, please read "Our Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions—Pro Forma Cash Available for Distribution for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2011 and June 30, 2012."

The assumptions underlying our estimate of cash available for distribution described in "Our Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions" are inherently uncertain and subject to significant business, economic, financial, regulatory and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause us to be unable to pay our minimum quarterly distributions to holders of our common units and subordinated units.

        Our estimate of cash available for distribution set forth in "Our Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions" is based on assumptions that are inherently uncertain and subject to significant business, economic, financial, regulatory and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated. The estimate was prepared by our management, and we have not received an opinion or report on it from our independent registered public accounting firm or any other independent auditor. If we do not achieve the estimated results, we may not be able to pay the full minimum quarterly distribution or any amount on our common units or subordinated units, in which event the market price of our common units will likely decline materially.

A long-term reduction in the demand for, or production of, natural gas or crude oil in the locations where we operate 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 our unitholders.

        The demand for our compression services depends upon 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 and general demand for energy. Any prolonged, substantial reduction in the demand for natural gas or crude oil would, in all likelihood, depress the level of production activity and result in a decline in the demand for our compression services, which would reduce our cash available for distribution. Lower natural gas prices 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. Additionally, production from unconventional natural gas sources, such as tight sands, shales and coalbeds, constitute an increasing percentage of our compression services business. Such sources can be less economically feasible to produce in low natural gas price environments, in part due to costs related to compression requirements, and a reduction in demand for natural gas or natural gas lift for crude oil may cause such sources of natural gas to be uneconomic to drill and produce, which could in turn negatively impact the demand for our services. In addition, governmental regulation and tax policy may impact the demand for natural gas or impact the economic feasibility of development of new natural gas fields or production of existing fields.

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 to our unitholders.

        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

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diverse customer base. Our largest customer for the year ended December 31, 2011 and six months ended June 30, 2012 was Southwestern Energy Company and its subsidiaries, or Southwestern Energy. Southwestern Energy accounted for 15.9% of our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 13.9% of our revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2012. Our ten largest customers accounted for 53% and 54% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2011 and for the six months ended June 30, 2012, 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 ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

The erosion of the financial condition of our customers could adversely affect our business.

        During times when the natural gas or oil markets weaken, our customers are more likely to experience financial difficulties and the lack of availability of 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 by using lower cost providers, not renewing month-to-month contracts or determining not to enter into any new compression service contracts. Reduced demand for our services could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, in the event of the financial failure of a customer, we could experience a loss of all or a portion of our outstanding accounts receivable associated with that customer.

We face significant competition that may cause us to lose market share and reduce our ability to make distributions to our unitholders.

        The compression business is highly competitive. Some of our competitors have a broader geographic scope, as well as 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 that would create additional competition for us. Additionally, there are lower barriers to entry for customers as competitors seeking to purchase individual compression units. All of these competitive pressures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and reduce our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Our customers may choose to vertically integrate their operations by purchasing and operating their own compression fleet, or expanding the amount of compression units they currently own.

        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. Currently, the availability of attractive financing terms from financial institutions and equipment manufacturers facilitates this possibility by making the purchase of individual compression units increasingly affordable to our customers. Such vertical integration or increases in vertical integration 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 ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

A significant portion of our services are provided to customers on a month-to-month basis, and we cannot be sure that our customers will continue to contract for these services that have continued beyond the primary term.

        As of June 30, 2012, approximately 34% of our compression services on a horsepower basis (and 42% on a revenue basis for the six months ended June 30, 2012) 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 with us. These customers can generally terminate their month-to-month compression services

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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 ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

We may be unable to grow our cash flows if we are unable to expand our business, which could limit our ability to increase distributions to our unitholders.

        A principal focus of our strategy is to continue to grow the per unit distribution on our units by expanding our business. Our future growth will depend upon a number of factors, some of which we cannot control. These factors include our ability to:

        If we do not achieve our expected growth, we may not be able to achieve our estimated results and, as a result, we may not be able to pay the aggregate minimum quarterly distribution on our common units and subordinated units and the 2.0% general partner interest, in which event the market price of our common units will likely decline materially.

We may be unable to grow successfully through future acquisitions, and we may not be able to integrate effectively the businesses we may acquire, which may impact our operations and limit our ability to increase distributions to our unitholders.

        From time to time, we may choose to make business acquisitions to pursue market opportunities, increase our existing capabilities and expand into new areas of operations. While we have reviewed acquisition opportunities in the past and will continue to do so in the future, we have not actively pursued any acquisitions, and in the future we may not be able to identify attractive acquisition opportunities or successfully acquire identified targets. In addition, we may not be successful in integrating any future acquisitions into our existing operations, which may result in unforeseen operational difficulties or diminished financial performance or require a disproportionate amount of our management's attention. Even if we are successful in integrating future acquisitions into our existing operations, we may not derive the benefits, such as operational or administrative synergies, that we expected from such acquisitions, which may result in the commitment of our capital resources without the expected returns on such capital. Furthermore, competition for acquisition opportunities may escalate, increasing our cost of making acquisitions or causing us to refrain from making acquisitions. Our inability to make acquisitions, or to integrate successfully future acquisitions into our existing operations, may adversely impact our operations and limit our ability to increase distributions to our unitholders.

Our ability to grow in the future is dependent on our ability to access external expansion capital.

        We will distribute all of our available cash after expenses and prudent operating reserves to our unitholders. We expect that we will rely primarily upon external financing sources, including borrowings under our revolving credit facility and the issuance of debt and equity securities, to fund expansion capital expenditures. 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 efficiently finance growth externally, our cash distribution policy will significantly impair our ability to grow. In addition, because we distribute all of

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our available cash, we may not grow as quickly as businesses that reinvest their available cash to expand ongoing operations. To the extent we issue additional units in connection with other expansion capital expenditures, the payment of distributions on those additional units may increase the risk that we will be unable to maintain or increase our per unit distribution level. There are no limitations in our partnership agreement on our ability to issue additional units, including units ranking senior to the common units. The incurrence of borrowings or other debt by us to finance our growth strategy would result in interest expense, which in turn would affect the available cash that we have to distribute to our unitholders.

Our ability to manage and grow our business effectively may be adversely affected if we lose management or operational personnel.

        We depend on the continuing efforts of our executive officers. The departure of any of our executive officers, and in particular, Eric D. Long, President and Chief Executive Officer of our general partner, 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 will become more challenging as we grow and if energy industry market conditions continue to be positive. When general industry conditions are good, 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 will be adversely impacted if we are unable to successfully hire, train and retain these important personnel.

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 (for engines), Air-X-Changers and Air Cooled Exchangers (for coolers), and Ariel Corporation (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. We also rely primarily on two vendors, A G Equipment Company and Standard Equipment Corp., 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 could lead to significant delays in delivery of completed units. In addition, since we expect any increase in component prices for compression equipment or packaging costs will be passed on to us, a significant increase in their pricing could have a negative impact on our results of operations.

We are subject to substantial environmental regulation, and changes in these regulations could increase our costs or liabilities.

        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, emission controls and other environmental protection and occupational health and safety concerns. 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, it is not uncommon for neighboring land owners and other third parties to 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

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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. We may need to apply for or amend 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 emission limits. Given the wide variety of locations in which we operate, and the numerous environmental permits and other authorizations that are applicable to our operations, we may occasionally identify or be notified of technical violations of certain requirements existing in various permits or other authorizations. We could be subject to penalties for any noncompliance in the future.

        We routinely deal with natural gas, oil and other petroleum products. 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 inactive 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 may also negatively impact 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, or CAA, if implemented, could result in increased compliance costs.

        On August 20, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or the EPA, published new regulations under the CAA to control emissions of hazardous air pollutants from existing stationary reciprocating internal combustion engines. On May 22, 2012, the EPA proposed amendments to the final rule in response to several petitions for reconsideration. The EPA must finalize the proposed amendments by December 14, 2012. All engines subject to these regulations are required to comply by October 2013. The rule will require us to undertake certain expenditures and activities, including purchasing and installing emissions control equipment on a portion of our engines located at major sources of hazardous air pollutants, following prescribed maintenance practices for engines (which are consistent with our existing practices), and implementing additional emissions testing and monitoring. We do not believe the costs associated with achieving compliance with these standards and proposed amendments by the October 2013 compliance date will be material.

        On June 28, 2011, the EPA issued a final rule modifying existing regulations under the CAA that established new source performance standards for manufacturers, owners and operators of new, modified and reconstructed stationary internal combustion engines. The final rule will require us to undertake certain expenditures, including expenditures for purchasing, installing, monitoring and maintaining emissions control equipment on some of our natural gas compression fleet. Compliance with the final rule is not required until at least 2013. On May 22, 2012, the EPA proposed minor amendments which must be finalized by December 14, 2012. We are currently evaluating the impact that this final rule and proposed amendments will have on our operations.

        On April 17, 2012 the EPA finalized rules that establish new air emission controls for oil and natural gas production and natural gas processing operations. Specifically, the EPA's rule package

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includes New Source Performance Standards to address emissions of sulfur dioxide and volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, and a separate set of emission standards to address hazardous air pollutants frequently associated with oil and natural gas production and processing activities. The rules establish specific new requirements regarding emissions from compressors and controllers at natural gas processing plants, dehydrators, storage tanks and other production equipment. In addition, the rules establish new leak detection requirements for natural gas processing plants at 500 ppm. These rules may require a number of modifications to our operations, including the installation of new equipment to control emissions from our compressors at initial startup, or 60 days after the final rule is published in the Federal Register, whichever is later. Compliance with such rules could result in significant costs, including increased capital expenditures and operating costs, and could adversely impact our business.

        In addition, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, or the 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 23 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, compression 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.

        These new regulations and proposals, when finalized, and any other new regulations requiring the installation of more sophisticated pollution control equipment could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Climate change legislation and regulatory initiatives could result in increased compliance costs.

        Methane, a primary component of natural gas, and carbon dioxide, a byproduct of the burning of natural gas, are examples of greenhouse gases, or GHGs. In recent years, the U.S. Congress has considered legislation to reduce emissions of GHGs. It presently appears unlikely that comprehensive climate legislation will be passed by either house of Congress in the near future, although energy legislation and other initiatives are expected to be proposed that may be relevant to GHG emissions issues. In addition, almost half of the states have begun to address GHG emissions, primarily through the planned development of emission 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.

        Independent of Congress, the EPA is beginning to adopt regulations controlling GHG emissions under its existing Clean Air Act authority. For example, on December 15, 2009, the EPA officially published its findings that emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other GHGs present an endangerment to human health and the environment because emissions of such gases are, according to the EPA, contributing to warming of the earth's atmosphere and other climatic changes. These findings by the EPA allow the agency to proceed with the adoption and implementation of regulations that would restrict emissions of GHGs under existing provisions of the federal Clean Air Act. In 2009, the EPA adopted rules regarding regulation of GHG emissions from motor vehicles. In addition, on September 22, 2009, the EPA issued a final rule requiring the reporting of GHG emissions in the United States beginning in 2011 for emissions occurring in 2010 from specified large GHG emission sources. On November 30, 2010, the EPA published a final rule expanding its existing GHG emissions reporting rule for petroleum and natural gas facilities, including natural gas transmission compression facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. The rule, which went into effect on December 30, 2010, requires reporting of GHG emissions by such regulated facilities to the EPA by September 2012 for emissions during 2011 and annually thereafter. In 2010, the

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EPA also issued a final rule, known as the "Tailoring Rule," that makes certain large stationary sources and modification projects subject to permitting requirements for GHG emissions under the Clean Air Act. This new permitting program may affect some of our customers' largest new or modified facilities going forward. Several of the EPA's GHG rules are being challenged in court and, depending on the outcome of these proceedings, such rules may be modified or rescinded or the EPA could develop new rules.

        Although it is not currently possible to predict how any such proposed or future GHG legislation or regulation by Congress, the states or multi-state regions will impact our business, any legislation or regulation of GHG emissions that may be imposed in areas in which we conduct business could result in increased compliance costs, additional operating restrictions or reduced demand for our services, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Increased regulation of hydraulic fracturing could result in reductions or delays in natural gas production by our customers, which could adversely impact our revenue.

        A portion of our customers' natural gas production is from unconventional sources that require hydraulic fracturing as part of the completion process. Hydraulic fracturing involves the injection of water, sand and chemicals under pressure into the formation to stimulate gas production. Legislation to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act, or 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, were proposed in recent sessions of Congress. The U.S. Congress continues to consider legislation to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act. Scrutiny of hydraulic fracturing activities continues in other ways, with the EPA having commenced a multi-year study of the potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing, the results of which are anticipated to be available by the end of 2012. The EPA also has recently announced that it believes hydraulic fracturing using fluids containing diesel fuel can be regulated under the SDWA notwithstanding the SDWA's general exemption for hydraulic fracturing. Several states have also proposed or adopted legislative or regulatory restrictions on hydraulic fracturing. We cannot predict whether any such legislation will ever be enacted and if so, what its provisions would be. If additional levels of regulation and permits were required through the adoption of new laws and regulations at the federal or state level, that could lead to 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.

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, malfunction 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. Please read "Our Operations—Environmental and Safety Regulations" for a description of how we are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to protection of human health and environment.

Our debt levels may limit our flexibility in obtaining additional financing, pursuing other business opportunities and paying distributions.

        We have a $600 million revolving credit facility that matures on October 5, 2015. In addition, we have the option to increase the amount of available borrowings under the revolving credit facility by

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$50 million, subject to receipt of lender commitments and satisfaction of other conditions. Approximately $             million is expected to be outstanding under the revolving credit facility after the closing of this offering, assuming a price per unit in the offering equal to the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and the application of net proceeds as discussed under "Use of Proceeds."

        Following this offering, our ability to incur additional debt will be subject to limitations in our revolving credit facility. Our level of debt could have important consequences to us, including the following:

        Our ability to service our debt will depend upon, 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 revolving credit facility will depend on market interest rates, since we anticipate that the interest rates applicable to our borrowings will fluctuate with movements in interest rate markets. If our operating results are not sufficient to service our current or future indebtedness, we will be forced to take actions such as reducing distributions, reducing or 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 effect any of these actions on satisfactory terms, or at all.

Restrictions in our revolving credit facility may limit our ability to make distributions to our unitholders and may limit our ability to capitalize on acquisition and other business opportunities.

        The operating and financial restrictions and covenants in our revolving credit facility and any future financing agreements could restrict our ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to expand or pursue our business activities. Our amended and restated credit agreement, which will become effective upon the closing of this offering, restricts or limits our ability to:

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        Furthermore, our revolving credit facility contains certain operating and financial covenants. Our ability to comply with the covenants and restrictions contained in the revolving credit facility may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. If market or other economic conditions deteriorate, our ability to comply with these covenants may be impaired. If we violate any of the restrictions, covenants, ratios or tests in our revolving credit facility, a significant portion of our indebtedness may become immediately due and payable, our lenders' commitment to make further loans to us may terminate, and we will be prohibited from making distributions to our unitholders. We might not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments. Any subsequent replacement of our revolving credit facility or any new indebtedness could have similar or greater restrictions. Please read "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Description of Revolving Credit Facility."

An impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets could reduce our earnings.

        We have recorded approximately $157.1 million of goodwill and $83.1 million of other intangible assets as of June 30, 2012. Goodwill is recorded when the purchase price of a business exceeds the fair market value of the tangible and separately measurable intangible net assets. GAAP requires us to test goodwill for impairment on an annual basis or when events or circumstances occur indicating that goodwill might be impaired. 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 goodwill or other intangible assets. If we determine that any of our goodwill or other 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. There was no impairment recorded for goodwill or other intangible assets for the year ended December 31, 2011 or during the six months ended June 30, 2012.

Terrorist attacks, the threat of terrorist attacks, hostilities in the Middle East, or other sustained military campaigns may adversely impact our results of operations.

        The long-term impact of terrorist attacks, such as the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, 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 hostilities in the Middle East or other sustained military campaigns may affect our operations in unpredictable ways, including disruptions of natural gas supplies and markets for natural gas and natural gas liquids 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 certain types of insurance more difficult for us to obtain. Moreover, the insurance that may be available to us may be significantly more expensive than our existing insurance coverage. Instability in the financial markets as a result of terrorism or war could also affect our ability to raise capital.

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 would likely have a negative impact on the market price of our common units.

        Prior to this offering, we have not been required to file reports with the SEC. Upon the completion of this offering, we will become subject to the public reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, but our internal accounting controls may not currently meet all standards applicable to companies with publicly traded securities. Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports, prevent fraud and to operate successfully as a publicly traded partnership. Our efforts to develop and maintain our internal controls may not be

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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, or Section 404. For example, Section 404(a) will require us, among other things, to review and report annually on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. We must comply with Section 404(a) for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2013. In addition, our independent registered public accountants will be required to assess the effectiveness of an internal control over financial reporting at the end of the fiscal year after we are no longer an "emerging growth company" under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, which may be for up to five fiscal years after the completion of this offering. 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, or 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 a loss of confidence in our reported financial information, which could have an adverse effect on our business and would likely have a negative effect on the trading price of our common units.


Risks Inherent in an Investment in Us

Holders of our common units have limited voting rights and are not entitled to elect our general partner or its directors.

        Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, unitholders have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business and, therefore, limited ability to influence management's decisions regarding our business. Unitholders will have no right on an annual or ongoing basis to elect our general partner or its board of directors. USA Compression Holdings is the sole member of our general partner and will have the right to appoint our general partner's entire board of directors, including its independent directors. If the unitholders are dissatisfied with the performance of our general partner, they will have little ability to remove our general partner. As a result of these limitations, the price at which the common units will trade could be diminished because of the absence or reduction of a takeover premium in the trading price. Our partnership agreement also contains provisions limiting the ability of unitholders to call meetings or to acquire information about our operations, as well as other provisions limiting the unitholders' ability to influence the manner or direction of management.

USA Compression Holdings owns and controls our general partner, which has sole responsibility for conducting our business and managing our operations. Our general partner and its affiliates, including USA Compression Holdings, have conflicts of interest with us and limited fiduciary duties and they may favor their own interests to the detriment of us and our common unitholders.

        Following this offering, USA Compression Holdings, which is principally owned and controlled by Riverstone, will own and control our general partner and will appoint all of the officers and directors of our general partner, some of whom will also be officers and directors of USA Compression Holdings. Although our 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 our general partner have a fiduciary duty to manage our general partner in a manner that is beneficial to its owners. Conflicts of interest will arise between USA Compression Holdings, Riverstone and our general partner, on the one hand, and us and our unitholders, on the other hand. In resolving these conflicts of interest, our general partner may favor its own interests and the interests of USA Compression Holdings and the other

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owners of USA Compression Holdings over our interests and the interests of our common unitholders. These conflicts include the following situations, among others:

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        Please read "Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties."

Our general partner intends to limit its liability regarding our obligations.

        Our general partner intends to limit its liability under contractual arrangements so that the counterparties to such arrangements have recourse only against our assets, and not against our general partner or its assets. Our general partner may therefore cause us to incur indebtedness or other obligations that are nonrecourse to our general partner. Our partnership agreement provides that any action taken by our general partner to limit its liability is not a breach of our general partner's fiduciary duties, even if we could have obtained more favorable terms without the limitation on liability. In addition, we are obligated to reimburse or indemnify our general partner to the extent that it incurs obligations on our behalf. Any such reimbursement or indemnification payments would reduce the amount of cash otherwise available for distribution to our unitholders.

Our partnership agreement requires that we distribute all of our available cash, which could limit our ability to grow and make acquisitions.

        We expect that we will distribute all of our available cash to our unitholders and will rely primarily upon external financing sources, including commercial bank borrowings and the issuance of debt and equity securities, to fund our acquisitions and expansion capital expenditures. As a result, to the extent we are unable to finance growth externally, our cash distribution policy will significantly impair our ability to grow.

        In addition, because we distribute all of our available cash, our growth may not be as fast as that of businesses that reinvest their available cash to expand ongoing operations. To the extent we issue additional units in connection with any acquisitions or expansion capital expenditures, the payment of distributions on those additional units may increase the risk that we will be unable to maintain or increase our per unit distribution level. There are no limitations in our partnership agreement or our revolving credit facility on our ability to issue additional units, including units ranking senior to the common units. The incurrence of additional commercial borrowings or other debt to finance our growth strategy would result in increased interest expense, which, in turn, may impact the available cash that we have to distribute to our unitholders.

Our partnership agreement limits our general partner's fiduciary duties to holders of our common and subordinated units.

        Our partnership agreement contains provisions that modify and reduce the fiduciary standards to which our general partner would otherwise be held by state fiduciary duty law. For example, our partnership agreement permits our general partner to make a number of decisions in its individual capacity, as opposed to in its capacity as our general partner, or otherwise free of fiduciary duties to us and our unitholders. This entitles our 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 our general partner may make in its individual capacity include:

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        By purchasing a common unit, a common unitholder agrees to become bound by the provisions in the partnership agreement, including the provisions discussed above. Please read "Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties—Fiduciary Duties."

Even if holders of our common units are dissatisfied, they cannot initially remove our general partner without USA Compression Holdings' consent.

        The unitholders initially will be unable to remove our general partner because our general partner and its affiliates will own sufficient units upon completion of this offering to be able to prevent its removal. The vote of the holders of at least 662/3% of all outstanding common and subordinated units voting together as a single class is required to remove our general partner. Following the closing of this offering, USA Compression Holdings will own an aggregate of            % of our outstanding common and subordinated units. Also, if our general partner is removed without cause during the subordination period and no units held by the holders of the subordinated units or their affiliates (including the general partner and its affiliates) are voted in favor of that removal, all subordinated units will automatically be converted into common units. A removal of our general partner under these circumstances would adversely affect our common units by prematurely eliminating their distribution and liquidation preference over our subordinated units, which would otherwise have continued until we had met certain distribution and performance tests. Cause is narrowly defined to mean that a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding our general partner liable for actual fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as our general partner. Cause does not include most cases of charges of poor management of the business.

Our partnership agreement restricts the remedies available to holders of our common units for actions taken by our general partner that might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty.

        Our partnership agreement contains provisions that restrict the remedies available to unitholders for actions taken by our general partner that might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty under state fiduciary duty law. For example, our partnership agreement:

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        In connection with a situation involving a transaction with an affiliate or a conflict of interest, any determination by our 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 of directors of our general partner 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 subclauses (c) and (d) above, then it will conclusively be deemed that, in making its decision, the board of directors acted in good faith.

Our general partner may elect to cause us to issue common units to it in connection with a resetting of the target distribution levels related to its incentive distribution rights, without the approval of the conflicts committee of its board of directors or the holders of our common units. This could result in lower distributions to holders of our common units.

        Our general partner has the right, at any time when there are no subordinated units outstanding and it has received incentive distributions at the highest level to which it is entitled (48.0%) for each of the prior four consecutive fiscal quarters, to reset the initial target distribution levels at higher levels based on our distributions at the time of the exercise of the reset election. Following a reset election by our general partner, the minimum quarterly distribution will be adjusted to equal the reset minimum quarterly distribution, and the target distribution levels will be reset to correspondingly higher levels based on percentage increases above the reset minimum quarterly distribution.

        If our general partner elects to reset the target distribution levels, it will be entitled to receive a number of common units and to maintain its general partner interest. The number of common units to be issued to our general partner will equal the number of common units which would have entitled the holder to an average aggregate quarterly cash distribution in the prior two quarters equal to the average of the distributions to our general partner on the incentive distribution rights in the prior two quarters. Our general partner's general partner interest in us (currently 2.0%) will be maintained at the percentage that existed immediately prior to the reset election. We anticipate that our general partner would exercise this reset right in order to facilitate acquisitions or internal growth projects that would not be sufficiently accretive to cash distributions per common unit without such conversion. It is possible, however, that our general partner could exercise this reset election at a time when it is experiencing, or expects to experience, declines in the cash distributions it receives related to its incentive distribution rights and may, therefore, desire to be issued common units rather than retain the right to receive incentive distributions based on the initial target distribution levels. As a result, a reset election may cause our common unitholders to experience a reduction in the amount of cash distributions that our common unitholders would have otherwise received had we not issued new common units to our general partner in connection with resetting the target distribution levels. Please read "Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash Distributions—General Partner's Right to Reset Incentive Distribution Levels."

Our partnership agreement restricts the voting rights of unitholders owning 20% or more of our common units.

        Unitholders' voting rights are further restricted by a provision of our partnership agreement providing that any units held by a person that owns 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, other than our general partner, its affiliates, their direct transferees and their indirect transferees approved by our general partner (which approval may be granted in its sole discretion) and

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persons who acquired such units with the prior approval of our general partner, cannot vote on any matter.

Our general partner interest or the control of our general partner may be transferred to a third party without unitholder consent.

        Our 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 unitholders. Furthermore, our partnership agreement does not restrict the ability of USA Compression Holdings to transfer all or a portion of its ownership interest in our general partner to a third party. The new owner of our general partner would then be in a position to replace the board of directors and officers of our general partner with its own designees and thereby exert significant control over the decisions made by the board of directors and officers.

An increase in interest rates may cause the market price of our common units to decline.

        Like all equity investments, an investment in our common units is subject to certain risks. In exchange for accepting these risks, investors may expect to receive a higher rate of return than would otherwise be obtainable from lower-risk investments. Accordingly, as interest rates rise, the ability of investors to obtain higher risk-adjusted rates of return by purchasing government-backed debt securities may cause a corresponding decline in demand for riskier investments generally, including yield-based equity investments such as publicly traded partnership interests. Reduced demand for our common units resulting from investors seeking other more favorable investment opportunities may cause the trading price of our common units to decline.

You will experience immediate and substantial dilution in pro forma net tangible book value of $        per common unit.

        The assumed initial public offering price of $            per common unit exceeds our pro forma net tangible book value of $            per common unit as of June 30, 2012. Based on the initial public offering price of $            per common unit, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution of $            per common unit. This dilution results primarily because the assets contributed by our general partner and its affiliates are recorded in accordance with GAAP at their historical cost, and not their fair value. Please read "Dilution."

We may issue additional units without your approval, which would dilute your existing ownership interests.

        Our partnership agreement does not limit the number of additional limited partner interests that we may issue at any time without the approval of our unitholders. The issuance by us of additional common units, including pursuant to our planned DRIP, or other equity securities of equal or senior rank, will have the following effects:

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USA Compression Holdings may sell units in the public or private markets, and such sales could have an adverse impact on the trading price of the common units.

        After the sale of the common units offered by this prospectus, USA Compression Holdings will hold an aggregate of                     common units and                    subordinated units. All of the subordinated units will convert into common units at the end of the subordination period and may convert earlier under certain circumstances. In addition, USA Compression Holdings may acquire additional common units in connection with our planned DRIP. We have agreed to provide USA Compression Holdings with certain registration rights for any common and subordinated units it owns. Please read "The Partnership Agreement—Registration Rights." The sale of these units in the public or private markets could have an adverse impact on the price of the common units or on any trading market that may develop.

Our general partner has a call right that may require you to sell your units at an undesirable time or price.

        If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own more than 80% of the common units, our general partner will have the right, which it may assign to any of its affiliates or to us, but not the obligation, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the 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 our partnership agreement. As a result, you may be required to sell your common units at an undesirable time or price. You may also incur a tax liability upon a sale of your units. At the completion of this offering, and assuming no exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional common units, USA Compression Holdings will own an aggregate of approximately        % of our outstanding common units. At the end of the subordination period (which could occur as early as September 30, 2013), assuming no additional issuances of common units (other than upon the conversion of the subordinated units), USA Compression Holdings will own an aggregate of approximately        % of our outstanding common units. For additional information about this right, please read "The Partnership Agreement—Limited Call Right."

Your liability may not be limited if a court finds that unitholder action constitutes control of our business.

        A general partner of a partnership generally has unlimited liability for the obligations of the partnership, except for those contractual obligations of the partnership that are expressly made without recourse to the general partner. Our partnership is organized under Delaware law, and we conduct business in a number of other states. 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 other states in which we do business. You could be liable for any and all of our obligations as if you were a general partner if a court or government agency were to determine that:

        For a discussion of the implications of the limitations of liability on a unitholder, please read "The Partnership Agreement—Limited Liability."

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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, or the Delaware Act, we may not make a distribution to you if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets. Delaware law 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. Substituted limited partners are liable both for the obligations of the assignor to make contributions to the partnership that were known to the substituted limited partner at the time it became a limited partner and for those obligations that were unknown if the liabilities could have been determined from the partnership agreement. Neither liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interest nor liabilities that are non-recourse to the partnership are counted for purposes of determining whether a distribution is permitted.

There is no existing market for our common units, and a trading market that will provide you with adequate liquidity may not develop. The price of our common units may fluctuate significantly, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

        Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common units. After this offering, there will be only                     publicly traded common units. In addition, USA Compression Holdings will own an aggregate of                    common and                    subordinated units, representing an aggregate        % limited partner interest in us. We do not know the extent to which investor interest will lead to the development of a trading market or how liquid that market might be. You may not be able to resell your common units at or above the initial public offering price. Additionally, the lack of liquidity may result in wide bid-ask spreads, contribute to significant fluctuations in the market price of the common units and limit the number of investors who are able to buy the common units.

        The initial public offering price for the common units will be determined by negotiations between us and the representatives of the underwriters and may not be indicative of the market price of the common units that will prevail in the trading market. The market price of our common units may decline below the initial public offering price. The market price of our common units may also be influenced by many factors, some of which are beyond our control, including:

The NYSE does not require a publicly traded partnership like us to comply with certain of its corporate governance requirements.

        Our common units have been approved for listing (subject to official notice of issuance) on the NYSE. Because we will be a publicly traded partnership, the NYSE does not require us to have a majority of independent directors on our general partner's board of directors or to establish a compensation committee or a nominating and corporate governance committee. Accordingly, unitholders will not have the same protections afforded to investors in certain corporations that are

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subject to all of the NYSE corporate governance requirements. Please read "Management of USA Compression Partners, LP."

We will incur increased costs as a result of being a publicly traded partnership.

        We have no history operating as a publicly traded partnership. As a publicly traded partnership, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and the NYSE have required changes in the corporate governance practices of publicly traded companies. We expect these rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make activities more time-consuming and costly. For example, as a result of being a publicly traded partnership, we are required to have at least three independent directors, create an audit committee and adopt policies regarding internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures, including the preparation of reports on internal controls over financial reporting. In addition, we will incur additional costs associated with our publicly traded partnership reporting requirements. We also expect these new rules and regulations to make it more difficult and more expensive for our general partner to obtain director and officer liability insurance and result in our general partner possibly having to accept reduced policy limits and coverage. As a result, it may be more difficult for our general partner to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on its board of directors or as executive officers. We have included $3.1 million of estimated incremental costs per year associated with being a publicly traded partnership in our financial forecast included elsewhere in this prospectus. However, it is possible that our actual incremental costs of being a publicly traded partnership will be higher than we currently estimate.

Pursuant to recently enacted federal securities laws, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for so long as we are an emerging growth company.

        We will be required to disclose changes made in our internal control over financial reporting on a quarterly basis, and we will be required to assess the effectiveness of our controls annually. However, for as long as we are an "emerging growth company" under federal securities laws, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years. See "Summary—Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company." Even if we conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, our independent registered public accounting firm may still decline to attest to our assessment or may issue a report that is qualified if it is not satisfied with our controls or the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated or reviewed, or if it interprets the relevant requirements differently from us.


Tax Risks to Common Unitholders

        In addition to reading the following risk factors, please read "Material Federal Income Tax Consequences" for a more complete discussion of the expected material federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of common units.

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, which would subject us to entity-level taxation, then our cash available for distribution to our unitholders would be substantially reduced.

        The anticipated after-tax economic benefit of an investment in the common units depends largely on our being treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. We have not requested, and do not plan to request, 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 upon our current operations that we are or will be so

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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, which is currently a maximum of 35%, and would likely pay state and local income tax at varying rates. Distributions would generally 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 a tax would be imposed upon us as a corporation, our cash available for distribution to our unitholders 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.

If we were subjected to a material amount of additional entity-level taxation by individual states, it would reduce our cash available for distribution to our unitholders.

        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 Texas franchise tax each year at a maximum effective rate of 0.7% of our gross income apportioned to Texas in the prior year. Imposition of any similar taxes by any other state may substantially reduce the cash available for distribution to our unitholders and, therefore, negatively impact the value of an investment in our common units. Our partnership agreement provides that, if a law is enacted or existing law is modified or interpreted in a manner that subjects us to additional amounts of entity-level taxation, the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution amounts may be adjusted to reflect the impact of that law on us.

The tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships or an investment in our common units could be subject to potential legislative, judicial or administrative changes and differing interpretations, possibly 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 interpretation at any time. For example, judicial interpretations of the U.S. federal income tax laws may have a direct or indirect impact on our status as a partnership and, in some instances, a court's conclusions may heighten the risk of a challenge regarding our status as a partnership. Moreover, from time to time, members of the U.S. Congress propose and consider substantive changes to the existing federal income tax laws that would affect the tax treatment of certain publicly traded partnerships. Currently, one such legislative proposal would eliminate the qualifying income exception upon which we rely for our treatment as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We are unable to predict whether any of these changes, or other proposals, will ultimately be enacted. Any such changes or differing judicial interpretations of existing laws could be applied retroactively and could negatively impact the value of an investment in our common units.

        Our partnership agreement provides that, if a law is enacted or existing law is modified or interpreted in a manner that subjects us to taxation as a corporation or otherwise subjects us to entity-level taxation for federal, state or local income tax purposes, the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution amounts may be adjusted to reflect the impact of that law on us.

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.

        Because a unitholder will be treated as a partner to whom we will allocate taxable income that could be different in amount than the cash we distribute, a unitholder's allocable share of our taxable

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income will be taxable to it, which may require the payment of federal income taxes and, in some cases, state and local income taxes, on its share of our taxable income even if it receives no cash distributions from us. Our unitholders may not receive cash distributions from us equal to their share of our taxable income or even equal to the actual tax liability that results from that income.

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 to our unitholders.

        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 conclusions of our counsel expressed in this prospectus or 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 our counsel's conclusions or the positions we take. A court may not agree with some or all of our counsel's conclusions or 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 and our general partner because the costs will reduce our cash available for distribution.

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. Furthermore, a substantial portion of the amount realized on any sale of common units, whether or not representing gain, may be taxed as ordinary income due to potential recapture items, including depreciation recapture. 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. Please read "Material Federal Income Tax Consequences—Disposition of Common Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss" for a further discussion of the foregoing.

Tax-exempt entities and non-U.S. persons face unique tax issues from owning our common units that may result in adverse tax consequences to them.

        Investment in common units by tax-exempt entities, such as employee benefit plans and individual retirement accounts (known as IRAs), and non-U.S. persons raises issues unique to them. For example, virtually all of our income allocated to organizations that are exempt from federal income tax, including IRAs and other retirement plans, will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to them. Distributions to non-U.S. persons will be reduced by withholding taxes at the highest applicable effective tax rate, and non-U.S. persons will be required to file U.S. federal income tax returns and pay tax on their share of our taxable income. If you are a tax-exempt entity or a non-U.S. person, you should consult a tax advisor before investing in our common units.

We will treat each purchaser of 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 the common units.

        Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of common units and because of other reasons, we will adopt depreciation and amortization positions that may not conform to all aspects of existing Treasury Regulations. A successful IRS challenge to those positions could adversely affect the

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amount of tax benefits available to you. Our counsel is unable to opine as to the validity of such filing positions. 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. Please read "Material Federal Income Tax Consequences—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election" for a further discussion of the effect of the depreciation and amortization positions we will adopt.

We prorate our items of income, gain, loss and deduction for federal income tax purposes between transferors and transferees of our units each month based upon 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 will prorate our items of income, gain, loss and deduction for federal income tax purposes between transferors and transferees of our units each month based upon 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 use of this proration method may not be permitted under existing Treasury Regulations, and, accordingly, our counsel is unable to opine as to the validity of this method. Recently, however, the U.S. Treasury Department issued proposed Treasury Regulations that provide a safe harbor pursuant to which publicly traded partnerships may use a similar monthly simplifying convention to allocate tax items among transferor and transferee unitholders. Nonetheless, the proposed regulations do not specifically authorize the use of the proration method we have adopted. If the IRS were to challenge our proration method or new Treasury regulations were issued, we may be required to change the allocation of items of income, gain, loss and deduction among our unitholders. Please read "Material Federal Income Tax Consequences—Disposition of Common Units—Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees."

A unitholder whose common units are loaned to a "short seller" to effect a short sale of common units may be considered as having disposed of those common units. If so, he 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 from the disposition.

        Because a unitholder whose common units are loaned to a "short seller" to effect a short sale of common units may be considered as having disposed of the loaned common units, he 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 from such disposition. Moreover, during the period of the loan to the short seller, 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. Our counsel has not rendered an opinion regarding the treatment of a unitholder where common units are loaned to a short seller to effect a short sale of common units; therefore, our unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition from a loan to a short seller are urged to consult a tax advisor to discuss whether it is advisable to modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from loaning their common units.

We will adopt certain valuation methodologies and monthly conventions for federal income tax purposes that may result in a shift of income, gain, loss and deduction between our general partner and our unitholders. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of the common units.

        When we issue additional units or engage in certain other transactions, we will determine the fair market value of our assets and allocate any unrealized gain or loss attributable to our assets to the capital accounts of our unitholders and our general partner. Our methodology may be viewed as understating the value of our assets. In that case, there may be a shift of income, gain, loss and deduction between certain unitholders and our general partner, which may be unfavorable to such unitholders. Moreover, under our valuation methods, subsequent purchasers of common units may have

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a greater portion of their Internal Revenue Code Section 743(b) adjustment allocated to our tangible assets and a lesser portion allocated to our intangible assets. The IRS may challenge our valuation methods, or our allocation of the Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to our tangible and intangible assets, and allocations of taxable income, gain, loss and deduction between our general partner and certain of our unitholders.

        A successful IRS challenge to these methods or allocations could adversely affect the amount of taxable income or loss being allocated to our unitholders. It also could affect the amount of taxable gain from our unitholders' sale of common units and could 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.

The sale or exchange of 50% or more of our capital and profits interests during any twelve-month period will result in the termination of our partnership for federal income tax purposes.

        We will be considered to have technically terminated for federal income tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a twelve-month period. For purposes of determining whether the 50% threshold has been met, multiple sales of the same interest will be counted only once. Our technical termination would, among other things, result in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders, which would result in us filing two tax returns (and our unitholders could receive two Schedules K-1 if relief was not available, as described below) for one fiscal year and could result in a deferral of depreciation deductions allowable in computing our taxable income. In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than a fiscal year ending December 31, the closing of our taxable year may also result in more than twelve months of our taxable income or loss being includable in his taxable income for the year of termination. A technical termination currently would not affect our classification as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, but instead we would be treated as a new partnership for such tax purposes. If treated as a new partnership, we must make new tax elections and could be subject to penalties if we are unable to determine that a termination occurred. The IRS has recently announced a publicly traded partnership technical termination relief program whereby a publicly traded partnership that technically terminated may request publicly traded partnership technical termination relief which, if granted by the IRS, among other things would permit the partnership to provide only one Schedule K-1 to unitholders for the year notwithstanding two partnership tax years. Please read "Material Federal Income Tax Consequences—Disposition of Common Units—Constructive Termination" for a discussion of the consequences of our termination for federal income tax purposes.

As a result of investing in our common units, you may become subject to state and local taxes and return filing requirements in jurisdictions where we operate or own or acquire properties.

        In addition to federal income taxes, our unitholders will likely 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 will likely 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 those requirements. We initially expect to conduct business in thirteen states. Many of these states 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 a personal income tax. It is your responsibility to file all foreign, federal, state and local tax returns. Our counsel has not rendered an opinion on the state or local tax consequences of an investment in our common units.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

        We expect to receive net proceeds of approximately $             million from this offering, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. Our estimate assumes an initial public offering price of $            per common unit and no exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional common units.

        We will use the net proceeds from this offering (excluding the net proceeds from any exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional common units) to repay $             of indebtedness outstanding under our revolving credit facility. We will incur indebtedness under our revolving credit facility to fund capital expenditures, terminate interest rate swaps related to our revolving credit facility and for working capital needs. We have incurred indebtedness from time to time under our revolving credit facility to fund capital expenditures and for working capital purposes. On December 15, 2011 we used borrowings under the facility to purchase the compression units previously leased from Caterpillar for $43 million. On June 1, 2012, we amended our revolving credit facility to increase the overall commitments under the facility from $500 million to $600 million and entered into our amended and restated credit facility, which will become effective only upon the closing of this offering, to, among other things, permit the offering-related transactions. At June 30, 2012, the interest rate on amounts borrowed under the revolving credit facility was 3.0%. Affiliates of each of the underwriters participating in this offering are lenders under our revolving credit facility and will receive a substantial portion of the proceeds from this offering pursuant to the repayment of a portion of the borrowings thereunder. Please read "Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Conflicts of Interest/FINRA Rules." A $1.00 increase or decrease in the initial public offering price per common unit would cause the net proceeds from the offering, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by us, to increase or decrease by approximately $             million. If the initial public offering price were to exceed $            per common unit or if we were to increase the number of common units in this offering (other than through the underwriters' exercise of their option to purchase additional units), we would repay more indebtedness under our revolving credit facility. If the initial public offering price were to be less than $            per common unit or if we were to decrease the number of common units in this offering, we would repay less indebtedness under the revolving credit facility, which will increase our pro forma interest expense and reduce our cash available for distribution.

        We will use the net proceeds from any exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional common units to redeem from USA Compression Holdings a number of common units equal to the number of common units issued upon the exercise of the underwriters' option.

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CAPITALIZATION

        The following table shows:

        We derived this table from, and it should be read in conjunction with and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the historical financial statements and the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. You should also read this table in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

 
  As of June 30, 2012  
 
  Historical   As Adjusted  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Cash

  $ 7   $               
           

Long-term debt (including current maturities):

             
 

Revolving credit facility(1)

  $ 452,650   $    
 

Other notes payable

    18        
           
   

Total long-term debt

    452,668        

Partners' equity:

             
 

Limited partner's capital(2)

    338,889      
 

General partner's capital(3)

    2,373      
 

Common unitholders

           
 

Subordinated unitholder

           
 

General partner interest

           
           
   

Total partners' equity

    341,262        
           
     

Total capitalization

  $ 793,930   $    
           

(1)
As of                        , 2012, there was $       million outstanding under our revolving credit facility.

(2)
We will convert the limited partner interest held by USA Compression Holdings into common units and subordinated units, representing an aggregate       % limited partner interest in us.

(3)
We will convert the general partner interest held by USA Compression GP, LLC, our general partner, into a 2.0% general partner interest in us and our incentive distribution rights.

        A $1.00 increase or decrease in the initial public offering price per common unit would cause the net proceeds from the offering, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by us, to increase or decrease by $             million. If the initial public offering price were to exceed $            per common unit or if we were to increase the number of common units in this offering (other than through the underwriters' exercise of their option to purchase additional units), we would repay more indebtedness under our revolving credit facility. If the initial public offering price were to be less than $            per common unit or if we were to decrease the number of common units in this offering, we would repay less indebtedness under our revolving credit facility. The as adjusted information set forth above is illustrative only and following the completion of this offering will be adjusted based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

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DILUTION

        Dilution is the amount by which the offering price paid by the purchasers of common units sold in this offering will exceed the pro forma net tangible book value per unit after the offering. On a pro forma basis as of June 30, 2012, after giving effect to the offering of common units and the application of the related net proceeds, and assuming the underwriters' option to purchase additional common units is not exercised, our net tangible book value was $             million, or $            per unit. Purchasers of common units in this offering will experience substantial and immediate dilution in net tangible book value per common unit for financial accounting purposes, as illustrated in the following table:

Assumed initial public offering price per common unit

        $               

Net tangible book value per unit before the offering(1)

  $                     

Decrease in net tangible book value per unit attributable to purchasers in the offering

             
             

Less: Pro forma net tangible book value per unit after the offering(2)

             

Immediate dilution in net tangible book value per common unit to new investors(3)

        $               
             

(1)
Determined by dividing the number of units (                common units,                     subordinated units and the 2.0% general partner interest) to be issued to USA Compression Holdings and its affiliates in connection with this offering by the net tangible book value of the contributed interests.

(2)
Determined by dividing the total number of units to be outstanding after the offering (                common units,                     subordinated units and                 units representing the 2.0% general partner interest) by our pro forma net tangible book value.

(3)
For each increase or decrease in the initial public offering price of $1.00 per common unit, dilution in net tangible book value per common unit would increase or decrease by $            per common unit.

        The following table sets forth the number of units that we will issue and the total consideration contributed to us by our general partner and its affiliates and by the purchasers of common units in this offering upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this prospectus:

 
  Units Acquired   Total
Consideration
 
 
  Number   Percent   Amount   Percent  

General partner and affiliates(1)

                     % $                %

New investors

                     % $                %
                   
 

Total

                   100.0 % $              100.0 %
                   

(1)
The units held by our general partner and its affiliates consist of            common units,                     subordinated units and the 2.0% general partner interest.

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OUR CASH DISTRIBUTION POLICY AND RESTRICTIONS ON DISTRIBUTIONS

        You should read the following discussion of our cash distribution policy in conjunction with the factors and assumptions upon which our cash distribution policy is based, which are included under the heading "—Assumptions and Considerations" below. In addition, please read "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" for information regarding statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and certain risks inherent in our business. For additional information regarding our historical and pro forma operating results, you should refer to our historical financial statements and pro forma financial data, and the notes thereto, included elsewhere in this prospectus.


General

        Rationale for our cash distribution policy.    Our partnership agreement requires us to distribute all of our available cash quarterly. Our cash distribution policy reflects a judgment that our unitholders will be better served by our distributing rather than retaining our available cash. Generally, our available cash is our (i) cash on hand at the end of a quarter after the payment of our expenses and the establishment of cash reserves and (ii) cash on hand resulting from working capital borrowings made after the end of the quarter. Because we are not subject to an entity-level federal income tax, we have more cash to distribute to our unitholders than would be the case were we subject to federal income tax.

        Limitations on cash distributions and our ability to change our cash distribution policy.    There is no guarantee that our unitholders will receive quarterly distributions from us. We do not have a legal obligation to pay the minimum quarterly distribution or any other distribution except as provided in our partnership agreement. Our cash distribution policy may be changed at any time and is subject to certain restrictions, including the following:

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        Our ability to grow is dependent on our ability to access external expansion capital.    Our partnership agreement requires us to distribute all of our available cash to our unitholders. As a result, we expect that we will rely primarily upon external financing sources, including commercial bank borrowings and the issuance of debt and equity securities, to fund our acquisitions and expansion capital expenditures. To the extent we are unable to finance growth externally, our cash distribution policy will significantly impair our ability to grow. In addition, because we distribute all of our available cash, our growth may not be as fast as that of businesses that reinvest their available cash to expand ongoing operations. To the extent we issue additional units in connection with any acquisitions or expansion capital expenditures, the payment of distributions on those additional units may increase the risk that we will be unable to maintain or increase our per unit distribution level. There are no limitations in our partnership agreement or our revolving credit facility on our ability to issue additional units, including units ranking senior to the common units. The incurrence of additional commercial borrowings or other debt to finance our growth strategy would result in increased interest expense, which in turn may impact the available cash that we have to distribute to our unitholders.


Our Minimum Quarterly Distribution

        Upon completion of this offering, the board of directors of our general partner will establish a minimum quarterly distribution of $          per unit per complete quarter, or $          per unit per year, to be paid no later than 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter beginning with the quarter ending                   . This equates to an aggregate cash distribution of approximately $           million per quarter, or approximately $           million per year, based on the number of common and subordinated units and the 2.0% general partner interest to be outstanding immediately after the completion of this offering. Our ability to make cash distributions equal to the minimum quarterly distribution pursuant to this policy will be subject to the factors described above under the caption "—General—Limitations on Cash Distributions and Our Ability to Change Our Distribution Policy."

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        If the underwriters' option to purchase additional common units is exercised, we will issue additional common units to the public and use the net proceeds to redeem an equivalent number of common units from USA Compression Holdings. Accordingly, the exercise of the underwriters' option will not affect the total number of units outstanding or the amount of cash needed to pay the minimum quarterly distribution on all units. Please read "Underwriting."

        Initially, our general partner will be entitled to 2.0% of all distributions that we make prior to our liquidation. In the future, our general partner's initial 2.0% interest in these distributions may be reduced if we issue additional units and our general partner does not contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its initial 2.0% general partner interest.

        The table below sets forth the number of outstanding common units and subordinated units and the general partner interest upon the closing of this offering and the aggregate distribution amounts payable on such units at our minimum quarterly distribution rate of $          per unit per quarter ($          per unit on an annualized basis).

 
   
  Distributions  
 
  Number of
Units/GP Interest
  One
Quarter
  Four
Quarters
 

Publicly held common units

        $     $    

Common units held by USA Compression Holdings

                   

Subordinated units held by USA Compression Holdings

                   

General partner interest held by USA Compression GP, LLC

                   
               
 

Total

        $     $    
               

        The subordination period generally will end if we have earned and paid at least $            on each outstanding common unit and subordinated unit and the corresponding distribution on our general partner's 2.0% interest for each of three consecutive, non-overlapping four-quarter periods ending on or after September 30, 2015. If, in respect of any quarter, we have earned and paid at least $            (150.0% of the annualized minimum quarterly distribution) on each outstanding common unit and subordinated unit and the corresponding distribution on our general partner's 2.0% interest and the related distribution on the incentive distributions rights for the four-quarter period immediately preceding that date, the subordination period will terminate automatically and all of the subordinated units will convert into an equal number of common units. Please read the "Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash Distributions—Subordination Period."

        If we do not pay the minimum quarterly distribution on our common units, our common unitholders will not be entitled to receive such payments in the future except during the subordination period. To the extent we have available cash in any future quarter during the subordination period in excess of the amount necessary to pay the minimum quarterly distribution to holders of our common units, we will use this excess available cash to pay any distribution arrearages related to prior quarters before any cash distribution is made to holders of subordinated units. Our subordinated units will not accrue arrearages for unpaid quarterly distributions or quarterly distributions less than the minimum quarterly distribution. Please read "Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash Distributions—Subordination Period."

        The requirement to distribute available cash quarterly, as provided in our partnership agreement, may not be modified or repealed without amending our partnership agreement. The actual amount of our cash distributions for any quarter is subject to fluctuations based on the amount of cash we generate from our business and the amount of reserves our general partner establishes in accordance with our partnership agreement as described above. We do not anticipate that our general partner will establish cash reserves as of the closing of this offering or during the twelve months ending June 30, 2013. We will pay our distributions on or about the 15th of each of February, May, August and November to holders of record on or about the 1st of each such month. If the distribution date does

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not fall on a business day, we will make the distribution on the business day immediately preceding the indicated distribution date. We will adjust the quarterly distribution for the period from the closing of this offering through September 30, 2012 based on the actual length of the period.

        In the sections that follow, we present in detail the basis for our belief that we will be able to fully fund our minimum quarterly distribution of $              per unit each quarter for the year ending December 31, 2012. In those sections, we present two tables, consisting of:


Pro Forma Cash Available for Distribution for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2011 and June 30, 2012

        If we had completed the transactions contemplated in this prospectus on January 1, 2011, our pro forma cash available for distribution for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 and June 30, 2012 would have been approximately $33.6 million and $33.0 million, respectively. This amount would have been sufficient to pay the full minimum quarterly distribution on all of the common units for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 and June 30, 2012, but would have been insufficient by approximately $         million and $         million, respectively, to pay the full minimum quarterly distribution on the subordinated units for these periods.

        The pro forma financial statements, upon which pro forma cash available for distribution is based, do not purport to present our results of operations had the transactions contemplated in this prospectus actually been completed as of the dates indicated. Furthermore, cash available for distribution is a cash accounting concept, while our pro forma financial statements have been prepared on an accrual basis. We derived the amounts of pro forma cash available for distribution shown above in the manner described in the table below. As a result, the amount of pro forma cash available for distribution should only be viewed as a general indication of the amount of cash available for distribution that we might have generated had we been formed in earlier periods. Please see our unaudited pro forma financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

        The following table illustrates, on a pro forma basis, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 and June 30, 2012, the amount of available cash (without any reserve) that would have been available for distribution to our unitholders, assuming that the offering had been consummated on January 1, 2011. The pro forma adjustments presented below give effect to (i) this offering and the related transactions, (ii) the entry into the second amendment to our revolving credit facility in November 2011, (iii) the entry into the third amendment to our revolving credit facility in June 2012 and (iv) the effectiveness of our amended and restated credit agreement, which we entered into in June 2012. Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA and pro forma cash available for distribution are further adjusted to give effect to (i) the purchase on December 15, 2011 of the compression units previously leased from Caterpillar for $43 million, (ii) the termination of interest rate swaps related to our revolving credit facility in connection with the closing of this offering and (iii) the elimination of management fees and restructuring charges that we do not expect to incur in future periods. Certain of the adjustments are explained in further detail in the footnotes to such adjustments.

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Unaudited Pro Forma Cash Available for Distribution

 
  Twelve Months Ended(1)  
 
  December 31,
2011
  June 30, 2012  
 
  (in thousands, except per unit and operating data)
 

Pro forma revenues:

             
 

Contract operations

  $ 93,896   $ 103,440  
 

Parts and service

    4,824     4,620  
           
 

Total pro forma revenues

    98,720     108,060  

Pro forma costs and expenses:

             
 

Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization(2)

    39,605     39,431  
 

Selling, general and administrative

    12,726     15,545  
 

Restructuring charges(3)

    300     300  
 

Depreciation and amortization

    32,738     36,584  
 

(Gain) loss on sale of assets

    178     235  
           
 

Total pro forma costs and expenses

    85,547     92,095  
           

Pro forma operating income

    13,173     15,965  

Pro forma other income (expense):

             
 

Interest expense(4)

    (6,239 )   (7,751 )
 

Other

    21     23  
           
 

Pro forma total other expense

    (6,218 )   (7,728 )
           

Pro forma income before income tax expense

    6,955     8,237  

Pro forma income tax expense(5)

   
155
   
180
 
           

Pro forma net income

  $ 6,800   $ 8,057  
           

Adjustments to reconcile pro forma net income to pro forma Adjusted EBITDA(6):

             
 

Add:

             
   

Depreciation and amortization

    32,738     36,584  
   

Interest expense

    6,239     7,751  
   

Income tax expense

    155     180  
   

Share-based compensation expense

         
   

Equipment operating lease expense(7)

    4,053     1,923  
   

Riverstone management fee(8)

    1,000     1,250  
   

Restructuring charges

    300     300  
           

Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 51,285   $ 56,045  

Adjustments to reconcile pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to pro forma cash available for distribution:

             
 

Less:

             
   

Cash interest expense before termination of interest rate swaps and equipment operating lease schedules(9)

    6,998     8,723  
   

Increase in cash interest expense due to the purchase of equipment and termination of the equipment operating lease schedules(10)

    717     480  
   

Income tax expense

    155     180  
   

Riverstone management fee

    1,000     1,250  
   

Expansion capital expenditures(11)

    124,303     204,072  
   

Maintenance capital expenditures(12)

    8,961     12,563  
 

Add:

             
   

Borrowings to fund expansion capital expenditures(13)

    124,303     204,072  
   

Reduction in cash interest expense due to termination of interest rate swaps(14)

    3,254     3,263  
           
 

Pro forma cash available for distribution

    36,708     36,112  
 

Less: Incremental general and administrative expenses associated with being a publicly traded partnership(15)

    3,100     3,100  
           

Pro forma cash available for distribution by USA Compression Partners, LP

  $ 33,608   $ 33,012  

Per unit minimum annual distribution(16)

             

Annual distributions to:

             
 

Publicly held common units

             
 

Common units held by USA Compression Holdings

             
 

Subordinated units held by USA Compression Holdings

             
 

General partner interest of our general partner

             

Total minimum annual cash distributions

             

Surplus / (Shortfall)

             

Fixed charge coverage ratio

             

(1)
Unaudited pro forma cash available for distribution for the year ended December 31, 2011 was derived from the unaudited pro forma financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Unaudited pro forma cash available for distribution for the twelve months ended June 30, 2012 was derived by combining pro forma amounts for the six months ended December 31, 2011 (not included in this prospectus) and the six months ended June 30, 2012 (included in this prospectus).

(2)
Includes $4.1 million and $1.9 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 and June 30, 2012, respectively, of equipment operating lease expense related to compression units leased from Caterpillar. On December 15, 2011, we purchased the compression units that were previously leased under the operating lease facility for $43 million.

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(3)
During the year ended December 31, 2011, we incurred $0.3 million of restructuring charges that were for severance and retention benefits related to the termination of certain administrative employees. These charges are reflected as restructuring charges in our consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2011. We paid approximately $0.1 million of these restructuring charges in the three months ended March 31, 2012, and paid the remaining $0.2 million in the three month period ended June 30, 2012.

(4)
On June 1, 2012 we amended our revolving credit facility to increase the overall commitments under the facility from $500 million to $600 million. Our revolving credit facility provides for an applicable margin for LIBOR loans of 200 to 275 basis points above LIBOR, depending on our leverage ratio, a reduction from 300 to 375 basis points above LIBOR prior to an earlier amendment dated November 16, 2011. Historical interest rates averaged 3.71% for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 3.00% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012. Pro forma interest expense is based on an average rate of 2.2% and 2.5% for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the six-month period ended June 30, 2012, respectively.

(5)
This represents the Texas franchise tax (applicable to income apportioned to Texas beginning January 1, 2007) which, in accordance with ASC 740, is classified as an income tax for reporting purposes.

(6)
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as our net income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation expense, impairment of compression equipment, share-based compensation expense, restructuring charges, management fees and expenses under our operating lease with Caterpillar. Please read "Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial and Operating Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for more information regarding Adjusted EBITDA.

(7)
Represents equipment operating lease expenses related to the Caterpillar equipment operating lease described in footnote (2) above. Because we purchased the compression units subject to this equipment operating lease from Caterpillar on December 15, 2011, we believe it is useful to investors to view our results excluding these payments.

(8)
Represents management fees paid to Riverstone, recorded in selling, general and administrative expense, for services performed during 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012. As these fees will not be paid by us following this offering, we believe it is useful to investors to view our results excluding these fees.

(9)
Comprised of estimated interest expense of $6.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, (i) increased by the $2.6 million fair value gain on the interest rate swaps and (ii) less debt issuance amortization cost of $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2011. Comprised of estimated interest expense of $7.8 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2012, (i) increased by the $3.1 million fair value gain on the interest rate swaps and (ii) less debt issuance amortization cost of $2.2 million.

(10)
Reflects a net increase in cash interest expense of $0.7 million and $0.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 and June 30, 2012, respectively, from additional borrowings under our revolving credit facility to finance the purchase of compression units leased from Caterpillar as described in footnotes (2) and (7) above.

(11)
Reflects actual expansion capital expenditures for the period presented. Expansion capital expenditures are capital expenditures made to expand the operating capacity or revenue generating capacity of existing or new assets, including by acquisition of compression units or through modification of existing compression units to change their capacity. On December 15, 2011, we purchased all the compression units previously leased from Caterpillar for $43 million, which is included in expansion capital expenditures for the twelve months ended December 30, 2011. On December 16, 2011, we entered into an agreement with one of our compression equipment suppliers to reduce certain previously made progress payments by $8 million and received a credit. We applied this $8 million credit to new compression units purchased from this supplier in the first quarter of 2012 and included the $8 million in expansion capital expenditures for the twelve months ended June 30, 2012.

(12)
Reflects actual maintenance capital expenditures for the period presented. Maintenance capital expenditures are capital expenditures made to replace partially or fully depreciated assets, to maintain the operating capacity of our assets and extend their useful lives, or other capital expenditures that are incurred in maintaining our existing business and related cash flow.

(13)
Represents borrowings we made under our revolving credit facility to fund expansion capital expenditures.

(14)
Reflects a reduction in cash interest expense of $3.3 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 and June 30, 2012, due to the termination of out-of-the money interest rate swap agreements. We intend to terminate these interest rate swap agreements prior to the closing of this offering and, therefore, believe it is useful to investors to view our cash available for distribution excluding the impact of these swaps.

(15)
Reflects an adjustment for estimated incremental cash expenses associated with being a publicly traded partnership, including costs associated with annual and quarterly reports to unitholders, financial statement audits, tax return and Schedule K-1 preparation and distribution, investor relations activities, registrar and transfer agent fees, incremental director and officer liability insurance costs and director compensation. We estimate these incremental general and administrative expenses, some of which will be allocated to us by USA Compression Holdings, will increase our expenses by approximately $3.1 million per year.

(16)
Pro forma cash distributions are based on an assumed distribution of $        per unit per quarter. Our pro forma cash available for distribution for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 and June 30, 2012 would have been sufficient to pay the full minimum quarterly distribution on the common units and          % and         %, respectively, of the minimum quarterly distribution on the subordinated units during this period.


Estimated Cash Available for Distribution for the Twelve Months Ending June 30, 2013

        As a result of the factors described in this section and in "—Assumptions and Considerations" below, we believe we will be able to pay the minimum quarterly distribution on all of our common units, subordinated units and the 2.0% general partner interest for each quarter in the twelve months ending June 30, 2013.

        In order to pay the minimum quarterly distribution of $        per unit on all our common units, subordinated units and the 2.0% general partner interest for four quarters, we estimate that our Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ending June 30, 2013 must be at least $         million. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to net income, operating income, cash flows

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from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, as those items are used to measure our operating performance, liquidity or ability to service debt obligations. Please read "Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial and Operating Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for an explanation of Adjusted EBITDA.

        We also anticipate that if our Adjusted EBITDA for such period is at or above our estimate, we would be permitted to make the minimum quarterly distributions on all the common units, subordinated units and the 2.0% general partner interest under the applicable covenants, if any, under our revolving credit facility.

        We believe we will generate estimated Adjusted EBITDA of $68.5 million for the twelve months ending June 30, 2013, which includes approximately $3.1 million of estimated incremental cash expense associated with being a publicly traded partnership. You should read "—Assumptions and Considerations" below for a discussion of the material assumptions underlying this belief, which reflects our judgment of conditions we expect to exist and the course of action we expect to take. If our estimate is not achieved, we may not be able to pay the minimum quarterly distribution on all our units. We can give you no assurance that our assumptions will be realized or that we will generate the $             million in Adjusted EBITDA required to pay the minimum quarterly distribution on all our common units, subordinated units and the 2.0% general partner interest for the four-quarter period ending June 30, 2013. There will likely be differences between our estimates and the actual results we will achieve, and those differences could be material. If we do not generate the estimated Adjusted EBITDA or if our maintenance capital expenditures or interest expense are higher than estimated, we may not be able to pay the minimum quarterly distribution on all units for the four-quarter period ending June 30, 2013.

        When considering our ability to generate our estimated Adjusted EBITDA of $68.5 million, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this prospectus. Any of these factors or the other risks discussed in this prospectus could cause our results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders to vary significantly from those set forth below.

        We do not as a matter of course make public projections as to future revenues, earnings, or other results of operations. However, our management has prepared the prospective financial information set forth below to present the estimated cash available for distribution for the twelve months ending June 30, 2013. The accompanying prospective financial information was not prepared with a view toward public disclosure or with a view toward complying with the guidelines established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants with respect to prospective financial information, but, in the view of our management, was prepared on a reasonable basis, reflects the best currently available estimates and judgments, and presents, to the best of our management's knowledge and belief, the expected course of action and our expected future financial performance. However, this information is not fact and should not be relied upon as being necessarily indicative of future results, and readers of this prospectus are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the prospective financial information.

        Neither our independent auditors, nor any other independent accountants, have compiled, examined, or performed any procedures with respect to the prospective financial information contained herein, nor have they expressed any opinion or any other form of assurance on such information or its achievability, and assume no responsibility for, and disclaim any association with, the prospective financial information.

        We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly the results of any future revisions we may make to the financial forecast or to update this financial forecast to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus. In light of the above, the statement that we believe that we will have sufficient cash available for distribution to allow us to make the full minimum quarterly distribution on all our outstanding common units, subordinated units and the 2.0% general partner interest for the four-quarter period ending June 30, 2013 should not be regarded as a representation by us or the underwriters or any other person that we will make such distributions.

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        The following table shows how we calculate the estimated Adjusted EBITDA necessary to pay the minimum quarterly distribution on all our common units, subordinated units and the 2.0% general partner interest for the four quarters ending June 30, 2013. Our estimated Adjusted EBITDA presents the forecasted results of operations of USA Compression Partners, LP for the twelve months ending June 30, 2013. Our assumptions that we believe are relevant to particular line items in the table below are explained in the corresponding footnotes and in "—Assumptions and Considerations."


Estimated Cash Available for Distribution

 
  Twelve
Months
Ending
June 30,
2013
 
 
  (in thousands,
except per
unit data)

 

Revenues:

       
 

Contract operations

  $ 128,499  
 

Parts and service

    1,139  
       
 

Total revenues

    129,638  

Costs and expenses:

       
 

Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization(1)

    42,774  
 

Selling, general and administrative(2)

    18,337  
 

Depreciation and amortization

    46,228  
       
 

Total costs and expenses

    107,339  
       

Operating income

    22,299  

Interest expense

   
(9,956

)
       

Income before income tax expense

    12,343  

Income tax expense(3)

   
218
 
       

Net income

  $ 12,125  
       

Adjustments to reconcile net income to estimated Adjusted EBITDA(4):

       
 

Add:

       
   

Depreciation and amortization

    46,228  
   

Interest expense

    9,956  
   

Income tax expense

    218  
       

Estimated Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 68,527  

Adjustments to reconcile estimated Adjusted EBITDA to estimated cash available for distribution:

       
 

Less:

       
   

Cash interest expense(5)

    8,492  
   

Income tax expense

    218  
   

Expansion capital expenditures(6)

    104,513  
   

Maintenance capital expenditures(7)

    12,067  
 

Add:

       
   

Borrowings to fund expansion capital expenditures

    104,513  
       

Estimated cash available for distribution

  $ 47,750  

Per unit minimum annual distribution

       

Annual distributions to:(8)

       
 

Publicly held common units

       
 

Common units held by USA Compression Holdings

       
 

Subordinated units held by USA Compression Holdings

       
 

General partner interest of our general partner

       

Total minimum annual cash distributions

       

Excess of cash available for distributions over total minimum annual distributions

       

Fixed charge coverage ratio

       

(1)
Excludes equipment operating lease expense related to compression units leased from Caterpillar. On December 15, 2011, we purchased all the compression units that were previously leased from Caterpillar for $43 million and terminated all the lease schedules and covenants under the facility.

(2)
Includes $3.1 million for estimated incremental cash expense associated with being a publicly traded partnership, including costs associated with annual and quarterly reports to unitholders, financial statement audits, tax return and Schedule K-1 preparation and distribution, investor relations activities, registrar and transfer agent fees, incremental director and officer liability insurance costs and director compensation. Also includes $            of estimated direct and indirect expenses for which our general partner will be entitled to reimbursement.

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(3)
This represents the Texas franchise tax (applicable to income apportioned to Texas beginning January 1, 2007) which, in accordance with ASC 740, is classified as an income tax for reporting purposes.

(4)
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as our net income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation expense, impairment of compression equipment and share-based compensation expense. Please read "Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial and Operating Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for more information regarding Adjusted EBITDA.

(5)
Estimated cash interest expense of $8.5 million is comprised of estimated interest expense of $10.0 million, which includes an adjustment to give effect to this offering and the use of the net proceeds of $         million, less debt issuance amortization cost of $1.5 million.

(6)
Reflects estimated expansion capital expenditures. Expansion capital expenditures are capital expenditures made to expand the operating capacity or revenue generating capacity of existing or new assets, including by acquisition of compression units or through modification of existing compression units to change their capacity.

(7)
Reflects estimated maintenance capital expenditures. Maintenance capital expenditures are capital expenditures made to replace partially or fully depreciated assets, to maintain the operating capacity of our assets and extend their useful lives, or other capital expenditures that are incurred in maintaining our existing business and related cash flow.

(8)
For information regarding the number of units outstanding after this offering, as well as assumptions relating to common units to be issued pursuant to the distribution reinvestment plan that we intend to institute following the completion of this offering, please see "—Units Outstanding" below.


Assumptions and Considerations

        Based on a number of specific assumptions, we believe that, following completion of this offering, we will have sufficient cash available for distribution to allow us to make the full minimum quarterly distribution on all our outstanding common units, subordinated units and the 2.0% general partner interest for the four-quarter period ending June 30, 2013. We believe that our assumptions, which include the following, are reasonable:

        Contract operations revenue.    We estimate that our contract operations revenue will be $128.5 million for the twelve months ending June 30, 2013, as compared to $103.4 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2012 on a pro forma basis. The anticipated increase in our revenue is based upon the following assumptions:

   
   
  Estimated  
   
  Actual
June 30,
2012
  September 30,
2012
  December 31,
2012
  March 31,
2013
  June 30,
2013
 
 

Revenue generating horsepower

    759,498     765,458     799,748     827,720     830,222  
 

Increase in revenue generating horsepower

          5,960     34,290     27,972     2,502  
 

Percentage increase

          0.8 %   4.5 %   3.5 %   0.3 %

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        Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization.    We estimate that our cost of operations will be $42.8 million for the twelve months ending June 30, 2013, which excludes equipment operating lease expense related to compression units previously leased from Caterpillar that we purchased on December 15, 2011 for $43 million, as compared to $39.4 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2012 on a pro forma basis, which includes $1.9 million of equipment operating lease expense. The anticipated increase in our cost of operations is based upon the following assumptions:

        Selling, general and administrative expense.    We estimate that selling, general and administrative expense will be $18.3 million for the twelve months ending June 30, 2013, which includes approximately

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$3.1 million in expenses associated with being a publicly traded partnership, as compared to $15.5 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2012 on a pro forma basis. As a percentage of revenue, selling, general and administrative expense is expected to decrease in the twelve months ending June 30, 2013 (excluding the estimated $3.1 million of expenses associated with being a publicly traded partnership) as a result of the increase in revenue from period to period. Our estimate does not include any amounts for potential cash-based compensation awards pursuant to our 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Any such cash-based awards would increase our selling, general and administrative expense and decrease our cash available for distribution.

        Depreciation and amortization expense.    We estimate that depreciation expense will be $46.2 million for the twelve months ending June 30, 2013, as compared to $36.6 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2012 on a pro forma basis. Depreciation expense is consistently assumed to be based on the average depreciable asset lives and depreciation methodologies, taking into account estimated capital expenditures primarily for additional new compression units as described below.

        Interest expense.    The anticipated increase in interest expense and cash interest expense is based upon the following assumptions:

        Cash interest expense.    Cash interest expense excludes $1.5 million in non-cash amortization of debt issuance costs incurred in connection with borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

        Income tax expense.    Income tax expense represents Texas franchise tax calculated on the forecasted gross revenue apportioned to Texas for the twelve months ending June 30, 2013. The tax is estimated to be approximately $218,000 for the twelve months ending June 30, 2013, as compared to $180,000 for the twelve months ended June 30, 2012 on a pro forma basis. Our estimate of the franchise tax for the twelve months ending June 30, 2013 is based on a tax rate of 0.7% (the maximum effective rate after allowable deductions). This tax is reflected in our financials as an income tax in accordance with ASC 740.

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        Capital expenditures.    The anticipated decrease in capital expenditures is based upon the following assumptions:

        Units Outstanding.    We assume that, following completion of this offering, the public will own                common units, representing a       % limited partner interest in us, and USA Compression Holdings will own                common units and                subordinated units, representing an aggregate       % limited partner interest in us. We also assume that, following this offering, our general partner, USA Compression GP, LLC, will own a 2.0% general partner interest in us, and all of our incentive distribution rights. Following completion of this offering, we intend to institute a distribution reinvestment plan, or a DRIP, pursuant to which owners of common and subordinated units can reinvest their distributions in additional common units. We have been informed by USA Compression Holdings that they intend to reinvest their distributions in additional common units for the foreseeable future, and we expect USA Compression GP, LLC will utilize its distributions to make capital contributions to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest in us. We have assumed that            additional common units are issued as a result of the DRIP for the twelve month period ending June 30, 2013 at an assumed price of $            per common unit related to the common and subordinated units that will be held by USA Compression Holdings. We cannot predict the level of participation in the DRIP by holders of our common units other than USA Compression Holdings, and therefore have assumed no additional common units will be issued to them pursuant to the DRIP. The issuance of additional common units as a result of the reinvestment of distributions by USA Compression Holdings under the DRIP will reduce our forecasted cash available for distribution on a per unit basis.

While we believe that our assumptions supporting our estimated Adjusted EBITDA and cash available for distribution for the twelve months ending June 30, 2013 are reasonable in light of management's current beliefs concerning future events, the assumptions are inherently uncertain and are subject to significant business, economic, regulatory and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those we anticipate. If our assumptions are not realized, the actual Adjusted EBITDA and cash available for distribution that we generate could be substantially less than that currently expected and could, therefore, be insufficient to permit us to make the full minimum quarterly distribution on all of our units for the four-quarter period ending June 30, 2013, in which event the market price of the common units may decline materially.

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PROVISIONS OF OUR PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT RELATING TO 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, beginning with the quarter ending September 30, 2012, we distribute all of our available cash to unitholders of record on the applicable record date. We will adjust the minimum quarterly distribution for the period from the closing of the offering through September 30, 2012.

        Definition of available cash.    Available cash, for any quarter, consists of all cash on hand at the end of that 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.

        Intent to distribute the minimum quarterly distribution.    We intend to distribute to the holders of common and subordinated units on a quarterly basis at least the minimum quarterly distribution of $          per unit, or $          on an annualized basis, to the extent we have sufficient cash from our operations after establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses, including payments to our general partner and its affiliates. However, there is no guarantee that we will pay the minimum quarterly distribution on the units in any quarter. Even if our cash distribution policy is not modified or revoked, the amount of distributions paid under our policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our general partner, taking into consideration the terms of our partnership agreement.

        General partner interest and incentive distribution rights.    Initially, our general partner will be entitled to 2.0% of all quarterly distributions that we make after inception and prior to our liquidation. Our general partner has the right, but not the obligation, to contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its current general partner interest. Our general partner's initial 2.0% interest in our distributions may be reduced if we issue additional limited partner units in the future (other than the issuance of common units upon exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional common units, the issuance of common units upon conversion of outstanding subordinated units or the issuance of common units upon a reset of the incentive distribution rights) and our general partner does not contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest.

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        Our general partner also currently holds incentive distribution rights that entitle it to receive increasing percentages, up to a maximum of 50.0%, of the cash we distribute from operating surplus (as defined below) in excess of $          per unit per quarter. The maximum distribution of 50.0% includes distributions paid to our general partner on its 2.0% general partner interest and assumes that our general partner maintains its general partner interest at 2.0%. The maximum distribution of 50.0% does not include any distributions that our general partner may receive on limited partner units that it owns.


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:

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        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 $             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, provided that operating expenditures will not include:

        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:

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        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 the closing of this offering equals the operating surplus from the closing of this offering 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 ending 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 expenditure by our general partner.

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Subordination Period

        General.    Our partnership agreement provides that, during the subordination period (which we describe below), the common units will have the right to receive distributions of available cash from operating surplus each quarter in an amount equal to $      per common unit, which amount is defined in our partnership agreement as the minimum quarterly distribution, plus any arrearages in the payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units from prior quarters, before any distributions of available cash from operating surplus may be made on the subordinated units. These units are deemed "subordinated" because for a period of time, referred to as the subordination period, the subordinated units will not be entitled to receive any distributions until the common units have received the minimum quarterly distribution plus any arrearages from prior quarters. Furthermore, no arrearages will be paid on the subordinated units. The practical effect of the subordinated units is to increase the likelihood that during the subordination period there will be available cash to be distributed on the common units.

        Subordination period.    Except as described below, the subordination period will begin on the closing date of this offering and expire on the first business day after the distribution to unitholders in respect of any quarter, beginning with the quarter ending September 30, 2015, if each of the following has occurred:

        Early termination of subordination period.    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subordination period will automatically terminate on the first business day after the distribution to unitholders in respect of any quarter, if each of the following has occurred:

        Expiration upon removal of the general partner.    In addition, if the unitholders remove our general partner other than for cause:

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        Expiration of the subordination period.    When the subordination period ends, each outstanding subordinated unit will convert into one common unit and will then participate pro-rata with the other common units in distributions of available cash.

        Adjusted operating surplus.    Adjusted operating surplus is intended to reflect the cash generated from operations during a particular period and therefore excludes net increases in working capital borrowings and net drawdowns of reserves of cash generated in prior periods. Adjusted operating surplus for any period consists of:


Distributions of Available Cash From Operating Surplus During the Subordination Period

        Our partnership agreement requires that we make distributions of available cash from operating surplus for any quarter during the subordination period in the following manner:

        The preceding discussion is based on the assumptions that our general partner maintains its 2.0% general partner interest and that we do not issue additional classes of equity interests.

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Distributions of Available Cash From Operating Surplus After the Subordination Period

        Our partnership agreement requires that we make distributions of available cash from operating surplus for any quarter after the subordination period in the following manner:

        The preceding discussion is based on the assumptions that our general partner maintains its 2.0% general partner interest and that we do not issue additional classes of equity interests.


General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights

        Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner initially will be entitled to 2.0% of all distributions that we make prior to our liquidation. Our general partner has the right, but not the obligation, to contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest if we issue additional units. Our general partner's 2.0% interest, and the percentage of our cash distributions to which it is entitled, will be proportionately reduced if we issue additional units in the future (other than the issuance of common units upon exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional common units, the issuance of common units upon conversion of outstanding subordinated units or the issuance of common units upon a reset of the incentive distribution rights) and our general partner does not contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us in order to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest. Our partnership agreement does not require that the general partner fund its capital contribution with cash and our general partner may fund its capital contribution by the contribution to us of common units or other property.

        Incentive distribution rights represent the right to receive an increasing percentage (13.0%, 23.0% and 48.0%) of quarterly distributions of available cash from operating surplus after the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels have been achieved. Our general partner currently holds the incentive distribution rights, but may transfer these rights separately from its percentage general partner interest, subject to restrictions in the partnership agreement.

        The following discussion assumes that our general partner maintains its 2.0% general partner interest, that there are no arrearages on common units and that our general partner continues to own the incentive distribution rights.

        If for any quarter:

then, our partnership agreement requires that we distribute any additional available cash from operating surplus for that quarter among the unitholders and the general partner in the following manner:

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Percentage Allocations of Available Cash From Operating Surplus

        The following table illustrates the percentage allocations of available cash from operating surplus between the unitholders and our general partner based on the specified target distribution levels. The amounts set forth under "Marginal percentage interest in distributions" are the percentage interests of our general partner and the unitholders in any available cash from operating surplus we distribute up to and including the corresponding amount in the column "Total quarterly distribution per unit." The percentage interests shown for our unitholders and our general partner for the minimum quarterly distribution are also applicable to quarterly distribution amounts that are less than the minimum quarterly distribution. The percentage interests set forth below for our general partner include its 2.0% general partner interest, assume our general partner has contributed any additional capital to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest and has not transferred its incentive distribution rights and there are no arrearages on common units.

 
   
  Marginal percentage interest
in distributions
 
 
  Total quarterly
distribution per unit
  Unitholders   General partner  

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

  $     98.0 %   2.0 %

First Target Distribution

  up to $     98.0 %   2.0 %

Second Target Distribution

  above $    up to $     85.0 %   15.0 %

Third Target Distribution

  above $    up to $     75.0 %   25.0 %

Thereafter

  above $     50.0 %   50.0 %


General Partner's Right to Reset Incentive Distribution Levels

        Our general partner, as the holder of our incentive distribution rights, or IDRs, has the right under our partnership agreement to elect to relinquish the right to receive incentive distribution payments based on the initial cash target distribution levels and to reset, at higher levels, the minimum quarterly distribution amount and cash target distribution levels upon which the incentive distribution payments to our general partner would be set. Our general partner's right to reset the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution levels upon which the incentive distributions payable to our general partner are based may be exercised, without approval of our unitholders or the conflicts committee of our general partner, at any time when there are no subordinated units outstanding and we have made cash distributions to the holders of the incentive distribution rights at the highest level of incentive distribution for each of the prior four consecutive fiscal quarters. The reset minimum quarterly distribution amount and target distribution levels will be higher than the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution levels prior to the reset such that our general partner will not receive any incentive distributions under the reset target distribution levels until cash distributions per unit following this event are above the reset first target distribution described below. We anticipate that our general partner would exercise this reset right in order to facilitate acquisitions or internal growth projects that would otherwise not be sufficiently accretive to cash distributions per common unit, taking into account the existing levels of incentive distribution payments being made to our general partner.

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        In connection with the resetting of the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution levels and the corresponding relinquishment by our general partner of incentive distribution payments based on the target cash distributions prior to the reset, our general partner will be entitled to receive a number of newly issued common units based on a predetermined formula described below that takes into account the "cash parity" value of the average cash distributions related to the incentive distribution rights received by our general partner for the two quarters prior to the reset event as compared to the average cash distributions per common unit during this period. Our general partner's general partner interest in us (currently 2.0%) will be maintained at the percentage immediately prior to the reset election.

        The number of common units that our general partner would be entitled to receive from us in connection with a resetting of the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution levels then in effect would be equal to the quotient determined by dividing (x) the average amount of cash distributions received by our general partner in respect of its incentive distribution rights during the two consecutive fiscal quarters ended immediately prior to the date of such reset election by (y) the average of the amount of cash distributed per common unit during each of these two quarters.

        Following a reset election by our general partner, the minimum quarterly distribution amount will be reset to an amount equal to the average cash distribution amount per unit for the two fiscal quarters immediately preceding the reset election (which amount we refer to as the "reset minimum quarterly distribution") and the target distribution levels will be reset to be correspondingly higher such that we would distribute all of our available cash from operating surplus for each quarter thereafter as follows:

        The following table illustrates the percentage allocation of available cash from operating surplus between the unitholders and our general partner at various cash distribution levels (i) pursuant to the cash distribution provisions of our partnership agreement in effect at the closing of this offering, as well as (ii) following a hypothetical reset of the minimum quarterly distribution and target distribution levels based on the assumption that the average quarterly cash distribution amount per common unit during the two fiscal quarters immediately preceding the reset election was $            .

 
   
  Marginal percentage interest
in distribution
   
 
   
  Quarterly distribution
per unit following

 
  Quarterly distribution
   
  General partner
 
  per unit prior to reset   Unitholders   hypothetical reset

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

  $     98.0 %   2.0 % $         

First Target Distribution

  up to $     98.0 %   2.0 % up to $    (1)

Second Target Distribution

  above $    up to $     85.0 %   15.0 % above $    (1) up to $    (2)

Third Target Distribution

  above $    up to $     75.0 %   25.0 % above $    (2) up to $    (3)

Thereafter

  above $     50.0 %   50.0 % above $    (3)

(1)
This amount is 115.0% of the hypothetical reset minimum quarterly distribution.

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(2)
This amount is 125.0% of the hypothetical reset minimum quarterly distribution.

(3)
This amount is 150.0% of the hypothetical reset minimum quarterly distribution.

        The following table illustrates the total amount of available cash from operating surplus that would be distributed to the unitholders and our general partner, including in respect of IDRs, based on an average of the amounts distributed for a quarter for the two quarters immediately prior to the reset. The table assumes that immediately prior to the reset there would be            common units outstanding, our general partner has maintained its 2.0% general partner interest, and the average distribution to each common unit would be $            for the two quarters prior to the reset.

 
   
   
  Cash distributions to general
partner prior to reset
   
 
 
   
  Cash
distributions
to common
unitholders
prior to reset
   
 
 
  Quarterly
distribution
per unit
prior to reset
   
 
 
  Common
Units
  2.0% general
partner
interest
  Incentive
distribution
rights
  Total   Total
distributions
 

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

  $   $     $   $     $   $     $    

First Target Distribution

  above $    up to $                                  

Second Target Distribution

  above $    up to $                                    

Third Target Distribution

  above $    up to $                                    

Thereafter

  above $                                    
                               

      $     $   $     $     $     $    
                               

        The following table illustrates the total amount of available cash from operating surplus that would be distributed to the unitholders and our general partner, including in respect of IDRs, with respect to the quarter in which the reset occurs. The table reflects that as a result of the reset there would be            common units outstanding, our general partner's 2.0% interest has been maintained, and the average distribution to each common unit would be $            . The number of common units to be issued to our general partner upon the reset was calculated by dividing (i) the average of the amounts received by our general partner in respect of its IDRs for the two quarters prior to the reset as shown in the table above, or $            , by (ii) the average available cash distributed on each common unit for the two quarters prior to the reset as shown in the table above, or $            .

 
   
   
  Cash distributions to general
partner after reset
   
 
 
   
  Cash
distributions
to common
unitholders
prior to reset
   
 
 
  Quarterly
distribution
per unit
prior to reset
  Common
Units issued in
connection
with reset
  2.0% general
partner
interest
  Incentive
distribution
rights
  Total   Total
distributions
 

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

  $   $     $     $     $   $     $    

First Target Distribution

  up to $                          

Second Target Distribution

  above $    up to $                          

Third Target Distribution

  above $    up to $                          

Thereafter

  above $                                

      $     $     $     $     $     $    
                               

        Our general partner will be entitled to cause the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution levels to be reset on more than one occasion, provided that it may not make a reset election except at a time when it has received incentive distributions for the prior four consecutive fiscal quarters based on the highest level of incentive distributions that it is entitled to receive under our partnership agreement.

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Distributions From Capital Surplus

        How distributions from capital surplus will be made.    Our partnership agreement requires that we make distributions of available cash from capital surplus, if any, in the following manner:

        The preceding paragraph assumes that our general partner maintains its 2.0% general partner interest and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.

        Effect of a distribution from capital surplus.    Our partnership agreement treats a distribution of capital surplus as the repayment of the initial unit price from this initial public offering, which is a return of capital. Each time a distribution of capital surplus is made, the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels will be reduced in the same proportion as the distribution had in relation to the fair market value of the common units prior to the announcement of the distribution. Because distributions of capital surplus will reduce the minimum quarterly distribution and target distribution levels after any of these distributions are made, it may be easier for our general partner to receive incentive distributions and for the subordinated units to convert into common units. However, any distribution of capital surplus before the minimum quarterly distribution is reduced to zero cannot be applied to the payment of the minimum quarterly distribution or any arrearages.

        If we reduce the minimum quarterly distribution to zero, all future distributions will be made such that 50.0% will be paid to the holders of units and 50.0% to our general partner. The percentage interests shown for our general partner include its 2.0% general partner interest and assume our general partner has not transferred the incentive distribution rights.


Adjustment to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels

        In addition to adjusting the minimum quarterly distribution and target distribution levels to reflect a distribution of capital surplus, if we combine our units into fewer units or subdivide our units into a greater number of units, our partnership agreement specifies that the following items will be proportionately adjusted:

        For example, if a two-for-one split of the units should occur, the minimum quarterly distribution, the target distribution levels and the initial unit price would each be reduced to 50.0% of its initial level. If we combine our common units into a lesser number of units or subdivide our common units into a greater number of units, we will combine or subdivide our subordinated units using the same ratio applied to the common units. Our partnership agreement provides that we do not make any adjustment by reason of the issuance of additional units for cash or property.

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        In addition, if as a result of a change in law or interpretation thereof, we or any of our subsidiaries is treated as an association taxable as a corporation or is otherwise subject to additional taxation as an entity for U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. income or withholding tax purposes, our general partner may, in its sole discretion, reduce the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels for each quarter by multiplying each distribution level by a fraction, the numerator of which is available cash for that quarter (after deducting our general partner's estimate of our additional aggregate liability for the quarter for such income and withholdings taxes payable by reason of such change in law or interpretation) and the denominator of which is the sum of (i) available cash for that quarter, plus (ii) our general partner's estimate of our additional aggregate liability for the quarter for such income and withholding taxes payable by reason of such change in law or interpretation thereof. To the extent that the actual tax liability differs from the estimated tax liability for any quarter, the difference will be accounted for in distributions with respect to subsequent quarters.


Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation

        General.    If we dissolve in accordance with the partnership agreement, we will sell or otherwise dispose of our assets in a process called liquidation. We will first apply the proceeds of liquidation to the payment of our creditors. We will distribute any remaining proceeds to the unitholders and the general partner, 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.

        The allocations of gain and loss upon liquidation are intended, to the extent possible, to entitle the holders of units to a repayment of the initial value contributed by them to us for their units, which we refer to as the "initial unit price" for each unit. The initial unit price for the common units will be the price paid for the common units issued in this offering. The allocations of gain and loss upon liquidation are also intended, to the extent possible, to entitle the holders of outstanding common units to a preference over the holders of outstanding subordinated units upon our liquidation, to the extent required to permit common unitholders to receive their initial unit price plus the minimum quarterly distribution for the quarter during which liquidation occurs plus any unpaid arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units. However, there may not be sufficient gain upon our liquidation to enable the holders of common units to fully recover all of these amounts, even though there may be cash available for distribution to the holders of subordinated units. Any further net gain recognized upon liquidation will be allocated in a manner that takes into account the incentive distribution rights of our general partner.

        Manner of adjustments for gain.    The manner of the adjustment for gain is set forth in the partnership agreement. If our liquidation occurs before the end of the subordination period, we will allocate any gain to the partners in the following manner:

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        The percentage interests set forth above for our general partner include its 2.0% general partner interest and assume our general partner has not transferred the incentive distribution rights.

        If the liquidation occurs after the end of the subordination period, the distinction between common and subordinated units will disappear, so that clause (iii) of the second bullet point above and all of the third bullet point above will no longer be applicable.

        Manner of adjustments for losses.    If our liquidation occurs before the end of the subordination period, we will generally allocate any loss to our general partner and the unitholders in the following manner:

        If the liquidation occurs after the end of the subordination period, the distinction between common and subordinated units will disappear, so that all of the first bullet point above will no longer be applicable.

        Adjustments to capital accounts.    Our partnership agreement requires that we make adjustments to capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units. In this regard, our partnership agreement specifies that we allocate any unrealized and, for tax purposes, unrecognized gain or loss resulting from the adjustments to the unitholders and the general partner in the same manner as we allocate gain or loss upon liquidation. In the event that we make positive adjustments to the capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units, our partnership agreement requires that we allocate any later negative adjustments to the capital accounts resulting from the issuance of additional units or upon our liquidation in a manner which results, to the extent possible, in the general partner's capital account balances equaling the amount which they would have been if no earlier positive adjustments to the capital accounts had been made.

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SELECTED HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA

        The following table presents our selected historical financial and operating data and pro forma financial data for the periods and as of the dates presented. The following table should be read together with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the historical and pro forma financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

        The selected historical financial and operating data has been prepared on the following basis:

        We were acquired by USA Compression Holdings on December 23, 2010. In connection with this acquisition, our assets and liabilities were adjusted to fair value on the closing date by application of "push-down" accounting. Due to these adjustments, our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in two distinct periods to indicate the application of two different bases of accounting between the periods presented: (i) the periods prior to the acquisition date for accounting purposes, using a date of convenience of December 31, 2010, are identified as "Predecessor," and (ii) the periods from December 31, 2010 forward are identified as "Successor." Please read note 1 to our audited financial statements as of December 31, 2011 included elsewhere in this prospectus.

        The selected pro forma financial information for the year ended December 31, 2011 and as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2012 is derived from our unaudited pro forma financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The pro forma adjustments have been prepared as if the transactions described below had taken place on June 30, 2012, in the case of the pro forma balance sheet, or as of January 1, 2011, in the case of the pro forma statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012. These transactions include:

        The pro forma financial information should not be considered as indicative of the historical results we would have had or the results we will have after this offering.

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        The following table includes the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA. We define Adjusted EBITDA as our net income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation expense, impairment of compression equipment, share-based compensation expense, restructuring charges, management fees, expenses under our operating lease with Caterpillar and certain fees and expenses related to the Holdings Acquisition. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, please read "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

 
  Historical   Pro Forma  
 
  Predecessor    
  Successor(1)    
   
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
 


   
  Six
Months
Ended
June 30,
2011
  Six
Months
Ended
June 30,
2012
   
  Six
Months
Ended
June 30,
2012
 
 
  Year ended December 31,   Year
Ended
December 31,
2011
  Year
Ended
December 31,
2011
 
 
  2007   2008   2009    
  2010    
 
 
  (in thousands, except per unit and operating data)
 

Revenues:

                                                               
 

Contract operations

  $ 67,339   $ 87,905   $ 93,178       $ 89,785       $ 93,896   $ 45,363   $ 54,907   $ 93,896   $ 54,907  
 

Parts and service

    2,296     2,918     2,050         2,243         4,824     1,291     1,087     4,824     1,087  
                                               
 

Total revenues

    69,635     90,823     95,228         92,028         98,720     46,654     55,994     98,720     55,994  

Costs and expenses:

                                                               
 

Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    20,513     29,320     30,096         33,292         39,605     18,318     18,144     39,605     18,144  
 

Selling, general and administrative(2)

    10,958     8,709     9,136         11,370         12,726     5,599     8,418     12,726     8,418  
 

Restructuring charges(3)

                            300             300      
 

Depreciation and amortization

    13,437     18,016     22,957         24,569         32,738     15,815     19,661     32,738     19,661  
 

(Gain) loss of sale of assets

    (3 )   (235 )   (74 )       (90 )       178     146     203     178     203  
 

Impairment of compression equipment

    1,028         1,677                                  
                                               
 

Total costs and expenses

    45,933     55,810     63,792         69,141         85,547     39,878     46,426     85,547     46,426  
                                               

Operating income

    23,702     35,013     31,436         22,887         13,173     6,776     9,568     13,173     9,568  

Other income (expense):

                                                               
 

Interest expense

    (16,468 )   (14,003 )   (10,043 )       (12,279 )       (12,970 )   (6,436 )   (7,249 )   (6,239 )   (4,600 )
 

Other

    43     20     25         26         21     14     16     21     16  
                                               
 

Total other expense

    (16,425 )   (13,983 )   (10,018 )       (12,253 )       (12,949 )   (6,422 )   (7,233 )   (6,218 )   (4,584 )
                                               

Income before income tax expense

    7,277     21,030     21,418         10,634         224     354     2,335     6,955     4,984  
                                               

Income tax expense(4)

    155     119     190         155         155     71     96     155     96  
                                               

Net income

  $ 7,122   $ 20,911   $ 21,228       $ 10,479       $ 69   $ 283   $ 2,239   $ 6,800   $ 4,888  
                                               
 

Adjusted EBITDA

 
$

40,562
 
$

53,274
 
$

56,917
     
$

51,987
     
$

51,285
 
$

24,985
 
$

29,745
 
$

51,285
 
$

29,745
 

Pro forma net income per limited partner unit:

                                                               
 

Common unit

                                                               
 

Subordinated unit

                                                               

Other Financial Data:

                                                               
 

Capital expenditures(5)

  $ 63,010   $ 92,708   $ 29,580       $ 18,886       $ 133,264   $ 31,198   $ 106,595              
 

Cash flows provided by (used in):

                                                               
   

Operating activities

    26,441     40,699     42,945         38,572         33,782     21,008     18,022              
   

Investing activities

    (62,642 )   (88,102 )   (26,763 )       (18,768 )       (140,444 )   (30,626 )   (105,313 )            
   

Financing activities

    37,591     46,364     (16,545 )       (19,804 )       106,662     9,618     87,295              

Operating Data (at period end, except averages)—unaudited

                                                               
 

Fleet horsepower(6)

    453,508     542,899     582,530         609,730         722,201     657,225     858,900              
 

Total available horsepower(7)

    476,698     568,359     582,530         612,410         809,418     672,686     884,235              
 

Revenue generating horsepower(8)

    405,807     496,606     502,177         533,692         649,285     558,421     759,498              
 

Average revenue generating horsepower(9)

    370,826     455,673     489,243         516,703         570,900     538,850     709,124              
 

Revenue generating compression units

    613     763     749         795         888     814     948              
 

Average horsepower per revenue generating compression unit(10)

    665     651     655         667         692     676     768              
 

Horsepower utilization(11):

                                                               
   

At period end

    93.7 %   95.2 %   92.0 %       91.8 %       95.7 %   93.0 %   94.9 %            
   

Average for the period(12)

    93.9 %   95.9 %   92.7 %       92.6 %       92.3 %   91.1 %   95.6 %            

 

 

Predecessor

 

 


 

Successor(1)

 

 


 

Pro Forma

 

Balance Sheet Data (at period end):

                                                               
 

Working capital(13)

  $ (2,794 ) $ (7,656 ) $ (4,678 )     $ (3,984 )     $ (11,295 ) $ (10,671 ) $ (19,480 )       $ (19,480 )
 

Total assets

    276,983     349,645     352,757         614,718         727,876     630,396     827,403           827,553  
 

Long-term debt

    229,861     276,537     260,470         255,491         363,773     265,319     452,650           268,644  
 

Partners' capital

    32,795     49,685     72,626         338,954         339,023     339,237     341,262           525,418  

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(1)
Reflects the push-down of the purchase accounting for the Holdings Acquisition.

(2)
Pro forma selling, general and administrative expense does not include incremental general and administrative expenses we expect to incur as a result of being a publicly traded partnership. We expect these expenses to total approximately $3.1 million per year.

(3)
During the year ended December 31, 2011, we incurred $0.3 million of restructuring charges for severance and retention benefits related to the termination of certain administrative employees. These charges are reflected as restructuring charges in our consolidated statement of operations. We paid approximately $0.1 million of these restructuring charges in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and paid the remaining $0.2 million in the three month period ended June 30, 2012.

(4)
This represents the Texas franchise tax (applicable to income apportioned to Texas) which, in accordance with ASC 740, is classified as income tax for reporting purposes.

(5)
On December 15, 2011, we purchased all the compression units previously leased from Caterpillar for $43 million and terminated all the lease schedules and covenants under the facility. This amount is included in capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2011. On December 16, 2011, the Partnership entered into an agreement with a compression equipment supplier to reduce certain previously made progress payments from $10 million to $2 million. The Partnership applied this $8 million credit to new compression unit purchases from this supplier in the six months ended June 30, 2012. Before the application of this credit, capital expenditures were $114.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

(6)
Fleet horsepower is horsepower for compression units that have been delivered to us (and excludes any units on order). As of June 30, 2012, we had 66,539 of additional new compression unit horsepower on order, of which 51,039 horsepower is expected to be delivered between July 2012 and September 2012, and 15,500 horsepower is expected to be delivered between October 2012 and December 2012.

(7)
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 not yet generating revenue that is subject to a purchase order and idle horsepower. Total available horsepower excludes new horsepower on order for which we do not have a compression services contract.

(8)
Revenue generating horsepower is horsepower under contract for which we are billing a customer.

(9)
Calculated as the average of the month-end revenue generating horsepower for each of the months in the period.

(10)
Calculated as the average of the month-end horsepower per revenue generating compression unit for each of the months in the period.

(11)
Horsepower utilization is calculated as (i)(a) revenue generating horsepower plus (b) horsepower in our fleet that is under contract, but is not yet generating revenue plus (c) horsepower not yet in our fleet that is under contract 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 at each applicable period end was 89.5%, 91.5%, 86.2%, 87.5% and 89.9% for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively, and 85.0% and 88.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

(12)
Calculated as the average utilization for the months in the period based on utilization at the end of each month in the period.

(13)
Working capital is defined as current assets minus current liabilities.

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

        We include in this prospectus the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA. We view Adjusted EBITDA as one of our primary management tools, and we track this item on a monthly basis both as an absolute amount and as a percentage of revenue compared to the prior month, year-to-date and prior year and to budget. We define Adjusted EBITDA as our net income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation expense, impairment of compression equipment, share-based compensation expense, restructuring charges, management fees, expenses under our operating lease with Caterpillar and certain fees and expenses related to the Holdings Acquisition. 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:

        We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors because, when viewed with our GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliations, it provides a more complete understanding of our performance than GAAP results alone. We also believe that external users of our financial statements benefit from having access to the same financial measures that management uses in evaluating the results of our business.

        Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income, operating income, cash flows from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP as measures of operating performance and liquidity. Moreover, our Adjusted EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

        Adjusted EBITDA does not include interest expense, income taxes, depreciation expense, impairment of compression equipment, share-based compensation expense, restructuring charges, management fees, expenses under our operating lease with Caterpillar and certain fees and expenses related to the Holdings Acquisition. Because we borrow money under our revolving credit facility and have historically utilized operating leases to finance our operations, interest expense and operating lease expense are necessary elements of our costs. Because we use capital assets, depreciation and impairment of compression equipment is also a necessary element of our costs. Expense related to share-based compensation expense related to equity awards to employees is also necessary to operate our business. Therefore, measures that exclude these elements have material limitations. To compensate for these limitations, we believe that it is important to consider both net income and net cash provided by operating activities determined under GAAP, as well as Adjusted EBITDA, to evaluate our financial performance and our liquidity. Our Adjusted EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income and net cash provided by operating activities, and these measures may vary among companies. Management compensates for the limitations of Adjusted EBITDA as an analytical tool by reviewing the comparable GAAP measures, understanding the differences between the measures and incorporating this knowledge into management's decision-making processes.

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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:

 
  Historical   Pro Forma  
 
  Predecessor    
  Successor    
   
 
 
  Year ended December 31,    
  Year
Ended
December 31,
2011
  Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2011
  Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2012
  Year
Ended
December 31,
2011
  Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2012
 
 
  2007   2008   2009   2010    
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

Net income

  $ 7,122   $ 20,911   $ 21,228   $ 10,479       $ 69   $ 283   $ 2,239   $ 6,800   $ 4,888  
 

Interest expense

   
16,468
   
14,003
   
10,043
   
12,279
       
12,970
   
6,436
   
7,249
   
6,239
   
4,600
 
 

Depreciation and amortization

    13,437     18,016     22,957     24,569         32,738     15,815     19,661     32,738     19,661  
 

Income taxes

    155     119     190     155         155     71     96     155     96  
 

Impairment of compression equipment(1)

    1,028         1,677                              
 

Share-based compensation expense

    2,352     225     269     382                          
 

Equipment operating lease expense(2)

            553     2,285         4,053     2,130         4,053      
 

Riverstone management fee(3)

                            1,000     250     500     1,000     500  
 

Restructuring charges(4)

                            300             300      
 

Fees and expenses related to the Holdings Acquisition(5)

                1,838                          
                                           

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 40,562   $ 53,274   $ 56,917   $ 51,987       $ 51,285   $ 24,985   $ 29,745   $ 51,285   $ 29,745  
                                           
 

Interest expense

    (16,468 )   (14,003 )   (10,043 )   (12,279 )       (12,970 )   (6,436 )   (7,249 )            
 

Income tax expense

    (155 )   (119 )   (190 )   (155 )       (155 )   (71 )   (96 )            
 

Equipment operating lease expense

            (553 )   (2,285 )       (4,053 )   (2,130 )                
 

Riverstone management fee

                            (1,000 )   (250 )   (500 )            
 

Restructuring charges

                            (300 )                    
 

Fees and expenses related to the Holdings Acquisition

                (1,838 )                            
 

Other

    1,666     201     288     3,362         (920 )   (352 )   (512 )            
 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                                                           
   

Accounts receivable and advance to employee

    (563 )   (2,458 )   1,865     (336 )       (976 )   (951 )   (495 )            
   

Inventory

    (216 )   (155 )   (3,680 )   503         1,974     1,059     (226 )            
   

Prepaids

    (358 )   (1,165 )   608     (18 )       (219 )   (20 )   498              
   

Other non-current assets

    (2 )   (3 )   (4 )   1         (2,601 )   (1,617 )   (591 )            
   

Accounts payable

    211     1,960     (857 )   (825 )       1,987     3,966     (5,182 )            
   

Accrued liabilities and deferred revenue

    1,764     3,167     (1,406 )   455         1,730     2,825     2,630              
                                               

Net cash provided by operating activities

  $ 26,441   $ 40,699   $ 42,945   $ 38,572       $ 33,782   $ 21,008   $ 18,022              
                                               

(1)
Represents non-cash charges incurred to write-down long-lived assets with recorded values that are not expected to be recovered through future cash flows.

(2)
Represents expenses for the respective periods under the operating lease facility with Caterpillar, from whom we historically leased compression units and other equipment. On December 15, 2011, we purchased all the compression units that were previously leased from Caterpillar for $43 million and terminated all the lease schedules and covenants under the facility. As such, we believe it is useful to investors to view our results excluding these lease payments.

(3)
Represents management fees paid to Riverstone for services performed during 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012. As these fees will not be paid by us following this offering, we believe it is useful to investors to view our results excluding these fees.

(4)
During the year ended December 31, 2011, we incurred $0.3 million of restructuring charges for severance and retention benefits related to the termination of certain administrative employees. These charges are reflected as restructuring charges in our consolidated statement of operations. We paid approximately $0.1 million of these restructuring charges in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and paid the remaining $0.2 million in the three month period ended June 30, 2012. We believe that it is useful to investors to view our results excluding this non-core expense.

(5)
Represents one-time fees and expenses related to the Holdings Acquisition. These fees and expenses are not related to our operations, and we do not expect to incur similar fees or expenses in the future as a publicly traded partnership.

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MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

        You should read the following discussion of our historical financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the audited and unaudited financial statements and related notes and the unaudited pro forma financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. Among other things, those financial statements include more detailed information regarding the basis of presentation for the following information.


Overview

        We are a growth-oriented Delaware limited partnership and, based on management's significant experience in the industry, we believe that we are one of the largest independent providers of compression services in the U.S. in terms of total compression unit horsepower. We have been providing compression services since 1998. We currently operate in a number of U.S. natural gas shale plays, including the Fayetteville, Marcellus, Woodford, Barnett, Eagle Ford and Haynesville shales. We believe compression services for shale production will increase in the future. According to the Annual Energy Outlook 2012 prepared by the EIA, natural gas production from shale formations will increase from 23% of total U.S. natural gas production in 2010 to 49% of total U.S. natural gas production in 2035. We also provide compression services in more mature conventional basins that will require increasing amounts of compression as they age and pressures decline.

        We operate in a single business segment, the compression service business. We provide our customers with compression services to maximize their natural gas and crude oil production, throughput and cash flow. We provide domestic compression services to major oil companies and independent producers, processors, gatherers and transporters of natural gas using our modern, flexible fleet of compression units, which have been designed to be rapidly deployed and redeployed throughout the country. As part of our services, we engineer, design, operate, service and repair our compression units and maintain related support inventory and equipment.

        We provide our compression services primarily under long-term, fixed fee contracts. Our contracts have initial contract terms of up to five years. Our customers generally require compression services at their locations for longer than the initial contract term. We typically continue to provide compression services to our customers beyond their initial contract terms, either through renewals or on a month-to-month basis. As of and for the six months ended June 30, 2012, approximately 34% of our compression services on a horsepower basis (and 42% on a revenue basis) were provided to customers under contracts continuing on a month-to-month basis. Our customers are typically required to pay our monthly fee even during periods of limited or disrupted natural gas flows, which enhances the stability and predictability of our cash flows. We are not directly exposed to natural gas price risk because we do not take title to the natural gas we compress and because the natural gas used as fuel for our compression units is supplied by our customers without cost to us. Our indirect exposure to short-term volatility in natural gas and crude oil commodity prices is mitigated by the long-term nature of the majority of our contracts. As of June 30, 2012, we estimate that over 90% of our revenue generating horsepower was deployed in large-volume gathering systems, processing facilities and transportation applications.


General Trends and Outlook

        From 2006 through 2008, the compression industry in the U.S. experienced a period of significant strength. Our average annual horsepower utilization rates ranged from 94% to 97% during these years, and our average revenue per revenue generating horsepower per month increased from $14.18 in 2006 to $16.24 in 2008. During 2009 and the first half of 2010, the industry experienced pricing pressure as a result of reduced commodity prices and energy activity, an excess supply of gas compression equipment in the industry and the rationalization of compression equipment by producers, processors, gatherers

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and transporters of natural gas that has included replacing outsourced compression services with customer-owned equipment and downsizing compression units. Average monthly revenue per revenue generating horsepower declined to $16.05 in 2009, $14.70 in 2010 and $14.07 in 2011, although our utilization rates remained high at 93% for 2009 and 2010 and 92% for 2011. Pricing for the compression industry in the U.S. began to stabilize in mid-2010 and improved slightly during the second half of 2010 and remained stable in 2011.

        We anticipate that our average monthly revenue per revenue generating horsepower will continue to decline slightly through 2012, as market rates in 2009 and early 2010 were lower than market rates prior to 2009, and as older contracts at higher rates expire, a larger percentage of our contracts are at the lower rates prevalent since 2009. During 2009 and early 2010, we elected to sign shorter term contracts wherever practical to limit our long-term exposure to the lower rates prevalent at the time. Rates improved in the second half of 2010 and remained relatively stable through 2011. However, we expect to experience pricing pressure in 2012 across the horsepower ranges of our fleet (other than our largest horsepower units), with increases forecasted through the second quarter of 2013. Over the long term, we expect that continued improved pricing will ultimately improve our average monthly revenue per revenue generating horsepower as contracts that we entered into in 2009 and early 2010 expire and we enter into new contracts at higher rates. We intend to grow the number of large-horsepower units in our fleet. While large-horsepower units in general allow us to generate higher gross operating margins than lower-horsepower units, they also generate lower average monthly revenue per revenue generating horsepower.

        Our ability to increase our revenues is dependent in large part on our ability to add new revenue generating compression units to our fleet and increase the utilization of idle compression units. During 2010, we began to see an increase in overall natural gas activity in the U.S. and experienced an increase in demand for our compression services. Our revenue generating horsepower increased approximately 36.0% as of June 30, 2012 as compared to June 30, 2011. Average revenue generating horsepower increased approximately 31.6% from the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2012. We believe the activity levels in the U.S. will continue to increase, particularly in shale plays. We anticipate this activity will result in higher demand for our compression services, which we believe should result in increasing revenues. However, the expected increase in overall natural gas activity and demand for our compression services may not occur for a variety of reasons. See "Forward-looking Statements."


Factors That Affect Our Future Results

        We provide compression services to major oil companies and independent producers, processors, gatherers and transporters of natural gas, and operate in a number of U.S. natural gas shale plays, including the Fayetteville, Marcellus, Woodford, Barnett, Eagle Ford and Haynesville shales. Our customers use our services primarily in large-volume gathering systems, processing facilities and transportation applications. Regardless of the application for which our services are provided, our customers rely upon the availability of the equipment used to provide compression services and our expertise to help generate the maximum throughput of product, reduce fuel costs and reduce emissions. While we are currently focused on our existing service areas, our customers have natural gas compression demands in other areas of the U.S. in conjunction with their field development projects. We continually consider expansion of our areas of operation in the U.S. based upon the level of customer demand. Our modern, flexible fleet of compression units, which have been designed to be rapidly deployed and redeployed throughout the country, provides us with continuing opportunities to expand into other areas with both new and existing customers. From April 2008 through June 2012, we redeployed approximately 53,000 horsepower of our compression units from our Central operating region to our Northeast operating region, which includes the Marcellus shale, to meet increasing customer demand in that geographic area. Many of our customers have access to low-cost capital made

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available by banks and equipment manufacturers and have elected to access this capital to add compression units to their owned compression fleets. Additional purchases of compression equipment by our customers may result in reduced demand for our compression services by these customers, which could materially reduce our results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

        We believe that as a clean alternative to other fuels, natural gas will continue to be a fuel of choice for many years to come for many industries and consumers. The EIA forecasts in its Annual Energy Outlook 2012 that natural gas consumption in the U.S. will increase by approximately 10% from 2010 to 2035. We believe this long-term increasing demand for natural gas will create increasing demand for compression services, for both natural gas fields as they age and for the development of new natural gas fields. Additionally, the shift to production of natural gas from shale, tight gas and coal bed formations that often have lower producing pressures than conventional reservoirs, results in a further increase in compression needs. In the short-term, changes in natural gas pricing, based primarily upon the supply of natural gas, will affect the development activities of natural gas producers based upon the costs associated with finding and producing natural gas in the particular natural gas and oil fields in which they are active. Although short-term declines in natural gas prices have a short-term negative effect on the development activity in natural gas fields, periods of lower development activity tend to place emphasis on improving production efficiency. As a result of our commitment to providing a high level of availability of the equipment used to provide compression services, we believe our service run times position us to satisfy the needs of our customers.

        In determining the amount of cash available for distribution, the board of directors of our general partner will determine the amount of cash reserves to set aside for our operations, including reserves for future working capital, maintenance capital expenditures, expansion capital expenditures and other matters, which will impact the amount of cash we are able to distribute to our unitholders. However, we expect that we will rely primarily upon external financing sources, including borrowings under our revolving credit facility and issuances of debt and equity securities, rather than cash reserves, to fund our expansion capital expenditures. To the extent we are unable to finance growth externally and are unwilling to establish cash reserves to fund future expansions, our cash available for distribution will not significantly increase. In addition, because we distribute all of our available cash, we may not grow as quickly as businesses that reinvest their available cash to expand ongoing operations. To the extent we issue additional units in connection with any expansion capital expenditures, the payment of distributions on those additional units may increase the risk that we will be unable to maintain or increase our per unit distribution level. There are no limitations in our partnership agreement or in the terms of our revolving credit facility on our ability to issue additional units, including units ranking senior to the common units.


How We Evaluate Our Operations

        One of our measures of operational performance is the amount of revenue generating horsepower we are able to install monthly, quarterly and annually. Revenue generating horsepower growth is the primary driver for our revenue growth and it is also the base measure for evaluating our efficiency of capital deployed. Revenue generating horsepower is horsepower under contract for which we are billing a customer.

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        Each month we identify idle compression units in our compression fleet and analyze their availability for redeployment. The primary reason for tracking and analyzing idle horsepower is to facilitate redeployment and therefore increase our contract operations revenue and efficiency of capital deployed. Our horsepower utilization is calculated as (i)(a) revenue generating horsepower plus (b) horsepower in our fleet that is under contract, but is not yet generating revenue plus (c) horsepower not yet in our fleet that is under contract 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. Fleet horsepower utilization is calculated as (i) revenue generating horsepower divided by (ii) fleet horsepower.

        We use cost of operations as a performance measure for each of our operating areas and the managers in charge of those operating areas. We track the items in cost of operations down to the compression unit level, and are able to compare operating costs to the budget we have for the type of horsepower and the area in which it is located. We use these comparisons to identify, research and address trends and variances. We also track our cost of operations on a company-wide basis, using month-to-month, year-to-date and year-to-year comparisons, and as compared to budget. This analysis is useful in identifying company-wide cost trends and allows us to take corrective actions as required.

        We view Adjusted EBITDA as one of our primary management tools, and we track this item on a monthly basis both as an absolute amount and as a percentage of revenue compared to the prior month, year-to-date and prior year and to budget. We define Adjusted EBITDA as our net income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation expense, impairment of compression equipment, share-based compensation expense, restructuring charges, management fees, expenses under our operating lease with Caterpillar and certain fees and expenses related to the Holdings Acquisition. 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:

        We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors because, when viewed with our GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliations, it provides a more complete understanding of our performance than GAAP results alone. We also believe that external users of our financial statements benefit from having access to the same financial measures that management uses in evaluating the results of our business.

        Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income, operating income, cash flows from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP as measures of operating performance and liquidity. Moreover, our Adjusted EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

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        Adjusted EBITDA does not include interest expense, income taxes, depreciation expense, impairment of compression equipment, share-based compensation expense, restructuring charges, management fees, expenses under our operating lease with Caterpillar or certain fees and expenses related to the Holdings Acquisition. Because we borrow money under our revolving credit facility and have historically utilized operating leases to finance our operations, interest expense and operating lease expense are necessary elements of our costs. Because we use capital assets, depreciation and impairment of compression equipment is also a necessary element of our costs. Expense related to share-based compensation expense related to equity awards to employees is also necessary to operate our business. Therefore, measures that exclude these elements have material limitations. To compensate for these limitations, we believe that it is important to consider both net income and net cash provided by operating activities determined under GAAP, as well as Adjusted EBITDA, to evaluate our financial performance and our liquidity. Our Adjusted EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income, operating income and net cash provided by operating activities, and these measures may vary among companies. Management compensates for the limitations of Adjusted EBITDA as an analytical tool by reviewing the comparable GAAP measures, understanding the differences between the measures and incorporating this knowledge into management's decision-making processes.

        Gross operating margin (defined as revenue less cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense) is a key measure for our business. Gross operating margin is impacted primarily by the pricing trends for our service operations and our cost of operations including labor rates for our service technicians, volume and per unit costs for our lubricant oils, quantity and pricing for our routine preventative maintenance to our compression units and property tax rates on our compression units. For a reconciliation of gross operating margin, a non-GAAP financial measure, to operating income, its most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, see "—Operating Highlights."

Accounting Terminology and Principles

        Our discussion and analysis uses the following accounting terminology and principles:

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Operating Highlights

        The following table summarizes certain horsepower and horsepower utilization percentages for the periods presented.

 
  Predecessor    
  Successor  
 
  Year Ended
December 31,
  Percent
Change
   
  Year Ended
December 31,
  Percent
Change
  Six Months
Ended June 30,
  Percent
Change
 
Operating Data (unaudited):
  2009   2010   2010    
  2011   2011   2011   2012   2012  

Fleet horsepower(1)

    582,530     609,730     4.7 %       722,201     18.4 %   657,225     858,900     30.7 %

Total available horsepower(2)

    582,530     612,410     5.1 %       809,418     32.2 %   672,686     884,235     31.4 %

Revenue generating horsepower(3)

    502,177     533,692     6.3 %       649,285     21.7 %   558,421     759,498     36.0 %

Average revenue generating horsepower(4)

    489,243     516,703     5.6 %       570,900     10.5 %   538,850     709,124     31.6 %

Revenue generating compression units

    749     795     6.1 %       888     11.7 %   814     948     16.5 %

Average horsepower per revenue generating compression unit(5)

    655     667     1.8 %       692     3.7 %   676     768     13.6 %

Horsepower utilization(6):

                                                     
 

At period end

    92.0 %   91.8 %   (0.2 )%       95.7 %   4.2 %   93.0 %   94.9 %   2.0 %
 

Average for the period(7)

    92.7 %   92.6 %   (0.1 )%       92.3 %   (0.3 )%   91.1 %   95.6 %   4.9 %

(1)
Fleet horsepower is horsepower for compression units that have been delivered to us (and excludes units on order). As of June 30, 2012, we had 66,539 of additional new compression unit horsepower on order, of which 51,039 horsepower is expected to be delivered between July 2012 and September 2012, and 15,500 horsepower is expected to be delivered between October 2012 and December 2012.

(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 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 a 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 horsepower per revenue generating horsepower for each of the months in the period.

(5)
Calculated as the average of the month-end horsepower per revenue generating compression unit for each of the months in the period.

(6)
Horsepower utilization is calculated as (i)(a) revenue generating horsepower plus (b) horsepower in our fleet that is under contract, but is not yet generating revenue plus (c) horsepower not yet in our fleet that is under contract 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 at each applicable period end was 86.2%, 87.5% and 89.9% for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively, and 85.0% and 88.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

(7)
Calculated as the average utilization for the months in the period based on utilization at the end of each month in the period.

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        The increase in fleet horsepower as of December 31, 2011 compared to December 31, 2010 is attributable to the compression units added to our fleet to meet the incremental demand by new and current customers. Revenue generating horsepower increased by 21.7% from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2011. The average horsepower per revenue generating compression unit increased from 667 to 692 between 2010 and 2011. The increase in fleet horsepower as of June 30, 2012 compared to June 30, 2011 is attributable to the compression units added to our fleet to meet the incremental demand by new and current customers. Revenue generating horsepower increased by 36.0% from June 30, 2011 to June 30, 2012. The average horsepower per revenue generating compression unit increased from 676 to 768, or 13.6%, over that same period.

 
  Predecessor    
  Successor  
 
  Year Ended
December 31,
  Percent
Change
   
  Year Ended
December 31,
  Percent
Change
  Six Months
Ended June 30,
  Percent
Change
 
Other Financial Data:
  2009   2010   2010    
  2011   2011   2011   2012   2012  

Gross Operating Margin(1)

  $ 65,132   $ 58,736     (9.8 )%     $ 59,115     0.6 % $ 28,336   $ 37,850     33.6 %

Adjusted EBITDA(2)

  $ 56,917   $ 51,987     (8.7 )%     $ 51,285     (1.4 )% $ 24,985   $ 29,745     19.1 %

Gross operating margin percentage(3)

    68.4 %   63.8 %   (6.7 )%       59.9 %   (6.1 )%   60.7 %   67.6 %   11.4 %

Adjusted EBITDA percentage(3)

    59.8 %   56.5 %   (5.5 )%       51.9 %   (8.1 )%   53.6 %   53.1 %   (0.9 )%

(1)
Gross operating margin is a non-GAAP financial measure. We calculate gross operating margin as revenue less cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense. We believe that gross operating margin is useful as a supplemental measure of our operating profitability. Gross operating margin should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, operating income or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP. Moreover, gross operating 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 costs. To compensate for the limitations of gross operating margin as a measure of our performance, we believe that it is important to consider operating income determined under GAAP, as well as gross operating margin, to evaluate our operating profitability.


The following table reconciles gross operating margin to operating income, its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, for each of the periods presented:

   
  Predecessor    
  Successor  
   
  Year Ended
December 31,
   
   
  Six Months
Ended June 30,
 
   
   
  Year Ended
December 31,
2011
 
   
  2009   2010    
  2011   2012  
   
  (in thousands)
 
 

Revenues:

                                   
   

Contract operations

  $ 93,178   $ 89,785       $ 93,896   $ 45,363   $ 54,907  
   

Parts and service

    2,050     2,243         4,824     1,291     1,087  
                             
     

Total revenues

    95,228     92,028         98,720     46,654     55,994  
 

Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    30,096     33,292         39,605     18,318     18,144  
                             
     

Gross operating margin

    65,132     58,736         59,115     28,336     37,850  
 

Other operating and administrative costs and expenses:

                                   
   

Selling, general and administrative

    9,136     11,370         12,726     5,599     8,418  
   

Restructuring charges

                300          
   

Depreciation and amortization

    22,957     24,569         32,738     15,815     19,661  
   

(Gain) loss on sale of assets

    (74 )   (90 )       178     146     203  
   

Impairment of compression equipment

    1,677                      
                             
     

Total other operating and administrative costs and expenses

    33,696     35,849         45,942     21,560     28,282  
                             
 

Operating income

  $ 31,436   $ 22,887       $ 13,173   $ 6,776   $ 9,568  
                             

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(2)
For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, to net income and cash flows from operating activities, its most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, see "Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial and Operating Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

(3)
Gross operating margin percentage and Adjusted EBITDA percentage are calculated as a percentage of revenue.

        Gross operating margin, as a percentage of total revenues, declined from 68% in 2009 to 64% in 2010. The decline in gross operating margin resulted from pricing pressure for compression services that began in 2009. While pricing for these services stabilized in mid-2010, compression units that were placed under service contracts during 2009 and 2010 were contracted at lower market rates. In addition, expenses related to our operating lease with Caterpillar were $2.3 million in 2010, or 2.5% of revenue, and $0.6 million in 2009, or 0.6% of revenue.

        Gross operating margin, as a percentage of total revenues, declined from 64% in 2010 to 60% in 2011. The decline in gross operating margin was primarily attributable to continued cost increases for providing our compression services. Increased expenses related to the addition of new compression units in 2011 under our operating lease with Caterpillar, which were $2.3 million in 2010, or 2.5% of revenue, as compared to $4.1 million in 2011, or 4.1% of revenue. On December 15, 2011, we purchased all the compression units we previously leased from Caterpillar for $43 million and terminated all the lease schedules and covenants under the facility. In addition, expenses related to fluids increased from $4.3 million in 2010, or 4.7% of revenue, to $5.1 million in 2011, or 5.2% of revenue. This increase was due to a 21.4% increase in fluids supplier pricing during 2011 as compared to 2010, offset by a 1.3% decrease in gallons used in 2011. Other significant increases in expenses included (1) maintenance expenses increased by $0.3 million, or 0.1% of revenue, (2) truck fleet fuel expenses increased by $0.4 million, or 0.3% of revenue, (3) supplies and equipment expenses increased by $0.2 million, or 0.2% of revenue, and (4) operating personnel salaries and benefits expense increased $0.4 million, each of which were attributable to the increase in the size of our fleet horsepower. Additionally, a portion of retail service revenue, including billings for trucking and crane services increased $1.1 million during 2011, including $1.0 million recognized during the fourth quarter of 2011, due to the deployment and redeployment of compression units. These ancillary trucking and crane services, all of which are billed to customers, resulted in no gross operating margin.

        Gross operating margin, as a percentage of total revenues, increased from 61% for the six months ended June 30, 2011 to 68% for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The increase in gross operating margin was primarily attributable to a 20.0% increase in total revenues when comparing the periods, and a slight decrease in cost of operations of 0.9%. Average revenue generating horsepower increased from 538,850 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 to 709,124 for the six months ended June 30, 2012, an increase of 31.6%. Average revenue per revenue generating horsepower per month declined from $14.32 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 to $13.41 for the six months ended June 30, 2012, a decrease of 6.4%. The decline in average revenue per revenue generating horsepower per month related primarily to the 13.6% increase in average horsepower per revenue generating compression unit from 676 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 to 768 for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The decrease in cost of operations is attributable to a $2.1 million decrease in equipment operating lease expense, as the Caterpillar operating lease schedules were terminated on December 15, 2011. Significant cost increases offset the decrease related to the Caterpillar operating lease, and consisted of (1) a $0.7 million increase in lubrication oil expenses due to both 12.7% increase in the average supplier price per gallon and 13.8% increase in gallons consumed, (2) a $0.2 million and $0.3 million increase in parts maintenance and labor maintenance, respectively, (3) a $0.4 million increase related to vehicle tools and gasoline and (4) a $0.2 million increase of field and warehouse supplies expense, all of which were attributable to the increase in the size of our fleet.

        Gross operating margin, as a percentage of total revenues, increased from 60% for the year ended December 31, 2011 to 68% for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in revenue generating horsepower from 649,285 at December 31, 2011 to

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759,498 at June 30, 2012, or a 17.0% increase. Higher revenue levels were partially offset by an increase in selling, general and administrative expense during the noted periods due to an increase in employee headcount to support operations and sales management and certain executive positions to operate as a public company. Selling, general and administrative expense represented 12.9% and 15.0% of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively.


Financial Results of Operations

Six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2011

        The following table summarizes our results of operations for the periods presented:

 
  Six months
ended June 30,
   
 
 
  Percent
Change
 
 
  2011   2012  
 
  (in thousands)
   
 

Revenue:

                   
 

Contract operations

  $ 45,363   $ 54,907     21.0 %
 

Parts and service

    1,291     1,087     (15.8 )%
               
 

Total revenues

    46,654     55,994     20.0 %

Costs and expenses:

                   
 

Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    18,318     18,144     (0.9 )%
 

Selling, general and administrative

    5,599     8,418     50.3 %
 

Depreciation and amortization

    15,815     19,661     24.3 %
 

Loss on sale of assets

    146     203     39.0 %
               
 

Total costs and expenses

    39,878     46,426     16.4 %
               

Operating income

    6,776     9,568     41.2 %

Other income (expense):

                   
 

Interest expense

    (6,436 )   (7,249 )   12.6 %
 

Other

    14     16     14.3 %
               
 

Total other expense

    (6,422 )   (7,233 )   12.6 %
               

Income before income tax expense

    354     2,335     559.6 %

Income tax expense

    71     96     35.2 %
               

Net income

  $ 283   $ 2,239     691.2 %
               

        Contract operations revenue.    Contract operations revenue was $54.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $45.4 million during the same period in 2011, an increase of 21.0%. Average revenue generating horsepower increased from 538,850 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 to 709,124 for the six months ended June 30, 2012, an increase of 31.6%. Average revenue per revenue generating horsepower per month declined from $14.32 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 to $13.41 for the six months ended June 30, 2012, a decrease of 6.4%. The decline in average revenue per revenue generating horsepower per month related primarily to the 13.6% increase in average horsepower per revenue generating compression unit from 676 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 to 768 for the six months ended June 30, 2012. During the six month period ended June 30, 2012, we had a higher level of partial month billings and standby rates with certain customers in our revenues compared to that same period for 2011. Revenue generating horsepower was 759,498 at June 30, 2012 compared to 558,421 at June 30, 2011, a 36.0% increase.

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        Parts and service revenue.    Parts and service revenue was $1.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $1.3 million during the same period in 2011, a 15.8% decrease.

        Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization.    Cost of operations was $18.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $18.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, a decrease of 0.9%. The decrease is attributable to a $2.1 million decrease in equipment operating lease expense, as the Caterpillar operating lease schedules were terminated on December 15, 2011. Significant cost increases offset the decrease related to the Caterpillar operating lease, and consisted of (1) a $0.7 million increase in lubrication oil expenses due to both 12.7% increase in the average supplier price per gallon and 13.8% increase in gallons consumed, (2) a $0.2 million and $0.3 million increase in parts maintenance and labor maintenance, respectively, (3) a $0.4 million increase related to vehicle tools and gasoline and (4) a $0.2 million increase of field and warehouse supplies expense, all of which were attributable primarily to the increase in the size of our fleet. The cost of operations was 32.4% of revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2012 as compared to 39.3% for the six months ended June 30, 2011.

        Selling, general and administrative expense.    Selling, general and administrative expense was $8.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $5.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, an increase of 50.3%. Selling, general and administrative expense represented 15.0% and 12.0% of revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Approximately $1.1 million of the increase in selling, general and administrative expense related to salaries increase due to an increase in employee headcount to support operations and sales management and certain executive positions to operate as a public company. Management fees for services provided by an affiliate of our general partner increased $0.3 million due to the closing of the third amendment and fourth and restated amended credit facility along with other increased services during the six months ended June 30, 2012. Additionally, accounting fees increased $0.2 million due to increased services as we prepare to operate as a public company. Other significant increases include (1) $0.1 million due to increased office rent, (2) $0.3 million due to increased customer relations costs and (3) $0.4 million of increased outside services costs, all of which were attributable to increased employee headcount and support services. The selling, general and administrative employee headcount was 65 at June 30, 2012, a 58.5% increase from June 30, 2011. The selling, general and administrative employee headcount increased to support the continued growth of the business.

        Depreciation and amortization expense.    Depreciation and amortization expense was $19.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $15.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, an increase of 24.3%. The increase was related to an increase in property, plant and equipment of 54.0% over these periods.

        Interest expense.    Interest expense was $7.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $6.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, an increase of 12.6%. Included in interest expense is amortization of deferred loan costs of $0.8 million and $0.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Average borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility were $400.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $253.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. Interest expense for both periods was related to borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Our revolving credit facility had an interest rate of 2.99% and 3.69% at June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The composite fixed interest rate for $105 million and $140.0 million of notional coverage under interest rate swap instruments was 2.73% and 2.52% at June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

        Income tax expense.    We accrued approximately $96,000 and $71,000 in franchise tax for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, as a result of the Texas franchise tax (applicable to income apportioned to Texas beginning January 1, 2007). This tax is reflected in our financials as income tax in accordance with FASB ASC 740, which requires this classification for reporting purposes.

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Year ended December 31, 2011 compared to the year ended December 31, 2010

        The following table summarizes our results of operations for the periods presented:

 
  Predecessor    
  Successor    
 
 
  Year ended
December 31,
   
 
 
  Percent
Change
 
 
  2010    
  2011  
 
  (in thousands)
   
 

Revenues:

                       
 

Contract operations

  $ 89,785       $ 93,896     4.6 %
 

Parts and service

    2,243         4,824     115.1 %
                   
 

Total revenues

    92,028         98,720     7.3 %

Costs and expenses:

                       
 

Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    33,292         39,605     19.0 %
 

Selling, general and administrative

    11,370         12,726     11.9 %
 

Restructuring charges

            300        
 

Depreciation and amortization

    24,569         32,738     33.2 %
 

(Gain) loss on sale of assets

    (90 )       178        
                   
 

Total costs and expenses

    69,141         85,547     23.7 %
                   

Operating income

    22,887         13,173     (42.4 )%

Other income (expense):

                       
 

Interest expense

    (12,279 )       (12,970 )   5.6 %
 

Other

    26         21     (19.2 )%
                   
 

Total other expense

    (12,253 )       (12,949 )   5.7 %
                   

Income before income tax expense

    10,634         224     (97.9 )%

Income tax expense

    155         155     0.0 %
                   

Net income

  $ 10,479       $ 69     (99.3 )%
                   

        Contract operations revenue.    Contract operations revenue was $93.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to $89.8 million in 2010, an increase of 4.6%. Average revenue generating horsepower increased from 516,703 for the year ended December 31, 2010 to 570,900 for the year ended December 31, 2011, an increase of 10.5%. Average revenue per revenue generating horsepower per month declined from $14.70 for the year ended December 31, 2010 to $14.07 for the year ended December 31, 2011, a decrease of 4.3%. The decline in average revenue per revenue generating horsepower per month related primarily to the 3.7% increase in the estimated average horsepower per revenue generating compression unit, which was 667 and 692 at December 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively. While pricing for these services stabilized in mid-2010, compression units that were placed under service contracts during 2009 and 2010 were contracted at lower market rates. There were 888 revenue generating compression units at December 31, 2011 compared to 795 at December 31, 2010, an 11.7% increase. Revenue generating horsepower was 649,285 at December 31, 2011 compared to 533,692 at December 31, 2010, a 21.7% increase.

        Parts and service revenue.    Parts and service revenue was $4.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to $2.2 million in 2010, or a 115.1% increase. Retail parts revenue increased $1.5 million during 2011 after our customers curtailed this work with us in 2010. A portion of retail service revenue, including billings for trucking and crane services increased $1.1 million during 2011, including $1.0 million recognized during the fourth quarter of 2011, due to the deployment and redeployment of compression units. These ancillary trucking and crane services, all of which are billed to customers, result in no gross operating margin.

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        Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization.    Cost of operations was $39.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to $33.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, an increase of 19.0%. Approximately $1.8 million of this increase was related to higher expense levels under our operating lease facility with Caterpillar due to the addition of new compression units over the applicable periods. The amount drawn under this operating lease facility immediately prior to the termination of these lease schedules on December 15, 2011 was $39.9 million as compared to $28.9 million as of December 31, 2010. Approximately $0.8 million of the increase in cost of operations was related to higher lubrication oil expenses. Lubrication oil expenses increased due to a 21.4% increase in the average supplier price per gallon, offset by a 1.3% decrease in gallons consumed. Freight costs, all of which was billed to customers, increased $1.1 million due to the redeployment of compression units during the year ended December 31, 2011, as discussed above. Retail parts expense increased $1.1 million due to the sale of six spare engines. Other significant increases include (1) maintenance expenses increased by $0.3 million, (2) truck fleet fuel expenses increased by $0.4 million, (3) supplies and equipment expenses increased by $0.2 million and (4) operating personnel salaries and benefits expense increased $0.4 million, all of which were attributable to the increase in the size of our fleet. The cost of operations was 40.2% of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2011 as compared to 36.2% for the year ended December 31, 2010.

        Selling, general and administrative expense.    Selling, general and administrative expense was $12.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to $11.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, an increase of 11.9%. Selling, general and administrative expense represented 12.9% and 12.4% of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Approximately $1.0 million of the increase in selling, general and administrative expense relates to a fee for management services provided by an affiliate of our general partner, which we expect will not be paid by us after this offering. The selling, general and administrative employee headcount was 51 at December 31, 2011, a 30.8% employee increase from December 31, 2010, resulting in $0.7 million increase in salary and benefit expenses. The selling, general and administrative employee headcount increased to support continued growth of the business.

        Restructuring charges.    During the year ended December 31, 2011, we incurred $0.3 million of restructuring charges for severance and retention benefits related to the termination of certain administrative employees. These charges are reflected as restructuring charges in our consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2011. We expect to pay these restructuring charges in 2012.

        Depreciation and amortization expense.    Depreciation and amortization expense was $32.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to $24.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, an increase of 33.2%. The push-down accounting treatment for the Holdings Acquisition resulted in the recognition of identified intangibles for customer relationships and the USA Compression trade name as of December 31, 2010 and the amortization of these identified intangibles over their useful lives began on January 1, 2011, of which $3.0 million was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2011. The remaining increase was related to an increase in property, plant and equipment over these periods.

        Interest expense.    Interest expense was $13.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to $12.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, an increase of 5.6%. Included in interest expense is amortization of deferred loan costs of $1.5 million and $3.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Interest expense for both periods was related to borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Average borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility were $275.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to $249.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. Our revolving credit facility had an interest rate of 3.02% and 3.76% at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and an average interest rate of 3.71% and 2.06%, excluding the effects from the interest rate swap instruments discussed below, for the year then ended,

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respectively, with the higher interest rate at December 31, 2011 due to the amendment of our revolving credit facility in December 2010. The November 2011 amendment to our credit facility increased the overall commitments under the facility from $400 million to $500 million and reduced our applicable margin for LIBOR loans from a range of 300 to 375 basis points above LIBOR to a range of 200 to 275 basis points above LIBOR, depending on our leverage ratio. The composite fixed interest rate for $140 million of notional coverage under three interest rate swap instruments was 2.52% at December 31, 2011 and 2010 plus the applicable margin of 2.75% and 3.50% at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. As of December 31, 2010, we no longer designate our swap agreements as cash flow hedges. As a result, amounts paid or received from the interest rate swaps are charged or credited to interest expense. For the year ended December 31, 2011, we recorded a fair value gain of $2.6 million with respect to these swaps as a reduction in interest expense.

        Income tax expense.    We accrued approximately $155,000 in franchise tax for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, as a result of the Texas franchise tax.

Year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the year ended December 31, 2009

        The following table summarizes our results of operations for the periods presented:

 
  Predecessor    
 
 
  Year Ended
December 31,
   
 
 
  Percent
Change
 
 
  2009   2010  
 
  (in thousands)
   
 

Revenues:

                   
 

Contract operations

  $ 93,178   $ 89,785     (3.6 )%
 

Parts and service

    2,050     2,243     9.4 %
               
 

Total revenues

    95,228     92,028     (3.4 )%

Costs and expenses:

                   
 

Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    30,096     33,292     10.6 %
 

Selling, general and administrative

    9,136     11,370     24.5 %
 

Depreciation and amortization

    22,957     24,569     7.0 %
 

(Gain) loss on sale of assets

    (74 )   (90 )   21.6 %
 

Impairment of compression equipment

    1,677            
               
 

Total costs and expenses

    63,792     69,141     8.4 %
               

Operating income

    31,436     22,887     (27.2 )%

Other income (expense):

                   
 

Interest expense

    (10,043 )   (12,279 )   22.3 %
 

Other

    25     26     4.0 %
               
 

Total other expense

    (10,018 )   (12,253 )   22.3 %
               

Income before income tax expense

    21,418     10,634     (50.4 )%

Income tax expense

    190     155     (18.4 )%
               

Net income

  $ 21,228   $ 10,479     (50.6 )%
               

        Contract operations revenue.    Contract operations revenue was $89.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $93.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, a decrease of 3.6%. Average revenue generating horsepower increased from 489,243 for the year ended December 31, 2009, to 516,703 for the year ended December 31, 2010, an increase of 5.6%. Average revenue per revenue generating horsepower per month declined from $16.05 for the year ended December 31, 2009, to $14.70 for the year ended December 31, 2010, a decrease of 8.4%. The decline

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in revenue per revenue generating horsepower per month related to general pricing pressure for compression revenue that began in 2009. While pricing for these services stabilized in mid-2010, compression units that were placed under service contracts during 2009 and 2010 were placed at lower market rates. There were 795 revenue generating compression units at December 31, 2010 compared to 749 at December 31, 2009, a 6.1% increase. Revenue generating horsepower was 533,692 at December 31, 2010 compared to 502,177 at December 31, 2009, a 6.3% increase.

        Parts and service revenue.    Parts and service revenue was $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, a 9.4% increase.

        Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization.    Cost of operations was $33.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $30.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of 10.6%. Approximately $1.7 million of this increase was related to higher expense levels under our operating lease facility with Caterpillar. The amount drawn under this operating lease facility was $28.9 million as of December 31, 2010 as compared to $14.9 million as of December 31, 2009. Indirect operating expenses increased approximately $1.1 million for 2010 as compared to 2009 including field warehouse supplies, property taxes and our service technician vehicle fleet due to the increase in our compression unit fleet horsepower. The cost of operations was 36.2% of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2010 as compared to 31.6% for the year ended December 31, 2009.

        Selling, general and administrative expense.    Selling, general and administrative expense was $11.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $9.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of 24.5%. Selling, general and administrative expense represented 12.4% and 9.6% of revenue for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The selling, general and administrative employee headcount was 39 employees at December 31, 2010, level with the headcount at December 31, 2009. Selling, general and administrative expenses in 2010 included $1.8 million related to legal fees incurred by us in connection with the Holdings Acquisition.

        Depreciation and amortization expense.    Depreciation and amortization expense was $24.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $23.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of 7.0%, which resulted from an increase in property, plant and equipment in 2009 and 2010 and a change in the estimated useful lives of our vehicles in July 2009.

        Interest expense.    Interest expense was $12.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to $10.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of 22.3%. Included in interest expense is amortization of deferred loan costs of $3.5 million and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Interest expense for both periods was related to borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Average borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility were $249.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to $270.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. Our revolving credit facility had an interest rate of 3.76% and 1.99% at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and an average interest rate of 2.06% in 2010 and 2.10% in 2009, excluding the effects from the interest rate swap instruments. The composite fixed interest rate for $140 million of notional coverage under three interest rate swap instruments was 2.52% at December 31, 2010 and 2009 plus the applicable margin of 1.75%.

        Income tax expense.    We accrued approximately $155,000 in franchise tax for the year ended December 31, 2010, and $190,000 for the year ended December 31, 2009, as a result of the Texas franchise tax.

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Effects of Inflation

        In 2011, 2010 and 2009, even though the price for lubrication oil, gasoline, insurance and the capital cost of engines steadily increased, these increases did not adversely impact our overall results of operations. We have the ability to manage the effects of these price increases through rate adjustments in new service contracts, as well as through Consumer Price Index adjustments in most existing customer contracts. The primary price increases experienced for the period from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2011 were the following: the hourly labor rate for certain classes of our service technicians had a composite increase of 6.0%; the price of lubrication oil per gallon decreased approximately 6.1%, but gallons consumed has increased 2.0%; for similarly configured 3516 type compression units, our price increased 8.0% for new compression units purchased during the quarter ended December 31, 2011 as compared to new compression units purchased during the quarter ended March 31, 2009.


Liquidity and Capital Resources

        Historically, our sources of liquidity have been cash generated from operations and third-party financing. As of June 30, 2012, total cash and cash equivalents was $6,500 compared to $3,000 at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. Total liquidity, comprised of cash and availability of long-term borrowings, was $102.0 million at June 30, 2012 compared to $39.0 million, $66.0 million and $44.6 million as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

        We have a $600 million revolving credit facility that matures on October 5, 2015. Commitments under our revolving credit facility increased from $305 million to $400 million in December 2010, from $400 million to $500 million on November 16, 2011 and from $500 million to $600 million on June 1, 2012. Availability under the revolving credit facility is determined by reference to the calculated borrowing base, up to the commitment amount, less the outstanding balance under the revolving credit facility. See "—Description of Revolving Credit Facility." The net proceeds from this offering will be used to repay indebtedness under our revolving credit facility. We incurred indebtedness to fund capital expenditures and for working capital needs. We expect to have approximately $             million outstanding under the revolving credit facility after the closing of this offering.

        The amount of available cash we need to pay the minimum quarterly distributions for four quarters on our common units, subordinated units and the 2.0% general partner interest outstanding immediately after this offering is approximately $             million. Our pro forma available cash to make distributions during the year ended December 31, 2011 and the twelve months ended June 30, 2012 would have been sufficient to allow us to pay 100% of the minimum quarterly distribution on our common units and      % and      %, respectively, of the minimum quarterly distribution on our subordinated units during the period.

        In addition to distributions on our equity interests, our primary short-term liquidity needs will be to fund general working capital requirements, while our long-term liquidity needs will primarily relate to expansion capital expenditures. We believe that cash from operations will be sufficient to meet our existing short-term liquidity needs for at least the next 12 months.

        Our long-term liquidity needs will generally be funded from cash from operations, borrowings under our revolving credit facility and other debt or equity financings. We cannot assure you that we will be able to raise additional funds on favorable terms. For more information, please read "—Capital Expenditures" below.

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        The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for the periods presented:

 
  Predecessor    
  Successor  
 
  Year Ended
December 31,
   
   
  Six Months
Ended June 30,
 
 
   
  Year Ended
December 31,
2011
 
 
  2009   2010    
  2011   2012  
 
  (in thousands)
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  $ 42,945   $ 38,572       $ 33,782   $ 21,008   $ 18,022  

Net cash used in investing activities

    (26,763 )   (18,768 )       (140,444 )   (30,626 )   (105,313 )

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    (16,545 )   (19,804 )       106,662     9,618     87,295  

        Net cash provided by operating activities.    Net cash provided by operating activities decreased to $18.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, from $21.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The decrease related primarily to a higher income level in 2012, offset by a $8.7 million higher use of working capital in 2012.

        Net cash provided by operating activities decreased to $33.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, from $38.6 million in 2010. The decrease related primarily to a lower income level, offset by $1.9 million of working capital generated for the year ended December 31, 2011.

        Net cash provided by operating activities decreased to $38.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, from $42.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The decrease related primarily to a lower income level in 2010, offset by the purchase of engines in 2009 totaling $3.3 million.

        Net cash used in investing activities.    Net cash used in investing activities increased to $105.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, from $30.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The increase related primarily to higher capital expenditures of $75.4 million during the six months ended June 30, 2012, offset by $0.7 million of higher proceeds from the sale of equipment during the six months ended June 30, 2012.

        Net cash used in investing activities increased to $140.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, from $18.8 million in 2010. The increase related to capital expenditures of $133.3 million and a compression unit purchase deposit of $8.0 million, for the year ended December 31, 2011, offset by the collection of funds in this period of $0.8 million related to the sale of compression units, 6 engines, and trucks.

        Net cash used in investing activities decreased to $18.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, from $26.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The decrease primarily related to lower capital expenditures for compression equipment in 2010. Approximately $13.9 million and $14.9 million of compression equipment was funded under our operating lease facility with Caterpillar in 2010 and 2009, respectively.

        Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities.    Net cash provided by financing activities increased to $87.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, from $9.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The change was due to lower borrowings under our revolving credit facility for the six months ended June 30, 2011 versus higher borrowings during 2012, due to higher levels of growth capital expenditures.

        Net cash provided by financing activities was $106.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to net cash used in financing activities of $19.8 million in 2010. The change was due to net repayments of borrowings under our revolving credit facility for the year ended December 31, 2010 versus net borrowings during 2011, due to higher levels of growth capital expenditures.

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        Net cash used in financing activities increased to $19.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, from $16.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase was a result of a lower level of net repayments of borrowings under our revolving credit facility of $4.4 million offset by financing costs of $8.1 million related to the upsizing and extending of our revolving credit facility on December 23, 2010 in connection with the Holdings Acquisition.

        The compression business is capital intensive, requiring significant investment to maintain, expand and upgrade existing operations. Our capital requirements have consisted primarily of, and we anticipate that our capital requirements will continue to consist primarily of, the following:

        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 year ended December 31, 2011 were $9.0 million and we estimate that our aggregate maintenance capital expenditures for the twelve months ending June 30, 2013 will be approximately $12.1 million.

        Given our growth objective, we anticipate that we will continue to make significant expansion capital expenditures. Our expansion capital expenditures were $124.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 and we estimate that our expansion capital expenditures will be approximately $104.5 million for the twelve months ending June 30, 2013, consisting of the acquisition of new compression units and related equipment. On December 16, 2011, we entered into an agreement with one of our compression equipment suppliers to reduce certain previously made progress payments by $8 million and received a credit. We applied this $8 million credit to new compression units purchased from this supplier in the first quarter of 2012. Before the application of this credit, expansion capital expenditures were $107.1 million and maintenance capital expenditures were $7.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

        In addition to organic growth, we may also consider a variety of assets or businesses for potential acquisition. We expect to fund any future acquisitions primarily with capital from external financing sources and issuance of debt and equity securities, including our issuance of additional partnership units and future debt offerings given market conditions.

        We amended our revolving credit agreement in December 2010 to increase the overall commitments under the facility to $400 million and extend the term until October 5, 2015. On November 16, 2011, we amended the revolving credit agreement to increase the overall commitments under the facility from $400 million to $500 million and reduce our applicable margin for LIBOR loans from the previous range of 300 to 375 basis points above LIBOR to the new range of 200 to 275 basis points above LIBOR, depending on our leverage ratio. We further amended our revolving credit agreement on June 1, 2012 to increase the overall commitments under the facility from $500 million to $600 million. We have the option to increase the overall commitments under our revolving credit agreement by an additional $50 million, subject to receipt of lender commitments and satisfaction of other conditions.

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        The revolving credit facility is available for our general partnership purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures, and distributions. We expect to have approximately $             million outstanding under the revolving credit facility after the closing of this offering. Please read "Use of Proceeds."

        On June 1, 2012, we entered into the amended and restated credit agreement in order to provide a covenant structure that is more appropriate for a public company than is our current credit agreement. Borrowing availability under our amended and restated credit agreement will continue to be linked to our asset base, with the increased maximum capacity of $600,000,000 (subject to a further potential increase of $50,000,000). The revolving credit facility will continue to be secured by a first priority lien against our assets and mature on October 5, 2015, at which point all amounts outstanding will become due.

        Interest will continue to be due and payable in arrears and calculated, at our option, on either a floating rate basis, payable monthly or on a LIBOR basis, payable at the end of the applicable LIBOR period (1, 2, 3 or 6 months), but no less frequently than quarterly. LIBOR borrowings will bear interest at LIBOR for the applicable period plus a margin of 2.50% to 1.75% based on our leverage ratio of funded debt to consolidated EBITDA, each as defined in the amended and restated credit agreement. Floating rate borrowings will bear interest at a rate per annum that is the higher of bank prime rate, the federal funds rate plus 0.50% or the LIBOR rate for a 1 month period plus 1%, without additional margin. The revolving credit facility will include a $20,000,000 sub-line for issuing letters of credit for a fee at a per annum rate equal to the margin for LIBOR borrowings on the average daily undrawn stated amount of each letter of credit issued under the facility.

        Our amended and restated credit agreement will permit us to make distributions of available cash to unitholders so long as (a) no default or event of default under the facility occurs or would result from the distribution, (b) immediately prior to and after giving effect to such distribution, we are in compliance with the facility's financial covenants and (c) immediately after giving effect to such distribution, we have availability under the credit facility of at least $20,000,000. In addition, the amended and restated credit agreement will contain various covenants that may limit, among other things, our ability to:

        Our amended and restated credit agreement also will contain financial covenants requiring us to maintain:

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        If an event of default exists under our amended and restated credit agreement, the lenders will be able to accelerate the maturity of the amended and restated credit agreement and exercise other rights and remedies.

        The effectiveness of our amended and restated credit agreement is subject to the closing of this offering.

        We are in compliance with all of the covenants under our current credit agreement.

        Total Contractual Cash Obligations.    The following table summarizes our total contractual cash obligations as of December 31, 2011:

 
  Payments Due by Period  
Contractual Obligations
  Total   1 year   2 - 3 years   4 - 5 years   More than 5 years  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Long-term debt(1)

  $ 363,773   $   $   $ 363,773   $  

Interest on long-term debt obligations(2)

    41,197     10,986     21,972     8,239      

Equipment/capital purchases(3)

    136,100     136,100              
                       

Total contractual cash obligations

  $ 541,070   $ 147,086   $ 21,972   $ 372,012   $  
                       

(1)
Represents future principal repayments under our revolving credit facility.

(2)
Represents future interest payments under our revolving credit facility based on the interest rate at December 31, 2011 of 3.02%.

(3)
Represents commitments for new compression units that are being fabricated.

        We expect to have approximately $             million outstanding under the revolving credit facility after the closing of the offering. We anticipate subsequent borrowings under this revolving credit facility to fund interest payments, capital expenditures, including the acquisition of additional new compression units, and distributions.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

        We have not entered into any transactions, agreements or other contractual arrangements that would result in off-balance sheet liabilities.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

        The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon our financial statements. These financial statements were prepared in conformity with U.S. 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 various 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 policies that we believe require management's most difficult, subjective or complex judgments and are the most critical to its reporting of results of operations and financial position are as follows:

        Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation for financial reporting purposes is computed on the straight-line basis using estimated useful lives. If the actual useful life of our property and equipment is less than the estimate used for purposes of computing depreciation expense, we could

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experience an acceleration in depreciation expense. Major overhauls and improvements that extend the life of an asset are capitalized. As of June 30, 2012, we had 1,094 compression units that were subject to depreciation. Given the large number of compression units being depreciated, the impact of a particular unit incurring an actual useful life that is less than the estimated useful life would not have a material impact on our results of operations.

        Goodwill acquired in connection with business combinations represents the excess of consideration over the fair value of net assets acquired. Certain assumptions and estimates are employed in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as well as in determining the allocation of goodwill to the appropriate reporting unit.

        We perform an impairment test for goodwill annually or earlier if indicators of potential impairment exist. Our goodwill impairment test involves a comparison of the fair value of its reporting unit with its carrying value. The fair value is determined using discounted cash flows and other market-related valuation models. Certain estimates and judgments are required in the application of the fair value models. As of December 31, 2010, we performed an impairment analysis and determined that no impairment had occurred. If for any reason the fair value of our goodwill declines below the carrying value in the future, we may incur charges for the impairment. There was no impairment recorded for goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011 or the six months ended June 30, 2012.

        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, 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. There was no impairment recorded for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, and an impairment of $1.7 million was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2009.

        We maintain an allowance for bad debts based on specific customer collection issues and historical experience. On an ongoing basis, we conduct an evaluation of the financial strength of our customers based on payment history and specific identification and makes adjustments to the allowance as necessary. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $260,598 and $173,808 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

        Revenue is recognized by us using the following criteria: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement, (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the customer's price is fixed or determinable and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.

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        Revenues from compression services are recognized as earned under our fixed fee contracts. Compression services are billed monthly in advance of the service period and are recognized as deferred revenue on the balance sheet until earned.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

        In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued new guidance requiring an entity to perform an analysis to determine whether the entity's variable interest gives it a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity. This analysis identifies the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity as the entity that has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the variable interest entity's economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the variable interest entity. The new guidance also requires additional disclosures about a company's involvement in variable interest entities and any significant changes in risk exposure due to that involvement. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009. Our adoption of this new guidance on January 1, 2010 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

        In October 2009, FASB issued an update to existing guidance on revenue recognition for arrangements with multiple deliverables. This update addresses accounting for multiple-deliverable arrangements to enable vendors to account for deliverables separately. The guidance establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. This update requires expanded disclosures for multiple deliverable revenue arrangements. The update is effective for us for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified on or after January 1, 2011. Our adoption of this new guidance on January 1, 2011 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

        In January 2010, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-06, Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements, or ASU 2010-06, which amends FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. ASU 2010-06 requires reporting entities to make new disclosures about recurring or nonrecurring fair-value measurements including significant transfers into and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair-value measurements and information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements on a gross basis in the reconciliation of Level 3 fair-value measurements. ASU 2010-06 also clarifies existing fair-value measurement disclosure guidance about the level of disaggregation, inputs, and valuation techniques. We have evaluated ASU 2010-06 and determined that we are not currently impacted by the update.

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NATURAL GAS COMPRESSION INDUSTRY

Role of Natural Gas Compression

        Natural gas compression is a mechanical process whereby natural gas is compressed to a smaller volume resulting in a higher pressure. In the U.S., there exists a complex system of pipelines, known as the natural gas grid, designed to transport natural gas from producing areas to markets. Because the grid is generally designed to move gas at increasing pressures, natural gas compression is required throughout all stages of the natural gas chain, including production at the wellhead; gathering, treating and processing; and transportation and storage.

GRAPHIC

        Producing Regions (Wellhead).    In general, wellhead compression is used to allow natural gas to flow from the wellhead into local gathering systems. There are several variables that impact compression requirements for wellhead applications, including, but not limited to, the natural pressure of the producing reservoir, initial flow rates of producing wells and the production decline rate over the life of the producing well. The variability in production characteristics over time results in frequently changing compression requirements, causing a need for regular modification and adjustment of on-site compression equipment. As a result, wellhead compression typically employs lower-horsepower, portable equipment located at or very near the wellhead. Given the shorter-life of a given well (and the related compression requirement), operators often outsource these compression requirements.

        Central / Regional Gathering Systems.    Gathering systems consist of networks of smaller-diameter pipelines that gather raw natural gas at the wellhead and transport it to central locations for processing, treating and connection with long-haul pipelines for further transportation. Compression is used along gathering systems to facilitate the movement of natural gas from the smaller-scale gathering systems, through central delivery points, and into larger-scale, higher volume regional gathering systems. While gathering systems vary depending on the particular producing region, size of the coverage area and other factors, large-horsepower compression units are generally required. As the gathering systems serve as a centralized transportation system for multiple wells, they tend to be more permanent in nature. Operators of regional gathering systems will both own and outsource their compression requirements depending on their needs.

        Processing / Treating of Natural Gas.    Natural gas used by consumers is composed almost entirely of methane. Natural gas when produced out of the earth is a mixture of hydrocarbons (principally methane, ethane, propane, butanes and pentanes), water vapor, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide,

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helium, nitrogen and other compounds. At various points from the wellhead to the major transportation pipelines, the gas stream is purified to remove the non-methane components from the raw natural gas stream. Compression is often utilized in the various processes used to purify the natural gas stream, which includes processing to remove the various hydrocarbons and fluids, treating to remove sulfur and carbon dioxide and dehydration to remove water vapor. Processors of natural gas will both own and outsource their compression requirements depending on their needs.

        Long-Haul Transportation and Storage.    Natural gas is transported from regional gathering facilities and processing plants to local end-user markets by long-haul transmission pipelines. These transmission lines consist of large-scale pipelines operating at very high pressures in order to move large quantities of gas efficiently. Additionally, transmission lines have highly stable compression conditions that are maintained for long periods of time. The compression for long haul transportation is provided using very large horsepower compression units. Further, these units tend to be installed as permanent components of the pipeline, and are generally owned by the pipeline operators themselves.

        Natural gas storage is primarily used to balance the relatively constant supply of natural gas with the more seasonal demand for natural gas. In natural gas storage operations, gas is injected into storage facilities, typically underground salt caverns or depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs, and stored until market demand dictates. Storage is also used to balance supply and demand between producing regions and consuming regions. Natural gas storage operations also require very large horsepower compression, resulting in the installation of permanent compression units typically owned by the storage operator.


Role of Compression Services in the Natural Gas Chain

        As described above, each portion of the natural gas chain has distinct compression requirements and timeframes under which compression requirements change. These components are important factors in understanding whether producers, processors, gatherers and transporters of natural gas own compression equipment or seek to contract for compression services through providers such as us.

Natural Gas Chain
Component
  Pressure
Requirement
  Typical
Unit
Horsepower
(HP)
  Typical
Facility
Horsepower
(HP)
  Compression
Conditions
  Outsource /
Own
  Typical
Contract
Tenor

Wellhead

  Low   <250   <250   Variable   Outsource / Own   Short-Term

Central Gathering

 

Low /

 

>250

 

>250

 

Moderately

 

Outsource /

 

Medium /

  Moderate   <1,800   <10,000   Stable   Own   Long-Term

Regional Gathering

 

Moderate /

 

>1,000

 

>3,000

 

Stable

 

Outsource /

 

Medium /

  High   <5,000   <50,000       Own   Long-Term

Processing / Treating

 

Moderate /

 

>1,000

 

>3,000

 

Stable

 

Outsource /

 

Medium /

  High   <5,000   <50,000       Own   Long-Term

Long-Haul Pipelines /

                       
 

Storage

  Very High   >2,500   >10,000   Very Stable /   Typically   N/A

      <30,000   <150,000   Constant   Own    

        As compression conditions increase in variability, it becomes economic for a customer to outsource compression services. Outsourced compression services permit customers to meet their changing compression needs more efficiently over time while limiting their capital investments in compression equipment. Moreover, customers benefit from the specialized personnel, including engineers and field service employees, and technical skills that compression services providers offer.

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BUSINESS

Overview

        We are a growth-oriented Delaware limited partnership and, based on management's significant experience in the industry, we believe that we are one of the largest independent providers of compression services in the U.S. in terms of total compression unit horsepower. As of June 30, 2012, we had 858,900 horsepower in our fleet and 66,539 horsepower on order for delivery, of which 51,039 is expected to be delivered between July 2012 and September 2012, and 15,500 is expected to be delivered between October 2012 and December 2012. We employ a customer-focused business philosophy in partnering with our diverse customer base, which is comprised of producers, processors, gatherers and transporters of natural gas. Natural gas compression, a mechanical process whereby natural gas is compressed to a smaller volume, resulting in higher pressure, is an essential part of the production and transportation of natural gas. 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' dynamic compression requirements. By focusing on the needs of our customers and by providing them with reliable and flexible compression services, we are able to develop long-term relationships, which lead to more stable cash flows for our unitholders. From 2003 through the second quarter of 2012, our average horsepower utilization was over 90%. We have been providing compression services since 1998.

        We focus primarily on large-horsepower infrastructure applications. As of June 30, 2012, we estimate that over 90% of our revenue generating horsepower was deployed in large-volume gathering systems, processing facilities and transportation applications. We operate a modern fleet, with an average age of our compression units of approximately five years. Our standard new-build compression unit is generally configured for multiple compression stages allowing us to operate our units across a broad range of operating conditions. This flexibility 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 above the levels required by our customers.

        We generally provide our compression services to our customers under long-term, fixed-fee contracts, with initial contract terms of up to five years. We typically continue to provide compression services to our customers beyond their initial contract terms, either through contract renewals or on a month-to-month basis. Our customers are typically required to pay our monthly fee even during periods of limited or disrupted natural gas flows, which enhances the stability and predictability of our cash flows. We are not directly exposed to natural gas price risk because we do not take title to the natural gas we compress 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 in a number of shale plays, including the Fayetteville, Marcellus, Woodford, Barnett, Eagle Ford and Haynesville shales. We believe compression services for shale production will increase in the future. According to the Annual Energy Outlook 2012 prepared by the EIA, natural gas production from shale formations will increase from 23% of total U.S. natural gas production in 2010 to 49% of total U.S. natural gas production in 2035. Not only are the production and transportation volumes in these and other shale plays increasing, but the geological and reservoir characteristics of these shales are also particularly attractive for compression services. The changes in production volume and pressure of shale plays over time result in a wider range of compression requirements than in conventional basins. We believe we are well-positioned to meet these changing operating conditions as a result of the flexibility our compression units. While our business focus is largely compression serving shale plays, we also provide compression services in more mature conventional basins. These conventional basins require increasing amounts of compression as they age

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and pressures decline, which we believe will provide an additional source of stable and growing cash flows for our unitholders.

        For the year ended December 31, 2011, our business generated revenues, net income and Adjusted EBITDA of $98.7 million, $0.1 million and $51.3 million, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, our business generated revenues, net income and Adjusted EBITDA of $56.0 million, $2.2 million and $29.7 million, respectively. Please read "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for an explanation of Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.


Business Strategies

        Our principal business objective is to increase the quarterly cash distributions that we pay to our unitholders over time while ensuring the ongoing stability and growth of our business. We expect to achieve this objective by executing on the following strategies:

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Competitive Strengths

        We believe that we are well positioned to successfully execute our business strategies and achieve our principal business objective because of the following competitive strengths:

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Our Operations

        We provide compression services for a 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. We have consistently provided average service run times above the levels required by our customers. In general, our team of field service technicians service our compression fleet and do not service third-party owned equipment. We do not rent or lease our compressors to our customers and do not own any compression fabrication facilities.

        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. Approximately 95% of our fleet horsepower at June 30, 2012 was purchased new and the average age of our compression units is approximately five years. Our modern, standardized compressor fleet mainly consists of the Caterpillar 3508, 3512 and 3516 engine classes, which range from 630 to 1,340 horsepower per unit, and we are expanding our fleet to include the Caterpillar 3606 and 3608 engine class, which range from 1,775 to 2,352 horsepower per unit. These larger units, defined as 500 horsepower per unit or greater, represented approximately 85% of our fleet (including compression units on order) as of June 30, 2012. We believe the young age and overall composition of our compressor fleet results in fewer mechanical failures, lower fuel usage (a direct cost savings for our customers), and reduced environmental emissions.

        The following table provides a summary of our compression units by horsepower as of June 30, 2012 (including additional new compression unit horsepower on order for delivery between July 2012 and December, 2012):

Unit Horsepower
  Fleet
Horsepower
  Horsepower
on Order(1)
  Total
Horsepower(2)
  Percentage of
Total
Horsepower
 

<500

    140,891     2,653     143,544     15.5 %

>500 <1,000

    107,679     8,280     115,959     12.5 %

>1,000

    610,330     55,606     665,936     72.0 %
                   

Total

    858,900     66,539     925,439     100.0 %
                   

(1)
51,039 of this horsepower is expected to be delivered between July 2012 and September 2012, and 15,500 of this horsepower is expected to be delivered between October 2012 and December 2012.

(2)
Comprised of 1,177 compression units, including 55 new compression units on order.

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        The following table sets forth certain information regarding our compression fleet as of the dates and for the periods indicated:

 
  Predecessor    
   
 
 
  Successor  
 
  Year Ended
December 31,
 
 
   
  Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2012
 
 
  Year Ended
December 31,
2011
 
 
  2007   2008   2009   2010  

Operating Data (at period end, except averages)—unaudited

                                     
 

Fleet horsepower(1)

    453,508     542,899     582,530     609,730     722,201     858,900  
 

Total available horsepower(2)

    476,698     568,359     582,530     612,410     809,418     884,235  
 

Revenue generating horsepower(3)

    405,807     496,606     502,177     533,692     649,285     759,498  
 

Average revenue generating horsepower(4)

    370,826     455,673     489,243     516,703     570,900     709,124  
 

Revenue generating compression units

    613     763     749     795     888     948  
 

Average horsepower per revenue generating compression unit(5)

    665     651     655     667     692     768  
 

Horsepower utilization(6)

                                     
   

At period end

    93.7 %   95.2 %   92.0 %   91.8 %   95.7 %   94.9 %
   

Average for the period(7)

    93.9 %   95.9 %   92.7 %   92.6 %   92.3 %   95.6 %

(1)
Fleet horsepower is horsepower for compression units that have been delivered to us (and excludes units on order). As of June 30, 2012, we had 66,539 of additional new compression unit horsepower on order, of which 51,039 horsepower is expected to be delivered between July 2012 and September 2012, and 15,500 horsepower is expected to be delivered between October 2012 and December 2012.

(2)
Total available horsepower includes 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 not yet generating revenue that is subject to a purchase order and idle horsepower. Total available horsepower excludes new horsepower on order for which we do not have a 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 month-end horsepower per revenue generating compression unit for each of the months in the period.

(6)
Horsepower utilization is calculated as (i)(a) revenue generating horsepower plus (b) horsepower in our fleet that is under contract, but is not yet generating revenue plus (c) horsepower not yet in our fleet that is under contract not yet generating revenue and will be fulfilled by horsepower 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 at each applicable period end was 89.5%, 91.5%, 86.2%, 87.5% and 89.9% for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively, and 85.0% and 88.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

(7)
Calculated as the average utilization for the months in the period based on utilization at the end of each month in the period.

        A substantial majority of our compression units have electronic control systems that enable us, if specified by our customers, to monitor our units remotely by satellite or other means to supplement our technicians' on-site monitoring visits. Our compression units are designed to automatically shut

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down if operating conditions deviate from a pre-determined range. While we retain the care, custody, ongoing maintenance and control of our compression units, we allow our customers, subject to a defined protocol, to start, stop, accelerate and slow down compression units in response to field conditions.

        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, technical, environmental and commercial information at the discrete unit level. These capabilities allow our field technicians to identify potential problems and act on them before such problems result in downtime.

        Generally, we expect each of our compression units to undergo a major overhaul between service deployment cycles once every eight to ten years for our larger horsepower units (500 horsepower or more) and on average every five years for smaller horsepower units. 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 expect that we will be able to schedule overhauls in a way to avoid excessive maintenance capital expenditures and minimize the revenue impact of downtime.

        We believe that our customers, by outsourcing their compression requirements, can increase their revenue by transporting or producing a higher volume of natural gas through decreased compression downtime and reduce their operating, maintenance and equipment costs by allowing us to manage efficiently their changing compression needs. We generally guarantee our customers availability ranging from 95% to 98%, depending on field level requirements.

        The following discussion describes the material terms generally common to our compression service contracts. We generally enter into a new contract with respect to each distinct application for which we will provide compression services.

        Term and termination.    Our contracts typically have an initial term between one and five years, after which the contract continues on a month-to-month basis until terminated by us or our customers upon notice as provided for in the applicable contract.

        Availability.    Our contracts often provide a guarantee of specified availability. We define availability as the percentage of time in a given period that our compression services are being provided or are capable of being provided. Availability is reduced by instances of "down-time" that are attributable to anything other than events of force majeure or acts or failures to act by the customer. "Down-time" under our contracts usually begins when our services stop being provided and when we receive notice of the problem. Down-time due to scheduled maintenance is also excluded from our availability commitment. As a consequence of our availability guarantee, we are incentivized to practice predictive and preventive maintenance on our fleet as well as promptly respond to a problem to meet our contractual commitments and ensure our customers the compression availability on which their business and our service relationship is based.

        Fees and expenses.    Our customers pay a fixed monthly fee for our services. We bill our customers 30 days in advance, and they are required to pay upon receipt of the invoice. We are not responsible for acts of force majeure, and our customers generally are required to pay our monthly fee even during periods of limited or disrupted throughput. We are generally responsible for the costs and expenses associated with operation and maintenance of our compression equipment, such as providing necessary lubricants, although certain fees and expenses are the responsibility of our customers under the terms of their contracts. For example, all fuel gas is provided by our customers without cost to us, and in

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many cases customers are required to provide all water and electricity, while lubricants in certain cases may be provided by the customer. We are also reimbursed by our customers for certain ancillary expenses such as trucking and crane, depending on the terms agreed to in the applicable contract, resulting in no gross operating margin.

        Service standards and specifications.    We commit to provide compression services under service contracts that typically provide that we will supply all compression equipment, tools, parts, field service support and engineering. Our contracts do not govern the compression equipment we will use; instead, we determine what equipment is necessary to perform our contractual commitments.

        Title; Risk of loss.    We own or lease all compression equipment we use to provide compression services, and we normally bear the risk of loss or damage to our equipment and tools and injury or death to our personnel.

        Insurance.    Our contracts typically provide that both we and our customers are required to carry general liability, worker's compensation, employers' liability, automobile and excess liability insurance.

        Our marketing and client service functions are performed on a coordinated basis by our sales and field technicians. Salespeople and field technicians qualify, analyze and scope new compression applications as well as regularly visit our customers to ensure customer satisfaction, to determine a customer's current needs related to services currently being provided and to determine the customer's future compression services requirements. This ongoing communication allows us to quickly identify and respond to our customers' compression requirements. We currently focus on geographic areas where we can achieve economies of scale through high density operations.

        Our customers consist of more than 110 companies in the energy industry, including major integrated oil companies, public and private independent exploration and production companies and midstream companies. Our largest customer for the year ended December 31, 2011 and six months ended June 30, 2012 was Southwestern Energy. Southwestern Energy accounted for 15.9% of our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 13.9% of our revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2012. Our ten largest customers accounted for 53% and 54% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2011 and for the six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively.

        The principal manufacturers of components for our natural gas compression equipment include Caterpillar (for engines), Air-X-Changers and Air Cooled Exchangers (for coolers), and Ariel Corporation (for compressor frames and cylinders). We also rely primarily on two vendors, A G Equipment Company and Standard Equipment Corp., to package and assemble our compression units. Although we rely primarily on these suppliers, we believe alternative sources for natural gas compression equipment are generally available if needed. However, relying on alternative sources may change the standardized nature of our fleet. We have not experienced any material supply problems to date, although lead-times for Caterpillar engines have in the past been in excess of one year due to increased demand and supply allocations imposed on equipment packagers and end-users by Caterpillar.

        The compression services business is highly competitive. Some of our competitors have a broader geographic scope, as well as 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

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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 current availability of attractive financing terms from financial institutions and equipment manufacturers makes the purchase of individual compression units increasingly 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.

        Our results of operations have not historically reflected any material seasonality, and we do not currently have reason to believe seasonal fluctuations will have a material impact in the foreseeable future.

        We believe that our insurance coverage is customary for the industry and adequate for our business. As is customary in the natural gas 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 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 the maintenance of insurance coverage on our compression equipment.

        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 are often obligated to obtain permits or approvals in our operations from various federal, state and local authorities, which 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 may also 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, there is no assurance that this trend of compliance will continue in the future. In addition, the clear trend in environmental regulation is to place more restrictions on activities that may affect the environment, and thus, any changes in, or more stringent enforcement of, these 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.

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        We do not believe that compliance with federal, state or local environmental laws and regulations will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations or cash flows. We cannot assure you, however, that future events, such as changes in existing laws or enforcement policies, the promulgation of new laws or regulations or the development or discovery of new facts or conditions 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.

        Air emissions.    The CAA and comparable state laws regulate emissions of air pollutants from various industrial sources, including natural gas compressors, and also impose certain monitoring and reporting requirements. Such emissions are regulated by air emissions permits, which are applied for and obtained through the various state or federal regulatory agencies. Our standard natural gas compression contract typically provides that the customer is responsible for obtaining air emissions permits and assuming the environmental risks related to site operations. Increased obligations of operators to reduce air emissions of nitrogen oxides and other pollutants from internal combustion engines in transmission service have been enacted by governmental authorities. For example, on August 20, 2010, the 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. On May 22, 2012, the EPA proposed amendments to the final rule in response to several petitions for reconsideration. The EPA must finalize the proposed amendments by December 14, 2012. The rule will require us to undertake certain expenditures and activities, likely including purchasing and installing emissions control equipment on certain compressor engines and generators. Compliance with the final rule is required by October 2013. We are currently evaluating the impact that the proposed amendments will have on our operations but we do not believe that the costs associated with achieving compliance with the final rule and proposed amendments by the October 2013 compliance date will be material.

        On June 28, 2011, the EPA issued a final rule, effective August 29, 2011 modifying existing regulations under the CAA that established new source performance standards for manufacturers, owners and operators of new, modified and reconstructed stationary internal combustion engines, also known as Quad J regulations. The final rule may require us to undertake significant expenditures, including expenditures for purchasing, installing, monitoring and maintaining emissions control equipment. Compliance with the final rule is not required until at least 2013. On May 22, 2012, the EPA proposed minor amendments in order to conform the final rule with the proposed amendments to the Quad Z regulations. The amendments must be finalized by December 14, 2012. We are currently evaluating the impact that this final rule and proposed amendments will have on our operations.

        In March 2008, the EPA also promulgated a new, lower National Ambient Air Quality Standard, or NAAQS, for ground-level ozone, or NOx. While the EPA announced in September 2009 that it would reconsider the 2008 NAAQS for NOx, it withdrew the reconsideration on September 2, 2011. Under the CAA, the EPA will be required to review and potentially issue a new NAAQS for ground level NOx in 2013. Designation of new non-attainment areas for the revised ozone and NOx NAAQS may result in additional federal and state regulatory actions that could impact our customers' operations and increase the cost of additions to property, plant and equipment.

        On April 17, 2012, the EPA finalized rules that establish new air emission controls for oil and natural gas production and natural gas processing operations. Specifically, the EPA's rule package includes New Source Performance Standards to address emissions of sulfur dioxide and volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, and a separate set of emission standards to address hazardous air pollutants frequently associated with oil and natural gas production and processing activities. The rules establish specific new requirements regarding emissions from compressors and controllers at natural gas processing plants, dehydrators, storage tanks and other production equipment. In addition, the rules establish new leak detection requirements for natural gas processing plants at 500 ppm. These rules

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may require a number of modifications to our operations, including the installation of new equipment to control emissions from our compressors at initial startup, or 60 days after the final rule is published in the Federal Register, whichever is later. Compliance with such rules could result in significant costs, including increased capital expenditures and operating costs, and could adversely impact our business.

        In addition, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, or 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 23 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 emission control equipment would not have a material adverse impact.

        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, or GHGs. In recent years, the U.S. Congress has considered legislation to reduce emissions of GHGs. It presently appears unlikely that comprehensive climate legislation will be passed by either house of Congress in the near future, although energy legislation and other initiatives are expected to be proposed that may be relevant to GHG emissions issues. In addition, almost half of the states have begun to address GHG emissions, primarily through the planned development of emission 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.

        Independent of Congress, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or the EPA, is beginning to adopt regulations controlling GHG emissions under its existing Clean Air Act authority. For example, on December 15, 2009, the EPA officially published its findings that emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other GHGs present an endangerment to human health and the environment because emissions of such gases are, according to the EPA, contributing to warming of the earth's atmosphere and other climatic changes. These findings by the EPA allow the agency to proceed with the adoption and implementation of regulations that would restrict emissions of GHGs under existing provisions of the federal Clean Air Act. In 2009, the EPA adopted rules regarding regulation of GHG emissions from motor vehicles. In addition, on September 22, 2009, the EPA issued a final rule requiring the reporting of GHG emissions in the United States beginning in 2011 for emissions occurring in 2010 from specified large GHG emission sources. On November 30, 2010, the EPA published a final rule expanding its existing GHG emissions reporting rule for petroleum and natural gas facilities, including natural gas transmission compression facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. The rule, which went into effect on December 30, 2010, requires reporting of GHG emissions by such regulated facilities to the EPA by September 2012 for emissions during 2011 and annually thereafter. In 2010, the EPA also issued a final rule, known as the "Tailoring Rule," that makes certain large stationary sources and modification projects subject to permitting requirements for GHG emissions under the Clean Air Act. Several of the EPA's GHG rules are being challenged in court and, depending on the outcome of these proceedings, such rules may be modified or rescinded or the EPA could develop new rules.

        Although it is not currently possible to predict how any such proposed or future greenhouse gas legislation or regulation by Congress, the states or multi-state regions will impact our business, any

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legislation or regulation of greenhouse gas emissions that may be imposed in areas in which we conduct business could result in increased compliance costs or 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.

        Water discharge.    The Clean Water Act, or 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 United States. 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 our standard natural gas compression contract for obtaining any discharge permits that may be required under the CWA.

        Safe drinking water act.    A portion of our customers' natural gas production is developed from unconventional sources that require hydraulic fracturing as part of the completion process. Hydraulic fracturing involves the injection of water, sand and chemicals under pressure into the formation to stimulate gas production. Legislation to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act 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, were proposed in recent sessions of Congress. The U.S. Congress continues to consider legislation to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act. Scrutiny of hydraulic fracturing activities continues in other ways, with the EPA having commenced a multi-year study of the potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing, the results of which are anticipated to be available by the end of 2012. EPA also has recently announced that it believes hydraulic fracturing using fluids containing diesel fuel can be regulated under the SDWA notwithstanding the SDWA's general exemption for hydraulic fracturing. Several states have also proposed or adopted legislative or regulatory restrictions on hydraulic fracturing. We cannot predict whether any such legislation will ever be enacted and if so, what its provisions would be. If additional levels of regulation and permits were required through the adoption of new laws and regulations at the federal or state level, that could lead to 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.

        Solid waste.    The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or the RCRA, and comparable state laws control the management and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. These laws and regulations govern the generation, storage, treatment, transfer and disposal of wastes that we generate including, but not limited to, used oil, antifreeze, filters, sludges, paint, solvents, and sandblast materials. The EPA and various state agencies have limited the approved methods of disposal for these types of wastes.

        Site remediation.    The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA, and comparable state laws 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

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hazardous substance into the environment. These persons include the owner and operator of a disposal site where a hazardous substance release occurred and any company that transported, disposed of, or arranged for the transport or disposal of hazardous substances 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, it is not uncommon for the neighboring landowners and other third parties to 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 inactive compression units, we may use third-party properties for such storage and possible maintenance and repair activities. In addition, our active compression units typically are placed 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 used by us; however, there is always 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, RCRA 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, or 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 the 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 employees.

        We do not currently own or lease any material facilities or properties for storage or maintenance of our compression units. Our headquarters consists of 3,065 square feet of leased space located at 100 Congress Avenue, Suite 450, Austin, Texas 78701.

        We will be managed and operated by the officers and directors of USA Compression GP, our general partner. As of June 30, 2012, we employed 229 people either directly or through USAC Operating. None of our employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements. We consider our employee relations to be good.

        From time to time we may be involved in litigation relating to claims arising out of our operations in the normal course of business. We are not currently a party to any legal proceedings that we believe would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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MANAGEMENT OF USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP

        Our general partner, USA Compression GP, LLC, will manage our operations and activities. Our general partner is not elected by our unitholders and will not be subject to re-election on a regular basis in the future. As described in the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of USA Compression GP, LLC, or the GP Agreement, USA Compression GP, LLC will be member-managed. The sole member has delegated to the board of directors all power and authority related to management of the partnership to the fullest extent permitted by law and the GP Agreement. The GP Agreement provides that there shall be at least two and no more than nine directors, who will oversee our operations. The board of directors will elect one or more officers who will serve at the pleasure of the board. Unitholders will not be entitled to elect the directors of USA Compression GP, LLC or directly or indirectly participate in our management or operation.

        Upon the closing of this offering, the board of directors of our general partner will initially be comprised of five members, all of whom will be designated by USA Compression Holdings and one of whom will be independent as defined under the independence standards established by the New York Stock Exchange. In compliance with the rules of the NYSE, a second independent director will be appointed to the board of directors of USA Compression GP, LLC within 90 days of listing and a third independent director will be appointed within twelve months of listing. The NYSE does not require a listed limited partnership like us to have a majority of independent directors on the board of directors of our general partner or to establish a compensation committee or a nominating committee.

        As set forth in the GP Agreement, USA Compression GP, LLC may, from time to time, have a conflicts committee to which the board of directors 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 USA Compression Holdings. The conflicts committee will determine the resolution of the conflict of interest in any manner referred to it in good faith. The members of the conflicts committee may not be officers or employees of our general partner or directors, officers, or employees of its affiliates, including USA Compression Holdings, and must meet the independence and experience standards established by the NYSE and the Exchange Act to serve on an audit committee of a board of directors, 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 our general partner of any duties it may owe us or our unitholders. For a detailed discussion of the potential conflicts of interest we face and how they will be resolved, see "Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties—Conflicts of Interest."

        In addition, USA Compression GP, LLC will have an audit committee comprised of directors who meet the independence and experience standards established by the NYSE and the Exchange Act. The audit committee will assist the board of directors in its oversight of the integrity of our financial statements and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and corporate policies and controls. The audit committee will have 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 will also be responsible for confirming the independence and objectivity of our independent registered public accounting firm. Our independent registered public accounting firm will be given unrestricted access to the audit committee.

        Any person who is or was a member, partner, director, officer, affiliate, fiduciary or trustee of USA Compression GP, LLC, any person who is or was serving at the request of USA Compression GP, LLC or any affiliate of USA Compression GP, LLC as an officer, director, member, manager, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another person is entitled to indemnification under the GP Agreement for actions associated with such roles to the fullest extent permitted by law and the GP Agreement. The GP Agreement may be amended or restated at any time by the sole member.

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Directors and Executive Officers

        The following table shows information regarding the current directors, director nominee and executive officers of USA Compression GP, LLC.

Name
  Age   Position with USA Compression GP, LLC

Eric D. Long

  54   President and Chief Executive Officer and Director

Joseph C. Tusa, Jr. 

  54   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

J. Gregory Holloway

  54   Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

David A. Smith

  50   Vice President and President, Northeast Region

Dennis J. Moody

  55   Vice President—Operations Services

Kevin M. Bourbonnais

  46   Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Robert F. End

  57   Director Nominee

William H. Shea, Jr. 

  57   Director

Andrew W. Ward

  45   Director

Olivia C. Wassenaar

  32   Director

        The directors of our 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 of directors. There are no family relationships among any of the directors or executive officers of our general partner.

        Eric D. Long has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since September 2002 and has served as a director of USA Compression GP, LLC since June 2011. Mr. Long co-founded USA Compression in 1998 and has over 30 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, an 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.

        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 30 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 our board.

        Joseph C. Tusa, Jr. has served as our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since joining us in January 2008. Mr. Tusa began his career with Arthur Andersen in Houston, Texas in its oil and gas exploration and production division. He then served as Chief Financial Officer of DSM Copolymer, Inc., a producer and global supplier of synthetic rubber. From 1997 to 2001, Mr. Tusa served as Senior Vice President of Business Operations for Metamor Worldwide, Inc., an IT services company that was listed on the NASDAQ exchange. From 2001 to December 2007, Mr. Tusa served as the Chief Financial Officer of Comsys IT Partners, Inc., an information technology staffing company and an affiliate of Metamor. Mr. Tusa received his BBA from Texas State University and his MBA from Louisiana State University. He is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Texas.

        J. Gregory Holloway has served as our Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since joining us in June 2011. From September 2005 through June 2011, Mr. Holloway was a partner at Thompson & Knight LLP in its Austin office. His areas of practice at the firm included corporate, securities and merger and acquisition law. Mr. Holloway received his B.A. from Rice University and his J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law.

        David A. Smith has served as our President, Northeast Region since joining us in November 1998 and was appointed corporate Vice President in June 2011. Mr. Smith has approximately 20 years of experience in the natural gas compression industry, primarily in operations and sales. From 1985 to

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1989, Mr. Smith was a sales manager for McKenzie Corporation, a marketing company. From 1989 to 1996, Mr. Smith held positions of General Manager and Regional Manager of Northeast Division with Compressor Systems Inc., a fabricator and supplier of compression services. Mr. Smith was the Regional Manager in the northeast for Global Compression Services, Inc., a compression services company, and served in that capacity from 1996 to 1998. Mr. Smith received an associates degree in Automotive and Diesel Technology from Rosedale Technical Institute.

        Dennis J. Moody has served as our Vice President—Operations Services since December 2011, as our General Manager, Central Region since December 2007 and previously served as sales manager since February 2002. Prior to this time, Mr. Moody served in positions of increasing responsibility since joining us in July 1999. Mr. Moody has over 30 years of experience with the operation, repair, sizing and sales of motor and electric driven compression equipment. From 1976 to 1979, Mr. Moody worked as an operator and repair mechanic and served on the overhaul crew at Mustang Fuel Corporation, an oil and gas company engaged in production, gathering, processing and marketing of natural gas. From 1979 to 1984, Mr. Moody managed the service, repair and parts distribution facilities for the drilling and industrial air compression distributors of Ingersoll-Rand and Sullair brand compressors in Oklahoma. From 1984 to July 1999, Mr. Moody served in an industrial and gas compression sales and sales support role at Bush Compression Industries, a fabricator of compression equipment.

        Kevin M. Bourbonnais has served as our Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since June 2011. Mr. Bourbonnais has approximately 13 years of experience in the natural gas compression industry, in operations, marketing, manufacturing, engineering and sales. Mr. Bourbonnais served in various roles for the Royal Bank of Canada from 1990 to 1999. In 1999, he moved to Weatherford Global Compression, which was acquired by a predecessor to Exterran Holdings, Inc. in 2001. Mr. Bourbonnais was named Senior Vice President, Manufacturing in 2003, Senior Vice President, Operations in March 2007, Regional Vice President, Western Division in August 2007 and Vice President, Marketing & Product Strategy in January 2010, in which role he served until June 2011. Mr. Bourbonnais received a BA and an MBA from the University of Calgary in 1989 and 2000, respectively.

        Robert F. End has agreed to serve as a director of USA Compression GP, LLC. Mr. End served as a director of Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. from December 2005 until August 2011. Mr. End was a Managing Director of Transportation Resource Partners, or TRP, a private equity firm from 2009 through 2011. Prior to joining TRP in 2009, Mr. End had been a Managing Director of Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity Division, or MLGPE, the private equity arm of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., where he served as Co-Head of the North American Region, and a Managing Director of Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity, Inc., the Manager of ML Global Private Equity Fund, L.P., a proprietary private equity fund which he joined in 2004. Previously, Mr. End was a founding Partner and Director of Stonington Partners Inc., a private equity firm established in 1994. Prior to leaving Merrill Lynch in 1994, Mr. End was a Managing Director of Merrill Lynch Capital Partners, Merrill Lynch's private equity group. Mr. End joined Merrill Lynch in 1986 and worked in the Investment Banking Division before joining the private equity group in 1989. Mr. End received his AB from Dartmouth College and his MBA from the Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College.

        Mr. End will bring significant knowledge and expertise to our board from his service on other boards and his years of experience with private equity groups, including his useful insight into investments and business development and proven leadership skills as Managing Director of MLGPE. As a result of this experience and resulting skills set, we believe Mr. End will be a valuable member of our board.

        William H. Shea, Jr. has served as a director of USA Compression GP, LLC since June 2011. Mr. Shea served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Buckeye GP LLC and its predecessor entities, or Buckeye, from July 1998 to September 2000, as President and Chief Executive Officer of Buckeye from September 2000 to July 2007, and Chairman from May 2004 to July 2007. From August 2006 to July 2007, Mr. Shea served as Chairman of MainLine Management LLC, the general partner of Buckeye GP Holdings, L.P., and as President and Chief Executive Officer of MainLine

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Management LLC from May 2004 to July 2007. Mr. Shea served as a director of Penn Virginia Corp. from July 2007 to May 2010, and as President, Chief Executive Officer and director of the general partner of Penn Virginia GP Holdings, L.P. from March 2010 to March 2011. Mr. Shea has served as a director and the Chief Executive Officer of the general partner of Penn Virginia Resource Partners, L.P., or Penn Virginia, since March 2010. Mr. Shea has also served as a director of Kayne Anderson Energy Total Return Fund, Inc., and Kayne Anderson MLP Investment Company since March 2008 and Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC since May 2010. Mr. Shea has an agreement with Riverstone, pursuant to which he has agreed to serve on the boards of certain Riverstone portfolio companies. Mr. Shea received his B.A. from Boston College and his M.B.A. from the University of Virginia.

        Mr. Shea's experiences as an executive with both Penn Virginia and Buckeye, energy companies that operate across a broad spectrum of sectors, including coal, natural gas gathering and processing and refined petroleum products transportation, have given him substantial knowledge about our industry. In addition, Mr. Shea has substantial experience overseeing the strategy and operations of publicly-traded partnerships. As a result of this experience and resulting skills set, we believe Mr. Shea is a valuable member of our board.

        Andrew W. Ward has served as a director of USA Compression GP, LLC since June 2011. Mr. Ward has served as a Principal of Riverstone from 2002 until 2004, as a Managing Director since January 2005 and as a Partner and Managing Director since July 2009, where he focuses on the firm's investment in the midstream sector of the energy industry. Mr. Ward served on the boards of directors of Buckeye and MainLine Management LLC from May 2004 to June 2006. Mr. Ward has also served on the board of directors of Gibson Energy Inc. since 2008 and Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC since May 2006. Mr. Ward received his AB from Dartmouth College and received his M.B.A from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

        Mr. Ward's experience in evaluating the financial performance and operations of companies in our industry make him a valuable member of our board. In addition, Mr. Ward's work with Gibson Energy, Inc., Buckeye and Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC has given him both an understanding of the midstream sector of the energy business and of the unique issues related to operating publicly-traded limited partnerships.

        Olivia C. Wassenaar has served as a director of USA Compression GP, LLC since June 2011. Ms. Wassenaar was an Associate with Goldman, Sachs & Co. in the Global Natural Resources investment banking group from July 2007 to August 2008, where she focused on mergers, equity and debt financings and leveraged buyouts for energy, power and renewable energy companies. Ms. Wassenaar joined Riverstone in September 2008 as Vice President, and has served as a Principal since May 2010. In this capacity, she invests in and monitors investments in the midstream, exploration & production, and solar sectors of the energy industry. Ms. Wassenaar has also served on the board of directors of Northern Blizzard Resources Inc. since June 2011. Ms. Wassenaar received her A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard College and earned an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

        Ms. Wassenaar's experience in evaluating financial and strategic options and the operations of companies in our industry and as an investment banker make her a valuable member of our board.


Reimbursement of Expenses of Our General Partner

        Our general partner will not receive any management fee or other compensation for its management of us. Our general partner and its affiliates will be reimbursed for all expenses incurred on our behalf, including the compensation of employees of USA Compression GP, LLC or its affiliates that perform services on our behalf. These expenses include all expenses necessary or appropriate to the conduct of our business and that are allocable to us. Our partnership agreement provides that our 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 our general partner or its affiliates for compensation or expenses incurred on our behalf.

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Executive Compensation

Executive Summary

        This Executive Compensation disclosure provides an overview of the executive compensation program for our named executive officers identified below. Our general partner intends to provide our named executive officers with compensation that is significantly performance based. For the year ended December 31, 2011, our named executive officers, or our NEOs, were:


Summary Compensation Table

        The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the compensation paid to our NEOs for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011.

Name and Principal Position
  Year   Salary ($)   Unit
Awards
($)(1)
  Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(3)
  All Other
Compensation
($)
  Total ($)  

Eric D. Long

    2011     400,961         300,000     26,461 (4)   727,422  
 

President and Chief Executive Officer

    2010     350,000     244,200 (2)   350,000     163,309 (5)   1,107,509  

Joseph C. Tusa, Jr. 

   
2011
   
275,000
   
   
150,000
   
6,346

(6)
 
431,346
 
 

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

    2010     277,885         110,000     5,798 (7)   393,683  

David A. Smith

   
2011
   
250,000
   
   
350,000
   
17,060

(8)
 
617,060
 
 

Vice President and President, Northeast Region

    2010     250,000         320,000     17,060 (9)   587,060  

(1)
On December 23, 2010, each of our NEOs received awards of Class B Units in USA Compression Holdings. The Class B Units are intended to allow recipients to receive a percentage of profits generated by USA Compression Holdings over and above certain return hurdles, as described in more detail in the discussion under the heading "—Discretionary Long Term Equity Incentive Awards" below. In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, we recognized a grant date fair value of $0 with respect to these awards and will recognize no dollar amount with respect to the Class B Units for financial reporting purposes unless and until the fair value of the Class B Units exceeds the grant date fair value.

(2)
Amount shown reflects an estimate of the grant date fair value of the Class C Units in a predecessor entity granted to Mr. Long pursuant to the provisions of his prior employment agreement, as determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

(3)
Represents the awards earned under annual incentive bonus programs and commission programs, as applicable, for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011. For a discussion of the determination of the 2011 bonus amounts, see "—Annual Performance-Based Compensation for 2011" below.

(4)
Includes $18,000 of automobile allowance and $8,461 of employer contributions under the 401(k) plan.

(5)
Includes $18,000 of automobile allowance, $8,038 of employer contributions under the 401(k) plan and a tax reimbursement payment of $137,271 provided to Mr. Long in connection with the income and employment taxes incurred by him as a result of the equity award granted to him by the predecessor board in 2010, as described in more detail below under the heading "—Discretionary Long Term Equity Incentive Awards."

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(6)
Includes $6,346 of employer contributions under the 401(k) plan.

(7)
Includes $5,798 of employer contributions under the 401(k) plan.

(8)
Includes $9,960 of automobile allowance and $7,100 of employer contributions under the 401(k) plan.

(9)
Includes $9,960 of automobile allowance and $7,100 of employer contributions under the 401(k) plan.


Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table

Elements of the Compensation Program

        Compensation for our NEOs consists primarily of the elements, and their corresponding objectives, identified in the following table.

Compensation Element
  Primary Objective

Base salary

  To recognize performance of job responsibilities and to attract and retain individuals with superior talent.

Annual performance-based compensation

  To promote near-term performance objectives and reward individual contributions to the achievement of those objectives.

Discretionary 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 our partnership.

Severance benefits

  To encourage the continued attention and dedication of key individuals and to focus the attention of key individuals when considering strategic alternatives.

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 with high perceived values at relatively low cost.

        For 2011, the non-employee members of the USA Compression Holdings Board of Managers had primary authority to determine and approve compensation decisions with respect to our NEOs. Going forward, our NEOs will be employed and their compensation will be paid by our general partner, subject to reimbursement by us. Following the consummation of this offering, the compensation of our NEOs will be determined by the board of directors of our general partner.

Base Compensation For 2011

        Base salaries for our NEOs have generally been set at a level deemed necessary to attract and retain individuals with superior talent. Base salary increases are determined based upon the job responsibilities, demonstrated proficiency and performance of the executive officers and market conditions, each as assessed by the Board of Managers of USA Compression Holdings. No formulaic base salary increases are provided to the NEOs. Additionally, no changes to base salaries for our NEOs were made for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

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        The current base salaries for our NEOs, including for our Chief Executive Officer, are set forth in the following table:

Name and Principal Position
  Current
Base Salary
($)
 

Eric D. Long
President and Chief Executive Officer

    400,000  

Joseph C. Tusa, Jr.
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

    275,000  

David A. Smith
Vice President and President, Northeast Region

    250,000  

Annual Performance-Based Compensation For 2011

        Each of our NEOs participates in a discretionary annual incentive bonus compensation program, under which incentive awards are determined annually, with reference to target bonus amounts that are set forth in their employment agreements. For 2011, the target bonus amounts for each of our NEOs were as follows: Mr. Long: $300,000; Mr. Tusa: $110,000; and Mr. Smith: $120,000. In making individual annual bonus decisions, the Board of Managers of USA Compression Holdings, following the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer, does not rely on pre-determined performance goals or targets. Instead, determinations regarding annual bonus compensation awards are based on a subjective assessment of all reasonably available information, including the applicable executive's performance, business impact, contributions and leadership.

        For 2011, our general partner's Board of Managers determined to provide each NEO with a 2011 annual bonus award at or above the NEO's target bonus, generally based on what it viewed as strong leadership and overall financial performance during a transitional year for our company as we operated under new ownership and prepared for this offering. In addition, the Board of Managers sought to reward our NEOs for our operational results and increased sales activity during the second half of 2011, which we believe left us well positioned for growth in 2012. As a result of these considerations, Mr. Long received an annual incentive award equal to 100% of his target amount and Mr. Smith received 125% of his target amount in recognition of his strong sales performance during the second half of 2011. Mr. Tusa received an award equal 136% of his target bonus in recognition of his extraordinary service and dedication in preparing us to become a publicly-traded company, which substantially expanded the scope of his duties in 2011.

        Awards in 2011 were:

Eric D. Long

  $ 300,000  

Joseph C. Tusa, Jr. 

  $ 150,000  

David A. Smith

  $ 150,000  

        Mr. Smith also receives commissions in an amount up to $200,000 annually based on a percentage of qualifying sales. Based on sales performance in 2011, as in prior recent years, Mr. Smith earned the maximum potential amount of commissions available under this arrangement.

Benefit Plans and Perquisites

        We provide our executive officers, including our NEOs, with certain personal benefits and perquisites, which we do not consider to be a significant component of executive compensation but which we recognize are an important factor in attracting and retaining talented executives. Executive officers are eligible under the same plans as all other employees with respect to our medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance plans and a defined contribution plan that is tax-qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code and that we refer to as the 401(k) Plan. We also provide certain executive officers with an annual automobile allowance. We provide these supplemental benefits to our executive officers due to the relatively low cost of such benefits and the value they provide in assisting us in attracting and retaining talented executives. The value of personal benefits and perquisites we provide to each of our NEOs is set forth above in our "—Summary Compensation Table."

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Discretionary Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards

        Prior to the Holdings Acquisition, our NEOs historically received various forms of equity compensation, in the form of both capital and profits interests in us and our predecessor entities, and in connection with the Holdings Acquisition, each of our NEOs re-invested a substantial portion of the cash proceeds received in respect of his prior equity interests in certain classes of capital or profit interest units in USA Compression Holdings.

        Our NEOs were also granted Class B Units of USA Compression Holdings at the time of the Holdings Acquisition. In connection with the Holdings Acquisition in December 2010, the Board of Managers also reserved additional Class B Units for future grants to NEOs and other key employees.

        The Class B Units are profits interests that allow our NEOs to participate in the increase in value of USA Compression Holdings over and above an 8% annual and cumulative preferred return hurdle. The grants have time-based vesting requirements and are designed to not only compensate but also to motivate and retain the recipients by providing an opportunity for equity ownership by our NEOs. The grants to our NEOs also provide our NEOs with meaningful incentives to increase unitholder value over time.

        Generally, the Class B Units have vesting schedules that are designed to encourage NEOs' continued employment or service with USA Compression Holdings or one of its affiliates, including us and our general partner. The Class B Units generally (i) vest twenty-five percent on the first anniversary of the date of grant (December 31, 2011 for grants made at the time of the Holdings Acquisition) and (ii) with respect to the remaining Class B Units, will vest in thirty-six monthly installments thereafter, subject to the NEO's continued employment on each applicable vesting date. See "—Severance and Change in Control Arrangements" below for a description of the circumstances under which vesting of the Class B Units may be accelerated, including in connection with this offering.

        In anticipation of our initial public offering, we intend to adopt a new long-term equity incentive plan, or the LTIP, and which is discussed in more detail under "2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan" below.

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2011

        The following table provides information regarding the Class B Units in USA Compression Holdings held by the NEOs as of December 31, 2011. None of our NEOs held any option awards that were outstanding as of December 31, 2011.

 
  Unit Awards  
Name
  Number of
Units That
Have not
Vested
(#)
  Market
Value of
Class B
Units That
Have Not
Vested
($)(2)
 

Eric D. Long

    346,875 (1)    

Joseph C. Tusa, Jr. 

    93,750 (1)    

David A. Smith

    93,750 (1)    

(1)
Represents the number of Class B Units in USA Compression Holdings that have not vested as of December 31, 2011. These Class B Units will vest in thirty-six equal monthly installments on each monthly anniversary of December 31, 2011.

(2)
As described in footnote 1 to the "—Summary Compensation Table" and in the discussion above under the heading "—Discretionary Long Term Equity Incentive Awards," the Class B Units are intended to allow recipients to receive a percentage of

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Severance and Change in Control Arrangements

        Our NEOs are entitled to severance payments and benefits upon certain terminations of employment and, in certain cases, in connection with a change in control of Holdings.

        Each NEO currently has an employment agreement with USAC Operating which provides for severance benefits upon a termination of employment. In connection with the consummation of this offering, our general partner expects to enter into new employment agreements with each of our NEOs on terms that are substantially similar to these employment agreements. As described below, these agreements are substantially similar for each of the NEOs. In addition, pursuant to the Holdings Operating Agreement, our NEOs are entitled to accelerated vesting of certain Class B Units as described below.

        Each NEO's employment agreement, dated as of December 23, 2010, has an initial four-year term and is extended automatically for successive twelve-month periods thereafter unless either party delivers written notice to the other within ninety days prior to the expiration of the then-current employment term. Upon termination of an NEO's employment either by us for convenience or due to the NEO's resignation for good reason, subject to the timely execution of a general release of claims, the NEO is entitled to receive (i) an amount equal to one times his annual base salary, payable in equal semi-monthly installments over one year following termination (or, if such termination occurs within two years following a change in control, in a lump sum within thirty days following the termination of employment) and (ii) continued coverage for twenty-four months (or, with respect to Mr. Long, thirty months) under our group medical plan in which the executive and any of his dependents were participating immediately prior to his termination. Continued coverage under our group medical plan is subsidized for the first twelve months following termination, and Mr. Long is entitled to reimbursement by us to the extent the cost of such coverage exceeds $1,200 per month for the remainder of the applicable period. Additionally, upon a termination of an NEO's employment by us for convenience, by the NEO for good reason, or due to the NEO's death or disability, the NEO is entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of any earned annual bonus for the year in which termination occurs (calculated with reference to the performance targets established by the Board of Managers of USA Compression Holdings for that year). During employment and for two years following termination, each NEO's employment agreement prohibits him from competing with certain of our businesses.

        As used in the NEOs' employment agreements, a termination for "convenience" means an involuntary termination for any reason, including 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 NEOs' employment agreements to mean (i) any material breach of the employment agreement or the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of USA Compression Holdings, or the Holdings Operating Agreement, by the executive, (ii) the executive's breach of any applicable duties of loyalty to us or any of our affiliates, gross negligence or misconduct, or a significant act or acts of personal dishonesty or deceit, taken by the executive, in the performance of the duties and services required of the executive that has a material adverse effect on us or any of our affiliates, (iii) conviction or indictment of the executive of, or a plea of nolo contendere by the executive to, a felony, (iv) the executive's willful and continued failure or refusal to perform substantially the executive's material obligations pursuant to the employment agreement or the Holdings Operating Agreement or follow any lawful and reasonable directive from the Board of Managers of USA Compression Holdings or, as applicable, the Chief Executive Officer, other than as a result of the executive's incapacity, or (v) a pattern of illegal conduct by the executive that is materially injurious to us or any of our affiliates or our or their reputation.

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        "Good reason" is defined in the NEOs' employment agreements to mean (i) a material breach by us of the employment agreement, the Holdings Operating Agreement, or any other material agreement with the executive, (ii) any failure by us to pay to the executive the amounts or benefits to which he is entitled, other than an isolated and inadvertent failure not committed in bad faith, (iii) a material reduction in the executive's duties, reporting relationships or responsibilities, (iv) a material reduction by us in the facilities or perquisites available to the executive or in the executive's base salary, other than a reduction that is generally applicable to all similarly situated employees, or (v) the relocation of the geographic location of the executive's principal place of employment by more than fifty miles from the location of the executive's principal place of employment as of December 23, 2010. With respect to Mr. Long's employment agreement, "good reason" also means the failure to appoint and maintain Mr. Long in the office of President and Chief Executive Officer.

        Pursuant to the Holdings Operating Agreement, in the event of certain transactions, which could include a change in control, the vesting of certain Class B Units would be accelerated. The vesting of all unvested Class B Units would be accelerated either (i) upon a private liquidity event (generally defined as Riverstone's sale of 50.1% of its equity interests in USA Compression Holdings for cash, other than in connection with an initial public offering of securities) or (ii) upon a termination of an NEO's employment without cause or due to resignation by the executive for good reason, in each case, following a qualified public offering. In addition, upon a qualified public offering, 50% of each NEO's unvested Class B Units would vest.

        The Class B Units generally allow our NEOs to participate in the increase in value, following the December 23, 2010 grant date of such units, of the equity of USA Compression Holdings in excess of a specified hurdle, as described in more detail above under "—Discretionary Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards."

        Upon the consummation of this offering, which constitutes a qualified public offering for purposes of certain vesting provisions of the NEO's Class B Units, 50% of each NEO's unvested Class B Units will vest and, if an NEO's employment is terminated by our general partner without cause or the NEO resigns for good reason following the consummation of this offering, the remaining unvested Class B Units will vest in full. As used in the Holdings Operating Agreement, "good reason" and "cause" have the meanings set forth in each NEO's employment agreement and described above in the section entitled "—Severance Arrangements."


Director Compensation

        For the year ended December 31, 2011, our NEOs who also served as directors did not receive additional compensation for their service as directors. Additionally, directors who were not officers, employees or paid consultants or advisors of us or our general partner did not receive compensation for their services as directors.

        Following the consummation of this offering, officers, employees or paid consultants or advisors of us or our general partner or its affiliates who also serve as directors will not receive additional compensation for their service as directors. Following the consummation of this offering, our directors who are not officers, employees or paid consultants or advisors of us or our general partner or its affiliates will receive cash and equity-based compensation for their services as directors. We expect that our director compensation program will initially consist of the following and will be subject to revision by the board of directors of our general partner from time to time:

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Directors will also receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses associated with attending such board or committee meetings and director and officer liability insurance coverage. Each director will be fully indemnified by us for actions associated with being a director to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law.


2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan

        Prior to the consummation of this offering, our general partner intends to adopt a 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan, or LTIP, primarily for the benefit of our, our subsidiaries' and our general partner's eligible officers, employees and directors. The description of the LTIP set forth below is a summary of the anticipated material features of the LTIP. This summary, however, does not purport to be a complete description of all of the anticipated provisions of the LTIP.

        The LTIP will provide for the grant, from time to time at the discretion of the board of directors of our general partner, of unit awards, restricted units, phantom units, unit options, unit appreciation rights, distribution equivalent rights and other unit-based awards. Subject to adjustment in the event of certain transactions or changes in capitalization, an aggregate of            common units may be delivered pursuant to awards under the LTIP. Units that are cancelled or forfeited will be available for delivery pursuant to other awards. Units that are withheld to satisfy our general partner's tax withholding obligations or payment of an award's exercise price will not be available for future awards. We expect that the LTIP will be administered by our general partner's board of directors, though such administration function may be delegated to a committee that may be appointed by the board to administer the LTIP. The LTIP will be designed to promote our interests, as well as the interests of our unitholders, by rewarding the officers, employees and directors of us, our subsidiaries and our general partner for delivering desired performance results, as well as by strengthening our and our general partner's ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified individuals to serve as directors, consultants and employees.

        The administrator of the LTIP may grant unit awards to eligible individuals under the LTIP. A unit award is an award of common units that are fully vested upon grant and are not subject to forfeiture. Unit awards may be paid in addition to, or in lieu of, cash that would otherwise be payable to a participant with respect to a bonus or an incentive compensation award. The unit award may be wholly discretionary in amount or it may be paid with respect to a bonus or an incentive compensation award the amount of which is determined based on the achievement of performance criteria or other factors.

        A restricted unit is a common unit that is subject to forfeiture. Upon vesting, the forfeiture restrictions lapse and the recipient holds a common unit that is not subject to forfeiture. A phantom unit is a notional unit that entitles the grantee to receive a common unit upon the vesting of the phantom unit or on a deferred basis upon specified future dates or events or, in the discretion of the administrator, cash equal to the fair market value of a common unit. The administrator of the LTIP may make grants of restricted and phantom units under the LTIP that contain such terms, consistent with the LTIP, as the administrator may determine are appropriate, including the period over which restricted or phantom units will vest. The administrator of the LTIP may, in its discretion, base vesting on the grantee's completion of a period of service or upon the achievement of specified financial

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objectives or other criteria or upon a change of control (as defined in the LTIP) or as otherwise described in an award agreement.

        Distributions made by us with respect to awards of restricted units may be subject to the same vesting requirements as the restricted units. The administrator of the LTIP, in its discretion, may also grant tandem distribution equivalent rights with respect to phantom units. Distribution equivalent rights are rights to receive an amount equal to all or a portion of the cash distributions made on units during the period a phantom unit remains outstanding.

        The LTIP may also permit the grant of options and unit appreciation rights covering common units. Unit options represent the right to purchase a number of common units at a specified exercise price. Unit appreciation rights represent the right to receive the appreciation in the value of a number of common units over a specified exercise price, either in cash or in common units. Unit options and unit appreciation rights may be granted to such eligible individuals and with such terms as the administrator of the LTIP may determine, consistent with the LTIP; however, a unit option or unit appreciation right must have an exercise price equal to at least the fair market value of a common unit on the date of grant.

        The LTIP may also permit the grant of "other unit-based awards," which are awards that, in whole or in part, are valued or based on or related to the value of a unit. The vesting of an other unit-based award may be based on a participant's continued service, the achievement of performance criteria or other measures. On vesting or on a deferred basis upon specified future dates or events, an other unit-based award may be paid in cash and/or in units (including restricted units), as the administrator of the LTIP may determine.

        Common units to be delivered with respect to awards may be newly-issued units, common units acquired by us or our general partner in the open market, common units already owned by our general partner or us, common units acquired by our general partner directly from us or any other person or any combination of the foregoing. With respect to awards made to employees of our general partner, our general partner will be entitled to reimbursement by us for the cost incurred in acquiring such common units or, with respect to unit options, for the difference between the cost it incurs in acquiring these common units and the proceeds it receives from an optionee at the time of exercise of an option. Thus, we will bear the cost of all awards under the LTIP. If we issue new common units with respect to these awards, the total number of common units outstanding will increase, and our general partner will remit the proceeds it receives from a participant, if any, upon exercise of an award to us. With respect to any awards settled in cash by our general partner, our general partner will be entitled to reimbursement by us for the amount of the cash settlement.

        The administrator of the LTIP, at its discretion, may terminate the LTIP at any time with respect to the common units for which a grant has not previously been made. The LTIP will automatically terminate on the tenth anniversary of the date it was initially adopted by our general partner. The administrator of the LTIP will also have the right to alter or amend the LTIP or any part of it from time to time or to amend any outstanding award made under the LTIP, provided that no change in any outstanding award may be made that would materially impair the vested rights of the participant without the consent of the affected participant or result in taxation to the participant under Section 409A of the Code.

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

        The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of our units that will be issued upon the consummation of this offering and the related transactions and held by:

        Except as indicated by footnote, the persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all units shown as beneficially owned by them and their address is 100 Congress Avenue, Suite 450, Austin, Texas 78701.

Name of Beneficial Owner
  Common
Units to be
Beneficially
Owned
  Percentage of
Common
Units to be
Beneficially
Owned
  Subordinated
Units to be
Beneficially
Owned
  Percentage of
Subordinated
Units to be
Beneficially
Owned
  Percentage of
Common and
Subordinated
Units to be
Beneficially
Owned
 

USA Compression Holdings(1)

            %         100 %     %

Eric D. Long

                     

Joseph C. Tusa, Jr. 

                     

J. Gregory Holloway

                     

David A. Smith

                     

Dennis J. Moody

                     

Kevin M. Bourbonnais

                     

William H. Shea, Jr. 

                     

Olivia C. Wassenaar

                     

Andrew W. Ward

                     

All directors and officers as a group (9 persons)

                     

(1)
Eric D. Long, Joseph C. Tusa, Jr., Kevin M. Bourbonnais, J. Gregory Holloway, David A. Smith and Dennis J. Moody, each of whom are executive officers of our general partner, Aladdin Partners, L.P., a limited partnership affiliated with Mr. Long, and R/C IV USACP Holdings, L.P., or R/C Holdings, own equity interests in USA Compression Holdings. USA Compression Holdings is managed by a three-person board of managers consisting of Mr. Long, Mr. Ward and Ms. Wassenaar. The board of managers exercises investment discretion and control over the units held by USA Compression Holdings.

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

        After this offering, our general partner and its affiliates will own            common units and subordinated units representing an aggregate        % limited partner interest in us (or            common units and subordinated units representing an aggregate        % limited partner interest in us, if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional common units in full). In addition, our general partner will own a 2.0% general partner interest in us and all of our incentive distribution rights.


Distributions and Payments to Our General Partner and its Affiliates

        The following table summarizes the distributions and payments to be made by us to our general partner and its affiliates in connection with the ongoing operation and any liquidation of USA Compression Partners, LP. These distributions and payments were determined by and among affiliated entities and, consequently, are not the result of arm's-length negotiations.


Pre-IPO Stage

The consideration received by our general partner and its affiliates prior to or in connection with this offering

              common units;

 

            subordinated units;

 

all of our incentive distribution rights; and

 

2.0% general partner interest.


Operational Stage

Distributions of available cash to our general partner and its affiliates

  We will generally make cash distributions 98.0% to our unitholders pro rata, including our general partner and its affiliates, as the holders of an aggregate of            common units and            subordinated units, and 2.0% to our general partner assuming it makes any capital contributions necessary to maintain its 2% interest in us. In addition, if distributions exceed the minimum quarterly distribution and other higher target distribution levels, our general partner will be entitled to increasing percentages of our distributions, up to 50.0% of all distributions we make above the highest target distribution level.

 

Assuming we have sufficient available cash to pay the full minimum quarterly distribution on all of our outstanding units for four quarters, our general partner would receive annual distributions of approximately $             million on its 2.0% general partner interest and USA Compression Holdings would receive annual distributions of approximately $            million on its common and subordinated units.

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If our general partner elects to reset the target distribution levels, it will be entitled to receive common units and to maintain its percentage general partner interest. Please read "Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash Distributions—General Partner's Right to Reset Incentive Distribution Levels."

Reimbursements to our general partner and its affiliates

 

We will reimburse USA Compression Holdings and its affiliates for all expenses they incur or payments they make on our behalf, which we expect to be approximately $                million for the twelve months ending September 30, 2013. These expenses relate to salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts to be paid by our general partner and its affiliates to persons who perform services for us.

Withdrawal or removal of our general partner

 

If our general partner withdraws or is removed, its general partner interest and its incentive distribution rights will either be sold to the new general partner for cash or converted into common units, in each case for an amount equal to the fair market value of those interests. Please read "The Partnership Agreement—Withdrawal or Removal of our General Partner."


Liquidation Stage

Liquidation

  Upon our liquidation, the partners, including our general partner, will be entitled to receive liquidating distributions according to their respective capital account balances.


Agreements Governing the Transactions

        We and other parties have entered into or will enter into the various documents and agreements that will effect the transactions relating to our formation and this offering. These agreements will not be the result of arm's-length negotiations, and they, or any of the transactions that they provide for, may not be effected on terms as favorable to the parties to these agreements as could have been obtained from unaffiliated third parties. All of the transaction expenses incurred in connection with these transactions will be paid from the proceeds of this offering.


Relationship with Penn Virginia Resource Partners

        Mr. Shea, a director of USA Compression GP, LLC, is currently a director and the chief executive officer of the general partner of Penn Virginia Resource Partners, L.P., or PVR. In 2008, PVR acquired the business of one of our compression services customers and, after such acquisition, has continued to purchase compression services from us. For the year ended December 31, 2011 and the six months ended June 30, 2012, subsidiaries of PVR made compression services payments to us of approximately $1.3 million and $0.9 million, respectively.

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Procedures for Review, Approval and Ratification of Related-Person Transactions

        The board of directors of our general partner will adopt a code of business conduct and ethics in connection with the closing of this offering that will provide that the board of directors of our general partner or its authorized committee will periodically review all related person transactions that are required to be disclosed under SEC rules and, when appropriate, initially authorize or ratify all such transactions. In the event that the board of directors of our general partner or its authorized committee considers ratification of a related person transaction and determines not to so ratify, the code of business conduct and ethics will provide that our management will make all reasonable efforts to cancel or annul the transaction.

        The code of business conduct and ethics will provide that, in determining whether or not to recommend the initial approval or ratification of a related person transaction, the board of directors of our general partner or its authorized committee should consider all of the relevant facts and circumstances available, including (if applicable) but not limited to: (i) whether there is an appropriate business justification for the transaction; (ii) the benefits that accrue to us as a result of the transaction; (iii) the terms available to unrelated third parties entering into similar transactions; (iv) the impact of the transaction on a director's independence (in the event the related person is a director, an immediate family member of a director or an entity in which a director or an immediately family member of a director is a partner, shareholder, member or executive officer); (v) the availability of other sources for comparable products or services; (vi) whether it is a single transaction or a series of ongoing, related transactions; and (vii) whether entering into the transaction would be consistent with the code of business conduct and ethics.

        The code of business conduct and ethics described above will be adopted in connection with the closing of this offering, and as a result the transactions described above were not reviewed under such policy. The transactions described above were not approved by an independent committee of our board of directors and the terms were determined by negotiation among the parties.

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CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND FIDUCIARY DUTIES

Conflicts of Interest

        Conflicts of interest exist and may arise in the future as a result of the relationships between our general partner and its affiliates, including USA Compression Holdings, on the one hand, and our partnership and our limited partners, on the other hand. The directors and officers of our general partner have fiduciary duties to manage our general partner in a manner beneficial to its owners. At the same time, our general partner has a fiduciary duty to manage our partnership in a manner beneficial to us and our unitholders.

        Whenever a conflict arises between our general partner or its affiliates, on the one hand, and us and our limited partners, on the other hand, our general partner will resolve that conflict. Our partnership agreement contains provisions that modify and limit our general partner's fiduciary duties to our unitholders. Our partnership agreement also restricts the remedies available to our unitholders for actions taken by our general partner that, without those limitations, might constitute breaches of its fiduciary duty.

        Our general partner will not be in breach of its obligations under our partnership agreement or its fiduciary duties to us or our unitholders if the resolution of the conflict is:

        Our general partner may, but is not required to, seek the approval of such resolution from the conflicts committee of its board of directors. In connection with a situation involving a conflict of interest, any determination by our general partner involving the resolution of the conflict of interest must be made in good faith, provided that, if our general partner does not seek approval from the conflicts committee and its board of directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to the conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in the third and fourth bullet points above, then it will conclusively be deemed that, in making its decision, the board of directors acted in good faith. Unless the resolution of a conflict is specifically provided for in our partnership agreement, our general partner or the conflicts committee may consider any factors that it determines in good faith to be appropriate when resolving a conflict. When our 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.

        Conflicts of interest could arise in the situations described below, among others.

Neither our partnership agreement nor any other agreement requires USA Compression Holdings to pursue a business strategy that favors us or utilizes our assets or dictates what markets to pursue or grow. Directors of USA Compression Holdings have a fiduciary duty to make these decisions in the best interests of the owners of USA Compression Holdings, which may be contrary to our interests.

        Because certain of the directors of our general partner are also directors and/or officers of USA Compression Holdings and its affiliates, such directors may have fiduciary duties to USA Compression Holdings that may cause them to pursue business strategies that disproportionately benefit USA Compression Holdings, or which otherwise are not in our best interests.

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Our general partner and its affiliates are allowed to take into account the interests of parties other than us in resolving conflicts of interest.

        Our partnership agreement contains provisions that reduce the fiduciary standards to which our general partner would otherwise be held by state fiduciary duty law. For example, our partnership agreement permits our general partner to make a number of decisions in its individual capacity, as opposed to in its capacity as our general partner. This entitles our general partner to consider only the interests and factors that it desires, and it has no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting, us, our affiliates or our limited partners. Examples include our general partner's limited call right, its voting rights with respect to the units it owns and its determination whether or not to consent to any merger or consolidation of the partnership.

Our partnership agreement limits the liability of and reduces the fiduciary duties owed by our general partner, and also restricts the remedies available to our unitholders for actions that, without these limitations, might constitute breaches of its fiduciary duty.

        In addition to the provisions described above, our partnership agreement contains provisions that restrict the remedies available to our unitholders for actions that might otherwise constitute breaches of our general partner's fiduciary duty. For example, our partnership agreement:

Except in limited circumstances, our general partner has the power and authority to conduct our business without unitholder approval.

        Under our partnership agreement, our general partner has full power and authority to do all things, other than those items that require unitholder approval or with respect to which our general partner has sought conflicts committee approval, on such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct our business including, but not limited to, the following:

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        Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner must act in "good faith" when making decisions on our behalf, and our partnership agreement further provides that in order for a determination to be made in "good faith," our general partner must believe that the determination is in our best interests. Please read "The Partnership Agreement—Voting Rights" for information regarding matters that require unitholder approval.

Our general partner determines the amount and timing of asset purchases and sales, capital expenditures, borrowings, issuances of additional partnership securities and the creation, reduction or increase of reserves, each of which can affect the amount of cash that is distributed to our unitholders.

        The amount of cash that is available for distribution to our unitholders is affected by the decisions of our general partner regarding such matters as:

        Our 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 and to our general partner and the ability of the subordinated units to convert into common units.

        In addition, our general partner may use an amount, initially equal to $         million, which would not otherwise constitute available cash from operating surplus, in order to permit the payment of cash distributions on its subordinated units and incentive distribution rights. All of these actions may affect the amount of cash distributed to our unitholders and our general partner and may facilitate the conversion of subordinated units into common units. Please read "Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash Distributions."

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        In addition, borrowings by us and our affiliates do not constitute a breach of any duty owed by our general partner to our unitholders, including borrowings that have the purpose or effect of:

        For example, in the event we have not generated sufficient cash from our operations to pay the minimum quarterly distribution on our common and subordinated units, our partnership agreement permits us to borrow funds, which would enable us to make this distribution on all of our outstanding units. Please read "Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash Distributions—Subordination Period."

        Our partnership agreement provides that we and our subsidiaries may borrow funds from our general partner and its affiliates. Our general partner and its affiliates may borrow funds from us, or our operating company and its operating subsidiaries.

Our general partner determines which of the costs it incurs on our behalf are reimbursable by us.

        We will reimburse our general partner and its affiliates for the costs incurred in managing and operating us. Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner will determine in good faith the expenses that are allocable to us.

Our partnership agreement does not restrict our general partner from causing us to pay it or its affiliates for any services rendered to us or from entering into additional contractual arrangements with any of these entities on our behalf.

        Our partnership agreement allows our general partner to determine, in good faith, any amounts to pay itself or its affiliates for any services rendered to us. Our general partner may also enter into additional contractual arrangements with any of its affiliates on our behalf. Neither our partnership agreement nor any of the other agreements, contracts or arrangements between us, on the one hand, and our general partner and its affiliates, on the other hand, that will be in effect as of the closing of this offering, will be the result of arm's-length negotiations. Similarly, agreements, contracts or arrangements between us and our general partner and its affiliates that are entered into following the closing of this offering may not be negotiated on an arm's-length basis, although, in some circumstances, our general partner may determine that the conflicts committee of our general partner may make a determination on our behalf with respect to such arrangements.

        Our general partner will determine, in good faith, the terms of any such transactions entered into after the closing of this offering.

        Our general partner and its affiliates will have no obligation to permit us to use any of its or its affiliates' facilities or assets, except as may be provided in contracts entered into specifically for such use. There is no obligation of our general partner or its affiliates to enter into any contracts of this kind.

Our general partner intends to limit its liability regarding our obligations.

        Our general partner intends to limit its liability under contractual arrangements so that counterparties to such agreements have recourse only against our assets, and not against our general partner or its assets. Our partnership agreement provides that any action taken by our general partner to limit its liability is not a breach of our general partner's fiduciary duties, even if we could have obtained more favorable terms without the limitation on liability.

Our general partner may exercise its right to call and purchase all of the common units not owned by it and its affiliates if they own more than 80% of our common units.

        Our general partner may exercise its right to call and purchase common units, as provided in our partnership agreement, or may assign this right to one of its affiliates or to us. Our general partner is not bound by fiduciary duty restrictions in determining whether to exercise this right. As a result, a

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common unitholder may be required to sell his common units at an undesirable time or price. Please read "The Partnership Agreement—Limited Call Right."

Our general partner controls the enforcement of its and its affiliates' obligations to us.

        Any agreements between us, on the one hand, and our general partner and its affiliates, on the other hand, will not grant to the unitholders, separate and apart from us, the right to enforce the obligations of our general partner and its affiliates in our favor.

Our general partner decides whether to retain separate counsel, accountants or others to perform services for us.

        The attorneys, independent accountants and others who have performed services for us regarding this offering have been retained by our general partner. Attorneys, independent accountants and others who perform services for us are selected by our general partner or the conflicts committee and may perform services for our general partner and its affiliates. We may retain separate counsel for ourselves or the holders of common units in the event of a conflict of interest between our general partner and its affiliates, on the one hand, and us or the holders of common units, on the other hand, depending on the nature of the conflict. We do not intend to do so in most cases.

Our general partner may elect to cause us to issue common units to it in connection with a resetting of the target distribution levels related to our general partner's incentive distribution rights without the approval of the conflicts committee of the board of directors of our general partner or our unitholders. This election may result in lower distributions to our common unitholders in certain situations.

        Our general partner has the right, at any time when there are no subordinated units outstanding and it has received incentive distributions at the highest level to which it is entitled (48.0%) for each of the prior four consecutive fiscal quarters, to reset the initial target distribution levels at higher levels based on our cash distribution at the time of the exercise of the reset election. Following a reset election by our general partner, the minimum quarterly distribution will be reset to an amount equal to the average cash distribution per common unit for the two fiscal quarters immediately preceding the reset election (such amount is referred to as the "reset minimum quarterly distribution"), and the target distribution levels will be reset to correspondingly higher levels based on percentage increases above the reset minimum quarterly distribution.

        We anticipate that our general partner would exercise this reset right in order to facilitate acquisitions or internal growth projects that would not be sufficiently accretive to cash distributions per common unit without such conversion; however, it is possible that our general partner could exercise this reset election at a time when we are experiencing declines in our aggregate cash distributions or at a time when our general partner expects that we will experience declines in our aggregate cash distributions in the foreseeable future. In such situations, our general partner may be experiencing, or may expect to experience, declines in the cash distributions it receives related to its incentive distribution rights and may therefore desire to be issued our common units, which are entitled to specified priorities with respect to our distributions and which therefore may be more advantageous for the general partner to own in lieu of the right to receive incentive distribution payments based on target distribution levels that are less certain to be achieved in the then current business environment. As a result, a reset election may cause our common unitholders to experience dilution in the amount of cash distributions that they would have otherwise received had we not issued new common units to our general partner in connection with resetting the target distribution levels related to our general partner's incentive distribution rights. Please read "Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash Distributions—General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights."

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Fiduciary Duties

        Our general partner is accountable to us and our unitholders as a fiduciary. Fiduciary duties owed to unitholders by our general partner are prescribed by law and our partnership agreement. The Delaware Act provides that Delaware limited partnerships may, in their partnership agreements, modify, restrict or expand the fiduciary duties otherwise owed by a general partner to limited partners and the partnership.

        Our partnership agreement contains various provisions modifying and restricting the fiduciary duties that might otherwise be owed by our general partner. We have adopted these restrictions to allow our general partner or its affiliates to engage in transactions with us that would otherwise be prohibited by state-law fiduciary duty standards and to take into account the interests of other parties in addition to our interests when resolving conflicts of interest. We believe this is appropriate and necessary because our general partner's board of directors will have fiduciary duties to manage our general partner in a manner that is beneficial to its owners, as well as to our unitholders. Without these modifications, our general partner's ability to make decisions involving conflicts of interest would be restricted. The modifications to the fiduciary standards enable our general partner to take into consideration all parties involved in the proposed action, so long as the resolution is fair and reasonable to us. These modifications also enable our general partner to attract and retain experienced and capable directors. These modifications are detrimental to our unitholders because they restrict the remedies available to unitholders for actions that, without those limitations, might constitute breaches of fiduciary duty, as described below, and permit our general partner to take into account the interests of third parties in addition to our interests when resolving conflicts of interest. The following is a summary of the material restrictions of the fiduciary duties owed by our general partner to the limited partners:

State-law fiduciary duty standards

  Fiduciary duties are generally considered to include an obligation to act in good faith and with due care and loyalty. The duty of care, in the absence of a provision in a partnership agreement providing otherwise, would generally require a general partner to act for the partnership in the same manner as a prudent person would act on his own behalf. The duty of loyalty, in the absence of a provision in a partnership agreement providing otherwise, would generally require that any action taken or transaction engaged in where a conflict of interest is present be entirely fair to the partnership.

   

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Partnership agreement modified standards

  Our partnership agreement contains provisions that waive or consent to conduct by our general partner and its affiliates that might otherwise raise issues about compliance with fiduciary duties or applicable law. For example, our partnership agreement provides that when our general partner is acting in its capacity as our general partner, as opposed to in its individual capacity, it must act in "good faith" and will not be subject to any other standard under applicable law. In addition, when our general partner is acting in its individual capacity, as opposed to in its capacity as our general partner, it may act without any fiduciary obligation to us or the unitholders whatsoever. These standards reduce the obligations to which our general partner would otherwise be held.

  Our partnership agreement generally provides that affiliated transactions and resolutions of conflicts of interest that are not approved by a vote of common unitholders and that are not approved by the conflicts committee of the board of directors of our general partner must be:

 

•       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 between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to us).

  If our general partner does not seek approval from the conflicts committee and the board of directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to the conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in the bullet points above, then it will conclusively be deemed that, in making its decision, the board of directors, which may include board members affected by the conflict of interest, acted in good faith. These standards reduce the obligations to which our general partner would otherwise be held.

  In addition to the other more specific provisions limiting the obligations of our general partner, our partnership agreement further provides that our general partner and its officers and directors will not be liable for monetary damages to us or our limited partners for errors of judgment or for any acts or omissions unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that our general partner or its officers and directors acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct. Our partnership agreement and the Delaware Act also provide that our general partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers selected by it, and in any action shall be fully protected from liability to us or our partners in relying in good faith upon the advice or opinion of such persons as to matters that the general partner reasonably believes to be within such person's professional or expert competence.

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Rights and remedies of unitholders

  The Delaware Act generally provides that a limited partner may institute legal action on behalf of the partnership to recover damages from a third party where a general partner has refused to institute the action or where an effort to cause a general partner to do so is not likely to succeed. In addition, the statutory or case law of some jurisdictions may permit a limited partner to institute legal action on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated limited partners to recover damages from a general partner for violations of its fiduciary duties to the limited partners. The Delaware Act provides that, unless otherwise provided in a partnership agreement, a partner or other person shall not be liable to a limited partnership or to another partner or to another person that is a party to or is otherwise bound by a partnership agreement for breach of fiduciary duty for the partner's or other person's good faith reliance on the provisions of the partnership agreement. Under our partnership agreement, to the extent that, at law or in equity, an indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to us or to our partners, our general partner and any other indemnitee acting in connection with our business or affairs shall not be liable to us or to any partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of our partnership agreement, and such reliance shall be a defense in any action relating to such duties or liabilities.

        By purchasing our common units, each common unitholder automatically agrees to be bound by the provisions in our partnership agreement, including the provisions discussed above. This is in accordance with the policy of the Delaware Act favoring the principle of freedom of contract and the enforceability of partnership agreements. The failure of a limited partner to sign a partnership agreement does not render the partnership agreement unenforceable against that person.

        Under our partnership agreement, we must indemnify our general partner and its officers, directors, managers and certain other specified persons, to the fullest extent permitted by law, against liabilities, costs and expenses incurred by our general partner or these other persons. We must provide this indemnification unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that these persons acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct. We must also provide this indemnification for criminal proceedings unless our general partner or these other persons acted with knowledge that their conduct was unlawful. Thus, our general partner could be indemnified for its negligent acts if it meets the requirements set forth above. To the extent these provisions purport to include indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is contrary to public policy and, therefore, unenforceable. Please read "The Partnership Agreement—Indemnification."

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DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON UNITS

The Units

        The common units and the subordinated units are separate classes of limited partner interests in us. The holders of units are entitled to participate in partnership distributions and exercise the rights or privileges available to limited partners under our partnership agreement. For a description of the relative rights and preferences of holders of common and subordinated units in and to partnership distributions, please read this section and "Our Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions." For a description of the rights and privileges of limited partners under our partnership agreement, including voting rights, please read "The Partnership Agreement."


Transfer Agent and Registrar

        Duties.    Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., will serve as the registrar and transfer agent for the common units. We will pay all fees charged by the transfer agent for transfers of common units except the following that must be paid by unitholders:

        There will be no charge to unitholders for disbursements of our cash distributions. We will indemnify the transfer agent, its agents and each of their stockholders, directors, officers and employees against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence or intentional misconduct of the indemnified person or entity.

        Resignation or Removal.    The transfer agent may resign, by notice to us, or be removed by us. The resignation or removal of the transfer agent will become effective upon our appointment of a successor transfer agent and registrar and its acceptance of the appointment. If no successor is appointed, our general partner may act as the transfer agent and registrar until a successor is appointed.


Transfer 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:

        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.

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        Common units are securities and any transfers are subject to the laws governing the transfer of securities. In addition to other rights acquired upon transfer, the transferor gives the transferee the right to become a substituted limited partner in our partnership for the transferred common units.

        Until a common unit has been transferred on our books, we and the transfer agent may treat the record holder of the unit as the absolute owner for all purposes, except as otherwise required by law or stock exchange regulations.

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THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

        The following is a summary of the material provisions of our partnership agreement. The form of our partnership agreement is included in this prospectus as Appendix A. We will provide prospective investors with a copy of our partnership agreement upon request at no charge.

        We summarize the following provisions of our partnership agreement elsewhere in this prospectus:


Organization and Duration

        We were formed in 2008 as a Texas limited partnership and converted to a Delaware limited partnership in 2011. Our partnership will have perpetual existence unless terminated pursuant to the terms of our partnership agreement.


Purpose

        Our purpose, as set forth in our partnership agreement, is limited to any business activity that is approved by our general partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized under Delaware law; provided, that our general partner shall not cause us to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that the general partner determines would be reasonably likely to cause us to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes.

        Although our general partner has the ability to cause us and our subsidiaries to engage in activities other than the business of gathering, compressing and treating natural gas, our general partner has no current plans to do so and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interests of us or the limited partners. Our general partner is generally authorized to perform all acts it determines to be necessary or appropriate to carry out our purposes and to conduct our business.


Cash Distributions

        Our partnership agreement specifies the manner in which we will make cash distributions to holders of our common units and other partnership securities as well as to our general partner in respect of its general partner interest and its incentive distribution rights. For a description of these cash distribution provisions, please read "Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement Relating to Cash Distributions."


Capital Contributions

        Unitholders are not obligated to make additional capital contributions, except as described below under "—Limited Liability."

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        For a discussion of our general partner's right to contribute capital to maintain its 2% general partner interest if we issue additional units, please read "—Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests."


Voting Rights

        The following is a summary of the unitholder vote required for approval of the matters specified below. Matters that require the approval of a "unit majority" require:

        In voting their common and subordinated units, our general partner and its affiliates will have no fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interests of us or the limited partners.

Issuance of additional units

  No approval right.

Amendment of our partnership agreement

 

Certain amendments may be made by our general partner without the approval of the unitholders. Other amendments generally require the approval of a unit majority. 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, Consolidation, Conversion, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets."

Dissolution of our partnership

 

Unit majority. Please read "—Dissolution."

Continuation of our business upon dissolution

 

Unit majority. Please read "—Dissolution."

Withdrawal of our general partner

 

Under most circumstances, the approval of a majority of the common units, excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates, is required for the withdrawal of our general partner prior to September 30, 2022 in a manner that would cause a dissolution of our partnership. Please read "—Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner."

Removal of our general partner

 

Not less than 662/3% of the outstanding 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."

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Transfer of our general partner interest                                

 

Our general partner may transfer all, but not less than all, of its general partner interest in us without a vote of our unitholders to an affiliate or another person in connection with its merger or consolidation with or into, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets to, such person. The approval of a majority of the common units, excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates, is required in other circumstances for a transfer of the general partner interest to a third party prior to September 30, 2022. Please read "—Transfer of General Partner Interest."

Transfer of ownership interests in our general partner

 

No approval required at any time. Please read "—Transfer of Ownership Interests in the General Partner."

        If any person or group other than our general partner and its affiliates acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of any class of units, that person or group loses voting rights on all of its units. This loss of voting rights does not apply 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:

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. 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.

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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 will be 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 it were determined that the right, or exercise of the right, by the limited partners as a group:

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. While this does not mean that a limited partner could not seek legal recourse, we know of no precedent for this type of a claim in Delaware case law.

        Under the Delaware 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 five states and we may have subsidiaries that conduct business in other states in the future. Maintenance of our limited liability as a member of the operating company may require compliance with legal requirements in the jurisdictions in which the operating company conducts business, including qualifying our subsidiaries to do business there.

        Limitations on the liability of members or limited partners for the obligations of a limited liability company or limited partnership have not been clearly established in many jurisdictions. If, by virtue of our ownership interest in our operating company or otherwise, it were determined that we were conducting business in any state without compliance with the applicable limited partnership or limited liability company statute, or that the right or exercise of the right by the limited partners as a group to remove or replace our general partner, to approve some amendments to our partnership agreement, or to take other action under our partnership agreement constituted "participation in the control" of our business for purposes of the statutes of any relevant jurisdiction, then the limited partners could be held personally liable for our obligations under the law of that jurisdiction to the same extent as our general partner under the circumstances. We will operate in a manner that our general partner

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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 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, subordinated 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.

        Following completion of this offering, we intend to institute a distribution reinvestment plan, or a DRIP, pursuant to which owners of common and subordinated units can reinvest their distributions in additional common units. In the event that we institute a DRIP, we have been informed by USA Compression Holdings that they intend to reinvest their distributions in additional common units for the foreseeable future.

        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 securities, which may effectively rank senior to the common units.

        Upon issuance of additional partnership interests (other than the issuance of common units upon exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional common units, the issuance of common units upon conversion of outstanding subordinated units or the issuance of common units upon a reset of the incentive distribution rights) our general partner will be entitled, but not required, to make additional capital contributions to the extent necessary to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest in us. Our general partner's 2.0% interest in us will be reduced if we issue additional units in the future (other than in those circumstances described above) and our general partner does not contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest. Moreover, our general partner will have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates, to purchase common units, subordinated 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 and subordinated units, that existed immediately prior to each issuance. The holders of common units will not have preemptive rights under our partnership agreement to acquire additional common units or other partnership interests.


Amendment of the Partnership Agreement

        General.    Amendments to our partnership agreement may be proposed only by or with the consent of our general partner. However, our general partner will have no duty or obligation to propose any amendment and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interests of us or the limited partners. 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

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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:

        The provision of our partnership agreement preventing the amendments having the effects described in the clauses above can be amended upon the approval of the holders of at least 90.0% of the outstanding units, voting as a single class (including units owned by our general partner and its affiliates). Upon completion of this offering, affiliates of our general partner will own approximately          % of our outstanding common and subordinated units.

        No unitholder approval.    Our general partner may generally make amendments to our partnership agreement without the approval of any limited partner to reflect:

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        In addition, our general partner may make amendments to our partnership agreement, without the approval of any limited partner, if our general partner determines that those amendments:

        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 will require the approval of at least a majority of the class or classes so affected, but no vote will be 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 will require the approval of at least a majority of the type or class of units so affected. Any amendment that reduces the voting percentage required to take any action, 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 will not be 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, Consolidation, Conversion, 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 will have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interest of us or the limited partners.

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        In addition, our partnership agreement generally prohibits our general partner, without the prior approval of 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 (other than the incentive distribution rights) immediately prior to the transaction.

        If the conditions specified in our partnership agreement are satisfied, our general partner may convert us or any of our subsidiaries into a new limited liability entity or merge us or any of our subsidiaries into, or convey all of our assets to, a newly formed entity, if the sole purpose of that conversion, merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in our legal form into another limited liability entity, our general partner has received an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters and the governing instruments of the new entity provide the limited partners and our general partner with the same rights and obligations as contained in our partnership agreement. Our unitholders are not entitled to dissenters' rights of appraisal under our partnership agreement or applicable Delaware law in the event of a conversion, merger or consolidation, a sale of substantially all of our assets or any other similar transaction or event.


Dissolution

        We will continue as a limited partnership until dissolved under our partnership agreement. We will dissolve upon:

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        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:


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 "Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement Relating to 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

        Except as described below, our general partner has agreed not to withdraw voluntarily as our general partner prior to September 30, 2022 without obtaining the approval of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates, and furnishing an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters. On or after September 30, 2022, our general partner may withdraw as general partner without first obtaining approval of any unitholder by giving 90 days' written notice, and that withdrawal will not constitute a violation of our partnership agreement. Notwithstanding the information above, our general partner may withdraw without unitholder approval upon 90 days' notice to the limited partners if at least 50% of the outstanding common units are held or controlled by one person and its affiliates, other than our general partner and its affiliates. In addition, our partnership agreement permits our general partner, in some instances, to sell or otherwise transfer all of its general partner interest in us without the approval of the unitholders. Please read "—Transfer of General Partner Interest" and "—Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights."

        Upon withdrawal of our general partner under any circumstances, other than as a result of a transfer by our general partner of all or a part of its general partner interest in us, the holders of a unit majority may select a successor to that withdrawing general partner. 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, 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, and the outstanding subordinated 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

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our general partner's removal. At the closing of this offering, affiliates of our general partner will own      % of our outstanding common and subordinated units.

        Our partnership agreement also provides that if our general partner is removed as our general partner under circumstances where cause does not exist:

        In the event of the removal of our general partner under circumstances where cause exists or withdrawal of our general partner where that withdrawal violates our partnership agreement, a successor general partner will have the option to purchase the general partner interest and incentive distribution rights of the departing general partner for a cash payment equal to the fair market value of those interests. Under all other circumstances where our general partner withdraws or is removed by the limited partners, the departing general partner will have the option to require the successor general partner to purchase the general partner interest and the incentive distribution rights of the departing general partner or its affiliates for fair market value. In each case, this fair market value will be determined by agreement between the departing general partner and the successor general partner. If no agreement is reached, an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected 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 and all of its or its affiliates' incentive distribution rights will automatically convert into common units equal to the fair market value of those interests as determined by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected in the manner described in the preceding paragraph.

        In addition, we will be required to reimburse the departing general partner for all amounts due the departing general partner, including, without limitation, all employee-related liabilities, including severance liabilities incurred as a result of the termination of any employees employed for our benefit by the departing general partner or its affiliates.


Registration Rights

        Under our partnership agreement, we have agreed to register for resale under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws any common units, subordinated units, or other partnership securities proposed to be sold by our general partner or any of its affiliates or their assignees if an exemption from the registration requirements is not otherwise available, including any units acquired by them pursuant to our proposed DRIP. These registration rights continue for two years following any withdrawal or removal of USA Compression GP, LLC as our general partner. We are obligated to pay all expenses incidental to the registration, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions. Please read "Units Eligible for Future Sale."

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Transfer of General Partner Interest

        Except for transfer by our general partner of all, but not less than all, of its general partner interest to:

our general partner may not transfer all or any of its general partner interest to another person prior to September 30, 2022 without the approval of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates. As a condition of this transfer, the transferee must, among other things, assume the rights and duties of our general partner, agree to be bound by the provisions of our partnership agreement and furnish an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters.

        Our general partner and its affiliates may, at any time, transfer common units or subordinated units to one or more persons, without unitholder approval, except that they may not transfer subordinated units to us.


Transfer of Ownership Interests in the General Partner

        At any time, the owners of our general partner may sell or transfer all or part their ownership interests in our general partner to an affiliate or a third party without the approval of our unitholders.


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. This loss of voting rights does not apply in certain circumstances. Please read "—Meetings; Voting."


Limited Call Right

        If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own more than 80% of the then-issued and outstanding limited partner interests of any class, our general partner will have the right, which it may assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates or beneficial owners thereof or to us, to acquire 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:

        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

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units in the market. Please read "Material Federal Income Tax Consequences—Disposition of Common Units."


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.


Meetings; Voting

        Except as described below regarding certain persons or groups owning 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, record holders of units on the record date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, meetings of our limited partners and to act upon matters for which approvals may be solicited.

        Our general partner does not anticipate that any meeting of our unitholders will be called in the foreseeable future. Any action that is required or permitted to be taken by the unitholders may be taken either at a meeting of the unitholders or without a meeting, if consents in writing describing the action so taken are signed by holders of the number of units necessary to authorize or take that action at a meeting. Meetings of the unitholders may be called by our general partner or by unitholders owning at least 20% of the outstanding units of the class for which a meeting is proposed. Unitholders may vote either in person or by proxy at meetings. The holders of a majority of the outstanding units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum, unless any action by the unitholders requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of the units, in which case the quorum will be the greater percentage.

        Each record holder of a unit has a vote according to his percentage interest in us, although additional limited partner interests having special voting rights could be issued. Please read "—Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests." However, if at any time any person or group, other than our general partner and its affiliates, or a direct or subsequently approved (at the time of transfer) transferee of our general partner or its affiliates and purchasers specifically approved by our general partner in its sole discretion, acquires, in the aggregate, beneficial ownership of 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, that person or group will lose voting rights on all of its units and the units may not be voted on any matter and will not be considered to be outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of unitholders, calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes. Common units held in nominee or street name account will be voted by the broker or other nominee in accordance with the instruction of the beneficial owner unless the arrangement between the beneficial owner and his nominee provides otherwise. Except as our partnership agreement otherwise provides, subordinated units will vote together with common units, as a single class.

        Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy material required or permitted to be given or made to record holders of common units under our partnership agreement will be delivered to the record holder by us or by the transfer agent.

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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.


Indemnification

        Under our partnership agreement, in most circumstances, we will indemnify the following persons, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against all losses, claims, damages or similar events:

We must provide this indemnification unless there has been a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that these persons acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct. We must also provide this indemnification for criminal proceedings unless our general partner or these other persons acted with knowledge that their conduct was unlawful.

        Any indemnification under these provisions will only be out of our assets. Unless our general partner otherwise agrees, it will not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or lend funds or assets to us to enable us to effectuate, indemnification. We may purchase insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by persons for our activities, regardless of whether we would have the power to indemnify the person against liabilities under our partnership agreement.


Reimbursement of Expenses

        Our partnership agreement requires us to reimburse our general partner and its affiliates for all expenses they incur or payments they make on our behalf. These expenses include salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to persons who perform services for us or on our behalf and expenses allocated to our general partner by its affiliates. Our general partner is entitled to determine in good faith the expenses that are allocable to us.


Books and Reports

        Our general partner is required to keep appropriate books of our business at our principal offices. These books will be maintained for both tax and financial reporting purposes on an accrual basis. For tax and fiscal reporting purposes, our fiscal year is the calendar year.

        We will furnish or make available to record holders of our common units, within 90 days (or such shorter time as required by SEC rules) after the close of each fiscal year, an annual report containing audited consolidated financial statements and a report on those consolidated financial statements by

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our independent public accountants. Except for our fourth quarter, we will also furnish or make available summary financial information within 45 days (or such shorter time as required by SEC rules) after the close of each quarter. We will be deemed to have made any such report available if we file such report with the SEC on EDGAR or make the report available on a publicly available website which we maintain.

        We will furnish each record holder with information reasonably required for federal and state tax reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of each calendar year. This information is expected to be furnished in summary form so that some complex calculations normally required of partners can be avoided. Our ability to furnish this summary information to our unitholders will depend on their cooperation in supplying us with specific information. Every unitholder will receive information to assist him in determining his federal and state tax liability and in filing his federal and state income tax returns, regardless of whether he supplies us with the necessary information.


Right to Inspect Our Books and Records

        Our partnership agreement provides that a limited partner can, for a purpose reasonably related to 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:

        Our general partner may, and intends to, keep confidential from the limited partners trade secrets or other information the disclosure of which our general partner believes 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.

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UNITS ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

        After the sale of the common units offered hereby, USA Compression Holdings will hold an aggregate of            common units and                         subordinated units. All of the subordinated units will convert into common units at the end of the subordination period and some may convert earlier. The sale of these units could have an adverse impact on the price of the common units or on any trading market that may develop.

        The common units sold in the offering will generally be freely transferable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except that any common units owned by an "affiliate" of ours may not be resold publicly except in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or under an exemption under Rule 144 or otherwise. Rule 144 permits securities acquired by an affiliate of the issuer to be sold into the market in an amount that does not exceed, during any three-month period, the greater of:

        Sales under Rule 144 are also subject to specific manner of sale provisions, holding period requirements, notice requirements and the availability of current public information about us. A person who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of ours at any time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned his common units for at least six months (provided we are in compliance with the current public information requirement) or one year (regardless of whether we are in compliance with the current public information requirement), would be entitled to sell common units under Rule 144 without regard to the rule's public information requirements, volume limitations, manner of sale provisions and notice requirements.

        Our partnership agreement does not restrict our ability to issue additional partnership securities. Any issuance of additional common units or other equity securities would result in a corresponding decrease in the proportionate ownership interest in us represented by, and could adversely affect the cash distributions to and market price of, our common units then outstanding. Following completion of this offering, we intend to institute a distribution reinvestment plan, or a DRIP, pursuant to which owners of common and subordinated units can reinvest their distributions in additional common units. We have been informed by USA Compression Holdings that they intend to reinvest their distributions in additional common units for the foreseeable future and we expect USA Compression GP, LLC will utilize its distributions to purchase additional general partner interests to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest in us. We can satisfy reinvestments under the DRIP by issuing new common units or by purchasing common units on the open market, at our discretion. We currently intend to satisfy reinvestments under the DRIP by issuing new common units. Please read "The Partnership Agreement—Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests."

        In connection with the closing of this offering, our partnership agreement will grant USA Compression Holdings certain demand and "piggyback" registration rights. Under the partnership agreement, USA Compression Holdings will generally have the right to require us to file a registration statement for the public sale of all of the partnership securities in the partnership owned by it. In addition, if we sell any partnership securities in a registered underwritten offering, USA Compression Holdings will have the right, subject to specified limitations, to include its partnership securities in that offering. We will pay all expenses relating to any demand or piggyback registration, except for underwriters or brokers' commission or discounts.

        USA Compression Holdings, our partnership, our general partner and its affiliates, including their respective executive officers and directors, have agreed not to sell any common units they beneficially own for a period of 180 days from the date of this prospectus, subject to certain exceptions.

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MATERIAL FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

        This section is a summary of the material tax considerations that may be relevant to prospective unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the U.S. and, unless otherwise noted in the following discussion, is the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel to our general partner and us, insofar as it relates to legal conclusions with respect to matters of U.S. federal income tax law. This section is based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Internal Revenue Code"), existing and proposed Treasury regulations promulgated under the Internal Revenue Code (the "Treasury Regulations") and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change. Later changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to "us", "we" or "USA Compression" are references to USA Compression Partners, LP and our operating subsidiaries.

        The following discussion does not comment on all federal income tax matters affecting us or our unitholders. Moreover, the discussion focuses on unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the U.S. and has only limited application to corporations, estates, trusts, nonresident aliens or other unitholders subject to specialized tax treatment, such as tax-exempt institutions, foreign persons, IRAs, real estate investment trusts (REITs) or mutual funds. In addition, the discussion only comments, to a limited extent, on state, local and foreign tax consequences. Accordingly, we encourage each prospective unitholder to consult his own tax advisor in analyzing the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences particular to him of the ownership or disposition of common units.

        No ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS regarding any matter affecting us or prospective unitholders. Instead, we will rely on opinions of Latham & Watkins LLP. Unlike a ruling, an opinion of counsel represents only that counsel's best legal judgment and does not bind the IRS or the courts. Accordingly, the opinions and statements made herein may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS. Any contest of this sort with the IRS may materially and adversely impact the market for the common units and the prices at which common units trade. In addition, the costs of any contest with the IRS, principally legal, accounting and related fees, will result in a reduction in cash available for distribution to our unitholders and our general partner and thus will be borne indirectly by our unitholders and our general partner. Furthermore, the tax treatment of us, or of an investment in us, may be significantly modified by future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions. Any modifications may or may not be retroactively applied.

        All statements as to matters of federal income tax law and legal conclusions with respect thereto, but not as to factual matters, contained in this section, unless otherwise noted, are the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP and are based on the accuracy of the representations made by us.

        For the reasons described below, Latham & Watkins LLP has not rendered an opinion with respect to the following specific federal income tax issues: (i) the treatment of a unitholder whose common units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of common units (please read "—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Treatment of Short Sales"); (ii) whether our monthly convention for allocating taxable income and losses is permitted by existing Treasury Regulations (please read "—Disposition of Common Units—Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees"); and (iii) whether our method for depreciating Section 743 adjustments is sustainable in certain cases (please read "—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election" and "—Uniformity of Units" beginning).


Partnership Status

        A partnership is not a taxable entity and incurs no federal income tax liability. Instead, each partner of a partnership is required to take into account his share of items of income, gain, loss and deduction of the partnership in computing his federal income tax liability, regardless of whether cash

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distributions are made to him by the partnership. Distributions by a partnership to a partner are generally not taxable to the partnership or the partner unless the amount of cash distributed to him is in excess of the partner's adjusted basis in his partnership interest. Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code provides that publicly traded partnerships will, as a general rule, be taxed as corporations. However, an exception, referred to as the "Qualifying Income Exception," exists with respect to publicly traded partnerships of which 90% or more of the gross income for every taxable year consists of "qualifying income." Qualifying income includes income and gains derived from the production, transportation, processing and storage of crude oil, natural gas and products thereof. Other types of qualifying income include interest (other than from a financial business), dividends, gains from the sale of real property and gains from the sale or other disposition of capital assets held for the production of income that otherwise constitutes qualifying income. We estimate that less than 3% of our current gross income is not qualifying income; however, this estimate could change from time to time. Based upon and subject to this estimate, the factual representations made by us and our general partner and a review of the applicable legal authorities, Latham & Watkins LLP is of the opinion that at least 90% of our current gross income constitutes qualifying income. The portion of our income that is qualifying income may change from time to time.

        No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS and the IRS has made no determination as to our status or the status of our operating subsidiaries for federal income tax purposes or whether our operations generate "qualifying income" under Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code. Instead, we will rely on the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP on such matters. It is the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP that, based upon the Internal Revenue Code, its regulations, published revenue rulings and court decisions and the representations described below that:

        In rendering its opinion, Latham & Watkins LLP has relied on factual representations made by us and our general partner. The representations made by us and our general partner upon which Latham & Watkins LLP has relied include:

        If we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, other than a failure that is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after discovery (in which case the IRS may also require us to make adjustments with respect to our unitholders or pay other amounts), we will be treated as if we had transferred all of our assets, subject to liabilities, to a newly formed corporation, on the first day of the year in which we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, in return for stock in that corporation, and then distributed that stock to the unitholders in liquidation of their interests in us. This deemed contribution and liquidation should be tax-free to unitholders and us so long as we, at that time, do not have liabilities in excess of the tax basis of our assets. Thereafter, we would be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.

        If we were taxed as a corporation in any taxable year, either as a result of a failure to meet the Qualifying Income Exception or otherwise, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction would be reflected only on our tax return rather than being passed through to our unitholders, and our net

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income would be taxed to us at corporate rates. In addition, any distribution made to a unitholder would be treated as taxable dividend income, to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, or, in the absence of earnings and profits, a nontaxable return of capital, to the extent of the unitholder's tax basis in his common units, or taxable capital gain, after the unitholder's tax basis in his common units is reduced to zero. Accordingly, taxation as a corporation would result in a material reduction in a unitholder's cash flow and after-tax return and thus would likely result in a substantial reduction of the value of the units.

        The discussion below is based on Latham & Watkins LLP's opinion that we will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.


Limited Partner Status

        Unitholders of USA Compression will be treated as partners of USA Compression for federal income tax purposes. Also, unitholders whose common units are held in street name or by a nominee and who have the right to direct the nominee in the exercise of all substantive rights attendant to the ownership of their common units will be treated as partners of USA Compression for federal income tax purposes.

        A beneficial owner of common units whose units have been transferred to a short seller to complete a short sale would appear to lose his status as a partner with respect to those units for federal income tax purposes. Please read "—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Treatment of Short Sales."

        Income, gain, deductions or losses would not appear to be reportable by a unitholder who is not a partner for federal income tax purposes, and any cash distributions received by a unitholder who is not a partner for federal income tax purposes would therefore appear to be fully taxable as ordinary income. These holders are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to their tax consequences of holding common units in USA Compression. The references to "unitholders" in the discussion that follows are to persons who are treated as partners in USA Compression for federal income tax purposes.


Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership

        Subject to the discussion below under "—Entity-Level Collections", we will not pay any federal income tax. Instead, each unitholder will be required to report on his income tax return his share of our income, gains, losses and deductions without regard to whether we make cash distributions to him. Consequently, we may allocate income to a unitholder even if he has not received a cash distribution. Each unitholder will be required to include in income his allocable share of our income, gains, losses and deductions for our taxable year ending with or within his taxable year. Our taxable year ends on December 31.

        Distributions by us to a unitholder generally will not be taxable to the unitholder for federal income tax purposes, except to the extent the amount of any such cash distribution exceeds his tax basis in his common units immediately before the distribution. Our cash distributions in excess of a unitholder's tax basis generally will be considered to be gain from the sale or exchange of the common units, taxable in accordance with the rules described under "—Disposition of Common Units." Any reduction in a unitholder's share of our liabilities for which no partner, including the general partner, bears the economic risk of loss, known as "nonrecourse liabilities," will be treated as a distribution by us of cash to that unitholder. To the extent our distributions cause a unitholder's "at-risk" amount to

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be less than zero at the end of any taxable year, he must recapture any losses deducted in previous years. Please read "—Limitations on Deductibility of Losses."

        A decrease in a unitholder's percentage interest in us because of our issuance of additional common units will decrease his share of our nonrecourse liabilities, and thus will result in a corresponding deemed distribution of cash. This deemed distribution may constitute a non-pro rata distribution. A non-pro rata distribution of money or property may result in ordinary income to a unitholder, regardless of his tax basis in his common units, if the distribution reduces the unitholder's share of our "unrealized receivables," including depreciation recapture and/or substantially appreciated "inventory items," each as defined in the Internal Revenue Code, and collectively, "Section 751 Assets." To that extent, the unitholder will be treated as having been distributed his proportionate share of the Section 751 Assets and then having exchanged those assets with us in return for the non-pro rata portion of the actual distribution made to him. This latter deemed exchange will generally result in the unitholder's realization of ordinary income, which will equal the excess of (i) the non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (ii) the unitholder's tax basis (generally zero) for the share of Section 751 Assets deemed relinquished in the exchange.

        We estimate that a purchaser of common units in this offering who owns those common units from the date of closing of this offering through the record date for distributions for the period ending December 31, 2015, will be allocated, on a cumulative basis, an amount of federal taxable income for that period that will be     % or less of the cash distributed with respect to that period. Thereafter, we anticipate that the ratio of allocable taxable income to cash distributions to the unitholders will increase. These estimates are based upon the assumption that gross income from operations will approximate the amount required to make the minimum quarterly distribution on all units and other assumptions with respect to capital expenditures, cash flow, net working capital and anticipated cash distributions. These estimates and assumptions are subject to, among other things, numerous business, economic, regulatory, legislative, competitive and political uncertainties beyond our control. Further, the estimates are based on current tax law and tax reporting positions that we will adopt and with which the IRS could disagree. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that these estimates will prove to be correct, and our counsel has not opined on the accuracy of such estimates. The actual percentage of distributions that will constitute taxable income could be higher or lower than expected, and any differences could be material and could materially affect the value of the common units. For example, the ratio of allocable taxable income to cash distributions to a purchaser of common units in this offering will be greater, and perhaps substantially greater, than our estimate with respect to the period described above if:

        A unitholder's initial tax basis for his common units will be the amount he paid for the common units plus his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will be increased by his share of our income and by any increases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will be decreased,

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but not below zero, by distributions from us, by the unitholder's share of our losses, by any decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities and by his share of our expenditures that are not deductible in computing taxable income and are not required to be capitalized. A unitholder will have no share of our debt that is recourse to our general partner to the extent of the general partner's "net value" as defined in regulations under Section 752 of the Internal Revenue Code, but will have a share, generally based on his share of profits, of our nonrecourse liabilities. Please read "—Disposition of Common Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss."

        The deduction by a unitholder of his share of our losses will be limited to the tax basis in his units and, in the case of an individual unitholder, estate, trust, or corporate unitholder (if more than 50% of the value of the corporate unitholder's stock is owned directly or indirectly by or for five or fewer individuals or some tax-exempt organizations) to the amount for which the unitholder is considered to be "at risk" with respect to our activities, if that is less than his tax basis. A unitholder subject to these limitations must recapture losses deducted in previous years to the extent that distributions cause his at-risk amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year. Losses disallowed to a unitholder or recaptured as a result of these limitations will carry forward and will be allowable as a deduction to the extent that his at-risk amount is subsequently increased, provided such losses do not exceed such common unitholder's tax basis in his common units. Upon the taxable disposition of a unit, any gain recognized by a unitholder can be offset by losses that were previously suspended by the at-risk limitation but may not be offset by losses suspended by the basis limitation. Any loss previously suspended by the at-risk limitation in excess of that gain would no longer be utilizable.

        In general, a unitholder will be at risk to the extent of the tax basis of his units, excluding any portion of that basis attributable to his share of our nonrecourse liabilities, reduced by (i) any portion of that basis representing amounts otherwise protected against loss because of a guarantee, stop loss agreement or other similar arrangement and (ii) any amount of money he borrows to acquire or hold his units, if the lender of those borrowed funds owns an interest in us, is related to the unitholder or can look only to the units for repayment. A unitholder's at-risk amount will increase or decrease as the tax basis of the unitholder's units increases or decreases, other than tax basis increases or decreases attributable to increases or decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities.

        In addition to the basis and at-risk limitations on the deductibility of losses, the passive loss limitations generally provide that individuals, estates, trusts and some closely-held corporations and personal service corporations can deduct losses from passive activities, which are generally trade or business activities in which the taxpayer does not materially participate, only to the extent of the taxpayer's income from those passive activities. The passive loss limitations are applied separately with respect to each publicly traded partnership. Consequently, any passive losses we generate will only be available to offset our passive income generated in the future and will not be available to offset income from other passive activities or investments, including our investments or a unitholder's investments in other publicly traded partnerships, or salary or active business income. Passive losses that are not deductible because they exceed a unitholder's share of income we generate may be deducted in full when he disposes of his entire investment in us in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party. The passive loss limitations are applied after other applicable limitations on deductions, including the at-risk rules and the basis limitation.

        A unitholder's share of our net income may be offset by any of our suspended passive losses, but it may not be offset by any other current or carryover losses from other passive activities, including those attributable to other publicly traded partnerships.

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        The deductibility of a non-corporate taxpayer's "investment interest expense" is generally limited to the amount of that taxpayer's "net investment income." Investment interest expense includes:

        The computation of a unitholder's investment interest expense will take into account interest on any margin account borrowing or other loan incurred to purchase or carry a unit. Net investment income includes gross income from property held for investment and amounts treated as portfolio income under the passive loss rules, less deductible expenses, other than interest, directly connected with the production of investment income, but generally does not include gains attributable to the disposition of property held for investment or (if applicable) qualified dividend income. The IRS has indicated that the net passive income earned by a publicly traded partnership will be treated as investment income to its unitholders. In addition, the unitholder's share of our portfolio income will be treated as investment income.

        If we are required or elect under applicable law to pay any federal, state, local or foreign income tax on behalf of any unitholder or our general partner or any former unitholder, we are authorized to pay those taxes from our funds. That payment, if made, will be treated as a distribution of cash to the unitholder on whose behalf the payment was made. If the payment is made on behalf of a person whose identity cannot be determined, we are authorized to treat the payment as a distribution to all current unitholders. We are authorized to amend our partnership agreement in the manner necessary to maintain uniformity of intrinsic tax characteristics of units and to adjust later distributions, so that after giving effect to these distributions, the priority and characterization of distributions otherwise applicable under our partnership agreement is maintained as nearly as is practicable. Payments by us as described above could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf of an individual unitholder in which event the unitholder would be required to file a claim in order to obtain a credit or refund.

        In general, if we have a net profit, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated among our general partner and the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us. At any time that distributions are made to the common units in excess of distributions to the subordinated units, or incentive distributions are made to our general partner, gross income will be allocated to the recipients to the extent of these distributions. If we have a net loss, that loss will be allocated first to our general partner and the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us to the extent of their positive capital accounts and, second, to our general partner.

        Specified items of our income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated to account for (i) any difference between the tax basis and fair market value of our assets at the time of an offering and (ii) any difference between the tax basis and fair market value of any property contributed to us by the general partner and its affiliates that exists at the time of such contribution, together referred to in this discussion as the "Contributed Property." The effect of these allocations, referred to as Section 704(c) Allocations, to a unitholder purchasing common units from us in this offering will be essentially the same as if the tax bases of our assets were equal to their fair market values at the time of this offering. In the event we issue additional common units or engage in certain other transactions in the future, "reverse Section 704(c) Allocations," similar to the Section 704(c) Allocations described above, will be

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made to the general partner and all of our unitholders immediately prior to such issuance or other transactions to account for the difference between the "book" basis for purposes of maintaining capital accounts and the fair market value of all property held by us at the time of such issuance or future transaction. In addition, items of recapture income will be allocated to the extent possible to the unitholder who was allocated the deduction giving rise to the treatment of that gain as recapture income in order to minimize the recognition of ordinary income by some unitholders. Finally, although we do not expect that our operations will result in the creation of negative capital accounts, if negative capital accounts nevertheless result, items of our income and gain will be allocated in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the negative balance as quickly as possible.

        An allocation of items of our income, gain, loss or deduction, other than an allocation required by the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the difference between a partner's "book" capital account, credited with the fair market value of Contributed Property, and "tax" capital account, credited with the tax basis of Contributed Property, referred to in this discussion as the "Book-Tax Disparity," will generally be given effect for federal income tax purposes in determining a partner's share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction only if the allocation has "substantial economic effect." In any other case, a partner's share of an item will be determined on the basis of his interest in us, which will be determined by taking into account all the facts and circumstances, including:

        Latham & Watkins LLP is of the opinion that, with the exception of the issues described in "—Section 754 Election" and "—Disposition of Common Units—Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees," allocations under our partnership agreement will be given effect for federal income tax purposes in determining a partner's share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction.

        A unitholder whose units are loaned to a "short seller" to cover a short sale of units may be considered as having disposed of those units. If so, he would no longer be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those units during the period of the loan and may recognize gain or loss from the disposition. As a result, during this period:

        Because there is no direct or indirect controlling authority on the issue relating to partnership interests, Latham & Watkins LLP has not rendered an opinion regarding the tax treatment of a unitholder whose common units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of common units; therefore, unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition from a loan to a short seller are urged to modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing and loaning their units. The IRS has previously announced that it is studying issues relating to the tax treatment of short sales of partnership interests. Please also read "—Disposition of Common Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss."

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        Each unitholder will be required to take into account his distributive share of any items of our income, gain, loss or deduction for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. The current minimum tax rate for non-corporate taxpayers is 26% on the first $175,000 of alternative minimum taxable income in excess of the exemption amount and 28% on any additional alternative minimum taxable income. Prospective unitholders are urged to consult with their tax advisors as to the impact of an investment in units on their liability for the alternative minimum tax.

        Under current law, the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income of individuals is 35% and the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to long-term capital gains (generally, capital gains on certain assets held for more than twelve months) of individuals is 15%. However, absent new legislation extending the current rates, these rates are scheduled to sunset after December 31, 2012, at which time the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income and long-term capital gains of individuals will increase to 39.6% and 20%, respectively. Moreover, these rates are subject to change by new legislation at any time.

        The recently enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 is scheduled to impose a 3.8% Medicare tax on certain net investment income earned by individuals, estates and trusts for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012. For these purposes, net investment income generally includes a unitholder's allocable share of our income and gain realized by a unitholder from a sale of units. In the case of an individual, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) the unitholder's net investment income or (ii) the amount by which the unitholder's modified adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing jointly or a surviving spouse), $125,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing separately) or $200,000 (in any other case). In the case of an estate or trust, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) undistributed net investment income, or (ii) the excess adjusted gross income over the dollar amount at which the highest income tax bracket applicable to an estate or trust begins.

        We will make the election permitted by Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code. That election is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS unless there is a constructive termination of the partnership. Please read "—Disposition of Common Units—Constructive Termination". The election will generally permit us to adjust a common unit purchaser's tax basis in our assets ("inside basis") under Section 743(b) of the Internal Revenue Code to reflect his purchase price. This election does not apply with respect to a person who purchases common units directly from us. The Section 743(b) adjustment belongs to the purchaser and not to other unitholders. For purposes of this discussion, the inside basis in our assets with respect to a unitholder will be considered to have two components: (i) his share of our tax basis in our assets ("common basis") and (ii) his Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis.

        We will adopt the remedial allocation method as to all our properties. Where the remedial allocation method is adopted, the Treasury Regulations under Section 743 of the Internal Revenue Code require a portion of the Section 743(b) adjustment that is attributable to recovery property that is subject to depreciation under Section 168 of the Internal Revenue Code and whose book basis is in excess of its tax basis to be depreciated over the remaining cost recovery period for the property's unamortized Book-Tax Disparity. Under Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6), a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to property subject to depreciation under Section 167 of the Internal Revenue Code, rather than cost recovery deductions under Section 168, is generally required to be depreciated using either the straight-line method or the 150% declining balance method. Under our partnership agreement, our general partner is authorized to take a position to preserve the uniformity of units even

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if that position is not consistent with these and any other Treasury Regulations. Please read "—Uniformity of Units."

        We intend to depreciate the portion of a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to unrealized appreciation in the value of Contributed Property, to the extent of any unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, using a rate of depreciation or amortization derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the property's unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, or treat that portion as non-amortizable to the extent attributable to property which is not amortizable. This method is consistent with the methods employed by other publicly traded partnerships but is arguably inconsistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6), which is not expected to directly apply to a material portion of our assets. To the extent this Section 743(b) adjustment is attributable to appreciation in value in excess of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, we will apply the rules described in the Treasury Regulations and legislative history. If we determine that this position cannot reasonably be taken, we may take a depreciation or amortization position under which all purchasers acquiring units in the same month would receive depreciation or amortization, whether attributable to common basis or a Section 743(b) adjustment, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in our assets. This kind of aggregate approach may result in lower annual depreciation or amortization deductions than would otherwise be allowable to some unitholders. Please read "—Uniformity of Units." A unitholder's tax basis for his common units is reduced by his share of our deductions (whether or not such deductions were claimed on an individual's income tax return) so that any position we take that understates deductions will overstate the common unitholder's basis in his common units, which may cause the unitholder to understate gain or overstate loss on any sale of such units. Please read "—Disposition of Common Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss." Latham & Watkins LLP is unable to opine as to whether our method for depreciating Section 743 adjustments is sustainable for property subject to depreciation under Section 167 of the Internal Revenue Code or if we use an aggregate approach as described above, as there is no direct or indirect controlling authority addressing the validity of these positions. Moreover, the IRS may challenge our position with respect to depreciating or amortizing the Section 743(b) adjustment we take to preserve the uniformity of the units. If such a challenge were sustained, the gain from the sale of units might be increased without the benefit of additional deductions.

        A Section 754 election is advantageous if the transferee's tax basis in his units is higher than the units' share of the aggregate tax basis of our assets immediately prior to the transfer. In that case, as a result of the election, the transferee would have, among other items, a greater amount of depreciation deductions and his share of any gain or loss on a sale of our assets would be less. Conversely, a Section 754 election is disadvantageous if the transferee's tax basis in his units is lower than those units' share of the aggregate tax basis of our assets immediately prior to the transfer. Thus, the fair market value of the units may be affected either favorably or unfavorably by the election. A basis adjustment is required regardless of whether a Section 754 election is made in the case of a transfer of an interest in us if we have a substantial built-in loss immediately after the transfer, or if we distribute property and have a substantial basis reduction. Generally, a built-in loss or a basis reduction is substantial if it exceeds $250,000.

        The calculations involved in the Section 754 election are complex and will be made on the basis of assumptions as to the value of our assets and other matters. For example, the allocation of the Section 743(b) adjustment among our assets must be made in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code. The IRS could seek to reallocate some or all of any Section 743(b) adjustment allocated by us to our tangible assets to goodwill instead. Goodwill, as an intangible asset, is generally nonamortizable or amortizable over a longer period of time or under a less accelerated method than our tangible assets. We cannot assure you that the determinations we make will not be successfully challenged by the IRS and that the deductions resulting from them will not be reduced or disallowed altogether. Should the IRS require a different basis adjustment to be made, and should, in our opinion, the expense of compliance exceed the benefit of the election, we may seek permission from the IRS to revoke our Section 754 election. If permission is granted, a subsequent purchaser of units may be allocated more income than he would have been allocated had the election not been revoked.

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Tax Treatment of Operations

        We use the year ending December 31 as our taxable year and the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes. Each unitholder will be required to include in income his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our taxable year ending within or with his taxable year. In addition, a unitholder who has a taxable year ending on a date other than December 31 and who disposes of all of his units following the close of our taxable year but before the close of his taxable year must include his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction in income for his taxable year, with the result that he will be required to include in income for his taxable year his share of more than twelve months of our income, gain, loss and deduction. Please read "—Disposition of Common Units—Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees."

        The tax basis of our assets will be used for purposes of computing depreciation and cost recovery deductions and, ultimately, gain or loss on the disposition of these assets. The federal income tax burden associated with the difference between the fair market value of our assets and their tax basis immediately prior to (i) this offering will be borne by our general partner and its affiliates and (ii) any other offering will be borne by our general partner and all of our unitholders as of that time. Please read "—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction."

        To the extent allowable, we may elect to use the depreciation and cost recovery methods, including bonus depreciation to the extent available, that will result in the largest deductions being taken in the early years after assets subject to these allowances are placed in service. Please read "—Uniformity of Units." Property we subsequently acquire or construct may be depreciated using accelerated methods permitted by the Internal Revenue Code.

        If we dispose of depreciable property by sale, foreclosure or otherwise, all or a portion of any gain, determined by reference to the amount of depreciation previously deducted and the nature of the property, may be subject to the recapture rules and taxed as ordinary income rather than capital gain. Similarly, a unitholder who has taken cost recovery or depreciation deductions with respect to property we own will likely be required to recapture some or all of those deductions as ordinary income upon a sale of his interest in us. Please read "—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction" and "—Disposition of Common Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss."

        The costs we incur in selling our units (called "syndication expenses") must be capitalized and cannot be deducted currently, ratably or upon our termination. There are uncertainties regarding the classification of costs as organization expenses, which may be amortized by us, and as syndication expenses, which may not be amortized by us. The underwriting discounts and commissions we incur will be treated as syndication expenses.

        The federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of units will depend in part on our estimates of the relative fair market values, and the initial tax bases, of our assets. Although we may from time to time consult with professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, we will make many of the relative fair market value estimates ourselves. These estimates and determinations of basis are subject to challenge and will not be binding on the IRS or the courts. If the estimates of fair market value or basis are later found to be incorrect, the character and amount of items of income, gain, loss or deductions previously reported by unitholders might change, and unitholders might be required to adjust their tax liability for prior years and incur interest and penalties with respect to those adjustments.

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Disposition of Common Units

        Gain or loss will be recognized on a sale of units equal to the difference between the amount realized and the unitholder's tax basis for the units sold. A unitholder's amount realized will be measured by the sum of the cash or the fair market value of other property received by him plus his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. Because the amount realized includes a unitholder's share of our nonrecourse liabilities, the gain recognized on the sale of units could result in a tax liability in excess of any cash received from the sale.

        Prior distributions from us that in the aggregate were in excess of cumulative net taxable income for a common unit and, therefore, decreased a unitholder's tax basis in that common unit will, in effect, become taxable income if the common unit is sold at a price greater than the unitholder's tax basis in that common unit, even if the price received is less than his original cost.

        Except as noted below, gain or loss recognized by a unitholder, other than a "dealer" in units, on the sale or exchange of a unit will generally be taxable as capital gain or loss. Capital gain recognized by an individual on the sale of units held for more than twelve months will generally be taxed at a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 15% through December 31, 2012 and 20% thereafter (absent new legislation extending or adjusting the current rate). However, a portion of this gain or loss, which will likely be substantial, will be separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss under Section 751 of the Internal Revenue Code to the extent attributable to assets giving rise to depreciation recapture or other "unrealized receivables" or to "inventory items" we own. The term "unrealized receivables" includes potential recapture items, including depreciation recapture. Ordinary income attributable to unrealized receivables, inventory items and depreciation recapture may exceed net taxable gain realized upon the sale of a unit and may be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss realized on the sale of a unit. Thus, a unitholder may recognize both ordinary income and a capital loss upon a sale of units. Capital losses may offset capital gains and no more than $3,000 of ordinary income, in the case of individuals, and may only be used to offset capital gains in the case of corporations.

        The IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a partnership in separate transactions must combine those interests and maintain a single adjusted tax basis for all those interests. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of those interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated to the interests sold using an "equitable apportionment" method, which generally means that the tax basis allocated to the interest sold equals an amount that bears the same relation to the partner's tax basis in his entire interest in the partnership as the value of the interest sold bears to the value of the partner's entire interest in the partnership. Treasury Regulations under Section 1223 of the Internal Revenue Code allow a selling unitholder who can identify common units transferred with an ascertainable holding period to elect to use the actual holding period of the common units transferred. Thus, according to the ruling discussed above, a common unitholder will be unable to select high or low basis common units to sell as would be the case with corporate stock, but, according to the Treasury Regulations, he may designate specific common units sold for purposes of determining the holding period of units transferred. A unitholder electing to use the actual holding period of common units transferred must consistently use that identification method for all subsequent sales or exchanges of common units. A unitholder considering the purchase of additional units or a sale of common units purchased in separate transactions is urged to consult his tax advisor as to the possible consequences of this ruling and application of the Treasury Regulations.

        Specific provisions of the Internal Revenue Code affect the taxation of some financial products and securities, including partnership interests, by treating a taxpayer as having sold an "appreciated"

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partnership interest, one in which gain would be recognized if it were sold, assigned or terminated at its fair market value, if the taxpayer or related persons enter(s) into:

in each case, with respect to the partnership interest or substantially identical property.

        Moreover, if a taxpayer has previously entered into a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract or a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest, the taxpayer will be treated as having sold that position if the taxpayer or a related person then acquires the partnership interest or substantially identical property. The Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized to issue regulations that treat a taxpayer that enters into transactions or positions that have substantially the same effect as the preceding transactions as having constructively sold the financial position.

        In general, our taxable income and losses will be determined annually, will be prorated on a monthly basis and will be subsequently apportioned among the unitholders in proportion to the number of units owned by each of them as of the opening of the applicable exchange on the first business day of the month, which we refer to in this prospectus as the "Allocation Date." However, gain or loss realized on a sale or other disposition of our assets other than in the ordinary course of business will be allocated among the unitholders on the Allocation Date in the month in which that gain or loss is recognized. As a result, a unitholder transferring units may be allocated income, gain, loss and deduction realized after the date of transfer.

        Although simplifying conventions are contemplated by the Internal Revenue Code and most publicly traded partnerships use similar simplifying conventions, the use of this method may not be permitted under existing Treasury Regulations as there is no direct or indirect controlling authority on this issue. Recently, the Department of the Treasury and the IRS issued proposed Treasury Regulations that provide a safe harbor pursuant to which a publicly traded partnership may use a similar monthly simplifying convention to allocate tax items among transferor and transferee unitholders, although such tax items must be prorated on a daily basis. Nonetheless, the proposed regulations do not specifically authorize the use of the proration method we have adopted. Accordingly, Latham & Watkins LLP is unable to opine on the validity of this method of allocating income and deductions between transferor and transferee unitholders because the issue has not been finally resolved by the IRS or the courts. If this method is not allowed under the Treasury Regulations, or only applies to transfers of less than all of the unitholder's interest, our taxable income or losses might be reallocated among the unitholders. We are authorized to revise our method of allocation between transferor and transferee unitholders, as well as unitholders whose interests vary during a taxable year, to conform to a method permitted under future Treasury Regulations. A unitholder who owns units at any time during a quarter and who disposes of them prior to the record date set for a cash distribution for that quarter will be allocated items of our income, gain, loss and deductions attributable to that quarter but will not be entitled to receive that cash distribution.

        A unitholder who sells any of his units is generally required to notify us in writing of that sale within 30 days after the sale (or, if earlier, January 15 of the year following the sale). A purchaser of units who purchases units from another unitholder is also generally required to notify us in writing of that purchase within 30 days after the purchase. Upon receiving such notifications, we are required to notify the IRS of that transaction and to furnish specified information to the transferor and transferee.

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Failure to notify us of a purchase may, in some cases, lead to the imposition of penalties. However, these reporting requirements do not apply to a sale by an individual who is a citizen of the U.S. and who effects the sale or exchange through a broker who will satisfy such requirements.

        We will be considered to have been terminated for tax purposes if there are sales or exchanges which, in the aggregate, constitute 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a twelve-month period. For purposes of measuring whether the 50% threshold is reached, multiple sales of the same interest are counted only once. A constructive termination results in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders. In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than a fiscal year ending December 31, the closing of our taxable year may result in more than twelve months of our taxable income or loss being includable in his taxable income for the year of termination. A constructive termination occurring on a date other than December 31 will result in us filing two tax returns (and unitholders could receive two Schedules K-1 if the relief discussed below is not available) for one fiscal year and the cost of the preparation of these returns will be borne by all common unitholders. We would be required to make new tax elections after a termination, including a new election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code, and a termination would result in a deferral of our deductions for depreciation. A termination could also result in penalties if we were unable to determine that the termination had occurred. Moreover, a termination might either accelerate the application of, or subject us to, any tax legislation enacted before the termination. The IRS has recently announced a publicly traded partnership technical termination relief procedure whereby if a publicly traded partnership that has technically terminated requests publicly traded partnership technical termination relief and the IRS grants such relief, among other things, the partnership will only have to provide one Schedule K-1 to unitholders for the year notwithstanding two partnership tax years.


Uniformity of Units

        Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of units, we must maintain uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics of the units to a purchaser of these units. In the absence of uniformity, we may be unable to completely comply with a number of federal income tax requirements, both statutory and regulatory. A lack of uniformity can result from a literal application of Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6). Any non-uniformity could have a negative impact on the value of the units. Please read "—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election." We intend to depreciate the portion of a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to unrealized appreciation in the value of Contributed Property, to the extent of any unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, using a rate of depreciation or amortization derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the property's unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, or treat that portion as nonamortizable, to the extent attributable to property the common basis of which is not amortizable, consistent with the regulations under Section 743 of the Internal Revenue Code, even though that position may be inconsistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6), which is not expected to directly apply to a material portion of our assets. Please read "—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election." To the extent that the Section 743(b) adjustment is attributable to appreciation in value in excess of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, we will apply the rules described in the Treasury Regulations and legislative history. If we determine that this position cannot reasonably be taken, we may adopt a depreciation and amortization position under which all purchasers acquiring units in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, whether attributable to common basis or a Section 743(b) adjustment, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in our assets. If this position is adopted, it may result in lower annual depreciation and amortization deductions than would otherwise be allowable to some unitholders and risk the loss of depreciation and amortization deductions not taken in the year that these deductions are otherwise allowable. This position will not be adopted if we determine that the loss of depreciation and

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amortization deductions will have a material adverse effect on the unitholders. If we choose not to utilize this aggregate method, we may use any other reasonable depreciation and amortization method to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any units that would not have a material adverse effect on the unitholders. In either case, and as stated above under "—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election," Latham & Watkins LLP has not rendered an opinion with respect to these methods. Moreover, the IRS may challenge any method of depreciating the Section 743(b) adjustment described in this paragraph. If this challenge were sustained, the uniformity of units might be affected, and the gain from the sale of units might be increased without the benefit of additional deductions. Please read "—Disposition of Common Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss."


Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors

        Ownership of units by employee benefit plans, other tax-exempt organizations, non-resident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign persons raises issues unique to those investors and, as described below to a limited extent, may have substantially adverse tax consequences to them. If you are a tax-exempt entity or a non-U.S. person, you should consult your tax advisor before investing in our common units. Employee benefit plans and most other organizations exempt from federal income tax, including individual retirement accounts and other retirement plans, are subject to federal income tax on unrelated business taxable income. Virtually all of our income allocated to a unitholder that is a tax-exempt organization will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to it.

        Non-resident aliens and foreign corporations, trusts or estates that own units will be considered to be engaged in business in the U.S. because of the ownership of units. As a consequence, they will be required to file federal tax returns to report their share of our income, gain, loss or deduction and pay federal income tax at regular rates on their share of our net income or gain. Moreover, under rules applicable to publicly traded partnerships, our quarterly distribution to foreign unitholders will be subject to withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate. Each foreign unitholder must obtain a taxpayer identification number from the IRS and submit that number to our transfer agent on a Form W-8BEN or applicable substitute form in order to obtain credit for these withholding taxes. A change in applicable law may require us to change these procedures.

        In addition, because a foreign corporation that owns units will be treated as engaged in a U.S. trade or business, that corporation may be subject to the U.S. branch profits tax at a rate of 30%, in addition to regular federal income tax, on its share of our earnings and profits, as adjusted for changes in the foreign corporation's "U.S. net equity," that is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. That tax may be reduced or eliminated by an income tax treaty between the U.S. and the country in which the foreign corporate unitholder is a "qualified resident." In addition, this type of unitholder is subject to special information reporting requirements under Section 6038C of the Internal Revenue Code.

        A foreign unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a common unit will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized from the sale or disposition of that unit to the extent the gain is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the foreign unitholder. Under a ruling published by the IRS, interpreting the scope of "effectively connected income," a foreign unitholder would be considered to be engaged in a trade or business in the U.S. by virtue of the U.S. activities of the partnership, and part or all of that unitholder's gain would be effectively connected with that unitholder's indirect U.S. trade or business. Therefore, foreign unitholders may be subject to U.S. federal income tax gain from the sale or disposition of their units.

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Administrative Matters

        We intend to furnish to each unitholder, within 90 days after the close of each calendar year, specific tax information, including a Schedule K-1, which describes his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our preceding taxable year. In preparing this information, which will not be reviewed by counsel, we will take various accounting and reporting positions, some of which have been mentioned earlier, to determine each unitholder's share of income, gain, loss and deduction. We cannot assure you that those positions will yield a result that conforms to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, Treasury Regulations or administrative interpretations of the IRS. Neither we nor Latham & Watkins LLP can assure prospective unitholders that the IRS will not successfully contend in court that those positions are impermissible. Any challenge by the IRS could negatively affect the value of the units.

        The IRS may audit our federal income tax information returns. Adjustments resulting from an IRS audit may require each unitholder to adjust a prior year's tax liability, and possibly may result in an audit of his return. Any audit of a unitholder's return could result in adjustments not related to our returns as well as those related to our returns.

        Partnerships generally are treated as separate entities for purposes of federal tax audits, judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS and tax settlement proceedings. The tax treatment of partnership items of income, gain, loss and deduction are determined in a partnership proceeding rather than in separate proceedings with the partners. The Internal Revenue Code requires that one partner be designated as the "Tax Matters Partner" for these purposes. Our partnership agreement names USA Compression GP, LLC as our Tax Matters Partner.

        The Tax Matters Partner has made and will make some elections on our behalf and on behalf of unitholders. In addition, the Tax Matters Partner can extend the statute of limitations for assessment of tax deficiencies against unitholders for items in our returns. The Tax Matters Partner may bind a unitholder with less than a 1% profits interest in us to a settlement with the IRS unless that unitholder elects, by filing a statement with the IRS, not to give that authority to the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner may seek judicial review, by which all the unitholders are bound, of a final partnership administrative adjustment and, if the Tax Matters Partner fails to seek judicial review, judicial review may be sought by any unitholder having at least a 1% interest in profits or by any group of unitholders having in the aggregate at least a 5% interest in profits. However, only one action for judicial review will go forward, and each unitholder with an interest in the outcome may participate.

        A unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the treatment of any item on his federal income tax return that is not consistent with the treatment of the item on our return. Intentional or negligent disregard of this consistency requirement may subject a unitholder to substantial penalties.

        Persons who hold an interest in us as a nominee for another person are required to furnish to us:

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        Brokers and financial institutions are required to furnish additional information, including whether they are U.S. persons and specific information on units they acquire, hold or transfer for their own account. A penalty of $100 per failure, up to a maximum of $1,500,000 per calendar year, is imposed by the Internal Revenue Code for failure to report that information to us. The nominee is required to supply the beneficial owner of the units with the information furnished to us.

        An additional tax equal to 20% of the amount of any portion of an underpayment of tax that is attributable to one or more specified causes, including negligence or disregard of rules or regulations, substantial understatements of income tax and substantial valuation misstatements, is imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. No penalty will be imposed, however, for any portion of an underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause for that portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith regarding that portion.

        For individuals, a substantial understatement of income tax in any taxable year exists if the amount of the understatement exceeds the greater of 10% of the tax required to be shown on the return for the taxable year or $5,000 ($10,000 for most corporations). The amount of any understatement subject to penalty generally is reduced if any portion is attributable to a position adopted on the return:

        If any item of income, gain, loss or deduction included in the distributive shares of unitholders might result in that kind of an "understatement" of income for which no "substantial authority" exists, we must disclose the pertinent facts on our return. In addition, we will make a reasonable effort to furnish sufficient information for unitholders to make adequate disclosure on their returns and to take other actions as may be appropriate to permit unitholders to avoid liability for this penalty. More stringent rules apply to "tax shelters," which we do not believe includes us, or any of our investments, plans or arrangements.

        A substantial valuation misstatement exists if (i) the value of any property, or the adjusted basis of any property, claimed on a tax return is 150% or more of the amount determined to be the correct amount of the valuation or adjusted basis, (ii) the price for any property or services (or for the use of property) claimed on any such return with respect to any transaction between persons described in Internal Revenue Code Section 482 is 200% or more (or 50% or less) of the amount determined under Section 482 to be the correct amount of such price, or (iii) the net Internal Revenue Code Section 482 transfer price adjustment for the taxable year exceeds the lesser of $5 million or 10% of the taxpayer's gross receipts. No penalty is imposed unless the portion of the underpayment attributable to a substantial valuation misstatement exceeds $5,000 ($10,000 for most corporations). If the valuation claimed on a return is 200% or more than the correct valuation or certain other thresholds are met, the penalty imposed increases to 40%. We do not anticipate making any valuation misstatements.

        In addition, the 20% accuracy-related penalty also applies to any portion of an underpayment of tax that is attributable to transactions lacking economic substance. To the extent that such transactions are not disclosed, the penalty imposed is increased to 40%. Additionally, there is no reasonable cause defense to the imposition of this penalty to such transactions.

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        If we were to engage in a "reportable transaction," we (and possibly you and others) would be required to make a detailed disclosure of the transaction to the IRS. A transaction may be a reportable transaction based upon any of several factors, including the fact that it is a type of tax avoidance transaction publicly identified by the IRS as a "listed transaction" or that it produces certain kinds of losses for partnerships, individuals, S corporations, and trusts in excess of $2 million in any single year, or $4 million in any combination of six successive tax years. Our participation in a reportable transaction could increase the likelihood that our federal income tax information return (and possibly your tax return) would be audited by the IRS. Please read "—Information Returns and Audit Procedures."

        Moreover, if we were to participate in a reportable transaction with a significant purpose to avoid or evade tax, or in any listed transaction, you may be subject to the following additional consequences:

        We do not expect to engage in any "reportable transactions."


Recent Legislative Developments

        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 interpretation at any time. For example, from time to time, members of the U.S. Congress propose and consider substantive changes to the existing federal income tax laws that affect publicly traded partnerships. Currently, one such legislative proposal would eliminate the qualifying income exception upon which we rely for our treatment as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Please read "—Partnership Status." We are unable to predict whether any of these changes, or other proposals, will ultimately be enacted. Any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in our units.


State, Local, Foreign and Other Tax Considerations

        In addition to federal income taxes, you likely will be subject to other taxes, such as state, local and foreign income taxes, unincorporated business taxes, and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that may be imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we do business or own property or in which you are a resident. Although an analysis of those various taxes is not presented here, each prospective unitholder should consider their potential impact on his investment in us. We will initially own property or do business in 17 states. Many of these states impose a personal income tax on individuals; certain of these states also impose an income tax on corporations and other entities. We may also own property or do business in other jurisdictions in the future. Although you may not be required to file a return and pay taxes in some jurisdictions because your income from that jurisdiction falls below the filing and payment requirement, you will be required to file income tax returns and to pay income taxes in many of these jurisdictions in which we do business or own property and may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. In some jurisdictions, tax losses may not produce a tax benefit in the year incurred and may not be available to offset income in subsequent taxable years. Some of the jurisdictions may require us, or we may elect, to withhold a percentage of income from amounts to be distributed to a unitholder who is not a resident of the jurisdiction. Withholding, the amount of which may be greater or less than a particular unitholder's income tax liability to the

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jurisdiction, generally does not relieve a nonresident unitholder from the obligation to file an income tax return. Amounts withheld will be treated as if distributed to unitholders for purposes of determining the amounts distributed by us. Please read "—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Entity-Level Collections." Based on current law and our estimate of our future operations, our general partner anticipates that any amounts required to be withheld will not be material.

        It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate the legal and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent states, localities and foreign jurisdictions, of his investment in us. Accordingly, each prospective unitholder is urged to consult his own tax counsel or other advisor with regard to those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each unitholder to file all state, local and foreign, as well as U.S. federal tax returns, that may be required of him. Latham & Watkins LLP has not rendered an opinion on the state, local or foreign tax consequences of an investment in us.

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INVESTMENT IN USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP
BY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

        An investment in us by an employee benefit plan is subject to additional considerations because the investments of these plans are subject to the fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and the restrictions imposed by Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code and provisions under any federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or ERISA (collectively, "Similar Laws"). For these purposes the term "employee benefit plan" includes, but is not limited to, qualified pension, profit-sharing and stock bonus plans, Keogh plans, simplified employee pension plans and tax deferred annuities or individual retirement accounts or annuities ("IRAs") established or maintained by an employer or employee organization, and entities whose underlying assets are considered to include "plan assets" of such plans, accounts and arrangements. Among other things, consideration should be given to:

        The person with investment discretion with respect to the assets of an employee benefit plan, often called a fiduciary, should determine whether an investment in us is authorized by the appropriate governing instrument and is a proper investment for the plan.

        Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code prohibit employee benefit plans and IRAs that are not considered part of an employee benefit plan, from engaging in specified transactions involving "plan assets" with parties that, with respect to the plan, are "parties in interest" under ERISA or "disqualified persons" under the Internal Revenue Code unless an exemption is available. A party in interest or disqualified person who engages in a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to excise taxes and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. In addition, the fiduciary of the ERISA plan that engaged in such a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code.

        In addition to considering whether the purchase of common units is a prohibited transaction, a fiduciary should consider whether the plan will, by investing in us, be deemed to own an undivided interest in our assets, with the result that our general partner would also be a fiduciary of such plan and our operations would be subject to the regulatory restrictions of ERISA, including its prohibited transaction rules, as well as the prohibited transaction rules of the Internal Revenue Code, ERISA and any other applicable Similar Laws.

        The Department of Labor regulations provide guidance with respect to whether, in certain circumstances, the assets of an entity in which employee benefit plans acquire equity interests would be deemed "plan assets." Under these regulations, an entity's assets would not be considered to be "plan assets" if, among other things:

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        Our assets should not be considered "plan assets" under these regulations because it is expected that the investment will satisfy the requirements in (i) and (ii) above.

        In light of the serious penalties imposed on persons who engage in prohibited transactions or other violations, plan fiduciaries contemplating a purchase of common units should consult with their own counsel regarding the consequences under ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code and other Similar Laws.

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UNDERWRITING (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

        Barclays Capital Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co. are acting as representatives of the underwriters named below. Under the terms of an underwriting agreement, a form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement relating to this prospectus, each of the underwriters named below has severally agreed to purchase from us the respective number of common units shown opposite its name below.

Underwriters
  Number of
Common Units

Barclays Capital Inc. 

   

Goldman, Sachs & Co. 

   

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

   

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

   

Raymond James & Associates, Inc. 

   

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

   

UBS Securities LLC

   
     
 

Total

   
     

        The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters' obligation to purchase the common units depends on the satisfaction of the conditions contained in the underwriting agreement including:


Commissions and Expenses

        The following table summarizes the underwriting discounts and commissions we will pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional common units. The underwriting fee is the difference between the initial price to the public and the amount the underwriters pay to us for the common units.

 
  No Exercise   Full Exercise  

Paid by us per unit

  $          $         

Total

  $          $         

        The representatives of the underwriters have advised us that the underwriters propose to offer the common units directly to the public at the public offering price on the cover of this prospectus and to selected dealers, which may include the underwriters, at such offering price less a selling concession not in excess of $        per common unit. After the offering, the representatives may change the offering price and other selling terms. The offering of the common units by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters' right to reject any order in whole or in part.

        The expenses of the offering that are payable by us are estimated to be approximately $        (exclusive of underwriting discounts and commissions).

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Option to Purchase Additional Common Units

        We have granted the underwriters an option exercisable for 30 days after the date of the underwriting agreement to purchase, from time to time, in whole or in part, up to an aggregate of        additional common units at the public offering price less underwriting discounts and commissions. This option may be exercised if the underwriters sell more than        common units in connection with this offering. To the extent that this option is exercised, each underwriter will be obligated, subject to certain conditions, to purchase its pro rata portion of these additional common units based on the underwriter's percentage underwriting commitment in the offering as indicated in the table at the beginning of this Underwriting section. The net proceeds from any exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional common units will be used to redeem from USA Compression Holdings a number of common units equal to the number of common units issued to the public upon the exercise of the underwriters' option.


Lock-Up Agreements

        We, our subsidiaries, our general partner and USA Compression Holdings and its affiliates, including our directors and executive officers, have agreed that without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co., subject to certain exemptions, including the issuance of units pursuant to a broad based distribution reinvestment plan, if applicable, we and they will not, for a period of 180 days from the date of this prospectus, directly or indirectly, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise hedge or dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any of our common units, any options or warrants to purchase common units or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, common units.

        The 180-day restricted period described in the preceding paragraph will be extended if:

in which case the restrictions described in the preceding paragraph will continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the announcement of the material news or the occurrence of the material event, unless such extension is waived in writing by Barclays Capital Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co.

        Barclays Capital Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co., in their sole discretion, may release the common units and other securities subject to the lock-up agreements described above in whole or in part at any time with or without notice. When determining whether or not to release common units and other securities from lock-up agreements, Barclays Capital Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co. will consider, among other factors, the holder's reasons for requesting the release, the number of common units and other securities for which the release is being requested and market conditions at the time.


Offering Price Determination

        Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common units. The initial public offering price was negotiated between the representatives and us. In determining the initial public offering price of our common units, the representatives considered:

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Indemnification

        We and certain of our subsidiaries have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make for these liabilities.


Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids

        The representatives may engage in stabilizing transactions, short sales and purchases to cover positions created by short sales, and penalty bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the common units, in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

        These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common units or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common units. As a result, the price of the common units may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on the NYSE or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

        Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the common units. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the representatives will engage in these stabilizing transactions or that any transaction, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

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Electronic Distribution

        A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the Internet sites or through other online services maintained by one or more of the underwriters and/or selling group members participating in this offering, or by their affiliates. In those cases, prospective investors may view offering terms online and, depending upon the particular underwriter or selling group member, prospective investors may be allowed to place orders online. The underwriters may agree with us to allocate a specific number of common units for sale to online brokerage account holders. Any such allocation for online distributions will be made by the representatives on the same basis as other allocations.

        Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on any underwriter's or selling group member's web site and any information contained in any other web site maintained by an underwriter or selling group member is not part of the prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or any underwriter or selling group member in its capacity as underwriter or selling group member and should not be relied upon by investors.


New York Stock Exchange

        Our common units have been approved for listing (subject to official notice of issuance) on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "USAC".


Discretionary Sales

        The underwriters have informed us that they do not intend to confirm sales to discretionary accounts that exceed 5% of the total number of common units offered by them.


Conflicts of Interest/FINRA Rules

        The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various investment banking, commercial banking and financial advisory services for us, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

        Because the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, views the common units offered hereby as interests in a direct participation program, the offering is being made in compliance with Rule 2310 of the F1NRA Conduct Rules. Investor suitability with respect to the common units should be judged similarly to the suitability with respect to other securities that are listed for trading on a national securities exchange. In no event will the maximum amount of compensation to be paid to FINRA members in connection with this offering exceed 10% of the offering proceeds.

        In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and instruments of the issuer (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) and/or persons and entities with relationships with the issuer. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments. Additionally, affiliates of each of the underwriters are lenders under our revolving credit

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facility and will receive a substantial portion of the proceeds from this offering pursuant to the repayment of a portion of the borrowings thereunder. See "Use of Proceeds." Affiliates of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC also serve as Agent, LC Issuer, Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner under the revolving credit facility, and an affiliate of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC serves as Documentation Agent under the revolving credit facility.


European Economic Area

        In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a relevant member state), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that relevant member state (the relevant implementation date), an offer of securities described in this prospectus may not be made to the public in that relevant member state other than:

Provided that no such offer of securities shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

        For purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer of securities to the public" in any relevant member state means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities, as the expression may be varied in that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that member state, and the expression "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in each relevant member state. The expression 2010 PD Amending Directive means Directive 2010/73/EU.

        We have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of any securities through any financial intermediary on their behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters with a view to the final placement of the securities as contemplated in this prospectus. Accordingly, no purchaser of the securities, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of the securities on behalf of us or the underwriters.


United Kingdom

        Our company may constitute a "collective investment scheme" as defined by section 235 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA') that is not a "recognised collective investment scheme" for the purposes of FSMA ("CIS") and that has not been authorised or otherwise approved. As an unregulated scheme, it cannot be marketed in the United Kingdom to the general public, except in accordance with FSMA. This prospectus is only being distributed in the United Kingdom to, and are only directed at:

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An invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of the common units which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus will only be communicated or caused to be communicated in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply to our company.

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VALIDITY OF THE COMMON UNITS

        The validity of the common units will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP, Houston, Texas. Certain legal matters in connection with the common units offered hereby will be passed upon for the underwriters by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., New York, New York.


EXPERTS

        The financial statements of USA Compression Partners, LP as of December 31, 2010 and 2011, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2011, have been included herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein and in the registration statement, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report refers to the Partnership's change in controlling ownership on December 23, 2010, which resulted in a new cost basis for the Partnership.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, a registration statement on Form S-1 regarding the common units. This prospectus does not contain all of the information found in the registration statement. For further information regarding us and the common units offered by this prospectus, you may desire to review the full registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules, filed under the Securities Act. The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, including its exhibits and schedules, may be inspected and copied at the public reference room maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of the materials may also be obtained from the SEC at prescribed rates by writing to the public reference room maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a web site on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov. Our registration statement, of which this prospectus constitutes a part, can be downloaded from the SEC's web site.

        We intend to furnish our unitholders annual reports containing our audited financial statements and furnish or make available quarterly reports containing our unaudited interim financial information for the first three fiscal quarters of each of our fiscal years.


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        Some of the information in this prospectus may contain forward-looking statements. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology including "may," "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," or other similar words. These statements discuss future expectations, contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition, or state other "forward-looking" information. These forward-looking statements can be affected by assumptions used or by known risks or uncertainties. Consequently, no forward-looking statements can be guaranteed. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in this prospectus. The risk factors and other factors noted throughout this prospectus could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. You should also understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors and should not consider the following list to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by such forward-looking statements include:

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        All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements.

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INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

   

Introduction

 
F-2

Unaudited Pro Forma Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2012

  F-3

Unaudited Pro Forma Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2011

  F-4

Unaudited Pro Forma Statement of Operations for the six month period ended June 30, 2012

  F-5

Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Statements

  F-6

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP HISTORICAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

   

Audited Financial Statements:

   

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  F-8

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2011 and 2010

  F-9

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

  F-10

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners' Capital for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

  F-11

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

  F-12

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

  F-13

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  F-14

Unaudited Condensed Interim Financial Statements:

   

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011

  F-28

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011

  F-29

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners' Capital for the six months ended June 30, 2012

  F-30

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011

  F-31

Notes to the Condensed Interim Financial Statements

  F-32

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Introduction

        The unaudited pro forma financial statements of USA Compression Partners, LP (together with its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis the "Partnership") as of June 30, 2012, and for the year ended December 31, 2011, and for the six months ended June 30, 2012 are derived from the historical balance sheet and results of operations of the Partnership. The adjustments are based on currently available information and certain estimates and assumptions; therefore, actual adjustments will differ from pro forma adjustments. However, management believes that the assumptions provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects of the transaction as contemplated and the pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions and are properly applied in the pro forma financial information. The pro forma financial statements have been prepared on the basis that the Partnership will be treated as a partnership for federal and state income tax purposes but may be subject to applicable local and state taxes. The unaudited pro forma financial statements should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes and with the historical financial statements and related notes of the Partnership.

        The pro forma adjustments have been prepared as if the transactions described below had taken place on June 30, 2012, in the case of the pro forma balance sheet, or as of January 1, 2011, in the case of the pro forma statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2011 and six months ended June 30, 2012.

        The pro forma financial statements reflect the following transactions:

        The unaudited pro forma financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the results that actually would have occurred if the transactions described above had occurred on the dates indicated.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Unaudited Pro Forma Balance Sheet

June 30, 2012

(in thousands)

 
  Historical   Pro Forma
Adjustments
Related to
the Offering
   
  Pro Forma  

Assets

                         

Current assets:

                         
 

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 7     200,000     2(a ) $ 7  

          (15,844 )   2(b )      

          (184,156 )   2(c )      

Accounts receivable:

                         
 

Trade

    9,368                 9,368  
 

Other

    51                 51  

Inventory

    3,437                 3,437  

Prepaid expenses

    1,148                 1,148  

Advances to employees

                     
                     
   

Total current assets

    14,011                 14,011  

Property and equipment, net

    564,052                 564,052  

Identifiable intangible asset-customer relationships

   
68,400
               
68,400
 

Identifiable intangible asset-trade names

    14,664                 14,664  

Goodwill

    157,075                 157,075  

Other assets

    9,201     150     2(d )   9,351  
                     
   

Total assets

  $ 827,403   $ 150         $ 827,553  
                     

Liabilities and Partners' Capital

                         

Current liabilities:

                         
 

Accounts payable

  $ 17,337               $ 17,337  
 

Accrued liabilities

    5,589                 5,589  
 

Deferred revenue

    9,851                 9,851  
 

Short-term debt

                     
 

Current portion of long-term debt

    17                 17  
 

Liability from interest rate swaps

    697                 697  
                     
   

Total current liabilities

    33,491               33,491  

Long-term debt

   
452,650
   
(184,156

)
 
2(c

)
 
268,644
 

          150     2(d )      

Liability from interest rate swaps

                     

Partners' capital:

                         
 

Partners' capital

    341,262     200,000     2(a )   525,418  

          (15,844 )   2(b )      

                2(e )      
 

Common unitholders

               
2(e

)
     
 

Subordinated unitholder

                2(e )      
 

General partner

                2(e )      
                     
   

Total partners' capital

    341,262     184,156           525,418  
                     
   

Total liabilities and partners' capital

  $ 827,403   $ 150         $ 827,553  
                     

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited pro forma financial statements.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Unaudited Pro Forma Statement of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 2011

(in thousands, except per unit data)

 
  Historical   Pro Forma
Adjustments
Related to
the Offering
   
  Pro Forma  

Revenues:

                         
 

Contract operations

  $ 93,896               $ 93,896  
 

Parts and service

    4,824                 4,824  
                       
   

Total revenues

    98,720                 98,720  
                       

Costs and expenses:

                         
 

Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    39,605                 39,605  
 

Selling, general, and administrative

    12,726                 12,726  
 

Restructuring charges

    300                 300  
 

Depreciation and amortization

    32,738                 32,738  
 

Gain on sale of assets

    178                 178  
                     
   

Total costs and expenses

    85,547               85,547  
                     
   

Operating income

    13,173               13,173  
                     

Other income (expense):

                         
 

Interest expense

    (12,970 )   6,731     2 (f)   (6,239 )
 

Other

    21                 21  
                     
   

Total other expense

    (12,949 )   6,731           (6,218 )
                     
   

Net income before income tax expense

    224     6,731           6,955  

Income tax expense

   
155
               
155
 
                     
   

Net income

  $ 69   $ 6,731         $ 6,800  
                     

General partner interest in net income

                         

Limited partner interest in net income

                         

Net income per:

                         
 

Common unit (basic and diluted)

                         
 

Subordinated unit (basic and diluted)

                         

Weighted average number of units outstanding

                         
 

Common unit (basic and diluted)

                         
 

Subordinated unit (basic and diluted)

                         

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited pro forma financial statements.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Unaudited Pro Forma Statement of Operations

Six Months Ended June 30, 2012

(in thousands, except per unit data)

 
  Historical   Pro Forma
Adjustments
Related to
the Offering
   
  Pro Forma  

Revenues

                         
 

Contract operations

  $ 54,907               $ 54,907  
 

Parts and service

    1,087                 1,087  
                       
   

Total revenues

    55,994                 55,994  
                       

Costs and expenses:

                         
 

Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    18,144                 18,144  
 

Selling, general, and administrative

    8,418                 8,418  
 

Depreciation and amortization

    19,661                 19,661  
 

(Gain) loss on sale of assets

    203                 203  
                     
   

Total costs and expenses

    46,246               46,246  
                     
   

Operating income

    9,568               9,568  
                     

Other income (expense)

                         
 

Interest expense

    (7,249 )   2,649     2 (f)   (4,600 )
 

Other

    16                 16  
                     
   

Total other expense

    (7,233 )   2,649           (4,584 )
                     
   

Net income before income tax expense

    2,335     2,649           4,984  

Income tax expense

    96                 96  
                     
   

Net income

  $ 2,239   $ 2,649         $ 4,888  
                     

General partner interest in net income

                         

Limited partner interest in net income

                         

Net income per

                         
 

Common unit (basic and diluted)

                         
 

Subordinated unit (basic and diluted)

                         

Weighted average number of units outstanding

                         
 

Common unit (basic and diluted)

                         
 

Subordinated unit (basic and diluted)

                         

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited pro forma financial statements.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Statements

(1) Estimated Incremental General and Administrative Expense

        Upon completion of this offering, the Partnership anticipates incurring incremental general and administrative expenses of approximately $3.1 million per year, as a result of being a publicly traded partnership, including costs associated with annual and quarterly reports to unitholders, financial statement audit, tax return and Schedule K-1 preparation and distribution, investor relations activities, registrar and transfer agent fees, incremental director and officer liability insurance costs and director compensation. The unaudited pro forma financial statements do not reflect these anticipated incremental general and administrative expenses.

(2) Pro Forma Adjustments and Assumptions

        (a)   Reflects the gross proceeds to the Partnership of $           million from the issuance and sale of  common units at an assumed initial public offering price of $          per unit.

        (b)   Reflects the payment of the estimated underwriting discounts and commission and other expenses of the offering of $           million, which will be allocated to the public common units.

        (c)   Reflects the repayment of debt of $           million using the net proceeds from the offering.

        (d)   Reflects fees and expenses related to amending the credit facility in connection with this offering.

        (e)   Reflects the conversion of the adjusted net partners' capital of $           million from partners' capital to common and subordinated limited partner equity of the Partnership and the general partner's interest in the Partnership. The conversion is allocated as follows:

        (f)    Reflects the reduction of interest expense for the following adjustments for each period:

 
  Year Ended
December 31,
2011
  Six Months
Ended June 30,
2012
 
 
  (in thousands)
 

Historical interest expense

  $ 12,970   $ 7,249  

Add: additional debt issuance costs

    50     25  

Less: reduced interest expense due to lower spread under the fourth amended and restated credit facility dated June 1, 2012

    (4,141 )   (1,002 )

Less: reduced interest expense due to lower commitment fee under the second amendment on November 16, 2011 to the revolving credit facility

    (164 )    

Add: incremental commitment fee due to the larger borrowing capacity under the third amendment on June 1, 2012 to the revolving credit facility

    656     156  

Less: interest reduction from lower revolver balance based upon the use of proceeds from the initial public offering

    (4,112 )   (2,306 )

Add: incremental commitment fee based upon the use of proceeds from the initial public offering

    691     345  

Add: other

    289     133  
           

Pro forma interest expense

  $ 6,239   $ 4,600  
           

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Statements (Continued)

(2) Pro Forma Adjustments and Assumptions (Continued)

        The Partnership calculated pro forma interest expense using the interest rate under the fourth amended and restated revolving credit facility, 2.2% and 2.5% for the year ended December 31, 2011 and for the six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively.

(3) Pro Forma Net Income Per Limited Partner Unit

        Pro forma net income per limited partner unit is determined by dividing the pro forma net income that would have been allocated, in accordance with the provisions of the limited partnership agreement, to the common and subordinated unitholders, by the number of common and subordinated units expected to be outstanding at the closing of the offering. For purposes of this calculation, the Partnership assumed that (i) pro forma distributions to limited partners were equal to 98% of pro forma net income, (ii) the pro forma number of units outstanding was                        common and                        subordinated units, (iii) all units were assumed to have been outstanding since the beginning of the periods presented and (iv) quarterly distributions are first made to common unitholders until $          per common unit has been paid, then to subordinated units until $          per subordinated unit has been paid, and thereafter in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement. Basic and diluted pro forma net income per unit are equivalent as there are no dilutive units at the date of closing of the initial public offering of the common units of the Partnership.

        Pursuant to the partnership agreement, to the extent that the quarterly distributions exceed certain targets, the general partner is entitled to receive certain incentive distributions that will result in more net income proportionately being allocated to the general partner than to the holders of common and subordinated units. The pro forma net income per unit calculations, which are based on an allocation of 2% of pro forma net income to the general partner, assume that no incentive distributions were made to the general partner because no such distribution would have been paid based upon the pro forma available cash from operating surplus for the periods.

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Partners
USA Compression Partners, LP:

        We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of USA Compression Partners, LP (a Delaware limited partnership) and subsidiaries (formerly USA Compression Holdings, LP, a Texas limited partnership) as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in partners' capital, comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2011. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Partnership's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

        We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of USA Compression Partners, LP and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2011, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

        As discussed in note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, effective December 23, 2010, USA Compression Partners, LP had a change in controlling ownership. As a result of this change in control, the consolidated financial information after December 23, 2010 is presented on a different cost basis than that for the period before the acquisition and, therefore, is not comparable.

Dallas, Texas
February 13, 2012

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 31, 2011 and 2010

 
  Successor  
 
  2011   2010  

Assets

             

Current assets:

             
 

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 3,000   $ 3,000  
 

Accounts receivable:

             
   

Trade

    8,872,159     7,759,265  
   

Other

    51,606     6,780  
 

Inventory

    3,211,463     5,185,326  
 

Prepaid expenses

    1,646,490     1,427,983  
 

Advances to employees

        181,936  
           
     

Total current assets

    13,784,718     14,564,290  

Property and equipment, net

   
456,648,605
   
350,069,378
 

Identifiable intangible asset-customer relationships

    69,600,000     72,000,000  

Identifiable intangible asset-trade names

    14,976,000     15,600,000  

Goodwill

    157,075,195     157,075,195  

Other assets

    15,791,458     5,408,865  
           
     

Total assets

  $ 727,875,976   $ 614,717,728  
           
   

Liabilities and Partners' Capital

             

Current liabilities:

             
 

Accounts payable

  $ 10,050,835   $ 4,061,524  
 

Accrued liabilities

    4,231,821     3,469,990  
 

Deferred revenue

    8,577,789     7,609,333  
 

Short-term debt

        286,826  
 

Current portion of long-term debt

    39,067     36,467  
 

Liability from interest rate swaps

    2,180,049     3,084,399  
           
     

Total current liabilities

    25,079,561     18,548,539  

Long-term debt

   
363,773,468
   
255,491,310
 

Liability from interest rate swaps

        1,724,173  

Partners' capital:

             
 

Limited partners' capital

    336,671,919     336,603,370  
 

General partner's capital

    2,351,028     2,350,336  
           
     

Total partners' capital

    339,022,947     338,953,706  
           
     

Total liabilities and partners' capital

  $ 727,875,976   $ 614,717,728  
           

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Consolidated Statements of Operations

Years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

 
  Successor    
  Predecessor  
 
  2011    
  2010   2009  

Revenues:

                       
 

Contract operations

  $ 93,896,230       $ 89,785,052   $ 93,178,391  
 

Parts and service

    4,824,489         2,243,119     2,049,281  
                   
   

Total revenues

    98,720,719         92,028,171     95,227,672  
                   

Costs and expenses:

                       
 

Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    39,605,337         33,291,543     30,095,377  
 

Selling, general, and administrative

    12,725,930         11,369,996     9,136,298  
 

Restructuring charges

    300,000              
 

Depreciation and amortization

    32,737,779         24,569,323     22,957,029  
 

Loss (Gain) on sale of assets

    178,369         (89,799 )   (74,450 )
 

Impairment of compression equipment

                1,677,379  
                   
   

Total costs and expenses

    85,547,415         69,141,063     63,791,633  
                   
   

Operating income

    13,173,304         22,887,108     31,436,039  
                   

Other income (expense):

                       
 

Interest expense

    (12,970,019 )       (12,279,162 )   (10,042,680 )
 

Other

    20,828         26,691     24,543  
                   
   

Total other expense

    (12,949,191 )       (12,252,471 )   (10,018,137 )
                   
   

Net income before income tax expense

    224,113         10,634,637     21,417,902  

Income tax expense

    154,872         155,179     190,164  
                   
   

Net income

  $ 69,241       $ 10,479,458   $ 21,227,738  
                   

Earnings allocated to general partner

  $ 692       $ 104,795   $ 212,277  
                   

Earnings available for limited partners

  $ 68,549       $ 10,374,663   $ 21,015,461  
                   

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners' Capital

Years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

 
  General
partner
  Limited
partners
  Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)
  Total
partners'
capital
 

Partners' capital (deficit), December 31, 2008, predecessor

  $ (533,793 ) $ 54,778,074   $ (4,559,100 ) $ 49,685,181  
 

Other comprehensive income

            1,444,689     1,444,689  
 

Share based compensation expense

        268,868         268,868  
 

Net income

    212,277     21,015,461         21,227,738  
                   

Partners' capital (deficit), December 31, 2009, predecessor

    (321,516 )   76,062,403     (3,114,411 )   72,626,476  
 

Other comprehensive income

            (1,694,161 )   (1,694,161 )
 

Share based compensation expense

        382,435         382,435  
 

Net income

    104,795     10,374,663         10,479,458  
                   

Partners' capital (deficit), December 31, 2010, predecessor

    (216,721 )   86,819,501     (4,808,572 )   81,794,208  
 

Impact of change in control

    2,567,057     249,783,869     4,808,572     257,159,498  
                   

Partners' capital opening balance, December 31, 2010, successor

    2,350,336     336,603,370         338,953,706  

Net income

    692     68,549         69,241  
                   

Partners' capital December 31, 2011, successor

  $ 2,351,028   $ 336,671,919   $   $ 339,022,947  
                   

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

Years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

 
  Successor    
  Predecessor  
 
  2011    
  2010   2009  

Net income

  $ 69,241       $ 10,479,458   $ 21,227,738  

Other comprehensive income (loss)

            (1,694,161 )   1,444,689  
                   
 

Comprehensive income

  $ 69,241       $ 8,785,297   $ 22,672,427  
                   

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

 
  Successor    
  Predecessor  
 
  2011    
  2010   2009  

Cash flows from operating activities:

                       
 

Net income

  $ 69,241       $ 10,479,458   $ 21,227,738  
 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                       
   

Depreciation and amortization

    32,737,779         24,569,323     22,957,029  
   

Amortization of debt issue costs, discount, other comprehensive loss

    1,528,928         3,449,633     363,182  
   

Share-based compensation expense

            382,435     268,868  
   

Net (gain) loss on sale of assets

    178,369         (89,799 )   (74,450 )
   

Net gain on change in fair value of interest rate swap

    (2,628,523 )            
   

Impairment of compression equipment

                1,677,379  
   

Changes in assets and liabilities:

                       
     

Accounts receivable and advances to employees

    (975,784 )       (335,997 )   1,865,372  
     

Inventory

    1,973,863         503,111     (3,680,280 )
     

Prepaids

    (218,507 )       (18,128 )   608,188  
     

Other noncurrent assets

    (2,600,602 )       1,700     (4,513 )
     

Accounts payable

    1,986,800         (824,779 )   (857,320 )
     

Accrued liabilities and deferred revenue

    1,730,287         455,335     (1,406,271 )
                   
       

Net cash provided by operating activities

    33,781,851         38,572,292     42,944,922  
                   

Cash flows from investing activities:

                       
 

Capital expenditures

    (133,263,929 )       (18,885,762 )   (29,579,623 )
 

Compression unit purchase deposit

    (7,974,720 )            
 

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

    795,065         117,955     2,816,810  
                   
       

Net cash used in investing activities

    (140,443,584 )       (18,767,807 )   (26,762,813 )
                   

Cash flows from financing activities:

                       
 

Proceeds from short-term and long-term debt

    209,164,480         82,176,687     80,746,849  
 

Payments on short-term and long-term debt

    (101,166,549 )       (93,883,701 )   (96,867,661 )
 

Financing costs

    (1,336,198 )       (8,097,473 )   (424,485 )
                   
       

Net cash provided (used in) financing activities

    106,661,733         (19,804,487 )   (16,545,297 )
                   
       

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

            (2 )   (363,188 )

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

    3,000         3,002     366,190  
                   

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

  $ 3,000       $ 3,000   $ 3,002  
                   

Supplemental cash flow information:

                       
 

Interest paid

  $ 13,727,393       $ 8,720,584   $ 9,918,525  
 

Cash paid for taxes

  $ 155,183       $ 190,226   $ 190,552  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents


USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(1) The Partnership, Nature of Business, and Recent Transactions

        USA Compression Partners, L.P., a Texas limited partnership (the Former Partnership), was formed on July 10, 1998. In October 2008, the Former Partnership entered into several transactions through which the Former Partnership was reorganized into a holding company, USA Compression Holdings, LP (the Partnership). The owners of the Former Partnership caused the Partnership to be formed as a Texas limited partnership to conduct its affairs as the holding company of an operating and leasing structure of entities. The Former Partnership's owners then transferred their equity interests in the Former Partnership to the Partnership in exchange for identical interests in the Partnership. The Former Partnership became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership, and was converted into USA Compression Partners, LLC, a Delaware, single-member, limited liability company (Operating Subsidiary) to continue providing compression services to customers of the Former Partnership. Concurrently, the Operating Subsidiary formed a wholly owned subsidiary, USAC Leasing, LLC, as a Delaware limited liability company (Leasing Subsidiary), and agreed to sell its then existing compressor fleet to the Leasing Subsidiary for assumption of debt relating to the then existing fleet. The Leasing Subsidiary agreed to lease the compressor fleet to the Operating Subsidiary for use in providing compression services to its customers. The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 include the accounts of the Partnership, the Operating Subsidiary and the Leasing Subsidiary and all intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Partnership joined the Operating Subsidiary's revolving credit facility as a guarantor and the Leasing Subsidiary joined the revolving credit facility as a co-borrower (see note 4). On June 7, 2011, the Partnership converted from a Texas limited partnership into a Delaware limited partnership and changed its name from USA Compression Holdings, LP to USA Compression Partners, LP.

        The Partnership, together with the Operating Subsidiary and the Leasing Subsidiary, primarily provides natural gas compression services under term contracts with customers in the oil and gas industry, using natural gas compressor packages that it designs, engineers, operates and maintains.

        In June 2009, the Partnership made an equity award of 100,000 Class C units representing profits interest in the Partnership.

        In September 2010 and 2009, the Partnership issued 200,000 and 200,000, respectively, Class C units representing capital interests in the Partnership to its chief executive officer pursuant to his employment agreement.

        Partnership net income (loss) is allocated to the partners in proportion to their respective interest in the Partnership.

        On November 29, 2010, the Partnership and each of its partners entered into a unit purchase agreement with USA Compression Holdings, LLC in which USA Compression Holdings, LLC would acquire, subject to certain conditions, all of the limited partner interest of the Partnership and an affiliate of USA Compression Holdings, LLC would acquire the general partner interests of the Partnership. USA Compression Holdings, LLC was formed in November 2010 and its only operation is its investment in the Partnership. This transaction was closed on December 23, 2010 and USA Compression Holdings, LLC completed the transaction for cash consideration of approximately $330 million and an exchange of partnership interest in the Partnership with a value of approximately $9 million for Class A units in USA Compression Holdings, LLC. In connection with this change in control, the Partnership's assets and liabilities were adjusted to fair value on the closing date by

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Table of Contents


USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(1) The Partnership, Nature of Business, and Recent Transactions (Continued)


application of "push-down" accounting. The Partnership incurred $1,838,121 of acquisition related costs in conjunction with the transactions which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations.

        As a result of the application of "push down" accounting in connection with the acquisition, the financial statements prior to December 31, 2010 represent the operations of the Predecessor and are not comparable with the financial statements on or after December 31, 2010. References to the "Successor" refer to the Partnership on or after December 31, 2010, after giving effect to "push down" accounting. References to the "Predecessor" refer to the Partnership prior to but excluding December 31, 2010.

        The Partnership applied the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820), in determining the fair value of partners' capital, which was based on the purchase of the limited partner and general partner interests in the amount of $338,953,706.

        The Partnership then developed the fair value of its assets and liabilities, with the assistance of third-party valuation experts, using the guidance in ASC 820.

        The consolidated financial statements of the Partnership have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and include the accounts of all controlled subsidiaries after the elimination of all intercompany accounts and transactions. The change of control transaction that occurred on December 23, 2010 has been reflected in the consolidated financial statements of the Partnership using, for accounting purposes, a date of convenience of December 31, 2010. The impact of recording the change in control as of December 23, 2010 would not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Current assets

  $ 14,564,290  

Plant, property and equipment

    350,069,378  

Identifiable intangible asset—customer relationships

    72,000,000  

Identifiable intangible asset—trade names

    15,600,000  

Goodwill

    157,075,195  
       

Assets acquired

    609,308,863  

Current liabilities

    18,548,539  

Long-term portion of interest rate swaps

    1,724,173  

Note payable—other

    42,527  

Note payable—senior debt

    250,039,918  
       
 

Net assets acquired

  $ 338,953,706  
       

        The sale of the Partnership on December 23, 2010, triggered the payment of $4,906,870 of success fees to a broker and $3,906,716 of stock based compensation expense. The Partnership has determined that its accounting policy for any cost that will be triggered by the consummation of a business combination will be to recognize the cost when the business combination is consummated. Accordingly, the broker fees and stock based compensation have not been recorded in the Statement of Operations for the predecessor period since that statement depicts the results of operations just prior to consummation of the transaction. In addition, since the successor period reflects the effects of

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Table of Contents


USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(1) The Partnership, Nature of Business, and Recent Transactions (Continued)


push-down accounting, these costs have also not been recorded as an expense in the successor period. However, the costs were reflected in the purchase accounting adjustments which were applied in arriving at the opening balances of the successor.

(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

        Cash and cash equivalents consist of all cash balances. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, $3,000 in cash was subject to certain provisions under credit agreements with a financial institution, as more fully described in note 4.

        Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts of $260,598 and $173,808 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, is the Partnership's best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Partnership's existing accounts receivable. The Partnership determines the allowance based upon historical write-off experience and specific identification. The Partnership does not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to its customers.

        Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out method. Inventory consists of parts used in the assembly of compression units. Purchases of these assets are considered operating activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

        Property and equipment are carried at cost. Overhauls and major improvements that increase the value or extend the life of compressor units are capitalized and depreciated over 3 to 5 years.

        Ordinary maintenance and repairs are charged to income. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method of accounting over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

Compression equipment

  25 years

Furniture and fixtures

  7 years

Vehicles and computer equipment

  3 - 7 years

Leasehold improvements

  5 years

        Successor depreciation expense for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $29,713,779 and Predecessor depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $24,569,322 and $22,957,029, respectively.

        Long-lived assets with recorded values that are not expected to be recovered through future cash flows are written-down to estimated fair value. An asset shall be tested for impairment when events or

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Table of Contents


USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

circumstances indicate that its carrying value may not be recoverable. 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 the carrying value exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows, an impairment loss equal to the amount of the carrying value exceeding the fair value of the asset is recognized. Fair value is generally determined from estimated discounted future net cash flows. In 2009, the Partnership recorded $1,677,379 related to the impairment of a certain group of its compression equipment. There were no events or circumstances in 2011 or 2010 indicating that the carrying value of any of the Partnership's assets may not be recoverable.

        Revenue from compression service and equipment rental operations is recorded when earned over the period of service, rental and maintenance contracts, which generally range from one month to five years. Parts and service revenue is recorded as parts are delivered or services are performed for the customer.

        The Partnership elected to be treated under SubChapter K of the Internal Revenue Code. Under SubChapter K, a partnership return is filed annually reflecting each partner's share of the partnership's income or loss. Therefore, no provision has been made for federal income tax. Partnership net income (loss) is allocated to the partners in proportion to their respective interest in the Partnership.

        As a partnership, all income, gains, losses, expenses, deductions and tax credits generated by the Partnership generally flow through to its unitholders. However, Texas imposes an entity-level income tax on partnerships.

        The State of Texas' margin tax became effective for tax reports originally due on or after January 1, 2008. This margin tax requires partnerships and other forms of legal entities to pay a tax of 1.0% on its "margin," as defined in the law, based on 2011, 2010 and 2009 results. The margin tax base to which the tax rate will be applied is either the lesser of 70% of total revenues for federal income tax purposes or total revenue less cost of goods sold or compensation for federal income tax purposes. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 the Partnership recorded an expense related to the Texas margin tax of $154,872, $155,179 and $190,164, respectively.

        The Partnership adopted a new accounting and reporting standard for uncertain tax positions as of January 1, 2009. The new standard prescribes a threshold for recognizing the financial statement effects of a tax position when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination by a taxing authority. Recognized tax positions are initially and subsequently measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is more likely than not of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are included in income tax expense. Adoption of the new standard had no impact on the Partnership's financial statements and the Partnership has no uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

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Table of Contents


USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

        Accounting standards on fair-value measurement establish a framework for measuring fair value and stipulate disclosures about fair-value measurements. The standards apply to recurring and nonrecurring financial and non financial assets and liabilities that require or permit fair-value measurements. A new accounting standard became effective for the Partnership on January 1, 2008, for all financial assets and liabilities and recurring non financial assets and liabilities. On January 1, 2009, the standard became effective for non recurring non financial assets and liabilities. Among the required disclosures is the fair-value hierarchy of inputs the Partnership uses to value an asset or a liability. The three levels of the fair-value hierarchy are described as follows:

        At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the only financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value in the Partnership's consolidated balance sheet on a recurring basis are its interest rate swaps. The following table presents assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (including items that are required to be measured at fair value and items for which the fair value option has been elected) at December 31, 2011 and 2010:

 
  December 31,   Quoted prices
in active
markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
  Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
 

Liabilities:

                         
 

Interest rate derivatives—2011

  $ 2,180,049         2,180,049      
 

Interest rate derivatives—2010

    4,808,572         4,808,572      

        The Partnership's financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable, notes payable and interest rate swap arrangements. 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 maturity. The carrying amounts of notes payable approximates fair value based on the interest rates charged on instruments with similar terms and risks. The carrying amounts of interest rate swap arrangements are based on valuation models prepared by the derivatives issuer which are intended to approximate current market values. For derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges, the Partnership also assesses, both at inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting cash flows of the hedged item. Changes in the fair value of the highly effective portion of the derivative are recognized in other comprehensive income on the balance sheet. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative is reported in earnings.

        Taxes incurred on behalf of, and passed through to customers are accounted for on a net basis.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

        The preparation of the consolidated financial statements of the Partnership in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the management of the Partnership to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in these consolidated financial statements and the accompanying results. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

        In July 2009, the Partnership decreased the assumed service lives of its vehicles to better reflect the projected useful lives of the vehicles. The change in estimate, effective as of July 1, 2009, was accounted for prospectively and resulted in an increase in depreciation expense and decrease in net income of approximately $1,000,000 for the year ended December 31, 2009.

        As of December 31, 2011, intangible assets consisted of trade names and customer relationships, and are amortized on a straight line basis over their estimated useful lives, which is the period over which the assets are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to the Partnership's future cash flows. The estimated useful lives range from 25 to 30 years. The expected amortization of the intangible assets for each of the five succeeding years is as follows:

Year ending December 31,
  Total  

2012

  $ 3,024,000  

2013

    3,024,000  

2014

    3,024,000  

2015

    3,024,000  

2016

    3,024,000  

        The Partnership assesses long-lived assets, including intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability is assessed by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying amounts exceed the fair value of the assets. The Partnership did not record any impairment of intangible assets in 2011.

        Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets upon the change in control on December 23, 2010. Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested for impairment annually based on the carrying values as of December 31, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise that suggest the carrying value of goodwill may not be recovered. In September 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update 2011-08,

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Testing Goodwill for Impairment, or ASU 2011-08, which amends FASB ASC Topic 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other. ASU 2011-08 allows an entity the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. The amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is allowed and the Partnership has early adopted for the year ended December 31, 2011.

        Because quoted market prices for the Partnership's reporting unit are not available, management must apply judgment in determining if it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount for purposes of performing the optional qualitative assessment for the annual goodwill impairment test. Management uses all available information to make these determinations, including evaluating the macroeconomic environment and industry specific conditions at the assessment date of October 1, 2011.

        As a result of the qualitative assessment, the Partnership has determined that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. The Partnership did not record any impairment of goodwill in 2011.

(3) Property and Equipment

        Property and equipment consisted of the following at December 31:

 
  2011   2010  

Compression equipment

  $ 478,596,628   $ 345,517,756  

Furniture and fixtures

    439,514     227,287  

Automobiles and vehicles

    5,640,430     3,375,362  

Computer equipment

    1,523,150     901,590  

Leasehold improvements

    53,076     47,383  
           

Total

    486,252,798     350,069,378  

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

    (29,604,193 )    
           

Total

  $ 456,648,605   $ 350,069,378  
           

        The Partnership had leased, in 2011 and 2010, compressor units with certain purchase options as more fully described in note 8. The Partnership has no compressor units with material customer lease/purchase options as of December 31, 2011. On December 16, 2011, the Partnership entered into an agreement with a compression equipment supplier to reduce certain previously made progress payments from $10 million to $2 million. The Partnership will apply this $8 million credit to new compression unit purchases from this supplier in the first quarter of 2012. The $8 million prepayment is included in Other Assets on the balance sheet at December 31, 2011.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(4) Long-Term Debt

        The long-term debt of the Partnership consisted of the following at December 31:

 
  2011   2010  

Senior debt

  $ 363,773,468   $ 255,448,783  

Various other notes

    39,067     78,994  
           
 

Total debt

    363,812,535     255,527,777  

Less current portion

    39,067     36,467  
           
 

Long-term debt

  $ 363,773,468   $ 255,491,310  
           

        On October 10, 2008, in connection with the reorganization of the Partnership (see note 1), the Partnership made a tenth amendment to the credit agreement whereby the requisite senior lenders approved these transactions. Holdings and Leasing Subsidiary were joined as loan parties under the credit agreement and certain provisions were amended including definitions in the credit agreement.

        On December 23, 2010, the Partnership made an eleventh amendment to the credit agreement whereby certain of the senior lenders agreed to backstop the approval of the change of control provisions under the credit agreement related to the acquisition of the Partnership by USA Compression Holdings, LLC. The fees related to this amendment of $2,998,879 were recorded as capitalized loan costs and fully realized as interest expense upon the closing of the purchase of the Partnership by USA Compression Holdings, LLC on December 23, 2010. The eleventh amendment expired upon the execution of the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement as described below.

        On December 23, 2010, the Partnership entered into a Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. Borrowing availability under this senior debt facility is limited to the lesser of the $400,000,000 committed facility amount and a borrowing base defined in the credit agreement. The senior debt facility is evidenced by notes issued to each of several lenders named in the credit agreement, is secured by a first priority lien against the assets of the Partnership and matures on October 5, 2015. Interest on debt issued under the facility is due and payable in arrears and calculated, at the option of the Partnership, on either a floating rate basis, payable monthly or a LIBOR basis, payable at the end of the applicable LIBOR period (1, 2, 3, or 6 months), but no less frequently than quarterly. LIBOR borrowings bear interest at LIBOR for the applicable period plus a margin of 3.00% to 3.75% based on the leverage ratio of the Partnership's amount outstanding under this facility to consolidated EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) as defined in the credit agreement. Floating rate borrowings bear interest at a rate per annum that is the higher of bank prime rate or the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, without additional margin. Generally, the Partnership maintains several tranches of LIBOR and floating rate borrowings at any time. In addition, the Partnership pays an annual administration fee and an unused commitment fee of 0.50%. The $400,000,000 facility includes a $20,000,000 sub-line for issuing letters of credit for a fee at a per annum rate equal to the margin for LIBOR borrowings on the average daily undrawn stated amount of each letter of credit issued under the facility. The Partnership paid various loan fees and incurred costs in respect of the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement in the amount of $5,059,781 in 2010.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(4) Long-Term Debt (Continued)

        On June 6, 2011, the Partnership made a first amendment to the credit agreement converting each reference to "USA Compression Holdings, LP" to "USA Compression Partners, LP." Additionally, each reference to USA Compression Holdings, LP as a "Texas limited partnership" in the credit agreement or any other loan document shall now mean a reference to USA Compression Partners, LP as a "Delaware limited partnership."

        On November 16, 2011, the Partnership made a second amendment to the credit agreement whereby the aggregate commitment under the facility increased from $400 million to $500 million and reduced the applicable margin for LIBOR loans to a range of 200 to 275 basis points above LIBOR, depending on our leverage ratio. In addition, the unused commitment fee was reduced to 0.375%.

        At December 31, 2011, borrowing availability was $39,002,215. The borrowing base consists of eligible accounts receivable, inventory and compression units. The largest component, representing 96% of the borrowing base at December 31, 2011 and 2010, is eligible compression units—compressor packages that are leased, rented or under service contracts to customers and carried in the financial statements as fixed assets. The Partnership's effective interest rate in effect for all borrowings under its senior debt facility at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, (as adjusted by the interest rate swap referred to in note 4(b) below), was 5.55% and 4.95%, respectively. There were no letters of credit issued at December 31, 2011 and 2010. The Partnership paid various loan fees and incurred costs in respect of the second amendment in the amount of $650,000 in 2011 which were capitalized to loan costs and will be amortized through October 2015.

        The senior debt facility expires in 2015 and the Partnership expects to maintain its facility for the term. The facility is a "revolving credit facility" that includes a "springing" lock box arrangement, whereby remittances from customers are forwarded to a bank account controlled by the Partnership, and the Partnership is not required to use such remittances to reduce borrowings under the facility, unless there is a default or excess availability under the facility is reduced below $20,000,000. As the remittances do not automatically reduce the debt outstanding absent the occurrence of a default or a reduction in excess availability below $20,000,000, the debt has been classified as long-term at December 31, 2011 and 2010.

        The senior debt credit agreement contains various financial, negative and affirmative covenants, including covenants requiring the Partnership to maintain minimum ratios of consolidated cash flow to consolidated fixed charges and a minimum utilization of its compression fleet. In addition, this agreement limits or restricts the Partnership's ability to incur other debt, create liens and make investments and distributions to partners, enter transactions with affiliates and undertake certain fundamental changes, including merger and consolidation, sale of all or substantially all assets, dissolution and liquidation. The Partnership was in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2011 and 2010.

        The Partnership has only limited involvement with derivative financial instruments and uses them principally to manage well-defined interest rate risk. Interest rate swap agreements are used to reduce the potential impact of fluctuations in interest rates on variable rate long-term debt. The swaps are not used for trading or speculative purposes.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(4) Long-Term Debt (Continued)

        In November 2008, the Partnership entered into an interest rate swap agreement expiring October 5, 2012 for a notional amount of $75,000,000. The fair value of the interest rate swap was recorded on the balance sheet as a liability of $1,559,198 and $3,265,252 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

        In May 2009, the Partnership entered into an interest rate swap agreement expiring June 1, 2012 for a notional amount of $35,000,000. The fair value of this interest rate swap was recorded on the balance sheet as a liability of $277,923 and $765,065 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. In August 2009, the Partnership entered into an interest rate swap agreement expiring August 1, 2012 for a notional amount of $30,000,000. The fair value of this interest rate swap was recorded on the balance sheet as a liability of $342,928 and $778,255 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

        These swap agreements qualified for hedge accounting and were assumed to be perfectly effective prior to the change in control on December 23, 2010, and thus, there was no ineffectiveness to be recorded in earnings. During 2010 and 2009, $1,694,161 and $1,444,689, representing the changes in the fair value of the highly effective portion of the derivative, were recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income. As of December 31, 2010 and 2011, the Partnership does not designate these interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges.

        The swap agreements entitle the Partnership to pay or receive from the counter-party, monthly, the amount by which the counter-party's variable rate (reset monthly) is less than or exceeds the Partnership's fixed rate under the agreements. Under the swaps, the Partnership exchanged fixed rates of 3%, 1.9% and 2.055% on the notional amounts of $75,000,000, $35,000,000 and $30,000,000, respectively, for a floating rate tied to the BBA London Interbank Offering Rate (LIBOR). The swaps minimize interest rate exposure on the revolving senior debt facility, and in effect, convert variable interest payments on the aggregate notional amount to fixed interest payments. Amounts paid or received from the interest rate swap are charged or credited to interest expense and matched with the cash flow and interest expense of the senior debt being hedged, resulting in an adjustment to the effective interest rate. The swap payments (receipts) for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $3,254,047, $3,196,806 and $3,566,246, respectively. As of December 23, 2010 and December 31, 2011 the interest rate swaps were recorded at fair value, and unrealized losses previously recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income related to the instruments, were eliminated. During 2011, interest expense was reduced by $2,628,523 due to changes in fair value of the interest rate swaps.

        Maturities of long term debt:

Year ending December 31:

       

2012

  $ 39,067  

2013

     

2014

     

2015

    363,773,468  
       

  $ 363,812,535  
       

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(5) Restructuring Charges

        During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Partnership incurred $300,000 of restructuring charges for severance and retention benefits related to the termination of certain administrative employees. These charges are reflected as restructuring charges in our consolidated statement of operations. We expect to pay these restructuring charges in 2012.

(6) Share-Based Compensation

        Prior to the sale of the Partnership on December 23, 2010 (see note 1), the Partnership had reserved certain partnership interest units as an incentive pool for issuance to its employees or other parties. The awards issued in 2011, 2010 and 2009 under this incentive pool are as follows:

 
  Total units
reserved
under
incentive
pool
  Class C interest units  
 
  Grant date
fair value
per unit
  Vested   Unvested   Share based
compensation
expense
 

Balance of awards as of December 31, 2009

    5,413,505           4,245,136     4,171,704        
                               

Expense recorded in 2009

                          $ 165,839  
                               

Issuance of capital interest units

    200,000   $ 1.22         200,000   $ 81,400  

Vesting

              4,371,704     (4,371,704 )   198,006  

Settlement of profits interests

    5,213,505           (8,616,840 )        

Forfeitures

                       
                           

Balance of awards as of December 31, 2010

                         
                               

Expense recorded in 2010

                          $ 279,406  
                               

        Generally, partnership interest unit awards that have vesting contingent on future service conditions are amortized over their applicable vesting period using the straight-line method. For nonvested share awards subject to service and performance conditions, the Partnership is required to assess the probability that such performance conditions will be met. If the likelihood of the performance condition being met is deemed probable, the Partnership will recognize the expense using the straight-line attribution method. The Partnership recognized $110,000 of share based compensation expense for the change in value of vested units granted to one of its officers during 2010. Upon their change in control, all of the profits interests vested and were settled for $3,868,118.

        The Partnership granted certain Class C common interests to two existing Special Limited Partners in 2006. The Partnership did not record any expense related to these awards in 2006 as it was determined that it was not probable that the performance conditions would be met. In June 2007, these Class C common interest awards were modified. The Special Limited Partners exchanged their 0.7% Class C common interest awards for 901,501 Class B units. These units were all unvested at December 31, 2009, and fully vest on March 31, 2016. Due to this modification and as the Partnership had determined that it is probable that the future service condition will be met, share-based compensation expense for the fair value on the date of the modification over the period July 2007 to December 2010 was recorded. The awards to these two Special Limited Partners fully vested upon the change of control that occurred on December 23, 2010. The amount of share-based compensation expense related to the modified awards was $103,029 in 2010 and 2009.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(6) Share-Based Compensation (Continued)

        Fair value of these awards was based on third party valuations of enterprise value of the Partnership. These awards were fully vested and terminated with the sale of Holdings as described in note 1.

        During 2010 and 2011, USA Compression Holdings, LLC has issued to certain employees and members of its management Class B nonvoting units. These Class B units are liability-classified profits interest awards which have a service condition.

        The Class B units are entitled to a cash payment of 10% of net proceeds primarily from a monetization event, as defined under the provisions related to these Class B unit awards, in excess of USA Compression Holdings, LLC's Class A unitholder's capital contributions and an 8% cumulative annual dividend (both of which are due upon a monetization event) to the extent of vested units over total units of the respective class. Each holder of Class B units is then allocated their pro-rata share of the respective class of unit's entitlement based on the number of units held over the total number of units in that class of units. The Class B units vest 25% on the first anniversary date of the grant date and then 25% on each successive anniversary for the next three years (pro-rated by month) subject to certain continued employment. Half of the annual vesting automatically is achieved for certain Class B unitholders when USA Compression Holdings, LLC, or one of its subsidiaries, achieves a defined performance target related to a public offering of securities. The units have no expiry date provided the employee remains employed with USA Compression Holdings, LLC or one of its subsidiaries.

 
  Class B interest units  
 
  Grant date
fair value
per unit
  Vested   Unvested   Share based
compensation
expense
 

Issuance of profit interest units

  $         1,000,000        

Vesting

                     

Forfeitures

                     
                       

Balance of awards as of December 31, 2010

              1,000,000        
                         

Expense recorded in 2010

                    $  
                         

Issuance of profit interest units

  $         187,500        

Vesting

          250,000     (250,000 )      

Forfeitures

                     
                       

Balance of awards as of December 31, 2011

          250,000     937,500        
                         

Expense recorded in 2011

                    $  
                         

        Fair value of the Class B units is based on enterprise value calculated by a predetermined formula. As of December 31, 2011, no compensation expense or liability has been recorded related to these Class B units.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(7) Transactions with Related Parties

        For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Partnership incurred $1,000,000 of expenses related to a management fee under an agreement between USA Compression Holdings, LLC and certain of its affiliates. The Partnership does not expect to pay management fees after December 31, 2011.

        On June 8, 2011, the Partnership received repayment for a loan made to an officer of $185,631.

        William Shea, who has served as a director of USA Compression GP, LLC since June 2011, is currently a director and the chief executive officer of the general partner of Penn Virginia Resource Partners, L.P., or PVR. In 2008, PVR acquired the business of one of the Partnership's compression services customers and, after such acquisition, has continued to purchase compression services from the Partnership. For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, subsidiaries of PVR made compression services payments to us of approximately $1.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively.

(8) Commitments and Contingencies

        Rent expense for office space, warehouse facilities and certain corporate equipment for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $783,800, $678,428 and $560,106, respectively. Commitments for future minimum lease payments for non-cancelable leases are as follows:

2012

  $ 471,360  

2013

    369,140  

2014

    376,771  

2015

    359,568  

2016

    313,374  

Thereafter

     
       

  $ 1,890,213  
       

        On August 4, 2009, the Partnership entered into an operating lease facility with Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation (CFSC), whereby the Partnership had the ability to lease compression equipment with an aggregate value of up to $45,000,000. The Partnership paid commitment and arrangement fees of $200,000. As part of the facility, the Partnership would pay 150bps, amended December 23, 2010 to 220bps, on the value of the equipment for each lease as funded. The facility was available for leases with inception dates up to and including June 30, 2011, subject to renewals at the discretion of CFSC, and mitigates the need to use available capacity under the existing senior debt facility. Each compressor leased under this facility had a lease term of one hundred twenty (120) months with a buyout option of 25% of cost which approximates fair value at the end of the lease term. At the end of the lease term, the Partnership also had an option to extend the lease term for an additional period of sixty (60) months at an adjusted rate equal to the fair market rate at the time. In the event the Partnership elected not to exercise the buyout or renewal option, the equipment was to be returned in a manner fit for use at the end of the lease term. In addition to the fair value buyout

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(8) Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)

option at the end of the lease term, early buyout option provisions existed at month sixty (60) and at month eighty four (84) of the one hundred twenty (120) month lease term.

        On December 15, 2011, the Partnership purchased all the compression units previously leased from CFSC for $43 million and terminated all the lease schedules and covenants under the facility. This purchase was funded by additional borrowing under the revolving credit facility. Lease expense under the terms of the facility for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was $4,053,217 and $2,285,412, respectively. There are no commitments for future minimum lease payments as the lease schedules have been terminated.

        The Partnership had revenue from three customers representing 15.9%, 9.2% and 4.4% of total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2011, revenue from two customers representing 18.7% and 6.7% of total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2010, and revenue from two customers representing 19.4% and 8.9% of total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2009.

        The Partnership 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 the Partnership's consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

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Table of Contents


USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011

 
  (unaudited)
Successor
June 30,
2012
  Successor
December 31,
2011
 

Assets

             

Current assets:

             

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 6,500   $ 3,000  

Accounts receivable:

             

Trade

    9,368,115     8,872,159  

Other

    50,970     51,606  

Inventory

    3,437,070     3,211,463  

Prepaid expenses

    1,148,292     1,646,490  
           

Total current assets

    14,010,947     13,784,718  

Property and equipment, net

   
564,052,122
   
456,648,605
 

Identifiable intangible asset—customer relationships

    68,400,000     69,600,000  

Identifiable intangible asset—trade names

    14,664,000     14,976,000  

Goodwill

    157,075,195     157,075,195  

Other assets

    9,201,427     15,791,458  
           

Total assets

  $ 827,403,691   $ 727,875,976  
           

Liabilities and Partners' Capital

             

Current liabilities:

             

Accounts payable

  $ 17,336,834   $ 10,050,835  

Accrued liabilities

    5,588,755     4,231,821  

Deferred revenue

    9,850,903     8,577,789  

Current portion of long-term debt

    17,768     39,067  

Liability from interest rate swaps

    696,861     2,180,049  
           

Total current liabilities

    33,491,121     25,079,561  

Long-term debt

   
452,650,403
   
363,773,468
 

Partners' capital:

             

Limited partners' capital

    338,888,747     336,671,919  

General partner's capital

    2,373,420     2,351,028  
           

Total partners' capital

    341,262,167     339,022,947  
           

Total liabilities and partners' capital

  $ 827,403,691   $ 727,875,976  
           

   

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011

(unaudited)

 
  Successor 2012   Successor 2011  

Revenues:

             

Contract operations

  $ 54,906,678   $ 45,363,461  

Parts and service

    1,087,816     1,290,478  
           

Total revenues

    55,994,494     46,653,939  
           

Costs and expenses:

             

Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    18,143,733     18,317,598  

Selling, general, and administrative

    8,418,203     5,598,573  

Depreciation and amortization

    19,661,207     15,815,226  

Loss on sale of assets

    203,292     145,913  
           

Total costs and expenses

    46,426,435     39,877,310  
           

Operating income

    9,568,059     6,776,629  
           

Other income (expense):

             

Interest expense

    (7,248,548 )   (6,435,700 )

Other

    15,683     13,532  
           

Total other expense

    (7,232,865 )   (6,422,168 )
           

Net income before income tax expense

    2,335,194     354,461  

Income tax expense

    95,974     71,244  
           

Net income

  $ 2,239,220   $ 283,217  
           

   

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners' Capital

Six Months Ended June 30, 2012

(unaudited)

 
  General
partners
  Limited
partners
  Total
partners'
capital
 

Partners' capital, December 31, 2011

  $ 2,351,028   $ 336,671,919   $ 339,022,947  

Net income

    22,392     2,216,828     2,239,220  
               

Partners' capital, June 30, 2012

  $ 2,373,420   $ 338,888,747   $ 341,262,167  
               

   

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
(FORMERLY USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LP)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011

(unaudited)

 
  Successor
2012
  Successor
2011
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

             

Net income

  $ 2,239,220   $ 283,217  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:

             

Depreciation and amortization

    19,661,207     15,815,226  

Amortization of debt issue costs and other

    766,949     547,231  

Net loss on sale of assets

    203,292     145,913  

Net gain on change in fair value of interest rate swap

    (1,483,188 )   (1,046,061 )

Changes in assets and liabilities:

             

Accounts receivable and advances to employees

    (495,320 )   (950,569 )

Inventory

    (225,607 )   1,059,098  

Prepaids

    498,198     (20,147 )

Other noncurrent assets

    (590,780 )   (1,616,902 )

Accounts payable

    (5,182,007 )   3,965,772  

Accrued liabilities and deferred revenue

    2,630,048     2,824,817  
           

Net cash provided by operating activities

    18,022,012     21,007,595  
           

Cash flows from investing activities:

             

Capital expenditures

    (106,594,596 )   (31,198,166 )

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

    1,281,305     572,305  
           

Net cash used in investing activities

    (105,313,291 )   (30,625,861 )
           

Cash flows from financing activities:

             

Proceeds from short-term and long-term debt

    147,093,076     57,393,286  

Payments on short-term and long-term debt

    (58,237,439 )   (47,742,348 )

Financing Costs

    (1,560,858 )   (32,672 )
           

Net cash provided by financing activities

    87,294,779     9,618,266  
           

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

    3,500      

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

    3,000     3,000  
           

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

  $ 6,500   $ 3,000  
           

Supplemental cash flow information:

             

Cash paid for interest

  $ 7,779,929   $ 6,769,428  

Cash paid for taxes

  $ 154,785   $ 155,183  

   

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2012 and 2011

(unaudited)

(1) Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

        USA Compression Partners, L.P., a Texas limited partnership (the Former Partnership), was formed on July 10, 1998. In October 2008, the Partnership entered into several transactions through which the Partnership was reorganized into a holding company, USA Compression Holdings, LP (the Partnership). The owners of the Former Partnership caused the Partnership to be formed as a Texas limited partnership to conduct its affairs as the holding company of an operating and leasing structure of entities. The Former Partnership's owners then transferred their equity interests in the Former Partnership to the Partnership in exchange for identical interests in the Partnership. The Former Partnership became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership, and was converted into USA Compression Partners, LLC, a Delaware, single member, limited liability company (Operating Subsidiary) to continue providing contract compression services to customers of the Former Partnership. Concurrently, the Operating Subsidiary formed a wholly owned subsidiary, USAC Leasing, LLC, as a Delaware limited liability company (Leasing Subsidiary), and agreed to sell its then existing compressor fleet to the Leasing Subsidiary for assumption of debt relating to the then existing fleet. The Leasing Subsidiary agreed to lease the compressor fleet to the Operating Subsidiary for use in providing contract compression services to its customers. The consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2012 and 2011 include the accounts of the Partnership, the Operating Subsidiary and the Leasing Subsidiary and all intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Partnership joined the Operating Subsidiary's revolving credit facility as a guarantor and the Leasing Subsidiary joined the revolving credit facility as a co borrower. On June 7, 2011, the Partnership converted from a Texas limited partnership into a Delaware limited partnership and changed its name from USA Compression Holdings, LP to USA Compression Partners, LP.

        The Partnership, together with the Operating Subsidiary and the Leasing Subsidiary, primarily provides natural gas compression services under term contracts with customers in the oil and gas industry, using natural gas compressor packages that it designs, engineers, operates and maintains.

        Partnership net income (loss) is allocated to the partners in proportion to their respective interest in the Partnership.

        The unaudited financial information has been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Partnership's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011. In the opinion of the Partnership's management, such financial information reflects all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and the results of operations for such interim periods in accordance with GAAP. All inter-company items and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Therefore, these consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Partnership's audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

June 30, 2012 and 2011

(unaudited)

(1) Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

        The unaudited condensed 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 of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities that exist at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements. Although these estimates are based on management's available knowledge of current and expected future events, actual results could be different from those estimates.

        Intangible assets, net consisted of the following.

 
  Customer
Relationships
  Trade Names   Total  

Balance at December 31, 2011

  $ 69,600,000   $ 14,976,000   $ 84,576,000  

Amortization

    1,200,000     312,000     1,512,000  
               

Balance at June 30, 2012

  $ 68,400,000   $ 14,664,000   $ 83,064,000  
               

        As of June 30, 2012, the amortization periods of customer relationships and trade names vary between 25 and 30 years. The expected amortization of the intangible assets for each of the five succeeding years is as follows.

Year ending December 31,
  Total  

2012 (remaining)

  $ 1,512,000  

2013

    3,024,000  

2014

    3,024,000  

2015

    3,024,000  

2016

    3,024,000  

        Accounting standards on fair-value measurement establish a framework for measuring fair value and stipulate disclosures about fair-value measurements. The standards apply to recurring and nonrecurring financial and non financial assets and liabilities that require or permit fair-value measurements. A new accounting standard became effective for the Partnership on January 1, 2008, for all financial assets and liabilities and recurring non financial assets and liabilities. On January 1, 2009, the standard became effective for non recurring non financial assets and liabilities. Among the required disclosures is the fair-value hierarchy of inputs the Partnership uses to value an asset or a liability. The three levels of the fair-value hierarchy are described as follows:

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

June 30, 2012 and 2011

(unaudited)

(1) Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

        At June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the only financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value in the Partnership's consolidated balance sheet on a recurring basis are its interest rate swaps. The following table presents assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (including items that are required to be measured at fair value and items for which the fair value option has been elected) at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

 
  Quoted
prices in
active
markets for
identical
assets
(Level 1)
  Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
 

Liabilities:

                   

Interest rate derivatives—

                   

June 30, 2012

      $ 696,861      

Interest rate derivatives—

                   

December 31, 2011

      $ 2,180,049      

        The Partnership's financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable, notes payable and interest rate swap arrangements. 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 maturity. The carrying amounts of notes payable approximates fair value based on the interest rates charged on instruments with similar terms and risks (a level 2 input). The carrying amounts of interest rate swap arrangements are based on valuation models prepared by the derivatives issuer which are intended to approximate current market values.

(2) Trade Accounts Receivable

        Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts of $166,339 and $260,598 at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, is the Partnership's best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Partnership's existing accounts receivable. The Partnership determines the allowance based upon historical write-off experience and specific identification. The Partnership does not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to its customers.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

June 30, 2012 and 2011

(unaudited)

(3) Property and Equipment

        Property and equipment consisted of the following at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

 
  June 30,
2012
  December 31,
2011
 

Compression equipment

  $ 602,136,087     478,596,628  

Furniture and fixtures

    320,734     439,514  

Automobiles and vehicles

    6,970,570     5,640,430  

Computer equipment

    2,052,704     1,523,150  

Leasehold improvements

    61,158     53,076  
           

Total

    611,541,253     486,252,798  

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

    (47,489,131 )   (29,604,193 )
           

Total

  $ 564,052,122     456,648,605  
           

        The Partnership has no compressor units with material customer lease/purchase options. As of June 30, 2012, the Partnership has accrued $12,398,973 capital expenditures included in accounts payable.

(4) Long-Term Debt

        

 
  June 30,
2012
  December 31,
2011
 

Senior debt

  $ 452,650,403     363,773,468  

Various other notes

    17,768     39,067  
           

Total debt

    452,668,171     363,812,535  

Less current portion

    17,768     39,067  
           

Long-term debt

  $ 452,650,403     363,773,468  
           

        On June 1, 2012, the Partnership made a third amendment to the credit agreement whereby the aggregate commitment under the facility increase from $500 million to $600 million. At June 30, 2012, this borrowing availability was $101,985,412. The borrowing base consists of eligible accounts receivable, inventory and compression units. The largest component, representing 97% and 96% of the borrowing base at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, is eligible compression units—compressor packages that are leased, rented or under service contracts to customers and carried in the financial statements as fixed assets. The senior debt facility is evidenced by notes issued to each of several lenders named in the credit agreement, is secured by a first priority lien against the assets of the Partnership and matures on October 5, 2015.

        The senior debt facility expires in 2015 and the Partnership expects to maintain its facility for the term. The facility is a "revolving credit facility" that includes a "springing" lock box arrangement, whereby remittances from customers are forwarded to a bank account controlled by the Partnership,

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

June 30, 2012 and 2011

(unaudited)

(4) Long-Term Debt (Continued)

and the Partnership is not required to use such remittances to reduce borrowings under the facility, unless there is a default or excess availability under the facility is reduced below $20,000,000. The facility qualifies as a refinancing and as such, the debt has been classified as long-term at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

        The senior debt credit agreement contains various financial, negative and affirmative covenants, including covenants requiring the Partnership to maintain minimum ratios of consolidated cash flow to consolidated fixed charges and a minimum utilization of its compression fleet. In addition, this agreement limits or restricts the Partnership's ability to incur other debt, create liens and make investments and distributions to partners, enter transactions with affiliates and undertake certain fundamental changes, including merger and consolidation, sale of all or substantially all assets, dissolution and liquidation. The Partnership was in compliance with these covenants at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

        Maturities of long term debt:

Year ending June 30:

       

2013

    17,768  

2014

     

2015

     

2016

    452,650,403  

2017

     
       

  $ 452,668,171  
       

        The Partnership has only limited involvement with derivative financial instruments and uses them principally to manage well-defined interest rate risk. Interest rate swap agreements are used to reduce the potential impact of fluctuations in interest rates on variable rate long-term debt. The swaps are not used for trading or speculative purposes.

        In November 2008, the Partnership entered into an interest rate swap agreement expiring October 5, 2012 for a notional amount of $75,000,000. The fair value of the interest rate swap was recorded on the balance sheet as a liability of $604,719 and $1,559,198 at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

        In May 2009, the Partnership entered into an interest rate swap agreement that expired June 1, 2012 for a notional amount of $35,000,000. The fair value of this interest rate swap was recorded on the balance sheet as a liability of $277,923 at December 31, 2011. In August 2009, the Partnership entered into an interest rate swap agreement expiring August 1, 2012 for a notional amount of $30,000,000. The fair value of this interest rate swap was recorded on the balance sheet as a liability of $92,142 and $342,928 at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

        These swap agreements qualified for hedge accounting and were assumed to be perfectly effective prior the change in control on December 23, 2010, and thus, there was no ineffectiveness to be

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

June 30, 2012 and 2011

(unaudited)

(4) Long-Term Debt (Continued)

recorded in earnings. As of December 31, 2010, the Partnership does not designate these interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges. The amount of the change in fair value of these swap agreements for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was $1,483,188 and $1,046,061, respectively, has been reflected as a reduction of interest expense for these periods.

        The swap agreements entitle the Partnership to pay or receive from the counter-party, monthly, the amount by which the counter-party's variable rate (reset monthly) is less than or exceeds the Partnership's fixed rate under the agreements. Under the swaps, the Partnership exchanged fixed rates of 3%, 1.9% and 2.055% on the notional amounts of $75,000,000, $35,000,000 and $30,000,000, respectively for a floating rate tied to the BBA London Interbank Offering Rate (LIBOR). The swaps minimize interest rate exposure on the revolving senior debt facility, and in effect, convert variable interest payments on the aggregate notional amount to fixed interest payments. Amounts paid or received from the interest rate swap are charged or credited to interest expense and matched with the cash flow and interest expense of the senior debt being hedged, resulting in an adjustment to the effective interest rate.

(5) Share-Based Compensation

        USA Compression Holdings, LLC has issued to certain employees and members of its management Class B nonvoting units. These Class B units are liability-classified profits interest awards which have a service condition.

        The Class B units are entitled to a cash payment of 10% of net proceeds primarily from a monetization event, as defined under the provisions related to these Class B unit awards, in excess of USA Compression Holdings, LLC's Class A unitholder's capital contributions and an 8% cumulative annual dividend (both of which are due upon a monetization event) to the extent of vested units over total units of the respective class. Each holder of Class B units is then allocated their pro-rata share of the respective class of unit's entitlement based on the number of units held over the total number of units in that class of units. The Class B units vest 25% on the first anniversary date of the grant date and then 25% on each successive anniversary for the next three years (pro-rated by month) subject to certain continued employment. Half of the annual vesting automatically is achieved when USA Compression Holdings, LLC, or one of its subsidiaries, achieves a defined performance target related to a public offering of securities. The units have no expiry date provided the employee remains employed with USA Compression Holdings, LLC or one of its subsidiaries.

        As of June 30, 2012, no compensation expense or liability has been recorded related to these Class B units.

(6) Transactions with Related Parties

        For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, the Partnership incurred $500,000 and $250,000, respectively, of expenses related to a management free under an agreement between USA Compression Holdings, LLC and certain of its affiliates.

        On June 8, 2011, the Partnership received repayment for a loan made to an officer of $185,631.

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

June 30, 2012 and 2011

(unaudited)

(6) Transactions with Related Parties (Continued)

        William Shea, who has served as a director of USA Compression GP, LLC since June 2011, is currently a director and the chief executive officer of the general partner of Penn Virginia Resource Partners, L.P., or PVR. In 2008, PVR acquired the business of one of the Partnership's compression services customers and, after such acquisition, has continued to purchase compression services from the Partnership. For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, subsidiaries of PVR made compression services payments to us of approximately $0.9 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

(7) Commitments and Contingencies

        Rent expense for office space, warehouse facilities and certain corporate equipment for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, rent expense was $557,898 and $367,675, respectively. Commitments for future minimum lease payments for noncancelable leases as of June 30 are as follows:

July 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012

  $ 216,944  

2013

    418,988  

2014

    396,658  

2015

    311,268  

2016

    313,374  

2017

    324,180  

Thereafter

     
       

  $ 1,981,412  
       

        The Partnership had revenue from two customers representing 13.9% and 10.3% of total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and revenue from two customers representing 16.9% and 8.5% of total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2011.

        The Partnership 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 the Partnership's consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

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APPENDIX A



USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP

A Delaware limited partnership

FORM OF FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

Dated as of [    •    ], 2012




Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 


Article I.


 


DEFINITIONS


 

Section 1.1

 

Definitions

   
A-1
 

Section 1.2

 

Construction

    A-19  


Article II.


 


ORGANIZATION


 

Section 2.1

 

Formation

   
A-20
 

Section 2.2

 

Name

    A-20  

Section 2.3

 

Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices

    A-20  

Section 2.4

 

Purpose and Business

    A-20  

Section 2.5

 

Powers

    A-20  

Section 2.6

 

Term

    A-21  

Section 2.7

 

Title to Partnership Assets

    A-21  


Article III.


 


RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS


 

Section 3.1

 

Limitation of Liability

   
A-21
 

Section 3.2

 

Management of Business

    A-21  

Section 3.3

 

Outside Activities of the Limited Partners

    A-21  

Section 3.4

 

Rights of Limited Partners.

    A-22  


Article IV.


 


CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS


 

Section 4.1

 

Certificates

   
A-22
 

Section 4.2

 

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.

    A-23  

Section 4.3

 

Record Holders

    A-23  

Section 4.4

 

Transfer Generally.

    A-24  

Section 4.5

 

Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests.

    A-24  

Section 4.6

 

Transfer of the General Partner's General Partner Interest.

    A-25  

Section 4.7

 

Restrictions on Transfers.

    A-25  

Section 4.8

 

Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees.

    A-26  

Section 4.9

 

Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees.

    A-27  


Article V.


 


CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS


 

Section 5.1

 

General Partner and Limited Partner Interests

   
A-28
 

Section 5.2

 

Contributions by the General Partner and USA Compression Holdings.

    A-28  

Section 5.3

 

Contributions by Limited Partners.

    A-29  

Section 5.4

 

Interest and Withdrawal

    A-29  

Section 5.5

 

Capital Accounts.

    A-29  

Section 5.6

 

Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests.

    A-32  

Section 5.7

 

Conversion of Subordinated Units.

    A-32  

Section 5.8

 

Limited Preemptive Right

    A-33  

Section 5.9

 

Splits and Combinations.

    A-33  

Section 5.10

 

Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests

    A-33  

Section 5.11

 

Issuance of Common Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights.

    A-34  

A-i


Table of Contents


Article VI.


 


ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS


 

Section 6.1

 

Allocations for Capital Account Purposes

   
A-35
 

Section 6.2

 

Allocations for Tax Purposes.

    A-43  

Section 6.3

 

Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders.

    A-44  

Section 6.4

 

Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus.

    A-45  

Section 6.5

 

Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus

    A-46  

Section 6.6

 

Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels.

    A-46  

Section 6.7

 

Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units.

    A-47  

Section 6.8

 

Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights

    A-47  

Section 6.9

 

Entity-Level Taxation

    A-48  


Article VII.


 


MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS


 

Section 7.1

 

Management.

   
A-48
 

Section 7.2

 

Replacement of Fiduciary Duties

    A-50  

Section 7.3

 

Certificate of Limited Partnership

    A-50  

Section 7.4

 

Restrictions on the General Partner's Authority

    A-50  

Section 7.5

 

Reimbursement of the General Partner.

    A-51  

Section 7.6

 

Outside Activities.

    A-52  

Section 7.7

 

Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members.

    A-53  

Section 7.8

 

Indemnification.

    A-53  

Section 7.9

 

Liability of Indemnitees.

    A-55  

Section 7.10

 

Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties.

    A-55  

Section 7.11

 

Other Matters Concerning the General Partner.

    A-58  

Section 7.12

 

Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests

    A-58  

Section 7.13

 

Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates.

    A-59  

Section 7.14

 

Reliance by Third Parties

    A-61  


Article VIII.


 


BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS


 

Section 8.1

 

Records and Accounting

   
A-62
 

Section 8.2

 

Fiscal Year

    A-62  

Section 8.3

 

Section 8.3 Reports.

    A-62  


Article IX.


 


TAX MATTERS


 

Section 9.1

 

Tax Returns and Information

   
A-63
 

Section 9.2

 

Tax Elections.

    A-63  

Section 9.3

 

Tax Controversies

    A-63  

Section 9.4

 

Withholding; Tax Payments.

    A-63  


Article X.


 


ADMISSION OF PARTNERS


 

Section 10.1

 

Admission of Limited Partners.

   
A-64
 

Section 10.2

 

Admission of Successor General Partner.

    A-64  

Section 10.3

 

Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership

    A-65  

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Article XI.


 


WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS


 

Section 11.1

 

Withdrawal of the General Partner.

   
A-65
 

Section 11.2

 

Removal of the General Partner

    A-66  

Section 11.3

 

Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner.

    A-67  

Section 11.4

 

Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages

    A-68  

Section 11.5

 

Withdrawal of Limited Partners

    A-68  


Article XII.


 


DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION


 

Section 12.1

 

Dissolution

   
A-69
 

Section 12.2

 

Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution

    A-69  

Section 12.3

 

Liquidator

    A-69  

Section 12.4

 

Liquidation

    A-70  

Section 12.5

 

Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership

    A-70  

Section 12.6

 

Return of Contributions

    A-71  

Section 12.7

 

Waiver of Partition

    A-71  

Section 12.8

 

Capital Account Restoration

    A-71  


Article XIII.


 


AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE


 

Section 13.1

 

Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner

   
A-71
 

Section 13.2

 

Amendment Procedures

    A-72  

Section 13.3

 

Amendment Requirements.

    A-72  

Section 13.4

 

Special Meetings

    A-73  

Section 13.5

 

Notice of a Meeting

    A-74  

Section 13.6

 

Record Date

    A-74  

Section 13.7

 

Adjournment

    A-74  

Section 13.8

 

Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes

    A-74  

Section 13.9

 

Quorum and Voting

    A-74  

Section 13.10

 

Conduct of a Meeting

    A-75  

Section 13.11

 

Action Without a Meeting

    A-75  

Section 13.12

 

Right to Vote and Related Matters.

    A-76  


Article XIV.


 


MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION


 

Section 14.1

 

Authority

   
A-76
 

Section 14.2

 

Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.

    A-76  

Section 14.3

 

Approval by Limited Partners.

    A-77  

Section 14.4

 

Certificate of Merger

    A-79  

Section 14.5

 

Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.

    A-79  


Article XV.


 


RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS


 

Section 15.1

 

Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests.

   
A-80
 

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Article XVI.


 


GENERAL PROVISIONS


 

Section 16.1

 

Addresses and Notices; Written Communications.

   
A-81
 

Section 16.2

 

Further Action

    A-81  

Section 16.3

 

Binding Effect

    A-82  

Section 16.4

 

Integration

    A-82  

Section 16.5

 

Creditors

    A-82  

Section 16.6

 

Waiver

    A-82  

Section 16.7

 

Third-Party Beneficiaries

    A-82  

Section 16.8

 

Counterparts

    A-82  

Section 16.9

 

Applicable Law; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction.

    A-82  

Section 16.10

 

Invalidity of Provisions

    A-83  

Section 16.11

 

Consent of Partners

    A-83  

Section 16.12

 

Facsimile Signatures

    A-83  

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FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT
OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP

        THIS FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP, dated as of [    •    ], 2012, is entered into by and among USA Compression GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the General Partner, and USA Compression Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as a Limited Partner, together with any other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein. In consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:


ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

        Section 1.1    Definitions.     The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.

        "Acquisition" means any transaction in which any Group Member acquires (through an asset acquisition, merger, stock acquisition or other form of investment) control over all or a portion of the assets, properties or business of another Person for the purpose of increasing or expanding, for a period exceeding the short-term, the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such transaction. For purposes of this definition, the short-term generally refers to a period not exceeding 12 months.

        "Additional Book Basis" means the portion of any remaining Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property that is attributable to positive adjustments made to such Carrying Value as a result of Book-Up Events. For purposes of determining the extent that Carrying Value constitutes Additional Book Basis:

        (a)   Any negative adjustment made to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property as a result of either a Book-Down Event or a Book-Up Event shall first be deemed to offset or decrease that portion of the Carrying Value of such Adjusted Property that is attributable to any prior positive adjustments made thereto pursuant to a Book-Up Event or Book-Down Event.

        (b)   If Carrying Value that constitutes Additional Book Basis is reduced as a result of a Book-Down Event and the Carrying Value of other property is increased as a result of such Book-Down Event, an allocable portion of any such increase in Carrying Value shall be treated as Additional Book Basis; provided, that the amount treated as Additional Book Basis pursuant hereto as a result of such Book-Down Event shall not exceed the amount by which the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments after such Book-Down Event exceeds the remaining Additional Book Basis attributable to all of the Partnership's Adjusted Property after such Book-Down Event (determined without regard to the application of this clause (b) to such Book-Down Event).

        "Additional Book Basis Derivative Items" means any Book Basis Derivative Items that are computed with reference to Additional Book Basis. To the extent that the Additional Book Basis attributable to all of the Partnership's Adjusted Property as of the beginning of any taxable period exceeds the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the beginning of such period (the "Excess Additional Book Basis"), the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for such period shall be reduced by the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items determined without regard to this sentence as the Excess Additional Book Basis bears to the Additional Book Basis as of the beginning of such period. With respect to a Disposed of Adjusted Property, the Additional Book Basis Derivative items shall be the amount of Additional Book Basis taken into account in computing gain or loss from the disposition of such Disposed of Adjusted Property.

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        "Adjusted Capital Account" means the Capital Account maintained for each Partner as of the end of each taxable period of the Partnership, (a) increased by any amounts that such Partner is obligated to restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (or is deemed obligated to restore under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5)) and (b) decreased by (i) the amount of all losses and deductions that, as of the end of such taxable period, are reasonably expected to be allocated to such Partner in subsequent taxable periods under Sections 704(e)(2) and 706(d) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.751-1(b)(2)(ii), and (ii) the amount of all distributions that, as of the end of such taxable period, are reasonably expected to be made to such Partner in subsequent taxable periods in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or otherwise to the extent they exceed offsetting increases to such Partner's Capital Account that are reasonably expected to occur during (or prior to) the taxable period in which such distributions are reasonably expected to be made (other than increases as a result of a minimum gain chargeback pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i) or 6.1(d)(ii)). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. The "Adjusted Capital Account" of a Partner in respect of any Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such Partnership Interest was first issued.

        "Adjusted Operating Surplus" means, with respect to any period, (a) Operating Surplus generated with respect to such period; (b) less (i) the amount of any net increase in Working Capital Borrowings (or the Partnership's proportionate share of any net increase in Working Capital Borrowings in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) with respect to that period; and (ii) the amount of any net decrease in cash reserves (or the Partnership's proportionate share of any net decrease in cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period not relating to an Operating Expenditure made with respect to such period; and (c) plus (i) the amount of any net decrease in Working Capital Borrowings (or the Partnership's proportionate share of any net decrease in Working Capital Borrowings in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) with respect to that period; (ii) the amount of any net increase in cash reserves (or the Partnership's proportionate share of any net increase in cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period required by any debt instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or premium; and (iii) any net decrease made in subsequent periods in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures initially established with respect to such period to the extent such decrease results in a reduction in Adjusted Operating Surplus in subsequent periods pursuant to clause (b)(ii) above. Adjusted Operating Surplus does not include that portion of Operating Surplus included in clause (a)(i) of the definition of Operating Surplus.

        "Adjusted Property" means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i) or 5.5(d)(ii) .

        "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term "control" means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. Without limiting the foregoing, for purposes of this Agreement, any Person that, individually or together with its Affiliates, has the direct or indirect right to designate or cause the designation of at least one member to the Board of Directors, and any such Person's Affiliates, shall be deemed to be Affiliates of the General Partner.

        "Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units" is defined in Section 5.11(a).

        "Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments" means, as of the end of any taxable period, the sum of the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of all the Partners.

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        "Agreed Allocation" means any allocation, other than a Required Allocation, of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1, including a Curative Allocation (if appropriate to the context in which the term "Agreed Allocation" is used).

        "Agreed Value" of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property at the time of contribution and in the case of an Adjusted Property, the fair market value of such Adjusted Property on the date of the revaluation event as described in Section 5.5(d), in both cases as determined by the General Partner. The General Partner shall use such method as it determines to be appropriate to allocate the aggregate Agreed Value of Contributed Properties contributed to the Partnership in a single or integrated transaction among each separate property on a basis proportional to the fair market value of each Contributed Property.

        "Agreement" means this First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of USA Compression Partners, LP, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

        "Associate" means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is a director, officer, manager, general partner or managing member or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock or other voting interest; (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same principal residence as such Person.

        "Available Cash" means, with respect to any Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation Date:

        (a)   the sum of (i) all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership's proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand at the end of such Quarter, and (ii) if the General Partner so determines, all or any portion of any additional cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership's proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter resulting from Working Capital Borrowings made subsequent to the end of such Quarter, less

        (b)   the amount of any cash reserves established by the General Partner (or the Partnership's proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) to (i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership Group) subsequent to such Quarter, (ii) comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject or (iii) provide funds for distributions under Section 6.4 or 6.5 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters;

provided, however, that the General Partner may not establish cash reserves pursuant to clause (iii) above if the effect of establishing such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to distribute the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all Common Units, plus any Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage on all Common Units, with respect to such Quarter; and, provided further, that disbursements made by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such Quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash, within such Quarter if the General Partner so determines.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, "Available Cash" with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.

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        "Board of Directors" means, with respect to the General Partner, its board of directors or board of managers, as applicable, if a corporation or limited liability company, or if a limited partnership, the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner of the General Partner.

        "Book Basis Derivative Items" means any item of income, deduction, gain or loss that is computed with reference to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property (e.g., depreciation, depletion, or gain or loss with respect to an Adjusted Property).

        "Book-Down Event" means an event that triggers a negative adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).

        "Book-Tax Disparity" means with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for federal income tax purposes as of such date. A Partner's share of the Partnership's Book-Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such Partner's Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section 5.5 and the hypothetical balance of such Partner's Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles.

        "Book-Up Event" means an event that triggers a positive adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).

        "Business Day" means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of Texas shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

        "Capital Account" means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5. The "Capital Account" of a Partner in respect of any Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such Partnership Interest was first issued.

        "Capital Contribution" means any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of Contributed Property that a Partner contributes to the Partnership or that is contributed or deemed contributed to the Partnership on behalf of a Partner (including, in the case of an underwritten offering of Units, the amount of any underwriting discounts or commissions).

        "Capital Improvement" means any (a) addition or improvement to the capital assets owned by any Group Member, (b) acquisition of existing, or the construction of new or the improvement or replacement of existing, capital assets or (c) capital contribution by a Group Member to a Person that is not a Subsidiary in which a Group Member has an equity interest, or after such capital contribution will have an equity interest, to fund such Group Member's pro rata share of the cost of the addition or improvement to or the acquisition of existing, or the construction of new or the improvement or replacement of existing, capital assets by such Person, in each case if such addition, improvement, replacement, acquisition or construction is made to increase for a period longer than the short-term the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), or such Person, in the case of clause (c), from the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group or such Person, as the case may be, existing immediately prior to such addition, improvement, replacement, acquisition or construction. For purposes of this definition, the short-term generally refers to a period not exceeding 12 months.

        "Capital Surplus" means Available Cash distributed by the Partnership in excess of Operating Surplus, as described in Section 6.3(a).

        "Carrying Value" means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, amortization and cost

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recovery deductions charged to the Partners' Capital Accounts in respect of such property, and (b) with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such property for federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination; provided that the Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Sections 5.5(d)(i) and 5.5(d)(ii) and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the General Partner.

        "Cause" means a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding the General Partner liable for actual fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as a general partner of the Partnership.

        "Certificate" means (a) a certificate (i) substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement, (ii) issued in global form in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Depositary or (iii) in such other form as may be adopted by the General Partner, in each case issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more Common Units or (b) a certificate, in such form as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more other Partnership Interests.

        "Certificate of Limited Partnership" means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as referenced in Section 7.3, as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

        "Citizenship Certification" means a properly completed certificate in such form as may be specified by the General Partner by which a Limited Partner certifies that he (and if he is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, that to the best of his knowledge such other Person) is an Eligible Citizen.

        "claim" (as used in Section 7.13(d)) has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.13(d).

        "Closing Date" means the first date on which Common Units are sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters pursuant to the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement.

        "Closing Price" means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the date of determination, the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the principal National Securities Exchange on which the respective Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Limited Partner Interests are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, the last quoted price on such day or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the primary reporting system then in use in relation to such Limited Partner Interests of such class, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class selected by the General Partner, or if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the General Partner.

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

        "Combined Interest" is defined in Section 11.3(a).

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        "Commences Commercial Service" means the date a Capital Improvement is first put into commercial service following completion of construction, acquisition, development and testing, as applicable.

        "Commission" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

        "Common Unit" means a Partnership Interest representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement. The term "Common Unit" does not refer to or include any Subordinated Unit prior to its conversion into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof.

        "Common Unit Arrearage" means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, with respect to any Quarter within the Subordination Period, the excess, if any, of (a) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter over (b) the sum of all Available Cash distributed with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(i).

        "Conflicts Committee" means a committee of the Board of Directors composed entirely of two or more directors, each of whom (a) is not an officer or employee of the General Partner, (b) is not an officer, director or employee of any Affiliate of the General Partner, (c) is not a holder of any ownership interest in the General Partner or its Affiliates or the Partnership Group, other than Common Units and other awards that are granted to such director under the LTIP and (d) meets the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which any class of Partnership Interests is listed or admitted to trading.

        "Consenting Party" or "Consenting Parties" is defined in Section 16.9(b).

        "Contributed Property" means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership. Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d), such property shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.

        "Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage" means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, and as of the end of any Quarter, the excess, if any, of (a) the sum of the Common Unit Arrearages with respect to an Initial Common Unit for each of the Quarters within the Subordination Period ending on or before the last day of such Quarter over (b) the sum of any distributions theretofore made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(ii) and the second sentence of Section 6.5 with respect to an Initial Common Unit (including any distributions to be made in respect of the last of such Quarters).

        "Curative Allocation" means any allocation of an item of income, gain, deduction, loss or credit pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi).

        "Current Market Price" means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the date of determination, the average of the daily Closing Prices per Limited Partner Interest of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date.

        "Delaware Act" means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del C. Section 17-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.

        "Departing General Partner" means a former General Partner from and after the effective date of any withdrawal or removal of such former General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2.

        "Depositary" means, with respect to any Units issued in global form, The Depository Trust Company and its successors and permitted assigns.

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        "Disposed of Adjusted Property" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B) .

        "Economic Risk of Loss" has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).

        "Eligible Citizen" means a Person qualified to own interests in real property in jurisdictions in which any Group Member does business or proposes to do business from time to time, and whose status as a Limited Partner the General Partner determines does not or would not subject such Group Member to a significant risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any of its properties or any interest therein.

        "Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount" is defined in Section 6.9.

        "Event of Withdrawal" is defined in Section 11.1(a).

        "Excess Distribution" is defined in Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A).

        "Excess Distribution Unit" is defined in Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A).

        "Expansion Capital Expenditures" means cash expenditures for Acquisitions or Capital Improvements, and shall not include Maintenance Capital Expenditures or Investment Capital Expenditures. Expansion Capital Expenditures shall include interest (and related fees) on debt incurred to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement and paid in respect of the period beginning on the date that a Group Member enters into a binding obligation to commence construction of a Capital Improvement and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such Capital Improvement Commences Commercial Service and the date that such Capital Improvement is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred to fund such construction period interest payments or to fund distributions on equity issued (including incremental Incentive Distributions related thereto) to fund the construction of a Capital Improvement as described in clause (a)(iv) of the definition of Operating Surplus shall also be deemed to be debt incurred to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement. Where capital expenditures are made in part for Expansion Capital Expenditures and in part for other purposes, the General Partner shall determine the allocation between the amounts paid for each.

        "Final Subordinated Units" is defined in Section 6.1(d)(x)(A).

        "First Liquidation Target Amount" is defined in Section 6.1(c)(i)(D).

        "First Target Distribution" means $[    •    ] per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to periods of less than a full fiscal quarter, it means the product of such amount multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and the denominator is the total number of days in such quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.

        "Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis" means, when calculating the number of Outstanding Units for any period, a basis that includes (1) the weighted average number of Outstanding Units plus (2) all Partnership Interests and options, rights, warrants, phantom units and appreciation rights or phantom or tracking interests relating to an equity interest in the Partnership (a) that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Units or for which Units are issuable, in each case that are senior to or pari passu with the Subordinated Units, (b) whose conversion, exercise or exchange price is less than the Current Market Price on the date of such calculation, (c) that may be converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units prior to or during the Quarter immediately following the end of the period for which the calculation is being made without the satisfaction of any contingency beyond the control of the holder other than the payment of consideration and the compliance with administrative mechanics applicable to such conversion, exercise or exchange and (d) that were not converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units during the period for which the calculation is being made; provided, however, that for purposes of determining the number of Outstanding Units on a Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis when calculating whether the Subordination Period has ended or the Subordinated Units are entitled to convert into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7, such Partnership Interests, options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights or phantom or tracking interests

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shall be deemed to have been Outstanding Units only for the four Quarters that comprise the last four Quarters of the measurement period; provided, further, that if consideration will be paid to any Group Member in connection with such conversion, exercise or exchange, the number of Units to be included in such calculation shall be that number equal to the difference between (i) the number of Units issuable upon such conversion, exercise or exchange and (ii) the number of Units that such consideration would purchase at the Current Market Price.

        "General Partner" means USA Compression GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Partnership as general partner of the Partnership, in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership (except as the context otherwise requires).

        "General Partner Interest" means the ownership interest of the General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it) and includes any and all benefits to which the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

        "Gross Liability Value" means, with respect to any Liability of the Partnership described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-7(b)(3)(i), the amount of cash that a willing assignor would pay to a willing assignee to assume such Liability in an arm's-length transaction.

        "Group" means a Person that with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates has any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons), exercising investment power or disposing of any Partnership Interests with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, Partnership Interests.

        "Group Member" means a member of the Partnership Group.

        "Group Member Agreement" means the partnership agreement of any Group Member, other than the Partnership, that is a limited or general partnership, the limited liability company or operating agreement of any Group Member that is a limited liability company, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or similar organizational documents of any Group Member that is a corporation, the joint venture agreement or similar governing document of any Group Member that is a joint venture and the governing or organizational or similar documents of any other Group Member that is a Person other than a limited or general partnership, limited liability company, corporation or joint venture, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

        "Hedge Contract" means any exchange, swap, forward, cap, floor, collar, option or other similar agreement or arrangement entered into for the purpose of reducing the exposure of the Partnership Group to fluctuations in interest rates or the price of hydrocarbons, other than for speculative purposes.

        "Holder" as used in Section 7.13, has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.13(a).

        "IDR Reset Common Unit" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(a).

        "IDR Reset Election" is defined in Section 5.11(a).

        "Incentive Distribution Right" means a non-voting Limited Partner Interest which will confer upon the holder thereof only the rights and obligations specifically provided in this Agreement with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights (and no other rights otherwise available to or other obligations of a holder of a Partnership Interest). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the holder of an Incentive Distribution Right shall not be entitled to vote such Incentive Distribution Right

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on any Partnership matter (whether arising hereunder or under the Delaware Act or other applicable law or in equity) except as may otherwise be required by law.

        "Incentive Distributions" means any amount of cash distributed to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to Section 6.4.

        "Incremental Income Taxes" is defined in Section 6.9.

        "Indemnified Persons" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.13(d).

        "Indemnitee" means (a) any General Partner, (b) any Departing General Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a manager, managing member, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of any Group Member, a General Partner, any Departing General Partner or any of their respective Affiliates, (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request of a General Partner, any Departing General Partner or any of their respective Affiliates as an officer, director, manager, managing member, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another Person owing a fiduciary duty to any Group Member; provided that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, (f) any Person who controls a General Partner or Departing General Partner and (g) any Person the General Partner designates as an "Indemnitee" for purposes of this Agreement because such Person's service, status or relationship exposes such Person to potential claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings relating to the Partnership Group's business and affairs.

        "Initial Common Units" means the Common Units sold in the Initial Offering.

        "Initial General Partner Interest" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.1.

        "Initial Limited Partner Interest" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.1.

        "Initial Limited Partners" means USA Compression Holdings, the General Partner (with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights) and the Underwriters, in each case upon being admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 10.1.

        "Initial Offering" means the initial offering and sale of Common Units to the public, as described in the Registration Statement, including any Common Units issued pursuant to the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.

        "Initial Unit Price" means (a) with respect to the Common Units and the Subordinated Units, the initial public offering price per Common Unit at which the Underwriters offered the Common Units to the public for sale as set forth on the cover page of the prospectus included as part of the Registration Statement and first issued at or after the time the Registration Statement first became effective or (b) with respect to any other class or series of Units, the price per Unit at which such class or series of Units is initially sold by the Partnership, as determined by the General Partner, in each case adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units.

        "Interim Capital Transactions" means the following transactions if they occur prior to the Liquidation Date: (a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of indebtedness (other than Working Capital Borrowings and other than for items purchased on open account or for a deferred purchase price in the ordinary course of business) by any Group Member and sales of debt securities of any Group Member; (b) sales of equity interests of any Group Member (including the Common Units sold to the Underwriters in the Initial Offering or pursuant to the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option); (c) sales or other voluntary or involuntary dispositions of any assets of any Group Member other than (i) sales or other dispositions of inventory, accounts receivable and other assets in the ordinary course

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of business, and (ii) sales or other dispositions of assets as part of normal retirements or replacements; and (d) capital contributions received.

        "Investment Capital Expenditures" means capital expenditures other than Maintenance Capital Expenditures and Expansion Capital Expenditures.

        "Liability" means any liability or obligation of any nature, whether accrued, contingent or otherwise.

        "Limited Partner" means, unless the context otherwise requires, each Initial Limited Partner, each additional Person that becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and any Departing General Partner upon the change of its status from General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3, in each case, in such Person's capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership; provided, however, that when the term "Limited Partner" is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any holder of an Incentive Distribution Right (solely with respect to its Incentive Distribution Rights and not with respect to any other Limited Partner Interest held by such Person) except as may otherwise be required by law. For purposes of the Delaware Act, the Limited Partners shall constitute a single class or group of limited partners.

        "Limited Partner Interest" means the ownership interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Subordinated Units, Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership Interests or a combination thereof or interest therein, and includes any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that when the term "Limited Partner Interest" is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any Incentive Distribution Right except as may otherwise be required by law.

        "Liquidation Date" means (a) in the case of an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) of the first sentence of Section 12.2, the date on which the applicable time period during which the holders of Outstanding Units have the right to elect to continue the business of the Partnership has expired without such an election being made, and (b) in the case of any other event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership, the date on which such event occurs.

        "Liquidator" means one or more Persons selected by the General Partner to perform the functions described in Section 12.4 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership within the meaning of the Delaware Act.

        "LTIP" means the Long-Term Incentive Plan of the General Partner, as may be amended, or any equity compensation plan successor thereto.

        "Maintenance Capital Expenditures" means cash expenditures (including expenditures for the addition or improvement to or replacement of the capital assets owned by any Group Member or for the acquisition of existing, or the construction or development of new, capital assets if such expenditures are made to maintain, including for a period longer than the short-term, the operating capacity and/or operating income of the Partnership Group. Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall not include (a) Expansion Capital Expenditures or (b) Investment Capital Expenditures. For purposes of this definition, the short-term generally refers to a period not exceeding 12 months.

        "Merger Agreement" is defined in Section 14.1.

        "Minimum Quarterly Distribution" means $[    •    ] per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to periods of less than a full fiscal quarter, it means the product of such amount multiplied by a fraction of which

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the numerator is the number of days in such period and the denominator is the total number of days in such quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.

        "National Securities Exchange" means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Securities Exchange Act (or any successor to such Section) and any other securities exchange (whether or not registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) (or successor to such Section) of the Securities Exchange Act) that the General Partner shall designate as a National Securities Exchange for purposes of this Agreement.

        "Net Agreed Value" means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced by any Liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or to which such property is subject when contributed and (b) in the case of any property distributed to a Partner by the Partnership, the Partnership's Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(ii)) at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any Liability either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution, in either case as determined and required by the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code.

        "Net Income" means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership's items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period over the Partnership's items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made without regard to any reversal of such items under Section 6.1(d)(xii).

        "Net Loss" means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership's items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period over the Partnership's items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made without regard to any reversal of such items under Section 6.1(d)(xii).

        "Net Positive Adjustments" means, with respect to any Partner, the excess, if any, of the total positive adjustments over the total negative adjustments made to the Capital Account of such Partner pursuant to Book-Up Events and Book-Down Events.

        "Net Termination Gain" means, for any taxable period, the sum, if positive, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction (determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b)) that are (a) recognized (i) after the Liquidation Date or (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group), or (b) deemed recognized by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.5(d); provided, however, the items included in the determination of Net Termination Gain shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

        "Net Termination Loss" means, for any taxable period, the sum, if negative, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction (determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b)) that are (a) recognized (i) after the Liquidation Date or (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group), or (b) deemed

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recognized by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.5(d); provided, however, items included in the determination of Net Termination Loss shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).

        "Non-citizen Assignee" means a Person whom the General Partner has determined does not constitute an Eligible Citizen and as to whose Partnership Interest the General Partner has become the Limited Partner, pursuant to Section 4.8.

        "Nonrecourse Built-in Gain" means with respect to any Contributed Properties or Adjusted Properties that are subject to a mortgage or pledge securing a Nonrecourse Liability, the amount of any taxable gain that would be allocated to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.2(b) if such properties were disposed of in a taxable transaction in full satisfaction of such liabilities and for no other consideration.

        "Nonrecourse Deductions" means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b), are attributable to a Nonrecourse Liability.

        "Nonrecourse Liability" has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-1(a)(2).

        "Notice of Election to Purchase" is defined in Section 15.1(b).

        "Notional General Partner Units" means notional units used solely to calculate the General Partner's Percentage Interest. Notional General Partner Units shall not constitute "Units" for any purpose of this Agreement. There shall initially be [    •    ] Notional General Partner Units (resulting in the General Partner's Percentage Interest being 2% after giving effect to the Initial Offering). If the General Partner makes additional Capital Contributions pursuant to Section 5.2(c) to maintain its Percentage Interest, the number of Notional General Partner Units shall be increased proportionally to reflect the maintenance of such Percentage Interest.

        "Operating Expenditures" means all Partnership Group cash expenditures (or the Partnership's proportionate share of expenditures in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned), including, but not limited to, taxes, reimbursements of expenses of the General Partner and its Affiliates, payments made in the ordinary course of business under any Hedge Contracts (provided that (i) with respect to amounts paid in connection with the initial purchase of a Hedge Contract, such amounts shall be amortized over the life of such Hedge Contract and (ii) payments made in connection with the termination of any Hedge Contract prior to the expiration of its stipulated settlement or termination date shall be included in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of such Hedge Contract), officer compensation, repayment of Working Capital Borrowings, debt service payments and Maintenance Capital Expenditures, subject to the following:

        (a)   repayments of Working Capital Borrowings deducted from Operating Surplus pursuant to clause (b)(iii) of the definition of "Operating Surplus" shall not constitute Operating Expenditures when actually repaid;

        (b)   payments (including prepayments and prepayment penalties) of principal of and premium on indebtedness other than Working Capital Borrowings shall not constitute Operating Expenditures; and

        (c)   Operating Expenditures shall not include (i) Expansion Capital Expenditures, (ii) Investment Capital Expenditures, (iii) payment of transaction expenses (including taxes) relating to Interim Capital Transactions, (iv) distributions to Partners (including distributions with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights), or (v) repurchases of Partnership Interests, other than repurchases of Partnership Interests to satisfy obligations under employee benefit plans, or reimbursements of expenses of the General Partner for such purchases.

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        "Operating Surplus" means, with respect to any period ending prior to the Liquidation Date, on a cumulative basis and without duplication,

        (a)   the sum of (i) $[    •    ] million, (ii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership's proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, but excluding cash receipts from Interim Capital Transactions and provided that cash receipts from the termination of any Hedge Contract prior to the expiration of its stipulated settlement or termination date shall be included in equal quarterly installments over the remaining scheduled life of such Hedge Contract, (iii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership's proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) after the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of Operating Surplus with respect to such period resulting from Working Capital Borrowings, and (iv) the amount of cash distributions paid (including incremental Incentive Distributions) on equity issued, other than equity issued on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, to finance all or a portion of the construction, acquisition or improvement of a Capital Improvement and paid in respect of the period beginning on the date that the Group Member enters into a binding obligation to commence the construction, acquisition or improvement of a Capital Improvement and ending on the earlier to occur of the date the Capital Improvement Commences Commercial Service and the date that it is abandoned or disposed of (equity issued, other than equity issued on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, to fund the construction period interest payments on debt incurred, or construction period distributions on equity issued, to finance the construction, acquisition or improvement of a Capital Improvement shall also be deemed to be equity issued to finance the construction, acquisition or improvement of a Capital Improvement for purposes of this clause (iv)), less

        (b)   the sum of (i) Operating Expenditures for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period; (ii) the amount of cash reserves established by the General Partner (or the Partnership's proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) to provide funds for future Operating Expenditures; (iii) all Working Capital Borrowings not repaid within twelve months after having been incurred and (iv) any cash loss realized on disposition of an Investment Capital Expenditure;

provided, however, that disbursements made (including contributions to a Group Member or disbursements on behalf of a Group Member) or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such period shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Operating Surplus, within such period if the General Partner so determines.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, "Operating Surplus" with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero. Cash receipts from an Investment Capital Expenditure shall be treated as cash receipts only to the extent they are a return on principal, but in no event shall a return of principal be treated as cash receipts.

        "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the Partnership or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the General Partner.

        "Option Closing Date" means the date or dates on which any Common Units are sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.

        "Other Entity" is defined in Section 14.1.

        "Outstanding" means, with respect to Partnership Interests, all Partnership Interests that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding on the Partnership's books and records as of the date of determination; provided, however, that if at any time any Person or Group (other than the General Partner or its Affiliates) beneficially owns 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any

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class then Outstanding, none of the Partnership Interests owned by such Person or Group shall be voted on any matter and such Partnership Interests shall not be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Partnership Interests so owned shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Partnership Interests shall not, however, be treated as a separate class or group of Partnership Interests for purposes of this Agreement or the Delaware Act); provided, further, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates (other than the Partnership), (ii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in clause (i) provided that, at or prior to such acquisition, the General Partner, acting in its sole discretion, shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply, or (iii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Partnership Interests issued by the Partnership provided that, at or prior to such acquisition, the General Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply.

        "Over-Allotment Option" means the over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters by the Partnership pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

        "Partner Nonrecourse Debt" has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).

        "Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain" has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2).

        "Partner Nonrecourse Deductions" means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i), are attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt.

        "Partners" means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.

        "Partnership" means USA Compression Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

        "Partnership Group" means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries treated as a single consolidated entity.

        "Partnership Interest" means any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership (but excluding any options, rights, warrants, appreciation rights and phantom or tracking interests relating to an equity interest in the Partnership), including Common Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights.

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        "Partnership Minimum Gain" means that amount determined in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(b) (2) and 1.704-2(d).

        "Percentage Interest" means as of any date of determination (a) as to the General Partner, with respect to the General Partner Interest (calculated based upon a number of Notional General Partner Units), and as to any Unitholder with respect to Units, the product obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to clause (b) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of Notional General Partner Units held by the General Partner or the number of Units held by such Unitholder, as the case may be, by (B) the total number of Outstanding Units and Notional General Partner Units, and (b) as to the holders of other Partnership Interests issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.6, the percentage established as a part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest with respect to an Incentive Distribution Right shall at all times be zero.

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

        "Per Unit Capital Amount" means, as of any date of determination, the Capital Account, stated on a per Unit basis, underlying any class of Units held by a Person other than the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner who holds Units.

        "Plan of Conversion" is defined in Section 14.1.

        "Pro Rata" means (a) when used with respect to Units or any class thereof, apportioned equally among all designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (b) when used with respect to Partners or Record Holders, apportioned among all Partners or Record Holders in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests and (c) when used with respect to holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, apportioned equally among all holders of Incentive Distribution Rights in accordance with the relative number or percentage of Incentive Distribution Rights held by each such holder.

        "Purchase Date" means the date determined by the General Partner as the date for purchase of all Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of a certain class (other than Limited Partner Interests owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) pursuant to Article XV.

        "Quarter" means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Partnership, or, with respect to the fiscal quarter of the Partnership that includes the Closing Date, the portion of such fiscal quarter after the Closing Date.

        "Recapture Income" means any gain recognized by the Partnership (computed without regard to any adjustment required by Section 734 or Section 743 of the Code) upon the disposition of any property or asset of the Partnership, which gain is characterized as ordinary income because it represents the recapture of deductions previously taken with respect to such property or asset.

        "Record Date" means the date established by the General Partner or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Limited Partners or entitled to vote by ballot or give approval of Partnership action in writing or by electronic transmission without a meeting or entitled to exercise rights in respect of any lawful action of Limited Partners or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer.

        "Record Holder" means (a) with respect to Partnership Interests of any class of Partnership Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, the Person in whose name a Partnership Interest of such class is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day, or (b) with respect to other classes of Partnership Interests, the Person in

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whose name any such other Partnership Interest is registered on the books that the General Partner has caused to be kept as of the opening of business on such Business Day.

        "Redeemable Interests" means any Partnership Interests for which a redemption notice has been given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant to Section 4.9.

        "Registration Statement" means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-174803) as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common Units in the Initial Offering.

        "Remaining Net Positive Adjustments" means as of the end of any taxable period, (i) with respect to the Unitholders holding Common Units or Subordinated Units, the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the Unitholders holding Common Units or Subordinated Units as of the end of such period over (b) the sum of those Partners' Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for each prior taxable period, (ii) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Interest), the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the General Partner as of the end of such period over (b) the sum of the General Partner's Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to the General Partner Interest for each prior taxable period, and (iii) with respect to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such period over (b) the sum of the Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items of the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights for each prior taxable period.

        "Required Allocations" means any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i), Section 6.1(d)(ii), Section 6.1(d)(iv), Section 6.1(d)(v), Section 6.1(d)(vi) , Section 6.1(d)(vii) or Section 6.1(d)(ix).

        "Reset MQD" is defined in Section 5.11(a).

        "Reset Notice" is defined in Section 5.11(b).

        "Second Liquidation Target Amount" is defined in Section 6.1(c)(i)(E).

        "Second Target Distribution" means $[    •    ] per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to periods of less than a full fiscal quarter, it means the product of such amount multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and the denominator is the total number of days in such quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.11, Section 6.6 and Section 6.9.

        "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.

        "Securities Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.

        "Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items" means in connection with any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for any taxable period, (i) with respect to the Unitholders holding Common Units or Subordinated Units, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Unitholders' Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such taxable period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time, (ii) with respect to the General Partner (in respect of the General Partner Interest), the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the General Partner's Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such taxable period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustment as of that time, and (iii) with respect to the Partners holding Incentive Distribution Rights, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of the Partners holding the Incentive

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Distribution Rights as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time.

        "Special Approval" means approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee acting in good faith.

        "Subordinated Unit" means a Partnership Interest representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Subordinated Units in this Agreement. The term "Subordinated Unit" does not refer to or include a Common Unit. A Subordinated Unit that is convertible into a Common Unit shall not constitute a Common Unit until such conversion occurs.

        "Subordination Period" means the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the first to occur of the following dates:

        (a)   the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect of any Quarter beginning with the Quarter ending September 30, 2015 in respect of which (i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on each of (I) the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units, and (II) the General Partner Interest, in each case with respect to each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on (I) all Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units and (II) the General Partner Interest, in each case in respect of such periods and (B) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the (I) Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units and (II) General Partner Interest, in each case that were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis, and (ii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages;

        (b)   the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect of any Quarter beginning with the Quarter ending September 30, 2013 in respect of which (i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on each of (I) the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units, and (II) the General Partner Interest, in each case with respect to the four-Quarter period immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded 150% of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of (I) the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units and (II) the General Partner Interest, in each case in respect of such period, and (B) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for the four-Quarter period immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded 150% of the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of (I) the Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units, (II) the General Partner Interest, in each case that were Outstanding during such period on a Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis and (III) and the corresponding Incentive Distributions and (ii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages;

        (c)   the first date on which there are no longer outstanding any Subordinated Units due to the conversion of Subordinated Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7 or otherwise; and

        (d)   the date on which the General Partner is removed as general partner of the Partnership upon the requisite vote by holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist and no Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are voted in favor of such removal.

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        "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.

        "Surviving Business Entity" is defined in Section 14.2(b)(ii).

        "Target Distribution" means, collectively, the First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution.

        "Third Target Distribution" means $[    •    ] per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to periods of less than a full fiscal quarter, it means the product of such amount multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and the denominator is the total number of days in such quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.

        "Trading Day" means, for the purpose of determining the Current Market Price of any class of Limited Partner Interests, a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if Limited Partner Interests of a class are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are open.

        "Transaction Documents" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.1(b).

        "transfer" is defined in Section 4.4(a).

        "Transfer Agent" means such bank, trust company or other Person (including the General Partner or one of its Affiliates) as may be appointed from time to time by the Partnership to act as registrar and transfer agent for any class of Partnership Interests; provided, that if no Transfer Agent is specifically designated for any class of Partnership Interests, the General Partner shall act in such capacity.

        "Underwriter" means each Person named as an underwriter in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement who purchases Common Units pursuant thereto.

        "Underwriting Agreement" means that certain Underwriting Agreement, dated as of [    •    ], 2012, among the Underwriters, the Partnership, the General Partner and other parties thereto, providing for the purchase of Common Units by the Underwriters.

        "Unit" means a Partnership Interest that is designated as a "Unit" and shall include Common Units and Subordinated Units but shall not include (i) the General Partner Interest or (ii) Incentive Distribution Rights.

        "Unitholders" means the holders of Units.

        "Unit Majority" means (i) during the Subordination Period, at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), voting as a class, and at least a majority of the Outstanding Subordinated Units, voting as a class, and (ii) after the

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end of the Subordination Period, at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units, voting as a single class.

        "Unpaid MQD" is defined in Section 6.1(c)(i)(B).

        "Unrealized Gain" attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date).

        "Unrealized Loss" attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date) over (b) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)).

        "Unrecovered Initial Unit Price" means at any time, with respect to a Unit, the Initial Unit Price less the sum of all distributions constituting Capital Surplus theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit and any distributions of cash (or the Net Agreed Value of any distributions in kind) in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit, adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of such Units.

        "Unrestricted Person" means (a) each Indemnitee, (b) each Partner, (c) each Person who is or was a member, partner, director, officer, employee or agent of any Group Member, a General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member, a General Partner or any Departing General Partner and (d) any Person the General Partner designates as an "Unrestricted Person" for purposes of this Agreement.

        "U.S. GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles, as in effect from time to time, consistently applied.

        "USA Compression Holdings" means USA Compression Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

        "Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel" is defined in Section 11.1(b).

        "Working Capital Borrowings" means borrowings used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to Partners, made pursuant to a credit facility, commercial paper facility or other similar financing arrangement; provided that when incurred it is the intent of the borrower to repay such borrowings within 12 months from sources other than additional Working Capital Borrowings.


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

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ARTICLE II.

ORGANIZATION

        Section 2.1    Formation.     The General Partner and USA Compression Holdings previously formed the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. The General Partner and USA Compression Holdings hereby amend and restate the Agreement of Limited Partnership of USA Compression Partners, LP, dated June 7, 2011, in its entirety. This amendment and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes.


        Section 2.2
    Name.     The name of the Partnership shall be "USA Compression Partners, LP". The Partnership's business may be conducted under any other name or names as determined by the General Partner, including the name of the General Partner. The words "Limited Partnership," "LP," "Ltd." or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership's name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.


        Section 2.3
    Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices.     Unless and until changed by the General Partner, the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 100 Congress Avenue, Suite 450, Austin, Texas 78701, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be 100 Congress Avenue, Suite 450, Austin, Texas 78701, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.


        Section 2.4
    Purpose and Business.     The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to (a) engage directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the General Partner, in its sole discretion, and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity, and (b) do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member; provided, however, that the General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that the General Partner determines would be reasonably likely to cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve, and may, in its sole discretion, decline to propose or approve, the conduct by the Partnership of any business.


        Section 2.5
    Powers.     The Partnership shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described in Section 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership.

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        Section 2.6
    Term.     The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Limited Partnership in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII. The existence of the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Delaware Act.


        Section 2.7
    Title to Partnership Assets.     Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity and/or its Subsidiaries, and no Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership, the General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees, as the General Partner may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which record title is held in the name of the General Partner or one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees shall be held by the General Partner or such Affiliate or nominee for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to cause record title to such assets (other than those assets in respect of which the General Partner determines that the expense and difficulty of conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the Partnership impracticable) to be vested in the Partnership as soon as reasonably practicable; provided, further, that, prior to the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as soon thereafter as practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to effect the transfer of record title to the Partnership and, prior to any such transfer, will provide for the use of such assets in a manner satisfactory to the successor General Partner. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to such Partnership assets is held.


ARTICLE III.

RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

        Section 3.1    Limitation of Liability.     The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided in this Agreement or the Delaware Act.


        Section 3.2
    Management of Business.     No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Delaware Act) of the Partnership's business, transact any business in the Partnership's name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. Any action taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall not be deemed to be participating in the control of the business of the Partnership by a limited partner of the Partnership (within the meaning of Section 17-303(a) of the Delaware Act) and shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners under this Agreement.


        Section 3.3
    Outside Activities of the Limited Partners.     Subject to the provisions of Section 7.6, which shall continue to be applicable to the Persons referred to therein, regardless of whether such Persons shall also be Limited Partners, any Limited Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Partnership Group. Neither the Partnership nor any of the other Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner.

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        Section 3.4
    Rights of Limited Partners.     

        (a)   In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by applicable law (other than Section 17-305(a) of the Delaware Act, the obligations of which are to the fullest extent permitted by law expressly replaced in their entirety by the provisions below and Section 8.3), and except as limited by Sections 3.4(b) and 3.4(c), each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner's interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, the reasonableness of which having been determined by the General Partner, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand, and at such Limited Partner's own expense:

        (b)   The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set forth in this Section 3.4).

        (c)   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or Section 17-305 of the Delaware Act, each of the Partners, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement hereby agrees to the fullest extent permitted by law that they do not have rights to receive information from the Partnership or any Indemnitee for the purpose of determining whether to pursue litigation or assist in pending litigation against the Partnership or any Indemnitee relating to the affairs of the Partnership except pursuant to the applicable rules of discovery relating to litigation commenced by such Person.


ARTICLE IV.

CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

        Section 4.1    Certificates.     Notwithstanding anything otherwise to the contrary herein, unless the General Partner shall determine otherwise in respect of some or all of any or all classes of Partnership Interests, Partnership Interests shall not be evidenced by certificates. Certificates that may be issued shall be executed on behalf of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President of the General Partner and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the General Partner or any other authorized officer or director of the General Partner. If a Transfer Agent has been appointed for a class of Partnership Interests, no Certificate for such class of Partnership Interests shall be valid for any

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purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent; provided, however, that if the General Partner elects to cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests of such class in global form, the Certificate shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Partnership Interests have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership. Subject to the requirements of Section 6.7(c), if Common Units are evidenced by Certificates, on or after the date on which Subordinated Units are converted into Common Units pursuant to the terms of Section 5.7, the Record Holders of such Subordinated Units (i) if the Subordinated Units are evidenced by Certificates, may exchange such Certificates for Certificates evidencing Common Units or (ii) if the Subordinated Units are not evidenced by Certificates, shall be issued Certificates evidencing Common Units.


        Section 4.2
    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.     

        (a)   If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent, the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate evidencing the same number and type of Partnership Interests as the Certificate so surrendered.

        (b)   The appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign, a new Certificate in place of any Certificate previously issued if the Record Holder of the Certificate:

        If a Limited Partner fails to notify the General Partner within a reasonable period of time after such Limited Partner has notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a Certificate, and a transfer of the Limited Partner Interests represented by the Certificate is registered before the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent receives such notification, the Limited Partner shall be precluded from making any claim against the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent for such transfer or for a new Certificate.

        (c)   As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.2, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith.


        Section 4.3
    Record Holders.     The Partnership shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner with respect to any Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such Partnership Interest on the part of any other Person, regardless of whether the Partnership shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing

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corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such representative Person shall be (a) the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest and (b) bound by this Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of a Partner hereunder as, and to the extent, provided herein.


        Section 4.4
    Transfer Generally.     

        (a)   The term "transfer," when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall mean a transaction (i) by which the General Partner assigns its General Partner Interest to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise or (ii) by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is or becomes a Limited Partner, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise, excluding a pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage but including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.

        (b)   No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV. Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article IV shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, null and void.

        (c)   Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent a disposition by any stockholder, member, partner or other owner of the General Partner or any Limited Partner of any or all of the shares of stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests in the General Partner or Limited Partner and the term "transfer" shall not mean any such disposition.


        Section 4.5
    Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests.     

        (a)   The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Partnership a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the Partnership will provide for the registration and transfer of Limited Partner Interests.

        (b)   The Partnership shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are surrendered for registration of transfer. No charge shall be imposed by the General Partner for such transfer; provided, that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.5, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto. Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions hereof, the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder's instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered.

        (c)   By acceptance of the transfer of any Limited Partner Interests in accordance with this Section 4.5, each transferee of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to such Person when any such transfer is reflected in the books and records of the Partnership and such Limited Partner becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred, (ii) shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of

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this Agreement, (iii) represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and (iv) makes the consents, acknowledgements and waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.

        (d)   Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5, (ii) Section 4.3, (iii) Section 4.7, (iv) with respect to any class or series of Limited Partner Interests, the provisions of any statement of designations or an amendment to this Agreement establishing such class or series, (v) any contractual provisions binding on any Limited Partner and (vi) provisions of applicable law including the Securities Act, Limited Partner Interests shall be freely transferable.

        (e)   The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their Subordinated Units and Common Units (whether issued upon conversion of the Subordinated Units or otherwise) to one or more Persons.


        Section 4.6
    Transfer of the General Partner's General Partner Interest.     

        (a)   Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to September 30, 2022, the General Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest to a Person unless such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior written consent or vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) or (ii) is of all, but not less than all, of its General Partner Interest to (A) an Affiliate of the General Partner (other than an individual) or (B) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with the merger or consolidation of the General Partner with or into such other Person or the transfer by the General Partner of all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person.

        (b)   Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after September 30, 2022, the General Partner may at its option transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest without Unitholder approval.

        (c)   Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of all or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed) and (iii) such transferee also agrees to purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership or membership interest held by the General Partner as the general partner or managing member, if any, of each other Group Member. In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 4.6, the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of Section 10.2, be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner effective immediately prior to the transfer of the General Partner Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.


        Section 4.7
    Restrictions on Transfers.     

        (a)   Except as provided in Section 4.7(d) below, but notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV, no transfer of any Partnership Interests shall be made if such transfer would (i) violate the then applicable federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the Commission, any state securities commission or any other governmental authority with jurisdiction over such transfer, (ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, or (iii) cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).

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        (b)   The General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if it determines, with the advice of counsel, that such restrictions are necessary or advisable to (i) avoid a significant risk of the Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes or (ii) preserve the uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). The General Partner may impose such restrictions by amending this Agreement; provided, however, that any amendment that would result in the delisting or suspension of trading of any class of Limited Partner Interests on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is then listed or admitted to trading must be approved, prior to such amendment being effected, by the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of such class.

        (c)   The transfer of a Common Unit that has been issued upon conversion of a Subordinated Unit shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.7.

        (d)   Nothing contained in this Article IV, or elsewhere in this Agreement, shall preclude the settlement of any transactions involving Partnership Interests entered into through the facilities of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.

        (e)   Each certificate evidencing Partnership Interests shall bear a conspicuous legend in substantially the following form:

        THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). USA COMPRESSION GP, LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.


        Section 4.8
    Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees.     

        (a)   If any Group Member is or becomes subject to any federal, state or local law or regulation that the General Partner determines would create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which the Group Member has an interest based on the nationality, citizenship or other related status of a Limited Partner, the General Partner may request any Limited Partner to furnish to the General Partner, within 30 days after receipt of such request, an executed Citizenship Certification or such other information concerning his nationality, citizenship or other related status (or, if the Limited Partner is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, the nationality, citizenship or other related status of such Person) as the General Partner may request. If a Limited Partner fails to furnish to the General Partner within the aforementioned 30-day period such Citizenship Certification

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or other requested information or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other requested information the General Partner determines that a Limited Partner is not an Eligible Citizen, the Limited Partner Interests owned by such Limited Partner shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.9. In addition, the General Partner may require that the status of any such Limited Partner be changed to that of a Non-citizen Assignee and, thereupon, the General Partner shall be substituted for such Non-citizen Assignee as the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee's Limited Partner Interests.

        (b)   The General Partner shall, in exercising voting rights in respect of Limited Partner Interests held by it on behalf of Non-citizen Assignees, distribute the votes in the same ratios as the votes of Partners (including the General Partner) in respect of Limited Partner Interests other than those of Non-citizen Assignees are cast, either for, against or abstaining as to the matter.

        (c)   Upon dissolution of the Partnership, a Non-citizen Assignee shall have no right to receive a distribution in kind pursuant to Section 12.4 but shall be entitled to the cash equivalent thereof, and the Partnership shall provide cash in exchange for an assignment of the Non-citizen Assignee's share of any distribution in kind. Such payment and assignment shall be treated for Partnership purposes as a purchase by the Partnership from the Non-citizen Assignee of his Limited Partner Interest (representing his right to receive his share of such distribution in kind).

        (d)   At any time after he can and does certify that he has become an Eligible Citizen, a Non-citizen Assignee may, upon application to the General Partner, request that with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of such Non-citizen Assignee not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.9, such Non-citizen Assignee be admitted as a Limited Partner, and upon approval of the General Partner, such Non-citizen Assignee shall be admitted as a Limited Partner and shall no longer constitute a Non-citizen Assignee and the General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee's Limited Partner Interests.


        Section 4.9
    Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees.     

        (a)   If at any time a Limited Partner fails to furnish a Citizenship Certification or other information requested within the 30-day period specified in Section 4.8(a), or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other information the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner is not an Eligible Citizen, the Partnership may, unless the Limited Partner establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such Limited Partner is an Eligible Citizen or has transferred his Partnership Interests to a Person who is an Eligible Citizen and who furnishes a Citizenship Certification to the General Partner prior to the date fixed for redemption as provided below, redeem the Limited Partner Interest of such Limited Partner as follows.

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        (b)   The provisions of this Section 4.9 shall also be applicable to Limited Partner Interests held by a Limited Partner as nominee of a Person determined to be other than an Eligible Citizen.

        (c)   Nothing in this Section 4.9 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption from transferring his Limited Partner Interest before the redemption date if such transfer is otherwise permitted under this Agreement. Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the General Partner shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner that he is an Eligible Citizen. If the transferee fails to make such certification, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee on the original redemption date.


ARTICLE V.

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

        Section 5.1    General Partner and Limited Partner Interests.     Prior to the Closing Date, the General Partner acquired all of the general partner interests in the Partnership (the "Initial General Partner Interest") and was admitted as the general partner of the Partnership, and USA Compression Holdings acquired all of the limited partner interests in the Partnership (the "Initial Limited Partner Interest") and was admitted as a limited partner of the Partnership.


        Section 5.2
    Contributions by the General Partner and USA Compression Holdings.     

        (a)   Immediately prior to and contingent upon the closing of the Initial Offering, pursuant to this Agreement and without any further action by the General Partner or the Partnership, (i) the Initial General Partner Interest shall automatically be converted into a General Partner Interest equal to a [0]% Percentage Interest in the Partnership, and (ii) the Initial Limited Partner Interest shall automatically be converted into [    •    ] Common Units in the Partnership representing a Limited Partner Interest equal to a [    •    ]% Percentage Interest and [    •    ] Subordinated Units representing a Limited Partner Interest equal to a [    •    ]% Percentage Interest in the Partnership.

        (b)   On the Closing Date and pursuant to this Agreement: (i) USA Compression Holdings shall contribute to the General Partner, as a capital contribution to the General Partner, [    •    ] Common Units and (ii) the General Partner shall contribute to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, [    •    ] Common Units in exchange for (A) a General Partner Interest equal to a 2% Percentage Interest (after giving effect to the Initial Offering), subject to all of the rights, privileges and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement, and (B) the Incentive Distribution Rights.

        (c)   Upon the issuance of any additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership (other than the Common Units issued in the Initial Offering, the Common Units and Subordinated Units issued pursuant to Section 5.2(a) and Section 5.2(b), the Common Units issued upon conversion of the Subordinated Units and any Common Units issued pursuant to Section 5.11), the General Partner may, in order to maintain its Percentage Interest, make additional Capital Contributions in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the quotient determined by dividing (A) the General

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Partner's Percentage Interest by (B) 100 less the General Partner's Percentage Interest times (ii) the amount contributed to the Partnership by the Limited Partners in exchange for such additional Limited Partner Interests. Except as set forth in Section 12.8, the General Partner shall not be obligated to make any additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership.


        Section 5.3
    Contributions by Limited Partners.     

        (a)   On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, each Underwriter shall contribute cash to the Partnership in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units to each Underwriter, all as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

        (b)   Upon the exercise, if any, of the Over-Allotment Option, each Underwriter shall contribute cash to the Partnership in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units to each Underwriter, all as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

        (c)   No Limited Partner will be required to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.


        Section 5.4
    Interest and Withdrawal.     No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions. No Partner shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon liquidation of the Partnership may be considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner shall have priority over any other Partner either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions. Any such return shall be a compromise to which all Partners agree within the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.


        Section 5.5
    Capital Accounts.     

        (a)   The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of Partnership Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to the General Partner) owning a Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made to the Partnership with respect to such Partnership Interest and (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain (including income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1, and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made with respect to such Partnership Interest and (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1.

        (b)   For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction that is to be allocated pursuant to Article VI and is to be reflected in the Partners' Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for that purpose), provided, that:

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        (c)   (i) A transferee of a Partnership Interest shall succeed to a pro rata portion of the Capital Account of the transferor relating to the Partnership Interest so transferred.

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        (d)   (i) Consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, or the conversion of the General Partner's Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b), the Capital Account of each Partner and the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, and any such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss shall be treated, for purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts, as if it had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property for an amount equal to its fair market value immediately prior to such issuance and had been allocated among the Partners at such time pursuant to Section 6.1(c) and Section 6.1(d) in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized following an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have been allocated; provided, however, that in the event of an issuance of Partnership Interests for a de minimis amount of cash or Contributed Property, or in the event of an issuance of a de minimis amount of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the General Partner may determine that such adjustments are unnecessary for the proper administration of the Partnership. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests shall be determined by the General Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt. In making its determination of the fair market values of individual properties, the General Partner may determine that it is appropriate to first determine an aggregate value for the Partnership, based on the current trading price of the Common Units, and taking fully into account the fair market value of the Partnership Interests of all Partners at such time, and then allocate such aggregate value among the individual properties of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines appropriate).

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        Section 5.6
    Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests.     

        (a)   The Partnership may issue additional Partnership Interests and options, rights, warrants, appreciation rights and phantom or tracking interests relating to the Partnership Interests (including as described in Section 7.5(c)) for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as the General Partner shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited Partners.

        (b)   Each additional Partnership Interest authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.6(a) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes and series of Partnership Interests), as shall be fixed by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Partnership Interest (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Partnership Interest is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Partnership Interest will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Interest; and (viii) the right, if any, of the holder of each such Partnership Interest to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Interest.

        (c)   The General Partner shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Interests and options, rights, warrants, appreciation rights and phantom or tracking interests relating to Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.6 or Section 7.5(c), (ii) the conversion of the Combined Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the issuance of Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11, (iv) reflecting admission of such additional Limited Partners in the books and records of the Partnership as the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interest and (v) all additional issuances of Partnership Interests. The General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Interests being so issued. The General Partner shall do all things necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Interests or in connection with the conversion of the Combined Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.

        (d)   No fractional Units shall be issued by the Partnership.


        Section 5.7
    Conversion of Subordinated Units.     

        (a)   All of the Subordinated Units shall automatically convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis on the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect of the final Quarter of the Subordination Period.

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        (b)   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, all the then Outstanding Subordinated Units may convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis as set forth in, and pursuant to the terms of, Section 11.4.

        (c)   A Common Unit that has been issued upon conversion of a Subordinated Unit shall be subject to the provisions of Section 6.7.


        Section 5.8    Limited Preemptive Right.     Except as provided in this Section 5.8 and in Section 5.2 or as otherwise provided in a separate agreement by the Partnership, no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Interest, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created. The General Partner shall have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its Affiliates or the beneficial owners thereof or any of their respective Affiliates, to purchase Partnership Interests from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms that, the Partnership issues Partnership Interests to Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates or such beneficial owners or any of their respective Affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain the Percentage Interests of the General Partner and its Affiliates and such beneficial owners or any of their respective Affiliates equal to that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership Interests.


        Section 5.9
    Splits and Combinations.     

        (a)   Subject to Section 5.9(d), Section 6.6 and Section 6.9 (dealing with adjustments of distribution levels), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Interests to all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests so long as, after any such event, each Partner shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis (including any Common Unit Arrearage or Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage) or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted retroactive to the beginning of the Partnership's term.

        (b)   Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests is declared, the General Partner shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such Record Date to each Record Holder as of a date not less than 10 days prior to the date of such notice. The General Partner also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Partnership Interests to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The General Partner shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.

        (c)   Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may issue Certificates to the Record Holders of Partnership Interests as of the applicable Record Date representing the new number of Partnership Interests held by such Record Holders, or the General Partner may adopt such other procedures that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect such changes. If any such combination results in a smaller total number of Partnership Interests Outstanding, the Partnership shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of such new Certificate, the surrender of any Certificate held by such Record Holder immediately prior to such Record Date.

        (d)   The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of Section 5.6(d) and this Section 5.9(d), each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall be rounded to the next higher Unit).


        Section 5.10
    Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests.     All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article V shall be

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fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware Act.


        Section 5.11
    Issuance of Common Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights.     

        (a)   Subject to the provisions of this Section 5.11, the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right, at any time when there are no Subordinated Units outstanding and the Partnership has made a distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(b)(v) for each of the four most recently completed Quarters and the amount of each such distribution did not exceed Adjusted Operating Surplus for such Quarter, to make an election (the "IDR Reset Election") to cause the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions to be reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.11(e) and, in connection therewith, the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive their respective proportionate share of a number of Common Units (the "IDR Reset Common Units") derived by dividing (i) the average amount of cash distributions made by the Partnership for the two full Quarters immediately preceding the giving of the Reset Notice (as defined in Section 5.11(b)) in respect of the Incentive Distribution Rights by (ii) the average of the cash distributions made by the Partnership in respect of each Common Unit for the two full Quarters immediately preceding the giving of the Reset Notice (the "Reset MQD") (the number of Common Units determined by such quotient is referred to herein as the "Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units"). The Percentage Interest of the General Partner after the issuance of the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units shall equal the Percentage Interest of the General Partner prior to the issuance of the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and the General Partner shall not be obligated to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership in order to maintain its Percentage Interest in connection therewith, which Percentage Interest shall be represented by the number of Notional General Partner Units as is necessary to calculate such Percentage Interest. The making of the IDR Reset Election in the manner specified in Section 5.11(b) shall cause the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions to be reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.11(e) and, in connection therewith, the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive Common Units on the basis specified above, without any further approval required by the General Partner or the Unitholders, at the time specified in Section 5.11(c) unless the IDR Reset Election is rescinded pursuant to Section 5.11(d).

        (b)   To exercise the right specified in Section 5.11(a), the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall deliver a written notice (the "Reset Notice") to the Partnership. Within 10 Business Days after the receipt by the Partnership of such Reset Notice, the Partnership shall deliver a written notice to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights of the Partnership's determination of the aggregate number of Common Units which each holder of Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to receive.

        (c)   The holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to receive the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units on the fifteenth Business Day after receipt by the Partnership of the Reset Notice; provided, however, that the issuance of Common Units to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights shall not occur prior to the approval of the listing or admission for trading of such Common Units by the principal National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then listed or admitted for trading if any such approval is required pursuant to the rules and regulations of such National Securities Exchange.

        (d)   If the principal National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then traded has not approved the listing or admission for trading of the Common Units to be issued pursuant to this Section 5.11 on or before the 30th calendar day following the Partnership's receipt of the Reset

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Notice and such approval is required by the rules and regulations of such National Securities Exchange, then the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right to either rescind the IDR Reset Election or elect to receive other Partnership Interests having such terms as the General Partner may approve, with the approval of the Conflicts Committee, that will provide (i) the same economic value, in the aggregate, as the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units would have had at the time of the Partnership's receipt of the Reset Notice, as determined by the General Partner, and (ii) for the subsequent conversion of such Partnership Interests into Common Units within not more than 12 months following the Partnership's receipt of the Reset Notice upon the satisfaction of one or more conditions that are reasonably acceptable to the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights).

        (e)   The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution shall be adjusted at the time of the issuance of Common Units or other Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.11 such that (i) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution shall be reset to equal to the Reset MQD, (ii) the First Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 115% of the Reset MQD, (iii) the Second Target Distribution shall be reset to equal to 125% of the Reset MQD and (iv) the Third Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 150% of the Reset MQD.

        (f)    Upon the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11(a), the Capital Account maintained with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights shall (A) first, be allocated to IDR Reset Common Units in an amount equal to the product of (x) the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and (y) the Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit, and (B) second, any remaining balance in such Capital Account will be retained by the holder of the Incentive Distributions Rights. In the event that there is not a sufficient Capital Account associated with the Incentive Distribution Rights to allocate the full Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit to the IDR Reset Common Units in accordance with clause (A) of this Section 5.11(f), the IDR Reset Common Units shall be subject to Sections 6.1(d)(x)(B) and (C).


ARTICLE VI.

ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

        Section 6.1    Allocations for Capital Account Purposes.     For purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Partners among themselves, the Partnership's items of income, gain, loss and deduction (computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b)) for each taxable period shall be allocated among the Partners as provided herein below.


        (a)
    Net Income.     After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Income for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable period shall be allocated as follows:

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        (b)
    Net Loss.     After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Loss for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Loss for such taxable period shall be allocated as follows:


        (c)
    Net Termination Gains and Losses.     After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period shall be allocated in the manner set forth in this Section 6.1(c). All allocations under this Section 6.1(c) shall be made after Capital Account balances have been adjusted by all other allocations provided under this Section 6.1 and after all distributions of Available Cash provided under Section 6.4 and Section 6.5 have been made; provided, however, that solely for purposes of this Section 6.1(c) , Capital Accounts shall not be adjusted for distributions made pursuant to Section 12.4.

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        (d)
    Special Allocations.     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, the following special allocations shall be made for such taxable period:

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        Section 6.2
    Allocations for Tax Purposes.     

        (a)   Except as otherwise provided herein, for federal income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of "book" income, gain, loss or deduction is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1.

        (b)   In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, items of income, gain, loss, depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions shall be allocated for federal income tax purposes among the Partners in the manner provided under Section 704(c) of the Code, and the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code, as determined appropriate by the General Partner (taking into account the General Partner's discretion under Section 6.1(d)(x)(D)); provided, that the General Partner shall apply the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d) in all events.

        (c)   The General Partner may determine to depreciate or amortize the portion of an adjustment under Section 743(b) of the Code attributable to unrealized appreciation in any Adjusted Property (to the extent of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a predetermined rate derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity of such property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6) or any successor regulations thereto. If the General Partner determines that such reporting position cannot reasonably be taken, the General Partner may adopt depreciation and amortization conventions under which all purchasers acquiring Limited Partner Interests in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in the Partnership's property. If the General Partner chooses not to utilize such aggregate method, the General Partner may use any other depreciation and amortization conventions to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any Limited Partner Interests, so long as such conventions would not have a material adverse effect on the Limited Partners or the Record Holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests.

        (d)   In accordance with Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1245-1(e) and 1.1250-1(f), any gain allocated to the Partners upon the sale or other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset shall, to the extent possible, after taking into account other required allocations of gain pursuant to this Section 6.2, be characterized as Recapture Income in the same proportions and to the same extent as such Partners (or their predecessors in interest) have been allocated any deductions directly or indirectly giving rise to the treatment of such gains as Recapture Income.

        (e)   All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit recognized by the Partnership for federal income tax purposes and allocated to the Partners in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be determined without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code that may be made by the Partnership; provided, however, that such allocations, once made, shall be adjusted (in the manner determined by the General Partner) to take into account those adjustments permitted or required by Sections 734 and 743 of the Code.

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        (f)    Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction shall, for federal income tax purposes, be determined for each taxable period and prorated on a monthly basis and shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which the Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of each month; provided, however, such items for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the month in which the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full or the expiration of the Over-Allotment Option occurs shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which the Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of the next succeeding month; and provided, further, that gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of any assets of the Partnership or any other extraordinary item of income, gain, loss or deduction as determined by the General Partner, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which the Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of the month in which such item is recognized for federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation to the extent permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.

        (g)   Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Limited Partner under the provisions of this Article VI shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Limited Partner Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method determined by the General Partner.


        Section 6.3
    Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders.     

        (a)   Within 45 days following the end of each Quarter commencing with the Quarter ending on September 30, 2012, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to Partners as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner. The Record Date for the first distribution of Available Cash shall not be prior to the final closing of the Over-Allotment Option. All amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on any date from any source shall be deemed to be Operating Surplus until the sum of all amounts of Available Cash theretofore distributed by the Partnership to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.4 equals the Operating Surplus from the Closing Date through the close of the immediately preceding Quarter. Any remaining amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on such date shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.5, be deemed to be "Capital Surplus." Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, all distributions required to be made under this Agreement shall be made subject to Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Act and any other applicable law.

        (b)   Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a), in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, all cash received during or after the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs, other than from Working Capital Borrowings, shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4.

        (c)   Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the Partnership, directly or through any Transfer Agent or through any other Person or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Such payment shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Partnership's liability in respect of such payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason of an assignment or otherwise.

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        Section 6.4    Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus.     


        (a)
    During Subordination Period.     Available Cash with respect to any Quarter within the Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or 6.5 shall be distributed as follows, except as otherwise contemplated by Section 5.6 in respect of other Partnership Interests issued pursuant thereto:

provided, however, if the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.4(a)(vii).

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        (b)
    After Subordination Period.     Available Cash with respect to any Quarter after the Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or Section 6.5 shall be distributed as follows, except as otherwise contemplated by Section 5.6(b) in respect of additional Partnership Interests issued pursuant thereto:

provided, however, if the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.4(b)(v).


        Section 6.5
    Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus.     Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3(a) shall be distributed, unless the provisions of Section 6.3 require otherwise, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata, until the Minimum Quarterly Distribution has been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.6(a). Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus shall then be distributed (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (B) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner's Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage. Thereafter, all Available Cash shall be distributed as if it were Operating Surplus and shall be distributed in accordance with Section 6.4.


        Section 6.6
    Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels.     

        (a)   The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution, Third Target Distribution, Common Unit Arrearages and Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages shall be proportionately adjusted in the event of any distribution, combination or subdivision (whether effected by a distribution payable in Units or otherwise) of Units or other Partnership Interests in accordance with Section 5.9. In the event of a distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be from

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Capital Surplus, the then applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be reduced in the same proportion that the distribution had to the fair market value of the Common Units immediately prior to the announcement of the distribution. If the Common Units are publicly traded on a National Securities Exchange, the fair market value will be the Current Market Price before the ex-dividend date. If the Common Units are not publicly traded, the fair market value will be determined by the Board of Directors.

        (b)   The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall also be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5.11 and Section 6.9.


        Section 6.7
    Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units.     

        (a)   Except with respect to the right to vote on or approve matters requiring the vote or approval of a percentage of the holders of Outstanding Common Units and the right to participate in allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common Units, the holder of a Subordinated Unit shall have all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder; provided, however, that immediately upon the conversion of Subordinated Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7, the Unitholder holding a Subordinated Unit shall possess all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder with respect to such Common Units issued upon conversion of such Subordinated Units, including the right to vote as a Common Unitholder and the right to participate in allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common Units; provided, however, that such Common Units issued upon conversion of such Subordinated Units shall remain subject to the provisions of Sections 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x), 6.7(b) and 6.7(c).

        (b)   A Unitholder shall not be permitted to transfer a Subordinated Unit or a Common Unit that has been issued upon conversion of a Subordinated Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 (other than a transfer to an Affiliate) if the remaining balance in the transferring Unitholder's Capital Account with respect to the retained Subordinated Units or retained Common Units issued upon conversion of Subordinated Units would be negative after giving effect to the allocation under Section 5.5(c)(ii)(B).

        (c)   The Unitholder holding a Common Unit that has resulted from the conversion of a Subordinated Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 shall not be issued a Common Unit Certificate pursuant to Section 4.1, if the Common Units are evidenced by Certificates, and shall not be permitted to transfer such Common Unit to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the holder until such time as the General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that each such Common Unit should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics, in all material respects, to the intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics of an Initial Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.7(c), the General Partner may take whatever steps are required to provide economic uniformity to such Common Units in preparation for a transfer of such Common Units, including the application of Sections 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x) and 6.7(b); provided, however, that no such steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units.


        Section 6.8
    Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights.     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights (a) shall (i) possess the rights and obligations provided in this Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to Article III and Article VII and (ii) have a Capital Account as a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 and all other provisions related thereto and (b) shall not (i) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders of Outstanding Units, except as provided by law, (ii) be entitled to any distributions other than as provided in Sections 6.4 and 12.4 or (iii) be allocated items of income, gain, loss or deduction other than as specified in this Article VI.

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        Section 6.9
    Entity-Level Taxation.     If legislation is enacted or the official interpretation of existing legislation is modified by a governmental authority, which after giving effect to such enactment or modification, results in a Group Member becoming subject to federal, state or local or non-U.S. income or withholding taxes in excess of the amount of such taxes due from the Group Member prior to such enactment or modification (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any increase in the rate of such taxation applicable to the Group Member), then the General Partner may, in its sole discretion, reduce the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution by the amount of income or withholding taxes that are payable by reason of any such new legislation or interpretation (the "Incremental Income Taxes"), or any portion thereof selected by the General Partner, in the manner provided in this Section 6.9. If the General Partner elects to reduce the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution for any Quarter with respect to all or a portion of any Incremental Income Taxes, the General Partner shall estimate for such Quarter the Partnership Group's aggregate liability (the "Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount") for all (or the relevant portion of) such Incremental Income Taxes; provided that any difference between such estimate and the actual liability for Incremental Income Taxes (or the relevant portion thereof) for such Quarter may, to the extent determined by the General Partner, be taken into account in determining the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount with respect to each Quarter in which any such difference can be determined. For each such Quarter, the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be the product obtained by multiplying (a) the amounts therefor that are set out herein prior to the application of this Section 6.9 times (b) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) Available Cash with respect to such Quarter by (ii) the sum of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter and the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for such Quarter, as determined by the General Partner. For purposes of the foregoing, Available Cash with respect to a Quarter will be deemed reduced by the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for that Quarter.


ARTICLE VII.

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

        Section 7.1    Management.     

        (a)   The General Partner shall conduct, direct and manage all activities of the Partnership. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted to a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or that are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to Section 7.4, shall have full power and authority to do all things and on such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including the following:

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        (b)   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, the Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Partnership Interests or is otherwise bound by this Agreement hereby (i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this Agreement, the Underwriting Agreement and the other agreements described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement (collectively, the "Transaction Documents") (in each case other than this Agreement, without giving effect to any amendments, supplements or restatements after the date hereof); (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own or on behalf of the Partnership) is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in clause (i) of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners or the other Persons who may acquire an interest in Partnership Interests or are otherwise bound by this Agreement; and (iii) agrees that the execution, delivery or performance by the General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them of this Agreement or any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement (including the exercise by the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV) shall not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise.


        Section 7.2
    Replacement of Fiduciary Duties.     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that any provision of this Agreement (i) replaces, restricts or eliminates the duties (including fiduciary duties) that might otherwise, as a result of Delaware or other applicable law, be owed by the General Partner, the Board of Directors, any committee thereof or any other Indemnitee to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement, or (ii) constitutes a waiver or consent by the Partnership, the Limited Partners, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement to any such replacement, restriction or elimination, such provision is hereby approved by the Partnership, all the Partners, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and each other Person who is bound by this Agreement.


        Section 7.3
    Certificate of Limited Partnership.     The General Partner has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent the General Partner determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 3.4(a), the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.


        Section 7.4
    Restrictions on the General Partner's Authority.     Except as provided in Article XII and Article XIV, the General Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude or limit the General Partner's ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a

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security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance.


        Section 7.5
    Reimbursement of the General Partner.     

        (a)   Except as provided in this Section 7.5 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as a general partner or managing member of any Group Member.

        (b)   The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person, including Affiliates of the General Partner, to perform services for the Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership Group), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Partnership Group or otherwise incurred by the General Partner in connection with operating the Partnership Group's business (including expenses allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates). The General Partner shall determine the expenses that are allocable to the General Partner or the Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.5 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.8.

        (c)   The General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership benefit plans, programs and practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Interests or options to purchase or rights, warrants or appreciation rights or phantom or tracking interests relating to Partnership Interests), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests in connection with, or pursuant to, any benefit plan, program or practice maintained or sponsored by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in each case for the benefit of employees and directors of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Interests that the General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any employees and directors pursuant to any such benefit plans, programs or practices. Expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Interests purchased by the General Partner or such Affiliates, from the Partnership, to fulfill options or awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 7.5(b). Any and all obligations of the General Partner under any benefit plans, programs or practices adopted by the General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.5(c) shall constitute obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner's General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6.

        (d)   The General Partner and its Affiliates may charge any member of the Partnership Group a management fee to the extent necessary to allow the Partnership Group to reduce the amount of any state franchise or income tax or any tax based upon the revenues or gross margin of any member of the Partnership Group if the tax benefit produced by the payment of such management fee or fees exceeds the amount of such fee or fees.

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        Section 7.6    Outside Activities.     

        (a)   The General Partner, for so long as it is the General Partner of the Partnership (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as a general partner or managing member, as the case may be, of the Partnership and any other partnership or limited liability company of which the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner or member and to undertake activities that are ancillary or related thereto (including being a Limited Partner in the Partnership) and (ii) shall not engage in any business or activity or incur any debts or liabilities except in connection with or incidental to (A) its performance as general partner or managing member, if any, of one or more Group Members or as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, (B) the acquiring, owning or disposing of debt securities or equity interests in any Group Member or (C) the guarantee of, and mortgage, pledge, or encumbrance of any or all of its assets in connection with, any indebtedness of any Affiliate of the General Partner.

        (b)   Each Unrestricted Person (other than the General Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to any Group Member or any Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement. None of any Group Member, any Limited Partner or any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, or the partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any Unrestricted Person.

        (c)   Subject to the terms of Sections 7.6(a) and (b), but otherwise notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in competitive activities by any Unrestricted Person (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.6 is hereby approved by the Partnership, all Partners, and all other Persons bound by this Agreement, (ii) it shall not be a breach of any fiduciary duty or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of the General Partner or any other Unrestricted Person for the Unrestricted Persons (other than the General Partner) to engage in such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Partnership or any other Group Member and (iii) the Unrestricted Persons shall have no obligation hereunder or as a result of any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to present business opportunities to the Partnership or any other Group Member. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to any Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner). No Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for any Group Member, shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to any Group Member, and such Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) shall not be liable to the Partnership, any Limited Partner, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement for breach of any fiduciary or other duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise by reason of the fact that such Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) pursues or acquires for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to any Group Member; provided such Unrestricted Person does not engage in such business or activity as a result of or using confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the Partnership to such Unrestricted Person.

        (d)   The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Interests in addition to those acquired on the Closing Date and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option, all rights relating to all Units and/or other Partnership Interests acquired by them. The term "Affiliates" when used in this Section 7.6(d) with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member.

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        (e)   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall limit or otherwise affect any separate contractual obligations outside of this Agreement of any Person (including any Unrestricted Person) to the Partnership or any of its Affiliates.


        Section 7.7
    Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members.     

        (a)   The General Partner or any of its Affiliates may, but shall be under no obligation to, lend to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, funds needed or desired by the Group Member for such periods of time and in such amounts as the General Partner may determine; provided, however, that in any such case the lending party may not charge the borrowing party interest at a rate greater than the rate that would be charged the borrowing party or impose terms materially less favorable to the borrowing party than would be charged or imposed on the borrowing party by unrelated lenders on comparable loans made on an arm's-length basis (without reference to the lending party's financial abilities or guarantees), all as determined by the General Partner. The borrowing party shall reimburse the lending party for any costs (other than any additional interest costs) incurred by the lending party in connection with the borrowing of such funds. For purposes of this Section 7.7(a) and Section 7.7(b), the term "Group Member" shall include any Affiliate of a Group Member that is controlled by the Group Member.

        (b)   The Partnership may lend or contribute to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the Partnership, funds on terms and conditions determined by the General Partner. No Group Member may lend funds to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than another Group Member).

        (c)   No borrowing by any Group Member or the approval thereof by the General Partner shall be deemed to constitute a breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, of the General Partner or its Affiliates to the Partnership or the Limited Partners by reason of the fact that the purpose or effect of such borrowing is directly or indirectly to (i) enable distributions to the General Partner or its Affiliates (including in their capacities as Limited Partners) to exceed the General Partner's Percentage Interest of the total amount distributed to all Partners or (ii) hasten the expiration of the Subordination Period or the conversion of any Subordinated Units into Common Units.


        Section 7.8
    Indemnification.     

        (a)   To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership on an after tax basis from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee and acting (or refraining to act) in such capacity on behalf of or for the benefit of the Partnership; provided, that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless pursuant to this Agreement if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee's conduct was unlawful; provided, further, no indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.8 shall be available to any Affiliate of the General Partner (other than a Group Member), or to any other Indemnitee, with respect to any such Affiliate's obligations pursuant to the Transaction Documents. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.8 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that the General Partner shall not be personally liable for such

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indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.

        (b)   To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.8(a) in appearing at, participating in or defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Partnership of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be ultimately determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized by this Section 7.8.

        (c)   The indemnification provided by this Section 7.8 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests entitled to vote, as a matter of law, in equity or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee's capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity (including any capacity under the Underwriting Agreement), and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.

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

        (e)   For purposes of this Section 7.8, the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute "fines" within the meaning of Section 7.8(a); and action taken or omitted by it with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Partnership.

        (f)    In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

        (g)   An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 7.8 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

        (h)   The provisions of this Section 7.8 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees and their heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.

        (i)    No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Partnership, nor the obligations of the Partnership to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.8 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to

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matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

        (j)    If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification is being sought) or advancement of expenses under this Section 7.8 is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after a written claim therefor by any Indemnitee has been received by the Partnership, such Indemnitee may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim, including reasonable attorneys' fees. In any such action the Partnership shall have the burden of proving that such Indemnitee is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

        (k)   This Section 7.8 shall not limit the right of the Partnership, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to, and purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, Persons other than Indemnitees.


        Section 7.9
    Liability of Indemnitees.     

        (a)   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee, including any breach of contract (including breach of this Agreement) or any breach of duties (including breach of fiduciary duties) whether arising hereunder, at law, in equity or otherwise unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee's conduct was criminal. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Limited Partners, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement waives any and all rights to claim punitive damages or damages based upon the Federal, State or other income taxes paid or payable by any such Limited Partner or other Person.

        (b)   Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section 7.1(a), the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and neither the General Partner nor any other Indemnitee shall be responsible for any misconduct, negligence or wrong doing on the part of any such agent appointed by the General Partner or any such Indemnitee in good faith.

        (c)   To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership, the Partners, any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest, or any other Person bound by this Agreement, the General Partner and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the Partnership's business or affairs shall not be liable to the Partnership, to any Partner, or to any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest, or any other Person bound by this Agreement for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.

        (d)   Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.9 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of the Indemnitees under this Section 7.9 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.


        Section 7.10
    Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties.     

        (a)   Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner (in its individual

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capacity or its capacity as general partner, limited partner or holder of Incentive Distribution Rights) or any of its Affiliates or Associates or any Indemnitee, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member or any Partner, on the other, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates or Associates or any Indemnitee in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty hereunder or existing at law, in equity or otherwise, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of holders of a majority of the Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), (iii) on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv) fair and reasonable to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership). The General Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval or Unitholder approval of such resolution, and the General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval or Unitholder approval. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or applicable law, if Special Approval is sought or obtained, then it shall be conclusively deemed that, in making its decision, the Conflicts Committee acted in good faith, and if neither Special Approval nor Unitholder approval is sought or obtained and the Board of Directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) above, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Board of Directors acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or any other Limited Partner or the Partnership challenging such approval, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming such presumption. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or equity, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in the Registration Statement and any actions of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates or Associates or any other Indemnitee taken in connection therewith are hereby approved by all Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or of any duty hereunder or existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

        (b)   Whenever the General Partner, the Board of Directors or any committee thereof (including the Conflicts Committee), makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any Affiliate, Associate or Indemnitee of the General Partner causes the General Partner to do so, in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity, whether under this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, the Board of Directors, such committee, or such Affiliate, Associate or Indemnitee causing the General Partner to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any other or different standards (including fiduciary standards) imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. A determination or other action or inaction will conclusively be deemed to be in "good faith" for all purposes of this Agreement, if the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action subjectively believe that the determination or other action or inaction is in the best interests of the Partnership Group; provided, that if the Board of Directors is making a determination or taking or declining to take an action pursuant to clause (iii) or clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 7.10(a), then in lieu thereof, such determination or other action or inaction will conclusively be deemed to be in "good faith" for all purposes of this Agreement if the members of the Board of Directors making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action subjectively believe that the determination or other action or inaction meets the standard set forth in clause (iii) or clause (iv) of the first sentence of

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Section 7.10(a), as applicable; provided further, that if the Board of Directors is making a determination that a director satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a member of a Conflicts Committee, then in lieu thereof, such determination will conclusively be deemed to be in "good faith" for all purposes of this Agreement if the members of the Board of Directors making such determination subjectively believe that the director satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a member of the Conflicts Committee. In any proceeding brought by the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or any other Person who is bound by this Agreement challenging such action, determination or inaction, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of proving that such determination, action or inaction was not in good faith.

        (c)   Whenever the General Partner (including the Board of Directors or any committee thereof) makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates or Associates or any Indemnitee causes it to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner, the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, or such Affiliates or Associates or any Indemnitee causing it to do so, are entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any duty (including any fiduciary or other duty) existing at law, in equity or otherwise or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner, any other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and any other Person bound by this Agreement, and the General Partner, the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, or such Affiliates or Associates or any Indemnitee causing it to do so, shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrases, "at the option of the General Partner," "in its sole discretion" or some variation of those phrases, are used in this Agreement, it indicates that the General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Partnership Interests, or refrains from voting or transferring its Partnership Interests, or otherwise acts in its capacity as a limited partner or holder of Limited Partner Interests, it shall be acting in its individual capacity.

        (d)   The General Partner's organizational documents may provide that determinations to take or decline to take any action in its individual, rather than representative, capacity may or shall be determined by its members, if the General Partner is a limited liability company, stockholders, if the General Partner is a corporation, or the members or stockholders of the General Partner's general partner, if the General Partner is a limited partnership.

        (e)   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the General Partner or any other Indemnitee shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business or (ii) permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the General Partner and its Affiliates, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with such use. Any determination by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter into such contracts shall be in its sole discretion.

        (f)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or otherwise applicable provision of law or in equity, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, none of the General Partner, the Board of Directors, any committee thereof or any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement, and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the General Partner or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity,

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are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of the General Partner or such other Indemnitee.

        (g)   The Limited Partners, each Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and each other Person who is bound by this Agreement, hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership as a partner or member of a Group Member, to approve actions by the general partner or managing member of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the General Partner pursuant to this Section 7.10.

        (h)   The Limited Partners expressly acknowledge that the General Partner is under no obligation to consider the separate interests of the Limited Partners (including, without limitation, the tax consequences to Limited Partners based on their particular circumstances) in deciding whether to cause the Partnership to take (or decline to take) any actions, and that the General Partner shall not be liable to the Limited Partners for monetary damages or equitable relief for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by Limited Partners in connection with such decisions.


        Section 7.11
    Other Matters Concerning the General Partner.     

        (a)   The General Partner and any other Indemnitee may rely upon, and shall be protected from liability to the Partnership, any Limited Partner, any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest, and any other Person bound by this Agreement in acting or refraining from acting upon, any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

        (b)   The General Partner and any other Indemnitee may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers selected by it, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the advice or opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the General Partner or such Indemnitee reasonably believes to be within such Person's professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.

        (c)   The General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers, a duly appointed attorney or attorneys-in-fact or the duly authorized officers of the Partnership.


        Section 7.12
    Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests.     The General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Interests or options, rights, warrants, appreciation rights or phantom or tracking interests relating to Partnership Interests; provided that, except as permitted pursuant to Section 4.9, the General Partner may not cause any Group Member to purchase Subordinated Units during the Subordination Period. As long as Partnership Interests are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Interests shall not be considered Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein. The General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner may also purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Partnership Interests for its own account, subject to the provisions of Articles IV and X.

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        Section 7.13    Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates.     

        (a)   If (i) the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner (including, for purposes of this Section 7.13, any Person that is an Affiliate of the General Partner at the Closing Date notwithstanding that it may later cease to be an Affiliate of the General Partner, but excluding any individual who is an Affiliate of the General Partner based on such individual's status as an officer, director or employee of the General Partner or of an Affiliate of the General Partner) holds Partnership Interests that it desires to sell and (ii) Rule 144 of the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from registration is not available to enable such holder of Partnership Interests (the "Holder") to dispose of the number of Partnership Interests it desires to sell at the time it desires to do so without registration under the Securities Act, then at the option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a period of not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Partnership Interests covered by such registration statement have been sold, a registration statement under the Securities Act registering the offering and sale of the number of Partnership Interests specified by the Holder; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to effect more than four registrations in total pursuant to this Section 7.13(a) and Section 7.13(b), no more than two of which shall be required to be made at any time that the Partnership is not eligible to use Form S-3 (or a comparable form) for the registration under the Securities Act of its securities; and provided further, however, that if the Conflicts Committee determines that the requested registration would be materially detrimental to the Partnership and its Partners because such registration would (x) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, reorganization or other similar transaction involving the Partnership, (y) require premature disclosure of material information that the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential or (z) render the Partnership unable to comply with requirements under applicable securities laws, then the Partnership shall have the right to postpone such requested registration for a period of not more than six months after receipt of the Holder's request, such right pursuant to this Section 7.13(a) or Section 7.13(b) not to be utilized more than once in any twelve-month period. In connection with any registration pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 7.13(a), the Partnership shall (i) promptly prepare and file (A) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to such registration under the securities laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably request; provided, however, that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation or partnership doing business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of such registration, and (B) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership Interests subject to such registration on such National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request and (ii) do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or appropriate to enable the Holder to consummate a public sale of such Partnership Interests in such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.13(d), all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.

        (b)   If any Holder holds Partnership Interests that it desires to sell and Rule 144 of the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from registration is not available to enable such Holder to dispose of the number of Partnership Interests it desires to sell at the time it desires to do so without registration under the Securities Act, then at the option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a period of not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Partnership Interests covered by such shelf registration statement have been sold, a "shelf" registration statement covering the Partnership Interests specified by the

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Holder on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to effect more than four registrations pursuant to Section 7.13(a) and this Section 7.13(b); and provided further, however, that if the Conflicts Committee determines that any offering under, or the use of any prospectus forming a part of, the shelf registration statement would be materially detrimental to the Partnership and its Partners because such offering or use would (x) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, reorganization or other similar transaction involving the Partnership, (y) require premature disclosure of material information that the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential or (z) render the Partnership unable to comply with requirements under applicable securities laws, then the Partnership shall have the right to suspend such offering or use for a period of not more than six months after receipt of the Holder's request, such right pursuant to Section 7.13(a) or this Section 7.13(b) not to be utilized more than once in any twelve-month period. In connection with any shelf registration pursuant to this Section 7.13(b), the Partnership shall (i) promptly prepare and file (A) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to such shelf registration under the securities laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably request; provided, however, that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation or partnership doing business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of such shelf registration, and (B) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership Interests subject to such shelf registration on such National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request, and (ii) do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or appropriate to enable the Holder to consummate a public sale of such Partnership Interests in such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.13(d), all costs and expenses of any such shelf registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.

        (c)   If the Partnership shall at any time propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act for an offering of equity securities of the Partnership for cash (other than an offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan), the Partnership shall notify each Holder that is an Affiliate of the Partnership at the time of such proposal and use all reasonable efforts to include such number or amount of securities held by such Holder in such registration statement as it shall request; provided, that the Partnership is not required to make any effort or take any action to so include the securities of such Holder once the registration statement is declared effective by the Commission or otherwise becomes effective, including any registration statement providing for the offering from time to time of securities pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act. If the proposed offering pursuant to this Section 7.13(c) shall be an underwritten offering, then, in the event that the managing underwriter or managing underwriters of such offering advise the Partnership and such Holder in writing that in their opinion the inclusion of all or some of the Holder's Partnership Interests would have a material adverse effect on the success of the offering, the Partnership shall include in such offering only that number or amount, if any, of securities held by such Holder that, in the opinion of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, will not have a material adverse effect on the success of the offering. Except as set forth in Section 7.13(d), all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by such Holder.

        (d)   If underwriters are engaged in connection with any registration referred to in this Section 7.13, the Partnership shall provide indemnification, representations, covenants, opinions and other assurance to the underwriters in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such underwriters. Further, in addition to and not in limitation of the Partnership's obligation under Section 7.8, the Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold harmless the Holder, its officers, directors and each Person who controls the Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent thereof (collectively, "Indemnified Persons") from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,

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liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnified Person may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, under the Securities Act or otherwise (hereinafter referred to in this Section 7.13(d) as a "claim" and in the plural as "claims") based upon, arising out of or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement under which any Partnership Interests were registered under the Securities Act or any state securities or Blue Sky laws, in any preliminary prospectus (if used prior to the effective date of such registration statement), or in any summary or final prospectus or any free writing prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising out of, based upon or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be liable to any Indemnified Person to the extent that any such claim arises out of, is based upon or results from an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, such preliminary, summary or final prospectus or any free writing prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

        (e)   The provisions of Section 7.13(a), Section 7.13(b) and Section 7.13(c) shall continue to be applicable with respect to the General Partner (and any of the General Partner's Affiliates) after it ceases to be a general partner of the Partnership, during a period of two years subsequent to the effective date of such cessation and for so long thereafter as is required for the Holder to sell all of the Partnership Interests with respect to which it has requested during such two-year period inclusion in a registration statement otherwise filed or that a registration statement be filed; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to file successive registration statements covering the same Partnership Interests for which registration was demanded during such two-year period. The provisions of Section 7.13(d) shall continue in effect thereafter.

        (f)    The rights to cause the Partnership to register Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 7.13 may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee of such Partnership Interests, provided (i) the Partnership is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee and the Partnership Interests with respect to which such registration rights are being assigned and (ii) such transferee agrees in writing to be bound by and subject to the terms set forth in this Section 7.13.

        (g)   Any request to register Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 7.13 shall (i) specify the Partnership Interests intended to be offered and sold by the Person making the request, (ii) express such Person's present intent to offer such Partnership Interests for distribution, (iii) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Partnership Interests and (iv) contain the undertaking of such Person to provide all such information and materials regarding such Person and take all action as may be required in order to permit the Partnership to comply with all applicable requirements in connection with the registration of such Partnership Interests.


        Section 7.14
    Reliance by Third Parties.     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner and any officer of the General Partner authorized by the General Partner to act on behalf of and in the name of the Partnership has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Partnership and to enter into any authorized contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner or any such officer as if it were the Partnership's sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General

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Partner or any such officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.


ARTICLE VIII.

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

        Section 8.1    Records and Accounting.     The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership's business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to Section 3.4(a). Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business, including the record of the Record Holders of Units or other Partnership Interests, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided, that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Partnership shall not be required to keep books maintained on a cash basis and the General Partner shall be permitted to calculate cash-based measures, including Operating Surplus and Adjusted Operating Surplus, by making such adjustments to its accrual basis books to account for non-cash items and other adjustments as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.


        Section 8.2
    Fiscal Year.     The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending December 31.


        Section 8.3
    Section 8.3 Reports.     

        (a)   As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means, to each Record Holder of a Unit as of a date selected by the General Partner, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner.

        (b)   As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 45 days after the close of each Quarter except the last Quarter of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the General Partner, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

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        (c)   The General Partner shall be deemed to have made a report available to each Record Holder as required by this Section 8.3 if it has either (i) filed such report with the Commission via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system and such report is publicly available on such system or (ii) made such report available on any publicly available website maintained by the Partnership.


ARTICLE IX.

TAX MATTERS

        Section 9.1    Tax Returns and Information.     The Partnership shall timely file all returns of the Partnership that are required for federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and the taxable period or years that it is required by law to adopt, from time to time, as determined by the General Partner. In the event the Partnership is required to use a taxable period other than a year ending on December 31, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to change the taxable period of the Partnership to a year ending on December 31. The tax information reasonably required by Record Holders for federal and state income tax reporting purposes with respect to a taxable period shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnership's taxable period ends. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes.


        Section 9.2
    Tax Elections.     

        (a)   The Partnership shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of the right to seek to revoke any such election upon the General Partner's determination that such revocation is in the best interests of the Limited Partners. Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained, for the purposes of computing the adjustments under Section 743(b) of the Code, the General Partner shall be authorized (but not required) to adopt a convention whereby the price paid by a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest will be deemed to be the lowest quoted closing price of the Limited Partner Interests on any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 6.2(f) without regard to the actual price paid by such transferee.

        (b)   Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall determine whether the Partnership should make any other elections permitted by the Code.


        Section 9.3
    Tax Controversies.     Subject to the provisions hereof, the General Partner is designated as the Tax Matters Partner (as defined in the Code) and is authorized and required to represent the Partnership (at the Partnership's expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership's affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the General Partner to conduct such proceedings.


        Section 9.4
    Withholding; Tax Payments.     

        (a)   The General Partner may treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of all or less than all of the Partners, either as a distribution of cash to such Partners or as a general expense of the Partnership, as determined appropriate under the circumstances by the General Partner.

        (b)   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law

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including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code or established under any foreign law. To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner (including by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the General Partner may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.3 or Section 12.4(c) in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.


ARTICLE X.

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

        Section 10.1    Admission of Limited Partners.     

        (a)   Upon the issuance by the Partnership of the Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights and the Common Units to the General Partner, USA Compression Holdings and the Underwriters as described in Article V in connection with the Initial Offering, to the extent not already admitted, such parties shall be automatically admitted to the Partnership as Limited Partners in respect of the Common Units, Subordinated Units or Incentive Distribution Rights or Common Units issued to them, all with or without execution of this Agreement.

        (b)   By acceptance of the transfer of any Limited Partner Interests in accordance with Article IV or the acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to Article V or pursuant to a merger or consolidation or conversion pursuant to Article XIV, each transferee of, or other such Person acquiring, a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred or issued to such Person when any such transfer or admission is reflected in the books and records of the Partnership and such Limited Partner becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred, (ii) shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) represents that the transferee or other recipient has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and (iv) makes the consents, acknowledgements and waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any additional or successor Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement. A Person may become a Limited Partner or Record Holder of a Limited Partner Interest without the consent or approval of any of the Partners. A Person may not become a Limited Partner without acquiring a Limited Partner Interest and until such Person is reflected in the books and records of the Partnership as the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interest.

        (c)   The name and mailing address of each Limited Partner shall be listed on the books and records of the Partnership maintained for such purpose by the Partnership or the Transfer Agent. The General Partner shall update the books and records of the Partnership from time to time as necessary to reflect accurately the information therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do so, as applicable). A Limited Partner Interest may be represented by a Certificate, as provided in Section 4.1.

        (d)   Any transfer of a Limited Partner Interest shall not entitle the transferee to share in the profits and losses, to receive distributions, to receive allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit or any similar item or to any other rights to which the transferor was entitled until the transferee becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.1(b).


        Section 10.2
    Admission of Successor General Partner.     A successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective immediately prior to the withdrawal or

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removal of the predecessor or transferring General Partner, pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2 or the transfer of the General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6, provided, however, that no such successor shall be admitted to the Partnership until compliance with the terms of Section 4.6 has occurred and such successor has executed and delivered such other documents or instruments as may be required to effect such admission. Any such successor is hereby authorized to, and shall, subject to the terms hereof, carry on the business of the members of the Partnership Group without dissolution.


        Section 10.3
    Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership.     To effect the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take all steps necessary or appropriate under the Delaware Act to amend the records of the Partnership to reflect such admission and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practicable an amendment to this Agreement and, if required by law, the General Partner shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership.


ARTICLE XI.

WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

        Section 11.1    Withdrawal of the General Partner.     

        (a)   The General Partner shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Partnership upon the occurrence of any one of the following events (each such event herein referred to as an "Event of Withdrawal"):

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        If an Event of Withdrawal specified in Section 11.1(a)(iv), (v) or (vi)(A), (B), (C) or (E) occurs, the withdrawing General Partner shall give notice to the Limited Partners within 30 days after such occurrence. The Partners hereby agree that only the Events of Withdrawal described in this Section 11.1 shall result in the withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership.

        (b)   Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i) at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 11:59 p.m., prevailing Central Time, on September 30, 2022, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days' advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners; provided, that prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, the withdrawal is approved by Unitholders holding at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) and the General Partner delivers to the Partnership an Opinion of Counsel ("Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel") that such withdrawal (following the selection of the successor General Partner) would not result in the loss of the limited liability under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner or cause any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed); (ii) at any time after 11:59 p.m., prevailing Central Time, on September 30, 2022, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days' advance notice to the Unitholders, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice; (iii) at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii) or is removed pursuant to Section 11.2; or (iv) notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, at any time that the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days' advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such notice is given one Person and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) own beneficially or of record or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units. The withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), the holders of a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner who shall be admitted as a general partner of the Partnership upon the effective date of such withdrawal. The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If, prior to the effective date of the General Partner's withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), a successor is not selected by the Unitholders as provided herein or the Partnership does not receive a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel, the Partnership shall be dissolved in accordance with Section 12.1 unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.2.


        Section 11.2
    Removal of the General Partner.     The General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by the Unitholders holding at least 662/3% of the Outstanding Units (including Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) voting as a single class. Any such action by such holders for removal of the General Partner must also provide for the election of a successor General Partner by the Unitholders holding a majority of the outstanding Common Units, voting as a class, and a majority of the outstanding Subordinated Units, voting as a class (including, in each case, Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates). Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 10.2. The removal of the General Partner shall also automatically constitute the removal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If a Person is elected as a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2, such Person shall, upon admission pursuant to

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Section 10.2, automatically become a successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. The right of the holders of Outstanding Units to remove the General Partner shall not exist or be exercised unless the Partnership has received an opinion opining as to the matters covered by a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.2.


        Section 11.3
    Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner.     

        (a)   In the event of (i) withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement or (ii) removal of the General Partner by the holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist, if the successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, the Departing General Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal or removal of such Departing General Partner, to require its successor to purchase its General Partner Interest and its or its Affiliates' or beneficial owners' general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members and all of its or its Affiliates' Incentive Distribution Rights (collectively, the "Combined Interest") in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of the effective date of its withdrawal or removal. If the General Partner is removed by the Unitholders under circumstances where Cause exists or if the General Partner withdraws under circumstances where such withdrawal violates this Agreement, and if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner), such successor shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal or removal of such Departing General Partner (or, in the event the business of the Partnership is continued, prior to the date the business of the Partnership is continued), to purchase the Combined Interest for such fair market value of such Combined Interest. In either event, the Departing General Partner shall be entitled to receive all reimbursements due such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 7.5, including any employee-related liabilities (including severance liabilities), incurred in connection with the termination of any employees employed by the Departing General Partner or its Affiliates (other than any Group Member) for the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.

        For purposes of this Section 11.3(a), the fair market value of the Combined Interest shall be determined by agreement between the Departing General Partner and its successor or, failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of such Departing General Partner's withdrawal or removal, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the Departing General Partner and its successor, which, in turn, may rely on other experts, and the determination of which shall be conclusive as to such matter. If such parties cannot agree upon one independent investment banking firm or other independent expert within 45 days after the effective date of such withdrawal or removal, then the Departing General Partner shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, the Departing General Partner's successor shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, and such firms or experts shall mutually select a third independent investment banking firm or independent expert, which third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert shall determine the fair market value of the Combined Interest. In making its determination, such third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert shall consider the value of the Units, including the then current trading price of Units on any National Securities Exchange on which Units are then listed or admitted to trading, the value of the Partnership's assets, the rights and obligations of the Departing General Partner (including an appropriate "control premium"), the value of the Incentive Distribution Rights and the General Partner Interest and other factors it may deem relevant.

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        (b)   If the Combined Interest is not purchased in the manner set forth in Section 11.3(a), the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) shall become a Limited Partner and the Combined Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a valuation made by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected pursuant to Section 11.3(a), without reduction in such Partnership Interest (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of the admission of its successor). Any successor General Partner shall indemnify the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on which the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest to Common Units will be characterized as if the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) contributed the Combined Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.

        (c)   If a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner) and the option described in Section 11.3(a) is not exercised by the party entitled to do so, the successor General Partner shall, at the effective date of its admission to the Partnership, contribute to the Partnership cash in the amount equal to the product of (x) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner by (B) a percentage equal to 100% less the Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner and (y) the Net Agreed Value of the Partnership's assets on such date. In such event, such successor General Partner shall, subject to the following sentence, be entitled to its Percentage Interest of all Partnership allocations and distributions to which the Departing General Partner was entitled. In addition, the successor General Partner shall cause this Agreement to be amended to reflect that, from and after the date of such successor General Partner's admission, the successor General Partner's interest in all Partnership distributions and allocations shall be its Percentage Interest.


        Section 11.4
    Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.     Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, if the General Partner is removed as general partner of the Partnership under circumstances where Cause does not exist:

        (a)   the Subordinated Units held by any Person will immediately and automatically convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis, provided (i) neither such Person nor any of its Affiliates voted any of its Units in favor of the removal and (ii) such Person is not an Affiliate of the successor General Partner; and

        (b)   if all of the Subordinated Units convert into Common Units pursuant to Section 11.4(a), all Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages on the Common Units will be extinguished and the Subordination Period will end;

provided, however, that such converted Subordinated Units shall remain subject to the provisions of Sections 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x) and 6.7.


        Section 11.5
    Withdrawal of Limited Partners.     No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided, however, that when a transferee of a Limited Partner's Limited Partner Interest becomes a Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interest so transferred, such transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interest so transferred.

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ARTICLE XII.

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

        Section 12.1    Dissolution.     The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the removal or withdrawal of the General Partner, if a successor General Partner is elected pursuant to Section 11.1, 11.2 or 12.2, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such successor General Partner is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue the business of the Partnership. Subject to Section 12.2, the Partnership shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

        (a)   an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a) (other than Section 11.1(a)(ii)), unless a successor is elected and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement;

        (b)   an election to dissolve the Partnership by the General Partner that is approved by the holders of a Unit Majority;

        (c)   the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act; or

        (d)   at any time there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued without dissolution in accordance with the Delaware Act.


        Section 12.2
    Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution.     

        Upon (a) an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a)(i) or (iii) and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, then within 90 days thereafter, or (b) an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in Section 11.1(a)(iv), (v) or (vi), then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a Unit Majority may elect to continue the business of the Partnership on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement by appointing, effective as of the date of the Event of Withdrawal, as a successor General Partner a Person approved by the holders of a Unit Majority. Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above, the Partnership shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If such an election is so made, then:


        Section 12.3
    Liquidator.     Upon dissolution of the Partnership the General Partner shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units, voting as a single class. The

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Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days' prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units, voting as a single class. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units, voting as a single class. The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the General Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on sale set forth in Section 7.4) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.


        Section 12.4
    Liquidation.     The Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Partnership, discharge its liabilities, and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as determined by the Liquidator, subject to Section 17-804 of the Delaware Act and the following:

        (a)   The assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more Partners on such terms as the Liquidator and such Partner or Partners may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the Partner receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 12.4(c) to have received cash equal to its fair market value; and contemporaneously therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners. The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Partnership's assets for a reasonable time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Partnership's assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners. The Liquidator may distribute the Partnership's assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners.

        (b)   Liabilities of the Partnership include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 12.3) and amounts to Partners otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights under Article VI. With respect to any liability that is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it thinks appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment. When paid, any unused portion of the reserve shall be applied as additional liquidation proceeds.

        (c)   All property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in Section 12.4(b) shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with, and to the extent of, the positive balances in their respective Capital Accounts, as determined after taking into account all Capital Account adjustments (other than those made by reason of distributions pursuant to this Section 12.4(c)) for the taxable period of the Partnership during which the liquidation of the Partnership occurs (with such date of occurrence being determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)).


        Section 12.5
    Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership.     Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in Section 12.4 in connection with the winding up of the Partnership, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.

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        Section 12.6    Return of Contributions.     The General Partner shall not be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners or Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Partnership assets.


        Section 12.7
    Waiver of Partition.     To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of the Partnership property.


        Section 12.8
    Capital Account Restoration.     No Limited Partner shall have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of the Partnership. The General Partner shall be obligated to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of its interest in the Partnership by the end of the taxable period of the Partnership during which such liquidation occurs, or, if later, within 90 days after the date of such liquidation.


ARTICLE XIII.

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

        Section 13.1    Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner.     Each Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner, may amend any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:

        (a)   a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal place of business of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership;

        (b)   the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement;

        (c)   a change that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue the qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that the Group Members will not be treated as associations taxable as corporations or otherwise taxed as entities for federal income tax purposes;

        (d)   a change that the General Partner determines (i) does not adversely affect the Limited Partners considered as a whole (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests) in any material respect (except as permitted by subsection (g) hereof); provided, however, for purposes of determining whether an amendment satisfies the requirements of this Section 13.1(d)(1), the General Partner shall disregard the effect on any class or classes of Partnership Interests that have approved such amendment pursuant to Section 13.3(c), (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the Units (including the division of any class or classes of Outstanding Units into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of Units) or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are or will be listed or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.9 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;

        (e)   a change in the fiscal year or taxable period of the Partnership and any other changes that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the fiscal year or

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taxable period of the Partnership including, if the General Partner shall so determine, a change in the definition of "Quarter" and the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership;

        (f)    an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, or the General Partner or its directors, officers, trustees or agents from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or "plan asset" regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, regardless of whether such are substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;

        (g)   an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of Partnership Interests or options, rights, warrants, appreciation rights or phantom or tracking interests relating to the Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 5.6;

        (h)   any amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the General Partner acting alone;

        (i)    an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement approved in accordance with Section 14.3;

        (j)    an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for the formation by the Partnership of, or investment by the Partnership in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection with the conduct by the Partnership of activities permitted by the terms of Section 2.4 or 7.1(a);

        (k)   a merger, conveyance or conversion pursuant to Section 14.3(d) or Section 14.3(e); or

        (l)    any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.


        Section 13.2
    Amendment Procedures.     Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the General Partner. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve any amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so in its sole discretion, and, in declining to propose or approve an amendment, to the fullest extent permitted by law shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. An amendment shall be effective upon its approval by the General Partner and, except as otherwise provided by Section 13.1 or 13.3, the holders of a Unit Majority, unless a greater or different percentage is required under this Agreement. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of Outstanding Units shall be set forth in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, the General Partner shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the Unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed amendment. The General Partner shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any amendments. The General Partner shall be deemed to have notified all Record Holders as required by this Section 13.2 if it has either (i) filed such amendment with the Commission via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system and such amendment is publicly available on such system or (ii) made such amendment available on any publicly available website maintained by the Partnership.


        Section 13.3
    Amendment Requirements.     

        (a)   Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no provision of this Agreement (other than a provision of the Delaware Act that becomes a part of this Agreement by operation of law) that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner) required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of (i) in the case of any provision of this

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Agreement other than Section 11.2 or Section 13.4, reducing such percentage or (ii) in the case of Section 11.2 or Section 13.4, increasing such percentage, unless such amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate Outstanding Units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced or increased, as applicable.

        (b)   Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of (including requiring any holder of a class of Partnership Interests to make additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership) any Limited Partner without its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 13.3(c), or (ii) enlarge the obligations of, restrict, change or modify in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable to, the General Partner or any of its Affiliates without its consent, which consent may be given or withheld at its option.

        (c)   Except as provided in Section 14.3 or Section 13.1 (this Section 13.3(c) being subject to the General Partner's authority to unilaterally approve amendments pursuant to Section 13.1), any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class of Partnership Interests in relation to other classes of Partnership Interests must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of the class affected. If the General Partner determines an amendment does not satisfy the requirements of Section 13.1(d)(i) because it adversely affects one or more classes of Partnership Interests, as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests, in any material respect, such amendment shall only be required to be approved by the adversely affected class or classes.

        (d)   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, except for amendments pursuant to Section 13.1 and except as otherwise provided by Section 14.3(b), no amendments shall become effective without the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units voting as a single class unless the Partnership obtains an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment will not affect the limited liability of any Limited Partner under applicable partnership law of the state under whose laws the Partnership is organized.

        (e)   Except as provided in Section 13.1, this Section 13.3 shall only be amended with the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units.


        Section 13.4
    Special Meetings.     All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XIII. Special meetings of the Limited Partners may be called by the General Partner or by Limited Partners owning 20% or more of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting is proposed. Limited Partners shall call a special meeting by delivering to the General Partner one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Limited Partners wish to call a special meeting and indicating the general or specific purposes for which the special meeting is to be called. Within 60 days after receipt of such a call from Limited Partners or within such greater time as may be reasonably necessary for the Partnership to comply with any statutes, rules, regulations, listing agreements or similar requirements governing the holding of a meeting or the solicitation of proxies for use at such a meeting, the General Partner shall send a notice of the meeting to the Limited Partners either directly or indirectly through the Transfer Agent. A meeting shall be held at a time and place determined by the General Partner on a date not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days after the time notice of the meeting is given as provided in Section 16.1. Limited Partners shall not vote on matters that would cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners' limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which the Partnership is qualified to do business.

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        Section 13.5
    Notice of a Meeting.     Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be given to the Record Holders of the class or classes of Units for which a meeting is proposed in writing by mail or other means of written communication in accordance with Section 16.1. The notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when deposited in the mail or sent by other means of written communication.


        Section 13.6
    Record Date.     For purposes of determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners or to give approvals without a meeting as provided in Section 13.11 the General Partner may set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading or U.S. federal securities laws, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange or U.S. federal securities laws shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which Limited Partners are requested in writing by the General Partner to give such approvals. If the General Partner does not set a Record Date, then (a) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners shall be the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, and (b) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to give approvals without a meeting shall be the date the first written approval is deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner in accordance with Section 13.11.


        Section 13.7
    Adjournment.     When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be for more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Partnership may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a new Record Date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with this Article XIII.


        Section 13.8
    Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes.     The transactions at any meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and whenever held, shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened; and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove the consideration of matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if the disapproval is expressly made at the meeting.


        Section 13.9
    Quorum and Voting.     The holders of a majority of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner or its Affiliates) represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Limited Partners of such class or classes unless any such action by the Limited Partners requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of such Units, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. At any meeting of the Limited Partners duly called and held in accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is present, the act of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote and be present in person or by proxy at such meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners, unless a greater or different percentage is required with respect to such action under the provisions of this Agreement, in which case the act of the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent at least such greater or different percentage shall be required. The Limited Partners present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Limited Partners to

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leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by the required percentage of Outstanding Units specified in this Agreement (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner or its Affiliates). In the absence of a quorum any meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote at such meeting (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner) represented either in person or by proxy, but no other business may be transacted, except as provided in Section 13.7.


        Section 13.10
    Conduct of a Meeting.     The General Partner shall have full power and authority concerning the manner of conducting any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of Section 13.4, the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting. The General Partner shall designate a Person to serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Partnership maintained by the General Partner. The General Partner may make such other regulations consistent with applicable law and this Agreement as it may deem advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including regulations in regard to the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of the right to vote, and the revocation of approvals in writing.


        Section 13.11
    Action Without a Meeting.     If authorized by the General Partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting, without a vote and without prior notice, if an approval in writing or by electronic transmission is signed or transmitted by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Units (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner or its Affiliates) that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners entitled to vote thereon were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The General Partner may specify that any written ballot, if any, submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the General Partner. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the Units held by the Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Units that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any action by the Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the General Partner, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) they are deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner and (b) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the General Partner to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken with respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners' limited liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the state statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the Partners. Nothing contained in this Article XIII shall be deemed to require the General Partner to solicit all Limited Partners in connection with a matter approved by the holders of the requisite percentage of Units acting by written consent without a meeting.

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        Section 13.12    Right to Vote and Related Matters.     

        (a)   Only those Record Holders of the Outstanding Units on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 13.6 (and also subject to the limitations contained in the definition of "Outstanding") shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Limited Partners or to act with respect to matters as to which the holders of the Outstanding Units have the right to vote or to act. All references in this Agreement to votes of, or other acts that may be taken by, the Outstanding Units or the holders thereof shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Units.

        (b)   With respect to Units that are held for a Person's account by another Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), in whose name such Units are registered, such other Person shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Units on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, vote such Units in favor of, and at the direction of, the Person who is the beneficial owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume it is so acting without further inquiry. The provisions of this Section 13.12(b) (as well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the provisions of Section 4.3.


ARTICLE XIV.

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

        Section 14.1    Authority.     The Partnership may merge or consolidate with or into one or more corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts, business trusts, associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses or entities, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership or a limited liability limited partnership)) (each an "Other Entity") or convert into any such Other Entity, whether such Other Entity is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States of America, pursuant to a written plan of merger or consolidation ("Merger Agreement") or a written plan of conversion ("Plan of Conversion"), as the case may be, in accordance with this Article XIV.


        Section 14.2
    Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.     

        (a)   Merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV requires the prior consent of the General Partner, provided, however, that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner and, in declining to consent to a merger, consolidation or conversion, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.

        (b)   If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the merger or consolidation, the General Partner shall approve the Merger Agreement, which shall set forth:

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        (c)   If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the conversion, the General Partner shall approve the Plan of Conversion, which shall set forth:


        Section 14.3
    Approval by Limited Partners.     

        (a)   Except as provided in Section 14.3(d), the General Partner, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall direct that the Merger Agreement or

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the Plan of Conversion and the merger, consolidation or conversion contemplated thereby, as applicable, be submitted to a vote of Limited Partners, whether at a special meeting or by written consent or consent by electronic transmission, in any case in accordance with the requirements of Article XIII. A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the solicitation of written consent or consent by electronic transmission.

        (b)   Except as provided in Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(e), the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority unless the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, contains any provision that, if contained in an amendment to this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement or the Delaware Act would require for its approval the vote or consent of a greater percentage of the Outstanding Units or of any class of Limited Partners, in which case such greater percentage vote or consent shall be required for approval of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.

        (c)   Except as provided in Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(e), after such approval by vote or consent of the Limited Partners, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger or certificate of conversion pursuant to Section 14.4, the merger, consolidation or conversion may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.

        (d)   Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or any Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member into, or convey all of the Partnership's assets to, another limited liability entity that shall be newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such conversion, merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group Member if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the conversion, merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership or any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already treated as such), (ii) the sole purpose of such conversion, merger, or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the governing instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners and the General Partner with substantially the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.

        (e)   Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into an Other Entity if (A) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership or any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already treated as such), (B) the merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to this Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant to Section 13.1, (C) the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or consolidation, (D) each Unit outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Unit of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, and (E) the number of Partnership Interests to be issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation does not exceed 20% of the Partnership Interests (other than Incentive Distribution Rights) Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.

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        (f)    Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this Article XIV may (a) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (b) effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for the Partnership if it is the Surviving Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 14.3 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.


        Section 14.4
    Certificate of Merger or Certificate of Conversion.     Upon the required approval by the General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, a certificate of merger or certificate of conversion, as applicable, shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act.


        Section 14.5
    Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.     

        (a)   At the effective time of the certificate of merger:

        (b)   At the effective time of the certificate of conversion, for all purposes of the laws of the State of Delaware:

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ARTICLE XV.

RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

        Section 15.1    Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests.     

        (a)   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time the General Partner and its Affiliates hold more than 80% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any class then Outstanding, the General Partner shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership or any Affiliate of the General Partner, exercisable in its sole discretion, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, at the greater of (x) the Current Market Price as of the date three days prior to the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed and (y) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates for any such Limited Partner Interest of such class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed.

        (b)   If the General Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership elects to exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a), the General Partner shall deliver to the Transfer Agent notice of such election to purchase (the "Notice of Election to Purchase") and shall cause the Transfer Agent to mail a copy of such Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Limited Partner Interests of such class (as of a Record Date selected by the General Partner) at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date. Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be published for a period of at least three consecutive days in at least two daily newspapers of general circulation printed in the English language and published in the Borough of Manhattan, New York. The Notice of Election to Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) at which Limited Partner Interests will be purchased and state that the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, elects to purchase such Limited Partner Interests, upon surrender of Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, in exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent as the Transfer Agent may specify, or as may be required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at his address as reflected in the records of the Transfer Agent shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Limited Partner Interests to be purchased in accordance with this Section 15.1. If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at least 10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of the holders of Limited Partner Interests subject to purchase as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that any Certificate shall not have been surrendered for purchase, all rights of the holders of such Limited Partner Interests (including any rights pursuant to Article III, Article IV, Article V, Article VI and Article XII) shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) for Limited Partner Interests therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent of the Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, and such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred to the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, on the record books of the Transfer Agent and the Partnership, and the General Partner

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or any Affiliate of the General Partner, or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the owner of all such Limited Partner Interests from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the owner of such Limited Partner Interests (including all rights as owner of such Limited Partner Interests pursuant to Article III, Article IV, Article V, Article VI and Article XII).

        (c)   In the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, at any time from and after the Purchase Date, a holder of an Outstanding Limited Partner Interest subject to purchase as provided in this Section 15.1 may surrender his Certificate evidencing such Limited Partner Interest to the Transfer Agent in exchange for payment of the amount described in Section 15.1(a), therefor, without interest thereon.


ARTICLE XVI.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

        Section 16.1    Addresses and Notices; Written Communications.     

        (a)   Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the Partner at the address described below. Any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Partner hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interests at his address as shown on the records of the Transfer Agent or as otherwise shown on the records of the Partnership, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such Partnership Interests by reason of any assignment or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) a Partner shall consent to receiving notices, demands, requests, reports or proxy materials via electronic mail or by the Internet or (ii) the rules of the Commission shall permit any report or proxy materials to be delivered electronically or made available via the Internet, any such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials shall be deemed given or made when delivered or made available via such mode of delivery. An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.1 executed by the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report. If any notice, payment or report given or made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.1 is returned marked to indicate that such notice, payment or report was unable to be delivered, such notice, payment or report and, in the case of notices, payments or reports returned by the United States Postal Service (or other physical mail delivery mail service outside the United States of America), any subsequent notices, payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of a change in his address) or other delivery if they are available for the Partner at the principal office of the Partnership for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report to the other Partners. Any notice to the Partnership shall be deemed given if received by the General Partner at the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3. The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Partner or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.

        (b)   The terms "in writing", "written communications," "written notice" and words of similar import shall be deemed satisfied under this Agreement by use of e-mail and other forms of electronic communication.


        Section 16.2
    Further Action.     The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

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        Section 16.3
    Binding Effect.     This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.


        Section 16.4
    Integration.     This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.


        Section 16.5
    Creditors.     None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership.


        Section 16.6
    Waiver.     No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.


        Section 16.7
    Third-Party Beneficiaries.     Each Partner agrees that (a) any Indemnitee shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Indemnitee and (b) any Unrestricted Person shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Unrestricted Person.


        Section 16.8
    Counterparts.     This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto or, in the case of a Person acquiring a Limited Partner Interest, pursuant to Sections 10.1(a) or (b) without execution hereof.


        Section 16.9
    Applicable Law; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction.     

        (a)   This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.

        (b)   The Partnership, each Partner, each Record Holder, each other Person who acquires any legal or beneficial interest in the Partnership (whether through a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing or otherwise) and each other Person who is bound by this Agreement (collectively, the "Consenting Parties" and each a "Consenting Party"):

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        Section 16.10
    Invalidity of Provisions.     If any provision or part of a provision of this Agreement is or becomes for any reason, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions and part thereof contained herein shall not be affected thereby and this Agreement shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reformed and construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision, or part of a provision, had never been contained herein, and such provision or part reformed so that it would be valid, legal and enforceable to the maximum extent possible.


        Section 16.11
    Consent of Partners.     Each Partner hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or consent of less than all of the Partners, such action may be so taken upon the concurrence of less than all of the Partners and each Partner shall be bound by the results of such action.


        Section 16.12
    Facsimile Signatures.     The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of the transfer agent and registrar of the Partnership on Certificates representing Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

    GENERAL PARTNER:

 

 

USA COMPRESSION GP, LLC

 

 

By:

 

  

Name:
Title:

 

 

USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS:

 

 

USA COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

By:

 

  

Name:
Title:

   

Signature Page to First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership


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EXHIBIT A
to the First Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
USA Compression Partners, LP

Certificate Evidencing Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
USA Compression Partners, LP

No.                           Common Units

        In accordance with Section 4.1 of the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of USA Compression Partners, LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the "Partnership Agreement"), USA Compression Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), hereby certifies that                    (the "Holder") is the registered owner of                   Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the "Common Units") transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Common Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at, the principal office of the Partnership located at 100 Congress Avenue, Suite 450, Austin, Texas 78701. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.

        THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). USA COMPRESSION GP, LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

        The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and agreed to become, a Limited Partner and to have agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii) represented and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement and (iii) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.

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        This Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose unless it has been countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar. This Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

Dated:                       USA Compression Partners, LP

Countersigned and Registered by:

 

By:    USA Compression GP, LLC

[                                                         ],

 

By:

 

 

As Transfer Agent and Registrar   Name:     


 

 

By:

 

 

Secretary

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[Reverse of Certificate]

ABBREVIATIONS

        The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Certificate, shall be construed as follows according to applicable laws or regulations:

TEN COM -as tenants in common

  UNIF GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT

TEN ENT as tenants by the entireties

              Custodian                (Cust)

JT TEN -as joint tenants with right
of survivorship and not as
tenants in common

  (Minor) Under Uniform Gifts/Transfers
to CD Minors Act (State)

        Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.

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ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS OF
USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP

        FOR VALUE RECEIVED,                hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers unto


(Please print or typewrite name and address of assignee)
 
(Please insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee)

                            Common Units representing limited partner interests evidenced by this Certificate, subject to the Partnership Agreement, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint                as its attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution to transfer the same on the books of USA Compression Partners, LP

Date:                           NOTE: The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular. without alteration, enlargement or change.


THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, (Signature) SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15
                  



 



(Signature)
  

(Signature

No transfer of the Common Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Common Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer.

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APPENDIX B

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

        Adjusted operating surplus:    Adjusted operating surplus for any period consists of:

        Available cash:    For any quarter ending prior to liquidation:

provided, however, that our general partner may not establish cash reserves pursuant to clause (b)(3) immediately above unless our general partner has determined that the establishment of reserves will not prevent us from distributing the minimum quarterly distribution on all common units and any cumulative common unit arrearages thereon for that quarter; and provided, further, that disbursements made by us or any of our subsidiaries or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of that quarter but on or before the date of determination of available cash for that quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining available cash, within that quarter if our general partner so determines.

        Basin:    A geological province on land or offshore where hydrocarbons are generated and trapped.

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        Capital account:    The capital account maintained for a partner under the partnership agreement. The capital account of a partner for a common unit, a subordinated unit, an incentive distribution right or any other partnership interest will be the amount which that capital account would be if that common unit, subordinated unit, incentive distribution right or other partnership interest were the only interest in USA Compression Partners, LP, held by a partner.

        Capital surplus:    All available cash distributed by us on any date from any source will be treated as distributed from operating surplus until the sum of all available cash distributed since the closing of the initial public offering equals the operating surplus from the closing of the initial public offering through the end of the quarter immediately preceding that distribution. Any excess available cash distributed by us on that date will be deemed to be capital surplus.

        Closing price:    The last sale price on a day, regular way, or in case no sale takes place on that day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on that day, regular way, in either case, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system for securities listed or admitted to trading on the principal national securities exchange on which the units of that class are listed or admitted to trading. If the units of that class are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price on that day. If no quoted price exists, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on that day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange or any other system then in use. If on any day the units of that class are not quoted by any organization of that type, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on that day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the units of the class selected by our board of directors. If on that day no market maker is making a market in the units of that class, the fair value of the units on that day as determined reasonably and in good faith by our board of directors.

        Coal bed formations:    Geological formations in which natural gas is generated and stored within coal seams.

        Conventional basin:    A geological province in which the reservoir and fluid characteristics permit the oil and natural gas to readily flow to the wellbore.

        Cumulative common unit arrearage:    The amount by which the minimum quarterly distribution for a quarter during the subordination period exceeds the distribution of available cash from operating surplus actually made for that quarter on a common unit, cumulative for that quarter and all prior quarters during the subordination period.

        Current market price:    For any class of units listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange as of any date, the average of the daily closing prices for the 20 consecutive trading days immediately prior to that date.

        Energy Information Administration (EIA):    The statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy.

        GAAP:    Generally accepted accounting principles.

        Horsepower Utilization.    Horsepower utilization is calculated as (i)(a) revenue generating horsepower plus (b) horsepower in our fleet that is under contract, but is not yet generating revenue plus (c) horsepower not yet in our fleet that is under contract not yet generating revenue and that is subject to a purchase order, divided (ii) by total available horsepower less idle horsepower that is under repair.

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        Interim capital transactions:    The following transactions if they occur prior to liquidation:

        Multi-stage compression:    A form of natural gas compression which involves sequentially compressing natural gas to achieve incrementally smaller volumes and higher pressures within each stage.

        Natural gas:    A mixture of hydrocarbons (principally methane, ethane, propane, butanes and pentanes), water vapor, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, helium, nitrogen and other chemicals that occur naturally underground in a gaseous state.

        Natural gas compression:    A mechanical process whereby natural gas is compressed to a smaller volume resulting in a higher pressure.

        Operating expenditures:    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, provided that operating expenditures will not include:

        Operating surplus.    Operating surplus for any period consists of:

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        Play:    A geological formation that contains petroleum and/or natural gas.

        Revenue Generating Horsepower.    Revenue generating horsepower is horsepower under contract for which we are billing a customer.

        Riverstone:    Riverstone/Carlyle Global Energy and Power Fund IV, L.P., and affiliated entities, including Riverstone Holdings LLC.

        Shale play:    A geological formation that contains petroleum and/or natural gas in nonporous rock that requires special drilling and completion techniques.

        Subordination period:    Except as described below, the subordination period will begin on the closing date of this offering and expire on the first business day after the distribution to unitholders in respect of any quarter, beginning with the quarter ending September 30, 2015, if each of the following has occurred:

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        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subordination period will automatically terminate on the first business day after the distribution to unitholders in respect of any quarter, if each of the following has occurred:

        Tight gas:    Natural gas found in reservoirs with impermeable, hard rock, or in a sandstone or limestone formation that is unusually impermeable and non-porous.

        Throughput:    The volume of natural gas transported or passing through a pipeline, plant, terminal or other facility in an economically meaningful period of time.

        Total available horsepower:    Includes 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 not yet generating revenue that is subject to a purchase order and idle horsepower, but excludes new horsepower on order that is not yet delivered and for which we do not have a compression services contract.

        Wellhead:    The equipment at the surface of a well used to control the well's pressure; the point at which the hydrocarbons and water exit the ground.

        Working capital borrowings:    Borrowings that are made under a credit facility, commercial paper facility or similar financing arrangement, that 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.

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LOGO

USA Compression Partners, LP

Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests



PROSPECTUS

        , 2012



Barclays
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
J.P. Morgan
Wells Fargo Securities



Raymond James
RBC Capital Markets
UBS Investment Bank


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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

Item 13.    Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

        Set forth below are the expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) expected to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities registered hereby. With the exception of the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee, the FINRA filing fee and the New York Stock Exchange listing fee, the amounts set forth below are estimates.

SEC registration fee

  $ 23,220  

FINRA filing fee

    20,500  

New York Stock Exchange listing fee

      *

Printing and engraving expenses

      *

Accounting fees and expenses

      *

Legal fees and expenses

      *

Transfer agent and registrar fees

      *

Miscellaneous

      *
       

Total

  $   *
       

*
To be provided by amendment.

Item 14.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

        The section of the prospectus entitled "The Partnership Agreement—Indemnification" discloses that we will generally indemnify officers, directors and affiliates of our general partner to the fullest extent permitted by the law against all losses, claims, damages or similar events and is incorporated herein by this reference. Reference is also made to the underwriting agreement to be filed as an exhibit to this registration statement, which provides for the indemnification of USA Compression Partners, LP and our general partner, their officers and directors, and any person who controls USA Compression Partners, LP and our general partner, including indemnification for liabilities under the Securities Act. Subject to any terms, conditions or restrictions set forth in the partnership agreement, Section 17-108 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act empowers a Delaware limited partnership to indemnify and hold harmless any partner or other person from and against all claims and demands whatsoever. As of the consummation of this offering, the general partner of the registrant will maintain directors and officers liability insurance for the benefit of its directors and officers.

Item 15.    Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

        None.

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Item 16.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

        (a)   The following documents are filed as exhibits to this registration statement:

 
  Exhibit
Number
  Description
      1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement

 

 

 

3.1†

 

Certificate of Limited Partnership of USA Compression Partners, LP

 

 

 

3.2

 

Form of First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of USA Compression Partners, LP (included as Appendix A to the Prospectus)

 

 

 

3.3†

 

Certificate of Formation of USA Compression GP, LLC

 

 

 

3.4†

 

Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of USA Compression GP, LLC

 

 

 

5.1

 

Form of Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP as to the legality of the securities being registered

 

 

 

8.1

 

Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP relating to tax matters

 

 

 

10.1†#

 

Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

10.2†

 

First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

10.3†

 

Second Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

10.4

 

Form of Long Term Incentive Plan of USA Compression Partners, LP

 

 

 

10.5†

 

Employment Agreement, dated December 23, 2010, between USA Compression Partners, LLC and Eric D. Long

 

 

 

10.6†

 

Employment Agreement, dated December 23, 2010, between USA Compression Partners, LLC and Joseph C. Tusa, Jr.

 

 

 

10.7†

 

Employment Agreement, dated December 23, 2010, between USA Compression Partners, LLC and David A. Smith

 

 

 

10.8†

 

Third Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

10.9†

 

Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

21.1†

 

List of subsidiaries of USA Compression Partners, LP

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of KPMG LLP

 

 

 

23.2

 

Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

 

 

 

23.3

 

Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (contained in Exhibit 8.1)

 

 

 

24.1†

 

Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page)

 

 

 

99.1†

 

Consent of Director Nominee, Robert F. End

*
To be filed by amendment.
Previously filed.
#
Certain portions have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request. Omitted information has been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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        (b)   Financial Statement Schedules.

        Financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not required or the required information is shown in our financial statements or notes thereto.

Item 17.    Undertakings.

        The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

        Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

        The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Austin, State of Texas, on August 9, 2012.

    USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP

 

 

By:

 

USA Compression GP, LLC,
its General Partner

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ ERIC D. LONG

Eric D. Long
President and Chief Executive Officer

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on August 9, 2012.

 
 
Signature
 
Title

 

 

 

 

 
/s/ ERIC D. LONG

Eric D. Long
  President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director

/s/ JOSEPH C. TUSA, JR.

Joseph C. Tusa, Jr.

 

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

*

William H. Shea, Jr.

 

Director

*

Olivia C. Wassenaar

 

Director

*

Andrew W. Ward

 

Director

*By:

 

/s/ J. GREGORY HOLLOWAY

J. Gregory Holloway
Attorney-in-fact

 

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 
  Exhibit
Number
  Description
      1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement

 

 

 

3.1†

 

Certificate of Limited Partnership of USA Compression Partners, LP

 

 

 

3.2

 

Form of First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of USA Compression Partners, LP (included as Appendix A to the Prospectus)

 

 

 

3.3†

 

Certificate of Formation of USA Compression GP, LLC

 

 

 

3.4†

 

Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of USA Compression GP, LLC

 

 

 

5.1

 

Form of Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP as to the legality of the securities being registered

 

 

 

8.1

 

Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP relating to tax matters

 

 

 

10.1†#

 

Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

10.2†

 

First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

10.3†

 

Second Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

10.4

 

Form of Long Term Incentive Plan of USA Compression Partners, LP

 

 

 

10.5†

 

Employment Agreement, dated December 23, 2010, between USA Compression Partners, LLC and Eric D. Long

 

 

 

10.6†

 

Employment Agreement, dated December 23, 2010, between USA Compression Partners, LLC and Joseph C. Tusa, Jr.

 

 

 

10.7†

 

Employment Agreement, dated December 23, 2010, between USA Compression Partners, LLC and David A. Smith

 

 

 

10.8†

 

Third Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

10.9†

 

Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

 

21.1†

 

List of subsidiaries of USA Compression Partners, LP

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of KPMG LLP

 

 

 

23.2

 

Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

 

 

 

23.3

 

Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (contained in Exhibit 8.1)

 

 

 

24.1†

 

Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page)

 

 

 

99.1†

 

Consent of Director Nominee, Robert F. End

*
To be filed by amendment.
Previously filed.
#
Certain portions have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request. Omitted information has been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



Exhibit 1.1

 

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP

 

[           ] Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

                         , 2012

 

Barclays Capital Inc.

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o Barclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Attn: Syndicate Registration

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

USA Compression Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representatives”) are serving as representatives, an aggregate of [           ] common units (the “Firm Units”), representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (“Common Units”), and, at the election of the Underwriters, up to [          ] additional Common Units (the “Optional Units”). The Firm Units and the Optional Units that the Underwriters elect to purchase pursuant to Section 2 hereof are herein collectively called the “Units.”

 

It is understood and agreed to by all parties that as of the date hereof USA Compression Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“USA Compression Holdings”), directly or indirectly owns all of the partnership interests in the Partnership, and the Partnership directly owns a 100% membership interest in USA Compression Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“USAC Operating”).

 

Prior to the date hereof:

 

(a)                                  USAC Operating and USAC Leasing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Leaseco”), entered into the Third Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as so amended, the “Existing Credit Agreement”) on June 1, 2012,

 

(b)                                 USAC Operating and Leaseco entered into the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) on June 1, 2010, which will become effective upon the closing of the offering, and

 



 

(c)                                  The Partnership filed a certificate of conversion (the “Certificate of Conversion”) in Delaware to effectuate conversion from a limited partnership organized under the laws of the State of Texas to a limited partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

It is further understood and agreed to by the parties hereto that the following transactions will occur at or prior to the First Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4(a) hereof):

 

(d)                                 USA Compression GP, LLC, as general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), and USA Compression Holdings, as a limited partner of the Partnership, will enter into the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”) pursuant to which, in accordance with Section 5.2 of the Partnership Agreement, (i) (A) the general partner interest held by the General Partner will be converted into a 0.0% general partner interest in the Partnership and (B) the limited partner interest in the Partnership held by USA Compression Holdings will be converted into [         ] Common Units and [         ] subordinated units, representing an aggregate of [          ]% limited partner interest in the Partnership and (ii) (A) USA Compression Holdings will contribute to the General Partner, as a capital contribution, [  ] Common Units and (B) the General Partner will contribute to the Partnership, as a capital contribution, [  ] Common Units in exchange for a 2.0% general partner interest (after giving effect to the offering) and incentive distribution rights in the Partnership (the transactions described in clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, the “Recapitalization Transactions”), and

 

(e)                                  the public offering of the Firm Units contemplated hereby will be consummated.

 

The transactions described above in clauses (a), (b) and (c), the Recapitalization Transactions and the Partnership’s use of the net proceeds of the offering as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (as defined in Section 1(d) hereof) are referred to herein as the “Transactions.”

 

USAC Operating and Leaseco are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Subsidiaries.”

 

The Partnership, the General Partner and the Subsidiaries are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Partnership Parties.”

 

The Partnership Parties and USA Compression Holdings are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “USA Compression Group Parties.”

 

The “Organizational Documents” shall mean the Partnership Agreement, the GP LLC Agreement (as defined in Section 1(k)), the limited liability company agreement of USAC Operating, and the limited liability company agreement of Leaseco.

 

2



 

This is to confirm the agreement among the USA Compression Group Parties and the Underwriters concerning the purchase of the Units from the Partnership by the Underwriters.

 

1.                                       Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Partnership Parties.  The Partnership Parties, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to, and agree with, each of the Underwriters that:

 

(a)                                  Registration.  A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-174803) (the “Initial Registration Statement”) in respect of the Units has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”); the Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered to you, for you and for each of the other Underwriters, have been declared effective by the Commission in such form; other than a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the offering (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), which, if any, became effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Initial Registration Statement has heretofore been filed with the Commission; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in the Initial Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act is hereinafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus”; the various parts of the Initial Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, including all exhibits thereto and including the information contained in the final prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof and deemed by virtue of Rule 430A under the Act to be part of the Initial Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective, each as amended at the time such part of the Initial Registration Statement became effective or such part of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes effective, are hereinafter collectively called the “Registration Statement”; the Preliminary Prospectus relating to the Units that was included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below) is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus”; the final prospectus, in the form first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, is hereinafter called the “Prospectus”; and any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act relating to the Units is hereinafter called an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”).  For purposes of this Agreement, “Applicable Time” means [              ] p.m. (Central Time) on the date of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 No Stop Order.  No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, threatened by the Commission.

 

(c)                                  No Material Misstatements or Omissions in Registration Statement or Prospectus.  The Registration Statement conforms, and any further amendments or

 

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supplements to the Registration Statement will conform, in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and did not, as of the applicable effective date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.  The Prospectus and any supplement or amendment thereto will conform, when filed with the Commission under Rule 424(b), in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and will not, as of each Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4(a)) and as of the applicable filing date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the representations and warranties in this Section 1(c) shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by an Underwriter through any Representative expressly for use therein.

 

(d)                                 No Material Misstatements or Omissions in Pricing Disclosure Package.  The Pricing Prospectus will conform, when filed with the Commission, in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.  Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conformed or will conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder on the date of first use.  The Pricing Prospectus, as supplemented by those Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses and the other information and documents, if any, listed in Schedule II(A) hereto, taken together (collectively, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”), and any individual Testing-the-Waters Communication (as defined in Section 1(g)), when taken together as a whole with the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in Schedule II(B) hereto does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus; and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in Schedule II(B) hereto, as supplemented by and taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the representations and warranties in this Section 1(d) shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in the Pricing Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Partnership by an Underwriter through any Representative expressly for use therein.

 

(e)                                  Partnership Not an “Ineligible Issuer.”  As of the Applicable Time the Partnership is not an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act).

 

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(f)                                    Emerging Growth Company. Since the enactment of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the “JOBS Act”) through the Applicable Time, the Partnership has been and is an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).

 

(g)                                 Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Partnership Parties have not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, (i) engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication or (ii) authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in such communications.  The Partnership Parties reconfirm that the Representatives have been authorized to act on their behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Partnership Parties have not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications Writings other than those listed on Schedule III hereto. “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act.

 

(h)                                 Forward-Looking and Supporting Information.  Each of the statements made by the Partnership in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Disclosure Package and to be made in the Prospectus (and any supplements thereto) within the coverage of Rule 175(b) under the Act, including (but not limited to) any statements with respect to projected results of operations, estimated available cash and future cash distributions of the Partnership, and any statements made in support thereof or related thereto under the heading “Our Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions” or the anticipated ratio of taxable income to distributions, was made or will be made with a reasonable basis and in good faith.

 

(i)                                     Formation, Due Qualification and Authority.  Each of the USA Compression Group Parties has been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization or formation, as the case may be, and is duly registered or qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign limited partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its businesses requires such registration or qualification, except where the failure so to register, qualify or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to (i) have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, results of operations, properties, assets or business affairs or prospects of the Partnership Parties taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), or (ii) subject the limited partners of the Partnership to any material liability or disability.  Each of the USA Compression Group Parties has all limited partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, power and authority necessary enter into and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, to own or lease its properties currently owned or leased or to be owned or leased at each Time of Delivery, and to conduct its business as currently conducted or as to be conducted at each Time of Delivery, in each

 

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case in all material respects as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(j)                                     Power and Authority to Act as a General Partner.  The General Partner has, and at each Time of Delivery will have, full limited liability company power and authority to act as the general partner of the Partnership.

 

(k)                                  Ownership of the General Partner.  USA Compression Holdings is and, at each Time of Delivery, will be, the sole owner of all issued and outstanding membership interests in the General Partner.  Such interests are and, at each Time of Delivery, will be, duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the limited liability company agreement of the General Partner (as the same may be amended or restated at or prior to the First Time of Delivery, the “GP LLC Agreement”) and will be fully paid (to the extent required under the GP LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “Delaware LLC Act”) and USA Compression Holdings will own such membership interests free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, charges or other claims (“Liens”), other than any restrictions on transferability as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(l)                                     Ownership of the General Partner Interest.  The General Partner is and, at each Time of Delivery, will be, the sole general partner of the Partnership and is, and at each Time of Delivery will be, the owner of a 2.0% general partner interest in the Partnership. The 2.0% general partner interest has been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and is fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement); and the General Partner owns all the general partner units, and at each Time of Delivery, will own the 2.0% general partner interest, in each case free and clear of all Liens.

 

(m)                               Ownership of USA Compression Holdings Units and Incentive Distribution Rights.  Assuming no purchase by the Underwriters of any Optional Units, at the First Time of Delivery, after giving effect to the Transactions, USA Compression Holdings will own [        ] Common Units and [         ] Subordinated Units in the Partnership (such Common Units and Subordinated Units being collectively referred to herein as the “USA Compression Holdings Units”) as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.  At the First Time of Delivery, after giving effect to the Transactions, the General Partner will own all of the Incentive Distribution Rights in the Partnership (the “Incentive Distribution Rights”, as defined in the Partnership Agreement).  Such USA Compression Holdings Units and Incentive Distribution Rights and the partnership interests represented thereby will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement, and will be fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “Delaware LP Act”); and USA Compression Holdings will own such USA Compression

 

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Holdings Units, free and clear of all Liens; and the General Partner will hold all such Incentive Distribution Rights free and clear of all Liens.

 

(n)                                 Valid Issuance of the Units.  At each Time of Delivery the Firm Units or the Optional Units, as the case may be, will be duly authorized in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and, when issued and delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, will be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act).

 

(o)                                 Partnership Interests Outstanding.  At the First Time of Delivery, after giving effect to the Transactions and the offering of the Firm Units as contemplated by this Agreement, the issued and outstanding partnership interests of the Partnership will consist of [          ] Common Units, [         ] Subordinated Units, the 2.0% general partner interest and the Incentive Distribution Rights.  Other than the USA Compression Holdings Units, the 2.0% general partner interest, the Incentive Distribution Rights and any partnership interests issued in accordance with Section 5(f) hereof, the Units will be the only partnership interests of the Partnership issued and outstanding at each Time of Delivery.

 

(p)                                 Ownership of the Subsidiaries.  At each Time of Delivery, the Partnership will own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the membership interests in each of the Subsidiaries.  At each Time of Delivery, such membership interests will have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the organizational documents of each Subsidiary and will be fully paid (to the extent required under those documents) and non-assessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act) and the Partnership will own, directly or indirectly, such membership interests free and clear of all Liens, other than Liens securing obligations pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

 

(q)                                 No Other Subsidiaries.  Other than the membership interests described in Section 1(p) above and intercompany indebtedness, none of the Partnership or the Subsidiaries owns or, at each Time of Delivery, will own, directly or indirectly, any equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity.  Other than the 2.0% general partner interest and Incentive Distribution Rights and all of the membership interests in USA Compression Management Services, LLC, the General Partner will not, at each Time of Delivery, directly own any equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity.

 

(r)                                    No Preemptive Rights, Registration Rights or Options.  Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except for restrictions on transferring pledged securities, if any, pursuant to the Credit Agreement and any security, pledge or other collateral agreement entered into in connection therewith, there are no options, warrants, preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of,

 

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any membership interests or partnership interests in any Partnership Party.  Neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Units as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any Common Units or other securities of the Partnership.

 

(s)                                  Authority and Authorization.  Each of the Partnership Parties has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and perform its respective obligations hereunder.  The Partnership has all requisite power and authority to issue, sell and deliver (i) the Units, in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) the USA Compression Holdings Units, the Incentive Distribution Rights and the 2.0% general partner interest, in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Partnership Agreement. At each Time of Delivery, all partnership and limited liability company action, as the case may be, required to be taken by the USA Compression Group Parties or any of their members or partners for the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Units, the USA Compression Holdings Units, the Incentive Distribution Rights and the 2.0% general partner interest, the execution and delivery of the Organizational Documents and the consummation of the transactions (including the Transactions) contemplated by this Agreement and the Organizational Documents shall have been validly taken.

 

(t)                                    Authorization of Underwriting Agreement.  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Partnership Parties.

 

(u)                                 Enforceability of Organizational Documents.  At or before the First Time of Delivery, each of the Organizational Documents will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the applicable USA Compression Group Party party thereto and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of the applicable USA Compression Group Party party thereto, enforceable against such USA Compression Group Party in accordance with its respective terms; provided that, with respect to each agreement described in this Section 1(u), the enforceability thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (ii) public policy, applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

 

(v)                                 No Conflicts.  None of (i) the offering, issuance or sale by the Partnership of the Units or the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Units as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Pricing Prospectus, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Partnership Parties, or (iii) the consummation of the Transactions and any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the Partnership Parties, (A) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a violation of the limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or other governing document of any of the USA Compression Group Parties, (B) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will

 

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constitute a breach or violation of, or a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default) under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of the USA Compression Group Parties is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties is bound, (C) violates or will violate any statute, law or regulation or any order, judgment, decree or injunction of any court or governmental agency or body applicable to any of the USA Compression Group Parties or any of their respective properties in a proceeding to which any of them is a party or by which their respective property is bound or (D) results or will result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of any of the USA Compression Group Parties, which conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults or Liens, in the case of clauses (B), (C) or (D), would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or would reasonably be expected to materially impair the ability of any of the USA Compression Group Parties to consummate the Transactions or any other transactions provided for in this Agreement.

 

(w)                               No Consents.  No permit, consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, filing or qualification (“consent”) of or with any court, governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over any of the USA Compression Group Parties or any of their respective properties or assets is required in connection with (i) the offering, issuance or sale by the Partnership of the Units, (ii) the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Pricing Prospectus, (iii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Partnership Parties or (iv) the consummation by the Partnership Parties of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement except (A) for registration of the Units under the Act and consents required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and applicable state securities or “Blue Sky” laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Units by the Underwriters, (B) for such consents that have been, or prior to the First Time of Delivery will be, obtained or made, (C) for such consents that, if not obtained, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (D) as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(x)                                   No Defaults.  None of the Partnership Parties is (i) in violation of its limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or other governing document, (ii) in violation of any law, statute, ordinance, administrative or governmental rule or regulation applicable to it or of any order, judgment, decree or injunction of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over any of the USA Compression Group Parties or any of their properties or assets or (iii) in breach, default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default) or violation in the performance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or in any agreement, indenture, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties or assets are bound, which breach, default or violation in the case of clauses (ii) or (iii) would, if continued, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the ability of any of the Partnership Parties to perform their obligations

 

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under this Agreement.  To the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, no third party to any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which any of the USA Compression Group Parties is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of their properties is subject, is in breach, default or violation of any such agreement, which breach, default or violation, if continued, would have a Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the ability of any of the Partnership Parties to perform their obligations under this Agreement.

 

(y)                                 Conformity of Securities to Descriptions in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.  The Units, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement and this Agreement against payment therefor as provided therein and herein, and the USA Compression Holdings Units, the Incentive Distribution Rights and the 2.0% general partner interest, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement, will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(z)                                   Private Placement.  The sale and issuance of the USA Compression Holdings Units, the Incentive Distribution Rights and the 2.0% general partner interest, as contemplated by the Partnership Agreement, are exempt from the registration requirements of the Act and securities laws of any state having jurisdiction with respect thereto, and none of the USA Compression Group Parties has taken or will take any action that would cause the loss of such exemption.

 

(aa)                            Independent Public Accountants.  KPMG LLP, who has certified or shall certify the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), is, and was during the periods covered by such financial statements, an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to each of the Partnership Parties within the meaning of the Act.

 

(bb)                          Financial Statements.  The audited consolidated historical financial statements (including the related notes and supporting schedules) included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the financial condition of the Partnership as of the dates indicated, and the results of operations and cash flows of the Partnership, for the periods specified, comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of Regulation S-X under the Act and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved.  The summary historical and pro forma financial and operating information set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Prospectus Summary—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Operating and Financial Data” and the selected historical and pro forma financial and operating information set forth under the caption “Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial and Operating Data” in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus is fairly presented in all material respects and prepared on a basis consistent with the audited and unaudited historical financial statements and pro forma financial statements,

 

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as applicable, from which it has been derived.  The other financial information of the Partnership, including non-GAAP financial measures, if any, contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Partnership, and fairly presents in all material respects the information purported to be shown thereby.

 

(cc)                            Pro Forma Financial Statements.  The pro forma financial statements of the Partnership included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus include assumptions that provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly attributable to the transactions and events described therein, the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions, and the pro forma adjustments reflect the proper application of those adjustments to the historical financial statement amounts in the pro forma financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus.  The pro forma financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of Regulation S-X under the Act and the pro forma adjustments have been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those statements.

 

(dd)                          No Material Adverse Change.  None of the Partnership Parties has sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, investigation, order or decree, other than as set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and other than as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, in each case excluding any amendments or supplements to the foregoing made after the execution of this Agreement, there has not been (i) any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, results of operations, properties, assets or business affairs or prospects of the Partnership Parties taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any transaction which is material to the Partnership Parties taken as a whole, other than transactions in the ordinary course of business as such business is described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (iii) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the security interests of any of the Partnership Parties, in each case other than as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(ee)                            Legal Proceedings or Contracts to be Described or Filed.  There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, threatened, against any of the Partnership Parties, or to which any of the Partnership Parties is a party, or to which any of their respective properties is subject, that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus that are not described as required by the Act.  There are no agreements, contracts, indentures, leases or other instruments that are required to be described in the

 

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Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required by the Act.  Statements made in the Pricing Prospectus insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of statutes, rules or regulations, legal or governmental proceedings or contracts and other documents, are fair and accurate summaries thereof in all material respects.

 

(ff)                                Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.  No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any Partnership Party on the one hand, and the directors, managers, officers, members, partners, stockholders, customers or suppliers of any Partnership Party, on the other hand, that is required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and is not so described.  There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by any Partnership Party to or for the benefit of any of the officers, directors or managers of any Partnership Party or their respective family members, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(gg)                          Title to Properties.  Following consummation of the Transactions and at each Time of Delivery, the Partnership Parties will have good and indefeasible title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold or other interests in, as applicable, all real and personal property described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as owned, leased or used and occupied by the Partnership Parties, free and clear of all Liens, except (i) for those Liens that arise under the Credit Agreement, (ii) as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (iii) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iv) as do not materially interfere with the use of such properties taken as a whole as they have been used in the past and are proposed to be used in the future as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(hh)                          Rights-of-Way.  Following consummation of the Transactions and at each Time of Delivery, each of the Partnership Parties will have such easements or rights-of-way from each person (collectively, “rights-of-way”) as are necessary to conduct its business in the manner described, and subject to the limitations contained, in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except for (i) qualifications, reservations and encumbrances as may be set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) such rights-of-way that, if not obtained, would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; each of the Partnership Parties has, or upon consummation of the Transactions will have, other than as set forth, and subject to the limitations contained, in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, fulfilled and performed all its material obligations with respect to such rights-of-way and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any impairment of the rights of the holder of any such rights-of-way, except for such revocations, terminations and impairments that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and, except as described in

 

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the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of such rights-of-way contains any restriction that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ii)                                  Governmental Permits.  Each of the Partnership Parties has, or at each Time of Delivery will have, such permits, consents, licenses, franchises, certificates and authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (“governmental permits”) as are necessary to conduct its business in the manner described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, subject to such qualifications set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and except for such governmental permits that, if not obtained, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; the Partnership Parties have not received notice of any revocation or modification of any governmental permits or notice of any proceeding relating thereto that, if determined adversely to any of the Partnership Parties would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(jj)                                  Books and Records.  The Partnership (i) makes and keeps books, records and accounts, which, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of its assets and (ii) maintains systems of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of its financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and to maintain accountability for its assets; (C) access to its assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

(kk)                            Disclosure Controls and Procedures.  (i) The Partnership has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (to the extent required by and as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act), (ii) such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Partnership in the reports it files or will file or submit under the Exchange Act, as applicable, is accumulated and communicated to management of the General Partner, including its principal executive officers and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure to be made and (iii) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established to the extent required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

 

(ll)                                  No Changes in Internal Control.  Since the date of the most recent balance sheets of the Partnership reviewed or audited by KPMG LLP, (i) none of the Partnership Parties has been advised of (A) any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of its internal control over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect the ability of any of the Partnership Parties to record, process, summarize and report financial data in any material respect, or any material weaknesses in internal controls or

 

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(B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal control over financial reporting of any of the Partnership Parties, and (ii) there have been no significant adverse changes in internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantly and adversely affect internal control over financial reporting relating to any of the Partnership Parties.

 

(mm)                      Tax Returns.  Each of the Partnership Parties that is required to do so has filed (or has obtained extensions with respect to) all material federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof, which returns are complete and correct in all material respects, and has timely paid all taxes shown to be due pursuant to such returns, other than those (i) that are being contested in good faith or for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or (ii) which, if not paid, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(nn)                          ERISA.  Other than with respect to items that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) at each Time of Delivery, each Partnership Party and each employee benefit plan or program maintained by any Partnership Party will be in compliance in form and in operation in all material respects with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”), and any other applicable law; (ii) no “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for which any Partnership Party or any entity treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”), or Section 4001 of ERISA (collectively “ERISA Affiliate”) (after giving effect to the Transactions), would have any liability; and (iii) no Partnership Party or ERISA Affiliate (after giving effect to the Transactions) expects to incur liability under (a) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “pension plan” or (b) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Code as a result of the Transactions.  Other than with respect to items that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each “pension plan” established within the last six years and which is currently maintained by any Partnership Party as of the date of this Agreement that is intended to be qualified under Section 401 of the Code, is so qualified and, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, no event or fact exists which would adversely affect such qualification.  To the knowledge of the Partnership Parties as of the date of this Agreement, none of the Partnership Parties or any ERISA Affiliate currently maintains, contributes to or has any liability with respect to a “defined benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(35) of ERISA) or a “pension plan” that is subject to Title IV of ERISA.

 

(oo)                          Investment Company.  The Partnership is not, nor after sale of the Units to be sold by the Partnership hereunder and application of the net proceeds from such sale as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds” will be, an “investment company” or a company “controlled by” an “investment company” as such terms are defined in the

 

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United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).

 

(pp)                          Intellectual Property.  Each of the Partnership Parties, with respect to the assets to be owned or leased by the Partnership Parties at each Time of Delivery, owns or possesses adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, know-how, software, systems and technology (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses in the manner and subject to such qualifications described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and has no reason to believe that the conduct of its business will conflict with, and has not received any notice of any claim of conflict with, any such rights of others, except as such conflict which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(qq)                          Environmental Compliance.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each of the Partnership Parties (i) is in compliance with any and all foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the prevention of pollution or the protection of human health and safety and the environment or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning any Hazardous Material (as hereinafter defined) (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) has received and is in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of it under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct its business as it is currently being conducted, (iii) has not received written notice of any actual or potential liability under any Environmental Law, (iv) is not a party to or affected by any pending or, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, threatened action, suit or proceeding relating to any alleged violation of any Environmental Law or any actual or alleged release or threatened release or cleanup at any location of any Hazardous Material, and (v) none of the Partnership Parties anticipates any unplanned material capital expenditures during 2012 relating to Environmental Laws other than those incurred in the ordinary course of business for the purchase of equipment used in compression services or related activities, except where such noncompliance or deviation from that described in (i)-(v) above would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  The term “Hazardous Material” means (A) any “hazardous substance” as defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, (B) any “hazardous waste” as defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, (C) any petroleum or petroleum product, (D) any polychlorinated biphenyl and (E) any pollutant or contaminant or hazardous, dangerous or toxic chemical, material, waste or substance regulated under or within the meaning of any applicable Environmental Law.

 

(rr)                                Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  At each Time of Delivery, the Partnership will be in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the rules and regulations promulgated in connection

 

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therewith and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) that are effective and applicable to the Partnership.

 

(ss)                            No Labor Dispute.  No labor dispute with the employees of the Partnership Parties exists or, to the knowledge of any of the Partnership Parties, is imminent or threatened that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(tt)                                Insurance.  The Partnership Parties maintain insurance covering their properties, operations, personnel and businesses against such losses and risks and in such amounts as is commercially reasonable for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties.  None of the Partnership Parties has received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that substantial capital improvements or other expenditures will have to be made in order to continue such insurance (including after giving effect to the Transactions).  The Partnership Parties are in compliance with the terms of such policies in all material respects, and all such insurance is duly in full force and effect on the date hereof and will be duly in full force and effect at each Time of Delivery.  There are no claims by the Partnership Parties under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; and the Partnership Parties have not been notified in writing that they will be denied renewal of their existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue their businesses at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(uu)                          Litigation.  Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus there is (i) no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, arbitrator or governmental agency, body or official, domestic or foreign, now pending or, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, threatened, to which any of the Partnership Parties is or may be a party or to which the business or property of any of the Partnership Parties is or may be subject, (ii) no injunction, restraining order or order of any nature issued by a federal or state court or foreign court of competent jurisdiction to which any of the Partnership Parties is or may be subject, that, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, is reasonably expected to (A) individually, or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, (B) prevent or result in the suspension of the offer, issuance or sale of the Units, or (C) call into question the validity of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(vv)                          No Distribution of Other Offering Materials.  Without the prior consent of the Representatives, none of the Partnership Parties, any director, officer, agent, employee, representative or other person associated with or acting on behalf of any Partnership Party has distributed and, prior to the later to occur of the final Time of Delivery and completion of the distribution of the Units, will not distribute, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Units other than (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) any Preliminary Prospectus, (iii) the Pricing Disclosure Package, (iv) the Prospectus, (v) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to which the Representatives have consented in accordance with this Agreement, and (vi) any Written

 

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Testing-the-Waters Communication, so long as (A) any such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication is conveyed solely to entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Act, and (B) such distribution of Written Testing-the-Waters Communication otherwise complies with the requirements of Section 5(d) of the Act.

 

(ww)                      Anti-Corruption Laws.  None of the Partnership Parties, any director or officer of a Partnership Party, or, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, any agent, employee, representative or other person associated with or acting on behalf of any of the Partnership Parties, has taken any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any “government official” (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) to influence official action or secure an improper advantage in violation of applicable anti-corruption law; and the Partnership Parties and their affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

 

(xx)                              Anti-Money Laundering Laws.  The operations of the USA Compression Group Parties are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the USA Compression Group Parties conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the USA Compression Group Parties with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the USA Compression Group Parties, threatened.

 

(yy)                          Office of Foreign Assets Control.  (i) None of the USA Compression Group Parties, any director or officer of the Partnership Parties or, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, or any agent or employee of the Partnership Parties is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and (ii) the Partnership will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, fund, contribute, facilitate or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC or use the proceeds of this offering in any other manner that will result in a violation by any USA Compression Group Party of any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

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(zz)                              Listing.  The Units have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to notice of issuance.

 

(aaa)                      Market Stabilization.  The Partnership has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.

 

(bbb)                   Statistical and Market-Related Data.  All third-party statistical or market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, if any, are based on or derived from sources that the Partnership believes to be reliable and accurate and no consents to the use of such data are required to be obtained by the Partnership from such sources that have not been obtained.

 

(ccc)                      Distribution Restrictions.  No subsidiary of the Partnership is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any distributions to the Partnership, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s equity interests, from repaying to the Partnership any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Partnership or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Partnership or any other subsidiary of the Partnership, except as prohibited under the Existing Credit Agreement, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

Any certificate signed by any officer of any USA Compression Group Party and delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed a representation and warranty by such USA Compression Group Party to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

 

2.                                       Purchase and Sale of the Units.  Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, (a) the Partnership agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Partnership, at a purchase price per unit of $[         ], the number of Firm Units set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and (b) in the event and to the extent that the Underwriters shall exercise the election to purchase Optional Units as provided below, the Partnership agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Partnership, at the purchase price per unit set forth in clause (a) of this Section 2, that portion of the number of Optional Units as to which such election shall have been exercised (to be adjusted by you so as to eliminate fractional units) determined by multiplying such number of Optional Units by a fraction, the numerator of which is the maximum number of Optional Units such Underwriter is entitled to purchase as set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is the maximum number of Optional Units that all of the Underwriters are entitled to purchase hereunder.

 

The Partnership hereby grants to the Underwriters the right to purchase at their election up to an aggregate of [         ] Optional Units, at the purchase price per unit set forth in the

 

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paragraph above, for the sole purpose of covering sales of units in excess of the number of Firm Units.  Any such election to purchase Optional Units may be exercised only by written notice from you to the Partnership, given within a period of 30 calendar days after the date of this Agreement, setting forth the aggregate number of Optional Units to be purchased and the date on which such Optional Units are to be delivered, as determined by you but in no event earlier than the First Time of Delivery or, unless you and the Partnership otherwise agree in writing, earlier than two or later than ten business days after the date of such notice.

 

3.                                       Offering of Units by the Underwriters.  Upon the authorization by you of the release of the Firm Units, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Units for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

 

4.                                       Delivery and Payment for the Units.

 

(a)                                  The Units to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder, in book entry form, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours’ prior notice to the Partnership, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Partnership to the Representatives, through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Partnership to the Representatives at least forty-eight hours in advance.  If the Units are represented by certificates, the Partnership will cause the certificates representing the Units to be made available for checking and packaging at least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery with respect thereto at the office of DTC or its designated custodian (the “Designated Office”).  The time and date of such delivery and payment shall be, with respect to the Firm Units, at or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on [                         ], 2012 or such other time and date as the Representatives and the Partnership may agree upon in writing, and, with respect to the Optional Units, at or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified by the Representatives in the written notice given by the Representatives of the Underwriters’ election to purchase such Optional Units, or such other time and date as the Representatives and the Partnership may agree upon in writing.  Such time and date for delivery of the Firm Units is herein called the “First Time of Delivery,” such time and date for delivery of the Optional Units, if not the First Time of Delivery, is herein called the “Second Time of Delivery,” and each such time and date for delivery is herein called a “Time of Delivery.

 

(b)                                 The documents to be delivered at each Time of Delivery by or on behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 8 hereof, including the cross receipt for the Units and any additional documents requested by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, will be delivered at the offices of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500, Houston, Texas  77002 (the “Closing Location”), and the Units will be delivered at the Designated Office, all at such Time of Delivery.  A meeting will be held at the Closing Location at 2:00 p.m., [Houston time], on the Houston Business Day preceding such Time of Delivery, at which meeting the final drafts of the documents to be delivered pursuant to the preceding sentence will be available for review by the parties hereto.  For

 

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the purposes of this Section 4, “Houston Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in Houston City are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

5.                                       Further Agreements of the Partnership Parties.  The Partnership Parties, jointly and severally, covenant and agree with each of the Underwriters:

 

(a)                                  Preparation of Prospectus and Registration Statement.  To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by you and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 430A(a)(3) under the Act; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus (or any other prospectus relating to the Units filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Act that differs from the Prospectus) which shall be disapproved by you promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to file promptly all material required to be filed by the Partnership with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed and to furnish you with copies thereof; to file promptly all material required to be filed by the Partnership with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus (or, in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required in connection with the offering of the Units; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus in respect of the Units, of the suspension of the qualification of the Units for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus or suspending any such qualification, promptly to use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

 

(b)                                 Qualification of Securities.  Promptly from time to time to take such action as you may reasonably request to qualify the Units for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as you may reasonably request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Units, provided that in connection therewith the Partnership shall not be required to qualify as a foreign limited partnership or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;

 

(c)                                  Information in Pricing Disclosure Package.  If at any time prior to the filing of the Prospectus, any event occurs as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure

 

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Package would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, to give prompt notice thereof to the Representatives and, if requested by the Representatives, to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package and supply such amendment or supplement that will correct such statement or omission, without charge, to each Underwriter in such quantities as may be reasonably requested.

 

(d)                                 Copies of Documents to Underwriters.  To promptly, but no later than the First Time of Delivery, furnish the Underwriters with written and electronic copies of the Prospectus in New York City in such quantities as you may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required at any time prior to the expiration of nine months after the time of issue of the Prospectus in connection with the offering or sale of the Units and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such period to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, to notify you and upon your request to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many written and electronic copies as you may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and in case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) in connection with sales of any of the Units at any time nine months or more after the time of issue of the Prospectus, upon your request but at the expense of such Underwriter, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many written and electronic copies as you may reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act;

 

(e)                                  Reports to Unitholders.  To make generally available to the Partnership’s unitholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than sixteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act), an earnings statement of the Partnership and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (including, at the option of the Partnership, Rule 158);

 

(f)                                    Lock-Up Period.  During the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing to and including the date 180 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), not to, directly or indirectly, (A) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise hedge or dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition at any time in the future of), any Common Units or any securities of the Partnership that are substantially similar to the Common Units, including, but not limited to, any options or warrants to purchase Common Units or any securities that are

 

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convertible into or exchangeable for Common Units, or that represent the right to receive Common Units or any such substantially similar securities, (B) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such Common Units, whether any such transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Units or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (C) file or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments thereto, with respect to the registration of any Common Units or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into Common Units or any other securities of the Partnership, or (D) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, in each case without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co. and to cause each officer, director and unitholder of the Partnership set forth on Schedule IV hereto to furnish to the Representatives, prior to the First Time of Delivery, a letter or letters, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the “Lock-Up Agreements”); provided, however, that the Partnership may (i) issue and sell options, restricted units, phantom units, unit appreciation rights, unit awards and other unit-based awards pursuant to the Partnership’s Long-Term Incentive Plan that are not exercisable or do not vest, as applicable, during the Lock-Up Period, (ii) issue and sell the Optional Units, (iii) issue Common Units and other securities pursuant to the Partnership Agreement as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (iv) file a registration statement on Form S-8 relating to the Partnership’s Long-Term Incentive Plan, (v) issue Common Units pursuant to a distribution reinvestment plan and (vi) file any amendment to the Partnership’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-180551) relating to the Partnership’s distribution reinvestment plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) during the last 17 days of the initial Lock-Up Period, the Partnership releases earnings results or announces material news or a material event or (ii) prior to the expiration of the initial Lock-Up Period, the Partnership announces that it will release earnings results during the 15-day period following the last day of the initial Lock-Up Period, then in each case the Lock-Up Period will be automatically extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of release of the earnings results or the announcement of the material news or material event, as applicable, unless the Representatives waive, in writing, such extension; the Partnership will provide the Representatives with prior notice of any such announcement that gives rise to an extension of the Lock-Up Period;

 

(g)                                 Copies of Public Documents.  To furnish to the Partnership’s unitholders as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year an annual report (including a balance sheet and statements of income, changes of members’ equity and cash flows of the Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries certified by independent public accountants) and, as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending after the effective date of the Registration Statement), to make available to its unitholders consolidated summary financial information of the Partnership and its subsidiaries for such quarter in reasonable detail;

 

(h)                                 Use of Proceeds.  To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Units pursuant to this Agreement in the manner specified in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”;

 

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(i)                                     Rule 463.  To file with the Commission such information on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K as may be required by Rule 463 under the Act;

 

(j)                                     Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.  If the Partnership elects to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Act, the Partnership shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 p.m., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Partnership shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Act;

 

(k)                                  License.  Upon request of any Underwriter, to furnish, or cause to be furnished, to such Underwriter an electronic version of the Partnership’s trademarks, servicemarks and logo for use on the website, if any, operated by such Underwriter for the purpose of facilitating the on-line offering of the Units (the “License”); provided, however, that the License shall be used solely for the purpose described above, is granted without any fee and may not be assigned or transferred;

 

(l)                                     No Fiduciary Duty.  That (i) the purchase and sale of the Units pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Partnership, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Partnership or any of the other USA Compression Group Parties, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Partnership or any of the other USA Compression Group Parties with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Partnership or any of the other USA Compression Group Parties on other matters) or any other obligation to the Partnership except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and (iv) each of the USA Compression Group Parties has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.  Each of the Partnership Parties agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters, or any of them, has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Partnership or any of the other USA Compression Group Parties, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto;

 

(m)                               Emerging Growth Company.  The Partnership will notify promptly the Representatives if the Partnership ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the Units within the meaning of the Act and (ii) completion of the 180-day restricted period referred to in Section 5(f) hereof; and

 

(n)                                 Written Testing-the-Waters Communications. If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any event occurs as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, at such

 

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time not misleading, the Partnership will (i) notify promptly the Representatives so that use of the Written Testing-the Waters Communication may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the Representatives in such quantities as may be reasonably requested.

 

6.                                       Use of Free Writing Prospectus.

 

(a)                                  Free Writing Prospectus.  Each of the Partnership Parties represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Units that would constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act; each Underwriter represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Partnership and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Units that would constitute a free writing prospectus; each of the Partnership Parties and the Underwriters represents and agrees that any such free writing prospectus the use of which has been consented to by the Partnership and the Representatives is listed on Schedule II(A) or Schedule II(B) hereto.

 

(b)                                 Use of Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.  Each of the Partnership Parties represents and agrees that it has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Act applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending, and that it has satisfied and will satisfy the conditions under Rule 433 under the Act to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road show.

 

(c)                                  Information in Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.  Each of the Partnership Parties represents and agrees that if at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus any event occurs as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, to give prompt notice thereof to the Representatives and, if requested by the Representatives, to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or other document that will correct such conflict, statement or omission; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Partnership by an Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

 

7.                                       Expenses.  Each of the Partnership Parties covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Partnership will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Partnership’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Units under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, reproduction and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of

 

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printing or producing the Blue Sky Memorandum and closing documents (including any compilations thereof) in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Units; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Units for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky survey; (iv) all fees and expenses in connection with listing the Units on the NYSE; (v) the filing fees incident to any required review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) of the terms of the sale of the Units; (vi) the cost of preparing certificates for the Units; (vii) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or registrar; and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder that are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 7.  It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section 7 and Sections 9 and 12 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, stock transfer taxes on resale of any of the Units by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

 

8.                                       Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations.  The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, as to the Units to be delivered at each Time of Delivery, shall be subject, in their discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties of the Partnership Parties herein are, at and as of such Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Partnership Parties shall have performed all of their obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

 

(a)                                  The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; all material required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 433 under the Act; if the Partnership has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Act, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 p.m., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; no stop order suspending or preventing the use of a Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to your reasonable satisfaction;

 

(b)                                 The Representatives shall have received the opinions of Latham & Watkins LLP, special counsel for the Partnership, to the effect set forth on Exhibit B-1 and Exhibit B-2 and the additional letter to the effect set forth on Exhibit B-3 and the opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, special counsel for the Partnership, to the effect set forth on Exhibit B-4, each addressed to them and dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives;

 

(c)                                  The Representatives shall have received the opinion of J. Gregory Holloway, Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the General

 

25



 

Partner, addressed to them and dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth on Exhibit C hereto;

 

(d)                                 The Representatives shall have received from Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel to the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated such Time of Delivery with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably require; and the Partnership Parties shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purposes of enabling them to review or pass on the matters referred to in this Section 8 and in order to evidence the accuracy, completeness and satisfaction of the representations, warranties and conditions herein contained;

 

(e)                                  On the date of the Prospectus at a time prior to the execution of this Agreement, at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the effective date of any post effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement and also at each Time of Delivery, KPMG LLP shall have furnished to you a letter or letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof, in form and substance satisfactory to you;

 

(f)                                    (i) None of the Partnership Parties shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Prospectus any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, other than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus there shall not have been any change in the capitalization or long term debt of any of the Partnership Parties or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, members’ equity, partner’s equity, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of any of the Partnership Parties other than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in the judgment of the Representatives so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Units being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus;

 

(g)                                 On or after the Applicable Time, there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the NYSE; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Partnership’s securities on the NYSE; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by Federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war; or (v) the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (iv) or (v) in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Units being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus;

 

26



 

(h)                                 The Units to be sold at such Time of Delivery shall have been duly admitted for trading and quotation on the NYSE;

 

(i)                                     The Representatives shall have received duly and validly executed Lock-Up Agreements referred to in Section 5(f) hereof, between the Representatives and the officers, directors, unitholders of the Partnership set forth on Schedule IV, and such Lock-Up Agreements shall be in full force and effect at such Time of Delivery.

 

(j)                                     The Partnership shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5(d) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses no later than the First Time of Delivery;

 

(k)                                  The Partnership shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to you at such Time of Delivery certificates of officers of the USA Compression Group Parties satisfactory to the Representatives as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Partnership Parties herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the Partnership Parties of all of their obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth in Sections 8(a) and 8(f) hereof and any such further information, opinions, certificates and documents as the Representatives may have reasonably requested; and

 

(l)                                     The Transactions (other than the Partnership’s use of the net proceeds of the offering) shall have been consummated.

 

9.                                       Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  The Partnership Parties, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, officers and employees, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and any “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act) of such Underwriter participating in the offering of the Units, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter, affiliate, director, officer, employee, controlling person may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Act) not constituting an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (“Marketing Materials”) or “any issuer information” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) used or referred to by such Underwriter with the prior consent of the Partnership (any such issuer information with respect to whose use the Partnership has given its consent, the “Permitted Issuer Information”), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Written Testing-in-the-Waters Communication, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or

 

27



 

any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, any Marketing Materials or any Permitted Issuer Information, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (except in the case of the Registration Statement, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter and each such affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter and each such affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Partnership Parties shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Written Testing-in-the-Waters Communication, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, any Marketing Materials or any Permitted Issuer Information, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

 

(b)                                 Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership Parties, their respective directors, officers and employees and each person, if any who controls any Partnership Party within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Partnership Parties, director, officer, employee or controlling Person may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any Marketing Materials, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any Marketing Materials a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (except in the case of the Registration Statement, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any Marketing Materials, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Partnership Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Partnership Parties in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred.

 

28



 

(c)                                  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under Sections 9(a) or 9(b) above  of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such Section, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability it may have to any indemnified party under such Section, except to the extent that the indemnifying party suffers actual prejudice as a result of such failure and shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability it may have other than under such Section.  In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party.  After notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such Section for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that the indemnified party shall have the right to employ counsel to represent jointly the indemnified party and those other indemnified parties and their respective directors, officers, employees and controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought under this Section 9 if (i) the indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall have so mutually agreed; (ii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; (iii) the indemnified party and its directors, officers, employees or controlling persons shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to them that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified parties or their respective directors, officers, employees, or controlling persons, on the one hand, and the indemnifying party, on the other hand, and representation of both sets of parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them, and in any such event the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by the indemnifying party.  No indemnifying party shall, (x) without the written consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (A) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (B) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party or (y) be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in such action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of

 

29


 

such settlement or judgment.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the third sentence of this Section 9(c), then the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any such proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 business days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have fully reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and (iii) such indemnified party shall have given the indemnifying party at least 30 days’ prior notice of its intention to settle.

 

(d)           If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under this Section 9 in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Partnership Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, from the offering of the Units.  If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits referred to in the immediately preceding sentence, but also the relative fault of the Partnership Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Partnership Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Partnership bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus.  The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Partnership Parties, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  Each of the Partnership Parties and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 9(d).  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 9(d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9(d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Units underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages

 

30



 

which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 9(d), each affiliate of an Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director and officer of the Partnership Parties, and each person, if any, who controls the Partnership Parties within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, shall have the same rights to contribution as the Partnership Parties.  The Underwriters’ obligations in this Section 9(d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

 

10.           Underwriters.

 

(a)           If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Units which it has agreed to purchase hereunder at a Time of Delivery, you may in your discretion arrange for you or another party or other parties to purchase such Units on the terms contained herein.  If within thirty six hours after such default by any Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase of such Units, then the Partnership shall be entitled to a further period of thirty six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to you to purchase such Units on such terms.  In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, you notify the Partnership that you have so arranged for the purchase of such Units, or the Partnership notifies you that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Units, you or the Partnership shall have the right to postpone such Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Partnership agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in your opinion may thereby be made necessary.  The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section 10 with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Units.

 

(b)           If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Units of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Partnership as provided in Section 10(a) above, the aggregate number of such Units which remains unpurchased does not exceed one eleventh of the aggregate number of all the Units to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, then the Partnership shall have the right to require each non defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Units which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder at such Time of Delivery and, in addition, to require each non defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the number of Units which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Units of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

 

(c)           If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Units of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Partnership as provided in

 

31



 

Section 10(a) above, the aggregate number of such Units which remains unpurchased exceeds one eleventh of the aggregate number of all the Units to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, or if the Partnership shall not exercise the right described in Section 10(b) above to require non defaulting Underwriters to purchase Units of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement (or, with respect to the Second Time of Delivery, the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Partnership to sell the Optional Units) shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Partnership, except for the expenses to be borne by the Partnership and the Underwriters as provided in Sections 7 and 12 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 9 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

 

11.           The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Partnership and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Partnership, or any officer or director or controlling person of the Partnership, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Units.

 

12.           If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 8(f) or Section 10 hereof, the Partnership shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7 and 9 hereof; but, if for any other reason, any Units are not delivered by or on behalf of the Partnership as provided herein, the Partnership will reimburse the Underwriters through you for all out of pocket expenses approved in writing by you, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Units not so delivered, but the Partnership shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7 and 9 hereof.

 

13.           In all dealings hereunder, you shall act on behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by you jointly.

 

All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing and, if to the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to you as the Representatives in care of Barclays Capital Inc., 747 7th Avenue, New York, New York  10019, Attention: Office of the General Counsel; and if to the Partnership shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Partnership set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: J. Gregory Holloway; provided, however, that notices under Section 9(c) shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters’ Questionnaire, or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Partnership by you upon request; provided, however, that notices under Section 5(f) shall be in writing, and, if to the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to you as the Representatives in care of Barclays Capital Inc., 747 7th Avenue, New York, New York  10019, Attention: Office of the General Counsel.  Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt

 

32



 

thereof.  In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Partnership, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow  the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

 

14.           This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Partnership Parties and, to the extent provided in Sections 9 and 11 hereof, the officers and directors of the General Partner, any affiliate of any Underwriter and each person who controls the Partnership or any Underwriter or affiliate of any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Units from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

 

15.           Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement.  As used herein, the term “business day” shall mean any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

 

16.           This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Partnership Parties and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

17.           THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.  Each of the parties agrees that any suit or proceeding arising in respect of this agreement or the Underwriters’ engagement will be tried exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York or, if that court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, in any state court located in the City and County of New York, and each of the parties agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of, and to venue in, such courts.

 

18.           Each of the Partnership Parties and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

19.           This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

20.           Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Partnership is authorized, subject to applicable law, to disclose to any persons the U.S. federal and state income tax treatment and tax structure of the potential transaction and all materials of any kind (including tax opinions and other tax analyses) relating to such treatment and structure, without the Underwriters imposing any limitation of any kind.  However, any information relating to the tax treatment and tax structure shall remain confidential (and the foregoing sentence shall not apply)

 

33



 

to the extent necessary to enable any person to comply with applicable securities laws.  For this purpose, “tax structure” is limited to any facts that may be relevant to that treatment.

 

21.           If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us four counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement among each of the Underwriters and each of the Partnership Parties.  It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Partnership for examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the signers thereof.

 

[Signature pages follow]

 

34



 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP

 

 

 

 

 

By:

USA Compression GP, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

USA COMPRESSION GP, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

USAC LEASING, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 



 

Accepted as of the date

 

first above written.

 

 

 

 

 

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For themselves and the other several Underwriters named in Schedule I to the foregoing Agreement.

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 



 

SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriter

 

Total Number of
Firm Units to be
Purchased

 

Number of
Optional Units to
be Purchased if
Maximum Option
is Exercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

SCHEDULE II(A)

Materials Other Than the Pricing Prospectus That

Comprise the Pricing Disclosure Package

 

Price to public per Common Unit:

 

Number of Common Units:

 


 

SCHEDULE II(B)

 

Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses Not Included in the Pricing Disclosure Package

 

Electronic roadshow as made available on [http://www.netroadshow.com]

 



 

SCHEDULE III

 

Written Testing-the-Waters Communications

 

None.

 



 

SCHEDULE IV

 

Lock-Up Agreement Parties

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF LOCK-UP LETTER

 

USA Compression Partners, LP

 

Lock-Up Letter

 

, 2012

 

Barclays Capital Inc.

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o Barclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

 

Re:          USA Compression Partners, LP - Lock-Up Letter

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned understands that you, as representatives (the “Representatives”), propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) on behalf of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I to such agreement (collectively, the “Underwriters”), with USA Compression Partners, LP (the “Partnership”), USA Compression GP, LLC, USA Compression Partners, LLC and USAC Leasing, LLC, providing for a public offering of common units representing limited partner interests (the “Units”), in the Partnership pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”).

 

In consideration of the agreement by the Underwriters to offer and sell the Units, and of other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees that, during the period specified in the following paragraph (the “Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned will not, directly or indirectly, (1) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise hedge or dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition at any time in the future of) any Common Units (as defined in the partnership agreement of the Partnership, as the same may be amended or restated at or prior to the First Time of Delivery, as defined in the Underwriting Agreement), or any securities of the Partnership that are substantially similar to the Common Units, including, but not limited to, any options or warrants to purchase any Common Units, or any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, Common Units or any such substantially similar securities, whether now owned or hereinafter acquired, owned directly by the undersigned (including holding as a custodian) or with respect to which the undersigned has beneficial ownership within the rules and regulations of the Commission (collectively the “Undersigned’s Units”), (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of

 

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ownership of any Common Units, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Units or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) make any demand for or exercise any right or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments thereto, with respect to the registration of any Common Units or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Units or any other securities of the Partnership, or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing. The foregoing restriction is expressly agreed to preclude the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in a sale or disposition of the Undersigned’s Units even if the Undersigned’s Units would be disposed of by someone other than the undersigned. Such prohibited hedging or other transactions would include without limitation any short sale or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including without limitation any put or call option) with respect to any of the Undersigned’s Units or with respect to any security that includes, relates to, or derives any significant part of its value from the Undersigned’s Units.

 

The initial Lock-Up Period will commence on the date of this Lock-Up Letter and continue for 180 days after the public offering date set forth on the final prospectus used to sell the Units (the “Public Offering Date”) pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement; provided, however, that if (1) during the last 17 days of the initial Lock-Up Period, the Partnership releases earnings results or announces material news or a material event or (2) prior to the expiration of the initial Lock-Up Period, the Partnership announces that it will release earnings results during the 15-day period following the last day of the initial Lock-Up Period, then in each case the Lock-Up Period will be automatically extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of release of the earnings results or the announcement of the material news or material event, as applicable, unless the Representatives waive, in writing, such extension.

 

The undersigned hereby agrees that, prior to engaging in any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the terms of this Lock-Up Letter during the period from the date of this Lock-Up Letter to and including the 34th day following the expiration of the initial Lock-Up Period, it will give notice thereof to the Partnership and will not consummate such transaction or take any such action unless it has received written confirmation from the Partnership that the Lock-Up Period (as such may have been extended pursuant to the previous paragraph) has expired.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may transfer the Undersigned’s Units (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, provided that the donee or donees thereof agree to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, (ii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, provided that the trustee of the trust agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, or (iii) with the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters; provided, however, that in the case of (i) or (ii), any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value and no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with such transfer other than a filing on Form 5 of the Exchange Act.  For purposes of this Lock-Up Letter, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin.  The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer

 

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instructions with the Partnership’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the Undersigned’s Units except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

 

It is understood that, if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof that survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Units, the undersigned shall be automatically released from the obligations under this Lock-up Letter Agreement.

 

The undersigned understands that the Partnership and the Underwriters are relying upon this Lock-Up Letter in proceeding toward consummation of the offering.  The undersigned further understands that this Lock-Up Agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns.

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT B-1

 

FORM OF OPINION OF LATHAM & WATKINS LLP

 

B-1-1



 

EXHIBIT B-2

B-2-1



 

EXHIBIT B-3

B-3-1



 

EXHIBIT B-4

B-4-1



 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF OPINION OF GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE GENERAL PARTNER

 

C-1




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Exhibit 5.1

[LATHAM & WATKINS LLP LETTERHEAD]

        , 2012

USA Compression Partners, LP
100 Congress Avenue, Suite 450
Austin, Texas 78701

Re: Initial Public Offering of Common Units of USA Compression Partners, LP

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We have acted as special counsel to USA Compression Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), in connection with the proposed issuance of up to                        common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the "Common Units"). The Common Units are included in a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on June 9, 2011 (Registration No. 333-174803), (as amended, the "Registration Statement"). The term "Common Units" shall include any additional common units registered by the Partnership pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act in connection with the offering contemplated by the Registration Statement. This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or related Prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issue of the Common Units.

        As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the general partner of the Partnership and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the "Delaware Act") and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws.

        Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, when the Common Units shall have been issued by the Partnership against payment therefor in the circumstances contemplated by the form of underwriting agreement most recently filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, the issue and sale of the Common Units will have been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action of the Partnership, and the Common Units will be validly issued and, under the Delaware Act, purchasers of the Common Units will have no obligation to make further payments for their purchase of Common Units or contributions to the Partnership solely by reason of their ownership of Common Units or their status as limited partners of the Partnership, and no personal liability for the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Partnership, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, solely by reason of being limited partners of the Partnership.

        This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus under the heading "Validity of the Common Units." We further consent to the incorporation by reference of this letter and consent into any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) with respect to the Common Units. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,




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Exhibit 8.1

    811 Main Street, Suite 3700
Houston, TX 77002
Tel: +1.713.546.5400 Fax: +1.713.546.5401
www.lw.com

 

 

FIRM / AFFILIATE OFFICES
August 9, 2012
  
  
USA Compression Partners, LP
100 Congress Avenue, Suite 450
Austin, Texas 78701
 
 
        Re:
USA Compression Partners, LP
  Abu Dhabi
Barcelona
Beijing
Boston
Brussels
Chicago
Doha
Dubai
Frankfurt
Hamburg
Hong Kong
Houston
London
Los Angeles
Madrid
Milan
  Moscow
Munich
New Jersey
New York
Orange County
Paris
Riyadh
Rome
San Diego
San Francisco
Shanghai
Silicon Valley
Singapore
Tokyo
Washington, D.C.
   

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We have acted as counsel to USA Compression Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), in connection with the proposed issuance of common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the "Common Units"). The Common Units are included in a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on June 9, 2011 (Registration No. 333-174803), (as amended, the "Registration Statement"). The term "Common Units" shall include any additional common units registered by the Partnership pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act in connection with the offering contemplated by the Registration Statement. No opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or related Prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issue of the Common Units.

        This opinion is based on various facts and assumptions, and is conditioned upon certain representations made by the Partnership as to factual matters through a certificate of an officer of the Partnership (the "Officer's Certificate"). In addition, this opinion is based upon the factual representations of the Partnership concerning its business, properties and governing documents as set forth in the Registration Statement to which this opinion is an exhibit, the Partnership's prospectus relating to the Common Units (the "Prospectus") and the Partnership's responses to our examinations and inquiries.

        In our capacity as counsel to the Partnership, we have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including an examination of originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such documents, corporate records and other instruments, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion. In our examination, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures thereon, the legal capacity of natural persons executing such documents and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. For the purpose of our opinion, we have not made an independent investigation or audit of the facts set forth in the above-referenced documents or in the Officer's Certificate. In addition, in rendering this opinion we have assumed the truth and accuracy of all representations and statements made to us which are qualified as to knowledge or belief, without regard to such qualification.

        We are opining herein as to the effect on the subject transaction only of the federal income tax laws of the United States and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of other federal laws, foreign laws, the laws of any state or any other jurisdiction or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any other local agencies within any state.


        Based on the facts, assumptions and representations set forth herein and subject to the imitations set forth herein and in the Registration Statement and the Officer's Certificate, it is our opinion that the statements in the Prospectus under the caption "Material Federal Income Tax Consequences," insofar as such statements purport to constitute summaries of United States federal income tax law and regulations or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitute the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP as to the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the matters described therein.

        No opinion is expressed as to any matter not discussed herein.

        This opinion is rendered to you as of the effective date of the Registration Statement, and we undertake no obligation to update this opinion subsequent to the date hereof. This opinion is based on various statutory provisions, regulations promulgated thereunder and interpretations thereof by the Internal Revenue Service and the courts having jurisdiction over such matters, all of which are subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. Also, any variation or difference in the facts from those set forth in the representations described above, including in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Officer's Certificate, may affect the conclusions stated herein.

        This opinion is furnished to you, and is for your use in connection with the transactions set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or furnished to, assigned to, quoted to or relied upon by any other person, firm or other entity, for any purpose, without our prior written consent. However, this opinion may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely on it pursuant to applicable provisions of federal securities law, including purchasers of the Common Units in this offering.

        We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus under the heading "Material Federal Income Tax Consequences." We further consent to the incorporation by reference of this letter and consent into any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) with respect to the Common Units. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

  Very truly yours,

 

/s/ LATHAM & WATKINS LLP


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Exhibit 10.4

 

FORM OF USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP
2012 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 

SECTION 1.                            Purpose of the Plan.

 

This USA Compression Partners, LP 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) has been adopted by USA Compression GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), the general partner of USA Compression Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”).  The Plan is intended to promote the interests of the Partnership and the Company by providing incentive compensation awards based on Units to Employees, Consultants and Directors to encourage superior performance.  The Plan is also intended to enhance the ability of the Partnership, the Company and their Affiliates to attract and retain the services of individuals who are essential for the growth and profitability of the Partnership, the Company and their Affiliates and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to advancing the business of the Partnership, the Company and their Affiliates.

 

SECTION 2.                            Definitions.

 

As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

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

 

ASC Topic 718” means Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation, or any successor accounting standard.

 

Award” means an Option, Restricted Unit, Phantom Unit, DER, Substitute Award, Unit Appreciation Right or Unit Award granted under the Plan.

 

Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement by which an Award shall be evidenced.

 

Board” means the board of directors or board of managers, as the case may be, of the Company.

 

Change in Control” means, and shall be deemed to have occurred upon one or more 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, Riverstone Holdings LLC or an Affiliate of the Company (as determined immediately prior to such event) or Riverstone Holdings LLC, 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, Riverstone Holdings LLC or an Affiliate of the Company, the Partnership or Riverstone Holdings LLC; or

 

(iv)                              a transaction resulting in a Person other than the Company, Riverstone Holdings LLC or an Affiliate of the Company (as determined immediately prior to such event) or Riverstone Holdings LLC being the sole general partner of the Partnership.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control 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, the transaction or event described in subsection (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above with respect to such Award must also constitute a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5), and as relates to the holder of such Award, to the extent required to comply with Section 409A of the Code.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Committee” means the Board, except that it shall mean such committee as is appointed by the Board if, from and after such time as and to the extent that the Board appoints such a committee comprised solely of two or more “non-employee directors” (within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) to administer the Plan.

 

Consultant” means an individual who renders consulting services to the Company, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates.

 

DER” means a distribution equivalent right, representing a contingent right to receive an amount in cash, Units, Restricted Units and/or Phantom Units equal in value to the distributions made by the Partnership with respect to a Unit during the period such Award is outstanding.

 

Director” means a member of the board of directors or board of managers, as the case may be, of the Company, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates who is not an Employee or a Consultant (other than in that individual’s capacity as a Director).

 

Disability” means, as determined by the Committee in its discretion exercised in good faith, a physical or mental condition of a Participant 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 a Participant 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’s 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

 

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subject to Section 409A of the Code, then, to the extent required to comply with Section 409A of the Code, the Participant 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 Committee and, in this respect, Participants shall submit to an examination by such physician upon request by the Committee.

 

Employee” means an employee of the Company, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Fair Market Value” means, as of any given date, the closing sales price on such date during normal trading hours (or, if there are no reported sales on such date, on the last date prior to such date on which there were sales) of the Units on the New York Stock Exchange or, if not listed on such exchange, on any other national securities exchange on which the Units are listed or on an inter-dealer quotation system, in any case, as reported in such source as the Committee shall select.  If there is no regular public trading market for the Units, the Fair Market Value of the Units shall be determined by the Committee in good faith and in compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

 

Option” means an option to purchase Units granted pursuant to Section 6(a) of the Plan.

 

Other Unit-Based Award” means an award granted pursuant to Section 6(e) of the Plan.

 

Participant” means an Employee, Consultant or Director granted an Award under the Plan and any authorized transferee of such individual.

 

Partnership Agreement” means the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as it may be amended or amended and restated from time to time.

 

Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.

 

Phantom Unit” means a notional interest granted under the Plan that, to the extent vested, entitles the Participant to receive a Unit or an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

 

Profits Interest Unit” means to the extent authorized by the Partnership Agreement, an interest in the Partnership that is intended to constitute a “profits interest” within the meaning of the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and any published guidance by the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto.

 

Restricted Period” means the period established by the Committee with respect to an Award during which the Award remains subject to forfeiture and is either not exercisable by or payable to the Participant, as the case may be.

 

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Restricted Unit” means a Unit granted pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Plan that is subject to a Restricted Period.

 

Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act or any successor rule or regulation thereto as in effect from time to time.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor thereto.

 

Service” means service as an Employee, Consultant or Director.  The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to terminations of Service, including, without limitation, the question of whether and when a termination of Service occurred and/or resulted from a discharge for cause, and all questions of whether particular changes in status or leaves of absence constitute a termination of Service, provided that a termination of Service shall not be deemed to occur in the event of (a) a termination where there is simultaneous commencement by the Participant of a relationship with the Partnership, the Company or any of their Affiliates as an Employee, Director or Consultant or (b) at the discretion of the Committee, a termination which results in a temporary severance of the service relationship.

 

Substitute Award” means an award granted pursuant to Section 6(f) of the Plan.

 

Unit” means a Common Unit of the Partnership.

 

Unit Appreciation Right” or “UAR” means a contingent right that entitles the holder to receive the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the exercise date of the UAR over the exercise price of the UAR.

 

Unit Award” means an award granted pursuant to Section 6(c) of the Plan.

 

SECTION 3.                            Administration.

 

(a)                             The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, subject to subsection (b) below; provided, however, that in the event that the Board is not also serving as the Committee, the Board, in its sole discretion, may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan.  The governance of the Committee shall be subject to the charter, if any, of the Committee as approved by the Board.  Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of Units to be covered by Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, or forfeited; (vi) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to an Award made under the Plan; (vii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (viii) make any other determination and take any

 

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other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.  The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or an Award Agreement in such manner and to such extent as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate.  Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, the Partnership, any of their Affiliates, any Participant and any beneficiary of any Participant.

 

(b)                                 To the extent permitted by applicable law and the rules of any securities exchange on which the Units are listed, quoted or traded, the Board or Committee may from time to time delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board or one or more officers of the Company the authority to grant or amend Awards or to take other administrative actions pursuant to Section 3(a); provided, however, that in no event shall an officer of the Company be delegated the authority to grant awards to, or amend awards held by, the following individuals: (i) individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (ii) officers of the Company (or Directors) to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder, or (iii) to the extent that Section 162(m) of the Code is applicable to the Company or the Partnership, any Employee who is, or could be, a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code; provided, further, that any delegation of administrative authority shall only be permitted to the extent that it is permissible under applicable provisions of the Code and applicable securities laws and the rules of any securities exchange on which the Units are listed, quoted or traded.  Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to such restrictions and limitations as the Board or Committee, as applicable, specifies at the time of such delegation, and the Board or Committee, as applicable, may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegatee.  At all times, the delegatee appointed under this Section 3(b) shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board and the Committee.

 

SECTION 4.                            Units.

 

(a)                                 Limits on Units Deliverable.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c), the number of Units that may be delivered with respect to Awards under the Plan is [                 (      )].  Units withheld from an Award to either satisfy the Company’s or its Affiliates’ tax withholding obligations with respect to the Award or pay the exercise price of an Award shall be counted against the number of Units that may be delivered under the Plan and shall not be available for future grants of Awards.  If any Award is forfeited, cancelled, exercised, paid, or otherwise terminates or expires without the actual delivery of Units pursuant to such Award (for the avoidance of doubt, the grant of Restricted Units is not a delivery of Units for this purpose), the Units subject to such Award shall again be available for Awards under the Plan.  To the extent permitted by applicable law and securities exchange rules, Substitute Awards and Units issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form of combination by the Partnership or any Affiliate thereof shall not be counted against the Units available for issuance pursuant to the Plan.  There shall not be any limitation on the number of Awards that may be paid in cash.

 

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(b)                                 Sources of Units Deliverable Under Awards.  Any Units delivered pursuant to an Award shall consist, in whole or in part, of Units acquired in the open market, from the Partnership, any Affiliate thereof or any other Person, or Units otherwise issuable by the Partnership, or any combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

 

(c)                                  Anti-dilution Adjustments.

 

(i)                                     Equity Restructuring.  With respect to any “equity restructuring” event that could result in an additional compensation expense to the Company or the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of ASC Topic 718 if adjustments to Awards with respect to such event were discretionary, the Committee shall equitably adjust the number and type of Units covered by each outstanding Award and the terms and conditions, including the exercise price and performance criteria (if any), of such Award to equitably reflect such event and shall adjust the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan after such event.  With respect to any other similar event that would not result in an ASC Topic 718 accounting charge if the adjustment to Awards with respect to such event were subject to discretionary action, the Committee shall have complete discretion to adjust Awards and the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan in such manner as it deems appropriate with respect to such other event.

 

(ii)                                  Other Changes in CapitalizationIn the event of any non-cash distribution, Unit split, combination or exchange of Units, merger, consolidation or distribution (other than normal cash distributions) of Partnership assets to unitholders, or any other change affecting the units of the Partnership, other than an “equity restructuring,” the Committee may make equitable adjustments, if any, to reflect such change with respect to (A) the aggregate number and kind of Units that may be issued under the Plan; (B) the number and kind of Units (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and (iv) the grant or exercise price per Unit for any outstanding Awards under the Plan.

 

SECTION 5.                            Eligibility.

 

Any Employee, Consultant or Director shall be eligible to be designated a Participant and receive an Award under the Plan.

 

SECTION 6.                            Awards.

 

(a)                                 Options and UARs.  The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Options and/or UARs shall be granted, the number of Units to be covered by each Option or UAR, the exercise price therefor, the Restricted Period and other conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Option or UAR, including the following terms and conditions and such additional terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.  Options

 

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which are intended to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(A) and UARs which are intended to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(B) or, in each case, any successor regulation, may be granted only if the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii), or any successor regulation, are satisfied.  Options and UARs that are otherwise exempt from or compliant with Section 409A of the Code may be granted to any eligible Employee, Consultant or Director.

 

(i)                                     Exercise Price.  The exercise price per Unit purchasable under an Option or subject to a UAR shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Option or UAR is granted but, except with respect to a Substitute Award, may not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Unit as of the date of grant of the Option or UAR.

 

(ii)                                  Time and Method of Exercise.  The Committee shall determine the exercise terms and the Restricted Period with respect to an Option or UAR, which may include, without limitation, a provision for accelerated vesting upon the achievement of specified performance goals or other events, and the method or methods by which payment of the exercise price with respect to an Option or UAR may be made or deemed to have been made, which may include, without limitation, cash, check acceptable to the Company, withholding Units having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price from the Award, a “cashless” exercise through procedures approved by the Company, or any combination of the foregoing methods.

 

(iii)                               Forfeitures.  Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the Option or UAR Award Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s Service for any reason during the applicable Restricted Period, all unvested Options and UARs shall be forfeited by the Participant.  The Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Options and/or UARs; provided that the waiver contemplated under this Section 6(a)(iii) shall be effective only to the extent that such waiver will not cause the Participant’s Options and UARs that are intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code to fail to satisfy such requirements.

 

(iv)                              Exercise of Options and UARs on Termination of Service.  Each Option and UAR Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the Option or UAR following a termination of the Participant’s Service.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, if the Participant’s Service is terminated for cause, the Participant’s right to exercise the Option or UAR shall terminate immediately on the effective date of the Participant’s termination.  To the extent the Option or UAR was not vested and exercisable as of the termination of Service, the Option or UAR shall terminate when the Participant’s Service terminates.  Subject to the foregoing, such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Options and UARs issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of Service.

 

(v)                                 Term of Options and UARs.  The term of each Option and UAR shall be stated in the Award Agreement, provided, that the term shall be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof.

 

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(vi)                              Prohibition on Repricing.  Subject to Section 4(c) and Section 7(c), the Committee shall not, without the approval of the unitholders of the Partnership, (i) reduce the per Unit exercise price of any outstanding Option or UAR, (ii) cancel any Option or UAR in exchange for cash or another Award when the Option or UAR price per Unit exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Units, or (iii) otherwise reprice any Option or UAR.  Subject to Sections 4(c), 7 and 8(e) hereof, the Committee shall have the authority, without the approval of the unitholders of the Partnership, to amend any outstanding Award, to increase the exercise price per Unit, or to cancel and replace an Award with the grant of an Award having an exercise price per Unit that is greater than or equal to the exercise price per Unit of the original Award.

 

(b)                                 Restricted Units and Phantom Units.  The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Restricted Units and/or Phantom Units shall be granted, the number of Restricted Units or Phantom Units to be granted to each such Participant, the applicable Restricted Period, the conditions under which the Restricted Units or Phantom Units may become vested or forfeited and such other terms and conditions, including, without limitation, restrictions on transferability, as the Committee may establish with respect to such Awards.

 

(i)                                     DERs.  The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom DERs are granted, whether such DERs are tandem or separate Awards, whether the DERs shall be paid directly to the Participant, be credited to a bookkeeping account (with or without interest in the discretion of the Committee), the vesting restrictions and payment provisions applicable to the Award, and such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion, all of which shall be specified in the applicable Award Agreements.  DERs may be granted by the Committee based on distributions made with respect to Units, to be credited as of the distribution dates during the period between the date an Award is granted to a Participant and the date such Award vests, is exercised, is distributed or expires, as determined by the Committee.  Such DERs shall be converted to cash, Units, Restricted Units and/or Phantom Units by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Committee.  Tandem DERs may be subject to the same or different vesting restrictions as the tandem Award, or be subject to such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, DERs shall only be paid in a manner that is either exempt from or in compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

 

(ii)                              Forfeitures.  Except as otherwise provided in the terms of an Award Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s Service for any reason during the applicable Restricted Period, all outstanding, unvested Restricted Units and Phantom Units shall be automatically forfeited by the Participant.  The Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Restricted Units and/or Phantom Units; provided, that the waiver contemplated under this Section 6(b)(ii) shall be effective only to the extent that such waiver will not cause the Participant’s Restricted Units and/or Phantom Units that are intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code to fail to satisfy such requirements.

 

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(iii)                               Payment; Lapse of Restrictions.

 

(A)                               Phantom Units.  The Committee shall specify, or permit the Participant to elect in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the conditions and dates or events upon which the cash or Units underlying an award of Phantom Units shall be issued, which dates or events shall not be earlier than the date on which the Phantom Units vest and become nonforfeitable and which conditions and dates or events shall be subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code (unless the Phantom Units are exempt therefrom).

 

(B)                               Restricted Units.  Upon or as soon as reasonably practicable following the vesting of each Restricted Unit, subject to satisfying the tax withholding obligations of Section 8(b), the Participant shall be entitled to have the restrictions removed from his or her Unit certificate (or book-entry account, as applicable) so that the Participant then holds an unrestricted Unit.

 

(c)                                  Unit Awards.  Unit Awards may be granted under the Plan (i) to such Employees, Consultants and/or Directors and in such amounts as the Committee, in its discretion, may select, and (ii) subject to such other terms and conditions, including, without limitation, restrictions on transferability, as the Committee may establish with respect to such Awards.

 

(d)                                 Profits Interest Units.  Any Restricted Unit award or Unit Award consisting of Profits Interest Units may only be issued to a Participant for the performance of services to or for the benefit of the Partnership (i) in the Participant’s capacity as a partner of the Partnership, (ii) in anticipation of the Participant becoming a partner of the Partnership, or (iii) as otherwise determined by the Committee, provided that the Profits Interest Units would constitute “profits interests” within the meaning of the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder and any published guidance by the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto.  At the time of grant, the Committee shall specify the date or dates on which the Profits Interest Units shall vest and become nonforfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting as it deems appropriate.  Profits Interest Units shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may impose.

 

(e)                                  Other Unit-Based Awards.  Other Unit-Based Awards may be granted under the Plan to such Employees, Consultants and/or Directors as the Committee, in its discretion, may select.  An Other Unit-Based Award shall be an award denominated or payable in, valued in or otherwise based on or related to Units, in whole or in part.  The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any Other Unit-Based Award.  Upon vesting, an Other Unit-Based Award may be paid in cash, Units (including Restricted Units) or any combination thereof as provided in the Award Agreement.

 

(f)                                   Substitute Awards.  Awards may be granted under the Plan in substitution of similar awards held by individuals who become Employees, Consultants or Directors as a result of a merger, consolidation or acquisition by the Partnership or an Affiliate of another entity or the assets of another entity.  Such Substitute Awards that are Options or UARs may have exercise prices less than the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the date of the substitution if such

 

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substitution complies with Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder and other applicable laws and securities exchange rules.

 

(g)                                  General.

 

(i)                                     Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together.  Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for any other Award granted under the Plan or any award granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate.  Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or awards granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.

 

(ii)                                  Limits on Transfer of Awards.

 

(A)                               Except as provided in paragraph (C) below, each Option and UAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant during the Participant’s lifetime, or by the person to whom the Participant’s rights shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

(B)                               Except as provided in paragraph (C) below, no Award and no right under any such Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company, the Partnership or any Affiliate.

 

(C)                               The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement that an Award may, on such terms and conditions as the Committee may from time to time establish, be transferred by a Participant without consideration to any “family member” of the Participant, as defined in the instructions to use of the Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act, as applicable, or any other transferee specifically approved by the Committee after taking into account any state, federal, local or foreign tax and securities laws applicable to transferable Awards.  In addition, vested Units may be transferred to the extent permitted by the Partnership Agreement and not otherwise prohibited by the Award Agreement or any other agreement restricting the transfer of such Units.

 

(iii)                               Term of Awards.  Subject to Section 6(a)(v) above, the term of each Award, if any, shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee.

 

(iv)                              Unit Certificates.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or required by any applicable law, rule or regulation, neither the Company nor the Partnership shall deliver to any Participant certificates evidencing Units issued in connection with any Award and instead such Units shall be recorded in the books of the Partnership (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or equity plan administrator).  All

 

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certificates for Units or other securities of the Partnership delivered under the Plan and all Units issued pursuant to book entry procedures pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the SEC, any securities exchange upon which such Units or other securities are then listed, and any applicable federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be inscribed on any such certificates or book entry to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

 

(v)           Consideration for Grants.  To the extent permitted by applicable Law, Awards may be granted for such consideration, including services, as the Committee shall determine.

 

(vi)          Delivery of Units or other Securities and Payment by Participant of Consideration.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing Units pursuant to the exercise or vesting of any Award, unless and until the Board or the Committee has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance of such Units is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Units are listed or traded, and the Units are covered by an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration.  In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board or the Committee may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Board or the Committee, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the delivery of Units pursuant to the exercise or vesting of an Award may be deferred for any period during which, in the good faith determination of the Committee, the Company is not reasonably able to obtain or deliver Units pursuant to such Award without violating applicable law or the applicable rules or regulations of any governmental agency or authority or securities exchange.  No Units or other securities shall be delivered pursuant to any Award until payment in full of any amount required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement (including, without limitation, any exercise price or tax withholding) is received by the Company.

 

SECTION 7.         Amendment and Termination.

 

Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law:

 

(a)           Amendments to the Plan.  Except as required by applicable law or the rules of the principal securities exchange, if any, on which the Units are traded and subject to Section 7(b) below, the Board or the Committee may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan in any manner without the consent of any partner, Participant, other holder or beneficiary of an Award, or any other Person.  The Board shall obtain securityholder approval of any Plan

 

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amendment to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law or securities exchange listing standards or rules.

 

(b)           Amendments to Awards.  Subject to Section 7(a), the Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter any Award theretofore granted, provided that no change, other than pursuant to Section 7(c) below, in any Award shall materially reduce the rights or benefits of a Participant with respect to an Award without the consent of such Participant.

 

(c)           Actions Upon the Occurrence of Certain Events.  Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, any transaction or event described in Section 4(c), any change in applicable laws or regulations affecting the Plan or Awards hereunder, or any change in accounting principles affecting the financial statements of the Company or the Partnership, the Committee, in its sole discretion, without the consent of any Participant or holder of an Award, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, may take any one or more of the following actions:

 

(i)            provide for either (A) the termination of any Award in exchange for a payment in an amount, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights under such Award (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of such transaction or event, the Committee determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment) or (B) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Committee in its sole discretion having an aggregate value not exceeding the amount that could have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights had such Award been currently exercisable or payable or fully vested;

 

(ii)           provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or be exchanged for similar options, rights or awards covering the equity of the successor or survivor, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of equity interests and prices;

 

(iii)          make adjustments in the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, the number and kind of outstanding Awards, the terms and conditions of (including the exercise price), and/or the vesting and performance criteria included in, outstanding Awards;

 

(iv)          provide that such Award shall vest or become exercisable or payable, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement; and

 

(v)           provide that the Award cannot be exercised or become payable after such event, i.e., shall terminate upon such event.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) with respect to an above event that constitutes an “equity restructuring” that would be subject to a compensation expense pursuant ASC Topic 718, the provisions in Section 4(c) above shall control to the extent they are in conflict with the discretionary provisions of this Section 7, provided, however, that nothing in this Section 7(c) or Section 4(c) above shall be construed as providing any Participant or any beneficiary of an Award any rights with respect to the “time value,” “economic opportunity” or “intrinsic value” of an Award or limiting in any manner the Committee’s actions that may be taken with respect to an Award as set forth in this Section 7 or in Section 4(c) above; and (ii) no action shall be taken under this Section 7 which shall cause an Award to fail to comply with Section 409A of the Code or the Treasury Regulations thereunder, to the extent applicable to such Award.

 

SECTION 8.         General Provisions.

 

(a)           No Rights to Award.  No Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants.  The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.

 

(b)           Tax Withholding.  Unless other arrangements have been made that are acceptable to the Company, the Company or any Affiliate thereof is authorized to deduct or withhold, or cause to be deducted or withheld, from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award, or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the amount (in cash, Units, Units that would otherwise be issued pursuant to such Award or other property) of any applicable taxes payable in respect of an Award, including its grant, its exercise, the lapse of restrictions thereon, or any payment or transfer thereunder or under the Plan, and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy its withholding obligations for the payment of such taxes.  In the event that Units that would otherwise be issued pursuant to an Award are used to satisfy such withholding obligations, the number of Units which may be so withheld or surrendered shall be limited to the number of Units which have a fair market value (which, in the case of a broker-assisted transaction, shall be determined by the Committee, consistent with applicable provisions of the Code) on the date of withholding equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income.

 

(c)           No Right to Employment or Services.  The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates, continue consulting services or to remain on the Board, as applicable.  Furthermore, the Company, the Partnership or an Affiliate thereof may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or consulting free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, any Award Agreement or other written agreement.

 

(d)           No Rights as Unitholder.  Except as otherwise provided herein, a Participant shall have none of the rights of a unitholder with respect to Units covered by any Award unless and until the Participant becomes the record owner of such Units.

 

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(e)           Section 409A.  To the extent that the Committee determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Section 409A of the Code.  To the extent applicable, the Plan and Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date (as defined in Section 9 below) of the Plan.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the Effective Date of the Plan the Committee determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance (including such Department of Treasury guidance as may be issued after the Effective Date of the Plan), the Committee may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to (i) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance and thereby avoid the application of any penalty taxes under such Section; provided, however, that nothing herein shall create any obligation on the part of the Committee, the Company or any of its Affiliates to adopt any such amendment, policy or procedure or take any such other action, nor shall the Committee, the Company or any of its Affiliates have any liability for failing to do so.  Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the time of payment with respect to any Award that is subject to Section 409A of the Code shall not be accelerated, except as permitted under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4).

 

(f)            Lock-Up Agreement.  Each Participant shall agree, if so requested by the Company or the Partnership and any underwriter in connection with any public offering of securities of the Partnership or any Affiliate, not to directly or indirectly offer, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of or otherwise dispose of or transfer any Units held by it for such period, not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of the relevant registration statement filed under the Securities Act in connection with such public offering, as such underwriter shall specify reasonably and in good faith.  The Company or the Partnership may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to securities subject to the foregoing restrictions until the end of such 180-day period.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the 180-day period may be extended for up to such number of additional days as is deemed necessary by such underwriter or the Company or Partnership to continue coverage by research analysts in accordance with FINRA Rule 2711 or any successor rule.

 

(g)          Compliance with Laws.  The Plan, the granting and vesting of Awards under the Plan and the issuance and delivery of Units and the payment of money under the Plan or under Awards granted or awarded hereunder are subject to compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules and regulations (including but not limited to state, federal and foreign securities law and margin requirements), the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Units are listed, quoted or traded, and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel

 

14



 

for the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith.  Any securities delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such restrictions, and the Person acquiring such securities shall, if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and representations to the Company as the Company may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal requirements.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules and regulations.  In the event an Award is granted to or held by a Participant who is employed or providing services outside the United States, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, modify the provisions of the Plan or of such Award as they pertain to such Participant to comply with applicable foreign law or to recognize differences in local law, currency or tax policy.  The Committee may also impose conditions on the grant, issuance, exercise, vesting, settlement or retention of Awards in order to comply with such foreign law and/or to minimize the Company’s or the Partnership’s obligations with respect to tax equalization for Participants employed outside their home country.

 

(h)           Governing Law.  The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its conflicts of laws principles.

 

(i)            Severability.  If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes, or is deemed to be, invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable law or, if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(j)            Other Laws.  The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Units or other consideration under an Award if, in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Units or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation, the rules of the principal securities exchange on which the Units are then traded, or entitle the Partnership or an Affiliate to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary.

 

(k)           No Trust or Fund Created.  Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any participating Affiliate of the Company and a Participant or any other Person.  To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any participating Affiliate of the Company pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the Company or any participating Affiliate of the Company.

 

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(l)            No Fractional Units.  No fractional Units shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Units or whether such fractional Units or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.

 

(m)          Headings.  Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference.  Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision hereof.

 

(n)          No Guarantee of Tax Consequences.  None of the Board, the Committee, the Company nor the Partnership makes any commitment or guarantee that any federal, state or local tax treatment will (or will not) apply or be available to any Participant.

 

(o)           Clawback; Misconduct.  To the extent required by applicable law or any applicable securities exchange listing standards, Awards and amounts paid or payable pursuant to or with respect to Awards shall be subject to clawback as determined by the Committee, which clawback may include forfeiture, repurchase and/or recoupment of Awards and amounts paid or payable pursuant to or with respect to Awards.  In addition, and without limiting the foregoing, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, if at any time (including after a notice of exercise has been delivered or an award has vested) the Committee or any person designated by the Committee (each such person, an “Authorized Officer”) reasonably believes that a Participant may have committed an Act of Misconduct as described in this Section 8(o), the Authorized Officer, the Committee or the Board may suspend the Participant’s rights to exercise or to vest in an Award, and/or to receive payment for or receive Units in settlement of an Award pending a determination of whether an Act of Misconduct has been committed.

 

If the Committee or an Authorized Officer determines a Participant has committed an act of embezzlement, fraud, dishonesty, nonpayment of any obligation owed to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, breach of fiduciary duty, violation of ethics policy or code of conduct, or deliberate disregard of the Company’s or Affiliate of the Company’s rules resulting in loss, damage or injury to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, or if a Participant makes an unauthorized disclosure of any trade secret or confidential information, solicits any Employee or other service provider to leave the employ or cease providing services to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, breaches any intellectual property or assignment of inventions covenant, engages in any conduct constituting unfair competition, breaches any non-competition agreement, induces any customer to breach a contract with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company or to cease doing business with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, or induces any principal for whom the Company or any Affiliate of the Company acts as agent to terminate such agency relationship (any of the foregoing acts, an “Act of Misconduct”), then except as otherwise provided by the Committee, (i) neither the Participant nor his or her estate nor transferee shall be entitled to exercise any Option or Unit Appreciation Right whatsoever, vest in or have the restrictions on an Award lapse, or otherwise receive payment of an Award, (ii) the Participant will forfeit all outstanding Awards and (iii) the Participant may be required, at the Committee’s sole discretion, to return and/or repay to the Company or the Partnership any then unvested Units previously granted under the Plan.  In making such determination, the Committee or an Authorized Officer shall give the Participant an opportunity to appear and

 

16



present evidence on his or her behalf at a hearing before the Committee or its designee or an opportunity to submit written comments, documents, information and arguments to be considered by the Committee.

 

(p)           Facility Payment.  Any amounts payable hereunder to any Person under legal disability or who, in the judgment of the Committee, is unable to manage properly his or her financial affairs, may be paid to the legal representative of such Person, or may be applied for the benefit of such Person in any manner that the Committee may select, and the Partnership, the Company and all of their Affiliates shall be relieved of any further liability for payment of such amounts.

 

SECTION 9.         Term of the Plan.

 

The Plan shall be effective on the date on which the Plan is adopted by the Board (the “Effective Date”) and shall continue until the earliest of (i) the date terminated by the Board, or (ii) the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date on which the Plan is adopted by the Board.  However, any Award granted prior to such termination, and the authority of the Board or the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under such Award, shall extend beyond such termination date.  The Plan shall, within twelve (12) months after the date of the Board’s initial adoption of the Plan, be submitted for approval by a majority of the outstanding securities of the Partnership entitled to vote.

 

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Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Partners
USA Compression Partners, LP:

        We consent to the use of our report included herein and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus. Our report refers to the Partnership's change in controlling ownership on December 23, 2010, which resulted in a new cost basis for the Partnership.

    /s/ KPMG LLP

Dallas, Texas
August 9, 2012




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August 9, 2012

Via EDGAR

Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549-4628

Attn:
Ronald E. Alper, Staff Attorney

Re:
USA Compression Partners, LP
Amendment No. 7 to Registration Statement on Form S-1
File No. 333-174803
Filed August 9, 2012

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        Set forth below is the response of USA Compression Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), to the comments received from the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (the "Staff") of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by telephone on June 13, 2012 with respect to the above referenced Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement").

        Concurrently with the submission of this letter, the Partnership has filed through EDGAR Amendment No. 7 to the Registration Statement ("Amendment No. 7").

        For your convenience, the response is prefaced by the Staff's corresponding comment in bold text. All references to page numbers and captions correspond to Amendment No. 7, unless otherwise indicated. The response in this letter is based on representations made by the Partnership to Latham & Watkins LLP for the purpose of preparing this letter.

Amendment No. 7 to Registration Statement on Form S-1


LATHAM & WATKINS LLP

        Please do not hesitate to contact me by telephone at (713) 546-7459 or by fax at (713) 546-5401 or Sean T. Wheeler by telephone at (713) 546-7418 or by fax at (713) 546-5401 with any questions or comments regarding this correspondence.

    Very truly yours,

 

 

/s/ Keith Benson

Keith Benson
of Latham & Watkins LLP
cc:
J. Gregory Holloway, USA Compression Partners, LP
Sean T. Wheeler, Latham & Watkins LLP
Mike Rosenwasser, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
E. Ramey Layne, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.