Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

(MARK ONE)

 

x

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED June 30, 2013

 

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM              TO              

 

Commission File No. 001-35779

 

USA Compression Partners, LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

75-2771546

(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

 

 

100 Congress Avenue, Suite 450
Austin, Texas

 

78701

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(512) 473-2662

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No 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 x

 

Smaller reporting company o

 

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o Nox

 

As of August 9, 2013, there were 15,335,767 common units and 14,048,588 subordinated units outstanding.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

1

ITEM 1.

Financial Statements

1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

2

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Partners’ Capital

3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

4

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

5

ITEM 2.

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

13

ITEM 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

23

ITEM 4.

Controls and Procedures

23

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

24

ITEM 1.

Legal Proceedings

24

ITEM 1A.

Risk Factors

24

ITEM 5.

Other Information

24

ITEM 6.

Exhibits

25

SIGNATURES

26

 

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Table of Contents

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.          Financial Statements

 

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012
(unaudited)

 

 

 

June 30,
2013

 

December 31,
2012

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

6,500

 

$

6,500

 

Accounts receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

Trade

 

10,830,391

 

8,618,164

 

Other

 

46,385

 

136,907

 

Inventory

 

5,880,350

 

4,215,267

 

Prepaid expenses

 

1,429,674

 

1,799,652

 

Total current assets

 

18,193,300

 

14,776,490

 

Property and equipment, net

 

641,630,317

 

610,129,710

 

Identifiable intangible asset-customer relationships

 

66,000,000

 

67,200,000

 

Identifiable intangible asset-trade names

 

14,040,000

 

14,352,000

 

Goodwill

 

157,075,195

 

157,075,195

 

Other assets

 

4,379,620

 

9,111,350

 

Total assets

 

$

901,318,432

 

$

872,644,745

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Partners’ Capital

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

4,551,922

 

$

10,650,727

 

Accrued liabilities

 

7,021,818

 

5,590,028

 

Deferred revenue

 

11,122,513

 

10,611,395

 

Total current liabilities

 

22,696,253

 

26,852,150

 

Long-term debt

 

352,952,018

 

502,266,210

 

Other liabilities

 

86,731

 

 

Partners’ capital:

 

 

 

 

 

Limited partner units:

 

 

 

 

 

Common units, 15,334,813 units outstanding at June 30, 2013

 

258,869,080

 

 

Subordinated units, 14,048,588 units outstanding at June 30, 2013

 

255,773,283

 

 

General partner units, 2% interest with 599,661 equivalent units issued and outstanding at June 30, 2013

 

10,941,067

 

 

Limited partners’ capital

 

 

341,130,323

 

General partner’s capital

 

 

2,396,062

 

Total partners’ capital

 

525,583,430

 

343,526,385

 

Total liabilities and partners’ capital

 

$

901,318,432

 

$

872,644,745

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2013 and 2012
(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract operations

 

$

33,144,233

 

$

28,355,059

 

$

65,039,859

 

$

54,906,678

 

Parts and service

 

165,880

 

515,212

 

874,095

 

1,087,816

 

Total revenues

 

33,310,113

 

28,870,271

 

65,913,954

 

55,994,494

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

 

10,131,215

 

9,122,312

 

20,551,239

 

18,143,733

 

Selling, general, and administrative

 

5,548,408

 

4,724,445

 

10,443,206

 

8,418,203

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

12,172,639

 

10,232,773

 

23,850,513

 

19,661,207

 

Loss (Gain) on sale of assets

 

129,689

 

42,465

 

104,458

 

203,292

 

Total costs and expenses

 

27,981,951

 

24,121,995

 

54,949,416

 

46,426,435

 

Operating income

 

5,328,162

 

4,748,276

 

10,964,538

 

9,568,059

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(2,870,512

)

(3,714,951

)

(5,934,176

)

(7,248,548

)

Other

 

1,975

 

11,171

 

5,555

 

15,683

 

Total other expense

 

(2,868,537

)

(3,703,780

)

(5,928,621

)

(7,232,865

)

Net income before income tax expense

 

2,459,625

 

1,044,496

 

5,035,917

 

2,335,194

 

Income tax expense

 

58,192

 

47,974

 

113,682

 

95,974

 

Net income

 

$

2,401,433

 

$

996,522

 

$

4,922,235

 

$

2,239,220

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings allocated to general partner prior to initial public offering on January 18, 2013

 

$

 

$

9,965

 

$

5,351

 

$

22,392

 

Earnings available for limited partners prior to initial public offering on January 18, 2013

 

$

 

$

986,557

 

$

529,743

 

$

2,216,828

 

Net income subsequent to initial public offering on January 18, 2013

 

$

2,401,433

 

$

 

$

4,387,141

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income subsequent to initial public offering allocated to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General partner’s interest in net income

 

$

48,029

 

$

 

$

87,743

 

$

 

Common units interest in net income

 

$

1,227,132

 

$

 

$

2,241,829

 

$

 

Subordinated units interest in net income

 

$

1,126,272

 

$

 

$

2,057,569

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common units outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

15,196,880

 

 

15,130,872

 

 

Diluted

 

15,241,866

 

 

15,155,834

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average subordinated units outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted

 

14,048,588

 

 

14,048,588

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per common unit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.08

 

$

 

$

0.15

 

$

 

Diluted

 

$

0.08

 

$

 

$

0.15

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per subordinated unit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted

 

$

0.08

 

$

 

$

0.15

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions declared and paid per limited partner unit in respective periods

 

$

0.348

 

$

 

$

0.348

 

$

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Partners’ Capital

Six Months Ended June 30, 2013
(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ Capital

 

Total

 

 

 

General

 

Limited

 

Common Units

 

Subordinated Units

 

General Partner Units

 

partners’

 

 

 

partners

 

partners

 

Units

 

Amount

 

Units

 

Amount

 

Units

 

Amount

 

capital

 

Partners’ capital, December 31, 2012

 

$

2,396,062

 

$

341,130,323

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

$

343,526,385

 

Net income January 1, 2013 - January 18, 2013

 

5,351

 

529,743

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

535,094

 

Conversion of Partners’ capital for common and subordinated units, Incentive Distribution Rights, and General Partner interest

 

(2,401,413

)

(341,660,066

)

4,048,588

 

74,525,893

 

14,048,588

 

258,604,623

 

593,820

 

10,930,963

 

 

Issuance of common units in initial public offering

 

 

 

11,000,000

 

180,555,381

 

 

 

 

 

180,555,381

 

Vesting of phantom units

 

 

 

954

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General partner contribution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,841

 

129,010

 

129,010

 

Cash distributions and DERs

 

 

 

 

(5,323,972

)

 

(4,888,909

)

 

(206,649

)

(10,419,530

)

Proceeds from issuance of common units

 

 

 

285,271

 

6,302,499

 

 

 

 

 

6,302,499

 

Unit-based compensation

 

 

 

 

567,450

 

 

 

 

 

567,450

 

Net income January 19, 2013 - June 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

2,241,829

 

 

2,057,569

 

 

87,743

 

4,387,141

 

Partners’ capital, June 30, 2013

 

$

 

$

 

15,334,813

 

$

258,869,080

 

14,048,588

 

$

255,773,283

 

599,661

 

$

10,941,067

 

$

525,583,430

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Six Months Ended June 30, 2013 and 2012
(unaudited)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

4,922,235

 

$

2,239,220

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

23,850,513

 

19,661,207

 

Amortization of debt issue costs and other

 

924,215

 

766,949

 

Unit-based compensation expense

 

567,450

 

 

Net loss on sale of assets

 

104,458

 

203,292

 

Net gain on change in fair value of interest rate swap

 

 

(1,483,188

)

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable and advances to employees

 

(2,121,705

)

(495,320

)

Inventory

 

(1,665,083

)

(225,607

)

Prepaids

 

369,978

 

498,198

 

Other noncurrent assets

 

3,838,108

 

(590,780

)

Accounts payable

 

(7,073,840

)

(5,182,007

)

Accrued liabilities and deferred revenue

 

1,792,908

 

2,630,048

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

25,509,237

 

18,022,012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(52,889,261

)

(106,594,596

)

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

 

70,717

 

1,281,305

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(52,818,544

)

(105,313,291

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from short-term and long-term debt

 

101,142,544

 

147,093,076

 

Payments on short-term and long-term debt

 

(250,456,736

)

(58,237,439

)

Net proceeds from issuance of common units

 

180,555,381

 

 

Cash distributions

 

(4,030,300

)

 

General partner contribution

 

129,010

 

 

Financing Costs

 

(30,592

)

(1,560,858

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

27,309,307

 

87,294,779

 

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

3,500

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

6,500

 

3,000

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

6,500

 

$

6,500

 

Supplemental cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

 

$

5,480,472

 

$

7,779,929

 

Cash paid for taxes

 

$

196,091

 

$

154,785

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

(1)   Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

(a)   Organization

 

USA Compression Partners, LP (the “Partnership”) is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership formed to own and operate the business conducted by its subsidiaries. The common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “USAC.” USA Compression GP, LLC, the general partner of the Partnership (“General Partner”), is owned by USA Compression Holdings, LLC (“USA Compression Holdings”). Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” or “the Partnership” are intended to mean the business and operations of USA Compression Partners, LP and its consolidated subsidiaries. On January 18, 2013, the Partnership completed its initial public offering (“IPO”) pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (Reg. No. 333-174803), that was declared effective on January 14, 2013 (the “Registration Statement”). Under the Registration Statement, the Partnership sold 11,000,000 common units at a price to the public of $18.00 per common unit, which generated net proceeds to the Partnership of $180,555,381 after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of $12,127,500, structuring fees of $742,500 and offering expenses of $4,574,619, including $139,180 of expenses related to the effective registration statement with the SEC that registers the issuance of up to 4,150,000 of the Partnership’s common units in connection with a distribution reinvestment plan (“DRIP”) . Upon closing of the IPO, USA Compression Holdings received consideration of a 2% general partner interest, 14,048,588 subordinated units, 4,048,588 common units of the Partnership, and all of the Incentive Distribution Rights (“IDRs”) for its prior equity interest.

 

The Partnership, together with its wholly-owned subsidiary USA Compression Partners, LLC (“Operating Subsidiary”) and Operating Subsidiary’s wholly-owned subsidiary USAC Leasing LLC (“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. The consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2013 and 2012 include the accounts of the Partnership, the Operating Subsidiary and the Leasing Subsidiary and all intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Our ownership is as follows:

 

 

 

June 30, 2013

 

 

 

USA Compression
Holdings

 

Public

 

Total

 

General partner interest

 

2.0

%

 

2.0

%

Limited partner interest:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common unitholders

 

14.4

%

36.7

%

51.1

%

Subordinated unitholders

 

46.9

%

 

46.9

%

Total

 

63.3

%

36.7

%

100.0

%

 

Partnership net income (loss) is allocated to the partners in proportion to their respective interest in the Partnership.

 

(b)   Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Partnership have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Partnership’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. In the opinion of the Partnership’s management, such financial information reflects all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, and the results of operations, changes in partners’ capital and changes in cash flows for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). All intercompany 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 condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Therefore, these consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Partnership’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended

 

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December 31, 2012 contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 28, 2013. As the closing of the Partnership’s IPO occurred on January 18, 2013, the earnings and earnings per unit for the six months ended June 30, 2013 have been pro-rated to reflect earnings on a pre-IPO and post-IPO basis.

 

(c)   Use of Estimates

 

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 unaudited 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.

 

(d)   Intangible Assets

 

As of June 30, 2013, intangible assets, net consisted of the following:

 

 

 

Customer
Relationships

 

Trade Names

 

Total

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

 

$

67,200,000

 

$

14,352,000

 

$

81,552,000

 

Amortization

 

(1,200,000

)

(312,000

)

(1,512,000

)

Balance at June 30, 2013

 

$

66,000,000

 

$

14,040,000

 

$

80,040,000

 

 

Intangible assets 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. As of June 30, 2013, 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

 

2013 (remaining)

 

$

1,512,000

 

2014

 

3,024,000

 

2015

 

3,024,000

 

2016

 

3,024,000

 

2017

 

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 the six months ended June 30, 2013 or year ended December 31, 2012.

 

(e)   Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

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. 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:

 

Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Partnership has the ability to access at the measurement date.

 

Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

 

Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

 

The Partnership’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable and long-term debt. The book values of cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts

 

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receivable, and trade accounts payable are representative of fair value due to their short term maturity. The carrying amounts of long-term debt approximates fair value based on the interest rates charged on instruments with similar terms and risks.

 

(2)   Trade Accounts Receivable

 

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts of $299,271 and $259,638 at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, 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.

 

(3)   Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment consisted of the following at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:

 

 

 

June 30,
2013

 

December 31,
2012

 

Compression equipment

 

$

717,555,235

 

666,811,135

 

Furniture and fixtures

 

560,460

 

438,556

 

Automobiles and vehicles

 

9,282,768

 

7,587,725

 

Computer equipment

 

4,277,448

 

3,206,311

 

Leasehold improvements

 

112,123

 

97,623

 

Total

 

731,788,034

 

678,141,350

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

(90,157,717

)

(68,011,640

)

Total

 

$

641,630,317

 

610,129,710

 

 

The Partnership has no compression units with material customer lease/purchase options. We recognized $11,416,639 and $9,476,773 of depreciation expense on property, plant and equipment for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

As of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, there was $975,035 and $5,940,149, respectively, of property and equipment purchases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

 

(4)   Long-Term Debt

 

The long-term debt of the Partnership, of which there is no current portion, consisted of the following at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:

 

 

 

June 30,
2013

 

December 31,
2012

 

Senior debt

 

$

352,952,018

 

$

502,266,210

 

 

On June 1, 2012, the Partnership made a third amendment to the credit agreement whereby the aggregate commitment under the facility increased from $500,000,000 to $600,000,000. In addition, on June 1, 2012, the Partnership entered into the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement in order to provide a structure that the Partnership believes is more appropriate for a public company than was in the prior credit agreement, including a reduction of the applicable margin for LIBOR loans to a range of 175 to 250 basis points above LIBOR, depending on the Partnership’s leverage ratio. The Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement became effective on January 18, 2013, the closing date of the Partnership’s initial public offering. On January 18, 2013, the Partnership completed its IPO pursuant to the Registration Statement and used the net proceeds from the offering to repay $180,646,751 of indebtedness outstanding under its revolving credit facility.

 

On December 10, 2012, the Partnership amended the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement to extend the periods during which the maximum funded debt to EBITDA ratio thresholds will apply. In addition, borrowing availability under the revolving credit facility was linked to the Partnership’s 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 is secured by a first priority lien against the Partnership’s assets and matures on October 5, 2015, at which point all amounts outstanding will become due.

 

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At June 30, 2013, subject to financial covenants, borrowing availability was $247,047,982. The borrowing base consists of eligible accounts receivable, inventory and compression units. The largest component, representing 97% and 95% of the borrowing base at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, 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 revolving credit 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. The facility qualifies as a refinancing, and, as such, the debt has been classified as long term at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

 

The Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement permits 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, the Partnership is in compliance with the facility’s financial covenants and (c) immediately after giving effect to such distribution, the Partnership has availability under the revolving credit facility of at least $20,000,000. In addition, the amended and restated credit agreement contains various covenants that may limit, among other things, the Partnership’s ability to:

 

·                  grant liens;

 

·                  make certain loans or investments;

 

·                  incur additional indebtedness or guarantee other indebtedness;

 

·                  subject to exceptions, enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

·                  sell the Partnership’s assets; or

 

·                  acquire additional assets.

 

The Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement also contains financial covenants requiring the Partnership to maintain:

 

·                  a minimum EBITDA to interest coverage ratio of 2.5 to 1.0; and

 

·                  a maximum funded debt to EBITDA ratio, determined as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, for the twelve month period then ending of (a) 5.50 to 1.0, with respect to any fiscal quarter ending on or after January 18, 2013, the closing date of the Partnership’s initial public offering, through March 31, 2014 or (b) 5.00 to 1.0, with respect to the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2014 and each fiscal quarter thereafter, in each case subject to a provision for increases to such thresholds by 0.5 in connection with certain future acquisitions for the six consecutive month period following the period in which any such acquisition occurs.

 

If an event of default exists under the revolving credit facility, the lenders will be able to accelerate the maturity of the revolving credit facility and exercise other rights and remedies. As of June 30, 2013, the Partnership was in compliance with these financial covenants.

 

(5)   Partner’s Capital

 

In connection with the closing of the Partnership’s IPO, USA Compression Holdings converted its interests in the Partnership into 4,048,588 common and 14,048,588 subordinated units and USA Compression GP, LLC converted its general partner interest in the Partnership into a 2.0% general partner interest and the incentive distribution rights. See the condensed consolidated statement of changes in Partners’ Capital.

 

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Subordinated Units

 

All of the subordinated units are held by USA Compression Holdings. The partnership agreement provides that, during the subordination period, the common units have the right to receive distributions of Available Cash (as defined in our partnership agreement) each quarter in an amount equal to $0.425 per common unit (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 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. 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. The subordination period will end on the first business day after we have earned and paid at least (i) $1.70 (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 December 31, 2015 or (ii) $2.55 (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. 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.

 

Incentive Distribution Rights

 

Our general partner holds the incentive distribution rights (“IDRs”). 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 necessary to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest and has not transferred its incentive distribution rights and there are no arrearages on common units.

 

 

 

Total quarterly

 

Marginal percentage interest in
distributions

 

 

 

distribution per unit

 

Unitholders

 

General partner

 

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

 

$0.425

 

98

%

2

%

First Target Distribution

 

up to $0.4888

 

98

%

2

%

Second Target Distribution

 

above $0.4888 up to $0.5313

 

85

%

15

%

Third Target Distribution

 

above $0.5313 up to $0.6375

 

75

%

25

%

Thereafter

 

above $0.6375

 

50

%

50

%

 

To the extent these incentive distributions are made to our general partner, there will be more Available Cash proportionately allocated to our general partner than to holders of our common and subordinated units.

 

Within 45 days after the end of each quarter, the Partnership intends to make cash distributions to the members of record on the applicable record date. On May 15, 2013, the Partnership paid a cash distribution for the first quarter of 2013 of approximately $10.3 million to its unitholders of record as of the close of business on May 3, 2013 at the rate of $0.348 per unit on its common and subordinated units. This prorated amount corresponds to 72 days of a quarterly cash distribution rate of $0.435 per unit. Certain limited partners, including USA Compression Holdings, LLC, have elected to receive distributions in the form of additional common units in accordance with the Partnership’s Distribution Reinvestment Plan. Such distributions, which are treated as non-cash transactions in the accompanying statements of cash flows totaled, $6.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013.

 

On July 23, 2013, the Partnership announced a cash distribution of $0.44 per unit on its common and subordinated units. This second quarter distribution corresponds to an annualized distribution rate of $1.76 per unit.

 

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The distribution will be paid on August 14, 2013 to unitholders of record as of the close of business on August 2, 2013. USA Compression Holdings, LLC, the owner of 62.6% of the Partnership’s outstanding common and subordinated units, has informed the Partnership that it intends to reinvest under the Partnership’s Distribution Reinvestment Plan all of this distribution with respect to its units.

 

Earnings Per Common and Subordinated Unit

 

The computations of earnings per common and subordinated unit are based on the weighted average number of common and subordinated units, respectively, outstanding during the applicable period. The Partnership’s subordinated units meet the definition of a participating security and therefore it is required to use the two-class method in the computation of earnings per unit. Basic earnings per common and subordinated unit are determined by dividing net income allocated to the common and subordinated units, respectively, after deducting the amount allocated to the Partnership’s general partner (including distributions to the general partner on its incentive distribution rights), by the weighted average number of outstanding common and subordinated units, respectively, during the period.

 

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 earnings proportionately being allocated to the general partner than to the holders of common and subordinated units. Our earnings per unit calculations, which allocate 2% of earnings to the general partner, assume that, while such distribution to the general partner with respect to its 2% general partner interest was made, no incentive distributions were permitted to be, or were, made to the general partner because quarterly distributions declared by the board of directors for the second quarter of 2013 did not exceed the specified targets.

 

(6)   Equity-based Awards

 

Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

In March 2013, the Board adopted the USA Compression Partners, LP 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) for employees, consultants and directors of the general partner and any of its affiliates who perform services for the Partnership. The LTIP consists of unit options, unit appreciation rights, restricted units, phantom units, distribution equivalent rights, unit awards, profits interest units and other unit-based awards. The LTIP initially limits the number of common units that may be delivered pursuant to awards under the plan to 1,410,000 common units. Common units that are forfeited, cancelled, exercised, paid, or otherwise terminate or expire without the actual delivery of units will be available for delivery pursuant to other awards. The LTIP will be administered by the Board or a committee thereof.

 

In March 2013, an aggregate of 237,490 phantom units (including the corresponding distribution equivalent rights) were granted under the LTIP to our general partner’s executive officers and employees and independent directors of our general partner. In the three months ending June 30, 2013, an aggregate of 14,947 phantom units (including the corresponding distribution equivalent rights) were granted under the LTIP to Partnership employees who perform services on behalf of the Partnership. The phantom units (including the corresponding distribution equivalent rights) awarded are subject to restrictions on transferability, customary forfeiture provisions and graded vesting provisions generally in which one-third of each award vests on the first, second, and third anniversaries of the date of grant. Award recipients do not have all the rights of a unitholder in the partnership with respect to the phantom units until the units have vested. The term “phantom unit” represents a time-vested unit. Such awards are non-vested until the required service period expires.

 

The fair value of the phantom units awarded to our general partner’s executive officers, employees and independent directors, was $4,955,000 based on the market price per unit on the date of grant. This amount will be recognized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Our general partner’s executive officers, employees and independent directors were granted these awards to incentive them to help drive the Partnership’s future success and to share in the economic benefits of that success. The compensation costs associated with these awards are recorded as direct general and administrative expenses. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, we recognized $488,642 and $567,450, respectively, of compensation expense associated with these awards.

 

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The following table summarizes information regarding phantom unit awards for the periods presented:

 

 

 

Number of
Units

 

Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
per Unit (1)

 

Phantom units outstanding at December 31, 2012

 

 

$

 

Granted

 

251,483

 

$

19.70

 

Phantom units outstanding at June 30, 2013

 

251,483

 

$

19.70

 

 


(1)         Determined by dividing the aggregate grant date fair value of awards by the number of awards issued.

 

The unrecognized compensation cost associated with phantom unit awards was an aggregate $4,387,550 at June 30, 2013. We expect to recognize the unrecognized compensation cost for these awards over a weighted-average period of 2.6 years.

 

Each phantom unit granted is granted in tandem with a corresponding distribution equivalent right (“DER”), which shall remain outstanding and unpaid from the grant date until the earlier of the payment or forfeiture of the related phantom units. Each vested DER shall entitle the participant to receive payments in the amount equal to any distributions made by the Partnership following the grant date in respect of the common unit underlying the phantom unit to which such DER relates.

 

(7)   Transactions with Related Parties

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Partnership incurred $49,315 of expenses related to a management fee under an agreement, between USA Compression Holdings, LLC and certain of its affiliates, for services provided January 1, 2013 through January 17, 2013. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, the Partnership incurred $500,000 of management fees under such agreement.

 

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 PVR Partners, L.P., or PVR. For the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, subsidiaries of PVR made compression services payments to us of approximately $0.8 million and $0.5 million, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, subsidiaries of PVR made compression services payments to us of approximately $1.5 million and $1.0 million, respectively.

 

The Partnership provides compression services to affiliated entities controlled by Riverstone, who owns and controls the Partnership’s general partner. For the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, affiliated entities made compression services payments to the Partnership of approximately $0.1 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, affiliated entities made compression services payments to the Partnership of approximately $0.3 million. The Partnership may provide compression services to additional entities controlled by Riverstone and significant transactions will be disclosed.

 

(8)   Commitments and Contingencies

 

(a)   Operating Leases

 

Rent expense for office space, warehouse facilities and certain corporate equipment for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, was $385,496 and $249,569, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, was $737,732 and $557,898, respectively.

 

Commitments for future minimum lease payments for noncancelable leases as of year ending June 30 are as follows:

 

2014

 

$

874,588

 

2015

 

807,277

 

2016

 

776,891

 

2017

 

744,562

 

2018

 

436,982

 

Thereafter

 

271,935

 

 

 

$

3,912,235

 

 

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(b)   Major Customers

 

The Partnership had revenue from two customers representing 16.0% and 7.4% of total revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and revenue from two customers representing 14.3% and 10.0% of total revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2012. The Partnership had revenue from two customers representing 15.2% and 8.4% of total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and revenue from two customers representing 13.9% and 10.3% of total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

 

(c)   Litigation

 

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.

 

(9)   Subsequent Event

 

On August 12, 2013, the Partnership entered into an agreement with S&R Compression LLC (“S&R”) and Argonaut Private Equity, L.L.C. (“Argonaut”), pursuant to which the Partnership will acquire from S&R certain assets and assume certain liabilities related to its business of providing compression services to third parties engaged in the exploration, production, gathering, processing, transportation or distribution of oil and gas.  The closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, and is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2013. In consideration, the Partnership has agreed, at the closing, to issue to S&R a number of common units representing 20% of all common units and subordinated units of the Partnership issued and outstanding as of the closing, calculated on a fully diluted basis after giving effect to such issuance (but excluding the general partner interests and incentive distribution rights).  The common units will not be registered pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any applicable state securities laws, and, at the time of issuance, will be restricted securities under the federal securities laws.

 

At closing, S&R intends to distribute the common units to certain accredited investors who are members or beneficial owners of S&R or its controlling member, Argonaut (the “Holders”).  As a condition to their receipt of common units, the Holders will enter into a Distribution Reinvestment Plan and Lock-Up Agreement (“DRIP Agreement”), pursuant to which the Holders will agree, subject to certain exceptions specified in the DRIP Agreement, to reinvest all distributions in respect of the common units for all periods through and including the quarterly period ending June 30, 2014 in the Partnership’s distribution reinvestment plan.  The obligation of the Holders to reinvest these distributions is conditioned on USA Compression Holdings, LLC and its affiliates making a similar election with respect to all common units and subordinated units owned by them.  The DRIP Agreement also prohibits the Holders from selling or otherwise disposing of the common units during the 180 day period following closing.

 

At closing, the Partnership will also enter into a Registration Rights Agreement with S&R, Argonaut and each Holder (“Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Partnership will agree to file, on the earlier of (a) 30 days following the first date on which the Partnership becomes eligible to use Securities and Exchange Commission Form S-3 or (b) the first anniversary of the Closing, a registration statement under the Securities Act to permit the public resale of the common units and providing certain piggyback registration rights in favor of the Holders.  The obligations of the Partnership under the Registration Rights Agreement are subject to customary exceptions.

 

The Partnership and S&R have also agreed to enter into a requirements contract for compression units at closing (“Requirements Contract”), pursuant to which the Partnership and its subsidiaries will provide S&R with a right of first refusal to fulfill all of the requirements of the Partnership and its subsidiaries for small horsepower compression units until at least June 30, 2017.

 

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ITEM 2.                Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This report contains “forward-looking statements.” All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this report are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our plans, strategies, prospects and expectations concerning our business, results of operations and financial condition. You can identify many of these statements by looking for words such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “project,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue” or similar words or the negative thereof.

 

Known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those in these forward-looking statements are described below, in Part II, Item 1A (“Risk Factors”) of this report. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements include, among other things:

 

·                  changes in general economic conditions;

 

·                  competitive conditions in our industry;

 

·                  changes in the long-term supply of and demand for natural gas;

 

·                  actions taken by our customers, competitors and third party operators;

 

·                  changes in the availability and cost of capital;

 

·                  operating hazards, natural disasters, weather related delays, casualty losses and other matters beyond our control;

 

·                  the effects of existing and future laws and governmental regulations; and

 

·                  the effects of future litigation.

 

All forward-looking statements included in this report are based on information available to us on the date of this report. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements.

 

Overview

 

General Trends and Outlook

 

Our average monthly revenue per revenue generating horsepower declined 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 expired, a larger percentage of our contracts were 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. While market rates generally improved during 2012 and the first half of 2013, we experienced pricing pressure across the horsepower ranges of our fleet (other than our largest horsepower units), and we expect to continue to experience pricing pressure through 2013. However, 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.

 

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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 that has continued through 2012 and the first half of 2013. Revenue generating horsepower increased by 10.1% from June 30, 2012 to June 30, 2013. The average revenue generating horsepower increased by 12.4% from the three months ended June 30, 2012 to the three months ended June 30, 2013. 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. Please read “Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”.

 

Operating Highlights

 

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

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Fleet horsepower (at period end)(1)

 

968,178

 

858,900

 

968,178

 

858,900

 

Revenue generating horsepower (at period end)(2)

 

836,427

 

759,498

 

836,427

 

759,498

 

Average revenue generating horsepower(3)

 

829,684

 

738,186

 

815,629

 

709,124

 

Revenue generating compression units (at period end)

 

1,001

 

948

 

1,001

 

948

 

Horsepower utilization(4):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At period end

 

94.0

%

94.9

%

94.0

%

94.9

%

Average for the period(5)

 

94.1

%

95.4

%

93.3

%

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, 2013, 47,675 horsepower had been delivered and 48,750 horsepower is expected to be delivered between July 2013 and November 2013.

 

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

 

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

 

(4)         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 86.4%, 85.7% and 88.4% for the quarters ended June 30, 2013, March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2012, respectively.

 

(5)         Calculated as the average utilization for the months in the period based on utilization at the end of each month in the period. Average horsepower utilization based on revenue generating horsepower and fleet horsepower for each applicable period was 86.3%, 86.1% and 89.2% for the quarters ended June 30, 2013, March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2012, respectively.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30

 

Percent

 

Six Months Ended June 30

 

Percent

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Change

 

2013

 

2012

 

Change

 

Other Financial Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Operating Margin(1)

 

$

23,179

 

$

19,748

 

17.4

%

$

45,363

 

$

37,850

 

19.8

%

Adjusted EBITDA(2)

 

$

18,122

 

$

15,493

 

17.0

%

$

35,567

 

$

29,745

 

19.6

%

Gross operating margin percentage(3)

 

69.6

%

68.4

%

1.7

%

68.8

%

67.6

%

1.8

%

Adjusted EBITDA percentage(3)

 

54.4

%

53.7

%

1.3

%

54.8

%

53.1

%

3.2

%

 


(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

 

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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:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

(in thousands)

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract operations

 

$

33,144

 

$

28,355

 

$

65,040

 

$

54,906

 

Parts and service

 

166

 

515

 

874

 

1,088

 

Total revenues

 

33,310

 

28,870

 

65,914

 

55,994

 

Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

 

10,131

 

9,122

 

20,551

 

18,144

 

Gross operating margin

 

23,179

 

19,748

 

45,363

 

37,850

 

Other operating and administrative costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

5,548

 

4,724

 

10,443

 

8,418

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

12,173

 

10,233

 

23,851

 

19,661

 

(Gain) loss on sale of assets

 

130

 

42

 

104

 

203

 

Total other operating and administrative costs and expenses

 

17,851

 

14,999

 

34,398

 

28,282

 

Operating income

 

$

5,328

 

$

4,749

 

$

10,965

 

$

9,568

 

 

(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 “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, increased to 69.6% for the three months ended June 30, 2013 from 68.4% for the three months ended June 30, 2012. The increase in gross operating margin was primarily attributable to a 15.4% increase in total revenues when comparing the periods due to an increase in average revenue generating horsepower and an average revenue per revenue generating horsepower, and offset by an 11.1% increase in cost of operations. Average revenue generating horsepower increased from 738,186 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 to 829,684 for the three months ended June 30, 2013, an increase of 12.4%. Average revenue per revenue generating horsepower per month increased to $13.55 for the three months ended June 30, 2013 from $13.38 for the three months ended June 30, 2012, an increase of 1.3%. The increase in cost of operations is attributable to (1) a $0.4 million increase in lubrication oil expenses due to a 21.4% increase in gallons consumed, (2) a $0.2 million increase in safety training expense and (3) a $0.8 million increase in labor and salaries, all of which are attributable to the increase in our fleet size.

 

Gross operating margin, as a percentage of total revenues, increased to 68.8% for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from 67.6% for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The increase in gross operating margin was primarily attributable to a 17.7% increase in total revenues when comparing the periods due to an increase in average revenue generating horsepower and an increase in average revenue per revenue generating horsepower, and offset by a 13.3% increase in cost of operations. Average revenue generating horsepower increased from 709,124 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 to 815,629 for the six months ended June 30, 2013, an increase of 15.0%. Average revenue per revenue generating horsepower per month increased to $13.57 for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from $13.41 for the six months ended June 30, 2012, an increase of 1.2%. The increase in cost of operations is attributable to (1) a $0.5 million increase in lubrication oil expenses due to a 14.4% increase in gallons consumed, (2) a $0.4 million increase in safety training expense and (3) a $1.4 million increase in labor and salaries, all of which are attributable to the increase in the our fleet size.

 

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Financial Results of Operations

 

Three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2012

 

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

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

June 30,

 

Percent

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Change

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract operations

 

$

33,144

 

$

28,355

 

16.9

%

Parts and service

 

166

 

515

 

(67.8

)%

Total revenues

 

33,310

 

28,870

 

15.4

%

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

 

10,131

 

9,122

 

11.1

%

Selling, general and administrative

 

5,548

 

4,724

 

17.4

%

Depreciation and amortization

 

12,173

 

10,233

 

19.0

%

(Gain) loss on sale of assets

 

130

 

42

 

209.5

%

Total costs and expenses

 

27,982

 

24,121

 

16.0

%

Operating income

 

5,328

 

4,749

 

12.2

%

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(2,871

)

(3,715

)

(22.7

)%

Other

 

2

 

11

 

(81.8

)%

Total other expense

 

(2,869

)

(3,704

)

(22.5

)%

Income before income tax expense

 

2,459

 

1,045

 

135.3

%

Income tax expense

 

58

 

48

 

20.8

%

Net income

 

$

2,401

 

$

997

 

140.8

%

 

Contract operations revenue. Contract operations revenue was $33.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $28.4 million during the three months ended June 30, 2012, an increase of 16.9%, primarily due to an increase in average revenue generating horsepower and an increase in average revenue per revenue generating horsepower. Average revenue generating horsepower increased from 738,186 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 to 829,684 for the three months ended June 30, 2013, an increase of 12.4%. Average revenue per revenue generating horsepower per month increased from $13.38 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 to $13.55 for the three months ended June 30, 2013, an increase of 1.3%. Revenue generating horsepower was 836,427 at June 30, 2013 compared to 759,498 at June 30, 2012, a 10.1% increase.

 

Parts and service revenue. Parts and service revenue was $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $0.5 million during the three months ended June 30, 2012, a 67.8% decrease.

 

Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization. Cost of operations was $10.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $9.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012, an increase of 11.1%. The increase in cost of operations is attributable to (1) a $0.4 million increase in lubrication oil expenses due to a 21.4% increase in gallons consumed, (2) a $0.2 million increase in safety training expense and (3) a $0.8 million increase in labor and salaries, all of which are attributable to the increase in our fleet size. The cost of operations was 30.4% of revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2013 as compared to 31.6% for the three months ended June 30, 2012.

 

Selling, general and administrative expense. Selling, general and administrative expense was $5.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $4.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012, an increase of 17.4%. Approximately $0.3 million of the increase in selling, general and administrative expense related to salary increases due to an increase in employee headcount to support operations and sales management and certain executive positions to operate as a public company. Additionally, the Partnership expensed $0.5 million of unit-based compensation expense due to the issuance of phantom units under the Partnership’s Long Term Incentive Program. Other increases include (1) a $0.4 million increase due to professional fees for public company related expenses, (2) a $0.1 million increase due to office rent, (3) a $0.2 million increase in sales support services and (4) a $0.1 million increase in business and property insurance, all of which are attributable to increased employee headcount and support services, offset by a $0.5 million decrease in management fees that are not paid by the Partnership as a public company. The selling, general and administrative employee headcount was 66 at June 30, 2013, a 1.5% increase from June 30, 2012. The selling, general and administrative employee headcount increased to support the continued growth of the business. Selling, general and administrative expense represented 16.7% and 16.4% of revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

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Depreciation and amortization expense. Depreciation and amortization expense was $12.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $10.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012, an increase of 19.0%. The increase is related to an increase in property, plant and equipment of 13.8% over these periods.

 

Interest expense. Interest expense was $2.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $3.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012, a decrease of 22.7%. Included in interest expense is amortization of deferred loan costs of $0.5 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Average borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility were $345.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $423.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012. Average borrowings were lower due to IPO proceeds less equipment purchases. Interest expense for both periods was related to borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Our revolving credit facility had an average interest rate of 2.44% and 2.99% at June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The composite fixed interest rate for $105.0 million of notional coverage under three interest rate swap instruments was 2.73% at June 30, 2012, of which interest rate swaps expired in 2012.

 

Income tax expense. We accrued approximately $58,000 and $48,000 in franchise tax for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, as a result of the Texas franchise tax. This tax is reflected in our financials as income tax in accordance with FASB ASC 740, which requires this classification for reporting purposes.

 

Six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2012

 

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

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

June 30,

 

Percent

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Change

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract operations

 

$

65,040

 

$

54,906

 

18.5

%

Parts and service

 

874

 

1,088

 

(19.7

)%

Total revenues

 

65,914

 

55,994

 

17.7

%

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

 

20,551

 

18,144

 

13.3

%

Selling, general and administrative

 

10,443

 

8,418

 

24.1

%

Depreciation and amortization

 

23,851

 

19,661

 

21.3

%

Loss on sale of assets

 

104

 

203

 

(48.8

)%

Total costs and expenses

 

54,949

 

46,426

 

18.4

%

Operating income

 

10,965

 

9,568

 

14.6

%

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(5,934

)

(7,249

)

(18.1

)%

Other

 

5

 

16

 

(68.8

)%

Total other expense

 

(5,929

)

(7,233

)

(18.0

)%

Income before income tax expense

 

5,036

 

2,335

 

115.7

%

Income tax expense

 

114

 

96

 

18.8

%

Net income

 

$

4,922

 

$

2,239

 

119.8

%

 

Contract operations revenue. Contract operations revenue was $65.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $54.9 million during the six months ended June 30, 2012, an increase of 18.5%, primarily due to an increase in average revenue generating horsepower and an increase in average revenue per revenue generating horsepower. Average revenue generating horsepower increased from 709,124 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 to 815,629 for the six months ended June 30, 2013, an increase of 15.0%. Average revenue per revenue generating horsepower per month increased from $13.41 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 to $13.57 for the six months ended June 30, 2013, an increase of 1.2%. Revenue generating horsepower was 836,427 at June 30, 2013 compared to 759,498 at June 30, 2012, a 10.1% increase.

 

Parts and service revenue. Parts and service revenue was $0.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $1.1 million during the six months ended June 30, 2012, a 19.7% decrease.

 

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Cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization. Cost of operations was $20.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $18.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, an increase of 13.3%. The increase in cost of operations is attributable to (1) a $0.5 million increase in lubrication oil expenses due to a 14.4% increase in gallons consumed, (2) a $0.4 million increase in safety training expense and (3) a $1.4 million increase in labor and salaries, all of which are attributable to the increase in our fleet size. The cost of operations was 31.2% of revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2013 as compared to 32.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

 

Selling, general and administrative expense. Selling, general and administrative expense was $10.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $8.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, an increase of 24.1%. Approximately $0.5 million of the increase in selling, general and administrative expense related to salary increases due to an increase in employee headcount to support operations and sales management and certain executive positions to operate as a public company. Additionally, the Partnership expensed $0.6 million of unit-based compensation expense due to the issuance of phantom units under the Partnership’s Long Term Incentive Program that was approved in March of 2013. Other increases include (1) $0.6 million due to professional fees and outside services for public company related expenses, (2) $0.2 million due to increased computer and software expenses, (3) $0.3 million in sales support services and (4) $0.3 million of increased business and property insurance, all of which are attributable to increased employee headcount and support services, offset by a $0.5 million decrease in management fees that are not paid by the Partnership as a public company. The selling, general and administrative employee headcount was 66 at June 30, 2013, a 1.5% increase from June 30, 2012. The selling, general and administrative employee headcount increased to support the continued growth of the business. Selling, general and administrative expense represented 15.8% and 15.0% of revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

Depreciation and amortization expense. Depreciation and amortization expense was $23.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $19.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, an increase of 21.3%. The increase is related to an increase in property, plant and equipment of 13.8% over these periods.

 

Interest expense. Interest expense was $5.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $7.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, a decrease of 18.1%. Included in interest expense is amortization of deferred loan costs of $0.9 million and $0.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Average borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility were $354.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $400.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012. Average borrowings were lower due to IPO proceeds less equipment purchases.  Interest expense for both periods was related to borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Our revolving credit facility had an average interest rate of 2.45% and 3.00% at June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The composite fixed interest rate for $105.0 million of notional coverage under three interest rate swap instruments was 2.73% at June 30, 2012, of which interest rate swaps expired in 2012.

 

Income tax expense. We accrued approximately $114,000 and $96,000 in franchise tax for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, as a result of the Texas franchise tax. This tax is reflected in our financials as income tax in accordance with FASB ASC 740, which requires this classification for reporting purposes.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 as of the end of the periods presented:

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

25,509

 

$

18,022

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(52,819

)

(105,313

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

27,309

 

87,295

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities. Net cash provided by operating activities increased to $25.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013, from $18.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The increase relates primarily to a higher income level in 2013, offset by a $1.5 million lower use of working capital in 2013.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Net cash used in investing activities. Net cash used in investing activities decreased to $52.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013, from $105.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The decrease relates primarily to lower capital expenditures of $52.9 million during the six months ended June 30, 2013, offset by $0.1 million of proceeds from the sale of equipment during the six months ended June 30, 2013.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities. Net cash provided by financing activities was $27.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013, compared to $87.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The change is due to lower net borrowings under our revolving credit facility for the six months ended June 30, 2013 due to the initial public offering proceeds that were used to pay down debt versus net borrowings for the six months ended June 30, 2012, which related to higher levels of expansion capital expenditures.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

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:

 

·                  maintenance capital expenditures, which 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; and

 

·                  expansion capital expenditures, which 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 increase their capacity.

 

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 six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 were $6.8 million and $7.5 million, respectively.

 

Given our growth objective, we anticipate that we will continue to make significant expansion capital expenditures. Our expansion capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 were $46.1 million and $107.1 million, respectively.

 

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, such as issuance of debt and equity securities, including our issuance of additional common units and future debt offerings.

 

Description of Revolving Credit Facility

 

On June 1, 2012, we entered into the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement in order to provide a structure that is more appropriate for a public company than was our prior credit agreement. The Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement became effective on January 18, 2013, the closing date of our initial public offering. On December 10, 2012, we amended the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement to extend the periods during which the maximum funded debt to EBITDA ratio thresholds will apply. In addition, borrowing availability under the revolving credit facility was linked to our asset base, with the increased maximum capacity of $600 million (subject to a further potential increase of $50 million). The revolving credit facility is secured by a first priority lien against our assets and matures on October 5, 2015, at which point all amounts outstanding will become due.

 

Interest is 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 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 includes a $20 million sub-line for issuing letters of credit

 

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Table of Contents

 

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 revolving credit facility.

 

Our Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement permits 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 revolving credit facility of at least $20 million. In addition, the amended and restated credit agreement contains various covenants that may limit, among other things, our ability to:

 

·                  grant liens;

 

·                  make certain loans or investments;

 

·                  incur additional indebtedness or guarantee other indebtedness;

 

·                  subject to exceptions, enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

·                  sell our assets; or

 

·                  acquire additional assets.

 

Our Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement also contains financial covenants requiring us to maintain:

 

·                  a minimum EBITDA to interest coverage ratio of 2.5 to 1.0; and

 

·                  a maximum funded debt to EBITDA ratio, determined as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, for the twelve month period then ending of (a) 5.50 to 1.0, with respect to any fiscal quarter ending on or after January 18, 2013, which was the closing date of our initial public offering, through March 31, 2014 or (b) 5.00 to 1.0, with respect to the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2014 and each fiscal quarter thereafter, in each case subject to a provision for increases to such thresholds by 0.5 in connection with certain future acquisitions for the six consecutive month period following the period in which any such acquisition occurs.

 

If an event of default exists under the revolving credit facility, the lenders will be able to accelerate the maturity of the revolving credit facility and exercise other rights and remedies.

 

As of June 30, 2013, we were in compliance with all of the covenants under our current credit agreement.

 

Distributions to Unitholders

 

On May 15, 2013, the Partnership paid a cash distribution for the first quarter of 2013 of approximately $10.3 million to its unitholders of record as of the close of business on May 3, 2013 at the rate of $0.348 per unit on its common and subordinated units. This prorated amount corresponds to 72 days of a quarterly cash distribution rate of $0.435 per unit. On July 23, 2013, the Partnership announced a cash distribution for the second quarter of 2013 of $0.44 per unit on its common and subordinated units, to be paid on August 14, 2013 to unitholders of record as of the close of business on August 2, 2013. USA Compression Holdings, LLC, the owner of 62.6% of the Partnership’s outstanding common and subordinated units, has elected to reinvest under the Partnership’s Distribution Reinvestment Plan all of this distribution with respect to its units.

 

Distribution Reinvestment Plan

 

We have an effective registration statement with the SEC that registers the issuance of up to 4,150,000 of our common units in connection with a distribution reinvestment plan (“DRIP”). The DRIP provides unitholders of record and beneficial owners of our common units a means by which they can increase the number of common units they own by reinvesting the quarterly cash distributions they would otherwise receive into the purchase of additional

 

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Table of Contents

 

common units. This registration statement became effective on July 2, 2013. As of June 30, 2013, 285,271 common units had been issued under this registration statement in connection with the first quarter distribution.

 

Total Contractual Cash Obligations

 

The following table summarizes our total contractual cash obligations as of June 30, 2013:

 

 

 

Payments Due by Period

 

 

 

Total

 

1 year

 

2 - 3 years

 

4-5 years

 

More than
5 years

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Contractual Obligations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt(1)

 

$

352,952

 

$

 

$

352,952

 

$

 

$

 

Interest on long-term debt obligations(2)

 

19,560

 

8,612

 

10,948

 

 

 

Equipment/capital purchases(3)

 

42,220

 

42,220

 

 

 

 

Operating lease obligations(4)

 

3,912

 

874

 

1,584

 

1,182

 

272

 

Total contractual cash obligations

 

$

418,644

 

$

51,706

 

$

365,484

 

$

1,182

 

$

272

 

 


(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 June 30, 2013 of 2.44%.

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

(4)         Represents commitments for future minimum lease payments for noncancelable leases.

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

We define Adjusted EBITDA as our net income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation expense, impairment of compression equipment, unit-based compensation expense, restructuring charges and management fees. 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. Adjusted EBITDA is used as a supplemental financial measure by our management and external users of our financial statements, such as investors and commercial banks, to assess:

 

·                  the financial performance of our assets without regard to the impact of financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis of our assets;

 

·                  the viability of capital expenditure projects and the overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities;

 

·                  the ability of our assets to generate cash sufficient to make debt payments and to make distributions; and

 

·                  our operating performance as compared to those of other companies in our industry without regard to the impact of financing methods and capital structure.

 

We believe 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, unit-based compensation expense, restructuring charges and management fees. 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

 

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Table of Contents

 

assets, depreciation and impairment of compression equipment is also a necessary element of our costs. Unit-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.

 

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:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Net income

 

$

2,401

 

$

997

 

$

4,922

 

$

2,239

 

Interest expense

 

2,871

 

3,715

 

5,934

 

7,249

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

12,173

 

10,233

 

23,851

 

19,661

 

Income taxes

 

58

 

48

 

114

 

96

 

Unit-based compensation expense

 

489

 

 

567

 

 

Riverstone management fee(1)

 

 

500

 

49

 

500

 

Other

 

130

 

 

130

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

18,122

 

$

15,493

 

$

35,567

 

$

29,745

 

Interest expense

 

(2,871

)

(3,715

)

(5,934

)

(7,249

)

Income tax expense

 

(58

)

(48

)

(114

)

(96

)

Unit-based compensation expense

 

(489

)

 

(567

)

 

Riverstone management fee

 

 

(500

)

(49

)

(500

)

Other

 

959

 

(361

)

1,466

 

(512

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable and advance to employee

 

(471

)

(56

)

(2,122

)

(495

)

Inventory

 

(634

)

1,351

 

(1,665

)

(226

)

Prepaids

 

465

 

126

 

370

 

498

 

Other non-current assets

 

(4

)

(428

)

3,838

 

(591

)

Accounts payable

 

285

 

908

 

(7,074

)

(5,182

)

Accrued liabilities and deferred revenue

 

845

 

728

 

1,793

 

2,630

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

16,149

 

$

13,498

 

$

25,509

 

$

18,022

 

 


(1)         Represents management fees of $49,315 paid to Riverstone for services performed prior to January 18, 2013, the closing date of the Partnership’s initial public offering. As these fees will not be paid by us as a public company, we believe it is useful to investors to view our results excluding these fees.

 

We define distributable cash flow as net income (loss) plus non-cash interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, impairment of compression equipment charges, and non-cash SG&A costs, less maintenance capital expenditures. We believe distributable cash flow is an important measure of operating performance because it allows management, investors and others to compare basic cash flows we generate (prior to the establishment of any retained cash reserves by our general partner) to the cash distributions we expect to pay our unitholders. Using distributable cash flow, management can quickly compute the coverage ratio of estimated cash flows to planned cash distributions. Our distributable cash flow may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure of another company because other entities may not calculate distributable cash flow in the same manner.

 

Distributable cash flow is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP, and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net income (loss), cash flows from operating activities and other measures determined in accordance with GAAP. Items excluded from distributable cash flow are significant and necessary components to the operations of our business, and, therefore, distributable cash flow should only be used as a supplemental measure of our operating performance.

 

The following table reconciles our net income to distributable cash flow for each of the periods presented:

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Net income

 

$

2,401

 

$

997

 

$

4,922

 

$

2,239

 

Plus: Non-cash interest expense

 

471

 

404

 

924

 

767

 

Plus: Depreciation and amortization

 

12,173

 

10,233

 

23,851

 

19,661

 

Plus: Unit-based compensation expense

 

489

 

 

567

 

 

Less: Maintenance capital expenditures(1)

 

3,667

 

4,859

 

6,785

 

7,453

 

Distributable cash flow

 

$

11,867

 

$

6,775

 

$

23,479

 

$

15,214

 

 


(1)         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.

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

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

 

ITEM 3.                        Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Commodity Price Risk

 

Market risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices. We do not take title to any natural gas in connection with our services and, accordingly, have no direct exposure to fluctuating commodity prices. The demand for our compression services depends upon the continued demand for, and production of, natural gas and crude oil. 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, which could result in reduced demand for our compression services. We do not intend to hedge our indirect exposure to fluctuating commodity prices.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

We are exposed to market risk due to variable interest rates under our financing arrangements.

 

As of June 30, 2013 we had approximately $353.0 million of variable-rate outstanding indebtedness at a weighted-average interest rate of 2.45%. A 1% increase in the effective interest rate on our variable-rate outstanding debt at June 30, 2013 would result in an annual increase in our interest expense of approximately $3.5 million.

 

For further information regarding our use exposure to interest rate fluctuations on a portion of our debt obligations see Note 4 to the Financial Statements.

 

Credit Risk

 

Our credit exposure generally relates to receivables for services provided. If any significant customer of ours should have credit or financial problems resulting in a delay or failure to repay the gas they owe to us, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

ITEM 4.                        Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As required by Rule 13a-15(b) of the Exchange Act, we have evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Commission. Based upon the evaluation,

 

23



Table of Contents

 

our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2013 at the reasonable assurance level.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) during the last fiscal quarter that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.                        Legal Proceedings

 

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

 

ITEM 1A.               Risk Factors

 

Security holders and potential investors in our securities should carefully consider the risk factors set forth in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. We have identified these risk factors as important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any written or oral forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf.

 

ITEM 5.                        Other Information

 

On August 12, 2013, the Partnership entered into a Contribution Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”) with S& R Compression LLC (“S&R”) and Argonaut Private Equity, L.L.C. (“Argonaut”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Partnership will acquire from S&R certain assets and assume certain liabilities related to its business of providing compression services to third parties engaged in the exploration, production, gathering, processing, transportation or distribution of oil and gas (the “Contributed Business”).  The Contribution Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including indemnification covenants, in each case on terms, conditions and limitations described in the Contribution Agreement.  The closing of the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement (the “Closing”) is subject to customary conditions, including compliance with the applicable requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2013.

 

In consideration for the Contributed Business, the Partnership has agreed, at the Closing, to issue to S&R a number of common units (the “New Common Units”) representing 20% of all common units and subordinated units of the Partnership issued and outstanding as of the Closing, calculated on a fully diluted basis after giving effect to such issuance (but excluding the general partner interests and incentive distribution rights).  The New Common Units will not be registered pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any applicable state securities laws, and, at the time of issuance, will be restricted securities under the federal securities laws.

 

At the Closing, S&R intends to distribute the New Common Units to certain accredited investors who are members or beneficial owners of S&R or its controlling member, Argonaut (the “Holders”).  As a condition to their receipt of New Common Units, the Holders will enter into a Distribution Reinvestment Plan and Lock-Up Agreement, the form of which is included as an exhibit to the Contribution Agreement (the “DRIP Agreement”), pursuant to which the Holders will agree, subject to certain exceptions specified in the DRIP Agreement, to reinvest all distributions in respect of the New Common Units for all periods through and including the quarterly period ending June 30, 2014 in the Partnership’s distribution reinvestment plan.  The obligation of the Holders to reinvest these distributions is conditioned on USA Compression Holdings, LLC and its affiliates making a similar election with respect to all common units and subordinated units owned by them.  The DRIP Agreement also prohibits the Holders from selling or otherwise disposing of the New Common Units during the 180 day period following the Closing.

 

At the Closing, the Partnership will also enter into a Registration Rights Agreement with S&R, Argonaut and each Holder, the form of which is included as an exhibit to the Contribution Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Partnership will agree to file, on the earlier of (a) 30 days following the first date on which the Partnership becomes eligible to use Securities and Exchange Commission Form S-3 or (b) the first anniversary of the Closing, a registration statement under the Securities Act to permit the public resale of the New Common Units and providing certain piggyback registration rights in favor of the Holders.  The obligations of the Partnership under the Registration Rights Agreement are subject to customary exceptions.

 

24



Table of Contents

 

The Partnership and S&R have also agreed to enter into a requirements contract for compression units at the Closing (the “Requirements Contract”), pursuant to which the Partnership and its subsidiaries will provide S&R with a right of first refusal to fulfill all of the requirements of the Partnership and its subsidiaries for small horsepower compression units until at least June 30, 2017.

 

A copy of the Contribution Agreement is attached as Exhibit 2.1 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, is incorporated by reference and is hereby filed.  The description of the Contribution Agreement, the DRIP Election and the Registration Rights Agreement in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of such agreement.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Contribution Agreement

 

The Contribution Agreement has been included to provide investors with information regarding its terms.  It is not intended to provide any other factual information about the Contributed Business, S&R, Argonaut or USAC.  In particular, the representations and warranties contained in the Contribution Agreement were made only for the purposes of the Contribution Agreement as of the specific dates therein, and were solely for the benefit of the parties to the Contribution Agreement.

 

The representations and warranties contained in the Contribution Agreement may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the parties to the Contribution Agreement and are qualified by information in confidential disclosure schedules provided by S&R and USAC in connection with the signing of the Contribution Agreement.  These confidential disclosure schedules contain information that modifies, qualifies and creates exceptions to the representations and warranties set forth in the Contribution Agreement.  Moreover, certain representations and warranties in the Contribution Agreement may be subject to a standard of materiality provided for in the Contribution Agreement and have been used for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to the Contribution Agreement, rather than establishing matters of fact.  Information concerning the subject matter of the representations and warranties may also change after the date of the Contribution Agreement, which subsequent information may not be fully disclosed in the parties’ public disclosures.  Accordingly, the representations and warranties in the Contribution Agreement may not constitute the actual state of facts about the Contributed Business, S&R, Argonaut or USAC.  Investors are not third party beneficiaries under the Contribution Agreement and should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or conditions of the Contributed Business, S&R, Argonaut or USAC, or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates.

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

ITEM 6.                        Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

2.1 **

 

Contribution Agreement dated August 12, 2013, by and among USA Compression Partners, LP, S&R Compression, LLC and Argonaut Private Equity, L.L.C.

 

 

 

3.1

 

Certificate of Limited Partnership of USA Compression Partners, LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 3 of the Partnership’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-174803) filed on December 21, 2011)

 

 

 

3.2

 

First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of USA Compression Partners, LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35779) filed on January 18, 2013)

 

 

 

31.1 *

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

31.2 *

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

32.1 *#

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

32.2 *#

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

101.1 †

 

Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T

 


*                 Filed herewith.

 

**          The schedules to this agreement have been omitted from this filing pursuant to Item 601 (b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Partnership will furnish copies of such schedules to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

 

#                 Not considered to be “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section.

 

                 Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 and 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise are not subject to any liability under those sections.

 

26



Table of Contents

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

August 14, 2013

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

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Joseph C. Tusa, Jr.

 

 

Joseph C. Tusa, Jr.

 

 

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

27



Table of Contents

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

2.1 **

 

Contribution Agreement dated August 12, 2013, by and among USA Compression Partners, LP, S&R Compression, LLC and Argonaut Private Equity, L.L.C.

 

 

 

3.1

 

Certificate of Limited Partnership of USA Compression Partners, LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 3 of the Partnership’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-174803) filed on December 21, 2011)

 

 

 

3.2

 

First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of USA Compression Partners, LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-35779) filed on January 18, 2013)

 

 

 

31.1 *

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

31.2 *

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

32.1 *#

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

32.2 *#

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

101.1 †

 

Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T

 


*                 Filed herewith.

 

**          The schedules to this agreement have been omitted from this filing pursuant to Item 601 (b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Partnership will furnish copies of such schedules to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

 

#                 Not considered to be “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section.

 

                 Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 and 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise are not subject to any liability under those sections.

 

28


Exhibit 2.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP,

 

S&R COMPRESSION, LLC,

 

and

 

ARGONAUT PRIVATE EQUITY, L.L.C.

 

August 12, 2013

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1

Certain Definitions

1

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

CONTRIBUTION; CLOSING

 

2.1

Transfer of Contributed Assets

14

2.2

Excluded Assets

15

2.3

Consideration

15

2.4

Net Cash

16

2.5

The Closing

18

2.6

Closing Deliveries

18

2.7

Assumed Liabilities

20

2.8

Allocation of Consideration

20

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE S&R PARTIES

 

3.1

Organization

21

3.2

Power

22

3.3

Authority; Enforceability

22

3.4

Consents; Absence of Conflicts

22

3.5

Ownership; No Equity Interests

22

3.6

Absence of Changes

23

3.7

Real Property

24

3.8

Personal Property; Contributed Assets

24

3.9

Permits

25

3.10

Contracts

26

3.11

Brokers’ Fees

26

3.12

Financial Statements; Intercompany Payables

26

3.13

No Undisclosed Liabilities

27

3.14

Legal Compliance

27

3.15

Taxes

27

3.16

Litigation

28

3.17

Customers, Vendors and Suppliers

28

3.18

Employees; Employee Relations

28

3.19

Employee Benefit Matters

29

3.20

Environmental Matters

30

3.21

Books and Records

32

3.22

Assets Necessary to the Contributed Business

32

3.23

Inventory

32

3.24

Intellectual Property

32

3.25

Accounts Receivable

33

3.26

Accredited Investor; Investment Intent

33

 

i



 

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF USAC

 

4.1

Organization

34

4.2

Power

34

4.3

Authority; Enforceability

34

4.4

Absence of Conflicts

35

4.5

Capitalization

35

4.6

Valid Issuance

35

4.7

SEC Reports; Financial Statements

35

4.8

Taxes

36

4.9

Brokers’ Fees

36

4.10

Absence of Changes

36

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

COVENANTS

 

5.1

Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation

37

5.2

Further Assurances

39

5.3

Regulatory Approvals

40

5.4

Access

40

5.5

Notification of Certain Matters

41

5.6

Intellectual Property; Books and Records

41

5.7

Operation of Contributed Business

41

5.8

Operation of Business of USAC

43

5.9

Financial Statements

43

5.10

Casualty

44

5.11

Discharge of Business Obligations After Closing

45

5.12

Termination of Certain Services and Contracts

45

5.13

Tax Matters

45

5.14

Insurance

47

5.15

Employee and Benefit Matters

47

5.16

Publicity

48

5.17

Confidentiality

48

5.18

Non-Consent Contracts

48

5.19

Customer Contracts

49

5.20

Purchase Agreement; Price Efficiencies

49

5.21

Further Assurances

49

5.22

Litigation Support

49

5.23

New Common Units Legends

49

5.24

Formation of OpCo and LeaseCo

50

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

USAC’S CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

6.1

Representations and Warranties

50

6.2

Performance

51

6.3

Officer’s Certificate

51

 

ii



 

6.4

Merger

51

6.5

Deliveries

51

6.6

Net Cash

51

6.7

Regulatory Approvals

51

6.8

Employment

51

6.9

Litigation

51

6.10

Liens

51

6.11

Customer Contract Conversion

52

6.12

Financial Statements

52

6.13

Transition Services

52

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

S&R PARTIES’ CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

7.1

Representations and Warranties

52

7.2

Performance

52

7.3

Officer’s Certificate

52

7.4

Deliveries

52

7.5

Litigation

52

7.6

Regulatory Approvals

52

7.7

Transition Services

53

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

TERMINATION

 

8.1

Termination

53

8.2

Effect of Termination

53

8.3

Specific Performance and Other Remedies

54

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

INDEMNIFICATION

 

9.1

Indemnification by the S&R Parties

54

9.2

Indemnification by USAC

55

9.3

Indemnification Limits

55

9.4

Survival of Indemnity

56

9.5

Defense of Third Party Claims

57

9.6

Direct Claims

58

9.7

Sole Remedy; Offset

58

9.8

Determination of Damages; Adjustments to Consideration

58

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1

Further Actions

59

10.2

Amendment and Modifications

59

10.3

Waiver of Compliance

59

10.4

Severability

59

10.5

Expenses and Obligations

59

 

iii



 

10.6

Parties in Interest

59

10.7

Notices

60

10.8

Counterparts

61

10.9

Entire Agreement

61

10.10

Alternative Transactions

61

10.11

Assignment

62

10.12

Guaranty

62

10.13

Rules of Construction

62

10.14

Governing Law

63

10.15

Waiver of Jury Trial

63

10.16

Consent to Jurisdiction; Venue

63

 

Exhibits:

 

Exhibit A

DRIP Election

Exhibit B

Registration Rights Agreement

Exhibit C

Kaiser Guaranty

 

iv



 

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

This Contribution Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of August 12, 2013, by and among USA Compression Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“USAC”), S&R Compression, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company (the “Company”), and Argonaut Private Equity, L.L.C., an Oklahoma limited liability company (“Argonaut”).  The Company and Argonaut are sometimes referred to individually as an “S&R Party” and collectively as the “S&R Parties.”  USAC and the S&R Parties are sometimes referred to individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to contribute the Contributed Assets and the Net Cash (as such terms are defined herein) to USAC or its designee in exchange for Common Units, and USAC desires to accept such Contributed Assets and Net Cash in exchange for Common Units, upon the terms and conditions contained herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and covenants contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and in reliance upon the mutual representations and warranties contained herein, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENTS

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

1.1          Certain Definitions.  Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings as shown below:

 

Accounts Receivable” means all accounts and notes receivable from account, note and other debtors of the Company attributable to the Contributed Business.

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person (including with respect to the Company, Argonaut).  The term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) as used in this definition means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract, or otherwise.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Alternative Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.10.

 

Annual Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(a).

 

1



 

Antitrust Law” shall mean the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1-7; the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 12-27, 29 U.S.C. §§ 52-53; the HSR Act; the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 41-58; and all other federal, state and foreign statutes, rules, regulations, orders, decrees, administrative and judicial doctrines, and other laws that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade.

 

Applicable Ratemeans the corporate base rate of interest publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

Arbitration Firm” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c).

 

Argonaut” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Assigned Contractor Assigned Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(a).

 

Assigned Leaseor Assigned Leases” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7(b).

 

Assignment Agreement” means an agreement evidencing the contribution, transfer, assignment, conveyance and delivery by the Company to USAC of the Contributed Interests at the Closing in a form mutually acceptable to the Company and USAC.

 

Assumed Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6.

 

Audited Special Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9(c).

 

Books and Records” means books, records, files, documents, Contracts, title and real estate documents, drawings, diagrams, data, accounting and Tax records, marketing and other such studies, instruments, papers, journals, deeds, licenses, present and former customer, supplier, contractor and subcontractor lists, computer files and programs, environmental studies and reports prepared by third parties, construction reports, annual operating plans, monthly operating reports, operating logs, operations and maintenance records, purchase orders, safety and maintenance manuals, incident reports, injury reports, engineering design plans, blue prints and as-built plans, drawings, specifications, test reports (including results of emissions monitoring and other tests), quality documentation and reports, motor vehicle or equipment records, equipment repair, maintenance and service records, hazardous waste disposal records, training records, procedures, manuals specific to or necessary for the operation of any of the Contributed Business or the Contributed Assets, and similar items; in each case, relating to any of the Contributed Assets, the Contributed Business, or Continuing Employees and in the possession of the Company or its Affiliates, all in the form regularly maintained by the Company.  For the sake of clarity, (a) “Books and Records” shall not include any of the items listed in this definition that relate solely to the Fabrication Business or the Excluded Assets and (b) the Company may, at its sole cost, retain copies of any Books and Records that are delivered

 

2



 

to USAC (solely for the purpose of tax and regulatory compliance), subject to the Confidentiality Agreement and Sections 5.1 and 5.17.

 

Business” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(a)(i).

 

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday under the Laws of the United States or the State of Texas.

 

Business Employees” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.18(c).

 

Casualty Cost” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(a).

 

Casualty Loss” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(a).

 

Claim” means any and all claims, charges, causes of action, demands, complaints, lawsuits, suits, proceedings, Orders, arbitration, governmental investigations or audits and administrative Orders.

 

Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

 

Closing Date” means the date on which the Closing occurs.

 

Closing Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).

 

COBRA” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(c).

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Common Units” means the common units representing limited partner interests in USAC.

 

Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Company Disclosure Letter” has the meaning set forth in Article III.

 

Company Intellectual Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.24(a).

 

Competing Business” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(a)(i).

 

Confidentiality Agreement” means the Mutual Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement, dated March 27, 2013, by and between the Company and USAC.

 

Continuing Employees” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15(a).

 

Contract” means any contract, agreement, obligation, option, right to acquire, preferential purchase right, preemptive right, warrant, indenture, debenture, note, bond, loan, loan agreement, collective bargaining agreement, lease, mortgage, franchise, license, purchase order, bid, commitment, letter of credit, guaranty, surety or any other legally binding arrangement, whether oral or written.

 

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Contributed Assets” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(a).

 

Contributed Business” means the compression services business whereby the Company leases or rents compression units to third parties engaged in the exploration, production, gathering, processing, transportation or distribution of oil and gas, as such business is currently conducted by the Company.  For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Contributed Business” does not include the Fabrication Business.

 

Contributed Entities” means OpCo and LeaseCo.

 

Contributed Interests” means all limited liability company interests in the Contributed Entities.

 

Creditors’ Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

 

Customer Contract” means all Contracts of the Company with customers of the Contributed Business.

 

Damages” means all Debts, liabilities, obligations, losses, including the proximate diminution of value, profits or distributable cash flow, damages, judgments, costs and expenses, interest (including prejudgment interest), penalties, fines, reasonable legal and expert fees, disbursements and costs of investigations, deficiencies, Taxes, levies, duties and imposts; provided, that (a) except as otherwise expressly set forth in this definition or (b) except to the extent imposed on a USAC Indemnified Party by a third party, Damages shall not include punitive, consequential or special Debts, liabilities, obligations, losses, diminutions of value, damages, judgments, penalties or fines, or other “Damages” arising from Claims to the extent such Claims are for punitive, consequential or special damages.

 

Debt” for a particular Person, means, without duplication, (a) indebtedness (including all related interest) of such Person for borrowed money, including the face amount of any letter of credit supporting the repayment of indebtedness for borrowed money issued for the account of such Person and obligations under letters of credit or other agreements relating to the issuance of letters of credit, acceptance financing or incurrence of indebtedness, including revolving lines of credit; (b) obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments; (c) obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (including obligations that are non-recourse to the credit of such Person but are secured by the assets of such Person, but excluding trade accounts payable); (d) obligations of such Person as lessee under capital leases and obligations of such Person in respect of synthetic leases; (e) obligations of such Person under any hedging arrangement; (f) obligations to an Affiliate; (g) obligations under operating leases; (h) obligations of such Person under direct or indirect guaranties in respect of, and obligations (contingent or otherwise) of such Person to purchase or otherwise acquire, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss in respect of, indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above; and (i) indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (a) through (h) secured by any Lien on or in respect of any property of such Person.

 

Disguised Sale” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a).

 

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Disputed Item” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).

 

Dispute Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).

 

DRIP Election” means a form of election for USAC’s Distribution Reinvestment Plan, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

Effective Date” shall mean June 30, 2013.

 

Environmental Claim” means any claim, demand, suit, action, complaint, order, proceeding, loss, cost, expense, governmental investigation, request for information, liability, penalty, fines, or any other Damages arising, incurred, or otherwise asserted pursuant to any Environmental Law.

 

Environmental Laws” means any and all laws, statutes, regulations, rules (including rules of common law), Orders, ordinances, codes, directives, and other legal requirements of any Governmental Authority pertaining to public health and safety, worker health and safety and pollution or protection of the environment (including any natural resource damages, conserving resources, endangered species, and all related to the presence, generation, use, storage, handling, treatment, disposal, Release, threatened Release, remediation, discharge, or emission of Hazardous Materials into the indoor or outdoor environment, and any exposure to Hazardous Materials) in effect in any and all jurisdictions in which the Company is conducting or at any time has conducted the operations, and any judicial or administrative interpretation (including any judicial or administrative Order, consent decree, judgment or settlement) thereof, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, the Superfund Amendments Reauthorization Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Clean Air Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and all other environmental conservation and protection laws.

 

Environmental Permit” means any permit, approval, certification, clearance, identification number, license, registration, consent, exemption, waiver, variance, or other authorization required under, granted, given, or issued pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to any entity, trade or business, any other entity, trade or business that is a member of a group described in Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(b)(l) of ERISA that includes the first entity, trade or business, or that is a member of the same “controlled group” as the first entity, trade or business pursuant to Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA.

 

ESA Report” means an Environmental Site Assessment report performed by an environmental consultant reasonably satisfactory to USAC with respect to any Real Property leased pursuant to an Assigned Lease.

 

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Estimated Net Cash” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

 

Exchange Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(a).

 

Excluded Assets” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Excluded Contracts” means (a) the Scheduled Leases denoted on Section 3.7(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter with an asterisk (*) and (b) the Material Contracts denoted on Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter with an asterisk (*).

 

Excluded Lease” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.

 

Execution Price” means $25.78 per New Common Unit.

 

Fabrication Business” means the compression unit fabrication business of the Company.

 

Final Net Cash” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).

 

Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(a).

 

FLSA” means the Fair Labor Standards Act.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

 

Governmental Authority” means any federal, national, foreign, supranational, state, provincial, county, local or other government, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency, instrumentality or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body of competent jurisdiction.

 

Hazardous Materials” means any substance, waste or material regulated or as to which liability might arise under any applicable Environmental Law including any:  (a) chemical, product, material, substance or waste defined, classified as or included in the definition of “hazardous substance,” “hazardous material,” “hazardous waste,” “restricted hazardous waste,” “extremely hazardous waste,” “solid waste,” “toxic waste,” “extremely hazardous substance,” “toxic substance,” “toxic pollutant,” “contaminant,” “pollutant,” or words of similar meaning or import found in any applicable Environmental Law; (b) petroleum hydrocarbons, petrochemical or petroleum products or by-products, petroleum substances, oil and natural gas exploration and production wastes, natural gas or crude oil or any components, fractions or derivatives thereof; (c) asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, or radon gas; and (d) radioactive material, waste and pollutants, radiation, radionuclides and their progeny, naturally occurring radioactive materials, or nuclear waste including used nuclear fuel.

 

Holders” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

 

HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

6



 

Income Taxes” means any income, franchise and similar Taxes.

 

Indemnified Parties” means the S&R Indemnified Parties or the USAC Indemnified Parties, as applicable.

 

Indemnifying Parties” means the S&R Parties or the USAC Indemnifying Parties, as applicable.

 

Intellectual Property” means all of the following in any jurisdiction throughout the world:  (a) patents, patent applications, together with all reissues, continuations, continuations in part, divisionals, extensions and reexaminations in connection therewith, utility models or statutory invention registrations (whether or not filed), and invention disclosures; (b) trademarks, service marks, logos, designs, trade names, trade dress, domain names and corporate names and registrations and applications for registration thereof (whether or not filed) and the goodwill associated therewith; (c) copyrights, whether registered or unregistered, and registrations and applications for registration thereof (whether or not filed), database rights, and other works of authorship, whether or not published; (d) Trade Secrets; and (e) the right to sue and collect Damages for any past, present, and future infringement, misappropriation, or other violation of any of the foregoing.

 

Interest” means (a) capital stock, common units, member interests, partnership interests, other equity interests, rights to profits or revenue and any other similar interest, (b) any security or other interest convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any of the foregoing and (c) any right (contingent or otherwise) to acquire any of the foregoing.

 

Interim Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(a).

 

Interim Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(a).

 

Inventory” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.23.

 

Kaiser Guaranty” means a guaranty of the indemnification obligations of the S&R Parties by George B. Kaiser, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

Key Employees” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15(c).

 

Knowledge of the S&R Parties” means the actual knowledge after reasonable inquiry of any of John Roberson, Steve Mitchell or Robert Waldo.

 

Knowledge of USAC” means the actual knowledge after reasonable inquiry of any of Eric Long, Matt Liuzzi or Greg Holloway.

 

Law” means any law, statute, code, ordinance, Order, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization, or other directional requirement (including any of the foregoing that relates to environmental standards or controls, energy regulations and occupational, safety and health standards or controls including those arising under Environmental Laws) of any Governmental Authority.

 

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LeaseCo” means a Texas limited liability company to be formed by the Company prior to the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of OpCo in accordance with Section 5.24.

 

Leased Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7(c).

 

Liability” means any direct or indirect liability, Debt, obligation, guarantee or endorsement, whether known or unknown, whether accrued or unaccrued, whether absolute or contingent, whether due or to become due, or whether liquidated or unliquidated.

 

Lien” means any lien, pledge, condemnation award, claim, restriction, charge, preferential purchase right, option, security interest, exclusive license, mortgage or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever including as a statutory landlord lien.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means any material and adverse effect on the assets, liabilities, financial condition, business, operations or affairs of the Company or the Contributed Business, individually or in the aggregate, except to the extent resulting from (a) changes in general local, domestic, foreign, or international economic conditions, (b) changes affecting generally the industries or markets in which the Company operates, (c) acts of war, sabotage or terrorism, military actions or the escalation thereof, (d) the taking of any action after the date of this Agreement required by this Agreement, including the Merger, so long as such action complies with Section 5.7, (e) the disclosure of the fact that USAC is the prospective acquirer of the Contributed Business, or (f) any changes in the applicable laws or accounting rules or principles, including changes required by GAAP, other than, with respect to clauses (a), (b), (c) and (f), any change, circumstance, effect, event, fact, state of facts or development that disproportionately impacts the Company and the Contributed Business relative to other companies in the industries and markets in which the Company operates.

 

Material Contract” means each of the following types of Contracts used in connection with the Contributed Business to which the Company, the Contributed Business or the Contributed Assets are bound:

 

(a)           all Customer Contracts,

 

(b)           all Scheduled Leases,

 

(c)           all Contracts in respect of (i) gas cards, (ii) freight and (iii) oil deliverables, and

 

(d)           all other Contracts, each of which provides for the payment of more than $10,000 in any consecutive 12-month period or more than $50,000 over the remaining life of the Contract.

 

Merger” means a merger between the Company and the Contributed Entities in accordance with the Texas Business Organizations Code, including Section 10.003 thereof, pursuant to which, among other things, (a) all of the Company’s right, title and interest in and to all of the Contributed Assets and the Assumed Liabilities shall be vested in OpCo or LeaseCo, as

 

8



 

applicable, and (b) each of the Company and the Contributed Entities shall survive, in each case as more fully described on Section 1.1A of the Company Disclosure Letter.

 

Merger Agreement” means a Contract to effect the Merger to be entered into prior to the Closing between the Company and the Contributed Entities and containing terms mutually acceptable to the Company and USAC.

 

Multiemployer Plan” shall have the meaning given in Section 3(37) of ERISA.

 

Negative Working Capital” means the amount, if any, by which (a) the absolute value of the sum of total current assets, other than cash and cash equivalents, net of applicable allowances and reserves, of the Contributed Assets or the Contributed Business is less than (b) the absolute value of the sum of total current liabilities (including deferred revenue, if any) of the Contributed Assets or the Contributed Business, in each case calculated as of the Effective Date based upon the books and records of the Company and determined in accordance with GAAP and in a manner consistent with the determination thereof in the Company Annual Financial Statements.

 

Net Cash” means the Net Cash Amount; provided, that if the Net Cash Amount is less than zero, Net Cash shall equal zero.

 

Net Cash Amount” means an amount equal to (a) the aggregate amount of all cash and other consideration (including, in the event of a Casualty Loss, business interruption insurance proceeds) received by the Company or a Contributed Entity after the Effective Date through the Closing Date that is directly attributable to the ownership and operation of the Contributed Assets or the Contributed Business after the Effective Date minus (b) the aggregate amount of all costs (other than (i) Income Taxes, (ii) Casualty Costs, (iii) Casualty Losses, (iv) Restoration Costs and (v) the aggregate amount payable by USAC under the Requirements Contract with respect to compression units manufactured between July 1, 2013 and the Closing Date) paid by the Company or a Contributed Entity in the Ordinary Course of Business after the Effective Date through the Closing Date that are directly attributable to the ownership and operation of the Contributed Assets or the Contributed Business after the Effective Date and plus (c) if applicable, increases due to Casualty Loss as provided for in Section 5.10.  If any Casualty Loss reduces the amount of cash and other consideration received by the Company after the Effective Date through the Closing, all amounts of cash and other consideration that would have otherwise been received by the Company or a Contributed Entity after the Effective Date through the Closing Date had such Casualty Loss not occurred shall be deemed to be cash and other consideration received by the Company for purposes of clause (a).

 

New Common Units” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

 

Non-Business Employee” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(b).

 

Non-Consent Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.18.

 

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OpCo” means a Texas limited liability company to be formed by the Company prior to the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company in accordance with Section 5.24.

 

Order” means any order, writ, judgment, stipulation, settlement, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, award or decree entered by any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction.

 

Ordinary Course of Business” means, when used in reference to any Person, the ordinary course of business consistent with the past customs and practices of such Person.

 

Organizational Documents” means, with respect to a particular Person (other than a natural person), the certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement, trust agreement or similar organizational document or agreement, as applicable, of such Person.

 

Original Filing” means that certain July 12, 2013 filing of the Letter of Intent, dated June 18, 2013 and acknowledged by the Company, filed under the HSR Act with respect to the Transaction.

 

Party” or “Parties” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Permit” means any permit, approval, certification, clearance, identification number, license, registration, consent, exemption, waiver, variance, or other authorization required under, granted, given, issued or otherwise available by or under any Governmental Authority, including Environmental Permits.

 

Permitted Liens” means (a) Liens for current period Taxes not yet due and payable or for Taxes being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings, and (b) other Liens arising in the Ordinary Course of Business and not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money, including encumbrances created or existing under applicable Law (other than Tax Law) or under Contracts with customers or vendors created in the Ordinary Course of Business, which Liens do not affect title to or ownership of the Contributed Assets.

 

Person” means any natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, limited liability company, company, trust, entity, public body or Governmental Authority.

 

Plan” or “Plans” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19(a).

 

Pre-Closing Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

 

Pre-Closing Tax Period” means any Tax period ending on or before the Closing Date.

 

Prohibited Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(a)(i).

 

Proposed Final Net Cash” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).

 

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Real Property” means all land, buildings, structures, improvements, and fixtures thereon, together with all rights of way, easements, privileges, and appurtenances pertaining or belonging thereto, that are owned or leased by the Company and used in connection with the operation of the Contributed Business.

 

Registered Intellectual Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.24(a).

 

Registration Rights Agreement” means a registration rights agreement between USAC, the Company and each Holder to whom New Common Units are to be delivered at Closing pursuant to Section 2.3, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

Release” means any depositing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, placing, emitting, discarding, abandoning, emptying, discharging, migrating, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing to the indoor or outdoor environment, including the movement through the air, soil, surface water or groundwater, whether intentional or unintentional.

 

Requirements Contract” means a requirements contract between the Company and USAC, substantially in the form agreed upon by the Parties as of the date of this Agreement, with such changes as are mutually acceptable to the Parties.

 

Requirements Contract Assets” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a).

 

Resolution Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c).

 

Restoration Cost” means, with respect to a Casualty Loss, the sum of (a) the Casualty Cost with respect to such Casualty Loss, plus (b) the amount of gross margin with respect to such Casualty Loss; in each case arising after the Effective Date and as determined by a qualified firm mutually selected by USAC and the Company promptly after the date of the event giving rise to such Casualty Loss, which firm shall take into account, among other things, a reasonable period that the firm estimates the damaged or destroyed Contributed Assets will remain unrestored.

 

S&R Equipment Fleet” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(e).

 

S&R Fundamental Representations” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.

 

S&R Indemnification Cap” means an amount equal to the product of (a) the aggregate number of New Common Units issued at the Closing pursuant to Section 2.3, (b) the Execution Price and (c) 0.125.

 

S&R Indemnification Deductible” means an amount equal to the product of (a) the aggregate number of New Common Units issued at the Closing pursuant to Section 2.3, (b) the Execution Price and (c) 0.0075.

 

S&R Indemnified Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2.

 

S&R Party” or “S&R Parties” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

11



 

S&R Party Tax Liability” means any and all Taxes imposed on the Contributed Entities (or any predecessor thereof) or for which the Contributed Entities (or any predecessor thereof) may otherwise be liable (a) for any Pre-Closing Tax Period and for the portion of any Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date (determined in accordance with Section 5.13(a)(ii); (b) resulting from a breach of any representation or warranty set forth in Section 3.15 (determined without regard to any materiality or Knowledge qualifiers or any scheduled items) or any covenant set forth in Section 5.13; (c) of any member of any affiliated, combined, consolidated, unitary or similar group with respect to any Taxes of which the Contributed Entities (or any predecessor thereof) is or was a member on or prior to the Closing Date by reason of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6(a) or any analogous or similar foreign, state or local law; or (d) of any other Person for which a Contributed Entity is or has been liable as a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise, but only to the extent such Taxes arise as a result of the Contributed Entities having transferee or successor liability as a result of their relationship with S&R, or entering into a contract or otherwise during the Pre-Closing Tax Period.

 

Scheduled Leases” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7(b).

 

Scheduled Permits” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9.

 

SEC” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(a).

 

Securities Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5.

 

Special Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9(a).

 

Straddle Period” means any Tax period beginning on or before and ending after the Closing Date.

 

Tax” or “Taxes” means any taxes, assessments, fees, unclaimed property and escheat obligations and other governmental charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including income, profits, gross receipts, net proceeds, alternative or add-on minimum, ad valorem, value added, turnover, sales, use, property, personal property (tangible and intangible), environmental, stamp, leasing, lease, user, excise, duty, franchise, capital stock, transfer, registration, license, withholding, social security (or similar), unemployment, disability, payroll, employment, fuel, excess profits, occupational, premium, windfall profit, severance, estimated, or other charge of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not, and including any Liability for the payment of any amounts of the type described above as a transferee or successor, or as a result of the operation of Law or any express or implied obligation to indemnify any other Person or as a result of being a member of any affiliated, combined, consolidated, unitary or similar group with respect to any Taxes, including any affiliated group within the meaning of Section 1504 of the Code electing to file consolidated federal Income Tax Returns and any similar group under foreign, state or local Law for any period.

 

Tax Benefit” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.8.

 

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Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

 

Terminated Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12.

 

Territory” means the geographic area in which USAC or its Affiliates conduct the Business, have conducted the Business, or have plans to conduct the Business of which the S&R Parties are aware.  The Territory includes, without limitation, areas meeting the description above within the United States of America.

 

Third Party Action” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.5.

 

Trade Secrets” means trade secrets and confidential information, including confidential technical or non-technical data, information or know-how, customer information, lists of actual or potential customers or suppliers, financial data, financial plans, product plans, formulas, patterns, processes, techniques, methods, compilations, programs (including computer software and related source code) and or other information similar to any of the foregoing.

 

Transaction” means the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents, including the Merger.

 

Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Company Disclosure Letter, the USAC Disclosure Letter, the Confidentiality Agreement, the Merger Agreement and all agreements, conveyances, documents, instruments and certificates delivered at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement and the Merger Agreement.

 

Transfer Taxes” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.13(c).

 

Transition Services Agreement” means an agreement to be entered into by and between the Company and OpCo, LeaseCo, and/or their designees at the Closing providing for transition services among the parties thereto on terms mutually acceptable to the Company and USAC.

 

Treasury Regulation” means the regulations promulgated by the United States Department of the Treasury pursuant to and in respect of provision of the Code.  All references herein to sections of the Treasury Regulations shall include any corresponding provision or provisions of succeeding, similar, substitute, temporary or final Treasury Regulations.

 

USAC” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

USAC Disclosure Letter” has the meaning set forth in Article IV.

 

USAC Fundamental Representations” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2.

 

USAC Indemnification Cap” means an amount equal to the product of (a) the aggregate number of New Common Units issued at the Closing pursuant to Section 2.3, (b) the Execution Price and (c) 0.125.

 

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USAC Indemnification Deductible” means an amount equal to the product of (a) the aggregate number of New Common Units issued at the Closing pursuant to Section 2.3, (b) the Execution Price and (c) 0.0075.

 

USAC Indemnified Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.

 

USAC Indemnifying Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2.

 

USAC Material Adverse Effect” means material and adverse effect on the assets, liabilities, financial conditions, business, operations or affairs of USAC, individually or in the aggregate, except to the extent resulting from (a) changes in general local, domestic, foreign, or international economic conditions, (b) changes affecting generally the industries or markets in which USAC operates, (c) acts of war, sabotage or terrorism, military actions or the escalation thereof, (d) the taking of any action after the date of this Agreement required by this Agreement so long as such action complies with Section 5.8, (e) the execution of this Agreement, or the announcement, disclosure or pendency of the Transactions, or (f) any changes in the applicable laws or accounting rules or principles, including changes required by GAAP, other than, with respect to clauses (a), (b), (c) and (f), any change, circumstance, effect, event, fact, state of facts or development that disproportionately impact USAC relative to other companies in the industries and markets in which USAC operates.

 

USAC Prohibited Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(b).

 

USAC SEC Reports” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(a).

 

ARTICLE II
CONTRIBUTION; CLOSING

 

2.1          Transfer of Contributed Assets.

 

(a)           Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, the Company shall contribute, transfer, assign, convey and deliver to USAC or its respective designee, and USAC or its designees shall accept and acquire from the Company, all of the Company’s right, title and interest in and to all of the Contributed Assets and the Net Cash.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the transfer of the Contributed Assets pursuant to this Agreement shall not include the assignment of any Liability related to the Contributed Business, the Contributed Assets or any other Liability of any S&R Party unless expressly assumed by USAC pursuant to Section 2.7.

 

(b)           To facilitate the contribution, transfer, assignment, conveyance and delivery by the Company to USAC of the Contributed Assets at the Closing, prior to the Closing, the Company shall cause all of the Company’s right, title and interest in and to all of the Contributed Assets to be vested in OpCo or LeaseCo, as applicable, immediately prior to the Closing pursuant to the Merger.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the Contrary, the contribution, transfer, assignment, conveyance and delivery by the Company to USAC of the Contributed Assets at the Closing shall be effected by the contribution, transfer, assignment, conveyance and delivery by the Company to USAC of the Contributed Interests.

 

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Unless the context otherwise requires, from and after the effective time of the Merger, references to the Contributed Assets, the Contributed Business and the Assumed Liabilities shall mean such Contributed Assets, Contributed Business and Assumed Liabilities as vested in OpCo or LeaseCo, as applicable.

 

2.2          Excluded Assets.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, there shall be excluded from the Contributed Assets to be contributed, transferred, assigned, conveyed or delivered to USAC or its designees hereunder, and to the extent in existence on the Closing Date, there shall be retained by the Company and not vested in OpCo or LeaseCo pursuant to the Merger, any and all right, title or interest to the following assets, properties and rights (collectively, the “Excluded Assets”):

 

(a)           all assets of the Company related solely to the Fabrication Business;

 

(b)           all compression units that are mutually determined by the Company and USAC not to be usable or rentable, either permanently or as a result of the lack of current or near-term market demand;

 

(c)           all used compression units that are mutually determined by the Company and USAC to require material overhaul;

 

(d)           all non-gas lift equipment such as vapor recovery units, pre-coolers and the like, and any gas lift or compression units that are mutually agreed by the Company and USAC to constitute an Excluded Asset;

 

(e)           all compression units owned by S&R Equipment, Inc. and the associated equipment and spare parts utilized in the maintenance of such compression units on the Effective Date (the “S&R Equipment Fleet”);

 

(f)            all Plans and assets attributable thereto;

 

(g)           all Excluded Contracts;

 

(h)           all Excluded Leases; and

 

(i)            cash collected by the Company on or in respect of Accounts Receivable generated by operations of the Contributed Business prior to the Effective Date, subject to the obligation of the Company contained in Section 2.7.

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Section 2.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter lists those assets, properties and rights that the Parties, as of the date of this Agreement, have identified and agreed constitute “Excluded Assets.”  If, after the date of this Agreement, it is discovered that an asset meeting the definition of an “Excluded Asset” set forth in clauses (a) and (d) through (g) above was not included on Section 2.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter, such asset shall nonetheless be an Excluded Asset.

 

2.3          Consideration.  In consideration of the contribution, transfer, assignment, conveyance and delivery of the Contributed Assets and the Net Cash by the Company to USAC,

 

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USAC shall issue to the Company a number of Common Units (such Common Units, the “New Common Units”) that shall, as of the Closing Date, represent 20% of all Common Units and Subordinated Units of USAC issued and outstanding on the Closing Date, calculated on a fully diluted basis after giving effect to such issuance (but excluding any general partner units and any incentive distribution rights).  The Parties acknowledge that the Company intends to distribute the New Common Units at Closing to certain members and beneficial owners of the Company and Argonaut (the “Holders”) in such amounts calculated in accordance with Section 2.3 of the Company Disclosure Letter.  At the Closing, USAC shall issue the New Common Units to the Holders in book entry form, in the names listed on and in the amounts calculated in accordance with Section 2.3 of the Company Disclosure Letter; provided, that USAC will only be obligated to issue New Common Units to those Holders after USAC has received the information required by Section 2.6(a)(vii).

 

2.4          Net Cash.  Net Cash will be determined in accordance with the following:

 

(a)           At least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall prepare and deliver to USAC a statement (the “Pre-Closing Statement”) setting forth an estimate of the Net Cash as of the Closing Date (the “Estimated Net Cash”).  USAC, and any accountants or advisors retained by USAC, shall be permitted to review the Company’s working papers related to the preparation of the Pre-Closing Statement and the books and records of the Company and its Affiliates for the purposes of reviewing the Pre-Closing Statement.  At the request of USAC, representatives of the Company and its Affiliates who prepared the Pre-Closing Statement shall be available to answer questions with respect to the determination of the Estimated Net Cash.  The Company and USAC shall work together reasonably and in good faith to timely resolve any dispute over any item set forth in the Pre-Closing Statement and to agree upon the Estimated Net Cash.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties acknowledge and agree that the Estimated Net Cash shall have no presumptive effect for purposes of determining the Final Net Cash as contemplated below.

 

(b)           As soon as is practicable, and in any event no later than 60 days after the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to USAC a statement (the “Closing Statement) setting forth the proposed final calculation of the Net Cash (the “Proposed Final Net Cash).  During the 30-day period from and after USAC’s receipt of the Closing Statement, USAC, and any accountants or advisors retained by USAC, shall be permitted to review the working papers of the Company, and any accountants or advisors retained by the Company, related to the preparation of the Closing Statement and the books and records of the Company for the purposes of reviewing the Closing Statement.  At the request of USAC, representatives of the Company who prepared the Closing Statement shall be available to answer questions with respect to the determination of the Proposed Final Net Cash.  If USAC does not dispute the Closing Statement or any items set forth therein during such 30-day period, the Proposed Final Net Cash shall be deemed to be the final and definitive calculation of the Net Cash (the “Final Net Cash”)If USAC disputes any items reflected on the Closing Statement (each, a “Disputed Item”), USAC shall submit to the Company, during such 30-day period, a written notice (a “Dispute Notice”) identifying each Disputed Item and setting forth the amount in dispute and a statement of the basis for such dispute.

 

(c)           For a period of 14 days following the date of delivery of a Dispute Notice (the “Resolution Period”), USAC and the Company shall negotiate reasonably and in good faith

 

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in an attempt to resolve all Disputed Items.  If, at the end of the Resolution Period, the parties have not reached an agreement in writing as to all Disputed Items, all unresolved Disputed Items shall be promptly submitted for resolution to BDO USA, LLP, or if such firm is unable to serve for any reason, another reputable accounting firm who shall not have provided any material services to USAC or the S&R Parties at any time during the two years preceding the Closing Date, and who shall be selected by the mutual agreement of USAC and the Company (in either case, the “Arbitration Firm”); provided, however, that if USAC and the Company cannot so agree within 30 days of the Company’s receipt of the Dispute Notice, USAC and the Company shall request the American Arbitration Association to select an Arbitration Firm meeting the criteria set forth herein.  The Parties shall cooperate reasonably and in good faith with the Arbitration Firm in connection with its efforts to resolve the unresolved Disputed Items, and the Parties shall provide such work papers and other documents as the Arbitration Firm may reasonably request for purposes of performing its duties.  The Parties shall instruct the Arbitration Firm to render its decision within 45 days of its engagement.  The Arbitration Firm’s services and authority to make a determination shall be limited in scope to the Disputed Items.  The Arbitration Firm shall apply accounting and mathematical principles, in accordance with this Section 2.4(c), to the Disputed Items, and shall have no authority or power to alter, modify, amend, add to or subtract from any term or provision of this Agreement.  In addition, the Arbitration Firm shall not have authority to make any adjustment to or modification of the Estimated Net Cash.  Upon making its determination as to the unresolved Disputed Items, the Arbitration Firm shall deliver to USAC and the Company a report setting forth its adjustments, if any, to the unresolved Disputed Items, the calculations supporting such adjustments, and the Arbitration Firm’s calculation of the Final Net Cash.  Such report shall be final, conclusive and binding on the Parties hereto as to all unresolved Disputed Items.  Disputed Items shall not be subject to judicial review or appeal, absent fraud or manifest error.  The fees and expenses of the Arbitration Firm shall be borne one-half by USAC and one-half by the Company.  USAC and the Company shall enter into a customary engagement agreement with the Arbitration Firm regarding its services at the request of such Arbitration Firm.

 

(d)           No later than five days after the expiration of the 30-day period set forth in the second sentence of Section 2.4(b), if USAC does not dispute any items in the Closing Statement or, if USAC disputes items in the Closing Statement, after all Disputed Items have been resolved in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.4(c), then:

 

(i)            if the Final Net Cash is equal to the Estimated Net Cash, then no amount shall be payable after Closing in respect of the Final Net Cash.

 

(ii)           if the Final Net Cash is greater than the Estimated Net Cash, then the Company shall pay to USAC the absolute value of the difference between the Estimated Net Cash and the Final Net Cash.

 

(iii)          if the Final Net Cash is less than the Estimated Net Cash, then USAC shall pay to the Company the absolute value of the difference between the Estimated Net Cash and the Final Net Cash.

 

Amounts payable under this Section 2.4(d) shall be calculated without duplication of amounts paid pursuant to Section 5.11 as of the date of payment under this Section 2.4(d).

 

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(e)           All payments under this Section 2.4 shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to accounts specified by the Company or USAC, as applicable.

 

2.5          The Closing.  The closing of the Transaction (the “Closing”) shall take place at the offices of Frederic Dorwart, Lawyers, Old City Hall, 124 East Fourth Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103 at 10:00 A.M. local time, on the second Business Day after the conditions to Closing set forth in Articles VI and VII have been satisfied or waived, or on such other date and at such other time and place as USAC and the Company mutually agree in writing.  All actions listed in Section 2.6 that occur on the Closing Date shall be deemed to occur simultaneously at Closing.

 

2.6          Closing Deliveries.

 

(a)           Company Deliveries.  At the Closing, the Company shall deliver, or shall cause to be delivered, to USAC the following:

 

(i)            the Estimated Net Cash, if any, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified by USAC at least five Business Days prior to the Closing;

 

(ii)           the Assignment Agreement, duly executed by the Company;

 

(iii)          the Transition Services Agreement, duly executed by the Company and OpCo, LeaseCo, and/or their designees;

 

(iv)          the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Company;

 

(v)           the Requirements Contract, duly executed by the Company;

 

(vi)          the DRIP Election, duly executed by the Company;

 

(vii)         from each Holder to whom New Common Units are to be delivered at Closing pursuant to Section 2.3, (A) a representation in a form reasonably satisfactory to USAC and executed by such Person (x) with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3.26 and (y) such additional information as USAC may reasonably request, (B) the Registration Rights Agreement and the DRIP Election, in each case duly executed by such Person, and (C) an agreement in a form reasonably satisfactory to USAC executed by such Person agreeing to be bound by the provisions of Section 5.1;

 

(viii)        the Kaiser Guaranty, duly executed by George B. Kaiser;

 

(ix)          a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by authorized representatives of the Company certifying as to (A) the good standing of the Company in its jurisdiction of formation and in each other jurisdiction where it is qualified to do business, (B) true and correct copies of the Organizational Documents of the Company as in effect on the Closing Date, (C) that all actions required to authorize and approve the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents have

 

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been taken and setting forth copies of such actions, (D) the accuracy of the specimen signature(s) of any Person executing this Agreement and such other Transaction Documents on behalf of the Company, and (E) such other matters reasonably requested by USAC;

 

(x)           a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by authorized representatives of Argonaut certifying as to (A) the good standing of Argonaut in its jurisdiction of formation and in each other jurisdiction where it is qualified to do business, (B) that all actions required to authorize and approve the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents have been taken and setting forth copies of such actions, (C) the accuracy of the specimen signature(s) of any Person executing this Agreement and such other Transaction Documents on behalf of Argonaut, and (D) such other matters reasonably requested by USAC;

 

(xi)          vehicle titles or registration documents for all titled vehicles that are Contributed Assets at or as soon as practicable after the Closing, in accordance with Section 5.2;

 

(xii)         originals (if available) or copies of all Books and Records that are segregated and readily available (it being acknowledged that the delivery of all such Books and Records to an office of the Contributed Business located at one or more of the Assigned Leases shall constitute delivery for purposes of this Section 2.6(a)(xii));

 

(xiii)        a separate duly prepared and executed certificate of non-foreign status of the Company meeting the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1445-2(b)(2);

 

(xiv)        an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 duly executed and delivered by the Company; and

 

(xv)         all other documents reasonably requested by USAC to be delivered by the S&R Parties in connection with the consummation of the Transaction.

 

(b)           USAC Deliveries.  At the Closing, USAC shall deliver, or shall cause to be delivered, to the Company or its designees, the following:

 

(i)            the New Common Units in accordance with Section 2.3;

 

(ii)           the Assignment Agreement, duly executed by USAC;

 

(iii)          the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by USAC;

 

(iv)          the Requirements Contract, duly executed by USAC;

 

(v)           the Kaiser Guaranty, acknowledged and agreed by USAC;

 

(vi)          a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by authorized representatives of USAC certifying on behalf of USAC as to (A) the good standing of

 

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USAC in its jurisdiction of formation and in each other jurisdiction where it is qualified to do business, (B) true and correct copies of the Organizational Documents of USAC as in effect on the Closing Date, (C) that all actions by USAC required to authorize and approve the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, have been taken and setting forth copies of such actions, (D) the accuracy of the specimen signature(s) of any Person executing this Agreement and such other Transaction Documents on behalf of USAC, and (E) such other matters reasonably requested by the Company;

 

(vii)         written notification from USA Compression GP, LLC, the general partner of USAC, that the limitation on the voting rights of the Holders matter set forth in the definition of “Outstanding” in the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of USAC shall not apply to the New Common Units; and

 

(viii)        all other documents reasonably requested by the Company to be delivered by USAC in connection with the consummation of the Transaction.

 

2.7          Assumed Liabilities.  On the Closing Date USAC, by virtue of the contribution, transfer, assignment, conveyance and delivery by the Company to USAC of the Contributed Interests, shall assume and agree to discharge only the Liabilities of the Contributed Business set forth on Section 2.7 of the Company Disclosure Letter (such liabilities, the “Assumed Liabilities”).  Every other Liability of the Company, the Contributed Assets and the Contributed Business, including (a) any S&R Party Tax Liability, (b) all Liabilities to the extent attributable to Negative Working Capital, (c) all Liabilities arising pursuant to any Excluded Contract and (d) any Liability reflected on the interim Special Financial Statements that was not reflected on the Interim Financial Statements, shall not be vested in OpCo or LeaseCo pursuant to the Merger and shall retained, paid, performed and discharged solely by the Company and/or its Affiliates (other than OpCo or LeaseCo).

 

2.8          Allocation of Consideration.

 

(a)           The contribution of the Contributed Interests shall be treated for Tax purposes as the contribution of the assets of the Contributed Entities and no party hereto or any Affiliate thereof shall take any position inconsistent with such treatment.  The Parties intend that the contribution of the assets of the Contributed Entities and the transfer at Closing of certain assets pursuant to the Requirements Contract (the “Requirements Contract Assets”) made by the Company in exchange for the consideration delivered pursuant to Section 2.3 and the consideration delivered at Closing pursuant to the Requirements Contract shall be treated for U.S. federal, and applicable state and local, income tax purposes as an exchange described in Section 721(a) of the Code to the extent the cash delivered by USAC pursuant to the Requirements Contract to the Company does not exceed the amount of capital expenditures described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.707-4(d).  If the cash distributed by USAC to the Company exceeds the amount of capital expenditures described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.707-4(d), then the contribution of the assets of the Contributed Entities and the Requirements Contract Assets in exchange for the consideration delivered pursuant to Section 2.3 and the consideration delivered pursuant to the Requirements Contract will be treated

 

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in part as an exchange described in Section 721(a) of the Code and in part as a disguised sale transaction described in Section 707(a)(2)(B) of the Code (a “Disguised Sale”).

 

(b)           The Parties agree that, for all Tax purposes, including for purposes of allocating (i) the consideration that is properly considered to have been received by the Company in such Disguised Sale among the portion of assets of the Contributed Entities and the Requirements Contract Assets that are treated as sold in such Disguised Sale and (ii) the fair market value of the assets of the Contributed Entities and the Requirements Contract Assets that are treated as contributed to USAC under Section 721(a) of the Code, the agreed fair market value of the assets of the Contributed Entities and the Requirements Contract Assets will be mutually agreed upon and allocated by the Company and USAC prior to the Closing, all in accordance with the principles of Sections 707 and 1060 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(c)           Each of the Company, USAC and their respective Affiliates shall file all Tax Returns in a manner consistent with this Section 2.8, and no party shall take a position in any forum that is inconsistent with this Section 2.8 before any Governmental Authority charged with the collection or administration of any Tax, or in any proceeding relating to any Tax, unless otherwise required by a final, non-appealable determination.  For the avoidance of doubt, USAC and the S&R Parties agree that the determination pursuant to this Section 2.8 of (i) the fair market value of the assets of the Contributed Entities and the Requirements Contract Assets that are treated as contributed to USAC under Section 721(a) of the Code and (ii) the fair market value of the assets of USAC (in each case as mutually agreed upon and allocated by the Company and USAC prior to the Closing) shall be used for purposes of applying Section 704(c) of the Code to such assets, and the variation between the fair market value of such assets and the adjusted tax basis of such assets will be taken into account under the “remedial method” as described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d).

 

ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE S&R PARTIES

 

The S&R Parties, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to USAC that, except to the extent expressly modified and set forth in the disclosure letter delivered by the Company to USAC at or prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure Letter”), the following statements are all true, correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing.  The Company Disclosure Letter will be arranged in sections corresponding to the numbered and lettered sections contained in this Agreement.  The S&R Parties acknowledge that USAC is relying on the following representations and warranties in entering into this Agreement.

 

3.1          Organization.  As of the date of this Agreement, the Company is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Oklahoma.  As of the date of the Merger, the Company is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Texas.  The Company is duly qualified or registered and in good standing as a foreign limited liability company to transact business under the Laws of each jurisdiction where the character of its activities or the location of the properties owned or leased by it requires such qualification or

 

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registration.  Section 3.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a true and correct list of the jurisdictions in which the Company is qualified or registered to do business as a foreign limited liability company as of the date of this Agreement.  Argonaut is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Oklahoma.

 

3.2          Power.  The Company has all requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted.

 

3.3          Authority; Enforceability.  Each S&R Party has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and to consummate the Transaction.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which each S&R Party is a party and the performance of the Transaction have been duly authorized by such action necessary on behalf of such S&R Party.  This Agreement and each of the Transaction Documents to which each S&R Party is a party have been duly executed and delivered by each S&R Party, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other Parties thereto) constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of such S&R Party, enforceable against such S&R Party in accordance with their respective terms subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar Laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity (such Laws and principles being referred to herein as “Creditors’ Rights”).

 

3.4          Consents; Absence of Conflicts.  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which each S&R Party is a party, nor the performance of the obligations of each S&R Party hereby and thereby, nor the consummation of the Transaction will (a) violate or breach the terms of, cause a default under, conflict with, result in the loss by any S&R Party of any material rights or benefits under, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, suspend, revoke, modify or cancel, require any notice, filing or consent or give rise to any preferential purchase or similar right under (i) any Law applicable to the S&R Parties or any of the Contributed Assets, (ii) the Organizational Documents of the S&R Parties or (iii) any Contract to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of the Contributed Assets is bound; (b) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of the Contributed Assets; (c) result in the cancellation, forfeiture, revocation, suspension or modification of any Contributed Asset or any existing consent, approval, authorization, license, Permit, certificate or Order; or (d) with the passage of time or the giving of notice or the taking of any action of any third party have any of the effects set forth in clause (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 3.4.

 

3.5          Ownership; No Equity Interests.  Section 3.5 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth the record and beneficial owners and holders of the Interests in the Company and any other Person who will receive any New Common Units at the Closing.  Other than those record and beneficial owners and holders of the Interests in the Company set forth in Section 3.5 of the Company Disclosure Letter, no other Person holds any Interest in the Company.  Each Holder is a direct or indirect record and beneficial owner of an interest in the Company.  There are no Contracts relating to the issuance, sale or transfer of any Interests in the Company.  None of the outstanding Interests in the Company was issued in violation of the Securities Act of 1933 (the

 

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Securities Act”), or other applicable Law.  Except for the Contributed Interests, the Contributed Assets do not include any Interest in any Person.

 

3.6          Absence of Changes.  Since December 31, 2012 (except with respect to Section 3.6(i) which shall be since the Effective Date):

 

(a)           there has not been any Material Adverse Effect on the Contributed Business;

 

(b)           the Contributed Business has been operated, and the Contributed Assets have been maintained, in the Ordinary Course of Business of the Company;

 

(c)           there has not been any material damage, destruction or loss to any portion of the Contributed Assets, whether covered by insurance or not;

 

(d)           there has not been any acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets or properties or the securities or business of any other Person by the Company or any merger or consolidation of the Company with any other Person;

 

(e)           there has not been any sale, assignment, lease or transfer of any of the assets of the Company that would be Contributed Assets with an aggregate fair market value of more than $100,000, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business of the Company;

 

(f)            there has not been any material change in the financial or accounting practices or policies of the Company;

 

(g)           the Company has not entered into or materially amended any Plan or any employment, consulting, severance or indemnification agreement, or any agreement with respect to a retention bonus or actual or potential change of control payment, with any Business Employee or other Person who provides services to the Contributed Business, nor has the Company incurred or entered into any collective bargaining agreement with, or other obligation to, any labor organization or any Business Employee;

 

(h)           there has not been any actual or, to the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, threatened material adverse change, nor has there been any change, circumstance, effect, event, fact, state of facts or development that is reasonably expected to result in an actual or material adverse change, in the relationship of the Company with any customer, supplier, distributor or sales representative of the Contributed Business, except for matters excepted from the definition of Material Adverse Effect pursuant to clauses (d) and (e) thereof;

 

(i)            there has not been any (i) declaration, setting aside or payment of any distributions, dividends or similar payments (other than cash dividends) in respect of any equity of the Company; or (ii) redemption, purchase or other acquisition of any outstanding securities of the Company;

 

(j)            there has not been any increase of more than 10% in the compensation or benefits of any Business Employee or other Person who provides services to the Contributed Business;

 

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(k)           the Company has not entered into any Contract with the United States federal government or entered into any subcontract with a contractor to the United States federal government; and

 

(l)            there is no Contract to do any of the foregoing, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement.

 

3.7          Real Property.

 

(a)           The Company does not own or have any fee ownership interest in any Real Property.

 

(b)           To the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, all Real Property leased and used by the Company conforms in all material respects with applicable Law.  The Company enjoys quiet and peaceful possession of all such leased properties occupied by it as lessee.  Section 3.7(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a true, complete and correct list of all leases pursuant to which the Company leases any Real Property in the conduct of the Contributed Business (the “Scheduled Leases”).  The Scheduled Leases listed on Section 3.7(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, other than those Scheduled Leases that have been denoted as an Excluded Contract, are referred to in this Agreement individually as an “Assigned Lease” and collectively as the “Assigned Leases.”  The Real Property leased pursuant to the Scheduled Leases constitutes all of the Real Property that has been used or occupied in connection with the ownership of the Contributed Business since December 31, 2012.

 

(c)           Before the Closing, to the extent USAC receives an ESA Report identifying, for any Real Property leased pursuant to an Assigned Lease denoted with a double asterisk (**) on Section 3.7(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter (“Leased Property”), (i) any Liability under any Environmental Law applicable to, or reasonably likely to be incurred with respect to such Leased Property, or (ii) the need for investigative or remedial action with respect to such Leased Property, USAC shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to require the S&R Parties to amend Section 3.7(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter prior to Closing in order to denote the Assigned Lease for such Leased Property as an Excluded Contract.

 

3.8          Personal Property; Contributed Assets.

 

(a)           Section 3.8(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists all of the equipment (including all compression units), tools, machinery, parts, products, materials, supplies, cars, trucks, trailers and other rolling stock and each other item of tangible personal property used or owned by the Company for the Company’s operation of the Contributed Business.  Such scheduled assets, together with the Contributed Interests, Inventory, the Company Intellectual Property (including the software licenses listed in Section 3.8(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter), all Books and Records, the Scheduled Permits, the Assigned Contracts, the Assigned Leases, all Accounts Receivable, cash and cash equivalents, and any other assets of the Contributed Business that would be set forth on a balance sheet of the Contributed Business prepared as of immediately prior to the Closing and all of the Company’s right, title and interest in and to all of the Company’s other property and assets, real, personal or mixed, tangible and intangible, of every kind and description, wherever located, belonging to the Company and

 

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which relate to the Contributed Business are referred to in this Agreement as the “Contributed Assets”; provided, however, that Contributed Assets shall not include (i) qualifications to conduct business as a foreign limited liability company, arrangements with registered agents relating to foreign qualifications, taxpayer and other identification numbers, seals, minute books, membership interest transfer books, and other documents, in each case solely relating to the organization, maintenance, and existence of the Company as a limited liability company, (ii) any of the rights of the Company under this Agreement or any Transaction Document, (iii) the Excluded Assets, (iv) Accounts Receivable existing on the Effective Date, or (v) accounts and notes payable from account, note and other creditors of the Company attributable to the Contributed Business existing on the Effective Date.  The Company has good title to, or valid leasehold or license interests in, all of the Contributed Assets free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens.

 

(b)           Upon the consummation of the Transaction, USAC will have good title to, or valid leasehold or license interests in, all of the Contributed Assets free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted Liens described in clause (b) of the definition thereof.  Except for the Transaction, no Contributed Asset is subject to any purchase option in favor of a third party.

 

(c)           Each of the compression units included in the Contributed Assets (all of which are listed on Section 3.8(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter) are in good working order and repair (taking their age and ordinary wear and tear into account) and have been operated and maintained in the Ordinary Course of Business of the Company.  The Company has not deferred maintenance of any such compression unit in contemplation of the Transaction.  Each other item of the Contributed Assets and the Real Property leased pursuant to the Assigned Leases remain in suitable and adequate condition for use consistent with their primary use in the Ordinary Course of Business of the Company.

 

(d)           The Contributed Assets shall include all rights, claims, credits, causes of action and rights of set-off of the Company, to the extent relating to the Contributed Business, whether choate or inchoate, known or unknown or contingent or non-contingent, including all claims pursuant to guarantees, representations, warranties (express or implied), indemnities and similar rights made by suppliers, manufacturers, contractors and other third parties in favor of the Company in respect of any Contributed Asset.

 

3.9          PermitsSection 3.9 of the Company Disclosure Letter lists all material Permits used or held by the Company in connection with the operation of the Contributed Business and the Contributed Assets (the “Scheduled Permits”).  The Scheduled Permits constitute all Permits necessary for the continued ownership, use and operation of the Contributed Business and the Contributed Assets as currently conducted.  All of the Scheduled Permits are valid, binding and in full force and effect and the Company is not in default, and no condition exists that with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a default, under any of the Scheduled Permits.  The Company has taken all necessary action to maintain each Scheduled Permit.  No loss of any Scheduled Permit is pending, or, to the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, threatened (other than expiration upon the end of any term).

 

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3.10        Contracts.

 

(a)           Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list, as of the Effective Date, of each Material Contract, but excluding all purchase orders, invoices and obligations that constitute Material Contracts but are included in the Company’s accounts payable.  The Company shall, prior to the Closing, amend Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter to account for additional Material Contracts entered into between the Effective Date and the Closing to the extent permitted in accordance with the other provisions of this Agreement.  The Material Contracts listed on Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter, other than those Material Contracts that have been denoted as an Excluded Contract, are referred to in this Agreement individually as an “Assigned Contract” and collectively as “Assigned Contracts.”

 

(b)           To the extent permissible by Law, true and complete copies (including all amendments) of each Material Contract have been provided to USAC.

 

(c)           Each Material Contract is the legal, valid obligation of the Company, and to the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, any other Person party thereto, binding and enforceable against the Company and, to the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, any other Person party thereto, in accordance with its terms in all respects, subject to Creditors’ Rights.

 

(d)           Each Material Contract is in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor, to the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, any other Person party thereto is in breach or default thereunder, and to the Knowledge of the S&R Parties no event has occurred that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a material breach or default, or permit termination, modification in any manner adverse to the Company or acceleration thereunder.  The Company has not received any written notice from, or made a written claim against, any party to any Material Contract with respect to any breach or default thereunder.  No party thereto has asserted or has (except by operation of Law) any right to offset, discount or otherwise abate any amount owing under the Material Contract, except as expressly set forth in such Contract.

 

3.11        Brokers’ Fees.  Neither the S&R Parties nor any of their Affiliates have any Liability or obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or agent with respect to the Transaction for which USAC or any of their Affiliates will become liable or obligated.

 

3.12        Financial Statements; Intercompany Payables.

 

(a)           Attached as Section 3.12 of the Company Disclosure Letter are copies of (i) the audited balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2012 and the related audited statements of income and cash flows for the year then ended (collectively, the “Annual Financial Statements”), and (ii) an unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of June 30, 2013 (the “Interim Balance Sheet) and the related unaudited statement of income for the month then ended (together with the Interim Balance Sheet, the “Interim Financial Statements”).  The Annual Financial Statements and the Interim Financial Statements are referred to collectively as the “Financial Statements.”  The Annual Financial Statements (including any related notes thereto) (x) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise noted therein, (y) fairly present, in all material

 

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respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company, as of the respective dates thereof and for the respective periods covered thereby, and (z) have been prepared from, and are in accordance with, the Books and Records of the Company.  The Interim Financial Statements (including any related notes thereto) (x) have been prepared on a tax basis, consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise noted therein, (y) fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company, as of the date thereof and for the period covered thereby, and (z) have been prepared from, and are in accordance with, the Books and Records of the Company.

 

(b)           The Company has caused all intercompany payables, receivables and loans between the Company and any of its Affiliates to be paid such that there shall be no such intercompany payables, receivables or loans in existence as of the Closing.

 

3.13        No Undisclosed Liabilities.  The Contributed Business and the Contributed Assets do not have any Liability (and there is no basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand against the Contributed Business giving rise to any Liability), other than liabilities set forth on the face of the Interim Balance Sheets, and which have arisen in the Ordinary Course of Business of the Company since the date of the Interim Balance Sheets (none of which results from, arises out of, relates to, is in the nature of, or was caused by any breach of Contract, breach of warranty, tort, infringement, or violation of Laws) and all of which are set forth in Section 3.13 of the Company Disclosure Letter.

 

3.14        Legal Compliance.  With respect to the Contributed Business, the Company has been and is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws and the terms of all Scheduled Permits.

 

3.15        Taxes.  (a) All material Tax Returns required to have been filed by the Contributed Entities have been duly and timely filed with the appropriate Governmental Authority (taking into account any extension of time to file granted or obtained) and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects, (b) all material Taxes owed by the Contributed Entities or any combined, consolidated or unitary group in which either Contributed Entity is a member, have been paid in full, other than Taxes which are being contested in good faith, (c) all material Tax withholding and deposit requirements imposed on each of the Contributed Entities have been satisfied in full in all material respects, (d) there are no Liens with respect to Taxes upon the assets of the Contributed Entities, other than liens for Taxes not yet due and payable, (e) neither of the Contributed Entities has in force any waiver of any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency, (f) there are no pending or active audits or legal proceedings involving Tax matters or, to the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, threatened audits or proposed deficiencies or other claims for unpaid Taxes of Contributed Entities, in each case except as would not be material, (g) no claim has been made to either Contributed Entity by a Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction in which such Contributed Entity does not currently file a Tax Return that such Contributed Entity is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction and (h) each of the Contributed Entities is currently classified, and has been classified since its formation, as an entity that is disregarded for U.S. federal and applicable state income Tax purposes and has not made any filing with any Governmental Authority, including Form 8832 with the IRS, to be

 

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treated as an association taxable as a corporation for income Tax purposes.  For purposes of this Section 3.15, references to the Contributed Entities shall be deemed to include the Company, all members of any affiliated, combined, consolidated, unitary or similar group with respect to any Taxes of which the Company or any of the Contributed Entities is or was a member and any predecessors of any of the foregoing, in each case as a result of the Contributed Entities’ relationship with S&R.

 

3.16        Litigation.  There are no actions, suits, proceedings or Claims pending or, to the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, threatened at Law or in equity, or before or by any Governmental Authority or before any arbitrator of any kind, against the Company or that would affect the Contributed Business or the Contributed Assets, the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or the consummation of the Transaction.  The Company is not a party to, and none of the Company, the Contributed Business or the Contributed Assets is subject to or bound by, any Order which would affect the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or the consummation of the Transaction.

 

3.17        Customers, Vendors and Suppliers.  To the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, there is no present intent of any customer, vendor or supplier of the Contributed Business to discontinue or substantially alter its relationship as such with the Contributed Business or USAC upon consummation of the Transaction.

 

3.18        Employees; Employee Relations.

 

(a)           Neither the Company nor its Affiliates nor the Contributed Business nor the Contributed Assets are or ever have been a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a labor organization or representative of employees, and no such agreement is being negotiated or is applicable to any Business Employee, nor has the Company or any of its Affiliates agreed to recognize any union or other collective bargaining representative, nor has any union or collective bargaining representative been certified as a representative of any Business Employee.  Neither the Company nor its Affiliates nor the Contributed Business nor the Contributed Assets have experienced any strikes, grievances, claims of unfair labor practices, or other labor disputes with respect to any Business Employee.  Neither the Company nor its Affiliates has committed any unfair labor practice with respect to any Business Employee.  To the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, no organizational efforts are presently being made or threatened by or on behalf of any labor union with respect to any Business Employee.

 

(b)           No legal proceedings, charges, complaints, grievances, Claims or similar actions have been commenced with respect to present or former Business Employees under any federal, state or local Laws affecting the employment relationship, and, to the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, no proceedings, charges, complaints or Claims are threatened under any such laws or regulations and no facts or circumstances exist which would give rise to any such proceedings, charges, complaints, or Claims.  Neither the Company nor its Affiliates are subject to any settlement or consent decree with any present or former Business Employee, employee representative or any Governmental Authority relating to claims of discrimination or other claims in respect to employment practices and policies.  No Governmental Authority has issued

 

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an Order with respect to the labor and employment practices (including practices relating to discrimination) of the Company with respect to present or former Business Employees.  Neither the Company nor its Affiliates are a party to any Contract with the United States federal government and the Company is not a subcontractor to any contractor with the United States federal government.

 

(c)           Section 3.18(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list, as of the date(s) set forth therein, of all employees of the Contributed Business (the “Business Employees”).  Such list accurately reflects the identity of each individual who provides services with respect to the Contributed Business or Contributed Assets.  Section 3.18(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter shows each Business Employee’s name, employing entity, job title, status as exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA, original hire date, service date, bonus and other compensation paid or payable for calendar year 2013 (up to and including the Closing Date), current base salary or base wages and all other forms of compensation for which such Business Employee is eligible and details of any visa.  All Business Employees are lawfully authorized to work in the United States according to United States immigration Laws.  No changes in base salary, base wages or other compensation for Business Employees have been made, promised or authorized since December 31, 2012.  As of the date of this Agreement, no Business Employee is on a leave of absence, is receiving disability benefits, or is in an elimination or other waiting period with respect to his or her receipt of disability benefits.  There are no loans or other obligations payable or owing by any S&R Party or any of their Affiliates to any Business Employee, except salaries, wages and reimbursement of expenses incurred and accrued in the Ordinary Course of Business of the Company in the pay period immediately preceding the date hereof, nor are any loans or Debts payable or owing by any such individuals to the Company, nor has the Company guaranteed any of such individual’s respective loans or obligations.  For the avoidance of doubt, each of the S&R Parties hereby acknowledges and agrees that all compensation and benefits relating to the period prior to the Closing Date are obligations of the Company and are not, and shall not be, assumed by USAC and that all wages, benefits and compensation owed to the Business Employees and all former employees have been paid or will be paid in full as of the Closing Date.  There are no Contracts of employment with any of the Business Employees.  The Company is not a party to any agreements or arrangements that will require USAC or any of its Affiliates to hire any Business Employee or that would restrict USAC or its Affiliates’ decisions concerning the employment of the Business Employees.

 

3.19        Employee Benefit Matters.

 

(a)           Section 3.19(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter includes a true and complete list (or, in the case of any unwritten arrangement, description) of each of the following (collectively referred to as the “Plans,” and individually referred to as a “Plan”) which is sponsored, maintained or contributed to or by the Company for the benefit of any of the Business Employees or other service provider to the Company (or their beneficiaries), or has been so sponsored, maintained or contributed to within six years prior to the Closing Date:

 

(i)            each “employee benefit plan,” as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA (including (A) employee benefit plans, such as foreign plans, which are not subject to the provisions of ERISA, (B) pension plans providing retirement

 

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income or resulting in a deferral of income for periods extending to the termination of employment or beyond, or (C) welfare plans providing benefits for medical, surgical, hospital care, sickness, accident, disability, death, unemployment, vacation, apprenticeship or other training programs, day care, scholarship funds, prepaid legal services, holiday, severance or similar benefits); and

 

(ii)           each personnel policy, stock option or other equity-based plan, collective bargaining agreement, bonus plan or arrangement, incentive award plan or arrangement, vacation policy, paid time off policy, fringe benefit policy, severance pay plan, policy or agreement, deferred compensation agreement or arrangement, executive compensation or supplemental income arrangement, change in control agreement, retention agreement, consulting agreement, employment agreement and each other employee benefit plan, agreement, arrangement, program, practice or understanding (including any unwritten policies or practices) which is not described in Section 3.19(a)(i).

 

(b)           The Company does not contribute to and has no obligation to contribute to, and has not at any time within six years prior to the Closing Date contributed to or had an obligation to contribute to, nor is any Plan (i) a Multiemployer Plan or (ii) a plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.

 

(c)           There does not now exist, nor do any circumstances exist that could result in, any “controlled group liability” of the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates that would be, or could become, a Liability of USAC or any of its Affiliates as of or following the Closing Date.  For these purposes, a “controlled group” generally includes all corporations, trades or businesses under common control (i.e., two or more organizations either (i) connected through ownership of an 80% controlling Interest with a common parent organization if an 80% controlling Interest in each of the organizations (other than the common parent) is owned, directly or indirectly, by one or more other organizations and the common parent owns, directly or indirectly, an 80% controlling Interest in at least one of the other organizations, excluding in computing such controlling interest any direct ownership interest by such other organizations, or (ii) if the same five or fewer Persons own, directly or indirectly, an 80% controlling Interest in each organization and, taking into account the ownership of each such Person only to the extent such ownership is identical with respect to each such organization, such Persons own more than 50% of the interests in each organization) or any affiliated service group within the meaning of Section 414(m) of the Code.  As used herein, the term “controlled group liability” means any and all liabilities (v) under Title IV of ERISA, (w) under section 302 of ERISA, (x) under Sections 412 and 4971 of the Code, (y) as a result of the failure to comply with the continuation of coverage requirements of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”) as set forth in Section 601 et seq. of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code, and (z) under corresponding or similar provisions of any foreign Law.

 

3.20        Environmental Matters.

 

(a)           Compliance.  The Company and its operations, the Contributed Assets and the Contributed Business are, and within the relevant time periods specified under all applicable

 

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statutes of limitation have been, in compliance in all material respects with all Environmental Laws.

 

(b)           Permits.  All Environmental Permits required under Environmental Laws in connection with the Contributed Assets and the Contributed Business, and the operations of the Company have been obtained and are currently in full force and effect and, to the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, there are no material violations of such Environmental Permits, conditions or circumstances under which any such existing Environmental Permit could be revoked or any pending application for any new Environmental Permit or renewal of any existing Environmental Permit that could reasonably be expected to be protested or denied.

 

(c)           No Environmental Claims.  The Contributed Assets and the Contributed Business, and the operations of the Company are not subject to any pending or, to the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, threatened Environmental Claims, nor has the Company received any notice of violation, noncompliance, or enforcement from any Governmental Authority or any notice of investigation, inquiry, or remediation from any Person pursuant to Environmental Laws.

 

(d)           No Liabilities for On-Site Releases.  There has been no Release or, to the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, threatened Release, of Hazardous Materials on, at, under, from or in connection with the Contributed Assets or the Contributed Business or the operations of the Company with respect to each of the foregoing in material violation of Environmental Laws or in a manner that could give rise to any material Liability under Environmental Laws, and there are no investigations, remediations, abatements, removals, or monitorings of Hazardous Materials required under any Environmental Laws, or to the Knowledge of the S&R Parties and facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to result in any such actions, with respect to the Contributed Assets or the Contributed Business.

 

(e)           No Liabilities for Offsite Releases.  No S&R Party has received any notice asserting an alleged Liability or obligation under any applicable Environmental Laws with respect to any Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials in connection with the Contributed Assets or the Contributed Business or the operations of the Company with respect to each of the foregoing and, to the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, there are no conditions or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to result in the receipt of such notice.

 

(f)            No Exposure to Hazardous Materials.  To the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, there has been no exposure of any Person or property to any Hazardous Materials as a result of or in connection with the Contributed Assets or the Contributed Business or the operations of Company with respect to the foregoing that could form the basis for a material Environmental Claim or any other material claim for Damages or compensation.

 

(g)           No Assumption of Environmental Liabilities.  The Company has not assumed by Contract or operation of law any material Liabilities under any Environmental Law regarding any Hazardous Materials.

 

(h)           All Environmental Documents made Available.  The Company has made available to USAC complete and correct copies of all environmental site assessment reports,

 

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studies, audits, analyses, and correspondence for the preceding two years on environmental matters that are in the Company’s possession or control and relating to itself or ownership or operation of the Contributed Assets and the Contributed Business.

 

(i)            Compliance with Assigned Lease Terms and Conditions.  The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the terms and conditions of all provisions relating to environmental protection or human health or safety (to the extent such human health or safety relate to exposure to Hazardous Materials) contained in the Assigned Leases, including those provisions restricting the possession, use, maintenance, storage, distribution, transport, disposal, handling or other management of substances constituting Hazardous Materials by the Company in its role as tenant or lessee on the real property leased pursuant to the Assigned Leases, and, to the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, there are no conditions or circumstances relating to the Company’s operations on the real property leased pursuant to the Assigned Leases that could reasonably be expected to result in the receipt of any notice alleging a Liability or obligation of the Company under any of the Assigned Leases for such failure to comply with such terms and conditions.

 

3.21        Books and Records.  All Books and Records relating to the ownership and operation of the Contributed Business and the Contributed Assets are or will be by the Closing Date located at the Company’s premises, have been maintained substantially in accordance with applicable Laws, and comprise all of the Books and Records necessary for the ownership and operation of the Contributed Business and the Contributed Assets.

 

3.22        Assets Necessary to the Contributed Business.  At and following the Closing, the Contributed Assets (a) will constitute all of the assets necessary or required to permit USAC to carry on the Contributed Business, directly or indirectly, in substantially the same manner as presently conducted and as conducted since December 31, 2012 and (b) constitute all of the assets of the Company used in the Contributed Business presently and as conducted since December 31, 2012.

 

3.23        Inventory.  Section 3.23 of the Company Disclosure Letter lists all of the inventory owned by the Company with respect to the Contributed Business as of the date of this Agreement (the “Inventory”).  The Company owns the Inventory free and clear of all Liens.  None of the Inventory is covered by any financing statements.  The Inventory was acquired for sale or use in the Ordinary Course of Business of the Company and is in good and saleable or useable condition and is not obsolete, slow moving or damaged, subject only to the reasonable reserve for inventory writedown set forth on the face of the Interim Balance Sheets (rather than in any notes thereto) as adjusted for operations and transactions in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Company.  The Inventory is located at the locations as noted on Section 3.23 of the Company Disclosure Letter, and none of the Inventory is subject to any consignment, bailment, warehousing or similar arrangement.

 

3.24        Intellectual Property.

 

(a)           Section 3.24(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth an accurate and complete list of all patents, patent applications, registered copyrights, copyright applications, registered trademarks, trademark applications and registered domain names owned or filed by

 

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(i) the Company or (ii) any of the other S&R Parties and related to the Contributed Business (the “Registered Intellectual Property”).  The Company is the sole and exclusive owner of all right, title and interest in and to the Registered Intellectual Property free and clear of all Liens.  The Registered Intellectual Property and all other Intellectual Property owned or used in the conduct of the Contributed Business comprise the “Company Intellectual Property”.  To the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, the Company Intellectual Property is valid, subsisting, and enforceable.  The Company has ownership of, or valid licenses to use, all of the Company Intellectual Property, free and clear of all Liens.

 

(b)           Neither the Company nor any other S&R Party has been a party to any judicial or administrative proceeding alleging any infringement or misappropriation of any item of Company Intellectual Property or challenging the validity or ownership of any item of Company Intellectual Property, whether owned by the Company or any other Person.  The conduct of the Contributed Business does not infringe or misappropriate any Intellectual Property of third Persons.  To the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, there has been no infringement or misappropriation (or facts that are reasonably likely to give rise to infringement or misappropriation) by any other Person of any of the Company Intellectual Property owned or exclusively licensed to any S&R Party.

 

(c)           No current or former partner, director, officer, or employee of any S&R Party will, after giving effect to the Transaction, own or retain any ownership rights in or to, or have the right to receive any royalty or other payment with respect to, any of the Company Intellectual Property.

 

(d)           The Company has taken adequate measures to protect, preserve, and maintain the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all the Trade Secrets owned or used by the Company.

 

3.25        Accounts Receivable.  Each of the Accounts Receivable arose in the Ordinary Course of Business of the Company and represents the genuine, valid and legally enforceable indebtedness of the account debtor (subject only to Creditors’ Rights) and no contra account, set-off, defense, counterclaim, allowance or adjustment (other than discounts for prompt payment shown on the invoice) has been asserted or, to the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, is threatened by any of the account debtors of such Accounts Receivable.  To the Knowledge of the S&R Parties, none of the account debtors of the Accounts Receivable is involved in a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or is generally unable to pay its Debts as they become due.  The Company has good and valid title to the Accounts Receivable free and clear of all Liens.  Set forth on Section 3.25 of the Company Disclosure Letter is a listing of aged Accounts Receivable as of a date no more than seven days prior to the date of this Agreement.  The Company shall update such section of the Company Disclosure Letter prior to Closing to list all aged Accounts Receivable as of a date no more than three days prior to the Closing Date.

 

3.26        Accredited Investor; Investment Intent.  The investment decision with respect to entering into this Agreement and the acquisition of Common Units has been made solely by the Company.  Although the Company intends to distribute the Common Units at Closing to certain members and beneficial owners of the Company, as contemplated by Section 2.3, none of such Persons has participated in the foregoing investment decision.  The Company is a

 

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knowledgeable investor and acknowledges that it has received or had access to all information concerning USAC that it required to make such investment decision and has had the ability to evaluate (and in fact has evaluated) such information.  In making the decision to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions, except for the representations and warranties of USAC in Article IV, the Company has relied on its own independent due diligence investigation of USAC and has been advised by and has relied solely on its own expertise and professional counsel concerning this transaction, the Common Units to be acquired pursuant to this Agreement and the value thereof.  Each of the Company and any Persons to whom the Company intends to distribute the Common Units as contemplated by Section 2.3 is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act and is acquiring the Common Units for its own account and not with the intent to make a distribution within the meaning of the Securities Act or a distribution thereof in violation of any other applicable securities laws.  Each of the Company and such Persons will hold the Common Units for its own account for investment and not with a view to, or for sale or other disposition in connection with, any distribution of all or any part thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act, except in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.  Each of the Company and such Persons have reviewed and are familiar with the Organizational Documents of USAC and the USAC SEC Reports.

 

ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF USAC

 

USAC represents and warrants to the S&R Parties that, except as (a) disclosed in any USAC SEC Report or (b) as modified and set forth in the disclosure letter delivered by USAC to the Company at or prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “USAC Disclosure Letter”), the following statements are all true, correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing.  USAC acknowledges that the S&R Parties are relying on the following representations and warranties in entering into this Agreement.

 

4.1          Organization.  USAC is a limited partnership organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware.  USAC is duly qualified or registered and in good standing as a foreign limited partnership to transact business under the Laws of each jurisdiction where the character of its activities or the location of the properties owned or leased by it requires such qualification or registration.

 

4.2          Power.  USAC has all requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted, and to deliver the consideration as set forth in Section 2.3.

 

4.3          Authority; Enforceability.  USAC has all requisite corporate or limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents to which USAC is a party and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and to consummate the Transaction.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which USAC is a party and the performance of its obligations contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all action, corporate or otherwise, necessary on behalf of USAC.  This Agreement and each of the Transaction Documents to which USAC is a party has been duly executed and delivered by USAC, and

 

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(assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other Parties thereto) constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of USAC, enforceable against USAC in accordance with their respective terms, subject to Creditors’ Rights.

 

4.4          Absence of Conflicts.  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which USAC is a party, nor the performance of the obligations of USAC hereby and thereby, nor the consummation of the Transaction will (a) violate or breach the terms of, cause a default under, conflict with, result in the loss by USAC of any rights or benefits under, impose on USAC any additional or greater burdens or obligations under, create in any party additional or greater rights or benefits under, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, suspend, revoke, modify or cancel, require any notice, filing or consent or give rise to any preferential purchase or similar right under (i) any Law applicable to USAC or any of its assets or properties, (ii) the Organizational Documents of USAC, or (iii) any material contract to which USAC is a party or by which it, or any of its properties, is bound, (b) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on USAC’s assets or properties, (c) result in the cancellation, forfeiture, revocation, suspension or adverse modification of any existing consent, approval, authorization, license, Permit, certificate or Order of any Governmental Authority or (d) with the passage of time or the giving of notice or the taking of any action of any third party have any of the effects set forth in clause (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 4.4.

 

4.5          Capitalization.  As of the Effective Date (a) USAC had issued and outstanding 15,334,813 Common Units, 14,048,588 subordinated units and the incentive distribution rights, and (b) USA Compression GP, LLC, the general partner of USAC, owned 2% general partner interest in USAC.

 

4.6          Valid Issuance.  At the Closing, the New Common Units will be duly authorized in accordance with the Organizational Documents of USAC and, when issued and delivered to the Company or the Holders pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, will be validly issued and fully paid (to the extent required under the Organizational Documents of USAC) 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).  Based in part on the representations made by the Company of this Agreement and the representations of the Holders to be included in the information required by Section 2.6(a)(vii), the New Common Units (assuming no change in applicable Law or the Organizational Documents of USAC and no unlawful distribution of the New Common Units) are exempt from the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

 

4.7          SEC Reports; Financial Statements.

 

(a)           USAC has filed and made available to the Company all periodic reports, current reports and registration statements required to be filed by USAC with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), since January 14, 2013.  All such required periodic reports, current reports, registration statements and proxy statements are referred to herein as the “USAC SEC Reports.”  USAC SEC Reports (i) were filed on a timely basis, (ii) were prepared in all material respects in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder and (iii) did not, at the time they were filed (except to the extent corrected by a

 

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subsequently filed USAC SEC Report), contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(b)           Each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, any related notes and schedules) contained in USAC SEC Reports (i) complied as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (ii) were prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as may be indicated in the notes to such financial statements or, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by the SEC on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act), and (iii) fairly presented in all material respects the consolidated financial position of USAC and its subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of its operations and cash flows for the periods indicated, consistent with the books and records of USAC and its subsidiaries, except that the unaudited interim financial statements were subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments that were not material.

 

4.8          Taxes.  (a) All material Tax Returns required to have been filed by USAC have been duly and timely filed with the appropriate Governmental Authority (taking into account any extension of time to file granted or obtained) and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects, (b) all material Taxes owed by USAC or any combined, consolidated or unitary group in which USAC is a member, have been paid in full, other than Taxes which are being contested in good faith, (c) all material Tax withholding and deposit requirements imposed on USAC have been satisfied in full in all material respects, (d) there are no Liens with respect to Taxes upon the assets of USAC other than liens for Taxes not yet due and payable, (e) USAC does not have in force any waiver of any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency, (f) there are no pending or active audits or legal proceedings involving Tax matters or, to the Knowledge of USAC, threatened audits or proposed deficiencies or other claims for unpaid Taxes of USAC, in each case except as would not be material, (g) no claim has been made to USAC by a Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction in which USAC does not currently file a Tax Return that USAC is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction, and (h) USAC expects to meet the gross income requirement set forth in Section 7704(c)(2) of the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2013.  For purposes of this Section 4.8, all references to USAC include USAC and its subsidiaries.

 

4.9          Brokers’ Fees.  Neither USAC nor any of its Affiliates have any Liability or obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or agent with respect to the Transaction for which the S&R Parties or any of their Affiliates could become liable or obligated.

 

4.10        Absence of Changes.  Since December 31, 2012:

 

(a)           there has not been any USAC Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b)           the business of USAC has been materially operated, and the assets of USAC have been materially maintained, in the Ordinary Course of Business of USAC;

 

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(c)           there has not been any acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets or properties or the securities or business of any other Person by USAC or any merger or consolidation of USAC with any other Person;

 

(d)           there has not been any sale, assignment, lease or transfer of any material assets of USAC, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business of USAC;

 

(e)           there has not been any material change in the financial or accounting practices or policies of USAC;

 

(f)            there has not been any actual or, to the Knowledge of USAC, threatened material adverse change in the relationship of USAC with any material customer, supplier, distributor or sales representative of the business of USAC;

 

(g)           there has not been any material increase in the compensation or benefits of any employee or other Person who provides services to the business of USAC; and

 

(h)           there is no Contract to do any of the foregoing, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE V
COVENANTS

 

5.1          Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation.

 

(a)           (i)            Each S&R Party, in order to induce USAC to enter into this Agreement and in conjunction with the sale of goodwill herein, expressly covenants and agrees that during the Prohibited Period (as defined below), each S&R Party will not, and will cause their respective Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, control or participate in, rent equipment or provide compression services to, any business, individual, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity, which wholly or in any significant part, engages in the Business in the Territory (a “Competing Business”), other than USAC or an Affiliate of USAC.  For purposes of this Section 5.1, any such business, individual, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity shall be deemed to be engaged in significant part in the Business if more than 10% of its unconsolidated gross revenues in any 12-month period during the Prohibited Period are attributable to operations that compete with the Contributed Business; provided, however, that a Business of an S&R Party or its Affiliates shall not be considered a Competing Business solely because such Business provides compression services (but not the leasing or rental of compression units) if the provision of such compression services is (A) incidental to and is not the primary objective or purpose of, such Business and (B) at least in part for the account of such S&R Party or an Affiliate of such S&R Party.  “Business” shall refer to the business of leasing or renting compression units, or otherwise providing compression services, to third parties engaged in the exploration, production, gathering, procession, transportation or distribution of oil and gas, including, engaging in the Contributed Business.  “Prohibited Period” shall mean four years from and after the Closing Date.  Furthermore, for so long as the Holders or their Affiliates, transferees or assignees own at

 

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least 10% of USAC’s outstanding total of Common Units and subordinated units, the S&R Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, abide by the terms described in this Section 5.1(a) and Section 5.1(a)(ii).

 

(ii)           Notwithstanding the restrictions contained in Section 5.1(a), any S&R Party or any of their respective Affiliates may (A) own an aggregate of not more than 2% of the outstanding Interests of an entity engaged in the Business, if such Interests are listed on a national securities exchange or regularly traded in the over-the-counter market by a member of a national securities exchange, without violating the provisions of Section 5.1(a), provided, that no S&R Party or any of their respective Affiliates have the power, directly or indirectly, to control or direct the management or affairs of any such entity and are not involved in the management of such entity and (B) engage in the following activities:  (1) the business of manufacturing, selling, leasing, renting or providing warranty, maintenance and repair services to any Party with respect to any vapor recovery units and pre-coolers, (2) the business of leasing, renting or providing any related warranty, maintenance and repair services to any Party with respect to any equipment currently comprising the S&R Equipment Fleet, it being acknowledged and agreed by the Parties that replacement of any failed equipment currently comprising the S&R Equipment Fleet with currently existing equipment constituting Excluded Assets shall be considered warranty, maintenance and repair services for the purpose of this subsection, (3) the Company’s business of manufacturing, fabricating, selling or providing any related warranty and repair services with respect to compression units fabricated by the Company, (4) the business of selling, leasing, renting or providing related warranty, maintenance and repair services to any Party with respect to compression units currently owned by Kaiser-Francis Mid-Continent Rental Company, L.L.C., and (5) any business that is not a Competing Business.

 

(iii)          Each S&R Party further expressly covenants and agrees that during the Prohibited Period it will not directly (A) engage or employ, or solicit or contact with a view to the engagement or employment of any Person who is an officer or employee of USAC or any of its Affiliates (including any Continuing Employee); or (B) canvass, solicit, approach or entice away or cause to be canvassed, solicited, approached or enticed away from the Business any Person who or which is a customer of USAC or any of its Affiliates (including customers with respect to the Contributed Business or Contributed Assets); provided, however, (x) after the first two years of the Prohibited Period, an S&R Party may employ any non-management personnel who respond to a general solicitation not directed to such personnel and (y) the prohibition of (B) shall not restrict the ability of an S&R Party (subject to the other restrictions set forth in this Section 5.1) to market, sell or solicit orders for the purchase of compression units or any other item (but not to provide any compression services or related maintenance services unless such services relate to any of the activities allowed in Sections 5.1(a)(ii)-(ii)), regardless of whether the Person solicited may then be or have been a customer of USAC or any of its Affiliates, or to otherwise solicit a customer of the Contributed Business for a purpose other than a Competing Business.

 

(iv)          To the extent that any part of this Section 5.1 may be overbroad, invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason, it is intended that such part shall be

 

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enforceable to the fullest extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such part, if more limited in scope, would have been enforceable, and such part shall be deemed to have been so written and the remaining parts shall as written be effective and enforceable in all events.

 

(b)           USAC expressly covenants and agrees that commencing on the date of this Agreement for a period of four years (“USAC Prohibited Period”) it will not directly (i) engage or employ, or solicit or contact with a view to the engagement or employment of any Person (A) who is an officer or employee of the Company and who is not a Business Employee or (B) who is a Business Employee who does not become a Continuing Employee (collectively, “Non-Business Employee”); or (ii) canvass, approach or entice away or cause to be canvassed, approached or enticed away from the Company any Non-Business Employee; provided, however, after the first two years of the USAC Prohibited Period, USAC may employ any non-management personnel who respond to a general solicitation not directed to such personnel.

 

(c)           The S&R Parties and USAC agree and acknowledge that the limitations as to time, geographical area and scope of activity to be restrained as set forth in Section 5.1 are reasonable and do not impose any greater restraint than is necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of USAC or the S&R Parties, as the case may be.  The S&R Parties and USAC further agree and acknowledge that, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of this Section 5.1, the non-breaching Party shall be entitled to immediate injunctive relief, as any such breach would cause the non-breaching Party irreparable injury for which they would have no adequate remedy at Law.  Nothing herein shall be construed so as to prohibit the non-breaching Party from pursuing any other remedies available to them hereunder, at Law or in equity for any such breach or threatened breach.

 

(d)           The Parties hereby represent to each other that they have read and understand, and agree to be bound by, the terms of this Section 5.1.  The S&R Parties acknowledge that the geographic scope and duration of the covenants made by the S&R Parties contained in this Section 5.1 are the result of arm’s-length bargaining and are fair and reasonable in light of (i) the nature and wide geographic scope of the Company’s operations of the Business, which is conducted throughout the Territory, (ii) the S&R Parties’ level of control over and contact with the Business and its customers in all jurisdictions in which it is conducted, (iii) the fact that the S&R Parties are associated with the goodwill of the Company’s Business, and they are selling such goodwill hereunder, and (iv) the amount of consideration that the S&R Parties are receiving in connection with the Transaction.  USAC acknowledges that the duration of the covenants made by USAC contained in this Section 5.1 are the result of arm’s-length bargaining and are fair and reasonable.  It is the desire and intent of the Parties that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Laws, whether now or hereafter in effect and therefore, to the extent permitted by applicable Laws, the Parties waive any provision of applicable Laws that would render any provision of this Section 5.1 invalid or unenforceable.

 

5.2          Further Assurances.  Each Party will, at the request of any other Party, take such further actions as are requested and execute any additional documents, instruments or conveyances of any kind which may be reasonably necessary to further effect the Transaction, including any and all documents required to effectuate the transfer of title of all vehicles

 

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included in the Contributed Assets from the Company to USAC or its designee as soon as practicable after the Closing.

 

5.3          Regulatory Approvals.  USAC and the S&R Parties shall (a) comply, as promptly as is reasonably practicable, with any requests received by such Party or any of its Affiliates under the HSR Act and any other Laws for additional information, documents or other materials, where required in connection with the Original Filing or otherwise, (b) cooperate with the other Parties and furnish all information in such Parties’ possession that is necessary in connection with such other Parties’ filings, (c) use reasonable efforts to cause the expiration or termination of the notice or waiting periods under the HSR Act and, if applicable, any other Antitrust Laws with respect to the Transaction as promptly as is reasonably practicable, (d) promptly inform the other Parties of (and, at the other Parties’ reasonable request, supply to such other Parties) any communication (or other correspondence or memoranda) from or to, and any proposed understanding or agreement with, any Governmental Authority in respect of such filings, (e) consult and cooperate with the other Parties in connection with any analyses, appearances, presentations, memoranda, briefs, arguments and opinions made or submitted by or on behalf of any Party in connection with all meetings, actions, discussions and proceedings with Governmental Authorities relating to such filings, including, subject to applicable Antitrust Law, permitting the other Parties to review in advance any proposed written communication between it and any Governmental Authority, (f) use reasonable efforts to resolve any objections asserted by any Governmental Authority with respect to the Transaction and (g) use reasonable efforts to contest and resist any action or proceeding instituted (or threatened in writing to be instituted) by any Governmental Authority challenging the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as in violation of any Law.  If a Party or any of its Affiliates intends to participate in any meeting or discussion with any Governmental Authority with respect to such filings or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, it shall give the other Parties reasonable prior notice of, and an opportunity to participate in, such meeting or discussion.

 

5.4          Access.  Subject to applicable Law, until the Closing, the S&R Parties will afford to USAC and its representatives (including accountants and counsel) reasonable access, in a manner so as not to unreasonably interfere with normal business operations, (a) to all properties, books, records, and Tax Returns of the Company and all other information with respect to the Contributed Business, together with the opportunity to make copies of such books, records and other documents and to discuss the business of the Company with such directors, officers and counsel for the S&R Parties as USAC may reasonably request for the purposes of familiarizing themselves with the Contributed Business, and (b) to all Real Property leased pursuant to an Assigned Lease to enable USAC to conduct an environmental site assessment on, and to cause an ESA Report to be prepared with respect to, all such Real Property.  In addition to the foregoing, until the Closing, the Company shall deliver to USAC, (a) as soon as practicable after the end of each quarterly accounting period of the Company following the date of this Agreement, and in any event within 30 days after the end of each such quarterly period, unaudited consolidated financial statements (consisting of a balance sheet, statement of operations and

 

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statement of cash flows) as of the end of each such quarterly period and (b) as soon as practicable after the end of each monthly accounting period (that is not also the end of a quarterly accounting period of the Company), and in any event within 30 days after the end of each such calendar month, unaudited consolidated financial statements (consisting of a balance sheet, statement of operations and statement of cash flows) as of the end of each such monthly accounting period, in each case prepared in accordance with GAAP, certified by the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company, subject to changes resulting from normal year end audit adjustments, which will not be material individually or in the aggregate, and except that such financial statements need not contain the notes required by GAAP.  Without limiting the foregoing, and except as otherwise provided in Section 5.13(d), for a period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, the S&R Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, provide USAC and its respective Affiliates with access to any and all Books and Records that are not required to be delivered to USAC at Closing pursuant to Section 2.6(a)(xii).

 

5.5          Notification of Certain Matters.  The S&R Parties will give prompt notice to USAC of (a) the occurrence, or failure to occur, of any event that has caused any representation or warranty of an S&R Party contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect and (b) the failure of an S&R Party to comply with or satisfy in any material respect any covenant to be complied with by it hereunder.  No such notification will affect the representations or warranties of the parties or the conditions to their respective obligations hereunder.

 

5.6          Intellectual Property; Books and Records.

 

(a)           The S&R Parties shall, at or prior to the Closing, ensure that the Company has taken commercially reasonable steps to cause documents to be properly filed with the applicable Governmental Authority, in form and substance sufficient to evidence in the records of such Governmental Authority a chain of title showing the Company’s sole and exclusive ownership of the Registered Intellectual Property free and clear of any Liens.  Prior to the Closing, the S&R Parties shall ensure that copies of all submittals to such Governmental Authority and copies of any receipts or confirmations acknowledging such filing are on the premises of the Company.

 

(b)           The S&R Parties shall reasonably cooperate with USAC to transfer any data related to the Contributed Business to databases of the Contributed Entities or their designees.

 

5.7          Operation of Contributed Business.

 

(a)           Prior to Closing, the S&R Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, operate and maintain the Contributed Business and the Contributed Assets (including maintaining the Permits and Assigned Contracts) in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with past practices.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the S&R Parties shall not, and shall cause their respective Affiliates not to, without the prior written consent of USAC (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), prior to Closing, with respect to the Contributed Business, Contributed Assets and Assumed Liabilities:

 

(i)            except in the Ordinary Course of Business, (A) sell, lease (as lessor), license (as licensor), transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the Contributed

 

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Assets, or (B) encumber, pledge, mortgage or suffer to be imposed on any of the Contributed Assets any Lien;

 

(ii)           except in the Ordinary Course of Business, (A) enter into any Contract that would constitute a Material Contract, or (B) grant any waiver of any material term under, or give any material consent with respect to, any Material Contract; provided, that nothing in this clause shall inhibit the ability of Seller to terminate, amend or modify Contracts as required by Law; and, provided, further, that prior to Closing, Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be amended to account for any Contract permitted under this Section 5.7(a)(ii);

 

(iii)          except in the Ordinary Course of Business, make any capital expenditures, that individually or in the aggregate exceed $20,000 per week (excluding the acquisition by the Contributed Business of compression units similar in description to compression units acquired in the past), except with respect to capital expenditures as may be necessitated by an emergency situation (in which case the Company shall promptly notify USAC of such expenditure);

 

(iv)          increase the level of wages, compensation or other benefits of any Business Employees (except for increases in salary or hourly wage rates in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with past practice or the payment of accrued or earned but unpaid bonuses);

 

(v)           terminate the employment of any Business Employee, except for cause, or hire any Business Employee, in each case other than as consistent with past practice;

 

(vi)          enter into any collective bargaining agreement with respect to any Business Employee or enter into any employment agreement, severance, retention, change in control, bonus agreement or other Contract with or with respect to a Business Employee;

 

(vii)         incur, assume, guaranty or otherwise become liable in respect of any Debt that could become an Assumed Liability;

 

(viii)        terminate, renew, amend, modify or replace any Permit, other than in the Ordinary Couse of Business and on terms and conditions that are not materially less favorable to any of the Contributed Assets than under the Permit being so renewed;

 

(ix)          institute or settle any Claim that could become an Assumed Liability;

 

(x)           make any distribution in respect of any equity interests in the Company that would cause the Company to have Negative Working Capital as of the Closing Date or that would otherwise impair the obligation of the Company to contribute the Net Cash to USAC at the Closing;

 

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(xi)          otherwise take any action that will impede in any way the permitting, operation or contemplated divestiture to USAC of the Contributed Assets; and

 

(xii)         agree or commit to do any of the foregoing.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may, to the extent required by applicable Law, and without USAC’s prior written consent, take any action otherwise prohibited by this Section 5.7; provided, that the Company shall promptly inform USAC upon taking any such action; provided, that USAC shall have no Liability under or with respect to any such agreement.

 

5.8          Operation of Business of USAC.

 

(a)           Prior to Closing, USAC shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to, operate and maintain its and their business and assets (including maintaining permits and material Contracts) in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with past practices in all material respects.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, USAC may, to the extent required by applicable Law, and without the S&R Parties’ prior written consent, take any action otherwise prohibited by this Section 5.8; provided, that USAC shall promptly inform the S&R Parties upon taking any such action.

 

5.9          Financial Statements.

 

(a)           The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to prepare, at the sole cost and expense of USAC, the annual and interim financial statements (the “Special Financial Statements”), that will be required of USAC by the SEC in connection with reports, registration statements and other filings to be made by USAC with respect to the Contributed Business and the Contributed Assets with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, in such form that such statements and the notes thereto can be audited (or reviewed in the case of interim financial statements and related footnotes) by HoganTaylor LLP, or such other independent accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.  The Company (a) shall cooperate with and permit USAC to reasonably participate in the preparation of the Special Financial Statements and (b) shall provide USAC and its representatives with reasonable access to the personnel of the Company who engage in the preparation of the Special Financial Statements.

 

(b)           Upon the request of USAC, the Company shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered to KPMG LLP and HoganTaylor LLP such representation letters, in form and substance customary for representation letters provided to external audit firms by management of the Company (if the financial statements are the subject of an audit or are the subject of a review pursuant to Statement of Accounting Standards 100 (Interim Financial Information)), as may be reasonably requested by KPMG LLP with respect to the Special Financial Statements.  USAC agrees that to the extent any such representation letter is delivered by the Company’s management, or on its behalf, USAC shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company’s management and provide a defense for the Company’s management with regard to

 

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the execution, delivery or any other action related to the provision of such representation letters to the same extent as any executive officer or director of USAC would be indemnified had they performed such action.

 

(c)           The Company shall engage HoganTaylor LLP to perform an audit and review of the Special Financial Statements and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause HoganTaylor LLP to issue unqualified opinions with respect to the Special Financial Statements (the Special Financial Statements and related audit opinions being hereinafter referred to as the “Audited Special Financial Statements”), at the sole cost and expense of USAC, and the Company and HoganTaylor LLP shall provide its written consent for the use of its audit reports with respect to the Special Financial Statements in reports, registration statements or other documents filed by USAC or any of its Affiliates under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as needed.  USAC shall reimburse the Company for all fees charged by HoganTaylor LLP with respect to the preparation and delivery by HoganTaylor LLP to USAC of the Audited Special Financial Statements and any other fees charged by HoganTaylor LLP to facilitate USAC’s ongoing compliance with SEC rules and regulations.

 

(d)           The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate the completion of an audit and review by HoganTaylor LLP and delivery of the Audited Special Financial Statements to USAC as soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than three Business Days prior to the Closing Date.  USAC shall reimburse the Company for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Company in complying with this Section 5.9.

 

(e)           Without limiting the foregoing, from and after the Closing the Company will, at the request of USAC, take such further actions as are reasonably requested by USAC, to assist USAC in the preparation of any Special Financial Statements that will be required of USAC by the SEC in connection with reports, registration statements and other filings to be made by USAC with respect to the Contributed Business and the Contributed Assets with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

 

5.10        Casualty.

 

(a)           If any Contributed Asset is damaged or destroyed by a casualty loss after the Effective Date and prior to the Closing (a “Casualty Loss”), and the cost of restoring such damaged or destroyed Contributed Asset to a condition reasonably comparable to its prior condition (such costs with respect to any Contributed Asset, the “Casualty Cost”) is less than or equal to $5,000,000, the Company shall elect, by written notice to USAC provided within two days of the applicable Casualty Loss, to either (i) increase the amount of Net Cash payable to USAC at Closing by the estimated Restoration Cost (as estimated by a qualified firm mutually selected by USAC and the Company promptly after the date of the event giving rise to the Casualty Loss) or (ii) restore such damaged or destroyed Contributed Asset at the Company’s expense to a condition reasonably comparable to its condition prior to such Casualty Loss.  If the aggregate Casualty Cost associated with all Casualty Losses is greater than $5,000,000, then USAC may elect to decrease the number of New Common Units issuable by USAC at Closing by an amount equal to (i) the absolute value of the difference between (A) the Restoration Cost and (B) $5,000,000 divided by (ii) the Execution Price.  The Company shall notify USAC in writing within two days of any Casualty Loss.

 

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(b)           If the Company elects to restore any damaged or destroyed Contributed Asset in accordance with clause (a) of the first sentence of Section 5.10(a), the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause such Contributed Asset to be restored prior to Closing or as soon as practicable thereafter; provided, that in all events the Company shall cause such Contributed Asset to be restored within 60 days of the Closing Date.  If such Contributed Asset is not restored prior to Closing, the Company shall pay to USAC (i) all amounts of cash and other consideration that would have otherwise been received by USAC from and after the Closing Date and through the date of restoration had such Contributed Asset been restored prior to Closing less (ii) the amount of all business interruption insurance proceeds actually received by USAC from and after the Closing Date and through the date of such restoration with respect to such Casualty Loss.  Any amounts payable by the Company to USAC pursuant to this Section 5.10(b) shall be in addition to amounts included in the calculation of Net Cash.

 

5.11        Discharge of Business Obligations After Closing.  From and after the Closing, (a) if USAC or a Contributed Entity receives or collects any funds arising from or relating to the Excluded Assets, USAC or the Contributed Entity, as applicable, shall remit such funds to the Company within five Business Days after its receipt thereof and (b) if an S&R Party or any of its Affiliates receives or collects any funds arising from or relating to the Contributed Assets or the Contributed Business, such S&R Party or its Affiliates, as applicable, shall remit such funds, to the extent arising from or relating to the Contributed Assets or the Contributed Business to USAC within five Business Days after its receipt thereof.

 

5.12        Termination of Certain Services and Contracts.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, at or prior to the Closing, the Company shall (a) terminate, effective at or prior to the Closing, any services provided to the Contributed Business by the Company or an Affiliate thereof, including the termination or severance of insurance policies with respect to coverage for the Contributed Business (subject to Section 5.14), Tax services, legal services and banking services, other than any such services provided pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement and (b) terminate or amend each Contract listed on Section 5.12 of the Company Disclosure Letter (collectively such services or Contracts, the “Terminated Contracts”) as described in such section.

 

5.13        Tax Matters.

 

(a)           Tax Returns; Payment of Taxes.

 

(i)            USAC shall prepare and file, or cause to be prepared and filed, all Tax Returns of the Contributed Entities for Pre-Closing Tax Periods that are due after the Closing Date and all Straddle Periods.  USAC shall provide the Company with copies of such Tax Returns at least 20 days prior to the due date for the filing of such Tax Returns (other than Tax Returns relating to sales, use, or payroll Taxes that are required to be filed contemporaneously with, or promptly after, the close of a Tax period) for the Company’s review and comment.  USAC shall consider such comments in good faith prior to the filing of any such Tax Returns.  USAC shall pay all Taxes reflected on any such Tax Returns; provided, however, that not later than five days prior to the due date for payment of Taxes with respect to such Tax Return, the Company shall pay USAC any S&R Party Tax Liability with respect to such Tax Return.

 

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(ii)           In the case of Taxes that are payable with respect to any Straddle Period, the portion of any such Taxes that is attributable to the portion of the period ending on the Closing Date shall be:

 

(A)          in the case of Taxes that are either (y) based upon or related to income or receipts, or (z) imposed in connection with any sale or other transfer or assignment of property (real or personal, tangible or intangible), deemed equal to the amount that would be payable if the Tax period of the Contributed Entities (and each partnership in which the Contributed Entities is a partner) ended with (and included) the Closing Date; provided, that exemptions, allowances or deductions that are calculated on an annual basis (including depreciation and amortization deductions) shall be allocated between the period ending on and including the Closing Date and the period beginning after the Closing Date in proportion to the number of days in each period; and

 

(B)          in the case of Taxes that are imposed on a periodic basis with respect to the assets or capital of the Contributed Entities, deemed to be the amount of such Taxes for the entire Straddle Period (or, in the case of such Taxes determined on an arrears basis, the amount of such Taxes for the immediately preceding period), multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of calendar days in the portion of the period ending on and including the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of calendar days in the entire period.

 

(b)           Franchise Tax.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any franchise Tax shall be allocated to the period during which the income, operations, assets or capital comprising the base of such Tax is measured, regardless of whether the right to do business for another period is obtained by the payment of such franchise Tax.

 

(c)           Transfer Taxes.  The Parties do not anticipate that any transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration, value added and other similar Taxes and fees (including any penalties and interest) (“Transfer Taxes”) will be incurred in connection with transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including any real property transfer tax and any similar Tax) as the transactions involve a sale of intangible assets.  In the event any such Transfer Taxes are due, the Company shall bear all such Transfer Taxes, except to the extent such Transfer Taxes are attributable to the Merger, in which case such Transfer Taxes will be borne by USAC.  USAC and the Company shall cooperate in good faith to minimize, to the extent permissible under applicable law, the amount of all such Transfer Taxes and fees.  USAC and the Company agree to cooperate in the preparation and filing of any Returns with respect to Transfer Taxes.  At USAC’s written request, the Company shall provide USAC with written evidence of the Company’s remittance of applicable Transfer Taxes.

 

(d)           Tax Cooperation.  The Parties shall cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by the other Party, in connection with the filing of Tax Returns and any audit, litigation, or other proceeding with respect to Taxes relating to the Contributed Entities.  Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon another Party’s request) the provision of

 

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records and information that are relevant to any such Tax Return or audit, litigation or other proceeding and making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided under this Agreement.  The Company and USAC agree to retain all Books and Records with respect to Tax matters pertinent to the Contributed Entities relating to any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date until the expiration of the statute of limitations of the respective taxable periods and to abide by all record retention agreements entered into with any Governmental Authority.  If the treatment of the contribution under this Agreement that is intended by the Parties under Section 2.8 is challenged by any Governmental Authority, the Parties agree to joint control of any such proceedings, the settlement of which shall require the consent of all Parties, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.

 

5.14        Insurance.  The S&R Parties shall maintain in full force and effect the insurance policies described on Section 5.14 of the Company Disclosure Letter until the Closing.

 

5.15        Employee and Benefit Matters.

 

(a)           As soon as reasonably practicable following the execution of this Agreement, USAC or its Affiliate shall be provided the opportunity to make offers of employment to those Business Employees of its choosing, which such offers shall be for employment commencing on the date contemplated by the Transition Services Agreement and on terms and conditions determined by USAC or such Affiliate under compensation programs that are substantially similar to those currently in place for USAC’s or such Affiliate’s other employees.  As to a Business Employee, if such offered terms and conditions are materially less favorable to such Business Employee than those terms and conditions of the compensation programs of the Company prior to the Closing, or such offered terms and conditions are not substantially similar with respect to the primary duties and responsibilities of such Business Employee at the Company prior to the Closing, then such Business Employee shall not constitute a Business Employee for purposes of the condition to the obligation of the USAC Parties to consummate the Closing set forth in Section 6.8.  At least three Business Days prior to the Closing, USAC shall inform the S&R Parties which Business Employees have accepted such offer.  The Company shall make the Business Employees available and otherwise provide reasonable facilitation in order to assist with the offer, pre-hire and employee screening process and the S&R Parties shall take no action to discourage a Business Employee from accepting an offer of employment contemplated by this Section 5.15.  Those Business Employees who accept such offer and report for work with USAC or its Affiliate on their scheduled reporting date following the Closing are referred to as the “Continuing Employees.”  For the sake of clarity, in the event any Business Employee is not offered employment by USAC or one of its Affiliates, the Company shall have the right to retain, hire or rehire such Business Employee at any time without notice to, or the consent of, USAC.

 

(b)           The S&R Parties shall cause COBRA continuation coverage (within the meaning of Section 4980B of the Code and Treasury regulations thereunder) to be provided to all individuals who are M&A qualified beneficiaries (within the meaning assigned to such term under Q&A-4 of Treasury regulation Section 54.4980B-9) with respect to the Transaction for the duration of the period to which such individuals are entitled to such coverage.  The S&R Parties shall take any and all necessary actions to ensure that USAC and its Affiliates are not required to

 

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provide such continuation coverage to any such individual at any time.  In the event USAC or any of its Affiliates incurs any costs or other Liability with respect to COBRA continuation coverage required to be provided to any M&A qualified beneficiary with respect to the Transaction, the S&R Parties shall reimburse and pay USAC in full an amount sufficient to cover such costs and/or other liabilities as soon as administratively feasible (but in no event more than 20 days) following USAC’s request for such amounts.

 

(c)           Section 5.15(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth those Continuing Employees who USAC has identified as key employees of the Contributed Business (the “Key Employees”).  The S&R Parties agree that, except as otherwise provided in Section 5.15(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, in the event any Key Employee is offered employment by USAC and does not accept such offer of employment, the S&R Parties shall not, and shall cause their respective Affiliates not to, hire or rehire such Key Employee for period of six months after the Closing Date.

 

5.16        Publicity.  Except for statements made or press releases issued (a) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (b) pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or (c) as otherwise required by law, the S&R Parties and USAC will not issue any press release or otherwise make any public statements with respect to this Agreement or the Transaction without the express prior written approval of USAC and the Company.  This Section 5.15 shall not restrict USAC or its Affiliates from disclosing the content of any press release or public statement originally issued or made, as applicable, in accordance with this Section 5.15.

 

5.17        Confidentiality.  Each S&R Party agrees that after the Closing Date any Trade Secrets that relate in any way to the Contributed Business shall be maintained in confidence and shall not be divulged by any S&R Party or their respective Affiliates to any party unless and until they shall become public knowledge (other than by disclosure in breach of this Section 5.17) or as required by applicable Laws, including applicable securities laws and regulations; provided, before any S&R Party or any of their respective Affiliates discloses any of the foregoing as may be required by applicable Laws, such Person shall give USAC reasonable advance notice and take such reasonable actions as USAC may propose to minimize the required disclosure; provided, further, this Section 5.17 shall only apply to Intellectual Property that is a Contributed Asset.

 

5.18        Non-Consent Contracts.  If any S&R Party fails to obtain any consent, approval or waiver listed on Section 3.4 of the Company Disclosure Letter (or if any such consent, approval or waiver is otherwise not in full force and effect) as of the Closing, then, in the case of each Contract as to which such consent, approval or waiver was not obtained (or otherwise is not in full force and effect) (the “Non-Consent Contracts”), notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, neither this Agreement, nor any other document related to the consummation of the Transaction shall constitute a contribution, assignment, assumption, transfer, conveyance or delivery or an attempted contribution, assignment, assumption, transfer, conveyance or delivery of the Non-Consent Contracts, and, following the Closing, the Parties shall cooperate with each other to obtain the consent, approval or waiver relating to each Non-Consent Contract.  Pending the obtaining of such consent, approval or waiver relating to

 

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any Non-Consent Contract, the Parties shall cooperate with each other in any reasonable and lawful arrangements designed to provide to USAC the benefits and burdens of use of each Non-Consent Contract for its term (or any right, benefit, obligation or duty arising thereunder, including the enforcement for the benefit of USAC of any and all rights of the S&R Parties or their Affiliates against a third party thereunder).  After the consent, approval or waiver for the sale, assignment, assumption, transfer, conveyance and delivery of a Non-Consent Contract is obtained, the applicable S&R Parties shall promptly assign, transfer, convey and deliver such Non-Consent Contract to USAC, and USAC shall assume the obligations under such Non-Consent Contract assigned to USAC from and after the date of assignment to USAC.

 

5.19        Customer Contracts.  The Company shall use reasonable efforts to assist USAC, as requested by USAC from time to time, in the restructuring by USAC and its Affiliates of all Customer Contracts in a manner such that USAC’s counsel is able to opine that each such Contract “will” generate qualifying income under Section 7704 of the Code.

 

5.20        Purchase Agreement; Price Efficiencies.  The Company shall use reasonable efforts to transfer to USAC the benefit of purchase agreement price efficiencies with major component manufacturers for USAC’s equipment in connection with the Transaction.

 

5.21        Further Assurances.  In the event that any asset that is a Contributed Asset shall not have been conveyed to USAC or its designee at the Closing, the Company shall, subject to Section 5.18, use its commercially reasonable efforts to convey such asset to USAC or its designee as promptly as practicable after the Closing.

 

5.22        Litigation Support.  In the event and for so long as any Party actively is contesting or defending against any action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand of a third party in connection with (a) any transaction contemplated under this Agreement or (b) any fact, situation, circumstance, status, condition, activity, practice, plan, occurrence, event, incident, action, failure to act, or transaction on or prior to the Closing Date involving the Contributed Business, each of the other Parties will cooperate with such Party and its counsel in the contest or defense, make available its personnel, and provide such testimony and access to the Books and Records as shall be necessary in connection with the contest or defense, all at the sole cost and expense of the contesting or defending Party, except to the extent (i) the contesting or defending Party may be entitled to indemnification therefor under Article IX below or (ii) where any conflict of interest between the Parties, or a potential counterclaim of one Party against the other, exists in respect of such charge, complaint, suit, hearing or investigation and creates a conflict of interest.

 

5.23        New Common Units Legends.  In connection with a sale of New Common Units by any Holder in reliance on Rule 144 under the Securities Act, such Holder or its broker shall deliver to the transfer agent of USAC and USAC (a) a broker representation letter providing to such transfer agent and USAC any information USAC reasonably deems necessary to determine that the sale of the New Common Units is made in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, including, as may be appropriate, a certification that the Holder is not an Affiliate of USAC and regarding the length of time the New Common Units have been held and (b) such other documentation as reasonably requested by USAC.  Upon receipt of such representation letter and other documentation, USAC shall promptly direct its transfer agent to remove any

 

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restrictive legend on such New Common Units.  After a Holder or its permitted assigns have held the New Common Units for the requisite period of time such that the New Common Units held by such Holder may be sold without restriction under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if the certificate for such New Common Units still bears a restrictive legend, USAC agrees, upon request of a Holder or its permitted assignee, to take all steps necessary to promptly effect the removal of the legend from the New Common Units, regardless of whether the request is made in connection with a sale or otherwise, so long as the Holder or its permitted assigns provide to USAC any information USAC reasonably deems necessary to determine that the legend is no longer required under the Securities Act or applicable state laws, including a certification that the holder is not an Affiliate of USAC (and a covenant to inform USAC if it should thereafter become an Affiliate and to consent to exchange its certificates for certificates bearing an appropriate restrictive legend) and regarding the length of time the New Common Units have been held.

 

5.24        Formation of OpCo and LeaseCo.  Prior to the Merger, the Company shall form or cause the formation, at the sole cost and expense of USAC, of each of the Contributed Entities as limited liability companies duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Texas.  From the date of their respective formations until the Closing Date, the Company shall cause (a) all of the limited liability company interests of OpCo to be owned directly and beneficially by the Company and (b) all of the limited liability company interests of LeaseCo to be owned directly and beneficially by OpCo.  The Organizational Documents of OpCo and LeaseCo shall be in forms substantially similar to the Organizational Documents of USA Compression Partners, LLC and USAC Leasing, LLC, except as may otherwise be reasonably requested by USAC.  Except as a result of the Merger or as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement, without the prior consent of USAC, the Company shall cause the Contributed Entities not to (a) engage in any business activity prior to the Closing, (b) incur any Liabilities (other than the Assumed Liabilities) or (c) enter into any Contract.  The Company agrees that no Business Employee will be an employee of a Contributed Entity at any time prior to the Closing.  Prior to the Closing, the Company shall cause (w) the Contributed Entities to register to engage in business in all states in which the Contributed Assets are located, (x) LeaseCo to apply for sales tax permits in all states in which the Contributed Assets are located, (y) OpCo to apply for sales tax permits in all states requested by USAC and (z) the Contributed Entities to take such further actions as may be reasonably requested by USAC, in each of clauses (x) though (z) at the sole cost and expense of USAC.  Each Party will, at the request of any other Party, take such further actions as are reasonably requested and execute any additional documents or instruments of any kind which may be reasonably necessary to further effect the formation of the Contributed Entities and the consummation of the Merger.

 

ARTICLE VI
USAC’S CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

The obligation of USAC to consummate the Closing is subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions (except to the extent waived in writing by USAC):

 

6.1          Representations and Warranties.  The representations and warranties of the S&R Parties set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date

 

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(except to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date), except to the extent that such representations and warranties are qualified by the term “material” or contain terms such as “Material Adverse Effect” in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and at and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date).

 

6.2          Performance.  The S&R Parties shall have performed and complied, in all material respects, with all agreements, covenants and obligations required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the S&R Parties at or before the Closing except to the extent that such agreements, covenants or obligations are qualified by the term “material,” or contain terms such as “Material Adverse Effect” in which case the S&R Parties shall have performed and complied with all of such covenants (as so written, including the term “material” or “Material”) in all respects through the Closing.

 

6.3          Officer’s Certificate.  The Company shall have delivered to USAC at the Closing a certificate of an officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, as to the matters set forth in Sections 6.1 and 6.2.

 

6.4          Merger.  All of the Company’s right, title and interest in and to all of the Contributed Assets and the Assumed Liabilities shall have been vested in OpCo or LeaseCo, as applicable, as of the Closing pursuant to the Merger, in each case pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and this Agreement.

 

6.5          Deliveries.  The Company shall have complied with the delivery requirements of Section 2.6(a).

 

6.6          Net Cash.  The Net Cash Amount shall be equal to or greater than zero.

 

6.7          Regulatory Approvals.  The waiting period applicable to the consummation of the Transaction under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated, and there shall not be in effect any voluntary agreement between USAC or the Company and any Governmental Authority pursuant to which USAC or the Company has agreed not to consummate the Transaction for any period of time.

 

6.8          Employment.  At least 60% of the Business Employees shall have accepted employment with USAC or one of its Affiliates on terms and conditions described in Section 5.15(a).

 

6.9          Litigation.  There shall not be any injunction, judgment, Order, decree or ruling in effect that would materially adversely prevent consummation of the Transaction or the Transaction Documents.

 

6.10        Liens.  The Company shall have delivered to USAC at Closing payoff letters with respect to all Debt of the Company or its Affiliates relating to any of the Contributed Assets evidencing that all such Debt shall be (or shall have been) paid in full and USAC shall have received evidence that all material Liens on any of the Contributed Assets have been released prior to or concurrently with the Closing.

 

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6.11        Customer Contract Conversion.  All Customer Contracts listed in Section 6.11 of the Company Disclosure Letter shall have been restructured in a manner such that USAC’s counsel is able to opine that each such Contract “will” generate qualifying income under Section 7704 of the Code.

 

6.12        Financial Statements.  The Company shall have delivered to USAC the Audited Special Financial Statements no later than three Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

 

6.13        Transition Services.  The transition services contemplated by the Transition Services Agreement shall be mutually acceptable to the Company and USAC.

 

ARTICLE VII
S&R PARTIES’ CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

The obligation of the Company to consummate the Closing is subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions (except to the extent waived in writing by the Company):

 

7.1          Representations and Warranties.  The representations and warranties of USAC set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date), except to the extent that such representations and warranties are qualified by the term “material” or contain terms such as “material adverse effect” in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and at and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date).

 

7.2          Performance.  USAC shall have performed and complied, in all material respects, with all agreements, covenants and obligations required by this Agreement to be so performed or complied with by USAC at or before the Closing except to the extent that such agreements, covenants or obligations are qualified by the term “material,” or contain terms such as “material adverse effect” in which case USAC shall have performed and complied with all of such covenants (as so written, including the term “material”) in all respects through the Closing.

 

7.3          Officer’s Certificate.  USAC shall have delivered to the Company at the Closing a certificate of an officer of USAC, dated as of the Closing Date, as to the matters set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.2.

 

7.4          Deliveries.  USAC shall have complied with the delivery requirements of Section 2.6(b).

 

7.5          Litigation.  There shall not be any injunction, judgment, Order, decree or ruling in effect that would materially adversely prevent consummation of the Transaction or the Transaction Documents.

 

7.6          Regulatory Approvals.  The waiting period applicable to the consummation of the Transaction under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated, and there shall not be in effect any voluntary agreement between USAC or the Company and any Governmental

 

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Authority pursuant to which USAC or the Company has agreed not to consummate the Transaction for any period of time.

 

7.7          Transition Services.  The transition services contemplated by the Transition Services Agreement shall be mutually acceptable to the Company and USAC.

 

ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION

 

8.1          Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated, and the Transaction may be abandoned, at any time before the Closing as follows:

 

(a)           by the Company or USAC, by written notice to the other, if any Law or final Order restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits or makes illegal the Transaction;

 

(b)           by the Company, by written notice to USAC, if (i) USAC has breached any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation in this Agreement, (ii) such breach results in, or would reasonably be expected to result in, the failure of any condition expressly set forth in Article VII, and (iii) such breach has not been cured within 30 days following written notification thereof; provided, however, that if, at the end of such 30-day period, USAC is endeavoring in good faith, and proceeding diligently, to cure such breach, USAC shall have an additional 30 days in which to effect such cure;

 

(c)           by USAC, by written notice to the Company, if (i) an S&R Party has breached any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation in this Agreement, (ii) such breach results in, or would reasonably be expected to result in, the failure of any condition expressly set forth in Article VI, and (iii) such breach has not been cured within 30 days following written notification thereof; provided, however, that if, at the end of such 30-day period, the Company is endeavoring in good faith, and proceeding diligently, to cure such breach, the Company shall have an additional 30 days in which to effect such cure;

 

(d)           by USAC or the Company on or after October 31, 2013 (as may be tolled by the pendency of the cure periods set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) above), in each case by notice to the other, or such later date as USAC and the Company may agree in writing; provided, that USAC cannot terminate under this provision if the failure of the Closing to occur is the result of the failure on the part of USAC to perform any of its obligations hereunder and the Company cannot terminate this Agreement under this provision if the failure of the Closing to occur is the result of the failure on the part of the S&R Parties to perform any of their obligations hereunder; and

 

(e)           by mutual written consent of USAC and the Company.

 

8.2          Effect of Termination.

 

(a)           If this Agreement is validly terminated pursuant to Section 8.1, there will be no Liability or obligation on the part of the Company or USAC (or any of their respective Affiliates), except as provided in this Section 8.2; provided, that nothing in this Section 8.2(a)

 

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shall relieve any Party from Liability for any breach of this Agreement by such Party prior to termination of this Agreement.

 

(b)           Regardless of the reason for termination, Sections 5.17 and 8.2, and Article X will survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

(c)           Upon termination of this Agreement by either Party for any reason, each Party shall return or destroy, in accordance with and to the extent required by the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, all Confidential Information and all other documents and other materials of any other Party relating to the Contributed Assets, the Contributed Business, the Company or this Agreement and the Transaction.

 

8.3          Specific Performance and Other Remedies.  Each Party hereby acknowledges that the rights of each Party to consummate the Transaction are special, unique and of extraordinary character and that, if any Party violates or fails or refuses to perform any covenant or agreement made by it herein, the non-breaching Party may be without an adequate remedy at Law.  If any Party violates or fails or refuses to perform any covenant or agreement made by such Party herein, the non-breaching Party or Parties may, subject to the terms hereof and in addition to any remedy at Law for Damages or other relief, institute and prosecute an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce specific performance of such covenant or agreement or seek any other equitable relief.

 

ARTICLE IX
INDEMNIFICATION

 

9.1          Indemnification by the S&R Parties.  From and after the Closing, the S&R Parties shall, jointly and severally indemnify, defend and hold harmless, USAC, their respective Affiliates, and each of their respective directors, securityholders, officers, partners, managers, members, employees, agents, consultants, attorneys, representatives, successors, transferees and assignees (collectively, the “USAC Indemnified Parties”) from, against and in respect of any Damages or Claims (including all Liabilities of the Company) that arise out of, relate to or result from (a) the operations of the Contributed Business or the Contributed Assets prior to the Closing, (b) the employment of any Continuing Employee on or prior to the date that such individual becomes employed by USAC or an Affiliate of USAC and the employment of any Business Employee who does not become a Continuing Employee, (c) any representation or warranty made by any S&R Party in this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents not having been true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, (d) any breach by any S&R Party of any covenant or obligation of such S&R Party in this Agreement, (e) any S&R Party Tax Liability, (f) any Excluded Assets, and (g) to the extent an Assigned Lease becomes an Excluded Contract pursuant to Section 3.7(c) (such lease, an “Excluded Lease”), direct out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with moving any Contributed Assets from the Leased Property subject to such Excluded Lease to a new location of USAC’s choosing within 100 miles of the Leased Property; provided, that the USAC Indemnified Parties will not be entitled to indemnification pursuant to clause 9.1 of this Section 9.1 unless the aggregate amount of all Damages or Claims for which indemnification is sought by the USAC Indemnified Parties exceeds the USAC Indemnification Deductible, in which case the USAC Indemnified Parties will be entitled to indemnification for the full amount of such Damages and Claims in

 

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excess of the USAC Indemnification Deductible; provided, further, that the USAC Indemnification Deductible shall not apply to any claim for indemnification based on any representation or warranty made by any S&R Party in Sections 3.1 (Organization), 3.2 (Power), 3.3 (Authority; Enforceability), 3.4 (Consents; Absence of Conflicts), 3.5 (Ownership; No Equity Interests), 3.8(a) (Contributed Assets), 3.8(b) (Contributed Assets), 3.11 (Brokers’ Fees), 3.15 (Taxes), and 3.26 (Accredited Investor; Investment Intent) (collectively, the “S&R Fundamental Representations”), not having been true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date; and provided, further, that the USAC Indemnified Parties will not be entitled to indemnification pursuant to clause 9.1 of this Section 9.1 unless the aggregate amount of all such direct out-of-pocket costs exceeds $100,000.

 

9.2          Indemnification by USAC.  From and after the Closing, USAC (collectively, the “USAC Indemnifying Parties”) shall, and shall cause the Contributed Entities to, except in each case for and solely to the extent of Claims that are otherwise subject to indemnification by the S&R Parties pursuant to Section 9.1, jointly and severally, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company and its directors, securityholders, officers, partners, members, managers, employees, agents, consultants, attorneys, representatives, successors, transferees and assignees (collectively, the “S&R Indemnified Parties”) from, against and in respect of any Damages or Claims that arise out of, relate to or result from (a) the operations of the Contributed Business or the Contributed Assets from and after the Closing, (b) Taxes imposed on or with respect to the Contributed Business or the Contributed Assets for any taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Effective Date, except to the extent such Taxes are an S&R Party Tax Liability or are taken into account in calculating the Net Cash Amount, (c) the employment of any Continuing Employee from and after the date that such individual becomes employed by USAC or an Affiliate of USAC, (d) any representation or warranty made by USAC in this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents not having been true and correct as of the Closing Date, (e) any breach by USAC of any covenant or obligation of USAC in this Agreement, and (f) any Assumed Liability; provided, that, the S&R Indemnified Parties will not be entitled to indemnification pursuant to clause 9.2 of this Section 9.2 unless the aggregate amount of all Damages or Claims for which indemnification is sought by the S&R Indemnified Parties exceeds the S&R Indemnification Deductible, in which case the S&R Indemnified Parties will be entitled to indemnification for the full amount of such Damages and Claims in excess of the S&R Indemnification Deductible; provided, further, that the S&R Indemnification Deductible shall not apply to any claim for indemnification based on any representation or warranty made by USAC in Sections 4.1 (Organization), 4.2 (Power), 4.3 (Authority; Enforceability), 4.5 (Capitalization), 4.6 (Valid Issuance), 4.8 (Taxes), and 4.9 (Brokers Fees) (collectively, the “USAC Fundamental Representations”).

 

9.3          Indemnification Limits.

 

(a)           Limitations on Indemnified Amounts of the S&R Parties.  In no event shall the aggregate indemnity obligations of the S&R Parties pursuant to Section 9.1 exceed an amount equal to the S&R Indemnification Cap; provided, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to any claim for indemnification based on any representation or warranty made by an S&R Party in Section 3.8(b) (Contributed Assets).  The liability of the S&R Parties for indemnification under this Article IX by reason of or arising out of any breach by an S&R Party of any representation, warranty or covenant shall not be modified, waived or diminished by any

 

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examination or investigation conducted by USAC of the books, records or operations of the Company.

 

(b)           Limitations on Indemnified Amounts of USAC.  In no event shall the aggregate indemnity obligations of the USAC Indemnifying Parties pursuant to Section 9.2 exceed an amount equal to the USAC Indemnification Cap.  The liability of the USAC Indemnifying Parties for indemnification under this Article IX by reason of or arising out of any breach by USAC of any representation, warranty or covenant shall not be modified, waived or diminished by any examination or investigation conducted by an S&R Party of the books, records or operations of USAC.

 

(c)           No Limitation in Event of Fraud.  Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, nothing in this Article IX (including the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 9.3) or otherwise shall limit, in any manner, any remedy at law or equity, to which any Party may be entitled as a result of fraud by any Indemnifying Party or their respective employees, officers or directors.

 

(d)           Materiality.  No materiality qualifications contained in the Indemnifying Parties’ representations and warranties made in Article III and Article IV or any other Transaction Document, including the terms “Material Adverse Effect” and “material adverse effect,” will be taken into account under this Article IX in determining (i) whether a breach or violation or such representation or warranty has occurred for which an indemnity obligation exists or (ii) the amount of any Damages or Claims to be indemnified resulting from any such breach or violation.

 

(e)           No Double Recovery.  Neither the USAC Indemnified Parties nor the S&R Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to recover any Damages or Claims relating to any matter arising under one provision of this Agreement to the extent that the USAC Indemnified Parties or the S&R Indemnified Parties, as the case may be, had already recovered Damages or Claims with respect to such matter pursuant to other provisions of this Agreement, such that the recovery would result in a USAC Indemnified Party or S&R Indemnified Party, as the case may be, recovering twice for the same Damages or Claims.  Without limiting the foregoing, no S&R Indemnified Party that is a Holder shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement in such S&R Indemnified Party’s capacity as Holder and the amount of any Damages or Claims paid by a USAC Indemnifying Party pursuant to Section 9.2 shall not constitute Damages or Claims for which an S&R Indemnified Party may seek indemnification pursuant to Section 9.2.

 

9.4          Survival of Indemnity.  Regardless of any investigation at any time made by or on behalf of any party hereto or of any information any party may have in respect thereof, each of the representations and warranties made in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document will survive the Closing as provided below.  The representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement will terminate at 11:59 p.m. (Central Time) at the end of the 18th month following the Closing Date; provided, such time limitation will not apply to any of the following claims or to an Indemnified Party’s rights to recover on such claims, and any representations and warranties relating thereto will survive until the date that is 60 days after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations:  (a) claims for fraud or intentional misrepresentation, (b) claims

 

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for breaches of any of the S&R Fundamental Representations (other than Sections 3.3 (Authority; Enforceability) and 3.8(a) (Contributed Assets) and 3.8(b) (Contributed Assets)) and (c) claims for breaches of any of the USAC Fundamental Representations (other than Section 4.3 (Authority; Enforceability)); and provided, further, the representations and warranties in (x) Sections 3.3 (Authority; Enforceability) and 3.8(a) (Contributed Assets), and 3.8(b) (Contributed Assets) and (y) Section 4.3 (Authority; Enforceability) will survive indefinitely.  Following the date of termination of a representation or warranty, no claim can be brought with respect to a breach of such representation or warranty, but no such termination will affect any claim for a breach of a representation or warranty that was asserted before the date of termination.  Each of the covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement and each other Transaction Document will survive the Closing indefinitely.

 

9.5          Defense of Third Party Claims.  An Indemnified Party will give prompt written notice to the Indemnifying Party of the commencement or assertion of any action, proceeding, demand, or claim by a third party (collectively, a “Third Party Action”) in respect of which such Indemnified Party will seek indemnification hereunder.  Any failure so to notify the Indemnifying Party will not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability that it, he, or she may have to such Indemnified Party under this Article IX unless the failure to give such notice materially and adversely prejudices such Indemnifying Party.  The Indemnifying Party will have the right to assume control of the defense of, settle, or otherwise dispose of such Third Party Action on such terms as it deems appropriate; provided, that:

 

(a)           The Indemnified Party will be entitled, at its own expense, to participate in the defense of such Third Party Action (provided, that the Indemnifying Party will pay the attorneys’ fees of the Indemnified Party if (i) the employment of separate counsel will have been authorized in writing by the Indemnifying Party in connection with the defense of such Third Party Action; (ii) the Indemnifying Party will not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party to have charge of such Third Party Action; (iii) the Indemnified Party will have reasonably concluded that there are defenses available to such Indemnified Party that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Party, and the inability of the Indemnified Party to assert such defenses would be significantly detrimental to the defense of the Indemnified Party or (iv) the Indemnified Party’s counsel will have advised the Indemnified Party in writing, with a copy delivered to Indemnifying Party, that there is a conflict of interest that could make it inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct to have common counsel);

 

(b)           The Indemnifying Party will obtain the prior written approval (which shall not be unreasonably withheld) of the Indemnified Party before entering into or making any settlement, compromise, admission, or acknowledgment of the validity of such Third Party Action or any liability in respect thereof or entailing any relief that is injunctive, equitable or non-monetary in nature, and the Indemnified Party will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement respecting any Third Party Action without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party (which shall not be unreasonably withheld);

 

(c)           The Indemnifying Party will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by each claimant or plaintiff to each Indemnified Party of a release from all liability;

 

57



 

(d)           The Indemnifying Party will not be entitled to control (but will be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense of), and the Indemnified Party will be entitled to have sole control over, the defense or settlement, compromise, admission, or acknowledgment of any Third Party Action (i) relating to any Tax to be collected from a Indemnified Party or an Affiliate of a Indemnified Party; (ii) as to which the Indemnifying Party fails to assume the defense within a reasonable length of time (and in any event within 30 days); or (iii) to the extent the Third Party Action seeks an order, injunction, or other equitable relief against the Indemnified Party which, if successful, would materially adversely affect the business, operations, assets, or financial condition of the Indemnified Party; and

 

(e)           The Parties will extend reasonable cooperation in connection with the defense of any Third Party Action pursuant to this Article IX and, in connection therewith, will furnish such records, information, and testimony and attend such conferences, discovery proceedings, hearings, trials, and appeals as may be reasonably requested.

 

9.6          Direct Claims.  In any case in which an Indemnified Party seeks indemnification hereunder which is not subject to Section 9.5 because no Third Party Action is involved, the Indemnified Party will notify the Indemnifying Party in writing of any Damages or Claims which such Indemnified Party claims are subject to indemnification under the terms hereof.  Subject to the limitations set forth in this Article IX, the failure of the Indemnified Party to exercise promptness in such notification will not amount to a waiver of such claim unless the resulting delay materially and adversely prejudices the position of the Indemnifying Party with respect to such claim.

 

9.7          Sole Remedy; Offset.  Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that, from and after the Closing, the sole and exclusive monetary remedy of the Indemnified Parties with respect to claims for Indemnified Losses will be in accordance with, and limited solely to indemnification under, the provisions of this Article IX; provided, that nothing will limit the ability of USAC to seek specific performance in accordance with Section 8.3.  Subject only to the immediately preceding sentence, each Party shall have the right to offset any unpaid amounts to any other Party under this Agreement against any Indemnified Losses owed by the Person to whom such amount is payable.

 

9.8          Determination of Damages; Adjustments to Consideration.  To the extent the Contributed Assets include any insurance policies, Damages to be paid by the S&R Parties shall be calculated after deduction of any recovery by USAC on any such insurance policy; provided, such reduction shall be reduced by an amount equal to three times the amount of the annual increase in the aggregate premiums respecting such insurance policies, resulting from such claim(s), over the 12-month period following such claim(s).  Indemnification payments under this Article IX shall be paid by the Indemnifying Party without reduction for any Tax Benefits available to the Indemnified Party.  However, to the extent that the Indemnified Party recognizes Tax Benefits as a result of any Damages claimed hereunder in any tax year in which or prior to which such Damages were incurred, the Indemnified Party shall pay the amount of such Tax Benefits (but not in excess of the indemnification payment or payments actually received from the Indemnifying Party with respect to such Damages) to the Indemnifying Party as such Tax Benefits are actually recognized by the Indemnified Party.  For this purpose, the Indemnified Party shall be deemed to recognize a tax benefit (“Tax Benefit”) with respect to a taxable year if,

 

58



 

and to the extent that, the Indemnified Party’s cumulative liability for Taxes through the end of such taxable year, calculated by excluding any Tax items attributable to the Damages from all taxable years, exceeds the Indemnified Party’s actual cumulative liability for Taxes through the end of such taxable year, calculated by taking into account any Tax items attributable to the Damages for all taxable years (to the extent permitted by relevant Tax law and treating such Tax items as the last items claimed for any taxable year).  The Parties shall make appropriate adjustments for insurance coverage as hereinabove provided and take into account the time cost of money (using the Applicable Rate as the discount rate) in determining Damages for purposes of this Section 9.8For all Tax purposes, the Parties agree to treat (and will cause each of their respective Affiliates to treat) any indemnification payment made under this Article IX as an adjustment to the consideration delivered pursuant to Section 2.3.

 

ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1        Further Actions.  After the Closing Date, the S&R Parties shall execute and deliver such other certificates, agreements, conveyances and other documents, and take such other action, as may be reasonably requested by USAC in order to consummate the Transaction.

 

10.2        Amendment and Modifications.  This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by the Parties and that expressly refers to this Agreement.

 

10.3        Waiver of Compliance.  Any failure of USAC, on the one hand, or the S&R Parties, on the other hand, to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition contained herein may be waived only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the Party or Parties to be bound by such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other failure.

 

10.4        Severability.  If any term or other provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of applicable Laws, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the Transaction is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party.  Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the Transaction is consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

 

10.5        Expenses and Obligations.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred by the Parties in connection with the Transaction shall be borne solely and entirely by the Party that has incurred such expenses.

 

10.6        Parties in Interest.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each Party and its successors, permitted assigns and transferees.  Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any other Person any rights or

 

59



 

remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement except as expressly set forth herein.

 

10.7        Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, faxed, emailed or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), or sent by internationally recognized overnight courier to the Parties at the following addresses, email addresses or facsimile numbers (or at such other address, email address or facsimile number for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

(a)

If to USAC, to:

 

 

 

USA Compression Partners, LP

 

100 Congress Avenue

 

Suite 450

 

Austin, TX 78701

 

Facsimile:

(512) 473-2616

 

Attention:

Greg Holloway

 

E-Mail:

GHolloway@usacompression.com

 

 

 

with copies to:

 

 

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

 

2801 Via Fortuna

 

Suite 100

 

Austin, TX 78746

 

Facsimile:

(512) 236-3240

 

Attention:

Milam F. Newby

 

E-Mail:

mnewby@velaw.com

 

 

(b)

If to the S&R Parties, to:

 

 

 

Steve Mitchell

 

Argonaut Private Equity, LLC

 

6733 South Yale Avenue

 

Tulsa, OK 74136

 

Facsimile:

(918) 491-4694

 

E-Mail:

SteveM@kfoc.net

 

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with copies to:

 

 

 

Steve Walton

 

Frederic Dorwart, Lawyers

 

Old City Hall

 

124 East Fourth Street

 

Tulsa, OK 74103-5010

 

Facsimile:

(918) 583-8251

 

E-Mail:

swalton@fdlaw.com

 

Any of the above addresses may be changed at any time by notice given as provided above; provided, that any such notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.  All notices, requests or instructions given in accordance herewith shall be deemed received on the date of delivery, if hand delivered, on the date of receipt, if transmitted by facsimile or other form of electronic communication, three Business Days after the date of mailing, if mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested and one Business Day after the date of sending, if sent by internationally recognized overnight courier.

 

10.8        Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission or other electronic means) in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties, it being understood that all Parties need not sign the same counterpart.

 

10.9        Entire Agreement.  This Agreement (which term shall be deemed to include the Exhibits and Schedules hereto and the other certificates, documents and instruments delivered hereunder) and the other Transaction Documents constitute the entire agreement of the Parties and supersedes all prior agreements, letters of intent and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.  There are no other warranties, representations or other agreements between the Parties in connection with the subject matter.  No amendment, supplement, modification or waiver of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by all Parties.

 

10.10      Alternative Transactions.  In order to induce USAC to undertake the considerable effort and to incur the expenses associated with the Transaction, prior to the Closing Date, the S&R Parties will not, and each will cause their respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, members and other agents, including the Holders, not to, (a) solicit, initiate or encourage the submission of proposals or offers from any person or entity for, or enter into any agreement or arrangement relating to, (i) a merger involving the Company, (ii) any direct or indirect investment in or with respect to, or direct or indirect purchase of, stock or other equity securities of the Company, (iii) any direct or indirect purchase of all or any substantial portion of the assets of the Company or (iv) any similar arrangements with respect thereto (each, an “Alternative Transaction”) or (b) participate in any negotiations regarding, or furnish to any other person or entity any information with respect to or in contemplation of, any Alternative Transaction.  The S&R Parties will promptly notify USAC of the receipt of any inquiry, proposal or offer for an Alternative Transaction or any request for information that could relate to an

 

61



 

Alternative Transaction, including the material terms of any such inquiry, proposal, offer or request.

 

10.11      Assignment.  This Agreement and the rights, interests or obligations hereunder may not be assigned by any of the Parties, whether by operation of Law or otherwise; provided, however, that (a) upon notice to the S&R Parties and without releasing USAC from any of its obligations or liabilities hereunder, USAC may assign or delegate any or all of its rights or obligations under this Agreement to any Affiliate of USAC or any Person with or into which USAC or any Affiliate of USAC merges or consolidates, and (b) nothing in this Agreement shall limit USAC’s ability to make a collateral assignment of its rights under this Agreement to any institutional lender that provides funds to USAC or USAC’s designee without the consent of the Company.  The S&R Parties shall execute an acknowledgment of such assignment(s) and collateral assignments in such forms as USAC or its institutional lenders may from time to time reasonably request; provided, however, that unless written notice is given to the S&R Parties that any such collateral assignment has been foreclosed upon, the S&R Parties shall be entitled to deal exclusively with USAC as to any matters arising under this Agreement or any of the other agreements delivered pursuant hereto.  Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.

 

10.12      Guaranty.  George B. Kaiser shall provide the guaranty, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, of the due payment and performance by the S&R Parties of their obligations under Article IX.

 

10.13      Rules of Construction.

 

(a)           All references in this Agreement to Articles, Sections, subsections, Schedules, Exhibits and other subdivisions are to Articles, Sections, subsections, Schedules, Exhibits and other subdivisions of or to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.  The Exhibits and Schedules attached to this Agreement constitute a part of this Agreement and are incorporated herein for all purposes.  Titles appearing at the beginning of any Articles, Sections, subsections, Schedules, Exhibits or other subdivisions of this Agreement are for convenience only, do not constitute any part of this Agreement and shall be disregarded in construing the language hereof.

 

(b)           If a term is defined as one part of speech (such as a noun), it shall have a corresponding meaning when used as another part of speech (such as a verb).  Unless the context of this Agreement clearly requires otherwise, (i) words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neutral genders and vice versa, (ii) any reference to a Person shall include its permitted successors and assigns, (iii) whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number shall refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified and whenever any action must be taken hereunder on or by a day that is not a Business Day, then such action may be validly taken on or by the next day that is a Business Day, (iv) any reference to a Governmental Authority shall include any Person succeeding to its functions and capacities, (v) all agreements, documents, exhibits, schedules and other instruments defined or referenced herein shall mean such agreements, documents, exhibits, schedules and other instruments as the same may be amended, revised, modified, supplemented or waived to the extent permitted by and in accordance with the terms thereof and the terms of this Agreement, (vi) the word “or” is

 

62



 

not exclusive, the words “includes” or “including” shall mean “including, without limitation” and the words “this Agreement,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “herein,” “hereunder” and similar terms in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not any particular Section or Article in which such words appear and (vii) any reference to a Law or Permit shall include any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and any amendments, modifications or supplements thereto.  Currency amounts referenced herein and payments hereunder are in U.S. dollars.

 

(c)           Each Party acknowledges that it and its attorneys have been given an equal opportunity to negotiate the terms and conditions of this Agreement and that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting Party or any similar rule operating against the drafter of an agreement shall not be applicable to the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

10.14      Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY DISPUTES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY THEREIN, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ITS CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES OR RULES, TO THE EXTENT SUCH PRINCIPLES OR RULES WOULD REQUIRE OR PERMIT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

 

10.15      Waiver of Jury Trial.  TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW THAT CANNOT BE WAIVED, EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE) ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY FORUM IN RESPECT OF ANY ISSUE, CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART UNDER, RELATED TO, BASED ON OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT OR CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE.  ANY PARTY MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 10.15 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF EACH SUCH PARTY TO THE WAIVER OF ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

10.16      Consent to Jurisdiction; Venue.  The Parties irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the personal jurisdiction of the state courts of Texas located in Dallas County, Texas and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement, any of the Transaction Documents or any related matter.  The Parties agree that a final judgment in any such suit, action or other proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in any other jurisdiction by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law.  Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any Party may otherwise have to bring any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement, any of the Transaction Documents or any related matter against any other Party or its assets or properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.  Each of the Parties irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, in any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement, any of the Transaction Documents or any

 

63



 

related matter, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of the state courts of Texas located in Dallas, County, Texas and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that this Agreement, any of the Transaction Documents or any related matter may not be enforced in or by such court.

 

(Signature Page Follows)

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

 

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP, as USAC

 

 

 

By:

USA COMPRESSION GP, LLC,

 

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ ERIC D. LONG

 

Name:

Eric D. Long

 

Title:

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 



 

 

S&R COMPRESSION, LLC, as the Company

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ JOHN ROBERSON

 

Name:

John Roberson

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 



 

 

ARGONAUT PRIVATE EQUITY, L.L.C., as Argonaut

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ STEVE MITCHELL

 

Name:

Steve Mitchell

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

DRIP ELECTION

 

[See Attached]

 

A-1



 

FINAL FORM

 

[FORM OF]

 

DISTRIBUTION REINVESTMENT PLAN AND LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

 

This Distribution Reinvestment Plan and Lock-Up Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of [·], 2013, by and between USA Compression Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), and the undersigned holder of common units representing limited partner interest in the Partnership (the “Common Units” and such holder, the “Holder”).

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Contribution Agreement entered into as of August 12, 2013, by and among the Partnership, S&R Compression, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company (the “Company”), and Argonaut Private Equity, L.L.C., an Oklahoma limited liability company (the “Contribution Agreement”), the Company will contribute the Contributed Assets and the Net Cash to USAC or its designee in exchange for Common Units, and USAC or such designee will accept the Contributed Assets and Net Cash in exchange for Common Units, upon the terms and conditions contained in the Contribution Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Contribution Agreement, at the Closing, the Company intends to distribute to the Holder a number of Common Units calculated in accordance with Section 2.3 of the Company Disclosure Letter and as set forth below the name of the Holder on the signature page hereto (such Common Units, the “New Common Units”); and

 

WHEREAS, it is a condition to the obligation of the Partnership to issue or cause the issuance of the New Common Units to the Holder that Holder execute and deliver certain documents and agreements, including, without limitation, this Agreement;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and covenants contained herein, and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and in reliance upon the mutual representations and warranties contained herein, the Partnership and the Holder agree as follow:

 

1.                                      Distribution Reinvestment Plan.

 

(a)                                 The Holder hereby agrees to reinvest all distributions in respect of the New Common Units for all periods through and including the quarterly period ending June 30, 2014 in the distribution reinvestment plan of the Partnership (the “Reinvestment Election”); provided, that USA Compression Holdings, LLC and its affiliates (collectively, “Holdings”) make a similar election with respect to all Common Units and subordinated units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Subordinated Units”) owned by Holdings.

 

(b)                                 [FOR INCLUSION IN AGREEMENT FOR S&R, ARGONAUT, ROBERSON AND MITCHELL—Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holder may sell (i) up to 10% of the New Common Units and (ii) a number of New Common Units up to the Participation Amount (A) pursuant to the Registration Statement described in Section 2.1 of the Registration Rights Agreement (the “Shelf”) or (B) in connection with any other registered offering of Common Units and, if so sold in accordance with clause (i) or (ii), as applicable, such New Common Units will not be subject to the Reinvestment Election; provided, that in each of

 



 

clause (i) and (ii), such sales are made in compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.  “Participation Amount” means a number of New Common Units that is equal to or less than, calculated on a proportionate basis, the number of Common Units and Subordinated Units sold after the date hereof by Holdings.]

 

[FOR INCLUSION IN AGREEMENT FOR HOLDERS OTHER THAN ARGONAUT, ROBERSON AND MITCHELL— Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holder may sell the New Common Units and, if so sold, such New Common Units will not be subject to the Reinvestment Election; provided, that such sales are made in compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and either Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Registration Rights Agreement.]

 

2.                                      Lockup Agreement.  The Holder agrees that during the 180 day period following the Closing Date, the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of the Partnership, which consent may be withheld by the Partnership in its sole discretion, directly or indirectly, (a) offer, pledge, 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 of the New Common Units or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Units (collectively, the “Lock-Up Units”), or (b) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Lock-Up Units, whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of Common Units or other securities, in cash or otherwise.

 

3.                                      Defined Terms.  Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not defined in this Agreement have the meanings given to such terms in the Contribution Agreement.

 

4.                                      Amendment and Modifications.  This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties to this Agreement and that expressly refers to this Agreement.

 

5.                                      Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, faxed or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), or sent by internationally recognized overnight courier to the parties to this Agreement at the following addresses or facsimile numbers (or at such other address or facsimile number for a party as shall be specified by like notice):  (a) if the Partnership, at the address for the Partnership set forth in the Contribution Agreement and (b) if the Holder, at the address below the name of the Holder on the signature page hereto.  Any such address may be changed at any time by notice given as provided above; provided, that any such notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.  All notices, requests or instructions given in accordance herewith shall be deemed received on the date of delivery, if hand delivered, on the date of receipt, if transmitted by facsimile, three Business Days after the date of mailing, if mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested and one Business Day after the date of sending, if sent by internationally recognized overnight courier.

 

6.                                      Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission or other electronic means) in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more

 

2



 

counterparts have been signed by each of the parties to this Agreement and delivered to the other party, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.

 

7.                                      Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY DISPUTES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY THEREIN, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ITS CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES OR RULES, TO THE EXTENT SUCH PRINCIPLES OR RULES WOULD REQUIRE OR PERMIT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

 

[Signature Page(s) Follow(s)]

 

3



 

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

 

 

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP, as the Partnership

 

 

 

 

By:

USA COMPRESSION GP, LLC

 

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[·], as the Holder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Street Address)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(City, State and Zip Code)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Number of New Common Units)

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

DISTRIBUTION REINVESTMENT PLAN AND LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

 


 


 

EXHIBIT B

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

[See Attached]

 

B-1



 

FINAL FORM

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP,

 

AND THE INVESTORS NAMED HEREIN

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

 

 

1.1

Definitions

1

1.2

Registrable Securities

3

ARTICLE II

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

2.1

Registration

3

2.2

Piggyback Rights

4

2.3

Delay Rights

5

2.4

Underwritten Offerings

6

2.5

Sale Procedures

6

2.6

Cooperation by Holders

9

2.7

Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities

9

2.8

Expenses

10

2.9

Indemnification

10

2.10

Rule 144 Reporting

12

2.11

Transfer or Assignment of Registration Rights

12

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS

 

3.1

Communications

13

3.2

Successor and Assigns

14

3.3

Assignment of Rights

14

3.4

Recapitalization, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting the Units

14

3.5

Aggregation of Registrable Securities

14

3.6

Specific Performance

14

3.7

Counterparts

14

3.8

Headings

14

3.9

Governing Law

14

3.10

Severability of Provisions

14

3.11

Entire Agreement

15

3.12

Amendment

15

3.13

No Presumption

15

3.14

Obligations Limited to Parties to Agreement

15

3.15

Interpretation

15

 

 

 

Schedule A—Investor List; Notice and Contact Information

 

 

i



 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [·], 2013, by and among USA Compression Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), and the Persons set forth on Schedule A hereto (the “Investors” and each individually an “Investor”).

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is made in connection with the entry into the Contribution Agreement, dated August 12, 2013, by and among the Partnership, S&R Compression, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company, and Argonaut Private Equity, L.L.C., an Oklahoma limited liability company (the “Contribution Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Partnership has agreed to provide the registration and other rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the Investors pursuant to the Contribution Agreement.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each party hereto, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

1.1                               Definitions.  Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings given to them in the Contribution Agreement.  The terms set forth below are used herein as so defined:

 

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

 

Agreement” has the meaning specified therefor in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 

Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Units” means common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership.

 

Contribution Agreement” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

 

Effectiveness Period” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.1 of this Agreement.

 

General Partner” means USA Compression GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

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Holder” means the record holder of any Registrable Securities.

 

Included Registrable Securities” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.2(a) of this Agreement.

 

Investor” and “Investors” have the meanings specified therefor in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 

Losses” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.9(a) of this Agreement.

 

Managing Underwriter” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering, the book-running lead manager of such Underwritten Offering.

 

New Common Units” has the meaning specified in the Contribution Agreement.

 

Parity Securities” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.2(b) of this Agreement.

 

Partnership” has the meaning specified therefor in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Registrable Securities” means the New Common Units.

 

Registration Expenses” means all expenses incident to the Partnership’s performance under or compliance with this Agreement to effect the registration of Registrable Securities on the Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.1 or an Underwritten Offering covered under this Agreement, and the disposition of such Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, all registration, filing, securities exchange listing and NYSE fees, all registration, filing, qualification and other fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws, fees of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, fees of transfer agents and registrars, all word processing, duplicating and printing expenses, any transfer taxes and the fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for the Partnership, including the expenses of any special audits or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance.

 

Registration Statement” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.1 of this Agreement.

 

Selling Expenses” means all underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions or similar fees or arrangements allocable to the sale of the Registrable Securities.

 

Selling Holder” means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration statement.

 

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Selling Holder Indemnified Persons” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.9(a) of this Agreement.

 

Underwritten Offering” means an offering (including an offering pursuant to a Registration Statement) in which Common Units are sold to an underwriter on a firm commitment basis for reoffering to the public or an offering that is a “bought deal” with one or more investment banks.

 

1.2                               Registrable Securities.  Any Registrable Security will cease to be a Registrable Security (a) when a registration statement covering such Registrable Security becomes or has been declared effective by the Commission and such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement; (b) when such Registrable Security has been disposed of pursuant to any section of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act; (c) when such Registrable Security is held by the Partnership or one of its subsidiaries; (d) when such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the transferee of such securities pursuant to Section 2.11 hereof or (e) when such Registrable Security becomes eligible for resale without restriction and without the need for current public information pursuant to any section of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act.

 

ARTICLE II
REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

2.1                               Registration.  On the earlier of (a) 30 days following the first date on which the Partnership becomes eligible to use SEC Form S-3 or (b) the first anniversary of the Closing Date, the Partnership shall prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act to permit the public resale of Registrable Securities then outstanding from time to time as permitted by Rule 415 of the Securities Act with respect to all of the Registrable Securities (the “Registration Statement”).  The Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.1 shall be on such appropriate registration form of the Commission as shall be selected by the Partnership so long as it permits the continuous offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act or such other rule as is then applicable.  The Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective on or as soon as practicable after filing.  Any Registration Statement shall provide for the resale pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, the Holders of any and all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement.  The Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.1 to be effective, supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for the resale of all Registrable Securities by the Holders until the earlier of (a) the date on which all Registrable Securities have been sold by the Holders, or (b) the first date all Registrable Securities become eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144(b)(1) under the Securities Act (the “Effectiveness Period”).  The Registration Statement when effective (including the documents incorporated therein by reference) will comply as to form in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and will not 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 (in the case of any prospectus contained

 

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in such Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which a statement is made).  As soon as practicable following the date that the Registration Statement becomes effective, but in any event within two Business Days of such date, the Partnership shall provide the Holders with written notice of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

 

2.2                               Piggyback Rights.

 

(a)                                 Participation.  If the Partnership proposes to undertake a (i) primary Underwritten Offering within three years from the date the Registration Statement becomes or is declared effective or (ii) secondary Underwritten Offering of Common Units by USA Compression Holdings, LLC or its successors, then as soon as practicable following the engagement of counsel by the Partnership to prepare the documents to be used in connection with either clause (i) or clause (ii) above, the Partnership shall give notice (including, but not limited to, notification by electronic mail) of such proposed Underwritten Offering to each Holder (together with its Affiliates) holding at least $25.0 million of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities and such notice shall offer such Holders the opportunity to include in such Underwritten Offering such number of Registrable Securities (the “Included Registrable Securities”) as each such Holder may request in writing; provided, however, that the number of Included Registrable Securities shall at least equal $25.0 million of Registrable Securities; provided, further, that the Partnership shall not be required in connection with clause (ii) above to include the Registrable Securities of the Holders in any registration statement prior to the expiration of the lock-up agreement as set forth in the Distribution Reinvestment and Lock-Up Agreement by and between the Partnership and the holders party thereto; and provided, further, that if the Partnership has been advised by the Managing Underwriter that the inclusion of Registrable Securities for sale for the benefit of the Holders will have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units in the Underwritten Offering, then (A) if no Registrable Securities can be included in the Underwritten Offering in the opinion of the Managing Underwriter, the Partnership shall not be required to offer such opportunity to the Holders or (B) if any Registrable Securities can be included in the Underwritten Offering in the opinion of the Managing Underwriter, then the amount of Registrable Securities to be offered for the accounts of Holders shall be determined based on the provisions of Section 2.2(b).  Any notice required to be provided in this Section 2.2(a) to Holders shall be provided on a Business Day pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof and receipt of such notice shall be confirmed by the Holder.  Each such Holder shall then have two Business Days (or one Business Day in connection with any overnight or bought Underwritten Offering) after notice has been delivered to request in writing the inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Offering.  If no written request for inclusion from a Holder is received within the specified time, each such Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Underwritten Offering.  If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to undertake an Underwritten Offering and prior to the closing of such Underwritten Offering, the Partnership shall determine for any reason not to undertake or to delay such Underwritten Offering, the Partnership may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Selling Holders and, (x) in the case of a determination not to undertake such Underwritten Offering, shall be relieved of its obligation to sell any Included Registrable Securities in connection with such terminated Underwritten Offering, and (y) in the case of a determination to delay such Underwritten Offering, shall be permitted to delay offering any Included Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in the Underwritten Offering.  Any Selling Holder shall have the right to withdraw such Selling Holder’s request for inclusion

 

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of such Selling Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering by giving written notice to the Partnership of such withdrawal at or prior to the time of pricing of such Underwritten Offering.

 

(b)                                 Priority.  If the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters of any proposed Underwritten Offering advises the Partnership that the total amount of Registrable Securities that the Selling Holders and any other Persons intend to include in such offering exceeds the number that can be sold in such offering without being likely to have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units offered or the market for the Common Units, then the Common Units to be included in such Underwritten Offering shall include the number of Registrable Securities that such Managing Underwriter or Underwriters advises the Partnership can be sold without having such adverse effect, with such number to be allocated (i) first, to the Partnership and (ii) second, pro rata among the Selling Holders who have requested participation in such Underwritten Offering and any other holder of securities of the Partnership having rights of registration that are neither expressly senior nor subordinated to the Registrable Securities (the “Parity Securities”).  The pro rata allocations for each Selling Holder who has requested participation in such Underwritten Offering shall be the product of (i) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in such Underwritten Offering multiplied by (ii) the fraction derived by dividing (x) the number of Registrable Securities owned on the Closing Date by such Selling Holder by (y) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities owned on the Closing Date by all Selling Holders plus the aggregate number of Parity Securities owned on the Closing Date by all holders of Parity Securities that are participating in the Underwritten Offering.

 

(c)                                  Termination of Piggyback Registration Rights.  Each Holder’s rights under Section 2.2 shall terminate upon the Holders (together with their Affiliates) ceasing to collectively hold at least 20% of the New Common Units issued to the Investors on the Closing Date.

 

2.3                               Delay Rights.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Partnership may, upon written notice to any Selling Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in the Registration Statement, suspend such Selling Holder’s use of any prospectus which is a part of the Registration Statement (in which event the Holder shall discontinue sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement but may settle any previously made sales of Registrable Securities) if (a) the Partnership is pursuing an acquisition, merger, reorganization, disposition or other similar transaction and the Partnership determines in good faith that the Partnership’s ability to pursue or consummate such a transaction would be materially adversely affected by any required disclosure of such transaction in the Registration Statement or (b) the Partnership has experienced some other material non-public event the disclosure of which at such time, in the good faith judgment of the Partnership, would materially adversely affect the Partnership; provided, however, in no event shall the Selling Holders be suspended from selling Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement for a period that exceeds an aggregate of 60 days in any 180-day period or 90 days in any 365-day period, in each case, exclusive of days covered by any lock-up agreement executed by a Selling Holder in connection with any Underwritten Offering.  Upon disclosure of such information or the termination of the condition described above, the Partnership shall provide prompt notice to the Selling Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in the Registration Statement, and

 

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shall promptly terminate any suspension of sales it has put into effect and shall take such other reasonable actions to permit registered sales of Registrable Securities as contemplated in this Agreement.

 

2.4                               Underwritten Offerings.

 

(a)                                 General Procedures.  In connection with any Underwritten Offering under this Agreement, the Partnership shall be entitled to select the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters.  In connection with an Underwritten Offering contemplated by this Agreement in which a Selling Holder participates, each Selling Holder and the Partnership shall be obligated to enter into an underwriting agreement that contains such representations, covenants, indemnities and other rights and obligations as are customary in underwriting agreements for firm commitment offerings of securities.  No Holder may participate in such Underwritten Offering unless such Holder agrees to sell its Registrable Securities on the basis provided in such underwriting agreement and completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting agreement.  Each Selling Holder may, at its option, require that any or all of the representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, the Partnership to and for the benefit of such underwriters also be made to and for such Selling Holder’s benefit and that any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under such underwriting agreement also be conditions precedent to its obligations.  No Selling Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Partnership or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Selling Holder, its authority to enter into such underwriting agreement and to sell, and its ownership of, the securities being registered on its behalf, its intended method of distribution and any other representation required by Law.  If any Selling Holder disapproves of the terms of an underwriting, such Selling Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by notice to the Partnership and the Managing Underwriter; provided, however, that such withdrawal must be made up to and including the time of pricing of such Underwritten Offering.  No such withdrawal or abandonment shall affect the Partnership’s obligation to pay Registration Expenses.  The Partnership’s management may but shall not be required to participate in a roadshow or similar marketing effort in connection with any Underwritten Offering.

 

(b)                                 No Demand Rights.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Holder shall be entitled to any “demand” rights or similar rights that would require the Partnership to effect an Underwritten Offering solely on behalf of the Holders.

 

2.5                               Sale Procedures.  In connection with its obligations under this Article II, the Partnership will, as expeditiously as possible:

 

(a)                                 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement;

 

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(b)                                 if a prospectus supplement will be used in connection with the marketing of an Underwritten Offering from the Registration Statement and the Managing Underwriter at any time shall notify the Partnership in writing that, in the sole judgment of such Managing Underwriter, inclusion of detailed information to be used in such prospectus supplement is of material importance to the success of the Underwritten Offering of such Registrable Securities, the Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to include such information in such prospectus supplement;

 

(c)                                  furnish to each Selling Holder (i) as far in advance as reasonably practicable before filing the Registration Statement or any supplement or amendment thereto, upon request, copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents proposed to be filed (including exhibits and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations of the Commission), and provide each such Selling Holder the opportunity to object to any information pertaining to such Selling Holder and its plan of distribution that is contained therein and make the corrections reasonably requested by such Selling Holder with respect to such information prior to filing the Registration Statement or supplement or amendment thereto, and (ii) such number of copies of the Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein and any supplements and amendments thereto as such Selling Holder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement;

 

(d)                                 if applicable, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Selling Holders or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, the Managing Underwriter, shall reasonably request; provided, however, that the Partnership will not be required to qualify generally to transact business in any jurisdiction where it is not then required to so qualify or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

 

(e)                                  promptly notify each Selling Holder, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered by any of them under the Securities Act, of (i) the filing of the Registration Statement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement to be used in connection therewith, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and, with respect to such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; and (ii) the receipt of any written comments from the Commission with respect to any filing referred to in clause (i) and any written request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement thereto;

 

(f)                                   immediately notify each Selling Holder, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (i) the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus or prospectus supplement contained in the Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any prospectus contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which a statement is made); (ii) the issuance or express threat of issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; or (iii) the receipt by the Partnership of any

 

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notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction.  Following the provision of such notice, the Partnership agrees to as promptly as practicable amend or supplement the prospectus or prospectus supplement or take other appropriate action so that the prospectus or prospectus supplement does not include 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 in the light of the circumstances then existing and to take such other commercially reasonable action as is necessary to remove a stop order, suspension, threat thereof or proceedings related thereto;

 

(g)                                  upon request and subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations, furnish to each Selling Holder copies of any and all transmittal letters or other correspondence with the Commission or any other governmental agency or self-regulatory body or other body having jurisdiction (including any domestic or foreign securities exchange) relating to such offering of Registrable Securities;

 

(h)                                 in the case of an Underwritten Offering, furnish to the underwriters upon request, (i) an opinion of counsel for the Partnership dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement and (ii) a “cold comfort” letter, dated the pricing date of such Underwritten Offering and a letter of like kind dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, in each case, signed by the independent public accountants who have certified the Partnership’s financial statements included or incorporated by reference into the applicable registration statement, and each of the opinion and the “cold comfort” letter shall be in customary form and covering substantially the same matters as have been customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s counsel and in accountants’ letters delivered to the underwriters in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Partnership and such other matters as such underwriters may reasonably request;

 

(i)                                     otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 promulgated thereunder;

 

(j)                                    make available to the appropriate representatives of the Managing Underwriter and Selling Holders access to such information and Partnership personnel as is reasonable and customary to enable such parties to establish a due diligence defense under the Securities Act; provided, that the Partnership need not disclose any non-public information to any such representative unless and until such representative has entered into a confidentiality agreement with the Partnership;

 

(k)                                 cause all such Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Agreement to be listed on each securities exchange or nationally recognized quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Partnership are then listed;

 

(l)                                     use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be

 

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necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Partnership to enable the Selling Holders to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

 

(m)                             provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities;

 

(n)                                 enter into customary agreements and take such other actions as are reasonably requested by the Selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities; and

 

(o)                                 if requested by a Selling Holder, (i) incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as such Selling Holder reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering and (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment.

 

Each Selling Holder, upon receipt of notice from the Partnership of the happening of any event of the kind described in subsection (f) of this Section 2.5, shall forthwith discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Securities by means of a prospectus or prospectus supplement until such Selling Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by subsection (f) of this Section 2.5 or until it is advised in writing by the Partnership that the use of the prospectus may be resumed and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings incorporated by reference in the prospectus, and, if so directed by the Partnership, such Selling Holder will, or will request the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, to deliver to the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) all copies in their possession or control, other than permanent file copies then in such Selling Holder’s possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.

 

2.6                               Cooperation by Holders.  The Partnership shall have no obligation to include Registrable Securities of a Holder in the Registration Statement or in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.2(a) who has failed to timely furnish such information that the Partnership determines, after consultation with its counsel, is reasonably required in order for the registration statement or prospectus supplement, as applicable, to comply with the Securities Act or to verify the rights of the Holders hereunder.

 

2.7                               Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities.  Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees, during the two year period following the Closing Date, to enter into a customary letter agreement with underwriters providing such Holder will not effect any public sale or distribution of Registrable Securities during the 30 calendar day period beginning on the date of a prospectus or prospectus supplement filed with the Commission with respect to the pricing of any Underwritten Offering, provided, that (a) the duration of the foregoing restrictions shall be no longer than the duration of the shortest restriction generally imposed by the underwriters on the Partnership or the officers, directors or any other Affiliate of the Partnership on whom a restriction is imposed and (b) the restrictions set forth in this Section 2.7

 

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shall not apply to any Registrable Securities that are included in such Underwritten Offering by such Holder.

 

2.8                               Expenses.  The Partnership will pay all reasonable Registration Expenses as determined in good faith, including, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, whether or not any sale is made pursuant to such Underwritten Offering.  Each Selling Holder shall pay its pro rata share of all Selling Expenses in connection with any sale of its Registrable Securities hereunder.  In addition, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.9 hereof, the Partnership shall not be responsible for legal fees incurred by Holders in connection with the exercise of such Holders’ rights hereunder.

 

2.9                               Indemnification.

 

(a)                                 By the Partnership.  In the event of a registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, the Partnership will indemnify and hold harmless each Selling Holder thereunder, its directors, officers, employees and agents and each Person, if any, who controls such Selling Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and its directors, officers, employees or agents (collectively, the “Selling Holder Indemnified Persons”), against any losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) (collectively, “Losses”), joint or several, to which such Selling Holder Indemnified Person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact (in the case of any prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which such statement is made) contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and will reimburse each such Selling Holder Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Loss or actions or proceedings; provided, however, that the Partnership will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished by such Selling Holder Indemnified Person in writing specifically for use in the Registration Statement, or prospectus supplement, as applicable.  Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Selling Holder Indemnified Person, and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Selling Holder.

 

(b)                                 By Each Selling Holder.  Each Selling Holder agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership, the General Partner, its directors, officers, employees and agents and each Person, if any, who controls the Partnership within the meaning of the Securities Act or of the Exchange Act, and its directors, officers, employees and agents, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Partnership to the Selling Holders, but only with respect to information regarding such Selling Holder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Holder expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any

 

10



 

preliminary prospectus, prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof; provided, however, that the liability of each Selling Holder shall not be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of any Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification.

 

(c)                                  Notice.  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party hereunder 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 hereunder, notify the indemnifying party in writing thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party other than under this Section 2.9.  In any action brought against any indemnified party, it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof.  The indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it shall wish, to assume and undertake the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume and undertake the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 2.9 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation and of liaison with counsel so selected; provided, however, that, (i) if the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense or employ counsel reasonably acceptable to the indemnified party or (ii) if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and counsel to the indemnified party shall have concluded that there may be reasonable defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or if the interests of the indemnified party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the indemnifying party, then the indemnified party shall have the right to select a separate counsel and to assume such legal defense and otherwise to participate in the defense of such action, with the reasonable expenses and fees of such separate counsel and other reasonable expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the indemnifying party as incurred.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no indemnifying party shall settle any action brought against any indemnified party with respect to which such indemnified party is entitled to indemnification hereunder without the consent of the indemnified party, unless the settlement thereof imposes no liability or obligation on, and includes a complete and unconditional release from all liability of, the indemnified party.

 

(d)                                 Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.9 is held by a court or government agency of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to any indemnified party or is insufficient to hold them harmless in respect of any Losses, then each such indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Loss in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of such indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however, that in no event shall such Selling Holder be required to contribute an aggregate amount in excess of the dollar amount of proceeds (net of Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification.  The relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other shall be determined

 

11



 

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 has been made by, or relates to, information supplied by such party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this paragraph were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to herein.  The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be deemed to include any legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any Loss that is the subject of this paragraph.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

(e)                                  Other Indemnification.  The provisions of this Section 2.9 shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that an indemnified party may have pursuant to law, equity, contract or otherwise.

 

2.10                        Rule 144 Reporting.  With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission that may permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the Partnership agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to:

 

(a)                                 make and keep public information regarding the Partnership available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times from and after the date hereof;

 

(b)                                 file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Partnership under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at all times from and after the date hereof; and

 

(c)                                  so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish, unless otherwise available via EDGAR, to such Holder forthwith upon request a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Partnership, and such other reports and documents so filed as such Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing such Holder to sell any such securities without registration.

 

2.11                        Transfer or Assignment of Registration Rights.  The rights to cause the Partnership to register Registrable Securities granted to the Investors by the Partnership under this Article II may be transferred or assigned by any Investor to one or more transferees or assignees of Registrable Securities; provided, however, that (a) unless the transferee or assignee is an Affiliate of, and after such transfer or assignment continues to be an Affiliate of, such Investor, the amount of Registrable Securities transferred or assigned to such transferee or assignee shall represent at least $25.0 million of Registrable Securities, (b) the Partnership is given written notice prior to any said transfer or assignment, stating the name and address of each such transferee or assignee and identifying the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned, and (c) each such transferee or assignee

 

12



 

assumes in writing responsibility for its portion of the obligations of such Investor under this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE III
MISCELLANEOUS

 

3.1                               Communications.  All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by facsimile, electronic mail, courier service or personal delivery:

 

(a)                                 if to the Investors:

 

To the respective address listed on Schedule A hereof;

 

(b)                                 if to a transferee of an Investor:

 

To such Holder at the address provided pursuant to Section 2.11 above; and

 

(c)                                  if to the Partnership:

 

USA Compression Partners, LP

100 Congress Avenue, Suite 450

Austin, TX 78701

Attention:                                         J. Gregory Holloway

Facsimile:                                        (512) 473-2616

E-mail:                                                        gholloway@usacompression.com

 

with copies to:

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

1001 Fannin, Suite 2500

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention:                                         E. Ramey Layne

Facsimile:                                        (713) 751-5396

E-mail:                                                        rlayne@velaw.com

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

2801 Via Fortuna, Suite 100

Austin, TX 78746

Attention:                                         Milam F. Newby

Facsimile:                                        (512) 236-3240

E-mail:                                                        mnewby@velaw.com

 

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been received at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; when receipt acknowledged, if sent via

 

13



 

facsimile or sent via Internet electronic mail; and when actually received, if sent by courier service or any other means.

 

3.2                               Successor and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties, including subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities to the extent permitted herein.

 

3.3                               Assignment of Rights.  All or any portion of the rights and obligations of any Investor under this Agreement may be transferred or assigned by such Investor only in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof.

 

3.4                               Recapitalization, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting the Units.  The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to any and all units of the Partnership or any successor or assign of the Partnership (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) that may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the Registrable Securities, and shall be appropriately adjusted for combinations, unit splits, recapitalizations, pro rata distributions of units and the like occurring after the date of this Agreement.

 

3.5                               Aggregation of Registrable Securities.  All Registrable Securities held or acquired by Persons who are Affiliates of one another shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights and applicability of any obligations under this Agreement.

 

3.6                               Specific Performance.  Damages in the event of breach of this Agreement by a party hereto may be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain, and it is therefore agreed that each such Person, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, will have the right to an injunction or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction, enjoining any such breach, and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof, and each of the parties hereto hereby waives any and all defenses it may have on the ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief.  The existence of this right will not preclude any such Person from pursuing any other rights and remedies at law or in equity that such Person may have.

 

3.7                               Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Agreement.

 

3.8                               Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

3.9                               Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

3.10                        Severability of Provisions.  Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of

 

14



 

such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting or impairing the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

3.11                        Entire Agreement.  This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein.  There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the rights granted by the Partnership set forth herein.  This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

3.12                        Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended only by means of a written amendment signed by the Partnership and the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities; provided, however, that no such amendment shall materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holder hereunder without the consent of such Holder.

 

3.13                        No Presumption.  If any claim is made by a party relating to any conflict, omission or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of a particular party or its counsel.

 

3.14                        Obligations Limited to Parties to Agreement.  Each of the Parties hereto covenants, agrees and acknowledges that no Person other than the Investors (and their permitted transferees and assignees) and the Partnership shall have any obligation hereunder and that, notwithstanding that one or more of the Investors may be a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, no recourse under this Agreement or under any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be had against any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the Investors or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the foregoing, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any applicable Law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the Investors or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the foregoing, as such, for any obligations of the Investors under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith or therewith or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligation or its creation, except in each case for any transferee or assignee of an Investor hereunder.

 

3.15                        Interpretation.  Article and Section references are to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified.  All references to instruments, documents, contracts and agreements are references to such instruments, documents, contracts and agreements as the same may be amended, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time, unless otherwise specified.  The word “including” shall mean “including but not limited to.”  Whenever any determination,

 

15



 

consent or approval is to be made or given by an Investor under this Agreement, such action shall be in such Investor’s sole discretion unless otherwise specified.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

16



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.

 

 

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP

 

 

 

 

By:

USA COMPRESSION GP, LLC

 

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S&R COMPRESSION, LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

ARGONAUT PRIVATE EQUITY, L.L.C.

 

 

Its Majority Member

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Stephen R. Mitchell

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[OTHER INVESTORS]

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 



 

SCHEDULE A

 

INVESTOR NAME; NOTICE AND CONTACT INFORMATION

 

[TO COME]

 

Schedule A-1



 

EXHIBIT C

 

KAISER GUARANTY

 

[See Attached]

 

C-1



 

FINAL FORM

 

GUARANTY

 

THIS GUARANTY (the “Guaranty”) dated as of August       , 2013 is executed by the undersigned (the “Guarantor”) for the benefit of USA Compression Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“USAC”), and each other USAC Indemnified Party.  Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Contribution Agreement (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, USAC, S&R Compression, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company (the “Company”), and Argonaut Private Equity, L.L.C., an Oklahoma limited liability company (“Argonaut” and together with the Company, the “S&R Parties”), are parties to the Contribution Agreement dated as of August 12, 2013 (the “Contribution Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company has contributed the Contributed Assets and the Net Cash to USAC or its designee in exchange for Common Units, and USAC or such designee has accepted the Contributed Assets and Net Cash in exchange for Common Units;

 

WHEREAS, the Guarantor is an equity owner of the S&R Parties and acknowledges that the Guarantor will benefit from the Transaction; and

 

WHEREAS, the Guarantor is incurring the obligations hereunder concurrently with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement, including the Transaction.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration for the premises set forth above, as an inducement to USAC to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement, including the Transaction, and as a condition to the obligation of USAC pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, the Guarantor hereby agrees as follows:

 

1.                                      Guarantee.  The Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the USAC Indemnified Parties the full and prompt performance and payment to the USAC Indemnified Parties of all obligations of the S&R Parties pursuant to Article IX of the Contribution Agreement (collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations”).  The Guarantor further covenants to the USAC Indemnified Parties that no event of an assignment or transfer of the Guarantor’s interest in an S&R Party will release the Guarantor from its obligations hereunder.

 

2.                                      Nature of Guaranty.

 

(a)                                 This Guaranty is an absolute, unconditional, continuing guarantee of payment and performance of the Guaranteed Obligations, and, solely to the extent set forth in this paragraph 2, is in no way conditioned upon or contingent upon any attempt to collect from an S&R Party, enforce performance by an S&R Party or on any other condition or contingency.  The obligations and agreements of the Guarantor under paragraph 1 above shall be performed and observed following the failure of an S&R Party (if it remains in existence) to perform or pay any of the Guaranteed Obligations within 5 days (for performance) or 30 days (for payment) of the date required therefor under the Contribution Agreement without requiring, and the Guarantor waives, to the fullest extent it is legally permitted to do so (i) demand for the payment

 



 

or performance of any Guaranteed Obligation or any portion thereof, (ii) notice of the occurrence of default or any event of default under or with respect to any Guaranteed Obligation, (iii) protest of the non-payment or non-performance of any Guaranteed Obligation or any portion thereof or any proof thereof, (iv) notice of presentment, demand and protest, (v) notice of acceptance of any guaranty herein provided for or of the terms and provisions hereof by a USAC Indemnified Party, (vi) notice of any indulgences or extensions granted to an S&R Party or any successor thereto, (vii) any requirement of diligence or promptness in respect of a Guaranteed Obligation or this Guaranty, (viii) any enforcement of or attempt to enforce a Guaranteed Obligation against an S&R Party and (ix) any and all other notices of every kind and description which may be required to be given by any statute or rule of law in any jurisdiction.  The waivers set forth in this paragraph 0 shall be effective notwithstanding the fact that an S&R Party ceases to exist by reason of its liquidation, merger, consolidation or otherwise.

 

(b)                                 To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Guarantor hereby waives and agrees not to assert or take advantage of any rights or defenses based on any rights or defenses of an S&R Party to a Guaranteed Obligation relating to (i) any insolvency or bankruptcy of, or assignment to creditors regarding, an S&R Party or similar action or (ii) any other defense, offset or counterclaim to any liability hereunder that could not be asserted by an S&R Party (the defenses set forth in clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, the “Excluded Defenses” and each an “Excluded Defense”).  For the avoidance of doubt, Guarantor may avail himself of any defense available to an S&R Party in respect of any of Guaranteed Obligation, other than an Excluded Defense (an “S&R Defense”).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty shall not be affected, reduced or defeased by the cessation of existence of an S&R Party, the merger or consolidation of an S&R Party, or the sale, lease or transfer by an S&R Party to any Person of any or all of its properties.

 

(c)                                  To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, one or more successive or concurrent actions may be brought herein by a USAC Indemnified Party against the Guarantor, either in the same action in which any obligor is sued or in separate actions.

 

(d)                                 Any claim against a USAC Indemnified Party to which the Guarantor may be or become entitled (including claims by subrogation or otherwise by reason of any payment or performance by the Guarantor in satisfaction and discharge, in whole or in part, of its obligations under this Guaranty), other than a validly asserted S&R Defense, shall be and hereby is made subject and subordinate to the prior payment or performance in full of the Guaranteed Obligations.  If any claim or action, or action on any judgment, based on this Guaranty is brought against the Guarantor, the Guarantor agrees not to deduct, set off or seek to counterclaim for or recoup any amounts which are or may be owed to the Guarantor by a USAC Indemnified Party.

 

3.                                      Representations and Warranties of the Guarantor.  The Guarantor represents and warrants to USAC as follows:

 

(a)                                 this Guaranty has been duly executed and delivered by the Guarantor and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with its terms (subject to the effects of applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to

 

2



 

or affecting creditors’ rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing);

 

(b)                                 the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty does not contravene or result in the breach of any agreement to which such Guarantor is a party, and does not contravene any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree to which the Guarantor or any of its properties may be subject; and

 

(c)                                  there is no pending or, to the best of the Guarantor’s knowledge, threatened action or proceeding affecting the Guarantor before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator which might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the ability of the Guarantor to perform the Guarantor’s obligations under this Guaranty.

 

4.                                      Expenses.  If a USAC Indemnified Party pursues any remedy against the Guarantor hereunder, the Guarantor shall pay to such USAC Indemnified party, upon demand, all reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by such party in enforcing this Guaranty against the Guarantor, subject to presentment of such evidence of incurrence of such expenses as the Guarantor may reasonably request.

 

5.                                      Assignment.  To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, this Guaranty may not be assigned by the Guarantor and may only be assigned by a USAC Indemnified Party to the extent that the Guaranteed Obligations may be assigned by such USAC Indemnified Party pursuant to the Contribution Agreement.  Subject to the foregoing, this Guaranty (a) shall automatically inure to the benefit of the USAC Indemnified Parties, each of which is a direct third party beneficiary hereof and may enforce this Guaranty directly against the Guarantor and (b) shall be binding upon the successors and heirs of the Guarantor.

 

6.                                      Additional Provisions.  This Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect until the Guaranteed Obligations have been satisfied.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guaranty shall be reinstated if at any time following the termination of this Guaranty under the preceding sentence, any payment to a USAC Indemnified Party by the Guarantor or by any other Person in satisfaction of a Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by such USAC Indemnified Party or any other Person to the Guarantor or such other Person making such payment upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of the Guarantor, such other Person making such payment or otherwise, and is so rescinded or returned, all as though such payment had not been made.

 

7.                                      Amendment.  This Guaranty may be amended only with the written consent of the USAC and the Guarantor.

 

8.                                      Severability.  Any provision of this Guaranty which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining portions hereof or thereof or affecting the validity and enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

9.                                      Governing Law. This Guaranty shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of Texas without regard to conflicts, and may be executed in

 

3



 

any number of multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which shall constitute one agreement.  The parties hereto declare that it is their intention that this Guaranty shall be regarded as made under the laws of the State of Texas and that the internal laws, and not the law of conflicts, of the State of Texas shall be applied in interpreting its provisions in all cases where legal interpretation shall be required.

 

10.                               No Right of Setoff.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Guarantor shall not have any right to set off any obligation owing hereunder against any claim the Guarantor may have against a USAC Indemnified Party.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

4



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Guaranty as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

GUARANTOR:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

George B. Kaiser

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and Agreed:

 

 

 

 

 

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP, as USAC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

USA COMPRESSION GP, LLC

 

 

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

Eric D. Long

 

 

Title:

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

GUARANTY

 


 

 

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Eric D. Long, certify that:

 

1.              I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of USA Compression Partners, LP;

 

2.              Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.              Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.              The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

a)                designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b)                evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

c)                 disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.              The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a)                all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b)                any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

August 14, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Eric D. Long

 

Name:

Eric D. Long

 

Title:

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 


Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Joseph C. Tusa, Jr., certify that:

 

1.              I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of USA Compression Partners, LP;

 

2.              Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.              Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.              The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

a)                designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b)                evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

c)                 disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.              The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a)                all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b)                any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

August 14, 2013

 

 

 

/s/ Joseph C. Tusa, Jr.

 

Name:

Joseph C. Tusa, Jr.

 

Title:

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 


Exhibit 32.1

 

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. §1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of USA Compression Partners, LP (the “Partnership”) for the quarter ended June 30, 2013 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), Eric D. Long, as President and Chief Executive Officer of USA Compression GP, LLC, the general partner of the Partnership’s general partner, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to his knowledge:

 

(1)         the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

(2)         the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership.

 

/s/ Eric D. Long

 

Eric D. Long

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

August 14, 2013

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to the Partnership and will be retained by the Partnership and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 


Exhibit 32.2

 

USA COMPRESSION PARTNERS, LP
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. §1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of USA Compression Partners, LP (the “Partnership”) for the quarter ended June 30, 2013 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), Joseph C. Tusa, Jr., as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of USA Compression GP, LLC, the general partner of the Partnership’s general partner, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to his knowledge:

 

(1)         the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

(2)         the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership.

 

/s/ Joseph C. Tusa, Jr.

 

Joseph C. Tusa, Jr.

 

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

August 14, 2013

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to the Partnership and will be retained by the Partnership and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.