EX-10.1




 Exhibit 10.1 
 CONTRIBUTION, CONVEYANCE AND ASSUMPTION 
 AGREEMENT 

By and Among 
 TALLGRASS ENERGY PARTNERS, LP, 
 TALLGRASS MLP GP, LLC, 

TALLGRASS DEVELOPMENT, LP, 
 TALLGRASS DEVELOPMENT GP, LLC, 
 TALLGRASS GP HOLDINGS, LLC,

 TALLGRASS OPERATIONS, LLC, 
 TALLGRASS INTERSTATE GAS TRANSMISSION, LLC, 
 TALLGRASS MIDSTREAM, LLC,

 And 
 TALLGRASS MLP OPERATIONS, LLC 
 Dated as of
            , 2013 








 CONTRIBUTION, CONVEYANCE AND ASSUMPTION 

AGREEMENT 

This Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement, dated as of
            , 2013 (this “Agreement”), is by and among Tallgrass Energy Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), Tallgrass MLP GP,
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “General Partner”), Tallgrass Development, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Tallgrass Development”), Tallgrass Development GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (the “Development GP”), Tallgrass GP Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“GP Holdings”), Tallgrass Operations, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TO”), Tallgrass
Interstate Gas Transmission, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company, (“TIGT”), Tallgrass Midstream, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TMID”), and Tallgrass MLP Operations, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“OLLC”). The above-named entities are sometimes referred to in this Agreement each as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.” Capitalized terms used herein shall have the
meanings assigned to such terms in Article I. 
 RECITALS 

WHEREAS, the General Partner and TO have formed the Partnership, pursuant to the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act
(the “Delaware LP Act”), for the purpose of engaging in any business activity that is approved by the General Partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware LP Act. 

WHEREAS, in order to accomplish the objectives and purposes in the preceding recital, each of the following actions has been taken
prior to the date hereof: 
  

	 	1.	The members of Development GP formed GP Holdings under the terms of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “Delaware LLC Act”) and contributed
their interest in Development GP to GP Holdings in exchange for identical membership interests in GP Holdings. 

  

	 	2.	TO formed the General Partner under the terms of the Delaware LLC Act and contributed $1,000 for all of the membership interests in the General Partner.


  

	 	3.	The General Partner and TO formed the Partnership under the terms of the Delaware LP Act and contributed $20 and $980, respectively, in exchange for a 2.0% general
partner interest (the “Initial General Partner Interest”) and a 98.0% limited partner interest (the “Initial Limited Partner Interest”), respectively, in the Partnership. 


 

	 	4.	TO formed OLLC under the terms of the Delaware LLC Act. 

 WHEREAS, concurrently with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, each of the following transactions will occur at the times specified hereunder: 

 

	 	1.	TO will contribute its 100% membership interest in each of TIGT and TMID to OLLC in exchange for the continuation of its 100% membership interest in OLLC and
OLLC’s assumption of $[400] million of debt (the “Assumed Debt”) of TO under the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2012, among TO, Tallgrass Development, the Lenders Party thereto and Barclays Bank PLC, as
administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Credit Agreement”). 


  
 1 










	 	2.	TO will contribute a 2.0% interest in OLLC to the General Partner as a capital contribution (the “OLLC 2.0% Interest”). 


 

	 	3A.	The General Partner will contribute the OLLC 2.0% Interest to the Partnership as a capital contribution in exchange for
(i)         general partner units in the Partnership representing a continuation of its 2.0% general partner interest in the Partnership and (ii) the Incentive Distribution Rights in the Partnership.


  

	 	3B.	TO will contribute the remaining 98% membership interest in OLLC to the Partnership as a capital contribution in exchange for
(i)         Common Units representing limited partner interests with a     % limited partner interest in the Partnership and
(ii)         Subordinated Units representing limited partner interests with a     % limited partner interest in the Partnership. 


 

	 	4.	The Partnership will redeem the Initial General Partner Interest and the Initial Limited Partner Interest and will refund the General Partner’s initial
contribution of $20, TO’s initial contribution of $980, as well as any interest or other profit that may have resulted from the investment or other use of such initial capital contributions to the General Partner and TO, respectively, in
proportion to such initial contribution. 

  

	 	5.	TO will convey 100% of the membership interest in the General Partner to Tallgrass Development. 


 

	 	6.	Tallgrass Development will convey 100% of the membership interest in the General Partner to Development GP. 


 

	 	7.	Development GP will convey 100% of the membership interest in the General Partner to GP Holdings. 


 

	 	8.	The agreements of limited partnership and the limited liability company agreements of the aforementioned entities will be amended and restated to the extent necessary
to reflect the applicable matters set forth above and contained in this Agreement. 

 WHEREAS, the members
or partners of the Parties have taken all partnership and limited liability company action, as the case may be, required to approve the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. 

WHEREAS, at the Effective Time, the public, through the Underwriters, will purchase from the Partnership for
$         in cash, less the amount of $         payable to the Underwriters after taking into account the Underwriters’ discount of
    %,         Common Units owned by the Partnership on such date (representing a     % limited partner interest in the Partnership). 

WHEREAS, at the Effective Time, the Partnership will (i) pay the Structuring Fee to Barclays Capital Inc. and Citigroup
Global Markets Inc., (ii) pay the transaction expenses, estimated to be approximately $         and (iii) contribute $         million to OLLC.


  
 2 









 WHEREAS, at the Effective Time, OLLC will use the
$         million received from the Partnership to repay $         million of Assumed Debt. 

WHEREAS, at the Effective Time, the Partnership will (i) enter into a new
$         million credit facility with         (the “New Credit Agreement”) and (ii) borrow
$         million pursuant to the New Credit Agreement and use the proceeds of the New Credit Agreement to (a) repay the remaining $         million
balance owing under the Assumed Debt and (b) make a $         million cash payment to TO in order to reimburse Tallgrass Development for a portion of the capital expenditures made by Tallgrass
Development to purchase TIGT and TMID. 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, representations,
warranties and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows: 
 ARTICLE I 

DEFINITIONS 
 The terms set forth below in this Article I shall have the meanings ascribed to them below or in the part of this Agreement referred to below: 

“Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble. 

“Assumed Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals. 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference herein to a
specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law. 
 “Common Units” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement. 
 “Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 

“Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals. 

“Delaware LP Act” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals. 

“Delaware LLC Act” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals. 

“Development GP” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble. 

“Effective Time” means immediately prior to the closing of the initial public offering pursuant to the Underwriting
Agreement. 
 “General Partner” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble. 

“GP Holdings” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble. 

“Incentive Distribution Rights” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement. 

  
 3 









 “Initial General Partner Interest” has the meaning assigned to such term in
the recitals. 
 “Initial Limited Partner Interest” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals.

 “New Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals. 

“OLLC” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble. 

“OLLC 2.0% Interest” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals. 

“Option Period” shall mean the period from the date hereof through
            , 2013. 
 “Over-Allotment Option” means
the option granted to the Underwriters by the Partnership pursuant to Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement to purchase up to         additional Common Units during the Option Period to cover
over-allotments. 
 “Party” and “Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in the
preamble. 
 “Partnership” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble. 

“Partnership Agreement” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Tallgrass Energy
Partners, LP dated as of             , 2013. 
 “Registration
Statement” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Commission (Registration No. 333-                    ), as
amended and effective at the Effective Time. 
 “Structuring Fee” means a fee equal to     %
of the gross proceeds of the sale of Common Units pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, including pursuant to any exercise of the Over-Allotment Option. 
 “Subordinated Units” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement. 
 “Tallgrass Development” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble. 
 “TO” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble. 

“TIGT” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble. 

“TMID” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble. 

“Underwriters” means those underwriters listed in the Underwriting Agreement. 

“Underwriting Agreement” means that certain Underwriting Agreement between Barclays Capital Inc. and Citigroup Global
Markets Inc., as representatives of the Underwriters, the General Partner, the Partnership and Tallgrass Development dated as of             , 2013. 

  
 4 









 ARTICLE II 
 CONTRIBUTION, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND DISTRIBUTIONS 
 The following shall be
completed immediately following the Effective Time in the order set forth herein: 
 Section 2.1 Contribution by TO of
its 100% membership interest in each of TIGT and TMID to OLLC. TO hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets over and delivers to OLLC, its successors and its assigns, for its and their own use forever, all right,
title and interest in and to its 100% membership interest in each of TIGT and TMID as a capital contribution, in exchange for the continuation of its 100% membership interest in OLLC and OLLC’s assumption of the Assumed Debt, and OLLC hereby
accepts the 100% membership interest in each of TIGT and TMID and agrees to assume the Assumed Debt. 
 Section 2.2
Contribution by TO of the OLLC 2.0% Interest to the General Partner. TO hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets over and delivers to the General Partner, its successors and its assigns, for its and their own use
forever, all right, title and interest in and to the OLLC 2.0% Interest as a capital contribution, in exchange for the continuation of its 100% ownership interest in the General Partner, and the General Partner hereby accepts the OLLC 2.0% Interest.

 Section 2.3 Contribution by the General Partner of the OLLC 2.0% Interest to the Partnership. The General Partner
hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets over and delivers to the Partnership, its successors and its assigns, for its and their own use forever, all right, title and interest in and to the OLLC 2.0% Interest as a
capital contribution, in exchange for (i)         general partner units in the Partnership representing a continuation of its 2.0% general partner interest in the Partnership and (ii) the Incentive
Distribution Rights in the Partnership, and the Partnership hereby accepts the OLLC 2.0% Interest. 
 Section 2.4
Contribution by TO of its 98% membership interest in OLLC to the Partnership. TO hereby grants, contributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets over and delivers to the Partnership, its successors and its assigns, for its and their own
use forever, all right, title and interest in and to its 98% membership interest in OLLC as a capital contribution, in exchange for (i)         Common Units representing limited partner interests with a
    % limited partner interest in the Partnership and (ii)         Subordinated Units representing limited partner interests with a     % limited partner interest
in the Partnership, and the Partnership hereby accepts the 98% membership interest in OLLC. 
 Section 2.5 Redemption of
the Initial General Partner Interest and the Initial Limited Partner Interest. For and in consideration of the payment by the Partnership of $20 to the General Partner and $980 to TO as a refund of their respective initial contribution to the
Partnership, along with 2.0% and 98.0%, respectively, of any interest or profit that resulted from the investment or other use of such capital contributions, the Partnership hereby redeems the Initial General Partner Interest and the Initial Limited
Partner Interest. 

  
 5 









 Section 2.6 Conveyance by TO of its 100% membership interest in the General Partner to
Tallgrass Development. TO hereby grants, distributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets over and delivers to Tallgrass Development, its successors and its assigns, for its and their own use forever, all right, title and interest in and
to 100% of the membership interests in the General Partner, and Tallgrass Development hereby accepts the 100% membership interest in the General Partner. 
 Section 2.7 Conveyance by Tallgrass Development of its 100% membership interest in the General Partner to Development GP. Tallgrass Development hereby grants, distributes, bargains, conveys,
assigns, transfers, sets over and delivers to Development GP, its successors and its assigns, for its and their own use forever, all right, title and interest in and to 100% of the membership interests in the General Partner, and Development GP
hereby accepts the 100% membership interest in the General Partner. 
 Section 2.8 Conveyance by Development GP of its
100% membership interest in the General Partner to GP Holdings. Development GP hereby grants, distributes, bargains, conveys, assigns, transfers, sets over and delivers to GP Holdings, its successors and its assigns, for its and their own use
forever, all right, title and interest in and to 100% of the membership interests in the General Partner, and GP Holdings hereby accepts the 100% membership interest in the General Partner. 

Section 2.9 Underwriters’ Cash Contribution. The Parties acknowledge that the Underwriters have, pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement, made a capital contribution to the Partnership of approximately $         in cash ($         net to the Partnership after the
underwriting discount of $         ) in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership to the Underwriters of              Common Units,
representing a     % limited partner interest in the Partnership. 
 Section 2.10 Payment of the
Structuring Fee. The Partnership agrees to pay Barclays Capital Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. the applicable Structuring Fee. 
 Section 2.11 Payment of Transaction Expenses. The Parties acknowledge the payment by the Partnership of transaction expenses in the amount of approximately
$        . 
 Section 2.12 Contribution by the Partnership of
$         million to OLLC. The Partnership agrees to pay OLLC $         million, and OLLC hereby agrees to use the
$         million received from the Partnership to repay $         million of the Assumed Debt. 

Section 2.13 Partnership’s New Credit Agreement. The Partnership agrees to (i) enter into the New Credit Agreement
and (ii) borrow $         million pursuant to the New Credit Agreement and use the proceeds of the New Credit Agreement to (a) pay $         million
to OLLC, which OLLC hereby agrees to use to repay the remaining balance of the Assumed Debt, and (b) pay $         million to TO, in order to reimburse Tallgrass Development for a portion of the
capital expenditures made by Tallgrass Development to purchase TIGT and TMID. 

  
 6 









 ARTICLE III 
 ADDITIONAL TRANSACTIONS 
 Section 3.1 Purchase of Additional Common
Units. If the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in whole or in part, (i) the Underwriters will contribute additional cash to the Partnership in exchange for up to an additional
            Common Units on the basis of the initial public offering price per Common Unit set forth in the Registration Statement less the amount of underwriting discounts and applicable
Structuring Fee and (ii) the Partnership will pay TO the additional cash received from the Underwriters pursuant to the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option in order to reimburse Tallgrass Development for a portion of the capital expenditures
made by Tallgrass Development to purchase TIGT and TMID. 
 Section 3.2 Issuance of Additional Common Units. Upon
the expiration of the Option Period, the Partnership will issue to Tallgrass Development a number of additional Common Units that is equal to the excess, if any, of
(x)             over (y) the aggregate number of Common Units, if any, actually purchased by and issued to the Underwriters pursuant to each exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.

 ARTICLE IV 
 FURTHER ASSURANCES 
 From time to time after the Effective Time, and
without any further consideration, the Parties agree to execute, acknowledge and deliver all such additional deeds, assignments, bills of sale, conveyances, instruments, notices, releases, acquittances and other documents, and to do all such other
acts and things, all in accordance with applicable law, as may be necessary or appropriate (i) more fully to assure that the applicable Parties own all of the properties, rights, titles, interests, estates, remedies, powers and privileges
granted by this Agreement, or which are intended to be so granted, (ii) more fully and effectively to vest in the applicable Parties and their respective successors and assigns beneficial and record title to the interests contributed and
assigned by this Agreement or intended to be so and (iii) more fully and effectively to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement. 
 ARTICLE V 
 EFFECTIVE TIME 

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, none of the provisions of Article II of this Agreement shall be
operative or have any effect until the Effective Time, at which time all the provisions of Article II of this Agreement shall be effective and operative in accordance with Article VI, without further action by any Party hereto. 

ARTICLE VI 

MISCELLANEOUS 
 Section 6.1 Order of Completion of Transactions. The transactions provided for in Article II and Article III of this Agreement shall be completed immediately following the Effective Time in
the following order: first, the transactions provided for in Article II shall be completed in the order set forth therein; and second, following the completion of the transactions provided for in Article II, the transactions provided for in Article
III, if they occur, shall be completed. 

  
 7 









 Section 6.2 Headings; References; Interpretation. All Article and Section
headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of
similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole, and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. All references herein to Articles and Sections shall, unless the context requires a different construction,
be deemed to be references to the Articles and Sections of this Agreement. All personal pronouns used in this Agreement, whether used in the masculine, feminine or neuter gender, shall include all other genders, and the singular shall include the
plural and vice versa. The use herein of the word “including” following any general statement, term or matter shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following
such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation”, “but not limited to”, or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer
to all other items or matters that could reasonably fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter. 
 Section 6.3 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and assigns. 

Section 6.4 No Third Party Rights. The provisions of this Agreement are intended to bind the Parties as to each other and are
not intended to and do not create rights in any other person or confer upon any other person any benefits, rights or remedies, and no person is or is intended to be a third party beneficiary of any of the provisions of this Agreement. 

Section 6.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all
signatory Parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same instrument. 
 Section 6.6 Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be subject to and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. Each Party hereby submits to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts
in the State of Kansas and to venue in the state courts in Johnson County, Kansas and in the federal courts of Wyandotte County, Kansas. 
 Section 6.7 Severability. If any of the provisions of this Agreement are held by any court of competent jurisdiction to contravene, or to be invalid under, the laws of any political body
having jurisdiction over the subject matter hereof, such contravention or invalidity shall not invalidate the entire Agreement. Instead, this Agreement shall be construed as if it did not contain the particular provisions or provisions held to be
invalid and an equitable adjustment shall be made and necessary provision added so as to give effect to the intention of the Parties as expressed in this Agreement at the time of execution of this Agreement. 

Section 6.8 Amendment or Modification. This Agreement may be amended or modified from time to time only by the written
agreement of all the Parties. Each such instrument shall be reduced to writing and shall be designated on its face as an amendment to this Agreement. 

  
 8 









 Section 6.9 Integration. This Agreement and the instruments referenced herein
supersede all previous understandings or agreements among the Parties, whether oral or written, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and such instruments. This Agreement and such instruments contain the entire understanding of the
Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. No understanding, representation, promise or agreement, whether oral or written, is intended to be or shall be included in or form part of this Agreement unless it is contained in a
written amendment hereto executed by the parties hereto after the date of this Agreement. 
 Section 6.10 Deed; Bill of
Sale; Assignment. To the extent required and permitted by applicable law, this Agreement shall also constitute a “deed,” “bill of sale” or “assignment” of the assets and interests referenced herein. 

[Signature Pages Follow] 

  
 9 









 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties to this Agreement have caused it to be duly executed
as of the date first above written. 
  

			
	TALLGRASS ENERGY PARTNERS, LP
		
	By:	 	 Tallgrass MLP GP, LLC,
 its
general partner

		
	By:	 	 
	Name:
	Title:
	
	TALLGRASS MLP GP, LLC
		
	By:	 	 
	Name:
	Title:
	
	TALLGRASS DEVELOPMENT, LP
		
	By:	 	 Tallgrass Development GP, LLC,

its general partner

		
	By:	 	 
	Name:
	Title:
	
	TALLGRASS DEVELOPMENT GP, LLC
		
	By:	 	 
	Name:
	Title:


 Signature Page to Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement 









			
	TALLGRASS GP HOLDINGS, LLC
		
	By:	 	 
	Name:
	Title:
	
	TALLGRASS OPERATIONS, LLC
		
	By:	 	 
	Name:
	Title:
	
	TALLGRASS INTERSTATE GAS TRANSMISSION, LLC
		
	By:	 	 
	Name:
	Title:
	
	TALLGRASS MIDSTREAM, LLC
		
	By:	 	 
	Name:
	Title:
	
	TALLGRASS MLP OPERATIONS, LLC
		
	By:	 	 
	Name:
	Title:


 Signature Page to Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement