Document:

exv10w17

 

 

FORM OF

GENERAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY

                    , 2007

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Page
	ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS
	 	2
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 1.1
	 	Definitions	 	2
	Section 1.2
	 	Construction	 	11
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 2 ORGANIZATION
	 	11
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 2.1
	 	Formation	 	11
	Section 2.2
	 	Name	 	12
	Section 2.3
	 	Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office in the United States; Other Offices	 	12
	Section 2.4
	 	Purposes	 	13
	Section 2.5
	 	Foreign Qualification	 	13
	Section 2.6
	 	Term	 	13
	Section 2.7
	 	Business Opportunities; No Implied Duty or Obligation	 	13
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 3 PARTNERSHIP; DISPOSITIONS OF INTERESTS
	 	13
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 3.1
	 	Initial Partners	 	13
	Section 3.2
	 	Representations, Warranties and Covenants	 	14
	Section 3.3
	 	Dispositions and Encumbrances of Partnership Interests	 	14
	Section 3.4
	 	Creation of Additional Partnership Interests	 	17
	Section 3.5
	 	Access to Information	 	17
	Section 3.6
	 	Confidential Information	 	18
	Section 3.7
	 	Limitation of Liabilities of Partners	 	20
	Section 3.8
	 	Use of Partners’ Names and Trademarks	 	20
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 4 CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
	 	21
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 4.1
	 	Capital Contributions	 	21
	Section 4.2
	 	Loans	 	21
	Section 4.3
	 	No Other Contribution Obligations	 	22
	Section 4.4
	 	Return of Contributions	 	22
	Section 4.5
	 	Capital Accounts	 	22
	Section 4.6
	 	Failure to Make a Capital Contribution	 	23
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 5 DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS
	 	25
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 5.1
	 	Distributions	 	25
	Section 5.2
	 	Allocations for Capital Account Purposes	 	26
	Section 5.3
	 	Allocations for Tax Purposes	 	28
	Section 5.4
	 	Varying Interests	 	28
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 6 MANAGEMENT
	 	28
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 6.1
	 	Generally	 	28
	Section 6.2
	 	Management Committee	 	28
	Section 6.3
	 	Master Services Agreement	 	36

i 

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Page
	Section 6.4
	 	Conflicts of Interest; Outside Activities	 	36
	Section 6.5
	 	Indemnification for Breach of Agreement	 	37
	Section 6.6
	 	General Regulatory Matters	 	37
	Section 6.7
	 	Disclaimer Of Duties	 	38
	Section 6.8
	 	Sole Discretion	 	38
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 7 TAXES	 	38
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 7.1
	 	Tax Returns	 	38
	Section 7.2
	 	Tax Elections	 	38
	Section 7.3
	 	Tax Matters Partner	 	39
	Section 7.4
	 	Amounts Withheld	 	40
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 8 BOOKS, RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS
	 	40
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 8.1
	 	Maintenance of Books; Reports	 	40
	Section 8.2
	 	Reports	 	40
	Section 8.3
	 	Bank Accounts	 	40
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 9 WITHDRAWAL
	 	40
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 9.1
	 	No Right of Withdrawal	 	40
	Section 9.2
	 	Deemed Withdrawal	 	40
	Section 9.3
	 	Effect of Withdrawal	 	41
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 10 DISPUTE RESOLUTION
	 	42
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 10.1
	 	Disputes	 	42
	Section 10.2
	 	Negotiation to Resolve Disputes	 	42
	Section 10.3
	 	Selection of Arbitrator	 	43
	Section 10.4
	 	Conduct of Arbitration	 	43
	Section 10.5
	 	Compliance with Delaware Arbitration Act	 	44
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 11 DISSOLUTION, WINDING UP AND TERMINATION
	 	44
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 11.1
	 	Dissolution	 	44
	Section 11.2
	 	Winding Up and Termination	 	45
	Section 11.3
	 	Deficit Capital Accounts	 	46
	Section 11.4
	 	Statement of Cancellation	 	46
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 12 GENERAL PROVISIONS
	 	46
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Section 12.1
	 	Offset	 	46
	Section 12.2
	 	Notices	 	46
	Section 12.3
	 	Entire Agreement; Superseding Effect	 	47
	Section 12.4
	 	Effect of Waiver or Consent	 	47
	Section 12.5
	 	Amendment or Restatement	 	47
	Section 12.6
	 	Binding Effect	 	47
	Section 12.7
	 	Governing Law; Severability	 	47
	Section 12.8
	 	Further Assurances	 	48
	Section 12.9
	 	Waiver of Certain Rights	 	48
	Section 12.10
	 	Counterparts	 	48

ii 

 

			
	ANNEX I	 	Partners, Percentage Interests, Representatives, Alternate Representatives and Parents

EXHIBITS:

     A — Initial Facilities

iii 

 

GENERAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY

     This GENERAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OF SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY, dated as of ___,
2007 [Note: to be conversion date] (this “Agreement”), is adopted, executed and agreed to,
for good and valuable consideration, by EP SNG Holding Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited
liability company (“EP SNG”), and EPPP SNG GP Holdings, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company (“EPPP SNG”), each as a general partner of the Partnership. Capitalized terms used in this
Agreement and not defined elsewhere have the meanings given to them in Article 1 below.

RECITALS

     WHEREAS, Southern Natural Gas Company, a Delaware corporation (“SNGC”), owned and operated an
interstate natural gas pipeline system and, through its subsidiaries, conducted other businesses;
and

     WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 266 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) and
Section 15-901 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Partnership Act (“DRUPA”), on the date hereof, SNGC
was converted (the “Conversion”) into a Delaware general partnership upon the compliance by SNGC
with the provisions of Section 266 of the DGCL and Section 15-901 of DRUPA and the filing with the
Secretary of State of Delaware in accordance with Section 15-901 of DRUPA of a certificate of
conversion to a Delaware general partnership and a statement of partnership existence in accordance
with DRUPA Section 15-303; and

     WHEREAS, upon the filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware of such certificate of
conversion to partnership and statement of partnership existence SNGC was converted into the
Partnership, with the Partnership’s existence deemed in accordance with DRUPA Section 15-901(d) to
have commenced on the date that SNGC commenced its existence as a Delaware corporation; and

     WHEREAS, pursuant to this Agreement and the Conversion, the stockholders of SNGC became
general partners of the Partnership, all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock in
SNGC were converted into Partnership Interests in the Partnership, and the stockholders of SNGC
became the owners of all of the Partnership Interests in the Partnership, each holding the
Percentage Interest set forth opposite its name on Annex I hereto.

     WHEREAS, this Agreement, as it may be amended, modified, superseded or restated, is intended
to bind all Partners from time to time and the Partnership;

     NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the Partners agree as follows:

 

 

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

     Section 1.1 Definitions.

     As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below or set
forth in the Sections referred to below:

     “AAA” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.2(c).

     “Acquisition Proposal” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.3(a).

     “Additional Contributing Partners” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
4.6(a).

     “Additional Contribution” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 4.6(a).

     “Adjusted Capital Account” means, with respect to any Partner, the balance, if any, in such
Partner’s Capital Account as of the end of the relevant fiscal year, after giving effect to the
following adjustments:

     (i) Credit to such Capital Account any amounts which such Partner is obligated to
restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or pursuant to Treasury Regulation
§1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) or is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate
sentences of Treasury Regulations §1.704-2(g)(1) and §1.704-2(i)(5);

     (ii) Debit to such Capital Account the items described in Treasury Regulation
§§1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6).

     The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions
of Treasury Regulations §1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

     “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, (a) each entity that such Person Controls; (b)
each Person that Controls such Person, including, in the case of a Partner, the Partner’s Parent;
and (c) each entity that is under common Control with the Person, including, in the case of a
Partner, each entity that is Controlled by the Partner’s Parent; provided, that with respect to any
Partner, an Affiliate shall include (y) a limited partnership or a Person Controlled by a limited
partnership if a general partner of the limited partnership is Controlled by the Partner’s Parent,
or (z) a limited liability company or a Person controlled by a limited liability company if the
managing member of the limited liability company is Controlled by such Partner’s Parent; provided
further, for purposes of this Agreement the Partnership and its Subsidiaries (if any) shall not be
an Affiliate of any Partner.

     “Affiliate’s Outside Activities” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 6.4(d).

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

     “Allocation Regulations” shall mean Treasury Regulation §§1.704-1(b), 1.704-2 and 1.704-3
(including any temporary regulations) as such regulations may be amended and in effect from time to
time and any corresponding provision of succeeding regulations.

     “Alternate Representative” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 6.2(a)(ii).

     “Arbitration Notice” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.2(c).

     “Arbitrator” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.3(a).

     “Assignee” means any Person that acquires a Partnership Interest or any portion of a
Partnership Interest through a Disposition; provided, however, that an Assignee shall have no right
to be admitted to the Partnership as a Partner except with the prior written approval of the
Management Committee. The Assignee of a liquidated or wound up Partner is the stockholder,
partner, member or other equity owner or owners of the liquidated or wound up Partner to which that
Partner’s Partnership Interest is assigned by the Person conducting the liquidation or winding up
of that Partner. The Assignee of a Bankrupt Partner is (a) the Person or Persons (if any) to whom
such Bankrupt Partner’s Partnership Interest is assigned by order of the bankruptcy court or other
Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over such Bankruptcy, or (b) in the event of a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors, the creditor to which such Partnership Interest is
assigned.

     “Authorizations” means licenses, certificates, permits, orders, approvals, determinations and
authorizations from Governmental Authorities having valid jurisdiction.

     “Available Cash” means, with respect to any Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation Date, the
following, without duplication:

     (a) the sum of (i) all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries (or
the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that
are not wholly owned) on hand at the end of such Quarter, and (ii) if the Management Committee so
determines, all or any portion of any additional cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership and
its Subsidiaries (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case
of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash
with respect to such Quarter resulting from Working Capital Borrowings made subsequent to the end
of such Quarter, less

     (b) the amount of any cash reserves established by the Management Committee (or the
Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly
owned) to (i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership and its
Subsidiaries (including reserves for any of the following of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries:
(A) future maintenance capital expenditures, (B) anticipated future credit needs and (C) possible
refunds of collected rates subject to refund or reasonably likely to be refunded as a result of a
settlement or hearing relating to FERC rate proceedings) subsequent to such Quarter or (ii) comply
with applicable Law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt

3

 

instrument or other agreement or obligation to which the Partnership or any Subsidiary is a
party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject;

provided, however, that disbursements made by the Partnership or any Subsidiary or cash reserves
established, increased or reduced by the Partnership or any Subsidiary after the end of such
Quarter but on or before the date of the determination of Available Cash with respect to such
Quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of
determining Available Cash, within such Quarter if the Management Committee so determines.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Available Cash” with respect to the Quarter in which the
Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.

     “Bankruptcy” or “Bankrupt” means, with respect to any Person, (a) that Person (i) makes a
general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (ii) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition; (iii)
becomes the subject of an order for relief or is declared insolvent in any federal or state
bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings; (iv) files a petition or answer seeking for that Person a
reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief
under any Law; (v) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material
allegations of a petition filed against that Person in a proceeding of the type described in
subclauses (i) through (iv) of this clause (a); or (vi) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the
appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of that Person or of all or any substantial part
of that Person’s properties; or (b) against that Person, a proceeding seeking reorganization,
arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any Law
has been commenced and 120 Days have expired without dismissal thereof or with respect to which,
without that Person’s consent or acquiescence, a trustee, receiver or liquidator of that Person or
of all or any substantial part of that Person’s properties has been appointed and 90 Days have
expired without the appointment’s having been vacated or stayed, or 90 Days have expired after the
date of expiration of a stay, if the appointment has not previously been vacated.

     “Breaching Partner” means a Partner that (i) has committed a failure or breach of the type
described in the definition of “Default,” (ii) has received a notice of the type described in the
definition of “Default,” and (iii) has not cured the failure or breach, but as to which the
applicable cure period set forth in the definition of “Default” has not yet expired.

     “Business Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday
recognized as such by the government of the United States or the State of Alabama, New York or
Texas shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

     “Capital Account” means the capital account maintained by the Partnership for each Partner in
accordance with Section 4.5.

     “Capital Budget” means the annual capital budget for the Partnership that is approved (or
deemed approved) pursuant to Section 6.2(h)(ii)(C).

     “Capital Call” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.1(a).

4

 

     “Capital Contribution” means any cash, cash equivalents or property that a Partner contributes
to the Partnership. Any reference in this Agreement to the Capital Contribution of a Partner shall
include a Capital Contribution of its predecessors in interest.

     “Carrying Value” means (a) with respect to property contributed to the Partnership, the fair
market value of such property at the time of contribution reduced (but not below zero) by all
depreciation, depletion (computed as a separate item of deduction), amortization and cost recovery
deductions charged to the Partners’ Capital Accounts, (b) with respect to any property whose value
is adjusted pursuant to the Allocation Regulations, the adjusted value of such property reduced
(but not below zero) by all depreciation and cost recovery deductions charged to the Partner’s
Capital Accounts and (c) with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such
property for federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination.

     “Certificate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.1.

     “Claim” means any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (joint or several), expenses
(including legal fees and expenses), judgments, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts
arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings (whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative), deficiencies, levies, duties, imposts, remediation and cleanup
costs and natural resources damages.

     “Closing Date” means the date of the closing of the initial public offering of common limited
partner interests by the MLP.

     “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.

     “Confidential Information” means information and data (including all copies) that is furnished
or submitted by any of the Partners or their Affiliates, whether oral, written or electronic, to
the other Partners or their Affiliates in connection with the operations of the Partnership.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Confidential Information” shall not include any
information that:

     (a) is in the public domain at the time of its disclosure or thereafter, other than as a
result of a disclosure directly or indirectly by a Partner or its Affiliates in contravention of
this Agreement;

     (b) as to any Partner or its Affiliates, was in the possession of such Partner or its
Affiliates prior to the execution of any confidentiality agreements related to the Facilities or
this Agreement; or

     (c) has been independently acquired or developed by a Partner or its Affiliates without
violating any of the obligations of that Partner or its Affiliates under any applicable agreement.

     “Contributing Partner” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.6(a).

5

 

     “Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, of
the following:

     (a) (i) in the case of a corporation, 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities
thereof; (ii) in the case of a limited liability company, general partnership or venture, the right
to 25% or more of the distributions therefrom (including liquidating distributions); (iii) in the
case of a trust or estate, including a business or statutory trust, 50% or more of the beneficial
interest therein; and (iv) in the case of any other entity, 50% or more of the economic or
beneficial interest therein; provided, however, in the case of a limited partnership, “Control”
shall mean possession, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, of, (A) in the
case where the general partner of such limited partnership is a corporation, ownership of 50% or
more of the outstanding voting securities of such corporate general partner, (B) in the case where
the general partner of such limited partnership is a partnership, limited liability company or
other entity (other than a corporation or limited partnership), the right to 25% or more of the
distributions from such general partner entity, and (C) in the case where the general partner of
such limited partnership is a limited partnership, Control of the general partner of such general
partner in the manner described under clause (A) or (B), in each case, notwithstanding that the
Person with respect to which Control is being determined does not possess, directly or indirectly
through one or more subsidiaries, the right to receive at least 25% of the distributions from such
limited partnership; or

     (b) in the case of any entity, the power or authority, through ownership of voting securities,
by contract or otherwise, to exercise predominant control over the management of the entity.

     “Day” means a calendar day; provided, however, that, if any period of Days referred to in this
Agreement shall end on a Day that is not a Business Day, then the expiration of that period shall
be automatically extended until the end of the first succeeding Business Day.

     “Deemed Tax Disposition” means any event or series of events that is treated for federal
income tax purposes as a sale or exchange of a Partner’s Partnership Interest or portion thereof
for purposes of Section 708(b)(1)(B) of the Code.

     “Default” means with respect to any Partner, the failure of a Partner to comply in any
material respect with any of its other agreements, covenants or obligations under this Agreement
(provided that the failure of a Partner to make a Capital Contribution when required in response to
a Capital Call shall not constitute a Default), or the failure of any representation or warranty
made by a Partner in this Agreement to have been true and correct in all material respects at the
time it was made, in each case if the breach is not cured by the applicable Partner on or before
the 30th Day after its receiving written notice of such breach from any other Partner (or, if such
breach is not capable of being cured within such 30-Day period, if such Partner fails to promptly
commence substantial efforts to cure such breach or to prosecute such curative efforts to
completion with continuity and diligence). The Management Committee may, but shall have no
obligation to, extend the foregoing 30-Day period.

     “Default Rate” means a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (a) a varying rate per annum
equal to the sum of (i) the prime rate as published in The Wall Street Journal, with

6

 

adjustments in that varying rate to be made on the same date as any change in that rate is so
published, plus (ii) 1% per annum, and (b) the maximum rate permitted by Law.

     “DGCL” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.

     “Dispose,” “Disposing” or “Disposition” means, with respect to any asset, a sale, assignment,
transfer, conveyance, gift, exchange or other disposition of such asset, whether such disposition
be voluntary, involuntary or by operation of Law, including the following: (a) in the case of an
asset owned by a natural person, a transfer of such asset upon the death of its owner, whether by
will, intestate succession or otherwise; (b) in the case of an asset owned by an entity, (i) a
merger or consolidation of such entity (other than where such entity is the survivor thereof), (ii)
a conversion of such entity into another type of entity, or (iii) a distribution of such asset,
including in connection with the dissolution, liquidation, winding up or termination of such entity
(unless, in the case of dissolution, such entity’s business is continued without the commencement
of liquidation or winding up); and (c) a disposition in connection with, or in lieu of, a
foreclosure of an Encumbrance; provided, however, that such terms shall not include (i) the
creation of an Encumbrance or (ii) the sale or other transfer (directly or indirectly and whether
by merger, consolidation, conversion, sale of assets or otherwise) of all or any portion of the
capital stock, member interests or other equity interests of any Partner.

     “Disposing Partner” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.3(a).

     “Dispute” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.1.

     “Dispute Notice” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.2.

     “Disputing Partner” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.1.

     “Dissolution Event” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1.

     “DRUPA” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Partnership Act (6 Del. C. §15-101, et
seq.), as amended from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of
DRUPA shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.

     “Effective Date” means the date of this Agreement as specified in the preamble.

     “Encumber,” “Encumbering” or “Encumbrance” means the creation of a security interest, lien,
pledge, mortgage or other encumbrance, whether such encumbrance be voluntary, involuntary or by
operation of Law.

     “Exercise Period” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.3(a).

     “Facilities” means (a) the Initial Facilities, (b) any additions to or expansions or
extensions of existing Facilities that are approved by (i) the Management Committee, (ii) one or
more duly authorized Officer(s) pursuant to authorization from the Management Committee (which may
include blanket authority consistent with rules and regulations of the FERC in effect from time to
time) or (iii) in accordance with the terms of the Master Services Agreement.

7

 

     “FERC” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or any Governmental Authority succeeding
to powers that, as of the date of this Agreement, are exercised by such Commission over the rates,
terms and conditions of the Partnership.

     “Governmental Authority” means a federal, state, local or foreign governmental authority; a
state, province, commonwealth, territory or district thereof; a county or parish; a city, town,
township, village or other municipality; a district, ward or other subdivision of any of the
foregoing; any executive, legislative or other governing body of any of the foregoing; any agency,
authority, board, department, system, service, office, commission, committee, council or other
administrative body of any of the foregoing, including the FERC; any court or other judicial body;
and any officer, official or other representative of any of the foregoing.

     “Initial Facilities” means the interstate natural gas pipeline system known as the Southern
Natural Gas Company interstate pipeline system and related equipment and other infrastructure
described on Exhibit A.

     “Law” means any applicable constitutional provision, statute, act, code (including the Code),
law, regulation, rule, ordinance, order, decree, ruling, proclamation, notice, resolution,
judgment, decision, declaration, policy statement or interpretative or advisory opinion or letter
of a Governmental Authority having valid jurisdiction.

     “Liquidation Date” means in the case of any event giving rise to the dissolution of the
Partnership, the date on which such event occurs.

     “Liquidator” means EP SNG or such other Person(s) selected by the Management Committee to
perform the functions described in Section 11.2 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership
and to wind up the business and affairs of the Partnership within the meaning of DRUPA.

     “Loan Notice” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.2(a).

     “Majority Interest” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.2(e)(i).

     “Management Committee” means the committee comprised of the individuals designated by the
Partners in accordance with Section 6.2 and all other individuals designated by the
Partners to serve as a representative on such committee in accordance with Article 6; and
references in this Agreement to the Management Committee shall refer to such individuals
collectively in their capacity as representatives on such committee.

     “Master Services Agreement” means that certain Master Services Agreement, dated as of
___, 2007, to be entered into among the Partnership, El Paso Corporation, Tennessee
Gas Pipeline Company and SNG Pipeline Services Company, L.L.C.

     “MLP” means El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

     “NGA” means the Natural Gas Act of 1938, 15 U.S.C.A. §717 et. seq. (1997). A reference herein
to a specific section or sections of the NGA shall be deemed to include a reference to any
corresponding provision of any successor law.

8

 

     “Non-Contributing Partner” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 4.6(a).

     “Officer” means any Person designated as an officer of the Partnership as provided in
Section 6.2, but from and after the time any Person ceases to be an officer of the
Partnership the term “Officer” does not include such Person who has ceased to be an officer of the
Partnership.

     “Operating Budget” means the annual operating budget established by the Management Committee
from time to time as the budget for the Partnership operations for a calendar year, as same may be
modified or amended by the Management Committee.

     “Parent” means the Person that Controls a Partner, and shall be deemed to refer to any
successor (by merger, consolidation, conversion, sale of all or substantially all of its assets or
otherwise) to such Person. The Parent of each of the Partners as of the date of this Agreement is
specified in Annex I. From and after the Closing Date, the Parent of EPPP SNG will be the
MLP, and Annex I will thereafter be modified to reflect such change.

     “Partner” means any Person executing this Agreement as of the date of this Agreement as a
partner or subsequently admitted to the Partnership as a partner as provided in this Agreement,
each in such Person’s capacity as a partner of the Partnership, but from and after the time any
Person ceases to be a partner of the Partnership such term does not include such Person that has
ceased to be a partner in the Partnership. Except as otherwise provided in accordance with
Section 3.4, for purposes of DRUPA, the Partners shall constitute a single class or group
of partners.

     “Partnership” means Southern Natural Gas Company, a Delaware general partnership.

     “Partnership Interest” means with respect to any Partner, (a) that Partner’s status as a
Partner; (b) that Partner’s share of the income, gain, loss, deduction and credits of, and the
right to receive distributions from, the Partnership; (c) any Priority Interest to which that
Partner is entitled pursuant to Section 4.6(b); (d) all other rights, benefits and
privileges enjoyed by that Partner (under the DRUPA, this Agreement or otherwise) in its capacity
as a Partner; and (e) all obligations, duties and liabilities imposed on that Partner (under DRUPA,
this Agreement or otherwise) in its capacity as a Partner, including any obligations to make
Capital Contributions.

     “Percentage Interest” means, subject in each case to adjustments in accordance with this
Agreement or in connection with any Disposition of a Partnership Interest, with respect to a
Partner, the percentage set forth opposite such Partner’s name in Annex I, provided,
however, that the total of all Percentage Interests shall always equal 100%.

     “Permitted Transferee” means any Person that is an Affiliate of a Partner.

     “Person” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15-101(16) of DRUPA and also
includes a Governmental Authority and any other entity.

     “Priority Interest” means the special distribution rights under Section 4.6(b)
received by each Additional Contributing Partner, which rights include the right to receive the
return

9

 

described in Section 4.6(b)(i) and which form part of the Additional Contributing
Partner’s Partnership Interest.

     “Priority Interest Sharing Ratio” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
4.6(b)(i).

     “Quarter” means unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Partnership.

     “Representative” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.2(a)(ii).

     “ROFR Acceptance” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.3(a).

     “ROFR Buyer” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.3(a).

     “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from
time to time and any successor statute.

     “Securities Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented
or restated from time to time and any successor statute.

     “Services” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.3(a).

     “Sole Discretion” means the following: (a) in the applicable Person’s sole and absolute
discretion, (b) with or without cause, (c) subject to such conditions as it may deem appropriate,
and (d) to the fullest extent permitted by law, without taking into account the interests of, and
without incurring liability to, the Partnership, any Partner, any member of the Management
Committee or any officer or employee of the Partnership.

     “Statement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.1.

     “Subject Interest” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.3(a).

     “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of
the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote
in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or
indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such
Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such
Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited
partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such
partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is
owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a
corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a
combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a
majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the
directors or other governing body of such Person.

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     “Tax Matters Partner” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.3(a).

     “Transfer Notice” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.3(a).

     “Term” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.6.

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

     “Withdraw,” “Withdrawing” or “Withdrawal” means the disassociation of a Partner from the
Partnership as a partner. Such terms shall not include any Dispositions of a Partnership Interest
(which are governed by Sections 3.3(a) and (b)), even though the Partner making a
Disposition may cease to be a Partner as a result of the Disposition.

     “Withdrawn Partner” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.3.

     “Working Capital Borrowings” means borrowings used for working capital purposes or to pay
distributions to Partners that are made pursuant to a credit facility, commercial paper facility or
other similar financing arrangements.

     Section 1.2 Construction. Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement
shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of
nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural, and vice-versa, (b) the gender (or lack of
gender) of all words used in this Agreement includes the masculine, feminine and neuter; (c)
references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (d)
references to Exhibits or Annexes refer to the Exhibits or Annexes attached to this Agreement, each
of which is made a part hereof for all purposes; (e) references to Laws refer to such Laws as they
may be amended from time to time, and references to particular provisions of a Law include any
corresponding provisions of any succeeding Law; (f) the term “include”, “includes”, “including” or
words of like report shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (g) the
terms “hereof”, “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular provision of this Agreement; and (h) references to money refer to legal currency of the
United States of America. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.

ARTICLE 2

ORGANIZATION

     Section 2.1 Formation. The Partnership was formed upon the conversion of SNGC into the Partnership
pursuant to Section 266 of the DGCL and Section 15-901 of DRUPA upon the filing with the
Secretary of State of Delaware of the Certificate of Conversion to Partnership (the
“Certificate”) pursuant to Section 15-901 of DRUPA and a Statement of Partnership Existence (the
“Statement”) pursuant to Section 15-303 of DRUPA. Effective as of the time of the Conversion, (i)
the certificate of incorporation of SNGC and the by-laws of SNGC, as in

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effect immediately prior to
the Conversion, are replaced and superseded in their entirety by the Statement and this Agreement
for all periods on and after the Conversion, (ii) all of the shares of capital stock in SNGC held
by the stockholders of SNGC immediately prior to the Conversion are converted into all of the
Partnership Interests in the Partnership, (iii) the stockholders of SNGC are automatically admitted
to the Partnership as the partners of the Partnership, each holding the Percentage Interest set
forth opposite its name on Annex I hereto, (iv) all certificates evidencing shares of capital stock
in SNGC issued by SNGC and outstanding immediately prior to the Conversion are hereby cancelled and
shall be surrendered to the Partnership, and (v) SNGC is being continued without dissolution in the
form of a Delaware general partnership governed by this Agreement and DRUPA. In accordance with
Section 15-901(d) of DRUPA, the Partnership’s existence shall be deemed to have commenced on the
date that SNGC was first incorporated as a Delaware corporation under the DGCL.

     Section 2.2 Name. The name of the Partnership is “Southern Natural Gas Company” and all Partnership
business must be conducted in that name, unless and until the Partnership’s name is changed as
provided herein. The Partners may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to
time upon the requisite approval of the Management Committee in accordance with Article 6
and the amendment of this Agreement and the Statement. ___ is hereby designated as
an “authorized person” of the Partnership within the meaning of DRUPA, and has executed, delivered
and filed on behalf of the Partnership the Statement and the Certificate with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware. Upon the filing of the Statement and the Certificate with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, his powers as an “authorized person” of the
Partnership ceased. From time to time a member of the Management Committee or any duly authorized
officer of the Partnership shall be an “authorized person” of the Partnership within the meaning of
DRUPA to file on behalf of the Partnership such further certificates statements and amendments or
restatements thereof under DRUPA, or any other certificates, qualifications to do business,
fictitious name certificates or like filings in such jurisdictions as may be necessary or
appropriate in connection with the conduct of the Partnership’s business or the ownership or
operation of its properties.

     Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office in the United States; Other Offices.
The registered office of the Partnership required by DRUPA to be maintained in the State of
Delaware shall be the office of the initial registered agent named in the Statement or such other
office (which need not be a place of business of the Partnership) as the Management Committee may
designate at any time or from time to time in the manner provided by Law, including by amending the
Statement. The registered agent of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be the initial
registered agent named in the Statement or such other Person or Persons as the Management Committee
may designate at any time or from time to time in the manner provided by Law, including by amending
the Statement. The principal office of the
Partnership in the United States shall be at such place as the Management Committee may
designate at any time or from time to time, which need not be in the State of Delaware, and the
Partnership shall maintain records there or such other place as the Management Committee shall
designate and shall keep the street address of such principal office at the registered office of
the Partnership in the State of Delaware. The Partnership may have such other offices as the
Management Committee may designate.

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     Section 2.4 Purposes. The purposes of the Partnership are (i) to own and operate the Facilities and such
other or replacement facilities as the Partnership may add thereto, (ii) to own member interests or
shares or other equity interests in any existing or future Subsidiary or Affiliate and (iii) to
engage, directly or indirectly through one or more Subsidiaries or Affiliates, in such other
business activities as may be undertaken by a general partnership under DRUPA as the Management
Committee may from time to time determine; provided, however, that such activity (a) generates
“qualifying income” (as such term is defined pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code) or (b) enhances
the operations of an activity of the Partnership that generates “qualifying income” (as such term
is defined pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code).

     Section 2.5 Foreign Qualification. The Management Committee shall cause the Partnership to comply, to the
extent procedures are available and those matters are reasonably within the control of the
Management Committee, with all requirements necessary to qualify the Partnership as a foreign
partnership, or otherwise be authorized to conduct business, in any jurisdiction other than
Delaware in which the Partnership may conduct any business or own any properties or assets. At the
request of the Management Committee, each Partner shall execute, acknowledge, swear to and deliver
all certificates and other instruments conforming with this Agreement that are necessary or
appropriate to qualify, continue and terminate the Partnership as a foreign partnership in all such
jurisdictions in which the Partnership may conduct business.

     Section 2.6 Term. In accordance with Section 15-901 of DRUPA, the existence of the Partnership (the
“Term”) is deemed to have commenced at such time as SNGC was incorporated as a corporation under
the DGCL and shall end at such time as a statement of cancellation is filed with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware in accordance with Section 11.4.

     Section 2.7 Business Opportunities; No Implied Duty or Obligation. Each Partner, its Representative(s)
and Affiliates may engage, directly or indirectly, without the consent of the other Partner(s), the
Partnership, the Management Committee or any member of the Management Committee in other business
opportunities, transactions or other arrangements of any nature or description, independently or
with others, including any business of a nature that may compete or be competitive with or the same
as or similar to the business of the Partnership, regardless of the geographic location of such
business, and without any duty or obligation to account to the other Partner, the Partnership or
the Management Committee in connection therewith.

ARTICLE 3

PARTNERSHIP; DISPOSITIONS OF INTERESTS

     Section 3.1 Initial Partners. As of the date of this Agreement, EP SNG and EPPP SNG are the only Partners
of the Partnership.

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     Section 3.2 Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Each Partner hereby represents, warrants and
covenants to the Partnership and each other Partner that the following statements are true and
correct as of the Effective Date and shall be true and correct at all times that such Person
remains a Partner of the Partnership:

     (a) such Partner is duly incorporated, organized or formed (as applicable), validly existing,
and (if applicable) in good standing under the Law of the jurisdiction of its incorporation,
organization or formation; if required by applicable Law, such Partner is duly qualified and in
good standing in the jurisdiction of its principal place of business, if different from its
jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation; and such Partner has full power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, and all
necessary actions by the board of directors, stockholders, managers, members, partners, trustees,
beneficiaries, or other applicable Persons necessary for the due authorization, execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement by such Partner have been duly taken;

     (b) such Partner has duly executed and delivered this Agreement and the other documents
contemplated herein, and this Agreement and such documents constitute the legal, valid and binding
obligation of such Partner enforceable against it in accordance with their terms, except as may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar Laws of general application and by the effect of
general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered at law or in equity; and

     (c) such Partner’s authorization, execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement does
not and will not (i) conflict with, or result in a breach, default or violation of, (A) the
organizational documents of that Partner, (B) any contract or agreement to which such Partner is a
party or is otherwise subject, or (C) any Law, order, judgment, decree, writ, injunction or
arbitral award to which such Partner is subject; or (ii) require any consent, approval or
authorization from, filing or registration with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority or other
Person, unless such requirement has already been satisfied.

     Section 3.3 Dispositions and Encumbrances of Partnership Interests.

     (a) Except to the extent permitted by this Section 3.3, a Partner (the “Disposing
Partner”) may not Dispose of all or any portion of its Partnership Interest (the “Subject
Interest”) to a Person who is not a Permitted Transferee of such Partner unless and until (i) the
other terms and conditions set forth in this Section 3.3 have been satisfied and (ii) such
Disposition has been approved by the requisite approval of the Management Committee. If any
Disposing Partner intends to dispose of its Partnership Interest pursuant to a bona fide offer
(“Acquisition Proposal”) from a Person who is not a Permitted Transferee, such Disposing
Partner shall notify the Management Committee and the other Partners in writing (“Transfer
Notice”), which Transfer Notice shall specify the identity of the proposed transferee and the terms
and conditions (including the cash and a description of the non-cash consideration constituting the
purchase price) of the proposed Disposition and shall include a complete copy of the Acquisition
Proposal. Except with respect to a proposed Disposition to a Permitted Transferee, the Partners
(other than the Disposing Partner) shall have the right, at any time during the period (the
“Exercise Period”) that ends at 5:00 p.m. Houston, Texas time on the 30th day after receipt of the
Transfer Notice to elect to purchase the Subject Interest at the price

14

 

and on the terms and
conditions set forth in the Acquisition Proposal. Any Partner(s) who elect to purchase the Subject
Interest (each, a “ROFR Buyer”) must furnish written notice (each, a “ROFR Acceptance”) to the
Disposing Partner prior to termination of the Exercise Period.

     (b) The Disposing Partner shall not be bound to Dispose of any portion of the Subject Interest
to any ROFR Buyer(s) unless all of such Subject Interest is accepted for purchase by ROFR Buyers in
accordance with this Section 3.3. If there is more than one ROFR Buyer who timely delivers
a ROFR Acceptance, each such ROFR Buyer shall be entitled to purchase its pro rata portion of the
Subject Interest, based upon the ratio that each such ROFR Buyer’s Percentage Interest bears to the
total Percentage Interests of all such ROFR Buyers. The ROFR Buyer(s) may substitute the cash
equivalent for any portion of the consideration specified in the Acquisition Proposal which was
other than cash or a promissory note payable in cash; provided, however, that if the ROFR Buyer(s)
desire to so substitute cash for any such non-cash consideration, and if the ROFR Buyer(s)’
determination of the fair market value of such non-cash consideration is less than the fair market
value that was given for such consideration by the Disposing Partner in the Transfer Notice, the
ROFR Buyer(s) shall state their determination of such value in the ROFR Acceptance; and if the
Disposing Partner and the ROFR Buyer(s) are unable to mutually agree upon the fair market value of
such non-cash consideration within five Business Days after the delivery of the ROFR Acceptance,
then the Disposing Partner and the ROFR Buyer(s) shall promptly cause such value to be determined
through appraisal in the manner provided in Section 3.3(e). Such appraisal procedure shall
delay, if necessary, any closing of the sale of the Subject Interest. Any delayed closing shall
occur, subject to the next sentence, within 15 days after delivery to the parties of the
appraiser’s determination of the value of the non-cash consideration. The cash equivalent of any
such non-cash consideration that is to be paid at the closing of the purchase and sale of the
Subject Interest shall in such event be the amount determined by the appraisal.

     (c) The closing of the Disposition of the Subject Interest pursuant to the exercise of the
rights of first refusal granted in Section 3.3(a) shall be at 9:00 a.m. Houston, Texas time
on the 45th day following the end of the Exercise Period at the Partnership’s principal office, or
such other place as agreed by the Disposing Partner and ROFR Buyer(s), subject to any delay in the
closing provided for below or in connection with any appraisal conducted as contemplated in
Section 3.3(e), unless the Disposing Partner and the ROFR Buyer(s) otherwise agree. At the
closing, the consideration to be paid by the ROFR Buyer(s) shall be delivered by the ROFR Buyer(s)
to the Disposing Partner (by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the extent such
consideration is cash), and the Disposing Partner shall deliver to the ROFR Buyer(s) an instrument
of assignment of the Subject Interest, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and adverse claims
with respect thereto. The ROFR Buyer(s) shall be entitled to pay for the Subject Interest in cash
or with cash and a promissory note on substantially similar terms to that set forth
in the Transfer Notice. The Disposing Partner and the ROFR Buyer(s) shall cooperate in good
faith in obtaining all necessary governmental and other third Person approvals, waivers and
consents required for the closing. Any such closing shall be delayed, to the extent required,
until the next succeeding Business Day following the obtaining of all necessary governmental
approvals or the expiration of all government waiting periods; provided, however, that in the case
of such delay, the purchase price shall be increased by interest at the Default Rate from the date
that the closing would have otherwise occurred.

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     (d) If, after completion of the foregoing procedures under this Section 3.3, the
Partners (other than the Disposing Partner) fail to elect to purchase all of the Subject Interest,
the Disposing Partner may, at any time within 120 days after the expiration of the Exercise Period
or after the decision of the appraisers, if longer, Dispose of all (but not less than all) of the
Subject Interest to the proposed acquirer under the Acquisition Proposal on terms no more favorable
to such acquirer than those set forth in said Acquisition Proposal (and the Transfer Notice) and
offered to the Partners (other than the Disposing Partners). After the expiration of such 120-day
period, the Disposing Partner may not Dispose of the Subject Interest described in the Transfer
Notice without complying again with the provisions of this Section 3.3 if and to the extent
then applicable.

     (e) If the Disposing Partner and the ROFR Buyer(s) are unable to agree within 30 days after
the Transfer Notice is given upon one independent appraiser who will determine the value of any
non-cash consideration proposed as all or part of the purchase price for any Subject Interest, then
within 30 days after the Transfer Notice is given, the Disposing Partner, on the one hand, and the
ROFR Buyer(s), collectively, on the other, shall each appoint an independent appraiser who has at
least 10 years’ experience in valuing interstate pipeline business activities similar to those
conducted by the Partnership. If the two parties each timely appoint an independent appraiser and
such appraisers are unable to agree upon the value of any non-cash consideration proposed as all or
part of the purchase price for the Subject Interest, then a third appraiser shall be appointed by
the two appraisers. The third appraiser shall value the non-cash consideration proposed in the
Acquisition Proposal for the Subject Interest within 30 days of appointment. If such appraisal is
less than the lower of the two initial appraisers’ valuation of such consideration, then the value
shall equal the average of the lowest two of the three appraisers’ valuations. If such appraisal
exceeds the higher of the two initial appraisers’ valuations of such consideration, then the value
shall equal the average of the two highest appraisers’ valuations. The appraisers shall employ
such persons and incur such expenses as are necessary to reach such determination. The Disposing
Partner shall bear 50% of all fees and expenses incurred by the appraisers in making such valuation
determination, and the ROFR Buyer(s), collectively, shall bear the other 50% of all such fees and
expenses. The determination of the appraisers shall be final and binding upon the parties.

     (f) Except for a Disposition to a Permitted Transferee or a Disposition subject to the
procedures in Sections 3.3(a)-(e) above, a Partner may not Dispose (including by mortgage,
pledge or other encumbrance) of a Partnership Interest without the prior written approval of the
Management Committee. Any attempted Disposition of a Partnership Interest, other than in strict
accordance with this Section 3.3, shall be, and is hereby declared, null and void to the
fullest extent permitted by law. The rights and obligations constituting a Partnership Interest
may not be separated, divided, split off or otherwise separated from the other attributes of a
Partnership Interest except with the express prior written approval of the Management
Committee and as contemplated by the express provisions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a Partner may not effect a Disposition (including a Deemed Tax Disposition) if such
Disposition, when added to the total of all other Dispositions (including Deemed Tax Dispositions)
within the preceding twelve months, results in the Partnership being considered to have terminated
within the meaning of Section 708(b)(1)(B) of the Code, unless such Disposition has been approved
in accordance with Section 6.2(h)(i)(D).

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     (g) The Partners agree that a breach of the provisions of this Section 3.3 may cause
irreparable injury to the Partnership and to the other Partners for which monetary damages (or
other remedy at law) are inadequate in view of (i) the complexities and uncertainties in measuring
the actual damages that would be sustained by reason of the failure of a Limited Partner to comply
with such provision and (ii) the uniqueness of the Partnership business and the relationship among
the Partners. Accordingly, the Limited Partners agree that the provisions of this Section
3.3 may be enforced by specific performance in accordance with Section 10.4(b).

     Section 3.4 Creation of Additional Partnership Interests. Additional Partnership Interests may be created
and issued to existing Partners or to other Persons, and such other Persons may be admitted to the
Partnership as Partners, only with the express prior approval of the Management Committee, and
without the consent of any Partner or any other Person being required, and, if so approved, only on
such terms and conditions as the Management Committee may determine at the time of such approval or
admission. The terms of admission or issuance must specify the applicable Percentage Interests of
the new and existing Partners and may provide for the creation of different classes or groups of
Partners having different rights, powers and duties, including rights, powers and duties that are
senior in preference to existing Partners. The Management Committee may determine the rights,
classes and duties of any such class or group of Partners without the vote or consent of any
Partner or any other Person and may amend this Agreement as necessary to reflect the rights,
classes and duties of any such class or group of Partners without the vote or consent of any
Partner or any other Person. Any such admission shall be effective only after the new Partner has
executed and delivered to each other Partner an instrument containing the notice address of the new
Partner, the new Partner’s ratification of this Agreement and agreement to be bound by it, and its
confirmation that the representations and warranties in Section 3.2 are true and correct
with respect to it. The provisions of this Section 3.4 shall not apply to Dispositions of
Partnership Interests or admissions of Assignees in connection therewith, such matters being
governed by Section 3.3.

     Section 3.5 Access to Information. Each Partner, any former Partner and the agent(s) and attorney(s) of
any Partner or former Partner shall, upon a request submitted to the Partnership in writing, have
access to the books and records of the Partnership and other information concerning the
Partnership’s business and affairs (including the books, records and information maintained
pursuant to Sections 8.1 or 8.2 upon reasonable demand, for any purpose reasonably
related to such Partner’s or former Partner’s interest (or former interest in the case of a former
Partner) in the Partnership. In addition, each Partner shall be entitled, upon a reasonable demand
for any purpose reasonably
related to such Partner’s or former Partner’s interest (or former interest in the case of a
former Partner) in the Partnership, to receive any information that it may request concerning the
Partnership; provided, however, that this Section 3.5 shall not obligate the Partnership,
the Management Committee or any Officer to create any information that does not already exist at
the time of such request (other than to convert existing information from one medium to another,
such as providing a printout of information that is stored in a computer database). Each Partner
shall also have the right, upon reasonable notice for any purpose reasonably related to such
Partner’s or former Partner’s interest (or former interest in the case of a former Partner) in the
Partnership, and at all reasonable times during usual business hours to inspect the properties of
the Partnership and to audit, examine and make copies of the books of account and other records of
the Partnership. This right may be exercised through any agent or employee of a Partner designated
in writing by it or by an independent

17

 

public accountant, engineer, attorney or other consultant so
designated. The Partner making the request shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in any
inspection, examination or audit made on that Partner’s behalf. The Partners agree to cooperate
reasonably, and to cause their respective independent public accountants, engineers, attorneys or
other consultants to cooperate reasonably, in connection with any such request. The foregoing
rights of access are intended to provide rights of access (including the rights to examine and make
extracts from books and records and other information concerning the Partnership’s business and
affairs) that are at least as extensive as those contemplated in Section 15-403 of DRUPA and, to
the extent the rights of access granted hereunder are more restrictive than those provided in such
Section 15-403, this provision shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to accommodate the
broader scope contemplated thereby, subject to Section 8.5. Confidential Information
obtained under this Section 3.5 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 3.6.

     Section 3.6 Confidential Information.

     (a) Except as permitted by Section 3.6(b), (i) each Partner shall, and shall cause its
Affiliates to, keep confidential all Confidential Information and shall not disclose any
Confidential Information to any Person, including any of its Affiliates, and (ii) each Partner
shall use the Confidential Information only in connection with the Facilities and the Partnership.

     (b) Notwithstanding Section 3.6(a), but subject to the other provisions of this
Section 3.6, a Partner or, where applicable, its Affiliates, may make the following
disclosures and uses of Confidential Information:

     (i) disclosures to another Partner, the Management Committee or any other Person
retained by the Partnership in connection with the Partnership;

     (ii) disclosures and uses that are approved by the Management Committee;

     (iii) disclosures that may be required from time to time to obtain requisite
Authorizations or financing for projects related to the Facilities, if the projects are
approved by the Management Committee;

     (iv) disclosures to an Affiliate of such Partner, including the directors, officers,
employees, agents and advisors of that Affiliate, if such Affiliate has agreed to abide by
the terms of this Section 3.6, and special care shall be taken to restrict such
disclosures in any case where that Affiliate is or may become a customer of the Facilities
or a “Marketing Affiliate” (as defined in the FERC’s Standards of Conduct for Transmission
Providers, 18 C.F.R. Part 358;

     (v) disclosures to the Parent of such Partner, including the directors, officers,
employees, agents and advisors of such Parent, but such Parent shall be subject to the terms
of this Section 3.6;

     (vi) disclosures to a Person that is not a Partner or an Affiliate of a Partner, if
that Person has been retained by a Partner or an Affiliate of a Partner to provide services
in connection with the Partnership and has agreed to abide by the terms of this
Section 3.6;

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     (vii) disclosures to a bona-fide potential direct or indirect purchaser of that Partner’s
Partnership Interest, if that potential purchaser has agreed to abide by the terms of this
Section 3.6;

     (viii) disclosures required, with respect to a Partner or an Affiliate of a Partner,
pursuant to (A) the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (B)
the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (C) any
state securities Laws, (D) any national securities exchange or automated quotation system or
(E) any tax authority as such Partner deems appropriate; and

     (ix) disclosures that a Partner is legally compelled to make by deposition,
interrogatory, request for documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand, order of a court
of competent jurisdiction or similar process or otherwise by Law or regulatory agency;
provided, however, that, prior to any such disclosure, such Partner shall, to the extent
legally permissible:

     (A) provide the Management Committee with prompt notice of such requirements so
that one or more of the Partners may seek a protective order or other appropriate
remedy or waive compliance with the terms of this Section 3.6(b)(ix);

     (B) consult with the Management Committee on the advisability of taking steps
to resist or narrow such disclosure; and

     (C) cooperate with the Management Committee and with the other Partners in any
attempt one or more of them may make to obtain a protective order or other
appropriate remedy or assurance that confidential treatment will be afforded the
Confidential Information; and in the event such protective order or other remedy is
not obtained, or the other Partners waive compliance with the provisions of this
Agreement, that Partner agrees (I) to furnish only that portion of the Confidential
Information that, in the opinion of the Partner’s counsel, the Partner is legally
required to disclose, and (II) to exercise all reasonable efforts to obtain
assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded the Confidential Information.

     (c) Each Partner shall take, and shall cause its Affiliates to take, such precautionary
measures as may be required to ensure (and such Partner shall be responsible for) compliance with
this Section 3.6 by any of its Affiliates, and its and their directors, officers, employees
and agents, and other Persons to which it may disclose Confidential Information in accordance with
this Section 3.6.

     (d) Promptly after its Withdrawal or Disposition of its entire Partnership Interest (other
than to an Affiliate), such a Withdrawn Partner or Disposing Partner shall destroy (and provide a
certificate of destruction to the Partnership with respect to), or return to the Partnership, all
Confidential Information in its possession. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, but
subject to the other provisions of this Section 3.6, a Withdrawn Partner or Disposing
Partner may retain for a stated period, but not disclose to any other Person,

19

 

Confidential Information for the limited purposes of (i) explaining that Partner’s corporate
decisions with respect to the Facilities or the Partnership’s other direct or indirect business,
operations, properties or assets, or (ii) preparing such Partner’s tax returns and defending
audits, investigations and proceedings relating thereto; provided, however, that the Withdrawn
Partner must notify the Management Committee in advance of such retention and specify in such
notice the stated period of such retention. In addition, the Withdrawn Partner may retain copies
of the Confidential Information in its electronic archives, provided it continues to maintain the
confidentiality of such material for the term described in Section 3.6(f) below.

     (e) The Partners agree that no adequate remedy at law exists for a breach or threatened breach
of any of the provisions of this Section 3.6, the continuation of which unremedied will
cause the Partnership and the other Partners to suffer irreparable harm. Accordingly, the Partners
agree that the Partnership and the other Partners shall be entitled, in addition to other remedies
that may be available to them, to seek immediate injunctive relief from any breach of any of the
provisions of this Section 3.6 and to seek specific performance of their rights hereunder,
as well as to any other remedies available at law or in equity, pursuant to Section 10.4,
and the other Partner(s) agree not to object to such relief on the grounds that monetary damages
constitute a sufficient remedy.

     (f) The obligations of the Partners under this Section 3.6 (including the obligations
of any Withdrawn Partners) shall continue to bind any Person that has ceased to be a Partner and
shall terminate on the first anniversary of the end of the Term.

     Section 3.7 Limitation of Liabilities of Partners.

     (a) Except as otherwise provided by DRUPA, no Partner shall be liable to third persons for
Partnership losses, deficits, liabilities or obligations, except as otherwise expressly agreed to
in writing by such Partner, unless the assets of the Partnership shall have first been exhausted.

     (b) After the Effective Date, the Management Committee shall, and shall cause the Officers to,
use their respective reasonable efforts to prevent the Partnership from entering into any contract,
lease, sublease, note, indebtedness, deed of trust or agreement or document that creates any
liability, indebtedness or other obligation unless there is contained therein an appropriate
provision expressly limiting the claims of all parties to such instruments or agreements and other
beneficiaries thereunder to the assets of the Partnership and expressly waiving any rights of such
parties and other beneficiaries to proceed against any Partners for any such Partnership
obligation, without the prior written consent of all Partners. Notwithstanding the immediately
preceding sentence, the Partners agree that it shall not constitute a breach of this Section
3.7(b) if the Partnership enters into a service agreement(s) in the form of a pro forma service
agreement included in the FERC Gas Tariff of SNGC.

     Section 3.8 Use of Partners’ Names and Trademarks. The Partnership, the Partners and their
Affiliates shall not use the name or trademark of any Partner or its Affiliates in connection with
public announcements regarding the Partnership,
or marketing or financing activities of the Partnership, without the prior consent of such
Partners or Affiliate, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

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ARTICLE 4

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS

     Section 4.1 Capital Contributions.

     (a) Except as otherwise provided in the following provisions of this Section 4.1 or
Section 4.2, the Management Committee may issue or cause to be issued a notice to each
Partner for the making of Capital Contributions at such times and in such amounts as the Management
Committee shall determine (a “Capital Call”), such determination to be made in accordance with
Article 6. All amounts timely received by the Partnership under this Section 4.1
shall be credited to the respective Partner’s Capital Account as of the specified date.

     (b) Each Capital Call shall contain the following information:

     (i) The total amount of Capital Contributions required from all Partners;

     (ii) The amount of Capital Contribution required from the Partner to which the notice
is addressed, which amount must equal that Partner’s Percentage Interest of the total
Capital Call;

     (iii) The purpose for which the funds are to be applied in such reasonable detail as
the Management Committee shall direct; and

     (iv) The date on which payments of the Capital Contribution shall be made (which date
shall not be earlier than the 30th Day following the date the Capital Call is given, unless
an earlier date is approved by the Management Committee) and the method of payment, provided
that the date and the method shall be the same for each of the Partners.

     (c) Each Partner agrees that it shall make payments of its respective Capital Contributions in
accordance with Capital Calls issued as provided in this Section 4.1.

     Section 4.2 Loans.

     (a) Instead of making a Capital Call under Section 4.1, the Management Committee by
notice in writing (the “Loan Notice”) submitted to the Partners may request the Partners to lend
funds to the Partnership at such times, in such amounts and under such terms and conditions as the
Management Committee shall determine; provided, however, that the Management Committee shall not
issue any such Loan Notice to the extent that incurring any such loan would breach or violate any
financing or other agreement of the Partnership.

     (b) Each Loan Notice issued under Section 4.2(a) shall contain the following
information:

     (i) The total amount of loans requested from the Partners;

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     (ii) The amount of the loan requested from the Partner to which the notice is
addressed, which amount must equal (A) that Partner’s Percentage Interest of the total
amount of loans requested in the Loan Notice;

     (iii) The purpose for which the funds are to be applied in such reasonable detail as
the Management Committee shall direct;

     (iv) The date on which the loans to the Partnership are to be made (which date shall
not be earlier than the 30th Day following the date the Loan Notice is given, unless an
earlier date is approved by the Management Committee) and the method of payment, provided
that the date and the method shall be the same for each of the Partners; and

     (v) All terms concerning the repayment of or otherwise relating to the loans, provided
that the terms shall be the same for each of the Partners.

     (c) No Partner shall be obligated to make a loan or advance to the Partnership following its
receipt of a Loan Notice unless all Partners agree to do so.

     Section 4.3 No Other Contribution Obligations. No Partner shall be required or permitted to
make any Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership except as provided in this
Article 4.

     Section 4.4 Return of Contributions. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, a
Partner is not entitled to the return of any part of its Capital Contributions or to be paid
interest in respect of either its Capital Account or its Capital Contributions. An unrepaid
Capital Contribution is not a liability of the Partnership or of any Partner. None of the Partners
is required to contribute or to lend any cash or property to the Partnership to enable the
Partnership to return any Partner’s Capital Contributions.

     Section 4.5 Capital Accounts.

     (a) The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of Partnership
Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such
owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method
acceptable to the Management Committee) owning a Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account
with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation
§1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). The aggregate amount in the Capital Accounts existing as of the Effective Date
hereof shall be based on the assets and liabilities owned by the Partnership as of the Effective
Date hereof and allocated between the Partners in accordance with their Percentage Interests. Each
Partner’s Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of money contributed by that Partner
to the Partnership, (ii) the fair market value of property contributed by that Partner to the
Partnership (net of liabilities secured by such contributed property that the Partnership is
considered to assume or take subject to under Section 752 of the Code), and (iii) allocations to
that Partner of Partnership income and gain (or items thereof), including income and gain exempt
from tax and income and gain described in Treasury Regulation §1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g), but excluding
income and gain described in Treasury
Regulation §1.704-1(b)(4)(i), and shall be decreased by (iv) the amount of money distributed
to that Partner by the Partnership, (v) the fair market value of property distributed to that
Partner by

22

 

the Partnership (net of liabilities secured by such distributed property that such
Partner is considered to assume or take subject to under Section 752 of the Code), (vi) allocations
to that Partner of expenditures of the Partnership described (or treated as described) in
Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, and (vii) allocations of Partnership loss and deduction (or items
thereof), including loss and deduction described in Treasury Regulation §1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g), but
excluding items described in (vi) above and loss or deduction described in Treasury Regulation
§1.704-1(b)(4)(i) or 1.704-1(b)(4)(iii). The Partners’ Capital Accounts shall also be maintained
and adjusted as permitted by the provisions of Treasury Regulation §1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and as
required by the other provisions of Treasury Regulation §§1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) and 1.704-1(b)(4),
including adjustments to reflect the allocations to the Partners of depreciation, depletion,
amortization, and gain or loss as computed for book purposes rather than the allocation of the
corresponding items as computed for tax purposes, as required by Treasury Regulation
§1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g). Thus, the Partners’ Capital Accounts shall be increased or decreased to
reflect a revaluation of the Partnership’s property on its books based on the fair market value of
the Partnership’s property on the date of adjustment (as determined pursuant to Section
4.5(b)), immediately prior to (A) the contribution of money or other property to the
Partnership by a new or existing Partner as consideration for a Partnership Interest or an
increased Percentage Interest, (B) the distribution of money or other property by the Partnership
to a Partner as consideration for a Partnership Interest, or (C) the liquidation of the
Partnership. A Partner who has more than one Partnership Interest shall have a single Capital
Account that reflects all such Partnership Interests, regardless of the class of Partnership
Interests owned by such Partner and regardless of the time or manner in which such Partnership
Interests were acquired. Upon the Disposition of all or a portion of a Partnership Interest, the
Capital Account of the Disposing Partner that is attributable to that Partnership Interest shall
carry over to the Assignee in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulation
§1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(l). The Capital Accounts shall not be deemed to be, nor have the same meaning
as, the capital account of the Partnership under the NGA.

     (b) Whenever the fair market value of the Partnership’s property is required to be determined
pursuant to the third and fourth sentences of Section 4.5(a), the Management Committee
shall establish the fair market value in a notice to the Partners.

     Section 4.6 Failure to Make a Capital Contribution.

     (a) General. If any Partner fails to make a Capital Contribution when required in a Capital
Call under Section 4.1 of this Agreement (each such Partner being a “Non-Contributing
Partner”), then, provided the failure has not been cured, the Partners that have contributed their
Capital Contributions in response to such Capital Call (each, a “Contributing Partner”) may
(without limitation as to other remedies that may be available) at any time following the 10th Day
following the date the Capital Contribution was due elect to pay the portion of the Capital
Contribution owed and unpaid by the Non-Contributing Partner (the “Additional Contribution”), in
which event the Contributing Partner(s) that elect to fund the Non-Contributing Partners’ share
(the “Additional Contributing Partners”) may treat the contribution as either: (i) a Capital
Contribution resulting in the Additional Contributing Partners receiving a Priority Interest under
Section 4.6(b), or (ii) a permanent capital contribution that results in an adjustment of
Partnership Interests under Section 4.6(c), as determined by the Additional Contributing
Partners as set forth below.

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No Contributing Partner shall be obligated to elect to take the actions specified in the preceding
paragraph of this Section 4.1(a). The decision of the Contributing Partners to elect to
take the action described in the preceding paragraph shall be made by the determination of the
Contributing Partners holding the majority of the Percentage Interests of all Contributing
Partners, provided that such treatment may not be elected unless at such time of determination
there is one or more Additional Contributing Partners. The decision of the Additional Contributing
Partners to elect the treatment described in the preceding paragraph of this Section 4.1(a)
shall be made by the determination of the Additional Contributing Partners holding the majority of
the Percentage Interests of all Additional Contributing Partners. Unless and until such election
is made, payment of the Additional Contribution shall be treated as a Priority Interest under
Section 4.6(a)(i). If the Additional Contributing Partners make the election under
Section 4.6(a) to treat the contribution as a contribution for which they receive a
Priority Interest under Section 4.6(b), then the Additional Contributing Partners will have
the option, exercisable at any time thereafter (by the election of Additional Contributing Partners
holding a majority of the Percentage Interests of all Additional Contributing Partners) upon notice
furnished to the other Partners not less than 30 Days before the proposed effective time of the
option exercise, to change their election such that the amount of the payment of the
Non-Contributing Partner’s portion of the Capital Contribution (less any amounts received by the
Additional Contributing Partners as a payment of the applicable Priority Interest (other than
payment of the return amount forming a part thereof)) shall be treated as an Additional
Contribution as provided in Section 4.6(c). In that event, the accrued and unpaid return
forming part of the Priority Interest shall not be treated as an Additional Contribution but shall
continue as a Priority Interest as provided in Section 4.6(b) below (with such amount to
continue to compound return thereon).

     (b) Priority Interest. If the Additional Contributing Partners elect to treat the payment of
an Additional Contribution as a contribution for which the Additional Contributing Partners receive
a Priority Interest, then the following shall apply:

     (i) Each Additional Contributing Partner shall receive a Priority Interest in the
distributions from the Partnership that would otherwise be due and payable to the
Non-Contributing Partner(s). The Priority Interest received by each Additional Contributing
Partner shall be in the proportion that the amount of the Additional Contribution paid by
such Additional Contributing Partner bears to the amount of the Additional Contributions
made by all Additional Contributing Partners (each Additional Contributing Partner’s
percentage share of the Priority Interests shall be its “Priority Interest Sharing Ratio”).
All distributions from the Partnership that would otherwise be due and payable to the
Non-Contributing Partner(s) instead shall be paid to the Additional Contributing Partners in
accordance with their respective Priority Interest Sharing Ratio and no distribution shall
be made from the Partnership to any Non-Contributing Partner until all Priority Interests
have terminated. The Priority Interest shall terminate with respect to an Additional
Contributing Partner when that Additional Contributing Partner has received either through
the distributions it receives in respect of its Priority Interest or through payment(s) to
it by the Non-Contributing Partner(s) (which payment(s) may be made by the Non-Contributing
Partner(s) at any time) of an amount equal to the Additional Contribution made by such
Additional Contributing Partner, plus a return thereon of twelve percent (12%) per annum
(compounded quarterly on the

24

 

outstanding balance). For purposes of making this calculation,
all amounts received by an Additional Contributing Partner shall be deemed to be applied
first against a return on, and then to the amount of, the Additional Contribution. For
purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts, any amount paid by a Non-Contributing Partner to a
Contributing Partner to reduce and/or terminate a Priority Interest shall be treated as
though such amount were contributed by the Non-Contributing Partner to the Partnership and
thereafter distributed by the Partnership to the Contributing Partner with respect to its
Priority Interest.

     (ii) The Priority Interests shall not alter the Percentage Interests, nor shall the
Priority Interests alter any distributions to the Contributing Partners (in their capacity
as Contributing Partners, as opposed to their capacity as Additional Contributing Partners)
in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. Notwithstanding any provision in
this Agreement to the contrary, a Partner may not dispose of all or a portion of its
Priority Interest except to a Person to which it Disposes of all or the applicable pro rata
portion of its Partnership Interest after compliance with the requirements of this Agreement
for the Disposition.

     (iii) No Partner that is a Non-Contributing Partner may Dispose of its Partnership
Interest unless, at the closing of such Disposition, either the Non-Contributing Partner or
the proposed Assignee pays the amount necessary to terminate the Priority Interest arising
from such Non-Contributing Partner’s failure to contribute. No such transferee shall be
admitted to the Partnership as a Partner until compliance with this Section
4.6(b)(iii) has occurred.

     (c) Permanent Contribution. Subject to Section 4.6(a), if the Additional Contributing
Partners elect under Section 4.6(a) to have the Additional Contribution treated as a
permanent capital contribution, then each Additional Contributing Partner that funds a portion of
the Additional Contribution shall have its Capital Account increased accordingly and the Partners’
Partnership Interests and Percentage Interests will be automatically adjusted to equal each
Partner’s total Capital Contributions when expressed as a percentage of all Partners’ Capital
Contributions.

     (d) Further Assurance. In connection with this Section 4.6, each Partner shall
execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that
may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this
Section 4.6.

ARTICLE 5

DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS

     Section 5.1 Distributions.

     (a) On or before the final Business Day of the calendar month immediately following the end of
each Quarter (commencing with the Quarter ending ___, 2007), the Management Committee shall
review and determine the amount of Available Cash with respect to that Quarter, and, subject to the
terms of Section 4.6(b), an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to that
Quarter shall be distributed in accordance with this Article 5

25

 

to the Partners (other than
a Breaching Partner) in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests (at the time the
amounts of such distributions are made); provided, however, that the amount of Available Cash
required to be distributed for the Quarter in which the Effective Date occurs, shall be pro rated
based upon a fraction, of which the numerator is the number of days in the period that commences on
the Effective Date and ends on December 31, 2007 and of which the denominator is 92.

     (b) Notwithstanding Section 5.1(a), in the event of the dissolution and winding up of
the Partnership, all receipts of the Partnership received during or after the Quarter in which the
Liquidation Date occurs shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to
the terms and conditions of Section 11.2(a)(iii)(C).

     Section 5.2 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes.

     (a) For purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts pursuant to Section 4.5, except
as provided in Section 5.2(b) and (c), each item of income, gain, loss, expense,
deduction and credit of the Partnership shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests.

     (b) With respect to each period during which a Priority Interest is outstanding, each
Additional Contributing Partner shall be allocated items of income and gain in an amount equal to
the return that accrues with respect to that Additional Contributing Partner’s Additional
Contribution pursuant to Section 4.6(b)(i), and items of income and gain that would
otherwise be allocable to the Non-Contributing Partner(s) shall be correspondingly reduced.

     (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5.2, the following special
allocations shall be made in the following order:

     (i) Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof to the
contrary, if there is a net decrease in Minimum Gain (as generally defined under Treasury
Regulation Section §1.704-1 or §1.704-2) for a taxable year (or if there was a net decrease
in Minimum Gain for a prior taxable year and the Partnership did not have sufficient amounts
of income and gain during prior years to allocate among the Partners under this Section
5.2(c)(i), then items of income and gain shall be allocated to each Partner in an amount
equal to such Partner’s share of the net decrease in such Minimum Gain (as determined
pursuant to Treasury Regulation §1.704-2(g)(2)). It is the intent of the Partners that any
allocation pursuant to this Section 5.2(c)(i) shall constitute a “minimum gain
chargeback” under Treasury Regulations §1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently
therewith.

     (ii) Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Article 5, except Section 5.2(c)(i), if there is a net
decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain (as generally defined under Treasury
Regulation §1.704-1 or §1.704-2), during any taxable year, any Partner who has a share of
the Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain shall be allocated such amount of income and gain
for such year (and subsequent years, if necessary) determined in the

26

 

manner required by
Treasury Regulation §1.704-2(i)(4) as is necessary to meet the requirements for a chargeback
of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain.

     (iii) Qualified Income Offset. Except as provided in Section 5.2(c)(i) and
(ii) hereof, in the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments,
allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulation §1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4),
§1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or §1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Partnership income and gain
shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to
eliminate, to the extent required by the Allocation Regulations, the deficit balance, if
any, in its Adjusted Capital Account created by such adjustments, allocations or
distributions as quickly as possible.

     (iv) Gross Income Allocations. In the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its
Adjusted Capital Account at the end of any Partnership taxable period in excess of the sum
of the amount such Partner is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of this
Agreement or pursuant to Treasury Regulation §1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) or is deemed to be
obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulations
§§1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner shall be specially allocated items of
Partnership gross income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible;
provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.2(c)(iv) shall be made only
if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital
Account after all other allocations provided in this Section 5.2 have been
tentatively made as if Section 5.2(c)(iv) were not in the Agreement.

     (v) Partnership Nonrecourse Deductions. Partnership Nonrecourse Deductions (as
determined under Treasury Regulation §1.704-2(c)) for any fiscal year shall be allocated
among the Partners in proportion to their Percentage Interests.

     (vi) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions. Any Partner Nonrecourse Deductions (as defined
under Treasury Regulation §1.704-2(i)(2)) shall be allocated pursuant to Treasury Regulation
§1.704-2(i) to the Partner who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the partner
nonrecourse debt to which it is attributable. Provided, however, that if more than one
Partner bears the economic risk of loss for such debt, the Partner Nonrecourse Deductions
attributable to such partner nonrecourse debt shall be allocated to and among the Partners
in the same proportion that they bear the economic risk of loss for such partner nonrecourse
debt. This Section 5.2(c)(vi) is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury
Regulation §1.704-2(i) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

     (vii) Code Section 754 Adjustment. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax
basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required,
pursuant to the Allocation Regulations, to be taken into account in determining Capital
Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item
of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment
decreases such basis), and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the
Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required
to be adjusted pursuant to the Allocation Regulations.

27

 

     (viii) Curative Allocation.  The special allocations set forth in
Sections 5.2(c)(i)-(vii) (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with
the Allocation Regulations. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Section 5.2, the Regulatory Allocations shall be taken into account in allocating
items of income, gain, loss and deduction among the Partners such that, to the extent
possible, the net amount of allocations of such items and the Regulatory Allocations to each
Partner shall be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each Partner if
the Regulatory Allocations had not occurred.

     Section 5.3 Allocations for Tax Purposes.

     (a) Except as otherwise provided herein, for federal income tax purposes each item of income,
gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its
correlative item of “book” income, gain, loss and deduction is allocated pursuant to
Section 5.2.

     (b) Notwithstanding any provisions contained herein to the contrary, for income tax purposes,
income, gain, loss, and deduction with respect to property contributed to the Partnership by a
Partner or revalued pursuant to Treasury Regulation §1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) shall be allocated among
the Partners in a manner that takes into account the variation between the adjusted tax basis of
such property and its Carrying Value, as required by Section 704(c) of the Code and Treasury
Regulation §1.704-1(b)(4)(i), using the remedial allocation method permitted by Treasury Regulation
§1.704-3(d).

     Section 5.4 Varying Interests. All items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit shall be
allocated, and all distributions shall be made, to the Persons shown on the records of the
Partnership to have been Partners as of the last calendar day of the period for which the
allocation or distribution is to be made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if during any taxable year
there is a change in any Partner’s Percentage Interest, the Partners agree that their allocable
shares of items for the taxable year shall be determined on any method determined by the Management
Committee to be permissible under Code Section 706 and the related Treasury Regulations to take
account of the Partners’ varying Percentage Interests.

ARTICLE 6

MANAGEMENT

     Section 6.1 Generally. The management of the business and affairs of the Partnership is fully
vested in the Partners. To facilitate the orderly and efficient management of the business and
affairs of the Partnership, the Partners shall act (a) collectively as a “committee of the whole”
(such committee to be referred to as the Management Committee) pursuant to Section 6.2, and
(b) through the delegation by the Management Committee of certain duties and authority to the
Officers. Subject to the express provisions of this Agreement, each Partner agrees that it will
not exercise any authority it may otherwise have under DRUPA or otherwise to bind or commit the
Partnership to agreements, transactions or other arrangements, or to hold itself out as an agent of
the Partnership.

     Section 6.2 Management Committee. Decisions or actions taken by the Management Committee in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall constitute

28

 

decisions or actions by the
Partnership and shall be binding on each Partner, Representative, Officer and employee of the
Partnership. The Management Committee shall conduct its affairs in accordance with the following
provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement:

     (a) Representatives.

     (i) Composition. The Management Committee shall be composed of four Representatives
designated as provided below by the Partners. Each of EP SNG and EPPP SNG shall be entitled
to designate the number of Representatives and Alternate Representatives set forth opposite
such Partner’s name in Annex I under the column entitled “Number of Representatives
and Alternate Representatives.”

     (ii) Designation. To facilitate the orderly and efficient conduct of Management
Committee meetings, each Partner shall notify the other Partners in writing, from time to
time, of the identity of (A) one or more of its officers, employees or agents who will
represent it at meetings (each, a “Representative”), such number of Persons so identified at
any time not to exceed the number of Representatives to be designated by such Partner in
accordance with Section 6.2(a)(i), and (B) one or more of its officers, employees or
agents who will represent it at any meeting that any one or more of that Partner’s
Representatives is unable to attend (each an “Alternate Representative”; if an Alternative
Representative is to be an alternate for more than one Representative of a Partner, the
Partner’s notification shall specify same), such number of Persons so identified at any time
not to exceed the number of Alternate Representatives to be designated by such Partner in
accordance with Section 6.2(a)(i). (The term “Representative” shall also refer to
any Alternate Representative that is actually performing the duties of the applicable
Representative.). The initial Representatives and Alternate Representatives designated by
each Partner are set forth in Annex I. A Partner may designate different
Representatives or Alternate Representatives for any meeting of the Management Committee by
notifying each of the other Partners on or before the date scheduled for that meeting;
provided, however, that if giving that advance notice is not feasible, then any new
Representative or Alternate Representative shall present written evidence of his or her
authority at the commencement of such meeting. Alternate Representatives may attend all
Management Committee meetings but shall have no vote at any such meeting attended except in
the absence of the Representative for whom such Person is the Alternate Representative.
Upon the death, resignation or removal for any reason of any Representative of a Partner,
such Partner shall promptly designate a successor as provided herein.

     (iii) Authority. Each Representative shall have the full authority to act on behalf of
the Partner that designated such Representative; the action of the Representative(s) at a
meeting (or through a written consent) of the Management Committee shall bind the Partner
that designated that Representative(s); and the other Partner shall be entitled to rely upon
such action without further inquiry or investigation as to the actual authority (or lack
thereof) of such Representative(s). In addition, the act of an Alternate Representative
shall be deemed the act of the Representative for which that Alternate Representative is
acting, without the need to produce evidence of the absence or unavailability of such
Representative.

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     (iv) DISCLAIMER OF DUTIES; INDEMNIFICATION. EACH REPRESENTATIVE SHALL BE AN AGENT OF
AND SHALL REPRESENT, AND, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OWE DUTIES TO, ONLY THE
PARTNER THAT DESIGNATED THE REPRESENTATIVE (THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF SUCH DUTIES BEING AN
INTERNAL AFFAIR OF THE PARTNER), AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SHALL NOT OWE ANY DUTY
(FIDUCIARY OR OTHERWISE) TO THE PARTNERSHIP, ANY OTHER PARTNER OR REPRESENTATIVE OR ANY
OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE PARTNERSHIP. THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 6.2(e)(ii) SHALL
ALSO INURE TO THE BENEFIT OF EACH PARTNER’S REPRESENTATIVE. THE PARTNERSHIP SHALL INDEMNIFY,
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, PROTECT, DEFEND, RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS EACH
REPRESENTATIVE FROM AND AGAINST ANY CLAIMS ASSERTED BY OR ON BEHALF OF ANY PERSON (INCLUDING
ANOTHER PARTNER), OTHER THAN THE PARTNER THAT DESIGNATED THE REPRESENTATIVE, THAT ARISE OUT
OF, RELATE TO OR ARE OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTABLE TO, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, THE REPRESENTATIVE’S
SERVICE ON THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

     (v) Attendance. Each Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause its
Representative(s) or Alternate Representative(s) to attend each meeting of the Management
Committee, unless its Representative(s) is unable to do so because of a “force majeure”
event or other event beyond such Person’s reasonable control, in which event such Partner
shall use all reasonable efforts to cause its Representative(s) or Alternate Representative
to participate in the meeting by telephone or other electronic communication pursuant to
Section 6.2(g).

     (b) Procedures. The Management Committee shall maintain (or cause to be maintained) written
minutes of each of its meetings, which shall be submitted for approval within a reasonable period
of time after each meeting. The Management Committee may adopt such rules and procedures relating
to its activities as the Management Committee may deem appropriate, provided that such rules and
procedures shall not be inconsistent with or violate the provisions of this Agreement.

     (c) Time and Place of Meetings. The Management Committee shall meet no less often than once
each Quarter; provided, however, that in lieu of any such meeting the Management Committee may
elect to act by written consent. The time, date and location of meetings of the Management
Committee, and the agenda for each such meeting, shall be as determined by the Management Committee
from time to time. Special meetings of the Management Committee may be called at such times, and
in such manner, as any Representative or Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate. Any
Representative or Partner calling for any such special meeting shall notify all other
Representatives and Partners of the date and agenda for such meeting on or before the third
Business Day prior to the date of such meeting, provided that such three (3) Business Day period
may be waived by agreement of the other Representatives. Attendance of a Partner’s Representative
at a meeting of the Management Committee shall constitute a waiver of notice of that meeting,
except where the Representative

30

 

attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the
transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not properly called or convened in
accordance with this Agreement.

     (d) Quorum. The presence, in person, by telephone or by other form of two-way electronic
communication permitted by Section 6.2(g), of a majority of the Representatives (including,
in the absence of a Representative, the Alternative Representative of such Person) shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Management Committee, provided that
such majority includes at least one Representative (or Alternate Representative) of each Partner.

     (e) Voting.

     (i) Voting; Voting Thresholds. Except as provided otherwise in this Agreement, each
Representative (or Alternate Representative, as the case may be) present and acting at a
meeting of the Management Committee shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted
to the Management Committee for its approval, consent or determination. Except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Representatives in
attendance at a meeting of the Management Committee at which a quorum is present (a
“Majority Interest”) shall constitute the action of the Management Committee.

     (ii) DISCLAIMER OF DUTIES. WITH RESPECT TO ANY VOTE, CONSENT OR APPROVAL AT ANY
MEETING OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OR OTHERWISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTNER OR ITS
REPRESENTATIVE MAY GRANT OR WITHHOLD ITS VOTE, CONSENT OR APPROVAL IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION,
FREE FROM ANY DUTY, FIDUCIARY OR OTHERWISE, TO THE PARTNERSHIP OR ANY PARTNER OTHER THAN THE
DUTY TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 6.2(e)(ii) SHALL APPLY
NOTWITHSTANDING THE NEGLIGENCE, GROSS NEGLIGENCE, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, STRICT LIABILITY OR
OTHER FAULT OR RESPONSIBILITY OF A PARTNER OR ITS REPRESENTATIVE.

     (iii) Exclusion of Certain Partners and Their Sharing Ratios. With respect to any
vote, consent or approval, the Representative(s) of any Breaching Partner or Withdrawn
Partner shall be excluded from such decision (as contemplated by Section 9.3(b)),
and the requirement in Section 6.2(d) above for the determination of a quorum shall
be deemed to be modified appropriately.

     (f) Action by Written Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a regular or
special meeting of the Management Committee may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice,
and without a vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is
signed either by all of the Representatives (or if a Representative is unavailable, the Alternate
Representative for that unavailable Representative) or by all of the Partners.

     (g) Meetings by Telephone or Other Communications Devices. Representatives (including any
Alternate Representative) may participate in and hold any meeting by means of

31

 

conference telephone,
videoconference or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in
the meeting can communicate with and hear each other. Participation in a meeting shall constitute
presence in person at the meeting, except where a Partner participates in the meeting for the
express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is
not lawfully called or convened.

     (h) Matters Requiring Management Committee Approval. Except as expressly provided elsewhere
in this Agreement, none of the following actions may be taken by, or on behalf of the Partnership,
without first obtaining the vote of the Management Committee described below:

     (i) Unanimous Interest. The following actions shall require the approval of all
Representatives or Partners:

     (A) to the fullest extent permitted by law, dissolution of the Partnership
under Section 11.1(a);

     (B) to the fullest extent permitted by law, causing or permitting the
Partnership to become Bankrupt (but this provision is not intended to require, nor
shall it be construed to require, any Partner to ensure the profitability or
solvency of the Partnership);

     (C) causing the Partnership to mortgage or pledge any of its properties or
assets to secure the payment or performance of any obligation for the repayment of
borrowed money or any guarantee of such repayment;

     (D) the commencement before the FERC, or the resolution through settlement,
stipulation or other consensual means, in whole or in part, before the FERC (or
before any United States Court of Appeals on an appeal of an order of the FERC), of:

(i) any NGA Section 4 (15 U.S.C. Section 717(c)) general rate case
(provided that it shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement if
without the unanimous approval specified herein the Partnership
makes such filing(s) with the FERC as may be necessary or
appropriate to commence any NGA Section 4 rate case to the extent
that failure to do so would breach or violate any existing rate
settlement, stipulation or other order of the FERC to which the
Partnership is subject); or

(ii) any other proceeding or controversy at the FERC or on an appeal
of an order thereof, the outcome of which would cause either

          a. the Partnership’s revenues to be reduced by, or

32

 

          b. the Partnership to pay penalties, refunds or interest of,

          a total of $_____ million or more; or

(iii) to agree to any criminal penalty;

     (E) any amendment to this Agreement (including any amendment to Section
5.1), other than an amendment solely made to change the Partnership’s name;

     (F) the creation of any additional Partnership Interests of any class in
accordance with Section 3.4 and specifying the rights, class(es) and duties
thereof, or the proposed admission of any Person (other than a Permitted Transferee)
as a partner of the Partnership, whether as a result of the Disposition by a Partner
of all or any part of its Partnership Interest or otherwise, provided, however, that
the Disposition by a Partner of all or any part of its Partnership Interest to a
Permitted Transferee shall not require the prior approval of the Management
Committee;

     (G) any proposal to sell or otherwise Dispose of assets of the Partnership
(excluding any agreement to sell service using capacity on the Facilities), whether
in a single transaction or any series of transactions, outside the ordinary course
of the Partnership’s business with a value exceeding a total of $450 million in any
calendar year;

     (H) the Disposition or abandonment of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Partnership, and any Disposition (including a Deemed Tax Disposition, if such
Disposition, when added to the total of all other Dispositions (including Deemed Tax
Dispositions) within the preceding twelve months, results in the Partnership being
considered to have terminated within the meaning of Section 708(b)(1)(B) of the
Code;

     (I) causing or permitting the Partnership to merge with, or consolidate or
convert into, any other entity;

     (J) entering into, conducting, or authorizing the Partnership to conduct, any
new activity or business that may cause the Partnership to generate income for
federal income tax purposes which will not constitute “qualifying income” (as such
term is defined pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code); or

     (K) any amendment to the Master Services Agreement, other than any amendment
that the Management Committee determines would not materially adversely affect the
Partnership.

     (ii) Majority Interest. A Majority Interest shall be required to approve:

33

 

     (A) causing the Partnership to take any action under this Agreement that
requires Management Committee approval other than the actions specified in
Section 6.2(h)(i);

     (B) the determination of the amount of Available Cash with respect to each
Quarter;

     (C) approving, modifying or amending the annual Capital Budget and Operating
Budget for the Partnership (with it being understood that the latest approved
Capital Budget or Operating Budget shall be used, and deemed approved, for any
subsequent period until the new Capital Budget or Operating Budget (as applicable)
for that period is so approved), including the parameters under which the Officers
are authorized to expend Partnership funds without further Management Committee
approval;

     (D) issuing or causing to be issued any Capital Call under Section 4.1
or Loan Notice under Section 4.2;

     (E) any additions to (by acquisition, development, construction or otherwise)
or expansions or extensions of the Facilities, provided that any additions,
expansions or extensions to the Facilities approved by either (I) any duly
authorized Officer(s) pursuant to authority delegated by the Management Committee or
(II) in accordance with the Master Services Agreement, shall be deemed approved by
the Management Committee for purposes hereof and shall not require separate
approval;

     (F) appointing Officers of the Partnership and determining their authority to
act on behalf of the Partnership;

     (G) designating Officers or employees to serve on the audit committee of the
Partnership, if one shall be established by the Management Committee;

     (H) any change in the Partnership’s name;

     (I) causing the Partnership to enter into any short-term or long-term
indebtedness, but Working Capital Borrowings made from time-to-time under an
agreement previously approved as contemplated herein need not be further approved by
the Management Committee;

     (J) except for any commencement or resolution that requires the unanimous
approval of the Management Committee pursuant to Section 6.2(i)(D) above,
the commencement before the FERC, or the resolution through settlement, stipulation
or other consensual means of any matter brought under the NGA Section 4 (15 U.S.C.
Section 717(c)) or Section 5 (15 U.S.C. Section 717(d)); provided that the
Management Committee may delegate to any duly authorized Officer(s) the right(s) to
commence or resolve any such proceeding involving (i) a reduction of not more than
$____ million in the Partnership’s revenues for any 12-month period; (ii) the
composition of any liability or indebtedness exceeding

34

 

$___ million in any 12-month
period or $___ million in the aggregate or (iii) an immaterial effect on the level
of throughput in or capacity of the Facilities subject to firm or interruptible
contracts; or

     (K) making any tax elections under the Code.

     (i) Subcommittees. The Management Committee shall have the power and authority to create such
subcommittees, and delegate to such subcommittees such authority and responsibility, and rescind
any such delegations, as it may deem appropriate.

     (j) Officers.

     (A) The Management Committee shall have the power and authority to appoint one
or more Persons to be Officers of the Partnership. Any Officers so designated shall
have such titles and, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, have such
authority and perform such duties as the Management Committee may delegate to them
and shall serve at the pleasure of the Management Committee and report to the
Management Committee. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement
or by the Management Committee, the authority and functions of the Officers shall be
identical to the authority and functions of the officers of a corporation organized
under the DGCL. The Management Committee shall have full power and authority to
direct the Officers to do all things and on such terms as it determines to be
necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Partnership. In addition,
the Management Committee shall have full power and authority to select and dismiss
Officers, employees, agents, outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and
contractors and to determine their compensation and other terms of employment or
hire, create and operate employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee
practices.

     (B) The Officers may include a Chief Executive Officer, a President and a
Secretary, and may also include a Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer, one or more Vice Presidents (who may be further classified by such
descriptions as “executive,” “senior,” “assistant” or otherwise, as the Management
Committee shall determine), one or more Assistant Secretaries and one or more
Assistant Treasurers. If Officers are appointed, each Officer shall hold office
until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier
death, resignation or removal. Any number of offices may be held by the same
Person. The compensation of Officers shall be fixed from time to time by the
Management Committee or by such Officers as may be designated by the Management
Committee.

     (C) Any Officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the Partnership.
Any Officer may be removed by the Management Committee with or without cause at any
time. The Management Committee may delegate the power of removal of Officers to any
Officer. Such removal shall be without

35

 

prejudice to a Person’s contract rights, if
any, but the appointment of any Person as an Officer shall not of itself create
contract rights.

     (D) Unless otherwise directed by the Management Committee or specified in an
employment or other agreement to which an Officer is a party, a Person appointed as
an Officer of the Partnership shall be required to devote to the business affairs of
the Partnership only the portion of such Person’s full productive time as is
required to perform the duties delegated to such Person by the Management Committee.
In addition, it shall not constitute a breach or violation of any duty owed to the
Partnership or to any Partner by a Person appointed as an Officer for such Person to
be a director, manager, officer or employee of any Affiliate of the Partnership
provided that the Management Committee is advised of such Person’s positions with
such Affiliate(s) and does not object to same in a timely manner.

     (E) The officers of SNGC immediately prior to the Conversion shall continue as
the Officers of the Partnership, with the titles and responsibilities of their
offices immediately prior to the Conversion.

     Section 6.3 Master Services Agreement. Effective as of the date of the Conversion, the
Partnership shall enter into the Master Services Agreement.

     Section 6.4 Conflicts of Interest; Outside Activities.

     (a) Each Partner agrees to the terms of Section 2.7.

     (b) In addition to the rights set forth in Section 2.7, any Partner or Affiliate or
Affiliates of a Partner (including any Subsidiary of a Partner) shall have the right to engage in
businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and
possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in
businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any the Partnership or any Subsidiary,
independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition
with the business and activities of the Partnership or any Subsidiary, and none of the same shall
constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise
to the Partnership, any Subsidiary or any Partner. None of the Partnership, any Subsidiary or any
other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or the partnership relationship
established hereby in any business ventures of any Partner or any Affiliate of a Partner (including
any Subsidiary of a Partner).

     (c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in
competitive activities by any Person (including any Partner or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate of
a Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.4 is hereby approved by the
Partnership and all Partners, (ii) it shall be deemed not to be a breach of any Partner’s or any
other Person’s duties to the Partnership or any Partner or any other obligation of any type
whatsoever of a Partner or any other Person to the Partnership or any Partner for any such Person
to engage in such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the
Partnership or any Subsidiary, (iii) none of the Partners or any other Person shall have any

36

 

obligation hereunder or as a result of any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise
to present business opportunities to the Partnership or any Subsidiary and (iv) the doctrine of
“corporate opportunity” or other analogous doctrine shall not apply to any Partner or other Person.

     (d) The Partnership may transact business with any Partner or Affiliate of a Partner, provided
the terms of those transactions are approved by the Management Committee or expressly contemplated
by this Agreement or involve transportation agreements on the Facilities with an Affiliate of a
Partner incurred in the ordinary course of the Partnership’s business. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Partners recognize and agree that their respective Affiliates
currently, or in the future may, engage in various activities involving natural gas marketing and
trading (including futures, options, swaps, exchanges of future positions for physical deliveries
and commodity trading), transportation, gathering, processing, storage, distribution, development
and ownership, as well as other commercial activities related to natural gas and other hydrocarbons
and that these and other activities by Partners’ Affiliates may be based on natural gas that is
transported in the Facilities or otherwise made possible or more profitable by reason of the
Partnership’s activities (herein referred to as “Affiliate’s Outside Activities”). No Affiliate of
a Partner shall be restricted in its right to conduct, individually or jointly with others, for its
own account any Affiliate’s Outside Activities, and no Partner or its Affiliates shall have any
duty or obligation, express or implied, fiduciary or otherwise, to account to, or to share the
results or profits of such Affiliate’s Outside Activities with, the Partnership, any other Partner
or any Affiliate of any other Partner, by reason of such Affiliate’s Outside Activities.

     (e) To the extent permitted by Law, the provisions of this Agreement, including this
Section 6.4 and Sections 6.2(a)(iv), 6.2(e)(ii), 6.7 and
6.8, constitute an agreement to modify or eliminate fiduciary duties pursuant to the
provisions of Sections 15-404(b) and (c) and 15-103(f) of DRUPA.

     Section 6.5 Indemnification for Breach of Agreement. To the fullest extent permitted by Law,
each Partner shall indemnify, protect, defend, release and hold harmless each other Partner, its
Affiliates, and its and their respective directors, officers, trustees, employees and agents from
and against any Claims asserted by or on behalf of any Person (including another Partner) that
result from a breach by the indemnifying Partner of this Agreement; provided, however, that this
Section 6.5 shall not (a) apply to any Claim or other matter for which a Partner has no
liability or duty, or is indemnified or released, pursuant to Section 6.4 or (b) hold the
indemnified Person harmless from special, consequential or exemplary damages, except in the case
where the indemnified Person is legally obligated to pay such damages to another Person.

     Section 6.6 General Regulatory Matters. Each Partner shall:

     (a) cooperate fully with the Partnership and the Management Committee in securing appropriate
Authorizations for the development, construction and operation of the Facilities, including
supporting all applications submitted to the FERC by or on behalf of the Partnership, and in
connection with any reports prescribed by any other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over
the Partnership;

37

 

     (b) join in any eminent domain takings by the Partnership, to the extent, if any, required by
Law;

     (c) devote such efforts as shall be reasonable and necessary to develop and promote the
Facilities for the benefit of the Partnership, taking into account the Partner’s Percentage
Interest, resources and expertise; and

     (d) cooperate fully with the Partnership and the Management Committee to ensure compliance
with FERC Standards of Conduct, if applicable.

     Section 6.7 Disclaimer Of Duties. WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION, CONSENT OR APPROVAL, EACH
PARTNER MAY TAKE OR NOT TAKE THE ACTION, OR GRANT OR WITHHOLD CONSENT OR APPROVAL, IN ITS SOLE
DISCRETION, FREE FROM ANY DUTY FIDUCIARY OR OTHERWISE, TO THE PARTNERSHIP OR ANY PARTNER OTHER THAN
THE DUTY TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 6.7 SHALL APPLY
NOTWITHSTANDING THE NEGLIGENCE, GROSS NEGLIGENCE, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHER
FAULT OR RESPONSIBILITY OF ANY PARTNER.

     Section 6.8 Sole Discretion. To the fullest extent permitted by law and notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement or in any other agreement contemplated herein or applicable
provisions of law or equity or otherwise, whenever in this Agreement any Person is permitted or
required to make a decision (a) in its Sole Discretion, such Person shall be entitled to consider
only such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty
(including any fiduciary duty) or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or
factors affecting the Partnership or any other Person or (b) in its “good faith” or under another
express standard, such Person shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any
other or different standard.

ARTICLE 7

TAXES

     Section 7.1 Tax Returns. The Tax Matters Partner shall prepare and timely file (on behalf of
the Partnership) all federal, state and local tax returns required to be filed by the Partnership.
Each Partner shall furnish to the Tax Matters Partner all pertinent information in its possession
relating to the Partnership’s operations that is necessary to enable the Partnership’s tax returns
to be timely prepared and filed. The Partnership shall bear the costs of the preparation and
filing of its returns.

     Section 7.2 Tax Elections. The Partnership shall make the following elections on the
appropriate tax returns:

     (a) to adopt as the Partnership’s fiscal year the calendar year;

     (b) to adopt the accrual method of accounting;

     (c) to elect, pursuant to Section 754 of the Code in accordance with the applicable Treasury
Regulations thereunder, to adjust the basis of the Partnership’s properties;

38

 

     (d) to elect to amortize the organizational expenses of the Partnership ratably over the
period as permitted by Section 709(b) of the Code; and

     (e) any other election the Management Committee may deem appropriate.

The Partnership intends to be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Neither
the Partnership nor any Partner shall make an election for the Partnership to be excluded from the
application of the provisions of subchapter K of chapter 1 of subtitle A of the Code or any similar
provisions of applicable state law and no provision of this Agreement shall be construed to
sanction or approve such an election.

     Section 7.3 Tax Matters Partner.

     (a) The Management Committee shall designate [EP SNG] to serve as the “tax matters partner” of
the Partnership pursuant to Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code (the “Tax Matters Partner”). The Tax
Matters Partner shall take such action as may be necessary to cause to the extent possible each
other Partner to become a “notice partner” within the meaning of Section 6223 of the Code. The Tax
Matters Partner shall inform each other Partner of all significant matters that may come to its
attention in its capacity as Tax Matters Partner by giving notice thereof on or before the fifth
Business Day after becoming aware thereof and, within that time, shall forward to each other
Partner copies of all significant written communications it may receive in that capacity.

     (b) The Tax Matters Partner shall provide any Partner, upon request, access to accounting and
tax information and schedules as shall be necessary for the preparation by such Partner of its
income tax returns and such Partner’s tax information reporting requirements.

     (c) Any cost or expense incurred by the Tax Matters Partner in connection with its duties,
including the preparation for or pursuance of administrative or judicial proceedings, shall be
reimbursed by the Partnership.

     (d) The Tax Matters Partner shall not bind any Partner to a settlement agreement without
obtaining the consent of such Partner. Any Partner that enters into a settlement agreement with
respect to any Partnership item (as described in Code Section 6231(a)(3)) shall notify the other
Partners of the settlement agreement and its terms on or before the 90th Day after the date of the
settlement.

     (e) No Partner shall file a request pursuant to Code Section 6227 for an administrative
adjustment of Partnership items for any taxable year without first notifying the other Partners.
If the Management Committee consents to the requested adjustment, the Tax Matters Partner shall
file the request for the administrative adjustment on behalf of the Partners. If such consent is
not obtained on or before the 30th Day after such notice, or within the period required to timely
file the request for administrative adjustment, if shorter, any Partner, including the Tax Matters
Partner, may file a request for administrative adjustment on its own behalf. Any Partner intending
to file a petition under Code Sections 6226, 6228 or other Code Section with respect to any item
involving the Partnership shall notify the other Partners of such intention and the nature of the
contemplated proceeding. In the case where the Tax Matters Partner is the Partner intending to
file such petition on behalf of the Partnership, such notice shall be given

39

 

within a reasonable
period of time to allow the other Partners to participate in the choosing of the
              
       .

     (f) If any Partner intends to file a notice of inconsistent treatment under Code Section
6222(b), such Partner shall give reasonable notice under the circumstances to the other Partners of
such intent and the manner in which the Partner’s intended treatment of an item is (or may be)
inconsistent with the treatment of that item by the other Partners.

     Section 7.4 Amounts Withheld. All amounts required to be withheld pursuant to federal, state,
local, or foreign tax laws shall be treated as amounts actually distributed to the affected
Partners for all purposes under this Agreement. The Management Committee is hereby authorized to
withhold from distributions, or with respect to allocations, to the Partners and to pay over to any
federal, state, local, or foreign government any amounts required to be so withheld pursuant to
federal, state, local or foreign law.

ARTICLE 8

BOOKS, RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS

     Section 8.1 Maintenance of Books; Reports. The Management Committee shall cause to be kept at
the principal office of the Partnership or at such other location approved by the Management
Committee complete and accurate books and records of the Partnership, including all books and
records necessary to provide to the Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to
Section 8.2, supporting documentation of the transactions with respect to the conduct of
the Partnership’s business and minutes of the proceedings of the Partners and the Management
Committee, and any other books, records and information that are required to be maintained by
applicable Law, including Section 15-403(a) of DRUPA.

     Section 8.2 Reports. (a) With respect to each calendar year, and within the time frame
specified by the Management Committee, the Management Committee or any duly authorized Officer(s)
shall cause to be prepared and delivered to each Partner such reports, financial statements,
forecasts, studies, budgets and other information as the Management Committee may request from time
to time.

     Section 8.3 Bank Accounts. Funds of the Partnership shall be deposited in such banks or other
depositories as shall be designated from time to time by the Management Committee, which may
include the El Paso Corporation cash management program.

ARTICLE 9

WITHDRAWAL

     Section 9.1 No Right of Withdrawal. No Partner shall voluntarily Withdraw from the
Partnership.

     Section 9.2 Deemed Withdrawal. A Partner is deemed to have Withdrawn from the Partnership
upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

     (a) there occurs an event that makes it unlawful for the Partner to continue to be a Partner;

40

 

     (b) the Partner becomes Bankrupt;

     (c) the Partner commences liquidation or winding up;

     (d) notice from the Management Committee if the Partner commits a Default and the Default has
not been cured; or

     (e) as otherwise provided in Sections 15-601(1) or (5) of DRUPA.

     Section 9.3 Effect of Withdrawal. A Partner that is deemed to have Withdrawn under
Section 9.2 (a “Withdrawn Partner"), must comply with the following requirements in
connection with its Withdrawal:

     (a) The Withdrawn Partner ceases to be a Partner immediately upon the occurrence of the
applicable Withdrawal event.

     (b) The Withdrawn Partner shall not be entitled to receive any distributions from the
Partnership except as set forth in Section 9.3(e), and it shall not be entitled to exercise
any rights of a Partner, including any voting or consent rights or to receive any further
information (or access to information) from the Partnership. The Percentage Interest of that
Partner shall not be taken into account in calculating the Percentage Interests of the Partners for
any purposes. This Section 9.3(b) shall also apply to a Breaching Partner; but if a
Breaching Partner cures its breach during the applicable cure period, then any distributions that
were withheld from that Partner shall be paid to it, without interest.

     (c) The Withdrawn Partner must pay to the Partnership all amounts, if any, that it owes to the
Partnership.

     (d) The Withdrawn Partner shall remain obligated for all liabilities it may have under this
Agreement or otherwise with respect to the Partnership that accrue prior to the Withdrawal.

     (e) From the date of the Withdrawal to the date of the payment, the former Capital Account
balance of the Withdrawn Partner shall be recorded as a contingent obligation of the Partnership,
and not as a Capital Account, until payment is made. The rights of a Withdrawn Partner under this
Section 9.3(e) shall (i) be subordinate to the rights of any other creditor of the
Partnership, (ii) not include any right on the part of the Withdrawn Partner to receive any
interest (except as may otherwise be provided in the evidence of any indebtedness of the
Partnership owed to such Withdrawn Partner) or other amounts with respect thereto; (iii) not
require the Partnership to make any distribution (the Withdrawn Partner’s rights under this
Section 9.3(e) being limited to receiving such portion of distributions as the Management
Committee may, in its Sole Discretion, decide to cause the Partnership to make); (iv) not require
any Partner to make a Capital Contribution or a loan to permit the Partnership to make a
distribution or otherwise to pay the Withdrawn Partner; and (v) be treated as a liability of the
Partnership for purposes of Section 12.2. Except as set forth in this Section
9.3(e), a Withdrawn Partner shall not be entitled to receive any return of its Capital
Contributions or other payment from the Partnership in respect of its Partnership Interest.

41

 

     (f) The Percentage Interest of the Withdrawn Partner shall be allocated among the remaining
Partners in the proportion that each Partner’s Percentage Interest bears to the total Percentage
Interest of all remaining Partners, or in such other proportion as the Partners may unanimously
agree.

     (g) Any Representative(s) and Alternate Representative(s) of such Partner on the Management
Committee shall cease to be a member of the Management Committee immediately upon the occurrence of
the applicable Withdrawal event.

ARTICLE 10

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

     Section 10.1 Disputes. This Article 10 shall apply to any dispute arising under or
related to this Agreement (whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, and whether arising at
law or in equity), including (a) any dispute regarding the construction, interpretation,
performance, validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement or whether any Person is
in compliance with, or breach of, any provisions of this Agreement, and (b) the applicability of
this Article 10 to a particular dispute. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Article
10 shall not apply to any matters that, pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, are to be
resolved by a vote of the Partners or a determination by the Management Committee; provided,
however, that (i) any matter that is expressly stated herein to be determinable by arbitration may
be so determined pursuant to this Article 10 and (ii) if a vote, approval, consent,
determination or other decision must, under the terms of this Agreement, be made (or withheld) in
accordance with a standard other than Sole Discretion (such as a reasonableness standard), then the
issue of whether such standard has been satisfied may be a dispute to which this Article 10
applies. Any dispute to which this Article 10 applies is referred to herein as a
“Dispute.” With respect to a particular Dispute, each Partner that is a party to such Dispute is
referred to herein as a “Disputing Partner.” The provisions of this Article 10 shall be
the exclusive method of resolving Disputes.

     Section 10.2 Negotiation to Resolve Disputes. If a Dispute arises, any Disputing Partner may
initiate the dispute resolution procedure under this Article 10 by notifying the other
Disputing Partners (a “Dispute Notice”), after which the Disputing Partners shall attempt to
resolve such Dispute through the following procedure:

     (a) first, within 10 Days after receipt of the Dispute Notice, one representative selected by
each Disputing Partner shall meet (whether by phone or in person) in a good faith attempt to
resolve the Dispute;

     (b) second, if the Dispute is still unresolved, then after the 20th Day following the
commencement of the efforts to resolve the matter described in Section 10.2(a) but in no
event later than the 30th Day after receipt of the Dispute Notice, the chief executive officer (or
his designee) of the Parent of each Disputing Partner shall meet (whether by phone or in person) in
a good faith attempt to resolve the Dispute; and

     (c) third, if the Dispute is still unresolved, then after the 10th Day following the
commencement of the efforts to resolve the matter described in Section 10.2(b), any
Disputing

42

 

Party may submit the Dispute for resolution under the Federal Arbitration Act by binding
arbitration following the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (or,
if that Association has ceased to exist, its principal successor) (the "AAA") then in effect,
including its evidentiary and procedural rules (excluding rules governing the payment of
arbitration, administrative or other fees or expenses to the Arbitrator(s) or the AAA), to the
extent that such rules do not conflict with the terms of this Agreement, by notifying the other
Disputing Partners (an “Arbitration Notice”) within the applicable limitation period provided by
law.

     Section 10.3 Selection of Arbitrator.

     (a) For any case in which any claim, or combination of claims, is less than or equal to
$1,000,000, the arbitration shall be heard by a sole Arbitrator. Any case in which any claim, or
combination of claims, exceeds $1,000,000 will be subject to the AAA’s Large, Complex Case
Procedures and decided by the majority of a panel of three neutral Arbitrators. The Arbitrator(s)
shall be selected in accordance with this Section 10.3.

     (b) For arbitrations conducted by a single Arbitrator, the Disputing Partner that submits a
Dispute to arbitration shall designate a proposed neutral sole Arbitrator in its Arbitration
Notice. If any other Disputing Partner objects to a proposed sole Arbitrator, it may, on or before
the tenth Day following delivery of the Arbitration Notice, notify all of the other Disputing
Partners of its objection. All of the Disputing Partners shall attempt to agree upon a mutually
acceptable sole Arbitrator. If they have not done so, then after the 20th Day following delivery
of the notice described in the immediately preceding sentence, any Disputing Partner may request
the AAA to designate the sole Arbitrator. For arbitrations conducted by a panel of three
Arbitrators, the Disputing Partner initiating arbitration shall nominate one Arbitrator at the time
it initiates arbitration. The other Disputing Partner(s) shall collectively nominate one
Arbitrator on or before the 10th Day after receiving the Arbitration Notice. The two Arbitrators
shall appoint a third, neutral Arbitrator. All Arbitrators shall be competent and experienced in
matters involving the interstate natural gas transportation business in the United States, with at
least 10 years of legal, engineering, or business experience in the gas transportation industry,
and shall be impartial and independent of the Partners (and the other Arbitrators, in the case of
arbitrations conducted by a panel of three arbitrators, except for prior arbitrations). Each
Disputing Partner shall pay for the expenses incurred by the Arbitrator it appoints, if applicable,
and the costs of the sole Arbitrator or the third Arbitrator shall be divided equally among the
Disputing Partners. If any Arbitrator so chosen shall die, resign or otherwise fail or becomes
unable to serve as Arbitrator, a replacement Arbitrator shall be chosen in accordance with this
Section 10.3.

     Section 10.4 Conduct of Arbitration. The Arbitrator(s) shall expeditiously (and, if possible,
on or before the 90th Day after the Arbitrator(s)’s selection) hear and decide all matters
concerning the Dispute. Any arbitration hearing shall be held in Houston, Texas or such other
location as the Disputing Partners may mutually agree. Except as expressly provided to the
contrary in this Agreement, the Arbitrator(s) shall have the power (a) to gather such materials,
information, testimony and evidence as it deems relevant to the dispute before it (and each Partner
will provide such materials, information, testimony and evidence requested by the Arbitrator(s),
except to the extent any information so requested is proprietary, subject to a third-

43

 

party
confidentiality restriction or to an attorney-client or other privilege) and (b) to grant
injunctive relief and enforce specific performance. If they deem necessary, the Arbitrator(s) may
propose to the Disputing Partners that one or more other experts be retained to assist it in
resolving the Dispute. The retention of such other experts shall require the unanimous consent of
the Disputing Partners, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Each Disputing Partner, the
Arbitrator(s) and any proposed expert shall disclose to the other Disputing Partners any business,
personal or other relationship or affiliation that may exist or may have existed between the
Disputing Partner (or the Arbitrator(s)) and the proposed expert; and any Disputing Partner may
disapprove of the proposed expert on the basis of that relationship or affiliation. The decision
of the Arbitrator(s) (which shall be rendered in writing) shall be final, nonappealable and binding
upon the Disputing Partners and may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction; provided,
however, that the Partners agree that the Arbitrator(s) and any court enforcing the award of the
Arbitrator(s) shall not have the right or authority to award punitive, special, consequential,
indirect, exemplary or similar damages to any Disputing Partner. The responsibility for paying the
costs and expenses of the arbitration, including compensation to any experts retained by the
Arbitrator(s), shall be divided equally among the Disputing Partners. Each Disputing Partner shall
be responsible for the fees and expenses of its respective counsel, consultants and witnesses,
unless the Arbitrator(s) determines that compelling reasons exist for allocating all or a portion
of those costs and expenses to one or more other Disputing Partners.

     Section 10.5 Compliance with Delaware Arbitration Act. This Article 10 shall be construed to
the maximum extent possible to comply with the laws of the State of Delaware, including, to the
extent applicable, the Uniform Arbitration Act (10 Del. C. §5701 et
seq.) (the “Delaware Arbitration Act”). If, nevertheless, it shall be determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction that any provision or wording of this Article 10 shall be invalid
or unenforceable under the Delaware Arbitration Act, to the extent applicable, or other applicable
law, such invalidity shall not invalidate all of this Article 10. In that case, this Article 10
shall be construed so as to limit any term or provision so as to make it valid or enforceable
within the requirements of the Delaware Arbitration Act or other applicable law, and, in the event
such term or provision cannot be so limited, this Article 10 shall be construed to omit such
invalid or unenforceable provision.

ARTICLE 11

DISSOLUTION, WINDING UP AND TERMINATION

     Section 11.1 Dissolution. The Partnership shall dissolve and its affairs shall be wound up on
the first to occur of the following events (each a “Dissolution Event”):

     (a) notice from the Management Committee to the Partners dissolving the Partnership;

     (b) entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership under Section 15-801 of
DRUPA;

     (c) the Disposition or abandonment of all or substantially all of the Partnership’s business
and assets;

44

 

     (d) an event that makes it unlawful for all or substantially all of the business or affairs of
the Partnership to be carried on; or

     (e) a determination by the Court of Chancery that it is equitable to wind up the business or
affairs of the Partnership in accordance with Section 15-801(6) of DRUPA.

     Section 11.2 Winding Up and Termination.

     (a) On the occurrence of a Dissolution Event, the Liquidator shall, under the supervision of
the Management Committee, proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Partnership and make
final distributions as provided herein and in DRUPA. The costs of winding up shall be borne as a
Partnership expense. Until final distribution, the liquidator shall continue to operate the
Partnership properties with all of the power and authority of the Partners. The steps to be
accomplished by the Liquidator are as follows:

     (i) as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final winding up, the
Liquidator shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of independent
certified public accountants of the Partnership’s assets, liabilities and operations through
the last calendar day of the month in which the dissolution occurs or the final winding up
is completed, as applicable;

     (ii) the Liquidator shall discharge from Partnership funds all of the indebtedness of
the Partnership and other debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership (including
all expenses incurred in winding up and any loans described in Section 4.2) or
otherwise make reasonable provision for payment and discharge thereof (including the
establishment of a cash escrow fund for contingent liabilities in such amount and for such
term as the liquidator may reasonably determine); and

     (iii) all remaining assets of the Partnership shall be distributed to the Partners as
follows:

     (A) the Liquidator may sell any or all Partnership property, including to
Partners, and any resulting gain or loss from each sale shall be computed and
allocated to the Capital Accounts of the Partners in accordance with the provisions
of Article 5;

     (B) with respect to all Partnership property that has not been sold, the fair
market value of that property shall be determined and the Capital Accounts of the
Partners shall be adjusted to reflect the manner in which the unrealized income,
gain, loss and deduction inherent in property that has not been reflected in the
Capital Accounts previously would be allocated among the Partners if there were a
taxable disposition of that property for the fair market value of that property on
the date of distribution; and

     (C) all Partnership property and all cash in excess of that required to
discharge liabilities or obligations as provided in Section 11.2(a)(ii)
shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with, and to the extent of, the
positive balances in their respective Capital Accounts, as determined after making
all

45

 

Capital Account adjustments required herein. Distributions pursuant to this
Section 11.2(a)(iii)(C) shall be made by the end of the taxable year of the
Partnership during which the liquidation of the Partnership occurs (or, if later,
the 90th Day after the date of the liquidation).

     (b) The distribution of cash or property to a Partner in accordance with the provisions of
this Section 11.2 constitutes a complete return to the Partner of its Capital Contributions
and a complete distribution to the Partner of its Partnership Interest and all the Partner’s
property. To the extent that a Partner returns funds to the Partnership, it has no claim against
any other Partner for those funds.

     (c) No dissolution or termination of the Partnership shall relieve a Partner from any
obligation to the extent such obligation has accrued as of the date of such dissolution or
termination. Upon such termination, any books and records of the Partnership that there is a
reasonable basis for believing will ever be needed again shall be furnished to the Liquidator,
which shall keep such books and records (subject to review by any Person that was a Partner at the
time of dissolution) for a period of at least three years. At such time as the Liquidator no
longer agrees to keep such books and records, it shall offer the Persons who were Partners at the
time of dissolution the opportunity to take over such custody, shall deliver such books and records
to such Persons if they elect to take over such custody and may destroy such books and records if
they do not so elect. Any such custody by such Persons shall be on such terms as they may agree
upon among themselves.

     Section 11.3 Deficit Capital Accounts. Except as may be required by Section 15-807 of DRUPA,
no Partner will be required to pay to the Partnership, to any other Partner or to any third party
any deficit balance that may exist from time to time in another Partner’s Capital Account.

     Section 11.4 Statement of Cancellation. On completion of the winding up of the Partnership as
provided herein and DRUPA, the Partners (or such other Person or Persons as the Act may require or
permit) shall file a statement of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, cancel any other filings made pursuant to Section 2.5, and take such other
actions as may be necessary to terminate the existence of the Partnership. Upon the filing of such
statement of cancellation, the existence of the Partnership shall terminate (and the Term shall
end), except as may be otherwise provided by DRUPA or other applicable Law.

ARTICLE 12

GENERAL PROVISIONS

     Section 12.1 Offset. Whenever the Partnership is to pay any sum to any Partner, any amounts
that Partner owes the Partnership may be deducted from that sum before payment.

     Section 12.2 Notices. Except as expressly set forth to the contrary in this Agreement, all
notices, requests or consents provided for or permitted to be given under this Agreement must be in
writing and must be delivered to the recipient in person, by courier, mail, facsimile, email or
other electronic transmission. A notice, request or consent given under this Agreement is
effective on receipt by the Partner or other Person to receive it; provided, however, that a

46

 

facsimile or other electronic transmission that is transmitted after the normal business hours of
the recipient shall be deemed effective on the next Business Day. All notices, requests and
consents to be sent to a Partner must be sent to or made at the addresses given for that Partner on
Annex I or in the instrument described in Section 3.4, or such other address as
that Partner may specify by notice to the other Partners. Any notice, request or consent to the
Partnership must be given to all of the Partners. Whenever any notice is required to be given by
Law, the Certificate or this Agreement, a written waiver thereof, signed by the Person entitled to
notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving
of such notice.

     Section 12.3 Entire Agreement; Superseding Effect. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the Partners and their Affiliates relating to the Partnership and the transactions
contemplated hereby and supersede all provisions and concepts contained in all prior agreements.

     Section 12.4 Effect of Waiver or Consent. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, a
waiver or consent, express or implied, to or of any breach or default by any Partner in the
performance by that Partner of its obligations with respect to the Partnership is not a consent or
waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Partner of the same or any
other obligations of that Partner with respect to the Partnership. Except as otherwise provided in
this Agreement, failure on the part of a Partner to complain of any act of any Partner or to
declare any Partner in default with respect to the Partnership, irrespective of how long that
failure continues, does not constitute a waiver by that Partner of its rights with respect to that
default until the applicable statute-of-limitations period has run.

     Section 12.5 Amendment or Restatement. This Agreement or the Statement may be amended or
restated only by a written instrument executed (or, in the case of the Statement, approved) by all
Partners.

     Section 12.6 Binding Effect. Subject to the restrictions on Dispositions set forth in this
Agreement, this Agreement is binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the Partners and their
respective successors and permitted assigns.

     Section 12.7 Governing Law; Severability. THIS AGREEMENT IS GOVERNED BY AND SHALL BE
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NGA AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE FERC (TO THE EXTENT
APPLICABLE) AND THE LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICT-OF-LAWS RULE OR PRINCIPLE
THAT MIGHT REFER THE GOVERNANCE OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE LAW OF ANOTHER
JURISDICTION; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, ANY MATTERS RELATING
TO THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF THE PARTNERSHIP (INCLUDING THE FORMATION, MANAGEMENT AND TERMINATION OF
THE PARTNERSHIP) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE
PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 10 AND SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF SECTION 10.4 REGARDING THE ENFORCEMENT
OF ANY ARBITRATOR(S)’ DECISION IN ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION, A PARTNER MAY BRING AN
ACTION ARISING UNDER OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, IF AT ALL, ONLY IN COURTS OF

47

 

THE STATE OF
DELAWARE OR (IF IT HAS JURISDICTION) THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE.
In the event of a direct conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and any mandatory,
non-waivable provision of DRUPA such provision of DRUPA shall control. If any provision of DRUPA
provides that it may be varied or superseded in a partnership agreement (or otherwise by agreement
of the partners of a partnership), that provision shall be deemed superseded and waived in its
entirety if this Agreement contains a provision addressing the same issue or subject matter. If
any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Partner or circumstance is held
invalid or unenforceable to any extent, (a) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of
that provision to other Partners or circumstances is not affected thereby, and (b) the Partners
shall negotiate in good faith to replace that provision with a new provision that is valid and
enforceable and that puts the Partners in substantially the same economic, business and legal
position as they would have been in if the original provision had been valid and enforceable.

     Section 12.8 Further Assurances. In connection with this Agreement and the transactions it
contemplates, each Partner shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and
perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the
provisions of this Agreement and those transactions; provided, however, that this Section
12.8 shall not obligate a Partner to furnish guarantees or other credit supports by such
Partnership’s Parent or other Affiliates.

     Section 12.9 Waiver of Certain Rights. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law,
each Partner irrevocably waives any right it may have to maintain any action for dissolution of the
Partnership or for partition of the property of the Partnership.

     Section 12.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with
the same effect as if all signing parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be
construed together and constitute the same instrument.

[Signature page follows.]

48

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Partners have executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth
above.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	PARTNERS:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	EP SNG HOLDING COMPANY, L.L.C.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name:
	 	 

	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	 

	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	EPPP SNG GP HOLDINGS, L.L.C.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name:
	 	 

	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	 

	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

	 	 

[Signature page to Partnership Agreement of Southern Natural Gas Company]

49

 

ANNEX I

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	Number of	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	Representatives and	 	 	 	Identity of	 	 
	Partner Identity	 	Percentage	 	Alternative	 	Identity of	 	Alternate	 	 
	and Address	 	Interest	 	Representatives	 	Representatives	 	Representatives	 	Parent
	EP SNG Holding
	 	 	90	%	 	3 Representatives
	 	 	 	 	 	El Paso Corporation
	Company, L.L.C.
	 	 	 	 	 	and up to 3

	 	 

	 	 

	 	 
	El Paso Building

	 	 	 	 	 	Alternates

	 	 

	 	 

	 	 
	1001 Louisiana

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention:                    

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 

	 	 

	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	EPPP SNG GP

	 	 	10	%	 	1 Representative
	 	 	 	 	 	El Paso Corporation1
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	Holdings, L.L.C.

El Paso Building

1001 Louisiana

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention:                    

	 	 	 	 	 	1 Alternate	 	 	 	 	 	 

 

			
	1	 	From and after the Closing Date, El Paso Pipeline
Partners, L.P. will be the Parent of EPPP SNG GP Holdings, L.L.C.

 

 

Exhibit A

DESCRIPTION OF INITIAL FACILITIES

[Description of Southern Natural Gas Company interstate pipeline system to come]

Exhibit A – Page 51exv10w18

 

Exhibit 10.18

FORM OF

EL PASO PIPELINE GP COMPANY, L.L.C.

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

1. Purpose of the Plan.

     The El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) has been
adopted by El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the
“Company”), the general partner of El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (the “Partnership”), and is intended to promote the interests of the
Partnership by providing to employees, consultants, and directors of the Company and employees and
consultants of its Affiliates who perform services for or on behalf of the Partnership and its
subsidiaries incentive compensation awards for superior performance that are based on Units. The
Plan is also contemplated to enhance the ability of the Company and its Affiliates to attract and
retain the services of individuals who are essential for the growth and profitability of the
Partnership and its subsidiaries and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to advancing
the business of the Partnership and its subsidiaries.

2. Definitions.

     As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

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

     “Award” means an Option, Unit Grant, Restricted Unit, Phantom Unit or Unit Appreciation
Right granted under the Plan, and shall include tandem DERs granted with respect to an
Option, Phantom Unit or Unit Appreciation Right.

     “Award Agreement” means the written agreement by which an Award shall be evidenced.

     “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

     “Change in Control” means, and shall be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of
one or more of the following events: (i) any Person or group, other than El Paso Corporation
(“Parent”) or its Affiliates, becomes the beneficial owner, by way of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or otherwise, of 50% or more of the combined
voting power of the equity interests in the Company or the Partnership, (ii) the limited
partners of the Partnership approve, in one or a series of transactions, a plan of complete
liquidation of the Partnership, (iii) the sale or other disposition by either the Company or
the Partnership of all or substantially all of its assets in one or more transactions to any
person other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company, (iv) a transaction resulting
in a Person other than the Company or one of its Affiliates being the

 

 

general partner of the Partnership, (v) a transaction resulting in the general partner
of the Partnership ceasing to be an Affiliate of Parent, or (vi) a “Change in Control” as
defined in Parent’s 2005 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as such plan may be amended,
supplemented or restated from time to time.

     Except as otherwise provided in an Award, solely with respect to any Award that
provides deferred compensation that is subject to Section 409A of the Code and payment of
such Award is contingent upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the above definition
shall be void and of no effect and is hereby replaced by the definition of such term set
forth in regulations issued under Section 409A of the Code by the appropriate governmental
authority, which definition set forth in regulations issued under Section 409A of the Code
is hereby incorporated by reference into and shall form part of this Plan as fully as if set
forth herein verbatim and the Plan insofar as it relates to such Award shall be operated in
accordance with this modified definition of Change of Control.

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

     “Committee” means the Board or such committee of the Board as may be appointed by the
Board to administer the Plan.

     “Consultant” means an individual, other than an Employee or a Director, providing bona
fide services to the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries as a consultant or advisor, as
applicable, provided that (i) such individual is a natural person, and (ii) the grant of an
Award to such Person could not reasonably be expected to result in adverse federal income
tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code; provided that for purposes of issuing
Options or Unit Appreciation Rights, “subsidiary” means any entity in a chain of entities in
which the Partnership has a “controlling interest” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section
1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i), but using the threshold of 50 percent ownership wherever 80 percent
appears.

     “DER” or “Distribution Equivalent Right” means a contingent right, granted in tandem
with a specific Option, Unit Appreciation Right or Phantom Unit, to receive an amount in
cash equal to the cash distributions made by the Partnership with respect to a Unit during
the period such tandem Award is outstanding.

     “Director” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee.

     “Disability” means either (i) an inability of the Participant to engage in any
substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical mental
impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a
continuous period of not less than 12 months or (ii) the receipt of income replacements by
the Participant, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that
can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not
less than 12 months, for a period of not less than 3 months under the Company’s accident and
health plan.

     “Employee” means any employee of the Company or an Affiliate who performs services for
the Partnership or its subsidiaries; provided that for purposes of issuing

-2-

 

Options or Unit Appreciation Rights, “subsidiary” means any entity in a chain of
entities in which the Partnership has a “controlling interest” within the meaning of Treas.
Reg. Section 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i), but using the threshold of 50 percent ownership wherever
80 percent appears.

     “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

     “Fair Market Value” means the closing sales price of a Unit on the applicable date (or
if there is no trading in the Units on such date, on the next preceding date on which there
was trading) as reported in The Wall Street Journal (or other reporting service approved by
the Committee). In the event Units are not publicly traded at the time a determination of
fair market value is required to be made hereunder, the determination of fair market value
shall be made in good faith by the Committee.

     “Option” means an option to purchase Units granted under the Plan.

     “Participant” means any Employee, Consultant or Director granted an Award under the
Plan.

     “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.

     “Phantom Unit” means a phantom (notional) Unit granted under the Plan which upon
vesting entitles the Participant to receive a Unit or an amount of cash equal to the Fair
Market Value of a Unit. Whether cash or Units are received for Phantom Units shall be
determined in the sole discretion of the Committee and shall be set forth in the Award
Agreement.

     “Restricted Period” means the period established by the Committee with respect to an
Award during which the Award remains subject to forfeiture or is either not exercisable by
or payable to the Participant, as the case may be.

     “Restricted Unit” means a Unit granted under the Plan that is subject to a Restricted
Period.

     “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act, or any
successor rule or regulation thereto as in effect from time to time.

     “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor thereto.

     “UAR” of “Unit Appreciation Right” means an Award that, upon exercise, entitles the
holder to receive the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the exercise date over
the exercise price established for such Unit Appreciation Right. Such excess may be paid in
cash and/or in Units as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee and set forth in
the Award Agreement.

-3-

 

     “UDR” or “Unit Distribution Right” means a distribution made by the Partnership with
respect to a Restricted Unit.

     “Unit” means a common unit of the Partnership.

     “Unit Grant” means and Award of an unrestricted Unit.

3. Administration.

     The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. A majority of the Committee shall constitute
a quorum, and the acts of the members of the Committee who are present at any meeting thereof at
which a quorum is present, or acts unanimously approved by the members of the Committee in writing,
shall be the acts of the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in
addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the
Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the
type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of Units to be
covered by Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award (including but not limited
to performance requirements for such Award); (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what
circumstances Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, or forfeited; (vi) interpret and
administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to an Award made under the Plan; (vii)
establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall
deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (viii) make any other determination
and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of
the Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations,
interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within
the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and
binding upon all Persons, including the Company, the Partnership, any Affiliate, any Participant,
and any beneficiary of any Award.

4. Units.

     (a) Limits on Units Deliverable. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c),
the maximum number of Units that may be delivered or reserved for delivery or underlying any Award
with respect to the Plan is [        ]. If any Award expires, is canceled, exercised,
paid or otherwise terminates without the delivery of Units, then the Units covered by such Award,
to the extent of such expiration, cancellation, exercise, payment or termination, shall again be
Units with respect to which Awards may be granted. Units that cease to be subject to an Award
because of the exercise of the Award, or the vesting of Restricted Units or similar Awards, shall
no longer be subject to or available for any further grant under this Plan. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, there shall not be any limitation on the number of Awards that may be granted under the
Plan and paid in cash.

     (b) Sources of Units Deliverable Under Awards. Any Units delivered pursuant to an Award shall
consist, in whole or in part, of Units acquired in the open market, from any Affiliate, the
Partnership or any other Person, or any combination of the foregoing as determined by the Committee
in its sole discretion.

-4-

 

     (c) Adjustments. In the event that any distribution (whether in the form of cash, Units,
other securities, or other property), recapitalization, split, reverse split, reorganization,
merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Units or other
securities of the Partnership, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Units or other
securities of the Partnership, or other similar transaction or event affects the Units, then the
Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number and
type of Units (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted, (ii)
the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and
(iii) the grant or exercise price with respect to any Award or, make provision for a cash payment
to the holder of an outstanding Award; provided, that the number of Units subject to any Award
shall always be a whole number and, provided further, that the Committee shall not take any action
otherwise authorized under this subparagraph (c) to the extent that such action would cause (A) the
application of Section 409A of the Code to the Award or (B) create adverse tax consequences under
Section 409A of the Code should that Code section apply to the Award.

5. Eligibility.

     Any Employee, Consultant or Director shall be eligible to be designated a Participant and
receive an Award under the Plan.

6. Awards.

     (a) Options. The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees, Consultants
and Directors to whom Options shall be granted, the number of Units to be covered by each Option,
whether DERs are granted with respect to such Option, the purchase price therefor and the
conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Option, including the following terms
and conditions and such additional terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine, that are
not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.

     (i) Exercise Price. The purchase price per Unit purchasable under an Option
shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Option is granted, provided such
purchase price may not be less than 100% of its Fair Market Value as of the date of grant.

     (ii) Time and Method of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or
times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part, which may include, without
limitation, accelerated vesting upon the achievement of specified performance goals, and the
method or methods by which payment of the exercise price with respect thereto may be made or
deemed to have been made, which may include, without limitation, cash, check acceptable to
the Company, a “cashless-broker” exercise through procedures approved by the Company, with
the consent of the Committee, the withholding of Units that would otherwise be delivered to
the Participant upon the exercise of the Option, other securities or other property, or any
combination thereof, having a fair market value (as determined by the Committee) on the
exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price.

     (iii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the Award
Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s employment with or services to the

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Company and its Affiliates or membership on the Board, whichever is applicable, for any
reason prior to the date an Option becomes vested, all unvested Options shall be forfeited
by the Participant.

     (iv) DERs. To the extent provided by the Committee, in its discretion, a grant
of Options may include a tandem DER grant, which may provide that such DERs shall be
credited to a bookkeeping account (with or without interest in the discretion of the
Committee) subject to the same vesting restrictions as the tandem Award, or be subject to
such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

     (b) Restricted Units and Unit Grants. The Committee shall have the authority to determine the
Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Restricted Units and Unit Grants shall be granted, the
number of Restricted Units and/or Unit Grants to be granted to each such Participant, the
Restricted Period, the conditions under which the Restricted Units may become vested or forfeited,
and such other terms and conditions as the Committee may establish with respect to such Awards.

     (i) UDRs. To the extent provided by the Committee, in its discretion, a grant
of Restricted Units may provide that distributions made by the Partnership with respect to
the Restricted Units shall be subject to the same forfeiture and other restrictions as the
Restricted Unit and, if restricted, such distributions shall be held, without interest,
until the Restricted Unit vests or is forfeited with the UDR being paid or forfeited at the
same time, as the case may be. Absent such a restriction on the UDRs in the Award
Agreement, UDRs shall be paid to the holder of the Restricted Unit without restriction.

     (ii) Forfeitures. Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the Award
Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s employment with or services to the Company
and its Affiliates or membership on the Board, whichever is applicable, for any reason
during the applicable Restricted Period, all outstanding Restricted Units awarded the
Participant shall be automatically forfeited on such termination. The Committee may in its
discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s
Restricted Units.

     (iii) Lapse of Restrictions. Upon or as soon as reasonably practical following
the vesting of each Restricted Unit, subject to the provisions of Section 8(b), the
Participant shall be entitled to have the restrictions removed from his or her Unit
certificate so that the Participant then holds an unrestricted Unit.

     (c) Phantom Units. The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees,
Consultants and Directors to whom Phantom Units shall be granted, the number of Phantom Units to be
granted to each such Participant, the Restricted Period, the time or conditions under which the
Phantom Units may become vested or forfeited, which may include, without limitation, the
accelerated vesting upon the achievement of specified performance goals, and such other terms and
conditions as the Committee may establish with respect to such Awards, including whether DERs are
granted with respect to such Phantom Units.

-6-

 

     (i) DERs. To the extent provided by the Committee, in its discretion, a grant
of Phantom Units may include a tandem DER grant, which may provide that such DERs shall be
credited to a bookkeeping account (with or without interest in the discretion of the
Committee) subject to the same vesting restrictions as the tandem Award, or be subject to
such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

     (ii) Forfeitures. Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the Award
Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s employment with or services to the Company
and its Affiliates or membership on the Board, whichever is applicable, for any reason
during the applicable Restricted Period, all unvested outstanding Phantom Units awarded the
Participant shall be automatically forfeited on such termination. The Committee may, in its
discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s
Phantom Units.

     (iii) Lapse of Restrictions. Upon or as soon as reasonably practical following
the vesting of each Phantom Unit, subject to the provisions of Section 8(b), the
Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company one Unit or cash equal to the Fair
Market Value of a Unit, as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Such distribution
shall occur in a single lump sum no later than the fifteenth (15th) day of the
third (3rd) month following the date on which vesting occurs and the restrictions
lapse. Should the Participant die before receiving all amounts payable hereunder, the
balance shall be paid to the Participant’s estate by this date.

     (iv) Unsecured General Creditor. Participant’s rights to any amounts described
in this Section 8(c) shall not rise above those of a general unsecured creditor of
the Company.

     (d) Unit Appreciation Rights. The Committee shall have the authority to determine the
Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Unit Appreciation Rights shall be granted, the number
of Units to be covered by each grant and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise
of the Unit Appreciation Right, including the following terms and conditions and such additional
terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine, that are not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan.

     (i) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Unit Appreciation Right shall be
not less than 100% of its Fair Market Value as of the date of grant.

     (ii) Vesting/Time of Payment. The Committee shall determine the time or times
at which a Unit Appreciation Right shall become vested and exercisable and the time or times
at which a Unit Appreciation Right shall be paid in whole or in part (and any payments shall
be subject to the provisions of Section 8(b).

     (iii) Forfeitures. Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the Award
Agreement, upon termination of a Participant’s employment with or services to the Company
and its Affiliates or membership on the Board, whichever is applicable, for any

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reason prior to vesting, all unvested Unit Appreciation Rights awarded the Participant
shall be automatically forfeited on such termination. The Committee may, in its discretion,
waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Unit Appreciation
Rights, in which case, such Unit Appreciation Rights shall be deemed vested upon termination
of employment or service and paid as soon as administratively practical thereafter.

     (iv) Unit Appreciation Right DERs. To the extent provided by the Committee, in
its discretion, a grant of Unit Appreciation Rights may include a tandem DER grant, which
may provide that such DERs shall be credited to a bookkeeping account (with or without
interest in the discretion of the Committee) subject to the same vesting restrictions as the
tandem Unit Appreciation Rights Award, or be subject to such other provisions or
restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

(e) General.

     (i) Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together. Awards may, in the
discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or
in substitution for any other Award granted under the Plan or any award granted under any
other plan of the Company or any Affiliate. No Award shall be issued in tandem with another
Award if the tandem Awards would result in adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of
the Code. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or awards granted
under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate may be granted either at the same time
as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.

     (ii) Limits on Transfer of Awards.

     (A) Except as provided in Section 6(e)(ii)(C) below, each Award shall
be exercisable or payable only to the Participant during the Participant’s lifetime,
or to the person to whom the Participant’s rights shall pass by will or the laws of
descent and distribution.

     (B) Except as provided in Section 6(e)(ii)(C) below, no Award and no
right under any such Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or
otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant and any such purported
assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be
void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate.

     (C) To the extent specifically provided by the Committee with respect to an
Award, an Award may be transferred by a Participant without consideration to
immediate family members or related family trusts, limited partnerships or similar
entities or on such terms and conditions as the Committee may from time to time
establish.

     (iii) Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for such period as may
be determined by the Committee, but shall not exceed 10 years.

-8-

 

     (iv) Unit Certificates. All certificates for Units or other securities of the
Partnership delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be
subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem
advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the SEC, any
stock exchange upon which such Units or other securities are then listed, and any applicable
federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such
certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

     (v) Consideration for Grants. Awards may be granted for such consideration,
including services, as the Committee determines.

     (vi) Delivery of Units or other Securities and Payment by Participant of
Consideration. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the
contrary, delivery of Units pursuant to the exercise or vesting of an Award may be deferred
for any period during which, in the good faith determination of the Committee, the Company
is not reasonably able to obtain Units to deliver pursuant to such Award without violating
the rules or regulations of any applicable law or securities exchange. No Units or other
securities shall be delivered pursuant to any Award until payment in full of any amount
required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or the applicable Award grant agreement (including,
without limitation, any exercise price or tax withholding) is received by the Company.

     (vii) Change in Control. Unless specifically provided otherwise in the Award
Agreement, upon a Change in Control or such time prior thereto as established by the
Committee, all outstanding Awards shall automatically vest or become exercisable in full, as
the case may be. In this regard, all Restricted Periods shall terminate and all performance
criteria, if any, shall be deemed to have been achieved at the maximum level.

     Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, any positive “spread” (determined
based on the Fair Market Value of Units on the payment date) on an Option or UAR that is or
becomes fully vested and exercisable as of the date of a Change in Control (or any earlier
date related to the Change in Control and established by the Committee) shall be paid in a
single payment in Units, or cash and/or other property, or any combination of Units and cash
and/or other property, as determined by the Committee. Except as otherwise provided in the
Award Agreement, any Award of Phantom Units or Restricted Units that pursuant to this
Section 6(e)(vii) are deemed to have the applicable Restriction Period lapse (and to
have all applicable performance criteria achieved at the maximum level, if any) as of the
date of a Change in Control (or any earlier date related to the Change in Control and
established by the Committee), shall be settled by (i) issuance of unrestricted Units based
on the number of Units that were subject to the Award on the date of grant of the Award or
(ii) payment of cash and/or other property equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit on the
payout date for each Phantom Unit or Restricted Unit or (iii) any combination of payouts
under clauses (i) and (ii) of this sentence, as determined by the Committee. Any
accelerated payout pursuant to this Section 6(e)(vii) shall be made in a single
payment within 30 days after the date of the Change in Control.

-9-

 

     To the extent an Option or UAR is not vested or exercisable, or a Phantom Unit or
Restricted Unit does not vest, pursuant to the preceding provisions of this Section
6(e)(vii) or the Award Agreement upon the Change in Control, the Committee may, in its
discretion, cancel such Award or provide for an assumption of such Award or a replacement
grant on substantially the same terms; provided, however, upon any cancellation of an Option
or UAR that has a positive “spread” or a Phantom Unit or Restricted Unit, the holder shall
be paid an amount in Units or cash and/or other property or any combination of cash and/or
other property, as determined by the Committee, equal to such “spread” if an Option or UAR
or equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit, if a Phantom Unit or Restricted Unit, with such
payment made within 30 days after the date of the Change in Control.

     (viii) Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding any other provision of the
Plan to the contrary, any Award granted under the Plan shall contain terms that (i) are
designed to avoid application of Section 409A of the Code to the Award or (ii) are designed
to avoid adverse tax consequences under Section 409A should that Code section apply to the
Award.

     (ix) Payment of DER’s and UDR’s. DER’s and UDR’s that are not subject to any
restrictions shall be currently paid to the Participant at the time that the Partnership
makes distributions to the Unit holders. To the extent DER’s or UDR’s are subject to any
restrictions, such amounts shall be paid to the Participant at the time they vest and are no
longer subject to any restrictions under the Plan. Such amounts shall be distributed in a
single lump sum no later than the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd) month following
the date on which vesting occurs and the restrictions lapse. Should the Participant die
before receiving all amounts payable hereunder, the balance shall be paid to the
Participant’s estate by this date.

7. Amendment and Termination.

     Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law:

     (a) Amendments to the Plan. Except as required by the rules of the principal securities
exchange on which the Units are traded and subject to Section 7(b) below, the Committee may
amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan in any manner, including increasing the
number of Units available for Awards under the Plan, without the consent of any Participant other
holder or beneficiary of an Award, or other Person.

     (b) Amendments to Awards Subject to Section 7(a). The Committee may waive any
conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter any Award theretofore granted, provided no
change in any Award shall materially reduce the benefit to a Participant without the consent of
such Participant.

8. General Provisions.

     (a) No Rights to Award. No Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the
Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants. The terms and
conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.

-10-

 

     (b) Tax Withholding. The Company or any Affiliate is authorized to withhold from any Award,
from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or from any compensation or other amount
owing to a Participant the amount (in cash, Units, other securities, or other property) of any
applicable taxes payable at the minimum statutory rate in respect of the grant of an Award, its
exercise, the lapse of restrictions thereon, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the
Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy its
withholding obligations for the payment of such taxes.

     (c) No Right to Employment or Services. The grant of an Award shall not be construed as
giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate, to
continue as a consultant, or to remain on the Board, as applicable. Further, the Company or an
Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or terminate a consulting
relationship, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly
provided in the Plan, any Award Agreement or other agreement.

     (d) Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and
regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of
Delaware without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

     (e) Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, any
Award granted under the Plan shall contain terms that (i) are designed to avoid application of
Section 409A of the Code to the Award or (ii) are designed to avoid adverse tax consequences under
Section 409A of the Code should that section apply to the Award. If any Plan provision or Award
under the Plan would result in the imposition of an applicable tax under Section 409A of the Code
and related regulations and pronouncements, that Plan provision or Award will be reformed to the
extent reformation would avoid imposition of the applicable tax and no action taken to comply with
Section 409A of the Code shall be deemed to adversely affect the Participant’s rights to an Award
or to require the Participant’s consent.

     (f) Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any award is or becomes or is deemed to be
invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would
disqualify the Plan or any award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision
shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be
construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the
intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person
or award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

     (g) Other Laws. The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Units or other
consideration under an Award if, in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or
transfer of such Units or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation,
the rules of the principal securities exchange on which the Units are then traded, or entitle the
Partnership or an Affiliate to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any
payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with
the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or
beneficiary.

-11-

 

     (h) No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any award shall create or be construed to
create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Partnership,
Company or any participating Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that
any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Partnership, Company or any participating
Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general
unsecured creditor of the Partnership, Company or any participating Affiliate.

     (i) No Fractional Units. No fractional Units shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the
Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities, or other
property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Units or whether such fractional
Units or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.

     (j) Headings. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a
convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or
relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.

     (k) Facility Payment. Any amounts payable hereunder to any person under legal disability or
who, in the judgment of the Committee, is unable to properly manage his financial affairs, may be
paid to the legal representative of such person, or may be applied for the benefit of such person
in any manner which the Committee may select, and the Partnership, Company and its Affiliates shall
be relieved of any further liability for payment of such amounts.

     (l) Gender and Number. Words in the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, the
plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.

     (m) No Guarantee of Tax Consequences. None of the Board, the Partnership, the Company, any
Affiliate nor the Committee makes any commitment or guarantee that any federal, state or local tax
treatment will apply or be available to any person participating or eligible to participate
hereunder.

     (n) Specified Employee Limitation. Notwithstanding any provisions in the Plan to the
contrary, to the extent that the Participant is a “specified employee” (as defined in Section 409A
of the Code and applicable regulatory guidance), and any stock or units of the Company (or of any
entity that together with the Company is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c)
of the Code) is publicly traded on an established securities market or otherwise, no distribution
or payment that is subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be made hereunder on account of a
Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code and applicable
regulatory guidance) before the date that is the first day of the month that occurs six months
after the date of the Participant’s separation from service (or, if earlier, the date of death of
the Participant or any other date permitted under Section 409A of the Code and applicable
regulatory guidance). Any such amount that is otherwise payable within the 6 month period
following the Participant’s separation from service with the Company will be paid in a lump sum
without interest.

9. Term of the Plan.

     The Plan shall be effective on the date of its approval by the Board and shall continue until
the date terminated by the Committee. However, unless otherwise expressly provided in

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the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award granted prior to such termination, and
the authority of the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such
Award or to waive any conditions or rights under such Award, shall extend beyond such termination
date.

-13-

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