8-K
DE false 0001789832 0001789832 2021-07-27 2021-07-27

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 27, 2021

 

 

Hess Midstream LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

DELAWARE   No. 001-39163   No. 84-3211812

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

file number)

 

(IRS employer

identification number)

1501 McKinney Street

Houston, Texas 77010

(Address, including zip code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (713) 496-4200

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Class A shares representing limited partner interests   HESM   New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 


Item 1.01.

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Unit Repurchase Agreement

On July 27, 2021, Hess Midstream LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Company”), Hess Midstream Operations LP, a Delaware limited partnership and a subsidiary of the Company that holds all of the Company’s operating assets (“HESM OpCo” and, together with the Company, the “Partnership Entities”), Hess Investments North Dakota LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“HINDL”), and GIP II Blue Holding Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“GIP” and, together with HINDL, the “Sponsors” and each, a “Sponsor”), entered into a Unit Repurchase Agreement (the “Repurchase Agreement”) pursuant to which HESM OpCo has agreed to purchase from each Sponsor 15,625,000 Class B units representing limited partner interests in HESM OpCo (the “Class B Units” and such Class B Units subject to the Repurchase Agreement, the “Subject Units”) for an aggregate purchase price of $750 million (the “Repurchase Transaction”). The purchase price per Class B Unit is $24.00, representing an approximate 4% discount to the 30-day volume weighted average trading price of Class A shares representing limited partner interests in the Company (the “Class A Shares”) through July 27, 2021. Pursuant to the terms of the Repurchase Agreement, immediately following the purchase of the Subject Units from the Sponsors, HESM OpCo will cancel the Subject Units, and the Company will cancel, for no consideration, an equal number of Class B shares representing limited partner interests in the Company (the “Class B Shares”) held by Hess Midstream GP LP, a Delaware limited partnership and the general partner of the Company (the “General Partner”), in accordance with Section 5.5(e) of the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Company, dated as of December 16, 2019.

The terms of the Repurchase Agreement were unanimously approved by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Hess Midstream GP LLC (“GP LLC”), the general partner of the General Partner, and the Conflicts Committee of the Board comprising solely of independent directors. The Conflicts Committee retained independent legal and financial advisors to assist it in evaluating and negotiating the Repurchase Agreement and the Repurchase Transaction.

Each of the Sponsors has made customary representations and warranties in the Repurchase Agreement, including, among others, representations and warranties as to their organization, authorization to enter into the Repurchase Agreement, ownership of the Subject Units and necessary consents and approvals. Each of the Partnership Entities has also made customary representations and warranties in the Repurchase Agreement, including, among others, representations and warranties as to their organization, authorization to enter into the Repurchase Agreement and necessary consents and approvals.

The Repurchase Agreement provides that the closing of the Repurchase Transaction is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions and receipt by HESM OpCo of proceeds in a debt financing transaction in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate cash consideration payable to the Sponsors in connection with the Repurchase Transaction. The Repurchase Transaction is expected to close in August 2021.

The Repurchase Agreement provides for certain termination rights for both the Partnership Entities and the Sponsors, including if (a) the Repurchase Transaction is not consummated on or before September 30, 2021 or (b) there is a material breach of the terms of the Repurchase Agreement by the other party, which breach cannot be cured within 45 days (or by September 30, 2021 if such date is earlier than the final date of the 45-day period).

The above description of the Repurchase Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Repurchase Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Relationships

The Company is managed and controlled by GP LLC. GP LLC is wholly owned by Hess Infrastructure Partners GP LLC (“HIP GP”), and HIP GP is owned 50% by HINDL and 50% by GIP. As a result, certain individuals, including officers and directors of Hess Corporation, HINDL, GIP, HIP GP and the General Partner, serve as officers and/or directors of more than one of such other entities. In addition, after giving effect to the Repurchase Transaction, each of HINDL and GIP has beneficial ownership of 449,000 Class A Shares, 114,133,464 Class B Shares and 114,133,464 Class B Units. Such Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class B Units collectively represent an approximate 90.5% voting interest and 3.6% economic interest in the Company and an approximate 90.5% economic interest in HESM OpCo.


Item 7.01.

Regulation FD Disclosure.

On July 28, 2021, the Company issued a news release announcing a cash distribution of $0.5042 per Class A share for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 and the execution of the Repurchase Agreement.

A copy of this press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information set forth in the attached Exhibit 99.1 is deemed to be “furnished” and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Cautionary Statement Relevant to Forward-Looking Information

This Current Report on Form 8-K includes forward-looking statements regarding future events. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current plans and expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to vary materially from the results and events anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please refer to the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. While the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, even if new information becomes available.

 

Item 9.01.

Exhibits

 

10.1    Unit Repurchase Agreement, dated as of July 27, 2021, by and among Hess Midstream LP, Hess Midstream Operations LP, Hess Investments North Dakota LLC and GIP II Blue Holding Partnership, L.P.
99.1    News Release Announcing Quarterly Distribution and the Repurchase Agreement
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the inline XBRL document)


SIGNATURES

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

 

    HESS MIDSTREAM LP
    By:   Hess Midstream GP LP,
      its general partner
    By:   Hess Midstream GP LLC,
      its general partner
Date: July 30, 2021     By:  

    /s/ Jonathan C. Stein

      Name:  Jonathan C. Stein
      Title:    Chief Financial Officer
EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

UNIT REPURCHASE AGREEMENT

This UNIT REPURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of July 27, 2021 (this “Agreement”), is by and among Hess Midstream Operations LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“HESM OpCo”), Hess Midstream LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Hess Midstream” and, together with HESM OpCo, the “Partnership Parties”), Hess Investments North Dakota LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“HINDL”), and GIP II Blue Holding Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“GIP” and together with HINDL, the “Sponsors”). HESM OpCo, Hess Midstream, HINDL and GIP are sometimes individually referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively referred to herein as the “Parties.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, (a) HINDL is the record and beneficial owner of 129,758,464 OpCo Class B Units (as defined below) and (b) GIP is the record and beneficial owner of 129,758,464 OpCo Class B Units;

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to effect a transaction in which HESM OpCo will purchase from each of the Sponsors 15,625,000 OpCo Class B Units (collectively, the “Repurchased Units”) for an amount of cash equal to (a) $24.00 per Repurchased Unit, multiplied by (b) the number of Repurchased Units to be transferred by such Sponsor hereunder (such amount with respect to each Sponsor, the “Cash Consideration”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the purchase and acquisition by HESM OpCo of the Repurchased Units, HESM OpCo and each of the Sponsors will enter into an Assignment Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto (each, an “Assignment”), which Assignment shall provide for the assignment of the applicable Repurchased Units from such Sponsor to HESM OpCo;

WHEREAS, immediately following the purchase of the Repurchased Units by HESM OpCo, at the Closing, Hess Midstream shall cancel, for no consideration, a number of Class B Shares (as defined below) held by the General Partner equal to the aggregate number of Repurchased Units purchased by HESM OpCo hereunder in accordance with Section 5.5(e) of the HESM Company Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Conflicts Committee has reviewed and approved this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, with such approval constituting Special Approval (as defined in the HESM Company Agreement) for all purposes of the HESM Company Agreement, including Section 7.9(b) thereof.


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, the Parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings given to such terms below:

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with, such specified Person through one or more intermediaries or otherwise; provided, however, that (a) with respect to any Sponsor, the term “Affiliate” shall not include any Group Member or any other Sponsor or its respective Affiliates, (b) with respect to any Partnership Party, the term “Affiliate” shall not include any Sponsor or any of its respective Affiliates (other than a Group Member).

Agreement” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble hereof.

Applicable Law” or “Law” means any applicable statute, law, regulation, ordinance, rule, judgment, rule of law (including common law), decree, permit, requirement, or other governmental restriction or any similar form of decision of, or any provision or condition issued under any of the foregoing by, or any determination by any Governmental Authority having or asserting jurisdiction over the matter or matters in question, whether now or hereafter in effect and in each case as amended (including all of the terms and provisions of the common law of such Governmental Authority), as interpreted and enforced at the time in question.

Assignment” has the meaning given to such term in the recitals hereto.

Business Day” has the meaning given to such term in the OpCo Partnership Agreement.

Cash Consideration” has the meaning given to such term in the recitals hereto.

Cause” means, with respect to a director, the occurrence of any of the following:

(a) the willful, intentional and material breach or the habitual and continued neglect by such director of his or her duties;

(b) such director’s willful and intentional violation of any state or federal laws, or the organizational documents of Hess Midstream; or

(c) such director’s commission of any felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, or such director’s willful and intentional commission of a fraudulent or dishonest act.

Class A Shares” has the meaning given such term in the HESM Company Agreement.

Class B Shares” has the meaning given such term in the HESM Company Agreement.

Closing” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.1(b).

Closing Date” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.1(b).

Conflicts Committee” has the meaning set forth in the HESM Company Agreement.

Contract” means any written contract, agreement, indenture, instrument, note, bond, loan, lease, easement, mortgage, franchise, license agreement, purchase order, binding bid or offer, binding term sheet or letter of intent or memorandum, commitment, letter of credit or any other legally binding arrangement, including any amendments or modifications thereof and waivers relating thereto.

 

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Enforceability Exceptions” has the meaning given to such term in Section 3.2.

General Partner” has the meaning given to such term in the recitals hereto.

Governmental Authority” means any applicable multinational, foreign, federal, state, local or other governmental statutory or administrative authority, regulatory body or commission or any court, tribunal or judicial or arbitral authority which has any jurisdiction over a matter.

Group Member” has the meaning given to such term in the HESM Company Agreement.

Hess Midstream” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble hereto.

HESM Company Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Hess Midstream, dated as of December 16, 2019.

HESM OpCo” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble hereto.

Lien” means (a) any lien, hypothecation, pledge, collateral assignment, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind, whether such interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, and whether such obligation or claim is fixed or contingent (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing) and any option, trust or other preferential arrangement having the practical effect of any of the foregoing, other than in each case, the restrictions under applicable federal, state and other securities laws, the limited liability company agreement or limited partnership agreement, as applicable, of either of the Sponsors, as applicable, and (b) any purchase option, right of first refusal, right of first offer, call or similar right of a third party.

Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any Person, any change, circumstance, effect or condition that, individually or in the aggregate, (a) is materially adverse to the assets, financial condition, results of operations, or business of such Person and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) materially impedes the ability of such Person to consummate any of the transactions contemplated hereby, other than, in the case of clause (a) only, any change, circumstance, effect or condition (i) in the pipeline gathering and transportation or terminaling industries generally (including any change in the prices of crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids or other hydrocarbon products, industry margins or any regulatory changes or changes in Applicable Law), (ii) in United States or global economic conditions or financial markets in general, (iii) the announcement or pendency of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or the matters contemplated hereby or thereby or (iv) any change in the market price or trading volume of Class A Shares; provided, that in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), the impact on such Person is not disproportionately adverse as compared to others in the industries referred to in clause (i) of this definition generally.

OpCo Class B Unit” has the meaning given to such term in the HESM Company Agreement.

 

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OpCo Partnership Agreement” means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of OpCo, dated as of December 16, 2019.

Partnership Closing Certificate” has the meaning given to such term in Section 7.1(d).

Partnership Parties” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble hereto.

Party” and “Parties” have the meanings given to such terms in the preamble hereto.

Permit” means all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, certificates of need, variances, exemptions, consents, certificates, approvals and orders.

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited partnership, general partnership, limited liability company, joint stock company, joint venture, association, company, estate, trust, bank trust company, land trust, business trust, or other organization, whether or not a legal entity, custodian, trustee-executor, administrator, nominee or entity in a representative capacity and any Governmental Authority.

Proceeding” means any action, suit, claim, hearing, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit, inquiry, litigation or mediation (whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative) commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before any Governmental Authority, arbitrator or mediator.

Repurchased Units” has the meaning given to such term in the recitals hereto.

“Shares” has the meaning given to such term in the HESM Company Agreement.

Sponsor Closing Certificate” has the meaning given to such term in Section 7.2(d).

Sponsors” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble hereto.

Transaction Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement and the Assignments.

Unaffiliated Shareholders” means the holders of the outstanding Shares other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, including the Sponsors.

ARTICLE II

THE TRANSACTIONS

Section 2.1     Repurchase, Delivery and Cancellation of the Repurchased Units.

(a)    Pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, at the Closing (as defined herein), each of the Sponsors shall sell, transfer, assign and deliver 15,625,000 Repurchased Units to HESM OpCo, free and clear of all Liens, and HESM OpCo shall purchase and acquire all of the Repurchased Units and, in consideration therefor, HESM OpCo shall pay to each Sponsor an amount equal to $375,000,000 in immediately available funds to the account or accounts designated by such Sponsor, which shall be designated by such Sponsor in writing and provided to HESM OpCo at least one Business Day prior to the Closing Date. Following the repurchase of the Repurchased Units hereunder, the Repurchased Units shall be cancelled and shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding.

 

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(b)    The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall occur as soon as practicable after the satisfaction or waiver (if permitted hereunder) of all of the conditions set forth in Article VII other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing (but subject to the fulfillment or waiver of such conditions at the Closing), at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP, 811 Main Street, Suite 3700, Houston, Texas 77002 (or remotely via the electronic exchange of executed documents), unless another date or place is mutually agreed upon in writing by the Parties. The date upon which the Closing occurs hereunder is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”

Section 2.2     Sponsor Closing Deliverables. At the Closing, each of the Sponsors shall deliver (or cause to be delivered):

(a)    a counterpart to an Assignment, duly executed on behalf of such Sponsor, and such other transfer documents or instruments that may be reasonably necessary to be delivered by such Sponsor in order to effect a sale, transfer, assignment and delivery to HESM OpCo of the Repurchased Units to be delivered by such Sponsor to HESM OpCo in accordance with Section 2.1(a);

(b)    a duly completed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9; and

(c)    a Sponsor Closing Certificate, duly executed by an authorized officer or authorized person of such Sponsor.

Section 2.3     Deliveries by the Partnership Parties. At the Closing, with respect to Section 2.3(a), HESM OpCo shall deliver (or cause to be delivered), and with respect to Sections 2.3(b) and (c), the Partnership Parties shall deliver (or cause to be delivered):

(a)    the Cash Consideration payable to each Sponsor in accordance with Section 2.1(a); and

(b)    counterparts to the Assignments, duly executed on behalf of HESM OpCo, and such other transfer documents or instruments that may be reasonably necessary to be delivered by HESM OpCo in order to effect a sale, transfer, assignment and delivery to HESM OpCo of the Repurchased Units in accordance with Section 1.1(a); and

(c)    the Partnership Closing Certificate, duly executed by an authorized officer or authorized person of each Partnership Party.

 

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ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SPONSORS

Each of the Sponsors, severally and not jointly, and solely with respect to itself, represents and warrants to the Partnership Parties as of the date hereof as follows:

Section 3.1     Organization. Such Sponsor is a limited partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware.

Section 3.2     Authorization. Such Sponsor has full limited partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, power and authority to execute, deliver and perform each Transaction Document to which it is a party. The execution, delivery and performance by such Sponsor of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation by such Sponsor of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership or limited liability company action, as the case may be. Each Transaction Document executed or to be executed by such Sponsor has been, or when executed will be, duly executed and delivered by such Sponsor and, assuming the execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, constitutes, or when executed and delivered by the other parties thereto will constitute, a valid and legally binding obligation of such Sponsor, enforceable against such Sponsor in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that such enforceability may be limited by (a) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar Applicable Laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and (b) equitable principles that may limit the availability of certain equitable remedies (such as specific performance) in certain instances (the “Enforceability Exceptions”).

Section 3.3     No Conflicts or Violations. The execution, delivery and performance of each of the Transaction Documents to which such Sponsor is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not: (a) violate or conflict with any provision of the Organizational Documents of such Sponsor; (b) violate any Law applicable to such Sponsor; (c) violate, result in a breach of, constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default or cause any obligation, penalty or premium to arise or accrue under any Contract to which such Sponsor is a party; or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of such Sponsor, except, in the case of clauses (b) through (d), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially impede the ability of such Sponsor to consummate any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 3.4     Consents and Approvals. Except (a) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially impede the ability of such Sponsor to consummate any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) for any filings required for compliance with any applicable requirements of the federal securities Laws, any applicable state or other local securities Laws and any applicable requirements of a national securities exchange, neither the execution and delivery by such Sponsor of any of the Transaction Documents to which such Sponsor is a party, nor the performance by such Sponsor of its respective obligations thereunder, requires the consent, approval, waiver or authorization of, or declaration, filing, registration or qualification with any Governmental Authority by such Sponsor.

Section 3.5     Ownership of OpCo Class B Units. As of the date hereof, such Sponsor is, and prior to giving effect to the sale and transfer of the Repurchased Units on the Closing Date, such Sponsor shall be, the record and beneficial owner of 129,758,464 OpCo Class B Units. After giving effect to the sale and transfer of the Repurchased Units on the Closing Date, such Sponsor will be the record and beneficial owner of 114,133,464 OpCo Class B Units. At the Closing, such Sponsor shall deliver the Repurchased Units to be delivered by such Sponsor to HESM OpCo, free

 

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and clear of all Liens. None of the Repurchased Units is subject to any voting trust or other contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding, written or oral, restricting or otherwise relating to the voting or disposition of the Repurchased Units, other than this Agreement and the organizational documents of HESM OpCo. No proxies or powers of attorney have been granted with respect to the Repurchased Units to be delivered by such Sponsor to HESM OpCo. Except as contemplated by this Agreement, there are no outstanding warrants, options, agreements, convertible or exchangeable securities or other commitments pursuant to which such Sponsor is or may become obligated to transfer any of the Repurchased Units, except as (a) would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of such Sponsor to deliver the applicable Repurchased Units to HESM OpCo as contemplated hereby and (b) would not apply to the Repurchased Units following the delivery of the Repurchased Units to HESM OpCo pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 3.6     Litigation. There is no Proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of such Sponsor, threatened against such Sponsor, or against any officer, manager or director of such Sponsor, in each case related to the Repurchased Units to be delivered by such Sponsor to HESM OpCo or the transactions contemplated hereby. Such Sponsor is not a party or subject to any order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any court or Governmental Authority relating to the Repurchased Units to be delivered by such Sponsor to HESM OpCo or the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 3.7     Conflicts Committee Matters. To the knowledge of such Sponsor, the projections and budgets provided in writing to the Conflicts Committee (including those provided to any financial advisor to the Conflicts Committee) as part of the Conflicts Committee’s review of the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby have a reasonable basis and are materially consistent with the General Partner’s current expectations.

Section 3.8     Brokers and Finders. No investment banker, broker, finder, financial advisor or other intermediary is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar based fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby as a result of being engaged by such Sponsor or any of its respective Affiliates.

Section 3.9     Acknowledgments. Such Sponsor acknowledges that it has not relied on any advice or recommendation by the Partnership Parties or their respective partners, directors, officers, agents or Affiliates with respect to its decision to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Such Sponsor has had sufficient opportunity and time to investigate and review the business, management and financial affairs of the Partnership Parties before its decision to enter into this Agreement, and further has had the opportunity to consult with all advisers it deems appropriate or necessary to consult with in connection with this Agreement and any action arising hereunder, including tax and accounting advisers. Such Sponsor acknowledges that, in connection with its entry into this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, it has not relied on any express or implied representations or warranties of any nature, oral or written, made by or on behalf of any of the Partnership Parties or any of their respective partners, directors, officers, Affiliates or representatives, except for the representations or warranties of the Partnership Parties set forth in Article IV and the documents delivered by HESM OpCo in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARTNERSHIP PARTIES

Each of the Partnership Parties, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to the Sponsors as of the date hereof as follows:

Section 4.1     Organization. Each of the Partnership Parties is a limited partnership duly formed and validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware.

Section 4.2     Authorization. Each of the Partnership Parties has full limited partnership power and authority to execute, deliver and perform each Transaction Document to which it is a party. The execution, delivery and performance by each of the Partnership Parties of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation by such Partnership Party of the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action. Each Transaction Document executed or to be executed by a Partnership Party has been, or when executed will be, duly executed and delivered by such Partnership Party and, assuming the execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, constitutes, or when executed and delivered by the other parties thereto will constitute, a valid and legally binding obligation of such Partnership Party, enforceable against such Partnership Party in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that such enforceability may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions.

Section 4.3     No Conflicts or Violations. The execution, delivery and performance of each of the Transaction Documents to which a Partnership Party is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, do not: (a) violate or conflict with any provision of the Organizational Documents of such Partnership Party; (b) violate any Law applicable to such Partnership Party; (c) violate, result in a breach of, constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default or cause any obligation, penalty or premium to arise or accrue under any Contract to which any Partnership Party is a party; (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien or other encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of the Partnership Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries; or (e) result in the cancellation, modification, revocation or suspension of any Permit of any Partnership Party or any of their respective subsidiaries, except (i) in the case of clauses (b) through (e), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Partnership Parties and their subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and (ii) in the case of clause (d), for the creation or imposition of any Lien or other encumbrance pursuant to the Financing contemplated pursuant to Section 5.2.

Section 4.4     Solvency. After giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, all liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of HESM OpCo (other than liabilities to partners of HESM OpCo on account of their partnership interests and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to specified property of HESM OpCo), will not exceed the fair value of the assets of HESM OpCo (except that the fair value of property that is subject to a liability for which the recourse of creditors is limited is included in the assets of HESM OpCo only to the extent that the fair value of the property exceeds that liability). The transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents will not impair HESM OpCo’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

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Section 4.5     Consents and Approvals. Except (a) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially impede the ability of the Partnership Parties to consummate any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) for any filings required for compliance with any applicable requirements of the federal securities Laws, any applicable state or other local securities Laws and any applicable requirements of a national securities exchange, neither the execution and delivery by any Partnership Party of any of the Transaction Documents to which such Partnership Party is a party, nor the performance by such Partnership Party of its respective obligations thereunder, requires the consent, approval, waiver or authorization of, or declaration, filing, registration or qualification with any Governmental Authority by any Partnership Party or any of their respective subsidiaries.

Section 4.6     Litigation. There is no Proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Partnership Parties, threatened against any Partnership Party or any of their respective officers, managers, partners or directors, in each case related to the Repurchased Units or the transactions contemplated hereby. No Partnership Party is a party or subject to any order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any court or Governmental Authority relating to the Repurchased Units or the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 4.7     No Adverse Changes. Since March 31, 2021, there has not been any Material Adverse Effect with respect to either of the Partnership Parties.

Section 4.8    Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Conflicts Committee has received the opinion of Intrepid Partners, LLC to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion, and based upon and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and other matters set forth therein, the aggregate Cash Consideration to be paid by HESM OpCo to the Sponsors at the Closing is fair, from a financial point of view, to Hess Midstream.

Section 4.9    Brokers and Finders. Except for Intrepid Partners, LLC, no investment banker, broker, finder, financial advisor or other intermediary is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar based fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby as a result of being engaged by any Partnership Party or any of its respective Affiliates.

Section 4.10     Financial Ability. At the Closing, HESM OpCo will have, through a combination of cash on hand, funds available under existing credit facilities and the proceeds of any Financing (as defined in Section 5.2 below), funds sufficient to satisfy its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 4.11     Acknowledgments. Each of the Partnership Parties acknowledges that it has not relied on any advice or recommendation by the Sponsors or their respective partners, directors, officers, agents or Affiliates with respect to such Partnership Party’s decision to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The Partnership Parties have had the opportunity to consult with all advisers they deem appropriate or necessary to consult with in connection with this Agreement and any action arising hereunder, including tax and accounting advisers. Each of the Partnership Parties acknowledges that, in connection with its entry into this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, it has not relied on any express or implied representations or warranties of any nature, oral or written,

 

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made by or on behalf of any of the Sponsors or any of their respective partners, directors, officers, Affiliates or representatives, except for the representations or warranties of the Sponsors set forth in Article III and the documents delivered by the Sponsors in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

ARTICLE V

COVENANTS

Section 5.1    Further Assurances. On and after the Closing Date, the Parties shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to take or cause to be taken all appropriate actions and do, or cause to be done, all things necessary or appropriate to make effective the transactions contemplated hereby, including the execution of any additional assignment or similar documents or instruments of transfer of any kind, the obtaining of consents that may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to carry out any of the provisions hereof and the taking of all such other actions as such Party may reasonably request to be taken by the other Party from to time to time, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in order to effectuate the provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 5.2     Financing. Without limiting the generality of Section 5.1, from and after the date of this Agreement, HESM OpCo shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to undertake a capital markets debt financing or such alternative bank debt financing arrangements (the “Financing”) to fund amounts payable by HESM OpCo in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Cash Consideration payable to the Sponsors at Closing, and the other Parties shall, and shall cause each of their respective Affiliates to, use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to cause their representatives (including auditors) to provide all customary cooperation as reasonably requested by HESM OpCo to assist HESM OpCo in connection with such Financing.

Section 5.3     Cancellation of Class B Shares. The Parties acknowledge and agree that, following the purchase of the Repurchased Units by HESM OpCo, at the Closing, Hess Midstream shall cancel, for no consideration, a number of Class B Shares held by the General Partner equal to the aggregate number of Repurchased Units repurchased by HESM OpCo hereunder in accordance with Section 5.5(e) of the HESM Company Agreement.

Section 5.4     Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Closing, the Parties shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to cause the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to the extent permitted by applicable Law.

Section 5.5    Conflicts Committee. Prior to the earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement, the board of directors of Hess Midstream GP LLC (“GP LLC”), the general partner of Hess Midstream GP LP, the general partner of Hess Midstream (the “HESM Board”), shall not, and the Sponsors shall not cause the HESM Board to, without the consent of a majority of the then-existing members of the Conflicts Committee, eliminate the Conflicts Committee, revoke or diminish the authority of the Conflicts Committee or remove or cause the removal of any director of the HESM Board that is a member of the Conflicts Committee, either as a director or as a member of such committee. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 5.5 shall not apply to

 

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the filling, in accordance with the provisions of the governing documents of GP LLC, of any vacancies caused by the resignation, death or incapacity of any such director or the removal of a director for Cause.

Section 5.5    Second Quarter Distribution. Each Sponsor shall be entitled to receive, and HESM OpCo shall pay to each such Sponsor, any cash distribution payable with respect to the Repurchased Units transferred by such Sponsor hereunder and attributable to the second quarter of 2021 as and when paid to the holders of OpCo Class B Units pursuant to the OpCo Partnership Agreement so long as such Sponsor is the record and beneficial owner of the Repurchased Units as of the Record Date (as defined in the OpCo Partnership Agreement) for such cash distribution.

ARTICLE VI

SURVIVAL

All representations and warranties of the Parties contained in this Agreement shall terminate as of the Closing Date. All covenants and agreements of the Parties contemplated to be performed prior to the Closing shall terminate as of the Closing Date. All covenants and agreements of the Parties contemplated to be performed following the Closing shall survive the Closing until performed in accordance with their respective terms.

ARTICLE VII

CLOSING CONDITIONS

Section 7.1     Conditions to the Sponsors’ Obligation to Effect the Closing. The obligations of the Sponsors to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment (or, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, written waiver by the Partnership Parties) on or prior to the Closing of the following conditions:

(a)    Bring Down of Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of the Partnership Parties in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3. 4.4, 4.5, 4.7 and 4.9 shall be true and correct (without regard to qualifications as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect contained therein, except in the case of the representation and warranty contained in Section 4.7) in all material respects as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date), and (ii) the other representations and warranties of the Partnership Parties made in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects (without regard to qualifications as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect contained therein) as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date) except, in the case of clause (ii), where the failure of the representations and warranties to be true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, has not had a Material Adverse Effect on the Partnership Parties, taken as a whole.

(b)    Performance of Covenants. The Partnership Parties shall have performed and complied with, in all material respects, all covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Partnership Parties prior to the Closing Date.

(c)    No Injunctions or Restraints. No Law, order issued by any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, declaring unlawful the transactions contemplated hereby or causing the transactions contemplated hereby to be rescinded shall be in effect.

 

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(d)    Closing Certificate. Prior to or at the Closing, the Partnership Parties shall have delivered a certificate signed by an authorized officer or other authorized person of each Partnership Party, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the conditions specified in Section 7.1(a) and Section 7.1(b) are satisfied (the “Partnership Closing Certificate”).

(e)    Closing Deliveries. The Sponsors shall have received the applicable closing deliverables as set forth in Section 2.3.

Section 7.2     Conditions to the Partnership Parties’ Obligation to Effect the Closing. The obligations of the Partnership Parties to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment (or, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, written waiver by the Sponsors) on or prior to the Closing of the following conditions:

(a)    Bring Down of Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of the Sponsors in Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3. 3.4, 3.5 and 3.9 shall be true and correct (without regard to qualifications as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect contained therein) in all material respects as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date), and (ii) the other representations and warranties of the Sponsors made in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects (without regard to qualifications as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect contained therein) as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date) except, in the case of clause (ii), where the failure of the representations and warranties to be true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, have not materially impeded or would not reasonably be expected to materially impede the ability of the Sponsors to consummate to the transactions contemplated hereby.

(b)    Performance of Covenants. The Sponsors shall have performed and complied with, in all material respects, all covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Sponsors prior to Closing.

(c)    No Injunctions or Restraints. No Law, order issued by any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, declaring unlawful the transactions contemplated hereby or causing the transactions contemplated hereby to be rescinded shall be in effect.

(d)    Closing Certificate. Prior to or at the Closing, each of the Sponsors shall have delivered a certificate of an authorized officer or other authorized person of such Sponsor, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the conditions specified in Section 7.2(a) and Section 7.2(b) are satisfied (each, a “Sponsor Closing Certificate”).

(e)    Closing Deliveries. The Partnership Parties shall have received the applicable closing deliverables as set forth in Section 2.2.

 

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(f)    Financing. HESM OpCo shall have received, on terms and conditions that are reasonably satisfactory to HESM OpCo, an amount of gross proceeds in the Financing sufficient to pay the aggregate Cash Consideration payable to the Sponsors at Closing.

ARTICLE VIII

TERMINATION

Section 8.1     Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing Date (it being understood that any termination by the Partnership Parties pursuant to this Article IX shall not require the approval of the Conflicts Committee):

(a)    by mutual written agreement of the Partnership Parties and the Sponsors;

(b)    by either the Partnership Parties, on the one hand, or the Sponsors, on the other hand, if any injunction or other order, decree, decision, determination or judgment permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the transactions hereunder shall become final and non-appealable or any or any Law that permanently makes consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal or otherwise prohibited shall be in effect;

(c)    by the Partnership Parties if there has been a breach of, or failure to perform, any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Sponsors in this Agreement, such that the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a) or Section 7.2(b) would not be satisfied and such breach or failure to perform is not curable or, if curable, is not cured by the earlier of (i) the Termination Date and (ii) 45 days following receipt by the Sponsors of notice of such breach or failure from the Partnership Parties; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(c) shall not be available if either of the Partnership Parties is itself in breach of any provision of this Agreement or has failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement, and which breach or failure to perform would result in the failure of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1(a) or Section 7.1(b);

(d)    by the Sponsors if there has been a breach of, or failure to perform, any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Partnership Parties in this Agreement, such that the conditions set forth in Section 7.1(a) or Section 7.1(b) would not be satisfied and such breach or failure to perform is not curable or, if curable, is not cured by earlier of the Termination Date and (ii) 45 days following receipt by the Partnership Parties of notice of such breach or failure from the Sponsors; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(d) shall not be available if any of the Sponsors is itself in breach of any provision of this Agreement or has failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement, and which breach or failure to perform would result in the failure of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a) or Section 7.2(b); or

(e)    by either the Partnership Parties, on the one hand, or the Sponsors, on the other hand, if the Closing shall not have occurred prior to September 30, 2021 (the “Termination Date”); provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(e) shall not be available if the failure of the Party so requesting termination to perform any covenant or obligation under this Agreement shall have been the primary cause of the failure of the Closing to occur on or prior to such date.

 

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Section 8.2     Effect of Termination. In the event that this Agreement is terminated, this Agreement shall become null and void and no Party or any Party’s Affiliates, subsidiaries, directors, officers or employees, shall have any further obligation or any liability of any kind to any Person by reason of this Agreement except that no Party shall be relieved of any liability in respect of its breach of this Agreement that occurs prior to such termination.

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 9.1     Headings; References; Interpretation. All Article and Section headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole, and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. All references herein to Articles and Sections shall, unless the context requires a different construction, be deemed to be references to the Articles and Sections of this Agreement. All personal pronouns used in this Agreement, whether used in the masculine, feminine or neuter gender, shall include all other genders, and the singular shall include the plural and vice versa. The use herein of the word “including” following any general statement, term or matter shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation,” “but not limited to” or other words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that could reasonably fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter.

Section 9.2     No Third-Party Rights. The provisions of this Agreement are intended to bind the Parties as to each other and are not intended to, and do not, create rights in any other Person or confer upon any other Person any benefits, rights or remedies, and no Person is or is intended to be a third-party beneficiary of any of the provisions of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Parties agree that their respective representations, warranties and covenants set forth in this Agreement are the product of negotiations among the Parties and are for the sole benefit of the Parties, in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and no other Person has the right to rely upon the representations and warranties, or the right to enforce any covenants, set forth herein. Any inaccuracies in such representations and warranties are subject to waiver by the Parties in accordance with Section 9.6 without notice or liability to any other Person. In some instances, the representations and warranties in this Agreement may represent an allocation among the Parties of risks associated with particular matters regardless of the knowledge of any of the Parties. Consequently, Persons other than the Parties may not rely upon the representations and warranties in this Agreement as characterizations of actual facts or circumstances as of the date of this Agreement or as of any other date.

Section 9.3     Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and assigns. No Party may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other Parties.

 

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Section 9.4     Notices. All notices and demands provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, electronic mail, air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery or personal delivery to the following addresses:

If to either of the Partnership Parties:

c/o Hess Midstream GP LLC

1501 McKinney Street

Houston, Texas 77010

Attention: Jonathan Stein

If to HINDL:

Hess Investments North Dakota LLC

c/o Hess Corporation

1185 Avenue of the Americas, 40th Floor

New York, New York 10036

Attention: Timothy Goodell

If to GIP:

GIP II Blue Holding Partnership, L.P.

c/o Global Infrastructure Management, LLC

1345 Avenue of the Americas, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10105

Attention: Will Brilliant

Section 9.5     Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be valid and effective under Applicable Law, but if any provision of this Agreement or the application of any such provision to any Person or circumstance shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision hereof, and the Parties shall negotiate in good faith with a view to substitute for such provision a suitable and equitable solution in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision.

Section 9.6     Amendment or Modification; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended, supplemented or modified from time to time only by the written agreement of all the Parties. Each such instrument shall be reduced to writing and shall be designated on its face as an amendment to this Agreement. Any extension or waiver of the obligations herein of any Party shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing referring to this section and executed by the Party to be bound thereby. Any waiver of any term or condition shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or a subsequent waiver of the same term or condition, or a waiver of any other term or condition, of this Agreement. The failure of any Party to assert any of its rights hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of any of such rights.

 

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Section 9.7     Integration. This Agreement, each of the other Transaction Documents and each of the other instruments referenced herein and therein and in the exhibits attached hereto supersede all previous understandings or agreements among the Parties, whether oral or written, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, each of the other Transaction Documents and such other instruments. This Agreement, each of the other Transaction Documents and each of the other instruments referenced herein or therein contain the entire understanding of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no unwritten oral agreements between the parties. No understanding, representation, promise or agreement, whether oral or written, is intended to be or shall be included in or form part of this Agreement unless it is contained in a written amendment hereto executed by the Parties after the date of this Agreement.

Section 9.8     Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the Laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law. EACH OF THE PARTIES AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT INVOLVES AT LEAST U.S. $100,000.00 AND THAT THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN ENTERED INTO IN EXPRESS RELIANCE UPON 6 Del. C. § 2708. EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES (a) TO BE SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND OF THE FEDERAL COURTS SITTING IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE, AND (b) TO THE EXTENT SUCH PARTY IS NOT OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE, TO APPOINT AND MAINTAIN AN AGENT IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE AS SUCH PARTY’S AGENT FOR ACCEPTANCE OF LEGAL PROCESS AND TO NOTIFY THE OTHER PARTIES OF THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF SUCH AGENT.

Section 9.9     Specific Performance. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur and that there would be no adequate remedy at Law in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed prior to termination of this Agreement in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware without bond or other security being required, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

Section 9.10    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall be deemed one agreement. The exchange of copies of this Agreement and of signature pages by facsimile or electronically including by PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Agreement for all purposes. Signatures of the Parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or electronically including by PDF transmission shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature” and words of like import in this Agreement or in any other certificate, agreement or document related to this Agreement shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and

 

16


electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the Delaware Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, and any other applicable law.

Section 9.11     Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Parties.

[Signature page follows]

 

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

 

HESS MIDSTREAM OPERATIONS LP
By: Hess Midstream LP, as delegate of authority of
Hess Midstream Partners GP, LP, the general partner
of Hess Midstream Operations LP
By: Hess Midstream GP LP, its general partner
By Hess Midstream GP LLC, its general partner
By:  

/s/ Jonathan C. Stein

Name:   Jonathan C. Stein
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
HESS MIDSTREAM LP
By: Hess Midstream GP LP, its general partner
By Hess Midstream GP LLC, its general partner
By:  

/s/ Jonathan C. Stein

Name:   Jonathan C. Stein
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Unit Repurchase Agreement]


HESS INVESTMENTS NORTH DAKOTA LLC
By:  

/s/ John P. Rielly

Name:   John P. Rielly
Title:   Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Unit Repurchase Agreement]


GIP II BLUE HOLDING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
By: GIP Blue Holding GP, LLC, its general partner
By:  

/s/ William Brilliant

Name:   William Brilliant
Title:   Manager

 

[Signature Page to Unit Repurchase Agreement]


Exhibit A

Assignment of Class B Units

[See attached]


ASSIGNMENT OF CLASS B UNITS

[HESS INVESTMENTS NORTH DAKOTA LLC][ GIP II BLUE HOLDING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.]

THIS ASSIGNMENT OF CLASS B UNITS (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of [ 🌑 ] [a.][p.]m. local time in Houston, Texas on [ 🌑 ], 2021 (the “Effective Time”), by and between Hess Midstream Operations LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“HESM OpCo”), and [Hess Investments North Dakota LLC, a Delaware limited liability company][GIP II Blue Holding Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership] (“Assignor”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Assignor is the record and beneficial owner of 129,758,464 Class B Units representing limited partner interests in HESM OpCo (the “Class B Units”);

WHEREAS, HESM OpCo and Assignor have entered into that certain Unit Repurchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of July 27, 2021, by and among HESM OpCo, Hess Midstream LP, a Delaware limited partnership, Assignor and [GIP II Blue Holding Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership][Hess Investments North Dakota LLC, a Delaware limited liability company], pursuant to which, among other things, (a) HESM OpCo shall purchase from Assignor 15,625,000 Class B Units (the “Subject Units”) and (b) Assignor shall sell, transfer, assign and deliver all of its right, title and interest in and to the Subject Units to HESM OpCo;

WHEREAS, Assignor desires to assign all of its right, title and interest in and to the Subject Units to HESM OpCo, and HESM OpCo desires to accept Assignor’s assignment of the Subject Units (the “Assignment”);

WHEREAS, immediately following HESM OpCo’s purchase of the Subject Units, HESM OpCo shall cancel the Subject Units, and the Subject Units shall cease to be outstanding; and

WHEREAS, in order to effectuate the Assignment, HESM OpCo and Assignor are executing and delivering this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.    Assignment. Effective as of the Effective Time, Assignor hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers and delivers to HESM OpCo all of Assignor’s right, title and interest in and to the Subject Units, together with all rights and obligations existing or arising with respect to the Subject Units, whether arising or attributable to periods prior to or after the Effective Time, as set forth in the OpCo Partnership Agreement (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) and the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended.

2.    Acceptance, Assumption and Acknowledgment. Effective as of the Effective Time, HESM OpCo hereby accepts Assignor’s assignment of the Subject Units pursuant to Section 1.


3.    Effect of Assignment. Effective as of the Effective Time, (a) Assignor shall cease to have any right, title or interest in or to the Subject Units and shall have no further rights or obligations with respect to the Subject Units under the OpCo Partnership Agreement or otherwise and (b) each of the Subject Units shall be cancelled and shall cease to be outstanding.

4.    Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws of that state.

5.    Further Assurances. Each of Assignor and HESM OpCo agrees to take such further action as may be necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes of this Agreement.

6.    General. This Agreement is binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the signatories hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Agreement is expressly subject to the terms, provisions and limitations of the Purchase Agreement and, in the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the terms of the Purchase Agreement shall control. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall be deemed one agreement. The exchange of copies of this Agreement and of signature pages by facsimile or electronically including by PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Agreement for all purposes. Signatures of the Parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or electronically including by PDF transmission shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature” and words of like import in this Agreement or in any other certificate, agreement or document related to this Agreement shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the Delaware Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, and any other applicable law. Each provision of this Agreement shall be considered severable and if for any reason any provision or provisions herein are determined to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal under any existing or future law, such invalidity, unenforceability or illegality shall not impair the operation of or affect those portions of this Agreement which are valid, enforceable and legal.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Time.

 

HESS MIDSTREAM OPERATIONS LP
By:   Hess Midstream LP, as delegate of authority of Hess Midstream Partners GP, LP, the general partner of Hess Midstream Operations LP
By:   Hess Midstream GP LP, its general partner
By:   Hess Midstream GP LLC, its general partner
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

Signature Page to Assigment of Class B Units


[HESS INVESTMENTS NORTH DAKOTA LLC][GIP II BLUE HOLDING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

Signature Page to Assigment of Class B Units

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO    Investor Contact:  

Jennifer Gordon

(212) 536-8244

  

 

Media Contact:

 

 

Robert Young

(346) 319 8783

 

News Release

  

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HESS MIDSTREAM LP INCREASES DISTRIBUTION PER SHARE LEVEL BY 10%, REITERATES ANNUAL TARGETED DISTRIBUTION GROWTH PER CLASS A SHARE FROM NEW LEVEL AND ANNOUNCES ACCRETIVE $750 MILLION SPONSOR UNIT REPURCHASE

 

   

Increased quarterly distribution to $0.5042 per Class A share for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, an approximate 11% increase compared to the quarterly distribution per Class A share for the first quarter of 2021, reflecting a 10% increase in the per share distribution level in addition to the 5% annual distribution per share growth target

 

   

Reiterated annual distribution per share growth target of at least 5% through 2023 from this new higher per share distribution level

 

   

Announced agreement by Hess Midstream Operations LP to repurchase $750 million of Class B units from affiliates of Hess Corporation and Global Infrastructure Partners in a transaction that increases Class A Shareholder percentage ownership and delivers immediate distributable cash flow per share accretion

 

   

Continued financial flexibility for potential future accretive opportunities, including additional return of capital to shareholders

HOUSTON, July 28, 2021 — Hess Midstream LP (NYSE: HESM) (“Hess Midstream”), today announced that the Board of Directors of its general partner (the “Board”) approved an approximate 11% increase in its quarterly distribution per Class A share for the second quarter of 2021 as compared to the first quarter of 2021. This increase


consists of a 10% immediate increase in Hess Midstream’s distribution level per Class A share in addition to its targeted 5% annualized increase in distributions per Class A share. The Board also approved a $750 million unit repurchase by Hess Midstream’s subsidiary, Hess Midstream Operations LP, from affiliates of Hess Corporation and Global Infrastructure Partners, Hess Midstream’s sponsors, at a price of $24.00 per unit.

“With this announcement, we are demonstrating our financial flexibility to deliver immediate, accretive and meaningful return of capital to our shareholders,” said Jonathan Stein, Chief Financial Officer of Hess Midstream. “The unit repurchase optimizes our capital structure to our conservative 3.0x Debt/Adjusted EBITDA target by providing accretion to shareholders, while the distribution increase returns free cash flow to our shareholders on an ongoing basis while maintaining 1.4x coverage. Following the distribution increase and the unit repurchase, we expect to continue to have financial flexibility, including expected ongoing free cash flow after distributions and leverage declining below our 3.0x Debt/Adjusted EBITDA target as early as 2022, allowing for potential future accretive opportunities, including incremental return of capital to shareholders.”

The distribution increase represents an increase in distributions per Class A share by 10% relative to previously targeted distributions. The $750 million unit repurchase is consistent with Hess Midstream’s targeted 3.0x Debt / Adjusted EBITDA level on a full-year 2021 basis and is expected to be approximately 8% accretive on a distributable cash flow per Class A share basis. The unit repurchase is expected to result in distribution savings to Hess Midstream of approximately $30 million in the second half of 2021 on a consolidated basis.

Distribution Increase Summary

The Board declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.5042 per Class A share for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The distribution represents an approximate 11% increase compared to the distribution for the first quarter of 2021, consisting of a 10% announced increase in addition to a quarterly increase consistent with Hess Midstream’s targeted 5% growth in annual distributions per Class A share.

 

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Hess Midstream continues to target annual distribution per Class A share growth of at least 5% through 2023 from this new higher level and expected annual distribution coverage of greater than 1.4x.

The quarterly distribution will be payable on August 13, 2021 to Class A shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 9, 2021.

Unit Repurchase Summary

Hess Midstream Operations LP, Hess Midstream’s consolidated subsidiary, agreed to repurchase approximately 31 million Class B units of Hess Midstream Operations LP, equal to approximately 11% of the consolidated company, held by affiliates of Hess Corporation and Global Infrastructure Partners for an aggregate purchase price of $750 million. The purchase price per Class B unit is $24.00, representing an approximate 4% discount to the 30-day volume weighted average trading price of Hess Midstream Class A shares through July 27, 2021. As a result of the unit repurchase transaction, public ownership of Hess Midstream on a consolidated basis will increase to approximately 9.5%. The terms of the proposed unit repurchase transaction was unanimously approved by the Board, based on the approval and recommendation of its conflicts committee composed solely of independent directors. The unit repurchase is anticipated to close in August 2021, following the record date for the quarterly distribution for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, such that Sponsors will receive the quarterly distribution on their currently outstanding Class B units. Hess Midstream expects to fund the unit repurchase through debt financing.

About Hess Midstream

Hess Midstream LP is a fee-based, growth-oriented midstream company that operates, develops and acquires a diverse set of midstream assets to provide services to Hess Corporation and third-party customers. Hess Midstream owns oil, gas and produced water handling assets that are primarily located in the Bakken and Three Forks Shale plays in the Williston Basin area of North Dakota. More information is available at www.hessmidstream.com.

 

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. Words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “could,” “may,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “intend,” “project,” “plan,” “predict,” “will,” “target” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which are not historical in nature. Our forward-looking statements may include, without limitation: our future financial and operational results, including our ability to increase our distributions or achieve our targeted distribution growth rate or reduce leverage below our debt/Adjusted EBITDA target; our business strategy and profitability; the expected timing and completion of the Class B unit repurchase from Hess and GIP; and our ability to execute future accretive opportunities, including incremental return of capital to shareholders.

Forward-looking statements are based on our current understanding, assessments, estimates and projections of relevant factors and reasonable assumptions about the future. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our current projections or expectations of future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The following important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements: the direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic and other public health developments on our business and those of our business partners, suppliers and customers, including Hess; the ability of Hess and other parties to satisfy their obligations to us, including Hess’ ability to meet its drilling and development plans on a timely basis or at all and the operation of joint ventures that we may not control; our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to pay current and expected levels of distributions; reductions in the volumes of crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) and produced water we gather, process, terminal or store; fluctuations in the prices and demand for crude oil, natural gas and NGLs, including as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic; changes in global economic conditions and the effects of a global

 

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economic downturn on our business and the business of our suppliers, customers, business partners and lenders; our ability to comply with government regulations or make capital expenditures required to maintain compliance, including our ability to obtain or maintain permits necessary for capital projects in a timely manner, if at all, or the revocation or modification of existing permits; our ability to successfully identify, evaluate and timely execute our capital projects, investment opportunities and growth strategies, whether through organic growth or acquisitions; our ability to satisfy the closing conditions of the Class B unit repurchase, including obtaining necessary debt financing; costs or liabilities associated with federal, state and local laws, regulations and governmental actions applicable to our business, including legislation and regulatory initiatives relating to environmental protection and safety, such as spills, releases, pipeline integrity and measures to limit greenhouse gas emissions; our ability to comply with the terms of our credit facility, indebtedness and other financing arrangements, which, if accelerated, we may not be able to repay; reduced demand for our midstream services, including the impact of weather or the availability of the competing third-party midstream gathering, processing and transportation operations; potential disruption or interruption of our business due to catastrophic events, such as accidents, severe weather events, labor disputes, information technology failures, constraints or disruptions and cyber-attacks; any limitations on our ability to access debt or capital markets on terms that we deem acceptable, including as a result of weakness in the oil and gas industry or negative outcomes within commodity and financial markets; liability resulting from litigation; and other factors described in Item 1A—Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and any additional risks described in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

As and when made, we believe that our forward-looking statements are reasonable. However, given these risks and uncertainties, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements since such statements speak only as of the date when made and there can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will occur and actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement we make. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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Non-GAAP Measures

In addition to our financial information presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), management utilizes certain additional non GAAP measures to facilitate comparisons of past performance and future periods. “Adjusted EBITDA” presented in this release is defined as reported net income (loss) before net interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization and our proportional share of depreciation of our equity affiliates, as further adjusted to eliminate the impact of certain items that we do not consider indicative of our ongoing operating performance, such as transaction costs, other income and other non-cash, non-recurring items, if applicable. “Distributable cash flow” or “DCF” is defined as Adjusted EBITDA less net interest, excluding amortization of deferred financing costs, cash paid for federal and state income taxes and maintenance capital expenditures. DCF does not reflect changes in working capital balances. We believe that investors’ understanding of our performance is enhanced by disclosing these measures as they may assist in assessing our operating performance as compared to other publicly traded companies in the midstream energy industry, without regard to historical cost basis or, in the case of Adjusted EBITDA, financing methods, and assessing the ability of our assets to generate sufficient cash flow to make distributions to our shareholders. These measures are not, and should not be viewed as, a substitute for GAAP net income or cash flow from operating activities and should not be considered in isolation.

 

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