Going Public Strategiestulsamlp.com/2015/1LW.pdfUSDP DM SHLX AM RMP GLOP † HMLP RIGP † NAP †...
Transcript of Going Public Strategiestulsamlp.com/2015/1LW.pdfUSDP DM SHLX AM RMP GLOP † HMLP RIGP † NAP †...
Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Singapore and as affiliated partnerships conducting the practice in Hong Kong and Japan. The Law Office of Salman M. Al-Sudairi is Latham & Watkins’ associated office in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In Qatar, Latham & Watkins LLP is licensed by the Qatar Financial Centre Authority. © Copyright 2014 Latham & Watkins. All Rights Reserved.
Going Public Strategies
Tulsa Master Limited Partnership Conference
Tim Fenn, Partner, Latham & WatkinsGreg Matlock, Partner, Ernst & Young
November 12, 2015
Ready - Structuring Your Energy IPO
Panelists• Tim Fenn, Partner, Latham & Watkins • Greg Matlock, Partner, Ernst & Young
Overview
• Corporations• MLPs• Yieldcos• Up-C
Corporations
The traditional corporate structure generally results in two levels of tax (double taxation) – the public corporation pays tax on its earnings, and the shareholders generally pay tax on distributions received from the public corporation.Well recognized and accepted in the public market.Historically, a desirable form of accessing public capital for a variety of reasons/circumstances: • Insufficient qualifying income – traditional public
company is not subject to any qualifying income or qualifying asset tests
• Long-term capital expenditure needs• Desire to reinvest or grow through acquisition, as
opposed to distributing out profits• Global investor base• Value based on prospective earnings growth (as
opposed to a cash yield-based valuation)If currently in partnership form, consider method of conversion (and timing) to corporation in preparation of IPO (e.g., assets-over, assets-up, interests-over, formless).
HistoricShareholders Public
Public Company
Operating Subsidiaries
100-X% X%
A traditional corporate IPO is the most common and well-known form of accessing public capital.
Sponsor
LP
Public
Lenders
G 2%/L/IDRs L
Assets
LLC
100%
_____ = ownership---- --- = debtG = general partnerL = limited partnerIDRs = incentive distribution rights
Master Limited Partnerships
TYPICAL MLP ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTUREIn contrast to corporations, partnerships generally do not pay federal income tax at the entity level.
However, publicly traded partnerships are taxed as corporations unless 90% of the gross income is “qualifying income” (the “Qualifying Income Test”).
The most prominent category of qualifying income relates to natural resources activities.
• State Law Entity that Can Be Treated as a Passthrough for Tax Purposes
• Limited Partnership (most common)
• Limited Liability Company
• Business Trust
• Publicly Traded
• Liquidity & Float in the Market
• Nature of Holders
• Historically retail, rather than institutional
- Mutual fund/tax-exempt holders minimal
• Domestic, rather than foreign
• Fungible Securities
• Listed on Major Exchange• Contrasts with other Treas. Reg. § 1.7704-2 concerns
A master limited partnership (“MLP”) is a partnership or limited liability company that is traded on a stock exchange.
Master Limited Partnerships
Distribution Characteristics• MLPs typically pay out all of their “available cash” (essentially
cash receipts less cash expenses and reserves) on a quarterly basis (partnership agreement requirement; not legal requirement).
• One of the hallmarks of the traditional MLP has been the relative stability in its quarterly distribution payments; the primary goal of most MLPs has been to maintain or grow distributions every quarter.
• Any decrease in an MLP’s quarterly distribution is typically perceived very negatively by the investment community and there is usually a significant drop in the MLP’s unit price when a distribution cut is announced.
• Typically, half of the LP interests are subordinated units retained by the sponsor. During the subordination period (typically 3 years), the subordinated units do not receive distributions until the common units receive the MQD.
• The sponsor retains incentive distribution rights (IDRs) that receive an increasing percentage (typically 13%, 23% and 48%) of distributions after the MQD and certain target distribution levels have been satisfied.
• The classic MLP is a pipeline company with long-term transportation agreements and low capital expenditures, which provides for stable to increasing cash distributions over time
• MLPs have historically managed cash flows through: (1) distribution coverage, (2) long-term contracts and (3) hedging
2013-2014 MLPs by Energy Subsector
Source: Nasdaq
38%
10%14%
5%
5%
28%
Midstream Marine Terminals Refining E&P Other
Years
Exploration and Production
Refining
Midstream
Wholesale Distribution
Shipping
Other
Fertilizer
Coal
Propane
Timber
General Partner/Holding Co.
† Corporate IPO
CAL
BCU
MRP EPR PDE EEP KMP
UAN
OKS
LEV
87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11
EOT
12 13 14
VAL
WGP
FFP
MAR
PET
HWY
SFL
KPP
PCL
TPP TNH
FGP
CRO
APU
SGU
GEL
CNO
ETP
NPL
SPH
TIMBZ EPD
PAA
TCLP
ARLP
APL MMP
NS
PVR
NRGY
MMLP
MWE
PPX
SXL
XTEX
DMLP
NRP
CPNO
HEP
STON
KSP
USS
XTXI†
BWP
DPM
GLP
HLND
TLP
WPZ
TGP
NRGP
EPE
QRE LREATN
BBEP
CEP
EVEP
LINE
CLMT
TOO†
EROC
EXLP
RGNC
AHD
AHGP
BGH
ETE
HHGP
MGG
NSH
PVG
ENP
LGCY
QELP
VNR
BKEP
CEQP
CMLP
DEP
EPB
NGLS
PSE
WES
WMZ
SEP
CPLP†
NMM†
OSP
CHKM
NKA
PNG
WMLP
RNO
RGP†
MCEP
MEMP
AMID
GSJK
NRGM
OILT
RRMS
TLLP
GMLP†
RNF
UAN
NGL
KMI†
PDH
ALDW
NTI
DKL
EQM
MPLX
SMLP
SXE
LGP
SUN
SDLP†
HCLP
WGP
NSLP
CVRR
ARCX
FISH
MEP
PAGP†
PSXP
QEPM
SRLP
TEP
VLP
WNRL
WPT
DLNG†
KNOP†
EMES
OCIP
OCIR
USAC
SXCP
CQP†
VNOM
WLKP
ENBL
PBFX
VTTI†
CNNX
JPEP
USDP
DM
SHLX
AM
RMP
GLOP†
HMLP†
RIGP†
NAP†
CELP
LMRK
FELP
Primary Industry at IPO:
15
BSM
CPPL
GPP
PTXP
EVA
CNXC
TEGP
EQT
History of MLPs – IPOs: 1987 - 2015
Years
EEP OKS
87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14
TNH
FGP
APU
SGU
GEL
ETP
SPH
EPD
PAA
TCLP
ARLP
MMP
NS
MMLP
MWE
SXL
ENLK
DMLP
NRP
HEP
STON
XTXI†
BWP
DPM
GLP
TLP
WPZ
TGP
BBEP
CEP
EVEP
LINE
CLMT
TOO†
EXLP
RGNC
AHD
AHGP
ETE
NSH
ENP
LGCY
VNR
BKEP
CEQP
NGLS
PSE
WES
SEP
CPLP†
NMM†
NKA
WMLP
RNO
MCEP
MEMP
AMID
GSJK
RRMS
TLLP
GMLP†
RNF
UAN
NGL
KMI†
PDH
ALDW
NTI
DKL
EQM
MPLX
SMLP
SXE
LGP
SUN
SDLP†
HCLP
WGP
NSLP
CVRR
ARCX
FISH
MEP
PAGP†
PSXP
SRLP
TEP
VLP
WNRL
WPT
DLNG†
KNOP†
EMES
OCIP
OCIR
USAC
SXCP
CQP†
PCL VNOM
WLKP
ENBL
PBFX
VTTI†
CNNX
JPEP
USDP
DM
SHLX
AM
RMP
GLOP†
HMLP†
RIGP†
NAP†
CELP
LMRK
FELP
Exploration and Production
Refining
Midstream
Wholesale Distribution
Shipping
Other
Fertilizer
Coal
Propane
Timber
General Partner/Holding Co.
† Corporate IPO
Primary Industry at IPO:
15
BSM
CPPL
GPP
PTXP
EVA
CNXC
TEGP
EQT
Currently Traded MLPs – IPOs: 1987 - 2015
Variable MLPs
There is a change occurring in the MLP asset class as more and more investors look for yield without requiring stability in distributions. • This phenomenon has led to the introduction of so-called
variable MLPs. • Structurally, traditional and variable MLPs are very similar.• Although there are over 100 MLPs currently traded on U.S.
stock exchanges, there are only a very limited number of variable MLPs. In the past three years the number of variable MLPs has grown from 2 to 10. Although risky, variable MLPsgenerally have outperformed the broader MLP universe.
Variable MLPS• Terra Nitrogen (Fertilizer) 1994• Dorchester Minerals (Exploration & Production) 2003• CVR Partners (Fertilizer) 2011• Rentech Nitrogen Partners (Fertilizer) 2011• Petrologistics (Refining) 2012• Northern Tier Energy (Refining) 2012• Alon USA (Refining) 2012• CVR Refining (Refining) 2013• Emerge Energy Services (Services) 2013• OCI Partners (Refining) 2013
Traditional MLPs Variable MLPs
E&P PDP PDP, PUDs, Upside
Refining Specialty products Traditional products
Oilfield Services Less cyclical Highly cyclical
Fertilizer Uncertain market acceptance
Direct commodity price exposure
Mining Long-term off-takeagreements
Spot or short-termoff-take agreements
Storage Long-term agreements
Significant commodity price exposure
Shipping Long-term charters Short-term charters
Non-Traditional Products (E.G., Asphalt, Minerals, Rail)
Uncertain market acceptance
Potentially spot or short-term
agreements
Asset Classes Suitable for Variable MLPs
Comparison of Traditional MLPs and Variable MLPs
Traditional MLPs Variable MLPs
Large, Single Asset Uncommon More common
Distribution Stability Yes No
Minimum Quarterly Distribution Yes No
Coverage Ratio 1.10x – 1.20x 1.0x
Available Cash- Cash on hand at the end of each quarter that is required to be paid to
unitholders, either through partnership agreement terms or stated distribution policy
Yes No
Operating Surplus- Cash generated by the MLP during a quarter less cash expenditures during
such quarter, plus working capital borrowings Yes No
Capital Surplus- Cash generated from asset sales and similar activities
Yes No
Subordination Period- Period during which the subordinated units retained by the sponsor are
subordinated in right of payment to the common unitsTypically from 1 to 3 years, but sometimes 5 years; must meet
an earn and pay testNo
Comparison of Traditional MLPs and Variable MLPs
Traditional MLPs Variable MLPs
Types of Securities
General Partner Interest 2.0% 0%
Common Units- Units held by the public and, to a lesser degree, the sponsor
Yes Yes
Subordinated Units- Units held by the sponsor that experience the first distribution cut if there is
insufficient available cash to pay the full minimum quarterly distribution on all units; a device used to protect the common unitholders
Yes (typically 49% of all outstanding units at the time of
the IPO)No
PIK Units- Units held by the sponsor that pay distributions “in-kind” if there is insufficient
available cash to pay the full distribution on all units Not Typical(Cheniere)
Not Typical(Northern Tier)
Incentive Distribution Rights- Rights held by the sponsor entitling it to increasing percentages – typically 13%,
23% and 48% – of the MLP’s available cash as distributions increase Yes No
Comparison of Traditional MLPs and Variable MLPs
Traditional MLPs Variable MLPs
Common Unit Arrearages- During the subordination period, the right of common unitholders to accrue
unpaid minimum quarterly distributions and receive payment of such unpaid distributions before any distributions are paid on the subordinated units
Yes No
Maintenance of “Distribution Coverage”- The practice of paying out less than all available cash for the purpose of
maintaining stability or growth in quarterly distributions (an MLP that withholds 10% of its available cash would have a distribution coverage ratio of 110%); this feature is highly monitored by analysts and sought-after by investors
Yes No
Working Capital Borrowings to Pay Distributions- The practice of using working capital borrowings (which are borrowings
intended to be repaid within 12 months) to maintain stability in quarterly distribution payments (typically done to avoid fluctuations in distributions due to seasonal variations in the business)
Yes No
Direct Exposure to Commodity Price Movements- Traditional MLPs typically use hedging and other arrangements to avoid direct
exposure to commodity prices (in order to mimic the distribution stability of a FERC regulated pipeline, for example)
Avoided Expected
Direct and Immediate Exposure to Fluctuations in Cash Generated by the Business- The consequence of the distribution policies described above
No Yes
Flexible Distribution Covenants in Debt Agreements A PriorityYes Depends
Yieldco
Typical Yieldco Organizational StructureIn 2013, a new type of vehicle went public with a story very similar to an MLP but without possessing assets that would qualify for pass-through tax treatment. Like MLPs, Yieldco and similar companies are positioning themselves as vehicles for investors seeking stable and growing dividend income from a diversified portfolio of lower-risk high-quality assets. More of these types of vehicles are in the planning stages.
• To date, NRG Yield, Inc. (NYSE:NYLD), a company that owns, operates and acquires contracted renewable and conventional generation and thermal infrastructure assets, which are not “MLP-able” assets, is the only company to go public as a Yieldco (July 2013).
A Yieldco owns assets, that are not “MLP-able” assets.
Traditional MLP Organizational Structure
Comparison of Traditional MLP and Yieldco Structures
Typical Yieldco Organizational Structure
MLP YieldcoType of Entity Partnership or Limited Liability Company CorporationCapital Structure
Types of Equity Securities of the Public Company; Sponsor Ownership of Operating Company
Common Units (right to minimum quarterly distributions, limited voting rights on significant matters)
Subordinated Units (rights to quarterly distributions after payment of the MQD on common units limited voting rights on significant matters)
Incentive Distribution Rights (the right to increasing percentages of cash flow ranging from 13%-48% based on increases in common unit distributions)
General Partner Interest (represents the controlling voting interest in the MLP, subject to limited exceptions)
MLP owns 100% of the operating company, unless using an OPCO structure (in which case the MLP owns a percentage of the OPCO and the sponsor owns the remainder)
Class A common stock of Yieldco issued to the public (initially representing x% of the voting interest in Yieldco and indirectly providing holders x% of the consolidated distributable cash flows of Yieldco’s subsidiaries)
Yieldco holds a Class A unit of its operating subsidiary for each share of outstanding Class A common stock (providing Yieldcox% of the consolidated distributable cash flows of Yieldco’ssubsidiaries)
Sponsor issued Class B common stock of Yieldco (initially representing 100-x% of the voting interest in Yieldco) and a corresponding Class B unit of the operating subsidiary (providing sponsor 100-x% of the consolidated distributable cash flows of Yieldco’s subsidiaries)
Common Post-IPO Capitalization 49% held by public, 49% held by sponsor and 2% held by general partner
Majority of voting control and economics held by sponsor
Exchange and Registration Rights No exchange rights but subordinated units convert to common units and the sponsor has registration rights
Each Class B unit of the operating subsidiary is exchangeable with Yieldco for a share of Class A common stock; sponsor has registration rights
EconomicsQuarterly Cash Payment Yes YesProjection of Quarterly Distribution Increase
No Yes (20% within first 18 months)
Subordination of Sponsor Distributions from Yieldco to Public Distributions
Yes No (sponsor does not own dividend paying securities in Yieldco; sponsor owns dividend paying securities in subsidiary of Yieldco that can be exchanged for dividend paying securities — that is, Class A common stock — of Yieldco)
Incentive Distribution Rights Yes NoForecasted Cash Available for Distribution in Prospectus
Yes (generally 12 months after most recent balance sheet date) Yes (24 months after most recent balance sheet date)
Reliance on Net Operating Losses and Carryforwards (NOLs) to Offset Future Income Taxes
No Yes
Yield at IPO (the ratio of the annualized distribution to the IPO price)
Midstream: 4-6%Shipping: 6.8-8.0%Refining: 11-15%
Approximately 5.5%
Comparison of Traditional MLP and Yieldco Structures
MLP YieldcoGovernance
Board of Directors Yes (at general partner) Yes (at Yieldco)
Requirement for Majority Independent Board
No No for so long as the sponsor retains voting control
Requirement for Independent Audit Committee
Yes Yes
Requirement for Independent Compensation Committee
No (but some MLPs have compensation committees) No for so long as the sponsor retains voting control (but Yieldcohas a compensation committee)
Requirement for Independent Governance Committee
No (but some MLPs have governance committees) No for so long as the sponsor retains voting control (but Yieldcohas a governance committee)
Use of Independent Conflicts Committee
Yes (special provisions in partnership agreement regarding the legal consequences of using this type of committee)
Yes (part of governance committee)
Annual Election of Directors by Security Holders
No Yes
Requirement to Mail Annual Proxy Statement
No Yes
Subject to “Good Faith” Duty as a Replacement for Customary Fiduciary Duties
Yes No
Shareholder Approval Required to Issue Greater Than 20% of Equity
No Yes
Shareholder Approval Required to Issue Equity to Affiliates
No Yes
Shareholder Approval Required to Approve Equity Compensation Plans
Yes Yes
FERC-related Repurchase or Redemption Provisions
Yes Yes
Comparison of Traditional MLP and Yieldco Structures
MLP YieldcoRelated Party Agreements
Services Agreement Common YesIndemnification for Environmental, Tax and Other Liabilities
Yes No
Right of First Offer on Sponsor Assets
Common Yes (but only in respect of certain enumerated assets)
Noncompete on Specified Business Opportunities
Sometimes No
License to Use Sponsor Marks Yes YesRegistration Rights Yes Yes
Tax MattersGeneral A partnership is not a taxable entity and incurs no federal income
tax liability. Instead, each partner of a partnership is required to take into account his share of items of income, gain, loss and deduction of the partnership in computing his federal income tax liability, regardless of whether cash distributions are made to him by the partnership. Distributions by a partnership to a partner are generally not taxable to the partnership or the partner unless the amount of cash distributed to him is in excess of the partner’s adjusted basis in his partnership interest.
Distributions treated as dividends under US tax law only to the extent paid out of current or accumulated earnings and profits. If cash dividends exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits for a taxable year, the excess cash dividends would not be taxable as a dividend but rather be treated as a return of capital for US federal income tax purposes, which would result in a reduction in the adjusted tax basis of the shares to the extent thereof, and any balance in excess of adjusted basis would be treated as a gain for US federal income tax purposes.
Requirement to Have 90% Qualifying Income Under Section 7704 of IRC
Yes. Qualifying income includes income and gains derived from the transportation, processing, storage and marketing of crude oil, natural gas and products thereof. Other types of qualifying income include interest (other than from a financial business), dividends, gains from the sale of real property and gains from the sale or other disposition of capital assets held for the production of income that otherwise constitutes qualifying income.
No
Period During Which Federal Income Taxes are Expected to be Insignificant
Infinite 5 to 10 years due to NOLs, unless further NOLs are created
Form of Annual Federal Income Tax Statement
Schedule K-1 Form 1099
Tax Shield (the reciprocal of the ratio of taxable income to cash distributions)
Typically 80% 100% for 5 to 10 years using NOLs
Comparison of Traditional MLP and Yieldco Structures
UP-C Structure
HistoricMembers Public
IPOCo
Holdings LLC
100% Class B SharesMajority voting powerNon-economic interest
Operating Subsidiaries
100% Class A SharesMinority voting power
100% economic interest
100% Class B UnitsExchange Right
100% Class A UnitsSole Managing Member
Tax ReceivableAgreement
Typical UP-C Organizational Structure
In using this structure, the public company (“IPOCo”) typically owns a substantial equity interest in a subsidiary holding company (“Holdings”), which owns the operating assets. The equity interests in Holdings not held by IPOCoare typically owned by the pre-IPO investors, which may consist with individual investors, private equity funds or others.
• The pre-IPO investors in Holdings have the right to exchange their Holdings equity interests for shares in IPOCo, at which point IPOCo gets a stepped-up tax basis in the Holdings equity interests (which results in tax savings to IPOCo through additional depreciation and amortization) and the pre-IPO investors are taxed on any gain recognized as a result of the exchange.
• The pre-IPO investors and IPOCo may enter into a tax receivable agreement pursuant to which IPOCo would pay the pre-IPO investors a portion (typically 75% to 85%) of the tax benefits realized from the basis step-up resulting from the exchanges.
In 2013, the following energy companies went public using a so-called UP-C structure:
• Athlon Energy Inc.• Frank’s International N.V.• Jones Energy, Inc.• Plains GP Holdings, L.P.
The UP-C Structure — which offers tax benefits to pre-IPO investors and sponsors — likely will expand among companies.
Comparison of Conventional Public Co. & UP-C Structures
Typical Conventional Public Company Organizational Structure
Typical UP-C Organizational Structure
HistoricShareholders Public
Public Company
Operating Subsidiaries
100-X% X%
HistoricMembers Public
IPOCo
Holdings LLC
100% Class B SharesMajority voting powerNon-economic interest
Operating Subsidiaries
100% Class A SharesMinority voting power
100% economic interest
100% Class B UnitsExchange Right
100% Class A UnitsSole Managing Member
Tax ReceivableAgreement
Comparison of Conventional Public Co. & UP-C Structures
Conventional Public Company UP-C Structure
Public MarketTransparency /
Investor Demand
• Corporate structure is well recognized and accepted by public markets
• Variations such as dual class voting and control by parent company should be analyzed on case-by-case basis
• Structure provides same economics and value to public investors as conventional structure
• In a variety of scenarios, the structure could result in substantial tax benefits to public shareholders (e.g., asset basis step-up results from company effecting secondary sale via taxable exchange of its LLC interest for C Corp stock)
Accounting
• Public company consolidates its operations• All assets and liabilities appear on balance sheet and all
income and expenses appear on income statement• No minority interest on income statement or balance
sheet
• IPOCo consolidates Holdings since IPOCo is managing member• Consolidation is critical for capital markets and ’40 Act purposes• Holdings interests show up as minority interests on income statement
and balance sheet (until accounting rules change), but revenues, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), net income before minority interest and will be neutral on earnings per share (EPS)
Tax Consolidation /
Single Level Taxation
• All of public company’s earnings are subject to corporate level tax and any dividends would be subject to second level of tax
• No ability to use operating losses from other sources to offset taxable income of public company
• Retains flow-through tax benefits of Holdings structure for owners of Holdings
• Holdings owners can use operating losses from operations or other sources to offset taxable income allocations from Holdings
Increased Tax Depreciation / Amortization
• Future secondary sales by partner owners will result in capital gains tax but will not result in any tax basis step-up in public company’s assets
• Future secondary sales (via exchange of Holdings interests for public company stock) will increase tax basis of IPOCo interest in Holdings by amount of gain recognized
• This will increase cash flow due to less IPOCo current taxes
Control
• Vote and value typically linked unless separate class of supermajority stock issued
• Vote and value can be separated through several different options including issuing special non-economic “golden shares” to Holdings owners or via election of a majority of directors of public company or including approval rights on material transactions of Holdings
Comparison of Conventional Public Co. & UP-C Structures
Conventional Public Company UP-C Structure
Gain Upon Formation• Based on tax basis of Holdings assets• Need to structure formation transaction so no “boot”
recognized (e.g., liability assumption)
• Could take advantage of partnership tax rules to allow partners to extract cash in IPO
• Need to avoid “disguised sale” rules upon formation
Subsequent Acquisitions by Public Company
• Can acquire public or private corporations in tax-free mergers using its publicly traded stock as acquisition currency
• IPOCo can offer preferred stock (convertible or non-convertible) as tax-free acquisition currency, but dividends on preferred are not tax deductible
• Can effect tax-free mergers with target corporations by merging target into IPOCo in exchange for IPOCo stock and dropping assets into Holdings
• Ability to acquire private companies (S corps and partnerships) using a tax-deductible preferred partnership interest (convertible or non-convertible) as tax-free acquisition currency
• Cash acquisitions also feasible using variety of structures
Acquisition / Sale of Public Company
• Would likely be structured as acquisition of stock of public company; could be structured as tax-free reorganization
• No tax basis step-up in public company’s assets to Buyer
• Taxable acquisition provides Buyer with tax basis step-up in assets to extent of Holdings interests acquired from partners; value of basis step-up could significantly increase purchase price
• Could structure as tax-free stock deal through “holding company” (i.e., 351) transaction; however, basis step-up is likely to be much more valuable than tax-deferral to sellers
Rule 144 Secondary Sales
• Generally, can sell under Rule 144 after initial holding period
• Rule 144 may not be available for secondary sales• IPOCo may be required to keep a shelf registration statement
available for future secondary sales by owners of Holdings interests who exchange interests for stock of IPOCo (or use demand registration)
Employee Stock Options
• Company can offer ISOs and NQSOs to its employees as well as restricted stock and RSUs
• Because Holdings is not a C Corp, it cannot offer ISOs to its employees
• IPOCo may offer such ISOs to employees of both the IPOCo and partnership
• Alternatively, could issue “profits interests” in Holdings which are generally superior to ISOs
Questions?