RULE NO. 424(b)(3) REGISTRATION NO. 333-66005 [Logo of Star Gas] [Logo of Petro] Star Gas Partners, L.P. and Petroleum Heat and Power Co., Inc. This joint proxy statement and The date, times and place of prospectus describes Star Gas the meetings are as follows: Partners, L.P.'s proposed acquisition of Petroleum Heat Star Gas Partners Unitholders and Power Co., Inc., and related Meeting: matters. The transaction is Tuesday, March 16, 1999 structured with the intent to 10:00 a.m. EST increase the cash flow of Star Chase Manhattan Bank Gas Partners and to result in 270 Park Avenue, 11th Floor Petro common stockholders owning New York, New York equity in a financially stronger company with growth Petro Stockholders Meeting: opportunities. Tuesday, March 16, 1999 If the transaction is 11:00 a.m. EST completed, Petro will be a Chase Manhattan Bank subsidiary of Star Gas Partners. 270 Park Avenue, 11th Floor The common unitholders of Star New York, New York Gas Partners will retain their units, although their rights and The record date for both interests will be modified by meetings is January 29, 1999. the transaction. Petro public common stockholders will receive This proxy statement .11758 of a senior subordinated constitutes the notice of a unit representing limited special meeting required under partner interests in Star Gas Minnesota law. If the Partners for each share of transaction is completed, Petro common stock that they own. It common stock-holders who do not is anticipated that the senior vote in favor of the transaction subordinated units will be and who strictly comply with the listed on the New York Stock applicable sections of the Exchange under the symbol "SGH." Minnesota Business Corporation Act will be entitled to This proxy statement is statutory dissenters' appraisal furnished to the common rights. This proxy statement is unitholders of Star Gas Partners also the prospectus of Star Gas and the common stockholders of Partners for the resale, by Petro for the solicitation of persons who may be deemed proxies to vote on the affiliates of Petro, of limited transaction. The transaction partner interests received in cannot be completed unless it is the transaction. approved by a majority of all Star Gas Partners common units You should carefully consider and a majority of the shares of each of the factors described Petro Class A common stock. If under "Risk Factors," starting you fail to vote by proxy or in on page 22 of this proxy person, it will have the same statement. effect as a vote against the transaction. Please vote by completing and mailing the enclosed proxy card. [Signature Logo of [Signature logo of Joseph P. Cavanaugh] Irik P. Sevin] Joseph P. Cavanaugh President Irik P. Sevin Chairman of the Star Gas Corporation Board and Chief Executive Officer Petroleum Heat and Power Co., Inc. The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this joint proxy statement/prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Joint proxy statement/prospectus dated February 10, 1999, and first mailed to unitholders and stockholders on February 12, 1999. TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS...................................................... iv SUMMARY.................................................................... 1 Parties................................................................... 1 The Transaction........................................................... 2 Description of Star Gas Partners Units After Amendment of the Partnership Agreement................................................................ 8 Special Factors........................................................... 10 Financial Information..................................................... 14 RISK FACTORS............................................................... 22 Risks to Star Gas Partners Common Unitholders............................. 22 Tax Risks to Star Gas Partners Common Unitholders......................... 27 Risks to Petro Common Stockholders........................................ 28 Tax Risks to Petro Common Stockholders.................................... 36 CAUTIONARY STATEMENT....................................................... 39 PARTIES.................................................................... 40 PROXY SOLICITATIONS........................................................ 43 The Star Gas Partners Unitholders Meeting.................................................................. 43 The Petro Special Meeting................................................. 45 SPECIAL FACTORS............................................................ 49 Background of the Transaction............................................. 49 Reasons for the Transaction that the Special Committee Considered; Recom- mendations of the Special Committee and Star Gas Corporation Board....... 62 Opinion of A.G. Edwards................................................... 65 Reasons for the Transaction that the Petro Board Considered; Recommenda- tion of the Petro Board.................................................. 76 Opinion of Dain Rauscher Wessels.......................................... 79 Projections of Petro and Star Gas Partners................................................................. 90 THE TRANSACTION............................................................ 97 Description of the Transaction............................................ 97 Description of the Merger and the Exchange................................ 97 Related Financing and Refinancing Transactions............................................................. 98 Description of the Merger Agreement....................................... 100 Restrictions on Resales of Senior Subordinated Units by Non-Affiliates and Affiliates...................... 103 Selling Unitholders....................................................... 104 Plan of Distribution for the Resale Units................................. 104 Accounting Treatment of the Transaction................................... 105 i
Regulatory Matters Associated with the Transaction......................... 106 MANAGEMENT OF STAR GAS PARTNERS AFTER THE TRANSACTION....................... 107 General Partner............................................................ 107 Board of Directors of Star Gas LLC......................................... 107 Officers and Employees of Star Gas Propane and Petro....................... 108 Reimbursement of Expenses of the General Partner........................................................... 109 BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL UNITHOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT................ 110 AMENDMENTS TO THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS.................................... 111 Introduction; Vote Required by Unitholders in order to Amend the Partnership Agreements.................................................... 111 Summary of Amendments to the Partnership Agreement..................................................... 111 Summary of Amendments to the Star Gas Propane Partnership Agreement........ 115 Conforming Changes......................................................... 116 THE AMENDED AND RESTATED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT...................................................... 117 Organization and Duration.................................................. 117 Purpose.................................................................... 117 Power of Attorney.......................................................... 117 Restrictions on Authority of the General Partner Regarding Extraordinary Transactions ............................................................. 118 Lack of Dissenters' Rights................................................. 118 Withdrawal or Removal of the General Partner; Approval of Successor General Partner............................ 118 Restriction on Transfer of General Partner Interest........................ 120 Reimbursement for Services of the General Partner........................................................... 120 Rights and Status as Limited Partner or Assignee Upon Transfer of Interest........................................ 121 Limitations on the Rights of Non-citizen Assignees and Redemption Rights of Star Gas Partners...................... 121 Issuance of Additional Securities by Star Gas Partners..................... 121 Limited Call Right on Outstanding Limited Partner Interests................ 122 Amendment of the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement................ 123
Meetings of Limited Partners and Voting Rights............................ 125 Indemnification Obligations of Star Gas Partners.......................... 126 Potential Loss of Limited Liability by Unitholders........................ 126 Obligations of the General Partner to Provide Books and Reports to Limited Partners............................ 127 Limited Partners' Right to Inspect Star Gas Partners Books and Records.................................................................. 127 Description of Termination and Dissolution of Star Gas Partners........... 128 Liquidation of Star Gas Partners and Distribution of Proceeds................................................. 128 Registration Rights of the General Partner or its Affiliates.............. 128 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OF STAR GAS PARTNERS................................. 129 Conflicts of Interest May Arise as a Result of the Publicly-Traded Limited Partnership Structure..................................................... 129 Fiduciary Duties owed to Unitholders by the General Partner as Prescribed by Law and the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement................. 131 CASH DISTRIBUTION POLICY................................................... 132 General Description of Star Gas Partners' Cash Distribution............... 132 Quarterly Distributions of Available Cash................................. 133 Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus During the Subordination Period..................................................... 134 Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus After the Subordination Period..................................................... 135 Incentive Distributions During the Subordination Period..................................................... 135 Incentive Distributions After the Subordination Period..................................................... 137 Distributions from Capital Surplus........................................ 137 Limitation and Prohibitions on Distributions on Subordinated Interests.... 138 Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Lev- els...................................................................... 138 Issuance of Additional Senior Subordinated Units.......................... 139 Distributions of Cash upon Liquidation During the Subordination Period.......................................... 141 Distributions of Cash upon Liquidation After the Subordination Period........................................... 142 CASH AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION............................................ 144 ii
DESCRIPTION OF THE STAR GAS PARTNERS UNITS............................................................. 146 The Rights of Unitholders.................................................. 146 Transfer Agent and Registrar............................................... 146 Obligations and Procedures for the Transfer of Units....................... 147 COMPARISON OF SECURITIES.................................................... 149 Taxation................................................................... 149 Distributions and Dividends................................................ 149 Voting Rights.............................................................. 150 Rights to Call Meetings.................................................... 150 Removal of Directors or the General Partner .......................................................... 150 Liquidation Rights......................................................... 151 Conversion Rights.......................................................... 151 Liability of Holders....................................................... 152 Transferability and Listing................................................ 152 Redemption................................................................. 152 Appraisal Rights........................................................... 153 Preemptive Rights.......................................................... 153 Inspection of Books, Records and List of Holders........................... 153 DESCRIPTION OF INDEBTEDNESS................................................. 154 New Indebtedness............................................................ 154 Existing Indebtedness....................................................... 155 COMPARATIVE SECURITY PRICE AND DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION..................... 158 Star Gas Partners Securities............................................... 158 Petro Capital Stock........................................................ 159 Comparative Per Share/Per Unit Information (Unaudited)................................................... 160 FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS............................................................. 161 Tax Consequences of the Merger............................................. 161 Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership......................................... 162 Allocation of Star Gas Partners Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction........... 168 Tax Treatment of Operations................................................ 169 Disposition of Units....................................................... 172 Uniformity of Units........................................................ 174 Administrative Matters..................................................... 176 State, Local and Other Tax Considerations............................................................ 179 DISSENTERS' RIGHTS.......................................................... 181 LEGAL MATTERS............................................................... 185 EXPERTS..................................................................... 185 WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION................................................................ 185 STATEMENT OF FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLOSURE..................................... 186 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE..................................................... 187
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION.............................................................. 188 Star Gas Partners, L.P. and Subsidiaries--Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (unaudited)................................................ 189 Star Gas Partners, L.P. and Subsidiaries--Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations (unaudited)...................................... 190 Star Gas Partners, L.P. And Subsidiaries--Notes to Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information....................................... 191 GLOSSARY OF TERMS......................................................... 198 iii
Appendix A--Application for Transfer of Units........................... App-1 Annexes A Merger Agreement B Exchange Agreement C Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement D Opinion of A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. E Opinion of Dain Rauscher Wessels F Copy of Sections 302A.471 and 302A.473 of Minnesota Business Corporation Act G Calculation of Pro Forma Available Cash from Operating Surplus QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: What is being proposed? A: Both Star Gas Partners common unitholders and Petro common stockholders are voting on Star Gas Partners' acquisition of Petro. Petro currently is Star Gas Partners' largest equity owner and the parent of its current general partner. Q: What are Star Gas Partners' reasons for the transaction? A: Petro is the largest home heating oil distributor in the country and has been a principal consolidator of that highly fragmented industry. Star Gas Partners believes Petro's strong position in the home heating oil industry will provide Star Gas Partners with attractive acquisition and expansion opportunities. In addition, the acquisition of Petro has been structured with the intent of providing an increase in Star Gas Partners' cash flow. Based on this expectation, the minimum quarterly distribution will increase from $0.55 to $0.575 per unit, or from $2.20 to $2.30 on a yearly basis, upon completion of the transaction. Q: What are Petro's reasons for the transaction? A: Petro does not have the financial flexibility to fully capitalize upon its acquisition, operating and corporate-branding opportunities. This transaction will recapitalize Petro and the resulting lower cost of capital will allow Petro to grow. Q: What are the proposals the Star Gas Partners common unitholders will vote on? A: Star Gas Partners common unitholders are voting on three proposals: . The proposal to acquire Petro through a merger and an exchange of equity. . The proposal to amend the partnership agreement to facilitate the transaction. . The proposal to elect a new general partner. Q: Which parts of the transaction are the Petro common stockholders considering? A: Petro common stockholders are only voting on Star Gas Partners' acquisition of Petro. Q: When is the transaction expected to occur? A: Star Gas Partners and Petro anticipate completing the transaction in March 1999. Q: What do I need to do right now? A: Return the signed proxy card in the enclosed return envelope as soon as possible. For more information on voting please call our proxy solicitor, Morrow & Co., at 1(800) 566-9061. Q: What is the recommendation of the Star Gas Corporation board of directors? A: Based on the recommendation of a special committee of the Star Gas Corporation board of directors, the Star Gas Corporation board of directors unanimously recommends that the Star Gas Partners common unitholders vote FOR each of the proposals. Q: What is the recommendation of the Petro board of directors? A: The Petro board of directors unanimously recommends that Petro common stockholders vote FOR the proposal to be acquired by Star Gas Partners. Q: What do I do with my certificates? A: Star Gas Partners common unitholders should hold their unit certificates. Common units will continue to be listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange. After the transaction is approved, Petro common stockholders will receive written instructions on how to deliver their Petro stock certificates in exchange for senior subordinated units. iv SUMMARY This summary highlights selected information from this document and does not contain all of the information that is important to you. To fully understand the transaction, and for a more complete description of legal terms, you should read carefully this entire document and the documents to which we have referred you. See "Where You Can Find More Information" (page 185). A glossary of terms used in this proxy statement begins on page 198. Parties Star Gas Partners. Star Gas Partners is primarily a retail distributor of propane and related supplies and equipment to residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and motor fuel customers. Propane is used primarily as fuel for space and water heating and cooking by Star Gas Partners' residential and commercial customers, who are the largest portion of its customer base. Star Gas Partners is the eighth largest retail propane distributor in the United States, serving approximately 166,000 customers from 74 branch locations in 13 states in the Midwest and Northeast. In addition to its retail business, Star Gas Partners serves approximately 30 wholesale customers from its wholesale operation in southern Indiana. The executive offices of Star Gas Partners are located at 2187 Atlantic Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06902. The telephone number is (203) 328-7300. Petro. Petro is primarily a retail distributor of home heating oil in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Petro is the largest distributor of home heating oil in the United States and serves approximately 340,000 customers from 24 branch locations. To a limited extent, Petro also markets other petroleum products, including diesel fuel and gasoline, to commercial customers. Petro's executive offices are located at 2187 Atlantic Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06902. The telephone number is (203) 325-5400. Relationship of the Parties. Petro and Star Gas Partners are already closely- related. Star Gas Partners' current general partner, Star Gas Corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petro. Petro also owns an aggregate 40.5% equity interest in Star Gas Partners, which includes all outstanding subordinated units. Moreover, all of the directors of Petro are also directors of Star Gas Corporation. As a result, Petro controls Star Gas Partners and has an interest in making the transaction more beneficial to Petro. In order to protect the interests of the Star Gas Partners common unitholders, the Star Gas Corporation board appointed a special committee consisting of the two directors who were not also directors of Petro to negotiate the transaction on behalf of the Star Gas Partners common unitholders. Independent legal counsel represented the special committee in the negotiations. These two directors each received additional compensation of $40,000. You should also know that some of the directors of Petro have interests in the transaction that are different from, and in conflict with, the interests of Petro's public common stockholders. These directors are receiving consideration in the transaction that is different from that of Petro's public common stockholders. All of these conflicts of interest are discussed more fully below. The Transaction The transaction has four important parts: . the merger of the two entities, . raising the money to pay down Petro's debt and redeem Petro's preferred stock, . the election of a new general partner for Star Gas Partners and . the amendment of the Star Gas Partners partnership agreement. The Merger (See page 97) The acquisition of Petro by Star Gas Partners will be accomplished through: (1) a merger involving Petro and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Star Gas Partners and (2) an exchange by affiliates of Petro of their Petro common stock for Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units. Petro will become a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Star Gas Partners as a result of these steps. What a Petro Common StockholderWill Receive in the Merger For each share of common stock, a Petro common stockholder will receive: . .11758 of a senior subordinated unit of limited partner interests in Star Gas Partners and . a check in payment for any fractional units based on the market value of senior subordinated units. For example, if you own 100 shares of common stock, you will receive 11 senior subordinated units and a check for your fractional unit. The merger will be a taxable transaction to a Petro common stockholder to the extent of the difference between the value of the senior subordinated units received and the federal income tax basis that he had in the shares of Petro common stock that are exchanged. What Affiliates Will Receive in the Exchange . Irik P. Sevin, Audrey L. Sevin and Hanseatic Corp. and Hanseatic Americas LDC will exchange some of their Petro common stock for the ownership of Star Gas LLC, a new company that will become the new general partner of Star Gas Partners. Irik P. Sevin and Audrey L. Sevin are officers, directors and stockholders of Petro and officers and directors of the general partner of Star Gas Partners. The Hanseatic companies are stockholders of Petro and affiliates of Wolfgang Traber and Paul Biddelman, who are directors of Petro and the general partner of Star Gas Partners. . Star Gas LLC will exchange the shares of Petro common stock for Star Gas Partners general partner units and Irik P. Sevin, Audrey L. Sevin and the Hanseatic companies will exchange their remaining shares of Petro common stock for Star Gas Partners junior subordinated units. . For each share of common stock, Star Gas LLC will receive .14318 general partner units and Irik P. Sevin, Audrey L. Sevin, and the Hanseatic companies will receive .14318 junior subordinated units which is a higher exchange rate than that received by Petro common stockholders who receive senior subordinated units. This exchange rate is higher because --the Star Gas Partners junior subordinated units and general partner 2 units will not be entitled to distributions until the senior subordinated units receive the full minimum quarterly distribution; and --the Star Gas Partners junior subordinated units and general partner units have not been registered and will not be publicly traded. . Other affiliates of Petro will contribute shares of Petro common stock to Star Gas Partners in exchange for Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units at the same exchange rate as the Petro common stockholders. . Petro retained Dain Rauscher Wessels to determine the fairness of the transaction to its public common stockholders, from a financial point of view. In performing its financial analysis of the transaction, Dain Rauscher Wessels calculated implied merger values per Petro share. According to these calculations, the implied merger value per Petro share for the recipients of general partner units and junior subordinated units is $1.72, and the implied merger value per Petro share for the recipients of senior subordinated units is $1.95. Based upon such values, affiliates who currently own approximately 44.7% of the shares of Petro common stock will receive approximately 43.4% of the aggregate value of the Star Gas Partners units being issued to the Petro common stockholders in the transaction. The Petro public common stockholders who currently own approximately 55.3% of the shares of Petro common stock will receive approximately 56.6% of the aggregate value of the Star Gas Partners units being issued to the Petro common stockholders in the transaction. The implied merger values calculated by Dain Rauscher Wessels do not constitute an opinion as to what the value of the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units will be when issued to Petro common stockholders or the price at which the senior subordinated units will trade after the transaction. . All of Petro's affiliates will exchange their Petro common stock without realizing a taxable gain or loss. However, the transaction will be taxable to the Petro public common stockholders. We chose this tax structure to minimize the tax effects of the transaction on Petro. The tax structure is also based on the assumption that Petro affiliates would prefer not to realize a taxable gain, while most Petro public common stockholders generally have a higher tax basis and would prefer to realize a taxable loss. Conditions to the Merger and the Exchange In order for the merger and the exchange to occur, several conditions must be met. The following are three key conditions: . A majority of the Petro common stockholders and the Star Gas Partners common unitholders must approve each of the proposals submitted for their vote; . An equity offering by Star Gas Partners and a debt offering by Petro must be completed; and . Petro must meet the financial tests in the merger agreement. Dissenters' Rights Petro common stockholders have the right to dissent and obtain payment for the "fair value" of their shares if the merger occurs. 3 Petro common stockholders who wish to exercise dissenters' rights must comply fully with the requirements of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act. Accordingly, Petro urges its common stockholders wishing to dissent to read carefully "Proxy Solicitations--The Special Meeting--Dissenters' Rights" and "Dissenters' Rights" in this proxy statement and Annex F and to consult their own legal advisors. Failure to follow the procedures in Annex F may result in a termination or loss of dissenters' rights under the Minnesota Business Corporation Act. Star Gas Partners' common unitholders do not have dissenters' rights. Raising the Money to Pay Down Petro's Debt and Redeem Petro's Preferred Stock (See page 98) An integral element of the transaction is the refinancing of Petro's outstanding debt and preferred stock, which will substantially reduce Petro's ongoing borrowing costs. . Star Gas Partners will offer for sale to the public approximately 8.9 million common units, the net proceeds of which are estimated to be $159.9 million. . Petro will sell approximately $90.0 million of notes, the net proceeds of which are estimated to be $87.9 million. We expect that Star Gas Partners and some of its subsidiaries will guarantee the notes. New General Partner (See page 107) The new general partner of Star Gas Partners will be Star Gas LLC. The directors of Star Gas LLC will be identical to the existing Star Gas Corporation directors as of the date of this proxy statement, except that, at her request, one of the current directors will withdraw as a director after the transaction as a result of additional duties associated with a new job. That director will be replaced by a director selected by the Star Gas LLC board of directors. The new director will not be an officer or employee of Star Gas LLC or any of its affiliates. Amendments to the Star Gas Partners Partnership Agreement (See page 111) In order to complete the steps of the transaction described in this proxy statement, the current partnership agreement of Star Gas Partners must be amended. The primary amendments that affect Star Gas Partners unitholders will: . increase the minimum quarterly distribution per unit from $0.55 to $0.575, or $2.20 to $2.30 on a yearly basis; . authorize the issuance of the senior subordinated units and junior subordinated units, provide them with a combined class vote on specified matters and establish financial benchmarks that Star Gas Partners must satisfy to make distributions to these unitholders; . provide that the general partner units and junior subordinated units will receive distributions only after the common units and senior subordinated units have received the full minimum quarterly distribution; . extend the earliest date upon which the subordination period can expire from January 1, 2001 to October 1, 2002, during which time the common units have priority over distributions to the other classes of units; 4 . authorize the issuance of an additional 909,000 senior subordinated units to holders of Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units if Petro meets specified financial goals; . authorize the issuance of Star Gas Partners common units in the equity offering; and . reallocate the incentive distribution rights, which are the rights to receive a greater percentage of distributions once specified target levels have been met, from the general partner to the holders of the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units. 5 [Chart depicting Star Gas Partners Current organization] 6 [Chart depicting Star Gas Partners Organization Immediately Following Transaction] 7 Description of Star Gas Partners Units After Amendment of the Partnership Agreement The following summarizes the provisions of the Star Gas Partners amended and restated partnership agreement that govern the amount, timing and priority of distributions on the common units, senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units. Distributions of available . Star Gas Partners intends to distribute, cash......................... to the extent there is sufficient (See page 132) available cash, at least a minimum quarterly distribution of $0.575 per unit, or $2.30 per unit on a yearly basis. . ""Available cash" for any quarter consists generally of all cash on hand at the end of that quarter, as adjusted for reserves. The general partner has broad discretion in establishing reserves. . In general, available cash will be distributed per quarter based on the following priorities. First, to the common units until each has received $0.575, plus any arrearages from prior quarters. Second, to the senior subordinated units until each has received $0.575. Third, to the junior subordinated units and general partner units until each has received $0.575. Finally, after each unit has received $0.575, available cash will be distributed proportionately to all units until target levels are met. . If distributions of available cash exceed target levels greater than $0.604, the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units will receive incentive distributions as described below. Limitations and prohibitions on distributions............. . Distributions will not be made on the (See page 138) senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units or general partner units for any quarter in Star Gas Partners' fiscal year 1999, which ends on September 30, 1999. . Distributions may be made on the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units beginning with Star Gas Partners' fiscal year 2000, which begins on October 1, 1999. Any distributions made on these units depends on the amount of available cash generated by Star Gas Partners after October 1, 1999. 8 Timing of distributions....... .Star Gas Partners makes distributions (See page 133) approximately 45 days after March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 to unitholders on the applicable record date. Subordination period.......... .The subordination period will end once (See page 134) Star Gas Partners meets the financial tests in the amended and restated partnership agreement, but it generally cannot end before October 1, 2002. However, if the general partner is removed under some circumstances, the subordination period will end. .When the subordination period ends, all senior subordinated units and junior subordinated units will convert into Class B common units on a one-for-one basis, and each common unit will be redesignated as a Class A common unit. .The main differences between the Class A common units and Class B common units are that the Class B common units will continue to have the right to receive incentive distributions and additional units as described below. Incentive distributions....... If quarterly distributions of available (See page 135) cash exceed target levels, the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units will receive an increased percentage of distributions, resulting in their receiving a greater amount on a per unit basis than the common units. Additional senior Up to an additional 909,000 senior subordinated units........... subordinated units will be issued (See page 139) proportionately to holders of senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units, but only if Petro achieves the financial goals in the amended and restated partnership agreement during the five- year period following completion of the transaction. NYSE trading symbols: Common units........................ "SGU" Senior subordinated units..... "SGH" 9 Special Factors Potential Advantages to Star Gas Partners Common Unitholders (See page 62) The following are the potential advantages of the transaction to Star Gas Partners common unitholders: . The minimum quarterly distribution per unit will increase from $0.55 to $0.575, or $2.20 to $2.30 on a yearly basis. . The transaction has been structured with the intent to increase the amount of cash available for distribution to Star Gas Partners unitholders. If this expectation is realized, it will provide Star Gas Partners unitholders with greater assurance of receiving the minimum quarterly distribution and an improved possibility of future distribution increases. . The acquisition of Petro should improve Star Gas Partners' growth prospects by providing attractive acquisition and expansion opportunities. . Petro common stockholders will receive subordinated limited partner interests that entitle them to receive distributions only after the Star Gas Partners common unitholders receive their full minimum quarterly distribution. . The earliest date on which the distribution on the common units would stop being senior to the distribution on the subordinated limited partner interests will be extended 21 months to October 1, 2002. . The transaction will increase Star Gas Partners' market capitalization and should provide greater common unit market liquidity, investment community awareness and ability to attract securities analyst research coverage. Potential Disadvantages and Risks to Star Gas Partners Common Unitholders (See pages 22 and 63) The following are the potential disadvantages and risks of the transaction to Star Gas Partners common unitholders: . Petro has a history of operational and financial difficulties, including high debt leverage and recent substantial net losses. . The success of the transaction depends upon Star Gas Partners' ability to continue to: - -- successfully acquire home heating oil businesses at attractive prices; - -- complete Petro's restructuring program to reduce Petro's customer attrition rate; and - -- increase Petro's profit margins on a per gallon basis. . Star Gas Partners is making a large investment in a business that is more sensitive to temperature levels than its propane operations. Home heating oil is used almost exclusively for heating, while propane is often used for purposes other than heating. . The home heating oil industry is not a growth industry as a result of increased competition from alternative energy sources. . The proportion of common units to total partnership interests will increase from 60.5% to 79.9%. Therefore, the likelihood that Star Gas Partners common units will receive the full minimum quarterly distribution will be reduced. 10 . The number of Star Gas Partners common units will increase from approximately 3.9 million to 12.9 million, representing potential significant dilution. . Petro's income, unlike the income from Star Gas Partners' propane operations, will be subject to corporate tax before any distributions. . The ratio of taxable income to cash distributions to be made to the existing Star Gas Partners common unitholders will increase over time at a greater rate than if the transaction does not occur, and dividend and interest income from Petro cannot be offset with past or future losses generated by Star Gas Partners' propane operations. Potential Advantages to Petro's Common Stockholders (See page 76) The following are the potential advantages of the transaction to Petro common stockholders: . This transaction will provide Petro with the financial structure to implement its growth-through-acquisition strategy and invest in its operating and corporate- branding opportunities. . Petro's market valuation should improve when it becomes part of a publicly-traded limited partnership. Publicly-traded limited partnerships are cash flow oriented and are valued primarily on a cash distribution basis. We believe Petro's focus on cash flow is well suited for a limited partnership structure. We also believe Star Gas Partners will have greater investment community awareness than Petro. Currently, because it is the only publicly-traded home heating oil company, Petro has limited securities analyst research coverage. . You are more likely to receive cash distributions as a holder of a Star Gas Partners senior subordinated unit than you are to receive dividends as a holder of Petro common stock. . You will receive senior subordinated units that must receive the minimum quarterly distribution before any payments are made on the junior subordinated units and the general partner units. . The senior subordinated units will have the right to receive incentive distributions. If Star Gas Partners generates cash above specified target levels, the holders of Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units may receive greater cash distributions than the Star Gas Partners common unitholders. . If Petro achieves its financial goals within the five-year period after closing of the transaction, the holders of Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units will receive up to an additional 909,000 senior subordinated units. This incentive allows Petro common stockholders to continue to participate in Petro's future performance. Potential Disadvantages and Risks to Petro's Common Stockholders (See pages 28 and 77) The following are the potential disadvantages and risks of the transaction to Petro common stockholders: 11 . Star Gas Partners unitholders have substantially different, and probably fewer, legal rights than Petro common stockholders. . There is no current trading market for the senior subordinated units. It is anticipated that the senior subordinated units will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, but there is no assurance that any active trading market will develop. It is expected that the senior subordinated units will trade at a lower price than the common units. . The senior subordinated units are not eligible to receive distributions for any quarter of Star Gas Partners fiscal year 1999. . Distributions on the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units are not guaranteed. Star Gas Partners will make these distributions only after it has made the full minimum quarterly distribution on the common units. Further, distributions on the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units are generally limited to available cash generated after the closing of the transaction. Therefore, there is significant uncertainty as to the amount and timing of these distributions. . Star Gas LLC, the new general partner of Star Gas Partners, will have conflicts of interest typical of a general partner in a publicly-traded limited partnership. These conflicts are different from any conflicts of interest that may exist for the Petro board of directors. . Like Petro's home heating oil operations, Star Gas Partners' propane operations are negatively affected by warm weather during the winter months. . Star Gas Partners may face difficulties in the future in making attractive acquisitions in the propane industry because of the highly competitive nature of the industry. . Tax-exempt entities, regulated investment companies or foreign taxpayers may determine that holding an interest in Star Gas Partners is unattractive from a tax perspective. If some of these investors sell their senior subordinated units following the transaction, the market price of the senior subordinated units could fall substantially. Recommendations of the Special Committee and Star Gas Corporation Board of Directors and Opinion of A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. (See pages 62 and 65) A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. has served as independent financial advisor to the special committee. They have rendered an opinion to the special committee that the transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Star Gas Partners public common unitholders. The A.G. Edwards opinion is attached as Annex D to this proxy statement. Star Gas Partners common unitholders and Petro common stockholders are urged to read the opinion in its entirety for descriptions of the procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the analysis undertaken. After considering the advice of its independent legal counsel and financial advisor, and based upon the A.G. Edwards opinion, the special committee believes that the transaction is fair to, and in the best interests of, the Star Gas Partners common unitholders who are not affiliated with Star Gas Corporation. The 12 special committee, therefore, has recommended the transaction to the Star Gas Corporation board of directors. Based on this recommendation, the Star Gas Corporation board of directors unanimously recommends that Star Gas Partners common unitholders vote FOR each of the unitholders meeting proposals. Recommendations of Petro Board of Directors and Opinion of Dain Rauscher Wessels (See pages 76 and 79) Dain Rauscher Wessels, a division of Dain Rauscher Incorporated, has rendered an opinion to the Petro board of directors that the consideration to be received in the merger by the Petro common stockholders not affiliated with Star Gas Corporation is fair, from a financial point of view, to unaffiliated Petro common stockholders. The Dain Rauscher Wessels opinion is attached as Annex E to this proxy statement. Star Gas Partners common unitholders and Petro common stockholders are urged to read the opinion in its entirety for descriptions of the procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the analysis undertaken. The Petro board of directors has determined that the transaction is fair and in the best interests of the Petro common stockholders and has approved the merger agreement and the exchange agreement. The Petro board of directors, therefore, unanimously recommends that Petro common stockholders vote FOR the proposal to be acquired by Star Gas Partners. PaineWebber Incorporated has also acted as a financial advisor to Petro. 13 Financial Information Estimated Sources and Uses of Funds of the Equity Offering and Debt Offering The following table shows the estimated funds that Star Gas Partners will receive from a public offering of an estimated 8.9 million common units at an assumed public offering price of $19.00 per unit. The exact number of common units that Star Gas Partners will issue will depend upon the market price of the common units at the time of the offering. For example, if the market price is less than $19.00 per unit then Star Gas Partners will issue a greater number of units. This table also shows the estimated funds that Petro will receive from the sale of notes in the debt offering. The estimated sources and uses may change, depending on market conditions, results of operations and other factors. (In thousands) Outstanding Star Gas Partners Units The following table shows the approximate number of units outstanding before and after the transaction. The 323,082 general partner interests/units represents 321,467 general partner units in Star Gas Partners and the 0.01% general partner interest in Star Gas Propane. This 0.01% interest is deemed to be in unit form solely for purposes of this table.
Sources Equity offering, net of underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses .............................................. $159,900 Debt offering, net of discounts, commissions and offering expenses ....................................................... 87,915 -------- $247,815 ======== Uses Redeem Petro 12 1/4% Senior Subordinated Debentures due 2005..... $ 84,094 Redeem Petro 10 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2003.......... 50,000 Redeem Petro 9 3/8% Senior Subordinated Debentures due 2006...... 75,000 Redeem Petro 12 7/8% Preferred Stock............................. 27,600 Repurchase Petro 1989 Preferred Stock............................ 4,167 Transaction fees and expenses.................................... 6,954 -------- $247,815 ======== 14
Before Transaction After Transaction -------------------- --------------------- Number Percentage Number Percentage --------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Common Units Existing common units............ 3,858,999 60.5% 3,858,999 23.9% Issued to Petro junior preferred stockholders.................... -- -- 102,773 0.6 Issued in equity offering........ -- -- 8,947,368 55.4 --------- ----- ---------- ----- Subtotal....................... 3,858,999 60.5 12,909,140 79.9 Subordinated Units Existing subordinated units...... 2,396,078 37.5 -- -- Senior subordinated units........ -- -- 2,491,500 15.4 Junior subordinated units........ -- -- 430,395 2.7 --------- ----- ---------- ----- Subtotal....................... 2,396,078 37.5 2,921,895 18.1 General Partner Interests/Units... 127,655 2.0 323,082 2.0 --------- ----- ---------- ----- Total.......................... 6,382,732 100.0% 16,154,117 100.0% ========= ===== ========== ===== Capitalization The following table shows Star Gas Partners' historical capitalization as of September 30, 1998 on an actual basis and as adjusted to give pro forma effect to the acquisition of Petro. It is further adjusted to give pro forma effect to the equity and debt offerings and the application of the net proceeds of these offerings. This table does not include $4.2 million of the current portion of Petro's 1989 preferred stock that will be paid with the proceeds of the equity and debt offerings. The Petro public debt listed below consists of: . $84.1 million of 12 1/4% Senior Subordinated Debentures due 2005, including a prepayment premium of $2.8 million, . $50.0 million of 10 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2003 and . $75.0 million of 9 3/8% Senior Subordinated Debentures due 2006. Upon completion of the transaction, Petro has the right to redeem up to an aggregate of 98.5% of the principal amount of these securities. The Petro private debt listed below consists of: . approximately $60.0 million of 9% Senior Notes due 2002 before $3.1 million of interest rate reduction payment, . $4.1 million of 10 1/4% Subordinated and Senior Notes due 2001 before $0.2 million of interest rate reduction payment and . $14.1 million of notes payable for the purchase of fuel oil dealers maturing at various dates through 2004. You should read this table together with the historical and pro forma financial statements and notes included and incorporated by reference in this proxy statement. 15
September 30, 1998 ---------------------------------- Pro Forma Adjusted Actual Combined Pro Forma -------- -------------- --------- (in thousands) Cash........................ $ 1,115 $ 14,882 $ 14,540 ======== ======== ======== Debt: Star Gas Propane First Mortgage Notes............ $ 96,000 $ 96,000 $ 96,000 Star Gas Propane acquisi- tion facility............. 8,308 8,308 8,308 The notes issued in the debt offering............. -- -- 90,000 Petro public debt.......... -- 209,094 -- Petro private debt......... -- 72,614 78,244 -------- -------- -------- Total Long-Term debt.... 104,308 386,016 272,552 -------- -------- -------- Redeemable Preferred Stock: Petro 12 7/8% Preferred Stock..................... -- 27,600 -- Partners' Capital: Common unitholders......... 58,686 60,639 220,539 Existing subordinated unitholders............... (1,446) -- -- Senior and junior subordi- nated unitholders......... -- 13,555 13,555 General partner............ 107 1,260 1,260 -------- -------- -------- Total partners' capi- tal.................... 57,347 75,454 235,354 -------- -------- -------- Total capitalization.... $161,655 $489,070 $507,906 ======== ======== ======== Summary Selected Historical Financial and Operating Data of Star Gas Partners The following table describes for the periods and dates indicated, summary selected historical financial and operating data of Star Gas Partners, which is derived from the consolidated financial statements of Star Gas Partners. The financial data is only a summary and should be read in conjunction with Star Gas Partners' historical financial statements and related notes contained in the annual reports and other information that Star Gas Partners has filed with the SEC. See "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference." The historical Other Data is unaudited but have been prepared on the same basis as that of the audited consolidated financial statements. These historical results of operations do not predict the future results of operations. The 1996 column to the table shows the results of operations of the predecessor of Star Gas Partners for the period October 1, 1995 through December 20, 1995 and the results of Star Gas Partners from December 20, 1995 through September 30, 1996. We combined these operating results to facilitate an analysis of the fundamental operating data. However, on a per unit basis, both the net income (loss) and the cash distributions paid in the 1996 column of the table represent Star Gas Partners' actual results for the period December 20, 1995 through September 30, 1996. "EBITDA" listed in the table below is defined as operating income plus depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges, less net gain (loss) on sales of equipment. EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to net income, as an indicator of operating performance, or as an alternative to cash flow, as a measure of liquidity or ability to service debt obligations. Instead, EBITDA provides additional information for evaluating Star Gas Partners' ability to make the minimum quarterly distribution. The definition of EBITDA used by Star Gas Partners is different from the definition of EBITDA used by Petro and may be different from that used by other corporations or partnerships. 16
September 30, --------------------------------------------- --- 1996 1997 1998 ------------- ------------- ------------- (In thousands, except for per unit data) Statement of Operations Data Sales...................... $ 119,634 $ 135,159 $ 111,685 Costs and expenses Cost of sales............ 58,557 72,211 49,498 Delivery and branch ex- penses.................. 34,750 36,427 37,216 Depreciation and amorti- zation.................. 9,680 10,242 11,462 General and administra- tive expenses........... 6,457 6,818 6,065 Net gain (loss) on sales of assets............... (260) (295) (271) ------------- ------------- ------------- Operating income........... 9,930 9,166 7,173 Interest expense, net.... 7,124 6,966 7,927 Amortization of debt is- suance costs............ 128 163 176 ------------- ------------- ------------- Income (loss) before income taxes..................... 2,678 2,037 (930) ------------- ------------- ------------- Income tax expense....... 85 25 25 ------------- ------------- ------------- Net income (loss).......... $ 2,593 $ 2,012 $ (955) ============= ============= ============= General partner's interest in net income (loss)...... -- 40 (19) ------------- ------------- Limited partners' interest in net income (loss)...... -- $ 1,972 $ (936) ============= ============= Basic and diluted, net in- come (loss) per limited partner unit.............. $ 0.11(a) $ 0.37 $ (0.16) ============= ============= ============= Cash distribution declared per unit.................. $ 1.17(a) $ 2.20 $ 2.20 ============= ============= ============= - ------- (a) For purposes of determining the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings are defined as earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense on all indebtedness, the amortization of deferred debt issuance costs and the portion of operating rental expense that is representative of the interest factor. For the year ended September 30, 1998, earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges by $1.0 million. (b) Includes net maintenance capital expenditures for the fiscal years ended September 30, 1996, 1997 and 1998 of $2.3 million, $3.1 million and $2.6 million. Recent Developments For the three months ended December 31, 1998, sales declined to $30.2 million, as compared to $41.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 1997. Retail propane volume sold decreased 9.2 million gallons to 29.4 million gallons, as compared to 38.6 million gallons for the three months ended December 31, 1997. These changes were attributable to the impact of abnormal weather conditions, involving both warmer temperatures of 15.5% and a very dry fall harvest. The abnormally warm weather adversely impacted the sales of propane to residential and commercial customers. The abnormally dry weather adversely impacted the sale of propane for crop drying purposes. Net income was $1.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 1998, as compared to $3.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 1997. EBITDA declined to $6.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 1998, from $8.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 1997. The adverse effect of weather conditions was mitigated by improved gross profit margins, lower same store operating costs and the additional revenues provided by acquisitions completed during fiscal 1998. For the three months ended December 31, 1998, net cash provided by operating activities was $2.2 million, as compared to $2.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 1997. Cash flows used in investing activities were $1.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 1998, as compared to $0.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 1997. For the three months ended December 31, 1998, net cash flows provided by financing activities were $3.8 million as compared to $1.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 1997. 17
September 30, ------------------------------------------- --- 1996 1997 1998 ------------- ------------- ------------- (In thousands, except for per unit data) Balance Sheet Data (end of pe- riod) Current assets.............. $ 17,842 $ 14,165 $ 17,947 Total assets................ 156,913 147,469 179,607 Long-term debt.............. 85,000 85,000 104,308 Partners' capital........... 61,398 51,578 57,347 Summary Cash Flow Data Net cash provided by operat- ing activities............. $ 9,982 $ 18,964 $ 9,264 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities... (6,954) (4,905) (13,276) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities... (2,649) (14,276) 4,238 Other Data Operating income before de- preciation, amortization and other non-cash charges less net gain (loss) on sales of equipment ("EBITDA")................. $ 19,870 $ 19,703 $ 18,906 Retail propane gallons sold....................... 96,294 94,893 98,870 Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(a)................. 1.22x 1.27x -- Total capital expenditures(b)............ $ 5,332 $ 5,279 $ 5,015 Summary Selected Historical Financial and Operating Data of Petro The following table describes summary selected historical financial and operating data of Petro, which is derived from the consolidated financial statements of Petro. The financial data is only a summary, and you should read it in conjunction with Petro's historical financial statements, and related notes, contained in the annual reports and other information that Petro has filed with the SEC. See "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference." Since Star Gas Partners' initial public offering in December 1995, Star Gas Partners has been accounted for under the equity method of accounting in Petro's financial statements. The historical financial data for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and 1998 and the historical other data is unaudited. The results of operations for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 1997 and 1998 contain all adjustments that are of a normal and recurring nature necessary to present fairly the financial condition and results of operations for those periods. These historical results of operations do not predict future results. In analyzing the results of Petro, the following important factors should be noted: . The decline in operating income before depreciation, amortization and provision for supplemental benefits (EBITDA) for the year ended December 31, 1997, as compared to the year ended December 31, 1996, was primarily due to warm weather experienced in 1997. . For the nine months ended September 30, 1998, home heating oil volume declined by 19.9% as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 1997 primarily due to the abnormally warm temperatures associated with the weather phenomenon generally referred to as "El Nino." While volume declined 19.9%, EBITDA declined only 16.6% due to a reduction in operating costs largely attributable to the effects of the restructuring and cost reduction programs. 18 - -------- (a) For purposes of determining the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings are defined as earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense on all indebtedness and the amortization of deferred debt issuance costs and the portion of operating rental expense that is representative of the interest factor. For the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1997 and for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and 1998, earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges by $28.3 million, $22.9 million, $34.3 million and $30.2 million. 19
Nine Months Year Ended December 31, Ended September 30, ------------------------ -------------------- 1996 1997 1997 1998 ----------- ----------- --------- --------- (In thousands, except per share data) Statement of Operations Data Net sales...................... $ 608,161 $ 548,141 $ 386,855 $ 291,479 Costs and expenses Cost of sales................ 427,388 379,748 271,269 191,508 Operating expenses .......... 138,703 132,383 96,292 81,758 Restructuring, corporate identity and pension curtailment................. 4,366 7,640 5,142 1,716 Depreciation, amortization and other non-cash costs.... 28,946 28,847 21,567 20,639 ----------- ----------- --------- --------- Operating income (loss)........ 8,758 (477) (7,415) (4,142) Interest expense-net......... (32,412) (31,668) (23,777) (22,912) Amortization of debt issuance cost........................ (1,872) (1,464) (1,097) (1,069) Income tax expense........... (500) (500) (350) (325) Other income (expense)-net... 1,842 11,445 65 127 Share of income (loss) of Star Gas.................... 2,283 (235) (1,808) (1,890) ----------- ----------- --------- --------- Income (loss) before extraordi- nary item..................... (21,901) (22,899) (34,382) (30,211) Extraordinary item........... (6,414) -- -- -- ----------- ----------- --------- --------- Net income (loss).............. $ (28,315) $ (22,899) $ (34,382) $ (30,211) =========== =========== ========= ========= Basic and Diluted earnings (losses) per common share Class A and Class C common stock....................... $ (1.20) $ (1.06) $ (1.47) $ (1.29) Cash dividends declared per common share Class A and Class C common stock....................... $ 0.60 $ 0.30 $ 0.23 -- Weighted average number of common shares outstanding Basic Class A common stock......... 22,983 23,441 23,339 23,960 Class C common stock......... 2,598 2,598 2,598 2,598 Diluted Class A common stock......... 22,983 23,441 23,339 23,960 Class C common stock......... 2,598 2,598 2,598 2,598 Balance Sheet Data (end of period) Cash......................... $ 3,257 $ 2,390 $ 13,806 $ 13,767 Working capital.............. 18,093 12,436 5,414 (7,479) Total assets................. 275,025 247,846 223,918 198,678 Long-term debt............... 291,337 288,957 288,774 278,864 Redeemable preferred stock (long-term portion)......... 8,333 32,489 34,167 28,555 Stockholders' deficiency..... (145,733) (177,033) (189,361) (209,618) Summary Cash Flow Data: Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities.... $ (3,852) $ 18,644 $ 34,342 $ 28,803 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities.... (26,193) (980) (14,059) 1,011 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities.... (44,983) (18,531) (9,734) (18,437) Other Data Operating income before depreciation, amortization and provision for supplemental benefits (EBITDA).................... $ 37,704 $ 28,370 $ 14,152 $ 16,497 Heating oil gallons.......... 456,141 410,291 282,806 226,579 Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(a).................. -- -- -- -- Summary Selected Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information The following summary selected unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information for the twelve month period ended September 30, 1998 assume the transaction occurred on October 1, 1997. The pro forma financial information below reflects the purchase method of accounting and is intended to give you a better picture of what our businesses might have looked like had they been combined since October 1, 1997. The companies may have performed differently if they were combined. You should not rely on the pro forma financial information as being indicative of the historical results that we would have had or the future results that we will experience after the transaction. See "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information." The "Pro Forma Combined" column of the table represents the acquisition of Petro by Star Gas Partners and the "As Adjusted Pro Forma" column of the table represents the further effects of the equity and debt offerings. (footnotes on next page) 20
Twelve Months Ended September 30, 1998 ---------------------- Pro Forma As Adjusted Combined Pro Forma --------- ----------- (In thousands, Statement of Operations Data except per unit data) Sales................................................ $566,155 $566,155 Costs and expenses: Cost of sales...................................... 349,472 349,472 Operating expenses................................. 161,551 161,551 Restructuring charges.............................. 2,085 2,085 Transaction expenses............................... 1,029 1,029 Corporate identity expenses........................ 1,100 1,100 Provision for supplemental benefits................ 409 409 Depreciation and amortization...................... 36,765 36,765 Net gain (loss) on sales of assets................. (48) (48) -------- -------- Operating income..................................... 13,696 13,696 Interest (income) expense, net..................... 39,157 23,669 Amortization of debt issuance costs................ 1,608 383 -------- -------- Income (loss) before income taxes.................. (27,069) (10,356) Income tax expense................................. 500 500 -------- -------- Net income (loss).................................... $(27,569) $(10,856) ======== ======== Net income (loss) per limited partner unit........... N.R. $ (0.67) ======== Balance Sheet Data (end of period) Current assets..................................... $100,659 $100,317 Total assets....................................... 662,878 664,621 Long-term debt..................................... 386,016 272,552 Total partners' capital............................ 75,454 235,354 Summary Cash Flow Data Net cash provided by operating activities.......... $ 11,955 $ 27,443 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities........................................ (4,826) (4,826) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities........................................ (17,356) (22,926) Other Data Operating income plus depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges less net gain (loss) on sales of equipment ("EBITDA")(a).................. $ 50,918 $ 50,918 Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(b).............. -- -- Heating oil and propane gallons.................... 455,360 455,360 - -------- (a) EBITDA has been reduced by approximately $4.2 million in expenses associated with Petro's corporate identity, restructuring and transaction expenses. (b) For the pro forma combined and as adjusted pro forma, the earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges by $27.6 million and $10.9 million. In analyzing the historical results of Star Gas Partners and the pro forma information as provided in the table above, the following three important factors should be considered. . First, the results for the fiscal 1998 pro forma exclude cost savings associated with Petro's restructuring program implemented during 1998. This restructuring program includes reductions in both corporate and field personnel, the consolidation of employee benefit plans and the rationalization of branch facilities. . Second, while depreciation and amortization expenses reduce net income as a non-cash expense, these expenses do not impact distributable cash flow. . Third, in fiscal 1998, temperatures were significantly warmer than normal for the areas in which Star Gas Partners conducts its propane operations and Petro conducts its home heating oil operations. Overall levels of pro forma available cash from operating surplus were adversely affected during fiscal 1998 due to this abnormally warm weather. 21 RISK FACTORS Limited partner interests are inherently different from the capital stock of a corporation, although the business risks faced by Star Gas Partners are similar to those of a corporation engaged in a similar business. Star Gas Partners common unitholders and Petro common stockholders should consider the following factors in evaluating the transaction. Risks to Star Gas Partners Common Unitholders The Star Gas Corporation board of directors urges Star Gas Partners common unitholders to carefully consider each of the factors described below. Conflicts of Interest Were Present in Negotiating and Structuring the Transaction All of the directors of Star Gas Corporation, other than the members of the special committee, are also directors or officers of Petro. Thus, except for the special committee, members of the Petro board of directors and the Star Gas Corporation board of directors have interests that are different from, and in conflict with, the interests of the Star Gas Partners common unitholders. The Star Gas Corporation board of directors appointed the two members of the special committee to negotiate the acquisition of Petro on behalf of the Star Gas Partners common unitholders. Prior to Petro's acquisition of Star Gas Corporation in 1992, Star Gas Corporation engaged Nicoletti & Company Inc., an investment banking firm owned by William P. Nicoletti, a member of the special committee, to perform specific investment banking services for Star Gas Corporation. In this engagement, Star Gas Corporation paid Nicoletti & Company Inc. fees of $40,000, $521,500 and $81,600 for services rendered during 1992, 1993 and 1994. In 1995, Star Gas Corporation paid Nicoletti & Company Inc. $20,000 in advisory fees for a proposed acquisition. In 1997, Star Gas Corporation paid Mr. Nicoletti $20,000 for serving on the special committee that explored the possible sale or merger of Star Gas Partners. In 1998, Star Gas Corporation paid Mr. Nicoletti $40,000 for serving on the Star Gas Partners special committee that explored the business combination with Petro. Elizabeth K. Lanier, a member of the special committee, was a partner in the law firm of Frost & Jacobs in Cincinnati, Ohio until June 1996. Frost & Jacobs has acted as counsel to Star Gas Corporation in specific litigation matters. In 1997, Star Gas Corporation paid Ms. Lanier $20,000 for serving on the special committee that explored the possible sale or merger of Star Gas Partners. In 1998, Star Gas Corporation paid Ms. Lanier $40,000 for serving on the special committee that explored the business combination with Petro. The officers and directors of Star Gas Corporation will be indemnified, to the extent permitted by law, for any and all actions taken in the transaction, and they are also covered by customary directors' and officers' liability insurance. Each member of the Star Gas Corporation board of directors will be a member of the board of directors of Star Gas LLC following the transaction, except that, at her request, Elizabeth Lanier will withdraw after the transaction as a result of additional duties associated with a new job. She will be replaced by a director selected by the Star Gas LLC board, and the new director will not be an officer or employee of Star Gas LLC or any of its affiliates. The current officers of Star Gas Corporation will be employed as officers of Star Gas Propane following the transaction. 22 Petro Has Significant Recent Net Losses That Are Likely To Continue Petro incurred net losses of approximately $23.5 million, $28.3 million, $22.9 million and $30.2 million for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997 and the nine months ended September 30, 1998. These net losses were primarily a result of the amortization and interest expense associated with Petro's many acquisitions since 1980. Other factors include: . customer attrition, . recent mild winters and . other operational factors. Since Petro's strategy is to maximize cash flow, its accounting focus is not on net income. Consequently, Petro is likely to incur non-cash expenses, such as depreciation and amortization, that may result in net losses in the near term. Continued and/or Increased Distributions per Common Unit Are Not Assured The Star Gas Corporation board of directors structured the transaction with the intent that it would increase the cash available to be distributed per common unit. The intended increase in cash available for distributions is based on several expectations that may not be realized, such as: . successfully acquiring home heating oil businesses at attractive prices, . completing Petro's restructuring program to reduce customer attrition and . increasing profit margins on a per gallon basis. The amount of cash needed to pay the minimum quarterly distribution for the four quarters on units outstanding before the transaction is approximately: After giving pro forma effect to the propane acquisitions completed in the twelve months ended September 30, 1998, and without giving pro forma effect to the transaction, the amount of available cash for distribution generated in the twelve months ended September 30, 1998 was approximately $9.2 million. The amount of cash needed to pay the minimum quarterly distribution for four quarters on units outstanding immediately after the transaction is approximately:
Common Units............................................... $ 8.5 million Subordinated Units......................................... 5.2 million General Partner Interests.................................. 0.3 million ------------- Total.................................................... $14.0 million After giving pro forma effect to the transaction, the amount of available cash generated in the twelve months ended September 30, 1998 would have been about $21.9 million. If infrequent restructuring, 23
Common Units............................................... $29.7 million Senior Subordinated Units ................................. 5.7 million Junior Subordinated Units.................................. 1.0 million General Partner Units...................................... 0.7 million ------------- Total.................................................... $37.1 million corporate identity and transaction expenses were not taken into effect, pro forma cash available for distribution would have been $26.1 million. The Percentage of Common Units Will Increase, Which Will Make It More Difficult to Pay the Full Minimum Quarterly Distribution The existing common units represent a 60.5% limited partner interest in Star Gas Partners. After the transaction, the common units will represent a 79.9% limited partner interest. Accordingly, Star Gas Partners will be required to make distributions to a larger percentage of its equity at the common unit level, which will increase the likelihood that Star Gas Partners will not have sufficient funds to pay the full minimum quarterly distribution to all Star Gas Partners common unitholders. In addition during the subordination period, Star Gas Partners can issue 2,500,000 additional common units without obtaining any Star Gas Partners unitholder approval. These additional common units could further dilute the interest of then-existing Star Gas Partners unitholders in the net assets of, and distributions to be made by, Star Gas Partners. In addition, holders of Star Gas Partners common units will not have preemptive rights to acquire additional common units or other partnership interests that may be issued by Star Gas Partners. Common Unitholders Will Have Reduced Voting Power After the transaction, Star Gas Partners common unitholders will have reduced voting power. In some instances, matters that previously required only the consent of a majority of the outstanding common units will also require a separate class vote of the senior subordinated units and junior subordinated units, voting together as a single class. Thus, there may be matters in the future that the common units approve but that are not adopted because a majority of the senior subordinated and junior subordinated units did not approve those matters. Star Gas Partners' Indebtedness, Including the Guarantee of the Notes, May Limit Its Ability to Make Distributions on the Common Units and Affect Its Operations As a result of the transaction, Star Gas Partners will have debt that is substantial compared to its partners' capital. Principal and interest payable on this debt will reduce cash available to make distributions on the common units. Under specified circumstances, the terms of Star Gas Partners' debt instruments, including the guarantee of the notes issued in the debt offering, will limit its ability to distribute cash to Star Gas Partners common unitholders and to borrow additional funds. The limitations and restrictions in new debt that Star Gas Partners and its subsidiaries issue may be more restrictive than those in current indebtedness. In addition, some of Star Gas Partners' debt is secured by its assets. If Star Gas Partners defaulted on this secured debt, the lenders could institute foreclosure proceedings to seize its assets. Any attempt to stay these foreclosure actions by seeking to reorganize under the federal Bankruptcy Code would have a material adverse effect on Star Gas Partners and the Star Gas Partners common unitholders. 24 Because the Demand for Heating Oil Is More Affected by Weather Conditions than the Demand for Propane, Star Gas Partners' Financial Condition May be More Vulnerable to Warm Winters After the Transaction Petro's operations are more sensitive to temperature levels than are Star Gas Partners' because home heating oil is used almost exclusively for heating purposes, while propane has uses other than heating. Since sales of home heating oil during the peak heating season from October through March represent 75% to 80% of Petro's annual home heating oil volume, abnormally warm temperatures during this period can negatively affect Petro's financial results. Petro's Operating Results Will Be Adversely Affected if Its Significant Customer Losses Are Not Offset or Reduced by Customer Gains Petro's net attrition of home heating oil customers has been between approximately 5% to 6% per year over the past five years. This rate represents an annual gross customer loss rate of about 15% to 16%, offset by customer gains of approximately 10% yearly. Customer losses are the result of various factors, including . customer relocations, . supplier changes based primarily on price and service, . natural gas conversions and . credit problems. Petro may not be able to maintain or reduce its customer attrition rate in the future. Because of the Highly Competitive Nature of the Heating Oil Business, Petro May Not Be Able to Maintain Existing Customers or Acquire New Customers, Which Would Have an Adverse Impact on Operating Results Petro competes with heating oil distributors offering a broad range of services and prices, from full service distributors, like Petro, to those offering delivery only. If Petro is unable to effectively compete, it may lose existing customers or fail to acquire new customers, which may have a material adverse effect on its results of operations and financial condition. Competition with other companies in the home heating oil industry is based primarily on customer service and price. Long-standing customer relationships are typical in the industry. It is customary for companies to deliver home heating oil to their customers based upon weather conditions and historical consumption patterns, without the customer making an affirmative purchase decision. Most companies provide home heating equipment repair service on a 24- hour per day basis. In some cases, homeowners have formed buying cooperatives to purchase fuel oil from distributors at a price lower than individual customers are otherwise able to obtain. As a result of these factors, it may be difficult for Petro to acquire new retail customers. If Petro Does Not Make Acquisitions on Economically Acceptable Terms, Its Future Financial Performance Will Be Limited The home heating oil industry is not a growth industry because of increased competition from alternative energy sources. Petro's growth in the past decade has been directly tied to the success of 25 its acquisition program. Its future financial performance will depend on its ability to continue to make acquisitions at attractive prices. There is no assurance that Petro will be able to continue to make acquisitions or to do so on economically acceptable terms. If Petro is able to make acquisitions, there is no assurance that they will be profitable, or that any additional debt incurred to make these acquisitions will not offset the cash generated. Factors that may adversely affect Petro's operating and financial results may also limit Petro's access to capital and its acquisition activities. Sudden and Sharp Oil Price Increases That Cannot be Passed on to Customers May Adversely Affect Petro's Operating Results During periods of sudden and sharp increases in the supply cost of home heating oil, Petro may be unwilling or unable to pass the entire increase in costs on to its customers. As a result, gross profit margins will be reduced. On the other hand, price increases that continue over a long period of time may be passed on to customers. These increases could reduce demand by encouraging conservation or conversion to alternative energy sources. If demand were reduced and Petro was unable to increase its gross profit margin or reduce its operating expenses, the decrease in volume would adversely affect Petro's operating results. Petro also competes for customers with suppliers of alternative energy products, principally natural gas. Petro could face additional price competition from alternative heating sources such as electricity and natural gas as a result of deregulation in those industries. Over the past five years, conversions by Petro's customers from heating oil to other sources have averaged approximately 1% per year of the homes it serves. Petro Is Subject to Operating and Litigation Risks That Could Adversely Affect Its Operating Results to the Extent Not Covered By Insurance Petro's operations, like those of Star Gas Partners, are subject to all operating hazards and risks incidental to providing customers with combustible liquids such as home heating oil. As a result, in the ordinary course of business, Petro may be sued. Petro maintains insurance policies in the amounts and with coverages and deductibles as it believes are reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that this insurance will be adequate to protect Petro from all expenses related to potential future claims. Petro's Operating Results May Be Adversely Affected by Governmental Regulation and Associated Environmental and Regulatory Costs Petro's business is subject to a wide range of federal and state laws and regulations related to environmental and other regulated matters. Petro has implemented environmental programs and policies designed to avoid potential liability and cost under applicable environmental laws. It is possible, however, that Petro will have increased costs due to stricter pollution control requirements or liabilities resulting from non-compliance with operating or other regulatory permits. New environmental regulations might adversely impact Petro's operations, including underground storage and transportation of home heating oil. In addition, the environmental risks inherently associated with Petro's home heating oil operations, such as the risks of accidental release or spill, are greater than those associated with Star Gas Partners' propane operations. It is possible that material costs and liabilities will be incurred, including those relating to claims for damages to property and persons. 26 Tax Risks to Star Gas Partners Common Unitholders The Increase in Taxes Payable By Petro In the Future Will Reduce Dividends to Star Gas Partners, Which May Reduce Distributions to Star Gas Partners Unitholders Petro and its corporate affiliates do not expect to pay significant federal income tax for several years following the transaction. However, over time the amount of federal income taxes paid by Petro and its corporate affiliates will increase. This will reduce the amount of cash that Star Gas Partners can distribute to its unitholders. A successful IRS challenge to the deduction of depreciation or interest on specific debt will increase Petro and its affiliates' tax liability, also reducing Star Gas Partners' ability to distribute cash to its unitholders. The transaction will result in income to Petro equal to the difference in the value of the Star Gas Partners units distributed in the merger, including the amount of any debt of which Petro is relieved and the federal income tax basis Petro has in those units. Petro expects that its net operating losses will generally offset this income and that it will incur only nominal tax. The IRS could challenge the amount of Petro's net operating losses and the use of the net operating losses to offset income realized in the transaction. A successful challenge could reduce the cash available for distribution by Star Gas Partners. Petro and its affiliates do not expect to pay significant federal income tax for several years. Petro and its affiliates do expect to generate earnings and profits during that time which will make part of the distributions from these entities to Star Gas Partners taxable dividend income to the Star Gas Partners unitholders. This dividend income cannot be offset by past or future losses generated by Star Gas Partners' propane activities. The Portion of Distributions That Constitute Taxable Income to the Star Gas Partners Unitholders Will Increase in the Future The portion of the cash distributions that constitute taxable income to Star Gas Partners unitholders will increase at a greater rate if the transaction occurs. For example, the general partner estimates that a holder of a common unit issued in the initial public offering would be allocated, in the aggregate, no net passive income and less than $0.05 per unit per year of portfolio income through December 31, 2004 if the transaction is not completed. In contrast, if the transaction is completed the general partner estimates that the same holder would instead be allocated, in the aggregate, no net passive income and approximately $.20 per unit on average per year of portfolio income through December 31, 2002. In either case, the taxable income allocated to a Star Gas Partners common unitholder after either date will constitute an increasingly higher percentage of cash distributed to him. Furthermore, distributions that are in excess of the minimum quarterly distribution will increase the portion of each cash distribution that constitutes taxable income to an existing Star Gas Partners common unitholder. However, the transaction will have different tax effects on different Star Gas Partners common unitholders, depending on when they purchased their units. 27 Risks to Petro Common Stockholders The Petro board of directors urges Petro common stockholders to carefully consider each of the factors described below. Conflicts Were Present in Structuring and Negotiating the Transaction Some directors of Petro have interests in the transaction that are different from, and in conflict with, the interests of the Petro public common stockholders. Irik P. Sevin is both the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Petro and the Chairman of the Board of Star Gas Corporation; Audrey L. Sevin is the Secretary and a director of both Petro and Star Gas Corporation; and Messrs. Paul Biddelman, Thomas J. Edelman and Wolfgang Traber are directors of both Petro and Star Gas Corporation. Messrs. Sevin, Biddelman, Edelman and Traber and Mrs. Sevin are beneficial owners of Petro Class A common stock and Petro Class C common stock. As a result, the members of the Petro board who are also members of the Star Gas Corporation board have conflicting fiduciary duties to the Petro public common stockholders and the common unitholders who are not directors, officers or affiliates of Star Gas Partners. Some of the directors and their affiliates are receiving consideration that is different from that received by Petro public common stockholders. These directors and their affiliates will be exchanging their common stock for Star Gas Partners junior subordinated units and general partner units, while the Petro public common stockholders and other directors and affiliates will be receiving Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units. The Star Gas Partners junior subordinated units and general partner units will not be entitled to distributions until the senior subordinated units receive the minimum quarterly distribution. The Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units will be publicly traded and are anticipated to be approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange. The Star Gas Partners junior subordinated units and general partner units have not been registered and will not be publicly traded. The affiliates exchanging their Petro common stock for Star Gas Partners junior subordinated units and general partner units will receive .14318 of a junior subordinated unit or general partner unit for each share of Petro common stock. The remaining common stockholders will exchange their shares for Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units at a ratio of .11758 of a senior subordinated unit for each share of Petro common stock. The transaction has been structured so that the Petro public common stockholders will realize a taxable gain or loss on the transaction, while substantially all affiliates of Petro will exchange their Petro common stock without realizing a taxable gain or loss. This structure was designed to minimize the tax effect of the transaction on Petro. It was also based on the assumption that most Petro affiliates have a low tax basis and would prefer not realizing a taxable gain on the transaction, while Petro public common stockholders generally have a higher tax basis and would prefer realizing a tax loss. The officers and directors of Petro will be indemnified, to the extent permitted by law, for any and all actions taken in the transaction. The current officers of Petro will continue to be employed as officers following the transaction. 28 Senior Subordinated Unitholders Are Not Assured of Receiving Cash Distributions Petro public common stockholders will receive senior subordinated units in exchange for their shares of common stock. Petro common stockholders should consider the following factors regarding distribution rights of senior subordinated units: . During the subordination period, which generally cannot end before October 1, 2002, no distributions of cash for any quarter may be made on the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units until the Star Gas Partners common units have received the minimum quarterly distribution, plus any arrearages on those common units. . Beginning with the quarter ending on December 31, 1999, the amount of distributions depends upon the amount of available cash generated by Star Gas Partners after October 1, 1999. . Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units do not accrue distribution arrearages. Petro common stockholders should also keep in mind that there is no assurance that: . Star Gas Partners will ever meet the tests that must be satisfied to end the subordination period; . the senior subordinated units will ever convert to Class B common units; or . Petro will ever meet the financial tests necessary for any additional senior subordinated units to be issued to them. Star Gas Partners did not make a distribution on the currently outstanding subordinated units for the quarter ended September 30, 1998 and will not make a distribution on the subordinated units for the quarter ended December 31, 1998. Cash Distributions Are Not Guaranteed and May Fluctuate with Star Gas Partners' Performance and Reserve Requirements Because distributions on the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units are dependent on the amount of cash generated, distributions may fluctuate based on the performance of Star Gas Partners. The actual amount of cash that is available will depend upon numerous factors, including: . profitability of operations, . required principal and interest payments on debt, . the cost of acquisitions, . issuance of debt and equity securities, . fluctuations in working capital, . capital expenditures, . adjustments in reserves, . prevailing economic conditions and . financial, business and other factors. Some of these factors are beyond the control of the general partner. 29 The amended and restated partnership agreement gives the general partner discretion in establishing reserves for the proper conduct of Star Gas Partners' business. These reserves will also affect the amount of cash available for distribution. The general partner may establish reserves for distributions on the senior subordinated units only if those reserves will not prevent Star Gas Partners from distributing the full minimum quarterly distribution, plus any arrearages, on the common units for the following four quarters. The amount of cash needed to pay the minimum quarterly distribution for four quarters on units outstanding immediately after the transaction is approximately $37.1 million. This figure represents $29.7 million for the common units, $5.7 million for the senior subordinated units, $1.0 million for the junior subordinated units and $0.7 million for the general partner units. After giving pro forma effect to the transaction, the amount of available cash generated in the twelve months ended September 30, 1998 would have been about $21.9 million. If infrequent restructuring, corporate identity and transaction expenses were not taken into effect, pro forma cash available for distribution would have been $26.1 million. The Liquidity and Value of Senior Subordinated Units Are Uncertain Because There Is No Active Trading Market and Anticipated Volatility In Market Price At present there is no trading market for the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units. It is anticipated that the senior subordinated units will be listed on the NYSE, but there can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop after the transaction. The Petro board of directors believes that senior subordinated units will likely trade at a discount to the price per common unit. The actual trading price of the senior subordinated units will depend on a variety of factors, including market conditions for securities of publicly-traded limited partnerships, the trading price of the common units, weather conditions and the cash generated by Star Gas Partners. There can be no assurance that holders of Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units will be able to sell their units at favorable prices. After the transaction, if a number of former Petro common stockholders sell their senior subordinated units, the trading price of the senior subordinated units could decline significantly. Star Gas Partners Has Substantial Indebtedness That May Restrict its Ability to Make Distributions on Senior Subordinated Units Although it has less debt than Petro, Star Gas Partners will have debt after the transaction that is substantial compared to its partners' capital. Principal and interest payable on this debt will reduce cash available to make distributions on the senior subordinated units. Under some circumstances, the terms of Star Gas Partners' debt instruments, including the notes issued in the debt offering, will limit its ability to distribute cash to senior subordinated unitholders and to borrow additional funds. The limitations and restrictions in the new debt that Star Gas Partners issues may be more restrictive than those in current debt instruments. In addition, some of Star Gas Partners' debt is secured by its assets. If Star Gas Partners defaulted on this secured debt, the lenders could institute foreclosure proceedings to seize its assets. Any attempt to stay these foreclosure actions by seeking to reorganize under the federal Bankruptcy Code would have a material adverse effect on Star Gas Partners and the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated unitholders. 30 Provisions Concerning Change of Control, Default and Preclusion From Paying Distributions in Star Gas Partners' Debt Instruments May Affect Distributions on the Senior Subordinated Units After completing the transaction, it is expected that the debt instruments of Star Gas Partners and Petro will contain provisions relating to a "change of control." A change of control of Star Gas Partners would result in approximately $96 million of Star Gas Propane debt and approximately $170 million of Petro debt becoming immediately due and payable. A change of control at the Petro level would accelerate the Petro debt but not the Star Gas Propane debt. In either case, this would necessarily affect Star Gas Partners' ability to make distributions to Star Gas Partners senior subordinated unitholders. Neither party is restricted from entering into a transaction that would trigger the change of control provisions. If these change of control provisions are triggered, some of the outstanding debt may become due. It is possible that Star Gas Partners or Petro will not have sufficient funds at the time of any change of control to make the required debt payments or that restrictions in its other debt instruments will not permit those payments. In some instances, lenders would have the right to foreclose on Star Gas Partners' or Petro's assets if debt payments were not made upon a change of control. Star Gas Partners Unitholders Have Limited Voting Rights and Do Not Control the General Partner Star Gas Partners unitholders have no right to elect the general partner on an annual or other continuing basis. The general partner manages and operates Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Propane. Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, Star Gas Partners unitholders have only limited voting rights on matters affecting Star Gas Partners' business. The general partner generally may not be removed unless approved by the holders of 66 2/3% of the outstanding units, voting together as a single class but not including those held by the general partner and its affiliates. As a result, Star Gas Partners unitholders have only limited influence on matters affecting the operation of Star Gas Partners, and it would be difficult for third parties to control or influence Star Gas Partners. Although the amended and restated partnership agreement provides that the general partner may not, with specified exceptions, transfer its general partner units to another person before December 31, 2005 unless approved by a unit majority, the members of Star Gas LLC may transfer their limited liability company interests in Star Gas LLC to a third party at any time without the approval of the Star Gas Partners unitholders. Unlike the holders of Star Gas Partners common units, the holders of Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units do not have the voting right to approve the issuance of additional partnership interests under any circumstances. Furthermore, the matters on which the senior subordinated units may vote require the approval of a unit majority. During the subordination period, a unit majority means at least a majority of the common units, except those of the general partner and its affiliates, and at least a majority of the senior subordinated units and junior subordinated units voting as a single class. Thus, there may be matters that are approved by a majority of the senior subordinated units but that are nevertheless not adopted because either too few junior subordinated units approved or a majority of the common units did not approve. 31 The Issuance of Additional Units by Star Gas Partners May Dilute Existing Star Gas Partners Unitholders' Interests in Assets, Income and Available Cash After the transaction, Star Gas Partners will have the authority to issue up to 2,500,000 common units. In some circumstances, it may also issue an unlimited number of additional common, senior subordinated, and junior subordinated units or other equity securities for consideration and on terms determined in the general partner's sole discretion without approval of the Star Gas Partners unitholders. The issuance of these additional units may dilute the interests of the existing Star Gas Partners unitholders in its assets, income and available cash. The Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement Contains Provisions Intended to Discourage a Change of Management That May Diminish the Trading Prices of the Star Gas Partners Senior Subordinated Units The amended and restated partnership agreement contains provisions that may discourage attempts to remove an incumbent general partner or otherwise change the management of Star Gas Partners. These provisions may diminish the trading price of the senior subordinated units. Star Gas Partners' Ability to Make Distributions May Be Adversely Affected by Its Obligation to First Reimburse the General Partner Before any distributions on the units, Star Gas Partners will reimburse the general partner for all expenses it has incurred on behalf of Star Gas Partners. The reimbursement of those expenses and the payment of reasonable fees charged by the general partner for its services could adversely affect the ability of Star Gas Partners to make distributions. Reimbursable expenses and fees are determined by the general partner in its sole discretion. There Is a Limited Call Right That May Require Star Gas Partners Unitholders to Sell Their Units at an Undesirable Time or Price If at any time less than 20% of the outstanding units of any class are held by persons other than the general partner and its affiliates, the general partner has the right to acquire all, but not less than all, of those units held by the unaffiliated persons. The price for these units will generally equal the then-current market price of the units. As a consequence, a Star Gas Partners unitholder may be required to sell his units at an undesirable time or price. The general partner may assign this acquisition right to any of its affiliates or Star Gas Partners. After the subordination period ends, if Star Gas Partners acquires more than 66 2/3% of the Class B common units in a twelve-month period, then Star Gas Partners will have a similar call right. Star Gas Partners Unitholders May Not Have Limited Liability in Some Circumstances A number of states have not clearly established limitations on the liability of limited partners for the obligations of a limited partnership. If it were determined that Star Gas Partners had been conducting business in any state and had failed to comply with the applicable limited partnership statute, or that the rights or exercise of the rights by the limited partners as a group under the amended and restated partnership agreement constituted participation in the "control" of Star Gas Partners, then a Star Gas Partners unitholder might be held liable to the same extent as the general partner for Star Gas Partners' obligations. 32 Petro Common Stockholders Will Have Fewer Rights as Star Gas Partners Unitholders After the transaction, the Petro common stockholders will lose their rights as stockholders in a Minnesota corporation, but will gain the rights of limited partners in a Delaware limited partnership. Overall, the transaction probably will result in a reduction in Petro common stockholders' legal rights. For example, while Petro common stockholders currently have the right to elect directors, Star Gas Partners unitholders do not have the right to elect the directors of the general partner. A comparison of these changes in rights is described in "Comparison of Securities." Since Weather Conditions May Adversely Affect the Demand for Propane, Star Gas Partners' Financial Condition Is Vulnerable to Warm Winters Weather conditions may adversely impact Star Gas Partners' operating results and financial condition. Propane is used for both heating and agricultural purposes. Accordingly, retail propane sales are directly affected by the severity of the winter weather. The highest sales occur during the six-month peak heating season from October through March, which period accounts for about 70% to 75% of total retail propane volume. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, temperatures were significantly warmer than normal for the areas where Star Gas Partners sells propane. Weather variations also affect demand for propane from agricultural customers because dry weather during the harvest season reduces demand for propane in crop drying. Propane Price Increases May Negatively Affect Star Gas Partners' Operating Results and Financial Condition The retail propane business is a margin-based business in which gross profits depend on sales prices over propane supply costs. Consequently, Star Gas Partners' profitability is sensitive to changes in wholesale and market prices of propane. Star Gas Partners has no control over these market conditions. Thus, when there are large or sudden increases in the supply costs of propane, Star Gas Partners may not be able to pass on these increases to its customers through higher sales prices, which could reduce its gross margin. Market Volatility and/or Inflation May Cause Star Gas Partners to Sell Inventory at Less Than the Price That Star Gas Partners Purchased It, Which would Adversely Affect Operating Results Because of the potential volatility of propane prices, the market price for propane could fall below the price at which Star Gas Partners purchased it, which would adversely affect gross margin or render sales from inventory unprofitable. Propane is available from numerous sources, including integrated international oil companies, independent refiners and independent wholesalers. Star Gas Partners purchases propane from a variety of suppliers under supply contracts and on the spot market. The major portion of propane purchased by Star Gas Partners is produced domestically representing approximately 95% in fiscal 1998. To the extent that Star Gas Partners purchases propane from Canadian sources, which was approximately 5% in fiscal 1998, its propane business will be subject to risks of disruption in foreign supply. Star Gas Partners attempts to minimize inventory risks by purchasing propane on a short- term basis. During periods of low demand for propane, which generally occur during the summer months, Star Gas Partners has on occasion purchased large volumes of propane at lower-than-market costs for storage in its 21 million gallon Indiana underground storage facility for future resale. Star Gas Partners may from time to time engage in transactions such as options or fixed price contracts to purchase propane to hedge product 33 costs in an attempt to reduce cost volatility. To date, the level of these activities has not been significant and Star Gas Partners is not currently engaged in any of these transactions. Inflation increases Star Gas Partners' operating and administrative costs. Star Gas Partners attempts to limit the effects of inflation on its operations through cost control efforts, productivity improvement and increases in gross profit margins. Star Gas Partners Is Dependent on Principal Suppliers and Carriers, Which Increases the Risk of an Interruption in Supply That Might Result in a Loss of Revenues and/or Customers During fiscal year 1997, 43% of Star Gas Partners' propane purchases in the Midwest was purchased on the spot market from various Mont Belvieu, Texas sources, and 21% was purchased from three refineries owned by Amoco Canada Marketing Group. Approximately 47% of the purchases from Amoco Canada were made under long-term market-based supply contracts, and the balance was made under short-term supply contracts. Although Star Gas Partners believes that alternative sources of propane are readily available, if Star Gas Partners was unable to purchase propane from its usual sources, the failure to obtain alternate sources at competitive prices and on a timely basis could have a material adverse effect on the business of Star Gas Partners. Historically, a substantial portion of the propane purchased by Star Gas Partners has originated in Mont Belvieu, Texas and has been shipped to Star Gas Partners through a major common carrier pipeline. Any significant interruption in the service at Mont Belvieu or on the common carrier pipeline could have a material adverse effect on the business of Star Gas Partners. Because of the Highly Competitive Nature of the Retail Propane Business, Star Gas Partners May Not Be Able to Maintain Existing Customers or Acquire New Customers, Which Would Have an Adverse Impact on its Operating Results If Star Gas Partners is unable to compete effectively, it may lose existing customers or fail to acquire new customers, which will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations and financial condition. Many of Star Gas Partners' competitors and potential competitors are larger or have substantially greater financial resources than Star Gas Partners, which may provide them with some advantages. Generally, competition in the past few years has intensified, partly as a result of warmer-than-normal weather and general economic conditions. Most of Star Gas Partners' propane retail branch locations compete with five or more marketers or distributors. The principal factors influencing competition with other retail marketers are . price, . reliability and quality of service, . responsiveness to customer needs, . safety concerns, . long-standing customer relationships, . the inconvenience of switching tanks and suppliers and . the lack of growth in the industry. 34 Star Gas Partners can make no assurances that it will be able to compete successfully on the basis of these factors. If a competitor attempts to increase market share by reducing prices, Star Gas Partners' operating results and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected. Competition from alternative energy sources has been increasing as a result of reduced regulation of many utilities, including natural gas and electricity. Star Gas Partners Cannot Grow Unless It Makes Acquisitions on Economically Acceptable Terms The propane business is mature and total demand is expected to remain relatively flat or to decline slightly. Star Gas Partners' future financial performance will depend on its ability to make acquisitions at attractive prices. Star Gas Partners cannot assure that it will be able to identify attractive acquisition candidates in the future or to acquire them on economically acceptable terms. In particular, competition for acquisitions in the propane business has intensified and become more costly in recent years. Factors that may adversely affect operating and financial results, such as warm weather patterns, may limit Star Gas Partners' access to capital and adversely affect its ability to make acquisitions. In addition, acquisitions may be dilutive to earnings and any additional debt incurred to finance acquisitions may affect Star Gas Partners' ability to make distributions to unitholders. Star Gas Partners Is Subject to Operating and Litigation Risks That Could Adversely Affect Its Operating Results to the Extent Not Covered By Insurance Star Gas Partners' operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks incidental to providing consumers with combustible liquids such as propane. Thus, in the ordinary course of business, Star Gas Partners may be a defendant in litigation. Star Gas Partners maintains insurance policies in the amounts and with the coverages and deductibles as the general partner believes are reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that this insurance will be adequate to protect Star Gas Partners from all material expenses related to potential future claims. The General Partner Has Conflicts of Interest and Limited Fiduciary Responsibilities, Which May Permit the General Partner to Favor its Own Interests to the Detriment of Unitholders Conflicts of interest have arisen and could arise in the future as a result of relationships between the general partner and its affiliates, on the one hand, and Star Gas Partners or any of the limited partners, on the other hand. As a result of these conflicts the general partner may favor its own interests and those of its affiliates over the interests of the Star Gas Partners unitholders. The nature of these conflicts is ongoing and includes the following considerations. . The partnership agreement currently contains provisions limiting the general partner's liability and reducing its fiduciary duties to the Star Gas Partners' unitholders, while also restricting the remedies available to Star Gas Partners unitholders for actions that might, without the limitations, constitute breaches of fiduciary duty. At the completion of the transaction when former Petro stockholders are admitted as limited partners to Star Gas Partners they are deemed to consent to these provisions in the partnership agreement. . The general partner is allowed to take into account the interests of parties in addition to Star Gas Partners in resolving conflicts of interest, thereby limiting its fiduciary duty to the Star Gas Partners unitholders. 35 . Except for Irik P. Sevin, who is subject to a non-competition agreement, the general partner's affiliates are not prohibited from engaging in other business or activities, including direct competition with Star Gas Partners. . The general partner determines the amount and timing of asset purchases and sales, capital expenditures, borrowings and reserves, each of which can impact the amount of cash that is distributed to Star Gas Partners unitholders. . The general partner determines whether to issue additional units or other equity securities of Star Gas Partners. . The general partner determines which costs are reimbursable by Star Gas Partners. . The general partner controls the enforcement of obligations owed to Star Gas Partners by the general partner. . The general partner decides whether to retain separate counsel, accountants or others to perform services for Star Gas Partners. . Some officers of the general partner, who will provide services to Star Gas Partners, will also devote significant time to the businesses of the general partner's affiliates and will be compensated by these affiliates for the services rendered to them. . The general partner is not restricted from causing Star Gas Partners to pay the general partner or its affiliates for any services rendered on terms that are fair and reasonable to Star Gas Partners or from entering into additional contractual arrangements with any of these entities on behalf of Star Gas Partners. . In some instances the general partner may borrow funds in order to permit the payment of distributions. Tax Risks to Petro Common Stockholders The IRS Could Classify Star Gas Partners as an Association Taxable as a Corporation Which Could Result in Star Gas Partners Paying Tax as an Entity, Which Would Substantially Reduce the Cash Available for Distribution to Unitholders The federal income tax benefit of an investment in Star Gas Partners depends largely on Star Gas Partners' classification as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Assuming the accuracy of factual matters represented as true by the general partner and Star Gas Partners, counsel is of the opinion that Star Gas Partners has been and will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. No ruling from the IRS as to classification has been or is expected to be requested. Instead, Star Gas Partners intends to rely on the opinion of counsel, which is not binding on the IRS. Based on the representations of Star Gas Partners and the general partner and a review of applicable legal authorities, counsel is also of the opinion that at least 90% of Star Gas Partners' gross income is 36 "qualifying income," within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code. This means that Star Gas Partners' income is derived from the exploration, development, mining or production, processing, refining, transportation or marketing of any mineral or natural resource or other items. Whether Star Gas Partners will continue to be classified as a partnership depends, at least partly, on Star Gas Partners' ability to continue to meet this qualifying income test in the future. If Star Gas Partners were classified as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, Star Gas Partners would pay tax on its income at corporate rates, which is currently a 35% federal rate. If this were to occur, distributions to the Star Gas Partners unitholders would generally be taxed again as corporate distributions, and no income, gains, losses and deductions would flow through to the Star Gas Partners unitholders. Because a tax would be imposed upon Star Gas Partners as an entity, the cash available for distribution to Star Gas Partners unitholders would be substantially reduced. Treatment of Star Gas Partners as an association that is taxable as a corporation or otherwise as a taxable entity would result in a material reduction in the anticipated cash flow and after-tax return to the Star Gas Partners unitholders, likely causing a substantial reduction in the market value of the units. There can be no assurance that the law will not change so as to cause Star Gas Partners to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or otherwise to be subject to entity-level taxation. The partnership agreement provides that, if a law is enacted or existing law is modified or interpreted in a manner that subjects Star Gas Partners to taxation as a corporation or otherwise subjects Star Gas Partners to entity-level taxation for income tax purposes, then specified provisions of the partnership agreement are subject to change, including a decrease in distribution to reflect the impact of that law on Star Gas Partners. A Star Gas Partners Unitholder May Be Required to Pay Taxes on Income From Star Gas Partners Even if He Receives No Cash Distributions A Star Gas Partners unitholder will be required to pay federal income taxes and, in some cases, state and local income taxes on his allocable share of Star Gas Partners' income, whether or not he receives cash distributions from Star Gas Partners. No assurance can be given that a Star Gas Partners unitholder will receive cash distributions equal to his allocable share of taxable income or even equal to the actual tax liability that results from this allocable share of income. Further, upon the sale of his units, a Star Gas Partners unitholder may incur a tax liability in excess of the amount of cash he receives. Petro Common Stockholders, Other Than Individuals that are U.S. Residents, May Have Adverse Tax Consequences from Owning Units Which May Cause Them to Sell Their Senior Subordinated Units Possibly Driving Down the Market Price Investment in units by specific tax-exempt entities, regulated investment companies and foreign persons raises issues unique to these persons. For example, for any unitholder that is an organization exempt from federal income tax, including IRAs and other retirement plans, virtually all of the unitholder's allocable share of taxable income in the first few years will constitute unrelated business taxable income and thus will be taxable to this unitholder. A significant portion of the Petro common stockholders may, therefore, find it necessary or advisable to sell the senior subordinated units they acquire in the transaction, possibly driving down the market price of those units. 37 Because Star Gas Partners is a Registered Tax Shelter, Both Star Gas Partners and its Unitholders Face an Increased Risk of an IRS Audit, Which Could Result in Additional Taxes Payable by Star Gas Partners and/or its Unitholders Star Gas Partners is registered with the Secretary of the Treasury as a "tax shelter." The IRS has issued the following tax shelter registration number to Star Gas Partners: 96026000016. Star Gas Partners cannot assure Star Gas Partners unitholders that it will not be audited by the IRS or that adjustments to its income or losses will not be made. Any Star Gas Partners unitholder owning less than a 1% profit interest in Star Gas Partners has very limited rights to participate in the income tax audit process. Further, any adjustments in Star Gas Partners' tax returns will lead to adjustments in the Star Gas Partners unitholders' tax returns and may lead to audits of Star Gas Partners unitholders' tax returns and adjustments of items unrelated to Star Gas Partners. Each Star Gas Partners unitholder is responsible for any tax owed as the result of an examination of his personal tax return. Star Gas Partners Treats a Purchaser of Units as Having the Same Tax Benefits as the Seller; The IRS May Challenge This Treatment Which Could Adversely Affect the Value of the Units Because Star Gas Partners cannot match transferors and transferees of units and because of other reasons, Star Gas Partners has adopted depreciation and amortization conventions that do not conform with all aspects of specified proposed and final Treasury Regulations. A successful IRS challenge to those conventions could adversely affect the amount of tax benefits available to a purchaser of units and could have a negative impact on the value of the units. There Are State, Local and Other Taxes That Star Gas Partners Unitholders Will Probably Be Subject to Solely Because of an Investment in the Units In addition to federal income taxes, Star Gas Partners unitholders will likely be subject to other taxes, such as state and local taxes, unincorporated business taxes and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that are imposed by the various jurisdictions in which Star Gas Partners does business or owns property. A Star Gas Partners unitholder will likely be required to file state and local income tax returns and pay state and local income taxes in some or all of the various jurisdictions in which Star Gas Partners does business or owns property and may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. The general partner anticipates that substantially all of Star Gas Partners' income will be generated in the following states: Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia; however, New Hampshire's tax only applies to interest and dividend income. Each of these states currently imposes a personal income tax. It is the responsibility of each Star Gas Partners unitholder to file all United States federal, state and local tax returns that may be required of him. Counsel has not rendered an opinion on the state or local tax consequences of ownership or sale of units. 38 CAUTIONARY STATEMENT Star Gas Corporation provided all information in this proxy statement about Star Gas Partners, Star Gas Propane and its subsidiaries involved in propane operations, and Petro/Mergeco, Inc. Petro provided all information in this proxy statement about Petro and its subsidiaries in the home heating oil business. . You should rely only on the information contained in this document or to which we refer you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. . We are not offering to sell or seeking your offer to buy these securities in any state where it is illegal to do so. . We are not seeking your proxy in any state where it is illegal to do so. . This information may change after February 10, 1999. 39 PARTIES Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Propane Star Gas Partners is a publicly-traded Delaware limited partnership formed in 1995 to acquire and operate the propane business of Star Gas Corporation and Petro. Star Gas Partners' activities are conducted through Star Gas Propane, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and a corporate subsidiary of Star Gas Propane, L.P. Except as the context otherwise requires, references to or descriptions of operations of Star Gas Partners include the operations of Star Gas Propane and any other subsidiary operating partnership or corporation. Star Gas Partners is primarily engaged in the retail distribution of propane and related supplies and equipment to residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and motor fuel customers. Star Gas Partners believes that it is the eighth largest retail propane distributor in the United States, serving approximately 166,000 customers from 74 branch locations in the Midwest and Northeast. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, it had total sales on a pro forma basis of approximately $116.1 million. Propane is used primarily as fuel for space and water heating and cooking by Star Gas Partners' residential and commercial customers, who are the largest portion of Star Gas Partners' customer base. In the Midwest, Star Gas Partners services customers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. In the Northeast, Star Gas Partners services customers in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. In addition to its retail business, Star Gas Partners serves approximately 50 wholesale customers from its wholesale operation in southern Indiana. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, approximately 80% of Star Gas Partners' sales were to retail customers and approximately 20% were to wholesale customers. The retail customers are predominately residential (56%) with the remainder representing those that are agricultural (19%), industrial/commercial (18%) and motor fuel users (7%). Residential sales have a greater profit margin, more stable customer base and less sensitivity to price changes than the other markets served by Star Gas Partners. Sales to residential customers for fiscal 1998 accounted for 66% of Star Gas Partners' gross profit on propane sales, reflecting the higher-margin nature of this segment of the retail market. Star Gas Partners' business strategy is to maximize its cash flow and profitability, primarily through: . internal growth, . controlling operating costs and .acquisitions that have the potential for generating attractive returns on investment. The retail propane industry is mature, experiences only limited growth in total demand for the product, and is large and highly fragmented. Currently there are approximately 6,000 independently owned and operated propane distributors. Given these characteristics, Star Gas Partners' acquisition strategy is focused on acquiring smaller to medium-sized local and regional independent propane distributors, particularly those with a relatively large percentage of residential customers, which 40 generate higher margins than other types of customers, and those located in the Midwest and Northeast, where Star Gas Partners believes it can attain higher margins than in other areas of the United States. To facilitate Star Gas Partners' acquisition strategy, Star Gas Propane has bank credit facilities, which consist of a $25 million acquisition facility and a $12 million working capital facility. As of September 30, 1998, $9.0 million was outstanding under the acquisition facility and $4.8 million under the working capital facility. In addition to borrowings under the bank credit facilities, Star Gas Partners may fund future acquisitions from internal cash flow or from the issuance of additional Star Gas Partners interests or debt securities. While Star Gas Partners regularly considers and evaluates acquisitions as part of its ongoing acquisition program, Star Gas Partners does not have any present agreements or commitments regarding any material acquisition other than the acquisition of Petro. The general partner has broad discretion in making acquisitions, and it is expected that it will not generally seek approval of acquisitions by Star Gas Partners' limited partners. For information concerning weather conditions, and other factors that could adversely affect Star Gas Partners' operations, see "Risk Factors--Risks to Petro Common Stockholders--Because the Demand for Heating Oil is More Affected by Weather Conditions than the Demand for Propane, Star Gas Partners' Financial Condition May Be More Vulnerable to Warm Winters." Additional information about Star Gas Partners is included in Star Gas Partners' Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended September 30, 1998 and the other documents relating to Star Gas Partners that are incorporated herein by reference. See "Incorporation of Certain Documents By Reference." Petro Petro is a Minnesota corporation engaged primarily in the retail distribution of home heating oil in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Petro serves approximately 340,000 customers from 24 branch locations including metropolitan Boston, New York City, Baltimore, Providence, and Washington, D.C., with total sales on a pro forma basis of approximately $450.1 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 1998. Petro believes that it is the largest retail distributor of home heating oil in the United States. As an adjunct to its heating oil business, Petro installs and repairs heating equipment. Petro considers these services, which are typically not designed to generate profits, to be an integral part of its basic fuel oil business and generally does not provide service to any person who is not a home heating oil customer. To a limited extent, Petro also markets other petroleum products, including diesel fuel and gasoline, to commercial customers. The home heating oil industry is large, highly fragmented and undergoing consolidation, with approximately 3,700 independently owned and operated home heating oil distributors in the Northeast. Petro has been the principal consolidator in this industry and, since 1979, when Petro's current management assumed control, has acquired over 180 retail heating oil distributors. Petro acquires distributors in both new and existing markets and integrates them into the existing operations. Economies of scale are realized from these purchases through its centralization of accounting, data processing, fuel oil purchasing, credit and marketing functions. Petro is well known in the heating oil industry and is regularly contacted by potential sellers. As a result of its growth 41 strategy, heating oil sales volume increased from 59.4 million gallons in 1980 to 410.3 million gallons for the year ended December 31, 1997, a compound annual growth rate of 12%. Despite its size, Petro estimates that its customer base represents only approximately 5% of the residential home heating oil customers in the Northeast. Petro has been implementing an operational restructuring program, including a "brand name" identity program to, among other things, reduce customer attrition and improve operating margins. Following the completion of the transaction, Petro will operate as a wholly- owned indirect subsidiary of Star Gas Propane. Additional information about Petro is included in Petro's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 and other documents relating to Petro that accompany this proxy statement. See "Incorporation of Certain Documents By Reference." 42 PROXY SOLICITATIONS The Star Gas Partners Unitholders Meeting Date, Time and Place. The Star Gas Partners unitholders meeting will be held on March 16, 1999, at 10:00 a.m., EST, at Chase Manhattan Bank, 270 Park Avenue, 11th Floor, Conference Room C, New York, New York. Purpose. The purpose of the Star Gas Partners unitholders meeting is to consider and vote upon the proposal to acquire Petro, the proposal to amend the partnership agreement and the proposal to change the general partner. Star Gas Partners Record Date. The close of business on January 29, 1999 has been fixed by the Star Gas Corporation board as the record date for the determination of Star Gas Partners common unitholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the unitholders meeting and any adjournment or postponement of the meeting. On the Star Gas Partners record date, there were 3,858,999 common units issued and outstanding, held by approximately 189 holders of record. Recommendations of the Special Committee and the Star Gas Corporation Board. The special committee believes that the transaction is in the best interests of the Star Gas Partners public common unitholders and has recommended the transaction to the Star Gas Corporation board. Based on this recommendation, the Star Gas Corporation board unanimously recommends that Star Gas Partners common unitholders vote FOR the unitholders meeting proposals. See "Special Factors--Reasons for the Transaction that the Special Committee Considered; Recommendations of the Special Committee and Star Gas Corporation Board." Description of Proxies and Procedures for Voting and Revoking Proxies. A proxy card for voting at the unitholders meeting is enclosed with this proxy statement, which is being mailed to all holders of Star Gas Partners common units as of the Star Gas Partners record date. When a proxy card is returned, properly completed, signed and dated, the common units it represents will be voted in accordance with the instructions contained on the proxy card. If a Star Gas Partners common unitholder does not attend the unitholders meeting and does not return the signed proxy card, that holder's shares will not be voted, and this will have the effect of a vote AGAINST the unitholders meeting proposals. Star Gas Partners common unitholders are urged to mark the box on the proxy card to indicate how common units represented by the proxy card are to be voted. An executed proxy card that does not indicate how common units are to be voted will be voted FOR all unitholders meeting proposals. Star Gas Corporation does not intend to bring any matters before the unitholders meeting other than approval of the unitholders meeting proposals and it does not know of any other matters sought to be brought before the unitholders meeting by others. If any business other than the unitholder meeting proposals is brought before the unitholders meeting, the common units represented by a proxy card will be voted by those persons appointed by Star Gas Corporation to vote the common units represented by the proxy card according to their best judgment. The proxy card also confers discretionary authority on the persons appointed by Star Gas Corporation named on the proxy card to vote the common units represented thereby on any other procedural matter that is properly presented for action at the unitholders meeting. 43 The execution of a proxy card will not affect a Star Gas Partners unitholder's right to attend the unitholders meeting and vote in person. A Star Gas Partners unitholder who has given a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is exercised at the unitholders meeting by: (a) delivering a written notice of revocation to the Vice President-- Finance of Star Gas Corporation, (b) executing and submitting a proxy card bearing a later date or (c) attending the unitholders meeting and voting in person. However, the mere presence at the unitholders meeting by a person who has given a proxy will not revoke that proxy. Unless the arrangement between the beneficial owner and a broker or other nominee holder provides otherwise, brokers and other nominee holders of common units will not have discretionary authorization to vote common units on any of the matters to be voted on in the absence of instructions from the beneficial owners of those common units. Beneficial owners are therefore urged to provide instructions to those brokers or other nominees concerning how they wish their common units to be voted. Abstentions and broker non-votes are each included in the determination of the number of common units present for quorum purposes. Abstentions and broker non-votes will in effect be votes against the unitholders meeting proposals because approval of these proposals requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of Star Gas Partners all common units. Cost of Solicitation of Proxies. Petro, which has agreed to reimburse Star Gas Partners for the expenses incurred by Star Gas Partners in the transaction, will bear all costs relating to the solicitation of proxies from the Star Gas Partners common unitholders. Petro will also reimburse banks, brokerage houses, custodians, nominees, fiduciaries, and other persons holding common units in their names or in the names of their nominees for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy material to beneficial owners of common units. Star Gas Partners has engaged Morrow & Co., Inc., a professional proxy solicitation firm, to solicit proxies on its behalf. Star Gas Partners will pay this firm a fee of $7,500, plus expenses, for this service. In addition, some of the officers, directors and regular employees of Star Gas Corporation may, without additional compensation, solicit proxies by personal interview, telephone, telex, telegram, facsimile or similar means of communication. Voting Rights; Vote Required. Except for specified limitations discussed below, each person deemed to be a "record holder" of Star Gas Partners common units on the Star Gas Partners record date will have a vote according to their percentage interest in Star Gas Partners on that date. Under the partnership agreement as currently in effect, a "record holder" of common units means the person in whose name those common units are registered on the books of the transfer agent for the common units at the opening of business on the Star Gas Partners record date, which includes both persons who have been admitted to Star Gas Partners as limited partners or substitute limited partners and transferees of common units who have executed and delivered to that transfer agent a transfer application as required by the partnership agreement, but who have not yet been admitted to Star Gas Partners as substitute limited partners. The partnership agreement also provides that common units held in nominee or street name account will be voted by the broker, or other nominee, consistent with the instructions of the beneficial owner, unless the arrangement between the beneficial owner and his nominee provides otherwise. Star Gas Partners is entitled to assume that the nominee is acting at the direction of the beneficial owner without further inquiry. 44 The partnership agreement requires the affirmative vote of at least a unit majority in order to approve and adopt each of the Star Gas Partners unitholders meeting proposals to be considered at the unitholders meeting. "Unit majority" is defined in the partnership agreement to mean those persons holding at least a majority of the outstanding common units, other than common units owned by Star Gas Corporation or any of its affiliates. The transaction cannot be effected unless the Star Gas Partners common unitholders approve each of the proposals presented at the unitholders meeting. Holders of Star Gas Partners common units should not send any unit certificates with their proxy cards. Quorum; Adjournment. The partnership agreement provides that the presence at the unitholders meeting, either in person or by proxy, of a majority of the outstanding common units is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Star Gas Partners unitholders meeting. The partnership agreement also provides that, in the absence of a quorum, the unitholders meeting may be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the common units represented at the unitholders meeting either in person or by proxy. The partnership agreement provides that when a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new record date need not be fixed if the time and place of the adjourned meeting is announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless that adjournment is for more than 45 days. At an adjourned meeting, Star Gas Partners may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. No Dissenters' Rights. Star Gas Partners common unitholders do not have dissenters' rights for matters to be voted on at the unitholders meeting. The Petro Special Meeting Date, Time and Place. A special meeting of Petro common stockholders will be held on March 16, 1999, at 11:00 a.m., EST, at Chase Manhattan Bank, 270 Park Avenue, 11th Floor, Conference Room C, New York, New York. Purpose. The purpose of the special meeting is to consider and vote upon the acquisition proposal. Petro Record Date. The Petro board has fixed the close of business on January 29, 1999, as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the special meeting. Accordingly, only holders of record of shares of common stock at the close of business on the Petro record date will be entitled to vote at the special meeting and any adjournment or postponement of the special meeting. As of the close of business on the Petro record date, there were issued and outstanding 23,854,751 shares of Class A common stock, held by 198 record holders, and 2,597,519 shares of Class C common stock, held by 24 record holders. Petro Board Recommendation. The Petro board has determined that the transaction is fair and in the best interests of the Petro public common stockholders. Therefore, it has approved a merger agreement, under which Petro will be merged with a subsidiary of Star Gas Partners and Petro common stockholders will receive senior subordinated units of Star Gas Partners, and an exchange 45 agreement, under which Petro common stockholders who are affiliates of Petro will exchange their common stock for senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units of Star Gas Partners, and unanimously recommends that the Petro common stockholders vote FOR the acquisition proposal. See "Special Factors--Reasons for the Transaction that the Petro Board Considered; Recommendation of the Petro Board." Description of Proxies and Procedure for Voting and Revoking of Proxies. A proxy card for voting at the Petro special meeting is enclosed with this proxy statement, which is being mailed to all Petro common stockholders as of the Petro record date. When a proxy card is returned, properly completed, signed and dated, the shares of Petro common stock represented by it will be voted in accordance with the instructions on the proxy card. If a Petro common stockholder does not attend the special meeting and does not return the signed proxy card, that holder's shares will not be voted, and this will have the effect of a vote AGAINST the matters to be voted on at the special meeting. Petro common stockholders are urged to mark the box on the proxy card to indicate how the shares represented by the proxy card are to be voted. An executed proxy card that does not indicate how the shares of common stock are to be voted will be voted FOR approval of the acquisition proposal. The Petro board does not intend to bring any matters before the special meeting other than approval of the acquisition proposal and it does not know of any other matters sought to be brought before the special meeting by others. If any business other than the acquisition proposal is brought before the special meeting, the shares of common stock represented by a proxy card will be voted by those persons appointed by the Petro board to vote the shares of common stock represented by the proxy card according to their best judgment. The proxy card also confers discretionary authority on the persons appointed by the Petro board named on the proxy card to vote the shares represented by it on any other procedural matter that is properly presented for action at the special meeting. The execution of a proxy card will not affect a Petro common stockholder's right to attend the special meeting and vote in person. A Petro common stockholder who has given a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is exercised at the special meeting by (a)delivering a written notice of revocation to the Secretary of Petro, (b)executing and submitting a proxy card bearing a later date or (c)attending the special meeting and voting in person. However, the mere presence at the special meeting by a person who has given a proxy will not revoke that proxy. Unless the arrangement between the beneficial owner and a broker or other nominee holder provides otherwise, brokers and other nominee holders of Petro common stock will not have discretionary authorization to vote shares of Petro common stock on any of the matters to be voted upon in the absence of instructions from the beneficial owners of that common stock. Beneficial owners are therefore urged to provide instructions to those brokers or other nominees concerning how they wish their common stock to be voted. Abstentions and broker non-votes are each included in the determination of the number of shares of common stock present for quorum purposes. Abstentions and broker non-votes will in effect be votes against the acquisition proposal because approval of the acquisition proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of all outstanding shares of Petro common stock. 46 Petro common stockholders should not send any stock certificates with their proxy cards. If the transaction is effected, Petro common stockholders will be provided with transmittal materials for the surrender of Petro stock certificates in exchange for certificates representing senior subordinated units of Star Gas Partners or cash payments, as applicable. Cost of Solicitation of Proxies. Petro will bear all costs relating to the solicitation of proxies from Petro common stockholders. Petro will also reimburse banks, brokerage houses, custodians, nominees, fiduciaries, and other persons holding Petro common stock in their names or in the names of their nominees for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy material to beneficial owners of common stock. Petro has engaged Morrow & Co., Inc. to solicit proxies on behalf of Petro. Petro will pay that firm a fee of $7,500, plus expenses, for this service. In addition, some of the officers, directors and regular employees of Petro may, without additional compensation, solicit proxies by personal interview, telephone, telex, telegram, facsimile or similar means of communication. Voting Rights; Vote Required. All Petro common stockholders of record at the close of business on the Petro record date are entitled to vote at the special meeting. Holders of each class of Petro common stock, voting as a separate class, other than the Class B common stock, will have one vote for each share for the acquisition proposal. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Petro Class A common stock outstanding as of the Petro record date, voting as a class, and the affirmative vote of the holders of the Petro Class C common stock outstanding as of the Petro record date, voting as a class, other than shares held by the directors and officers of Petro and their affiliates, is required to approve the acquisition proposal. The directors and executive officers of Petro and affiliates beneficially owned, as of the Petro record date, 11,843,183 shares of common stock, excluding all options to purchase shares of Class A common stock and Class C common stock. Directors and executive officers of Star Gas Corporation and their affiliates, other than those persons who were also directors or executive officers of Petro, did not beneficially own, as of the Petro record date, any shares of Petro common stock, and no shares of Petro common stock were owned by Star Gas Partners or Star Gas Corporation. The transaction cannot be effected without approval of the acquisition proposal by the Petro common stockholders. Voting Rights of Holders of Petro Preferred Stock. The acquisition proposal also requires the approval of the holders of a majority of all shares of Petro's junior preferred stock, public preferred stock and private preferred stock, outstanding as of the Petro record date, each voting separately as a class. The holders of a majority of each class of Petro preferred stock outstanding as of the Petro record date have granted irrevocable proxies to Petro or have agreed to vote their shares for the acquisition proposal. As of the Petro record date, no shares of Petro preferred stock were beneficially owned by any of the directors and executive officers of Petro or Star Gas Corporation or any of their affiliates or by Star Gas Partners or Star Gas Corporation. 47 Class B Shares Will Remain Outstanding. There are 11,228 shares of Class B common stock currently outstanding, representing less than .1% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Petro. The Class B common stock will remain outstanding following the completion of the merger. Quorum; Adjournment. Petro's restated bylaws provide that the presence at the special meeting, either in person or by proxy, of a majority of each class of Petro common stock is necessary to constitute a quorum at the special meeting. Petro's restated bylaws also provide that in the absence of a quorum, the special meeting may be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of shares of the common stock represented at the special meeting either in person or by proxy. Petro's restated bylaws provide that when a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new record date need not be fixed if the time and place of the adjourned meeting is announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At an adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, Petro may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. Dissenters' Rights. Under Sections 302A.471 and 302A.473 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, included in full as Annex F to this proxy statement, Petro common stockholders, other than those who have agreed to vote for the acquisition proposal or who have granted irrevocable proxies to Petro to vote for the acquisition proposal at the special meeting, have the right to dissent and to obtain payment for the "fair value" of their shares, if corporate actions such as the merger should occur. Petro common stockholders who wish to exercise dissenters' rights must comply fully with the requirements of Sections 302A.471 and 302A.473 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act. Accordingly, Petro common stockholders wishing to dissent are urged to read carefully "Dissenters' Rights" in this proxy statement and its attached Annex F, and to consult their own legal advisors. Among other things, Section 302A.473 requires that a Petro common stockholder wishing to exercise dissenters' rights must: (1) file with Petro, before the vote on the transaction at the special meeting, a written notice of intent to demand payment of fair value for that holder's common stock, and (2) not vote in favor of the proposal to acquire Petro. If the acquisition proposal is approved at the Petro special meeting, Petro common stockholders wishing to dissent from the merger must comply fully thereafter with a series of additional requirements under Section 302A.473 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act. Failure to follow the procedures in Annex F may result in a termination or loss of dissenters' rights under Sections 302A.471 and 302A.473 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act. 48 SPECIAL FACTORS Background of the Transaction The Genesis of the Transaction and Related Events In May 1997, Mr. Kevin McCarthy, then of Smith Barney Inc., contacted Irik Sevin, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Petro, to determine Petro's interest in a proposed transaction consisting of a strategic business combination with Star Gas Partners. Mr. McCarthy, who had previously been associated with PaineWebber Incorporated, had provided investment banking services to, and was very familiar with, both Petro and Star Gas Partners. The initial contact was made at Mr. McCarthy's initiative based on his perception that the two entities could benefit from a business combination. On May 2 and May 7, 1997, Mr. McCarthy and other Smith Barney bankers presented the following concept to Mr. Sevin. In their view, Petro's common stock was not fully valued in the public market place due, in large measure, to a lack of research analyst coverage and investor interest. Mr. McCarthy noted that despite Petro's preeminent position in the home heating oil industry, the public market had always had a difficult time valuing its common stock due to: . there being no other comparable publicly-traded companies; . its being a cash flow oriented company with no earnings per share, which is a standard measure used to value publicly-traded common stocks; and- . its small equity market capitalization. Mr. McCarthy went on to note that while Petro was the principal consolidator of the home heating oil industry, its capital structure was limiting its full growth potential. He suggested that converting Petro into a publicly-traded limited partnership format would address these various issues. He noted that Petro would benefit from the relatively broad research coverage provided the relatively large number of publicly-traded limited partnerships. In addition, these entities were valued on a cash flow basis, similar to Petro's financial orientation, and that the combined Petro/Star Gas Partners publicly-traded limited partnership would have a significantly increased market capitalization. Also of significance was that the publicly-traded limited partnership format would give Petro access to lower cost capital and increase its financial flexibility to fund its growth-through-acquisition strategy. Mr. McCarthy went on to note that he believed that combining Star Gas Partners and Petro could also significantly benefit Star Gas Partners. While Star Gas Partners had been performing relatively well operationally, there had been a significant increase in competition for propane acquisitions, the major source of Star Gas Partners' growth. This not only was impacting the number of acquisitions Star Gas Partners could make but was also increasing the purchase price multiples paid for propane companies. Both of these factors combined to limit the potential growth in Star Gas Partners' annual cash flow from its acquisition program. The combination with Petro could provide an additional source of acquisition opportunities at lower purchase price multiples resulting from Petro's preeminent position in the home heating oil industry and the significantly lower level of competition in that industry for acquisitions. Combining Petro's acquisition opportunities with 49 Star Gas Partners' access to lower cost capital suggested the combination of the two companies made strategic sense. During May and June 1997, Mr. Sevin had several meetings and telephone calls with representatives of Smith Barney and other financial and legal advisors concerning various business, tax and regulatory aspects of the proposed transaction. On June 5, 1997, at a Petro board meeting, Mr. Sevin described the proposed transaction and its benefits. In addition to the original benefits outlined by Mr. McCarthy, the proposed transaction was now structured to refinance Petro's relatively high-cost long-term debt and preferred stock with lower cost partnership equity and a new issue of debt further increasing the combined entity's distributable cash flow. Mr. Sevin informed the Petro board that not all aspects of the proposed transaction had been fully developed and that he had not made any presentation concerning the combination to the Star Gas Corporation board. After discussing the matter, a consensus was reached that the proposed transaction seemed interesting and that Mr. McCarthy should be invited to make a formal presentation to the Petro board. Mr. McCarthy Presents the Proposed Transaction to the Petro Board of Directors On July 24, 1997, the Petro board met to hear Mr. McCarthy make a formal presentation regarding the proposed transaction. Initially, Mr. McCarthy explained that he had terminated his relationship with Smith Barney and had reassociated with PaineWebber as a managing director in its investment banking division. Mr. McCarthy then reviewed the overall strategic rationale for the proposed transaction. Mr. McCarthy went on to describe the proposed transaction's structure indicating that it would have two fundamental components. The first was Petro's becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Star Gas Partners, by virtue of the Petro public common stockholders and a limited number of Petro affiliated common stockholders exchanging their shares for publicly-traded Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units and a specified number of Petro shares being exchanged for Star Gas Partners junior subordinated units that would not be publicly traded. He indicated that in order to provide the Petro public common stockholders with a publicly-traded partnership unit with sufficient earnings coverage, there needed to be a specified number of units junior to those securities. The second component of the proposed transaction was the refinancing of Petro's outstanding, relatively high-cost debt and preferred stock through the sale of lower-cost, new partnership equity and debt. Mr. McCarthy then enumerated the benefits of the proposed transaction to Star Gas Partners common unitholders as well as to Star Gas Partners. Mr. McCarthy briefly outlined the following benefits to the Star Gas Partners common unitholders: .a significant increase in distributable cash flow, .an increase in the annualized minimum quarterly distribution from $2.20 to $2.30, .improved distribution coverage, 50 .larger equity market capitalization and resulting liquidity to Star Gas Partners unitholders and .improved growth potential in an otherwise relatively stagnant market. Mr. McCarthy went on to note that the most important considerations in valuing public limited partnerships are their growth, ability to make distributions, and size. The combination of Star Gas Partners and Petro would improve Star Gas Partners' measures in each of these areas. After review and discussion by the Petro board of this concept, it authorized Mr. Sevin to consult further with PaineWebber concerning the proposed transaction, and to present it to the Star Gas Corporation board. In this regard, it was determined that it would be most appropriate to approach the two members of the Star Gas Corporation board who were not officers, directors or employees of Petro to ascertain their views about the proposed transaction, since the remaining members of that board were also directors or officers of Petro. The Petro board recognized that in light of the potential conflict of interest, the proposed transaction should be analyzed and approved by the non- Petro members of the Star Gas Corporation board. The Petro board also instructed Petro's management to closely monitor the impact of Petro's recently instituted regionalization and product branding programs as it believed that Petro's ability to operate more efficiently and with more customer sensitivity would be an important element to the success of any business combination. PaineWebber Informally Discusses the Proposed Transaction with the Non-Petro Directors of Star Gas Corporation On September 2, 1997, at the request of Mr. Sevin, Mr. McCarthy met with the non-Petro directors of the Star Gas Corporation board, Mr. William Nicoletti and Ms. Elizabeth Lanier, concerning the combination of Petro and Star Gas Partners. Mr. Nicoletti and Ms. Lanier indicated that they had a number of questions concerning the proposed transaction, but that they believed that Star Gas Partners would be willing to consider a combination. Petro Considers Alternative Transactions In December 1997 and January 1998, Petro also began to explore other transactions. Mr. Sevin met with representatives of CNG Energy Services Corporation, a subsidiary of Consolidated Natural Gas Company, a large natural gas utility, to explore the possibility of forming a joint venture acquisition corporation. These discussions did not progress beyond the preliminary stages. In addition, Mr. Sevin met with an investment banking firm which had a relationship with Enron Capital and Trade Corp., a subsidiary of Enron Corp., that was seeking investment opportunities. Mr. Sevin believed that Petro's large customer base would provide this company with cross-marketing potential adding to the attractiveness of forming a joint venture acquisition corporation with Petro. After discussions held in January 1998, this company indicated that it was not interested in forming this joint venture with Petro. PaineWebber Formally Presents the Proposed Transaction to the Star Gas Corporation Board On January 26, 1998, Mr. McCarthy made a formal presentation concerning the proposed transaction to the Star Gas Corporation board. He first described the underlying rationale of the proposed transaction. 51 Mr. McCarthy then detailed the proposed transaction's structure: . Petro would combine with Star Gas Partners, becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Star Gas Propane. . The Petro public common stockholders, as well as specified affiliated Petro common stockholders, would receive publicly-traded senior subordinated units of Star Gas Partners. . Specified affiliated Petro common stockholders would be required to exchange their shares for Star Gas Partners junior subordinated units that would be junior to the senior subordinated units offered the Petro public common stockholders and would not be publicly traded. Mr. McCarthy indicated that this condition was required to provide sufficient earnings coverage of the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units to make them sufficiently attractive in the marketplace. . In determining the exchange ratio for Petro's common stock and how many Star Gas Partners units would be given to the Petro common stockholders, the following values were used: --Petro's common stock was being valued at $3.15 per share. --The Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units to be given to the Petro public common stockholders were valued on the basis of their having an 11.5% yield representing an approximately 10% discount from the Star Gas Partners common unit value. --The Star Gas Partners junior subordinated units and general partner units were valued at an assumed 14% yield representing a 250 basis point premium over the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units based on their additional level of subordination and illiquidity. . As a result of the anticipated immediate accretion in distributable cash flow resulting from the transaction, Star Gas Partners would increase its minimum quarterly distributions per unit from $0.55 to $0.575, or from $2.20 to $2.30 per unit annually. . The right to receive incentive payments, which has historically been provided to the general partner upon meeting specified performance tests, would be reallocated to all Petro common stockholders by distributing those rights among the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units, pro rata. . The general partner of Star Gas Partners would be a newly-organized limited liability company that would be owned by affiliates of Petro. . The Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units and junior subordinated units would be subordinated to the distribution and liquidation rights of the Star Gas Partners common units until Star Gas Partners earned $2.30 per unit in distributable cash flow for three years, at which time the subordination period would end. Mr. McCarthy then described, as he had done with the Petro board, the benefits of the proposed transaction to the Star Gas Partners public common unitholders and the Petro public common stockholders. In response to a question from the directors, Mr. McCarthy indicated that, based on a preliminary review, he did not believe that a combined propane/heating oil publicly-traded limited partnership would have a negative perception in the public market. He considered growth and ability to make distributions the key considerations for valuing a publicly-traded limited partnership, and 52 Petro's growth potential would more than offset any impact of its having non- propane activities. In addition, he pointed out that several diversified publicly-traded limited partnerships exist and perform favorably compared to their peers. In response to a question concerning Petro's operating performance, Mr. McCarthy indicated that while the benefits of Petro's regionalization and branding programs had begun to be realized, the implied value has yet to be factored into Petro's stock price. However, these improvements should ultimately benefit the combined entity and its future value. The Star Gas Corporation Board Appoints the Special Committee to Consider the Proposed Transaction Based on this presentation and the ensuing discussion, the Star Gas Corporation board believed that there was a consensus to proceed with further consideration of the proposed transaction. Because all of the directors of Star Gas Corporation were also directors or officers of Petro, other than Mr. Nicoletti and Ms. Lanier, the Star Gas Corporation board assigned the task of exploring the proposal to them. It was decided that these two should act as a special committee to ensure that the interests of the Star Gas Partners public common unitholders were independently represented in the proposed transaction. Ms. Lanier then proposed that the special committee retain independent financial advisors and legal counsel to assist in a review of the proposed transaction. The Star Gas Corporation board authorized the special committee to retain an independent financial advisor and legal counsel as they deemed appropriate. In January and February 1998, the special committee invited A.G. Edwards along with one other investment banking firm to present its qualifications to serve as financial advisor to the special committee. Following several meetings and discussions with A.G. Edwards and the other candidate, on March 23, 1998 the special committee engaged A.G. Edwards as its financial advisor. The special committee had previously retained Baker & Botts, L.L.P. as its legal counsel. On February 4, 1998, Petro's management met with investment bankers at Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette to discuss the proposed terms for the refinancing or restructuring of Petro's public and private debt and preferred stock in the proposed transaction. Mr. Sevin Reviews the Status of the Proposed Transaction with the Petro Board in February 1998 At a February 23, 1998 Petro board meeting, Mr. Sevin updated the Petro board on the discussions with the special committee regarding the proposed transaction, as well as developments with other energy companies. The Petro board agreed that Mr. Sevin should continue to pursue the proposed transaction, as well as other investment alternatives. The Petro board then asked one of its members to assist Mr. Sevin in structuring these alternatives. In March 1998, Mr. Sevin met with each of Petro's three commercial banks separately to determine if the mergers and acquisitions or utility departments of those institutions could identify any public utility that was seeking to invest in deregulated energy activities or any other party that might be interested in investing in or forming a joint venture with Petro. 53 Petro Commences Discussions with the Special Committee On March 10, 1998, Petro's representatives met with the special committee to discuss certain initial questions that had arisen from its discussions with potential financial advisors. Petro's representatives wanted to review several matters with the special committee, including: Petro's capitalization structure, the improvement in Petro's customer attrition rate, its ability continue increasing its gross profit margins and to acquire new businesses at historic rates. Petro Continues to Pursue Other Investment Alternatives In March and April 1998, Petro continued to pursue other investment alternatives. In April 1998, Petro's management met with representatives of two public utilities, AllEnergy Marketing Company L.L.C. and Connective Power Delivery, to discuss with each a possible joint venture. While Connective indicated that it was not interested in pursuing the matter, AllEnergy, which had previously expressed an interest in purchasing Petro's heating oil operations, indicated that it could possibly be interested in a joint venture. However, its conditions to pursuing further discussions of such a venture were determined to be unacceptable and discussions were ended. During May and June 1998, Petro had several discussions and meetings with representatives of Providence Energy Corporation concerning a proposed investment in Petro, either pursuant to a joint venture or the purchase of specified Petro operations. However, this utility determined it was not interested in an investment in Petro and Petro indicated it was not interested in divesting any of its operations. Petro Retains Dain Rauscher Wessels to Provide a Fairness Opinion to Petro's Public Common Stockholders In April 1998, Petro began a search for an independent investment banking firm with expertise in the area of publicly-traded partnerships that could render an opinion as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the consideration to be received by the Petro public common stockholders in the proposed transaction. On April 22, 1998, Mr. Sevin met with representatives of Dain Rauscher Wessels. On May 14, 1998, Dain Rauscher Wessels was formally engaged, and, on May 28 and May 29, 1998, Dain Rauscher Wessels met separately with the management of Star Gas Partners and Petro in order to begin its due diligence with respect to Star Gas Partners and Petro. A.G. Edwards Prepares Preliminary Status Report On April 28, 1998, A.G. Edwards met with the special committee and members of Star Gas Partners' management to discuss and present the status of A.G. Edwards' due diligence efforts and preliminary conclusions. A.G. Edwards recommended that the special committee proceed in its analysis and review of a potential business combination with Petro and recommended that A.G. Edwards begin preparation of a preliminary status report that could be shared with Petro and PaineWebber. The preliminary status report would include the special committee's preliminary views on the structure of a potential transaction as well as its preliminary thoughts on a merger agreement and required changes to the partnership agreement. The special committee agreed. On May 4, 1998, A.G. Edwards delivered the preliminary status report and an updated and revised preliminary financial analysis to the special committee. The special committee authorized A.G. Edwards to discuss the preliminary status report with both Petro and PaineWebber. 54 On May 5, 1998, at a meeting of the Star Gas Corporation board, the special committee advised the board as to the status of the preliminary status report and indicated A.G. Edwards' preliminary views as to the valuation of Petro. The Special Committee and Petro Meet to Review the Preliminary Status Report and to Negotiate the Proposed Transaction On May 7, 1998, the special committee and A.G. Edwards met with Petro and PaineWebber to discuss the preliminary status report and to begin negotiation of a potential combination. The special committee took three firm negotiating positions at the May 7 meeting, which were reflected in the preliminary status report. First, the special committee required that the minimum quarterly distribution to be paid to Star Gas Partners common unitholders be raised from $2.20 to $2.30 annually. Second, the special committee took the position that no distributions would be paid to the holders of Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units following a transaction that were not earned by the actual performance of the combined business following the transaction. Third, the special committee took the position that a $3.15 valuation per Petro share was too high, and that the special committee would only look at a combination if the price was in the $2.00 per share range. In support of this third position, A.G. Edwards discussed with Petro and PaineWebber the basis for its valuation of Petro's common stock at $2.00 per share. Mr. Sevin responded that he could agree to the revised minimum quarterly distribution of $2.30 and to the proposal that during the subordination period holders of Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units would only receive distributions out of distributable cash generated following the closing of the transaction. However, he indicated he could not agree to valuing Petro's common stock at $2.00 per share, indicating his belief that this valuation was unfairly low. He pointed out that while there are many criteria that could be used in determining the appropriate valuation for Petro's common stock, he believed the most important was the accretion to Star Gas Partners resulting from the acquisition of Petro. While Mr. Sevin questioned some of the assumptions upon which A.G. Edwards views were based, he noted that even using the most conservative assumption, a $2.00 value would, based on the projections available at the time, result in projected accretion of approximately $.62 per unit, which could grow to over $1.00 per unit. Mr. Sevin indicated that this level of accretion was excessive and unwarranted and that the approximate $.40 per unit projected accretion resulting from a $3.15 per share price was certainly more appropriate and would still make this combination significantly attractive to the Star Gas Partners common unitholders. This was especially true given the greater growth potential provided by Petro which would, over time, increase the accretion to over $1.00 per unit even at a $3.15 valuation. PaineWebber also indicated to A.G. Edwards that the $3.15 per unit valuation did not represent an excessive premium to market value when Petro's average stock performance for the last twelve months was considered. PaineWebber noted that the suspension of Petro's common stock dividends following the unusually warm weather of the first quarter of 1998 had lowered the short-term trading 55 prices of Petro's common stock despite the significant improvements in Petro's operating results. In addition, PaineWebber asked A.G. Edwards to consider market statistics prepared by PaineWebber that indicated that the merger premiums for stocks priced at less than $5.00 per share were generally greater than the merger premiums for higher priced shares. In an attempt to bridge the valuation gap, the parties discussed having Star Gas Partners issue additional units to the Petro common stockholders after the transaction if Petro met specified financial goals. At the conclusion of this meeting, the parties agreed to review their respective positions. On May 19, 1998, representatives of A.G. Edwards met with representatives of PaineWebber and Petro in an attempt to reach an agreement on the appropriate price per share to be used to value the consideration paid to the Petro common stockholders. PaineWebber provided A.G. Edwards with information concerning comparable acquisition multiples to demonstrate that a $3.15 per share price was appropriate. In addition, PaineWebber indicated that Petro's first quarter operating performance was better than the budgeted figures originally provided A.G. Edwards, which further suggested that the $3.15 valuation was appropriate. In order to bridge the gap in valuation, the parties began discussing a $2.50 per share value with Petro's ability to obtain additional value through the issuance of additional senior subordinated units after the closing if it met specified earnings criteria. The concept was that Petro would be able to receive an additional total of 909,000 units, at a rate of 303,000 per year in each of three years that Petro provided Star Gas Partners with $.50 per unit of accretion in distributable cash flow over the level Star Gas Partners would earn had it not combined with Petro. It was indicated that these additional units, if earned, would be issued pro rata to the holders of Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units. A.G. Edwards Prepares a Preliminary Draft Proposal for the Transaction On May 20, 1998, the special committee met by conference telephone call with A.G. Edwards and Baker & Botts to discuss its preliminary analysis, updated by A.G. Edwards, and the status of negotiations. The group also discussed a preliminary draft proposal prepared by A.G. Edwards for submission to Petro. The special committee instructed A.G. Edwards to revise the preliminary draft proposal. On May 21, the special committee met again by conference telephone call with Baker & Botts to review the proposal. A.G. Edwards submitted a revised preliminary draft proposal to the special committee on May 26, 1998 and the special committee instructed A.G. Edwards to submit the proposal to Petro. The proposal dated May 26, 1998 included the following principal terms: . In exchange for all of Petro's issued and outstanding shares of common stock, Star Gas Partners would issue an aggregate of 2,718,000 senior subordinated units, 524,000 junior subordinated units and 289,000 general partner units, reflecting a valuation for the Petro common stock of $2.50 per share. In conjunction with the issuance of these new units, Star Gas Partners would in effect cancel the existing 2,396,078 subordinated units and the 2% combined general partner interest, both owned by Petro. . Star Gas Partners would issue up to 303,000 additional senior subordinated units per year, up to a maximum of 909,000 additional senior subordinated units, pro rata to the holders of its 56 senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units in each year that Petro achieves specified levels of accretion in the future. . The amount of new equity required to be raised by Star Gas Partners and new debt required to be raised by a subsidiary of Star Gas Partners in order to refinance Petro's existing debt and preferred stock could not exceed certain maximum amounts and were subject to specified price and expense limitations. . The partnership agreement would be amended to prohibit the payment of distributions to the holders of Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units from any source other than distributable cash generated during the last twelve months. . The cost of refinancing Petro's outstanding debt and redeeming Petro's preferred stock could not exceed specified limits. The management of Petro believed that, with some further modifications, the preliminary draft proposal could form the basis of an agreement. With that in mind, Petro began focusing its efforts on reaching an agreement with institutional holders of its long-term debt and preferred stock on a basis that would comply with the terms of the preliminary draft proposal. Petro Negotiates the Refinancing of its Public and Private Debt and Preferred Stock During June and July 1998, representatives of Petro undertook negotiations with institutional holders of its public and private debt and preferred stock to obtain the right to refinance these securities. In August 1998, Petro reached an agreement with institutional holders of $149 million or 63.1% of Petro's 10 1/8% Subordinated Notes due 2003, 12 1/4% Subordinated Debentures due 2005 and 9 3/8% Subordinated Debentures due 2006 and 12 7/8% Series B Exchangeable Preferred Stock, to permit the redemption of those securities at the closing of the proposed transaction. The accepting holders included the holders of 100% of 12 7/8% preferred stock. This agreement allows Petro to redeem its 9 3/8% debentures, 10 1/8% notes and 12 1/4% debentures at 100%, 100% and 103.5% of principal amount, and to redeem its 12 7/8% preferred stock at $23 per share. In consideration for this early redemption right, Petro agreed to issue to those holders 3.3732 shares of newly issued junior convertible preferred stock for each $1,000 in principal amount or liquidation preference of such securities. Petro subsequently offered to the remaining holders of these securities the same right of early redemption under the same terms and conditions as agreed to by the consenting holders. This proposal was made through an exchange offer that terminated on September 24, 1998 with an aggregate acceptance rate of more than 95%. Other Activities Undertaken in Connection With the Proposed Transaction Formal Financial Advisory Agreement with PaineWebber. On June 3, 1998, following consultation with a number of Petro board members, the management of Petro entered into a formal financial advisory agreement with PaineWebber. 57 Meeting with Hanseatic on Terms of the Exchange Also, on June 3, 1998, Mr. Sevin met with the representatives of Hanseatic Americas LDC, a Bahamian limited duration company indirectly controlled by Hanseatic Corporation, a majority of the shares of capital stock of which were owned by Wolfgang Traber, a Petro board member, and in which another Petro board member, Paul A. Biddelman, acts as President. Hanseatic Americas and Hanseatic Corporation in the aggregate owned more than 1.9 million shares of Petro common stock. The purpose of the meeting was to determine the Hanseatic companies' willingness to exchange their Petro common stock for Star Gas Partners junior subordinated units and general partner units, rather than the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units being exchanged with the Petro public common stockholders. Specified other affiliates had previously indicated an unwillingness to accept junior and illiquid securities at the value suggested by PaineWebber. The Hanseatic companies' assent was necessary, so that when combined with the shares of Petro common stock that Irik Sevin and Audrey Sevin were prepared to convert into Star Gas Partners junior subordinated units and general partner units, a total of the approximately 5.3 million shares of Petro common stock required by Star Gas Partners' proposal could be accumulated. While Mr. Traber indicated a willingness to undertake an exchange in order to accommodate completion of the transaction, he further wanted the independent assent of the major investors in these companies. An agreement was reached that these representatives would support the exchange. Meeting with Star Gas Board of Directors on the Status of the Transaction On July 27, 1998, at a meeting of the Star Gas Corporation board, Mr. Sevin, on behalf of Petro, and the special committee informed the board of the progress of the discussions and negotiations between PaineWebber on behalf of Petro and A.G. Edwards on behalf of the special committee. Mr. Sevin also informed the Star Gas Corporation board of the results of Petro's negotiations with the institutional holders of its public and private debt and preferred stock. Mr. Sevin advised the Star Gas Corporation board that it was his understanding that A.G. Edwards would produce a revised proposal in the form of a draft term sheet to reflect the discussions and negotiations. Mr. Sevin also informed the board that he had received a telephone call from a director of Heritage Propane Partners, L.P., another publicly-traded propane limited partnership, to inquire as to whether Star Gas Partners would be interested in being acquired by Heritage. The purchase price indicated did not reflect any premium over the current market price of the Star Gas Partners common units and the valuation of Petro's subordinated units and general partner interests was not acceptable to Petro. After discussion, it was decided that Mr. Sevin should respond that Star Gas Partners was not interested in the proposal. A.G. Edwards Prepares and Forwards the Revised Proposal to Petro On July 28, 1998, following additional telephonic discussions with PaineWebber to further refine the terms of the revised proposal, A.G. Edwards, on behalf of the special committee, forwarded the revised proposal to the Star Gas Corporation board, the Petro board and PaineWebber for each of their review and consideration. The revised proposal clarified that the Star Gas Partners general partner units would be subordinated to both its common units and senior subordinated units, but was otherwise similar to the preliminary draft proposal. 58 On July 29, 1998, Dain Rauscher Wessels met with representatives of Petro to review the revised proposal and for Dain Rauscher Wessels to undertake further due diligence. The Petro Board Reviews the Revised Proposal On August 3, 1998, at a meeting of the Petro board, which was attended telephonically by Dain Rauscher Wessels as well as PaineWebber and legal counsel, Mr. Sevin stated that it was important at this time to apprise the directors of all of the details of the revised proposal and to answer any questions that they may have, since the matter might be brought to a formal vote within the next week to ten days. The Petro board then discussed various aspects of the proposed transaction as well as the fiduciary obligations of the Petro board and those of the Petro directors who also serve as directors of Star Gas Corporation. In response to questions regarding these responsibilities, Mr. Michael Rosenwasser, of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P., co-counsel to Petro, indicated that the special committee would have the overall responsibility for negotiating, reviewing and deciding whether to recommend the proposed transaction to the Star Gas Corporation board and to the public common unitholders. Mr. Rosenwasser further indicated that the law firms of Phillips Nizer Benjamin Krim & Ballon LLP and Andrews & Kurth would be representing Petro and its board and that the law firm of Baker & Botts would be representing the special committee. A question was raised as to whether it would be advisable to appoint an independent committee of the Petro board to represent the Petro public common stockholders. After discussion, it was determined that there was doubt as to whether an unquestionably independent committee could be constituted. Instead, the Petro board determined that Petro would not proceed with the proposed transaction without the approval of the holders of a majority of the shares of Petro's Class A common stock owned by non-affiliates and unless Petro received a favorable fairness opinion from Dain Rauscher Wessels as to the consideration to be received by the Petro public common stockholders. On August 10, 1998, Petro entered into an agreement with specified affiliated Petro Class C common stockholders to approve the transaction. Such approval was required under a Petro stockholders' agreement among the holders of Petro's Class C common stock. The Special Committee Approves the Revised Proposal On August 11, 1998, the Star Gas Corporation board by written consent authorized the special committee to assume responsibility for all matters relating to the proposed transaction, including the power and authority to negotiate the terms of the transaction subject to those additional actions by the Star Gas Corporation board as may be necessary or advisable under applicable law. Following the grant of that authority, the special committee approved the revised proposal and transmitted the revised proposal to the Petro board. The Petro Board Approves the Revised Proposal The Petro board met on August 13, 1998 to consider and vote upon the revised proposal. Mr. Sevin reviewed with the Petro board some minor changes which had been made to that document after to the August 3, 1998 meeting, and indicated that it had been approved by the special committee earlier in the week. After discussion, the Petro board unanimously approved the revised proposal. 59 On August 14, 1998, Petro and Star Gas Partners issued a joint press release announcing that they had reached an agreement-in-principle concerning the proposed transaction. During August, September and October 1998, the special committee, in conjunction with its legal counsel and financial advisors, negotiated the terms of a merger agreement and exchange agreement with Petro and its legal counsel and financial advisors. During the course of these negotiations, the special committee required, and Petro ultimately agreed, as a condition of the transaction, that (1) no distributions could be made on any Star Gas Partners subordinated units until August 15, 1999; (2) specified earnings tests had to be achieved for any distributions to be made on that date or on the next anticipated distribution date of November 15, 1999; and (3) as of the closing of the transaction, Petro had to have specified minimum working capital levels substantially higher than was required in the preliminary draft proposal. The Special Committee Recommends and the Star Gas Corporation Board Approves the Transaction On October 16, 1998 the special committee met with its financial advisors and legal counsel to consider the transaction. At this meeting, A.G. Edwards delivered its oral and written opinion that the transaction was fair, from a financial point of view, to the Star Gas Partners public common unitholders. The special committee then entered into a full discussion of the financial and legal aspects of the transaction with its financial and legal advisors. On October 19, 1998, the special committee met again with its financial and legal advisors and, after discussion and based on the advice of its advisors and the fairness opinion of A.G. Edwards, unanimously voted to recommend the transaction to the Star Gas Corporation board for its approval subject to its legal advisors negotiating the last remaining details of the merger agreement, none of which were deemed material. On October 19, 1998, based on that recommendation, the Star Gas Corporation board approved the merger agreement and exchange agreement and authorized the officers of Star Gas Corporation to execute and deliver the merger agreement and exchange agreement. The Petro Board Approves the Transaction On October 6, 1998, Dain Rauscher Wessels presented to the Petro board its opinion that the consideration to be provided to the Petro public common stockholders in the transaction was fair from a financial point of view. PaineWebber and Petro's legal counsel attended that meeting. On October 19, 1998, the Petro board held a meeting to consider the transaction. Based on a variety of factors, including the Dain Rauscher Wessels opinion, the Petro board unanimously approved the merger agreement and exchange agreement and authorized and directed the officers of Petro to execute and deliver the merger agreement and exchange agreement. Petro and Star Gas Partners Negotiate to Amend the Transaction As a result of the volatility and uncertainty in the high yield debt markets in October and November 1998, Petro began to explore alternatives to the initially contemplated high yield offering of $120 million of senior subordinated debt. In November and December 1998, Petro had several telephone conversations and meetings with Bank of America regarding a proposed private placement of investment grade senior secured debt as an alternative to the high yield offering. Representatives 60 of the bank advised Petro that they believed that there was a market for an offering of approximately $90 million of Petro senior secured debt if that debt were to receive an investment grade rating. In their opinion this rating could be obtained by changing the proportion of capital to be raised from $140 million of equity and $120 million of debt to $170 million of equity and $90 million of debt and by ranking the debt senior secured. In order to structure this type of offering, Petro needed to obtain the consent of its existing senior private debtholders to permit the new debt to be given that ranking. In December 1998, Petro had several conversations with the holders of its existing senior debt as well as conversations with the Fitch rating service to determine whether a $90 million senior secured debt offering could receive an investment grade rating. In December 1998, Petro received favorable indications from the holders of its existing senior debt that they would be willing to permit the new senior debt to be pari passu with the existing senior debt. In January 1999, Petro received preliminary advice from the Fitch rating service indicating that a $90 million senior secured debt offering by Petro could receive an investment grade rating. In January 1999, Mr. Sevin sought approval from the special committee to amend the merger agreement between Star Gas Partners and Petro to allow an increase in the amount of Star Gas Partners common units to be issued from $140 million to $170 million and to provide greater flexibility in that agreement's limitation on the annual cost of new capital. After consultation with A.G. Edwards, the special committee advised Mr. Sevin that they were concerned that an increase in the size of the equity offering would reduce the common unit coverage ratio, as compared to the level that was contemplated under the originally agreed upon capital structure. This would make the revised structure less attractive, in their opinion, to the Star Gas Partners common unitholders. The special committee indicated they could approve the common unit offering increase, however, in return for a 10% reduction in the conversion ratio on the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units to be issued in exchange for Petro common stock. The special committee also agreed to allow some limited flexibility on the cost of capital requirement in the merger agreement to the extent that Petro obtained savings on the redemption prices of its debt and preferred stock and used those savings to retire debt and preferred stock. After reviewing this proposal with PaineWebber, on January 13, 1999, Mr. Sevin advised the special committee the he would recommend that the Petro board approve this proposal. The Special Committee Recommends and the Star Gas Corporation Board Approves the Amended Transaction On February 10, 1999 the special committee met with its financial advisors and legal counsel to consider the proposed changes to the transaction. At this meeting, A.G. Edwards delivered its oral and written opinion that the amended transaction was fair, from a financial point of view, to the Star Gas Partners public common unitholders. After discussion and based on the advice of its advisors and the fairness opinion of A.G. Edwards dated February 10, 1999, the special committee unanimously voted to recommend the amended transaction to the Star Gas Corporation board for its approval. This approval was subject, however, to its legal advisors negotiating the last remaining details of the amendment to the merger agreement, none of which were deemed material. On 61 February 10, 1999, based on that recommendation, the Star Gas Corporation board approved the amended merger agreement and amended exchange agreement and authorized the officers of Star Gas Corporation to execute and deliver the amended merger agreement and the amended exchange agreement. The Petro Board Approves the Amended Transaction On February 10, 1999, Dain Rauscher Wessels presented to the Petro board its opinion dated February 10, 1999 that the consideration to be provided to the Petro public common stockholders in the amended transaction was fair, from a financial point of view. PaineWebber and Petro's legal counsel attended that meeting. Based on a variety of factors, including the Dain Rauscher Wessels opinion dated February 10, 1999, the Petro board unanimously approved the amended merger agreement and amended exchange agreement and authorized and directed the officers of Petro to execute and deliver those agreements. Reasons for the Transaction that the Special Committee Considered; Recommendations of the Special Committee and Star Gas Corporation Board At a meeting of the special committee held on February 10, 1999, the special committee received presentations concerning, and reviewed the terms of, the amended transaction with members of management and its legal counsel and financial advisors. At the meeting, the special committee unanimously determined that the amended transaction is fair to, and in the best interests of, the Star Gas Partners public common unitholders. The special committee expressly adopted the conclusions and analysis of A.G. Edwards regarding the fairness of the transaction to the Star Gas Partners public common unitholders. Accordingly, the special committee unanimously recommends that the Star Gas Partners unitholders vote FOR the unitholder meeting proposals at the unitholders meeting. Based on the recommendation of the special committee, the board of directors of Star Gas Corporation has determined that the transaction is fair to, and in the best interests of, the Star Gas Partners public common unitholders and unanimously recommends that the Star Gas Partners common unitholders vote FOR each of the proposals at the unitholders meeting. The Star Gas Corporation board, other than the members of the special committee, has also determined on behalf of Star Gas Partners that the transaction is fair to, and in the best interests of, Petro's public common stockholders. In reaching this conclusion, the Star Gas Corporation board has adopted the analyses employed by the Petro board to reach the same conclusion. During the course of its deliberations, the special committee, with the assistance of management and its legal and financial advisors, considered a number of factors, including the following potential advantages of the transaction: . The special committee believes the acquisition of Petro will increase Star Gas Partners' ability to grow through further acquisitions in the home heating oil business. Petro is the largest retail distributor of home heating oil in the country. In addition, Petro has been the principal consolidator of that highly fragmented industry, having purchased over 180 retail home heating oil companies since 1979. The primary source of growth in the propane industry is acquisitions. Competition for acquisitions in the propane industry has intensified, decreasing the opportunities available, and increasing the prices paid, for propane companies. The special committee believes Petro's strong position in the home heating oil industry will provide Star Gas Partners with an additional source of attractive acquisition and expansion opportunities. 62 . The special committee believes the transaction will be accretive to Star Gas Partners' distributable cash flow per unit based on the following three factors: (1)Star Gas Corporation's management projections for 15- and 30-year weather; (2) Petro's management projections for 15- and 30-year weather, as well as the adjusted 15-year weather projections for Petro and the adjusted 30-year weather projections for Petro utilized by A.G. Edwards in its analyses; and (3) the expected pro forma capital structure of Star Gas Partners, including its pro forma debt and common, senior subordinated, junior subordinated and general partner units outstanding. The expected increase in distributable cash flow per unit resulting from the transaction will enable Star Gas Partners to raise the minimum quarterly distribution from $0.55 to $0.575 or from $2.20 to $2.30 on an annual basis. If the expected increase in distributable cash flow is realized, it will provide greater protection of the minimum quarterly distribution and improve the possibility of future distribution increases. . The transaction will increase Star Gas Partners' market capitalization and should provide greater common unit liquidity, investment community awareness and the ability to attract securities analyst research coverage. . Petro common stockholders will receive Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units that are subordinated to the distributions on Star Gas Partners common units for a minimum of three years. The senior subordinated units will remain subordinated to the common units until Star Gas Partners has earned and paid the minimum quarterly distribution of $2.30 on all units for three consecutive four-quarter periods. In addition, the subordination period has been extended at least 21 months from January 1, 2001 to October 1, 2002. . During the subordination period, distributions on the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units will be generally limited to the amount of distributable cash generated after the transaction is completed. . Overall, the special committee believes that the transaction represents an opportunity to acquire a company that is expected to significantly increase Star Gas Partners' size and scope of operations, growth prospects and ability to increase its distributions to unitholders. During the course of its deliberations, the special committee also considered the following potential disadvantages of the transaction: . Star Gas Partners is acquiring an entity which, based on 1997 revenues, is several times its size. Therefore, the nature of Star Gas Partners' business will change significantly. . Petro has a history of operational and financial difficulties, including high leverage and recent substantial net losses. . The success of the acquisition depends upon Star Gas Partners' ability to continue to (1)make heating oil acquisitions at attractive prices; (2)reduce Petro's customer attrition rate; and (3) improve Petro's profit margins on a per gallon basis. 63 There can be no assurance that any of the three will occur. . Star Gas Partners is making a large investment in a business which, like Star Gas Partners' propane operations, is negatively affected by warm weather during the winter months. . The income of Petro, unlike the income of Star Gas Partners, will be subject to corporate tax prior to distributions. Dividend income from Petro cannot be offset with past or future losses generated by Star Gas Partners' propane operations. . The ratio of taxable income to cash distributions to be made to the existing Star Gas Partners common unitholders will increase over time at a greater rate than if the transaction does not occur. . The home heating oil business is not a growth business as a result of competition from alternative energy sources. . The proportion of Star Gas Partners common units to total limited partner interests will increase from 60.5% to 79.9%. Therefore the likelihood that common units will receive the full minimum quarterly distribution will be reduced. . The number of Star Gas Partners common units will increase from approximately 3.9 million to 12.9 million representing a potential significant dilution. The special committee also considered the following factors: . The special committee placed significant weight on A.G. Edwards' opinion that the transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Star Gas Partners public common unitholders. The special committee considered valuation methods used by A.G. Edwards in rendering their opinion to be appropriate and has adopted the A.G. Edwards opinion in reaching their determination as to the fairness of the transaction to the Star Gas Partners public common unitholders. The special committee did not perform its own financial analysis (see page 65). . The projections prepared by Star Gas Partners and Petro (see page 90). . The terms of the exchange agreement, the merger agreement and the amendments to the partnership agreement (see pages 97, 100 and 111). . The conditions to the completion of the transaction (see page 102). . The background of the structure of the transaction (see page 49). . The conflicts of interest in structuring the transaction (see pages 22 and 28). . Recent trading prices of the common units and the common stock (see pages 158 and 159). The discussion above of information and factors considered and given weight by the special committee is not intended to be exhaustive. Except for A.G. Edwards' opinion, on which it placed significant weight, in view of the wide variety of factors considered in its evaluation of the transaction, the special committee did not find it practicable to, and did not, quantify or otherwise attempt to assign relative weights to the specific factors considered in reaching its determination. In addition, individual members of the special committee may have given different weights to different factors. 64 The special committee unanimously recommends that the Star Gas Partners public common unitholders vote FOR the unitholder meeting proposals. Opinion of A.G. Edwards On March 23, 1998, the special committee engaged A.G. Edwards to serve as its financial advisor and to render an opinion as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the transaction to the Star Gas Partners public common unitholders. A.G. Edwards, as part of its investment banking business, is regularly engaged in, among other things, the valuation of businesses and their securities in mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, secondary distribution of listed and unlisted securities, private placements, and valuations for estate, corporate and other purposes. A.G. Edwards is familiar with Star Gas Partners through acting as exclusive financial advisor and placement agent in Star Gas Partners' private placement of 7.17% First Mortgage Notes due 2010 and through its securities research coverage of Star Gas Partners. A.G. Edwards is not aware of any relationship between A.G. Edwards and Star Gas Partners, Star Gas Corporation or Petro, which in its opinion, would affect its ability to render a fair and independent opinion in this matter. On October 16, 1998, A.G. Edwards rendered its written opinion to the special committee that, as of the date of the opinion, the transaction was fair, from a financial point of view, to the Star Gas Partners public common unitholders. On February 10, 1999, A.G. Edwards rendered an opinion to the special committee, that as of such date, the transaction was fair, from a financial point of view, to the Star Gas Partners public common unitholders. This opinion and the related analysis described below reflect the changes to the transaction and the updated projections. The opinion dated October 16, 1998 has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this proxy statement forms a part. After delivering the October 16, 1998 opinion, Star Gas Partners invited A.G. Edwards to serve as one of seven co-managers of the equity offering. The full text of the A.G. Edwards opinion dated February 10, 1999 is attached as Annex D to this proxy statement. It describes A.G. Edwards' principal assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations of the scope of the review undertaken by A.G. Edwards in rendering its opinion. The Star Gas Partners public common unitholders are urged to, and should, read the A.G. Edwards opinion carefully and in its entirety. The A.G. Edwards opinion was directed to the special committee and addresses only the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the transaction to the Star Gas Partners public common unitholders and does not constitute tax advice or a recommendation to any Star Gas Partners public common unitholder as to how to vote on the transaction. The summary of the A.G. Edwards opinion in this proxy statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the A.G. Edwards opinion. 65 For purposes of the A.G. Edwards opinion dated February 10, 1999, A.G. Edwards assumed the completion of an approximate $170.0 million public offering of common units and an approximate $90.0 million private offering of debt by Petro, as well as the redemption of debt and preferred stock of Petro. A.G. Edwards understood that the transaction will not be completed without the successful completion of the offerings and redemptions in accordance with the terms of the amended merger agreement. A.G. Edwards also assumed that the withdrawal of Star Gas Corporation as general partner of Star Gas Partners and the related admission of a successor general partner will have no financial impact on the Star Gas Partners public common unitholders. In rendering its opinion dated February 10, 1999, A.G. Edwards reviewed: . the most recently available drafts of Star Gas Partners' registration statement on Form S-4 and its exhibits including the amended merger agreement, the exchange agreement, the amended and restated partnership agreement and the conveyance and contribution agreements; . some publicly available historical audited financial statements and some unaudited interim financial statements of Star Gas Partners and Petro; . some financial analyses and forecasts of Star Gas Partners prepared by, and reviewed with, management of Star Gas Corporation and the views of management of Star Gas Corporation regarding Star Gas Partners' past and current business operations, results thereof, financial condition and future prospects, including the impact of the transaction, as well as information relating to the retail propane distribution industry and the potential strategic, financial and operational benefits and challenges anticipated from the transaction; . some financial analyses and forecasts of Petro prepared by, and reviewed with, management of Petro and the views of management of Petro regarding Petro's past and current business operations, results thereof, financial condition and future prospects, including the impact of the transaction, as well as information relating to the home heating oil distribution industry and the potential strategic, financial and operational benefits and challenges anticipated from the transaction; . the pro forma impact of the transaction on Star Gas Partners and Petro; . the publicly reported historical price and trading activity for the common units and the Class A common stock, including a comparison of some financial and stock market information for Star Gas Partners with similar publicly available information for some other companies, the securities of which are publicly traded; . the current market environment generally and the retail propane distribution environment and the home heating oil distribution environment in particular; . information relating to the financial terms of some transactions, including selected merger and acquisition transactions; and . any other information, financial studies, analyses and investigations, and financial, economic and market criteria that A.G. Edwards considered relevant. 66 A.G. Edwards did not perform an analysis related to the net book value or the liquidation value of Petro as it considered these analyses inappropriate under the circumstances of the transaction. A.G. Edwards believes that net book value represents only historical financial performance and does not accurately reflect market value or potential future financial performance. Additionally, A.G. Edwards believes that a liquidation value analysis is inappropriate for valuing Petro as an ongoing concern. In rendering the A.G. Edwards opinion dated February 10, 1999, A.G. Edwards assumed that the transaction will be completed on the terms contained in the amended merger agreement, without any waiver of any material terms or conditions by Star Gas Partners or Petro. The financial or other information upon which A.G. Edwards based its opinion dated February 10, 1999 was either publicly available, furnished to or otherwise discussed with A.G. Edwards for the purpose of its opinion. A.G. Edwards relied upon and assumed the accuracy and completeness of this information without any independent verification. A.G. Edwards assumed and was advised by the management of Star Gas Corporation and Petro that the financial projections and other information provided to A.G. Edwards were reasonably prepared on a basis that reflects the best currently available estimates and judgments of the management of Star Gas Corporation and Petro. A.G. Edwards requested that the management of Star Gas Corporation adjust the 1999 Star Gas Partners projections for the actual results through January 21, 1999. These adjusted for actual projections were lower than the Star Gas Partners 1999 EBITDA projections by 12.4% for the 30-year weather projections and 10.0% for the 15-year weather projections. A.G. Edwards reviewed numerous sets of Petro's projections and analyzed what it believed were some of the major assumptions embedded within Petro's projections, which are detailed in "--Certain Projections of Petro and Star Gas Partners."A.G. Edwards requested that Petro: (1) make changes to two of its assumptions; (2) adjust its 1999 projections for the actual results through January 21, 1999; and (3) furnish A.G. Edwards with the resulting adjusted projections based on both 15-year weather and 30-year weather, collectively referred to as the "adjusted projections for Petro." The two assumptions that A.G. Edwards requested that Petro change were as follows: . A.G. Edwards assumed retail margin growth of $0.01 per gallon in 1999 and $0.005 per gallon thereafter; and . A.G. Edwards assumed that Petro would complete $15.0 million in 1999 and $30.0 million, annually, in 2000 to 2002 of home heating oil company acquisitions at a purchase price of 4.75x the first year earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and any infrequent revenues and expenses ("EBITDA"). The adjusted 30-year weather projections for Petro resulted in heating oil EBITDA projections that were lower than the heating oil EBITDA projections from Petro's 30-year weather projections by the following percentages for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002: 5.9%, 4.3%, 7.7% and 10.6%. The adjusted 15-year weather projections for Petro resulted in heating oil EBITDA projections that were lower than the heating oil EBITDA projections from Petro's 15-year weather projections by the following percentages for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002: 3.4%, 3.3%, 5.0% and 6.6%. 67 The special committee did not engage A.G. Edwards to, and therefore A.G. Edwards did not, verify the accuracy or completeness of any of the information above. A.G. Edwards has relied upon the assurances of the management of Star Gas Corporation and Petro that the managements are not aware of any facts that would make the information inaccurate or misleading. A.G. Edwards did not conduct a physical inspection of the properties or facilities of Star Gas Partners or Petro nor did it make or obtain any independent evaluation or appraisals of those properties or facilities or assets and liabilities. A.G. Edwards assumed that the transaction will be accounted for as a purchase transaction under generally accepted accounting principles. A.G. Edwards also assumed that the final form of Star Gas Partners' registration statement on Form S-4, the amended merger agreement, the exchange agreement, the amended and restated partnership agreement and the conveyance and contribution agreements would be substantially similar to the last drafts reviewed by A.G. Edwards. The A.G. Edwards opinion is necessarily based on economic and other conditions as in effect on, and the information made available to A.G. Edwards as of February 10, 1999, except market data, which was as of February 3, 1999. The consideration being paid to the Petro common stockholders in the transaction will consist of Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units. As of the date of the A.G. Edwards opinion, a market price did not exist for these units. After the transaction, a market price will exist only for the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units. In A.G. Edwards' judgment, an analysis of the value per unit of each of the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units was necessary to evaluate the fairness of the transaction. In analyzing the value of the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, A.G. Edwards reviewed estimated ranges of discount rates, trading yields and relative valuations compared to the price of the publicly-traded Star Gas Partners common units. In determining these estimated ranges, A.G. Edwards considered, among other factors: . during the subordination period, Star Gas Partners common unitholders will have priority in payment of the full minimum quarterly distribution plus arrearages before any distributions are made to the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated unitholders; . the earliest date on which the subordination period could expire is October 1, 2002; . the subordination period would only expire if the adjusted operating surplus generated during each of the three immediately preceding non- overlapping four-quarter periods equaled or exceeded the sum of the increased minimum quarterly distribution of $2.30 on a yearly basis on all outstanding units during that period; . during the subordination period, distributions on the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units will be limited to the amount of distributable cash generated; . the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units will receive a distribution of additional Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, but only if Petro achieves specified financial goals during the five- year period following the closing of the transaction; and . the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units will receive a pro rata distribution of the rights to receive incentive distributions previously held by the general partner. A.G. Edwards' analysis resulted in an implied valuation range for a Star Gas Partners senior subordinated unit of $15.26 to $17.17 per unit, of which A.G. Edwards used the midpoint value of $16.22. 68 In analyzing the value of the Star Gas Partners junior subordinated units and general partner units, A.G. Edwards considered, among other factors, some of the differences between the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, on the one hand, and the junior subordinated units and general partner units, on the other hand, including: . the lack of marketability of the Star Gas Partners junior subordinated units and general partner units; . the authority given the general partner under the amended and restated partnership agreement, and reflected in the general partner units, to control the affairs of Star Gas Partners; and . during the subordination period, both the common units and senior subordinated units will have priority in payment of the full minimum quarterly distribution before any distributions are made on the Star Gas Partners junior subordinated units and general partner units. A.G. Edwards' analysis resulted in an implied valuation range for the junior subordinated units and general partner units of $12.40 to $14.31 per unit, of which A.G. Edwards used the midpoint value of $13.35. Based on an implied value of $16.22 for each senior subordinated unit and $13.35 for each junior subordinated unit and general partner unit, A.G. Edwards calculated that the implied consideration paid for each Petro share averaged $1.91. A.G. Edwards did not express an opinion as to what the value of the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units or general partner units will be when issued to the Petro common stockholders in the transaction or the price at which the common units or senior subordinated units will trade after the transaction. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process and is not readily susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. In rendering the A.G. Edwards opinion dated February 10, 1999, A.G. Edwards applied its judgment to a variety of complex analyses and assumptions, considered the results of all of its analyses as a whole and did not attribute any particular weight to any analysis or factor considered by it. Furthermore, selecting any portion of its analyses, without considering all analyses, would create an incomplete view of the process underlying the A.G. Edwards opinion. In addition, A.G. Edwards may have given various analyses and factors more or less weight than other analyses and factors, and may have deemed various assumptions more or less probable than other assumptions, so that the ranges of valuations resulting from any particular analysis described below should not be taken to be A.G. Edwards' view of the actual value of Star Gas Partners or Petro. In performing its analyses, A.G. Edwards made numerous assumptions regarding industry performance, general business and economic conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond the control of Star Gas Partners or Petro. The assumptions made and judgments applied by A.G. Edwards in rendering the A.G. Edwards opinion dated February 10, 1999 are not readily susceptible to description beyond that in the written text of the A.G. Edwards opinion itself. Any estimates are not necessarily indicative of future results or actual values, which may be significantly more or less favorable than those suggested by the estimates. A.G. Edwards does not assume responsibility if future results are different from those projected. The analyses performed were prepared solely as part of A.G. Edwards' analysis of the fairness, from a financial point of view, to Star Gas Partners public common unitholders of the 69 transaction and were conducted for the delivery of the A.G. Edwards opinion to the special committee. The A.G. Edwards opinion was one of the many factors taken into consideration by the special committee in making its determination to recommend the transaction. The decision to enter into the transaction was solely that of the special committee and the Star Gas Corporation board. The following is a summary of the material analyses performed by A.G. Edwards in arriving at the A.G. Edwards opinion dated February 10, 1999: Pro Forma Acquisition Analysis A.G. Edwards analyzed the impact of the transaction on Star Gas Partners . distributable cash flow per unit, which is distributable cash flow divided by the total number of common, senior subordinated, junior subordinated and general partner units, and the related accretion; distributable cash flow is defined as EBITDA less interest expense, maintenance, capital expenditures and taxes, . common unit coverage, which is distributable cash flow per common unit divided by the yearly minimum quarterly distribution of $2.20, or $2.30 on a pro forma basis and . total unit coverage, which is distributable cash flow per total unit divided by the yearly minimum quarterly distribution of $2.20, or $2.30 on a pro forma basis. Based on the adjusted 15-year weather projections for Petro and the Star Gas Corporation's management projections for 15-year weather and adjusted 30-year weather projections for Petro and Star Gas Corporation's management projections for 30-year weather, as well as other assumptions including assumptions regarding the refinancing transactions, A.G. Edwards calculated pro forma for the transaction, projected distributable cash flow per unit, the related accretion, common unit coverage and total unit coverage and compared these calculations to the same calculations for Star Gas Partners on a stand-alone basis under three scenarios: . actual 1998, which was based on historical results for Star Gas Partners and Petro for the four quarters ended September 30, 1998, . adjusted for actual 1999 and . projected 2000, which assumed normal weather. 70 The results are as follows: A.G. Edwards believes that the accretion and increase in total unit coverage support the A.G. Edwards opinion, and that the decrease in common unit coverage in 1998 actual, 30-year weather 1999 adjusted for actual and 2000 projected does not support the A.G. Edwards opinion. Analysis of Acquisition Premiums to Market Value A.G. Edwards analyzed the premium to be received by Petro common stockholders using the implied consideration of $1.91 for each Petro share and the market value of the Petro Class A common stock one day, one week, four weeks, three months and one year prior to August 14, 1998, the day the agreement in principle relating to the transaction was announced. A.G. Edwards reviewed three groups of selected merger and acquisition transactions of majority or remaining interests involving domestic public companies, excluding banks, thrifts and trusts, and compared these transactions with the transaction. The first group included 614 mergers and corporate transactions announced and completed since January 1, 1996 through February 3, 1999 in which the selling company's share price was equal to or greater than $10 per share one week prior to the announcement. The second group included 137 mergers and corporate transactions announced and completed since January 1, 1996 through February 3, 1999 in which the selling company's share price was less than $10 per share but greater than $5 per share one week prior to the announcement. The third group included 113 mergers and corporate transactions completed since January 1, 1996 through February 3, 1999 in which the selling company's share price was equal to or less than $5 per share one week prior to announcement. A.G. Edwards compared the mean values for the $10 and greater transactions, the greater than $5 and less than $10 transactions, and the $5 and less transactions, to the transaction premiums. The results are as follows:
15-Year Weather 30-Year Weather --------------------- --------------------- Star Gas Star Gas Partners Partners Stand-alone Pro Forma Stand-alone Pro Forma ----------- --------- ----------- --------- Accretion 1998 Actual....................... $0.13 $0.13 1999 Adjusted for Actual.......... 0.56 0.56 2000 Projected.................... 0.37 0.37 Common unit coverage 1998 Actual....................... 0.98x 0.78x 0.98x 0.78x 1999 Adjusted for Actual.......... 1.04 1.06 1.13 1.12 2000 Projected.................... 1.27 1.14 1.49 1.29 Total unit coverage 1998 Actual....................... 0.59x 0.62x 0.59x 0.62x 1999 Adjusted for Actual.......... 0.64 0.85 0.68 0.90 2000 Projected.................... 0.80 0.93 0.92 1.04 71
Premium to stock price prior to Petro at Mean of Mean of Mean of announcement of the $1.91 per Unit Transactions Transactions Transactions transaction on August Implied Offer Equal to or Greater Than $5 Equal to or 14th: Price Less Than $5 and Less Than $10 Greater Than $10 - --------------------- -------------- ------------ ----------------- ---------------- One day prior: 1.9% 57.8% 34.3% 28.4% One week prior: 9.1% 68.5% 43.2% 32.9% Four weeks prior: (7.4%) 71.1% 50.1% 39.4% Three months prior: 19.8% 71.8% 63.6% 54.7% One year prior: (36.3%) 51.9% 51.3% 72.1% A.G. Edwards believes that the analysis of acquisition premiums to market value supports the A.G. Edwards opinion because the premium to the implied consideration to be received by the Petro common stockholders is less than the mean premium received in each of the three groups of selected merger and acquisition transactions reviewed by A.G. Edwards. A.G. Edwards observed that Petro's Class A common stock price has declined since the announcement of the agreement in principle of the transaction and that the implied premium to be received by Petro common stockholders, based on Petro's Class A common stock price as of February 3, 1999, was 91.0%. Contribution Analysis A.G. Edwards analyzed the relative pro forma contribution of each of Star Gas Partners and Petro to the ownership of capital in Star Gas Partners pro forma for the transaction based on Star Gas Partners' and Petro's historical results of operations and Star Gas Corporation's management projections and the adjusted projections for Petro. For comparative purposes, A.G. Edwards converted Petro's historical December 31 fiscal year-end to a September 30 year-end using Petro's quarterly statements to conform to Star Gas Partners' September 30 year-end. The results are as follows: Relative Contribution Analysis A.G. Edwards compared these figures to the percentage of the implied pro forma firm value attributable to Star Gas Partners of 34.8%. This figure was calculated by subtracting the implied aggregate purchase price of Petro's heating oil assets, as described in the comparable transactions analysis, from the pro forma net market capitalization of Star Gas Partners divided by the pro forma net market capitalization of Star Gas Partners. The pro forma net market capitalization of Star Gas Partners equals: . the pro forma common units multiplied by the market price of the common units plus . the pro forma senior subordinated, junior subordinated and general partner units multiplied by their implied values plus . the pro forma book value of debt less pro forma cash. A.G. Edwards believes that the contribution analysis supports the A.G. Edwards opinion because the percentage of the implied pro forma firm value attributable to Star Gas Partners is greater than Star Gas Partners' contribution to the gross profit and EBITDA of Star Gas Partners pro forma for the transaction for each of the years analyzed with the exception of Star Gas Partners' 1997 and 1998 EBITDA contribution. 72
Gross Profit EBITDA ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------- 15-Year 15-Year Weather 30-Year Weather Weather 30-Year Weather --------------- ------------------ --------------- ------------------ Star Gas Star Gas Star Gas Star Gas Partners Petro Partners Petro Partners Petro Partners Petro -------- ------ --------- ------ -------- ----- --------- ------ 1996.......... 24.3% 75.7% 24.3% 75.7% 1996.......... 31.3% 68.7% 31.3% 68.7% 1997.......... 29.4% 70.6% 29.4% 70.6% 1997.......... 39.8% 60.2% 39.8% 60.2% 1998.......... 28.9% 71.1% 28.9% 71.1% 1998.......... 35.1% 64.9% 35.1% 64.9% 1999 Adjusted 1999 Adjusted for Actual... 29.1% 70.9% 28.9% 71.1% for Actual... 32.0% 68.0% 32.2% 67.8% 2000 Projected..... 29.7% 70.3% 29.5% 70.5% 2000.......... 34.1% 65.9% 34.4% 65.6% Discounted Cash Flow Analyses A.G. Edwards performed a discounted cash flow analysis of Petro. In performing the Petro cash flow analysis A.G. Edwards used the adjusted projections for Petro, excluding the financial impact of projected acquisitions. In performing the Petro cash flow analysis, A.G. Edwards discounted back to September 30, 1998 using a discount rate range of 13.4% to 13.9% based upon Petro's weighted average cost of capital, the sum of: . the projected tax-adjusted operating cash flows for 1999 to 2002; and . the terminal value for 2002. The Petro terminal value was determined based on projected 2002 operating cash flow and a terminal operating cash flow multiple range of 8.0x to 10.0x. Operating cash flow means EBITDA less taxes, maintenance capital expenditures and working capital increases. The Petro cash flow analysis indicated a present value of the equity of Petro's heating oil assets in the range of ($43.3) million to ($2.9) million for 15-year weather and ($28.8) million to $14.2 million for 30-year weather. This analysis did not consider the present value of the equity value of Petro's ownership of the subordinated units and general partner interest in Star Gas Partners. A.G. Edwards believes that the Petro cash flow analysis is not meaningful to the A.G. Edwards opinion because the indicated percent values resulting from this analysis represent the implied equity value of Petro's heating oil business to Petro's common stockholders if the transaction is not consummated, and does not relate to the value of Petro's heating oil business to the Star Gas Partners common unitholders if the transaction is consummated. A.G. Edwards also performed discounted cash flow analyses of Star Gas Partners based on Star Gas Corporation's management projections and Star Gas Partners pro forma for the transaction based on Star Gas Corporation's management projections and the adjusted projections for Petro. In performing the Star Gas Partners cash flow analyses, A.G. Edwards discounted back to September 30, 1998 using a discount rate range of 9.5% to 10.3% for Star Gas Partners and 9.5% to 10.3% for Star Gas Partners pro forma for the transaction based upon the cost of equity for each, the sum of . the projected distributable cash flows for 1999 to 2002; and . the terminal values for 2002. Star Gas Partners terminal values were determined based on 2002 projected distributable cash flows and a terminal distributable cash flow multiple range of 8.5x to 10.5x for 15-year weather and 8.0x to 10.0x for 30-year weather. Based on the Star Gas Partners' cash flow analyses and the ratio of the common units outstanding as of the date of the A.G. Edwards opinion to total units, including the general partner interest, outstanding as of that date, A.G. Edwards calculated the present value attributable to the original Star Gas Partners common units and compared it to the present value attributable to the original Star Gas Partners common units pro forma for the transaction. The range of values were $75.5 million to $89.7 million for 15-year weather and $77.6 million to $92.7 million for 30-year weather for Star Gas Partners and $90.7 million to $107.4 million for 15-year weather and $92.7 million to $110.5 million for 30-year weather for Star Gas Partners pro forma for the transaction. A.G. Edwards believes that the Star Gas Partners discounted cash flow analysis supports the A.G. Edwards opinion because the range of present values attributable to the original Star Gas Partners common units is higher on a pro forma basis. 73 Comparable Transactions Analysis A.G. Edwards noted that, because Petro is the only publicly-traded home heating oil distribution company, public disclosure regarding transactions in the home heating oil distribution industry was extremely limited. A.G. Edwards analyzed the financial terms related to divestitures by Petro of three of its heating oil branches and compared them to the implied multiples of the implied aggregate purchase price of Petro's heating oil assets. The analyzed divestitures were . Punderson, a division of Petro located in Springfield, Massachusetts, . A division of Petro located in southern New Hampshire and . TLC, a division of Petro's subsidiary Ocennet located in Hartford, Connecticut. Petro sold these three branches for a range of 8.0x to 9.8x purchase price to EBITDA multiples. In analyzing the implied EBITDA multiple paid for Petro's heating oil assets, A.G. Edwards considered the following: . the implied consideration paid for the Petro common stock; . the implied valuation of the subordinated units and general partner interest of Star Gas Partners currently owned by Petro; . the redemption value of certain of Petro's indebtedness and preferred stock; . the value of Petro's indebtedness that will remain outstanding subsequent to the transaction; . consent fees paid to certain of Petro's debt holders; . an estimate of all of the transaction costs associated with the transaction that will not be funded by Petro; and . Petro's actual 1998 EBITDA, adjusted for actual 1999 EBITDA and projected 2000 EBITDA based on the Adjusted Projections for Petro. Based on this information, actual 1998 EBITDA, adjusted for actual 1999 EBITDA and projected 2000 EBITDA implied multiples paid for Petro's heating oil assets were 10.3x, 8.2x and 7.8x for 15-year weather, respectively, and 10.3x, 8.1x and 7.4x for 30-year weather, respectively. A.G. Edwards believes that the adjusted for actual 1999 and projected 2000 implied EBITDA multiples support the A.G. Edwards opinion because these multiples were within, or lower than, the range of EBITDA multiples that Petro received in the sale of three of its heating oil branches. A.G. Edwards believes that the actual 1998 implied EBITDA multiple does not support the A.G. Edwards opinion as this multiple was higher than the range of EBITDA multiples that Petro received in the sale of three of its heating oil branches. 74 Analysis of Selected Publicly Traded Partnerships A.G. Edwards used publicly-available information to compare selected financial and market trading information for Star Gas Partners to Star Gas Partners pro forma for the transaction and to a group of selected retail propane distributors, all of which are also publicly-traded limited partnerships. A.G. Edwards selected the retail propane distributors in this group based on the similarity of their businesses to that of Star Gas Partners. This group was comprised of: . AmeriGas Partners, L.P. . Cornerstone Propane Partners, L.P. . Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. . Heritage Propane Partners, L.P. . Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. No partnership used in the analysis is identical to Star Gas Partners. A.G. Edwards' analysis involves complex considerations and judgments concerning differences in the potential financial and operating characteristics of the selected comparable group of retail propane distributors and other factors regarding the trading values of this group. The financial information reviewed included, among other things: (1) market capitalization, which for purposes of this calculation was defined as equity market capitalization, plus the book value of debt plus the book value of minority interest less cash, to latest twelve months EBITDA and 1999 estimated EBITDA based on currently available research estimates; (2) equity market capitalization, which for the purposes of this calculation was defined as common units plus subordinated units and implied general partner units multiplied by the market price of the common units, to latest twelve months distributable cash flow and 1999 estimated distributable cash flow based on currently available research estimates; and (3) distribution yield. A.G. Edwards based the analysis for Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Partners pro forma for the transaction on Star Gas Corporation's management projections and the adjusted projections for Petro, the closing price of Star Gas Partners' common units on February 3, 1999 of $18.06 and a $2.20 annualized minimum quarterly distribution for Star Gas Partners stand-alone and a $2.30 annualized minimum quarterly distribution for Star Gas Partners pro forma. The results are as follows: 75
Star Gas Star Gas Partners Stand- Partners Pro alone Forma --------------- --------------- Public Partnership Public Partnership 15-Year 30-Year 15-Year 30-Year Weather Weather Weather Weather Medians Ranges ------- ------- ------- ------- ------------------ ------------------ Distribution Yield 12.2% 12.2% 12.7% 12.7% 10.4% 8.6% to 12.3% Market Capitalization/LTM EBITDA 11.9x 11.9x 10.3x 10.3x 11.5x 9.1x to 13.2x Market Capitalization/1999E EBITDA 11.0x 10.7x 8.7x 8.4x 9.8x 8.6x to 11.3x Equity Market Cap/LTM DCF 13.8x 13.8x 12.6x 12.6x 13.2x 9.6x to 15.5x Equity Market Cap/1999E DCF 12.5x 11.9x 8.9x 8.5x 10.5x 9.9x to 12.2x A.G. Edwards believes that the analysis of selected publicly traded partnerships supports the A.G. Edwards opinion as: the distribution yield on a pro forma basis increased compared to Star Gas Partners stand-alone and was higher than the median of the comparable public partnerships, and the Market Capitalization/EBITDA and Equity Market Capitalization/DCF multiples decreased on a pro forma basis compared to Star Gas Partners stand-alone and were lower than the median of the comparable public partnerships. Terms of A.G. Edwards' Engagement The terms of the engagement of A.G. Edwards by the special committee are described in a letter agreement between A.G. Edwards and the special committee. Under the terms of the engagement letter, as compensation for rendering its financial advisory services and the A.G. Edwards opinions to the special committee, Star Gas Partners agreed to pay A.G. Edwards a fee of $575,000, of which $325,000 has been paid and $250,000 will be due upon the closing of the transaction. Star Gas Partners agreed to reimburse A.G. Edwards for all travel and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in its engagement. Star Gas Partners also agreed to indemnify A.G. Edwards against some liabilities in the engagement of A.G. Edwards. Reasons for the Transaction that the Petro Board Considered; Recommendation of the Petro Board At a special meeting of the Petro board held on October 6, 1998, the Petro board received presentations concerning, and reviewed the terms of, the transaction with members of Petro's management and its legal counsel and financial advisors. At a special meeting held on October 19, 1998, the Petro board unanimously determined that the transaction is fair to, and in the best interests of, the Petro public common stockholders. The Petro board expressly adopted the conclusions and analysis of Dain Rauscher Wessels concerning the fairness of the consideration to be received by the Petro public common stockholders. Accordingly, the Petro board has unanimously approved the merger agreement and exchange agreement and unanimously recommends that the Petro common stockholders vote FOR the approval of the acquisition proposal at the special meeting. See "--Background of the Transaction." During the course of its deliberations, the Petro board with the assistance of management and its legal and financial advisors, considered the following potential advantages of the transaction: . Petro is the largest home heating oil distributor in the U.S. and the principal consolidator of that highly fragmented industry. However, Petro does not have the financial flexibility to fully capitalize upon the acquisition, operating and corporate branding opportunities resulting from this position. This transaction will recapitalize Petro providing it with access to lower cost capital to better realize these growth opportunities. . As part of a publicly-traded limited partnership, Petro's home heating oil operations should receive an improved market valuation. Due to high financing costs and amortization of customer lists, Petro does not currently generate net income for financial reporting purposes. Since publicly-traded limited partnerships are cash flow oriented and are valued primarily on a cash distribution basis, the publicly-traded limited partnership structure corresponds more closely with Petro's focus on cash flow. The Petro board also believes Star Gas Partners will have greater investment community awareness as compared to Petro. As the only public home heating oil company, Petro has had limited securities analyst research coverage. 76 . Based on information provided by its financial advisors, the Petro board expects the Petro common stockholders to receive Star Gas Partners' units that are expected to trade at an attractive price compared to the recent trading price of the Petro common stock. The actual trading price of the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units will depend on a variety of factors, including overall market conditions for publicly-traded limited partnerships, the trading level of the Star Gas Partners common units, the weather in Star Gas Partners' areas of operations and the actual and expected levels of available cash generated by Star Gas Partners' activities. . The Petro board believes that the transaction has been structured so the Petro common stockholders will continue to participate in the expected benefits from Petro's operating and corporate branding opportunities. If Petro achieves specified financial goals within the five-year period after closing, the holders of Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units will receive up to an additional 909,000 senior subordinated units. This enables Petro common stockholders to continue to participate in Petro's future performance. While there is no assurance these goals will be achieved, the Petro board believes that they are realistic and, if achieved, could provide significant additional value to Petro common stockholders. . Although Petro has historically paid cash dividends to its common stockholders, these dividends have been suspended. Star Gas Partners generally distributes to its partners the cash it generates from its operations. While there can be no assurance, this should give Petro common stockholders an increased probability of a resumption of annual distributions. . The Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units will be allocated certain incentive distribution rights previously held by the general partner. To the extent that Star Gas Partners generates cash above certain target distribution levels, the holders of Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units may receive increased cash distributions. . The Petro public common stockholders will receive Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units that must receive their full minimum quarterly distribution prior to any payments being made on the Star Gas Partners junior subordinated units and the general partner units. During the course of its deliberations, the Petro board also considered the following potential disadvantages of the proposed transaction. . Unitholders in Star Gas Partners have substantially different, and probably fewer, legal rights than Petro common stockholders: . There is no current trading market for the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units and even though it is anticipated they will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, there are no assurances that any active trading market will exist after the closing of the transaction. It is expected that the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units will trade at a lower price than the common units. . Distributions on the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units are not guaranteed and are subordinated to distributions on the common units. Further, distributions on the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and 77 general partner units are in general limited to the amount of distributable cash generated after the transaction. Therefore, there is significant uncertainty as to the amount and timing of those distributions. . Star Gas LLC, the new general partner in Star Gas Partners, may have a greater number of conflicts of interest than the directors of Petro. . Star Gas Partners' propane operations, like Petro's home heating oil business, are negatively affected by warm weather during the winter months. . Star Gas Partners may face difficulties in the future in making attractive acquisitions in the propane industry because of the highly competitive nature of the industry. . Petro common stockholders that are tax-exempt entities, regulated investment companies or foreign taxpayers may determine that holding an interest in Star Gas Partners may be unattractive from a tax perspective. If some of these investors sell their Star Gas Partners' senior subordinated units following the transaction, the market price of the senior subordinated units could fall substantially. The Petro board also considered the following factors. . The Petro board placed significant weight on the Dain Rauscher Wessels opinion that the consideration to be received by the Petro public common stockholders is fair, from a financial point of view, to the public common stockholders. The Petro board considered the valuation methods used by Dain Rauscher Wessels in rendering the Dain Rauscher Wessels opinion to be appropriate and has adopted the Dain Rauscher Wessels opinion in reaching their determination as to the fairness of the transaction to the Petro public common stockholders. The Petro board did not perform its own financial analysis (see page 79). . The projections prepared by Star Gas Partners and Petro (see page 90). . The terms of the exchange agreement, merger agreement and amendments to the partnership agreement (see pages 97, 100 and 111). . The conditions to the completion of the transaction (see page 102). . The background of the structure of the transaction (see page 49). . The conflicts of interest in structuring the transaction (see pages 22 and 28). . Recent trading prices for the Star Gas Partners common units and the Petro common stock (see pages 158 and 159). The discussion above of information and factors considered and given weight by the Petro board is not intended to be exhaustive. Except for the Dain Rauscher Wessels opinion on which it placed significant weight, in view of the wide variety of factors considered in its evaluation of the transaction, the Petro board did not find it practicable to, and did not, quantify or otherwise attempt to assign relative weights to the specific factors considered in reaching its determination. In addition, individual members of the Petro board may have given different weights to different factors. The Petro board unanimously recommends that the Petro common stockholders vote FOR the acquisition proposal at the special meeting. 78 Opinion of Dain Rauscher Wessels On May 14, 1998, the Petro board retained Dain Rauscher Wessels to render an opinion to the Petro board concerning the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the consideration the Petro public common stockholders will receive in the merger. Dain Rauscher Wessels rendered an opinion to the Petro board on October 6, 1998. This opinion stated that, as of the date of the opinion and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions described in that opinion, the consideration the Petro public common stockholders will receive in the merger was fair, from a financial point of view, to the Petro public common stockholders. On February 10, 1999, Dain Rauscher Wessels rendered an opinion that as of such date, the transaction was fair, from a financial point of view, to the Petro public common stockholders. This opinion and the related analyses described below reflect the changes to the transaction and the updated projections. The opinion dated October 6, 1998 has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this proxy statement forms a part. The full text of the Dain Rauscher Wessels opinion, which describes the principal assumptions made, matters considered and qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken by Dain Rauscher Wessels in rendering its opinion dated February 10, 1999, is attached as Annex E to the proxy statement and is incorporated by reference. The summary of the Dain Rauscher Wessels opinion dated February 10, 1999 in this proxy statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the opinion. Petro common stockholders are urged to read the opinion carefully and in its entirety. The Dain Rauscher Wessels opinion was provided to the Petro board for its information and is directed only to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the consideration the Petro public common stockholders will receive in the merger. The Dain Rauscher Wessels opinion dated February 10, 1999 does not address the merits of the underlying decision by Petro to engage in the merger and does not constitute a recommendation to any Petro common stockholder as to how that holder should vote on the approval and adoption of the merger agreement or any matter related to it. The summary below does not completely describe the analyses underlying the Dain Rauscher Wessels opinion dated February 10, 1999 or Dain Rauscher Wessels' presentation to the Petro board. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex analytical process involving various determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of financial analysis and the application of those methods to the particular circumstances. Therefore, this opinion is not readily susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. In arriving at its opinion dated February 10, 1999, Dain Rauscher Wessels did not attribute any particular weight to any individual analysis or factor considered by it, but rather made assumptions and qualitative judgments as to the significance and relevance of each analysis and factor. Accordingly, Dain Rauscher Wessels believes that its analyses must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its analyses, without considering all of its analyses, would create an incomplete view of the process underlying the Dain Rauscher Wessels opinion. In performing its analyses, numerous assumptions were made regarding industry performance, general business, economic, market and financial conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond the control of Dain Rauscher Wessels, Petro or Star Gas Partners. Any estimates contained in 79 the analyses Dain Rauscher Wessels performed are not necessarily indicative of actual values or future results, which may be significantly more or less favorable than the analyses suggest. Additionally, estimates of the value of businesses or securities do not purport to be appraisals or to reflect the prices at which those businesses or securities might actually be sold. Accordingly, the analyses and estimates are inherently subject to substantial uncertainty. The Dain Rauscher Wessels opinion dated February 10, 1999 and Dain Rauscher Wessels' presentation to the Petro board were among several factors taken into consideration by the Petro board in making its determination to approve the merger agreement. Consequently, Dain Rauscher Wessels' analyses described below should not be viewed as determinative of the decision of the Petro board or Petro's senior management to engage in the merger. In arriving at its opinion dated February 10, 1999, Dain Rauscher Wessels met with the senior managements of Petro and Star Gas Partners to discuss the businesses, operations and prospects of Petro and Star Gas Partners. Dain Rauscher Wessels also considered long-term benefits of the merger, both operational and financial, that the senior managements of Petro and Star Gas Partners described to Dain Rauscher Wessels. In addition, Dain Rauscher Wessels reviewed: . the most recently available draft of the merger agreement; . the amended and restated partnership agreement; . the most recently available draft of this proxy statement; . publicly-available financial information concerning Petro and Star Gas Partners; . internal analyses, forecasts and other internal information concerning the businesses and operations of Petro and Star Gas Partners prepared by the senior managements of Petro and Star Gas Partners; . current and historical market prices and trading volumes for Petro common stock and Star Gas Partners common units; . Petro's and Star Gas Partners' cash flow, net income and book value per share or unit; . Petro's and Star Gas Partners' capitalization and financial condition; . the pro forma financial effects which could result from the merger; . the potential relative ownership of various classes of units of Star Gas Partners after the merger by the current holders of common stock of Petro and the current unitholders of Star Gas Partners; . to the extent publicly available, the terms of selected recent merger and acquisition transactions involving comparable public companies; . merger premiums paid in selected recent stock-for-stock acquisitions of public companies generally, and energy industry companies in particular; . financial, stock market and other publicly available information relating to the businesses of other companies and limited partnerships whose operations Dain Rauscher Wessels considered comparable to the operations of Petro and Star Gas Partners; and . other information, financial studies, analyses and investigations and financial, economic and market criteria that Dain Rauscher Wessels deemed relevant in arriving at its opinion dated February 10, 1999. 80 In preparing its opinion dated February 10, 1999, Dain Rauscher Wessels did not verify any of the above information, and relied upon the information being complete and accurate in all material respects. Dain Rauscher Wessels assumed, with Petro's consent, that the financial forecasts provided to and discussed with Dain Rauscher Wessels were reasonably prepared. Dain Rauscher Wessels also assumed that those financial forecasts were prepared to reflect the best currently available estimates and judgments of the senior managements of Petro and Star Gas Partners as to the expected future performance of Petro and Star Gas Partners, and of the combined company following the proposed merger. In addition, Dain Rauscher Wessels did not conduct a physical inspection or make an independent evaluation or appraisal of the assets of Petro or Star Gas Partners, nor was Dain Rauscher Wessels furnished with any evaluation or appraisal. Dain Rauscher Wessels assumed that the merger will be accounted for as a purchase transaction under generally accepted accounting principles and will be a taxable event to the Petro public common stockholders. In rendering its opinion dated February 10, 1999, Dain Rauscher Wessels assumed that in the course of obtaining the necessary regulatory and governmental approvals for the proposed merger, no restriction will be imposed that will have a material adverse effect on the contemplated benefits of the proposed merger. Dain Rauscher Wessels also assumed that the final form of the merger agreement would be substantially similar to the last draft reviewed by Dain Rauscher Wessels. Dain Rauscher Wessels further assumed that the merger representations, warranties and covenants were correct and would be performed, and that the merger conditions would be satisfied without waiver. The Dain Rauscher Wessels opinion dated February 10, 1999 is based on circumstances as they existed on that date. The following is a brief summary of the material analyses performed by Dain Rauscher Wessels in preparation of its opinion dated February 10, 1999. Unit Reference Value Analysis Dain Rauscher Wessels performed a unit reference value analysis to determine ranges of reference values for the common units, senior subordinated units and junior subordinated/general partner units. In its judgment, this analysis was required because the senior subordinated units and junior subordinated/general partner units are newly-created classes of units for which no prior public market trading data exists. Dain Rauscher Wessels calculated a range of reference values for the common units so that they could be evaluated on a basis consistent with the other classes of units. Moreover, the determination of reference values for the senior subordinated units and junior subordinated/general partner units was required for Dain Rauscher Wessels to analyze the absolute and relative values of each class of units, as well as to evaluate the aggregate value of the consideration the Petro public common stockholders will receive in the merger. To determine a range of reference values for each class of unit, Dain Rauscher Wessels employed a discounted distribution model based upon Petro senior management's forecasts for the pro forma combined entity from October 1, 1998 through September 30, 2002, assuming 15-year weather and 30-year weather. Dain Rauscher Wessels also examined a downside case in which distributions per unit remained constant at $2.30 per year over the forecast period, and a Dain Rauscher Wessels case in which distributions increased at a slower rate than in the 15-year weather case and the 30-year weather case. Dain Rauscher Wessels examined factors including the indicated distributions, the additional senior subordinated units to be issued based upon the performance of Petro and the incentive distributions that are to be shared pro rata by the senior subordinated units 81 and junior subordinated/general partner units if distributions of available cash exceed target distribution levels. Dain Rauscher Wessels discounted projected distributions for each class of units to a net present value employing discount rates which, in its judgment, reflected: (1) prevailing market yields for the Star Gas Partners common units and publicly-traded units of other propane distribution limited partnerships; (2) the structural subordination of the various classes of units; and (3) the relative risks associated with the indicated distributions, the additional senior subordinated units to be issued based upon the performance of Petro and the incentive distributions. For each class of unit, Dain Rauscher Wessels calculated net present terminal values employing a perpetuity valuation based upon the discount rate employed for a given class of distribution and the amount of the projected distributions in the year ending September 30, 2002. To reflect the lack of marketability of the junior subordinated/general partner units, Dain Rauscher Wessels considered a range of discounts and applied a discount of 22% to the net present values calculated for those units. For the common units, Dain Rauscher Wessels applied discount rates of 9.8%- 12.0% to the projected indicated distributions. For the senior subordinated units, Dain Rauscher Wessels applied discount rates of 11.0%-14.5% to the projected indicated distributions, discount rates of 13.8%-15.5% to the projected additional senior subordinated units to be issued based upon the performance of Petro and discount rates of 14.3%-16.0% to the projected incentive distributions. For the junior subordinated/general partner units, Dain Rauscher Wessels applied discount rates of 11.8%-15.5% to the projected indicated distributions, discount rates of 13.8%-15.5% to the projected additional senior subordinated units to be issued based on the performance of Petro and discount rates of 14.3%-16.0% to the projected incentive distributions. The results of the unit reference value analysis and other key assumptions made are detailed in the table below. For purposes of performing its other analyses, Dain Rauscher Wessels employed the unit reference values implied by the Dain Rauscher Wessels case as reference values for the subject units. Discounted Cash Flow Analysis Dain Rauscher Wessels performed a discounted cash flow analysis to calculate the implied price per share of Petro common stock based upon senior management's projections assuming 15-year weather and 30-year weather from January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2002, and no acquisitions. 82
Dain 15-Year 30-Year Rauscher Downside Weather Weather Wessels Case Case Case Case -------- -------- -------- -------- Common Unit Reference Value................ $ 19.57 $ 23.63 $ 27.49 $ 21.03 Senior Subordinated Unit Unit Reference Value..................... $ 15.22 $ 18.75 $ 28.67 $ 16.56 Unit Exchange Ratio...................... 0.11758 0.11758 0.11758 0.11758 Implied Merger Value per Petro Share..... $ 1.79 $ 2.20 $ 3.37 $ 1.95 Junior Subordinated/General Partner Unit Unit Reference Value..................... $ 11.09 $ 13.49 $ 21.16 $ 12.02 Unit Exchange Ratio...................... 0.14318 0.14318 0.14318 0.14318 Implied Merger Value per Petro Share..... $ 1.59 $ 1.93 $ 3.03 $ 1.72 Using this information, Dain Rauscher Wessels calculated the net present value of Petro's unlevered free cash flows from January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2002 using discount rates ranging from 12.0% to 16.0%. Dain Rauscher Wessels also calculated the net present terminal value of Petro at December 31, 2002 based upon multiples of 6.0x to 8.0x EBITDA, which is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, in the year ending December 31, 2002, and discount rates ranging from 12.0% to 16.0%. Dain Rauscher Wessels employed the capital asset pricing model to determine a weighted average cost of capital for Petro, and also employed its professional judgment in determining a range of discount rates for use in the analysis. In order to determine an implied net present value per share of Petro common stock, Dain Rauscher Wessels added the net present values of the free cash flows and terminal values, less outstanding debt and preferred stock, net of excess cash. This calculation yielded an implied net present value per share of Petro common stock ranging from $(1.92) to $1.19 in the 15-year weather case and $(0.99) to $2.44 in the 30-year weather case. Dain Rauscher Wessels noted that the implied merger values calculated in the unit reference value analysis for the senior subordinated units exceeded the implied net present values per share of Petro common stock in each case. Inherent in any discounted cash flow analysis are the use of a number of assumptions, including the accuracy of management's projections, and the subjective determination of an appropriate terminal value and discount rate to apply to the projected cash flows of the entity under examination. Variations in any of these assumptions or judgments and variables beyond management's control, such as general and regional economies, worldwide oil and gas prices, adverse weather conditions and the availability of personnel and equipment, could significantly alter the results of a discounted cash flow analysis. Relative Contribution Analysis Dain Rauscher Wessels performed a relative contribution analysis to examine the relationship between the percentage ownership of Star Gas Partners that the Petro common stockholders will receive in the merger and Petro's relative contribution to Star Gas Partners' distributable cash flow on a pro forma combined basis. In considering the percentage ownership of Star Gas Partners that the Petro common stockholders will receive in the merger, Dain Rauscher Wessels performed calculations on both a gross units basis and an adjusted units basis. In calculating the gross units basis, Dain Rauscher Wessels treated all classes of units as being of equal value. In determining the adjusted units basis, Dain Rauscher Wessels adjusted the number of units the Petro common stockholders will receive in the merger to reflect the different values of various classes of units implied by the Dain Rauscher Wessels case in the unit reference value analysis. In calculating Petro's and Star Gas Partners' relative contribution to the distributable cash flow of Star Gas Partners on a pro forma combined basis, Dain Rauscher Wessels considered that Petro, as the owner of Star Gas Corporation and all of Star Gas Partners' outstanding subordinated units prior to the merger, was the contributor of the distributable cash flow accruing to that ownership position. Based upon senior management's normalized estimates for fiscal 1998 for Petro and Star Gas Partners, and the 15-year weather case assumptions for Star Gas Partners on a pro forma combined basis for fiscal 1999, both estimated and normalized, Dain Rauscher Wessels calculated that Petro 83 would provide 51.2%, 42.3% and 54.6% of Star Gas Partners' distributable cash flow on a pro forma combined basis for normalized fiscal 1998, estimated fiscal 1999 and normalized fiscal 1999. Dain Rauscher Wessels determined that, in the merger, the Petro common stockholders will receive 45.7% of the ownership of the pro forma combined entity on a gross units basis, and 38.3% on an adjusted units basis. Based on the exchange ratio of 0.11758 and assuming that the minimum quarterly distribution is $0.575 following the merger and the minimum quarterly distribution is paid to holders of senior subordinated units, Dain Rauscher Wessels estimated that the Petro public common stockholders who receive senior subordinated units would receive an annual distribution of $0.27 for each share of common stock exchanged in the merger. Dain Rauscher Wessels noted that Petro does not presently pay a dividend on its common stock. Net Asset Value Analysis Dain Rauscher Wessels performed a net asset value analysis to examine values that the Petro common stockholders might realize if Petro pursued orderly liquidations of its home heating oil business and investment in Star Gas Partners, and satisfied its obligations to creditors and preferred stockholders. For purposes of this analysis, Dain Rauscher Wessels selected six criteria for valuing Petro's home heating oil business: (1) the mean EBITDA multiple Petro paid in its ten largest acquisitions of home heating oil businesses in 1996-1997, adjusted for a 10% size premium; (2) the mean price per gallon of target annual volume Petro paid in those acquisitions, adjusted for a 10% size premium; (3) the mean price per target customer Petro paid in those acquisitions, adjusted for a 10% size premium; (4) the mean EBITDA multiple Star Gas Partners paid in its acquisitions of eleven propane retailers in 1994-1998, adjusted for a 10% size premium; (5) the mean EBITDA multiple paid in the selected transactions examined in Dain Rauscher Wessels' comparable transactions analysis; and (6) a growth rate adjusted EBITDA multiple implied by an analysis of the public market multiples of companies engaged in consolidating fragmented industries. In each scenario, Dain Rauscher Wessels valued Petro's current investment in Star Gas Partners by multiplying the number of subordinated units and implied general partner units by the most recent common unit price, less a 48% discount to reflect structural subordination and the fact that the subordinated units did not receive a distribution for the quarter ended September 30, 1998 and will not receive a distribution for the quarter ended December 31, 1998. Dain Rauscher Wessels assumed that outstanding debt and preferred stock were liquidated at par or liquidation value, plus applicable prepayment penalties, and further assumed $5.0 million of transaction costs. The results of the net asset value analysis are detailed in the table below. 84
Criteria ----------------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mean Median ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ------ Implied Value per Share of Petro Common Stock $0.00 $1.15 $4.35 $0.00 $0.45 $0.00 $0.99 $0.23 Dain Rauscher Wessels noted that excluding criterion (3) above, the values per share of Petro common stock implied by these analyses ranged from $0.00 to $1.15, with a mean of $0.32 and a median of $0.00. Dain Rauscher Wessels believes that criterion (3) is less reliable as a means of valuing Petro's home heating oil business due to a lack of consistency in the price per target customer Petro paid in those acquisitions. Dain Rauscher Wessels applied its subjective professional judgment in comparing these values to the implied merger value of $1.95 that the Petro public common stockholders will receive in the merger, and noted that the implied merger value exceeded each of the values implied by the criteria above, except criterion (3). Comparable Company Trading Analysis Using publicly-available information, Dain Rauscher Wessels compared, based upon market trading values as of January 22, 1999, multiples of specified financial criteria, including: . revenues; . EDITDA; . EBIT, which is earnings before interest and taxes; . net income; . cash flow from operations, which is net income plus depreciation and amortization, deferred taxes and other non-cash items, but not including changes in working capital accounts; and . tangible book value of equity. Dain Rauscher Wessels compared these multiples for Petro to other companies which, in Dain Rauscher Wessels' judgment, were comparable to Petro for purposes of this analysis. Dain Rauscher Wessels noted that Petro is the only publicly-traded company engaged primarily in the distribution of home heating oil. Accordingly, Dain Rauscher Wessels selected for comparison companies engaged to varying degrees in the wholesale and retail marketing and distribution of energy and fuel. Dain Rauscher Wessels considered other factors in selecting companies for comparison, including size, financial condition and geographic scope of operations. The group of companies Dain Rauscher Wessels used in the comparison included: .Getty Petroleum Marketing Inc., .Meteor Industries, Inc., .Midcoast Energy Resources, Inc., .Streicher Mobile Fueling, Inc., .TransMontaigne Inc. and .World Fuel Services Corporation. 85 - -------- NM = Not meaningful (1) Defined as equity market value plus book value of debt and liquidation/book value of preferred stock, less excess cash and equivalents. (2) Petro latest twelve months EBITDA and cash flow from operations include Star Gas Partners distributions. In addition, Dain Rauscher Wessels used publicly-available information, based upon market trading values as of January 22, 1999, to compare specified financial criteria for a group of publicly-traded propane distribution limited partnerships that it considered to be comparable to Star Gas Partners, including: . multiples of latest twelve months EBITDA and cash flow from operations, . distribution yields and . debt to book capitalization ratios. For purposes of analysis, this group was composed of: . Amerigas Partners, L.P., . Cornerstone Propane Partners, L.P., . Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., . Heritage Propane Partners, L.P. and . Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. Dain Rauscher Wessels calculated an adjusted equity market value for each publicly-traded propane distribution limited partnership by valuing the common units of each limited partnership at market value, the subordinated units at 65% of the common unit market value, and the implied general partner units at 85% of the common unit market value. For purposes of this analysis, Dain Rauscher Wessels valued Star Gas Partners' subordinated units at 50% of the common unit market value to reflect the fact that the subordinated units did not receive a distribution for the quarter ended September 30, 1998 and will not receive a distribution for the quarter ended December 31, 1998. Dain Rauscher Wessels also calculated an adjusted market capitalization for each limited partnership as the sum of adjusted equity market value plus the book value of debt, less excess cash and equivalents. 86
Comparable Companies ----------------------- Net Market Capitalization (1) to Latest Twelve Months Mean Median High Low Petro (2) - --------------------------------------- ----- ------ ----- ---- --------- Revenues.................................... 0.3x 0.2x 0.9x 0.1x 0.7x EBITDA...................................... 10.5x 8.5x 23.9x 3.8x 8.3x EBIT........................................ 11.3x 11.8x 15.9x 5.7x NM Equity Market Value to Latest Twelve Months - ------------------------------------------- Net Income.................................. 15.7x 12.5x 29.3x 8.7x NM Cash Flow from Operations................... 7.7x 6.4x 12.1x 3.8x 14.7x Tangible Book Value of Equity............... 1.6x 1.8x 2.1x 0.7x NM The comparable company trading analysis is a valuation methodology Dain Rauscher Wessels used to determine whether Petro and Star Gas Partners were reasonably valued by the public trading market, at existing market prices, in relation to the public trading markets' valuation of similar companies and limited partnerships. Dain Rauscher Wessels did not establish any specific valuation for Petro or Star Gas Partners in this analysis. No public company Dain Rauscher Wessels used as a comparison is identical to Petro, Star Gas Partners or the business segment for which a comparison is being made. An analysis of the results of such a comparison is not mathematical; rather, it involves complex considerations and judgments concerning differences in financial and operating characteristics of the comparable companies and other factors that could affect the public trading value of the comparable companies to which Petro and Star Gas Partners were being compared. Comparable Transactions Analysis Dain Rauscher Wessels conducted a comparable transactions analysis whereby it examined the terms of recent publicly-disclosed acquisitions of businesses and assets related to the energy marketing and distribution industry. For the significant majority of these transactions, public disclosure regarding purchase price and target financial results was insufficient to permit Dain Rauscher Wessels to draw conclusions regarding value. Sufficient data did exist with respect to 12 selected transactions that Dain Rauscher Wessels considered reasonably comparable to the merger. The selected transactions are listed below by acquiror/target: . Valero Energy Corporation/Valero Natural Gas Partners, L.P., . Associated Natural Gas Corporation/Grand Valley Gas Company, . K N Energy, Inc./American Oil & Gas Company, . Panhandle Eastern Corp./Associated Natural Gas Corporation, . Natural Gas Clearinghouse/Trident NGL Holding, Inc., . LG&E Energy Corporation/Hadson Corporation, . El Paso Natural Gas Company/Eastex Energy Inc., . PacifiCorp Holdings, Inc./TPC Corporation, . Enron Corp./Enron Global Power & Pipelines, L.L.C., 87
Comparable Companies ------------------------- Star Gas Mean Median High Low Partners ----- ------ ------ ----- -------- Adjusted Market Capitalization to Latest Twelve Months EBITDA.............. 10.3x 10.6x 11.0x 9.0x 11.0x Adjusted Equity Market Value to Latest Twelve Months Cash Flow from Operations..... 8.7x 8.9x 10.7x 7.2x 8.8x Common Unit Distribution Yields.............. 10.0% 10.1% 11.8% 8.9% 11.6% Total Debt to Book Capitalization............ 81.1% 86.8% 109.2% 49.9% 65.7% . Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P./Santa Fe Pacific Pipeline Partners, L.P., . CMS Energy Corporation/Continental Natural Gas, Inc. and . (Pending) ONEOK, Inc./Southwest Gas Corporation. - -------- NM = Not meaningful (1) Defined as transaction equity value plus book value of debt and liquidation/book value of preferred stock, less excess cash and equivalents. (2) Calculated using the implied merger value. Petro latest twelve months EBITDA includes Star Gas Partners distributions. Dain Rauscher Wessels also examined multiples Petro paid in the acquisitions of retail distributors of home heating oil during 1996-1997. Dain Rauscher Wessels noted that Petro generally paid higher multiples and values in its larger acquisitions and that Petro's home heating oil business is significantly larger than any similar business Petro acquired.
Selected Transactions ----------------------- Transaction Enterprise Value (1) to: Mean Median High Low Petro (2) - ------------------------------------ ---- ------ ---- ---- --------- Latest Twelve Months EBITDA.................. 11.0x 10.9x 14.6x 7.3x 10.3x Latest Twelve Months EBIT.................... 16.5x 15.2x 23.3x 10.9x NM Transaction Equity Value to: - ---------------------------- Latest Twelve Months Net Income.............. 34.4x 26.5x 55.3x 15.4x NM Tangible Book Value.......................... 2.6x 2.5x 4.3x 1.4x NM - -------- (1) Calculated using the implied merger value and assumptions regarding the value of Petro's current investment in Star Gas Partners. 88
All Acquisitions Petro Home (Excluding Ten Largest) Ten Largest Acquisitions Heating ------------------------------ -------------------------------- Oil Transaction Value Business to/per: Mean Median High Low Mean Median High Low (1) - ----------------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- ------- ------ ------ ---------- Latest Twelve Months EBITDA................. 4.1x 3.9x 4.9x 3.4x 4.2x 4.2x 4.6x 3.4x 11.0x Target Gallon of Annual Volume................. $ 0.55 $ 0.55 $ 0.87 $ 0.37 $ 0.84 $ 0.89 $ 1.02 $ 0.58 $ 0.87 Target Customer......... $ 630 $ 533 $1,037 $ 334 $ 1,194 $ 1,055 $2,010 $ 658 $1,004 Merger Premiums Analysis Dain Rauscher Wessels examined percentage premiums paid in all publicly- disclosed stock-for-stock transactions with transaction enterprise values of $100-$500 million since January 1, 1998. Dain Rauscher Wessels also examined percentage premiums paid in all publicly-disclosed stock-for-stock energy industry transactions with transaction enterprise values of $100-$500 million since January 1, 1994. Dain Rauscher Wessels used the implied merger value of $1.95 to calculate the implied premium to be received pursuant to the merger by the Petro public common stockholders. - ------- (1) Based on the closing price of $1.00 on January 22, 1999. Dain Rauscher Wessels' Engagement Agreement The Petro board retained Dain Rauscher Wessels to render its opinion dated February 10, 1999 on the basis of its experience with mergers and acquisitions in the energy industry, and on the basis of its experience with publicly-traded energy industry limited partnerships. Dain Rauscher Wessels is a nationally recognized investment banking firm and is regularly engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, negotiated underwritings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements and valuations for corporate and other purposes. In the ordinary course of its business, Dain Rauscher Wessels and its affiliates may actively trade the debt and equity securities of Petro and Star Gas Partners for their own account and for the accounts of customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in such securities. Under an engagement agreement between Petro and Dain Rauscher Wessels, Petro paid Dain Rauscher Wessels an engagement fee of $50,000 upon the execution of the engagement agreement and $375,000 upon the initial delivery of its written opinion to the Petro board. Petro has agreed to reimburse Dain Rauscher Wessels for its out-of-pocket expenses not to exceed $50,000 without Petro's consent, and to indemnify Dain Rauscher Wessels and its controlling persons against specified liabilities and expenses relating to or arising out of the transaction, including certain liabilities under U.S. federal securities laws. No portion of Dain Rauscher Wessels' fee was contingent upon the closing of the transaction or whether Dain Rauscher Wessels rendered a favorable opinion regarding the proposed merger. Petro and Dain Rauscher Wessels negotiated at arm's length the terms of Dain Rauscher Wessels' engagement agreement with Petro, which are customary for transactions of this nature, and the Petro board was aware of the terms at the time of its approval of the merger agreement. After delivering its opinion dated October 6, 1998, Dain Rauscher Wessels was invited to serve as one of seven co-managers of the equity offering. 89
Stock-for-Stock Energy Stock-for-Stock Industry Transactions, Transactions, $100-$500 $100-$500 million, million, since January 1, 1998 since January 1, 1994 Petro --------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------- Implied Premium/ Prior to Current Discount to: Mean Median High Low Mean Median High Low Announcement (1) - ---------------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- ------- ------ ------ ------------ ------- 1 Day prior to Announcement 26.5% 23.2% 87.5% -21.4% 24.7% 14.4% 91.0% -0.1% 3.9% 94.7% 1 Week prior to Announcement 33.2% 32.2% 93.6% -22.3% 30.8% 25.1% 99.4% 2.4% 11.3% 94.7% 4 Weeks prior to Announcement 41.7% 39.2% 208.0% -11.6% 34.3% 26.9% 95.7% 5.2% 7.4% 94.7% Projections of Petro and Star Gas Partners Petro and Star Gas Partners provided A.G. Edwards and Dain Rauscher Wessels with projected financial data for the years 1999 through 2003. The projections were not prepared with a view to public disclosure or compliance with published guidelines of the Securities and Exchange Commission or the guidelines established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants regarding projections. The projections are included in this proxy statement only because they were made available to A.G. Edwards and Dain Rauscher Wessels. These projections were prepared as of September 30, 1998. Neither A.G. Edwards, Dain Rauscher Wessels nor KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP, Star Gas Partners' independent certified public accountants, examined, compiled or applied any procedures for the projections or expressed any opinion or provided any kind of assurance on those projections. While presented with numerical specificity, the projections are based on a variety of assumptions relating to the business of Petro and Star Gas Partners that, although considered appropriate by Petro and Star Gas Partners at the time, may not be realized. Moreover, the projections and the assumptions upon which they are based are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of Petro and Star Gas Partners. Consequently, the projections and the underlying assumptions are necessarily speculative in nature and inherently imprecise, and there can be no assurance that projected financial results will be realized. It is expected that there will be differences between actual and projected results, and projected results and actual results are likely to vary materially from those shown, and that variance will likely increase over time. None of the financial advisors, Petro, Star Gas Partners, the special committee nor any of their affiliates or advisors intends to update or otherwise revise the projections. The inclusion of the projections in this proxy statement should not be regarded as an indication that the financial advisors, Petro, Star Gas Partners, the special committee or any of their affiliates or advisors considers the projections likely to be an accurate prediction of future results. Star Gas Partners common unitholders and Petro common stockholders are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the projections, which should be read in conjunction with the information relating to the business, assets and financial condition of Star Gas Partners included herein. The projections contain forward-looking information and are subject to a number of risks discussed elsewhere in this proxy statement. See "Risk Factors." These risks are likely to cause actual results in the future to differ significantly from results expressed or implied in the projections. The projections described are the most recent versions of numerous projections provided to the financial advisors. Petro and Star Gas Partners believe that discussion of earlier versions would not add materially to the information provided here. Earlier versions have, however, been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. Shown below is a summary of the projections prepared by Petro and Star Gas Partners as of September 30, 1998 and provided to the financial advisors. 90 Petro Projections on a Stand Alone Basis In order to develop projections for the fiscal years ending December 31, 1999-2003, Petro first began with formulating a revised 1998 normalized budget. The normalized 1998 budget made assumptions relating to revenues and delivery expenses based on volumes which would be associated with a "normal" winter. In addition, Petro gave full year impact in the normalized 1998 budget to $11 million in cost reduction initiatives implemented during 1998. These estimated annual cost reductions include $3.5 million for the elimination of corporate and branch overhead, $3.5 million for the rationalization of branch operating expenses and $4 million in reduced benefit plan, personnel and other operating expenses. For these purposes, Petro ran two cases assuming that "normal" weather was based on either (a) the historical average temperature of the relevant measurement statistics over the 15-year period from 1983 through 1997 derived from information published by the U.S. Department of Commerce- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ("NOAA") or (b)the historical average temperature of the relevant measurement statistics as published by the NOAA over the 30-year period from 1961 through 1990. The projections for the fiscal years ending December 31, 1999-2003 were based on the normalized 1998 budget adjusted for the following: (a)base customer attrition of 4.0% annually, (b) an increase in retail gross margins of $0.01 per gallon annually, (c) an increase in service revenues and expenses (net of the impact of attrition) of 2.0% annually, (d) an increase in net operating costs of 2.0% annually, and (e) no additional acquisitions due to capital constraints. 91 Petro Projections on a Stand Alone Basis--30-Year Case (In thousands) Petro Projections on a Stand Alone Basis--15-Year Case (In thousands)
For the Years Ending December 31, ---------------------------------------------------------- 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Operating Information Heating Oil EBITDA...... $ 46,900 $ 45,548 $ 43,867 $ 42,283 $ 40,766 $ 39,288 Distributions(1)........ 4,367 4,205 4,586 5,159 5,575 5,581 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total EBITDA............ 51,267 49,753 48,453 47,442 46,341 44,869 Depreciation and Amortization(2)........ (28,710) (23,500) (19,500) (15,500) (11,500) (8,000) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- EBIT.................... 22,557 26,253 28,953 31,942 34,841 36,869 Interest Expense........ (31,444) (30,971) (30,675) (28,749) (28,083) (28,035) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Pre-Tax Income.......... (8,887) (4,718) (1,722) 3,193 6,758 8,834 Income Taxes............ (500) (500) (500) (500) (500) (500) Equity in Star Gas Partner Earnings....... 997 1,250 1,175 1,202 1,295 1,389 Distributions........... (4,367) (4,205) (4,586) (5,159) (5,575) (5,581) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net Income(3)........... $(12,757) $ (8,173) $ (5,633) $ (1,264) $ 1,978 $ 4,142 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Other Information Maintenance Capital Expenditures... $ 2,776 $ 3,000 $ 3,000 $ 3,000 $ 3,000 $ 3,000 Net Debt and Preferred Stock (4).............. 287,934 292,348 281,906 270,549 259,627 250,129 - -------- (1) Distributions in 1998 represent actual distributions received on the units and general partner interest owned by Petro; distributions in 1999-2003 represent expected distributions based on Star Gas Partners' available cash, which may be less than the full minimum quarterly distribution. (2) Depreciation and Amortization declines from period to period since the existing assets being depreciated or amortized are not replaced on a stand- alone basis. (3) Net income includes equity in Star Gas Partners' earnings but excludes distributions. (4) Reflects total debt less net working capital plus preferred stock. 92
For the Years Ending December 31, ---------------------------------------------------------- 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Operating Information Heating Oil EBITDA...... $ 44,749 $ 43,392 $ 41,769 $ 40,237 $ 38,770 $ 37,342 Distributions(1)........ 4,367 2,719 2,772 3,013 3,300 3,614 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total EBITDA............ 49,116 46,111 44,541 43,250 42,070 40,956 Depreciation and Amortization(2)........ (28,710) (23,500) (19,500) (15,500) (11,500) (8,000) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- EBIT.................... 20,406 22,611 25,041 27,750 30,570 32,956 Interest Expense........ (31,444) (30,971) (30,675) (28,869) (29,283) (29,235) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Pre-Tax Income.......... (11,038) (8,360) (5,634) (1,119) 1,287 3,721 Income Taxes............ (500) (500) (500) (500) (500) (500) Equity in Star Gas Partner Earnings....... 442 739 780 920 1,063 1,198 Distributions........... (4,367) (2,719) (2,772) (3,013) (3,300) (3,614) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net Income(3)........... $(15,463) $(10,840) $ (8,126) $ (3,712) $ (1,451) $ 805 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Other Information Maintenance Capital Expenditures........... $ 2,776 $ 3,000 $ 3,000 $ 3,000 $ 3,000 $ 3,000 Net Debt and Preferred Stock(4)............... 290,085 289,957 283,427 276,382 270,932 266,547 Star Gas Partners Projections on a Stand Alone Basis In order to develop projections for the fiscal years ending September 30, 1999-2003, Star Gas Partners first began with formulating a revised normalized 1998 budget. The normalized 1998 budget made certain adjustments to revenues and expenses based on the expected increase in volumes that would be associated with a "normal" winter as well as acquisitions completed during fiscal 1998. For these purposes, Star Gas Partners ran two cases assuming that "normal" weather was based on either (a) the historical average temperature of the relevant measurement statistics over the 15-year period from 1983 through 1997 derived from information published by the NOAA, or (b) the historical average temperature of the relevant measurement statistics as published by the NOAA over the 30-year period from 1961 through 1990. The Projections for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999 through 2003 include the following additional assumptions: (a) $5 million of acquisitions are made in 1999 and $10.0 million of acquisitions are made annually in the years that follow, (b)the acquisitions are made at a purchase price of 6.5x the first year EBITDA of the acquired assets, (c) additional debt is incurred at an annual interest rate of 7.25%, (d)acquisitions are financed with debt and equity such that a pro forma debt to EBITDA ratio of 4.5x is maintained, (e) common units are issued at $22.00 per unit and (f) maintenance capital expenditures on the acquired assets are assumed to be approximately 2.2 cents per retail gallon sold. Star Gas Partners Projections on a Stand Alone Basis--30-Year Case (In thousands) 93
For the Years Ending December 31, ---------------------------------------------------------- 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Operating Information EBITDA.................. $ 23,722 $ 24,106 $ 25,260 $ 26,797 $ 28,335 $ 29,873 Depreciation and Amortization........... (12,079) (12,218) (13,066) (13,944) (14,652) (15,363) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- EBIT.................... 11,643 11,888 12,194 12,853 13,683 14,510 Interest Expense........ (8,497) (8,686) (9,126) (9,627) (10,129) (10,631) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Pre-Tax Income.......... 3,146 3,202 3,068 3,226 3,554 3,879 Income Taxes............ (25) (25) (25) (25) (25) (25) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net Income.............. $ 3,121 $ 3,177 $ 3,043 $ 3,201 $ 3,529 $ 3,854 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Other Information Maintenance Capital Expenditures........... $ 2,610 $ 2,632 $ 2,679 $ 2,728 $ 2,777 $ 2,827 Total Long Term Debt.... 105,000 110,209 117,128 124,047 130,966 137,885 Average Units Outstand- ing Common Units............ 3,859 3,889 4,020 4,208 4,370 4,502 Subordinated Units...... 2,396 2,396 2,396 2,396 2,396 2,396 Implied General Partner Units.................. 128 128 131 135 138 141 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total Units............. 6,383 6,414 6,547 6,739 6,904 7,039 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Star Gas Partners Projections on a Stand Alone Basis--15-Year Case (In thousands) Star Gas Partners Projections Pro Forma for the Transaction Star Gas Partners ran two cases of projections pro forma for the transaction. The first case assumes that volumes reflect weather normalization based on the historical average temperature of the relevant measurement statistics over the 15-year period from 1983 through 1997 derived from information published by the NOAA. The second case reflects weather normalization based on the historical average temperature of the relevant measurement statistics as published by the NOAA over the 30-year period from 1961 through 1997. The pro forma projections for the fiscal years ended September 30, 1998 through 2003 include the following additional assumptions: (a) the specific terms of the merger as described in "The Transaction," (b) $90.0 million of new debt issued at 7.50%, (c) the redemption of $206.3 million in senior and subordinated notes, the redemption of $34.2 million in preferred stock, and the restructuring of $66.2 million of senior and subordinated notes, (d) issuance of approximately $170.0 million of new common units at $19.00 per common unit, (e) acquisitions are financed with debt and equity such that a debt to EBITDA ratio of up to 4.0x is maintained at all times, (f) common units are issued at annualized yields of 9.5% in 1999 and at 9.0% in 2000 and thereafter, 94
For the Years Ending December 31, ---------------------------------------------------------- 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Operating Information EBITDA.................. $ 22,316 $ 22,674 $ 23,749 $ 25,182 $ 26,615 $ 28,048 Depreciation and Amortization........... (12,079) (12,218) (12,886) (13,411) (13,852) (14,296) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- EBIT.................... 10,237 10,456 10,863 11,771 12,763 13,752 Interest Expense........ (8,497) (8,515) (8,708) (9,117) (9,585) (10,052) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Pre-Tax Income.......... 1,740 1,941 2,154 2,654 3,178 3,700 Income Taxes............ (25) (25) (25) (25) (25) (25) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net Income.............. $ 1,715 $ 1,916 $ 2,129 $ 2,629 $ 3,153 $ 3,675 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Other Information Maintenance Capital Expenditures........... $ 2,610 $ 2,553 $ 2,599 $ 2,646 $ 2,694 $ 2,742 Total Long Term Debt.... 105,000 105,493 110,329 116,771 123,224 129,672 Average Units Outstand- ing Common Units............ 3,859 4,028 4,384 4,718 5,005 5,279 Subordinated Units...... 2,396 2,396 2,396 2,396 2,396 2,396 Implied General Partner Units.................. 128 131 138 145 151 157 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total Units............. 6,383 6,555 6,918 7,259 7,552 7,832 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== (g) base and projected EBITDA, maintenance capital expenditures, acquisition and operating assumptions for Star Gas Partners are the same as previously defined in "Star Gas Partners Projections on a Stand-Alone Basis," (h) base and projected EBITDA, maintenance capital expenditures and operating assumptions for Petro reflect those as previously defined in "Petro Projections on a Stand-Alone Basis" plus incremental EBITDA and maintenance capital expenditures associated with the Petro acquisitions, (i) annual operating synergies associated with the transaction of $500,000 and (j) transaction expenses net of underwriting discounts and commissions of approximately $10.9 million. The pro forma projections include the following assumptions regarding Petro's ability to make acquisitions: (a) Under the 30-year case, $15.0 million of acquisitions are made in 1999 and $30.0 million of acquisitions are made annually thereafter; and under the 15-year case, $15.0 million of acquisitions are made in 1999 and $25.0 million of acquisitions are made annually thereafter, (b) acquisitions are made at a purchase price of 4.6x the first year EBITDA of the acquired assets, and (c) customer attrition associated with acquisitions is 16.2% in year 1, 12.6% in year 2, 6.8% in year 3, and 6.1% in year 4 and thereafter. Star Gas Partners Projections Pro Forma for Transaction--30-Year Case (In thousands) 95
For the Years Ending September 30, ---------------------------------------------------------- 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Operating Income Propane EBITDA.......... $ 23,722 $ 24,106 $ 25,260 $ 26,797 $ 28,335 $ 29,873 Heating Oil EBITDA...... 46,900 47,215 50,369 54,883 59,097 63,108 Synergistic Savings..... 500 500 500 500 500 500 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Pro Forma Combined EBITDA................. 71,122 71,821 76,129 82,180 87,932 93,481 Depreciation and Amorti- zation................. (36,097) (37,186) (40,066) (43,576) (46,921) (50,274) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- EBIT.................... 35,025 34,634 36,063 38,604 41,011 43,206 Interest Expense (1).... (24,036) (24,672) (26,122) (27,845) (29,557) (31,195) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Pre-Tax Income.......... 10,989 9,962 9,941 10,758 11,455 12,012 Income Taxes............ (525) (525) (625) (675) (725) (775) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net Income.............. $ 10,464 $ 9,437 $ 9,316 $ 10,083 $ 10,730 $ 11,237 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Other Information Maintenance Capital Expenditures........... $ 6,110 $ 6,273 $ 6,393 $ 6,516 $ 6,641 $ 6,768 Total Long Term Debt.... $279,081 $293,949 $317,850 $342,052 $365,061 $387,256 Average Units Outstanding Common Units............ 12,909 12,951 13,270 13,816 14,366 14,921 Senior Subordinated Units.................. 2,491 2,491 2,794 3,097 3,400 3,400 Junior Subordinated Units.................. 430 430 430 430 430 430 General Partner Units... 323 323 323 323 323 323 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total Units............. 16,154 16,196 16,818 17,667 18,520 19,074 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Star Gas Partners Projections Pro Forma for Transaction--15-Year Case (In thousands) - -------- (1)Interest expense reflects the net cash interest expense only. 96
For the Years Ending September 30, ---------------------------------------------------------- 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Operating Income Propane EBITDA.......... $ 22,316 $ 22,674 $ 23,749 $ 25,182 $ 26,615 $ 28,048 Heating Oil EBITDA...... 44,749 45,013 47,551 50,924 54,081 57,080 Synergistic Savings..... 500 500 500 500 500 500 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Pro Forma Combined EBITDA................. 67,565 68,187 71,800 76,606 81,196 85,628 Depreciation and Amorti- zation................. (36,097) (37,186) (39,688) (42,447) (45,128) (47,818) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- EBIT.................... 31,468 31,001 32,113 34,158 36,068 37,810 Interest Expense (1).... (24,036) (24,139) (24,869) (26,226) (27,588) (28,896) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Pre-Tax Income.......... 7,432 6,862 7,243 7,932 8,479 8,914 Income Taxes............ (525) (525) (525) (525) (525) (525) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net Income.............. $ 6,907 $ 6,337 $ 6,718 $ 7,407 $ 7,954 $ 8,389 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Other Information Maintenance Capital Ex- penditures............. $ 6,110 $ 6,194 $ 6,313 $ 6,434 $ 6,558 $ 6,683 Total Long Term Debt.... 279,081 279,232 298,005 317,226 335,588 353,314 Average Units Outstanding Common Units............ 12,909 13,319 14,044 14,646 15,202 15,741 Senior Subordinated Units.................. 2,491 2,491 2,491 2,491 2,491 2,491 Junior Subordinated Units.................. 430 430 430 430 430 430 General Partner Units... 323 323 323 323 323 323 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total Units............. 16,154 16,564 17,289 17,890 18,447 18,986 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== THE TRANSACTION The following discussion includes complete summaries of the material terms of the merger agreement and the exchange agreement. The merger agreement and the exchange agreement are attached as Annexes A and B of this proxy statement and are incorporated by reference. Star Gas Partners common unitholders and Petro common stockholders are urged to read the merger agreement, the exchange agreement and other annexes in their entirety. Description of the Transaction The transaction has four principal parts: (1) Star Gas Partners' acquisition of Petro, which will be accomplished through . the exchange by certain affiliates of Petro of 11,834,183 shares of Petro common stock for approximately 772,705 Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, 430,395 junior subordinated units and 321,467 general partner units and a .01% general partner interest in Star Gas Propane; . the exchange by the Petro public common stockholders of 14,618,087 shares of Petro common stock for approximately 1,718,795 Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units; and . the merger of Petro/Mergeco, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Star Gas Partners, with and into Petro, with Petro surviving the merger; (2) The equity offering and the debt offering; (3) The withdrawal of Star Gas Corporation as the general partner of Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Propane and the election of Star Gas LLC as the successor general partner; and (4) The adoption of certain amendments to the partnership agreements of Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Propane. Description of the Merger and the Exchange The Merger Subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, Petro/Mergeco, Inc. will merge with and into Petro at the completion of the transaction. The separate corporate existence of Petro/Mergeco, Inc. will end. Petro will survive the merger and continue its corporate existence as a Minnesota corporation and as a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Star Gas Propane. The merger agreement provides that, at the effective time and without any action on the part of the Petro stockholders, the issued and outstanding shares of Petro capital stock shall be treated as follows: . Each share of common stock held by Petro as treasury stock or issued to Petro/Mergeco, Inc. as a result of the merger will be canceled and retired; . Each outstanding share of Petro common stock, other than treasury shares, shares held by Petro/Mergeco, Inc. or shares as to which dissenters rights are perfected under the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, will be converted into .11758 of a Star Gas Partners senior subordinated unit; 97 . Each outstanding share of Petro junior convertible preferred stock will be converted into .13064 of a Star Gas Partners common unit; . Each outstanding share of 12 7/8% preferred stock will be converted into the right to receive cash in the amount of $23.00 plus accrued and unpaid dividends or a lesser amount to which a holder may agree in writing; . Each outstanding share of Petro Class B common stock will remain unchanged; . Each share of Petro common stock held by a dissenting common stockholder who has perfected his dissenters' rights under the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, will represent only the right to receive "fair value" for those shares, as determined under that act; and . Each outstanding vested option to purchase shares of Petro common stock granted to employees and directors of Petro and its subsidiaries will be converted into an option to purchase .11758 of a Star Gas Partners senior subordinated unit at an exercise price equal to the quotient of dividing the original exercise price by .11758. No fractional Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units or common units will be issued in the merger. In place of any fractional senior subordinated units, each Petro common stockholder who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fraction of a senior subordinated unit will receive an amount in cash. This cash amount will be equal to the product obtained by multiplying the fraction by the closing price of the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units on their first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in an authoritative source. The cash amount received by Petro common stockholders will be calculated without interest and to the nearest cent. The Exchange Subject to the terms and conditions of the exchange agreement, immediately prior to the merger: . Irik P. Sevin, Audrey L. Sevin, Hanseatic Corp. and Hanseatic Americas LDC will contribute --a total of 2,256,471 shares of Petro common stock to Star Gas LLC for all of the ownership interests of Star Gas LLC; and --a total of 3,005,972 shares of Petro common stock to Star Gas Partners for 430,395 junior subordinated units. . Star Gas LLC will contribute its 2,256,471 shares of Petro common stock for 321,467 Star Gas Partners general partner units and a .01% general partner interest in Star Gas Propane. . Other affiliated Petro common stockholders of Petro will contribute 6,571,740 shares of Petro common stock for 772,705 Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units. Related Financing and Refinancing Transactions The refinancing of Petro's outstanding debt and preferred stock is an integral element of the transaction. The purpose of the refinancing is to substantially reduce Petro's ongoing borrowing costs, which is expected to increase the cash flow of the combined entity. This refinancing will be accomplished through several related transactions that are described below. These related transactions will close substantially simultaneously with the closing of the transaction. 98 Equity Offering and Debt Offering Key elements in the related financing are the equity offering and the debt offering. Star Gas Partners will offer for sale to the public approximately 8.9 million common units The net proceeds of this offering are estimated to be $159.9 million assuming an initial offering price of $19.00 per common unit. Petro will sell in a private placement to institutional investors approximately $90.0 million of notes. The net proceeds of this offering are estimated to be $87.9 million. It is expected that Star Gas Partners and Petro Holdings, Inc. will guarantee the notes issued in the debt offering. See "Description of Indebtedness." The net proceeds of the equity offering and the debt offering will be used to redeem Petro's public debt and preferred stock and to pay for the expenses of the transaction. Description of Exchange of Petro Private Debt and Redemption of Preferred Stock Petro has entered into agreements with the holders of (1) its outstanding 10.90% Senior Notes due 2002 in the aggregate principal amount of $60 million; and (2) its 14.1% Senior and Subordinated Notes due 2001 in the aggregate principal amount of $4.1 million. Under these agreements at the completion of the transaction: (a) the holders of the 10.90% senior notes will exchange those notes for $63.1 million aggregate principal amount of 9.0% Senior Notes due 2002 of Petro; and (b) the holders of the 14.1% senior and subordinated notes will exchange those notes for $2.2 million aggregate principal amount of 10.25% Senior Notes due 2001 of Petro and $2.2 million principal amount of 10.25% Subordinated Notes due 2001 of Petro. The new 9.0% senior notes and the new 10.25% senior notes and subordinated notes will be guaranteed by Star Gas Partners and Petro Holdings and its subsidiaries. Petro has also entered into an agreement with the holder of $4.1 million in face value of its 1989 preferred stock to redeem the 1989 preferred stock at 100% of face value plus accrued but unpaid dividends immediately prior to the completion of the transaction. Description of Petro Public Debt and Public Preferred Stock Exchange Offers In October 1998, Petro completed an exchange offer with the holders of its 10 1/8% notes, 9 3/8% debentures and 12 1/4% debentures and entered into individually negotiated agreements with the holders of its 12 7/8% preferred stock. In the debt exchange offer and the preferred stock agreements, the holders of approximately 98.5% in aggregate principal amount and liquidation preference of Petro's public debt and preferred stock exchanged those securities for a like principal amount and liquidation preference of new securities. The terms of those securities are in all material respects the same as the terms of the old securities, except that 99 (1) the new debt securities are senior to the old debt securities, and (2) the terms of the new debt securities and the new preferred stock (a) give Petro the right to redeem these securities at the closing of the transaction at the following redemption prices: . 103.5% of face value for the new 12 1/4% debentures; . 100% of face value for the new 10 1/8% notes and the new 9 3/8% debentures; and . $23.00 per share for the new 12 7/8% preferred stock; and (b) eliminate substantially all covenants from the indentures under which the old debt securities were issued. The tendering holders of the old 12 7/8% preferred stock have also granted Petro an irrevocable proxy to vote their shares of preferred stock in favor of the acquisition proposal at the special meeting. In the debt exchange offer, Petro issued an aggregate of 786,690 shares of junior convertible preferred stock to the tendering holders. At the completion of the transaction, those shares will be converted into an aggregate of 102,773 Star Gas Partners common units in the merger. Holders of substantially all of these shares have also granted Petro an irrevocable proxy or have agreed to vote these shares in favor of the acquisition proposal. Description of the Merger Agreement Completion of the Transaction; Closing The merger agreement provides that the merger will be effective at the completion of the transaction. The completion of the transaction will follow the filing of a certificate of merger with the Delaware Secretary of State and articles of merger with the Minnesota Department of State. The closing of the merger will occur after the day on which the last of the conditions to the merger have been satisfied or waived. Exchange of Certificates in the Merger For holders of Petro common stock and junior preferred stock: Promptly after completion of the transaction, the exchange agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, will mail transmittal materials to each recordholder of Petro common stock and junior preferred stock for use in effecting the surrender of their certificates. However, the exchange agent will not mail transmittal materials to dissenting common stockholders. The transmittal materials are for use by each recordholder in surrendering his certificates in exchange for certificates representing senior subordinated units or common units, as appropriate, and cash for any fractional senior subordinated units or common units. 100 Note: Petro common stockholders should not send in their certificates until they receive transmittal materials from the exchange agent. For holders of Petro 12 7/8% preferred stock: Promptly after the completion of the transaction, the exchange agent will mail transmittal materials to each recordholder of Petro 12 7/8% preferred stock for use in effecting the surrender of his certificates. The transmittal materials are for use by each recordholder in surrendering his certificates in exchange for cash in the aggregate amount payable for the surrendered Petro 12 7/8% preferred stock. The exchange agent may impose reasonable and customary terms and conditions upon the acceptance of certificates in order to effect an orderly exchange. Neither the exchange agent nor Star Gas Partners, Petro/Mergeco, Inc. or Petro shall be liable to any former Petro common stockholder for any amount properly delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar laws. Recordholders of Petro common stock and junior preferred stock immediately before the effective time who comply with the certificate exchange procedures will be entitled to receive distributions from Star Gas Partners in respect of the number of senior subordinated units or common units, as the case may be, into which their shares of Petro common stock or Petro junior preferred stock have been converted. Covenants of Star Gas Partners and Petro in the Merger Agreement The merger agreement generally provides that before the completion of the transaction, Petro and Star Gas Partners will conduct their business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice. They have agreed to use reasonable best efforts to preserve their business organizations intact, maintain their rights, franchises, goodwill and assets, keep available the services of their employees, and preserve their relationships with customers, suppliers and others. Representations and Warranties The merger agreement includes standard representations and warranties by Petro and Star Gas Partners as to themselves and their subsidiaries concerning: . organization, standing and authority; . capitalization; . the power and authority to execute the merger agreement, including necessary corporate or partnership approval, subject to equityholder approval; . absence of defaults caused by execution of the merger agreement; . the accuracy of financial statements and reports filed with the SEC; . pending or threatened litigation; . compliance with applicable laws; . the absence of undisclosed contracts and defaults; . brokers and finders fees; 101 . employee compensation and benefit plans and related matters; . labor matters; . the absence of violations or liabilities under environmental laws; . certain tax matters; . the absence of any necessary regulatory approvals of the merger, except under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act; . the conduct of business in the ordinary and usual course and the absence of certain materially adverse changes; . certain insurance matters; . the condition and sufficiency of certain tangible assets; and . the ownership and rights to use certain intellectual property. Conditions to Completion of the Merger The merger agreement generally provides that the obligations of each of Petro and Star Gas Partners to complete the merger are subject to a number of conditions, including the following: . approval of the transaction by the Petro common stockholders and the Star Gas Partners common unitholders; . expiration of any waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, making all material filings and obtaining all material approvals; . absence of any order, decree or injunction to prevent the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, or any pending governmental action, proceeding or investigation to enjoin, delay or restrict the transaction; . effectiveness of the registration statement relating to the merger; . receipt of legal opinions as to certain corporate, partnership and tax matters; . approvals of the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units and common units for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance; . as to Star Gas Partners, no withdrawal of the fairness opinion of A.G. Edwards; as to Petro, no withdrawal of the fairness opinion of Dain Rauscher Wessels; . completion of the equity offering and the debt offering; . meeting certain conditions as to refinancing of debt, cash balances and working capital; . no more than 10% of shares of Petro common stock is held by dissenting Petro common stockholders; and . Petro's entering into a working capital credit facility of not less than $30 million satisfactory to the special committee. Amendment and Waiver The merger agreement provides that prior to the closing, any provision of the merger agreement may be (1) waived by the party benefitted by that provision or 102 (2) modified or amended at any time by a written agreement of Petro and Star Gas Partners if approved by the Petro board and the special committee. The merger agreement also provides that before the submission of the merger agreement for approval at the special meeting, Star Gas Partners may change the method of effecting the combination with Petro, Petro has agreed that the Petro board will approve any amendments to the merger agreement resulting from that action by Star Gas Partners provided that it does not (a) alter or change the amount or kind of consideration to be issued to Petro common stockholders in the merger, (b) alter the tax treatment of Petro common stockholders as a result of the merger or (c) materially impede or delay the merger. Termination The merger agreement may be terminated, and the merger abandoned, at any time prior to the completion of the transaction, whether before or after approval of the merger by the Star Gas Partners common unitholders or the Petro common stockholders: (a) by the mutual consent of Petro and Star Gas Partners; (b) by either Petro or Star Gas Partners (i) if the other party materially breaches any of its representations, warranties and covenants and the breach is not cured or curable within the prescribed time; (ii) if approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act is not received or a governmental authority enjoins the merger, provided that the terminating party is not in breach of the merger agreement; or (iii) if approval of either the Petro common stockholders or Star Gas Partners common unitholders is not obtained; and (c) by Star Gas Partners, if the Petro Board, or by Petro, if the Star Gas Corporation board withdraws or modifies its approval or recommendation of the merger agreement and its related transactions. Furthermore, the merger agreement shall be terminated if the merger is not completed on or before April 1, 1999 unless the special committee and Petro elect to extend the termination date. If the merger agreement is terminated and the merger is abandoned, neither Petro nor Star Gas Partners will have any liability or further obligation to any other party under the merger agreement, except that a party who caused the termination through its wilful breach will still be liable. Expenses Petro will bear all expenses incurred for the merger agreement and its contemplated transactions. Restrictions on Resales of Senior Subordinated Units by Non-Affiliates and Affiliates The common units and senior subordinated units issuable to Petro stockholders upon completion of the transaction have been registered under the Securities Act and may be traded freely without restriction by those Petro common stockholders who are not deemed to be "affiliates" of Star Gas Partners or Petro. The term "affiliates" is defined in the rules promulgated under the Securities Act. 103 Star Gas Partners common units and senior subordinated units received by those Petro stockholders who are deemed to be affiliates of Star Gas Partners or Petro at the time of the securityholder meetings may be resold without registration under the Securities Act only as permitted by Rule 145 or as otherwise permitted under the Securities Act. Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units received by persons who are deemed to be "affiliates" of Star Gas Partners may be sold only in transactions permitted under the provisions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or as otherwise permitted under the Securities Act. Selling Unitholders The registration statement of which this proxy statement forms a part also covers the reoffering and resale from time to time by the following selling unitholders who may be deemed to be "affiliates" of Petro within the meaning of Rule 145 of the following Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units to be received by the selling unitholders in the transaction. Star Gas Partners will not receive any proceeds from the sale of these units by the selling unitholders. The amounts under the column titled "Number of Senior Subordinated Units" represents the total number of senior subordinated units owned by each selling unitholder and the maximum number of senior subordinated units that could be sold by each selling unitholder. - -------- (a) Includes 8,936 senior subordinated units owned by Mr. Edelman's wife and trusts for the benefit of his minor children. Plan of Distribution for the Resale Units The selling unitholders may from time to time sell all or a portion of their Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units in transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, under Rule 144 or otherwise, at prices then prevailing or related to the then current market price or at negotiated prices. The Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units may be sold directly or through brokers or dealers or in a distribution by one or more underwriters on a firm commitment or best efforts basis. The methods by which the senior subordinated units may be sold include: (1) a block trade in which the broker dealer or dealer engaged will attempt to sell the senior subordinated units as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction, (2) purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resales by that broker dealer for its account pursuant to this proxy statement, 104
Number of Senior Selling Unitholder Subordinated Units ------------------ ------------------ Phillip Cohen................................................ 93,203 Thomas Edelman............................................... 91,986(a) Richard O'Connell............................................ 168,281 Brentwood Corp. ............................................. 94,400 Gabes S.A. .................................................. 84,884 Minneford Corp. ............................................. 10,069 Fernando Montero............................................. 4,149 M.M. Warburg & Co. .......................................... 3,740 Barcel Corp. ................................................ 88,935 Hubertus Langen.............................................. 87,069 Tortosa GmbH................................................. 35,123 Paul Biddelman............................................... 280 Wolfgang Traber.............................................. 1,062 United Capital Corp. ........................................ 10,582 (3) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers or to or through marketmakers, (4) transactions in put or call options or other rights, whether exchange- listed or otherwise, established after the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this proxy statement is a part and (5) privately negotiated transactions. In addition, any of the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units that qualify for sale under Rule 145 under the Securities Act may be sold in transactions complying with that rule, rather than under this proxy statement. In the case of the sale of Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units effected to or through broker-dealers, the broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling unitholders or the purchasers of senior subordinated units sold by or through the broker-dealers, or both. Star Gas Partners is not aware as of the date of this proxy statement of any agreements between any of the selling unitholders and any broker-dealers with respect to the sale of senior subordinated units. The selling unitholders and any broker-dealers or agents participating in the distribution of the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act. In addition, any commissions received by the broker-dealers or agents and profits on any resale of senior subordinated units may be deemed to be underwriting commissions under the Securities Act. The commissions received by a broker-dealer or agent may be in excess of customary compensation. Star Gas Partners will receive no part of the proceeds from the sale of any of the shares of the senior subordinated units by the selling unitholders. Star Gas Partners will pay all costs and expenses incurred for the registration under the Securities Act of senior subordinated units offered by the selling unitholders, including without limitation all .registration and filing fees, .listing fees, .printing expenses and .fees and disbursements of counsel and accountants for Star Gas Partners. Each selling unitholder will pay all brokerage fees and commissions, if any, incurred in the sale of senior subordinated units owned by him. In addition, Star Gas Partners has agreed to indemnify the selling unitholders against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Accounting Treatment of the Transaction The parties anticipate that the transaction will be accounted for as a purchase for accounting purposes. See "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information." 105 Regulatory Matters Associated with the Transaction No filing with, or approval of any federal or state governmental entity is required for the transaction, except for: (a) the filing of notice of the proposed transaction with the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission under the Hart- Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, and the lapse of the relevant waiting period prescribed under them; (b) registration under the Securities Act of the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units and the common units to be issued in the transaction and the Star Gas Partners common units to be offered in the equity offering; (c) notifications required to be given by Petro to state and county authorities under provisions of certain licenses and permits; and (d) tax filings. 106 MANAGEMENT OF STAR GAS PARTNERS AFTER THE TRANSACTION General Partner Since Star Gas Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petro and will become an indirect subsidiary of Star Gas Partners in the transaction, it will no longer be able to serve as the general partner. At the completion of the transaction, the general partner of Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Propane will be Star Gas LLC. The membership interests in Star Gas LLC are owned by Irik P. Sevin, Audrey L. Sevin, Hanseatic Corp. and Hanseatic Americas LDC. The officers of Star Gas LLC will be: . Irik P. Sevin, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive; . Joseph Cavanaugh, Executive Vice President--Propane and Member of the Office of President; . William G. Powers, Jr., Executive Vice President--Heating Oil and Member of the Office of President; . George Leibowitz, Treasurer; . Richard F. Ambury, Vice President; . James Bottiglieri, Vice President; and . Audrey L. Sevin, Secretary. The general partner manages and operates the activities of Star Gas Partners. Star Gas Partners unitholders do not directly or indirectly participate in the management or operation of Star Gas Partners. The general partner owes a fiduciary duty to the Star Gas Partners unitholders. Despite any limitation on obligations or duties, the general partner is liable, as the general partner of Star Gas Partners, for all debts of Star Gas Partners, to the extent not paid by Star Gas Partners, except to the extent that indebtedness or other obligations incurred by Star Gas Partners are made specifically non-recourse to the general partner. In addition, if Star Gas Propane defaults under the First Mortgage Notes or the bank credit facilities, the general partner will be liable for any deficiency remaining after foreclosure on Star Gas Propane's assets. Board of Directors of Star Gas LLC At the completion of the transaction, it is expected that the Star Gas LLC board will consist of the following persons, all of whom currently serve as directors of Star Gas Corporation: Irik P. Sevin, who is Chairman of the Board, Audrey L. Sevin, William G. Powers, Jr., Thomas J. Edelman, Paul Biddelman, Wolfgang Traber, and William P. Nicoletti. At her request, one of the current directors of Star Gas Corporation will withdraw as a director upon completion of the transaction as a result of additional duties associated with a new job. That director will be replaced by a director selected by the Star Gas LLC board, and the new director will not be an officer or employee of Star Gas LLC or any of its affiliates. William P. Nicoletti and an independent director to be selected by the Star Gas LLC board, neither of whom are officers or employees of any affiliates of the general partner, will serve on the audit committee of the Star Gas LLC board. The audit committee has the authority to review specific matters that the general partner believes present a conflict of interest. The audit committee will 107 determine if the resolution of the conflict proposed by the general partner is fair and reasonable to Star Gas Partners. Any matters approved by the audit committee will be: .conclusively deemed to be fair and reasonable to Star Gas Partners, .approved by all partners of Star Gas Partners and . not a breach by the general partner of any duties it may owe Star Gas Partners or the Star Gas Partners unitholders. In addition, the audit committee: .reviews external financial reporting of Star Gas Partners, .recommends engagement of Star Gas Partners' independent accountants and . reviews Star Gas Partners' procedure for internal auditing and the adequacy of Star Gas Partners' internal accounting controls. In these additional matters, the audit committee may act on its own initiative to question the general partner and, absent the delegation of specific authority by the entire board of directors, its recommendations will be advisory. Officers and Employees of the Star Gas Propane and Petro Star Gas Propane. At the completion of the transaction, the officers and employees of Star Gas Corporation who currently manage the operations and business of Star Gas Partners will become officers and employees of Star Gas Propane. We expect that the following persons who currently serve as Star Gas Corporation's executive officers will serve as executive officers of Star Gas Propane following the completion of the transaction: . Irik P. Sevin, Chairman of the Board; . Joseph P. Cavanaugh, President and Chief Executive Officer; . David R. Eastin, Vice President-Operations; . Richard F. Ambury, Vice President-Finance; and . Audrey L. Sevin, Secretary. Information relating to executive compensation, various benefit plans, including unit option plans, voting securities and their principal holders, certain relationships and related transactions and other related matters as to Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Corporation is described in Star Gas Partners' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, and is incorporated by reference in this proxy statement. Securityholders of Star Gas Partners or Petro desiring copies of these documents may contact Star Gas Partners at its address or telephone number indicated under "Where You Can Find More Information." Petro. At the completion of the transaction the officers and employees of Petro will continue to be employed by Petro. 108 We expect that the following persons who currently serve as Petro's executive officers will continue to serve as executive officers of Petro following the completion of the transaction: . Irik P. Sevin, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer; . William G. Powers, Jr., President; . C. Justin McCarthy, Senior Vice President-Operations; . George Leibowitz, Treasurer; . James J. Bottiglieri, Controller; . Matthew J. Ryan, Vice President-Supply; . Angelo Catania, Vice President and General Manager-Mid Atlantic Region; . John Ryan, Vice-President-General Manager-New York Metro Region; . Peter B. Terenzio, Jr., Vice President-Human Resources; and . Audrey L. Sevin, Secretary. Information relating to executive compensation, various benefit plans; (including stock option plans, voting securities and their principal holders, certain relationships and related transactions and other related matters as to Petro is described in Petro's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, and is incorporated by reference in this proxy statement. Securityholders of Star Gas Partners or Petro desiring copies of these documents may contact Petro at its address or telephone number indicated under "Where You Can Find More Information." Reimbursement of Expenses of the General Partner The general partner does not receive any management fee or other compensation for its management of Star Gas Partners. The general partner is reimbursed at cost for all expenses incurred on behalf of Star Gas Partners, including the costs of compensation described below that are properly allocable to Star Gas Partners. The amended and restated partnership agreement provides that the general partner shall determine the expenses that are allocable to Star Gas Partners in any reasonable manner determined by the general partner in its sole discretion. The general partner will be entitled to distributions on its general partner units and will be entitled to incentive distributions on those units, as described under "Cash Distribution Policy." 109 BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL UNITHOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership as of the record date of Star Gas Partners common units, senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units after giving effect to the transaction by: (1) Star Gas LLC and certain beneficial owners and all of the directors of Star Gas LLC, (2) each of the named executive officers of Star Gas Corporation and Petro, and (3) all directors and executive officers of Star Gas Corporation and Petro as a group. The address of each of these persons is c/o Star Gas Partners, L.P. at 2187 Atlantic Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06912-0011. The asterisk in the percentage column refers to a percentage less than one percent. - -------- (a) Includes 10,000 common units owned by Mr. Traber's wife and 400 common units owned by Mr. Traber's daughter as to which he may be deemed to share beneficial ownership. (b) Includes 169,788 junior subordinated units held by Hanseatic Americas LDC, a Bahamian limited duration company. The sole managing member of Hanseatic Americas is Hansabel Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The sole managing member of Hansabel Partners is Hanseatic Corporation, a New York corporation. Messrs. Traber and Biddelman are executive officers of Hanseatic Corporation, and Mr. Traber holds in excess of a majority of the shares of capital stock of Hanseatic Corporation. (c) Assumes each member of Star Gas LLC and Messrs. Traber and Biddelman through their positions with the Hanseatic companies may be deemed to beneficially own all of Star Gas LLC's general partner units. However, they disclaim beneficial ownership of these units. (d) Includes 8,936 senior subordinated units owned by Mr. Edelman's wife and trusts for the benefit of his minor children. 110
Senior Junior General Partner Common Units Subordinated Units Subordinated Units Interests/Units -------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- Name Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage ---- ------ ---------- ------- ---------- ------- ---------- ------- ---------- Star Gas LLC............ -- --% -- --% -- --% 323,082 100% Irik P. Sevin........... -- -- -- -- 68,035 15.8 323,082(c) 100 Audrey L. Sevin......... -- -- -- -- 192,572 44.7 323,082(c) 100 Wolfgang Traber......... 10,400(a) * 1,062 * 169,788(b) 39.5 323,082(c) 100 Paul Biddelman.......... -- -- 280 * 169,788(b) 39.5 323,082(c) 100 Thomas Edelman.......... -- -- 91,986(d) 3.7 -- -- -- -- Richard F. Ambury....... 625 * 39 * -- -- -- -- George Leibowitz........ -- -- -- * -- -- -- -- C. Justin McCarthy...... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Angelo Catania.......... -- -- 294 * -- -- -- -- David Eastin............ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Joseph G. Cavanaugh..... -- -- 58 * -- -- -- -- William G. Powers....... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- All officers and directors and Star Gas LLC as a group (13 persons)........... 11,025 * 186,922 7.5% -- 100.0% 323,082 100.0% AMENDMENTS TO THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS The following is a complete summary of the material amendments to the current Star Gas Partners partnership agreement and Star Gas Propane partnership agreement to be voted upon by the Star Gas Partners common unitholders. The full text of the proposed Star Gas Partners amended and restated partnership agreement is attached as Annex C. Annex C shows the portions of the existing Star Gas Partners partnership agreement that will be deleted or changed if the transaction is completed. References in this section to unitholders are to Star Gas Partners unitholders and references to units are to Star Gas Partners units. Introduction; Vote Required by Unitholders in order to Amend the Partnership Agreements Star Gas Corporation, the current general partner, proposes the adoption of the amendments described below to the Star Gas Partners partnership agreement and the Star Gas Propane partnership agreement. This amendment proposal must receive the approval of the holders of a unit majority. Under the current partnership agreement a unit majority means, during the subordination period, at least a majority of the common units outstanding on the record date, other than common units owned by Star Gas Corporation or any affiliate. The enclosed proxy affords unitholders an opportunity to separately vote for or against the amendment proposal by marking the appropriate box on their proxy card. However, the transaction will not be effected unless the amendment proposal is adopted. Summary of Amendments to the Partnership Agreement Increase of Minimum Quarterly Distribution. The amendment proposal will increase the minimum quarterly distribution from $0.55 to $0.575 per quarter, which is equal to an annual increase from $2.20 to $2.30. No changes will be made to the target distribution levels. Extension of the Subordination Period. The amendment proposal will extend the earliest date on which the subordination period can expire from January 1, 2001 to October 1, 2002. Under the current partnership agreement, the subordination period will end upon the removal of the general partner by the requisite vote by limited partners under circumstances where cause does not exist. The amendment proposal contains a similar provision but also provides that if the general partner is removed during the subordination period . within 12 months after a six-quarter period in which the minimum quarterly distribution was not made on the common units for more than one of those quarters, excluding, for this purpose, the payment of any common unit arrearages, and . the first quarter in that six-quarter period that the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units is not made occurs after March 31, 2001, then the subordination period will not end. If the general partner is removed and the subordination period does not end, . the junior subordinated units shall convert into senior subordinated units on a one-for-one basis and . the distribution rights on the general partner units with respect to the minimum quarterly distribution, and to an extent for liquidating distributions, will rank pari passu with the senior subordinated units. 111 Issuance of Senior Subordinated Units. The amendment proposal will authorize the issuance of senior subordinated units. The senior subordinated units will have distribution rights that are subordinated to all present and future common units for the minimum quarterly distribution and arrearages, and, to an extent, for liquidating distributions. The senior subordinated units will be senior to all present and future junior subordinated units and general partner units for the minimum quarterly distribution and to an extent for liquidating distributions. Upon expiration of the subordination period, all outstanding senior subordinated units will convert into Class B common units on a one-for- one basis. Each outstanding common unit will be redesignated as a Class A common unit upon expiration of the subordination period. The only difference between the Class A common units and the Class B common units is that the Class B common units will have the right to receive incentive distributions and the right to receive additional senior subordinated units if Petro achieves specified financial goals. See "Cash Distribution Policy--Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus During the Subordination Period." Issuance of Junior Subordinated Units. The amendment proposal will authorize the issuance of junior subordinated units. The junior subordinated units will have distribution rights that are subordinated to all present and future common units and senior subordinated units. In addition, the junior subordinated units will rank pari passu with all present and future general partner units for the minimum quarterly distribution and, to an extent, for liquidating distributions. Upon expiration of the subordination period, all outstanding junior subordinated units will convert into Class B common units on a one-for- one basis. The existing subordinated units held by Star Gas Corporation will be cancelled upon completion of the transaction. See "Cash Distribution Policy-- Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus During the Subordination Period." Subordination of General Partner Interests. The amendment proposal will redesignate the general partner interests in Star Gas Partners as general partner units. These general partner units will rank pari passu with the junior subordinated units for the minimum quarterly distribution and, to an extent, for liquidating distributions. Currently, the general partner is entitled to 2% of all payments of the minimum quarterly distribution made on the common units and the existing subordinated units. The general partner units shall not convert into any class of common units upon expiration of the subordination period. However, at that time, they shall no longer be subordinated and shall rank pari passu with the Class A and Class B common units. See "Cash Distribution Policy--Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus During the Subordination Period" and "--Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus After the Subordination Period." Limitations and Prohibitions on Distributions on Subordinated Interests. The amendment proposal will limit and, in some cases, prohibit distributions during the subordination period on the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units in the following manner: . No distributions will be paid on the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units for any quarter during the remainder of Star Gas Partners' fiscal year 1999, which ends on September 30, 1999. There is no prohibition or limitation on distributions to common units during this time period. 112 . Beginning with the first quarter of Star Gas Partners' fiscal year 2000, which begins on October 1, 1999, no distributions will be made on the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units or general partner units, unless the aggregate amount of distributions on all units for all quarters, beginning with the first quarter of Star Gas Partners fiscal year 2000, shall be equal to or less than the total Operating Surplus generated by Star Gas Partners since October 1, 1999. Solely for purposes of this limitation, Operating Surplus does not include Star Gas Partners cash balance on the date it commenced operations, plus approximately $20 million. The amendment proposal does not prohibit the holders of senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units or general partner units from receiving distributions from Capital Surplus in a partial liquidation during the subordination period. Issuance of Additional Senior Subordinated Units. The amendment proposal provides for the issuance of up to 909,000 additional senior subordinated units if Petro meets the financial tests in the amended and restated partnership agreement. Specifically, if the dollar amount of Petro Adjusted Operating Surplus per Petro Unit equals or exceeds $2.90 for any four-quarter period that occurs between the first and fifth anniversaries of the transaction, Star Gas Partners will issue 303,000 senior subordinated units to the holders of the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units of record for the final quarter of that four-quarter period. After the end of the subordination period, Star Gas Partners would instead issue 303,000 Class B common units to the holders of the Class B common units and the general partner units. In any case, Star Gas Partners may not issue more than 303,000 senior subordinated units or Class B common units in any 365-day period. Furthermore, Star Gas Partners may not issue more than 909,000 senior subordinated units or Class B common units pursuant to this provision in the aggregate. See "Cash Distribution Policy--Issuance of Additional Senior Subordinated Units." Reallocation of Incentive Distribution Rights. The amendment proposal will reallocate the right to receive incentive distributions currently held by the general partner among the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units, pro rata. As a result, in some quarters the holders of senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units may receive greater distributions than the holders of common units. See "Cash Distribution Policy--Incentive Distributions During the Subordination Period" and "--Incentive Distributions After the Subordination Period." Deletion of the Provision Regarding the Net Worth of the General Partner. The amendment proposal will delete the prohibition against the general partner from taking any action that would cause its net worth, independent of its interest in Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Propane, to be less than $6.0 million. The primary purpose of the net worth requirement was to ensure that Star Gas Partners would be treated as a partnership and not as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Counsel has advised Star Gas Partners that the failure of the general partner to maintain a specific net worth will not result in Star Gas Partners being treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes under current regulations under the Code. 113 Issuance of Additional Common Units. The partnership agreement currently authorizes Star Gas Partners to issue 1,300,000 common units or units ranking on a parity with common units without the approval of the common unitholders. This number does not include common units issued for (1)capital improvements or acquisitions that are accretive on a per unit basis, (2)the repayment of up to $20 million of indebtedness or (3) the conversion of the existing subordinated units. The amendment proposal will increase the number of common units or units ranking on a parity with common units that Star Gas Partners may issue without unitholder approval to 2,500,000. This number does not include: (a) common units issued for the purposes described in (1) and (2) above, (b) Class B common units issued in the conversion of senior subordinated units and junior subordinated units and (c) the common units issued in the transaction, including the equity offering. Approval of this amendment satisfies the requirement under the current partnership agreement that the holders of a unit majority approve the issuance of common units in the equity offering. Definition of Unit Majority. Under the current partnership agreement, some transactions require the approval of a unit majority, which is defined to mean the approval of a majority of the common units, other than common units held by the general partner or any of its affiliates. The amendment proposal will provide that the senior subordinated units and junior subordinated units have a vote on some matters by restating the definition of "unit majority" as follows: "Unit Majority" means, during the subordination period, at least (1) a majority of the outstanding common units voting as a class and (2) a majority of the outstanding senior subordinated units and junior subordinated units voting as a single class, in each case excluding units owned by the general partner or any affiliate, and, after the subordination period, at least a majority of the outstanding common units. Proportionate Increase in Operating Surplus Basket. The amendment proposal will increase the basket of $6 million described in the definition of "Operating Surplus" in proportion to the additional number of common units to be issued in the equity offering. In lieu of $6 million, the amount shall be a number equal to the product of (1)$6 million and (2)a fraction, (x) the numerator of which is the number of outstanding common units at the completion of the transaction, assuming the simultaneous closing of the equity offering, and (y) the denominator of which is the number of outstanding common units immediately prior to the completion of the transaction. 114 Assuming the issuance of approximately 8.9 million common units in the equity offering, the basket will be increased to approximately $20 million. This amendment will keep the dollar amount of the basket per common unit the same as it was immediately before the transaction. Deletion of Provisions Relating to Early Conversion of Subordinated Units. The amendment proposal will delete those provisions of the current partnership agreement that provide that a portion of the subordinated units will convert into common units prior to the expiration of the subordination period if certain levels of minimum quarterly distribution are both earned and distributed. Based upon Star Gas Partners' inability to satisfy tests based on distributions and earnings, the early conversion of subordinated units is no longer feasible. General Partner Capital Contribution Requirement. The amendment proposal relieves the general partner of its obligation to maintain a fixed percentage general partner interest in Star Gas Partners. The general partner will, however, retain its preemptive right to maintain its existing ownership interest. If the general partner does not make a contribution of capital upon the issuance of additional units, its claim on distributions will be proportionately reduced. Additional Capital Contribution Obligation of the General Partner. The amendment proposal will delete the additional capital contribution obligation of the general partner in order for Star Gas Partners to pay the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units. This obligation had previously expired because Star Gas Partners had satisfied tests in the current partnership agreement and its deletion will therefore have no effect on unitholders. Partnership's Right to Acquire Units. The amendment proposal will provide that if at any time after the expiration of the subordination period and the earlier to occur of (1) the fifth anniversary of the completion of the transaction or (2) the issuance of 909,000 senior subordinated units and Class B common units in the aggregate, Star Gas Partners acquires, in a twelve-month period through purchase or exchange, 66 2/3% or more of the total Class B common units, Star Gas Partners may purchase all, but not less than all, of the remaining Class B common units then outstanding during the following twelve-month period. Registration Rights of Certain Affiliates of Petro. The amendment proposal will provide that Star Gas Partners must register for resale under the Securities Act the senior subordinated units issued to affiliates of Petro in the transaction. Summary of Amendments to the Star Gas Propane Partnership Agreement Under the current Star Gas Partners partnership agreement, the general partner cannot consent to any amendment to the Star Gas Propane partnership agreement that would have a material adverse effect on Star Gas Partners as a partner of Star Gas Propane. Additionally the general partner cannot cause Star Gas Partners to elect a successor general partner of Star Gas Propane without the approval of the holders of a unit majority in Star Gas Partners. 115 Star Gas Corporation consents to and proposes that the limited partners approve: (1) the election of Star Gas LLC as successor general partner, (2) the deletion of the allocation of depreciation to the general partner, (3) the deletion of the prohibition against the general partner from taking any action that would cause its net worth to be less than $6 million and (4) any other amendments to the Star Gas Propane partnership agreement that the general partner deems necessary to complete the transaction. Conforming Changes Additional changes will be required to conform the current Star Gas Partners partnership agreement and the current Star Gas Propane partnership agreement to the amendments and to facilitate the transaction. It is the good faith opinion of Star Gas Corporation that the conforming changes do not adversely affect the unitholders in any material respect. Thus, under the current partnership agreement, Star Gas Corporation may make any or all conforming changes without the consent of the unitholders. 116 THE AMENDED AND RESTATED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT If the transaction is completed, all holders of Star Gas Partners' units will be bound by the provisions of the Star Gas Partners amended and restated partnership agreement. The following is a complete summary of the material provisions of the amended and restated partnership agreement. For a more complete understanding, see the proposed amended and restated partnership agreement attached as Annex C of this proxy statement. References in this section to unitholders are to Star Gas Partners unitholders and references to common, senior subordinated, junior subordinated, and general partner units are to Star Gas Partners units. The following provisions of the amended and restated partnership agreement are summarized elsewhere in this proxy statement: . With regard to various transactions and relationships of Star Gas Partners with the general partner and its affiliates, see "Conflicts of Interest of Star Gas Partners." . With regard to the management of Star Gas Partners, see "Management of Star Gas Partners After the Transaction." . With regard to the transfer of units, see "Description of the Units." . With regard to distributions of Available Cash, see "Cash Distribution Policy." . With regard to allocations of taxable income and taxable loss, see "Federal Income Tax Considerations." Organization and Duration Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Propane were organized in 1995 as Delaware limited partnerships. Star Gas Partners will dissolve on December 31, 2085, unless dissolved sooner under the terms of the amended and restated partnership agreement. Purpose The purpose of Star Gas Partners is limited to serving as the limited partner of Star Gas Propane and engaging in other activities approved by the general partner. The general partner is authorized in general to perform all acts deemed necessary to carry out those purposes and to conduct the business of Star Gas Partners. The general partner has the ability to cause Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Propane to engage in activities that may pose a greater risk to investors than the propane and home heating oil marketing business. Power of Attorney Each limited partner, and each person who acquires a unit from a unitholder and executes and delivers a transfer application, grants to the general partner and, if appointed, a liquidator, a power of attorney to, among other things, execute and file documents required for the qualification, continuance or dissolution of Star Gas Partners. The power of attorney also grants the authority for the amendment of, and to make consents and waivers under, the amended and restated partnership agreement. 117 Restrictions on Authority of the General Partner Regarding Extraordinary Transactions The authority of the general partner is sometimes limited under the amended and restated partnership agreement. The general partner is prohibited, without the prior approval of a unit majority, from . selling, exchanging or otherwise disposing of all or substantially all of Star Gas Partners' assets in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, including by way of merger, consolidation or other combination or . approving on behalf of Star Gas Partners the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Star Gas Propane. However, Star Gas Partners may mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of Star Gas Partners' assets without any unitholder approval. Star Gas Partners may also sell all or substantially all of its assets in a foreclosure or other realization upon these encumbrances without Star Gas Partners unitholder approval. Lack of Dissenters' Rights The unitholders are not entitled to dissenters' rights of appraisal under the current partnership agreement, the amended and restated partnership agreement or applicable Delaware law if a merger or consolidation of Star Gas Partners or the sale, exchange or other disposition of substantially all of Star Gas Partners' assets or any other event should occur. Withdrawal or Removal of the General Partner; Approval of Successor General Partner Expect in the limited circumstances described below, the general partner has agreed not to voluntarily withdraw as general partner of Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Propane prior to December 31, 2005 without . obtaining the approval of a unit majority and . furnishing an opinion of counsel that the withdrawal and the selection of a successor general partner will not result in the loss of the limited liability of the limited partners of Star Gas Partners or cause Star Gas Partners to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes. On or after December 31, 2005, the general partner may withdraw as general partner by giving 90 days written notice without obtaining approval from the unitholders. Withdrawal after this date will not constitute a violation of the amended and restated partnership agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the general partner may withdraw without unitholder approval upon 90 days notice to the limited partners if more than 50% of the outstanding units are held or controlled by one person and its affiliates, other than the general partner and its affiliates. In addition, the amended and restated partnership agreement permits the general partner in limited instances to sell all of its general partner units. See "--Restriction on Transfer of General Partner Interest." Upon the withdrawal of the general partner under any circumstances, other than as a result of a transfer by the general partner of all or a part of its general partner units, the holders of a majority of 118 the outstanding units may select a successor general partner. If the successor is not elected, or is elected but an opinion of counsel regarding the tax matters discussed above cannot be obtained, Star Gas Partners will be dissolved, wound up and liquidated, unless within 180 days after that withdrawal, a unit majority agrees in writing to continue the business of Star Gas Partners and to the appointment of a successor general partner. See "-- Description of Termination and Dissolution of Star Gas Partners." The general partner may not be removed unless: . removal is approved by the vote of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% of the outstanding units owned by limited partners voting together as a single class, other than those of the general partner and its affiliates and . Star Gas Partners receives an opinion of counsel that the removal will not result in a loss of limited liability to the limited partners or cause Star Gas Partners to be treated as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes. Removal is also subject to the approval of a successor general partner by the vote of the holders of a unit majority. If the general partner is removed as general partner other than for cause, the subordination period will end, any then-existing arrearages on the common units will be terminated, any senior subordinated units and junior subordinated units held by the general partner will immediately convert into Class B common units and the general partner units will no longer be subordinated; provided, however, that if the general partner is removed during the subordination period within 12 months after a six-quarter period in which the minimum quarterly distribution has not been made on the common units for more than one of those quarters, excluding for this purpose the payment of any common unit arrearages, and the first quarter in that six-quarter period that the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units is not made occurs after March 31, 2001, then the subordination period will not end. If the general partner is removed and the subordination period does not end, the junior subordinated units shall convert into senior subordinated units on a one-for-one basis and the distribution rights on the general partner units with respect to the minimum quarterly distribution and liquidation will rank equally with the senior subordinated units. Removal or withdrawal of the general partner of Star Gas Partners also constitutes removal or withdrawal, as the case may be, of the general partner as general partner of Star Gas Propane. In the event the withdrawal of the general partner violates the amended and restated partnership agreement or removal of the general partner by the limited partners under circumstances where cause exists, a successor general partner will have the option to purchase from the departing general partner the general partner units in Star Gas Partners and the general partner interests in Star Gas Propane for a cash payment equal to the fair market value. Under all other circumstances where the general partner withdraws or is removed by the limited partners, the departing general partner will have the right to require the successor general partner to purchase from the departing general partner the general partner units in Star Gas Partners and the general partner interest in Star Gas Propane for that amount. In each case, the fair market value will be determined by agreement between the departing general partner and the successor general partner, or if no agreement is reached, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent experts selected by the departing general partner and 119 the successor general partner. If no expert can be agreed upon, the fair market value will be determined by an expert chosen by agreement of the experts selected by each of them. In addition, Star Gas Partners will be required to reimburse the departing general partner for all amounts due the departing general partner, including, without limitation, all employee-related liabilities such as severance liabilities, incurred in the termination of the employees employed by the departing general partner for the benefit of Star Gas Partners. If the above-described option is not exercised by either the departing general partner or the successor general partner, as applicable, the departing general partner's general partner units in Star Gas Partners and the general partner interest in Star Gas Propane will be converted into common units equal to the fair market value of the interest as determined by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected in the manner described in the preceding paragraph. If any Class B common units are outstanding, the departing general partner's general partner units in Star Gas Partners and the general partner interest in Star Gas Propane will be converted into Class A common units. Restriction on Transfer of General Partner Interest Except for the following two instances, the general partner may not transfer any or all of the general partner units to another person or entity prior to December 31, 2005, without the approval of holders of a unit majority. . A transfer by the general partner of all, but not less than all, of its general partner units to an affiliate. . The merger or consolidation of the general partner with or into another entity. In each case the transferee of the general partner units must: . assume the rights and duties of the general partner, . agree to be bound by the provisions of the amended and restated partnership agreement, . furnish an opinion of counsel that the transfer will not result in a loss of limited liability to the limited partners or cause Star Gas Partners to be treated as an entity for federal income tax purposes and . agree to purchase the general partner's partnership interest in Star Gas Propane. At any time, the members of Star Gas LLC may sell or otherwise transfer their membership interests in Star Gas LLC to a third party without the approval of the unitholders. Reimbursement for Services of the General Partner The general partner is not entitled to receive any compensation for its services as general partner of Star Gas Partners. The general partner is, however, entitled to be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the general partner may reasonably determine for: . all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of Star Gas Partners, and . all other necessary or appropriate expenses allocable to Star Gas Partners or otherwise reasonably incurred by the general partner for the operation of Star Gas Partners' business, including expenses allocated to the general partner by its affiliates. 120 The general partner, in its sole discretion, shall determine the expenses that are allocable to Star Gas Partners in any reasonable manner. Rights and Status as Limited Partner or Assignee Upon Transfer of Interest Except as described below under "--Potential Loss of Limited Liability by Unitholders," the units will be fully paid, and unitholders will not be required to make additional contributions to Star Gas Partners. A person receiving a common unit or senior subordinated unit subsequent to executing and delivering a transfer application, but before admission as a substituted limited partner or additional limited partner has the right to share in allocations and distributions. The general partner will vote and exercise other powers attributable to common units or senior subordinated unit owned by that person before admission as a substitute limited partner or additional limited partner at the written direction of that person. See "-- Meetings of Limited Partners and Voting Rights." Persons who do not execute and deliver a transfer application will be treated neither as assignees nor as record holders of common units or senior subordinated units and will not receive: . cash distributions, . federal income tax allocations or . reports furnished to unitholders. See "Description of the Units--Obligations and Procedures for the Transfer of Units." Limitations on the Rights of Non-citizen Assignees and Redemption Rights of Star Gas Partners If, because of the nationality, citizenship or other related status of any limited partner or assignee, Star Gas Partners is or becomes subject to federal, state or local laws or regulations that, in the reasonable determination of the general partner, create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which Star Gas Partners has an interest, Star Gas Partners may redeem the units held by that limited partner or assignee at their Current Market Price. In order to avoid any cancellation or forfeiture, the general partner may require each limited partner or assignee to furnish information about his nationality, citizenship, residency or related status. If a limited partner or assignee fails to furnish information about his nationality, citizenship, residency or other related status within 30 days after a request for the information, that person may be treated as a non-citizen assignee. A non-citizen assignee does not have the right to direct the voting of his units and may not receive distributions in kind upon liquidation of Star Gas Partners. Issuance of Additional Securities by Star Gas Partners Except as discussed below, the general partner is authorized to cause Star Gas Partners to issue an unlimited number of additional limited partner interests and other equity securities of Star Gas Partners for the consideration and on the terms and conditions established in its sole discretion, without the approval of any limited partners. 121 Except as described in (1) through (4) below, during the subordination period, Star Gas Partners may not issue an aggregate of more than 2,500,000 additional common units or units on a parity with the common units without the prior approval of at least a majority of the outstanding common units, other than those held by the general partner and its affiliates. (1)Common units in the transaction, including those issued in the equity offering. (2) If the issuance occurs (a) for an acquisition or a capital improvement or (b) within 365 days of, and the net proceeds from the issuance are used to repay debt incurred for, an acquisition or a capital improvement; in each case, where the acquisition or capital improvement involves assets that would have, on a pro forma basis, resulted in an increase in the amount of Adjusted Operating Surplus calculated on a per-unit basis for all outstanding units for each of the four most recently completed quarters. (3) If the proceeds from the issuance are used exclusively to repay up to $20 million of indebtedness of Star Gas Partners, Star Gas Propane or any of its subsidiaries. (4) The issuance of Class B common units upon the conversion of the senior subordinated units and junior subordinated units at the end of the subordination period. In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of the amended and restated partnership agreement, the general partner, in its sole discretion, may cause Star Gas Partners to issue additional partnership interests that may have special voting rights. The general partner has the right to purchase units from Star Gas Partners on the same terms that Star Gas Partners issues the units to other persons, whenever necessary for the general partner and its affiliates to maintain the percentage of ownership interest that existed immediately prior to each issuance. Persons other than the general partner do not have preemptive rights to acquire additional common units or other partnership interests. Additional issues of units, including senior subordinated units and junior subordinated units or other equity securities of Star Gas Partners ranking junior to the common units, may reduce the likelihood and/or amount of, any distributions above the minimum quarterly distribution. Limited Call Right on Outstanding Limited Partner Interests If at any time: (a) not more than 20% of the limited partner interests of any class are held by persons other than the general partner and its affiliates, the general partner will have the right, which it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to any of its affiliates or to Star Gas Partners, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the remaining limited partner interests of that class or (b) after the expiration of the subordination period and the earlier to occur of 122 (1) the fifth anniversary of the completion of the transaction or (2) the issuance of 909,000 senior subordinated units and Class B common units in the aggregate, Star Gas Partners acquires, in a twelve-month period, 66 2/3% or more of the total Class B common units, Star Gas Partners shall then have the right, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the remaining Class B common units during the following twelve-month period. In the case of (a) or (b) above, the limited partners are entitled to at least 10 but not more than 60 days' notice. The purchase price if (a) or (b) above should occur shall be the greater of (x) the highest cash price paid by Star Gas Partners, the general partner or any of its affiliates for any limited partner interests of that class purchased within the 90 days preceding the date the notice is first mailed to limited partners and (y) the Current Market Price as of the date three days prior to the date the notice is mailed. As a consequence of this right to purchase outstanding limited partner interests, a holder may have his limited partner interests purchased from him at a time and/or price that may be undesirable. The tax consequences to a unitholder of the exercise of this call right are the same as a sale by that unitholder of his units in the market. See "Federal Income Tax Considerations--Disposition of Units." Amendment of the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement Amendments to the amended and restated partnership agreement may be proposed only by or with the consent of the general partner. In order to adopt a proposed amendment, the general partner is required to seek written approval of the holders of the number of units required to approve the amendment or call a meeting of the limited partners to consider and vote upon the proposed amendment, except as described below. Prohibited Amendments. No amendment may be made that would: (1) enlarge the obligations of any limited partner, without its consent, (2) enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable to, the general partner, without its consent, which may be given or withheld in its sole discretion, (3) change the term of Star Gas Partners, (4) provide that Star Gas Partners is not dissolved upon expiration of its term or (5) give any person the right to dissolve Star Gas Partners other than the general partner's right to dissolve Star Gas Partners with the approval of holders of at least a unit majority. 123 No Unitholder Approval. The general partner may make amendments without the approval of any limited partner or assignee to reflect: (1) a change in the name of Star Gas Partners, the location of the principal place of business of Star Gas Partners, the registered agent or the registered office of Star Gas Partners, (2) admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of partners in accordance with the amended and restated partnership agreement, (3) a change that, in the sole discretion of the general partner, is necessary or advisable to qualify or continue the qualification of Star Gas Partners as a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability or that is necessary or advisable to ensure that Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Propane will not be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes, (4) an amendment that is necessary, in the opinion of counsel to Star Gas Partners, to prevent Star Gas Partners or the general partner or its respective directors or officers from being subjected in any manner to the provisions of the Investment Company Act, the Investment Advisors Act, or the "plan asset" regulations adopted under ERISA, whether or not substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed, (5) subject to the limitations on the issuance of additional Class A common units, Class B common units or other limited or general partner interests described above, an amendment that in the sole discretion of the general partner is necessary or advisable for the authorization of additional limited or general partner interests, (6) any amendment expressly permitted in the amended and restated partnership agreement to be made by the general partner acting alone, (7) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a merger agreement that has been approved pursuant to the terms of the amended and restated partnership agreement, (8) any amendment that, in the sole discretion of the general partner, is necessary or advisable for the formation by Star Gas Partners of, or its investment in, any corporation, partnership or other entity as otherwise permitted by the amended and restated partnership agreement, (9) a change in the fiscal year and taxable year of Star Gas Partners and (10) any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing. In addition, the general partner may make amendments without the approval of any limited partner or assignee if the amendments: (1) do not adversely affect the limited partners in any material respect, (2) are necessary or advisable, in the sole discretion of the general partner, to satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute, (3) are necessary or advisable to facilitate the trading of the units or to comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any securities exchange on which the units are or 124 will be listed for trading, compliance with any of which the general partner deems to be in the best interests of Star Gas Partners and the unitholders or (4) are required or contemplated by the amended and restated partnership agreement. Opinion of Counsel and Unitholder Approval. The general partner will not be required to obtain an opinion of counsel that an amendment will not result in a loss of limited liability to the limited partners or result in Star Gas Partners being treated as an entity for federal income tax purposes if one of the amendments described above under "--No Unitholder Approval" should occur. No other amendments to the amended and restated partnership agreement will become effective without the approval of at least 90% of the units unless Star Gas Partners obtains an opinion of counsel that the amendment will not: . affect the limited liability of any limited partner in Star Gas Partners or the limited partner of Star Gas Propane or . cause Star Gas Partners to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes. Any amendment that materially and adversely affects the rights or preferences of any type or class of outstanding units in relation to other classes of units will require the approval of holders of at least a majority of the outstanding units so affected, excluding, during the subordination period, any units held by the general partner and its affiliates. Meetings of Limited Partners and Voting Rights Record holders of units on the applicable record date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, meetings of limited partners and to act on matters as to which approvals may be solicited. The general partner shall vote units owned by an assignee who is a record holder but who has not yet been admitted as a limited partner at the written direction of the assignee. Absent this direction, those units will not be voted. However, in the case of units held by the general partner on behalf of non-citizen assignees, the general partner shall distribute the votes of these units in the same ratios as the votes of limited partners on other units are cast. Any action that is required or permitted to be taken by the limited partners may be taken either at a meeting of the limited partners or without a meeting if consents in writing setting forth the action so taken are signed by holders of that number of limited partner interests necessary to authorize or take action at a meeting. Meetings of the limited partners may be called by the general partner or by limited partners owning at least 20% of the outstanding units of the class for which a meeting is proposed. Limited partners may vote either in person or by proxy at meetings. The holders of a majority of the outstanding units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called shall constitute a quorum, unless the action requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of those units, in which case the quorum shall be the greater percentage. Units held in a nominee or street name account will be voted by the broker or other nominee under the instruction of the beneficial owner unless the arrangement between the beneficial owner and his nominee provides otherwise. 125 Indemnification Obligations of Star Gas Partners In most circumstances, Star Gas Partners will indemnify the following persons, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against all losses, claims, damages or similar events: (1) the general partner and its affiliates, (2) any departing general partner and its affiliates, (3) any person who is or was an officer, director, employee, partner, agent or trustee of the general partner or any departing general partner or any affiliate of the general partner or any departing general partner or (4) any person who is or was serving at the request of the general partner or any departing general partner or any affiliate of the general partner or any departing general partner as an officer, director, employee, partner, agent or trustee of another person. Any indemnification will only be out of the assets of Star Gas Partners. The general partner shall not have any obligation to contribute or loan funds to Star Gas Partners to enable it to effectuate indemnification. Star Gas Partners is authorized to purchase insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by those persons for Star Gas Partners' activities, regardless of whether Star Gas Partners would have the power to indemnify that person. Potential Loss of Limited Liability by Unitholders Assuming that a limited partner does not participate in the control of the business of Star Gas Partners within the meaning of the Delaware Act and that he acts in conformity with the provisions of the amended and restated partnership agreement, his liability will be limited to the amount of capital he is obligated to contribute to Star Gas Partners, plus his share of any undistributed profits and assets. If it were determined that an action by a limited partner constituted "participation in the control" of Star Gas Partners' business for the purposes of the Delaware Act, then a limited partner could be held personally liable for Star Gas Partners' obligations, to the same extent as the general partner, to persons who transact business with Star Gas Partners. In order for a limited partner to be liable for these obligations, the person who transacts business with the limited partner must reasonably believe, based on the limited partner's conduct, that the limited partner is a general partner. Under the Delaware Act, a limited partnership may not make a distribution to a partner if after the distribution, all liabilities of the partnership, other than liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interests and nonrecourse liabilities, exceed the fair value of the assets of the limited partnership. Under the Delaware Act, a limited partner who receives a distribution and knew at the time that the distribution was in violation of the Delaware Act shall be liable for the amount of the distribution for three years. Under the Delaware Act, an assignee who becomes a substituted limited partner of a limited partnership is liable for the obligations of his assignor to make contributions to the partnership, except the assignee is not obligated for liabilities unknown to him at the time he became a limited partner and that could not be ascertained from the amended and restated partnership agreement. Star Gas Propane conducts business in at least 13 states. Maintenance of limited liability may require compliance with legal requirements in those jurisdictions in which Star Gas Propane conducts 126 business, including qualifying Star Gas Propane to do business therein. Limitations on the liability of limited partners for the obligations of a limited partnership have not been clearly established in many jurisdictions. Star Gas Partners will operate in the manner as the general partner deems reasonable and necessary or appropriate to preserve the limited liability of unitholders. Obligations of the General Partner to Provide Books and Reports to Limited Partners The general partner is required to keep appropriate books of the business of Star Gas Partners at the principal offices of Star Gas Partners. The books will be maintained for both tax and financial reporting purposes on an accrual basis. The fiscal year of Star Gas Partners is October 1 to September 30. As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, the general partner will furnish each record holder of units with an annual report containing audited financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the close of each quarter, except the last quarter of each fiscal year, the general partner will furnish each record holder of units a report containing unaudited financial statements and any other information as may be required by law. The general partner will use all reasonable efforts to furnish each record holder of a unit with information reasonably required for tax reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of each calendar year in which Star Gas Partners' taxable year ends. This information is expected to be furnished in summary form so that certain complex calculations normally required of partners can be avoided. The general partner's ability to furnish summary information to unitholders will depend on the cooperation of such unitholders in supplying certain information to the general partner. Every unitholder will receive information to assist him in determining his federal and state tax liability and filing his federal and state income tax returns. Limited Partners' Right to Inspect Star Gas Partners Books and Records A limited partner can, for a purpose reasonably related to a person's interest as a limited partner, upon reasonable demand and at his own expense, be furnished with: (1) a current list of the name and last known address of each partner, (2) a copy of Star Gas Partners' tax returns, (3) information as to the amount of cash and a description and statement of the net agreed value of any other property or services, contributed or to be contributed by each partner and the date on which each became a partner, (4) copies of the amended and restated partnership agreement, the certificate of limited partnership, and powers of attorney (5) information regarding the status of Star Gas Partners' business and financial condition and (6) such other information regarding the affairs of Star Gas Partners as is just and reasonable, 127 The general partner may, and intends to, keep the following confidential from the limited partners: (1) trade secrets, (2) other information the disclosure of which the general partner believes in good faith is not in the best interests of Star Gas Partners or (3) information that is required by law or by agreements with third parties to be kept confidential. Description of Termination and Dissolution of Star Gas Partners Star Gas Partners will continue until December 31, 2085, unless terminated sooner upon: (1) the election of the general partner to dissolve Star Gas Partners, if approved by holders of a unit majority, (2) the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets and properties of Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Propane, (3) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of Star Gas Partners or (4) the withdrawal or removal of the general partner or any other event that results in its ceasing to be the general partner other than by reason of a transfer of its general partner units or withdrawal or removal following approval and admission of a successor. Upon a dissolution pursuant to clause (4), the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding units may elect to reconstitute Star Gas Partners and continue its business by forming a new limited partnership. The new general partner would be a person or entity approved by the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding units, subject to receipt by Star Gas Partners of an opinion of counsel that this action will not affect its limited liabilities or result in Star Gas Partners being treated as corporation or an entity for federal income tax purposes. Liquidation of Star Gas Partners and Distribution of Proceeds Upon the dissolution of Star Gas Partners, unless Star Gas Partners is reconstituted and continued as a new limited partnership, the person authorized to wind up the affairs of Star Gas Partners will liquidate the assets and apply the proceeds as provided in "Cash Distribution Policy--Distributions of Cash upon Liquidation During the Subordination Period" and "--Distributions of Cash upon Liquidation After the Subordination Period." Registration Rights of the General Partner or its Affiliates Star Gas Partners has agreed: (1) to register for resale under the Securities Act any units proposed to be sold by the general partner or its affiliates upon their request if an exemption from the registration requirements is not otherwise available and (2) to register for resale under the Securities Act the common units and senior subordinated units issued to affiliates of Petro in the transaction upon their request if an exemption from the registration requirements is not otherwise available. Star Gas Partners is obligated to pay all expenses incidental to the above registrations, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions. 128 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OF STAR GAS PARTNERS The following discussion of conflicts of interests of Star Gas Partners refers to Star Gas Partners unitholders as unitholders and refers to Star Gas Partners units as units. Conflicts of Interest May Arise as a Result of the Publicly-Traded Limited Partnership Structure Conflicts of interest have arisen and could arise in the future as a result of relationships between the general partner and its affiliates, on the one hand, and Star Gas Partners or any of the limited partners, on the other hand. The directors and officers of the general partner have fiduciary duties to manage the general partner in a manner beneficial to its members. In general, the general partner has a fiduciary duty to manage Star Gas Partners in a manner beneficial to Star Gas Partners and the unitholders. The amended and restated partnership agreement contains provisions that allow the general partner to take into account the interests of parties in addition to Star Gas Partners in resolving conflicts of interest. In effect, these provisions limit its fiduciary duty to the unitholders. The amended and restated partnership agreement also restricts the remedies available to unitholders for actions taken that without those limitations, constitute breaches of fiduciary duty. An audit committee of the Star Gas LLC board has been created, consisting of two directors who are not officers of the general partner. At the request of the general partner the audit committee will review conflicts of interest that may arise between the general partner or its affiliates, on the one hand, and Star Gas Partners, on the other. See "Management of Star Gas Partners After the Transaction" and "--Fiduciary Duties Owed to Unitholders by the General Partner as Prescribed by Law and the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement." Conflicts of interest could arise in the situations described below, among others: Actions Taken by the General Partner May Affect the Amount of Cash Available for Distribution to Unitholders or Accelerate the Right to Convert Senior Subordinated Units and Junior Subordinated Units. The amount of cash that is available for distribution to unitholders is affected by decisions of the general partner regarding matters such as: . cash expenditures, . participation in capital expansions and acquisitions, . borrowings, . issuance of additional units and . establishment of reserves. In addition, borrowings by Star Gas Partners do not constitute a breach of any duty owed by the general partner to the unitholders, including those borrowings that have the purpose or effect of: . causing incentive distributions to be made or . hastening the expiration of the subordination period. The amended and restated partnership agreement provides that Star Gas Partners may borrow funds from the general partner and its affiliates although the general partner and its affiliates may not borrow funds from Star Gas Partners. 129 Star Gas Partners' Borrowings May Enable the General Partner to Permit Distributions on the Senior Subordinated Units, Junior Subordinated Units and General Partner Units. Typically the general partner must act as a fiduciary to Star Gas Partners and the unitholders, and therefore must consider Star Gas Partners' best interests. However, it is not a breach of the general partner's fiduciary duty under the amended and restated partnership agreement if Star Gas Partners' borrowings are effected in a manner that, directly or indirectly, enables the general partner to permit the payment of distributions on the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units. The General Partner Intends to Limit Its Liability with Respect to Star Gas Partners' Obligations. The general partner intends to limit Star Gas Partners' liability under contractual arrangements so that the other party has recourse only as to all or particular assets of Star Gas Partners, and not against the general partner or its assets. The amended and restated partnership agreement provides that any action taken by the general partner to limit its liability, or that of Star Gas Partners, is not a breach of the general partner's fiduciary duties, even if Star Gas Partners could have obtained more favorable terms without the limitation on liability. Unitholders Have No Right to Enforce Obligations of the General Partner and Its Affiliates Under Agreements with Star Gas Partners. Star Gas Partners will acquire services from, or provide services to, the general partner and its affiliates on an ongoing basis. The agreements relating to these arrangements will not grant to the unitholders, separate and apart from Star Gas Partners, the right to enforce the obligations of the general partner and its affiliates in favor of Star Gas Partners. Contracts Between Star Gas Partners on the One Hand, and the General Partner and Its Affiliates on the Other Will Not Be the Result of Arm's-Length Negotiations. The amended and restated partnership agreement allows the general partner to pay itself or its affiliates for any services rendered, provided these services are rendered on terms that are fair and reasonable to Star Gas Partners. The general partner may also enter into additional contractual arrangements with any of its affiliates on behalf of Star Gas Partners. Neither the amended and restated partnership agreement nor any of the other agreements, contracts and arrangements between Star Gas Partners, on the one hand, and the general partner and its affiliates, on the other, are or will be the result of arm's-length negotiations. All of these transactions entered into are required to be on terms that are fair and reasonable to Star Gas Partners. The General Partner's Affiliates May Compete with Star Gas Partners. Except for Irik P. Sevin, affiliates of the general partner are not prohibited from competing with Star Gas Partners. Mr. Sevin's non-competition agreement with Star Gas Partners provides that following the completion of the transaction he will not engage in the retail propane or retail home heating oil business in the United States so long as he . is a director, officer or employee of the general partner, Star Gas Partners or a subsidiary of Star Gas Partners or . has access to information that would put Star Gas Partners at a competitive disadvantage. Further, Mr. Sevin is precluded from employing a person who was a managerial employee of the general partner, Star Gas Partners or a subsidiary of Star Gas Partners for the twelve-months after that employment so long as Mr. Sevin and his mother, Ms. Audrey Sevin, own in the aggregate more than a 10% voting interest in the general partner. 130 Fiduciary Duties Owed to Unitholders by the General Partner as Prescribed by Law and the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement The general partner is accountable to Star Gas Partners and the unitholders as a fiduciary. Consequently, the general partner must exercise good faith and integrity in handling the assets and affairs of Star Gas Partners. In contrast to the relatively well-developed law concerning fiduciary duties owed by officers and directors to the common stockholders of a corporation, the law concerning the duties owed by general partners to other partners and to partnerships is relatively undeveloped. Neither the Delaware Act nor case law defines with particularity the fiduciary duties owed by general partners to limited partners of a limited partnership. The Delaware Act does provide that Delaware limited partnerships may, in their partnership agreements, restrict or expand the fiduciary duties owed by general partners to limited partners and the partnership. Fiduciary duties are generally considered to include an obligation to act with the highest good faith, fairness and loyalty. Such duty of loyalty, in the absence of a provision in a partnership agreement providing otherwise, would generally prohibit a general partner from taking any action or engaging in any transaction where a conflict of interest is present. In order to induce the general partner to manage the business of Star Gas Partners, the amended and restated partnership agreement contains various provisions limiting the fiduciary duties that might otherwise be owed by the general partner. The amended and restated partnership agreement also contains provisions that waive or consent to conduct by the general partner that might otherwise raise issues of compliance with fiduciary duties or applicable law. In order to become a limited partner of Star Gas Partners, a unitholder is required to agree to be bound by its provisions, including the provisions discussed above. This is in accordance with the policy of the Delaware Act favoring the principle of freedom of contract and the enforceability of partnership agreements. The Delaware Act also provides that a partnership agreement is enforceable even if not signed by a person being admitted as a limited partner or becoming an assignee of a limited partner interest in accordance with the terms of that agreement. Whenever a conflict of interest arises between the general partner or its affiliates, on the one hand, and Star Gas Partners or any other partner, on the other, the general partner shall resolve this conflict. The general partner shall not be in breach of its obligations under the amended and restated partnership agreement or its duties to Star Gas Partners or the unitholders if the resolution of this conflict is fair and reasonable to Star Gas Partners. Any resolution is fair and reasonable to Star Gas Partners if the resolution is (1) approved by the audit committee, although no party is obligated to seek approval and the general partner may adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received approval, (2) on terms no less favorable to Star Gas Partners than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (3) fair to Star Gas Partners, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to Star Gas Partners. 131 CASH DISTRIBUTION POLICY The following discussion gives effect to the adoption of the amendment proposal and is furnished by Star Gas Partners. Thus, references to "we," "us" and "our" are to Star Gas Partners. Also, the following section discussing Star Gas Partners cash distribution policy, refers to Star Gas Partners unitholders as unitholders and refers to Star Gas Partners units as units. A glossary of defined terms used in this proxy statement begins on page 198. General Description of Star Gas Partners' Cash Distribution In general, we distribute to our partners on a quarterly basis, all of our Available Cash in the manner described below. Available Cash is defined in the glossary and generally means, with respect to any of our fiscal quarters, all cash on hand at the end of that quarter, less the amount of cash reserves that are necessary or appropriate in the reasonable discretion of the general partner to: (1) provide for the proper conduct of Star Gas Partners' business, (2) comply with applicable law, any of our debt instruments or other agreements or (3) provide funds for distributions to the common unitholders and the senior subordinated unitholders during the next four quarters, in some circumstances. The general partner may not establish cash reserves for distributions to the senior subordinated units unless the general partner has determined that the establishment of reserves will not prevent us from distributing the minimum quarterly distribution on all common units and any common unit arrearages for the next four quarters. As discussed below, the restrictions on distributions to senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units could result in cash that would otherwise be Available Cash being reserved for other purposes. Cash distributions will be characterized as distributions from either Operating Surplus or Capital Surplus. This distinction affects the amounts distributed among different classes of units. See "--Quarterly Distributions of Available Cash." Operating Surplus is defined in the glossary and generally means: (1) the cash balance of Star Gas Partners on the date we commenced operations, plus approximately $20 million, plus all of our cash receipts, excluding cash receipts that constitute Capital Surplus, less (2) all of our operating expenses, debt service payments, maintenance capital expenditures and reserves established for future operations; provided, however, that Operating Surplus is calculated without any reduction for costs or expenses incurred in the transaction. Capital Surplus is also defined in the glossary and is generally generated only by borrowings other than for working capital purposes, sales of debt and equity securities and sales or other dispositions of assets for cash, other than inventory, accounts receivable and other assets, all as disposed of in the ordinary course of business. 132 All Available Cash distributed from any source will be treated as distributed from Operating Surplus until the sum of all Available Cash distributed since our commencement equals the Operating Surplus as of the end of the quarter before that distribution. This method of cash distribution avoids the difficulty of trying to determine whether Available Cash is distributed from Operating Surplus or Capital Surplus. Any excess Available Cash, irrespective of its source, will be deemed to be Capital Surplus and distributed accordingly. If Capital Surplus is distributed on each common unit issued in our initial public offering in an aggregate amount per unit equal to $22.00 per common unit, the distinction between Operating Surplus and Capital Surplus will cease. All distributions after that date will be treated as from Operating Surplus. The general partner does not expect that there will be significant distributions from Capital Surplus. The senior subordinated units and the junior subordinated units are each a separate class of interests in Star Gas Partners, and the rights of holders of those interests to participate in distributions differ from the rights of the holders of common units. When issued, the Class B common units will also be a separate class of interests in Star Gas Partners. Quarterly Distributions of Available Cash Except for the limitations and prohibitions on distributions discussed below, we will make distributions to our partners with respect to each of our fiscal quarters prior to liquidation in an amount equal to all of our Available Cash for that quarter. Distributions will be made approximately 45 days after each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, to holders of record on the applicable record date. We are prohibited from making any distributions on our senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units during the remainder of our fiscal year 1999, which ends on September 30, 1999. If we generate sufficient Available Cash to satisfy the limitation described below, the first distribution permitted to be paid to the holders of the senior subordinated units issued in the transaction will be paid for the first quarter of our fiscal year 2000, which begins on October 1, 1999. The first distribution on the common units, including those issued in the equity offering, after the completion of the transaction will be paid for the quarter ending March 31, 1999 on approximately May 15, 1999 to holders of record on approximately May 4, 1999 regardless of how many days the common units have been outstanding. For a discussion of the restrictions on distributions to the holders of subordinated interests, see "--Limitation on Distributions on Subordinated Interests." Upon expiration of the subordination period, all senior subordinated units and junior subordinated units will be converted, on a one-for-one basis, into Class B common units, and distributions on the general partner units will no longer be subordinated to distributions on the common units. All references to common units after the expiration of the subordination period are references to Class A common units and Class B common units, collectively, unless otherwise indicated. Neither Class A common units nor Class B common units will accrue arrearages for any quarter after the subordination period, and senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units will not accrue any arrearages on distributions for any quarter. 133 Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus During the Subordination Period The subordination period is defined in the glossary and will generally extend until the first day of any quarter beginning on or after October 1, 2002 that each of the following three events occur: (1) Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on the common units, senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units equaled or exceeded the sum of the minimum quarterly distributions on all of the outstanding common units, senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units with respect to each of the three non-overlapping four-quarter periods immediately preceding that date. (2) The Adjusted Operating Surplus generated during each of the three immediately preceding non-overlapping four-quarter periods equaled or exceeded the sum of the minimum quarterly distributions on all of the outstanding common units, senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units during those periods on a fully diluted basis with respect to employee options or other employee incentive compensation. This includes all outstanding units and all common units issuable upon exercise of employee options that have, as of the date of determination, already vested or are scheduled to vest prior to the end of the quarter immediately following the quarter for which the determination is made. It also includes all units that have as of the date of determination been earned by but not yet issued to management of Star Gas Partners in respect of incentive compensation. (3) There are no arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units. In certain circumstances, if the general partner is removed without cause, the subordination period will end, any existing arrearages on the common units will be extinguished, the senior subordinated units and junior subordinated units will immediately convert into Class B common units and distributions on the general partner units will no longer be subordinated. See "The Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement--Withdrawal or Removal of the General Partner; Approval of Successor General Partner." Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus with respect to any quarter during the subordination period will be made in the following manner: . First, 100% to the common units, pro rata, until there has been distributed for each common unit an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution for that quarter. . Second, 100% to the common units, pro rata, until there has been distributed for each common unit an amount equal to any cumulative common unit arrearages on each common unit for any prior quarter. . Third, 100% to the senior subordinated units, pro rata, until there has been distributed for each senior subordinated unit an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution for that quarter. . Fourth, 100% to the junior subordinated units and general partner units, pro rata, until there has been distributed for each junior subordinated unit and general partner unit an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution for that quarter. . Thereafter, in the manner described in "--Incentive Distributions During the Subordination Period" below. 134 Upon completion of the transaction, the general partner will have a 1.99% general partner interest in Star Gas Partners in the form of general partner units and a 0.01% general partner interest in Star Gas Propane. References in this proxy statement to distributions on the general partner units disregard the general partner's 0.01% general partner interest in Star Gas Propane. Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus After the Subordination Period Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus for any quarter after the subordination period will be made in the following manner: (1) First, 100% to all units, pro rata, until there has been distributed to each unit an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution for that quarter. (2) Thereafter, in the manner described in "--Incentive Distributions After the Subordination Period" below. Incentive Distributions During the Subordination Period For any quarter that both (1) and (2) below occur, holders of the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units will receive incentive distributions as described below. (1) Available Cash from Operating Surplus is distributed to each of the common units, senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units in an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution. (2) Available Cash has been distributed on outstanding common units in the amount as may be necessary to eliminate any cumulative common unit arrearages. After the distributions described in (1) and (2) above are met, additional Available Cash from Operating Surplus in respect of that quarter will be distributed among the units in the following manner: . First, 100% to all units, until each unit has received, in addition to any distributions to the common units to eliminate any cumulative common unit arrearages, a total of $0.604 per unit for that quarter (the "First Target Distribution"). . Second, 86.7% to all units, pro rata, and 13.3% to all senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units, pro rata, until each common unit has received, in addition to any distributions to eliminate any cumulative common unit arrearages, a total of $0.711 for that quarter (the "Second Target Distribution"). . Third, 76.5% to all units, pro rata, and 23.5% to all senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units, pro rata, until each common unit has received, in addition to any distributions to eliminate any cumulative common unit arrearages, a total of $0.926 per unit for that quarter (the "Third Target Distribution"). . Thereafter, 51.0% to all units, pro rata, and 49.0% to all senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units, pro rata. 135 The amended and restated partnership agreement may not be amended, including the issuance of additional partnership securities, in any manner that would increase the aggregate amount of incentive distributions without the approval of a majority of the outstanding units of the classes, each class voting separately, that would be adversely affected. The following table illustrates the amount of Available Cash from Operating Surplus distributed pro rata as the base distribution to all unitholders pro rata and the percentage of Available Cash distributed as incentive distributions to the holders of senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units only at the target distribution levels. The percentages in the table below are the percentage interests of the unitholders in Available Cash from Operating Surplus distributed as base distributions to all unitholders and distributed as incentive distributions based on the number of units outstanding immediately after completion of the transaction. The percentage allocation of incentive distributions among senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units, will change in the future if there are additional non- proportional issuances of units. The following table illustrates the distribution of Available Cash per unit among the common units, senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units at the target distribution levels. The calculations are based on the assumption that the quarterly distribution amounts shown do not include any cumulative common unit arrearages. The amounts in the table below are based on the units outstanding immediately after completion of the transaction.
Percentage of Available Cash Distributed as Incentive Distributions to the Specified Unit Class --------------------------------- Percentage of Percentage of Quarterly Available Cash Available Cash Distribution Distributed as Distributed as Senior Junior General Amount per Base Incentive Subordinated Subordinated Partner Common Unit Distributions Distributions Units Units Units ------------ -------------- -------------- ------------ ------------ ------- Minimum Quarterly Distribution........... $0.575 100.0% -- -- -- -- First Target Distribution........... 0.604 100.0 -- -- -- -- Second Target Distribution........... 0.711 86.7 13.3% 10.2% 1.8% 1.3% Third Target Distribution........... 0.926 76.5 23.5 18.0 3.1 2.3 Thereafter.............. -- 51.0 49.0 37.6 6.5 4.9 136
Quarterly Distribution Amount ---------------------------------------- Senior Junior General Common Subordinated Subordinated Partner Unit Unit Unit Unit ------ ------------ ------------ ------- Minimum Quarterly Distribution........ $0.575 $0.575 $0.575 $0.575 First Target Distribution............. 0.604 0.604 0.604 0.604 Second Target Distribution............ 0.711 0.793 0.793 0.793 Third Target Distribution............. 0.926 1.337 1.337 1.337 Incentive Distributions After the Subordination Period For any quarter for which Available Cash from Operating Surplus is distributed to each of the Class A common units, the Class B common units and general partner units in an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution, then any additional Available Cash from Operating Surplus for that quarter will be distributed among the unitholders in the following manner: .First, 100% to all units, pro rata, until each unit has received the First Target Distribution. .Second, 86.7% to all units, pro rata, and 13.3% to all Class B common units and general partner units, pro rata, until each Class A common unit has received the Second Target Distribution. . Third, 76.5% to all units, pro rata, and 23.5% to all Class B common units and general partner units, pro rata, until each Class A common unit has received the Third Target Distribution. . Thereafter, 51% to all units, pro rata, and 49% to all Class B common units and general partner units, pro rata. The following table illustrates the distribution of Available Cash per unit among the Class A common units, Class B common units and general partner units at the target distribution levels. The calculations are based on the assumption that the quarterly distribution amounts shown do not include any cumulative common unit arrearages. The amounts set forth below are based on the number of units outstanding immediately after completion of the transaction. Distributions from Capital Surplus Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus will be made 100% on all units, pro rata, until each common unit that was issued in our initial public offering has received distributions equal to $22.00. This was the unit price from the initial public offering. Thereafter, all distributions from Capital Surplus will be distributed as if they were from Operating Surplus. When a distribution is made from Capital Surplus, it is treated as if it were a repayment of the unit price from the initial public offering. To reflect repayment, the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels will be adjusted downward by multiplying each amount by a fraction. This fraction is determined as follows: the numerator is the unrecovered initial unit price immediately after giving effect to the repayment and the denominator is the unrecovered initial unit price immediately prior to the repayment. For example, based on the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price of $22.00 per unit and assuming Available Cash from Capital Surplus of $11.00 per unit is distributed on all common units issued in the initial public offering, then the amount of the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels would each be reduced to 50% of its initial level. 137
Quarterly Distribution --------------------- Class Class A B General Common Common Partner Unit Unit Unit ------ ------ ------- Minimum Quarterly Distribution............................ $0.575 $0.575 $0.575 First Target Distribution................................. 0.604 0.604 0.604 Second Target Distribution................................ 0.711 0.793 0.793 Third Target Distribution................................. 0.926 1.337 1.337 A "payback" of the unit price from the initial public offering occurs when the unrecovered initial unit price is zero. At that time, the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels each will have been reduced to zero. Thereafter, all distributions of Available Cash from all sources will be treated as if they were from Operating Surplus. Because the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels will have been reduced to zero, the holders of the rights to incentive distributions will then be entitled to receive 49% of all distributions of Available Cash, after distributions for cumulative common unit arrearages. Distributions from Capital Surplus will not reduce the minimum quarterly distribution or any of the target distribution levels for the quarter in which they are distributed. Limitation and Prohibitions on Distributions on Subordinated Interests Distributions on the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units are prohibited during the remainder of our fiscal year 1999, which ends on September 30, 1999. There is no prohibition on distributions to common units during this time. Beginning with the first quarter of our fiscal year 2000, which begins on October 1, 1999, no distributions will be made on the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units or general partner units, unless the aggregate amount of distributions on all units for all quarters, beginning with the first quarter of our fiscal year 2000, is equal to or less than the total Operating Surplus generated by us since October 1, 1999. Solely for purposes of this limitation, Operating Surplus does not include our cash balance on the date we commenced operations, plus approximately $20 million. The holders of the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units are not prohibited from receiving distributions from Capital Surplus in a partial liquidation during the subordination period. Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels In addition to adjustments made upon a distribution of Available Cash from Capital Surplus, the following will each be proportionately adjusted upward or downward, as appropriate, if any combination or subdivision of units should occur: (1) the minimum quarterly distribution, (2) the target distribution levels, (3) the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (4) the number of additional common units issuable during the subordination period without a unitholder vote, (5) the number of Class B common units issuable upon conversion of the senior subordinated units and the junior subordinated units and (6) other amounts calculated on a per unit basis. 138 However, no adjustment will be made by reason of the issuance of additional units for cash or property. For example, if a two-for-one split of the common units should occur, the minimum quarterly distribution, the target distribution levels and the unrecovered initial unit price would each be reduced to 50% of its initial level. The minimum quarterly distribution and target distribution levels may also be adjusted if legislation is enacted or if existing law is modified or differently interpreted in a manner that causes Star Gas Partners to become taxable as a corporation or otherwise subject to taxation as an entity for federal, state or local income tax purposes. In this event, the minimum quarterly distribution and target distribution levels for each quarter thereafter would be reduced to amounts equal to the product of (1) the minimum quarterly distribution or target distribution level multiplied by (2) one minus the sum of (x) the highest marginal federal corporate income tax rate to which we are then subject as an entity, plus (y) any increase in the effective overall state and local income tax rate to which we are subject as a result of the new imposition of the entity level tax, after taking into account the benefit of any deduction allowable for federal income tax purposes with respect to the payment of state and local income taxes, but only to the extent of the increase in rates resulting from that legislation or interpretation. For example, assuming we are not previously subject to state and local income tax, if we were to become taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes and we became subject to a maximum marginal federal, and effective state and local, income tax rate of 38%, then the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels would each be reduced to 62% of the amount thereof immediately prior to the adjustment. Issuance of Additional Senior Subordinated Units The amended and restated partnership agreement provides for the issuance of up to 909,000 additional senior subordinated units if Petro meets specified financial tests. Specifically, if the dollar amount of Petro Adjusted Operating Surplus per Petro Unit equals or exceeds $2.90 for any four-quarter period that occurs between the first and fifth anniversaries of the transaction, we will issue 303,000 senior subordinated units to the holders of the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units of record for the final quarter of that four-quarter period. After the end of the subordination period, we would instead issue 303,000 Class B common units to the holders of the Class B common units and the general partner units. In any case, we may not issue more than 303,000 senior subordinated units or Class B common units in any 365-day period. Furthermore, we may not issue more than 909,000 senior subordinated units or Class B common units pursuant to this provision in the aggregate. We will not issue any fractional units in the issuance of these additional units but will pay to each holder who would otherwise be entitled to a fractional unit an amount in cash in lieu of those fractional units. The amount of cash to be paid will be determined by multiplying the fraction by the current market price of a senior subordinated unit or a Class B common unit, as the case may be. For this purpose, the current market price is set as of the date three days prior to issuance of the additional units. On the first day after the record date for 139 distributions with respect to the first quarter ending on or after the fifth anniversary of completion of the transaction, the right to receive the additional units shall lapse and all conversion rights shall cease to exist. "Petro Adjusted Operating Surplus" means, for any four-quarter period, the Adjusted Operating Surplus generated by Petro ,which includes all subsidiaries of Star Gas Partners primarily engaged in the home heating oil business, during that four quarter period. The determination of this amount is made in good faith by a majority of the members of the board of directors of the general partner acting with the concurrence of the audit committee. In calculating Petro Adjusted Operating Surplus, (1) debt service, including the payment of principal, interest and premium on all debt incurred or assumed by Petro or any of its affiliates, the proceeds of which are used by or for the benefit of Petro, including the proceeds from the debt offering, shall be included to the extent that debt service is included in the calculation of Operating Surplus, and (2) debt service, including the payment of principal, interest and premium, on all debt incurred or assumed by Petro or any of its affiliates, the proceeds of which are not used by or for the benefit of Petro, shall be excluded. "Petro Units", for any date, means the sum of (1) the excess of the number of units outstanding at completion of the transaction over the number of units outstanding immediately before the completion of the transaction, assuming the simultaneous closing of the equity offering, (2) the number of units issued by Star Gas Partners after the transaction to the extent the net proceeds of which are contributed to Petro, which for these purposes includes all subsidiaries of Star Gas Partners primarily engaged in the home heating oil business, (3) the number of senior subordinated units or Class B common units issued under the amended and restated partnership agreement based on the performance of Petro and (4) the deemed number of units outstanding based upon a contribution of capital to Petro by Star Gas Partners or any of its affiliates after completion of the transaction, which contribution is not covered by (2) above or traceable to debt proceeds, which number of deemed units is obtained by dividing (A) the amount of that Star Gas Partners contribution by (B) the Current Market Price of a common unit, or of a Class A common unit after the termination of the subordination period. For purposes of (4) above, the amount used to pay down the Petro debt discussed below will be treated as if it were contributed to Petro by Star Gas Partners. Specifically, Petro debt paid or debt allocated to Petro from internally generated funds that exist at Petro only because Petro has not paid dividends up to Star Gas Partners in an amount equal to the distributions that would have been paid on the Petro Units had they been actual outstanding units of Star Gas Partners will fall within (4) above. The distribution per senior subordinated unit of Star Gas Partners shall be the amount that Star Gas Partners would have been deemed to have distributed per Petro Unit had they been actual 140 outstanding units of Star Gas Partners. For purposes of the number of deemed outstanding units in (4) above, those units shall be deemed to be issued on the date of the capital contribution. For purposes of determining the number of outstanding Petro Units for any period of time, the number of units issued under (2), (3) and (4) above shall be determined on a weighted average basis based on the amount of time they have been outstanding. For this purpose, common unit means Class A common unit upon expiration of the subordination period. Petro Units are not "units" as such term is used in this proxy statement. The terms upon which any of the said additional units may be issued may not be amended in a manner that would materially adversely affect the rights of the holders thereof without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units, voting together as a single class. Distributions of Cash upon Liquidation During the Subordination Period Following the commencement of the dissolution and liquidation, assets will be sold or otherwise disposed of and the partners' capital account balances will be adjusted to reflect any resulting gain or loss. The proceeds of liquidation will first be applied to the payment of our creditors in the order of priority provided in the amended and restated partnership agreement and by law and, thereafter, be distributed on the units in accordance with respective capital account balances, as so adjusted. Partners are entitled to liquidation distributions in accordance with capital account balances. Although operating losses are allocated on all units pro rata, the allocations of gains and losses attributable to liquidation are intended to favor the holders of outstanding common units over the holders of all other outstanding units, to the extent of the unrecovered initial unit price plus any cumulative common unit arrearages. However, no assurance can be given that there will be sufficient gain upon liquidation of Star Gas Partners to enable the holders of common units to fully recover their unrecovered initial unit price and arrearages, even though there may be cash available for distribution to the holders of senior subordinated units and junior subordinated units. The manner of the adjustment is provided in the amended and restated partnership agreement. If our liquidation occurs before the end of the subordination period, any gain, or unrealized gain attributable to assets distributed in kind, will be allocated to the partners in the following manner: . First, to the partners that have negative balances in their capital accounts, to the extent of and in proportion to, those negative balances. . Second, 100% to the common units, pro rata, until the capital account for each common unit is equal to the unrecovered initial unit price for that common unit plus the amount of the minimum quarterly distribution for the fiscal quarter during which the dissolution occurs, plus any cumulative common unit arrearages on those common units. . Third, 100% to the senior subordinated units, pro rata, until the capital account for each senior subordinated unit is equal to the unrecovered initial unit price plus the amount of the minimum quarterly distribution for the fiscal quarter during which the dissolution occurs. . Fourth, 100% to the junior subordinated units and general partner units, pro rata, until the capital account for each junior subordinated unit is equal to the unrecovered initial unit price plus the amount of the minimum quarterly distribution for the fiscal quarter during which the dissolution occurs. 141 . Fifth, 100% to all units, pro rata, until there has been allocated under this clause an amount per common unit equal to (a) the excess of the First Target Distribution per unit over the then effective minimum quarterly distribution per unit for each quarter of Star Gas Partners' existence, less (b) the amount per common unit of any distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus in excess of the then effective minimum quarterly distribution per unit that was distributed 100% to all units, pro rata, for each quarter of Star Gas Partners' existence. . Sixth, 86.7% to all units, pro rata, 13.3% to senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units, pro rata, until there has been allocated under this clause an amount per common unit equal to (a) the excess of the Second Target Distribution per common unit over the First Target Distribution per common unit for each quarter of Star Gas Partners' existence, less (b) the amount per common unit of any distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus in excess of the First Target Distribution per common unit but not in excess of the Second Target Distribution for each quarter of Star Gas Partners' existence. . Seventh, 76.5% to all units, pro rata, and 23.5% to all senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units, pro rata, until there has been allocated under this clause an amount per common unit equal to (a) the excess of the Third Target Distribution per common unit over the Second Target Distribution but not in excess of the Third Target Distribution for each quarter of Star Gas Partners' existence. . Thereafter, 51.0% to all units, pro rata, and 49.0% to all senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units, pro rata. Any loss or unrealized loss will be allocated to the unitholders in the following manner: . First, 100% to the junior subordinated units and general partner units, pro rata, in proportion to the positive balances in their respective capital accounts until the positive balances in their respective capital accounts have been reduced to zero. . Second, 100% to the senior subordinated units in proportion to the positive balances in their respective capital accounts until the positive balances in their respective capital accounts have been reduced to zero. . Third, 100% to the common units in proportion to the positive balances in their respective capital accounts until the positive balances in the respective capital accounts have been reduced to zero. . Thereafter, to the general partner units. Distributions of Cash upon Liquidation After the Subordination Period If our liquidation occurs after the end of the subordination period, any gain, or unrealized gain attributable to assets distributed in kind, will be allocated to the partners in the following manner: . First, to the partners that have negative balances in their capital accounts to the extent of and in proportion to those negative balances. . Second, 100% to all Class A common units and Class B common units, until the capital account for each Class A common unit and Class B common unit is equal to the unrecovered initial unit price (plus the amount of the minimum quarterly distribution for the fiscal quarter during which the dissolution occurs). 142 . Third, 100% to all units, pro rata, until there has been allocated under this clause third an amount per Class A common unit equal to (a) the excess of the First Target Distribution per Class A common unit over the then effective minimum quarterly distribution for each quarter of our existence, less (b) the amount per Class A common unit of any distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus in excess of the then effective minimum quarterly distribution per Class A common unit that was distributed 100% to units, pro rata, for each quarter of our existence. . Fourth, 86.7% to all units, pro rata, and 13.3% to Class B common units and general partner units, pro rata, until there has been allocated under this clause fourth an amount per Class A common unit equal to (a) the excess of the Second Target Distribution per Class A common unit over the First Target Distribution per Class A common unit for each quarter of our existence, less (b) the amount per Class A common unit of any distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus in excess of the First Target Distribution but not in excess of the Second Target Distribution for each quarter of our existence. . Fifth, 76.5% to all units, pro rata, and 23.5% to Class B common units and general partner units, pro rata, until there has been allocated under this clause fifth an amount per Class A common unit equal to (a) the excess of the Third Target Distribution per Class A common unit over the Second Target Distribution per Class A common unit for each quarter of our existence, less (b) the amount per Class A common unit of any distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus in excess of the Second Target Distribution but not in excess the Third Target Distribution for each quarter of our existence. . Thereafter, 51.0% to all units, pro rata, and 49.0% to all Class B common units and general partner units, pro rata. Any loss or unrealized loss will be allocated to the general partner units, the Class A common units, Class B common units, pro rata, in proportion to the positive balances in their capital accounts, until the positive balances in the respective capital accounts have been reduced to zero. Interim adjustments to capital accounts will be made at the time Star Gas Partners issues additional interests or makes distributions of property. These adjustments will be based on the fair market value of the interests issued or the property distributed and any gain or loss resulting therefrom will be allocated to the unitholders in the same manner as gain or loss is allocated upon liquidation. 143 CASH AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION Star Gas Partners believes that it will generate sufficient Available Cash from Operating Surplus for the first four-quarter period following the completion of the transaction to cover the full minimum quarterly distribution for the four-quarter period on all then outstanding units. Even if this amount is generated, Star Gas Partners may, however, not distribute the cash. Star Gas Partners will not make distributions on the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units for any quarter during its fiscal year 1999. Beginning with the first quarter of its fiscal year 2000, Star Gas Partners is allowed to make distributions on the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units, but may distribute less than the minimum quarterly distribution on these units because of the subordination provisions and other limitations on distributions in the amended and restated partnership agreement. Star Gas Partners' belief about the amount of cash it may generate is based on a number of assumptions, including the assumptions that: . normal weather conditions will prevail in Star Gas Partners' and Petro's operating areas, . Star Gas Partners' and Petro's operating margins will remain constant and . market and overall economic conditions will not change substantially. Although Star Gas Partners believes its assumptions are within a range of reasonableness, most of the assumptions are not within the control of Star Gas Partners and cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty. For example, in any particular year or series of years, weather may deviate substantially from normal. Therefore, Star Gas Partners' assumptions concerning the weather may prove to be inaccurate. As a result, the Operating Surplus of Star Gas Partners could deviate from that currently expected. See "Risk Factors." The amount of Available Cash constituting Operating Surplus needed to pay the minimum quarterly distribution for four quarters on the common units, senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units to be outstanding immediately after the transaction is approximately: These amounts assume that 8.9 million common units will be issued in the equity offering. If more common units are issued in the equity offering, the amount of Available Cash constituting Operating Surplus needed to pay the minimum quarterly distribution will increase. After giving pro forma effect to the transaction, the amount of pro forma Available Cash constituting Operating Surplus generated during the twelve months ended September 30, 1998, would have been approximately $21.9 million. If infrequent restructuring, corporate identity and transaction expenses were not taken into effect, pro forma Available Cash constituting Operating Surplus would have been approximately $26.1 million. In fiscal 1998, temperatures were significantly warmer than normal for the areas in which Star Gas Partners conducts its propane operations and Petro conducts its home heating oil operations. Star Gas Partners believes that overall levels of both pro forma Available 144
Common Units................................................ $29.7 million Senior Subordinated Units................................... 5.7 million Junior Subordinated Units................................... 1.0 million General Partner Units....................................... 0.7 million ------------- Total..................................................... $37.1 million Cash from Operating Surplus and EBITDA were adversely affected during fiscal 1998 due to this abnormally warm weather. See "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information." Star Gas Partners is required to establish reserves for the future payment of principal and interest on the First Mortgage Notes and the indebtedness under the bank credit facilities. There are other provisions in such agreements that will, under some circumstances, restrict Star Gas Partners' ability to make distributions to its partners. See "Note 9 to Consolidated Financial Statements--Long-Term Debt and Working Capital Borrowings" in Star Gas Partners' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998 that is incorporated by reference in this proxy statement. The notes issued in the debt offering are expected to have provisions that will, under some circumstances, similarly restrict Star Gas Partners' ability to make distributions to its unitholders. 145 DESCRIPTION OF THE STAR GAS PARTNERS UNITS This discussion assumes the adoption of the amendment proposal. The common units and senior subordinated units to be issued in the transaction have been registered under the Exchange Act, and Star Gas Partners is subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. Star Gas Partners is required to file periodic reports containing financial and other information with the SEC. Common stockholders who receive common units or senior subordinated units in the transaction and subsequent transferees of common units and senior subordinated units will be required to execute a transfer application, which will be printed on the reverse side of the unit certificates. The form of transfer application is included as Appendix A. Common units and senior subordinated units may be held in nominee accounts, provided that the broker or other nominee executes and delivers a transfer application and becomes a limited partner. Star Gas Partners is entitled to treat the nominee holder of a common unit or a senior subordinated unit as the absolute owner thereof, and the beneficial owner's rights will be limited solely to those that it has against the nominee holder. The Rights of Unitholders Generally, the common units, senior subordinated units and junior subordinated units represent limited partner interests in Star Gas Partners, which entitle the holders thereof to participate in Star Gas Partners distributions and to exercise the rights or privileges available to limited partners under the amended and restated partnership agreement. For a description of the relative rights and preferences of holders of these three classes of units to distributions, together with a description of the circumstances under which senior subordinated units and junior subordinated units may convert into Class B common units, see "Cash Distribution Policy." For a description of the rights of limited partners under the amended and restated partnership agreement, see "The Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement." Transfer Agent and Registrar Star Gas Partners has retained BankBoston N.A. as registrar and transfer agent for the common units and the senior subordinated units. All fees charged by the transfer agent for transfers of common units and senior subordinated units will be borne by Star Gas Partners and not by its holders of common units or senior subordinated units, except that fees similar to those customarily paid by stockholders for surety bond premiums to replace lost or stolen certificates, taxes and other governmental charges, special charges for services requested by a Star Gas Partners unitholder and other similar fees or charges will be borne by the unitholder. There will be no charge to unitholders for disbursements of Star Gas Partners' cash distributions. Star Gas Partners will indemnify the transfer agent against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted in respect of its activities as such. The transfer agent may resign or be removed by Star Gas Partners. If no successor is appointed within 30 days, the general partner may act as the transfer agent and registrar until a successor is appointed. 146 Obligations and Procedures for the Transfer of Units Until a common unit, a senior subordinated unit or a junior subordinated unit has been transferred on the books of Star Gas Partners, Star Gas Partners and the transfer agent, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the record holder thereof as the absolute owner for all purposes, except as otherwise required by law or stock exchange regulations. Any transfers of a common unit or a senior subordinated unit will not be recorded by the transfer agent or recognized by Star Gas Partners unless the transferee executes and delivers a transfer application. By executing and delivering a transfer application, the transferee of common units, senior subordinated units or junior subordinated units does the following. . Becomes the record holder of such units and shall be constituted as an assignee until admitted into Star Gas Partners as a substituted limited partner. . Automatically requests admission as a substituted limited partner in Star Gas Partners. . Agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of, and executes, the amended and restated partnership agreement. . Represents that such transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into the amended and restated partnership agreement. . Grants powers of attorney to the general partner and any liquidator of Star Gas Partners as specified in the amended and restated partnership agreement. . Makes the consents and waivers contained in the amended and restated partnership agreement. An assignee will become a substituted limited partner of Star Gas Partners for the transferred common units or senior subordinated units upon satisfaction of the following two conditions. . The consent of the general partner, which may be withheld for any reason in its sole discretion. . The recording of the name of the assignee on the books and records of Star Gas Partners. Common units and senior subordinated units are securities and are transferable according to the laws governing transfer of securities. In addition to other rights acquired upon transfer, the transferor gives the transferee the right to request admission as a substituted limited partner in Star Gas Partners in respect of the transferred common units or senior subordinated units. A purchaser or transferee of common units or senior subordinated units who does not execute and deliver a transfer application obtains only the following rights. . The right to assign the common unit or senior subordinated units to a purchaser or other transferee. . The right to transfer the right to seek admission as a substituted limited partner in Star Gas Partners for the transferred common units or senior subordinated units. Thus, a purchaser or transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver a transfer application will not receive cash distributions unless the common units or senior subordinated units are held in a nominee or "street name" account and the nominee or broker has executed and delivered a transfer application with respect to such common units or senior subordinated units, and may not receive some federal income tax information or reports furnished to record holders of common units or senior subordinated units. The transferor of common units or senior subordinated 147 units will have a duty to provide the transferee with all information that may be necessary to obtain registration of the transfer of the common units or senior subordinated units, but a transferee agrees, by acceptance of the certificate representing common units or senior subordinated units, that the transferor will not have a duty to insure the execution of the transfer application by the transferee and will have no liability or responsibility if the transferee neglects or fails to execute and forward the transfer application to the transfer agent. See "The Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement--Rights and Status as Limited Partner or Assignee Upon Transfer of Interest." 148 COMPARISON OF SECURITIES The following is a complete summary of the material differences between the attributes of Petro Class A common stock and the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units that Petro common stockholders will receive. Taxation Petro Common Stock Star Gas Partners Senior Subordinated Units The holders of Class A common stock realize taxable income when Petro The holders of the senior makes actual distributions from subordinated units will be required current or accumulated earnings or, to report their share of Star Gas in other cases, if distributions Partners' income, gains, losses and exceed a holder's basis in its deductions on their federal income stock. tax return whether or not distributions are made to them. In general, cash distributions on the senior subordinated units will be taxable only if, and to the extent that, they exceed a holder's tax basis in its senior subordinated units. Distributions and Dividends Petro Common Stock Star Gas Partners Senior Subordinated Units Shares of Class A common stock are entitled to a pro rata share of any dividends declared by the Petro board to be made from funds legally available for the payment of dividends. However, no dividends may be paid on the shares of Class A common stock until all dividends have been paid, or declared and set apart, and all mandatory redemption requirements have been satisfied for the 1989 preferred stock and the 12 7/8% preferred stock. The senior subordinated units generally are entitled to receive quarterly distributions from available cash during the subordination period after the common units receive the minimum quarterly distribution plus any arrearages. The senior subordinated units have the right to receive the minimum quarterly distribution before any distribution is made on the junior subordinated units and the general partner units. In addition, the senior subordinated units have the right to receive distributions in addition to the minimum quarterly distribution if quarterly distributions of available cash exceed the target distribution levels. However, no distribution can be paid on senior subordinated units unless Star Gas Partners meets certain cash generation requirements. No distributions will be made on the senior subordinated units in Star Gas Partners' fiscal year 1999, which ends September 30, 1999. 149 Voting Rights Petro Common Stock Star Gas Partners Senior Subordinated Units Class A common stockholders are entitled to one vote per share and All units have limited voting rights Class C common stockholders are on matters affecting Star Gas entitled to ten votes per share upon Partners. The matters that all matters submitted for a vote to do require unitholder approval the common stockholders. Except when generally require the approval of required by Minnesota law and in the holders of a unit majority, specified special circumstances which prior to the expiration of the described in the restated articles subordination period, includes the of incorporation, Class B common approval of a majority of the senior stockholders are not entitled to subordinated units and junior vote. Generally, the action of the subordinated units voting together majority of the votes evidenced by as a single class as well as the the shares of all classes voting as approval of a majority of the common a single class represented at a units. Unitholders in Star Gas meeting of the common stockholders Partners do not elect the directors and entitled to vote is sufficient of the general partner. for actions that require a vote of the common stockholders. Rights to Call Meetings Petro Common Stock Star Gas Partners Senior Subordinated Units Petro is required to hold an annual stockholders meeting each year. Star Gas Partners does not have Special meetings of the stockholders annual meetings. A meeting of may be called, and business proposed unitholders may be called only by: at those meetings, by: . the general partner or .the Chairman of the Petro board . the holders of 20% or more of the or outstanding units of the class for which the meeting is proposed. . the Secretary upon the written request of a majority of the total number of directors that Petro would have if there were no vacancies. Removal of Directors or the General Partner Petro Common Stock Star Gas Partners Senior Subordinated Units The business and affairs of Petro are managed by or under the The business and affairs of Star Gas direction of the Petro board, whose Partners are managed by or under the members are elected by a plurality direction of the general partner. of the votes cast by stockholders. Subject to specified conditions, the Stockholders may remove a director general partner may be removed upon or the entire Petro board with or the approval of the holders of at without cause. The removal of either least 66 2/3% of the outstanding a director or the Petro board units, excluding units owned by the requires the affirmative vote of a general partner and its affiliates. majority of the outstanding voting stock. 150 Liquidation Rights Petro Common Stock Star Gas Partners Senior Subordinated Units In the event of any complete In the event of any liquidation of liquidation, dissolution or winding Star Gas Partners during the up of the business of Petro, subordination period, the senior distributions are made to each class subordinated units will be entitled of equity security in the following to receive a distribution out of the order: net assets of Star Gas Partners after liquidating distributions are made on the common units. The senior subordinated units will be entitled to receive a distribution out of the net assets of Star Gas Partners before liquidating distributions are made on the junior subordinated units and general partner units. . first, each Class B share would be entitled to a distribution equal to $5.70 per share, as adjusted, before any distribution is made on any other class of Petro stock; . second, each share of 1989 preferred stock and each share of 12 7/8% preferred stock would be entitled to distributions equal to $100 per share and $23 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends; . third, each share of junior convertible preferred stock would be entitled to a distribution of $0.10 per share; and . fourth, each share of Class A common stock, Class B common stock, Class C common stock and junior convertible preferred stock would participate equally in all liquidating distributions. Conversion Rights Petro Common Stock Star Gas Partners Senior Subordinated Units The Class A common stock is not The senior subordinated units will convertible into any other security. convert into Class B common units upon the expiration of the subordination period. The subordination period will extend until the first day of any quarter beginning October 1, 2002 if specified amounts of available cash were distributed and earned in previous quarters. 151 Liability of Holders Petro Common Stock Star Gas Partners Senior Subordinated Units The liability of a holder of Class A common stock for the debts and As long as a holder of a senior obligations of Class A common stock subordinated unit does not is limited to that holder's participate in the control of the investment in the stock. All Class A business of Star Gas Partners and common stock is fully paid and non- acts in accordance with the amended assessable. and restated partnership agreement, liability is limited to the holder's investment in the senior subordinated units. Except under limited exceptions, all senior subordinated units are fully paid and non-assessable. Transferability and Listing Petro Common Stock Star Gas Partners Senior Subordinated Units Shares of Class A common stock are freely transferable and are quoted The senior subordinated units are on the Nasdaq National Market. freely transferable and it is anticipated they will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Redemption Petro Common Stock Star Gas Partners Senior Subordinated Units There are no redemption rights for shares of Class A common stock. If at any time 20% or fewer of the then issued and outstanding limited partner interests of any class are held by persons other than the general partner and its affiliates, the general partner will have the right to acquire all, but not less than all, of the remaining limited partner interests of that class. The general partner may assign this right to an affiliate or Star Gas Partners. After the subordination period expires and the earlier of the fifth anniversary of the transaction or the issuance of 909,000 additional senior subordinated units and Class B common units in the aggregate, if Star Gas Partners acquires, in a twelve-month period, 66 2/3% or more of the total Class B common units, then Star Gas Partners will have the right to purchase all, but not less than all, of the remaining Class B common units during the following twelve-month period. Star Gas Partners may not assign this right. 152 Appraisal Rights Petro Common Stock Star Gas Partners Senior Subordinated Units Under Sections 302A.471 and 302A.473 The holders of the senior of the Minnesota Business subordinated units, as well as the Corporation Act, described in Annex holders of all other units, are not F to this proxy statement, common entitled to dissenters' rights under stockholders, other than those who the amended and restated partnership have agreed to vote for the agreement or applicable Delaware law acquisition proposal or who have if a merger or consolidation of Star granted irrevocable powers to Petro Gas Partners, or a sale, exchange or to vote for the transaction at the other disposition of substantially special meeting, have the right to all of Star Gas Partners' assets dissent, and obtain payment for the should occur. "fair value" of their shares, if corporate actions such as the transaction should occur. Preemptive Rights Petro Common Stock Star Gas Partners Senior Subordinated Units Class A common stockholders do not Senior subordinated unitholders do have: not have preemptive rights regarding the issuance of any securities of Star Gas Partners. . preemptive rights, . rights to maintain their respective percentage ownership interests or . other rights to subscribe for additional Petro stock. Inspection of Books, Records and List of Holders Petro Common Stock Star Gas Partners Senior Subordinated Units Under Section 302A.461 of the As long as there exists a purpose Minnesota Business Corporation Act, reasonably related to a limited any stockholder, in person or by partner's interest, the senior attorney or other agent, has the subordinated unitholders may, upon right, upon written demand under reasonable demand and at their own oath stating the purpose thereof, expense, have furnished to them during the usual hours of business to inspect for any proper purpose: . a current list of the name and last known address of each partner, . the corporation's stock ledger, . a copy of Star Gas Partners' . a list of its stockholders, tax returns, and its other books and records, and . certain information on the value of contributions to . to make copies or extracts Star Gas Partners, therefrom. A proper purpose means a purpose . copies of the amended and reasonably related to such person's restated partnership interest as a stockholder. agreement, certificate of limited partnership and powers of attorney, . information regarding the status of the Star Gas Partners' business and financial condition and . other information regarding the affairs of Star Gas Partners that is just and reasonable. 153 DESCRIPTION OF INDEBTEDNESS New Indebtedness Petro Notes On the closing of the transaction, Petro will issue approximately $90.0 million of senior secured notes in three separate series in a private placement to institutional investors. It is currently expected that the senior secured notes will be guaranteed by Star Gas Partners and Petro Holdings and its subsidiaries. The notes have been assigned a preliminary private credit rating of "BBB" by Fitch rating service. In addition, the senior secured notes will be secured equally and ratably with Petro's existing senior debt and bank credit facilities by the cash, accounts receivable, notes receivable, inventory and customer lists of Petro Holdings and its subsidiaries, including Petro. Each series of senior secured notes will be for $30.0 million and will mature seven, eight or ten years from the issuance date. In addition, each series will bear a fixed interest rate that will be determined at the time of pricing based upon the yield of specified United States treasury notes that equal the maturity of the series of notes plus a set percentage. Interest only on each series is due semiannually. On the last interest payment date for each series, the outstanding principal amount is due and payable in full. The note agreement for the senior secured notes will contain various negative and affirmative covenants, including restrictions on payment of dividends or other distributions by Star Gas Partners on any partnership interest if the ratio of consolidated pro forma operating cash flow to consolidated pro forma interest expense, each as defined in the note agreement, is less than 1.75 to 1.0 for the period of the four most recent fiscal quarters ending on or prior to the date of the dividend or distribution or an event of default would exist. Under the note agreement, Petro Holdings and its subsidiaries will be permitted to make cash distributions to Star/Petro Inc. if (a) the ratio of consolidated pro forma operating cash flow to consolidated pro forma interest expense is less than 1.75 to 1.0 for the period of the four most recent fiscal quarters ending on or prior to the date of the distribution; (b) the total cash distributions for all quarters beginning January 1, 1999 do not exceed specified amounts in the note agreement; (c) Star/Petro Inc. is the parent company of Petro Holdings Inc. and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Star Gas Propane. If Petro fails to make any principal or interest payment, any noteholder may accelerate the maturity of the senior secured notes. If any event of default exists under the note agreement, holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the senior secured notes may accelerate the maturity of the notes. The maturity of the senior secured notes is automatically accelerated if Petro, Star Gas Partners, Petro Holdings or any of their subsidiaries are generally unable to pay their debts as they become due or become subject to any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings. 154 Petro Bank Facilities On or before the closing of the transaction, Petro will enter into a bank facilities agreement for approximately $100.0 million in senior secured facilities with a group of commercial banks. The bank facilities will be guaranteed by Star Gas Partners and Petro Holdings and its subsidiaries. In addition, the bank facilities will be secured equally and ratably with Petro's new senior secured notes and existing institutionally owned senior debt by the cash, accounts receivable, notes receivable, inventory and customer lists of Petro and its subsidiaries. The bank facilities will consist of three separate facilities--a $40 million working capital facility, a $10 million letter of credit facility and a $50 million acquisition facility. The working capital facility and letter of credit facility will expire on June 30, 2001. The acquisition facility will convert to a term loan on June 30, 2001 which will be payable in eight equal quarterly principal payments. Amounts borrowed under the working capital facility are subject to a requirement to maintain a zero balance for 90 consecutive days during the period from April 1 to September 30 of each year. In addition, each facility will bear an interest rate that is based on either the London Interbank Offer Rate or another base rate plus a set percentage. The bank facilities agreement will contain covenants and default provisions generally similar to those contained in the note agreement for the senior secured notes. Existing Indebtedness Description of First Mortgage Notes Star Gas Propane currently has outstanding approximately $96 million of first mortgage notes. Star Gas Propane's obligations under the first mortgage note agreements and the first mortgage notes are secured equally and ratably with Star Gas Propane's obligations under its bank credit facilities by a mortgage on most of the real property and liens on most of the operating facilities, equipment and other assets. Eighty-five million of the first mortgage notes have a final maturity of September 15, 2009 and $11 million of the first mortgage notes have a final maturity of September 15, 2010. The first mortgage notes require semiannual prepayments, without premium, of the principal beginning March 15, 2001. Under specified circumstances following the disposition of assets, Star Gas Propane may be required to offer to prepay the first mortgage notes, in whole or in part. The first mortgage note agreements contain various negative and affirmative covenants, including restrictions on payment of dividends or other distributions to any partnership interest if the pro forma ratio of consolidated cash flow to consolidated interest expense, each as defined in the first mortgage note agreements, is less than 1.75 to 1.0. Upon completion of the equity offering and after giving pro forma effect to the transaction, Star Gas Propane would be in compliance with the negative and affirmative covenants applicable under the first mortgage note agreements. Under the first mortgage note agreements, so long as no default exists or would result, Star Gas Propane is permitted to make cash distributions to Star Gas Partners not more frequently than quarterly in an amount not to exceed available cash, as defined in the first mortgage note agreement, for the immediately preceding calendar quarter. If an event of default exists on the first mortgage notes, the noteholders may accelerate the maturity of the first mortgage notes and exercise other rights and remedies, including foreclosures upon the mortgaged property. 155 In connection with the closing of the transaction, Star/Petro, Inc. will become jointly and severally liable with Star Gas Propane under the first mortgage notes and the first mortgage note agreements. Description of Star Gas Propane Bank Credit Facilities In December 1995, Star Gas Propane entered into credit facilities with a group of commercial banks. The bank credit facilities consist of a $25.0 million acquisition facility and a $12.0 million working capital facility. At September 30, 1998, $9.0 million was outstanding under the acquisition facility and $4.8 million was outstanding under the working capital facility. The agreement governing the bank credit facilities contains covenants and default provisions generally similar to those contained in the first mortgage note agreements. The Star Gas Propane working capital facility will expire on June 30, 2000, but may be extended annually with the consent of the banks. The Star Gas Propane acquisition facility will revolve until June 30, 1999 after which time any outstanding loans must be reduced by equal quarterly principal payments over the period from September 30, 1999 through September 30, 2002. Amounts borrowed under both facilities are due at maturity. However, no amount must be outstanding under the Star Gas Propane working capital facility for at least 30 consecutive days during each calendar year. If Star Gas Propane exercises its option to convert the Star Gas Propane acquisition facility into a term loan, the outstanding principal balance under this facility will be amortized in equal quarterly installments. Other Petro Debt Petro has entered into private debt agreements with the holders of: . its outstanding 10.90% Senior Notes due 2002 in the aggregate principal amount of $60 million; and . its 14.1% Senior and Subordinated Notes due 2001 in the aggregate principal amount of $4.1 million. Under the private debt agreements at the completion of the transaction: . the holders of the 10.90% notes will exchange them for $63.1 million aggregate principal amount of 9.0% Senior Notes due 2002 of Petro; and . the holders of the 14.10% notes will exchange those notes for $2.2 million aggregate principal amount of 10.25% Senior Notes due 2001 of Petro and $2.2 million principal amount of 10.25% Subordinated Notes due 2001 of Petro. The new 9% notes and the new 10.25% notes will be guaranteed by Star Gas Partners and Petro Holdings. The agreements under which Petro will issue the new 9% and 10.25% notes will be substantially identical to the agreement under which the $90.0 million of senior secured notes will be issued, including negative and affirmative covenants. 156 Petro also had outstanding as of September 30, 1998 an aggregate of $14.3 million of notes, primarily in connection with the purchase of fuel oil dealers, which notes are due variously in monthly, quarterly and annual installments with interest at various rates ranging from 8% to 15%, maturing at various dates through 2004. In addition, following the closing of the transaction, Petro will have outstanding $1.3 million of 10 1/8% Subordinated Debentures due 2003, $0.7 million of 9 3/8% Subordinated Notes due 2006 and $1.1 million of 12 1/4% Subordinated Notes due 2005. In October 1998, the indentures under which the 10 1/8%, 9 3/8% and 10 1/8% subordinated notes were issued were amended to eliminate substantially all of the covenant protection provided by the indentures. 157 COMPARATIVE SECURITY PRICE AND DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION Star Gas Partners Securities Common Units. Since May 29, 1998, the common units have been listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SGU." From December 20, 1995 through May 28, 1998, the common units were listed on the Nasdaq National Market. The following table sets forth the closing high and low sales prices per common unit on the Nasdaq National Market through May 28, 1998 and after that date on the New York Stock Exchange. The table also shows: . the cash distributions declared and paid per common unit for the fiscal quarters ended from December 31, 1996 through September 30, 1998; and . the cash distribution declared per common unit for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 1998 payable February 15, 1999. - -------- (a) Through February 9, 1999. On August 13, 1998, the last full trading day prior to the public announcement of the proposed transaction, the closing sales price of the common units was $21.06 on the New York Stock Exchange. On February 9, 1999, the closing sales price of the common units was $18.44. Subordinated Units. There is no trading market for Star Gas Partners' 2,396,078 subordinated units, all of which are held by Star Gas Corporation. Senior Subordinated Units. There are no senior subordinated units outstanding as of the date of this proxy statement. Junior Subordinated Units. There are no junior subordinated units outstanding as of the date of this proxy statement. 158
Fiscal Fiscal 1999 Fiscal 1998 1997 -------------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------- Fiscal Cash Cash Cash Quarter Ended High Low Distribution High Low Distribution High Low Distribution ------------- ------ ------ ------------ ------ ------ ------------ ------ ------ ------------ December 31,............ $21.75 $14.50 $0.55 $23.38 $20.50 $0.55 $23.88 $21.75 $0.55 March 31,............... 19.88(a) 17.00(a) -- 24.75 21.38 0.55 24.63 20.75 0.55 June 30,................ -- -- -- 23.00 20.50 0.55 21.88 19.00 0.55 September 30,........... -- -- -- 22.38 20.13 0.55 23.50 21.00 0.55 Petro Capital Stock Class A Common Stock. Shares of Class A common stock are listed and traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "HEAT." The following table shows the last reported high and low sale prices per share of Class A common stock and dividends declared on shares of Class A common stock for the periods indicated. For the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 1998, Petro declared a dividend of $.075 per share of Class A common stock which was paid on January 2, 1998 to holders of record on December 15, 1997. On February 24, 1998, Petro announced that it would suspend its regularly scheduled quarterly common stock dividend and that it did not expect to pay common stock dividends for the remainder of the year. In arriving at this decision, the Petro board considered the impact of unusually warm winter weather on its earnings and cash flow, as well as a variety of other factors. On August 13, 1998, the last full trading day prior to the public announcement of the proposed transaction, the closing sales price of the Class A common stock was $1.875 on the Nasdaq National Market. The closing high and low sales prices of the Class A common stock for the period from January 1, 1999 through February 9, 1999 was $1.13 and $0.84. The last sale price of the Class A common stock on February 9, 1999 was $0.97 per share. As of January 29, 1999, Petro had 198 holders of record of Class A common stock. Class C Common Stock. There is no established trading market for Class C common stock. As of January 29, 1999, Petro had 24 holders of record of Class C common stock. Public Preferred Stock. There is no established trading market for the 12 7/8% preferred stock. As of January 29, 1999, Petro had six holders of record of 12 7/8% preferred stock. Private Preferred Stock. There is no established trading market for the 1989 preferred stock. As of January 29, 1999, Petro had one holder of record of the 1989 preferred stock. Junior Convertible Preferred Stock. There is no established trading market for the junior convertible preferred stock. As of January 29, 1999, Petro had 146 holders of record of junior convertible preferred stock. 159
1998 1997 1996 ------------------------- ----------------------- ----------------------- Fiscal Quarter Ended High Low Dividends High Low Dividends High Low Dividends - -------------------- ------- ------- --------- ------ ------ --------- ------ ------ --------- March 31,............. $ 3 $1 7/16 $0.075 $6 3/4 $3 3/8 $0.075 $8 1/4 $6 1/2 $0.15 June 30,.............. 2 1/16 1 1/2 -- 3 7/8 2 1/2 0.075 7 3/4 6 1/2 0.15 September 30,......... 2 1/16 1 5/16 -- 3 1/2 2 5/8 0.075 7 3/4 6 1/4 0.15 December 31,.......... 1 29/32 14/16 -- 3 1/2 2 1/8 0.075 7 3/4 5 5/8 0.15 Comparative Per Share/Per Unit Information (Unaudited) The following table describes, for units of limited partner interests of Star Gas Partners and shares of Petro Class A common stock, historical, pro forma and pro forma equivalent per unit financial information for the latest fiscal years of Star Gas Partners and Petro. The pro forma data do not purport to be indicative of the results of future operations or the results that would have occurred had the transaction been completed on October 1, 1997. This information should be read in conjunction with and is qualified in its entirety by the financial statements and accompanying notes of Star Gas Partners and Petro included in the documents described under "Incorporation of Certain Documents By Reference" and the pro forma combined financial statements and accompanying discussion and notes set forth under "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information." - -------- (a) As of September 30, 1998. (b) As of December 31, 1997. 160
Historical Pro Forma Star Gas Star Gas Pro Forma Partners per Partners per Equivalent unit of unit of Historical per unit of limited limited Petro per limited partner partner share of partner interests interests common stock interests for fiscal for fiscal for fiscal for fiscal year ended year ended year ended year ended September 30, September 30, December 31, September 30, 1998 1998 1997 1998 ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------- Net Income............. $(0.16) $(0.67) $(1.06) $(0.08) Cash Distributions..... $ 2.20 $ 2.30 $ 0.30 $ 0.28 Book Value............. $ 8.98 (a) $14.57 (a) $(6.76)(b) $ 1.79 (b) FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS This section is a summary of material tax considerations that may be relevant to prospective Star Gas Partners unitholders and, to the extent described below under "Legal Opinions and Advice," expresses the opinion of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P., special counsel to the general partner and Star Gas Partners, insofar as it relates to matters of law and legal conclusions. This section is based upon current provisions of the Code, current and proposed regulations and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change with and without retroactive effect. Later changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to Star Gas Partners are references to both Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Propane. In addition, unless otherwise noted, the following discussion is from Star Gas Partners' perspective and all references to "we," "us" and "our" are to Star Gas Partners. No attempt has been made in the following discussion to comment on all federal income tax matters affecting Star Gas Partners or the Star Gas Partners unitholders. Moreover, the discussion focuses on Star Gas Partners unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the United States and has only limited application to corporations, estates, trusts, non-resident aliens or other unitholders subject to specialized tax treatment, such as tax-exempt institutions, foreign persons, individual retirement accounts, REITs or mutual funds. Accordingly, each prospective Star Gas Partners unitholder should consult, and should depend on, his own tax advisor in analyzing the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences peculiar to him of the ownership or disposition of units. Tax Consequences of the Merger The merger will be a taxable transaction to the Petro common stockholders generally resulting in gain or loss to each holder in an amount equal to the difference between the value of the senior subordinated units received by him and the federal income tax basis he has in the shares exchanged for senior subordinated units. The gain or loss will be capital gain or loss if the stock is held by the Petro common stockholder as a capital asset and will be long- term gain or loss if such stock has been held for more than one year. Long-term capital gain will generally be taxed at a maximum rate of 20% for individuals. Capital losses can be deducted against capital gains and thereafter against ordinary income to the extent of $3,000 per year for individuals with any unused capital loss being carried forward indefinitely. Net capital gain of foreign holders of Petro common stock should generally not be subject to United States federal income tax. Petro common stockholders participating in the merger will have a basis in their senior subordinated units equal to the fair market value of those units at the time of the merger and their holding period will begin on the day after the merger. Counsel has not rendered any opinion on these matters. The merger will also result in gain to Petro equal to the excess of the value of the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units distributed to the Petro common stockholders in the merger and any debt relief over the federal income tax basis of those units to Petro. Although it is expected by Petro that this gain will generally be offset by Petro's net operating losses, the net operating losses are subject to challenge by the IRS. Petro and its affiliates do not anticipate that Petro or its affiliates will pay significant federal income tax at the outset; however, over time more federal income tax will be paid by Petro and its affiliates. Petro and its affiliates' ability to reduce income for federal income tax 161 purposes is dependent on depreciation deductions and interest deductions on certain debt, all of which is subject to scrutiny by the IRS. Counsel has not rendered any opinion on these matters. Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership Legal Opinions and Advice. Counsel is of the opinion that, based on the representations and subject to the qualifications in the detailed discussion that follows, for federal income tax purposes (1) Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Propane have been and will each be treated as a partnership and (2) owners of units, with certain exceptions, as described in "Limited Partner Status" below, will be treated as partners of Star Gas Partners, but not Star Gas Propane. In addition, all statements as to matters of law and legal conclusions contained in this section, unless otherwise noted, reflect the opinion of counsel. No ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS regarding the classification of Star Gas Partners as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, whether Star Gas Partners' operations generate "qualifying income" under Section 7704 of the Code or any other matter affecting Star Gas Partners or prospective Star Gas Partners unitholders. An opinion of counsel represents only that counsel's best legal judgment and does not bind the IRS or the courts. Thus, no assurance can be provided that the opinions and statements made here would be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS. Any contest of this sort with the IRS may materially and adversely impact the market for the units and the prices at which units trade. In addition, the costs of any contest with the IRS will be borne directly or indirectly by the Star Gas Partners unitholders and the general partner. Furthermore, no assurance can be given that the treatment of Star Gas Partners or an investment in Star Gas Partners will not be significantly modified by future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions. Any modifications may or may not be retroactively applied. For the reasons described below, counsel has not rendered an opinion on the following specific federal income tax issues: (1) the treatment of a Star Gas Partners unitholder whose units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of units (see "--Tax Treatment of Operations--Treatment of Short Sales"), (2) whether a Star Gas Partners unitholder acquiring units in separate transactions must maintain a single aggregate adjusted tax basis in his units (see "--Disposition of Units--Recognition of Gain or Loss"), (3) whether Star Gas Partners' monthly convention for allocating taxable income and losses is permitted by existing Treasury Regulations (see "--Disposition of Units--Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees"), (4) whether Star Gas Partners' method for depreciating Section 743 adjustments is sustainable (see "--Tax Treatment of Operations-- Section 754 Election") and (5) whether the allocations of recapture income contained in the amended and restated partnership agreement will be respected (see "--Allocation of Star Gas Partners' Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction"). 162 Tax Rate. The top marginal income tax rate for individuals for 1998 is 39.6%. Net capital gains of an individual are generally subject to a maximum 20% tax rate if the asset was held for more than 12 months at the time of disposition. Star Gas Partners Status as a Partnership. A partnership is not a taxable entity and incurs no federal income tax liability. Instead, each partner is required to take into account his allocable 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. Distributions by a partnership to a partner are generally not taxable unless the amount of cash distributed is in excess of the partner's adjusted basis in his partnership interest. No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS as to the status of Star Gas Partners or Star Gas Propane as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Instead, Star Gas Partners has relied on the opinion of counsel that, based upon the Code, its regulations, published revenue rulings and court decisions and representations described below, Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Propane have been and will each be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. In rendering its opinion, counsel has relied on certain factual representations made by Star Gas Partners and the general partner. Such factual matters for taxable years beginning before December 31, 1996 are as follows: (a) For Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Propane, the general partner, at all times while acting as general partner of the relevant partnership, had a net worth, computed on a fair market value basis, excluding its interest in Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Propane and any notes or receivables due from such partnerships, equal to at least $6.0 million; (b) Star Gas Partners has been operated in accordance with (1) all applicable partnership statutes, (2) the amended and restated partnership agreement and (3) its description in this proxy statement; (c) Star Gas Propane has been operated in accordance with (1) all applicable partnership statutes, (2) the limited partnership agreement for Star Gas Propane and (3) its description in this proxy statement; (d) The general partner has at all times acted independently of the limited partners; and (e) For each taxable year, less than 10% of the gross income of Star Gas Partners has been derived from sources other than (1) the exploration, development, production, processing, refining, transportation or marketing of any mineral or natural resource, including oil, gas or products thereof, or (2) other items of qualifying income within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code. Such factual matters for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1996 are as follows: (a) Neither Star Gas Partners nor Star Gas Propane has elected, or will elect, to be treated as an association or corporation; (b) Star Gas Partners has been and will be operated in accordance with (1) all applicable partnership statutes, (2) the partnership agreement of Star Gas Partners as it may be amended or restated, and (3) its description in this proxy statement; 163 (c) Star Gas Propane has been and will be operated in accordance with (1) all applicable partnership statutes, (2) the Star Gas Propane partnership agreement, and (3) its description in this proxy statement; and (d) For each taxable year, more than 90% of the gross income of Star Gas Partners has been and will be (1) derived from the exploration, development, production, processing, refining, transportation or marketing of any mineral or natural resource, including oil, gas or products thereof or (2) other items of "qualifying income" within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code. Section 7704 of the Code provides that publicly-traded partnerships will, as a general rule, be taxed as corporations. However, an exception (the "Qualifying Income Exception") exists with respect to publicly-traded partnerships, 90% or more of whose gross income for every taxable year consists of "qualifying income." Qualifying income includes interest from other than a financial business, dividends and income and gains from the transportation and marketing of crude oil, natural gas, and products thereof, including the retail and wholesale marketing of propane and the transportation of propane and natural gas liquids. Based upon the representations of Star Gas Partners and the General Partner and a review of the applicable legal authorities, counsel is of the opinion that at least 90% of Star Gas Partners' gross income will constitute qualifying income. Star Gas Partners estimates that less than 6% of its gross income for each taxable year will not constitute qualifying income. If Star Gas Partners fails to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, other than a failure that is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and is cured within a reasonable time after discovery, Star Gas Partners will be treated as if it had transferred all of its assets (subject to liabilities) to a newly formed corporation, on the first day of the year in which it fails to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, in return for stock in that corporation, and then distributed that stock to the partners in liquidation of their interests in Star Gas Partners. This contribution and liquidation should be tax-free to Star Gas Partners unitholders and Star Gas Partners, so long as Star Gas Partners, at that time, does not have liabilities in excess of the tax basis of its assets. Thereafter, Star Gas Partners would be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. If Star Gas Partners or Star Gas Propane were treated as an association taxable as a corporation in any taxable year, either as a result of a failure to meet the Qualifying Income Exception or otherwise, its items of income, gain, loss and deduction would be reflected only on its tax return rather than being passed through to the Star Gas Partners unitholders, and its net income would be taxed to Star Gas Partners or Star Gas Propane at corporate rates. In addition, any distribution made to a Star Gas Partners unitholder would be treated as either taxable dividend income, to the extent of Star Gas Partners' current or accumulated earnings and profits, or, in the absence of earnings and profits, a nontaxable return of capital, to the extent of the unitholder's tax basis in his units, or taxable capital gain, after the unitholder's tax basis in the units is reduced to zero. Accordingly, treatment of either Star Gas Partners or Star Gas Propane as an association taxable as a corporation would result in a material reduction in a Star Gas Partners unitholder's cash flow and after-tax return and thus would likely result in a substantial reduction of the value of the units. 164 The discussion below is based on the assumption that Star Gas Partners will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Limited Partner Status. Star Gas Partners unitholders who have become limited partners of Star Gas Partners will be treated as partners of Star Gas Partners for federal income tax purposes. Counsel is of the opinion that (a) assignees who have executed and delivered transfer applications, and are awaiting admission as limited partners and (b) Star Gas Partners unitholders whose units are held in street name or by a nominee and who have the right to direct the nominee in the exercise of all substantive rights attendant to the ownership of their units will be treated as partners of Star Gas Partners for federal income tax purposes. As there is no direct authority addressing assignees of units who are entitled to execute and deliver transfer applications and thereby become entitled to direct the exercise of attendant rights, but who fail to execute and deliver transfer applications, Andrews & Kurth's opinion does not extend to these persons. Furthermore, a purchaser or other transferee of units who does not execute and deliver a transfer application may not receive some federal income tax information or reports furnished to record holders of units unless the units are held in a nominee or street name account and the nominee or broker has executed and delivered a transfer application for such units. A beneficial owner of units whose units have been transferred to a short seller to complete a short sale would appear to lose his status as a partner with respect to such units for federal income tax purposes. See "--Tax Treatment of Operations--Treatment of Short Sales." Income, gain, deductions or losses would not appear to be reportable by a Star Gas Partners unitholder who is not a partner for federal income tax purposes, and any cash distributions received by such a Star Gas Partners unitholder would therefore be fully taxable as ordinary income. These holders should consult their own tax advisors with respect to their status as partners in Star Gas Partners for federal income tax purposes. Flow-through of Taxable Income. No federal income tax will be paid by Star Gas Partners. Instead, each Star Gas Partners unitholder will be required to report on his income tax return his allocable share of the income, gains, losses and deductions of Star Gas Partners without regard to whether corresponding cash distributions are received by that unitholder. Consequently, a Star Gas Partners unitholder may be allocated income from Star Gas Partners even if he has not received a cash distribution. Each Star Gas Partners unitholder will be required to include in income his allocable share of Star Gas Partners income, gain, loss and deduction for the taxable year of Star Gas Partners ending with or within the taxable year of the Star Gas Partners unitholder. Although it is not expected that Petro and its affiliates will pay significant federal income tax for several years, Petro and its affiliates expect to generate earnings and profits during that time making a portion of the distributions from them to Star Gas Partners taxable dividend income to Star Gas Partners and thus, to the Star Gas Partners unitholders. Such dividend income cannot be offset by past or future losses generated by Star Gas Partners' propane activities. Treatment of Partnership Distributions. Distributions by Star Gas Partners to a Star Gas Partners unitholder generally will not be taxable to him for federal income tax purposes to the extent of the tax basis he has in his units immediately before the distribution. Our cash distributions in 165 excess of a Star Gas Partners unitholder's tax basis generally will be considered to be gain from the sale or exchange of the units, taxable in accordance with the rules described under "Disposition of Units" below. Any reduction in a Star Gas Partners unitholder's share of our liabilities for which no partner, including the general partner, bears the economic risk of loss, known as "nonrecourse liabilities", will be treated as a distribution of cash to that unitholder. To the extent Star Gas Partners distributions cause a Star Gas Partners unitholder's "at risk" amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year, he must recapture any losses deducted in previous years. See "--Limitations on Deductibility of Star Gas Partners Losses." A decrease in a Star Gas Partners unitholder's percentage interest in us because of our issuance of additional units will decrease his share of our nonrecourse liabilities, and will result in a corresponding deemed distribution of cash. A non-pro rata distribution of money or property may result in ordinary income to a Star Gas Partners unitholder, regardless of the tax basis he has in his units, if such distribution reduces his share of our "unrealized receivables", including depreciation recapture, and/or substantially appreciated "inventory items", both as defined in Section 751 of the Code, and collectively, "Section 751 Assets". To that extent, he will be treated as having received a distribution of his proportionate share of the Section 751 Assets and having exchanged those assets with us in return for the non-pro rata portion of the actual distribution made to him. This latter deemed exchange will generally result in a Star Gas Partners unitholder's realization of ordinary income under Section 751(b) of the Code. That income will equal the excess of (1) the non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (2) the Star Gas Partners unitholder's tax basis for the share of such Section 751 Assets deemed relinquished in the exchange. Ratio of Taxable Income to Distributions. We estimate that a holder who acquires common units in the transaction and holds those units through December 31, 2001, will be allocated, on a cumulative basis, an amount of federal taxable income for that period that will be less than 20% of the cash distributed for that period. Star Gas Partners further estimates that for taxable years after the taxable year ending December 31, 2001, the taxable income allocable to a Star Gas Partners unitholder will constitute a significantly higher percentage of cash distributed to him. These estimates are based upon the assumption that gross income from operations will approximate the amount required to make the minimum quarterly distribution on all units and other assumptions regarding capital expenditures, cash flow and anticipated cash distributions. These estimates and assumptions are subject to, among other things, numerous business, economic, regulatory, competitive and political uncertainties beyond our control. Further, the estimates are based on current tax law and tax reporting positions that we have adopted or intend to adopt and with which the IRS could disagree. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that these estimates will prove to be correct. The actual percentage of distributions that will constitute taxable income could be higher or lower, and any differences could be material and could materially affect the value of the units. Basis of Units. A Star Gas Partners unitholder will generally have an initial tax basis for his units equal to the fair market value of the units received. His basis will be increased by his share of our income and by any increases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will be decreased, but not below zero, by distributions from Star Gas Partners and by the Star Gas Partners unitholder's share of Star Gas Partners' losses, by any decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities and by his share of our expenditures that are not deductible in computing taxable income and are not required to be capitalized. A limited partner will have no share of our debt that is 166 recourse to the general partner, but will have a share, generally based on his share of profits, of our nonrecourse liabilities. See "--Disposition of Units-- Recognition of Gain or Loss." Limitations on Deductibility of Star Gas Partners Losses. The deduction by a Star Gas Partners unitholder of his share of our losses will be limited to the tax basis in his units and, in the case of an individual Star Gas Partners unitholder or a corporate unitholder, if more than 50% of the value of its stock is owned directly or indirectly by five or fewer individuals or tax- exempt organizations, to the amount for which the Star Gas Partners unitholder is considered to be "at risk" regarding our activities, if that is less than his tax basis. A Star Gas Partners unitholder must recapture losses deducted in previous years to the extent that Star Gas Partners distributions made to him cause his "at risk" amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year. Losses disallowed to a Star Gas Partners unitholder or recaptured as a result of these limitations will carry forward and will be allowable to the extent that his tax basis or "at risk" amount, whichever is the limiting factor, is subsequently increased. Upon the taxable disposition of a unit, any gain recognized by a Star Gas Partners unitholder can be offset by losses that were previously suspended by the at risk limitation but may not be offset by losses suspended by the basis limitation. Any excess loss above such gain previously suspended by the at risk or basis limitations is no longer utilizable. In general, a Star Gas Partners unitholder will be at risk to the extent of the tax basis of his units, excluding any portion of that basis attributable to his share of our nonrecourse liabilities, reduced by any amount of money he borrows to acquire or hold his units, if the lender of such borrowed funds owns an interest in us, is related to the Star Gas Partners unitholder or can look only to the units for repayment. A Star Gas Partners unitholder's at risk amount will increase or decrease as the tax basis of his units increases or decreases, other than tax basis increases or decreases attributable to increases or decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. The passive loss limitations generally provide that individuals, estates, trusts and some closely held corporations and personal service corporations can deduct losses from passive activities, which are generally, activities in which the taxpayer does not materially participate, only to the extent of the taxpayer's income from those passive activities. The passive loss limitations are applied separately for each publicly-traded partnership. Consequently, any passive losses we generate will only be available to offset our passive income generated in the future and will not be available to offset income from other passive activities or investments, including other publicly-traded companies, interest and dividend income generated by us, such as dividends from Petro and its affiliates, or salary or active business income. Passive losses that are not deductible because they exceed a Star Gas Partners unitholder's income generated by us may be deducted in full when he disposes of his entire investment in us in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party. The passive activity loss rules are applied after other applicable limitations on deductions such as the at risk rules and the basis limitation. A Star Gas Partners unitholder's share of our net income may be offset by any suspended passive losses, but it may not be offset by any other current or carryover losses from other passive activities, including those attributable to other publicly-traded companies. The IRS has announced that Treasury Regulations will be issued that characterize net passive income from a publicly-traded partnership as investment income for purposes of the limitations on the deductibility of investment interest. 167 Limitations on Interest Deductions. The deductibility of a non-corporate taxpayer's "investment interest expense" is generally limited to the amount of such taxpayer's "net investment income." As noted, a Star Gas Partners unitholder's share of our net passive income will be treated as investment income for this purpose. In addition, the Star Gas Partners unitholder's share of our portfolio income will be treated as investment income. Investment interest expense includes: (1) interest on indebtedness properly allocable to property held for investment, (2) our interest expense attributed to portfolio income, and (3) the portion of interest expense incurred to purchase or carry an interest in a passive activity to the extent attributable to portfolio income. The computation of a Star Gas Partners unitholder's investment interest expense will take into account interest on any margin account borrowing or other loan incurred to purchase or carry a unit. Net investment income includes gross income from property held for investment and amounts treated as portfolio income under the passive loss rules, less deductible expenses, other than interest, directly connected with the production of investment income, but generally does not include gains attributable to the disposition of property held for investment. Allocation of Star Gas Partners Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction In general, if we have a net profit, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated among the general partner and the Star Gas Partners unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us. At any time that distributions are made to the Star Gas Partners common units and not to the Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units or junior subordinated units, or that incentive distributions are made to holders of Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units or general partner units or to holders of Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units and not to junior subordinated units or general partner units, gross income will be allocated to the recipients to the extent of those distributions. If we have a net loss, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction will generally be allocated first, to the general partner and the Star Gas Partners unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests to the extent of their positive capital accounts (as maintained under our amended and restated partnership agreement) and, second, to the general partner. As required by Section 704(c) of the Code and as permitted by its Regulations, some items of our income, deduction, gain and loss will be allocated in a manner to account for the difference between the tax basis and fair market value of property that is contributed or deemed contributed to us by each of the partners ("Contributed Property"). The effect of these allocations to a Star Gas Partners unitholder will be essentially the same as if the tax basis of the Contributed Property were equal to its fair market value at the time of contribution or deemed contribution. In addition, specified items of recapture income will be allocated to the extent possible to the partner who was allocated the deduction giving rise to the treatment of that gain as recapture income in order to minimize the recognition of ordinary income by some Star Gas Partners unitholders. Finally, although we do not expect that our operations will result in the creation of negative capital accounts, if negative capital accounts nevertheless result, items of our income and gain will be allocated in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the negative balance as quickly as possible. 168 Regulations provide that an allocation of items of Star Gas Partners income, gain, loss or deduction, other than an allocation required by Section 704(c) of the Code to eliminate the difference between a partner's "book" capital account, credited with the fair market value of Contributed Property, and "tax" capital account, credited with the tax basis of Contributed Property, (the "Book-Tax Disparity"), will generally be given effect for federal income tax purposes in determining a partner's distributive share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction only if the allocation has substantial economic effect. In any other case, a partner's distributive share of an item will be determined on the basis of the partner's interest in Star Gas Partners, which will be determined by taking into account all the facts and circumstances, including the partner's relative contributions to Star Gas Partners, the interests of the partners in economic profits and losses, the interest of the partners in cash flow and other nonliquidating distributions and rights of the partners to distributions of capital upon liquidation. Counsel is of the opinion that allocations under our amended and restated partnership agreement, with the exception of the allocation of recapture income discussed above, will be given effect for federal income tax purposes in determining a partner's distributive share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction. Tax Treatment of Operations Accounting Method and Taxable Year. We use the year ending December 31 as our taxable year and we have adopted the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes. Each Star Gas Partners unitholder will be required to include in income his allocable share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our taxable year ending within or with his taxable year. In addition, a Star Gas Partners unitholder who has a taxable year ending on a date other than December 31 and who disposes of all of his units following the close of our taxable year but before the close of his taxable year must include his allocable share of our income, gain, loss and deduction in income for his taxable year, with the result that he will be required to report in income for his taxable year his share of more than one year of our income, gain, loss and deduction. See "--Disposition of Units--Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees." Initial Tax Basis, Depreciation and Amortization. The tax basis of our assets will be used for purposes of computing depreciation and cost recovery deductions and, ultimately, gain or loss on the disposition of such assets. The federal income tax burden associated with the difference between the fair market value of property contributed and the tax basis established for such property will be borne by the contributors of such property. See "--Allocation of Our Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction." To the extent allowable, we may elect to use the depreciation and cost recovery methods that will result in the largest deductions being taken in the early years after assets are placed in service. We will not be entitled to any amortization deductions for goodwill conveyed to us on formation. Property subsequently acquired or constructed by us may be depreciated using accelerated methods permitted by the Code. If we dispose of depreciable property by sale, foreclosure, or otherwise, all or a portion of any gain, determined by reference to the amount of depreciation previously deducted and the nature of the property, may be subject to the recapture rules and taxed as ordinary income rather than capital gain. Similarly, a partner who has taken cost recovery or depreciation deductions for our property 169 may be required to recapture such deductions as ordinary income upon a sale of his interest in us. See "--Allocation of Star Gas Partners' Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction" and "--Disposition of Units--Recognition of Gain or Loss." Section 754 Election. We have made the election permitted by Section 754 of the Code, which generally permits us to adjust a unit purchaser's tax basis in our assets ("inside basis") under Section 743(b) of the Code to reflect his purchase price. That election is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS. The Section 743(b) adjustment belongs to the purchaser and not to other Star Gas Partners unitholders. For purposes of this discussion, a Star Gas Partners unitholder's inside basis in our assets will be considered to have two components: (1) his share of our tax basis in such assets ("Basis") and (2) his Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis. Proposed Treasury regulations under Section 743 of the Code would require a portion of the Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to recovery property to be depreciated over the remaining cost recovery period for the Section 704(c) built-in gain. Nevertheless, the proposed regulations under Section 197 indicate that the Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to an amortizable Section 197 intangible should be treated as a newly-acquired asset placed in service in the month when the purchaser acquires the unit. Under Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6), a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to property subject to depreciation under Section 167 of the Code rather than cost recovery deductions under Section 168 is generally required to be depreciated using either the straight-line method or the 150% declining balance method. Although the proposed regulations under Section 743 will likely eliminate many of the problems if finalized in their current form, the depreciation and amortization methods and useful lives associated with the Section 743(b) adjustment may differ from the methods and useful lives generally used to depreciate the basis in these properties. Under our amended and restated partnership agreement, the general partner is authorized to adopt a convention to preserve the uniformity of units even if that convention is not consistent with specified Treasury Regulations. See "--Uniformity of Units." Although counsel is unable to opine as to the validity of an approach of this type, we intend to depreciate the portion of a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to unrealized appreciation in the value of Contributed Property, to the extent of any unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, using a rate of depreciation or amortization derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the Basis of such property, or treat that portion as non-amortizable to the extent attributable to property the Basis of which is not amortizable. This method is consistent with the proposed regulations under Section 743 but is arguably inconsistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6) and Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.197-2(g)(3), neither of which is expected to directly apply to a material portion of Star Gas Partners' assets. To the extent this Section 743(b) adjustment is attributable to appreciation in value in excess of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, we will apply the rules described in the Regulations and legislative history. If we determine that this position cannot reasonably be taken, we may adopt a depreciation or amortization convention under which all purchasers acquiring units in the same month would receive depreciation or amortization, whether attributable to Basis or Section 743(b) adjustment, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in our assets. Such an aggregate approach may result in lower annual depreciation or amortization deductions than would otherwise be allowable to specified Star Gas Partners unitholders. See "--Uniformity of Units." 170 The allocation of the Section 743(b) adjustment must be made in accordance with the Code. The IRS may seek to reallocate some or all of any Section 743(b) adjustment not so allocated by us to goodwill which, as an intangible asset, would be amortizable over a longer period of time than our tangible assets. A Section 754 election is advantageous if the transferee's tax basis in his units is higher than those units' share of the aggregate tax basis to us of our assets immediately prior to the transfer. In such a case, as a result of the election, the transferee would have a higher tax basis in his share of our assets for purposes of calculating, among other items, his depreciation and depletion deductions and his share of any gain or loss on a sale of Star Gas Partners' assets. Conversely, a Section 754 election is disadvantageous if the transferee's tax basis in his units is lower than those unit's share of the aggregate tax basis of Star Gas Partners' assets immediately prior to the transfer. Thus, the fair market value of the units may be affected either favorably or adversely by the election. The calculations involved in the Section 754 election are complex and we will make them on the basis of assumptions as to the value of our assets and other matters. We cannot assure that our determinations will not be successfully challenged by the IRS and that the deductions resulting from them will not be reduced or disallowed altogether. Should the IRS require a different basis adjustment to be made, and should, in our opinion, the expense of compliance exceed the benefit of the election, we may seek permission from the IRS to revoke our Section 754 election. If such permission is granted, a subsequent purchaser of Star Gas Partners units may be allocated more income than he would have been allocated had the election not been revoked. Alternative Minimum Tax. Each Star Gas Partners unitholder will be required to take into account his distributive share of any items of our income, gain, deduction, or loss for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. The minimum tax rate for non-corporate taxpayers is 26% on the first $175,000 of alternative minimum taxable income in excess of the exemption amount and 28% on any additional alternative minimum taxable income. Prospective Star Gas Partners unitholders should consult with their tax advisors as to the impact of an investment in units on their liability for the alternative minimum tax. Valuation of Star Gas Partners Property and Basis of Properties. The federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of units will depend in part on our estimates of the relative fair market values, and determinations of the initial tax bases, of our assets. Although we may from time to time consult with professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, we will make many of the relative fair market value estimates. These estimates and determinations of basis are subject to challenge and will not be binding on the IRS or the courts. If the estimates of fair market value or determinations of basis are later found to be incorrect, the character and amount of items of income, gain, loss or deductions previously reported by Star Gas Partners unitholders might change, and Star Gas Partners unitholders might be required to adjust their tax liability for prior years. Treatment of Short Sales. A Star Gas Partners unitholder whose units are loaned to a "short seller" to cover a short sale of units may be considered as having disposed of ownership of those units. If so, he would no longer be a partner for those units during the period of the loan and may 171 recognize gain or loss from the disposition. As a result, during this period, any of our income, gain, deduction or loss for those units would not be reportable by the Star Gas Parnters unitholder, any cash distributions received by the unitholder for those units would be fully taxable and all of these distributions would appear to be treated as ordinary income. Star Gas Partners unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition should modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing their units. The IRS has announced that it is actively studying issues relating to the tax treatment of short sales of partnership interests. See also "--Disposition of Units--Recognition of Gain or Loss." Disposition of Units Recognition of Gain or Loss. Gain or loss will be recognized on a sale of units equal to the difference between the amount realized and the Star Gas Partners unitholder's tax basis in the units that were sold. The amount realized by the Star Gas Partners unitholder will be measured by the sum of the cash or the fair market value of other property received plus his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. Because the amount realized includes a unitholder's share of our nonrecourse liabilities, the gain recognized on the sale of units could result in a tax liability in excess of any cash received from such sale. Prior distributions from us in excess of cumulative net taxable income for a unit that decreased a Star Gas Partners unitholder's tax basis in that unit will, in effect, become taxable income if the unit is sold at a price greater than the unitholder's tax basis in that unit, even if the price is less than his original cost. Should the IRS successfully contest our convention to amortize only a portion of the Section 743(b) adjustment, described under "--Tax Treatment of Operations--Section 754 Election", attributable to an amortizable Section 197 intangible after a sale by the general partner of units, a Star Gas Partners unitholder could realize additional gain from the sale of units than if that convention had been respected. In that case, the unitholder may have been entitled to additional deductions against income in prior years but may be unable to claim them, resulting in greater overall taxable income allocable to him than appropriate. Counsel is unable to opine as to the validity of the convention but believes such a contest by the IRS is unlikely because a successful contest could result in substantial additional deductions to other Star Gas Partners unitholders. Gain or loss recognized by a Star Gas Partners unitholder, other than a "dealer" in units, on the sale or exchange of a unit held for more than one year will generally be taxable as capital gain or loss. Capital gain recognized on the sale of units held more than 12 months will generally be taxed a maximum rate of 20%. A portion of this gain or loss, which could be substantial, however, will be separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss under Section 751 of the Code to the extent attributable to assets giving rise to depreciation recapture or other "unrealized receivables" or to "inventory items" owned by us. The term "unrealized receivables" includes potential recapture items, including depreciation recapture. Ordinary income attributable to unrealized receivables, inventory items and depreciation recapture may exceed net taxable gain realized upon the sale of the unit and may be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss realized on the sale of the unit. Thus, a Star Gas Partners unitholder may recognize both ordinary income and a capital loss upon a disposition of units. Net capital loss may offset no more than $3,000 of ordinary income in the case of individuals and may only be used to offset capital gain in the case of corporations. 172 The IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a partnership in separate transactions must combine those interests and maintain a single adjusted tax basis. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of such interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated to the interests sold using an "equitable apportionment" method. The ruling is unclear as to how the holding period of these interests is determined once they are combined. If this ruling is applicable to the holders of Star Gas Partners units, a Star Gas Partners unitholder will be unable to select high or low basis units to sell as would be the case with corporate stock. It is not clear whether the ruling applies to us, because, as is the case with corporate stock, interests in us are evidenced by separate certificates. Accordingly, counsel is unable to opine as to the effect this ruling will have on the Star Gas Partners unitholders. A Star Gas Partners unitholder considering the purchase of additional units or a sale of units purchased in separate transactions should consult his tax advisor as to the possible consequences of this ruling. Specified provisions of the Code affect the taxation of certain financial products and securities, including partnership interests, by treating a taxpayer as having sold an "appreciated" partnership interest, one in which gain would be recognized if it were sold, assigned or terminated at its fair market value, if the taxpayer or related persons enter(s) into (1)a short sale, (2)an offsetting notional principal contract, or (3)a futures or forward contract for the partnership interest or substantially identical property. Moreover, if a taxpayer has previously entered into a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract or a futures or forward contract for a partnership interest, the taxpayer will be treated as having sold that position if the taxpayer or a related party then acquires the partnership interest or substantially identical property. The Secretary of Treasury is also authorized to issue regulations that treat a taxpayer who or that enters into transactions or positions that have substantially the same effect as the preceding transactions as having constructively sold the financial position. Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees. In general, our taxable income and losses will be determined annually, will be prorated on a monthly basis and will be subsequently apportioned among the unitholders in proportion to the number of units owned by each of them as of the opening of the principal national securities exchange on which the units are then traded on the first business day of the month (the "Allocation Date"). However, gain or loss realized on a sale or other disposition of our assets other than in the ordinary course of business will be allocated among the unitholders on the Allocation Date in the month in which that gain or loss is recognized. As a result, a unitholder transferring units in the open market may be allocated income, gain, loss and deduction accrued after the date of transfer. The use of this allocation method may not be permitted under existing Treasury Regulations. Accordingly, counsel is unable to opine on the validity of this method of allocating income and deductions between the transferors and the transferees of units. If this method is not allowed under the Treasury Regulations, or only applies to transfers of less than all of the unitholder's interest, our taxable income or losses might be reallocated among the unitholders. We are authorized to revise our method of allocation between transferors and transferees, as well as among partners whose interests otherwise vary during a taxable period, to conform to a method permitted under future Treasury Regulations. 173 A unitholder who owns units any time during a quarter and who disposes of these units prior to the record date set for a cash distribution for that quarter will be allocated items of our income, gain, loss and deductions attributable to that quarter but will not be entitled to receive that cash distribution. Notification Requirements. A Star Gas Partners unitholder who sells or exchanges units is required to notify Star Gas Partners in writing of that sale or exchange within 30 days after the sale or exchange and in any event by no later than January 15 of the year following the calendar year in which the sale or exchange occurred. Star Gas Partners is required to notify the IRS of that transaction and to furnish certain information to the transferor and transferee. However, these reporting requirements do not apply to a sale by an individual who is a citizen of the United States and who effects the sale or exchange through a broker. Additionally, a transferor and a transferee of a unit will be required to furnish statements to the IRS, filed with their income tax returns for the taxable year in which the sale or exchange occurred, that describe the amount of the consideration received for the unit that is allocated to our goodwill or going concern value. Failure to satisfy these reporting obligations may lead to the imposition of substantial penalties. Constructive Termination. Star Gas Partners and Star Gas Propane will be considered to have been terminated if there is a sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in Star Gas Partners capital and profits within a 12-month period. A termination of Star Gas Partners will cause a termination of Star Gas Propane. A termination of Star Gas Partners will result in the closing of Star Gas Partners' taxable year for all Star Gas Partners unitholders. In the case of a Star Gas Partners unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than a fiscal year ending December 31, the closing of the tax year of Star Gas Partners may result in more than 12 months' taxable income or loss of Star Gas Partners being includable in his taxable income for the year of termination. Tax elections required to be made by Star Gas Partners, including a new election under Section 754 of the Code, must be made after a termination and a termination could result in a deferral of Star Gas Partners deductions for depreciation. A termination could also result in penalties if Star Gas Partners were unable to determine that the termination had occurred. Moreover, a termination might either accelerate the application of, or subject Star Gas Partners to, any tax legislation enacted before the termination. Entity-Level Collections. If we are required or elect under applicable law to pay any federal, state or local income tax on behalf of any unitholder or any general partner or any former unitholder, Star Gas Partners is authorized to pay those taxes from our funds. That payment, if made, will be treated as a distribution of cash to the partner on whose behalf the payment was made. If the payment is made on behalf of a person whose identity cannot be determined, we are authorized to treat the payment as a distribution to current Star Gas Partners unitholders. Star Gas Partners is authorized to amend the amended and restated partnership agreement in the manner necessary to maintain uniformity of intrinsic tax characteristics of units and to adjust later distributions, so that after giving effect to these distributions, the priority and characterization of distributions otherwise applicable under the amended and restated partnership agreement is maintained as nearly as is practicable. Payments by Star Gas Partners as described above could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf of an individual partner in which event the partner could file a claim for credit or refund. Uniformity of Units Because Star Gas Partners cannot match transferors and transferees of units, uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics of the units to a purchaser of these units must be maintained. In the 174 absence of uniformity, compliance with a number of federal income tax requirements, both statutory and regulatory, could be substantially diminished. A lack of uniformity can result from a literal application of Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6) and Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.197-2(g)(3). Any non-uniformity could have a negative impact on the value of the units. See "--Tax Treatment of Operations--Section 754 Election." We intend to depreciate the portion of a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to unrealized appreciation in the value of contributed property or adjusted property, to the extent of any unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, using a rate of depreciation or amortization derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the basis of such property, or treat that portion as nonamortizable, to the extent attributable to property the basis of which is not amortizable consistent with the proposed regulations under Section 743, but despite its inconsistency with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6) and Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.197-2(g)(3), neither of which is expected to directly apply to a material portion of the Partnership's assets. See "--Tax Treatment of Operations--Section 754 Election." To the extent such Section 743(b) adjustment is attributable to appreciation in value in excess of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, we will apply the rules described in the Regulations and legislative history. If we determine that such a position cannot reasonably be taken, we may adopt a depreciation and amortization convention under which all purchasers acquiring units in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, whether attributable to basis or Section 743(b) adjustment, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in our property. If such an aggregate approach is adopted, it may result in lower annual depreciation and amortization deductions than would otherwise be allowable to certain unitholders and risk the loss of depreciation and amortization deductions not taken in the year that such deductions are otherwise allowable. This convention will not be adopted if we determine that the loss of depreciation and amortization deductions will have a material adverse effect on the unitholders. If Star Gas Partners chooses not to utilize this aggregate method, we may use any other reasonable depreciation and amortization convention to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any units that would not have a material adverse effect on the unitholders. The IRS may challenge any method of depreciating the Section 743(b) adjustment described in this paragraph. If such a challenge were sustained, the uniformity of units might be affected, and the gain from the sale of units might be increased without the benefit of additional deductions. See "--Disposition of Units--Recognition of Gain or Loss." Tax-exempt Organizations and Certain Other Investors. Ownership of units by employee benefit plans, other tax-exempt organizations, nonresident aliens, foreign corporations, other foreign persons and regulated investment companies raises issues unique to such persons and, as described below, may have substantially adverse tax consequences. Employee benefit plans and most other organizations that are exempt from federal income tax, including individual retirement accounts ("IRAs") and other retirement plans, are subject to federal income tax on unrelated business taxable income. Virtually all of the taxable income derived by such an organization from the ownership of a unit will be unrelated business taxable income and thus will be taxable to that unitholder. A regulated investment company or "mutual fund" is required to derive 90% or more of its gross income from interest, dividends and gains from the sale of stocks or securities or foreign currency or certain related sources. It is not anticipated that any significant amount of our gross income will include that type of income at least in the next few years. 175 Under current rules applicable to publicly-traded partnerships, we are required to withhold as taxes 39.6% of any cash distributions made to foreign Star Gas Partners unitholders. A foreign Star Gas Partners unitholder may claim a credit for those taxes. If that tax exceeds the taxes due from the foreign unitholder, he may claim a refund. Each foreign Star Gas Partners unitholder must obtain a taxpayer identification number from the IRS and submit that number to our transfer agent on a Form W-8 in order to obtain a credit for the taxes withheld. A change in applicable law may require Star Gas Partners to change these procedures. In addition, non-resident aliens and foreign corporations, trusts or estates that own units will be considered to be engaged in business in the United States on account of ownership of those units. As a consequence, they will be required to file federal tax returns for their share of our income, gain, loss or deduction and pay federal income tax at regular rates on any net income or gain. Because a foreign corporation that owns units will be treated as engaged in a United States trade or business, such a corporation may be subject to United States branch profits tax a rate of 30%, in addition to regular federal income tax, on its share of our income and gain, as adjusted for changes in the foreign corporation's "U.S. net equity", which are effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business. That tax may be reduced or eliminated by an income tax treaty between the United States and the country in which the foreign corporate unitholder is a "qualified resident." In addition, such a unitholder is subject to special information reporting requirements under Section 6038C of the Code. Under a ruling of the IRS, a foreign unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a unit will be subject to federal income tax on gain realized on the disposition of that unit to the extent that this gain is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Except to the extent the ruling applied (as to which counsel has not opined), a foreign unitholder will not be taxed or subject to withholding upon the disposition of a unit if he has owned less than 5% in value of the units during the five-year period ending on the date of the disposition and if the units are regularly traded on an established securities market at the time of the disposition. Administrative Matters Information Returns and Audit Procedures. We intend to furnish to each Star Gas Partners unitholder, within 90 days after the close of each calendar year, specific tax information, including a Schedule K-1, which describes each Star Gas Partners unitholder's share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our preceding taxable year. In preparing this information, which will generally not be reviewed by counsel, we will use various accounting and reporting conventions, some of which have been mentioned earlier, to determine the Star Gas Partners unitholder's share of income, gain, loss and deduction. There is no assurance that any of those conventions will yield a result that conforms to the requirements of the Code, regulations or administrative interpretations of the IRS. Neither we nor counsel can assure prospective Star Gas Partners unitholders that the IRS will not successfully contend in court that such accounting and reporting conventions are impermissible. Any such challenge by the IRS could negatively affect the value of the units. The IRS may audit our federal income tax information returns. Adjustments resulting from any audit of this kind may require each Star Gas Partners unitholder to adjust a prior year's tax liability, 176 and possibly may result in an audit of that unitholder's own return. Any audit of a Star Gas Partners unitholder's return could result in adjustments not related to our returns as well as those related to our returns. Partnerships generally are treated as separate entities for purposes of federal tax audits, judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS and tax settlement proceedings. The tax treatment of partnership items of income, gain, loss and deduction are determined in a partnership proceeding rather than in separate proceedings with the partners. The Code provides for one partner to be designated as the "Tax Matters Partner" for these purposes. The amended and restated partnership agreement appoints the general partner as the Tax Matters Partner of Star Gas Partners. The Tax Matters Partner will make specified elections on our behalf and on behalf of Star Gas Partners unitholders. In addition, the Tax Matters Partner can extend the statute of limitations for assessment of tax deficiencies against Star Gas Partners unitholders for items in our returns. The Tax Matters Partner may bind a Star Gas Partners unitholder with less than a 1% profits interest in us to a settlement with the IRS unless that unitholder elects, by filing a statement with the IRS, not to give such authority to the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner may seek judicial review, by which all the Star Gas Partners unitholders are bound, of a final partnership administrative adjustment and, if the Tax Matters Partner fails to seek judicial review, such review may be sought by any unitholder having at least a 1% interest in profits and by the unitholders having in the aggregate at least a 5% profits interest. However, only one action for judicial review will go forward, and each unitholder with an interest in the outcome may participate. If Star Gas Partners elects to be treated as a large partnership, which we do not currently intend to do, a Star Gas Partners unitholder will not have the right to participate in settlement conferences with the IRS or to seek a refund. A unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the treatment of any item on his federal income tax return that is not consistent with the treatment of the item on our return. Intentional or negligent disregard of the consistency requirement may subject a unitholder to substantial penalties. However, if Star Gas Partners elects to be treated as a large partnership, which it does not currently intend to do, the unitholders would be required to treat all partnership items in a manner consistent with our return. Each partner in an electing large partnership takes into account separately a number of items determined at the partnership level. In addition, miscellaneous itemized deductions of an electing large partnership are not passed through to the partners and 30% of such deductions are used at the partnership level. A number of changes have recently been made to the tax compliance and administrative rules relating to electing large partnerships. Adjustments relating to partnership items for a previous taxable year are generally taken into account by those persons who were partners in the previous taxable year. Each partner in an electing large partnership, however, must take into account his share of any adjustments to partnership items in the year those adjustments are made. Alternatively, an electing large partnership could elect, or in some circumstances could be required to, directly pay the tax resulting from any adjustments of this kind. In either case, therefore, unitholders could bear significant costs associated with tax adjustments relating to periods predating their acquisition of 177 units. Although we are authorized under our amended and restated partnership agreement to do so, we do not expect to elect to have the large partnership provisions apply to us because of the cost of their application. Nominee Reporting. Persons who hold an interest in us as a nominee for another person are required to furnish to us (a) the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the beneficial owner and the nominee; (b) whether the beneficial owner is (1) a person that is not a United States person, (2) a foreign government, an international organization or any wholly- owned agency or instrumentality of either of the foregoing, or (3) a tax-exempt entity; (c) the amount and description of units held, acquired or transferred for the beneficial owner; and (d) specific information including the dates of acquisitions and transfers, means of acquisitions and transfers, and acquisition cost for purchases, as well as the amount of net proceeds from sales. Brokers and financial institutions are required to furnish additional information, including whether they are United States persons and specific information on units they acquire, hold or transfer for their own account. A penalty of $50 per failure, up to a maximum of $100,000 per calendar year, is imposed by the Code for failure to report this information to Star Gas Partners. The nominee is required to supply the beneficial owner of the units with the information furnished to us. Registration as a Tax Shelter. The predecessor general partner, as our organizer, has registered us as a tax shelter with the Secretary of the Treasury in the absence of assurance that we will not be subject to tax shelter registration and in light of the substantial penalties which might be imposed if registration is required and not undertaken. The IRS has issued the following tax shelter registration number to Star Gas Partners: 96026000016. Issuance of the Registration Number does not indicate that investment in Star Gas Partners or the claimed tax benefits have been reviewed, examined or approved by the IRS. We must furnish the registration number to the Star Gas Partners unitholders, and a Star Gas Partners unitholder who sells or otherwise transfers a Star Gas Partners unit in a later transaction must furnish the registration number to the transferee. The penalty for failure of the transferor of a unit to furnish the registration number to the transferee is $100 for each failure. The Star Gas Partners unitholders must disclose the tax shelter registration number of Star Gas Partners on Form 8271 to be attached to the tax return on which any deduction, loss or other benefit generated by Star Gas Partners is claimed or income of Star Gas Partners is included. A Star Gas Partners unitholder who fails to disclose the tax shelter registration number on his return, without reasonable cause for that failure, will be subject to a $250 penalty for each failure. Any penalties discussed are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. 178 Accuracy-related Penalties. An additional tax equal to 20% of the amount of any portion of an underpayment of tax that is attributable to one or more specified causes, including negligence or disregard of rules or regulations, substantial understatements of income tax and substantial valuation misstatements, is imposed by the Code. No penalty will be imposed, however, for portion of an underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause for that portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith regarding that portion. A substantial understatement of income tax in any taxable year exists if the amount of the understatement exceeds the greater of 10% of the tax required to be shown on the return for the taxable year or $5,000, $10,000 for most corporations. The amount of any understatement subject to penalty generally is reduced if any portion of the understatement is attributable to a position adopted on the return (1) with respect to which there is, or was, "substantial authority" or (2) as to which there is a reasonable basis and the pertinent facts of such position are disclosed on the return. More stringent rules apply to "tax shelters," a term that in this context does not appear to include Star Gas Partners. If any Star Gas Partners item of income, gain, loss or deduction included in the distributive shares of unitholders might result in such an "understatement" of income for which no "substantial authority" exists, Star Gas Partners must disclose the pertinent facts on its return. In addition, Star Gas Partners will make a reasonable effort to furnish sufficient information for Star Gas Partners unitholders to make adequate disclosure on their returns to avoid liability for this penalty. A substantial valuation misstatement exists if the value of any property, or the adjusted basis of any property, claimed on a tax return is 200% or more of the amount determined to be the correct amount of that valuation or adjusted basis. No penalty is imposed unless the portion of the underpayment attributable to a substantial valuation misstatement exceeds $5,000, $10,000 for most corporations. If the valuation claimed on a return is 400% or more than the correct valuation, the penalty imposed increases to 40%. State, Local and Other Tax Considerations In addition to federal income taxes, a unitholder will be subject to other taxes, such as state and local income taxes, unincorporated business taxes, and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that may be imposed by the various jurisdictions in which he or she resides or in which Star Gas Partners does business or owns property. Although an analysis of those various taxes is not presented here, each prospective Star Gas Partners unitholder should consider their potential impact on his investment in Star Gas Partners. A Star Gas Partners unitholder will likely be required to file state and local income tax returns and pay state and local income taxes in some or all of the various jurisdictions in which we do business or own property and may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. Star Gas Corporation anticipates that substantially all of Star Gas Partners' income will be generated in the following states: Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. Each of these states currently imposes a personal income tax; however, New Hampshire's tax only applies to interest and dividend incomes. Some of them may require Star Gas Partners, or Star Gas Partners may elect, to withhold a percentage of income from amounts to be distributed to a Star Gas Partners unitholder who is not a resident of the state. A unitholder will be required to file state income tax returns and to pay state income taxes in some or all of these states and may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. In some states, tax losses may not 179 produce a tax benefit in the year incurred and also may not be available to offset income in subsequent taxable years. Withholding, the amount of which may be greater or less than a particular unitholder's income tax liability to the state, generally does not relieve the non-resident unitholder from the obligation to file an income tax return. Amounts withheld may be treated as if distributed to unitholders for purposes of determining the amounts distributed by us. See "--Disposition of Units--Entity-Level Collections." Based on current law and our estimate of our future operations, we do not anticipate that any amounts required to be withheld will be material. It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate the legal and tax consequences of his investment in us, under the laws of pertinent states and localities. Accordingly, each prospective unitholder should consult, and must depend upon, his own tax counsel or other advisor with regard to those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each unitholder to file all U.S. federal, state and local, tax returns that may be required. Counsel has not rendered an opinion on the state or local tax consequences of an investment in us. 180 DISSENTERS' RIGHTS Sections 302A.471 and 302A.473 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act (the "Minnesota Act") provide to each Petro common stockholder the right to dissent from the acquisition proposal and to obtain payment from Petro for the "fair value" of his shares following the transaction. The term "fair value" means the value of a dissenting Petro common stockholder's shares of Petro common stock immediately before the completion of the transaction. Under the merger agreement, Star Gas Partners has agreed to make payment of the fair value of the shares of dissenting Petro common stockholders. Star Gas Partners common unitholders do not have dissenters' rights under the Delaware Act or the partnership agreement. The following summary of the applicable material provisions of Sections 302A.471 and 302A.473 of the Minnesota Act the full texts of which are attached as Appendix E to this proxy statement. These sections should be reviewed carefully by any Petro common stockholder who wishes to exercise dissenters' rights or who wishes to preserve the right to do so, since failure to comply with the procedures in the Minnesota Act will result in the loss of dissenters' rights. All references in Sections 302A.471 and 302A.473 of the Minnesota Act to a "shareholder" are to a record holder of shares of Petro common stock who asserts dissenters' rights. A person having beneficial ownership of shares of Petro common stock that are held of record in the name of another person, such as a broker, nominee, trustee or custodian, must act promptly to cause the record holder to follow the steps summarized below properly and in a timely manner in order to perfect whatever dissenters' rights a beneficial owner may have. Petro common stockholders who wish to exercise their dissenters' rights under the Minnesota Act must satisfy all of the following conditions. (1) The common stockholder must deliver a written notice of intent to demand fair value for his shares of Petro common stock to Petro at the address specified below before the vote on the acquisition proposal. The notice of dissent is in addition to and separate from any proxy or vote against the acquisition proposal. Voting against, abstaining from voting or failing to vote on the acquisition proposal does not constitute a notice of dissent or demand for appraisal under the Minnesota Act. Only Petro common stockholders of record as of the record date, and beneficial owners of Petro common stock as of the record date who hold through Petro common stockholders, are entitled to exercise dissenters' rights. (2) The common stockholder must not vote for the acquisition proposal. A Petro common stockholder's failure to vote against the acquisition proposal will not constitute a waiver of his dissenters' rights. However, if a Petro common stockholder returns a signed proxy but does not specify a vote against the acquisition proposal or a direction to abstain, the proxy will be voted for the acquisition proposal, which will have the effect of waiving that Petro common stockholder's dissenters' rights. (3) A Petro common stockholder may not assert dissenters' rights as to less than all of the shares of Petro common stock registered in his name and/or beneficially owned by him, except where shares are beneficially owned by another person but registered in the Petro common stockholder's name. If a Petro common stockholder, such as a broker, nominee, 181 trustee or custodian, wishes to dissent with respect to shares of Petro common stock beneficially owned by another person, the Petro common stockholder must dissent with respect to all of these shares and must disclose the name and address of the beneficial owner on whose behalf the dissent is made. A beneficial owner of shares of Petro common stock who is not the record owner of his shares may assert dissenters' rights as to shares held on his behalf, provided that the beneficial owner submits a written consent of the record owner to Petro at or before the time dissenters' rights are asserted. (4) A Petro common stockholder who opts to exercise dissenters' rights must send a notice of dissent to Petro at the following address before the vote on the acquisition proposal: Petroleum Heat and Power Co., Inc., P.O. Box 1457, Stamford, Connecticut 06902, Attention: Treasurer. The notice of dissent should specify the Petro common stockholder's name and mailing address, the number of shares of each class of Petro common stock owned by him and that he intends to demand the fair value of the shares. If the acquisition proposal is approved by the Petro common stockholders at the Petro special meeting, Petro will send a written notice to each Petro common stockholder who filed a notice of dissent concerning the procedures that should be followed. The procedure notice will contain the address to which the Petro common stockholder should send a demand for the payment of the fair value of his shares of common stock and the certificates representing the shares in order to obtain payment and the date by which they must be received by Petro, a form to be used to make the demand for fair value and other related information. In order to receive fair value for his shares of Petro common stock, a dissenting Petro common stockholder must, within 30 days after the date the procedure notice was provided, send his stock certificates, a demand for fair value and all other information specified in the procedure notice from Petro, to the address specified in the procedure notice. A dissenting Petro common stockholder will retain all rights as a common stockholder until the completion of the transaction. After the later of (1) the date Petro receives a valid demand for fair value and the related stock certificates and other information specified in the procedure notice and (2) the completion of the transaction, Star Gas Partners, on behalf of Petro, will remit to each dissenting Petro common stockholder who has complied with the statutory requirements the amount that Petro estimates to be the fair value of his shares of Petro common stock, with interest commencing five days after the completion of the transaction at a rate prescribed by law. Remittance will be accompanied by Petro's balance sheet and statement of operations for a fiscal year ending not more than 16 months before the completion of the transaction, together with the latest available interim financial data, an estimate of the fair value of the dissenting Petro common stockholder's shares of Petro common stock and a brief description of the method used to reach the estimate and of the procedure to be followed if the dissenting Petro common stockholder wishes to demand supplemental payment as described below and copies of Sections 302A.471 and 302A.473 of the Minnesota Act. If the dissenting Petro common stockholder believes that the amount remitted by Star Gas Partners, on behalf of Petro, for his shares of Petro common stock is less than the fair value of his shares, plus interest, the dissenting Petro common stockholder may give written notice to Petro of his own estimate of the fair value of the shares, plus interest, within 30 days after the mailing date of the 182 remittance and demand payment of the difference. A demand for this supplemental payment must be given to Petro at the address specified in the procedure notice. A Petro common stockholder who fails to give written notice within this time period is entitled only to the amount remitted by Star Gas Partners. Within 60 days after receipt of a demand for supplemental payment, Petro must either (1) pay the Petro common stockholder the amount demanded or agreed to by the Petro common stockholder after discussion with Petro or (2) petition a state court in Hennepin County, Minnesota for the determination of the fair value of the shares, plus interest. The petition must name as parties all Petro common stockholders who have demanded supplemental payment and have not reached an agreement with Petro. The court, after determining that the dissenting Petro common stockholder or stockholders in question have complied with all statutory requirements, may use any valuation method or combination of methods it deems appropriate, whether or not used by Petro or the dissenting Petro common stockholder, and may appoint appraisers to recommend the amount of the fair value of the class of Petro common stock to be valued. The court's determination will be binding on all Petro common stockholders who properly exercised dissenters' rights and made demands for supplemental payment as described above. Dissenting Petro common stockholders are entitled to judgment for the amount by which the court-determined fair value per share, plus interest, exceeds the amount per share, plus interest, remitted to the Petro common stockholders by Star Gas Partners. Petro common stockholders will not be liable to Petro or Star Gas Partners for any amounts paid by Petro or Star Gas Partners that exceed the fair value of the shares as determined by the court, plus interest. The costs and expenses of a proceeding to determine the fair value of the shares, including the expenses and compensation of any appraisers, will be determined by the court and assessed against Petro, except that the court may, in its discretion, assess part or all of those costs and expenses against any Petro common stockholder whose action in demanding supplemental payment is found to be arbitrary, vexatious or not in good faith. The court may award fees and expenses to an attorney for the dissenting Petro common stockholders out of the amount, if any, awarded to the Petro common stockholders. Fees and expenses of experts or attorneys may also be assessed against any person who acted arbitrarily, vexatiously or not in good faith in bringing the proceeding. Star Gas Partners may withhold the remittance of the estimated fair value, plus interest, for any shares of Petro common stock owned by any person who was not a Petro common stockholder, or who is dissenting on behalf of a person who was not a beneficial owner, on August 14, 1998. That date is the date on which the proposed transaction was first announced to the public. Petro will forward to post-announcement dissenting Petro common stockholder who has complied with all requirements in exercising dissenters' rights . the procedure notice, . all other materials sent after approval by the Petro common stockholders of the acquisition proposal to all Petro common stockholders who have properly exercised dissenters' rights, . together with a statement of the reason for withholding the remittance and . an offer to pay the dissenting Petro common stockholder the amount listed in the materials, if the common stockholder agrees to accept that amount in full satisfaction. 183 A post-announcement dissenting Petro common stockholder may decline the offer and demand payment by following the same procedure as that described for a demand for supplemental payment by Petro common stockholders who owned their shares on August 14, 1998. Any Petro common stockholder who did not own shares on August 14, 1998 and who fails properly to demand payment will be entitled only to the amount offered by Petro. Upon proper demand by any post- announcement Petro common stockholder, the same rules and procedures applicable to the making of a demand for supplemental payment by a dissenting Petro common stockholder who owned shares on August 14, 1998 will also apply to any post- announcement Petro common stockholder properly giving a demand for payment. Any post-announcement Petro common stockholder is not entitled to receive any remittance from Petro or Star Gas Partners until the fair value of the shares, plus interest, has been determined under those rules and procedures. Petro common stockholders considering exercising dissenters' rights should bear in mind that the fair value of their shares determined under Sections 302A.471 and 302A.473 of the Minnesota Act could be more than, the same as or, in some circumstances, less than the consideration they would receive in the merger if they do not seek appraisal of their shares. Petro common stockholders should also recognize that the opinion of any investment banking firm as to fairness, from a financial point of view, is not an opinion as to fair value under Sections 302A.471 and 302A.473. Cash received due to the exercise of dissenters' rights may be subject to federal or state income tax. See "Federal Income Tax Considerations." A Petro common stockholder who fails to comply fully with the statutory procedure summarized above will forfeit his rights of dissent and will receive the transaction consideration for his Petro common stock. See Annex F. 184 LEGAL MATTERS The validity of the Star Gas Partners common units and senior subordinated units to be issued in the transaction will be passed upon for Star Gas Partners by Phillips Nizer Benjamin Krim & Ballon LLP, New York, New York. Certain tax matters will be passed upon for Star Gas Partners by Andrews & Kurth L.L.P., New York, New York. EXPERTS The consolidated financial statements and schedules of Star Gas Partners, and its subsidiary and the Star Gas Group (Predecessor) as of September 30, 1997 and 1998 and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 1996, 1997 and 1998, incorporated by reference in this proxy statement, have been incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants, incorporated by reference and upon the authority of that firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The consolidated financial statements and schedules of Petro as of December 31, 1996 and 1997 and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997, have been incorporated by reference in this proxy statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants, incorporated by reference and upon the authority of that firm as experts in accounting and auditing. WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION Star Gas Partners and Petro file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements (Petro only) and other information with the Commission. You may read and copy any reports, statement or other information that Star Gas Partners and Petro file with the Commission at the Commission's public reference rooms in Washington, D.C., New York, New York and Chicago, Illinois. Please call the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. These Commission filings are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the Internet world wide web site maintained by the Commission at "http://www.sec.gov." Reports and other information concerning Star Gas Partners should also be available for inspection at the offices of the NYSE. Star Gas Partners filed a registration statement on Form S-4 to register with the Commission the common units and senior subordinated units to be issued in the transaction. This proxy statement is a part of that registration statement and constitutes a prospectus of Star Gas Partners. As allowed by Commission rules, this proxy statement does not contain all the information you can find in Star Gas Partners' registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement. The Commission allows Star Gas Partners and Petro to "incorporate by reference" information into this proxy statement, which means that they can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the Commission. The information incorporated by reference is considered part of this proxy statement, except for any information superseded by information contained directly in this proxy statement or in later filed documents incorporated by reference in this proxy statement. 185 This proxy statement includes information required by the Commission to be disclosed under Rule 13e-3 of the Exchange Act which governs so-called "going private" transactions by certain issuers or their affiliates. In accordance with that rule, Petro filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act, a Schedule 13E-3 with respect to the transaction. This proxy statement does not contain all of the information in the Schedule 13E-3, parts of which are omitted in accordance with the regulations of the Commission. The Schedule 13E- 3, and its amendments, including exhibits filed with it, will be available for inspection and copying at the offices of the Commission as set forth above. This proxy statement incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that Star Gas Partners and Petro have previously filed with the Commission. These documents contain important information about Star Gas Partners and Petro and their finances. You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this proxy statement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from what is contained in this proxy statement. This proxy statement is dated February 10, 1999. You should not assume that the information contained in this joint proxy statement-prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of the proxy statement. Neither the mailing of this proxy statement to securityholders nor the issuance of units in the transaction creates any implication to the contrary. STATEMENT OF FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLOSURE Some of the information in this proxy statement may contain forward-looking statements. You can identify these statements by our use of "will," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "think" or other similar words. These statements discuss future expectations, contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition, or state other "forward-looking" information. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in this proxy statement. The risk factors noted under "Risk Factors" and other factors noted throughout this proxy statement, including risks and uncertainties, could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward- looking statement. 186
The Partnership Commission Filings (File No. 33-78490) Period/As of Date ---------------------------------- ----------------- Annual Report on Form 10-K/A Year ended September 30, 1998 Petro Commission Filings (File No. 1-9358) Period/As of Date ------------------------------------------ ----------------- Annual Report on Form 10-K Year ended December 31, 1997 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A Quarter ended September 30, 1998 Proxy Statement April 30, 1998 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The following document filed by Star Gas Partners with the Commission (File No. 33-98490) is incorporated by reference in this proxy statement: (1) Star Gas Partners Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998. In addition, all other reports and documents filed by Star Gas Partners under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the unitholders meeting and the special meeting shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this proxy statement from the date of filing of such reports and documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document, all or a portion of which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this proxy statement, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this proxy statement to the extent that a statement contained here (and, in case of any statement in an incorporated document prior to the date of this proxy statement), or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this proxy statement. The following documents filed by Petro with the Commission are also incorporated by reference in this proxy statement: (1) Petro's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, which accompanies this proxy statement; (2) Petro's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998 and 10Q/A for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 1998, which accompanies this proxy statement; and (3) Petro's proxy statement dated April 30, 1998. This proxy statement incorporates documents by reference that are not included with this proxy statement. These documents (excluding exhibits to such documents) are available without charge, upon oral or written request by any person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this proxy statement is delivered. For documents relating to Star Gas Partners, contact Star Gas Corporation, 2187 Atlantic Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06902, Attention: Richard F. Ambury, Vice President-Finance, telephone (203) 328-7313. For documents relating to Petro, contact Petroleum Heat and Power Co., Inc., 2187 Atlantic Avenue, Stamford, Connecticut 06902, Attention: George Leibowitz, Treasurer, telephone (203) 325-5470. To ensure timely delivery of the documents, any request should be made by February 26, 1999. 187 UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information gives effect to the acquisition of Petro by Star Gas Partners, the transaction, including the equity offering, the debt offering and the application of the net proceeds from these offerings as described in "Summary-- Financial Information--Estimated Sources and Uses of Funds of the Equity Offering and Debt Offering." The information presented is derived from, should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, reference to the historical financial statements and related notes, appearing elsewhere and incorporated by reference in this proxy statement. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet was prepared as if the transaction had occurred on September 30, 1998. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations for the twelve months ended September 30, 1998 was prepared as if the transaction had occurred on October 1, 1997. The pro forma adjustments are based upon currently available information and certain estimates and assumptions described below, and therefore, the actual adjustments may differ from the unaudited pro forma adjustments. However, management believes that the assumptions provide a reasonable basis for representing the significant effects of the transaction as contemplated and that the unaudited pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions and are properly applied in the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet and statement of operations are not necessarily indicative of the financial position or results of operations of Star Gas Partners if the transaction had actually occurred on the dates indicated above. Likewise, the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information is not necessarily indicative of future financial combined position or future results of combined operations of Star Gas Partners. 188 Star Gas Partners, L.P. and Subsidiaries Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (unaudited) September 30, 1998 (in thousands) 189
Star Gas Star Gas Partners, L.P. Partners Pro Forma Pro Forma The Adjusted L.P. Petro Adjustments Combined Offerings Pro Forma -------- -------- ----------- --------- --------- -------------- ASSETS Current assets: Cash.................. $ 1,115 $ 13,767 $ 14,882 $ 87,915 (g) $ 14,540 -------- -------- -------- 159,900 (h) (248,157)(o) Restricted cash....... 4,900 4,900 4,900 -------- -------- -------- Accounts receivable... 5,279 38,163 43,442 43,442 Inventories........... 10,608 13,997 24,605 24,605 Prepaid expenses and other current assets............... 945 11,885 12,830 12,830 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total current assets.............. 17,947 82,712 100,659 (342) 100,317 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Cash collateral account.............. 6,900 6,900 6,900 Property and equipment, net....... 110,262 28,799 $ 11,310 (f) 150,371 150,371 Intangible and other assets, net.......... 51,398 80,267 273,283 (f) 404,948 2,085 (g) 407,033 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total assets......... $179,607 $198,678 $284,593 $662,878 $ 1,743 $664,621 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL Current liabilities: Current debt and preferred stock...... $ 692 $ 12,188 $ 12,880 $ (9,797)(o) $ 3,083 Bank credit facility borrowings........... 4,770 -- 4,770 4,770 Accounts payable...... 3,097 6,320 9,417 9,417 Unearned service contract revenue..... 13,599 13,599 13,599 Accrued expenses and income taxes......... 2,830 29,281 $ 4,600 (d) 44,007 (7,296)(o) 36,711 7,296 (e) Accrued interest and dividends............ 485 -- 583 (a) 1,068 1,068 Customer credit balances............. 6,038 28,803 34,841 34,841 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total current liabilities......... 17,912 90,191 12,479 120,582 (17,093) 103,489 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Long-term debt.......... 104,308 278,864 2,844 (b) 386,016 90,000 (g) 272,552 (203,464)(o) Deferred income taxes................ 46,000 (d) 46,000 46,000 Other long-term liabilities.......... 40 10,686 (3,500)(d) 7,226 7,226 Redeemable and exchangeable preferred stock...... 28,555 (955)(b) 27,600 (27,600)(o) Partners' capital Common unitholders.... 58,686 1,953 (c) 60,639 159,900 (h) 220,539 Subordinated unitholders.......... (1,446) 46,581 (f) 13,555 13,555 (31,580)(f) General partner....... 107 4,329 (f) 1,260 1,260 (3,176)(f) Petro's stockholders' deficiency........... (209,618) (583)(a) (1,889)(b) (1,953)(c) (47,100)(d) (7,296)(e) 268,439 (f) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total partners' capital.............. 57,347 (209,618) 227,725 75,454 159,900 235,354 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total liabilities and partners' capital.... $179,607 $198,678 $284,593 $662,878 $ 1,743 $664,621 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Star Gas Partners, L.P. and Subsidiaries Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations (unaudited) Twelve Months Ended September 30, 1998 (in thousands, except per Unit data) 190
Star Gas Combined Partners, Propane Propane Pro Forma Pro Forma The L.P. Acquisitions(i) Operations Petro(j) Adjustments Combined Offerings --------- --------------- ---------- -------- ----------- --------- --------- Sales................... $111,685 $4,386 $116,071 $452,765 $(2,681)(k) $566,155 Costs and expenses: Cost of sales......... 49,498 1,972 51,470 299,987 (1,985)(k) 349,472 Operating expenses.... 43,281 1,090 44,371 117,849 (669)(k) 161,551 Restructuring charges.............. 2,085 2,085 Transaction expenses.. 1,029 1,029 Corporate identity expenses............. 1,100 1,100 Provision for supplemental benefits 409 409 Depreciation and amortization......... 11,462 548 12,010 27,514 (87)(k) 36,765 (2,672)(l) Net gain (loss) on sales of assets...... (271) (271) 11,507 (11,284)(k) (48) -- -------- ------ -------- -------- ------- -------- ------- Operating income 7,173 776 7,949 14,299 (8,552) 13,696 Interest (income) expense, net.. 7,927 427 8,354 30,803 39,157 $15,488 (p) Amortization of debt issuance costs......... 176 -- 176 1,432 -- 1,608 (1,225)(n) -------- ------ -------- -------- ------- -------- ------- Income (loss) before income taxes........... (930) 349 (581) (17,936) (8,552) (27,069) 16,713 -------- ------ -------- -------- ------- -------- ------- Income tax expense...... 25 25 475 500 -------- Income before equity interest in Star Gas Corporation............ (18,411) Share of income (loss) of Star Gas Corporation............ (317) 317 (m) -------- ------ -------- -------- ------- -------- ------- Net income (loss)....... $ (955) $ 349 $ (606) $(18,728) $(8,235) $(27,569) $16,713 ======== ====== ======== ======== ======= ======== ======= General partner's interest in net income (loss)................. $ (19) ======== Limited partners' interest in net income (loss)................. $ (936) ======== Basic and diluted net income (loss) per limited partner unit... $ (0.16) ======== Weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding...... 6,035 220 6,255 103 (c) 6,884 8,947 (h) (2,396)(f) 430 (f) 2,492 (f) Star Gas Partners, L.P. Adjusted Pro Forma --------------- Sales................... $566,155 Costs and expenses: Cost of sales......... 349,472 Operating expenses.... 161,551 Restructuring charges.............. 2,085 Transaction expenses.. 1,029 Corporate identity expenses............. 1,100 Provision for supplemental benefits 409 Depreciation and amortization......... 36,765 Net gain (loss) on sales of assets...... (48) --------------- Operating income 13,696 Interest (income) expense, net.. 23,669 Amortization of debt issuance costs......... 383 --------------- Income (loss) before income taxes........... (10,356) --------------- Income tax expense...... 500 Income before equity interest in Star Gas Corporation............ Share of income (loss) of Star Gas Corporation............ -- --------------- Net income (loss)....... $(10,856) =============== General partner's interest in net income (loss)................. $ (217) =============== Limited partners' interest in net income (loss)................. $(10,639) =============== Basic and diluted net income (loss) per limited partner unit... $ (0.67)(q) =============== Weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding...... 15,831 (q) Star Gas Partners, L.P. and Subsidiaries Notes to Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information The following pro forma adjustments give effect to (1)the offering of 809,000 common units by Star Gas Partners on December 16, 1997, (2)the acquisition of Petro, (3)the debt offering and (4)the equity offering, as if each transaction had taken place on September 30, 1998, in the case of the pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet, or as of October 1, 1997, in the case of the pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations. The pro forma adjustments are based upon currently available information, certain estimates and assumptions described below and a preliminary determination and allocation of the total purchase price for Petro and therefore, the actual results may differ from the pro forma results. However, management believes that the assumptions provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects of the transactions as contemplated, and that the pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions and are properly applied in the pro forma financial information. Transaction Related Adjustments (a) Reflects the accrued dividends payable on Petro's 1989 preferred stock and 12 7/8% preferred stock. (b) Reflects the negotiated discount of approximately $1.0 million to redeem Petro's 12 7/8% preferred stock and the negotiated premium of approximately $2.8 million to refinance Petro's public debt. (c) Reflects the issuance of 0.8 million shares of junior preferred stock of Petro, which will be converted into 0.1 million Star Gas Partners common units upon completion of the transaction at an assumed value of $19.00 per unit. The junior preferred stock was issued to the holders of Petro's 9 3/8% subordinated debentures, 10 1/8% subordinated notes, and 12% subordinated debentures, and 12 7/8% preferred stock as consideration for consenting to the early redemption of those securities. The Transaction (Merger and Exchange) (d) Represents: (1)the estimated amount of current federal and state taxes to be incurred of $4.6 million, (2) the estimated amount of deferred federal and state income taxes to be recognized of $46.0 million, and (3) the elimination of the tax liability associated with the Pearl Gas conveyance of $3.5 million. 191 (e) Reflects the estimated additional amount of $7.3 million to be recorded by Petro for legal, professional and advisory fees incurred by Petro and Star Gas Partners in the transaction. (f) Represents the exchange of 26.5 million shares of Petro's Class A common stock and Class C common stock valued at $50.9 million for 2.5 million Star Gas Partners senior subordinated units valued at $40.8 million, 0.4 million Star Gas Partners junior subordinated units valued at $5.8 million and 0.3 million Star Gas Partners general partner units valued at $4.3 million. The 2.4 million Star Gas Partners subordinated units outstanding prior to the transaction will be contributed to Star Gas Partners by Petro. The value assigned to Petro's Class A common stock is $45.8 million or $1.92 per share and the value assigned to Petro's Class C common stock is $5.0 million or $1.92 per share. The method used to determine the fair market value of Petro's Class A and Class C common stock was based on an implied unit analysis. The method used to determine the fair market value of Star Gas Partners' senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units was based on an implied unit analysis. See page 68 for a description of the implied unit analysis method. 192 The table below summarizes the preliminary allocation by Star Gas Partners of the excess of purchase price over book value related to the acquisition of Petro. The allocation of the purchase price is based on the results of a preliminary appraisal of property, plant and equipment, customer lists and the September 30, 1998 recorded values for tangible assets and liabilities. The anticipated closing date of the transaction is March 31, 1999. This purchase price allocation will be updated for changes in current assets and liabilities based on Petro's operating results from October 1, 1998 to the anticipated closing date. From October 1, 1998 to the closing date, it is expected that Petro will generate net income and positive cash flows and that working capital will increase. As a result, the amount of goodwill to be recorded on the closing date will decrease. Subject to Petro's operating results which could be impacted by weather, among other factors, it is estimated that the increase in working capital for Petro from October 1, 1998 to the closing date will range between $30 million to $40 million. The preliminary allocation is as follows (in thousands): - -------- (1)Transaction expenses include legal, accounting, investment advisory and asset appraisal costs. (2)Includes fair market value adjustment of $11.3 million. The fair market value for property plant and equipment, excluding real estate, was established using the cost approach method. The market approach was used in valuing the real estate. The value assigned to customer lists was derived using a discounted cash flow analysis. The cash flows attributable to the customer lists were discounted back at an equity risk-adjusted cost of capital to the net present value, and any excess was attributable to goodwill. 193
Consideration given for the exchange of Petro shares................ $ 50,910 Transaction expenses (1)............................................ 6,954 -------- Total consideration............................................. 57,864 -------- Fair market value of Petro's asset and liabilities as of September 30, 1998: Current assets.................................................... (82,712) Cash collateral account........................................... (6,900) Property, plant and equipment (2)................................. (40,109) Value of Petro's investment in Star Gas Partners.................. (34,756) Current liabilities............................................... 90,533 Accrued income taxes.............................................. 4,600 Accrued preferred dividends....................................... 583 Long-term debt.................................................... 281,708 Deferred income taxes............................................. 46,000 Other liabilities................................................. 7,186 Preferred stock................................................... 27,600 Junior preferred stock............................................ 1,953 -------- Subtotal........................................................ 295,686 -------- Total value assigned to intangibles and other assets................ 353,550 Carrying amount of intangibles and other assets..................... (80,267) -------- Allocation of excess purchase price to intangibles.................. $273,283 ======== Consisting of: Customer lists.................................................... $ 95,000 Goodwill.......................................................... 257,554 Other assets...................................................... 996 -------- Total intangibles and other assets.............................. $353,550 ======== The Debt Offering and the Equity Offering (g) Reflects the estimated net proceeds to Petro of $87.9 million from the $90.0 million debt offering, net of discounts and commissions (estimated to be $1.1 million) and offering expenses (estimated to be $1.0 million). These costs are being amortized over the term of the related debt which is assumed to be 10 years. (h) Reflects the estimated net proceeds to Star Gas Partners of $159.9 million from the issuance and sale of 8.9 million common units in the equity offering at an assumed offering price of $19.00 per common unit, net of underwriting discounts and commissions (estimated to be $8.5 million) and offering expenses (estimated to be $1.6 million). The Propane Acquisitions (i) Represents the results of propane distributors acquired by Star Gas Partners in fiscal 1998 from October 1, 1997 to their dates of acquisition. Results of these distributors from the dates of acquisition to September 30, 1998 are included in Star Gas Partners' twelve months ended September 30, 1998 results adjusted for: (1) cost savings of $0.3 million, primarily executive compensation and legal expenses relating to selling shareholders; (2) additional depreciation and amortization of $0.5 million; and (3) additional interest expense of $0.4 million. The Transaction (Acquisition of Petro) (j) Represents the results of operations of Petro for the twelve months ended September 30, 1998. Estimated expenses of $8.3 million to be incurred by Petro as a direct result of its acquisition by Star Gas Partners will be included in Petro's actual statement of operations. For the twelve months ended September 30, 1998, Petro has recorded $1.0 million of these expenses. (k) Adjustment to reflect the disposition of Petro's Hartford, Connecticut operations in November 1997. Petro received cash proceeds of $15.6 million and recorded a gain of $11.3 million. The carrying value of these assets at the time of sale was $4.3 million. (l) Adjustment to depreciation and amortization expense attributable to the acquisition of Petro. 194 Star Gas Partners believes that the amortization periods assigned to the assets below are appropriate. However, if the final amortization periods assigned to the tangible and intangible assets were of shorter duration, the amount of depreciation and amortization would increase and reduce net income. The following table summarizes the effect on depreciation and amortization of the acquisition of Petro. Petro's property, plant and equipment is being depreciated using a historical cost which is approximately $80 million. The fair market value of these assets is $40.1 million. When depreciation expense is calculated based on the fair market value, this expense is $2.1 million lower than historical depreciation. Pro forma depreciation is less than historical depreciation due to decline in the asset base being depreciated and an extension of the useful lives of those assets. The remaining lives assigned to property, plant and equipment were determined by an independent appraisal firm. All property, plant and equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method. Pro forma customer list amortization is less than historical amortization due to a longer life and a lower amortization asset. The original cost used to amortize historical customer list was approximately $120 million. The longer life represents Petro's improved retention rate as well as the retention of customers obtained through internal marketing, which have a higher retention rate than for customers acquired through acquisition. Petro's previous acquisitions represented the acquisition of customers. The acquisition of Petro by Star Gas Partners is an acquisition of an on-going business. The appraisal assigned a greater allocation to goodwill than what was previously allocated by Petro in their purchase of 188 relatively small fuel oil dealers. This resulted in approximately $9.2 million of additional amortization, largely offsetting the $7.9 million of less customer list amortization. 195
Net Book Value Amount per Petro's Financials Amount per Appraisal Difference ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ------------ Property and equipment, net Asset Life Depreciation Asset Life Depreciation Depreciation - ----------------------- ------- -------------- ------------ -------- -------------- ------------ ------------ Land.................... $ 2,092 $ -- $ 3,300 $ -- $ -- Buildings............... 4,920 20-45 years 419 4,300 30 years 143 (276) Fleet................... 6,342 5 to 7 years 2,866 12,800 6 years 2,135 (731) Leasehold............... 4,353 term of leases 562 5,900 term of leases 457 (105) Computer, furniture and fixtures............... 7,593 5 to 7 years 2,491 9,700 5 to 7 years 1,661 (830) Service & other equipment.............. 3,499 5 to 13 years 692 4,109 5 to 13 years 557 (135) ------- ------- -------- ------- ------- Total property and equipment.............. $28,799 $ 7,030 $ 40,109 $ 4,953 $(2,077) ======= ======= ======== ======= ======= Intangible and other assets, net Asset Life Amortization Asset Life Amortization Amortization - -------------------- ------- -------------- ------------ -------- -------------- ------------ ------------ Customer list........... $56,298 6.5 years $17,364 $ 95,000 10 years $ 9,500 $(7,864) Goodwill................ 10,292 25 years 1,129 257,554 25 years 10,302 9,173 Covenants not to compete................ 4,041 5 to 7 years 1,904 -- -- (1,904) Other assets............ 996 -- 996 -- -- ------- ------- -------- ------- ------- Total intangible and other assets........... $71,627 $20,397 $353,550 $19,802 $ (595) ======= ======= ======== ------- ------- Totals.................. $27,427 $24,755 $(2,672) ======= ======= ======= Restrictive covenants were not assigned a value under the pro forma intangibles due to the minimal amount of the asset value expected at closing. Intangibles are amortized on a straight-line basis. (m) Reflects the elimination of Petro's equity interest in Star Gas Partners. The Offerings (n) Net adjustment to amortization of debt issuance costs of $1.2 million attributable to the debt offering and the acquisition of Petro. Amortization of debt issuance costs is decreased by $1.4 million relating to the repayment of Petro debt and is increased by $0.2 million relating to the 7.5% notes. (o) Reflects the use of the net proceeds from the equity offering, the debt offering and $0.3 million of Petro's cash to repay $84.1 million of Petro's 12 1/4% Senior Subordinated Debentures due 2005 including $2.8 million of premiums, to repay $50.0 million of Petro's 10 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2003, to repay $75.0 million of Petro's 9 3/8% Senior Subordinated Debentures due 2006, to retire $27.6 million of Petro's 12 7/8% Exchangeable Preferred Stock, to retire $4.1 million of Petro's 14.33% Exchangeable Preferred Stock and to pay $7.3 million of transaction expenses. (p) Reflects the net reduction to interest expense of $15.5 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 1998. This amount reflects $6.8 million of additional interest expense annually on the $90.0 million in principal amount of the senior secured notes at an assumed interest rate of 7.5%. This amount also reflects an annual reduction in interest expense of $22.0 million due to the repayment of $206.3 million of Petro public debt with the proceeds of the equity offering and the debt offering. The following table summarizes the effect on interest expense of the transaction: - -------- (1) Excludes prepayment premium of $2.8 million. 196
Interest Interest Amount Rate Expense ------- -------- -------- Debt Repaid Petro 12 1/4% Senior Subordinated Debentures(1).... $81,250 12.25% $ 9,953 Petro 10 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes............ 50,000 10.125% 5,063 Petro 9 3/8% Senior Subordinated Debentures........ 75,000 9.375% 7,031 Lower letter of credit fees on Acquisition Notes... 191 ------- Total Reductions to Interest Expense............. $22,238 ======= Interest Interest Amount Rate Expense ------- -------- -------- New Debt Issued Petro 7.5% Notes................................... $90,000 7.5% $(6,750) ------- Net Reduction to Interest Expense.................. $15,488 ======= (q) The amended and restated partnership agreement provides that for each non-overlapping four quarter period that occurs after the first anniversary of the transaction, but before the fifth anniversary of the transaction, in which the dollar amount of Petro Adjusted Operating Surplus per Petro Unit equals or exceeds $2.90, Star Gas Partners will issue 303,000 senior subordinated units, pro rata, or 303,000 Class B common units, pro rata, if such issuance occurs after the end of the subordination period. These additional senior subordinated units will be issued to the current holders of the senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and the general partner units. Star Gas Partners may not issue more than an aggregate of 909,000 senior subordinated units or Class B common units under this provision. The issuance of these senior subordinated units will not generate any additional proceeds to Star Gas Partners. When these units are issued, an additional amount of goodwill will be recorded. Assuming 303,000 senior subordinated units are issued, the amount of goodwill to be recorded will be $4.9 million. As a result, annual amortization expense would increase by $0.2 million and would decrease net income per limited partner unit by $0.01 per unit. If these senior subordinated units are issued and they are converted into Class B common units, the Class A common units would be diluted in terms of available cash to be used for payment of the quarterly distributions. 197 GLOSSARY OF TERMS Adjusted Operating Surplus: For any period, Operating Surplus generated during that period as adjusted to: (a) decrease Operating Surplus by; (1)any net increase in working capital borrowings during that period, and (2) any net reduction in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures during that period not relating to an Operating Expenditure made during that period; and (b) increase Operating Surplus by; (1) any net decrease in working capital borrowings during that period; and (2)any net increase in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures during that period required by any debt instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or premium. Adjusted Operating Surplus does not include that portion of Operating Surplus included in clause (a)(1) of the definition of Operating Surplus. Available Cash: For any quarter prior to liquidation: (a) the sum of: (1) all cash and cash equivalents of the Star Gas Partners and its subsidiaries on hand at the end of that quarter; and (2) all additional cash and cash equivalents of Star Gas Partners and its subsidiaries on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash for that quarter resulting from Working Capital Borrowings after the end of that quarter; (b) less the amount of cash reserves that is necessary or appropriate in the reasonable discretion of the general partner to: (1) provide for the proper conduct of the business of Star Gas Partners and its subsidiaries (including reserves for future capital expenditures) after that quarter; (2) provide funds for minimum quarterly distributions and cumulative common unit arrearages for any one or more of the next four quarters; or (3) comply with applicable law or any debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any member of Star Gas Partners and its subsidiaries is a party or its assets are subject; provided, however, that the general partner may not establish cash reserves for distributions to the senior subordinated units unless the general partner has determined that in its judgment the establishment of reserves will not prevent Star Gas Partners from distributing the minimum quarterly distribution on all common units and any common unit arrearages thereon for the next four quarters; and, 198 provided further, that disbursements made by Star Gas Partners and its subsidiaries or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of that quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash for that quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash, within that quarter if the general partner so determines. Capital Account: The capital account maintained for a partner under the amended and restated partnership agreement. The Capital Account for a common unit, a subordinated unit, a junior subordinated unit, a general partner unit or any other specified interest in Star Gas Partners shall be the amount which that Capital Account would be if that common unit, subordinated unit, junior subordinated unit, general partner unit or other interest in Star Gas Partners were the only interest in Star Gas Partners held by a partner. Capital Surplus: All Available Cash distributed by Star Gas Partners from any source will be treated as distributed from Operating Surplus until the sum of all Available Cash distributed since the commencement of Star Gas Partners equals the Operating Surplus as of the end of the quarter before that distribution. Any excess Available Cash will be deemed to be Capital Surplus. Closing Price: The last sale price on a day, regular way, or in case no sale takes place on that day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on that day, regular way. In either case, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system for securities listed or admitted to trading on the principal national securities exchange on which the units of that class are listed or admitted to trading. If the units of that class are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price on that day. If no quoted price exists, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on that day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market or any other system then in use. If on any day the units of that class are not quoted by any organization of that type, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on that day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the units of the class selected by the board of directors of the general partner. If on that day no market maker is making a market in the units of that class, the fair value of such units on that day as determined reasonably and in good faith by the board of directors of the general partner. Current Market Price: With respect to any class of units listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange as of any date, the average of the daily Closing Prices for the 20 consecutive trading days immediately prior to such date. Interim Capital Transactions: (a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of indebtedness and sales of debt securities (other than Working Capital Borrowings and other than for items purchased on open account in the ordinary course of business) by any member of Star Gas Partners and its subsidiaries; (b) sales of equity interests (including common units sold to the underwriters in the exercise of their over-allotment option) by any member of Star Gas Partners and its subsidiaries; and 199 (c) sales or other voluntary or involuntary dispositions of any assets of any member of Star Gas Partners and its subsidiaries (other than sales or other dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business, sales or other dispositions of other current assets, including, without limitation, receivables and accounts, in the ordinary course of business and sales or other dispositions of assets as a part of normal retirements or replacements), in each case before the dissolution and liquidation of Star Gas Partners. Operating Expenditures: All expenditures of Star Gas Partners and its subsidiaries including taxes, reimbursements of the general partner, debt service payments, and capital expenditures, subject to the following: (a) Payments (including prepayments) of principal and premium on a debt shall not be an Operating Expenditure if the payment is; (1) required for the sale or other disposition of assets or (2) made for the refinancing or refunding of indebtedness with the proceeds from new indebtedness or from the sale of equity interests. For purposes of the foregoing, at the election and in the reasonable discretion of the general partner, any payment of principal or premium shall be deemed to be refunded or refinanced by any indebtedness incurred or to be incurred by Star Gas Partners and its subsidiaries within 180 days before or after that payment to the extent of the principal amount of that indebtedness. (b) Operating Expenditures shall not include; (1) capital expenditures made for acquisitions or for capital improvements (as opposed to capital expenditures made to maintain assets); (2) payment of transaction expenses relating to Interim Capital Transactions; (3) payment of transaction expenses related to the merger and the transactions contemplated by the merger; or (4) distributions to partners. Where capital expenditures are made in part for acquisitions or capital improvements and in part for other purposes, the general partner's good faith allocation between the amounts paid for each shall be conclusive. Operating Surplus: As to any period before liquidation: (a) the sum of: (1) $20,071,225 plus all cash of Star Gas Partners and its subsidiaries on hand as of the close of business on the closing date of the initial public offering; (2) all the cash receipts of Star Gas Partners and its subsidiaries for the period beginning on the closing date of the initial public offering and ending with the last day of that period, other than cash receipts from Interim Capital Transactions (except to the extent specified in the amended and restated partnership agreement; and (3) all cash receipts of Star Gas Partners and its subsidiaries after the end of that period but on or before the date of determination of Operating Surplus for the period resulting from borrowings for working capital purposes; less 200 (b) the sum of: (1) Operating Expenditures for the period beginning on the date of the closing of the initial public offering and ending with the last day of that period; and (2) the amount of cash reserves that is necessary or advisable in the reasonable discretion of the general partner to provide funds for future Operating Expenditures; provided, however, that disbursements made (including contributions to Star Gas Partners or any of its subsidiaries or disbursements on behalf of Star Gas Partners or any of its subsidiaries) or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of that period but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash for that period shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Operating Surplus, within that period if the general partner so determines. Notwithstanding the foregoing, "Operating Surplus" for the quarter in which the liquidation date occurs and any later quarter shall equal zero. Subordination Period: The subordination period will extend from the date of the closing of the initial public offering until the first to occur of the following: (a) the first day of any quarter beginning on or after October 1, 2002 for which; (1) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on each of the outstanding common units, senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units equaled or exceeded the sum of the minimum quarterly distribution on all of the outstanding common units and junior subordinated units for each of the three non-overlapping four-quarter periods immediately preceding that date; (2) the Adjusted Operating Surplus, generated during each of the three immediately preceding, non-overlapping four quarter periods equaled or exceeded the sum of minimum quarterly distribution on all of the common units, senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units that were outstanding during those periods on a fully diluted basis for employee options or other employee incentive compensation (i.e., taking into account for purposes of that determination all outstanding common units, senior subordinated units, junior subordinated units and general partner units and all common units issuable upon exercise of employee options that have, as of the date of determination, already vested or are scheduled to vest before the end of the quarter immediately following the quarter for which determination is made, and all units that have, as of the date of determination, been earned by but not yet issued to management of Star Gas Partners for incentive compensation); and (3) there are no arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units. (b) the date on which the general partner is removed as general partner of Star Gas Partners upon the requisite vote by limited partners under circumstances where cause does not exist; provided, however, that if the general partner is removed during the 201 subordination period within 12 months after the end of a six-quarter period in which the minimum quarterly distribution was not made on the common units for more than one of those quarters (excluding for this purpose the payment of any common unit arrearages) and the first quarter of that six-quarter period that the minimum quarterly distribution on common units was not made occurs after March 31, 2001, then the subordination period will not end. In the event that the general partner is removed under the circumstances described above, the junior subordinated units shall convert into senior subordinated units on a one-for-one basis and the distribution rights on the general partner units will rank equally with the senior subordinated units. Working Capital Borrowings: Borrowings under to a facility or other arrangement requiring all of its borrowings to be reduced to a relatively small amount each year for an economically meaningful period of time. Borrowings that are not intended exclusively for working capital purposes shall not be treated as Working Capital Borrowings. 202 APPENDIX A No transfer of the Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Partnership unless the Certificate evidencing the Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer and an Application for Transfer of Units has been executed by a transferee either (a) on the form set forth below or (b) on a separate application that the Partnership will furnish on request without charge. A transferor of the Units shall have no duty to the transferee with respect to execution of the transfer application in order for such transferee to obtain registration of the transfer of the Units. APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER OF UNITS The undersigned ("Assignee") hereby applies for transfer to the name of the Assignee of the Units evidenced hereby. The Assignee (a) requests admission as a Substituted Limited Partner (evidenced by a credit to the account of the undersigned at The Depository Trust Company in the name of its nominee, Cede & Co.) and agrees to comply with and be bound by, and hereby executes, the Agreement of Limited Partnership of Star Gas Partners, L.P. (the "Partnership"), as amended, supplemented or restated to the date hereof (the "Partnership Agreement"), (b) represents and warrants that the Assignee has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement, (c) appoints the General Partner and, if a Liquidator shall be appointed, the Liquidator of the Partnership as the Assignee's attorney-in fact to execute, swear to, acknowledge and file any document, including, without limitation, the Partnership Agreement and any amendment thereto and the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership and any amendment thereto, necessary or appropriate for the Assignee's admission as a Substituted Limited Partner and as a party to the Partnership Agreement, (d) gives the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement and (e) makes the waivers and gives the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement. Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Partnership Agreement. Date: ______________________________________ - -------------------------------------------- Signature of Assignee - -------------------------------------------- Social Security or other identifying number of Assignee - -------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------- App-1 Name and Address of Assignee - ------------------------------------- Purchase Price including commissions, if any Type of Entity (check one): [_] Individual [_] Trust [_] Partnership [_] Other (specify) _______________________________________________ [_] Corporation Nationality (check one): [_] U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity [_] Foreign Corporation [_] Non-resident Alien If the U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity box is checked, the following certification must be completed. Under Section 1445(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the Partnership must withhold tax with respect to certain transfers of property if a holder of an interest in the Partnership is a foreign person. To inform the Partnership that no withholding is required with respect to the undersigned interestholder's interest in it, the undersigned hereby certifies the following (or, if applicable, certifies the following on behalf of the interestholder). Complete Either A or B: A. Individual Interestholder 1. I am not a non-resident alien for purposes of U.S. income taxation. 2. My U.S. taxpayer identification number (Social Security Number) is _____________________________________________________________________ 3. My home address is ________________________________________________ B. Partnership, Corporation or Other Interestholder 1. (Name of Interestholder) is not a foreign corporation, foreign partnership, foreign trust or foreign estate (as those terms are defined in the Code and Treasury Regulations). 2. The interestholder's U.S. employer identification number is _______ 3. The interestholder's office address and place of incorporation (if applicable) is _________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ App-2 The interestholder agrees to notify the Partnership within sixty (60) days of the date the interestholder becomes a foreign person. The interestholder understands that this certificate may be disclosed to the Internal Revenue Service by the Partnership and that any false statement contained herein could be punishable by fine, imprisonment or both. Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certification and to the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct and complete and, if applicable, I further declare that I have authority to sign this document on behalf of (Name of Interestholder) ------------------------- Signature and Date ------------------------- Title (if applicable)------------------------- Note: If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee holder or an agent of any of the foregoing, and is holding for the account of any other person, this application should be completed by an officer thereof or, in the case of a broker or dealer, by a registered representative who is a member of a registered national securities exchange or a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or, in the case of any other nominee holder, a person performing a similar function. If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee owner or an agent of any of the foregoing, the above certification as to any person for whom the Assignee will hold the Units shall be made to the best of the Assignee's knowledge. App-3 Annex A - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER BY AND AMONG PETROLEUM HEAT AND POWER CO., INC. STAR GAS PARTNERS L.P. PETRO/MERGECO, INC. AND STAR GAS PROPANE, L.P. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ARTICLE I. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS i
1.1. Certain Definitions................................................. 1 ARTICLE II. THE MERGER; EFFECTS OF THE MERGER 2.1. The Merger.......................................................... 11 2.2. Effective Date And Closing.......................................... 12 ARTICLE III. MERGER CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES 3.1. Merger Consideration................................................ 12 3.2. Rights As Stockholders; Stock Transfers............................. 13 3.3. Fractional Shares................................................... 13 3.4. Exchange Procedures................................................. 14 3.5. Anti-Dilution Provisions............................................ 16 3.6. Shares of Dissenting Common Holders................................. 16 3.7. Options............................................................. 16 ARTICLE IV. ACTIONS PENDING MERGER 4.1. Ordinary Course..................................................... 17 4.2. Capital Stock....................................................... 17 4.3. Dividends, Distributions............................................ 17 4.4. Compensation; Employment Agreements................................. 18 4.5. Benefit Plans....................................................... 18 4.6. Acquisitions And Dispositions....................................... 18 4.7. Amendments.......................................................... 19 4.8. Accounting Methods.................................................. 19 4.9. Insurance........................................................... 19 4.10. Notification........................................................ 19 4.11. Taxes............................................................... 19 4.12. Debt, Capital Expenditures and the Like............................. 19 4.13. No Dissolution...................................................... 19 4.14. Adverse Actions..................................................... 20 4.15. Agreements.......................................................... 20 ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANT 5.1. Disclosure Schedule................................................. 20 5.2. Standard............................................................ 20 5.3. Representations And Warranties...................................... 20 ARTICLE VI. COVENANTS 6.1. Best Efforts........................................................ 31 6.2. Equityholder Approvals.............................................. 31 6.3. Registration Statements............................................. 32 6.4. Modification of Petro Indentures and Preferred Stock................ 33 ii
6.5. Press Releases..................................................... 34 6.6. Access; Information................................................ 34 6.7. Acquisition Proposals.............................................. 35 6.8. Affiliate Arrangements............................................. 35 6.9. Takeover Laws...................................................... 36 6.10. No Rights Triggered................................................ 36 6.11. Senior Subordinated Units Listed................................... 36 6.12. Third Party Approvals.............................................. 36 6.13. Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance................ 37 6.14. Benefit Plans...................................................... 39 6.15. Notification Of Certain Matters.................................... 40 6.16. New Director for Star Gas LLC...................................... 40 ARTICLE VII. CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER 7.1. Shareholder Vote................................................... 40 7.2. Governmental Approvals............................................. 40 7.3. No Injunction...................................................... 40 7.4. Representations, Warranties And Covenants Of Star Partners......... 41 7.5. Representations, Warranties And Covenants Of Petro................. 41 7.6. Effective Merger Registration Statement............................ 41 7.7. Opinion............................................................ 42 7.8. Opinion of Petro's Counsel......................................... 42 7.9. NYSE Listing....................................................... 43 7.10. Affiliate Arrangements............................................. 43 7.11. Fairness Opinion................................................... 43 7.12. Public Offerings................................................... 43 7.13. Refinancing Conditions............................................. 43 7.14. Dissenters' Rights................................................. 45 7.15. Covenant Not to Compete............................................ 45 7.16. Working Capital Loan............................................... 45 7.17. Debt Offering...................................................... 45 7.18. Restructuring Transactions......................................... 45 7.19. Special Committee.................................................. 45 7.20. Custody Agreement.................................................. 45 ARTICLE VIII. TERMINATION 8.1. Termination........................................................ 45 8.2... Effect Of Termination And Abandonment.............................. 46 ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS 9.1. Survival........................................................... 47 9.2. Waiver; Amendment.................................................. 47 9.3. Counterparts....................................................... 47 9.4. Governing Law...................................................... 47 9.5. Expenses........................................................... 47 9.6. Confidentiality.................................................... 47 9.7. Notices............................................................ 47 9.8. Entire Understanding; No Third Party Beneficiaries................. 48 9.9. Headings........................................................... 49 EXHIBITS iii
Exhibit A Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement Exhibit B Amended and Restated Operating Partnership Agreement Exhibit C Petro Conveyance Agreement Exhibit D Star LLC Conveyance Agreement Exhibit E Covenant Not To Compete of Irik P. SevinDISCLOSURE SCHEDULES iv
(S) 4.2 (Petro only) Capital stock; issuance of additional shares (S) 4.4 (Petro only) Compensation; Employment Agreements (S) 4.6 (Petro only) Acquisition and Dispositions (S) 4.12 (Petro only) 1998 Capital Budget Shares; Shares/Units reserved for issuance; (S) 5.3 (b) stock options (S) 5.3 (c) Subsidiaries (S) 5.3 (f) No defaults (S) 5.3 (h) Litigation Compliance with laws (exception for no (S) 5.3 (i) Material Adverse Effect) (S) 5.3 (l) (i) Compensation and Benefit Plans Disclosures concerning pension plans, multi- (S) 5.3 (l) (iv) employer plans Excess of benefit liabilities over current (S) 5.3 (l) (vi) value of assets (S) 5.3 (l) (viii) Golden parachutes, etc. (S) 5.3 (m) Collective bargaining agreement (S) 5.3 (p) Regulatory approval (S) 5.3 (t) Intellectual propertyAMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of February 3, 1999 (this "Agreement"), by and among PETROLEUM HEAT AND POWER CO., INC., a Minnesota corporation ("Petro"), STAR GAS PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Star Partners"), STAR GAS PROPANE, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Star Propane"), and PETRO/MERGECO, INC., a Minnesota corporation ("Mergeco") and an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Star Partners. WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Petro and the Board of Directors of Star Gas Corporation, the general partner of Star Partners and Star Propane, upon the recommendation of the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner, have determined that it is in the best interests of their respective companies and their equity holders to consummate the business combination provided for herein pursuant to which Mergeco will, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, merge (the "Merger") with and into Petro, with Petro surviving as an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Star Partners; WHEREAS, on or prior to the date hereof, the Petro Insiders (as defined herein) and Star Partners have executed the Exchange Agreement (as defined herein); WHEREAS, the parties desire to make certain representations, warranties and agreements in connection with the Merger and also to prescribe certain conditions to the Merger; WHEREAS, in connection therewith, the parties hereto have entered into that certain Merger Agreement (the "Original Merger Agreement") dated as of October 22, 1998; WHEREAS, the parties hereto wish to amend and restate the Original Merger Agreement in its entirety as set forth as follows; NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, representations, warranties and agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Original Merger Agreement is hereby amended and, as so amended, is restated in its entirety as follows: ARTICLE I. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS 1.1. Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below: "Affiliate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.8(a). "Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement. "Amended and Restated Operating Partnership Agreement" shall mean the Amended and Restated Operating Partnership Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. "Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement" shall mean the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. "Articles of Merger" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b). "Certificate of Merger" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b). "Certificates" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(b). A-1 "Closing" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2. "Closing Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2. "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. "Common Units" shall mean the common units representing limited partner interests of Star Partners having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement. "Compensation and Benefit Plans" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(1). "Cost of Capital" shall mean the sum of (a) the number of Common Units and Senior Subordinated Units issued in the Equity Offering (including for purposes of this definition any Common Units or Senior Subordinated Units issued on the closing date of the Equity Offering pursuant to the exercise of an over- allotment option the proceeds of which are applied to redeem, repurchase, or convert into cash any Relevant Securities or to pay those costs described in Section 7.13(d)) multiplied by $2.30 and (b) the principal amount of debt issued in the Debt Offering multiplied by the interest rate on such debt. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if it appears that the Cost of Capital on the securities necessary to be issued in the Debt Offering and Equity Offering to redeem, repurchase or convert into cash any of the Relevant Securities and to pay the costs described in Section 7.13(d) not to exceed $19,139,000 would exceed $27.5 million on an annual basis ("Excess Cost"), then the following will apply: (i) If the holders of the Relevant Securities agree to accept $2 million less than the maximum amounts indicated in Sections 3.1(e), 6.4(b) and 6.4(c) to redeem, repurchase or convert into cash any of the Relevant Securities and if a reduction in the size of the Equity Offering to reflect the lower proceeds required would not be sufficient to eliminate any Excess Cost, then for purposes of determining Cost of Capital, the number of Common Units deemed issued in the Equity Offering shall be reduced by an amount necessary to reduce the Cost of Capital to $27.5 million on an annual basis, subject to a maximum reduction pursuant to this clause of 105,263 Common Units. (ii) If, after giving effect to subparagraph (i), the Cost of Capital on the securities necessary to be issued in the Debt Offering and Equity Offering to effect the redemption, repurchase or conversion into cash of any of the Relevant Securities and to pay the costs described in Section 7.13(d) not to exceed $19,139,000 continues to exceed $27.5 million on an annual basis and if the holders of the Relevant Securities agree to accept $3 million less than the maximum amount indicated in Sections 3.1(e), 6.4(b) and 6.4(c) and if a reduction in the size of the Equity Offering to reflect the lower proceeds required does not eliminate any remaining Excess Cost, then for purposes of determining Cost of Capital, the number of Common Units deemed issued in the Equity Offering shall be further reduced by an amount necessary to reduce the Cost of Capital to $27.5 million on an annual basis, subject to a maximum reduction pursuant to this clause of an additional 52,631 Common Units. A-2 (iii) If, after giving effect to subparagraphs (i) and (ii), the Cost of Capital on the securities necessary to be issued in the Debt Offering and Equity Offering to effect the redemption, repurchase or conversion of the Relevant Securities and to pay the costs described in Section 7.13(d) not to exceed $19,139,000 continues to exceed $27.5 million on an annual basis, and if the holders of the Relevant Securities agree to accept $4 million less than the maximum amount indicated in Sections 3.1(e), 6.4(b) and 6.4(c), and if a reduction in the size of the Equity Offering to reflect the lower proceeds required does not eliminate any remaining Excess Cost, then for purposes of determining Cost of Capital, the number of Common Units deemed issued in the Equity Offering shall be further reduced by an amount necessary to reduce the Cost of Capital to $27.5 million on an annual basis, subject to a maximum reduction pursuant to this clause of an additional 52,631 Common Units. (iv) If, after giving effect to subparagraphs (i), (ii) and (iii), the Cost of Capital on the securities necessary to be issued in the Debt Offering and Equity Offering to effect redemption repurchase or conversion into cash of the Relevant Securities and to pay the costs described in Section 7.13(d) not to exceed $19,139,000 continues to exceed $27.5 million on an annual basis, and if the holders of the Relevant Securities agree to accept at least $5 million less than the maximum amount indicated in Sections 3.1(e), 6.4(b) and 6.4(c), and if a reduction in the size of the Equity Offering to reflect the lower proceeds required does not eliminate any remaining Excess Cost, then for purposes of determining Cost of Capital, the number of Common Units deemed issued in the Equity Offering shall be further reduced by an amount necessary to reduce the Cost of Capital to $27.5 million on an annual basis, subject to a maximum reduction pursuant to this clause of an additional 52,631 Common Units. "Custody Agreement" shall mean the Custody Agreement among the Petro Insiders and American Stock Transfer and Trust substantially in the form annexed to the Exchange Agreement. "Dain Rauscher Wessels" shall mean Dain Rauscher Wessels, a division of Dain Rauscher Incorporated. "Debt Offering" shall mean a public or private offering by a wholly owned subsidiary of Star Propane of nonconvertible debt securities with gross proceeds of not more than $90 million with total underwriting discounts and commissions or placement agent fees not to exceed 3% of the aggregate principal amount offered to the public, the proceeds of which shall be used to refinance a portion of the Public Debt. "Debt Offering Memorandum" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(a). "Debt Registration Statement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(a). "DGCL" shall mean the Delaware General Corporation Law. "Disclosure Schedule" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1. "Dissenting Common Holders" shall mean Petro shareholders who comply with all provisions of the MBCA concerning their right to object to and dissent from the Merger and demand "fair value" for their shares. A-3 "Effective Time" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b). "Environmental Laws" shall mean all applicable local, state and federal environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, the Clean Water Act, the Federal Clean Air Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, each as amended, regulations promulgated thereunder, and state counterparts. "Equity Registration Statement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(a). "Equity Offering" shall mean a public offering by Star Partners of Common Units or Senior Subordinated Units with gross proceeds of not more than $170 million, as determined by Petro (excluding any proceeds received from the exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option, which will not exceed 15% of the number of Common Units or Senior Subordinated Units initially issued in the public offering), with total underwriting discounts and commissions not to exceed 5% of the aggregate price to the public. "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. "ERISA Affiliate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(1)(iv). "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder. "Exchange Agent" shall mean American Stock Transfer & Trust Company or such other entity as may be selected by Star Partners subject to the reasonable approval of Petro. "Exchange Agreement" shall mean the Exchange Agreement among the Petro Insiders and Star Partners dated as of October 17, 1998, as the same may be amended from time to time by the written consent of all parties thereto. "Exchange Fund" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a). "General Partner" shall mean Star Gas Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and its successors and permitted assigns as general partner of Star Partners and Star Propane. "General Partner Units" shall mean the general partner units representing a general partner interest in Star Partners having the rights and obligations specified with respect to General Partner Units in the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement. "HSRA" shall mean the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder. "Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.13(a). "Joint Proxy Statement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(a). "Junior Preferred Stock" shall mean Petro's 1998 Junior Convertible Preferred Stock. "Junior Subordinated Units" shall mean the junior subordinated units representing limited partner interests of Star Partners having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Junior Subordinated Units in the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement. "Lien" shall mean any charge, mortgage, pledge, security interest, restriction, claim, lien, or encumbrance. A-4 "MBCA" shall mean the Minnesota Business Corporation Act. "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean, with respect to either Petro or Star Partners, any effect that (i) is material and adverse to the financial position, results of operations, business or prospects of Petro and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or Star Partners and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, respectively, or (ii) would materially impair the ability of Petro or Star Partners, respectively, to perform its obligations under this Agreement or otherwise materially threaten or materially impede the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed to include the impact of (a) actions or omissions of Petro or Star Partners taken with the prior written consent of Petro or the Special Committee, as applicable, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (as long as the material facts known to the requesting party concerning such actions or omissions were disclosed to the consenting party at the time it gave its consent), (b) circumstances affecting home heating oil companies or propane companies generally, and (c) the effects of the Merger and compliance by either party with the provisions of this Agreement on the business, financial condition or results of operations of such party and its Subsidiaries, or the other party and its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. "Meeting" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2. "Merger" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement and in Section 2.1(a). "Merger Consideration" shall have the meaning set forth in Sections 2.1(a) and 3(1). "Merger Registration Statement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(a). "Multiemployer Plans" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(1)(iii). "New Certificates" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a). "Newco" shall mean Petro Holdings Inc., a Minnesota corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parentco. "Non-Compliance Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(3)(i)(i). "Non-Compliance Notification" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(3)(i)(iii). "NYSE" shall mean the New York Stock Exchange. "Old Subordinated Units" shall mean the subordinated units representing limited partner interests of Star Partners having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Subordinated Units in the Partnership Agreement. "Operating Partnership Agreement" shall mean the Agreement of Limited Partnership of Star Propane, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time. "Operating Partnership Agreement Amendments" shall mean the amendments to the Operating Partnership Agreement effected in the Amended and Restated Operating Partnership Agreement. A-5 "Parentco" shall mean Star/Petro, Inc., a Minnesota corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Star Propane. "Partnership Agreement" shall mean the Agreement of Limited Partnership of Star Partners, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time. "Partnership Agreement Amendments" shall mean the amendments to the Partnership Agreement effected in the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement. "Pension Plan" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(1)(iii). "Permitting Violation" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(3)(i)(ii). "Person" or "person" shall mean any individual, bank, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, business trust or unincorporated organization. "Petro Class A Common Stock" means the Class A Common Stock, par value $.10 per share of Petro. "Petro Class B Common Stock" means the Class B common Stock, par value $.10 per share of Petro. "Petro Class C Common Stock" means the Class C Common Stock, par value $.10 per share of Petro. "Petro Common Stock" shall mean shares of Petro Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock without distinction as to class. "Petro Conveyance Agreement" shall mean the Conveyance and Contribution Agreement among Petro, Star Partners and Star Propane to be entered into as of the Closing Date substantially in the form of Exhibit C. "Petro Directors" shall mean the members of the Board of Directors of Petro. "Petro's Disclosure Schedule" shall mean the Disclosure Schedule delivered by Petro pursuant to Section 5.1. "Petro Insiders" shall mean Irik P. Sevin, Audrey L. Sevin, Phillip Ean Cohen, Thomas J. Edelman, Richard O'Connell, Brentwood Corp., Gabes S.A., Minneford Corp., Fernando Montero, M.M. Warburg & Co., Hanseatic Corp., Hanseatic Americas LDC, Barcel Corp., Hubertus Langen, Tortosa GmbH, Paul Biddelman and United Capital Corp. "Petro Meeting" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2. "Petro Preferred Stock" shall mean collectively the Junior Preferred Stock, the Private Preferred Stock and the Public Preferred Stock. "Petro Stock Option" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.7. A-6 "Petro Stock Option Plans" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.7. "Plans" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(3)(l)(iii). "Previously Disclosed" by a party shall mean information set forth in its Disclosure Schedule. "Private Debt" means Petro's 10.90% Senior Notes due October 1, 2002 and Petro's 14.1% Notes due 2001. "Private Preferred Stock" shall mean Petro's 1989 Preferred Stock due 1999. "Public Debt" means Petro's 10 1/8% Subordinated Notes due 2003, Petro's 9 3/8% Subordinated Debentures due 2006 and Petro's 12 1/4% Subordinated Debentures due 2005. "Public Preferred Stock" means Petro's 12 7/8% Series C Exchangeable Preferred Stock due 2009. "Registration Statements" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3. "Regulatory Authorities" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(h)(ii). "Relevant Securities" shall mean the 1989 Preferred Stock, the Public Debt and the Public Preferred Stock. "Restructuring Transactions" shall mean the following, collectively: 1. the sale of certain assets (the "Transferred Assets") by Petro or Subsidiaries of Petro to Star Propane in exchange for a note (the "Bridge Note"), as contemplated by the Petro Conveyance Agreement; 2. the sale by the General Partner to Petro of its general partner interests in Star Partners and Star Propane and its 2,396,078 Old Subordinated Units and its 60,727 Common Units in exchange for a note in principal amount of equivalent value; 3. the assignment by Petro to Star Partners of all of its general partner interest in Star Propane (other than a portion of such interest with a value of $1,000), all of its general partner interest in Star Partners (other than a portion of such interest with a value of $1,000) and its 2,396,078 Old Subordinated Units in exchange for 42,046 newly issued Common Units, 1,718,795 newly issued Senior Subordinated Units and a promissory note in an amount equal to the excess of the value of the Old Subordinated Units and general partner interests assigned to Star Partners over the value of the Common Units and Senior Subordinated Units issued in exchange therefor; 4. the contribution by certain Petro Insiders of 2,256,471 shares of Class A and Class C Common Stock (the "Insider Stock") to a newly formed Delaware limited liability company ("Star Gas LLC") in exchange for all the member interests in Star Gas LLC as contemplated in the Exchange Agreement, the formation certificate and operating agreement to be subject in form and substance to the approval of the Special Committee; 5. the contribution by Star Gas LLC of 11,280 shares of Class A and Class C Common Stock to Star Propane in exchange for a .01% general partner interest in Star Propane as contemplated by the Star LLC Conveyance Agreement; A-7 6. the contribution by Star Gas LLC of 2,245,191 shares of Class A and Class C Common Stock to Star Partners, in exchange for a 1.99% general partner interest in Star Partners (represented by 321,467 General Partner Units, subject to adjustment as provided below) as contemplated by the Star LLC Conveyance Agreement; 7. the contribution by certain Petro Insiders to Star Partners of 3,005,972 shares of Class A and Class C Common Stock in exchange for 430,395 Junior Subordinated Units and 6,571,740 shares of Class A and Class C Common Stock in exchange for 772,705 Senior Subordinated Units, as contemplated in the Exchange Agreement; 8. the contribution by Star Partners of the Petro Common Stock owned by it to Star Propane; 9. the contribution by Star Propane to Parentco of the Transferred Assets, the stock of Petro and the stock of Stellar Propane Corp. in exchange for all the capital stock of Parentco and the assumption by Parentco of $85 million of Star Propane's 8.04% First Mortgage Notes and $11 million of Star Propane's 7.17% First Mortgage Notes; 10. the contribution by Parentco of the Petro Common Stock and the Transferred Assets owned by it to Newco free of any liability with respect to the outstanding First Mortgage Notes of Star Partners; and 11. the contribution by Newco of the Petro Common Stock owned by it to Mergeco. The number of General Partner Units and the number of Junior Subordinated Units and the number of shares of Petro Common Stock to be transferred for each shall be changed, if necessary, so that the number of General Partner Units (including the .01% general partner interest in Star Propane) to be outstanding following the Merger and the Equity Offering will be equal to 2% of the total partnership units outstanding and the total number of General Partner Units and Junior Subordinated Units will equal 753,477. "Rights" shall mean, with respect to any person, securities or obligations convertible into or exchangeable for, or giving any person any right to subscribe for or acquire, or any options, calls or commitments relating to, equity securities of such person. "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission. "SEC Documents" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(g). "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder. "Senior Subordinated Units" shall mean the senior subordinated units representing limited partner interests of Star Partners having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Senior Subordinated Units in the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement. "Significant Subsidiaries" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1-01(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act. A-8 "Special Committee" means the special committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner consisting of William Nicoletti and Elizabeth Lanier. "Star Gas LLC" shall mean Star Gas LLC, a newly-created Delaware limited liability company that will succeed Star Gas Corporation as the general partner of the partnership. "Star LLC Conveyance Agreement" shall mean the Conveyance and Contribution Agreement among Star Gas LLC, Star Propane and Star Partners to be entered into as of the Closing Date substantially in the form of Exhibit D. "Star Partners" shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement. "Star Partners' Disclosure Schedule" shall mean the Disclosure Schedule delivered by Star Partners pursuant to Section 5.1. "Star Partners Meeting" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2. "Star Propane" shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement. "Star Propane Debt Conditions" shall mean the Holders of Star Propane's 8.04% First Mortgage Notes due 2009, Star Propane's 7.17% First Mortgage Notes due 2010 and Star Propane's outstanding bank credit facilities shall have consented to the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Star Propane or shall have entered into amendments permitting the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Star Propane without violation of the terms of such indebtedness and without a requirement that such indebtedness be repurchased (or an offer be made to purchase such indebtedness). "Subsidiary" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act. "Surviving Corporation" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a). "Takeover Law" means any "fair price", "moratorium", "control share acquisition" or any other anti-takeover statute or similar statute enacted under state or federal law. "Takeover Proposal" shall mean, with respect to Petro, any tender or exchange offer, proposal for a merger, consolidation or other business combination involving Petro or any of its Subsidiaries or any proposal or offer to acquire in any manner a substantial equity interest in, or a substantial portion of the assets of, Petro or any of its Subsidiaries other than the transactions contemplated or permitted by this Agreement. "Tax Returns" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(o). "Taxes" shall mean all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other assessments, including, without limitation, all net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, goods and services, capital, transfer, franchise, profits, license, withholding, payroll, employment, employer health, excise, estimated, severance, stamp, occupation, property or other taxes, custom duties, fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any taxing authority. A-9 "Treasury Shares" shall mean shares of Petro Common Stock owned by Petro at the Effective Time. "Working Capital" when applied to Petro, shall mean Petro's current assets minus current liabilities determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis provided that (i) restricted cash shall be excluded from current assets to the extent such restricted cash remains restricted immediately following the Effective Time and relates to indebtedness due in more than one year, (ii) draws under Petro's bank working capital facility shall be included in current liabilities, (iii) the current maturities of all other Petro long-term indebtedness and preferred stock shall be excluded from current liabilities, and (iv) expenses of the type described in Section 7.13(d) shall be included as a current liability to the extent not financed in the Debt Offering or the Equity Offering. ARTICLE II. THE MERGER; EFFECTS OF THE MERGER 2.1. The Merger. (a) The Surviving Corporation. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time, Mergeco shall merge with and into Petro (the "Merger"), the separate corporate existence of Mergeco shall cease and Petro shall survive and continue to exist as a Minnesota corporation (Petro, as the surviving corporation in the Merger, sometimes being referred to herein as the "Surviving Corporation"). Star Partners, with the consent of the Special Committee, may at any time change the method of effecting the Merger (including, without limitation, the provisions of this Article II) if and to the extent it deems such change to be desirable; provided, however, that no such change shall (A) alter or change the amount or kind of consideration to be issued to holders of Petro Common Stock or Petro Preferred Stock as provided for in this Agreement (the "Merger Consideration"), (B) adversely affect the tax treatment of Petro's stockholders as a result of receiving the Merger Consideration or (C) materially impede or delay consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (b) Effectiveness And Effects Of The Merger. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII in accordance with this Agreement, the Merger shall become effective upon the later to occur of (i) the filing in the office of the Secretary of State of Delaware of a properly executed certificate of merger (the "Certificate of Merger") and (ii) the filing with the Department of State of Minnesota of properly executed articles of merger (the "Articles of Merger"), or such later date and time as may be set forth in the Certificate of Merger and the Articles of Merger (the "Effective Time"), in accordance with the DGCL and the MBCA. The Merger shall have the effects prescribed in DGCL and the MBCA. (c) Certificate Of Incorporation And By-Laws. The certificate of incorporation and by-laws of Petro in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, until duly amended in accordance with applicable law. (d) Directors of the Surviving Corporation. The directors of Petro who are also employees of Petro immediately prior to the Effective time shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation as of the Effective Time. (e) Officers of the Surviving Corporation. The officers of Petro immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation as of the Effective Time. A-10 2.2. Effective Date And Closing. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions as set forth in Article VII in accordance with this Agreement, the closing of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby (the "Closing") shall occur on (a) the third business day to occur after the day on which the last of the conditions set forth in Article VII shall have been satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms of this Agreement provided that such date shall not be earlier than February 15, 1999 or (b) such other date to which the parties may agree in writing. The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to as the "Closing Date." The Closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall take place at the offices of Phillips Nizer Benjamin Krim & Ballon LLP, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10103 at 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Closing Date. ARTICLE III. MERGER CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES 3.1. Merger Consideration. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any holder of capital stock of any party: (a) Each share of the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Mergeco outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one fully paid and nonassessable share of Common Stock, par value $.10, of the Surviving Corporation. (b) Each Treasury Share and each share of Petro Common Stock owned by Mergeco shall cease to be outstanding and shall be canceled and retired without payment of any consideration therefor, and no partnership interest of Star Partners or other consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor. (c) Each share of Petro Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Treasury Shares, shares held by Mergeco, and shares of Dissenting Common Holders) shall be converted into the right to receive .11758 fully paid and nonassessable Senior Subordinated Units. (d) Each share of Junior Preferred Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive .13064 fully paid and nonassessable Common Units. (e) Each share of Public Preferred Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive $23 in cash plus accrued and unpaid dividends as of the Effective Time, or such lesser amount as a holder may agree to in writing. (f) Each share of Petro's Class B Common Stock, $.10 par value, outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be unchanged and shall remain outstanding with the same relative rights, preferences and privileges which it had immediately prior to the Effective Time. 3.2. Rights As Stockholders; Stock Transfers. At the Effective Time, holders of Petro Common Stock, Junior Preferred Stock and Public Preferred Stock shall cease to be, and shall have A-11 no rights, as stockholders of Petro, other than to receive (a) any dividend or other distribution with respect to such Petro Common Stock, Junior Preferred Stock or Public Preferred Stock with a record date occurring prior to the Effective Time that may have been declared or made by Petro on such shares of Petro Common Stock, Junior Preferred Stock or Public Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or prior to the date hereof and which remain unpaid at the Effective Time and (b) the consideration provided under this Article III. After the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on the stock transfer books of the shares of Petro Common Stock or Petro Preferred Stock. 3.3. Fractional Shares. No certificates or scrip representing fractional Common Units or Senior Subordinated Units shall be issued upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates pursuant to this Article III, and, except as provided in Section 3.2 and this Section 3.3, no dividend or other distribution, stock split or interest shall relate to any such fractional security, and such fractional interests shall not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any rights of a security holder of Star Partners. In lieu thereof, each holder of shares of Petro Common Stock who would otherwise have been entitled to a fraction of a Senior Subordinated Unit upon surrender of Certificates for exchange pursuant to this Article III will be paid an amount in cash (without interest) equal to the closing price of the Senior Subordinated Units on the first day of trading thereof on the NYSE (as reported in The Wall Street Journal or, if not reported therein, in another authoritative source) multiplied by the fractional interest the holder would otherwise be entitled to receive, and each holder of shares of Junior Preferred Stock who would otherwise have been entitled to a fraction of a Common Unit upon surrender of Certificates for exchange pursuant to this Article III will be paid an amount in cash (without interest) equal to such fraction multiplied by the average of the last sales prices of the Common Units on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions tape (as reported in The Wall Street Journal or, if not reported therein, in another authoritative source) for the five consecutive trading days ending immediately prior to the second trading day prior to the Closing Date. 3.4. Exchange Procedures. (a) At or prior to the Effective Time, Star Partners shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Petro Common Stock and the Junior Preferred Stock for exchange in accordance with this Article III (i) certificates representing the Senior Subordinated Units and Common Units ("New Certificates") issuable pursuant to Section 3.1 in exchange for outstanding shares of Petro Common Stock and Junior Preferred Stock, (ii) the amount of cash necessary to be distributed to the holders of Public Preferred Stock in accordance with the foregoing sections of this Article III and (iii) an amount of cash to be paid in lieu of fractional Senior Subordinated Units and Common Units as provided herein (such cash and New Certificates, together with any dividends or distributions with respect thereto (but without any interest thereon), being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Fund"). (b) Promptly after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of record of a certificate or certificates which, immediately prior to the Effective Time, represented outstanding shares of Petro Common Stock and Junior Preferred Stock (the "Certificates"), which holder's shares of Petro Common Stock or Junior Preferred Stock were converted into the right to receive Senior Subordinated Units or Common Units pursuant to Section 3.1 (i) a letter of transmittal, which shall specify that delivery shall be effected and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass only A-12 upon delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent, and shall be in such form and have such other provisions as Star Partners may reasonably specify and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for certificates representing Senior Subordinated Units and Common Units. Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Exchange Agent, together with such letter of transmittal, duly executed, and any other required documents, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor a New Certificate representing the number of whole Senior Subordinated Units or Common Units that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to this Article III, and cash in lieu of any fractional Senior Subordinated Units or Common Units, as contemplated by Section 3.3, and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. In the event of a transfer of ownership of Petro Common Stock or Junior Preferred Stock that is not registered in the transfer records of Petro, a certificate representing the proper number of Senior Subordinated Units or Common Units may be issued to a transferee only on the condition that the Certificate formerly representing such shares of Petro Common Stock or Junior Preferred Stock is presented to the Exchange Agent, properly endorsed, and accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect such transfer and by evidence that any applicable stock transfer taxes have been paid or that no such taxes are applicable. The Exchange Agent shall not be entitled to vote or exercise any rights of ownership with respect to Senior Subordinated Units or Common Units held by it from time to time hereunder, except that it shall receive and hold all dividends or other distributions paid or distributed with respect thereto for the account of persons entitled thereto. (c) If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen, mislaid or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen, mislaid or destroyed, and if required by Star Partners, the posting by such Person of a bond in such reasonable amount as Star Partners may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen, mislaid or destroyed Certificate the consideration deliverable in respect thereof as determined in accordance with this Article III. (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Exchange Agent nor any party hereto shall be liable to any former holder of Petro Common Stock or Junior Preferred Stock for any amount properly delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar laws. (e) No distributions with respect to the Common Units or Senior Subordinated Units declared or made after the Effective Time with a record date occurring after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered old Certificate, and no cash payment in lieu of fractional Senior Subordinated Units or Common Units shall be paid to any such holder pursuant to Section 3.3 until the holder thereof shall surrender such Certificates in accordance with this Article III. After the surrender of certificates in accordance with this Article III, and subject to the effect of applicable laws, there shall be paid to the holder of Senior Subordinated Units or Common Units issued in exchange therefor, without interest, (i) at the time of such surrender, the amount of distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore payable with respect to such Senior Subordinated Units or Common Units and not paid, less the amount of any withholding taxes which may be required thereon, and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of distributions with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to surrender and a payment date subsequent to surrender A-13 payable with respect to such Senior Subordinated Units or Common Units, less the amount of any withholding taxes which may be required thereon. (f) Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains unclaimed by the stockholders of Petro for twelve months after the Closing shall be paid to Star Partners. Any stockholders of Petro who have not theretofore complied with this Article III shall thereafter look only to Star Partners for payment of the Common Units or Senior Subordinated Units, cash in lieu of any fractional Common Units or Senior Subordinated Units and unpaid distributions on the Common Units and the Senior Subordinated Units deliverable in respect of each share of Petro Common Stock and Junior Preferred Stock such stockholder holds as determined pursuant to this Agreement, in each case, without any interest thereon. 3.5. Anti-Dilution Provisions. In the event of any subdivisions, reclassifications, recapitalizations, splits, combinations or dividends in the form of equity interests with respect to the Common Units, and the Petro Common Stock (in each case, as permitted pursuant to Section 4.3) the number of Senior Subordinated Units and Common Units to be issued in the Merger and the average closing sales prices of the Common Units determined in accordance with Section 3.3 will be correspondingly adjusted. 3.6. Shares of Dissenting Common Holders. Any issued and outstanding shares of Petro Common Stock held by Dissenting Common Holders shall not be converted as described in Section 3.1(c) but shall from and after the Effective Time represent only the right to receive such consideration as may be determined to be due to such Dissenting Common Holder pursuant to the MBCA; provided, however, that shares of Petro Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a Dissenting Common Holder who shall, after the Effective Time, withdraw his demand for fair value or lose his dissenters' rights pursuant to the MBCA, shall be deemed to be converted, as of the Effective Time, into the right to receive Senior Subordinated Units as specified in Section 3.1(c), without interest. 3.7. Options. (a) At the Closing, all employee and director stock options to purchase shares of Petro Common Stock (each, a "Petro Stock Option"), which are then outstanding and unexercised, shall cease to represent a right to acquire shares of Petro Stock. To the extent any such stock option is not vested at the Effective Time and does not become vested by reason of the Merger, such stock option shall be cancelled. To the extent that any stock option is vested as of the Effective Time or becomes vested by reason of the Merger, such stock option to the extent so vested shall be converted automatically into options to purchase .11758 Senior Subordinated Units at a price equal to the original exercise price divided by .11758 and Star Partners shall assume each such Petro Stock Option subject to the terms of any of the stock option plans listed under "Stock Option Plans" in Section 5.3 of Petro's Disclosure Schedule (collectively, the "Petro Stock Option Plans"), and the agreements evidencing grants thereunder, including but not limited to the accelerated vesting of such options which shall occur in connection with and by virtue of the Merger as and to the extent required by such plans and agreements. A-14 ARTICLE IV. ACTIONS PENDING MERGER From the date hereof until the Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, (a) without the prior written consent of the Special Committee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) Petro will not, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries not to, and (b) without the prior written consent of Petro (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) Star Partners will not, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries not to: 4.1. Ordinary Course. Conduct the business of it and its Subsidiaries other than in the ordinary and usual course or, to the extent consistent therewith, fail to use reasonable best efforts to preserve intact its business organizations, goodwill and assets and maintain its rights, franchises and existing relations with customers, suppliers, employees and business associates, or take any action that would (a) adversely affect the ability of any party to obtain any approvals required under the HSRA for the transactions contemplated hereby or (b) adversely affect its ability to perform any of its material obligations under this Agreement. 4.2. Capital Stock. In the case of Petro and its Subsidiaries, other than (a) pursuant to stock options Previously Disclosed in its Disclosure Schedule, (b) pursuant to the Petro dividend reinvestment program or (c) as otherwise set forth on Section 4.2 of Petro's Disclosure Schedule, (i) issue, sell or otherwise permit to become outstanding, or authorize the creation of, any additional shares of capital stock, any stock appreciation rights or any Rights, (ii) enter into any agreement with respect to the foregoing or (iii) permit any additional shares of capital stock to become subject to new grants of employee stock options, stock appreciation rights or similar stock-based employee rights. 4.3. Dividends, Distributions. (a) Make, declare or pay any dividend (other than (i) in the case of Star Propane, distributions of Available Cash (as defined in the Operating Partnership Agreement) to its partners, (ii) in the case of Star Partners, regular quarterly cash distributions of Available Cash on the Common Units, Subordinated Units and general partner interest of Star Partners and (iii) in the case of Petro, regular quarterly dividends on the Petro Preferred Stock), in each case in the ordinary course consistent with past practice), on or in respect of, or declare or make any distribution on any shares of its equity securities other than as Previously Disclosed, (b) split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or authorize or propose the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock or (c) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock, except as required by the terms of its securities outstanding on the date hereof or as contemplated by any existing Compensation and Benefit Plan. 4.4. Compensation; Employment Agreements. In the case of Petro and its Subsidiaries, except as set forth on Section 4.4 of Petro's Disclosure Schedule, enter into or amend any written employment, severance or similar agreements or arrangements with any of its directors, officers or employees, or grant any salary or wage increase or increase any employee benefit (including incentive or bonus payments), except for (a) normal individual increases in compensation to employees (other than officers and directors) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (b) other changes as are provided for herein or as may be required by law or to A-15 satisfy contractual obligations existing as of the date hereof or (c) additional grants of awards to newly hired employees consistent with past practice. 4.5. Benefit Plans. In the case of Petro and its Subsidiaries, except as set forth on Section 4.5 of the Petro Disclosure Schedule, enter into or amend (except as may be required by applicable law, to satisfy contractual obligations existing as of the date hereof or amendments which, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to Petro or its Subsidiaries) any pension, retirement, stock option, stock purchase, savings, profit sharing, deferred compensation, consulting, bonus, group insurance or other employee benefit, incentive or welfare contract, plan or arrangement, or any trust agreement related thereto, in respect of any of its directors, officers or other employees, including, without limitation, taking any action that accelerates the vesting or exercise of any benefits payable thereunder. 4.6. Acquisitions And Dispositions. In the case of Petro and its Subsidiaries, and except for the sale of the Transferred Assets to Star Propane, sell, lease, dispose of or discontinue any portion of its assets, business or properties, which is material to it and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or acquire, by merger or otherwise, or lease (other than by way of foreclosures or acquisitions of control in a bona fide fiduciary capacity or in satisfaction of debts previously contracted in good faith, in each case in the ordinary and usual course of business consistent with past practice) any assets or all or any portion of, the business or property of any other entity which, in either case, is material to it and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or would be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or to delay materially the Effective Time. In the case of Star Partners, Star Partners will not, and will cause its Subsidiaries not to, make any acquisition or take any other action which would have a Material Adverse Effect on its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. 4.7. Amendments. In the case of Petro, amend its Articles of Incorporation or By-laws. 4.8. Accounting Methods. Implement or adopt any change in its accounting principles, practices or methods, other than as may be required by law or generally accepted accounting principles. 4.9. Insurance. Fail to use reasonable best efforts to maintain with financially responsible insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks and losses as has been customarily maintained by it in the past. 4.10. Notification. Fail to promptly notify the other of any material change in its condition (financial or otherwise) or business or any material litigation or material governmental complaints, investigations or hearings or the breach in any material respect of any of its representations or warranties contained herein. 4.11. Taxes. (a) Make or rescind any material express or deemed election relating to Taxes unless it is reasonably expected that such action will not materially and adversely affect it, including elections for any and all joint ventures, partnerships, limited liability companies, working interests or other investments where it has the capacity to make such binding election, (b) settle or compromise any material claim, action, suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit or controversy relating to Taxes, except where such settlement or compromise will not materially and adversely A-16 affect it or (c) change in any material respect any of its methods of reporting income, or deductions for federal income tax purposes from those employed in the preparation of its federal income tax return for the most recent taxable year for which a return has been filed, except as may be required by applicable law or except for such changes that are reasonably expected not to materially adversely affect it. 4.12. Debt, Capital Expenditures and the Like. In the case of Petro, except as provided in Section 6.4, (a) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money (except for working capital under existing credit facilities) or guarantee any such indebtedness of others, (b) enter into any material lease (whether operating or capital), (c) create any material mortgages, liens, security interests or other encumbrances on the property of Petro or its Subsidiaries in connection with any pre-existing indebtedness, new indebtedness or lease or (d) make or commit to make aggregate capital expenditures in excess of $2.0 million over Petro's fiscal 1998 capital expenditure budget identified in Section 4.12 of the Petro Disclosure Schedule and Previously Disclosed to Star Gas. 4.13. No Dissolution. Authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt a plan of complete or partial dissolution or liquidation. 4.14. Adverse Actions. Knowingly take any action that is intended or is reasonably likely to result in (a) any of its representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement being or becoming untrue in any material respect at any time prior to the Closing, (b) any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VII not being satisfied or (c) a material violation of any provision of this Agreement except, in each case, as may be required by applicable law. 4.15. Agreements. Agree or commit to do anything prohibited by Sections 4.1 through 4.14. ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 5.1. Disclosure Schedule. On or prior to the date hereof, Star Partners has delivered to Petro and Petro has delivered to Star Partners a schedule (respectively, its "Disclosure Schedule") setting forth, among other things, items the disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate in relation to any or all of its representations and warranties; provided, however, that (a) no such item is required to be set forth in a Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a representation or warranty if its absence is not reasonably likely to result in the related representation or warranty being deemed untrue or incorrect under the standard established by Section 5.2, and (b) the mere inclusion of an item in a Disclosure Schedule shall not be deemed an admission by a party that such item represents a material exception or fact, event or circumstance or that such item is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect. 5.2. Standard. No representation or warranty of Star Partners or Petro contained in Section 5.3 (except Sections 5.3(b), 5.3(c)(i), 5.3(c)(ii), 5.3(d) and 5.3(e)) shall be deemed untrue or incorrect, and no party hereto shall be deemed to have breached a representation or warranty, as a consequence of the existence of any fact, circumstance or event unless such fact, circumstance or event, individually or taken together with all other facts, circumstances or events inconsistent with any paragraph of Section 5.3, has had or is reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. A-17 5.3. Representations and Warranties. Subject to Sections 5.1 and 5.2 and except as Previously Disclosed, Petro hereby represents and warrants to Star Partners, and Star Partners hereby represents and warrants to Petro, to the extent applicable, in each case with respect to itself and its Subsidiaries, as follows: (a) Organization, Standing and Authority. Such party is a corporation, or in the case of Star Partners and Star Propane, a limited partnership, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization. Such party (i) is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in the states of the United States where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified and (ii) has in effect all federal, state, local, and foreign governmental authorizations and permits necessary for it to own or lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now conducted. (b) Shares. (i) In the case of Petro, as of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of Petro consists solely of 81,909,722 shares of stock, $.10 par value, of which, as of the date hereof, 23,964,962 shares of Class A Common Stock, 11,228 shares of Class B Common Stock, 2,597,519 shares of Class C Common Stock, 41,668 shares of Private Preferred Stock, no more than 797,000 shares of Junior Preferred Stock and 1,200,000 shares of Public Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding. Such outstanding shares were duly authorized and are validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any preemptive or similar rights (and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights). The holder of the Petro Private Preferred Stock has consented to the redemption thereof on or prior to the Closing Date at a price equal to $4.167 million plus accrued and unpaid dividends. (ii) In the case of Star Partners, as of the date hereof, there are 3,858,999 Common Units and 2,396,078 Old Subordinated Units issued and outstanding, and all of such Common Units and Old Subordinated Units and the limited partner interests represented thereby were duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and are fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters described in the Merger Registration Statement under the caption "Description of the Partnership Agreement--Limited Liability"). As of the date hereof, the General Partner owns a 1% general partner interest in Star Partners, and such general partner interest was duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Partnership Agreement. As of the date hereof, Star Partners owns a 98.9899% limited partner interest in Star Propane, and such limited partner interest was duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Operating Partnership Agreement and is fully paid (to the extent required under the Operating Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters described in the Merger Registration Statement under the caption "Description of the Partnership Agreement--Limited Liability"). As of the date hereof, the General Partner owns a 1.0101% general partner interest in Star Propane, and such general A-18 partner interest was duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Operating Partnership Agreement. (iii) As of the date hereof, except as Previously Disclosed in Section 5.3(b) of a party's Disclosure Schedule, there are no shares of capital stock (in the case of Petro) or interests (in the case of Star Partners), of such party's equity securities authorized and reserved for issuance, such party does not have any Rights issued or outstanding with respect to its equity securities, and such party does not have any commitment to authorize, issue or sell any such equity securities or Rights, except pursuant to this Agreement. Since December 31, 1997, Petro has not issued any shares of its capital stock or rights in respect thereof or reserved any shares for such purposes except pursuant to plans or commitments Previously Disclosed in Section 5.3(b) of its Disclosure Schedule. (iv) The number of shares of Petro Common Stock which are issuable and reserved for issuance upon exercise of Petro Stock Options as of the date hereof are Previously Disclosed in Section 5.3(b) of Petro's Disclosure Schedule, and the number of Common Units and Subordinated Units that are issuable upon exercise of any employee or director options to purchase Common Units or Subordinated Units as of the date hereof are Previously Disclosed in Section 5.3 of Star Partners' Disclosure Schedule. (c) Subsidiaries. (i) (A) Such party has Previously Disclosed in Section 5.3(c) of its Disclosure Schedule a list of all of its Subsidiaries together with the jurisdiction of organization of each such Subsidiary, (B) it owns, directly or indirectly, all of the equity interests of each of its Subsidiaries, (C) no equity interests of any of its Subsidiaries are or may become required to be issued by reason of any Rights, (D) there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which any of such Subsidiaries is or may be bound to sell or otherwise transfer any equity interests of any such Subsidiaries, (E) there are no contracts, commitments, understandings, or arrangements relating to its rights to vote or to dispose of such equity interests, and (F) all of the equity interests of each such Subsidiary held by it or its Subsidiaries are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by it or its Subsidiaries free and clear of any Liens. (ii) In the case of the representations and warranties of Petro, other than ownership of its Subsidiaries, Petro does not own beneficially, directly or indirectly, any equity securities or similar interests of any person, or any interest in a partnership or joint venture of any kind. (iii) Each of such party's Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and (a) is duly qualified to do business and in good standing in the jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified and (b) has in effect all federal, state, local, and foreign governmental authorizations and permits necessary for it to own or lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now conducted. (d) Corporate or Partnership Power. Such party and each of its Subsidiaries has the corporate power and authority, or in the case of Star Partners and Star Propane the partnership power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to own all its properties and assets; and it has the corporate power and authority or, in the case of Star Partners and Star Propane, the partnership power and authority, to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. A-19 (e) Equityholder Authority. Subject in the case of this Agreement to approval by the holders of a majority of the shares of Petro Class A and Class C Common Stock and Petro Preferred Stock entitled to vote thereon, voting separately by classes the approval of the holders of a majority of the Petro Class A Common Stock which is not owned by Petro Insiders or Affiliates, and by the holders of a majority of the Common Units of Star Partners, excluding Common Units held by Petro and its Affiliates, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have been authorized by all necessary corporate action (partnership action in the case of Star Partners and Star Propane), and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of it, enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights or by general equity principles). In the case of Petro, the holders of 100% of the Public Preferred Stock, 100% of the Private Preferred Stock and 100% of the Junior Preferred Stock have granted Petro an irrevocable proxy to vote their shares in favor of the Merger. (f) No Defaults. Except as Previously Disclosed, subject to receipt of the HSRA approval, the approval of the holders of the Private Debt and 1998 Preferred Stock, the approval of Petro's bank group, the required filings under federal and state securities laws and the approvals contemplated by Article VII, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby does not and will not (i) constitute a breach or violation of, or result in a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or result in the termination or in a right of termination or cancellation of, or accelerate the performance required by, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, franchise, lease, contract, agreement, joint venture or other instrument or obligation to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its Subsidiaries or properties is subject or bound, (ii) constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under, in the case of Petro its articles of incorporation or by-laws and in the case of Star Partners and Star Propane its Agreement of Limited Partnership, (iii) contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree binding upon or applicable to it or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) result in the creation of any Lien on any of its assets or its Subsidiaries' assets or (v) cause the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be subject to Takeover Laws. (g) Financial Reports and SEC Documents. Its Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 in the case of Petro and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997 in the case of Star Partners, and all other reports, registration statements, definitive proxy statements or information statements filed or to be filed by it or any of its Subsidiaries subsequent to December 31, 1995 under the Securities Act, or under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, in the form filed, or to be filed (collectively, its "SEC Documents"), with the SEC (i) complied or will comply in all material respects as to form with the applicable requirements under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and (ii) did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and each of the balance sheets contained in or incorporated by reference into any such SEC Document (including the related notes and schedules thereto) fairly presents the financial position of the entity or entities to which it relates as of its date, and each of the statements of A-20 income and changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows or equivalent statements in the case of Star Partners in such SEC Documents (including any related notes and schedules thereto) fairly presents the results of operations, changes in stockholders' equity and changes in cash flows, as the case may be, of the entity or entities to which it relates for the periods to which it relates, in each case in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied during the periods involved, except in each case as may be noted therein, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments in the case of unaudited statements. Except as and to the extent set forth on its balance sheet as of September 30, 1997 (in the case of Star Partners) and December 31, 1997 (in the case of Petro), as of such date, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries had any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that would be required to be reflected on, or reserved against in, a balance sheet or in the notes thereto prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied. (h) Litigation; Regulatory Action. (i) No litigation, claim or other proceeding before any court or governmental agency is pending against it or any of its Subsidiaries and, to the best of its knowledge, no such litigation, claim or other proceeding has been threatened, other than normal and routine litigation which is either covered by insurance in amounts sufficient to discharge any likely exposure. There are no outstanding judgments, decrees, injunctions, awards or orders against it or any of its Subsidiaries. Section 5.3(h) of its Disclosure Schedule contains, as of the date of this Agreement, an accurate and complete list of all actions, suits and proceedings pending or, to the best of its knowledge, threatened against it, except as to routine law suits arising in the ordinary course of business involving customer complaints or vehicular accidents which are fully covered by insurance (except for deductible amounts under such insurance policies which if required to be paid would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect). (ii) Except as Previously Disclosed, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries or properties is a party to or is subject to any order, decree, agreement, memorandum of understanding or similar arrangement with, or a commitment letter or similar submission to, any federal or state governmental agency or court or authority or body or the supervision or regulation of it or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Regulatory Authorities"). (iii) Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has been advised by any Regulatory Authority that such Regulatory Authority is contemplating issuing or requesting (or is considering the appropriateness of issuing or requesting) any such order, decree, agreement, memorandum of understanding, commitment letter or similar submission. (i) Compliance With Laws. Except as set forth in Section 5.3(i) of its Disclosure Schedule, it and each of its Subsidiaries: (i) in the conduct of its business, is in compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders or decrees applicable thereto or to the employees conducting such businesses, (any instance of failure to so comply is referred to herein as a "Non-Compliance Event"). (ii) has all permits, licenses, authorizations, orders and approvals of, and has made all filings, applications and registrations with, all Regulatory Authorities that are required in order to permit it to conduct its businesses substantially as presently conducted; all such permits, A-21 licenses, certificates of authority, orders and approvals are in full force and effect and, to the best of its knowledge, no suspension or cancellation of any of them is threatened (any instance or failure to obtain any of the foregoing and to maintain them in full force and effect is referred to herein as a ("Permitting Violation"); and (iii) has not received, since December 31, 1994, any notification or communication from any Regulatory Authority asserting that it or any of its Subsidiaries is not in compliance with any of the statutes, regulations, or ordinances which such Regulatory Authority enforces or threatening to revoke any license, franchise, permit, or governmental authorization (nor, to its knowledge, do any grounds for any of the foregoing exist), any instance of the foregoing referred to herein as a "Non-Compliance Notification"; (j) Defaults. Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default under any contract, agreement, commitment, arrangement, lease, insurance policy, or other instrument to which it is a party, by which its respective assets, business, or operations may be bound or affected, or under which it or its respective assets, business, or operations receives benefits, and there has not occurred any event that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute such a default. (k) No Brokers. No action has been taken by it that would give rise to any valid claim against any party hereto for a brokerage commission, finder's fee or other like payment with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, excluding, in the case of Petro, fees to be paid to PaineWebber Incorporated and Dain Rauscher Wessels, and, in the case of Star Partners, fees to be paid to A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., in each case pursuant to letter agreements which have been heretofore disclosed to the other party. (l) Compensation and Benefit Plans. (i) Section 5.3(l)(i) of a party's Disclosure Schedule contains a complete list of all material bonus, vacation, deferred compensation, pension, retirement, profit-sharing, thrift, savings, employee stock ownership, stock bonus, stock purchase, restricted stock and stock option plans, all employment or severance contracts, all medical, dental, disability, health and life insurance plans, all other employee benefit and fringe benefit plans, contracts or arrangements and any applicable "change of control" or similar provisions in any plan, contract or arrangement maintained or contributed to by it or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of officers, former officers, employees, former employees, directors, former directors, or the beneficiaries of any of the foregoing, including all "employee benefit plans" as defined in ERISA (collectively, "Compensation and Benefit Plans"). (ii) True and complete copies of its Compensation and Benefit Plans, including, but not limited to, any trust instruments and/or insurance contracts, if any, forming a part thereof, and all amendments thereto and, if applicable, the most recent Form 5500 and annual reports for such plans have been made available to the other party. (iii) Each of its Compensation and Benefit Plans has been administered in all material respects in accordance with the terms thereof. All "employee benefit plans" within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, other than "multiemployer plans" within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA ("Multiemployer Plans"), covering employees or former employees of it and its Subsidiaries (its "Plans"), to the extent subject to ERISA, are in material compliance with ERISA, the Code, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and other applicable laws and no A-22 prohibited transaction has occurred with respect to any such employee benefit plan that would result in any such excise tax or other liability under ERISA or the Code. Each Compensation and Benefit Plan of it or its Subsidiaries which is an "employee pension benefit plan" within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA ("Pension Plan") and which is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service, and it is not aware of any circumstances reasonably likely to result in the revocation or denial of any such favorable determination letter. There is no pending or, to its knowledge, threatened litigation or governmental audit, examination or investigation relating to the Plans. (iv) Except as Previously Disclosed in Section 5.3(l)(iv) of a Party's Disclosure Schedule, no material liability under Title IV of ERISA has been or is expected to be incurred by it or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any ongoing, frozen or terminated "single-employer plan", within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, currently or formerly maintained by any of them, or the single-employer plan of any entity which is considered one employer with it under Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA or Section 414 of the Code (an "ERISA Affiliate"). Except as Previously Disclosed in Section 5.3(l)(iv) of a party's Disclosure Schedule, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries presently contributes to a Multiemployer Plan, nor have they contributed to such a plan within the past five calendar years. No notice of a "reportable event", within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA for which the 30-day reporting requirement has not been waived, has been required to be filed for any Pension Plan of it or any of its Subsidiaries or by any ERISA Affiliate within the past 12 months. (v) All contributions, premiums and payments required to be made under the terms of any Compensation and Benefit Plan of it or any of its Subsidiaries have been made. Neither any Pension Plan of it or any of its Subsidiaries nor any single-employer plan of an ERISA Affiliate of it or any of its Subsidiaries has an "accumulated funding deficiency" (whether or not waived) within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA. Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has provided or is required to provide, security to any Pension Plan or to any single-employer plan of an ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) of the Code. (vi) Except as Previously Disclosed in Section 5.3(l)(vi) of a party's Disclosure Schedule, under each Pension Plan of it or any of its Subsidiaries which is a single-employer plan, as of the last day of the most recent plan year ended prior to the date hereof, the actuarially determined present value of all "benefit liabilities", within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA (as determined on the basis of the actuarial assumptions contained in the Plan's most recent actuarial valuation) did not exceed the then current value of the assets of such Plan, and there has been no adverse change in the financial condition of such Plan (with respect to either assets or benefits) since the last day of the most recent Plan year. (vii) Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has any obligations under any Compensation and Benefit Plans to provide benefits, including death or medical benefits, with respect to employees of it or its Subsidiaries beyond their retirement or other termination of service other than (i) coverage mandated by Part 6 of Title I of ERISA or Section 4980B of the Code, (ii) retirement or death benefits under any employee pension benefit plan (as defined under Section 3(2) of ERISA), (iii) disability benefits under any employee welfare plan that have been fully provided for by insurance or otherwise, or (iv) benefits in the nature of severance pay. A-23 (viii) Except as Previously Disclosed under Section 5.1(l)(viii) of a party's Disclosure Schedule, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (i) result in any payment (including, without limitation, severance, unemployment compensation, golden parachute or otherwise) becoming due to any director or any employee of it or any of its Subsidiaries under any Compensation and Benefit Plan or otherwise from it or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) increase any benefits otherwise payable under any Compensation and Benefit Plan or (iii) result in any acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefit. (m) Labor Matters. Except as set forth in Section 5.3(m) of a party's Disclosure Schedule, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or is bound by, any collective bargaining agreement, contract or other agreement or understanding with a labor union or labor organization, nor is it or any of its Subsidiaries the subject of a proceeding asserting that it or any such Subsidiaries has committed an unfair labor practice (within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act) or seeking to compel it or such Subsidiaries to bargain with any labor organization as to wages and conditions of employment. (n) Environmental Matters. Neither (a) the past or present conduct nor operation of such party or its Subsidiaries nor any condition of any property or asset presently or previously owned, leased or operated by any of them, including but not limited to on-site or off-site disposal or release of any chemical substance, product or waste, violates or violated Environmental Laws, and no condition has existed or event has occurred with respect to any of them or any such property that, with notice or the passage of time, or both, is reasonably likely to result in liability or obligations for any clean-up, remediation, disposal or corrective action under Environmental Laws or claims for personal injury, property damage or damage to natural resources and (b) such party nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice from any person or entity that it or its Subsidiaries or the operation or condition of any property or asset ever owned, leased, operated, held as collateral or held as a fiduciary by any of them is or was in violation of or otherwise are alleged to have liability under any Environmental Law or has entered into any consent decree or order or is subject to any order of any court or governmental authority or tribunal under any Environmental Law or relating to the clean-up of any hazardous materials contamination, including, but not limited to, responsibility (or potential responsibility) for the cleanup or other remediation of any pollutants, contaminants, or hazardous or toxic wastes, substances or materials at, on, beneath, or originating from any such property. (o) Tax Matters. (i) All material returns, declarations, reports, estimates, information returns and statements required to be filed under federal, state, local or any foreign tax laws ("Tax Returns") with respect to it or any of its Subsidiaries, have been timely filed, or requests for extensions have been timely filed and have not expired; (ii) all Tax Returns filed by it are complete and accurate in all material respects; (iii) all Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Returns and all other Taxes, if any, required to be paid by it or its Subsidiaries for all periods ending through the date hereof have been paid or adequate reserves have in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles been established for the payment of such Taxes; and (iv) no material (A) audit or examination or (B) refund litigation with respect to any Tax Return is pending. As of the date hereof, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries (x) has granted any requests, agreements, consents or waivers to extend the statutory period of limitations applicable to the assessment of any taxes with A-24 respect to any tax returns, (y) is a party to any tax sharing or tax indemnity agreement or (z) is a party to an agreement that provides for the payment of any amount that would constitute a "parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code. (p) Regulatory Approvals. Except as set forth in Section 5.3(p) of a party's Disclosure Schedule, the only approval of any governmental agency necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (other than filings under the Securities Act) is pursuant to the HSRA. As of the date hereof, neither Petro nor the Star Partners is aware of any reason why the approvals under the HSRA will not be received. (q) No Material Adverse Change. Since September 30, 1997, in the case of Star Partners, and since December 31, 1997, in the case of Petro, except as disclosed in its SEC Documents filed with the SEC on or before the date hereof, (i) it and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses in the ordinary and usual course (excluding the incurrence of expenses related to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby), (ii) it has not made any material change in its accounting methods, principles or practices or its tax methods, practices or elections and (iii) no event has occurred or circumstance arisen that, individually or taken together with all other facts, circumstances and events is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect. (r) Insurance. It has previously delivered to the other party a schedule listing the officers' and directors' liability insurance policies, primary and excess casualty and liability insurance policies providing coverage for bodily injury and property damage maintained by it and its Subsidiaries. It and its Subsidiaries maintain insurance coverage reasonably adequate for the operation of their respective businesses taking into account the cost and availability of such insurance. (s) Condition and Sufficiency of Assets. The vehicles, equipment and other assets used in the business of it and its Subsidiaries are in operating condition and repair consistent with normal industry standards and are adequate for the uses to which they are being put and none of such vehicles, equipment and assets are in need of replacement, maintenance or repairs except for ordinary and routine maintenance and repairs that are not material in nature or cost, except for vehicles and equipment which are not in service and the use of which are not required to conduct the business of it and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course consistent with past practices. The vehicles, equipment and assets in service are sufficient for the continued conduct of its business after the Closing. (t) Intellectual Property. Except as may be disclosed in Section 5.3(t) of its Disclosure Schedule, it and its Subsidiaries own or possess adequate licenses and other valid rights to use all patents, patent rights, trademarks, trademark rights and proprietary information used or held for use in connection with their respective businesses as currently being conducted, and there are no assertions or claims challenging the validity of any of the foregoing which are likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The computer software operated or licensed by it that is material to its business or its internal operations is capable of providing or is being adapted to provide uninterrupted millennium functionality to record, store, process and present calendar dates falling on or after January 1, 2000 in substantially the same manner and with substantially the same functionality as such software records, stores, processes and presents such calendar dates falling on or before December 31, 1999. The costs of the adaptations referred to in the prior sentence will not have a Material Adverse Effect. A-25 ARTICLE VI. COVENANTS Petro hereby covenants to and agrees with Star Partners, and Star Partners hereby covenants to and agrees with Petro, that: 6.1. Best Efforts. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, it shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts in good faith to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper, desirable or advisable under applicable laws, so as to permit consummation of the Merger promptly and otherwise to enable consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, obtaining (and cooperating with the other party hereto to obtain) HSRA approval and any other third party approval that is required to be obtained by Petro or Star Partners or any of their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and using reasonable efforts to lift or rescind any injunction or restraining order or other order adversely affecting the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and using reasonable efforts to defend any litigation seeking to enjoin, prevent or delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or seeking material damages, and each shall cooperate fully with the other parties hereto to that end, and shall furnish to the other party copies of all correspondence, filings and communications between it and its affiliates and any governmental or regulatory authority with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby. In complying with the foregoing, neither it nor its Subsidiaries shall be required to take measures that would have a Material Adverse Effect on it and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. 6.2. Equityholder Approvals. Each of them shall take, in accordance with applicable law, applicable stock exchange rules and its restated articles or certificate of incorporation and by-laws, in the case of Petro, and Agreement of Limited Partnership, in the case of Star Partners, all action necessary to convene, respectively, an appropriate meeting of the holders of the Common Units of Star Partners to consider and vote upon the approval of the Merger Agreement, the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, the Amended and Restated Operating Partnership Agreement, and any other matters required to be approved by them for consummation of the Merger (including any adjournment or postponement, the "Star Partners Meeting"), and an appropriate meeting of stockholders of Petro to consider and vote upon the approval of the Merger and any other matters required to be approved by Petro's stockholders for consummation of the Merger (including any adjournment or postponement, the "Petro Meeting"; and each of the Star Partners Meeting and Petro Meeting, a "Meeting"), respectively, promptly after the date hereof. The Board of Directors of Petro and the Special Committee shall (subject in the case of Petro to compliance with its fiduciary duties as advised by counsel) recommend such approval, and each of Star Partners and Petro shall take all reasonable lawful action to solicit such approval by its respective equityholders. 6.3. Registration Statements. (a) Each of Star Partners and Petro agrees to cooperate in the preparation of (i) a registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Merger Registration Statement") to be filed by Star Partners with the SEC in connection with the issuance of Senior Subordinated Units and Common Units in the Merger and the Junior Subordinated and Senior Subordinated Units to be issued by Star Partners to certain Affiliates of Petro as described under subparagraph 9 of the definition of "Restructuring Transactions" (including the joint proxy statement and prospectus and A-26 other proxy solicitation materials of Star Partners and Petro constituting a part thereof (the "Joint Proxy Statement") and all related documents), (ii) a registration statement on Form S-3 to be filed by Star Partners with the SEC in connection with the Equity Offering (the "Equity Registration Statement") and (iii) either a registration statement to be filed by Star Partners or a subsidiary of Star Partners with the SEC in connection with the Debt Offering (the "Debt Registration Statement" and together with the Merger Registration Statement and the Equity Registration Statement, the "Registration Statements") or an offering memorandum related to the Debt Offering ("Debt Offering Memorandum"). Provided Petro has cooperated as required above, Star Partners agrees to file the Registration Statements with the SEC as promptly as practicable. Each of Petro and Star Partners agrees to use all reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statements to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after filing thereof. Star Partners also agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all necessary state securities law or "Blue Sky" permits and approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Petro agrees to furnish to Star Partners all information concerning Petro, its Subsidiaries, officers, directors and stockholders and to take such other action as may be reasonably requested in connection with the foregoing. (b) Each of Petro and Star Partners agrees, as to itself and its Subsidiaries, that (i) none of the information supplied or to be supplied by it for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements will, at the time the Registration Statements or Debt Offering Memorandum and each amendment or supplement thereto, if any, becomes effective under the Securities Act or at the date of the Debt Offering Memorandum, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (ii) the Joint Proxy Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto will, at the date of mailing to stockholders and at the times of the Star Partners Meeting and Petro Meeting, not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each of Petro and Star Partners further agrees that if it shall become aware prior to the Closing Date of any information that would cause any of the statements in the Registration Statements or Debt Offering Memorandum to be false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not false or misleading, it will promptly inform the other party thereof and take the necessary steps to correct the Joint Proxy Statement. (c) Star Partners will advise Petro, promptly after Star Partners receives notice thereof, of the time when each of the Registration Statements has become effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed, of the issuance of any stop order or the suspension of the qualification of the Common Units or Senior Subordinated Units for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the SEC for the amendment or supplement of a Registration Statement or for additional information. (d) Each of Star Partners and Petro will use its best efforts to cause the Joint Proxy Statement to be mailed to its unitholders and stockholders, respectively, as soon as practicable after the effective date thereof. A-27 6.4. Modification of Petro Indentures and Preferred Stock. Immediately upon execution of this Agreement, Petro agrees to use its reasonable best efforts in good faith to accomplish the following prior to the Effective Date: (a) As to the Private Debt. The Private Debt consists of (i) $60.0 million of Notes due 2002 at 10.90% interest per annum which shall be restructured to no more than $63.12 million of Notes due 2002 at 9.0% per annum and (ii) $4.1 million of Notes due 2001 at 14.1% interest per annum to be restructured to no more than $2.2 million of Senior Notes due 2001 at 10.25% interest per annum and $2.2 million of Subordinated Notes due 2001 at 10.25% interest per annum (the "Private Debt Conditions"). (b) As to the Public Debt. At least 90% of (a) Petro's 9 3/8% Subordinated Notes due 2003 and 10 1/8% Subordinated Notes due 2003 will be repurchased at no more than 100% of par plus accrued interest and (b) Petro's 12 1/4% Subordinated Notes due 2005 will be repurchased at no more than 103.5% of par plus accrued interest (the "Public Debt Conditions"). (c) As to the 1989 Preferred Stock. The 1989 Preferred Stock will be repurchased for an aggregate of $4.167 million plus accrued and unpaid dividends (the "1989 Preferred Stock Conditions"). (d) As to the outstanding Star Propane Debt. The Holders of Star Propane's 8.04% First Mortgage Notes due 2009, Star Propane's 7.17% First Mortgage Notes due 2010 and Star Propane's outstanding bank credit facilities shall have consented to the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Star Propane or shall have entered into amendments permitting the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Star Propane without violation of the terms of such indebtedness and without a requirement that such indebtedness be repurchased (or an offer be made to purchase such indebtedness) (the "Star Propane Debt Conditions"). 6.5. Press Releases. It will not, without the prior approval of the other party hereto, issue any press release or written statement for general circulation relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, except as otherwise required by applicable law or regulation or the rules of the NYSE, in which case it will consult with the other party before issuing any such press release or written statement. 6.6. Access; Information. (a) Upon reasonable notice and subject to applicable laws relating to the exchange of information, it shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, afford the other parties and their officers, employees, counsel, accountants and other authorized representatives, access, during normal business hours throughout the period prior to the Effective Date, to all of its properties, books, contracts, commitments and records, and to its officers, employees, accountants, counsel or other representatives, and, during such period, it shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, furnish promptly to such other parties and representatives (i) a copy of each material report, schedule and other document filed by it pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities law (other than reports or documents that Star Partners or Petro, or their respective Subsidiaries, as the case may be, are not permitted to disclose under applicable law) and (ii) all other information concerning the business, properties and personnel of it as the other may reasonably request. Neither Star Partners nor Petro nor any of its respective Subsidiaries shall be required to provide access to or to disclose A-28 information where such access or disclosure would violate or prejudice the rights of its customers, jeopardize the attorney-client privilege of the institution in possession or control of such information or contravene any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree, fiduciary duty or binding agreement entered into prior to the date of this Agreement. The parties hereto will make appropriate substitute disclosure arrangements under the circumstances in which the restrictions of the preceding sentence apply. (b) It will not use any information obtained pursuant to this Section 6.6 for any purpose unrelated to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and, if this Agreement is terminated, will hold all information and documents obtained pursuant to this paragraph in confidence. No investigation by either party of the business and affairs of the other shall affect or be deemed to modify or waive any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in this Agreement, or the conditions to either party's obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. 6.7. Acquisition Proposals. Without the prior written consent of Star Partners, Petro shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and its and its Subsidiaries' officers, directors, agents, advisors and affiliates not to, solicit or encourage inquiries or proposals with respect to, or engage in any negotiations concerning, or provide any confidential information to, or have any discussions with, any such person relating to, any tender offer or exchange offer for, or any proposal for the acquisition of a substantial equity interest in, or a substantial portion of the assets of, or any merger or consolidation with, Petro or any of its Significant Subsidiaries; provided, however, that Petro may, and may authorize and permit its officers, directors, employees or agents to, furnish or cause to be furnished confidential information and may participate in such discussions and negotiations with a person or entity who has made an unsolicited bona fide acquisition proposal for Petro or such assets or Significant Subsidiaries that is superior to the Merger and is reasonably capable of being financed if Petro's Board of Directors, after having consulted with and considered the advice of outside counsel, has determined that the failure to provide such information or participate in such negotiations and discussions could cause the members of such Board of Directors to breach their fiduciary duties under applicable laws. Petro shall promptly (within 24 hours) advise Star Partners of its receipt of any such proposal or inquiry, of the substance thereof, and of the identity of the person making such proposal or inquiry. Nothing in this Section 6.7 shall permit Petro to enter into any agreement with respect to an acquisition proposal during the term of this Agreement other than a confidentiality and standstill agreement in reasonably customary form. 6.8. Affiliate Arrangements. (a) Not later than the 15th day after the mailing of the Joint Proxy Statement, Petro shall deliver to Star Partners a schedule of each person that, to the best of its knowledge, is or is reasonably likely to be, as of the date of the relevant Meeting, deemed to be an "affiliate" of it (an "Affiliate") as that term is used in Rule 145 under the Securities Act. (b) Petro shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its Affiliates not to sell any securities received under the Merger or Exchange Agreement in violation of the registration requirements Securities Act, including Rule 145 thereunder. 6.9. Takeover Laws. Neither party shall take any action that would cause the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be subject to requirements imposed by any Takeover Laws, and A-29 each of them shall take all necessary steps within its control to exempt (or ensure the continued exemption of) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement from, or if necessary challenge the validity or applicability of, any shareholder rights plan adopted by such party or any applicable Takeover Law, as now or hereafter in effect, including, without limitation, Takeover Laws of any state that purport to apply to this Agreement. the transactions contemplated hereby. 6.10. No Rights Triggered. Each of Petro and Star Partners shall take all steps necessary to ensure that the entering into of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and any other action or combination of actions, or any other transactions contemplated hereby, do not and will not result in the grant of any Rights to any person (i) in the case of Petro under its articles or certificate of incorporation or by-laws and in the case of Star Partners under its Agreement of Limited Partnership or (ii) under any material agreement to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is a party. 6.11. Senior Subordinated Units Listed. In the case of Star Partners, Star Partners shall use its reasonable best efforts to list, prior to the Closing, on the NYSE, upon official notice of issuance, the Senior Subordinated Units to be issued to the holders of Petro Common Stock in the Merger and to certain Petro Affiliates pursuant to the Exchange Agreement. 6.12. Third Party Approvals. (a) Star Partners and Petro and their respective Subsidiaries shall cooperate and use their respective commercially reasonable best efforts to prepare all documentation, to effect all filings, to obtain all permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all third parties and HSRA approval necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, consents, approvals and authorizations and to cause the Merger to be consummated as expeditiously as practicable. Each of Star Partners and Petro shall have the right to review in advance, and to the extent practicable each will consult with the other, in each case subject to applicable laws relating to the exchange of information, with respect to, all material written information submitted to any third party or any Regulatory Authorities in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In exercising the foregoing right, each of the parties hereto agrees to act reasonably and promptly. Each party hereto agrees that it will consult with the other parties hereto with respect to the obtaining of all material permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all third parties and Regulatory Authorities necessary or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and each party will keep the other parties apprised of the status of material matters relating to completion of the transactions contemplated hereby. (b) Each party agrees, upon request, to furnish the other party with all information concerning itself, its Subsidiaries, directors, officers and stockholders and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with the Registration Statement, the Joint Proxy Statement or any filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of such other party or any of its Subsidiaries to any Regulatory Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. 6.13. Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance. (a) In the event of any threatened or actual claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal or administrative, including, without limitation, any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation in which any person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date of this Agreement, or who becomes A-30 prior to the Closing, a director, officer or employee of Petro or any of its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, the directors of Star Gas (the "Indemnified Parties" or, individually, an "Indemnified Party") is, or is threatened to be, made a party based in whole or in part on, or arising in whole or in part out of, or pertaining to (i) the fact that he is or was a director, officer or employee of Petro, any of Petro's Subsidiaries or any of their respective predecessors or was prior to the Closing serving at the request of any such party as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation, partnership, trust or other enterprise or (ii) this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and all actions taken by an Indemnified Party in connection herewith or therewith, whether in any case asserted or arising before or after the Closing, the parties hereto agree to cooperate and use their best efforts to defend against and respond thereto. It is understood and agreed that after the Closing, Star Partners shall indemnify and hold harmless, as and to the fullest extent permitted by law, each such Indemnified Party against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses in advance of the final disposition of any claim, suit, proceeding or investigation to each Indemnified Party to the fullest extent permitted by law upon receipt of an undertaking from such Indemnified Party to repay such advanced expenses if it is finally and unappealably determined that such Indemnified Party was not entitled to indemnification hereunder), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any such threatened or actual claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, and in the event of any such threatened or actual claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation (whether asserted or arising before or after the Closing), the Indemnified Parties may retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to them after consultation with Star Partners; provided, however, that (1) Star Partners shall have the right to assume the defense thereof and upon such assumption Star Partners shall not be liable to any Indemnified Party for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses subsequently incurred by any Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof, except that if Star Partners elects not to assume such defense, or counsel for the Indemnified Parties reasonably advises the Indemnified Parties that there are or may be (whether or not any have yet actually arisen) issues which raise conflicts of interest between Star Partners and the Indemnified Parties, the Indemnified Parties may retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to them, and Star Partners shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel for the Indemnified Parties, (2) Star Partners shall be obligated pursuant to this paragraph to pay for only one firm of counsel for all Indemnified Parties, (3) Star Partners shall not be liable for any settlement effected without its prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) and (4) Star Partners shall have no obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Party when and if a court of competent jurisdiction shall ultimately determine, and such determination shall have become final and nonappealable, that indemnification of such Indemnified Party in the manner contemplated hereby is prohibited by applicable law. Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under this Section 6.13, upon learning of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, shall notify Star Partners thereof provided that the failure to so notify shall not affect the obligations of Star Partners under this Section 6.13 except (and only) to the extent such failure to notify materially prejudices Star Partners. Star Partners's obligations under this Section 6.10 shall continue in full force and effect for a period of six (6) years from the Closing; provided, however, that all rights to indemnification in respect of any claim (a "Claim") asserted or made within such period shall continue until the final disposition of such Claim. A-31 (b) Without limiting any of the obligations under paragraph (a) of this Section 6.13, Star Partners agrees that all rights to indemnification and all limitations of liability existing in favor of the Indemnified Parties as provided in Petro's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or in the governing documents of any of Petro's Subsidiaries as in effect as of the date of this Agreement with respect to matters occurring on or prior to the Closing shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect, without any amendment thereto, for a period of six (6) years from the Closing; provided, however, that all rights to indemnification in respect of any Claim asserted or made within such period shall continue until the final disposition of such Claim; provided further, however, that nothing contained in this Section 6.13(b) shall be deemed to preclude the liquidation, consolidation or merger of Petro or any Company Subsidiary, in which case all of such rights to indemnification and limitations on liability shall be deemed to so survive and continue notwithstanding any such liquidation, consolidation or merger and shall constitute rights which may be asserted against Star Partners. Nothing contained in this Section 6.13(b) shall be deemed to preclude any rights to indemnification or limitations on liability provided in Petro's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or the governing documents of any of Petro's Subsidiaries with respect to matters occurring subsequent to the Closing to the extent that the provisions establishing such rights or limitations are not otherwise amended to the contrary. (c) Star Partners shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the persons serving as officers and directors of Petro and Star Gas immediately prior to the Closing to be covered for a period of six (6) years from the Closing by the directors' and officers' liability insurance policy maintained by Petro (provided that Star Partners may substitute therefor policies of at least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and conditions which are not less advantageous to such directors and officers of Petro than the terms and conditions of such existing policy) with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to the Closing which were committed by such officers and directors in their capacity as such provided that Star Partners shall not be required to pay annual premiums in excess of the last annual premium paid by Petro prior to the date hereof but in such case shall purchase as much coverage as reasonably practicable for such amount. (d) In the event Star Partners or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any person, then, and in each such case, to the extent necessary, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Star Partners shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 6.13. (e) The provisions of this Section 6.13 are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party and his or her heirs and representatives. 6.14. Benefit Plans. The parties agree to take such actions with respect to compensation and employee benefit plans, programs, arrangements and other perquisites as are set forth on Section 6.14 of Petro's Disclosure Schedule. 6.15. Notification Of Certain Matters. Each of Petro and Star Partners shall give prompt notice to the other of any fact, event or circumstance known to it that (i) is reasonably likely, A-32 individually or taken together with all other facts, events and circumstances known to it, to result in any Material Adverse Effect with respect to it or (ii) would cause or constitute a material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained herein. 6.16. New Director for Star Gas LLC. As soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Time, Star Gas LLC will appoint a new independent director to serve on the Audit Committee of Star Gas LLC provided that Star Gas LLC shall not appoint any such director to which William P. Nicoletti shall have reasonably objected. ARTICLE VII. CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER The obligations of each of the parties to consummate the Merger is conditioned upon the satisfaction at or prior to the Closing of each of the following: 7.1. Shareholder Vote. The Merger, the Partnership Agreement Amendments and the other transactions contemplated hereby shall have been approved and adopted by the affirmative vote of a Unit Majority (as defined in the Partnership Agreement), and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby shall have been approved and adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of each class of Petro Common Stock and Petro Preferred Stock and a majority of the Petro Class A Common Stock held by Persons other than Petro and Affiliates of Petro. Holders of at least 100% of the Private Preferred Stock and 90% of the Junior Preferred Stock shall have voted in favor of the Merger. 7.2. Governmental Approvals. Any waiting period (including any extended waiting period arising as a result of a request for additional information by the Federal Trade Commission or the U.S. Department of Justice) under the HSRA shall have expired or been terminated. All other filings required to be made prior to the Effective Time with, and all other consents, approvals, permits and authorizations required to be obtained prior to the Effective Time from, any Regulatory Authority in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the parties hereto or their affiliates shall have been made or obtained, except where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, permits and authorizations would not be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect on Star Partners or Petro or on the ability of Star Partners or Petro to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. 7.3. No Injunction. No order, decree or injunction of any court or agency of competent jurisdiction shall be in effect, and no law, statute or regulation shall have been enacted or adopted, that enjoins, prohibits or makes illegal consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and no action, proceeding or investigation by any Regulatory Authority with respect to the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby shall be pending that seeks to restrain, enjoin, prohibit or delay consummation of the Merger or such other transaction or to impose any material restrictions or requirements thereon or on Star Partners or Petro with respect thereto; provided, however, that prior to invoking this condition, each party shall have complied fully with its obligations under Section 6.1. 7.4. Representations, Warranties And Covenants Of Star Partners. In the case of Petro's obligation to consummate the Merger (i) each of the representations and warranties contained herein of Star Partners shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and upon the Closing Date A-33 with the same effect as though all such representations and warranties had been made on the Closing Date, except for any such representations and warranties made as of a specified date, which shall be true and correct as of such date, in any case subject to the standard set forth in Section 5.2, (ii) each and all of the agreements and covenants of Star Partners to be performed and complied with pursuant to this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date shall have been duly performed and complied with in all material respects, and (iii) Petro shall have received a certificate signed by the Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner, dated the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 7.4. 7.5. Representations, Warranties And Covenants Of Petro. In the case of Star Partners's obligation to consummate the Merger (i) each of the representations and warranties contained herein of Petro shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and upon the Closing Date with the same effect as though all such representations and warranties had been made on the Closing Date, except for any such representations and warranties made as of a specified date, which shall be true and correct as of such date, in any case subject to the standard set forth in Section 5.2, (ii) each and all of the agreements and covenants of Petro to be performed and complied with pursuant to this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date shall have been duly performed and complied with in all material respects, and (iii) Star Partners shall have received a certificate signed by the Chief Financial Officer of Petro, dated the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 7.5. 7.6. Effective Merger Registration Statement. The Merger Registration Statement shall have become effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Merger Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC or any other Regulatory Authority. 7.7. Opinion of Andrews & Kurth LLP. Star Partners and Petro shall have received an opinion from Andrews & Kurth LLP to the effect that: (a) the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in the loss of limited liability of any limited partner of Star Partners or Star Propane, (b) the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not cause Star Partners or Star Propane to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes, (c) the Merger Registration Statement accurately sets forth the material federal income tax consequences to the holders of Common Units of the transactions contemplated hereby. 7.8. Opinion of Petro's Counsel. In the case of Star Partner's obligation to consummate the Merger, Star Partners shall have received an opinion from Phillips Nizer Benjamin Krim & Ballon LLP, counsel to Petro, to the effect that: (a) Petro is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Minnesota with all requisite corporate power and authority to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted; A-34 (b) Petro has all requisite corporate power and authority to effect the Merger as contemplated by this Agreement; the Board of Directors and shareholders of Petro have taken all action required by the MBCA and Petro's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws to authorize the Merger in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; the execution and delivery of this Agreement did not, and the consummation of the Merger will not, violate any provision of Petro's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; and upon the filing by the Surviving Corporation of the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota, the Merger shall become effective under the MBCA. In rendering such opinions, such counsel may require and rely upon representations and covenants including those contained in certificates of officers of Star Partners, Petro and others and opinions of Minnesota counsel, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to such counsel. 7.9. NYSE Listing. The Senior Subordinated Units and Common Units issuable pursuant to this Agreement and the Exchange Agreement shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance. 7.10. Affiliate Arrangements. Petro shall have taken reasonable action to cause its Affiliates not to sell any securities received under the Merger Agreement in violation of the registration requirements of the Securities Act, including Rule 145 thereunder. 7.11. Fairness Opinion. In the case of Star Partner's obligation to consummate the Merger, the Special Committee shall have received an opinion of A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. to the effect that, as of the date of the Joint Proxy Statement, the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby are fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of Common Units (other than Petro and its affiliates), and the opinion shall not have been withdrawn by A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. In the case of Petro's obligation to consummate the Merger, Petro shall have received an opinion of Dain Rauscher Wessels to the effect that, as of the date of the Joint Proxy Statement, the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby are fair, from a financial point of view, to the non- affiliated, public holders of Petro Common Stock, and the opinion shall not have been withdrawn by Dain Rauscher Wessels. 7.12. Public Offerings. Star Partners shall have consummated the Equity Offering and the Debt Offering, with the Cost of Capital not to exceed $27.5 million on an annual basis, and with the net proceeds therefrom applied to reduce indebtedness and preferred stock of Petro outstanding prior to the Effective Time. 7.13. Refinancing Conditions. Immediately prior to the Restructuring Transactions: (a) The sum of (i) all indebtedness for borrowed money of Petro and its Subsidiaries to be outstanding at the Effective Time except indebtedness outstanding under Petro's working capital bank credit facility and (ii) the repurchase or redemption price (including the value of the Junior Preferred Stock, which shall be deemed to be $2.24 million) of all indebtedness for borrowed money and Petro Preferred Stock to be repurchased or redeemed as provided in the Refinancing Conditions less the amount, if any, by which the Working Capital of Petro as of the most recent date for which internal Petro financial statements are available (but in any event no more than 15 calendar days after the end of the preceding month) shall exceed the amount of Working Capital of Petro required pursuant to Section 7.13(c), shall not exceed $331,367,000; A-35