SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP
Exhibit
3.1
SECOND
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT
OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.1
|
Definitions
|
1
|
Section
1.2
|
Construction
|
24
|
ARTICLE
II
ORGANIZATION
Section
2.1
|
Formation
|
24
|
Section
2.2
|
Name
|
24
|
Section
2.3
|
Registered
Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices
|
25
|
Section
2.4
|
Purpose
and Business
|
25
|
Section
2.5
|
Powers
|
25
|
Section
2.6
|
Power
of Attorney
|
25
|
Section
2.7
|
Term
|
27
|
Section
2.8
|
Title
to Partnership Assets
|
27
|
ARTICLE
III
RIGHTS OF
LIMITED PARTNERS
Section
3.1
|
Limitation
of Liability
|
28
|
Section
3.2
|
Management
of Business
|
28
|
Section
3.3
|
Outside
Activities of the Limited Partners
|
28
|
Section
3.4
|
Rights
of Limited Partners
|
28
|
ARTICLE
IV
CERTIFICATES;
RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP
INTERESTS
Section
4.1
|
Certificates
|
29
|
Section
4.2
|
Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates
|
30
|
Section
4.3
|
Record
Holders
|
31
|
Section
4.4
|
Transfer
Generally
|
31
|
Section
4.5
|
Registration
and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests
|
31
|
Section
4.6
|
Transfer
of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest
|
32
|
Section
4.7
|
Transfer
of Incentive Distribution Rights
|
33
|
Section
4.8
|
Restrictions
on Transfers
|
33
|
Section
4.9
|
Citizenship
Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees
|
35
|
Section
4.10
|
Redemption
of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees
|
35
|
ARTICLE
V
CAPITAL
CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section
5.1
|
Organizational
Contributions
|
37
|
Section
5.2
|
Contributions
by the General Partner and its Affiliates
|
37
|
Section
5.3
|
Contributions
by Initial Limited Partners
|
38
|
Section
5.4
|
Interest
and Withdrawal
|
38
|
Section
5.5
|
Capital
Accounts
|
38
|
Section
5.6
|
Issuances
of Additional Partnership Securities
|
41
|
Section
5.7
|
Conversion
of Subordinated Units
|
42
|
Section
5.8
|
Limited
Preemptive Right
|
44
|
Section
5.9
|
Splits
and Combinations
|
44
|
Section
5.10
|
Fully
Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner
Interests
|
45
|
Section
5.11
|
Issuance
of Class B Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution
Rights
|
45
|
ARTICLE
VI
ALLOCATIONS
AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section
6.1
|
Allocations
for Capital Account Purposes
|
47
|
Section
6.2
|
Allocations
for Tax Purposes
|
56
|
Section
6.3
|
Requirement
and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record
Holders
|
58
|
Section
6.4
|
Distributions
of Available Cash from Operating Surplus
|
59
|
Section
6.5
|
Distributions
of Available Cash from Capital Surplus
|
61
|
Section
6.6
|
Adjustment
of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution
Levels
|
61
|
Section
6.7
|
Special
Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units and Class B
Units
|
61
|
Section
6.8
|
Special
Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution
Rights
|
63
|
Section
6.9
|
Entity-Level
Taxation
|
63
|
ARTICLE
VII
MANAGEMENT
AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
Section
7.1
|
Management
|
64
|
Section
7.2
|
Certificate
of Limited Partnership
|
66
|
Section
7.3
|
Restrictions
on the General Partner’s Authority
|
66
|
Section
7.4
|
Reimbursement
of the General Partner
|
67
|
Section
7.5
|
Outside
Activities
|
67
|
Section
7.6
|
Loans
from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or
Group Members
|
69
|
Section
7.7
|
Indemnification
|
69
|
Section
7.8
|
Liability
of Indemnitees
|
71
|
Section
7.9
|
Resolution
of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of
Duties
|
72
|
Section
7.10
|
Other
Matters Concerning the General Partner
|
74
|
Section
7.11
|
Purchase
or Sale of Partnership Securities
|
74
|
Section
7.12
|
Registration
Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates
|
74
|
Section
7.13
|
Reliance
by Third Parties
|
78
|
ARTICLE
VIII
BOOKS,
RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
Section
8.1
|
Records
and Accounting
|
78
|
Section
8.2
|
Fiscal
Year
|
78
|
Section
8.3
|
Reports
|
79
|
ARTICLE
IX
TAX
MATTERS
Section
9.1
|
Tax
Returns and Information
|
79
|
Section
9.2
|
Tax
Elections
|
79
|
Section
9.3
|
Tax
Controversies
|
80
|
Section
9.4
|
Withholding
|
80
|
ARTICLE
X
ADMISSION
OF PARTNERS
Section
10.1
|
Admission
of Limited Partners
|
80
|
Section
10.2
|
Admission
of Successor General Partner
|
81
|
Section
10.3
|
Amendment
of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership
|
81
|
ARTICLE
XI
WITHDRAWAL
OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS
Section
11.1
|
Withdrawal
of the General Partner
|
82
|
Section
11.2
|
Removal
of the General Partner
|
83
|
Section
11.3
|
Interest
of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner
|
84
|
Section
11.4
|
Termination
of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and
Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages
|
86
|
Section
11.5
|
Withdrawal
of Limited Partners
|
86
|
ARTICLE
XII
DISSOLUTION
AND LIQUIDATION
Section
12.1
|
Dissolution
|
86
|
Section
12.2
|
Continuation
of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution
|
87
|
Section
12.3
|
Liquidator
|
87
|
Section
12.4
|
Liquidation
|
88
|
Section
12.5
|
Cancellation
of Certificate of Limited Partnership
|
89
|
Section
12.6
|
Return
of Contributions
|
89
|
Section
12.7
|
Waiver
of Partition
|
89
|
Section
12.8
|
Capital
Account Restoration
|
89
|
ARTICLE
XIII
AMENDMENT
OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
Section
13.1
|
Amendments
to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner
|
89
|
Section
13.2
|
Amendment
Procedures
|
91
|
Section
13.3
|
Amendment
Requirements
|
91
|
Section
13.4
|
Special
Meetings
|
92
|
Section
13.5
|
Notice
of a Meeting
|
92
|
Section
13.6
|
Record
Date
|
93
|
Section
13.7
|
Adjournment
|
93
|
Section
13.8
|
Waiver
of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes
|
93
|
Section
13.9
|
Quorum
and Voting
|
93
|
Section
13.10
|
Conduct
of a Meeting
|
94
|
Section
13.11
|
Action
Without a Meeting
|
94
|
Section
13.12
|
Right
to Vote and Related Matters
|
95
|
ARTICLE
XIV
MERGER,
CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION
Section
14.1
|
Authority
|
95
|
Section
14.2
|
Procedure
for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion
|
96
|
Section
14.3
|
Approval
by Limited Partners
|
98
|
Section
14.4
|
Certificate
of Merger
|
99
|
Section
14.5
|
Effect
of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion
|
99
|
ARTICLE
XV
RIGHT TO
ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
Section
15.1
|
Right
to Acquire Limited Partner Interests
|
100
|
ARTICLE
XVI
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
Section
16.1
|
Addresses
and Notices; Written Communications
|
102
|
Section
16.2
|
Further
Action
|
103
|
Section
16.3
|
Binding
Effect
|
103
|
Section
16.4
|
Integration
|
103
|
Section
16.5
|
Creditors
|
103
|
Section
16.6
|
Waiver
|
103
|
Section
16.7
|
Third-Party
Beneficiaries
|
103
|
Section
16.8
|
Counterparts
|
103
|
Section
16.9
|
Applicable
Law
|
103
|
Section
16.10
|
Invalidity
of Provisions
|
104
|
Section
16.11
|
Consent
of Partners
|
104
|
Section
16.12
|
Facsimile
Signatures
|
104
|
SECOND
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT
OF
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP
THIS
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF QUICKSILVER GAS
SERVICES LP dated as of February 19, 2008 is entered into by and between
Quicksilver Gas Services GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the
General Partner, together with any other Persons who become Partners in the
Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein.
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the authority granted to the General Partner under
Section 13.1(d) of the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Quicksilver Gas Services LP, dated as of August 10, 2007 (the
“First Amended and Restated Agreement”), the General Partner, without the
approval of any Partner, may amend any provision of the First Amended and
Restated Agreement to reflect a change that the General Partner determines
(a) does not adversely affect the Limited Partners in any material respect
or (b) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration
Statement or the intent of the provisions of the First Amended and Restated
Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by the First Amended and Restated
Agreement;
WHEREAS,
the General Partner has determined that the amendments to the First Amended and
Restated Agreement made by this Agreement (a) do not adversely affect the
Limited Partners in any material respect or (b) are required to effect the
intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions
of the First Amended and Restated Agreement;
NOW
THEREFORE, the General Partner does hereby amend and restate the First Amended
and Restated Agreement to provide in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions.
The
following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly
indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this
Agreement.
“Acquisition” means any
transaction in which any Group Member acquires (through an asset acquisition,
merger, stock acquisition or other form of investment) control over all or a
portion of the assets, properties or business of another Person for the purpose
of increasing for a period exceeding the short-term the operating capacity or
operating income of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity or
operating income of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such
transaction. For purposes of this definition, the short-term
generally refers to a period not exceeding 12 months.
“Additional Book Basis” means
the portion of any remaining Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property that is
attributable to positive adjustments made to such Carrying Value as
a
1
(a) Any
negative adjustment made to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property as a
result of either a Book-Down Event or a Book-Up Event shall first be deemed to
offset or decrease that portion of the Carrying Value of such Adjusted Property
that is attributable to any prior positive adjustments made thereto pursuant to
a Book-Up Event or Book-Down Event.
(b) If
Carrying Value that constitutes Additional Book Basis is reduced as a result of
a Book-Down Event and the Carrying Value of other property is increased as a
result of such Book-Down Event, an allocable portion of any such increase in
Carrying Value shall be treated as Additional Book Basis; provided, that the amount
treated as Additional Book Basis pursuant hereto as a result of such Book-Down
Event shall not exceed the amount by which the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive
Adjustments after such Book-Down Event exceeds the remaining Additional Book
Basis attributable to all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property after such
Book-Down Event (determined without regard to the application of this clause
(b) to such Book-Down Event).
“Additional Book Basis Derivative
Items” means any Book Basis Derivative Items that are computed with
reference to Additional Book Basis. To the extent that the Additional Book Basis
attributable to all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property as of the beginning
of any taxable period exceeds the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments
as of the beginning of such period (the “Excess Additional
Book Basis”), the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for such period
shall be reduced by the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of
Additional Book Basis Derivative Items determined without regard to this
sentence as the Excess Additional Book Basis bears to the Additional Book Basis
as of the beginning of such period.
“Adjusted Capital Account”
means the Capital Account maintained for each Partner as of the end of each
fiscal year of the Partnership, (a) increased by any amounts that such
Partner is obligated to restore under the standards set by Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (or is deemed obligated to
restore under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and
1.704-2(i)(5)) and (b) decreased by (i) the amount of all losses and
deductions that, as of the end of such fiscal year, are reasonably expected to
be allocated to such Partner in subsequent years under Sections 704(e)(2) and
706(d) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.751-1(b)(2)(ii),
and (ii) the amount of all distributions that, as of the end of such fiscal
year, are reasonably expected to be made to such Partner in subsequent years in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement or otherwise to the extent they
exceed offsetting increases to such Partner’s Capital Account that are
reasonably expected to occur during (or prior to) the year in which such
distributions are reasonably expected to be made (other than increases as a
result of a minimum gain chargeback pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i) or
6.1(d)(ii)). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to
comply with the provisions of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted
consistently therewith. The “Adjusted Capital Account” of a Partner in respect
of a General Partner Unit, a Common Unit, a Subordinated Unit, a Class B Unit or
an Incentive Distribution Right or any other Partnership Interest shall be the
amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such General Partner Unit,
Common Unit, Subordinated Unit, Class B Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or
other Partnership Interest were
2
“Adjusted Operating Surplus”
means, with respect to any period, (a) Operating Surplus generated with respect
to such period; (b) less (i) any net increase in Working Capital Borrowings with
respect to that period; and (ii) any net decrease in cash reserves for Operating
Expenditures with respect to such period not relating to an Operating
Expenditure made with respect to such period; and (c) plus (i) any net decrease
in Working Capital Borrowings with respect to that period; and (ii) any net
increase in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures with respect to such 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)(i) of the definition of Operating
Surplus.
“Adjusted Property” means any
property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to
Section 5.5(d)(i) or 5.5(d)(ii).
“Affiliate” means, with
respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one
or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control
with, the Person in question. As used herein, the
term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct
or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether
through ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise.
“Aggregate Quantity of Class B Units” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 5.11.
“Aggregate Remaining Net Positive
Adjustments” means, as of the end of any taxable period, the sum of the
Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of all the Partners.
“Agreed Allocation” means any
allocation, other than a Required Allocation, of an item of income, gain, loss
or deduction pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1, including a
Curative Allocation (if appropriate to the context in which the term “Agreed
Allocation” is used).
“Agreed Value” of any
Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property or other
consideration at the time of contribution as determined by the General Partner.
The General Partner shall use such method as it determines to be appropriate to
allocate the aggregate Agreed Value of Contributed Properties contributed to the
Partnership in a single or integrated transaction among each separate property
on a basis proportional to the fair market value of each Contributed
Property.
“Agreement” means this Second
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Quicksilver Gas
Services LP, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to
time.
“Associate” means, when used
to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation or
organization of which such Person is a director, officer or partner or is,
directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock or
other voting interest; (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person
has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which
3
“Available Cash” means, with
respect to any Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation Date:
(a) the
sum of (i) all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the
Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of
Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) on hand at the end of such Quarter,
(ii) if the General Partner so determines, all or any portion of any
additional cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group on hand on the
date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter resulting
from Working Capital Borrowings made subsequent to the end of such Quarter and
(iii) if the General Partner so determines, all or any portion of Available
Working Capital Borrowings on the date of determination of Available Cash with
respect to such Quarter, less
(b) the
amount of any cash reserves established by the General Partner (or the
Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries
that are not wholly owned) to (i) provide for the proper conduct of the
business of the Partnership Group (including reserves for future capital
expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership Group)
subsequent to such Quarter, (ii) comply with applicable law or any loan
agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or
obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its
assets are subject or (iii) provide funds for distributions under
Section 6.4 or 6.5 in respect of any one or more of the next four
Quarters;
provided, however, that the General
Partner may not establish cash reserves pursuant to clause (iii) above if the
effect of such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to distribute
the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all Common Units, plus any Cumulative
Common Unit Arrearage on all Common Units, with respect to such Quarter;
and, provided further,
that disbursements made by a Group Member or cash reserves established,
increased or reduced after the end of such Quarter but on or before the date of
determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be deemed to
have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining
Available Cash, within such Quarter if the General Partner so
determines.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, “Available
Cash” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs
and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.
“Available Working Capital
Borrowings” means on the date of determination any amounts available to
be borrowed as Working Capital Borrowings.
“Board of Directors” means,
with respect to the Board of Directors of the General Partner, its board of
directors or managers, as applicable, if a corporation or limited liability
company, or if a limited partnership, the board of directors or board of
managers of the general partner of the General Partner.
“Book Basis Derivative Items”
means any item of income, deduction, gain or loss included in the determination
of Net Income or Net Loss that is computed with reference to the
4
“Book-Down Event” means an
event that triggers a negative adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the
Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
“Book-Tax Disparity” means
with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the
date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such
Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for
federal income tax purposes as of such date. A Partner’s share of the
Partnership’s Book-Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed Property and
Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such Partner’s
Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section 5.5 and the
hypothetical balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had
been maintained strictly in accordance with federal income tax accounting
principles.
“Book-Up Event” means an event
that triggers a positive adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners
pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
“Business Day” means Monday
through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by
the government of the United States of America or the State of Texas shall not
be regarded as a Business Day.
“Capital Account” means the
capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5. The
“Capital Account” of a
Partner in respect of a General Partner Unit, a Common Unit, a Subordinated
Unit, a Class B Unit, an Incentive Distribution Right or any Partnership
Interest shall be the amount that such Capital Account would be if such General
Partner Unit, Common Unit, Subordinated Unit, Class B Unit, Incentive
Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest were the only interest in the
Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on
which such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Subordinated Unit, Class B Unit,
Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest was first
issued.
“Capital Contribution” means
any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of Contributed Property that
a Partner contributes to the Partnership.
“Capital Improvement” means
any (a) addition or improvement to the capital assets owned by any Group
Member, (b) acquisition of existing, or the construction of new or the
improvement or replacement of existing, capital assets (including, without
limitation, crude oil or natural gas gathering systems, natural gas treatment or
processing plants, natural gas liquids fractionation facilities, storage
facilities, pipeline systems or other midstream assets or facilities) or
(c) capital contributions by a Group Member to a Person that is not a
Subsidiary in which a Group Member has an equity interest to fund such Group
Member’s pro rata share of the cost of the acquisition of existing, or the
construction of new or the improvement or replacement of existing, capital
assets (including, without limitation, crude oil or natural gas gathering
systems, natural gas treatment or processing plants, natural gas liquids
fractionation facilities, storage facilities, pipeline systems or other
midstream assets or facilities) by such Person, in each case if such addition,
improvement, acquisition or construction is made to increase for a period longer
than the short-term the operating capacity or operating income of the
Partnership Group, in the
5
“Capital Surplus” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.3(a).
“Carrying Value” means
(a) with respect to a Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such
property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, amortization and cost
recovery deductions charged to the Partners’ Capital Accounts in respect of such
Contributed Property, and (b) with respect to any other Partnership
property, the adjusted basis of such property for federal income tax purposes,
all as of the time of determination. The Carrying Value of any property shall be
adjusted from time to time in accordance with Sections 5.5(d)(i) and
5.5(d)(ii) and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the
Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as
deemed appropriate by the General Partner.
“Cause” means a court of
competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding the
General Partner liable for actual fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as
a general partner of the Partnership.
“Certificate” means (a) a
certificate (i) substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this
Agreement, (ii) issued in global form in accordance with the rules and
regulations of the Depositary or (iii) in such other form as may be adopted
by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or
more Common Units or (b) a certificate, in such form as may be adopted by
the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or
more other Partnership Securities.
“Certificate of Limited
Partnership” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the
Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as
referenced in Section 7.2, as such Certificate of
Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to
time.
“Citizenship Certification”
means a properly completed certificate in such form as may be specified by the
General Partner by which a Limited Partner certifies that he (and if he is a
nominee holding for the account of another Person, that to the best of his
knowledge such other Person) is an Eligible Citizen.
“claim” (as used in
Section 7.12(d)) has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 7.12(d).
“Class B Units” means a
Partnership Security representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests
of all Limited Partners, and having the rights and obligations specified with
respect to Class B Units in this Agreement.
6
“Closing Date” means the first
date on which Common Units are sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters
pursuant to the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement.
“Closing Price” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).
“Code” means the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference
herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include
a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.
“Combined Interest” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.3(a).
“Commences Commercial Service”
shall mean the date a Capital Improvement is first put into commercial service
following completion of construction and testing.
“Commission” means the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Commodity Hedge Contract”
means any commodity exchange, swap, forward, cap, floor, collar or other similar
agreement or arrangement that is entered into for the purpose of hedging the
Partnership Group’s exposure to fluctuations in the price of hydrocarbons in
their operations and not for speculative purposes.
“Common Unit” means a
Partnership Security representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests
of all Limited Partners and Assignees, and having the rights and obligations
specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement. The term “Common Unit”
does not include a Subordinated Unit or Class B Unit prior to its conversion
into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof.
“Common Unit Arrearage” means,
with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, as to any Quarter within the
Subordination Period, the excess, if any, of (a) the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter over
(b) the sum of all Available Cash distributed with respect to a Common Unit
in respect of such Quarter pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(i).
“Conflicts Committee” means a
committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner composed entirely of
two or more directors, each of whom (a) is not a security holder, officer
or employee of the General Partner, (b) is not an officer, director or
employee of any Affiliate of the General Partner, (c) is not a holder of
any ownership interest in the Partnership Group other than Common Units and
(d) meets the independence standards required of directors who serve on an
audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the
National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to
trading.
“Contributed Property” means
each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware
Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership. Once the Carrying Value
of a Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d), such
property shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed
an Adjusted Property.
7
“Contribution Agreement” means
that certain Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement, dated as of the
Closing Date, among the General Partner, the Partnership, the Operating
Partnership and certain other parties, together with the additional conveyance
documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder, as such may be
amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Converted Common Units” has
the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(d)(x)(B).
“Cowtown Entities” means each
of Cowtown Gas Processing Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and
Cowtown Pipeline Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
“Credit Agreement” means the
Credit Agreement, dated as of August 10, 2007, among the Operating Company,
the Partnership, the subsidiaries of the Partnership, and Bank of America, N.A.,
as administrative agent for the lenders named therein.
“Cumulative Common Unit
Arrearage” means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, and
as of the end of any Quarter, the excess, if any, of (a) the sum resulting
from adding together the Common Unit Arrearage as to an Initial Common Unit for
each of the Quarters within the Subordination Period ending on or before the
last day of such Quarter over (b) the sum of any distributions theretofore
made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(ii) and the second sentence of Section 6.5
with respect to an Initial Common Unit (including any distributions to be made
in respect of the last of such Quarters).
“Curative Allocation” means
any allocation of an item of income, gain, deduction, loss or credit pursuant to
the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi).
“Current Market Price” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).
“Delaware Act” means the
Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del C. Section 17-101, et
seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor
to such statute.
“Departing General Partner”
means a former General Partner from and after the effective date of any
withdrawal or removal of such former General Partner pursuant to
Section 11.1 or Section 11.2.
“Depositary” means, with
respect to any Units issued in global form, The Depository Trust Company and its
successors and permitted assigns.
“Eligible Citizen” means a
Person qualified to own interests in real property in jurisdictions in which any
Group Member does business or proposes to do business from time to time, and
whose status as a Limited Partner the General Partner determines does not or
would not subject such Group Member to a significant risk of cancellation or
forfeiture of any of its properties or any interest therein.
8
“Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax
Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.9.
“Estimated Maintenance Capital
Expenditures” means an estimate made in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the General Partner (with the concurrence of the Conflicts
Committee) of the average quarterly Maintenance Capital Expenditures that the
Partnership will need to incur over the long term to maintain the operating
capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group existing at the time the
estimate is made. The Board of Directors of the General Partner (with the
concurrence of the Conflicts Committee) will be permitted to make such estimate
in any manner it determines reasonable, including estimating the portion of
future capital expenditures which will constitute Maintenance Capital
Expenditures and the periods during which such future Maintenance Capital
Expenditures will be incurred. The estimate will be made at least annually and
whenever an event occurs that is likely to result in a material adjustment to
the amount of future Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures. The Partnership
shall disclose to its Partners any change in the amount of Estimated Maintenance
Capital Expenditures in its reports made in accordance with Section 8.3 to
the extent not previously disclosed. Any adjustments to Estimated Maintenance
Capital Expenditures shall be prospective only.
“Event of Withdrawal” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(a).
“Expansion Capital
Expenditures” means cash expenditures for Acquisitions or Capital
Improvements, and shall not include Maintenance Capital
Expenditures. Expansion Capital Expenditures shall include interest
(and related fees) on debt incurred and distributions on equity issued, in each
case, to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement and paid during the
period beginning on the date that the Partnership enters into a binding
obligation to commence construction of a Capital Improvement and ending on the
earlier to occur of the date that such Capital Improvement Commences Commercial
Service and the date that such Capital Improvement is abandoned or disposed
of. Debt incurred or equity issued to fund such construction period
interest payments or such construction period distributions on equity paid
during such period, shall also be deemed to be debt incurred or equity issued,
as the case may be, to finance the construction of a Capital
Improvement.
“Final Subordinated Units” has
the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(d)(x).
“First Liquidation Target
Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.1(c)(i)(E).
“First Target Distribution”
means $0.3450 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on
the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 2007, it means the product of
$0.3450 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in
such period, and of which the denominator is 91), subject to adjustment in
accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.
“Fully Diluted Basis” means,
when calculating the number of Outstanding Units for any period, a basis that
includes, in addition to the Outstanding Units, all Partnership Securities and
options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest
in the Partnership (a) that are convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Units that are senior to or pari
9
“General Partner” means
Quicksilver Gas Services GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its
successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Partnership as general
partner of the Partnership, in its capacity as general partner of the
Partnership (except as the context otherwise requires).
“General Partner Interest”
means the ownership interest of the General Partner in the Partnership (in its
capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest
held by it), which is evidenced by General Partner Units, and includes any and
all benefits to which the General Partner is entitled as provided in this
Agreement, together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply with
the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
“General Partner Unit” means a
fractional part of the General Partner Interest having the rights and
obligations specified with respect to the General Partner Interest. A General
Partner Unit is not a Unit.
“Group” means a Person that
with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates has any contract,
arrangement, understanding or relationship for the purpose of acquiring,
holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to
such Person in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more
Persons), exercising investment power or disposing of any Partnership Interests
with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates
beneficially own, directly or indirectly, Partnership Interests.
“Group Member” means a member
of the Partnership Group.
“Group Member Agreement” means
the partnership agreement of any Group Member, other than the Partnership, that
is a limited or general partnership, the limited liability company agreement of
any Group Member that is a limited liability company, the certificate of
incorporation and bylaws or similar organizational documents of any Group Member
that is a
10
“Holder” as used in
Section 7.12, has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 7.12(a).
“Holdings” means Quicksilver
Gas Services Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“IDR Reset Election” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(a).
“Incentive Distribution Right”
means a non-voting Limited Partner Interest issued to the General Partner in
connection with the transfer of all of its interests in the Cowtown Entities to
the Partnership pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, which Limited Partner
Interest will confer upon the holder thereof only the rights and obligations
specifically provided in this Agreement with respect to Incentive Distribution
Rights (and no other rights otherwise available to or other obligations of a
holder of a Partnership Interest). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, the holder of an Incentive Distribution Right shall not be
entitled to vote such Incentive Distribution Right on any Partnership matter
except as may otherwise be required by law.
“Incentive Distributions”
means any amount of cash distributed to the holders of the Incentive
Distribution Rights pursuant to Sections 6.4(a)(v), (vi) and
(vii) and 6.4(b)(iii), (iv) and (v).
“Incremental Income Taxes” has
the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.9.
“Indemnified Persons” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(d).
“Indemnitee” means
(a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing General Partner,
(c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any
Departing General Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a member, manager,
partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of any Group Member, the
General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of any Group
Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (e) 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, member, manager, partner,
fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided that a Person shall
not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis,
trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, and (f) any Person the General
Partner designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this
Agreement.
“Initial Common Units” means
the Common Units sold in the Initial Offering.
“Initial Limited Partners”
means Holdings (with respect to the Common Units, Subordinated Units and
Incentive Distribution Rights received by it pursuant to Section 5.2)
and
11
“Initial Offering” means the
initial offering and sale of Common Units to the public, as described in the
Registration Statement.
“Initial Unit Price” means
(a) with respect to the Common Units and the Subordinated Units, the
initial public offering price per Common Unit at which the Underwriters offered
the Common Units to the public for sale as set forth on the cover page of the
prospectus included as part of the Registration Statement and first issued at or
after the time the Registration Statement first became effective or
(b) with respect to any other class or series of Units, the price per Unit
at which such class or series of Units is initially sold by the Partnership, as
determined by the General Partner, in each case adjusted as the General Partner
determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or
combination of Units.
“Interim Capital Transactions”
means the following transactions if they occur prior to the Liquidation Date:
(a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of indebtedness (other than
Working Capital Borrowings and other than for items purchased on open account in
the ordinary course of business) by any Group Member and sales of debt
securities of any Group Member; (b) sales of equity interests of any Group
Member (including the Common Units sold to the Underwriters pursuant to the
exercise of the Over-Allotment Option); (c) sales or other voluntary or
involuntary dispositions of any assets of any Group Member other than
(i) sales or other dispositions of inventory, accounts receivable and other
assets in the ordinary course of business, and (ii) sales or other
dispositions of assets as part of normal retirements or replacements;
(d) the termination of Commodity Hedge Contracts and interest rate swap
agreements prior to their respective specified termination dates;
(e) capital contributions received; and (f) corporate reorganizations
or restructurings.
“Investment Capital
Expenditures” means capital expenditures other than Maintenance Capital
Expenditures and Expansion Capital Expenditures.
“Issue Price” means the price
at which a Unit is purchased from the Partnership, net of any sales commission
or underwriting discount charged to the Partnership.
“Limited Partner” means,
unless the context otherwise requires, the Organizational Limited Partner prior
to its withdrawal from the Partnership, each Initial Limited Partner, each
additional Person that becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement and any Departing General Partner upon the change of its status from
General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3, in each case,
in such Person’s capacity as limited partner of the Partnership; provided, however, that when the term
“Limited Partner” is used herein in the context of any vote or other approval,
including Articles XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose,
include any holder of an Incentive Distribution Right (solely with respect to
its Incentive Distribution Rights and not with respect to any other Limited
Partner Interest held by such Person) except as may otherwise be required by
law.
“Limited Partner Interest”
means the ownership interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership, which may
be evidenced by Common Units, Class B Units, Subordinated Xxxxx,
00
“Liquidation Date” means
(a) in the case of an event giving rise to the dissolution of the
Partnership of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) of the first
sentence of Section 12.2, the date on which the applicable time period
during which the holders of Outstanding Units have the right to elect to
continue the business of the Partnership has expired without such an election
being made, and (b) in the case of any other event giving rise to the
dissolution of the Partnership, the date on which such event
occurs.
“Liquidator” means one or more
Persons selected by the General Partner to perform the functions described in
Section 12.4 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership within the meaning
of the Delaware Act.
“Maintenance Capital
Expenditures” means cash expenditures (including expenditures for the
addition or improvement to or replacement of the capital assets owned by any
Group Member or for the acquisition of existing, or the construction or
development of new, capital assets, including, without limitation, gas gathering
systems, natural gas treatment or processing facilities, natural gas liquids
fractionation facilities, storage facilities, pipeline systems or other
midstream assets or facilities and other related or similar midstream assets or
other assets that are expected to generate “qualifying income” as defined by
Section 7704 of the Code) if such expenditures are made to maintain, including
for a period longer than the short-term, the operating capacity or operating
income of the Partnership Group. Maintenance Capital Expenditures
shall include interest (and related fees) on debt incurred and distributions on
equity issued, in each case, to finance the construction or development of a
replacement asset and paid during the period beginning on the date that the
Partnership enters into a binding obligation to commence constructing or
developing a replacement asset and ending on the earlier to occur of the date
that such replacement asset Commences Commercial Service and the date that such
replacement asset is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred to pay or equity
issued to fund construction or development period interest payments, or such
construction or development period distributions on equity, shall also be deemed
to be debt or equity, as the case may be, incurred to finance the construction
or development of a replacement asset. For purposes of this
definition, the short-term generally refers to a period not exceeding 12
months.
“Merger Agreement” has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1.
“Minimum Quarterly
Distribution” means $0.3000 per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to the
period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 2007, it
means the product of $0.3000 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is
the number of days in such period and of which the
denominator is 91), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6
and 6.9.
13
“National Securities Exchange”
means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act, and any successor to such statute, or the Nasdaq Stock
Market or any successor thereto.
“Net Agreed Value” means,
(a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such
property reduced by any liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such
contribution or to which such property is subject when contributed, (b) in
the case of any property distributed to a Partner by the Partnership, the
Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted pursuant to
Section 5.5(d)(ii)) at the time such property is distributed, reduced by
any indebtedness either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to
which such property is subject at the time of distribution, in either case, as
determined under Section 752 of the Code, and (c) in the case of a
contribution of Common Units by the General Partner to the Partnership as a
Capital Contribution pursuant to Section 5.2(b), an amount per Common Unit
contributed equal to the Current Market Price per Common Unit as of the date of
the contribution.
“Net Income” means, for any
taxable year, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of income and gain
(other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination
Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year over the Partnership’s items
of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the
computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable
year. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in
accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially
allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the
determination of the items that have been specially allocated under
Section 6.1(d) shall be made as if Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in
this Agreement.
“Net Loss” means, for any
taxable year, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss and
deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net
Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year over the
Partnership’s items of income and gain (other than those items taken into
account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for
such taxable year. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be
determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any
items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the
determination of the items that have been specially allocated under
Section 6.1(d) shall be made as if Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in
this Agreement.
“Net Positive Adjustments”
means, with respect to any Partner, the excess, if any, of the total positive
adjustments over the total negative adjustments made to the Capital Account of
such Partner pursuant to Book-Up Events and Book-Down Events.
“Net Termination Gain” means,
for any taxable year, the sum, if positive, of all items of income, gain, loss
or deduction recognized by the Partnership after the Liquidation Date. The items
included in the determination of Net Termination Gain shall be determined in
accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items of income,
gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).
14
“Net Termination Loss” means,
for any taxable year, the sum, if negative, of all items of income, gain, loss
or deduction recognized by the Partnership after the Liquidation Date. The items
included in the determination of Net Termination Loss shall be determined in
accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items of income,
gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).
“Non-citizen Assignee” means a
Person whom the General Partner has determined does not constitute an Eligible
Citizen and as to whose Partnership Interest the General Partner has become the
substituted limited partner, pursuant to Section 4.9.
“Nonrecourse Built-in Gain”
means with respect to any Contributed Properties or Adjusted Properties that are
subject to a mortgage or pledge securing a Nonrecourse Liability, the amount of
any taxable gain that would be allocated to the Partners pursuant to
Sections 6.2(b)(i)(A), 6.2(b)(ii)(A) and 6.2(b)(iii) if such properties
were disposed of in a taxable transaction in full satisfaction of such
liabilities and for no other consideration.
“Nonrecourse Deductions” means
any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including any expenditure
described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the
principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b), are attributable
to a Nonrecourse Liability.
“Nonrecourse Liability” has
the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section
1.752-1(a)(2).
“Notice of Election to
Purchase” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 15.1(b).
“Omnibus Agreement” means that
certain Omnibus Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the General
Partner, the Partnership, the Operating Company and certain other parties
thereto, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to
time.
“Operating Company” means
Quicksilver Gas Services Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company,
and any successors thereto.
“Operating Expenditures” means
all Partnership Group cash expenditures (or the Partnership’s proportionate
share of expenditures in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned),
including, but not limited to, taxes, reimbursements of the General Partner in
accordance with this Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement or the Secondment
Agreement, payments made in the ordinary course of business under any interest
rate swap agreements or Commodity Hedge Contracts (provided that payments made
in connection with the termination of any Commodity Hedge Contract prior to the
expiration of its stipulated settlement or termination date shall be excluded;
and provided further that with respect to
amounts paid in connection with the initial purchase of a Commodity Hedge
Contract, such amounts shall be amortized over the life of the applicable
Commodity Hedge Contract or expensed in full upon its termination, if earlier),
director and officer compensation, repayment of Working Capital Borrowings, debt
service payments, Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures and non-Pro Rata
repurchases of Units (other than those made with the proceeds of an Interim
Capital Transaction), but subject to the following:
15
(a) repayments
of Working Capital Borrowings deducted from Operating Surplus pursuant to clause
(b)(iii) of the definition of “Operating Surplus” shall not constitute Operating
Expenditures when actually repaid;
(b) payments
(including prepayments and prepayment penalties) of principal of and premium on
indebtedness other than Working Capital Borrowings shall not constitute
Operating Expenditures; and
(c) Operating
Expenditures shall not include (i) Expansion Capital Expenditures, (ii)
actual Maintenance Capital Expenditures, (iii) Investment Capital
Expenditures, (iv) payment of transaction expenses (including taxes and which,
with respect to the termination of a Commodity Hedge Contract prior to its
stipulated settlement or termination date, such transaction expenses shall
constitute any payments due from any Group Member upon such settlement or
termination) relating to Interim Capital Transactions, (v) distributions to
Partners, or (vi) non-Pro Rata repurchases of Units of any class made with the
proceeds of a substantially concurrent equity issuance.
“Operating Surplus” means,
with respect to any period ending prior to the Liquidation Date, on a cumulative
basis and without duplication,
(a) the
sum of (i) $20.0 million, (ii) all cash receipts of the Partnership
Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of
Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) for the period beginning on the Closing
Date and ending on the last day of such period, but excluding cash receipts from
Interim Capital Transactions (except to the extent specified in
Section 6.5), (iii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the
Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries
that are not wholly owned) after the end of such period but on or before the
date of determination of Operating Surplus with respect to such period resulting
from Working Capital Borrowings, (iv) any Available Working Capital Borrowings
that the General Partner has determined shall be included in Available Cash with
respect to such period, and (v) cash distributions paid on equity issued to
finance all or a portion of the construction, acquisition or improvement of a
Capital Improvement or replacement of a capital asset (such as equipment or
facilities) during the period beginning on the date that the Group Member enters
into a binding obligation to commence the construction, acquisition or
improvement of a Capital Improvement or replacement of a capital asset and
ending on the earlier to occur of the date the Capital Improvement or capital
asset Commences Commercial Service or the date that it is abandoned or disposed
of (equity issued to fund construction period interest payments on debt
incurred, or construction period distributions on equity issued, to finance the
construction, acquisition or development of a Capital Improvement or replacement
of a capital asset shall also be deemed to be equity issued to finance the
construction, acquisition or development of a Capital Improvement or replacement
of a capital asset for purposes of this clause (v)), less
(b) the
sum of (i) Operating Expenditures for the period beginning on the Closing
Date and ending on the last day of such period; (ii) the amount of cash
reserves established by the General Partner (or the Partnership’s proportionate
share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) to
provide funds for future Operating
16
provided, however, that disbursements
made (including contributions to a Group Member or disbursements on behalf of a
Group Member) or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end
of such period but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with
respect to such period shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased
or reduced, for purposes of determining Operating Surplus, within such period if
the General Partner so determines.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, “Operating
Surplus” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs
and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a
written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the Partnership or the
General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the General
Partner.
“Option Closing Date” means
the date or dates on which any Common Units are sold by the Partnership to the
Underwriters upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.
“Organizational Limited
Partner” means Holdings in its capacity as the organizational limited
partner of the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.
“Outstanding” means, with
respect to Partnership Securities, all Partnership Securities that are issued by
the Partnership and reflected as outstanding on the Partnership’s books and
records as of the date of determination; provided, however, that if at any time
any Person or Group (other than the General Partner or its Affiliates)
beneficially owns 20% or more of any Outstanding Partnership Securities of any
class then Outstanding, none of the Partnership Securities
owned by such Person or Group shall be voted on any matter and shall not be
considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited
Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating
required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar
purposes under this Agreement, except that Common Units so owned shall be
considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such
Common Units shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership
Securities for purposes of this Agreement or the Delaware Act); provided, further, that the
foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) any Person or Group who
acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then
Outstanding directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates, (ii) any
Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership
Securities of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly from a Person or
Group described in clause (i)
provided that the General Partner shall have notified such Person or
Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply, or (iii) any Person
or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Partnership Securities issued by the
Partnership with the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the General
Partner.
“Over-Allotment Option” means
the over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters by the Partnership
pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
“Partner Nonrecourse Debt” has
the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-2(b)(4).
17
“Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum
Gain” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
“Partner Nonrecourse
Deductions” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure
(including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code)
that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(i), are attributable to a Partner
Nonrecourse Debt.
“Partners” means the General
Partner and the Limited Partners.
“Partnership” means
Quicksilver Gas Services LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
“Partnership Group” means the
Partnership and its Subsidiaries treated as a single consolidated
entity.
“Partnership Interest” means
an interest in the Partnership, which shall include the General Partner Interest
and Limited Partner Interests.
“Partnership Minimum Gain”
means that amount determined in accordance with the principles of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(d).
“Partnership Security” means
any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership (but excluding any
options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest
in the Partnership), including Common Units, Subordinated Units, Class B Units,
General Partner Units and Incentive Distribution Rights.
“Per Unit Capital Amount”
means, as of any date of determination, the Capital Account, stated on a per
Unit basis, underlying any class of Units held by a Person other than the
General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner who holds
Units.
“Percentage Interest” means as
of any date of determination (a) as to the General Partner with respect to
General Partner Units and as to any Unitholder with respect to Units, the
product obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to
clause (b) below by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing
(A) the number of General Partner Units held by the General Partner or the
number of Units held by such Unitholder, as the case may be, by (B) the
total number of Outstanding Units and General Partner Units, and (b) as to
the holders of other Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership in
accordance with Section 5.6, the percentage established as a part of such
issuance. The Percentage Interest with respect to an Incentive Distribution
Right shall at all times be zero.
“Person” means an individual
or a corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture,
trust, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political
subdivision thereof or other entity.
“Private Investors” means the
two private investors that owned a 5% limited partner interest in Cowtown Gas
Processing Partners L.P. and a 7% limited partner interest in Cowtown Pipeline
Partners L.P., prior to the Closing Date.
18
“Pro Rata” means (a) when
used with respect to Units or any class thereof, apportioned equally among all
designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests,
(b) when used with respect to Partners or Record Holders, apportioned among
all Partners or Record Holders in accordance with their relative Percentage
Interests and (c) when used with respect to holders of Incentive
Distribution Rights, apportioned equally among all holders of Incentive
Distribution Rights in accordance with the relative number or percentage of
Incentive Distribution Rights held by each such holder.
“Purchase Date” means the date
determined by the General Partner as the date for purchase of all Outstanding
Limited Partner Interests of a certain class (other than Limited Partner
Interests owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) pursuant to
Article XV.
“Quarter” means, unless the
context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Partnership, or, with
respect to the first fiscal quarter of the Partnership that includes the Closing
Date, the portion of such fiscal quarter after the Closing Date.
“Quicksilver” means
Quicksilver Resources Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“Recapture Income” means any
gain recognized by the Partnership (computed without regard to any adjustment
required by Section 734 or Section 743 of the Code) upon the
disposition of any property or asset of the Partnership, which gain is
characterized as ordinary income because it represents the recapture of
deductions previously taken with respect to such property or asset.
“Record Date” means the date
established by the General Partner or otherwise in accordance with this
Agreement for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled
to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Limited Partners or entitled to vote
by ballot or give approval of Partnership action in writing without a meeting or
entitled to exercise rights in respect of any lawful action of Limited Partners
or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or
distribution or to participate in any offer.
“Record Holder” means the
Person in whose name a Common Unit is registered on the books of the Transfer
Agent as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day, or with
respect to other Partnership Interests, the Person in whose name any such other
Partnership Interest is registered on the books that the General Partner has
caused to be kept as of the opening of business on such Business
Day.
“Redeemable Interests” means
any Partnership Interests for which a redemption notice has been given, and has
not been withdrawn, pursuant to Section 4.10.
“Registration Statement” means
the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-140599) as it has
been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the
Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the
offering and sale of the Common Units in the Initial Offering.
“Remaining Net Positive
Adjustments” means as of the end of any taxable period, (i) with
respect to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Subordinated Units or Class B
Units, the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the Unitholders
holding Common Xxxxx,
00
“Required Allocations” means
(a) any limitation imposed on any allocation of Net Losses or Net
Termination Losses under Section 6.1(b) or Section 6.1(c)(ii) and
(b) any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant
to Section 6.1(d)(i), Section 6.1(d)(ii), Section 6.1(d)(iv),
Section 6.1(d)(vii) or Section 6.1(d)(ix).
“Reset MQD” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(e).
“Reset Notice” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(b).
“Residual Gain” or “Residual Loss” means any item
of gain or loss, as the case may be, of the Partnership recognized for federal
income tax purposes resulting from a sale, exchange or other disposition of a
Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, to the extent such item of gain or
loss is not allocated pursuant to Section 6.2(b)(i)(A) or
Section 6.2(b)(ii)(A), respectively, to eliminate Book-Tax
Disparities.
“Retained Converted Subordinated
Unit” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
5.5(c)(ii).
“Second Liquidation Target
Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.1(c)(i)(F).
“Second Target Distribution”
means $0.3750 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on
the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 2007, it means the product of
$0.3750 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number
of days in such period and of which the denominator is 91), subject to
adjustment in accordance with Section 5.11, Section 6.6 and
Section 6.9.
“Secondment Agreement” means
that certain Services and Secondment Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date,
between Quicksilver and the Partnership, as such may be amended, supplemented
and restated from time to time.
“Securities Act” means the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time
and any successor to such statute.
“Securities Exchange Act”
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated
from time to time and any successor to such statute.
20
“Share of Additional Book Basis
Derivative Items” means in connection with any allocation of Additional
Book Basis Derivative Items for any taxable period, (i) with respect to the
Unitholders holding Common Units, Subordinated Units or Class B Units, the
amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items
as the Unitholders’ Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such
period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that
time, (ii) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General
Partner Units), the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book
Basis Derivative Items as the General Partner’s Remaining Net Positive
Adjustments as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net
Positive Adjustment as of that time, and (iii) with respect to the Partners
holding Incentive Distribution Rights, the amount that bears the same ratio to
such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Remaining Net Positive
Adjustments of the Partners holding the Incentive Distribution Rights as of the
end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as
of that time.
“Special Approval” means
approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee acting in good
faith.
“Subordinated Unit” means a
Partnership Security representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests
of all Limited Partners and Assignees and having the rights and obligations
specified with respect to Subordinated Units in this Agreement. The term
“Subordinated Unit” does not include a Common Unit or a Class B Unit. A
Subordinated Unit that is convertible into a Common Unit shall not constitute a
Common Unit until such conversion occurs.
“Subordination Period” means
the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the first to occur of
the following dates:
(a) the
first Business Day of any Quarter beginning after September 30, 2010 in
respect of which (i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus
on each of (I) the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units, any other
Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the
Subordinated Units, and (II) the General Partner Units, with respect to each of
the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately
preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution on (I) all Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units and any
other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the
Subordinated Units and (II) the General Partner Units, during such periods and
(B) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of the three consecutive,
non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or
exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the (I) Common
Units, Subordinated Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in right
of distribution to the Subordinated Units and (II) General Partner Units, that
were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis, and
(ii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages;
(b) the
first Business Day of any Quarter ending on or after June 30, 2007 in respect of
which (i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus in respect
of (I) the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units, any other Outstanding
Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units, and (II) the General Partner Units, with respect to each of the four
consecutive, non-overlapping Quarters immediately preceding such date equaled or
exceeded 150% of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on (I) all
21
(c) the
first date on which there are no longer outstanding any Subordinated Units due
to the conversion of Subordinated Units into Common Units pursuant to Section
5.7 or otherwise; and
(d) the
date on which the General Partner is removed as general partner of the
Partnership upon the requisite vote by holders of Outstanding Units under
circumstances where Cause does not exist and Units held by the General Partner
and its Affiliates are not voted in favor of such removal.
“Subsidiary” means, with
respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the
voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any
contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of
such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination,
by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination
thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such
Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a
general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the
partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the partnership
interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or
indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other
Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or
more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or
indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority
ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a
majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.
“Surviving Business Entity”
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.2(b).
“Target Distribution” means,
collectively, the First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and
Third Target Distribution.
“Third Liquidation Target
Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.1(c)(i)(G).
“Third Target Distribution”
means $0.4500 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on
the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 2007, it means the product of
$0.4500 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number
of days in such period and of which the denominator is 91), subject to
adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.
“Trading Day” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).
22
“transfer” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 4.4(a).
“Transfer Agent” means such
bank, trust company or other Person (including the General Partner or one of its
Affiliates) as shall be appointed from time to time by the General Partner to
act as registrar and transfer agent for the Common Units; provided, that if no
Transfer Agent is specifically designated for any other Partnership Securities,
the General Partner shall act in such capacity.
“Underwriter” means each
Person named as an underwriter in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement
who purchases Common Units pursuant thereto.
“Underwriting Agreement” means
that certain Underwriting Agreement dated as of August 6, 2007 among the
Underwriters, the Partnership, the General Partner, Holdings, Quicksilver and
other parties thereto, providing for the purchase of Common Units by the
Underwriters.
“Unit” means a Partnership
Security that is designated as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units,
Subordinated Units and Class B Units but shall not include (i) General
Partner Units (or the General Partner Interest represented thereby) or
(ii) Incentive Distribution Rights.
“Unit Majority” means
(i) during the Subordination Period, at least a majority of the Outstanding
Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its
Affiliates), voting as a class, and at least a majority of the Outstanding
Subordinated Units, voting as a class, and (ii) after the end of the
Subordination Period, at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and
Class B Units, if any, voting as a single class.
“Unitholders” means the
holders of Units.
“Unpaid MQD” has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(B).
“Unrealized Gain” attributable
to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the
excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of such property as of such
date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)) over (b) the Carrying Value
of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to
Section 5.5(d) as of such date).
“Unrealized Loss” attributable
to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the
excess, if any, of (a) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date
(prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such
date) over (b) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as
determined under Section 5.5(d)).
“Unrecovered Initial Unit
Price” means at any time, with respect to a Unit, the Initial Unit Price
less the sum of all distributions constituting Capital Surplus theretofore made
in respect of an Initial Common Unit and any distributions of cash (or the Net
Agreed Value of any distributions in kind) in connection with the dissolution
and liquidation of the Partnership theretofore made in respect of an Initial
Common Unit, adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to
give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of such
Units.
23
“U.S. GAAP” means United
States generally accepted accounting principles consistently
applied.
“Withdrawal Opinion of
Counsel” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 11.1(b).
“Working Capital Borrowings”
means borrowings used solely for working capital purposes or to pay
distributions to Partners made pursuant to a credit facility, commercial paper
facility or other similar financing arrangement, provided that when it is
incurred it is the intent of the borrower to repay such borrowings within 12
months from other than Working Capital Borrowings.
Section 1.2 Construction.
Unless
the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement
shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the
singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice
versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and
Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include”, “includes”,
“including” or words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words
“without limitation”; and (d) the terms “hereof”, “herein” or “hereunder”
refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are
for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
ARTICLE
II
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.1 Formation.
The
General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner have previously formed
the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the
Delaware Act. The General Partner hereby amends and restates the
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Quicksilver Gas
Services LP in its entirety. This amendment and restatement shall become
effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided to the
contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties (including fiduciary duties),
liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution
and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All
Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof
for all purposes.
Section 2.2 Name.
The name
of the Partnership shall be “Quicksilver Gas Services LP.” The Partnership’s
business may be conducted under any other name or names as determined by the
General Partner, including the name of the General Partner. The words “Limited
Partnership,” “LP,” “Ltd.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the
Partnership’s name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of
any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner
24
Section 2.3 Registered
Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices.
Unless
and until changed by the General Partner, the registered office of the
Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, and the registered agent for service of process on
the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be The
Corporation Trust Company. The principal office of the Partnership shall be
located at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, or such
other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to
the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place
or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner
determines to be necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner
shall be 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, or such
other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to
the Limited Partners.
Section 2.4 Purpose
and Business.
The
purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be
to (a) engage directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any
corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other
arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by
the General Partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership
organized pursuant to the Delaware Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise
all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the
agreements relating to such business activity, and (b) do anything
necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making of capital
contributions or loans to a Group Member; provided, however, that the
General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to engage, directly or
indirectly, in any business activity that the General Partner determines would
cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation
or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. To the
fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or
obligation to propose or approve, and may decline to propose or approve, the
conduct by the Partnership of any business free of any fiduciary duty or
obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and, in
declining to so propose or approve, shall not be required to act in good faith
or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member
Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or
any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.
Section 2.5 Powers.
The
Partnership shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary or
appropriate for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business
described in Section 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the
Partnership.
Section 2.6 Power
of Attorney.
(a) Each
Limited Partner hereby constitutes and appoints the General Partner and, if a
Liquidator shall have been selected pursuant to Section 12.3, the
Liquidator (and any successor
25
(i) execute,
swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public
offices (A) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including
this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments or
restatements hereof or thereof) that the General Partner or the Liquidator
determines to be necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the
existence or qualification of the Partnership as a limited
partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited
liability) in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the
Partnership may conduct business or own property; (B) all certificates,
documents and other instruments that the General Partner or the Liquidator
determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance with its
terms, any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement;
(C) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including
conveyances and a certificate of cancellation) that the General Partner or the
Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution
and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;
(D) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the
admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or
other events described in, Article IV, Article X, Article XI or
Article XII; (E) all certificates, documents and other instruments
relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any
class or series of Partnership Securities issued pursuant to Section 5.6;
and (F) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including
agreements and a certificate of merger) relating to a merger, consolidation or
conversion of the Partnership pursuant to Article XIV; and
(ii) execute,
swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all ballots, consents,
approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other instruments that the
General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to
(A) make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval,
agreement or other action that is made or given by the Partners hereunder or is
consistent with the terms of this Agreement or (B) effectuate the terms or
intent of this Agreement;
provided, that when required by Section 13.3 or any other provision of
this Agreement that establishes a percentage of the Limited Partners or of the
Limited Partners of any class or series required to take any action, the General
Partner and the Liquidator may exercise the power of attorney made in this
Section 2.6(a)(ii) only after the necessary vote, consent or approval of the
Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of such class or series, as
applicable.
Nothing
contained in this Section 2.6(a) shall be construed as authorizing the
General Partner to amend this Agreement except in accordance with
Article XIII or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this
Agreement.
(b) The
foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power
coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and, to the maximum extent
permitted by law, not be affected by the subsequent death, incompetency,
disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy
26
Section 2.7 Term.
The term
of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Limited
Partnership in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence
until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of
Article XII. The existence of the Partnership as a separate legal entity
shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited Partnership
as provided in the Delaware Act.
Section 2.8 Title
to Partnership Assets.
Title to
Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or
intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no
Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such
Partnership assets or any portion thereof. Title to any or all of the
Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership, the General
Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees, as the General
Partner may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any
Partnership assets for which record title is held in the name of the General
Partner or one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees shall be held
by the General Partner or such Affiliate or nominee for the use and benefit of
the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that the General
Partner shall use reasonable efforts to cause record title to such assets (other
than those assets in respect of which the General Partner determines that the
expense and difficulty of conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the
Partnership impracticable) to be vested in the Partnership as soon as reasonably
practicable; provided,
further, that, prior to the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as
soon thereafter as practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts
to effect the transfer of record title to the Partnership and, prior to any such
transfer, will provide for the use of such assets in a manner satisfactory to
the General Partner. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of
the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which
record title to such Partnership assets is held.
27
ARTICLE
III
RIGHTS
OF LIMITED PARTNERS
Section 3.1 Limitation
of Liability.
The
Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement except as
expressly provided in this Agreement or the Delaware Act.
Section 3.2 Management
of Business.
No
Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation,
management or control (within the meaning of the Delaware Act) of the
Partnership’s business, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have
the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. Any action
taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director,
employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General
Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager,
member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as
such, shall not be deemed to be participation in the control of the business of
the Partnership by a limited partner of the Partnership (within the meaning of
Section 17-303(a) of the Delaware Act) and shall not affect, impair or
eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners under this
Agreement.
Section 3.3 Outside
Activities of the Limited Partners.
Subject
to the provisions of Section 7.5, which shall continue to be applicable to
the Persons referred to therein, regardless of whether such Persons shall also
be Limited Partners, any Limited Partner shall be entitled to and may have
business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those
relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities in
direct competition with the Partnership Group. Neither the Partnership nor any
of the other Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any
business ventures of any Limited Partner.
Section 3.4 Rights
of Limited Partners.
(a) In
addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by applicable law, and
except as limited by Section 3.4(b), each Limited Partner shall have the
right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a
Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the
purpose of such demand, and at such Limited Partner’s own expense:
(i) to obtain
true and full information regarding the status of the business and financial
condition of the Partnership;
(ii) promptly
after its becoming available, to obtain a copy of the Partnership’s federal,
state and local income tax returns for each year;
(iii) to obtain
a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address
of each Partner;
28
(v) to obtain
true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a description and
statement of the Net Agreed Value of any other Capital Contribution by each
Partner and that each Partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and the
date on which each became a Partner; and
(vi) to obtain
such other information regarding the affairs of the Partnership as is just and
reasonable.
(b) The
General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period
of time as the General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that
the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or
(ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner in good
faith believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group,
(B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any
Group Member is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep
confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the Partnership the
primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set forth in this
Section 3.4).
ARTICLE
IV
CERTIFICATES;
RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF
PARTNERSHIP
INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 4.1 Certificates.
Upon the
Partnership’s issuance of Common Units, Subordinated Units or Class B Units to
any Person, the Partnership shall issue, upon the request of such Person, one or
more Certificates in the name of such Person evidencing the number of such Units
being so issued. In addition, (a) upon the General Partner’s request, the
Partnership shall issue to it one or more Certificates in the name of the
General Partner evidencing its General Partner Units and (b) upon the
request of any Person owning Incentive Distribution Rights or any other
Partnership Securities other than Common Units, Subordinated Units or Class B
Units, the Partnership shall issue to such Person one or more certificates
evidencing such Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership Securities
other than Common Units, Subordinated Units or Class B Units. Certificates shall
be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chairman of the Board, President
or any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President and the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the General Partner. No Common Unit
Certificate shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by
the Transfer Agent; provided,
however, that the Units may be certificated or uncertificated as provided
in the Delaware Act; and provided, further, that if
the General Partner elects to issue Common Units in global form, the Common Unit
Certificates shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer
Agent certifying that the Common Units have been duly registered in accordance
with the directions of the Partnership. Subject to the requirements of
Section 6.7(c), the Partners holding Certificates
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Section 4.2 Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.
(a) If any
mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent (for Common Units) or
the General Partner (for Partnership Securities other than Common Units), the
appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall
execute, and the Transfer Agent (for Common Units) or the General Partner (for
Partnership Securities other than Common Units) shall countersign and deliver in
exchange therefor, a new Certificate evidencing the same number and type of
Partnership Securities as the Certificate so surrendered.
(b) The
appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall
execute and deliver, and the Transfer Agent (for Common Units) shall
countersign, a new Certificate in place of any Certificate previously issued if
the Record Holder of the Certificate:
(i) makes
proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner,
that a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or
stolen;
(ii) requests
the issuance of a new Certificate before the General Partner has notice that the
Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without
notice of an adverse claim;
(iii) if
requested by the General Partner, delivers to the General Partner a bond, in
form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner, with surety or sureties
and with fixed or open penalty as the General Partner may direct to indemnify
the Partnership, the Partners, the General Partner and the Transfer Agent
against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, destruction
or theft of the Certificate; and
(iv) satisfies
any other reasonable requirements imposed by the General Partner.
If a
Limited Partner fails to notify the General Partner within a reasonable period
of time after he has notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a Certificate,
and a transfer of the Limited Partner Interests represented by the Certificate
is registered before the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent
receives such notification, the Limited Partner shall be precluded from making
any claim against the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent for
such transfer or for a new Certificate.
(c) As a
condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.2,
the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax
or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any
other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent)
reasonably connected therewith.
30
Section 4.3 Record
Holders.
The
Partnership shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner with
respect to any Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to
recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such Partnership
Interest on the part of any other Person, regardless of whether the Partnership
shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law
or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National
Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted
to trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker,
dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the
foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity
for another Person in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between
the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such
representative Person shall be (a) the Record Holder of such Partnership
Interest and (b) bound by this Agreement and shall have the rights and
obligations of a Partner hereunder and as, and to the extent, provided for
herein.
Section 4.4 Transfer
Generally.
(a) The term
“transfer,” when used
in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall be deemed to
refer to a transaction (i) by which the General Partner assigns its General
Partner Units to another Person or by which a holder of Incentive Distribution
Rights assigns its Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person, and includes
a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange
or any other disposition by law or otherwise or (ii) by which the holder of a
Limited Partner Interest (other than an Incentive Distribution Right) assigns
such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is or becomes a Limited
Partner, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other
disposition by law or otherwise, including any transfer upon foreclosure of any
pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.
(b) No
Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in
accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV. Any
transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance
with this Article IV shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, null
and void.
(c) Nothing
contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent a disposition by any
stockholder, member, partner or other owner of the General Partner of any or all
of the shares of stock, membership or limited liability company interests,
partnership interests or other ownership interests in the General
Partner.
Section 4.5 Registration
and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests.
(a) The
General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Partnership a
register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe
and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the Partnership will
provide for the registration and transfer of Limited Partner Interests. The
Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar and transfer agent for the purpose
of registering Common Units and transfers of such Common Units as herein
provided. The Partnership shall not recognize transfers of Certificates
evidencing Limited
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(b) Except as
otherwise provided in Section 4.9, the General Partner shall not recognize
any transfer of Limited Partner Interests until the Certificates evidencing such
Limited Partner Interests are surrendered for registration of transfer. No
charge shall be imposed by the General Partner for such transfer; provided, that as a
condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.5,
the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax
or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect
thereto.
(c) Subject
to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5,
(ii) Section 4.3, (iii) Section 4.8, (iv) with respect to
any class or series of Limited Partner Interests, the provisions of any
statement of designations or an amendment to this Agreement establishing such
class or series, (v) any contractual provisions binding on any Limited
Partner and (vi) provisions of applicable law including the Securities Act,
Limited Partner Interests (other than the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall
be freely transferable.
(d) The
General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer
their Subordinated Units, Class B Units and Common Units (whether issued upon
conversion of the Subordinated Units or otherwise) to one or more
Persons.
Section 4.6 Transfer
of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest.
(a) Subject
to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to September 30, 2017, the General
Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest
(represented by General Partner Units) to a Person unless such transfer
(i) has been approved by the prior written consent or vote of the holders
of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units
held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) or (ii) is of all, but not
less than all, of its General Partner Interest to (A) an Affiliate of the
General Partner (other than an individual) or (B) another Person (other than an
individual) in connection with the merger or consolidation of the General
Partner with or into such other Person or the transfer by the General Partner of
all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person.
(b) Subject
to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after September 30, 2017, the General
Partner may transfer all or any of its General Partner Interest without
Unitholder approval.
(c) Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of all or
any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted
unless (i) the transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the
General Partner under this Agreement and to be bound by the provisions of this
Agreement, (ii) the Partnership receives an
32
Section 4.7 Transfer
of Incentive Distribution Rights.
Prior to
September 30, 2017, a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer
any or all of the Incentive Distribution Rights held by such holder without any
consent of the Unitholders to (a) an Affiliate of such holder (other than
an individual) or (b) another Person (other than an individual) in
connection with (i) the merger or consolidation of such holder of Incentive
Distribution Rights with or into such other Person, (ii) the transfer by
such holder of all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person or
(iii) the sale of all the ownership interests in such holder. Any other
transfer of the Incentive Distribution Rights prior to September 30, 2017
shall require the prior approval of holders of at least a majority of the
Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and
its Affiliates). On or after September 30, 2017, the General Partner or any
other holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of its
Incentive Distribution Rights without Unitholder approval. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, (i) the transfer of Class B Units issued
pursuant to Section 5.11, or the transfer of Common Units issued upon
conversion of the Class B Units, shall not be treated as a transfer of all or
any part of the Incentive Distribution Rights and (ii) no transfer of
Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person shall be permitted unless the
transferee agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 4.8 Restrictions
on Transfers.
(a) Notwithstanding
the other provisions of this Article IV, no transfer of any Partnership
Interests shall be made if such transfer would (i) violate the then applicable
federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the Commission, any
state securities commission or any other governmental authority with
jurisdiction over such transfer, (ii) terminate the existence or
qualification of the Partnership under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
formation, or (iii) cause the Partnership to be treated as an association
taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal
income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or
taxed).
(b) The
General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests
if it receives an Opinion of Counsel that such restrictions are necessary to
avoid a significant risk of the Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or
otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. The
General Partner may impose such restrictions by amending this Agreement; provided, however, that any
amendment that would
33
(c) The
transfer of a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be
subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.7(c).
(d) The
transfer of a Class B Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be
subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.7(e).
(e) Nothing
contained in this Article IV, or elsewhere in this Agreement, shall
preclude the settlement of any transactions involving Partnership Interests
entered into through the facilities of any National Securities Exchange on which
such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.
(f) Each
certificate evidencing Partnership Interests shall bear a conspicuous legend in
substantially the following form:
THE
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES
LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL
OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY
WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR
QUALIFICATION OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP TO BE TREATED AS AN
ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR
FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED).
QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES GP LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES
LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT
RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A
SIGNIFICANT RISK OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A
CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX
PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF
ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF
ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO
TRADING.
34
Section 4.9 Citizenship
Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees.
(a) If any
Group Member is or becomes subject to any federal, state or local law or
regulation that the General Partner determines would create a substantial risk
of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which the Group Member has an
interest based on the nationality, citizenship or other related status of a
Limited Partner, the General Partner may request any Limited Partner to furnish
to the General Partner, within 30 days after receipt of such request, an
executed Citizenship Certification or such other information concerning his
nationality, citizenship or other related status (or, if the Limited Partner is
a nominee holding for the account of another Person, the nationality,
citizenship or other related status of such Person) as the General Partner may
request. If a Limited Partner fails to furnish to the General Partner within the
aforementioned 30-day period such Citizenship Certification or other requested
information or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other
requested information the General Partner determines that a Limited Partner is
not an Eligible Citizen, the Limited Partner Interests owned by such Limited
Partner shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of
Section 4.10. In addition, the General Partner may require that the status
of any such Limited Partner be changed to that of a Non-citizen Assignee and,
thereupon, the General Partner shall be substituted for such Non-citizen
Assignee as the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited
Partner Interests.
(b) The
General Partner shall, in exercising voting rights in respect of Limited Partner
Interests held by it on behalf of Non-citizen Assignees, distribute the votes in
the same ratios as the votes of Partners (including the General Partner) in
respect of Limited Partner Interests other than those of Non-citizen Assignees
are cast, either for, against or abstaining as to the matter.
(c) Upon
dissolution of the Partnership, a Non-citizen Assignee shall have no right to
receive a distribution in kind pursuant to Section 12.4 but shall be
entitled to the cash equivalent thereof, and the Partnership shall provide cash
in exchange for an assignment of the Non-citizen Assignee’s share of any
distribution in kind. Such payment and assignment shall be treated for
Partnership purposes as a purchase by the Partnership from the Non-citizen
Assignee of his Limited Partner Interest (representing his right to receive his
share of such distribution in kind).
(d) At any
time after he can and does certify that he has become an Eligible Citizen, a
Non-citizen Assignee may, upon application to the General Partner, request that
with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of such Non-citizen Assignee not
redeemed pursuant to Section 4.10, such Non-citizen Assignee be admitted as
a Limited Partner, and upon approval of the General Partner, such Non-citizen
Assignee shall be admitted as a Limited Partner and shall no longer constitute a
Non-citizen Assignee and the General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the
Limited Partner in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited Partner
Interests.
Section 4.10 Redemption
of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees.
(a) If at any
time a Limited Partner fails to furnish a Citizenship Certification or other
information requested within the 30-day period specified in Section 4.9(a),
or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other information the
General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner
is not an Eligible Citizen, the Partnership may, unless the Limited Partner
establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such
Limited
35
(i) The
General Partner shall, not later than the 30th day before the date fixed for
redemption, give notice of redemption to the Limited Partner, at his last
address designated on the records of the Partnership or the Transfer Agent, by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid. The notice shall be deemed to
have been given when so mailed. The notice shall specify the Redeemable
Interests, the date fixed for redemption, the place of payment, that payment of
the redemption price will be made upon surrender of the Certificate evidencing
the Redeemable Interests and that on and after the date fixed for redemption no
further allocations or distributions to which the Limited Partner would
otherwise be entitled in respect of the Redeemable Interests will accrue or be
made.
(ii) The
aggregate redemption price for Redeemable Interests shall be an amount equal to
the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the date
fixed for redemption) of Limited Partner Interests of the class to be so
redeemed multiplied by the number of Limited Partner Interests of each such
class included among the Redeemable Interests. The redemption price shall be
paid, as determined by the General Partner, in cash or by delivery of a
promissory note of the Partnership in the principal amount of the redemption
price, bearing interest at the rate of 5% annually and payable in three equal
annual installments of principal together with accrued interest, commencing one
year after the redemption date.
(iii) Upon
surrender by or on behalf of the Limited Partner, at the place specified in the
notice of redemption, of the Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Interests,
duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by an assignment duly executed in blank,
the Limited Partner or his duly authorized representative shall be entitled to
receive the payment therefor.
(iv) After the
redemption date, Redeemable Interests shall no longer constitute issued and
Outstanding Limited Partner Interests.
(b) The
provisions of this Section 4.10 shall also be applicable to Limited Partner
Interests held by a Limited Partner as nominee of a Person determined to be
other than an Eligible Citizen.
(c) Nothing
in this Section 4.10 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption
from transferring his Limited Partner Interest before the redemption date if
such transfer is otherwise permitted under this Agreement. Upon receipt of
notice of such a transfer, the General Partner shall withdraw the notice of
redemption, provided
the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest certifies to the satisfaction of
the General Partner that he is an Eligible Citizen. If the transferee fails to
make such certification, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee
on the original redemption date.
36
ARTICLE
V
CAPITAL
CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 5.1 Organizational
Contributions.
In
connection with the formation of the Partnership under the Delaware Act, the
General Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the
amount of $20.00, for a General Partner Interest equal to a 2% Percentage
Interest and has been admitted as the General Partner of the Partnership, and
the Organizational Limited Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the
Partnership in the amount of $980.00 for a Limited Partner Interest equal to a
98% Percentage Interest and has been admitted as a Limited Partner of the
Partnership. As of the Closing Date and effective with the admission of another
Limited Partner to the Partnership, the interest of the Organizational Limited
Partner shall be redeemed as provided in the Contribution Agreement; and the
initial Capital Contribution of the Organizational Limited Partner shall
thereupon be refunded. Ninety-eight percent of any interest or other profit that
may have resulted from the investment or other use of such initial Capital
Contributions shall be allocated and distributed to the Organizational Limited
Partner, and the balance thereof shall be allocated and distributed to the
General Partner.
Section 5.2 Contributions
by the General Partner and its Affiliates.
(a) On the
Closing Date and pursuant to the Contribution Agreement: (i) the General
Partner shall contribute to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of
its ownership interests in the Cowtown Entities, in exchange for (A) 469,944
General Partner Units representing a continuation of its General Partner
Interest equal to a 2% Percentage Interest, subject to all of the rights,
privileges and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement, and
(B) the Incentive Distribution Rights; (ii) Holdings shall contribute
to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its limited partner
interests in the Cowtown Entities in exchange for 5,696,752 Common Units,
11,513,625 Subordinated Units and the right to receive $162.1 million in
reimbursement for certain capital expenditures and return of investment capital;
and (iii) the Private Investors shall contribute to the Partnership, as a
Capital Contribution, all of their limited partner interests in the Cowtown
Entities in exchange for 816,873 Common Units and the right to receive
$7.7 million in reimbursement for certain capital expenditures and return
of investment capital.
(b) Upon the
issuance of any additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership (other
than the Common Units issued in the Initial Offering, the Common Units and
Subordinated Units issued pursuant to Section 5.2(a), any Class B Units
issued pursuant to Section 5.11 and any Common Units issued upon conversion
of Class B Units), the General Partner may, in exchange for a proportionate
number of General Partner Units, make additional Capital Contributions in an
amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the quotient
determined by dividing (A) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest by
(B) 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest times (ii) the
amount contributed to the Partnership by the Limited Partners in exchange for
such additional Limited Partner Interests. Except as set forth in
Article XII, the General Partner shall not be obligated to make any
additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership.
37
Section 5.3 Contributions
by Initial Limited Partners.
(a) On the
Closing Date and pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, each Underwriter shall
contribute to the Partnership cash in an amount equal to the Issue Price per
Initial Common Unit, multiplied by the number of Common Units specified in the
Underwriting Agreement to be purchased by such Underwriter at the Closing Date.
In exchange for such Capital Contributions by the Underwriters, the Partnership
shall issue Common Units to each Underwriter on whose behalf such Capital
Contribution is made in an amount equal to the quotient obtained by dividing
(i) the cash contribution to the Partnership by or on behalf of such
Underwriter by (ii) the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit.
(b) Upon the
exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, each Underwriter shall contribute to the
Partnership cash in an amount equal to the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit,
multiplied by the number of Common Units to be purchased by such Underwriter at
the Option Closing Date. In exchange for such Capital Contributions by the
Underwriters, the Partnership shall issue Common Units to each Underwriter on
whose behalf such Capital Contribution is made in an amount equal to the
quotient obtained by dividing (i) the cash contributions to the Partnership
by or on behalf of such Underwriter by (ii) the Issue Price per Initial
Common Unit.
(c) No
Limited Partner Interests will be issued or issuable as of or at the Closing
Date other than (i) the Common Units issuable pursuant to subparagraph
(a) hereof in aggregate number equal to 5,000,000, (ii) the “Option
Units” as such term is used in the Underwriting Agreement in an aggregate number
up to 750,000 issuable upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option pursuant to
subparagraph (b) hereof, (iii) the 11,513,625 Subordinated Units
issuable to pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof, (iv) the 6,513,625 Common Units
issuable pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof, and (v) the Incentive
Distribution Rights.
Section 5.4 Interest
and Withdrawal.
No
interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions. No Partner
shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution,
except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement
or upon termination of the Partnership may be considered as such by law and then
only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent
expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner shall have priority over any
other Partner either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits,
losses or distributions. Any such return shall be a compromise to which all
Partners agree within the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of the Delaware
Act.
Section 5.5 Capital
Accounts.
(a) The
Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of
Partnership Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has
furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with
Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to the General
Partner) owning a Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account with respect
to such Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be
increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made to the
Partnership with respect to such Partnership Interest and
38
(b) For
purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction
which is to be allocated pursuant to Article VI and is to be reflected in
the Partners’ Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition and
classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination,
recognition and classification for federal income tax purposes (including any
method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for that
purpose), provided,
that:
(i) Solely
for purposes of this Section 5.5, the Partnership shall be treated as
owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by the General Partner
based upon the provisions of the applicable Group Member Agreement or governing,
organizational or similar documents) of all property owned by any other Group
Member that is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and
(y) any other partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated
business or other entity classified as a partnership for federal income tax
purposes of which a Group Member is, directly or indirectly, a
partner.
(ii) All fees
and other expenses incurred by the Partnership to promote the sale of (or to
sell) a Partnership Interest that can neither be deducted nor amortized under
Section 709 of the Code, if any, shall, for purposes of Capital Account
maintenance, be treated as an item of deduction at the time such fees and other
expenses are incurred and shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to
Section 6.1.
(iii) Except as
otherwise provided in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), the computation of all items
of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made without regard to any election
under Section 754 of the Code which may be made by the Partnership and, as
to those items described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the
Code, without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross
income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized for federal income
tax purposes. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any
Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required,
pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken
into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment in
the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or loss.
(iv) Any
income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable disposition of any Partnership
property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property as of
such date of disposition were equal in amount to the Partnership’s Carrying
Value with respect to such property as of such date.
39
(v) In
accordance with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code, any deductions
for depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to any Contributed
Property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property on the
date it was acquired by the Partnership were equal to the Agreed Value of such
property. Upon an adjustment pursuant to Section 5.5(d) to the Carrying
Value of any Partnership property subject to depreciation, cost recovery or
amortization, any further deductions for such depreciation, cost recovery or
amortization attributable to such property shall be determined as if the
adjusted basis of such property were equal to the Carrying Value of such
property immediately following such adjustment.
(vi) If the
Partnership’s adjusted basis in a depreciable or cost recovery property is
reduced for federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 48(q)(1) or
48(q)(3) of the Code, the amount of such reduction shall, solely for purposes
hereof, be deemed to be an additional depreciation or cost recovery deduction in
the year such property is placed in service and shall be allocated among the
Partners pursuant to Section 6.1. Any restoration of such basis pursuant to
Section 48(q)(2) of the Code shall, to the extent possible, be allocated in
the same manner to the Partners to whom such deemed deduction was
allocated.
(c)
(i) A
transferee of a Partnership Interest shall succeed to a pro rata portion of the
Capital Account of the transferor relating to the Partnership Interest so
transferred.
(ii) Subject
to Section 6.7(c), immediately prior to the transfer of a Subordinated Unit
or of a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to
Section 5.7 by a holder thereof (other than a transfer to an Affiliate
unless the General Partner elects to have this subparagraph 5.5(c)(ii) apply),
the Capital Account maintained for such Person with respect to its Subordinated
Units or converted Subordinated Units will (A) first, be allocated to the
Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units to be transferred in an
amount equal to the product of (x) the number of such Subordinated Units or
converted Subordinated Units to be transferred and (y) the Per Unit Capital
Amount for a Common Unit, and (B) second, any remaining balance in such
Capital Account will be retained by the transferor, regardless of whether it has
retained any Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units (“Retained
Converted Subordinated Units”). Following any such allocation, the
transferor’s Capital Account, if any, maintained with respect to the retained
Subordinated Units or Retained Converted Subordinated Units, if any, will have a
balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (B) hereinabove, and the
transferee’s Capital Account established with respect to the transferred
Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units will have a balance equal to
the amount allocated under clause (A) hereinabove.
(d)
(i) In
accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), on
an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed
Property, the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the
provision of services or the conversion of the General Partner’s Combined
Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b), the Capital Account
of all Partners and the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately
prior to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any
Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, as
if such Unrealized Gain or
40
Unrealized
Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property immediately
prior to such issuance and had been allocated to the Partners at such time
pursuant to Section 6.1(c) in the same manner as any item of gain or loss
actually recognized during such period would have been allocated. In determining
such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate cash amount and fair
market value of all Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents)
immediately prior to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests shall be
determined by the General Partner using such method of valuation as it may
adopt; provided,
however, that the General Partner, in arriving at such valuation, must
take fully into account the fair market value of the Partnership Interests of
all Partners at such time. The General Partner shall allocate such aggregate
value among the assets of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines) to
arrive at a fair market value for individual properties.
(ii) In
accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f),
immediately prior to any actual or deemed distribution to a Partner of any
Partnership property (other than a distribution of cash that is not in
redemption or retirement of a Partnership Interest), the Capital Accounts of all
Partners and the Carrying Value of all Partnership property shall be adjusted
upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss
attributable to such Partnership property, as if such Unrealized Gain or
Unrealized Loss had been recognized in a sale of such property immediately prior
to such distribution for an amount equal to its fair market value, and had been
allocated to the Partners, at such time, pursuant to Section 6.1(c) in the
same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized during such period
would have been allocated. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized
Loss the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets
(including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall
(A) in the case of an actual distribution that is not made pursuant to
Section 12.4 or in the case of a deemed distribution, be determined and
allocated in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.5(d)(i) or
(B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to
Section 12.4, be determined and allocated by the Liquidator using such
method of valuation as it may adopt.
Section 5.6 Issuances
of Additional Partnership Securities.
(a) The
Partnership may issue additional Partnership Securities and options, rights,
warrants and appreciation rights relating to the Partnership Securities
(including pursuant to Section 7.4(c)) for any Partnership purpose at any time
and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms
and conditions as the General Partner shall determine, all without the approval
of any Limited Partners.
(b) Each
additional Partnership Security authorized to be issued by the Partnership
pursuant to Section 5.6(a) or security authorized to be issued pursuant to
Section 7.4(c) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of
any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties
(which may be senior to existing classes and series of Partnership Securities),
as shall be fixed by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share
in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share
in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and
liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions
upon which, the Partnership may redeem the Partnership Security or
other
41
(c) The
General Partner shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or
appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Securities
and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership
Securities pursuant to this Section 5.6, or Section 7.4(c), (ii) the
conversion of the General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner
Units) or any Incentive Distribution Rights into Units pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement, (iii) the issuance of Class B Units pursuant to Section
5.11 and the conversion of Class B Units into Common Units pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement, (iv) reflecting admission of such additional Limited
Partners in the books and records of the Partnership as the Record Holder of
such Limited Partner Interest and (v) all additional issuances of
Partnership Securities. The General Partner shall determine the relative rights,
powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Securities
being so issued. The General Partner shall do all things necessary to comply
with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it
determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance
of Partnership Securities or in connection with the conversion of the General
Partner Interest or any Incentive Distribution Rights into Units pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation
or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or any National
Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Securities are
listed or admitted to trading.
(d) No
fractional Units shall be issued by the Partnership.
Section 5.7 Conversion
of Subordinated Units.
(a) Notwithstanding
Section 5.7(c) below, the Subordination Period shall terminate and all of the
Outstanding Subordinated Units will convert into Common Units on a one-for-one
basis on the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to
Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect of any Quarter ending on or
after June 30, 2010, in respect of which:
(i) distributions
of Available Cash from Operating Surplus under Section 6.4(a) on each of
the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding
Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units and the General Partner Units with respect to each of the three
consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such
date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of
the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding
Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units and the General Partner Units during such periods;
42
(ii) the
Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping
four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum
of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the Common Units, Subordinated
Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to
the Subordinated Units and the General Partner Units that were Outstanding
during such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis; and
(iii) there are
no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.
(b) Notwithstanding
Section 5.7(a) above or Section 5.7(c) below, the Subordination Period shall
terminate and all the Outstanding Subordinated Units will convert into Common
Units on a one-for-one basis on the first Business Day following the
distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in
respect of any Quarter ending on or after June 30, 2007, in respect of
which:
(i) distributions
of Available Cash from Operating Surplus under Section 6.4(a) in respect of
all Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units, any other Outstanding Units
that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units and
the General Partner Units with respect to each of the four consecutive,
non-overlapping Quarters immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded
150% of the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the Outstanding
Common Units, Subordinated Units, any other Outstanding Units that are senior or
equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units and the General Partner
Units during such period;
(ii) the
Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of the four consecutive, non-overlapping
Quarters immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded 150% of the sum of
the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the Common Units, Subordinated
Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to
the Subordinated Units and the General Partner Units that were Outstanding
during such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis; and
(iii) there are
no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.
(c) Any
Subordinated Units that are not converted into Common Units pursuant to
Section 5.7(a) or (b) shall convert into Common Units on a one-for-one
basis on the second Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to
Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect of the final Quarter of the
Subordination Period.
(d) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, all the then Outstanding Subordinated
Units will automatically convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis as set
forth in, and pursuant to the terms of, Section 11.4.
(e) A
Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject to the
provisions of Section 6.7(b) and Section 6.7(c).
43
Section 5.8 Limited
Preemptive Right.
Except as
provided in this Section 5.8 and in Section 5.2, no Person shall have
any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance
of any Partnership Security, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter
created. The General Partner shall have the right, which it may from time to
time assign in whole or in part to any of its Affiliates, to purchase
Partnership Securities from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms
that, the Partnership issues Partnership Securities to Persons other than the
General Partner and its Affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain the
Percentage Interests of the General Partner and its Affiliates equal to that
which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership
Securities.
Section 5.9 Splits
and Combinations.
(a) Subject
to Section 5.9(d), Section 6.6 and Section 6.9 (dealing with
adjustments of distribution levels), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata
distribution of Partnership Securities to all Record Holders or may effect a
subdivision or combination of Partnership Securities so long as, after any such
event, each Partner shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership
as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis (including
any Common Unit Arrearage or Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage) or stated as a
number of Units (including the number of Subordinated Units that may convert
prior to the end of the Subordination Period) are proportionately
adjusted.
(b) Whenever
such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Securities is
declared, the General Partner shall select a Record Date as of which the
distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send
notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such Record Date to each Record
Holder as of a date not less than 10 days prior to the date of such notice.
The General Partner also may cause a firm of independent public accountants
selected by it to calculate the number of Partnership Securities to be held by
each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or
combination. The General Partner shall be entitled to rely on any certificate
provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such
calculation.
(c) Promptly
following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may
issue Certificates to the Record Holders of Partnership Securities as of the
applicable Record Date representing the new number of Partnership Securities
held by such Record Holders, or the General Partner may adopt such other
procedures that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect such
changes. If any such combination results in a smaller total number of
Partnership Securities Outstanding, the Partnership shall require, as a
condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of such new Certificate, the
surrender of any Certificate held by such Record Holder immediately prior to
such Record Date.
(d) The
Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision
or combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units
would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of this
Section 5.9(d), each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole
Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall be rounded to the next higher Unit).
44
Section 5.10 Fully
Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests.
All
Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the
requirements of, this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable
Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability
may be affected by Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act.
Section 5.11 Issuance
of Class B Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution
Rights.
(a) Subject
to the provisions of this Section 5.11, the holder of the Incentive
Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive
Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive
Distribution Rights) shall have the right, at any time when there are no
Subordinated Units outstanding and the Partnership has made a distribution
pursuant to Section 6.4(b)(v) for each of the four most recently completed
Quarters and the amount of each such distribution did not exceed Adjusted
Operating Surplus for such Quarter, to make an election (the “IDR Reset
Election”) to cause the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target
Distributions to be reset in accordance with the provisions of
Section 5.11(e) and, in connection therewith, the holder or holders of the
Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive their respective
proportionate share of a number of Class B Units derived by dividing
(i) the average amount of cash distributions made by the Partnership for
the two full Quarters immediately preceding the giving of the Reset Notice (as
defined in Section 5.11(b)) in respect of the Incentive Distribution Rights
by (ii) the average of the cash distributions made by the Partnership in
respect of each Common Unit for the two full Quarters immediately preceding the
giving of the Reset Notice (the number of Class B Units determined by such
quotient is referred to herein as the “Aggregate
Quantity of Class B Units”). Upon the issuance of such Class B
Units, the Partnership will issue to the General Partner that number of
additional General Partner Units equal to the product of (x) the quotient
obtained by dividing (A) the Percentage Interest of the General Partner
immediately prior to such issuance by (B) a percentage equal to 100% less such
Percentage Interest by (y) the number of such Class B Units, and the General
Partner shall not be obligated to make any additional Capital Contribution to
the Partnership in exchange for such issuance. The making of the IDR Reset
Election in the manner specified in Section 5.11(b) shall cause the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions to be reset in accordance
with the provisions of Section 5.11(e) and, in connection therewith, the
holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to
receive Class B Units and General Partner Units on the basis specified above,
without any further approval required by the General Partner or the Unitholders,
at the time specified in Section 5.11(c) unless the IDR Reset Election is
rescinded pursuant to Section 5.11(d).
(b) To
exercise the right specified in Section 5.11(a), the holder of the
Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the
Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the
Incentive Distribution Rights) shall deliver a written notice (the “Reset
Notice”) to the Partnership. Within 10 Business Days after the receipt by
the Partnership of such Reset Notice, as the case may be, the Partnership shall
deliver a written notice to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution
Rights of the Partnership’s determination of the aggregate number of Class B
Units which each holder of Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to
receive.
45
(c) The
holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to
receive the Aggregate Quantity of Class B Units and related additional General
Partner Units on the fifteenth Business Day after receipt by the Partnership of
the Reset Notice, and the Partnership shall issue Certificates for the Class B
Units to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights; provided, however, that the
issuance of Class B Units to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution
Rights shall not occur prior to the approval of the listing or admission for
trading of the Common Units into which the Class B Units are convertible
pursuant to Section 5.11(f) by the principal National Securities Exchange upon
which the Common Units are then listed or admitted for trading if any such
approval is required pursuant to the rules and regulations of such National
Securities Exchange.
(d) If the
principal National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then
traded have not approved the listing or admission for trading of the Common
Units into which the Class B Units are convertible pursuant to Section 5.11(f)
on or before the 30th calendar day following the Partnership’s receipt of the
Reset Notice and such approval is required by the rules and regulations of such
National Securities Exchange, then the holder of the Incentive Distribution
Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution
Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution
Rights) shall have the right to either rescind the IDR Reset Election or elect
to receive other Partnership Securities having such terms as the General Partner
may approve, with the approval of the Conflicts Committee, that will provide
(i) the same economic value, in the aggregate, as the Aggregate Quantity of
Common Units would have had at the time of the Partnership’s receipt of the
Reset Notice, as determined by the General Partner, and (ii) for the
subsequent conversion of such Partnership Securities into Common Units within
not more than 12 months following the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset
Notice upon the satisfaction of one or more conditions that are reasonably
acceptable to the holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is
more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a
majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights).
(e) The
Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target
Distribution and Third Target Distribution shall be adjusted at the time of the
issuance of Common Units or other Partnership Securities pursuant to this
Section 5.11 such that (i) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution shall be
reset to equal to the average cash distribution amount per Common Unit for the
two Quarters immediately prior to the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice
(the “Reset
MQD”), (ii) the First Target Distribution shall be reset to equal
115% of the Reset MQD, (iii) the Second Target Distribution shall be reset
to equal to 125% of the Reset MQD and (iv) the Third Target Distribution
shall be reset to equal 150% of the Reset MQD.
(f) Any
holder of Class B Units shall have the right to elect, by giving written notice
to the General Partner, to convert all or a portion of the Class B Units held by
such holder, at any time following the first anniversary of the issuance of such
Class B Units, into Common Units on a one-for-one basis, such conversion to be
effective on the second Business Day following the General Partner’s receipt of
such written notice.
46
ARTICLE
VI
ALLOCATIONS
AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 6.1 Allocations
for Capital Account Purposes.
For
purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of
the Partners among themselves, the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss and
deduction (computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b)) shall be allocated
among the Partners in each taxable year (or portion thereof) as provided herein
below.
(a) Net Income. After giving
effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Income
for each taxable year and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken
into account in computing Net Income for such taxable year shall be allocated as
follows:
(i) First,
100% to the General Partner, in an amount equal to the aggregate Net Losses
allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii) for all
previous taxable years until the aggregate Net Income allocated to the General
Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(i) for the current taxable year and
all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to the
General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii) for all previous taxable
years;
(ii) Second, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until the aggregate Net Income allocated to such Partners pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(ii) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to such Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(ii) for all previous taxable years; and
(iii) Third,
the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in
accordance with their respective Percentage Interests;
provided, however Unitholders
holding Class B Units will not be allocated any items of income, gain, loss or
deduction pursuant to this Section 6.1(a) with respect to their Class B Units
until the Adjusted Capital Account of each Common Unit or comparable fraction
thereof and each Class B Unit or comparable fraction thereof are
equal.
(b) Net Losses. After giving
effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Losses
for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken
into account in computing Net Losses for such taxable period shall be allocated
as follows:
(i) First,
100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests, until the aggregate Net Losses allocated
pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) for the current taxable year and all
previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net Income allocated to such
Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(iii) for all previous taxable
years, provided that
the Net Losses shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) to
the extent that such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have
a
47
deficit
balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable year (or
increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital
Account);
(ii) Second,
100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests; provided, that Net Losses
shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(ii) to the extent
that such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its
Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable year (or increase any
existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account); and
(iii) Third,
the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner;
provided, however Unitholders
holding Class B Units will not be allocated any items of income, gain, loss or
deduction pursuant to this Section 6.1(b) with respect to their Class B Units
until the Adjusted Capital Account of each Common Unit or comparable fraction
thereof and each Class B Unit or comparable fraction thereof are
equal.
(c) Net Termination Gains and
Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in
Section 6.1(d), all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into
account in computing Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss for such
taxable period shall be allocated in the same manner as such Net Termination
Gain or Net Termination Loss is allocated hereunder. All allocations under this
Section 6.1(c) shall be made after Capital Account balances have been
adjusted by all other allocations provided under this Section 6.1 and after
all distributions of Available Cash provided under Section 6.4 and
Section 6.5 have been made; provided, however, that solely for
purposes of this Section 6.1(c), Capital Accounts shall not be adjusted for
distributions made pursuant to Section 12.4.
(i) If a Net
Termination Gain is recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section
5.5(d)), such Net Termination Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in the
following manner (and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be increased by
the amount so allocated in each of the following subclauses, in the order
listed, before an allocation is made pursuant to the next succeeding
subclause):
(A) First, to
each Partner having a deficit balance in its Capital Account, in the proportion
that such deficit balance bears to the total deficit balances in the Capital
Accounts of all Partners, until each such Partner has been allocated Net
Termination Gain equal to any such deficit balance in its Capital
Account;
(B) Second,
(x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and
(y) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal
to 100% less the percentage applicable to subclause (x) of this clause (B),
until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is
equal to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (2) the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution for the Quarter during which the Liquidation Date
occurs, reduced by any distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(i) or
Section 6.4(b)(i) with respect to such Common Unit for such Quarter (the
amount
48
determined
pursuant to this clause (2) is hereinafter defined as the “Unpaid MQD”) and (3) any
then existing Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage;
(C) Third, if
the Adjusted Capital Account of a Common Unit or comparable fraction thereof and
a Class B Unit (or converted Class B Unit) or comparable fraction thereof are
not identical, (x) to all Unitholders holding the class of Units with the lower
Adjusted Capital Account, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the
percentage applicable to subclause (y) of this clause (C), and (y) to the
General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, until the Adjusted
Capital Account of each Common Unit or comparable fraction thereof and each
Class B Unit (or converted Class B Unit) or comparable fraction thereof are
equal;
(D) Fourth,
if such Net Termination Gain is recognized (or is deemed to be recognized) prior
to the conversion of the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit, (x) to the General
Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all
Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100%
less the percentage applicable to subclause (x) of this clause (D), until
the Capital Account in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding equals
the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, determined for the taxable
year (or portion thereof) to which this allocation of gain relates, and
(2) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for the Quarter during which the
Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by any distribution pursuant to
Section 6.4(a)(iii) with respect to such Subordinated Unit for such
Quarter;
(E) Fifth,
100% to the General Partner and all Unitholders in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests, until the Capital Account in respect of each
Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered
Initial Unit Price, (2) the Unpaid MQD, (3) any then existing
Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage, and (4) the excess of (aa) the First
Target Distribution less the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for each Quarter of
the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any
distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made
pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(iv) and Section 6.4(b)(ii) (the sum of (1),
(2), (3) and (4) is hereinafter defined as the “First Liquidation
Target Amount”);
(F) Sixth,
(x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest,
(y) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and
(z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum
of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause
(F), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding
is equal to the sum of (1) the First Liquidation Target Amount, and
(2) the excess of (aa) the Second Target Distribution less the First
Target Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over
(bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash
that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(v)
and Section 6.4(b)(iii) (the sum of (1) and (2) is hereinafter
defined as the “Second
Liquidation Target Amount”);
49
(G) Seventh,
(x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest,
(y) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and
(z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum
of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause
(G), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding
is equal to the sum of (1) the Second Liquidation Target Amount, and
(2) the excess of (aa) the Third Target Distribution less the Second
Target Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over
(bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash
that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(vi)
and Section 6.4(b)(iv) (the sum of (1) and (2) is hereinafter
defined as the “Third Liquidation
Target Amount”); and
(H) Finally,
(x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest,
(y) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and
(z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum
of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause
(H).
(ii) If a Net
Termination Loss is recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section
5.5(d)), such Net Termination Loss shall be allocated among the Partners in the
following manner:
(B) Second,
if the Adjusted Capital Account of a Common Unit or comparable fraction there of
and a Class B Unit (or converted Class B Unit) or comparable fraction thereof
are not identical, to (i) the Unitholders holding the class of Units with the
higher Adjusted Capital Account and (ii) the General Partner, in accordance with
their Percentage Interests, until the Adjusted Capital Account of each Common
Unit or comparable fraction thereof and each Class B Unit (or converted Class B
Unit) or comparable fraction thereof are equal;
(C) Third,
(x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and
(y) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the
percentage applicable to subclause (x) of this clause (C) until the
Capital Account in respect of each Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to
zero; and
(D) Fourth,
the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.
(d) Special Allocations.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, the following
special allocations shall be made for such taxable period:
50
(i) Partnership Minimum Gain
Chargeback. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1,
if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Partnership
taxable period, each Partner shall be allocated items of Partnership income and
gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and
amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(f)(6),
1.704-2(g)(2) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(i), or any successor provision. For purposes of
this Section 6.1(d), each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall
be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder shall be
effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this
Section 6.1(d) with respect to such taxable period (other than an
allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(vi) and Section 6.1(d)(vii)).
This Section 6.1(d)(i) is intended to comply with the Partnership Minimum
Gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and
shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(ii) Chargeback of Partner Nonrecourse
Debt Minimum Gain. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this
Section 6.1 (other than Section 6.1(d)(i)), except as provided in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4), if there is a net decrease
in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period,
any Partner with a share of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the
beginning of such taxable period shall be allocated items of Partnership income
and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner
and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and
1.704-2(j)(2)(ii), or any successor provisions. For purposes of this
Section 6.1(d), each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account
balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required
hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations
pursuant to this Section 6.1(d), other than Section 6.1(d)(i) and
other than an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(vi) and
Section 6.1(d)(vii), with respect to such taxable period. This
Section 6.1(d)(ii) is intended to comply with the chargeback of items of
income and gain requirement in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently
therewith.
(iii) Priority
Allocations.
(A) If the
amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of any property distributed (except cash
or property distributed pursuant to Section 12.4) to any Unitholder with
respect to its Units for a taxable year is greater (on a per Unit basis) than
the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property distributed to the other
Unitholders with respect to their Units (on a per Unit basis), then
(1) there shall be allocated income and gain to each Unitholder receiving
such greater cash or property distribution until the aggregate amount of such
items allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A) for the current
taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the product of
(aa) the amount by which the distribution (on a per Unit basis) to such
Unitholder exceeds the distribution (on a per Unit basis) to the Unitholders
receiving the smallest distribution and (bb) the number of Units owned by
the Unitholder receiving the greater distribution; and (2) the General
Partner shall be allocated income and gain in an aggregate amount equal to the
product obtained by multiplying (aa) the quotient determined
by
51
dividing
(x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest at the time in which the
greater cash or property distribution occurs by (y) the sum of 100 less the
General Partner’s Percentage Interest at the time in which the greater cash or
property distribution occurs times (bb) the sum of the amounts allocated in
clause (1) above.
(B) After the
application of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A), all or any portion of the remaining
items of Partnership income or gain for the taxable period, if any, shall be
allocated (1) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata,
until the aggregate amount of such items allocated to the holders of Incentive
Distribution Rights pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(B) for the current
taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the cumulative amount of
all Incentive Distributions made to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights
from the Closing Date to a date 45 days after the end of the current
taxable year; and (2) to the General Partner an amount equal to the product
of (aa) an amount equal to the quotient determined by dividing (x) the
General Partner’s Percentage Interest by (y) the sum of 100 less the
General Partner’s Percentage Interest times (bb) the sum of the amounts
allocated in clause (1) above.
(C) After the
application of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A) and Section 6.1(d)(iii)(B), all or any
portion of the remaining items of Partnership income or gain for the taxable
period, if any, shall be allocated (1) to the Unitholders holding Class B Units,
Pro Rata, until the aggregate amount of such items allocated to the holders of
Class B Units pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(C) for the current taxable
year and all previous taxable years is equal to the cumulative amount of all
distributions of Available Cash made to the holders of Class B Units during the
periods such holders of Class B Units are not allocated any items of income,
gain, loss or deduction pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or Section 6.1(b) with
respect to their Class B Units; and (2) to the General Partner an amount equal
to the product of (aa) an amount equal to the quotient determined by dividing
(x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest by (y) the sum of 100 less the
General Partner’s Percentage Interest times (bb) the sum of the amounts
allocated in clause (1) above.
(iv) Qualified Income Offset. In
the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or
distributions described in Treasury Regulation Sections
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6),
items of Partnership income and gain shall be specially allocated to such
Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required
by the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b)
of the Code, the deficit balance, if any, in its Adjusted Capital Account
created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible
unless such deficit balance is otherwise eliminated pursuant to Section
6.1(d)(i) or Section 6.1(d)(ii).
(v) Gross Income Allocations. In
the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of
any Partnership taxable period in excess of the sum of (A) the amount such
Partner is required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this
52
Agreement
and (B) the amount such Partner is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to
Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner
shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain in the amount
of such excess as quickly as possible; provided, that an allocation
pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(v) shall be made only if and to the extent
that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Capital Account as
adjusted after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have
been tentatively made as if this Section 6.1(d)(v) were not in this
Agreement.
(vi) Nonrecourse Deductions.
Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Partners
in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. If the General Partner
determines that the Partnership’s Nonrecourse Deductions should be allocated in
a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Treasury
Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the General Partner is
authorized, upon notice to the other Partners, to revise the prescribed ratio to
the numerically closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.
(vii) Partner Nonrecourse
Deductions. Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall
be allocated 100% to the Partner that bears the Economic Risk of Loss with
respect to the Partner Nonrecourse Debt to which such Partner Nonrecourse
Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If more than one Partner bears the
Economic Risk of Loss with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt, such Partner
Nonrecourse Deductions attributable thereto shall be allocated between or among
such Partners in accordance with the ratios in which they share such Economic
Risk of Loss.
(viii) Nonrecourse Liabilities. For
purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), the Partners agree
that Nonrecourse Liabilities of the Partnership in excess of the sum of
(A) the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain and (B) the total amount of
Nonrecourse Built-in Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance
with their respective Percentage Interests.
(ix) Code Section 754
Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any
Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required,
pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be
taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such
adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the
adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment
decreases such basis), and such item of gain or loss shall be specially
allocated to the Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to
such Section of the Treasury Regulations.
(x) Economic
Uniformity.
(A) At the
election of the General Partner with respect to any taxable period ending upon,
or after, the termination of the Subordination Period, all or a portion of the
remaining items of Partnership income or gain for such taxable period, after
taking into account allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(iii),
shall
53
be
allocated 100% to each Partner holding Subordinated Units that are Outstanding
as of the termination of the Subordination Period (“Final
Subordinated Units”) in the proportion of the number of Final
Subordinated Units held by such Partner to the total number of Final
Subordinated Units then Outstanding, until each such Partner has been allocated
an amount of income or gain that increases the Capital Account maintained with
respect to such Final Subordinated Units to an amount equal to the product of
(A) the number of Final Subordinated Units held by such Partner and (B) the
Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit. The purpose of this allocation is to
establish uniformity between the Capital Accounts underlying Final Subordinated
Units and the Capital Accounts underlying Common Units held by Persons other
than the General Partner and its Affiliates immediately prior to the conversion
of such Final Subordinated Units into Common Units. This allocation method for
establishing such economic uniformity will be available to the General Partner
only if the method for allocating the Capital Account maintained with respect to
the Subordinated Units between the transferred and retained Subordinated Units
pursuant to Section 5.5(c)(ii) does not otherwise provide such economic
uniformity to the Final Subordinated Units.
(B) At the
election of the General Partner with respect to any taxable period ending upon,
or after, the conversion of the Class B Units pursuant to Section 5.11(f),
all or a portion of the remaining items of Partnership income or gain for such
taxable period, after taking into account allocations pursuant to Section
6.1(d)(iii) and Section 6.1(d)(x)(A), shall be allocated 100% to the holder
or holders of the Common Units resulting from the conversion pursuant to Section
5.11(f) (“Converted Common
Units”) in the proportion of the number of the Converted Common Units
held by such holder or holders to the total number of Converted Common Units
then Outstanding, until each such holder has been allocated an amount of income
or gain that increases the Capital Account maintained with respect to such
Converted Common Units to an amount equal to the product of (A) the number
of Converted Common Units held by such holder and (B) the Per Unit Capital
Amount for a Common Unit. The purpose of this allocation is to establish
uniformity between the Capital Accounts underlying Converted Common Units and
the Capital Accounts underlying Common Units held by Persons other than the
General Partner and its Affiliates immediately prior to the receipt of Common
Units pursuant to Section 5.11(f).
(xi) Curative
Allocation.
(A) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Section 6.1, other than the Required
Allocations, the Required Allocations shall be taken into account in making the
Agreed Allocations so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of items of
income, gain, loss and deduction allocated to each Partner pursuant to the
Required Allocations and the Agreed Allocations, together, shall be equal to the
net amount of such items that would have been allocated to each such Partner
under the Agreed Allocations had the Required Allocations and the related
Curative Allocation not otherwise been provided in this
Section 6.1.
54
Notwithstanding
the preceding sentence, Required Allocations relating to (1) Nonrecourse
Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has
been a decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain and (2) Partner Nonrecourse
Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has
been a decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Allocations pursuant
to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall only be made with respect to Required
Allocations to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations
will otherwise be inconsistent with the economic agreement among the Partners.
Further, allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall be
deferred with respect to allocations pursuant to clauses (1) and
(2) hereof to the extent the General Partner determines that such
allocations are likely to be offset by subsequent Required
Allocations.
(B) The
General Partner shall, with respect to each taxable period, (1) apply the
provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) in whatever order is most likely to
minimize the economic distortions that might otherwise result from the Required
Allocations, and (2) divide all allocations pursuant to
Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) among the Partners in a manner that is likely to
minimize such economic distortions.
(xii) Corrective Allocations. In
the event of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items or any
Book-Down Event or any recognition of a Net Termination Loss, the following
rules shall apply:
(A) In the
case of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (other than an
allocation of Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss under Section 5.5(d)
hereof), the General Partner shall allocate additional items of income and gain
away from the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights to the Unitholders and
the General Partner, or additional items of deduction and loss away from the
Unitholders and the General Partner to the holders of Incentive Distribution
Rights, to the extent that the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items allocated
to the Unitholders or the General Partner exceed their Share of Additional Book
Basis Derivative Items. For this purpose, the Unitholders and the General
Partner shall be treated as being allocated Additional Book Basis Derivative
Items to the extent that such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items have
reduced the amount of income that would otherwise have been allocated to the
Unitholders or the General Partner under the Partnership Agreement (e.g.,
Additional Book Basis Derivative Items taken into account in computing cost of
goods sold would reduce the amount of book income otherwise available for
allocation among the Partners). Any allocation made pursuant to this Section
6.1(d)(xii)(A) shall be made after all of the other Agreed Allocations have been
made as if this Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement and, to the
extent necessary, shall require the reallocation of items that have been
allocated pursuant to such other Agreed Allocations.
(B) In the
case of any negative adjustments to the Capital Accounts of the Partners
resulting from a Book-Down Event or from the recognition of a Net
55
Termination
Loss, such negative adjustment (1) shall first be allocated, to the extent
of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments, in such a manner, as
determined by the General Partner, that to the extent possible the aggregate
Capital Accounts of the Partners will equal the amount that would have been the
Capital Account balance of the Partners if no prior Book-Up Events had occurred,
and (2) any negative adjustment in excess of the Aggregate Remaining Net
Positive Adjustments shall be allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c)
hereof.
(C) In making
the allocations required under this Section 6.1(d)(xii), the General
Partner may apply whatever conventions or other methodology it determines will
satisfy the purpose of this Section 6.1(d)(xii).
Section 6.2 Allocations
for Tax Purposes.
(a) Except as
otherwise provided herein, for federal income tax purposes, each item of income,
gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated among the Partners in the same
manner as its correlative item of “book” income, gain, loss or deduction is
allocated pursuant to Section 6.1.
(b) In an
attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable to a Contributed Property
or Adjusted Property, items of income, gain, loss, depreciation, amortization
and cost recovery deductions shall be allocated for federal income tax purposes
among the Partners as follows:
(i)
(A) In the case
of a Contributed Property, such items attributable thereto shall be allocated
among the Partners in the manner provided under Section 704(c) of the Code that
takes into account the variation between the Agreed Value of such property and
its adjusted basis at the time of contribution; and (B) any item of
Residual Gain or Residual Loss attributable to a Contributed Property shall be
allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of
“book” gain or loss is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1.
(ii) (A) In the case
of an Adjusted Property, such items shall (1) first, be allocated among the
Partners in a manner consistent with the principles of Section 704(c) of the
Code to take into account the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to
such property and the allocations thereof pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i) or
Section 5.5(d)(ii), and (2) second, in the event such property was
originally a Contributed Property, be allocated among the Partners in a manner
consistent with Section 6.2(b)(i)(A); and (B) any item of Residual
Gain or Residual Loss attributable to an Adjusted Property shall be allocated
among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” gain or
loss is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1.
(iii) The
General Partner shall apply the principles of Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-3(d) to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.
(c) For the
proper administration of the Partnership and for the preservation of uniformity
of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof), the General
Partner shall (i) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining
the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions;
(ii) make special allocations for federal
56
(d) The
General Partner may determine to depreciate or amortize the portion of an
adjustment under Section 743(b) of the Code attributable to unrealized
appreciation in any Adjusted Property (to the extent of the unamortized Book-Tax
Disparity) using a predetermined rate derived from the depreciation or
amortization method and useful life applied to the Partnership’s common basis of
such property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with Treasury
Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6) or any successor regulations thereto.
If the General Partner determines that such reporting position cannot reasonably
be taken, the General Partner may adopt depreciation and amortization
conventions under which all purchasers acquiring Limited Partner Interests in
the same month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, based
upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in the
Partnership’s property. If the General Partner chooses not to utilize such
aggregate method, the General Partner may use any other depreciation and
amortization conventions to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax
characteristics of any Limited Partner Interests, so long as such conventions
would not have a material adverse effect on the Limited Partners or the Record
Holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests.
(e) In
accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.1245-1(e), any gain
allocated to the Partners upon the sale or other taxable disposition of any
Partnership asset shall, to the extent possible, after taking into account other
required allocations of gain pursuant to this Section 6.2, be characterized as
Recapture Income in the same proportions and to the same extent as such Partners
(or their predecessors in interest) have been allocated any deductions directly
or indirectly giving rise to the treatment of such gains as Recapture
Income.
(f) All items
of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit recognized by the Partnership for
federal income tax purposes and allocated to the Partners in accordance with the
provisions hereof shall be determined without regard to any election under
Section 754 of the Code that may be made by the Partnership; provided, however, that such
allocations, once made, shall be adjusted (in the manner determined by the
General Partner) to take into account those adjustments permitted or required by
Sections 734 and 743 of the Code.
(g) Each item
of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction, for federal income tax
purposes, shall be determined on an annual basis and prorated on a monthly basis
and shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National
Securities Exchange on which the Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to
trading on the first Business Day of each month; provided, however, such items for the
period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the month in
which the Option Closing Date or the expiration of the Over-Allotment Option
occurs shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National
Securities
57
(h) Allocations
that would otherwise be made to a Limited Partner under the provisions of this
Article VI shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Limited Partner
Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the
identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of
the Code or any other method determined by the General Partner.
Section 6.3 Requirement
and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record
Holders.
(a) Within
45 days following the end of each Quarter commencing with the Quarter
ending on September 30, 2007, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash
with respect to such Quarter shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the
Delaware Act, be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the
Partnership to the Partners as of the Record Date selected by the General
Partner. All amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on any
date from any source shall be deemed to be Operating Surplus until the sum of
all amounts of Available Cash theretofore distributed by the Partnership to the
Partners pursuant to Section 6.4 equals the Operating Surplus from the
Closing Date through the close of the immediately preceding Quarter. Any
remaining amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on such date
shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.5, be deemed to be “Capital Surplus.” All
distributions required to be made under this Agreement shall be made subject to
Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act.
(b) Notwithstanding
Section 6.3(a), in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the
Partnership, all receipts received during or after the Quarter in which the
Liquidation Date occurs shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance
with, and subject to the terms and conditions of,
Section 12.4.
(c) The
General Partner may treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, or amounts
withheld with respect to, all or less than all of the Partners, as a
distribution of Available Cash to such Partners.
(d) Each
distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the
Partnership, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person
or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the
Record Date set for such distribution. Such payment shall constitute full
payment and satisfaction of the Partnership’s liability in
58
Section 6.4 Distributions
of Available Cash from Operating Surplus.
(a) During Subordination Period.
Available Cash with respect to any Quarter within the Subordination Period that
is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or
6.5 shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed as
follows, except as otherwise contemplated by Section 5.6 in respect of
other Partnership Securities issued pursuant thereto:
(i) First,
(x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to
the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less
the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in
respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(ii) Second,
(x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to
the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less
the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in
respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Cumulative
Common Unit Arrearage existing with respect to such Quarter;
(iii) Third,
(x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to
the Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100%
less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed
in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(iv) Fourth,
to the General Partner and all Unitholders, in accordance with their respective
Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit
then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution
over the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(v) Fifth,
(A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B)
13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and
(C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum
of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause
(v) until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then
Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over
the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;
(vi) Sixth,
(A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (B)
23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and
(C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to
100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and
(B) of this clause (vi), until there has been distributed in respect of
each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target
Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter;
and
59
(vii) Thereafter,
(A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest;
(B) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and
(C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum
of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause
(vii);
provided, however, if the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target
Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero
pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the distribution of
Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus with respect to any
Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.4(a)(vii).
(b) After Subordination Period.
Available Cash with respect to any Quarter after the Subordination Period that
is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or
Section 6.5, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, shall be
distributed as follows, except as otherwise required by Section 5.6(b) in
respect of additional Partnership Securities issued pursuant
thereto:
(i) First,
100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of
each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution
for such Quarter;
(ii) Second,
100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of
each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target
Distribution over the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such
Quarter;
(iii) Third,
(A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B)
13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and
(C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum
of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause
(iii), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding
an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First
Target Distribution for such Quarter;
(iv) Fourth,
(A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B)
23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and
(C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum
of the percentages applicable to subclause (A) and (B) of this clause
(iv), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding
an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second
Target Distribution for such Quarter; and
(v) Thereafter,
(A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest;
(B) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and
(C) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to
100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and
(B) of this clause (v);
provided, however, if the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target
Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero
pursuant
60
to the
second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the distribution of Available Cash that
is deemed to be Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made
solely in accordance with Section 6.4(b)(v).
Section 6.5 Distributions
of Available Cash from Capital Surplus.
Available
Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section
6.3(a) shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be
distributed, unless the provisions of Section 6.3 require otherwise, 100%
to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their respective
Percentage Interests, until a hypothetical holder of a Common Unit acquired on
the Closing Date has received with respect to such Common Unit, during the
period since the Closing Date through such date, distributions of Available Cash
that are deemed to be Capital Surplus in an aggregate amount equal to the
Initial Unit Price. Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus shall
then be distributed (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest and (B) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage
equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has
been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal
to the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage. Thereafter, all Available Cash shall be
distributed as if it were Operating Surplus and shall be distributed in
accordance with Section 6.4.
Section 6.6 Adjustment
of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels.
(a) The
Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target
Distribution, Third Target Distribution, Common Unit Arrearages and Cumulative
Common Unit Arrearages shall be proportionately adjusted in the event of any
distribution, combination or subdivision (whether effected by a distribution
payable in Units or otherwise) of Units or other Partnership Securities in
accordance with Section 5.9. In the event of a distribution of Available
Cash that is deemed to be from Capital Surplus, the then applicable Minimum
Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution
and Third Target Distribution, shall be adjusted proportionately downward to
equal the product obtained by multiplying the otherwise applicable Minimum
Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution
and Third Target Distribution, as the case may be, by a fraction of which the
numerator is the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price of the Common Units immediately
after giving effect to such distribution and of which the denominator is the
Unrecovered Initial Unit Price of the Common Units immediately prior to giving
effect to such distribution.
(b) The
Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target
Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall also be subject to adjustment
pursuant to Section 5.11 and Section 6.9.
(a) Except
with respect to the right to vote on or approve matters requiring the vote or
approval of a percentage of the holders of Outstanding Common Units and the
right to participate in allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and
distributions made with respect to Common Units, the holder of a Subordinated
Unit shall have all of the rights and obligations
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(b) A
Unitholder shall not be permitted to transfer a Subordinated Unit or a
Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to
Section 5.7 (other than a transfer to an Affiliate) if the remaining
balance in the transferring Unitholder’s Capital Account with respect to the
retained Subordinated Units or Retained Converted Subordinated Units would be
negative after giving effect to the allocation under
Section 5.5(c)(ii)(B).
(c) The
Unitholder holding a Common Unit that has resulted from the conversion of a
Subordinated Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 shall not be issued a Common Unit
Certificate pursuant to Section 4.1, and shall not be permitted to transfer
such Common Unit to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the holder until such
time as the General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that each
such Common Unit should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic
and federal income tax characteristics, in all material respects, to the
intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics of an Initial Common
Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.7(c), the
General Partner may take whatever steps are required to provide economic
uniformity to such Common Units in preparation for a transfer of such Common
Units, including the application of Sections 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x) and
6.7(b); provided,
however, that no such steps may be taken that would have a material
adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units represented by Common
Unit Certificates.
(d) Except
with respect to the right to vote on or approve matters requiring the vote or
approval of a percentage of the holders of Outstanding Common Units and the
right to participate in allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and
distributions made with respect to Common Units, the holders of Class B
Units shall have all the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common
Units; provided,
however, that immediately upon the conversion of Class B Units into
Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11, the Unitholders holding a
Class B Unit shall possess all the rights and obligations of a Unitholder
holding Common Units hereunder, including the right to vote as a Common
Unitholder and the right to participate in allocations of income, gain, loss and
deduction and distributions made with respect to Common Units; provided, however, that such
converted Class B Units shall remain subject to the provisions of
Sections 6.1(a), 6.1(b), 6.1(d)(iii), 6.1(d)(x)(B) and 6.7(e).
(e) The
holder or holders of Common Units resulting from the conversion pursuant to
Section 5.11(f) of any Class B Units pursuant to Section 5.11 shall
not be issued a Common Unit Certificate pursuant to Section 4.1, and shall
not be permitted to transfer such Common Units until such time as the General
Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that each such Common Unit
should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and federal income
tax characteristics, in all material respects, to the intrinsic economic and
federal income tax characteristics of an Initial Common Unit. In connection with
the condition imposed by this Section 6.7(d), the General Partner may take
whatever steps are required to provide economic
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Section
6.8 Special
Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution
Rights.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the
Incentive Distribution Rights (a) shall (i) possess the rights and
obligations provided in this Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner
pursuant to Article III and Article VII and (ii) have a Capital
Account as a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 and all other provisions
related thereto and (b) shall not (i) be entitled to vote on any
matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders of Outstanding Units,
except as provided by law, (ii) be entitled to any distributions other than
as provided in Sections 6.4(a)(v), (vi) and (vii),
Section 6.4(b)(iii), (iv) and (v), and Section 12.4 or (iii) be
allocated items of income, gain, loss or deduction other than as specified in
this Article VI.
Section 6.9 Entity-Level
Taxation.
If
legislation is enacted or the interpretation of existing language is modified by
a governmental taxing authority so that a Group Member is treated as an
association taxable as a corporation or is otherwise subject to an entity-level
tax for federal, state or local income tax purposes, then the General Partner
may reduce the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution,
the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution by the amount
of income taxes that are payable by reason of any such new legislation or
interpretation (the “Incremental
Income Taxes”), or any portion thereof selected by the General Partner,
in the manner provided in this Section 6.9. If the General Partner elects to
reduce the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the
Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution for any Quarter
with respect to all or a portion of any Incremental Income Taxes, the General
Partner shall estimate for such Quarter the Partnership Group’s aggregate
liability (the “Estimated
Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount”) for all such income taxes that are
payable by reason of any such new legislation or interpretation; provided that any difference
between such estimate and the actual tax liability for such Quarter that is owed
by reason of any such new legislation or interpretation shall be taken into
account in determining the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount with
respect to each Quarter in which any such difference can be determined. For each
such Quarter, the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution,
Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be the product
obtained by multiplying (a) the amounts therefor that are set out herein
prior to the application of this Section 6.9 times (b) the quotient
obtained by dividing (i) Available Cash with respect to such Quarter by
(ii) the sum of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter and the
Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for such Quarter, as determined by
the General Partner. For purposes of the foregoing, Available Cash with respect
to a Quarter will be deemed reduced by the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax
Amount for that Quarter.
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ARTICLE
VII
MANAGEMENT
AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
Section 7.1 Management.
(a) The
General Partner shall conduct, direct and manage all activities of the
Partnership. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all
management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be
exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner shall have any
management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. In addition
to the powers now or hereafter granted a general partner of a limited
partnership under applicable law or that are granted to the General Partner
under any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to
Section 7.3, shall have full power and authority to do all things and on
such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the
business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in
Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4,
including the following:
(i) the
making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or
guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the
issuance of evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness that is
convertible into Partnership Securities, and the incurring of any other
obligations;
(ii) the
making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other
reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business
or assets of the Partnership;
(iii) the
acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or
exchange of any or all of the assets of the Partnership or the merger or other
combination of the Partnership with or into another Person (the matters
described in this clause (iii) being subject, however, to any prior approval
that may be required by Section 7.3 and Article XIV);
(iv) the use
of the assets of the Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose
consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including the financing of the
conduct of the operations of the Partnership Group; subject to
Section 7.6(a), the lending of funds to other Persons (including other
Group Members); the repayment or guarantee of obligations of any Group Member;
and the making of capital contributions to any Group Member;
(v) the
negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other
instruments (including instruments that limit the liability of the Partnership
under contractual arrangements to all or particular assets of the Partnership,
with the other party to the contract to have no recourse against the General
Partner or its assets other than its interest in the Partnership, even if same
results in the terms of the transaction being less favorable to the Partnership
than would otherwise be the case);
(vi) the
distribution of Partnership cash;
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(viii) the
maintenance of insurance for the benefit of the Partnership Group, the Partners
and Indemnitees;
(ix) the
formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property
and the making of loans to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint
ventures, corporations, limited liability companies or other Persons (including
the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, any Group
Member from time to time) subject to the restrictions set forth in
Section 2.4;
(x) the
control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Partnership,
including the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and
otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation, arbitration or mediation and
the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and
litigation;
(xi) the
indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the
extent permitted by law;
(xii) the
entering into of listing agreements with any National Securities Exchange and
the delisting of some or all of the Limited Partner Interests from, or
requesting that trading be suspended on, any such exchange (subject to any prior
approval that may be required under Section 4.8);
(xiii)
the
purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership Securities, or
the issuance of options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to
Partnership Securities;
(xiv)
the
undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership’s participation in
any Group Member; and
(xv)
the
entering into of agreements with any of its Affiliates to render services to a
Group Member or to itself in the discharge of its duties as General Partner of
the Partnership.
(b) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, the Delaware
Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and the
Assignees and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Partnership
Securities hereby (i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution,
delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this Agreement and the Group
Member Agreement of each other Group Member, the Underwriting Agreement, the
Omnibus Agreement, the Contribution Agreement, the Credit Agreement, any
Commodity Hedge Contract, any Group Member Agreement and the other agreements
described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are related
to the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement; (ii) agrees
that the General Partner (on its own or through any officer of the Partnership)
is authorized to execute, deliver and perform
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Section 7.2 Certificate
of Limited Partnership.
The
General Partner has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware
Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed
such other certificates or documents that the General Partner determines to be
necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and
operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited
partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in
which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent
the General Partner determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the
General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of
Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the Partnership as a limited
partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have
limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state
in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to
the terms of Section 3.4(a), the General Partner shall not be required, before
or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited
Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Limited
Partner.
Section 7.3 Restrictions
on the General Partner’s Authority.
Except as
provided in Article XII and Article XIV, the General Partner may not
sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of
related transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation, other
combination or sale of ownership interests of the Partnership’s Subsidiaries)
without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority; provided, however, that this
provision shall not preclude or limit the General Partner’s ability to mortgage,
pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of
the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of
any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure
of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance. Without the approval of
holders of a Unit Majority, the General Partner shall not, on behalf of the
Partnership, except as permitted under Section 4.6, Section 11.1,
Section 11.2 or Section 12.1(a), elect or cause the Partnership to elect a
successor general partner of the Partnership.
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Section 7.4 Reimbursement
of the General Partner.
(a) Except as
provided in this Section 7.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the General
Partner shall not be compensated for its services as a general partner or
managing member of any Group Member.
(b) The
General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as
the General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses
it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including
salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person,
including Affiliates of the General Partner to perform services for the
Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to
the Partnership Group), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the
Partnership Group or otherwise incurred by the General Partner in connection
with operating the Partnership Group’s business (including expenses allocated to
the General Partner by its Affiliates). The General Partner shall determine the
expenses that are allocable to the Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to
this Section 7.4 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General
Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to
Section 7.7.
(c) The
General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no
right to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the
Partnership employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices
(including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership
Securities or options to purchase or rights, warrants or appreciation rights or
phantom or tracking interests relating to Partnership Securities), or cause the
Partnership to issue Partnership Securities in connection with, or pursuant to,
any employee benefit plan, employee program or employee practice maintained or
sponsored by the General Partner, Group Member or any Affiliates in each case
for the benefit of employees and directors of the General Partner or any of its
Affiliates, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the
benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to
the General Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Securities that the
General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any employees and
directors pursuant to any such employee benefit plans, employee programs or
employee practices. Expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with
any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the General
Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Securities purchased by the General
Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership to fulfill options or awards
under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with
Section 7.4(b). Any and all obligations of the General Partner under any
employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices adopted by the
General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.4(c) shall constitute
obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any
successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or
Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General
Partner’s General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units)
pursuant to Section 4.6.
Section 7.5 Outside
Activities.
(a) After the
Closing Date, the General Partner, for so long as it is the General Partner of
the Partnership (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as a
general partner or managing member, as the case may be, of the Partnership and
any other partnership or limited liability
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(b) Except as
set forth in the Omnibus Agreement, each Indemnitee (other than the General
Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and
description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an
interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description,
whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group
Member, independently or with others, including business interests and
activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group
Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any
duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to any Group Member or
any Partner. None of any Group Member, any Limited Partner or any other Person
shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement,
or the partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of
any Indemnitee.
(c) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in competitive
activities by any Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 7.5 is hereby approved by the
Partnership and all Partners, (ii) it shall be deemed not to be a breach of
any fiduciary duty or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of any
Indemnitee for the Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) to engage in
such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of
the Partnership and (iii) the Indemnitees shall have no obligation hereunder or
as a result of any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to
present business opportunities to the Partnership. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in this Agreement, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any
analogous doctrine, shall not apply to any Indemnitee (including the General
Partner). No Indemnitee (including the General Partner) who acquires knowledge
of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be
an opportunity for the Partnership, shall have any duty to communicate or offer
such opportunity to the Partnership, and such Indemnitee (including the General
Partner) shall not be liable to the Partnership, to any Limited Partner or any
other Person for breach of any fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact
that such Indemnitee (including the General Partner) pursues or acquires for
itself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such
opportunity or information to the Partnership; provided such Indemnitee does not
engage in such business or activity as a result of or using confidential or
proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the Partnership to such
Indemnitee.
(d) The
General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other
Partnership Securities in addition to those acquired on the Closing Date and,
except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise,
at their option, all rights relating to all
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(e) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any provision of
this Agreement purports or is interpreted to have the effect of restricting the
fiduciary duties that might otherwise, as a result of Delaware or other
applicable law, be owed by the General Partner to the Partnership and its
Limited Partners, or to constitute a waiver or consent by the Limited Partners
to any such restriction, such provisions shall be deemed to have been approved
by the Partners.
Section 7.6 Loans
from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group
Members.
(a) The
General Partner or any of its Affiliates may lend to any Group Member, and any
Group Member may borrow from the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, funds
needed or desired by the Group Member for such periods of time and in such
amounts as the General Partner may determine; provided, however, that in
any such case the lending party may not charge the borrowing party interest at a
rate greater than the rate that would be charged the borrowing party or impose
terms less favorable to the borrowing party than would be charged or imposed on
the borrowing party by unrelated lenders on comparable loans made on an
arm’s-length basis (without reference to the lending party’s financial abilities
or guarantees), all as determined by the General Partner. The borrowing party
shall reimburse the lending party for any costs (other than any additional
interest costs) incurred by the lending party in connection with the borrowing
of such funds. For purposes of this Section 7.6(a) and Section 7.6(b),
the term “Group Member” shall include any Affiliate of a Group Member that is
controlled by the Group Member.
(b) The
Partnership may lend or contribute to any Group Member, and any Group Member may
borrow from the Partnership, funds on terms and conditions determined by the
General Partner. No Group Member may lend funds to the General Partner or any of
its Affiliates (other than another Group Member).
(c) No
borrowing by any Group Member or the approval thereof by the General Partner
shall be deemed to constitute a breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise
existing at law, in equity or otherwise, of the General Partner or its
Affiliates to the Partnership or the Limited Partners by reason of the fact that
the purpose or effect of such borrowing is directly or indirectly to
(i) enable distributions to the General Partner or its Affiliates
(including in their capacities as Limited Partners) to exceed the General
Partner’s Percentage Interest of the total amount distributed to all Partners or
(ii) hasten the expiration of the Subordination Period or the conversion of
any Subordinated Units into Common Units.
Section 7.7 Indemnification.
(a) To the
fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly
provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held
harmless by the Partnership from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and
expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or
69
(b) To the
fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses)
incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7(a) in
defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to
time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to a final and non-appealable
judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in
respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification
pursuant to this Section 7.7, the Indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified.
(c) The
indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any
other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement,
pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, as
a matter of law or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as
an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity (including any capacity
under the Underwriting Agreement), and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who
has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the
heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.
(d) The
Partnership may purchase and maintain (or reimburse the General Partner or its
Affiliates for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of the General Partner, its
Affiliates and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine,
against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be
incurred by, such Person in connection with the Partnership’s activities or such
Person’s activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless of whether the
Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability
under the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) For
purposes of this Section 7.7, the Partnership shall be deemed to have
requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan
whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes
duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or
beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect
to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines”
within the meaning of Section 7.7(a); and action taken or omitted by it
with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a
purpose reasonably believed by
70
(f) In no
event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by
reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this
Agreement.
(g) An
Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this
Section 7.7 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with
respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise
permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
(h) The
provisions of this Section 7.7 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees,
their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to
create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.
(i) No
amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.7 or any provision
hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past,
present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Partnership, nor the
obligations of the Partnership to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.7 as in effect immediately
prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising
from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such
amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or
be asserted.
Section 7.8 Liability
of Indemnitees.
(a) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be
liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, or any
other Persons who have acquired interests in the Partnership Securities, for
losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of
an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered
by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter
in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful
misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the
Indemnitee’s conduct was criminal.
(b) Subject
to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in
Section 7.1(a), the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted
to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder
either directly or by or through its agents, and the General Partner shall not
be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent
appointed by the General Partner in good faith.
(c) To the
extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary
duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners,
the General Partner and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the
Partnership’s business or affairs shall not be liable to the Partnership or to
any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this
Agreement.
(d) Any
amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any provision
hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations
on the liability of
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Section 7.9 Resolution
of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of
Duties.
(a) Unless
otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement,
whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General
Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any
Group Member or any Partner, on the other, any resolution or course of action by
the General Partner or its Affiliates in respect of such conflict of interest
shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute
a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement, of any agreement
contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated or implied by law or
equity, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of
interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of
a majority of the Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General
Partner and its Affiliates), (iii) on terms no less favorable to the
Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated
third parties or (iv) fair and reasonable to the Partnership, taking into
account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved
(including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous
to the Partnership). The General Partner shall be authorized but not required in
connection with its resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special
Approval of such resolution, and the General Partner may also adopt a resolution
or course of action that has not received Special Approval. If Special Approval
is sought, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Conflicts
Committee acted in good faith, and if Special Approval is not sought and the
Board of Directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with
respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in
clauses (iii) or (iv) above, then it shall be presumed that, in making
its decision, the Board of Directors acted in good faith, and in any proceeding
brought by any Limited Partner or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or any
other Limited Partner or the Partnership challenging such approval, the Person
bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming such
presumption. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any
duty otherwise existing at law or equity, the existence of the conflicts of
interest described in the Registration Statement are hereby approved by all
Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty
otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise.
(b) Whenever
the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other
action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its capacity as the
general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity,
whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement
contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless another express standard is
provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing
it to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other
action in good faith and shall not be subject to any other or different
standards (including fiduciary standards) imposed by this Agreement, any Group
Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware
Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. In order for a
determination or other action to be in “good faith” for purposes of
this
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(c) Whenever
the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other
action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its individual capacity
as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether
under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement
contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner, or such Affiliates
causing it to do so, are entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to
make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of
any duty (including any fiduciary duty) or obligation whatsoever to the
Partnership, any Limited Partner, and any other Person bound by this Agreement,
and the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall not, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, be required to act in good faith or
pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member
Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or
any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. By way of illustration and not
of limitation, whenever the phrase, “at the option of the General Partner,” or
some variation of that phrase, is used in this Agreement, it indicates that the
General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of
doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Partnership
Interests, or refrains from voting or transferring its Partnership Interests, it
shall be acting in its individual capacity. The General Partner’s organizational
documents may provide that determinations to take or decline to take any action
in its individual, rather than representative, capacity may or shall be
determined by its members, if the General Partner is a limited liability
company, stockholders, if the General Partner is a corporation, or the members
or stockholders of the General Partner’s general partner, if the General Partner
is a partnership.
(d) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the General Partner and its
Affiliates shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to
(i) sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other
than in the ordinary course of business or (ii) permit any Group Member to
use any facilities or assets of the General Partner and its Affiliates, except
as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically
dealing with such use. Any determination by the General Partner or any of its
Affiliates to enter into such contracts shall be at its option.
(e) Except as
expressly set forth in this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor any other
Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to
the Partnership or any Limited Partner and the provisions of this Agreement, to
the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and
liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the General Partner or any other
Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to
replace such other duties and liabilities of the General Partner or such other
Indemnitee.
(f) The
Unitholders hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership
as a partner or member of a Group Member, to approve of actions by the general
partner or managing member of such Group Member similar to those actions
permitted to be taken by the General Partner pursuant to this
Section 7.9.
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Section 7.10 Other
Matters Concerning the General Partner.
(a) The
General Partner may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from
acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper
party or parties.
(b) The
General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers,
management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers
selected by it, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the
opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as
to matters that the General Partner reasonably believes to be within such
Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to
have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such
opinion.
(c) The
General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or
obligations hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers, a
duly appointed attorney or attorneys-in-fact or the duly authorized officers of
the Partnership or any Group Member.
Section 7.11 Purchase
or Sale of Partnership Securities.
The
General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire
Partnership Securities;
provided that, except as permitted pursuant to Section 4.10, the
General Partner may not cause any Group Member to purchase Subordinated Units
during the Subordination Period. Such Partnership Securities shall be held by
the Partnership as treasury securities unless they are expressly cancelled by
action of an appropriate officer of the General Partner. As long as Partnership
Securities are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Securities shall not
be considered Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein.
The General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner may also purchase or
otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Partnership Securities for
its own account, subject to the provisions of Articles IV and X.
Section 7.12 Registration
Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates.
(a) If
(i) the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner (including
for purposes of this Section 7.12, any Person that is an Affiliate of the
General Partner at the date hereof notwithstanding that it may later cease to be
an Affiliate of the General Partner) holds Partnership Securities that it
desires to sell and (ii) Rule 144 of the Securities Act (or any
successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from
registration is not available to enable such holder of Partnership Securities
(the “Holder”)
to dispose of the number of Partnership Securities it desires to sell at the
time it desires to do so without registration under the Securities Act, then at
the option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall file with
the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use
all commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain
effective for a period of not less than six months following its effective date
or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Partnership Securities
covered by such registration statement have been sold, a registration statement
under the Securities Act registering the offering and sale of the number
of
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(b) If any
Holder holds Partnership Securities that it desires to sell and Rule 144 of
the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or
another exemption from registration is not available to enable such Holder to
dispose of the number of Partnership Securities it desires to sell at the time
it desires to do so without registration under the Securities Act, then at the
option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall file with the
Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use its
commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain
effective for a period of not less than six months following its effective date
or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Partnership Securities
covered by such shelf registration statement have been sold, a “shelf”
registration statement covering the Partnership Securities specified by the
Holder on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or
any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission; provided, however, that the
Partnership shall not be required to effect more than three registrations
pursuant to Section 7.12(a) and this Section 7.12(b); and provided further, however,
that if the Conflicts Committee determines in good faith that any offering
under, or the use of any prospectus forming a part of, the shelf registration
statement would be materially detrimental to the Partnership and its Partners
because such offering or use would (x) materially interfere with a
significant acquisition, reorganization or other similar transaction involving
the Partnership, (y) require premature disclosure of material information that
the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential
or (z) render the Partnership unable to comply with requirements under
applicable securities laws, then the Partnership shall have the right to suspend
such offering or use for a period of not more than six
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(c) If the
Partnership shall at any time propose to file a registration statement under the
Securities Act for an offering of equity securities of the Partnership for cash
(other than an offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan), the
Partnership shall notify all Holders of such proposals and use its commercially
reasonable efforts to include such number or amount of securities held by the
Holder in such registration statement as the Holder shall request; provided, that the
Partnership is not required to make any effort or take any action to so include
the securities of the Holder once the registration statement is declared
effective by the Commission or otherwise becomes effective, including any
registration statement providing for the offering from time to time of
securities pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act. If the proposed offering
pursuant to this Section 7.12(c) shall be an underwritten offering, then,
in the event that the managing underwriter or managing underwriters of such
offering advise the Partnership and the Holder in writing that in their opinion
the inclusion of all or some of the Holder’s Partnership Securities would
adversely and materially affect the success of the offering, the Partnership
shall include in such offering only that number or amount, if any, of securities
held by the Holder that, in the opinion of the managing underwriter or managing
underwriters, will not so adversely and materially affect the offering. Except
as set forth in Section 7.12(d), all costs and expenses of any such
registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and
commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the
Holder.
(d) If
underwriters are engaged in connection with any registration referred to in this
Section 7.12, the Partnership shall provide indemnification,
representations, covenants, opinions and other assurance to the underwriters in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such underwriters. Further, in
addition to and not in limitation of the Partnership’s obligation under
Section 7.7, the Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
indemnify and hold harmless the Holder, its officers, directors and each Person
who controls the Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent
thereof (collectively, “Indemnified
Persons”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses),
judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from
any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnified Person may
be involved, or is
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(e) The
provisions of Section 7.12(a), Section 7.12(b) and
Section 7.12(c) shall continue to be applicable with respect to the General
Partner (and any of the General Partner’s Affiliates) after it ceases to be a
general partner of the Partnership, during a period of two years subsequent to
the effective date of such cessation and for so long thereafter as is required
for the Holder to sell all of the Partnership Securities with respect to which
it has requested during such two-year period inclusion in a registration
statement otherwise filed or that a registration statement be filed; provided, however, that the
Partnership shall not be required to file successive registration statements
covering the same Partnership Securities for which registration was demanded
during such two-year period. The provisions of Section 7.12(d) shall
continue in effect thereafter.
(f) The
rights to cause the Partnership to register Partnership Securities pursuant to
this Section 7.12 may be assigned (but only with all related obligations)
by a Holder to a transferee or assignee of such Partnership Securities, provided
(i) the Partnership is, within a reasonable time after such transfer,
furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee or
assignee and the Partnership Securities with respect to which such registration
rights are being assigned; and (ii) such transferee or assignee agrees in
writing to be bound by and subject to the terms set forth in this
Section 7.12.
(g) Any
request to register Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 7.12
shall (i) specify the Partnership Securities intended to be offered and sold by
the Person making the request, (ii) express such Person’s present intent to
offer such Partnership Securities for distribution, (iii) describe the
nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Partnership Securities, and
(iv) contain the undertaking of such Person to provide all such information
and materials and take all action as may be required in order to permit the
Partnership to comply with all applicable requirements in connection with the
registration of such Partnership Securities.
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Section 7.13 Reliance
by Third Parties.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the
Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner and any officer
of the General Partner authorized by the General Partner to act on behalf of and
in the name of the Partnership has full power and authority
to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the
Partnership and to enter into any authorized contracts on behalf of the
Partnership, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner
or any such officer as if it were the Partnership’s sole party in interest, both
legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, any and all defenses or other remedies that may be
available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the
General Partner or any such officer in connection with any such dealing. In no
event shall any Person dealing with the General Partner or any such officer or
its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement
have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any
act or action of the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives.
Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of
the Partnership by the General Partner or its representatives shall be
conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming
thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such
certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and
effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document
or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of
the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly
executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this
Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.
ARTICLE
VIII
BOOKS,
RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
Section 8.1 Records
and Accounting.
The
General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the
Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s
business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited
Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to
Section 3.4(a). Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the
Partnership in the regular course of its business, including the record of the
Record Holders of Units or other Partnership Securities, books of account and
records of Partnership proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of,
computer disks, hard drives, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs,
micrographics or any other information storage device; provided, that the books and
records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a
reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for
financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S.
GAAP.
Section 8.2 Fiscal
Year.
The
fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending
December 31.
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Section 8.3 Reports.
(a) As soon
as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days after the close of each
fiscal year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or
made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on or accessible
through the Partnership’s or the SEC’s website) to each Record Holder of a Unit
as of a date selected by the General Partner, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such
fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP,
including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and
cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public
accountants selected by the General Partner.
(b) 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 shall
cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting
on or accessible through the Partnership’s or the SEC’s website) to each Record
Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the General Partner, a report
containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership and such other
information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of any
National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to
trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary or
appropriate.
ARTICLE
IX
TAX
MATTERS
Section 9.1 Tax
Returns and Information.
The
Partnership shall timely file all returns of the Partnership that are required
for federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual
method and the taxable year or years that it is required by law to adopt, from
time to time, as determined by the General Partner. In the event the Partnership
is required to use a taxable year other than a year ending on December 31,
the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to change the taxable year of
the Partnership to a year ending on December 31. The tax information
reasonably required by Record Holders for federal and state income tax reporting
purposes with respect to a taxable year shall be furnished to them within
90 days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnership’s
taxable year ends. The classification, realization and recognition of income,
gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of
accounting for federal income tax purposes.
Section 9.2 Tax
Elections.
(a) The
Partnership shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in
accordance with applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of
the right to seek to revoke any such election upon the General Partner’s
determination that such revocation is in the best interests of the Limited
Partners. Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained, for the purposes
of computing the adjustments under Section 743(b) of the Code, the General
Partner shall be authorized (but not required) to adopt a convention whereby the
price paid by a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest will be deemed to be
the lowest quoted closing price of
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Section 9.3 Tax
Controversies.
Subject
to the provisions hereof, the General Partner is designated as the Tax Matters
Partner (as defined in the Code) and is authorized and required to represent the
Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations
of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting
administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for
professional services and costs associated therewith. Each Partner agrees to
cooperate with the General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all
things reasonably required by the General Partner to conduct such
proceedings.
Section 9.4 Withholding.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take
any action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members
to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any
other federal, state or local law including pursuant to Sections 1441,
1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the extent that the Partnership is required
or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting
from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner or Assignee
(including by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the General Partner may
treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.3
in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.
ARTICLE
X
ADMISSION
OF PARTNERS
Section 10.1 Admission
of Limited Partners.
(a) Upon the
issuance by the Partnership of Common Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive
Distribution Rights to the General Partner, Holdings and the Underwriters as
described in Article V in connection with the Initial Offering, such parties
shall automatically be admitted to the Partnership as Initial Limited Partners
in respect of the Common Units, Subordinated Units or Incentive Distribution
Rights issued to them.
(b) By
acceptance of the transfer of any Limited Partner Interests in accordance with
Article IV or the acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to
Article V or pursuant to a merger or consolidation pursuant to
Article XIV, and except as provided in Section 4.9, each transferee
of, or other such Person acquiring, a Limited Partner Interest (including any
nominee holder or an agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner
Interests for the account of another Person) (i) shall be admitted to the
Partnership as a Limited
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(c) The name
and mailing address of each Limited Partner shall be listed on the books and
records of the Partnership maintained for such purpose by the Partnership or the
Transfer Agent. The General Partner shall update the books and records of the
Partnership from time to time as necessary to reflect accurately the information
therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do so, as applicable). A Limited
Partner Interest may be represented by a Certificate, as provided in
Section 4.1 hereof.
(d) Any
transfer of a Limited Partner Interest shall not entitle the transferee to share
in the profits and losses, to receive distributions, to receive allocations of
income, gain, loss, deduction or credit or any similar item or to any other
rights to which the transferor was entitled until the transferee becomes a
Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.1(b).
Section 10.2 Admission
of Successor General Partner.
A
successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or
Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General
Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) pursuant to
Section 4.6 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner
shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective
immediately prior to the withdrawal or removal of the predecessor or
transferring General Partner, pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2 or the
transfer of the General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units)
pursuant to Section 4.6,
provided,
however, that no such successor shall be admitted to the Partnership
until compliance with the terms of Section 4.6 has occurred and such
successor has executed and delivered such other documents or instruments as may
be required to effect such admission. Any such successor shall, subject to the
terms hereof, carry on the business of the members of the Partnership Group
without dissolution.
Section 10.3 Amendment
of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership.
To effect
the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take
all steps necessary or appropriate under the Delaware Act to amend the records
of the Partnership to reflect such admission and, if necessary, to prepare as
soon as practicable an amendment to this Agreement and, if required by law, the
General Partner shall prepare and file
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ARTICLE
XI
WITHDRAWAL
OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS
Section 11.1 Withdrawal
of the General Partner.
(a) The
General Partner shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Partnership upon the
occurrence of any one of the following events (each such event herein referred
to as an “Event of
Withdrawal”);
(i) The
General Partner voluntarily withdraws from the Partnership by giving written
notice to the other Partners;
(ii) The
General Partner transfers all of its General Partner Interest pursuant to
Section 4.6;
(iii) The
General Partner is removed pursuant to Section 11.2;
(iv)
The
General Partner (A) makes a general assignment for the benefit of
creditors; (B) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition for relief under
Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code; (C) files a petition
or answer seeking for itself a liquidation, dissolution or similar relief (but
not a reorganization) under any law; (D) files an answer or other pleading
admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed
against the General Partner in a proceeding of the type described in clauses
(A)-(C) of this Section 11.1(a)(iv); or (E) seeks, consents to or
acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee (but not a debtor-in-possession),
receiver or liquidator of the General Partner or of all or any substantial part
of its properties;
(v) A final
and non-appealable order of relief under Chapter 7 of the United States
Bankruptcy Code is entered by a court with appropriate jurisdiction pursuant to
a voluntary or involuntary petition by or against the General Partner;
or
(vi) (A) in the event
the General Partner is a corporation, a certificate of dissolution or its
equivalent is filed for the General Partner, or 90 days expire after the
date of notice to the General Partner of revocation of its charter without a
reinstatement of its charter, under the laws of its state of incorporation;
(B) in the event the General Partner is a partnership or a limited
liability company, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the General
Partner; (C) in the event the General Partner is acting in such capacity by
virtue of being a trustee of a trust, the termination of the trust; (D) in
the event the General Partner is a natural person, his death or adjudication of
incompetency; and (E) otherwise in the event of the termination of the
General Partner.
If an
Event of Withdrawal specified in Section 11.1(a)(iv), (v) or (vi)(A),
(B), (C) or (E) occurs, the withdrawing General Partner shall give
notice to the Limited Partners within 30 days after
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such
occurrence. The Partners hereby agree that only the Events of Withdrawal
described in this Section 11.1 shall result in the withdrawal of the General
Partner from the Partnership.
Section 11.2 Removal
of the General Partner.
The
General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by the Unitholders
holding at least 66 2/3% of the Outstanding Units (including Units held by the
General Partner and its Affiliates) voting as a single class. Any such action by
such holders for removal of the General Partner must also provide for the
election of a successor General Partner by the Unitholders holding a majority of
the outstanding Common Units and Class B Units, if any,
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Section 11.3 Interest
of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner.
(a) In the
event of (i) withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where
such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement or (ii) removal of the
General Partner by the holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where
Cause does not exist, if the successor General Partner is elected in accordance
with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, the Departing General
Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the
withdrawal or removal of such Departing General Partner, to require its
successor to purchase its General Partner Interest (represented by General
Partner Units) and its general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if
any, in the other Group Members and all of its Incentive Distribution Rights
(collectively, the “Combined
Interest”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair market
value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of
the effective date of its withdrawal or removal. If the General Partner is
removed by the Unitholders under circumstances where Cause exists or if the
General Partner withdraws under circumstances where such withdrawal violates
this Agreement, and if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with
the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the
Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General
Partner is not the former General Partner), such successor shall have the
option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal or removal of
such Departing General Partner (or, in the event the business of the Partnership
is continued, prior to the date the business of the Partnership is continued),
to purchase the Combined Interest for such fair market value of such Combined
Interest of the Departing General Partner. In either event, the Departing
General Partner shall be entitled to receive all reimbursements due such
Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 7.4, including any
employee-related liabilities (including severance liabilities), incurred in
connection with the termination of any employees employed by the Departing
General Partner or its Affiliates (other than any Group Member) for the benefit
of the Partnership or the other Group Members.
For
purposes of this Section 11.3(a), the fair market value of the Departing
General Partner’s Combined Interest shall be determined by agreement between the
Departing General
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(b) If the
Combined Interest is not purchased in the manner set forth in
Section 11.3(a), the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) shall
become a Limited Partner and its Combined Interest shall be converted into
Common Units pursuant to a valuation made by an investment banking firm or other
independent expert selected pursuant to Section 11.3(a), without reduction
in such Partnership Interest (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of
the admission of its successor). Any successor General Partner shall indemnify
the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) as to all debts and
liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on which the
Departing General Partner (or its transferee) becomes a Limited Partner. For
purposes of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest of the Departing
General Partner to Common Units will be characterized as if the Departing
General Partner (or its transferee) contributed its Combined Interest to the
Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.
(c) If a
successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of
Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is
continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not
the former General Partner) and the option described in Section 11.3(a) is not
exercised by the party entitled to do so, the successor General Partner shall,
at the effective date of its admission to the Partnership, contribute to the
Partnership cash in the amount equal to the product of (x) the quotient obtained
by dividing (A) the Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the
Departing General Partner by (B) a percentage equal to 100% less the Percentage
Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner and
(y) the Net Agreed Value of the Partnership’s assets on such date. In such
event, such successor General Partner shall, subject to the following sentence,
be entitled to its Percentage Interest of all Partnership allocations and
distributions to which the Departing General Partner was entitled. In addition,
the successor General Partner shall cause this Agreement to be amended to
reflect that, from and after the date of such successor General Partner’s
admission, the successor General Partner’s interest in all Partnership
distributions and allocations shall be its Percentage Interest.
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Section 11.4 Termination
of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of
Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.
Notwithstanding
any provision of this Agreement, if the General Partner is removed as general
partner of the Partnership under circumstances where Cause does not exist and
Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are not voted in favor of
such removal, (i) the Subordination Period will end and all Outstanding
Subordinated Units will immediately and automatically convert into Common Units
on a one-for-one basis (provided, however, that such converted Subordinated
Units shall remain subject to the provisions of Section 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x)
and 6.7(c)), (ii) all Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages on the Common Units
will be extinguished and (iii) the General Partner will have the right to
convert its General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units)
and its Incentive Distribution Rights into Common Units or
to receive cash in exchange therefor in accordance with
Section 11.3.
Section 11.5 Withdrawal
of Limited Partners.
No
Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided, however, that when a
transferee of a Limited Partner’s Limited Partner Interest becomes a Record
Holder of the Limited Partner Interest so transferred, such transferring Limited
Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner
Interest so transferred.
ARTICLE
XII
DISSOLUTION
AND LIQUIDATION
Section 12.1 Dissolution.
The
Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Limited
Partners or by the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement. Upon the removal or withdrawal of the General
Partner, if a successor General Partner is elected pursuant to
Section 10.2, 11.1, 11.2 or 12.2, the Partnership shall not be dissolved
and such successor General Partner is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue
the business of the Partnership. Subject to Section 12.2, the Partnership shall
dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:
(a) an Event
of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a) (other
than Section 11.1(a)(ii)), unless a successor is elected and such successor
is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement;
(b) an
election to dissolve the Partnership by the General Partner that is approved by
the holders of a Unit Majority;
(c) the entry
of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the
provisions of the Delaware Act; or
(d) at any
time there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued without
dissolution in accordance with the Delaware Act.
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Section 12.2 Continuation
of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution.
Upon an
Event of Withdrawal caused by (a) the withdrawal or removal of the General
Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a)(i) or (iii) and the failure of
the Partners to select a successor to such Departing General Partner pursuant to
Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, then within 90 days thereafter, or
(b) an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in
Section 11.1(a)(iv), (v) or (vi), then, to the maximum extent
permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a Unit
Majority may elect to continue the business of the Partnership on the same terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement by appointing as a successor General
Partner a Person approved by the holders of a Unit Majority. Unless such an
election is made within the applicable time period as set
forth above, the Partnership shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up
its affairs. If such an election is so made, then:
(i) the
Partnership shall continue without dissolution unless earlier dissolved in
accordance with this Article XII;
(ii) if the
successor General Partner is not the former General Partner, then the interest
of the former General Partner shall be treated in the manner provided in Section
11.3; and
(iii) the
successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as General
Partner, effective as of the Event of Withdrawal, by agreeing in writing to be
bound by this Agreement;
(iv) provided, that the right of
the holders of a Unit Majority to approve a successor General Partner and to
continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not be
exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that
(x) the exercise of the right would not result in the loss of limited
liability of any Limited Partner and (y) neither the Partnership nor any
Group Member would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or
otherwise be taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes upon the
exercise of such right to continue (to the extent not already so treated or
taxed).
Section 12.3 Liquidator.
Upon
dissolution of the Partnership, unless the business of the Partnership is
continued pursuant to Section 12.2, the General Partner shall select one or
more Persons to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General
Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may
be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units,
Subordinated Units and Class B Units, if any, voting as a single class. The
Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any
time without 15 days’ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or
without cause, by notice of removal approved by holders of at least a majority
of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and Class B Units, if any,
voting as a single class. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the
Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to
all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within
30 days thereafter be approved by holders of at least a majority of the
Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated
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Section 12.4 Liquidation.
The
Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Partnership, discharge
its liabilities, and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such
period as determined by the Liquidator, subject to Section 17-804 of the
Delaware Act and the following:
(a) The
assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind
to one or more Partners on such terms as the Liquidator and such Partner or
Partners may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the Partner
receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 12.4(c) to
have received cash equal to its fair market value; and contemporaneously
therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners.
The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Partnership’s assets
for a reasonable time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of
all or some of the Partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause
undue loss to the Partners. The Liquidator may distribute the Partnership’s
assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be
impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners.
(b) Liabilities
of the Partnership include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for
serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 12.3) and amounts
to Partners otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights under
Article VI. With respect to any liability that is contingent, conditional
or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidator shall
either settle such claim for such amount as it thinks appropriate or establish a
reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment. When paid, any
unused portion of the reserve shall be distributed as additional liquidation
proceeds.
(c) All
property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as
provided in Section 12.4(b) shall be distributed to the Partners in
accordance with, and to the extent of, the positive balances in their respective
Capital Accounts, as determined after taking into account all Capital Account
adjustments (other than those made by reason of distributions pursuant to this
Section 12.4(c)) for the taxable year of the Partnership during which the
liquidation of the Partnership occurs (with such date of occurrence being
determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)),
and such distribution shall be made by the end of such taxable year (or, if
later, within 90 days after said date of such occurrence).
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Section 12.5 Cancellation
of Certificate of Limited Partnership.
Upon the
completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in
Section 12.4 in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership, the
Certificate of Limited Partnership and all qualifications of the Partnership as
a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware
shall be canceled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the
Partnership shall be taken.
Section 12.6 Return
of Contributions.
The
General Partner shall not be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation
to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to
effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners or
Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such
return shall be made solely from Partnership assets.
Section 12.7 Waiver
of Partition.
To the
maximum extent permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any right to
partition of the Partnership property.
Section 12.8 Capital
Account Restoration.
No
Limited Partner shall have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its
Capital Account upon liquidation of the Partnership. The General Partner shall
be obligated to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon
liquidation of its interest in the Partnership by the end of the taxable year of
the Partnership during which such liquidation occurs, or, if later, within
90 days after the date of such liquidation.
ARTICLE
XIII
AMENDMENT
OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
Section 13.1 Amendments
to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner.
Each
Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner,
may amend any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge,
deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection
therewith, to reflect:
(a) a change
in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal place of business
of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered
office of the Partnership;
(b) admission,
substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this
Agreement;
(c) a change
that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or
continue the qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or a
partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability under the laws
of any state or to ensure that the
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(d) a change
that the General Partner determines, (i) does not adversely affect the
Limited Partners (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as
compared to other classes of Partnership Interests) in any material respect,
(ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements,
conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or
regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in
any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate
the trading of the Units (including the division of any class or classes of
Outstanding Units into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax
consequences within such classes of Units) or comply with any rule, regulation,
guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units
are or will be listed or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or
appropriate in connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to
Section 5.9 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of
this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;
(e) a change
in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that
the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a
change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership including, if the
General Partner shall so determine, a change in the definition of “Quarter” and
the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership;
(f) an
amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the
Partnership, or the General Partner or its directors, officers, trustees or
agents from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, regardless of whether such are
substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by
the United States Department of Labor;
(g) an
amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in
connection with the authorization of issuance of any class or series of
Partnership Securities pursuant to Section 5.6, including any amendment
that the General Partner determines is necessary or appropriate in connection
with (i) the adjustments of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First
Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution
pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.11, (ii) the implementation of
the provisions of Section 5.11 or (iii) any modifications to the
Incentive Distribution Rights made in connection with the issuance of
Partnership Securities pursuant to Section 5.6, provided that, with respect
to this clause (iii), the modifications to the Incentive Distribution Rights and
the related issuance of Partnership Securities have received Special
Approval;
(h) any
amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the General
Partner acting alone;
(i) an
amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement approved
in accordance with Section 14.3;
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(j) an
amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to
reflect and account for the formation by the Partnership of, or investment by
the Partnership in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited
liability company or other entity, in connection with the conduct by the
Partnership of activities permitted by the terms of Sections 2.4 or
7.1(a);
(k) a merger,
conveyance or conversion pursuant to Section 14.3(d); or
(l) any other
amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.
Section 13.2 Amendment
Procedures.
Except as
provided in Section 13.1 and Section 13.3, all amendments to this
Agreement shall be made in accordance with the requirements contained in this
Section 13.2. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed
only by the General Partner;
provided,
however, that to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner
shall have no duty or obligation to propose any amendment to this Agreement and
may decline to do so free of any duty (including any fiduciary duty) or
obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any other
Person bound by this Agreement, and, in declining to propose an amendment, to
the fullest extent permitted by law shall not be required to act in good faith
or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member
Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or
any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. A proposed amendment shall be
effective upon its approval by the General Partner and the holders of a Unit
Majority, unless a greater or different percentage is required under this
Agreement or by Delaware law. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval
of the holders of a specified percentage of Outstanding Units shall be set forth
in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment. If such an
amendment is proposed, the General Partner shall seek the written approval of
the requisite percentage of Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the
Unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed amendment, in each case in
accordance with the other provisions of this Article XIII. The General Partner
shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any such proposed
amendments.
Section 13.3 Amendment
Requirements.
(a) Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no provision of this
Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units
deemed owned by the General Partner) required to take any action shall be
amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have
the effect of reducing such voting percentage unless such amendment is approved
by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units
whose aggregate Outstanding Units constitute not less than the voting
requirement sought to be reduced.
(b) Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no amendment to this
Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Limited Partner without
its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an
amendment approved pursuant to Section 13.3(c), or (ii) 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
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(c) Except as
provided in Section 14.3, and without limitation of the General Partner’s
authority to adopt amendments to this Agreement without the approval of any
Partners or Assignees as contemplated in Section 13.1, any amendment that
would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class
of Partnership Interests in relation to other classes of Partnership Interests
must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding
Partnership Interests of the class affected.
(d) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, except for amendments pursuant to
Section 13.1 and except as otherwise provided by Section 14.3(b), no
amendments shall become effective without the approval of the holders of at
least 90% of the Outstanding Units voting as a single class unless the
Partnership obtains an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment will
not affect the limited liability of any Limited Partner under applicable
partnership law of the state under whose laws the Partnership is
organized.
Section 13.4 Special
Meetings.
All acts
of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the
manner provided in this Article XIII. Special meetings of the Limited
Partners may be called by the General Partner or by Limited Partners owning 20%
or more of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting is
proposed. Limited Partners shall call a special meeting by delivering to the
General Partner one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Limited
Partners wish to call a special meeting and indicating the general or specific
purposes for which the special meeting is to be called. Within 60 days
after receipt of such a call from Limited Partners or within such greater time
as may be reasonably necessary for the Partnership to comply with any statutes,
rules, regulations, listing agreements or similar requirements governing the
holding of a meeting or the solicitation of proxies for use at such a meeting,
the General Partner shall send a notice of the meeting to the Limited Partners
either directly or indirectly through the Transfer Agent. A meeting shall be
held at a time and place determined by the General Partner on a date not less
than 10 days nor more than 60 days after the time notice of the
meeting is given as provided in Section 16.1. Limited Partners shall not vote on
matters that would cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in
the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as
to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability under the Delaware Act or
the law of any other state in which the Partnership is qualified to do
business.
Section 13.5 Notice
of a Meeting.
Notice of
a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be given to the Record
Holders of the class or classes of Units for which a meeting is proposed in
writing by mail or other means of written communication in accordance with
Section 16.1. The notice shall be deemed to have
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Section 13.6 Record
Date.
For
purposes of determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at
a meeting of the Limited Partners or to give approvals without a meeting as
provided in Section 13.11 the General Partner may set a Record Date, which
shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days before (a) the date of
the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation,
guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units
are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline
or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern) or (b) in
the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which Limited
Partners are requested in writing by the General Partner to give such approvals.
If the General Partner does not set a Record Date, then (a) the Record Date
for determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a
meeting of the Limited Partners shall be the close of business on the day next
preceding the day on which notice is given, and (b) the Record Date for
determining the Limited Partners entitled to give approvals without a meeting
shall be the date the first written approval is deposited with the Partnership
in care of the General Partner in accordance with
Section 13.11.
Section 13.7 Adjournment.
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
thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless
such adjournment shall be for more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting,
the Partnership may transact any business which might have been transacted at
the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a
new Record Date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned
meeting shall be given in accordance with this Article XIII.
Section 13.8 Waiver
of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes.
The
transactions of any meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and
whenever held, shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a meeting duly held
after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by
proxy. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of
notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner attends the meeting for
the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the
transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened; and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right
to disapprove the consideration of matters required to be included in the notice
of the meeting, but not so included, if the disapproval is expressly made at the
meeting.
Section 13.9 Quorum
and Voting.
The
holders of a majority of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which
a meeting has been called (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the
General Partner) represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at
a meeting of Limited Partners of such class or classes unless any such action by
the Limited Partners requires approval by holders
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Section 13.10 Conduct of a Meeting.
The
General Partner shall have full power and authority concerning the manner of
conducting any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in
writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence
of a quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of Section 13.4, the
conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the determination
of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during
the meeting or voting. The General Partner shall designate a Person to serve as
chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes
of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Partnership
maintained by the General Partner. The General Partner may make such other
regulations consistent with applicable law and this Agreement as it may deem
advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Limited Partners or
solicitation of approvals in writing, including regulations in regard to the
appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes and
approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of the
right to vote, and the revocation of approvals in writing.
Section 13.11 Action
Without a Meeting.
If
authorized by the General Partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of
the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting, without a vote and without
prior notice, if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is
signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the
Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner) that
would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all
the Limited Partners were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts
with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities
Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the
rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange
shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be
given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The General
Partner may specify that any written ballot, if any, submitted to Limited
Partners for the purpose
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Section 13.12 Right to Vote and Related Matters.
(a) Only
those Record Holders of the Outstanding Units on the Record Date set pursuant to
Section 13.6 (and also subject to the limitations contained in the
definition of “Outstanding”)
shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Limited Partners or
to act with respect to matters as to which the holders of the Outstanding Units
have the right to vote or to act. All references in this Agreement to votes of,
or other acts that may be taken by, the Outstanding Units shall be deemed to be
references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding
Units.
(b) With
respect to Units that are held for a Person’s account by another Person (such as
a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of
any of the foregoing), in whose name such Units are registered, such other
Person shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Units on any
matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, vote
such Units in favor of, and at the direction of, the Person who is the
beneficial owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume it is so
acting without further inquiry. The provisions of this Section 13.12(b) (as
well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the provisions of
Section 4.3.
ARTICLE
XIV
MERGER,
CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION
Section 14.1 Authority.
The
Partnership may merge or consolidate with or into one or more corporations,
limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate
investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a
partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability
partnership)) or convert into any such entity, whether such entity
is
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Section 14.2 Procedure
for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.
(a) Merger,
consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV
requires the prior consent of the General Partner, provided, however, that, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or
obligation to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion of the
Partnership and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation
whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner and, in declining to consent
to a merger, consolidation or conversion, shall not be required to act pursuant
to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement
contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or
regulation or at equity.
(b) If the
General Partner shall determine to consent to the merger or consolidation, the
General Partner shall approve the Merger Agreement, which shall set
forth:
(ii)
the name
and jurisdiction of formation or organization of the business entity that is to
survive the proposed merger or consolidation (the “Surviving
Business Entity”);
(iii) the terms
and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;
(iv)
the
manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each
constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights,
securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if any
general or limited partner interests, securities or rights of any constituent
business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash,
property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or
obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property or interests,
rights, securities or obligations of any general or limited partnership,
corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other
entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such
general or limited partner interests, securities or rights are to receive in
exchange for, or upon conversion of their interests, securities or rights, and
(ii) in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the
surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or general or limited
partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business
Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited
liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the
Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be
delivered;
(v) a
statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new
constituent documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of
trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership,
operating agreement
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or other
similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be
effected by such merger or consolidation;
(vi) the
effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the
certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4 or a later date specified in
or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement (provided, that if the
effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of such
certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time
certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of merger and
stated therein); and
(vii) such
other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation that the
General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
(c) If the
General Partner shall determine to consent to the conversion, the General
Partner shall approve the Plan of Conversion, which shall set
forth:
(i) the name
of the converting entity and the converted entity;
(ii) a
statement that the Partnership is continuing its existence in the organizational
form of the converted entity;
(iii)
a
statement as to the type of entity that the converted entity is to be and the
state or country under the laws of which the converted entity is to be
incorporated, formed or organized;
(iv)
the
manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each
constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights,
securities or obligations of the converted entity or another entity, or for the
cancellation of such equity securities;
(v)
in an
attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership of the
Partnership; and
(vi)
in an
attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership, articles of
incorporation, or other organizational documents of the converted
entity;
(vii)
the
effective time of the conversion, which may be the date of the filing of the
articles of conversion or a later date specified in or determinable in
accordance with the Plan of Conversion (provided, that if the
effective time of the conversion is to be later than the date of the filing of
such articles of conversion, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time
certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such articles of conversion and
stated therein); and
(viii)
such
other provisions with respect to the proposed conversion that the General
Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
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Section 14.3 Approval
by Limited Partners.
(a) Except as
provided in Section 14.3(d), the General Partner, upon its approval of the
Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall direct
that the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion and the merger,
consolidation or conversion contemplated thereby, as applicable, be submitted to
a vote of Limited Partners, whether at a special meeting or by written consent,
in either case in accordance with the requirements of Article XIII. A copy
or a summary of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may
be, shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the
written consent.
(b) Except as
provided in Section 14.3(d), the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as
the case may be, shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or
consent of the holders of a Unit Majority.
(c) Except as
provided in Section 14.3(d), after such approval by vote or consent of the
Limited Partners, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of
merger or certificate of conversion pursuant to Section 14.4, the merger,
consolidation or conversion may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if
any, set forth in the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may
be.
(d) Notwithstanding
anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the
General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the
Partnership or any Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge
the Partnership or any Group Member into, or convey all of the Partnership’s
assets to, another limited liability entity that shall be newly formed and shall
have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such conversion, merger
or conveyance other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group
Member if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that
the conversion, merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in
the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or cause the
Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or
otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the
extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the sole purpose of such
conversion, merger, or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form
of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the governing
instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners and the General
Partner with the same rights and obligations as are herein
contained.
(e) Additionally,
notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this
Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval,
to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another entity if
(A) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger
or consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the
limited liability of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership to be treated
as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity
for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such),
(B) the merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to this
Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant to
Section 13.1, (C) the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in
such merger or consolidation, (D) each Unit outstanding immediately prior
to the effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Unit
of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, and
(E) the number of Partnership Securities to be issued by the Partnership
in
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(f) Pursuant
to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or
consolidation approved in accordance with this Article XIV may
(a) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (b) effect the adoption of a
new partnership agreement for the Partnership if it is the Surviving Business
Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 14.3
shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or
consolidation.
Section 14.4 Certificate
of Merger.
Upon the
required approval by the General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger
Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, a certificate of merger
or certificate of conversion, as applicable, shall be executed and filed with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in conformity with the
requirements of the Delaware Act.
Section 14.5 Effect
of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.
(a) At the
effective time of the certificate of merger:
(i) all of
the rights, privileges and powers of each of the business entities that has
merged or consolidated, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all
debts due to any of those business entities and all other things and causes of
action belonging to each of those business entities, shall be vested in the
Surviving Business Entity and after the merger or consolidation shall be the
property of the Surviving Business Entity to the extent they were of each
constituent business entity;
(ii) the title
to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in any of those constituent
business entities shall not revert and is not in any way impaired because of the
merger or consolidation;
(iii)
all
rights of creditors and all liens on or security interests in property of any of
those constituent business entities shall be preserved unimpaired;
and
(iv)
all
debts, liabilities and duties of those constituent business entities shall
attach to the Surviving Business Entity and may be enforced against it to the
same extent as if the debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or
contracted by it.
(b) At the
effective time of the certificate of conversion, for all purposes of the laws of
the State of Delaware:
(i) the
Partnership shall continue to exist, without interruption, but in the
organizational form of the converted entity rather than in its prior
organizational form;
(ii) all
rights, title, and interests to all real estate and other property owned by the
Partnership shall remain vested in the converted entity in its new
organizational form without reversion or impairment, without further act or
deed, and without any transfer or
99
assignment
having occurred, but subject to any existing liens or other encumbrances
thereon;
(iii) all
liabilities and obligations of the Partnership shall continue to be liabilities
and obligations of the converted entity in its new organizational form without
impairment or diminution by reason of the conversion;
(iv) all
rights of creditors or other parties with respect to or against the prior
interest holders or other owners of the Partnership in their capacities as such
in existence as of the effective time of the conversion will continue in
existence as to those liabilities and obligations and are enforceable against
the converted entity by such creditors and obligees to the same extent as if the
liabilities and obligations had originally been incurred or contracted by the
converted entity;
(v) the
Partnership Interests that are to be converted into partnership interests,
shares, evidences of ownership, or other rights or securities in the converted
entity or cash as provided in the plan of conversion shall be so converted, and
Partners shall be entitled only to the rights provided in the Plan of
Conversion.
ARTICLE
XV
RIGHT
TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
Section 15.1 Right
to Acquire Limited Partner Interests.
(a) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time the General Partner and
its Affiliates hold more than 80% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any
class then Outstanding, the General Partner shall then have the right, which
right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership or any
Affiliate of the General Partner, exercisable at its option, to purchase all,
but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then
Outstanding held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates,
at the greater of (x) the Current Market Price as of the date three days
prior to the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed
and (y) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any of its
Affiliates for any such Limited Partner Interest of such class purchased during
the 90-day period preceding the date that the notice described in
Section 15.1(b) is mailed. As used in this Agreement, (i) “Current Market Price” as of
any date of any class of Limited Partner Interests means the average of the
daily Closing Prices (as hereinafter defined) per Limited Partner Interest of
such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days (as hereinafter defined)
immediately prior to such date; (ii) “Closing Price” for any day
means the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in case no such sale
takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such
day, regular way, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal National
Securities Exchange (other than the Nasdaq Stock Market) on which such Limited
Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Limited Partner
Interests of such class are not listed or admitted to trading on any National
Securities Exchange (other than the Nasdaq Stock Market), the last quoted price
on such day or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the Nasdaq
Stock Market or such other system then in
100
(b) If the
General Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership elects
to exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to
Section 15.1(a), the General Partner shall deliver to the Transfer Agent
notice of such election to purchase (the “Notice of
Election to Purchase”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent to mail a copy
of such Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Limited Partner
Interests of such class (as of a Record Date selected by the General Partner) at
least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date. Such Notice of
Election to Purchase shall also be published for a period of at least three
consecutive days in at least two daily newspapers of general circulation printed in the English language and published in the Borough
of Manhattan, New York. The Notice of Election to Purchase shall specify the
Purchase Date and the price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a))
at which Limited Partner Interests will be purchased and state that the General
Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, elects to
purchase such Limited Partner Interests, upon surrender of Certificates
representing such Limited Partner Interests in exchange for payment, at such
office or offices of the Transfer Agent as the Transfer Agent may specify, or as
may be required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited
Partner Interests are listed. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to
a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at his address as reflected in the
records of the Transfer Agent shall be conclusively presumed to have been given
regardless of whether the owner receives such notice. On or prior to the
Purchase Date, the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the
case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient
to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Limited Partner Interests to
be purchased in accordance with this Section 15.1. If the Notice of
Election to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at least
10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the Purchase Date
the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of
the holders of Limited Partner Interests subject to purchase as provided herein,
then from and after the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that any Certificate
shall not have been surrendered for purchase, all rights of the holders of such
Limited Partner Interests (including any rights pursuant to Article III,
Article IV, Article V, Article VI, and Article XII) shall
thereupon cease, except the right to receive the purchase price (determined in
accordance with Section 15.1(a)) for Limited Partner Interests therefor,
without interest, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent of the Certificates
representing such Limited Partner Interests, and such Limited Partner Interests
shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred to the General Partner, its
Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, on the record books of the
Transfer Agent and the Partnership, and the General Partner or any Affiliate of
the General Partner, or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall be deemed to
be the owner of all such Limited Partner Interests from and after the Purchase
Date and shall have all rights as the owner of
101
(c) At any
time from and after the Purchase Date, a holder of an Outstanding Limited
Partner Interest subject to purchase as provided in this Section 15.1 may
surrender his Certificate evidencing such Limited Partner Interest to the
Transfer Agent in exchange for payment of the amount described in
Section 15.1(a), therefor, without interest thereon.
ARTICLE
XVI
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
Section 16.1 Addresses
and Notices; Written Communications.
(a) Any
notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be
given or made to a Partner under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United
States mail or by other means of written communication to the Partner at the
address described below. Any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a
Partner hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and
the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon
sending of such notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such
Partnership Securities at his address as shown on the records of the Transfer
Agent or as otherwise shown on the records of the Partnership, regardless of any
claim of any Person who may have an interest in such Partnership Securities by
reason of any assignment or otherwise. An affidavit or certificate of making of
any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 16.1 executed by the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the
mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of
such notice, payment or report. If any notice, payment or report addressed to a
Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder appearing on the books and
records of the Transfer Agent or the Partnership is returned by the United
States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service
is unable to deliver it, such notice, payment or report and any subsequent
notices, payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made
without further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person
notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of a change in his address) if
they are available for the Partner at the principal office of the Partnership
for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice,
payment or report to the other Partners. Any notice to the Partnership shall be
deemed given if received by the General Partner at the principal office of the
Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3. The General Partner may
rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a
Partner or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.
(b) The terms
“in writing”, “written communications,” “written notice” and words of similar
import shall be deemed satisfied under this Agreement by use of e-mail and other
forms of electronic communication.
102
Section 16.2 Further
Action.
The
parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and
take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve
the purposes of this Agreement.
Section 16.3 Binding
Effect.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives
and permitted assigns.
Section 16.4 Integration.
This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining
to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings pertaining thereto.
Section 16.5 Creditors.
None of
the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be
enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership.
Section 16.6 Waiver.
No
failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant,
duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or
remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such
breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.
Section 16.7 Third-Party Beneficiaries.
Each
Partner agrees that any Indemnitee shall be entitled to assert rights and
remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those
provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such
Indemnitee.
Section 16.8 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall
constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that
all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart.
Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its
signature hereto or, in the case of a Person acquiring a Limited Partner
Interest, pursuant to Section 10.1(a) without execution
hereto.
Section 16.9 Applicable
Law.
This
Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the
State of Delaware.
103
Section 16.10 Invalidity
of Provisions.
If any
provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in
any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.
Section 16.11 Consent
of Partners.
Each
Partner hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this Agreement it
is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or consent of
less than all of the Partners, such action may be so taken upon the concurrence
of less than all of the Partners and each Partner shall be bound by the results
of such action.
Section 16.12 Facsimile
Signatures.
The use
of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of the transfer agent
and registrar of the Partnership on certificates representing Common Units is
expressly permitted by this Agreement.
[REMAINDER
OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
104
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written
above.
GENERAL
PARTNER:
|
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QUICKSILVER
GAS SERVICES GP LLC
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By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx | ||
Name:
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxx
|
||
Title:
|
Senior
Vice President – Chief Financial Officer
|
||
LIMITED
PARTNERS:
|
|||
All
Limited Partners now and hereafter admitted as Limited Partners of the
Partnership, pursuant to powers of attorney now and hereafter executed in
favor of, and granted and delivered to the General Partner or without
execution hereof pursuant to Section 10.1(a) hereof.
|
|||
By:
|
QUICKSILVER
GAS SERVICES GP LLC
General
Partner, as attorney-in-fact for all Limited Partners pursuant to the
power of attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.6
|
||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx | ||
Name:
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxx
|
||
Title:
|
Senior
Vice President – Chief Financial
Officer
|
Signature Page - Second Amended and Restated
Agreement
of Limited Partnership of Quicksilver Gas
Services LP
105
EXHIBIT
A
to
the Second Amended and Restated
Agreement
of Limited Partnership of
Quicksilver
Gas Services LP
Certificate
Evidencing Common Units
Representing
Limited Partner Interests in
Quicksilver
Gas Services LP
No.
|
Common
Units
|
In
accordance with Section 4.1 of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of
Limited Partnership of Quicksilver Gas Services LP, as amended, supplemented or
restated from time to time (the “Partnership
Agreement”), Quicksilver Gas Services LP, a Delaware limited partnership
(the “Partnership”),
hereby certifies that _______________________ (the “Holder”)
is the registered owner of ________ Common Units representing limited partner
interests in the Partnership (the “Common
Units”) transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by
duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed.
The rights, preferences and limitations of the Common Units are set forth in,
and this Certificate and the Common Units represented hereby are issued and
shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership
Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be
furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at,
the principal office of the Partnership located at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000,
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall
have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.
THE
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES
LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR
STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY
WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR
QUALIFICATION OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP TO BE TREATED AS AN
ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR
FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED).
QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES GP LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES
LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT
RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A
SIGNIFICANT RISK OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A
CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX
PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF
ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED
A-1
The
Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested admission
as, and agreed to become, a Limited Partner and to have agreed to comply with
and be bound by and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii) represented
and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority and, if an
individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement,
(iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement
and (iv) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the
Partnership Agreement.
This
Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose unless it has been countersigned
and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar. This Certificate
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Delaware.
Dated:________________
|
Quicksilver
Gas Services LP
|
By: Quicksilver
Gas Services GP LLC
|
|
Countersigned
and Registered by:
|
|
Mellon
Investor Services LLC,
as
Transfer Agent and Registrar
|
By:___________________________
Name:_________________________
|
By:_________________________________
Authorized
Signature
|
By:___________________________
Secretary
|
[Reverse
of Certificate]
ABBREVIATIONS
The
following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this
Certificate, shall be construed as follows according to applicable laws or
regulations:
TEN
COM - as tenants in
common
|
UNIF
GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT
|
TEN
ENT - as tenants by the entireties
|
__________
Custodian _________
(Cust)
(Minor)
|
JT
TEN - as joint tenants with right of
survivorship
and not as tenants
in common
|
under
Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors
Act (State)
|
Additional
abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.
A-2
ASSIGNMENT
OF COMMON UNITS OF
QUICKSILVER
GAS SERVICES LP
FOR VALUE
RECEIVED, _________ hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers
unto
(Please
print or typewrite name and address
of assignee)
|
(Please
insert Social Security or other identifying number of
assignee)
|
____________
Common Units representing limited partner interests evidenced by this
Certificate, subject to the Partnership Agreement, and does hereby irrevocably
constitute and appoint ___________ as its attorney-in-fact with full power of
substitution to transfer the same on the books of Quicksilver Gas Services
LP.
Date:__________________________________________________
|
NOTE:
The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as
written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular. without
alteration, enlargement or change.
|
|
THE
SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION
(BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH
MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT
TO S.E.C. RULE 17d-15
|
||
(Signature)
|
||
(Signature)
|
||
No
transfer of the Common Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of
the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Common Units to be
transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer.
A-3