FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF GP NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS LLC dated as of January 4, 2007
EXHIBIT
3.1
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
OF
GP NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS LLC
dated as of January 4, 2007
ARTICLE I | ||||
DEFINITIONS | ||||
ARTICLE II GENERAL |
||||
2.1 Formation |
10 | |||
2.2 Principal Office |
10 | |||
2.3 Registered Office and Registered Agent |
10 | |||
2.4 Purpose of the Company |
10 | |||
2.5 Date of Dissolution |
10 | |||
2.6 Qualification |
10 | |||
2.7 Members |
10 | |||
2.8 Reliance by Third Parties |
11 | |||
ARTICLE III | ||||
CAPITALIZATION OF THE COMPANY | ||||
3.1 Initial Capital Contributions |
11 | |||
3.2 Additional Capital Contributions |
11 | |||
3.3 Loans |
12 | |||
3.4 Maintenance of Capital Accounts |
12 | |||
3.5 Capital Withdrawal Rights, Interest and Priority |
13 | |||
ARTICLE IV | ||||
DISTRIBUTIONS | ||||
4.1 Distributions of Available Cash |
13 | |||
4.2 Persons Entitled to Distributions |
13 | |||
4.3 Limitations on Distributions |
13 | |||
ARTICLE V | ||||
ALLOCATIONS | ||||
5.1 Profits |
14 | |||
5.2 Losses |
14 | |||
5.3 Regulatory Allocations |
14 | |||
5.4 Tax Allocations: Code Section 704(c) |
15 | |||
5.5 Change in Percentage Interests |
16 | |||
5.6 Withholding |
16 | |||
ARTICLE VI | ||||
MEMBERS’ MEETINGS | ||||
6.1 Meetings of Members; Place of Meetings |
17 | |||
6.2 Quorum; Voting Requirement |
17 | |||
6.3 Proxies |
17 |
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6.4 Action Without Meeting |
17 | |||
6.5 Notice |
17 | |||
6.6 Waiver of Notice |
18 | |||
ARTICLE VII | ||||
MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL | ||||
7.1 Management by Board of Directors and Executive Officers |
18 | |||
7.2 Board of Directors |
18 | |||
7.3 Meetings of the Board |
19 | |||
7.4 Quorum and Acts of the Board |
20 | |||
7.5 Electronic Communications |
20 | |||
7.6 Committees of Directors |
20 | |||
7.7 Compensation of Directors |
21 | |||
7.8 Directors as Agents |
21 | |||
7.9 Officers; Agents |
21 | |||
7.10 Observers |
21 | |||
ARTICLE VIII | ||||
LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION | ||||
8.1 Limitation on Liability of Members, Directors, Officers and the Observer |
21 | |||
8.2 Indemnification |
22 | |||
ARTICLE IX | ||||
TRANSFERS OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS | ||||
9.1 General Restrictions |
23 | |||
9.2 Permitted Transferees |
23 | |||
9.3 Substitute Members |
25 | |||
9.4 Effect of Admission as a Substitute Member |
25 | |||
9.5 Consent |
25 | |||
9.6 Additional Members |
25 | |||
9.7 Right of First Refusal |
25 | |||
ARTICLE X | ||||
DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION | ||||
10.1 Events Causing Dissolution |
27 | |||
10.2 Final Accounting |
27 | |||
10.3 Distributions Following Dissolution and Termination |
27 | |||
10.4 Termination of the Company |
28 | |||
10.5 No Action for Dissolution |
28 | |||
ARTICLE XI | ||||
TAX MATTERS | ||||
11.1 Tax Matters Member |
29 |
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11.2 Certain Authorizations |
29 | |||
11.3 Indemnity of Tax Matters Member |
30 | |||
11.4 Information Furnished |
30 | |||
11.5 Notice of Proceedings, etc |
30 | |||
11.6 Notices to Tax Matters Member |
30 | |||
11.7 Preparation of Tax Returns |
30 | |||
11.8 Tax Elections |
30 | |||
11.9 Taxation as a Partnership |
31 | |||
ARTICLE XII | ||||
ACCOUNTING AND BANK ACCOUNTS | ||||
12.1 Fiscal Year and Accounting Method |
31 | |||
12.2 Books and Records |
31 | |||
12.3 Delivery to Members; Inspection |
31 | |||
12.4 Financial Statements |
31 | |||
12.5 Filings |
32 | |||
12.6 Xxx-Xxxxxxxxxx |
00 | |||
ARTICLE XIII | ||||
MISCELLANEOUS | ||||
13.1 Waiver of Default |
32 | |||
13.2 Amendment |
33 | |||
13.3 Third Party Rights |
33 | |||
13.4 Severability |
33 | |||
13.5 Nature of Interest in the Company |
33 | |||
13.6 Binding Agreement |
33 | |||
13.7 Headings |
33 | |||
13.8 Word Meanings |
33 | |||
13.9 Counterparts |
34 | |||
13.10 Entire Agreement |
34 | |||
13.11 Partition |
34 | |||
13.12 Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction and Venue |
34 |
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THIS FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) of GP
NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), is made and
entered into as of the 4th day of January, 2007 by the Person executing this Agreement
on the signature pages hereto as a member (together with such other Persons that may hereafter
become members as provided herein, referred to collectively as the “Members” or individually, as a
“Member”) and the Company.
WHEREAS, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Xx. (“CJR”) and Ark Land Company, a Delaware corporation (“Ark
Land”), as the Company’s initial members, formed the Company on April 9, 2002 as a limited
liability company under the Act (as defined below) by causing a certificate of formation of the
Company to be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State and made capital contributions to the
Company:
WHEREAS, CJR and Ark Land entered into that certain Limited Liability Company Agreement of GP
Natural Resource Partners LLC dated as of April 9, 2002 (the “Original Agreement”);
WHEREAS, CJR formed Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(“Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management”), and contributed the entirety of his Membership Interest in the
Company to Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management in exchange for all of the limited liability company interests
in Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management;
WHEREAS, Ark Land and Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management entered into the First Amended and Restated
Limited Liability Company Agreement of GP Natural Resource Partners LLC dated as of July 12, 2002,
which amended and restated the Original Agreement;
WHEREAS, Ark Land and Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management further amended and restated such First
Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement as the Second Amended and Restated Limited
Liability Company Agreement of GP Natural Resource Partners LLC dated as of October 17, 2002; and
WHEREAS, Ark Land and Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management amended such Second Amended and Restated
Limited Liability Company Agreement on December 22, 2003 to facilitate the sale of Ark Land’s
membership interest in the Company to Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management, and Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management
amended and restated the limited liability company agreement as the Third Amended and Restated
Limited Liability Company Agreement of GP Natural Resource Partners LLC on such date; and
WHEREAS, Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management desires to further amend and restate such Third Amended and
Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement to provide for the right of Adena Minerals, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company (“Adena”), to designate certain Directors of the Company as set
forth in this Agreement and the Investor Rights Agreement;
As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context
otherwise requires:
“Acceptance Notice” is defined in Section 9.7(b).
“Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act. 6 Del. C. Section 18-101,
et seq., as amended from time to time.
“Adena” is defined in the recitals hereof.
“Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” means with respect to any Member, the deficit balance, if
any, in such Member’s Capital Account as of the end of the relevant Taxable Year, after giving
effect to the following adjustments:
(a) Credit to such Capital Account any amounts which such Member is obligated to
restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or is deemed to be obligated to restore
pursuant to Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c), 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5); and
(b) Debit to such Capital Account the items described in Regulation Sections
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6).
The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is intended to comply with the
provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently
therewith.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with
respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person,
directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof, as the same may be
amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Amended and Restated Agreement” has the meaning given in the preamble.
“Audit Committee” is defined in Section 7.6(b).
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“Authorized Representative” is defined in Section 6.1.
“Available Cash” means, with respect to a fiscal quarter, all cash and cash equivalents of the
Company at the end of such quarter less the amount of cash reserves that is necessary or
appropriate in the reasonable discretion of the Board to (a) provide for the proper conduct of the
business of the Company (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated
future credit needs of the Company) subsequent to such quarter or (b) comply with applicable law or
any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation
to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound or its assets or Property is subject;
provided, however, that disbursements made by the Partnership to the Company or cash reserves
established, increased or reduced after the expiration 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, during such quarter
if the Board so determines in its reasonable discretion.
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“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 with respect to any Member, a separate account established by the
Company and maintained for each Member in accordance with Section 3.4 hereof.
“Capital Contribution” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of money and the initial
Gross Asset Value of any Property (other than money) contributed to the Company by such Member with
respect to its Membership Interest pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Any reference in this
Agreement to the Capital Contribution of a Member shall include a Capital Contribution of its
predecessors in interest.
“Certificate” means the Certificate of Formation of the Company filed with the Secretary of
State of Delaware, as amended or restated from time to time.
“CJR” is defined in the recitals hereof.
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company” is defined in the preamble hereof.
“Company Affiliate” is defined in Section 8.2.
“Compensation Committee” is defined in Section 7.6(d).
“Conflicts Committee” is defined in the MLP Partnership Agreement.
“Depreciation” means, for each Taxable Year or other period, an amount equal to the
depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable with respect to an asset for
such Taxable Year, except that if the Gross Asset Value of an asset differs from its adjusted basis
3
for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such Taxable Year, Depreciation shall be
an amount which bears the same ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax
depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such Taxable Year bears to such
beginning adjusted tax basis; provided, however, that if the adjusted basis for federal income tax
purposes of an asset at the beginning of such Taxable Year is zero, Depreciation shall be
determined with reference to such beginning Gross Asset Value using any reasonable method selected
by the Board.
“Directors” is defined in Section 7.2(a).
“Economic Risk of Loss” is defined in Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).
“Encumbrance” means any security interest, pledge, mortgage, lien (including, without
limitation, environmental and tax liens), charge, encumbrance, adverse claim, any defect or
imperfection in title, preferential arrangement or restriction, right to purchase, right of first
refusal or other burden or encumbrance of any kind other than those imposed by this Agreement.
“First Amended and Restated Agreement” is defined in the recitals hereof.
“First Refusal Notice” is defined in Section 9.7(a).
“General Partner” means the General Partner of the MLP.
“General Partner’s Percentage” means the Percentage Interest as to the General Partner (with
respect to its General Partner Interest) as such terms are defined in the MLP Partnership
Agreement.
“Great Northern” means Great Northern Properties Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited
partnership.
“Gross Asset Value” means with respect to any asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for federal
income tax purposes, except as follows and as otherwise provided in Section 3.2(b):
(a) The initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Member to the Company
shall be the gross fair market value of such asset, as reasonably determined by the Board,
in a manner that is consistent with Section 7701(g) of the Code; provided, however, that the
initial Gross Asset Values of the assets contributed to the Company pursuant to Section
3.1 hereof shall be as set forth in such section or the schedule referred to therein;
(b) The Gross Asset Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their
respective gross fair market values, as reasonably determined by the Board, in a manner that
is consistent with Section 7701(g) of the Code, as of the following times: (i) the
acquisition of an additional interest in the Company by any new or existing Member in
exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (ii) the distribution by the
Company to a Member of more than a de minimis amount of Company property other than money as
consideration for an interest in the Company; and (iii) the liquidation of the Company
within the meaning of Regulation Section l.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g); provided,
4
however, that adjustments pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above shall be made only if
the Tax Matters Member reasonably determines that such adjustments are necessary or
appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Members in the Company.
(c) The Gross Asset Value of any Company assets distributed to any Member shall be
adjusted to equal the gross fair market value of such asset on the date of distribution as
reasonably determined by the Board, in a manner that is consistent with Section 7701(g) of
the Code.
(d) The Gross Asset Values of any Company assets shall be increased (or decreased) to
reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Section 734(b) of
the Code or Section 743(b) of the Code, but only to the extent that such adjustments are
taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) and clause (f) of the definition of Profits and Losses, provided,
however, that Gross Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this subparagraph (d) to
the extent the Tax Matters Member determines that an adjustment pursuant to the foregoing
subparagraph (b) of this definition is necessary or appropriate in connection with a
transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this subparagraph (d).
If the Gross Asset Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to subparagraphs (a),
(b) or (d), such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into
account with respect to such asset, for purposes of computing Profits and Losses.
“Independent Director” means a Director who is eligible to serve on the Conflicts Committee
(as defined, and provided for in the MLP Partnership Agreement) and is otherwise independent as
defined in Section 303A.02 or any successor provisions of the Listed Company Manual of the New York
Stock Exchange.
“Investor Rights Agreement” means that certain Investor Rights Agreement of even date herewith
by and among Adena, the General Partner, the Company and Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management.
“Limited Partnership Interest” means a limited partnership interest in the Partnership which
refers to all of a limited partner’s rights and interests in the Partnership in such Person’s
capacity as a limited partner thereof, all as provided in the Partnership Agreement and the
Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.
“Liquidating Trustee” is defined in Section 10.3.
“Losses” is defined in the definition of “Profits” and “Losses”.
“Member” or “Members” is defined in the preamble hereof.
“Member Nonrecourse Debt” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “partner nonrecourse
debt” in Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).
“Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” shall have the meaning assigned to the
5
term “partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain” set forth in Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
“Member Nonrecourse Deductions” shall have the meaning assigned to the term “partner
nonrecourse deduction” in Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(1).
“Membership Interest” means a Member’s limited liability company interest in the Company,
which refers to all of a Member’s rights and interests in the Company in such Member’s capacity as
a Member, all as provided in this Agreement and the Act.
“Minimum Gain” is defined in Regulation Section 1.704-2(d).
“MLP” means Natural Resource Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
“MLP Partnership Agreement” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Natural Resource Partners L.P., as amended from time to time in accordance with the
terms thereof.
“New Gauley” means New Gauley Coal Corporation, a West Virginia corporation.
“Nonrecourse Deductions” is defined in Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(1).
“Nonrecourse Liability” is defined in Regulation Section 1.752-1(a)(2).
“Non-Selling Members” is defined in Section 9.7(b).
“Notice” means a writing, containing the information required by this Agreement to be
communicated to a party, and shall be deemed to have been received (a) when personally delivered or
sent by telecopy, (b) one day following delivery by overnight delivery courier, with all delivery
charges prepaid, or (c) on the third Business Day following the date on which it was sent by United
States mail, postage prepaid, to such party at the address or fax number, as the case may be, of
such party as shown on the records of the Company.
“Observer” is defined in Section 7.10.
“Offer” is defined in Section 9.7(a).
“Offeror” is defined in Section 9.7(a).
“Officer” is defined in Section 7.9.
“Omnibus Agreement” means the Omnibus Agreement dated as of October 17, 2002 among the
Company, the General Partner, the Operating Company, the MLP, Arch Coal, Ark Land, New Gauley,
Western Pocahontas, Great Northern and Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management.
“Operating Company” means NRP (Operating) LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Optioned Interest” is defined in Section 9.7(a).
6
“Original Agreement” is defined in the recitals hereof.
“Partnership” means NRP (GP) LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
“Partnership Agreement” means the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
of the Partnership, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company, as the general
partner, New Gauley, Western Pocahontas, Great Northern, NRP Investment L.P. and any other Persons
who become partners in the Partnership as provided therein, as amended from time to time in
accordance with the terms thereof.
“Percentage Interest” of a Member means the aggregate percentage of Membership Interests of
such Member set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, as the same may be modified from time to time
as provided herein.
“Permitted Transfer” means:
(a) a Transfer of any or all of a Membership Interest by any Member who is a natural
person to (i) such Member’s spouse, children (including legally adopted children and
stepchildren), spouses of children or grandchildren or spouses of grandchildren; (ii) a
trust for the benefit of the Member and/or any of the Persons described in clause (i); or
(iii) a limited partnership or limited liability company whose sole partners or members, as
case may be, are the Member and/or any of the Persons described in clause (i) or clause
(ii); provided, that in any of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), the Member transferring such
Membership Interest retains exclusive power to exercise all rights under this Agreement;
(b) a Transfer of any or all of a Membership Interest by any Member to the Company; or
(c) a Transfer of any or all of a Membership Interest by a Member to any Affiliate of
such Member; provided, however, that such transfer shall be a Permitted Transfer only so
long as such Membership Interest is held by such Affiliate or is otherwise transferred in
another Permitted Transfer.
Except in the case of a Permitted Transfer pursuant to clause (b) above, from and after the
date on which a Permitted Transfer becomes effective, the Permitted Transferee of the Membership
Interest so transferred shall have the same rights, and shall be bound by the same obligations,
under this Agreement as the transferor of such Membership Interest and shall be deemed for all
purposes hereunder a Member and such Permitted Transferee shall, as a condition to such Transfer,
agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. No Permitted Transfer shall conflict
with or result in any violation of any judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or
regulation or require the Company, if not currently subject, to become subject, or if currently
subject, to become subject to a greater extent, to any statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation,
excluding matters of a ministerial nature that are not materially burdensome to the Company.
“Permitted Transferee” means any Person who shall have acquired and who shall hold a
Membership Interest pursuant to a Permitted Transfer.
7
“Person” means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust,
incorporated or unincorporated organization or other legal entity of any kind.
“Profits” and “Losses” means, for each Taxable Year, an amount equal to the Company’s net
taxable income or loss for a taxable year, determined in accordance with Section 703(a) of the Code
(for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately
pursuant to Section 703(a)(1) of the Code shall be included in computing such taxable income or
loss), with the following adjustments (without duplication):
(a) Any income of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax and not otherwise
taken into account in computing Profits or Losses shall be added to such taxable income or
loss;
(b) Any expenditures of the Company described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code or
treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Regulation Section
l.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses,
shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;
(c) In the event the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to
subparagraphs (b) or (c) of the definition of Gross Asset Value, the amount of such
adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the Gross Asset
Value of the asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases the Gross Asset Value of
the asset) from the disposition of such asset and shall be taken into account for purposes
of computing Profits or Losses;
(d) Gain or loss resulting from any disposition of the Property (other than money) with
respect to which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be
computed by reference to the Gross Asset Value of the Property disposed of, notwithstanding
that the adjusted tax basis of such Property differs from its Gross Asset Value;
(e) In lieu of the depreciation, amortization, and other cost recovery deductions taken
into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account
Depreciation for such Taxable Year, computed in accordance with the definition of
Depreciation;
(f) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant
to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b) is required, pursuant to Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a
result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Member’s interest in the Company,
the amount of such adjustment 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) from the
disposition of such asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits
or Losses; and
(g) Any items that are allocated pursuant to the Regulatory Allocations shall not be
taken into account in computing Profits and Losses. The amounts of the items of Company
income, gain, loss or deduction available to be allocated pursuant to the
8
Regulatory Allocations shall be determined by applying rules analogous to those set
forth in clauses (a) through (f) hereof.
“Property” means all assets, real or intangible, that the Company may own or otherwise have an
interest in from time to time.
“Regulations” means the regulations, including temporary regulations, promulgated by the
United States Department of Treasury with respect to the Code, as such regulations are amended from
time to time, or corresponding provisions of future regulations.
“Regulatory Allocations” is defined in Section 5.3(g).
“Restricted Business” is defined in the Omnibus Agreement.
“Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management” is defined in the recitals hereof.
“Selling Member” is defined in Section 9.7(a).
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to a Person, any corporation, partnership, association or
other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares
of stock entitled (irrespective of whether, at the time, stock of any other class or classes of
such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any
contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time
owned or controlled, directly or indirectly by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries
of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a partnership, association or other business
entity, a majority of either (x) the partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof or (y)
the stock or equity interest of such partnership, association or other business entity’s general
partner managing member or other similar controlling Person, is at the time owned or controlled,
directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination
thereof. For purposes of this Agreement, with respect to the Company, each of the Partnership and
the MLP and each of their respective Subsidiaries, shall be a Subsidiary of the Company.
“Tax Matters Member” is defined in Section 11.1.
“Taxable Year” means the calendar year.
“Transfer or Transferred” means to give, sell exchange, assign, transfer, pledge, hypothecate,
bequeath, devise or otherwise dispose of or encumber, voluntarily or involuntarily, by operation of
law or otherwise. When referring to a Membership Interest, “Transfer” shall mean the Transfer of
such Membership Interest whether of record, beneficially, by participation or otherwise.
“Western Pocahontas” shall mean Western Pocahontas Properties Limited Partnership, a Delaware
limited partnership.
9
2.1 Formation. The name of the Company is GP Natural Resource Partners LLC. The rights and
liabilities of the Members shall be as provided in the Act for Members except as provided herein.
To the extent that the rights or obligations of any Member are different by reason of any provision
of this Agreement than they would be in the absence of such provision, to the extent permitted by
the Act, this Agreement shall control.
2.2 Principal Office. The principal office of the Company shall be located at 000 Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000 or at such other place(s) as the Board may determine from
time to time.
2.3 Registered Office and Registered Agent. The location of the registered office and the name
of the registered agent of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be as stated in the
Certificate or as determined from time to time by the Board.
2.4 Purpose of the Company. The Company’s purposes, and the nature of the business to be
conducted and promoted by the Company, are (a) to act as the general partner of the Partnership in
accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement, (b) as general partner of the Partnership,
to manage the MLP on behalf of the Partnership, in its capacity as general partner of the MLP and
(c) to engage in any and all activities necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental to the
foregoing.
2.5 Date of Dissolution. The Company shall have perpetual existence unless the Company is
dissolved pursuant to Article 10 hereof. The existence of the Company as a separate legal
entity shall continue until cancellation of the Certificate in the manner required by the Act.
2.6 Qualification. The Chief Executive Officer, the President and Chief Operating Officer, any
Vice President, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary of the Company is hereby authorized to
qualify the Company to do business as a foreign limited liability company in any jurisdiction in
which the Company may wish to conduct business and each is hereby designated as an authorized
person, within the meaning of the Act, to execute, deliver and file any amendments or restatements
of the Certificate and any other certificates and any amendments or restatements thereof necessary
for the Company to so qualify to do business in any such state or territory.
2.7 Members.
10
as a substitute Member,
all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, or (ii) completion of dissolution and winding
up of the Company pursuant to Article 10.
2.8 Reliance by Third Parties. Except with respect to certain tax matters, Persons dealing
with the Company shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon the power and authority of an Officer.
3.1 Initial Capital Contributions. On April 9, 2002 in connection with the formation of the
Company, CJR made an initial Capital Contribution to the Company of $577.50, and Ark Land made an
initial Capital Contribution to the Company of $422.50. On July 9, 2002, in connection with the
formation of Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management, CJR transferred the entirety of his Membership Interest in
the Company to Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management. On December 22, 2003, Ark Land transferred the entirety
of its Membership Interest in the Company to Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management. The resulting Percentage
Interest of the Members following such Capital Contributions and transfers are as set forth on
Schedule 1 hereto, which shall be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms
hereof (including, but not limited to, upon the making of additional Capital Contributions pursuant
to Section 3.2(b)) to reflect appropriate adjustments to such Percentage Interests and
Capital Contributions.
(a) Except for Capital Contributions from each Member in proportion to such Member’s then
outstanding Percentage Interest in respect of the General Partner’s Percentage for equity issuances
by the MLP, and for equity issuances approved pursuant to Section 7.10(b)(v), no Member
shall be required to make any additional Capital Contribution.
(b) Subject to the unanimous consent of the Members, the Company may offer additional
Membership Interests to any Person. If any additional Capital Contributions are made by Members
but not in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests, the Percentage Interest of each
Member shall be adjusted such that each Member’s revised Percentage Interest determined immediately
following each such additional Capital Contribution shall be equal to a fraction (i) the numerator
of which is the sum of (A) the positive Capital Account balance of the Member determined
immediately preceding the date such additional Capital Contribution is made (such Capital Account
to be computed by adjusting the book value for Capital Account purposes of each Company asset to
equal its Gross Asset Value as of such date, as provided in subparagraph (b) of the definition
herein of “Gross Asset Value”), and (B) such additional Capital Contribution, if any, made by such
Member, and (ii) the denominator of which is the sum
11
of the positive Capital Account balances
immediately preceding the date such additional Capital Contribution is made plus additional Capital
Contributions of all Members on the date of such additional Capital Contribution, including Capital
Contributions of any new Members (in each case calculated as provided in (i) above). The names,
addresses and Capital Contributions of the Members shall be reflected in the books and records of
the Company.
3.3 Loans.
(a) No Member shall be obligated to loan funds to the Company. Loans by a Member to the
Company shall not be considered Capital Contributions. The amount of any such loan shall be a debt
of the Company owed to such Member in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which such loan
is made.
(b) A Member may (but shall not be obligated to) guarantee a loan made to the Company. If a
Member guarantees a loan made to the Company and is required to make payment, pursuant to such
guarantee, to the maker of the loan, then the amounts so paid to the maker of the loan shall be
treated as a loan by such Member to the Company and not as an additional Capital Contribution.
(a) The Company shall maintain for each Member a separate Capital Account with respect to the
Membership Interest owned by such Member in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) To each Member’s Capital Account there shall be credited (A) such Member’s Capital
Contributions, (B) such Member’s share of Profits and any items in the nature of income or
gain which are allocated to such Member pursuant to the Regulatory Allocations and (C) the
amount of any Company liabilities assumed by such Member or which are secured by any
Property distributed to such Member. The principal amount of a promissory note which is not
readily traded on an established securities market and which is contributed to the Company
by the maker of the note (or a Member related to the maker of the note within the meaning of
Regulation Section l.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c)) shall not be included in the Capital Account of any
Member until the Company makes a taxable disposition of the note or until (and only to the
extent) principal payments are made on the note, all in accordance with Regulation Section 1
.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(d)(2);
(ii) To each Member’s Capital Account there shall be debited (A) the amount of money
and the Gross Asset Value of any Property distributed or treated as an advance distribution
to such Member pursuant to any provision of this Agreement (including without limitation any
distributions pursuant to Section 4.1), (B) such Member’s share of Losses and any
items in the nature of deduction or loss which are allocated to such Member pursuant to the
Regulatory Allocations and (C) the amount of any liabilities of such Member assumed by the
Company or which are secured by any Property contributed by such Member to the Company;
(iii) In the event Membership Interests are Transferred in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the
12
transferor to the extent such Capital Account relates to the Transferred Membership Interests;
(iv) In determining the amount of any liability for purposes of Sections 3.4(a)(i)
and (ii) there shall be taken into account Code Section 752(c) and any other applicable
provisions of the Code and Regulations; and
(b) The foregoing Section 3.4(a) and the other provisions of this Agreement relating
to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)
and, to the greatest extent practicable, shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent
with such Regulation. The Board in its discretion and to the extent otherwise consistent with the
terms of this Agreement shall (i) make any adjustments that are necessary or appropriate to
maintain equality between the Capital Accounts of the Members and the amount of capital reflected
on the Company’s balance sheet, as computed for book purposes, in accordance with Regulation
Section l.704-l(b)(2)(iv)(q), and (ii) make any appropriate modifications in the event
unanticipated events might otherwise cause this Agreement not to comply with Regulation Section
1.704-1(b).
3.5 Capital Withdrawal Rights, Interest and Priority. Except as expressly provided in this
Agreement, no Member shall be entitled to (a) withdraw or reduce such Member’s Capital Contribution
or to receive any distributions from the Company, or (b) receive or be credited with any interest
on the balance of such Member’s Capital Contribution at any time. An unrepaid Capital Contribution
is not a liability of the Company or of any Member.
4.1 Distributions of Available Cash. An amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to
each fiscal quarter of the Partnership shall be distributed simultaneously to the Members in
proportion to their relative Percentage Interests within forty-five days after the end of such
quarter.
4.2 Persons Entitled to Distributions. All distributions of Available Cash to Members for a fiscal quarter pursuant to Section
4.1 shall be made to the Members shown on the records of the Company to be entitled thereto as
of the last day of such quarter, unless the transferor and transferee of any Membership Interest
otherwise agree in writing to a different distribution and such distribution is consented to in
writing by the Board.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to
the contrary, no distributions shall be made except pursuant to this Article 4 or
Article 10.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no distribution hereunder
shall be permitted if such distribution would violate Section 18-607 of the Act or other applicable
law.
ARTICLE V
ALLOCATIONS
ALLOCATIONS
13
5.1 Profits. Profits for any Taxable Year shall be allocated:
(a) first, to those Members to which Losses have previously been allocated pursuant to
Section 5.2(c) hereof so as to bring each such Member’s Capital Account to zero, pro rata
in accordance with the sum of each such Member’s Losses; and
(b) second, any remaining Profits shall be allocated among the Members in proportion to their
respective Percentage Interests.
5.2 Losses. Losses for any Taxable Year shall be allocated:
(a) first, to the Members to which Profits have previously been allocated pursuant to
Section 5.1(b) to the extent of such Profits;
(b) second, to Members in proportion to their positive Capital Account balances until such
Capital Account balances have been reduced to zero; and
(c) third, any remaining Losses shall be allocated among the Members in proportion to their
respective Percentage Interests.
5.3 Regulatory Allocations. The following allocations shall be made in the following order:
(a) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions shall be allocated to the Members
in accordance with their Percentage Interests.
(b) Member Nonrecourse Deductions. Member Nonrecourse Deductions attributable to
Member Nonrecourse Debt shall be allocated to the Members bearing the Economic Risk of Loss for
such Member Nonrecourse Debt as determined under Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4). If more than
one Member bears the Economic Risk of Loss for such Member Nonrecourse Debt, the Member Nonrecourse
Deductions attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt shall be allocated among the Members
according to the ratio in which they bear the Economic Risk of Loss. This Section 5.03(b)
is intended to comply with the provisions of Regulation Section 1.704-2(i) and shall be interpreted
consistently therewith.
(c) Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof to the
contrary, if there is a net decrease in Minimum Gain for a Taxable Year (or if there was a net
decrease in Minimum Gain for a prior Taxable Year and the Company did not have sufficient amounts
of income and gain during prior years to allocate among the Members under this Section
5.03(c)), items of income and gain shall be allocated to each Member in an amount equal to such
Member’s share of the net decrease in such Minimum Gain (as determined pursuant to Regulation
Section 1.704-2(g)(2)). This Section 5.03(c) is intended to constitute a minimum gain
chargeback under Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(d) Member Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the
contrary except Section 5.03(c) (dealing with Minimum Gain), if there is a net decrease in
Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain for a Taxable Year (or if there was a net decrease in
14
Member
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain for a prior Taxable Year and the Company did not have sufficient
amounts of income and gain during prior years to allocate among the Members under this Section
5.03(d)), items of income and gain shall be allocated to each Member in an amount equal to such
Member’s share of the net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain (as determined pursuant
to Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4)). This Section 5.03(d) is intended to constitute a
partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain chargeback under Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall
be interpreted consistently therewith.
(e) Gross Income Allocation. In the event any Member has an Adjusted Capital Account
Deficit at the end of any Taxable Year, such Member shall be specially allocated items of Company
income and gain in the amount of such deficit balance as quickly as possible; provided, that an
allocation pursuant to this Section 5.3(e) shall be made only if and to the extent that
such Member would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit balance after all other allocations
provided for in this Article 5 have been made.
(f) Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Member unexpectedly receives any
adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in Regulation Sections
1.704-l(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-l(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5) or 1.704-l(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Company
income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to
eliminate, to the extent required by the Regulations, the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit of such
Member as quickly as possible, provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.3(f)
shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have an Adjusted Capital Account
Deficit after all other allocations provided for in this Article 5 have been made.
(g) Curative Allocations. The allocations set forth in Sections 5.3(a), (b), (c),
(d), (e)
and (f) hereof (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with certain requirements
of the Regulations. It is the intent of the Members that, to the extent possible, all Regulatory
Allocations shall be offset either with other Regulatory Allocations or with special allocations of
other items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to this Section 5.3(g).
Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 5 (other than the Regulatory
Allocations), the Board shall make such offsetting special allocations of income, gain, loss or
deduction in whatever manner it determines appropriate so that, after such offsetting allocations
are made, each Member’s Capital Account balance is, to the extent possible, equal to the Capital
Account balance such Member would have had if the Regulatory Allocations were not part of this
Agreement and all such items were allocated pursuant to Sections 5.1 and 5.2 without regard
to the Regulatory Allocations.
5.4 Tax Allocations: Code Section 704(c).
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, for federal income tax purposes, (i) each item of
income, gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated among the Members in the same manner as its
correlative item of “book” income, gain, loss or deduction is allocated pursuant to Sections
5.1 and 5.2, and (ii) each tax credit shall be allocated to the Members in the same manner as
the receipt or expenditure giving rise to such credit is allocated pursuant to Section 5.1 or
5.2.
(b) In accordance with Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations thereunder, income,
15
gain, loss
and deduction with respect to any Property contributed to the capital of the Company shall, solely
for tax purposes, be allocated among the Members so as to take account of any variation between the
adjusted basis of such Property to the Company for federal income tax purposes and its initial
Gross Asset Value (computed in accordance with the definition herein of “Gross Asset Value”). The
Company shall use the remedial method of allocations specified in Regulation §1.704-3(d) or
successor regulations, unless otherwise required by law, with respect to the initial contribution
set forth on Schedule 1.
(c) In the event the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to
subparagraph (b) of the definition of Gross Asset Value, subsequent allocations of income, gain,
loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the
adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes and its Gross Asset Value in the same
manner as under Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations thereunder.
(d) Any elections or other decisions relating to such allocations shall be made by the Board
in any manner that reasonably reflects the purpose and intention of this Agreement; provided, that
the Company, in the discretion of the Board, may make, or not make, “curative” or “remedial”
allocations (within the meaning of the Regulations under Code Section 704(c)) including, but not
limited to “curative” allocations which offset the effect of the “ceiling rule” for a prior Taxable
Year (within the meaning of Regulation Section 1.704-3(c)(3)(ii)) and “curative” allocations from
disposition of contributed property (within the meaning of Regulation Section
1.704-3(c)(3)(iii)(B)). Allocations pursuant to this Section 5.4 are solely for purposes
of federal, state, and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in
computing, any Member’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, other items, or distributions
pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.
5.5 Change in Percentage Interests. In the event that the Members’ Percentage Interests change
during a Taxable Year, Profits and Losses shall be allocated taking into account the Members’
varying Percentage Interests for such Taxable Year, determined on a daily, monthly or other basis
as determined by the Board, using any permissible method under Code Section 706 and the Regulations
thereunder.
5.6 Withholding. Each Member hereby authorizes the Company to withhold from income or
distributions allocable to such Member and to pay over any taxes payable by the Company or any of
its Affiliates as a result of such Member’s participation in the Company; if and to the extent that
the Company shall be required to withhold any such taxes, such Member shall be deemed for all
purposes of this Agreement to have received a distribution from the Company as of the time such
withholding is required to be paid, which distribution shall be deemed to be a distribution to such
Member to the extent that the Member is then entitled to receive a distribution. To the extent that
the aggregate of such distributions in respect of a Member for any period exceeds the distributions
to which such Member is entitled for such period, the amount of such excess shall be considered a
demand loan from the Company to such Member, with interest at the rate of interest per annum that
Citibank, N.A., or any successor entity thereto, announces from time to time as its prime lending
rate, which interest shall be treated as an item of Company income, until discharged by such Member
by repayment, which may be made in the sole discretion of the Board out of distributions to which
such Member would otherwise be subsequently entitled. The withholdings referred to in this
Section 5.6 shall
16
be made at the maximum applicable statutory rate under applicable tax law
unless the Board shall have received an opinion of counsel or other evidence, satisfactory to the
Board, to the effect that a lower rate is applicable, or that no withholding is applicable.
6.1 Meetings of Members; Place of Meetings. Regular meetings of the Members shall be held on
an annual basis or more frequently as determined by the Members or the Board. All meetings of the
Members shall be held at a location either within or outside the State of Delaware as designated
from time to time by the Board and stated in the Notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver
of the Notice thereof. Special meetings of the Members may be held for any purpose or purposes,
unless otherwise prohibited by law, and may be called by the Board or by any Member. A Member
expecting to be absent from a meeting shall be entitled to designate in writing (or orally;
provided, that such oral designation is later confirmed in writing) a proxy (an “Authorized
Representative”) to act on behalf of such Member with respect to such meeting (to the same extent
and with the same force and effect as the Member who has designated such Authorized
Representative). Such Authorized Representative shall have full power and authority to act and
take actions or refrain from taking actions as the Member by whom such Authorized Representative
has been designated. Members and Authorized Representatives may participate in a meeting of the
Members by means of conference telephone or other similar communication equipment whereby
all Members or Authorized Representatives participating in the meeting can hear each other.
Participation in a meeting in this manner shall constitute presence in person at the meeting,
except when a Member or Authorized Representative participates for the express purpose of objecting
to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or
convened.
6.2 Quorum; Voting Requirement. The presence, in person or by proxy, of a majority of the
Members (but if there are less than three Members, all Members) shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business by the Members. The affirmative vote of all of the Members present at a
meeting shall constitute a valid decision of the Members.
6.3 Proxies. At any meeting of the Members, every Member having the right to vote thereat
shall be entitled to vote in person or by proxy appointed by an instrument in writing signed by
such Member and bearing a date not more than one year prior to the date of such meeting.
6.4 Action Without Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of
Members of the Company may be taken without a meeting, without prior Notice and without a vote if a
consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by all of the Members.
6.5 Notice. Notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting of Members and the purpose
for which the meeting is called shall be delivered personally or sent by mail or by telecopier not
less than two Business Days nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting by or at the
direction of the Board or other Persons calling the meeting, to each Member entitled to vote at
such meeting.
17
6.6 Waiver of Notice. When any Notice is required to be given to any Member hereunder, a
waiver thereof in writing signed by the Member, whether before, at or after the time stated
therein, shall be equivalent to the giving of such Notice.
7.1 Management by Board of Directors and Executive Officers. Except as delegated to the
executive officers appointed pursuant to Section 7.9 hereof or as otherwise provided
hereunder, and subject to Adena’s rights under the Investor Rights Agreement, the business and
affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board. The Directors and
executive officers shall collectively constitute “managers” of the Company within the meaning of
the Act. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this
Agreement, the authority and functions of the Board, on the one hand, and the executive officers,
on the other hand, shall be identical to the authority and functions of the board of directors and
officers, respectively, of a corporation organized under the General Corporate Law of the State of
Delaware. The executive officers shall be vested with such powers and duties as are set forth in
Section 7.9 hereof and as may be further specified by the Board from time to time.
Accordingly, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, the business and affairs
of the Company shall be managed under the direction of the Board, and the day-to-day activities of
the Company shall be conducted on the Company’s behalf by the executive officers who shall be
agents of the Company.
In addition to the powers and authorities expressly conferred on the Board by this Agreement,
the Board may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such acts and things as are not
restricted by the Act, this Agreement or applicable law.
7.2 Board of Directors.
(a) The Board shall consist of nine individuals designated as directors of the Company (the
“Directors”). Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management shall be entitled to designate all of the Directors. Five
of the nine Directors must be Independent Directors subject to Adena’s rights under the Investor
Rights Agreement. A Member may assign its right to designate Directors (including Independent
Directors) in connection with the transfer of all of such Member’s Membership Interest in
compliance with the provisions of Article IX and subject to Adena’s rights under the Investor
Rights Agreement.
(b) At each annual meeting of the Members and at each special meeting of the Members called
for the purpose of electing Directors, each Member shall be entitled to designate the number of
Directors as set forth in Section 7.2(a). Each Member shall cooperate with respect to
calling and attending meetings of Members and electing the Directors designated by the Members,
including voting in favor of Directors designated pursuant to Section 7.2(a) and any
replacement Directors pursuant to Section 7.2(c); provided, that the failure to hold any
such meetings shall not limit or eliminate a Member’s right to designate Directors pursuant to
Section 7.2(a). Except as otherwise provided in the Investor Rights Agreement, Directors
shall be elected to serve annual terms expiring on the date of the annual meeting of Members
following such election or until his or her successor is elected pursuant to this Section
7.2(b) or until his or
18
her earlier death, resignation or removal.
(c) Any individual designated by a Member as a Director (other than Independent Directors and
the non-Independent Director designated pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement) may be removed
at any time, with or without cause, by such designating Member, and the Members shall cooperate
with respect to such removal, including voting in favor of such removal. Any individual designated
as a Director pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement (other than Independent Directors) may be
removed at any time, with or without cause, by Adena, and the Members shall cooperate with respect
to such removal, including voting in favor of such removal. Any individual designated as a
Director may also be removed for cause by the vote of at least eight of the Directors. Persons
elected as an Independent Director may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by a vote of
at least eight of the Directors. In the event of the death, resignation or removal of a Director
(including an Independent Director), the
Member that designated such Director may designate a replacement Director, subject to
Section 7.2(a) and in the case of the Independent Director selected by Adena, the Investor
Rights Agreement.
(d) Upon the occurrence of the Investor Director Resignation Event (as defined in the Investor
Rights Agreement), (i) Adena shall have no further right to designate any Directors to the Board,
(ii) each Director designated by Adena shall immediately deliver a letter of resignation to the
Members, (iii) Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management shall (A) amend this Agreement to reduce the number of
Directors to seven or (B) convene a special meeting of the Members to fill the vacancies on the
Board. Thereafter, at each annual or special meeting of the Members called for the purpose of
electing Directors (or with respect to any action to elect Directors taken by consent pursuant to
Section 6.4), Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management shall be entitled to designate all of the Directors
(including the Independent Directors) and (iv) Adena shall have no further right to an Observer.
(e) None of the Company or the Members shall take any action that would cause the Company to
fail to comply with its obligations under the Investor Rights Agreement without the written consent
of Adena.
7.3 Meetings of the Board. The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, within or
outside the State of Delaware. Regular meetings of the Board may be called by the Chief Executive
Officer or two or more of the Directors upon delivery of written Notice at least 10 days prior to
the date of such meeting. Special meetings of the Board may be called at the request of the Chief
Executive Officer or any two or more of the Directors upon delivery of written Notice sent to each
other Director, such notice to be received at least 24 hours prior to the time of such meeting.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, such Notice may be telephonic if no
other reasonable means are available. Such Notices shall be accompanied by a proposed agenda or
statement of purpose. A Director expecting to be absent from a meeting shall be entitled to
designate in writing (or orally; provided, that such oral designation is later confirmed in
writing) an Authorized Representative to act on behalf of such Director with respect to such
meeting (to the same extent and with the same force and effect as the Director who has designated
such Authorized Representative). Such Authorized Representative shall have full power and
authority to act and take actions or refrain from taking actions as the Director by whom such
Authorized Representative has been designated.
19
7.4 Quorum and Acts of the Board. A majority of the Directors shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business at all meetings of the Board, and, except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, the act of a majority of the Directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum
shall be the act of the Board. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board, the
Directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than
announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. Any action required or permitted to
be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if
all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the
writing or writings
are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.
7.5 Electronic Communications. Members of the Board and their Authorized Representatives, or
any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board or any committee
thereof by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment through which all
persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall
constitute presence in person at the meeting. If all the participants are participating by
conference telephone or similar communications equipment, the meeting shall be deemed to be held at
the Company’s principal place of business.
(a) The Board may establish committees of the Board and may delegate certain of its
responsibilities to such committees.
(b) The Board shall have an audit committee comprised of at least three Directors (the “Audit
Committee”), all of whom shall be Independent Directors. Such Audit Committee shall establish a
written audit committee charter in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
(the “NYSE”), as amended from time to time.
(c) The Board shall have a Conflicts Committee comprised of at least three Directors, all of
whom shall be Independent Directors. Such Conflicts Committee shall act in accordance with the
provisions of the MLP Partnership Agreement. Any matter approved by the Conflicts Committee in the
manner provided for in the MLP Partnership Agreement shall be conclusively deemed to be fair and
reasonable to the General Partner and to the MLP, and not a breach by the Company of any fiduciary
or other duties owed to the General Partner or to the MLP by the Company.
(d) The Board shall have a compensation committee comprised of at least three Directors (the
“Compensation Committee”). The Compensation Committee shall be charged with setting compensation
for officers of the Company, as well as administering any incentive plans put in place by the
Company.
(e) A majority of any committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its
meetings unless the Board shall otherwise provide. Notice of such meetings shall be given to each
member of the committee in the manner provided for in Section 7.3. The Board shall have
the power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve any such
committee, subject to Adena’s rights under the Investor Rights Agreement. Nothing herein
20
shall be
deemed to prevent the Board from appointing one or more committees consisting in whole or in part
of persons who are not Directors; provided, however, that no such committee shall have or may
exercise any authority of the Board.
7.7 Compensation of Directors. Each Director and the Observer shall be entitled to
reimbursement from the Company for all reasonable direct out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such
Director or the Observer, as
applicable, in connection with attending Board and committee meetings and such compensation as may
be approved by the Members.
7.8 Directors as Agents. No Director, in such capacity, acting singly or with any other
Director, shall have any authority or right to act on behalf of or bind the Company other than by
exercising the Director’s voting power as a member of the Board, unless specifically authorized by
the Board in each instance. The Observer shall have no authority or right to act on behalf of or
bind the Company unless specifically authorized by the Board in each instance.
7.9 Officers; Agents. The Board shall have the power to appoint any Person or Persons as the
Company’s officers (the “Officers”) to act for the Company and to delegate to such Officers such of
the powers as are granted to the Board hereunder. Any decision or act of an Officer within the
scope of the Officer’s designated or delegated authority shall control and shall bind the Company
(and any business entity for which the Company exercises direct or indirect executory authority).
The Officers may have such titles as the Board shall deem appropriate, which may include (but need
not be limited to) Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Vice President, Chief
Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Controller or Secretary. A Director may be
an Officer. Any one person may hold one or more offices. Unless the authority of an Officer is
limited by the Board, any Officer so appointed shall have the same authority to act for the Company
as a corresponding officer of a Delaware corporation would have to act for a Delaware corporation
in the absence of a specific delegation of authority. The Officers shall hold office until their
respective successors are chosen and qualify or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.
Any Officer elected or appointed by the Board may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of
a majority of the Board. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Company shall be filled by a
majority of the Board.
7.10 Observers. The Members agree that prior to the occurrence of the Investor Director
Resignation Event (as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement) Adena shall have the right to have
an observer (the “Observer”) attend the meetings of the Board and to receive copies of all
information distributed to the Board pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Investor
Rights Agreement.
8.1 Limitation on Liability of Members, Directors, Officers and the Observer. No Member (when
not acting in violation of this Agreement or applicable law), Director or Officer nor the Observer
shall have any liability to the Company or the Members for any losses sustained or liabilities
incurred as a result of any act or omission of such Member, Director or Officer or the Observer in
connection with the conduct of the business of the Company if, in the
21
case of an Officer or the
Observer, the Officer or the Observer acted in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or
not opposed to, the interests of the Company or applicable law
and to be within the scope of his or her authority and, in the case of a Member (when not acting in
violation of this Agreement or applicable law), Director or Officer or the Observer, the conduct
did not constitute bad faith, fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct. To the fullest extent
permitted by Section 18-1101(c) of the Act, a Director (other than Independent Directors) in
performing his or her obligations under this Agreement, shall be entitled to act or omit to act at
the direction of the Member who designated such Director, considering only such factors, including
the separate interests of the designating Member, as such Director or the designating Member
chooses to consider, and any action of a Director or failure to act, taken or omitted in good faith
reliance on the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.1 shall not constitute a breach of
any duty including any fiduciary duty on the part of the Director or designating Member to the
Company or any other Member or Director. Except as required by the Act, the Company’s debts,
obligations, and liabilities, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the
debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and no Officer, Member or Director nor the
Observer shall be personally responsible for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company
solely by reason of being an Officer, Member or Director or the Observer. No Member shall be
responsible for any debts, obligations or liabilities, whether arising in contract, tort or
otherwise, of any other Member.
8.2 Indemnification.
(a) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Members (when not acting in violation of
this Agreement or applicable law), Directors and Officers and the Observer (individually a “Company
Affiliate”) from and against any and all losses, claims, demands, costs, damages, liabilities,
expenses of any nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements), judgments, fines,
settlements and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or
proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which a Company Affiliate may be
involved, or threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, arising out of or incidental to
the business of the Company, regardless of whether a Company Affiliate continues to be a Company
Affiliate at the time any such liability or expense is paid or incurred, if, in the case of an
Officer or the Observer, such Officer or the Observer acted in a manner he or she reasonably
believed to be in, or not opposed to, the interests of the Company or applicable law and to be in
the scope of his or her authority and, in the case of a Member (when not acting in violation of
this Agreement or applicable law), Director or Officer or the Observer, the conduct of the Member,
Director or Officer or the Observer did not constitute fraud, bad faith, gross negligence or
willful misconduct and with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reason to believe his, her
or its conduct was unlawful.
(b) Expenses incurred by a Company Affiliate in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or
proceeding subject to Section 8.2(a) shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company
prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by
the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Company Affiliate to repay such amounts if it
is ultimately determined that the Company Affiliate is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized
in this Section 8.2.
(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 8.2 shall be in addition to any other
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rights to which a Company Affiliate may be entitled pursuant to any approval of the Board, as a
matter of law or equity, or otherwise, and shall continue as to a Company Affiliate who has
ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors,
assigns, and administrators of such Company Affiliate. The Company shall not be required to
indemnify any Member in connection with any losses, claims, demands, actions, disputes, suits or
proceedings, of any Member against any other Member.
(d) The Company may purchase and maintain directors and officers insurance or similar coverage
for its Directors and Officers in such amounts and with such deductibles or self-insured retentions
as determined in the sole discretion of the Board.
(e) Any indemnification hereunder shall be satisfied only out of the assets of the Company,
and the Members shall not be subject to personal liability by reason of the indemnification
provisions under this Section 8.2.
(f) A Company Affiliate shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this
Section 8.2 because the Company Affiliate 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 and all material facts relating to such indemnitee’s interest were adequately
disclosed to the Board at the time the transaction was consummated.
(g) Subject to Section 8.2(c), the provisions of this Section 8.2 are for the
benefit of the Company Affiliates and the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the
Company Affiliates and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other
Persons.
(h) Any repeal or amendment of any provisions of this Section 8.2 shall be prospective
only and shall not adversely affect any Company Affiliates’ rights existing at the time of such
repeal or amendment.
9.1 General Restrictions.
(a) A Member may Transfer any or all of such Member’s Membership Interest only (i) to a
Permitted Transferee pursuant to Section 9.2, or (ii) pursuant to the terms of Section
9.7. Any purported Transfer of a Membership Interest in violation of the terms of this
Agreement shall be null and void and of no force and effect. Except upon a Transfer of all of a
Member’s Membership Interest in accordance with this Section 9.1, no Member shall have the
right to withdraw as a Member of the Company.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Member may pledge, mortgage or
otherwise subject its Member Interest to any Encumbrance.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9.7, each Member shall have the right to
Transfer (but not to substitute the transferee as a substitute Member in such Member’s place,
23
except in accordance with Section 9.3), by a written instrument, any or all of a Member’s
Membership Interest to a Permitted Transferee. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, if the
Permitted Transferee is such because it was an Affiliate of the transferring Member at the
time of such Transfer or the Transfer was a Permitted Transfer under clause (a) of the definition
of Permitted Transfer and, at any time after such Transfer, such Permitted Transferee ceases to be
an Affiliate of such Member or such Transfer or such Permitted Transferee ceases to qualify under
such clause (a) (a “Non-Qualifying Transferee”), such Transfer shall be deemed to not be a
Permitted Transfer and shall be subject to Section 9.7. Pursuant to Section 9.7,
such transferring Member, or such transferring Member’s legal representative, shall deliver the
First Refusal Notice promptly after the time when such transferee ceases to be an Affiliate of such
transferring Member, or such Transfer or such Permitted Transferee ceases to qualify under clause
(a) of the definition of Permitted Transfer, and such transferring Member shall otherwise comply
with the terms of Section 9.7 with respect to such Transfer; provided, that the purchase
price for such Transfer for purposes of Section 9.7 shall be an amount agreed upon by such
transferring Member and the Board, or, if such Member and the Board cannot agree on a price within
five Business Days after delivery of the First Refusal Notice, such price shall be the fair market
value of the Membership Interest transferred pursuant to the Transfer as of the date the transferee
ceased to be an Affiliate of such transferring Member or such Transfer or such Permitted Transferee
ceases to qualify under clause (a) of the definition of Permitted Transfer (such date, the
“Non-Qualifying Date”), as determined at the Company’s expense by a nationally recognized
investment banking firm mutually selected by such transferring Member and the Board. If such
transferring Member and the Board are unable, within 10 days after the expiration of such five
Business Day period, to mutually agree upon an investment banking firm, then each of such
transferring Member and the Board shall choose a nationally recognized investment banking firm and
the two investment banking firms so chosen shall choose a third nationally recognized investment
banking firm which shall determine the fair market value of the Membership Interest transferred
pursuant to such Transfer at the Company’s expense. The determination of fair market value shall be
based on the value that a willing buyer with knowledge of all relevant facts would pay a willing
seller for all the outstanding equity securities of the Company in connection with an auction for
the Company as a going concern and shall not take into account any acquisitions made by the Company
or its Affiliates or any other events subsequent to the Non-Qualifying Date and shall not be
subject to any discount for a sale of a minority interest. If such transferring Member fails to
comply with all the terms of Section 9.7, such Transfer shall be null and void and of no
force and effect. No Non-Qualifying Transferee shall be entitled to receive any distributions from
the Company on or after the Non-Qualifying Date and any distributions made in respect of the
Membership Interests on or after the Non-Qualifying Date and held by such Non-Qualifying Transferee
shall be paid to the Member who transferred such Membership Interest or otherwise to the rightful
owner thereof as reasonably determined by the Board.
(b) Unless and until admitted as a substitute Member pursuant to Section 9.3, a
transferee of a Member’s Membership Interest in whole or in part shall be an assignee with respect
to such Transferred Membership Interest and shall not be entitled to participate in the management
of the business and affairs of the Company or to become, or to exercise the rights of, a Member,
including the right to designate Directors, the right to vote, the right to require any information
or accounting of the Company’s business, or the right to inspect the Company’s books and records.
Such transferee shall only be entitled to receive, to the extent of the
24
Transferred Membership
Interest, the share of distributions and profits, including distributions representing the return
of Capital Contributions, to which the transferor would otherwise be
entitled with respect to the Transferred Membership Interest. The transferor shall have the
right to vote such Transferred Membership Interest until the transferee is admitted to the Company
as a substitute Member with respect to the Transferred Membership Interest.
9.3 Substitute Members. No transferee of all or part of a Member’s Membership Interest shall
become a substitute Member in place of the transferor unless and until:
(a) Such Transfer is in compliance with the terms of Section 9.1;
(b) the transferee has executed an instrument in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Board accepting and adopting, and agreeing to be bound by, the terms and provisions of the
Certificate and this Agreement;
(c) the transferee has executed an instrument in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Board whereby it agrees to become a party to the Omnibus Agreement and to be bound by the
noncompetition provisions of Article II of the Omnibus Agreement.
(d) the transferee has caused to be paid all reasonable expenses of the Company in connection
with the admission of the transferee as a substitute Member.
Upon satisfaction of all the foregoing conditions with respect to a particular transferee, the
appropriate officers shall cause the books and records of the Company to reflect the admission of
the transferee as a substitute Member to the extent of the Transferred Membership Interest held by
such transferee.
9.4 Effect of Admission as a Substitute Member. A transferee who has become a substitute
Member has, to the extent of the Transferred Membership Interest, all the rights, powers and
benefits of, and is subject to the obligations, restrictions and liabilities of a Member under, the
Certificate, this Agreement and the Act. Upon admission of a transferee as a substitute Member,
the transferor of the Membership Interest so held by the substitute Member shall cease to be a
Member of the Company to the extent of such Transferred Membership Interest.
9.5 Consent. Each Member hereby agrees that upon satisfaction of the terms and conditions of
this Article 9 with respect to any proposed Transfer, the transferee may be admitted as a
Member without any further action by a Member hereunder.
9.6 Additional Members. Subject to Section 3.2, any Person approved by unanimous
consent of the Members may become an additional Member of the Company for such consideration as the
Members may unanimously determine, provided that such additional Member complies with all the
requirements of a transferee under Section 9.3(b), (c) and (d).
9.7 Right of First Refusal. The Members shall have the following right of first refusal:
(a) If at any time any of the Members (a “Selling Member”) has received and wishes
25
to accept a
bona fide offer (the “Offer”) for cash from a third party (the “Offeror”) for any or all of such
Selling Member’s Membership Interest, such Selling Member shall give Notice thereof (the “First
Refusal Notice”) to each of the other Members and the Company. The First Refusal Notice shall
state the amount of the Selling Member’s Membership Interest that the Selling Member wishes to sell
(the “Optioned Interest”), the price and all other material terms of the Offer, the name of the
Offeror, and certification from the Selling Member affirming that the Offer is bona fide and that
the description thereof is true and correct, and that the Offeror has stated that it will purchase
the Optioned Interest if the rights of first refusal herein described are not exercised.
(b) Each of the Members other than the Selling Member (the “Non-Selling Members”) shall have
the right exercisable by Notice (an “Acceptance Notice”) given to the Selling Member and the
Company within 20 days after receipt of the First Refusal Notice, to agree that it will purchase up
to 100% of the Optioned Interest on the terms set forth in the First Refusal Notice; provided,
however, if the Non-Selling Members in the aggregate desire to purchase more than 100% of the
Optioned Interest, each such Non-Selling Member’s right to purchase the Optioned Interest shall be
reduced (pro rata based on the percentage of Optioned Interest for which such Non-Selling Member
has exercised its right to purchase hereunder compared to all other Non-Selling Members, but not
below such Non-Selling Member’s Membership Interest as a percentage of the aggregate Membership
Interests of all Non-Selling Members who have exercised their right to purchase) so that such
Non-Selling Members purchase no more than 100% of the Optioned Interest. If a Non-Selling Member
does not submit an Acceptance Notice within the 20 day period set forth in this Section
9.7(b), such Non-Selling Member shall be deemed to have rejected the offer to purchase any
portion of the Optioned Interest.
(c) If the Non-Selling Members do not in the aggregate exercise the right to purchase all of
the Optioned Interest by the expiration of the 20 day period set forth in Section 9.7(b),
then any Acceptance Notice shall be void and of no effect, and the Selling Member shall be entitled
to complete the proposed sale at any time in the 30 day period commencing on the date of the First
Refusal Notice, but only upon the terms set forth in the First Refusal Notice. If no such sale is
completed in such 30 day period, the provisions hereof shall apply again to any proposed sale of
the Optioned Interest.
(d) If any Non-Selling Member exercises the right to purchase the Optioned Interest as
provided herein and such Non-Selling Member(s) have elected to purchase all of the Optioned
Interest, the purchase of such Optioned Interest shall be completed within the 30 day period
commencing on the date of delivery of the First Refusal Notice. If such Non-Selling Member does
not consummate the purchase of such Optioned Interest, (x) the Selling Member shall be entitled to
all expenses of collection, (y) the Selling Member shall be entitled to pursue all available legal
remedies against the Non-Selling Member, including specific enforcement of the purchase of the
Optioned Interest on the terms set forth in the First Refusal Notice and (z)
notwithstanding the specific enforcement remedy, the Selling Member may complete the sale of
the Optioned Interest to the third party on the terms set forth in the First Refusal Notice.
26
(a) The Company shall be dissolved and its affairs wound up upon the first to occur of the
following events:
(i) The unanimous consent of the Members to dissolve;
(ii) The Transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the
receipt and distribution of all the proceeds therefrom; or
(iii) The entry of a decree of judicial dissolution pursuant to Section 18-802 of the
Act.
(b) The withdrawal, death, retirement, resignation, expulsion, bankruptcy or dissolution of
any Member or the occurrence of any other event that terminates the continued membership of any
Member in the Company shall not, in and of itself, cause the Company’s dissolution.
10.2 Final Accounting. Upon dissolution and winding up of the Company, an accounting will be
made of the accounts of the Company and each Member and of the Company’s assets, liabilities and
operations from the date of the last previous accounting to the date of such dissolution.
27
asset had
been sold for consideration equal to the fair market value of the asset at the time of the
distribution. The Members intend that the allocations provided herein shall result in Capital
Account balances in proportion to the Percentage Interests of the Members.
(i) to creditors of the Company (including Members) in the order of priority as
provided by law whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for payment
thereof, and in connection therewith there shall be withheld such reasonable reserves for
contingent, conditioned or unconditioned liabilities as the Liquidating Trustee in its
reasonable discretion deems adequate, such reserves (or balances thereof) to be held and
distributed in such manner and at such times as the Liquidating Trustee, in its discretion,
deems reasonably advisable; provided, however, that such amounts will be maintained in a
separate bank account and that any amounts in such bank account remaining after three years
be distributed to the Members or their successors and assigns as if such amount had been
available for distribution under Section 10.3(c)(ii); and then
(ii) to the Members in proportion to the positive balances of their Capital Accounts,
as fully adjusted pursuant to Section 3.4, including adjustment for all gains and
losses actually or deemed realized upon disposition or distribution of assets in connection
with the liquidation and winding up of the Company.
Any distribution to the Members in liquidation of the Company shall be made by the later of
the end of the taxable year in which the liquidation occurs or 90 days after the date of such
liquidation. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “liquidation” shall have the same
meaning as set forth in Regulation Section l.704-l(b)(2)(ii) as in effect at such time and
liquidating distributions shall be further deemed to be made pursuant to this Agreement upon the
event of a liquidation as defined in such Regulation for which no actual liquidation occurs with a
deemed recontribution by the Members of such deemed liquidating distributions to the continuing
Company pursuant to this Agreement.
(d) The provisions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, this Section
10.3, are intended solely to benefit the Members and, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
shall not be construed as conferring any benefit upon any creditor of the Company. No such
creditor of the Company shall be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement, and no Member or
Director shall have any duty or obligation to any creditor of the Company to issue any call for
capital pursuant to this Agreement.
10.4 Termination of the Company. The Company shall terminate when all assets of the Company,
after payment or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company, shall
have been distributed to the Members in the manner provided for in this Article 10, and the
Certificate shall have been canceled in the manner required by the Act.
10.5 No Action for Dissolution. The Members acknowledge that irreparable damage would be done
to the goodwill and reputation of the Company if any Member should bring an
28
action in court to
dissolve the Company under circumstances where dissolution is not required by Section 10.1.
Accordingly, except where the Board has failed to cause the liquidation of the Company as required
by Section 10.1 and except as specifically provided in Section 18-802, each Member hereby
to the fullest extent permitted by law waives and renounces his or its right to initiate legal
action to seek dissolution of the Company or to seek the appointment of a receiver or trustee to
wind up the affairs of the Company, except in the cases of fraud, violation of law, bad faith,
gross negligence, willful misconduct or willful violation of this Agreement.
11.1 Tax Matters Member. Xxxxxxxxx Coal Management shall be the tax matters member (the “Tax
Matters Member”) of the Company as provided in the Regulations under Section 6231 of the Code and
analogous provisions of state law. The Board shall have the authority to remove or replace the Tax
Matters Member of the Company and designate its successor.
11.2 Certain Authorizations. The tax matters member shall represent the Company, at the
Company’s expense, in connection with all examinations of the Company’s affairs by tax authorities
including any resulting administrative or judicial proceedings. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, and subject to the restrictions set forth herein, the Tax Matters Member, but only
with the consent of the Board, is hereby authorized:
(a) to enter into any settlement agreement with respect to any tax audit or judicial review,
in which agreement the Tax Matters Member may expressly state that such agreement shall bind the
other Members except that such settlement agreement shall not bind any Member that has not approved
such settlement agreement in writing;
(b) if a notice of a final administrative adjustment at the Company level of any item required
to be taken into account by a Member for tax purposes is mailed to the Tax Matters Member, to seek
judicial review of such final adjustment, including the filing of a petition for readjustment with
the Tax Court, the District Court of the United States for the district in which the Company’s
principal place of business is located, or elsewhere as allowed by law, or the United States Claims
Court;
(c) to intervene in any action brought by any other Member for judicial review of a final
adjustment;
(d) to file a request for an administrative adjustment at any time and, if any part of such
request is not allowed, to file a petition for judicial review with respect to such request;
(e) to enter into an agreement with the Internal Revenue Service to extend the period for
assessing any tax that is attributable to any item required to be taken into account by a Member
for tax purposes, or an item affected by such item; and
(f) to take any other action on behalf of the Members (with respect to the Company) or the
Company in connection with any administrative or judicial tax proceeding to the extent permitted by
applicable law or the Regulations.
29
Each Member shall have the right to participate in any such actions and proceedings to the
extent provided for under the Code and Regulations.
11.3 Indemnity of Tax Matters Member. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and
without limiting Article 8, the Company shall indemnify and reimburse the Tax Matters
Member for all expenses (including reasonable legal and accounting fees) incurred as Tax Matters
Member pursuant to this Article 11 in connection with any administrative or judicial
proceeding with respect to the tax liability of the Members as long as the Tax Matters Member has
determined in good faith that the Tax Matters Member’s course of conduct was in, or not opposed to,
the best interest of the Company. The taking of any action and the incurring of any expense by the
Tax Matters Member in connection with any such proceeding, except to the extent provided herein or
required by law, is a matter in the sole discretion of the Tax Matters Member.
11.4 Information Furnished. To the extent and in the manner provided by applicable law and
Regulations, the Tax Matters Member shall furnish the name, address, profits and loss interest, and
taxpayer identification number of each Member to the Internal Revenue Service.
11.5 Notice of Proceedings, etc. The Tax Matters Member shall use its reasonable best efforts
to keep each Member informed of any administrative and judicial proceedings for the adjustment at
the Company level of any item required to be taken into account by a Member for income tax purposes
or any extension of the period of limitations for making assessments of any tax against a Member
with respect to any Company item, or of any agreement with the Internal Revenue Service that would
result in any material change either in Profits or Losses as previously reported.
11.6 Notices to Tax Matters Member. Any Member that receives a notice of an administrative
proceeding under Section 6233 of the Code relating to the Company shall promptly provide Notice to
the Tax Matters Member of the
treatment of any Company item on such Member’s Federal income tax return that is or may be
inconsistent with the treatment of that item on the Company’s return. Any Member that enters into
a settlement agreement with the Internal Revenue Service or any other government agency or official
with respect to any Company item shall provide Notice to the Tax Matters Member of such agreement
and its terms within 60 days after the date of such agreement.
11.7 Preparation of Tax Returns. The Tax Matters Member shall arrange for the preparation and
timely filing of all returns of Company income, gains, deductions, losses and other items necessary
for Federal, state and local income tax purposes and shall use all reasonable efforts to furnish to
the Members within 60 days of the close of the taxable year a Schedule K-1 and such other tax
information reasonably required for Federal, state and local income tax reporting purposes. The
classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items
shall be on the cash or accrual method of accounting for Federal income tax purposes, as the Board
shall determine in its sole discretion in accordance with applicable law.
11.8 Tax Elections. Subject to Section 11.9, the Board shall, in its sole discretion,
determine whether to make any available election.
30
11.9 Taxation as a Partnership. No election shall be made by the Company or any Member for the
Company to be excluded from the application of any of the provisions of Subchapter K, Chapter I of
Subtitle A of the Code or from any similar provisions of any state tax laws or to be treated as a
corporation for federal tax purposes.
12.1 Fiscal Year and Accounting Method. The fiscal year and taxable year of the Company shall
be the calendar year. The Company shall use an accrual method of accounting.
12.2 Books and Records. The Company shall maintain at its principal office, or such other
office as may be determined by the Board, all the following:
(a) A current list of the full name and last known business or residence address of each
Member, and of each member of the Board, together with information regarding the amount of cash and
a description and statement of the agreed value of any other property or services contributed by
each Member and which each Member has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which
each Member became a Member of the Company;
(b) A copy of the Certificate and this Agreement, including any and all amendments to either
thereof, together with executed copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which the Certificate,
this Agreement, or any amendments have been executed;
(c) Copies of the Company’s Federal, state, and local income tax or information returns and
reports, if any, which shall be retained for at least six fiscal years;
(d) The financial statements of the Company; and
(e) The Company’s books and records.
12.3 Delivery to Members; Inspection. Upon the request of any Member, for any purpose
reasonably related to such Member’s interest as a member of the Company, the Officers shall cause
to be made available to the requesting Member the information required to be maintained by clauses
(a) through (e) of Section 12.2 and such other information regarding the business and
affairs and financial condition of the Company as any Member may reasonably request.
12.4 Financial Statements. The Officers shall cause to be prepared for the Members at least
annually, at the Company’s expense, financial statements of the Company, and its subsidiaries,
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and audited by a nationally
recognized accounting firm. The financial statements so furnished shall include a balance sheet,
statement of income or loss, statement of cash flows, and statement of Members’ equity. In
addition, the Officers shall provide on a timely basis to the Members monthly and quarterly
financial statements, any available internal budgets or forecast or other available financial
reports, as well as any reports or notices as are provided by the Company, or any of its
Subsidiaries to any financial institution.
31
12.5 Filings. At the Company’s expense, the Officers shall cause the income tax returns for the
Company to be prepared and timely filed with the appropriate authorities and to have prepared and
to furnish to each Member such information with respect to the Company as is necessary (or as may
be reasonably requested by a Member) to enable the Members to prepare their Federal, state and
local income tax returns. The Officers, at the Company’s expense, shall also cause to be prepared
and timely filed, with appropriate Federal, state and local regulatory and administrative bodies,
all reports required to be filed by the Company with those entities under then current applicable
laws, rules, and regulations. The reports shall be prepared on the accounting or reporting basis
required by the regulatory bodies.
12.6 Non-Disclosure. Each Member agrees that, except as otherwise consented to by the Board in
writing, all non-public and confidential information furnished to it pursuant to this Agreement
will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed by such Member, or by any of its agents,
representatives, or employees, in any manner whatsoever, in whole or in part, except that
(a) each Member shall be permitted to disclose such information to those of its agents,
representatives, and employees who need to be familiar with such information in connection with
such Member’s investment in the Company (collectively “Representatives”) and are apprised of the
confidential nature of such information;
(b) each Member shall be permitted to disclose information to the extent required by law,
legal process or regulatory requirements, so long as such Member shall have used its reasonable
efforts to first afford the Company with a reasonable opportunity to contest the necessity of
disclosing such information, provided that each member and its Affiliates may disclose any
information required to be disclosed under the federal securities laws without affording the
Company such opportunity;
(c) each Member shall be permitted to disclose such information to possible purchasers of all
or a portion of the Member’s Membership Interest, provided that such prospective purchaser shall
execute a suitable confidentiality agreement in a form approved by the Company containing terms not
less restrictive than the terms set forth herein; and
(d) each Member shall be permitted to disclose information to the extent necessary for the
enforcement of any right of such Member arising under this Agreement.
Each Member shall be responsible for any breach of this Section 12.6 by its
Representatives.
13.1 Waiver of Default. No consent or waiver, express or implied, by the Company or a Member
with respect to any breach or default by the Company or a Member under this Agreement shall be
deemed or construed to be a consent or waiver with respect to any other breach or default by any
party of the same provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Failure on the part of the
Company or a Member to complain of any act or failure to act of the Company or a Member or to
declare such party in default shall not be deemed or constitute a waiver by the Company or the
Member of any rights under this Agreement.
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13.2 Amendment.
(a) Subject to the rights of Adena under the Investor Rights Agreement, this Agreement shall
not be altered, modified or changed except by an amendment approved by unanimous consent of the
Members, except that any amendment to Section 7.2(c) or 7.6 must also be approved
by the Board. Any purported amendment in violation of these provisions shall be void ab initio.
(b) In addition to any amendments otherwise authorized herein, the Board may make any
amendments to any of the Schedules to this Agreement from time to time to reflect transfers of
Membership Interests and issuances of additional Membership Interests. Copies of such amendments
shall be delivered to the Members upon execution thereof.
(c) The Board shall cause to be prepared and filed any amendment to the Certificate that may
be required to be filed under the Act as a consequence of any amendment to this Agreement.
(d) Any modification or amendment to this Agreement or the Certificate made in accordance with
this Section 13.2 shall be binding on all Members and the Board.
13.3 Third Party Rights. Except as provided in Article 8, none of the provisions
contained in this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any third parties,
including creditors of the Company.
13.4 Severability. In the event any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid
or unenforceable to any extent, the legality, validity and enforceability of the remainder of this
Agreement shall not be affected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect and shall be
enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.
13.5 Nature of Interest in the Company. A Member’s Membership Interest shall be personal
property for all purposes.
13.6 Binding Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to
the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors
and permitted assigns.
13.7 Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement are for convenience only and
shall not be considered in construing or interpreting any of the terms or provisions hereof.
13.8 Word Meanings. The words “herein,” “hereinafter,” “hereof,” and “hereunder” refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not merely to a subdivision in which such words appear unless the context
otherwise requires. The singular shall include the plural, and vice versa, unless the context
otherwise requires. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this
Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” When verbs are
used as nouns, the nouns correspond to such verbs and vice versa.
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13.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, all of which
together shall constitute one agreement binding on all parties hereto, notwithstanding that all the
parties have not signed the same counterpart.
13.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto and thereto and
supersedes all prior writings or agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof.
13.11 Partition. The Members agree that the Property is not and will not be suitable for
partition. Accordingly, each of the Members hereby irrevocably waives any and all right such Member
may have to maintain any action for partition of any of the Property. No Member shall have any
right to any specific assets of the Company upon the liquidation of, or any distribution from, the
Company.
13.12 Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction and Venue. This Agreement shall be construed
according to and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of
conflict of laws. The parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Court
of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the United States District Court for the Southern District
of Texas and of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, as the case may be,
and agree that the Company or Members may, at their option, enforce their rights hereunder in such
courts.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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MEMBER: | ||||
XXXXXXXXX COAL MANAGEMENT LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Xx. | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Xx. | |||
Title: | Sole Member |
COMPANY: | ||||
GP NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | President and Chief Operating Officer |
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SCHEDULE 1
Members, Capital Contributions and Percentage Interests
Total Capital | ||||||||||||||||
Name and Address | Cash Contributed | Gross Asset Value | Contribution | Percentage Interest | ||||||||||||
Xxxxxxxxx Coal
Management LLC |
$ | 1000.00 | — | $ | 1000.00 | 100 | % |