FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I | ||||
DEFINITIONS | ||||
Section 1.1 Definitions |
1 | |||
Section 1.2 Construction |
23 | |||
ARTICLE II | ||||
ORGANIZATION | ||||
Section 2.1 Formation |
24 | |||
Section 2.2 Name |
24 | |||
Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices |
24 | |||
Section 2.4 Purpose and Business |
25 | |||
Section 2.5 Powers |
25 | |||
Section 2.6 Power of Attorney |
25 | |||
Section 2.7 Term |
26 | |||
Section 2.8 Title to Partnership Assets |
27 | |||
ARTICLE III | ||||
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS | ||||
Section 3.1 Limitation of Liability |
27 | |||
Section 3.2 Management of Business |
27 | |||
Section 3.3 Outside Activities of the Limited Partners |
28 | |||
Section 3.4 Rights of Limited Partners |
28 | |||
ARTICLE IV | ||||
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS |
||||
Section 4.1 Certificates |
29 | |||
Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates |
29 | |||
Section 4.3 Record Holders |
30 | |||
Section 4.4 Transfer Generally |
30 | |||
Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests |
31 | |||
Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest |
32 | |||
Section 4.7 Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights |
32 | |||
Section 4.8 Restrictions on Transfers |
33 | |||
Section 4.9 Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees |
34 | |||
Section 4.10 Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees |
35 |
ARTICLE V | ||||
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS | ||||
Section 5.1 Organizational Contributions |
36 | |||
Section 5.2 Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates |
36 | |||
Section 5.3 Contributions by Initial Limited Partners |
37 | |||
Section 5.4 Interest and Withdrawal |
38 | |||
Section 5.5 Capital Accounts |
38 | |||
Section 5.6 Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities |
41 | |||
Section 5.7 Conversion of Subordinated Units |
42 | |||
Section 5.8 Limited Preemptive Right |
43 | |||
Section 5.9 Splits and Combinations |
43 | |||
Section 5.10 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests |
44 | |||
Section 5.11 Issuance of Class B Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights |
44 | |||
ARTICLE VI | ||||
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS | ||||
Section 6.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes |
46 | |||
Section 6.2 Allocations for Tax Purposes |
55 | |||
Section 6.3 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders |
57 | |||
Section 6.4 Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus |
58 | |||
Section 6.5 Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus |
60 | |||
Section 6.6 Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels |
60 | |||
Section 6.7 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units and Class B Units |
61 | |||
Section 6.8 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights |
62 | |||
Section 6.9 Entity-Level Taxation |
62 | |||
ARTICLE VII | ||||
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS | ||||
Section 7.1 Management |
63 | |||
Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership |
65 | |||
Section 7.3 Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority |
66 | |||
Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner |
66 | |||
Section 7.5 Outside Activities |
67 | |||
Section 7.6 Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members |
68 |
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Section 7.7 Indemnification |
69 | |||
Section 7.8 Liability of Indemnitees |
70 | |||
Section 7.9 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties |
71 | |||
Section 7.10 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner |
73 | |||
Section 7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities |
73 | |||
Section 7.12 Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates |
74 | |||
Section 7.13 Reliance by Third Parties |
77 | |||
ARTICLE VIII | ||||
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS | ||||
Section 8.1 Records and Accounting |
78 | |||
Section 8.2 Fiscal Year |
78 | |||
Section 8.3 Reports |
78 | |||
ARTICLE IX | ||||
TAX MATTERS | ||||
Section 9.1 Tax Returns and Information |
79 | |||
Section 9.2 Tax Elections |
79 | |||
Section 9.3 Tax Controversies |
79 | |||
Section 9.4 Withholding |
80 | |||
ARTICLE X | ||||
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS | ||||
Section 10.1 Admission of Limited Partners |
80 | |||
Section 10.2 Admission of Successor General Partner |
81 | |||
Section 10.3 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership |
81 | |||
ARTICLE XI | ||||
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS | ||||
Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner |
81 | |||
Section 11.2 Removal of the General Partner |
83 | |||
Section 11.3 Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner |
84 | |||
Section 11.4 Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages |
85 | |||
Section 11.5 Withdrawal of Limited Partners |
85 |
iii
ARTICLE XII | ||||
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION | ||||
Section 12.1 Dissolution |
86 | |||
Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution |
86 | |||
Section 12.3 Liquidator |
87 | |||
Section 12.4 Liquidation |
87 | |||
Section 12.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership |
88 | |||
Section 12.6 Return of Contributions |
88 | |||
Section 12.7 Waiver of Partition |
88 | |||
Section 12.8 Capital Account Restoration |
89 | |||
ARTICLE XIII | ||||
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE | ||||
Section 13.1 Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner |
89 | |||
Section 13.2 Amendment Procedures |
90 | |||
Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements |
91 | |||
Section 13.4 Special Meetings |
92 | |||
Section 13.5 Notice of a Meeting |
92 | |||
Section 13.6 Record Date |
92 | |||
Section 13.7 Adjournment |
93 | |||
Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes |
93 | |||
Section 13.9 Quorum and Voting |
93 | |||
Section 13.10 Conduct of a Meeting |
94 | |||
Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting |
94 | |||
Section 13.12 Right to Vote and Related Matters |
95 | |||
ARTICLE XIV | ||||
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION | ||||
Section 14.1 Authority |
95 | |||
Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion |
95 | |||
Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners |
97 | |||
Section 14.4 Certificate of Merger |
98 | |||
Section 14.5 Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion |
99 | |||
ARTICLE XV | ||||
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS | ||||
Section 15.1 Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests |
100 |
iv
ARTICLE XVI | ||||
GENERAL PROVISIONS | ||||
Section 16.1 Addresses and Notices; Written Communications |
101 | |||
Section 16.2 Further Action |
102 | |||
Section 16.3 Binding Effect |
102 | |||
Section 16.4 Integration |
102 | |||
Section 16.5 Creditors |
103 | |||
Section 16.6 Waiver |
103 | |||
Section 16.7 Third-Party Beneficiaries |
103 | |||
Section 16.8 Counterparts |
103 | |||
Section 16.9 Applicable Law |
103 | |||
Section 16.10 Invalidity of Provisions |
103 | |||
Section 16.11 Consent of Partners |
103 | |||
Section 16.12 Facsimile Signatures |
104 |
v
FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT
OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP
THIS FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES
LP dated as of August 10, 2007, is entered into by and between Quicksilver Gas Services GP LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company, as the General Partner, and Quicksilver Gas Services Holdings
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the Organizational Limited Partner, together with any
other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein. In
consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto
hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions.
The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the
contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.
“Acquisition” means any transaction in which any Group Member acquires (through an asset
acquisition, merger, stock acquisition or other form of investment) control over all or a portion
of the assets, properties or business of another Person for the purpose of increasing for a period
exceeding the short-term the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group from
the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to
such transaction. For purposes of this definition, the short-term generally refers to a period not
exceeding 12 months.
“Additional Book Basis” means the portion of any remaining Carrying Value of an Adjusted
Property that is attributable to positive adjustments made to such Carrying Value as a result of
Book-Up Events. For purposes of determining the extent that Carrying Value constitutes Additional
Book Basis:
(a) Any negative adjustment made to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property as a result of
either a Book-Down Event or a Book-Up Event shall first be deemed to offset or decrease that
portion of the Carrying Value of such Adjusted Property that is attributable to any prior positive
adjustments made thereto pursuant to a Book-Up Event or Book-Down Event.
(b) If Carrying Value that constitutes Additional Book Basis is reduced as a result of a
Book-Down Event and the Carrying Value of other property is increased as a result of such Book-Down
Event, an allocable portion of any such increase in Carrying Value shall be treated as Additional
Book Basis; provided, that the amount treated as Additional Book Basis pursuant hereto as a result
of such Book-Down Event shall not exceed the amount by which the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive
Adjustments after such Book-Down Event exceeds the remaining Additional Book Basis attributable to
all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property after
1
such Book-Down Event (determined without regard to the application of this clause (b) to such
Book-Down Event).
“Additional Book Basis Derivative Items” means any Book Basis Derivative Items that are
computed with reference to Additional Book Basis. To the extent that the Additional Book Basis
attributable to all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property as of the beginning of any taxable
period exceeds the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the beginning of such period
(the “Excess Additional Book Basis”), the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for such period
shall be reduced by the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of Additional Book Basis
Derivative Items determined without regard to this sentence as the Excess Additional Book Basis
bears to the Additional Book Basis as of the beginning of such period.
“Adjusted Capital Account” means the Capital Account maintained for each Partner as of the end
of each fiscal year of the Partnership, (a) increased by any amounts that such Partner is obligated
to restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (or is
deemed obligated to restore under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5)) and
(b) decreased by (i) the amount of all losses and deductions that, as of the end of such fiscal
year, are reasonably expected to be allocated to such Partner in subsequent years under Sections
704(e)(2) and 706(d) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.751-1(b)(2)(ii), and (ii) the
amount of all distributions that, as of the end of such fiscal year, are reasonably expected to be
made to such Partner in subsequent years in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or
otherwise to the extent they exceed offsetting increases to such Partner’s Capital Account that are
reasonably expected to occur during (or prior to) the year in which such distributions are
reasonably expected to be made (other than increases as a result of a minimum gain chargeback
pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i) or 6.1(d)(ii)). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account
is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and
shall be interpreted consistently therewith. The “Adjusted Capital Account” of a Partner in respect
of a General Partner Unit, a Common Unit, a Subordinated Unit, a Class B Unit or an Incentive
Distribution Right or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Adjusted Capital
Account would be if such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Subordinated Unit, Class B Unit,
Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest were the only interest in the
Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such General Partner Unit, Common
Unit, Subordinated Unit, Class B Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest
was first issued.
“Adjusted Operating Surplus” means, with respect to any period, (a) Operating Surplus
generated with respect to such period; (b) less (i) any net increase in Working Capital Borrowings
with respect to that period; and (ii) any net decrease in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures
with respect to such period not relating to an Operating Expenditure made with respect to such
period; and (c) plus (i) any net decrease in Working Capital Borrowings with respect to that
period; and (ii) any net increase in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures with respect to such
period required by any debt instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or premium.
Adjusted Operating Surplus does not include that portion of Operating Surplus included in clause
(a)(i) of the definition of Operating Surplus.
“Adjusted Property” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant
to Section 5.5(d)(i) or 5.5(d)(ii).
2
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the
Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect,
of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether
through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Aggregate Quantity of Class B Units” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11.
“Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments” means, as of the end of any taxable period, the
sum of the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of all the Partners.
“Agreed Allocation” means any allocation, other than a Required Allocation, of an item of
income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1, including a Curative
Allocation (if appropriate to the context in which the term “Agreed Allocation” is used).
“Agreed Value” of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property or
other consideration at the time of contribution as determined by the General Partner. The General
Partner shall use such method as it determines to be appropriate to allocate the aggregate Agreed
Value of Contributed Properties contributed to the Partnership in a single or integrated
transaction among each separate property on a basis proportional to the fair market value of each
Contributed Property.
“Agreement” means this First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Quicksilver Gas Services LP, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Associate” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation
or organization of which such Person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or
indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock or other voting interest; (b) any
trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which
such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (c) any relative or spouse of
such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same principal residence as such Person.
“Available Cash” means, with respect to any Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation Date:
(a) the sum of (i) all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group (or the
Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are
not wholly owned) on hand at the end of such Quarter, and (ii) if the General Partner so
determines, all or any portion of any additional cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group
on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter resulting from
Working Capital Borrowings made subsequent to the end of such Quarter, less
(b) the amount of any cash reserves established by the General Partner (or the Partnership’s
proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) to (i)
provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including
3
reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs of the
Partnership Group) subsequent to such Quarter, (ii) comply with applicable law or any loan
agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which
any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject or (iii) provide
funds for distributions under Section 6.4 or 6.5 in respect of any one or more of the next four
Quarters;
provided, however, that the General Partner may not establish cash reserves pursuant to clause
(iii) above if the effect of such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to distribute
the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all Common Units, plus any Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage
on all Common Units, with respect to such Quarter; and, provided further, that disbursements made
by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such Quarter
but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be
deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available
Cash, within such Quarter if the General Partner so determines.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Available Cash” with respect to the Quarter in which the
Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.
“Board of Directors” means, with respect to the Board of Directors of the General Partner, its
board of directors or managers, as applicable, if a corporation or limited liability company, or if
a limited partnership, the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner of the
General Partner.
“Book Basis Derivative Items” means any item of income, deduction, gain or loss included in
the determination of Net Income or Net Loss that is computed with reference to the Carrying Value
of an Adjusted Property (e.g., depreciation, depletion, or gain or loss with respect to an Adjusted
Property).
“Book-Down Event” means an event that triggers a negative adjustment to the Capital Accounts
of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
“Book-Tax Disparity” means with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted
Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such
Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for federal income tax
purposes as of such date. A Partner’s share of the Partnership’s Book-Tax Disparities in all of its
Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such
Partner’s Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section 5.5 and the hypothetical
balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in
accordance with federal income tax accounting principles.
“Book-Up Event” means an event that triggers a positive adjustment to the Capital Accounts of
the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
“Business Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday
recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of Texas shall
not be regarded as a Business Day.
4
“Capital Account” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5.
The “Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of a General Partner Unit, a Common Unit, a
Subordinated Unit, a Class B Unit, an Incentive Distribution Right or any Partnership Interest
shall be the amount that such Capital Account would be if such General Partner Unit, Common Unit,
Subordinated Unit, Class B Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest were
the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such
General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Subordinated Unit, Class B Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or
other Partnership Interest was first issued.
“Capital Contribution” means any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of Contributed
Property that a Partner contributes to the Partnership.
“Capital Improvement” means any (a) addition or improvement to the capital assets owned by any
Group Member, (b) acquisition of existing, or the construction of new or the improvement or
replacement of existing, capital assets (including, without limitation, crude oil or natural gas
gathering systems, natural gas treatment or processing plants, natural gas liquids fractionation
facilities, storage facilities, pipeline systems or other midstream assets or facilities) or (c)
capital contributions by a Group Member to a Person that is not a Subsidiary in which a Group
Member has an equity interest to fund such Group Member’s pro rata share of the cost of the
acquisition of existing, or the construction of new or the improvement or replacement of existing,
capital assets (including, without limitation, crude oil or natural gas gathering systems, natural
gas treatment or processing plants, natural gas liquids fractionation facilities, storage
facilities, pipeline systems or other midstream assets or facilities) by such Person, in each case
if such addition, improvement, acquisition or construction is made to increase for a period longer
than the short-term the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group, in the
case of clauses (a) and (b), or such Person, in the case of clause (c), from the operating capacity
or operating income of the Partnership Group or such Person, as the case may be, existing
immediately prior to such addition, improvement, replacement, acquisition or construction;
provided, however, that any such addition, improvement, replacement, acquisition or construction
that is made solely for investment purposes shall not constitute a Capital Improvement under this
Agreement. For purposes of this definition, the short-term generally refers to a period not
exceeding 12 months.
“Capital Surplus” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.3(a).
“Carrying Value” means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such
property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, amortization and cost recovery
deductions charged to the Partners’ Capital Accounts in respect of such Contributed Property, and
(b) with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such property for federal
income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination. The Carrying Value of any property shall
be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Sections 5.5(d)(i) and 5.5(d)(ii) and to reflect
changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of
Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the General Partner.
“Cause” means a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment
finding the General Partner liable for actual fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as a
general partner of the Partnership.
5
“Certificate” means (a) a certificate (i) substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this
Agreement, (ii) issued in global form in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
Depositary or (iii) in such other form as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the
Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more Common Units or (b) a certificate, in such form as
may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or
more other Partnership Securities.
“Certificate of Limited Partnership” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the
Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as referenced in Section
7.2, as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time
to time.
“Citizenship Certification” means a properly completed certificate in such form as may be
specified by the General Partner by which a Limited Partner certifies that he (and if he is a
nominee holding for the account of another Person, that to the best of his knowledge such other
Person) is an Eligible Citizen.
“claim” (as used in Section 7.12(d)) has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(d).
“Class B Units” means a Partnership Security representing a fractional part of the Partnership
Interests of all Limited Partners, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to
Class B Units in this Agreement.
“Closing Date” means the first date on which Common Units are sold by the Partnership to the
Underwriters pursuant to the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement.
“Closing Price” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.
Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a
reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.
“Combined Interest” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.3(a).
“Commences Commercial Service” shall mean the date a Capital Improvement is first put into
commercial service following completion of construction and testing.
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Commodity Hedge Contract” means any commodity exchange, swap, forward, cap, floor, collar or
other similar agreement or arrangement that is entered into for the purpose of hedging the
Partnership Group’s exposure to fluctuations in the price of hydrocarbons in their operations and
not for speculative purposes.
“Common Unit” means a Partnership Security representing a fractional part of the Partnership
Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees, and having the rights and obligations specified
with respect to Common Units in this Agreement. The term “Common Unit” does not
6
include a Subordinated Unit or Class B Unit prior to its conversion into a Common Unit
pursuant to the terms hereof.
“Common Unit Arrearage” means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, as to any
Quarter within the Subordination Period, the excess, if any, of (a) the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter over (b) the sum of all
Available Cash distributed with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter pursuant to
Section 6.4(a)(i).
“Conflicts Committee” means a committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner
composed entirely of two or more directors, each of whom (a) is not a security holder, officer or
employee of the General Partner, (b) is not an officer, director or employee of any Affiliate of
the General Partner, (c) is not a holder of any ownership interest in the Partnership Group other
than Common Units and (d) meets the independence standards required of directors who serve on an
audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which the
Common Units are listed or admitted to trading.
“Contributed Property” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by
the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership. Once the Carrying Value of a
Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d), such property shall no longer
constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.
“Contribution Agreement” means that certain Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement,
dated as of the Closing Date, among the General Partner, the Partnership, the Operating Partnership
and certain other parties, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments
contemplated or referenced thereunder, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time
to time.
“Converted Common Units” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(d)(x)(B).
“Cowtown Entities” means each of Cowtown Gas Processing Partners L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership, and Cowtown Pipeline Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
“Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of August 10, 2007, among the
Operating Company, the Partnership, the subsidiaries of the Partnership, and Bank of America, N.A.,
as administrative agent for the lenders named therein.
“Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage” means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued,
and as of the end of any Quarter, the excess, if any, of (a) the sum resulting from adding together
the Common Unit Arrearage as to an Initial Common Unit for each of the Quarters within the
Subordination Period ending on or before the last day of such Quarter over (b) the sum of any
distributions theretofore made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(ii) and the second sentence of Section
6.5 with respect to an Initial Common Unit (including any distributions to be made in respect of
the last of such Quarters).
7
“Curative Allocation” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, deduction, loss or
credit pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi).
“Current Market Price” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).
“Delaware Act” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del C. Section
17-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such
statute.
“Departing General Partner” means a former General Partner from and after the effective date
of any withdrawal or removal of such former General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section
11.2.
“Depositary” means, with respect to any Units issued in global form, The Depository Trust
Company and its successors and permitted assigns.
“Economic Risk of Loss” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).
“Eligible Citizen” means a Person qualified to own interests in real property in jurisdictions
in which any Group Member does business or proposes to do business from time to time, and whose
status as a Limited Partner the General Partner determines does not or would not subject such Group
Member to a significant risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any of its properties or any interest
therein.
“Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.9.
“Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures” means an estimate made in good faith by the Board
of Directors of the General Partner (with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee) of the
average quarterly Maintenance Capital Expenditures that the Partnership will need to incur over the
long term to maintain the operating capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group existing
at the time the estimate is made. The Board of Directors of the General Partner (with the
concurrence of the Conflicts Committee) will be permitted to make such estimate in any manner it
determines reasonable. The estimate will be made at least annually and whenever an event occurs
that is likely to result in a material adjustment to the amount of future Estimated Maintenance
Capital Expenditures. The Partnership shall disclose to its Partners any change in the amount of
Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures in its reports made in accordance with Section 8.3 to
the extent not previously disclosed. Any adjustments to Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures
shall be prospective only.
“Event of Withdrawal” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(a).
“Expansion Capital Expenditures” means cash expenditures for Acquisitions or Capital
Improvements, and shall not include Maintenance Capital Expenditures or Investment Capital
Expenditures. Expansion Capital Expenditures shall include interest (and related fees) on debt
incurred and distributions on equity issued, in each case, to finance the construction of a Capital
Improvement and paid during the period beginning on the date that the Partnership enters into a
8
binding obligation to commence construction of a Capital Improvement and ending on the earlier
to occur of the date that such Capital Improvement Commences Commercial Service and the date that
such Capital Improvement is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred or equity issued to fund such
construction period interest payments or such construction period distributions on equity paid
during such period, shall also be deemed to be debt incurred or equity issued, as the case may be,
to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement. Where capital expenditures are made in part
for Expansion Capital Expenditures and in part for other purposes, the General Partner, with the
concurrence of the Conflicts Committee, shall determine the allocation between the amounts paid for
each.
“Final Subordinated Units” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(d)(x).
“First Liquidation Target Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.1(c)(i)(E).
“First Target Distribution” means $0.3450 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period
commencing on the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 2007, it means the product of $0.3450
multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and of which
the denominator is 91), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.
“Fully Diluted Basis” means, when calculating the number of Outstanding Units for any period,
a basis that includes, in addition to the Outstanding Units, all Partnership Securities and
options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership
(a) that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Units that are senior to or pari
passu with the Subordinated Units, (b) whose conversion, exercise or exchange price is less than
the Current Market Price on the date of such calculation, (c) that may be converted into or
exercised or exchanged for such Units prior to or during the Quarter immediately following the end
of the period for which the calculation is being made without the satisfaction of any contingency
beyond the control of the holder other than the payment of consideration and the compliance with
administrative mechanics applicable to such conversion, exercise or exchange and (d) that were not
converted into or exercised or exchanged for such Units during the period for which the calculation
is being made; provided, however, that for purposes of determining the number of Outstanding Units
on a Fully Diluted Basis when calculating whether the Subordination Period has ended or the
Subordinated Units are entitled to convert into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7, such
Partnership Securities, options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights shall be deemed to have
been Outstanding Units only for the four Quarters that comprise the last four Quarters of the
measurement period; provided, further, that if consideration will be paid to any Group Member in
connection with such conversion, exercise or exchange, the number of Units to be included in such
calculation shall be that number equal to the difference between (i) the number of Units issuable
upon such conversion, exercise or exchange and (ii) the number of Units that such consideration
would purchase at the Current Market Price.
“General Partner” means Quicksilver Gas Services GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company,
and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Partnership as general
9
partner of the Partnership, in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership (except as
the context otherwise requires).
“General Partner Interest” means the ownership interest of the General Partner in the
Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest
held by it), which is evidenced by General Partner Units, and includes any and all benefits to
which the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations
of the General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
“General Partner Unit” means a fractional part of the General Partner Interest having the
rights and obligations specified with respect to the General Partner Interest. A General Partner
Unit is not a Unit.
“Group” means a Person that with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates has any
contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting
(except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a proxy
or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons), exercising investment power or disposing of
any Partnership Interests with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or
Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, Partnership Interests.
“Group Member” means a member of the Partnership Group.
“Group Member Agreement” means the partnership agreement of any Group Member, other than the
Partnership, that is a limited or general partnership, the limited liability company agreement of
any Group Member that is a limited liability company, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws
or similar organizational documents of any Group Member that is a corporation, the joint venture
agreement or similar governing document of any Group Member that is a joint venture and the
governing or organizational or similar documents of any other Group Member that is a Person other
than a limited or general partnership, limited liability company, corporation or joint venture, as
such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Holder” as used in Section 7.12, has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(a).
“Holdings” means Quicksilver Gas Services Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“IDR Reset Election” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(a).
“Incentive Distribution Right” means a non-voting Limited Partner Interest issued to the
General Partner in connection with the transfer of all of its interests in the Cowtown Entities to
the Partnership pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, which Limited Partner Interest will confer
upon the holder thereof only the rights and obligations specifically provided in this Agreement
with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights (and no other rights otherwise available to or other
obligations of a holder of a Partnership Interest). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, the holder of an Incentive Distribution Right shall not be entitled to
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vote such Incentive Distribution Right on any Partnership matter except as may otherwise be
required by law.
“Incentive Distributions” means any amount of cash distributed to the holders of the Incentive
Distribution Rights pursuant to Sections 6.4(a)(v), (vi) and (vii) and 6.4(b)(iii), (iv) and (v).
“Incremental Income Taxes” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.9.
“Indemnified Persons” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(d).
“Indemnitee” means (a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing General Partner, (c) any Person
who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any Person
who is or was a member, manager, partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of any Group
Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member,
the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (e) any Person who is or was serving at the
request of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of the General
Partner or any Departing General Partner as an officer, director, member, manager, partner,
fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason
of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, and (f) any
Person the General Partner designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement.
“Initial Common Units” means the Common Units sold in the Initial Offering.
“Initial Limited Partners” means Holdings (with respect to the Common Units, Subordinated
Units and Incentive Distribution Rights received by it pursuant to Section 5.2) and the
Underwriters, in each case upon being admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 10.1
of this Agreement.
“Initial Offering” means the initial offering and sale of Common Units to the public, as
described in the Registration Statement.
“Initial Unit Price” means (a) with respect to the Common Units and the Subordinated Units,
the initial public offering price per Common Unit at which the Underwriters offered the Common
Units to the public for sale as set forth on the cover page of the prospectus included as part of
the Registration Statement and first issued at or after the time the Registration Statement first
became effective or (b) with respect to any other class or series of Units, the price per Unit at
which such class or series of Units is initially sold by the Partnership, as determined by the
General Partner, in each case adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give
effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units.
“Interim Capital Transactions” means the following transactions if they occur prior to the
Liquidation Date: (a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of indebtedness (other than Working
Capital Borrowings and other than for items purchased on open account in the ordinary course of
business) by any Group Member and sales of debt securities of any Group Member; (b) sales of equity
interests of any Group Member (including the Common Units sold to the Underwriters pursuant to the
exercise of the Over-Allotment Option); (c) sales or other voluntary
11
or involuntary dispositions of any assets of any Group Member other than (i) sales or other
dispositions of inventory, accounts receivable and other assets in the ordinary course of business,
and (ii) sales or other dispositions of assets as part of normal retirements or replacements; (d)
the termination of Commodity Hedge Contracts and interest rate swap agreements prior to their
respective specified termination dates; (e) capital contributions received; and (f) corporate
reorganizations or restructurings.
“Investment Capital Expenditures” means capital expenditures other than Maintenance Capital
Expenditures and Expansion Capital Expenditures.
“Issue Price” means the price at which a Unit is purchased from the Partnership, net of any
sales commission or underwriting discount charged to the Partnership.
“Limited Partner” means, unless the context otherwise requires, the Organizational Limited
Partner prior to its withdrawal from the Partnership, each Initial Limited Partner, each additional
Person that becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and any Departing
General Partner upon the change of its status from General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to
Section 11.3, in each case, in such Person’s capacity as limited partner of the Partnership;
provided, however, that when the term “Limited Partner” is used herein in the context of any vote
or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose,
include any holder of an Incentive Distribution Right (solely with respect to its Incentive
Distribution Rights and not with respect to any other Limited Partner Interest held by such Person)
except as may otherwise be required by law.
“Limited Partner Interest” means the ownership interest of a Limited Partner in the
Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Class B Units, Subordinated Units, Incentive
Distribution Rights or other Partnership Securities or a combination thereof or interest therein,
and includes any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner is entitled as provided in this
Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner to comply with the terms and
provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that when the term “Limited Partner Interest” is
used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV, such
term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any Incentive Distribution Right except as may
otherwise be required by law.
“Liquidation Date” means (a) in the case of an event giving rise to the dissolution of the
Partnership of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) of the first sentence of Section 12.2, the
date on which the applicable time period during which the holders of Outstanding Units have the
right to elect to continue the business of the Partnership has expired without such an election
being made, and (b) in the case of any other event giving rise to the dissolution of the
Partnership, the date on which such event occurs.
“Liquidator” means one or more Persons selected by the General Partner to perform the
functions described in Section 12.4 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership within the meaning of
the Delaware Act.
“Maintenance Capital Expenditures” means cash expenditures (including expenditures for the
addition or improvement to or replacement of the capital assets owned by any Group
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Member or for the acquisition of existing, or the construction or development of new, capital
assets, including, without limitation, gas gathering systems, natural gas treatment or processing
facilities, natural gas liquids fractionation facilities, storage facilities, pipeline systems or
other midstream assets or facilities and other related or similar midstream assets or other assets
that are expected to generate “qualifying income” as defined by Section 7704 of the Code) if such
expenditures are made to maintain, including for a period longer than the short-term, the operating
capacity or operating income of the Partnership Group. Maintenance Capital Expenditures shall not
include (a) Expansion Capital Expenditures or (b) Investment Capital Expenditures. Maintenance
Capital Expenditures shall include interest (and related fees) on debt incurred and distributions
on equity issued, in each case, to finance the construction or development of a replacement asset
and paid during the period beginning on the date that the Partnership enters into a binding
obligation to commence constructing or developing a replacement asset and ending on the earlier to
occur of the date that such replacement asset Commences Commercial Service and the date that such
replacement asset is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred to pay or equity issued to fund
construction or development period interest payments, or such construction or development period
distributions on equity, shall also be deemed to be debt or equity, as the case may be, incurred to
finance the construction or development of a replacement asset. For purposes of this definition,
the short-term generally refers to a period not exceeding 12 months.
“Merger Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1.
“Minimum Quarterly Distribution” means $0.3000 per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to the
period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 2007, it means the product of
$0.3000 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period and of
which the denominator is 91), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.
“National Securities Exchange” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section
6(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, and any successor to such statute, or the Nasdaq Stock Market
or any successor thereto.
“Net Agreed Value” means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of
such property reduced by any liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution
or to which such property is subject when contributed, (b) in the case of any property distributed
to a Partner by the Partnership, the Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted
pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(ii)) at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any
indebtedness either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is
subject at the time of distribution, in either case, as determined under Section 752 of the Code,
and (c) in the case of a contribution of Common Units by the General Partner to the Partnership as
a Capital Contribution pursuant to Section 5.2(b), an amount per Common Unit contributed equal to
the Current Market Price per Common Unit as of the date of the contribution.
“Net Income” means, for any taxable year, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of
income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination
Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year over the Partnership’s items of
13
loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net
Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year. The items included in the
calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not
include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the determination of the
items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made as if Section
6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement.
“Net Loss” means, for any taxable year, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss
and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain
or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year over the Partnership’s items of income and gain
(other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net
Termination Loss) for such taxable year. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be
determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated
under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the determination of the items that have been specially
allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made as if Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement.
“Net Positive Adjustments” means, with respect to any Partner, the excess, if any, of the
total positive adjustments over the total negative adjustments made to the Capital Account of such
Partner pursuant to Book-Up Events and Book-Down Events.
“Net Termination Gain” means, for any taxable year, the sum, if positive, of all items of
income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the Partnership after the Liquidation Date. The items
included in the determination of Net Termination Gain shall be determined in accordance with
Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under
Section 6.1(d).
“Net Termination Loss” means, for any taxable year, the sum, if negative, of all items of
income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the Partnership after the Liquidation Date. The items
included in the determination of Net Termination Loss shall be determined in accordance with
Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under
Section 6.1(d).
“Non-citizen Assignee” means a Person whom the General Partner has determined does not
constitute an Eligible Citizen and as to whose Partnership Interest the General Partner has become
the substituted limited partner, pursuant to Section 4.9.
“Nonrecourse Built-in Gain” means with respect to any Contributed Properties or Adjusted
Properties that are subject to a mortgage or pledge securing a Nonrecourse Liability, the amount of
any taxable gain that would be allocated to the Partners pursuant to Sections 6.2(b)(i)(A),
6.2(b)(ii)(A) and 6.2(b)(iii) if such properties were disposed of in a taxable transaction in full
satisfaction of such liabilities and for no other consideration.
“Nonrecourse Deductions” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including
any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the
principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b), are attributable to a Nonrecourse Liability.
14
“Nonrecourse Liability” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section
1.752-1(a)(2).
“Notice of Election to Purchase” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(b).
“Omnibus Agreement” means that certain Omnibus Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among
the General Partner, the Partnership, the Operating Company and certain other parties thereto, as
such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Operating Company” means Quicksilver Gas Services Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company, and any successors thereto.
“Operating Expenditures” means all Partnership Group cash expenditures (or the Partnership’s
proportionate share of expenditures in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned),
including, but not limited to, taxes, reimbursements of the General Partner in accordance with this
Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement or the Secondment Agreement, payments made in the ordinary course
of business under any interest rate swap agreements or Commodity Hedge Contracts (provided that
payments made in connection with the termination of any Commodity Hedge Contract prior to the
expiration of its stipulated settlement or termination date shall be excluded; and provided further
that with respect to amounts paid in connection with the initial purchase of a Commodity Hedge
Contract, such amounts shall be amortized over the life of the applicable Commodity Hedge Contract
or expensed in full upon its termination, if earlier), director and officer compensation, repayment
of Working Capital Borrowings, debt service payments, Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures
and non-Pro Rata repurchases of Units (other than those made with the proceeds of an Interim
Capital Transaction), but subject to the following:
(a) repayments of Working Capital Borrowings deducted from Operating Surplus pursuant to
clause (b)(iii) of the definition of “Operating Surplus” shall not constitute Operating
Expenditures when actually repaid;
(b) payments (including prepayments and prepayment penalties) of principal of and premium on
indebtedness other than Working Capital Borrowings shall not constitute Operating Expenditures; and
(c) Operating Expenditures shall not include (i) Expansion Capital Expenditures, (ii) actual
Maintenance Capital Expenditures, (iii) Investment Capital Expenditures, (iv) payment of
transaction expenses (including taxes and which, with respect to the termination of a Commodity
Hedge Contract prior to its stipulated settlement or termination date, such transaction expenses
shall constitute any payments due from any Group Member upon such settlement or termination)
relating to Interim Capital Transactions, (v) distributions to Partners, or (vi) non-Pro Rata
repurchases of Units of any class made with the proceeds of a substantially concurrent equity
issuance; and
(d) Where capital expenditures are made in part for Maintenance Capital Expenditures and in
part for other purposes, the General Partner, with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee,
shall determine the allocation between the amounts paid for each and, with
15
respect to the part of such capital expenditures consisting of Maintenance Capital
Expenditures, the period over which the capital expenditures made for such purposes will be
deducted as an Operating Expenditure in calculating Operating Surplus.
“Operating Surplus” means, with respect to any period ending prior to the Liquidation Date, on
a cumulative basis and without duplication,
(a) the sum of (i) $20.0 million, (ii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the
Partnership’s proportionate share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly
owned) for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of such period, but
excluding cash receipts from Interim Capital Transactions (except to the extent specified in
Section 6.5), (iii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group (or the Partnership’s proportionate
share of cash receipts in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) after the end of such
period but on or before the date of determination of Operating Surplus with respect to such period
resulting from Working Capital Borrowings, and (iv) cash distributions paid on equity issued to
finance all or a portion of the construction, acquisition or improvement of a Capital Improvement
or replacement of a capital asset (such as equipment or facilities) during the period beginning on
the date that the Group Member enters into a binding obligation to commence the construction,
acquisition or improvement of a Capital Improvement or replacement of a capital asset and ending on
the earlier to occur of the date the Capital Improvement or capital asset Commences Commercial
Service or the date that it is abandoned or disposed of (equity issued to fund construction period
interest payments on debt incurred, or construction period distributions on equity issued, to
finance the construction, acquisition or development of a Capital Improvement or replacement of a
capital asset shall also be deemed to be equity issued to finance the construction, acquisition or
development of a Capital Improvement or replacement of a capital asset for purposes of this clause
(iv)), less
(b) the sum of (i) Operating Expenditures for the period beginning on the Closing Date and
ending on the last day of such period; (ii) the amount of cash reserves established by the General
Partner (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that
are not wholly owned) to provide funds for future Operating Expenditures; and (iii) all Working
Capital Borrowings not repaid within twelve months after having been incurred;
provided, however, that disbursements made (including contributions to a Group Member or
disbursements on behalf of a Group Member) or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after
the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to
such period shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of
determining Operating Surplus, within such period if the General Partner so determines.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Operating Surplus” with respect to the Quarter in which the
Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the
Partnership or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the General Partner.
16
“Option Closing Date” means the date or dates on which any Common Units are sold by the
Partnership to the Underwriters upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.
“Organizational Limited Partner” means Holdings in its capacity as the organizational limited
partner of the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.
“Outstanding” means, with respect to Partnership Securities, all Partnership Securities that
are issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding on the Partnership’s books and records
as of the date of determination; provided, however, that if at any time any Person or Group (other
than the General Partner or its Affiliates) beneficially owns 20% or more of any Outstanding
Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding, none of the Partnership Securities owned by
such Person or Group shall be voted on any matter and shall not be considered to be Outstanding
when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise
required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other
similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Common Units so owned shall be considered to be
Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Common Units shall not, however, be treated
as a separate class of Partnership Securities for purposes of this Agreement or the Delaware Act);
provided, further, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) any Person or Group who
acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding
directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates, (ii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or
more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly
from a Person or Group described in clause (i) provided that the General Partner shall have
notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply, or (iii) any Person
or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership with the
prior approval of the Board of Directors of the General Partner.
“Over-Allotment Option” means the over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters by the
Partnership pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
“Partner Nonrecourse Debt” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-2(b)(4).
“Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
“Partner Nonrecourse Deductions” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure
(including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with
the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i), are attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse
Debt.
“Partners” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.
“Partnership” means Quicksilver Gas Services LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
“Partnership Group” means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries treated as a single
consolidated entity.
17
“Partnership Interest” means an interest in the Partnership, which shall include the General
Partner Interest and Limited Partner Interests.
“Partnership Minimum Gain” means that amount determined in accordance with the principles of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(d).
“Partnership Security” means any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership (but
excluding any options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in
the Partnership), including Common Units, Subordinated Units, Class B Units, General Partner Units
and Incentive Distribution Rights.
“Per Unit Capital Amount” means, as of any date of determination, the Capital Account, stated
on a per Unit basis, underlying any class of Units held by a Person other than the General Partner
or any Affiliate of the General Partner who holds Units.
“Percentage Interest” means as of any date of determination (a) as to the General Partner with
respect to General Partner Units and as to any Unitholder with respect to Units, the product
obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to clause (b) below by (ii) the
quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of General Partner Units held by the General Partner
or the number of Units held by such Unitholder, as the case may be, by (B) the total number of
Outstanding Units and General Partner Units, and (b) as to the holders of other Partnership
Securities issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.6, the percentage established as
a part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest with respect to an Incentive Distribution Right
shall at all times be zero.
“Person” means an individual or a corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership,
joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political
subdivision thereof or other entity.
“Private Investors” means the two private investors that owned a 5% limited partner interest
in Cowtown Gas Processing Partners L.P. and a 7% limited partner interest in Cowtown Pipeline
Partners L.P., prior to the Closing Date.
“Pro Rata” means (a) when used with respect to Units or any class thereof, apportioned equally
among all designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (b) when used
with respect to Partners or Record Holders, apportioned among all Partners or Record Holders in
accordance with their relative Percentage Interests and (c) when used with respect to holders of
Incentive Distribution Rights, apportioned equally among all holders of Incentive Distribution
Rights in accordance with the relative number or percentage of Incentive Distribution Rights held
by each such holder.
“Purchase Date” means the date determined by the General Partner as the date for purchase of
all Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of a certain class (other than Limited Partner Interests
owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) pursuant to Article XV.
“Quarter” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Partnership,
or, with respect to the first fiscal quarter of the Partnership that includes the Closing Date, the
portion of such fiscal quarter after the Closing Date.
18
“Quicksilver” means Quicksilver Resources Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“Recapture Income” means any gain recognized by the Partnership (computed without regard to
any adjustment required by Section 734 or Section 743 of the Code) upon the disposition of any
property or asset of the Partnership, which gain is characterized as ordinary income because it
represents the recapture of deductions previously taken with respect to such property or asset.
“Record Date” means the date established by the General Partner or otherwise in accordance
with this Agreement for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to notice of,
or to vote at, any meeting of Limited Partners or entitled to vote by ballot or give approval of
Partnership action in writing without a meeting or entitled to exercise rights in respect of any
lawful action of Limited Partners or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any
report or distribution or to participate in any offer.
“Record Holder” means the Person in whose name a Common Unit is registered on the books of the
Transfer Agent as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day, or with respect to other
Partnership Interests, the Person in whose name any such other Partnership Interest is registered
on the books that the General Partner has caused to be kept as of the opening of business on such
Business Day.
“Redeemable Interests” means any Partnership Interests for which a redemption notice has been
given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant to Section 4.10.
“Registration Statement” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No.
333-140599) as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the
Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the
Common Units in the Initial Offering.
“Remaining Net Positive Adjustments” means as of the end of any taxable period, (i) with
respect to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Subordinated Units or Class B Units, the excess of
(a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the Unitholders holding Common Units, Subordinated Units or
Class B Units as of the end of such period over (b) the sum of those Partners’ Share of Additional
Book Basis Derivative Items for each prior taxable period, (ii) with respect to the General Partner
(as holder of the General Partner Units), the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the
General Partner as of the end of such period over (b) the sum of the General Partner’s Share of
Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to the General Partner Units for each prior
taxable period, and (iii) with respect to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, the excess
of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end
of such period over (b) the sum of the Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items of the
holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights for each prior taxable period.
“Required Allocations” means (a) any limitation imposed on any allocation of Net Losses or Net
Termination Losses under Section 6.1(b) or Section 6.1(c)(ii) and (b) any allocation of an item of
income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i), Section 6.1(d)(ii), Section
6.1(d)(iv), Section 6.1(d)(vii) or Section 6.1(d)(ix).
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“Reset MQD” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(e).
“Reset Notice” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(b).
“Residual Gain” or “Residual Loss” means any item of gain or loss, as the case may be, of the
Partnership recognized for federal income tax purposes resulting from a sale, exchange or other
disposition of a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, to the extent such item of gain or loss
is not allocated pursuant to Section 6.2(b)(i)(A) or Section 6.2(b)(ii)(A), respectively, to
eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.
“Retained Converted Subordinated Unit” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
5.5(c)(ii).
“Second Liquidation Target Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.1(c)(i)(F).
“Second Target Distribution” means $0.3750 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the
period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 2007, it means the product of
$0.3750 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such
period and of which the denominator is 91), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.11,
Section 6.6 and Section 6.9.
“Secondment Agreement” means that certain Services and Secondment Agreement, dated as of the
Closing Date, between Quicksilver and the Partnership, as such may be amended, supplemented and
restated from time to time.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from
time to time and any successor to such statute.
“Securities Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented
or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.
“Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items” means in connection with any allocation of
Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for any taxable period, (i) with respect to the Unitholders
holding Common Units, Subordinated Units or Class B Units, the amount that bears the same ratio to
such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Unitholders’ Remaining Net Positive Adjustments
as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that
time, (ii) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Units), the amount
that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the General Partner’s
Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining
Net Positive Adjustment as of that time, and (iii) with respect to the Partners holding Incentive
Distribution Rights, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative
Items as the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of the Partners holding the Incentive Distribution
Rights as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of
that time.
“Special Approval” means approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee
acting in good faith.
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“Subordinated Unit” means a Partnership Security representing a fractional part of the
Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees and having the rights and obligations
specified with respect to Subordinated Units in this Agreement. The term “Subordinated Unit” does
not include a Common Unit or a Class B Unit. A Subordinated Unit that is convertible into a Common
Unit shall not constitute a Common Unit until such conversion occurs.
“Subordination Period” means the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the first
to occur of the following dates:
(a) the first Business Day of any Quarter beginning after September 30, 2010 in respect of
which (i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on each of (I) the Outstanding
Common Units, Subordinated Units, any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of
distribution to the Subordinated Units, and (II) the General Partner Units, with respect to each of
the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled
or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on (I) all Outstanding Common Units and
Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of
distribution to the Subordinated Units and (II) the General Partner Units, during such periods and
(B) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter
periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution on all of the (I) Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other Units that are senior
or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units and (II) General Partner Units, that
were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis, and (ii) there are no Cumulative
Common Unit Arrearages;
(b) the first Business Day of any Quarter ending on or after June 30, 2007 in respect of which
(i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus in respect of (I) the Outstanding
Common Units, Subordinated Units, any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of
distribution to the Subordinated Units, and (II) the General Partner Units, with respect to each of
the four consecutive, non-overlapping Quarters immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded
150% of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on (I) all Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated
Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the
Subordinated Units and (II) the Outstanding General Partner Units, during such periods, and (B) the
Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of the four consecutive, non-overlapping Quarters immediately
preceding such date equaled or exceeded 150% of the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on
(I) the Common Units, Subordinated Units, other Units that are senior or equal in right of
distribution to the Subordinated Units and (II) the General Partner Units, that were Outstanding
during such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis and (ii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit
Arrearages;
(c) the first date on which there are no longer outstanding any Subordinated Units due to the
conversion of Subordinated Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7 or otherwise; and
(d) the date on which the General Partner is removed as general partner of the Partnership
upon the requisite vote by holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not
exist and Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are not voted in favor of such
removal.
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“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of
the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote
in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or
indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such
Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such
Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited
partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such
partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is
owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a
corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a
combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a
majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the
directors or other governing body of such Person.
“Surviving Business Entity” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.2(b).
“Target Distribution” means, collectively, the First Target Distribution, Second Target
Distribution and Third Target Distribution.
“Third Liquidation Target Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.1(c)(i)(G).
“Third Target Distribution” means $0.4500 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to the period
commencing on the Closing Date and ending on September 30, 2007, it means the product of $0.4500
multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period and
of which the denominator is 91), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and
6.9.
“Trading Day” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).
“transfer” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.4(a).
“Transfer Agent” means such bank, trust company or other Person (including the General Partner
or one of its Affiliates) as shall be appointed from time to time by the General Partner to act as
registrar and transfer agent for the Common Units; provided, that if no Transfer Agent is
specifically designated for any other Partnership Securities, the General Partner shall act in such
capacity.
“Underwriter” means each Person named as an underwriter in Schedule I to the Underwriting
Agreement who purchases Common Units pursuant thereto.
“Underwriting Agreement” means that certain Underwriting Agreement dated as of August 6, 2007
among the Underwriters, the Partnership, the General Partner, Holdings, Quicksilver and other
parties thereto, providing for the purchase of Common Units by the Underwriters.
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“Unit” means a Partnership Security that is designated as a “Unit” and shall include Common
Units, Subordinated Units and Class B Units but shall not include (i) General Partner Units (or the
General Partner Interest represented thereby) or (ii) Incentive Distribution Rights.
“Unit Majority” means (i) during the Subordination Period, at least a majority of the
Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates),
voting as a class, and at least a majority of the Outstanding Subordinated Units, voting as a
class, and (ii) after the end of the Subordination Period, at least a majority of the Outstanding
Common Units and Class B Units, if any, voting as a single class.
“Unitholders” means the holders of Units.
“Unpaid MQD” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(B).
“Unrealized Gain” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of
determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of such property as of such date
(as determined under Section 5.5(d)) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date
(prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date).
“Unrealized Loss” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of
determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date
(prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date) over (b) the fair
market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)).
“Unrecovered Initial Unit Price” means at any time, with respect to a Unit, the Initial Unit
Price less the sum of all distributions constituting Capital Surplus theretofore made in respect of
an Initial Common Unit and any distributions of cash (or the Net Agreed Value of any distributions
in kind) in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership theretofore made in
respect of an Initial Common Unit, adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to
give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of such Units.
“U.S. GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.
“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(b).
“Working Capital Borrowings” means borrowings used solely for working capital purposes or to
pay distributions to Partners made pursuant to a credit facility, commercial paper facility or
other similar financing arrangement, provided that when it is incurred it is the intent of the
borrower to repay such borrowings within 12 months from other than Working Capital Borrowings.
Section 1.2 Construction.
Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include
the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns,
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pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and
Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include”, “includes”,
“including” or words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without
limitation”; and (d) the terms “hereof”, “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole
and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained
in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.1 Formation.
The General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner have previously formed the
Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act and hereby
amend and restate the original Agreement of Limited Partnership of Quicksilver Gas Services LP in
its entirety. This amendment and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement.
Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties (including
fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution
and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership Interests
shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes.
Section 2.2 Name.
The name of the Partnership shall be “Quicksilver Gas Services LP.” The Partnership’s business
may be conducted under any other name or names as determined by the General Partner, including the
name of the General Partner. The words “Limited Partnership,” “LP,” “Ltd.” or similar words or
letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the purpose of complying
with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner may change the name of the
Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change
in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.
Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices.
Unless and until changed by the General Partner, the registered office of the Partnership in
the State of Delaware shall be located at 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, and the
registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such
registered office shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The principal office of the Partnership
shall be located at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, or such other
place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The
Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of
Delaware as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate. The address of the
General Partner shall be 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, or such
other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited
Partners.
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Section 2.4 Purpose and Business.
The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to (a)
engage directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any corporation, partnership, joint
venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business
activity that is approved by the General Partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited
partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of
the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such
business activity, and (b) do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the
making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member; provided, however, that the General
Partner shall not cause the Partnership to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity
that the General Partner determines would cause the Partnership to be treated as an association
taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. To the
fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or
approve, and may decline to propose or approve, the conduct by the Partnership of any business free
of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and, in
declining to so propose or approve, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any
other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement
contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.
Section 2.5 Powers.
The Partnership shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary or appropriate
for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described in Section 2.4 and
for the protection and benefit of the Partnership.
Section 2.6 Power of Attorney.
(a) Each Limited Partner hereby constitutes and appoints the General Partner and, if a
Liquidator shall have been selected pursuant to Section 12.3, the Liquidator (and any successor to
the Liquidator by merger, transfer, assignment, election or otherwise) and each of their authorized
officers and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with full power of substitution, as his true
and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his name, place and xxxxx,
to:
(i) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public
offices (A) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and
the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof)
that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to
form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Partnership as a limited
partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the
State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership may conduct
business or own property; (B) all certificates, documents and other instruments that the
General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect, in
accordance with its terms, any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this
Agreement; (C) all certificates, documents and other instruments
25
(including conveyances and a certificate of cancellation) that the General Partner or
the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution and
liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (D) all
certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal, removal
or substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or other events described in, Article IV,
Article X, Article XI or Article XII; (E) all certificates, documents and other instruments
relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or
series of Partnership Securities issued pursuant to Section 5.6; and (F) all certificates,
documents and other instruments (including agreements and a certificate of merger) relating
to a merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to Article XIV; and
(ii) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all ballots, consents,
approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other instruments that the General Partner
or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to (A) make, evidence, give,
confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action that is made or
given by the Partners hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement or (B)
effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement; provided, that when required by Section
13.3 or any other provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of the Limited
Partners or of the Limited Partners of any class or series required to take any action, the
General Partner and the Liquidator may exercise the power of attorney made in this Section
2.6(a)(ii) only after the necessary vote, consent or approval of the Limited Partners or of
the Limited Partners of such class or series, as applicable.
Nothing contained in this Section 2.6(a) shall be construed as authorizing the General Partner to amend this Agreement except in accordance with Article XIII or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement. |
(b) The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled
with an interest, and it shall survive and, to the maximum extent permitted by law, not be affected
by the subsequent death, incompetency, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or
termination of any Limited Partner and the transfer of all or any portion of such Limited Partner’s
Limited Partner Interest and shall extend to such Limited Partner’s heirs, successors, assigns and
personal representatives. Each such Limited Partner hereby agrees to be bound by any representation
made by the General Partner or the Liquidator acting in good faith pursuant to such power of
attorney; and each such Limited Partner, to the maximum extent permitted by law, hereby waives any
and all defenses that may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the General
Partner or the Liquidator taken in good faith under such power of attorney. Each Limited Partner
shall execute and deliver to the General Partner or the Liquidator, within 15 days after receipt of
the request therefor, such further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as the
General Partner or the Liquidator may request in order to effectuate this Agreement and the
purposes of the Partnership.
Section 2.7 Term.
The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Limited
Partnership in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence until the
26
dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII. The existence
of the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the
Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Delaware Act.
Section 2.8 Title to Partnership Assets.
Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or
intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner,
individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any
portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the
Partnership, the General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees, as the
General Partner may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any
Partnership assets for which record title is held in the name of the General Partner or one or more
of its Affiliates or one or more nominees shall be held by the General Partner or such Affiliate or
nominee for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement; provided, however, that the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to cause record
title to such assets (other than those assets in respect of which the General Partner determines
that the expense and difficulty of conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the Partnership
impracticable) to be vested in the Partnership as soon as reasonably practicable; provided,
further, that, prior to the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as soon thereafter as
practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to effect the transfer of record
title to the Partnership and, prior to any such transfer, will provide for the use of such assets
in a manner satisfactory to the General Partner. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the
property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record
title to such Partnership assets is held.
ARTICLE III
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS
Section 3.1 Limitation of Liability.
The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided
in this Agreement or the Delaware Act.
Section 3.2 Management of Business.
No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation, management or
control (within the meaning of the Delaware Act) of the Partnership’s business, transact any
business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the
Partnership. Any action taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director,
employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its
Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee
of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall not be deemed to be participation in the control
of the business of the Partnership by a limited partner of the Partnership (within the meaning of
Section 17-303(a) of the Delaware Act) and shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on
the liability of the Limited Partners under this Agreement.
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Section 3.3 Outside Activities of the Limited Partners.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.5, which shall continue to be applicable to the Persons
referred to therein, regardless of whether such Persons shall also be Limited Partners, any Limited
Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in
addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities in
direct competition with the Partnership Group. Neither the Partnership nor any of the other
Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited
Partner.
Section 3.4 Rights of Limited Partners.
(a) In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by applicable law, and except as
limited by Section 3.4(b), each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably
related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable
written demand stating the purpose of such demand, and at such Limited Partner’s own expense:
(i) to obtain true and full information regarding the status of the business and
financial condition of the Partnership;
(ii) promptly after its becoming available, to obtain a copy of the Partnership’s
federal, state and local income tax returns for each year;
(iii) to obtain a current list of the name and last known business, residence or
mailing address of each Partner;
(iv) to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and
all amendments thereto, together with copies of the executed copies of all powers of
attorney pursuant to which this Agreement, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all
amendments thereto have been executed;
(v) to obtain true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a description
and statement of the Net Agreed Value of any other Capital Contribution by each Partner and
that each Partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which each became
a Partner; and
(vi) to obtain such other information regarding the affairs of the Partnership as is
just and reasonable.
(b) The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of
time as the General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that the General Partner
reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure
of which the General Partner in good faith believes (A) is not in the best interests of the
Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group
Member is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than
agreements with Affiliates of the Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the
obligations set forth in this Section 3.4).
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ARTICLE IV
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 4.1 Certificates.
Upon the Partnership’s issuance of Common Units, Subordinated Units or Class B Units to any
Person, the Partnership shall issue, upon the request of such Person, one or more Certificates in
the name of such Person evidencing the number of such Units being so issued. In addition, (a) upon
the General Partner’s request, the Partnership shall issue to it one or more Certificates in the
name of the General Partner evidencing its General Partner Units and (b) upon the request of any
Person owning Incentive Distribution Rights or any other Partnership Securities other than Common
Units, Subordinated Units or Class B Units, the Partnership shall issue to such Person one or more
certificates evidencing such Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership Securities other
than Common Units, Subordinated Units or Class B Units. Certificates shall be executed on behalf of
the Partnership by the Chairman of the Board, President or any Executive Vice President, Senior
Vice President or Vice President and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the General
Partner. No Common Unit Certificate shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned
by the Transfer Agent; provided, however, that the Units may be certificated or uncertificated as
provided in the Delaware Act; and provided, further, that if the General Partner elects to issue
Common Units in global form, the Common Unit Certificates shall be valid upon receipt of a
certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Common Units have been duly registered in
accordance with the directions of the Partnership. Subject to the requirements of Section 6.7(c),
the Partners holding Certificates evidencing Subordinated Units may exchange such Certificates for
Certificates evidencing Common Units on or after the date on which such Subordinated Units are
converted into Common Units pursuant to the terms of Section 5.7. Subject to the requirements of
Section 6.7(e), the Partners holding Certificates evidencing Class B Units may exchange such
Certificates for Certificates evidencing Common Units on or after the period set forth in Section
5.11(f) pursuant to the terms of Section 5.11.
Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.
(a) If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent (for Common Units) or
the General Partner (for Partnership Securities other than Common Units), the appropriate officers
of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute, and the Transfer Agent (for
Common Units) or the General Partner (for Partnership Securities other than Common Units) shall
countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate evidencing the same number and type
of Partnership Securities as the Certificate so surrendered.
(b) The appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute
and deliver, and the Transfer Agent (for Common Units) shall countersign, a new Certificate in
place of any Certificate previously issued if the Record Holder of the Certificate:
(i) makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the General
Partner, that a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen;
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(ii) requests the issuance of a new Certificate before the General Partner has notice
that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without
notice of an adverse claim;
(iii) if requested by the General Partner, delivers to the General Partner a bond, in
form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner, with surety or sureties and with
fixed or open penalty as the General Partner may direct to indemnify the Partnership, the
Partners, the General Partner and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on
account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the Certificate; and
(iv) satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the General Partner.
If a Limited Partner fails to notify the General Partner within a reasonable period of time
after he has notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a Certificate, and a transfer of the
Limited Partner Interests represented by the Certificate is registered before the Partnership, the
General Partner or the Transfer Agent receives such notification, the Limited Partner shall be
precluded from making any claim against the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent
for such transfer or for a new Certificate.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.2, the General
Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of
the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith.
Section 4.3 Record Holders.
The Partnership shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner with respect
to any Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or
other claim to, or interest in, such Partnership Interest on the part of any other Person,
regardless of whether the Partnership shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as
otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any
National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.
Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or
clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some
other representative capacity for another Person in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests,
as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such
representative Person shall be (a) the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest and (b) bound by
this Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of a Partner hereunder and as, and to the
extent, provided for herein.
Section 4.4 Transfer Generally.
(a) The term “transfer,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest,
shall be deemed to refer to a transaction (i) by which the General Partner assigns its General
Partner Units to another Person or by which a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights assigns its
Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge,
encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or
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otherwise or (ii) by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest (other than an Incentive
Distribution Right) assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is or becomes a
Limited Partner, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or
otherwise, including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or
mortgage.
(b) No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance
with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV. Any transfer or purported transfer of a
Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article IV shall be, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, null and void.
(c) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent a disposition by any
stockholder, member, partner or other owner of the General Partner of any or all of the shares of
stock, membership or limited liability company interests, partnership interests or other ownership
interests in the General Partner.
Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests.
(a) The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Partnership a register
in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the provisions
of Section 4.5(b), the Partnership will provide for the registration and transfer of Limited
Partner Interests. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar and transfer agent for the
purpose of registering Common Units and transfers of such Common Units as herein provided. The
Partnership shall not recognize transfers of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests
unless such transfers are effected in the manner described in this Section 4.5. Upon surrender of a
Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a
Certificate, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the appropriate officers of the
General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Common
Units, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the
designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or
more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as
was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.9, the General Partner shall not recognize any
transfer of Limited Partner Interests until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner
Interests are surrendered for registration of transfer. No charge shall be imposed by the General
Partner for such transfer; provided, that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate
under this Section 4.5, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto.
(c) Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5, (ii) Section 4.3, (iii)
Section 4.8, (iv) with respect to any class or series of Limited Partner Interests, the provisions
of any statement of designations or an amendment to this Agreement establishing such class or
series, (v) any contractual provisions binding on any Limited Partner and (vi) provisions of
applicable law including the Securities Act, Limited Partner Interests (other than the Incentive
Distribution Rights) shall be freely transferable.
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(d) The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their
Subordinated Units, Class B Units and Common Units (whether issued upon conversion of the
Subordinated Units or otherwise) to one or more Persons.
Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest.
(a) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to September 30, 2017, the General Partner shall
not transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units)
to a Person unless such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior written consent or vote of the
holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the
General Partner and its Affiliates) or (ii) is of all, but not less than all, of its General
Partner Interest to (A) an Affiliate of the General Partner (other than an individual) or (B)
another Person (other than an individual) in connection with the merger or consolidation of the
General Partner with or into such other Person or the transfer by the General Partner of all or
substantially all of its assets to such other Person.
(b) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after September 30, 2017, the General Partner may
transfer all or any of its General Partner Interest without Unitholder approval.
(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of all
or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the
transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and
to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the Partnership receives an Opinion of
Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner
under the Delaware Act or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a
corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent
not already so treated or taxed) and (iii) such transferee also agrees to purchase all (or the
appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership or membership or limited liability
company interest of the General Partner as the general partner or managing member, if any, of each
other Group Member. In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 4.6,
the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of
Section 10.2, be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner effective immediately prior to
the transfer of the General Partner Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall continue
without dissolution.
Section 4.7 Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights.
Prior to September 30, 2017, a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all
of the Incentive Distribution Rights held by such holder without any consent of the Unitholders to
(a) an Affiliate of such holder (other than an individual) or (b) another Person (other than an
individual) in connection with (i) the merger or consolidation of such holder of Incentive
Distribution Rights with or into such other Person, (ii) the transfer by such holder of all or
substantially all of its assets to such other Person or (iii) the sale of all the ownership
interests in such holder. Any other transfer of the Incentive Distribution Rights prior to
September 30, 2017 shall require the prior approval of holders of at least a majority of the
Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates).
On or after September 30, 2017, the General Partner or any other holder of Incentive Distribution
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Rights may transfer any or all of its Incentive Distribution Rights without Unitholder
approval. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the transfer of Class B Units issued
pursuant to Section 5.11, or the transfer of Common Units issued upon conversion of the Class B
Units, shall not be treated as a transfer of all or any part of the Incentive Distribution Rights
and (ii) no transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person shall be permitted unless
the transferee agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 4.8 Restrictions on Transfers.
(a) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV, no transfer of any Partnership
Interests shall be made if such transfer would (i) violate the then applicable federal or state
securities laws or rules and regulations of the Commission, any state securities commission or any
other governmental authority with jurisdiction over such transfer, (ii) terminate the existence or
qualification of the Partnership under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, or (iii)
cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be
taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).
(b) The General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if it
receives an Opinion of Counsel that such restrictions are necessary to avoid a significant risk of
the Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for
federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may impose such restrictions by amending this
Agreement; provided, however, that any amendment that would result in the delisting or suspension
of trading of any class of Limited Partner Interests on the principal National Securities Exchange
on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is then listed or admitted to trading must be
approved, prior to such amendment being effected, by the holders of at least a majority of the
Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of such class.
(c) The transfer of a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject
to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.7(c).
(d) The transfer of a Class B Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject to
the restrictions imposed by Section 6.7(e).
(e) Nothing contained in this Article IV, or elsewhere in this Agreement, shall preclude the
settlement of any transactions involving Partnership Interests entered into through the facilities
of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to
trading.
(f) Each certificate evidencing Partnership Interests shall bear a conspicuous legend in
substantially the following form:
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP THAT
THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH
TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND
REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES
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COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B)
TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP UNDER THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP TO BE TREATED AS AN
ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL
INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). QUICKSILVER GAS
SERVICES GP LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL
RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH
RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP
BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL
INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF
ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.
Section 4.9 Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees.
(a) If any Group Member is or becomes subject to any federal, state or local law or regulation
that the General Partner determines would create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture
of any property in which the Group Member has an interest based on the nationality, citizenship or
other related status of a Limited Partner, the General Partner may request any Limited Partner to
furnish to the General Partner, within 30 days after receipt of such request, an executed
Citizenship Certification or such other information concerning his nationality, citizenship or
other related status (or, if the Limited Partner is a nominee holding for the account of another
Person, the nationality, citizenship or other related status of such Person) as the General Partner
may request. If a Limited Partner fails to furnish to the General Partner within the aforementioned
30-day period such Citizenship Certification or other requested information or if upon receipt of
such Citizenship Certification or other requested information the General Partner determines that a
Limited Partner is not an Eligible Citizen, the Limited Partner Interests owned by such Limited
Partner shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.10. In
addition, the General Partner may require that the status of any such Limited Partner be changed to
that of a Non-citizen Assignee and, thereupon, the General Partner shall be substituted for such
Non-citizen Assignee as the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited
Partner Interests.
(b) The General Partner shall, in exercising voting rights in respect of Limited Partner
Interests held by it on behalf of Non-citizen Assignees, distribute the votes in the same ratios as
the votes of Partners (including the General Partner) in respect of Limited Partner Interests other
than those of Non-citizen Assignees are cast, either for, against or abstaining as to the matter.
(c) Upon dissolution of the Partnership, a Non-citizen Assignee shall have no right to receive
a distribution in kind pursuant to Section 12.4 but shall be entitled to the cash equivalent
thereof, and the Partnership shall provide cash in exchange for an assignment of the Non-citizen
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Assignee’s share of any distribution in kind. Such payment and assignment shall be treated for
Partnership purposes as a purchase by the Partnership from the Non-citizen Assignee of his Limited
Partner Interest (representing his right to receive his share of such distribution in kind).
(d) At any time after he can and does certify that he has become an Eligible Citizen, a
Non-citizen Assignee may, upon application to the General Partner, request that with respect to any
Limited Partner Interests of such Non-citizen Assignee not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.10, such
Non-citizen Assignee be admitted as a Limited Partner, and upon approval of the General Partner,
such Non-citizen Assignee shall be admitted as a Limited Partner and shall no longer constitute a
Non-citizen Assignee and the General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited Partner in
respect of the Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited Partner Interests.
Section 4.10 Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees.
(a) If at any time a Limited Partner fails to furnish a Citizenship Certification or other
information requested within the 30-day period specified in Section 4.9(a), or if upon receipt of
such Citizenship Certification or other information the General Partner determines, with the advice
of counsel, that a Limited Partner is not an Eligible Citizen, the Partnership may, unless the
Limited Partner establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such Limited Partner is
an Eligible Citizen or has transferred his Partnership Interests to a Person who is an Eligible
Citizen and who furnishes a Citizenship Certification to the General Partner prior to the date
fixed for redemption as provided below, redeem the Limited Partner Interest of such Limited Partner
as follows:
(i) The General Partner shall, not later than the 30th day before the date fixed for
redemption, give notice of redemption to the Limited Partner, at his last address designated
on the records of the Partnership or the Transfer Agent, by registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid. The notice shall be deemed to have been given when so mailed. The notice
shall specify the Redeemable Interests, the date fixed for redemption, the place of payment,
that payment of the redemption price will be made upon surrender of the Certificate
evidencing the Redeemable Interests and that on and after the date fixed for redemption no
further allocations or distributions to which the Limited Partner would otherwise be
entitled in respect of the Redeemable Interests will accrue or be made.
(ii) The aggregate redemption price for Redeemable Interests shall be an amount equal
to the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the date fixed for
redemption) of Limited Partner Interests of the class to be so redeemed multiplied by the
number of Limited Partner Interests of each such class included among the Redeemable
Interests. The redemption price shall be paid, as determined by the General Partner, in cash
or by delivery of a promissory note of the Partnership in the principal amount of the
redemption price, bearing interest at the rate of 5% annually and payable in three equal
annual installments of principal together with accrued interest, commencing one year after
the redemption date.
(iii) Upon surrender by or on behalf of the Limited Partner, at the place specified in
the notice of redemption, of the Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Interests, duly
endorsed in blank or accompanied by an assignment duly executed in
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blank, the Limited Partner or his duly authorized representative shall be entitled to
receive the payment therefor.
(iv) After the redemption date, Redeemable Interests shall no longer constitute issued
and Outstanding Limited Partner Interests.
(b) The provisions of this Section 4.10 shall also be applicable to Limited Partner Interests
held by a Limited Partner as nominee of a Person determined to be other than an Eligible Citizen.
(c) Nothing in this Section 4.10 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption from
transferring his Limited Partner Interest before the redemption date if such transfer is otherwise
permitted under this Agreement. Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the General Partner
shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest
certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner that he is an Eligible Citizen. If the
transferee fails to make such certification, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee
on the original redemption date.
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 5.1 Organizational Contributions.
In connection with the formation of the Partnership under the Delaware Act, the General
Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $20.00, for a
General Partner Interest equal to a 2% Percentage Interest and has been admitted as the General
Partner of the Partnership, and the Organizational Limited Partner made an initial Capital
Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $980.00 for a Limited Partner Interest equal to a
98% Percentage Interest and has been admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership. As of the
Closing Date and effective with the admission of another Limited Partner to the Partnership, the
interest of the Organizational Limited Partner shall be redeemed as provided in the Contribution
Agreement; and the initial Capital Contribution of the Organizational Limited Partner shall
thereupon be refunded. Ninety-eight percent of any interest or other profit that may have resulted
from the investment or other use of such initial Capital Contributions shall be allocated and
distributed to the Organizational Limited Partner, and the balance thereof shall be allocated and
distributed to the General Partner.
Section 5.2 Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates.
(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Contribution Agreement: (i) the General Partner
shall contribute to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its ownership interests in
the Cowtown Entities, in exchange for (A) 469,944 General Partner Units representing a continuation
of its General Partner Interest equal to a 2% Percentage Interest, subject to all of the rights,
privileges and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement, and (B) the Incentive
Distribution Rights; (ii) Holdings shall contribute to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution,
all of its limited partner interests in the Cowtown Entities in exchange for 5,696,752 Common
Units, 11,513,625 Subordinated Units and the right to receive $162.1 million in reimbursement
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for certain capital expenditures and return of investment capital; and (iii) the Private
Investors shall contribute to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of their limited
partner interests in the Cowtown Entities in exchange for 816,873 Common Units and the right to
receive $7.7 million in reimbursement for certain capital expenditures and return of investment
capital.
(b) Upon the issuance of any additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership (other
than the Common Units issued in the Initial Offering, the Common Units and Subordinated Units
issued pursuant to Section 5.2(a), any Class B Units issued pursuant to Section 5.11 and any Common
Units issued upon conversion of Class B Units), the General Partner may, in exchange for a
proportionate number of General Partner Units, make additional Capital Contributions in an amount
equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the quotient determined by dividing (A) the
General Partner’s Percentage Interest by (B) 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest
times (ii) the amount contributed to the Partnership by the Limited Partners in exchange for such
additional Limited Partner Interests. Except as set forth in Article XII, the General Partner shall
not be obligated to make any additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership.
Section 5.3 Contributions by Initial Limited Partners.
(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, each Underwriter shall
contribute to the Partnership cash in an amount equal to the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit,
multiplied by the number of Common Units specified in the Underwriting Agreement to be purchased by
such Underwriter at the Closing Date. In exchange for such Capital Contributions by the
Underwriters, the Partnership shall issue Common Units to each Underwriter on whose behalf such
Capital Contribution is made in an amount equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the cash
contribution to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Underwriter by (ii) the Issue Price per
Initial Common Unit.
(b) Upon the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, each Underwriter shall contribute to the
Partnership cash in an amount equal to the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit, multiplied by the
number of Common Units to be purchased by such Underwriter at the Option Closing Date. In exchange
for such Capital Contributions by the Underwriters, the Partnership shall issue Common Units to
each Underwriter on whose behalf such Capital Contribution is made in an amount equal to the
quotient obtained by dividing (i) the cash contributions to the Partnership by or on behalf of such
Underwriter by (ii) the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit.
(c) No Limited Partner Interests will be issued or issuable as of or at the Closing Date other
than (i) the Common Units issuable pursuant to subparagraph (a) hereof in aggregate number equal to
5,000,000, (ii) the “Option Units” as such term is used in the Underwriting Agreement in an
aggregate number up to 750,000 issuable upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option pursuant to
subparagraph (b) hereof, (iii) the 11,513,625 Subordinated Units issuable to pursuant to Section
5.2 hereof, (iv) the 6,513,625 Common Units issuable pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof, and (v) the
Incentive Distribution Rights.
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Section 5.4 Interest and Withdrawal.
No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions. No Partner shall be
entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any,
that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership may be
considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the
extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner shall have priority over any other Partner
either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions. Any
such return shall be a compromise to which all Partners agree within the meaning of Section
17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.
Section 5.5 Capital Accounts.
(a) The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of Partnership
Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such
owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method
acceptable to the General Partner) owning a Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account with
respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital
Contributions made to the Partnership with respect to such Partnership Interest and (ii) all items
of Partnership income and gain (including income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance
with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section
6.1, and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed
distributions of cash or property made with respect to such Partnership Interest and (y) all items
of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with
respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1.
(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction which
is to be allocated pursuant to Article VI and is to be reflected in the Partners’ Capital Accounts,
the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its
determination, recognition and classification for federal income tax purposes (including any method
of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for that purpose), provided, that:
(i) Solely for purposes of this Section 5.5, the Partnership shall be treated as owning
directly its proportionate share (as determined by the General Partner based upon the
provisions of the applicable Group Member Agreement or governing, organizational or similar
documents) of all property owned by any other Group Member that is classified as a
partnership for federal income tax purposes and (y) any other partnership, limited liability
company, unincorporated business or other entity classified as a partnership for federal
income tax purposes of which a Group Member is, directly or indirectly, a partner.
(ii) All fees and other expenses incurred by the Partnership to promote the sale of (or
to sell) a Partnership Interest that can neither be deducted nor amortized under Section 709
of the Code, if any, shall, for purposes of Capital Account maintenance, be
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treated as an item of deduction at the time such fees and other expenses are incurred
and shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1.
(iii) Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m),
the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made without
regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code which may be made by the Partnership
and, as to those items described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code,
without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are neither
currently deductible nor capitalized for federal income tax purposes. To the extent an
adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or
743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount
of such adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or loss.
(iv) Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable disposition of any
Partnership property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property as of
such date of disposition were equal in amount to the Partnership’s Carrying Value with
respect to such property as of such date.
(v) In accordance with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code, any deductions
for depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to any Contributed Property
shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property on the date it was acquired by
the Partnership were equal to the Agreed Value of such property. Upon an adjustment pursuant
to Section 5.5(d) to the Carrying Value of any Partnership property subject to depreciation,
cost recovery or amortization, any further deductions for such depreciation, cost recovery
or amortization attributable to such property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis
of such property were equal to the Carrying Value of such property immediately following
such adjustment.
(vi) If the Partnership’s adjusted basis in a depreciable or cost recovery property is
reduced for federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 48(q)(1) or 48(q)(3) of the
Code, the amount of such reduction shall, solely for purposes hereof, be deemed to be an
additional depreciation or cost recovery deduction in the year such property is placed in
service and shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1. Any restoration
of such basis pursuant to Section 48(q)(2) of the Code shall, to the extent possible, be
allocated in the same manner to the Partners to whom such deemed deduction was allocated.
(c) (i) A transferee of a Partnership Interest shall succeed to a pro rata portion of the
Capital Account of the transferor relating to the Partnership Interest so transferred.
(ii) Subject to Section 6.7(c), immediately prior to the transfer of a Subordinated Unit
or of a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 by a
holder thereof (other than a transfer to an Affiliate unless the General Partner elects to
have this subparagraph 5.5(c)(ii) apply), the Capital Account maintained for such Person
with respect to its Subordinated Units or converted
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Subordinated Units will (A) first, be allocated to the Subordinated Units or converted
Subordinated Units to be transferred in an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of
such Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units to be transferred and (y) the Per
Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit, and (B) second, any remaining balance in such Capital
Account will be retained by the transferor, regardless of whether it has retained any
Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units (“Retained Converted Subordinated
Units”). Following any such allocation, the transferor’s Capital Account, if any, maintained
with respect to the retained Subordinated Units or Retained Converted Subordinated Units, if
any, will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (B) hereinabove, and the
transferee’s Capital Account established with respect to the transferred Subordinated Units
or converted Subordinated Units will have a balance equal to the amount allocated under
clause (A) hereinabove.
(d) (i) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), on an issuance of
additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance of Partnership
Interests as consideration for the provision of services or the conversion of the General Partner’s
Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b), the Capital Account of all Partners
and the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance shall be
adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such
Partnership property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an
actual sale of each such property immediately prior to such issuance and had been allocated to the
Partners at such time pursuant to Section 6.1(c) in the same manner as any item of gain or loss
actually recognized during such period would have been allocated. In determining such Unrealized
Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets
(including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Partnership
Interests shall be determined by the General Partner using such method of valuation as it may
adopt; provided, however, that the General Partner, in arriving at such valuation, must take fully
into account the fair market value of the Partnership Interests of all Partners at such time. The
General Partner shall allocate such aggregate value among the assets of the Partnership (in such
manner as it determines) to arrive at a fair market value for individual properties.
(ii) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately
prior to any actual or deemed distribution to a Partner of any Partnership property (other
than a distribution of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of a Partnership
Interest), the Capital Accounts of all Partners and the Carrying Value of all Partnership
property shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized
Loss attributable to such Partnership property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized
Loss had been recognized in a sale of such property immediately prior to such distribution
for an amount equal to its fair market value, and had been allocated to the Partners, at
such time, pursuant to Section 6.1(c) in the same manner as any item of gain or loss
actually recognized during such period would have been allocated. In determining such
Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all
Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution
shall (A) in the case of an actual distribution that is not made pursuant to Section 12.4 or
in the case of a deemed distribution, be determined and allocated in the same manner as that
provided in
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Section 5.5(d)(i) or (B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section
12.4, be determined and allocated by the Liquidator using such method of valuation as it may
adopt.
Section 5.6 Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities.
(a) The Partnership may issue additional Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants
and appreciation rights relating to the Partnership Securities (including pursuant to Section
7.4(c)) for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such
consideration and on such terms and conditions as the General Partner shall determine, all without
the approval of any Limited Partners.
(b) Each additional Partnership Security authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant
to Section 5.6(a) or security authorized to be issued pursuant to Section 7.4(c) may be issued in
one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations,
preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes and series of
Partnership Securities), as shall be fixed by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share
in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership
distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether,
and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may redeem the Partnership Security or
other security; (v) whether such Partnership Security or other security is issued with the
privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or
exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Partnership Security or other security will
be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining
the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Security; and (viii) the right, if any, of each such
Partnership Security to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative
rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Security.
(c) The General Partner shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or
appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Securities and options, rights,
warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 5.6,
or Section 7.4(c), (ii) the conversion of the General Partner Interest (represented by General
Partner Units) or any Incentive Distribution Rights into Units pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement, (iii) the issuance of Class B Units pursuant to Section 5.11 and the conversion of Class
B Units into Common Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iv) reflecting admission of
such additional Limited Partners in the books and records of the Partnership as the Record Holder
of such Limited Partner Interest and (v) all additional issuances of Partnership Securities. The
General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units
or other Partnership Securities being so issued. The General Partner shall do all things necessary
to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it determines
to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Securities or
in connection with the conversion of the General Partner Interest or any Incentive Distribution
Rights into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including compliance with any statute,
rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or any National
Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Securities are listed or admitted to
trading.
41
(d) No fractional Units shall be issued by the Partnership.
Section 5.7 Conversion of Subordinated Units.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 5.7(c) below, the Subordination Period shall terminate and all of
the Outstanding Subordinated Units will convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis on the
first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section
6.3(a) in respect of any Quarter ending on or after June 30, 2010, in respect of which:
(i) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus under Section 6.4(a) on each
of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that
are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units and the General
Partner Units with respect to each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter
periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution on all of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other
Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units and the General Partner Units during such periods;
(ii) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping
four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other
Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units and the
General Partner Units that were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis;
and
(iii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 5.7(a) above or Section 5.7(c) below, the Subordination Period
shall terminate and all the Outstanding Subordinated Units will convert into Common Units on a
one-for-one basis on the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to
Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect of any Quarter ending on or after June 30, 2007, in
respect of which:
(i) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus under Section 6.4(a) in
respect of all Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units, any other Outstanding Units
that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units and the General
Partner Units with respect to each of the four consecutive, non-overlapping Quarters
immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded 150% of the sum of the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution on all of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units, any other
Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units and the General Partner Units during such period;
(ii) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for each of the four consecutive, non-overlapping
Quarters immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded 150% of the sum of the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution on all of the Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other Units
that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the
42
Subordinated Units and the General Partner Units that were Outstanding during such
periods on a Fully Diluted Basis; and
(iii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.
(c) Any Subordinated Units that are not converted into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7(a)
or (b) shall convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis on the second Business Day following
the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect of the final
Quarter of the Subordination Period.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, all the then Outstanding
Subordinated Units will automatically convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis as set forth
in, and pursuant to the terms of, Section 11.4.
(e) A Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject to the
provisions of Section 6.7(b) and Section 6.7(c).
Section 5.8 Limited Preemptive Right.
Except as provided in this Section 5.8 and in Section 5.2, no Person shall have any
preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership
Security, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created. The General Partner shall
have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its Affiliates,
to purchase Partnership Securities from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms that, the
Partnership issues Partnership Securities to Persons other than the General Partner and its
Affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain the Percentage Interests of the General Partner and
its Affiliates equal to that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership
Securities.
Section 5.9 Splits and Combinations.
(a) Subject to Section 5.9(d), Section 6.6 and Section 6.9 (dealing with adjustments of
distribution levels), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Securities to
all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Securities so long as,
after any such event, each Partner shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as
before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis (including any Common Unit
Arrearage or Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage) or stated as a number of Units (including the number
of Subordinated Units that may convert prior to the end of the Subordination Period) are
proportionately adjusted.
(b) Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Securities is
declared, the General Partner shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision
or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such
Record Date to each Record Holder as of a date not less than 10 days prior to the date of such
notice. The General Partner also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it
to calculate the number of Partnership Securities to be held by each Record Holder after giving
effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The General Partner shall be
43
entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the
accuracy of such calculation.
(c) Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may
issue Certificates to the Record Holders of Partnership Securities as of the applicable Record Date
representing the new number of Partnership Securities held by such Record Holders, or the General
Partner may adopt such other procedures that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to
reflect such changes. If any such combination results in a smaller total number of Partnership
Securities Outstanding, the Partnership shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record
Holder of such new Certificate, the surrender of any Certificate held by such Record Holder
immediately prior to such Record Date.
(d) The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision or
combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would result in the
issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of this Section 5.9(d), each fractional Unit
shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall be rounded to the next higher
Unit).
Section 5.10 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests.
All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of,
this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership,
except as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act.
Section 5.11 Issuance of Class B Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights.
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Section 5.11, the holder of the Incentive Distribution
Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a
majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right, at any time when
there are no Subordinated Units outstanding and the Partnership has made a distribution pursuant to
Section 6.4(b)(v) for each of the four most recently completed Quarters and the amount of each such
distribution did not exceed Adjusted Operating Surplus for such Quarter, to make an election (the
“IDR Reset Election”) to cause the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distributions to
be reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.11(e) and, in connection therewith, the
holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to receive their
respective proportionate share of a number of Class B Units derived by dividing (i) the average
amount of cash distributions made by the Partnership for the two full Quarters immediately
preceding the giving of the Reset Notice (as defined in Section 5.11(b)) in respect of the
Incentive Distribution Rights by (ii) the average of the cash distributions made by the Partnership
in respect of each Common Unit for the two full Quarters immediately preceding the giving of the
Reset Notice (the number of Class B Units determined by such quotient is referred to herein as the
“Aggregate Quantity of Class B Units”). Upon the issuance of such Class B Units, the Partnership
will issue to the General Partner that number of additional General Partner Units equal to the
product of (x) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the Percentage Interest of the General Partner
immediately prior to such issuance by (B) a
44
percentage equal to 100% less such Percentage Interest by (y) the number of such Class B
Units, and the General Partner shall not be obligated to make any additional Capital Contribution
to the Partnership in exchange for such issuance. The making of the IDR Reset Election in the
manner specified in Section 5.11(b) shall cause the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target
Distributions to be reset in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.11(e) and, in connection
therewith, the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will become entitled to
receive Class B Units and General Partner Units on the basis specified above, without any further
approval required by the General Partner or the Unitholders, at the time specified in Section
5.11(c) unless the IDR Reset Election is rescinded pursuant to Section 5.11(d).
(b) To exercise the right specified in Section 5.11(a), the holder of the Incentive
Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the
holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall deliver a written
notice (the “Reset Notice”) to the Partnership. Within 10 Business Days after the receipt by the
Partnership of such Reset Notice, as the case may be, the Partnership shall deliver a written
notice to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights of the Partnership’s
determination of the aggregate number of Class B Units which each holder of Incentive Distribution
Rights will be entitled to receive.
(c) The holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to receive the
Aggregate Quantity of Class B Units and related additional General Partner Units on the fifteenth
Business Day after receipt by the Partnership of the Reset Notice, and the Partnership shall issue
Certificates for the Class B Units to the holder or holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights;
provided, however, that the issuance of Class B Units to the holder or holders of the Incentive
Distribution Rights shall not occur prior to the approval of the listing or admission for trading
of the Common Units into which the Class B Units are convertible pursuant to Section 5.11(f) by the
principal National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then listed or admitted for
trading if any such approval is required pursuant to the rules and regulations of such National
Securities Exchange.
(d) If the principal National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then traded
have not approved the listing or admission for trading of the Common Units into which the Class B
Units are convertible pursuant to Section 5.11(f) on or before the 30th calendar day following the
Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice and such approval is required by the rules and
regulations of such National Securities Exchange, then the holder of the Incentive Distribution
Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the holders of a
majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights) shall have the right to either rescind
the IDR Reset Election or elect to receive other Partnership Securities having such terms as the
General Partner may approve, with the approval of the Conflicts Committee, that will provide (i)
the same economic value, in the aggregate, as the Aggregate Quantity of Common Units would have had
at the time of the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice, as determined by the General Partner,
and (ii) for the subsequent conversion of such Partnership Securities into Common Units within not
more than 12 months following the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice upon the satisfaction
of one or more conditions that are reasonably acceptable to the holder of the Incentive
Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution Rights, the
holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights).
45
(e) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution
and Third Target Distribution shall be adjusted at the time of the issuance of Common Units or
other Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 5.11 such that (i) the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution shall be reset to equal to the average cash distribution amount per Common Unit for
the two Quarters immediately prior to the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice (the “Reset
MQD”), (ii) the First Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 115% of the Reset MQD, (iii) the
Second Target Distribution shall be reset to equal to 125% of the Reset MQD and (iv) the Third
Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 150% of the Reset MQD.
(f) Any holder of Class B Units shall have the right to elect, by giving written notice to the
General Partner, to convert all or a portion of the Class B Units held by such holder, at any time
following the first anniversary of the issuance of such Class B Units, into Common Units on a
one-for-one basis, such conversion to be effective on the second Business Day following the General
Partner’s receipt of such written notice.
ARTICLE VI
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 6.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes.
For purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Partners
among themselves, the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss and deduction (computed in
accordance with Section 5.5(b)) shall be allocated among the Partners in each taxable year (or
portion thereof) as provided herein below.
(a) Net Income. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d),
Net Income for each taxable year and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into
account in computing Net Income for such taxable year shall be allocated as follows:
(i) First, 100% to the General Partner, in an amount equal to the aggregate Net Losses
allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii) for all previous taxable
years until the aggregate Net Income allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this
Section 6.1(a)(i) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to
the aggregate Net Losses allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii)
for all previous taxable years;
(ii) Second, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests, until the aggregate Net Income allocated to such Partners
pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(ii) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable
years is equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to such Partners pursuant to Section
6.1(b)(ii) for all previous taxable years; and
(iii) Third, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in
accordance with their respective Percentage Interests;
46
provided, however Unitholders holding Class B Units will not be allocated any items of income,
gain, loss or deduction pursuant to this Section 6.1(a) with respect to their Class B Units until
the Adjusted Capital Account of each Common Unit or comparable fraction thereof and each Class B
Unit or comparable fraction thereof are equal.
(b) Net Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d),
Net Losses for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into
account in computing Net Losses for such taxable period shall be allocated as follows:
(i) First, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests, until the aggregate Net Losses allocated pursuant to this
Section 6.1(b)(i) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to
the aggregate Net Income allocated to such Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(iii) for all
previous taxable years, provided that the Net Losses shall not be allocated pursuant to this
Section 6.1(b)(i) to the extent that such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a
deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable year (or increase
any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account);
(ii) Second, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests; provided, that Net Losses shall not be allocated pursuant
to this Section 6.1(b)(ii) to the extent that such allocation would cause any Unitholder to
have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable year (or
increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account); and
(iii) Third, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner;
provided, however Unitholders holding Class B Units will not be allocated any items of income,
gain, loss or deduction pursuant to this Section 6.1(b) with respect to their Class B Units until
the Adjusted Capital Account of each Common Unit or comparable fraction thereof and each Class B
Unit or comparable fraction thereof are equal.
(c) Net Termination Gains and Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth
in Section 6.1(d), all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing
Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss for such taxable period shall be allocated in the same
manner as such Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss is allocated hereunder. All allocations
under this Section 6.1(c) shall be made after Capital Account balances have been adjusted by all
other allocations provided under this Section 6.1 and after all distributions of Available Cash
provided under Section 6.4 and Section 6.5 have been made; provided, however, that solely for
purposes of this Section 6.1(c), Capital Accounts shall not be adjusted for distributions made
pursuant to Section 12.4.
(i) If a Net Termination Gain is recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section
5.5(d)), such Net Termination Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in the following
manner (and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be increased by the
47
amount so allocated in each of the following subclauses, in the order listed, before an
allocation is made pursuant to the next succeeding subclause):
(A) First, to each Partner having a deficit balance in its Capital Account, in
the proportion that such deficit balance bears to the total deficit balances in the
Capital Accounts of all Partners, until each such Partner has been allocated Net
Termination Gain equal to any such deficit balance in its Capital Account;
(B) Second, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage
equal to 100% less the percentage applicable to subclause (x) of this clause (B),
until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal
to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (2) the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution for the Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by
any distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(i) or Section 6.4(b)(i) with respect to
such Common Unit for such Quarter (the amount determined pursuant to this clause (2)
is hereinafter defined as the “Unpaid MQD”) and (3) any then existing Cumulative
Common Unit Arrearage;
(C) Third, if the Adjusted Capital Account of a Common Unit or comparable
fraction thereof and a Class B Unit (or converted Class B Unit) or comparable
fraction thereof are not identical, (x) to all Unitholders holding the class of
Units with the lower Adjusted Capital Account, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100%
less the percentage applicable to subclause (y) of this clause (C), and (y) to the
General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, until the Adjusted
Capital Account of each Common Unit or comparable fraction thereof and each Class B
Unit (or converted Class B Unit) or comparable fraction thereof are equal;
(D) Fourth, if such Net Termination Gain is recognized (or is deemed to be
recognized) prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit, (x)
to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all
Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less
the percentage applicable to subclause (x) of this clause (D), until the Capital
Account in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding equals the sum of (1)
its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, determined for the taxable year (or portion
thereof) to which this allocation of gain relates, and (2) the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution for the Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by
any distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(iii) with respect to such Subordinated
Unit for such Quarter;
(E) Fifth, 100% to the General Partner and all Unitholders in accordance with
their respective Percentage Interests, until the Capital Account in respect of each
Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit
Price, (2) the Unpaid MQD, (3) any then existing Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage,
and (4) the excess of (aa) the First Target
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Distribution less the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for each Quarter of the
Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any
distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant
to Section 6.4(a)(iv) and Section 6.4(b)(ii) (the sum of (1), (2), (3) and (4) is
hereinafter defined as the “First Liquidation Target Amount”);
(F) Sixth, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest, (y) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and
(z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the
percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause (F), until the
Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum
of (1) the First Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Second
Target Distribution less the First Target Distribution for each Quarter of the
Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any
distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant
to Section 6.4(a)(v) and Section 6.4(b)(iii) (the sum of (1) and (2) is hereinafter
defined as the “Second Liquidation Target Amount”);
(G) Seventh, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest, (y) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and
(z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the
percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause (G), until the
Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum
of (1) the Second Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Third
Target Distribution less the Second Target Distribution for each Quarter of the
Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any
distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant
to Section 6.4(a)(vi) and Section 6.4(b)(iv) (the sum of (1) and (2) is hereinafter
defined as the “Third Liquidation Target Amount”); and
(H) Finally, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest, (y) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and
(z) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the
percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause (H).
(ii) If a Net Termination Loss is recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section
5.5(d)), such Net Termination Loss shall be allocated among the Partners in the following
manner:
(A) First, if such Net Termination Loss is recognized (or is deemed to be
recognized) prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit, (x)
to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all
Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less
the percentage applicable to subclause (x) of this clause (A), until the Capital
Account in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to
zero;
49
(B) Second, if the Adjusted Capital Account of a Common Unit or comparable
fraction there of and a Class B Unit (or converted Class B Unit) or comparable
fraction thereof are not identical, to (i) the Unitholders holding the class of
Units with the higher Adjusted Capital Account and (ii) the General Partner, in
accordance with their Percentage Interests, until the Adjusted Capital Account of
each Common Unit or comparable fraction thereof and each Class B Unit (or converted
Class B Unit) or comparable fraction thereof are equal;
(C) Third, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest and (y) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the
percentage applicable to subclause (x) of this clause (C) until the Capital Account
in respect of each Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero; and
(D) Fourth, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.
(d) Special Allocations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, the
following special allocations shall be made for such taxable period:
(i) Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 6.1, if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Partnership
taxable period, each Partner shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for
such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in
Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(f)(6), 1.704-2(g)(2) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(i), or any
successor provision. For purposes of this Section 6.1(d), each Partner’s Adjusted Capital
Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder
shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this
Section 6.1(d) with respect to such taxable period (other than an allocation pursuant to
Section 6.1(d)(vi) and Section 6.1(d)(vii)). This Section 6.1(d)(i) is intended to comply
with the Partnership Minimum Gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(ii) Chargeback of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Notwithstanding the other
provisions of this Section 6.1 (other than Section 6.1(d)(i)), except as provided in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4), if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse
Debt Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, any Partner with a share of Partner
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such taxable period shall be allocated
items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods)
in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and
1.704-2(j)(2)(ii), or any successor provisions. For purposes of this Section 6.1(d), each
Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income
or gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other
allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d), other than Section 6.1(d)(i) and other than an
allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(vi) and Section 6.1(d)(vii), with respect to such
taxable period. This Section 6.1(d)(ii) is intended to comply with the chargeback of items
of income and gain
50
requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted
consistently therewith.
(iii) Priority Allocations.
(A) If the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of any property distributed
(except cash or property distributed pursuant to Section 12.4) to any Unitholder
with respect to its Units for a taxable year is greater (on a per Unit basis) than
the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property distributed to the other
Unitholders with respect to their Units (on a per Unit basis), then (1) there shall
be allocated income and gain to each Unitholder receiving such greater cash or
property distribution until the aggregate amount of such items allocated pursuant to
this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable
years is equal to the product of (aa) the amount by which the distribution (on a per
Unit basis) to such Unitholder exceeds the distribution (on a per Unit basis) to the
Unitholders receiving the smallest distribution and (bb) the number of Units owned
by the Unitholder receiving the greater distribution; and (2) the General Partner
shall be allocated income and gain in an aggregate amount equal to the product
obtained by multiplying (aa) the quotient determined by dividing (x) the General
Partner’s Percentage Interest at the time in which the greater cash or property
distribution occurs by (y) the sum of 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage
Interest at the time in which the greater cash or property distribution occurs times
(bb) the sum of the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.
(B) After the application of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A), all or any portion of the
remaining items of Partnership income or gain for the taxable period, if any, shall
be allocated (1) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, until
the aggregate amount of such items allocated to the holders of Incentive
Distribution Rights pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(B) for the current taxable
year and all previous taxable years is equal to the cumulative amount of all
Incentive Distributions made to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights from
the Closing Date to a date 45 days after the end of the current taxable year; and
(2) to the General Partner an amount equal to the product of (aa) an amount equal to
the quotient determined by dividing (x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest by
(y) the sum of 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest times (bb) the sum
of the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.
(C) After the application of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A) and Section 6.1(d)(iii)(B),
all or any portion of the remaining items of Partnership income or gain for the
taxable period, if any, shall be allocated (1) to the Unitholders holding Class B
Units, Pro Rata, until the aggregate amount of such items allocated to the holders
of Class B Units pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(C) for the current taxable
year and all previous taxable years is equal to the cumulative amount of all
distributions of Available Cash made to the holders of Class B Units during the
periods such holders of Class B Units are not allocated any items of income, gain,
loss or deduction pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or Section 6.1(b) with respect to their
51
Class B Units; and (2) to the General Partner an amount equal to the product of
(aa) an amount equal to the quotient determined by dividing (x) the General
Partner’s Percentage Interest by (y) the sum of 100 less the General Partner’s
Percentage Interest times (bb) the sum of the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.
(iv) Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any
adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulation Sections
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of
Partnership income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and
manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Treasury Regulations
promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the deficit balance, if any, in its Adjusted
Capital Account created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as
possible unless such deficit balance is otherwise eliminated pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i)
or Section 6.1(d)(ii).
(v) Gross Income Allocations. In the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its
Capital Account at the end of any Partnership taxable period in excess of the sum of (A) the
amount such Partner is required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and
(B) the amount such Partner is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to Treasury Regulation
Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner shall be specially allocated items of
Partnership income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided,
that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(v) shall be made only if and to the
extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Capital Account as adjusted
after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as
if this Section 6.1(d)(v) were not in this Agreement.
(vi) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be
allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. If the
General Partner determines that the Partnership’s Nonrecourse Deductions should be allocated
in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations
promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the General Partner is authorized, upon notice
to the other Partners, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that
does satisfy such requirements.
(vii) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions. Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable
period shall be allocated 100% to the Partner that bears the Economic Risk of Loss with
respect to the Partner Nonrecourse Debt to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are
attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If more than one
Partner bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt, such
Partner Nonrecourse Deductions attributable thereto shall be allocated between or among such
Partners in accordance with the ratios in which they share such Economic Risk of Loss.
(viii) Nonrecourse Liabilities. For purposes of Treasury Regulation Section
1.752-3(a)(3), the Partners agree that Nonrecourse Liabilities of the Partnership in excess
of the sum of (A) the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain and (B) the total amount of
52
Nonrecourse Built-in Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with
their respective Percentage Interests.
(ix) Code Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax
basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required,
pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in
determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be
treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if
the adjustment decreases such basis), and such item of gain or loss shall be specially
allocated to the Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital
Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the Treasury Regulations.
(x) Economic Uniformity.
(A) At the election of the General Partner with respect to any taxable period
ending upon, or after, the termination of the Subordination Period, all or a portion
of the remaining items of Partnership income or gain for such taxable period, after
taking into account allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(iii), shall be allocated
100% to each Partner holding Subordinated Units that are Outstanding as of the
termination of the Subordination Period (“Final Subordinated Units”) in the
proportion of the number of Final Subordinated Units held by such Partner to the
total number of Final Subordinated Units then Outstanding, until each such Partner
has been allocated an amount of income or gain that increases the Capital Account
maintained with respect to such Final Subordinated Units to an amount equal to the
product of (A) the number of Final Subordinated Units held by such Partner and (B)
the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit. The purpose of this allocation is to
establish uniformity between the Capital Accounts underlying Final Subordinated
Units and the Capital Accounts underlying Common Units held by Persons other than
the General Partner and its Affiliates immediately prior to the conversion of such
Final Subordinated Units into Common Units. This allocation method for establishing
such economic uniformity will be available to the General Partner only if the method
for allocating the Capital Account maintained with respect to the Subordinated Units
between the transferred and retained Subordinated Units pursuant to Section
5.5(c)(ii) does not otherwise provide such economic uniformity to the Final
Subordinated Units.
(B) At the election of the General Partner with respect to any taxable period
ending upon, or after, the conversion of the Class B Units pursuant to Section
5.11(f), all or a portion of the remaining items of Partnership income or gain for
such taxable period, after taking into account allocations pursuant to Section
6.1(d)(iii) and Section 6.1(d)(x)(A), shall be allocated 100% to the holder or
holders of the Common Units resulting from the conversion pursuant to Section
5.11(f) (“Converted Common Units”) in the proportion of the number of the Converted
Common Units held by such holder or holders to the total number of Converted Common
Units then Outstanding, until each such holder has been
53
allocated an amount of income or gain that increases the Capital Account
maintained with respect to such Converted Common Units to an amount equal to the
product of (A) the number of Converted Common Units held by such holder and (B) the
Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit. The purpose of this allocation is to
establish uniformity between the Capital Accounts underlying Converted Common Units
and the Capital Accounts underlying Common Units held by Persons other than the
General Partner and its Affiliates immediately prior to the receipt of Common Units
pursuant to Section 5.11(f).
(xi) Curative Allocation.
(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, other than the
Required Allocations, the Required Allocations shall be taken into account in making
the Agreed Allocations so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of items of
income, gain, loss and deduction allocated to each Partner pursuant to the Required
Allocations and the Agreed Allocations, together, shall be equal to the net amount
of such items that would have been allocated to each such Partner under the Agreed
Allocations had the Required Allocations and the related Curative Allocation not
otherwise been provided in this Section 6.1. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence,
Required Allocations relating to (1) Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into
account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partnership Minimum
Gain and (2) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except
to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum
Gain. Allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall only be made with
respect to Required Allocations to the extent the General Partner determines that
such allocations will otherwise be inconsistent with the economic agreement among
the Partners. Further, allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall be
deferred with respect to allocations pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) hereof to the
extent the General Partner determines that such allocations are likely to be offset
by subsequent Required Allocations.
(B) The General Partner shall, with respect to each taxable period, (1) apply
the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) in whatever order is most likely to minimize
the economic distortions that might otherwise result from the Required Allocations,
and (2) divide all allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) among the Partners
in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic distortions.
(xii) Corrective Allocations. In the event of any allocation of Additional Book Basis
Derivative Items or any Book-Down Event or any recognition of a Net Termination Loss, the
following rules shall apply:
(A) In the case of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items
(other than an allocation of Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss under Section 5.5(d)
hereof), the General Partner shall allocate additional items of income and gain away
from the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights to the
54
Unitholders and the General Partner, or additional items of deduction and loss
away from the Unitholders and the General Partner to the holders of Incentive
Distribution Rights, to the extent that the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items
allocated to the Unitholders or the General Partner exceed their Share of Additional
Book Basis Derivative Items. For this purpose, the Unitholders and the General
Partner shall be treated as being allocated Additional Book Basis Derivative Items
to the extent that such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items have reduced the
amount of income that would otherwise have been allocated to the Unitholders or the
General Partner under the Partnership Agreement (e.g., Additional Book Basis
Derivative Items taken into account in computing cost of goods sold would reduce the
amount of book income otherwise available for allocation among the Partners). Any
allocation made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xii)(A) shall be made after all of
the other Agreed Allocations have been made as if this Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not
in this Agreement and, to the extent necessary, shall require the reallocation of
items that have been allocated pursuant to such other Agreed Allocations.
(B) In the case of any negative adjustments to the Capital Accounts of the
Partners resulting from a Book-Down Event or from the recognition of a Net
Termination Loss, such negative adjustment (1) shall first be allocated, to the
extent of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments, in such a manner, as
determined by the General Partner, that to the extent possible the aggregate Capital
Accounts of the Partners will equal the amount that would have been the Capital
Account balance of the Partners if no prior Book-Up Events had occurred, and (2) any
negative adjustment in excess of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments
shall be allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c) hereof.
(C) In making the allocations required under this Section 6.1(d)(xii), the
General Partner may apply whatever conventions or other methodology it determines
will satisfy the purpose of this Section 6.1(d)(xii).
Section 6.2 Allocations for Tax Purposes.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, for federal income tax purposes, each item of income,
gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its
correlative item of “book” income, gain, loss or deduction is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1.
(b) In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable to a Contributed Property or
Adjusted Property, items of income, gain, loss, depreciation, amortization and cost recovery
deductions shall be allocated for federal income tax purposes among the Partners as follows:
(i) (A) In the case of a Contributed Property, such items attributable thereto shall be
allocated among the Partners in the manner provided under Section 704(c) of the Code that
takes into account the variation between the Agreed Value of such property and its adjusted
basis at the time of contribution; and (B) any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss
attributable to a Contributed Property shall be allocated among the
55
Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” gain or loss is allocated
pursuant to Section 6.1.
(ii) (A) In the case of an Adjusted Property, such items shall (1) first, be allocated
among the Partners in a manner consistent with the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code
to take into account the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such property
and the allocations thereof pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i) or Section 5.5(d)(ii), and (2)
second, in the event such property was originally a Contributed Property, be allocated among
the Partners in a manner consistent with Section 6.2(b)(i)(A); and (B) any item of Residual
Gain or Residual Loss attributable to an Adjusted Property shall be allocated among the
Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” gain or loss is allocated
pursuant to Section 6.1.
(iii) The General Partner shall apply the principles of Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-3(d) to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.
(c) For the proper administration of the Partnership and for the preservation of uniformity of
the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof), the General Partner shall (i)
adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation,
amortization and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special allocations for federal income tax
purposes of income (including gross income) or deductions; and (iii) amend the provisions of this
Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations under
Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of the Code or (y) otherwise to preserve or achieve uniformity of
the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). The General Partner may adopt such
conventions, make such allocations and make such amendments to this Agreement as provided in this
Section 6.2(c) only if such conventions, allocations or amendments would not have a material
adverse effect on the Partners, the holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests
issued and Outstanding or the Partnership, and if such allocations are consistent with the
principles of Section 704 of the Code.
(d) The General Partner may determine to depreciate or amortize the portion of an adjustment
under Section 743(b) of the Code attributable to unrealized appreciation in any Adjusted Property
(to the extent of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a predetermined rate derived from the
depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the Partnership’s common basis of
such property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with Treasury Regulation Section
1.167(c)-l(a)(6) or any successor regulations thereto. If the General Partner determines that such
reporting position cannot reasonably be taken, the General Partner may adopt depreciation and
amortization conventions under which all purchasers acquiring Limited Partner Interests in the same
month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, based upon the same applicable rate
as if they had purchased a direct interest in the Partnership’s property. If the General Partner
chooses not to utilize such aggregate method, the General Partner may use any other depreciation
and amortization conventions to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any
Limited Partner Interests, so long as such conventions would not have a material adverse effect on
the Limited Partners or the Record Holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests.
56
(e) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.1245-1(e), any gain allocated to the
Partners upon the sale or other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset shall, to the extent
possible, after taking into account other required allocations of gain pursuant to this Section
6.2, be characterized as Recapture Income in the same proportions and to the same extent as such
Partners (or their predecessors in interest) have been allocated any deductions directly or
indirectly giving rise to the treatment of such gains as Recapture Income.
(f) All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit recognized by the Partnership for
federal income tax purposes and allocated to the Partners in accordance with the provisions hereof
shall be determined without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code that may be made
by the Partnership; provided, however, that such allocations, once made, shall be adjusted (in the
manner determined by the General Partner) to take into account those adjustments permitted or
required by Sections 734 and 743 of the Code.
(g) Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction, for federal income tax
purposes, shall be determined on an annual basis and prorated on a monthly basis and shall be
allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which the
Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of each month;
provided, however, such items for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last
day of the month in which the Option Closing Date or the expiration of the Over-Allotment Option
occurs shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on
which the Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of the
next succeeding month; and provided, further, that gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of
any assets of the Partnership or any other extraordinary item of income or loss realized and
recognized other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined by the General Partner,
shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which
the Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of the month
in which such gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may
revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation to the extent permitted or required by
Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.
(h) Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Limited Partner under the provisions of this
Article VI shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Limited Partner Interests held by a
nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the
Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method determined by the
General Partner.
Section 6.3 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders.
(a) Within 45 days following the end of each Quarter commencing with the Quarter ending on
September 30, 2007, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall,
subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by
the Partnership to the Partners as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner. All amounts
of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on any date from any source shall be deemed to be
Operating Surplus until the sum of all amounts of Available Cash
57
theretofore distributed by the Partnership to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.4 equals the
Operating Surplus from the Closing Date through the close of the immediately preceding Quarter. Any
remaining amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on such date shall, except as
otherwise provided in Section 6.5, be deemed to be “Capital Surplus.” All distributions required to
be made under this Agreement shall be made subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a), in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the
Partnership, all receipts received during or after the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs
shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions
of, Section 12.4.
(c) The General Partner may treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, or amounts
withheld with respect to, all or less than all of the Partners, as a distribution of Available Cash
to such Partners.
(d) Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the Partnership,
directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person or agent, only to the Record
Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Such payment
shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Partnership’s liability in respect of such
payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason
of an assignment or otherwise.
Section 6.4 Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus.
(a) During Subordination Period. Available Cash with respect to any Quarter within the
Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section
6.3 or 6.5 shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed as follows, except
as otherwise contemplated by Section 5.6 in respect of other Partnership Securities issued pursuant
thereto:
(i) First, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and
(y) to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the
General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in respect of each
Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such
Quarter;
(ii) Second, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and
(y) to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the
General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in respect of each
Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage
existing with respect to such Quarter;
(iii) Third, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and
(y) to the Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less
the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in respect of
each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution for such Quarter;
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(iv) Fourth, to the General Partner and all Unitholders, in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit
then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(v) Fifth, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B)
13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all
Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable
to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (v) until there has been distributed in respect of
each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution
over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;
(vi) Sixth, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (B)
23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all
Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable
to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (vi), until there has been distributed in respect
of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution
over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter; and
(vii) Thereafter, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest; (B) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to
all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages
applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (vii);
provided, however, if the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second
Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the
second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be
Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section
6.4(a)(vii).
(b) After Subordination Period. Available Cash with respect to any Quarter after the
Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section
6.3 or Section 6.5, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, shall be distributed as follows,
except as otherwise required by Section 5.6(b) in respect of additional Partnership Securities
issued pursuant thereto:
(i) First, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit
then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(ii) Second, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit
then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(iii) Third, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B)
13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to
59
all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages
applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (iii), until there has been distributed
in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target
Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;
(iv) Fourth, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B)
23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all
Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable
to subclause (A) and (B) of this clause (iv), until there has been distributed in respect of
each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution
over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter; and
(v) Thereafter, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest;
(B) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all
Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable
to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (v);
provided, however, if the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second
Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the
second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be
Operating Surplus with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section
6.4(b)(v).
Section 6.5 Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus.
Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section
6.3(a) shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed, unless the provisions
of Section 6.3 require otherwise, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance
with their respective Percentage Interests, until a hypothetical holder of a Common Unit acquired
on the Closing Date has received with respect to such Common Unit, during the period since the
Closing Date through such date, distributions of Available Cash that are deemed to be Capital
Surplus in an aggregate amount equal to the Initial Unit Price. Available Cash that is deemed to be
Capital Surplus shall then be distributed (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its
Percentage Interest and (B) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal
to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in respect
of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage.
Thereafter, all Available Cash shall be distributed as if it were Operating Surplus and shall be
distributed in accordance with Section 6.4.
Section 6.6 Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels.
(a) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution,
Third Target Distribution, Common Unit Arrearages and Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages shall be
proportionately adjusted in the event of any distribution, combination or subdivision (whether
effected by a distribution payable in Units or otherwise) of Units or other Partnership Securities
in accordance with Section 5.9. In the event of a distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to
be from Capital Surplus, the then applicable Minimum Quarterly
60
Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target
Distribution, shall be adjusted proportionately downward to equal the product obtained by
multiplying the otherwise applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution,
Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, as the case may be, by a fraction of
which the numerator is the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price of the Common Units immediately after
giving effect to such distribution and of which the denominator is the Unrecovered Initial Unit
Price of the Common Units immediately prior to giving effect to such distribution.
(b) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution
and Third Target Distribution, shall also be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5.11 and
Section 6.9.
Section 6.7 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units and Class B Units.
(a) Except with respect to the right to vote on or approve matters requiring the vote or
approval of a percentage of the holders of Outstanding Common Units and the right to participate in
allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common
Units, the holder of a Subordinated Unit shall have all of the rights and obligations of a
Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder; provided, however, that immediately upon the conversion
of Subordinated Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7, the Unitholder holding a
Subordinated Unit shall possess all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common
Units hereunder, including the right to vote as a Common Unitholder and the right to participate in
allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common
Units; provided, however, that such converted Subordinated Units shall remain subject to the
provisions of Sections 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x)(A), 6.7(b) and 6.7(c).
(b) A Unitholder shall not be permitted to transfer a Subordinated Unit or a Subordinated Unit
that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 (other than a transfer to an
Affiliate) if the remaining balance in the transferring Unitholder’s Capital Account with respect
to the retained Subordinated Units or Retained Converted Subordinated Units would be negative after
giving effect to the allocation under Section 5.5(c)(ii)(B).
(c) The Unitholder holding a Common Unit that has resulted from the conversion of a
Subordinated Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 shall not be issued a Common Unit Certificate pursuant to
Section 4.1, and shall not be permitted to transfer such Common Unit to a Person that is not an
Affiliate of the holder until such time as the General Partner determines, based on advice of
counsel, that each such Common Unit should have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic
and federal income tax characteristics, in all material respects, to the intrinsic economic and
federal income tax characteristics of an Initial Common Unit. In connection with the condition
imposed by this Section 6.7(c), the General Partner may take whatever steps are required to provide
economic uniformity to such Common Units in preparation for a transfer of such Common Units,
including the application of Sections 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x) and 6.7(b); provided, however, that no
such steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common
Units represented by Common Unit Certificates.
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(d) Except with respect to the right to vote on or approve matters requiring the vote or
approval of a percentage of the holders of Outstanding Common Units and the right to participate in
allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common
Units, the holders of Class B Units shall have all the rights and obligations of a Unitholder
holding Common Units; provided, however, that immediately upon the conversion of Class B Units into
Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11, the Unitholders holding a Class B Unit shall possess all the
rights and obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder, including the right to vote
as a Common Unitholder and the right to participate in allocations of income, gain, loss and
deduction and distributions made with respect to Common Units; provided, however, that such
converted Class B Units shall remain subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1(a), 6.1(b),
6.1(d)(iii), 6.1(d)(x)(B) and 6.7(e).
(e) The holder or holders of Common Units resulting from the conversion pursuant to Section
5.11(f) of any Class B Units pursuant to Section 5.11 shall not be issued a Common Unit Certificate
pursuant to Section 4.1, and shall not be permitted to transfer such Common Units until such time
as the General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel, that each such Common Unit should
have, as a substantive matter, like intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics, in
all material respects, to the intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics of an
Initial Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.7(d), the General
Partner may take whatever steps are required to provide economic uniformity to such Common Units,
including the application of Section 6.1(d)(x)(B); provided, however, that no such steps may be
taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units represented
by Common Unit Certificates (for this purpose the allocations of items of income, gain, loss or
deduction with respect to Class B Units or with respect to Common Units will be deemed not to have
a material adverse effect on the Common Units).
Section 6.8 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the
Incentive Distribution Rights (a) shall (i) possess the rights and obligations provided in this
Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to Article III and Article VII and (ii) have a
Capital Account as a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 and all other provisions related thereto and
(b) shall not (i) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders
of Outstanding Units, except as provided by law, (ii) be entitled to any distributions other than
as provided in Sections 6.4(a)(v), (vi) and (vii), Section 6.4(b)(iii), (iv) and (v), and Section
12.4 or (iii) be allocated items of income, gain, loss or deduction other than as specified in this
Article VI.
Section 6.9 Entity-Level Taxation.
If legislation is enacted or the interpretation of existing language is modified by a
governmental taxing authority so that a Group Member is treated as an association taxable as a
corporation or is otherwise subject to an entity-level tax for federal, state or local income tax
purposes, then the General Partner may reduce the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target
Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution by the
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amount of income taxes that are payable by reason of any such new legislation or
interpretation (the “Incremental Income Taxes”), or any portion thereof selected by the General
Partner, in the manner provided in this Section 6.9. If the General Partner elects to reduce the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and
the Third Target Distribution for any Quarter with respect to all or a portion of any Incremental
Income Taxes, the General Partner shall estimate for such Quarter the Partnership Group’s aggregate
liability (the “Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount”) for all such income taxes that are
payable by reason of any such new legislation or interpretation; provided that any difference
between such estimate and the actual tax liability for such Quarter that is owed by reason of any
such new legislation or interpretation shall be taken into account in determining the Estimated
Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount with respect to each Quarter in which any such difference can be
determined. For each such Quarter, the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution,
Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be the product obtained by
multiplying (a) the amounts therefor that are set out herein prior to the application of this
Section 6.9 times (b) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) Available Cash with respect to such
Quarter by (ii) the sum of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter and the Estimated
Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for such Quarter, as determined by the General Partner. For
purposes of the foregoing, Available Cash with respect to a Quarter will be deemed reduced by the
Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for that Quarter.
ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
Section 7.1 Management.
(a) The General Partner shall conduct, direct and manage all activities of the Partnership.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business
and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited
Partner shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. In
addition to the powers now or hereafter granted a general partner of a limited partnership under
applicable law or that are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this
Agreement, the General Partner, subject to Section 7.3, shall have full power and authority to do
all things and on such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the
business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the
purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including the following:
(i) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption
or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance
of evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness that is convertible into Partnership
Securities, and the incurring of any other obligations;
(ii) the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other
reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of
the Partnership;
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(iii) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or
exchange of any or all of the assets of the Partnership or the merger or other combination
of the Partnership with or into another Person (the matters described in this clause (iii)
being subject, however, to any prior approval that may be required by Section 7.3 and
Article XIV);
(iv) the use of the assets of the Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose
consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including the financing of the conduct of the
operations of the Partnership Group; subject to Section 7.6(a), the lending of funds to
other Persons (including other Group Members); the repayment or guarantee of obligations of
any Group Member; and the making of capital contributions to any Group Member;
(v) the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other
instruments (including instruments that limit the liability of the Partnership under
contractual arrangements to all or particular assets of the Partnership, with the other
party to the contract to have no recourse against the General Partner or its assets other
than its interest in the Partnership, even if same results in the terms of the transaction
being less favorable to the Partnership than would otherwise be the case);
(vi) the distribution of Partnership cash;
(vii) the selection and dismissal of employees (including employees having titles such
as “president,” “vice president,” “secretary” and “treasurer”) and agents, outside
attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors and the determination of their
compensation and other terms of employment or hiring;
(viii) the maintenance of insurance for the benefit of the Partnership Group, the
Partners and Indemnitees;
(ix) the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of
property and the making of loans to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint
ventures, corporations, limited liability companies or other Persons (including the
acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, any Group Member from
time to time) subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 2.4;
(x) the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Partnership,
including the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging
in the conduct of litigation, arbitration or mediation and the incurring of legal expense
and the settlement of claims and litigation;
(xi) the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the
extent permitted by law;
(xii) the entering into of listing agreements with any National Securities Exchange and
the delisting of some or all of the Limited Partner Interests from, or requesting that
trading be suspended on, any such exchange (subject to any prior approval that may be
required under Section 4.8);
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(xiii) the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership
Securities, or the issuance of options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to
Partnership Securities;
(xiv) the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership’s participation
in any Group Member; and
(xv) the entering into of agreements with any of its Affiliates to render services to a
Group Member or to itself in the discharge of its duties as General Partner of the
Partnership.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, the
Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and the Assignees and
each other Person who may acquire an interest in Partnership Securities hereby (i) approves,
ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this
Agreement and the Group Member Agreement of each other Group Member, the Underwriting Agreement,
the Omnibus Agreement, the Contribution Agreement, the Credit Agreement, any Commodity Hedge
Contract, any Group Member Agreement and the other agreements described in or filed as exhibits to
the Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the Registration
Statement; (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own or through any officer of the
Partnership) is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in clause (i)
of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or
contemplated by the Registration Statement on behalf of the Partnership without any further act,
approval or vote of the Partners or the Assignees or the other Persons who may acquire an interest
in Partnership Securities; and (iii) agrees that the execution, delivery or performance by the
General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them of this Agreement or any
agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement (including the exercise by the General
Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV)
shall not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the General Partner may owe
the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other
agreements) or of any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise.
Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership.
The General Partner has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner
shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the
General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation,
qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited
partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the
Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent the General Partner determines
such action to be necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and
restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the
Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited
partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in
which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section
3.4(a), the General Partner shall
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not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of
Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.
Section 7.3 Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority.
Except as provided in Article XII and Article XIV, the General Partner may not sell, exchange
or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a
whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (including by way of merger,
consolidation, other combination or sale of ownership interests of the Partnership’s Subsidiaries)
without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority; provided, however, that this provision shall
not preclude or limit the General Partner’s ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a
security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not
apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the
foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance. Without the approval of holders of
a Unit Majority, the General Partner shall not, on behalf of the Partnership, except as permitted
under Section 4.6, Section 11.1, Section 11.2 or Section 12.1(a), elect or cause the Partnership to
elect a successor general partner of the Partnership.
Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner.
(a) Except as provided in this Section 7.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the General
Partner shall not be compensated for its services as a general partner or managing member of any
Group Member.
(b) The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the
General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it
makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other
amounts paid to any Person, including Affiliates of the General Partner to perform services for the
Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership
Group), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Partnership Group or otherwise incurred by the
General Partner in connection with operating the Partnership Group’s business (including expenses
allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates). The General Partner shall determine the
expenses that are allocable to the Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.4
shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification
pursuant to Section 7.7.
(c) The General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right
to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership employee benefit
plans, employee programs and employee practices (including plans, programs and practices involving
the issuance of Partnership Securities or options to purchase or rights, warrants or appreciation
rights or phantom or tracking interests relating to Partnership Securities), or cause the
Partnership to issue Partnership Securities in connection with, or pursuant to, any employee
benefit plan, employee program or employee practice maintained or sponsored by the General Partner,
Group Member or any Affiliates in each case for the benefit of employees and directors of the
General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly,
for the benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the General
Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Securities that the
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General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any employees and directors
pursuant to any such employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices. Expenses
incurred by the General Partner in connection with any such plans, programs and practices
(including the net cost to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Securities
purchased by the General Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership to fulfill options or
awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section
7.4(b). Any and all obligations of the General Partner under any employee benefit plans, employee
programs or employee practices adopted by the General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.4(c)
shall constitute obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor
General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor
to all of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units)
pursuant to Section 4.6.
Section 7.5 Outside Activities.
(a) After the Closing Date, the General Partner, for so long as it is the General Partner of
the Partnership (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as a general partner or managing
member, as the case may be, of the Partnership and any other partnership or limited liability
company of which the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner or member and to undertake
activities that are ancillary or related thereto (including being a limited partner in the
Partnership) and (ii) shall not engage in any business or activity or incur any debts or
liabilities except in connection with or incidental to (A) its performance as general partner or
managing member, if any, of one or more Group Members or as described in or contemplated by the
Registration Statement, (B) the acquiring, owning or disposing of debt or equity securities in any
Group Member, or (C) the guarantee of, and mortgage, pledge, or encumbrance of any or all of its
assets in connection with, any indebtedness of Quicksilver Resources Inc., any of its successors or
permitted assigns or any other Affiliate of the General Partner.
(b) Except as set forth in the Omnibus Agreement, each Indemnitee (other than the General
Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other
activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any
and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by
any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in
direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall
constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or
otherwise, to any Group Member or any Partner. None of any Group Member, any Limited Partner or any
other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, or the
partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any Indemnitee.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in
competitive activities by any Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 7.5 is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners, (ii) it
shall be deemed not to be a breach of any fiduciary duty or any other obligation of any type
whatsoever of any Indemnitee for the Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) to engage in such
business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Partnership and (iii)
the Indemnitees shall have no obligation hereunder or as a result of any duty otherwise
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existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to present business opportunities to the Partnership.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the doctrine of corporate opportunity,
or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to any Indemnitee (including the General Partner). No
Indemnitee (including the General Partner) who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction,
agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for the Partnership, shall have
any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to the Partnership, and such Indemnitee
(including the General Partner) shall not be liable to the Partnership, to any Limited Partner or
any other Person for breach of any fiduciary or other duty by reason of the fact that such
Indemnitee (including the General Partner) pursues or acquires for itself, directs such opportunity
to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Partnership;
provided such Indemnitee does not engage in such business or activity as a result of or using
confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the Partnership to such
Indemnitee.
(d) The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership
Securities in addition to those acquired on the Closing Date and, except as otherwise provided in
this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option, all rights relating to all Units or
other Partnership Securities acquired by them. The term “Affiliates” when used in this Section
7.5(d) with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any
provision of this Agreement purports or is interpreted to have the effect of restricting the
fiduciary duties that might otherwise, as a result of Delaware or other applicable law, be owed by
the General Partner to the Partnership and its Limited Partners, or to constitute a waiver or
consent by the Limited Partners to any such restriction, such provisions shall be deemed to have
been approved by the Partners.
Section 7.6 Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group
Members.
(a) The General Partner or any of its Affiliates may lend to any Group Member, and any Group
Member may borrow from the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, funds needed or desired by the
Group Member for such periods of time and in such amounts as the General Partner may determine;
provided, however, that in any such case the lending party may not charge the borrowing party
interest at a rate greater than the rate that would be charged the borrowing party or impose terms
less favorable to the borrowing party than would be charged or imposed on the borrowing party by
unrelated lenders on comparable loans made on an arm’s-length basis (without reference to the
lending party’s financial abilities or guarantees), all as determined by the General Partner. The
borrowing party shall reimburse the lending party for any costs (other than any additional interest
costs) incurred by the lending party in connection with the borrowing of such funds. For purposes
of this Section 7.6(a) and Section 7.6(b), the term “Group Member” shall include any Affiliate of a
Group Member that is controlled by the Group Member.
(b) The Partnership may lend or contribute to any Group Member, and any Group Member may
borrow from the Partnership, funds on terms and conditions determined by the
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General Partner. No Group Member may lend funds to the General Partner or any of its
Affiliates (other than another Group Member).
(c) No borrowing by any Group Member or the approval thereof by the General Partner shall be
deemed to constitute a breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or
otherwise, of the General Partner or its Affiliates to the Partnership or the Limited Partners by
reason of the fact that the purpose or effect of such borrowing is directly or indirectly to (i)
enable distributions to the General Partner or its Affiliates (including in their capacities as
Limited Partners) to exceed the General Partner’s Percentage Interest of the total amount
distributed to all Partners or (ii) hasten the expiration of the Subordination Period or the
conversion of any Subordinated Units into Common Units.
Section 7.7 Indemnification.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly provided
in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership from
and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including
legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts
arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be
involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee; provided, that the
Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final and non-appealable
judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter
for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7, the Indemnitee
acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter,
acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful; provided, further, no
indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be available to the General Partner or its
Affiliates (other than a Group Member) with respect to its or their obligations incurred pursuant
to the Underwriting Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement or the Contribution Agreement (other than
obligations incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership). Any indemnification
pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, it being
agreed that the General Partner shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall
have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to
effectuate such indemnification.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses)
incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7(a) in defending any claim,
demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior
to a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining
that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this
Section 7.7, the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified.
(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights
to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of
Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, as a matter of law or otherwise, both as to actions in the
Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity (including any
capacity under the Underwriting Agreement), and shall continue as to an
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Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the
heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.
(d) The Partnership may purchase and maintain (or reimburse the General Partner or its
Affiliates for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of the General Partner, its Affiliates and such
other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted
against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Person in connection with the Partnership’s
activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless of whether the
Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the
provisions of this Agreement.
(e) For purposes of this Section 7.7, the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an
Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its
duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan
or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect
to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines” within the meaning
of Section 7.7(a); and action taken or omitted by it with respect to any employee benefit plan in
the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the best interest of
the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the
best interests of the Partnership.
(f) In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason
of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.
(g) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section
7.7 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the
indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
(h) The provisions of this Section 7.7 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs,
successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit
of any other Persons.
(i) No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.7 or any provision hereof shall in
any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be
indemnified by the Partnership, nor the obligations of the Partnership to indemnify any such
Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.7 as in effect immediately
prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to
matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless
of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
Section 7.8 Liability of Indemnitees.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall
be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, or any other Persons who
have acquired interests in the Partnership Securities, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred
as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and
non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that,
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in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud,
willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s
conduct was criminal.
(b) Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section 7.1(a), the
General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of
the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and the General
Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent
appointed by the General Partner in good faith.
(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary
duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, the General Partner
and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the Partnership’s business or affairs shall not
be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of
this Agreement.
(d) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any provision hereof shall be
prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of the
Indemnitees under this Section 7.8 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification
or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in
part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or
be asserted.
Section 7.9 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties.
(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement,
whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner or any of
its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member or any Partner, on the
other, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner or its Affiliates in respect of
such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not
constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement, of any agreement contemplated
herein or therein, or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course
of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii)
approved by the vote of a majority of the Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General
Partner and its Affiliates), (iii) on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those
generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv) fair and reasonable
to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties
involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the
Partnership). The General Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its
resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval of such resolution, and the
General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special
Approval. If Special Approval is sought, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision,
the Conflicts Committee acted in good faith, and if Special Approval is not sought and the Board of
Directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of
interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) above, then it shall
be presumed that, in making its decision, the Board of Directors acted in good faith, and in any
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proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or any
other Limited Partner or the Partnership challenging such approval, the Person bringing or
prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming such presumption. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or equity, the
existence of the conflicts of interest described in the Registration Statement are hereby approved
by all Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing
at law, in equity or otherwise.
(b) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other
action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its capacity as the general partner of the
Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity, whether under this Agreement, any Group
Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless another
express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing
it to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good
faith and shall not be subject to any other or different standards (including fiduciary standards)
imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or
under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. In order for a
determination or other action to be in “good faith” for purposes of this Agreement, the Person or
Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action must reasonably
believe that the determination or other action is in the best interests of the Partnership.
(c) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other
action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in
its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group
Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner,
or such Affiliates causing it to do so, are entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to
make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any duty (including
any fiduciary duty) or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner, and any other
Person bound by this Agreement, and the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so,
shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be required to act in good faith or pursuant to
any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement
contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. By
way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrase, “at the option of the General
Partner,” or some variation of that phrase, is used in this Agreement, it indicates that the
General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the
General Partner votes or transfers its Partnership Interests, or refrains from voting or
transferring its Partnership Interests, it shall be acting in its individual capacity. The General
Partner’s organizational documents may provide that determinations to take or decline to take any
action in its individual, rather than representative, capacity may or shall be determined by its
members, if the General Partner is a limited liability company, stockholders, if the General
Partner is a corporation, or the members or stockholders of the General Partner’s general partner,
if the General Partner is a partnership.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the General Partner and its
Affiliates shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) sell or otherwise dispose
of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business or
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(ii) permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the General Partner and its
Affiliates, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically
dealing with such use. Any determination by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter
into such contracts shall be at its option.
(e) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor any other
Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Partnership or
any Limited Partner and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict,
eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the
General Partner or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the
Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of the General Partner or such other
Indemnitee.
(f) The Unitholders hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership as a
partner or member of a Group Member, to approve of actions by the general partner or managing
member of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the General Partner
pursuant to this Section 7.9.
Section 7.10 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner.
(a) The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting
upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent,
order, bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been
signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
(b) The General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management
consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers selected by it, and any act
taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such
Persons as to matters that the General Partner reasonably believes to be within such Person’s
professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in
good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(c) The General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations
hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers, a duly appointed attorney or
attorneys-in-fact or the duly authorized officers of the Partnership or any Group Member.
Section 7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities.
The General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership
Securities; provided that, except as permitted pursuant to Section 4.10, the General Partner may
not cause any Group Member to purchase Subordinated Units during the Subordination Period. Such
Partnership Securities shall be held by the Partnership as treasury securities unless they are
expressly cancelled by action of an appropriate officer of the General Partner. As long as
Partnership Securities are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Securities shall not be
considered Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein. The General Partner or
any Affiliate of the General Partner may also purchase or
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otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Partnership Securities for its own account,
subject to the provisions of Articles IV and X.
Section 7.12 Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates.
(a) If (i) the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner (including for purposes
of this Section 7.12, any Person that is an Affiliate of the General Partner at the date hereof
notwithstanding that it may later cease to be an Affiliate of the General Partner) holds
Partnership Securities that it desires to sell and (ii) Rule 144 of the Securities Act (or any
successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from registration is not available
to enable such holder of Partnership Securities (the “Holder”) to dispose of the number of
Partnership Securities it desires to sell at the time it desires to do so without registration
under the Securities Act, then at the option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership
shall file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use all
commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a period of
not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter period as shall terminate
when all Partnership Securities covered by such registration statement have been sold, a
registration statement under the Securities Act registering the offering and sale of the number of
Partnership Securities specified by the Holder; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not
be required to effect more than three registrations pursuant to this Section 7.12(a) and Section
7.12(b); and provided further, however, that if the Conflicts Committee determines in good faith
that the requested registration would be materially detrimental to the Partnership and its Partners
because such registration would (x) materially interfere with a significant acquisition,
reorganization or other similar transaction involving the Partnership, (y) require premature
disclosure of material information that the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for
preserving as confidential or (z) render the Partnership unable to comply with requirements under
applicable securities laws, then the Partnership shall have the right to postpone such requested
registration for a period of not more than six months after receipt of the Holder’s request, such
right pursuant to this Section 7.12(a) or Section 7.12(b) not to be utilized more than once in any
twelve-month period. In connection with any registration pursuant to the first sentence of this
Section 7.12(a), the Partnership shall (i) promptly prepare and file (A) such documents as may be
necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to such registration under the securities
laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably request; provided, however, that no such
qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Partnership
would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business
as a foreign corporation or partnership doing business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of
such registration, and (B) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the
Partnership Securities subject to such registration on such National Securities Exchange as the
Holder shall reasonably request, and (ii) do any and all other acts and things that may be
necessary or appropriate to enable the Holder to consummate a public sale of such Partnership
Securities in such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(d), all costs and expenses of any
such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be
paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.
(b) If any Holder holds Partnership Securities that it desires to sell and Rule 144 of the
Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from
registration is not available to enable such Holder to dispose of the number of Partnership
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Securities it desires to sell at the time it desires to do so without registration under the
Securities Act, then at the option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall file
with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use its
commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a period of
not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter period as shall terminate
when all Partnership Securities covered by such shelf registration statement have been sold, a
“shelf” registration statement covering the Partnership Securities specified by the Holder on an
appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted
by the Commission; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to effect more
than three registrations pursuant to Section 7.12(a) and this Section 7.12(b); and provided
further, however, that if the Conflicts Committee determines in good faith that any offering under,
or the use of any prospectus forming a part of, the shelf registration statement would be
materially detrimental to the Partnership and its Partners because such offering or use would (x)
materially interfere with a significant acquisition, reorganization or other similar transaction
involving the Partnership, (y) require premature disclosure of material information that the
Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential or (z) render the
Partnership unable to comply with requirements under applicable securities laws, then the
Partnership shall have the right to suspend such offering or use for a period of not more than six
months after receipt of the Holder’s request, such right pursuant to Section 7.12(a) or this
Section 7.12(b) not to be utilized more than once in any twelve-month period. In connection with
any shelf registration pursuant to this Section 7.12(b), the Partnership shall (i) promptly prepare
and file (A) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to
such shelf registration under the securities laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably
request; provided, however, that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where,
as a result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to general service of process or to
taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation or partnership doing business in
such jurisdiction solely as a result of such shelf registration, and (B) such documents as may be
necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership Securities subject to such shelf
registration on such National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request, and (ii)
do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or appropriate to enable the Holder to
consummate a public sale of such Partnership Securities in such states. Except as set forth in
Section 7.12(d), all costs and expenses of any such shelf registration and offering (other than the
underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by
the Holder.
(c) If the Partnership shall at any time propose to file a registration statement under the
Securities Act for an offering of equity securities of the Partnership for cash (other than an
offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan), the Partnership shall notify all Holders of
such proposals and use its commercially reasonable efforts to include such number or amount of
securities held by the Holder in such registration statement as the Holder shall request; provided,
that the Partnership is not required to make any effort or take any action to so include the
securities of the Holder once the registration statement is declared effective by the Commission or
otherwise becomes effective, including any registration statement providing for the offering from
time to time of securities pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act. If the proposed offering
pursuant to this Section 7.12(c) shall be an underwritten offering, then, in the event that the
managing underwriter or managing underwriters of such offering advise the Partnership and the
Holder in writing that in their opinion the inclusion of all or some of the Holder’s Partnership
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Securities would adversely and materially affect the success of the offering, the Partnership
shall include in such offering only that number or amount, if any, of securities held by the Holder
that, in the opinion of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, will not so adversely
and materially affect the offering. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(d), all costs and expenses
of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall
be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.
(d) If underwriters are engaged in connection with any registration referred to in this
Section 7.12, the Partnership shall provide indemnification, representations, covenants, opinions
and other assurance to the underwriters in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such
underwriters. Further, in addition to and not in limitation of the Partnership’s obligation under
Section 7.7, the Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold
harmless the Holder, its officers, directors and each Person who controls the Holder (within the
meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent thereof (collectively, “Indemnified Persons”) from and
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including
legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts
arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnified Person may be involved, or is threatened
to be involved, as a party or otherwise, under the Securities Act or otherwise (hereinafter
referred to in this Section 7.12(d) as a “claim” and in the plural as “claims”) based upon, arising
out of or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in any registration statement under which any Partnership Securities were registered
under the Securities Act or any state securities or Blue Sky laws, in any preliminary prospectus
(if used prior to the effective date of such registration statement), or in any summary or final
prospectus or free writing prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (if used during the
period the Partnership is required to keep the registration statement current), or arising out of,
based upon or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading;
provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be liable to any Indemnified Person to the extent
that any such claim arises out of, is based upon or results from an untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, such
preliminary, summary or final prospectus or free writing prospectus or such amendment or
supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Partnership by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person specifically for use in the preparation
thereof.
(e) The provisions of Section 7.12(a), Section 7.12(b) and Section 7.12(c) shall continue to
be applicable with respect to the General Partner (and any of the General Partner’s Affiliates)
after it ceases to be a general partner of the Partnership, during a period of two years subsequent
to the effective date of such cessation and for so long thereafter as is required for the Holder to
sell all of the Partnership Securities with respect to which it has requested during such two-year
period inclusion in a registration statement otherwise filed or that a registration statement be
filed; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to file successive
registration statements covering the same Partnership Securities for which registration was
demanded during such two-year period. The provisions of Section 7.12(d) shall continue in effect
thereafter.
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(f) The rights to cause the Partnership to register Partnership Securities pursuant to this
Section 7.12 may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee or
assignee of such Partnership Securities, provided (i) the Partnership is, within a reasonable time
after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee or
assignee and the Partnership Securities with respect to which such registration rights are being
assigned; and (ii) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to be bound by and subject to the
terms set forth in this Section 7.12.
(g) Any request to register Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 7.12 shall (i)
specify the Partnership Securities intended to be offered and sold by the Person making the
request, (ii) express such Person’s present intent to offer such Partnership Securities for
distribution, (iii) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Partnership
Securities, and (iv) contain the undertaking of such Person to provide all such information and
materials and take all action as may be required in order to permit the Partnership to comply with
all applicable requirements in connection with the registration of such Partnership Securities.
Section 7.13 Reliance by Third Parties.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the
Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner and any officer of the General
Partner authorized by the General Partner to act on behalf of and in the name of the Partnership
has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of
the Partnership and to enter into any authorized contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and such
Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner or any such officer as if it were the
Partnership’s sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all defenses or other remedies that may be
available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner or
any such officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the
General Partner or any such officer or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms
of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act
or action of the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives. Each and every
certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General
Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person
relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such
certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person
executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered
to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was
duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is
binding upon the Partnership.
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ARTICLE VIII
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
Section 8.1 Records and Accounting.
The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership
appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s business, including all books and
records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided
pursuant to Section 3.4(a). Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in
the regular course of its business, including the record of the Record Holders of Units or other
Partnership Securities, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may be kept on, or
be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs,
micrographics or any other information storage device; provided, that the books and records so
maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time.
The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual
basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Section 8.2 Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending December 31.
Section 8.3 Reports.
(a) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days after the close of each fiscal
year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any
reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnership’s or the SEC’s
website) to each Record Holder of a Unit as of a date selected by the General Partner, an annual
report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership,
presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations,
Partnership equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public
accountants selected by the General Partner.
(b) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the close of each Quarter
except the last Quarter of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made
available, by any reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnership’s or
the SEC’s website) to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the General Partner, a
report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership and such other information as
may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of any National Securities Exchange on which
the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary
or appropriate.
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ARTICLE IX
TAX MATTERS
Section 9.1 Tax Returns and Information.
The Partnership shall timely file all returns of the Partnership that are required for
federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and the taxable
year or years that it is required by law to adopt, from time to time, as determined by the General
Partner. In the event the Partnership is required to use a taxable year other than a year ending on
December 31, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to change the taxable year of the
Partnership to a year ending on December 31. The tax information reasonably required by Record
Holders for federal and state income tax reporting purposes with respect to a taxable year shall be
furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnership’s
taxable year ends. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and
deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax
purposes.
Section 9.2 Tax Elections.
(a) The Partnership shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in accordance with
applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of the right to seek to revoke any
such election upon the General Partner’s determination that such revocation is in the best
interests of the Limited Partners. Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained, for the
purposes of computing the adjustments under Section 743(b) of the Code, the General Partner shall
be authorized (but not required) to adopt a convention whereby the price paid by a transferee of a
Limited Partner Interest will be deemed to be the lowest quoted closing price of the Limited
Partner Interests on any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are
listed or admitted to trading during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur
pursuant to Section 6.2(g) without regard to the actual price paid by such transferee.
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall determine whether the
Partnership should make any other elections permitted by the Code.
Section 9.3 Tax Controversies.
Subject to the provisions hereof, the General Partner is designated as the Tax Matters Partner
(as defined in the Code) and is authorized and required to represent the Partnership (at the
Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax
authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership
funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. Each Partner agrees to cooperate
with the General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by
the General Partner to conduct such proceedings.
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Section 9.4 Withholding.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to
take any action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to comply
with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local
law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the extent that the
Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount
resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner or Assignee (including by
reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the General Partner may treat the amount withheld as a
distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.3 in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.
ARTICLE X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS
Section 10.1 Admission of Limited Partners.
(a) Upon the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive
Distribution Rights to the General Partner, Holdings and the Underwriters as described in Article V
in connection with the Initial Offering, such parties shall automatically be admitted to the
Partnership as Initial Limited Partners in respect of the Common Units, Subordinated Units or
Incentive Distribution Rights issued to them.
(b) By acceptance of the transfer of any Limited Partner Interests in accordance with Article
IV or the acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to Article V or pursuant to a
merger or consolidation pursuant to Article XIV, and except as provided in Section 4.9, each
transferee of, or other such Person acquiring, a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee
holder or an agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of
another Person) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the
Limited Partner Interests so transferred or issued to such Person when any such transfer, issuance
or admission is reflected in the books and records of the Partnership and such Limited Partner
becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred, (ii) shall become bound
by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and
authority to enter into this Agreement, (iv) grants the powers of attorney set forth in this
Agreement and (v) makes the consents and waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without
execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the
admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement. A Person
may become a Limited Partner or Record Holder of a Limited Partner Interest without the consent or
approval of any of the Partners. A Person may not become a Limited Partner without acquiring a
Limited Partner Interest and until such Person is reflected in the books and records of the
Partnership as the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interest. The rights and obligations of a
Person who is a Non-citizen Assignee shall be determined in accordance with Section 4.9 hereof.
(c) The name and mailing address of each Limited Partner shall be listed on the books and
records of the Partnership maintained for such purpose by the Partnership or the
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Transfer Agent. The General Partner shall update the books and records of the Partnership from
time to time as necessary to reflect accurately the information therein (or shall cause the
Transfer Agent to do so, as applicable). A Limited Partner Interest may be represented by a
Certificate, as provided in Section 4.1 hereof.
(d) Any transfer of a Limited Partner Interest shall not entitle the transferee to share in
the profits and losses, to receive distributions, to receive allocations of income, gain, loss,
deduction or credit or any similar item or to any other rights to which the transferor was entitled
until the transferee becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.1(b).
Section 10.2 Admission of Successor General Partner.
A successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or the
transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner
Units) pursuant to Section 4.6 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner shall
be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective immediately prior to the
withdrawal or removal of the predecessor or transferring General Partner, pursuant to Section 11.1
or 11.2 or the transfer of the General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units)
pursuant to Section 4.6, provided, however, that no such successor shall be admitted to the
Partnership until compliance with the terms of Section 4.6 has occurred and such successor has
executed and delivered such other documents or instruments as may be required to effect such
admission. Any such successor shall, subject to the terms hereof, carry on the business of the
members of the Partnership Group without dissolution.
Section 10.3 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership.
To effect the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take all
steps necessary or appropriate under the Delaware Act to amend the records of the Partnership to
reflect such admission and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practicable an amendment to this
Agreement and, if required by law, the General Partner shall prepare and file an amendment to the
Certificate of Limited Partnership, and the General Partner may for this purpose, among others,
exercise the power of attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.6.
ARTICLE XI
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS
Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner.
(a) The General Partner shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Partnership upon the
occurrence of any one of the following events (each such event herein referred to as an “Event of
Withdrawal”);
(i) The General Partner voluntarily withdraws from the Partnership by giving written
notice to the other Partners;
(ii) The General Partner transfers all of its General Partner Interest pursuant to
Section 4.6;
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(iii) The General Partner is removed pursuant to Section 11.2;
(iv) The General Partner (A) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;
(B) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States
Bankruptcy Code; (C) files a petition or answer seeking for itself a liquidation,
dissolution or similar relief (but not a reorganization) under any law; (D) files an answer
or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition
filed against the General Partner in a proceeding of the type described in clauses (A)-(C)
of this Section 11.1(a)(iv); or (E) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a
trustee (but not a debtor-in-possession), receiver or liquidator of the General Partner or
of all or any substantial part of its properties;
(v) A final and non-appealable order of relief under Chapter 7 of the United States
Bankruptcy Code is entered by a court with appropriate jurisdiction pursuant to a voluntary
or involuntary petition by or against the General Partner; or
(vi) (A) in the event the General Partner is a corporation, a certificate of
dissolution or its equivalent is filed for the General Partner, or 90 days expire after the
date of notice to the General Partner of revocation of its charter without a reinstatement
of its charter, under the laws of its state of incorporation; (B) in the event the General
Partner is a partnership or a limited liability company, the dissolution and commencement of
winding up of the General Partner; (C) in the event the General Partner is acting in such
capacity by virtue of being a trustee of a trust, the termination of the trust; (D) in the
event the General Partner is a natural person, his death or adjudication of incompetency;
and (E) otherwise in the event of the termination of the General Partner.
If an Event of Withdrawal specified in Section 11.1(a)(iv), (v) or (vi)(A), (B), (C) or (E) occurs,
the withdrawing General Partner shall give notice to the Limited Partners within 30 days after such
occurrence. The Partners hereby agree that only the Events of Withdrawal described in this Section
11.1 shall result in the withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership.
(b) Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of
Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i)
at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 12:00 midnight, Central
Standard Time, on September 30, 2017, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least
90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners; provided, that prior
to the effective date of such withdrawal, the withdrawal is approved by Unitholders holding at
least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General
Partner and its Affiliates) and the General Partner delivers to the Partnership an Opinion of
Counsel (“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel”) that such withdrawal (following the selection of the
successor General Partner) would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited
Partner or any Group Member or cause any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a
corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent
not already so treated or taxed); (ii) at any time after 12:00 midnight, Central Standard Time, on
September 30, 2017, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance
notice to the Unitholders, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice;
(iii) at any time that the General Partner ceases to be
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the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii) or is removed pursuant to Section 11.2; or
(iv) notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, at any time that the General Partner voluntarily
withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited
Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such
notice is given one Person and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates)
own beneficially or of record or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units. The withdrawal of
the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also
constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to
the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the General Partner gives a notice of
withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), the holders of a Unit Majority, may, prior to the
effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner. The Person so elected as
successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing
member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a
general partner or a managing member, and is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue the business
of the Partnership, and, to the extent applicable, the other Group Members, without dissolution.
If, prior to the effective date of the General Partner’s withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i),
a successor is not selected by the Unitholders as provided herein or the Partnership does not
receive a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel, the Partnership shall be dissolved in accordance with and
subject to Section 12.1. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this
Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.2.
Section 11.2 Removal of the General Partner.
The General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by the Unitholders holding at
least 66 2/3% of the Outstanding Units (including Units held by the General Partner and its
Affiliates) voting as a single class. Any such action by such holders for removal of the General
Partner must also provide for the election of a successor General Partner by the Unitholders
holding a majority of the outstanding Common Units and Class B Units, if any, voting as a single
class and a majority of the outstanding Subordinated Units (if any Subordinated Units are then
Outstanding) voting as a class (including, in each case, Units held by the General Partner and its
Affiliates). Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor
General Partner pursuant to Section 10.2. The removal of the General Partner shall also
automatically constitute the removal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member,
to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general
partner or a managing member. If a Person is elected as a successor General Partner in accordance
with the terms of this Section 11.2, such Person shall, upon admission pursuant to Section 10.2,
automatically become a successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of
the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member, and
is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue the business of the Partnership, and, to the extent
applicable, the other Group Members, without dissolution. The right of the holders of Outstanding
Units to remove the General Partner shall not exist or be exercised unless the Partnership has
received an opinion opining as to the matters covered by a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel. Any
successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2 shall be
subject to the provisions of Section 10.2.
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Section 11.3 Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner.
(a) In the event of (i) withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such
withdrawal does not violate this Agreement or (ii) removal of the General Partner by the holders of
Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist, if the successor General Partner
is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, the Departing General
Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal or removal
of such Departing General Partner, to require its successor to purchase its General Partner
Interest (represented by General Partner Units) and its general partner interest (or equivalent
interest), if any, in the other Group Members and all of its Incentive Distribution Rights
(collectively, the “Combined Interest”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair market
value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of the effective date
of its withdrawal or removal. If the General Partner is removed by the Unitholders under
circumstances where Cause exists or if the General Partner withdraws under circumstances where such
withdrawal violates this Agreement, and if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance
with the terms of Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued
pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner), such
successor shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal or
removal of such Departing General Partner (or, in the event the business of the Partnership is
continued, prior to the date the business of the Partnership is continued), to purchase the
Combined Interest for such fair market value of such Combined Interest of the Departing General
Partner. In either event, the Departing General Partner shall be entitled to receive all
reimbursements due such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 7.4, including any
employee-related liabilities (including severance liabilities), incurred in connection with the
termination of any employees employed by the Departing General Partner or its Affiliates (other
than any Group Member) for the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.
For purposes of this Section 11.3(a), the fair market value of the Departing General Partner’s
Combined Interest shall be determined by agreement between the Departing General Partner and its
successor or, failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of such Departing General
Partner’s withdrawal or removal, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent
expert selected by the Departing General Partner and its successor, which, in turn, may rely on
other experts, and the determination of which shall be conclusive as to such matter. If such
parties cannot agree upon one independent investment banking firm or other independent expert
within 45 days after the effective date of such departure, then the Departing General Partner shall
designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, the Departing General
Partner’s successor shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent
expert, and such firms or experts shall mutually select a third independent investment banking firm
or independent expert, which third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert
shall determine the fair market value of the Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner. In
making its determination, such third independent investment banking firm or other independent
expert may consider the then current trading price of Units on any National Securities Exchange on
which Units are then listed or admitted to trading, the value of the Partnership’s assets, the
rights and obligations of the Departing General Partner and other factors it may deem relevant.
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(b) If the Combined Interest is not purchased in the manner set forth in Section 11.3(a), the
Departing General Partner (or its transferee) shall become a Limited Partner and its Combined
Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a valuation made by an investment banking
firm or other independent expert selected pursuant to Section 11.3(a), without reduction in such
Partnership Interest (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of the admission of its
successor). Any successor General Partner shall indemnify the Departing General Partner (or its
transferee) as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on
which the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes of
this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner to Common
Units will be characterized as if the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) contributed its
Combined Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.
(c) If a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or
Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the
successor General Partner is not the former General Partner) and the option described in Section
11.3(a) is not exercised by the party entitled to do so, the successor General Partner shall, at
the effective date of its admission to the Partnership, contribute to the Partnership cash in the
amount equal to the product of (x) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the Percentage Interest of
the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner by (B) a percentage equal to 100%
less the Percentage Interest of the General Partner Interest of the Departing General Partner and
(y) the Net Agreed Value of the Partnership’s assets on such date. In such event, such successor
General Partner shall, subject to the following sentence, be entitled to its Percentage Interest of
all Partnership allocations and distributions to which the Departing General Partner was entitled.
In addition, the successor General Partner shall cause this Agreement to be amended to reflect
that, from and after the date of such successor General Partner’s admission, the successor General
Partner’s interest in all Partnership distributions and allocations shall be its Percentage
Interest.
Section 11.4 Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and
Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, if the General Partner is removed as general
partner of the Partnership under circumstances where Cause does not exist and Units held by the
General Partner and its Affiliates are not voted in favor of such removal, (i) the Subordination
Period will end and all Outstanding Subordinated Units will immediately and automatically convert
into Common Units on a one-for-one basis (provided, however, that such converted Subordinated Units
shall remain subject to the provisions of Section 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x) and 6.7(c)), (ii) all
Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages on the Common Units will be extinguished and (iii) the General
Partner will have the right to convert its General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner
Units) and its Incentive Distribution Rights into Common Units or to receive cash in exchange
therefor in accordance with Section 11.3.
Section 11.5 Withdrawal of Limited Partners.
No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided, however,
that when a transferee of a Limited Partner’s Limited Partner Interest becomes a
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Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interest so transferred, such transferring Limited
Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interest so
transferred.
ARTICLE XII
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
Section 12.1 Dissolution.
The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Limited Partners or by
the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon
the removal or withdrawal of the General Partner, if a successor General Partner is elected
pursuant to Section 10.2, 11.1, 11.2 or 12.2, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such
successor General Partner is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue the business of the
Partnership. Subject to Section 12.2, the Partnership shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be
wound up, upon:
(a) an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a) (other than
Section 11.1(a)(ii)), unless a successor is elected and such successor is admitted to the
Partnership pursuant to this Agreement;
(b) an election to dissolve the Partnership by the General Partner that is approved by the
holders of a Unit Majority;
(c) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the
provisions of the Delaware Act; or
(d) at any time there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued without
dissolution in accordance with the Delaware Act.
Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution.
Upon an Event of Withdrawal caused by (a) the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as
provided in Section 11.1(a)(i) or (iii) and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to
such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, then within 90 days
thereafter, or (b) an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in Section 11.1(a)(iv),
(v) or (vi), then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the holders
of a Unit Majority may elect to continue the business of the Partnership on the same terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement by appointing as a successor General Partner a Person
approved by the holders of a Unit Majority. Unless such an election is made within the applicable
time period as set forth above, the Partnership shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up
its affairs. If such an election is so made, then:
(i) the Partnership shall continue without dissolution unless earlier dissolved in
accordance with this Article XII;
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(ii) if the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner, then the
interest of the former General Partner shall be treated in the manner provided in Section
11.3; and
(iii) the successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as General
Partner, effective as of the Event of Withdrawal, by agreeing in writing to be bound by this
Agreement;
(iv) provided, that the right of the holders of a Unit Majority to approve a successor
General Partner and to continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not
be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that (x) the exercise
of the right would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner and
(y) neither the Partnership nor any Group Member would be treated as an association taxable
as a corporation or otherwise be taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes upon
the exercise of such right to continue (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).
Section 12.3 Liquidator.
Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the business of the Partnership is continued
pursuant to Section 12.2, the General Partner shall select one or more Persons to act as
Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such
compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of at least a majority of the
Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and Class B Units, if any, voting as a single class.
The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15
days’ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal
approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and
Class B Units, if any, voting as a single class. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the
Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers
and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by holders of at
least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and Class B Units, if any,
voting as a single class. The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner
provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator
approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII, the
Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further
authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the General
Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations,
contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on sale set
forth in Section 7.3) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the
Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and
liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.
Section 12.4 Liquidation.
The Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Partnership, discharge its
liabilities, and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as determined by
the Liquidator, subject to Section 17-804 of the Delaware Act and the following:
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(a) The assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one
or more Partners on such terms as the Liquidator and such Partner or Partners may agree. If any
property is distributed in kind, the Partner receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of
Section 12.4(c) to have received cash equal to its fair market value; and contemporaneously
therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners. The Liquidator may
defer liquidation or distribution of the Partnership’s assets for a reasonable time if it
determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Partnership’s assets would
be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners. The Liquidator may distribute the
Partnership’s assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be
impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners.
(b) Liabilities of the Partnership include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for
serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 12.3) and amounts to Partners otherwise
than in respect of their distribution rights under Article VI. With respect to any liability that
is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidator
shall either settle such claim for such amount as it thinks appropriate or establish a reserve of
cash or other assets to provide for its payment. When paid, any unused portion of the reserve shall
be distributed as additional liquidation proceeds.
(c) All property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided
in Section 12.4(b) shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with, and to the extent of,
the positive balances in their respective Capital Accounts, as determined after taking into account
all Capital Account adjustments (other than those made by reason of distributions pursuant to this
Section 12.4(c)) for the taxable year of the Partnership during which the liquidation of the
Partnership occurs (with such date of occurrence being determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)), and such distribution shall be made by the end of such taxable year
(or, if later, within 90 days after said date of such occurrence).
Section 12.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership.
Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in
Section 12.4 in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership, the Certificate of Limited
Partnership and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in
jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such other actions as may be
necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.
Section 12.6 Return of Contributions.
The General Partner shall not be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation to
contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, the return
of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners or Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it
being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Partnership assets.
Section 12.7 Waiver of Partition.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of
the Partnership property.
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Section 12.8 Capital Account Restoration.
No Limited Partner shall have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital
Account upon liquidation of the Partnership. The General Partner shall be obligated to restore any
negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of its interest in the Partnership by the
end of the taxable year of the Partnership during which such liquidation occurs, or, if later,
within 90 days after the date of such liquidation.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
Section 13.1 Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner.
Each Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner, may amend
any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record
whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:
(a) a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal place of business
of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the
Partnership;
(b) admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this
Agreement;
(c) a change that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or
continue the qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or a partnership in which
the Limited Partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that the Group
Members will not be treated as associations taxable as corporations or otherwise taxed as entities
for federal income tax purposes;
(d) a change that the General Partner determines, (i) does not adversely affect the Limited
Partners (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of
Partnership Interests) in any material respect, (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy
any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or
regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or
state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the Units (including
the division of any class or classes of Outstanding Units into different classes to facilitate
uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of Units) or comply with any rule, regulation,
guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are or will be
listed or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken
by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.9 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed
in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise
contemplated by this Agreement;
(e) a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that
the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the fiscal
year or taxable year of the Partnership including, if the General Partner shall so
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determine, a change in the definition of “Quarter” and the dates on which distributions are to
be made by the Partnership;
(f) an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, or
the General Partner or its directors, officers, trustees or agents from in any manner being
subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, regardless of whether such are substantially similar to
plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;
(g) an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in
connection with the authorization of issuance of any class or series of Partnership Securities
pursuant to Section 5.6, including any amendment that the General Partner determines is necessary
or appropriate in connection with (i) the adjustments of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First
Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution pursuant to the
provisions of Section 5.11, (ii) the implementation of the provisions of Section 5.11 or (iii) any
modifications to the Incentive Distribution Rights made in connection with the issuance of
Partnership Securities pursuant to Section 5.6, provided that, with respect to this clause (iii),
the modifications to the Incentive Distribution Rights and the related issuance of Partnership
Securities have received Special Approval;
(h) any amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the General Partner
acting alone;
(i) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement approved in
accordance with Section 14.3;
(j) an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect
and account for the formation by the Partnership of, or investment by the Partnership in, any
corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection
with the conduct by the Partnership of activities permitted by the terms of Sections 2.4 or 7.1(a);
(k) a merger, conveyance or conversion pursuant to Section 14.3(d); or
(l) any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.
Section 13.2 Amendment Procedures.
Except as provided in Section 13.1 and Section 13.3, all amendments to this Agreement shall be
made in accordance with the requirements contained in this Section 13.2. Amendments to this
Agreement may be proposed only by the General Partner; provided, however, that to the fullest
extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose any
amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so free of any duty (including any fiduciary
duty) or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by
this Agreement, and, in declining to propose an amendment, to the fullest extent permitted by law
shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other
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standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement
contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. A
proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval by the General Partner and the holders of a
Unit Majority, unless a greater or different percentage is required under this Agreement or by
Delaware law. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders of a specified
percentage of Outstanding Units shall be set forth in a writing that contains the text of the
proposed amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, the General Partner shall seek the written
approval of the requisite percentage of Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the Unitholders to
consider and vote on such proposed amendment, in each case in accordance with the other provisions
of this Article XIII. The General Partner shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of
any such proposed amendments.
Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no provision of this
Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the
General Partner) required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or
rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of reducing such voting percentage unless such
amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding
Units whose aggregate Outstanding Units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to
be reduced.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no amendment to this
Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Limited Partner without its consent, unless such
shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 13.3(c),
or (ii) enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in
any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable to, the General Partner or any
of its Affiliates without its consent, which consent may be given or withheld at its option.
(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3, and without limitation of the General Partner’s
authority to adopt amendments to this Agreement without the approval of any Partners or Assignees
as contemplated in Section 13.1, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the
rights or preferences of any class of Partnership Interests in relation to other classes of
Partnership Interests must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the
Outstanding Partnership Interests of the class affected.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, except for amendments pursuant to
Section 13.1 and except as otherwise provided by Section 14.3(b), no amendments shall become
effective without the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units voting as a
single class unless the Partnership obtains an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment
will not affect the limited liability of any Limited Partner under applicable partnership law of
the state under whose laws the Partnership is organized.
(e) Except as provided in Section 13.1, this Section 13.3 shall only be amended with the
approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units.
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Section 13.4 Special Meetings.
All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the
manner provided in this Article XIII. Special meetings of the Limited Partners may be called by the
General Partner or by Limited Partners owning 20% or more of the Outstanding Units of the class or
classes for which a meeting is proposed. Limited Partners shall call a special meeting by
delivering to the General Partner one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Limited
Partners wish to call a special meeting and indicating the general or specific purposes for which
the special meeting is to be called. Within 60 days after receipt of such a call from Limited
Partners or within such greater time as may be reasonably necessary for the Partnership to comply
with any statutes, rules, regulations, listing agreements or similar requirements governing the
holding of a meeting or the solicitation of proxies for use at such a meeting, the General Partner
shall send a notice of the meeting to the Limited Partners either directly or indirectly through
the Transfer Agent. A meeting shall be held at a time and place determined by the General Partner
on a date not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days after the time notice of the meeting is given
as provided in Section 16.1. Limited Partners shall not vote on matters that would cause the
Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and
affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability under the
Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which the Partnership is qualified to do business.
Section 13.5 Notice of a Meeting.
Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be given to the Record Holders of
the class or classes of Units for which a meeting is proposed in writing by mail or other means of
written communication in accordance with Section 16.1. The notice shall be deemed to have been
given at the time when deposited in the mail or sent by other means of written communication.
Section 13.6 Record Date.
For purposes of determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting
of the Limited Partners or to give approvals without a meeting as provided in Section 13.11 the
General Partner may set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days before
(a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline
or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to
trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities
Exchange shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by
which Limited Partners are requested in writing by the General Partner to give such approvals. If
the General Partner does not set a Record Date, then (a) the Record Date for determining the
Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners shall be the
close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, and (b) the Record
Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to give approvals without a meeting shall be the
date the first written approval is deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner in
accordance with Section 13.11.
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Section 13.7 Adjournment.
When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the
adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are
announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be for
more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Partnership may transact any business which might
have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a
new Record Date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be
given in accordance with this Article XIII.
Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes.
The transactions of any meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and whenever
held, shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice,
if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting
shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner attends the
meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction
of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened; and except that attendance
at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove the consideration of matters required to be
included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if the disapproval is expressly made at
the meeting.
Section 13.9 Quorum and Voting.
The holders of a majority of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting
has been called (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner) represented in
person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Limited Partners of such class or
classes unless any such action by the Limited Partners requires approval by holders of a greater
percentage of such Units, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. At any meeting
of the Limited Partners duly called and held in accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is
present, the act of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent a
majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote and be present in person or by proxy at such
meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners, unless a greater or
different percentage is required with respect to such action under the provisions of this
Agreement, in which case the act of the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the
aggregate represent at least such greater or different percentage shall be required. The Limited
Partners present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to
transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Limited Partners to
leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by the required
percentage of Outstanding Units specified in this Agreement (including Outstanding Units deemed
owned by the General Partner). In the absence of a quorum any meeting of Limited Partners may be
adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the
Outstanding Units entitled to vote at such meeting (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the
General Partner) represented either in person or by proxy, but no other business may be transacted,
except as provided in Section 13.7.
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Section 13.10 Conduct of a Meeting.
The General Partner shall have full power and authority concerning the manner of conducting
any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including the
determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a quorum, the satisfaction of the
requirements of Section 13.4, the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the
determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the
meeting or voting. The General Partner shall designate a Person to serve as chairman of any meeting
and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept
with the records of the Partnership maintained by the General Partner. The General Partner may make
such other regulations consistent with applicable law and this Agreement as it may deem advisable
concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in
writing, including regulations in regard to the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties
of inspectors of votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence
of the right to vote, and the revocation of approvals in writing.
Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting.
If authorized by the General Partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited
Partners may be taken without a meeting, without a vote and without prior notice, if an approval in
writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the
minimum percentage of the Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner)
that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited
Partners were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation,
guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or
admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National
Securities Exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be
given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The General Partner may specify
that any written ballot, if any, submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action
without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not
less than 20 days, specified by the General Partner. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does
not vote all of the Units held by the Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have
failed to receive a ballot for the Units that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any
action by the Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the General
Partner, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) they are
deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner, (b) approvals sufficient to take the
action proposed are dated as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date sufficient approvals
are deposited with the Partnership and (c) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the General
Partner to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken with
respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking
part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to
jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the
state statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the
Partners. Nothing contained in this Section 13.11 shall be deemed to require the General Partner
to solicit all Limited Partners in connection with a matter approved by the holders of the
percentage of Units acting by written consent without a meeting.
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Section 13.12 Right to Vote and Related Matters.
(a) Only those Record Holders of the Outstanding Units on the Record Date set pursuant to
Section 13.6 (and also subject to the limitations contained in the definition of “Outstanding”)
shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Limited Partners or to act with
respect to matters as to which the holders of the Outstanding Units have the right to vote or to
act. All references in this Agreement to votes of, or other acts that may be taken by, the
Outstanding Units shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of
such Outstanding Units.
(b) With respect to Units that are held for a Person’s account by another Person (such as a
broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing),
in whose name such Units are registered, such other Person shall, in exercising the voting rights
in respect of such Units on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides
otherwise, vote such Units in favor of, and at the direction of, the Person who is the beneficial
owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume it is so acting without further inquiry. The
provisions of this Section 13.12(b) (as well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are subject
to the provisions of Section 4.3.
ARTICLE XIV
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION
Section 14.1 Authority.
The Partnership may merge or consolidate with or into one or more corporations, limited
liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law
trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including
a limited liability partnership)) or convert into any such entity, whether such entity is formed
under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States of America,
pursuant to a written plan of merger or consolidation (“Merger Agreement”) or a written plan of
conversion (“Plan of Conversion”), as the case may be, in accordance with this Article XIV.
Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.
(a) Merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV
requires the prior consent of the General Partner, provided, however, that, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger,
consolidation or conversion of the Partnership and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty
or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner and, in declining to consent to a
merger, consolidation or conversion, shall not be required to act pursuant to any other standard
imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any
other law, rule or regulation or at equity.
(b) If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the merger or consolidation, the
General Partner shall approve the Merger Agreement, which shall set forth:
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(i) name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of each of the business entities
proposing to merge or consolidate;
(ii) the name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of the business entity that
is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation (the “Surviving Business Entity”);
(iii) the terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;
(iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each
constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or
obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if any general or limited partner
interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged
or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or general or limited partner interests,
rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property or
interests, rights, securities or obligations of any general or limited partnership,
corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity
(other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such general or limited
partner interests, securities or rights are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion
of their interests, securities or rights, and (ii) in the case of securities represented by
certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or general or
limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business
Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company,
unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or
evidences thereof, are to be delivered;
(v) a statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new
constituent documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust,
declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership, operating agreement
or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be
effected by such merger or consolidation;
(vi) the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the
certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4 or a later date specified in or determinable
in accordance with the Merger Agreement (provided, that if the effective time of the merger
is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate of merger, the effective time
shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such
certificate of merger and stated therein); and
(vii) such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation that
the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
(c) If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the conversion, the General Partner
shall approve the Plan of Conversion, which shall set forth:
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(i) the name of the converting entity and the converted entity;
(ii) a statement that the Partnership is continuing its existence in the organizational
form of the converted entity;
(iii) a statement as to the type of entity that the converted entity is to be and the
state or country under the laws of which the converted entity is to be incorporated, formed
or organized;
(iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each
constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or
obligations of the converted entity or another entity, or for the cancellation of such
equity securities;
(v) in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership of the
Partnership; and
(vi) in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership, articles of
incorporation, or other organizational documents of the converted entity;
(vii) the effective time of the conversion, which may be the date of the filing of the
articles of conversion or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the
Plan of Conversion (provided, that if the effective time of the conversion is to be later
than the date of the filing of such articles of conversion, the effective time shall be
fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such articles of
conversion and stated therein); and
(viii) such other provisions with respect to the proposed conversion that the General
Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners.
(a) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d), the General Partner, upon its approval of the
Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall direct that the Merger
Agreement or the Plan of Conversion and the merger, consolidation or conversion contemplated
thereby, as applicable, be submitted to a vote of Limited Partners, whether at a special meeting or
by written consent, in either case in accordance with the requirements of Article XIII. A copy or a
summary of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be included in
or enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent.
(b) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d), the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the
case may be, shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a
Unit Majority.
(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d), after such approval by vote or consent of the
Limited Partners, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger or certificate
of conversion pursuant to Section 14.4, the merger, consolidation or conversion may be
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abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement or Plan
of Conversion, as the case may be.
(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the
General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or any
Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member
into, or convey all of the Partnership’s assets to, another limited liability entity that shall be
newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such conversion,
merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group Member if (i)
the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the conversion, merger or conveyance,
as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or
cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be
taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such),
(ii) the sole purpose of such conversion, merger, or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the
legal form of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the governing
instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners and the General Partner with the same
rights and obligations as are herein contained.
(e) Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this
Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or
consolidate the Partnership with or into another entity if (A) the General Partner has received an
Opinion of Counsel that the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the
loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership to be treated as an
association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax
purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (B) the merger or consolidation would not
result in an amendment to this Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant
to Section 13.1, (C) the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or
consolidation, (D) each Unit outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or
consolidation is to be an identical Unit of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger
or consolidation, and (E) the number of Partnership Securities to be issued by the Partnership in
such merger or consolidation does not exceed 20% of the Partnership Securities Outstanding
immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.
(f) Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation
approved in accordance with this Article XIV may (a) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (b)
effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for the Partnership if it is the Surviving
Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 14.3 shall be
effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.
Section 14.4 Certificate of Merger.
Upon the required approval by the General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement or
the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, a certificate of merger or certificate of conversion,
as applicable, shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in
conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act.
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Section 14.5 Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.
(a) At the effective time of the certificate of merger:
(i) all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of the business entities that has
merged or consolidated, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to any
of those business entities and all other things and causes of action belonging to each of
those business entities, shall be vested in the Surviving Business Entity and after the
merger or consolidation shall be the property of the Surviving Business Entity to the extent
they were of each constituent business entity;
(ii) the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in any of those
constituent business entities shall not revert and is not in any way impaired because of the
merger or consolidation;
(iii) all rights of creditors and all liens on or security interests in property of any
of those constituent business entities shall be preserved unimpaired; and
(iv) all debts, liabilities and duties of those constituent business entities shall
attach to the Surviving Business Entity and may be enforced against it to the same extent as
if the debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.
(b) At the effective time of the certificate of conversion, for all purposes of the laws of
the State of Delaware:
(i) the Partnership shall continue to exist, without interruption, but in the
organizational form of the converted entity rather than in its prior organizational form;
(ii) all rights, title, and interests to all real estate and other property owned by
the Partnership shall remain vested in the converted entity in its new organizational form
without reversion or impairment, without further act or deed, and without any transfer or
assignment having occurred, but subject to any existing liens or other encumbrances thereon;
(iii) all liabilities and obligations of the Partnership shall continue to be
liabilities and obligations of the converted entity in its new organizational form without
impairment or diminution by reason of the conversion;
(iv) all rights of creditors or other parties with respect to or against the prior
interest holders or other owners of the Partnership in their capacities as such in existence
as of the effective time of the conversion will continue in existence as to those
liabilities and obligations and are enforceable against the converted entity by such
creditors and obligees to the same extent as if the liabilities and obligations had
originally been incurred or contracted by the converted entity;
(v) the Partnership Interests that are to be converted into partnership interests, shares, evidences of ownership, or other rights or securities in the converted entity or
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cash as provided in the plan of conversion shall be so converted, and Partners shall be
entitled only to the rights provided in the Plan of Conversion.
ARTICLE XV
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
Section 15.1 Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time the General Partner
and its Affiliates hold more than 80% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any class then
Outstanding, the General Partner shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer
in whole or in part to the Partnership or any Affiliate of the General Partner, exercisable at its
option, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class
then Outstanding held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, at the greater
of (x) the Current Market Price as of the date three days prior to the date that the notice
described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed and (y) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any
of its Affiliates for any such Limited Partner Interest of such class purchased during the 90-day
period preceding the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed. As used in this
Agreement, (i) “Current Market Price” as of any date of any class of Limited Partner Interests
means the average of the daily Closing Prices (as hereinafter defined) per Limited Partner Interest
of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days (as hereinafter defined) immediately prior to
such date; (ii) “Closing Price” for any day means the last sale price on such day, regular way, or
in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on
such day, regular way, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect to securities listed on the principal National Securities Exchange (other than the Nasdaq
Stock Market) on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading or, if such
Limited Partner Interests of such class are not listed or admitted to trading on any National
Securities Exchange (other than the Nasdaq Stock Market), the last quoted price on such day or, if
not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter
market, as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market or such other system then in use, or, if on any such
day such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not quoted by any such organization, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker
making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class selected by the General Partner, or
if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such
class, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the General
Partner; and (iii) “Trading Day” means a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on
which such Limited Partner Interests of any class are listed or admitted for trading is open for
the transaction of business or, if Limited Partner Interests of a class are not listed or admitted
for trading on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York
City generally are open.
(b) If the General Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership elects to
exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a), the
General Partner shall deliver to the Transfer Agent notice of such election to purchase (the
“Notice of Election to Purchase”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent to mail a copy of such Notice
of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Limited Partner Interests of
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such class (as of a Record Date selected by the General Partner) at least 10, but not more
than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date. Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be
published for a period of at least three consecutive days in at least two daily newspapers of
general circulation printed in the English language and published in the Borough of Manhattan, New
York. The Notice of Election to Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price (determined
in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) at which Limited Partner Interests will be purchased and state
that the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, elects to purchase
such Limited Partner Interests, upon surrender of Certificates representing such Limited Partner
Interests in exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent as the Transfer
Agent may specify, or as may be required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited
Partner Interests are listed. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of
Limited Partner Interests at his address as reflected in the records of the Transfer Agent shall be
conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such notice. On
or prior to the Purchase Date, the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case
may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate
purchase price of all of such Limited Partner Interests to be purchased in accordance with this
Section 15.1. If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at
least 10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the Purchase Date the deposit
described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of the holders of Limited Partner
Interests subject to purchase as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase Date,
notwithstanding that any Certificate shall not have been surrendered for purchase, all rights of
the holders of such Limited Partner Interests (including any rights pursuant to Article III,
Article IV, Article V, Article VI, and Article XII) shall thereupon cease, except the right to
receive the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) for Limited Partner
Interests therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent of the Certificates
representing such Limited Partner Interests, and such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon be
deemed to be transferred to the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may
be, on the record books of the Transfer Agent and the Partnership, and the General Partner or any
Affiliate of the General Partner, or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the
owner of all such Limited Partner Interests from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all
rights as the owner of such Limited Partner Interests (including all rights as owner of such
Limited Partner Interests pursuant to Article III, Article IV, Article V, Article VI and Article
XII).
(c) At any time from and after the Purchase Date, a holder of an Outstanding Limited Partner
Interest subject to purchase as provided in this Section 15.1 may surrender his Certificate
evidencing such Limited Partner Interest to the Transfer Agent in exchange for payment of the
amount described in Section 15.1(a), therefor, without interest thereon.
ARTICLE XVI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 16.1 Addresses and Notices; Written Communications.
(a) Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given
or made to a Partner under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or
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made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means
of written communication to the Partner at the address described below. Any notice, payment or
report to be given or made to a Partner hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given
or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed
conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such notice, payment or report to the
Record Holder of such Partnership Securities at his address as shown on the records of the Transfer
Agent or as otherwise shown on the records of the Partnership, regardless of any claim of any
Person who may have an interest in such Partnership Securities by reason of any assignment or
otherwise. An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 16.1 executed by the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the
mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment
or report. If any notice, payment or report addressed to a Record Holder at the address of such
Record Holder appearing on the books and records of the Transfer Agent or the Partnership is
returned by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal
Service is unable to deliver it, such notice, payment or report and any subsequent notices,
payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until
such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of
a change in his address) if they are available for the Partner at the principal office of the
Partnership for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, payment
or report to the other Partners. Any notice to the Partnership shall be deemed given if received by
the General Partner at the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3.
The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from
a Partner or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.
(b) The terms “in writing”, “written communications,” “written notice” and words of similar
import shall be deemed satisfied under this Agreement by use of e-mail and other forms of
electronic communication.
Section 16.2 Further Action.
The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or
refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this
Agreement.
Section 16.3 Binding Effect.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.
Section 16.4 Integration.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the
subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.
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Section 16.5 Creditors.
None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable
by, any creditor of the Partnership.
Section 16.6 Waiver.
No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement
or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof
shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.
Section 16.7 Third-Party Beneficiaries.
Each Partner agrees that any Indemnitee shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies
hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement
affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Indemnitee.
Section 16.8 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an
agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not
signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this
Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto or, in the case of a Person acquiring a
Limited Partner Interest, pursuant to Section 10.1(a) without execution hereto.
Section 16.9 Applicable Law.
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of
Delaware.
Section 16.10 Invalidity of Provisions.
If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein
shall not be affected thereby.
Section 16.11 Consent of Partners.
Each Partner hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this Agreement it is
specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or consent of less than all of the
Partners, such action may be so taken upon the concurrence of less than all of the Partners and
each Partner shall be bound by the results of such action.
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Section 16.12 Facsimile Signatures.
The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of the transfer agent and
registrar of the Partnership on certificates representing Common Units is expressly permitted by
this Agreement.
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first
written above.
GENERAL PARTNER: | ||||||
QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES GP LLC | ||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxx | |||||
Title: | Senior Vice President – Chief Financial Officer |
|||||
ORGANIZATIONAL LIMITED PARTNER: | ||||||
QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES HOLDINGS LLC | ||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxx | |||||
Title: | Senior Vice President – Chief Financial Officer |
Signature Page – First Amended and Restated Agreement
of Limited Partnership of Quicksilver Gas Services LP
of Limited Partnership of Quicksilver Gas Services LP
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LIMITED PARTNERS: | ||||||
All Limited Partners now and hereafter admitted as Limited Partners of the Partnership, pursuant to powers of attorney now and hereafter executed in favor of, and granted and delivered to the General Partner or without execution hereof pursuant to Section 10.1(a) hereof. | ||||||
QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES HOLDINGS LLC | ||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxx | |||||
Title: | Senior Vice President – Chief Financial Officer |
Signature Page – First Amended and Restated Agreement
of Limited Partnership of Quicksilver Gas Services LP
of Limited Partnership of Quicksilver Gas Services LP
106
EXHIBIT A
to the First Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Quicksilver Gas Services LP
to the First Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Quicksilver Gas Services LP
Certificate Evidencing Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
Quicksilver Gas Services LP
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
Quicksilver Gas Services LP
No. __________
__________ Common Units
In accordance with Section 4.1 of the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Quicksilver Gas Services LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time
(the “Partnership Agreement”), Quicksilver Gas Services LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the
“Partnership”), hereby certifies that ___ (the “Holder”) is the registered
owner of ___ Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the
“Common Units”) transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized
attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. The rights, preferences and
limitations of the Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Common Units
represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of,
the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be
furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at, the principal office
of the Partnership located at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000. Capitalized
terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP THAT
THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER
WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL
AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF
QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE QUICKSILVER GAS
SERVICES LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN
ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). QUICKSILVER
GAS SERVICES GP LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL
RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH
RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP BECOMING
TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX
PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS
INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED
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INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS
LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.
The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and
agreed to become, a Limited Partner and to have agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have
executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii) represented and warranted that the Holder has all right,
power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership
Agreement, (iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement and (iv)
made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.
This Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose unless it has been countersigned and
registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar. This Certificate shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
Dated: | Quicksilver Gas Services LP | |||||||
By: | Quicksilver Gas Services GP LLC | |||||||
Countersigned and Registered by: | ||||||||
Mellon Investor Services LLC, | By: | |||||||
as Transfer Agent and Registrar | Name: | |||||||
By:
|
By: | |||||||
Authorized Signature | Secretary |
[Reverse of Certificate]
ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Certificate,
shall be construed as follows according to applicable laws or regulations:
TEN COM — as tenants in common
|
UNIF GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT | |
TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties
|
Custodian | |
(Cust) (Minor) | ||
JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of
|
under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD | |
survivorship and not as
|
Minors Act (State) | |
tenants in common |
Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.
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ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS OF
QUICKSILVER GAS SERVICES LP
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ___hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers unto
(Please print or typewrite name and
address of assignee)
|
(Please insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee) |
___ Common Units representing limited partner interests evidenced by this Certificate,
subject to the Partnership Agreement, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
___ as its attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution to transfer the same on the
books of Quicksilver Gas Services LP.
Date:
|
NOTE: The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular. without alteration, enlargement or change. | |
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE
|
(Signature) | |
GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS |
(Signature) | |
AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH
MEMBERSHIP IN AN
APPROVED SIGNATURE
GUARANTEE MEDALLION
PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO
S.E.C. RULE 17d-15 |
||
No transfer of the Common Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the
Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Common Units to be transferred is surrendered
for registration or transfer.
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