AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P.
Exhibit 3.1
FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I | ||||
DEFINITIONS | ||||
Section 1.1 Definitions |
1 | |||
Section 1.2 Construction |
24 | |||
ARTICLE II | ||||
ORGANIZATION | ||||
Section 2.1 Formation |
24 | |||
Section 2.2 Name |
25 | |||
Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices |
25 | |||
Section 2.4 Purpose and Business |
25 | |||
Section 2.5 Powers |
25 | |||
Section 2.6 Term |
26 | |||
Section 2.7 Title to Partnership Assets |
26 | |||
ARTICLE III | ||||
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS | ||||
Section 3.1 Limitation of Liability |
26 | |||
Section 3.2 Management of Business |
26 | |||
Section 3.3 Outside Activities of the Limited Partners |
27 | |||
Section 3.4 Rights of Limited Partners |
27 | |||
ARTICLE IV | ||||
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS | ||||
Section 4.1 Certificates |
28 | |||
Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates |
28 | |||
Section 4.3 Record Holders |
29 | |||
Section 4.4 Transfer Generally |
29 | |||
Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests |
30 | |||
Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest |
31 | |||
Section 4.7 Restrictions on Transfers |
32 |
i
ARTICLE V | ||||
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS | ||||
Section 5.1 Organizational Contributions |
33 | |||
Section 5.2 Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates |
33 | |||
Section 5.3 Contributions by Initial Limited Partners |
34 | |||
Section 5.4 Interest and Withdrawal |
34 | |||
Section 5.5 Capital Accounts |
34 | |||
Section 5.6 Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests |
37 | |||
Section 5.7 Conversion of Subordinated Units |
38 | |||
Section 5.8 Limited Preemptive Right |
38 | |||
Section 5.9 Splits and Combinations |
39 | |||
Section 5.10 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests |
39 | |||
Section 5.11 Issuance of Common Units in Connection with Reset of Incentive Distribution Rights |
39 | |||
ARTICLE VI | ||||
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS | ||||
Section 6.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes |
41 | |||
Section 6.2 Allocations for Tax Purposes |
51 | |||
Section 6.3 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders |
52 | |||
Section 6.4 Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus |
53 | |||
Section 6.5 Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus |
55 | |||
Section 6.6 Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels
|
55 | |||
Section 6.7 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units |
56 | |||
Section 6.8 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights |
56 | |||
Section 6.9 Entity-Level Taxation |
56 | |||
ARTICLE VII | ||||
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS | ||||
Section 7.1 Management |
57 | |||
Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership |
59 | |||
Section 7.3 Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority |
60 | |||
Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner |
60 | |||
Section 7.5 Outside Activities |
61 | |||
Section 7.6 Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members |
62 | |||
Section 7.7 Indemnification |
63 | |||
Section 7.8 Liability of Indemnitees |
65 |
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Section 7.9 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties |
65 | |||
Section 7.10 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner |
67 | |||
Section 7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests |
68 | |||
Section 7.12 Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates |
68 | |||
Section 7.13 Reliance by Third Parties |
70 | |||
ARTICLE VIII | ||||
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS | ||||
Section 8.1 Records and Accounting |
71 | |||
Section 8.2 Fiscal Year |
71 | |||
Section 8.3 Reports |
71 | |||
ARTICLE IX | ||||
TAX MATTERS | ||||
Section 9.1 Tax Returns and Information |
72 | |||
Section 9.2 Tax Elections |
72 | |||
Section 9.3 Tax Controversies |
72 | |||
Section 9.4 Withholding; Tax Payments |
73 | |||
ARTICLE X | ||||
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS | ||||
Section 10.1 Admission of Limited Partners |
73 | |||
Section 10.2 Admission of Substituted Limited Partners |
74 | |||
Section 10.3 Admission of Successor General Partner |
75 | |||
Section 10.4 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership |
75 | |||
ARTICLE XI | ||||
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS | ||||
Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner |
75 | |||
Section 11.2 Removal of the General Partner |
77 | |||
Section 11.3 Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner |
77 | |||
Section 11.4 Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages |
79 | |||
Section 11.5 Withdrawal of Limited Partners |
79 |
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ARTICLE XII | ||||
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION | ||||
Section 12.1 Dissolution |
79 | |||
Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution |
80 | |||
Section 12.3 Liquidator |
80 | |||
Section 12.4 Liquidation |
81 | |||
Section 12.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership |
82 | |||
Section 12.6 Return of Contributions |
82 | |||
Section 12.7 Waiver of Partition |
82 | |||
Section 12.8 Capital Account Restoration |
82 | |||
ARTICLE XIII | ||||
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE | ||||
Section 13.1 Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner |
82 | |||
Section 13.2 Amendment Procedures |
84 | |||
Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements |
84 | |||
Section 13.4 Special Meetings |
85 | |||
Section 13.5 Notice of a Meeting |
85 | |||
Section 13.6 Record Date |
86 | |||
Section 13.7 Adjournment |
86 | |||
Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes |
86 | |||
Section 13.9 Quorum and Voting |
86 | |||
Section 13.10 Conduct of a Meeting |
87 | |||
Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting |
87 | |||
Section 13.12 Right to Vote and Related Matters |
88 | |||
Section 13.13 Voting of Incentive Distribution Rights |
88 | |||
ARTICLE XIV | ||||
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION | ||||
Section 14.1 Authority |
89 | |||
Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion |
89 | |||
Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners |
91 | |||
Section 14.4 Certificate of Merger |
92 | |||
Section 14.5 Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion |
92 | |||
ARTICLE XV | ||||
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS | ||||
Section 15.1 Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests |
93 |
iv
ARTICLE XVI | ||||
GENERAL PROVISIONS | ||||
Section 16.1 Addresses and Notices; Written Communications |
95 | |||
Section 16.2 Further Action |
96 | |||
Section 16.3 Binding Effect |
96 | |||
Section 16.4 Integration |
96 | |||
Section 16.5 Creditors |
96 | |||
Section 16.6 Waiver |
96 | |||
Section 16.7 Third-Party Beneficiaries |
96 | |||
Section 16.8 Counterparts |
96 | |||
Section 16.9 Applicable Law; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction |
96 | |||
Section 16.10 Invalidity of Provisions |
97 | |||
Section 16.11 Consent of Partners |
97 | |||
Section 16.12 Facsimile Signatures |
97 | |||
Exhibit A Certificate Evidencing Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests in Compressco Partners, L.P. |
v
FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT
OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P.
OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P.
THIS FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), dated as of June 20, 2011, is entered into by
Compressco Partners GP Inc., a Delaware corporation, in its capacity as the general partner of the
Partnership, together with any other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership or parties
hereto as provided herein.
WHEREAS, on October 31, 2008, the Partnership was formed as a Delaware limited partnership
pursuant to and in accordance with the Delaware Act, and, on November 25, 2008, the General Partner
and the Organizational Limited Partner entered into an Agreement of Limited Partnership of the
Partnership (the “Original Partnership Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the General Partner desires to amend and restate the Original Partnership Agreement
in its entirety as provided herein, in accordance with Article IX of the Original Partnership
Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged,
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 or expanding,
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.
1
(b) If Carrying Value that constitutes Additional Book Basis is reduced as a result of a
Book-Down Event and the Carrying Value of other property is increased as a result of such Book-Down
Event, an allocable portion of any such increase in Carrying Value shall be treated as Additional
Book Basis; provided, that the amount treated as Additional Book Basis pursuant hereto as a result
of such Book-Down Event shall not exceed the amount by which the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive
Adjustments after such Book-Down Event exceeds the remaining Additional Book Basis attributable to
all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property after such Book-Down Event (determined without regard to
the application of this clause (b) to such Book-Down Event).
“Additional Book Basis Derivative Items” means any Book Basis Derivative Items that are
computed with reference to Additional Book Basis. To the extent that the Additional Book Basis
attributable to all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property as of the beginning of any taxable
period exceeds the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the beginning of such period
(the “Excess Additional Book Basis”), the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for such period
shall be reduced by the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of Additional Book Basis
Derivative Items determined without regard to this sentence as the Excess Additional Book Basis
bears to the Additional Book Basis as of the beginning of such period. With respect to a Disposed
of Adjusted Property, the Additional Book Basis Derivative items shall be the amount of Additional
Book Basis taken into account in computing gain or loss from the disposition of such Disposed of
Adjusted Property.
“Adjusted Capital Account” means the Capital Account maintained for each Partner as of the end
of each taxable period 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
taxable period, are reasonably expected to be allocated to such Partner in subsequent taxable
periods 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 taxable
period, are reasonably expected to be made to such Partner in subsequent taxable periods 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 taxable period 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 any Partnership Interest shall be the
amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest were the only
interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such 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) the amount of any net increase in Working
Capital Borrowings (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of any net increase in Working
Capital Borrowings in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) with respect to that
period; and (ii) the amount of any net decrease in cash reserves (or the Partnership’s
2
proportionate share of any net decrease in cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not
wholly owned) for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period not relating to an Operating
Expenditure made with respect to such period; and (c) plus (i) the amount of any net decrease in
Working Capital Borrowings (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of any net decrease in Working
Capital Borrowings in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) with respect to that
period; (ii) the amount of any net increase in cash reserves (or the Partnership’s proportionate
share of any net increase in cash reserves in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned)
for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period required by any debt instrument for the
repayment of principal, interest or premium; and (iii) any net decrease made in subsequent periods
in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures initially established with respect to such period to
the extent such decrease results in a reduction in Adjusted Operating Surplus in subsequent periods
pursuant to clause (b)(ii) above. Adjusted Operating Surplus does not include that portion of
Operating Surplus included in clause (a)(i) of the definition of Operating Surplus.
“Adjusted Property” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant
to Section 5.5(d)(i) or 5.5(d)(ii).
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the
Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect,
of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether
through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units” is defined in Section 5.11(a).
“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 at the
time of contribution and in the case of an Adjusted Property, the fair market value of such
Adjusted Property on the date of the revaluation event as described in Section 5.5(d), in both
cases as determined by the General Partner. In making such determination, the General Partner
shall use such method as it determines to be appropriate.
“Agreement” means this First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Compressco Partners, L.P., as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Assignee” means a Person to whom one or more Limited Partner Interests have been transferred
in a manner permitted under this Agreement, but who has not been admitted as a Substituted Limited
Partner.
“Associate” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation
or organization of which such Person is a director, officer, manager, general partner
3
or managing member 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 (including amounts available for working
capital purposes under a credit facility, commercial paper facility or other similar financing
arrangement) 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 (or the Partnership’s proportionate share of cash and
cash equivalents in the case of Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned) 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 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 General Partner, its board of directors or
board of 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.
4
“Book Basis Derivative Items” means any item of income, deduction, gain or 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 Oklahoma shall
not be regarded as a Business Day.
“Capital Account” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5.
The “Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of any Partnership Interest shall be the amount that
such Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest were the only interest in the
Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such 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 or that is contributed or deemed contributed
to the Partnership on behalf of a Partner (including, in the case of an underwritten offering of
Units, the amount of any underwriting discounts or commissions).
“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 or (c) capital contribution by a Group Member to a Person
that is not a Subsidiary in which a Group Member has an equity interest, or after such capital
contribution will have an equity interest, to fund such Group Member’s pro rata share of the cost
of the addition or improvement to or the acquisition of existing, or the construction of new or the
improvement or replacement of existing, capital assets by such Person, in each case if such
addition, improvement, replacement, acquisition or construction is made to increase for a period
longer than the short-term the operating capacity 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 of the
Partnership Group or such Person, as the case may be, existing immediately prior to such addition,
improvement, replacement, acquisition or construction. For purposes of this definition, the
short-term generally refers to a period not exceeding 12 months.
5
“Capital Surplus” means Available Cash distributed by the Partnership in excess of Operating
Surplus, as described in Section 6.3(a).
“Carrying Value” means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, the
Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, amortization and
cost recovery deductions charged to the Partners’ and Assignees’ Capital Accounts in respect of
such 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; provided that the
Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Sections
5.5(d)(i) and 5.5(d)(ii) and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying
Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the
General Partner.
“Cause” means a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment
finding the General Partner liable for actual fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as a
general partner of the Partnership.
“Certificate” means (a) a certificate (i) substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this
Agreement, (ii) issued in global form in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
Depositary or (iii) in such other form as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the
Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more Common Units or (b) a certificate, in such form as
may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or
more other Partnership Interests.
“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.
“claim” (as used in Section 7.12(c)) is defined in Section 7.12(c).
“Closing” means the time at which Common Units are sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters
pursuant to the provisions of the Underwriting 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” means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the date of
determination, 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, in either case
as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed or admitted to trading on the principal National Securities Exchange on which the respective
Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Limited Partner Interests
are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, 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 primary reporting system then in use in relation to
such Limited Partner Interests of such class, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests
of such class are not quoted by any such organization, the average of
6
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.
“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” is defined in Section 11.3(a).
“Commences Commercial Service” means the date a Capital Improvement is first put into
commercial service following completion of construction, acquisition, development and testing, as
applicable.
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Unit” means a Partnership Interest 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 refer to or
include any Subordinated Unit prior to its conversion into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms
hereof or any Incentive Distribution Right.
“Common Unit Arrearage” means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, with respect
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 an officer or employee of the General
Partner or an officer, director or employee of any Person controlling the General Partner, (b) is
not a holder of any ownership interest in the General Partner or its Affiliates or the Partnership
Group, other than Common Units and other awards that are granted to such director under the LTIP
and (c) 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 any class of Partnership
Interests is 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” that certain Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement, dated
as of the Closing Date, among Compressco, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Compressco Field Services,
Inc., an Oklahoma corporation, Compressco Canada, Inc., an
7
Alberta corporation, Compressco Leasing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Compressco
Mexico Investment I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Compressco Mexico Investment II,
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Compressco de Mexico, S. de X.X. de C.V., a Mexican
limited liability corporation of variable capital, Compressco Partners GP Inc., a Delaware
corporation, Compressco Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Compressco Partners
Operating, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Compressco International, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company, Compressco Field Services International, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company, Compressco de Argentina S.R.L., an Argentine entity, Compressco Netherlands
B.V., a Netherlands private limited liability company, Compressco Partners Holding, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company, Compressco Coöperatief U.A., a Netherlands coöperatief, Compressco
Partners Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and TETRA International Incorporated, a Delaware
corporation, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or
referenced thereunder, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“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 of the Common Unit Arrearages
with respect to an Initial Common Unit for each of the Quarters within the Subordination Period
ending on or before the last day of such Quarter over (b) the sum of any distributions theretofore
made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(ii) and the second sentence of Section 6.5 with respect to an
Initial Common Unit (including any distributions to be made in respect of the last of such
Quarters).
“Curative Allocation” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, deduction, loss or
credit pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi).
“Current Market Price” means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the
date of determination, the average of the daily Closing Prices per Limited Partner Interest of such
class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date.
“Deferred Issuance and Distribution” means both (a) the issuance by the Partnership of a
number of additional Common Units that is equal to the excess, if any, of (i) 375,000 Common Units
minus (ii) the aggregate number, if any, of Common Units actually purchased by and issued to the
Underwriters pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option on the Option Closing Date(s), and (b) the
payment of consideration for assets contributed in an amount equal to the total amount of cash, if
any, contributed by the Underwriters to the Partnership on or in connection with any Option Closing
Date with respect to Common Units issued by the Partnership upon the applicable exercise of the
Over-Allotment Option in accordance with Section 5.3(b), if any.
“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 11.2.
8
“Depositary” means, with respect to any Units issued in global form, The Depository Trust
Company and its successors and permitted assigns.
“Disposed of Adjusted Property” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.1(d)(xii)(B).
“Economic Risk of Loss” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).
“Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount” is defined in Section 6.9.
“Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures” means an estimate made in good faith by the Board
of Directors (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 of the Partnership Group (including the Partnership’s proportionate share of the
average quarterly Maintenance Capital Expenditures of its Subsidiaries that are not wholly owned)
existing at the time the estimate is made. The Board of Directors (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” is defined in Section 11.1(a).
“Excess Distribution” is defined in Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A).
“Excess Distribution Unit” is defined in Section 6.1(d)(iii)(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 to finance the construction of a Capital Improvement and paid in respect of the period
beginning on the date that a Group Member enters into a binding obligation to commence construction
of a Capital Improvement and ending on the earlier to occur of the date that such Capital
Improvement Commences Commercial Service and the date that such Capital Improvement is abandoned or
disposed of. Debt incurred to fund such construction period interest payments or to fund
distributions on equity issued (including incremental Incentive Distributions related thereto) to
fund the construction of a Capital Improvement as described in clause (a)(iv) of the definition of
Operating Surplus shall also be deemed to be debt incurred 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 shall determine the allocation between the amounts
paid for each.
“Final Subordinated Units” is defined in Section 6.1(d)(x)(A).
9
“First Liquidation Target Amount” is defined in Section 6.1(c)(i)(D).
“First Target Distribution” means $0.445625 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to periods
of less than a full fiscal quarter, it means the product of such amount multiplied by a fraction of
which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and the denominator is the total number
of days in such quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.
“Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis” means, when calculating the number of Outstanding Units
for any period, a basis that includes (1) the weighted average number of Outstanding Units plus (2)
all Partnership Interests and options, rights, warrants, phantom units and appreciation rights
relating to an equity interest in the Partnership (a) that are convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Units or for which Units are issuable, each case 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 Weighted Average 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 Interests, 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 Compressco Partners GP Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its
successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Partnership as general partner of the
Partnership, in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership (except as the context otherwise
requires).
“General Partner Interest” means the ownership interest of the General Partner in the
Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest
held by it). For the avoidance of doubt, the General Partner Interest does not include any Common
Units, Subordinated Units or Incentive Distribution Rights held by the General Partner 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.
“GP Contribution” has the meaning assigned in the Contribution Agreement.
10
“Gross Liability Value” means, with respect to any Liability of the Partnership described in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-7(b)(3)(i), the amount of cash that a willing assignor would pay
to a willing assignee to assume such Liability in an arm’s-length transaction.
“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, is defined in Section 7.12(a).
“IDR Reset Common Unit” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(a).
“IDR Reset Election” is defined in Section 5.11(a).
“Incentive Distribution Right” means a non-voting Limited Partner Interest that will confer
upon the holder thereof only the rights and obligations specifically provided in this Agreement
with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights (and no other rights otherwise available to or other
obligations of a holder of a Partnership Interest). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, the holder of an Incentive Distribution Right shall not be entitled to vote such
Incentive Distribution Right on any Partnership matter except as may otherwise be required by law.
“Incentive Distributions” means any amount of cash distributed to the holders of the Incentive
Distribution Rights pursuant to Section 6.4.
“Incremental Income Taxes” is defined in Section 6.9.
“Indemnified Persons” is defined in Section 7.12(c).
“Indemnitee” means (a) any 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 manager, managing member, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee
of any Group Member, a General Partner, any Departing General Partner or
11
any of their respective Affiliates, (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request of a
General Partner, any Departing General Partner or any of their respective Affiliates as an officer,
director, manager, managing member, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another Person owing a
fiduciary duty to any Group Member; provided that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of
providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, (f) any Person
who controls a General Partner or Departing General Partner and (g) any Person the General Partner
designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement because such Person’s service, status
or relationship exposes such Person to potential claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings
relating to the Partnership Group’s business and affairs.
“Initial Common Units” means the Common Units sold in the Initial Offering.
“Initial Limited Partners” means the General Partner (with respect to the Common Units,
Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights owned by the General Partner), TII and the
Underwriters, in each case upon being admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 10.1.
“Initial Offering” means the initial offering and sale of Common Units to the public, as
described in the Registration Statement, including any Common Units issued pursuant to the exercise
of the Over-Allotment Option.
“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 or for a deferred purchase
price 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 in the Initial Offering or pursuant to the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option),
(c) sales or other voluntary or involuntary dispositions of any assets of any Group Member other
than (i) sales or other dispositions of inventory, accounts receivable and other assets in the
ordinary course of business, and (ii) sales or other dispositions of assets as part of normal
retirements or replacements and (d) capital contributions received.
“Investment Capital Expenditures” means capital expenditures other than Maintenance Capital
Expenditures and Expansion Capital Expenditures.
“Liability” means any liability or obligation of any nature, whether accrued, contingent or
otherwise.
12
“Limited Partner” means, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) 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 a limited
partner of the Partnership and (b) solely for purposes of Articles V, VI, VII, IX and XII, each
Assignee; 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 or Assignee in
the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Subordinated Units, Incentive Distribution
Rights or other Partnership Interests or a combination thereof or interest therein, and includes
any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner or Assignee is entitled as provided in this
Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner or Assignee 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.
“LTIP” means the Long-Term Incentive Plan of the General Partner, as may be amended, or any
equity compensation plan successor thereto.
“Maintenance Capital Expenditures” means cash expenditures (including expenditures for the
addition or improvement to or replacement of the capital assets owned by any Group Member or for
the acquisition of existing, or the construction or development of new, capital assets) if such
expenditures are made to maintain, including for a period longer than the short-term, the operating
capacity and/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, other than equity issued on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, in each
case, to finance the construction or development of a replacement asset and paid during the period
beginning on the date that a Group Member 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
13
Service and the date that such replacement asset is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred to pay
or equity issued, other than equity issued on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, 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 and the incremental Incentive
Distributions paid relating to newly issued equity shall be deemed to be distributions paid on
equity issued 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” is defined in Section 14.1.
“Minimum Quarterly Distribution” means $0.3875 per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to
periods of less than a full fiscal quarter, it means the product of such amount multiplied by a
fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period and the denominator is the
total number of days in such quarter), 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 (or any successor to such Section) and any other securities
exchange (whether or not registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) (or successor to such
Section) of the Securities Exchange Act) that the General Partner shall designate as a National
Securities Exchange for purposes of this Agreement.
“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 and (b) in the case of any property
distributed to a Partner or Assignee 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 Liability either assumed by such Partner or Assignee upon such distribution or to
which such property is subject at the time of distribution.
“Net Income” means, for any taxable period, 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 period over the Partnership’s items of loss and
deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or
Net Termination Loss) for such taxable period. 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 without regard to any reversal of such items
under Section 6.1(d)(xii).
“Net Loss” means, for any taxable period, 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 period 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 period. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall
be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not
14
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 without regard to any
reversal of such items under Section 6.1(d)(xii).
“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 period, the sum, if positive, of all items of
income, gain, loss or deduction (determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b)) that are (a)
recognized (i) after the Liquidation Date or (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition 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 (excluding any disposition to a member of the
Partnership Group), or (b) deemed recognized by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.5(d);
provided, however, the items included in the determination of Net Termination Gain shall not
include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).
“Net Termination Loss” means, for any taxable period, the sum, if negative, of all items of
income, gain, loss or deduction (determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b)) that are (a)
recognized (i) after the Liquidation Date or (ii) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition 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 (excluding any disposition to a member of the
Partnership Group), or (b) deemed recognized by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.5(d);
provided, however, items included in the determination of Net Termination Loss shall not include
any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).
“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 Section 6.2(b) if such
properties were disposed of in a taxable transaction in full satisfaction of such liabilities and
for no other consideration.
“Nonrecourse Deductions” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including
any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the
principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b), are attributable to a Nonrecourse Liability.
“Nonrecourse Liability” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section
1.752-1(a)(2).
“Notice of Election to Purchase” is defined in Section 15.1(b).
“Notional General Partner Units” means notional units used solely to calculate the General
Partner’s Percentage Interest. Notional General Partner Units shall not constitute “Units” for any
purpose of this Agreement. There shall initially be 304,202 Notional General Partner Units
(resulting in the General Partner’s Percentage Interest being 2% after giving effect to any
exercise of the Over-Allotment Option and the Deferred Issuance and Distribution). If the General
Partner makes additional Capital Contributions pursuant to Section 5.2(b) to maintain its
15
Percentage Interest, the number of Notional General Partner Units shall be increased proportionally
to reflect the maintenance of such Percentage Interest.
“Omnibus Agreement” means the Omnibus Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the
General Partner, the Partnership and TETRA Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“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 expenses of the General Partner and its
Affiliates, officer compensation, repayment of Working Capital Borrowings, debt service payments
and Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures, 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) relating to Interim Capital Transactions, (v) distributions
to Partners (including distributions in respect of our incentive distribution rights), or (vi)
repurchases of Partnership Interests, other than repurchases of Partnership Interests to satisfy
obligations under employee benefit plans, or reimbursements of expenses of the General Partner for
such purchases. Where capital expenditures are made in part for Maintenance Capital Expenditures
and in part for other purposes, the General Partner shall determine the allocation between the
amounts paid for each.
“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) $15 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, (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) the amount of cash distributions paid (including incremental Incentive
Distributions) on equity issued, other than equity issued on the Closing Date or the Option Closing
Date, to finance all or a portion of the construction, acquisition or improvement of a Capital
Improvement or replacement of a capital asset and paid in respect of 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
16
asset and ending on the earlier to occur of the date the Capital Improvement or replacement capital
asset Commences Commercial Service and the date that it is abandoned or disposed of (equity issued,
other than equity issued on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, to fund the construction
period interest payments on debt incurred, or construction period distributions on equity issued,
to finance the construction, acquisition or improvement of a Capital Improvement or replacement of
a capital asset shall also be deemed to be equity issued to finance the construction, acquisition
or improvement 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; (iii) all Working Capital
Borrowings not repaid within twelve months after having been incurred and (iv) any cash loss
realized on disposition of an Investment Capital Expenditure; 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. Cash receipts from an
Investment Capital Expenditure shall be treated as cash receipts only to the extent they are a
return on principal, but in no event shall a return of principal be treated as cash receipts.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the
Partnership or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the General Partner.
“Option Closing Date” means the date or dates on which any Common Units are sold by the
Partnership to the Underwriters upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.
“Original Partnership Agreement” is defined in the Recitals to this Agreement.
“Organizational Limited Partner” means Compressco Field Services, Inc., an Oklahoma
corporation, in its capacity as the organizational limited partner of the Partnership, pursuant to
the Original Partnership Agreement.
“Outstanding” means, with respect to Partnership Interests, all Partnership Interests 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 the Outstanding Partnership
Interests of any class then Outstanding, none of the Partnership Interests 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
17
similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Partnership Interests so owned shall be
considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Partnership Interests shall
not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Interests 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 Interests of any
class then Outstanding directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates (other than the
Partnership), (ii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership
Interests of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in
clause (i) provided that, at or prior to such acquisition, 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 Interests issued by the Partnership provided that, at
or prior to such acquisition, the General Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in
writing that such limitation shall not apply.
“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” is defined in the Preamble to this Agreement.
“Partnership Group” means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries treated as a single
consolidated entity.
“Partnership Interest” 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 and Incentive Distribution Rights.
“Partnership Minimum Gain” means that amount determined in accordance with the principles of
Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).
“Percentage Interest” means as of any date of determination (a) as to the General Partner,
with respect to the General Partner Interest (calculated based upon a number of Notional 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 Notional General Partner Units deemed held by the General Partner or the
number of Units held by such Unitholder, as the case may be, by (B) the
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total number of Outstanding Units and Notional General Partner Units, and (b) as to the holders of
other Partnership Interests 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.
“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.
“Plan of Conversion” is defined in Section 14.1.
“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 and Assignees or Record Holders, apportioned among all Partners and
Assignees 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 fiscal quarter of the Partnership that includes the Closing Date, the
portion of such fiscal quarter after the Closing Date.
“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 (a) with respect to Partnership Interests of any class of Partnership
Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, the Person in whose name a Partnership
Interest of such class is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the opening of
business on a particular Business Day, or (b) with respect to other classes of
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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.
“Registration Statement” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No.
333-155260) 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 or Subordinated Units, the excess of (a) the Net
Positive Adjustments of the Unitholders holding Common Units or Subordinated 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 Interest), 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 Interest 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 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)(v), Section
6.1(d)(vi), Section 6.1(d)(vii) or Section 6.1(d)(ix).
“Reset MQD” is defined in Section 5.11(a).
“Reset Notice” is defined in Section 5.11(b).
“Second Liquidation Target Amount” is defined in Section 6.1(c)(i)(E).
“Second Target Distribution” means $0.484375 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to periods
of less than a full fiscal quarter, it means the product of such amount multiplied by a fraction of
which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and the denominator is the total number
of days in such quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.11, Section 6.6 and
Section 6.9.
“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 or Subordinated Units, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional
Book Basis Derivative Items as the Unitholders’ Remaining Net Positive
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Adjustments as of the end of such taxable period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive
Adjustments as of that time, (ii) with respect to the General Partner (in respect of the General
Partner Interest), 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 taxable
period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustment as of that time, and (iii) with
respect to the Partners holding Incentive Distribution Rights, the amount that bears the same ratio
to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of the
Partners holding the Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such period bears to the
Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time.
“Special Approval” means approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee
acting in good faith.
“Subordinated Unit” means a Partnership Interest 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 refer to or include a Common 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 following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant
to Section 6.3(a) in respect of any Quarter beginning with the Quarter ending June 30, 2014 in
respect of which (i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on each of (I) 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 (II) the General Partner Interest, in
each case 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
Interest, in each case in respect of 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 Interest, in each case that were Outstanding during
such periods on a Fully Diluted Weighted Average Basis, and (ii) there are no Cumulative Common
Unit Arrearages;
(b) the first Business Day following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant
to Section 6.3(a) in respect of any Quarter beginning with the Quarter ending June 30, 2014 in
respect of which (i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on each of (I) 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 (II) the General Partner Interest, in
each case with respect to the four-Quarter period immediately preceding such date equaled or
exceeded 150% of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of (I) the Outstanding Common Units and
Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are
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senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units and (II) the General Partner
Interest, in each case in respect of such period, and (B) the Adjusted Operating Surplus for the
four-Quarter period immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded 150% of the sum of the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of (I) the Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other
Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units, (II) the General
Partner Interest, in each case that were Outstanding during such period on a Fully Diluted Weighted
Average Basis and (III) the corresponding Incentive Distributions 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 no Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are voted in favor of such
removal.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of
the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote
in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or
indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such
Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such
Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited
partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such
partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is
owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a
corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a
combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a
majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the
directors or other governing body of such Person.
“Substituted Limited Partner” means a Person who is admitted as a Limited Partner to the
Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2 with all the rights of a Limited Partner and who is shown as a
Limited Partner on the books and records of the Partnership.
“Surviving Business Entity” is defined in Section 14.2(b)(ii).
“Target Distribution” means, collectively, the First Target Distribution, Second Target
Distribution and Third Target Distribution.
“Third Target Distribution” means $0.581250 per Unit per Quarter (or, with respect to periods
of less than a full fiscal quarter, it means the product of such amount multiplied by a fraction of
which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and the denominator is the total number
of days in such quarter), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 5.11, 6.6 and 6.9.
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“TII” means TETRA International Incorporated, a Delaware corporation.
“TII Contribution” has the meaning assigned in the Contribution Agreement.
“Trading Day” means, for the purpose of determining the Current Market Price of any class of
Limited Partner Interests, a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which such
class of Limited Partner Interests is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of
business or, if Limited Partner Interests of a class are not listed or admitted to trading on any
National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are
open.
“transfer” is defined 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 may be appointed from time to time by the Partnership to act as
registrar and transfer agent for any class of Partnership Interests; provided, that if no Transfer
Agent is specifically designated for any class of Partnership Interests, the General Partner shall
act in such capacity.
“Transfer Application” means an application and agreement for transfer of Units in the form
set forth on the back of a Certificate or in a form substantially to the same effect in a separate
instrument.
“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 June 14, 2011
by and among the Underwriters, the Partnership, the General Partner and other parties thereto,
providing for the purchase of Common Units by the Underwriters.
“Unit” means a Partnership Interest that is designated as a “Unit” and shall include Common
Units and Subordinated Units but shall not include (i) the General Partner Interest or (ii)
Incentive Distribution Rights.
“Unitholders” means the holders of Units.
“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, voting as a single class.
“Unpaid MQD” is defined 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).
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“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, combination or reorganization of such Units.
“Unrestricted Person” means (a) each Indemnitee, (b) each Partner, (c) each Person who is or
was a member, partner, director, officer, employee or agent of any Group Member, a General Partner
or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member, a General Partner or any
Departing General Partner and (d) any Person the General Partner designates as an “Unrestricted
Person” for purposes of this Agreement.
“U.S. GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, as in effect from
time to time, consistently applied.
“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel” is defined 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 incurred it is the intent of the borrower
to repay such borrowings within 12 months from sources other than additional 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; (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. 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. In accordance with Article IX of the Original Partnership Agreement, the
General Partner hereby amends and restates the Original Partnership Agreement 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,
24
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 “Compressco Partners, L.P.” 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,” “L.P.,”
“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, Xxx 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 Corporation Trust Company. The principal office of the Partnership
shall be located at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, 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 Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, 00000, or such other
place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.
Section 2.4 Purpose and Business. The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by
the Partnership shall be to (a) engage directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any
corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage
indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the General Partner, in its sole
discretion, 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
be reasonably likely to 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, in its sole discretion, decline to propose or approve, the conduct by the
Partnership of any business.
Section 2.5 Powers. The Partnership shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things
necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for the furtherance and
accomplishment of the purposes and business described in Section 2.4 and for the protection
and benefit of the Partnership.
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Section 2.6 Term. The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of
Limited Partnership in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence until the
dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII. The existence of
the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate
of Limited Partnership as provided in the Delaware Act.
Section 2.7 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/or its Subsidiaries, and no Partner or Assignee, 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 and the Assignees 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 or Assignee, 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 participating 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 or Assignees 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 or Assignees, any Limited Partner or Assignee
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 or
Assignees shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited
Partner or Assignee.
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, the
reasonableness of which having been determined by the General Partner, 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 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. Notwithstanding anything otherwise to the contrary herein, unless
the General Partner shall determine otherwise in respect of some or all of any or all classes of
Partnership Interests, Partnership Interests shall not be evidenced by certificates. Certificates
that may be issued shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chairman of the Board,
President or any Executive Vice President or Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer or the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the General Partner. If a Transfer Agent has been
appointed for a class of Partnership Interests, no Certificate for such class of Partnership
Interests shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent;
provided, however, that if the General Partner elects to cause the Partnership to issue Partnership
Interests of such class in global form, the Certificate shall be valid upon receipt of a
certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Partnership Interests have been duly
registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership. Subject to the requirements of
Section 6.7(c), if Common Units are evidenced by Certificates, on or after the date on which
Subordinated Units are converted into Common Units pursuant to the terms of Section 5.7, the Record
Holders of such Subordinated Units (a) if the Subordinated Units are evidenced by Certificates, may
exchange such Certificates for Certificates evidencing Common Units or (b) if the Subordinated
Units are not evidenced by Certificates, shall be issued Certificates evidencing Common Units.
Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.
(a) If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent, the appropriate
officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute, and the Transfer Agent
shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate evidencing the same number
and type of Partnership Interests 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 shall countersign, a new Certificate in place of any
Certificate previously issued if the Record Holder of the Certificate:
(i) makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the General
Partner, that a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen;
(ii) requests the issuance of a new Certificate before the General Partner has notice
that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without
notice of an adverse claim;
(iii) if requested by the General Partner, delivers to the General Partner a bond, in
form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner, with surety or sureties and with
fixed or open penalty as the General Partner may direct to indemnify the Partnership, the
Partners, the General Partner and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on
account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the Certificate; and
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(iv) satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the General Partner.
If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to notify the General Partner within a reasonable
period of time after such Limited Partner or Assignee 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 or the Assignee 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 or Assignee 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 or
Assignee, as the case may be, hereunder as, and to the extent, provided herein.
Section 4.4 Transfer Generally.
(a) The term “transfer,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest,
shall mean a transaction (i) by which the General Partner assigns its General Partner Interest to
another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation,
mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise or (ii) by which the holder of a
Limited Partner Interest assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is or becomes
a Limited Partner or an Assignee, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other
disposition by law or otherwise, excluding a pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage but
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.
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(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 or any Limited Partner of any or
all of the shares of stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other ownership
interests in the General Partner or Limited Partner and the term “transfer” shall not mean any such
disposition.
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.
(b) The Partnership shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by
Certificates until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are surrendered for
registration of transfer and any such Certificates are accompanied by a Transfer Application,
properly completed, duly executed by the transferee (or the transferee’s attorney-in-fact duly
authorized in writing). 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. Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration
of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the
provisions hereof, the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership
shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests for
which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, 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.
(c) By acceptance of the transfer of any Limited Partner Interests in accordance with this
Section 4.5, each transferee of 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 deemed to have requested admission as a Substituted Limited Partner if such transferee
has duly completed and delivered a Transfer Application, (ii) shall become bound, and shall be
deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) represents that the
transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and (iv) makes the
consents, acknowledgements 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.
(d) Until admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.2, the permitted
transferee of a Limited Partner Interest shall be an Assignee in respect of such Limited
Partner Interest; provided, however, that the Partnership may, in its sole discretion, treat
such transferee as the absolute owner of such Limited Partner Interest for all purposes, except as
otherwise required by law or stock exchange regulations. Limited Partners may include custodians,
nominees or any other individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity.
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(e) Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5, (ii) Section 4.3, (iii)
Section 4.7, (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.
(f) The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their
Subordinated Units, Common Units and Incentive Distribution Rights to one or more Persons, except
that the General Partner and its Affiliates may not transfer Subordinated Units to the Partnership
during the Subordination Period.
Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest.
(a) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to June 30, 2021, the General Partner shall not
transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest 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 June 30, 2021, the General Partner may at its
option transfer all or any part 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 under the Delaware Act
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 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 interest held by 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 10.3, 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.
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Section 4.7 Restrictions on Transfers.
(a) Except as provided in Section 4.7(d) below, but 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
determines, with the advice of counsel, that such restrictions are necessary or advisable to (i)
avoid a significant risk of the Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming
taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes or (ii) preserve the uniformity of the Limited
Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). 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.
(d) 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.
(e) 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 COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P. 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
COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P. UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE COMPRESSCO
PARTNERS, L.P. 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). COMPRESSCO PARTNERS GP
INC., THE GENERAL PARTNER OF
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COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P., 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 COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P. 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.
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 $1.00 in exchange for a General Partner Interest equal to a 0.1% Percentage
Interest and was admitted as the General Partner of the Partnership. The Organizational Limited
Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $999.00 in
exchange for a Limited Partner Interest equal to a 99.9% Percentage Interest and was admitted as a
Limited Partner of the Partnership. On the Closing Date, the Organizational Limited Partner
transferred all of its Limited Partner Interest to the General Partner, as provided in the
Contribution Agreement, and, effective with the admission of another Limited Partner to the
Partnership, the Limited Partner Interest and General Partner Interest were redeemed, as provided
in the Contribution Agreement, and the initial Capital Contributions in respect of such Limited
Partner Interest and General Partner Interest were thereupon refunded. Any interest or other
profit that may have resulted from the investment or other use of such initial Capital
Contributions was 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
contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, the GP Contribution (as defined in the
Contribution Agreement), in exchange for (A) a General Partner Interest equal to a 2% Percentage
Interest (after giving effect to any exercise of the Over-Allotment Option and the Deferred
Issuance and Distribution), subject to all of the rights, privileges and duties of the General
Partner under this Agreement; (B) 5,303,546 Common Units and 5,521,094 Subordinated Units; and (C)
the right to receive the Deferred Issuance and Distribution; (ii) the Partnership issued to the
General Partner the Incentive Distribution Rights as an incentive fee to incentivize the General
Partner to expand the profitability of the business of the Partnership Group and to increase
distributions to Limited Partners; and (iii) TII contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital
Contribution, the TII Contribution (as defined in the Contribution Agreement) in exchange for
733,211 Common Units and 752,876 Subordinated Units.
(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, Subordinated Units and
Incentive Distribution Rights issued pursuant to Section 5.2(a) (including any
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Common Units issued pursuant to the Deferred Issuance and Distribution), the Common Units issued
upon conversion of the Subordinated Units and any Common Units issued pursuant to Section 5.11),
the General Partner may, in order to maintain its Percentage Interest, 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 Section 12.8, 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
contributed cash to the Partnership in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units
to each Underwriter, all as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.
(b) Upon the exercise, if any, of the Over-Allotment Option, each Underwriter contributed cash
to the Partnership in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units to each
Underwriter, all as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.
(c) No Limited Partner will be required to make any additional Capital Contribution to the
Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.
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 liquidation 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 (A) 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 (B) 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.
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(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction that
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) of all property owned by (A) any other
Group Member that is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and (B) 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, member or other equity holder.
(ii) All fees and other expenses incurred by the Partnership to promote the sale of (or
to sell) a Partnership Interest that can neither be deducted nor amortized under Section 709
of the Code, if any, shall, for purposes of Capital Account maintenance, be treated as an
item of deduction at the time such fees and other expenses are incurred and shall be
allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1.
(iii) Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m),
the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made without
regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code that 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 under the rules prescribed by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d)(2) as if
35
the adjusted basis of such property were equal to the Carrying Value of such property
immediately following such adjustment.
(vi) The Gross Liability Value of each Liability of the Partnership described in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-7(b)(3)(i) shall be adjusted at such times as provided in
this Agreement for an adjustment to Carrying Values. The amount of any such adjustment
shall be treated for purposes hereof as an item of loss (if the adjustment increases the
Carrying Value of such Liability of the Partnership) or an item of gain (if the adjustment
decreases the Carrying Value of such Liability of the Partnership).
(c) (i) A transferee of a Partnership Interest shall succeed to a pro rata portion of the
Capital Account of the transferor relating to the Partnership Interest so transferred.
(ii) Subject to Section 6.7(c), immediately prior to the transfer of a Subordinated Unit
or of a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 by a
holder thereof (other than a transfer to an Affiliate unless the General Partner elects to
have this subparagraph 5.5(c)(ii) apply), the Capital Account maintained for such Person
with respect to its Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units will (A) first, be
allocated to the Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units to be transferred in an
amount equal to the product of (1) the number of such Subordinated Units or converted
Subordinated Units to be transferred and (2) 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. 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 transferred converted Subordinated Units will have a
balance equal to the amount allocated under clause (A) hereinabove.
(d) (i) Consistent 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 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, and any
such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss shall be treated, for purposes of maintaining Capital
Accounts, as if it had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property for an amount equal
to its fair market value immediately prior to such issuance and had been allocated among the
Partners at such time pursuant to Section 6.1 in the same manner as any item of gain or loss
actually recognized following an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have
been allocated; provided, however, that in the event of an issuance of Partnership Interests for a
de minimis amount of cash or Contributed Property, or in the event of an issuance of a de minimis
amount of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the General Partner
may determine that such adjustments are unnecessary for the proper administration of the
Partnership. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the
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aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (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. In making its determination of the
fair market values of individual properties, the General Partner may determine that it is
appropriate to first determine an aggregate value for the Partnership, based on the current trading
price of the Common Units, and taking fully into account the fair market value of the Partnership
Interests of all Partners at such time, and then allocate such aggregate value among the individual
properties of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines appropriate).
(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 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, and any such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss shall be treated, for purposes of
maintaining Capital Accounts, as if it had been recognized on an actual sale of each such
property immediately prior to such distribution for an amount equal to its fair market
value, and had been allocated among the Partners, at such time, pursuant to Section 6.1 in
the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized following an event giving
rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have been allocated. In determining such
Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership
property (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 in the same manner as that provided in Section
5.5(d)(i) or (B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section 12.4, be
determined by the Liquidator using such method of valuation as it may adopt.
Section 5.6 Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests.
(a) The Partnership may issue additional Partnership Interests and options, rights, warrants
and appreciation rights relating to the Partnership Interests (including as described in 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 Interest authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant
to Section 5.6(a) 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 Interests), 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 or shall be required to
redeem the Partnership Interest (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Partnership
Interest 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 Interest will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred;
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(vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Interest; and
(viii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Interest to vote on Partnership matters,
including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership
Interest.
(c) The General Partner shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or
appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Interests and options, rights,
warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.6,
including Common Units issued in connection with the Deferred Issuance and Distribution, (ii) the
conversion of the Combined Interest into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the
issuance of Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11, (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 Interests. The General Partner
shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other
Partnership Interests 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 Interests or in
connection with the conversion of the Combined Interest 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 Interests are listed or admitted to trading.
(d) No fractional Units shall be issued by the Partnership.
Section 5.7 Conversion of Subordinated Units.
(a) All of the Subordinated Units shall 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 the final Quarter of the Subordination Period.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, all the then Outstanding
Subordinated Units may convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis as set forth in, and
pursuant to the terms of, Section 11.4.
(c) A Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject to the
provisions of Section 6.7.
Section 5.8 Limited Preemptive Right. Except as provided in this Section 5.8 and in Section 5.2
or as otherwise provided in a separate agreement by the Partnership, no Person shall have any
preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership
Interest, 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
or the beneficial owners thereof, to purchase Partnership Interests from the Partnership whenever,
and on the same terms that, the Partnership issues Partnership Interests to Persons other than the
General Partner and its Affiliates or such beneficial owners, to the extent necessary to maintain
the Percentage Interests of the General Partner and its Affiliates
and such beneficial owners equal to that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of
such Partnership Interests.
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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 Interests to
all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests 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 are proportionately
adjusted retroactive to the beginning of the Partnership.
(b) Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests 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 Interests to be held by each Record Holder after giving
effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The General Partner shall be entitled to
rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such
calculation.
(c) Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may
issue Certificates to the Record Holders of Partnership Interests as of the applicable Record Date
representing the new number of Partnership Interests 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
Interests 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 Section 5.6(d) and 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 Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Act.
Section 5.11 Issuance of Common 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
39
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 Common Units (the “IDR Reset Common
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 “Reset MQD”) (the number of Common Units
determined by such quotient is referred to herein as the “Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common
Units”). The Percentage Interest of the General Partner after the issuance of the Aggregate
Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units shall equal the Percentage Interest of the General Partner prior
to the issuance of the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and the General Partner shall
not be obligated to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership in order to
maintain its Percentage Interest in connection therewith. 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 Common 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, 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 Common Units that 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 IDR Reset Common Units on the fifteenth Business Day after receipt by the
Partnership of the Reset Notice; provided, however, that the issuance of Common 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 such Common Units 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
has not approved the listing or admission for trading of the Common Units to be issued pursuant to
this Section 5.11 on or before the 30th calendar day following the
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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 Interests 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 IDR Reset 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 (on terms acceptable to the National
Securities Exchange upon which the Common Units are then traded) of such Partnership Interests into
Common Units within not more than 12 months following the Partnership’s receipt of the Reset Notice
upon the satisfaction of one or more conditions that are reasonably acceptable to the holder of the
Incentive Distribution Rights (or, if there is more than one holder of the Incentive Distribution
Rights, the holders of a majority in interest of the Incentive Distribution Rights).
(e) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution
and Third Target Distribution shall be adjusted at the time of the issuance of Common Units or
other Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.11 such that (i) the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution shall be reset to equal to 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
125% of the Reset MQD and (iv) the Third Target Distribution shall be reset to equal 150% of the
Reset MQD.
(f) Upon the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units pursuant to Section 5.11(a), the Capital
Account maintained with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights shall (i) first, be allocated
to IDR Reset Common Units in an amount equal to the product of (A) the Aggregate Quantity of IDR
Reset Common Units and (B) the Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial Common Unit, and (ii) second,
any remaining balance in such Capital Account will be retained by the holder of the Incentive
Distributions Rights. In the event that there is not a sufficient Capital Account associated with
the Incentive Distribution Rights to allocate the full Per Unit Capital Amount for an Initial
Common Unit to the IDR Reset Common Units in accordance with clause (i) of this Section 5.11(f),
the IDR Reset Common Units shall be subject to Section 6.1(d)(x)(B) and (C).
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)) for each taxable
period shall be allocated among the Partners as provided herein below.
(a) Net Income. Net Income for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss and
deduction taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable period shall be allocated as
follows:
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(i) First, to the General Partner until the aggregate of the Net Income allocated to
the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(i) and the Net Termination Gain
allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i)(A) or Section 6.1(c)(iv)(A)
for the current and all previous taxable periods is equal to the aggregate of the Net Loss
allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(ii) for all previous taxable
periods and the Net Termination Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section
6.1(c)(ii)(D) or Section 6.1(c)(iii)(B) for the current and all previous taxable periods;
and
(ii) The balance, if any, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest, and (B) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the
percentage applicable to subclause (A).
(b) Net Loss. Net Loss for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss and
deduction taken into account in computing Net Loss for such taxable period shall be allocated as
follows:
(i) First, to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata; provided, that 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 period (or increase any existing deficit balance in its
Adjusted Capital Account); and
(ii) The balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.
(c) Net Termination Gains and Losses. Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss (including
a pro rata part of each item 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
manner set forth in this Section 6.1(c). 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) Except as provided in Section 6.1(c)(iv), Net Termination Gain (including a pro
rata part of each item of income, gain, loss, and deduction taken into account in computing
Net Termination Gain) shall be allocated:
(A) First, to the General Partner until the aggregate of the Net Termination
Gain allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(i)(A) or
Section 6.1(c)(iv)(A) and the Net Income allocated to the General Partner pursuant
to Section 6.1(a)(i) for the current and all previous taxable periods is equal to
the aggregate of the Net Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section
6.1(b)(ii) for all previous taxable periods and the Net
Termination Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section
6.1(c)(ii)(D) or Section 6.1(c)(iii)(B) for all previous taxable periods;
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(B) Second, (1) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest and (2) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage
equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the Capital
Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (aa)
its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (bb) 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 (bb) is hereinafter
referred to as the “Unpaid MQD”) and (cc) any then existing Cumulative Common Unit
Arrearage;
(C) Third, if such Net Termination Gain is recognized (or is deemed to be
recognized) prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit into a
Common Unit, (1) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest
and (2) to all Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal
to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in
respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding equals the sum of (aa) its
Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, determined for the taxable period (or portion
thereof) to which this allocation of gain relates, and (bb) 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;
(D) Fourth, 100% to the General Partner and all Unitholders, Pro Rata, until
the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the
sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (2) the Unpaid MQD, (3) any then
existing Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage, and (4) the excess of (aa) the First
Target Distribution less the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for each Quarter of the
Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any
distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made pursuant
to Section 6.4(a)(iv) and Section 6.4(b)(ii) (the sum of (1), (2), (3) and (4) is
hereinafter referred to as the “First Liquidation Target Amount”);
(E) Fifth, (1) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest, (2) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and
(3) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the
percentages applicable to subclauses (1) and (2) of this clause (E), until the
Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum
of (aa) the First Liquidation Target Amount, and (bb) the excess of (i) the Second
Target Distribution less the First Target Distribution for each Quarter of the
Partnership’s existence over (i) 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 referred to
as the “Second Liquidation Target Amount”);
43
(F) Sixth, (1) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest, (2) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and
(3) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the
percentages applicable to subclauses (1) and (2) of this clause (F), until the
Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum
of (aa) the Second Liquidation Target Amount, and (bb) the excess of (i) the Third
Target Distribution less the Second Target Distribution for each Quarter of the
Partnership’s existence over (ii) 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); and
(G) Finally, (1) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest, (2) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and
(3) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the
percentages applicable to subclauses (1) and (2) of this clause (G).
(ii) Except as otherwise provided by Section 6.1(c)(iii) Net Termination Loss
(including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss, and deduction taken into
account in computing Net Termination Loss) shall be allocated:
(A) First, if Subordinated Units remain Outstanding, (1) to the General Partner
in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (2) to all Unitholders holding
Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less General Partner’s
Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of each Subordinated Unit
then Outstanding has been reduced to zero;
(B) Second, (1) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest and (2) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage
equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the Capital
Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero;
(C) Third, to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata; provided that
Net Termination Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(ii)(C)
to the extent such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance
in its Adjusted Capital Account (or increase any existing deficit in its Adjusted
Capital Account); and
(D) Fourth, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.
(iii) Any Net Termination Loss deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d) prior to a
Liquidation Date shall be allocated:
(A) First, to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata; provided that
Net Termination Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iii)(A)
to the extent such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance
in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable period (or increase any
existing deficit in its Adjusted Capital Account); and
44
(B) The balance, if any, to the General Partner.
(iv) If a Net Termination Loss has been allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(iii),
subsequent Net Termination Gain deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d) prior to a
Liquidation Date shall be allocated:
(A) First, to the General Partner until the aggregate Net Termination Gain
allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iv)(A) is equal to
the aggregate Net Termination Loss previously allocated pursuant to Section
6.1(c)(iii)(B);
(B) Second, to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata, until the
aggregate Net Termination Gain allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iv)(B) is
equal to the aggregate Net Termination Loss previously allocated pursuant to Section
6.1(c)(iii)(A); and
(C) The balance, if any, pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(c)(i).
(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
45
6.1(d)(vi) and Section 6.1(d)(vii), with respect to such taxable period. This Section 6.1(d)(ii) is intended
to comply with the chargeback of items of income and gain requirement in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(iii) Priority Allocations.
(A) If the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of any property
distributed (except cash or property distributed pursuant to Section 12.4) with
respect to a Unit exceeds the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property
distributed with respect to another Unit (the amount of the excess, an “Excess
Distribution” and the Unit with respect to which the greater distribution is paid,
an “Excess Distribution Unit”), then (1) there shall be allocated gross income and
gain to each Unitholder receiving an Excess Distribution with respect to the Excess
Distribution Unit until the aggregate amount of such items allocated with respect to
such Excess Distribution Unit pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A) for the
current taxable period and all previous taxable periods is equal to the amount of
the Excess Distribution; and (2) the General Partner shall be allocated gross income
and gain with respect to each such Excess Distribution in an amount equal to the
product obtained by multiplying (aa) the quotient determined by dividing (i) the
General Partner’s Percentage Interest at the time when the Excess Distribution
occurs by (ii) a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage
Interest at the time when the Excess Distribution occurs, times (bb) the total
amount allocated in clause (1) above with respect to such Excess Distribution.
(B) After the application of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A), all or any portion of
the remaining items of Partnership gross 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
period and all previous taxable periods 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 period; and
(2) to the General Partner an amount equal to the product of (aa) an amount equal to
the quotient determined by dividing (i) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest by
(ii) 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 gross 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; provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iv) shall
be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its
46
Adjusted 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)(iv) were not in this
Agreement.
(v) Gross Income Allocation. In the event any Partner has a deficit
balance in its Capital Account at the end of any 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 gross 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 Section 6.1(d)(iv) and 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 Pro Rata. If the General Partner determines that the
Partnership’s Nonrecourse Deductions should be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the
safe harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the
Code, the General Partner is authorized, upon notice to the other Partners, to revise the
prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.
(vii) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions. Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for
any taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the Partner that bears the Economic Risk of
Loss with respect to the Partner Nonrecourse Debt to which such Partner Nonrecourse
Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If
more than one Partner bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse
Debt, such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions attributable thereto shall be allocated between or
among such Partners in accordance with the ratios in which they share such Economic Risk of
Loss.
(viii) Nonrecourse Liabilities. For purposes of Treasury Regulation
Section 1.752-3(a)(3), the Partners agree that Nonrecourse Liabilities of the Partnership in
excess of the sum of (A) the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain and (B) the total amount of
Nonrecourse Built-in Gain shall be allocated among the Partners Pro Rata.
(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.
47
(x) Economic Uniformity; Changes in Law.
(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 gross 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 gross income or gain that increases the Capital
Account maintained with respect to such Final Subordinated Units to an amount that
after taking into account the other allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction
to be made with respect to such taxable period will equal the product of (1) the
number of Final Subordinated Units held by such Partner and (2) 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) With respect to an event triggering an adjustment to the Carrying Value
of Partnership property pursuant to Section 5.5(d) during any taxable period of the
Partnership ending upon, or after, the issuance of IDR Reset Common Units pursuant
to Section 5.11, after the application of Section 6.1(d)(x)(A), any Unrealized Gains
and Unrealized Losses shall be allocated among the Partners in a manner that to the
nearest extent possible results in the Capital Accounts maintained with respect to
such IDR Reset Common Units issued pursuant to Section 5.11 equaling the product of
(1) the Aggregate Quantity of IDR Reset Common Units and (2) the Per Unit Capital
Amount for an Initial Common Unit.
(C) With respect to any taxable period during which an IDR Reset Unit is
transferred to any Person who is not an Affiliate of the transferor, all or a
portion of the remaining items of Partnership gross income or gain for such taxable
period shall be allocated 100% to the transferor Partner of such transferred IDR
Reset Unit until such transferor Partner has been allocated an amount of gross
income or gain that increases the Capital Account maintained with respect to such
transferred IDR Reset Unit to an amount equal to the Per Unit Capital Amount for an
Initial Common Unit.
48
(D) 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 (1) adopt such conventions as it deems
appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost
recovery deductions; (2) make special allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction,
Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss; and (3) amend the provisions of this Agreement
as appropriate (aa) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations
under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of the Code or (bb) 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 6.1(d)(x)(D) 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.
(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
gross 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. In exercising its discretion under
this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A), the General Partner may take into account future
Required Allocations that, although not yet made, are likely to offset other
Required Allocations previously made. 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.
(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 and Other 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) Except as provided in Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B), 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 such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items to (1) the
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holders of Incentive Distribution Rights and the General Partner to the same
extent that the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss giving rise to such Additional
Book Basis Derivative Items was allocated to them pursuant to Section 5.5(d) and (2)
all Unitholders, Pro Rata, to the extent that the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss
giving rise to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items was allocated to any
Unitholders pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
(B) 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 or an allocation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss pursuant to
Section 6.1(c) hereof) as a result of a sale or other taxable disposition of any
Partnership asset that is an Adjusted Property (“Disposed of Adjusted Property”),
the General Partner shall allocate (1) additional items of gross income and gain
(aa) away from the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights and (bb) to the
Unitholders, or (2) additional items of deduction and loss (aa) away from the
Unitholders and (bb) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, to the extent
that the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items allocated to the Unitholders exceed
their Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to such Disposed
of Adjusted Property. Any allocation made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B)
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.
(C) 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 balances 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.
(D) For purposes of this Section 6.1(d)(xii), the Unitholders 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 under this Agreement. 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). Without limiting the foregoing, if an Adjusted
Property is contributed by the Partnership to another entity classified as a
partnership for federal income tax purposes (the “lower tier partnership”), the
General Partner may make allocations similar to those described in Section
6.1(d)(xii)(A)—(C) to the extent the General Partner determines such allocations
are necessary to account for the Partnership’s allocable share of income, gain, loss
and deduction of the lower tier partnership that relate to the
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contributed Adjusted Property in a manner that is consistent with the purpose
of this Section 6.1(d)(xii).
(xiii) Special Curative Allocation in Event of Liquidation Prior to End of
Subordination Period. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 (other
than the Required Allocations), if the Liquidation Date occurs prior to the conversion of
the last Outstanding Subordinated Unit, then items of income, gain, loss and deduction for
the taxable period that includes the Liquidation Date (and, if necessary, items arising in
previous taxable periods to the extent the General Partner determines such items may be so
allocated), shall be specially allocated among the Partners in the manner determined
appropriate by the General Partner so as to cause, to the maximum extent possible, the
Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit to equal the amount such Capital Account
would have been if all prior allocations of Net Termination Gain and Net Termination Loss
had been made pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i) or Section 6.1(c)(ii), as applicable.
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 in the manner
provided under Section 704(c) of the Code, and the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section
704(b) and 704(c) of the Code, as determined appropriate by the General Partner (taking into
account the General Partner’s discretion under Section 6.1(d)(x)(D)); provided, that the General
Partner shall apply the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d) in all events.
(c) 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 unamortized Book-Tax
Disparity 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.
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(d) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1245-1(e) and 1.1250-1(f), 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.
(e) 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.
(f) Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction shall, for federal income
tax purposes, be determined for each taxable period 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 Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full 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,
gain, loss or deduction 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 item 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.
(g) 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
June 30, 2011 an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such
Quarter shall be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to Partners
as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner. All amounts of Available Cash distributed
by the Partnership on any date from any source shall be deemed to be Operating Surplus until the
sum of all amounts of Available Cash theretofore distributed by the Partnership to the Partners
pursuant to Section 6.4 equals the Operating Surplus from the Closing Date through the close of
52
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 Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Act.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a), in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the
Partnership, all cash received during or after the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs,
other than from Working Capital Borrowings, shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance
with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4.
(c) Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the
Partnership, directly or through any 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 be distributed as follows, except as otherwise contemplated by Section 5.6(b) in
respect of other Partnership Interests issued pursuant thereto:
(i) First, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest
and (B) 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, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest
and (B) 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, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest
and (B) to the Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100%
less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in respect
of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution for such Quarter;
(iv) Fourth, to the General Partner and all Unitholders, Pro Rata, 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;
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(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 shall be distributed as follows, except as otherwise contemplated by Section
5.6(b) in respect of additional Partnership Interests issued pursuant thereto:
(i) First, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro Rata, 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, Pro Rata, until there
has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess
of the First Target Distribution over the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(iii) Third, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest;
(B) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all
Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable
to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (iii), until there has been distributed in
respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second
Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;
(iv) Fourth, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest;
(B) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to
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all Unitholders, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable
to subclauses (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 be distributed, unless the
provisions of Section 6.3 require otherwise, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, Pro
Rata, until the Minimum Quarterly Distribution has been reduced to zero pursuant to the second
sentence of Section 6.6(a). 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 Interests in accordance with Section 5.9. In the event of a distribution of Available
Cash that is deemed to be from Capital Surplus, the then applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution,
First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be
reduced in the same proportion that the distribution had to the fair market value of the Common
Units immediately prior to the announcement of the distribution. If the Common Units
are publicly traded on a National Securities Exchange, the fair market value will be the
Current Market Price before the ex-dividend date. If the Common Units are not publicly traded, the
fair market value will be determined by the Board of Directors.
(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.
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Section 6.7 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated 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 with respect to such converted Subordinated Units, 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), 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, if the Common Units are evidenced by Certificates, 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.
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 and 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 official interpretation of existing
legislation is modified by a governmental authority, which after giving
56
effect to such enactment or
modification, results in a Group Member becoming subject to federal, state or local or non-U.S.
income or withholding taxes in excess of the amount of such taxes due from the Group Member prior
to such enactment or modification (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any increase in the rate
of such taxation applicable to the Group Member), then the General Partner may, in its sole
discretion, reduce the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target
Distribution and Third Target Distribution by the amount of income or withholding 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, First Target
Distribution, Second Target Distribution and 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 (or the relevant portion of) such Incremental Income Taxes; provided that any
difference between such estimate and the actual liability for Incremental Income Taxes (or the
relevant portion thereof) for such Quarter may, to the extent determined by the General Partner, 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 or
exchangeable into Partnership Interests, and the incurring of any other obligations;
57
(ii) the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or
other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or
assets of the Partnership;
(iii) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or
exchange of any or all of the assets of the Partnership or the merger or other combination
of the Partnership with or into another Person (the matters described in this clause (iii)
being subject, however, to any prior approval that may be required by Section 7.3 or 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, employment, retention and dismissal of employees (including
employees having titles such as “president,” “vice president,” “secretary” and “treasurer”)
and agents, outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors of the General
Partner or the Partnership Group 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;
58
(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 4.7);
(xiii) the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership
Interests, or the issuance of options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to
Partnership Interests;
(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 each other Person
who may acquire an interest in Partnership Interests or is otherwise bound by this Agreement hereby
(i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto
of this Agreement, the Underwriting Agreement, the Contribution Agreement, the Omnibus 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 (in each case other than
this Agreement, without giving effect to any amendments, supplements or restatements after the date
hereof); (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own or on behalf 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 other Persons who may acquire an interest in Partnership Interests or is
otherwise bound by this Agreement; 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
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
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Partnership and do all things to
maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the
limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other
state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of
Section 3.4(a), the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or
mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment
thereto to any Limited Partner.
Section 7.3 Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority. Except as provided in Article XII and
Article XIV, the General Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction
or a series of related transactions 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.
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,
employment benefits 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 in good faith the expenses that are allocable to
the General Partner or 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 benefit
plans, programs and practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of
Partnership Interests or options to purchase or rights, warrants or appreciation rights or phantom
or tracking interests relating to Partnership Interests), or cause the Partnership to issue
Partnership Interests in connection with, or pursuant to, any benefit plan, program or practice
maintained or sponsored by the General Partner or any of its 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 Interests that the General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any
employees
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and directors pursuant to any such benefit plans, programs or 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 Interests
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 benefit plans, programs or
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 pursuant to Section 4.6.
(d) The General Partner and its Affiliates may charge any member of the Partnership Group
a management fee to the extent necessary to allow the Partnership Group to reduce the amount of any
state franchise or income tax or any tax based upon the revenues or gross margin of any member of
the Partnership Group if the tax benefit produced by the payment of such management fee or fees
exceeds the amount of such fee or fees.
Section 7.5 Outside Activities.
(a) 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 securities or equity interests 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 any Affiliate of the General Partner.
(b) Each Unrestricted Person (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 Unrestricted Person.
(c) Subject to the terms of Sections 7.5(a) and (b), but otherwise notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in competitive activities by any
Unrestricted Person (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 the General
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Partner or any other Unrestricted Person for the Unrestricted Persons (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 Unrestricted Persons shall have no obligation hereunder or as a
result of any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to present business
opportunities to the Partnership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the
doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to any Unrestricted
Person (including the General Partner). No Unrestricted Person (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 Unrestricted Person (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 Unrestricted Person (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 Unrestricted Person 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 Unrestricted Person.
(d) The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership
Interests 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
and/or other Partnership Interests 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, (i) 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 the 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 and (ii) nothing in this Agreement shall limit or otherwise affect
any separate contractual obligations outside of this Agreement of any Person (including any
Unrestricted Person) to the Partnership or any of its Affiliates.
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, but shall be under no obligation to,
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
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7.6(b), the term “Group Member” shall include any Affiliate of a Group Member that is controlled by
the Group Member.
(b) The Partnership may lend or contribute to any Group Member, and any Group Member may
borrow from the Partnership, funds on terms and conditions determined by the General Partner. No
Group Member may lend funds to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than another
Group Member).
(c) No borrowing by any Group Member or the approval thereof by the General Partner shall
be deemed to constitute a breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or
otherwise, of the General Partner or its Affiliates to the Partnership or the Limited Partners by
reason of the fact that the purpose or effect of such borrowing is directly or indirectly to (i)
enable distributions to the General Partner or its Affiliates (including in their capacities as
Limited Partners) to exceed the General Partner’s Percentage Interest of the total amount
distributed to all Partners or (ii) hasten the expiration of the Subordination Period or the
conversion of any Subordinated Units into Common Units.
Section 7.7 Indemnification.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly
provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the
Partnership from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several,
expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or
other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands,
actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and
whether formal or informal and including appeals, 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 and
acting (or refraining to act) in such capacity on behalf of or for the benefit of the Partnership;
provided, that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless pursuant to this Agreement
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 Agreement, 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 any Affiliate of the General Partner (other than a Group Member) with respect to any such
Affiliate’s obligations pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement and the
Contribution Agreement. 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
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indemnification pursuant to this
Section 7.7, the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Partnership of
any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be ultimately
determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized by this Section 7.7.
(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, in equity or otherwise, both
as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity
(including any capacity under the Underwriting Agreement), and shall continue as to an Indemnitee
who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors,
assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.
(d) The Partnership may purchase and maintain (or reimburse the General Partner or its
Affiliates for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of the General Partner, its Affiliates and such
other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted
against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Person in connection with the Partnership’s
activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless of whether the
Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the
provisions of this Agreement.
(e) For purposes of this Section 7.7, the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an
Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its
duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the
plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with
respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines” within the
meaning of Section 7.7(a); and action taken or omitted by it with respect to any employee benefit
plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by 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 and their
heirs, successors, assigns, executors 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
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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 Interests, for losses sustained or liabilities
incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and
non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect
of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful
misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct
was criminal.
(b) Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section 7.1(a),
the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any
of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and the
General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such
agent appointed by the General Partner in good faith.
(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary
duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, the General Partner
and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the Partnership’s business or affairs shall
not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of
this Agreement.
(d) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any provision hereof
shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of 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
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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 or Unitholder approval of such
resolution, and the General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not
received Special Approval or Unitholder 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 neither
Special Approval nor Unitholder approval is sought and the Board of Directors determines that the
resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the
standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) above, then it shall be presumed that, in making its
decision, the Board of Directors acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by any Limited
Partner or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or any other Limited Partner or the Partnership
challenging such approval, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden
of overcoming such presumption. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any
duty otherwise existing at law or equity, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in
the Registration Statement are hereby approved by all Partners and shall not constitute a breach of
this Agreement or of any duty hereunder or existing at law, in equity or otherwise.
(b) Whenever the General Partner, or any committee of the Board of Directors (including
the Conflicts Committee), makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or
any of its Affiliates causes the General Partner 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, such committee or
such Affiliates causing the General Partner 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 believe that the determination or other action is in the best
interests of the Partnership or the holders of Common Units.
(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
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phrases, “at the option of the General
Partner,” “in its sole discretion” or some variation of those phrases, are 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.
(d) 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.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the General Partner and
its Affiliates shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) sell or otherwise
dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business or (ii)
permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the General Partner and its Affiliates,
except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with
such use. Any determination by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter into such
contracts shall be in its sole discretion.
(f) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or the Delaware Act, 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.
(g) 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 upon, 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 advice or 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 advice or opinion.
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(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.
Section 7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests. The General Partner may cause the Partnership to
purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Interests; provided that, the General Partner may not
cause any Group Member to purchase Subordinated Units during the Subordination Period. As long as
Partnership Interests are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Interests shall not be
considered Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein. The General Partner
or any Affiliate of the General Partner may also purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or
otherwise dispose of Partnership Interests 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 Interests 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 Interests (the “Holder”) to dispose of the number of
Partnership Interests 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 Interests 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 Interests 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 provided
further, however, that if the Conflicts Committee determines that a postponement of the requested
registration would be in the best interests of the Partnership and its Partners due to a pending
transaction, investigation or other event, the filing of such registration statement or the
effectiveness thereof may be deferred for up to six months, but not thereafter. In connection with
any registration pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the Partnership shall (A) promptly
prepare and file (1) 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 (2) such documents
as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership Interests subject to such
registration on such National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request, and (B)
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 Interests in such states. Except as set forth in
Section 7.12(c), all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the
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underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by
the Holder.
(b) If the Partnership shall at any time propose to file a registration statement under
the Securities Act for an offering of Partnership Interests for cash (other than an offering
relating solely to a benefit plan), the Partnership shall use all commercially reasonable efforts
to include such number or amount of Partnership Interests held by any 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 Partnership Interests of the Holder once the
registration statement becomes or is declared effective by the Commission, including any
registration statement providing for the offering from time to time of Partnership Interests
pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act. If the proposed offering pursuant to this Section
7.12(b) 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 Interests would adversely
and materially affect the timing or success of the offering, the Partnership shall include in such
offering only that number or amount, if any, of Partnership Interests 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(c), 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.
(c) 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(c) 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 Interests 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
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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.
(d) The provisions of Section 7.12(a) and Section 7.12(b) 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 Interests 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 Interests for which registration was demanded during such
two-year period. The provisions of Section 7.12(c) shall continue in effect thereafter.
(e) The rights to cause the Partnership to register Partnership Interests 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 Interests, 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 Interests 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.
(f) Any request to register Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 7.12 shall (i) specify
the Partnership Interests intended to be offered and sold by the Person making the request, (ii)
express such Person’s present intent to offer such Partnership Interests for distribution, (iii)
describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Partnership Interests, 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 Interests.
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
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Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of
such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the
Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and
empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or
instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this
Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.
ARTICLE VIII
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
Section 8.1 Records and Accounting. The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal
office of the Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s business,
including all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information
required to be provided pursuant to Section 3.4(a). Any books and records maintained by or on
behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business, including the record of the Record
Holders of Units or other Partnership Interests, books of account and records of Partnership
proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, 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 tax and financial reporting
purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Partnership shall not be required
to keep books maintained on a cash basis and the General Partner shall be permitted to calculate
cash-based measures, including Operating Surplus and Adjusted Operating Surplus, by making such
adjustments to its accrual basis books to account for non-cash items and other adjustments as the
General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
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, 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 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
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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.
(c) The General Partner shall be deemed to have made a report available to each Record
Holder as required by this Section 8.3 if it has either (i) filed such report with the
Commission via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system and such report is
publicly available on such system or (ii) made such report available on any publicly available
website maintained by the Partnership.
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 period 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
period other than a year ending on December 31, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to
change the taxable period 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 period shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar
year in which the Partnership’s taxable period 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(f) 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
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therewith. Each Partner
agrees to cooperate with the General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things
reasonably required by the General Partner to conduct such proceedings.
Section 9.4 Withholding; Tax Payments.
(a) The General Partner may treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, all or less
than all of the Partners, either as a distribution of cash to such Partners or as a general expense
of the Partnership, as determined appropriate under the circumstances by the General Partner
(b) 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 (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, TII and the Underwriters as described in Article V in
connection with the Initial Offering, such parties shall be automatically 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 or conversion pursuant to Article XIV, 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 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, and shall be deemed to have
agreed to be bound, by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) represents that the transferee or other
recipient has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and (iv) makes the
consents, acknowledgements 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
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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.
(c) The name and mailing address of each Limited Partner shall be listed on the books and
records of the Partnership maintained for such purpose by the Partnership or the Transfer Agent.
The General Partner shall update the books and records of the Partnership from time to time as
necessary to reflect accurately the information therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do
so, as applicable). A Limited Partner Interest may be represented by a Certificate, as provided in
Section 4.1.
(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 Substituted Limited Partners. By transfer of a Limited Partner Interest in
accordance with Article IV, the transferor shall have given the transferee the right to seek
admission as a Substituted Limited Partner subject to the conditions of, and in the manner
permitted under, this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, a
permitted transferee of a Limited Partner Interest who does not duly execute and deliver a Transfer
Application shall not be admitted as a Limited Partner and shall have only the rights of an
Assignee hereunder, which rights shall include (a) the right to transfer such Limited Partner
Interest to a purchaser or other transferee and (b) the right to transfer the right to request
admission as a Substituted Limited Partner to such purchaser or other transferee in respect of the
transferred Limited Partner Interests; provided, however, that the Partnership may, in its sole
discretion, treat such transferee as the absolute owner of such Limited Partner Interest for all
purposes, except as otherwise required by law or stock exchange regulations. No transferor of a
Limited Partner Interest or other Person shall have any obligation or responsibility to provide a
Transfer Application to a transferee or to assist or participate in any way with respect to or to
ensure the completion or delivery thereof or have any liability or responsibility if the transferee
neglects or chooses not to execute and deliver a properly completed Transfer Application. Each
transferee of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent acquiring such
Limited Partner Interest for the account of another Person) who executes and delivers a properly
completed Transfer Application shall, by virtue of such execution and delivery, be admitted to the
Partnership as a Substituted Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so
transferred to such Person at such time as such transfer is recorded in the books and records of
the Partnership. The General Partner shall periodically, but no less frequently than on the first
Business Day of each calendar quarter, cause any unrecorded transfers of Limited Partner Interests,
with respect to which a properly completed, duly executed and delivered Transfer Application has
been received, to be recorded in the books and records of the Partnership. With respect to voting
rights hereunder attributable to Limited Partner Interests that are held by
Assignees, the General Partner shall be deemed to be the Limited Partner with respect thereto
and shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Limited Partner Interests on any
matter, vote such Limited Partner Interests at the written direction of the Assignee who is the
Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interests. If no such written direction is received, such
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Limited Partner
Interests will not be voted. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, an Assignee shall have
no other rights of a Limited Partner hereunder, under the Delaware Act, at law, in equity or
otherwise.
Section 10.3 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 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 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 10.4 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.
ARTICLE XI
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS
Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner.
(a) The General Partner shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Partnership upon the
occurrence of any one of the following events (each such event herein referred to as an “Event of
Withdrawal”);
(i) The General Partner voluntarily withdraws from the Partnership by giving written
notice to the other Partners;
(ii) The General Partner transfers all of its General Partner Interest pursuant to
Section 4.6;
(iii) The General Partner is removed pursuant to Section 11.2;
(iv) The General Partner (A) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;
(B) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States
Bankruptcy Code; (C) files a petition or answer seeking for itself a liquidation,
dissolution or similar relief (but not a reorganization) under any law; (D) files an answer
or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition
filed against the General Partner in a proceeding of the type described in clauses (A)-(C)
of this Section 11.1(a)(iv); or (E) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the
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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 11:59 pm, prevailing
Central Time, on June, 30, 2021, 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 under the Delaware Act of
any Limited Partner 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 11:59 pm, prevailing Central Time, on
June, 30, 2021, 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 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
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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.
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
Section 12.1 unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2. Any
successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be
subject to the provisions of Section 10.3.
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, voting as a
class, and a majority of the outstanding Subordinated Units, 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 10.3. 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 10.3, 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. 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 10.3.
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 and its or its Affiliates’ general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in
the other Group Members and all of its or its Affiliates’ 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
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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. 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 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 withdrawal or removal, 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. In making its determination, such
third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert may consider the value of the
Units, including 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, the value of the Incentive Distribution
Rights and the General Partner Interest and other factors it may deem relevant.
(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 the 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 to Common Units will be characterized as if the
Departing General Partner (or its transferee) contributed the 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
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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 (i) 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
(ii) 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:
(a) the Subordinated Units held by any Person will immediately and automatically convert into
Common Units on a one-for-one basis, provided (i) neither such Person nor any of its Affiliates
voted any of its Units in favor of the removal and (ii) such Person is not an Affiliate of the
successor General Partner; and
(b) if all of the Subordinated Units convert into Common Units pursuant to Section 11.4(a),
all Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages on the Common Units will be extinguished and the
Subordination Period will end;
provided, however, that such converted Subordinated Units shall remain subject to the provisions of
Sections 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x) and 6.7.
Section 11.5 Withdrawal of Limited Partners. No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the
Partnership; provided, however, that when a transferee of a Limited Partner’s Limited Partner
Interest becomes a Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interest so transferred, such transferring
Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interest so
transferred.
ARTICLE XII
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
Section 12.1 Dissolution. The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of Substituted Limited
Partners or 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 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:
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(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 (a) an Event of
Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in Section
11.1(a)(i) or (iii) and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing General
Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, then within 90 days thereafter, or (b) an event
constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in Section 11.1(a)(iv), (v) or (vi), then, to the
maximum extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a Unit Majority may
elect to continue the business of the Partnership on the same terms and conditions set forth in
this Agreement by appointing as a successor General Partner a Person approved by the holders of a
Unit Majority. Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth
above, the Partnership shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If such an
election is so made, then:
(i) the Partnership shall continue without dissolution unless earlier dissolved in
accordance with this Article XII;
(ii) if the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner, then the
interest of the former General Partner shall be treated in the manner provided in Section
11.3; and
(iii) the successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as General
Partner, effective as of the Event of Withdrawal, by agreeing in writing to be bound by this
Agreement; 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 (A) the exercise
of the right would not result in the loss of limited liability under the Delaware Act of any
Limited Partner and (B) 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 and Subordinated Units, voting as a single class.
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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 and Subordinated Units, 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 and Subordinated Units, 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:
(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 period of the Partnership during which the
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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
period (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.
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 period 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 or Assignee, 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;
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(d) a change that the General Partner determines (i) does not adversely affect the Limited
Partners (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of
Partnership Interests) in any material respect, (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy
any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or
regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or
state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the Units (including
the division of any class or classes of Outstanding Units into different classes to facilitate
uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of Units) or comply with any rule, regulation,
guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are or will be
listed or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken
by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.9 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed
in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise
contemplated by this Agreement;
(e) a change in the fiscal year or taxable period 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 period of the Partnership including, if the General Partner shall so
determine, a change in the definition of “Quarter” and the dates on which distributions are to be
made by the Partnership;
(f) an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, or
the General Partner or its directors, officers, trustees or agents from in any manner being
subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, regardless of whether such are substantially similar to
plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;
(g) an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in
connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of Partnership
Interests and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to the Partnership
Interests pursuant to Section 5.6;
(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 Section 2.4 or 7.1(a);
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(k) an amendment necessary to require Limited Partners to provide a statement, certification
or other evidence to the Partnership regarding whether such Limited Partner is subject to United
States federal income taxation on the income generated by the Partnership;
(l) a merger, conveyance or conversion pursuant to Section 14.3(d); or
(m) any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.
Section 13.2 Amendment Procedures. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the General
Partner. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or
obligation to propose or approve any amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so in its
sole discretion, and, in declining to propose or approve an amendment, to the fullest extent
permitted by law shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard
imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or
under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. An amendment shall be
effective upon its approval by the General Partner and, except as otherwise provided by Section
13.1 or 13.3, 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. The General Partner shall
notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any amendments. The General Partner shall be
deemed to have notified all Record Holders as required by this Section 13.2 if it has either (a)
filed such amendment with the Commission via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval
system and such amendment is publicly available on such system or (b) made such amendment available
on any publicly available website maintained by the Partnership
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 (i) in the case of any provision of this
Agreement other than Section 11.2 or Section 13.4, reducing such percentage or (ii) in the case of
Section 11.2 or Section 13.4, increasing such 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 or increased, as
applicable.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no amendment to this
Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of (including requiring any holder of a class of
Partnership Interests to make additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership) 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,
change or modify in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts
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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 or 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. If the General Partner
determines an amendment does not satisfy the requirements of Section 13.1(d)(i) because it
adversely affects one or more classes of Partnership Interests, as compared to other classes of
Partnership Interests, in any material respect, such amendment shall only be required to be
approved by the adversely affected class or classes.
(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.
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.
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Section 13.6 Record Date. For purposes of determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to
vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners or to give approvals without a meeting as provided in
Section 13.11 the General Partner may set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 nor more
than 60 days before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule,
regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are
listed or admitted to trading or U.S. federal securities laws, in which case the rule, regulation,
guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange or U.S. federal securities laws 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 (i) 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 (ii) the Record Date for
determining the Limited Partners entitled to give approvals without a meeting shall be the date the
first written approval is deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner in
accordance with Section 13.11.
Section 13.7 Adjournment. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given
of the adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are
announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be for
more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Partnership may transact any business that 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
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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.
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
Outstanding 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 and (b) 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
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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 requisite percentage of Units acting by
written consent without a meeting.
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.
Section 13.13 Voting of Incentive Distribution Rights.
(a) For so long as a majority of the Incentive Distribution Rights are held by the General
Partner and its Affiliates, the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights shall not be entitled
to vote such Incentive Distribution Rights on any Partnership matter except as may otherwise be
required by law and the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, in their capacity as such,
shall be deemed to have approved any matter approved by the General Partner.
(b) If less than a majority of the Incentive Distribution Rights are held by the General
Partner and its Affiliates, the Incentive Distribution Rights will be entitled to vote on all
matters submitted to a vote of Unitholders, other than amendments and other matters that the
General Partner determines do not adversely affect the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights
in any material respect. On any matter in which the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights are
entitled to vote, such holders will vote together with the Subordinated Units, prior to the end of
the Subordination Period, or together with the Common Units, thereafter, in either case as a single
class except as otherwise required by Section 13.3(c). The relative voting power of the Incentive
Distribution Rights and the Subordinated Units or Common Units, as applicable, will be set in the
same proportion as cumulative cash distributions, if any, in respect of the Incentive Distribution
Rights for the four consecutive Quarters prior to the record date for the vote bears to the
cumulative cash distributions in respect of such class of Units for such four Quarters.
(c) In connection with any equity financing, or anticipated equity financing, by the
Partnership of an Expansion Capital Expenditure, the General Partner may, without the approval
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of
the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, temporarily or permanently reduce the amount of
Incentive Distributions that would otherwise be distributed to such holders, provided that in the
judgment of the General Partner, such reduction will be in the long-term best interest of such
holders.
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 or Assignee and, in declining to
consent to a merger, consolidation or conversion, shall not be required to act in good faith or
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:
(i) the 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 interests of each
constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or
obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (A) if any interests, securities or rights
of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into,
cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business
Entity, then the cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of any
general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company,
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unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity) that the
holders of such interests, securities or rights are to receive in exchange for, or upon
conversion of their interests, securities or rights, and (B) in the case of equity interests
represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property
or 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, certificate of
formation or limited liability company 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 and stated in the certificate of merger); and
(vii) such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation that
the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
(c) If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the conversion, the General Partner
shall approve the Plan of Conversion, which shall set forth:
(i) the name of the converting entity and the converted entity;
(ii) a statement that the Partnership is continuing its existence in the organizational
form of the converted entity;
(iii) a statement as to the type of entity that the converted entity is to be and the
state or country under the laws of which the converted entity is to be incorporated, formed
or organized;
(iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each
constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or
obligations of the converted entity or another entity, or for the cancellation of such
equity securities;
(v) in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership of the
Partnership; and
(vi) in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership, articles of
incorporation, or other organizational documents of the converted entity;
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(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 and stated in such articles of conversion); 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 Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(e), 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 unless the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may
be, contains any provision that, if contained in an amendment to this Agreement, the provisions of
this Agreement or the Delaware Act would require for its approval the vote or consent of a greater
percentage of the Outstanding Units or of any class of Limited Partners, in which case such greater
percentage vote or consent shall be required for approval of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of
Conversion, as the case may be.
(c) Except as provided in Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(e), after such approval by vote or consent
of the Limited Partners, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger or
certificate of conversion pursuant to Section 14.4, the merger, consolidation or conversion may be
abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement or Plan of
Conversion, as the case may be.
(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the
General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or any
Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member
into, or convey all of the Partnership’s assets to, another limited liability entity that shall be
newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such conversion,
merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group Member if (i)
the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the conversion, merger or conveyance,
as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability under the Delaware Act of
any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership or 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 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
91
the Limited Partners
and the General Partner with substantially 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 (i) 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 under the Delaware Act of any Limited Partner or cause the
Partnership or 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
treated as such), (ii) 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, (iii) the
Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or consolidation, (iv) 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 (v)
the number of Partnership Interests to be issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation
does not exceed 20% of the Partnership Interests (other than Incentive Distribution Rights)
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 (i) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (ii)
effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for the Partnership if it is the Surviving
Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 14.3 shall be
effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.
Section
14.4 Certificate of Merger. Upon the required approval by the General Partner and the Unitholders
of a Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, a certificate of merger or
certificate of conversion, as applicable, shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act.
Section 14.5 Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.
(a) At the effective time of the certificate of merger:
(i) all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of the business entities that has
merged or consolidated, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to any
of those business entities and all other things and causes of action belonging to each of
those business entities, shall be vested in the Surviving Business Entity and after the
merger or consolidation shall be the property of the Surviving Business Entity to the extent
they were of each constituent business entity;
(ii) the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in any of those
constituent business entities shall not revert and is not in any way impaired because of the
merger or consolidation;
(iii) all rights of creditors and all liens on or security interests in property of any
of those constituent business entities shall be preserved unimpaired; and
92
(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
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 90% 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 in its
sole discretion, 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 (i) 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 (ii) the highest price paid by the General Partner or
any of its Affiliates for any such Limited Partner Interest of such class purchased
93
during the
90-day period preceding the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed.
(b) If the General Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership elects to
exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a), the
General Partner shall deliver to the Transfer Agent notice of such election to purchase (the
“Notice of Election to Purchase”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent to mail a copy of such Notice
of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Limited Partner Interests of such class (as of a
Record Date selected by the General Partner) at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the
Purchase Date. Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be published for a period of at
least three consecutive days in at least two daily newspapers of general circulation printed in the
English language and published in the Borough of Manhattan, New York. The Notice of Election to
Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price (determined in accordance with Section
15.1(a)) at which Limited Partner Interests will be purchased and state that the General Partner,
its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, elects to purchase such Limited Partner
Interests, upon surrender of Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests in the case
of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, 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 or admitted to
trading. 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 in
the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, 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) In the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, 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
94
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 or Assignee under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given
or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means
of written communication to the Partner or Assignee at the address described below. Any notice,
payment or report to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee 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 Interests 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 Interests by
reason of any assignment or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) a Partner shall
consent to receiving notices, demands, requests, reports or proxy materials via electronic mail or
by the Internet or (ii) the rules of the Commission shall permit any report or proxy materials to
be delivered electronically or made available via the Internet, any such notice, demand, request,
report or proxy materials shall be deemed given or made when delivered or made available via such
mode of delivery. 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 given or made in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 16.1 is returned marked to indicate that such notice, payment or report
was unable to be delivered, such notice, payment or report and, in the case of notices, payments or
reports returned by the United States Postal Service (or other physical mail delivery mail service
outside the United States of America), 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) or other
delivery if they are available for the Partner or Assignee 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 and Assignees. 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, Assignee 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.
95
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. Except for agreements with Affiliates of the General Partner, this Agreement
constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof
and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.
Section 16.5 Creditors. None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be
enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership.
Section 16.6 Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty,
agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a
breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or
condition.
Section 16.7 Third-Party Beneficiaries. Each Partner agrees that (a) 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 and (b) any
Unrestricted Person 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 Unrestricted Person.
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 hereof.
Section 16.9 Applicable Law; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction.
(a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State
of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.
(b) Each of the Partners and each Person holding any beneficial interest in the Partnership
(whether through a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any
of the foregoing or otherwise):
(i) irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings (A) arising out
of or relating in any way to this Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to
interpret, apply or enforce the provisions of this Agreement or the duties, obligations or
liabilities among Partners or of Partners to the Partnership, or the rights or powers of, or
restrictions on, the Partners or the Partnership), (B) brought in a derivative
96
manner on
behalf of the Partnership, (C) asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any
director, officer, or other employee of the Partnership or the General Partner, or owed by
the General Partner, to the Partnership or the Partners, (D) asserting a claim arising
pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Act or (E) asserting a claim governed by the
internal affairs doctrine shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State
of Delaware, in each case regardless of whether such claims, suits, actions or proceedings
sound in contract, tort, fraud or otherwise, are based on common law, statutory, equitable,
legal or other grounds, or are derivative or direct claims;
(ii) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the
State of Delaware in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding;
(iii) agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or
proceeding that (A) it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware or of any other court to which proceedings in the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or
proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action
or proceeding is improper;
(iv) expressly waives any requirement for the posting of a bond by a party bringing
such claim, suit, action or proceeding; and
(v) consents to process being served in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding by
mailing, certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy thereof to such party at the
address in effect for notices hereunder, and agrees that such services shall constitute good
and sufficient service of process and notice thereof; provided, nothing in clause (v) hereof
shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
Section 16.10 Invalidity of Provisions. If any provision or part of a provision of this Agreement is or
becomes for any reason, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality
and enforceability of the remaining provisions and part thereof contained herein shall not be
affected thereby and this Agreement shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reformed and
construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision, or part of a provision, had never
been contained herein, and such provision or part reformed so that it would be valid, legal and
enforceable to the maximum extent possible.
Section 16.11 Consent of Partners. Each Partner hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this
Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or consent of less
than all of the Partners, such action may be so taken upon the concurrence of less than all of the
Partners and each Partner shall be bound by the results of such action.
Section 16.12 Facsimile Signatures. The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of
the transfer agent and registrar of the Partnership on Certificates representing Units is expressly
permitted by this Agreement.
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
97
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the General Partner has executed this Agreement as of the date first
written above.
GENERAL PARTNER: COMPRESSCO PARTNERS GP INC. |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | President | |||
Signature Page
Compressco Partners, L.P.
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
Compressco Partners, L.P.
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
EXHIBIT A
to the First Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
to the First Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Compressco
Partners, L.P.
Certificate Evidencing Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
Compressco Partners, L.P.
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
Compressco Partners, L.P.
No. __________ __________ Common Units
In accordance with Section 4.1 of the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Compressco Partners, L.P., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time
(the “Partnership Agreement”), Compressco Partners, L.P., 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 Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 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 COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P. 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
COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P. UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE COMPRESSCO
PARTNERS, L.P. 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).
COMPRESSCO PARTNERS GP INC., THE GENERAL PARTNER OF COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P., 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 COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P. BECOMING
TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX
PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS
INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED
A-1
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 and (iii) 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: | Compressco Partners, L.P. | |||
Countersigned and Registered by: | By: Compressco Partners GP Inc. |
Computershare Trust Company, N.A., | By: | |||
As Transfer Agent and Registrar | Name: | |||
Title: | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
A-2
[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 _________ | |
JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of
survivorship and not as tenants in common
|
(Cust) (Minor) Under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors Act (State) |
Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.
ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS OF
COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P.
COMPRESSCO PARTNERS, L.P.
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 Compressco
Partners, L.P.
Date: ____________________________________
|
NOTE: The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular, without alteration, enlargement or change. | |
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE
GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE
GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS,
STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN
ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS
WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION
PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C.
RULE 17Ad-15
|
(Signature) (Signature) |
No transfer of the Common Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the
books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Common Units to
be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer.
A-3
APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER OF COMMON UNITS
Transferees of Common Units must execute and deliver this application to Compressco Partners,
L.P., 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000; Attention: Chief Financial
Officer, to be admitted as limited partners to Compressco Partners, L.P.
The undersigned (“Assignee”) hereby applies for transfer to the name of the Assignee of the
Common Units evidenced hereby.
The Assignee (a) requests admission as a Substituted Limited Partner and agrees to comply with
and be bound by, and hereby executes, the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of the Partnership, as amended, supplemented or restated to the date hereof (the
“Partnership Agreement”), (b) represents and warrants that the Assignee has all right, power and
authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement,
and (c) makes the waivers and gives the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership
Agreement. Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the
Partnership Agreement. This application constitutes a Citizenship Certification, as defined in the
Partnership Agreement.
Date: ________________________
Social Security or other identifying number
|
Signature of Assignee | |
Purchase Price including commissions, if any
|
Name and Address of Assignee |
A-4
Type of Entity (check one):
o Individual
|
o Partnership | o Corporation |
o Trust | o Other (specify) |
Nationality (check one):
o U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity
|
o Non-resident Alien | |
o Foreign Corporation |
If the U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity box is checked, the following certification
must be completed.
Under Section 1445(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the
Partnership must withhold tax with respect to certain transfers of property if a holder of an
interest in the Partnership is a foreign person. To inform the Partnership that no withholding is
required with respect to the undersigned interestholder’s interest in it, the undersigned hereby
certifies the following (or, if applicable, certifies the following on behalf of the
interestholder).
Complete Either A or B:
A. Individual Interestholder
1. I am not a non-resident alien for purposes of U.S. income taxation.
2. My U.S. taxpayer identification number (Social Security Number) is _____________.
3. My home address is ____________________________________________________.
B. Partnership, Corporation or Other Interestholder
1. __________________________ is not a foreign corporation, foreign partnership, foreign
trust (Name of Interestholder) or foreign estate (as those terms are defined in the Code and
Treasury Regulations).
2. The interestholder’s U.S. employer identification number is ____________________.
3. The interestholder’s office address and place of incorporation (if applicable) is ______________________________.
The interestholder agrees to notify the Partnership within sixty (60) days of the date the
interestholder becomes a foreign person.
The interestholder understands that this certificate may be disclosed to the Internal Revenue
Service by the Partnership and that any false statement contained herein could be punishable by
fine, imprisonment or both.
A-5
Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certification and, to the best
of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct and complete and, if applicable, I further declare
that I have authority to sign this document on behalf of:
Name of Interestholder
Signature and Date
Title (if applicable)
Note: If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other
nominee holder or an agent of any of the foregoing, and is holding for the account of any other
person, this application should be completed by an officer thereof or, in the case of a broker or
dealer, by a registered representative who is a member of a registered national securities exchange
or a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or, in the case of any other
nominee holder, a person performing a similar function. If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank,
trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee owner or an agent of any of the foregoing, the
above certification as to any person for whom the Assignee will hold the Common Units shall be made
to the best of the Assignee’s knowledge.
A-6