Exhibit 3.1
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
GLOBAL PARTNERS LP
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1
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Definitions
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2
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Section 1.2
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Construction; Prior Distributions of Available Cash from Operating
Surplus
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20
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ARTICLE II
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ORGANIZATION
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Section 2.1
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Formation
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20
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Section 2.2
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Name
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20
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Section 2.3
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Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices
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21
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Section 2.4
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Purpose and Business
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21
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Section 2.5
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Powers
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21
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Section 2.6
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Power of Attorney
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21
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Section 2.7
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Term
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23
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Section 2.8
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Title to Partnership Assets
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23
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ARTICLE III
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RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS
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Section 3.1
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Limitation of Liability
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24
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Section 3.2
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Management of Business
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24
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Section 3.3
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Outside Activities of the Limited Partners
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24
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Section 3.4
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Rights of Limited Partners
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24
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ARTICLE IV
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CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
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Section 4.1
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Certificates
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25
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Section 4.2
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Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates
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26
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Section 4.3
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Record Holders
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27
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Section 4.4
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Transfer Generally
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27
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Section 4.5
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Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests
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27
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Section 4.6
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Transfer of the General Partners General Partner Interest
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28
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Section 4.7
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Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights
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29
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Section 4.8
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Restrictions on Transfers
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30
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Section 4.9
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Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees
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31
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Section 4.10
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Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees
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32
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ARTICLE V
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CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
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Section 5.1
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Organizational Contributions
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33
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Section 5.2
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Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates
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33
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Section 5.3
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Contributions by Initial Limited Partners
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34
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Section 5.4
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Interest and Withdrawal
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34
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Section 5.5
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Capital Accounts
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34
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Section 5.6
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Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities
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37
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Section 5.7
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Conversion of Subordinated Units
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38
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Section 5.8
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Limited Preemptive Right
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39
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Section 5.9
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Splits and Combinations
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39
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Section 5.10
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Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests
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40
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ARTICLE VI
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ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
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Section 6.1
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Allocations for Capital Account Purposes
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40
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Section 6.2
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Allocations for Tax Purposes
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48
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Section 6.3
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Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to
Record Holders
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50
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Section 6.4
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Distributions of Available Cash from Distributable Cash Flow
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51
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Section 6.5
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Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus
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53
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Section 6.6
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Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution
Levels
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53
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Section 6.7
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Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units
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54
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Section 6.8
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Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution
Rights
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55
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Section 6.9
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Entity-Level Taxation
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55
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ARTICLE VII
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MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
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Section 7.1
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Management
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55
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Section 7.2
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Certificate of Limited Partnership
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58
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Section 7.3
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Restrictions on the General Partners Authority
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58
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Section 7.4
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Reimbursement of the General Partner
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58
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Section 7.5
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Outside Activities
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59
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ii
Section 7.6
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Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the
Partnership or Group Members
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60
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Section 7.7
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Indemnification
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61
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Section 7.8
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Liability of Indemnitees
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63
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Section 7.9
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Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and
Modification of Duties
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63
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Section 7.10
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Other Matters Concerning the General Partner
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65
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Section 7.11
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Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities
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65
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Section 7.12
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Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates
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66
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Section 7.13
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Reliance by Third Parties
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69
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ARTICLE VIII
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BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
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Section 8.1
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Records and Accounting
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70
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Section 8.2
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Fiscal Year
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70
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Section 8.3
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Reports
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70
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ARTICLE IX
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TAX MATTERS
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Section 9.1
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Tax Returns and Information
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71
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Section 9.2
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Tax Elections
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71
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Section 9.3
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Tax Controversies
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71
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Section 9.4
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Withholding
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72
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ARTICLE X
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ADMISSION OF PARTNERS
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Section 10.1
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Admission of Initial Limited Partners
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72
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Section 10.2
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Admission of Substituted Limited Partners
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72
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Section 10.3
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Admission of Successor General Partner
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73
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Section 10.4
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Admission of Additional Limited Partners
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73
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Section 10.5
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Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership
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73
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ARTICLE XI
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WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS
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Section 11.1
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Withdrawal of the General Partner
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74
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Section 11.2
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Removal of the General Partner
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75
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Section 11.3
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Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner
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76
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iii
Section 11.4
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Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units
and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages
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78
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Section 11.5
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Withdrawal of Limited Partners
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78
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ARTICLE XII
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DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
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Section 12.1
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Dissolution
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78
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Section 12.2
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Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution
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79
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Section 12.3
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Liquidator
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79
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Section 12.4
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Liquidation
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80
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Section 12.5
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Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership
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80
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Section 12.6
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Return of Contributions
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81
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Section 12.7
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Waiver of Partition
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81
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Section 12.8
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Capital Account Restoration
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81
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ARTICLE XIII
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AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT;
MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
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Section 13.1
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Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner
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81
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Section 13.2
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Amendment Procedures
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83
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Section 13.3
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Amendment Requirements
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83
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Section 13.4
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Special Meetings
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84
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Section 13.5
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Notice of a Meeting
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84
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Section 13.6
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Record Date
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84
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Section 13.7
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Adjournment
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85
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Section 13.8
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Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes
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85
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Section 13.9
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Quorum and Voting
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85
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Section 13.10
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Conduct of a Meeting
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86
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Section 13.11
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Action Without a Meeting
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86
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Section 13.12
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Right to Vote and Related Matters
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87
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ARTICLE XIV
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MERGER
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Section 14.1
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Authority
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87
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Section 14.2
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Procedure for Merger or Consolidation
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87
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Section 14.3
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Approval by Limited Partners of Merger or Consolidation
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88
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Section 14.4
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Certificate of Merger
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89
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Section 14.5
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Amendment of Partnership Agreement
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90
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Section 14.6
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Effect of Merger
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90
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iv
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ARTICLE XV
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RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
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Section 15.1
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Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests
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90
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ARTICLE XVI
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GENERAL PROVISIONS
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Section 16.1
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Addresses and Notices
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92
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Section 16.2
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Further Action
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93
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Section 16.3
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Binding Effect
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93
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Section 16.4
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Integration
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93
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Section 16.5
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Creditors
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93
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Section 16.6
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Waiver
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93
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Section 16.7
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Counterparts
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93
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Section 16.8
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Applicable Law
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94
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Section 16.9
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Invalidity of Provisions
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94
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Section 16.10
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Consent of Partners
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94
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Section 16.11
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Facsimile Signatures
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94
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v
THIRD
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF GLOBAL PARTNERS LP
THIS THIRD AMENDED AND
RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF GLOBAL PARTNERS LP dated as of December 9,
2009, is entered into by and between Global GP LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company, as the General Partner, and any other Persons who are or
become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein.
WHEREAS
, the General Partner and the Limited
Partners of the Partnership entered into that certain Second Amended and
Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated as of May 9, 2007, as
heretofore amended (the
Second A/R Partnership Agreement
);
WHEREAS
, the Board of
Directors deems it in the best interest of the Partnership to amend and restate
the Second A/R Partnership Agreement to: (i) replace the terms Operating
Surplus and Adjusted Operating Surplus with the term Distributable Cash Flow
and thereby eliminate the term Working Capital Borrowings; (ii) increase
the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, prospectively, from $0.4125 to $0.4625 per
Unit per Quarter; and (iii) remove the provisions that currently permit
early conversion of a portion of the subordinated units;
WHEREAS
, in accordance
with Section 13.2 of the Second A/R Partnership Agreement, the General
Partner proposed the aforementioned amendments and such proposed amendments
have been approved by the General Partner and the holders of a Unit Majority;
WHEREAS
, Section 13.1(d)(i) of
the Second A/R Partnership Agreement provides that the General Partner, without
the approval of any Partner or Assignee, may amend any provision of the Second
A/R Partnership Agreement to reflect a change that the General Partner
determines, 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; and
WHEREAS
, acting
pursuant to the power and authority granted to it under Section 13.1(d)(i) of
the Second A/R Partnership Agreement, the General Partner has determined that
certain changes to the Second A/R Partnership Agreement in addition to the
changes described above do 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 and has approved such additional
changes.
NOW, THEREFORE
, the Second A/R Partnership Agreement is amended and
restated to provide in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1
Definitions.
The following definitions
shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary,
applied to the terms used in this Agreement.
Additional Book Basis
means the portion of any remaining
Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property that is attributable to positive
adjustments made to such Carrying Value as a result of Book-Up Events. For purposes of determining the extent that
Carrying Value constitutes Additional Book Basis:
(a) Any negative adjustment made to the Carrying Value of an
Adjusted Property as a result of either a Book-Down Event or a Book-Up Event
shall first be deemed to offset or decrease that portion of the Carrying Value
of such Adjusted Property that is attributable to any prior positive
adjustments made thereto pursuant to a Book-Up Event or Book-Down Event.
(b) If Carrying Value that constitutes Additional Book Basis
is reduced as a result of a Book-Down Event and the Carrying Value of other
property is increased as a result of such Book-Down Event, an allocable portion
of any such increase in Carrying Value shall be treated as Additional Book
Basis;
provided
, that the amount
treated as Additional Book Basis pursuant hereto as a result of such Book-Down
Event shall not exceed the amount by which the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive
Adjustments after such Book-Down Event exceeds the remaining Additional Book
Basis attributable to all of the Partnerships 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 Partnerships 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.
Additional Limited Partner
means a Person admitted to the
Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.4 and who is shown
as such on the books and records of the Partnership.
Adjusted Capital Account
means the Capital Account
maintained for each Partner as of the end of each fiscal year of the
Partnership, (a) increased by any amounts that such Partner is obligated
to restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (or
is deemed obligated to restore under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and
1.704-
2
2(i)(5))
and (b) decreased by (i) the amount of all losses and deductions
that, as of the end of such fiscal year, are reasonably expected to be allocated
to such Partner in subsequent years under Sections 704(e)(2) and 706(d) of
the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.751-1(b)(2)(ii), and (ii) the
amount of all distributions that, as of the end of such fiscal year, are
reasonably expected to be made to such Partner in subsequent years in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement or otherwise to the extent they
exceed offsetting increases to such Partners Capital Account that are
reasonably expected to occur during (or prior to) the year in which such
distributions are reasonably expected to be made (other than increases as a
result of a minimum gain chargeback pursuant to Sections 6.1(d)(i) or
6.1(d)(ii)). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended
to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and
shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
The Adjusted Capital Account of a Partner in respect of a General
Partner Unit, a Common Unit, a Subordinated Unit or an Incentive Distribution
Right or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Adjusted
Capital Account would be if such General Partner Unit, Common Unit,
Subordinated Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest
were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after
the date on which such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Subordinated Unit,
Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest was first issued.
Adjusted Property
means any property the Carrying Value of
which has been adjusted pursuant to Sections 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 Remaining Net Positive Adjustments
means, as of
the end of any taxable period, the sum of the Remaining Net Positive
Adjustments of all the Partners.
Agreed Allocation
means any allocation, other than a
Required Allocation, of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to
the provisions of Section 6.1, including a Curative Allocation (if
appropriate to the context in which the term Agreed Allocation is used).
Agreed Value
of any Contributed Property means the fair
market value of such property or other consideration at the time of
contribution as determined by the General Partner. The General Partner shall use such method as
it determines to be appropriate to allocate the aggregate Agreed Value of
Contributed Properties contributed to the Partnership in a single or integrated
transaction among each separate property on a basis proportional to the fair
market value of each Contributed Property.
Agreement
means this Third Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of Global
Partners LP, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
Assignee
means a Non-citizen Assignee or a Person to whom
one or more Limited Partner Interests have been transferred in a manner
permitted under this Agreement and who has
3
executed
and delivered a Transfer Application as required by 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 or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or
more of any class of voting stock or other voting interest; (b) any trust
or other estate in which such Person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or
as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity;
and (c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such
spouse, who has the same principal residence as such Person.
Available Cash
means, with respect to any Quarter ending
prior to the Liquidation Date:
(a) all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group on
hand on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter,
less
(b) the amount of any cash reserves established by the General
Partner 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 Sections 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 (iii) above
if the effect of such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to
distribute the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all Common Units, plus any
Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage on all Common Units, with respect to such
Quarter; and, provided further, that disbursements made by a Group Member or
cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such Quarter
but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to
such Quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or
reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash, within such Quarter if the
General Partner so determines.
Notwithstanding the
foregoing,
Available Cash
with
respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent
Quarter shall equal zero.
Board of Directors
means, with respect to the Board of
Directors of the General Partner, its board of directors or managers, as
applicable, if a corporation or limited liability company, or if a limited
partnership, the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner
of the General Partner.
Book Basis Derivative Items
means any item of income,
deduction, gain or loss included in the determination of Net Income or Net Loss
that is computed with reference to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property
(e.g., depreciation, depletion, or gain or loss with respect to an Adjusted
Property).
4
Book-Down Event
means an event that triggers a negative
adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
Book-Tax Disparity
means with respect to any item of
Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination,
the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or
Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for federal income tax
purposes as of such date. A Partners
share of the Partnerships Book-Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed
Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such
Partners Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section 5.5
and the hypothetical balance of such Partners 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 Massachusetts shall not be regarded as a
Business Day.
Capital Account
means the capital account maintained for a
Partner pursuant to Section 5.5.
The
Capital Account
of a
Partner in respect of a General Partner Unit, a Common Unit, a Subordinated
Unit, an Incentive Distribution Right or any other Partnership Interest shall
be the amount that such Capital Account would be if such General Partner Unit,
Common Unit, Subordinated Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other
Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such
Partner from and after the date on which such General Partner Unit, Common
Unit, Subordinated Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest
was first issued.
Capital Contribution
means any cash, cash equivalents or
the Net Agreed Value of Contributed Property that a Partner contributes to the
Partnership.
Capital Surplus
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.3(a).
Carrying Value
means (a) with respect to a Contributed
Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all
depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions charged to the Partners
and Assignees Capital Accounts in respect of such Contributed Property, and (b) with
respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such property
for federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination. The Carrying Value of any property shall be
adjusted from time to time in accordance with Sections 5.5(d)(i) and
5.5(d)(ii) and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the
Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as
deemed appropriate by the General Partner.
Cause
means a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a
final, non-appealable judgment finding the General Partner liable for actual
fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as a general partner of the
Partnership.
5
Certificate
means (a) a certificate (i) substantially
in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement, (ii) issued in global
form in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Depositary or (iii) in
such other form as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the
Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more Common Units or (b) a
certificate, in such form as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by
the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more other Partnership
Securities.
Certificate of Limited Partnership
means the Certificate of
Limited Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware as referenced in Section 7.2, as such Certificate of
Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
Citizenship Certification
means a properly completed
certificate in such form as may be specified by the General Partner by which an
Assignee or a Limited Partner certifies that he (and if he is a nominee holding
for the account of another Person, that to the best of his knowledge such other
Person) is an Eligible Citizen.
claim
(as used in Section 7.12(d)) has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 7.12(d).
Closing Date
means the first date on which Common Units are
sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters pursuant to the provisions of the
Underwriting Agreement.
Closing Price
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).
Code
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
and in effect from time to time. Any
reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed
to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.
Combined Interest
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.3(a).
Commission
means the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Common Unit
means a Unit representing a fractional part of
the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees, and having the
rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this
Agreement. The term
Common Unit
does not include a Subordinated Unit prior to
its conversion into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof.
Common Unit Arrearage
means, with respect to any Common
Unit, whenever issued, as to any Quarter within the Subordination Period, the
excess, if any, of (a) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution with respect to
a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter over (b) the sum of all Available
Cash distributed with respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter
pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(i).
Conflicts Committee
means a committee of the Board of
Directors of the General Partner composed entirely of two or more directors who
are not (a) security holders, officers or employees of the General
Partner, (b) officers, directors or employees of any Affiliate of the
6
General
Partner or (c) holders of any ownership interest in the Partnership Group
other than Common Units and who also meet the independence standards required
of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors
established by the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which
the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading.
Contributed Property
means each property or other asset, in
such form as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, but excluding cash,
contributed to the Partnership. Once the
Carrying Value of a Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d),
such property shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be
deemed an Adjusted Property.
Contribution Agreement
means that certain Contribution and
Conveyance Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the General Partner,
the Partnership, the Operating Company and certain other parties, together with
the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced
thereunder, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage
means, with respect to any
Common Unit, whenever issued, and as of the end of any Quarter, the excess, if
any, of (a) the sum resulting from adding together the Common Unit
Arrearage as to an Initial Common Unit for each of the Quarters within the
Subordination Period ending on or before the last day of such Quarter over (b) the
sum of any distributions theretofore made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(ii) and
Section 6.5(a) with respect to an Initial Common Unit (including any
distributions to be made in respect of the last of such Quarters).
Curative Allocation
means any allocation of an item of
income, gain, deduction, loss or credit pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi).
Current Market Price
has the meaning assigned to such term
in Section 15.1(a).
Delaware Act
means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited
Partnership Act, 6 Del C. Section 17-101, et seq., as amended,
supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
Departing General Partner
means a former General Partner
from and after the effective date of any withdrawal or removal of such former
General Partner pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2.
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).
Distributable
Cash Flow
means, on a cumulative basis since the Closing Date and
without duplication, the sum of net income plus depreciation and amortization,
in each case calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP, minus Maintenance Capital
Expenditures, as adjusted
7
to
eliminate items approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors that
are extraordinary or non-recurring in nature and that would otherwise increase
Distributable Cash Flow.
Economic Risk of Loss
has the meaning set forth in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).
Eligible Citizen
means a Person qualified to own interests
in real property in jurisdictions in which any Group Member does business or
proposes to do business from time to time, and whose status as a Limited
Partner or Assignee does not or would not subject such Group Member to a
significant risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any of its properties or any
interest therein.
Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount
has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 6.9.
Event of Withdrawal
has the meaning assigned to such term
in Section 11.1(a).
Final Subordinated Units
has the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 6.1(d)(x).
First Liquidation Target Amount
has the meaning assigned to
such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(D).
First Target Distribution
means $0.4625 per Unit per
Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and
ending on December 31, 2005, it means the product of $0.4625 multiplied by
a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period, and of
which the denominator is 92), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections
6.6 and 6.9.
Fully
Diluted Basis
means, when calculating the number of Outstanding
Units for any period, a basis that includes, in addition to the Outstanding
Units, all Partnership Securities, options, rights, warrants and appreciation
rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership (a) that are
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Units that are senior to or
pari passu with the Subordinated Units, (b) whose conversion, exercise or
exchange price is less than the Current Market Price on the date of such
calculation, (c) that may be converted into or exercised or exchanged for
such Units prior to or during the Quarter immediately following the end of the
period for which the calculation is being made without the satisfaction of any
contingency beyond the control of the holder other than the payment of
consideration and the compliance with administrative mechanics applicable to
such conversion, exercise or exchange and (d) that were not converted into
or exercised or exchanged for such Units during the period for which the
calculation is being made;
provided
,
however,
that for purposes of
determining the number of Outstanding Units on a Fully Diluted Basis when
calculating whether the Subordination Period has ended or the Subordinated
Units are entitled to convert into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.7,
such Partnership Securities, options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights
shall be deemed to have been Outstanding Units only for the four Quarters that
comprise the last four Quarters of the measurement period;
provided
, further, that if consideration
will be paid to any Group Member in connection with such conversion, exercise
or
8
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 Global GP LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted
to the Partnership as general partner of the Partnership, in its capacity as
general partner of the Partnership (except as the context otherwise requires).
General Partner Interest
means the ownership interest of
the General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner
without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it), which is
evidenced by General Partner Units, and includes any and all benefits to which
the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with
all obligations of the General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions
of this Agreement.
General Partner Unit
means a fractional part of the General
Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to
the General Partner Interest. A General
Partner Unit is not a Unit.
Group
means a Person that with or through any of its
Affiliates or Associates has any contract, arrangement, understanding or
relationship for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting
pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a
proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons), exercising
investment power or disposing of any Partnership Interests with any other
Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially
own, directly or indirectly, Partnership Interests.
Group Member
means a member of the Partnership Group.
Group Member Agreement
means the partnership agreement of
any Group Member, other than the Partnership, that is a limited or general
partnership, the limited liability company agreement of any Group Member that
is a limited liability company, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or
similar organizational documents of any Group Member that is a corporation, the
joint venture agreement or similar governing document of any Group Member that
is a joint venture and the governing or organizational or similar documents of
any other Group Member that is a Person other than a limited or general
partnership, limited liability company, corporation or joint venture, as such
may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
Holder
as used in Section 7.12, has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 7.12(a).
Incentive Distribution Right
means a non-voting Limited
Partner Interest issued to the General Partner in connection with the transfer
of all of its interests in Global Companies LLC to the Partnership pursuant to
the Contribution Agreement, which Limited Partner Interest will confer upon the
holder thereof only the rights and obligations specifically provided in this
Agreement with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights (and no other rights
otherwise available
9
to
or other obligations of a holder of a Partnership Interest). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, the holder of an Incentive Distribution Right shall not be
entitled to vote such Incentive Distribution Right on any Partnership matter
except as may otherwise be required by law.
Incentive Distributions
means any amount of cash
distributed to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to
Sections 6.4(a)(v), 6.4(a)(vi) and 6.4(a)(vii) and Sections
6.4(b)(iii), 6.4(b)(iv) and 6.4(b)(v).
Indemnified Persons
has the meaning assigned to such term
in Section 7.12(d).
Indemnitee
means (a) the General Partner, (b) any
Departing General Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of
the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any Person who
is or was a member, partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of any
Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any
Affiliate of any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General
Partner, (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the
General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of the
General Partner or any Departing General Partner as an officer, director,
member, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided that a Person
shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis,
trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, and (f) any Person the General
Partner designates as an Indemnitee for purposes of this Agreement.
Initial Common Units
means the Common Units sold in the
Initial Offering.
Initial Limited Partners
means Chelsea Terminal Limited
Partnership, Sandwich Terminal, L.L.C., Global Petroleum Corp., Montello Oil
Corporation, Larea Holdings LLC, Larea Holdings II LLC, the General Partner
(with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights received by it pursuant to Section 5.2),
and the Underwriters, in each case upon being admitted to the Partnership in
accordance with Section 10.1.
Initial Offering
means the initial offering and sale of
Common Units to the public, as described in the Registration Statement.
Initial Unit
Price
means (a) with respect to the Common Units and the
Subordinated Units, the initial public offering price per Common Unit at which
the Underwriters offered the Common Units to the public for sale as set forth
on the cover page of the prospectus included as part of the Registration
Statement and first issued at or after the time the Registration Statement
first became effective or (b) with respect to any other class or series of
Units, the price per Unit at which such class or series of Units is initially
sold by the Partnership, as determined by the General Partner, in each case
adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to
any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units.
Issue Price
means the price at which a Unit is purchased from the Partnership, after taking
into account any sales commission or underwriting discount charged to the
Partnership and after taking into account any other form of discount with
respect to the price at which a Unit is purchased from the Partnership.
10
Limited Partner
means, unless the context otherwise
requires, (a) the Organizational Limited Partner prior to its withdrawal
from the Partnership, each Initial Limited Partner, each Substituted Limited
Partner, each Additional Limited Partner 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 Persons capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership
or (b) solely for purposes of Articles V, VI, VII and IX, 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 Securities 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.
Maintenance
Capital Expenditures
means capital expenditures to repair or
replace partially or fully depreciated assets to maintain the operating
capacity of or sales and revenues generated by existing assets of the
Partnership Group or to extend the useful lives of such assets.
Merger Agreement
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1.
Minimum Quarterly Distribution
means (a) $0.4125 per
Unit per Quarter (or with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date
and ending on December 31, 2005, it means the product of $0.4125
multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such
period and of which the denominator is 92) for all Quarters ending on or prior
to September 30, 2009 and (b) $0.4625 per Unit per Quarter for all
Quarters ending on or after
September 30,
2009, in each case subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 6.6 and
6.9.
11
National Securities Exchange
means an exchange registered
with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Securities Exchange
Act, and any successor to such statute.
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
Partnerships Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(ii))
at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any indebtedness either
assumed by such Partner or Assignee upon such distribution or to which such
property is subject at the time of distribution, in either case, as determined
under Section 752 of the Code.
Net Income
means, for any taxable year, the excess, if any,
of the Partnerships items of income and gain (other than those items taken
into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination
Loss) for such taxable year over the Partnerships items of loss and deduction
(other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net
Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year. The items included in the calculation of Net
Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall
not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d);
provided
, that the determination of the
items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall
be made as if Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement.
Net Loss
means, for any taxable year, the excess, if any,
of the Partnerships items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken
into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination
Loss) for such taxable year over the Partnerships items of income and gain
(other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net
Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year. The items included in the calculation of Net
Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall
not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d);
provided
, that the determination of the
items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall
be made as if Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement.
Net Positive Adjustments
means, with respect to any
Partner, the excess, if any, of the total positive adjustments over the total
negative adjustments made to the Capital Account of such Partner pursuant to
Book-Up Events and Book-Down Events.
Net
Termination Gain
means, for any taxable year, the sum, if positive,
of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the Partnership (a) after
the Liquidation Date or (b) 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). The items included in the determination of Net
Termination Gain shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and
shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).
Net
Termination Loss
means, for any taxable year, the sum, if negative,
of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the Partnership (a) after
the Liquidation Date or (b) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition
of all or substantially all of the assets of the
12
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). The items included in the
determination of Net Termination Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and
shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).
Non-citizen Assignee
means a Person whom the General
Partner has determined does not constitute an Eligible Citizen and as to whose
Partnership Interest the General Partner has become the Substituted Limited
Partner, pursuant to Section 4.9.
Nonrecourse Built-in Gain
means with respect to any
Contributed Properties or Adjusted Properties that are subject to a mortgage or
pledge securing a Nonrecourse Liability, the amount of any taxable gain that
would be allocated to the Partners pursuant to Sections 6.2(b)(i)(A),
6.2(b)(ii)(A) and 6.2(b)(iii) if such properties were disposed of in
a taxable transaction in full satisfaction of such liabilities and for no other
consideration.
Nonrecourse Deductions
means any and all items of loss,
deduction or expenditure (including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of
the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b),
are attributable to a Nonrecourse Liability.
Nonrecourse Liability
has the meaning set forth in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.752-1(a)(2).
Notice of Election to Purchase
has the meaning assigned to
such term in Section 15.1(b).
Omnibus Agreement
means that certain Omnibus Agreement,
dated as of the Closing Date, among the General Partner, the Partnership, the
Operating Company and certain other parties thereto, as such may be amended,
supplemented or restated from time to time.
Operating Company
means Global Operating LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company, and any successors thereto.
Opinion of Counsel
means a written opinion of counsel (who
may be regular counsel to the Partnership or the General Partner or any of its
Affiliates) acceptable to the General Partner.
Option Closing Date
means the date or dates on which any
Common Units are sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters upon exercise of
the Over-Allotment Option.
Organizational Limited Partner
means Global Petroleum
Corp. in its capacity as the
organizational limited partner of the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.
Outstanding
means, with respect to Partnership Securities,
all Partnership Securities that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as
outstanding on the Partnerships 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 Securities of any class then
Outstanding, all Partnership Securities
13
owned
by such Person or Group shall not be voted on any matter and shall not be
considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners
to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required
votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under
this Agreement, except that Units so owned shall be considered to be
Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Units shall
not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Securities for
purposes of this Agreement);
provided
,
further, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) any Person
or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of
any class then Outstanding directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates,
(ii) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding
Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly
from a Person or Group described in clause (i) provided that the General
Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such
limitation shall not apply, or (iii) any Person or Group who acquired 20%
or more of any Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership with the prior
approval of the Board of Directors.
Over-Allotment Option
means the over-allotment option
granted to the Underwriters by the Partnership pursuant to the Underwriting
Agreement.
Partner Nonrecourse Debt
has the meaning set forth in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).
Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain
has the meaning set
forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
Partner Nonrecourse Deductions
means any and all items of
loss, deduction or expenditure (including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of
the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i),
are attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt.
Partners
means the General Partner and the Limited
Partners.
Partnership
means Global Partners LP, a Delaware limited
partnership.
Partnership Group
means the Partnership and its
Subsidiaries treated as a single consolidated entity.
Partnership Interest
means an interest in the Partnership,
which shall include the General Partner Interest and Limited Partner Interests.
Partnership Minimum Gain
means that amount determined in
accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(d).
Partnership Security
means any class or series of equity
interest in the Partnership (but excluding any options, rights, warrants and
appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership),
including Common Units, Subordinated Units, General Partner Units and Incentive
Distribution Rights.
14
Percentage Interest
means as of any date
of determination (a) as to the General Partner with respect to General
Partner Units and as to any Unitholder or Assignee holding Units, the product
obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to clause (b) by
(ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of Units held
by such Unitholder or Assignee or the number of General Partner Units held by
the General Partner, as the case may be, by (B) the total number of all
Outstanding Units and all General Partner Units, and (b) as to the holders
of other Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.6,
the percentage established as a part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest with respect to an
Incentive Distribution Right shall at all times be zero.
Person
means an individual or a corporation, 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
Unit held by a Person other than the General Partner or any Affiliate of the
General Partner who holds Units.
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 first fiscal quarter
of the Partnership after the Closing Date, the period commencing on the Closing
Date and ending on December 31, 2005.
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.
15
Record Holder
means the Person in whose name a Common Unit
is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the opening of business
on a particular Business Day, or with respect to other Partnership Interests,
the Person in whose name any such other Partnership Interest is registered on
the books that the General Partner has caused to be kept as of the opening of
business on such Business Day.
Redeemable Interests
means any Partnership Interests for
which a redemption notice has been given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant
to Section 4.10.
Registration Statement
means the Registration Statement on Form S-1
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 Units), the
excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the General Partner as of
the end of such period over (b) the sum of the General Partners Share of
Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to the General Partner
Units for each prior taxable period, and (iii) with respect to the holders
of Incentive Distribution Rights, the excess of (a) the Net Positive
Adjustments of the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of
such period over (b) the sum of the Share of Additional Book Basis
Derivative Items of the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights for each
prior taxable period.
Required Allocations
means (a) any limitation imposed
on any allocation of Net Losses or Net Termination Losses under Sections 6.1(b) or
6.1(c)(ii), and (b) any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss or
deduction pursuant to Sections 6.1(d)(i), 6.1(d)(ii), 6.1(d)(iv), 6.1(d)(vii) or
6.1(d)(ix).
Residual Gain or Residual Loss
means any item of gain or
loss, as the case may be, of the Partnership recognized for federal income tax
purposes resulting from a sale, exchange or other disposition of a Contributed
Property or Adjusted Property, to the extent such item of gain or loss is not
allocated pursuant to Sections 6.2(b)(i)(A) or 6.2(b)(ii)(A),
respectively, to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.
Retained Converted Subordinated Unit
has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.5(c)(ii).
Second A/R Partnership Agreement
has the meaning assigned
to such term in the Recitals.
Second Liquidation Target Amount
has the meaning assigned
to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(E).
16
Second Target Distribution
means $0.5375 per Unit per
Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and
ending on December 31, 2005, it means the product of $0.5375 multiplied by
a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period
and of which the denominator is 92), subject to adjustment in accordance with
Sections 6.6 and 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 Adjustments as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate
Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time, (ii) with respect to
the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Units), the amount that
bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the
General Partners Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such
period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustment as of that
time, and (iii) with respect to the Partners holding Incentive
Distribution Rights, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional
Book Basis Derivative Items as the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of the
Partners holding the Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such period
bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time.
Special Approval
means approval by a majority of the
members of the Conflicts Committee.
Subordinated Unit
means a Unit representing a fractional
part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees and
having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Subordinated Units
in this Agreement. The term Subordinated
Unit does not include a Common Unit. 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 day of any Quarter beginning after December 31,
2010 in respect of which (i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from
Distributable Cash Flow on each of the Outstanding Common Units and
Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in
right of distribution to the Subordinated Units and the General Partner Units
with respect to each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter
periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution on each of the Outstanding Common Units and
Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in
right of distribution to the Subordinated Units and the General Partner Units
during such periods and (B) the Distributable Cash Flow generated during
each of the three
17
consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter
periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the
Minimum Quarterly Distributions on each of the Outstanding Common Units,
Subordinated Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in right of
distribution to the Subordinated Units that were Outstanding during such
periods on a Fully Diluted Basis, and the General Partner Units, with respect
to each such period and (ii) there are no Cumulative Common Unit
Arrearages; and
(b) the date on which the General Partner is removed as
general partner of the Partnership upon the requisite vote by holders of
Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist and Units held
by the General Partner and its Affiliates are not voted in favor of such
removal.
Subsidiary
means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation
of which more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard
to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or
other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at
the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such
Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or
limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of
determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if
more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership (considering all
of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned,
directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or
more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any
other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person,
one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or
indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority
ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a
majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.
Substituted Limited Partner
means a Person who is admitted
as a Limited Partner to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2 in place
of and 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
has the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 14.2(b).
Third Target Distribution
means $0.6625 per Unit per
Quarter (or, with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and
ending on December 31, 2005, it means the product of $0.6625 multiplied by
a fraction of which the numerator is equal to the number of days in such period
and of which the denominator is 92), subject to adjustment in accordance with
Sections 6.6 and 6.9.
Trading Day
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).
transfer
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.4(a).
Transfer Agent
means such bank, trust company or other
Person (including the General Partner or one of its Affiliates) as shall be
appointed from time to time by the General Partner to act as registrar and
transfer agent for the Common Units;
provided
,
that if no Transfer Agent is
18
specifically
designated for any other Partnership Securities, 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 September 28, 2005 among the Underwriters, the
Partnership, the General Partner, the Operating Company and other parties
thereto, providing for the purchase of Common Units by the Underwriters.
Unit
means a Partnership Security that is designated as a Unit
and shall include Common Units and Subordinated Units but shall not include (a) General
Partner Units (or the General Partner Interest represented thereby) or (b) Incentive
Distribution Rights.
Unitholders
means the holders of Units.
Unit Majority
means, 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 single class and at
least a majority of the Outstanding Subordinated Units voting as a single
class, and after the end of the Subordination Period, at least a majority of
the Outstanding Common Units.
Unpaid MQD
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(B).
Unrealized Gain
attributable to any item of Partnership
property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the
fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d))
over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any
adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date).
Unrealized Loss
attributable to any item of Partnership
property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the
Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be
made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date) over (b) the fair
market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)).
Unrecovered Initial Unit Price
means at any time, with
respect to a Unit, the Initial Unit Price less the sum of all distributions
constituting Capital Surplus theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common
Unit and any distributions of cash (or the Net Agreed Value of any
distributions in kind) in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of
the Partnership theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit, adjusted
as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any
distribution, subdivision or combination of such Units.
19
U.S. GAAP
means United States generally accepted accounting
principles consistently applied.
Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel
has the meaning assigned to
such term in Section 11.1(b).
Section 1.2
Construction;
Prior Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus.
(a) Unless the context requires otherwise: (i) any pronoun used in this Agreement
shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the
singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice
versa; (ii) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and
Sections of this Agreement; (iii) the terms include, includes, including
and words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words without
limitation; and (iv) the terms hereof, herein and hereunder refer
to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement. The table of contents and
headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall
not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(b) All distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus
pursuant to, and as defined in, the Second A/R Partnership Agreement or any
prior version of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been distributions of
Distributable Cash Flow for all purposes of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.1
Formation.
The General Partner and the
Organizational Limited Partner have previously formed the Partnership as a
limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. This amendment and restatement shall become
effective on the date of this Agreement.
Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the
rights, duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the
Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership
shall be governed by the Delaware Act.
All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the
owner thereof for all purposes.
Section 2.2
Name.
The name of the Partnership
shall be Global Partners LP. The
Partnerships 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 Partnerships
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.
20
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 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington,
Delaware 19808-1645, and the registered agent for service of process on the
Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be
Corporation Service Company. The
principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 800 South Street,
Waltham, Massachusetts 02454 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 shall determine necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be
800 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454 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 engage
directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any corporation,
partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to
engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the General
Partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized
pursuant to the Delaware Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of
the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements
relating to such business activity, and do anything necessary or appropriate to
the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a
Group Member;
provided, however
,
that the General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to engage, directly or
indirectly, in any business activity that the General Partner determines would
cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation
or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the
General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve, and may
decline to propose or approve, the conduct by the Partnership of any business
free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any
Limited Partner or Assignee and, in declining to so propose or approve, shall
not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed
by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated
hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or
at equity.
Section 2.5
Powers.
The Partnership shall be
empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary or appropriate for the
furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described in Section 2.4
and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership.
Section 2.6
Power of Attorney.
(a)
Each Limited Partner and
each Assignee hereby constitutes and appoints the General Partner and, if a
Liquidator shall have been selected pursuant to Section 12.3, the
Liquidator (and any successor to the Liquidator by merger, transfer,
assignment, election or otherwise) and each of their authorized officers and
attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with
21
full power of substitution, as his true and
lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his name,
place and stead, to:
(i)
execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and
record in the appropriate public offices (A) all certificates, documents
and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited
Partnership and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof) that the
General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to
form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Partnership as
a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited
liability) in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the
Partnership may conduct business or own property; (B) all certificates,
documents and other instruments that the General Partner or the Liquidator
determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance with its
terms, any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement; (C) all
certificates, documents and other instruments (including conveyances and a
certificate of cancellation) that the General Partner or the Liquidator
determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution and
liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (D) all
certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal,
removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or other events described
in, Articles IV, X, XI or XII; (E) all certificates, documents and other
instruments relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and
privileges of any class or series of Partnership Securities issued pursuant to Section 5.6;
and (F) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including
agreements and a certificate of merger) relating to a merger, consolidation or
conversion of the Partnership pursuant to Article XIV; and
(ii)
execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and
record all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and
other instruments that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be
necessary or appropriate to (A) make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify
any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action that is made or given by
the Partners hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement or (B) effectuate
the terms or intent of this Agreement;
provided
,
that when required by Section 13.3 or any other provision of this
Agreement that establishes a percentage of the Limited Partners or of the
Limited Partners of any class or series required to take any action, the
General Partner and the Liquidator may exercise the power of attorney made in
this Section 2.6(a)(ii) only after the necessary vote, consent or
approval of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of such class or
series, as applicable.
Nothing contained in this Section 2.6(a) shall
be construed as authorizing the General Partner to amend this Agreement except
in accordance with Article XIII or as may be otherwise expressly provided
for in this Agreement.
(b)
The foregoing power of
attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an
interest, and it shall survive and, to the maximum extent permitted by law, not
be affected by the subsequent death, incompetency, disability, incapacity,
dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of any Limited Partner or Assignee and
the transfer of all or any
22
portion of such Limited Partners or Assignees
Partnership Interest and shall extend to such Limited Partners or Assignees
heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. Each such Limited Partner or Assignee hereby
agrees to be bound by any representation made by the General Partner or the
Liquidator acting in good faith pursuant to such power of attorney; and each such
Limited Partner or Assignee, to the maximum extent permitted by law, hereby
waives any and all defenses that may be available to contest, negate or
disaffirm the action of the General Partner or the Liquidator taken in good
faith under such power of attorney. Each
Limited Partner or Assignee shall execute and deliver to the General Partner or
the Liquidator, within 15 days after receipt of the request therefor, such
further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as the General
Partner or the Liquidator may request in order to effectuate this Agreement and
the purposes of the Partnership.
Section 2.7
Term.
The term of the Partnership
commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Limited Partnership in
accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence until the dissolution
of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII. The
existence of the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until
the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the
Delaware Act.
Section 2.8
Title to Partnership Assets.
Title to Partnership assets,
whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be
deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner 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.
23
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 Partnerships
business, transact any business in the Partnerships name or have the power to
sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. Any action taken by any Affiliate of the
General Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general
partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or
any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or
trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall not be deemed to be
participation in the control of the business of the Partnership by a limited
partner of the Partnership (within the meaning of Section 17-303(a) of
the Delaware Act) and shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on
the liability of the Limited Partners or Assignees under this Agreement.
Section 3.3
Outside Activities of the
Limited Partners.
Subject to the provisions of
Section 7.5 and the Omnibus Agreement, 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 Partners interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon
reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand, and at such
Limited Partners 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 Partnerships federal, state and local income tax returns for each
year;
24
(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 and Assignees, for such period of time
as the General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that the
General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other
information the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes (A) is
not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the
Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required
by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than
agreements with Affiliates of the Partnership the primary purpose of which is
to circumvent the obligations set forth in this Section 3.4).
ARTICLE IV
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 4.1
Certificates.
Upon the Partnerships
issuance of Common Units or Subordinated Units to any Person, the Partnership
shall issue, upon the request of such Person, one or more Certificates in the
name of such Person evidencing the number of such Units being so issued. In addition, (a) upon the General
Partners request, the Partnership shall issue to it one or more Certificates
in the name of the General Partner evidencing its General Partner Units and (b) upon
the request of any Person owning Incentive Distribution Rights or any other
Partnership Securities other than Common Units or Subordinated Units, the
Partnership shall issue to such Person one or more certificates evidencing such
Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership Securities other than Common
Units or Subordinated Units.
Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the
Chairman of the Board, President or any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President
or Vice President and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the General
Partner. No Common Unit Certificate
shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer
Agent;
provided
,
however
, that if the General Partner
elects to issue Common Units in global form, the Common Unit Certificates shall
be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that
the Common Units have been duly registered
25
in
accordance with the directions of the Partnership. Subject to the requirements of Section 6.7(b),
the Partners holding Certificates evidencing Subordinated Units may exchange
such Certificates for Certificates evidencing Common Units on or after the date
on which such Subordinated Units are converted into Common Units pursuant to
the terms of Section 5.7.
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 Securities as the
Certificate so surrendered.
(b)
The appropriate officers of
the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and
the Transfer Agent shall countersign, a new Certificate in place of any
Certificate previously issued if the Record Holder of the Certificate:
(i)
makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance
satisfactory to the General Partner, that a previously issued Certificate has
been lost, destroyed or stolen;
(ii)
requests the issuance of a new Certificate before
the General Partner has notice that the Certificate has been acquired by a
purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;
(iii)
if requested by the General Partner, delivers to the
General Partner a bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the General
Partner, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the General
Partner may direct to indemnify the Partnership, the Partners, the General
Partner and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on account of
the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the Certificate; and
(iv)
satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed
by the General Partner.
If a Limited Partner or
Assignee fails to notify the General Partner within a reasonable period of time
after he has notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a Certificate, and a
transfer of the Limited Partner Interests represented by the Certificate is
registered before the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent
receives such notification, the Limited Partner or 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.
26
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 (a) shall
be the Partner or Assignee (as the case may be) of record and beneficially, (b) must
execute and deliver a Transfer Application and (c) shall be bound by this
Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of a Partner or Assignee
(as the case may be) hereunder and as, and to the extent, provided for herein.
Section 4.4
Transfer Generally.
(a)
The term transfer, when
used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall be deemed
to refer to a transaction (i) by which the General Partner assigns its
General Partner Units to another Person or by which a holder of Incentive
Distribution Rights assigns its Incentive Distribution Rights to another
Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance,
hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise
or (ii) by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest (other than an
Incentive Distribution Right) assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another
Person who is or becomes a Limited Partner or an Assignee, and includes a sale,
assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise,
including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance,
hypothecation or mortgage.
(b)
No Partnership Interest
shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms
and conditions set forth in this Article IV. Any transfer or purported
transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article IV
shall be null and void.
(c)
Nothing contained in this
Agreement shall be construed to prevent a disposition by any stockholder,
member, partner or other owner of the General Partner of any or all of the
shares of stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other ownership
interests in the General Partner.
Section 4.5
Registration and Transfer of
Limited Partner Interests.
(a)
The General Partner shall
keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Partnership a register in which,
subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the
provisions of Section 4.5(b), the Partnership will provide for the
registration and transfer of Limited Partner Interests. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed
registrar and transfer agent for the purpose of registering Common Units and
transfers of such Common Units as herein
27
provided.
The Partnership shall not recognize transfers of Certificates evidencing
Limited Partner Interests unless such transfers are effected in the manner
described in this Section 4.5. Upon surrender of a Certificate for
registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a
Certificate, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the
appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall
execute and deliver, and in the case of Common Units, the Transfer Agent shall
countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee
or transferees, as required pursuant to the holders instructions, one or more
new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited
Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered.
(b)
Except as otherwise provided
in Section 4.9, the General Partner shall not recognize any transfer of
Limited Partner Interests until the Certificates evidencing such Limited
Partner Interests are surrendered for registration of transfer and such
Certificates are accompanied by a Transfer Application duly executed by the transferee
(or the transferees 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. No distributions or allocations will be made
in respect of the Limited Partner Interests until a properly completed Transfer
Application has been delivered.
(c)
Limited Partner Interests
may be transferred only in the manner described in this Section 4.5. 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 Record Holder of
a Limited Partner Interest shall be an Assignee in respect of such Limited
Partner Interest. Limited Partners may
include custodians, nominees or any other individual or entity in its own or
any representative capacity.
(e)
A transferee of a Limited
Partner Interest who has completed and delivered a Transfer Application shall
be deemed to have (i) requested admission as a Substituted Limited
Partner, (ii) agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed
this Agreement, (iii) represented and warranted that such transferee has
the right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity to enter
into this Agreement, (iv) granted the powers of attorney set forth in this
Agreement and (v) given the consents and approvals and made the waivers
contained in this Agreement.
(f)
The General Partner and its
Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their Subordinated
Units and Common Units (whether issued upon conversion of the Subordinated
Units or otherwise) to one or more Persons.
Section 4.6
Transfer of the General
Partners General Partner Interest.
(a)
Subject to Section 4.6(c) below,
prior to September 30, 2015, the General Partner shall not transfer all or
any part of its General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units)
to a Person unless such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior
written consent or vote
28
of the holders of at least a majority of the
Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner
and its Affiliates) or (ii) is of all, but not less than all, of its
General Partner Interest to (A) an Affiliate of the General Partner (other
than an individual) or (B) another Person (other than an individual) in
connection with the merger or consolidation of the General Partner with or into
such other Person or the transfer by the General Partner of all or substantially
all of its assets to such other Person.
(b)
Subject to Section 4.6(c) below,
on or after September 30, 2015, the General Partner may at its option
transfer all or any of its General Partner Interest without Unitholder
approval.
(c)
Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of all or any part
of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the
transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the General Partner under
this Agreement and to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the
Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result
in the loss of limited liability under Delaware law 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 of the General Partner as the general
partner or managing member, if any, of each other Group Member. In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in
compliance with this Section 4.6, the transferee or successor (as the case
may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of Section 10.3, be
admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner immediately prior to the
transfer of the General Partner Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall
continue without dissolution.
Section 4.7
Transfer of Incentive
Distribution Rights.
Prior to September 30,
2015, a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of the
Incentive Distribution Rights held by such holder without any consent of the
Unitholders to (a) an Affiliate of such holder (other than an individual)
or (b) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with (i) the
merger or consolidation of such holder of Incentive Distribution Rights with or
into such other Person, (ii) the transfer by such holder of all or
substantially all of its assets to such other Person or (iii) the sale of
all the ownership interests in such holder.
Any other transfer of the Incentive Distribution Rights prior to September 30,
2015 shall require the prior approval of holders of at least a majority of the
Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner
and its Affiliates). On or after September 30,
2015, the General Partner or any other holder of Incentive Distribution Rights
may transfer any or all of its Incentive Distribution Rights without Unitholder
approval. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, no transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights to another
Person shall be permitted unless the transferee agrees to be bound by the
provisions of this Agreement. The
General Partner and any transferee or transferees of the Incentive Distribution
Rights may agree in a separate instrument as to the General Partners exercise
of its rights with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights under Section 11.3
hereof.
29
Section 4.8
Restrictions on Transfers.
(a)
Except as provided in Section 4.8(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 receives an
Opinion of Counsel that such restrictions are necessary to avoid a significant
risk of the Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming
taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may impose such
restrictions by amending this Agreement;
provided
,
however
, that any amendment that
would result in the delisting or suspension of trading of any class of Limited
Partner Interests on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such
class of Limited Partner Interests is then listed or admitted to trading must
be approved, prior to such amendment being effected, by the holders of at least
a majority of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of such class.
(c)
The transfer of a
Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject to the
restrictions imposed by Section 6.7(b).
(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 THE PARTNERSHIP 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 THE PARTNERSHIP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF DELAWARE, OR (C) 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). GLOBAL GP LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF THE
PARTNERSHIP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS
SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL
30
THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID
A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF THE PARTNERSHIP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR
OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE
RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY
TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY
NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO
TRADING.
Section 4.9
Citizenship Certificates;
Non-citizen Assignees.
(a)
If any Group Member is or
becomes subject to any federal, state or local law or regulation that the
General Partner determines would create a substantial risk of cancellation or
forfeiture of any property in which the Group Member has an interest based on
the nationality, citizenship or other related status of a Limited Partner or
Assignee, the General Partner may request any Limited Partner or Assignee to
furnish to the General Partner, within 30 days after receipt of such request,
an executed Citizenship Certification or such other information concerning his
nationality, citizenship or other related status (or, if the Limited Partner or
Assignee is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, the
nationality, citizenship or other related status of such Person) as the General
Partner may request. If a Limited
Partner or Assignee fails to furnish to the General Partner within the
aforementioned 30-day period such Citizenship Certification or other requested
information or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other
requested information the General Partner determines that a Limited Partner or
Assignee is not an Eligible Citizen, the Limited Partner Interests owned by
such Limited Partner or Assignee shall be subject to redemption in accordance
with the provisions of Section 4.10.
In addition, the General Partner may require that the status of any such
Limited Partner or Assignee be changed to that of a Non-citizen Assignee and,
thereupon, the General Partner shall be substituted for such Non-citizen
Assignee as the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-citizen Assignees
Limited Partner Interests.
(b)
The General Partner shall,
in exercising voting rights in respect of Limited Partner Interests held by it
on behalf of Non-citizen Assignees, distribute the votes in the same ratios as
the votes of Partners (including the General Partner) in respect of Limited
Partner Interests other than those of Non-citizen Assignees are cast, either
for, against or abstaining as to the matter.
(c)
Upon dissolution of the
Partnership, a Non-citizen Assignee shall have no right to receive a
distribution in kind pursuant to Section 12.4 but shall be entitled to the
cash equivalent thereof, and the Partnership shall provide cash in exchange for
an assignment of the Non-citizen Assignees share of any distribution in
kind. Such payment and assignment shall
be treated for Partnership purposes as a purchase by the Partnership from the
Non-citizen Assignee of his Limited Partner Interest (representing his right to
receive his share of such distribution in kind).
(d)
At any time after he can and
does certify that he has become an Eligible Citizen, a Non-citizen Assignee
may, upon application to the General Partner, request admission as a
Substituted Limited Partner with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of
such Non-citizen Assignee not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.10, and upon
his admission pursuant to Section
31
10.2, the General Partner shall cease to be
deemed to be the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-citizen Assignees
Limited Partner Interests.
Section 4.10
Redemption of Partnership
Interests of Non-citizen Assignees.
(a)
If at any time a Limited
Partner or Assignee fails to furnish a Citizenship Certification or other
information requested within the 30-day period specified in Section 4.9(a),
or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other information the
General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner
or Assignee is not an Eligible Citizen, the Partnership may, unless the Limited
Partner or Assignee establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that
such Limited Partner or Assignee is an Eligible Citizen or has transferred his
Partnership Interests to a Person who is an Eligible Citizen and who furnishes
a Citizenship Certification to the General Partner prior to the date fixed for
redemption as provided below, redeem the Limited Partner Interest of such Limited
Partner or Assignee as follows:
(i)
The General Partner shall, not later than the 30th
day before the date fixed for redemption, give notice of redemption to the
Limited Partner or Assignee, at his last address designated on the records of
the Partnership or the Transfer Agent, by registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid. The notice shall be deemed to
have been given when so mailed. The
notice shall specify the Redeemable Interests, the date fixed for redemption,
the place of payment, that payment of the redemption price will be made upon
surrender of the Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Interests and that on
and after the date fixed for redemption no further allocations or distributions
to which the Limited Partner or Assignee would otherwise be entitled in respect
of the Redeemable Interests will accrue or be made.
(ii)
The aggregate redemption price for Redeemable
Interests shall be an amount equal to the Current Market Price (the date of
determination of which shall be the date fixed for redemption) of Limited
Partner Interests of the class to be so redeemed multiplied by the number of
Limited Partner Interests of each such class included among the Redeemable
Interests. The redemption price shall be
paid, as determined by the General Partner, in cash or by delivery of a
promissory note of the Partnership in the principal amount of the redemption
price, bearing interest at the rate of 10% annually and payable in three equal
annual installments of principal together with accrued interest, commencing one
year after the redemption date.
(iii)
Upon surrender by or on behalf of the Limited
Partner or Assignee, at the place specified in the notice of redemption, of the
Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Interests, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied
by an assignment duly executed in blank, the Limited Partner or Assignee or his
duly authorized representative shall be entitled to receive the payment
therefor.
(iv)
After the redemption date, Redeemable Interests
shall no longer constitute issued and Outstanding Limited Partner Interests.
32
(b)
The provisions of this Section 4.10
shall also be applicable to Limited Partner Interests held by a Limited Partner
or Assignee as nominee of a Person determined to be other than an Eligible
Citizen.
(c)
Nothing in this Section 4.10
shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption from transferring his
Limited Partner Interest before the redemption date if such transfer is
otherwise permitted under this Agreement.
Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the General Partner shall
withdraw the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such Limited
Partner Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner in a
Citizenship Certification delivered in connection with the Transfer Application
that he is an Eligible Citizen. If the
transferee fails to make such certification, such redemption shall be effected
from the transferee on the original redemption date.
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 5.1
Organizational
Contributions.
In connection with the
formation of the Partnership under the Delaware Act, the General Partner made
an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $40.00, for a 2% General Partner
Interest in the Partnership and was admitted as the General Partner of the
Partnership, and the Organizational Limited Partner made an initial Capital
Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $1,960.00 for a 98% Limited Partner Interest in the Partnership and
was admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership. As of the Closing Date, the interest of the
Organizational Limited Partner was redeemed as provided in the Contribution
Agreement; and the initial Capital Contribution of the Organizational Limited
Partner was refunded. Ninety-eight
percent of any interest or other profit that may have resulted from the
investment or other use of such initial Capital Contributions was allocated and
distributed to the Organizational Limited Partner, and the balance thereof 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, all
of its ownership interests in Global Companies LLC in exchange for (A) the
2% General Partner Interest, subject to all of the rights, privileges and
duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and (B) the Incentive
Distribution Rights; (ii) Chelsea Terminal Limited Partnership contributed
to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its ownership interests
in Chelsea Sandwich LLC in exchange for (A) 94,659 Common Units and (B) 719,409
Subordinated Units; (iii) Sandwich Terminal, L.L.C. contributed to the
Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its ownership interests in
Chelsea Sandwich LLC in exchange for (A) 1,114 Common Units and (B) 8,464
Subordinated Units; (iv) Global Petroleum Corp. contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital
Contribution, all of its ownership interests in Global Companies LLC and Global
Montello Group LLC in exchange for (A) 226,736 Common Units and (B) 1,723,196
Subordinated Units; (v) Montello Oil Corporation contributed to the
Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its ownership interests in
Global Companies LLC and Global Montello Group LLC in exchange for (A)
33
308,552 Common Units and (B) 2,344,992
Subordinated Units; (vi) Larea Holdings LLC contributed to the
Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its ownership interests in
Global Companies LLC and Global Montello Group LLC in exchange for (A) 74,242
Common Units and (B) 564,242 Subordinated Units; and (vii) Larea
Holdings II LLC contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all
of its ownership interests in Global Companies LLC and Global Montello Group
LLC in exchange for (A) 37,121 Common Units and (B) 282,121
Subordinated Units.
(b)
Upon the issuance of any
additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership, the General Partner
may, in exchange for a proportionate number of General Partner Units, make
additional Capital Contributions in an amount equal to the product obtained by
multiplying (i) the quotient determined by dividing (A) the General
Partners Percentage Interest by (B) 100 less the General Partners
Percentage Interest times (ii) the amount contributed to the Partnership
by the Limited Partners in exchange for such additional Limited Partner
Interests. Except as set forth in Article XII,
the General Partner shall not be obligated to make any additional Capital
Contributions to the Partnership.
Section 5.3
Contributions by Initial
Limited Partners.
On the Closing Date and
pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, each Underwriter contributed to the
Partnership cash in an amount equal to the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit,
multiplied by the number of Common Units specified in the Underwriting
Agreement to be purchased by such Underwriter at the Closing Date. In exchange for such Capital Contributions by
the Underwriters, the Partnership issued Common Units to each Underwriter on
whose behalf such Capital Contribution is made in an amount equal to the
quotient obtained by dividing (i) the cash contribution to the Partnership
by or on behalf of such Underwriter by (ii) the Issue Price per Initial
Common Unit.
Section 5.4
Interest and Withdrawal.
No interest shall be paid by
the Partnership on Capital Contributions.
No Partner or Assignee shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of
its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made
pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership may be
considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this
Agreement. Except to the extent
expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner or Assignee shall have
priority over any other Partner or Assignee 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 and Assignees 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
34
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the
amount of all Capital Contributions made to the Partnership with respect to
such Partnership Interest and (ii) all items of Partnership income and
gain (including income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and
allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1,
and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual
and deemed distributions of cash or property made with respect to such
Partnership Interest and (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss
computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect
to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1.
(b)
For purposes of computing the
amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction which is to be allocated
pursuant to Article VI and is to be reflected in the Partners Capital
Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item
shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for
federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost
recovery or amortization used for that purpose), provided, that:
(i)
Solely for purposes of this Section 5.5, the
Partnership shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share (as
determined by the General Partner based upon the provisions of the applicable
Group Member Agreement) of all property owned by any other Group Member that is
classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
(ii)
All fees and other expenses incurred by the
Partnership to promote the sale of (or to sell) a Partnership Interest that can
neither be deducted nor amortized under Section 709 of the Code, if any,
shall, for purposes of Capital Account maintenance, be treated as an item of
deduction at the time such fees and other expenses are incurred and shall be
allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1.
(iii)
Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m),
the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made
without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code which may be
made by the Partnership and, as to those items described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) or
705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, without regard to the fact that such items are
not includable in gross income or are neither currently deductible nor
capitalized for federal income tax purposes.
To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership
asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is
required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to
be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such
adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or loss.
(iv)
Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable
disposition of any Partnership property shall be determined as if the adjusted
basis of such property as of such date of disposition were equal in amount to
the Partnerships 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
35
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 (A) as if the adjusted basis of such property
were equal to the Carrying Value of such property immediately following such
adjustment and (B) using a rate of depreciation, cost recovery or
amortization derived from the same method and useful life (or, if applicable,
the remaining useful life) as is applied for federal income tax purposes;
provided
,
however
,
that, if the asset has a zero adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes,
depreciation, cost recovery or amortization deductions shall be determined
using any method that the General Partner may adopt.
(vi)
If the Partnerships adjusted basis in a depreciable
or cost recovery property is reduced for federal income tax purposes pursuant
to Section 48(q)(1) or 48(q)(3) of the Code, the amount of such
reduction shall, solely for purposes hereof, be deemed to be an additional
depreciation or cost recovery deduction in the year such property is placed in
service and shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1.
Any restoration of such basis pursuant to Section 48(q)(2) of the
Code shall, to the extent possible, be allocated in the same manner to the
Partners to whom such deemed deduction was allocated.
(c)
(i)
A transferee of a
Partnership Interest shall succeed to a pro rata portion of the Capital Account
of the transferor relating to the Partnership Interest so transferred.
(ii)
Subject to Section 6.7(c), immediately prior to
the transfer of a Subordinated Unit or of a Subordinated Unit that has
converted into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.7 by a holder thereof
(other than a transfer to an Affiliate unless the General Partner elects to
have this Section 5.5(c)(ii) apply), the Capital Account maintained
for such Person with respect to its Subordinated Units or converted
Subordinated Units will (A) first, be allocated to the Subordinated Units
or converted Subordinated Units to be transferred in an amount equal to the
product of (x) the number of such Subordinated Units or converted
Subordinated Units to be transferred and (y) the Per Unit Capital Amount
for a Common Unit, and (B) second, any remaining balance in such Capital
Account will be retained by the transferor, regardless of whether it has
retained any Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units (
Retained
Converted Subordinated Units
). Following any such allocation, the
transferors 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 transferees Capital Account established with respect to the transferred
Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units will have a balance equal to
the amount allocated under clause (A) hereinabove.
(d)
(i)
In accordance with Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), on an issuance of additional
Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance of
Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services or the
conversion of the General Partners Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant
to
36
Section 11.3(b), the Capital Accounts of all Partners and the
Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance
shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or
Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, as if such
Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of
each such property for an amount equal to its fair market value immediately prior
to such issuance and had been allocated to the Partners at such time pursuant
to Section 6.1(c) in the same manner as any item of gain or loss
actually recognized 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 cash amount and fair market value of all
Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to
the issuance of additional Partnership Interests shall be determined by the
General Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt; provided,
however, that the General Partner, in arriving at such valuation, must take
fully into account the fair market value of the Partnership Interests of all
Partners at such time. The General Partner shall allocate such aggregate value
among the assets of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines) to arrive
at a fair market value for individual properties.
(ii)
In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f),
immediately prior to any actual or deemed distribution to a Partner of any
Partnership property (other than a distribution of cash that is not in
redemption or retirement of a Partnership Interest), the Capital Accounts of
all Partners and the Carrying Value of all Partnership property shall be
adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss
attributable to such Partnership property, as if such Unrealized Gain or
Unrealized Loss had been recognized 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 to the Partners, at such time, pursuant to Section 6.1(c) in
the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized 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
cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets (including cash or
cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in the
case of an actual distribution that is not made pursuant to Section 12.4
or in the case of a deemed distribution, be determined and allocated in the
same manner as that provided in Section 5.5(d)(i) or (B) in the
case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section 12.4, be determined
and allocated by the Liquidator using such method of valuation as it may adopt.
Section 5.6
Issuances of Additional
Partnership Securities.
(a)
The Partnership may issue
additional Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and
appreciation rights relating to the Partnership Securities 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.
37
(b)
Each additional Partnership
Security 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 Securities), as shall be
fixed by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in
Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share
in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and
liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions
upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Partnership
Security (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Partnership
Security is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the
terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and
conditions upon which each Partnership Security will be issued, evidenced by
certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining
the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Security; and (viii) the
right, if any, of each such Partnership Security to vote on Partnership
matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and
privileges of such Partnership Security.
(c)
The General Partner shall
take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in
connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Securities and options,
rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities
pursuant to this Section 5.6, (ii) the conversion of the General
Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) or any Incentive
Distribution Rights into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the
admission of Additional Limited Partners and (iv) all additional issuances
of Partnership Securities. The General
Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders
of the Units or other Partnership Securities being so issued. The General Partner shall do all things
necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do
all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with
any future issuance of Partnership Securities or in connection with the
conversion of the General Partner Interest or any Incentive Distribution Rights
into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including compliance with
any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other
governmental agency or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other
Partnership Securities are listed or admitted to trading.
Section 5.7
Conversion of Subordinated
Units.
(a)
The Subordinated Units shall
convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis on the second Business Day
following the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in
respect of the final Quarter of the Subordination Period.
(b)
Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, all the then Outstanding Subordinated Units will
automatically convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis as set forth in,
and pursuant to the terms of, Section 11.4.
(c)
A Subordinated
Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be subject to the provisions
of Section 6.7(b).
38
Section 5.8
Limited Preemptive Right.
Except as provided in this Section 5.8
and in Section 5.2, no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or
other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Security,
whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created. The General Partner shall have the right,
which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its
Affiliates, to purchase Partnership Securities from the Partnership whenever,
and on the same terms that, the Partnership issues Partnership Securities to
Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, to the extent
necessary to maintain the Percentage Interests of the General Partner and its
Affiliates equal to that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of
such Partnership Securities.
Section 5.9
Splits and Combinations.
(a)
Subject to Sections 5.9(d),
6.6 and 6.9 (dealing with adjustments of distribution levels), the Partnership
may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Securities to all Record
Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Securities so
long as, after any such event, each Partner
shall have the
same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any
amounts calculated on a per Unit basis (including any Common Unit Arrearage or
Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage) or stated as a number of Units are
proportionately adjusted.
(b)
Whenever such a
distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Securities is declared,
the General Partner shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution,
subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at
least 20 days prior to such Record Date to each Record Holder as of a date not
less than 10 days prior to the date of such notice. The General Partner also may cause a firm of
independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of
Partnership Securities to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to
such distribution, subdivision or combination.
The General Partner shall be entitled to rely on any certificate
provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such
calculation.
(c)
Promptly following any such
distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may issue
Certificates to the Record Holders of Partnership Securities as of the
applicable Record Date representing the new number of Partnership Securities
held by such Record Holders, or the General Partner may adopt such other
procedures that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect such
changes. If any such combination results
in a smaller total number of Partnership Securities Outstanding, the
Partnership shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of
such new Certificate, the surrender of any Certificate held by such Record
Holder immediately prior to such Record Date.
(d)
The Partnership shall not
issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of
Units. If a distribution, subdivision or
combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for
the provisions of this Section 5.9(d), each fractional Unit shall be
rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall be rounded to the next
higher Unit).
39
Section 5.10
Fully Paid and
Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests.
All Limited Partner
Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article V
shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the
Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-607
of the Delaware Act.
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 Partnerships items of income, gain, loss and deduction
(computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b)) shall be allocated among the
Partners in each taxable year (or portion thereof) as provided herein below.
(a)
Net Income
.
After
giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net
Income for each taxable year and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction
taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable year shall be
allocated as follows:
(i)
First, 100% to the General Partner, in an amount
equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii) for
all previous taxable years until the aggregate Net Income allocated to the
General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(i) for the current
taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net
Losses allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii) for
all previous taxable years;
(ii)
Second, 100% to the General Partner and the
Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until
the aggregate Net Income allocated to such Partners pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(ii) for
the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the
aggregate Net Losses allocated to such Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(ii) for
all previous taxable years; and
(iii)
Third, the balance, if any, 100% to the General
Partner and to the Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage
Interests.
(b)
Net Losses
.
After
giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net
Losses for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss and
deduction taken into account in computing Net Losses for such taxable period
shall be allocated as follows:
(i)
First, 100% to the General Partner and the
Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until
the aggregate Net Losses allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) for
the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the
aggregate Net Income allocated to such Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(iii) for
all previous taxable years, provided that the Net Losses shall not be allocated
pursuant to
40
this Section 6.1(b)(i) to the extent that such allocation
would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital
Account at the end of such taxable year (or increase any existing deficit
balance in its Adjusted Capital Account);
(ii)
Second, 100% to the General Partner and the
Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests;
provided
, that Net Losses shall not be
allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(ii) to the extent that such
allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted
Capital Account at the end of such taxable year (or increase any existing
deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account); and
(iii)
Third, the balance, if any, 100% to the General
Partner.
(c)
Net
Termination Gains and Losses
.
After giving effect
to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), all items of
income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net
Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss for such taxable period shall be
allocated in the same manner as such Net Termination Gain or Net Termination
Loss is allocated hereunder. All
allocations under this Section 6.1(c) shall be made after Capital
Account balances have been adjusted by all other allocations provided under
this Section 6.1 and after all distributions of Available Cash provided
under Sections 6.4 and 6.5 have been made;
provided
,
however
, that solely for purposes
of this Section 6.1(c), Capital Accounts shall not be adjusted for
distributions made pursuant to Section 12.4.
(i)
If a Net Termination Gain is recognized (or deemed
recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d)), such Net Termination Gain shall be
allocated among the Partners in the following manner (and the Capital Accounts
of the Partners shall be increased by the amount so allocated in each of the
following subclauses, in the order listed, before an allocation is made
pursuant to the next succeeding subclause):
(A)
First, to each Partner having a deficit balance in
its Capital Account, in the proportion that such deficit balance bears to the
total deficit balances in the Capital Accounts of all Partners, until each such
Partner has been allocated Net Termination Gain equal to any such deficit
balance in its Capital Account;
(B)
Second, (x) to the General Partner in
accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding
Common Units, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to 100% less the
General Partners Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of
each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its
Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (2) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for
the Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by any distribution
pursuant to Sections 6.4(a)(i) or 6.4(b)(i) with respect to such
Common Unit for such Quarter (the amount determined pursuant to this clause (2) is
hereinafter referred to as the
Unpaid MQD
) and (3) any then
existing Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage;
41
(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, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage
Interest and (y) all Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, their Pro
Rata share of a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partners Percentage
Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of each Subordinated Unit then
Outstanding equals the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price,
determined for the taxable year (or portion thereof) to which this allocation
of gain relates, and (2) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for the
Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by any distribution
pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(iii) with respect to such Subordinated
Unit for such Quarter;
(D)
Fourth, 100% to the General Partner and all
Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until the
Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the
sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (2) the Unpaid MQD, (3) any
then existing Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage, and (4) the excess of (aa)
the First Target Distribution less the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for each
Quarter of the Partnerships existence (where the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution is, unless otherwise required by the definition of Minimum
Quarterly Distribution or the other provisions of this Agreement, including Sections
6.6 and 6.9, either $0.4125 or $0.4625 for the applicable Quarter) over (bb)
the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is
deemed to be Distributable Cash Flow made pursuant to Sections 6.4(a)(iv) and
6.4(b)(ii) (including distributions pursuant to such sections under the
Second A/R Partnership Agreement or any prior version of this Agreement) (the
sum of (1), (2), (3) and (4) is hereinafter referred to as the
First
Liquidation Target Amount
);
(E)
Fifth, (x) to the General Partner in accordance
with its Percentage Interest, (y) 13%
to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to
all Unitholders, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to 100% less the
sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this
clause (E), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then
Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the First Liquidation Target
Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Second Target Distribution less the
First Target Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnerships existence over
(bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that
is deemed to be Distributable Cash Flow made pursuant to Sections 6.4(a)(v) and
6.4(b)(iii) (the sum of (1) and (2) is hereinafter referred to
as the
Second Liquidation Target Amount
);
(F)
Sixth, (x) to the General Partner in accordance
with its Percentage Interest, (y) 23%
to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to
all Unitholders, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to 100% less the
sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this
clause (F), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then
Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the Second Liquidation Target
Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa)
42
the Third Target Distribution less the Second Target Distribution for
each Quarter of the Partnerships existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit
amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be
Distributable Cash Flow made pursuant to Sections 6.4(a)(vi) and
6.4(b)(iv); and
(G)
Finally, (x) to the General Partner in
accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata,
and (z) to all Unitholders, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to
100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of
this clause (G).
(ii)
If a Net Termination Loss is recognized (or deemed
recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d)), such Net Termination Loss shall be
allocated among the Partners in the following manner:
(A)
First, if such Net Termination Loss is recognized
(or is deemed to be recognized) prior to the conversion of the last Outstanding
Subordinated Unit, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its
Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Subordinated Units,
their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partners
Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of each Subordinated
Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero;
(B)
Second, (x) to the General Partner in
accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding
Common Units, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to 100% less the
General Partners Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of
each Common Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero; and
(C)
Third, the balance, if any, 100% to the General
Partner.
(d)
Special
Allocations
.
Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Section 6.1, the following special allocations shall be made for
such taxable period:
(i)
Partnership Minimum Gain
Chargeback
.
Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Section 6.1, if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum
Gain during any Partnership taxable period, each Partner shall be allocated
items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary,
subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation
Sections 1.704-2(f)(6), 1.704-2(g)(2) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(i), or any
successor provision. For purposes of
this Section 6.1(d), each Partners 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 Sections
6.1(d)(vi) and 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.
43
(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 Partners 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
Sections 6.1(d)(vi) and 6.1(d)(vii), with respect to such taxable
period. This Section 6.1(d)(ii) is
intended to comply with the chargeback of items of income and gain requirement
in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted
consistently therewith.
(iii)
Priority
Allocations
.
(A)
If the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of any
property distributed (except cash or property distributed pursuant to Section 12.4)
to any Unitholder with respect to its Units for a taxable year is greater (on a
per Unit basis) than the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property
distributed to the other Unitholders with respect to their Units (on a per Unit
basis), then (1) each Unitholder receiving such greater cash or property
distribution shall be allocated gross income in an amount equal to the product
of (aa) the amount by which the distribution (on a per Unit basis) to such
Unitholder exceeds the distribution (on a per Unit basis) to the Unitholders
receiving the smallest distribution and (bb) the number of Units owned by the
Unitholder receiving the greater distribution; and (2) the General Partner
shall be allocated gross income in an aggregate amount equal to the product
obtained by multiplying (aa) the quotient determined by dividing (x) the
General Partners Percentage Interest at the time in which the greater cash or
property distribution occurs by (y) the sum of 100 less the General
Partners Percentage Interest at the time in which the greater cash or property
distribution occurs times (bb) the sum of the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.
(B)
After the application of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A),
all or any portion of the remaining items of Partnership 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 year and all
previous taxable years is equal to the cumulative amount of all Incentive Distributions
made to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights from the Closing Date to a
date 45 days after the end of the current taxable year; and (2) to the
General Partner an amount equal to the product of (aa) an amount equal to the
quotient determined by dividing (x) the General Partners Percentage
44
Interest by (y) the sum of 100 less the General Partners
Percentage Interest times (bb) the sum of the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.
(iv)
Qualified Income Offset
.
In
the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or
distributions described in Treasury Regulation Sections
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6),
items of Partnership income and gain shall be specially allocated to such
Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required
by the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the
Code, the deficit balance, if any, in its Adjusted Capital Account created by
such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible unless
such deficit balance is otherwise eliminated pursuant to Sections 6.1(d)(i) or
6.1(d)(ii).
(v)
Gross Income Allocations
.
In
the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end
of any Partnership taxable period in excess of the sum of (A) the amount
such Partner is required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement and (B) the amount such Partner is deemed obligated to restore
pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5),
such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership 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 this Section 6.1(d)(v) were not in this
Agreement.
(vi)
Nonrecourse Deductions
.
Nonrecourse
Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Partners in
accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. If the General Partner determines that the
Partnerships Nonrecourse Deductions should be allocated in a different ratio
to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations promulgated
under Section 704(b) of the Code, the General Partner is authorized,
upon notice to the other Partners, to revise the prescribed ratio to the
numerically closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.
(vii)
Partner Nonrecourse Deductions
.
Partner
Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the
Partner that bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to the Partner
Nonrecourse Debt to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable
in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If more than one Partner bears the Economic
Risk of Loss with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt, such Partner
Nonrecourse Deductions attributable thereto shall be allocated between or among
such Partners in accordance with the ratios in which they share such Economic
Risk of Loss.
(viii)
Nonrecourse Liabilities
.
For
purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), the Partners agree
that Nonrecourse Liabilities of the Partnership in excess of the sum of (A) the
amount of Partnership Minimum Gain and (B) the total amount of Nonrecourse
Built-in Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests.
45
(ix)
Code Section 754 Adjustments
.
To
the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset
pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required,
pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken
into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to
the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment
increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such
basis), and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the
Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts
are required to be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the Treasury
Regulations.
(x)
Economic Uniformity
.
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 equal to the product of (A) the number of Final Subordinated Units
held by such Partner and (B) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common
Unit. The purpose of this allocation is
to establish uniformity between the Capital Accounts underlying Final
Subordinated Units and the Capital Accounts underlying Common Units held by
Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates immediately prior to
the conversion of such Final Subordinated Units into Common Units. This allocation method for establishing such
economic uniformity will be available to the General Partner only if the method
for allocating the Capital Account maintained with respect to the Subordinated
Units between the transferred and retained Subordinated Units pursuant to Section 5.5(c)(ii) does
not otherwise provide such economic uniformity to the Final Subordinated Units.
(xi)
Curative Allocation
.
(A)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1,
other than the Required Allocations, the Required Allocations shall be taken
into account in making the Agreed Allocations so that, to the extent possible,
the net amount of items of income, gain, loss and deduction allocated to each
Partner pursuant to the Required Allocations and the Agreed Allocations,
together, shall be equal to the net amount of such items that would have been
allocated to each such Partner under the Agreed Allocations had the Required
Allocations and the related Curative Allocation not otherwise been provided in
this Section 6.1. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Required
Allocations relating to (1) Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into
account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partnership
Minimum Gain and (2) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken
into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partner
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain.
46
Allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall only
be made with respect to Required Allocations to the extent the General Partner
determines that such allocations will otherwise be inconsistent with the economic
agreement among the Partners. Further,
allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall be deferred
with respect to allocations pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) hereof to
the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations are likely to
be offset by subsequent Required Allocations.
(B)
The General Partner shall, with respect to each
taxable period, (1) apply the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) in
whatever order is most likely to minimize the economic distortions that might otherwise
result from the Required Allocations, and (2) divide all allocations
pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) among the Partners in a manner that
is likely to minimize such economic distortions.
(xii)
Corrective 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)
with respect to any Partnership property, the General Partner shall allocate
such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (1) to (aa) the holders of
Incentive Distribution Rights and (bb) the General Partner in the same manner
that the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such property is
allocated pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i) or Section 5.5(d)(ii) and
(2) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, to the extent that the Unrealized Gain
or Unrealized Loss attributable to such property is allocated to any
Unitholders pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i) or Section 5.5(d)(ii).
(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 income and gain (aa) away
from the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights and the General Partner 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 and the General Partner, 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. For this purpose, 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 (e.g.,
Additional Book Basis Derivative Items taken into account in computing
47
cost of goods sold would reduce the amount of book income otherwise
available for allocation among the Partners). Any allocation made pursuant to
this Section 6.1(d)(xii)(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 balance of the Partners if
no prior Book-Up Events had occurred, and (2) any negative adjustment in
excess of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments shall be allocated
pursuant to Section 6.1(c) hereof.
(D)
In making the allocations required under this Section 6.1(d)(xii),
the General Partner may apply whatever conventions or other methodology it
determines will satisfy the purpose of this Section 6.1(d)(xii).
Section 6.2
Allocations for Tax
Purposes.
(a)
Except as otherwise provided
herein, for federal income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and
deduction shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its
correlative item of book income, gain, loss or deduction is allocated
pursuant to Section 6.1.
(b)
In an attempt to eliminate
Book-Tax Disparities attributable to a Contributed Property or Adjusted
Property, items of income, gain, loss, depreciation, amortization and cost
recovery deductions shall be allocated for federal income tax purposes among
the Partners as follows:
(i)
(A)
In the case of a Contributed Property, such items
attributable thereto shall be allocated among the Partners in the manner
provided under Section 704(c) of the Code that takes into account the
variation between the Agreed Value of such property and its adjusted basis at
the time of contribution; and
(B)
any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss
attributable to a Contributed Property shall be allocated among the Partners in
the same manner as its correlative item of book gain or loss is allocated
pursuant to Section 6.1.
(ii)
(A)
In the case of an Adjusted Property, such items
shall (1) first, be allocated among the Partners in a manner consistent
with the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code to take into
account the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such property
and the allocations thereof pursuant to Sections 5.5(d)(i) or 5.5(d)(ii),
and (2) second, in the event such property was originally a Contributed
Property, be allocated among the Partners in a manner consistent with Section 6.2(b)(i)(A);
and
48
(B)
any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss
attributable to an Adjusted Property shall be allocated among the Partners in
the same manner as its correlative item of book gain or loss is allocated
pursuant to Section 6.1.
(iii)
The General Partner shall apply the principles of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d) to eliminate Book-Tax
Disparities.
(c)
For the proper
administration of the Partnership and for the preservation of uniformity of the
Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof), the General
Partner shall (i) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in
determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery
deductions; (ii) make special allocations for federal income tax purposes
of income (including gross income) or deductions; and (iii) amend the
provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or
promulgation of Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of
the Code or (y) otherwise to preserve or achieve uniformity of the Limited
Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). The General Partner may adopt such
conventions, make such allocations and make such amendments to this Agreement
as provided in this Section 6.2(c) only if such conventions,
allocations or amendments would not have a material adverse effect on the
Partners, the holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests
issued and Outstanding or the Partnership, and if such allocations are
consistent with the principles of Section 704 of the Code.
(d)
The General Partner may
determine to depreciate or amortize the portion of an adjustment under Section 743(b) of
the Code attributable to unrealized appreciation in any Adjusted Property (to
the extent of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a predetermined rate
derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to
the Partnerships common basis of such property, despite any inconsistency of
such approach with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6) or
any successor regulations thereto. If
the General Partner determines that such reporting position cannot reasonably
be taken, the General Partner may adopt depreciation and amortization
conventions under which all purchasers acquiring Limited Partner Interests in
the same month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, based
upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in the
Partnerships property. If the General
Partner chooses not to utilize such aggregate method, the General Partner may
use any other depreciation and amortization conventions to preserve the
uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any Limited Partner
Interests, so long as such conventions would not have a material adverse effect
on the Limited Partners or the Record Holders of any class or classes of
Limited Partner Interests.
(e)
Any gain allocated to the
Partners upon the sale or other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset
shall, to the extent possible, after taking into account other required
allocations of gain pursuant to this Section 6.2, be characterized as
Recapture Income in the same proportions and to the same extent as such
Partners (or their predecessors in interest) have been allocated any deductions
directly or indirectly giving rise to the treatment of such gains as Recapture
Income.
(f)
All items of income, gain,
loss, deduction and credit recognized by the Partnership for federal income tax
purposes and allocated to the Partners in accordance with the provisions hereof
shall be determined without regard to any election under Section 754 of
the
49
Code that may be made by the Partnership;
provided
,
however
,
that such allocations, once made, shall be adjusted (in the manner determined
by the General Partner) to take into account those adjustments permitted or
required by Sections 734 and 743 of the Code.
(g)
Each item of
Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction, for federal income tax purposes,
shall be determined on an annual basis and prorated on a monthly basis and
shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the New York Stock Exchange
on the first Business Day of each month;
provided
,
however
, such items for the
period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the month in
which the Option Closing Date or the expiration of the Over-Allotment Option
occurs shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the New York
Stock Exchange on the first Business Day of the next succeeding month; and
provided, further, that gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of any
assets of the Partnership or any other extraordinary item of income or loss
realized and recognized other than in the ordinary course of business, as
determined by the General Partner, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the
opening of the New York Stock Exchange on the first Business Day of the month
in which such gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may revise, alter or
otherwise modify such methods of allocation to the extent permitted or required
by Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated
thereunder.
(h)
Allocations
that would otherwise be made to a Limited Partner under the provisions of this Article VI
shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Limited Partner Interests held
by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of
such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of
the Code or any other method determined by the General Partner.
Section 6.3
Requirement and
Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders.
(a)
Within 45 days
following the end of each Quarter, commencing with the Quarter ending on December 31,
2005, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter
shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed in
accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to the Unitholders and
the General Partner 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 Distributable
Cash Flow until the sum of all amounts of Available Cash theretofore
distributed by the Partnership to the Unitholders and the General Partner
pursuant to Section 6.4 equals the Distributable Cash Flow from the
Closing Date through the close of the immediately preceding Quarter. Any remaining amounts of Available Cash
distributed by the Partnership on such date shall, except as otherwise provided
in Section 6.5, be deemed to be Capital Surplus. All distributions
required to be made under this Agreement shall be made subject to Section 17-607
of the Delaware Act.
(b)
Notwithstanding
Section 6.3(a), in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the
Partnership, all receipts received during or after the Quarter in which the Liquidation
Date occurs, other than from borrowings described in (a)(ii) of the
definition of Available Cash, shall be applied and distributed solely in
accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4.
50
(c)
The General
Partner may treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, or amounts
withheld with respect to, all or less than all of the Unitholders and the
General Partner, as a distribution of Available Cash to such Unitholders and
the General Partner.
(d)
Each
distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the
Partnership, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person
or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the
Record Date set for such distribution.
Such payment shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the
Partnerships 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 Distributable Cash Flow.
(a)
During
Subordination Period
.
Available Cash with respect to any
Quarter within the Subordination Period that is deemed to be Distributable Cash
Flow pursuant to the provisions of Sections 6.3 or 6.5 shall, subject to Section 17-607
of the Delaware Act, be distributed as follows, except as otherwise
contemplated by Section 5.6 in respect of other Partnership Securities
issued pursuant thereto:
(i)
First, (A) to the
General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (B) to all
Unitholders holding Common Units, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to
100% less the General Partners 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 all
Unitholders holding Common Units, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to
100% less the General Partners 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 all
Unitholders holding Subordinated Units, their Pro Rata share of a percentage
equal to 100% less the General Partners Percentage Interest, until there has
been distributed in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding an
amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(iv)
Fourth, to the General
Partner and all Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage
Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then
Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over
the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter (such excess being $0 for
any Quarter ending on or after December 31, 2009, such that no
distribution will be made pursuant to this subsection for such Quarter);
(v)
Fifth, (A) to the
General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 13% to the
holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all
Unitholders, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of
the
51
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, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of
the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this
subclause (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, their Pro Rata share of 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 Distributable Cash Flow 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 Distributable Cash
Flow pursuant to the provisions of Sections 6.3 or 6.5, subject to Section 17-607
of the Delaware Act, shall be distributed as follows, except as otherwise
required by Section 5.6(b) in respect of additional Partnership
Securities issued pursuant thereto:
(i)
First, (A) to the
General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (B) to all
Unitholders holding Common Units, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to
100% less the General Partners Percentage Interest, until there has been
distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(ii)
Second, 100% to the General
Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage
Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then
Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over
the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter (such excess being $0 for
any Quarter ending on or after December 31, 2009, such that no
distribution will be made pursuant to this subsection 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, their Pro Rata share of 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
52
distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to
the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution
for such Quarter;
(iv)
Fourth, (A) to the
General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 23% to the
holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all
Unitholders, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of
the percentages applicable to subclause (A) and (B) of this clause
(iv), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding
an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second
Target Distribution for such Quarter; and
(v)
Thereafter, (A) to the
General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 48% to the
holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all
Unitholders, their Pro Rata share of 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 Distributable Cash Flow with respect to any
Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.4(b)(v).
Section 6.5
Distributions
of Available Cash from Capital Surplus.
Available Cash that is
deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3(a) shall,
subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed, unless the
provisions of Section 6.3 require otherwise, 100% to the General Partner
and the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests,
until a hypothetical holder of a Common Unit acquired on the Closing Date has
received with respect to such Common Unit, during the period since the Closing
Date through such date, distributions of Available Cash that are deemed to be
Capital Surplus in an aggregate amount equal to the Initial Unit Price. Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital
Surplus shall then be distributed as follows:
(a)
First, to the
General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and to all
Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the
General Partners Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in
respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Cumulative
Common Unit Arrearage;
(b)
Thereafter, all
Available Cash shall be distributed as if it were Distributable Cash Flow 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
53
Partnership Securities in accordance with Section 5.9. In the event of a distribution of Available
Cash that is deemed to be from Capital Surplus, the then applicable Minimum
Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target
Distribution, shall be adjusted proportionately downward to equal the product obtained
by multiplying the otherwise applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First
Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution,
as the case may be, by a fraction of which the numerator is the Unrecovered
Initial Unit Price of the Common Units immediately after giving effect to such
distribution and of which the denominator is the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price
of the Common Units immediately prior to giving effect to such distribution.
(b)
The Minimum
Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution
and Third Target Distribution, shall also be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 6.9.
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, 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) 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
Unitholders 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)
A Unitholder
holding a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.7
shall not be issued a Common Unit Certificate pursuant to Section 4.1, and
shall not be permitted to transfer its converted Subordinated Units 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 a converted Subordinated 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 the converted Subordinated Units in
preparation for a transfer of such converted Subordinated Units, including the
application of Sections 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x) and 6.7(b);
provided
,
however
,
that no such steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on
the Unitholders holding Common Units represented by Common Unit Certificates.
54
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 Articles III and
VII, and (ii) have a Capital Account as a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5
and all other provisions related thereto and (b) shall not (i) be
entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders
of Outstanding Units, except as provided by law, (ii) be entitled to any
distributions other than as provided in Sections 6.4(a)(v), 6.4(a)(vi) and
6.4(a)(vii), Sections 6.4(b)(iii), 6.4(b)(iv) and 6.4(b)(v), and Section 12.4,
or (iii) be allocated items of income, gain, loss or deduction other than
as specified in this Article VI.
Section 6.9
Entity-Level
Taxation.
If legislation is enacted or
the interpretation of existing language is modified by a governmental taxing
authority so that a Group Member is treated as an association taxable as a
corporation or is otherwise subject to an entity-level tax for federal, state
or local income tax purposes, then the General Partner shall estimate for each
Quarter the Partnership Groups aggregate liability (the
Estimated
Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount
) for all such income taxes that are
payable by reason of any such new legislation or interpretation; provided that
any difference between such estimate and the actual tax liability for such
Quarter that is owed by reason of any such new legislation or interpretation
shall be taken into account in determining the Estimated Incremental Quarterly
Tax Amount with respect to each Quarter in which any such difference can be
determined. For each such Quarter, the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target
Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be the product obtained by multiplying
(a) the amounts therefor that are set out herein prior to the application
of this Section 6.9 times (b) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) Available
Cash with respect to such Quarter by (ii) the sum of Available Cash with
respect to such Quarter and the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for
such Quarter, as determined by the General Partner. For purposes of the foregoing, Available Cash
with respect to a Quarter will be deemed reduced by the Estimated Incremental
Quarterly Tax Amount for that Quarter.
ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
Section 7.1
Management.
(a)
The General
Partner shall conduct, direct and manage all activities of the
Partnership. Except as otherwise
expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business
and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General
Partner, and no Limited Partner or Assignee 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
55
appropriate to conduct the business of the
Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to
effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including the following:
(i)
the making of any
expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee
of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance
of evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness that is convertible into
Partnership Securities, and the incurring of any other obligations;
(ii)
the making of tax,
regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other reports to
governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets
of the Partnership;
(iii)
the acquisition,
disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any or
all of the assets of the Partnership or the merger or other combination of the
Partnership with or into another Person (the matters described in this clause (iii) being
subject, however, to any prior approval that may be required by Section 7.3
and Article XIV);
(iv)
the use of the assets of the
Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms
of this Agreement, including the financing of the conduct of the operations of
the Partnership Group; subject to Section 7.6(a), the lending of funds to
other Persons (including other Group Members); the repayment or guarantee of
obligations of any Group Member; and the making of capital contributions to any
Group Member;
(v)
the negotiation, execution
and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments (including
instruments that limit the liability of the Partnership under contractual
arrangements to all or particular assets of the Partnership, with the other
party to the contract to have no recourse against the General Partner or its
assets other than its interest in the Partnership, even if same results in the
terms of the transaction being less favorable to the Partnership than would
otherwise be the case);
(vi)
the distribution of
Partnership cash;
(vii)
the selection and dismissal
of employees (including employees having titles such as president, vice
president, secretary and treasurer) and agents, outside attorneys,
accountants, consultants and contractors and the determination of their
compensation and other terms of employment or hiring;
(viii)
the maintenance of insurance
for the benefit of the Partnership Group, the Partners and Indemnitees;
(ix)
the formation of, or
acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property and the making
of loans to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures,
corporations, limited liability companies or other relationships (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;
56
(x)
the control of any matters
affecting the rights and obligations of the Partnership, including the bringing
and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the
conduct of litigation, arbitration or mediation and the incurring of legal
expense and the settlement of claims and litigation;
(xi)
the indemnification of any
Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by law;
(xii)
the entering into of listing
agreements with any National Securities Exchange and the delisting of some or
all of the Limited Partner Interests from, or requesting that trading be
suspended on, any such exchange (subject to any prior approval that may be
required under Section 4.8);
(xiii)
the purchase, sale or other
acquisition or disposition of Partnership Securities, or the issuance of
options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership
Securities;
(xiv)
the undertaking of any
action in connection with the Partnerships participation in any Group Member;
and
(xv)
the entering into of
agreements with any of its Affiliates to render services to a Group Member or
to itself in the discharge of its duties as General Partner of the Partnership.
(b)
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, the Delaware
Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and
the Assignees and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Partnership
Securities hereby (i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution,
delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this Agreement and the Group
Member Agreement of each other Group Member, the Underwriting Agreement, the
Omnibus Agreement, the Contribution Agreement and the other agreements
described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are
related to the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement; (ii) agrees
that the General Partner (on its own or through any officer of the Partnership)
is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in
clause (i) of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions
and matters described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement on
behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the
Partners or the Assignees or the other Persons who may acquire an interest in
Partnership Securities; and (iii) agrees that the execution, delivery or
performance by the General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of
them of this Agreement or any agreement authorized or permitted under this
Agreement (including the exercise by the General Partner or any Affiliate of
the General Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV) shall
not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the General
Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons
under this Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any duty stated or implied
by law or equity.
57
Section 7.2
Certificate of
Limited Partnership.
The General Partner has
caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable
efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the
General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation,
continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a
partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State
of Delaware or any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do
business or own property. To the extent
the General Partner determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the
General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of
Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the Partnership as a limited
partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners
have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other
state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 3.4(a),
the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver
or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification
document or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.
Section 7.3
Restrictions on
the General Partners Authority.
Except as provided in
Articles XII and XIV, the General Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise
dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group,
taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions
(including by way of merger, consolidation, other combination or sale of ownership
interests of the Partnerships Subsidiaries) without the approval of holders of
a Unit Majority;
provided
,
however
, that this provision shall not
preclude or limit the General Partners ability to mortgage, pledge,
hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the
assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of any
or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of,
or other realization upon, any such encumbrance. Without the approval of holders of a Unit
Majority, the General Partner shall not, on behalf of the Partnership, except
as permitted under Sections 4.6, 11.1 and 11.2, elect or cause the Partnership
to elect a successor general partner of the Partnership.
Section 7.4
Reimbursement
of the General Partner.
(a)
Except as
provided in this Section 7.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the General
Partner shall not be compensated for its services as a general partner or
managing member of any Group Member.
(b)
The General
Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the
General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it
incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including
salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person,
including Affiliates of the General Partner to perform services for the
Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to
the Partnership Group), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the
Partnership Group or otherwise incurred by the General Partner in connection
with operating the Partnership Groups business (including expenses allocated
to the General Partner by its Affiliates).
The General
58
Partner shall determine the expenses that are
allocable to the Partnership Group.
Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be in addition to
any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification
pursuant to Section 7.7.
(c)
The General
Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right
to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership
employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices (including
plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Securities
or options to purchase or rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to
Partnership Securities), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership
Securities in connection with, or pursuant to, any employee benefit plan,
employee program or employee practice maintained or sponsored by the General
Partner or any of its Affiliates, in each case for the benefit of employees of
the General Partner or its Affiliates, or any Group Member or its Affiliates,
or any of them, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for
the benefit of the Partnership Group.
The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the General Partner or any
of its Affiliates any Partnership Securities that the General Partner or such
Affiliates are obligated to provide to any employees pursuant to any such
employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices. Expenses incurred by the General Partner in
connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost
to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Securities purchased
by the General Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership to fulfill
options or awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed
in accordance with Section 7.4(b).
Any and all obligations of the General Partner under any employee
benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices adopted by the General
Partner as permitted by this Section 7.4(c) shall constitute
obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any
successor General Partner approved pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2 or the
transferee of or successor to all of the General Partners General Partner
Interest (represented by General Partner Units) pursuant to Section 4.6.
Section 7.5
Outside
Activities.
(a)
After the
Closing Date, the General Partner, for so long as it is the General Partner of
the Partnership (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as a
general partner or managing member, as the case may be, of the Partnership and
any other partnership or limited liability company of which the Partnership is,
directly or indirectly, a partner or member and to undertake activities that
are ancillary or related thereto (including being a limited partner in the
Partnership) and (ii) shall not engage in any business or activity or
incur any debts or liabilities except in connection with or incidental to (A) its
performance as general partner or managing member, if any, of one or more Group
Members or as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement or (B) the
acquiring, owning or disposing of debt or equity securities in any Group
Member.
(b)
Except as
specifically restricted by the Omnibus Agreement, each Indemnitee (other than
the General Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type
and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an
interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description,
whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group
Member, independently or with others, including business interests and
activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any
59
Group Member, and none of the same shall
constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty expressed or implied by law
to any Group Member or any Partner or Assignee.
None of any Group Member, any Limited Partner or any other Person shall
have any rights by virtue of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, or the
partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any
Indemnitee.
(c)
Subject to the
terms of Section 7.5(a), Section 7.5(b) and the Omnibus
Agreement, but otherwise notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, (i) the engaging in competitive activities by any Indemnitees
(other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.5
is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners, (ii) it shall be
deemed not to be a breach of any fiduciary duty or any other obligation of any
type whatsoever of the General Partner or of any Indemnitee for the Indemnitees
(other than the General Partner) to engage in such business interests and
activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Partnership and (iii) except
as set forth in the Omnibus Agreement, the Indemnitees shall have no obligation
hereunder or as a result of any duty expressed or implied by law to present
business opportunities to the Partnership.
(d)
The General
Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership
Securities in addition to those acquired on the Closing Date and, except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their
option, all rights relating to all Units or other Partnership Securities
acquired by them. The term Affiliates
when used in this Section 7.5(d) with respect to the General Partner
shall not include any Group Member.
(e)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any provision of
this Agreement purports or is interpreted to have the effect of restricting the
fiduciary duties that might otherwise, as a result of Delaware or other
applicable law, be owed by the General Partner to the Partnership and its
Limited Partners, or to constitute a waiver or consent by the Limited Partners
to any such restriction, such provisions shall be inapplicable and have no
effect in determining whether the General Partner has complied with its
fiduciary duties in connection with determinations made by it under this Section 7.5.
Section 7.6
Loans from the
General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members.
(a)
The General
Partner or any of its Affiliates may lend to any Group Member, and any Group
Member may borrow from the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, funds
needed or desired by the Group Member for such periods of time and in such
amounts as the General Partner may determine;
provided
,
however
, that in any such case
the lending party may not charge the borrowing party interest at a rate greater
than the rate that would be charged the borrowing party or impose terms less
favorable to the borrowing party than would be charged or imposed on the
borrowing party by unrelated lenders on comparable loans made on an arms-length
basis (without reference to the lending partys financial abilities or
guarantees), all as determined by the General Partner. The borrowing party shall reimburse the lending
party for any costs (other than any additional interest costs) incurred by the
lending party in connection with the borrowing of such funds. For purposes of this Section 7.6(a) and
Section 7.6(b), the term Group Member shall include any Affiliate of a
Group Member that is controlled by the Group Member.
60
(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, expressed or implied, 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 Partners Percentage Interest of the total amount distributed to all
partners or (ii) hasten the expiration of the Subordination Period or the
conversion of any Subordinated Units into Common Units.
Section 7.7
Indemnification.
(a)
To the fullest
extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly provided in
this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the
Partnership from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities,
joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments,
fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and
all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is
threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as
an Indemnitee;
provided
, that the
Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final
and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction
determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking
indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7, the Indemnitee acted in bad
faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal
matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitees conduct was unlawful;
provided
, further, no indemnification
pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be available to the General Partner or
its Affiliates (other than a Group Member) with respect to its or their
obligations incurred pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Omnibus
Agreement or the Contribution Agreement (other than obligations incurred by the
General Partner on behalf of the Partnership).
Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only
out of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that the General Partner
shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no
obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to
enable it to effectuate such indemnification.
(b)
To the fullest
extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred
by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7(a) in
defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to
time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to a determination that 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 determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as
authorized in 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
61
holders of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests,
as a matter of law or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitees
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 Partnerships activities or such Persons
activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless of whether the Partnership
would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the
provisions of this Agreement.
(e)
For purposes of
this Section 7.7, the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an
Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the
performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or
otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries
of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee
benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute fines within the
meaning of Section 7.7(a); and action taken or omitted by it with respect
to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose
reasonably believed by it to be in the best interest of the participants and
beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the
best interests of the Partnership.
(f)
In no event may
an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason of
the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.
(g)
An Indemnitee
shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 7.7
because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which
the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the
terms of this Agreement.
(h)
The provisions
of this Section 7.7 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs,
successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any
rights for the benefit of any other Persons.
(i)
No amendment,
modification or repeal of this Section 7.7 or any provision hereof shall
in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or
future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Partnership, nor the obligations of
the Partnership to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with
the provisions of this Section 7.7 as in effect immediately prior to such
amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or
relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment,
modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be
asserted.
62
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, the
Assignees or any other Persons who have acquired interests in the Partnership
Securities, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act
or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment
entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of
the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud,
willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge
that the Indemnitees 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
Partnerships 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, any Partner or any Assignee, on the other, any resolution or
course of action by the General Partner or its Affiliates in respect of such
conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners,
and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member
Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty
stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of action in
respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved
by the vote of a majority of the Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by
the General Partner and its Affiliates), (iii) on terms no less favorable
to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from
unrelated third parties or (iv) fair and reasonable to the Partnership,
taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties
involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or
advantageous to the Partnership). The
General Partner shall be authorized but not required in
63
connection with its resolution of such
conflict of interest to seek Special Approval of such resolution, and the
General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not
received Special Approval. If Special
Approval is not sought and the Board of Directors of the General Partner
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 Assignee or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or
Assignee or any other Limited Partner or Assignee 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.
(b)
Whenever the
General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other
action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its capacity as the
general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity,
whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement
contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless another express standard is
provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing
it to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such
other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any other or different
standards 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.
(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 make such determination or to take or
decline to take such other action free of any fiduciary duty or obligation
whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee, and the General
Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, 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. By way of illustration and not of limitation,
whenever the phrase, at the option of the General Partner, or some variation
of that phrase, is used in this Agreement, it indicates that the General
Partner is acting in its individual capacity.
For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or
transfers its Units, or refrains from voting or transferring its Units, it
shall be acting in its individual capacity.
(d)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the General Partner and its
Affiliates shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) sell
or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the
ordinary course of business or (ii)
64
permit any Group Member to use any facilities
or assets of the General Partner and its Affiliates, except as may be provided
in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with such
use. Any determination by the General
Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter into such contracts shall be at its
option.
(e)
Except as expressly
set forth in this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor any other
Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to
the Partnership or any Limited Partner or Assignee and the provisions of this
Agreement, to the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the
duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the General Partner or
any other Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the
Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of the General Partner or
such other Indemnitee.
(f)
The Unitholders
hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership as a partner
or member of a Group Member, to approve of actions by the general partner or
managing member of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be
taken by the General Partner pursuant to this Section 7.9.
Section 7.10
Other Matters
Concerning the General Partner.
(a)
The General
Partner may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting
upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper
party or parties.
(b)
The General
Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management
consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers selected by
it, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the opinion
(including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the
General Partner reasonably believes to be within such Persons professional or
expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted
in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(c)
The General
Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations
hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers, a duly appointed
attorney or attorneys-in-fact or the duly authorized officers of the
Partnership.
Section 7.11
Purchase or
Sale of Partnership Securities.
The General Partner may
cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Securities;
provided
that, except as permitted
pursuant to Section 4.10, the General Partner may not cause any Group
Member to purchase Subordinated Units during the Subordination Period. As long as Partnership Securities are held by
any Group Member, such Partnership Securities shall not be considered
Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein. The General Partner or any Affiliate of the
General Partner may also purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise
dispose of Partnership Securities for its own account, subject to the
provisions of Articles IV and X.
65
Section 7.12
Registration
Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates.
(a)
If (i) the
General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner (including for purposes
of this Section 7.12, any Person that is an Affiliate of the General
Partner at the date hereof notwithstanding that it may later cease to be an
Affiliate of the General Partner) holds Partnership Securities that it desires
to sell and (ii) Rule 144 of the Securities Act (or any successor rule or
regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from registration is not
available to enable such holder of Partnership Securities (the
Holder
)
to dispose of the number of Partnership Securities it desires to sell at the
time it desires to do so without registration under the Securities Act, then at
the option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall file with
the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use
all reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a
period of not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter
period as shall terminate when all Partnership Securities covered by such
registration statement have been sold, a registration statement under the
Securities Act registering the offering and sale of the number of Partnership
Securities specified by the Holder;
provided
,
however
, that the Partnership
shall not be required to effect more than three registrations pursuant to Sections 7.12(a) and 7.12(b);
and provided further, however, that if the Conflicts Committee determines in
good faith that the requested registration would be materially detrimental to
the Partnership and its Partners because such registration would (x) materially
interfere with a significant acquisition, reorganization or other similar
transaction involving the Partnership, (y) require premature disclosure of
material information that the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for
preserving as confidential or (z) render the Partnership unable to comply
with requirements under applicable securities laws, then the Partnership shall
have the right to postpone such requested registration for a period of not more
than six months after receipt of the Holders request, such right pursuant to
this Section 7.12(a) or Section 7.12(b) not to be utilized
more than once in any twelve-month period.
Except as provided in the preceding sentence, the Partnership shall be
deemed not to have used all reasonable efforts to keep the registration
statement effective during the applicable period if it voluntarily takes any
action that would result in Holders of Partnership Securities covered thereby
not being able to offer and sell such Partnership Securities at any time during
such period, unless such action is required by applicable law. In connection with any registration pursuant
to the immediately preceding sentence, the Partnership shall (i) promptly
prepare and file (A) such documents as may be necessary to register or
qualify the securities subject to such registration under the securities laws
of such states as the Holder shall reasonably request;
provided
,
however
,
that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a
result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to general service of
process or to taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation
or partnership doing business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of such
registration, and (B) such documents as may be necessary to apply for
listing or to list the Partnership Securities subject to such registration on
such National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request, and (ii) do
any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or appropriate to
enable the Holder to consummate a public sale of such Partnership Securities in
such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(d),
all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the
underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership,
without reimbursement by the Holder.
66
(b)
If any Holder
holds Partnership Securities that it desires to sell and Rule 144 of the
Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or
another exemption from registration is not available to enable such Holder to
dispose of the number of Partnership Securities it desires to sell at the time
it desires to do so without registration under the Securities Act, then at the
option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall file with the
Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use all
reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a
period of not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter
period as shall terminate when all Partnership Securities covered by such shelf
registration statement have been sold, a shelf registration statement
covering the Partnership Securities specified by the Holder on an appropriate
form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that
may be adopted by the Commission; provided, however, that the Partnership shall
not be required to effect more than three registrations pursuant to Section 7.12(a) and
this Section 7.12(b); and provided further, however, that if the Conflicts
Committee determines in good faith that any offering under, or the use of any
prospectus forming a part of, the shelf registration statement would be
materially detrimental to the Partnership and its Partners because such
offering or use would (x) materially interfere with a significant
acquisition, reorganization or other similar transaction involving the
Partnership, (y) require premature disclosure of material information that
the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential
or (z) render the Partnership unable to comply with requirements under
applicable securities laws, then the Partnership shall have the right to
suspend such offering or use for a period of not more than six months after
receipt of the Holders request, such right pursuant to Section 7.12(a) or
this Section 7.12(b) not to be utilized more than once in any
twelve-month period. Except as provided
in the preceding sentence, the Partnership shall be deemed not to have used all
reasonable efforts to keep the shelf registration statement effective during
the applicable period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in
Holders of Partnership Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and
sell such Partnership Securities at any time during such period, unless such
action is required by applicable law. In
connection with any shelf registration pursuant to this Section 7.12(b),
the Partnership shall (i) promptly prepare and file (A) such
documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to
such shelf registration under the securities laws of such states as the Holder
shall reasonably request; provided, however, that no such qualification shall
be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Partnership
would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or
qualification to do business as a foreign corporation or partnership doing
business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of such shelf registration,
and (B) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list
the Partnership Securities subject to such shelf registration on such National
Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request, and (ii) do
any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or appropriate to
enable the Holder to consummate a public sale of such Partnership Securities in
such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(d),
all costs and expenses of any such shelf registration and offering (other than
the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership,
without reimbursement by the Holder.
(c)
If the
Partnership shall at any time propose to file a registration statement under
the Securities Act for an offering of equity securities of the Partnership for
cash (other than an offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan), the
Partnership shall use all reasonable efforts to include such number or amount
of securities held by the Holder in such registration
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statement as the Holder shall request;
provided, that the Partnership is not required to make any effort or take an
action to so include the securities of the Holder once the registration
statement is declared effective by the Commission, including any registration
statement providing for the offering from time to time of securities pursuant
to Rule 415 of the Securities Act.
If the proposed offering pursuant to this Section 7.12(c) shall
be an underwritten offering, then, in the event that the managing underwriter
or managing underwriters of such offering advise the Partnership and the Holder
in writing that in their opinion the inclusion of all or some of the Holders
Partnership Securities would adversely and materially affect the success of the
offering, the Partnership shall include in such offering only that number or
amount, if any, of securities held by the Holder that, in the opinion of the
managing underwriter or managing underwriters, will not so adversely and
materially affect the offering. Except
as set forth in Section 7.12(d), all costs and expenses of any such
registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and
commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the
Holder.
(d)
If underwriters
are engaged in connection with any registration referred to in this Section 7.12,
the Partnership shall provide indemnification, representations, covenants,
opinions and other assurance to the underwriters in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to such underwriters.
Further, in addition to and not in limitation of the Partnerships
obligation under Section 7.7, the Partnership shall, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, indemnify and hold harmless the Holder, its officers,
directors and each Person who controls the Holder (within the meaning of the
Securities Act) and any agent thereof (collectively,
Indemnified Persons
)
from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or
several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines,
penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all
claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnified Person may be
involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, under the
Securities Act or otherwise (hereinafter referred to in this Section 7.12(d) as
a claim and in the plural as
claims
) based upon, arising out of or
resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material
fact contained in any registration statement under which any Partnership
Securities were registered under the Securities Act or any state securities or
Blue Sky laws, in any preliminary prospectus (if used prior to the effective
date of such registration statement), or in any summary or final prospectus or
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 such amendment or
supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person
specifically for use in the preparation thereof.
(e)
The provisions
of Sections 7.12(a), 7.12(b) and 7.12(c) shall continue to be
applicable with respect to the General Partner (and any of the General Partners
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
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of the Partnership Securities with respect to
which it has requested during such two-year period inclusion in a registration
statement otherwise filed or that a registration statement be filed;
provided
,
however
,
that the Partnership shall not be required to file successive registration
statements covering the same Partnership Securities for which registration was
demanded during such two-year period.
The provisions of Section 7.12(d) shall continue in effect
thereafter.
(f)
The rights to
cause the Partnership to register Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 7.12
may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a
transferee or assignee of such Partnership Securities, provided (i) the
Partnership is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with
written notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee and the
Partnership Securities with respect to which such registration rights are being
assigned; and (ii) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to be
bound by and subject to the terms set forth in this Section 7.12.
(g)
Any request to
register Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 7.12 shall (i) specify
the Partnership Securities intended to be offered and sold by the Person making
the request, (ii) express such Persons present intent to offer such
Partnership Securities for distribution, (iii) describe the nature or
method of the proposed offer and sale of Partnership Securities, and (iv) contain
the undertaking of such Person to provide all such information and materials and
take all action as may be required in order to permit the Partnership to comply
with all applicable requirements in connection with the registration of such
Partnership Securities.
Section 7.13
Reliance by
Third Parties.
Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Partnership shall
be entitled to assume that the General Partner and any officer of the General
Partner authorized by the General Partner to act on behalf of and in the name
of the Partnership has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise
use in any manner any and all assets of the Partnership and to enter into any
authorized contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and such Person shall be
entitled to deal with the General Partner or any such officer as if it were the
Partnerships sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives any and
all defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to
contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner or any such
officer in connection with any such dealing.
In no event shall any Person dealing with the General Partner or any
such officer or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of
this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or
expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or any such officer or
its representatives. Each and every
certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership
by the General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in
favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at
the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or
instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person
executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly
authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such
certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in
accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon
the Partnership.
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ARTICLE VIII
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
Section 8.1
Records and
Accounting.
The General Partner shall
keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership appropriate
books and records with respect to the Partnerships 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 and Assignees of Units or other Partnership
Securities, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may be
kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, punch cards,
magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage
device;
provided
, that the books
and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form
within a reasonable period of time. The
books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes,
on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Section 8.2
Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of the
Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending December 31.
Section 8.3
Reports.
(a)
As soon as
practicable, but in no event later than 120 days after the close of each fiscal
year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made
available 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 to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date
selected by the General Partner, a report containing unaudited financial
statements of the Partnership and such other information as may be required by
applicable law, regulation or rule of any National Securities Exchange on
which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the General Partner
determines to be necessary or appropriate.
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ARTICLE IX
TAX MATTERS
Section 9.1
Tax Returns and
Information.
The Partnership shall timely
file all returns of the Partnership that are required for federal, state and
local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and the taxable
year or years that it is required by law to adopt, from time to time, as determined
in good faith by the General Partner. In
the event the Partnership is required to use a taxable year other than a year
ending on December 31, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to
change the taxable year of the Partnership to a year ending on December 31. The tax information reasonably required by
Record Holders for federal and state income tax reporting purposes with respect
to a taxable year shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the
calendar year in which the Partnerships taxable year ends. The classification, realization and
recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on
the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes.
Section 9.2
Tax Elections.
(a)
The Partnership
shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in accordance with
applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of the right to
seek to revoke any such election upon the General Partners determination that
such revocation is in the best interests of the Limited Partners. Notwithstanding any other provision herein
contained, for the purposes of computing the adjustments under Section 743(b) of
the Code, the General Partner shall be authorized (but not required) to adopt a
convention whereby the price paid by a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest
will be deemed to be the lowest quoted closing price of the Limited Partner
Interests on any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner
Interests are listed or admitted to trading during the calendar month in which
such transfer is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 6.2(g) without
regard to the actual price paid by such transferee.
(b)
Except as
otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall determine whether the
Partnership should make any other elections permitted by the Code.
Section 9.3
Tax
Controversies.
Subject to the provisions
hereof, the General Partner is designated as the Tax Matters Partner (as
defined in the Code) and is authorized and required to represent the
Partnership (at the Partnerships expense) in connection with all examinations
of the Partnerships affairs by tax authorities, including resulting
administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for
professional services and costs associated therewith. Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the
General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably
required by the General Partner to conduct such proceedings.
71
Section 9.4
Withholding.
Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any
action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to
comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any
other federal, state or local law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442,
1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the extent
that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any
taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of
income to any Partner or Assignee (including by reason of Section 1446 of
the Code), the General Partner may treat the amount withheld as a distribution
of cash pursuant to Section 6.3 in the amount of such withholding from
such Partner.
ARTICLE X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS
Section 10.1
Admission of
Initial Limited Partners.
Upon the issuance by the
Partnership of Common Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution
Rights to the General Partner, Chelsea Terminal Limited Partnership, Sandwich
Terminal, L.L.C., Global Petroleum Corp., Montello Oil Corporation, Larea
Holdings LLC, Larea Holdings II LLC and the Underwriters as described in
Sections 5.2 and 5.3 in connection with the Initial Offering, the General
Partner admitted such parties to the Partnership as Initial Limited Partners in
respect of the Common Units, Subordinated Units or Incentive Distribution
Rights issued to them.
Section 10.2
Admission of
Substituted Limited Partners.
By transfer of a Limited
Partner Interest in accordance with Article IV, the transferor shall be
deemed to 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. A
transferor of a Certificate representing a Limited Partner Interest shall,
however, only have the authority to convey to a purchaser or other transferee
who does not execute and deliver a Transfer Application (a) the right to
negotiate such Certificate 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. 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 Transfer Application shall, by virtue of
such execution and delivery, be an Assignee.
Such Assignee shall automatically 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, and until so recorded, such transferee
shall be an Assignee. 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 duly executed Transfer Application has been
received to be recorded in the books and records of the Partnership. An Assignee shall have an interest in the
Partnership equivalent to that of a Limited Partner with respect to allocations
and distributions,
72
including
liquidating distributions, of the Partnership.
With respect to voting rights 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 Limited Partner Interests
will not be voted. An Assignee shall
have no other rights of a Limited Partner.
Section 10.3
Admission of
Successor General Partner.
A successor General Partner
approved pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to
all of the General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units)
pursuant to Section 4.6 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor
General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner,
effective immediately prior to the withdrawal or removal of the predecessor or
transferring General Partner, pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2 or the transfer
of the General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) pursuant
to Section 4.6, provided, however, that no such successor shall be
admitted to the Partnership until compliance with the terms of Section 4.6
has occurred and such successor has executed and delivered such other documents
or instruments as may be required to effect such admission. Any such successor shall, subject to the
terms hereof, carry on the business of the members of the Partnership Group
without dissolution.
Section 10.4
Admission of
Additional Limited Partners.
(a)
A Person (other
than the General Partner, an Initial Limited Partner or a Substituted Limited
Partner) who makes a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in accordance with
this Agreement shall be admitted to the Partnership as an Additional Limited
Partner only upon furnishing to the General Partner:
(i)
evidence of acceptance in
form satisfactory to the General Partner of all of the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, including the power of attorney granted in Section 2.6, and
(ii)
such other documents or
instruments as may be required by the General Partner to effect such Persons
admission as an Additional Limited Partner.
(b)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section 10.4, no Person shall be admitted
as an Additional Limited Partner without the consent of the General
Partner. The admission of any Person as
an Additional Limited Partner shall become effective on the date upon which the
name of such Person is recorded as such in the books and records of the Partnership,
following the consent of the General Partner to such admission.
Section 10.5
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
73
amendment
to this Agreement and, if required by law, the General Partner shall prepare
and file an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership, and the
General Partner may for this purpose, among others, exercise the power of
attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.6.
ARTICLE XI
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS
Section 11.1
Withdrawal of
the General Partner.
(a)
The General
Partner shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Partnership upon the
occurrence of any one of the following events (each such event herein referred
to as an
Event of Withdrawal
);
(i)
The General Partner
voluntarily withdraws from the Partnership by giving written notice to the
other Partners;
(ii)
The General Partner
transfers all of its rights as General Partner pursuant to Section 4.6;
(iii)
The General Partner is
removed pursuant to Section 11.2;
(iv)
The General Partner (A) makes
a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (B) files a voluntary
bankruptcy petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy
Code; (C) files a petition or answer seeking for itself a liquidation,
dissolution or similar relief (but not a reorganization) under any law; (D) files
an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material
allegations of a petition filed against the General Partner in a proceeding of
the type described in clauses (A)-(C) of this Section 11.1(a)(iv); or
(E) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee (but
not a debtor-in-possession), receiver or liquidator of the General Partner or
of all or any substantial part of its properties;
(v)
A final and non-appealable
order of relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code is entered
by a court with appropriate jurisdiction pursuant to a voluntary or involuntary
petition by or against the General Partner; or
(vi)
(A) in the event the
General Partner is a corporation, a certificate of dissolution or its
equivalent is filed for the General Partner, or 90 days expire after the date
of notice to the General Partner of revocation of its charter without a
reinstatement of its charter, under the laws of its state of incorporation; (B) in
the event the General Partner is a partnership or a limited liability company,
the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the General Partner; (C) in
the event the General Partner is acting in such capacity by virtue of being a
trustee of a trust, the termination of the trust; (D) in the event the
General Partner is a natural person, his death or adjudication of incompetency;
and (E) otherwise in the event of the termination of the General Partner.
74
If an Event of Withdrawal
specified in Sections 11.1(a)(iv), 11.1(a)(v) or 11.1(a)(vi)(A),
11.1(a)(vi)(B), 11.1(a)(vi)(C) or 11.1(a)(vi)(E) occurs, the
withdrawing General Partner shall give notice to the Limited Partners within 30
days after such occurrence. The Partners
hereby agree that only the Events of Withdrawal described in this Section 11.1
shall result in the withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership.
(b)
Withdrawal of
the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of
Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following
circumstances: (i) at any time
during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 12:00 midnight,
prevailing Eastern Time, on September 30,
2015, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days
advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners;
provided
, that prior to the effective date
of such withdrawal, the withdrawal is approved by Unitholders holding at least
a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the
General Partner and its Affiliates) and the General Partner delivers to the
Partnership an Opinion of Counsel (
Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel
) that
such withdrawal (following the selection of the successor General Partner)
would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or
any Group Member or cause any Group Member to be treated as an association
taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal
income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed); (ii) at
any time after 12:00 midnight, prevailing Eastern Time, on September 30, 2015, 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 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 Partners withdrawal, 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.
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
75
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 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 Sections 11.1 or 11.2, the Departing General Partner shall have
the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure of such
Departing General Partner, to require its successor to purchase its General
Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) and its general partner
interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members and all
of the 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 departure. If the General
Partner is removed by the Unitholders under circumstances where Cause exists or
if the General Partner withdraws under circumstances where such withdrawal
violates this Agreement, and if a successor General Partner is elected in
accordance with the terms of Sections 11.1 or 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 departure of such
Departing General Partner (or, in the event the business of the Partnership is
continued, prior to the date the business of the Partnership is continued), to
purchase the Combined Interest for such fair market value of such Combined
Interest of the Departing General Partner.
In either event, the Departing General Partner shall be entitled to
receive all reimbursements due such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 7.4,
including any employee-related liabilities (including severance liabilities),
incurred in connection with the termination of any employees employed by the
Departing General Partner or its Affiliates (other than any Group Member) for
the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.
For purposes of this Section 11.3(a),
the fair market value of the Departing General Partners Combined Interest
shall be determined by agreement between the Departing General
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Partner
and its successor or, failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of such Departing General Partners
departure, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent
expert selected by the Departing General Partner and its successor, which, in
turn, may rely on other experts, and the determination of which shall be
conclusive as to such matter. If such
parties cannot agree upon one independent investment banking firm or other
independent expert within 45
days after the effective date of such departure, then the Departing General
Partner shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other
independent expert, the Departing General Partners successor shall designate
an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, and such
firms or experts shall mutually select a third independent investment banking
firm or independent expert, which third independent investment banking firm or
other independent expert shall determine the fair market value of the Combined
Interest of the Departing General Partner.
In making its determination, such third independent investment banking
firm or other independent expert may consider the then current trading price of
Units on any National Securities Exchange on which Units are then listed or
admitted to trading, the value of the Partnerships assets, the rights and
obligations of the Departing General Partner 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 its Combined Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a
valuation made by an investment banking firm or other independent expert
selected pursuant to Section 11.3(a), without reduction in such
Partnership Interest (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of the
admission of its successor). Any
successor General Partner shall indemnify the Departing General Partner (or its
transferee) as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or
after the date on which the Departing General Partner (or its transferee)
becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes
of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest of the Departing General
Partner to Common Units will be characterized as if the Departing General
Partner (or its transferee) contributed its Combined Interest to the
Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.
(c)
If a successor
General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Sections 11.1 or
11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2
and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner) and the
option described in Section 11.3(a) is not exercised by the party
entitled to do so, the successor General Partner shall, at the effective date
of its admission to the Partnership, contribute to the Partnership cash in the
amount equal to the product of the Percentage Interest of the Departing General
Partner and the Net Agreed Value of the Partnerships 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
Partners admission, the successor General Partners interest in all
Partnership distributions and allocations shall be its Percentage Interest.
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Section 11.4
Termination of
Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units and Extinguishment of
Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages.
Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement, if the General Partner is removed as general
partner of the Partnership under circumstances where Cause does not exist and
Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are not voted in favor of
such removal, (i) the Subordination Period will end and all Outstanding
Subordinated Units will immediately and automatically convert into Common Units
on a one-for-one basis, (ii) all Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages on the
Common Units will be extinguished and (iii) the
General Partner will have the right to convert its General Partner Interest
(represented by General Partner Units) and its Incentive Distribution Rights
into Common Units or to receive cash in exchange therefor.
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
Partners 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 Sections 11.1 or 11.2, the Partnership
shall not be dissolved and such successor General Partner shall continue the
business of the Partnership. The
Partnership shall dissolve, and (subject to Section 12.2) its affairs
shall be wound up, upon:
(a)
an Event of
Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a) (other
than Section 11.1(a)(ii)), unless a successor is elected and an Opinion of
Counsel is received as provided in Sections 11.1(b) or 11.2 and such
successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.3;
(b)
an election to
dissolve the Partnership by the General Partner that is approved by the holders
of a Unit Majority;
(c)
the entry of a
decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of
the Delaware Act; or
(d)
at any time
there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued without
dissolution in accordance with the Delaware Act.
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Section 12.2
Continuation of
the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution.
Upon (a) dissolution of
the Partnership following an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or
removal of the General Partner as provided in Sections 11.1(a)(i) or 11.1(a)(iii) and
the failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing General
Partner pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2, then within 90 days thereafter, or (b) dissolution
of the Partnership upon an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined
in Sections 11.1(a)(iv), 11.1(a)(v) or 11.1(a)(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
(x) the exercise of the right would not result in the loss of limited
liability of any Limited Partner and (y) neither the Partnership nor any
Group Member would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or
otherwise be taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes upon the
exercise of such right to continue (to the extent not already so treated or
taxed).
Section 12.3
Liquidator.
Upon dissolution of the
Partnership, unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2,
the General Partner shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General
Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may
be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units
and Subordinated Units voting as a single class. The Liquidator (if other than the General
Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days prior notice
and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal
approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units 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
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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 Partnerships assets for a reasonable time
if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the
Partnerships assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the
Partners. The Liquidator may distribute
the Partnerships assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a
sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners.
(b)
Liabilities of
the Partnership include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for
serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 12.3) and
amounts to Partners otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights
under Article VI. With respect to any liability that is contingent,
conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the
Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it thinks
appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its
payment. When paid, any unused portion
of the reserve shall be distributed as additional liquidation proceeds.
(c)
All property
and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in
Section 12.4(b) shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance
with, and to the extent of, the positive balances in their respective Capital
Accounts, as determined after taking into account all Capital Account
adjustments (other than those made by reason of distributions pursuant to this Section 12.4(c))
for the taxable year of the Partnership during which the liquidation of the
Partnership occurs (with such date of occurrence being determined pursuant to
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)), and such distribution
shall be made by the end of such taxable year (or, if later, within 90 days
after said date of such occurrence).
Section 12.5
Cancellation of
Certificate of Limited Partnership.
Upon the completion of the
distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in Section 12.4
in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership, the Certificate of
Limited
80
Partnership
and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in
jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such other
actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.
Section 12.6
Return of
Contributions.
The General Partner shall
not be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation to contribute or
loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, the
return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners or Unitholders, or
any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall
be made solely from Partnership assets.
Section 12.7
Waiver of
Partition.
To the maximum extent
permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of the
Partnership property.
Section 12.8
Capital Account
Restoration.
No Limited Partner shall
have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon
liquidation of the Partnership. The General
Partner shall be obligated to restore any negative balance in its Capital
Account upon liquidation of its interest in the Partnership by the end of the
taxable year of the Partnership during which such liquidation occurs, or, if
later, within 90 days after the date of such liquidation.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
Section 13.1
Amendments to
be Adopted Solely by the General Partner.
Each Partner agrees that the
General Partner, without the approval of any Partner 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;
81
(d)
a change that
the General Partner determines, (i) does not adversely affect the Limited
Partners (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared
to other classes of Partnership Interests) in any material respect, (ii) to
be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or
guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of
any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal
or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the
trading of the Units (including the division of any class or classes of
Outstanding Units into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax
consequences within such classes of Units) or comply with any rule, regulation,
guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units
are or will be listed or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or
appropriate in connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.9
or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration
Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise
contemplated by this Agreement;
(e)
a change in the
fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the
General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a
change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership including, if the
General Partner shall so determine, a change in the definition of Quarter and
the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership;
(f)
an amendment
that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, or
the General Partner or its directors, officers, trustees or agents from in any
manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or plan asset
regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended, regardless of whether such are substantially similar to plan asset
regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of
Labor;
(g)
an amendment
that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in
connection with the authorization of issuance of any class or series of
Partnership Securities pursuant to Section 5.6;
(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;
(k)
a merger or
conveyance pursuant to Section 14.3(d); or
(l)
any other
amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.
82
Section 13.2
Amendment
Procedures.
Except as provided in
Sections 13.1 and 13.3, all amendments to this Agreement shall be made in
accordance with the following requirements.
Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the General
Partner; provided, however, that the General Partner shall have no duty or
obligation to propose any amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so
free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any
Limited Partner or Assignee and, in declining to propose an amendment, to the
fullest extent permitted by law shall not be required to act in good faith or
pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member
Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or
any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. A proposed amendment shall be effective upon
its approval by the General Partner and the holders of a Unit Majority, unless
a greater or different percentage is required under this Agreement or by
Delaware law. Each proposed amendment
that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of
Outstanding Units shall be set forth in a writing that contains the text of the
proposed amendment. If such an amendment
is proposed, the General Partner shall seek the written approval of the
requisite percentage of Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the Unitholders
to consider and vote on such proposed amendment. The General Partner shall notify all Record
Holders upon final adoption of any such proposed amendments.
Section 13.3
Amendment
Requirements.
(a)
Notwithstanding
the provisions of Sections 13.1 and 13.2, no provision of this Agreement that
establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by
the General Partner) required to take any action shall be amended, altered,
changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of
reducing such voting percentage unless such amendment is approved by the written
consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate
Outstanding Units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be
reduced.
(b)
Notwithstanding
the provisions of Sections 13.1 and 13.2, no amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge
the obligations of any Limited Partner without its consent, unless such shall
be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 13.3(c) or
(ii) enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or
rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or
otherwise payable to, the General Partner or any of its Affiliates without its
consent, which consent may be given or withheld at its option.
(c)
Except as
provided in Section 14.3, and without limitation of the General Partners
authority to adopt amendments to this Agreement without the approval of any
Partners or Assignees as contemplated in Section 13.1, any amendment that
would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class
of Partnership Interests in relation to other classes of Partnership Interests
must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding
Partnership Interests of the class affected.
(d)
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, except for amendments pursuant to Section 13.1
and except as otherwise provided by Section 14.3(b), no amendments shall
become effective without the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding
83
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 law.
(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 mailing of notice of the meeting. Limited Partners shall not vote on matters
that would cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the
management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to
jeopardize the Limited Partners limited liability under the Delaware Act or
the law of any other state in which the Partnership is qualified to do business.
Section 13.5
Notice of a
Meeting.
Notice of a meeting called
pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be given to the Record Holders of the class
or classes of Units for which a meeting is proposed in writing by mail or other
means of written communication in accordance with Section 16.1. The notice
shall be deemed to have been given at the time when deposited in the mail or
sent by other means of written communication.
Section 13.6
Record Date.
For purposes of determining
the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the
Limited Partners or to give approvals without a meeting as provided in Section 13.11
the General Partner may set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 nor
more than 60 days before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such
requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of
any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to
trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such
National Securities Exchange shall govern) or (b) in the event that
approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which Limited Partners are
requested in writing by the General Partner to give such approvals.
If the
General Partner does not set a Record Date, then (a) the Record Date for
determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting
of the Limited
84
Partners shall be the close of business on the day next
preceding the day on which notice is given, and (b) the Record Date for
determining the Limited Partners entitled to give approvals without a meeting
shall be the date the first written approval is deposited with the Partnership
in care of the General Partner in accordance with Section 13.11.
Section 13.7
Adjournment.
When a meeting is adjourned
to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and
a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are
announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such
adjournment shall be for more than 45 days.
At the adjourned meeting, the Partnership may transact any business
which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a new Record Date is
fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be
given in accordance with this Article XIII.
Section 13.8
Waiver of
Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes.
The transactions of any
meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and whenever held,
shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a meeting duly held after regular
call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall
constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner
attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of
the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not
lawfully called or convened; and except that attendance at a meeting is not a
waiver of any right to disapprove the consideration of matters required to be
included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if the disapproval
is expressly made at the meeting.
Section 13.9
Quorum and
Voting.
The holders of a majority of
the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been
called (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General Partner)
represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of
Limited Partners of such class or classes unless any such action by the Limited
Partners requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of such Units, in
which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. At any meeting of the Limited Partners duly
called and held in accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is present,
the act of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate
represent a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote and be present
in person or by proxy at such meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of
all Limited Partners, unless a greater or different percentage is required with
respect to such action under the provisions of this Agreement, in which case
the act of the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate
represent at least such greater or different percentage shall be required. The Limited Partners present at a duly called
or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business
until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Limited Partners to
leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is
approved by the required percentage of Outstanding Units specified in this
Agreement (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the General
Partner). In the absence of a quorum any
meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned from time to time by the
affirmative vote of holders of at
85
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 if an approval in writing setting forth the action
so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum
percentage of the Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the
General Partner) that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a
meeting at which all the Limited Partners were present and voted (unless such
provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any
National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to
trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such
National Securities Exchange shall govern).
Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given
to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The General Partner may specify that any
written ballot submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any
action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time
period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the General
Partner. If a ballot returned to the
Partnership does not vote all of the Units held by the Limited Partners, the
Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Units
that were not voted. If approval of the
taking of any action by the Limited Partners is solicited by any Person other
than by or on behalf of the General Partner, the written approvals shall have
no force and effect unless and until (a) they are deposited with the
Partnership in care of the General Partner, (b) approvals sufficient to
take the action proposed are dated as of a date not more than 90 days prior to
the date sufficient approvals are deposited with the Partnership and (c) an
Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the General Partner to the effect that the
exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken with respect to any
particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to
be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the
Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners
86
limited
liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the state statutes then
governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the
Partners.
Section 13.12
Right to Vote
and Related Matters.
(a)
Only those
Record Holders of the 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 Persons account by another Person (such as a broker,
dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the
foregoing), in whose name such Units are registered, such other Person shall,
in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Units on any matter, and
unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, vote such Units
in favor of, and at the direction of, the Person who is the beneficial owner, and
the Partnership shall be entitled to assume it is so acting without further
inquiry. The provisions of this Section 13.12(b) (as
well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the provisions
of Section 4.3.
ARTICLE XIV
MERGER
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)), formed under the laws
of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States of America,
pursuant to a written agreement of merger or consolidation (
Merger
Agreement
) in accordance with this Article XIV.
Section 14.2
Procedure for
Merger or Consolidation.
Merger or consolidation 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 or consolidation 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 or consolidation, 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. 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:
87
(a)
the names and
jurisdictions of formation or organization of each of the business entities
proposing to merge or consolidate;
(b)
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
);
(c)
the terms and
conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;
(d)
the manner and
basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent
business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities
or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if any general or
limited partner interests, securities or rights of any constituent business
entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property
or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business
Entity, the cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights,
securities or obligations of any general or limited partnership, corporation,
trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity
(other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such interests,
securities or rights are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion of
their interests, securities or rights, and (ii) in the case of securities
represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which
cash, property or 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;
(e)
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 or other
similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected
by such merger or consolidation;
(f)
the effective
time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of
merger pursuant to Section 14.4 or a later date specified in or
determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement (provided, that if the
effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of such
certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time
certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of merger and
stated therein); and
(g)
such other
provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation that the
General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
Section 14.3
Approval by
Limited Partners of Merger or Consolidation.
(a)
Except as
provided in Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(e), the General Partner, upon its
approval of the Merger Agreement, shall direct that the Merger Agreement 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 shall be included in or enclosed
with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent.
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(b)
Except as
provided in Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(e), the Merger Agreement shall be
approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a
Unit Majority.
(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 pursuant to Section 14.4, the merger or
consolidation may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set
forth in the Merger Agreement.
(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 Partnerships
assets to, another limited liability entity which shall be newly formed and
shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such conversion,
merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Partnership or other
Group Member if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel
that the conversion, merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result
in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or cause the
Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or
otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the
extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the sole purpose of such
conversion, merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form
of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the
governing instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners and the
General Partner with the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.
(e)
Additionally,
notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this
Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval,
to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another entity if (A) the
General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or
consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited
liability of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership to be treated as an
association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for
federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (B) the
merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to the Partnership
Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant to Section 13.1,
(C) the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or
consolidation, (D) each Unit outstanding immediately prior to the
effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Unit of the
Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, and (E) the
number of Partnership Securities to be issued by the Partnership in such merger
or consolidation do not exceed 20% of the Partnership Securities Outstanding
immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.
Section 14.4
Certificate of
Merger.
Upon the required approval
by the General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement, a certificate
of merger shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act.
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Section 14.5
Amendment of Partnership
Agreement.
Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of
the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in
accordance with this Article XIV may (a) effect any amendment to this
Agreement or (b) effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for
the Partnership if it is the Surviving Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant
to this Section 14.5 shall be effective at the effective time or date of
the merger or consolidation.
Section 14.6
Effect of
Merger.
(a)
At the
effective time of the certificate of merger:
(i)
all of the
rights, privileges and powers of each of the business entities that has merged
or consolidated, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due
to any of those business entities and all other things and causes of action
belonging to each of those business entities, shall be vested in the Surviving
Business Entity and after the merger or consolidation shall be the property of
the Surviving Business Entity to the extent they were of each constituent
business entity;
(ii)
the title to
any real property vested by deed or otherwise in any of those constituent
business entities shall not revert and is not in any way impaired because of
the merger or consolidation;
(iii)
all rights of
creditors and all liens on or security interests in property of any of those
constituent business entities shall be preserved unimpaired; and
(iv)
all debts,
liabilities and duties of those constituent business entities shall attach to
the Surviving Business Entity and may be enforced against it to the same extent
as if the debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.
(b)
A merger or
consolidation effected pursuant to this Article shall not be deemed to result
in a transfer or assignment of assets or liabilities from one entity to
another.
ARTICLE XV
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
Section 15.1
Right to
Acquire Limited Partner Interests.
(a)
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time the General Partner and
its Affiliates hold more than 80% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any
class then Outstanding, the General Partner shall then have the right, which
right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership or any
Affiliate of the General Partner, exercisable at its option, to purchase all,
but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then
Outstanding held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates,
at the greater of (x) the Current Market Price as of the date three days
prior to the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is
mailed and (y) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any of its
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Affiliates for any such Limited Partner
Interest of such class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is
mailed. As used in this Agreement, (i) Current
Market Price as of any date of any class of Limited Partner Interests means
the average of the daily Closing Prices (as hereinafter defined) per Limited
Partner Interest of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days (as
hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date; (ii) Closing Price
for any day means the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in case no
such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked
prices on such day, regular way, as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal
National Securities Exchange (other than the Nasdaq National Market) on which
such 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 (other than the Nasdaq National Market), the last quoted
price on such day or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low
asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the
Nasdaq National Market or such other system then in use, or, if on any such day
such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day as furnished
by a professional market maker making a market in such Limited Partner
Interests of such class selected by the General Partner, or if on any such day
no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such
class, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as
determined by the General Partner; and (iii) Trading Day means a day on
which the principal National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner
Interests of any class are listed is open for the transaction of business or,
if Limited Partner Interests of a class are not listed on any National
Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City
generally are open.
(b)
If the General
Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership elects to
exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a),
the General Partner shall deliver to the Transfer Agent notice of such election
to purchase (the
Notice of Election to Purchase
) and shall cause the
Transfer Agent to mail a copy of such Notice of Election to Purchase to the
Record Holders of Limited Partner Interests of such class (as of a Record Date
selected by the General Partner) at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior
to the Purchase Date. Such Notice of
Election to Purchase shall also be published for a period of at least three
consecutive days in at least two daily newspapers of general circulation
printed in the English language and published in the Borough of Manhattan, New York. The Notice of Election to
Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price (determined in
accordance with Section 15.1(a)) at which Limited Partner Interests will
be purchased and state that the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership,
as the case may be, elects to purchase such Limited Partner Interests, upon
surrender of Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests in
exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent as the
Transfer Agent may specify, or as may be required by any National Securities
Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase
mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at his address as
reflected in the records of the Transfer Agent shall be conclusively presumed
to have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the General
Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall deposit
with the Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate
purchase price of all of such Limited Partner Interests to be
91
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
Articles IV, V, VI and XII) shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive
the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) for
Limited Partner Interests therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the
Transfer Agent of the Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests,
and such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred
to the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be,
on the record books of the Transfer Agent and the Partnership, and the General
Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner, or the Partnership, as the
case may be, shall be deemed to be the owner of all such Limited Partner
Interests from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the
owner of such Limited Partner Interests (including all rights as owner of such
Limited Partner Interests pursuant to Articles IV, V, VI and XII).
(c)
At any time
from and after the Purchase Date, a holder of an Outstanding Limited Partner
Interest subject to purchase as provided in this Section 15.1 may
surrender his Certificate evidencing such Limited Partner Interest to the
Transfer Agent in exchange for payment of the amount described in Section 15.1(a),
therefor, without interest thereon.
ARTICLE XVI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 16.1
Addresses and
Notices.
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 Securities at his
address as shown on the records of the Transfer Agent or as otherwise shown on
the records of the Partnership, regardless of any claim of any Person who may
have an interest in such Partnership Securities by reason of any assignment or
otherwise. An affidavit or certificate
of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of
this Section 16.1 executed by the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or
the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making
of such notice, payment or report. If
any notice, payment or report addressed to a Record Holder at the address of
such Record Holder appearing on the books and records of the Transfer Agent or
the Partnership is returned by the United States Postal Service marked to
indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver it, such
notice, payment or report and any subsequent notices, payments and reports
shall be
92
deemed
to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time as
such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the
Partnership of a change in his address) if they are available for the Partner
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.
Section 16.2
Further Action.
The parties shall execute
and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from
taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of
this Agreement.
Section 16.3
Binding Effect.
This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs,
executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted
assigns.
Section 16.4
Integration.
This Agreement constitutes
the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter
hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining
thereto.
Section 16.5
Creditors.
None of the provisions of
this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any
creditor of the Partnership.
Section 16.6
Waiver.
No failure by any party to
insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or
condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon
a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other
covenant, duty, agreement or condition.
Section 16.7
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 Unit, upon accepting the certificate evidencing such Unit or
executing and delivering a Transfer Application as herein described,
independently of the signature of any other party.
93
Section 16.8
Applicable Law.
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.
Section 16.9
Invalidity of
Provisions.
If any provision of this
Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not be affected thereby.
Section 16.10
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 16.11
Facsimile
Signatures.
The use of facsimile
signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of the transfer agent and
registrar of the Partnership on certificates representing Common Units is
expressly permitted by this Agreement.
[
REMAINDER OF
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
]
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IN WITNESS
WHEREOF,
the General Partner has executed this Agreement as
of the date first written above.
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GENERAL PARTNER:
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GLOBAL
GP LLC
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By:
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/s/
Edward J. Faneuil
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Edward
J. Faneuil
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Executive
Vice President, General Counsel and
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Secretary
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SIGNATURE PAGE
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF GLOBAL PARTNERS LP
EXHIBIT
A
to the
Third Amended and Restated
Agreement
of Limited Partnership of
Global
Partners LP
Certificate
Evidencing Common Units
Representing
Limited Partner Interests in
Global
Partners LP
In accordance with Section 4.1
of the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Global
Partners LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the
Partnership Agreement
), Global Partners LP, a Delaware
limited partnership (the
Partnership
),
hereby certifies that
(the
Holder
) is the registered owner of
Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the
Common Units
) transferable on the books of the Partnership,
in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate
properly endorsed and accompanied by a properly executed application for
transfer of the Common Units represented by this Certificate. 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 P.O. Box 9161, 800
South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454.
Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings
given them in the Partnership Agreement.
The Holder, by accepting
this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and agreed
to become, a Limited Partner and to have agreed to comply with and be bound by
and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii) represented and
warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority and, if an
individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement, (iii) granted
the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement and (iv) made
the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership
Agreement.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY
ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PARTNERSHIP 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 THE
PARTNERSHIP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE THE
PARTNERSHIP TO BE TREATED AS AN
1
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). GLOBAL GP LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF THE
PARTNERSHIP, 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 THE PARTNERSHIP 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.
This Certificate shall not
be valid for any purpose unless it has been countersigned and registered by the
Transfer Agent and Registrar.
Dated:
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Global
Partners LP
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Countersigned
and Registered by:
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By:
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Global
GP LLC,
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its
General Partner
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By:
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as
Transfer Agent and Registrar
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Name:
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By:
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By:
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Authorized Signature
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Secretary
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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 -
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as
tenants in common
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UNIF
GIFT MIN ACT
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TEN
ENT -
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as
tenants by the entireties
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Custodian
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(Cust)
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(Minor)
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JT
TEN -
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as
joint tenants with right of survivorship and not
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under
Uniform Gifts to
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as
tenants in common
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Minors
Act
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(State)
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Additional abbreviations,
though not in the above list, may also be used.
ASSIGNMENT
OF COMMON UNITS
IN
GLOBAL PARTNERS LP
FOR VALUE RECEIVED,
hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers unto
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(Please print or typewrite
name and address of Assignee)
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(Please insert Social
Security or other identifying number of Assignee)
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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 Global Partners LP.
Date:
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NOTE:
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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.
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3
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
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(Signature)
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(Signature)
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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 and an Application for Transfer of
Common Units has been executed by a transferee either (a) on the form set
forth below or (b) on a separate application that the Partnership will
furnish on request without charge. A
transferor of the Common Units shall have no duty to the transferee with
respect to execution of the transfer application in order for such transferee
to obtain registration of the transfer of the Common Units.
4
APPLICATION
FOR TRANSFER OF COMMON UNITS
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 Third Amended and Restated Agreement of
Limited Partnership of Global Partners LP (the
Partnership
),
as amended, supplemented or restated to the date hereof (the
Partnership Agreement
), (b) represents and warrants
that the Assignee has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the
capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement, (c) appoints
the General Partner of the Partnership and, if a Liquidator shall be appointed,
the Liquidator of the Partnership as the Assignees attorney-in-fact to
execute, swear to, acknowledge and file any document, including the Partnership
Agreement and any amendment thereto and the Certificate of Limited Partnership
of the Partnership and any amendment thereto, necessary or appropriate for the
Assignees admission as a Substituted Limited Partner and as a party to the
Partnership Agreement, (d) gives the powers of attorney provided for in
the Partnership Agreement, and (e) makes the waivers and gives the
consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement. Capitalized terms not defined herein have the
meanings assigned to such terms in the Partnership Agreement.
Date:
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Social Security or other identifying number
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Signature of Assignee
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Purchase Price including commissions, if any
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Name and Address of Assignee
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Type
of Entity (check one):
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o
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Individual
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o
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Partnership
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o
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Corporation
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o
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Trust
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o
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Other
(specify)
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Nationality
(check one):
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o
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U.S.
Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity
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o
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Foreign
Corporation
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o
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Non-resident
Alien
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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 interestholders interest in it, the
undersigned hereby certifies the following (or, if applicable, certifies the
following on behalf of the interestholder).
5
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
interestholders U.S. employer identification number is
.
3.
The
interestholders 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.
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:
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Name of Interestholder
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Signature and Date
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Title
(if applicable)
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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 Assignees knowledge.
6