UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 14, 2010

 

KKR & CO. L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

001-34820
(Commission
File Number)

 

26-0426107
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

9 West 57 th  Street, Suite 4200

New York, New York

 

10019

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(212) 750-8300

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

NOT APPLICABLE
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

In connection with the previously announced New York Stock Exchange listing by KKR & Co. L.P. of its common units, certain previously disclosed agreements have been entered into and certain other steps taken related to the listing, in each case as described below.

 

Item 1.01               Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On July 14, 2010, the Exchange Agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) was entered into by and among KKR & Co. L.P. (the “Partnership”), KKR Management Holdings L.P. (“Management Holdings”), KKR Fund Holdings L.P. (“Fund Holdings”) and KKR Holdings L.P. (“Holdings”), in the form previously filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the Partnership’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-165414) (the “Registration Statement”). A description of the material provisions of the Exchange Agreement has previously been reported by the Partnership in its prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 on July 6, 2010 (the “Prospectus”). The description of the Exchange Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Exchange Agreement that is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

On July 14, 2010, the Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) was entered into by and among the Partnership, Holdings and the parties from time to time party thereto, in the form previously filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement. A description of the material provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement has previously been reported by the Partnership in the Prospectus. The description of the Registration Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Registration Rights Agreement that is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

On July 14, 2010, the Tax Receivable Agreement (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”) was entered into by and among the Partnership, KKR Management Holdings Corp., Management Holdings and Holdings, in the form previously filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement. A description of the material provisions of the Tax Receivable Agreement has previously been reported by the Partnership in the Prospectus. The description of the Tax Receivable Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Tax Receivable Agreement that is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.3 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.03               Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

Item 5.03               Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

On July 14, 2010, the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”)  was entered into by and among KKR Management LLC., the general partner of the Partnership (the “Managing Partner”), and the limited partners party thereto, in the form previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Partnership’s Registration Statement. A description of the Partnership’s common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (“Common Units”) giving effect to the amendment and restatement of the Partnership Agreement and of the material provisions of the Partnership Agreement has previously been reported by the Partnership in the Prospectus. The description of the Partnership Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Partnership Agreement that is filed herewith as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

On July 14, 2010, the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Managing Partner (the “LLC Agreement”) was entered into by the members party thereto, in the form previously filed as Exhibit 3.4 to Registration Statement. A description of the material provisions of the LLC Agreement has previously been reported by the Partnership in the Prospectus. The description of the LLC Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the LLC Agreement that is filed herewith as Exhibit 3.2 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.02               Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

Effective July 15, 2010, Joseph A. Grundfest, Dieter Rampl and Robert W. Scully have been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Managing Partner (the “Board”), thereby joining Henry R. Kravis and George R. Roberts on the Board.  Messrs. Grundfest, Rampl and Scully have been determined to be “independent” under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Messrs. Grundfest, Rampl and Scully will serve as members of the audit committee and the conflicts committee of the Board; Messrs. Kravis, Roberts and Scully will serve as members of the nominating and corporate governance committee of the Board; and Messrs. Kravis and Roberts will serve as members of the executive committee of the Board. Biographical information regarding these directors has previously been reported by the Partnership in the Prospectus. As previously reported in the Prospectus, the Managing Partner shall limit the individuals who receive

 

2



 

compensation for their Board service to the independent directors who serve on the Board. Each independent director shall (A) receive (i) an annual cash retainer of $75,000, (ii) an additional annual cash retainer of $15,000 if such independent director is a member of the nominating and corporate governance committee, (iii) an additional annual cash retainer of $25,000 if such independent director is a member of the audit committee, and (iv) an additional annual cash retainer of $15,000 if such independent director serves as the chairman of the audit committee, and (B) be granted 10,000 equity awards pursuant to the KKR & Co. L.P. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

As of July 15, 2010, each member of the Board (the “Indemnitee”) entered into an Indemnification Agreement (each, an “Indemnification Agreement”) with the Managing Partner and the Partnership. Each Indemnification Agreement provides that the Indemnitee, subject to the limitations set forth in each Indemnification Agreement, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Managing Partner on an after tax basis from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, in which the Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of being or having been or having agreed to serve as a member of the Board, or while serving as a member of the Board, being or having been serving or having agreed to serve at the request of the Managing Partner as a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee, partner or manager or similar capacity) of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring on, before or after the date of such Indemnification Agreement. Each Indemnification Agreement provides that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by an arbitral tribunal or court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to the Indemnification Agreement, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct.

 

Each Indemnification Agreement also provides for the advancement of expenses incurred by the Indemnitee who is indemnified under the Indemnification Agreement by the Managing Partner, subject to certain conditions. In addition, the Partnership shall guarantee the fulfillment of all of the Managing Partner’s obligations under the Indemnification Agreement and the Partnership shall be jointly and severally liable with the Managing Partner with respect to such obligations.

 

The description of the Indemnification Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Indemnification Agreement that is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.4 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 8.01               Other Events.

 

On June 15, 2010, the Common Units began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “KKR”. The common units of KKR & Co. (Guernsey) L.P. (“KKR Guernsey”) ceased trading on Euronext Amsterdam at the market close on July 14, 2010 and KKR Guernsey was delisted from Euronext Amsterdam on July 15, 2010.

 

A copy of a press release issued by the Partnership on July 15, 2010 is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

3



 

Item 9.01               Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)          Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of KKR & Co. L.P., dated July 14, 2010, by and among KKR Management LLC and the limited partners party thereto

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.2

 

Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Liability Company Agreement of KKR Management LLC, dated July 14, 2010, by and among the members party thereto

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

Exchange Agreement, dated July 14, 2010, by and among KKR & Co. L.P., KKR Management Holdings L.P., KKR Fund Holdings L.P. and KKR Holdings L.P.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated July 14, 2010, by and among KKR & Co. L.P., KKR Holdings L.P. and the person from time to time party thereto

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

Tax Receivable Agreement, dated July 14, 2010, by and among KKR & Co. L.P., KKR Management Holdings L.P., KKR Holdings L.P. and KKR Management Holdings Corp.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement by and among each member of the Board of Directors of KKR Management LLC, KKR Management LLC and KKR & Co. L.P.

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Press Release, dated July 15, 2010, issued by KKR & Co. L.P.

 

4



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

KKR & CO. L.P.

 

By:

KKR Management LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

Date: July 20, 2010

By:

/s/ David J. Sorkin

 

Name:

David J. Sorkin

 

Title:

General Counsel

 

5


Exhibit 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

 

OF

 

KKR & CO. L.P.

 

dated as of July 14, 2010

 



 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

1

 

 

 

SECTION 1.1.

Definitions

1

SECTION 1.2.

Construction

9

 

 

 

ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION

9

 

 

 

SECTION 2.1.

Formation

9

SECTION 2.2.

Name

9

SECTION 2.3.

Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices

10

SECTION 2.4.

Purpose and Business

10

SECTION 2.5.

Powers

10

SECTION 2.6.

Power of Attorney

10

SECTION 2.7.

Term

12

SECTION 2.8.

Title to Partnership Assets

12

SECTION 2.9.

Certain Undertakings Relating to the Separateness of the Partnership

12

 

 

 

ARTICLE III RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

13

 

 

 

SECTION 3.1.

Limitation of Liability

13

SECTION 3.2.

Management of Business

13

SECTION 3.3.

Outside Activities of the Limited Partners

13

SECTION 3.4.

Rights of Limited Partners

13

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

14

 

 

 

SECTION 4.1.

Certificates

14

SECTION 4.2.

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates

14

SECTION 4.3.

Record Holders

15

SECTION 4.4.

Transfer Generally

15

SECTION 4.5.

Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests

15

SECTION 4.6.

Transfer of the Managing Partner’s Managing Partner Interest

16

SECTION 4.7.

Restrictions on Transfers

16

SECTION 4.8.

Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees

17

SECTION 4.9.

Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees

18

 

 

 

ARTICLE V CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

19

 

 

 

SECTION 5.1.

Organizational Issuances

19

SECTION 5.2.

Contributions by the Managing Partner and its Affiliates

19

SECTION 5.3.

Contributions by KPE

19

SECTION 5.4.

Interest and Withdrawal

19

SECTION 5.5.

Issuances and Cancellations of Special Voting Units

20

SECTION 5.6.

Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities

20

 

i



 

SECTION 5.7.

Preemptive Rights

21

SECTION 5.8.

Splits and Combinations

21

SECTION 5.9.

Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests

21

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

22

 

 

 

SECTION 6.1.

Establishment and Maintenance of Capital Accounts

22

SECTION 6.2.

Allocations

22

SECTION 6.3.

Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders

23

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

23

 

 

 

SECTION 7.1.

Management

23

SECTION 7.2.

Certificate of Limited Partnership

25

SECTION 7.3.

Partnership Group Assets; Managing Partner’s Authority

26

SECTION 7.4.

Reimbursement of the Managing Partner

26

SECTION 7.5.

Outside Activities

27

SECTION 7.6.

Loans from the Managing Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership; Contracts with Affiliates; Certain Restrictions on the Managing Partner

28

SECTION 7.7.

Indemnification

29

SECTION 7.8.

Liability of Indemnitees

31

SECTION 7.9.

Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties

31

SECTION 7.10.

Other Matters Concerning the Managing Partner

33

SECTION 7.11.

Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities

34

SECTION 7.12.

Reliance by Third Parties

34

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING

34

 

 

 

SECTION 8.1.

Records and Accounting

34

SECTION 8.2.

Fiscal Year

35

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX TAX MATTERS

35

 

 

 

SECTION 9.1.

Tax Returns and Information

35

SECTION 9.2.

Tax Elections

35

SECTION 9.3.

Tax Controversies

35

SECTION 9.4.

Withholding

35

SECTION 9.5.

Election to be Treated as a Corporation; Treatment as a Partnership

36

 

 

 

ARTICLE X ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

36

 

 

 

SECTION 10.1.

Admission of Initial Limited Partners

36

SECTION 10.2.

Admission of Additional Limited Partners

36

SECTION 10.3.

Admission of Successor Managing Partner

37

SECTION 10.4.

Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership to Reflect the Admission of Partners

37

 

ii



 

ARTICLE XI WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

37

 

 

 

SECTION 11.1.

Withdrawal of the Managing Partner

37

SECTION 11.2.

No Removal of the Managing Partner

39

SECTION 11.3.

Interest of Departing Managing Partner and Successor Managing Partner

39

SECTION 11.4.

Withdrawal of Limited Partners

40

 

 

 

ARTICLE XII DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

40

 

 

 

SECTION 12.1.

Dissolution

40

SECTION 12.2.

Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Event of Withdrawal

40

SECTION 12.3.

Liquidator

41

SECTION 12.4.

Liquidation

42

SECTION 12.5.

Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership

42

SECTION 12.6.

Return of Contributions

42

SECTION 12.7.

Waiver of Partition

42

SECTION 12.8.

Capital Account Restoration

43

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

43

 

 

 

SECTION 13.1.

Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the Managing Partner

43

SECTION 13.2.

Amendment Procedures

44

SECTION 13.3.

Amendment Requirements

45

SECTION 13.4.

Special Meetings

45

SECTION 13.5.

Notice of a Meeting

46

SECTION 13.6.

Record Date

46

SECTION 13.7.

Adjournment

46

SECTION 13.8.

Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes

46

SECTION 13.9.

Quorum

47

SECTION 13.10.

Conduct of a Meeting

47

SECTION 13.11.

Action Without a Meeting

48

SECTION 13.12.

Voting and Other Rights

48

SECTION 13.13.

Participation of Special Voting Units in All Actions Participated in by Common Units

49

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIV MERGER

49

 

 

 

SECTION 14.1.

Authority

49

SECTION 14.2.

Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Other Business Combination

50

SECTION 14.3.

Approval by Limited Partners of Merger, Consolidation or Other Business Combination; Conversion of the Partnership into another Limited Liability Entity

51

SECTION 14.4.

Certificate of Merger or Consolidation

51

SECTION 14.5.

Amendment of Partnership Agreement

51

SECTION 14.6.

Effect of Merger

51

 

 

 

ARTICLE XV RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

52

 

 

 

SECTION 15.1.

Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests

52

 

iii



 

ARTICLE XVI GENERAL PROVISIONS

54

 

 

 

SECTION 16.1.

Addresses and Notices

54

SECTION 16.2.

Further Action

54

SECTION 16.3.

Binding Effect

55

SECTION 16.4.

Integration

55

SECTION 16.5.

Creditors

55

SECTION 16.6.

Waiver

55

SECTION 16.7.

Counterparts

55

SECTION 16.8.

Applicable Law

55

SECTION 16.9.

Exclusive Jurisdiction

55

SECTION 16.10.

Invalidity of Provisions

56

SECTION 16.11.

Consent of Partners

56

SECTION 16.12.

Facsimile Signatures

56

 

iv



 

AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
OF
KKR & CO. L.P.

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OF KKR & CO. L.P. dated as of July 14, 2010, is entered into by and among KKR Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the Managing Partner, the Organizational Limited Partner, together with any other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein. In consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

SECTION 1.1.              Definitions .

 

The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.

 

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.

 

Agreement ” means this Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of KKR & Co. L.P., as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Associate ” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation, other entity 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.

 

Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act (and “Beneficially Own” shall have a correlative meaning).

 

Board of Directors ” means, with respect to the Board of Directors of the Managing 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 its general partner.

 

Business Day ” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law to close.

 

Capital Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1.

 

Capital Contribution ” means any cash or cash equivalents or other property valued at its fair market value that a Partner contributes to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.

 



 

Carrying Value ” means, with respect to any Partnership asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except that the initial carrying value of assets contributed to the Partnership shall be their respective gross fair market values on the date of contribution as determined by the Managing Partner, and the Carrying Values of all Partnership assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective fair market values, in accordance with the rules set forth in United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), except as otherwise provided herein, as of: (a) the date of the acquisition of any additional Partnership Interest by any new or existing Partner in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (b) the date of the distribution of more than a de minimis amount of Partnership assets to a Partner in exchange for a Partnership Interest; (c) the date a Partnership Interest is relinquished to the Partnership; (d) the date that the Partnership issues more than a de minimis Partnership Interest to a new Partner in exchange for services; or (e) any other date specified in the United States Treasury Regulations; provided however that adjustments pursuant to clauses (a), (b) (c), (d) and (e) above shall be made only if such adjustments are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Managing Partner to reflect the relative economic interests of the Partners. In the case of any asset that has a Carrying Value that differs from its adjusted tax basis, Carrying Value shall be adjusted by the amount of depreciation calculated for purposes of the definition of “Net Income (Loss)” rather than the amount of depreciation determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Certificate ” means a certificate issued in global form in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Depositary or in such other form as may be adopted by the Managing Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more Common Units or a certificate, in such form as may be adopted by the Managing 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 2.1, 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 Managing Partner by which a Limited Partner certifies that he (and if he is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, that to the best of his knowledge such other Person) is an Eligible Citizen.

 

Closing Price ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).

 

Code ” means the U.S. 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 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Unit ” means a Limited Partner Interest representing a fractional part of the Limited Partner Interests of all Limited Partners and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement.

 

Conflicts Committee ” means a committee of the Board of Directors of the Managing Partner composed entirely of one or more directors or managers who meet the independence standards (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, the financial literacy or financial expert qualifications) required to serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and

 

2



 

regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed for trading.

 

Current Market Price ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a)(ii).

 

Delaware Limited Partnership Act ” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del. C. § 17-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.

 

Departing Managing Partner ” means a former Managing Partner from and after the effective date of any withdrawal of such former Managing Partner pursuant to Section 11.1.

 

Depositary ” means, with respect to any Units issued in global form, The Depository Trust Company and its successors and permitted assigns.

 

Eligible Citizen ” means a Person qualified to own interests in real property in jurisdictions in which any Group Member does business or proposes to do business from time to time, and whose status as a Limited Partner the Managing Partner determines in its sole discretion 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.

 

Event of Withdrawal ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(a).

 

Exchange Agreement ” means one or more exchange agreements providing for the exchange of Group Partnership Units or other securities issued by members of the Group Partnership Group for Common Units, a form of which is included as an appendix to the Investment Agreement.

 

Fiscal Year ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.2.

 

Fund ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.7(a).

 

 “ 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, exercising investment power or disposing of any Partnership Securities 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 Partnership I ” means KKR Management Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successor thereto.

 

Group Partnership I General Partner ” means KKR Management Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation and the general partner of Group Partnership I, and any successor thereto.

 

Group Partnership II ” means KKR Fund Holdings L.P., a Cayman limited partnership, and any successor thereto.

 

Group Partnership II General Partners ” means the Partnership and KKR Fund Holdings GP Limited, a Cayman limited company, as general partners of Group Partnership II, and any successor thereto.

 

3



 

“Group Partnership Agreements ” means, collectively, the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Group Partnership I and the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Group Partnership II (and the partnership agreement then in effect of any future partnership designated as a Group Partnership), as they may each be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Group Partnership General Partners ” means, collectively, Group Partnership I General Partner and Group Partnership II General Partners (and the general partner of any future partnership designated as a Group Partnership).

 

 “ Group Partnership Group ” means, collectively, the Group Partnerships and their respective Subsidiaries.

 

Group Partnership Unit ” means, collectively, one partnership unit in each of Group Partnership I and Group Partnership II (and any future partnership designated as a Group Partnership) issued under its respective Group Partnership Agreement.

 

Group Partnerships ” means, collectively, Group Partnership I and Group Partnership II (and any future partnership designated as a Group Partnership).

 

Indemnitee ” means (a) the Managing Partner, (b) any Departing Managing Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the Managing Partner or any Departing Managing Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a member, partner, Tax Matters Partner (as defined in the Code), officer, director, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of any Group Member, any Group Partnership, the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, the Managing Partner or any Departing Managing Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member, the Managing Partner or any Departing Managing Partner, (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the Managing Partner or any Departing Managing Partner or any Affiliate of the Managing Partner or any Departing Managing Partner as an officer, director, employee, member, partner, Tax Matters Partner (as defined in the Code), agent, 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 or similar arms-length compensatory basis, agency, advisory, consulting, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services and (f) any Person the Managing Partner in its sole discretion designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Initial Limited Partner ” means KPE or its designees, in each case upon being admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 10.1.

 

Investment Agreement ” means the amended and restated investment agreement between the Partnership, KPE and the other parties thereto, dated October 1, 2009, as amended from time to time.

 

KKR Holdings ” means KKR Holdings L.P., a Cayman limited partnership.

 

“KPE” means KKR & Co. (Guernsey) L.P., a Guernsey limited partnership, formerly known as KKR Private Equity Investors, L.P.

 

KPE Transaction ” means the transaction contemplated in the Purchase and Sale Agreement.

 

Limited Partner ” means, unless the context otherwise requires, each Initial Limited Partner, each additional Person that acquires a Limited Partner Interest and is admitted to the Partnership as a limited partner of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and any Departing Managing Partner upon the change of its status from Managing Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3, in each

 

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case, in such Person’s capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership as long as such Person holds at least one Limited Partner Interest. For the avoidance of doubt, each holder of a Special Voting Unit shall be a Limited Partner. For purposes of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act, the Limited Partners shall constitute a single class or group of limited partners.

 

Limited Partner Interest ” means the ownership interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Special Voting Units or other Partnership Securities or a combination thereof or interest therein, and includes any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, including voting rights, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

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 the Managing Partner or one or more Persons as may be selected by the Managing Partner to perform the functions described in Section 12.3 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership within the meaning of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act.

 

Listing Date ” means the first date on which the Common Units are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

 “ Managing Partner ” means KKR Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the general partner of the Partnership and any successor or permitted assign that is admitted to the Partnership as general partner of the Partnership, each in its capacity as a general partner of the Partnership (except as the context otherwise requires).

 

Managing Partner Interest ” means the management and ownership interest of the Managing Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it), which takes the form of Managing Partner Units, and includes any and all benefits to which a Managing Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of a Managing Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

Managing Partner Unit ” means a fractional part of the Managing Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the Managing Partner Interest.

 

Merger Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1.

 

National Securities Exchange ” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Securities Exchange Act or any successor thereto and any other securities exchange (whether or not registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Securities Exchange Act) that the Managing Partner in its sole discretion shall designate as a National Securities Exchange for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Net Income (Loss) ” for any Fiscal Year (or other fiscal period) means the taxable income or loss of the Partnership for such period as determined in accordance with the accounting method used by the Partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the following adjustments: (i) any income of the Partnership that is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation and not otherwise taken into account in

 

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computing Net Income (Loss) shall be added to such taxable income or loss; (ii) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any depreciation, amortization or gain or loss resulting from a disposition of such asset shall be calculated with reference to such Carrying Value; (iii) upon an adjustment to the Carrying Value of any asset, pursuant to the definition of Carrying Value, the amount of the adjustment shall be included as gain or loss in computing such taxable income or loss; and (iv) any expenditures of the Partnership not deductible in computing taxable income or loss, not properly capitalizable and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Income (Loss) pursuant to this definition shall be treated as deductible items.

 

Non-citizen Assignee ” means a Person who the Managing Partner has determined in its sole discretion does not constitute an Eligible Citizen and as to whose Partnership Interest the Managing Partner has become the Limited Partner, pursuant to Section 4.8.

 

Notice of Election to Purchase ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(b).

 

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel or, in the case of tax matters, a qualified tax advisor (who may be regular counsel or tax adviser, as the case may be, to the Partnership or the Managing Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the Managing Partner in its discretion.

 

 “ Organizational Limited Partner ” means the initial limited partner of the Partnership as set forth in the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of June 25, 2007.

 

Outstanding ” means, with respect to Partnership Securities, all Partnership Securities that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding on the Partnership’s books and records as of the date of determination; provided however that if at any time any Person or Group (other than the Managing Partner or its Affiliates) Beneficially Owns 20% or more of any class of Outstanding Common Units, all Common Units owned by such Person or Group shall not be entitled to be voted on any matter and shall not be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Common Units so owned shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Common Units shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Securities for purposes of this Agreement); provided further that the foregoing limitation shall not apply (i) to any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Outstanding Common Units of any class then Outstanding directly from the Managing Partner or its Affiliates, (ii) to any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Outstanding Common Units of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in clause (i) provided that the Managing Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply or (iii) to any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Common Units issued by the Partnership with the prior approval of the Board of Directors. The determinations of the matters described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of the foregoing sentence shall be conclusively determined by the Managing Partner in its sole discretion, which determination shall be final and binding on all Partners.

 

Partners ” means the Managing Partner and the Limited Partners.

 

Partnership ” means KKR & Co. L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

 

Partnership Group ” means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries treated as a single consolidated entity.

 

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Partnership Interest ” means an interest in the Partnership, which shall include the Managing Partner Interests and Limited Partner Interests.

 

Partnership Security ” means any equity interest in the Partnership (but excluding any options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership), including without limitation Common Units, Special Voting Units and Managing Partner Units.

 

Percentage Interest ” means, as of any date of determination, (i) as to any holder of Common Units in its capacity as such, the product obtained by multiplying (a) 100% less the percentage applicable to the Units referred to in clause (iv) by (b) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the number of Common Units held by such holder by (y) the total number of all Outstanding Common Units, (ii) as to any holder of Managing Partner Units in its capacity as such with respect to such Managing Partner Units, 0%, (iii) as to any holder of Special Voting Units in its capacity as such with respect to such Special Voting Units, 0%, and (iv) as to any holder of other Units in its capacity as such with respect to such Units, the percentage established for such Units by the Managing Partner as a part of the issuance of such Units.

 

Person ” means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association (including any group, organization, co-tenancy, plan, board, council or committee), government (including a country, state, county, or any other governmental or political subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof) or other entity (or series thereof).

 

Pro Rata ” means (a) in respect of Units or any class thereof, apportioned equally among all designated Units, and (b) in respect of Partners or Record Holders, apportioned among all Partners or Record Holders, as the case may be, in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests.

 

Purchase Date ” means the date determined by the Managing Partner as the date for purchase of all Outstanding Units of a certain class (other than Units owned by the Managing Partner and its Affiliates) pursuant to Article XV.

 

Purchase and Sale Agreement ” means the amended and restated purchase and sale agreement between the Partnership, KPE and the other parties thereto, dated July 19, 2009.

 

Purchaser Common Units ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Investment Agreement.

 

 “ 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 Listing Date the portion of such fiscal quarter after the Listing Date or, with respect to the final fiscal quarter of the Partnership, the relevant portion of such fiscal quarter.

 

Record Date ” means the date and time established by the Managing Partner pursuant to Section 13.6 or, if applicable, the Liquidator pursuant to Section 12.4, in each case in its sole discretion 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 or other business of the Partnership.

 

Record Holder ” means the Person in whose name a Partnership Interest is registered on the books of the Partnership or, if such books are maintained by the Transfer Agent, on the books of the Transfer Agent, in each case as of the Record Date.

 

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Redeemable Interests ” means any Partnership Interests for which a redemption notice has been given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant to Section 4.9.

 

Registration Statement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Investment Agreement.

 

Securities Act ” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.

 

Securities Exchange Act ” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.

 

Special Approval ” means either (a) approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee or, if there is only one member of the Conflicts Committee, approval by the sole member of the Conflicts Committee, or (b) approval by the vote of the Record Holders representing a majority of the voting power of the Voting Units (excluding Voting Units owned by the Managing Partner and its Affiliates).

 

Special Voting Unit ” means a Limited Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Special Voting Units in this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, holders of Special Voting Units, in their capacity as such, shall not be entitled to receive distributions by the Partnership and shall not be allocated income, gain, loss, deduction or credit of the Partnership.

 

 “ 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, (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 or (d) any other Person the financial information of which is consolidated by such Person for financial reporting purposes under U.S. GAAP.

 

Surviving Business Entity ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.2(b).

 

Tax Receivable Agreement ” means the Tax Receivable Agreement to be entered into among the Partnership and KKR Holdings, or certain transferees of its limited partner interests in the Group Partnerships, a form of which is included as an appendix to the Investment Agreement.

 

Trading Day ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a)(ii).

 

Transfer Agent ” means such bank, trust company or other Person (including the Managing Partner or one of its Affiliates) as shall be appointed from time to time by the Managing Partner to act as registrar and transfer agent for the Common Units; provided that if no Transfer Agent is specifically designated for any other Partnership Securities, the Managing Partner shall act in such capacity.

 

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Unit ” means a Partnership Interest that is designated as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units, Special Voting Units and Managing Partner Units.

 

Unitholders ” means the holders of Units.

 

U.S. GAAP ” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

 

U.S. Listing ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Investment Agreement.

 

 “ Voting Unit ” means a Common Unit, a Special Voting Unit and any other Partnership Interest that is designated as a “Voting Unit” from time to time.

 

Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(b).

 

SECTION 1.2.              Construction .

 

Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; and (c) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” or words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation;” and the terms “hereof,” “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE II

 

ORGANIZATION

 

SECTION 2.1.              Formation .

 

The Partnership has been previously formed as a limited partnership pursuant to the filing of the Certificate of Limited Partnership with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 25, 2007, pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act, and the execution of the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of June 25, 2007, between the Managing Partner, as general partner, and the Organizational Limited Partner, as Limited Partner. 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 Limited Partnership Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes and a Partner has no interest in specific Partnership property.

 

SECTION 2.2.              Name .

 

The name of the Partnership shall be “KKR & Co. L.P.” The Partnership’s business may be conducted under any other name or names as determined by the Managing Partner in its sole discretion, including the name of the Managing Partner. The words “Limited Partnership,” “LP,” “L.P.,” “Ltd.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The Managing Partner may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time by filing an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership (and upon any such filing this Agreement shall be deemed automatically amended to change

 

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the name of the Partnership) and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.

 

SECTION 2.3.              Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices .

 

Unless and until changed by the Managing Partner by filing an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership (and upon any such filing this Agreement shall be deemed automatically amended to change the registered office and the registered agent of the Partnership) the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware is located at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office is The Corporation Trust Company. The principal office of the Partnership is located at 9 West 57 th  Street, New York, New York 10019 or such other place as the Managing Partner in its sole discretion 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 Managing Partner deems necessary or appropriate. The address of the Managing Partner is 9 West 57 th  Street, New York, New York 10019 or such other place as the Managing Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.

 

SECTION 2.4.              Purpose and Business .

 

The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to (a) engage directly in, or enter into or form any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the Managing Partner in its sole discretion and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Limited Partnership Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity; and (b) do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Managing 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 duty (including any fiduciary duty) or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner or Record Holder and, in declining to so propose or approve, shall not be deemed to have breached this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby, the Delaware Limited Partnership Act or any other provision of law, rule or regulation or equity.

 

SECTION 2.5.              Powers .

 

The Partnership shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described in Section 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership.

 

SECTION 2.6.              Power of Attorney .

 

(a)    Each Limited Partner and Record Holder hereby constitutes and appoints the Managing Partner and, if a Liquidator (other than the Managing Partner) shall have been selected pursuant to Section 12.3, the Liquidator, severally (and any successor to the Liquidator by merger, transfer, assignment, election or otherwise) and each of their authorized managers and officers and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with full power of substitution, as his true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his name, place and 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

 

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Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof) that the Managing 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 amendments to this Agreement adopted in accordance with the terms hereof and all certificates, documents and other instruments that the Managing 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 Managing Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution and termination of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (D) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof) relating to the admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or other events described in, this Agreement (including issuance and cancellations of Special Voting Units pursuant to Section 5.5); (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 or consolidation or similar certificate) relating to a merger, consolidation, combination or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to Article XIV or otherwise in connection with the change of jurisdiction of the Partnership; and

 

(ii)    execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other instruments that the Managing 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) to 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 certain percentage of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of any class or series required to take any action, the Managing 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 such percentage 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 Managing 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, shall not be affected by the subsequent death, incompetency, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of any Limited Partner or Record Holder and the transfer of all or any portion of such Limited Partner’s or Record Holder’s Partnership Interest and shall extend to such Limited Partner’s or Record Holder’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. Each such Limited Partner or Record Holder hereby agrees to be bound by any representation made by the Managing Partner or the Liquidator acting in good faith pursuant to such power of attorney; and each such Limited Partner or Record Holder, 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 Managing Partner or the Liquidator taken in good faith under such power of attorney. Each Limited Partner and Record Holder shall execute and deliver to the Managing Partner or the Liquidator, within 15 days after receipt of the request therefor, such further designation,

 

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powers of attorney and other instruments as the Managing 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 Limited Partnership Act and shall continue 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 Limited Partnership Act.

 

SECTION 2.8.              Title to Partnership Assets .

 

Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership, the Managing Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees, as the Managing Partner may determine. The Managing Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which record title is held in the name of the Managing Partner or one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees shall be held by the Managing 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 Managing Partner shall use reasonable efforts to cause record title to such assets (other than those assets in respect of which the Managing Partner in its sole discretion 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 of the Managing Partner or as soon thereafter as practicable, the Managing 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 Managing 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.

 

SECTION 2.9.              Certain Undertakings Relating to the Separateness of the Partnership.

 

(a)    Separateness Generally . The Partnership shall conduct its business and operations separate and apart from those of any other Person (other than the Managing Partner) in accordance with this Section 2.9.

 

(b)    Separate Records . The Partnership shall maintain (i) its books and records, (ii) its accounts, and (iii) its financial statements separate from those of any other Person except for a Person whose financial results are required to be consolidated with the financial results of the Partnership.

 

(c)    No Effect . Failure by the Managing Partner or the Partnership to comply with any of the obligations set forth above shall not affect the status of the Partnership as a separate legal entity, with its separate assets and separate liabilities.

 

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ARTICLE III

 

RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

 

SECTION 3.1.              Limitation of Liability .

 

The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided in this Agreement or the Delaware Limited Partnership Act.

 

SECTION 3.2.              Management of Business .

 

No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act) of the Partnership’s business, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. Any action taken by any Affiliate of the Managing Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the Managing 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 Limited Partnership Act) and shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners under this Agreement or the Delaware Limited Partnership Act.

 

SECTION 3.3.              Outside Activities of the Limited Partners .

 

Any Limited Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Partnership Group or an Affiliate of a Group Member. Neither the Partnership nor any of the other Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner.

 

SECTION 3.4.              Rights of Limited Partners .

 

(a)    In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by applicable law, and except as limited by Section 3.4(b), each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such Limited Partner’s own expense:

 

(i)    promptly after its becoming available, to obtain a copy of the Partnership’s U.S. federal income tax returns for each year; and

 

(ii)    to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto, together with a copy 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.

 

(b)    The Managing Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the Managing Partner determines in its sole discretion, (i) any information that the Managing Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the Managing Partner believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set forth in this Section 3.4).

 

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ARTICLE IV

 

CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

SECTION 4.1.              Certificates .

 

Notwithstanding anything otherwise to the contrary herein, unless the Managing Partner shall determine otherwise in respect of some or all of any or all classes of Partnership Interests, Partnership Interests shall not be evidenced by Certificates. Certificates that may be issued shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Managing Partner (and by any appropriate officer of the Managing Partner on behalf of the Managing Partner).

 

No Certificate evidencing Common Units shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent; provided however that if the Managing Partner elects to issue Certificates evidencing Common Units in global form, the Certificates evidencing Common Units shall be valid upon receipt of a Certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Certificates evidencing Common Units have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership.

 

SECTION 4.2.              Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates .

 

(a)    If any mutilated Certificate evidencing Common Units is surrendered to the Transfer Agent or any mutilated Certificate evidencing other Partnership Securities is surrendered to the Managing Partner, the appropriate officers of the Managing Partner on behalf of the Managing Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute, and, if applicable, 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 Managing Partner on behalf of the Managing Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and, if applicable, 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 Managing Partner, that a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen;

 

(ii)    requests the issuance of a new Certificate before the Managing 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 Managing Partner, delivers to the Managing Partner a bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the Managing Partner, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the Managing Partner, in its sole discretion, may direct to indemnify the Partnership, the Partners, the Managing Partner and, if applicable, 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 Managing Partner.

 

If a Record Holder fails to notify the Managing 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 Managing Partner or the Transfer Agent receives such notification, the Record Holder shall be precluded from making any claim against the Partnership, the Managing 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 Managing Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other charge that may be imposed

 

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in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent, if applicable) reasonably connected therewith.

 

SECTION 4.3.              Record Holders .

 

The Partnership shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the owner 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 required by law or applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed for 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 or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such representative Person shall be the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest.

 

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 Managing Partner assigns its Managing Partner Units to another Person who becomes the Managing Partner, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange, or any other disposition by law or otherwise or (ii) by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another Person, 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 member of the Managing Partner of any or all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests or other interests in the Managing Partner.

 

SECTION 4.5.              Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests .

 

(a)    The Managing Partner shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Partnership a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the Partnership will provide for the registration and transfer of Limited Partner Interests. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar and transfer agent for the purpose of registering Common Units and transfers of such Common Units as herein provided. The Partnership shall not recognize transfers of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests unless such transfers are effected in the manner described in this Section 4.5. Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the appropriate officers of the Managing Partner on behalf of the Managing Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Common Units, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered.

 

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(b)    Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.8, the Partnership shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are surrendered for registration of transfer. No charge shall be imposed by the Managing Partner for such transfer; provided that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.5, the Managing Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other charge that may be imposed with respect thereto.

 

(c)    Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5, (ii) Section 4.4, (iii) Section 4.7, (iv) with respect to any series of Limited Partner Interests, the provisions of any statement of designations or amendment to this Agreement establishing such series, (v) any contractual provisions binding on any Limited Partner and (vi) provisions of applicable law including the Securities Act, Limited Partnership Interests shall be freely transferable. Partnership Interests may also be subject to any transfer restrictions contained in any employee related policies or equity benefit plans, programs or practices adopted on behalf of the Partnership pursuant to Section 7.4(c).

 

SECTION 4.6.              Transfer of the Managing Partner’s Managing Partner Interest .

 

(a)    Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to December 31, 2018 the Managing Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its Managing Partner Interest (represented by Managing Partner Units) to a Person unless such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior written consent or vote of Limited Partners holding of at least a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding Voting Units (excluding Voting Units held by the Managing Partner or its Affiliates) or (ii) is of all, but not less than all, of its Managing Partner Interest to (A) an Affiliate of the Managing Partner (other than an individual) or (B) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with the merger or consolidation of the Managing Partner with or into another Person (other than an individual) or the transfer by the Managing Partner of all, but not less than all, of its Managing Partner Interest to another Person (other than an individual).

 

(b)    Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after December 31, 2018 the Managing Partner may transfer all or any part of its Managing Partner Interest without Unitholder approval.

 

(c)    Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer by the Managing Partner of all or any part of its Managing Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the Managing Partner under this Agreement and to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner. 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 Managing Partner effective immediately prior to the transfer of such Managing Partner Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.

 

SECTION 4.7.              Restrictions on Transfers .

 

(a)    Except as provided in Section 4.7(c) 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 U.S. federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the Commission, any U.S. 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 U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).

 

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(b)    The Managing Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if it receives an Opinion of Counsel that such restrictions are necessary or advisable to avoid a significant risk of the Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Managing 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 (unless the successor interests contemplated by Section 14.3(d) are traded on a National Securities Exchange) on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is then traded 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)    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 for trading.

 

SECTION 4.8.              Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees .

 

(a)    If any Group Member is or becomes subject to any law or regulation that, in the determination of the Managing Partner in its sole discretion, creates a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which the Group Member has an interest based on the nationality, citizenship or other related status of a Limited Partner, the Managing Partner may request any Limited Partner to furnish to the Managing Partner, within 30 days after receipt of such request, an executed Citizenship Certification or such other information concerning his nationality, citizenship or other related status (or, if the Limited Partner is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, the nationality, citizenship or other related status of such Person) as the Managing Partner may request. If a Limited Partner fails to furnish to the Managing 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 Managing Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner is not an Eligible Citizen, the Partnership Interests owned by such Limited Partner shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.9. The Managing Partner also may require in its sole discretion that the status of any such Limited Partner be changed to that of a Non-citizen Assignee and, thereupon, the Managing Partner shall be substituted for such Non-citizen Assignee as the Limited Partner in respect of his Limited Partner Interests.

 

(b)    The Managing 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 Managing Partner) in respect of Limited Partner Interests other than those of Non-citizen Assignees are cast, either for, against or abstaining as to the matter.

 

(c)    Upon dissolution of the Partnership, a Non-citizen Assignee shall have no right to receive a distribution in kind pursuant to Section 12.4 but shall be entitled to the cash equivalent thereof, and the Partnership shall provide cash in exchange for an assignment of the Non-citizen Assignee’s share of the 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 Managing Partner, request that with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of such Non-citizen Assignee not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.9, such Non-citizen Assignee be admitted as a Limited Partner, and upon approval of the Managing Partner in its sole discretion, such Non-citizen Assignee shall be admitted as a Limited Partner and shall no longer

 

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constitute a Non-citizen Assignee and the Managing Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited Partner Interests.

 

SECTION 4.9.              Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees .

 

(a)    If at any time a Limited Partner fails to furnish a Citizenship Certification or other information requested within the 30-day period specified in Section 4.8(a), or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other information the Managing Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner is not an Eligible Citizen, the Managing Partner, in its sole discretion, may cause the Partnership to, unless the Limited Partner establishes to the satisfaction of the Managing Partner that such Limited Partner is an Eligible Citizen or has transferred his Partnership Interests to a Person who is an Eligible Citizen and who furnishes a Citizenship Certification to the Managing Partner prior to the date fixed for redemption as provided below, redeem the Limited Partner Interest of such Limited Partner as follows:

 

(i)    The Managing Partner shall, not later than the 30th day before the date fixed for redemption, give notice of redemption to the Limited Partner, at his last address designated on the records of the Partnership or the Transfer Agent, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid. The notice shall be deemed to have been given when so mailed. The notice shall specify the Redeemable Interests, the date fixed for redemption, the place of payment, that payment of the redemption price will be made upon the redemption of the Redeemable Interests (or, if later in the case of Redeemable Interests evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender of the Certificates evidencing such Redeemable Interests) and that on and after the date fixed for redemption no further allocations or distributions to which the Limited Partner would otherwise be entitled in respect of the Redeemable Interests will accrue or be made.

 

(ii)    The aggregate redemption price for Redeemable Interests shall be an amount equal to the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the date fixed for redemption) of Limited Partner Interests of the class to be so redeemed multiplied by the number of Limited Partner Interests of each such class included among the Redeemable Interests. The redemption price shall be paid as determined by the Managing Partner in its sole discretion, in cash or by delivery of a promissory note of the Partnership in the principal amount of the redemption price, bearing interest at the prime lending rate prevailing on the date fixed for redemption as published by The Wall Street Journal , payable in three equal annual installments of principal together with accrued interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.

 

(iii)    The Limited Partner or his duly authorized representative shall be entitled to receive the payment for Redeemable Interests at the place of payment specified in the notice of redemption on the redemption date (or, if later in the case of Redeemable Interests evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender by or on behalf of the Limited Partner, at the place specified in the notice of redemption, of the Certificates, evidencing the Redeemable Interests, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by an assignment duly executed in blank).

 

(iv)    After the redemption date, Redeemable Interests shall no longer constitute issued and Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, unless otherwise required to be so treated for tax purposes.

 

(b)    The provisions of this Section 4.9 shall also be applicable to Limited Partner Interests held by a Limited Partner as nominee of a Person determined to be other than an Eligible Citizen.

 

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(c)    Nothing in this Section 4.9 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 Managing Partner shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the Managing Partner in a Citizenship Certification 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.

 

(d)    Notwithstanding anything in Section 4.8 or Section 4.9 to the contrary, no proceeds shall be delivered to a Person to whom the delivery of such proceeds would violate applicable law, and in such case and in lieu thereof, the proceeds shall be delivered to a charity selected by the Managing Partner in its sole discretion and any redemption shall be effective upon delivery of such payments to such charity.

 

ARTICLE V

 

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

SECTION 5.1.              Organizational Issuances .

 

Upon issuance by the Partnership of Common Units on or about the Listing Date and the admission of such Unitholders as a Limited Partner, the Organizational Limited Partner of the Partnership shall automatically withdraw as a limited partner of the Partnership and as a result shall have no further right, interest or obligation of any kind whatsoever as a limited partner of the Partnership and any capital contribution of the Organizational Limited Partner will be returned to him on the date of such withdrawal.

 

SECTION 5.2.              Contributions by the Managing Partner and its Affiliates .

 

The Managing Partner shall not be obligated to make any Capital Contributions to the Partnership.

 

SECTION 5.3.              Contributions by KPE

 

Subject to Section 8.3 (Change in Law) of the Investment Agreement, on the closing of the U.S. Listing and pursuant to the Investment Agreement, KPE shall contribute its Purchaser Common Units to the Partnership and the Partnership shall issue the number of Common Units required to be issued pursuant to the Investment Agreement to KPE or its designees in accordance with the Investment Agreement, and KPE and its transferees shall be admitted to the Partnership as Limited Partners subject to and in accordance with Section 10.2.

 

SECTION 5.4.              Interest and Withdrawal .

 

No interest on Capital Contributions shall be paid by the Partnership. No Partner shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions are made pursuant to this Agreement or upon dissolution of the Partnership and then in each case only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement (including with respect to Partnership Securities subsequently issued by the Partnership), no Partner shall have priority over any other Partner either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions. Any such return shall be a compromise to which all Partners agree within the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act.

 

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SECTION 5.5.              Issuances and Cancellations of Special Voting Units .

 

The Partnership shall issue one (1) Special Voting Unit to each record holder of a Group Partnership Unit other than the Partnership and its Subsidiaries. Upon the issuance to it of a Special Voting Unit, each holder thereof shall automatically and without further action be admitted to the Partnership as a limited partner of the Partnership. In the event that a holder of a Special Voting Unit shall cease to be the record holder of a Group Partnership Unit, the Special Voting Unit held by such holder shall be automatically cancelled without any further action of any Person and such holder shall cease to be a Limited Partner with respect to the Special Voting Unit so cancelled. The determination of the Managing Partner as to whether a holder of a Special Voting Unit is the record holder of a Group Partnership Unit or remains the record holder of such Special Voting Unit shall be made in its sole discretion, which determination will be conclusive and binding on all Partners.

 

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 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 Managing Partner shall determine in its sole discretion, all without the approval of any Limited Partners, including pursuant to Section 7.4(c).

 

(b)    Each additional Partnership Security authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.6(a) and Section 7.4(c) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes and series of Partnership Securities), as shall be fixed by the Managing Partner in its sole discretion, including (i) the right to share in Partnership Net Income (Loss) 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 the holder of each such Partnership Security to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of such Partnership Security.

 

(c)    The Managing Partner is hereby authorized to 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 and Section 7.4(c), including the admission of additional Limited Partners in connection therewith and any related amendment of this Agreement, and (ii) all additional issuances of Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities. The Managing Partner shall determine in its sole discretion the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities being so issued. The Managing Partner is authorized to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any governmental agency or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities are listed for trading.

 

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SECTION 5.7.              Preemptive Rights .

 

Unless otherwise determined by the Managing Partner, in its sole discretion, 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.

 

SECTION 5.8.              Splits and Combinations .

 

(a)    Subject to Section 5.8(d), 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 or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted retroactive to the beginning of the Partnership.

 

(b)    Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities is declared, the Managing Partner shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall provide notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such Record Date to Unitholders not less than 10 days prior to the date of such notice. The Managing Partner also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The Managing 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 or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities as of the applicable Record Date representing the new number of Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities held by such Record Holders, or the Managing 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 or outstanding options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities, the Partnership shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of any such new Certificate, the surrender of any Certificate held by such Record Holder immediately prior to such Record Date.

 

(d)    The Partnership shall not be required to 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 5.8(d), the Managing Partner in its sole discretion may determine that each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall be rounded to the next higher Unit).

 

SECTION 5.9.              Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests .

 

All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act or this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

SECTION 6.1.              Establishment and Maintenance of Capital Accounts .

 

There shall be established for each Partner on the books of the Partnership as of the date such Partner becomes a Partner a capital account (each being a “Capital Account”). Each Capital Contribution by any Partner, if any, shall be credited to the Capital Account of such Partner on the date such Capital Contribution is made to the Partnership. In addition, each Partner’s Capital Account shall be (a) credited with (i) such Partner’s allocable share of any Net Income (or items thereof) of the Partnership, and (ii) the amount of any Partnership liabilities that are assumed by the Partner or secured by any Partnership property distributed to the Partner and (b) debited with (i) the amount of distributions (and deemed distributions) to such Partner of cash or the fair market value of other property so distributed, (ii) such Partner’s allocable share of Net Loss (or items thereof) of the Partnership, and (iii) the amount of any liabilities of the Partner assumed by the Partnership or which are secured by any property contributed by the Partner to the Partnership. Any other item which is required to be reflected in a Partner’s Capital Account under Section 704(b) of the Code and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder or otherwise under this Agreement shall be so reflected. The Managing Partner shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a Partner’s interest in the Partnership. Interest shall not be payable on Capital Account balances. The Partnership Capital Accounts shall be maintained in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and, to the extent not inconsistent with such regulation, the provisions of this Agreement. The Capital Account of each holder of Managing Partner Units or Special Voting Units shall at all times be zero, except to the extent such holder also holds Partnership Interests other than Managing Partner Units or Special Voting Units.

 

SECTION 6.2.              Allocations .

 

(a)    Net Income (Loss) (including items thereof) of the Partnership for each Fiscal Year shall be allocated to each Partner in accordance with such Partner’s Percentage Interest, except as otherwise determined by the Managing Partner in its sole discretion in order to comply with the Code or applicable regulations thereunder.

 

The Managing Partner shall determine all matters concerning allocations for tax purposes not expressly provided for herein in its sole discretion. For the proper administration of the Partnership and for the preservation of uniformity of Partnership Interests (or any portion or class or classes thereof), the Managing Partner may (i) amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of United States Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of the Code or (y) otherwise to preserve or achieve uniformity of Partnership Interests (or any portion or class or classes thereof), and (ii) adopt and employ or modify such conventions and methods as the Managing Partner determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate for (A) the determination for tax purposes of items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit and the allocation of such items among Partners and between transferors and transferees under this Agreement and pursuant to the Code and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, (B) the determination of the identities and tax classification of Partners, (C) the valuation of Partnership assets and the determination of tax basis, (D) the allocation of asset values and tax basis, (E) the adoption and maintenance of accounting methods and (F) taking into account differences between the Carrying Values of Partnership assets and such asset adjusted tax basis pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code and the United States Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(b)    Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Partner under the provisions of this Article VI shall instead be made to the 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 determined by the Managing Partner in its sole discretion.

 

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SECTION 6.3.              Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders .

 

(a)    The Managing Partner, in its sole discretion, may authorize distributions by the Partnership to the Partners, which distributions shall be made Pro Rata in accordance with the Partners’ respective Percentage Interests.

 

(b)    The Managing Partner shall treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, or amounts withheld with respect to, less than all of the Partners, as a distribution of cash to such Partners.

 

(c)    Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a), in the event of the dissolution of the Partnership, all receipts received during or after the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4.

 

(d)    Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the Partnership, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Such payment shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Partnership’s liability in respect of such payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason of an assignment or otherwise.

 

(e)    Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Partnership, and the Managing Partner on behalf of the Partnership, shall not be required to make a distribution to a Partner or a Record Holder if such distribution would violate the Delaware Limited Partnership Act or other applicable law.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

 

SECTION 7.1.              Management .

 

(a)    The Managing 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 Managing Partner, and no Limited Partner shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or that are granted to the Managing Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the Managing Partner, subject to Section 7.3, shall have full power and authority to do all things and on such terms as it determines, in its sole discretion, to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including the following:

 

(i)    the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness that is convertible or exchangeable into Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities, and the incurring of any other obligations;

 

(ii)    the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the Partnership;

 

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(iii)    the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any or all of the assets of the Partnership or the merger or other combination of the Partnership with or into another Person (the matters described in this clause (iii) being subject, however, to any prior approval that may be required by Section 7.3 and Article XIV);

 

(iv)    the use of the assets of the Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Partnership Group; subject to Section 7.6(a), the lending of funds to other Persons; 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 Managing Partner or its assets other than their 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 such as titles as the Managing Partner may determine in its sole discretion) 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, limited liability companies, corporations or other relationships (including the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, the Partnership’s Subsidiaries from time to time) subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 2.4;

 

(x)    the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Partnership, including the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation, arbitration or mediation and the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation;

 

(xi)    the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by law;

 

(xii)    the entering into of listing agreements with any National Securities Exchange and the delisting of some or all of the Limited Partner Interests from, or requesting that trading be suspended on, any such exchange (subject to any prior approval that may be required under Section 4.7);

 

(xiii)    the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities;

 

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(xiv)    the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership’s participation in the management of the Partnership Group through its directors, officers or employees or the Partnership’s direct or indirect ownership of the Group Members, including all things described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement and the agreements described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement; and

 

(xv)    cause to be registered for resale under the Securities Act and applicable state or non-U.S. securities laws, any securities of, or any securities convertible or exchangeable into securities of, the Partnership held by any Person, including the Managing Partner or any Affiliate of the Managing Partner.

 

(b)    In exercising its authority under this Agreement, the Managing Partner may, but shall be under no obligation to, take into account the tax consequences to any Partner (including the Managing Partner) of any action taken (or not taken) by it. The Managing Partner and the Partnership shall not have any liability to a Limited Partner for monetary damages, equitable relief or otherwise for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by such Limited Partner in connection with such decisions so long as the Managing Partner has acted pursuant to its authority under this Agreement.

 

(c)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Delaware Limited Partnership Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners 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 the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the Investment Agreement, the Exchange Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreement, the Group Partnership Agreements 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 Managing Partner (on its own or through its delegation of such authority to 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, in each case in such form and with such terms as it in its sole discretion shall determine, without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners or the other Persons who may acquire an interest in Partnership Securities; and (iii) agrees that the execution, delivery or performance by the Managing 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 Managing Partner or any Affiliate of the Managing Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV), shall not constitute a breach by the Managing Partner of any duty that the Managing Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

 

SECTION 7.2.              Certificate of Limited Partnership .

 

(a)    The Managing 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 Limited Partnership Act and is authorized to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the Managing 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 U.S. state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent the Managing Partner determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the Managing Partner is authorized to 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),

 

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the Managing 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.

 

(b)    In the event that the Managing Partner determines the Partnership should seek relief pursuant to Section 7704(e) of the Code to preserve the status of the Partnership as a partnership for U.S. federal (and applicable U.S. state) income tax purposes, the Partnership and each Partner shall agree to adjustments required by the U.S. tax authorities, and the Partnership shall pay such amounts as required by the U.S. tax authorities, to preserve the status of the Partnership as a partnership for U.S. federal (and applicable U.S. state) income tax purposes.

 

SECTION 7.3.              Partnership Group Assets; Managing Partner’s Authority .

 

Except as provided in Articles XII and XIV, the Managing Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Partnership Group’s assets, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, without the approval of holders of a majority of the voting power of Outstanding Voting Units; provided however that this provision shall not preclude or limit the Managing Partner’s ability, in its sole discretion, to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group (including for the benefit of Persons other than members of the Partnership Group, including Affiliates of the Managing Partner) 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 majority of the voting power of Outstanding Voting Units, the Managing 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 Managing Partner .

 

(a)    Except as provided in this Section 7.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the Managing Partner shall not be compensated for its services as general partner or managing member of any Group Member.

 

(b)    The Managing Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other reasonable basis as the Managing Partner may determine, in its sole discretion, 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 Managing Partner to perform services for the Partnership Group or for the Managing 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 Managing Partner in connection with operating the Partnership Group’s business (including expenses allocated to the Managing Partner by its Affiliates). The Managing Partner in its sole discretion 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 Managing Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7.

 

(c)    The Managing Partner may, in its sole discretion, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof), propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership Group equity benefit plans, programs and practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of or reservation of issuance of Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities), or cause the Partnership to issue or to reserve for issuance Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities in connection with, or pursuant to, any such equity benefit plan, program or practice or any

 

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equity benefit plan, program or practice maintained or sponsored by the Managing Partner or any of its Affiliates in respect of services performed directly or indirectly for the benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the Managing Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities that the Managing Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide pursuant to any equity benefit plans, programs or practices maintained or sponsored by them. Expenses incurred by the Managing Partner in connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the Managing Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities purchased by the Managing 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 Managing Partner under any equity benefit plans, programs or practices adopted by the Managing Partner as permitted by this Section 7.4(c) shall constitute obligations of the Managing Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor Managing Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or the transferee of or successor to all of the Managing Partner’s Managing Partner Interest.

 

SECTION 7.5.              Outside Activities .

 

(a)    On and after the Listing Date, the Managing Partner, for so long as it is a Managing Partner of the Partnership (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as a general partner or managing member of the Partnership and any other partnership or limited liability company of which the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner, member, trustee or stockholder 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, managing member, trustee or stockholder 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 insofar as the Managing Partner is specifically restricted by Section 7.5(a), each Indemnitee shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise to any Group Member or any Partner or Record Holder. None of any Group Member, any Limited Partner or any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or the partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any Indemnitee.

 

(c)    Subject to the terms of Section 7.5(a) and Section 7.5(b), but otherwise notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engagement in competitive activities by any Indemnitees (other than the Managing Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.5 is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners, (ii) it shall not be a breach of the Managing Partner’s or any other Indemnitee’s duties or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of the Managing Partner or any other Indemnitee if the Indemnitee (other than the Managing Partner) engages in any such business interests or activities in preference to or to the exclusion of any Group Member, (iii) the Managing Partner and the Indemnities shall have no obligation hereunder or as a result of any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise to present business opportunities to any Group Member and (iv) the doctrine of “corporate opportunity” or other analogous doctrine shall not apply to any such Indemnitee.

 

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(d)    The Managing Partner and any of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities and, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise all rights of a Managing Partner or Limited Partner, as applicable, relating to such Units or Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities.

 

SECTION 7.6.              Loans from the Managing Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership; Contracts with Affiliates; Certain Restrictions on the Managing Partner .

 

(a)    The Managing Partner or any of its Affiliates may, but shall be under no obligation to, lend to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the Managing 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 Managing Partner may determine, in each case on terms that are fair and reasonable to the Partnership; provided however that the requirements of this Section 7.6(a) conclusively shall be deemed satisfied and not a breach of any duty hereunder or existing at law, in equity or otherwise as to any transaction (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) the terms of which are, in the aggregate, no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iii) that is fair and reasonable to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be or have been particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership).

 

(b)    Any Group Member (including the Partnership) may lend or contribute to any other Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from any other Group Member (including the Partnership), funds on terms and conditions determined by the Managing Partner. The foregoing authority shall be exercised by the Managing Partner in its sole discretion and shall not create any right or benefit in favor of any Group Member or any other Person.

 

(c)    The Managing Partner may itself, or may enter into an agreement with any of its Affiliates to, render services to a Group Member or to the Managing Partner in the discharge of its duties as general partner of the Partnership. Any services rendered to a Group Member by the Managing Partner or any of its Affiliates shall be on terms that are fair and reasonable to the Partnership; provided however that the requirements of this Section 7.6(c) conclusively shall be deemed satisfied and not a breach of any duty hereunder or existing at law, in equity or otherwise as to any transaction (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) the terms of which are, in the aggregate, no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iii) that is fair and reasonable to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be or have been particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership). The provisions of Section 7.4 shall apply to the rendering of services described in this Section 7.6(c).

 

(d)    The Partnership may transfer assets to joint ventures, other partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies or other business entities in which it is or thereby becomes a participant upon such terms and subject to such conditions as are consistent with this Agreement and applicable law.

 

(e)    The Managing Partner or any of its Affiliates may sell, transfer or convey any property to, or purchase any property from, the Partnership, directly or indirectly, pursuant to transactions that are fair and reasonable to the Partnership; provided however that the requirements of this Section 7.6(e) conclusively shall be deemed to be satisfied and not a breach of any duty hereunder or existing at law, in equity or otherwise as to (i) the transactions effected pursuant to Section 5.3 and any other transactions described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, (ii) any transaction approved by Special Approval, (iii) any transaction, the terms of which are, in the aggregate, no less favorable to the

 

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Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties, or (iv) any transaction that is fair and reasonable to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be or have been particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership). With respect to any contribution of assets to the Partnership in exchange for Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities, the Conflicts Committee, in determining whether the appropriate number of Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities are being issued, may take into account, among other things, the fair market value of the assets, the liquidated and contingent liabilities assumed and such other factors as the Conflicts Committee deems relevant under the circumstances.

 

(f)    The Managing Partner and its Affiliates will have no obligation to permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the Managing Partner and its Affiliates, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with such use, nor shall there be any obligation on the part of the Managing Partner or its Affiliates to enter into such contracts.

 

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 on an after tax basis from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring on, before or after the date of this Agreement; 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 or willful misconduct. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 7.7(j), the Partnership shall be required to indemnify a Person described in such sentence in connection with any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Person only if (x) the commencement of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such Person was authorized by the Managing Partner in its sole discretion or (y) there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that such Person was entitled to indemnification by the Partnership pursuant to Section 7.7(j). The indemnification of an Indemnitee of the type identified in clause (e) of the definition of Indemnitee shall be secondary to any and all indemnification to which such person is entitled from, firstly, the relevant other Person, and from, secondly, the relevant Fund (if applicable), and will only be paid to the extent the primary indemnification is not paid and the proviso set forth in the first sentence of this Section 7.7(a) does not apply; provided that such other Person and such Fund shall not be entitled to contribution or indemnification from or subrogation against the Partnership, unless otherwise mandated by applicable law.  If, notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the Partnership makes an indemnification payment or advances expenses to such an Indemnitee entitled to primary indemnification, the Partnership shall be subrogated to the rights of such Indemnitee against the Person or Persons responsible for the primary indemnification.  “Fund” means any fund, investment vehicle or account whose investments are managed or advised by the Partnership (if any) or an affiliate thereof.

 

(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 appearing at, participating in or defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the

 

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Partnership prior to a final and non-appealable determination that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Partnership of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it ultimately shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Section 7.7. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 7.7(j), the Partnership shall be required to indemnify a Person described in such sentence in connection with any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Person only if (x) the commencement of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such Person was authorized by the Managing Partner in its sole discretion or (y) there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that such Person was entitled to indemnification by the Partnership pursuant to Section 7.7(j).

 

(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, insurance, pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding Voting Units entitled to vote on such matter, as a matter of law, in equity or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity (including any capacity under the Purchase and Sale Agreement), and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity.

 

(d)    The Partnership may purchase and maintain (or reimburse the Managing Partner or its Affiliates for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of the Managing Partner, its Affiliates, the Indemnitees and such other Persons as the Managing Partner shall determine in its sole discretion, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Person in connection with the Partnership’s activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(e)    For purposes of this Section 7.7, (i) 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; (ii) 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 (iii) any action taken or omitted by an Indemnitee 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)    Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership. The Managing 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. In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

 

(g)    An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 7.7 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

 

(h)    The provisions of this Section 7.7 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees and their heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.

 

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(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.

 

(j)    If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification is being sought) or advancement of expenses under this Section 7.7 is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after a written claim therefor by any Indemnitee has been received by the Partnership, such Indemnitee may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim, including reasonable attorneys’ fees. In any such action the Partnership shall have the burden of proving that such Indemnitee is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

 

(k)    This Section 7.7 shall not limit the right of the Partnership, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to, and purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, Persons other than Indemnitees.

 

SECTION 7.8.              Liability of Indemnitees .

 

(a)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable to the Partnership, the Partners or any other Persons who have acquired interests in the Partnership Securities or are bound by this Agreement, for any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee, or for any breach of contract (including breach of this Agreement) or any breach of duties (including breach of fiduciary duties) whether arising hereunder, at law, in equity or otherwise, 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 or willful misconduct.

 

(b)    The Managing 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 Managing Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct, negligence or wrongdoing on the part of any such agent appointed by the Managing Partner in good faith.

 

(c)    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, and provided such Person became an Indemnitee hereunder prior to such amendment, modification or repeal.

 

SECTION 7.9.              Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties .

 

(a)    Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the Managing Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member or any Partner, on the other, any resolution or course of action by the

 

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Managing 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, any Group Partnership Agreement, or any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty hereunder or existing at law, in equity or otherwise, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) on terms which are, in the aggregate, no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iii) fair and reasonable to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be or have been particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership). The Managing Partner and the Conflicts Committee (in connection with any Special Approval by the Conflicts Committee) each shall be authorized in connection with its resolution of any conflict of interest to consider such factors as it determines in its sole discretion to be relevant, reasonable or appropriate under the circumstances. The Managing Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution of any conflict of interest to seek Special Approval of such resolution, and the Managing Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval. Failure to seek Special Approval shall not be deemed to indicate that a conflict of interest exists or that Special Approval could not have been obtained. If Special Approval is not sought and the Managing 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 (ii) or (iii) above, then it shall be presumed that, in making its determination, the Managing Partner acted in good faith and in any proceeding brought by or on behalf of any Limited Partner, the Partnership or any other Person bound by this Agreement challenging such determination, 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, and without limitation of Section 7.6 to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Limited Partnership Act, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement are hereby approved, and all such conflicts of interest are waived, by all Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty existing at Law or otherwise.

 

(b)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or otherwise applicable provision of law or equity, whenever in this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise the Managing Partner, in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, or the Conflicts Committee in connection with a Special Approval, is permitted to or required to make a decision in its “sole discretion” or “discretion” or that it deems “necessary or appropriate” or “necessary or advisable” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, then the Managing Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so or the Conflicts Committee, as appropriate, shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, make such decision in its sole discretion (regardless of whether there is a reference to “sole discretion” or “discretion”), and shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation (fiduciary or otherwise) to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Partnership or the Partners, and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby, under the Delaware Limited Partnership Act or under any other law, rule or regulation or in equity. Whenever in this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise the Managing Partner or the Conflicts Committee, as appropriate, is permitted to or required to make a decision in its “good faith” then for purposes of this Agreement, the Managing Partner, or any of its Affiliates that cause it to make any such decision or the Conflicts Committee, as appropriate, shall be conclusively presumed to be acting in good faith if such Person or Persons subjectively believe(s) that the decision made or not made is in the best interests of the Partnership.

 

(c)    Whenever the Managing Partner makes a determination or takes or fails 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 a general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement or any other agreement or circumstance

 

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contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the Managing Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, are entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination or to take or not to take such other action free of any duty (including any fiduciary duty) or obligation, whatsoever to the Partnership, any Partner, any Record Holder or any other Person bound by this Agreement, and the Managing Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be required to act pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Limited Partnership Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.

 

(d)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Managing Partner and its Affiliates shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business or (ii) permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the Managing 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 Managing Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter into such contracts shall be in its sole discretion.

 

(e)    Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the Managing Partner nor any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement, and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or otherwise modify or eliminate the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the Managing 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 Managing Partner or such other Indemnitee.

 

(f)    The Limited Partners, hereby authorize the Managing 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 Managing Partner pursuant to this Section 7.9.

 

(g)    The Limited Partners expressly acknowledge that the Managing Partner is under no obligation to consider the separate interests of the Limited Partners (including the tax consequences to Limited Partners) in deciding whether to cause the Partnership to take (or decline to take) any actions, and that the Managing Partner shall not be liable to the Limited Partners for monetary damages or equitable relief for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by Limited Partners in connection with such decisions.

 

SECTION 7.10.            Other Matters Concerning the Managing Partner .

 

(a)    The Managing 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 Managing Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers selected by it, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the advice or opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the Managing Partner reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.

 

(c)    The Managing Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers or any duly appointed attorney or attorneys-

 

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in-fact. Each such attorney shall, to the extent provided by the Managing Partner in the power of attorney, have full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and duty that is permitted or required to be done by the Managing Partner hereunder.

 

SECTION 7.11.            Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities .

 

The Managing Partner may cause the Partnership or any other Group Member to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities. The Managing Partner or any of its Affiliates may also purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities for their own account, subject to the provisions of Articles IV and X.

 

SECTION 7.12.            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 Managing Partner and any officer of the Managing Partner purporting 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 Managing Partner or any such officer as if it were the Partnership’s sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives any and all defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the Managing Partner or any such officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the Managing 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 Managing Partner or any such officer. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Managing Partner or any such officer 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 Managing Partner or any such officer executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership, and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING

 

SECTION 8.1.              Records and Accounting .

 

The Managing Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership or any other place designated by the Managing Partner in its sole discretion appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to Section 3.4(a). Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business, including the record of the Record Holders of Units or other Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The

 

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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 (each, a “Fiscal Year”) shall be a year ending December 31. The Managing Partner in its sole discretion may change the Fiscal Year of the Partnership at any time and from time to time in each case as may be required or permitted under the Code or applicable United States Treasury Regulations and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

TAX MATTERS

 

SECTION 9.1.              Tax Returns and Information .

 

As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each Fiscal Year, the Partnership shall send to each Partner a copy of U.S. Internal Revenue Service Schedule K-1 with respect to such Fiscal Year. The Partnership also shall provide the Partners with such other information as may be reasonably required in the discretion of the Managing Partner for purposes of allowing the Partners to prepare and file their own U.S. federal, state and local tax returns. Each Partner shall be required to report for all tax purposes consistently with such information provided by the Partnership. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

SECTION 9.2.              Tax Elections .

 

The Managing Partner shall determine whether to make, refrain from making or revoke any and all elections permitted by the tax laws of the United States, the several states and other relevant jurisdictions, in its sole discretion.

 

SECTION 9.3.              Tax Controversies .

 

Subject to the provisions hereof, the Managing Partner is designated as the Tax Matters Partner (as defined in the Code) and is authorized to represent the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the Managing Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the Managing Partner to conduct such proceedings.

 

SECTION 9.4.              Withholding .

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Managing Partner is authorized to take any action that may be required or be necessary or appropriate to cause the Partnership or any other Group Member to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445, 1446 and 3406 of the Code. To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner (including by

 

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reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the Managing Partner shall treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.3 in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.

 

SECTION 9.5.              Election to be Treated as a Corporation; Treatment as a Partnership .

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Partnership will undertake all necessary steps to preserve its status as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes and will not undertake any activity or make any investment or fail to take any action that will (i) cause the Partnership to earn or to be allocated income other than qualifying income as defined in Section 7704(d) of the Code, except to the extent permitted under Section 7704(c)(2) of the Code or (ii) jeopardize its status as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, provided, however if the Managing Partner determines in its sole discretion that it is no longer in the interests of the Partnership to continue as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Managing Partner may elect to treat the Partnership as an association or as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal (and applicable state) income tax purposes or may effect such change by merger or conversion or otherwise under applicable law.

 

ARTICLE X

 

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

 

SECTION 10.1.            Admission of Initial Limited Partners .

 

Upon the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units to KPE or its designees as described in Section 5.3 in connection with the KPE Transaction, the Managing Partner shall admit such parties to the Partnership as Initial Limited Partners in respect of the Common Units issued to them.

 

SECTION 10.2.            Admission of Additional Limited Partners .

 

(a)    By acceptance of the transfer of any Limited Partner Interests in accordance with this Section 10.2 or the issuance of any Limited Partner Interests in accordance herewith (including in a merger, consolidation or other business combination pursuant to Article XIV), and except as provided in Section 4.8, each transferee or other recipient of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred or issued to such Person when any such transfer or issuance is reflected in the books and records of the Partnership, with or without execution of this Agreement, (ii) shall become bound by the terms of, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by, this Agreement, (iii) shall become the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred or issued, (iv) represents that the transferee or other recipient has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, (v) grants the powers of attorney set forth in this Agreement and (vi) makes the consents, acknowledgments and waivers contained in this Agreement. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement. A Person may become a Record Holder without the consent or approval of any of the Partners. A Person may not become a Limited Partner without acquiring a Limited Partner Interest. The rights and obligations of a Person who is a Non-citizen Assignee shall be determined in accordance with Section 4.8.

 

(b)    The name and mailing address of each Record Holder shall be listed on the books and records of the Partnership maintained for such purpose by the Partnership or the Transfer Agent. The Managing Partner shall update the books and records of the Partnership from time to time as necessary to reflect accurately the information therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do so, as applicable).

 

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(c)    Any transfer of a Limited Partner Interest shall not entitle the transferee to share in the profits and losses, to receive distributions, to receive allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit or any similar item or to any other rights to which the transferor was entitled until the transferee becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.2(a).

 

SECTION 10.3.            Admission of Successor Managing Partner .

 

A successor Managing Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or the transferee of or successor to all of the Managing Partner Interest (represented by Managing Partner Units) pursuant to Section 4.6 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor Managing Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the Managing Partner effective immediately prior to the withdrawal of the predecessor or transferring Managing Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or the transfer of such Managing Partner’s Managing Partner Interest (represented by Managing 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 is hereby authorized to and shall, subject to the terms hereof, carry on the business of the Partnership without dissolution.

 

SECTION 10.4.            Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership to Reflect the Admission of Partners .

 

To effect the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the Managing Partner is authorized to take all steps necessary under the Delaware Limited Partnership Act to amend the records of the Partnership to reflect such admission and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practicable an amendment to this Agreement and, the Managing Partner is authorized to prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership, and the Managing 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 Managing Partner .

 

(a)    The Managing 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 Managing Partner voluntarily withdraws from the Partnership by giving written notice to the other Partners;

 

(ii)    The Managing Partner transfers all of its Managing Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6;

 

(iii)    The Managing 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 Managing Partner in a proceeding of the type described in clauses (A)-(C) of this Section 11.1(a)(iii); or (E)

 

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seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee (but not a debtor-in-possession), receiver or liquidator of the Managing Partner or of all or any substantial part of its properties;

 

(iv)    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 Managing Partner; or

 

(v)     (A) in the event the Managing Partner is a corporation, a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent is filed for the Managing Partner, or 90 days expire after the date of notice to the Managing 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 Managing Partner is a partnership or a limited liability company, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the Managing Partner; (C) in the event the Managing 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 Managing Partner is a natural person, his death or adjudication of incompetency; and (E) otherwise in the event of the termination of the Managing Partner.

 

If an Event of Withdrawal specified in Section 11.1(a)(i), (iii) or (v)(A), (B), (C) or (E) occurs, the withdrawing Managing 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 Managing Partner from the Partnership.

 

(b)    Withdrawal of the Managing 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 Listing Date and ending at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on December 31, 2020 the Managing 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 Limited Partners holding at least a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding Voting Units (excluding Voting Units held by the Managing Partner and its Affiliates) and the Managing Partner delivers to the Partnership an Opinion of Counsel (“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel”) that such withdrawal (following the selection of the successor Managing Partner) would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership or any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such); (ii) at any time after 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on December 31, 2020 the Managing 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 Managing Partner ceases to be the Managing Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii); or (iv) notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, at any time that the Managing 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 Managing Partner and its Affiliates) Beneficially Own, own of record or otherwise control at least 50% of the Outstanding Common Units. The withdrawal of the Managing Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the Managing Partner as general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the Managing Partner withdraws pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), the Limited Partners holding of a majority of the voting power of Outstanding Voting Units, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor Managing Partner. The Person so elected as successor Managing Partner shall become the successor Managing Partner as contemplated by Section 10.3 and shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the Managing Partner is a general partner or a managing member, and is hereby authorized to, and shall,

 

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continue the business of the Partnership and, to the extent applicable, the other Group Members without dissolution. If, prior to the effective date of the Managing Partner’s withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), a successor is not selected by the Unitholders as provided herein or the Partnership does not receive a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel, the Partnership shall be dissolved in accordance with and subject to Section 12.1. Any successor Managing Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.3. If the Managing Partner withdraws pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(iii), (iv) or (v), a successor Managing Partner may be elected as provided in Section 12.2.

 

SECTION 11.2.            No Removal of the Managing Partner .

 

The Unitholders shall have no right to remove or expel, with or without cause, the Managing Partner.

 

SECTION 11.3.            Interest of Departing Managing Partner and Successor Managing Partner .

 

(a)    In the event of the withdrawal of a Managing Partner, if a successor Managing Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Sections 11.1, the Departing Managing Partner shall have the option exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal of such Departing Managing Partner to require its successor to purchase (x) its Managing Partner Interest (represented by Managing Partner Units) and (y) its general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members ((x) and (y) collectively, the “Combined Interest”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of the effective date of its withdrawal. The Departing Managing Partner shall be entitled to receive all reimbursements due such Departing Managing 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 Managing Partner or its Affiliates (excluding 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 a Departing Managing Partner’s Combined Interest shall be determined by agreement between the Departing Managing Partner and its successor or, failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of such Departing Managing Partner’s departure, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected jointly by the Departing Managing 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 Managing Partner shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, the Departing Managing Partner’s successor shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, and such firms or experts shall mutually select a third independent investment banking firm or independent expert, which third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert shall determine the fair market value of the Combined Interest of the Departing Managing 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 Common Units are then listed, the value of the Partnership’s assets, the rights and obligations of the Departing Managing 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 Managing Partner (or its transferee) shall automatically become a Limited Partner and its Combined Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a valuation made by an investment

 

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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 Managing Partner shall indemnify the Departing Managing Partner (or its transferee) as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on which the Departing Managing Partner (or its transferee) becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest of the Departing Managing Partner to Common Units will be characterized as if the Departing Managing Partner (or its transferee) contributed its Combined Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly-issued Common Units.

 

SECTION 11.4.            Withdrawal of Limited Partners .

 

No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided however that when a transferee of a Limited Partner’s Limited Partner Interest becomes a Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interest so transferred, such transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interest so transferred.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

 

SECTION 12.1.            Dissolution .

 

The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor Managing Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the withdrawal of the Managing Partner, if a successor Managing Partner is elected or admitted pursuant to Sections 4.6, 10.3, 11.1 or 12.2, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such successor Managing Partner is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue the business of the Partnership. Subject to Section 12.2, the Partnership shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

 

(a)    an Event of Withdrawal of the Managing Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a) (other than Section 11.1(a)(ii)), unless a successor is elected and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement;

 

(b)    an election to dissolve the Partnership by the Managing Partner that is approved by the Unitholders holding a majority of the voting power of Outstanding Voting Units;

 

(c)    the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act; or

 

(d)    at any time there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued without dissolution in accordance with the Delaware Limited Partnership Act.

 

SECTION 12.2.            Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Event of Withdrawal .

 

Upon an Event of Withdrawal caused by (a) the withdrawal of the Managing Partner as provided in Sections 11.1(a)(i) and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing Managing Partner pursuant to Section 11.1, then within 90 days thereafter, or (b) an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in Sections 11.1(a)(iii), (iv) or (v), then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the Unitholders holding a majority of the voting power of Outstanding Voting Units may elect to continue the business of the Partnership on the same terms and conditions set forth in

 

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this Agreement by appointing as the successor Managing Partner a Person approved by the Unitholders holding a majority of the voting power of Outstanding Voting Units. Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above, the Partnership shall dissolve and 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 Managing Partner is not the former Managing Partner, then the interest of the former Managing Partner shall be treated in the manner provided in Section 11.3; and

 

(iii)    the successor Managing Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as Managing Partner, effective as of the Event of Withdrawal, by agreeing in writing to be bound by this Agreement;

 

provided that the right of the Unitholders holding a majority of the voting power of Outstanding Voting Units to approve a successor Managing 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 (x) that 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 (other than the Group Partnership I General Partner or other Group Member that is formed or existing as a corporation) would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise be taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of such right to continue (to the extent not so treated or taxed).

 

SECTION 12.3.            Liquidator .

 

Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2, the Managing Partner shall act, or select in its sole discretion one or more Persons to act, as Liquidator. If the Managing Partner is acting as the Liquidator, it shall not be entitled to receive any additional compensation for acting in such capacity. If a Person other than the Managing Partner acts as Liquidator, such Liquidator (1) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by either the Board of Directors of the withdrawing Managing Partner (or similar governing body) or Unitholders holding at least a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding Voting Units voting as a single class, (2) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior notice and (3) may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by Unitholders holding at least a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding Voting 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 voting power of the Outstanding Voting Units voting as a single class. The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the Managing 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.

 

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SECTION 12.4.            Liquidation .

 

The Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Partnership, discharge its liabilities, and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as the Liquidator determines to be in the best interest of the Partners, subject to Section 17-804 of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act and the following:

 

(a)    Disposition of Assets . 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 distributions of cash (to the extent any cash is available) must be made to the other Partners. The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Partnership’s assets for a reasonable time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners. The Liquidator may distribute the Partnership’s assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners.

 

(b)    Discharge of Liabilities . 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.

 

(c)    Liquidation Distributions . All cash and other property in excess of that required to discharge liabilities (whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for payment thereof) as provided in Section 12.4(b) shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests as of a Record Date selected by the Liquidator.

 

SECTION 12.5.            Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership .

 

Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and other property as provided in Section 12.4 in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership, the Certificate of Limited Partnership shall be cancelled in accordance with the Delaware Limited Partnership Act 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 Managing Partner shall not be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners or Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Partnership assets.

 

SECTION 12.7.            Waiver of Partition .

 

To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of the Partnership property.

 

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SECTION 12.8.            Capital Account Restoration .

 

No Partner shall have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of the Partnership or otherwise.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

 

SECTION 13.1.            Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the Managing Partner.

 

Each Partner agrees that the Managing Partner, without the approval of any Partner, any Unitholder or any other Person  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)    the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement;

 

(c)    a change that the Managing Partner determines in its sole discretion 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 other jurisdiction or to ensure that the Group Members (other than the Group Partnership I General Partner) will not be treated as associations taxable as corporations or otherwise taxed as entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not so treated);

 

(d)    a change that the Managing Partner determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate to address changes in U.S. federal, state and local income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation;

 

(e)    a change that the Managing Partner determines (i) does not adversely affect the Limited Partners considered as a whole (or adversely affect any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to another class of Partnership Interests, treating the Common Units as a separate class for this purpose except under clause (h) below) 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 U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. agency or judicial authority or contained in any U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. statute (including the Delaware Limited Partnership Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the Limited Partner Interests (including the division of any class or classes of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of Limited Partner Interests) or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Limited Partner Interests are or will be listed, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the Managing Partner pursuant to Section 5.8 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;

 

(f)    a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the Managing 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 Managing Partner shall so determine in its sole discretion, a change in the definition of “Quarter” and the periods of time with respect to which distributions are to be made by the Partnership;

 

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(g)    an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, the Managing Partner or its Indemnitees, from having a material risk of being in any manner subjected to registration under the provisions of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the U.S. 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;

 

(h)    an amendment that the Managing Partner determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of any class or series of Partnership Securities or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities pursuant to Section 5.6;

 

(i)    any amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the Managing Partner acting alone;

 

(j)    an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement permitted by Section 14;

 

(k)    an amendment that the Managing Partner determines in its sole discretion 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 Person, in connection with the conduct by the Partnership of activities permitted by the terms of Sections 2.4 or 7.1(a);

 

(l)    an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by an amendment to any Group Partnership Agreement that requires unitholders of any Group Partnership to provide a statement, certification or other proof of evidence to the Group Partnerships regarding whether such unitholder is subject to U.S. federal income taxation on the income generated by the Group Partnerships;

 

(m)    a merger, conversion or conveyance pursuant to Section 14.3(d), including any amendment permitted pursuant to Section 14.5;

 

(n)    any amendment that the Managing Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency; or

 

(o)    any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.

 

SECTION 13.2.            Amendment Procedures .

 

Except as provided in Sections 5.6, 13.1, 13.3 and 14.5, all amendments to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the following requirements. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the Managing Partner; provided however that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Managing Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or consent to any amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so free of any duty (including any fiduciary duty) or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner or other Person bound by or entitled to enjoy the benefits under this Agreement. A proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval by the Unitholders holding a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding Voting Units, unless a greater or different percentage is required under this Agreement or by the Delaware Limited Partnership Act. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of the voting power of Outstanding Voting Units shall be set forth in a writing that contains the text or summary of the

 

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proposed amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, the Managing Partner shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of the voting power of Outstanding Voting Units or call a meeting of the Unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed amendment, in each case in accordance with the other provisions of this Article XIII. The Managing 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 requires the vote or consent of Unitholders holding, or holders of, a percentage of the voting power of Outstanding Voting Units (including Voting Units deemed owned by the Managing Partner and its Affiliates) 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 Unitholders or holders of Outstanding Voting Units whose aggregate Outstanding Voting Units constitute not less than the voting or consent 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 Managing Partner or any of its Affiliates without the Managing Partner’s consent, which consent may be given or withheld in its sole discretion.

 

(c)    Except as provided in Sections 13.1 and 14.3, 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 (treating the Common Units as a separate class for this purpose) 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 Article XIV, no amendments shall become effective without the approval of Unitholders holding at least 90% of the voting power of the Outstanding Voting Units 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 the Delaware Limited Partnership Act.

 

(e)    Except as provided in Section 13.1, this Section 13.3 shall only be amended with the approval of the Unitholders holding of at least 90% of the voting power of the Outstanding Voting 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 Managing Partner or by Limited Partners representing 50% or more of the voting power of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of the class or classes for which a meeting is proposed. (For the avoidance of doubt, the Common Units and the Special Voting Units shall not constitute separate classes for this purpose.) Limited Partners shall call a special meeting by delivering to the Managing 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 Managing

 

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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 Managing Partner in its sole discretion 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 within the meaning of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability under the Delaware Limited Partnership 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 holders of the class or classes of Limited Partner Interests 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 Managing 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 Limited Partner Interests are listed for 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 Managing Partner to give such approvals (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Limited Partner Interests are listed for trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern). If the Managing Partner does not set a Record Date, then (a) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners shall be the close of business on the Business Day immediately 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 Managing Partner in accordance with Section 13.11 and the applicable provisions of Rule 14C of the Securities Exchange Act.

 

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 (i) when the Limited Partner attends the meeting solely for the

 

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express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business at such meeting because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened, and takes no other action, and (ii) 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 .

 

The Limited Partners holding a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including Limited Partner Interests deemed owned by the Managing 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 Limited Partners holding a greater percentage of the voting power of such Limited Partner Interests, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. (For the avoidance of doubt, the Common Units shall not constitute separate classes for this purpose.) 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 Limited Partner Interests that in the aggregate represent a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests 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 this Agreement, in which case the act of the Limited Partners holding Outstanding Limited Partner Interests that in the aggregate represent at least such greater or different percentage of the voting power 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 the voting power of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests specified in this Agreement (including Outstanding Limited Partner Interests deemed owned by the Managing Partner). In the absence of a quorum, any meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of Limited Partners holding at least a majority of the voting power of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests present and entitled to vote at such meeting (including Outstanding Limited Partner Interests deemed owned by the Managing 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 Managing 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, the determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting and similar matters. The Managing Partner shall designate a Person to serve as chairman of any meeting, who shall, among other things, be entitled to exercise the powers of the Managing Partner set forth in this Section 13.10, and the Managing Partner 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 Managing Partner. The Managing Partner may make such other regulations consistent with applicable law and this Agreement as it may deem necessary or 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, proxies and votes in writing.

 

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SECTION 13.11.         Action Without a Meeting .

 

If authorized by the Managing Partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting, without a vote and without prior notice, if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the voting power of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests (including Limited Partner Interests deemed owned by the Managing 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 Limited Partner Interests or a class thereof are listed for trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved such action in writing. The Managing Partner may specify that any written ballot, if any, submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the Managing Partner in its sole discretion. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the Limited Partner Interests held by the Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Limited Partner Interests 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 Managing Partner, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) they are deposited with the Partnership in care of the Managing 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 Managing 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 within the meaning of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the U.S. state statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the Partners. Nothing contained in this Section 13.11 shall be deemed to require the Managing Partner to solicit all Limited Partners in connection with a matter approved by the requisite percentage of the voting power of Limited Partners or other holders of Outstanding Voting Units acting by written consent without a meeting.

 

SECTION 13.12.         Voting and Other Rights .

 

(a)    Only those Record Holders of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests 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 Limited Partner Interests 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 Limited Partner Interests shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Limited Partner Interests. Each Common Unit shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote for each Common Unit held of record by such holder as of the relevant Record Date.

 

(b)    With respect to Limited Partner Interests that are held for a Person’s account by another Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), in whose name such Limited Partner Interests are registered, such other Person shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Limited Partner Interests on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, vote such Limited Partner Interests 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.

 

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SECTION 13.13.         Participation of Special Voting Units in All Actions Participated in by Common Units .

 

(a)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Delaware Limited Partnership Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Partnership Securities hereby agrees that the holders of Special Voting Units (other than the Partnership and its Subsidiaries) shall be entitled to receive notice of, be included in any requisite quora for and participate in any and all approvals, votes or other actions of the Partners on an equivalent basis as, and treating such Persons for all purposes as if they are, Limited Partners holding Common Units (including, without limitation, the notices, quora, approvals, votes and other actions contemplated by Sections 4.6(a), 7.3, 7.7(c), 7.9(a), 11.1(b), 12.1(b), 12.2, 12.3, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 13.5, 13.6, 13.8, 13.9, 13.10, 13.11, 13.12, 14.3 and 16.1 hereof), including any and all notices, quora, approvals, votes and other actions that may be taken pursuant to the requirements of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act or any other applicable law, rule or regulation. This Agreement shall be construed in all cases to give maximum effect to such agreement.

 

Each holder of a Special Voting Unit (other than the Partnership and its Subsidiaries) shall be entitled, as such, to a number of Limited Partner votes that are equal to the aggregate number of Group Partnership Units held of record by such holder as of the relevant Record Date. The number of votes to which each holder of a Special Voting Unit shall be entitled shall be adjusted accordingly if (i) a Limited Partner holding Common Units, as such, shall become entitled to a number of votes other than one for each Common Unit held and/or (ii) under the terms of the Exchange Agreement the holders of Group Partnership Units party thereto shall become entitled to exchange each such Group Partnership Unit for a number of Common Units other than one. The holders of Special Voting Units shall vote together with the Limited Partners holding Common Units as a single class and, to the extent that the Limited Partners holding Common Units shall vote together with the holders of any other class of Partnership Interest, the holders of Special Voting Units shall also vote together with the holders of such other class of Partnership Interests on an equivalent basis as the Limited Partners holding Common Units.

 

(b)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, and in addition to any other vote required by the Delaware Limited Partnership Act or this Agreement, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the Special Voting Units (excluding Special Voting Units held by the Partnership and its Subsidiaries) voting separately as a class shall be required to alter, amend or repeal this Section 13.13 or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith.

 

ARTICLE XIV

 

MERGER

 

SECTION 14.1.            Authority .

 

The Partnership may merge or consolidate or otherwise combine with or into one or more corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts, unincorporated businesses or other Person permitted by the Delaware Limited Partnership Act, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership or a limited liability limited 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, consolidation or other business combination (“Merger Agreement”) in accordance with this Article XIV.

 

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SECTION 14.2.            Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Other Business Combination .

 

Merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV requires the prior consent of the Managing Partner, provided however that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Managing Partner shall have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Partnership and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, may decline to do so free of any duty (including any fiduciary duty) or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement and, in declining to consent to a merger, consolidation or other business combination, shall not be required to act pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Limited Partnership Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. If the Managing Partner shall determine, in the exercise of its sole discretion, to consent to the merger, consolidation or other business combination, the Managing Partner shall approve the Merger Agreement, which shall set forth:

 

(a)    The names and jurisdictions of formation or organization of each of the business entities proposing to merge, consolidate or combine;

 

(b)    The name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of the business entity that is to survive the proposed merger, consolidation or other business combination (the “Surviving Business Entity”);

 

(c)    The terms and conditions of the proposed merger, consolidation or other business combination;

 

(d)    The manner and basis of converting or exchanging 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 converted or exchanged solely for, or into, cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other Person (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such general or limited partner interests, securities or rights are to receive upon conversion of, or in exchange for, their interests, securities or rights, and (ii) in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other Person (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, operating agreement or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger, consolidation or other business combination;

 

(f)    The effective time of the merger, consolidation or other business combination which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger or consolidation or similar certificate 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 such transaction is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate and stated therein); and

 

(g)    Such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger, consolidation or other business combination that the Managing Partner determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate.

 

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SECTION 14.3.            Approval by Limited Partners of Merger, Consolidation or Other Business Combination; Conversion of the Partnership into another Limited Liability Entity

 

(a)    Except as provided in Section 14.3(d), the Managing Partner, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement, shall direct that the Merger Agreement and the merger, consolidation or other business combination contemplated thereby 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 meeting or the written consent.

 

(b)    Except as provided in Section 14.3(d), the Merger Agreement and the merger, consolidation or other business combination contemplated thereby shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a majority of the voting power of Outstanding Voting Units.

 

(c)    Except as provided in Section 14.3(d), after such approval by vote or consent of the Limited Partners, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger or consolidation or similar certificate pursuant to Section 14.4, the merger, consolidation or other business combination 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 otherwise in this Agreement, the Managing Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or any Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member into, or convey all of the Partnership’s assets to, another limited liability entity, 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 or those arising from its incorporation or formation; provided that (A) the Managing Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner, (B) 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 (C) the governing instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners and the Managing Partner with substantially the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.

 

SECTION 14.4.            Certificate of Merger or Consolidation .

 

Upon the approval by the Managing Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement and the merger, consolidation or business combination contemplated thereby, a certificate of merger or consolidation or similar certificate shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act.

 

SECTION 14.5.            Amendment of Partnership Agreement .

 

Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act, an agreement of merger, consolidation or other business combination 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 a limited 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, consolidation or other business combination.

 

SECTION 14.6.            Effect of Merger .

 

(a)    At the effective time of the certificate of merger or consolidation or similar certificate:

 

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(i)    all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of the business entities that has merged, consolidated or otherwise combined, 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, consolidation or other business combination 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, consolidation or other business combination;

 

(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, consolidation or other business combination 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:

 

(i)    less than 10% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any class then Outstanding (other than Special Voting Units) is held by Persons other than the Managing Partner and its Affiliates; or

 

(ii)    the Partnership is subjected to registration under the provisions of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,

 

the Managing 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 Managing Partner, exercisable in its sole discretion, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the Managing 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 Managing Partner (or any of its Affiliates acting in concert with the Partnership) 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 per Limited Partner Interest of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days 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, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted for trading on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests of such class are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Limited Partner Interests of such

 

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class are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, the last quoted price on such day or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the primary reporting system then in use in relation to such Limited Partner Interest of such class, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not quoted by any such organization, the average of 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 Managing Partner in its sole discretion, 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 Managing Partner in its sole discretion; and (iii) “Trading Day” means a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests of any class are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if Limited Partner Interests of a class are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are open.

 

(b)    If the Managing Partner, any Affiliate of the Managing Partner or the Partnership elects to exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a), the Managing 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 Managing 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 circulated in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City. 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 Managing Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, elects to purchase such Limited Partner Interests (in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, 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 or admitted to trading. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at his address as reflected in the records of the Transfer Agent shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the Managing Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Limited Partner Interests to be purchased in accordance with this Section 15.1. If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at least 10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of the holders of Limited Partner Interests subject to purchase as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that any Certificate shall not have been surrendered for purchase, all rights of the holders of such Limited Partner Interests (including any rights pursuant to 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 (in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, 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 Managing Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, on the record books of the Transfer Agent and the Partnership, and the Managing Partner or any Affiliate of the Managing 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).

 

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ARTICLE XVI

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

SECTION 16.1.            Addresses and Notices .

 

(a)    Any notice, demand, request, report, document or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person, when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the Partner at the address in Section 16.1(b), or when made in any other manner, including by press release, if permitted by applicable law.

 

(b)    Any payment, distribution or other matter to be given or made to a Partner hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, when delivered in person or upon sending of such payment, distribution or other matter 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.

 

(c)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) a Partner shall consent to receiving notices, demands, requests, reports, documents or proxy materials via electronic mail or by the Internet or (ii) the rules of the Commission shall permit any report or proxy materials to be delivered electronically or made available via the Internet, any such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials shall be deemed given or made when delivered or made available via such mode of delivery.

 

(d)    An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, demand, request, report, document, proxy material, payment, distribution or other matter in accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.1 executed by the Managing Partner, the Transfer Agent, their agents or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, demand, request, report, document, proxy material, payment, distribution or other matter. If any notice, demand, request, report, document, proxy material, payment, distribution or other matter given or made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.1 is returned marked to indicate that it was unable to be delivered, such notice, demand, request, report, documents, proxy materials, payment, distribution or other matter and, if returned by the United States Postal Service (or other physical mail delivery mail service outside the United States of America), any subsequent notices, demands, requests, reports, documents, proxy materials, payments, distributions or other matters shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of a change in his address) or other delivery if they are available for the Partner at the principal office of the Partnership for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, demand, request, report, document, proxy material, payment, distribution or other matter to the other Partners. Any notice to the Partnership shall be deemed given if received in writing by the Managing Partner at the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3. The Managing Partner may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Partner or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.

 

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.

 

54



 

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. The Indemnitees and their heirs, executors, administrators and successors shall be entitled to receive the benefits of this Agreement.

 

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 Limited Partner Interest pursuant to Section 10.2(a), without execution hereof.

 

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.            Exclusive Jurisdiction .

 

Each of the Limited Partners and the Managing Partner and each Person holding any beneficial interest in the Partnership (whether through a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing or otherwise), to the fullest extent permitted by law, (i) irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce (A) the provisions of this Agreement, (B) the duties, obligations or liabilities of the Partnership to the Limited Partners or the Managing Partner, or of Limited Partners or the Managing Partner to the Partnership, or among Partners, (C) the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, the Partnership, the Limited Partners or the Managing Partner, (D) any provision of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act, or (E) any other instrument, document, agreement or certificate contemplated by any provision of the Delaware Limited Partnership Act relating to the Partnership (regardless of whether such claims, suits, actions or proceedings (x) sound in contract, tort, fraud or otherwise, (y) are based on common law, statutory, equitable, legal or other grounds, or (z) are derivative or direct claims)), shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of

 

55



 

the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, any other court in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction; (ii) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding; (iii) irrevocably agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding that (A) it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such courts or any other court to which proceedings in such courts may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is improper; (iv) expressly waives any requirement for the posting of a bond by a party bringing such claim, suit, action or proceeding; (v) consents to process being served in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding by mailing, certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices hereunder, and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof; provided , that nothing in clause (v) hereof shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law; and (vi) irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding.

 

SECTION 16.10.         Invalidity of Provisions .

 

If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.

 

SECTION 16.11.         Consent of Partners .

 

Each Partner hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or consent of less than all of the Partners, such action may be so taken upon the concurrence of less than all of the Partners and each Partner shall be bound by the results of such action.

 

SECTION 16.12.         Facsimile Signatures .

 

The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of the Transfer Agent on Certificates, if any, representing Common Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above:

 

 

MANAGING PARTNER:

 

 

 

 

KKR MANAGEMENT LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David J. Sorkin

 

 

Name: David J. Sorkin

 

 

Title: General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ORGANIZATIONAL LIMITED PARTNER:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott C. Nuttall

 

 

Name: Scott C. Nuttall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIMITED PARTNERS:

 

 

 

 

All Limited Partners now and hereafter admitted as Limited Partners of the Partnership, pursuant to powers of attorney now and hereafter executed in favor of, and granted and delivered to the Managing Partner or without execution hereof pursuant to Section 10.2(a).

 

 

 

 

KKR MANAGEMENT LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David J. Sorkin

 

 

Name: David J. Sorkin

 

 

Title: General Counsel

 


Exhibit 3.2

 

 

 

KKR MANAGEMENT LLC

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of July 14, 2010

 

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

 

 

 

1.1

Definitions

1

 

 

 

1.2

Terms Generally

5

 

 

 

ARTICLE II GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

 

 

2.1

Members

6

 

 

 

2.2

Shares and Identification

6

 

 

 

2.3

Changes of Shares

6

 

 

 

2.4

Continuation; Name; Foreign Jurisdictions

6

 

 

 

2.5

Term

7

 

 

 

2.6

Purposes; Powers

7

 

 

 

2.7

Place of Business

7

 

 

 

ARTICLE III MANAGEMENT

 

 

 

3.1

Class A Members

7

 

 

 

3.2

Class B Members

8

 

 

 

3.3

Board of Directors

8

 

 

 

3.4

Approval of Certain Matters

13

 

 

 

3.5

Officers

14

 

 

 

3.6

Authorization

14

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION

 

 

 

4.1

Duties; Liability of Members; Exculpation

15

 

 

 

4.2

Indemnification

16

 

 

 

ARTICLE V CAPITAL OF THE COMPANY

 

 

 

5.1

Initial Capital Contributions by Members

18

 

 

 

5.2

No Additional Capital Contributions

18

 



 

5.3

Withdrawals of Capital

18

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI DISTRIBUTIONS

 

 

 

6.1

Distributions

19

 

 

 

6.2

Limitation on Distributions

19

 

 

 

6.3

Liability of Members

19

 

 

 

6.4

Business Expenses

19

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII ADDITIONAL MEMBERS; WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERS; TRANSFERABILITY

 

 

 

7.1

Additional Members

19

 

 

 

7.2

Withdrawal of Members

20

 

 

 

7.3

Consequences to the Company upon Withdrawal of a Member

20

 

 

 

7.4

Shares of Members Not Transferable

21

 

 

 

7.5

Power of Attorney

21

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII DISSOLUTION

 

 

 

8.1

Dissolution

21

 

 

 

8.2

Final Distribution

22

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

 

9.1

Arbitration

22

 

 

 

9.2

Amendments and Waivers

24

 

 

 

9.3

Member Approval

24

 

 

 

9.4

Schedules

24

 

 

 

9.5

Classifications as a Corporation

24

 

 

 

9.6

Governing Law; Separability of Provisions

25

 

 

 

9.7

Successors and Assigns

25

 

 

 

9.8

Notices

25

 

 

 

9.9

Counterparts

25

 



 

9.10

Power of Attorney

25

 

 

 

9.11

Cumulative Remedies

26

 

 

 

9.12

Entire Agreement

26

 



 

AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT of KKR MANAGEMENT LLC (the “ Company ”), dated as of July 14, 2010, by and among the members of the Company listed on Annex A hereto, and such other persons that are admitted to the Company as members after the date hereof in accordance herewith.

 

WHEREAS, the Company was formed under the LLC Act (defined below) pursuant to a certificate of formation filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 25, 2007;

 

WHEREAS, an amended and restated limited liability company agreement of the Company was executed as of October 1, 2009 (the “ Existing Operating Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, Section 9.2(a) of the Existing Operating Agreement provides that the Existing Operating Agreement may be amended by the written consent of the Designated Members (as defined in the Existing Operating Agreement); and

 

WHEREAS, the Designated Members now wish to amend and restate the Existing Operating Agreement in its entirety as more fully set forth below;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1    Definitions .  Unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings for purposes of this Agreement:

 

Advised Entity ” means any fund or vehicle that is advised, sponsored, raised or managed by the Company, the Issuer or their respective Affiliates or any portfolio investment of any such fund or vehicle.

 

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.

 

Agreement ” means this Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, as it may be further amended and restated from time to time.

 

Board ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).

 



 

Capital Contribution ” means, with respect to any Member, the aggregate amount of money contributed to the Company and the value of any property (other than money), net of any liabilities assumed by the Company upon contribution or to which such property is subject, contributed to the Company pursuant to Article V.

 

Class A Members ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Class A Shares ” means the Class A Shares in the Company.

 

Class B Members ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Class B Shares ” means the Class B Shares in the Company.

 

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Contribution and Indemnification Agreement ” means any contribution and indemnification agreement among each of the Group Partnerships and the other parties thereto providing for the transfer by such other parties to the Group Partnerships of all or part of the amounts borne by the Group Partnerships, directly or indirectly, with respect to any “carried interest” or similar profit interest distributed by a Fund pursuant to the obligation of the general partner of a Fund to return such amounts to the Fund.

 

Controlled Entity ” when used with reference to a person means any person controlled by such person.

 

Covered Agreement ” means any of the Exchange Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreement, a Group Partnership Agreement, the Issuer Limited Partnership Agreement or Contribution and Indemnification Agreement.

 

Delaware Arbitration Act ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(d).

 

Delaware General Corporation Law ” means the Delaware General Corporation Law, 8 Del.C. § 101, et seq. , as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor statute thereto.

 

Designated Member ” means each of Henry R. Kravis and George R. Roberts, as the original Designated Members pursuant to Section 3.1(b), and any successor or additional Designated Members designated as such pursuant to Section 3.1(b).  At any time there is only a single Designated Member, plural references herein to “Designated Members” shall refer to such single Designated Member.

 

Directors ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).

 

Exchange Act ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(i)(i).

 

Exchange Agreement ” means one or more exchange agreements providing for the exchange of Group Partnership Units or other securities for common units of the Issuer, as contemplated by the Registration Statement.

 

2



 

Foreign Voting Interests ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(m).

 

Fund ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).

 

Group Partnership Agreements ” means, collectively, the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreements of the Group Partnerships (and the partnership agreement then in effect of any future partnership designated as a Group Partnership), as they may each be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Group Partnership Unit ” means, collectively, one partnership unit in each of the Group Partnerships (and any future partnership designated as a Group Partnership) issued under its respective limited partnership agreement.

 

Group Partnerships ” means, collectively, KKR Management Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and KKR Fund Holdings L.P., a Cayman limited partnership, and any future partnership designated as a Group Partnership.

 

Incompetence ” means, with respect to any Member, the entry by a court of competent jurisdiction of an order or judgment adjudicating such Member incompetent to manage his person or his property.

 

Independent Directors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(b).

 

Interest ” means a limited liability company interest (as defined in § 18-101(8) of the LLC Act) in the Company.

 

Issuer ” means KKR & Co. L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successor thereto.

 

Issuer Limited Partnership Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Issuer, as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

KKR & Co. L.L.C. ” means KKR & Co. L.L.C., a limited liability company formed under the laws of Delaware, and any successor thereto.

 

KKR Associates Holdings ” means KKR Associates Holdings L.P., a limited partnership formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and any successor thereto.

 

KKR Associates Holdings Affiliated Person ” means each Person that is as of the date of this Agreement or becomes from time to time (i) a general partner or limited partner of KKR Associates Holdings or (ii) a general partner, limited partner or holder of any other type of equity interest of any Person included in clause (i) above.

 

KKR Holdings ” means KKR Holdings L.P., a limited partnership formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and any successor thereto.

 

3



 

KKR Holdings Affiliated Person ” means each Person that is as of the date of this Agreement or becomes from time to time (i) a general partner or a limited partner of KKR Holdings pursuant to the terms of the KKR Holdings Partnership Agreement or (ii) a general partner, limited partner or holder of any other type of equity interest of any Person included in clause (i) above.

 

KKR Holdings Partnership Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of KKR Holdings, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

KKR Intermediate Partnership ” means KKR Intermediate Partnership L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, or any successor thereto.

 

LLC Act ” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del.C. § 18-101, et seq. , as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor statute thereto.

 

Majority in Interest of Class A Members ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a).

 

Member ” means any person who is a member of the Company.  For purposes of the LLC Act, the Members shall be considered a single class or group of members, and except as otherwise specifically provided herein, no Members shall have any right to vote as a separate class on any matter relating to the Company, including any merger, reorganization, conversion, dissolution or liquidation of the Company.

 

Officers ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5.

 

Percentage Interest ” means, with respect to each Member, a fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the number of Class A Shares held by such Member and the denominator of which is the total number of Class A Shares outstanding.

 

Person ” or “ person ” means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association (including any group, organization, co-tenancy, plan, board, council or committee), government (including a country, state, county, or any other governmental or political subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof) or other entity (or series thereof).

 

Registration Statement ” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-165414) as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the Issuer with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Securities ” means any debt or equity securities of an issuer and its Subsidiaries and other Controlled Entities, including common and preferred stock, interests in limited partnerships and interests in limited liability companies (including warrants, rights, put and call options and other options relating thereto or any combination thereof), notes, bonds, debentures, trust receipts and other obligations, instruments or evidences of indebtedness, choses in action, other property or interests commonly regarded as

 

4



 

securities, interests in real property, whether improved or unimproved, interests in oil and gas properties and mineral properties, short-term investments commonly regarded as money-market investments, bank deposits and interests in personal property of all kinds, whether tangible or intangible, and any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any of the foregoing.

 

Shares ” means Class A Shares or Class B Shares (or both), as the context may require.

 

Subsidiary ” of any person means (a) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total ordinary voting power of shares of capital stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or persons performing similar functions) or (b) any partnership, joint venture limited liability company or similar entity of which more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, is, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (1) such person, (2) such person and one or more Subsidiaries of such person or (3) one or more Subsidiaries of such person.  Unless otherwise specified herein, each reference to a Subsidiary will refer to a Subsidiary of the Company, but shall exclude any Advised Entity, irrespective of whether such Advised Entity is consolidated in the financial statements of the Company, the Issuer or such Affiliate.

 

Tax Receivable Agreement ” means the Tax Receivable Agreement to be entered into among the Issuer and KKR Holdings, or certain transferees of its limited partner interests in the Group Partnerships and the other parties thereto.

 

Total Disability ” means, with respect to any Member, the inability of such Member substantially to perform the services required of a Member for a period of six consecutive months by reason of physical or mental illness or incapacity and whether arising out of sickness, accident or otherwise.

 

Withdraw ” or “ Withdrawal ” with respect to a Member means a Member ceasing to be a member of the Company for any reason (including death, Total Disability, Incompetence, removal, resignation or retirement, whether voluntary or involuntary), unless the context shall limit the type of withdrawal to a specific reason, and “ Withdrawn ” with respect to a Member means, as aforesaid, a Member who has ceased to be a member of the Company.

 

Withdrawn Member ” means a Member whose interest in the Company has been discontinued for any reason, including the occurrence of an event specified in Section 7.2, and shall include, unless the context requires otherwise, the estate or legal representatives of any such Member.

 

1.2   Terms Generally .  Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter

 

5



 

forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; and (c) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” or words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation;” and the terms “hereof,” “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE II

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

2.1   Members .  The Members as of the date hereof are those persons shown as Members on the signature pages hereof.

 

2.2   Shares and Identification .  The Shares of the Company shall consist of Class A Shares and Class B Shares.  The holders of the Class A Shares are referred to herein as the “ Class A Members ” and the holders of the Class B Shares are referred to herein as the “ Class B Members .”  Subject to Section 3.1, (i) the Class A Shares shall entitle the holders thereof to voting rights in the Company equal to one vote per Class A Share on each matter with respect to which the Class A Members are entitled to vote and (ii) the Class B Shares shall entitle the holders thereof to voting rights in the Company equal to one vote per Class B Share on each matter with respect to which the Class B Members are entitled to vote. The Company shall ensure that each Class B Member has, at all times, the same number of Class B Shares as the other Class B Members.  At the time of admission of each additional Member, the Designated Members shall determine in their sole discretion the number and class of Shares of such Member, subject to the preceding sentence.

 

2.3   Changes of Shares .  The books and records of the Company contain the number and class of Shares of each Member and shall be updated as required by the LLC Act and otherwise to accurately reflect changes to the number and class of Shares of each Member, the admission and Withdrawal of Members and the transfer or assignment of interests pursuant to this Agreement.  Any amendment or revision to this information in the books and records in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence shall not be deemed an amendment to this Agreement.

 

2.4   Continuation; Name; Foreign Jurisdictions .  The Company is hereby continued as a limited liability company pursuant to the LLC Act and shall continue to conduct its activities under the name of KKR Management LLC.  The certificate of formation of the Company may be amended or restated from time to time by a Majority in Interest of Class A Members, and the Designated Members or Directors so authorized by a Majority in Interest of Class A Members to execute such amendment or restatement will be an “authorized person” (within the meaning of the LLC Act).  Each Designated Member and Director is further authorized to execute and deliver and file (i) as an “authorized person” within the meaning of the LLC Act any other certificates (and any corrections, amendments or restatements thereof) permitted or required to be filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware

 

6



 

and (ii) any other certificates (and any amendments and/or restatements thereof) necessary for the Company to qualify to do business in a jurisdiction in which the Company may wish to conduct business.

 

2.5   Term .  The term of the Company shall continue until dissolved and its affairs wound up in accordance with this Agreement.

 

2.6   Purposes; Powers (a).  (a)  The Company was formed for the object and purpose of, and the nature and character of the business to be conducted by the Company shall be, directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries or Affiliates, (i) to serve as the general partner of the Issuer and to execute and deliver, and to perform the functions of a general partner of the Issuer specified in, the Issuer Limited Partnership Agreement and to do all things necessary, desirable, convenient or incidental thereto and (ii) to engage in any lawful act or activity for which limited liability companies may be formed under the LLC Act.

 

(b)   Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Company will possess and may exercise all of the powers and privileges granted to it by the LLC Act including the ownership and operation of the assets contributed to the Company by the Members, by any other law or this Agreement, together with all powers incidental thereto, so far as such powers are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the purpose of the Company set forth in Section 2.6(a).

 

2.7   Place of Business .  The Company shall maintain a registered office at The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, New Castle County, Wilmington, Delaware 19801.  The Company shall maintain an office and principal place of business at such place or places as the Designated Members specify from time to time and as set forth in the books and records of the Company.  The name and address of the Company’s registered agent is The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, New Castle County, Wilmington, Delaware 19801.  The Designated Members may from time to time change the registered agent or registered office in the State of Delaware by an amendment to the certificate of formation of the Company, and upon the filing of such an amendment, this Agreement shall be deemed amended accordingly.

 

ARTICLE III

 

MANAGEMENT

 

3.1   Class A Members   (a)  Class A Members who hold a majority of the Class A Shares outstanding shall represent a “ Majority in Interest of Class A Members ”; provided that the Members hereby agree that at any time there shall be one or more Designated Members, the then-serving Designated Members shall be deemed to represent at least a Majority in Interest of Class A Members for all purposes under this Agreement and all other Class A Members shall be deemed to represent less than a Majority in Interest of Class A Members for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

(b)   Henry R. Kravis and George R. Roberts each shall be an original “ Designated Member .”  The Designated Members may designate any one or more other

 

7



 

Members as successor or additional Designated Members, which successor or additional Designated Members shall exercise all rights and duties of the Designated Members hereunder.  A Designated Member shall cease to be a Designated Member only if he (A) Withdraws or (B) consents in his sole discretion to resign as a Designated Member, but does not Withdraw.  Except as specified in the preceding sentence, a Designated Member may not be removed without his consent.

 

(c)   Any action by the Designated Members pursuant to this Agreement shall require the unanimous approval of all the then-serving Designated Members.  Upon any Designated Member ceasing to be a Designated Member pursuant to Section 3.1(b), the remaining Designated Members shall exercise all rights and duties of the Designated Members hereunder. At any time when there shall not be any Designated Members, all of the powers vested in the Designated Members pursuant to this Agreement and the LLC Act shall be exercised by a Majority in Interest of Class A Members, including all matters relating to the governance of the Company and the establishment of a new management structure.

 

(d)   All decisions and determinations (howsoever described herein) to be made by the Designated Members or Class A Members pursuant to this Agreement shall be made in their discretion. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or otherwise applicable provision of law or equity, whenever in this Agreement the Designated Members or Class A Members are permitted or required to make a decision in their “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, such Designated Members or Class A Members shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as they desire, including their own interests, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Company or the Members. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Class A Members have no authority to bind the Company.

 

3.2    Class B Members   Class B Members shall have no right to participate in the management of the Company or to receive any information concerning the affairs of the Company and shall not have any other rights of a Member under this Agreement other than to cause Foreign Voting Interests held by any Affiliate of the Company or the Issuer to be voted in accordance with the directions provided by such Class B Members pursuant to Section 3.3(m). The Company will ensure that there are not less than 12 Class B Members at all times. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Class B Members have no authority to bind the Company.

 

3.3   Board of Directors.

 

(a)   Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of a committee of the Company (the “ Board ”) consisting of one or more natural persons designated as directors of the Company as provided below (“ Directors ”).  A Director shall be a “manager” within the meaning of the LLC Act.  Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, no Member, by virtue of its status as such, shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Company or actual or, to the fullest extent permitted by law, apparent, authority to enter into, execute or deliver contracts on behalf of, or to otherwise

 

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bind, the Company. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, the authority and functions of the Board shall be identical to the authority and functions of the board of directors of a corporation organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law.  In addition to the powers that now or hereafter can be granted to managers under the LLC Act and to all other powers granted under any other provision of this Agreement, but subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Board shall have full power and authority to do all things and on such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Company and to exercise all powers and effectuate the purposes set forth in this Agreement; provided, however, the Board shall not be responsible for the day-to-day business, operations and affairs of the Subsidiaries and Advised Entities, including transactions entered into by a Subsidiary or an Advised Entity in the ordinary course.

 

(b)   A Majority in Interest of Class A Members shall have full authority unilaterally to determine the number of Directors to constitute the Board (which number of Directors may be increased or decreased by a Majority in Interest of Class A Members) and the term of office in connection thereto.  A Majority in Interest of Class A Members shall have full authority unilaterally to appoint such individuals to be Directors as they shall choose in their discretion, and to remove and replace any Director, with or without cause, at any time and for any reason or no reason, and to fill any positions created by the Board as a result of an increase in the size of the Board or vacancies.  So long as the Company shall serve as the general partner of the Issuer, a majority of the Directors shall be “independent” as that term is defined in the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “ NYSE ”) from time to time (the “ Independent Directors ”).  Each Director appointed shall hold office until a successor is appointed and qualified or until such Director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.  Directors need not be Members.

 

(c)   Any Director may resign at any time by giving notice of such Director’s resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Designated Members or any Chairman or Co-Chairman of the Board or the Secretary of the Board.  Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if the time when it shall become effective shall not be specified therein, then it shall take effect immediately upon its receipt by the Company. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

(d)   The Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of Directors or to establish policies for the compensation of Directors and for the reimbursement of expenses of Directors, in each case, in connection with services provided by Directors to the Company.  The Directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at such meeting of the Board and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or a stated salary as Director.  No such payment shall preclude any Director from serving the Company in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.  Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings, or their service as committee members may be compensated as part of their stated salary as a Director.

 

(e)   The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, within or outside the State of Delaware.  Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.  Special

 

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meetings of the Board may be called by any Chairman or Co-Chairman of the Board or, in the absence of a Chairman or Co-Chairman of the Board, by any Director on at least twenty-four (24) hours’ (or less in times of emergency) notice to each Director, either personally or by telephone or by mail, telegraph, telex, cable, wireless or other form of communication at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.  Notice of any such meeting need not be given to any Director, however, if waived by such Director in writing or by telegraph, telex, cable, wireless or other form of communication, or if such Director shall be present at such meeting. A Majority in Interest of Class A Members may appoint a “Chairman,” “Co-Chairman,” “Vice Chairman” and “Secretary” of the Board.  At each meeting of the Board, any Chairman or Co-Chairman of the Board or, in the absence of a Chairman or Co-Chairman of the Board, a Director chosen by a majority of the Directors present, shall act as chairman of the meeting.  In case the Secretary of the Board shall be absent from any meeting of the Board, a Director chosen by a majority of the Directors present shall act as secretary of the meeting.

 

(f)   At all meetings of the Board, a majority of the then total number of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and, except as otherwise provided in any other provision of this Agreement, the act of a majority of the then total number of Directors shall be the act of the Board.  If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board, the Directors present at such meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

 

(g)   Any potential conflict of interest that could result in a direct or indirect financial or personal benefit to a Director must be disclosed in good faith or known to the Board or committee authorizing a contract, transaction or other matter. A Director shall not be obligated to abstain from voting on any matter (or vote in any particular manner) because of any interest (or conflict of interest) of such Director in such matter; provided that the interest (or conflict of interest) of such Director is disclosed to the other Directors prior to any vote thereon.  If such Director abstains from voting on such matter, the act of a majority of the then total number of disinterested Directors shall be the act of the Board.

 

(h)   Except as expressly set forth herein, the Board may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the then total number of members of the Board, designate one (1) or more committees, each committee to consist of one (1) or more of the Directors of the Company, which, to the extent provided in such resolution or resolutions, shall have and may exercise, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the powers and authority of the Board granted hereunder. A majority of all the members of any such committee may determine its action and fix the time and place, if any, of its meetings and specify what notice thereof, if any, shall be given, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. The Board shall have power to change the members of any such committee at any time, to fill vacancies and to discharge any such committee, either with or without cause, at any time. The Board may designate one (1) or more Directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.  In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of

 

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any such absent or disqualified member.  Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required.

 

(i)     So long as the Company shall serve as the general partner of the Issuer:

 

(i)              the Board shall have an Audit Committee of the Board; such committee shall have and exercise such power and authority as the Board shall specify from time to time; upon consideration of the criteria contained in Section 10A(m)(3) and Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, in each case including any amendments, replacements or successors thereto, each Director that is a member of such committee shall be independent; and each Director that is a member of such committee shall be “financially literate” pursuant to the requirements of Section 303A.07 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual , including any amendments, replacements or successors thereto;

 

(ii)             the Board shall have a Conflicts Committee of the Board; such committee shall have and exercise such power and authority as the Board shall specify from time to time; upon consideration of the criteria contained in Section 10A(m)(3) and Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act and Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, in each case including any amendments, replacements or successors thereto, each Director that is a member of such committee shall be independent; such committee shall be required to approve any amendment to a Covered Agreement that, in the reasonable judgment of the Board, is or will result in a conflict of interest; and such committee shall be authorized to take any action (x) to enforce the rights of the Issuer, directly or through one or more entities controlled by the Issuer, under any Covered Agreement against KKR Holdings (and any subsidiary or other designee of KKR Holdings through which KKR Holdings holds any common units of the Issuer or Group Partnership Units), any KKR Holdings Affiliated Person, KKR & Co. L.L.C., KKR Associates Holdings (and any subsidiary or other designee of KKR Associates Holdings through which KKR Associates Holdings holds Group Partnership Units, including KKR Intermediate Partnership), any KKR Associates Holdings Affiliated Person or each other party to the Contribution and Indemnification Agreements, or (y) pursuant to any authority or rights granted to such committee under any Covered Agreement or with respect to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver to any such agreement that would purport to modify such authority or rights;

 

(iii)            the Board shall have a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board; upon consideration of the criteria contained in Section 10A(m)(3) and Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act and Section 303A.04 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, in each case including any amendments, replacements or successors thereto, at least one Director that is a member of such committee shall be independent; and such committee shall have

 

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and exercise such power and authority as the Board shall specify from time to time; and

 

(iv)           the Board shall have an Executive Committee of the Board; such committee shall be comprised of the Chairman or Co-Chairmen of the Board and any other Director or Directors selected by the Chairman or Co-Chairmen from time to time; and such committee shall have and exercise such power and authority as the Board shall specify from time to time; provided that, the Executive Committee shall not be authorized or empowered to take actions that have been specifically delegated to other Board committees or to take actions with respect to (A) the declaration of distributions on the common units of the Issuer; (B) a merger, sale or combination of the Issuer with or into another person; (C) a sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the assets, taken as a whole, of the Issuer; (D) a liquidation or dissolution of the Issuer; (E) any action that must be submitted to a vote of the holder’s of the Company’s Shares or the common units of the Issuer; or (F) any action that may not be delegated to a Board committee under this Agreement or the LLC Act.

 

(j)   Directors, or members of any committee designated by the Board, may participate in meetings of the Board, or any committee thereof, by means of telephone conference or similar communications equipment that allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.  If all the participants are participating by telephone conference or similar communications equipment, the meeting shall be deemed to be held at the principal place of business of the Company.

 

(k)   Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting by the Board or any committee thereof, as the case may be, may be taken without a meeting if a consent thereto is signed or transmitted electronically, as the case may be, by all members of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or such committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

(l)   To the extent of their powers set forth in this Agreement, the Directors are agents of the Company for the purpose of the Company’s business, and the actions of the Directors taken in accordance with such powers set forth in this Agreement shall bind the Company.  Notwithstanding the last sentence of Section 18-402 of the LLC Act, except as provided in this Agreement or in a resolution of the Directors, a Director may not bind the Company.

 

(m)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Executive Committee of the Board shall notify Class B Members of any matter requiring the approval of the holders of voting interests held directly or indirectly by the Issuer in the general partner or similar control person of an investment vehicle formed in a jurisdiction outside of the United States (“ Foreign Voting Interests ”), and shall cause such Foreign Voting Interests to be voted in accordance with directions received from a majority of

 

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Class B Members. The quorum for any such decision of the Class B Members shall be 11, whether acting by meeting or by written consent.

 

(n)   The Board shall not increase or permit any increase to the Designated Percentage (as such term is defined in the Group Partnership Agreements) to above 40% without the consent of a majority of the Independent Directors. The Board shall not permit the Issuer or any of the entities controlled by the Issuer to consent to any Transfer (as such term is defined in the Group Partnership Agreements) of Class B Units (as such term is defined in the Group Partnership Agreements) without the Transferee (as such term is defined in the Group Partnership Agreements) having entered into a contribution and indemnification agreement that is substantially consistent with the Contribution Agreement among each of the Group Partnerships, KKR Associates Holdings and KKR Intermediate Partnership or a contribution and indemnification agreement that is reasonably satisfactory to the Conflicts Committee.

 

3.4   Approval of Certain Matters .  Notwithstanding Section 3.3 (other than Section 3.3(m)) and this Section 3.4, the Board shall not authorize, approve or ratify any of the following actions or any plan with respect thereto without the prior approval of a Majority in Interest of Class A Members, which approval may be in the form of an action by written consent of a Majority in Interest of Class A Members:

 

(a)   entry into a debt financing arrangement by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, in an amount in excess of 10% of the then existing long-term indebtedness of the Issuer (other than the entry into of a debt financing arrangement between or among any of the Issuer and its wholly-owned Subsidiaries);

 

(b)   the issuance by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of any Securities that would (i) represent, after such issuance, or upon conversion, exchange or exercise, as the case may be, at least 5% on a fully diluted, as converted, exchanged or exercised basis, of any class of equity Securities of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) have designations, preferences, rights, priorities or powers that are more favorable than those of the common units of the Issuer; provided that no such approval shall be required for issuance of Securities that are issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Securities that were issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement;

 

(c)   the adoption of a shareholder rights plan by the Issuer;

 

(d)   the amendment of the Issuer Limited Partnership Agreement or the Group Partnership Agreements;

 

(e)   the exchange or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, taken as a whole, of the Issuer or any Group Partnership in a single transaction or a series of related transactions;

 

(f)   the merger, sale or other combination of the Issuer or any Group Partnership with or into any other person;

 

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(g)   the transfer, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation or grant of a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Group Partnerships;

 

(h)   the appointment or removal of a Chief Executive Officer or a Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company or the Issuer;

 

(i)   the termination of the employment of any Officer of the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer or the termination of the association of a partner with any Subsidiary of the Issuer, in each case, without cause; and

 

(j)   the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the Issuer or any Group Partnership; and

 

(k)   the withdrawal, removal or substitution of the Company as the general partner of the Issuer or any person as the general partner of a Group Partnership, or the direct or indirect transfer of beneficial ownership of all or any part of a general partner interest in the Issuer or a Group Partnership to any Person other than a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Issuer.

 

3.5   Officers .  A Majority in Interest of Class A Members may, from time to time as they deem advisable, select one or more natural persons who are members, partners or employees of the Company or its Affiliates and designate them as the “Chief Executive Officer” or “Co-Chief Executive Officers” of the Company. Such Chief Executive Officer or Co-Chief Executive Officers may, from time to time as they deem advisable, select natural persons who are members, partners or employees of the Company or its Affiliates and designate them as officers of the Company (together with the Chief Executive Officer or Co-Chief Executive Officers, the “ Officers ”) and assign titles to any such persons, including “Chief Operating Officer,” “Chief Financial Officer,” “General Counsel,” “Chief Administrative Officer,” “Chief Compliance Officer,” “Principal Accounting Officer,” “President,” “Vice President,” “Treasurer,” “Assistant Treasurer,” “Secretary,” “Assistant Secretary,” “General Manager,” “Senior Managing Director,” “Managing Director,” “Director” or “Principal.”

 

Unless the Board decides otherwise, if the title is one commonly used for officers of a corporation formed under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the assignment of such title shall constitute the delegation to such person of the authorities and duties that are normally associated with that office.  The Board may delegate to any Officer any of the Board’s powers under this Agreement, including the power to bind the Company.  Any delegation pursuant to this Section 3.5 may be revoked at any time by the Board.  Subject to Section 3.4, an Officer may be removed with or without cause by the Board.  The Officers, to the extent of their powers set forth in this Agreement or otherwise vested in them by action of the Board not inconsistent with this Agreement, are agents of the Company for the purpose of the Company’s business and the actions of the Officers taken in accordance with such powers shall bind the Company.

 

3.6   Authorization .  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company, and any Officer on behalf of the Company, is hereby authorized, without the need for any further act, vote or consent of any Member or other person (directly or

 

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indirectly through one or more other entities, in the name and on behalf of the Company, on its own behalf or in its capacity as general partner of the Issuer, or as general or limited partner, member or holder of any other equity interest of any KKR Entity) (i) to execute and deliver, and to perform the Company’s obligations under, the Issuer Limited Partnership Agreement, including serving as a general partner thereof, (ii) to execute and deliver, and to cause the Issuer to perform its obligations under, the governing agreement, as amended, restated and/or supplemented (each a “ KKR Entity Governing Agreement ”), of any other partnership, limited liability company or other entity (each a “ KKR Entity ”) of which the Issuer is or is to become a general or limited partner, member or other equity owner, including serving as a general or limited partner, member or other equity owner of each KKR Entity, and (iii) to take any action, in the applicable capacity, contemplated by or arising out of this Agreement, the Issuer Limited Partnership Agreement or each KKR Entity Governing Agreement (and any amendment, restatement or supplement of any of the foregoing).

 

ARTICLE IV

 

EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION

 

4.1   Duties; Liability of Members; Exculpation.

 

(a)   This Agreement is not intended to, and does not, create or impose any fiduciary duty on any of the Members (including the Designated Members) or on their respective Affiliates.  Further, the Members hereby waive any and all fiduciary duties that, absent such waiver, may exist at or be implied by law or in equity, and in doing so, recognize, acknowledge and agree that their duties and obligations to one another and to the Company are only as expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

(b)   To the extent that, at law or in equity, any Member (including a Designated Member) has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Company or to another Member, the Members (including the Designated Members) acting under this Agreement will not be liable to the Company or to any such other Member for their good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.  The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities relating thereto of any Member (including a Designated Member) otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Members to replace to that extent such other duties and liabilities of the Members relating thereto (including the Designated Members).

 

(c)   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, whether express or implied, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Member or any of such Member’s representatives or agents or any Director, Officer, employee, trustee, fiduciary, partner, member, representative or agent of the Company or any of its Affiliates or any person who is or was serving at the request of a Member or the Board as a director, officer, employee, trustee, fiduciary, partner, member, representative, agent or advisor of another person (individually, a “ Covered Person ” and collectively, the “ Covered Persons ”) shall be liable to the Company or any other Member for any losses, claims, demands, damages, liabilities (joint or several), expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising as a result of any act or omission (in relation to the

 

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Company, this Agreement, any related document or any transaction or investment contemplated hereby or thereby) of a Covered Person, or for any breach of contract (including breach of this Agreement) or any breach of duties (including breach of fiduciary duties) whether arising hereunder, at law, in equity or otherwise, 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 Covered Person acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct; provided that a person shall not be a Covered Person by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis or similar arm’s-length compensatory basis, agency, advisory, consulting, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services.

 

(d)   Each Covered Person shall be entitled to rely in good faith on the advice of legal counsel to the Company, accountants, other experts and financial or professional advisors, and no act or omission taken or suffered by any Covered Person on behalf of the Company or in furtherance of the interests of the Company in good faith in reliance upon and in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants, other experts and financial or professional advisors will be full justification for any such act or omission, and each Covered Person will be fully protected in so acting or omitting to act so long as such counsel, accountants, other experts and financial or professional advisors were selected with reasonable care.

 

4.2   Indemnification.

 

(a)   Indemnification . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify any person (including such person’s heirs, executors or administrators) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim or proceeding (brought in the right of the Company or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal, including appeals, by reason of the fact that such person, or a person for whom such person was the legal representative, is or was a Covered Person for and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit, claim or proceeding, including appeals; provided that such person shall not be entitled to indemnification hereunder only to the extent such person’s conduct constituted fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 4.2(c), the Company shall be required to indemnify a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit, claim or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if (x) the commencement of such action, suit, claim or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by a Majority in Interest of Class A Members or (y) it is determined that such person was entitled to indemnification by the Company pursuant to Section 4.2(c).  The indemnification of a Covered Person who is or was serving at the request of the General Partner or Partnership as a director, officer, employee, trustee, fiduciary, partner, member, representative, agent or advisor of another Person (but not with respect to any other type of Covered Person) shall be secondary to any and all indemnification to which such Person is entitled from, firstly, the relevant corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, nonprofit entity or other enterprise, and from, secondly, the relevant Fund, and will only be paid to the extent the primary indemnification is not paid and the proviso set forth in

 

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the first sentence of this Section 4.2(a) does not apply; provided that such corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, nonprofit entity or other enterprise and such Fund shall not be entitled to contribution or indemnification from or subrogation against the Partnership, unless otherwise mandated by applicable law.  If, notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the Partnership makes an indemnification payment or advances expenses to a Person entitled to primary indemnification, the Partnership shall be subrogated to the rights of such Person against the entity or entities responsible for the primary indemnification.  The Partnership shall not impose any additional conditions, other than those expressly set forth in this Agreement, to indemnification or the advancement of expenses and shall not seek or agree to any judicial or regulatory bar order that would prohibit a Person entitled to indemnification or the advancement of expenses hereunder from enforcing such Person’s rights to such indemnification or advancement of expenses.  “ Fund ” means any fund, investment vehicle or account whose investments are managed or advised by the Issuer (if any) or an affiliate thereof.

 

(b)   Advancement of Expenses.   To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall promptly pay expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by any person described in Section 4.2(a) in appearing at, participating in or defending any action, suit, claim or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit, claim or proceeding, including appeals, upon presentation of an undertaking on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 4.2 or otherwise.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 4.2(c), the Company shall be required to pay expenses of a person described in Section 4.2(a) in connection with any action, suit, claim or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if (x) the commencement of such action, suit, claim or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by a Majority in Interest of Class A Members or (y) it is determined that such person was entitled to indemnification by the Company pursuant to Section 4.2(c).

 

(c)   Unpaid Claims .  If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such action, suit, claim or proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Section 4.2 is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after a written claim therefor by any person described in Section 4.2(a) has been received by the Company, such person may file proceedings to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim.  In any such action the Company shall have the burden of proving that such person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

 

(d)  Insurance .  To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person described in Section 4.2(a) against any liability asserted against such person, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Section 4.2 or otherwise.

 

(e)  Enforcement of Rights .  The provisions of this Section 4.2 shall be applicable to all actions, claims, suits or proceedings made or commenced on or after the date of this Agreement, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring on, before or after

 

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its adoption.  The provisions of this Section 4.2 shall be deemed to be a contract between the Company and each person entitled to indemnification under this Section 4.2 (or legal representative thereof) who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section 4.2  and the relevant provisions of applicable law, if any, are in effect, and any amendment, modification or repeal hereof shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts or any action, claim, suit or proceeding then or theretofore existing, or any action, suit, claim or proceeding thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part on any such state of facts.  The rights of indemnification provided in this Section 4.2 shall neither be exclusive of, nor be deemed in limitation of, any rights to which any person may otherwise be or become entitled or permitted by contract, this Agreement, insurance or as a matter of law, both as to actions in such person’s official capacity and actions in any other capacity, it being the policy of the Company that indemnification of any person whom the Company is obligated to indemnify pursuant to Section 4.2(a) shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

(f)   Benefit Plans . For purposes of this Section 4.2, references to “persons” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries.

 

(g)  Non-Exclusivity . This Section 4.2 shall not limit the right of the Company, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to, and purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, persons other than persons described in Section 4.2(a).

 

ARTICLE V

 

CAPITAL OF THE COMPANY

 

5.1   Initial Capital Contributions by Members .  Each Member has made, on or prior to the date hereof, Capital Contributions and has acquired the number of Shares as specified in the books and records of the Company.

 

5.2   No Additional Capital Contributions .  Except as otherwise provided in Article VII, no Member shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions to the Company without the consent of such Member or permitted to make additional Capital Contributions to the Company without the consent of a Majority in Interest of Class A Members.

 

5.3   Withdrawals of Capital . No Member may withdraw any Capital Contributions related to such Member’s Shares from the Company, except with the consent of a Majority in Interest of Class A Members.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

6.1   Distributions .  The Company may make distributions of available cash (subject to reserves and other adjustments as provided herein) or other property to Members at such times and in such amounts as are determined by a Majority in Interest of Class A Members in their discretion.  Distributions of cash or other property shall be made among the Members in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

6.2   Limitation on Distributions .  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make a distribution to any Member if such distribution would violate Section 17-607 of the LLC Act or other applicable law.

 

6.3   Liability of Members (i) .  No Member shall be liable for any debt, obligation or liability of the Company or of any other Member solely by reason of being a member of the Company.  In no event shall any Member or Withdrawn Member (i) be obligated to make any Capital Contribution or payment to or on behalf of the Company or (ii) have any liability to return distributions received by such Member from the Company, in each case except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, as such Member shall otherwise expressly agree in writing or as may be required by the LLC Act or other applicable law.

 

6.4   Business Expenses .  The Company shall reimburse the Members for reasonable travel, entertainment and miscellaneous expenses incurred by them in the conduct of the Company’s business in accordance with rules and regulations established by the Designated Members from time to time. All ordinary and necessary expenses of the Company paid by a Member that are not so reimbursed are required to be paid by such Member.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

ADDITIONAL MEMBERS; WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERS;
TRANSFERABILITY

 

7.1   Additional Members .  (a)  Effective on the first day of any month (or on such other date as shall be determined by the Designated Members in their sole discretion), (i) the Designated Members shall have the right to admit one or more additional persons into the Company as Class A Members, and (ii) the Class B Members shall have the right to admit one or more additional persons into the Company as Class B Members.  The Designated Members shall determine all terms of such additional Member’s participation in the Company, including the additional Member’s initial Capital Contribution and Percentage Interest.

 

(b)   An additional Member shall be required to make an initial Capital Contribution to the Company at such times and in such amounts as shall be determined by the Designated Members.

 

(c)   The admission of an additional Member will be evidenced by the execution of a counterpart copy of this Agreement by such additional Member or as otherwise determined by the Designated Members.

 

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7.2   Withdrawal of Members .  (a)  Any Member may Withdraw voluntarily from the Company on the last day of any calendar month (or on such other date as shall be determined by the Designated Members in their sole discretion), on not less than ninety (90) days’ prior written notice by such Member to the Designated Members (or on such shorter notice as shall be determined by the Designated Members in their sole discretion).

 

(b)   A Majority in Interest of Class A Members may, in their sole discretion, cause a Class A Member to Withdraw from the Company, subject to Section 7.2(g); such Member, upon written notice by the Designated Members to such Member, shall be deemed to have Withdrawn as of the date specified in such notice, which date shall be on or after the date of such notice.

 

(c)  A majority of Class B Members may, in their sole discretion, cause a Class B Member to Withdraw from the Company, subject to Section 7.2(g); such Member, upon written notice by the Class B Members to such Member, shall be deemed to have Withdrawn as of the date specified in such notice, which date shall be on or after the date of such notice; provided that neither Henry R. Kravis nor George R. Roberts may be caused to Withdraw as a Class B Member without his consent.

 

(d)   Upon the death, Total Disability or Incompetence of a Member, such Member shall thereupon be deemed to have Withdrawn.

 

(e)   Upon the Withdrawal of any Member, including pursuant to clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above, such Member shall thereupon cease to be a Member, shall not have any rights of a Member (including voting rights) with respect to such Member’s Shares and shall not be entitled to any distribution in respect of such Member’s Interest pursuant to Section 18-604 of the LLC Act, and such Member’s Shares shall be redeemed and cancelled, except as otherwise expressly provided herein.

 

(f)   The withdrawal from the Company of any Member shall not, in and of itself, affect the obligations of the other Members to continue the Company during the remainder of its term.

 

(g)   Notwithstanding that a Majority in Interest of Class A Members has taken action to cause a Member to Withdraw pursuant to Section 7.2(b) or a majority of Class B Members has taken action to cause a Member to Withdraw pursuant to Section 7.2(c), if, following such Withdrawal, such Member has either Class A or Class B Shares outstanding, such Member shall not cease to be a Member and such Member’s Shares shall be redeemed and cancelled only to the extent of the relevant class.

 

7.3   Consequences to the Company upon Withdrawal of a Member .  The Company shall not be dissolved, in and of itself, by the Withdrawal of any Member, but shall continue with the surviving or remaining Members as members thereof in accordance with and subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement if at the time of such Withdrawal there are one or more remaining Members (any and all such remaining Members being hereby authorized to continue the business of the Company without dissolution and hereby agree to do so).

 

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7.4   Shares of Members Not Transferable .  No Member may sell, assign, pledge or otherwise transfer or encumber all or any portion of such Member’s Shares other than with the approval of a Majority in Interest of Class A Members.  No acquirer, assignee, pledgee, legatee, distributee, heir or transferee (by conveyance, operation of law or otherwise) of the whole or any portion of any Member’s Shares shall have any right to be a Member without the prior written consent of a Majority in Interest of Class A Members, which may be given or withheld in their sole discretion.

 

7.5   Power of Attorney .  Each Member (other than the Designated Members) hereby irrevocably appoints each Designated Member as such Member’s true and lawful agent, representative and attorney-in-fact, each acting alone, in such Member’s name, place and stead, to make, execute, sign and file, on behalf of such Member, any and all agreements, instruments, documents and certificates which either Designated Member deems necessary or advisable in connection with any transaction or matter contemplated by or provided for in this Article VII, including the performance of any obligation of such Member or the Company or the exercise of any right of such Member or the Company.  Such power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall survive and continue in full force and effect notwithstanding the Withdrawal of any Member for any reason and shall not be affected by the death, disability or incapacity of such Member.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

DISSOLUTION

 

8.1  Dissolution .  The Company shall be dissolved, and its affairs shall be wound up upon the first to occur of the following:  (i) the determination of the Designated Members at any time upon not less than sixty (60) days’ notice of the dissolution date to the other Members; provided that so long as the Company shall serve as the general partner of the Issuer, such dissolution of the Company shall require the approval of the Board; (ii) the termination of the legal existence of the last remaining Member of the Company or the occurrence of any other event which terminates the continued membership of the last remaining Member of the Company in the Company unless the business of the Company is continued in a manner permitted by this Agreement or the LLC Act; or (iii) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the LLC Act.  Upon the occurrence of any event that causes the last remaining Member of the Company to cease to be a Member of the Company (other than upon continuation of the Company without dissolution upon an assignment by the last remaining member of the Company of all of its Interest in the Company and the admission of the transferee pursuant to this Agreement), to the fullest extent permitted by law, the personal representative of such Member is hereby authorized to, and shall, within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of such Member in the Company, agree in writing (i) to continue the Company and (ii) to the admission of the personal representative or its nominee or designee, as the case may be, as a substitute Member of the Company, effective as of the occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of such Member in the Company.

 

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8.2   Final Distribution .  Upon dissolution, the Company shall continue until the winding up of the affairs of the Company is completed. The assets of the Company shall be applied and distributed in the following order:

 

(a)   First, to the satisfaction of debts and liabilities of the Company (including satisfaction of all indebtedness to Members and their Affiliates to the extent otherwise permitted by law) including the expenses of liquidation and including the establishment of any reserve which the liquidator(s) shall deem reasonably necessary for any contingent, conditional or unmatured contractual liabilities or obligations of the Company (“ Contingencies ”).  Any such reserve may be paid over by the liquidator(s) to any attorney-at-law, or acceptable party, as escrow agent, to be held for disbursement in payment of any Contingencies and, at the expiration of such period as shall be deemed advisable by the liquidator(s) for application of the balance in the manner provided in this Section 8.2; and

 

(b)   The balance, if any, to the Members, pro rata to each of the Members in accordance with their Percentage Interests.

 

(c)   The Designated Members shall be the liquidators.  In the event that the Designated Members are unable to serve as liquidators, a liquidating trustee shall be chosen by a Majority in Interest of Class A Members.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

9.1   Arbitration .

 

(a)   Any and all disputes which cannot be settled amicably, including any ancillary claims of any party arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement (including without limitation the validity, scope and enforceability of this arbitration provision) shall be finally settled by arbitration conducted by a single arbitrator in New York, New York in accordance with the then-existing Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. If the parties to the dispute fail to agree on the selection of an arbitrator within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the request for arbitration, the International Chamber of Commerce shall make the appointment.  The arbitrator shall be a lawyer and shall conduct the proceedings in the English language. Performance under this Agreement shall continue if reasonably possible during any arbitration proceedings. Except as required by law or as may be reasonably required in connection with ancillary judicial proceedings to compel arbitration, to obtain temporary or preliminary judicial relief in aid of arbitration, or to confirm or challenge an arbitration award, the arbitration proceedings, including any hearings, shall be confidential, and the parties shall not disclose any awards, any materials in the proceedings created for the purpose of the arbitration, or any documents produced by another party in the proceedings not otherwise in the public domain.

 

(b)   Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a), the Designated Members may bring, or may cause the Company to bring, on behalf of the Designated

 

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Members or the Company or on behalf of one or more Members, an action or special proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling a party to arbitrate, seeking temporary or preliminary relief in aid of an arbitration hereunder, or enforcing an arbitration award and, for the purposes of this paragraph (b), each Member (i) expressly consents to the application of paragraph (c) of this Section 9.1 to any such action or proceeding, (ii) agrees that proof shall not be required that monetary damages for breach of the provisions of this Agreement would be difficult to calculate and that remedies at law would be inadequate, and (iii) irrevocably appoints the Designated Members as such Member’s agents for service of process in connection with any such action or proceeding and agrees that service of process upon any such agent, who shall promptly advise such Member of any such service of process, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Member in any such action or proceeding.

 

(c)   Each Member, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (i) irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce this Section 9.1 or any judicial proceeding ancillary to an arbitration or contemplated arbitration arising out of or relating to or concerning this Agreement) shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, any other court in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction; (ii) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding; (iii) irrevocably agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding that (A) it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such courts or any other court to which proceedings in such courts may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is improper; (iv) expressly waives any requirement for the posting of a bond by a party bringing such claim, suit, action or proceeding; (v) consents to process being served in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding by mailing, certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices hereunder, and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof; provided , that nothing in clause (v) hereof shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law; and (vi) irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding.

 

(d)  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, this Section 9.1 shall be construed to the maximum extent possible to comply with the laws of the State of Delaware, including the Delaware Uniform Arbitration Act (10 Del. C. § 5701 et  seq.) (the “ Delaware Arbitration Act ”).  If, nevertheless, it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that any provision or wording of this Section 9.1, including any rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, shall be invalid or unenforceable under the Delaware Arbitration Act, or other applicable law, such invalidity shall not invalidate all of this Section 9.1.  In that case, this Section 9.1 shall be construed so as to limit any term or provision so as to make it valid or enforceable within the requirements of the Delaware Arbitration Act or other applicable law, and, in the event such term or provision cannot be so limited, this Section 9.1 shall be construed to omit such invalid or unenforceable provision.

 

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9.2   Amendments and Waivers .

 

(a)  This Agreement may be amended, supplemented, waived or modified at any time and from time to time only by the written consent of the Designated Members (or if there are no Designated Members, by the written consent of a Majority in Interest of Class A Members) and any such amendment, supplement, waiver or modification shall not require the consent of any other person (including any other Member); provided, however, that any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that expressly modifies or prejudices the rights of the Independent Directors shall require the consent of the majority of the Independent Directors.

 

(b)   No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder (other than a failure or delay beyond a period of time specified herein) shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

(c)   Each Member hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights that it may have to maintain an action for judicial accounting or for partition of any of the Company’s property.

 

9.3   Member Approval .  (a)    Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Members may be taken at a meeting within or outside the State of Delaware.  Meetings of the Members may be held with or without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Designated Members.

 

(b)   Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting by the Members may be taken without a meeting, without a vote and without prior notice, if holders of a Majority in Interest of Class A Members consent thereto in writing.

 

(c)  Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Class A Members may be taken without a meeting, without a vote and without prior notice, if holders of a Majority in Interest of Class A Members consent thereto in writing.

 

(d)   Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Class B Members may be taken without a meeting, without a vote and without prior notice, if the Class B Members who hold a majority of the Class B Shares outstanding consent thereto in writing.

 

9.4   Schedules .  The Designated Members may from time to time execute and deliver to the Members schedules which set forth the then current Capital Contributions and Percentage Interests of the Members and any other matters deemed appropriate by the Designated Members.  Such schedules shall be for information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be part of this Agreement for any purpose whatsoever.

 

9.5   Classifications as a Corporation .  The Company shall elect to be classified as a corporation under Section 7701(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and Treas. Reg. §301.7701-2(b).

 

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9.6   Governing Law; Separability of Provisions .  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware.  In particular, the Company has been formed pursuant to the LLC Act, and the rights and liabilities of the Members shall be as provided therein, except as herein otherwise expressly provided.  If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, such provision shall be given its meaning to the maximum extent permitted by law and the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

 

9.7   Successors and Assigns .  This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall, subject to Section 7.3, inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, their respective heirs and personal representatives, and any successor to a trustee of a trust which is or becomes a party hereto; provided that no person claiming by, through or under a Member (whether such Member’s heir, personal representative or otherwise), as distinct from such Member itself, shall have any rights as, or in respect to, a Member (including the right to approve or vote on any matter or to notice thereof) except the right to receive only those distributions expressly payable to such person pursuant to Article VII.  Any Member or Withdrawn Member shall remain liable for the obligations under this Agreement of any transferee of all or any portion of such Member’s or Withdrawn Member’s interest in the Company, unless waived by the Designated Members.  Nothing in this Agreement is intended, nor shall anything herein be construed, to confer any rights, legal or equitable, on any person other than the Members and their respective legal representatives, heirs, successors and permitted assigns and the Covered Persons.

 

9.8   Notices .  All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by courier service, by fax, by electronic mail, by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid) or by any communication permitted by the LLC Act to the respective parties at the addresses shown in the Company’s books and records (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in any notice given in accordance with this Section 9.7).

 

9.9   Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute a single instrument.

 

9.10   Power of Attorney .  Each Member hereby irrevocably appoints each Designated Member as such Member’s true and lawful representative and attorney-in-fact, each acting alone, in such Member’s name, place and stead, to make, execute, sign and file all instruments, documents and certificates which, from time to time, may be required to set forth any amendment to this Agreement or may be required by this Agreement or by the laws of the United States of America, the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction in which the Company shall determine to do business, or any political subdivision or agency thereof, to execute, implement and continue the valid and subsisting existence of the Company.  Such power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall survive and continue in full force and effect notwithstanding the subsequent Withdrawal of any Member for any reason and shall not be affected by the subsequent disability or incapacity of such Member.

 

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9.11   Cumulative Remedies .  Rights and remedies under this Agreement are cumulative and do not preclude use of other rights and remedies available under applicable law.

 

9.12   Entire Agreement .  Subject to Section 9.4, this Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein.  There are no restrictions, promises, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings, other than those expressly set forth or referred to herein.  This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

 

DESIGNATED MEMBERS:

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Henry R. Kravis

 

Henry R. Kravis

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ George R. Roberts

 

George R. Roberts

 


Exhibit 10.1

 

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT

 

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”), dated as of  July 14, 2010, among KKR Management Holdings L.P., KKR Fund Holdings L.P., KKR Holdings L.P. and KKR & Co. L.P.

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement governs the terms and conditions for the exchange of certain Group Partnership Units for Common Units, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

 

WHEREAS, the right to exchange Group Partnership Units set forth in Section 2.1(a) below, once exercised, represents a several, and not a joint and several, obligation of the Group Partnerships (on a pro rata basis), and no Group Partnership shall have any obligation or right to acquire Group Partnership Units issued by another Group Partnership;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and undertakings contained herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1              Definitions .

 

The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

Base Exchange ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(i) of this Agreement.

 

Business Day ” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in the Cayman Islands and New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.

 

Charitable Exchange ” means a direct or indirect exchange of Group Partnership Units pursuant to this Agreement by a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person for the purpose of making a gratuitous transfer of any Common Units received in the exchange to a Charity.

 

Charity ” means any organization that is organized and operated for a purpose described in Section 170(c) of the Code (determined without reference to Section 170(c)(2)(A) of the Code) and described in Sections 2055(a) and 2522 of the Code.

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 



 

Common Unit ” means a partnership interest in the Issuer representing a fractional part of the partnership interests in the Issuer of all limited partners of the Issuer having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in the Issuer Partnership Agreement.

 

Contribution Transaction ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Investment Agreement.

 

Corporate Holdco ” means a corporation (or other entity classified as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) that (i) is wholly owned by a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person, (ii) owns solely Group Partnership I Units, (iii) was formed solely for the purpose of owning such Group Partnership I Units, and (iv) has never owned any assets other than Group Partnership I Units or engaged in any other business, or such other corporation designated a Corporate Holdco by a Group Partnership General Partner.

 

Exchange ” means a Charitable Exchange, a Non-U.S. Exchange or a Base Exchange, as the case may be.

 

Exchange Rate ” means the number of Common Units for which a Group Partnership Unit is entitled to be exchanged.  On the date of this Agreement, the Exchange Rate shall be 1 for 1, which Exchange Rate shall be subject to modification as provided in Section 2.4.

 

Fair Market Value ” means, as of a given time, (i) if Common Units are traded on a securities exchange, then the volume-weighted average price of a Common Unit based on the trades during the most recent completed trading day as reported by the principal securities exchange on which Common Units are traded and (ii) if Common Units are not traded on a securities exchange, the fair market value of such asset as reasonably determined by the conflicts committee of the board of directors of the Issuer General Partner.

 

Group Partnership I ” means KKR Management Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successor thereto.

 

Group Partnership I General Partner ” means Group Partnership Holdco, and any successor thereto.

 

Group Partnership I Units ” means the Class A partnership units of Group Partnership I (and partnership units of any subsequently formed Group Partnership whose interests are held by the Issuer through a Group Partnership HoldCo).

 

Group Partnership II ” means KKR Fund Holdings L.P., a Cayman limited partnership, and any successor thereto.

 

“Group Partnership II Units ” means the Class A partnership units of Group Partnership II (and partnership units of any subsequently formed Group Partnership whose interests the Issuer holds directly or indirectly through entities that are transparent for U.S. federal income tax purposes).

 

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Group Partnership Agreements ” means, collectively, the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Group Partnership I and the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Group Partnership II (and the partnership agreement then in effect of any future partnership designated as a Group Partnership), as each may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Group Partnership General Partners ” means Group Partnership I General Partner and Issuer (and the general partner of any future partnership designated as a Group Partnership).

 

Group Partnership HoldCo ” means Management Holdings Corp. (and any future entity that is classified as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is directly or indirectly owned by the Issuer and formed for the purposes of holding partnership units of a Group Partnership).

 

Group Partnership Unit ” means, collectively, one partnership unit in each of Group Partnership I and Group Partnership II (and any future partnership designated as a Group Partnership) issued under its respective Group Partnership Agreement.

 

Group Partnerships ” means, collectively, Group Partnership I and Group Partnership II (and any future partnership designated as a Group Partnership).

 

Issuer ” means KKR & Co. L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successor thereto.

 

Issuer General Partner ” means KKR Management LLC, a Delaware limited partnership, and any successor thereto.

 

Insider Trading Policy ” means the Dealing Code of the Issuer applicable to the directors and executive officers of its general partner, as such insider trading policy may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Issuer Partnership Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Issuer to be dated substantially concurrently with the consummation of the Contribution Transaction, as such agreement of limited partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Investment Agreement ” means the amended and restated investment agreement, dated October 1, 2009, by and among the Issuer, KKR Private Equity Investors, L.P., Group Partnership I, Group Partnership II, and KKR Holdings, as amended from time to time.

 

KKR Holdings ” means KKR Holdings L.P., a limited partnership formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and any successor thereto, and its Subsidiaries.

 

KKR Holdings Affiliated Person ” means each Person that is as of the date of this Agreement or becomes from time to time (i) a general partner or a limited partner of KKR Holdings pursuant to the terms of the KKR Holdings Partnership Agreement or (ii) a general partner, limited partner or holder of any other type of equity interest of any Person included in clause (i) above.

 

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KKR Holdings Partnership Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of KKR Holdings, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Non-U.S. Exchange ” means a direct or indirect exchange of Group Partnership Units pursuant to this Agreement by a Non-U.S. KKR Holdings Affiliated Person.

 

Non-U.S. KKR Holdings Affiliated Person ” means a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person that is not (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation (or other entity classified as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States (or any political subdivision thereof), or (iii) a partnership (or other entity classified as a partnership for United State federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) or that has at least one partner who is an individual citizen or resident of the United States.

 

Person ” means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, estate, unincorporated organization, association (including any group, organization, co-tenanacy, plan, board, council or committee), government (including a country, state, county, or any other governmental or political subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof) or other entity (or series thereof).

 

Quarter ” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Issuer.

 

Quarterly Exchange Date ” means, unless the Issuer cancels such Quarterly Exchange Date pursuant to Section 2.9 hereof, the date that is the later to occur of either: (1) the second Business Day after the date on which the Issuer makes a public news release of its quarterly earnings for the prior Quarter or (2) the first day of each Quarter that directors and executive officers of the Issuer General Partner are permitted to trade under the Insider Trading Policy.

 

Sale Transaction ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9 of this Agreement.

 

Subsidiaries ” means any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other legal entity of which KKR Holdings (either alone or through or together with any other subsidiary), owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the stock or other equity interests.

 

Transfer Agent ” means such bank, trust company or other Person as shall be appointed from time to time by the Issuer pursuant to the Issuer Partnership Agreement to act as registrar and transfer agent for the Common Units.

 

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ARTICLE II.
EXCHANGE OF GROUP PARTNERSHIP UNITS

 

Section 2.1              Exchange of Group Partnership Units .

 

(a)            Subject to the provisions of the Group Partnership Agreements and the Issuer Partnership Agreement and to the provisions of Section 2.2 hereof, KKR Holdings or a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person shall be entitled on any Quarterly Exchange Date to surrender Group Partnership Units held by KKR Holdings or a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person as follows; provided that any such exchange is for a minimum of the lesser of 1,000 Group Partnership Units or all of the Group Partnership Units held by KKR Holdings.

 

(i)             KKR Holdings or a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person may surrender Group Partnership Units to the Group Partnerships in exchange for either (at the option of the Group Partnerships) (x) the delivery by the Group Partnerships of a number of Common Units (provided by the Issuer) equal to the number of Group Partnership Units surrendered multiplied by the Exchange Rate or (y) cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value on the date of such exchange of the Common Units that KKR Holdings or a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person would receive pursuant to clause (x) (any such exchange, a “ Base Exchange ”).  Simultaneous with any such Exchange pursuant to clause (x) above, each Group Partnership shall issue a number of its Group Partnership Units to its respective Group Partnership General Partner equal to the number of Group Partnership Units surrendered to such Group Partnership.  Any election by the Group Partnerships to deliver cash to KKR Holdings or a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person, as the case may be, pursuant to clause (y) above, shall be subject to the prior approval of the conflicts committee of the board of directors of the Issuer General Partner.

 

(ii)            For purposes of making a Charitable Exchange or a Non-U.S. Exchange, a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person may surrender Group Partnership Units to the Issuer in exchange for the delivery of a number of Common Units equal to the number of Group Partnership Units surrendered multiplied by the Exchange Rate, provided , however , the Issuer may instead require that the Group Partnership I units the KKR Holdings Affiliated Person intends to surrender be owned by one or more Corporate Holdcos prior to surrender, in which case the number of Common Units delivered pursuant to the Exchange will be equal to the total Group Partnership Units that are surrendered, taking into account those collectively owned by the Corporate Holdcos whose interest are surrendered, multiplied by the Exchange Rate.

 

(b)            Immediately following any Charitable Exchange or Non-U.S. Exchange pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(ii) above, the Issuer shall contribute (i) any Group Partnership I Units or interests in Corporate Holdcos surrendered pursuant to such Exchange to the Group Partnership Holdco that currently holds interests in the issuer of the Group Partnership I Units that have been surrendered or are held by the Corporate Holdco whose interests have been surrendered, and (ii) any Group Partnership II Units surrendered pursuant to such Exchange to the issuer of the Group Partnership II Units surrendered.

 

(c)            Where KKR Holdings or a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person has exercised its right to surrender its Group Partnership Units to the Group Partnerships in a Base Exchange, the Group Partnership General Partners shall have a superseding right to acquire such interests for an amount of cash or, at the option of the Group Partnership General Partners, Common

 

5



 

Units equal to the amount of cash or Common Units (provided by the Issuer) that would be received pursuant to the Base Exchange.

 

(d)            On the date the Exchange of the Group Partnership Units is effective, all rights of KKR Holdings or a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person as holder of such Group Partnership Units shall cease, and KKR Holdings or such KKR Holdings Affiliated Person shall be treated for all purposes as having become the Record Holder (as defined in the Issuer Partnership Agreement) of the Common Units which are the subject of the Exchange and shall be admitted as a Limited Partner (as defined in the Issuer Partnership Agreement) of the Issuer in accordance and upon compliance with Section 10.2 of the Issuer Partnership Agreement.

 

(e)            Immediately prior to the time Group Partnership Units are surrendered for Exchange, KKR Holdings shall assign its rights together with its obligations hereunder in connection with an Exchange to each KKR Holdings Affiliated Person beneficially owning such Group Partnership Units.

 

(f)             For the avoidance of doubt, any Exchange of Group Partnership Units shall be subject to the provisions of the Group Partnership Agreements.

 

Section 2.2              Exchange Procedures .

 

(a)            KKR Holdings or a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person may exercise the right to Exchange Group Partnership Units set forth in Section 2.1(a) above by providing written notice of the Exchange at least sixty (60) days prior to the applicable Quarterly Exchange Date or within such shorter period of time as may be agreed by the parties hereto (i) in the case of a Base Exchange, to each Group Partnership General Partner and the Issuer substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, and (ii) in the case of a Charitable Exchange or Non-U.S. Exchange, to the Issuer substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto. Such notice shall be duly executed by such holder or such holder’s duly authorized attorney in respect of the Group Partnership Units to be Exchanged and delivered during normal business hours at the principal executive offices of the Group Partnership General Partners and/or the registered office of the Issuer, as applicable.

 

(b)            Each KKR Holdings Affiliated Person beneficially owning the Group Partnership Units that are subject to Exchange pursuant to Section 2.1(a) above shall execute a written assignment and acceptance agreement with respect to such Group Partnership Units prior to such Exchange, which assignment and acceptance agreement shall be delivered during normal business hours at the registered office of KKR Holdings.

 

(c)            As promptly as practicable following the surrender for Exchange of Group Partnership Units in the manner provided in this Article II, the Issuer, in the case of a Base Exchange shall deliver or cause to be delivered at the principal executive offices of the Group Partnership or at the office of the Transfer Agent the number of Common Units issuable upon such Exchange, issued in the name of KKR Holdings or its designee, and in the case of a Charitable Exchange or Non-U.S. Exchange shall deliver or cause to be delivered at the principal executive offices of KKR Holdings or at the office of the Transfer Agent the number of Common Units issuable upon such Exchange, issued in the name of KKR Holdings or its designee.

 

6



 

(d)            The Issuer, in the case of a Charitable Exchange or Non-U.S. Exchange, or the Group Partnerships, in the case of a Base Exchange, may adopt reasonable procedures for the implementation of the exchange provisions set forth in this Article II, including, without limitation, procedures for the giving of notice of an election for Exchange.

 

Section 2.3              Blackout Periods and Ownership Restrictions .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, KKR Holdings or a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person shall not be entitled to Exchange Group Partnership Units, and the Issuer and the Group Partnerships shall have the right to refuse to honor any request for Exchange of Group Partnership Units, (i) at any time or during any period if the Issuer or the Group Partnerships shall determine, based on the advice of counsel (which may be inside counsel), that there may be material non-public information that may affect the trading price per Common Unit at such time or during such period, (ii) if such Exchange would be prohibited under applicable law or regulation, (iii) to the extent such KKR Holdings Affiliated Person would be prohibited from holding Common Units under the Issuer Partnership Agreement, or (iv) to the extent such Exchange would not be permitted under the policies and procedures established by the general partner of KKR Holdings.

 

Section 2.4              Splits, Distributions and Reclassifications .  The Exchange Rate shall be adjusted accordingly if there is: (1) any subdivision (by split, distribution, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of the Group Partnership Units that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Common Units; or (2) any subdivision (by split, distribution, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of the Common Units that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Group Partnership Units. In the event of a reclassification or other similar transaction as a result of which the Common Units are converted into another security, then KKR Holdings or a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person, as the case may be, shall be entitled to receive upon Exchange the amount of such security that KKR Holdings or such KKR Holdings Affiliated Person would have received if such Exchange had occurred immediately prior to the effective date of such reclassification or other similar transaction. Except as may be required in the immediately preceding sentence, no adjustments in respect of distributions shall be made upon the Exchange of any Group Partnership Unit.

 

Section 2.5              Common Units to be Issued .  The Issuer covenants that if any Common Units require registration with or approval of any governmental authority under any foreign, U.S. federal or state law before such Common Units may be issued upon Exchange pursuant to this Article II, the Issuer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Common Units to be duly registered or approved, as the case may be. The Issuer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to list the Common Units required to be delivered upon Exchange prior to such delivery upon each national securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system upon which the outstanding Common Units may be listed or traded at the time of such delivery. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Issuer or the Group Partnerships from satisfying their obligations in respect of the Exchange of the Group Partnership Units by delivery of Common Units which are held in the treasury of the Issuer or the Group Partnerships or any of their subsidiaries.

 

7



 

Section 2.6              Taxes .  The delivery of Common Units upon Exchange of Group Partnership Units shall be made without charge to KKR Holdings or a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person for any stamp or other similar tax in respect of such issuance.

 

Section 2.7              Restrictions .  The provisions of Section 7.05 of the Group Partnership Agreements shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to any Common Units issued upon Exchange of Group Partnership Units.

 

Section 2.8              Disposition of Common Units Issued KKR Holdings covenants to cause any KKR Holdings Affiliated Person receiving Common Units as a result of an Exchange, other than a Charitable Exchange or Non-U.S. Exchange, under this Agreement (i) to use reasonable best efforts to sell or otherwise dispose of any Common Units received in such an Exchange within ten (10) days of the receipt thereof or any specified shorter period as the Issuer General Partner determines to be in the best interests of the Issuer, (ii) to use reasonable best efforts to ensure that neither such KKR Holdings Affiliated Person’s spouse nor any grantor trust which is treated as owned by such KKR Holdings Affiliated Person or his or her spouse owns any Common Units and (iii) to agree that no other Common Units will be acquired or held by such KKR Holdings Affiliated Person during such period other than through a Qualifying Entity. Any KKR Holdings Affiliated Person who receives Common Units as a result of an Exchange under this Agreement and who holds any such Common Units on the last day of the ten (10) day or shorter period referred to above shall agree to cause all such Common Units to be transferred immediately to a Qualifying Entity. For the purposes of this Agreement, a “Qualifying Entity” means a partnership, trust or other entity (other than a “grantor trust” or an entity otherwise disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for United States federal income tax purposes). For the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained herein shall prohibit any KKR Holdings Affiliated Person from owning an interest in a Qualifying Entity that owns Common Units.

 

Section 2.9              Subsequent Offerings .  The Issuer may from time to time provide the opportunity for KKR Holdings to sell its Group Partnership Units to the Issuer, the Group Partnerships or any of their subsidiaries on terms no more beneficial than an Exchange (a “ Sale Transaction ”); provided that no Sale Transaction shall occur unless the Issuer cancels the nearest Quarterly Exchange Date scheduled to occur in the same fiscal year of the Issuer as such Sale Transaction.  In connection with a Sale Transaction, KKR Holdings must provide notice to Issuer at least thirty (30) days prior to the cash settlement of such Sale Transaction in respect of the Group Partnership Units to be sold or within such shorter period of time as may be agreed by the parties hereto. Such notice shall be delivered during normal business hours at the principal executive offices of the Issuer.  For the avoidance of doubt, the total aggregate number of Quarterly Exchange Dates and Sale Transactions occurring during any fiscal year of the Issuer shall not exceed four (4).

 

ARTICLE III.
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 3.1              Amendment .  The provisions of this Agreement may be amended by the affirmative vote or written consent of each of the Issuer, the Group Partnerships and KKR Holdings.

 

8



 

Section 3.2              Addresses and Notices .  All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by courier service, by fax, by electronic mail (delivery receipt requested) or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be as specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 3.2):

 

(a)  If to the Group Partnership General Partners, to:

 

 

9 West 57 th  Street, Suite 4200

 

New York, NY 10019

 

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

Fax: 212-750-0003

 

(b)  If to Group Partnership I or Group Partnership II to:

 

 

9 West 57 th  Street, Suite 4200

 

New York, NY 10019

 

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

Fax: 212-750-0003

 

(c)  If to KKR Holdings, to:

 

 

9 West 57 th  Street, Suite 4200

 

New York, NY 10019

 

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

Fax: 212-750-0003

 

(d) If to the Issuer, to:

 

 

9 West 57 th  Street, Suite 4200

 

New York, NY 10019

 

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

Fax: 212-750-0003

 

Section 3.3              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 3.4              Binding Effect . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of all of the parties and, to the extent permitted by this Agreement, their successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives and assigns.   KKR Holdings may enforce the terms of this agreement in the name of or on behalf of any KKR Holdings Affiliated Person.  Other than as expressly provided herein, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to give any

 

9



 

person other than the parties to this Agreement any legal or equitable right, remedy, or claim under or with respect to this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement.

 

Section 3.5              Severability .  If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon a determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

 

Section 3.6              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 3.7              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 3.8              Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial .

 

(a)            Any and all disputes which cannot be settled amicably, including any ancillary claims of any party, arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement (including the validity, scope and enforceability of this arbitration provision) shall be finally settled by arbitration conducted by a single arbitrator in New York in accordance with the then-existing Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. If the parties to the dispute fail to agree on the selection of an arbitrator within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the request for arbitration, the International Chamber of Commerce shall make the appointment.  Performance under this Agreement shall continue if reasonably possible during any arbitration proceedings.

 

(b)            Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.8(a), in the case of matters relating to a Charitable Exchange or Non-U.S. Exchange, the Issuer may bring, and in the case of matters relating to a Base Exchange, KKR Holdings may cause any Group Partnership to bring, on behalf of the Issuer or such Group Partnership or on behalf of any KKR Holdings Affiliated Person, an action or special proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling a party to arbitrate, seeking temporary or preliminary relief in aid of an arbitration hereunder, and/or enforcing an arbitration award and, for the purposes of this paragraph.

 

(c)            Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, this Section 3.8 shall be construed to the maximum extent possible to comply with the laws of the State of Delaware, including the Delaware Uniform Arbitration Act (10 Del. C. § 5701 et  seq.) (the “ Delaware Arbitration Act ”).  If, nevertheless, it shall be determined by a court of competent

 

10



 

jurisdiction that any provision or wording of this Section 3.8, including any rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, shall be invalid or unenforceable under the Delaware Arbitration Act, or other applicable law, such invalidity shall not invalidate all of this Section 3.8.  In that case, this Section 3.8 shall be construed so as to limit any term or provision so as to make it valid or enforceable within the requirements of the Delaware Arbitration Act or other applicable law, and, in the event such term or provision cannot be so limited, this Section 3.8 shall be construed to omit such invalid or unenforceable provision.

 

Section 3.9              Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Copies of executed counterparts transmitted by telecopy or other electronic transmission service shall be considered original executed counterparts for purposes of this Section 3.9.

 

Section 3.10            Tax Treatment . To the extent this Agreement imposes obligations upon a particular Group Partnership or either Group Partnership General Partner, this Agreement shall be treated as part of the relevant Group Partnership Agreement as described in Section 761(c) of the Code and Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(h) and 1.761-1(c) of the Treasury Regulations. The parties shall report any Base Exchange consummated hereunder (pursuant to which Common Units are delivered pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(i) or Section 2.1(c) hereof), in the case of Group Partnership I (or any other Group Partnership owned directly or indirectly by the Issuer through a Group Partnership Holdco), as a taxable sale of Group Partnership Units by a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person to Group Partnership HoldCo (or the partner of such other Group Partnership owned directly or indirectly by the Issuer through a Group Partnership Holdco) and, in the case of Group Partnership II (or any other Group Partnership owned directly by the Issuer), as a contribution to the Issuer described in Section 721(a) of the Code, and no party shall take a contrary position on any income tax return, amendment thereof or communication with a taxing authority.  The parties shall report any Charitable Exchange or Non-U.S. Exchange consummated pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(ii) hereof as a contribution of (i) Group Partnership I Units or Corporate Holdco interests, and (ii) Group Partnership II Units to the Issuer described in Section 721(a) of the Code, followed by a tax free contribution of such Group Partnership I Units or Corporate Holdco interests to the appropriate Group Partnership Holdco pursuant to Section 351 of the Code, and no party shall take a contrary position on any income tax return, amendment thereof or communication with a taxing authority.

 

Section 3.11            Applicable Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered, all as of the date first set forth above.

 

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

11



 

 

KKR & Co. L.P.

 

 

 

By:

KKR Management LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

Name: William J. Janetschek

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

KKR MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS L.P.

 

 

 

By:

KKR Management Holdings Corp., its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

Name: William J. Janetschek

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

KKR FUND HOLDINGS L.P.

 

 

 

By:

KKR & Co. L.P., its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Management LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

Name: William J. Janetschek

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

KKR HOLDINGS L.P.

 

 

 

By:

KKR Holdings GP Limited, its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

Name: William J. Janetschek

 

 

Title: Director

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF]
NOTICE OF BASE EXCHANGE

 

KKR & Co. L.P.

9 West 57 th  Street, Suite 4200

New York, NY 10019

Attention: [Chief Financial Officer]

Fax: 212-750-0003

 

Reference is hereby made to the Exchange Agreement, dated as July 14, 2010 (the “ Exchange Agreement ”), among KKR Private Equity Investors, L.P.,  KKR Management Holdings L.P., KKR Fund Holdings L.P., KKR Holdings L.P., and KKR & Co. L.P. as amended from time to time.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Exchange Agreement.

 

[                      ] (the “Exchanging KKR Holdings Affiliated Person”) desires to Exchange the number of Group Partnership Units set forth below in a Base Exchange.

 

Number of Group Partnership Units to be Exchanged:                                                      

 

The Exchanging KKR Holdings Affiliated Person (1) hereby represents that the Group Partnership Units set forth above shall immediately prior to the Exchange be owned by it, (2) hereby gives notice of its desire to Exchange such Group Partnership Units for Common Units as set forth in the Exchange Agreement, (3) hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints any officer of the Group Partnerships, either Group Partnership General Partner or the Issuer General Partner as its attorney, with full power of substitution, to Exchange said Group Partnership Units on the books of the Group Partnerships for Common Units on the books of the Issuer, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

The Exchanging KKR Holdings Affiliated Person covenants (i) to use reasonable best efforts to sell or otherwise dispose of any Common Units received in such an Exchange within ten (10) days of the receipt thereof or any specified shorter period as the general partner of the Issuer determines to be in the best interests of the Issuer, (ii) to use reasonable best efforts to ensure that neither such person’s spouse nor any grantor trust which is treated as owned by such person or his or her spouse owns any Common Units and (iii) to agree that no other Common Units will be acquired or held by such person during such period other than through a Qualifying Entity.  Such exchanging KKR Holdings Affiliated Person who receives Common Units as a result of an Exchange under this Agreement and who holds any such Common Units on the last day of the ten (10) day or shorter period referred to above agrees to cause all such Common Units to be transferred immediately to a Qualifying Entity. For the purposes of the Exchange Agreement, a “Qualifying Entity” means a partnership, trust or other entity (other than an entity disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for United States federal income tax purposes). For the

 



 

avoidance of doubt, nothing contained herein shall prohibit any Exchanging KKR Holdings Affiliated Person from owning an interest in a Qualifying Entity that owns Common Units.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice of Exchange to be executed and delivered by the undersigned or by its duly authorized attorney.

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 



 

EXHIBIT B

 

[FORM OF]
NOTICE OF CHARITABLE OR NON-U.S. EXCHANGE

 

 

KKR Private Equity Investors, L.P.

c/o KKR & Co. L.P.

9 West 57 th  Street, Suite 4200

New York, NY 10019

Attention: [Chief Financial Officer]

Fax: 212-750-0003

 

Reference is hereby made to the Exchange Agreement, dated as of July 14, 2010 (the “ Exchange Agreement ”), among KKR Private Equity Investors, L.P., KKR Management Holdings L.P., KKR Fund Holdings L.P., KKR Holdings L.P., and KKR & Co. L.P. as amended from time to time.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Exchange Agreement.

 

[                    ] (the “Exchanging KKR Holdings Affiliated Person”) desires to Exchange the number of Group Partnership Units set forth below in a Charitable or Non-U.S. Exchange, as indicated.

 

Number of Group Partnership Units to be Exchanged:                                               

 

Type of Exchange (Charitable or Non-U.S. Exchange):                                             

 

The Exchanging KKR Holdings Affiliated Person (1) hereby represents that the Group Partnership Units set forth above shall immediately prior to the Exchange be owned by it, (2) hereby gives notice of its desire to Exchange such Group Partnership Units for Common Units as set forth in the Exchange Agreement, (3) hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints any officer of the Group Partnerships, either Group Partnership General Partner or the Issuer General Partner as its attorney, with full power of substitution, to Exchange said Group Partnership Units on the books of the Group Partnerships for Common Units on the books of the Issuer, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice of Exchange to be executed and delivered by the undersigned or by its duly authorized attorney.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 


Exhibit 10.2

 

 

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

OF

 

KKR & CO. L.P.

 

 

Dated as of July 14, 2010

 

 

 



 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER MATTERS

1

 

 

 

Section 1.1

Definitions

1

Section 1.2

Construction

4

 

 

 

ARTICLE II REGISTRATION RIGHTS

5

 

 

 

Section 2.1

Exchange Registration

5

Section 2.2

Demand Registration

5

Section 2.3

Piggyback Registration

6

Section 2.4

Lock-Up Agreements

8

Section 2.5

Registration Procedures

8

Section 2.6

Indemnification by the Partnership

11

Section 2.7

Indemnification by Registering Covered Persons

12

Section 2.8

Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings

12

Section 2.9

Contribution

13

Section 2.10

Participation in Public Offering

14

Section 2.11

Other Indemnification

14

Section 2.12

Cooperation by the Partnership

14

Section 2.13

Parties in Interest

14

Section 2.14

Acknowledgement Regarding the Partnership

14

Section 2.15

Mergers, Recapitalizations, Exchanges or Other Transactions Affecting Registrable Securities

14

 

 

 

ARTICLE III MISCELLANEOUS

15

 

 

 

Section 3.1

Term of the Agreement; Termination of Certain Provisions

15

Section 3.2

Amendments; Waiver

15

Section 3.3

Governing Law

15

Section 3.4

Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial

15

Section 3.5

Notices

17

Section 3.6

Severability

17

Section 3.7

Specific Performance

17

Section 3.8

Assignment; Successors

17

Section 3.9

No Third-Party Rights

18

Section 3.10

Section Headings

18

Section 3.11

Execution in Counterparts

18

 

 

 

Appendix A   Covered Person Questionnaire

 

 

i



 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), is made and entered into as of July 14, 2010, by and among KKR & Co. L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), KKR Holdings L.P., a Cayman limited partnership (“ KKR Holdings ”), and any Covered Person (defined below) from time to time party hereto.

 

WHEREAS, KKR Holdings is a holder of Group Partnership Units (defined below), which, subject to certain restrictions and requirements, are exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof for the Partnership’s common units representing limited partner interests (the “ Common Units ”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Partnership desires to provide KKR Holdings and Permitted Transferees with registration rights with respect to Common Units underlying their Group Partnership Units and any other Common Units they may otherwise hold from time to time.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual agreements, covenants and provisions herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER MATTERS

 

Section 1.1             Definitions .  Capitalized terms used in this Agreement without other definition shall, unless expressly stated otherwise, have the meanings specified in this Section 1.1:

 

Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals and includes any amendments thereto.

 

Beneficial owner ” has the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Managing Partner.

 

Common Units ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals and includes any successor security thereto.

 

Covered Group Partnership Units ” means, with respect to a Covered Person, such Covered Person’s Group Partnership Units.

 

Covered Person ” means KKR Holdings, any subsidiaries through which KKR Holdings may from time to time hold Group Partnership Units, and any Permitted Transferee, provided that any such Permitted Transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement in accordance with Section 3.1(c).

 

Demand Notice ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(a).

 



 

Demand Registration ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(a).

 

Exchange Act ” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Exchange Agreement ” means one or more exchange agreements providing for the exchange of Group Partnership Units or other securities issued by members of the Group Partnership Group for Common Units, as contemplated by the Registration Statement.

 

Exchange Registration ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a).

 

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

 

Governmental Authority ” means any national, local or foreign (including U.S. federal, state or local) or supranational (including European Union) governmental, judicial, administrative or regulatory (including self-regulatory) agency, commission, department, board, bureau, entity or authority of competent jurisdiction.

 

Group Partnership I ” means KKR Management Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successor thereto.

 

Group Partnership II ” means KKR Fund Holdings L.P., a Cayman limited partnership, and any successor thereto.

 

Group Partnership Agreements ” means, collectively, the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Group Partnership I and the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Group Partnership II (and the partnership agreement then in effect of any future partnership designated as a Group Partnership), as they may each be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Group Partnership Group ” means, collectively, the Group Partnerships and their respective subsidiaries.

 

Group Partnership Unit ” means, collectively, one partnership unit in each of Group Partnership I and Group Partnership II (and any future partnership designated as a Group Partnership) issued under its respective Group Partnership Agreement.

 

Group Partnerships ” means, collectively, Group Partnership I and Group Partnership II (and any future partnership designated as a Group Partnership).

 

Indemnified Parties ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.6.

 

Initial Registration ” means the Common Units registered pursuant to the U.S. Listing Registration Statement and the Primary Offering Registration Statement.

 

KKR Holdings ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals and any successor thereto.

 

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Law ” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or other order issued or promulgated by any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the Partnership or any Covered Person, as the case may be.

 

Managing Partner ” means KKR Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any successor or other person that is admitted to the Partnership as general partner of the Partnership, each in its capacity as a general partner of the Partnership (except as the context otherwise requires).

 

Partnership ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals and includes its successors.

 

Permitted Transferee ” means any transferee of a Group Partnership Unit after the date hereof the transfer of which was authorized by KKR Holdings and permitted by the Group Partnership Agreements.

 

Primary Offering Registration Statement ” means the Partnership’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-166687) with regard to an underwritten public offering of Common Units.

 

Public Offering ” means an underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, other than pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any similar or successor form.

 

Registering Covered Person ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.5(a).

 

Registrable Securities ” means Common Units that may be delivered in exchange for Group Partnership Units or otherwise held by Covered Persons from time to time. For purposes of this Agreement, Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) a Registration Statement covering resales of such Registrable Securities has been declared effective under the Securities Act by the SEC and such Registrable Securities have been disposed of pursuant to such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Registrable Securities of a Covered Person are eligible to be sold by such Covered Person pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor provision then in effect) under the Securities Act or (iii) such Registrable Securities cease to be outstanding (or issuable upon exchange).

 

Registration Expenses ” means any and all expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with any registration or marketing of securities, including all (i) SEC and securities exchange registration and filing fees, and all other fees and expenses payable in connection with the listing of securities on any securities exchange or automated interdealer quotation system, (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with any securities or “blue sky” laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the securities registered), (iii) expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, mailing and delivery of any registration statements, prospectuses and other documents in connection therewith and any amendments or supplements thereto, (iv) security engraving and printing expenses, (v) internal expenses of the Managing Partner, the Partnership and the Group Partnership Group (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of the officers and

 

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employees of the Managing Partner, the Partnership or the Group Partnership Group performing legal or accounting duties), (vi) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Managing Partner, the Partnership or the Group Partnership Group and customary fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants retained by the Managing Partner, the Partnership or the Group Partnership Group (including the expenses relating to any comfort letters or costs associated with the delivery by independent certified public accountants of any comfort letters requested pursuant to Section 2.5(i)), (vii) reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Managing Partner, the Partnership or the Group Partnership Group in connection with such registration, (viii) reasonable fees, out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Covered Persons, including one counsel selected by KKR Holdings for all of the Covered Persons participating in the offering, (ix) fees and expenses in connection with any review by FINRA of the underwriting arrangements or other terms of the offering, and all fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter,” including the fees and expenses of any counsel thereto, (x) fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities, but excluding any underwriting fees, discounts and commissions attributable to the sale of Registrable Securities, (xi) costs of printing and producing any agreements among underwriters, underwriting agreements, any “blue sky” or legal investment memoranda and any selling agreements and other documents in connection with the offering, sale or delivery of the Registrable Securities, (xii) transfer agents’ and registrars’ fees and expenses and the fees and expenses of any other agent or trustee appointed in connection with such offering, (xiii) expenses relating to any analyst or investor presentations or any “road shows” undertaken in connection with the registration, marketing or selling of the Registrable Securities, (xiv) fees and expenses payable in connection with any ratings of the Registrable Securities, including expenses relating to any presentations to rating agencies and (xv) all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Managing Partner, the Partnership, the Group Partnership Group or their appropriate officers in connection with their compliance with Section 2.5(m).

 

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act ” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

U.S. Listing Registration Statement ” means the Partnership’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-165414) with regard to the distribution of Common Units to holders of common units of KKR & Co. (Guernsey) L.P.

 

Section 1.2             Construction .  Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” or words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation;” and the terms “hereof,” “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; and (d) the word “person” means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association (including any group, organization, co-tenancy, plan, board, council or committee), Governmental Authority or other entity (or series

 

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thereof). The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE II

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

Section 2.1             Exchange Registration .

 

(a)           The Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective under the Securities Act by the SEC, prior to October 1, 2010, one or more registration statements (the “ Exchange Registration ”), one or more of which may be in the form of a “shelf” registration statement, covering (i) the delivery by the Partnership, its subsidiaries, or the Group Partnership Group, from time to time, to the Covered Persons of Common Units registered under the Securities Act in exchange for such Group Partnership Units or (ii) if the Partnership determines that the registration provided for in clause (i) is not available for any reason, the registration of resale of such Common Units by any Covered Persons.

 

(b)           The Partnership shall be liable for and pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any Exchange Registration, regardless of whether such registration is effected.

 

(c)           Upon notice to each Covered Person participating in any Exchange Registration, the Partnership may postpone effecting a registration pursuant to this Section 2.1 (or, with respect to an effective registration statement, restrict sales thereunder) on up to three occasions during any period of six consecutive months for a reasonable time specified in the notice but not exceeding 120 days in the aggregate (which period may not be extended or renewed), if (i) the Managing Partner shall determine in good faith that effecting the registration would materially and adversely affect an offering of securities of the Partnership the preparation of which had then been commenced or (ii) the Partnership is in possession of material non-public information the disclosure of which during the period specified in such notice the Managing Partner believes in good faith would not be in the best interests of the Partnership.

 

Section 2.2             Demand Registration .

 

(a)           If at any time on or after October 1, 2010 the Partnership shall receive a written request (a “ Demand Notice ”) from KKR Holdings that the Partnership effect the registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities as specified in the Demand Notice (a “ Demand Registration ”), specifying the information set forth under Section 2.5(j), then the Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect, as expeditiously as reasonably practicable, subject to the restrictions in Section 2.2(d), the registration under the Securities Act of the Registrable Securities for which KKR Holdings has requested registration under this Section 2.2, which may be in the form of a “shelf” registration statement, all to the extent necessary to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended methods thereof as aforesaid) of the Registrable Securities so to be registered.

 

(b)           At any time prior to the effective date of the registration statement relating to such registration, KKR Holdings may revoke such Demand Registration request by providing

 

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a notice to the Partnership revoking such request.  The Partnership shall be liable for and pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any Demand Registration.

 

(c)           If a Demand Registration involves an underwritten Public Offering and the managing underwriter advises the Partnership and KKR Holdings that, in its view, the number of units of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the largest number of units that can be sold without having a material adverse effect on such offering, including the price at which such units can be sold (the “ Maximum Offering Size ”), the Partnership shall include in such registration, in the priority listed below, up to the Maximum Offering Size:

 

(i)            first, all Registrable Securities requested to be registered in the Demand Registration by KKR Holdings (allocated, if necessary for the offering not to exceed the Maximum Offering Size, in such proportions as shall be determined by KKR Holdings);

 

(ii)           second, any securities proposed to be registered by the Partnership or any securities proposed to be registered for the account of any other persons, with such priorities among them as the Partnership shall determine.

 

(d)           Upon notice to KKR Holdings, the Partnership may postpone effecting a registration pursuant to this Section 2.2 (or, with respect to an effective registration statement, restrict sales thereunder) on up to three occasions during any period of six consecutive months for a reasonable time specified in the notice but not exceeding 120 days in the aggregate (which period may not be extended or renewed), if (i) the Managing Partner shall determine in good faith that effecting the registration would materially and adversely affect an offering of securities of the Partnership the preparation of which had then been commenced or (ii) the Partnership is in possession of material non-public information the disclosure of which during the period specified in such notice the Managing Partner believes in good faith would not be in the best interests of the Partnership.

 

Section 2.3             Piggyback Registration .

 

(a)           Subject to any contractual obligations to the contrary, if the Partnership proposes at any time to register under the Securities Act any of the equity securities issued by it (other than the Initial Registration or any registration on Form S-8 or Form S-4, or any successor forms, relating to Common Units issuable in connection with any employee benefit or similar plan of the Partnership or pursuant to restricted equity awards granted by KKR Holdings or in connection with a direct or indirect acquisition by the Partnership of another person or as a recapitalization or reclassification of securities of the Partnership), whether or not for sale for its own account, the Partnership shall each such time give prompt notice at least 15 business days prior to the anticipated filing date of the registration statement relating to such registration to KKR Holdings, which notice shall offer KKR Holdings the opportunity to elect to include in such registration statement the number of Registrable Securities of the same class or series as those proposed to be registered held by Covered Persons as KKR Holdings may request (a “ Piggyback Registration ”), subject to the provisions of Section 2.3(b).  If KKR Holdings elects to effect a Piggyback Registration, the Partnership shall give notice of the registration statement relating to such registration to those Covered Persons who KKR Holdings determines to afford

 

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participation in the Piggyback Registration.  Upon the request of KKR Holdings, the Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities that the Partnership has been so requested to register by KKR Holdings, to the extent necessary to permit the disposition of the Registrable Securities to be so registered, provided that (i) if such registration involves an underwritten Public Offering, all such Covered Persons to be included in the Partnership’s registration must sell their Registrable Securities to the underwriters selected by the Partnership on the same terms and conditions as apply to the Partnership or any other selling person, as applicable, and (ii) if, at any time after giving notice of its intention to register any securities pursuant to this Section 2.3(a) and prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Partnership shall determine for any reason not to register such securities, the Partnership shall give notice to all such Covered Persons and, thereupon, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration.  No registration effected under this Section 2.3 shall relieve the Partnership of its obligations to effect an Exchange Registration or Demand Registration to the extent required by Section 2.1 or Section 2.2, respectively. The Partnership shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with each Piggyback Registration.

 

(b)           Subject to Section 2.2(c) and any other contractual obligations to the contrary, if a Piggyback Registration involves an underwritten Public Offering and the managing underwriter advises the Partnership that, in its view, the number of Registrable Securities that the Partnership and such Covered Persons intend to include in such registration exceeds the Maximum Offering Size, the Partnership shall include in such registration, in the following priority, up to the Maximum Offering Size:

 

(i)            first, the Partnership securities proposed to be registered for the account of the Partnership;

 

(ii)           second, the Partnership securities proposed to be registered pursuant to any demand registration rights of third parties;

 

(iii)          third, all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by any Covered Persons and all Partnership Securities requested to be included in such registration pursuant to any piggyback registration rights of third parties, allocated, if necessary for the offering not to exceed the Maximum Offering Size, (i) as among such Covered Persons as a group, on the one hand, and any such third parties, on the other hand, pro rata based on the number of Registrable Securities owned by such Covered Persons and the number of Partnership Securities with respect to which such third parties are entitled to request piggyback registration, and (ii) as among such Covered Persons, in such proportions as shall be determined by KKR Holdings; and

 

(iv)          fourth, any securities proposed to be registered for the account of any other persons with such priorities among them as the Partnership shall determine.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding any provision in this Section 2.3 or elsewhere in this Agreement, no provision relating to the registration of Registrable Securities shall be construed as permitting any Covered Person to effect a transfer of securities that is otherwise prohibited by

 

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the terms of any agreement between such Covered Person and the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries.  Unless the Partnership shall otherwise consent, the Partnership shall not be obligated to provide notice or afford Piggyback Registration to KKR Holdings or any other Covered Person pursuant to this Section 2.3 unless some or all of such person’s Registrable Securities are permitted to be transferred under the terms of applicable agreements between such person and the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries.

 

Section 2.4             Lock-Up Agreements .  If any registration of Registrable Securities shall be effected in connection with a Public Offering, neither the Partnership nor any Covered Person shall effect any public sale or distribution, including any sale pursuant to Rule 144, of any Common Units or other security of the Partnership (except as part of such Public Offering) during the period beginning 14 days prior to the effective date of the applicable registration statement until the earlier of (i) such time as the Partnership and the lead managing underwriter shall agree and (ii) 60 days following the pricing of the Public Offering.

 

Section 2.5             Registration Procedures .  In connection with any request by KKR Holdings that Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to Sections 2.2 or 2.3, subject to the provisions of such Sections, the paragraphs below shall be applicable, and in connection with any Exchange Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, paragraphs (a), (c), (d), (e) and (l) below shall be applicable:

 

(a)           The Partnership shall as expeditiously as reasonably practicable prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on any form for which the Partnership then qualifies or that counsel for the Partnership shall deem appropriate and which form shall be available for the registration of the Registrable Securities to be registered thereunder in accordance with the intended method of distribution thereof, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such filed registration statement to become and remain effective for a period of not less than 40 days, or in the case of an Exchange Registration until all of the Registrable Securities of the Covered Persons included in any such registration statement (each, a “ Registering Covered Person ”) shall have actually been exchanged thereunder.

 

(b)           Prior to filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, the Partnership shall, if requested, furnish to each Registering Covered Person and each underwriter, if any, of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement copies of such registration statement as proposed to be filed, and thereafter the Partnership shall furnish to such Registering Covered Person and each such underwriter, if any, such number of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 or Rule 430A under the Securities Act and such other documents as such Registering Covered Person or such underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Registering Covered Person.  The Registering Covered Person shall have the right to request that the Partnership modify any information contained in such registration statement, amendment and supplement thereto pertaining to such

 

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Registering Covered Person and the Partnership shall use its all commercially reasonable efforts to comply with such request, provided, however, that the Partnership shall not have any obligation to so modify any information if the Partnership reasonably expects that so doing would cause the prospectus to contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

(c)           After the filing of the registration statement, the Partnership shall (i) cause the related prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, (ii) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Registering Covered Persons thereof set forth in such registration statement or supplement to such prospectus and (iii) promptly notify each Registering Covered Person holding Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement of any stop order issued or threatened by the SEC suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or any state securities commission and take all commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the entry of such stop order or to obtain the withdrawal of such order if entered.

 

(d)           To the extent any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) is used, the Partnership shall file with the SEC any free writing prospectus that is required to be filed by the Partnership with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act and retain any free writing prospectus not required to be filed.

 

(e)           The Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States any Registering Covered Person holding such Registrable Securities or each underwriter, if any, reasonably (in light of the intended plan of distribution) requests and (ii) cause such Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Partnership and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Registering Covered Person to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such person, provided that the Partnership shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 2.5(e), (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction.

 

(f)            The Partnership shall immediately notify each Registering Covered Person holding such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement or each underwriter, if any, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and promptly prepare and

 

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make available to each such Registering Covered Person or underwriter, if any, and file with the SEC any such supplement or amendment.

 

(g)           KKR Holdings shall select an underwriter or underwriters in connection with any Demand Registration that relates to a Public Offering.  In connection with any Public Offering, the Partnership shall enter into customary agreements (including an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in any such Public Offering, including if necessary the engagement of a “qualified independent underwriter” in connection with the qualification of the underwriting arrangements with FINRA.

 

(h)           Subject to the execution of confidentiality agreements satisfactory in form and substance to the Partnership in the exercise of its good faith judgment, pursuant to the reasonable request of KKR Holdings or any underwriter, the Partnership will give to each Registering Covered Person, each underwriter (if any) and their respective counsel and accountants (i) reasonable and customary access to its books and records and (ii) such opportunities to discuss the business of the Partnership with its directors, officers, employees, counsel and the independent public accountants who have certified its financial statements, as shall be appropriate, in the reasonable judgment of counsel to such Registering Covered Person or underwriter, to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility.

 

(i)            The Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to furnish to each Registering Covered Person and to each such underwriter, if any, a signed counterpart, addressed to such person or underwriter, of (i) an opinion or opinions of counsel to the Partnership and (ii) a comfort letter or comfort letters from the Partnership’s independent public accountants, each in customary form and covering such matters of the kind customarily covered by opinions or comfort letters, as the case may be, as KKR Holdings or any underwriter reasonably requests.

 

(j)            Each Registering Covered Person registering securities under Sections 2.2 or 2.3 shall promptly furnish in writing to the Partnership the information set forth in Appendix A (which may be amended from time to time as necessary or advisable in light of applicable Law) and such other information regarding itself and the distribution of the Registrable Securities as the Partnership may from time to time reasonably request and such other information as may be legally required or advisable in connection with such registration.

 

(k)           Each Registering Covered Person and each underwriter, if any, agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Partnership of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 2.5(f), such Registering Covered Person or underwriter shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement covering such Registrable Securities until such Registering Covered Person’s or underwriter’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 2.5(f), and, if so directed by the Partnership, such Registering Covered Person and any such underwriter shall deliver to the Partnership all copies, other

 

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than any permanent file copies then in such Registering Covered Person’s possession, of the most recent prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice.  If the Partnership shall give such notice, the Partnership shall extend the period during which such registration statement shall be maintained effective (including the period referred to in Section 2.5(a)) by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of notice pursuant to Section 2.5(f) to the date when the Partnership shall make available to such Registering Covered Person a prospectus supplemented or amended to conform with the requirements of Section 2.5(f).

 

(l)            The Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to list all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement on any securities exchange or quotation system on which any of the Registrable Securities are then listed or traded.

 

(m)          The Partnership shall have appropriate officers of the Managing Partner, the Partnership or the Group Partnerships (i) prepare and make presentations at any “road shows” and before analysts and rating agencies, as the case may be, (ii) take other actions to obtain ratings for any Registrable Securities and (iii) otherwise use their commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate as reasonably requested by the underwriters in the offering, marketing or selling of the Registrable Securities.

 

(n)           The Partnership shall cooperate with the Registering Covered Persons to facilitate the timely delivery of Registrable Securities to be sold, which shall not bear any restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and registered in such names as such Registering Covered Persons may reasonably request at least two business days prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities.

 

Section 2.6             Indemnification by the Partnership .  In the event of any registration of any Registrable Securities of the Partnership under the Securities Act pursuant to this Article II, the Partnership will, and it hereby does, indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by law, a Registering Covered Person, each affiliate of such Registering Covered Person and their respective directors and officers or general and limited partners or members and managing members (including any director, officer, affiliate, employee, agent and controlling person of any of the foregoing) and each other person, if any, who controls such seller within the meaning of the Securities Act (collectively, the “ Indemnified Parties ”), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (1) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement or amendment or supplement thereto under which such Registrable Securities were registered or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (2) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any prospectus, any free writing prospectus or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act in respect of the Registrable Securities, or amendment or supplement thereto, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not

 

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misleading; provided, that the Partnership shall not be liable to any Indemnified Party in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability (or action or proceeding in respect thereof) or expense arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, prospectus, any free writing prospectus or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act in respect of the Registrable Securities, or amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by a Registering Covered Person specifically for use in the preparation thereof.  KKR Holdings may enforce the provisions of this Section 2.6 for, on behalf of or in the name of any Indemnified Party.

 

Section 2.7             Indemnification by Registering Covered Persons .   Each Registering Covered Person hereby indemnifies and holds harmless, and the Partnership may require, as a condition to including any Registrable Securities in any registration statement filed in accordance with this Article II, that the Partnership shall have received an undertaking reasonably satisfactory to it from any underwriter to indemnify and hold harmless, the Partnership and all other prospective sellers of Registrable Securities, the directors of the Managing Partner, each officer of the Managing Partner or the Partnership who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Partnership and all other prospective sellers of Registrable Securities within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in Section 2.6 above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by a Registering Covered Person specifically for use in the preparation of such registration statement, prospectus, any free writing prospectus or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act in respect of the Registrable Securities, or amendment or supplement thereto.  Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Partnership, any of the Registering Covered Persons or any underwriter, or any of their respective affiliates, directors, officers or controlling persons and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such person.  In no event shall any such indemnification liability of any Registering Covered Person be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such Registering Covered Person upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

 

Section 2.8             Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings .  Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Party hereunder of written notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding with respect to which a claim for indemnification may be made pursuant to this Article II, such Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party, give written notice to the latter of the commencement of such action; provided, that the failure of the Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations under this Article II, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced by such failure to give notice.

 

In case any such action is brought against an Indemnified Party, unless in such Indemnified Party’s reasonable judgment, based on advice of counsel, a conflict of interest between such Indemnified Party and indemnifying party may reasonably exist in respect of such

 

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claim, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and to assume control of the defense thereof, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified to the extent that it may wish, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such Indemnified Party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the latter in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.  It is understood and agreed that the indemnifying person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Parties, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm (x) for any Covered Person, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Indemnified Party shall be designated in writing by KKR Holdings, (y) in all other cases shall be designated in writing by the Managing Partner.  The indemnifying person shall not be liable for any settlement or compromise of a claim, suit, investigation or proceeding, which is effected without its written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled or compromised with such consent, the indemnifying person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or compromise.  No indemnifying person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Party (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any settlement or compromise of any pending or threatened claim, suit, investigation or proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such claim, suit, investigation or proceeding, (B) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party, and (C) does not impose on such Indemnified Party any liability or other obligation other than the payment of monetary sums that will be fully paid by or on behalf of the indemnifying party.

 

Section 2.9             Contribution .  If the indemnification provided for in this Article II from the indemnifying party is unavailable to an Indemnified Party hereunder in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and Indemnified Parties in connection with the actions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of such indemnifying party and Indemnified Parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or Indemnified Parties, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action.  The amount paid or payable by a party under this Section 2.9 as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any claim, suit, investigation or proceeding.

 

13



 

The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 2.9 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

Section 2.10           Participation in Public Offering .  No Covered Person may participate in any Public Offering hereunder unless such Covered Person (a) agrees to sell such Covered Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by KKR Holdings and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements and the provisions of this Agreement in respect of registration rights.

 

Section 2.11           Other Indemnification .  Indemnification similar to that specified herein (with appropriate modifications) shall be given by the Partnership and the Registering Covered Person participating therein with respect to any required registration or other qualification of securities under any Law other than the Securities Act.

 

Section 2.12           Cooperation by the Partnership .  If any Covered Person shall transfer any Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144, the Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Covered Person and shall provide to the Covered Person such information as may be required to be provided under Rule 144.

 

Section 2.13           Parties in Interest .  Each Covered Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits of this Agreement and shall be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement by reason of such Covered Person’s election to participate in a registration under this Article II.  To the extent Group Partnership Units are effectively transferred in accordance with the terms of the Group Partnership Agreements, the transferee of such Group Partnership Units shall be entitled to receive the benefits of this Agreement and shall be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement upon becoming bound hereby pursuant to Section 3.1(c).

 

Section 2.14           Acknowledgement Regarding the Partnership .  Other than those determinations reserved expressly to KKR Holdings, all determinations necessary or advisable under this Article II shall be made by the Managing Partner, the determinations of which shall be final and binding.

 

Section 2.15           Mergers, Recapitalizations, Exchanges or Other Transactions Affecting Registrable Securities .  The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to the Registrable Securities, to any and all securities or units of the Group Partnerships or the Partnership or any successor or assign of any such person (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) that may be issued in respect of, in exchange for, or in substitution of such Registrable Securities, by reason of any dividend, split, issuance, reverse split, combination, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or otherwise.

 

14



 

ARTICLE III

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 3.1             Term of the Agreement; Termination of Certain Provisions .

 

(a)           The term of this Agreement shall continue until the first to occur of (i) such time as no Covered Person holds any Covered Group Partnership Units or Registrable Securities and (ii) such time as the Agreement is terminated by KKR Holdings.

 

(b)           Unless this Agreement is theretofore terminated pursuant to Section 3.1(a) hereof, a Covered Person shall be bound by the provisions of this Agreement with respect to any Covered Group Partnership Units or Registrable Securities until such time as such Covered Person ceases to hold any Covered Group Partnership Units or Registrable Securities.  Thereafter, such Covered Person shall no longer be bound by the provisions of this Agreement other than Sections 2.7, 2.8, 2.9 and 2.11 and this Article III.  Any person that has ceased to be a Covered Person and that reacquires Covered Group Partnership Units or Registrable Securities shall be a Covered Person; provided that such person shall first sign an agreement in the form approved by the Partnership acknowledging that such person is bound by the terms and provisions of the Agreement and such agreement is received by the Partnership.

 

(c)           Any Permitted Transferee shall be a Covered Person; provided that such Permitted Transferee is authorized by KKR Holdings to become a Covered Person and such Permitted Transferee signs an agreement in the form approved by the Partnership acknowledging that such Permitted Transferee is bound by the terms and provisions of the Agreement and such agreement is received by the Partnership.

 

Section 3.2             Amendments; Waiver .

 

(a)           The provisions of this Agreement may be amended by the Partnership and KKR Holdings; provided that any consent, waiver, vote or approval that may be required under this Agreement and any amendment of this Agreement that has the effect of materially increasing the liabilities of a Covered Person hereunder or making the obligations of a Covered Person hereunder materially more onerous to such Covered Person shall require the approval of such Covered Person.

 

(b)           Each Covered Person understands that from time to time certain other persons may become Covered Persons and certain Covered Persons will cease to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

Section 3.3             Governing Law .  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 3.4             Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial .

 

(a)           Any and all disputes which cannot be settled amicably, including any ancillary claims of any party arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity,

 

15



 

negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement (including without limitation the validity, scope and enforceability of this arbitration provision) shall be finally settled by arbitration conducted by a single arbitrator in New York, New York in accordance with the then-existing Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce; provided, however, that KKR Holdings shall not be subject to this Section 3.4. If the parties to the dispute fail to agree on the selection of an arbitrator within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the request for arbitration, the International Chamber of Commerce shall make the appointment.  The arbitrator shall be a lawyer and shall conduct the proceedings in the English language. Performance under this Agreement shall continue if reasonably possible during any arbitration proceedings. Except as required by law or as may be reasonably required in connection with ancillary judicial proceedings to compel arbitration, to obtain temporary or preliminary judicial relief in aid of arbitration, or to confirm or challenge an arbitration award, the arbitration proceedings, including any hearings, shall be confidential, and the parties shall not disclose any awards, any materials in the proceedings created for the purpose of the arbitration, or any documents produced by another party in the proceedings not otherwise in the public domain.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a), the Managing Partner may bring, or may cause the Partnership to bring, on behalf of the Managing Partner or the Partnership, an action or special proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling a party to arbitrate, seeking temporary or preliminary relief in aid of an arbitration hereunder, or enforcing an arbitration award and, for the purposes of this paragraph (b), each Covered Person (i) expressly consents to the application of paragraph (c) of this Section 3.4 to any such action or proceeding, (ii) agrees that proof shall not be required that monetary damages for breach of the provisions of this Agreement would be difficult to calculate and that remedies at law would be inadequate, and (iii) irrevocably appoints the Managing Partner as such Covered Person’s agent for service of process in connection with any such action or proceeding and agrees that service of process upon such agent, who shall promptly advise such Covered Person of any such service of process, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Covered Person in any such action or proceeding.

 

(c)           EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS LOCATED IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 3.4, OR ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING ANCILLARY TO AN ARBITRATION OR CONTEMPLATED ARBITRATION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO OR CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT. Such ancillary judicial proceedings include any suit, action or proceeding to compel arbitration, to obtain temporary or preliminary judicial relief in aid of arbitration, or to confirm or challenge an arbitration award. The parties acknowledge that the fora designated by this paragraph (c) have a reasonable relation to this Agreement and to the parties’ relationship with one another. The parties hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, any objection which they now or hereafter may have to personal jurisdiction or to the laying of venue of any such ancillary suit, action or proceeding referred to in this Section 3.4 brought in any court referenced herein and such parties agree not to plead or claim the same.

 

16



 

Section 3.5             Notices .

 

(a)           All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt by the intended recipient) by delivery in person, by courier service, by fax or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 3.5):

 

If to a Covered Person,

 

c/o KKR & Co. L.P.
9 West 57
th  Street, Suite 4200

New York, NY 10019
Attention: General Counsel
Fax: 212-750-7003

 

If to the Partnership, at

 

KKR & Co. L.P.
9 West 57
th  Street, Suite 4200

New York, NY 10019
Attention: General Counsel
Fax: 212-750-7003

 

The Partnership shall be responsible for notifying each Covered Person of the receipt of a notice, request, claim, demand or other communication under this Agreement relevant to such Covered Person at the address of such Covered Person then in the records of the Group Partnership Group (and each Covered Person shall notify the Partnership of any change in such address for notices, requests, claims, demands or other communications).

 

Section 3.6             Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement is finally held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, (a) the remaining terms and provisions hereof shall be unimpaired and (b) the invalid or unenforceable term or provision shall be deemed replaced by a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

 

Section 3.7             Specific Performance .  Each party hereto acknowledges that the remedies at law of the other parties for a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement would be inadequate and, in recognition of this fact, any party to this Agreement, without posting any bond, and in addition to all other remedies that may be available, shall be entitled to obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, a temporary restraining order, a temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy that may be then available.

 

Section 3.8             Assignment; Successors .  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the Covered Persons; provided, however, that a Covered Person may not assign this Agreement or any of his rights or obligations hereunder, and any purported assignment in breach hereof by a Covered Person shall be null and void; and provided further that no assignment of this Agreement by the Partnership or to a successor of the Partnership (by operation of law or

 

17



 

otherwise) shall be valid unless such assignment is made to a person which succeeds to all or substantially of the business of the Partnership.

 

Section 3.9             No Third-Party Rights .  Other than as expressly provided herein, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to give any person other than the parties to this Agreement any legal or equitable right, remedy, or claim under or with respect to this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement.  This Agreement and all of its provisions and conditions are for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties to this Agreement and their successors and assigns.

 

Section 3.10           Section Headings .  The headings of sections in this Agreement are provided for convenience only and will not affect its construction or interpretation.

 

Section 3.11           Execution in Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

[Rest of page intentionally left blank]

 

18



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed or caused to be duly executed this Agreement as of the dates indicated.

 

 

KKR & CO. L.P.

 

 

 

By: KKR Management LLC, its

 

general partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

Name: William J. Janetschek

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KKR HOLDINGS L.P.

 

 

 

By: KKR Holdings GP Limited, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

Name: William J. Janetschek

 

 

Title: Director

 



Appendix A

 

KKR & CO. L.P.

 

Covered Person Questionnaire

 

The undersigned Covered Person understands that the Partnership has filed or intends to file with the SEC a registration statement for the registration of the Common Units (as such may be amended, the “ Registration Statement ”), in accordance with Sections 2.2 or 2.3 of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 14, 2010 (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), among the Partnership, KKR Holdings and the Covered Persons referred to therein.  A copy of the Agreement is available from the Partnership upon request at the address set forth below.  All capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

NOTICE

 

The undersigned Covered Person hereby gives notice to the Partnership of its intention to register Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it and listed below in Item 3 (unless otherwise specified under Item 3) pursuant to the Registration Statement.  The undersigned, by signing and returning this Questionnaire, understands that it will be bound by the terms and conditions of this Questionnaire and the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the undersigned has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership and all other prospective sellers of Registrable Securities, the directors of the Managing Partner, each officer of the Managing Partner who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Partnership and all other prospective sellers of Registrable Securities within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities arising in connection with statements made or omissions concerning the undersigned in the Registration Statement, prospectus, any free writing prospectus or any “issuer information” in reliance upon the information provided in this Questionnaire.

 

The undersigned Covered Person hereby provides the following information to the Partnership and represents and warrants that such information is accurate and complete:

 

QUESTIONNAIRE

 

1.                                       Name.

 

(a)

 

Full Legal Name of Covered Person:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b)

 

Full Legal Name of Covered Person (if not the same as (a) above) through which Registrable Securities Listed in Item 3 below are held:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

(c)

 

Full Legal name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not the same as (b) above) through which Registrable Securities listed in Item 3 below are held:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(d)

 

Full Legal Name of natural control person (which means a natural person who directly or indirectly alone or with others has power to vote or dispose of the Registrable Securities listed in Item 3 below):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.                                       Address for Notices to Covered Person:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telephone:

 

 

 

Fax:

 

 

 

Email:

 

 

 

Contact Person:

 

 

3.                                       Beneficial Ownership of Registrable Securities:

 

Number of Registrable Securities beneficially owned:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.                                       Broker-Dealer Status:

 

(a)

 

Are you a broker-dealer?

 

 

 

 

 

Yes   o                No   o

 

 

 

Note:

 

If yes, the SEC’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.

 

 

 

(b)

 

Are you an affiliate of a broker-dealer?

 

 

 

 

 

Yes   o                No   o

 

If yes, please identify the broker-dealer with whom the Covered Person is affiliated and the nature of the affiliation:

 

2



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c)

 

If you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that you bought the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of business, and at the time of the purchase of the Registrable Securities to be resold, you had no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Registrable Securities?

 

 

 

 

 

Yes   o                No   o

 

 

 

Note:

 

If no, the SEC’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.

 

 

 

(d)

 

If you are (1) a broker-dealer or (2) an affiliate of a broker-dealer and answered “no” to Question 4(c), do you consent to being named as an underwriter in the Registration Statement?

 

 

 

 

 

Yes   o                No   o

 

5.                                       Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Partnership Owned by the Covered Person.

 

Except as set forth below in this Item 5, the undersigned Covered Person is not the beneficial or registered owner of any securities of the Partnership other than the Registrable Securities listed above in Item 3.

 

Type and Amount of Other Securities beneficially owned by the Covered Person:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.                                       Relationships with the Partnership:

 

Except as set forth below, neither the undersigned Covered Person nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (owners of 5% or more of the equity securities of the undersigned) has held any position or office or has had any other material relationship with the Managing Partner or the Partnership (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three years.

 

State any exceptions here:

 

 

 

 

 

3



 

 

 

 

 

7.                                       Intended Method of Disposition of Registrable Securities (Only Applicable to a Demand Registration Effected Pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Registration Rights Agreement):

 

Intended Method or Methods of Disposition of Registrable Securities beneficially owned:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Partnership of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the date hereof and at any time while the Registration Statement remains in effect.

 

By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 7 and the inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.  The undersigned understands that such information will be relied upon by the Partnership in connection with the preparation or amendment of the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly authorized agent.

 

Dated:

Beneficial Owner:

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

PLEASE SEND A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED QUESTIONNAIRE BY FAX, AND RETURN THE ORIGINAL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL, TO:

 

KKR & Co. L.P.
9 West 57
th  Street, Suite 4200

New York, NY 10019
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: 212-750-0003

 

4


Exhibit 10.3

 

 

 

 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

July 14, 2010

 

 

 



 

Table of Contents

 

Page

 

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

2

 

 

Section 1.01   Definitions

2

 

 

ARTICLE II DETERMINATION OF REALIZED TAX BENEFIT

7

 

 

Section 2.01   Basis Adjustment

7

Section 2.02   Exchange Basis Schedule

8

Section 2.03   Tax Benefit Schedule

8

Section 2.04   Procedures, Amendments

8

 

 

ARTICLE III TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

9

 

 

Section 3.01   Payments

9

Section 3.02   No Duplicative Payments

10

Section 3.03   Pro Rata Payments

10

 

 

ARTICLE IV TERMINATION

10

 

 

Section 4.01   Early Termination and Breach of Agreement

10

Section 4.02   Early Termination Notice

11

Section 4.03   Payment upon Early Termination

12

 

 

ARTICLE V SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

12

 

 

Section 5.01   Subordination

12

Section 5.02   Late Payments by Corporate Holdco

12

 

 

ARTICLE VI NO DISPUTES; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

12

 

 

Section 6.01   KKR Holdings Participation in Corporate Holdco’s and Group Partnerships’ Tax Matters

12

Section 6.02   Consistency

13

Section 6.03   Cooperation

13

 

 

ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS

13

 

 

Section 7.01   Notices

13

Section 7.02   Counterparts

15

Section 7.03   Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries

15

Section 7.04   Governing Law

15

Section 7.05   Severability

15

Section 7.06   Successors; Assignment; Amendments; Waivers

16

Section 7.07   Titles and Subtitles

16

Section 7.08   Resolution of Disputes

17

Section 7.09   Reconciliation

18

Section 7.10   Withholding

18

 

i



 

Section 7.11   Affiliated Corporations of Parent; Admission of Corporate Holdco into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets

18

Section 7.12   Confidentiality

19

Section 7.13   Group Partnership Agreement

20

Section 7.14   Group Partnerships

20

Section 7.15   Headings

20

 

ii



 

This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (as amended from time to time, this “ Agreement ”), dated as of July 14, 2010, is hereby entered into by and among KKR Holdings L.P., a Cayman limited partnership (“ KKR Holdings ”), KKR Management Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Management Holdings ”), KKR & Co. L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Parent ”), KKR Management Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Group Partnership I ”), and together with all other Persons (as defined herein) who execute and deliver a joinder contemplated in Section 7.14.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Limited Partners (as defined herein) will hold Class A interests (“ Group Partnership Units ”) in each of Group Partnerships (as defined below);

 

WHEREAS, Management Holdings owns Class A interests of Group Partnership I;

 

WHEREAS, KKR Holdings or a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person (as defined herein) shall be entitled to surrender Group Partnership Units held by KKR Holdings or a KKR Holdings Affiliated Person to the Group Partnerships in exchange for the delivery by the Group Partnerships of Common Units of Parent (the “ Common Units ”), cash or other consideration pursuant to the provisions of the Exchange Agreement (as defined herein);

 

WHEREAS, the Group Partnerships (other than Group Partnership II), and each of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, may have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), for each Taxable Year in which an exchange of Group Partnership Units for Common Units occurs pursuant to the provisions of the Exchange Agreement (as defined herein), which elections are intended generally to result in an adjustment to the tax basis of the assets owned by the Group Partnerships (with respect to the Corporate Holdcos (as defined below)) at the time of an exchange of Group Partnership Units for Common Units or any other acquisition of Group Partnership Units for cash or other consideration (collectively, an “ Exchange ”) (any such time, an “ Exchange Date ”) by reason of such Exchange and the receipt of payments under this Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the income, gain, loss, expense and other Tax items of (i) the Group Partnerships with respect to each Corporate Holdco may be affected by the Basis Adjustment (defined below) and (ii) the Corporate Holdcos may be affected by the Imputed Interest (as defined below);

 

WHEREAS, the parties to this Agreement desire to make certain arrangements with respect to the effect of the Basis Adjustment and Imputed Interest on the actual liability for Taxes of the Corporate Holdcos;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective covenants and agreements set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 



 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01   Definitions .  As used in this Agreement, the terms set forth in this Article I shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined).

 

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, such first Person.

 

Agreed Rate ” means LIBOR plus 100 basis points.

 

Agreement ” is defined in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

Amended Schedule ” is defined in Section 2.04(b) of this Agreement.

 

Basis Adjustment ” means the adjustment to the tax basis of an Exchange Date Asset under Section 732 of the Code (in situations where, as a result of one or more Exchanges, a Group Partnership becomes an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for tax purposes), or Sections 1012, 734(b), 743(b) and 754 of the Code, where applicable, (in situations where, following an Exchange, a Group Partnership remains in existence as an entity for tax purposes) and, in each case, comparable sections of state, local and foreign tax laws as a result of an Exchange and the payments made pursuant to this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the amount of any Basis Adjustment resulting from an Exchange of one or more Group Partnership Units shall be determined without regard to any Pre-Exchange Transfer of such Group Partnership Units and as if any such Pre-Exchange Transfer had not occurred.

 

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 New York shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

 

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any Person, other than a Person approved by the current Managing Partner (as defined below), becoming the general partner of the Parent.

 

Change in Tax Law ” is defined in Section 7.15 of this Agreement.

 

Common Units ” is defined in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

Code ” is defined in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

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.

 

2



 

Corporate Holdco Return ” means the federal, state, local and/or foreign Tax Return, as applicable, of each of the Corporate Holdcos filed with respect to Taxes of any Taxable Year.

 

Corporate Holdcos” means any direct or indirect subsidiary of Parent that is at any time treated as a domestic corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, including, but not limited to, Management Holdings, or Parent, if it is at any time treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

Default Rate ” means LIBOR plus 500 basis points.

 

Determination ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1313(a) of the Code or similar provision of state, local and foreign tax law, as applicable, or any other event (including the execution of a Form 870-AD) that finally and conclusively establishes the amount of any liability for Tax.

 

Early Termination Date ” means the date of an Early Termination Notice for purposes of determining the Early Termination Payment.

 

Early Termination Notice ” is defined in Section 4.02 of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Schedule ” is defined in Section 4.02 of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Payment ” is defined in Section 4.03(b) of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Rate ” means the lesser of (i) 6.5% and (ii) LIBOR plus 100 basis points.

 

Exchange ” is defined in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

Exchange Agreement ” means the Exchange Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Parent, the Group Partnerships and KKR Holdings.

 

Exchange Basis Schedule ” is defined in Section 2.02 of this Agreement.

 

Exchange Date ” is defined in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

Exchange Date Assets ” means (i) any assets owned by the Group Partnerships on an Exchange Date and allocable to the interests in the Group Partnerships that are Exchanged, and (ii) any asset whose tax basis is determined, in whole or in part, by reference to the adjusted basis of any asset referred to in clause (i).

 

Exchange Payment ” is defined in Section 5.01.

 

Expert ” is defined in Section 7.09 of this Agreement.

 

Group Partnership I ” is defined in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

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Group Partnership II ” means KKR Fund Holdings L.P., a Cayman limited partnership.

 

Group Partnership Agreements ” means, collectively, the Amended and Restated Limited Group Partnership Agreement of Group Partnership I and the Amended and Restated Limited Group Partnership Agreement of Group Partnership II (and the partnership agreement then in effect of any future partnership designated as a Group Partnership), as they may each be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

“Group Partnership Units ” means limited partner interests in the Group Partnerships.

 

Group Partnerships ” means, collectively, Group Partnership I and Group Partnership II (and any future partnership designated as a Group Partnership hereunder).

 

Holdings Limited Partner ” means KKR Holdings and its subsidiaries, or any successor thereto, and each Limited Partner that is designated a Holdings Limited Partner by KKR Holdings including, for the avoidance of doubt, any person to whom KKR Holdings transfers Group Partnership Units.

 

Imputed Interest ” shall mean any interest imputed under Section 1272, 1274 or 483 or other provision of the Code and any similar provision of state, local and foreign tax law with respect to a Corporate Holdco’s payment obligations under this Agreement.

 

KKR Holdings ” is defined in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

KKR Holdings Affiliated Person ” means each Person that is as of the date of this Agreement or becomes from time to time (i) a general partner or a limited partner of KKR Holdings or (ii) a general partner or limited partner of any Person included in clause (i) above.

 

LIBOR ” means for each month (or portion thereof) during any period, an interest rate per annum equal to the rate per annum reported, on the date two days prior to the first day of such month, on the Telerate Page 3750 (or if such screen shall cease to be publicly available, as reported on Reuters Screen page “LIBO” or by any other publicly available source of such market rate) for London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits for such month (or portion thereof).

 

Limited Partner ” means each Person that is as of the date of this Agreement or becomes from time to time a limited partner of each of the Group Partnerships pursuant to the terms of the Group Partnership Agreements.

 

Management Holdings ” is defined in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

Managing Partner ” means KKR Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

Market Value ” shall mean the closing price of the Common Units on the applicable Exchange Date on the national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on

 

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which such Common Units are then traded or listed, as reported by the Wall Street Journal; provided that if the closing price is not reported by the Wall Street Journal for the applicable Exchange Date, then the Market Value shall mean the closing price of the Common Units on the Business Day immediately preceding such Exchange Date on the national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which such Common Units are then traded or listed, as reported by the Wall Street Journal; provided further, that if the Common Units are not then listed on a national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, “ Market Value ” shall mean the cash consideration paid for Common Units, or the fair market value of the other property delivered for Common Units, as determined by the board of directors of the Managing Partner in good faith.

 

Material Objection Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.02.

 

Non-Stepped Up Tax Basis ” means, with respect to any asset at any time, the tax basis that such asset would have had at such time if no Basis Adjustment had been made.

 

Non-Stepped Up Tax Liability ” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the liability for Taxes of (i) each of the Corporate Holdcos and (ii) without duplication, any Group Partnership in which each of the Corporate Holdcos own an interest, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on such Group Partnership and allocable to the Corporate Holdco (including all members of their consolidated groups), in each case using the same methods, elections, conventions and similar practices used on the relevant Corporate Holdco Return, but (i) using the Non-Stepped Up Tax Basis as reflected on the Exchange Basis Schedule, including any amendments thereto, instead of the tax basis of the Exchange Date Assets and (ii) excluding any deduction attributable to the Imputed Interest.

 

Objection Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).

 

Parent ” is defined in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

Payment Date ” means any date on which a payment is required to be made pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Person ” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, governmental entity or other entity.

 

Pre-Exchange Transfer ” means any transfer (including upon the death of a Holdings Limited Partner) of one or more Group Partnership Units (i) that occurs prior to an Exchange of such Group Partnership Units, and (ii) to which Section 743(b) or 734(b) of the Code applies.

 

Purchase and Sale Agreement ” means the purchase and sale agreement among the Partnership, KPE and the other parties thereto, dated July 19, 2009.

 

Realized Tax Benefit ” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Non-Stepped Up Tax Liability over the actual liability for Taxes of (i) each of the Corporate Holdcos, and (ii) without duplication, any Group Partnership in which such Corporate Holdco owns an interest, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on such Group Partnership and allocable to such

 

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Corporate Holdco (including all members of its consolidated groups) for such Taxable Year.  If all or a portion of the actual tax liability for Taxes for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Benefit unless and until there has been a Determination.

 

Realized Tax Detriment ” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the actual liability for Taxes of (i) each of the Corporate Holdcos, and (ii) without duplication, any Group Partnership in which such Corporate Holdco owns an interest, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on such Group Partnership and allocable to such Corporate Holdco (including all members of its consolidated groups) for such Taxable Year over the Non-Stepped Up Tax Liability for such Taxable Year.  If all or a portion of the actual tax liability for Taxes for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Detriment unless and until there has been a Determination.

 

Reconciliation Dispute ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.09.

 

Reconciliation Procedures ” shall mean those procedures set forth in Section 7.09 of this Agreement.

 

Schedule ” means any Exchange Basis Schedule, Tax Benefit Schedule and the Early Termination Schedule.

 

Subsidiaries ” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such Person owns, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controls more than 50% of the voting power or other similar interests or the sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such Person.

 

Tax Benefit Payment ” is defined in Section 3.01(b) of this Agreement.

 

Tax Benefit Schedule ” is defined in Section 2.03 of this Agreement.

 

Tax Return ” means any return, declaration, report or similar statement required to be filed with respect to Taxes (including any attached schedules), including, without limitation, any information return, claim for refund, amended return and declaration of estimated Tax.

 

Taxable Year ” means a taxable year as defined in Section 441(b) of the Code or comparable section of state, local or foreign tax law, as applicable, (and, therefore, for the avoidance of doubt, may include a period of less than 12 months for which a Tax Return is made) ending on or after an Exchange Date in which there is a Basis Adjustment due to an Exchange.

 

Taxes ” means any and all U.S. federal, state, local and foreign taxes, assessments or similar charges measured with respect to net income or profits and any interest related to such Tax.

 

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Taxing Authority ” shall mean any domestic, foreign, federal, national, state, county or municipal or other local government, any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof, or any quasi-governmental body exercising any taxing authority or any other authority exercising Tax regulatory authority.

 

Treasury Regulations ” means the final, temporary and proposed regulations under the Code promulgated from time to time (including corresponding provisions and succeeding provisions) as in effect for the relevant taxable period.

 

Valuation Assumptions ” shall mean, as of an Early Termination Date, the assumptions that (1) in each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date, each of the Corporate Holdcos will have taxable income sufficient to fully utilize the deductions arising from the Basis Adjustment and the Imputed Interest during such Taxable Year (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest that would result from future Tax Benefit Payments that would be paid in accordance with the Valuation Assumptions), (2) the federal income tax rates and state, local and foreign income tax rates that will be in effect for each such Taxable Year will be those specified for each such Taxable Year by the Code and other law as in effect on the Early Termination Date, (3) any loss carryovers generated by the Basis Adjustment or the Imputed Interest and available as of the date of the Early Termination Schedule will be utilized by each of the Corporate Holdcos on a pro rata basis from the date of the Early Termination Schedule through the scheduled expiration date of such loss carryovers, (4) any non-amortizable assets are deemed to be disposed of for cash at their fair market value (A) with respect to private equity fund related assets, pro-rata over the number of years remaining under the original fund agreement until expected liquidation (without extensions) of the applicable fund under the terms of the applicable fund agreement (or, if such expected liquidation date has passed, on the Early Termination Date) and (B) with respect to all other assets, on the fifteenth anniversary of the earlier of the applicable Basis Adjustment and the Early Termination Date and (5) if as of an Early Termination Date, there are Group Partnership Units that have not been Exchanged, then each such Group Partnership Unit shall be deemed to be Exchanged for the Market Value of the Common Units and cash that would be transferred if the Exchange occurred on the Early Termination Date.

 

ARTICLE II

 

DETERMINATION OF REALIZED TAX BENEFIT

 

Section 2.01   Basis Adjustment Principles .  The Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year is intended to measure the decrease or increase in the actual liability for Taxes of the Corporate Holdcos for such Taxable Year attributable to the Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest, determined using a “with and without” methodology. For the avoidance of doubt, the actual liability for Taxes will take into account the deduction of the portion of the Tax Benefit Payment that must be accounted for as interest under the Code based upon the characterization of Tax Benefit Payments as additional consideration payable by the Corporate Holdcos for the Group Partnership Units acquired in an Exchange.  Carryovers or carrybacks of any Tax item attributable to the Basis Adjustment and Imputed Interest shall be considered to be subject to the rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations or the appropriate

 

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provisions of U.S. state and local income and franchise tax law, as applicable, governing the use, limitation and expiration of carryovers or carrybacks of the relevant type.  If a carryover or carryback of any Tax item includes a portion that is attributable to the Basis Adjustment or Imputed Interest and another portion that is not, such portions shall be considered to be used in accordance with the “with and without” methodology.  The parties agree that (i) all Tax Benefit Payments attributable to the Basis Adjustments (other than amounts accounted for as interest under the Code) will (A) be treated as subsequent upward purchase price adjustments that give rise to further Basis Adjustments to Exchange Date Assets for the Corporate Holdcos and (B) have the effect of creating additional Basis Adjustments to Exchange Date Assets for the Corporate Holdcos in the year of payment, and (ii) as a result, such additional Basis Adjustments will be incorporated into the current year calculation and into future year calculations, as appropriate.

 

Section 2.02   Exchange Basis Schedule .  Within 90 calendar days after the filing of the U.S. federal income tax return of each of the Corporate Holdco for each Taxable Year in which any Exchange has been effected, each of the Corporate Holdcos shall deliver to the applicable Holdings Limited Partner a schedule (the “ Exchange Basis Schedule ”) that shows for purposes of Taxes, (i) the actual unadjusted tax basis of the Exchange Date Assets as of each applicable Exchange Date, (ii) the Basis Adjustment with respect to the Exchange Date Assets as a result of the Exchanges effected in such Taxable Year, calculated in the aggregate, (iii) the period or periods, if any, over which the Exchange Date Assets are amortizable and/or depreciable and (iv) the period or periods, if any, over which each Basis Adjustment is amortizable and/or depreciable (which, for non-amortizable assets shall be based on the Valuation Assumptions).

 

Section 2.03   Tax Benefit Schedule .  Within 90 calendar days after the filing of the U.S. federal income tax return of the of each of the Corporate Holdcos for any Taxable Year in which there is a Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment, each of the Corporate Holdcos shall provide to the applicable Limited Partner a schedule showing the calculation of the aggregate Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year and the portion thereof allocable to the applicable Holdings Limited Partner (a “ Tax Benefit Schedule ”).  The Schedule will become final as provided in Section 2.04(a) and may be amended as provided in Section 2.04(b) (subject to the procedures set forth in Section 2.04(b)).

 

Section 2.04   Procedures, Amendments .

 

(a)           Procedure . Every time each of the Corporate Holdcos delivers to the applicable Limited Partner an applicable Schedule under this Agreement, including any Amended Schedule delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(b), but excluding any Early Termination Schedule or amended Early Termination Schedule, each of the Corporate Holdcos shall also (x) deliver to the applicable Limited Partner schedules and work papers providing reasonable detail regarding the preparation of the Schedule and (y) allow such Limited Partner reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives at each of the Corporate Holdcos in connection with a review of such Schedule.  The applicable Schedule shall become final and binding on all parties unless the Limited Partner, within 30 calendar days after receiving an Exchange Basis Schedule or amendment thereto or 30 calendar days after receiving a Tax Benefit Schedule or amendment thereto, provides such Corporate Holdco with notice of a material objection to such

 

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Schedule (“ Objection Notice ”) made in good faith.  If the parties, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in such notice within 30 calendar days of receipt by such Corporate Holdco of an Objection Notice, if with respect to an Exchange Basis Schedule, or 30 calendar days of receipt by such Corporate Holdco of an Objection Notice, if with respect to a Tax Benefit Schedule, after such Schedule was delivered to the applicable Limited Partner, such Corporate Holdco and the applicable Limited Partner shall employ the reconciliation procedures as described in Section 7.09 of this Agreement (the “ Reconciliation Procedures ”).

 

(b)           Amended Schedule .  The applicable Schedule for any Taxable Year may be amended from time to time by each of the Corporate Holdcos (i) in connection with a Determination affecting such Schedule, (ii) to correct material inaccuracies in the Schedule identified as a result of the receipt of additional factual information relating to a Taxable Year after the date the Schedule was provided to the applicable Limited Partner, (iii) to comply with the Expert’s determination under the Reconciliation Procedures, (iv) to reflect a material change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to a carryback or carryforward of a loss or other tax item to such Taxable Year, (v) to reflect a material change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to an amended Tax Return filed for such Taxable Year, or (vi) to adjust the Exchange Basis Schedule to take into account payments made pursuant to this Agreement (such Schedule, an “ Amended Schedule ”).

 

ARTICLE III

 

TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

 

Section 3.01   Payments .

 

(a)           Payments .  Within five (5) calendar days of a Tax Benefit Schedule delivered to an applicable Limited Partner becoming final in accordance with Section 2.04(a), each of the Corporate Holdcos shall pay to the applicable Limited Partner for such Taxable Year the portion of the Tax Benefit Payment determined pursuant to Section 3.01(b) that is allocable to such Limited Partner.  Each such payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account of the applicable Limited Partner previously designated by such Limited Partner to each of the Corporate Holdcos or as otherwise agreed by the Corporate Holdco and the applicable Limited Partner.  For the avoidance of doubt, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of estimated tax payments, including, without limitation, federal income tax payments.

 

(b)           A “ Tax Benefit Payment ” means an amount, not less than zero, equal to 85% of the sum of the Net Tax Benefit and the Interest Amount. The “ Net Tax Benefit ” shall equal: (1) the Corporate Holdco’s Realized Tax Benefit, if any, for a Taxable Year plus (2) the amount of the excess Realized Tax Benefit reflected on an Amended Tax Benefit Schedule for a previous Taxable Year over the Realized Tax Benefit (or Realized Tax Detriment (expressed as a negative number)) reflected on the Tax Benefit Schedule for such previous Taxable Year, minus (3) an amount equal to each of the Corporate Holdco’s Realized Tax Detriment (if any) for the current or any previous Taxable Year, minus (4) the amount of the excess Realized Tax Benefit

 

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reflected on a Tax Benefit Schedule for a previous Taxable Year over the Realized Tax Benefit (or Realized Tax Detriment (expressed as a negative number)) reflected on the Amended Tax Benefit Schedule for such previous Taxable Year; provided , however , that to the extent of the amounts described in 3.01(b)(2), (3) and (4) were taken into account in determining any Tax Benefit Payment in a preceding Taxable Year, such amounts shall not be taken into account in determining a Tax Benefit Payment attributable to any other Taxable Year; provided , further , for the avoidance of doubt, no applicable Limited Partner shall be required to return any portion of any previously made Tax Benefit Payment.  The “ Interest Amount ” shall equal the interest on the Net Tax Benefit calculated at the Agreed Rate from the due date (without extensions) for filing the Corporate Holdco Return with respect to Taxes for such Taxable Year until the Payment Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, for each Taxable Year ending on or after the date of a Change of Control, all Tax Benefit Payments, whether paid with respect to Group Partnership Units that were exchanged (i) prior to the date of such Change of Control or (ii) on or after the date of such Change of Control, shall be calculated by utilizing Valuation Assumptions (1), (3), and (4), substituting in each case the terms “the closing date of a Change of Control” for an “Early Termination Date”.

 

Section 3.02   No Duplicative Payments . It is intended that the above provisions of this Agreement will not result in duplicative payment of any amount (including interest) required under this Agreement.  It is also intended that the provisions of this Agreement provide that 85% of each of the Corporate Holdcos’ Realized Tax Benefit and Interest Amount is paid to the Limited Partners pursuant to this Agreement.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in the appropriate manner as such intentions are realized.

 

Section 3.03   Pro Rata Payments .  For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent each of the Corporate Holdcos’ deduction with respect to the Basis Adjustment is limited in a particular Taxable Year or such Corporate Holdco lacks sufficient funds to satisfy its obligations to make all Tax Benefit Payments due in a particular taxable year, the limitation on the deduction, or the Tax Benefit Payments that may be made, as the case may be, shall be taken into account or made for each applicable Limited Partner on a pro rata basis based upon the amount of deductions for such Taxable Year arising out of the Basis Adjustment attributable to the Exchange by such applicable Limited Partner relative to the total amount of deductions for such Taxable Year arising out of the aggregate Basis Adjustments attributable to Exchanges by all of the applicable Limited Partners.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Section 3.03 shall not apply to any payment made by the Corporate Holdcos pursuant to Section 4.03.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

TERMINATION

 

Section 4.01   Early Termination and Breach of Agreement .

 

(a)           Each of the Corporate Holdcos may terminate this Agreement with respect to all of the Group Partnership Units held (or previously held and exchanged) by all Limited Partners at any time by paying to all of the applicable Limited Partners the Early Termination Payment; provided , however , that this Agreement shall terminate only upon the

 

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receipt of the Early Termination Payment by all Limited Partners, and provided , further , that each of the Corporate Holdcos may withdraw any notice to execute its termination rights under this Section 4.01(a) prior to the time at which any Early Termination Payment has been paid.  Upon payment of the Early Termination Payments by a Corporate Holdco, neither the applicable Limited Partners nor the Corporate Holdco shall have any further payment obligations under this Agreement in respect of such Limited Partners, other than for any (a) Tax Benefit Payment agreed to by such Corporate Holdco and the applicable Limited Partner as due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice and (b) Tax Benefit Payment due for the Taxable Year ending with or including the date of the Early Termination Notice (except to the extent that the amount described in clause (b) is included in the Early Termination Payment).  If an Exchange occurs after such Corporate Holdco exercises its termination rights under this Section 4.01(a), such Corporate Holdco shall have no obligations under this Agreement with respect to such Exchange.

 

(b)           In the event that a Corporate Holdco breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement, whether as a result of failure to make any payment when due, failure to honor any other material obligation required hereunder or by operation of law as a result of the rejection of this Agreement in a case commenced under the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, then all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such breach and shall include, but not be limited to, (1) the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of a breach, (2) any Tax Benefit Payment agreed to by such Corporate Holdco and any Limited Partners as due and payable but unpaid as of the date of a breach, and (3) any Tax Benefit Payment due for the Taxable Year ending with or including the date of a breach. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a Corporate Holdco breaches this Agreement, the Limited Partners shall be entitled to elect to receive the amounts set forth in (1), (2) and (3), above or to seek specific performance of the terms hereof.  The parties agree that the failure to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three months of the date such payment is due shall be deemed to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement, and that it will not be considered to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement to make a payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three months of the date such payment is due.

 

(c)           The undersigned parties agree that the aggregate value of the Tax Benefit Payments cannot be ascertained with any reasonable certainty for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Section 4.02   Early Termination Notice .  If a Corporate Holdco chooses to exercise its right of early termination under Section 4.01 above, such Corporate Holdco shall deliver to the applicable Limited Partners notice of such intention to exercise such right (“ Early Termination Notice ”) and a schedule (the “ Early Termination Schedule ”) specifying such Corporate Holdco’s intention to exercise such right and showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment. The applicable Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on all parties unless the Limited Partner, within 30 calendar days after receiving the Early Termination Schedule thereto provides such Corporate Holdco with notice of a material objection to such Schedule made in good faith (“ Material Objection Notice ”). If the parties, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in such notice within

 

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30 calendar days after receipt by such Corporate Holdco of the Material Objection Notice, such Corporate Holdco and the Limited Partner shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures as described in Section 7.09 of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.03   Payment upon Early Termination . (a)  Within three calendar days after agreement between the applicable Limited Partner and a Corporate Holdco of the Early Termination Schedule, such Corporate Holdco shall pay to the applicable Limited Partner an amount equal to the Early Termination Payment. Such payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the applicable Limited Partner or as otherwise agreed by the Corporate Holdco and the applicable Limited Partner.

 

(b)           The “ Early Termination Payment ” as of the date of the delivery of an Early Termination Schedule shall equal with respect to the applicable Limited Partner the present value, discounted at the Early Termination Rate as of such date, of all Tax Benefit Payments that would be required to be paid by a Corporate Holdco to the applicable Limited Partner beginning from the Early Termination Date assuming the Valuation Assumptions are applied.

 

ARTICLE V

 

SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

 

Section 5.01   Subordination .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment required to be made by a Corporate Holdco to the applicable Limited Partner under this Agreement (an “ Exchange Payment ”) shall rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to any principal, interest or other amounts due and payable in respect of any current or future obligations in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money of such Corporate Holdco and its Subsidiaries (“ Senior Obligations ”) and shall rank pari passu with all current or future unsecured obligations of such Corporate Holdco that are not Senior Obligations.

 

Section 5.02   Late Payments by Corporate Holdco .  The amount of all or any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment not made to the applicable Limited Partner when due under the terms of this Agreement shall be payable together with any interest thereon, computed at the Default Rate and commencing from the date on which such Exchange Payment or Early Termination Payment was due and payable.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

NO DISPUTES; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

 

Section 6.01   KKR Holdings Participation in Corporate Holdco’s and Group Partnerships’ Tax Matters .  Except as otherwise provided herein, each of the Corporate Holdcos and the Group Partnerships shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all Tax matters concerning each of the Corporate Holdcos and the Group Partnerships, respectively, including without limitation the preparation, filing or amending of any Tax Return and

 

12



 

defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to Taxes.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of the Corporate Holdcos shall notify KKR Holdings of, and keep KKR Holdings reasonably informed with respect to the portion of any audit of such Corporate Holdco and the Group Partnerships by a Taxing Authority the outcome of which is reasonably expected to KKR Holdings’ rights and obligations under this Agreement, and shall provide to KKR Holdings reasonable opportunity to provide information and other input to such Corporate Holdco, the Group Partnerships and their respective advisors concerning the conduct of any such portion of such audit; provided , however , that each of the Corporate Holdcos and the Group Partnerships shall not be required to take any action that is inconsistent with any provision of any of the Group Partnership Agreements.

 

Section 6.02   Consistency .  Each of the Corporate Holdcos and the applicable Limited Partner agree to report and cause to be reported for all purposes, including federal, state, local and foreign Tax purposes and financial reporting purposes, all Tax-related items (including without limitation the Basis Adjustment and each Tax Benefit Payment) in a manner consistent with that specified by each of the Corporate Holdcos in any Schedule required to be provided by or on behalf of each of the Corporate Holdcos under this Agreement.

 

Section 6.03   Cooperation .  Each Limited Partner will (a) furnish to each of the Corporate Holdcos in a timely manner such information, documents and other materials as each such Corporate Holdco may reasonably request for purposes of making any determination or computation necessary or appropriate under this Agreement, preparing any Tax Return or contesting or defending any audit, examination or controversy with any Taxing Authority, (b) make itself available to each of the Corporate Holdcos and its representatives to provide explanations of documents and materials and such other information as each of the Corporate Holdcos or its representatives may reasonably request in connection with any of the matters described in clause (a) above, and (c) reasonably cooperate in connection with any such matter, and each of the Corporate Holdcos shall reimburse the applicable Limited Partner for any reasonable third-party costs and expenses incurred pursuant to this Section.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 7.01   Notices .  All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given and received (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, or by facsimile upon confirmation of transmission by the sender’s fax machine if sent on a Business Day (or otherwise on the next Business Day) or (b) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next-day courier service.  All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:

 

If to the Parent:

 

KKR & Co. L.P.
9 West 57
th  Street, Suite 4200

 

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New York, NY 10019
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Fax: 212-750-0003

 

with a copy to:

 

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Fax: 212-735-2502
Attention: Joseph H. Kaufman, Esq.

 

If to a Corporate Holdco or either Group Partnership, to:

 

c/o KKR & Co. L.P.
9 West 57
th  Street, Suite 4200
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Fax: 212-750-0003

 

with a copy to:

 

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Fax: 212-735-2502
Attention: Joseph H. Kaufman, Esq.

 

If to KKR Holdings:

 

KKR Holdings L.P.
9 West 57
th  Street, Suite 4200
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Fax: 212-750-0003

 

with a copy to:

 

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Fax: 212-735-2502
Attention: Joseph H. Kaufman, Esq.

 

If to any Holdings Limited Partner, to the attention of such Holdings Limited Partner at:

 

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c/o KKR Holdings L.P.
9 West 57
th  Street, Suite 4200
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Fax: 212-750-0003

 

with a copy to:

 

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Fax: 212-735-2502
Attention: Joseph H. Kaufman, Esq.

 

Any party may change its address or fax number by giving the other party written notice of its new address or fax number in the manner set forth above.

 

Section 7.02   Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.  Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.03   Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, except that each Limited Partner shall be entitled to receive the benefits of this Agreement and shall be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement by reason of such Limited Partner’s election to participate in any Exchange.  Except as provided in this Section 7.03,  nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.04   Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof that would mandate the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.05   Severability .  If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party.  Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as

 

15



 

possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

Section 7.06   Successors; Assignment; Amendments; Waivers .

 

(a)           Neither KKR Holdings nor any Limited Partner may assign this Agreement to any person without the prior written consent of each of the Corporate Holdcos; provided, however, (i) that, to the extent Group Partnership Units are effectively transferred in accordance with the terms of the Group Partnership Agreements or any other agreement the applicable Holdings Limited Partner may have entered into with the Parent or are transferred to a KKR Affiliate, the Managing Partner, the Corporate Holdco and/or either of the Group  Partnerships, the transferring Limited Partner or KKR Holdings shall assign to the transferee of such Group Partnership Units the transferring Limited Partner’s or KKR Holdings’ rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Group Partnership Units and (ii) that, once an Exchange has occurred, any and all payments that may become payable to a Holdings Limited Partner pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Exchange may be assigned to any Person or Persons, as long as any such Person has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such assignment, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to each Corporate Holdco, agreeing to be bound by Section 7.12 and acknowledging specifically the last sentence of the next paragraph. For the avoidance of doubt: (A) to the extent KKR Holdings transfers Group Partnership Units to a KKR Holdings Affiliate pursuant to the relevant Group Partnership Agreements, the KKR Holdings Affiliate receiving such Group Partnership Units shall have all rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Group Partnership Units as KKR Holdings has, under this Agreement, with respect to the other Group Partnership Units held by him; and (B) the requirement to execute and deliver a joinder pursuant to this Section 7.06(a) shall not be construed as requiring such execution and delivery prior to an assignment becoming effective.

 

(b)           No provision of this Agreement may be amended unless such amendment is approved in writing by each of the Corporate Holdcos, on behalf of themselves and the respective Group Partnerships they Control, and by KKR Holdings.  No provision of this Agreement may be waived unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective.

 

(c)           All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto, each Limited Partner and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives.  Each of the Corporate Holdcos shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of such Corporate Holdco, by written agreement, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that each Corporate Holdco would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

Section 7.07   Titles and Subtitles .  The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.

 

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Section 7.08   Resolution of Disputes .

 

(a)           Any and all disputes which cannot be settled amicably, including any ancillary claims of any party, arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement (including the validity, scope and enforceability of this arbitration provision) shall be finally settled by arbitration conducted by a single arbitrator in New York in accordance with the then-existing Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. If the parties to the dispute fail to agree on the selection of an arbitrator within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the request for arbitration, the International Chamber of Commerce shall make the appointment.  The arbitrator shall be a lawyer and shall conduct the proceedings in the English language.

 

Performance under this Agreement shall continue if reasonably possible during any arbitration proceedings.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a), each of the Corporate Holdcos may bring an action or special proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling a party to arbitrate, seeking temporary or preliminary relief in aid of an arbitration hereunder, and/or enforcing an arbitration award and, for the purposes of this paragraph (b), each Limited Partner shall be deemed to (i) expressly consent to the application of paragraph (c) of this Section 7.08 to any such action or proceeding, (ii) agree that proof shall not be required that monetary damages for breach of the provisions of this Agreement would be difficult to calculate and that remedies at law would be inadequate, and (iii) irrevocably appoint each of the Corporate Holdcos as such Limited Partner’s agent for service of process in connection with any such action or proceeding and agrees that service of process upon such agent, who shall promptly advise such Limited Partner of any such service of process, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Limited Partner in any such action or proceeding.

 

(c)           (i)  EACH LIMITED PARTNER IS HEREBY DEEMED TO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF COURTS LOCATED IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION 7.08, OR ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING ANCILLARY TO AN ARBITRATION OR CONTEMPLATED ARBITRATION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO OR CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT.  Such ancillary judicial proceedings include any suit, action or proceeding to compel arbitration, to obtain temporary or preliminary judicial relief in aid of arbitration, or to confirm an arbitration award.  The parties acknowledge that the fora designated by this paragraph (c) have a reasonable relation to this Agreement, and to the parties’ relationship with one another.

 

(d)           The parties hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they now or hereafter may have to personal jurisdiction or to the laying of venue of any such ancillary suit, action or proceeding brought in any court referred to in paragraph (c) (i) of this Section 7.08 and such parties agree not to plead or claim the same.

 

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Section 7.09   Reconciliation .  In the event that a Corporate Holdco and KKR Holdings are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to the matters governed by Sections 2.04, 4.02 and 6.02 within the relevant period designated in this Agreement (“ Reconciliation Dispute ”), the Reconciliation Dispute shall be submitted for determination to a nationally recognized expert (the “ Expert ”) in the particular area of disagreement mutually acceptable to both parties.  The Expert shall be a partner in a nationally recognized accounting firm or a law firm, and the Expert shall not, and the firm that employs the Expert shall not, have any material relationship with such Corporate Holdco or Limited Partner or other actual or potential conflict of interest. If the parties are unable to agree on an Expert within fifteen (15) days of receipt by the respondent(s) of written notice of a Reconciliation Dispute, the Expert shall be appointed by the International Chamber of Commerce Centre for Expertise.  The Expert shall resolve any matter relating to the Exchange Basis Schedule or an amendment thereto or the Early Termination Schedule or an amendment thereto within 30 calendar days and shall resolve any matter relating to a Tax Benefit Schedule or an amendment thereto within 15 calendar days or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable, in each case after the matter has been submitted to the Expert for resolution. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the matter is not resolved before any payment that is the subject of a disagreement is due or any Tax Return reflecting the subject of a disagreement is due, such payment shall be made on the date prescribed by this Agreement and such Tax Return may be filed as prepared by such Corporate Holdco, subject to adjustment or amendment upon resolution.  The costs and expenses relating to the engagement of such Expert or amending any Tax Return shall be borne by the Corporate Holdco; except as provided in the next sentence. Each of the Corporate Holdcos and each applicable Limited Partner shall bear their own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless the Limited Partner has a prevailing position that is more than 10% of the payment at issue, in which case the Corporate Holdco shall reimburse such Limited Partner for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding. Any dispute as to whether a dispute is a Reconciliation Dispute within the meaning of this Section 7.09 shall be decided by the Expert.  The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute and the determinations of the Expert pursuant to this Section 7.09 shall be binding on the Corporate Holdco and the applicable Limited Partner and may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.10   Withholding .  Each Corporate Holdco shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as such Corporate Holdco is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code, or any provision of state, local or foreign tax law.  To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority by such Corporate Holdco, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the applicable Holdings Limited Partner.

 

Section 7.11   Affiliated Corporations of Parent; Admission of Corporate Holdco into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets .

 

(a)           The Parent Group Partnership shall cause each entity that is a Corporate Holdco and that is not already a party to this Agreement to execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement providing that all provisions of this Agreement shall correspondingly apply to such Corporate Holdco, including the payment of Tax Benefit Payments by such Corporate Holdco

 

18



 

with respect to any Realized Tax Benefit attributable to Group Partnership interests that are part of an Exchange.

 

(b)           If any Group Partnership Interest was acquired in an Exchange by an entity prior to such entity becoming a Corporate Holdco, such Exchange shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as having occurred immediately after such entity became a Corporate Holdco at the Fair Market Value in existence at the time of such prior Exchange, and the entity that is now a Corporate Holdco shall be required to make the same Tax Benefit Payments pursuant to the terms of this Agreement that it would have been required to make had it been treated as a Corporate Holdco on the date of such Exchange; provided, however, that such Tax Benefit Payments shall be payable only with respect to (i) Exchange Date Assets that are still owned at the time such entity becomes a Corporate Holdco, and (ii) taxable years of such entity ending on or after it becomes a Corporate Holdco.

 

(c)           If a Corporate Holdco becomes a member of an affiliated or consolidated group of corporations that files a consolidated income tax return pursuant to Sections 1501 et seq. of the Code or any corresponding provisions of state, local or foreign law, then: (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall be applied with respect to the group as a whole; and (ii) Tax Benefit Payments shall be computed with reference to the consolidated taxable income and consolidated tax liability of the group as a whole.

 

(d)           If any entity that is obligated to make an Exchange Payment hereunder transfers one or more assets to a corporation with which such entity does not file a consolidated tax return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code, such entity, for purposes of calculating the amount of any Exchange Payment (e.g., calculating the gross income of the entity and determining the Realized Tax Benefit of such entity) due hereunder, shall be treated as having disposed of such asset in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such contribution.  The consideration deemed to be received by such entity shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the contributed asset, plus (i) the amount of debt to which such asset is subject, in the case of a contribution of an encumbered asset or (ii) the amount of debt allocated to such asset, in the case of a contribution of a partner interest.

 

Section 7.12   Confidentiality .  Each Limited Partner and assignee shall be deemed to acknowledge and agree that the information of each Corporate Holdco is confidential and, except in the course of performing any duties as necessary for such Corporate Holdco and its Affiliates, as required by law or legal process or to enforce the terms of this Agreement, it shall keep and retain in the strictest confidence and not to disclose to any Person all confidential matters, acquired pursuant to this Agreement, of such Corporate Holdco or any Person included within the Parent and their respective Affiliates and successors and the other Limited Partners, including, without limitation, the identity of the beneficial holders of interests in any fund or account managed by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, confidential information concerning the Parent, any Person included within the Parent and their respective Affiliates and successors, the other Limited Partners and any fund, account or investment managed by any Person included within the Parent, including marketing, investment, performance data, fund management, credit and financial information, and other business affairs of such Corporate Holdco, any Person included within the Parent and their respective Affiliates and successors, the other Limited Partners and any fund, account or investment managed directly or indirectly by any Person

 

19



 

included within such Corporate Holdco learned by the Limited Partner heretofore or hereafter.  This clause 7.12 shall not apply to (i) any information that has been made publicly available by such Corporate Holdco or any of its Affiliates, becomes public knowledge (except as a result of an act of such Limited Partner in violation of this Agreement) or is generally known to the business community and (ii) the disclosure of information to the extent necessary for a Limited Partner to prepare and file his or her tax returns, to respond to any inquiries regarding the same from any taxing authority or to prosecute or defend any action, proceeding or audit by any taxing authority with respect to such returns. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each Limited Partner (and each employee, representative or other agent of such Limited Partner) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of (x) each Corporate Holdco and (y) any of its transactions, and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the Limited Partners relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.

 

If a Limited Partner or assignee commits a breach, or threatens to commit a breach, of any of the provisions of this Section 7.12, the Corporate Holdco shall have the right and remedy to have the provisions of this Section 7.12 specifically enforced by injunctive relief or otherwise by any court of competent jurisdiction without the need to post any bond or other security, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to such Corporate Holdco or any of its Subsidiaries or the other Limited Partners and the accounts and funds managed by such Corporate Holdco and that money damages alone shall not provide an adequate remedy to such Persons. Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity.

 

Section 7.13   Group Partnership Agreement .  This Agreement shall be treated as part of the partnership agreement of each Group Partnership as described in Section 761(c) of the Code, and Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(h) and 1.761-1(c) of the Treasury Regulations.

 

Section 7.14   Group Partnerships .  Management Holdings hereby agrees that, to the extent it acquires a limited partner interest, general partner interest, managing member interest or similar interest in any Person after the date hereof, it shall cause such Person to execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement and become a “Group Partnership” for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.15   Change in Law .  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if, in connection with an actual or proposed change in law, KKR Holdings reasonably believes that the existence of this Agreement could cause income (other than income arising from receipt of a payment under this Agreement) recognized by any Holdings Limited Partner (or direct or indirect equity holders in such Holdings Limited Partner) upon any Exchange to be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain (or otherwise taxed at ordinary income rates) for United States federal income tax purposes or would have other material adverse tax consequences to KKR Holdings or any Holdings Limited Partner (a “Change in Tax Law”), then at the election of KKR Holdings and to the extent specified by KKR Holdings, this Agreement (i) shall cease to have further effect, (ii) shall not apply to an Exchange occurring after a date specified by KKR Holdings, or (iii) shall otherwise be amended in a manner determined by KKR Holdings, provided that such amendment shall not result in an increase in payments under this Agreement

 

20



 

as compared to payments that would have been due in the absence of such amendment and shall not otherwise have a material adverse effect on Parent or its limited partners as compared to the Agreement in the absence of such amendment.

 

Section 7.16   Effective Date .  This Agreement shall be effective, and the provisions hereof shall become operative, upon the occurrence of the Effective Time (as defined in the Purchase and Sale Agreement) and no party shall be required to commence performance hereunder until the Effective Time.

 

Section 7.18   Headings .  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

[Signatures on following pages]

 

21



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Management Holdings and each Limited Partner have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

KKR HOLDINGS L.P.

 

 

 

By: KKR Holdings GP Limited, its general partner

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

Name: William J. Janetschek

 

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

 

 

KKR MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS CORP.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

Name: William J. Janetschek

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

KKR & CO. L.P.

 

 

 

By: KKR Management LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

Name: William J. Janetschek

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

KKR MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS L.P.

 

 

 

By: KKR Management Holdings Corp., its general partner

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

Name: William J. Janetschek

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 


Exhibit 10.4

 

FORM OF
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement is dated as of                  , 2010 (this “ Agreement ”) and is by and among KKR Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Managing Partner ”), KKR & Co. L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), and [ Name of director ] (the “ Indemnitee ”).

 

Background

 

The Managing Partner believes that in order to attract and retain highly competent persons to serve as directors or in other capacities, it must provide such persons with adequate protection through indemnification against the risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their services to and activities on behalf of the Managing Partner acting in its own right or as general partner of the Partnership (or both).

 

The Managing Partner desires and has requested the Indemnitee to serve as a director of the Managing Partner and, in order to induce the Indemnitee to serve as a director of the Managing Partner, the Managing Partner and the Partnership wish to grant and secure the Indemnitee the indemnity provided for herein.  The Indemnitee is willing to so serve on the basis that such indemnity be provided.

 

In consideration of the Indemnitee’s service to the Managing Partner and the Partnership and the covenants and agreements set forth below, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows.

 

Section 1. Indemnification .  To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Managing Partner on an after tax basis from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, in which the Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of being or having been or having agreed to serve as a director of the Managing Partner, or while serving as a director of the Managing Partner, being or having been serving or having agreed to serve at the request of the Managing Partner as a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee, partner or manager or similar capacity) of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring on, before or after the date of this Agreement; provided that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by an arbitral tribunal or court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 3(e) of this Agreement, the Managing Partner shall be required to indemnify a person described in such sentence in connection with any demand, action, suit, claim or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such demand, action, suit, claim or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the Managing Partner in its sole discretion.

 

Section 2. Advance Payment of Expenses .  To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by the Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to this Agreement in appearing at, participating in or defending any claim, demand, action, suit, claim or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Managing Partner prior to a final and non-appealable determination that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Managing Partner of an undertaking by or on behalf of the

 



 

Indemnitee to repay such amount if it ultimately shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Agreement.

 

Section 3. Procedure for Indemnification; Notification and Defense of Claim .

 

(a) Promptly after receipt by the Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any action, suit, claim or proceeding, the Indemnitee shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Managing Partner hereunder, notify the Managing Partner in writing of the commencement thereof.  The failure to promptly notify the Managing Partner of the commencement of the action, suit, claim or proceeding, or the Indemnitee’s request for indemnification, will not relieve the Managing Partner from any liability that it may have to the Indemnitee hereunder, except to the extent the Managing Partner is actually prejudiced in its defense of such action, suit, claim or proceeding as a result of such failure.  To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall submit to the Managing Partner a written request therefor including such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to enable the Managing Partner to determine whether and to what extent the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification.

 

(b) With respect to any action, suit, claim or proceeding of which the Managing Partner is so notified, as provided in this Agreement, the Managing Partner, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume and control the defense of such action, suit, claim or proceeding, with counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnitee, upon the delivery to the Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so, and the Indemnitee shall cooperate with the Managing Partner in such defense as reasonably requested by the Managing Partner.  After delivery of such notice (but subject to such approval of counsel by the Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Managing Partner), the Managing Partner will not be liable to the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee with respect to the same action, suit, claim or proceeding; provided that (1) the Indemnitee shall have the right to employ the Indemnitee’s own counsel in such action, suit, claim or proceeding at the Indemnitee’s expense and (2) if (i) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee at the Managing Partner’s expense has been previously authorized in writing by the Managing Partner, or (ii) counsel to the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded (evidenced by written notice to the Managing Partner setting forth the basis for and explanation of such conclusion) that there likely exists a conflict of interest or position, or reasonably believes that such a conflict is likely to arise, on any significant issue between the Managing Partner and the Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense, then the fees and expenses of the Indemnitee’s separate counsel shall be at the expense of the Managing Partner, except as otherwise expressly provided by Section 1 of this Agreement, and the Managing Partner shall not control the defense of such action, suit, claim or proceeding to the extent of such conflict of interest.  The Managing Partner shall not be entitled, without the written consent of the Indemnitee, to assume the defense of any claim brought by or in the right of the Managing Partner or as to which counsel for the Indemnitee shall in accordance with clause (2)(ii) of the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence have delivered requisite notice regarding the conclusion referred to in such clause.

 

(c) To the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Managing Partner’s assumption of the defense of an action, suit, claim or proceeding in accordance with Section 3(b) will constitute an irrevocable acknowledgement by the Managing Partner that any loss and liability suffered by the Indemnitee and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement by or for the account of the Indemnitee actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith are indemnifiable by the Managing Partner under Section 1 of this Agreement.

 

(d) The determination whether to grant the Indemnitee’s indemnification request shall be made promptly and in any event within 30 days following the Managing Partner’s receipt of a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 3(a).  If the Managing Partner determines that the Indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification or the Managing Partner has acknowledged such entitlement, the Managing Partner shall make payment to the Indemnitee of the indemnifiable amount within such 30 day period.  If the Managing Partner has not so acknowledged such entitlement or  the Managing Partner’s determination of

 

2



 

whether to grant the Indemnitee’s indemnification request has not been made within such 30 day period, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall nonetheless be deemed to have been made and the Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, subject to Section 5, absent (i) a misstatement by the Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make the Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under law.

 

(e) In the event that (i) the Managing Partner determines in accordance with this Section 3 that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) the Managing Partner denies a request for indemnification, in whole or in part, or fails to respond or make a determination of entitlement to indemnification within 30 days following receipt of a request for indemnification as described above, (iii) payment of indemnification is not made within such 30 day period, (iv) advancement of expenses is not timely made in accordance with Section 2, or (v) the Managing Partner or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, the Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of expenses shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with Section 16.  The Indemnitee’s expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with successfully establishing the Indemnitee’s right to indemnification or advancement of expenses, in whole or in part, in such arbitration shall also be indemnified by the Managing Partner to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

(f) The Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification and advancement of expenses under this Agreement upon submission of a request therefor in accordance with Section 2 or Section 3 of this Agreement, as the case may be.  The Managing Partner shall have the burden of proof in overcoming such presumption, and such presumption shall be used as a basis for a determination of entitlement to indemnification and advancement of expenses unless the Managing Partner overcomes such presumption by clear and convincing evidence.

 

Section 4. Guarantee and Insurance .

 

(a) The Partnership unconditionally guarantees the fulfillment of all of the Managing Partner’s obligations under this Agreement, and the Partnership agrees to be jointly and severally liable with the Managing Partner with respect to such obligations to the fullest extent as if references to the Managing Partner hereunder were references to the Partnership.

 

(b) The indemnification provided by this Agreement shall be in addition to any other rights to which the Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, insurance, as a matter of law, in equity or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity.

 

(c) The Managing Partner and the Partnership may purchase and maintain insurance against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, any person in connection with the activities of the Managing Partner or the Partnership or such person’s activities on behalf of the Managing Partner or the Partnership, regardless of whether the Managing Partner or the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

 

Section 5. Limitation on Indemnification .

 

(a) For purposes of this Agreement (i) the Managing Partner shall be deemed to have requested the Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Managing Partner also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; (ii) excise taxes assessed on the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines” within the meaning of this Agreement; and (iii) any action

 

3



 

taken or omitted by the Indemnitee 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 Managing Partner and the Partnership.

 

(b) Any indemnification pursuant to this Agreement shall be made on a joint and several basis and only out of the assets of the Managing Partner and the Partnership. Each of the limited partners of the Partnership and the members of the Managing Partner shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Managing Partner or the Partnership to enable it to effectuate such indemnification. In no event may the Indemnitee subject any limited partner of the Partnership or any member of the Managing Partner to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

 

(c) The provisions of this Agreement are for the benefit of the Indemnitee and his or her heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other persons.

 

Section 6.  Certain Settlement Provisions .  The Managing Partner shall have no obligation to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any action, suit, claim or proceeding without  the Managing Partner’s prior written consent (which may not be unreasonably withheld).  The Managing Partner shall not settle any action, suit, claim or proceeding in any manner that would impose any fine or other monetary obligation on the Indemnitee that is not fully indemnified by the Managing Partner or any equitable relief on the Indemnitee or includes an admission of wrongdoing by the Indemnitee, in each case without the Indemnitee’s prior written consent (which may not be unreasonably withheld).  To the extent the Managing Partner has assumed and controls the defense of any action, suit, claim or proceeding in accordance with this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall permit the Managing Partner to assume and control the settlement, negotiation or compromise of such action, suit, claim or proceeding, and the Indemnitee shall cooperate with the Managing Partner as reasonably requested by the Managing Partner in such settlement, negotiation or compromise. The Indemnitee shall not settle, negotiate or compromise any action, suit, claim or proceeding indemnifiable under this Agreement without  the Managing Partner’s prior written consent (which may not be unreasonably withheld).

 

Section 7. Savings Clause . If any provision or provisions (or portion thereof) of this Agreement shall be invalidated on any ground by any arbitral tribunal or court of competent jurisdiction, then the Managing Partner shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee if the Indemnitee was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim or proceeding (brought in the right of the Managing Partner, the Partnership or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal, including appeals, by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was or has agreed to serve as a director of the Managing Partner, or while serving as a director of the Managing Partner, is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Managing Partner as a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee, partner or manager or similar capacity) of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, from and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection with such action, suit, claim or proceeding, including any appeals, to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Agreement that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

Section 8. Contribution .  In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for herein is finally settled by arbitration to be unavailable to the Indemnitee in whole or in part, it is agreed that, in such event, the Managing Partner shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, contribute to the payment of all of the Indemnitee’s loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by or on behalf of the

 

4



 

Indemnitee in connection with any action, suit, claim or proceeding, including any appeals, in an amount that is just and equitable in the circumstances; provided, that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such contribution shall not be required where such arbitration settlement is due to any limitation on indemnification set forth in Section 5 or 6 hereof.

 

Section 9. Form and Delivery of Communications .  All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered by hand, mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, mailed for overnight delivery by reputable overnight courier or (d) sent by email or facsimile transmission, upon receipt when confirmed that such transmission has been received.  Notice to the Managing Partner shall be sent to 9 West 57 th  Street, New York, New York  10019, Attention: General Counsel, facsimile: 212-750-0003, confirmation telephone number: 212-750-8300 (or at such other address or means of contact that the Managing Partner shall notify the Indemnitee in writing from time to time).  Notice to the Indemnitee shall be sent to [ · ], email: [ · ] (or at such other address or means of contact that the Indemnitee shall notify the Managing Partner in writing from time to time).

 

Section 10. Nonexclusivity .  The provisions for indemnification and advancement of expenses set forth in this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which the Indemnitee may have under any provision of law, in any court in which a proceeding is brought, other agreements or otherwise, and the Indemnitee’s rights hereunder shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of the Indemnitee.  No amendment or alteration of  the Managing Partner’s limited liability company agreement or the Partnership’s limited partnership agreement or any other agreement shall adversely affect the rights provided to the Indemnitee under this Agreement.

 

Section 11. No Construction as Employment Agreement .  Nothing contained herein shall be construed as giving the Indemnitee any right to be retained as a director of the Managing Partner or in the employ of the Managing Partner or its affiliates.  For the avoidance of doubt, the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided under this Agreement shall continue as to the Indemnitee even though he may have ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Managing Partner.

 

Section 12. Interpretation of Agreement .  It is understood that the parties hereto intend this Agreement to be interpreted and enforced so as to provide indemnification to the Indemnitee to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by law.

 

Section 13. Entire Agreement .  This Agreement and the documents expressly referred to herein constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters covered hereby, and any other prior or contemporaneous oral or written understandings or agreements with respect to the matters covered hereby are expressly superseded by this Agreement.

 

Section 14. Modification and Waiver .  No supplement, modification, waiver or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by all of the parties hereto.  No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder (other than a failure or delay beyond a period of time specified herein) shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

Section 15. Successor and Assigns .  All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. The Managing Partner shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of any indemnitor under this Agreement, by written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Managing Partner would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

5



 

Section 16. Arbitration .

 

(a) Any and all disputes which cannot be settled amicably, including any ancillary claims of any party arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement (including without limitation the validity, scope and enforceability of this arbitration provision) shall be finally settled by arbitration conducted by a single arbitrator in New York, New York in accordance with the then-existing Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. If the parties to the dispute fail to agree on the selection of an arbitrator within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the request for arbitration, the International Chamber of Commerce shall make the appointment.  The arbitrator shall be a lawyer and shall conduct the proceedings in the English language. Performance under this Agreement shall continue if reasonably possible during any arbitration proceedings. Except as required by law or as may be reasonably required in connection with ancillary judicial proceedings to compel arbitration, to obtain temporary or preliminary judicial relief in aid of arbitration, or to confirm or challenge an arbitration award, the arbitration proceedings, including any hearings, shall be confidential, and the parties shall not disclose any awards, any materials produced in the proceedings created for the purpose of the arbitration, or any documents produced by another party in the proceedings not otherwise in the public domain.

 

(b) Each party hereby, (i) irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce this Section 16 or any judicial proceeding ancillary to an arbitration or contemplated arbitration arising out of or relating to or concerning this Agreement), shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, any other court in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction; (ii) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding; (iii) irrevocably agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding that (A) it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such courts or any other court to which proceedings in such courts may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is improper; (iv) expressly waives any requirement for the posting of a bond by a party bringing such claim, suit, action or proceeding; (v) consents to process being served in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding by mailing, certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices hereunder, and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof; provided , that nothing in clause (v) hereof shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law; and (vi) irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding.

 

(c)  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, this Section 16 shall be construed to the maximum extent possible to comply with the laws of the State of Delaware, including the Delaware Uniform Arbitration Act (10 Del. C. § 5701 et  seq.) (the “ Delaware Arbitration Act ”).  If, nevertheless, it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that any provision or wording of this Section 16, including any rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, shall be invalid or unenforceable under the Delaware Arbitration Act, or other applicable law, such invalidity shall not invalidate all of this Section 16.  In that case, this Section 16 shall be construed so as to limit any term or provision so as to make it valid or enforceable within the requirements of the Delaware Arbitration Act or other applicable law, and, in the event such term or provision cannot be so limited, this Section 16 shall be construed to omit such invalid or unenforceable provision.

 

Section 17. Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 18. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument, notwithstanding that both parties are not signatories to the original or same counterpart.

 

6



 

Section 19.  Headings . The section and subsection headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

[ Rest of page intentionally left blank ]

 

7



 

This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered to be effective as of the date first stated above.

 

 

 

KKR MANAGEMENT LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

KKR & CO. L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

INDEMNITEE:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

8


Exhibit 99.1

 

 

KKR & Co. L.P. Now Trading on NYSE

 

New York, New York, July 15, 2010 — KKR & Co. L.P. (NYSE: KKR) today announced that its common units began trading today on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “KKR”.  In accordance with previously announced plans, the common units of KKR & Co. (Guernsey) L.P. no longer trade on Euronext Amsterdam

 

“Today’s NYSE listing is an important milestone for KKR, and will provide an opportunity for investors to share in the value being created by our firm,” said Henry R. Kravis and George R. Roberts, Co-Founders, Co-Chairmen and Co-Chief Executive Officers of KKR.

 

ABOUT KKR

 

Founded in 1976 and led by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, KKR is a leading global alternative asset manager with $54.7 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2010.  With over 600 people and 14 offices around the world, KKR manages assets through a variety of investment funds and accounts covering multiple asset classes. KKR seeks to create value by bringing operational expertise to its portfolio companies and through active oversight and monitoring of its investments. KKR complements its investment expertise and strengthens interactions with investors through its client relationships and capital markets platforms. For additional information, please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com.

 

NO OFFERING STATEMENT

 

This release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States or elsewhere. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. Any public offering of securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from KKR that will contain detailed information about KKR and its management, as well as financial statements.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This release contains certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. The forward-looking statements are based on KKR’s beliefs, assumptions and expectations of future performance, taking into account all information currently available to it. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to KKR or are within its control. If a change occurs,

 



 

KKR’s business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, including net asset value, assets under management, fee paying assets under management, fee related earnings, economic net income, committed dollars invested, uncalled commitments and book value, may vary materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to vary from the forward-looking statements: the possibility that the proposed primary offering of KKR’s common units may or may not occur; the risk that the anticipated benefits of the combined business may not be achieved; the general volatility of the capital markets; changes in KKR’s business strategy; availability, terms and deployment of capital; availability of qualified personnel and expense of recruiting and retaining such personnel; changes in the asset management industry, interest rates or the general economy; underperformance of KKR’s investments and decreased ability to raise funds; and the degree and nature of KKR’s competition. KKR does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date on which such statements were made except as required by law. In addition, KKR’s business strategy is focused on the long-term and financial results are subject to significant volatility.  Additional information about factors affecting KKR is available in KKR & Co. L.P.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 333-165414) and other filings with the SEC.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION

 

Investor Relations:

 

Media Contact:

Jonathan Levin

 

Peter McKillop or Kristi Huller

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.

 

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.

Tel: +1 (877) 610-4910 (U.S.) / +1 (212) 230-9410

 

Tel:+ 1 (212) 750-8300

investor-relations@kkr.com

 

media@kkr.com

 

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