UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 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 28, 2017

 


 

ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware

 

Commission

 

73-1564280

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

File No.: 0-26823

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

1717 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 400, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

(918) 295-7600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligations of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company o

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

 

 

 



 

ITEM 1.01 ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.

 

On July 28, 2017, Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”) entered into a Contribution Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”) by and among the Partnership, Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the managing general partner of the Partnership (“ARLP Managing GP”), Alliance Resource GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ARLP Special GP”), ARM GP Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ARMH, Inc.”), MGP II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MGP II”), and Alliance Holdings GP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“AHGP”), whereby (i) ARLP Managing GP contributed to the Partnership all of its incentive distribution rights representing non-voting limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “IDRs”) together with its 0.99% general partner interest in the Partnership in exchange for a non-economic general partner interest in the Partnership and 56,100,000 common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ARLP Managing GP Common Units”) and (ii) ARLP Special GP contributed to the Partnership its 0.01% general partner interest in the Partnership and its 0.01% general partner interest in Alliance Resource Operating Partners, L.P. (“AROP”) in exchange for 7,181 common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ARLP Special GP Common Units” and, together with the ARLP Managing GP Common Units, the “Exchange Units,” and, the transactions described in (i) and (ii), the “Exchange Transactions”).  The general partner interests in the Partnership that were contributed to the Partnership were cancelled by the Partnership, and the only remaining general partner interest in the Partnership is the non-economic general partner interest issued to ARLP Managing GP as described above.  In addition, the Partnership cancelled the IDRs following their contribution by ARLP Managing GP.  Following the transaction, the Partnership will maintain the 0.01% special general partner interest in AROP contributed to it by ARLP Special GP as noted above.

 

As a result of the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement, the ARLP Managing GP Units will be held by MGP II, a subsidiary of AHGP that will own ARLP Managing GP as a result of the transactions. ARLP Managing GP will continue to serve as the general partner of the Partnership following the transactions, and no control, management or governance changes will otherwise occur, including with respect to the Partnership’s subsidiaries.  MGP II adopted the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of ARLP Managing GP, dated as of July 28, 2017, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.3 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference to reflect its ownership of ARLP Managing GP.    In addition, AHGP and ARMH, Inc. adopted the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of MGP II, dated as of July 28, 2017, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.4 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference to reflect their ownership of MGP II.

 

The board of directors of ARLP Managing GP (the “Board”) delegated to its conflicts committee (the “Conflicts Committee”) comprised of independent directors, the authority of ARLP Managing GP to negotiate the terms and conditions of the Exchange Transactions on behalf of the Partnership.  Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated acted as financial advisor to the Conflicts Committee in connection with the evaluation and negotiation of the Exchange Transactions.  On July 28, 2017, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated delivered a fairness opinion to the Conflicts Committee with respect to the transaction.  The terms of the Contribution Agreement were unanimously approved by the Conflicts Committee.

 

The foregoing description of the Contribution Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of such agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

ITEM 3.02 UNREGISTERED SALE OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

 

As discussed in Item 1.01 of this Current Report, the Partnership entered into the Contribution Agreement on July 28, 2017. Pursuant to the terms of the Contribution Agreement, the Partnership issued the Exchange Units to ARLP Managing GP and ARLP Special GP. The Exchange Units were offered and issued in reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

2



 

ITEM 3.03 MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

 

Amendment No. 1 to Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership

 

Concurrently with the execution of the Contribution Agreement, ARLP Managing GP amended the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of June 16, 2014, to make certain adjustments to the unrealized gain and loss allocation provisions and the definitions related thereto in a manner designed to facilitate the ultimate fungibility of the common units issued under the Contribution Agreement, which adjustments shall be effective in accordance with Section 761(c) of the Code as of January 1, 2017 through the date of the closing of the Exchange Transactions (the “First Amendment to Existing Partnership Agreement”).   The foregoing description of the First Amendment to the Existing Partnership Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of such agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership

 

Concurrently with the execution of the Contribution Agreement, ARLP Managing GP amended and restated the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated June 16, 2014, as amended, by entering into the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of July 28, 2017, in order to reflect (i) the cancellation of the IDRs, (ii) the cancellation of the economic general partner interests in the Partnership and the issuance of a non-economic general partner interest in the Partnership and (iii) certain other changes, including the removal of references to the subordinated units (all of which previously converted into common units), the removal of the concepts of operating surplus and capital surplus and related defined terms, which no longer have any significance following the amendments described in clauses (i)-(iii) above, and updating the tax allocation and audit provisions (such amended and restated agreement, the “Revised Partnership Agreement”).   Pursuant to the Revised Partnership Agreement, within 45 days of following the end of each fiscal quarter, 100% of the “Available Cash” (as defined in the Revised Partnership Agreement) of the Partnership will be distributed to the holders of common units of the Partnership, pro rata.

 

The foregoing description of the Revised Partnership Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of such agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 5.03           AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OR BYLAWS; CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR.

 

As discussed above in Item 3.03 of this Current Report, which is incorporated herein by reference, in connection with the Exchange Transactions, ARLP Managing GP entered into and adopted (i) the First Amendment to the Existing Partnership Agreement and (ii) the Revised Partnership Agreement, in each case on July 28, 2017.

 

ARLP Managing GP adopted an Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of July 28, 2017, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.6 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference, in order to reflect the contribution of ARLP Special GP’s interest to the Partnership and the fact that ARLP Special GP is no longer a general partner of the Partnership as a result of the Exchange Transactions.

 

ITEM 7.01 REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

 

On July 28, 2017, the Partnership announced, via press release, the Exchange Transactions and the Contribution Agreement and the declaration by the board of directors of ARLP Managing GP of a distribution for the quarter ended June 30, 2017. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

 

The information furnished in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 hereto, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent specifically referenced in any such filings.

 

3



 

ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS.

 

As discussed above in Item 1.01 of this Current Report, which is incorporated herein by reference, in connection with the Exchange Transactions, MGP II adopted the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of ARLP Managing GP, dated as of July 28, 2017, to reflect MGP II’s ownership of ARLP Managing GP. A copy of the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of ARLP Managing GP is filed as Exhibit 3.3 to this Current Report and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

As discussed above in Item 1.01 of this Current Report, which is incorporated herein by reference, in connection with the Exchange Transactions, AHGP and ARMH, Inc. executed the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of MGP II, dated as of July 28, 2017, to reflect their ownership of MGP II. A copy of the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of MGP II is filed as Exhibit 3.4 to this Current Report and is incorporated by reference herein.  The certificate of formation of MGP II is filed as Exhibit 3.5 to this Current Report and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

ITEM 9.01           FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

 

(d)          Exhibits

 

3.1

Amendment No. 1, dated as of July 28, 2017, to Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

 

 

3.2

Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., dated as of July 28, 2017.

 

 

3.3

Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC, dated as of July 28, 2017.

 

 

3.4

Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of MGP II, LLC, dated as of July 28, 2017.

 

 

3.5

Certificate of Formation of MGP II, LLC.

 

 

3.6

Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

 

 

10.1

Contribution Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2017, by and among Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC, Alliance Resource GP, LLC, ARM GP Holdings, Inc., MGP II, LLC and Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.

 

 

99.1

Joint Press Release of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. and Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. dated July 28, 2017.

 

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.

 

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Joseph W. Craft III

 

 

Joseph W. Craft III

 

 

President, Chief Executive Officer

 

 

and Director

 

 

 

 

Date: July 28, 2017

 

 

5


Exhibit 3.1

 

Execution Version

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.

 

This Amendment No. 1 (this “ Amendment No. 1 ”) to the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (as amended, the  “ Partnership Agreement ”) of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (the “ Partnership ”) is hereby adopted by Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ General Partner ”), as managing general partner of the Partnership. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein are used as defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

WHEREAS , the General Partner desires to amend the Partnership Agreement to make certain adjustments to certain allocation provisions and the definitions related thereto, which adjustments shall be effective in accordance with Section 761(c) of the Code as of January 1, 2017; and

 

WHEREAS , acting pursuant to the power and authority granted to it under Section 13.1(d) of the Partnership Agreement, the General Partner has determined that the following amendment to the Partnership Agreement does not require the approval of any Limited Partner.

 

NOW THEREFORE, the General Partner does hereby amend the Partnership Agreement as follows:

 

1.               Amendment of Section 1.1. Section 1.1 of the Partnership Agreement is hereby amended to add the following definition:

 

“Capital Structure Simplification Transaction” means the transactions contemplated by that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between the Partnership, the General Partner, Alliance Resource GP, LLC, ARM GP Holdings, Inc., MGP II, LLC and Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.

 

2.               Amendment of Section 5.5(d)(i). Section 5.5(d)(i) of the Partnership Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety:

 

(d) (i)  In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services or the conversion of a General Partner’s Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b), the Capital Accounts of all Partners and the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property for an amount equal to its fair market value immediately prior to such issuance

 



 

and had been allocated to the Partners at such time pursuant to Section 6.1(c) in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized following an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have been allocated. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests shall be determined by the Managing General Partner using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt; provided, however, that the Managing General Partner, in arriving at such valuation, must take fully into account the fair market value of the Partnership Interests of all Partners at such time, including with respect to any adjustment pursuant to this Section 5.5(d)(i) during the taxable period (or portion thereof) that begins after December 31, 2016 and ends immediately after the closing of the Capital Structure Simplification Transaction, a value for the Incentive Distribution Rights that is equal to the aggregate fair market value of the Common Units that the Incentive Distribution Rights and General Partner Interests are exchanged for in the Capital Structure Simplification Transaction. The Managing General Partner shall allocate such aggregate value among the assets of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines in its discretion to be reasonable) to arrive at a fair market value for individual properties.

 

3.               Amendment of Section 6.1(d)(x). Section 6.1(d)(x) of the Partnership Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety:

 

(A) At the election of the Managing General Partner with respect to any taxable period ending upon, or after, the termination of the Subordination Period, all or a portion of the remaining items of Partnership gross income or gain for such taxable period, after taking into account allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(iii), shall be allocated 100% to each Partner holding Subordinated Units that are Outstanding as of the termination of the Subordination Period (“Final Subordinated Units”) in the proportion of the number of Final Subordinated Units held by such Partner to the total number of Final Subordinated Units then Outstanding, until each such Partner has been allocated an amount of gross income or gain which increases the Capital Account maintained with respect to such Final Subordinated Units to an amount equal to the product of (A) the number of Final Subordinated Units held by such Partner and (B) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit. The purpose of this allocation is to establish uniformity between the Capital Accounts underlying Final Subordinated Units and the Capital Accounts underlying Common Units held by Persons other than the General Partners and their Affiliates immediately prior to the conversion of such Final Subordinated Units into Common Units. This allocation method for establishing such economic uniformity will only be available to the Managing General Partner if the method for allocating the Capital Account maintained with respect to the Subordinated Units between the transferred and retained Subordinated Units pursuant to Section 5.5(c)(ii) does not otherwise provide such economic uniformity to the Final Subordinated Units.

 

(B) With respect to any adjustment of the values of the Partnership properties pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i) occurring on or after January 1, 2017, all or a portion of the resulting Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(x)(B) in a manner that, after making allocations pursuant to this Section

 



 

6.1(d)(x)(B) and Section 6.1(c), results, to the nearest extent possible, in the Capital Account maintained with respect to (I) each Common Unit being equal to the fair market value of a Common Unit at the time of the respective adjustment, (II) the Incentive Distribution Rights being equal to the product of (x) the number of Common Units that the Incentive Distribution Rights are exchanged for in the Capital Structure Simplification Transaction times (y) the fair market value of a Common Unit at the time of the respective adjustment, and (III) each General Partner interest being equal to the product of (x) the number of Common Units that such General Partner interest is exchanged for in the Capital Structure Simplification Transaction times (y) the fair market value of a Common Unit at the time of the respective adjustment.  The purpose of this allocation is to establish Capital Accounts prior to the Capital Structure Simplification Transaction that leads to uniformity between the Capital Accounts underlying each Common Unit outstanding immediately after the Capital Structure Simplification Transaction.

 

4.               Ratification of Partnership Agreement . Except as expressly modified and amended herein, all of the terms and conditions of the Partnership Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

5.               Governing Law . This Amendment No. 1 will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the General Partner has executed this Amendment No. 1 as of July 28, 2017.

 

 

GENERAL PARTNER:

 

 

 

ALLIANCE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GP, LLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. Eberley Davis

 

Name:

R. Eberley Davis

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Third A&R Limited Partnership Agreement

 


Exhibit 3.2

 

Execution Version

 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

 

OF

 

ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS , L.P.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1

Definitions

2

Section 1.2

Construction

14

ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATION

 

Section 2.1

Formation

14

Section 2.2

Name

14

Section 2.3

Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices

14

Section 2.4

Purpose and Business

15

Section 2.5

Powers

15

Section 2.6

Power of Attorney

15

Section 2.7

Term

17

Section 2.8

Title to Partnership Assets

17

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

 

Section 3.1

Limitation of Liability

17

Section 3.2

Management of Business

18

Section 3.3

Outside Activities of the Limited Partners

18

Section 3.4

Rights of Limited Partners

18

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

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

 

Section 4.1

Certificates

19

Section 4.2

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates

19

Section 4.3

Record Holders

20

Section 4.4

Transfer Generally

20

Section 4.5

Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests

21

Section 4.6

Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest

22

Section 4.7

Restrictions on Transfers

22

Section 4.8

Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees

23

Section 4.9

Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees

24

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

Section 5.1

Exchange of Incentive Distribution Rights and Economic General Partner Interest

25

Section 5.2

Interest and Withdrawal

26

Section 5.3

Capital Accounts

26

Section 5.4

Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities

29

Section 5.5

Limited Preemptive Right

30

Section 5.6

Splits and Combinations

30

 

i



 

Section 5.7

Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests

31

Section 5.8

Contributions by Partners

31

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 6.1

Allocations for Capital Account Purposes

31

Section 6.2

Allocations for Tax Purposes

35

Section 6.3

Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders

37

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

 

Section 7.1

Management

37

Section 7.2

Certificate of Limited Partnership

39

Section 7.3

Restrictions on General Partner’s Authority

40

Section 7.4

Reimbursement of the General Partner

41

Section 7.5

Outside Activities

41

Section 7.6

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

43

Section 7.7

Indemnification

44

Section 7.8

Liability of Indemnitees

46

Section 7.9

Resolution of Conflicts of Interest

47

Section 7.10

Other Matters Concerning the General Partner

48

Section 7.11

Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities

49

Section 7.12

Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates

49

Section 7.13

Reliance by Third Parties

51

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

 

Section 8.1

Records and Accounting

51

Section 8.2

Fiscal Year

52

Section 8.3

Reports

52

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

TAX MATTERS

 

Section 9.1

Tax Returns and Information

52

Section 9.2

Tax Elections

52

Section 9.3

Tax Controversies

53

Section 9.4

Withholding; Tax Payments

53

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

 

Section 10.1

Admission of Substituted Limited Partner

54

Section 10.2

Admission of Successor General Partners

54

Section 10.3

Admission of Additional Limited Partners

54

Section 10.4

Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership

55

 

ii



 

ARTICLE XI

WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

 

Section 11.1

Withdrawal of the General Partner

55

Section 11.2

Removal of the General Partner

56

Section 11.3

Withdrawal of Limited Partners

57

 

 

 

ARTICLE XII

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

 

Section 12.1

Dissolution

57

Section 12.2

Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution

58

Section 12.3

Liquidator

58

Section 12.4

Liquidation

59

Section 12.5

Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership

60

Section 12.6

Return of Contributions

60

Section 12.7

Waiver of Partition

60

Section 12.8

Capital Account Restoration

60

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

 

Section 13.1

Amendment to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner

60

Section 13.2

Amendment Procedures

62

Section 13.3

Amendment Requirements

62

Section 13.4

Special Meetings

63

Section 13.5

Notice of a Meeting

63

Section 13.6

Record Date

63

Section 13.7

Adjournment

63

Section 13.8

Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes

64

Section 13.9

Quorum

64

Section 13.10

Conduct of a Meeting

65

Section 13.11

Action Without a Meeting

65

Section 13.12

Voting and Other Rights

66

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIV

MERGER

 

Section 14.1

Authority

66

Section 14.2

Procedure for Merger or Consolidation

66

Section 14.3

Approval by Limited Partners of Merger or Consolidation

67

Section 14.4

Certificate of Merger

68

Section 14.5

Effect of Merger

68

 

 

 

ARTICLE XV

RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

 

Section 15.1

Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests

69

 

iii



 

ARTICLE XVI

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 16.1

Addresses and Notices

70

Section 16.2

Further Action

71

Section 16.3

Binding Effect

71

Section 16.4

Integration

71

Section 16.5

Creditors

71

Section 16.6

Waiver

71

Section 16.7

Counterparts

72

Section 16.8

Applicable Law

72

Section 16.9

Invalidity of Provisions

72

Section 16.10

Consent of Partners

72

 

iv



 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS
, L.P.

 

THIS FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P. dated and effective as of July 28, 2017, is entered into by and among Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ MGP ”), as the General Partner and as lawful agent and attorney-in-fact for the Limited Partners, 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:

 

WHEREAS, that certain First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership dated as of August 20, 1999 (the “ 1999 Agreement ”) was adopted in connection with the initial public offering of the Partnership;

 

WHEREAS, the General Partner effected Amendment No. 1 to the 1999 Agreement on April 20, 2005 to amend certain provisions relating to priority allocations of gross income or gain with respect to the holders of incentive distribution rights and the General Partner and ARGP;

 

WHEREAS, that certain Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership dated as of September 15, 2005 (as amended to date, the “ 2005 Agreement ”) was adopted to reflect the foregoing amendment to the 1999 Agreement, together with various numerical changes to the 1999 Agreement resulting from a two-for-one split of the Partnership’s Common Units (the “ 2005 Unit Split ”);

 

WHEREAS, the General Partner effected Amendment No. 1 to the 2005 Agreement on May 15, 2006 to amend certain special allocation provisions with respect to contributions;

 

WHEREAS, the General Partner effected Amendment No. 2 to the 2005 Agreement on October 25, 2007 to provide that Units issued by the Partnership may be uncertificated and to make certain adjustments to comply with the rules, regulations, guidelines and requirements of the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed;

 

WHEREAS, the General Partner effected Amendment No. 3 to the 2005 Agreement on April 14, 2008 to make certain adjustments to certain allocation provisions and the definitions related thereto;

 

WHEREAS, that certain Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership dated as of June 16, 2014 (as amended to date, the “ 2014 Agreement ”) was adopted to reflect the foregoing amendments to the 2005 Agreement, together with various numerical changes to the 2005 Agreement resulting from the two-for-one split of the Partnership’s Common Units (the “ 2014 Unit Split ”);

 

WHEREAS, the General Partner effected Amendment No. 1 to the 2014 Agreement on July 28, 2017 to amend certain allocation provisions, which Amendment No. 1 was effective for the period beginning January 1, 2017 and ending July 28, 2017;

 

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WHEREAS, the Partnership, the General Partner, ARGP, Alliance Holdings GP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, ARM GP Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and MGP II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ MGP II ”), have entered into that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “ IDR Contribution Agreement ”), pursuant to which (i) the General Partner will contribute the Incentive Distribution Rights held by the General Partner and the economic general partner interest in the Partnership held by the General Partner to the Partnership in exchange for Common Units and a non-economic General Partner Interest, (ii) ARGP will contribute its economic general partner interest in the Partnership and its general partner interest in the Intermediate Partnership to the Partnership in exchange for Common Units and (iii) the Incentive Distribution Rights will be cancelled;

 

WHEREAS, the General Partner desires to amend and restate the 2014 Agreement to, among other things, reflect the transactions contemplated by the IDR Contribution Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, Section 13.1(d) of the 2014 Agreement permits the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner or Assignee, to amend the 2014 Agreement to reflect any change that, in the discretion of the General Partner, does not adversely affect the Limited Partners in any material respect.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the General Partner, pursuant to its authority under Section 13.1(d) and the exercise of its discretion, does hereby amend and restate the 2014 Agreement, effective as of July 28, 2017, to provide, in its entirety, as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1                                    Definitions.

 

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

 

1999 Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

2005 Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

2005 Unit Split ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

2014 Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

2014 Unit Split ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Acquisition ” means any transaction in which any Group Member acquires (through an asset acquisition, merger, stock acquisition or other form of investment) control over all or a portion of the assets, properties or business of another Person for the purpose of increasing, over the long term, the operating capacity of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such transaction.

 

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Additional Limited Partner ” means a Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.3 and who is shown as such on the books and records of the Partnership.

 

Adjusted Capital Account ” means the Capital Account maintained for each Partner as of the end of each fiscal year of the Partnership, (a) increased by any amounts that such Partner is obligated to restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (or is deemed obligated to restore under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5)) and (b) decreased by (i) the amount of all losses and deductions that, as of the end of such fiscal year, are reasonably expected to be allocated to such Partner in subsequent years under Sections 704(e)(2) and 706(d) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.751-1(b)(2)(ii), and (ii) the amount of all distributions that, as of the end of such fiscal year, are reasonably expected to be made to such Partner in subsequent years in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or otherwise to the extent they exceed offsetting increases to such Partner’s Capital Account that are reasonably expected to occur during (or prior to) the year in which such distributions are reasonably expected to be made (other than increases as a result of a minimum gain chargeback pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i)  or 6.1(c)(ii) ). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. The “Adjusted Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of a Common Unit or any other specified interest in the Partnership shall be the amount which such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such Common Unit or other interest in the Partnership were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such Common Unit or other interest was first issued.

 

Adjusted Property ” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Section 5.3(d)(i)  or 5.3(d)(ii) .

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Agreed Allocation ” means any allocation, other than a Required Allocation, of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1 , including, without limitation, a Curative Allocation (if appropriate to the context in which the term “Agreed Allocation” is used).

 

Agreed Value ” of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property or other consideration at the time of contribution as determined by the General Partner using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt. The General Partner shall, in its discretion, use such method as it deems reasonable and appropriate to allocate the aggregate Agreed Value of Contributed Properties contributed to the Partnership in a single or integrated transaction among each separate property on a basis proportional to the fair market value of each Contributed Property.

 

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Agreement ” means this Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

ARGP ” means Alliance Resource GP, LLC and its successors and permitted assigns as special general partner of the Partnership.

 

Assignee ” means a Non-citizen Assignee or a Person to whom one or more Limited Partner Interests have been transferred in a manner permitted under this Agreement.

 

Associate ” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock or other voting interest; (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same principal residence as such Person.

 

Available Cash ” means, with respect to any Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation Date, and without duplication:

 

(a)                                  the sum of (i) all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group on hand at the end of such Quarter, and (ii) all additional cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter resulting from Working Capital Borrowings made subsequent to the end of such Quarter, less

 

(b)                                  the amount of any cash reserves that are necessary or appropriate in the reasonable discretion of the General Partner to (i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership Group) subsequent to such Quarter, (ii) comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject or (iii) provide funds for distributions under Section 6.3 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters; provided , however , that the General Partner may not establish cash reserves pursuant to (iii) above if the effect of such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to distribute $0.125 (subject to proportionate adjustments in the event of any distribution, combination or subdivision (whether effected by a distribution payable in Units or otherwise) of Units or other Partnership Securities in accordance with Section 5.6 ) on all Common Units; and provided further , that disbursements made by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such Quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash, within such Quarter if the General Partner so determines.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Available Cash” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.

 

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Book-Tax Disparity ” means with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for federal income tax purposes as of such date. A Partner’s share of the Partnership’s Book- Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such Partner’s Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section 5.3 and the hypothetical balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles.

 

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 states of New York or Texas shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

 

Capital Account ” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.3 . The “Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of a Common Unit or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount which such Capital Account would be if such Common Unit or other Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such Common Unit or other Partnership Interest was first issued.

 

Capital Contribution ” means any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of Contributed Property that a Partner contributes to the Partnership.

 

Capital Improvement ” means any (a) addition or improvement to the capital assets owned by any Group Member or (b) acquisition of existing, or the construction of new, capital assets (including, without limitation, coal mines, preparation plants and related assets), in each case if such addition, improvement, acquisition or construction is made to increase over the long term the operating capacity of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such addition, improvement, acquisition or construction.

 

Carrying Value ” means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions charged to the Partners’ and Assignees’ Capital Accounts in respect of such Contributed Property, and (b) with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such property for federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination. The Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 5.3(d)(i)  and 5.3(d)(ii)  and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the General Partner.

 

Cause ” means a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding the General Partner liable for actual fraud, gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct in its capacity as a general partner of the Partnership.

 

Certificate ” means a certificate (i) substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement, (ii) issued in global form in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Depositary or (iii) in such other form as may be adopted by the General Partner in its discretion, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more Common Units or a certificate, in

 

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such form as may be adopted by the General Partner in its discretion, 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 General Partner by which an Assignee or a Limited Partner certifies that he (and if he is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, that to the best of his knowledge such other Person) is an Eligible Citizen.

 

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

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific Section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of successor law.

 

Commission ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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

 

Conflicts Committee ” means a committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner composed entirely of two or more directors who are neither security holders, officers nor employees of the General Partner nor officers, directors or employees of any Affiliate of the General Partner.

 

Contributed Property ” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership. Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.3(d) , such property shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.

 

Contribution Agreement ” means that certain Contribution and Assumption Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date (as such term is defined in the 2014 Agreement), among the General Partner, ARGP, the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership, the Operating Subsidiary and certain other parties, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder.

 

Curative Allocation ” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, deduction, loss or credit pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(c)(x) .

 

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

 

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

 

Departing Partner ” means a former General Partner from and after the effective date of any withdrawal or removal of such former General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 .

 

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

 

Economic Risk of Loss ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).

 

Eligible Citizen ” means a Person qualified to own interests in real property in jurisdictions in which any Group Member does business or proposes to do business from time to time, and whose status as a Limited Partner or Assignee does not or would not subject such Group Member to a significant risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any of its properties or any interest therein.

 

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

 

General Partner ” means Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and its successors and permitted assigns as general partner of the Partnership. Prior to the effective time of this Agreement, the General Partner was the Managing General Partner (as defined in the 2014 Agreement) and neither the transactions contemplated by the IDR Contribution Agreement nor the change in status from “Managing General Partner” to “General Partner” shall be deemed to cause an interruption of the appointment of the General Partner as a general partner of the Partnership and the Partnership is hereby continued without dissolution.

 

General Partner Interest ” means the management interest of the General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it), and includes any and all benefits to which the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. The General Partner Interest does not have any rights to ownership, profit or any rights to receive any distributions from operations or the liquidation of the Partnership.

 

Gross Liability Value ” means, with respect to any Liability of the Partnership described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-7(b)(3)(i), the amount of cash that a willing assignor would pay to a willing assignee to assume such Liability in an arm’s-length transaction.

 

Group ” means a Person that with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons) or disposing of any Partnership Securities with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, Partnership Securities.

 

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Group Member ” means a member of the Partnership Group.

 

Holder ” as used in Section 7.12 , has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(a) .

 

IDR Contribution Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Incentive Distribution Rights ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 1.1 of the 2014 Agreement.

 

Indemnified Persons ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(c) .

 

Indemnitee ” means (a) the General Partner, (b)  ARGP, (c) any Departing Partner, (d) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner, ARGP or any Departing Partner, (e) any Person who is or was a member, partner, officer, director, employee, agent or trustee of any Group Member, the General Partner, ARGP or any Departing Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member, the General Partner, ARGP or any Departing Partner, and (f) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the General Partner, ARGP or any Departing Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner, ARGP or any Departing Partner as an officer, director, employee, member, partner, 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, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services.

 

Intermediate Partnership ” means Alliance Resource Operating Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

 

Intermediate Partnership Agreement ” means the Agreement of Limited Partnership of Alliance Resource Operating Partners, L.P., as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Liability ” means any liability or obligation of any nature, whether accrued, contingent or otherwise .

 

Limited Partner ” means, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) each Person that is a limited partner of the Partnership at the effective time of this Agreement, each Substituted Limited Partner, and each Additional Limited Partner, (b) so long as it holds Common Units, each of MGP, MGP II and ARGP, and (c) solely for purposes of Articles V VI VII and  IX and Sections 12.3 and 12.4 , each Assignee.

 

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

 

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

 

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right to elect to reconstitute the Partnership and continue its business has expired without such an election being made, and (b) in the case of any other event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership, the date on which such event occurs.

 

Liquidator ” means one or more Persons selected by the General Partner to perform the functions described in Section 12.3 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership within the meaning of the Delaware Act.

 

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

 

MGP ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

MGP II ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

National Securities Exchange ” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute, or the Nasdaq Stock Market or any successor thereto.

 

Net Agreed Value ” means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced by any liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or to which such property is subject when contributed, and (b) in the case of any property distributed to a Partner or Assignee by the Partnership, the Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.3(d)(ii) ) at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any indebtedness either assumed by such Partner or Assignee upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution, in either case, as determined under Section 752 of the Code.

 

Net Income ” means, for any taxable year, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable year over the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable year. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.3(b) but shall not include items specially allocated under Section 6.1(c). “ Net Loss ” means, for any taxable year, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable year over the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable year. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.3(b), but shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(c).

 

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

 

Noncompensatory Option ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.721-2(f).

 

Nonrecourse Built-in Gain ” means with respect to any Contributed Properties or Adjusted Properties that are subject to a mortgage or pledge securing a Nonrecourse Liability, the amount of any taxable gain that would be allocated to the Partners pursuant to

 

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Sections 6.2(b)(i)(A) , 6.2(b)(ii)(A)  and 6.2(b)(iii)  if such properties were disposed of in a taxable transaction in full satisfaction of such liabilities and for no other consideration.

 

Nonrecourse Deductions ” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including, without limitation, any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b), are attributable to a Nonrecourse Liability.

 

Nonrecourse Liability ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-1(a)(2).

 

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

 

Omnibus Agreement ” means that Omnibus Agreement, dated as of August 20, 1999, among Alliance Resource Holdings, Inc., the General Partner, ARGP, the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership and the Operating Subsidiary.

 

Operating Subsidiary ” means Alliance Coal, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any successors thereto.

 

Operating Subsidiary Agreement ” means the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Operating Subsidiary, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the Partnership or the General Partner or any of their Affiliates) acceptable to the General Partner in its reasonable discretion.

 

Outstanding ” means, with respect to Partnership Securities, all Partnership Securities that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding on the Partnership’s books and records as of the date of determination; provided, however, that if at any time any Person or Group (other than the General Partner or its Affiliates) beneficially owns 20% or more of any Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding, all Partnership Securities owned by such Person or Group shall not be voted on any matter and shall not be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement; provided , that the foregoing limitation shall not apply (i) to any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates or (ii) to any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in clause (i) provided that the General Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply.

 

Partner Nonrecourse Debt ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).

 

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Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2).

 

Partner Nonrecourse Deductions ” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including, without limitation, any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i), are attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt.

 

Partners ” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.

 

Partnership ” means Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any successors thereto.

 

Partnership Group ” means the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership, the Operating Subsidiary and any Subsidiary of any such entity, treated as a single consolidated entity.

 

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

 

Partnership Minimum Gain ” means that amount determined in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(d).

 

Partnership Security ” means any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership (but excluding any options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership), including without limitation, Common Units. Partnership Security shall not include the General Partner Interest.

 

Percentage Interest ” means as of any date of determination (a) as to any Unitholder or Assignee holding Units, the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the number of Units held by such Unitholder or Assignee by (B) the total number of all Outstanding Units, and (b) as to the holders of additional Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.4 , the percentage established as a part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest with respect to the General Partner Interest shall at all times be zero.

 

Person ” means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

 

Per Unit Capital Amount ” means, as of any date of determination, the Capital Account, stated on a per Unit basis, underlying any Unit held by a Person other than the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner who holds Units.

 

Pro Rata ” means (a) when modifying Units or any class thereof, apportioned equally among all designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests and (b) when modifying Partners and Assignees, apportioned among all Partners and Assignees in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests.

 

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

 

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

 

Recapture Income ” means any gain recognized by the Partnership (computed without regard to any adjustment required by Section 734 or Section 743 of the Code) upon the disposition of any property or asset of the Partnership, which gain is characterized as ordinary income because it represents the recapture of deductions previously taken with respect to such property or asset.

 

Record Date ” means the date established by the General Partner for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Limited Partners or entitled to vote by ballot or give approval of Partnership action in writing without a meeting or entitled to exercise rights in respect of any lawful action of Limited Partners or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer.

 

Record Holder ” means the Person in whose name a Common Unit is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day, or with respect to other Partnership Securities, the Person in whose name any such other Partnership Security is registered on the books which the General Partner has caused to be kept as of the opening of business on such Business Day.

 

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

 

Registration Statement ” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-78845) as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common Units in the Initial Offering.

 

Required Allocations ” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i) , Section 6.1(c)(ii) , Section 6.1(c)(iii) , Section 6.1(c)(iv) , Section 6.1(c)(v) , Section 6.1(c)(vi) , and Section 6.1(c)(viii) .

 

Residual Gain ” or “ Residual Loss ” means any item of gain or loss, as the case may be, of the Partnership recognized for federal income tax purposes resulting from a sale, exchange or other disposition of a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, to the extent such item of gain or loss is not allocated pursuant to Section 6.2(b)(i)(A)  or 6.2(b)(ii)(A) , respectively, to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.

 

Restricted Business ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Omnibus Agreement.

 

Revaluation Event  means an event that results in an adjustment of the Carrying Value of each Partnership property pursuant to Section 5.3(d) .

 

Special Approval ” means approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee.

 

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Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.

 

Substituted Limited Partner ” means a Person who is admitted as a Limited Partner to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.1 in place of and with all the rights of a Limited Partner and who is shown as a Limited Partner on the books and records of the Partnership.

 

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

 

Transfer ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.4(a) .

 

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

 

Unit ” means a Partnership Security that is designated as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units but shall not include a General Partner Interest.

 

Unitholders ” means the holders of Common Units.

 

Unit Majority ” means at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units.

 

Unrealized Gain ” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.3(d) ) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.3(d)  as of such date).

 

Unrealized Loss ” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.3(d)  as of such date) over (b) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.3(d) ).

 

U.S. GAAP ” means United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles consistently applied.

 

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Working Capital Borrowings ” means borrowings used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to partners made pursuant to a credit facility or other arrangement requiring all such borrowings thereunder to be reduced to a relatively small amount each year for an economically meaningful period of time.

 

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 term “include” or “includes” means includes, without limitation, and “including” means including, without limitation.

 

ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION

 

Section 2.1                                    Formation.

 

The Partnership has been previously formed as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act and, ARGP, together with the General Partner, hereby amend and restate the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. in its entirety. This amendment and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement simultaneously with the effectiveness of the transactions contemplated by the IDR Contribution Agreement. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes and a Partner has no interest in specific Partnership property.

 

Section 2.2                                    Name.

 

The name of the Partnership shall be “Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.” The Partnership’s business may be conducted under any other name or names deemed necessary or appropriate by the General Partner in its sole discretion, including the name of the General Partner. The words “Limited Partnership,” “L.P.,” “Ltd.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner in its discretion may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.

 

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

 

Unless and until changed by the General Partner, the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at 850 New Burton Road, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19904, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be Cogency Global Inc. The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 1717 South Boulder Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119 or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The Partnership may

 

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maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner deems necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be 1717 South Boulder Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119 or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.

 

Section 2.4                                    Purpose and Business.

 

The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to (a) serve as a partner of the Intermediate Partnership and, in connection therewith, to exercise all the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership as a partner of the Intermediate Partnership pursuant to the Intermediate Partnership Agreement or otherwise, (b) 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 the Intermediate Partnership is permitted to engage in by the Intermediate Partnership Agreement and any business activity that the Operating Subsidiary are permitted to engage in by the Operating Subsidiary Agreement, 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, (c) 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 General Partner and which lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity; provided, however, that the General Partner reasonably determines, as of the date of the acquisition or commencement of such activity, that such activity (i) generates “qualifying income” (as such term is defined pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code) or (ii) enhances the operations of an activity of the Intermediate Partnership or the Operating Subsidiary or a Partnership activity that generates qualifying income, and (d) do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member. The General Partner has no obligation or duty to the Partnership, the Limited Partners or the Assignees to propose or approve, and in its discretion may decline to propose or approve, the conduct by the Partnership of any business.

 

Section 2.5                                    Powers.

 

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

 

Section 2.6                                    Power of Attorney.

 

(a)                                  Each Limited Partner and each Assignee hereby constitutes and appoints the General Partner and, if a Liquidator shall have been selected pursuant to Section 12.3 , the Liquidator, (and any successor to the Liquidator by merger, transfer, assignment, election or otherwise) and each of their authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with 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:

 

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(i)                                      execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof) that the General Partner or the Liquidator deems necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership may conduct business or own property; (B) all certificates, documents and other instruments that the General Partner or the Liquidator deems necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance with its terms, any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement; (C) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including conveyances and a certificate of cancellation) that the General Partner or the Liquidator deems necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (D) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or other events described in, Article IV, X, XI or XII; (E) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of Partnership Securities issued pursuant to Section 5.4 ; and (F) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including agreements and a certificate of merger) relating to a merger or consolidation of the Partnership pursuant to Article XIV; and

 

(ii)                                   execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other instruments necessary or appropriate, in the discretion of the General Partner or the Liquidator, to 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 is necessary or appropriate, in the discretion of the General Partner or the Liquidator, 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 percentage of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of any class or series required to take any action, the General Partner and the Liquidator may exercise the power of attorney made in this Section 2.6(a)(ii)  only after the necessary vote, consent or approval of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of such class or series, as applicable.

 

Nothing contained in this Section 2.6(a)  shall be construed as authorizing the General Partner to amend this Agreement except in accordance with Article XIII or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and, to the maximum extent permitted by law, not be affected by the subsequent death, incompetency, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of any Limited Partner or Assignee and the transfer of all or any portion of such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s Partnership Interest and shall extend to such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. Each such Limited Partner or Assignee hereby agrees to be bound by any representation made by the General Partner or the Liquidator acting in good faith pursuant to such power of attorney; and each such Limited

 

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Partner or Assignee, to the maximum extent permitted by law, hereby waives any and all defenses that may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the General Partner or the Liquidator taken in good faith under such power of attorney. Each Limited Partner or Assignee shall execute and deliver to the General Partner or the Liquidator, within 15 days after receipt of the request therefor, such further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as the General Partner or the Liquidator deems necessary to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Partnership.

 

Section 2.7                                    Term.

 

The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Limited Partnership in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence until the close of Partnership business on December 31, 2098 or until the earlier dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII . The existence of the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Delaware Act.

 

Section 2.8                                    Title to Partnership Assets.

 

Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner or Assignee, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership, the General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees, as the General Partner may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which record title is held in the name of the General Partner or one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees shall be held by the General Partner or such Affiliate or nominee for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to cause record title to such assets (other than those assets in respect of which the General Partner determines that the expense and difficulty of conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the Partnership impracticable) to be vested in the Partnership as soon as reasonably practicable; provided, further, that, prior to the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as soon thereafter as practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to effect the transfer of record title to the Partnership and, prior to any such transfer, will provide for the use of such assets in a manner satisfactory to the General Partner. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to such Partnership assets is held.

 

ARTICLE III
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

 

Section 3.1                                    Limitation of Liability.

 

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

 

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Section 3.2                                    Management of Business.

 

No Limited Partner or Assignee, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Delaware Act) of the Partnership’s business, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. Any action taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director, employee, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall not be deemed to be participation in the control of the business of the Partnership by a limited partner of the Partnership (within the meaning of Section 17-303(a) of the Delaware Act) and shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners or Assignees under this Agreement.

 

Section 3.3                                    Outside Activities of the Limited Partners.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 7.5 and the Omnibus Agreement, which shall continue to be applicable to the Persons referred to therein, regardless of whether such Persons shall also be Limited Partners or Assignees, any Limited Partner or Assignee shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Partnership Group. Neither the Partnership nor any of the other Partners or Assignees shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner or Assignee.

 

Section 3.4                                    Rights of Limited Partners.

 

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

 

(i)                                      to obtain true and full information regarding the status of the business and financial condition of the Partnership;

 

(ii)                                   promptly after becoming available, to obtain a copy of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns for each year;

 

(iii)                                to have furnished to him a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner;

 

(iv)                               to have furnished to him 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;

 

(v)                                  to obtain true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a description and statement of the Net Agreed Value of any other Capital Contribution by each Partner and which each Partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which each became a Partner; and

 

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(vi)                               to obtain such other information regarding the affairs of the Partnership as is just and reasonable.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 4.1                                    Certificates.

 

Upon the Partnership’s issuance of Common Units to any Person, the Partnership shall issue, upon the request of such Person, one or more Certificates in the name of such Person evidencing the number of such Units being so issued. In addition, upon the request of any Person owning any other Partnership Securities other than Common Units, the Partnership shall issue to such Person one or more certificates evidencing such other Partnership Securities other than Common Units. Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chairman of the Board, President or any Executive Vice President or Vice President and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the General Partner. No Common Unit Certificate shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent; provided , however , that the Units may be certificated or uncertificated as provided in the Delaware Act; provided further , that if the General Partner elects to issue Common Units in global form, the Common Unit Certificates shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Common Units have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership.

 

Section 4.2                                    Mutilated , Destroyed , Lost or Stolen Certificates.

 

(a)                                  If Certificates are issued and any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent, the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate evidencing the same number and type of Partnership Securities as the Certificate so surrendered.

 

(b)                                  The appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign a new Certificate in place of any Certificate previously issued, or issue uncertificated Units, if the Record Holder of the Certificate:

 

(i)                                      makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the Partnership, that a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen;

 

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(ii)                                   requests the issuance of a new Certificate or the issuance of uncertificated Units before the General Partner has notice that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;

 

(iii)                                if requested by the Partnership, delivers to the Partnership a bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the Partnership, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the Partnership may reasonably direct, in its sole discretion, to indemnify the Partnership, the Partners, the General Partner and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the Certificate; and

 

(iv)                               satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the General Partner.

 

(c)                                   If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to notify the Partnership within a reasonable time after it has notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a Certificate, and a transfer of the Limited Partner Interests represented by the Certificate is registered before the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent receives such notification, the Limited Partner or Assignee shall be precluded from making any claim against the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent for such transfer or for a new Certificate or uncertificated Units.

 

(d)                                  As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate or uncertificated Unit under this Section 4.2 , the Partnership may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith.

 

Section 4.3                                    Record Holders.

 

The Partnership shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner or Assignee with respect to any Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such Partnership Interest on the part of any other Person, regardless of whether the Partnership shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed 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 and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such representative Person (a) shall be the Partner or Assignee (as the case may be) of record and beneficially and (b) shall be bound by this Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of a Partner or Assignee (as the case may be) hereunder and as, and to the extent, provided for herein.

 

Section 4.4                                    Transfer Generally.

 

(a)                                  The term “transfer,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction by which the General Partner assigns its General Partner Interest to another Person who becomes the General Partner, by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is

 

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or becomes a Limited Partner or an Assignee, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise.

 

(b)                                  No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV . Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article IV shall be null and void.

 

(c)                                   Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent a disposition by any stockholder of the General Partner of any or all of the issued and outstanding stock of the General Partner.

 

Section 4.5                                    Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests.

 

(a)                                  The Partnership 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 or of uncertificated Limited Partner Interests unless such transfers are effected in the manner described in this Section 4.5 . Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b) , the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Common Units, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered.

 

(b)                                  Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.8 , the Partnership shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests until either (i) the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are surrendered for registration of transfer or (ii) the receipt of proper instructions from the registered owner of uncertificated Common Units. No charge shall be imposed by the Partnership for such transfer; provided, that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate representing Limited Partner Interests or uncertificated Limited Partner Interests under this Section 4.5 , the Partnership may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto.

 

(c)                                   Upon the receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of uncertificated Common Units, such uncertificated Common Units will be cancelled, issuance of new equivalent uncertificated Common Units or Certificates, will be made to the holder of Common Units entitled thereto and the transaction will be recorded upon the books of the Partnership.

 

(d)                                  Limited Partner Interests may be transferred only in the manner described in this Section 4.5 . The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.

 

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(e)           Until admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.1 , the Record Holder of a Limited Partner Interest shall be an Assignee in respect of such Limited Partner Interest. Limited Partners may include custodians, nominees or any other individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity.

 

(f)            A transferee of a Limited Partner Interest shall be deemed to have (i) requested admission as a Substituted Limited Partner, (ii) agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed this Agreement, (iii) represented and warranted that such transferee has the right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity to enter into this Agreement, (iv) granted the powers of attorney set forth in this Agreement and (v) given the consents and approvals and made the waivers contained in this Agreement.

 

(g)           The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their Common Units to one or more Persons.

 

Section 4.6                                    Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest.

 

(a)           Subject to Section 4.6(b)  below, the General Partner may transfer its General Partner Interest without Unitholder approval.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the General Partner transfers its General Partner Interest in whole and not in part and (ii) the transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and the Intermediate Partnership Agreement and the managing member under the Operating Subsidiary Agreement and to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, the Intermediate Partnership Agreement and the Operating Subsidiary Agreement, (iii) the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner or of any limited partner of the Intermediate Partnership or of any member of the Operating Subsidiary or cause the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership or the Operating Subsidiary to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed), and (iv) such transferee also agrees to purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership interest of the General Partner as the general partner or managing member of each other Group Member. In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 4.6 , the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of Section 10.2 , be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner immediately prior to the transfer of the Partnership Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall continue without dissolution. This Section 4.6 is not intended to restrict the ability of the General Partner to delegate authority to agents, but rather, this Section 4.6 only applies to a change in the general partner of the Partnership.

 

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 federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the Commission, any state securities commission or any other governmental authority with

 

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jurisdiction over such transfer, (ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership or the Operating Subsidiary under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, or (iii) cause the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership or the Operating Subsidiary to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).

 

(b)           The General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if a subsequent Opinion of Counsel determines that such restrictions are necessary to avoid a significant risk of the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership or the Operating Subsidiary becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes. The restrictions may be imposed by making such amendments to this Agreement as the General Partner may determine to be necessary or appropriate to impose such restrictions; provided, however, that any amendment that the General Partner believes, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, could result in the delisting or suspension of trading of any class of Limited Partner Interests on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is then 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 federal, state or local law or regulation that, in the reasonable determination of the General Partner, 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 or Assignee, the General Partner may request any Limited Partner or Assignee to furnish to the General Partner, within 30 days after receipt of such request, an executed Citizenship Certification or such other information concerning his nationality, citizenship or other related status (or, if the Limited Partner or Assignee is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, the nationality, citizenship or other related status of such Person) as the General Partner may request. If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to furnish to the General Partner within the aforementioned 30-day period such Citizenship Certification or other requested information or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other requested information the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner or Assignee is not an Eligible Citizen, the Partnership Interests owned by such Limited Partner or Assignee shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.9 . In addition, the General Partner may require that the status of any such Partner or Assignee be changed to that of a Non-citizen Assignee and, thereupon, the General Partner shall be substituted for such Non-citizen Assignee as the Limited Partner in respect of his Limited Partner Interests.

 

(b)           The General Partner shall, in exercising voting rights in respect of Limited Partner Interests held by it on behalf of Non-citizen Assignees, distribute the votes in the same ratios as the votes of Partners (including without limitation the General Partner) in respect of

 

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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 General Partner, request admission as a Substituted Limited Partner with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of such Non-citizen Assignee not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.9 , and upon his admission pursuant to Section 10.1 , the General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited Partner Interests.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(ii)           The aggregate redemption price for Redeemable Interests shall be an amount equal to the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the date fixed for redemption) of Limited Partner Interests of the class to be so redeemed multiplied by the number of Limited Partner Interests of each such class included among the Redeemable Interests. The redemption price shall be paid, in the discretion of the

 

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General Partner, in cash or by delivery of a promissory note of the Partnership in the principal amount of the redemption price, bearing interest at the rate of 10% annually and payable in three equal annual installments of principal together with accrued interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.

 

(iii)          Upon surrender by or on behalf of the Limited Partner or Assignee, at the place specified in the notice of redemption, of (x) if certificated, the Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Interests, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by an assignment duly executed in blank, or (y) if uncertificated, upon receipt of evidence satisfactory to the General Partner of the ownership of the Redeemable Interests, the Limited Partner or Assignee or his duly authorized representative shall be entitled to receive the payment therefor.

 

(iv)          After the redemption date, Redeemable Interests shall no longer constitute issued and Outstanding Limited Partner Interests.

 

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

 

(c)           Nothing in this Section 4.9 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 General Partner shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner that he is an Eligible Citizen. If the transferee fails to make such certification, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee on the original redemption date.

 

ARTICLE V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

Section 5.1                                    Exchange of Incentive Distribution Rights and Economic General Partner Interest.

 

As of the date hereof, pursuant to the IDR Contribution Agreement, the General Partner will contribute the Incentive Distribution Rights held by the General Partner and the economic general partner interest in the Partnership held by the General Partner to the Partnership in exchange for 56,100,000 Common Units and a non-economic General Partner Interest and (ii) ARGP will contribute its economic general partner interest in the Partnership and its general partner interest in the Intermediate Partnership to the Partnership in exchange for 7,181 Common Units.  From the date hereof, effective immediately following the aforementioned transactions, the Incentive Distribution Rights shall no longer exist and the General Partner Interest shall be a non-economic general partner interest. The contribution of the economic general partner interest and the issuance of the non-economic General Partner Interest shall be deemed to happen simultaneously, with the effect that MGP was at all times a general partner of the Partnership.

 

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Section 5.2                                    Interest and Withdrawal.

 

No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions. No Partner or Assignee shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership may be considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner or Assignee shall have priority over any other Partner or Assignee either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions. Any such return shall be a compromise to which all Partners and Assignees agree within the meaning of 17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.

 

Section 5.3                                    Capital Accounts.

 

(a)           The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of Partnership Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to the General Partner in its sole discretion) owning a Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made to the Partnership with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain (including, without limitation, income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section 5.3(b)  and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1 , and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to this Agreement and (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.3(b)  and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1 .

 

(b)           For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction which is to be allocated pursuant to Article VI and is to be reflected in the Partners’ Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for federal income tax purposes (including, without limitation, any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for that purpose), provided, that:

 

(i)            Solely for purposes of this Section 5.3 , the Partnership shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by the General Partner based upon the provisions of the Intermediate Partnership Agreement and the Operating Subsidiary Agreement) of all property owned by the Intermediate Partnership, the Operating Subsidiary or any other Subsidiary that is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

 

(ii)           All fees and other expenses incurred by the Partnership to promote the sale of (or to sell) a Partnership Interest that can neither be deducted nor amortized under Section 709 of the Code, if any, shall, for purposes of Capital Account maintenance, be treated as an item of deduction at the time such fees and other expenses are incurred and shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1 .

 

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(iii)          Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code which may be made by the Partnership and, as to those items described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized for federal income tax purposes.

 

(iv)          To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or loss.

 

(v)           In the event the Carrying Value of Partnership property is adjusted pursuant to  Section 5.3(d) , any Unrealized Gain resulting from such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain and any Unrealized Loss resulting from such adjustment shall be treated as an item of loss.

 

(vi)          Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable disposition of any Partnership property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of disposition were equal in amount to the Partnership’s Carrying Value with respect to such property as of such date.

 

(vii)         In accordance with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code, any deductions for depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to any Contributed Property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property on the date it was acquired by the Partnership were equal to the Agreed Value of such property. Upon an adjustment pursuant to Section 5.3(d)  to the Carrying Value of any Partnership property subject to depreciation, cost recovery or amortization, any further deductions for such depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to such property shall be determined (A) as if the adjusted basis of such property were equal to the Carrying Value of such property immediately following such adjustment and (B) using a rate of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization derived from the same method and useful life (or, if applicable, the remaining useful life) as is applied for federal income tax purposes; provided, however, that, if the asset has a zero adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, depreciation, cost recovery or amortization deductions shall be determined using any reasonable method that the General Partner may adopt.

 

(viii)        If the Partnership’s adjusted basis in a depreciable or cost recovery property is reduced for federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 48(q)(1) or 48(q)(3) of the Code, the amount of such reduction shall, solely for purposes hereof, be deemed to be an additional depreciation or cost recovery deduction in the year such property is placed in service and shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1 . Any restoration of such basis pursuant to Section 48(q)(2) of the Code shall, to the extent possible, be allocated in the same manner to the Partners to whom such deemed deduction was allocated.

 

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(ix)          The Gross Liability Value of each Liability of the Partnership described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-7(b)(3)(i) shall be adjusted at such times as provided in this Agreement for an adjustment to Carrying Values. The amount of any such adjustment shall be treated for purposes hereof as an item of loss (if the adjustment increases the Carrying Value of such Liability of the Partnership) or an item of gain (if the adjustment decreases the Carrying Value of such Liability of the Partnership)

 

(c)           A transferee of a Partnership Interest shall succeed to a pro rata portion of the Capital Account of the transferor relating to the Partnership Interest so transferred.

 

(d)           (i) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance of a Noncompensatory Option, the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the Capital Accounts of each Limited Partner and the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property;   provided however , that in the event of the issuance of a Partnership Interest pursuant to the exercise of a Noncompensatory Option where the right to share in Partnership capital represented by such Partnership Interest differs from the consideration paid to acquire and exercise such option, the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately after the issuance of such Partnership Interest shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted in a manner consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s);  provided further however , that in the event of an issuance of Partnership Interests for a de   minimis  amount of cash or Contributed Property, in the event of an issuance of a Noncompensatory Option to acquire a de minimis Partnership Interest, or in the event of an issuance of a de minimis amount of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the General Partner may determine that such adjustments are unnecessary for the proper administration of the Partnership. If, upon the occurrence of a Revaluation Event described in this  Section 5.3(d) , a Noncompensatory Option of the Partnership is Outstanding, the Partnership shall adjust the Carrying Value of each Partnership Property in accordance with Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f)(1) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2). In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests (or, in the case of a Revaluation Event resulting from the exercise of a Noncompensatory Option, immediately after the issuance of the Partnership Interest acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Noncompensatory Option) shall be determined by the General Partner using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt; provided, however, that the General Partner, in arriving at such valuation, must take fully into account the fair market value of the Partnership Interests of all Partners at such time. The General Partner shall allocate such aggregate value among the assets of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines in its discretion to be reasonable) to arrive at a fair market value for individual properties.

 

(ii)           In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to any actual or deemed distribution to a Partner of any Partnership property (other than a distribution of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of a Partnership Interest), the Capital Accounts of all Partners and the Carrying Value of all

 

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Partnership property shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in the case of an actual distribution that is not made pursuant to Section 12.4 or in the case of a deemed distribution, be determined and allocated in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.3(d)(i)  or (B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section 12.4 , be determined and allocated by the Liquidator using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt.

 

Section 5.4                                    Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities.

 

(a)           The Partnership may issue additional Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to the Partnership Securities for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as shall be established by the General Partner in its sole discretion, all without the approval of any Limited Partners.

 

(b)           Each additional Partnership Security authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.4(a)  may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes and series of Partnership Securities), as shall be fixed by the General Partner in the exercise of its sole discretion, including (i) the right to share Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may redeem the Partnership Security; (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 (or issued in uncertificated form) and assigned or transferred; and (vii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Security to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Security.

 

(c)           The General Partner is hereby authorized and directed to take all actions that it deems 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 5.4 , (ii) the admission of Additional Limited Partners and (iii) all additional issuances of Partnership Securities. The General Partner is further authorized and directed to specify the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Securities being so issued. The General Partner shall do all things necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things it deems to be necessary or advisable in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Securities, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Securities are listed for trading.

 

(d)           No fractional Units shall be issued by the Partnership.

 

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Section 5.5                                    Limited Preemptive Right.

 

No Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Security, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created.  The General Partner shall have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its Affiliates, to purchase Partnership Securities from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms that, the Partnership issues Partnership Securities to Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain the Percentage Interests of the General Partner and its Affiliates equal to that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership Securities.

 

Section 5.6                                    Splits and Combinations.

 

(a)           Subject to Section 5.6(d)  (dealing with adjustments of distribution levels), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Securities to all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Securities so long as, after any such event, each Partner shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis 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 is declared, the General Partner shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such Record Date to each Record Holder as of a date not less than 10 days prior to the date of such notice. The General Partner also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Partnership Securities to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The General Partner shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.

 

(c)           Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may issue Certificates or uncertificated Partnership Securities to the Record Holders of Partnership Securities as of the applicable Record Date representing the new number of Partnership Securities held by such Record Holders, or the General Partner may adopt such other procedures as it may deem appropriate to reflect such changes. If any such combination results in a smaller total number of Partnership Securities Outstanding, the Partnership shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of such new Certificate, the surrender of any Certificate held by such Record Holder immediately prior to such Record Date.

 

(d)           The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of this Section 5.6(d) , each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall be rounded to the next higher Unit).

 

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Section 5.7                                    Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests.

 

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

 

Section 5.8                                    Contributions by Partners.

 

Consistent with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.83-6(d), if any Partner (or its successor) transfers property (including cash) to any Person who is an employee or other service provider of the Partnership Group and such Partner is not entitled to be reimbursed by (or otherwise elects not to seek reimbursement from) the Partnership for the value of such property, then for tax purposes (x) such property shall be treated as having been contributed to the Partnership by such Partner and (y) immediately thereafter the Partnership shall be treated as having transferred such property to the employee or other service provider. In addition, if any Partner (or its successor) transfers property (including cash) to any other Person in partial or full satisfaction of an obligation of the Partnership Group and such Partner is not entitled to be reimbursed by (or otherwise elects not to seek reimbursement from) the Partnership for the value of such property, then for tax purposes (x) such property shall be treated as having been contributed to the Partnership by such Partner and (y) immediately thereafter the Partnership shall be treated as having transferred such property to such Person.

 

ARTICLE VI
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 6.1                                    Allocations for Capital Account Purposes.

 

For purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Partners among themselves, the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss and deduction (computed in accordance with Section 5.3(b) ) shall be allocated among the Partners in each taxable year (or portion thereof) as provided herein below.

 

(a)           Net Income . Net Income for each taxable year (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss, and deduction taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable year) shall be allocated as follows:

 

(i)            First, to the General Partner until the aggregate amount of Net Income allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this  Section 6.1(a)(i)  for the current and all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate amount of Net Loss allocated to the General Partner pursuant to  Section 6.1(b)(ii)  for all previous taxable years; and

 

(ii)           Second, the balance, if any, 100% to the Unitholders, Pro Rata.

 

(b)           Net Loss . Net Loss for each taxable year (including a pro rata part of each item of income, gain, loss, and deduction taken into account in computing Net Loss for such taxable year) shall be allocated as follows:

 

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(i)            First, to the Unitholders, Pro Rata;  provided , that Net Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) to the extent that such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable year (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account); and

 

(ii)           Second, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.

 

(c)           Special Allocations . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 , the following special allocations shall be made for such taxable year:

 

(i)            Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 , if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable year, each Partner shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(f)(6), 1.704-2(g)(2) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(i), or any successor provision.  For purposes of this Section 6.1(c) , each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)  with respect to such taxable year (other than an allocation pursuant to Sections 6.1(c)(v)  and 6.1(c)(vi) ).  This Section 6.1(c)(i)  is intended to comply with the Partnership Minimum Gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(ii)           Chargeback of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain . Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 6.1 (other than Section 6.1(c)(i) ), except as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4), if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable year, any Partner with a share of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such taxable year shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(ii), or any successor provisions. For purposes of this Section 6.1(c) , each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(c) , other than Section 6.1(c)(i)  and other than an allocation pursuant to Sections 6.1(c)(v)  and 6.1(c)(vi) , with respect to such taxable year.  This Section 6.1(c)(ii)  is intended to comply with the chargeback of items of income and gain requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(iii)          Qualified Income Offset . In the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Partnership income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the deficit balance, if any, in its Adjusted Capital Account created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as

 

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possible unless such deficit balance is otherwise eliminated pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i)  or (ii) .

 

(iv)          Gross Income Allocations . In the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any Partnership taxable year in excess of the sum of (A) the amount such Partner is required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (B) the amount such Partner is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership gross income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iv)  shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Capital Account as adjusted after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if this Section 6.1(c)(iv)  were not in this Agreement.

 

(v)           Nonrecourse Deductions . Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable year shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. If the General Partner determines in its good faith discretion that the Partnership’s Nonrecourse Deductions must be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the General Partner is authorized, upon notice to the other Partners, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.

 

(vi)          Partner Nonrecourse Deductions . Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable year shall be allocated 100% to the Partner that bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to the Partner Nonrecourse Debt to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If more than one Partner bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt, such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions attributable thereto shall be allocated between or among such Partners in accordance with the ratios in which they share such Economic Risk of Loss.

 

(vii)         Nonrecourse Liabilities . For purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), the Partners agree that Nonrecourse Liabilities of the Partnership in excess of the sum of (A) the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain and (B) the total amount of Nonrecourse Built-in Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

(viii)        Code Section 754 Adjustments . To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(c) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis), and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the Treasury Regulations.

 

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(ix)          Economic Uniformity . Upon any Revaluation Event occurring on or after the date hereof, items of Unrealized Gain and Unrealized Loss shall be allocated among the Partners in a manner that to the nearest extent possible results in equal Capital Accounts maintained with respect to each Common Unit.

 

(x)           Curative Allocation .

 

(A)          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 , other than the Required Allocations, the Required Allocations shall be taken into account in making the Agreed Allocations so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of items of income, gain, loss and deduction allocated to each Partner pursuant to the Required Allocations and the Agreed Allocations, together, shall be equal to the net amount of such items that would have been allocated to each such Partner under the Agreed Allocations had the Required Allocations and the related Curative Allocation not otherwise been provided in this Section 6.1 . Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Required Allocations relating to (1) Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain and (2) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(x)(A)  shall only be made with respect to Required Allocations to the extent the General Partner reasonably determines that such allocations will otherwise be inconsistent with the economic agreement among the Partners. Further, allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(x)(A)  shall be deferred with respect to allocations pursuant to clauses (1)  and (2)  hereof to the extent the General Partner reasonably determines that such allocations are likely to be offset by subsequent Required Allocations.

 

(B)          The General Partner shall have reasonable discretion, with respect to each taxable year, to (1) apply the provisions of Section 6.1(c)(x)(A)  in whatever order is most likely to minimize the economic distortions that might otherwise result from the Required Allocations, and (2) divide all allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(x)(A)  among the Partners in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic distortions.

 

(xi)          Allocation to Reverse Deemed Capital Contributions . Consistent with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.83-6(d), if any Partner (or its successor) transfers property (including cash) to any employee or other service provider of the Partnership Group and such Partner is not entitled to be reimbursed by (or otherwise elects not to seek reimbursement from) the Partnership for the value of such property, then any items of deduction or loss resulting from or attributable to such transfer shall be allocated to the Partner (or its successor) that made such transfer and such Partner shall be deemed to have contributed such property to the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.8 . In addition, if any Partner (or its successor) transfers property (including cash) to any Person in partial or full satisfaction of an obligation of the Partnership Group and such Partner is not entitled to be reimbursed by (or otherwise elects not to seek reimbursement from) the Partnership for the value of such property, then any items of deduction or loss resulting

 

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from or attributable to such transfer shall be allocated to the Partner (or its successor) that made such transfer and such Partner shall be deemed to have contributed such property to the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.8 .

 

Section 6.2                                    Allocations for Tax Purposes.

 

(a)           Except as otherwise provided herein, for federal income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” income, gain, loss or deduction is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1 .

 

(b)           In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, items of income, gain, loss, depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions shall be allocated for federal income tax purposes among the Partners as follows:

 

(i)            (A) In the case of a Contributed Property, such items attributable thereto shall be allocated among the Partners in the manner provided under Section 704(c) of the Code that takes into account the variation between the Agreed Value of such property and its adjusted basis at the time of contribution; and (B) any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss attributable to a Contributed Property shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” gain or loss is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1 .

 

(ii)           (A) In the case of an Adjusted Property, such items shall (1) first, be allocated among the Partners in a manner consistent with the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code to take into account the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such property and the allocations thereof pursuant to Section 5.3(d)(i)  or 5.3(d)(ii) , and (2) second, in the event such property was originally a Contributed Property, be allocated among the Partners in a manner consistent with Section 6.2(b)(i)(A) ; and (B) any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss attributable to an Adjusted Property shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” gain or loss is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1 .

 

(iii)          The General Partner shall apply the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d) to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.

 

(c)           For the proper administration of the Partnership and for the preservation of uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof), the General Partner shall have sole discretion to (i) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special allocations for federal income tax purposes of income (including, without limitation, gross income) or deductions; and (iii) amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of the Code or (y) otherwise to preserve or achieve uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). The General Partner may adopt such conventions, make such allocations and make such amendments to this Agreement as provided in this Section 6.2(c)  only if such

 

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conventions, allocations or amendments would not have a material adverse effect on the Partners, the holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests issued and Outstanding or the Partnership, and if such allocations are consistent with the principles of Section 704 of the Code.

 

(d)           The General Partner in its discretion may determine to depreciate or amortize the portion of an adjustment under Section 743(b) of the Code attributable to unrealized appreciation in any Adjusted Property (to the extent of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a predetermined rate derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the Partnership’s common basis of such property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6), Proposed Treasury Regulation 1.197-2(g)(3), or any successor regulations thereto. If the General Partner determines that such reporting position cannot reasonably be taken, the General Partner may adopt depreciation and amortization conventions under which all purchasers acquiring Limited Partner Interests in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in the Partnership’s property. If the General Partner chooses not to utilize such aggregate method, the General Partner may use any other reasonable depreciation and amortization conventions to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any Limited Partner Interests that would not have a material adverse effect on the Limited Partners or the Record Holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests.

 

(e)           Any gain allocated to the Partners upon the sale or other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset shall, to the extent possible, after taking into account other required allocations of gain pursuant to this Section 6.2 , be characterized as Recapture Income in the same proportions and to the same extent as such Partners (or their predecessors in interest) have been allocated any deductions directly or indirectly giving rise to the treatment of such gains as Recapture Income.

 

(f)            All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit recognized by the Partnership for federal income tax purposes and allocated to the Partners in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be determined without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code which may be made by the Partnership; provided, however, that such allocations, once made, shall be adjusted as necessary or appropriate to take into account those adjustments permitted or required by Sections 734 and 743 of the Code.

 

(g)           Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to a transferred Partnership Interest, shall for federal income tax purposes, be determined on an annual basis and prorated on a monthly basis and shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on the first Business Day of each month; provided , that gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of any assets of the Partnership other than in the ordinary course of business shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on the first Business Day of the month in which such gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation as it determines necessary, to the extent permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.

 

(h)           Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Limited Partner under the provisions of this Article VI shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Limited Partner

 

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Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to the General Partner in its sole discretion.

 

(i)            If, as a result of an exercise of a Noncompensatory Option, a Capital Account reallocation is required under Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(3), the General Partner shall make corrective allocations pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(x).

 

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

 

(a)           Within 45 days following the end of each Quarter, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to the Limited Partners as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner in accordance with each Limited Partner’s Percentage Interest. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Partnership shall not make a distribution to any Partner on account of its interest in the Partnership if such distribution would violate the Delaware Act or any other applicable law

 

(b)           Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a) , in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, all receipts received during or after the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs, other than from borrowings described in (a)(ii) of the definition of Available Cash, shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4 .

 

(c)           The General Partner shall have the discretion to treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, or amounts withheld with respect to, all or less than all of the Partners, as a distribution of Available Cash to such Partners.

 

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

 

ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

 

Section 7.1                                    Management.

 

(a)           The General Partner shall conduct, direct and manage all activities of the Partnership. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner or Assignee shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or which are granted to the General Partner under any

 

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other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to Section 7.3 , shall have full power and authority to do all things and on such terms as it, in its sole discretion, may deem necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4 , including the following:

 

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

 

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

 

(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 );

 

(iv)          the use of the assets of the Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Partnership Group; subject to Section 7.6(a) , the lending of funds to other Persons (including the Intermediate Partnership or the Operating Subsidiary); the repayment of obligations of the Partnership Group and the making of capital contributions to any member of the Partnership Group;

 

(v)           the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments (including instruments that limit the liability of the Partnership under contractual arrangements to all or particular assets of the Partnership, with the other party to the contract to have no recourse against the General Partner or its assets other than 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 titles such as “president,” “vice president,” “secretary” and “treasurer”) and agents, outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring;

 

(viii)        the maintenance of such insurance for the benefit of the Partnership Group and the Partners as it deems necessary or appropriate;

 

(ix)          the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property and the making of loans to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, limited liability companies or other relationships (including the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, the Intermediate Partnership

 

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or the Operating Subsidiary 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 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 the issuance of additional options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities; and

 

(xiv)        the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership’s participation in the Operating Subsidiary as a member.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Intermediate Partnership Agreement, the Operating Subsidiary Agreement, the Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and the Assignees and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Partnership Securities hereby (i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of the Operating Subsidiary Agreement, the Intermediate Partnership Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement, the Contribution Agreement, and the other agreements described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement; (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own or through any officer of the Partnership) is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in clause (i)  of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners or the Assignees or the other Persons who may acquire an interest in Partnership Securities; and (iii) agrees that the execution, delivery or performance by the General Partners, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them, of this Agreement or any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement (including the exercise by the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV ), shall not constitute a breach by the General Partners of any duty that the General Partners may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity.

 

Section 7.2                                    Certificate of Limited Partnership.

 

ARGP has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents as may be determined

 

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by the General Partner in its sole discretion to be reasonable and necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent that such action is determined by the General Partner in its sole discretion to be reasonable and necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 3.4(a) , the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.

 

Section 7.3                                    Restrictions on General Partner’s Authority.

 

(a)           The General Partner may not, without written approval of the specific act by holders of all of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests or by other written instrument executed and delivered by holders of all of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests subsequent to the date of this Agreement, take any action in contravention of this Agreement, including, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, (i) committing any act that would make it impossible to carry on the ordinary business of the Partnership; (ii) possessing Partnership property, or assigning any rights in specific Partnership property, for other than a Partnership purpose; (iii) admitting a Person as a Partner; (iv) amending this Agreement in any manner; or (v) transferring its interest as a general partner of the Partnership.

 

(b)           Except as provided in Articles XII and XIV , the General Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Partnership’s assets in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation or other combination) or approve on behalf of the Partnership the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Intermediate Partnership and the Operating Subsidiary, taken as a whole, without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority; provided , however , that this provision shall not preclude or limit the General Partner’s ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership or the Operating Subsidiary and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership or the Operating Subsidiary pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance. Without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority, the General Partner shall not, on behalf of the Partnership, (i) consent to any amendment to the Intermediate Partnership Agreement or the Operating Subsidiary Agreement or, except as expressly permitted by Section 7.9(d) , take any action permitted to be taken by a partner of the Intermediate Partnership or a member of the Operating Subsidiary, in either case, that would have a material adverse effect on the Partnership as partner of the Intermediate Partnership or a member of the Operating Subsidiary or (ii) 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 or a successor general partner of the Intermediate Partnership or a successor managing member of the Operating Subsidiary.

 

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Section 7.4                                    Reimbursement of the General Partner.

 

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

 

(b)           The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other reasonable basis as the General 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 (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person including Affiliates of the General Partner to perform services for the Partnership or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership), and (ii) all other necessary or appropriate expenses allocable to the Partnership or otherwise reasonably incurred by the General Partner in connection with operating the Partnership’s business (including expenses allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates). The General Partner shall determine the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership in any reasonable manner determined by the General Partner in its sole discretion. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7 .

 

(c)           The General Partner, in its sole discretion and without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Securities or options to purchase Partnership Securities), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Securities in connection with, or pursuant to, any employee benefit plan, employee program or employee practice maintained or sponsored by the General Partner or one of its Affiliates, in each case for the benefit of employees of the General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate, or any of them, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Securities that the General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any employees pursuant to any such employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices. Expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Securities purchased by the General Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership to fulfill options or awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 7.4(b) .  Any and all obligations of the General Partner under any employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices adopted by the General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.4(c)  shall constitute obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6 .

 

Section 7.5                                    Outside Activities.

 

(a)           The General Partner, for so long as it is the General Partner of the Partnership (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as a general partner or managing member,

 

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as the case may be, of the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership, the Operating Subsidiary, and any other partnership or limited liability company of which the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership or the Operating Subsidiary is, directly or indirectly, a partner and to undertake activities that are ancillary or related thereto (including being a limited partner in the Partnership), (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 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 and (iii) except to the extent permitted in the Omnibus Agreement, shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, engage in any Restricted Business.

 

(b)           Alliance Resource Holdings, Inc. has entered into the Omnibus Agreement with the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership and the Operating Subsidiary, which agreement sets forth certain restrictions on the ability of Alliance Resource Holdings, Inc. and its Affiliates to engage in Restricted Businesses.

 

(c)           Except as specifically restricted by Section 7.5(a)  and the Omnibus Agreement, each Indemnitee (other than the General Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty express or implied by law to any Group Member or any Partner or Assignee. Neither any Group Member, any Limited Partner nor any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement, the Operating Subsidiary Agreement or the partnership relationship established hereby or thereby in any business ventures of any Indemnitee.

 

(d)           Subject to the terms of Section 7.5(a) , Section 7.5(b) , Section 7.5(c)  and the Omnibus Agreement, but otherwise notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in competitive activities by any Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.5 is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners, (ii) it shall be deemed not to be a breach of the General Partner’s fiduciary duties or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of the General Partner for the Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) to engage in such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Partnership and (iii) except as set forth in the Omnibus Agreement, the General Partner and the Indemnitees shall have no obligation to present business opportunities to the Partnership.

 

(e)           The General Partner and any of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Securities and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise all rights of the General Partner or Limited Partner, as applicable, relating to such Units or Partnership Securities.

 

(f)            The term “Affiliates” when used in Section 7.5(a)  and Section 7.5(e)  with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member or any Subsidiary of the Group Member.

 

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(g)           Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, to the extent that provisions of Sections 7.7 , 7.8 , 7.9 , 7.10 or other Sections of this Agreement purport or are interpreted to have the effect of restricting the fiduciary duties that might otherwise, as a result of Delaware or other applicable law, be owed by the General Partner to the Partnership and its Limited Partners, or to constitute a waiver or consent by the Limited Partners to any such restriction, such provisions shall be inapplicable and have no effect in determining whether the General Partner has complied with its fiduciary duties in connection with determinations made by them under this Section 7.5 .

 

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

 

(a)           The General Partner or any of its Affiliates may lend to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, funds needed or desired by the Group Member for such periods of time and in such amounts as the General Partner may determine; provided , however , that in any such case the lending party may not charge the borrowing party interest at a rate greater than the rate that would be charged the borrowing party or impose terms less favorable to the borrowing party than would be charged or imposed on the borrowing party by unrelated lenders on comparable loans made on an arm’s-length basis (without reference to the lending party’s financial abilities or guarantees). The borrowing party shall reimburse the lending party for any costs (other than any additional interest costs) incurred by the lending party in connection with the borrowing of such funds.  For purposes of this Section 7.6(a)  and Section 7.6(b) , the term “Group Member” shall include any Affiliate of a Group Member that is controlled by the Group Member.  No Group Member may lend funds to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than another Group Member).

 

(b)           The Partnership may lend or contribute to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the Partnership, funds on terms and conditions established in the sole discretion of the General Partner; provided , however , that the Partnership may not charge the Group Member interest at a rate less than the rate that would be charged to the Group Member (without reference to the General Partner’s financial abilities or guarantees) by unrelated lenders on comparable loans. The foregoing authority shall be exercised by the General 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 General Partner may, or may enter into an agreement with any of its Affiliates to, render services to a Group Member or to the General Partner in the discharge of its duties as general partner of the Partnership. Any services rendered to a Group Member by the General 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)  shall be deemed satisfied as to (i) any transaction approved by Special Approval, including the IDR Contribution Agreement, (ii) any transaction, the terms of which are no less favorable to the Partnership Group than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iii) any transaction that, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership

 

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Group), is equitable to the Partnership Group. The provisions of Section 7.4 shall apply to the rendering of services described in this Section 7.6(c) .

 

(d)           The Partnership Group 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)           Neither the General Partner nor any of its Affiliates shall sell, transfer or convey any property to, or purchase any property from, the Partnership, directly or indirectly, except pursuant to transactions that are fair and reasonable to the Partnership; provided , however , that the requirements of this Section 7.6(e)  shall be deemed to be satisfied as (i) any transaction approved by Special Approval, (ii) any transaction, the terms of which are no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties, or (iii) any transaction that, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership), is equitable to the Partnership. With respect to any contribution of assets to the Partnership in exchange for Partnership Securities, the Conflicts Committee, in determining whether the appropriate number of 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, the tax basis in the assets, the extent to which tax-only allocations to the transferor will protect the existing partners of the Partnership against a low tax basis, and such other factors as the Conflicts Committee deems relevant under the circumstances.

 

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

 

(g)           Without limitation of Sections 7.6(a)  through 7.6(f) , and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in the Registration Statement are hereby approved by all Partners.

 

Section 7.7                                    Indemnification.

 

(a)           To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee; provided , that in each case the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner that such Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or (in the case of a Person other than the General Partner) not opposed to, the best interests of the Partnership and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe its conduct was unlawful; provided , further , no indemnification

 

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pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be available to the General Partner with respect to its obligations incurred pursuant to the Contribution Agreement (other than obligations incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership or the Operating Subsidiary). The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that the Indemnitee acted in a manner contrary to that specified above. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that the General Partner shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.

 

(b)           To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7(a)  in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by the Partnership of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Section 7.7 .

 

(c)           The indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, as a matter of law or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.

 

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

 

(e)           For purposes of this Section 7.7 , the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines” within the meaning of Section 7.7(a) ; and action taken or omitted by it with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Partnership.

 

(f)            In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

(i)            No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.7 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Partnership, nor the obligations of the Partnership to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.7 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

 

Section 7.8                                    Liability of Indemnitees.

 

(a)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, the Assignees or any other Persons who have acquired interests in the Partnership Securities, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission if such Indemnitee acted in good faith.

 

(b)           Subject to its obligations and duties as general partner of the Partnership set forth in Section 7.1(a) , the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and the General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by the General Partner in good faith.

 

(c)           To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, the General Partner and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the Partnership’s business or affairs shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities of an Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Indemnitee.

 

(d)           Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, the General Partner, and the Partnership’s and General Partner’s directors, officers and employees 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.

 

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Section 7.9                                    Resolution of Conflicts of Interest.

 

(a)           Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Intermediate Partnership Agreement or the Operating Subsidiary Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership, the Operating Subsidiary, any Partner or any Assignee, on the other, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner or its Affiliates in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of the Intermediate Partnership Agreement, of the Operating Subsidiary Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of action is, or by operation of this Agreement is deemed to be, fair and reasonable to the Partnership. The General Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval of such resolution. Any conflict of interest and any resolution of such conflict of interest shall be conclusively deemed fair and reasonable to the Partnership if such conflict of interest or resolution is (i) approved by Special Approval (as long as the material facts known to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates regarding any proposed transaction were disclosed to the Conflicts Committee at the time it gave its approval), (ii) on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iii) fair to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership). The General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval. The General Partner (including the Conflicts Committee in connection with Special Approval) shall be authorized in connection with its determination of what is “fair and reasonable” to the Partnership and in connection with its resolution of any conflict of interest to consider (A) the relative interests of any party to such conflict, agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interest; (B) any customary or accepted industry practices and any customary or historical dealings with a particular Person; (C) any applicable generally accepted accounting practices or principles; and (D) such additional factors as the General Partner (including the Conflicts Committee) determines in its sole discretion to be relevant, reasonable or appropriate under the circumstances. Nothing contained in this Agreement, however, is intended to nor shall it be construed to require the General Partner (including the Conflicts Committee) to consider the interests of any Person other than the Partnership. In the absence of bad faith by the General Partner, the resolution, action or terms so made, taken or provided by the General Partner with respect to such matter shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein or a breach of any standard of care or duty imposed herein or therein or, to the extent permitted by law, under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation.  No borrowing by any Group Member or the approval thereof by the General Partner shall be deemed to constitute a breach of any duty of the General Partner to the Partnership or the Limited Partners by reason of the fact that the purpose or effect of such borrowing is directly or indirectly to enable distributions to the General Partner or its Affiliates (including in their capacities as Limited Partners).

 

(b)           Whenever this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby provides that the General Partner or any of its Affiliates is permitted or required to make a decision (i) in its “sole discretion” or “discretion,” that it deems “necessary or appropriate” or “necessary or advisable” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, except as otherwise provided herein,

 

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the General Partner or such Affiliate shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting, the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership, the Operating Subsidiary, any Limited Partner or any Assignee, (ii) it may make such decision in its sole discretion (regardless of whether there is a reference to “sole discretion” or “discretion”) unless another express standard is provided for, or (iii) in “good faith” or under another express standard, the General Partner or such Affiliate shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, the Intermediate Partnership Agreement, the Operating Subsidiary Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation. In addition, any actions taken by the General Partner or such Affiliate consistent with the standards of “reasonable discretion” set forth in the definitions of Available Cash shall not constitute a breach of any duty of the General Partner to the Partnership or the Limited Partners. The General Partner shall have no duty, express or implied, to sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business.

 

(c)           Whenever a particular transaction, arrangement or resolution of a conflict of interest is required under this Agreement to be “fair and reasonable” to any Person, the fair and reasonable nature of such transaction, arrangement or resolution shall be considered in the context of all similar or related transactions.

 

(d)           The Unitholders hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership as a partner of a Group Member, to approve of actions by the general partner of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the General Partner pursuant to this Section 7.9 .

 

Section 7.10                             Other Matters Concerning the General Partner.

 

(a)           The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

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

 

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

 

(d)           Any standard of care and duty imposed by this Agreement or under the Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation shall be modified, waived or limited, to the extent permitted by law, as required to permit the General Partner to act under this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated by this Agreement and to make any decision pursuant to the

 

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authority prescribed in this Agreement, so long as such action is reasonably believed by the General Partner to be in, or not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Partnership.

 

Section 7.11                             Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities.

 

The General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Securities. As long as Partnership Securities are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Securities shall not be considered Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein. The General Partner or any of its Affiliates may also purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Partnership Securities for their own account, subject to the provisions of Articles IV and X .

 

Section 7.12                             Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates.

 

(a)           If (i) the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner (including for purposes of this Section 7.12 , any Person that is an Affiliate of the General Partner at the date hereof notwithstanding that it may later cease to be an Affiliate of the General Partner) holds Partnership Securities that it desires to sell and (ii) Rule 144 of the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from registration is not available to enable such holder of Partnership Securities (the “ Holder ”) to dispose of the number of Partnership Securities it desires to sell at the time it desires to do so without registration under the Securities Act, then upon the request of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, the Partnership shall file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use all reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a period of not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Partnership Securities covered by such registration statement have been sold, a registration statement under the Securities Act registering the offering and sale of the number of Partnership Securities specified by the Holder; provided , however , that the Partnership shall not be required to effect more than three registrations pursuant to this Section 7.12(a) ; and provided further , however , that if the Conflicts Committee determines in its good faith judgment that a postponement of the requested registration for up to six months would be in the best interests of the Partnership and its Partners due to a pending transaction, investigation or other event, the filing of such registration statement or the effectiveness thereof may be deferred for up to six months, but not thereafter. In connection with any registration pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the Partnership shall promptly prepare and file (x) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to such registration under the securities laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably request; provided , however , that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation or partnership doing business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of such registration, and (y) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership Securities subject to such registration on such National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request, and do any and all other acts and things that may reasonably be necessary or advisable to enable the Holder to consummate a public sale of such Partnership Securities in such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(c) , all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.

 

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(b)           If the Partnership shall at any time propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act for an offering of equity securities of the Partnership for cash (other than an offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan), the Partnership shall use all reasonable efforts to include such number or amount of securities held by the Holder in such registration statement as the Holder shall request. If the proposed offering pursuant to this Section 7.12(b)  shall be an underwritten offering, then, in the event that the managing underwriter or managing underwriters of such offering advise the Partnership and the Holder in writing that in their opinion the inclusion of all or some of the Holder’s Partnership Securities would adversely and materially affect the success of the offering, the Partnership shall include in such offering only that number or amount, if any, of securities held by the Holder which, in the opinion of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, will not so adversely and materially affect the offering. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(c) , all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.

 

(c)           If underwriters are engaged in connection with any registration referred to in this Section 7.12 , the Partnership shall provide indemnification, representations, covenants, opinions and other assurance to the underwriters in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such underwriters. Further, in addition to and not in limitation of the Partnership’s obligation under Section 7.7 , the Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold harmless the Holder, its officers, directors and each Person who controls the Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent thereof (collectively, “ Indemnified Persons ”) against any losses, claims, demands, actions, causes of action, assessments, damages, liabilities (joint or several), costs and expenses (including interest, penalties and reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements), resulting to, imposed upon, or incurred by the Indemnified Persons, directly or indirectly, under the Securities Act or otherwise (hereinafter referred to in this Section 7.12(c)  as a “claim” and in the plural as “claims”) based upon, arising out of or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement under which any Partnership Securities were registered under the Securities Act or any state securities or Blue Sky laws, in any preliminary prospectus (if used prior to the effective date of such registration statement), or in any summary or final prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (if used during the period the Partnership is required to keep the registration statement current), or arising out of, based upon or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading; provided , however , that the Partnership shall not be liable to any Indemnified Person to the extent that any such claim arises out of, is based upon or results from an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, such preliminary, summary or final prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

 

(d)           The provisions of Section 7.12(a)  and 7.12(b)  shall continue to be applicable with respect to the General Partner (and any of the General Partner’s Affiliates) after they cease to be Partners of the Partnership, during a period of two years subsequent to the effective date of such cessation and for so long thereafter as is required for the Holder to sell all of the Partnership Securities with respect to which it has requested during such two-year period inclusion

 

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in a registration statement otherwise filed or that a registration statement be filed; provided , however , that the Partnership shall not be required to file successive registration statements covering the same Partnership Securities for which registration was demanded during such two-year period. The provisions of Section 7.12(c)  shall continue in effect thereafter.

 

(e)           Any request to register Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 7.12 shall (i) specify the Partnership Securities intended to be offered and sold by the Person making the request, (ii) express such Person’s present intent to offer such shares for distribution, (iii) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Partnership Securities, and (iv) contain the undertaking of such Person to provide all such information and materials and take all action as may be required in order to permit the Partnership to comply with all applicable requirements in connection with the registration of such Partnership Securities.

 

Section 7.13                             Reliance by Third Parties.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner and any officer of the General Partner authorized by the General Partner to act on behalf of and in the name of the Partnership has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Partnership and to enter into any authorized contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner or any such officer as if it were the Partnership’s sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives any and all defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner or any such officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of the Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.

 

ARTICLE VIII
BOOKS
, RECORDS , ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

 

Section 8.1                                    Records and Accounting.

 

The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to Section 3.4(a) . Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business, including the record of the Record Holders and Assignees of Units or other Partnership Securities, books of account and records of Partnership proceedings,

 

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may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided, that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

Section 8.2                                    Fiscal Year.

 

The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending December 31.

 

Section 8.3                                    Reports.

 

(a)           As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available to each Record Holder of a Unit as of a date selected by the General Partner in its discretion, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner.

 

(b)           As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the close of each Quarter except the last Quarter of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the General Partner in its discretion, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed for trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

ARTICLE IX
TAX MATTERS

 

Section 9.1                                    Tax Returns and Information.

 

The Partnership shall timely file all returns of the Partnership that are required for federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and a taxable year ending on December 31. The tax information reasonably required by Record Holders for federal and state income tax reporting purposes with respect to a taxable year shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnership’s taxable year ends. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes.

 

Section 9.2                                    Tax Elections.

 

(a)           The Partnership shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of the right to seek to revoke any such election upon the General Partner’s determination that such revocation is in the best interests of the Limited Partners. Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained, for the purposes of computing the adjustments under Section 743(b) of the Code, the General Partner

 

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shall be authorized (but not required) to adopt a convention whereby the price paid by a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest will be deemed to be the lowest quoted closing price of the Limited Partner Interests on any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are traded during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 6.2(g) without regard to the actual price paid by such transferee.

 

(b)           The Partnership shall elect to deduct expenses incurred in organizing the Partnership ratably over a sixty-month period as provided in Section 709 of the Code.

 

(c)           Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall determine whether the Partnership should make any other elections permitted by the Code.

 

Section 9.3                                    Tax Controversies.

 

(a)           Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors shall designate one officer of the Partnership or the General Partner who is a Partner as the Tax Matters Partner (as defined in Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code as in effect prior to the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015), and the “partnership representative” (as defined in Section 6223 of the Code following the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015) and is authorized and required to represent the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith.  In its capacity as “partnership representative,” the General Partner shall exercise any and all authority of the “partnership representative” under the Code, including, without limitation, (i) binding the Partnership and its Partners with respect to tax matters and (ii) determining whether to make any available election under Section 6226 of the Code.  Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the General Partner to conduct such proceedings.  Each Partner agrees that notice of or updates regarding tax controversies shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made by the General Partner if the Partnership has either (a) filed the information for which notice is required with the Commission via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system and such information is publicly available on such system or (b) made the information for which notice is required available on any publicly available website maintained by the Partnership, whether or not such Partner remains a Partner in the Partnership at the time such information is made publicly available.  The General Partner may amend the provisions of this Agreement as determined appropriate in order to minimize the potential U.S. federal and state or local income tax consequences to current and former Limited Partners, and for the proper administration of the Partnership, upon any amendment to the provisions of Subchapter C of Chapter 63 of Subtitle A of the Code, as enacted by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, or the promulgation of regulations or publication of other administrative guidance thereunder.

 

Section 9.4                                    Withholding; Tax Payments .

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that it determines in its discretion to be necessary or appropriate to cause the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership and the Operating Subsidiary to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law

 

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including, without limitation, pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code.  To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner or Assignee (including, without limitation, by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the amount withheld may at the discretion of the General Partner be treated by the Partnership as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.3 in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.

 

ARTICLE X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

 

Section 10.1                             Admission of Substituted Limited Partner.

 

A transferee of a Limited Partner Interest shall become a Substituted Limited Partner (x) at such time as the General Partner consents thereto, which consent may be given or withheld in the General Partner’s discretion, and (y) when any such admission is shown on the books and records of the Partnership. If such consent is withheld, such transferee shall be an Assignee. An Assignee shall have an interest in the Partnership equivalent to that of a Limited Partner with respect to allocations and distributions, including liquidating distributions, of the Partnership. With respect to voting rights attributable to Limited Partner Interests that are held by Assignees, the General Partner shall be deemed to be the Limited Partner with respect thereto and shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Limited Partner Interests on any matter, vote such Limited Partner Interests at the written direction of the Assignee who is the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interests. If no such written direction is received, such Limited Partner Interests will not be voted. An Assignee shall have no other rights of a Limited Partner.

 

Section 10.2                             Admission of Successor General Partners.

 

A successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective immediately prior to the withdrawal or removal of the predecessor or transferring General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2 or the transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6 , provided , however , that no such successor shall be admitted to the Partnership until compliance with the terms of Section 4.6 has occurred and such successor has executed and delivered such other documents or instruments as may be required to effect such admission. Any such successor shall, subject to the terms hereof, carry on the business of the members of the Partnership Group without dissolution.

 

Section 10.3                             Admission of Additional Limited Partners.

 

(a)           A Person (other than the General Partner or a Substituted Limited Partner) who makes a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement shall be admitted to the Partnership as an Additional Limited Partner only upon furnishing to the General Partner (i) evidence of acceptance in form satisfactory to the General Partner of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the power of attorney granted in Section 2.6 , and (ii) such other documents or instruments as may be required in the discretion of the General Partner to effect such Person’s admission as an Additional Limited Partner.

 

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(b)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.3 , no Person shall be admitted as an Additional Limited Partner without the consent of the General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld in the General Partner’s discretion. The admission of any Person as an Additional Limited Partner shall become effective on the date upon which the name of such Person is recorded as such in the books and records of the Partnership, following the consent of the General Partner to such admission.

 

Section 10.4                             Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership.

 

To effect the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take all steps necessary and appropriate under the Delaware Act to amend the records of the Partnership to reflect such admission and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practicable an amendment to this Agreement and, if required by law, the General Partner shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership, and the General Partner may for this purpose, among others, exercise the power of attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.6 .

 

ARTICLE XI
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

 

Section 11.1                             Withdrawal of the General Partner.

 

(a)                                  The General Partner shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Partnership upon the occurrence of any one of the following events (each such event herein referred to as an “ Event of Withdrawal ”);

 

(i)                                      The General Partner voluntarily withdraws from the Partnership by giving written notice to the other Partners (and it shall be deemed that the General Partner has withdrawn pursuant to this Section 11.1(a)(i)  if the General Partner voluntarily withdraws (A) as general partner of the Intermediate Partnership or (B) as managing member of the Operating Subsidiary);

 

(ii)                                   The General Partner transfers all of its rights as general partner of the Partnership pursuant to Section 4.6 ;

 

(iii)                                The General Partner is removed pursuant to Section 11.2 ;

 

(iv)                               The General Partner (A) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (B) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code; (C) files a petition or answer seeking for itself a liquidation, dissolution or similar relief (but not a reorganization) under any law; (D) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the General Partner in a proceeding of the type described in clauses (A) - (C)  of this Section 11.1(a)(iv) ; or (E) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee (but not a debtor-in-possession), receiver or liquidator of the General Partner or of all or any substantial part of its properties;

 

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(v)                                  A final and non-appealable order of relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code is entered by a court with appropriate jurisdiction pursuant to a voluntary or involuntary petition by or against the General Partner; or

 

(vi)                               (A) in the event the General Partner is a corporation, a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent is filed for the General Partner, or 90 days expire after the date of notice to the General Partner of revocation of its charter without a reinstatement of its charter, under the laws of its state of incorporation; (B) in the event the General Partner is a partnership or a limited liability company, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the General Partner; (C) in the event the General Partner is acting in such capacity by virtue of being a trustee of a trust, the termination of the trust; (D) in the event the General Partner is a natural person, his death or adjudication of incompetency; and (E) otherwise in the event of the termination of the General Partner.

 

If an Event of Withdrawal specified in Section 11.1(a)(iv) , (v)  or (vi)(A) , (B) , (C)  or (E)  occurs, the withdrawing General Partner shall give notice to the Limited Partners within 30 days after such occurrence. The Partners hereby agree that only the Events of Withdrawal described in this Section 11.1 shall result in the withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership.

 

(b)                                  Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i) at any time that the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice to the Unitholders, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice; or (ii) at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii)  or is removed pursuant to Section 11.2 .  The withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, as the case may be, of the other Group Members.  If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i) , the holders of a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner.  The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, as the case may be, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member.  If, prior to the effective date of the General Partner’s withdrawal, a successor is not selected by the Unitholders as provided herein, the Partnership shall be dissolved in accordance with Section 12.1 .  Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.2 .

 

Section 11.2                             Removal of the General Partner.

 

The General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by the Unitholders holding at least 66-2/3% of the Outstanding Units (including Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates). Any such action by such holders for removal of the General Partner must also provide for the election of a successor General Partner by the Unitholders holding a Unit Majority (including Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates). Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 10.2 .  The removal of the General Partner shall also automatically constitute the removal of the General

 

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Partner as general partner or managing member, as the case may be, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member.  If a Person is elected as a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2 , such Person shall, upon admission pursuant to Section 10.2 , automatically become a successor general partner or managing member, as the case may be, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. The right of the holders of Outstanding Units to remove the General Partner shall not exist or be exercised unless the Partnership has received an opinion of counsel that the removal of the General Partner would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or of a limited partner of the Intermediate Partnership or of a member of the Operating Subsidiary or cause the Partnership or the Intermediate Partnership or the Operating Subsidiary to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such). Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.2 .

 

Section 11.3                             Withdrawal of Limited Partners.

 

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

 

ARTICLE XII
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

 

Section 12.1                             Dissolution.

 

The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of Substituted Limited Partners or Additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  Upon the removal or withdrawal of the General Partner, if a successor General Partner is elected pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2 , the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such successor General Partner shall continue the business of the Partnership.  The Partnership shall dissolve, and (subject to Section 12.2 ) its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

 

(a)                                  the expiration of its term as provided in Section 2.7 ;

 

(b)                                  an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a)  (other than Section 11.1(a)(ii) ), unless a successor is elected and an Opinion of Counsel is received as provided in Section 11.1(b)  or 11.2 and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2 ;

 

(c)                                   an election to dissolve the Partnership by the General Partner that is approved by the holders of a Unit Majority;

 

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

 

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(e)                                   the sale of all or substantially all of the assets and properties of the Partnership Group.

 

Section 12.2                             Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution.

 

Upon (a) dissolution of the Partnership following an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a)(i)  or (iii)  and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2 , then within 90 days thereafter, or (b) dissolution of the Partnership upon an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in Section 11.1(a)(iv) , (v)  or (vi) , then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a Unit Majority may elect to reconstitute the Partnership and continue its business on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement by forming a new limited partnership on terms identical to those set forth in this Agreement and having as the successor general partner a Person approved by the holders of a Unit Majority. Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above, the Partnership shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If such an election is so made, then:

 

(i)                                      the reconstituted Partnership shall continue until the end of the term set forth in Section 2.7 unless earlier dissolved in accordance with this Article XII ; and

 

(ii)                                   all necessary steps shall be taken to cancel this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and to enter into and, as necessary, to file a new partnership agreement and certificate of limited partnership, and the successor general partner may for this purpose exercise the powers of attorney granted the General Partner pursuant to Section 2.6 ; provided , that the right of the holders of a Unit Majority to approve a successor General Partner and to reconstitute and to continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that (x) the exercise of the right would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner and (y) neither the Partnership, the reconstituted limited partnership, the Intermediate Partnership nor the Operating Subsidiary would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise be taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of such right to continue.

 

Section 12.3                             Liquidator.

 

Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the Partnership is continued under an election to reconstitute and continue the Partnership pursuant to Section 12.2 , the General Partner shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator.  The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of at least a Unit Majority.  The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by holders of at least a Unit Majority.  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 Unit Majority.  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

 

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substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII , the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the General Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on sale set forth in Section 7.3(b) ) to the extent necessary or desirable in the good faith judgment of the Liquidator to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during such period of time as shall be reasonably required in the good faith judgment of the Liquidator to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.

 

Section 12.4                             Liquidation.

 

The Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Partnership, discharge its liabilities, and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as the Liquidator determines to be in the best interest of the Partners, subject to Section 17-804 of the Delaware 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 cash distributions must be made to the other Partners. The Liquidator may, in its absolute discretion, 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, in its absolute discretion, 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 Partners otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights under Article VI .  With respect to any liability that is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it thinks appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment. When paid, any unused portion of the reserve shall be distributed as additional liquidation proceeds.

 

(c)                                   Liquidation Distributions . All property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in Section 12.4(b)  shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with, and to the extent of, the positive balances in their respective Capital Accounts, as determined after taking into account all Capital Account adjustments (other than those made by reason of distributions pursuant to this Section 12.4(c) ) for the taxable year of the Partnership during which the liquidation of the Partnership occurs (with such date of occurrence being determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)), and such distribution shall be made by the end of such taxable year (or, if later, within 90 days after said date of such occurrence).

 

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Section 12.5                             Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership.

 

Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in Section 12.4 in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership, the Partnership shall be terminated and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.

 

Section 12.6                             Return of Contributions.

 

No General Partner shall be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners or Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Partnership assets.

 

Section 12.7                             Waiver of Partition.

 

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

 

Section 12.8                             Capital Account Restoration.

 

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

 

ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

 

Section 13.1                             Amendment to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner.

 

Each Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner or Assignee, may amend any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:

 

(a)                                  a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal place of business of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership;

 

(b)                                  admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement;

 

(c)                                   a change that, in the sole discretion of the General Partner, is necessary or advisable to qualify or continue the qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership and the Operating Subsidiary will not be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes;

 

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(d)                                  a change that, in the discretion of the General Partner, (i) does not adversely affect the Limited Partners in any material respect, (ii) is necessary or advisable to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the 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 for trading, compliance with any of which the General Partner determines in its discretion to be in the best interests of the Partnership and the Limited Partners, (iii) is necessary or advisable in connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.6 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(e)                                   a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership and any changes that, in the discretion of the General Partner, are necessary or advisable as a result of a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership including, if the General Partner shall so determine, a change in the definition of “Quarter” and the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Partnership;

 

(f)                                    an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership or the General Partner or their directors, officers, trustees or agents from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, regardless of whether such are substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;

 

(g)                                   an amendment that, in the discretion of the General Partner, is necessary or advisable in connection with the authorization of issuance of any class or series of Partnership Securities pursuant to Section 5.4 ;

 

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

 

(i)                                      an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement approved in accordance with Section 14.3 ;

 

(j)                                     an amendment that, in the discretion of the General Partner, is necessary or advisable to reflect, account for and deal with appropriately the formation by the Partnership of, or investment by the Partnership in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection with the conduct by the Partnership of activities permitted by the terms of Section 2.4 ;

 

(k)                                  a merger or conveyance pursuant to Section 14.3(d) ; or

 

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

 

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Section 13.2                             Amendment Procedures.

 

Except as provided in Sections 13.1 and 13.3 , all amendments to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the following requirements. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by or with the consent of the General Partner which consent may be given or withheld in its sole discretion. A proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval by the holders of a Unit Majority, unless a greater or different percentage is required under this Agreement or by Delaware law. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of Outstanding Units shall be set forth in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, the General Partner shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the Unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed amendment. The General Partner shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any such proposed amendments.

 

Section 13.3                             Amendment Requirements.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 13.1 and 13.2 , no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner) required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of reducing such voting percentage unless such amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate Outstanding Units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 13.1 and 13.2 , no amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Limited Partner without its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 13.3(c) , (ii) enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable to, the General Partner or any of its Affiliates without its consent, which consent may be given or withheld in its sole discretion, (iii) change Section 12.1(a)  or 12.1(c) , or (iv) change the term of the Partnership or, except as set forth in Section 12.1(c) , give any Person the right to dissolve the Partnership.

 

(c)                                   Except as provided in Section 14.3 , and except as otherwise provided, and without limitation of the General Partner’s authority to adopt amendments to this Agreement as contemplated in Section 13.1 , any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class of Partnership Interests in relation to other classes of Partnership Interests must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of the class affected.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, except for amendments pursuant to Section 13.1 and except as otherwise provided by Section 14.3(b) , no amendments shall become effective without the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Common 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 applicable law.

 

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(e)                                   Except as provided in Section 13.1 , this Section 13.3 shall only be amended with the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units.

 

Section 13.4                             Special Meetings.

 

All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XIII .  Special meetings of the Limited Partners may be called by the General Partner or by Limited Partners owning 20% or more of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of the class or classes for which a meeting is proposed. Limited Partners shall call a special meeting by delivering to the General Partner one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Limited Partners wish to call a special meeting and indicating the general or specific purposes for which the special meeting is to be called. Within 60 days after receipt of such a call from Limited Partners or within such greater time as may be reasonably necessary for the Partnership to comply with any statutes, rules, regulations, listing agreements or similar requirements governing the holding of a meeting or the solicitation of proxies for use at such a meeting, the General Partner shall send a notice of the meeting to the Limited Partners either directly or indirectly through the Transfer Agent. A meeting shall be held at a time and place determined by the General Partner on a date not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days after the mailing of notice of the meeting. Limited Partners shall not vote on matters that would cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which the Partnership is qualified to do business.

 

Section 13.5                             Notice of a Meeting.

 

Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be given to the Record Holders of the class or classes of 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 General Partner may set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Limited Partner Interests are listed for trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such exchange shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which Limited Partners are requested in writing by the General Partner to give such approvals.

 

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

 

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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, and if, either before or after the meeting, Limited Partners representing such quorum who were present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote, sign a written waiver of notice or an approval of the holding of the meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof. All waivers and approvals shall be filed with the Partnership records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner does not approve, at the beginning of the meeting, of the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened; and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove the consideration of matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if the disapproval is expressly made at the meeting.

 

Section 13.9                             Quorum.

 

The holders of a majority 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 General Partner) represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Limited Partners of such class or classes unless any such action by the Limited Partners requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of such Limited Partner Interests, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. At any meeting of the Limited Partners duly called and held in accordance with this Agreement at which a quorum is present, the act of Limited Partners holding Outstanding Limited Partner Interests that in the aggregate represent a majority 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 the provisions of 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 shall be required. The Limited Partners present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Limited Partners to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by the required percentage of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests specified in this Agreement (including Limited Partner Interests deemed owned by the General Partner). In the absence of a quorum any meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests entitled to vote at such meeting (including Limited Partner Interests deemed owned by the General Partner) represented either in person or by proxy, but no other business may be transacted, except as provided in Section 13.7 .

 

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Section 13.10                      Conduct of a Meeting.

 

The General Partner shall have full power and authority concerning the manner of conducting any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of Section 13.4 , the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting. The General Partner shall designate a Person to serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Partnership maintained by the General Partner. The General Partner may make such other regulations consistent with applicable law and this Agreement as it may deem advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including regulations in regard to the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of the right to vote, and the revocation of approvals in writing.

 

Section 13.11                      Action Without a Meeting.

 

If authorized by the General Partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests (including Limited Partner Interests deemed owned by the General Partner) that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Limited Partner Interests 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 in writing. The General Partner may specify that any written ballot submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the General Partner. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the 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 General Partner, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until (a) they are deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner, (b) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are dated as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date sufficient approvals are deposited with the Partnership and (c) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the General Partner to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken with respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners’ limited liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the state statutes then governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the Partners.

 

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Section 13.12                      Voting and Other Rights.

 

(a)                                  Only those Record Holders of the 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.

 

(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 .

 

ARTICLE XIV
MERGER

 

Section 14.1                             Authority.

 

The Partnership may merge or consolidate with one or more corporations, limited liability companies, business trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a general partnership or 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 or consolidation (“ Merger Agreement ”) in accordance with this Article XIV .

 

Section 14.2                             Procedure for Merger or Consolidation.

 

Merger or consolidation of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV requires the prior approval of the General Partner.  If the General Partner shall determine, in the exercise of its discretion, to consent to the merger or consolidation, the General 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 or consolidate;

 

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

 

(c)                                   The terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;

 

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(d)                                  The manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if any general or limited partner interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of any limited partnership, corporation, trust or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such general or limited partner interests, securities or rights are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion of their general or limited partner 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 or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered;

 

(e)                                   A statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;

 

(f)                                    The effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement (provided, that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of the certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed no later than the time of the filing of the certificate of merger and stated therein); and

 

(g)                                   Such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the General Partner.

 

Section 14.3                             Approval by Limited Partners of Merger or Consolidation.

 

(a)                                  Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) , the General Partner, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement, shall direct that the Merger Agreement be submitted to a vote of Limited Partners, whether at a special meeting or by written consent, in either case in accordance with the requirements of Article XIII .  A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent.

 

(b)                                  Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) , the Merger Agreement shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority unless the Merger Agreement contains any provision that, if contained in an amendment to this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement or the Delaware Act would require for its approval the vote or consent of a greater percentage of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests or of any class of Limited Partners, in which case such greater percentage vote or consent shall be required for approval of the Merger Agreement.

 

(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

 

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pursuant to Section 14.4 , the merger or consolidation may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, in its discretion, without Limited Partner approval, 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 Merger other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group Member if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or any limited partner in the Intermediate Partnership or any member of the Operating Subsidiary or cause the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership or the Operating Subsidiary to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the sole purpose of such merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the governing instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners and the General Partner with the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.

 

Section 14.4                             Certificate of Merger.

 

Upon the required approval by the General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement, a certificate of merger shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act.

 

Section 14.5                             Effect of Merger.

 

(a)                                  At the effective time of the certificate of merger:

 

(i)                                      all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of the business entities that has merged or consolidated, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to any of those business entities and all other things and causes of action belonging to each of those business entities, shall be vested in the Surviving Business Entity and after the merger or consolidation shall be the property of the Surviving Business Entity to the extent they were of each constituent business entity;

 

(ii)                                   the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in any of those constituent business entities shall not revert and is not in any way impaired because of the merger or consolidation;

 

(iii)                                all rights of creditors and all liens on or security interests in property of any of those constituent business entities shall be preserved unimpaired; and

 

(iv)                               all debts, liabilities and duties of those constituent business entities shall attach to the Surviving Business Entity and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.

 

(b)                                  A merger or consolidation effected pursuant to this Article shall not be deemed to result in a transfer or assignment of assets or liabilities from one entity to another.

 

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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 not more than 20% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any class then Outstanding is held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, the General Partner shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership or any Affiliate of the General Partner, exercisable in its sole discretion, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, at the greater of (x) the Current Market Price as of the date three days prior to the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b)  is mailed and (y) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates for any such Limited Partner Interest of such class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b)  is mailed. As used in this Agreement, (i) “Current Market Price” as of any date of any class of Limited Partner Interests listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange means the average of the daily Closing Prices (as hereinafter defined) per limited partner interest of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days (as hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date; (ii) “Closing Price” for any day means the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, regular way, 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 (other than the Nasdaq Stock Market) on which such Limited Partner Interests of such class are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange (other than the Nasdaq Stock Market), the last quoted price on such day or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market or such other system then in use, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class selected by the General Partner, or if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined reasonably and in good faith by the General Partner; and (iii) “Trading Day” means a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests of any class are listed or admitted 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 General Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership elects to exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a) , the General Partner shall deliver to the Transfer Agent notice of such election to purchase (the “ Notice of Election to Purchase ”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent to mail a copy of such Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Limited Partner Interests of such class (as of a Record Date selected by the General Partner) at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date. Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be published for a period

 

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of at least three consecutive days in at least two daily newspapers of general circulation printed in the English language and published in the Borough of Manhattan, New York. The Notice of Election to Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a) ) at which Limited Partner Interests will be purchased and state that the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, elects to purchase such Limited Partner Interests, upon surrender of Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests in exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent as the Transfer Agent may specify, or as may be required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at his address as reflected in the records of the Transfer Agent shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Limited Partner Interests to be purchased in accordance with this Section 15.1 .  If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been duly given as aforesaid at least 10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to the Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made for the benefit of the holders of Limited Partner Interests subject to purchase as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that any Certificate shall not have been surrendered for purchase, all rights of the holders of such Limited Partner Interests (including any rights pursuant to Articles IV , V , VI and XII ) shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a) ) for Limited Partner Interests therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the Transfer Agent of the Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests, and such Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred to the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, on the record books of the Transfer Agent and the Partnership, and the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner, or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be the owner of all such Limited Partner Interests from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the owner of such Limited Partner Interests (including all rights as owner of such Limited Partner Interests pursuant to Articles IV , V , VI and XII ).

 

(c)                                   At any time from and after the Purchase Date, a holder of an Outstanding Limited Partner Interest subject to purchase as provided in this Section 15.1 may surrender his Certificate evidencing such Limited Partner Interest to the Transfer Agent in exchange for payment of the amount described in Section 15.1(a) , therefor, without interest thereon.

 

ARTICLE XVI
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 16.1                             Addresses and Notices.

 

Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the Partner or Assignee at the address described below. Any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to

 

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make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such Partnership Securities at his address as shown on the records of the Transfer Agent or as otherwise shown on the records of the Partnership, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such Partnership Securities by reason of any assignment or otherwise. An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.1 executed by the General Partner, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report.  If any notice, payment or report addressed to a Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder appearing on the books and records of the Transfer Agent or the Partnership is returned by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver it, such notice, payment or report and any subsequent notices, payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the Partnership of a change in his address) if they are available for the Partner or Assignee at the principal office of the Partnership for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report to the other Partners and Assignees.  Any notice to the Partnership shall be deemed given if received by the General Partner at the principal office of the Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3 .  The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Partner, Assignee or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.

 

Section 16.2                             Further Action.

 

The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 16.3                             Binding Effect.

 

This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

 

Section 16.4                             Integration.

 

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.

 

Section 16.5                             Creditors.

 

None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership.

 

Section 16.6                             Waiver.

 

No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

 

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Section 16.7                             Counterparts.

 

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto or, in the case of a Person acquiring a Unit, upon accepting the certificate evidencing such Unit, independently of the signature of any other party.

 

Section 16.8                             Applicable Law.

 

This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.

 

Section 16.9                             Invalidity of Provisions.

 

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

 

Section 16.10                      Consent of Partners.

 

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

 

[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE.]

 

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

 

 

GENERAL PARTNER:

 

 

 

ALLIANCE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GP, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. Eberley Davis

 

 

Name:

R. Eberley Davis

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

LIMITED PARTNERS :

 

 

 

All Limited Partners now and hereafter admitted as Limited Partners of the Partnership, pursuant to powers of attorney now and hereafter executed in favor of, and granted and delivered to the General Partner.

 

 

 

ALLIANCE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GP, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. Eberley Davis

 

 

Name:

R. Eberley Davis

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 



 

EXHIBIT A
TO THE FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS
, L.P.

 

CERTIFICATE EVIDENCING COMMON UNITS REPRESENTING LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS IN ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.

 

No

 

Common Units

 

In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), hereby certifies that (the “ Holder ”) is the registered owner of Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “ Common Units ”) transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed and accompanied by a properly executed application for transfer of the Common Units represented by this Certificate.  The rights, preferences and limitations of the Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Common Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement.  Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at, the principal office of the Partnership located at 1717 South Boulder Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119.  Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.

 

The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and agreed to become, a Limited Partner and to have agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii) represented and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement, (iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement and (iv) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.

 

This Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose unless it has been countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.

 

DATED:

 

 

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC,

Countersigned and Registered by:

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

Transfer Agent and Registered by:

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Authorized Signature

 

 

 

Secretary

 



 

[REVERSE OF CERTIFICATE]

 

ABBREVIATIONS

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Certificate, shall be construed as follows according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM

as tenants in common

 

UNIF GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT

 

 

 

 

 

TEN ENT

as tenants by the entireties

 

 

Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

(Cust)

 

(Minor)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JT TEN

as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

 

under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(State)

 

 

Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.

 


Exhibit 3.3

 

Execution Version

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

OPERATING AGREEMENT

 

OF

 

ALLIANCE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GP, LLC

 

This Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) of ALLIANCE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) is entered into and executed by MGP II, LLC (the “ Member ”) as of July 28, 2017.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company was formed on June 28, 1999 and a Certificate of Formation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on such date;

 

WHEREAS, the prior members of the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, dated as of August 20, 1999 (as amended, the “ Existing Agreement ”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Member desires to amend and restate the Existing Agreement to reflect that the Member is the sole member of the Company and the other terms and provisions set forth herein.

 

1.                                       FORMATION .

 

ALLIANCE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GP, LLC (the “ Company ”) has been previously formed as a Delaware limited liability company by the filing of a Certificate of Formation (the “ Certificate ”) under and pursuant to the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended from time to time (the “ Act ”).

 

2.                                       NAME .

 

The name of the Company is, and the business of the Company shall be conducted under the name of, “ALLIANCE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GP, LLC”. The name of the Company may be changed from time to time by amendment of this Agreement and the Certificate. The Company may transact business under an assumed name by filing an assumed name certificate in the manner prescribed by applicable law.

 

3.                                       TERM .

 

The Company commenced its existence on the effective date of the filing of the Certificate and shall continue in existence until it is dissolved and terminated by the affirmative action of the Member.

 

4.                                       OFFICE .

 

The registered office of the Company required by the Act to be maintained in the State of Delaware shall be the office of the initial registered agent named in the Certificate, or such other

 



 

place as the Member may designate in the manner provided by law. The registered agent for service of process at such address shall be the initial registered agent named in the Certificate, or such other person as the Member may designate in the manner provided by law.

 

5.                                       PURPOSE .

 

The purpose and business of the Company shall be to (a) serve as the general partner of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (the “ Partnership ”) and the managing general partner Alliance Resource Operating Partners, L.P., a Delaware partnership (the “ Intermediate Partnership ”), (b) serve as the managing member of Alliance Coal, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Operating Subsidiary ”) and (c) engage in any lawful activity for which limited liability companies may be organized under the Act. The Company, the Partnership, the Intermediate Partnership and Operating Subsidiary are collectively referred to herein as the “ Entities .”

 

6.                                       MEMBER .

 

The name and business or mailing address of the Member is as follows:

 

MGP II, LLC

1717 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 400

Tulsa OK 74119

Attention: R. Eberley Davis

 

7.                                       MANAGEMENT .

 

(a)                                  Powers and Duties . As provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Company shall be (i) vested in a Board of Directors (the “ Board of Directors ”) and (ii) subject to the officers of the Company (the “ Officers ”), which Directors and Officers shall collectively constitute “managers” of the Company within the meaning of the Act. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, the authority and functions of the Board of Directors on the one hand and of the Officers on the other hand shall be identical to the authority and functions of the board of directors and officers, respectively, of a corporation organized under General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The Officers shall be vested with such powers and duties as are specified by the Board of Directors. Accordingly, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors, and the day-to-day activities of the Company shall be conducted on the Company’s behalf by the Officers who shall be agents of the Company.

 

In addition to the powers that now or hereafter can be granted to managers under the Act and to all other powers granted under any provision of this Agreement, the Board of Directors and the Officers shall have the full power and authority to do all things on such terms as they, in their sole discretion, may deem necessary or appropriate to conduct, or cause to be conducted, the business and affairs of each of the Entities, on its own behalf and in its capacity as the managing general partner of the Partnership and the Intermediate Partnership, including (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 and

 

2



 

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 any of the Entities; (iii) the use of the assets of the Entities (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the repayment of obligations of any of the Entities; (iv) the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments; (v) the distribution of cash of any of the Entities; (vi) with respect to any of the Entities, as applicable, the selection, engagement and dismissal of Officers, employees and agents, outside attorneys, accountants, engineers, consultants and contractors and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring; (vii) the maintenance of such insurance for the benefit of any of the Entities, as it deems necessary or appropriate; (viii) the acquisition or disposition of assets by any of the Entities; (ix) the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, or the contribution of property to, any other entity by any of the Entities; (x) the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of any of the Entities, including the commencement, prosecution and defense of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation and the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation; and (xi) the indemnification of any person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by law and this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Number of Directors; Appointment and Removal . The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than one (1) and not more than seven (7) members, with the actual number to be as determined from time to time as determined by the Member, in its sole discretion. The members of the Board of Directors shall be appointed by the Member at such time and for such term as the Member shall determine. Any member of the Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause and at any time, by the Member, in its sole discretion.

 

(c)                                   Voting; Quorum; Required Vote for Action . Unless otherwise required by the Act:

 

(i)                                      each member of the Board of Directors shall have one vote;

 

(ii)                                   the presence at a meeting of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum at any such meeting for the transaction of business; and

 

(iii)                                the act of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be deemed to constitute the act of the Board of Directors.

 

(d)                                  Vacancies . In case any vacancy shall occur on the Board of Directors because of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal, an increase in the authorized number of Directors or any other cause, such vacancy may be filled either by act of the Member or by majority approval of the then member(s) of the Board of Directors.

 

(e)                                   Regular Meetings . Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held on such dates and at such times and places, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors, provided that the Board of Directors shall hold at least four regular meetings in each year. In the absence of any such determination, such meetings shall be held at such times and places, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall

 

3



 

be designated by the Chairman of the Board on not less than two calendar days’ advance notice (specifying the time and place of the meeting and the agenda therefor) to each Director, given verbally or in writing either personally, by telephone, by facsimile transmission, by mail or by telegram.

 

(f)                                    Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at the call of any Director at such times and places, within or without the State of Delaware, as he or she shall designate, on not less than two calendar days’ advance notice (specifying the time and place of the meeting and the agenda therefor) to each Director, given verbally or in writing either personally, by telephone, by facsimile transmission, by mail or by telegram.

 

(g)                                   Waiver of Notice . Notice of any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, need not be given to any member of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof if waived by him or her in writing, whether before or after such meeting is held, or if he or she shall sign the minutes or attend the meeting.

 

(h)                                  Manner of Acting . Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may participate in any meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating therein can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all persons serving on the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee.

 

(i)                                      Compensation . The Member, by a resolution or resolutions, may fix, and from time to time change, the compensation of Directors. Each Director shall be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for his or her reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof.

 

(j)                                     Committees . The Member or Board of Directors of the Company may, by resolution, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of two or more members of the Board of Directors, which to the extent provided in said resolution or resolutions shall have and may exercise the powers and authority of the Board of Directors as provided in Section 7(a) .

 

(k)                                  Committee Procedure . Except as otherwise provided herein, each committee established pursuant to this Agreement shall adopt its own rules governing the time, place and method of holding its meetings and the conduct of its proceedings and shall meet as provided by such rules or by resolution adopted by the Member. Unless otherwise provided by any such rules or resolutions, notice of the time and place of each meeting shall be given to each member of such committee as provided herein with respect to notices of special meetings of the Board of Directors. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors and to the Member when required.

 

4



 

8.                                       RESTRICTIONS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ AUTHORITY .

 

The Board of Directors may not take any action in contravention of this Agreement, including (a) any act that would make it impossible to carry on the ordinary business of any of the Entities, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement; (b) possessing property of any of the Entities, or assigning any rights in specific property of any of the Entities, for other than a purpose related to one or more Entities; or (c) amending or modifying this Agreement in any manner, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement or by resolution approved by not less than a majority of the Board of Directors, (i) no Director or group of Directors shall have any actual or apparent authority to enter into contracts on behalf of, or to otherwise bind, any of the Entities, nor take any action in the name of or on behalf of the Entities or conduct any business of the Entities other than by action of the Board of Directors taken in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and (ii) no Director shall have the power or authority to delegate to any Person such Director’s rights and powers as Director to manage the business and affairs of the Entities.

 

9.                                       OFFICERS

 

(a)                                  Generally . The Board of Directors shall appoint agents of the Company, referred to as “Officers” of the Company. Unless provided otherwise by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Officers shall have the titles, power, authority and duties described below in this Section 9 :

 

(i)                                      Chairman . The Chairman, if one be elected, shall have and perform such duties as, from time to time, may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.

 

(ii)                                   President and Chief Executive Officer . A President and Chief Executive Officer who shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and shall in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Company, subject only to such limitations as may from time to time be imposed by the Board of Directors. The President and Chief Executive Officer may sign or designate to any other person the authority to sign debts, mortgages, bonds, contracts, and other instruments and the President and Chief Executive Officer shall, in general, perform all duties, incident to the office of president and other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors;

 

(iii)                                Vice Presidents . One or more Senior Vice-Presidents, Vice-Presidents and a General Counsel and a Chief Financial Officer who shall serve and perform such duties as may be prescribed by the President and Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors from time to time;

 

(iv)                               Secretary . A Secretary who shall be the record keeper of the Company and shall maintain any and all records which are required to be kept. The Secretary shall keep a register of the name of each Member of the Company and whether the Member’s interest is subject to a pledge or other lien and shall in general perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary. There may also be one or more Assistant Secretaries who shall perform such of the Secretary’s duties and functions as may from time to time be designated by the Secretary, whether or not the Secretary is available;

 

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(v)                                  Treasurer . A Treasurer who shall have charge and custody and be responsible for all funds and securities to the Company, shall receive and give receipts for money due and payable to Company, shall deposit or direct others to deposit all such monies in the name of the Company in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall be designated by the Board of Directors or as the Treasurer shall determine, and shall in general, perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer. There may also be one or more Assistant Treasurers who shall perform such of the Treasurer’s duties and functions as may from time to time be designated by the Treasurer, whether or not the Treasurer is available; and

 

(vi)                               Additional Officers . Such other officers with such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the one or more of the Officers may simultaneously serve as an officer of one or more of the affiliates of the Company.

 

(b)                                  Appointment and Term of Office . The Officers shall be appointed by the Board of Directors at such time and for such term as the Board of Directors shall determine. Any Officer may be removed, with or without cause, only by the Board of Directors. Vacancies in any office may be filled only by the Board of Directors.

 

(c)                                   Election of Officers, Qualification and Term . The Officers shall be appointed from time to time by the Board of Directors, except that the initial Officers of the Company are set forth on Exhibit A hereto. Each such Officer shall hold office until a successor shall have been duly elected by the Board of Directors and shall have qualified in his or her stead unless the Member shall have provided otherwise in any particular case, or until such Officer shall have resigned and his or her resignation shall have become effective, or until such Officer shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided.

 

(d)                                  Removal . Except as otherwise expressly provided in a contract duly authorized by the Board of Directors, any Officer may be removed, either with or without cause, at any time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.

 

(e)                                   Resignations . Any Officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors. Such resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of such notice or at any later time specified therein and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

(f)                                    Vacancies . A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or any other cause may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by election by the Board of Directors.

 

(g)                                   Salaries . The salaries of all Officers shall be fixed by the Board of Directors from time to time, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such salary by reason of the fact that he or she is also a Director of the Company.

 

(h)                                  Powers of Attorney . The Company may grant powers of attorney or other authority as appropriate to establish and evidence the authority of the Officers and other Persons.

 

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(i)                                      Delegation of Authority . Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, no Officer shall have the power or authority to delegate to any Person such Officer’s rights and powers as an Officer to manage the business and affairs of the Company.

 

10.                                CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION .

 

(a)                                  Contributions . If the Member previously made Capital Contributions, without creating any rights in favor of any third party, the Member may, from time to time, make additional contributions of cash or property to the capital of the Company, but shall have no obligation to do so.

 

(b)                                  Loans from Member . Loans by the Member to the Company shall not constitute Capital Contributions. If the Member shall advance funds to the Company in excess of the amounts required hereunder to be contributed by it to the capital of the Company, the making of such excess advances shall not result in any increase in the amount of the Capital Account of such Member. The amount of any such excess advances shall be a debt obligation of the Company to such Member and shall be payable or collectible only out of the Company assets in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which such advances are made.

 

11.                                ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS .

 

The Member shall be entitled to (a) receive all distributions (including, without limitation, liquidating distributions) made by the Company and (b) enjoy all other rights, benefits and interests in the Company.

 

12.                                GOVERNING LAW .

 

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed under, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws, with all rights and remedies being governed by said laws.

 

13.                                INDEMNIFICATION .

 

(a)                                  Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved (including, without limitation, as a witness) in any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “ proceeding ”), by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer or employee of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another company or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “ Indemnitee ”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as an officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as such an officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the full extent authorized by the Act, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Company to provide prior to such amendment), or by other applicable law as then in effect, against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee

 

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in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be an officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that except as provided in Section 13(b)  with respect to proceedings seeking to enforce rights to indemnification, the Company shall indemnify any such Indemnitee seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “ advancement of expenses ”); further provided, however, that, if the Act requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in such person’s capacity as an officer or employee (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such Indemnitee while an officer or employee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 13 , or otherwise.

 

(b)                                  If a claim under Section 13(a)  is not paid in full by the Company within 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Company, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, to the extent successful in whole or in part, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such suit. The Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification under this Section 13 upon submission of a written claim (and, in an action brought to enforce a claim for an advancement of expenses, where the required undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the Company), and thereafter the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome the presumption that the Indemnitee is not so entitled. Neither the failure of the Company (including its independent legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances, nor an actual determination by the Company (including its independent legal counsel) that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, shall be a defense to the suit or create a presumption that the Indemnitee is not so entitled.

 

(c)                                   The indemnification provided pursuant to this Section 13 shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which any Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, as a matter of law, in equity or otherwise, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the such Indemnitee.

 

(d)                                  The Company may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any officer, employee or agent of the Company or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Act. The Company may enter into contracts with any Indemnitee in furtherance of the provisions of this Section and may create a trust fund, grant a security interest or use other means (including, without limitation, a letter of credit) to ensure the payment of such amounts as may be necessary to effect indemnification as provided in this Section 13 .

 

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(e)                                   Any person who is or was serving as a director of a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed, for purposes of this Section 13 only, to be an officer or employee of the Company entitled to indemnification under this Section 13 .

 

(f)                                    The Company may, by action of the Board of Directors or the Member, from time to time, grant rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses to agents of the Company with the same scope and effect as the provisions of this Section with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of officers and employees of the Company.

 

(g)                                   No Indemnitee shall be liable to the Company for any act or omission based upon errors of judgment or other fault in connection with the business or affairs of the Company, except as provided for in the Act.

 

(h)                                  Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 13 shall be payable only from the assets of the Company.

 

14.                                AMENDMENT .

 

Subject to the other provisions contained herein, all amendments to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the following requirements. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed by the Board of Directors or the Member and shall become effective upon its subsequent approval by the Board of Directors or the Member.

 

******

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Member has executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.

 

 

MEMBER:

 

 

 

MGP II, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. Eberley Davis

 

Name: R. Eberley Davis

 

Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 


Exhibit 3.4

 

Execution Version

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

OPERATING AGREEMENT

 

OF

 

MGP II, LLC

 

This Amended and Restated Operating Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) of MGP II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”) is entered into and executed by Alliance Holdings GP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ AHGP ”) and ARM GP Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ ARMH ” and together with AHGP, each a “ Membe r” and collectively, the “ Members ”), as of July 28, 2017.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, AHGP formed the Company on July 28, 2017, a Certificate of Formation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on such date, and AHGP, as the sole member of the Company, entered into an initial Operating Agreement dated as of such date (the “ Initial Operating Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to a Contribution Agreement dated as of the date hereof (the “ Contribution Agreement ”), ARMH contributed a 0.001% membership interest in Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ ARLP Managing GP ”), to the Company in exchange for a 0.001% membership interest in the Company and AHGP contributed a 99.999% membership interest in ARLP Managing GP to the Company in exchange for a continuation of a 99.999% membership interest in the Company; and

 

WHEREAS, the Members desire to amend and restate the Initial Operating Agreement to reflect the admission of ARMH as a Member of the Company and the other terms and provisions set forth herein.

 

1.                                       FORMATION .

 

MGP II, LLC (the “ Company ”) has been previously formed as a Delaware limited liability company by the filing of a Certificate of Formation (the “ Certificate ”) under and pursuant to the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended from time to time (the “ Act ”).

 

2.                                       NAME .

 

The name of the Company is, and the business of the Company shall be conducted under the name of, “MGP II, LLC” The name of the Company may be changed from time to time by amendment of this Agreement and the Certificate. The Company may transact business under an assumed name by filing an assumed name certificate in the manner prescribed by applicable law.

 

3.                                       TERM .

 

The Company commenced its existence on the effective date of the filing of the Certificate and shall continue in existence until it is dissolved and terminated by the affirmative action of the Members.

 



 

4.                                       OFFICE .

 

The registered office of the Company required by the Act to be maintained in the State of Delaware shall be the office of the initial registered agent named in the Certificate, or such other place as the Members may designate in the manner provided by law. The registered agent for service of process at such address shall be the initial registered agent named in the Certificate, or such other person as the Members may designate in the manner provided by law.

 

5.                                       PURPOSE .

 

The purpose and business of the Company shall be to engage in any lawful activity for which limited liability companies may be organized under the Act.

 

6.                                       MEMBERS .

 

The names and business or mailing addresses of the Members are as follows:

 

Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.

1717 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 400

Tulsa OK 74119

Attention: R. Eberley Davis

 

ARM GP Holdings, Inc.

1717 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 400

Tulsa OK 74119

Attention: R. Eberley Davis

 

7.                                       MANAGEMENT .

 

(a)                                  Member-Managed Company .  Except to the extent otherwise provided in this Agreement, the management, control and direction of the Company and its operations, business and affairs shall be vested in the Managing Member, which shall have the right, power and authority to carry out any and all of the purposes of the Company and to perform or refrain from performing any and all acts that the Managing Member may deem necessary, desirable, appropriate or incidental thereto, in its discretion.  The Members hereby designate AHGP as the initial Managing Member.  The Managing Member may appoint such officers as the Managing Member may determine (each, an “ Officer ”).  Such Officers shall have such responsibilities and authorities as may be delegated to them by the Managing Member, subject to the direction of the Managing Member.

 

(b)                                  Reimbursement .  The Managing Member shall be entitled to prompt reimbursement of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the course of the performance of its duties.  The Managing Member shall not be entitled to any compensation for its services as Managing Member.

 

(c)                                   Replacement and Removal of the Managing Member .  Removal of the Managing Member, with or without cause, and the appointment of a replacement Managing

 

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Member shall each require the approval of holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding membership interests of the Company.

 

8.                                       CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION .

 

(a)                                  Organizational Contributions . Pursuant to the terms of the Contribution Agreement, ARMH contributed a 0.001% membership interest in ARLP Managing GP to the Company in exchange for a 0.001% membership interest in the Company and AHGP contributed a 99.999% membership interest in ARLP Managing GP to the Company in exchange for a continuation of a 99.999% membership interest in the Company.

 

(b)                                  Additional Capital Contributions . Any Member may, but shall not be obligated to, make additional contributions to the capital of the Company (each, together with the contributions set forth in Section 8(a) , a “ Capital Contribution ”).

 

(c)                                   Interest and Withdrawal . No interest shall be paid by the Company on Capital Contributions. No Member shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Company may be considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Member shall have priority over any other Member 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 Members agree within the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.

 

(d)                                  Capital Accounts .

 

(i)                                      The Company shall maintain for each Member (or a beneficial owner of membership interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Company in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code) owning a Company interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such Company interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (A) the amount of all Capital Contributions made to the Company with respect to such Company interest pursuant to this Agreement and (B) all items of Company income and gain (including, without limitation, income and gain exempt from tax) and allocated with respect to such Company interest and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made with respect to such Company interest pursuant to this Agreement and (y) all items of Company deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 8(d)(ii)  and allocated with respect to such Company interest.

 

(ii)                                   For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction which is to be allocated pursuant to this Agreement and is to be reflected in the Members’ Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for federal income tax purposes (including, without limitation, any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for that purpose), provided, that:

 

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(A)                                Solely for purposes of this Section 8(d) , the Company shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share of all property owned by any Subsidiary of the Company that is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

 

(B)                                All fees and other expenses incurred by the Company to promote the sale of (or to sell) a Company interest that can neither be deducted nor amortized under Section 709 of the Code, if any, shall, for purposes of Capital Account maintenance, be treated as an item of deduction at the time such fees and other expenses are incurred and shall be allocated among the Members.

 

(C)                                Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704- 1(b)(2)(iv)(m), computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code which may be made by the Company and, as to those items described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized for federal income tax purposes. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or loss.

 

(D)                                Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable disposition of any Company property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of disposition were equal in amount to the Company’s Carrying Value with respect to such property as of such date.

 

(E)                                 In accordance with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code, any deductions for depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to any Contributed Property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property on the date it was acquired by the Company were equal to the Agreed Value of such property. Upon an adjustment pursuant to Section 8(d)(iv)  to the Carrying Value of any Partnership property subject to depreciation, cost recovery or amortization, any further deductions for such depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to such property shall be determined (1) as if the adjusted basis of such property were equal to the Carrying Value of such property immediately following such adjustment and (2) using a rate of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization derived from the same method and useful life (or, if applicable, the remaining useful life) as is applied for federal income tax purposes; provided, however, that, if the asset has a zero adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, depreciation, cost recovery or amortization derived from the same method and useful life (or, if applicable, the remaining useful life) as is applied for federal income tax purposes; provided, however, that, if the asset has a zero adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, depreciation, cost recovery or amortization deductions shall be determined using any reasonable method that the Members may adopt.

 

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(F)                                  If the Company’s adjusted basis in a depreciable or cost recovery property is reduced for federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 48(q)(1) or 48(q)(3) of the Code, the amount of such reduction shall, solely for purposes hereof, be deemed to be an additional depreciation or cost recovery deduction in the year such property is placed in service and shall be allocated among the Members. Any restoration of such basis pursuant to Section 48(q)(2) of the Code shall, to the extent possible, be allocated in the same manner to the Members to whom such deemed deduction was allocated.

 

(iii)                                A transferee of a Company interest shall succeed to a pro rata portion of the Capital Account of the transferor relating to the Company interest so transferred.

 

(iv)                               (A) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), on an issuance of additional Company interests for cash, the Capital Accounts of all Members and the Carrying Value of each Company property immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Company property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property immediately prior to such issuance and had been allocated to the Members at such time in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized during such period would have been allocated. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Company assets (including, without limitation, cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Company interests shall be determined by the Members using such reasonable method of valuation as they may adopt; provided, however, that the Members, in arriving at such valuation, must take fully into account the fair market value of the Company interests of all Members at such time. The Members shall allocate such aggregate value among the assets of the Company (in such manner as it determines in its discretion to be reasonable) to arrive at a fair market value for individual properties.

 

(B)                                In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to any actual or deemed distribution to a Member of any Company property (other than a distribution of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of a Company interest), the Capital Accounts of all Members and the Carrying Value of all Company property shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Company property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized in a sale of such property immediately prior to such distribution for an amount equal to its fair market value, and had been allocated to the Members, at such time, in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized during such period would have been allocated. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Company assets (including, without limitation, cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall (1) in the case of an actual distribution or in the case of a deemed contribution and/or distribution occurring as a result of a termination of the Company pursuant to Section 708 of the Code, be determined and allocated in the same manner as that provided in Section 8(d)(iv)(A)  or (2) in the case of a

 

5



 

liquidating distribution, be determined and allocated by the Liquidator using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt.

 

(e)                                   Loans from Member .

 

Loans by a Member to the Company shall not constitute Capital Contributions. If any Member shall advance funds to the Company in excess of the amounts required hereunder to be contributed by it to the capital of the Company, the making of such excess advances shall not result in any increase in the amount of the Capital Account of such Member. The amount of any such excess advances shall be a debt obligation of the Company to such Member and shall be payable or collectible only out of the Company assets in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which such advances are made.

 

(f)                                    Limited Preemptive Rights . Except as provided herein, no Person shall have preemptive, preferential or other similar rights with respect to (i) additional Capital Contributions; (ii) issuance or sale of any class or series of Company interests, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created; (iii) issuance of any obligations, evidences of indebtedness or other securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for, or carrying or accompanied by any rights to receive, purchase or subscribe to, any such Company interests; (iv) issuance of any right of subscription to or right to receive, or any warrant or option for the purchase of, any such Company interests; or (v) issuance or sale of any other securities that may be issued or sold by the Company.

 

(g)                                   Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Company Interests . All Company interests issued to Members pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Section 8 shall be fully paid (to the extent required by this Agreement) and non-assessable Company interests (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act).

 

9.                                       ALLOCATION OF PROFITS AND LOSSES .

 

The Company’s profits and losses shall be allocated (i) 99.999% to AHGP and (ii) 0.001% to ARMH.

 

10.                                DISTRIBUTIONS .

 

Distributions shall be made at the times and in the aggregate amounts as determined by the Members and shall be allocated (i) 99.999% to AHGP and (ii) 0.001% to ARMH.

 

11.                                GOVERNING LAW .

 

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed under, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws, with all rights and remedies being governed by said laws.

 

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12.                                INDEMNIFICATION .

 

(a)                                  Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved (including, without limitation, as a witness) in any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “ proceeding ”), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a Member (including in its capacity as the Managing Member) or an officer or employee of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another company or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “ Indemnitee ”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a Member (including in its capacity as the Managing Member) or an officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as such an officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the full extent authorized by the Act, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Company to provide prior to such amendment), or by other applicable law as then in effect, against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a Member (including in its capacity as the Managing Member) or an officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators; provided , however , that except as provided in Section 12(b)  with respect to proceedings seeking to enforce rights to indemnification, the Company shall indemnify any such Indemnitee seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Managing Member. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “ advancement of expenses ”); further provided , however , that, if the Act requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in its capacity as a Member (including in its capacity as the Managing Member) or an officer or employee (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such Indemnitee while a Member (including in its capacity as the Managing Member) or an officer or employee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 12 , or otherwise.

 

(b)                                  If a claim under Section 12(a)  is not paid in full by the Company within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the Company, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty (20) days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, to the extent successful in whole or in part, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such suit. The Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification under this Section 12 upon submission of a written claim (and, in an action brought to enforce a claim for an advancement of expenses, where the required undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the Company), and thereafter the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome the presumption that the Indemnitee is not so entitled. Neither the

 

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failure of the Company (including its independent legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances, nor an actual determination by the Company (including its independent legal counsel) that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, shall be a defense to the suit or create a presumption that the Indemnitee is not so entitled.

 

(c)                                   The indemnification provided pursuant to this Section 12 shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which any Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, as a matter of law, in equity or otherwise, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of such Indemnitee.

 

(d)                                  The Company may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and the Members (including in their capacity as the Managing Member) and any officer, employee or agent of the Company or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Act. The Company may enter into contracts with any Indemnitee in furtherance of the provisions of this Section and may create a trust fund, grant a security interest or use other means (including, without limitation, a letter of credit) to ensure the payment of such amounts as may be necessary to effect indemnification as provided in this Section 12 .

 

(e)                                   Any person who is or was serving as a director of a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed, for purposes of this Section 12 only, to be an officer or employee of the Company entitled to indemnification under this Section 12 .

 

(f)                                    The Company may, by action of the Managing Member from time to time, grant rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses to agents of the Company with the same scope and effect as the provisions of this Section with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of officers and employees of the Company.

 

(g)                                   No Indemnitee shall be liable to the Company for any act or omission based upon errors of judgment or other fault in connection with the business or affairs of the Company, except as provided for in the Act.

 

(h)                                  Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 12 shall be payable only from the assets of the Company.

 

13.                                AMENDMENT .

 

This Agreement or the Certificate may only be amended, modified, supplemented or restated, and any provisions of this Agreement or the Certificate may only be waived, by the Managing Member (and without the approval of any other Person).

 

14.                                LIQUIDATION .

 

Upon liquidation of the Company, and after satisfaction of Company liabilities (or establishment of reasonable reserves therefore as determined by the Board of Directors), the Board

 

8



 

of Directors shall distribute to the Members the respective balances of their Capital Accounts in proportion to and to the extent of their positive balances.

 

******

 

9



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , AHGP and ARMH have executed this Agreement on the date first written above.

 

 

ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P.

 

 

 

By:

ALLIANCE GP, LLC,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. Eberley Davis

 

Name:

R. Eberley Davis

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARM GP HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. Eberley Davis

 

Name:

R. Eberley Davis

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

Signature Page to A&R Operating Agreement of MGP II

 


Exhibit 3.5

 

CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION

 

OF

 

MGP II, LLC

 

This Certificate of Formation, dated July 25, 2017, has been duly executed and is filed pursuant to Sections 18-201 and 18-204 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “ Act ”) to form a limited liability company (the “ Company ”).

 

1.                                       Name.   The name of the Company is “MGP II, LLC”.

 

2.                                       Registered Office; Registered Agent.   The address of the Company’s registered office required to be maintained by Section 18-104 of the Act is:

 

Cogency Global Inc.

850 New Burton Road Suite 201

Dover, DE 19904

 

The name and the address of the Company’s registered agent for service of process required to be maintained by Section 18-104 of the Act are:

 

Cogency Global Inc.

850 New Burton Road Suite 201

Dover, DE 19904

 

EXECUTED as of the date written first above.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Justin D. Hunter

 

Name:

Justin D. Hunter

 

Title:

Authorized Person

 


Exhibit 3.6

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

CERTIFICATE OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

 

OF

 

ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.

 

This Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”), dated as of July 28, 2017, has been duly executed and is being filed by the general partner in accordance with the provisions of Section 17-210 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “Act”), to amend and restate in its entirety the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, which was filed on May 17, 1999 with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

1.               The name of the limited partnership is ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.

 

2.               The address of the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware required to be maintained by Section 17-104 of the Act is:

 

Cogency Global Inc.

850 New Burton Road Suite 201

Dover, DE 19904

 

The name and address of the registered agent of the Partnership required to be maintained by Section 17-104 of the Act at such address is:

 

Cogency Global Inc.

850 New Burton Road Suite 201

Dover, DE 19904

 

3.               The name and business address of the General Partner is as follows:

 

Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC

1717 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 400

Tulsa OK 74119

 



 

WHEREFORE, the undersigned has executed this Certificate as of the 28th day of July, 2017.

 

 

ALLIANCE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GP, LLC

 

as General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. Eberley Davis

 

Name:

R. Eberley Davis

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, General

 

 

Counsel and Secretary

 

Signature Page to Amended & Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership

 


Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

 

 

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.,

 

Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC ,

 

Alliance Resource GP, LLC,

 

ARM GP Holdings, Inc.,

 

MGP II, LLC

 

and

 

Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.

 

Dated as of July 28 , 2017

 

 

 



 

CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

THIS CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of July 28, 2017 (the “ Closing Date ”), is entered into by and among Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ ARLP Managing GP ”), Alliance Resource GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ ARLP Special GP ” and together with ARLP Managing GP, the “ General Partners ”), ARM GP Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ ARMH, Inc. ”), MGP II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ MGP II ”), and Alliance Holdings GP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ AHGP ”). Unless otherwise defined herein, defined terms shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in Article I of this Agreement.

 

RECITALS

 

A.                                     ARLP Managing GP is the managing general partner of the Partnership and holds a 0.99% General Partner Interest and all of the IDRs in the Partnership.

 

B.                                     ARLP Special GP is the Special General Partner of the Partnership and holds a 0.01% General Partner Interest in the Partnership.

 

C.                                     AHGP wholly owns ARLP Managing GP, directly and indirectly, through ARMH, Inc., wholly owns MGP II and ARMH, Inc., and directly owns a 41.89% limited partner interest in the Partnership.

 

D.                                     Following approval by the AHGP Board (as defined herein), ARLP Managing GP has agreed to contribute to the Partnership (i) all of its IDRs in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership of 55,544,539 Exchange Units (as defined below) and (ii) its 0.99% General Partner Interest in exchange for a non-economic General Partner Interest and the issuance by the Partnership of 555,461 Exchange Units. Upon the contribution of the IDRs to the Partnership, such IDRs will be cancelled and cease to exist.

 

E.                                      ARLP Special GP has agreed to contribute to the Partnership (i) its 0.01% General Partner Interest in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership of 3,591 Exchange Units and (ii) its 0.01% AROP General Partner Interest in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership of 3,590 Exchange Units.

 

F.                                       Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, ARLP Managing GP will amend the Current Partnership Agreement to make certain adjustments to the unrealized gain and loss allocation provisions and the definitions related thereto, which adjustments shall be effective in accordance with Section 761(c) of the Code as of January 1, 2017 through the Closing Date in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ First Amendment ”), and ARLP Managing GP will amend and restate the Current Partnership Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B to reflect (i) the cancellation of the IDRs, (ii) the conversion of the General Partner Interest to a non-economic General Partner Interest and (iii) certain other changes Approved by ARLP Managing GP, in each case that do not adversely affect the Limited Partners in any material respect (such amended and restated agreement, the “ Revised Partnership Agreement ”).

 



 

G.                                     The execution and adoption of the First Amendment, the Revised Partnership Agreement, which shall be effective on the Closing Date, the contributions by the General Partners to the Partnership of the IDRs and the Contributed General Partner Interests, and the issuance by the Partnership of the Exchange Units to the General Partners (collectively, the “ Transactions ”) are conditioned on each other and shall occur on the date hereof simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual undertakings and agreements hereunder, the parties undertake and agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

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 ” has the meaning given such term in the Preamble.

 

AHGP ” has the meaning given such term in the Recitals.

 

AHGP Board ” has the meaning given such term in Section 3.2(b) .

 

AHGP Common Units ” has the meaning given to the term “Common Unit” in the AHGP Partnership Agreement.

 

AHGP GP ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b) .

 

AHGP Parties ” means, collectively, AHGP and the General Partners.

 

AHGP Partnership Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of AHGP, dated as of May 15, 2006.

 

ARLP Managing GP ” has the meaning given such term in the Preamble.

 

ARLP Special GP ” has the meaning given such term in the Preamble.

 

ARMH, Inc. ” has the meaning given such term in the Preamble.

 

AROP ” means Alliance Resource Operating Partners, L.P.

 

AROP General Partner Interest ” has the meaning given to the term “General Partner Interest” in the AROP Partnership Agreement.

 

AROP Partnership Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of AROP, dated as of August 20, 1999.

 

2



 

Closing Date ” has the meaning given such term in the Preamble.

 

Common Units ” has the meaning given such term in the Revised Partnership Agreement.

 

Contributed General Partner Interests ” means the General Partner Interests contributed to the Partnership pursuant to Section 2.3 and Section 2.4 and the AROP General Partner Interest contributed to the Partnership pursuant to Section 2.5 .

 

Current Partnership Agreement ” means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of June 16, 2014.

 

Exchange Units ” means the Common Units issued by the Partnership to each of ARLP Managing GP and ARLP Special GP pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

First Amendment ” has the meaning given such term in the Recitals.

 

General Partner Interest ” has the meaning given such term in the Current Partnership Agreement.

 

General Partners ” has the meaning given such term in the Preamble.

 

IDRs ” has the meaning given the term “Incentive Distribution Rights” in the Current Partnership Agreement.

 

Limited Partners ” has the meaning given such term in the Current Partnership Agreement.

 

MGP II ” has the meaning given such term in the Preamble.

 

Partnership ” has the meaning given such term in the Preamble.

 

Partnership Common Units ” has the meaning given to the term “Common Units” in the Current Partnership Agreement and Revised Partnership Agreement, as applicable.

 

Partnership Conflicts Committee ” has the meaning given such term in Section 3.1(f) .

 

Partnership GP Board ” has the meaning given such term in Section 3.1(f) .

 

Permitted Liens ” means liens that do not have a material adverse effect on the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Person ” has the meaning given such term in the Current Partnership Agreement.

 

Revised Partnership Agreement ” has the meaning given such term in the Recitals.

 

Securities Act ” has the meaning given such term in Section 3.3(e) .

 

Transactions ” has the meaning given such term in the Recitals.

 

3



 

Unaffiliated Common Unitholders ” has the meaning given such term in Section 3.1(f) .

 

Units ” has the meaning given such term in the Current Partnership Agreement.

 

ARTICLE II

 

THE TRANSACTIONS

 

Section 2.1                                     Contribution of ARLP Managing GP Interests . ARMH, Inc. and AHGP hereby grant, contribute, transfer, assign and convey to MGP II all right, title and interest in and to their membership interests in ARLP Managing GP as a contribution by ARMH, Inc. and AHGP to the capital of MGP II and in exchange for such contribution, MGP II shall issue (a) to AHGP a 99.999% membership interest in MGP II and (b) to ARMH, Inc. a 0.001% membership interest in MGP II, with such issuance being deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the Revised Partnership Agreement.

 

Section 2.2                                     Contribution of IDRs .

 

(a)                                  ARLP Managing GP hereby grants, contributes, transfers, assigns and conveys to the Partnership all right, title and interest in the IDRs held by ARLP Managing GP and the Partnership hereby accepts such IDRs from ARLP Managing GP as a contribution by ARLP Managing GP to the capital of the Partnership, and in exchange and as consideration for such contribution, the Partnership shall issue to ARLP Managing GP 55,544,539 Exchange Units, with such issuance being deemed to have occurred immediately upon execution of the Revised Partnership Agreement. Immediately upon execution of the Revised Partnership Agreement, the IDRs shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist.

 

(b)                                  The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Exchange Units to be issued to ARLP Managing GP pursuant to this Section 2.2 shall instead be issued by the Transfer Agent directly to MGP II in recognition of ARLP Managing GP’s obligation to distribute such Exchange Units to MGP II pursuant to Section 2.8 .

 

Section 2.3                                     ARLP Managing GP Contribution of General Partner Interest .

 

(a)                                  ARLP Managing GP hereby grants, contributes, transfers, assigns and conveys to the Partnership all right, title and interest in and to its 0.99% General Partner Interest in the Partnership and the Partnership hereby accepts such General Partner Interest from ARLP Managing GP as a contribution by ARLP Managing GP to the capital of the Partnership, and in exchange and as consideration for such contribution, the Partnership shall issue to ARLP Managing GP 555,461 Exchange Units and a non-economic General Partner Interest (as defined in the Revised Partnership Agreement) in the Partnership, with such issuance being deemed to have occurred immediately upon execution of the Revised Partnership Agreement. Effective immediately upon execution of the Revised Partnership Agreement, the 0.99% General Partner Interest contributed to the Partnership pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist.

 

(b)                                  The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Exchange Units to be issued to ARLP Managing GP pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall instead be issued by the Transfer Agent directly

 

4



 

to MGP II in recognition of ARLP Managing GP’s obligation to distribute such Exchange Units to MGP II pursuant to Section 2.8 .

 

Section 2.4                                     ARLP Special GP Contribution of General Partner Interest . ARLP Special GP hereby grants, contributes, transfers, assigns and conveys to the Partnership all right, title and interest in and to its 0.01% General Partner Interest in the Partnership and the Partnership hereby accepts such General Partner Interest from ARLP Special GP as a contribution by ARLP Special GP to the capital of the Partnership, and in exchange and as consideration for such contribution, the Partnership shall issue to ARLP Special GP 3,591 Exchange Units, with such issuance being deemed to have occurred immediately upon execution of the Revised Partnership Agreement. Effective immediately upon execution of the Revised Partnership Agreement, the 0.01% General Partner Interest contributed to the Partnership pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist.

 

Section 2.5                                     ARLP Special GP Contribution of AROP General Partner Interest . ARLP Special GP hereby grants, contributes, transfers, assigns and conveys to the Partnership all right, title and interest in and to its 0.01% AROP General Partner Interest and the Partnership hereby accepts such AROP General Partner Interest from ARLP Special GP as a contribution by ARLP Special GP to the capital of the Partnership and in exchange and as consideration for such contribution, ARLP shall issue to ARLP Special GP 3,590 Exchange Units, with such issuance being deemed to have occurred immediately upon execution of the Revised Partnership Agreement.

 

Section 2.6                                     Partnership Agreement . Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, ARLP Managing GP shall execute, deliver and adopt, on behalf of the Partnership and in its capacity as the Managing General Partner thereof, (a) for the period commencing January 1, 2017 through the Closing Date, the First Amendment and (b) for the period following the consummation of the Transactions, the Revised Partnership Agreement.

 

Section 2.7                                     Certificates for Exchange Units . On the Closing Date, the Partnership shall issue to each of ARLP Special GP and MGP II a certificate representing the number of Exchange Units to be issued to such party pursuant to pursuant to Section 2.2 , Section 2.3 , Section 2.4 or Section 2.5 , as applicable. Each of the certificates evidencing the Exchange Units shall bear a legend substantially in the form set forth below and containing such other information as the Partnership may deem necessary or appropriate:

 

THE UNITS (THE “UNITS”) EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT DISTRIBUTE, OFFER, RESELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER (INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, A “TRANSFER”) THE UNITS EVIDENCED HEREBY, EXCEPT (A) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (B) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT SUCH AS THE EXEMPTION SET FORTH IN RULE 144

 

5



 

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE). IF THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS TO BE MADE OTHER THAN PURSUANT TO CLAUSE A ABOVE, THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE ISSUER AND THE TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS THEY MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY STATE OR FOREIGN SECURITIES LAW.

 

No fractional Units or scrip shall be issued as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 2.8                                     ARLP Managing GP Distribution of Exchange Units to AHGP . Immediately after the contributions pursuant to Section 2.2 and Section 2.3 , ARLP Managing GP shall, in a manner contemplated by Section 2.2(b)  and Section 2.3(b) , distribute all of the Exchange Units received by ARLP Managing GP pursuant to Section 2.2 and Section 2.3 above to MGP II. MGP II hereby accepts, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of the Revised Partnership Agreement, including the power of attorney in Section 2.6 thereof, and ARLP Managing GP hereby consents to, and admits, MGP II as an Additional Limited Partner (as defined in the Revised Partnership Agreement).

 

Section 2.9                                     Further Assurances . The Partnership and the General Partners agree to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments or documents or take such other action as may be reasonably necessary or convenient to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

ARTICLE III

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Section 3.1                                     Partnership . The Partnership represents and warrants to the AHGP Parties as follows:

 

(a)                                  the Partnership is a limited partnership duly formed and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the partnership power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, to carry out its terms;

 

(b)                                  the Partnership has taken all action as may be necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder. This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ or secured parties’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity (including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law;

 

6



 

(c)                                   none of the execution and delivery hereof, the performance of the Partnership’s obligations hereunder nor the consummation of the Transactions will violate or contravene any applicable law or the Current Partnership Agreement;

 

(d)                                  on the Closing Date, the Exchange Units and the limited partner interests represented thereby will have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid (to the extent required under the Revised Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by matters described in the Partnership’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission);

 

(e)                                   on the Closing Date and prior to the issuance of the Exchange Units, the issued and outstanding limited partner interests of the Partnership consist of the IDRs and 74,597,036 Common Units;

 

(f)                                    at a meeting duly called and held, the conflicts committee (the “ Partnership Conflicts Committee ”) of the Board of Directors of ARLP Managing GP (the “ Partnership GP Board ”) consisting of John P. Neafsey, Nick Carter, and John H. Robinson (i) determined that the Revised Partnership Agreement and the matters contemplated thereby and this Agreement and the matters contemplated hereby, are fair and reasonable to the Partnership and the holders of the Partnership Common Units other than AHGP and its Affiliates (the “ Unaffiliated Common Unitholders ”), and (iii) approved and declared the advisability of this Agreement and the matters contemplated hereby, including the Revised Partnership Agreement; and

 

(g)                                   Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated has delivered a fairness opinion to the Partnership Conflicts Committee with respect to the Exchange Units to be issued to the General Partners pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Section 3.2                                     AHGP and ARLP Managing GP . Each of AHGP and ARLP Managing GP, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to the Partnership as follows:

 

(a)                                  ARLP Managing GP is the record holder of the IDRs and ARLP Managing GP has good and valid title to such IDRs, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances or other claims other than Permitted Liens; there is no subscription, option, warrant, call, right, agreement or commitment relating to the issuance, sale, delivery, repurchase or transfer by ARLP Managing GP of such IDRs, except as set forth in the Current Partnership Agreement;

 

(b)                                  at a meeting duly called and held, the Board of Directors (the “ AHGP Board ”) of Alliance GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and general partner of AHGP (“ AHGP GP ”), (i) determined that the matters contemplated by this Agreement are fair and reasonable to AHGP, including the limited partners of AHGP other than Affiliates of AHGP GP, and (ii) approved and declared the advisability of this Agreement; and

 

(c)                                   Wells Fargo Securities, LLC has delivered a fairness opinion to the AHGP Board with respect to the Exchange Units to be received by ARLP Managing GP in the Transactions.

 

Section 3.3                                     AHGP Parties .              Each AHGP Party, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Partnership as follows:

 

7



 

(a)                                  such AHGP Party is a limited liability company or limited partnership, as the case may be, duly formed and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the limited liability company or limited partnership power and authority, as the case may be, to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, to carry out its terms;

 

(b)                                  such AHGP Party has taken all action as may be necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder. This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such AHGP Party, enforceable against such AHGP Party in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ or secured parties’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity (including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law;

 

(c)                                   none of the execution and delivery hereof, the performance of such AHGP Party’s obligations hereunder nor the consummation of the Transactions will violate or contravene any applicable law, the organizational documents of such AHGP Party or any of its material agreements;

 

(d)                                  (i) in the case of ARLP Managing GP, ARLP Managing GP and AHGP each represent and warrant that ARLP Managing GP is the record holder of a 0.99% General Partner Interest and has good and valid title to such 0.99% General Partner Interest, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances or other claims other than Permitted Liens; there is no subscription, option, warrant, call, right, agreement or commitment relating to the issuance, sale, delivery, repurchase or transfer by ARLP Managing GP of such 0.99% General Partner Interest, except as set forth in the Current Partnership Agreement; (ii) in the case of ARLP Special GP, ARLP Special GP represents and warrants that (A) it is the record holder of a 0.01% General Partner Interest and has good and valid title to such 0.01% General Partner Interest, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances or other claims other than Permitted Liens; there is no subscription, option, warrant, call, right, agreement or commitment relating to the issuance, sale, delivery, repurchase or transfer by ARLP Special GP of such 0.01% General Partner Interest, except as set forth in the Current Partnership Agreement and (B) it is the record holder of a 0.01% AROP General Partner Interest and has good and valid title to such 0.01% AROP General Partner Interest, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances or other claims other than Permitted Liens; there is no subscription, option, warrant, call, right, agreement or commitment relating to the issuance, sale, delivery, repurchase or transfer by ARLP Special GP of such 0.01% AROP General Partner Interest, except as set forth in the AROP Partnership Agreement;

 

(e)                                   each AHGP Party is an “Accredited Investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) promulgated under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and, to the extent applicable, is acquiring the Exchange Units for its own account, and not with a view to any distribution, resale, subdivision, or fractionalization thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any other applicable domestic or foreign securities law, and such AHGP Party has no present plans to enter into any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement for any

 

8



 

distribution, resale, subdivision, or fractionalization of the Exchange Units in violation of the Securities Act or any other applicable domestic or foreign securities law; and

 

(f)                                    such AHGP Party understands that the Exchange Units are characterized as “restricted securities” under the federal securities law inasmuch as they are being acquired from the Partnership in a transaction not involving a public offering and that under such law and applicable regulations such securities may be resold under the Securities Act only in certain limited circumstances.

 

Section 3.4                                     MGP II . MGP II represents and warrants to AHGP, ARMH, Inc. and the Partnership as follows:

 

(a)                                  MGP II is a limited liability company duly formed and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, to carry out its terms;

 

(b)                                  MGP II has taken all action as may be necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder. This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of MGP II, enforceable against MGP II in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ or secured parties’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity (including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law;

 

(c)                                   none of the execution and delivery hereof, the performance of MGP II’s obligations hereunder nor the consummation of the Transactions will violate or contravene any applicable law or the organizational documents or any material agreement of MGP II; and

 

(d)                                  on the Closing Date, the membership interests in MGP II issued to AHGP and ARMH, Inc. will have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Section 3.5                                     AHGP and ARMH, Inc .              Each of AHGP and ARMH, Inc., severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to MGP II and the Partnership as follows:

 

(a)                                  it is a corporation or limited partnership, as the case may be, duly formed and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the corporate or limited partnership power and authority, as the case may be, to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, to carry out its terms;

 

(b)                                  it has taken all action as may be necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder. This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws

 

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relating to or affecting creditors’ or secured parties’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity (including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law;

 

(c)                                   none of the execution and delivery hereof, the performance of such party’s obligations hereunder nor the consummation of the Transactions will violate or contravene any applicable law, the organizational documents of such party or any of its material agreements; and

 

(d)                                  (i) in the case of AHGP, AHGP represents and warrants that it is the record holder of a 99.999% membership interest in ARLP Managing GP and has good and valid title to such membership interest, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances or other claims other than Permitted Liens; there is no subscription, option, warrant, call, right, agreement or commitment relating to the issuance, sale, delivery, repurchase or transfer by AHGP of such membership interest; (ii) in the case of ARMH, Inc., ARMH, Inc. represents and warrants that it is the record holder of a 0.001% membership interest in ARLP Managing GP and has good and valid title to such membership interest, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances or other claims other than Permitted Liens; there is no subscription, option, warrant, call, right, agreement or commitment relating to the issuance, sale, delivery, repurchase or transfer by ARMH, Inc. of such membership interest.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 4.1                                     Governing Law . The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the construction, interpretation and effect of this Agreement without giving effect to any conflicts of law principles.

 

Section 4.2                                     Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same original document.

 

Section 4.3                                     Amendments . All waivers, modifications, amendments or alterations of this Agreement shall require the written approval of each of the parties to this Agreement.

 

Section 4.4                                     Assignment . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and the respective successors and assigns. This Agreement shall not be assignable by any party hereto, except with the prior written consent of the other parties hereto.

 

Section 4.5                                     Benefits of Agreement Restricted to Parties . This Agreement is made solely for the benefit of the parties to this Agreement, and no other person (including employees) shall have any right, claim or cause of action under or by virtue of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.6                                     Severability . In the event that any provision of this Agreement shall finally be determined to be unlawful, such provision shall, so long as the economic and legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any materially adverse manner as to any of the parties to this Agreement, be deemed severed from this Agreement and every other provision of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

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Section 4.7                                     Titles . The article, section and paragraph titles in this Agreement are only for purposes of convenience and do not form a part of this Agreement and will not be taken to qualify, explain, or affect any provision thereof.

 

Section 4.8                                     Notices . All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered if delivered in person, by cable, telegram, telex, or telecopy and shall be deemed to have been duly given three business days after deposit with a United States post office if delivered by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties as follows:

 

if to the Partnership, at

 

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

1717 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 400

Tulsa OK 74119
Attn: R. Eberley Davis
Facsimile: (918) 295-7358

 

if to ARLP Managing GP, at

 

Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC

1717 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 400

Tulsa OK 74119
Attn: R. Eberley Davis
Facsimile: (918) 295-7358

 

if to ARLP Special GP, at

 

Alliance Resource GP, LLC

1717 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 400

Tulsa OK 74119
Attn: R. Eberley Davis
Facsimile: (918) 295-7358

 

if to AHGP, at

 

Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.

1717 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 400

Tulsa OK 74119
Attn: R. Eberley Davis
Facsimile: (918) 295-7358

 

if to ARMH, Inc., at

 

ARM GP Holdings, Inc.

1717 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 400

 

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Tulsa OK 74119
Attn: R. Eberley Davis
Facsimile: (918) 295-7358

 

if to MGP II, at

 

MGP II, LLC

1717 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 400

Tulsa OK 74119
Attn: R. Eberley Davis
Facsimile: (918) 295-7358

 

[ SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed on behalf of each of the parties hereto effective as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. Eberley Davis

 

 

 

Name: R. Eberley Davis

 

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALLIANCE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GP, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. Eberley Davis

 

 

 

Name: R. Eberley Davis

 

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALLIANCE RESOURCE GP, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. Eberley Davis

 

 

 

Name: R. Eberley Davis

 

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARM GP HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. Eberley Davis

 

 

 

Name: R. Eberley Davis

 

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MGP II, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. Eberley Davis

 

 

 

Name: R. Eberley Davis

 

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

Signature Page to Contribution Agreement

 



 

 

ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Alliance GP, LLC,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. Eberley Davis

 

 

 

Name: R. Eberley Davis

 

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

Signature Page to Contribution Agreement

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

FIRST AMENDMENT

 



 

EXHIBIT B

 

REVISED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

 


Exhibit 99.1

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Brian L. Cantrell

Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

1717 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 400

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119

(918) 295-7673

 

ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.

AND ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P.

Announce Elimination of IDRs and Conversion of General Partner

Interest in Exchange for 56.1 Million ARLP Units; Unitholder

Distribution Increased 14.3% at ARLP and 32.7% at AHGP

 

TULSA, OKLAHOMA, July 28, 2017 — Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: ARLP) and Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. (NASDAQ: AHGP) (collectively, the “Alliance Partnerships”) jointly announced today an agreement pursuant to which AHGP’s incentive distribution rights (“IDRs”) in ARLP have been eliminated and its approximate one percent general partner interest in ARLP has been converted into a non-economic general partner interest, in exchange for the issuance to AHGP of  56,100,000 ARLP common units (the “Exchange Transaction”).  As a result, effective today, ARLP has 130,704,217 common units outstanding and AHGP now owns 87,188,338 ARLP common units, a non-economic general partner interest in ARLP, and an approximate one percent general partner interest in ARLP’s operating subsidiary, Alliance Resource Operating Partners, L.P. (“AROP “).

 

While both ARLP and AHGP will remain publicly traded following the Exchange Transaction, the Alliance Partnerships are positioned for a potential simplification transaction at a later date, whereby ARLP would become the sole reporting and trading entity with a substantially larger public float.  Management will be evaluating the timing and structure of any such transaction, and any recommendation in this regard is subject to market and regulatory conditions, including the ultimate outcome of any tax reform currently under consideration by the U.S. Congress.

 

The streamlined economic structure of the Alliance Partnerships we are announcing today should contribute to improved distribution growth in both the near- and long-term and is intended to enhance value for all Alliance unitholders.  Elimination of the IDRs should lower ARLP’s cost of capital and create flexibility for equity capital markets transactions by ARLP, whether in the form of additional common unit issuances or common unit repurchases.  Both the board of directors of AHGP’s general partner (the “AHGP Board”) and the conflicts committee of ARLP’s managing general partner (the “Conflicts Committee “), which is comprised solely of independent directors, unanimously approved the Exchange Transaction.  The AHGP Board engaged Wells Fargo Securities, LLC as its

 

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financial advisor in connection with the Exchange Transaction.  The Conflicts Committee engaged Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated as its financial advisor in connection with the Exchange Transaction.  Vinson & Elkins LLP represented the AHGP Board while Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP represented the Conflicts Committee.

 

The board of directors of ARLP’s managing general partner also approved a cash distribution to unitholders for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 (the “2017 Quarter”) of $0.50 per unit (an annualized rate of $2.00 per unit), payable on August 14, 2017 to all ARLP unitholders of record as of close of trading on August 7, 2017.  The announced distribution reflects an increase of 14.3% compared to the distributions declared for the quarters ended June 30, 2016 (the “2016 Quarter”) and March 31, 2017 (the “Sequential Quarter”).  Based on ARLP’s declared distribution, the AHGP Board approved a cash distribution of $0.73 per unit for the 2017 Quarter (an annualized rate of $2.92 per unit), payable August 18, 2017 to all AHGP unitholders of record on August 11, 2017.  AHGP’s announced distribution reflects an increase of 32.7% compared to the distributions declared for the 2016 and Sequential Quarters.

 

As previously announced, ARLP and AHGP will report financial results for the 2017 Quarter before the market opens on Monday, July 31, 2017 and Alliance management will discuss these results during a conference call beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern that same day.

 

To participate in the conference call, dial (888) 317-6016 and request to be connected to the Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. and Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. earnings conference call.  International callers should dial (412) 317-6016; Canada callers should dial (855) 669-9657 and request to be connected to the same call.  Investors may also listen to the call via the “investor information” section of ARLP’s website at http://www.arlp.com or AHGP’s website at http://www.ahgp.com.

 

An audio replay of the conference call will be available for approximately one week.  To access the audio replay, dial US Toll Free (877) 344-7529; International Toll Free (412) 317-0088 or Canada Toll Free (855) 669-9658 and request to be connected to replay access code 10110611.

 

This announcement is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b), with 100% of the partnership’s distributions to foreign investors attributable to gross income, gain or loss that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business.  Accordingly, ARLP’s distributions to foreign investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable tax rate.

 

About Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

 

ARLP is a diversified producer and marketer of coal to major United States utilities and industrial users.  ARLP, the nation’s first publicly traded master limited partnership involved in the production and marketing of coal, is currently the second largest coal producer in the eastern United States with mining operations in the Illinois Basin and Appalachian coal producing regions.

 

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ARLP currently operates eight mining complexes in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland and West Virginia as well as a coal-loading terminal on the Ohio River at Mount Vernon, Indiana.  ARLP also generates income from a variety of other sources, including investments in oil and gas royalty interests and midstream services.

 

News, unit prices and additional information about ARLP, including filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, are available at http://www.arlp.com . For more information, contact the investor relations department of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. at (918) 295-7674 or via e-mail at investorrelations@arlp.com.

 

About Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.

 

AHGP is a limited partnership formed to own and control ARLP’s managing general partner through which it holds a non-economic general partner interest in ARLP and an approximate one percent general partner interest in ARLP’s operating subsidiary AROP.  In addition, AHGP owns 87,188,338 common units of ARLP.

 

News, unit prices and additional information about AHGP including filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, are available at http://www.ahgp.com.  For more information, contact the investor relations department of Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. at (918) 295-1415 or via e-mail at investorrelations@ahgp.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws.  Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond ARLP’s and AHGP’s control. All statements, other than historical facts included in this press release, including (but not limited to) references to (i) the benefits of the transaction, (ii) the likelihood of any further simplification transactions, (iii) the potential for future dividend growth, and (iv) future market or regulatory conditions, may be forward-looking statements.  All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Although ARLP and AHGP believe that the plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there is no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved.  Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied or forecast in such forward-looking statements.

 

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