UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): March 24, 2021
GLOBAL PARTNERS LP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-32593 | 74-3140887 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
P.O. Box 9161
800 South Street
Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9161
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(781) 894-8800
(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 obligation 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))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading
Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which
registered |
||
Common Units representing limited partner interests | GLP | New York Stock Exchange | ||
9.75% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units representing limited partner interests | GLP pr A | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company 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 ¨
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 3.03 | Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders. |
The information set forth under Item 5.03 is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 3.03.
Item 5.03 | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Changes in Fiscal Year |
On March 24, 2021, Global Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), issued 3,000,000 of its 9.50% Series B Fixed Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Series B Preferred Units”), at a price to the public of $25.00 per Series B Preferred Unit, pursuant to the previously filed Underwriting Agreement, dated as of March 17, 2021, by and among the Partnership, Global Operating LLC, Global GP LLC (the “General Partner”) and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.
In connection with the closing of the offering of the Series B Preferred Units on March 24, 2021, the General Partner executed the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (the “Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement”) for the purpose of creating and defining the preferences, rights, powers and terms of the Series B Preferred Units. The amendments effected by the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement provide for the issuance of the Series B Preferred Units, in summary, with the features described below.
The Series B Preferred Units rank (a) senior to common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Common Units”), incentive distribution rights and to each other class or series of limited partner interests or other equity securities of the Partnership established after the original issue date of the Series B Preferred Units (the “Series B Original Issue Date”) that is not expressly made senior to or on parity with the 9.75% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Series A Preferred Units”) and the Series B Preferred Units as to the payment of distributions and amounts payable upon a liquidation event (individually and collectively, the “Preferred Unit Junior Securities”), (b) on parity with respect to distributions or amounts payable upon a liquidation event, as applicable, with the Series A Preferred Units and each other and any class or series of limited partner interests or other equity securities of the Partnership established after the Series B Original Issue Date with terms expressly providing that such class or series ranks on parity with the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units as to the payment of distributions or amounts payable upon a liquidation event (individually and collectively, but excluding Preferred Unit Senior Securities (as defined below), the “Preferred Unit Parity Securities”) and (c) junior with respect to distributions or amounts payable upon a liquidation event, as applicable, to any class or series of limited partner interests or equity securities of the Partnership established after the Series B Original Issue Date with terms expressly made senior to the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units as to the payment of distributions or amounts payable upon a liquidation event (individually and collectively, the “Preferred Unit Senior Securities”) and to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities with respect to assets available to satisfy claims against the Partnership.
Distributions on the Series B Preferred Units will be cumulative from the Series B Original Issue Date and will be payable quarterly in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year (each, a “Distribution Payment Date”), commencing on May 15, 2021, to holders of record as of the opening of business on the February 1, May 1, August 1 or November 1 next preceding the Distribution Payment Date, in each case, when, as, and if declared by the General Partner out of legally available funds for such purpose. A pro-rated initial distribution on the Series B Preferred Units will be payable on May 15, 2021 in an amount equal to approximately $0.3365 per Series B Preferred Unit.
The distribution rate for the Series B Preferred Units will be 9.50% per annum of the $25.00 liquidation preference per Series B Preferred Unit (equal to $2.375 per Series B Preferred Unit per annum).
The Partnership will not declare or pay or set apart for payment any distributions on any Preferred Unit Junior Securities (other than a distribution payable solely in Preferred Unit Junior Securities) unless full cumulative distributions have been or contemporaneously are being paid or provided for on all outstanding Series B Preferred Units and any Preferred Unit Parity Securities (including the Series A Preferred Units) through the most recent respective distribution periods.
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At any time on or after May 15, 2026, the Partnership may redeem, in whole or in part, the Series B Preferred Units at a redemption price in cash of $25.00 per Series B Preferred Unit plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid distributions thereon to, but excluding, the date of redemption, whether or not declared. The Partnership must provide not less than 30 days’ and not more than 60 days’ advance written notice of any such redemption.
Upon the occurrence of a Series B Change of Control (as defined in the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement), the Partnership may, at its option, redeem the Series B Preferred Units, in whole or in part, within 120 days after the first date on which such Series B Change of Control occurred, by paying $25.00 per Series B Preferred Unit, plus all accumulated and unpaid distributions to, but excluding, the date of redemption, whether or not declared. If, prior to the Series B Change of Control Conversion Date (as defined in the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement), the Partnership exercises its redemption rights relating to Series B Preferred Units, holders of the Series B Preferred Units that the Partnership has elected to redeem will not have the conversion right discussed below related to a Series B Change of Control.
Upon the occurrence of a Series B Change of Control, each holder of Series B Preferred Units will have the right (unless, prior to the Series B Change of Control Conversion Date, the Partnership provides notice of its election to redeem the Series B Preferred Units) to convert some or all of the Series B Preferred Units held by such holder on the Series B Change of Control Conversion Date into a number of Common Units per Series B Preferred Unit to be converted equal to the lesser of (a) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the $25.00 liquidation preference plus the amount of any accumulated and unpaid distributions to, but excluding, the Series B Change of Control Conversion Date (unless the Series B Change of Control Conversion Date is after a record date for a Series B Preferred Unit distribution payment and prior to the corresponding Distribution Payment Date, in which case no additional amount for such accumulated and unpaid distribution will be included in this sum) by (ii) the Series B Common Unit Price (as defined in the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement) and (b) 2.1533, subject, in each case, to certain exceptions and adjustments.
Any such redemptions would be effected only out of funds legally available for such purposes and would be subject to compliance with the provisions of the Partnership’s outstanding indebtedness.
Holders of Series B Preferred Units generally have no voting rights, except for limited voting rights with respect to (i) potential amendments to the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement that would have a material adverse effect on the terms of the Series B Preferred Units, (ii) the creation or issuance of any Preferred Unit Parity Securities (including any additional Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units) if the cumulative distributions payable on then outstanding Series B Preferred Units (or Preferred Unit Parity Securities, including the Series A Preferred Units, if applicable) are in arrears, (iii) the creation or issuance of any Preferred Unit Senior Securities and (iv) the declaration or payment of any distribution to the holders of Common Units out of capital surplus.
The foregoing description of the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit
Number |
Description | |
3.1 | Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Global Partners LP, dated as of March 24, 2021. | |
5.1 | Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the offered Series B Preferred Units. | |
8.1 | Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. regarding tax matters. | |
23.1 | Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in its opinions filed as Exhibit 5.1 and Exhibit 8.1). | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
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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 thereunto duly authorized.
GLOBAL PARTNERS LP | |||
By: |
GLOBAL GP LLC
its General Partner |
||
Dated: March 24, 2021 | By: | /s/ Edward J. Faneuil | |
Edward J. Faneuil | |||
Executive Vice President, | |||
General Counsel and Secretary |
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Exhibit 3.1
FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
GLOBAL PARTNERS LP
TABLE OF CONTENTS | ||
Article I | ||
DEFINITIONS | ||
Section 1.1 | Definitions | 2 |
Section 1.2 | Construction; Prior Distributions of Available Cash from “Operating Surplus” | 26 |
Article II | ||
ORGANIZATION | ||
Section 2.1 | Formation | 26 |
Section 2.2 | Name | 26 |
Section 2.3 | Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices | 26 |
Section 2.4 | Purpose and Business | 27 |
Section 2.5 | Powers | 27 |
Section 2.6 | Power of Attorney | 27 |
Section 2.7 | Term | 28 |
Section 2.8 | Title to Partnership Assets | 29 |
Article III | ||
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS | ||
Section 3.1 | Limitation of Liability | 29 |
Section 3.2 | Management of Business | 29 |
Section 3.3 | Outside Activities of the Limited Partners | 29 |
Section 3.4 | Rights of Limited Partners | 30 |
Article IV | ||
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS | ||
Section 4.1 | Certificates | 31 |
Section 4.2 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates | 31 |
Section 4.3 | Record Holders | 32 |
Section 4.4 | Transfer Generally | 32 |
Section 4.5 | Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests | 33 |
Section 4.6 | Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest | 34 |
Section 4.7 | Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights | 34 |
Section 4.8 | Restrictions on Transfers | 35 |
Section 4.9 | Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees | 36 |
Section 4.10 | Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees | 37 |
i
Article V | ||
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS | ||
Section 5.1 | Organizational Contributions | 38 |
Section 5.2 | Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates | 38 |
Section 5.3 | Contributions by Initial Limited Partners | 39 |
Section 5.4 | Interest and Withdrawal | 39 |
Section 5.5 | Capital Accounts | 39 |
Section 5.6 | Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities | 42 |
Section 5.7 | Reserved | 43 |
Section 5.8 | Limited Preemptive Right | 43 |
Section 5.9 | Splits and Combinations | 44 |
Section 5.10 | Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests | 44 |
Article VI | ||
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS | ||
Section 6.1 | Allocations for Capital Account Purposes | 45 |
Section 6.2 | Allocations for Tax Purposes | 53 |
Section 6.3 | Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders | 55 |
Section 6.4 | Distributions of Available Cash from Distributable Cash Flow | 56 |
Section 6.5 | Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus | 57 |
Section 6.6 | Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels | 57 |
Section 6.7 | Reserved | 58 |
Section 6.8 | Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights | 58 |
Section 6.9 | Entity-Level Taxation | 58 |
Article VII | ||
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS | ||
Section 7.1 | Management | 58 |
Section 7.2 | Certificate of Limited Partnership | 61 |
Section 7.3 | Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority | 61 |
Section 7.4 | Reimbursement of the General Partner | 61 |
Section 7.5 | Outside Activities | 62 |
Section 7.6 | Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members | 63 |
Section 7.7 | Indemnification | 64 |
Section 7.8 | Liability of Indemnitees | 65 |
Section 7.9 | Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties | 66 |
ii
Section 7.10 | Other Matters Concerning the General Partner | 68 |
Section 7.11 | Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities | 68 |
Section 7.12 | Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates | 69 |
Section 7.13 | Reliance by Third Parties | 72 |
Article VIII | ||
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS | ||
Section 8.1 | Records and Accounting | 72 |
Section 8.2 | Fiscal Year | 72 |
Section 8.3 | Reports | 73 |
Article IX | ||
TAX MATTERS | ||
Section 9.1 | Tax Returns and Information | 73 |
Section 9.2 | Tax Elections | 73 |
Section 9.3 | Tax Controversies | 74 |
Section 9.4 | Withholding and Other Tax Payments by the Partnership | 75 |
Article X | ||
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS | ||
Section 10.1 | Admission of Initial Limited Partners | 76 |
Section 10.2 | Admission of Substituted Limited Partners | 76 |
Section 10.3 | Admission of Successor General Partner | 76 |
Section 10.4 | Admission of Additional Limited Partners | 77 |
Section 10.5 | Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership | 77 |
Article XI | ||
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS | ||
Section 11.1 | Withdrawal of the General Partner | 77 |
Section 11.2 | Removal of the General Partner | 79 |
Section 11.3 | Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner | 79 |
Section 11.4 | Withdrawal of Limited Partners | 81 |
Article XII | ||
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION | ||
Section 12.1 | Dissolution | 81 |
Section 12.2 | Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution | 82 |
Section 12.3 | Liquidator | 82 |
iii
Section 12.4 | Liquidation | 82 |
Section 12.5 | Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership | 83 |
Section 12.6 | Return of Contributions | 83 |
Section 12.7 | Waiver of Partition | 83 |
Section 12.8 | Capital Account Restoration | 83 |
Article XIII | ||
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE | ||
Section 13.1 | Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner | 84 |
Section 13.2 | Amendment Procedures | 85 |
Section 13.3 | Amendment Requirements | 86 |
Section 13.4 | Special Meetings | 86 |
Section 13.5 | Notice of a Meeting | 87 |
Section 13.6 | Record Date | 87 |
Section 13.7 | Adjournment | 87 |
Section 13.8 | Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes | 87 |
Section 13.9 | Quorum and Voting | 88 |
Section 13.10 | Conduct of a Meeting | 88 |
Section 13.11 | Action Without a Meeting | 88 |
Section 13.12 | Right to Vote and Related Matters | 89 |
Article XIV | ||
MERGER | ||
Section 14.1 | Authority | 90 |
Section 14.2 | Procedure for Merger or Consolidation | 90 |
Section 14.3 | Approval by Limited Partners of Merger or Consolidation | 91 |
Section 14.4 | Certificate of Merger | 92 |
Section 14.5 | Amendment of Partnership Agreement | 92 |
Section 14.6 | Effect of Merger | 92 |
Article XV | ||
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS | ||
Section 15.1 | Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests | 93 |
Article XVI | ||
SERIES A FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE CUMULATIVE REDEEMABLE PERPETUAL PREFERRED UNITS | ||
Section 16.1 | Designation | 94 |
Section 16.2 | Series A Preferred Units | 95 |
Section 16.3 | Distributions | 95 |
iv
Section 16.4 | Voting Rights | 97 |
Section 16.5 | Optional Redemption | 98 |
Section 16.6 | Series A Change of Control Conversion | 100 |
Section 16.7 | No Sinking Fund | 102 |
Section 16.8 | Record Holders | 102 |
Section 16.9 | Notices | 103 |
Section 16.10 | Other Rights; Fiduciary Duties | 103 |
Article XVII | ||
SERIES b FIXED RATE CUMULATIVE REDEEMABLE PERPETUAL PREFERRED UNITS | ||
Section 17.1 | Designation | 103 |
Section 17.2 | Series B Preferred Units | 103 |
Section 17.3 | Distributions | 104 |
Section 17.4 | Voting Rights | 105 |
Section 17.5 | Optional Redemption | 106 |
Section 17.6 | Series B Change of Control Conversion | 108 |
Section 17.7 | No Sinking Fund | 110 |
Section 17.8 | Record Holders | 110 |
Section 17.9 | Notices | 111 |
Section 17.10 | Other Rights; Fiduciary Duties | 111 |
Article XVIII | ||
GENERAL PROVISIONS | ||
Section 18.1 | Addresses and Notices | 111 |
Section 18.2 | Further Action | 112 |
Section 18.3 | Binding Effect | 112 |
Section 18.4 | Integration | 112 |
Section 18.5 | Creditors | 112 |
Section 18.6 | Waiver | 112 |
Section 18.7 | Counterparts | 112 |
Section 18.8 | Applicable Law | 112 |
Section 18.9 | Invalidity of Provisions | 112 |
Section 18.10 | Consent of Partners | 112 |
Section 18.11 | Facsimile Signatures | 112 |
v
FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF GLOBAL PARTNERS LP
THIS FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF GLOBAL PARTNERS LP dated as of March 24, 2021, is entered into by and between Global GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the General Partner, and any other Persons who are or become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein.
WHEREAS, the General Partner and the Limited Partners of the Partnership entered into that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated as of August 7, 2018, as heretofore amended (the “Fourth A/R Partnership Agreement”);
WHEREAS, Section 5.6(a) of the Fourth A/R Partnership Agreement provides that the Partnership may issue additional Partnership Securities for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as the General Partner shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited Partners;
WHEREAS, Section 5.6(b) of the Fourth A/R Partnership Agreement provides that the additional Partnership Securities authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.6(a) of the Fourth A/R Partnership Agreement 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;
WHEREAS, Section 13.1(g) of the Fourth A/R Partnership Agreement provides that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner or Assignee, may amend any provision of the Fourth A/R Partnership Agreement to reflect an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization of issuance of any class or series of Partnership Securities pursuant to Section 5.6 of the Fourth A/R Partnership Agreement;
WHEREAS, Section 13.1(d) of the Fourth A/R Partnership Agreement provides that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner or Assignee, may amend any provision of the Fourth A/R Partnership Agreement to reflect a change that the General Partner determines does not adversely affect the Limited Partners (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests) in any material respect;
WHEREAS, Section 16.4(b) of the Fourth A/R Partnership Agreement provides that the Partnership may, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, (a) issue Series A Parity Securities (as defined in the Fourth A/R Partnership Agreement) so long as the cumulative distributions payable on Outstanding Series A Preferred Units (as defined in the Fourth A/R Partnership Agreement) are not in Series A Arrears and (b) enter into any amendment to the Fourth A/R Partnership Agreement in connection therewith (which amendment shall not be deemed to constitute a material adverse effect on the powers, preference, duties, or special rights of the Series A Preferred Units for the purposes of Section 16.4(b)(i) of the Fourth A/R Partnership Agreement); and
1
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors deems it in the best interest of the Partnership to amend and restate the Fourth A/R Partnership Agreement to provide for (a) the issuance and sale of the Series B Preferred Units pursuant to a certain Underwriting Agreement dated as of March 17, 2021 among the Partnership, the General Partner and the Operating Company and the underwriters named therein and (b) such other matters as are provided herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Fourth A/R Partnership Agreement is amended and restated to provide in its entirety as follows:
Article I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.
“Additional Book Basis” means the portion of any remaining Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property that is attributable to positive adjustments made to such Carrying Value as a result of Book-Up Events. For purposes of determining the extent that Carrying Value constitutes Additional Book Basis:
(a) Any negative adjustment made to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property as a result of either a Book-Down Event or a Book-Up Event shall first be deemed to offset or decrease that portion of the Carrying Value of such Adjusted Property that is attributable to any prior positive adjustments made thereto pursuant to a Book-Up Event or Book-Down Event.
(b) If Carrying Value that constitutes Additional Book Basis is reduced as a result of a Book-Down Event and the Carrying Value of other property is increased as a result of such Book-Down Event, an allocable portion of any such increase in Carrying Value shall be treated as Additional Book Basis; provided, that the amount treated as Additional Book Basis pursuant hereto as a result of such Book-Down Event shall not exceed the amount by which the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments after such Book-Down Event exceeds the remaining Additional Book Basis attributable to all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property after such Book-Down Event (determined without regard to the application of this clause (b) to such Book-Down Event).
“Additional Book Basis Derivative Items” means any Book Basis Derivative Items that are computed with reference to Additional Book Basis. To the extent that the Additional Book Basis attributable to all of the Partnership’s Adjusted Property as of the beginning of any taxable period exceeds the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the beginning of such period (the “Excess Additional Book Basis”), the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for such period shall be reduced by the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items determined without regard to this sentence as the Excess Additional Book Basis bears to the Additional Book Basis as of the beginning of such period.
2
“Additional Limited Partner” means a Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.4 and who is shown as such on the books and records of the Partnership.
“Adjusted Capital Account” means the Capital Account maintained for each Partner as of the end of each fiscal year of the Partnership, (a) increased by any amounts that such Partner is obligated to restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (or is deemed obligated to restore under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(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 Sections 6.1(d)(i) or 6.1(d)(ii)). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. The “Adjusted Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of a General Partner Unit, a Common Unit, a Series A Preferred Unit, a Series B Preferred Unit or an Incentive Distribution Right or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Series A Preferred Unit, Series B Preferred Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Series A Preferred Unit, Series B Preferred Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest was first issued.
“Adjusted Property” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Sections 5.2 or 5.5(d)(ii).
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments” means, as of the end of any taxable period, the sum of the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of all the Partners.
“Agreed Allocation” means any allocation, other than a Required Allocation, of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1, including a Curative Allocation (if appropriate to the context in which the term “Agreed Allocation” is used).
“Agreed Value” of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property or other consideration at the time of contribution as determined by the General Partner. The General Partner shall use such method as it determines to be appropriate to allocate the aggregate Agreed Value of Contributed Properties contributed to the Partnership in a single or integrated transaction among each separate property on a basis proportional to the fair market value of each Contributed Property.
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“Agreement” means this Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Global Partners LP, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Assignee” means a Non-citizen Assignee or a Person to whom one or more Limited Partner Interests have been transferred in a manner permitted under this Agreement, but who has not been admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner.
“Associate” means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, (a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of voting stock or other voting interest; (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same principal residence as such Person.
“Available Cash” means, with respect to any Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation Date:
(a) all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter, less
(b) the amount of any cash reserves established by the General Partner to (i) provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs of the Partnership Group) subsequent to such Quarter, (ii) comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party or by which it is bound or its assets are subject, (iii) provide funds for Series A Payments and Series B Payments in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters or (iv) provide funds for distributions under Sections 6.4 or 6.5 in respect of any one or more of the next four Quarters; provided, however, that the General Partner may not establish cash reserves pursuant to clause (iv) above if the effect of such reserves would be that the Partnership is unable to distribute the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all Common Units with respect to such Quarter; and, provided further, that disbursements made by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such Quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash, within such Quarter if the General Partner so determines.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Available Cash” with respect to the Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal zero.
“Beneficial Owner” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act, except that, in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act), such “person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only after the passage of time. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have a corresponding meaning.
4
“Board of Directors” means, with respect to the Board of Directors of the General Partner, its board of directors or managers, as applicable, if a corporation or limited liability company, or if a limited partnership, the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner of the General Partner.
“Book Basis Derivative Items” means any item of income, deduction, gain or loss included in the determination of Net Income or Net Loss that is computed with reference to the Carrying Value of an Adjusted Property (e.g., depreciation, depletion, or gain or loss with respect to an Adjusted Property).
“Book-Down Event” means an event that triggers a negative adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
“Book-Tax Disparity” means with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for federal income tax purposes as of such date. A Partner’s share of the Partnership’s Book-Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such Partner’s Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section 5.5 and the hypothetical balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles.
“Book-Up Event” means an event that triggers a positive adjustment to the Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
“Business Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (or, solely with respect to matters pertaining to the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or State of New York) shall not be regarded as a Business Day.
“Capital Account” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5. The “Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of a General Partner Unit, a Common Unit, Series A Preferred Unit, Series B Preferred Unit, an Incentive Distribution Right or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Capital Account would be if such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Series A Preferred Unit, Series B Preferred Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such General Partner Unit, Common Unit, Series A Preferred Unit, Series B Preferred Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest was first issued.
“Capital Contribution” means any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed Value of Contributed Property that a Partner contributes to the Partnership.
“Capital Surplus” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.3(a).
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“Carrying Value” means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions charged to the Partners’ and Assignees’ Capital Accounts in respect of such Contributed Property, and (b) with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such property for federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination. The Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Sections 5.5(d)(i) and 5.5(d)(ii) and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the General Partner.
“Cause” means a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding the General Partner liable for actual fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as a general partner of the Partnership.
“Certificate” means (a) a certificate (i) substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement, (ii) issued in global form in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Depositary or (iii) in such other form as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more Common Units or (b) a certificate, in such form as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more other Partnership Securities.
“Certificate of Limited Partnership” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as referenced in Section 7.2, as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Citizenship Certification” means a properly completed certificate in such form as may be specified by the General Partner by which an Assignee or a Limited Partner certifies that he (and if he is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, that to the best of his knowledge such other Person) is an Eligible Citizen.
“claim” (as used in Section 7.12(d)) has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(d).
“Closing Date” means the first date on which Common Units were sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters pursuant to the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement.
“Closing Price” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.
“Combined Interest” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.3(a).
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
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“Common Unit” means a Unit representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees, and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement. The term “Common Unit” does not include a Series A Preferred Unit or Series B Preferred Unit prior to its conversion into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof.
“Conflicts Committee” means a committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner composed entirely of two or more directors who are not (a) security holders, officers or employees of the General Partner, (b) officers, directors or employees of any Affiliate of the General Partner or (c) holders of any ownership interest in the Partnership Group other than Common Units and Preferred Units and who also meet the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading.
“Contributed Property” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the Partnership. Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d), such property shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.
“Contribution Agreement” means that certain Contribution and Conveyance Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the General Partner, the Partnership, the Operating Company and certain other parties, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Curative Allocation” means any allocation of an item of income, gain, deduction, loss or credit pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi).
“Current Market Price” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).
“Delaware Act” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del C. Section 17-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
“Departing General Partner” means a former General Partner from and after the effective date of any withdrawal or removal of such former General Partner pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2.
“Depositary” means, with respect to any Units, Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units issued in global form, The Depository Trust Company and its successors and permitted assigns.
“Disposed of Adjusted Property” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B).
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“Distributable Cash Flow” means, on a cumulative basis since the Closing Date and without duplication, the sum of net income plus depreciation and amortization, in each case calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP, minus Maintenance Capital Expenditures, as adjusted to eliminate items approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors that are extraordinary or non-recurring in nature and that would otherwise increase Distributable Cash Flow.
“Economic Risk of Loss” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).
“Eligible Citizen” means a Person qualified to own interests in real property in jurisdictions in which any Group Member does business or proposes to do business from time to time, and whose status as a Limited Partner or Assignee does not or would not subject such Group Member to a significant risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any of its properties or any interest therein.
“Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.9.
“Event of Withdrawal” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(a).
“First Liquidation Target Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(C).
“First Target Distribution” means $0.4625 per Unit per Quarter, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 6.6 and 6.9.
“Fourth A/R Partnership Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
“General Partner” means Global GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Partnership as general partner of the Partnership, in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership (except as the context otherwise requires).
“General Partner Interest” means the ownership interest of the General Partner in the Partnership (in its capacity as a general partner without reference to any Limited Partner Interest held by it), which is evidenced by General Partner Units, and includes any and all benefits to which the General Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of the General Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
“General Partner Unit” means a fractional part of the General Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the General Partner Interest. A General Partner Unit is not a Unit.
“Group” means a Person that with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates has any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons), exercising investment power or disposing of any Partnership Interests with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, Partnership Interests.
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“Group Member” means a member of the Partnership Group.
“Group Member Agreement” means the partnership agreement of any Group Member, other than the Partnership, that is a limited or general partnership, the limited liability company agreement of any Group Member that is a limited liability company, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or similar organizational documents of any Group Member that is a corporation, the joint venture agreement or similar governing document of any Group Member that is a joint venture and the governing or organizational or similar documents of any other Group Member that is a Person other than a limited or general partnership, limited liability company, corporation or joint venture, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Holder” as used in Section 7.12, has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(a).
“Incentive Distribution Right” means a non-voting Limited Partner Interest issued to the General Partner in connection with the transfer of all of its interests in Global Companies LLC to the Partnership pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, which Limited Partner Interest will confer upon the holder thereof only the rights and obligations specifically provided in this Agreement with respect to Incentive Distribution Rights (and no other rights otherwise available to or other obligations of a holder of a Partnership Interest). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the holder of an Incentive Distribution Right shall not be entitled to vote such Incentive Distribution Right on any Partnership matter except as may otherwise be required by law.
“Incentive Distributions” means any amount of cash distributed to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to Sections 6.4(a)(iii), 6.4(a)(iv) and 6.4(a)(v).
“Indemnified Persons” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(d).
“Indemnitee” means (a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing General Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a member, partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner as an officer, director, member, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, and (f) any Person the General Partner designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement.
“Initial Common Units” means the Common Units sold in the Initial Offering.
“Initial Limited Partners” means Chelsea Terminal Limited Partnership, Sandwich Terminal, L.L.C., Global Petroleum Corp., Montello Oil Corporation, Larea Holdings LLC, Larea Holdings II LLC, the General Partner (with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights received by it pursuant to Section 5.2), and the Underwriters, in each case upon being admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 10.1.
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“Initial Offering” means the initial offering and sale of Common Units to the public, as described in the Registration Statement.
“Initial Unit Price” means (a) with respect to the Common Units, the initial public offering price per Common Unit at which the Underwriters offered the Common Units to the public for sale as set forth on the cover page of the prospectus included as part of the Registration Statement and first issued at or after the time the Registration Statement first became effective or (b) with respect to any other class or series of Units, the price per Unit at which such class or series of Units is initially sold by the Partnership, as determined by the General Partner, in each case adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of Units.
“Issue Price” means the price at which a Partnership Security is purchased from the Partnership, after taking into account any sales commission or underwriting discount charged to the Partnership and after taking into account any other form of discount with respect to the price at which a Partnership Security is purchased from the Partnership.
“Limited Partner” means, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) the Organizational Limited Partner prior to its withdrawal from the Partnership, each Initial Limited Partner, each Substituted Limited Partner, each Additional Limited Partner and any Departing General Partner upon the change of its status from General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3, in each case, in such Person’s capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership or (b) solely for purposes of Articles V, VI, VII and IX, each Assignee; provided, however, that when the term “Limited Partner” is (i) used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any holder of an Incentive Distribution Right (solely with respect to its Incentive Distribution Rights and not with respect to any other Limited Partner Interest held by such Person) except as may otherwise be required by law and (ii) used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII (other than Sections 13.4, 13.5, 13.6, 13.8, 13.9, 13.10, 13.11 and 13.12(b) and (c)) and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include a Series A Holder with respect to its Series A Preferred Units or a Series B Holder with respect to its Series B Preferred Units.
“Limited Partner Interest” means the ownership interest of a Limited Partner or Assignee in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Series A Preferred Units, Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership Securities or a combination thereof or interest therein, and includes any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner or Assignee is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner or Assignee to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that when the term “Limited Partner Interest” is (i) used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any Incentive Distribution Right except as may otherwise be required by law and (ii) used herein in the context of any vote or other approval, including Articles XIII (other than Sections 13.4, 13.5, 13.6, 13.8, 13.9, 13.10, 13.11 and 13.12(b) and (c)) and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include a Series A Holder with respect to its Series A Preferred Units or a Series B Holder with respect to its Series B Preferred Units.
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“Liquidation Date” means (a) in the case of an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) of the first sentence of Section 12.2, the date on which the applicable time period during which the holders of Outstanding Units have the right to elect to continue the business of the Partnership has expired without such an election being made, and (b) in the case of any other event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership, the date on which such event occurs.
“Liquidator” means one or more Persons selected by the General Partner to perform the functions described in Section 12.4 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership within the meaning of the Delaware Act.
“London Business Day” means any day on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market.
“Maintenance Capital Expenditures” means capital expenditures to repair or replace partially or fully depreciated assets to maintain the operating capacity of or sales and revenues generated by existing assets of the Partnership Group or to extend the useful lives of such assets.
“Merger Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1.
“Minimum Quarterly Distribution” means (a) $0.4125 per Unit per Quarter (or with respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2005, it means the product of $0.4125 multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator is the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is 92) for all Quarters ending on or prior to September 30, 2009 and (b) $0.4625 per Unit per Quarter for all Quarters ending on or after September 30, 2009, in each case subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 6.6 and 6.9.
“National Securities Exchange” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, and any successor to such statute.
“Net Agreed Value” means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced by any liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or to which such property is subject when contributed, and (b) in the case of any property distributed to a Partner or Assignee by the Partnership, the Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(ii)) at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any indebtedness either assumed by such Partner 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 (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year over the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made as if Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement.
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“Net Loss” means, for any taxable year, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year over the Partnership’s items of income and gain (other than those items taken into account in the computation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss) for such taxable year. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(d); provided, that the determination of the items that have been specially allocated under Section 6.1(d) shall be made as if Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement.
“Net Positive Adjustments” means, with respect to any Partner, the excess, if any, of the total positive adjustments over the total negative adjustments made to the Capital Account of such Partner pursuant to Book-Up Events and Book-Down Events.
“Net Termination Gain” means, for any taxable year, the sum, if positive, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the Partnership (a) after the Liquidation Date or (b) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group). The items included in the determination of Net Termination Gain shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).
“Net Termination Loss” means, for any taxable year, the sum, if negative, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the Partnership (a) after the Liquidation Date or (b) upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (excluding any disposition to a member of the Partnership Group). The items included in the determination of Net Termination Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and shall not include any items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 6.1(d).
“Non-citizen Assignee” means a Person whom the General Partner has determined does not constitute an Eligible Citizen and as to whose Partnership Interest the General Partner has become the Substituted Limited Partner, pursuant to Section 4.9.
“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 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.
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“Nonrecourse Deductions” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b), are attributable to a Nonrecourse Liability.
“Nonrecourse Liability” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-1(a)(2).
“Notice of Election to Purchase” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(b).
“Omnibus Agreement” means that certain Omnibus Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the General Partner, the Partnership, the Operating Company and certain other parties thereto, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Operating Company” means Global Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any successors thereto.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the Partnership or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the General Partner.
“Option Closing Date” means the date or dates on which any Common Units are sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option.
“Organizational Limited Partner” means Global Petroleum Corp. in its capacity as the organizational limited partner of the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.
“Outstanding” means, with respect to Partnership Securities, all Partnership Securities that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding on the Partnership’s books and records as of the date of determination; provided, however, that if at any time any Person or Group (other than the General Partner or its Affiliates) beneficially owns 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership 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, except that Partnership Securities so owned shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Partnership Securities shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Securities for purposes of this Agreement); provided, further, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (a) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates, (b) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in clause (a) provided that the General Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply, or (c) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership with the prior approval of the Board of Directors.
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“Over-Allotment Option” means the over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters by the Partnership pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
“Partner Nonrecourse Debt” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).
“Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
“Partner Nonrecourse Deductions” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i), are attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt.
“Partners” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.
“Partnership” means Global Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership.
“Partnership Group” means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries treated as a single consolidated entity.
“Partnership Interest” means an interest in the Partnership, which shall include the General Partner Interest and Limited Partner Interests.
“Partnership Minimum Gain” means that amount determined in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(d).
“Partnership Security” means any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership (but excluding any options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership), including Common Units, Series A Preferred Units, Series B Preferred Units, General Partner Units and Incentive Distribution Rights.
“Percentage Interest” means as of any date of determination (a) as to the General Partner with respect to General Partner Units and as to any Unitholder or Assignee holding Units, the product obtained by multiplying (i) 100% less the percentage applicable to clause (b) by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing the number of Units held by such Unitholder or Assignee or the number of General Partner Units held by the General Partner, as the case may be, by the total number of all Outstanding Units and all General Partner Units, and (b) as to the holders of other Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.6, the percentage established as a part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest with respect to an Incentive Distribution Right, a Series A Preferred Unit and a Series B Preferred Unit 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.
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“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.
“Preferred Unit” means a Partnership Security designated as a “Preferred Unit,” including the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units, which entitles the holder thereof to a preference with respect to the payment of distributions on such Partnership Securities and distributions upon liquidation of the Partnership over Common Units.
“Preferred Unit Junior Securities” means (a) the Common Units, (b) Incentive Distribution Rights and (c) any other class or series of Partnership Securities established after the Series B Original Issue Date, the terms of which class or series do not expressly provide that it is made senior to or on parity with the Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units as to the payment of distributions on such Partnership Securities and amounts payable upon liquidation of the Partnership.
“Preferred Unit Parity Securities” means any class or series of Partnership Securities established after the Series B Original Issue Date the terms of which class or series expressly provide that such class or series ranks on parity with the Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units as to the payment of distributions on such Partnership Securities or amounts payable upon liquidation of the Partnership, but shall not include Preferred Unit Senior Securities.
“Preferred Unit Paying Agent” means the Transfer Agent, acting in its capacity as paying agent for the Series A Preferred Units or the Series B Preferred Units, as applicable, and its successors and assigns or any other payment agent appointed by the General Partner; provided, however, that if no Preferred Unit Paying Agent is specifically designated for the Series A Preferred Units or the Series B Preferred Units, as applicable, the General Partner shall act in such capacity.
“Preferred Unit Senior Securities” means any class or series of Partnership Securities established after the Series B Original Issue Date, the terms of which class or series expressly provide that it ranks senior to the Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units as to the payment of distributions on such Partnership Securities or amounts payable upon liquidation of the Partnership.
“Pro Rata” means (a) when used with respect to Units or any class thereof, apportioned equally among all designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (b) when used with respect to Partners and Assignees or Record Holders, apportioned among all Partners and Assignees or Record Holders in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (c) when used with respect to Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units, apportioned equally among all Series A Holders or Series B Holders, respectively, in accordance with the relative number or percentage of Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units, respectively, held by each such holder and (d) when used with respect to holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, apportioned equally among all holders of Incentive Distribution Rights in accordance with the relative number or percentage of Incentive Distribution Rights held by each such holder.
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“Purchase Date” means the date determined by the General Partner as the date for purchase of all Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of a certain class (other than Limited Partner Interests owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) pursuant to Article XV.
“Quarter” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter of the Partnership.
“Recapture Income” means any gain recognized by the Partnership (computed without regard to any adjustment required by Section 734 or Section 743 of the Code) upon the disposition of any property or asset of the Partnership, which gain is characterized as ordinary income because it represents the recapture of deductions previously taken with respect to such property or asset.
“Record Date” means the date established by the General Partner or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Limited Partners or entitled to vote by ballot or give approval of Partnership action in writing without a meeting or entitled to exercise rights in respect of any lawful action of Limited Partners or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer.
“Record Holder” means (a) 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, (b) the Person in whose name a Preferred Unit is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent, unless otherwise as set forth in Article XVI or Article XVII, as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day or (c) with respect to other Partnership Interests, the Person in whose name any such other Partnership Interest is registered on the books that the General Partner has caused to be kept as of the opening of business on such Business Day.
“Redeemable Interests” means any Partnership Interests for which a redemption notice has been given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant to Section 4.10.
“Registration Statement” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 as it has been or as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, filed by the Partnership with the Commission under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common Units in the Initial Offering.
“Remaining Net Positive Adjustments” means as of the end of any taxable period, (a) with respect to the Unitholders holding Common Units, the excess of (i) the Net Positive Adjustments of the Unitholders holding Common Units as of the end of such period over (ii) the sum of those Partners’ Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for each prior taxable period, (b) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Units), the excess of (i) the Net Positive Adjustments of the General Partner as of the end of such period over (ii) the sum of the General Partner’s Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to the General Partner Units for each prior taxable period, and (c) with respect to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, the excess of (i) the Net Positive Adjustments of the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such period over (ii) the sum of the Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items of the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights for each prior taxable period.
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“Required Allocations” means (a) any limitation imposed on any allocation of Net Losses or Net Termination Losses under Sections 6.1(b) or 6.1(c)(ii), and (b) any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to Sections 6.1(d)(i), 6.1(d)(ii), 6.1(d)(iv), 6.1(d)(vii) or 6.1(d)(ix).
“Residual Gain” or “Residual Loss” means any item of gain or loss, as the case may be, of the Partnership recognized for federal income tax purposes resulting from a sale, exchange or other disposition of a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, to the extent such item of gain or loss is not allocated pursuant to Sections 6.2(b)(i)(A) or 6.2(b)(ii)(A), respectively, to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.
“Second A/R Partnership Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated as of May 9, 2007, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated April 14, 2008.
“Second Liquidation Target Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(D).
“Second Target Distribution” means $0.5375 per Unit per Quarter, subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 6.6 and 6.9.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.
“Securities Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.
“Series A Alternative Conversion Consideration” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 16.6(c).
“Series A Arrears” means, with respect to Series A Distributions for any Series A Distribution Period, that the full cumulative Series A Distributions to and including the last day of the most recently completed Series A Distribution Period (or, with respect to the initial Series A Distribution, to and including November 14, 2018) have not been paid on all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units.
“Series A Calculation Agent” means the financial institution that will be appointed by the General Partner prior to the Series A Floating Rate Period to act in its capacity as calculation agent for the Series A Preferred Units, and its successors and assigns or any other calculation agent appointed by the General Partner. For the avoidance of doubt, the Partnership and its Affiliates shall not be appointed by the General Partner to act as calculation agent for the Series A Preferred Units.
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“Series A Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events after the Series A Original Issue Date:
(a) the direct or indirect lease, sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger, consolidation or business combination), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act); or
(b) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger, consolidation or business combination), the result of which is that any person (as defined above), other than a Series A Permitted Holder, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the outstanding voting interests of the General Partner, measured by voting power rather than percentage of interests.
“Series A Change of Control Conversion Date” means the date fixed by the General Partner, in its sole discretion, as the date the Series A Preferred Units are to be converted into Series A Conversion Common Units as provided in Section 16.6. The Series A Change of Control Conversion Date shall be a Business Day that is no fewer than 20 days nor more than 35 days after the date on which the Partnership provides the Series A Conversion Notice to Series A Holders pursuant to Section 16.6(b).
“Series A Change of Control Conversion Right” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 16.6(a).
“Series A Change of Control Redemption Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 16.5(a).
“Series A Common Unit Price” means (a) the amount of cash consideration per Common Unit, if the consideration to be received in the Series A Change of Control by the holders of Common Units is solely cash; and (b) the average of the closing prices for the Common Units on the New York Stock Exchange for the ten (10) consecutive trading days immediately preceding, but excluding, the Series A Change of Control Conversion Date, if the consideration to be received in the Series A Change of Control by the holders of Common Units is other than solely cash.
“Series A Common Unit Conversion Consideration” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 16.6(a).
“Series A Conversion Common Units” means Common Units issuable upon conversion of Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 16.6(a).
“Series A Conversion Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 16.6(b).
“Series A Conversion Rate” means the lesser of: (a) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the Series A Stated Liquidation Preference plus the amount of any Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions to, but excluding, the Series A Change of Control Conversion Date (unless the Series A Change of Control Conversion Date is after a Series A Distribution Record Date and prior to the corresponding Series A Distribution Payment Date, in which case no accumulated and unpaid Series A Preferred Unit Distribution will be included in this sum) by (ii) the Series A Common Unit Price; and (b) the Series A Unit Cap.
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“Series A Distribution Payment Date” means February 15, May 15, August 15 or November 15 of each year, as applicable for the Series A Distribution Period, commencing November 15, 2018; provided, however, that if any Series A Distribution Payment Date would otherwise occur on a day that is not a Business Day, then such Series A Distribution Payment Date shall instead be the immediately succeeding Business Day, without the accumulation of additional distributions.
“Series A Distribution Period” means the period of time from and including the preceding Series A Distribution Payment Date (other than the initial Series A Distribution Period, which shall commence on and include the Series A Original Issue Date), to, but excluding, the next Series A Distribution Payment Date for such Series A Distribution Period.
“Series A Distribution Rate” means an annual rate equal to (a) during the Series A Fixed Rate Period, 9.75% of the Series A Stated Liquidation Preference per Series A Preferred Unit and (b) during the Series A Floating Rate Period, a percentage of the Series A Stated Liquidation Preference per Series A Preferred Unit equal to the sum of (i) Series A Three-Month LIBOR, as calculated on each applicable Series A LIBOR Determination Date, and (ii) 6.774%.
“Series A Distribution Record Date” the open of business on February 1, May 1, August 1 or November 1 immediately preceding the Series A Distribution Payment Date for which a Series A Preferred Unit Distribution has been declared; provided, however, that in the case of payments of Series A Distributions in Series A Arrears, the Series A Distribution Record Date with respect to a Series A Distribution Payment Date shall be such date as may be designated by the General Partner in accordance with Article XVI.
“Series A Distributions” means distributions with respect to Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 16.3.
“Series A Fixed Rate Period” means the period from and including the Series A Original Issue Date to, but excluding, August 15, 2023.
“Series A Floating Rate Period” means the period from and including August 15, 2023 and thereafter until such time as the Partnership converts all of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units in accordance with Section 16.6 or redeems all of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units in accordance with Section 16.5.
“Series A Holder” means a Record Holder of the Series A Preferred Units.
“Series A LIBOR Determination Date” means the second London Business Day immediately preceding the first day of each relevant Series A Distribution Period.
“Series A Liquidation Preference” means a liquidation preference for each Series A Preferred Unit initially equal to the Series A Stated Liquidation Preference, which liquidation preference shall be subject to increase by the per Series A Preferred Unit amount of any Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions (whether or not such distributions shall have been declared), in each case, subject to adjustment for any splits, combinations or similar adjustment to the Series A Preferred Units.
“Series A Original Issue Date” means August 7, 2018.
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“Series A Payments” means, collectively, Series A Distributions and Series A Redemption Payments.
“Series A Permitted Holder” means Richard Slifka and Eric Slifka (or (i) other immediate family members of Alfred Slifka or the foregoing, (ii) related family trusts or (iii) other Persons which are controlled by Richard Slifka and/or Eric Slifka or their designees).
“Series A Preferred Unit” means the 9.75% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership.
“Series A Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.5(a).
“Series A Redemption Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.5(b).
“Series A Redemption Payments” means payments to be made to the holders of Series A Preferred Units to redeem Series A Preferred Units in accordance with Section 16.5.
“Series A Redemption Price” means an amount equal to the Series A Stated Liquidation Preference.
“Series A Stated Liquidation Preference” means an amount equal to $25.00 per Series A Preferred Unit.
“Series A Three-Month LIBOR” means the London interbank offered rate for deposits in U.S. dollars having an index maturity of three months in amounts of at least $1,000,000, as that rate appears on the display designated on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any successor or replacement page) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the relevant Series A LIBOR Determination Date, provided that:
(a) If no offered rate appears on the Reuters screen page on the relevant Series A LIBOR Determination Date at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, then the Series A Calculation Agent, after consultation with the Partnership, will select four major banks in the London interbank market and will request each of their principal London offices to provide a quotation of the rate at which three-month deposits in U.S. dollars in amounts of at least $1,000,000 are offered by it to prime banks in the London interbank market, on that date and at that time, that is representative of single transactions at that time. If at least two quotations are provided, Series A Three-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic average (rounded upward if necessary to the nearest 0.00001 of 1%) of the quotations provided.
(b) Otherwise, the Series A Calculation Agent will select three major banks in New York City and will request each of them to provide a quotation of the rate offered by it at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Series A LIBOR Determination Date for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks having an index maturity of three months for the applicable distribution period in an amount of at least $1,000,000 that is representative of single transactions at that time. If three quotations are provided, Series A Three-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic average (rounded upward if necessary to the nearest 0.00001 of 1%) of the quotations provided.
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Otherwise, the Series A Calculation Agent, after consulting such sources as it deems comparable to any of the foregoing quotations or display page, or any such source as it deems reasonable from which to estimate Series A Three-Month LIBOR or any of the foregoing lending rates, shall determine Series A Three-Month LIBOR for the applicable Series A Distribution Period in its sole discretion.
“Series A Unit Cap” means 2.7100, which is the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Series A Stated Liquidation Preference by (ii) one half of the closing price of the Common Units on the New York Stock Exchange on the trading day immediately preceding July 31, 2018, subject in each case, to certain adjustments and provisions as the General Partner determines to be equitable in connection with (i) the receipt of Series A Alternative Conversion Consideration and (ii) splits, combinations and distributions in the form of equity issuances.
“Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 16.3(c).
“Series B Alternative Conversion Consideration” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 17.6(c).
“Series B Arrears” means, with respect to Series B Distributions for any Series B Distribution Period, that the full cumulative Series B Distributions to and including the last day of the most recently completed Series B Distribution Period (or, with respect to the initial Series B Distribution, to and including May 14, 2021) have not been paid on all Outstanding Series B Preferred Units.
“Series B Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events after the Series B Original Issue Date:
(a) the direct or indirect lease, sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger, consolidation or business combination), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act); or
(b) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger, consolidation or business combination), the result of which is that any person (as defined above), other than a Series B Permitted Holder, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the outstanding voting interests of the General Partner, measured by voting power rather than percentage of interests.
“Series B Change of Control Conversion Date” means the date fixed by the General Partner, in its sole discretion, as the date the Series B Preferred Units are to be converted into Series B Conversion Common Units as provided in Section 17.6. The Series B Change of Control Conversion Date shall be a Business Day that is no fewer than 20 days nor more than 35 days after the date on which the Partnership provides the Series B Conversion Notice to Series B Holders pursuant to Section 17.6(b).
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“Series B Change of Control Conversion Right” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 17.6(a).
“Series B Change of Control Redemption Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 17.5(a).
“Series B Common Unit Price” means (a) the amount of cash consideration per Common Unit, if the consideration to be received in the Series B Change of Control by the holders of Common Units is solely cash; and (b) the average of the closing prices for the Common Units on the New York Stock Exchange for the ten (10) consecutive trading days immediately preceding, but excluding, the Series B Change of Control Conversion Date, if the consideration to be received in the Series B Change of Control by the holders of Common Units is other than solely cash.
“Series B Common Unit Conversion Consideration” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 17.6(a).
“Series B Conversion Common Units” means Common Units issuable upon conversion of Series B Preferred Units pursuant to Section 17.6(a).
“Series B Conversion Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 17.6(b).
“Series B Conversion Rate” means the lesser of: (a) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the Series B Stated Liquidation Preference plus the amount of any Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions to, but excluding, the Series B Change of Control Conversion Date (unless the Series B Change of Control Conversion Date is after a Series B Distribution Record Date and prior to the corresponding Series B Distribution Payment Date, in which case no accumulated and unpaid Series B Preferred Unit Distribution will be included in this sum) by (ii) the Series B Common Unit Price; and (b) the Series B Unit Cap.
“Series B Distribution Payment Date” means February 15, May 15, August 15 or November 15 of each year, as applicable for the Series B Distribution Period, commencing May 15, 2021; provided, however, that if any Series B Distribution Payment Date would otherwise occur on a day that is not a Business Day, then such Series B Distribution Payment Date shall instead be the immediately succeeding Business Day, without the accumulation of additional distributions.
“Series B Distribution Period” means the period of time from and including the preceding Series B Distribution Payment Date (other than the initial Series B Distribution Period, which shall commence on and include the Series B Original Issue Date), to, but excluding, the next Series B Distribution Payment Date for such Series B Distribution Period.
“Series B Distribution Rate” means an annual rate equal to 9.50% of the Series B Stated Liquidation Preference per Series B Preferred Unit.
“Series B Distribution Record Date” the open of business on February 1, May 1, August 1 or November 1 immediately preceding the Series B Distribution Payment Date for which a Series B Preferred Unit Distribution has been declared; provided, however, that in the case of payments of Series B Distributions in Series B Arrears, the Series B Distribution Record Date with respect to a Series B Distribution Payment Date shall be such date as may be designated by the General Partner in accordance with Article XVII.
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“Series B Distributions” means distributions with respect to Series B Preferred Units pursuant to Section 17.3.
“Series B Holder” means a Record Holder of the Series B Preferred Units.
“Series B Liquidation Preference” means a liquidation preference for each Series B Preferred Unit initially equal to the Series B Stated Liquidation Preference, which liquidation preference shall be subject to increase by the per Series B Preferred Unit amount of any Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions (whether or not such distributions shall have been declared), in each case, subject to adjustment for any splits, combinations or similar adjustment to the Series B Preferred Units.
“Series B Original Issue Date” means March 24, 2021.
“Series B Payments” means, collectively, Series B Distributions and Series B Redemption Payments.
“Series B Permitted Holder” means Richard Slifka and Eric Slifka (or (i) other immediate family members of Alfred Slifka or the foregoing, (ii) related family trusts or (iii) other Persons which are controlled by Richard Slifka and/or Eric Slifka or their designees).
“Series B Preferred Unit” means the 9.50% Series B Fixed Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership.
“Series B Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 17.5(a).
“Series B Redemption Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 17.5(b).
“Series B Redemption Payments” means payments to be made to the holders of Series B Preferred Units to redeem Series B Preferred Units in accordance with Section 17.5.
“Series B Redemption Price” means an amount equal to the Series B Stated Liquidation Preference.
“Series B Stated Liquidation Preference” means an amount equal to $25.00 per Series B Preferred Unit.
“Series B Unit Cap” means 2.1533, which is the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Series B Stated Liquidation Preference by (ii) one half of the closing price of the Common Units on the New York Stock Exchange on the trading day immediately preceding March 17, 2021, subject in each case, to certain adjustments and provisions as the General Partner determines to be equitable in connection with (i) the receipt of Series B Alternative Conversion Consideration and (ii) splits, combinations and distributions in the form of equity issuances.
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“Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 17.3(c).
“Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items” means in connection with any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for any taxable period, (a) with respect to the Unitholders holding Common Units, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Unitholders’ Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time, (b) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner Units), the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the General Partner’s Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustment as of that time, and (c) with respect to the Partners holding Incentive Distribution Rights, the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments of the Partners holding the Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that time.
“Special Approval” means approval by a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.
“Substituted Limited Partner” means a Person who is admitted as a Limited Partner to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2 in place of and with all the rights of a Limited Partner and who is shown as a Limited Partner on the books and records of the Partnership.
“Surviving Business Entity” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.2(b).
“Third Target Distribution” means $0.6625 per Unit per Quarter, subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 6.6 and 6.9.
“Trading Day” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).
“transfer” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.4(a).
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“Transfer Agent” means such bank, trust company or other Person (including the General Partner or one of its Affiliates) as shall be appointed from time to time by the General Partner to act as registrar and transfer agent for any Partnership Securities; provided, that if no Transfer Agent is specifically designated for any other class of Partnership Securities, the General Partner shall act in such capacity.
“Underwriter” means each Person named as an underwriter in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement who purchases Common Units pursuant thereto.
“Underwriting Agreement” means that certain Underwriting Agreement dated as of September 28, 2005 among the Underwriters, the Partnership, the General Partner, the Operating Company and other parties thereto, providing for the purchase of Common Units by the Underwriters.
“Unit” means a Partnership Security that is designated as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units but shall not include (a) General Partner Units (or the General Partner Interest represented thereby), (b) Incentive Distribution Rights or (c) except for purposes of Sections 6.1(d)(x)(C), 6.3(a), 16.3, and 17.3, Preferred Units.
“Unitholders” means the holders of Units.
“Unit Majority” means at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units.
“Unpaid MQD” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1(c)(i)(B).
“Unrealized Gain” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date).
“Unrealized Loss” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.5(d) as of such date) over (b) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.5(d)).
“Unrecovered Initial Unit Price” means at any time, with respect to a Unit, the Initial Unit Price less the sum of all distributions constituting Capital Surplus theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit and any distributions of cash (or the Net Agreed Value of any distributions in kind) in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership theretofore made in respect of an Initial Common Unit, adjusted as the General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination of such Units.
“U.S. GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.
“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.1(b).
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Section 1.2 Construction; Prior Distributions of Available Cash from “Operating Surplus”.
(a) Unless the context requires otherwise: (i) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (ii) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (iii) the terms “include”, “includes”, “including” and words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and (iv) the terms “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(b) All distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus pursuant to, and as defined in, the Second A/R Partnership Agreement or any prior version of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been distributions of Distributable Cash Flow for all purposes of this Agreement.
Article II
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.1 Formation. The General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner have previously formed the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. This amendment and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes.
Section 2.2 Name. The name of the Partnership shall be “Global Partners LP”. The Partnership’s business may be conducted under any other name or names as determined by the General Partner, including the name of the General Partner. The words “Limited Partnership,” “L.P.,” “Ltd.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.
Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices. Unless and until changed by the General Partner, the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808-1645, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be Corporation Service Company. The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 800 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454 or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner shall determine necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be 800 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454 or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.
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Section 2.4 Purpose and Business. The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be to engage directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the General Partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity, and do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member; provided, however, that the General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that the General Partner determines would cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose or approve, and may decline to propose or approve, the conduct by the Partnership of any business free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee and, in declining to so propose or approve, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity.
Section 2.5 Powers. The Partnership shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary or appropriate for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described in Section 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership.
Section 2.6 Power of Attorney.
(a) Each Limited Partner and each Assignee hereby constitutes and appoints the General Partner and, if a Liquidator shall have been selected pursuant to Section 12.3, the Liquidator (and any successor to the Liquidator by merger, transfer, assignment, election or otherwise) and each of their authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with full power of substitution, as his true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his name, place and stead, to:
(i) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof) that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership may conduct business or own property; (B) all certificates, documents and other instruments that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance with its terms, any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement; (C) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including conveyances and a certificate of cancellation) that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (D) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or other events described in, Articles IV, X, XI or XII; (E) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of Partnership Securities issued pursuant to Section 5.6; and (F) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including agreements and a certificate of merger) relating to a merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to Article XIV; and
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(ii) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other instruments that the General Partner or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to (A) make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action that is made or given by the Partners hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement or (B) effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement; provided, that when required by Section 13.3 or any other provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of any class or series required to take any action, the General Partner and the Liquidator may exercise the power of attorney made in this Section 2.6(a)(ii) only after the necessary vote, consent or approval of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of such class or series, as applicable.
Nothing contained in this Section 2.6(a) shall be construed as authorizing the General Partner to amend this Agreement except in accordance with Article XIII or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement.
(b) The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and, to the maximum extent permitted by law, not be affected by the subsequent death, incompetency, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of any Limited Partner or Assignee and the transfer of all or any 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 Partner or Assignee, to the maximum extent permitted by law, hereby waives any and all defenses that may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the General Partner or the Liquidator taken in good faith under such power of attorney. Each Limited Partner or Assignee shall execute and deliver to the General Partner or the Liquidator, within 15 days after receipt of the request therefor, such further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as the General Partner or the Liquidator may request in order to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Partnership.
Section 2.7 Term. The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Limited Partnership in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of Article XII. The existence of the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited Partnership as provided in the Delaware Act.
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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.
Section 3.2 Management of Business. No Limited Partner or Assignee, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Delaware Act) of the Partnership’s business, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. Any action taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall not be deemed to be 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.
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Section 3.4 Rights of Limited Partners.
(a) In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by applicable law, and except as limited by Section 3.4(b), each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand, and at such Limited Partner’s own expense:
(i) to obtain true and full information regarding the status of the business and financial condition of the Partnership;
(ii) promptly after its becoming available, to obtain a copy of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns for each year;
(iii) to obtain a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner;
(iv) to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto, together with copies of the executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which this Agreement, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto have been executed;
(v) to obtain true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a description and statement of the Net Agreed Value of any other Capital Contribution by each Partner and that each Partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which each became a Partner; and
(vi) to obtain such other information regarding the affairs of the Partnership as is just and reasonable.
(b) The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners and Assignees, for such period of time as the General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set forth in this Section 3.4).
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Article IV
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 4.1 Certificates. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, unless the General Partner shall determine otherwise in respect of some or all of any or all classes of Partnership Interests, Partnership Interests shall not be evidenced by certificates. 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, (a) upon the General Partner’s request, the Partnership shall issue to it one or more Certificates in the name of the General Partner evidencing its General Partner Units and (b) subject to Section 16.2(b) and 17.2(b), upon the request of any Person owning Incentive Distribution Rights or any other Partnership Securities other than Common Units, the Partnership shall issue to such Person one or more certificates evidencing such Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership Securities other than Common Units. Any Certificates that are issued shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chairman of the Board, President or any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the General Partner. No Certificate for a class of Partnership Interests shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent for such class of Partnership Interests; provided, however, that if the General Partner elects to cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests of such class in global form, the Certificate shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Partnership Interests have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership.
Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.
(a) If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer Agent, the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate evidencing the same number and type of Partnership Securities as the Certificate so surrendered.
(b) The appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and the Transfer Agent shall countersign, a new Certificate in place of any Certificate previously issued if the Record Holder of the Certificate:
(i) makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner, that a previously issued Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen;
(ii) requests the issuance of a new Certificate before the General Partner has notice that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;
(iii) if requested by the General Partner, delivers to the General Partner a bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the General Partner, with surety or sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the General Partner may direct to indemnify the Partnership, the Partners, the General Partner and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the Certificate; and
(iv) satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the General Partner.
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If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to notify the General Partner within a reasonable period of time after he has notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a Certificate, and a transfer of the Limited Partner Interests represented by the Certificate is registered before the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent receives such notification, the Limited Partner or Assignee shall be precluded from making any claim against the Partnership, the General Partner or the Transfer Agent for such transfer or for a new Certificate.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.2, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith.
Section 4.3 Record Holders. The Partnership shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner or Assignee with respect to any Partnership Interest and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such Partnership Interest on the part of any other Person, regardless of whether the Partnership shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other hand, 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 (i) by which the General Partner assigns its General Partner Units to another Person or by which a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights assigns its Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise or (ii) by which the holder of a Limited Partner Interest (other than an Incentive Distribution Right) assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is or becomes a Limited Partner or an Assignee, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise, including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.
(b) No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV. Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article IV shall be null and void.
(c) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent a disposition by any stockholder, member, partner or other owner of the General Partner of any or all of the shares of stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests in the General Partner.
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Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests.
(a) The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Partnership a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the Partnership will provide for the registration and transfer of Limited Partner Interests. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar and transfer agent for the purpose of registering Common Units, Series A Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units and transfers of such Partnership Securities as herein provided. The Partnership shall not recognize transfers of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are surrendered for registration of transfer. 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 Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered.
(b) No charge shall be imposed by the General Partner for such transfer; provided, that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 4.5, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto. .
(c) Limited Partner Interests may be transferred only in the manner described in this Section 4.5. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.
(d) Until admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.2, the Record Holder of a Limited Partner Interest shall be an Assignee in respect of such Limited Partner Interest. Limited Partners may include custodians, nominees or any other individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity.
(e) By acceptance of the transfer of any Limited Partner Interest in accordance with this Article IV, 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.
(f) The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any time to transfer their Common Units to one or more Persons.
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Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest.
(a) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to September 30, 2015, the General Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) to a Person unless such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior written consent or vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) or (ii) is of all, but not less than all, of its General Partner Interest to (A) an Affiliate of the General Partner (other than an individual) or (B) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with the merger or consolidation of the General Partner with or into such other Person or the transfer by the General Partner of all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person.
(b) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after September 30, 2015, the General Partner may at its option transfer all or any of its General Partner Interest without Unitholder approval.
(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer by the General Partner of all or any part of its General Partner Interest to another Person shall be permitted unless (i) the transferee agrees to assume the rights and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the Partnership receives an Opinion of Counsel that such transfer would not result in the loss of limited liability under Delaware law of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed) and (iii) such transferee also agrees to purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership or membership interest of the General Partner as the general partner or managing member, if any, of each other Group Member. In the case of a transfer pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 4.6, the transferee or successor (as the case may be) shall, subject to compliance with the terms of Section 10.3, be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner immediately prior to the transfer of the General Partner Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.
Section 4.7 Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights. Prior to September 30, 2015, a holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of the Incentive Distribution Rights held by such holder without any consent of the Unitholders to (a) an Affiliate of such holder (other than an individual) or (b) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with (i) the merger or consolidation of such holder of Incentive Distribution Rights with or into such other Person, (ii) the transfer by such holder of all or substantially all of its assets to such other Person or (iii) the sale of all the ownership interests in such holder. Any other transfer of the Incentive Distribution Rights prior to September 30, 2015 shall require the prior approval of holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates). On or after September 30, 2015, the General Partner or any other holder of Incentive Distribution Rights may transfer any or all of its Incentive Distribution Rights without Unitholder approval. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights to another Person shall be permitted unless the transferee agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement. The General Partner and any transferee or transferees of the Incentive Distribution Rights may agree in a separate instrument as to the General Partner’s exercise of its rights with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights under Section 11.3 hereof.
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Section 4.8 Restrictions on Transfers.
(a) Except as provided in Section 4.8(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 jurisdiction over such transfer, (ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, or (iii) cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).
(b) The General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if it receives an Opinion of Counsel that such restrictions are necessary to avoid a significant risk of the Partnership becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may impose such restrictions by amending this Agreement; provided, however, that any amendment that would result in the delisting or suspension of trading of any class of Limited Partner Interests on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is then listed or admitted to trading must be approved, prior to such amendment being effected, by the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of such class.
(c) Nothing contained in this Article IV, or elsewhere in this Agreement, shall preclude the settlement of any transactions involving Partnership Interests entered into through the facilities of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.
(d) Each certificate evidencing Partnership Interests shall bear a conspicuous legend in substantially the following form:
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PARTNERSHIP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE THE PARTNERSHIP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). GLOBAL GP LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF THE PARTNERSHIP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF THE PARTNERSHIP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.
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Section 4.9 Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees.
(a) If any Group Member is or becomes subject to any federal, state or local law or regulation that the General Partner determines would create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which the Group Member has an interest based on the nationality, citizenship or other related status of a Limited Partner or Assignee, the General Partner may request any Limited Partner or Assignee to furnish to the General Partner, within 30 days after receipt of such request, an executed Citizenship Certification or such other information concerning his nationality, citizenship or other related status (or, if the Limited Partner or Assignee is a nominee holding for the account of another Person, the nationality, citizenship or other related status of such Person) as the General Partner may request. If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to furnish to the General Partner within the aforementioned 30-day period such Citizenship Certification or other requested information or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other requested information the General Partner determines that a Limited Partner or Assignee is not an Eligible Citizen, the Limited Partner Interests owned by such Limited Partner or Assignee shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.10. In addition, the General Partner may require that the status of any such Limited Partner or Assignee be changed to that of a Non-citizen Assignee and, thereupon, the General Partner shall be substituted for such Non-citizen Assignee as the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited Partner Interests.
(b) The General Partner shall, in exercising voting rights in respect of Limited Partner Interests held by it on behalf of Non-citizen Assignees, distribute the votes in the same ratios as the votes of Partners (including the General Partner) in respect of Limited Partner Interests other than those of Non-citizen Assignees are cast, either for, against or abstaining as to the matter.
(c) Upon dissolution of the Partnership, a Non-citizen Assignee shall have no right to receive a distribution in kind pursuant to Section 12.4 but shall be entitled to the cash equivalent thereof, and the Partnership shall provide cash in exchange for an assignment of the Non-citizen Assignee’s share of any distribution in kind. Such payment and assignment shall be treated for Partnership purposes as a purchase by the Partnership from the Non-citizen Assignee of his Limited Partner Interest (representing his right to receive his share of such distribution in kind).
(d) At any time after he can and does certify that he has become an Eligible Citizen, a Non-citizen Assignee may, upon application to the General Partner, request admission as a Substituted Limited Partner with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of such Non-citizen Assignee not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.10, and upon his admission pursuant to Section 10.2, the General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited Partner in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee’s Limited Partner Interests.
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Section 4.10 Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees.
(a) If at any time a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to furnish a Citizenship Certification or other information requested within the 30-day period specified in Section 4.9(a), or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other information the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner or Assignee is not an Eligible Citizen, the Partnership may, unless the Limited Partner or Assignee establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such Limited Partner or Assignee is an Eligible Citizen or has transferred his Partnership Interests to a Person who is an Eligible Citizen and who furnishes a Citizenship Certification to the General Partner prior to the date fixed for redemption as provided below, redeem the Limited Partner Interest of such Limited Partner or Assignee as follows:
(i) The General Partner shall, not later than the 30th day before the date fixed for redemption, give notice of redemption to the Limited Partner or Assignee, at his last address designated on the records of the Partnership or the Transfer Agent, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid. The notice shall be deemed to have been given when so mailed. The notice shall specify the Redeemable Interests, the date fixed for redemption, the place of payment, that payment of the redemption price will be made upon surrender of the Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Interests and that on and after the date fixed for redemption no further allocations or distributions to which the Limited Partner or Assignee would otherwise be entitled in respect of the Redeemable Interests will accrue or be made.
(ii) The aggregate redemption price for Redeemable Interests shall be an amount equal to the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the date fixed for redemption) of Limited Partner Interests of the class to be so redeemed multiplied by the number of Limited Partner Interests of each such class included among the Redeemable Interests. The redemption price shall be paid, as determined by the General Partner, in cash or by delivery of a promissory note of the Partnership in the principal amount of the redemption price, bearing interest at the rate of 10% annually and payable in three equal annual installments of principal together with accrued interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.
(iii) Upon surrender by or on behalf of the Limited Partner or Assignee, at the place specified in the notice of redemption, of the Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Interests, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by an assignment duly executed in blank, the Limited Partner or Assignee or his duly authorized representative shall be entitled to receive the payment therefor.
(iv) After the redemption date, Redeemable Interests shall no longer constitute issued and Outstanding Limited Partner Interests.
(b) The provisions of this Section 4.10 shall also be applicable to Limited Partner Interests held by a Limited Partner or Assignee as nominee of a Person determined to be other than an Eligible Citizen.
(c) Nothing in this Section 4.10 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption from transferring his Limited Partner Interest before the redemption date if such transfer is otherwise permitted under this Agreement. Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the General Partner shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner in a Citizenship Certification 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.
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Article V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 5.1 Organizational Contributions. In connection with the formation of the Partnership under the Delaware Act, the General Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $40.00, for a 2% General Partner Interest in the Partnership and was admitted as the General Partner of the Partnership, and the Organizational Limited Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $1,960.00 for a 98% Limited Partner Interest in the Partnership and was admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership. As of the Closing Date, the interest of the Organizational Limited Partner was redeemed as provided in the Contribution Agreement; and the initial Capital Contribution of the Organizational Limited Partner was refunded. Ninety-eight percent of any interest or other profit that may have resulted from the investment or other use of such initial Capital Contributions was allocated and distributed to the Organizational Limited Partner, and the balance thereof was allocated and distributed to the General Partner.
Section 5.2 Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates.
(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Contribution Agreement: (i) the General Partner contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its ownership interests in Global Companies LLC in exchange for (A) the 2% General Partner Interest, subject to all of the rights, privileges and duties of the General Partner under this Agreement and (B) the Incentive Distribution Rights; (ii) Chelsea Terminal Limited Partnership contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its ownership interests in Chelsea Sandwich LLC in exchange for (A) 94,659 Common Units and (B) 719,409 subordinated units; (iii) Sandwich Terminal, L.L.C. contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its ownership interests in Chelsea Sandwich LLC in exchange for (A) 1,114 Common Units and (B) 8,464 subordinated units; (iv) Global Petroleum Corp. contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its ownership interests in Global Companies LLC and Global Montello Group LLC in exchange for (A) 226,736 Common Units and (B) 1,723,196 subordinated units; (v) Montello Oil Corporation contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its ownership interests in Global Companies LLC and Global Montello Group LLC in exchange for (A) 308,552 Common Units and (B) 2,344,992 subordinated units; (vi) Larea Holdings LLC contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its ownership interests in Global Companies LLC and Global Montello Group LLC in exchange for (A) 74,242 Common Units and (B) 564,242 subordinated units; and (vii) Larea Holdings II LLC contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its ownership interests in Global Companies LLC and Global Montello Group LLC in exchange for (A) 37,121 Common Units and (B) 282,121 subordinated units. The subordinated units of the Partnership have since converted into Common Units.
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(b) Upon the issuance of any additional Limited Partner Interests by the Partnership, the General Partner may, in exchange for a proportionate number of General Partner Units, make additional Capital Contributions in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the quotient determined by dividing (A) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest by (B) 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest times (ii) the amount contributed to the Partnership by the Limited Partners in exchange for such additional Limited Partner Interests. Except as set forth in Article XII, the General Partner shall not be obligated to make any additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership.
Section 5.3 Contributions by Initial Limited Partners. On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, each Underwriter contributed to the Partnership cash in an amount equal to the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit, multiplied by the number of Common Units specified in the Underwriting Agreement to be purchased by such Underwriter at the Closing Date. In exchange for such Capital Contributions by the Underwriters, the Partnership issued Common Units to each Underwriter on whose behalf such Capital Contribution is made in an amount equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the cash contribution to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Underwriter by (ii) the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit.
Section 5.4 Interest and Withdrawal. No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions. No Partner or Assignee shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership may be considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement, no Partner or Assignee shall have priority over any other Partner or Assignee either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions. Any such return shall be a compromise to which all Partners and Assignees agree within the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.
Section 5.5 Capital Accounts.
(a) The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of Partnership Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to the General Partner) owning a Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) and the methodology set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made to the Partnership with respect to such Partnership Interest, provided that the initial Capital Account of the initial holder of a Preferred Unit with respect to such Preferred Unit shall equal the Series A Stated Liquidation Preference or Series B Stated Liquidation Preference, as applicable, irrespective of the amount paid by such holder for such Series A Preferred Unit and (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain (including income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1, and decreased by (A) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made to the Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to this Agreement; provided that the Capital Account of a Series A Holder or Series B Holder, as applicable, shall not be reduced by the amount of Series A Distributions or Series B Distributions, as applicable, it receives and (B) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1. In connection with the foregoing, the General Partner shall adopt the methodology set forth in the noncompensatory option regulations under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1, 1.721-2 and 1.761-3, unless otherwise required by applicable law.
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(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction which is to be allocated pursuant to Article VI and is to be reflected in the Partners’ Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for that purpose), provided, that:
(i) Solely for purposes of this Section 5.5, the Partnership shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by the General Partner based upon the provisions of the applicable Group Member Agreement) of all property owned by any other Group Member that is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
(ii) All fees and other expenses incurred by the Partnership to promote the sale of (or to sell) a Partnership Interest that can neither be deducted nor amortized under Section 709 of the Code, if any, shall, for purposes of Capital Account maintenance, be treated as an item of deduction at the time such fees and other expenses are incurred and shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1.
(iii) Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be made without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code which may be made by the Partnership and, as to those items described in Section 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized for federal income tax purposes. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or loss.
(iv) Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable disposition of any Partnership property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property as of such date of disposition were equal in amount to the Partnership’s Carrying Value with respect to such property as of such date.
(v) In accordance with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code, any deductions for depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to any Contributed Property shall be determined as if the adjusted basis of such property on the date it was acquired by the Partnership were equal to the Agreed Value of such property. Upon an adjustment pursuant to Section 5.5(d) to the Carrying Value of any Partnership property subject to depreciation, cost recovery or amortization, any further deductions for such depreciation, cost recovery or amortization attributable to such property shall be determined (A) as if the adjusted basis of such property were equal to the Carrying Value of such property immediately following such adjustment and (B) using a rate of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization derived from the same method and useful life (or, if applicable, the remaining useful life) as is applied for federal income tax purposes; provided, however, that, if the asset has a zero adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, depreciation, cost recovery or amortization deductions shall be determined using any method that the General Partner may adopt.
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(vi) If the Partnership’s adjusted basis in a depreciable or cost recovery property is reduced for federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 48(q)(1) or 48(q)(3) of the Code, the amount of such reduction shall, solely for purposes hereof, be deemed to be an additional depreciation or cost recovery deduction in the year such property is placed in service and shall be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1. Any restoration of such basis pursuant to Section 48(q)(2) of the Code shall, to the extent possible, be allocated in the same manner to the Partners to whom such deemed deduction was allocated.
(c) 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 (s), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, exercise or conversion of a Noncompensatory Option (including the conversion of a Series A Preferred Unit in accordance with Section 16.6 or a Series B Preferred Unit in accordance with Section 17.6), the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services or the conversion of the General Partner’s Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b), the Capital Accounts of all Partners and the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance, or immediately prior to such exercise or conversion, 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 or on the date of such exercise or conversion; 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. Any such Unrealized Gains or Unrealized Loss (or items thereof) shall first be allocated to the Partners holding Series A Conversion Common Units or Series B Conversion Common Units, as applicable, until the Capital Account of each Series A Conversion Common Unit or Series B Conversion Common Unit, as applicable is equal to the Per Unit Capital Amount for a then Outstanding Common Unit (other than a Series A Conversion Common Unit or Series B Conversion Common Unit, as applicable) if the operation of this sentence is triggered by the conversion of a Series A Preferred Unit or Series B Preferred Unit, as applicable, and regardless of whether the operation of this sentence is triggered by the conversion of a Series A Preferred Unit or Series B Preferred Unit, as applicable, any remaining Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss shall be allocated among the Partners 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, or immediately prior to such exercise or conversion, shall be determined by the General Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt; provided, however, that the General Partner, in arriving at such valuation, must take fully into account the fair market value of the Partnership Interests of all Partners at such time and must reduce the fair market value of all Partnership assets by the excess, if any, of the fair market value of any Outstanding Preferred Units that have not yet been converted over the aggregate Issue Price of such Preferred Units to the extent of any Unrealized Gain that has not been reflected in the Partners’ Capital Accounts previously pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2). The General Partner shall allocate such aggregate value among the assets of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines) to arrive at a fair market value for individual properties.
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(ii) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to any actual or deemed distribution to a Partner of any Partnership property (other than a distribution of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of a Partnership Interest), the Capital Accounts of all Partners and the Carrying Value of all Partnership property shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property immediately prior to such distribution for an amount equal to its fair market value, and had been allocated to the Partners, at such time, pursuant to Section 6.1(c) in the same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized following an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership would have been allocated. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in the case of an actual distribution that is not made pursuant to Section 12.4 or in the case of a deemed distribution, be determined and allocated in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.5(d)(i) or (B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section 12.4, be determined and allocated by the Liquidator using such method of valuation as it may adopt.
Section 5.6 Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities.
(a) Subject to any approvals required by Series A Holders pursuant to Section 16.4(b) and by Series B Holders pursuant to Section 17.4(b), the Partnership may issue additional Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to the Partnership Securities for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as the General Partner shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited Partners.
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(b) Each additional Partnership Security authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.6(a) may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing classes and series of Partnership Securities), as shall be fixed by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Partnership Security (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Partnership Security is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which each Partnership Security will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Security; and (viii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Security to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Security.
(c) The General Partner shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 5.6, (ii) the conversion of the General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) or any Incentive Distribution Rights into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the admission of Additional Limited Partners and (iv) all additional issuances of Partnership Securities. The General Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Securities being so issued. The General Partner shall do all things necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Securities or in connection with the conversion of the General Partner Interest or any Incentive Distribution Rights into Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including compliance with any statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Partnership Securities are listed or admitted to trading.
Section 5.7 Reserved.
Section 5.8 Limited Preemptive Right. Except as provided in this Section 5.8 and in Section 5.2, no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Security, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created. The General Partner shall have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its Affiliates, to purchase Partnership Securities from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms that, the Partnership issues Partnership Securities to Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain the Percentage Interests of the General Partner and its Affiliates equal to that which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership Securities.
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Section 5.9 Splits and Combinations.
(a) Subject to Section 5.9(d), Section 6.6 and Section 6.9 (dealing with adjustments of distribution levels), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Securities of any class or series (other than Series A Preferred Units unless otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 16.4 and Series B Preferred Units unless otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 17.4) to all Record Holders of Partnership Securities of such class or series of Partnership Securities or may effect a subdivision or combination of the same class or series of Partnership Securities so long as, after any such event, each Partner holding such class of Partnership Securities (subject to the effect of Section 5.9(d)), shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis (including those based on the Series A Stated Liquidation Preference and on the Series B Stated Liquidation Preference) or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted.
(b) Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Securities is declared, the General Partner shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such Record Date to each Record Holder as of a date not less than 10 days prior to the date of such notice. The General Partner also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Partnership Securities to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The General Partner shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.
(c) Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may issue Certificates to the Record Holders of Partnership Securities as of the applicable Record Date representing the new number of Partnership Securities held by such Record Holders, or the General Partner may adopt such other procedures that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect such changes. If any such combination results in a smaller total number of Partnership Securities Outstanding, the Partnership shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of such new Certificate, the surrender of any Certificate held by such Record Holder immediately prior to such Record Date.
(d) The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any distribution, subdivision, combination or conversion of Partnership Securities. If a distribution, subdivision, combination or conversion of Partnership Securities would result in the issuance of fractional Partnership Securities but for the provisions of this Section 5.9(d), each fractional Partnership Security shall be rounded to the nearest whole Partnership Security (and a 0.5 Partnership Security shall be rounded to the next higher Partnership Security).
Section 5.10 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests. All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article V, Article XVI or Article XVII 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.
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Article VI
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 6.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes. For purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Partners among themselves, the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss and deduction (computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b)) shall be allocated among the Partners in each taxable year (or portion thereof) as provided herein below.
(a) Net Income. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Income for each taxable year and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable year shall be allocated as follows:
(i) First, 100% to the General Partner, in an amount equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iv) for all previous taxable years until the aggregate Net Income allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(i) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iv) for all previous taxable years;
(ii) Second, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until the aggregate Net Income allocated to such Partners pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(ii) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to such Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(ii) for all previous taxable years; and
(iii) Third, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner and to the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.
(b) Net Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), Net Losses for each taxable period and all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Losses for such taxable period shall be allocated as follows:
(i) First, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until the aggregate Net Losses allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net Income allocated to such Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(iii) for all previous taxable years, provided that the Net Losses shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(i) to the extent that such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable year (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account);
(ii) Second, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders, in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests; provided, that Net Losses shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b)(ii) to the extent that such allocation would cause any Unitholder to have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of such taxable year (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account);
(iii) Third, to all Partners holding Preferred Units, in proportion to their positive Adjusted Capital Account balances, until the Adjusted Capital Account in respect of each Preferred Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero; and
(iv) Thereafter, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.
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(c) Net Termination Gains and Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), including Section 6.1(d)(x)(B), all items of income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss for such taxable period shall be allocated in the same manner as such Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss is allocated hereunder. All allocations under this Section 6.1(c) shall be made after Capital Account balances have been adjusted by all other allocations provided under this Section 6.1 and after all distributions of Available Cash provided under Section 6.4 and Section 6.5 have been made; provided, however, that solely for purposes of this Section 6.1(c), Capital Accounts shall not be adjusted for distributions made pursuant to Section 12.4.
(i) If a Net Termination Gain is recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d)), such Net Termination Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in the following manner (and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be increased by the amount so allocated in each of the following subclauses, in the order listed, before an allocation is made pursuant to the next succeeding subclause):
(A) First, to each Partner having a deficit balance in its Capital Account, in the proportion that such deficit balance bears to the total deficit balances in the Capital Accounts of all Partners, until each such Partner has been allocated Net Termination Gain equal to any such deficit balance in its Capital Account;
(B) Second, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price and (2) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for the Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by any distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(i) with respect to such Common Unit for such Quarter (the amount determined pursuant to this clause (B) is hereinafter referred to as the “Unpaid MQD”);
(C) Third, 100% to the General Partner and all Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, (2) the Unpaid MQD, and (3) the excess of (aa) the First Target Distribution less the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence (where the Minimum Quarterly Distribution is, unless otherwise required by the definition of “Minimum Quarterly Distribution” or the other provisions of this Agreement, including Section 6.6 and Section 6.9, either $0.4125 or $0.4625 for the applicable Quarter) over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Distributable Cash Flow made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(ii) (including distributions pursuant to such sections under the Second A/R Partnership Agreement or any prior version of this Agreement) (the sum of (1), (2) and (3) is hereinafter referred to as the “First Liquidation Target Amount”);
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(D) Fourth, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause (D), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the First Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Second Target Distribution less the First Target Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Distributable Cash Flow made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(iii) (the sum of (1) and (2) is hereinafter referred to as the “Second Liquidation Target Amount”);
(E) Fifth, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause (E), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the Second Liquidation Target Amount, and (2) the excess of (aa) the Third Target Distribution less the Second Target Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership’s existence over (bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of Available Cash that is deemed to be Distributable Cash Flow made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(iv); and
(F) Finally, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest, (y) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and (z) to all Unitholders, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (x) and (y) of this clause (F).
(ii) If a Net Termination Loss is recognized (or deemed recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d)), such Net Termination Loss shall be allocated among the Partners in the following manner:
(A) First, (x) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (y) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata a percentage equal to 100% less the percentage applicable to subclause (x) of this clause (A), until the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero; and
(B) Second, to all Partners holding Preferred Units, Pro Rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Preferred Unit has been reduced to zero; and
(C) Third, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.
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(d) Special Allocations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, the following special allocations shall be made for such taxable period:
(i) Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, each Partner shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(f)(6), 1.704-2(g)(2) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(i), or any successor provision. For purposes of this Section 6.1(d), each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d) with respect to such taxable period (other than an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(vi) and Section 6.1(d)(vii)). This Section 6.1(d)(i) is intended to comply with the Partnership Minimum Gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(ii) Chargeback of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 6.1 (other than Section 6.1(d)(i)), except as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4), if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, any Partner with a share of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such taxable period shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(ii), or any successor provisions. For purposes of this Section 6.1(d), each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d), other than Section 6.1(d)(i) and other than an allocation pursuant to Sections 6.1(d)(vi) and 6.1(d)(vii), with respect to such taxable period. This Section 6.1(d)(ii) is intended to comply with the chargeback of items of income and gain requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(iii) Priority Allocations.
(A) If the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of any property distributed (except cash or property distributed pursuant to Section 12.4) to any Unitholder with respect to its Units for a taxable year is greater (on a per Unit basis) than the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property distributed to the other Unitholders with respect to their Units (on a per Unit basis), then (1) each Unitholder receiving such greater cash or property distribution shall be allocated gross income in an amount equal to the product of (aa) the amount by which the distribution (on a per Unit basis) to such Unitholder exceeds the distribution (on a per Unit basis) to the Unitholders receiving the smallest distribution and (bb) the number of Units owned by the Unitholder receiving the greater distribution; and (2) the General Partner shall be allocated gross income in an aggregate amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (aa) the quotient determined by dividing (x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest at the time in which the greater cash or property distribution occurs by (y) the sum of 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest at the time in which the greater cash or property distribution occurs times (bb) the sum of the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.
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(B) After the application of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A), all or any portion of the remaining items of Partnership gross income or gain for the taxable period, if any, shall be allocated (1) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, until the aggregate amount of such items allocated to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(iii)(B) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the cumulative amount of all Incentive Distributions made to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights from the Closing Date to a date 45 days after the end of the current taxable year; and (2) to the General Partner an amount equal to the product of (aa) an amount equal to the quotient determined by dividing (x) the General Partner’s Percentage Interest by (y) the sum of 100 less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest times (bb) the sum of the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.
(iv) Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Partnership income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the deficit balance, if any, in its Adjusted Capital Account created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible unless such deficit balance is otherwise eliminated pursuant to Sections 6.1(d)(i) or 6.1(d)(ii).
(v) Gross Income Allocations. In the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any Partnership taxable period in excess of the sum of (A) the amount such Partner is required to restore pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (B) the amount such Partner is deemed obligated to restore pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership gross income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(v) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Capital Account as adjusted after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if this Section 6.1(d)(v) were not in this Agreement.
(vi) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. If the General Partner determines that the Partnership’s Nonrecourse Deductions should be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the General Partner is authorized, upon notice to the other Partners, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.
(vii) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions. Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the Partner that bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to the Partner Nonrecourse Debt to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If more than one Partner bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt, such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions attributable thereto shall be allocated between or among such Partners in accordance with the ratios in which they share such Economic Risk of Loss.
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(viii) Nonrecourse Liabilities. For purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), the Partners agree that Nonrecourse Liabilities of the Partnership in excess of the sum of (A) the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain and (B) the total amount of Nonrecourse Built-in Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.
(ix) Code Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis), and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the Treasury Regulations.
(x) Preferred Unit Allocations.
(A) Income of the Partnership attributable to the issuance by the Partnership of a Preferred Unit for an amount in excess of such Preferred Unit’s Series A Stated Liquidation Preference or Series B Stated Liquidation Preference, as applicable, shall be allocated to all Unitholders and the General Partner in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.
(B) Net Termination Gain, if any, for the taxable period (or, to the extent necessary, items of income or gain for the taxable period) shall be allocated to each holder of Preferred Units, in proportion to, and to the extent of, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (1) the Series A Stated Liquidation Preference or Series B Stated Liquidation Preference, as applicable, with respect to such holder’s Preferred Units, over (2) such holder’s existing Capital Account balance in respect of such Preferred Units, until the Capital Account balance of each such holder in respect of its Preferred Units is equal to the Series A Stated Liquidation Preference or Series B Stated Liquidation Preference, as applicable, with respect to such holder’s Preferred Units.
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(C) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1 (other than the Required Allocations), if (1) the Liquidation Date occurs prior to the redemption of the last outstanding Series A Preferred Unit or Series B Preferred Unit, as applicable, and (2) after having made all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs, the Per Unit Capital Amount of each Series A Preferred Unit or Series B Preferred Unit, as applicable, does not equal or exceed the Series A Liquidation Preference or Series B Liquidation Preference, as applicable, then items of income, gain, loss and deduction for such taxable period shall be allocated among the Partners in a manner determined appropriate by the General Partner so as to cause, to the maximum extent possible, the Per Unit Capital Amount in respect of each (i) Series A Preferred Unit to equal the Series A Liquidation Preference and (ii) Series B Preferred Unit to equal the Series B Liquidation Preference (and no other allocation pursuant to this Agreement shall reverse the effect of such allocation). For the avoidance of doubt, the reallocation of items set forth in the immediately preceding sentence provides that, to the extent necessary to achieve the Per Unit Capital Amount balances described above, items of income and gain that would otherwise be included in Net Income or Net Loss, as the case may be, for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs, shall be reallocated from the Unitholders holding Units other than Preferred Units to Unitholders holding Preferred Units. In the event that (i) the Liquidation Date occurs on or before the date (not including any extension of time) prescribed by law for the filing of the Partnership’s federal income tax return for the taxable period immediately prior to the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs and (ii) the reallocation of items for the taxable period in which the Liquidation Date occurs as set forth above in this Section 6.1(d)(x)(C) fails to achieve the Per Unit Capital Amounts described above, items of income, gain, loss and deduction that would otherwise be included in the Net Income or Net Loss, as the case may be, for such prior taxable period shall be reallocated among all Partners in a manner that will, to the maximum extent possible and after taking into account all other allocations made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(x)(C), cause the Per Unit Capital Amount in respect of each (i) Series A Preferred Unit to equal the Series A Liquidation Preference and (ii) Series B Preferred Unit to equal the Series B Liquidation Preference.
(xi) Curative Allocation.
(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.1, other than the Required Allocations, the Required Allocations shall be taken into account in making the Agreed Allocations so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of items of income, gain, loss and deduction allocated to each Partner pursuant to the Required Allocations and the Agreed Allocations, together, shall be equal to the net amount of such items that would have been allocated to each such Partner under the Agreed Allocations had the Required Allocations and the related Curative Allocation not otherwise been provided in this Section 6.1. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Required Allocations relating to (1) Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain and (2) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into account except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain.
Allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall only be made with respect to Required Allocations to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations will otherwise be inconsistent with the economic agreement among the Partners. Further, allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) shall be deferred with respect to allocations pursuant to clauses (1) and (2) hereof to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations are likely to be offset by subsequent Required Allocations.
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(B) The General Partner shall, with respect to each taxable period, (1) apply the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) in whatever order is most likely to minimize the economic distortions that might otherwise result from the Required Allocations, and (2) divide all allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(xi)(A) among the Partners in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic distortions.
(xii) Corrective and Other Allocations. In the event of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items or any Book-Down Event or any recognition of a Net Termination Loss, the following rules shall apply:
(A) Except as provided in Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B), in the case of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (other than an allocation of Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss under Section 5.5(d) hereof) with respect to any Partnership property, the General Partner shall allocate such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (1) to (aa) the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights and (bb) the General Partner in the same manner that the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such property is allocated pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i) or Section 5.5(d)(ii) and (2) to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, to the extent that the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such property is allocated to any Unitholders pursuant to Sections 5.5(d)(i) or 5.5(d)(ii).
(B) In the case of any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items (other than an allocation of Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss under Section 5.5(d) hereof or an allocation of Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss pursuant to Section 6.1(c) hereof) as a result of a sale or other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset that is an Adjusted Property (“Disposed of Adjusted Property”), the General Partner shall allocate (1) additional items of income and gain (aa) away from the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights and the General Partner and (bb) to the Unitholders, or (2) additional items of deduction and loss (aa) away from the Unitholders and (bb) to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights and the General Partner, to the extent that the Additional Book Basis Derivative Items allocated to the Unitholders exceed their Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to such Disposed of Adjusted Property. For this purpose, the Unitholders shall be treated as being allocated Additional Book Basis Derivative Items to the extent that such Additional Book Basis Derivative Items have reduced the amount of income that would otherwise have been allocated to the Unitholders under this Agreement (e.g., Additional Book Basis Derivative Items taken into account in computing cost of goods sold would reduce the amount of book income otherwise available for allocation among the Partners). Any allocation made pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(xii)(B) shall be made after all of the other Agreed Allocations have been made as if this Section 6.1(d)(xii) were not in this Agreement and, to the extent necessary, shall require the reallocation of items that have been allocated pursuant to such other Agreed Allocations.
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(C) In the case of any negative adjustments to the Capital Accounts of the Partners resulting from a Book-Down Event or from the recognition of a Net Termination Loss, such negative adjustment (1) shall first be allocated, to the extent of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments, in such a manner, as determined by the General Partner, that to the extent possible the aggregate Capital Accounts of the Partners will equal the amount that would have been the Capital Account balance of the Partners if no prior Book-Up Events had occurred, and (2) any negative adjustment in excess of the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments shall be allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(c) hereof.
(D) In making the allocations required under this Section 6.1(d)(xii), the General Partner may apply whatever conventions or other methodology it determines will satisfy the purpose of this Section 6.1(d)(xii).
Section 6.2 Allocations for Tax Purposes.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, for federal income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” income, gain, loss or deduction is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1.
(b) In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, items of income, gain, loss, depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions shall be allocated for federal income tax purposes among the Partners as follows:
(i) (A) In the case of a Contributed Property, such items attributable thereto shall be allocated among the Partners in the manner provided under Section 704(c) of the Code that takes into account the variation between the Agreed Value of such property and its adjusted basis at the time of contribution; and
(B) any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss attributable to a Contributed Property shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” gain or loss is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1.
(ii) (A) In the case of an Adjusted Property, such items shall (1) first, be allocated among the Partners in a manner consistent with the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code to take into account the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such property and the allocations thereof pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i) or Section 5.5(d)(ii), and (2) second, in the event such property was originally a Contributed Property, be allocated among the Partners in a manner consistent with Section 6.2(b)(i)(A) and
(B) any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss attributable to an Adjusted Property shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” gain or loss is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1.
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(iii) The General Partner shall apply the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d) to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.
(c) For the proper administration of the Partnership and for the preservation of uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof), the General Partner shall (i) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special allocations for federal income tax purposes of income (including gross income) or deductions; and (iii) amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of the Code or (y) otherwise to preserve or achieve uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). The General Partner may adopt such conventions, make such allocations and make such amendments to this Agreement as provided in this Section 6.2(c) only if such conventions, allocations or amendments would not have a material adverse effect on the Partners, the holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests issued and Outstanding or the Partnership, and if such allocations are consistent with the principles of Section 704 of the Code.
(d) The General Partner may determine to depreciate or amortize the portion of an adjustment under Section 743(b) of the Code attributable to unrealized appreciation in any Adjusted Property (to the extent of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a predetermined rate derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the Partnership’s common basis of such property, despite any inconsistency of such approach with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6) or any successor regulations thereto. If the General Partner determines that such reporting position cannot reasonably be taken, the General Partner may adopt depreciation and amortization conventions under which all purchasers acquiring Limited Partner Interests in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in the Partnership’s property. If the General Partner chooses not to utilize such aggregate method, the General Partner may use any other depreciation and amortization conventions to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any Limited Partner Interests, so long as such conventions would not have a material adverse effect on the Limited Partners or the Record Holders of any class or classes of Limited Partner Interests.
(e) Any gain allocated to the Partners upon the sale or other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset shall, to the extent possible, after taking into account other required allocations of gain pursuant to this Section 6.2, be characterized as Recapture Income in the same proportions and to the same extent as such Partners (or their predecessors in interest) have been allocated any deductions directly or indirectly giving rise to the treatment of such gains as Recapture Income.
(f) All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit recognized by the Partnership for federal income tax purposes and allocated to the Partners in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be determined without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code that may be made by the Partnership; provided, however, that such allocations, once made, shall be adjusted (in the manner determined by the General Partner) to take into account those adjustments permitted or required by Sections 734 and 743 of the Code.
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(g) Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction, for federal income tax purposes, shall be determined on an annual basis and prorated on a monthly basis and shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on the first Business Day of each month; provided, however, such items for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the month in which the Option Closing Date or the expiration of the Over-Allotment Option occurs shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on the first Business Day of the next succeeding month; and provided, further, that gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of any assets of the Partnership or any other extraordinary item of income or loss realized and recognized other than in the ordinary course of business, as determined by the General Partner, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on the first Business Day of the month in which such gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation to the extent permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.
(h) Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Limited Partner under the provisions of this Article VI shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Limited Partner Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method determined by the General Partner.
(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).
(j) The Partnership shall accrue and report the income and deduction from the guaranteed payment for the use of capital attributable to the Series A Distribution on the Series A Distribution Payment Date for such Series A Distribution without regard to whether the Series A Distribution is paid, provided, however, that the portion of such income and deduction for the period beginning on the last Series A Distribution Payment Date of any tax year and continuing through the final day of such tax year shall be accrued and reported on the final day of such tax year. The Partnership shall also accrue and report the income and deduction from the guaranteed payment for the use of capital attributable to the Series B Distribution on the Series B Distribution Payment Date for such Series B Distribution without regard to whether the Series B Distribution is paid, provided, however, that the portion of such income and deduction for the period beginning on the last Series B Distribution Payment Date of any tax year and continuing through the final day of such tax year shall be accrued and reported on the final day of such tax year.
Section 6.3 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders.
(a) Subject to Section 16.3 and 17.3, 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 Unitholders and the General Partner as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner. All amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on any date from any source shall be deemed to be Distributable Cash Flow until the sum of all amounts of Available Cash theretofore distributed by the Partnership to the Unitholders and the General Partner pursuant to Section 6.4, 16.3 and 17.3, equals the Distributable Cash Flow from the Closing Date through the close of the immediately preceding Quarter. Any remaining amounts of Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on such date shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.5, be deemed to be “Capital Surplus.” All distributions required to be made under this Agreement shall be made subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act.
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(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 may treat taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, or amounts withheld with respect to, all or less than all of the Unitholders and the General Partner, as a distribution of Available Cash to such Unitholders and the General Partner.
(d) Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the Partnership, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Such payment shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Partnership’s liability in respect of such payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason of an assignment or otherwise.
Section 6.4 Distributions of Available Cash from Distributable Cash Flow.
(a) Available Cash with respect to any Quarter that is deemed to be Distributable Cash Flow pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or Section 6.5, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, shall be distributed as follows, except as otherwise required by Section 5.6(b) in respect of additional Partnership Securities issued pursuant thereto:
(i) First, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest and (B) to all Unitholders holding Common Units, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to 100% less the General Partner’s Percentage Interest, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(ii) Second, 100% to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target Distribution over the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter (such excess being $0 for any Quarter ending on or after December 31, 2009, such that no distribution will be made pursuant to this subsection for such Quarter);
(iii) Third, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 13% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (iii), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;
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(iv) Fourth, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 23% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclause (A) and (B) of this clause (iv), until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter; and
(v) Thereafter, (A) to the General Partner in accordance with its Percentage Interest; (B) 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata; and (C) to all Unitholders, their Pro Rata share of a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages applicable to subclauses (A) and (B) of this clause (v);
provided, however, if the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Distributable Cash Flow with respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.4(a)(v).
Section 6.5 Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus. Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3(a) shall, subject to Section 16.3(b) and Section 17.3(b) hereof and Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed, unless the provisions of Section 6.3 require otherwise, (a) to the General Partner and the Unitholders in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until a hypothetical holder of a Common Unit acquired on the Closing Date has received with respect to such Common Unit, during the period since the Closing Date through such date, distributions of Available Cash that are deemed to be Capital Surplus in an aggregate amount equal to the Initial Unit Price. Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus shall then be distributed as if it were Distributable Cash Flow and shall be distributed in accordance with Section 6.4.
Section 6.6 Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels.
(a) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution, and Third Target Distribution shall be proportionately adjusted in the event of any distribution, combination or subdivision (whether effected by a distribution payable in Units or otherwise) of Units or other Partnership Securities in accordance with Section 5.9. In the event of a distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be from Capital Surplus, the then applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be adjusted proportionately downward to equal the product obtained by multiplying the otherwise applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, as the case may be, by a fraction of which the numerator is the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price of the Common Units immediately after giving effect to such distribution and of which the denominator is the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price of the Common Units immediately prior to giving effect to such distribution.
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(b) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall also be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 6.9.
Section 6.7 Reserved.
Section 6.8 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Incentive Distribution Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights (a) shall (i) possess the rights and obligations provided in this Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to Articles III and VII, and (ii) have a Capital Account as a Partner pursuant to Section 5.5 and all other provisions related thereto and (b) shall not (i) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders of Outstanding Units, except as provided by law, (ii) be entitled to any distributions other than as provided in Sections 6.4(a)(iii), 6.4(a)(iv) and 6.4(a)(v), and Section 12.4, or (iii) be allocated items of income, gain, loss or deduction other than as specified in this Article VI.
Section 6.9 Entity-Level Taxation. If legislation is enacted or the interpretation of existing language is modified by a governmental taxing authority so that a Group Member is treated as an association taxable as a corporation or is otherwise subject to an entity-level tax for federal, state or local income tax purposes, then the General Partner may, at the General Partner’s discretion, estimate for each Quarter the Partnership Group’s aggregate liability (the “Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount”) for all such income taxes that are payable by reason of any such new legislation or interpretation; provided that any difference between such estimate and the actual tax liability for such Quarter that is owed by reason of any such new legislation or interpretation shall be taken into account in determining the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount with respect to each Quarter in which any such difference can be determined. If the General Partner elects to do so, for each such Quarter, the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be the product obtained by multiplying (a) the amounts therefor that are set out herein prior to the application of this Section 6.9 times (b) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) Available Cash with respect to such Quarter by (ii) the sum of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter and the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for such Quarter, as determined by the General Partner. For purposes of the foregoing, Available Cash with respect to a Quarter will be deemed reduced by the Estimated Incremental Quarterly Tax Amount for that Quarter.
Article VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
Section 7.1 Management.
(a) The General Partner shall conduct, direct and manage all activities of the Partnership. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner or Assignee shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or that are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to Section 7.3, shall have full power and authority to do all things and on such terms as it determines to be necessary or 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 (subject to Section 16.4(b) and 17.4(b) with respect to any Preferred Unit Senior Securities), and the incurring of any other obligations;
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(ii) the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the Partnership;
(iii) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any or all of the assets of the Partnership or the merger or other combination of the Partnership with or into another Person (the matters described in this clause (iii) being subject, however, to any prior approval that may be required by Section 7.3 and Article XIV);
(iv) the use of the assets of the Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Partnership Group; subject to Section 7.6(a), the lending of funds to other Persons (including other Group Members); the repayment or guarantee of obligations of any Group Member; and the making of capital contributions to any Group Member;
(v) the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments (including instruments that limit the liability of the Partnership under contractual arrangements to all or particular assets of the Partnership, with the other party to the contract to have no recourse against the General Partner or its assets other than its interest in the Partnership, even if same results in the terms of the transaction being less favorable to the Partnership than would otherwise be the case);
(vi) the distribution of Partnership cash;
(vii) the selection and dismissal of employees (including employees having titles such as “president,” “vice president,” “secretary” and “treasurer”) and agents, outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring;
(viii) the maintenance of insurance for the benefit of the Partnership Group, the Partners and Indemnitees;
(ix) the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property and the making of loans to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, limited liability companies or other relationships (including the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, any Group Member from time to time) subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 2.4;
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(x) the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Partnership, including the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation, arbitration or mediation and the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation;
(xi) the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by law;
(xii) the entering into of listing agreements with any National Securities Exchange and the delisting of some or all of the Limited Partner Interests from, or requesting that trading be suspended on, any such exchange (subject to any prior approval that may be required under Section 4.8);
(xiii) the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership Securities (subject to Section 16.4(b) and 17.4(b) with respect to any Preferred Unit Senior Securities or Section 16.5(f) and 17.5(f)), or the issuance of options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities (subject to Section 16.4(b) and 17.4(b) with respect to any Preferred Unit Senior Securities);
(xiv) the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership’s participation in any Group Member; and
(xv) the entering into of agreements with any of its Affiliates to render services to a Group Member or to itself in the discharge of its duties as General Partner of the Partnership.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, the Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and the Assignees and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Partnership Securities hereby (i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this Agreement and the Group Member Agreement of each other Group Member, the Underwriting Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement, the Contribution Agreement and the other agreements described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement; (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own or through any officer of the Partnership) is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the agreements referred to in clause (i) of this sentence and the other agreements, acts, transactions and matters described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners or the Assignees or the other Persons who may acquire an interest in Partnership Securities; and (iii) agrees that the execution, delivery or performance by the General Partner, any Group Member or any Affiliate of any of them of this Agreement or any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement (including the exercise by the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner of the rights accorded pursuant to Article XV) shall not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement (or any other agreements) or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity.
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Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership. The General Partner has caused the Certificate of Limited Partnership to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent the General Partner determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 3.4(a), the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.
Section 7.3 Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority. Except as provided in Articles XII and XIV, the General Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation, other combination or sale of ownership interests of the Partnership’s Subsidiaries) without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude or limit the General Partner’s ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance. Without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority, the General Partner shall not, on behalf of the Partnership, except as permitted under Sections 4.6, 11.1 and 11.2, elect or cause the Partnership to elect a successor general partner of the Partnership.
Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner.
(a) Except as provided in this Section 7.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as a general partner or managing member of any Group Member.
(b) The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person, including Affiliates of the General Partner to perform services for the Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership Group), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Partnership Group or otherwise incurred by the General Partner in connection with operating the Partnership Group’s business (including expenses allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates). The General Partner shall determine the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7.
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(c) The General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no right to vote in respect thereof), may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Securities or options to purchase or rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Securities in connection with, or pursuant to, any employee benefit plan, employee program or employee practice maintained or sponsored by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in each case for the benefit of employees of the General Partner or its Affiliates, or any Group Member or its Affiliates, or any of them, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Securities that the General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any employees pursuant to any such employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices. Expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Securities purchased by the General Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership to fulfill options or awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 7.4(b). Any and all obligations of the General Partner under any employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices adopted by the General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.4(c) shall constitute obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by any successor General Partner approved pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) pursuant to Section 4.6.
Section 7.5 Outside Activities.
(a) After the Closing Date, the General Partner, for so long as it is the General Partner of the Partnership (i) agrees that its sole business will be to act as a general partner or managing member, as the case may be, of the Partnership and any other partnership or limited liability company of which the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner or member and to undertake activities that are ancillary or related thereto (including being a limited partner in the Partnership) and (ii) shall not engage in any business or activity or incur any debts or liabilities except in connection with or incidental to (A) its performance as general partner or managing member, if any, of one or more Group Members or as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement or (B) the acquiring, owning or disposing of debt or equity securities in any Group Member.
(b) Except as specifically restricted by the Omnibus Agreement, each Indemnitee (other than the General Partner) shall have the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty expressed or implied by law to any Group Member or any Partner or Assignee. None of any Group Member, any Limited Partner or any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, or the partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any Indemnitee.
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(c) Subject to the terms of Section 7.5(a), Section 7.5(b) and the Omnibus Agreement, but otherwise notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in competitive activities by any Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.5 is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners, (ii) it shall be deemed not to be a breach of any fiduciary duty or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of the General Partner or of any Indemnitee for the Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) to engage in such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Partnership and (iii) except as set forth in the Omnibus Agreement, the Indemnitees shall have no obligation hereunder or as a result of any duty expressed or implied by law to present business opportunities to the Partnership.
(d) The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Securities in addition to those acquired on the Closing Date and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option, all rights relating to all Units or other Partnership Securities acquired by them. The term “Affiliates” when used in this Section 7.5(d) with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any provision of this Agreement purports or is interpreted to have the effect of restricting the fiduciary duties that might otherwise, as a result of Delaware or other applicable law, be owed by the General Partner to the Partnership and its Limited Partners, or to constitute a waiver or consent by the Limited Partners to any such restriction, such provisions shall be inapplicable and have no effect in determining whether the General Partner has complied with its fiduciary duties in connection with determinations made by it under this Section 7.5.
Section 7.6 Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members.
(a) The General Partner or any of its Affiliates may lend to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, funds needed or desired by the Group Member for such periods of time and in such amounts as the General Partner may determine; provided, however, that in any such case the lending party may not charge the borrowing party interest at a rate greater than the rate that would be charged the borrowing party or impose terms less favorable to the borrowing party than would be charged or imposed on the borrowing party by unrelated lenders on comparable loans made on an arm’s-length basis (without reference to the lending party’s financial abilities or guarantees), all as determined by the General Partner. The borrowing party shall reimburse the lending party for any costs (other than any additional interest costs) incurred by the lending party in connection with the borrowing of such funds. For purposes of this Section 7.6(a) and Section 7.6(b), the term “Group Member” shall include any Affiliate of a Group Member that is controlled by the Group Member.
(b) The Partnership may lend or contribute to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the Partnership, funds on terms and conditions determined by the General Partner. No Group Member may lend funds to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than another Group Member).
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(c) No borrowing by any Group Member or the approval thereof by the General Partner shall be deemed to constitute a breach of any duty, expressed or implied, of the General Partner or its Affiliates to the Partnership or the Limited Partners by reason of the fact that the purpose or effect of such borrowing is directly or indirectly to enable distributions to the General Partner or its Affiliates (including in their capacities as Limited Partners) to exceed the General Partner’s Percentage Interest of the total amount distributed to all partners.
Section 7.7 Indemnification.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee; provided, that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful; provided, further, no indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be available to the General Partner or its Affiliates (other than a Group Member) with respect to its or their obligations incurred pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement or the Contribution Agreement (other than obligations incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership). Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that the General Partner shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7(a) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to a determination that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Partnership of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Section 7.7.
(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, as a matter of law or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity (including any capacity under the Underwriting Agreement), and shall continue as to an 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.
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(d) The Partnership may purchase and maintain (or reimburse the General Partner or its Affiliates for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of the General Partner, its Affiliates and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Person in connection with the Partnership’s activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) For purposes of this Section 7.7, the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines” within the meaning of Section 7.7(a); and action taken or omitted by it with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Partnership.
(f) In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.
(g) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 7.7 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
(h) The provisions of this Section 7.7 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.
(i) No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.7 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Partnership, nor the obligations of the Partnership to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.7 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
Section 7.8 Liability of Indemnitees.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, the Assignees or any other Persons who have acquired interests in the Partnership Securities, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was criminal.
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(b) Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section 7.1(a)(i), the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and the General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by the General Partner in good faith.
(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, the General Partner and any other Indemnitee acting in connection with the Partnership’s business or affairs shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.
(d) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of the Indemnitees under this Section 7.8 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
Section 7.9 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties.
(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member, any Partner or any Assignee, on the other, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner or its Affiliates in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), (iii) on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv) fair and reasonable to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership). The General Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval of such resolution, and the General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval. If Special Approval is not sought and the Board of Directors of the General Partner determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) above, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Board of Directors acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or Assignee or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or Assignee or any other Limited Partner or Assignee or the Partnership challenging such approval, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming such presumption. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or equity, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in the Registration Statement are hereby approved by all Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement.
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(b) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. In order for a determination or other action to be in “good faith” for purposes of this Agreement, the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action must believe that the determination or other action is in the best interests of the Partnership.
(c) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, are entitled to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee, and the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrase, “at the option of the General Partner,” or some variation of that phrase, is used in this Agreement, it indicates that the General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Units, or refrains from voting or transferring its Units, it shall be acting in its individual capacity.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the General Partner and its Affiliates shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business or (ii) permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the General Partner and its Affiliates, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with such use. Any determination by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter into such contracts shall be at its option.
(e) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Partnership or any Limited Partner or Assignee and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the General Partner or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of the General Partner or such other Indemnitee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the General Partner nor any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to Series A Holders and to Series B Holders.
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(f) The Unitholders, and each Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or is otherwise bound by this Agreement hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership as a partner or member of a Group Member, to approve of actions by the general partner or managing member of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the General Partner pursuant to this Section 7.9.
Section 7.10 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner.
(a) The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
(b) The General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers selected by it, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the opinion (including an Opinion of Counsel) of such Persons as to matters that the General Partner reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(c) The General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers, a duly appointed attorney or attorneys-in-fact or the duly authorized officers of the Partnership.
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 Affiliate of the General Partner may also purchase or otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Partnership Securities for its own account, subject to the provisions of Articles IV and X.
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Section 7.12 Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates.
(a) If (i) the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner (including for purposes of this Section 7.12, any Person that is an Affiliate of the General Partner at the date hereof notwithstanding that it may later cease to be an Affiliate of the General Partner) holds Partnership Securities that it desires to sell and (ii) Rule 144 of the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from registration is not available to enable such holder of Partnership Securities (the “Holder”) to dispose of the number of Partnership Securities it desires to sell at the time it desires to do so without registration under the Securities Act, then at the option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use all reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a period of not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Partnership Securities covered by such registration statement have been sold, a registration statement under the Securities Act registering the offering and sale of the number of Partnership Securities specified by the Holder; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to effect more than three registrations pursuant to Sections 7.12(a) and 7.12(b); and provided further, however, that if the Conflicts Committee determines in good faith that the requested registration would be materially detrimental to the Partnership and its Partners because such registration would (A) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, reorganization or other similar transaction involving the Partnership, (B) require premature disclosure of material information that the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential or (C) render the Partnership unable to comply with requirements under applicable securities laws, then the Partnership shall have the right to postpone such requested registration for a period of not more than six months after receipt of the Holder’s request, such right pursuant to this Section 7.12(a) or 7.12(b) not to be utilized more than once in any twelve-month period. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, the Partnership shall be deemed not to have used all reasonable efforts to keep the registration statement effective during the applicable period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Partnership Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Partnership Securities at any time during such period, unless such action is required by applicable law. In connection with any registration pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the Partnership shall (1) 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 (2) do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or appropriate to enable the Holder to consummate a public sale of such Partnership Securities in such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(d), all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.
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(b) If any Holder holds Partnership Securities that it desires to sell and Rule 144 of the Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another exemption from registration is not available to enable such Holder to dispose of the number of Partnership Securities it desires to sell at the time it desires to do so without registration under the Securities Act, then at the option and upon the request of the Holder, the Partnership shall file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such request, and use all reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain effective for a period of not less than six months following its effective date or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Partnership Securities covered by such shelf registration statement have been sold, a “shelf” registration statement covering the Partnership Securities specified by the Holder on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to effect more than three registrations pursuant to Section 7.12(a) and this Section 7.12(b); and provided further, however, that if the Conflicts Committee determines in good faith that any offering under, or the use of any prospectus forming a part of, the shelf registration statement would be materially detrimental to the Partnership and its Partners because such offering or use would (i) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, reorganization or other similar transaction involving the Partnership, (ii) require premature disclosure of material information that the Partnership has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential or (iii) render the Partnership unable to comply with requirements under applicable securities laws, then the Partnership shall have the right to suspend such offering or use for a period of not more than six months after receipt of the Holder’s request, such right pursuant to Section 7.12(a) or this Section 7.12(b) not to be utilized more than once in any twelve-month period. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, the Partnership shall be deemed not to have used all reasonable efforts to keep the shelf registration statement effective during the applicable period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Partnership Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Partnership Securities at any time during such period, unless such action is required by applicable law. In connection with any shelf registration pursuant to this Section 7.12(b), the Partnership shall (A) promptly prepare and file (1) such documents as may be necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to such shelf registration under the securities laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably request; provided, however, that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation or partnership doing business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of such shelf registration, and (2) such documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Partnership Securities subject to such shelf registration on such National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably request, and (B) do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or appropriate to enable the Holder to consummate a public sale of such Partnership Securities in such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(d), all costs and expenses of any such shelf registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.
(c) If the Partnership shall at any time propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act for an offering of equity securities of the Partnership for cash (other than an offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan), the Partnership shall use all reasonable efforts to include such number or amount of securities held by the Holder in such registration statement as the Holder shall request; provided, that the Partnership is not required to make any effort or take an action to so include the securities of the Holder once the registration statement is declared effective by the Commission, including any registration statement providing for the offering from time to time of securities pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act. If the proposed offering pursuant to this Section 7.12(c) shall be an underwritten offering, then, in the event that the managing underwriter or managing underwriters of such offering advise the Partnership and the Holder in writing that in their opinion the inclusion of all or some of the 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 that, in the opinion of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, will not so adversely and materially affect the offering. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(d), all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.
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(d) If underwriters are engaged in connection with any registration referred to in this Section 7.12, the Partnership shall provide indemnification, representations, covenants, opinions and other assurance to the underwriters in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such underwriters. Further, in addition to and not in limitation of the Partnership’s obligation under Section 7.7, the Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold harmless the Holder, its officers, directors and each Person who controls the Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent thereof (collectively, “Indemnified Persons”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnified Person may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, under the Securities Act or otherwise (hereinafter referred to in this Section 7.12(d) as a “claim” and in the plural as “claims”) based upon, arising out of or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement under which any Partnership Securities were registered under the Securities Act or any state securities or Blue Sky laws, in any preliminary prospectus (if used prior to the effective date of such registration statement), or in any summary or final prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (if used during the period the Partnership is required to keep the registration statement current), or arising out of, based upon or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be liable to any Indemnified Person to the extent that any such claim arises out of, is based upon or results from an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, such preliminary, summary or final prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person specifically for use in the preparation thereof.
(e) The provisions of Sections 7.12(a), 7.12(b) and 7.12(c) shall continue to be applicable with respect to the General Partner (and any of the General Partner’s Affiliates) after it ceases to be a general partner of the Partnership, during a period of two years subsequent to the effective date of such cessation and for so long thereafter as is required for the Holder to sell all of the Partnership Securities with respect to which it has requested during such two-year period inclusion in a registration statement otherwise filed or that a registration statement be filed; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to file successive registration statements covering the same Partnership Securities for which registration was demanded during such two-year period. The provisions of Section 7.12(d) shall continue in effect thereafter.
(f) The rights to cause the Partnership to register Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 7.12 may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee or assignee of such Partnership Securities, provided (i) the Partnership is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee and the Partnership Securities with respect to which such registration rights are being assigned; and (ii) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to be bound by and subject to the terms set forth in this Section 7.12.
(g) Any request to register Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section 7.12 shall (i) specify the Partnership Securities intended to be offered and sold by the Person making the request, (ii) express such Person’s present intent to offer such Partnership Securities for distribution, (iii) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale of Partnership Securities, and (iv) contain the undertaking of such Person to provide all such information and materials and take all action as may be required in order to permit the Partnership to comply with all applicable requirements in connection with the registration of such Partnership Securities.
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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 this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.
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, 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.
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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 Partnership Security as of a date selected by the General Partner, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner.
(b) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after the close of each Quarter except the last Quarter of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available to each Record Holder of a Partnership Security, as of a date selected by the General Partner, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of any National Securities Exchange on which the Partnership Securities are listed or admitted to 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 the taxable year or years that it is required by law to adopt, from time to time, as determined in good faith by the General Partner. In the event the Partnership is required to use a taxable year other than a year ending on December 31, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to change the taxable year of the Partnership to a year ending on December 31. The tax information reasonably required by Record Holders for federal and state income tax reporting purposes with respect to a taxable year shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnership’s taxable year ends. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes.
Section 9.2 Tax Elections.
(a) The Partnership shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the reservation of the right to seek to revoke any such election upon the General Partner’s determination that such revocation is in the best interests of the Limited Partners. Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained, for the purposes of computing the adjustments under Section 743(b) of the Code, the General Partner shall be authorized (but not required) to adopt a convention whereby the price paid by a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest will be deemed to be the lowest quoted closing price of the Limited Partner Interests on any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 6.2(g) without regard to the actual price paid by such transferee.
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall determine whether the Partnership should make any other elections permitted by the Code.
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Section 9.3 Tax Controversies.
(a) Subject to the provisions hereof, the General Partner (or its designee) is designated 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 or under any applicable state or local law providing for an analogous capacity) and is authorized to represent the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. In its capacity as Partnership Representative, the General Partner shall exercise any and all authority of the Partnership Representative, 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 or an analogous election under state or local law, which election permits the Partnership to pass the obligation to make a payment for any partnership adjustment through to the Persons who were Partners of the Partnership in the year to which the adjustment relates (“Reviewed Year”) and irrespective of whether such Persons are Partners of the Partnership at the time such election is made. Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably requested by the General Partner in its capacity as Tax Matters Partner or Partnership Representative. For Partners that are not tax-exempt entities (as defined in Section 168(h)(2) of the Code) and subject to the General Partner’s discretion to seek modifications of an imputed underpayment, this cooperation includes 1. filing amended federal, state or local tax returns, paying any additional tax (including interest, penalties and other additions to tax), and providing the General Partner with an affidavit swearing to those facts (all within the requisite time periods), and 2. providing any other information requested by the General Partner in order to seek modifications of an imputed underpayment and to make an effective election under Section 6226 of the Code. For Partners that are tax-exempt entities (as defined in Section 168(h)(2) of the Code) and subject to the General Partner’s discretion to seek modifications of an imputed underpayment, this cooperation includes providing the General Partner with information necessary to establish the Partner’s tax-exempt status and to allow the General Partner to make an effective election under Section 6226 of the Code. This agreement to cooperate applies irrespective of whether such Persons are Partners of the Partnership at the time of the requested cooperation.
(b) 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 (i) 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 (ii) 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. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing in this provision shall obligate the Partnership Representative to provide notice to the Partners other than as required by the Code.
(c) The General Partner may amend the provisions of this Agreement as it determines appropriate to satisfy any requirements, conditions, or guidelines set forth in any amendment to the provisions of Subchapter C of Chapter 63 of Subtitle F of the Code, any analogous provisions of the laws of any state or locality or the promulgation of regulations or publication of other administrative guidance thereunder.
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Section 9.4 Withholding and Other Tax Payments by the Partnership.
(a) The General Partner may treat taxes, penalties, or interest paid by the Partnership on behalf of all or less than all of the Partners as a distribution of cash to such Partners, as a general expense of the Partnership or as indemnifiable payments made by the Partnership on behalf of the Partners or former Partners (as provided in Section 9.4(c)), as determined appropriate under the circumstances by the General Partner.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income or from a distribution to any Partner (including by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the General Partner may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.3 or Section 12.4(c) in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.
(c) If the Partnership pays an imputed underpayment under Section 6225 of the Code and/or any analogous provision of the laws of any state or locality, the General Partner may require that some or all of the Partners of the Partnership in the Reviewed Year indemnify the Partnership for their allocable share of that underpayment (including interest, penalties and other additions to tax). This indemnification obligation shall not apply to a Partner to the extent that (i) the Partnership received a modification of the imputed underpayment under Section 6225(c)(2) of the Code (or any analogous provision of state or local law) due to the Partner’s filing of amended tax returns and payment of any resulting tax (including interest, penalties and other additions to tax), (ii) the Partner is a tax-exempt entity (as defined in Section 168(h)(2) of the Code) and either the Partnership received a modification of the imputed underpayment under Section 6225(c)(3) of the Code (or any analogous provision of state or local law) because of such Partner’s status as a tax-exempt entity or the Partnership did not make a good faith effort to obtain a modification of the imputed underpayment due to such Partner’s status as a tax-exempt entity, or (iii) the Partnership received a modification of the imputed underpayment under Section 6225(c)(4)-(6) of the Code (or any analogous provision of state or local law) as a result of other information that was either provided by the Partner or otherwise available to the Partnership with respect to the Partner. This indemnification obligation imposed on Partners, including former Partners, applies irrespective of whether such Persons are Partners of the Partnership at the time the Partnership pays the imputed underpayment.
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Article X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS
Section 10.1 Admission of Initial Limited Partners. Upon the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units, subordinated units and Incentive Distribution Rights to the General Partner, Chelsea Terminal Limited Partnership, Sandwich Terminal, L.L.C., Global Petroleum Corp., Montello Oil Corporation, Larea Holdings LLC, Larea Holdings II LLC and the Underwriters as described in Sections 5.2 and 5.3 in connection with the Initial Offering, the General Partner admitted such parties to the Partnership as Initial Limited Partners in respect of the Common Units, subordinated units or Incentive Distribution Rights issued to them.
Section 10.2 Admission of Substituted Limited Partners. By transfer of a Limited Partner Interest in accordance with Article IV, the transferor shall be deemed to have given the transferee the right to seek admission as a Substituted Limited Partner subject to the conditions of, and in the manner permitted under, this Agreement. Each transferee of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent acquiring such Limited Partner Interest for the account of another Person) transferred in accordance with Article IV shall be an Assignee. Such Assignee shall automatically be admitted to the Partnership as a Substituted Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to such Person at such time as such transfer is recorded in the books and records of the Partnership, and until so recorded, such transferee shall be an Assignee. The General Partner shall periodically, but no less frequently than on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter, cause any unrecorded transfers of Limited Partner Interests transferred in accordance with Article IV to be recorded in the books and records of the Partnership. An Assignee shall have an interest in the Partnership equivalent to that of a Limited Partner with respect to allocations and distributions, including liquidating distributions, of the Partnership. With respect to voting rights attributable to Limited Partner Interests that are held by Assignees, the General Partner shall be deemed to be the Limited Partner with respect thereto and shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Limited Partner Interests on any matter, vote such Limited Partner Interests at the written direction of the Assignee who is the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interests. If no such written direction is received, such Limited Partner Interests will not be voted. An Assignee shall have no other rights of a Limited Partner.
Section 10.3 Admission of Successor General Partner. A successor General Partner approved pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) pursuant to Section 4.6 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective immediately prior to the withdrawal or removal of the predecessor or transferring General Partner, pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2 or the transfer of the General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) pursuant to Section 4.6, provided, however, that no such successor shall be admitted to the Partnership until compliance with the terms of Section 4.6 has occurred and such successor has executed and delivered such other documents or instruments as may be required to effect such admission. Any such successor shall, subject to the terms hereof, carry on the business of the members of the Partnership Group without dissolution.
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Section 10.4 Admission of Additional Limited Partners.
(a) A Person (other than the General Partner, an Initial Limited Partner or a Substituted Limited Partner) who makes a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement shall be admitted to the Partnership as an Additional Limited Partner only upon furnishing to the General Partner:
(i) evidence of acceptance in form satisfactory to the General Partner of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the power of attorney granted in Section 2.6, and
(ii) such other documents or instruments as may be required by the General Partner to effect such Person’s admission as an Additional Limited Partner.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.4, no Person shall be admitted as an Additional Limited Partner without the consent of the General Partner. The admission of any Person as an Additional Limited Partner shall become effective on the date upon which the name of such Person is recorded as such in the books and records of the Partnership, following the consent of the General Partner to such admission.
Section 10.5 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership. To effect the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take all steps necessary or appropriate under the Delaware Act to amend the records of the Partnership to reflect such admission and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practicable an amendment to this Agreement and, if required by law, the General Partner shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership, and the General Partner may for this purpose, among others, exercise the power of attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.6.
Article XI
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS
Section 11.1 Withdrawal of the General Partner.
(a) The General Partner shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Partnership upon the occurrence of any one of the following events (each such event herein referred to as an “Event of Withdrawal”);
(i) The General Partner voluntarily withdraws from the Partnership by giving written notice to the other Partners;
(ii) The General Partner transfers all of its rights as General Partner pursuant to Section 4.6;
(iii) The General Partner is removed pursuant to Section 11.2;
(iv) The General Partner (A) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (B) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code; (C) files a petition or answer seeking for itself a liquidation, dissolution or similar relief (but not a reorganization) under any law; (D) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the General Partner in a proceeding of the type described in clauses (A)-(C) of this Section 11.1(a)(iv); or (E) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee (but not a debtor-in-possession), receiver or liquidator of the General Partner or of all or any substantial part of its properties;
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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 Sections 11.1(a)(iv), 11.1(a)(v), 11.1(a)(vi)(A), 11.1(a)(vi)(B), 11.1(a)(vi)(C) or 11.1(a)(vi)(E) occurs, the withdrawing General Partner shall give notice to the Limited Partners within 30 days after such occurrence. The Partners hereby agree that only the Events of Withdrawal described in this Section 11.1 shall result in the withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership.
(b) Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i) at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 12:00 midnight, prevailing Eastern Time, on September 30, 2015, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners; provided, that prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, the withdrawal is approved by Unitholders holding at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) and the General Partner delivers to the Partnership an Opinion of Counsel (“Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel”) that such withdrawal (following the selection of the successor General Partner) would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or any Group Member or cause any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed); (ii) at any time after 12:00 midnight, prevailing Eastern Time, on September 30, 2015, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice to the Unitholders, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice; (iii) at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii) or is removed pursuant to Section 11.2; or (iv) notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, at any time that the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such notice is given one Person and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) own beneficially or of record or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units. The withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the General Partner gives a notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), the holders of a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner. The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If, prior to the effective date of the General Partner’s withdrawal, a successor is not selected by the Unitholders as provided herein or the Partnership does not receive a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel, the Partnership shall be dissolved in accordance with Section 12.1. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.3.
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Section 11.2 Removal of the General Partner. The General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by the Unitholders holding at least 66 2/3% of the Outstanding Units (including Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) voting as a single class. Any such action by such holders for removal of the General Partner must also provide for the election of a successor General Partner by the Unitholders holding a majority of the outstanding Common Units voting as a class (including Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates). Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 10.3. The removal of the General Partner shall also automatically constitute the removal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If a Person is elected as a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2, such Person shall, upon admission pursuant to Section 10.3, automatically become a successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. The right of the holders of Outstanding Units to remove the General Partner shall not exist or be exercised unless the Partnership has received an opinion opining as to the matters covered by a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.3.
Section 11.3 Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner.
(a) In the event of (i) withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement or (ii) removal of the General Partner by the holders of Outstanding Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist, if the successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Sections 11.1 or 11.2, the Departing General Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure of such Departing General Partner, to require its successor to purchase its General Partner Interest (represented by General Partner Units) and its general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members and all of the Incentive Distribution Rights (collectively, the “Combined Interest”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of the effective date of its departure. If the General Partner is removed by the Unitholders under circumstances where Cause exists or if the General Partner withdraws under circumstances where such withdrawal violates this Agreement, and if a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Sections 11.1 or 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner), such successor shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure of such Departing General Partner (or, in the event the business of the Partnership is continued, prior to the date the business of the Partnership is continued), to purchase the Combined Interest for such fair market value of such Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner. In either event, the Departing General Partner shall be entitled to receive all reimbursements due such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 7.4, including any employee-related liabilities (including severance liabilities), incurred in connection with the termination of any employees employed by the Departing General Partner or its Affiliates (other than any Group Member) for the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.
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For purposes of this Section 11.3(a), the fair market value of the Departing General Partner’s Combined Interest shall be determined by agreement between the Departing General Partner and its successor or, failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of such Departing General Partner’s departure, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the Departing General Partner and its successor, which, in turn, may rely on other experts, and the determination of which shall be conclusive as to such matter. If such parties cannot agree upon one independent investment banking firm or other independent expert within 45 days after the effective date of such departure, then the Departing General Partner shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, the Departing General Partner’s successor shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, and such firms or experts shall mutually select a third independent investment banking firm or independent expert, which third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert shall determine the fair market value of the Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner. In making its determination, such third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert may consider the then current trading price of Units on any National Securities Exchange on which Units are then listed or admitted to trading, the value of the Partnership’s assets, the rights and obligations of the Departing General Partner and other factors it may deem relevant.
(b) If the Combined Interest is not purchased in the manner set forth in Section 11.3(a), the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) shall become a Limited Partner and its Combined Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a valuation made by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected pursuant to Section 11.3(a), without reduction in such Partnership Interest (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of the admission of its successor). Any successor General Partner shall indemnify the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on which the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner to Common Units will be characterized as if the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) contributed its Combined Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.
(c) If a successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Sections 11.1 or 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner) and the option described in Section 11.3(a) is not exercised by the party entitled to do so, the successor General Partner shall, at the effective date of its admission to the Partnership, contribute to the Partnership cash in the amount equal to the product of the Percentage Interest of the Departing General Partner and the Net Agreed Value of the Partnership’s assets on such date. In such event, such successor General Partner shall, subject to the following sentence, be entitled to its Percentage Interest of all Partnership allocations and distributions to which the Departing General Partner was entitled. In addition, the successor General Partner shall cause this Agreement to be amended to reflect that, from and after the date of such successor General Partner’s admission, the successor General Partner’s interest in all Partnership distributions and allocations shall be its Percentage Interest.
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Section 11.4 Withdrawal of Limited Partners. No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided, however, that when a transferee of a Limited Partner’s Limited Partner Interest becomes a Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interest so transferred, such transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interest so transferred.
Article XII
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
Section 12.1 Dissolution. The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of 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 Section 11.2, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such successor General Partner shall continue the business of the Partnership. The Partnership shall dissolve, and (subject to Section 12.2) its affairs shall be wound up, upon:
(a) an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in Section 11.1(a) (other than Section 11.1(a)(ii)), unless a successor is elected and an Opinion of Counsel is received as provided in Sections 11.1(b) or 11.2 and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.3;
(b) an election to dissolve the Partnership by the General Partner that is approved by the holders of a Unit Majority;
(c) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act; or
(d) at any time there are no Limited Partners, unless the Partnership is continued without dissolution in accordance with the Delaware Act.
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Section 12.2 Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution. Upon (a) dissolution of the Partnership following an Event of Withdrawal caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in Sections 11.1(a)(i) or 11.1(a)(iii) and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing General Partner pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2, then within 90 days thereafter, or (b) dissolution of the Partnership upon an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in Sections 11.1(a)(iv), 11.1(a)(v) or 11.1(a)(vi), then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a Unit Majority may elect to continue the business of the Partnership on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement by appointing as a successor General Partner a Person approved by the holders of a Unit Majority. Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above, the Partnership shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If such an election is so made, then:
(i) the Partnership shall continue without dissolution unless earlier dissolved in accordance with this Article XII;
(ii) if the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner, then the interest of the former General Partner shall be treated in the manner provided in Section 11.3; and
(iii) the successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as General Partner, effective as of the Event of Withdrawal, by agreeing in writing to be bound by this Agreement; provided, that the right of the holders of a Unit Majority to approve a successor General Partner and to continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that (A) the exercise of the right would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner and (B) neither the Partnership nor any Group Member would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise be taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of such right to continue (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).
Section 12.3 Liquidator. Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2, the General Partner shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units. The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the General Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on sale set forth in Section 7.3) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.
Section 12.4 Liquidation. The Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Partnership, discharge its liabilities, and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as determined by the Liquidator, subject to Section 17-804 of the Delaware Act and the following:
(a) The assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more Partners on such terms as the Liquidator and such Partner or Partners may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the Partner receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 12.4(c) to have received cash equal to its fair market value; and contemporaneously therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners. The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Partnership’s assets for a reasonable time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners. The Liquidator may distribute the Partnership’s assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners.
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(b) Liabilities of the Partnership include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 12.3) and amounts to Partners otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights under Article VI, Article XVI and Article XVII. With respect to any liability that is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it thinks appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment. When paid, any unused portion of the reserve shall be distributed as additional liquidation proceeds.
(c) All property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in Section 12.4(b) shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with, and to the extent of, the positive balances in their respective Capital Accounts, as determined after taking into account all Capital Account adjustments (other than those made by reason of distributions pursuant to this Section 12.4(c)) for the taxable year of the Partnership during which the liquidation of the Partnership occurs (with such date of occurrence being determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)), and such distribution shall be made by the end of such taxable year (or, if later, within 90 days after said date of such occurrence); provided, that any Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions and Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions shall be paid prior to the making of any other distributions pursuant to this Section 12.4(c).
Section 12.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership. Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in Section 12.4 in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.
Section 12.6 Return of Contributions. The General Partner shall not be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners or Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Partnership assets.
Section 12.7 Waiver of Partition. To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of the Partnership property.
Section 12.8 Capital Account Restoration. No Limited Partner shall have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of the Partnership. The General Partner shall be obligated to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of its interest in the Partnership by the end of the taxable year of the Partnership during which such liquidation occurs, or, if later, within 90 days after the date of such liquidation.
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Article XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
Section 13.1 Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner. Each Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner or Assignee, may amend any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect:
(a) a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the principal place of business of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership;
(b) admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement;
(c) a change that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue the qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that the Group Members will not be treated as associations taxable as corporations or otherwise taxed as entities for federal income tax purposes;
(d) subject to Section 16.4 and 17.4, a change that the General Partner determines, (i) does not adversely affect the Limited Partners (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests) in any material respect, (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the Partnership Securities (including the division of any class, classes or series of Outstanding Partnership Securities into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of Partnership Securities) or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Partnership Securities are or will be listed or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.9 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;
(e) a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership and any other changes that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Partnership including, if the General Partner shall so determine, a change in the definition of “Quarter” and the dates on which distributions (other than Series A Distributions and Series B Distributions) are to be made by the Partnership;
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(f) an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Partnership, or the General Partner or its directors, officers, trustees or agents from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, regardless of whether such are substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;
(g) subject to Section 16.4 and 17.4, an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization of issuance of any class or series of Partnership Securities pursuant to Section 5.6;
(h) any amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the General Partner acting alone;
(i) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement approved in accordance with Section 14.3;
(j) an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for the formation by the Partnership of, or investment by the Partnership in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection with the conduct by the Partnership of activities permitted by the terms of Section 2.4;
(k) a merger or conveyance pursuant to Section 14.3(d); or
(l) any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.
Section 13.2 Amendment Procedures. Except as provided in Sections 13.1 and 13.3, all amendments to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the following requirements. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the General Partner; provided, however, that the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to propose any amendment to this Agreement and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee and, in declining to propose an amendment, to the fullest extent permitted by law shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. A proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval by the General Partner and the holders of a Unit Majority, unless a greater or different percentage is required under this Agreement or by Delaware law. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of Outstanding Units shall be set forth in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, the General Partner shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the Unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed amendment. The General Partner shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any such proposed amendments.
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Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 13.1 and 13.2, no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner) required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of reducing such voting percentage unless such amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate Outstanding Units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 13.1 and 13.2, no amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Limited Partner without its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 13.3(c) or (ii) enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable to, the General Partner or any of its Affiliates without its consent, which consent may be given or withheld at its option.
(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3, and without limitation of the General Partner’s authority to adopt amendments to this Agreement without the approval of any Partners or Assignees as contemplated in Section 13.1, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class or series 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 or series affected.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, except for amendments pursuant to Section 13.1 and except as otherwise provided by Section 14.3(b), no amendments shall become effective without the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units voting as a single class unless the Partnership obtains an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment will not affect the limited liability of any Limited Partner under applicable law.
(e) Except as provided in Section 13.1, this Section 13.3 shall only be amended with the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units.
Section 13.4 Special Meetings. All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XIII. Special meetings of the Limited Partners may be called by the General Partner or by Limited Partners owning 20% or more of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of the class, classes or series 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 and the class, classes or series of Limited Partner Interests for which the meeting is proposed. 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.
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Section 13.5 Notice of a Meeting. Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be given to the Record Holders of the class or classes of Units for which a meeting is proposed in writing by mail or other means of written communication in accordance with Section 18.1. 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 Partnership Securities are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which Limited Partners are requested in writing by the General Partner to give such approvals. If the General Partner does not set a Record Date, then (i) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners shall be the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, and (ii) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to give approvals without a meeting shall be the date the first written approval is deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner in accordance with Section 13.11.
Section 13.7 Adjournment. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be for more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Partnership may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a new Record Date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in accordance with this Article XIII.
Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes. The transactions of any meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and whenever held, shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened; and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove the consideration of matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if the disapproval is expressly made at the meeting.
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Section 13.9 Quorum and Voting. The holders of a majority of the Outstanding Partnership Securities of the class, classes or series entitled to vote and be present for which a meeting has been called (including Partnership Securities 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, classes or series unless any such action by the Limited Partners requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of such Partnership Securities, 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 Partnership Securities that in the aggregate represent a majority of the Outstanding Partnership Securities 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 Partnership Securities 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 Partnership Securities specified in this Agreement (including Outstanding Partnership Securities 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 Partnership Securities entitled to vote at such meeting (including Outstanding Partnership Securities deemed owned by the General Partner) represented either in person or by proxy, but no other business may be transacted, except as provided in Section 13.7.
Section 13.10 Conduct of a Meeting. The General Partner shall have full power and authority concerning the manner of conducting any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of Section 13.4, the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting. The General Partner shall designate a Person to serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Partnership maintained by the General Partner. The General Partner may make such other regulations consistent with applicable law and this Agreement as it may deem advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including regulations in regard to the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of the right to vote, and the revocation of approvals in writing.
Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting. If authorized by the General Partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Partnership Securities (including Partnership Securities 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 Partnership Securities are listed or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The General Partner may specify that any written ballot submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the General Partner. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the Partnership Securities held by the Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Partnership Securities 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 Right to Vote and Related Matters.
(a) Only those Record Holders of the Units on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 13.6 (and also subject to the limitations contained in the definition of “Outstanding”) shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Limited Partners or to act with respect to matters as to which the holders of the Outstanding Units have the right to vote or to act. All references in this Agreement to votes of, or other acts that may be taken by, the Outstanding Units shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Units.
(b) Only those Record Holders of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units or the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, as applicable, on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 13.6 (and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 16.4 and 17.4, as applicable) shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Limited Partners holding Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units, as applicable, or to act with respect to matters as to which the holders of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units or the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, as applicable, 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 Series A Preferred Units or the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, as applicable, shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of such Outstanding Series A Preferred Units or Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, as applicable.
(c) With respect to Partnership Securities 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 Partnership Securities are registered, such other Person shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such Partnership Securities on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, vote such Partnership Securities 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(c) (as well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the provisions of Section 4.3.
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Article XIV
MERGER
Section 14.1 Authority. The Partnership may merge or consolidate with or into one or more corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership)), formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States of America, pursuant to a written agreement of merger or consolidation (“Merger Agreement”) in accordance with this Article XIV.
Section 14.2 Procedure for Merger or Consolidation. Merger or consolidation of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV requires the prior consent of the General Partner; provided, however, that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger or consolidation of the Partnership and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or Assignee and, in declining to consent to a merger or consolidation, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the merger or consolidation, the General Partner shall approve the Merger Agreement, which shall set forth:
(a) the names and jurisdictions of formation or organization of each of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;
(b) the name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of the business entity that is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation (the “Surviving Business Entity”);
(c) the terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;
(d) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if any general or limited partner interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such interests, securities or rights are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion of their interests, securities or rights, and (ii) in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered;
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(e) a statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;
(f) the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement (provided, that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of merger and stated therein); and
(g) such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
Section 14.3 Approval by Limited Partners of Merger or Consolidation.
(a) Except as provided in Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(e), the General Partner, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement, shall direct that the Merger Agreement be submitted to a vote of Limited Partners holding Common Units, 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 Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(e), the Merger Agreement shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority.
(c) Except as provided in Sections 14.3(d) and 14.3(e), after such approval by vote or consent of the Limited Partners holding Common Units, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4, the merger or consolidation may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement.
(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or any Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member into, or convey all of the Partnership’s assets to, another limited liability entity which shall be newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such conversion, merger or conveyance other than those it receives from the Partnership or other Group Member if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the conversion, merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the sole purpose of such conversion, merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the governing instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners and the General Partner with the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.
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(e) Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another entity if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to the Partnership Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant to Section 13.1, (iii) the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or consolidation, (iv) each Partnership Security outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Partnership Security of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, and (v) the number of Partnership Securities to be issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation do not exceed 20% of the Partnership Securities Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.
Section 14.4 Certificate of Merger. Upon the required approval by the General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement, a certificate of merger shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act.
Section 14.5 Amendment of Partnership Agreement. Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this Article XIV may (a) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (b) effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for the Partnership if it is the Surviving Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 14.5 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.
Section 14.6 Effect of Merger.
(a) At the effective time of the certificate of merger:
(i) all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of the business entities that has merged or consolidated, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to any of those business entities and all other things and causes of action belonging to each of those business entities, shall be vested in the Surviving Business Entity and after the merger or consolidation shall be the property of the Surviving Business Entity to the extent they were of each constituent business entity;
(ii) the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in any of those constituent business entities shall not revert and is not in any way impaired because of the merger or consolidation;
(iii) all rights of creditors and all liens on or security interests in property of any of those constituent business entities shall be preserved unimpaired; and
(iv) all debts, liabilities and duties of those constituent business entities shall attach to the Surviving Business Entity and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.
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(b) A merger or consolidation effected pursuant to this Article shall not be deemed to result in a transfer or assignment of assets or liabilities from one entity to another.
Article XV
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
Section 15.1 Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time the General Partner and its Affiliates hold more than 80% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any class then Outstanding (other than Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units), the General Partner shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership or any Affiliate of the General Partner, exercisable at its option, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, at the greater of (i) the Current Market Price as of the date three days prior to the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed and (ii) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates for any such Limited Partner Interest of such class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that the notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed. As used in this Agreement, (A) “Current Market Price” as of any date of any class of Limited Partner Interests means the average of the daily Closing Prices (as hereinafter defined) per Limited Partner Interest of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days (as hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date; (B) “Closing Price” for any day means the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, regular way, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal National Securities Exchange (other than the Nasdaq National Market) on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Limited Partner Interests are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange (other than the Nasdaq National Market), the last quoted price on such day or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market or such other system then in use, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests of such class are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class selected by the General Partner, or if on any such day no market maker is making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the General Partner; and (C) “Trading Day” means a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests of any class are listed is open for the transaction of business or, if Limited Partner Interests of a class are not listed on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are open. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the repurchase right described in this Article XV shall not apply to Series A Preferred Units or Series B Preferred Units.
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(b) If the General Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership elects to exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a), the General Partner shall deliver to the Transfer Agent notice of such election to purchase (the “Notice of Election to Purchase”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent to mail a copy of such Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Limited Partner Interests of such class (as of a Record Date selected by the General Partner) at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date. Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be published for a period of at least three consecutive days in at least two daily newspapers of general circulation printed in the English language and published in the Borough of Manhattan, New York. The Notice of Election to Purchase shall specify the Purchase Date and the price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) at which Limited Partner Interests will be purchased and state that the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, elects to purchase such Limited Partner Interests, upon surrender of Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests in exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent as the Transfer Agent may specify, or as may be required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at his address as reflected in the records of the Transfer Agent shall be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall deposit with the Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate purchase price of all of such Limited Partner Interests to be 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
SERIES A FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE CUMULATIVE REDEEMABLE PERPETUAL PREFERRED UNITS
Section 16.1 Designation. A series of Preferred Units to be known as “9.75% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units,” is hereby designated and created. Each Series A Preferred Unit shall be identical in all respects to every other Series A Preferred Unit, except as to the respective dates from which the Series A Liquidation Preference shall increase or from which the Series A Distributions may begin accruing, to the extent such dates differ. Each Series A Preferred Unit represents a perpetual equity interest in the Partnership and, except as set forth in Section 16.5 and Section 16.6, shall not give rise to a claim by the Partnership or a Series A Holder thereof for redemption or conversion thereof, as applicable, at any particular date.
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Section 16.2 Series A Preferred Units.
(a) The authorized number of Series A Preferred Units shall be unlimited. Any Series A Preferred Units that are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Partnership shall be cancelled.
(b) The Series A Preferred Units shall be represented by one or more global Certificates registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, and no Series A Holder shall be entitled to receive a definitive Certificate evidencing its Series A Preferred Units, unless otherwise required by law or the Depositary gives notice of its intention to resign or is no longer eligible to act as such with respect to the Series A Preferred Units and the General Partner shall have not selected a substitute Depositary within sixty (60) calendar days thereafter. So long as the Depositary shall have been appointed and is serving with respect to the Series A Preferred Units, payments and communications made by the Partnership to Series A Holders shall be made by making payments to, and communicating with, the Depositary.
Section 16.3 Distributions.
(a) Distributions on each Outstanding Series A Preferred Unit shall be cumulative and shall accumulate at the applicable Series A Distribution Rate in each Series A Distribution Period from and including the Series A Original Issue Date (or, for any Series A Preferred Units issued after the Series A Original Issue Date, from and including the first day of the Series A Distribution Period immediately preceding the issuance date of such Series A Preferred Units or if the issue date of any such additional Series A Preferred Units occurs in the initial Series A Distribution Period, then from the Series A Original Issue Date) or the first day of the following Series A Distribution Period, as the case may be, to and including the last day of that Series A Distribution Period, until such time as the Partnership pays the Series A Distribution or converts all of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units in accordance with Section 16.6 or redeems all of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units in accordance with Section 16.5, whether or not such Series A Distributions shall have been declared. Series A Holders shall be entitled to receive Series A Distributions from time to time at the Series A Distribution Rate per Series A Preferred Unit, when, as, and if declared by the General Partner out of any assets of the Partnership legally available for the payment of distributions, prior to any other distributions made in respect of any other Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 6.3(a). Distributions, to the extent declared by the General Partner to be paid by the Partnership in accordance with this Section 16.3, shall be payable Quarterly (except in the case of the initial payment) for each Series A Distribution Period on each Series A Distribution Payment Date. If any Series A Distribution Payment Date otherwise would occur on a date that is not a Business Day, declared Series A Distributions shall be paid on the immediately succeeding Business Day without the accumulation of additional distributions. Series A Distributions for any Series A Distribution Period shall be payable based on a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day periods. All Series A Distributions payable by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 16.3 shall be payable without regard to income of the Partnership and shall be treated for federal income tax purposes as guaranteed payments for the use of capital under Section 707(c) of the Code.
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(b) Not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on each Series A Distribution Payment Date, the Partnership shall pay those Series A Distributions, if any, that shall have been declared by the General Partner to Series A Holders on the Series A Distribution Record Date. So long as the Series A Preferred Units are held of record by the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, declared Series A Distributions shall be paid to the Depositary in same-day funds on each Series A Distribution Payment Date or other distribution payment date in the case of payments for Series A Distributions in Series A Arrears.
(c) If the Partnership fails to pay in full a Series A Distribution on any Series A Distribution Payment Date, then from and after the first date of such failure and continuing until such failure is cured by payment in full in cash of all such Arrearages, the amount of such unpaid cash distributions unless and until paid will accumulate and accrue at the Series A Distribution Rate from and including the first day of the Series A Distribution Period immediately following the Series A Distribution Period in respect of which such payment is due until paid in full (such unpaid and accrued distributions, the “Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions”). No distribution shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any Preferred Unit Junior Securities (other than a distribution payable solely in Preferred Unit Junior Securities) unless all Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions and any accumulated and unpaid distributions on any Preferred Unit Parity Securities have been or contemporaneously are being paid or provided for on all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units and any Preferred Unit Parity Securities through the most recently completed respective distribution periods. Payments in respect of Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions may be declared by the General Partner and paid on any date fixed by the General Partner, whether or not a Series A Distribution Payment Date, to Series A Holders on the Series A Distribution Record Date for such payment, which may not be less than 10 days before such payment date. Subject to the next succeeding sentence, if all Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions and any accumulated and unpaid distributions on any Preferred Unit Parity Securities shall not have been declared and paid, or if sufficient funds for the payment thereof shall not have been set apart, payment of Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions and any accumulated and unpaid distributions on any Preferred Unit Parity Securities shall be made in order of their respective distribution payment dates, commencing with the earliest distribution payment date. If less than all distributions payable with respect to all Series A Preferred Units and any Preferred Unit Parity Securities are paid, any partial payment shall be made Pro Rata with respect to the Series A Preferred Units and any Preferred Unit Parity Securities entitled to a distribution payment at such time in proportion to the aggregate amounts remaining due in respect of such Series A Preferred Units and Preferred Unit Parity Securities at such time. Subject to Section 12.4 and Section 16.5, Series A Holders shall not be entitled to any distribution, whether payable in cash, property or Partnership Securities, in excess of full cumulative Series A Distributions. No interest or sum of money in lieu of interest shall be payable in respect of any Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions on the Series A Preferred Units.
(d) The Series A Distribution Rate for each Series A Distribution Period in the Series A Floating Rate Period will be determined by the Series A Calculation Agent using Series A Three-Month LIBOR as in effect on the Series A LIBOR Determination Date for such Series A Distribution Period. The Series A Calculation Agent then will add the spread of 6.774% per annum to the Series A Three-Month LIBOR as determined on the applicable Series A LIBOR Determination Date.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(i) if the Series A Calculation Agent determines on the relevant Series A LIBOR Determination Date that the LIBOR base rate has been discontinued, then the Series A Calculation Agent shall use a substitute or successor base rate that it has determined in its sole discretion is the most comparable to the LIBOR base rate; provided, that if the Series A Calculation Agent determines that there is an industry-accepted substitute or successor base rate, then the Series A Calculation Agent shall use such substitute or successor base rate; and
(ii) if the Series A Calculation Agent has determined a substitute or successor base rate in accordance with the foregoing, the Series A Calculation Agent in its sole discretion may determine what business day convention to use, the definition of “Business Day,” the Series A LIBOR Determination Date to be used and any other relevant methodology for calculating such substitute or successor base rate.
(e) Each Series A Distribution shall be paid out of Available Cash with respect to the Quarter immediately preceding the applicable Series A Distribution Payment Date.
Section 16.4 Voting Rights.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Series A Preferred Units shall have no voting, consent or approval rights except as set forth in this Section 16.4, Section 13.3 or as otherwise required by the Delaware Act.
(b) (i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, voting as a separate class, the General Partner shall not adopt any amendment to this Agreement that the General Partner determines would have a material adverse effect on the powers, preferences, duties, or special rights of the Series A Preferred Units; provided, however, that (1) subject to Section 16.4(b)(ii), the issuance of additional Partnership Securities (and any amendment to this Agreement in connection therewith) shall not be deemed to constitute such a material adverse effect for purposes of this Section 16.4(b)(i) and (2) for purposes of this Section 16.4(b)(i), no amendment of this Agreement in connection with a merger or other transaction in which the Series A Preferred Units remain Outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged in any respect adverse to the Series A Holders (as determined by the General Partner), and, in the case of such a transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate of the Partnership or a Series A Permitted Holder, the Partnership is the surviving entity, shall be deemed to materially and adversely affect the powers, preferences, duties, or special rights of the Series A Preferred Units.
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(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, voting as a class together with holders of any Preferred Unit Parity Securities upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, the Partnership shall not (x) create or issue any Preferred Unit Parity Securities (including any additional Series A Preferred Units) if the cumulative distributions payable on Outstanding Series A Preferred Units (or any Preferred Unit Parity Securities, if the holders of such Preferred Unit Parity Securities vote as a class together with the Series A Holders pursuant to this Section 16.4(b)(ii)) are in Series A Arrears, (y) create or issue any Preferred Unit Senior Securities or (z) declare or pay any distribution to holders of Common Units from Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to Section 6.3(a).
(c) For any matter described in this Section 16.4 in which the Series A Holders are entitled to vote as a class (whether separately or together with the holders of any Preferred Unit Parity Securities), such Series A Holders shall be entitled to one vote per Series A Preferred Unit. Any Series A Preferred Units held by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or their controlled Affiliates shall not be entitled to vote.
Section 16.5 Optional Redemption.
(a) The Partnership shall have the right (i) at any time, and from time to time, on or after August 15, 2023, or (ii) at any time within 120 days after the first date on which a Series A Change of Control occurs (the “Series A Change of Control Redemption Period”), in each case, to redeem the Series A Preferred Units, which redemption may be in whole or in part, using any source of funds legally available for such purpose. Any redemption by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 16.5 shall be subject to compliance with the provisions of the agreements governing the Partnership’s future or existing outstanding indebtedness. Any such redemption shall occur on a date set by the General Partner (the “Series A Redemption Date”). The Partnership shall effect any such redemption by paying cash for each Series A Preferred Unit to be redeemed equal to the Series A Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to all Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Series A Redemption Date. So long as the Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed are held of record by the nominee of the Depositary, the Series A Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to all Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Series A Redemption Date shall be paid by the Preferred Unit Paying Agent to the Depositary on the Series A Redemption Date.
(b) The Partnership shall give written notice of any redemption by mail, postage prepaid, not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days before the scheduled Series A Redemption Date, to the Series A Holders (as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day next preceding the day on which notice is given) of any Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed as such Series A Holders’ names appear on the Partnership’s unit transfer books maintained by the Transfer Agent and at the address of such Series A Holders shown therein. Such notice (the “Series A Redemption Notice”) shall state, as applicable: (i) the Series A Redemption Date, (ii) the number of Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed and, if less than all Outstanding Series A Preferred Units are to be redeemed, the number (and, in the case of Series A Preferred Units in certificated form, the identification) of Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed from such Series A Holder, (iii) the Series A Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to all Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Series A Redemption Date, (iv) the place where any Series A Preferred Units in certificated form are to be redeemed and shall be presented and surrendered for payment of the Series A Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to all Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Series A Redemption Date, therefor and (v) that Series A Distributions on the Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed shall cease to accumulate from and after such Series A Redemption Date.
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(c) If the Partnership elects to redeem less than all of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, the number of Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed shall be determined by the General Partner, and such Series A Preferred Units shall be redeemed by such method of selection as the Depositary shall determine, either Pro Rata or by lot, with adjustments to avoid redemption of fractional Series A Preferred Units. The aggregate Series A Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to all Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Series A Redemption Date for any such partial redemption of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units shall be allocated correspondingly among the redeemed Series A Preferred Units. The Series A Preferred Units not redeemed shall remain Outstanding and entitled to all the rights and preferences provided in this Agreement.
(d) If the Partnership gives or causes to be given a Series A Redemption Notice, then the Partnership shall deposit with the Preferred Unit Paying Agent funds sufficient to redeem the Series A Preferred Units as to which such Series A Redemption Notice shall have been given by no later than 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Series A Redemption Date, and shall give the Preferred Unit Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Series A Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to all Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Series A Redemption Date, to the Series A Holders whose Series A Preferred Units are to be redeemed upon surrender or deemed surrender (which shall occur automatically if the Certificate representing such Series A Preferred Units is issued in the name of the Depositary or its nominee) of the Certificates therefor as set forth in the Series A Redemption Notice. If the Series A Redemption Notice shall have been given, then from and after the Series A Redemption Date, unless the Partnership defaults in providing funds sufficient for such redemption at the time and place specified for payment pursuant to the Series A Redemption Notice, all Series A Distributions on such Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed shall cease to accumulate and all rights of Series A Holders of such Series A Preferred Units as Limited Partners with respect to such Series A Preferred Units shall cease, except the right to receive the Series A Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to all Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Series A Redemption Date, regardless of whether declared, and such Series A Preferred Units shall not thereafter be transferred on the Partnership’s unit transfer books maintained by the registrar and Transfer Agent or be deemed to be Outstanding for any purpose whatsoever. The Series A Holders shall have no claim to the interest income, if any, earned on such funds deposited with the Preferred Unit Paying Agent. Any funds deposited with the Preferred Unit Paying Agent hereunder by the Partnership for any reason, including, but not limited to, redemption of Series A Preferred Units, that remain unclaimed or unpaid one year after the applicable Series A Redemption Date or other payment date, as applicable, shall be, to the extent permitted by law, repaid to the Partnership upon its written request, after which repayment, the Series A Holders entitled to such redemption or other payment shall have recourse only to the Partnership. Notwithstanding any Series A Redemption Notice, there shall be no redemption of any Series A Preferred Units called for redemption until funds sufficient to pay the full Series A Redemption Price of such Series A Preferred Units, plus all Series A Unpaid Cash Distributions to, but excluding, the applicable Series A Redemption Date, regardless of whether declared, shall have been deposited by the Partnership with the Preferred Unit Paying Agent.
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(e) Any Series A Preferred Units that are redeemed or otherwise acquired by the Partnership shall be cancelled. If only a portion of the Series A Preferred Units represented by a Certificate shall have been called for redemption, upon surrender of the Certificate to the Preferred Unit Paying Agent (which shall occur automatically if the Certificate representing such Series A Preferred Units is registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee), the Partnership shall issue and the Preferred Unit Paying Agent shall deliver to such Series A Holder a new Certificate (or adjust the applicable book-entry account) representing the number of Series A Preferred Units represented by the surrendered Certificate that have not been called for redemption.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article XVI, in the event that full cumulative distributions on the Series A Preferred Units and any Preferred Unit Parity Securities shall not have been paid or declared and set aside for payment, the Partnership shall not be permitted to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, in whole or in part, any Series A Preferred Units or Preferred Unit Parity Securities except pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same relative terms to all Series A Holders and holders of any Preferred Unit Parity Securities. Subject to Section 4.10, so long as any Series A Preferred Units are Outstanding, the Partnership shall not be permitted to redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any Common Units or any other Preferred Unit Junior Securities unless full cumulative distributions on the Series A Preferred Units and any Preferred Unit Parity Securities for all prior and the then-ending Series A Distribution Periods, with respect to the Series A Preferred Units, and all prior and then-ending distribution periods, with respect to such Preferred Unit Parity Securities, shall have been paid or declared and set aside for payment.
Section 16.6 Series A Change of Control Conversion.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Series A Change of Control, each Series A Holder shall have the right (“Series A Change of Control Conversion Right”) to convert some or all of the Series A Preferred Units held by such Series A Holder on the Series A Change of Control Conversion Date into a number of Common Units per Series A Preferred Unit to be converted that is equal to the Series A Conversion Rate (such number of Common Units, the “Series A Common Unit Conversion Consideration”), unless the Partnership provides notice of its election to redeem Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 16.5 prior to the expiration of the Series A Change of Control Redemption Period.
(b) Within five days following the expiration of the Series A Change of Control Redemption Period or, if earlier waived, the date of the Partnership’s waiver of its redemption right set forth in Section 16.5, the Partnership will provide to the Series A Holders written notice (the “Series A Conversion Notice”) of the occurrence of the Series A Change of Control that describes the Series A Change of Control Conversion Right and states: (i) the events constituting the Series A Change of Control; (ii) the date of the Series A Change of Control; (iii) the date on which the Series A Change of Control Redemption Period expired or was waived; (iv) the Series A Change of Control Conversion Date; (v) the last date on which the Series A Holders may exercise their Series A Change of Control Conversion Right; (vi) the method and period for calculating the Series A Common Unit Price; (vii) if applicable, the type and amount of Series A Alternative Conversion Consideration entitled to be received per Series A Preferred Unit; (viii) the name and address of the Preferred Unit Paying Agent; and (ix) the procedure that the Series A Holders must follow to exercise the Series A Change of Control Conversion Right.
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(c) In the case of a Series A Change of Control pursuant to which Common Units will be converted into cash, securities or other property or assets (including any combination thereof) (“Series A Alternative Conversion Consideration”), each Series A Holder electing to exercise its Series A Change of Control Conversion Right will receive upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Units elected by such Series A Holder the kind and amount of such Series A Alternative Conversion Consideration on a per Series A Preferred Unit basis that such Series A Holder would have owned or been entitled to receive upon the Series A Change of Control had such Series A Holder held a number of Common Units equal to the Series A Common Unit Conversion Consideration immediately prior to the effective time of the Series A Change of Control; provided, however, that, if the holders of Common Units have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in such Series A Change of Control, the consideration that the Series A Holders electing to exercise their Series A Change of Control Conversion Right will receive will be the form and proportion of the aggregate consideration elected by the holders of Common Units who participate in the determination (based on the weighted average of elections) and will be subject to any limitations to which all holders of Common Units are subject, including, without limitation, Pro Rata reductions applicable to any portion of the consideration payable in the Series A Change of Control. The Partnership shall pay the cash value in lieu of issuing any fractional Common Units upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Units.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if prior to the expiration of the Series A Change of Control Redemption Period, the Partnership provides notice of its election to redeem Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 16.5, Series A Holders shall not have any right to convert (including pursuant to the Series A Change of Control Conversion Right) the Series A Preferred Units that the Partnership has elected to redeem, and any Series A Preferred Units subsequently selected for redemption that have been tendered for conversion pursuant to the Series A Change of Control Conversion Right shall be redeemed on the applicable Series A Redemption Date instead of converted on the Series A Change of Control Conversion Date.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if prior to the Series A Change of Control Conversion Date, the Partnership provides notice of its election to redeem Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 16.5, Series A Holders of such Series A Preferred Units shall not have any right to convert (including pursuant to the Series A Change of Control Conversion Right) the Series A Preferred Units that the Partnership has elected to redeem, and any Series A Preferred Units subsequently selected for redemption that have been tendered for conversion pursuant to the Series A Change of Control Conversion Right shall be redeemed on the applicable Series A Redemption Date instead of converted on the Series A Change of Control Conversion Date.
(f) The Partnership shall issue a press release for publication through a news or press organization as is reasonably expected to broadly disseminate the relevant information to the public, or post notice on the website of the Partnership, in any event prior to the opening of business on the first Business Day following any date on which the Partnership provides the Series A Conversion Notice to the Series A Holders.
(g) Each Series A Holder electing to exercise its Series A Change of Control Conversion Right will be required prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Series A Change of Control Conversion Date, to notify the Partnership of the number of Series A Preferred Units to be converted pursuant to the Series A Change of Control Conversion Right and otherwise to comply with any applicable procedures contained in the Series A Conversion Notice or otherwise required by the Depositary for effecting the conversion.
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(h) Upon conversion, the rights of each participating Series A Holder, as a holder of the Series A Preferred Units, shall cease with respect to such converted Series A Preferred Units, and each such Person shall continue to be a Partner and have the rights of a holder of Common Units under this Agreement in respect of the Common Units constituting the Series A Conversion Common Units to be issued to such Person in respect of the converted Series A Preferred Units. Each Series A Preferred Unit shall, upon its Series A Change of Control Conversion Date, be deemed to be transferred to, and cancelled by, the Partnership in exchange for the issuance of the Series A Conversion Common Units.
(i) The Partnership shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes or duties relating to the issuance or delivery of Series A Conversion Common Units. However, the participating Series A Holder shall pay any tax or duty that may be payable relating to any transfer involving the issuance or delivery of Series A Conversion Common Units in a name other than such Series A Holder’s name. The Transfer Agent may refuse to reflect the notation of book entry (or the issuance of a Certificate) for Common Units being issued in a name other than the Series A Holder’s name until the Transfer Agent receives a sum sufficient to pay any tax or duties that will be due because the Common Units are to be issued in a name other than the Series A Holder’s name. Nothing herein shall preclude any tax withholding required by law or regulation.
(j) The Partnership shall comply with all applicable securities laws regulating the offer and delivery of any Series A Conversion Common Units and, if the Common Units are then listed or quoted on a National Securities Exchange or other market, shall list or cause to have quoted and keep listed and quoted the Series A Conversion Common Units to the extent permitted or required by the rules of such exchange or market.
(k) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing herein shall give to any Series A Holder any rights as a creditor in respect of its right to conversion of Series A Preferred Units.
Section 16.7 No Sinking Fund. The Series A Preferred Units shall not have the benefit of any sinking fund.
Section 16.8 Record Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the General Partner, the Partnership, the Transfer Agent and the Preferred Unit Paying Agent may deem and treat any Series A Holder as the true, lawful and absolute owner of the applicable Series A Preferred Units for all purposes, and neither the General Partner, the Partnership, nor the Transfer Agent or the Preferred Unit Paying Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Series A Preferred Units may be listed or admitted to trading.
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Section 16.9 Notices. All notices or other communications in respect of the Series A Preferred Units shall be sufficiently given (i) if given in writing in the English language and either delivered in person or sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, or (ii) if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this Article XVI, this Agreement or by applicable law. Any notice or other communication given to a holder of a Series A Preferred Unit in book-entry form shall be given in the manner prescribed by the Depositary, notwithstanding any contrary indication herein.
Section 16.10 Other Rights; Fiduciary Duties. The Series A Preferred Units shall not have any designations, preferences, rights, powers or duties, other than as set forth in this Agreement or as required by applicable law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, neither the General Partner nor any other Indemnitee shall owe any duties, including fiduciary duties, or have any liabilities to Series A Holders.
Article XVII
SERIES b FIXED RATE CUMULATIVE REDEEMABLE PERPETUAL PREFERRED UNITS
Section 17.1 Designation. A series of Preferred Units to be known as “9.50% Series B Fixed Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units,” is hereby designated and created. Each Series B Preferred Unit shall be identical in all respects to every other Series B Preferred Unit, except as to the respective dates from which the Series B Liquidation Preference shall increase or from which the Series B Distributions may begin accruing, to the extent such dates differ. Each Series B Preferred Unit represents a perpetual equity interest in the Partnership and, except as set forth in Section 17.5 and Section 17.6, shall not give rise to a claim by the Partnership or a Series B Holder thereof for redemption or conversion thereof, as applicable, at any particular date.
Section 17.2 Series B Preferred Units.
(a) The authorized number of Series B Preferred Units shall be unlimited. Any Series B Preferred Units that are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Partnership shall be cancelled.
(b) The Series B Preferred Units shall be represented by one or more global Certificates registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, and no Series B Holder shall be entitled to receive a definitive Certificate evidencing its Series B Preferred Units, unless otherwise required by law or the Depositary gives notice of its intention to resign or is no longer eligible to act as such with respect to the Series B Preferred Units and the General Partner shall have not selected a substitute Depositary within sixty (60) calendar days thereafter. So long as the Depositary shall have been appointed and is serving with respect to the Series B Preferred Units, payments and communications made by the Partnership to Series B Holders shall be made by making payments to, and communicating with, the Depositary.
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Section 17.3 Distributions.
(a) Distributions on each Outstanding Series B Preferred Unit shall be cumulative and shall accumulate at the applicable Series B Distribution Rate in each Series B Distribution Period from and including the Series B Original Issue Date (or, for any Series B Preferred Units issued after the Series B Original Issue Date, from and including the first day of the Series B Distribution Period immediately preceding the issuance date of such Series B Preferred Units or if the issue date of any such additional Series B Preferred Units occurs in the initial Series B Distribution Period, then from the Series B Original Issue Date) or the first day of the following Series B Distribution Period, as the case may be, to and including the last day of that Series B Distribution Period, until such time as the Partnership pays the Series B Distribution or converts all of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units in accordance with Section 17.6 or redeems all of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units in accordance with Section 17.5, whether or not such Series B Distributions shall have been declared. Series B Holders shall be entitled to receive Series B Distributions from time to time at the Series B Distribution Rate per Series B Preferred Unit, when, as, and if declared by the General Partner out of any assets of the Partnership legally available for the payment of distributions, prior to any other distributions made in respect of any other Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 6.3(a). Distributions, to the extent declared by the General Partner to be paid by the Partnership in accordance with this Section 17.3, shall be payable Quarterly (except in the case of the initial payment) for each Series B Distribution Period on each Series B Distribution Payment Date. If any Series B Distribution Payment Date otherwise would occur on a date that is not a Business Day, declared Series B Distributions shall be paid on the immediately succeeding Business Day without the accumulation of additional distributions. Series B Distributions for any Series B Distribution Period shall be payable based on a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day periods. All Series B Distributions payable by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 17.3 shall be payable without regard to income of the Partnership and shall be treated for federal income tax purposes as guaranteed payments for the use of capital under Section 707(c) of the Code.
(b) Not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on each Series B Distribution Payment Date, the Partnership shall pay those Series B Distributions, if any, that shall have been declared by the General Partner to Series B Holders on the Series B Distribution Record Date. So long as the Series B Preferred Units are held of record by the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, declared Series B Distributions shall be paid to the Depositary in same-day funds on each Series B Distribution Payment Date or other distribution payment date in the case of payments for Series B Distributions in Series B Arrears.
(c) If the Partnership fails to pay in full a Series B Distribution on any Series B Distribution Payment Date, then from and after the first date of such failure and continuing until such failure is cured by payment in full in cash of all such Arrearages, the amount of such unpaid cash distributions unless and until paid will accumulate and accrue at the Series B Distribution Rate from and including the first day of the Series B Distribution Period immediately following the Series B Distribution Period in respect of which such payment is due until paid in full (such unpaid and accrued distributions, the “Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions”). No distribution shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any Preferred Unit Junior Securities (other than a distribution payable solely in Preferred Unit Junior Securities) unless all Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions and any accumulated and unpaid distributions on any Preferred Unit Parity Securities have been or contemporaneously are being paid or provided for on all Outstanding Series B Preferred Units and any Preferred Unit Parity Securities through the most recently completed respective distribution periods. Payments in respect of Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions may be declared by the General Partner and paid on any date fixed by the General Partner, whether or not a Series B Distribution Payment Date, to Series B Holders on the Series B Distribution Record Date for such payment, which may not be less than 10 days before such payment date. Subject to the next succeeding sentence, if all Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions and any accumulated and unpaid distributions on any Preferred Unit Parity Securities shall not have been declared and paid, or if sufficient funds for the payment thereof shall not have been set apart, payment of Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions and any accumulated and unpaid distributions on any Preferred Unit Parity Securities shall be made in order of their respective distribution payment dates, commencing with the earliest distribution payment date. If less than all distributions payable with respect to all Series B Preferred Units and any Preferred Unit Parity Securities are paid, any partial payment shall be made Pro Rata with respect to the Series B Preferred Units and any Preferred Unit Parity Securities entitled to a distribution payment at such time in proportion to the aggregate amounts remaining due in respect of such Series B Preferred Units and Preferred Unit Parity Securities at such time. Subject to Section 12.4 and Section 17.5, Series B Holders shall not be entitled to any distribution, whether payable in cash, property or Partnership Securities, in excess of full cumulative Series B Distributions. No interest or sum of money in lieu of interest shall be payable in respect of any Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions on the Series B Preferred Units.
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(d) Each Series B Distribution shall be paid out of Available Cash with respect to the Quarter immediately preceding the applicable Series B Distribution Payment Date.
Section 17.4 Voting Rights.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Series B Preferred Units shall have no voting, consent or approval rights except as set forth in this Section 17.4, Section 13.3 or as otherwise required by the Delaware Act.
(b) (i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, voting as a separate class, the General Partner shall not adopt any amendment to this Agreement that the General Partner determines would have a material adverse effect on the powers, preferences, duties, or special rights of the Series B Preferred Units; provided, however, that (1) subject to Section 17.4(b)(ii), the issuance of additional Partnership Securities (and any amendment to this Agreement in connection therewith) shall not be deemed to constitute such a material adverse effect for purposes of this Section 17.4(b)(i) and (2) for purposes of this Section 17.4(b)(i), no amendment of this Agreement in connection with a merger or other transaction in which the Series B Preferred Units remain Outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged in any respect adverse to the Series B Holders (as determined by the General Partner), and, in the case of such a transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate of the Partnership or a Series B Permitted Holder, the Partnership is the surviving entity, shall be deemed to materially and adversely affect the powers, preferences, duties, or special rights of the Series B Preferred Units.
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(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, voting as a class together with holders of any Preferred Unit Parity Securities upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, the Partnership shall not (x) create or issue any Preferred Unit Parity Securities (including any additional Series B Preferred Units) if the cumulative distributions payable on Outstanding Series B Preferred Units (or any Preferred Unit Parity Securities, if the holders of such Preferred Unit Parity Securities vote as a class together with the Series B Holders pursuant to this Section 17.4(b)(ii)) are in Series B Arrears, (y) create or issue any Preferred Unit Senior Securities or (z) declare or pay any distribution to holders of Common Units from Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to Section 6.3(a).
(c) For any matter described in this Section 17.4 in which the Series B Holders are entitled to vote as a class (whether separately or together with the holders of any Preferred Unit Parity Securities), such Series B Holders shall be entitled to one vote per Series B Preferred Unit. Any Series B Preferred Units held by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or their controlled Affiliates shall not be entitled to vote.
Section 17.5 Optional Redemption.
(a) The Partnership shall have the right (i) at any time, and from time to time, on or after May 15, 2026, or (ii) at any time within 120 days after the first date on which a Series B Change of Control occurs (the “Series B Change of Control Redemption Period”), in each case, to redeem the Series B Preferred Units, which redemption may be in whole or in part, using any source of funds legally available for such purpose. Any redemption by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 17.5 shall be subject to compliance with the provisions of the agreements governing the Partnership’s future or existing outstanding indebtedness. Any such redemption shall occur on a date set by the General Partner (the “Series B Redemption Date”). The Partnership shall effect any such redemption by paying cash for each Series B Preferred Unit to be redeemed equal to the Series B Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to all Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Series B Redemption Date. So long as the Series B Preferred Units to be redeemed are held of record by the nominee of the Depositary, the Series B Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to all Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Series B Redemption Date shall be paid by the Preferred Unit Paying Agent to the Depositary on the Series B Redemption Date.
(b) The Partnership shall give written notice of any redemption by mail, postage prepaid, not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days before the scheduled Series B Redemption Date, to the Series B Holders (as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day next preceding the day on which notice is given) of any Series B Preferred Units to be redeemed as such Series B Holders’ names appear on the Partnership’s unit transfer books maintained by the Transfer Agent and at the address of such Series B Holders shown therein. Such notice (the “Series B Redemption Notice”) shall state, as applicable: (i) the Series B Redemption Date, (ii) the number of Series B Preferred Units to be redeemed and, if less than all Outstanding Series B Preferred Units are to be redeemed, the number (and, in the case of Series B Preferred Units in certificated form, the identification) of Series B Preferred Units to be redeemed from such Series B Holder, (iii) the Series B Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to all Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Series B Redemption Date, (iv) the place where any Series B Preferred Units in certificated form are to be redeemed and shall be presented and surrendered for payment of the Series B Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to all Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Series B Redemption Date, therefor and (v) that Series B Distributions on the Series B Preferred Units to be redeemed shall cease to accumulate from and after such Series B Redemption Date.
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(c) If the Partnership elects to redeem less than all of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units, the number of Series B Preferred Units to be redeemed shall be determined by the General Partner, and such Series B Preferred Units shall be redeemed by such method of selection as the Depositary shall determine, either Pro Rata or by lot, with adjustments to avoid redemption of fractional Series B Preferred Units. The aggregate Series B Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to all Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Series B Redemption Date for any such partial redemption of the Outstanding Series B Preferred Units shall be allocated correspondingly among the redeemed Series B Preferred Units. The Series B Preferred Units not redeemed shall remain Outstanding and entitled to all the rights and preferences provided in this Agreement.
(d) If the Partnership gives or causes to be given a Series B Redemption Notice, then the Partnership shall deposit with the Preferred Unit Paying Agent funds sufficient to redeem the Series B Preferred Units as to which such Series B Redemption Notice shall have been given by no later than 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Series B Redemption Date, and shall give the Preferred Unit Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Series B Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to all Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Series B Redemption Date, to the Series B Holders whose Series B Preferred Units are to be redeemed upon surrender or deemed surrender (which shall occur automatically if the Certificate representing such Series B Preferred Units is issued in the name of the Depositary or its nominee) of the Certificates therefor as set forth in the Series B Redemption Notice. If the Series B Redemption Notice shall have been given, then from and after the Series B Redemption Date, unless the Partnership defaults in providing funds sufficient for such redemption at the time and place specified for payment pursuant to the Series B Redemption Notice, all Series B Distributions on such Series B Preferred Units to be redeemed shall cease to accumulate and all rights of Series B Holders of such Series B Preferred Units as Limited Partners with respect to such Series B Preferred Units shall cease, except the right to receive the Series B Redemption Price, plus an amount equal to all Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions thereon to, but excluding, the applicable Series B Redemption Date, regardless of whether declared, and such Series B Preferred Units shall not thereafter be transferred on the Partnership’s unit transfer books maintained by the registrar and Transfer Agent or be deemed to be Outstanding for any purpose whatsoever. The Series B Holders shall have no claim to the interest income, if any, earned on such funds deposited with the Preferred Unit Paying Agent. Any funds deposited with the Preferred Unit Paying Agent hereunder by the Partnership for any reason, including, but not limited to, redemption of Series B Preferred Units, that remain unclaimed or unpaid one year after the applicable Series B Redemption Date or other payment date, as applicable, shall be, to the extent permitted by law, repaid to the Partnership upon its written request, after which repayment, the Series B Holders entitled to such redemption or other payment shall have recourse only to the Partnership. Notwithstanding any Series B Redemption Notice, there shall be no redemption of any Series B Preferred Units called for redemption until funds sufficient to pay the full Series B Redemption Price of such Series B Preferred Units, plus all Series B Unpaid Cash Distributions to, but excluding, the applicable Series B Redemption Date, regardless of whether declared, shall have been deposited by the Partnership with the Preferred Unit Paying Agent.
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(e) Any Series B Preferred Units that are redeemed or otherwise acquired by the Partnership shall be cancelled. If only a portion of the Series B Preferred Units represented by a Certificate shall have been called for redemption, upon surrender of the Certificate to the Preferred Unit Paying Agent (which shall occur automatically if the Certificate representing such Series B Preferred Units is registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee), the Partnership shall issue and the Preferred Unit Paying Agent shall deliver to such Series B Holder a new Certificate (or adjust the applicable book-entry account) representing the number of Series B Preferred Units represented by the surrendered Certificate that have not been called for redemption.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article XVII, in the event that full cumulative distributions on the Series B Preferred Units and any Preferred Unit Parity Securities shall not have been paid or declared and set aside for payment, the Partnership shall not be permitted to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, in whole or in part, any Series B Preferred Units or Preferred Unit Parity Securities except pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same relative terms to all Series B Holders and holders of any Preferred Unit Parity Securities. Subject to Section 4.10, so long as any Series B Preferred Units are Outstanding, the Partnership shall not be permitted to redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any Common Units or any other Preferred Unit Junior Securities unless full cumulative distributions on the Series B Preferred Units and any Preferred Unit Parity Securities for all prior and the then-ending Series B Distribution Periods, with respect to the Series B Preferred Units, and all prior and then-ending distribution periods, with respect to such Preferred Unit Parity Securities, shall have been paid or declared and set aside for payment.
Section 17.6 Series B Change of Control Conversion.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Series B Change of Control, each Series B Holder shall have the right (“Series B Change of Control Conversion Right”) to convert some or all of the Series B Preferred Units held by such Series B Holder on the Series B Change of Control Conversion Date into a number of Common Units per Series B Preferred Unit to be converted that is equal to the Series B Conversion Rate (such number of Common Units, the “Series B Common Unit Conversion Consideration”), unless the Partnership provides notice of its election to redeem Series B Preferred Units pursuant to Section 17.5 prior to the expiration of the Series B Change of Control Redemption Period.
(b) Within five days following the expiration of the Series B Change of Control Redemption Period or, if earlier waived, the date of the Partnership’s waiver of its redemption right set forth in Section 17.5, the Partnership will provide to the Series B Holders written notice (the “Series B Conversion Notice”) of the occurrence of the Series B Change of Control that describes the Series B Change of Control Conversion Right and states: (i) the events constituting the Series B Change of Control; (ii) the date of the Series B Change of Control; (iii) the date on which the Series B Change of Control Redemption Period expired or was waived; (iv) the Series B Change of Control Conversion Date; (v) the last date on which the Series B Holders may exercise their Series B Change of Control Conversion Right; (vi) the method and period for calculating the Series B Common Unit Price; (vii) if applicable, the type and amount of Series B Alternative Conversion Consideration entitled to be received per Series B Preferred Unit; (viii) the name and address of the Preferred Unit Paying Agent; and (ix) the procedure that the Series B Holders must follow to exercise the Series B Change of Control Conversion Right.
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(c) In the case of a Series B Change of Control pursuant to which Common Units will be converted into cash, securities or other property or assets (including any combination thereof) (“Series B Alternative Conversion Consideration”), each Series B Holder electing to exercise its Series B Change of Control Conversion Right will receive upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Units elected by such Series B Holder the kind and amount of such Series B Alternative Conversion Consideration on a per Series B Preferred Unit basis that such Series B Holder would have owned or been entitled to receive upon the Series B Change of Control had such Series B Holder held a number of Common Units equal to the Series B Common Unit Conversion Consideration immediately prior to the effective time of the Series B Change of Control; provided, however, that, if the holders of Common Units have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in such Series B Change of Control, the consideration that the Series B Holders electing to exercise their Series B Change of Control Conversion Right will receive will be the form and proportion of the aggregate consideration elected by the holders of Common Units who participate in the determination (based on the weighted average of elections) and will be subject to any limitations to which all holders of Common Units are subject, including, without limitation, Pro Rata reductions applicable to any portion of the consideration payable in the Series B Change of Control. The Partnership shall pay the cash value in lieu of issuing any fractional Common Units upon the conversion of the Series B Preferred Units.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if prior to the expiration of the Series B Change of Control Redemption Period, the Partnership provides notice of its election to redeem Series B Preferred Units pursuant to Section 17.5, Series B Holders shall not have any right to convert (including pursuant to the Series B Change of Control Conversion Right) the Series B Preferred Units that the Partnership has elected to redeem, and any Series B Preferred Units subsequently selected for redemption that have been tendered for conversion pursuant to the Series B Change of Control Conversion Right shall be redeemed on the applicable Series B Redemption Date instead of converted on the Series B Change of Control Conversion Date.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if prior to the Series B Change of Control Conversion Date, the Partnership provides notice of its election to redeem Series B Preferred Units pursuant to Section 17.5, Series B Holders of such Series B Preferred Units shall not have any right to convert (including pursuant to the Series B Change of Control Conversion Right) the Series B Preferred Units that the Partnership has elected to redeem, and any Series B Preferred Units subsequently selected for redemption that have been tendered for conversion pursuant to the Series B Change of Control Conversion Right shall be redeemed on the applicable Series B Redemption Date instead of converted on the Series B Change of Control Conversion Date.
(f) The Partnership shall issue a press release for publication through a news or press organization as is reasonably expected to broadly disseminate the relevant information to the public, or post notice on the website of the Partnership, in any event prior to the opening of business on the first Business Day following any date on which the Partnership provides the Series B Conversion Notice to the Series B Holders.
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(g) Each Series B Holder electing to exercise its Series B Change of Control Conversion Right will be required prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Series B Change of Control Conversion Date, to notify the Partnership of the number of Series B Preferred Units to be converted pursuant to the Series B Change of Control Conversion Right and otherwise to comply with any applicable procedures contained in the Series B Conversion Notice or otherwise required by the Depositary for effecting the conversion.
(h) Upon conversion, the rights of each participating Series B Holder, as a holder of the Series B Preferred Units, shall cease with respect to such converted Series B Preferred Units, and each such Person shall continue to be a Partner and have the rights of a holder of Common Units under this Agreement in respect of the Common Units constituting the Series B Conversion Common Units to be issued to such Person in respect of the converted Series B Preferred Units. Each Series B Preferred Unit shall, upon its Series B Change of Control Conversion Date, be deemed to be transferred to, and cancelled by, the Partnership in exchange for the issuance of the Series B Conversion Common Units.
(i) The Partnership shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes or duties relating to the issuance or delivery of Series B Conversion Common Units. However, the participating Series B Holder shall pay any tax or duty that may be payable relating to any transfer involving the issuance or delivery of Series B Conversion Common Units in a name other than such Series B Holder’s name. The Transfer Agent may refuse to reflect the notation of book entry (or the issuance of a Certificate) for Common Units being issued in a name other than the Series B Holder’s name until the Transfer Agent receives a sum sufficient to pay any tax or duties that will be due because the Common Units are to be issued in a name other than the Series B Holder’s name. Nothing herein shall preclude any tax withholding required by law or regulation.
(j) The Partnership shall comply with all applicable securities laws regulating the offer and delivery of any Series B Conversion Common Units and, if the Common Units are then listed or quoted on a National Securities Exchange or other market, shall list or cause to have quoted and keep listed and quoted the Series B Conversion Common Units to the extent permitted or required by the rules of such exchange or market.
(k) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing herein shall give to any Series B Holder any rights as a creditor in respect of its right to conversion of Series B Preferred Units.
Section 17.7 No Sinking Fund. The Series B Preferred Units shall not have the benefit of any sinking fund.
Section 17.8 Record Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the General Partner, the Partnership, the Transfer Agent and the Preferred Unit Paying Agent may deem and treat any Series B Holder as the true, lawful and absolute owner of the applicable Series B Preferred Units for all purposes, and neither the General Partner, the Partnership, nor the Transfer Agent or the Preferred Unit Paying Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Series B Preferred Units may be listed or admitted to trading.
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Section 17.9 Notices. All notices or other communications in respect of the Series B Preferred Units shall be sufficiently given (i) if given in writing in the English language and either delivered in person or sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, or (ii) if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this Article XVII, this Agreement or by applicable law. Any notice or other communication given to a holder of a Series B Preferred Unit in book-entry form shall be given in the manner prescribed by the Depositary, notwithstanding any contrary indication herein.
Section 17.10 Other Rights; Fiduciary Duties. The Series B Preferred Units shall not have any designations, preferences, rights, powers or duties, other than as set forth in this Agreement or as required by applicable law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, neither the General Partner nor any other Indemnitee shall owe any duties, including fiduciary duties, or have any liabilities to Series B Holders.
Article XVIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 18.1 Addresses and Notices. Except as otherwise provided Section 16.9 and 17.9 in relation to the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units, respectively, any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the Partner or Assignee at the address described below. Any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such Partnership Securities at his address as shown on the records of the Transfer Agent or as otherwise shown on the records of the Partnership, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such Partnership Securities by reason of any assignment or otherwise. An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section 18.1 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.
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Section 18.2 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 18.3 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 18.4 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 18.5 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 18.6 Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.
Section 18.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto or, in the case of a Person acquiring a Limited Partner Interest, upon acceptance of the transfer of such Limited Partner Interest or upon acceptance of such Limited Partner Interest issued by the Partnership, in each case in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, without execution hereof.
Section 18.8 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 18.9 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 18.10 Consent of Partners. Each Partner hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or consent of less than all of the Partners, such action may be so taken upon the concurrence of less than all of the Partners and each Partner shall be bound by the results of such action.
Section 18.11 Facsimile Signatures. The use of facsimile signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of the transfer agent and registrar of the Partnership on Certificates is expressly permitted by this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the General Partner has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
GENERAL PARTNER: | |||
GLOBAL GP LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Edward J. Faneuil | ||
Name: | Edward J. Faneuil | ||
Title: | Executive Vice President, General | ||
Counsel and Secretary |
SIGNATURE PAGE
FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF GLOBAL PARTNERS LP
Exhibit A
to
the FIFTH Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Global Partners LP
Certificate Evidencing Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests in
Global Partners LP
No.______ | _________ Common Units |
In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Global Partners LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “Partnership Agreement”), Global Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), hereby certifies that (the “Holder”) is the registered owner of Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Common Units”) transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Common Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at, the principal office of the Partnership located at P.O. Box 9161, 800 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.
The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested admission as, and agreed to become, a Limited Partner and to have agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii) represented and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement, (iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement and (iv) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PARTNERSHIP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE THE PARTNERSHIP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). GLOBAL GP LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF THE PARTNERSHIP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF THE PARTNERSHIP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.
A-1
This Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose unless it has been countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.
Dated: | Global Partners LP | |||
Countersigned and Registered by: | By: |
Global GP LLC,
its General Partner |
||
By: | ||||
as Transfer Agent and Registrar | Name: | |||
By: | By: | |||
Authorized Signature | Secretary |
A-2
[Reverse of Certificate]
ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Certificate, shall be construed as follows according to applicable laws or regulations:
TEN COM - | as tenants in common | UNIF GIFT 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 to Minors Act | |||
(State) | |||||
Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.
ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS
IN
GLOBAL PARTNERS LP
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, | hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers unto | |
(Please print or typewrite name and address of Assignee) | (Please insert Social Security or other identifying number of Assignee) |
Common Units representing limited partner interests evidenced by this Certificate, subject to the Partnership Agreement, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint as its attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution to transfer the same on the books of Global Partners LP.
Date: | NOTE: | The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular, without alteration, enlargement or change. | ||
A-3
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17d-15 | |
(Signature) | |
(Signature) | |
No transfer of the Common Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Common Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer..
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EXHIBIT 5.1
March 24, 2021
Global Partners LP
P.O. Box 9161
800 South Street
Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9161
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Global Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), with respect to certain legal matters in connection with (i) the offer and sale (the “Offering”) by the Partnership of 3,000,000 9.50% Series B Fixed Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Units”), pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, dated as of March 17, 2021 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among the Partnership, Global GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), Global Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership, and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as representative of the several underwriters named on Schedule 1 thereto (collectively, the “Underwriters”); (ii) the filing of the Partnership’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-252305) (the “Registration Statement”) and the prospectus included therein (the “Base Prospectus”), which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), on January 21, 2021 and became effective on January 28, 2021, pursuant to which the offering and sale of the Units are registered; (iii) the filing with the SEC of the Partnership’s preliminary prospectus supplement, dated March 17, 2021, and the Base Prospectus, in the form filed with the SEC March 17, 2021 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) under the Act and accepted by the SEC with a filing date of March 17, 2021 (the “Preliminary Prospectus”); and (iv) the filing with the SEC of the Partnership’s final prospectus supplement, dated March 17, 2021, and the Base Prospectus, in the form filed with the SEC on March 19, 2021 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) under the Act and accepted by the SEC with a filing date of March 19, 2021 (the “Prospectus”).
In connection with rendering the opinion hereinafter set forth, we have examined (i) the Underwriting Agreement; (ii) the Registration Statement; (iii) the Preliminary Prospectus; (iv) the Prospectus; (v) the Partnership’s Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”); (vi) the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the General Partner; (vii) resolutions of the Board of Directors of the General Partner relating to the Offering; and (viii) such other documents and records as we have deemed necessary or advisable for purposes of the opinions expressed below.
Vinson & Elkins LLP Attorneys at Law Austin Dallas Dubai Houston London Los Angeles New York Richmond Riyadh San Francisco Tokyo Washington |
The Grace Building, 1114 Avenue of the Americas, 32nd Floor
Tel +1.713.758.2222 Fax +1.713.758.2346 velaw.com |
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In connection with rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed that (i) all information contained in all documents reviewed by us is true and correct; (ii) all signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine; (iii) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and all documents submitted to us as copies conform to the originals of those documents; and (iv) the Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Underwriters and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Underwriters, and that the Underwriters have the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform their obligations under the Underwriting Agreement.
Based on the foregoing and on such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that the Units to be issued and sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement have been duly authorized and, upon payment and delivery in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under the Partnership Agreement) and non-assessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Section 17-303, 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act and as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus).
The opinion expressed is limited in all respects to the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (including the applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws), the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (including the applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws) and the federal laws of the United States of America, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction, domestic or foreign.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion of counsel as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Partnership dated on or about the date hereof and to the use of our name in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Very truly yours, | |
/s/ Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. |
Exhibit 8.1
March 24, 2021
Global Partners LP
P.O. Box 9161,
800 South Street,
Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9161
Re: Global Partners LP Series B Preferred Units
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Global Partners LP (the “Partnership”), a Delaware limited partnership, with respect to certain legal matters in connection with the issuance by the Partnership of Series B Fixed Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership. We have also participated in the preparation of a Prospectus Supplement dated on or about the date hereof (the “Prospectus Supplement”) and the Prospectus with an effective date of January 28, 2021 (“Prospectus”), each forming part of the Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”), to which this opinion is an exhibit. In connection therewith, we have provided this opinion with respect to U.S. federal income tax matters filed as Exhibit 8.1 to the Registration Statement.
This opinion is based on various facts and assumptions, and is conditioned upon certain representations made by the Partnership as to factual matters through a certificate of an officer of the Partnership (the “Officer’s Certificate”). In addition, this opinion is based upon the factual representations of the Partnership concerning its business, properties and governing documents as set forth in the Registration Statement.
In our capacity as counsel to the Partnership, we have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including an examination of originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such documents, corporate records and other instruments, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion. In our examination, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures thereon, the legal capacity of natural persons executing such documents and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. For the purpose of our opinion, we have not made an independent investigation or audit of the facts set forth in the above-referenced documents or in the Officer’s Certificate. In addition, in rendering this opinion we have assumed the truth and accuracy of all representations and statements made to us which are qualified as to knowledge or belief, without regard to such qualification.
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We hereby confirm that all statements of legal conclusions contained in the discussion in the Prospectus under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences,” as updated in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Material Tax Considerations,” constitute the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. with respect to the matters set forth therein as of the effective date of the Registration Statement, subject to the assumptions, qualifications, and limitations set forth therein. This opinion is based on various statutory provisions, regulations promulgated thereunder and interpretations thereof by the Internal Revenue Service and the courts having jurisdiction over such matters, all of which are subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. Also, any variation or difference in the facts from those set forth in the representations described above, including in the Registration Statement and the Officer’s Certificate, may affect the conclusions stated herein.
No opinion is expressed as to any matter not discussed in the Prospectus under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” or in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Material Tax Considerations.” We are opining herein only as to the U.S. federal income tax matters described above, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability to, or the effect on, any transaction of other federal laws, foreign laws, the laws of any state or any other jurisdiction or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any other local agencies within any state.
This opinion is rendered to you as of the effective date of the Registration Statement, and we undertake no obligation to update this opinion subsequent to the date hereof. This opinion is furnished to you and may be relied on by you in connection with the transactions set forth in the Registration Statement. In addition, this opinion may be relied on by persons entitled to rely on it pursuant to applicable provisions of federal securities law, including persons purchasing common units pursuant to the Registration Statement. However, this opinion may not be relied upon for any other purpose or furnished to, assigned to, quoted to or relied upon by any other person, firm or other entity, for any purpose, without our prior written consent.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion of counsel as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Partnership dated on or about the date hereof, to the incorporation by reference of this opinion of counsel into the Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.