EXHIBIT 3.1
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AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions.....................................................................................1
Section 1.2 Construction...................................................................................20
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.1 Formation......................................................................................20
Section 2.2 Name...........................................................................................20
Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices...........................20
Section 2.4 Purpose and Business...........................................................................21
Section 2.5 Powers.........................................................................................21
Section 2.6 Power of Attorney..............................................................................21
Section 2.7 Term...........................................................................................23
Section 2.8 Title to Partnership Assets....................................................................23
ARTICLE III
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS
Section 3.1 Limitation of Liability........................................................................23
Section 3.2 Management of Business.........................................................................24
Section 3.3 Outside Activities of the Limited Partners.....................................................24
Section 3.4 Rights of Limited Partners.....................................................................24
ARTICLE IV
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; REDEMPTION OF
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 4.1 Certificates...................................................................................25
Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates..............................................25
Section 4.3 Record Holders.................................................................................26
Section 4.4 Transfer Generally.............................................................................27
Section 4.5 Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests.........................................27
Section 4.6 Transfer of the General Partner's General Partner Interest.....................................28
Section 4.7 Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights......................................................29
Section 4.8 Restrictions on Transfers......................................................................29
Section 4.9 Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees................................................30
MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Section 4.10 Redemption of Partnership Interests of Non-citizen Assignees...................................31
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 5.1 Organizational Contributions...................................................................32
Section 5.2 Contributions by the General Partner and its Affiliates........................................32
Section 5.3 Contributions by Initial Limited Partners and Distributions to the General
Partner and its Affiliates.....................................................................33
Section 5.4 Interest and Withdrawal........................................................................33
Section 5.5 Capital Accounts...............................................................................34
Section 5.6 Issuances of Additional Partnership Securities.................................................37
Section 5.7 Limitations on Issuance of Additional Partnership Securities...................................37
Section 5.8 Conversion of Subordinated Units...............................................................40
Section 5.9 Limited Preemptive Right.......................................................................44
Section 5.10 Splits and Combinations........................................................................44
Section 5.11 Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests..............................45
ARTICLE VI
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 6.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes.......................................................45
Section 6.2 Allocations for Tax Purposes...................................................................52
Section 6.3 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions; Distributions to Record Holders.............54
Section 6.4 Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus.........................................55
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 Special Provisions Relating to the Holders of Subordinated Units...............................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.....................................................................................59
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...........................................................62
Section 7.5 Outside Activities.............................................................................63
MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
ii
Section 7.6 Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership;
Contracts with Affiliates; Certain Restrictions on the General Partner.........................64
Section 7.7 Indemnification................................................................................66
Section 7.8 Liability of Indemnitees.......................................................................68
Section 7.9 Resolution of Conflicts of Interest............................................................68
Section 7.10 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner...................................................70
Section 7.11 Purchase or Sale of Partnership Securities.....................................................70
Section 7.12 Registration Rights of the General Partner and its Affiliates..................................71
Section 7.13 Reliance by Third Parties......................................................................73
ARTICLE VIII
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
Section 8.1 Records and Accounting.........................................................................73
Section 8.2 Fiscal Year....................................................................................74
Section 8.3 Reports........................................................................................74
ARTICLE IX
TAX MATTERS
Section 9.1 Tax Returns and Information....................................................................74
Section 9.2 Tax Elections..................................................................................74
Section 9.3 Tax Controversies..............................................................................75
Section 9.4 Withholding....................................................................................75
ARTICLE X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS
Section 10.1 Admission of Initial Limited Partners..........................................................75
Section 10.2 Admission of Substituted Limited Partner.......................................................75
Section 10.3 Admission of Successor General Partner.........................................................76
Section 10.4 Admission of Additional Limited Partners.......................................................76
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 Partner and Successor General Partner....................................79
MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
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Section 11.4 Termination of Subordination Period, Conversion of Subordinated Units
and Extinguishment of Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages........................................81
Section 11.5 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..............................81
Section 12.3 Liquidator.....................................................................................82
Section 12.4 Liquidation....................................................................................83
Section 12.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership.............................................84
Section 12.6 Return of Contributions........................................................................84
Section 12.7 Waiver of Partition............................................................................84
Section 12.8 Capital Account Restoration....................................................................84
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT;
MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
Section 13.1 Amendment to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner..........................................84
Section 13.2 Amendment Procedures...........................................................................86
Section 13.3 Amendment Requirements.........................................................................86
Section 13.4 Special Meetings...............................................................................87
Section 13.5 Notice of a Meeting............................................................................87
Section 13.6 Record Date....................................................................................87
Section 13.7 Adjournment....................................................................................88
Section 13.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes.....................................88
Section 13.9 Quorum.........................................................................................88
Section 13.10 Conduct of a Meeting...........................................................................89
Section 13.11 Action Without a Meeting.......................................................................89
Section 13.12 Voting and Other Rights........................................................................90
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 Effect of Merger...............................................................................92
MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
iv
ARTICLE XV
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
Section 15.1 Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests.....................................................93
ARTICLE XVI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 16.1 Addresses and Notices..........................................................................94
Section 16.2 Further Action.................................................................................95
Section 16.3 Binding Effect.................................................................................95
Section 16.4 Integration....................................................................................95
Section 16.5 Creditors......................................................................................95
Section 16.6 Waiver.........................................................................................96
Section 16.7 Counterparts...................................................................................96
Section 16.8 Applicable Law.................................................................................96
Section 16.9 Invalidity of Provisions.......................................................................96
Section 16.10 Consent of Partners............................................................................96
MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
v
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP OF MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF MARKWEST
ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. dated as of May 24, 2002, is entered into by and among
MarkWest Energy GP, L.L.C., a
Delaware limited liability company, as the General
Partner, MarkWest Michigan, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, as an Initial Limited
Partner, and MarkWest Hydrocarbon, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, as the
Organizational Limited Partner, together with any other Persons who become
Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein. In
consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, the
parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 DEFINITIONS.
The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise
clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.
"ACQUISITION" means any transaction in which any Group Member acquires
(through an asset acquisition, merger, stock acquisition or other form of
investment) control over all or a portion of the assets, properties or business
of another Person for the purpose of increasing the operating capacity or
revenues of the Partnership Group from the operating capacity or revenues of the
Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such transaction.
"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:
(i) 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.
(ii) 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
MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
of the Partnership's Adjusted Property after such Book-Down Event
(determined without regard to the application of this clause (ii) 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.
"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 Section 6.1(d)(i)
or 6.1(d)(ii)). The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended
to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. The
"Adjusted Capital Account" of a Partner in respect of a General Partner
Interest, a Common Unit, a Subordinated Unit or an Incentive Distribution Right
or any other specified interest in the Partnership shall be the amount which
such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such General Partner Interest, Common
Unit, Subordinated Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other interest in the
Partnership were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from
and after the date on which such General Partner Interest, Common Unit,
Subordinated Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other interest was first
issued.
"ADJUSTED OPERATING SURPLUS" means, with respect to any period, Operating
Surplus generated during such period (a) less (i) any net increase in Working
Capital Borrowings with respect to such period and (ii) any net reduction in
cash reserves for Operating Expenditures with respect to such period not
relating to an Operating Expenditure made with respect to such period, and (b)
plus (i) any net decrease in Working Capital Borrowings with respect to such
period, and (ii) any net increase in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures
with respect to such period required by any debt instrument for the repayment of
principal, interest or premium. Adjusted
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Operating Surplus does not include that portion of Operating Surplus included in
clause (a)(i) of the definition of Operating Surplus.
"ADJUSTED PROPERTY" means any property the Carrying Value of which has been
adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(d)(i) or 5.5(d)(ii).
"AFFILIATE" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that
directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is
controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used
herein, the term "control" means the possession, direct or indirect, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a
Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise.
"AGGREGATE 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, without limitation, a Curative Allocation (if
appropriate to the context in which the term "Agreed Allocation" is used).
"AGREED VALUE" of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of
such property or other consideration at the time of contribution as determined
by the General Partner using such reasonable method of valuation as it may
adopt. The General Partner shall, in its discretion, use such method as it deems
reasonable and appropriate to allocate the aggregate Agreed Value of Contributed
Properties contributed to the Partnership in a single or integrated transaction
among each separate property on a basis proportional to the fair market value of
each Contributed Property.
"AGREEMENT" means this Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited
Partnership of MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P., as it may be amended,
supplemented or restated from time to time.
"ASSIGNEE" means a Non-citizen Assignee or a Person to whom one or more
Limited Partner Interests have been transferred in a manner permitted under this
Agreement and who has executed and delivered a Transfer Application as required
by this Agreement, but who has not been admitted as a Substituted Limited
Partner.
"ASSOCIATE" means, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person,
(a) any corporation or organization of which such Person is a director, officer
or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class
of voting stock or other voting interest; (b) any trust or other estate in which
such Person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such Person
serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (c) any relative or
spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same
principal residence as such Person.
"AVAILABLE CASH" means, with respect to any Quarter ending prior to the
Liquidation Date:
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(a) the sum of (i) all cash and cash equivalents of the
Partnership Group on hand at the end of such Quarter, and (ii) all additional
cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group on hand on the date of
determination of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter resulting from
Working Capital Borrowings made subsequent to the end of such Quarter, less
(b) the amount of any cash reserves that are necessary or
appropriate in the reasonable discretion of the General Partner to (i) provide
for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including
reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated future credit needs
of the Partnership Group) subsequent to such Quarter, (ii) comply with
applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt
instrument or other agreement or obligation to which any Group Member is a party
or by which it is bound or its assets are subject or (iii) provide funds for
distributions under Section 6.4 or 6.5 in respect of any one or more of the next
four Quarters; provided, however, that the General Partner may not establish
cash reserves pursuant to (iii) above if the effect of such reserves would be
that the Partnership is unable to distribute the Minimum Quarterly Distribution
on all Common Units, plus any Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage on all Common
Units, with respect to such Quarter; and, provided further, that disbursements
made by a Group Member or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after
the end of such Quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available
Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be deemed to have been made,
established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash,
within such Quarter if the General Partner so determines.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, "AVAILABLE CASH" with respect to the Quarter
in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall equal
zero.
"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 which 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 which triggers a positive adjustment to the
Capital Accounts of the Partners pursuant to Section 5.5(d).
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"BUSINESS DAY" means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a
legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of
America or the State of Colorado 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 Interest, a Common Unit, a Subordinated Unit, an Incentive
Distribution Right or any other Partnership Interest shall be the amount which
such Capital Account would be if such General Partner Interest, Common Unit,
Subordinated Unit, Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest
were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after
the date on which such General Partner Interest, Common Unit, Subordinated Unit,
Incentive Distribution Right or other Partnership Interest was first issued.
"CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION" means any cash, cash equivalents or the Net Agreed
Value of Contributed Property that a Partner contributes to the Partnership
pursuant to this Agreement or the Contribution Agreement.
"CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT" means any (a) addition or improvement to the capital
assets owned by any Group Member or (b) acquisition of existing, or the
construction of new, capital assets (including, without limitation, natural gas
processing plants and natural gas liquids pipelines, fractionation plants and
storage and distribution facilities and related assets), in each case if such
addition, improvement, acquisition or construction is made to increase the
operating capacity or revenues of the Partnership Group from the operating
capacity or revenues of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such
addition, improvement, acquisition or construction.
"CAPITAL SURPLUS" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.3(a).
"CARRYING VALUE" means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property, the
Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation,
amortization and cost recovery deductions charged to the Partners' and
Assignees' Capital Accounts in respect of such Contributed Property, and (b)
with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such
property for federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination.
The Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in
accordance with Sections 5.5(d)(i) and 5.5(d)(ii) and to reflect changes,
additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for dispositions and
acquisitions of Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the General
Partner.
"CAUSE" means a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final,
non-appealable judgment finding the General Partner liable for actual fraud,
gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct in its capacity as a general
partner of the Partnership.
"CERTIFICATE" means a certificate (i) substantially in the form of Exhibit
A to this Agreement, (ii) issued in global form in accordance with the rules and
regulations of the Depositary or (iii) in such other form as may be adopted by
the General Partner in its discretion, issued by the Partnership evidencing
ownership of one or more Common Units or a certificate, in
5
such form as may be adopted by the General Partner in its discretion, issued by
the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more other Partnership
Securities.
"CERTIFICATE OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP" means the Certificate of Limited
Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware as referenced in Section 2.1, as such Certificate of Limited
Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
"CITIZENSHIP CERTIFICATION" means a properly completed certificate in such
form as may be specified by the General Partner by which an Assignee or a
Limited Partner certifies that he (and if he is a nominee holding for the
account of another Person, that to the best of his knowledge such other Person)
is an Eligible Citizen.
"CLAIM" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.12(c).
"CLOSING DATE" means the first date on which Common Units are sold by the
Partnership to the Underwriters pursuant to the provisions of the Underwriting
Agreement.
"CLOSING PRICE" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).
"CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect
from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the
Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of
successor law.
"COMBINED INTEREST" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
11.3(a).
"COMMISSION" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
"COMMON UNIT" means a Partnership Security representing a fractional part
of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees, and having
the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this
Agreement. The term "Common Unit" does not refer to a Subordinated Unit prior to
its conversion into a Common Unit pursuant to the terms hereof.
"COMMON UNIT ARREARAGE" means, with respect to any Common Unit, whenever
issued, as to any Quarter within the Subordination Period, the excess, if any,
of (a) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution with respect to a Common Unit in
respect of such Quarter over (b) the sum of all Available Cash distributed with
respect to a Common Unit in respect of such Quarter pursuant to Section
6.4(a)(i).
"CONFLICTS COMMITTEE" means a committee of the Board of Directors of the
General Partner composed entirely of two or more directors who are not (a)
security holders, officers or employees of the General Partner, (b) officers,
directors or employees of any Affiliate of the General Partner or (c) holders of
any ownership interest in the Partnership Group other than Common Units and who
also meet the independence standards required to serve on an audit committee of
a board of directors by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common
Units are listed for trading.
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"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, Conveyance and
Assumption Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the General Partner,
the Partnership, the Operating Company, MarkWest Hydrocarbon, Inc. and certain
other parties, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments
contemplated or referenced thereunder.
"CUMULATIVE COMMON UNIT ARREARAGE" means, with respect to any Common Unit,
whenever issued, and as of the end of any Quarter, the excess, if any, of (a)
the sum resulting from adding together the Common Unit Arrearage as to an
Initial Common Unit for each of the Quarters within the Subordination Period
ending on or before the last day of such Quarter over (b) the sum of any
distributions theretofore made pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(ii) and the second
sentence of Section 6.5 with respect to an Initial Common Unit (including any
distributions to be made in respect of the last of such Quarters).
"CURATIVE ALLOCATION" means any allocation of an item of income, gain,
deduction, loss or credit pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1(d)(xi).
"CURRENT MARKET PRICE" 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 PARTNER" means a former General Partner from and after the
effective date of any withdrawal or removal of such former General Partner
pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2.
"DEPOSITARY" means, with respect to any Units issued in global form, The
Depository Trust Company and its successors and permitted assigns.
"ECONOMIC RISK OF LOSS" has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.752-2(a).
"ELIGIBLE CITIZEN" means a Person qualified to own interests in real
property in jurisdictions in which any Group Member does business or proposes to
do business from time to time, and whose status as a Limited Partner or Assignee
does not or would not subject such Group Member to a significant risk of
cancellation or forfeiture of any of its properties or any interest therein.
"EVENT OF WITHDRAWAL" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
11.1(a).
"FINAL SUBORDINATED UNITS" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.1(d)(x).
"FIRST LIQUIDATION TARGET AMOUNT" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 6.1(c)(i)(D).
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"FIRST TARGET DISTRIBUTION" means $0.55 per Unit per Quarter (or, with
respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on June 30,
2002, it means the product of $0.55 multiplied by a fraction of which the
numerator is the number of days in such period, and of which the denominator is
91), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 6.6 and 6.9.
"FULLY DILUTED BASIS" means, when calculating the number of Outstanding
Units for any period, a basis that includes, in addition to the Outstanding
Units, all Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation
rights relating to an equity interest in the Partnership (a) that are
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Units that are senior to or
pari passu with the Subordinated Units, (b) whose conversion, exercise or
exchange price is less than the Current Market Price on the date of such
calculation, and (c) that may be converted into or exercised or exchanged for
such Units prior to or during the Quarter following the end of the last Quarter
contained in the period for which the calculation is being made without the
satisfaction of any contingency beyond the control of the holder other than the
payment of consideration and the compliance with administrative mechanics
applicable to such conversion, exercise or exchange; provided that for purposes
of determining the number of Outstanding Units on a Fully Diluted Basis when
calculating whether the Subordination Period has ended or Subordinated Units are
entitled to convert into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.8, such Partnership
Securities, options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights shall be deemed to
have been Outstanding Units only for the four Quarters that comprise the last
four Quarters of the measurement period; provided, further, that if
consideration will be paid to any Group Member in connection with such
conversion, exercise or exchange, the number of Units to be included in such
calculation shall be that number equal to the difference between (i) the number
of Units issuable upon such conversion, exercise or exchange and (ii) the number
of Units which such consideration would purchase at the Current Market Price.
"GENERAL PARTNER" means MarkWest Energy GP, L.L.C. and its successors and
permitted assigns as general partner of the Partnership.
"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 may be evidenced by
Partnership Securities or a combination thereof or interest therein, 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.
"GROUP" means a Person that with or through any of its Affiliates or
Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or
consent given to such Person in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made
to 10 or more Persons) or disposing of any Partnership Securities with any other
Person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially
own, directly or indirectly, Partnership Securities.
"GROUP MEMBER" means a member of the Partnership Group.
"HOLDER" as used in Section 7.12, has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 7.12(a).
8
"INCENTIVE DISTRIBUTION RIGHT" means a non-voting Limited Partner Interest
issued to the General Partner in connection with the transfer of all of its
membership interests in MarkWest Energy Appalachia, L.L.C. to the Partnership
pursuant to Section 5.2, which Partnership 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)(v),
(vi) and (vii) and 6.4(b)(iii), (iv) and (v).
"INDEMNIFIED PERSONS" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
7.12(c).
"INDEMNITEE" means (a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing Partner, (c)
any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing
Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a member, partner, officer, director,
employee, agent or trustee of any Group Member, the General Partner or any
Departing Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member, the General Partner or
any Departing Partner, and (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request
of the General Partner or any Departing Partner or any Affiliate of the General
Partner or any Departing Partner as an officer, director, employee, member,
partner, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided, that a Person
shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis,
trustee, fiduciary or custodial services.
"INITIAL COMMON UNITS" means the Common Units sold in the Initial Offering.
"INITIAL LIMITED PARTNERS" means MarkWest Energy GP, L.L.C., MarkWest
Michigan, Inc. and the Underwriters, in each case upon being admitted to the
Partnership in accordance with Section 10.1.
"INITIAL OFFERING" means the initial offering and sale of Common Units to
the public, as described in the Registration Statement.
"INITIAL UNIT PRICE" means (a) with respect to the Common Units and the
Subordinated Units, the initial public offering price per Common Unit at which
the Underwriters offered the Common Units to the public for sale as set forth on
the cover page of the prospectus included as part of the Registration Statement
and first issued at or after the time the Registration Statement first became
effective or (b) with respect to any other class or series of Units, the price
per Unit at which such class or series of Units is initially sold by the
Partnership, as determined by the General Partner, in each case adjusted as the
General Partner determines to be appropriate to give effect to any distribution,
subdivision or combination of Units.
"INTERIM CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS" means the following transactions if they
occur prior to the Liquidation Date: (a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings
of indebtedness and sales of debt securities (other than Working Capital
Borrowings and other than for items purchased on open account in the ordinary
course of business) by any Group Member; (b) sales of equity interests
9
by any Group Member (including the Common Units sold to the Underwriters
pursuant to the exercise of their over-allotment option); and (c) sales or other
voluntary or involuntary dispositions of any assets of any Group Member other
than (i) sales or other dispositions of inventory, accounts receivable and other
assets in the ordinary course of business, and (ii) sales or other dispositions
of assets as part of normal retirements or replacements.
"ISSUE PRICE" means the price at which a Unit is purchased from the
Partnership, after taking into account any sales commission or underwriting
discount charged to the Partnership.
"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 Partner upon the change of its status from
General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3 or (b) solely for
purposes of Articles V, VI, VII and IX, each Assignee; provided, however, that
when the term "Limited Partner" is used herein in the context of any vote or
other approval, including without limitation Articles XIII and XIV, such term
shall not, solely for such purpose, include any holder of an Incentive
Distribution Right except as may otherwise be required by law.
"LIMITED PARTNER INTEREST" means the ownership interest of a Limited
Partner or Assignee in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units,
Subordinated Units, Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership
Securities or a combination thereof or interest therein, and includes any and
all benefits to which such Limited Partner or Assignee is entitled as provided
in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner or
Assignee to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement; provided,
however, that when the term "Limited Partner Interest" is used herein in the
context of any vote or other approval, including without limitation Articles
XIII and XIV, such term shall not, solely for such purpose, include any holder
of an Incentive Distribution Right except as may otherwise be required by law.
"LIQUIDATION DATE" means (a) in the case of an event giving rise to the
dissolution of the Partnership of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) of
the first sentence of Section 12.2, the date on which the applicable time period
during which the holders of Outstanding Units have the right to elect to
reconstitute the Partnership and continue its business has expired without such
an election being made, and (b) in the case of any other event giving rise to
the dissolution of the Partnership, the date on which such event occurs.
"LIQUIDATOR" means one or more Persons selected by the General Partner to
perform the functions described in Section 12.3 as liquidating trustee of the
Partnership within the meaning of the
Delaware Act.
"MERGER AGREEMENT" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 14.1.
"MINIMUM QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTION" means $0.50 per Unit per Quarter (or with
respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on June 30,
2002, it means the product of $0.50 multiplied by a fraction of which the
numerator is the number of days in such period and of which the denominator is
91), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 6.6 and 6.9.
10
"NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE" means an exchange registered with the
Commission under Section 6(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such
statute, or the Nasdaq Stock Market or any successor thereto.
"NET AGREED VALUE" means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property, the
Agreed Value of such property reduced by any liabilities either assumed by the
Partnership upon such contribution or to which such property is subject when
contributed, and (b) in the case of any property distributed to a Partner or
Assignee by the Partnership, the Partnership's Carrying Value of such property
(as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5(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.
"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
after the Liquidation Date. 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
after the Liquidation Date. The items included in the determination of Net
Termination Loss shall be determined in accordance
11
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 in its discretion does not constitute an Eligible Citizen and as to
whose Partnership Interest the General Partner has become the Substituted
Limited Partner, pursuant to Section 4.9.
"NONRECOURSE BUILT-IN GAIN" means with respect to any Contributed
Properties or Adjusted Properties that are subject to a mortgage or pledge
securing a Nonrecourse Liability, the amount of any taxable gain that would be
allocated to the Partners pursuant to Sections 6.2(b)(i)(A), 6.2(b)(ii)(A) and
6.2(b)(iii) if such properties were disposed of in a taxable transaction in full
satisfaction of such liabilities and for no other consideration.
"NONRECOURSE DEDUCTIONS" means any and all items of loss, deduction or
expenditure (including, without limitation, any expenditure described in Section
705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(b), are attributable to a Nonrecourse Liability.
"NONRECOURSE LIABILITY" has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.752-1(a)(2).
"NOTICE OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 15.1(b).
"OMNIBUS AGREEMENT" means that Omnibus Agreement, dated as of the Closing
Date, among MarkWest Hydrocarbon, Inc., the General Partner, the Partnership and
the Operating Company.
"OPERATING COMPANY" means MarkWest Energy Operating Company, L.L.C., a
Delaware limited liability company, and any successors thereto.
"OPERATING COMPANY AGREEMENT" means the Amended and Restated Limited
Liability Company Agreement of the Operating Company, as it may be amended,
supplemented or restated from time to time.
"OPERATING EXPENDITURES" means all Partnership Group expenditures,
including, but not limited to, taxes, reimbursements of the General Partner,
repayment of Working Capital Borrowings, debt service payments and capital
expenditures, subject to the following:
(a) Payments (including prepayments) of principal of and premium
on indebtedness other than Working Capital Borrowings shall not constitute
Operating Expenditures; and
(b) Operating Expenditures shall not include (i) capital
expenditures made for Acquisitions or for Capital Improvements, (ii) payment of
transaction expenses relating to Interim Capital Transactions or (iii)
distributions to Partners. Where capital expenditures are made in part for
Acquisitions or for Capital Improvements and in part for other purposes, the
General Partner's good faith allocation between the amounts paid for each shall
be conclusive.
12
"OPERATING SURPLUS" means, with respect to any period ending prior to the
Liquidation Date, on a cumulative basis and without duplication,
(a) the sum of (i) $6.3 million plus all cash and cash
equivalents of the Partnership Group on hand as of the close of business on the
Closing Date, (ii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group for the period
beginning on the Closing Date and ending with the last day of such period, other
than cash receipts from Interim Capital Transactions (except to the extent
specified in Section 6.5) and (iii) all cash receipts of the Partnership Group
after the end of such period but on or before the date of determination of
Operating Surplus with respect to such period resulting from Working Capital
Borrowings, less
(b) the sum of (i) Operating Expenditures for the period
beginning on the Closing Date and ending with the last day of such period and
(ii) the amount of cash reserves that is necessary or advisable in the
reasonable discretion of the General Partner to provide funds for future
Operating Expenditures; provided, however, that disbursements made (including
contributions to a Group Member or disbursements on behalf of a Group Member) or
cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of such period but
on or before the date of determination of Available Cash with respect to such
period shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for
purposes of determining Operating Surplus, within such period if the General
Partner so determines.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, "OPERATING SURPLUS" with respect to the
Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs and any subsequent Quarter shall
equal zero.
"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 in its reasonable discretion.
"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 MarkWest Hydrocarbon, Inc. 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 any
Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then Outstanding, all
Partnership Securities owned by such Person or Group shall not be voted on any
matter and shall not be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a
meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by
law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for
other similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Common Units so owned
shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such
Common Units shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership
Securities for purposes of this Agreement); provided, further, that the
foregoing limitation shall not apply (i) to any Person or Group who acquired 20%
or more of any Outstanding Partnership Securities of any class then
13
Outstanding directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates, (ii) to any
Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any Outstanding Partnership
Securities of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly from a Person or
Group described in clause (i) provided that the General Partner shall have
notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply,
or (iii) to 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 of the General Partner.
"OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION" means the over-allotment option granted to the
Underwriters by the Partnership pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
"PARITY UNITS" means Common Units and all other Units of any other class or
series that have the right (i) to receive distributions of Available Cash from
Operating Surplus pursuant to each of subclauses (a)(i) and (a)(ii) of Section
6.4 in the same order of priority with respect to the participation of Common
Units in such distributions or (ii) to participate in allocations of Net
Termination Gain pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i)(B) in the same order of priority
with the Common Units, in each case regardless of whether the amounts or value
so distributed or allocated on each Parity Unit equals the amount or value so
distributed or allocated on each Common Unit. Units whose participation in such
(i) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus and (ii) allocations
of Net Termination Gain are subordinate in order of priority to such
distributions and allocations on Common Units shall not constitute Parity Units
even if such Units are convertible under certain circumstances into Common Units
or Parity Units.
"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, without limitation, any expenditure described in
Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i), are attributable to a Partner
Nonrecourse Debt.
"PARTNERS" means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.
"PARTNERSHIP" means MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P., a
Delaware limited
partnership, and any successors thereto.
"PARTNERSHIP GROUP" means the Partnership, the Operating Company and any
Subsidiary of any such entity, treated as a single consolidated entity.
"PARTNERSHIP INTEREST" means an interest in the Partnership, which shall
include the General Partner Interest and Limited Partner Interests.
"PARTNERSHIP MINIMUM GAIN" means that amount determined in accordance with
the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(d).
14
"PARTNERSHIP SECURITY" means any class or series of equity interest in the
Partnership (but excluding any options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights
relating to an equity interest in the Partnership), including without
limitation, Common Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights.
"PERCENTAGE INTEREST" means as of any date of determination (a) as to the
General Partner (in its capacity as General Partner without reference to any
Limited Partner Interests held by it), 2.0%, (b) as to any Unitholder or
Assignee holding Units, the product obtained by multiplying (i) 98% less the
percentage applicable to paragraph (c) by (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing
(A) the number of Units held by such Unitholder or Assignee by (B) the total
number of all Outstanding Units, and (c) as to the holders of additional
Partnership Securities issued by the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.6,
the percentage established as a part of such issuance. The Percentage Interest
with respect to an Incentive Distribution Right shall at all times be zero.
"PERSON" means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association,
government agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.
"PER UNIT CAPITAL AMOUNT" means, as of any date of determination, the
Capital Account, stated on a per Unit basis, underlying any Unit held by a
Person other than the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner
who holds Units.
"PRO RATA" means (a) when modifying Units or any class thereof, apportioned
equally among all designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage
Interests, (b) when modifying Partners and Assignees, apportioned among all
Partners and Assignees in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests
and (c) when modifying holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, apportioned
equally among all holders of Incentive Distribution Rights in accordance with
the relative number of Incentive Distribution Rights held by each such holder.
"PURCHASE DATE" means the date determined by the General Partner as the
date for purchase of all Outstanding Units of a certain class (other than Units
owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) pursuant to Article XV.
"QUARTER" means, unless the context requires otherwise, a fiscal quarter,
or, with respect to the first fiscal quarter after the Closing Date, the portion
of such fiscal quarter after the Closing Date, of the Partnership.
"RECAPTURE INCOME" means any gain recognized by the Partnership (computed
without regard to any adjustment required by Section 734 or Section 743 of the
Code) upon the disposition of any property or asset of the Partnership, which
gain is characterized as ordinary income because it represents the recapture of
deductions previously taken with respect to such property or asset.
"RECORD DATE" means the date established by the General Partner for
determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to notice of, or to
vote at, any meeting of Limited Partners or entitled to vote by ballot or give
approval of Partnership action in writing without a meeting or entitled to
exercise rights in respect of any lawful action of Limited Partners or (b) the
identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to
participate in any offer.
15
"RECORD HOLDER" means the Person in whose name a Common Unit is registered
on the books of the Transfer Agent as of the opening of business on a particular
Business Day, or with respect to other Partnership Securities, the Person in
whose name any such other Partnership Security is registered on the books which
the General Partner has caused to be kept as of the opening of business on such
Business Day.
"REDEEMABLE INTERESTS" means any Partnership Interests for which a
redemption notice has been given, and has not been withdrawn, pursuant to
Section 4.10.
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means the Registration Statement on Form S-1
(Registration No. 333-81780) as it has been or as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, filed by the Partnership with the Commission
under the Securities Act to register the offering and sale of the Common Units
in the Initial Offering.
"REMAINING NET POSITIVE ADJUSTMENTS" means as of the end of any taxable
period, (i) with respect to the Unitholders holding Common Units or Subordinated
Units, the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the Unitholders holding
Common Units or Subordinated Units as of the end of such period over (b) the sum
of those Partners' Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for each
prior taxable period, (ii) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the
General Partner Interest), the excess of (a) the Net Positive Adjustments of the
General Partner as of the end of such period over (b) the sum of the General
Partner's Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items with respect to the
General Partner Interest for each prior taxable period, and (iii) with respect
to the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights, the excess of (a) the Net
Positive Adjustments of the holders of Incentive Distribution Rights as of the
end of such period over (b) the sum of the Share of Additional Book Basis
Derivative Items of the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights for each
prior taxable period.
"REQUIRED ALLOCATIONS" means (a) any limitation imposed on any allocation
of Net Losses or Net Termination Losses under Section 6.1(b) or 6.1(c)(ii) and
(b) any allocation of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to
Section 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 Section 6.2(b)(i)(A) or 6.2(b)(ii)(A), respectively, to eliminate
Book-Tax Disparities.
"RESTRICTED BUSINESS" has the meaning assigned to such term in the Omnibus
Agreement.
"SECOND LIQUIDATION TARGET AMOUNT" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 6.1(c)(i)(E).
"SECOND TARGET DISTRIBUTION" means $0.625 per Unit per Quarter (or, with
respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on June 30,
2002, it means the product of $0.625 multiplied by a fraction of which the
numerator is equal to the number of days in such period and of which the
denominator is 91), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 6.6 and
6.9.
16
"SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented
or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.
"SHARE OF ADDITIONAL BOOK BASIS DERIVATIVE ITEMS" means in connection with
any allocation of Additional Book Basis Derivative Items for any taxable period,
(i) with respect to the Unitholders holding Common Units or Subordinated Units,
the amount that bears the same ratio to such Additional Book Basis Derivative
Items as the Unitholders' Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of the end of
such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that
time, (ii) with respect to the General Partner (as holder of the General Partner
Interest), the amount that bears the same ratio to such additional Book Basis
Derivative Items as the General Partner's Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as
of the end of such period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive
Adjustment as of that time, and (iii) with respect to the Partners holding
Incentive Distribution Rights, the amount that bears the same ratio to such
Additional Book Basis Derivative Items as the Remaining Net Positive Adjustments
of the Partners holding the Incentive Distribution Rights as of the end of such
period bears to the Aggregate Remaining Net Positive Adjustments as of that
time.
"SPECIAL APPROVAL" means approval by a majority of the members of the
Conflicts Committee.
"SUBORDINATED UNIT" means a Unit representing a fractional part of the
Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and Assignees and having the
rights and obligations specified with respect to Subordinated Units in this
Agreement. The term "Subordinated Unit" as used herein does not include a Common
Unit or Parity Unit. A Subordinated Unit that is convertible into a Common Unit
or a Parity Unit shall not constitute a Common Unit or Parity Unit until such
conversion occurs.
"SUBORDINATION PERIOD" means the period commencing on the Closing Date and
ending on the first to occur of the following dates:
(a) the first day of any Quarter beginning after June 30, 2009
in respect of which (i) (A) distributions of Available Cash from Operating
Surplus on each of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units and any
other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the
Subordinated Units with respect to each of the three consecutive,
non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or
exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution (or portion thereof for
the first fiscal quarter after the Closing Date) on all Outstanding Common Units
and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are senior or equal
in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units during such periods and (B)
the Adjusted Operating Surplus generated during each of the three consecutive,
non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or
exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the Common
Units and Subordinated Units and any other Units that are senior or equal in
right of distribution to the Subordinated Units that were Outstanding during
such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis, plus the related distribution on the
General Partner Interest, during such periods and (ii) there are no Cumulative
Common Unit Arrearages; and
17
(b) the date on which the General Partner is removed as general
partner of the Partnership upon the requisite vote by holders of Outstanding
Units under circumstances where Cause does not exist and Units held by the
General Partner and its Affiliates are not voted in favor of such removal.
"SUBSIDIARY" means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which
more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the
occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other
governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date
of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or
a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which
such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a
general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the
partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the partnership
interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or
indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person
(other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly,
at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or
(ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or
other governing body of such Person.
"SUBSTITUTED LIMITED PARTNER" means a Person who is admitted as a Limited
Partner to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2 in place of and with all the
rights of a Limited Partner and who is shown as a Limited Partner on the books
and records of the Partnership.
"SURVIVING BUSINESS ENTITY" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 14.2(b).
"THIRD LIQUIDATION TARGET AMOUNT" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 6.1(c)(i)(F).
"THIRD TARGET DISTRIBUTION" means $0.75 per Unit per Quarter (or, with
respect to the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on June 30,
2002, it means the product of $0.75 multiplied by a fraction of which the
numerator is equal to the number of days in such period and of which the
denominator is 91), subject to adjustment in accordance with Sections 6.6 and
6.9.
"TRADING DAY" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.1(a).
"TRANSFER" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.4(a).
"TRANSFER AGENT" means such bank, trust company or other Person (including
the General Partner or one of its Affiliates) as shall be appointed from time to
time by the Partnership to act as registrar and transfer agent for the Common
Units; provided that if no Transfer Agent is specifically designated for any
other Partnership Securities, the General Partner shall act in such capacity.
"TRANSFER APPLICATION" means an application and agreement for transfer of
Units in the form set forth on the back of a Certificate or in a form
substantially to the same effect in a separate instrument.
18
"UNDERWRITER" means each Person named as an underwriter in Schedule I to
the Underwriting Agreement who purchases Common Units pursuant thereto.
"UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT" means the Underwriting Agreement dated May 20,
2002 among the Underwriters, the Partnership, the General Partner, the Operating
Company and MarkWest Hydrocarbon, Inc., providing for the purchase of Common
Units by such Underwriters.
"UNIT" means a Partnership Security that is designated as a "Unit" and
shall include Common Units and Subordinated Units but shall not include (i) a
General Partner Interest or (ii) Incentive Distribution Rights.
"UNITHOLDERS" means the holders of Units.
"UNIT MAJORITY" means, during the Subordination Period, at least a majority
of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General
Partner and its Affiliates) voting as a class and at least a majority of the
Outstanding Subordinated Units voting as a class, and thereafter, 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 CAPITAL" 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).
"WORKING CAPITAL BORROWINGS" means borrowings used solely for working
capital purposes or to pay distributions to Partners made pursuant to a credit
facility or other arrangement requiring all such borrowings thereunder to be
reduced to a relatively small amount
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each year (or for the year in which the Initial Offering is consummated, the
12-month period beginning on the Closing Date) for an economically meaningful
period of time.
Section 1.2 CONSTRUCTION.
Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this
Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms,
and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and
vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and
Sections of this Agreement; and (c) the term "include" or "includes" means
includes, without limitation, and "including" means including, without
limitation.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.1 FORMATION.
The General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner have previously
formed the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of
the Delaware Act and hereby amend and restate the original Agreement of Limited
Partnership of MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. in its entirety. This amendment
and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as
expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties
(including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Partners and
the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be
governed by the Delaware Act. All Partnership Interests shall constitute
personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes and a Partner has no
interest in specific Partnership property.
Section 2.2 NAME.
The name of the Partnership shall be "MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P." The
Partnership's business may be conducted under any other name or names deemed
necessary or appropriate by the General Partner in its sole discretion,
including the name of the General Partner. The words "Limited Partnership,"
"L.P.," "Ltd." or similar words or letters shall be included in the
Partnership's name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of
any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner in its discretion may
change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall
notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to
the Limited Partners.
Section 2.3 REGISTERED OFFICE; REGISTERED AGENT; PRINCIPAL OFFICE; OTHER
OFFICES
Unless and until changed by the General Partner, the registered office of
the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, and the registered agent for service of process on
the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be The
Corporation Trust Company. The principal office of the Partnership shall be
located at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ 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
20
outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner deems necessary or
appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ or such other place as the General
Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.
Section 2.4 PURPOSE AND BUSINESS.
The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership
shall be to (a) serve as a member of the Operating Company and, in connection
therewith, to exercise all the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership
as a member of the Operating Company pursuant to the Operating Company Agreement
or otherwise, (b) engage directly in, or enter into or form any corporation,
partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to
engage indirectly in, any business activity that the Operating Company is
permitted to engage in by the Operating Company Agreement or that its
subsidiaries are permitted to engage in by their limited liability company or
partnership agreements and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the
rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements
relating to such business activity, (c) engage directly in, or enter into or
form any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or
other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is
approved by the General Partner and which lawfully may be conducted by a limited
partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act and, in connection therewith,
to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant
to the agreements relating to such business activity; provided, however, that
the General Partner reasonably determines, as of the date of the acquisition or
commencement of such activity, that such activity does not affect the
Partnership's treatment as a partnership for Federal income tax purposes, and
(d) do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making
of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member. The General Partner has no
obligation or duty to the Partnership, the Limited Partners or the Assignees to
propose or approve, and in its discretion may decline to propose or approve, the
conduct by the Partnership of any business.
Section 2.5 POWERS.
The Partnership shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things
necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for the
furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described in Section
2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership.
Section 2.6 POWER OF ATTORNEY.
(a) Each Limited Partner and each Assignee hereby constitutes and
appoints the General Partner and, if a Liquidator shall have been selected
pursuant to Section 12.3, the Liquidator (and any successor to the Liquidator by
merger, transfer, assignment, election or otherwise) and each of their
authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with full power
of substitution, as his true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full
power and authority in his name, place and ▇▇▇▇▇, to:
21
(i) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record
in the appropriate public offices (A) all certificates, documents and other
instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited
Partnership and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof) that the
General Partner or the Liquidator deems necessary or appropriate to form,
qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Partnership as a
limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have
limited liability) in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions
in which the Partnership may conduct business or own property; (B) all
certificates, documents and other instruments that the General Partner or
the Liquidator deems necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance
with its terms, any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this
Agreement; (C) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including
conveyances and a certificate of cancellation) that the General Partner or
the Liquidator deems necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution
and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;
(D) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the
admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to,
or other events described in, Article IV, X, XI or XII; (E) all
certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination
of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of
Partnership Securities issued pursuant to Section 5.6; and (F) all
certificates, documents and other instruments (including agreements and a
certificate of merger) relating to a merger or consolidation of the
Partnership pursuant to Article XIV; and
(ii) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record
all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and
other instruments necessary or appropriate, in the discretion of the
General Partner or the Liquidator, to make, evidence, give, confirm or
ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action that is made
or given by the Partners hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this
Agreement or is necessary or appropriate, in the discretion of the General
Partner or the Liquidator, to effectuate the terms or intent of this
Agreement; provided, that when required by Section 13.3 or any other
provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of the Limited
Partners or of the Limited Partners of any class or series required to take
any action, the General Partner and the Liquidator may exercise the power
of attorney made in this Section 2.6(a)(ii) only after the necessary vote,
consent or approval of the Limited Partners or of the Limited Partners of
such class or series, as applicable.
Nothing contained in this Section 2.6(a) shall be construed as authorizing the
General Partner to amend this Agreement except in accordance with Article XIII
or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement.
(b) The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be
irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and, to
the maximum extent permitted by law, not be affected by the subsequent death,
incompetency, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of
any Limited Partner or Assignee and the transfer of all or any portion of such
Limited Partner's or Assignee's Partnership Interest and shall extend to such
Limited Partner's or Assignee's heirs, successors, assigns and personal
representatives. Each such Limited Partner or Assignee hereby agrees to be bound
by any representation made by the General Partner or the Liquidator acting in
good faith pursuant to such power of attorney; and
22
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 deems
necessary to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Partnership.
Section 2.7 TERM.
The term of the Partnership commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of
Limited Partnership in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in
existence until the dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with the
provisions of Article XII. The existence of the Partnership as a separate legal
entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Limited
Partnership as provided in the Delaware Act.
Section 2.8 TITLE TO PARTNERSHIP ASSETS.
Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether
tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an
entity, and no Partner or Assignee, individually or collectively, shall have any
ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof. Title to
any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership,
the General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees, as
the General Partner may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and
warrants that any Partnership assets for which record title is held in the name
of the General Partner or one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees
shall be held by the General Partner or such Affiliate or nominee for the use
and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement; provided, however, that the General Partner shall use reasonable
efforts to cause record title to such assets (other than those assets in respect
of which the General Partner determines that the expense and difficulty of
conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the Partnership impracticable) to
be vested in the Partnership as soon as reasonably practicable; provided,
further, that, prior to the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner or as
soon thereafter as practicable, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts
to effect the transfer of record title to the Partnership and, prior to any such
transfer, will provide for the use of such assets in a manner satisfactory to
the General Partner. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of
the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which
record title to such Partnership assets is held.
ARTICLE III
RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS
Section 3.1 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.
The Limited Partners and the Assignees shall have no liability under this
Agreement except as expressly provided in this Agreement or the Delaware Act.
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Section 3.2 MANAGEMENT OF BUSINESS.
No Limited Partner or Assignee, in its capacity as such, shall participate
in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Delaware Act)
of the Partnership's business, transact any business in the Partnership's name
or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. Any
action taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director,
employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General
Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, member,
general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such,
shall not be deemed to be participation in the control of the business of the
Partnership by a limited partner of the Partnership (within the meaning of
Section 17-303(a) of the Delaware Act) and shall not affect, impair or eliminate
the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners or Assignees under this
Agreement.
Section 3.3 OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES OF THE LIMITED PARTNERS.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.5 and the Omnibus Agreement, which
shall continue to be applicable to the Persons referred to therein, regardless
of whether such Persons shall also be Limited Partners or Assignees, any Limited
Partner or Assignee shall be entitled to and may have business interests and
engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership,
including business interests and activities in direct competition with the
Partnership Group. Neither the Partnership nor any of the other Partners or
Assignees shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business
ventures of any Limited Partner or Assignee.
Section 3.4 RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS.
(a) In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by
applicable law, and except as limited by Section 3.4(b), each Limited Partner
shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner's
interest as a limited partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand
and at such Limited Partner's own expense:
(i) to obtain true and full information regarding the status of
the business and financial condition of the Partnership;
(ii) promptly after becoming available, to obtain a copy of the
Partnership's federal, state and local income tax returns for each year;
(iii) to have furnished to him a current list of the name and last
known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner;
(iv) to have furnished to him a copy of this Agreement and the
Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto, together
with a copy of the executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to
which this Agreement, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all
amendments thereto have been executed;
(v) to obtain true and full information regarding the amount of
cash and a description and statement of the Net Agreed Value of any other
Capital Contribution by
24
each Partner and which 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
(C) that any Group Member is required by law or by agreement with any third
party to keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates of the
Partnership the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set
forth in this Section 3.4).
ARTICLE IV
CERTIFICATES; RECORD HOLDERS; TRANSFER OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS;
REDEMPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 4.1 CERTIFICATES.
Upon the Partnership's issuance of Common Units or Subordinated Units to
any Person, the Partnership shall issue 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 interests in
the Partnership and (b) upon the request of any Person owning Incentive
Distribution Rights or any other Partnership Securities other than Common Units
or Subordinated Units, the Partnership shall issue to such Person one or more
certificates evidencing such Incentive Distribution Rights or other Partnership
Securities other than Common Units or Subordinated Units. Certificates shall be
executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chairman of the Board, President or
any Executive Vice President or Vice President and the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary of the General Partner. No Common Unit Certificate shall be
valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent;
provided, however, that if the General Partner elects to issue Common Units in
global form, the Common Unit Certificates shall be valid upon receipt of a
certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Common Units have been
duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership and the
Underwriters. Subject to the requirements of Section 6.7(b), the Partners
holding Certificates evidencing Subordinated Units may exchange such
Certificates for Certificates evidencing Common Units on or after the date on
which such Subordinated Units are converted into Common Units pursuant to the
terms of Section 5.8.
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
25
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 reasonably direct, in its sole discretion, to indemnify the
Partnership, the Partners, the General Partner and the Transfer Agent
against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss,
destruction or theft of the Certificate; and
(iv) satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the
General Partner.
If a Limited Partner or Assignee fails to notify the General Partner within
a reasonable 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
for trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker,
dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the
foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity
for another Person in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between
the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such
26
representative Person (a) shall be the Partner or Assignee (as the case may be)
of record and beneficially, (b) must execute and deliver a Transfer Application
and (c) shall be bound by this Agreement and shall have the rights and
obligations of a Partner or Assignee (as the case may be) hereunder and as, and
to the extent, provided for herein.
Section 4.4 TRANSFER GENERALLY.
(a) The term "transfer," when used in this Agreement with respect to a
Partnership Interest, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction by which the
General Partner assigns its General Partner Interest to another Person who
becomes the general partner of the Partnership, by which the holder of a Limited
Partner Interest assigns such Limited Partner Interest to another Person who is
or becomes a Limited Partner or an Assignee, and includes a sale, assignment,
gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other
disposition by law or otherwise.
(b) No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part,
except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article IV.
Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in
accordance with this Article IV shall be null and void.
(c) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent
a disposition by any member of the General Partner of any or all of the
membership interests of the General Partner.
Section 4.5 REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER OF LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS.
(a) The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of
the Partnership a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as
it may prescribe and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the
Partnership will provide for the registration and transfer of Limited Partner
Interests. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar and transfer agent
for the purpose of registering Common Units and transfers of such Common Units
as herein provided. The Partnership shall not recognize transfers of
Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests unless such transfers are
effected in the manner described in this Section 4.5. Upon surrender of a
Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests
evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the
appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall
execute and deliver, and in the case of Common Units, the Transfer Agent shall
countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee
or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder's instructions, one or more
new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited
Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.9, the General Partner
shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests until the
Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are surrendered for
registration of transfer and such Certificates are accompanied by a Transfer
Application duly executed by the transferee (or the transferee's
attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing). No charge shall be imposed by the
General Partner for such transfer; provided, that as a condition to the issuance
of any new Certificate under this
27
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) A transferee of a Limited Partner Interest who has completed and
delivered a Transfer Application shall be deemed to have (i) requested admission
as a Substituted Limited Partner, (ii) agreed to comply with and be bound by and
to have executed this Agreement, (iii) represented and warranted that such
transferee has the right, power and authority and, if an individual, the
capacity to enter into this Agreement, (iv) granted the powers of attorney set
forth in this Agreement and (v) given the consents and approvals and made the
waivers contained in this Agreement.
(f) The General Partner and its Affiliates shall have the right at any
time to transfer their Subordinated Units and Common Units (whether issued upon
conversion of the Subordinated Units or otherwise) to one or more Persons.
Section 4.6 TRANSFER OF THE GENERAL PARTNER'S GENERAL PARTNER INTEREST.
(a) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, prior to June 30, 2012, the
General Partner shall not transfer all or any part of its General Partner
Interest to a Person unless such transfer (i) has been approved by the prior
written consent or vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding
Common Units (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its
Affiliates) or (ii) is of all, but not less than all, of its General Partner
Interest to (A) an Affiliate of the General Partner (other than an individual)
or (B) another Person (other than an individual) in connection with the merger
or consolidation of the General Partner with or into another Person (other than
an individual) or the transfer by the General Partner of all or substantially
all of its assets to another Person (other than an individual).
(b) Subject to Section 4.6(c) below, on or after June 30, 2012, the
General Partner may 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 of
any Limited Partner or of any member of the Operating Company or cause the
Partnership or the Operating Company 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
28
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 Partnership Interest, and the business
of the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.
Section 4.7 TRANSFER OF INCENTIVE DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS.
Prior to June 30, 2012, 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 (a) to an Affiliate of such holder (other
than an individual) or (b) to 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 or substantially all its equity interests to such other Person.
Any other transfer of the Incentive Distribution Rights prior to June 30, 2012,
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 June 30, 2012, 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.
Section 4.8 RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS.
(a) Except as provided in Section 4.8(d) below, but notwithstanding
the other provisions of this Article IV, no transfer of any Partnership
Interests shall be made if such transfer would (i) violate the then applicable
federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the Commission, any
state securities commission or any other governmental authority with
jurisdiction over such transfer, (ii) terminate the existence or qualification
of the Partnership or the Operating Company under the laws of the jurisdiction
of its formation, or (iii) cause the Partnership or the Operating Company to be
treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as
an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated
or taxed).
(b) The General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of
Partnership Interests if a subsequent Opinion of Counsel determines that such
restrictions are necessary to avoid a significant risk of any Group Member
becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for
federal income tax purposes. The restrictions may be imposed by making such
amendments to this Agreement as the General Partner may determine to be
necessary or appropriate to impose such restrictions; provided, however, that
any amendment that the General Partner believes, in the exercise of its
reasonable discretion, could result in the delisting or suspension of trading of
any class of Limited Partner Interests on the principal National Securities
Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is then traded must be
approved, prior to such amendment being effected, by the holders of at least a
majority of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of such class.
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(c) The transfer of a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a
Common Unit shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 6.7(b).
(d) Nothing contained in this Article IV, or elsewhere in this
Agreement, shall preclude the settlement of any transactions involving
Partnership Interests entered into through the facilities of any National
Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed for trading.
Section 4.9 CITIZENSHIP CERTIFICATES; NON-CITIZEN ASSIGNEES.
(a) If any Group Member is or becomes subject to any federal, state or
local law or regulation that, in the reasonable determination of the General
Partner, creates a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any
property in which the Group Member has an interest based on the nationality,
citizenship or other related status of a Limited Partner or Assignee, the
General Partner may request any Limited Partner or Assignee to furnish to the
General Partner, within 30 days after receipt of such request, an executed
Citizenship Certification or such other information concerning his nationality,
citizenship or other related status (or, if the Limited Partner or Assignee is a
nominee holding for the account of another Person, the nationality, citizenship
or other related status of such Person) as the General Partner may request. If a
Limited Partner or Assignee fails to furnish to the General Partner within the
aforementioned 30-day period such Citizenship Certification or other requested
information or if upon receipt of such Citizenship Certification or other
requested information the General Partner determines, with the advice of
counsel, that a Limited Partner or Assignee is not an Eligible Citizen, the
Partnership Interests owned by such Limited Partner or Assignee shall be subject
to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.10. In addition,
the General Partner may require that the status of any such Partner or Assignee
be changed to that of a Non-citizen Assignee and, thereupon, the General Partner
shall be substituted for such Non-citizen Assignee as the Limited Partner in
respect of his Limited Partner Interests.
(b) The General Partner shall, in exercising voting rights in respect
of Limited Partner Interests held by it on behalf of Non-citizen Assignees,
distribute the votes in the same ratios as the votes of Partners (including
without limitation the General Partner) in respect of Limited Partner Interests
other than those of Non-citizen Assignees are cast, either for, against or
abstaining as to the matter.
(c) Upon dissolution of the Partnership, a Non-citizen Assignee shall
have no right to receive a distribution in kind pursuant to Section 12.4 but
shall be entitled to the cash equivalent thereof, and the Partnership shall
provide cash in exchange for an assignment of the Non-citizen Assignee's share
of the distribution in kind. Such payment and assignment shall be treated for
Partnership purposes as a purchase by the Partnership from the Non-citizen
Assignee of his Limited Partner Interest (representing his right to receive his
share of such distribution in kind).
(d) At any time after he can and does certify that he has become an
Eligible Citizen, a Non-citizen Assignee may, upon application to the General
Partner, request admission as a Substituted Limited Partner with respect to any
Limited Partner Interests of such Non-citizen Assignee not redeemed pursuant to
Section 4.10, and upon his admission pursuant to Section
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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.
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 Partnership Interest of such Limited Partner or Assignee as follows:
(i) The General Partner shall, not later than the 30th day
before the date fixed for redemption, give notice of redemption to the
Limited Partner or Assignee, at 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, in the discretion
of 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.
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(b) The provisions of this Section 4.10 shall also be applicable to
Limited Partner Interests held by a Limited Partner or Assignee as nominee of a
Person determined to be other than an Eligible Citizen.
(c) Nothing in this Section 4.10 shall prevent the recipient of a
notice of redemption from transferring his Limited Partner Interest before the
redemption date if such transfer is otherwise permitted under this Agreement.
Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the General Partner shall withdraw
the notice of redemption, provided the transferee of such Limited Partner
Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner in a Citizenship
Certification delivered in connection with the Transfer Application that he is
an Eligible Citizen. If the transferee fails to make such certification, such
redemption shall be effected from the transferee on the original redemption
date.
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 5.1 ORGANIZATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
In connection with the formation of the Partnership under the Delaware Act,
the General Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in
the amount of $20.00, for a 2% General Partner interest in the Partnership and
has been 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 $980.00 for a 98% Limited Partner interest in the
Partnership and has been admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership. As of
the Closing Date, the interest of the Organizational Limited Partner shall be
redeemed as provided in the Contribution Agreement; the initial Capital
Contributions of the Organizational Limited Partner shall thereupon be refunded;
and the Organizational Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner of
the Partnership. Ninety-eight percent of any interest or other profit that may
have resulted from the investment or other use of such initial Capital
Contributions shall be allocated and distributed to the Organizational Limited
Partner, and the balance thereof shall be 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 shall contribute to the Partnership, as a Capital
Contribution, all of its ownership interests in MarkWest Energy Appalachia,
L.L.C. in exchange for (A) the continuation of its 2% General Partner Interest,
subject to all of the rights, privileges and duties of the General Partner under
this Agreement, (B) the Incentive Distribution Rights, (C) 1,777,000
Subordinated Units, (D) the right to receive $25.8 million from the Partnership
on the Closing Date sourced to new debt and (E) the right to be reimbursed for
$16.1 million in capital expenditures and (ii) MarkWest Michigan, Inc. shall
contribute to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, all of its interest in
Basin Pipeline L.L.C. and West Shore Processing Company, L.L.C. in exchange for
(A) 1,223,000 Subordinated Units, (B) the assumption by the Partnership of $15.1
million in debt and (C) the right to be reimbursed for $0.4 million in capital
expenditures.
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(b) Upon the issuance of any additional Limited Partner Interests by
the Partnership (other than the issuance of the Common Units issued in the
Initial Offering and other than the issuance of the Common Units issued pursuant
to the Over-Allotment Option), the General Partner shall be required to make
additional Capital Contributions equal to 2/98ths of any amount contributed to
the Partnership by the Limited Partners in exchange for the additional Limited
Partner Interests issued to such Limited Partners. Except as set forth in the
immediately preceding sentence and 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 AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO THE
GENERAL PARTNER AND ITS AFFILIATES.
(a) On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement,
each Underwriter shall contribute 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 shall issue 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.
(b) Upon the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, each Underwriter
shall contribute 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 Option
Closing Date. In exchange for such Capital Contributions by the Underwriters,
the Partnership shall issue 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 contributions to the Partnership by or on behalf of such
Underwriter by (ii) the Issue Price per Initial Common Unit.
(c) No Limited Partner Interests will be issued or issuable as of or
at the Closing Date other than (i) the Common Units issuable pursuant to
subparagraph (a) hereof in aggregate number equal to 2,100,000, (ii) the
"Additional Units" as such term is used in the Underwriting Agreement in an
aggregate number up to 315,000 issuable upon exercise of the Over-Allotment
Option pursuant to subparagraph (b) hereof, (iii) the 3,000,000 Subordinated
Units issuable to MarkWest Michigan, Inc. and the General Partner pursuant to
Section 5.2 hereof, and (iv) the Incentive Distribution Rights.
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
33
Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions. Any such return shall
be a compromise to which all Partners and Assignees agree within the meaning of
17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.
Section 5.5 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 in its sole discretion) owning a Partnership Interest a
separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance
with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital
Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made
to the Partnership with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to this
Agreement and (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain (including, without
limitation, income and gain exempt from tax) computed in accordance with Section
5.5(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to
Section 6.1, and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all
actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made with respect to such
Partnership Interest pursuant to this Agreement and (y) all items of Partnership
deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.5(b) and allocated with
respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1.
(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain,
loss or deduction which is to be allocated pursuant to Article VI and is to be
reflected in the Partners' Capital Accounts, the determination, recognition and
classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination,
recognition and classification for federal income tax purposes (including,
without limitation, 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 Operating Company
Agreement) of all property owned by the Operating Company or any other
Subsidiary that is classified as a partnership for federal income tax
purposes.
(ii) All fees and other expenses incurred by the Partnership to
promote the sale of (or to sell) a Partnership Interest that can neither be
deducted nor amortized under Section 709 of the Code, if any, shall, for
purposes of Capital Account maintenance, be treated as an item of deduction
at the time such fees and other expenses are incurred and shall be
allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1.
(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
34
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 reasonable method that the General Partner may adopt.
(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) (i) A transferee of a Partnership Interest shall succeed to a
pro rata portion of the Capital Account of the transferor relating to the
Partnership Interest so transferred.
(ii) Immediately prior to the transfer of a Subordinated Unit or
of a Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit pursuant to
Section 5.8 by a holder thereof (other than a transfer to an Affiliate
unless the General Partner elects to have this subparagraph 5.5(c)(ii)
apply), the Capital Account maintained for such Person with respect to its
Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units will (A) first, be
allocated to the Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units to be
transferred in an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of such
Subordinated Units or converted Subordinated Units to be transferred and
(y) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit, and (B) second, any
remaining balance in such Capital Account will be retained by the
transferor, regardless of whether it has retained any Subordinated Units or
converted Subordinated Units. Following any such allocation, the
transferor's Capital
35
Account, if any, maintained with respect to the retained Subordinated Units
or converted Subordinated Units, if any, will have a balance equal to the
amount allocated under clause (B) hereinabove, and the transferee's Capital
Account established with respect to the transferred Subordinated Units or
converted Subordinated Units will have a balance equal to the amount
allocated under clause (A) hereinabove.
(d) (i) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for
cash or Contributed Property or the conversion of the General Partner's Combined
Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b), the Capital Account of all
Partners and the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior
to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized
Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property, as if such
Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each
such property immediately prior to such issuance and had been allocated to the
Partners at such time pursuant to Section 6.1 in the same manner as any item of
gain or loss actually recognized during such period would have been allocated.
In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate cash
amount and fair market value of all Partnership assets (including, without
limitation, cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of
additional Partnership Interests shall be determined by the General Partner
using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt; provided, however,
that the General Partner, in arriving at such valuation, must take fully into
account the fair market value of the Partnership Interests of all Partners at
such time. The General Partner shall allocate such aggregate value among the
assets of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines in its discretion to
be reasonable) to arrive at a fair market value for individual properties.
(ii) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to any actual or deemed
distribution to a Partner of any Partnership property (other than a
distribution of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of a
Partnership Interest), the Capital Accounts of all Partners and the
Carrying Value of all 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 in a sale of such property immediately prior to such
distribution for an amount equal to its fair market value, and had been
allocated to the Partners, at such time, pursuant to Section 6.1 in the
same manner as any item of gain or loss actually recognized during such
period would have been allocated. In determining such Unrealized Gain or
Unrealized Loss the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all
Partnership assets (including, without limitation, cash or cash
equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in the case of
an actual distribution which 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 reasonable method of valuation as it
may adopt.
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Section 5.6 ISSUANCES OF ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIP SECURITIES.
(a) Subject to Section 5.7, the Partnership may issue additional
Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights
relating to the Partnership Securities for any Partnership purpose at any time
and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms
and conditions as shall be established by the General Partner in its sole
discretion, all without the approval of any Limited Partners.
(b) Each additional Partnership Security authorized to be issued by
the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.6(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 in the
exercise of its sole discretion, including (i) the right to share Partnership
profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership
distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the
Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the
Partnership may redeem the Partnership Security; (v) whether such Partnership
Security is issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the
terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and
conditions upon which each Partnership Security will be issued, evidenced by
certificates and assigned or transferred; and (vii) the right, if any, of each
such Partnership Security to vote on Partnership matters, including matters
relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership
Security.
(c) The General Partner is hereby authorized and directed to take all
actions that it deems necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each
issuance of Partnership Securities and options, rights, warrants and
appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities pursuant to this Section
5.6, (ii) the conversion of the General Partner Interest 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 is further authorized and
directed to specify the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the
Units or other Partnership Securities being so issued. The General Partner shall
do all things necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and
directed to do all things it deems to be necessary or advisable in connection
with any future issuance of Partnership Securities 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 for trading.
Section 5.7 LIMITATIONS ON ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIP SECURITIES.
The issuance of Partnership Securities pursuant to Section 5.6 shall be
subject to the following restrictions and limitations:
(a) During the Subordination Period, the Partnership shall not issue
(and shall not issue any options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights
relating to) an aggregate of more than 1,050,000 (plus an amount, if any, equal
to one half of the number of Units issued pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option,
if and to the extent exercised) additional Parity Units without the prior
37
approval of the holders of a Unit Majority. In applying this limitation, there
shall be excluded Common Units and other Parity Units issued (A) in connection
with the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, (B) in accordance with Sections
5.7(b), 5.7(c) and 5.7(d), (C) upon conversion of Subordinated Units pursuant to
Section 5.8, (D) upon conversion of the General Partner Interest or any
Incentive Distribution Rights pursuant to Section 11.3(b), (D) pursuant to the
employee benefit plans of the General Partner, the Partnership or any other
Group Member, (E) upon a conversion or exchange of Parity Units issued after the
date hereof into Common Units or other Parity Units; provided that the total
amount of Available Cash required to pay the aggregate Minimum Quarterly
Distribution on all Common Units and all Parity Units does not increase as a
result of this conversion or exchange and (F) in the event of a combination or
subdivision of Common Units.
(b) The Partnership may also issue an unlimited number of Parity
Units, prior to the end of the Subordination Period and without the prior
approval of the Unitholders, if such issuance occurs (i) in connection with an
Acquisition or a Capital Improvement or (ii) within 365 days of, and the net
proceeds from such issuance are used to repay debt incurred in connection with,
an Acquisition or a Capital Improvement, in each case where such Acquisition or
Capital Improvement involves assets that, if acquired by the Partnership as of
the date that is one year prior to the first day of the Quarter in which such
Acquisition is to be consummated or such Capital Improvement is to be completed,
would have resulted, on a pro forma basis, in an increase in:
(A) the amount of Adjusted Operating Surplus generated by
the Partnership on a per-Unit basis (for all Outstanding Units)
with respect to each of the four most recently completed Quarters
(on a pro forma basis as described below) as compared to
(B) the actual amount of Adjusted Operating Surplus
generated by the Partnership on a per-Unit basis (for all
Outstanding Units) (excluding Adjusted Operating Surplus
attributable to the Acquisition or Capital Improvement) with
respect to each of such four most recently completed Quarters.
The General Partner's good faith determination that such an increase would have
resulted shall be conclusive. If the issuance of Parity Units with respect to an
Acquisition or Capital Improvement occurs within the first four full Quarters
after the Closing Date, then Adjusted Operating Surplus as used in clauses (A)
(subject to the succeeding sentence) and (B) above shall be calculated (i) for
each Quarter, if any, that commenced after the Closing Date for which actual
results of operations are available, based on the actual Adjusted Operating
Surplus of the Partnership generated with respect to such Quarter, and (ii) for
each other Quarter, on a pro forma basis consistent with the procedures, as
applicable, set forth in Appendix D to the Registration Statement. Furthermore,
the amount in clause (A) shall be determined on a pro forma basis assuming that
(1) all of the Parity Units to be issued in connection with or within 365 days
of such Acquisition or Capital Improvement had been issued and outstanding, (2)
all indebtedness for borrowed money to be incurred or assumed in connection with
such Acquisition or Capital Improvement (other than any such indebtedness that
is to be repaid with the proceeds of such issuance of Parity Units) had been
incurred or assumed, in each case as of the commencement of such four-Quarter
period, (3) the personnel expenses that would have been
38
incurred by the Partnership in the operation of the acquired assets are the
personnel expenses for employees to be retained by the Partnership in the
operation of the acquired assets, and (4) the non-personnel costs and expenses
are computed on the same basis as those incurred by the Partnership in the
operation of the Partnership's business at similarly situated Partnership
facilities. For the purposes of this Section 5.7(b), the term "debt" shall be
deemed to include indebtedness used to extend, refinance, renew, replace or
defease debt originally incurred in connection with an Acquisition or Capital
Improvement; provided, that, the amount of such extended, refinanced, renewed,
replaced or defeased indebtedness does not exceed the principal sum of, plus
accrued interest on, the indebtedness so extended, replaced renewed, replaced or
defeased.
(c) The Partnership may also issue an unlimited number of Parity
Units, prior to the end of the Subordination Period and without the approval of
the Unitholders, if the proceeds from such issuance are used exclusively to
repay indebtedness of a Group Member where the aggregate amount of distributions
that would have been paid with respect to such newly issued Units, plus the
related distributions on the General Partner Interest in the Partnership in
respect of the four-Quarter period ending prior to the first day of the Quarter
in which the issuance is to be consummated (assuming such additional Units had
been Outstanding throughout such period and that distributions equal to the
distributions that were actually paid on the Outstanding Units during the period
were paid on such additional Units) would not have exceeded the interest costs
actually incurred during such period on the indebtedness that is to be repaid
(or, if such indebtedness was not outstanding throughout the entire period,
would have been incurred had such indebtedness been outstanding for the entire
period). In the event that the Partnership is required to pay a prepayment
penalty in connection with the repayment of such indebtedness, for purposes of
the foregoing test the number of Parity Units issued to repay such indebtedness
shall be deemed increased by the number of Parity Units that would need to be
issued to pay such penalty.
(d) During the Subordination Period, without the prior approval of the
holders of a Unit Majority, the Partnership shall not issue any additional
Partnership Securities (or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights
related thereto) (i) that are entitled in any Quarter to receive in respect of
the Subordination Period any distribution of Available Cash from Operating
Surplus before the Common Units and any Parity Units have received (or amounts
have been set aside for payment of) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and any
Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage for such Quarter or (ii) that are entitled to
allocations in respect of the Subordination Period of Net Termination Gain
before the Common Units and any Parity Units have been allocated Net Termination
Gain pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i)(B).
(e) During the Subordination Period, without the prior approval of the
holders of a Unit Majority, the Partnership may issue additional Partnership
Securities (or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights related thereto)
(i) that are not entitled in any Quarter during the Subordination Period to
receive any distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus until after
the Common Units and any Parity Units have received (or amounts have been set
aside for payment of) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and any Cumulative
Common Unit Arrearage for such Quarter and (ii) that are not entitled to
allocations in respect of the Subordination Period of Net Termination Gain
before the Common Units and Parity Units have been allocated Net Termination
Gain pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i)(B), even if (A) the amount of Available Cash
39
from Operating Surplus to which each such Partnership Security is entitled to
receive after the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and any Cumulative Common Unit
Arrearage have been paid or set aside for payment on the Common Units exceeds
the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, (B) the amount of Net Termination Gain to be
allocated to such Partnership Security after Net Termination Gain has been
allocated to any Common Units and Parity Units pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(i)(B)
exceeds the amount of such Net Termination Gain to be allocated to each Common
Unit or Parity Unit or (C) the holders of such additional Partnership Securities
have the right to require the Partnership or its Affiliates to repurchase such
Partnership Securities at a discount, par or a premium.
(f) No fractional Units shall be issued by the Partnership.
Section 5.8 CONVERSION OF SUBORDINATED UNITS.
(a) A total of 600,000 of the Outstanding Subordinated Units will
convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis immediately after the
distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect
of any Quarter ending on or after June 30, 2005, in respect of which:
(i) distributions under Section 6.4 in respect of all
Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding
Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units with respect to each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping
four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded
the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the Outstanding
Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that
are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units
during such periods;
(ii) the Adjusted Operating Surplus generated during each of the
three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately
preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution on all of the Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other
Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units that were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis,
plus the related distribution on the General Partner Interest in the
Partnership, during such periods; and
(iii) the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage on all of the Common
Units is zero.
(b) An additional 600,000 of the Outstanding Subordinated Units will
convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis immediately after the
distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect
of any Quarter ending on or after June 30, 2006, in respect of which:
(i) distributions under Section 6.4 in respect of all
Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding
Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units with respect to each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping
four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded
the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the
40
Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding
Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units during such periods;
(ii) the Adjusted Operating Surplus generated during each of the
three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately
preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution on all of the Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other
Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units that were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis,
plus the related distribution on the General Partner Interest during such
periods; and
(iii) the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage on all of the Common
Units is zero;
provided, however, that the conversion of Subordinated Units pursuant to this
Section 5.8(b) may not occur until at least one year following the conversion of
Subordinated Units pursuant to Section 5.8(a).
(c) An additional 600,000 of the Outstanding Subordinated Units will
convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis immediately after the
distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect
of any Quarter ending on or after June 30, 2007, in respect of which:
(i) distributions under Section 6.4 in respect of all
Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding
Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units with respect to each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping
four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded
the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the Outstanding
Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that
are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units
during such periods;
(ii) the Adjusted Operating Surplus generated during each of the
three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately
preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution on all of the Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other
Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units that were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis,
plus the related distribution on the General Partner Interest during such
periods; and
(iii) the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage on all of the Common
Units is zero;
provided, however, that the conversion of Subordinated Units pursuant to this
Section 5.8(c) may not occur until at least one year following the conversion of
Subordinated Units pursuant to Section 5.8(b).
(d) An additional 600,000 of the Outstanding Subordinated Units will
convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis immediately after the
distribution of Available Cash to
41
Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect of any Quarter ending on or after
June 30, 2008, in respect of which:
(i) distributions under Section 6.4 in respect of all
Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding
Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units with respect to each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping
four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded
the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the Outstanding
Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that
are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units
during such periods;
(ii) the Adjusted Operating Surplus generated during each of the
three consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately
preceding such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution on all of the Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other
Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units that were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis,
plus the related distribution on the General Partner Interest during such
periods; and
(iii) the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage on all of the Common
Units is zero;
provided, however, that the conversion of Subordinated Units pursuant to this
Section 5.8(d) may not occur until at least one year following the conversion of
Subordinated Units pursuant to Section 5.8(c).
(e) An additional 600,000 of the Outstanding Subordinated Units will
convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis immediately after the
distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect
of any Quarter ending on or after June 30, 2005, in respect of which:
(i) distributions under Section 6.4 in respect of all
Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding
Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units with respect to each of the two consecutive, non-overlapping
four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded
the sum of the Second Target Distribution on all of the Outstanding Common
Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are
senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units during
such periods;
(ii) the Adjusted Operating Surplus generated during each of the
two consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding
such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Second Target Distribution on
all of the Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other Units that are
senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units that
were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis, plus the
related distribution on the General Partner Interest during such periods;
and
42
(iii) the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage on all of the Common
Units is zero;
(f) An additional 600,000 of the Outstanding Subordinated Units will
convert into Common Units on a one-for-one basis immediately after the
distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant to Section 6.3(a) in respect
of any Quarter ending on or after June 30, 2005 in respect of which:
(i) distributions under Section 6.4 in respect of all
Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding
Units that are senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated
Units with respect to each of the two consecutive, non-overlapping
four-Quarter periods immediately preceding such date equaled or exceeded
the sum of the Third Target Distribution on all of the Outstanding Common
Units and Subordinated Units and any other Outstanding Units that are
senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units during
such periods;
(ii) the Adjusted Operating Surplus generated during each of the
two consecutive, non-overlapping four-Quarter periods immediately preceding
such date equaled or exceeded the sum of the Third Target Distribution on
all of the Common Units, Subordinated Units and any other Units that are
senior or equal in right of distribution to the Subordinated Units that
were Outstanding during such periods on a Fully Diluted Basis, plus the
related distribution on the General Partner Interest during such periods;
and
(iii) the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage on all of the Common
Units is zero;
(g) In the event that less than all of the Outstanding Subordinated
Units shall convert into Common Units pursuant to Sections 5.8(a)-(f) at a time
when there shall be more than one holder of Subordinated Units, then, unless all
of the holders of Subordinated Units shall agree to a different allocation, the
Subordinated Units that are to be converted into Common Units shall be allocated
among the holders of Subordinated Units pro rata based on the number of
Subordinated Units held by each such holder.
(h) Any Subordinated Units that are not converted into Common Units
pursuant to Section 5.8(a)-(f) shall convert into Common Units on a one-for-one
basis immediately after the distribution of Available Cash to Partners pursuant
to Section 6.3(a) in respect of the final Quarter of the Subordination Period.
(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, all the
then Outstanding Subordinated Units will automatically convert into Common Units
on a one-for-one basis as set forth in, and pursuant to the terms of, Section
11.4.
(j) A Subordinated Unit that has converted into a Common Unit shall be
subject to the provisions of Section 6.7(b).
43
Section 5.9 LIMITED PREEMPTIVE RIGHT.
Except as provided in this Section 5.9 and in Section 5.2, no Person shall
have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the
issuance of any Partnership Security, whether unissued, held in the treasury or
hereafter created. The General Partner shall have the right, which it may from
time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its Affiliates, to purchase
Partnership Securities from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms
that, the Partnership issues Partnership Securities to Persons other than the
General Partner and its Affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain the
Percentage Interests of the General Partner and its Affiliates equal to that
which existed immediately prior to the issuance of such Partnership Securities.
Section 5.10 SPLITS AND COMBINATIONS.
(a) Subject to Sections 5.10(d), 6.6 and 6.9 (dealing with adjustments
of distribution levels), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of
Partnership Securities to all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or
combination of Partnership Securities so long as, after any such event, each
Partner shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before
such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis (including any Common
Unit Arrearage or Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage) or stated as a number of
Units (including the number of Subordinated Units that may convert prior to the
end of the Subordination Period and the number of additional Parity Units that
may be issued pursuant to Section 5.7 without a Unitholder vote) are
proportionately adjusted retroactive to the beginning of the Partnership.
(b) Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of
Partnership Securities is declared, the General Partner shall select a Record
Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective
and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such Record Date to each
Record Holder as of a date not less than 10 days prior to the date of such
notice. The General Partner also may cause a firm of independent public
accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Partnership Securities to
be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution,
subdivision or combination. The General Partner shall be entitled to rely on any
certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such
calculation.
(c) Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or
combination, the Partnership may issue Certificates to the Record Holders of
Partnership Securities as of the applicable Record Date representing the new
number of Partnership Securities held by such Record Holders, or the General
Partner may adopt such other procedures as it may deem appropriate to reflect
such changes. If any such combination results in a smaller total number of
Partnership Securities Outstanding, the Partnership shall require, as a
condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of such new Certificate, the
surrender of any Certificate held by such Record Holder immediately prior to
such Record Date.
(d) The Partnership shall not issue fractional Units upon any
distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution,
subdivision or combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional
Units but for the provisions of Section 5.7(f) and this Section 5.10(d), each
44
fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall
be rounded to the next higher Unit).
Section 5.11 FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE NATURE OF LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS.
All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with
the requirements of, this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable
Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability
may be affected by Section 17-607 of the Delaware Act.
ARTICLE VI
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 6.1 ALLOCATIONS FOR CAPITAL ACCOUNT PURPOSES.
For purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the
rights of the Partners among themselves, the 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)(iii) for all previous taxable years until the aggregate Net
Income allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(a)(i)
for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years is equal to the
aggregate Net Losses allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section
6.1(b)(iii) for all previous taxable years;
(ii) Second, 2% to the General Partner, in an amount equal to the
aggregate Net Losses allocated to the General Partner pursuant to Section
6.1(b)(ii) for all previous taxable years and 98% to 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, 2% to the General Partner, and 98% to the
Unitholders, Pro Rata.
(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, 2% to the General Partner, and 98% to the
Unitholders, Pro Rata, until the aggregate Net Losses allocated pursuant to
this Section 6.1(b)(i) for the current
45
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, 2% to the General Partner, and 98% to the
Unitholders, Pro Rata; 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, the balance, if any, 100% to the General Partner.
(c) Net Termination Gains and Losses. After giving effect to the
special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(d), all items of income, gain, loss
and deduction taken into account in computing Net Termination Gain or Net
Termination Loss for such taxable period shall be allocated in the same manner
as such Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss is allocated hereunder. All
allocations under this Section 6.1(c) shall be made after Capital Account
balances have been adjusted by all other allocations provided under this Section
6.1 and after all distributions of Available Cash provided under Sections 6.4
and 6.5 have been made; provided, however, that solely for purposes of this
Section 6.1(c), Capital Accounts shall not be adjusted for distributions made
pursuant to Section 12.4.
(i) If a Net Termination Gain is recognized (or deemed
recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d)), such Net Termination Gain shall be
allocated among the Partners in the following manner (and the Capital
Accounts of the Partners shall be increased by the amount so allocated in
each of the following subclauses, in the order listed, before an allocation
is made pursuant to the next succeeding subclause):
(A) First, to each Partner having a deficit balance in its
Capital Account, in the proportion that such deficit balance bears
to the total deficit balances in the Capital Accounts of all
Partners, until each such Partner has been allocated Net
Termination Gain equal to any such deficit balance in its Capital
Account;
(B) Second, 98% to all Unitholders holding Common Units,
Pro Rata, and 2% to the General Partner, until the Capital Account
in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the
sum of (1) its Unrecovered Capital plus (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)
or (b)(i) with respect to such Common Unit for such Quarter (the
amount determined pursuant to this clause (2) is hereinafter
defined as the "Unpaid MQD") plus (3) any then existing Cumulative
Common Unit Arrearage;
46
(C) Third, if such Net Termination Gain is recognized (or
is deemed to be recognized) prior to the expiration of the
Subordination Period, 98% to all Unitholders holding Subordinated
Units, Pro Rata, and 2% to the General Partner, until the Capital
Account in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding
equals the sum of (1) its Unrecovered Capital, determined for the
taxable year (or portion thereof) to which this allocation of gain
relates, plus (2) the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for the
Quarter during which the Liquidation Date occurs, reduced by any
distribution pursuant to Section 6.4(a)(iii) with respect to such
Subordinated Unit for such Quarter;
(D) Fourth, 98% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, and 2% to the
General Partner, until the Capital Account in respect of each
Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) its
Unrecovered Capital, plus (2) the Unpaid MQD, plus (3) any then
existing Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage, plus (4) the excess of
(aa) the First Target Distribution less the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution for each Quarter of the Partnership's existence over
(bb) the cumulative per Unit amount of any distributions of
Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus made
pursuant to Sections 6.4(a)(iv) and 6.4(b)(ii) (the sum of (1)
plus (2) plus (3) plus (4) is hereinafter defined as the "First
Liquidation Target Amount");
(E) Fifth, 85% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, 13% to the
holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and 2% to
the General Partner, until the Capital Account in respect of each
Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the First
Liquidation Target Amount, plus (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 Operating Surplus made pursuant to Sections 6.4(a)(v)
and 6.4(b)(iii) (the sum of (1) plus (2) is hereinafter defined as
the "Second Liquidation Target Amount");
(F) Sixth, 75% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, 23% to the
holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and 2% to
the General Partner, until the Capital Account in respect of each
Common Unit then Outstanding is equal to the sum of (1) the Second
Liquidation Target Amount, plus (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 Operating Surplus made pursuant to Sections
6.4(a)(vi)and 6.4(b)(iv) (the sum of (1) plus (2) is hereinafter
defined as the "Third Liquidation Target Amount"); and
(G) Finally, any remaining amount 50% to all Unitholders,
Pro Rata, 48% to the holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights,
Pro Rata, and 2% to the General Partner.
47
(ii) If a Net Termination Loss is recognized (or deemed
recognized pursuant to Section 5.5(d)), such Net Termination Loss shall be
allocated among the Partners in the following manner:
(A) First, if such Net Termination Loss is recognized (or
is deemed to be recognized) prior to the conversion of the last
Outstanding Subordinated Unit, 98% to the Unitholders holding
Subordinated Units, Pro Rata, and 2% to the General Partner, until
the Capital Account in respect of each Subordinated Unit then
Outstanding has been reduced to zero;
(B) Second, 98% to all Unitholders holding Common Units,
Pro Rata, and 2% to the General Partner, until the Capital Account
in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding has been reduced
to zero; and
(C) Third, the balance, if any, 100% to the General
Partner.
(d) SPECIAL ALLOCATIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 6.1, the following special allocations shall be made for such taxable
period:
(i) PARTNERSHIP MINIMUM GAIN CHARGEBACK. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Section 6.1, if there is a net decrease in
Partnership Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable period, each
Partner shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such
period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts
provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(f)(6), 1.704-2(g)(2) and
1.704-2(j)(2)(i), or any successor provision. For purposes of this Section
6.1(d), each 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 Sections 6.1(d)(vi) and 6.1(d)(vii)). This Section
6.1(d)(i) is intended to comply with the Partnership Minimum Gain
chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and shall
be interpreted consistently therewith.
(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
48
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 1/98th of
the sum of the amounts allocated in clause (1) above.
(B) After the application of Section 6.1(d)(iii)(A), all or
any portion of the remaining items of Partnership gross income or
gain for the taxable period, if any, shall be allocated 100% 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 paragraph
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.
(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 Section 6.1(d)(i)
or (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
49
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 in its
good faith discretion that the Partnership's Nonrecourse Deductions must be
allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of
the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the
General Partner is authorized, upon notice to the other Partners, to revise
the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that does satisfy
such requirements.
(vii) PARTNER NONRECOURSE DEDUCTIONS. Partner Nonrecourse
Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the Partner
that bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to the Partner
Nonrecourse Debt to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are
attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i). If
more than one Partner bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to a
Partner Nonrecourse Debt, such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions attributable
thereto shall be allocated between or among such Partners in accordance
with the ratios in which they share such Economic Risk of Loss.
(viii) NONRECOURSE LIABILITIES. For purposes of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), the Partners agree that Nonrecourse
Liabilities of the Partnership in excess of the sum of (A) the amount of
Partnership Minimum Gain and (B) the total amount of Nonrecourse Built-in
Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests.
(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(c) of the Code is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital
Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be
treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the
asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis), and such item of
gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Partners in a manner
consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to
be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the Treasury Regulations.
(x) ECONOMIC UNIFORMITY. At the election of the General Partner
with respect to any taxable period ending upon, or after, the termination
of the Subordination Period, all or a portion of the remaining items of
Partnership gross income or gain for such taxable period, after taking into
account allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(iii), shall be allocated
100% to each Partner holding Subordinated Units that are Outstanding as of
the termination of the Subordination Period ("Final Subordinated Units") in
the proportion of the number of Final Subordinated Units held by such
Partner to the total number of Final Subordinated Units then Outstanding,
until each such Partner has been allocated an amount of gross income or
gain which increases the Capital Account maintained with respect to such
Final Subordinated Units to an amount equal to the
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product of (A) the number of Final Subordinated Units held by such Partner
and (B) the Per Unit Capital Amount for a Common Unit. The purpose of this
allocation is to establish uniformity between the Capital Accounts
underlying Final Subordinated Units and the Capital Accounts underlying
Common Units held by Persons other than the General Partner and its
Affiliates immediately prior to the conversion of such Final Subordinated
Units into Common Units. This allocation method for establishing such
economic uniformity will only be available to the General Partner if the
method for allocating the Capital Account maintained with respect to the
Subordinated Units between the transferred and retained Subordinated Units
pursuant to Section 5.5(c)(ii) does not otherwise provide such economic
uniformity to the Final Subordinated Units.
(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 reasonably
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 reasonably determines
that such allocations are likely to be offset by subsequent
Required Allocations.
(B) The General Partner shall have reasonable discretion,
with respect to each taxable period, to (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 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) In the case of any allocation of Additional Book Basis
Derivative Items (other than an allocation of Unrealized Gain or
Unrealized Loss under
51
Section 5.5(d) hereof), the General Partner shall allocate
additional items of gross income and gain away from the holders of
Incentive Distribution Rights to the Unitholders and the General
Partner, or additional items of deduction and loss away from the
Unitholders and the General Partner to the holders of Incentive
Distribution Rights, to the extent that the Additional Book Basis
Derivative Items allocated to the Unitholders or the General
Partner exceed their Share of Additional Book Basis Derivative
Items. For this purpose, the Unitholders and the General Partner
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 or the General
Partner under the Partnership 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)(A) 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.
(B) 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
reasonably determined by the General Partner, that to the extent
possible the aggregate Capital Accounts of the Partners will equal
the amount which 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.
(C) In making the allocations required under this Section
6.1(d)(xii), the General Partner, in its sole discretion, may
apply whatever conventions or other methodology it deems
reasonable to 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:
52
(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 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.
(iii) The General Partner shall apply the principles of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-3(d) to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities.
(c) For the proper administration of the Partnership and for the
preservation of uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or
classes thereof), the General Partner shall have sole discretion to (i) adopt
such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of
depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special
allocations for federal income tax purposes of income (including, without
limitation, gross income) or deductions; and (iii) amend the provisions of this
Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury
Regulations under Section 704(b) or Section 704(c) of the Code or (y) otherwise
to preserve or achieve uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class
or classes thereof). The General Partner may adopt such conventions, make such
allocations and make such amendments to this Agreement as provided in this
Section 6.2(c) only if such conventions, allocations or amendments would not
have a material adverse effect on the Partners, the holders of any class or
classes of Limited Partner Interests issued and Outstanding or the Partnership,
and if such allocations are consistent with the principles of Section 704 of the
Code.
(d) The General Partner in its discretion may determine to depreciate
or amortize the portion of an adjustment under Section 743(b) of the Code
attributable to unrealized appreciation in any Adjusted Property (to the extent
of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a predetermined rate derived from
the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the
Partnership's common basis of such property, despite any inconsistency of such
approach with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6) 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
53
method, the General Partner may use any other reasonable depreciation and
amortization conventions to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax
characteristics of any Limited Partner Interests that would not have a material
adverse effect on the Limited Partners or the Record Holders of any class or
classes of Limited Partner Interests.
(e) Any gain allocated to the Partners upon the sale or other taxable
disposition of any Partnership asset shall, to the extent possible, after taking
into account other required allocations of gain pursuant to this Section 6.2, be
characterized as Recapture Income in the same proportions and to the same extent
as such Partners (or their predecessors in interest) have been allocated any
deductions directly or indirectly giving rise to the treatment of such gains as
Recapture Income.
(f) All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit recognized
by the Partnership for federal income tax purposes and allocated to the Partners
in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be determined without regard to
any election under Section 754 of the Code which may be made by the Partnership;
provided, however, that such allocations, once made, shall be adjusted as
necessary or appropriate to take into account those adjustments permitted or
required by Sections 734 and 743 of the Code.
(g) Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction shall
for federal income tax purposes, be determined on an annual basis and prorated
on a monthly basis and shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of
the New York Stock Exchange on the first Business Day of each month; provided,
however, that (i) 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 in its sole
discretion, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the New York
Stock Exchange on the first Business Day of the month in which such gain or loss
is recognized for federal income tax purposes. The General Partner may revise,
alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation as it determines necessary
or appropriate in its sole discretion, 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 acceptable to
the General Partner in its sole discretion.
Section 6.3 REQUIREMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF DISTRIBUTIONS; DISTRIBUTIONS
TO RECORD HOLDERS.
(a) Within 45 days following the end of each Quarter commencing with
the Quarter ending on June 30, 2002, 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
54
this Article VI by the Partnership to the Partners as of the Record Date
selected by the General Partner in its reasonable discretion. All amounts of
Available Cash distributed by the Partnership on any date from any source shall
be deemed to be Operating Surplus until the sum of all amounts of Available Cash
theretofore distributed by the Partnership to the Partners pursuant to Section
6.4 equals the Operating Surplus from the Closing Date through the close of the
immediately preceding Quarter. Any remaining amounts of Available Cash
distributed by the Partnership on such date shall, except as otherwise provided
in Section 6.5, be deemed to be "Capital Surplus." All distributions required to
be made under this Agreement shall be made subject to Section 17-607 of the
Delaware Act.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a), in the event of the dissolution
and liquidation of the Partnership, all receipts received during or after the
Quarter in which the Liquidation Date occurs, other than from borrowings
described in (a)(ii) of the definition of Available Cash, shall be applied and
distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions
of, Section 12.4.
(c) The General Partner shall have the discretion to treat taxes paid
by the Partnership on behalf of, or amounts withheld with respect to, all or
less than all of the Partners, as a distribution of Available Cash to such
Partners.
(d) Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be
paid by the Partnership, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any
other Person or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interest as
of the Record Date set for such distribution. Such payment shall constitute full
payment and satisfaction of the Partnership's liability in respect of such
payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such
payment by reason of an assignment or otherwise.
Section 6.4 DISTRIBUTIONS OF AVAILABLE CASH FROM OPERATING SURPLUS.
(a) During Subordination Period. Available Cash with respect to any
Quarter within the Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus
pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or 6.5 shall, subject to Section
17-607 of the Delaware Act, be distributed as follows, except as otherwise
required by Section 5.6(b) in respect of additional Partnership Securities
issued pursuant thereto:
(i) First, 98% to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro
Rata, and 2% to the General Partner, until there has been distributed in
respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(ii) Second, 98% to the Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro
Rata, and 2% to the General Partner, until there has been distributed in
respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to the
Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage existing with respect to such Quarter;
(iii) Third, 98% to the Unitholders holding Subordinated Units,
Pro Rata, and 2% to the General Partner, until there has been distributed
in respect of each Subordinated Unit then Outstanding an amount equal to
the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
55
(iv) Fourth, 98% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, and 2% to the
General Partner, 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;
(v) Fifth, 85% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, 13% to the holders
of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and 2% to the General
Partner, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then
Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution
over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;
(vi) Sixth, 75% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, 23% to the holders
of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and 2% to the General
Partner, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then
Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Third Target Distribution
over the Second Target Distribution for such Quarter; and
(vii) Thereafter, 50% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, 48% to the
holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and 2% to the
General Partner;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, if the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target
Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution
have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the
distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus with
respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section
6.4(a)(vii).
(b) After Subordination Period. Available Cash with respect to any
Quarter after the Subordination Period that is deemed to be Operating Surplus
pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.3 or 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, 98% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, and 2% to the
General Partner, 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, 98% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, and 2% to the
General Partner, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit
then Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the First Target
Distribution over the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such Quarter;
(iii) Third, 85% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, 13% to the holders
of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and 2% to the General
Partner, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then
Outstanding an amount equal to the excess of the Second Target Distribution
over the First Target Distribution for such Quarter;
(iv) Fourth, 75% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, 23% to the holders
of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and 2% to the General
Partner, until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit then
Outstanding an amount equal to the excess
56
of the Third Target Distribution over the Second Target Distribution for
such Quarter; and
(v) Thereafter, 50% to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, 48% to the
holders of the Incentive Distribution Rights, Pro Rata, and 2% to the
General Partner;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, if the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the First Target
Distribution, the Second Target Distribution and the Third Target Distribution
have been reduced to zero pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.6(a), the
distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be Operating Surplus with
respect to any Quarter will be made solely in accordance with Section 6.4(b)(v).
Section 6.5 DISTRIBUTIONS OF AVAILABLE CASH FROM CAPITAL SURPLUS.
Available Cash that is deemed to be Capital Surplus pursuant to the
provisions of Section 6.3(a) shall, subject to Section 17-607 of the Delaware
Act, be distributed, unless the provisions of Section 6.3 require otherwise, 98%
to all Unitholders, Pro Rata, and 2% to the General Partner, 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 98% to all
Unitholders holding Common Units, Pro Rata, and 2% to the General Partner, until
there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit then Outstanding an
amount equal to the Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage. Thereafter, all Available
Cash shall be distributed as if it were Operating Surplus and shall be
distributed in accordance with Section 6.4.
Section 6.6 ADJUSTMENT OF MINIMUM QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTION AND TARGET
DISTRIBUTION LEVELS.
(a) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution,
Second Target Distribution, Third Target Distribution, Common Unit Arrearages
and Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages shall be proportionately adjusted in the
event of any distribution, combination or subdivision (whether effected by a
distribution payable in Units or otherwise) of Units or other Partnership
Securities in accordance with Section 5.10. 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 Capital of the Common Units immediately
after giving effect to such distribution and of which the denominator is the
Unrecovered Capital of the Common Units immediately prior to giving effect to
such distribution.
(b) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution,
Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall also be subject
to adjustment pursuant to Section 6.9.
57
Section 6.7 SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE HOLDERS OF SUBORDINATED UNITS.
(a) Except with respect to the right to vote on or approve matters
requiring the vote or approval of a percentage of the holders of Outstanding
Common Units and the right to participate in allocations of income, gain, loss
and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common Units, the holder of
a Subordinated Unit shall have all of the rights and obligations of a Unitholder
holding Common Units hereunder; provided, however, that immediately upon the
conversion of Subordinated Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.8, the
Unitholder holding a Subordinated Unit shall possess all of the rights and
obligations of a Unitholder holding Common Units hereunder, including the right
to vote as a Common Unitholder and the right to participate in allocations of
income, gain, loss and deduction and distributions made with respect to Common
Units; provided, however, that such converted Subordinated Units shall remain
subject to the provisions of Sections 5.5(c)(ii), 6.1(d)(x) and 6.7(b).
(b) The Unitholder holding a Subordinated Unit which has converted
into a Common Unit pursuant to Section 5.8 shall not be issued a Common Unit
Certificate pursuant to Section 4.1, and shall not be permitted to transfer its
converted Subordinated Units to a Person which is not an Affiliate of the holder
until such time as the General Partner determines, based on advice of counsel,
that a converted Subordinated Unit should have, as a substantive matter, like
intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics, in all material
respects, to the intrinsic economic and federal income tax characteristics of an
Initial Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section
6.7(b), the General Partner may take whatever reasonable steps are required to
provide economic uniformity to the converted Subordinated Units in preparation
for a transfer of such converted Subordinated Units, including the application
of Sections 5.5(c)(ii) and 6.1(d)(x); provided, however, that no such steps may
be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding
Common Units represented by Common Unit Certificates.
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, (ii) be entitled to any distributions other than
as provided in Sections 6.4(a)(v), (vi) and (vii), 6.4(b)(iii), (iv) and (v),
and 12.4 or (iii) be allocated items of income, gain, loss or deduction other
than as specified in this Article VI.
Section 6.9 ENTITY-LEVEL TAXATION.
If legislation is enacted or the interpretation of existing language is
modified by the relevant governmental authority which causes a Group Member to
be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise subjects a
Group Member to entity-level taxation for federal, state or local income tax
purposes, the then applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target
Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be
58
adjusted to equal the product obtained by multiplying (a) the amount thereof by
(b) one minus the sum of (i) the highest marginal federal corporate (or other
entity, as applicable) income tax rate of the Group Member for the taxable year
of the Group Member in which such Quarter occurs (expressed as a percentage)
plus (ii) the effective overall state and local income tax rate (expressed as a
percentage) applicable to the Group Member for the calendar year next preceding
the calendar year in which such Quarter occurs (after taking into account the
benefit of any deduction allowable for federal income tax purposes with respect
to the payment of state and local income taxes), but only to the extent of the
increase in such rates resulting from such legislation or interpretation. Such
effective overall state and local income tax rate shall be determined for the
taxable year next preceding the first taxable year during which the Group Member
is taxable for federal income tax purposes as an association taxable as a
corporation or is otherwise subject to entity-level taxation by determining such
rate as if the Group Member had been subject to such state and local taxes
during such preceding taxable year.
ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
Section 7.1 MANAGEMENT.
(a) The General Partner shall conduct, direct and manage all
activities of the Partnership. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the
Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited
Partner or Assignee shall have any management power over the business and
affairs of the Partnership. In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted a
general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or which are
granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the
General Partner, subject to Section 7.3, shall have full power and authority to
do all things and on such terms as it, in its sole discretion, may deem
necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise
all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in
Section 2.4, including the following:
(i) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of
money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for,
indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of
indebtedness, including indebtedness that is convertible into Partnership
Securities, and the incurring of any other obligations;
(ii) the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or
rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies
having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the Partnership;
(iii) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance,
hypothecation or exchange of any or all of the assets of the Partnership or
the merger or other combination of the Partnership with or into another
Person (the matters described in this clause (iii) being subject, however,
to any prior approval that may be required by Section 7.3);
59
(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 the Partnership Group; and the making of capital contributions to any
member of the Partnership Group;
(v) the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts,
conveyances or other instruments (including instruments that limit the
liability of the Partnership under contractual arrangements to all or
particular assets of the Partnership, with the other party to the contract
to have no recourse against the General Partner or its assets other than
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 such insurance for the benefit of the
Partnership Group and the Partners as it deems necessary or appropriate;
(ix) the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the
contribution of property and the making of loans to, any further limited or
general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, limited liability
companies or other relationships (including the acquisition of interests
in, and the contributions of property to, any Group Member from time to
time) subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 2.4;
(x) the control of any matters affecting the rights and
obligations of the Partnership, including the bringing and defending of
actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of
litigation 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) unless restricted or prohibited by Section 5.7, the
purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership
Securities, or the issuance of additional options, rights, warrants and
appreciation rights relating to Partnership Securities; and
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(xiv) the undertaking of any action in connection with the
Partnership's participation in any Group Member as a member or partner.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Operating Company Agreement, the Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or
regulation, each of the Partners and the Assignees and each other Person who may
acquire an interest in Partnership Securities hereby (i) approves, ratifies and
confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of the
Underwriting Agreement, the Omnibus Agreement, the Contribution Agreement, the
Operating Company Agreement, any other limited liability company or partnership
agreement of any other Group Member 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.
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 as may be determined by the
General Partner in its sole discretion to be reasonable and necessary or
appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a
limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited
liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Partnership
may elect to do business or own property. To the extent that such action is
determined by the General Partner in its sole discretion to be reasonable and
necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and
restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to
maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other
entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of
the State of Delaware or of any other state in which the Partnership may elect
to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 3.4(a), the
General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or
mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification
document or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.
Section 7.3 RESTRICTIONS ON THE GENERAL PARTNER'S AUTHORITY.
(a) The General Partner may not, without written approval of the
specific act by holders of all of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests or
by other written instrument executed and delivered by holders of all of the
Outstanding Limited Partner Interests subsequent
61
to the date of this Agreement, take any action in contravention of this
Agreement, including, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, (i)
committing any act that would make it impossible to carry on the ordinary
business of the Partnership; (ii) possessing Partnership property, or assigning
any rights in specific Partnership property, for other than a Partnership
purpose; (iii) admitting a Person as a Partner; (iv) amending this Agreement in
any manner; or (v) transferring its interest as a general partner of the
Partnership.
(b) Except as provided in Articles XII and XIV, the General Partner
may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the
Partnership's assets in a single transaction or a series of related transactions
(including by way of merger, consolidation or other combination) or approve on
behalf of the Partnership the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Operating Company and its subsidiaries
taken as a whole without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority; provided
however that this provision shall not preclude or limit the General Partner's
ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or
substantially all of the assets of the Partnership or the Operating Company and
shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the assets of the
Partnership or the Operating Company pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other
realization upon, any such encumbrance. Without the approval of holders of a
Unit Majority, the General Partner shall not, on behalf of the Partnership, (i)
consent to any amendment to the Operating Company Agreement or, except as
expressly permitted by Section 7.9(d), take any action permitted to be taken by
a member of the Operating Company, in either case, that would adversely affect
the Limited Partners (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as
compared to any other class of Partnership Interests) in any material respect or
(ii) except as permitted under Sections 4.6, 11.1 and 11.2, elect or cause the
Partnership to elect a successor general partner of the Partnership.
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 reasonable basis as the General Partner may determine in its sole
discretion, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it
makes on behalf of the Partnership (including salary, bonus, incentive
compensation and other amounts paid to any Person including Affiliates of the
General Partner to perform services for the Partnership or for the General
Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership), and (ii) all other
necessary or appropriate expenses allocable to the Partnership or otherwise
reasonably incurred by the General Partner in connection with operating the
Partnership's business (including expenses allocated to the General Partner by
its Affiliates). The General Partner shall determine the expenses that are
allocable to the Partnership in any reasonable manner determined by the General
Partner in its sole discretion. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.4
shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of
indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7.
(c) Subject to Section 5.7, the General Partner, in its sole
discretion and without the approval of the Limited Partners (who shall have no
right to vote in respect thereof), may
62
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, any Group Member or
any Affiliate, or any of them, in respect of services performed, directly or
indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to
issue and sell to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership
Securities that the General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide
to any employees pursuant to any such employee benefit plans, employee programs
or employee practices. Expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection
with any such plans, programs and practices (including the net cost to the
General Partner or such Affiliates of Partnership Securities purchased by the
General Partner or such Affiliates from the Partnership to fulfill options or
awards under such plans, programs and practices) shall be reimbursed in
accordance with Section 7.4(b). Any and all obligations of the General Partner
under any employee benefit plans, employee programs or employee practices
adopted by the General Partner as permitted by this Section 7.4(c) shall
constitute obligations of the General Partner hereunder and shall be assumed by
any successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2 or the
transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner's General Partner
Interest pursuant to Section 4.6.
Section 7.5 OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES.
(a) 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 or the Operating Company 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), (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
of one or more Group Members or as described in or contemplated by the
Registration Statement or (B) the acquiring, owning or disposing of debt or
equity securities in any Group Member and (iii) except to the extent permitted
in the Omnibus Agreement, shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to,
engage in any Restricted Business.
(b) MarkWest Hydrocarbon, Inc. and certain of its Affiliates have
entered into the Omnibus Agreement, which agreement sets forth certain
restrictions on the ability of MarkWest Hydrocarbon, Inc. and its Affiliates to
engage in Restricted Businesses.
(c) Except as specifically restricted by Section 7.5(a) and the
Omnibus Agreement, each Indemnitee (other than the General Partner) shall have
the right to engage in businesses of every type and description and other
activities for profit and to engage in and possess an interest in other business
ventures of any and every type or description, whether in businesses engaged in
or anticipated to be engaged in by any Group Member, independently or with
others, including business interests and activities in direct competition with
the business and activities of any Group Member, and none of the same shall
constitute a breach of this Agreement or any duty
63
express or implied by law to any Group Member or any Partner or Assignee.
Neither any Group Member, any Limited Partner nor any other Person shall have
any rights by virtue of this Agreement, the Operating Company Agreement, the
limited liability company or partnership agreements of any other Group Member or
the partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any
Indemnitee.
(d) Subject to the terms of Section 7.5(a), Section 7.5(b),
Section 7.5(c) and the Omnibus Agreement, but otherwise notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in competitive activities by
any Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 7.5 is hereby approved by the Partnership and all
Partners, (ii) it shall be deemed not to be a breach of the General Partner's
fiduciary duty or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of the General
Partner for the Indemnitees (other than the General Partner) to engage in such
business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the
Partnership and (iii) except as set forth in the Omnibus Agreement, the General
Partner and the Indemnitees shall have no obligation to present business
opportunities to the Partnership.
(e) The General Partner and any of its Affiliates may acquire Units or
other Partnership Securities in addition to those acquired on the Closing Date
and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to
exercise all rights of the General Partner or Limited Partner, as applicable,
relating to such Units or Partnership Securities.
(f) The term "Affiliates" when used in Section 7.5(a) and
Section 7.5(e) with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group
Member or any Subsidiary of the Group Member.
(g) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, to the
extent that provisions of Sections 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 7.10 or other Sections of this
Agreement purport or are interpreted to have the effect of restricting the
fiduciary duties that might otherwise, as a result of Delaware or other
applicable law, be owed by the General Partner to the Partnership and its
Limited Partners, or to constitute a waiver or consent by the Limited Partners
to any such restriction, such provisions shall be inapplicable and have no
effect in determining whether the General Partner has complied with its
fiduciary duties in connection with determinations made by it under this Section
7.5.
Section 7.6 LOANS FROM THE GENERAL PARTNER; LOANS OR CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE
PARTNERSHIP; CONTRACTS WITH AFFILIATES; CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON
THE GENERAL PARTNER.
(a) The General Partner or any of its Affiliates may lend to any Group
Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the General Partner or any of its
Affiliates, funds needed or desired by the Group Member for such periods of time
and in such amounts as the General Partner may determine; provided, however,
that in any such case the lending party may not charge the borrowing party
interest at a rate greater than the rate that would be charged the borrowing
party or impose terms less favorable to the borrowing party than would be
charged or imposed on the borrowing party by unrelated lenders on comparable
loans made on an arm's-length basis (without reference to the lending party's
financial abilities or guarantees). The
64
borrowing party shall reimburse the lending party for any costs (other than any
additional interest costs) incurred by the lending party in connection with the
borrowing of such funds. For purposes of this Section 7.6(a) and Section 7.6(b),
the term "Group Member" shall include any Affiliate of a Group Member that is
controlled by the Group Member. No Group Member may lend funds to the General
Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than another Group Member).
(b) The Partnership may lend or contribute to any Group Member, and
any Group Member may borrow from the Partnership, funds on terms and conditions
established in the sole discretion of the General Partner; provided, however,
that the Partnership may not charge the Group Member interest at a rate less
than the rate that would be charged to the Group Member (without reference to
the General Partner's financial abilities or guarantees) by unrelated lenders on
comparable loans. The foregoing authority shall be exercised by the General
Partner in its sole discretion and shall not create any right or benefit in
favor of any Group Member or any other Person.
(c) The General Partner may itself, or may enter into an agreement
with any of its Affiliates to, render services to a Group Member or to the
General Partner in the discharge of its duties as General Partner of the
Partnership. Any services rendered to a Group Member by the General Partner or
any of its Affiliates shall be on terms that are fair and reasonable to the
Partnership; provided, however, that the requirements of this Section 7.6(c)
shall be deemed satisfied as to (i) any transaction approved by Special
Approval, (ii) any transaction, the terms of which are no less favorable to the
Partnership Group than those generally being provided to or available from
unrelated third parties or (iii) any transaction that, taking into account the
totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other
transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the
Partnership Group), is equitable to the Partnership Group. The provisions of
Section 7.4 shall apply to the rendering of services described in this Section
7.6(c).
(d) The Partnership Group may transfer assets to joint ventures, other
partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies or other business
entities in which it is or thereby becomes a participant upon such terms and
subject to such conditions as are consistent with this Agreement and applicable
law.
(e) Neither the General Partner nor any of its Affiliates shall sell,
transfer or convey any property to, or purchase any property from, the
Partnership, directly or indirectly, except pursuant to transactions that are
fair and reasonable to the Partnership; provided, however, that the requirements
of this Section 7.6(e) shall be deemed to be satisfied as to (i) the
transactions effected pursuant to Sections 5.2 and 5.3, the Contribution
Agreement and any other transactions described in or contemplated by the
Registration Statement, (ii) any transaction approved by Special Approval, (iii)
any transaction, the terms of which are no less favorable to the Partnership
than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third
parties, or (iv) any transaction that, taking into account the totality of the
relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that
may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership), is equitable
to the Partnership. With respect to any contribution of assets to the
Partnership in exchange for Partnership Securities, the Conflicts Committee, in
determining whether the appropriate number of Partnership Securities are being
issued, may take into account, among other things, the fair market value of the
assets, the liquidated and contingent
65
liabilities assumed, the tax basis in the assets, the extent to which tax-only
allocations to the transferor will protect the existing partners of the
Partnership against a low tax basis, and such other factors as the Conflicts
Committee deems relevant under the circumstances.
(f) The General Partner and its Affiliates will have no obligation to
permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the General Partner
and its Affiliates, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from
time to time specifically dealing with such use, nor shall there be any
obligation on the part of the General Partner or its Affiliates to enter into
such contracts.
(g) Without limitation of Sections 7.6(a) through 7.6(f), and
notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the existence of the
conflicts of interest described in the Registration Statement are hereby
approved by all Partners.
Section 7.7 INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the
limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be
indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including
legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or
other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or
proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which
any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or
otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee; provided, that in each case
the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner that such Indemnitee
reasonably believed to be in, or (in the case of a Person other than the General
Partner) not opposed to, the best interests of the Partnership and, with respect
to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe its conduct was
unlawful; provided, further, no indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7
shall be available to the General Partner of its Affiliates (other than a Group
Member) with respect to its or their obligations incurred pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement or the Contribution Agreement (other than obligations
incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership). The termination
of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or
upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a
presumption that the Indemnitee acted in a manner contrary to that specified
above. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out
of the assets of the Partnership, it being agreed that the General Partner shall
not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation
to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to
effectuate such indemnification.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal
fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to
Section 7.7(a) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall,
from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to the final disposition
of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by the
Partnership of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such
amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified as authorized in this Section 7.7.
66
(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.
(d) The Partnership may purchase and maintain (or reimburse the
General Partner or its Affiliates for the cost of) insurance, on behalf of the
General Partner, its Affiliates and such other Persons as the General Partner
shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against or expense
that may be incurred by such Person in connection with the Partnership's
activities or such Person's activities on behalf of the Partnership, regardless
of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against
such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) For purposes of this Section 7.7, the Partnership shall be deemed
to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit
plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also
imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or
participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an
Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law
shall constitute "fines" within the meaning of Section 7.7(a); and action taken
or omitted by it with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of
its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the interest of the
participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose
which is in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Partnership.
(f) In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to
personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this
Agreement.
(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.
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Section 7.8 LIABILITY OF INDEMNITEES.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this
Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the
Partnership, the Limited Partners, the Assignees or any other Persons who have
acquired interests in the Partnership Securities, for losses sustained or
liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission if such Indemnitee acted
in good faith.
(b) Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth
in Section 7.1(a), the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to
it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder
either directly or by or through its agents, and the General Partner shall not
be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent
appointed by the General Partner in good faith.
(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties
(including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership
or to the Partners, the General Partner and any other Indemnitee acting in
connection with the Partnership's business or affairs shall not be liable to the
Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of
this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they
restrict or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities of an Indemnitee
otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace
such other duties and liabilities of such Indemnitee.
(d) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any
provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the
limitations on the liability to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, the
General Partner, and the Partnership's and General Partner's directors, officers
and employees under this Section 7.8 as in effect immediately prior to such
amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or
relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment,
modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
Section 7.9 RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the
Operating Company Agreement or the limited liability company or partnership
agreement of any other Group Member whenever a potential conflict of interest
exists or arises between the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the
one hand, and the Partnership, the Operating Company, any other 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 the Operating Company Agreement, of any agreement
contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated or implied by law or
equity, if the resolution or course of action is, or by operation of this
Agreement is deemed to be, fair and reasonable to the Partnership. The General
Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution
of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval of such resolution. Any
conflict of interest and any resolution of such conflict of interest shall be
conclusively deemed fair and reasonable to the Partnership if such conflict of
interest or resolution is (i) approved by Special Approval (as long as the
material facts known to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates regarding
any proposed transaction were disclosed to
68
the Conflicts Committee at the time it gave its approval), (ii) on terms no less
favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available
from unrelated third parties or (iii) fair to the Partnership, taking into
account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved
(including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous
to the Partnership). The General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course
of action that has not received Special Approval. The General Partner (including
the Conflicts Committee in connection with Special Approval) shall be authorized
in connection with its determination of what is "fair and reasonable" to the
Partnership and in connection with its resolution of any conflict of interest to
consider (A) the relative interests of any party to such conflict, agreement,
transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interest;
(B) any customary or accepted industry practices and any customary or historical
dealings with a particular Person; (C) any applicable generally accepted
accounting practices or principles; and (D) such additional factors as the
General Partner (including the Conflicts Committee) determines in its sole
discretion to be relevant, reasonable or appropriate under the circumstances.
Nothing contained in this Agreement, however, is intended to nor shall it be
construed to require the General Partner (including the Conflicts Committee) to
consider the interests of any Person other than the Partnership. In the absence
of bad faith by the General Partner, the resolution, action or terms so made,
taken or provided by the General Partner with respect to such matter shall not
constitute a breach of this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein
or a breach of any standard of care or duty imposed herein or therein or, to the
extent permitted by law, under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or
regulation.
(b) Whenever this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby
provides that the General Partner or any of its Affiliates is permitted or
required to make a decision (i) in its "sole discretion" or "discretion," that
it deems "necessary or appropriate" or "necessary or advisable" or under a grant
of similar authority or latitude, except as otherwise provided herein, the
General Partner or such Affiliate shall be entitled to consider only such
interests and factors as it desires and shall have no duty or obligation to give
any consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting, the Partnership, any
other Group Member, any Limited Partner or any Assignee, (ii) it may make such
decision in its sole discretion (regardless of whether there is a reference to
"sole discretion" or "discretion") unless another express standard is provided
for, or (iii) in "good faith" or under another express standard, the General
Partner or such Affiliate shall act under such express standard and shall not be
subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, the
Operating Company Agreement, the limited liability company or partnership
agreement of any other Group Member, any other agreement contemplated hereby or
under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation. In addition, any
actions taken by the General Partner or such Affiliate consistent with the
standards of "reasonable discretion" set forth in the definitions of Available
Cash or Operating Surplus shall not constitute a breach of any duty of the
General Partner to the Partnership or the Limited Partners. The General Partner
shall have no duty, express or implied, to sell or otherwise dispose of any
asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business. No
borrowing by any Group Member or the approval thereof by the General Partner
shall be deemed to constitute a breach of any duty of the General Partner to the
Partnership or the Limited Partners by reason of the fact that the purpose or
effect of such borrowing is directly or indirectly to (A) enable distributions
to the General Partner or its Affiliates (including in their capacities as
Limited Partners) to exceed 2% of the total amount distributed to all partners
or (B) hasten the expiration of the Subordination Period or the conversion of
any Subordinated Units into Common Units.
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(c) Whenever a particular transaction, arrangement or resolution of a
conflict of interest is required under this Agreement to be "fair and
reasonable" to any Person, the fair and reasonable nature of such transaction,
arrangement or resolution shall be considered in the context of all similar or
related transactions.
(d) The Unitholders hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of
the Partnership as a partner 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.
(d) Any standard of care and duty imposed by this Agreement or under
the Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation shall be modified,
waived or limited, to the extent permitted by law, as required to permit the
General Partner to act under this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated
by this Agreement and to make any decision pursuant to the authority prescribed
in this Agreement, so long as such action is reasonably believed by the General
Partner to be in, or not inconsistent with, the best interests of the
Partnership.
Section 7.11 PURCHASE OR SALE OF PARTNERSHIP SECURITIES.
The General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise
acquire Partnership Securities; provided that, except as permitted pursuant to
Section 4.10, the General Partner may not cause any Group Member to purchase
Subordinated Units during the Subordination Period. As long as Partnership
Securities are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Securities shall not
be considered Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein.
The General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner may also purchase or
otherwise acquire and sell or otherwise dispose of Partnership Securities for
its own account, subject to the provisions of Articles IV and X.
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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
or of MarkWest Hydrocarbon, Inc. (including for purposes of this Section 7.12,
any Person that is an Affiliate of the General Partner or MarkWest Hydrocarbon
Inc. at the date hereof notwithstanding that it may later cease to be an
Affiliate of the General Partner or MarkWest Hydrocarbon, Inc.) holds
Partnership Securities that it desires to sell and (ii) Rule 144 of the
Securities Act (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) or another
exemption from registration is not available to enable such holder of
Partnership Securities (the "Holder") to dispose of the number of Partnership
Securities it desires to sell at the time it desires to do so without
registration under the Securities Act, then upon the request of the General
Partner or any of its or MarkWest Hydrocarbon's Affiliates, the Partnership
shall file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving such
request, and use all reasonable efforts to cause to become effective and remain
effective for a period of not less than six months following its effective date
or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Partnership Securities
covered by such registration statement have been sold, a registration statement
under the Securities Act registering the offering and sale of the number of
Partnership Securities specified by the Holder; provided, however, that the
Partnership shall not be required to effect more than three registrations
pursuant to this Section 7.12(a); and provided further, however, that if the
Conflicts Committee determines in its good faith judgment that a postponement of
the requested registration for up to six months would be in the best interests
of the Partnership and its Partners due to a pending transaction, investigation
or other event, the filing of such registration statement or the effectiveness
thereof may be deferred for up to six months, but not thereafter. In connection
with any registration pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the
Partnership shall promptly prepare and file (x) such documents as may be
necessary to register or qualify the securities subject to such registration
under the securities laws of such states as the Holder shall reasonably request;
provided, however, that no such qualification shall be required in any
jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Partnership would become subject to
general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business as a
foreign corporation or partnership doing business in such jurisdiction solely as
a result of such registration, and (y) such documents as may be necessary to
apply for listing or to list the Partnership Securities subject to such
registration on such National Securities Exchange as the Holder shall reasonably
request, and do any and all other acts and things that may reasonably be
necessary or advisable to enable the Holder to consummate a public sale of such
Partnership Securities in such states. Except as set forth in Section 7.12(c),
all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other than the
underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the Partnership,
without reimbursement by the Holder.
(b) If the Partnership shall at any time propose to file a
registration statement under the Securities Act for an offering of equity
securities of the Partnership for cash (other than an offering relating solely
to an employee benefit plan), the Partnership shall use all reasonable efforts
to include such number or amount of securities held by the Holder in such
registration statement as the Holder shall request. If the proposed offering
pursuant to this Section 7.12(b) shall be an underwritten offering, then, in the
event that the managing underwriter or managing underwriters of such offering
advise the Partnership and the Holder in writing that in their opinion the
inclusion of all or some of the Holder's Partnership Securities would adversely
and materially affect the success of the offering, the Partnership shall include
in such offering only
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that number or amount, if any, of securities held by the Holder which, in the
opinion of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, will not so
adversely and materially affect the offering. Except as set forth in Section
7.12(c), all costs and expenses of any such registration and offering (other
than the underwriting discounts and commissions) shall be paid by the
Partnership, without reimbursement by the Holder.
(c) If underwriters are engaged in connection with any registration
referred to in this Section 7.12, the Partnership shall provide indemnification,
representations, covenants, opinions and other assurance to the underwriters in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such underwriters. Further, in
addition to and not in limitation of the Partnership's obligation under Section
7.7, the Partnership shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify
and hold harmless the Holder, its officers, directors and each Person who
controls the Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and any agent
thereof (collectively, "Indemnified Persons") against any losses, claims,
demands, actions, causes of action, assessments, damages, liabilities (joint or
several), costs and expenses (including interest, penalties and reasonable
attorneys' fees and disbursements), resulting to, imposed upon, or incurred by
the Indemnified Persons, directly or indirectly, under the Securities Act or
otherwise (hereinafter referred to in this Section 7.12(c) as a "claim" and in
the plural as "claims") based upon, arising out of or resulting from any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any
registration statement under which any Partnership Securities were registered
under the Securities Act or any state securities or Blue Sky laws, in any
preliminary prospectus (if used prior to the effective date of such registration
statement), or in any summary or final prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto (if used during the period the Partnership is required to
keep the registration statement current), or arising out of, based upon or
resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein
not misleading; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be liable to
any Indemnified Person to the extent that any such claim arises out of, is based
upon or results from an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission made in such registration statement, such preliminary,
summary or final prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by or on
behalf of such Indemnified Person specifically for use in the preparation
thereof.
(d) The provisions of Section 7.12(a) and 7.12(b) shall continue to be
applicable with respect to the General Partner (and any of the General Partner's
or MarkWest Hydrocarbon, Inc.'s Affiliates) after it ceases to be a 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(c) shall continue in
effect thereafter.
(e) Any request to register Partnership Securities pursuant to this
Section 7.12 shall (i) specify the Partnership Securities intended to be offered
and sold by the Person making the request, (ii) express such Person's present
intent to offer such Partnership Securities for
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distribution, (iii) describe the nature or method of the proposed offer and sale
of Partnership Securities, and (iv) contain the undertaking of such Person to
provide all such information and materials and take all action as may be
required in order to permit the Partnership to comply with all applicable
requirements in connection with the registration of such Partnership Securities.
Section 7.13 RELIANCE BY THIRD PARTIES.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person
dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General
Partner and any officer of the General Partner authorized by the General Partner
to act on behalf of and in the name of the Partnership has full power and
authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of
the Partnership and to enter into any authorized contracts on behalf of the
Partnership, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner
or any such officer as if it were the Partnership's sole party in interest, both
legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives any and all
defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest,
negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner or any such officer in
connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the
General Partner or any such officer or its representatives be obligated to
ascertain that the terms of the Agreement have been complied with or to inquire
into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or
any such officer or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or
other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or
its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every
Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the
execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this
Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering
such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do
so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (c) such certificate, document or
instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and
provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.
ARTICLE VIII
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
Section 8.1 RECORDS AND ACCOUNTING.
The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office
of the Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the
Partnership's business, including all books and records necessary to provide to
the Limited Partners any information required to be provided pursuant to Section
3.4(a). Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in
the regular course of its business, including the record of the Record Holders
and Assignees of Units or other Partnership Securities, books of account and
records of Partnership proceedings, 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.
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Section 8.2 FISCAL YEAR.
The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending December
31.
Section 8.3 REPORTS.
(a) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days after
the close of each fiscal year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall
cause to be mailed or made available to each Record Holder of a Unit as of a
date selected by the General Partner in its discretion, an annual report
containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the
Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet
and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, such statements
to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the
General Partner.
(b) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after
the close of each Quarter except the last Quarter of each fiscal year, the
General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available to each Record Holder
of a Unit, as of a date selected by the General Partner in its discretion, a
report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership and such
other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of
any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed for trading, or
as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
ARTICLE IX
TAX MATTERS
Section 9.1 TAX RETURNS AND INFORMATION.
The Partnership shall timely file all returns of the Partnership that are
required for federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the
accrual method and a taxable year ending on December 31. The tax information
reasonably required by Record Holders for federal and state income tax reporting
purposes with respect to a taxable year shall be furnished to them within 90
days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnership's taxable year
ends. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses
and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for
federal income tax purposes.
Section 9.2 TAX ELECTIONS.
(a) The Partnership shall make the election under Section 754 of the
Code in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder, subject to the
reservation of the right to seek to revoke any such election upon the General
Partner's determination that such revocation is in the best interests of the
Limited Partners. Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained, for the
purposes of computing the adjustments under Section 743(b) of the Code, the
General Partner shall be authorized (but not required) to adopt a convention
whereby the price paid by a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest will be
deemed to be the lowest quoted closing price of the Limited Partner Interests on
any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are
traded during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur
pursuant to Section 6.2(g) without regard to the actual price paid by such
transferee.
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(b) The Partnership shall elect to deduct expenses incurred in
organizing the Partnership ratably over a sixty-month period as provided in
Section 709 of the Code.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall
determine whether the Partnership should make any other elections permitted by
the Code.
Section 9.3 TAX CONTROVERSIES.
Subject to the provisions hereof, the General Partner is designated as the
Tax Matters Partner (as defined in the Code) and is authorized and required to
represent the Partnership (at the Partnership's expense) in connection with all
examinations of the Partnership's affairs by tax authorities, including
resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership
funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. Each Partner
agrees to cooperate with the General Partner and to do or refrain from doing any
or all things reasonably required by the General Partner to conduct such
proceedings.
Section 9.4 WITHHOLDING.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner
is authorized to take any action that it determines in its discretion to be
necessary or appropriate to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to
comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other
federal, state or local law including, without limitation, pursuant to Sections
1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the extent that the Partnership is
required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount
resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner or
Assignee (including, without limitation, by reason of Section 1446 of the Code),
the amount withheld may at the discretion of the General Partner be treated by
the Partnership as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.3 in the amount
of such withholding from such Partner.
ARTICLE X
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS
Section 10.1 ADMISSION OF INITIAL LIMITED PARTNERS.
Upon the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units, Subordinated Units
and Incentive Distribution Rights to the General Partner, MarkWest Michigan,
Inc. and the Underwriters as described in Sections 5.2 and 5.3 in connection
with the Initial Offering, the General Partner shall admit 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 PARTNER.
By transfer of a Limited Partner Interest in accordance with Article IV,
the transferor shall be deemed to have given the transferee the right to seek
admission as a Substituted Limited Partner subject to the conditions of, and in
the manner permitted under, this Agreement. A transferor of a Certificate
representing a Limited Partner Interest shall, however, only have the authority
to convey to a purchaser or other transferee who does not execute and deliver a
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Transfer Application (a) the right to negotiate such Certificate to a purchaser
or other transferee and (b) the right to transfer the right to request admission
as a Substituted Limited Partner to such purchaser or other transferee in
respect of the transferred Limited Partner Interests. Each transferee of a
Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent acquiring
such Limited Partner Interest for the account of another Person) who executes
and delivers a Transfer Application shall, by virtue of such execution and
delivery, be an Assignee and be deemed to have applied to become a Substituted
Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred to
such Person. Such Assignee shall become a Substituted Limited Partner (x) at
such time as the General Partner consents thereto, which consent may be given or
withheld in the General Partner's discretion, and (y) when any such admission is
shown on the books and records of the Partnership. If such consent is withheld,
such transferee shall be an Assignee. An Assignee shall have an interest in the
Partnership equivalent to that of a Limited Partner with respect to allocations
and distributions, including liquidating distributions, of the Partnership. With
respect to voting rights attributable to Limited Partner Interests that are held
by Assignees, the General Partner shall be deemed to be the Limited Partner with
respect thereto and shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such
Limited Partner Interests on any matter, vote such Limited Partner Interests at
the written direction of the Assignee who is the Record Holder of such Limited
Partner Interests. If no such written direction is received, such Limited
Partner Interests will not be voted. An Assignee shall have no other rights of a
Limited Partner.
Section 10.3 ADMISSION OF SUCCESSOR GENERAL PARTNER.
A successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2 or
the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner Interest pursuant
to Section 4.6 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner
shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective
immediately prior to the withdrawal or removal of the predecessor or
transferring General Partner, pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2 or the transfer
of the General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6, provided, however, that
no such successor shall be admitted to the Partnership until compliance with the
terms of Section 4.6 has occurred and such successor has executed and delivered
such other documents or instruments as may be required to effect such admission.
Any such successor shall, subject to the terms hereof, carry on the business of
the members of the Partnership Group without dissolution.
Section 10.4 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
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(ii) such other documents or instruments as may be required in
the discretion of the General Partner to effect such Person's admission as
an Additional Limited Partner.
(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, which consent may be given or withheld in the General
Partner's discretion. The admission of any Person as an Additional Limited
Partner shall become effective on the date upon which the name of such Person is
recorded as such in the books and records of the Partnership, following the
consent of the General Partner to such admission.
Section 10.5 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 and appropriate under the Delaware Act to
amend the records of the Partnership to reflect such admission and, if
necessary, to prepare as soon as practicable an amendment to this Agreement and,
if required by law, the General Partner shall prepare and file an amendment to
the Certificate of Limited Partnership, and the General Partner may for this
purpose, among others, exercise the power of attorney granted pursuant to
Section 2.6.
ARTICLE XI
WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS
Section 11.1 WITHDRAWAL OF THE GENERAL PARTNER.
(a) The General Partner shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the
Partnership upon the occurrence of any one of the following events (each such
event herein referred to as an "Event of Withdrawal");
(i) The General Partner voluntarily withdraws from the
Partnership by giving written notice to the other Partners;
(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 Section 11.1(a)(iv), (v) or (vi)(A), (B),
(C) or (E) occurs, the withdrawing General Partner shall give notice to the
Limited Partners within 30 days after such occurrence. The Partners hereby agree
that only the Events of Withdrawal described in this Section 11.1 shall result
in the withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership.
(b) Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the
occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this
Agreement under the following circumstances: (i) at any time during the period
beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 12:00 midnight, Eastern Standard
Time, on June 30, 2012, 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
previously treated as such); (ii) at any time after 12:00 midnight, Eastern
Standard Time, on June 30, 2012, 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, 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
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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 of 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.
Section 11.2 REMOVAL OF THE GENERAL PARTNER.
The General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by the
Unitholders holding at least 66 2/3% of the Outstanding Units (including Units
held by the General Partner and its Affiliates). Any such action by such holders
for removal of the General Partner must also provide for the election of a
successor General Partner by the Unitholders holding a majority of the
outstanding Common Units voting as a class and a majority of the outstanding
Subordinated Units voting as a class (including Units held by the General
Partner and its Affiliates). Such removal shall be effective immediately
following the admission of a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 10.3.
The removal of the General Partner shall also automatically constitute the
removal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, to the
extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a
general partner or a managing member. If a Person is elected as a successor
General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.2, such Person
shall, upon admission pursuant to Section 10.3, automatically become a successor
general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group
Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member.
The right of the holders of Outstanding Units to remove the General Partner
shall not exist or be exercised unless the Partnership has received an opinion
opining as to the matters covered by a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel. Any
successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section
11.2 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.3.
Section 11.3 INTEREST OF DEPARTING PARTNER AND SUCCESSOR GENERAL PARTNER.
(a) In the event of (i) withdrawal of the General Partner under
circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement or (ii)
removal of the General Partner by the holders of Outstanding Units under
circumstances where Cause does not exist, if the successor General Partner is
elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1 or 11.2, the Departing
Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the
departure of such Departing Partner, to require its successor to purchase its
General Partner Interest and its general partner interest (or equivalent
interest), if any, in the other Group Members and all of its 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 Section 11.1 or 11.2, such successor
shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the departure
of such Departing Partner, to purchase the Combined Interest for such fair
market value of such Combined Interest of the Departing Partner. In either
event, the Departing Partner shall be entitled to receive all
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reimbursements due such Departing 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
Partner for the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.
For purposes of this Section 11.3(a), the fair market value of the
Departing Partner's Combined Interest shall be determined by agreement between
the Departing Partner and its successor or, failing agreement within 30 days
after the effective date of such Departing Partner's departure, by an
independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the
Departing 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 Partner shall designate an independent investment banking
firm or other independent expert, the Departing 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 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, the value of the Partnership's assets,
the rights and obligations of the Departing 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 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 Partner (or its transferee) as to all debts and liabilities of the
Partnership arising on or after the date on which the Departing Partner (or its
transferee) becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes of this Agreement,
conversion of the Combined Interest of the Departing Partner to Common Units
will be characterized as if the Departing 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 Section 11.1 or 11.2 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 2/98ths of 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 2% of all Partnership
allocations and distributions to which the Departing 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 2%.
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Section 11.4 TERMINATION OF SUBORDINATION PERIOD, CONVERSION OF SUBORDINATED
UNITS AND EXTINGUISHMENT OF CUMULATIVE COMMON UNIT ARREARAGES.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, if the General Partner is
removed as general partner of the Partnership under circumstances where Cause
does not exist and Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates are not
voted in favor of such removal, (i) the Subordination Period will end and all
Outstanding Subordinated Units will immediately and automatically convert into
Common Units on a one-for-one basis and (ii) all Cumulative Common Unit
Arrearages on the Common Units will be extinguished.
Section 11.5 WITHDRAWAL OF LIMITED PARTNERS.
No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership;
provided, however, that when a transferee of a Limited Partner's Limited Partner
Interest becomes a Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interest so transferred,
such transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner with
respect to the Limited Partner Interest so transferred.
ARTICLE XII
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
Section 12.1 DISSOLUTION.
The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of Substituted
Limited Partners or Additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a
successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon
the removal or withdrawal of the General Partner, if a successor General Partner
is elected pursuant to Section 11.1 or 11.2, the Partnership shall not be
dissolved and such successor General Partner shall continue the business of the
Partnership. The Partnership shall dissolve, and (subject to Section 12.2) its
affairs shall be wound up, upon:
(a) an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner as provided in
Section 11.1(a) (other than Section 11.1(a)(ii)), unless a successor is elected
and an Opinion of Counsel is received as provided in Section 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) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets and properties
of the Partnership Group.
Section 12.2 CONTINUATION OF THE BUSINESS OF THE PARTNERSHIP AFTER DISSOLUTION.
Upon (a) dissolution of the Partnership following an Event of Withdrawal
caused by the withdrawal or removal of the General Partner as provided in
Section 11.1(a)(i) or (iii) and the
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failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing Partner pursuant
to Section 11.1 or 11.2, then within 90 days thereafter, or (b) dissolution of
the Partnership upon an event constituting an Event of Withdrawal as defined in
Section 11.1(a)(iv), (v) or (vi), then, to the maximum extent permitted by law,
within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a Unit Majority may elect to
reconstitute the Partnership and continue its business on the same terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement by forming a new limited partnership on
terms identical to those set forth in this Agreement and having as the successor
General partner a Person approved by the holders of a Unit Majority. Unless such
an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above, the
Partnership shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If
such an election is so made, then:
(i) the reconstituted Partnership shall continue 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) all necessary steps shall be taken to cancel this Agreement
and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and to enter into and, as
necessary, to file a new partnership agreement and certificate of limited
partnership, and the successor General Partner may for this purpose
exercise the powers of attorney granted the General Partner pursuant to
Section 2.6; provided, that the right of the holders of a Unit Majority to
approve a successor General Partner and to reconstitute and to continue the
business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not be exercised unless
the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that (x) the exercise of
the right would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited
Partner and (y) neither the Partnership, the reconstituted limited
partnership nor the Operating Company or any other 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.
Section 12.3 LIQUIDATOR.
Upon dissolution of the Partnership, unless the Partnership is continued
under an election to reconstitute and continue the Partnership pursuant to
Section 12.2, the General Partner shall select one or more Persons to act as
Liquidator. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall be entitled
to receive such compensation for its services as may be approved by holders of
at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units
voting as a single class. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner)
shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days' prior notice and may be
removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by
holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and Subordinated
Units voting as a single class. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the
Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to
all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days
thereafter be approved by holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding
Common Units and Subordinated Units voting as a single class. The right to
approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall
be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator
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approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this
Article XII, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have
and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties
hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the General Partner under the terms of
this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual
and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on
sale set forth in Section 7.3(b)) to the extent necessary or desirable in the
good faith judgment of the Liquidator to carry out the duties and functions of
the Liquidator hereunder for and during such period of time as shall be
reasonably required in the good faith judgment of the Liquidator to complete the
winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.
Section 12.4 LIQUIDATION.
The Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Partnership,
discharge its liabilities, and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and
over such period as the Liquidator determines to be in the best interest of the
Partners, subject to Section 17-804 of the Delaware Act and the following:
(a) The assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by
distribution in kind to one or more Partners on such terms as the Liquidator and
such Partner or Partners may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the
Partner receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 12.4(c)
to have received cash equal to its fair market value; and contemporaneously
therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners.
The Liquidator may, in its absolute discretion, defer liquidation or
distribution of the Partnership's assets for a reasonable time if it determines
that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Partnership's
assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners. The
Liquidator may, in its absolute discretion, distribute the Partnership's assets,
in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical
or would cause undue loss to the Partners.
(b) Liabilities of the Partnership include amounts owed to the
Liquidator as compensation for serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of
Section 12.3) and amounts to Partners otherwise than in respect of their
distribution rights under Article VI. With respect to any liability that is
contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable,
the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it thinks
appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its
payment. When paid, any unused portion of the reserve shall be distributed as
additional liquidation proceeds.
(c) All property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge
liabilities as provided in Section 12.4(b) shall be distributed to the Partners
in accordance with, and to the extent of, the positive balances in their
respective Capital Accounts, as determined after taking into account all Capital
Account adjustments (other than those made by reason of distributions pursuant
to this Section 12.4(c)) for the taxable year of the Partnership during which
the liquidation of the Partnership occurs (with such date of occurrence being
determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)), and
such distribution shall be made by the end of such taxable year (or, if later,
within 90 days after said date of such occurrence).
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Section 12.5 CANCELLATION OF CERTIFICATE OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP.
Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and property as
provided in Section 12.4 in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership,
the Partnership shall be terminated and the Certificate of Limited Partnership
and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in
jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such other
actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.
Section 12.6 RETURN OF CONTRIBUTIONS.
The General Partner shall not be personally liable for, and shall have no
obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to
enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited
Partners or Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood
that any such return shall be made solely from Partnership assets.
Section 12.7 WAIVER OF PARTITION.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any
right to partition of the Partnership property.
Section 12.8 CAPITAL ACCOUNT RESTORATION.
No Limited Partner shall have any obligation to restore any negative
balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of the Partnership. The General
Partner shall be obligated to restore any negative balance in its Capital
Account upon liquidation of its interest in the Partnership by the end of the
taxable year of the Partnership during which such liquidation occurs, or, if
later, within 90 days after the date of such liquidation.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
Section 13.1 AMENDMENT TO BE ADOPTED SOLELY BY THE GENERAL PARTNER.
Each Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any
Partner or Assignee, may amend any provision of this Agreement and execute,
swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be
required in connection therewith, to reflect:
(a) a change in the name of the Partnership, the location of the
principal place of business of the Partnership, the registered agent of the
Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership;
(b) admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Partners in
accordance with this Agreement;
(c) a change that, in the sole discretion of the General Partner, is
necessary or advisable to qualify or continue the qualification of the
Partnership as a limited partnership or a partnership in which the Limited
Partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to
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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) a change that, in the discretion of the General Partner, (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) is necessary or advisable to (A) satisfy any
requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive,
order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority
or contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B)
facilitate the trading of the Units (including the division of any class or
classes of Outstanding Units into different classes to facilitate uniformity of
tax consequences within such classes of Units) or comply with any rule,
regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on
which the Units are or will be listed for trading, compliance with any of which
the General Partner determines in its discretion to be in the best interests of
the Partnership and the Limited Partners, (iii) is necessary or advisable in
connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.10 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 changes that, in the discretion of the General Partner, are necessary or
advisable as a result of a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the
Partnership including, if the General Partner shall so determine, a change in
the definition of "Quarter" and the dates on which distributions are to be made
by the Partnership;
(f) an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to
prevent the Partnership, or the General Partner or 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 the terms of Section 5.7, an amendment that, in the
discretion of the General Partner, is necessary or advisable in connection with
the authorization of issuance of any class or series of Partnership Securities
pursuant to Section 5.6;
(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, in the discretion of the General Partner, is
necessary or advisable to reflect, account for and deal with appropriately the
formation by the Partnership of, or investment by the Partnership in, any
corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other
entity, in connection with the conduct by the Partnership of activities
permitted by the terms of Section 2.4;
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(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 or with the consent of the
General Partner which consent may be given or withheld in its sole discretion. A
proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval by the holders of a Unit
Majority, unless a greater or different percentage is required under this
Agreement or by Delaware law. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval
of the holders of a specified percentage of Outstanding Units shall be set forth
in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment. If such an
amendment is proposed, the General Partner shall seek the written approval of
the requisite percentage of Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the
Unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed amendment. The General Partner
shall notify all Record Holders upon final adoption of any such proposed
amendments.
Section 13.3 AMENDMENT REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 13.1 and 13.2, no
provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units
(including Units deemed owned by the General Partner) required to take any
action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect
that would have the effect of reducing such voting percentage unless such
amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders
of Outstanding Units whose aggregate Outstanding Units constitute not less than
the voting requirement sought to be reduced.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 13.1 and 13.2, no
amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Limited
Partner without its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a
result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 13.3(c), (ii) enlarge the
obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any
way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable to, the General
Partner or any of its Affiliates without its consent, which consent may be given
or withheld in its sole discretion, (iii) change Section 12.1(b), or (iv) change
the term of the Partnership or, except as set forth in Section 12.1(b), give any
Person the right to dissolve the Partnership.
(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 of Partnership Interests in relation to other classes of
Partnership Interests must be approved by the holders of not less than a
majority of the Outstanding Partnership Interests of the class affected.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, except for
amendments pursuant to Section 13.1 and except as otherwise provided by Section
14.3(b), no amendments shall become effective without the approval of the
holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding Units voting as a single class unless
the Partnership obtains an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
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that such amendment will not affect the limited liability of any Limited Partner
under applicable law.
(e) Except as provided in Section 13.1, this Section 13.3 shall only
be amended with the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the Outstanding
Units.
Section 13.4 SPECIAL MEETINGS.
All acts of Limited Partners to be taken pursuant to this Agreement shall
be taken in the manner provided in this Article XIII. Special meetings of the
Limited Partners may be called by the General Partner or by Limited Partners
owning 20% or more of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a
meeting is proposed. Limited Partners shall call a special meeting by delivering
to the General Partner one or more requests in writing stating that the signing
Limited Partners wish to call a special meeting and indicating the general or
specific purposes for which the special meeting is to be called. Within 60 days
after receipt of such a call from Limited Partners or within such greater time
as may be reasonably necessary for the Partnership to comply with any statutes,
rules, regulations, listing agreements or similar requirements governing the
holding of a meeting or the solicitation of proxies for use at such a meeting,
the General Partner shall send a notice of the meeting to the Limited Partners
either directly or indirectly through the Transfer Agent. A meeting shall be
held at a time and place determined by the General Partner on a date not less
than 10 days nor more than 60 days after the mailing of notice of the meeting.
Limited Partners shall not vote on matters that would cause the Limited Partners
to be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and
affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners' limited
liability under the Delaware Act or the law of any other state in which the
Partnership is qualified to do business.
Section 13.5 NOTICE OF A MEETING.
Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 13.4 shall be given to the
Record Holders of the class or classes of Units for which a meeting is proposed
in writing by mail or other means of written communication in accordance with
Section 16.1. The notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when
deposited in the mail or sent by other means of written communication.
Section 13.6 RECORD DATE.
For purposes of determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or
to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners or to give approvals without a
meeting as provided in Section 13.11 the General Partner may set a Record Date,
which shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days before (a) the date of the
meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline
or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed
for trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of
such exchange shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought
without a meeting, the date by which Limited Partners are requested in writing
by the General Partner to give such approvals.
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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, and if, either before or after the meeting, Limited Partners
representing such quorum who were present in person or by proxy and entitled to
vote, sign a written waiver of notice or an approval of the holding of the
meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof. All waivers and approvals shall
be filed with the Partnership records or made a part of the minutes of the
meeting. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver
of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner does not approve, at
the beginning of the meeting, of the transaction of any business because the
meeting is not lawfully called or convened; and except that attendance at a
meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove the consideration of matters
required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if
the disapproval is expressly made at the meeting.
Section 13.9 QUORUM.
The holders of a majority of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes
for which a meeting has been called (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by
the General Partner) represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum
at a meeting of Limited Partners of such class or classes unless any such action
by the Limited Partners requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of
such Units, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage. At any
meeting of the Limited Partners duly called and held in accordance with this
Agreement at which a quorum is present, the act of Limited Partners holding
Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent a majority of the Outstanding
Units entitled to vote and be present in person or by proxy at such meeting
shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners, unless a greater
or different percentage is required with respect to such action under the
provisions of this Agreement, in which case the act of the Limited Partners
holding Outstanding Units that in the aggregate represent at least such greater
or different percentage shall be required. The Limited Partners present at a
duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to
transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough
Limited Partners to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than
adjournment) is approved by the required percentage of Outstanding Units
specified in this Agreement (including Outstanding Units deemed owned by the
General Partner). In the absence of a quorum any meeting of Limited Partners may
be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a
majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to vote at such meeting (including
Outstanding
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Units deemed owned by the General Partner) represented either in person or by
proxy, but no other business may be transacted, except as provided in Section
13.7.
Section 13.10 CONDUCT OF A MEETING.
The General Partner shall have full power and authority concerning the
manner of conducting any meeting of the Limited Partners or solicitation of
approvals in writing, including the determination of Persons entitled to vote,
the existence of a quorum, the satisfaction of the requirements of Section 13.4,
the conduct of voting, the validity and effect of any proxies and the
determination of any controversies, votes or challenges arising in connection
with or during the meeting or voting. The General Partner shall designate a
Person to serve as chairman of any meeting and shall further designate a Person
to take the minutes of any meeting. All minutes shall be kept with the records
of the Partnership maintained by the General Partner. The General Partner may
make such other regulations consistent with applicable law and this Agreement as
it may deem advisable concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Limited
Partners or solicitation of approvals in writing, including regulations in
regard to the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors
of votes and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other
evidence of the right to vote, and the revocation of approvals in writing.
Section 13.11 ACTION WITHOUT A MEETING.
If authorized by the General Partner, any action that may be taken at a
meeting of the Limited Partners may be taken without a meeting if an approval in
writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Limited Partners owning
not less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Units (including Units
deemed owned by the General Partner) that would be necessary to authorize or
take such action at a meeting at which all the Limited Partners were present and
voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or
requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed
for trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of
such exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a
meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing.
The General Partner may specify that any written ballot submitted to Limited
Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be
returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than
20 days, specified by the General Partner. If a ballot returned to the
Partnership does not vote all of the Units held by the Limited Partners, the
Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Units
that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any action by the Limited
Partners is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of the General
Partner, the written approvals shall have no force and effect unless and until
(a) they are deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner, (b)
approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are dated as of a date not more
than 90 days prior to the date sufficient approvals are deposited with the
Partnership and (c) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the General Partner to
the effect that the exercise of such right and the action proposed to be taken
with respect to any particular matter (i) will not cause the Limited Partners to
be deemed to be taking part in the management and control of the business and
affairs of the Partnership so as to jeopardize the Limited Partners' limited
liability, and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the state statutes then
governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Partnership and the
Partners.
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Section 13.12 VOTING AND OTHER RIGHTS.
(a) Only those Record Holders of the Units on the Record Date set
pursuant to Section 13.6 (and also subject to the limitations contained in the
definition of "Outstanding") shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a
meeting of Limited Partners or to act with respect to matters as to which the
holders of the Outstanding Units have the right to vote or to act. All
references in this Agreement to votes of, or other acts that may be taken by,
the Outstanding Units shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of
the Record Holders of such Outstanding Units.
(b) With respect to Units that are held for a Person's account by
another Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing
corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), in whose name such Units are
registered, such other Person shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect
of such Units on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons
provides otherwise, vote such Units in favor of, and at the direction of, the
Person who is the beneficial owner, and the Partnership shall be entitled to
assume it is so acting without further inquiry. The provisions of this Section
13.12(b) (as well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the
provisions of Section 4.3.
ARTICLE XIV
MERGER
Section 14.1 AUTHORITY.
The Partnership may merge or consolidate with one or more corporations,
limited liability companies, business trusts or associations, real estate
investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a
general partnership or limited partnership, formed under the laws of the State
of Delaware or any other state of the United States of America, pursuant to a
written agreement of merger or consolidation ("Merger Agreement") in accordance
with this Article XIV.
Section 14.2 PROCEDURE FOR MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION.
Merger or consolidation of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV
requires the prior approval of the General Partner. If the General Partner shall
determine, in the exercise of its discretion, to consent to the merger or
consolidation, the General Partner shall approve the Merger Agreement, which
shall set forth:
(a) the names and jurisdictions of formation or organization of each
of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;
(b) the name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of the
business entity that is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation (the
"Surviving Business Entity");
(c) the terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;
90
(d) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity
securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or
general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the
Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if any general or limited partner interests,
securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged
or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or general or limited partner
interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity,
the cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities
or obligations of any limited partnership, corporation, trust or other entity
(other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such general or
limited partner interests, securities or rights are to receive in exchange for,
or upon conversion of their general or limited partner interests, securities or
rights, and (ii) in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the
surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or general or limited
partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business
Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust or other entity
(other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be
delivered;
(e) a statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the
adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or certificate of
incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement
of limited partnership or other similar charter or governing document) of the
Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;
(f) the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the
filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 14.4 or a later date
specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement (provided,
that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the
filing of the certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed no later
than the time of the filing of the certificate of merger and stated therein);
and
(g) such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or
consolidation as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the General Partner.
Section 14.3 APPROVAL BY LIMITED PARTNERS OF MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION.
(a) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d), the General Partner, upon
its approval of the Merger Agreement, shall direct that the Merger Agreement be
submitted to a vote of Limited Partners, whether at a special meeting or by
written consent, in either case in accordance with the requirements of Article
XIII. A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement shall be included in or
enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent.
(b) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d), the Merger Agreement shall
be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a
Unit Majority unless the Merger Agreement contains any provision that, if
contained in an amendment to this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement or
the Delaware Act would require for its approval the vote or consent of a greater
percentage of the Outstanding Units or of any class of Limited Partners, in
which case such greater percentage vote or consent shall be required for
approval of the Merger Agreement.
(c) Except as provided in Section 14.3(d), after such approval by vote
or consent of the Limited Partners, and at any time prior to the filing of the
certificate of merger pursuant to
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Section 14.4, the merger or consolidation may be abandoned pursuant to
provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement.
(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in
this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, in its discretion, without
Limited Partner approval, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member into, or
convey all of the Partnership's assets to, another limited liability entity
which shall be newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations
at the time of such Merger other than those it receives from the Partnership or
other Group Member if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel
that the merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss
of the limited liability of any Limited Partner or any Group Member or cause the
Partnership or any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a
corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax
purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the sole purpose
of such merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the
Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the governing
instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners and the General
Partner with the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.
Section 14.4 CERTIFICATE OF MERGER.
Upon the required approval by the General Partner and the Unitholders of a
Merger Agreement, a certificate of merger shall be executed and filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in conformity with the requirements
of the Delaware Act.
Section 14.5 EFFECT OF MERGER.
(a) At the effective time of the certificate of merger:
(i) all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of the
business entities that has merged or consolidated, and all property, real,
personal and mixed, and all debts due to any of those business entities and
all other things and causes of action belonging to each of those business
entities, shall be vested in the Surviving Business Entity and after the
merger or consolidation shall be the property of the Surviving Business
Entity to the extent they were of each constituent business entity;
(ii) the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise
in any of those constituent business entities shall not revert and is not
in any way impaired because of the merger or consolidation;
(iii) all rights of creditors and all liens on or security
interests in property of any of those constituent business entities shall
be preserved unimpaired; and
(iv) all debts, liabilities and duties of those constituent
business entities shall attach to the Surviving Business Entity and may be
enforced against it to the same extent as if the debts, liabilities and
duties had been incurred or contracted by it.
(b) A merger or consolidation effected pursuant to this Article shall
not be deemed to result in a transfer or assignment of assets or liabilities
from one entity to another.
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ARTICLE XV
RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
Section 15.1 RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any
time more than 80% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any class then
Outstanding is held by the General Partner and its Affiliates, the General
Partner shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in
whole or in part to the Partnership or any Affiliate of the General Partner,
exercisable in its sole discretion, to purchase all, but not less than all, of
such Limited Partner Interests of such class then Outstanding held by Persons
other than the General Partner and its Affiliates, at the greater of (x) the
Current Market Price as of the date three days prior to the date that the notice
described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed and (y) the highest price paid by the
General Partner or any of its Affiliates for any such Limited Partner Interest
of such class purchased during the 90-day period preceding the date that the
notice described in Section 15.1(b) is mailed. As used in this Agreement, (i)
"Current Market Price" as of any date of any class of Limited Partner Interests
means the average of the daily Closing Prices (as hereinafter defined) per
Limited Partner Interest of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days (as
hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date; (ii) "Closing Price" for
any day means the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in case no such
sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on
such day, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted for
trading on the principal National Securities Exchange (other than the Nasdaq
Stock Market) on which such Limited Partner Interests of such class are listed
or admitted to trading or, if such Limited Partner Interests of such class are
not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange (other
than the Nasdaq Stock Market), the last quoted price on such day or, if not so
quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market or such other
system then in use, or, if on any such day such Limited Partner Interests of
such class are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing
bid and asked prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker
making a market in such Limited Partner Interests of such class selected by the
General Partner, or if on any such day no market maker is making a market in
such Limited Partner Interests of such class, the fair value of such Limited
Partner Interests on such day as determined reasonably and in good faith by the
General Partner; and (iii) "Trading Day" means a day on which the principal
National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests of any
class are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business
or, if Limited Partner Interests of a class are not listed or admitted to
trading on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions
in New York City generally are open.
(b) If the General Partner, any Affiliate of the General Partner or
the Partnership elects to exercise the right to purchase Limited Partner
Interests granted pursuant to Section 15.1(a), the General Partner shall deliver
to the Transfer Agent notice of such election to purchase (the "Notice of
Election to Purchase") and shall cause the Transfer Agent to mail a copy of such
Notice of Election to Purchase to the Record Holders of Limited Partner
Interests of such class (as of a Record Date selected by the General Partner) at
least 10, but not more than 60,
93
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 or admitted to trading. Any such
Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner
Interests at his address as reflected in the records of the Transfer Agent shall
be conclusively presumed to have been given regardless of whether the owner
receives such notice. On or prior to the Purchase Date, the General Partner, its
Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall deposit with the
Transfer Agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate purchase price
of all of such Limited Partner Interests to be purchased in accordance with this
Section 15.1. If the Notice of Election to Purchase shall have been duly given
as aforesaid at least 10 days prior to the Purchase Date, and if on or prior to
the Purchase Date the deposit described in the preceding sentence has been made
for the benefit of the holders of Limited Partner Interests subject to purchase
as provided herein, then from and after the Purchase Date, notwithstanding that
any Certificate shall not have been surrendered for purchase, all rights of the
holders of such Limited Partner Interests (including any rights pursuant to
Articles IV, V, VI, and XII) shall thereupon cease, except the right to receive
the purchase price (determined in accordance with Section 15.1(a)) for Limited
Partner Interests therefor, without interest, upon surrender to the Transfer
Agent of the Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests, and such
Limited Partner Interests shall thereupon be deemed to be transferred to the
General Partner, its Affiliate or the Partnership, as the case may be, on the
record books of the Transfer Agent and the Partnership, and the General Partner
or any Affiliate of the General Partner, or the Partnership, as the case may be,
shall be deemed to be the owner of all such Limited Partner Interests from and
after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the owner of such Limited
Partner Interests (including all rights as owner of such Limited Partner
Interests pursuant to Articles IV, V, VI and XII).
(c) At any time from and after the Purchase Date, a holder of an
Outstanding Limited Partner Interest subject to purchase as provided in this
Section 15.1 may surrender his Certificate evidencing such Limited Partner
Interest to the Transfer Agent in exchange for payment of the amount described
in Section 15.1(a), therefor, without interest thereon.
ARTICLE XVI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 16.1 ADDRESSES AND NOTICES.
Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or
permitted to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee under this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person
or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written
communication to the Partner or Assignee at the address described below. Any
94
notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee hereunder
shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to
give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively
to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such notice, payment or report to
the Record Holder of such Partnership Securities at his address as shown on the
records of the Transfer Agent or as otherwise shown on the records of the
Partnership, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in
such Partnership Securities by reason of any assignment or otherwise. An
affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 16.1 executed by the General
Partner, the Transfer Agent or the mailing organization shall be prima facie
evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report. If any
notice, payment or report addressed to a Record Holder at the address of such
Record Holder appearing on the books and records of the Transfer Agent or the
Partnership is returned by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate
that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver it, such notice,
payment or report and any subsequent notices, payments and reports shall be
deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing (until such time
as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Transfer Agent or the
Partnership of a change in his address) if they are available for the Partner or
Assignee at the principal office of the Partnership for a period of one year
from the date of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report to the
other Partners and Assignees. Any notice to the Partnership shall be deemed
given if received by the General Partner at the principal office of the
Partnership designated pursuant to Section 2.3. The General Partner may rely and
shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Partner,
Assignee or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.
Section 16.2 FURTHER ACTION.
The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all
information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or
appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.
Section 16.3 BINDING EFFECT.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal
representatives and permitted assigns.
Section 16.4 INTEGRATION.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto
pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings pertaining thereto.
Section 16.5 CREDITORS.
None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or
shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership.
95
Section 16.6 WAIVER.
No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any
covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any
right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any
such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.
Section 16.7 COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall
constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that
all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart.
Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its
signature hereto or, in the case of a Person acquiring a Unit, upon accepting
the certificate evidencing such Unit or executing and delivering a Transfer
Application as herein described, independently of the signature of any other
party.
Section 16.8 APPLICABLE LAW.
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the
laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of
law.
Section 16.9 INVALIDITY OF PROVISIONS.
If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.
Section 16.10 CONSENT OF PARTNERS.
Each Partner hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this
Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote
or consent of less than all of the Partners, such action may be so taken upon
the concurrence of less than all of the Partners and each Partner shall be bound
by the results of such action.
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
96
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first written above.
GENERAL PARTNER:
MARKWEST ENERGY GP, L.L.C.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
ORGANIZATIONAL LIMITED PARTNER:
MARKWEST HYDROCARBON, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
97
LIMITED PARTNERS:
All Limited Partners now and hereafter
admitted as Limited Partners of the
Partnership, pursuant to powers of
attorney now and hereafter executed in
favor of, and granted and delivered to
the General Partner.
MARKWEST ENERGY GP, L.L.C.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
MARKWEST MICHIGAN, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
98
EXHIBIT A
TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF
MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
CERTIFICATE EVIDENCING COMMON UNITS
REPRESENTING LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS IN
MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
No. __________ __________ Common Units
In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Amended and Restated Agreement of
Limited Partnership of MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P., as amended, supplemented
or restated from time to time (the "PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT"), MarkWest Energy
Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "PARTNERSHIP"), hereby
certifies that ___________________ (the "HOLDER") is the registered owner of
Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the
"COMMON UNITS") transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by
duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed
and accompanied by a properly executed application for transfer of the Common
Units represented by this Certificate. The rights, preferences and limitations
of the Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Common Units
represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms
and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership
Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on delivery of
written request to the Partnership at, the principal office of the Partnership
located at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them
in the Partnership Agreement.
The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i) requested
admission as, and agreed to become, a Limited Partner and to have agreed to
comply with and be bound by and to have executed the Partnership Agreement, (ii)
represented and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority
and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership
Agreement, (iii) granted the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership
Agreement and (iv) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals
contained in the Partnership Agreement.
This Certificate shall not be valid far any purpose unless it has been
countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.
Dated: MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P.
---------------
Countersigned and Registered by: By: MarkWest Energy GP, L.L.C., its
General Partner
By:
------------------------------- -----------------------------------
as Transfer Agent and Registrar Name:
---------------------------------
1
By: By:
---------------------------- -----------------------------------
Authorized Signature Secretary
[REVERSE OF CERTIFICATE]
ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of
this Certificate, shall be construed as follows according to applicable laws or
regulations:
TEN COM - as tenants in common UNIF GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties __________ Custodian _________
(Cust) (Minor)
JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD
survivorship and not as Minors Act (State)
tenants in common
Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be used.
ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS
IN
MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING INVESTOR RESPONSIBILITIES
DUE TO TAX SHELTER STATUS OF
MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
You have acquired an interest in MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P., ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, whose taxpayer
identification number is [ ]. The Internal Revenue Service has issued MarkWest
Energy Partners, L.P. the following tax shelter registration number:
__________________.
YOU MUST REPORT THIS REGISTRATION NUMBER TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE IF
YOU CLAIM ANY DEDUCTION, LOSS, CREDIT OR OTHER TAX BENEFIT OR REPORT ANY INCOME
BY REASON OF YOUR INVESTMENT IN MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
You must report the registration number as well as the name and taxpayer
identification number of MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. on Form 8271. FORM 8271
MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE RETURN ON WHICH YOU CLAIM THE DEDUCTION, LOSS, CREDIT OR
OTHER TAX BENEFIT OR REPORT ANY INCOME BY REASON OF YOUR INVESTMENT IN MARKWEST
ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
If you transfer your interest in MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. to another
person, you are required by the Internal Revenue Service to keep a list
containing (a) that person's name, address and taxpayer identification number,
(b) the date on which you transferred the interest and (c) the name, address and
tax shelter registration number of MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. If you do not
want to keep such a list, you must (1) send the information specified above to
the Partnership, which will keep the list for this tax shelter, and (2) give a
copy of this notice to the person to whom you transfer your interest. Your
failure to comply with any of the above-
2
described responsibilities could result in the imposition of a penalty under
Section 6707(b) or 6708(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
unless such failure is shown to be due to reasonable cause.
ISSUANCE OF A REGISTRATION NUMBER DOES NOT INDICATE THAT THIS INVESTMENT OR
THE CLAIMED TAX BENEFITS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED, EXAMINED OR APPROVED BY THE
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, __________ hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers
unto
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
(Please print or typewrite name (Please insert Social Security or other
and address of Assignee) 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 MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P.
Date: NOTE: The signature to any endorsement
---------------- hereon must correspond with the
name as written upon the face of
this Certificate in every
particular, without alteration,
enlargement or change.
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE ----------------------------------
GUARANTEED BY AN (Signature)
ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS,
STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN
ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS
WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED ----------------------------------
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION (Signature)
PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO
S.E.C. RULE 17d-15
--------------------------------------
No transfer of the Common Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the
books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Common Units to
be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer and an Application
for Transfer of Common Units has been executed by a transferee either (a) on the
form set forth below or (b) on a separate application that the Partnership will
furnish on request without charge. A transferor of the Common Units shall have
no duty to the transferee with respect to execution of the transfer application
in order for such transferee to obtain registration of the transfer of the
Common Units.
3
APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER OF COMMON UNITS
The undersigned ("ASSIGNEE") hereby applies for transfer to the name of the
Assignee of the Common Units evidenced hereby.
The Assignee (a) requests admission as a Substituted Limited Partner and
agrees to comply with and be bound by, and hereby executes, the Amended and
Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. (the
"PARTNERSHIP"), as amended, supplemented or restated to the date hereof (the
"PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT"), (b) represents and warrants that the Assignee has all
right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to
enter into the Partnership Agreement, (c) appoints the General Partner of the
Partnership and, if a Liquidator shall be appointed, the Liquidator of the
Partnership as the Assignee's attorney-in-fact to execute, swear to, acknowledge
and file any document, including, without limitation, the Partnership Agreement
and any amendment thereto and the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the
Partnership and any amendment thereto, necessary or appropriate for the
Assignee's admission as a Substituted Limited Partner and as a party to the
Partnership Agreement, (d) gives the powers of attorney provided for in the
Partnership Agreement, and (e) makes the waivers and gives the consents and
approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement. Capitalized terms not defined
herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Partnership Agreement.
Date:
----------------
--------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
Social Security or other identifying number Signature of Assignee
--------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
Purchase Price including commissions, if any Name and Address of Assignee
Type of Entity (check one):
/ / Individual / / Partnership / / Corporation
/ / Trust / / Other (specify)
Nationality (check one):
/ / U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity
/ / Foreign Corporation / / Non-resident Alien
If the U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity box is checked, the
following certification must be completed.
Under Section 1445(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"CODE"), the Partnership must withhold tax with respect to certain transfers of
property if a holder of an interest in the Partnership is a foreign person. To
inform the Partnership that no withholding is
4
required with respect to the undersigned interestholder's interest in it, the
undersigned hereby certifies the following (or, if applicable, certifies the
following on behalf of the interestholder).
Complete Either A or B:
A. Individual Interestholder
1. I am not a non-resident alien for purposes of U.S. income taxation.
2. My U.S. taxpayer identification number (Social Security Number) is
__________.
3. My home address is _______________________________________________.
B. Partnership, Corporation or Other Interestholder
1. ________________ is not a foreign corporation, foreign partnership,
foreign trust (Name of Interestholder) or foreign estate (as those
terms are defined in the Code and Treasury Regulations).
2. The interestholder's U.S. employer identification number is
___________.
3. The interestholder's office address and place of incorporation (if
applicable) is ___________.
The interestholder agrees to notify the Partnership within sixty (60) days
of the date the interestholder becomes a foreign person.
The interestholder understands that this certificate may be disclosed to
the Internal Revenue Service by the Partnership and that any false statement
contained herein could be punishable by fine, imprisonment or both.
Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this
certification and to the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct and
complete and, if applicable, I further declare that I have authority to sign
this document on behalf of:
--------------------------------
Name of Interestholder
--------------------------------
Signature and Date
--------------------------------
Title (if applicable)
Note: If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing
corporation, other nominee holder or an agent of any of the foregoing, and is
holding for the account of any other person, this application should be
completed by an officer thereof or, in the case of a broker or dealer, by a
registered representative who is a member of a registered national securities
exchange or a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
or, in the case of any other nominee holder, a person performing a similar
function. If the Assignee is a broker,
5
dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee owner or an
agent of any of the foregoing, the above certification as to any person for whom
the Assignee will hold the Common Units shall be made to the best of the
Assignee's knowledge.
6