FORM OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OF NGAS PARTNERS ______ DRILLING PROGRAM
EXHIBIT 10.11
This PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) of NGAS Partners ___Drilling
Program (the “Program”) is entered into as of ___, 200___by and between
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Petroleum, Inc., a Kentucky corporation (“DPI”), and NGAS Partners
___, Ltd., a Kentucky limited partnership (the “Partnership”).
RECITALS
A. DPI has organized the Partnership to invest, through the Program, in a portfolio of natural
gas development ▇▇▇▇▇ (“Project ▇▇▇▇▇”) to be drilled by DPI on drilling sites (the
“Prospects”) located in the southern portion of the Appalachian basin (the “Project
Areas”).
B. The Program will acquire its interests in the Prospects within each Project Area (the
“Program Position”) under an assignment of drilling rights from DPI of even date herewith
(the “Prospect Assignment”), providing for DPI to maintain a ___% working interest the
Project ▇▇▇▇▇ (the “DPI Position”), with the balance of the Program Position to be
maintained by the Partnership (the “Partnership Position”), subject to proportionate
reduction of the Program Position in Project ▇▇▇▇▇ with third-party participation (the
“Participating Interests”) and to a reversionary interest of DPI and to certain true-up
adjustments provided hereunder.
C. The Project ▇▇▇▇▇ will be drilled by DPI under a joint drilling and operating agreement
with the Program of even date herewith (the “Project JOA”), providing for DPI to use its
best efforts to drill all of the Project ▇▇▇▇▇ to total depth by the end of ___ 200___and to
install production lines and associated compression and dehydration equipment for connecting
completed Project ▇▇▇▇▇ to its existing gathering systems as expeditiously as possible, based on
projected drilling and completion costs (the “AFEs”) to be specified by DPI for each
Project Well under the terms of the Project JOA.
D. The Program will participate in the Project ▇▇▇▇▇ on a “cost-plus” 30% basis, entitling DPI
to payments from the Program under the Project JOA in an amount equal to 130% of the AFEs for the
Program Position in the Project ▇▇▇▇▇, to be shared in proportion to the DPI Position and the
Partnership Position in the underlying Prospects, and the Program is being capitalized
proportionately by DPI and the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
E. The Partnership is being capitalized through a private placement (the “Private
Placement”) of a minimum of ___ units of general and limited partner interests
(“Units”) at a subscription price of $ per Unit for $___(the “Minimum
Offering”) and a maximum of ___ Units for $___(the “Maximum Offering”), on the
terms described in a Private Placement Memorandum of the Partnership dated ___ 200___(the
“PPM”).
F. DPI will be the managing general partner of the Partnership and the manager of the Program
(“Program Manager”).
G. The parties desire to enter into this Agreement to memorialize their arrangements for the
conduct of the Program’s business and the rights and duties of its partners (the
“Partners”).
Accordingly, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1 – DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings
set forth below:
“AFE” stands for “authorization for expenditure” and means the projected costs for
drilling and completing a Project Well and furnishing all labor, well equipment and production
facilities necessary to produce the well to sales through DPI’s field-wide gathering systems.
The term “affiliate” means any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled
by or under direct or indirect common control with a specified Person, and “control” when
used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of
that Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise.
“Agreement” means this Agreement, as amended and or supplemented from time to time.
“Book Value” means, with respect to any Program asset, the carrying value of the asset
on the books and records of the Program, determined in accordance with the provisions of Treasury
Regulation § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) and Article III.
“Capital Account” means the capital account established for each Partner and
maintained pursuant to the terms of this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Treasury
Regulation § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv).
“Closing” means the Initial Closing or any Incremental Closing.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Depreciation” means the depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery expense of
the Program, determined in accordance with Section 6.1.
“DPI” means ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Petroleum, Inc., a Kentucky corporation, and its successors and
assigns.
“DPI Position” means the working interest of DPI in Project ▇▇▇▇▇, subject adjustments
for the Participating Interests, for AFE variances under the True-Up Account and for the
reversionary interest of DPI after Payout under the terms of this Agreement.
“Gross Fair Market Value” means the fair market value of an asset, determined without
taking into account any liabilities secured by the asset or otherwise associated with the asset.
“IDC” stands for intangible drilling costs and means expenditures incurred for items
having no salvage value and for labor, fuel, repairs, hauling and supplies used in (i) preparing
the surface prior to drilling oil and gas ▇▇▇▇▇, (ii) drilling, treating and cleaning oil and gas
▇▇▇▇▇ and (iii) preparing oil and gas ▇▇▇▇▇ for production, all within the meaning of Treasury
Regulation § 1.612-4(a).
“Incremental Closing” means a partial closing of the offering and sale of Units to be
held after the Initial Closing if the Maximum Offering is reached prior to the termination of the
Private Placement.
“Initial Closing” means the first closing of the Private Placement, held on the date
hereof, for not less than the Minimum Offering.
The term “leasehold acquisition costs” mean the costs of acquiring an oil and gas
leasehold or the rights to drill on property subject to an oil and gas leasehold or farmout.
“Maximum Offering,” “Minimum Offering,” “PPM” and “Private
Placement” have the respective meanings set forth in Recital E.
“Minimum Gain” means the aggregate amount of gain (of whatever character), computed
with respect to each property of the Program that secures a Third Party Nonrecourse Liability of
the Program, that would be recognized by the Program if, in a taxable transaction, the Program were
to dispose of the property in full satisfaction of the Third Party Nonrecourse Liability,
determined in accordance with the provisions of Treasury
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Regulation § 1.704-2.
“Net Fair Market Value” means, in connection with the contribution of an asset to the
Program by a Partner or the distribution of an asset by the Program to a Partner, the Gross Fair
Market Value of the asset, reduced by any liabilities (i) assumed by that Partner or the Program or
(ii) subject to which the Partner or the Program acquires the asset.
“Net Losses” and “Net Profits” have the respective meanings ascribed to them
in Section 6.1.
“Nonrecourse Deduction” means an allocation of loss or expense attributable to Third
Party Nonrecourse Liabilities, determined in accordance with the provisions of Treasury
Regulation § 1.704-2(b)(1).
“Participating Interests” has the meaning set forth in Recital B.
“Partner” means DPI, the Partnership or any successor or assignee in the capacity as a
partner of the Program.
“Partner Nonrecourse Deduction” means an allocation of loss or expense attributable to
Partner Nonrecourse Liabilities, determined in accordance with the provisions of Treasury
Regulation § 1.704-2(i)(2).
“Partner Nonrecourse Liabilities” means liabilities of the Program that are
nonrecourse debt, as defined in Treasury Regulation § 1.704-2(b)(3), but with respect to which one
or more Partners (or the affiliate of any Partner) bears the economic risk of loss, as defined in
Treasury Regulation § 1.752-2(a).
“Partner Nonrecourse Liability Minimum Gain” means the aggregate amount of gain, of
whatever character, computed with respect to each property of the Program that secures a Partner
Nonrecourse Liability of the Program, that would be recognized by the Program if, in a taxable
transaction, the Program were to dispose of the property in full satisfaction of the Partner
Nonrecourse Liability, determined in accordance with the provisions of Treasury
Regulation § 1.704-2(i).
“Partnership” means NGAS Partners ___, Ltd., a Kentucky limited partnership.
“Partnership Agreement” means the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership
in substantially the form of Exhibit B to the PPM, to be entered on the date hereof and
supplemented at any Incremental Closing, among DPI, as managing general partner, and the
Unitholders admitted to the Partnership at that Closing, as investor general partners or limited
partners.
“Partnership Position” means the working interest of the Partnership in Project ▇▇▇▇▇,
subject adjustments for the Participating Interests, for AFE variances under the True-Up Account
and for the reversionary interest of DPI after Payout under the terms of this Agreement.
“Payout” means the point when each Unitholder has received cumulative distributions
from the Partnership aggregating 110% of the Unit subscription price or $ per Unit.
“Person” means an individual, any form of business enterprise, including a
corporation, limited liability company, partnership or limited partnership, and any other juridical
entity or its representative, including a trust, estate, custodian, administrator, personal
representative, nominee or any other entity acting on its own behalf or in a representative
capacity.
“P&A Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.12.
“Program” means a NGAS Partners ___Drilling Program, a Kentucky general
partnership formed under this Agreement between the Partnership and DPI.
“Program Agreements” means, collectively, this Agreement, the Partnership Agreement,
the Prospect Assignment, the Project JOA and any other agreements the Program Manager deems
necessary or desirable to protect or further the best interests and purposes of the Program, or to
satisfy any requirements, conditions or
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guidelines contained in any order, ruling or regulation of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, the Service or any other federal or state governmental authority or agency, or to
comply with any applicable federal or state law, rule or regulation or any judgment, decree, writ,
injunction or order of any court, administrative agency, arbitrator or governmental authority,
together with any and all other instruments required or permitted to be executed by the Program
thereunder.
“Program Manager” means DPI in its capacity as managing general partner of the
Program.
“Program Position” means the DPI Position and the Partnership Position in each Project
Well.
“Project Areas” has the meaning set forth in Recital A.
“Project JOA” means the Joint Drilling and Operating Agreement in substantially the
form of Exhibit D to the PPM, as supplemented at any Incremental Closing, providing for
DPI’s drilling and completion of the Project ▇▇▇▇▇ and its operation of completed Project ▇▇▇▇▇.
“Project Well” means development well drilled on a Prospect by DPI in accordance with
the Prospect Assignment and the Project JOA.
“Proportionate Share” of a Partner means, at any particular time during the term of
the Program, the percentage interest of the Partner in the Program Position within in each Project
Area, as set forth in Section 2.5, subject to any adjustment required by
Section 2.6.
“Prospect” has the meaning set forth in Recital A.
“Prospect Assignment” means Assignment of Drilling Rights in substantially the form of
Exhibit C to the PPM, as supplemented at any Incremental Closing, providing for DPI’s
assignment to the Program of its rights to participate in the Project ▇▇▇▇▇ drilled on the
Prospects specified therein.
“Service” means the Internal Revenue Service.
“Simulated Basis” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(h).
“Simulated Depletion” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(h)(i).
“Start-Up Costs” means sales commission, due diligence fees, offering expenses, legal
and accounting fees and other costs for the organization of the Partnership and the Program.
“Tangible Costs” means the cost of equipment and supplies used in the drilling,
testing, completing and producing oil and gas from a well to the extent the equipment and supplies
have a salvage value and are capitalized for federal income tax purposes.
“Tax Matters Partner” means DPI in its capacity as the Program’s tax matters partner,
as defined in Code § 6231 (a)(7).
“Third Party Nonrecourse Liabilities” means liabilities of the Program that are
nonrecourse debt, as defined in Treasury Regulation § 1.704-2(b)(3), and that are not Partner
Nonrecourse Liabilities.
“Total Minimum Gain” means the aggregate of the Minimum Gain and the Partner
Nonrecourse Liability Minimum Gain.
“Treasury Regulations” means the Treasury Regulations adopted by the Service under the
Code.
“True-Up Account” means an account to be maintained by DPI under the terms of the
Prospect Assignment, reflecting a credit for the Partnership’s proportionate share of any AFEs for
Project ▇▇▇▇▇ in excess of their actual drilling and completion costs and a debit for its share of
any drilling and completion costs for Project ▇▇▇▇▇ in excess of their AFEs, with any net credit
balance for all Project ▇▇▇▇▇ in a Project Area to be applied to
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proportionately increase the working interests of the Partnership in the last 30% of the
Project ▇▇▇▇▇ in that Project Area and any net deficit balance for all Project ▇▇▇▇▇ in a Project
Area to be borne by DPI and applied to proportionately increase its working interests in the last
30% of the Project ▇▇▇▇▇ in that Project Area.
“Unitholder” means the holder of one or more Units in the Partnership.
“Units” means the units of general partner interests and limited partner interests in
the Partnership.
The term “working interest” means an interest in an oil and gas leasehold or well
entitling the holder to receive a specified percentage of the sale proceeds from oil or gas
produced from the leasehold or well and obligating the holder to bear a specified percentage of the
costs of drilling, completing and operating the well.
1.2 Construction. Whenever the context requires, the gender of all words used in this
Agreement includes the masculine, feminine and neuter. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein,
all references to Recitals, Articles and Sections refer to recitals, articles and sections of this
Agreement.
ARTICLE II – ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
2.1 Program Name and Principal Office. The name of the Program shall be “NGAS Partners ___
Drilling Program.” The principal address of the Program shall be c/o Daugherty Petroleum, Inc.,
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, or any other address that may be
designated for that purpose by the Program Manager.
2.2 Character of the Business. The principal business of the Program shall be the
participation in Project ▇▇▇▇▇ to be drilled on Prospects assigned to it by DPI under the Prospect
Assignment and the sale of production from completed Project ▇▇▇▇▇ in accordance with the Project
JOA.
2.3 General Partnership Between the Partnership and DPI. This Agreement creates a general
partnership between the Partnership and DPI. DPI shall act as Program Manager and shall have the
powers delegated to it in that capacity under Article IV.
2.4 Capital Contributions of the Partners. For each Unit issued and sold by the Partnership,
the Partners shall make the following cash contributions to the capital of the Program, payable at
the time of the Closing at which those Units are issued and sold:
| Partnership | DPI | |||||||
Capital Contribution per Unit |
$ | ______.__ | $ | ______.__ | ||||
2.5 Proportionate Shares of the Partners. The Partners shall have the respective investments
in the Program Position within each Project Area set forth below and shall be entitled to the
following Proportionate Shares in each Project Area before and after Payout, subject to any
adjustment required under Section 2.6:
| Allocation of Profits and Losses | ||||||||||||
| Program Investment | Before Payout | After Payout | ||||||||||
| Project Area | Partnership | DPI | Partnership | DPI | Partnership | DPI | ||||||
* * *
2.6 Adjustment of Proportionate Shares under True-Up Account. In the event that the Partners’
working interests in any Project ▇▇▇▇▇ are adjusted under the True-Up Account in accordance with
the terms of the Prospect Assignment, the Proportionate Shares of the Partners attributable to net
production revenues from those Project ▇▇▇▇▇ before and after Payout shall be adjusted
proportionately.
2.7 Term of the Program. The term of this Program shall commence on the date of this
Agreement and shall continue until dissolved or terminated pursuant to Article IX.
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ARTICLE III – CAPITAL ACCOUNTS
3.1 Capital Accounts. A Capital Account shall be established and maintained for each Partner
in compliance with the provisions of Treasury Regulation § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). The Capital Accounts
shall be maintained as set forth in this Article III.
(a) General Rules. Each Partner’s Capital Account shall be (i) credited with the
amount of money and the Net Fair Market Value of any property contributed by the Partner to the
Program, (ii) credited or debited, as the case may be, with the Partner’s allocation of income,
gain, loss and expense and (iii) debited with the amount of cash and the Net Fair Market Value of
property distributed to the Partner.
(b) Special Rules. If a Partner’s interest in the Program is sold or liquidated, the
following special rules shall apply when determining the Capital Account balances of any new or
remaining Partners:
(i) If the sale or exchange (together with any other sales or exchanges of interests in the
Program that occur during any relevant accounting period) causes a termination of the Program
within the meaning of Code § 708(b)(1)(B), the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be
redetermined in accordance with this Section 3.1 as though its property is deemed to be
distributed to a new partnership in exchange for its partnership interests and a deemed
distribution is made to the partners of the new partnership interests.
(ii) If the sale or exchange does not cause a termination of the Program within the meaning of
Code § 708(b)(1)(B) and if the Program has, at the time of the sale or exchange, an effective
election under Code § 754, the Capital Account of the selling or exchanging Partner shall be
carried over to the transferee Partner, and there shall not be made to the Capital Account of the
Partner who receives the special tax basis adjustment under Code § 743 a corresponding adjustment
except to the extent a special tax basis adjustment would be reflected in a Partners respective
Capital Account pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.704-1 (b)(2)(iv)(m).
(iii) If the sale or exchange is not subject to the provisions of Section 3.1(b)(i) or
Section 3.1(b)(ii), the Capital Account of the selling or exchanging Partner shall be
carried over to the transferee Partner.
(iv) If a Partner’s interest in the Program is repurchased by the Program through a
distribution in complete liquidation of the interest, except as provided in Section 3.1(a),
the Capital Accounts of the remaining Partner shall be adjusted only to the extent required by
Treasury Regulation § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m).
3.2 Determination of and Adjustments to Book Value and Capital Accounts. When determining the
Book Value of the assets of the Program and the appropriate balance in each Partner’s Capital
Account resulting from any adjustments to Book Value in accordance with the provisions of Treasury
Regulation § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv), the following accounting rules shall apply:
(a) Contributed Property. The initial Book Value of any asset contributed by a
Partner to the Program shall be its Gross Fair Market Value on the date of contribution.
(b) Timing of Adjustments. The Book Values of all Program assets shall be adjusted to
equal their respective Gross Fair Market Values, as of the following times:
(i) The acquisition of an interest (including an additional interest) in the Program by any
new or existing Partner in exchange for more than a de minimis capital contribution to the Program;
(ii) The distribution by the Program to a Partner or withdrawing Partner of more than a de
minimis (as determined by the Program Manager) amount of money or other property as consideration
for its interest in the Program; and
(iii) The liquidation of the Program.
(c) Book Value Adjustments. The Book Value of Program assets shall not be increased
or decreased to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted tax basis of the assets pursuant to
Code § 734(b) or
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Code § 743(b), except to the extent that the adjustments are taken into account in determining
and maintaining capital accounts pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.704(b)(2)(iv)(m); provided,
however, that Book Value shall not be adjusted pursuant to this Section 3.2(c) to the
extent that the adjustment was previously reflected in the Book Value of the Program’s assets.
(d) Reductions for Depreciation. If the Book Value of an asset has been determined or
adjusted pursuant to the foregoing provision of this Section 3.2, the Book Value shall
thereafter be reduced by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to the asset for purposes
of computing the Net Profits and the Net Losses of the Program under Article VI.
ARTICLE IV – RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PROGRAM MANAGER
4.1 Management and Control of the Program.
(a) General The Program Manager shall have the full and exclusive right and authority
to manage and control the business and affairs of the Program and to make all decisions incident
thereto; provided, however, that the Program Manager shall be prohibited from taking any action (or
causing the Program to take any action) that would be prohibited under the Program Agreements or
failing to take any actions (or causing the Program to fail to take any actions) that are required
to be taken under the Program Agreements.
(b) Specific Rights and Powers of the Program Manager. In addition to any other
rights and powers that the Program Manager may possess under this Agreement and applicable law, the
Program Manager shall, except to the extent otherwise provided herein, have all specific rights and
powers required or appropriate to its management of the Program’s business, which include the
rights and powers to:
(i) Execute the Program Agreements in the name and on behalf of the Program and to cause the
Program to perform its obligations thereunder;
(ii) Enter into any amendments to the Program Agreements, in the name and on behalf of the
Program, to the extent deemed necessary or desirable to protect or further the best interests and
purposes of the Program;
(iii) On behalf of the Program, exercise the rights and fulfill the obligations of the working
interest owner under the Prospect Assignment and Project JOA;
(iv) Protect and preserve the title and interest of the Program in its assets, collect all
amounts due the Program and otherwise enforce all rights of the Program and, in that connection,
retain counsel and institute suits or proceedings in the name and on behalf of the Program or, if
the Program Manager shall so determine, in the name of the Program Manager;
(v) Employ or engage on a temporary or continuing basis any accountants, attorneys,
consultants and other professionals on terms that the Program Manager deems advisable;
(vi) Pay all debts and obligations of the Program and make distributions to the Partners in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent assets of the Program are available
therefor;
(vii) Maintain such insurance as a reasonably prudent oil and gas operator would maintain, to
require all contractors engaged in work for the Program to comply with the worker’s compensation
law of the state where operations are being conducted and to maintain any other insurance that may
be required, and to require any contractor employed for the Program to submit to it properly
executed certificates of insurance issued by approved insurers before work contemplated in any
contract is begun;
(viii) Establish the reserves as the Program Manager deems appropriate for the purposes of the
Program, and to withhold distribution of cash flow in order to fund the reserves, in the amounts
and at the times that the Program Manager, in its sole discretion, deems to be in the best interest
of the Program;
(ix) Arrange to prosecute, defend, settle or compromise actions at law or in equity at the
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expense of the Program as may be necessary to enforce or protect Program interests; and
(x) Satisfy any claim against or liability of the Program or any judgment, decree or
settlement binding on the Program, first out of any available insurance proceeds, next out of
Program revenues and then, if necessary, from the sale of Program assets.
(c) Duties of the Program Manager. The Program Manager shall devote to the Program
such time as it shall deem necessary to conduct the Program’s business and affairs in the best
interest of the Program and its Partners. The Program Manager shall take all action that may be
necessary or appropriate for the Program’s performance of the Program Agreements and the exercise
of the rights of the working interest owner under the Project JOA, which shall include the duty to:
(i) Prepare status reports and cost ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ for the drilling and completion of the Project
▇▇▇▇▇;
(ii) Receive and review all operating reports, production payments and invoices for operating
costs, and arrange for the timely payment of amounts due from the Program;
(iii) Prepare or cause to be prepared, at the expense of the Program, and to file on or before
the due date (or any extension thereof) all federal, state or local tax returns required to be
filed by the Program, and to timely furnish each Partner all necessary tax reporting information in
connection therewith;
(iv) Prepare or cause to be prepared, at the expense of the Program, and to timely file all
permit applications, certificates, documents or other instruments required by any government agency
or authority pertaining to the business and operations of the Program;
(v) Maintain and preserve during the term of the Program and for six years thereafter all
accounts, books and other relevant Program documents; and
(vi) Distribute to the Partners, not less than quarterly, proceeds from operations of the
Program that have not been set aside as reserves pursuant to Section 4.1(b)(viii) and
Section 6.12.
4.2 Agency Powers of the Program Manager. Any document executed by the Program Manager in the
name and on behalf of the Program shall be deemed to be the action of the Program. Any Person
dealing with the Program or the Program Manager may rely upon a certificate signed by the Program
Manager, hereby thereunto duly authorized, as to (a) the identity of the Program Manager or the
Program, (b) the existence or nonexistence of any fact or facts that constitute conditions
precedent to acts by the Program Manager or that are in any other manner germane to the affairs of
the Program, (c) the Persons who are authorized to execute and deliver any instrument or document
on behalf of the Program and (d) any act or failure to act by the Program with respect to any other
matter whatsoever involving the Program or either Partner.
4.3 Limitations on Authority of the Program Manager. Without the consent of the Partnership,
the Program Manager shall not (a) use any assets of the Program for any purpose other than the
payments required by the Program Agreements, including the payment of operating expenses of the
Program in the conduct of its business in the ordinary course, (b) sell all or substantially all
the assets of the Program or any of the major assets of the Program or (c) accept any offer to
exchange the securities of any Person for the assets of the Program or for all or a majority of its
interests in the Project ▇▇▇▇▇. In the event the Program consummates a sale or exchange offer
transaction described in clause (b) or (c) of this Section 4.3, the Program shall pay the
Program Manager a fee equal to 3% of the consideration sale proceeds or exchange value of assets
sold or exchanged in the transaction.
4.4 Other Business of DPI. DPI and any of its affiliates may engage in or possess any
interest in other business ventures of any kind, nature or description, independently or with
others, including the acquisition, operation or development of oil and gas properties and the
acquisition, financing, ownership, leasing, operation, management and syndication of other oil and
gas drilling enterprises, for its own account or for the account of others. Neither the Program
nor the Partnership shall have any rights or obligations in or to such independent ventures or the
income, profits or losses derived therefrom.
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4.5 Nonrecourse Borrowings. The Program Manager shall have authority to borrow funds in the
name of the Program from any bank or other lending institution located in the United States for the
conduct of the Program’s business and, in connection therewith, to mortgage, pledge, encumber and
hypothecate Program assets, including any production payments allocable to the Program from its
interests in Project ▇▇▇▇▇.
4.6 Tax Matters Partner. DPI shall be the “Tax Matters Partner” of the Program for the
purposes of Code § 6231(a)(7). In the event of any inquiry or controversy with the or other taxing
authority involving the Program, the Program Manager shall act as the agent of the Program to
resolve the matter and may, on behalf of the Program, incur any expenses it deems necessary or
advisable in the interest of the Partners in connection therewith, including professional fees and
court or administrative costs incurred in the prosecution thereof or appeals therein.
4.7 Tax Elections. The Program Manager shall take all actions required for the Program to
make a timely election to deduct IDC on its federal income tax return. In the event of the
transfer of an interest in the Program, or in the event of any distribution of Program property to
a Partner, the Program may, in the sole discretion the Program Manager, file an election under
Code § 754 to cause the basis of the Program’s assets to be adjusted for federal income tax
purposes as provided by Code § 734 and Code § 743. The Program Manager shall not make any election
for the Program to be excluded from the provisions of Subchapter K of the Code.
4.8 Start-Up Costs. DPI shall be responsible for the payment of all Start Up Costs incurred
by or for the benefit of the Program.
4.9 Expense Reimbursement. The Program shall reimburse the Program Manager for all
out-of-pocket expenses incurred for or on behalf of the Program, including fees and expenses of
accountants, petroleum engineers and attorneys for professional services rendered to the Program,
but excluding Start-Up Costs.
4.10 Right of the Program Manager to Resign. DPI shall not resign as Program Manager prior to
the expiration of two years from the date of this Agreement. Thereafter, the right of DPI to
resign as Program Manager shall be conditioned on the consent of the Partnership, based on the
concurrence of a majority in interest of the Unitholders, on not less than 90 days’ written notice
from DPI to the Unitholders of its intention to resign. DPI’s notice shall include its
recommendation for the appointment of a substituted Program Manager, supported by information
reasonably appropriate to enable the Unitholders to make an informed decision on the proposal.
4.11 Exculpation and Indemnification of the Program Manager.
(a) Liabilities of the Program Manager. The Program Manager shall exercise ordinary
and prudent judgment in conducting and managing the affairs of the Program. The Program Manager
and its affiliates shall not be liable or obligated to the Program or the Partnership for any
mistake of fact or judgment made by the Program Manager in operating the affairs and business of
the Program, provided the Program Manager acted in good faith and in a manner believed to be in the
best interests of the Program and the mistake of fact or judgment did not constitute gross
negligence or willful misconduct. Any losses, claims, liabilities, demands or obligations of the
Program will be shared in the proportion that the Partners are sharing revenues hereunder and shall
be several obligations of the Partners.
(b) Indemnification of Program Manager. The Program shall indemnify and hold harmless
the Program Manager and any of its affiliates performing services on behalf of the Program
(collectively, “Indemnified Parties”) as follows:
(i) In any action, suit or proceeding to which an Indemnified Party was or is a party by
reason of the fact that it was acting as the Program Manager or was an affiliate of the Program
Manager performing services on behalf of the Program, involving an alleged cause of action arising
from the activities of the Indemnified Party under this Agreement, the other Program Agreements or
otherwise in the management of the affairs of the Program, or which relates to the Program, its
property, business or affairs, the Program shall indemnify the Indemnified Party against expenses,
including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with the action, suit or proceeding, if the
Indemnified Party acted in good faith and in a manner believed to be in the best interests of the
Program and if the Indemnified Party’s conduct does not constitute gross negligence or willful
misconduct. The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction or upon a
plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall
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not, of itself, create a presumption that an Indemnified Party did not act in good faith and
in the best interests of the Program.
(ii) Expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred in defending any proceeding shall
be paid by the Program in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding if (A) the Program has
received an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party to repay the amount, with interest
at a market rate from the date of the advance, if it shall ultimately be determined, by a court of
competent jurisdiction or otherwise, that the Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified
by the Program as authorized hereunder and (B) the proceeding relates to the performance of duties
or services by the Indemnified Party on behalf of the Program.
(iii) Any indemnification under this Section 4.11, unless ordered by a court, shall be
made by the Program only as authorized in the specific case and only upon a determination by a
majority vote of a quorum of all directors of the Program Manager, that indemnification of an
Indemnified Party is proper. Any the indemnification shall be made only out of the assets or
insurance coverage of the Program. In any claim for indemnification for federal or state
securities law violations, the party seeking indemnification shall place before the court the
position of the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to indemnification for securities
law violations.
(iv) The indemnification provided by this Section 4.11 shall be in addition to any
other rights to which an Indemnified Party may be entitled under any agreement or as a matter of
law, both as to action in the Indemnified Party’s capacity as the Program Manager or an affiliate
of the Program Manager and as to action in another capacity, shall continue as to an Indemnified
Party who has ceased to serve in that capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs,
successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnified Party.
(v) To the extent commercially reasonable, the Program may purchase and maintain insurance on
behalf of the Program Manager and its affiliates against any liability that may be asserted against
or expense that may be incurred by that Person in connection with the Program’s activities, whether
or not the Program has indemnified that Person against liability under the provisions of this
Agreement. The Program shall not bear any additional cost of the insurance attributable to
coverage for liabilities for which the Program would not have the power to indemnify under the
provisions of this Agreement.
(vi) The provisions of this Section 4.11 are for the benefit of Indemnified Parties
and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.
ARTICLE V – RIGHTS OF THE PARTNERSHIP
5.1 Right to Examine Program Records. The Partnership shall have the right to examine the
books and records of the Program at its principal address during regular business hours and to make
reasonable inquiries about the business and affairs.
5.2 No Management Authority. The Partnership shall not take part in the management or control
of the Program or any aspects of its business of the Program, and it shall not transact any
business for or on behalf of the Program.
5.3 Rights Under the Kentucky Act. To the extent not otherwise set forth herein and except as
modified hereby, the Partnership shall have the rights of a general partner under the Kentucky Act.
5.4 Meeting of Partners. Either DPI or the Partners holding not less than a 50% Proportionate
Share may, by written notice to the other Partners, call for a meeting of Partners to consider the
adoption of an amendment to this Agreement or any other action set forth in the notice. The notice
shall state the purpose of the meeting specifying a reasonable time and place and a date, not less
than 30 days nor more than 60 days thereafter, at which the meeting shall be held. Whenever, by
any provision of the Kentucky Act or this Agreement, the vote of the Partners at a meeting thereof
is required or permitted to be taken in connection with any matter or action, the meeting may be
dispensed with if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the
Partners whose Proportionate Shares would be sufficient to determine the outcome of the matter or
action at a meeting of the Partners.
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ARTICLE VI – ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
6.1 Determination of Net Profits and Net Losses. For purposes of computing the amount of any
items of income, gain, loss or expense to be reflected in the Capital Accounts (the net thereof
hereinafter referred to as “Net Profits” or “Net Losses”), the determination,
recognition and classification thereof shall be the same as their determination, recognition and
classification for federal income tax purposes, with the following modifications:
(a) Depreciation, Amortization or Other Cost Recovery. Any item of expense
attributable to depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery with respect to any asset of the
Program shall be in an amount that bears the same ratio to the Book Value of the asset at the
beginning of the applicable period as the federal income tax deduction for depreciation,
amortization or other cost recovery with respect to the asset for the fiscal year or other period
bears to the adjusted tax basis of the asset at the beginning of the applicable period, provided
that if the federal income tax deduction attributable to depreciation, amortization or other cost
recovery for the fiscal year or other period with respect to any asset is zero, the item of expense
attributable to depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery with respect to the asset for the
applicable period shall be determined with reference to the Book Value of the asset as of the
beginning of the applicable period using any reasonable method selected by the Program Manager.
(b) Taxable Dispositions. Any item of income, gain, loss or expense attributable to
the taxable disposition of any property with an adjusted tax basis that is different from the Book
Value of the property shall be determined as if the adjusted tax basis of the property as of the
date of disposition were equal in amount to the Book Value of the property.
(c) Investment Tax Credits. If the Program’s adjusted tax basis in an item of
depreciable property is adjusted pursuant to the Code to reflect any investment tax credit
available with respect to the asset, the amount of the adjustment shall be treated as a Program
expense and shall be allocated in the ratio in which the investment tax credit (or qualified
investment in Code § 38 property) that gave rise to the basis adjustment is allocated. Any
restoration of the adjusted tax basis occurring as the result of any recapture of previously
allowed investment tax credit with respect to any Program property shall be treated as Program
income and shall be allocated in the same ratio in which the investment tax credit (or qualified
investment in Code § 38 property the disposition of which gave rise to the restoration of adjusted
tax basis) was allocated.
(d) Nondeductible Expenditures. All expenditures of the Program not deductible in
computing its taxable income and not properly chargeable to any Capital Account and any otherwise
nondeductible organizational and syndication expenses of the Program (as described in Code § 709)
shall be treated as Program expenses.
(e) Exempt Revenue. Revenue of the Program which is exempt from federal income tax
shall be included in Net Profits or Net Losses.
(f) Guaranteed Payments. Any payments made to a Partner that are treated for federal
income tax purposes as guaranteed payments pursuant to Code § 707(c) shall be treated as Program
expenses.
(g) Book Value Adjustments. In the event the Book Value of any Program asset is
adjusted pursuant to Section 3.2, the amount of the adjustment shall be treated as gain or
loss, as appropriate, from a sale of the asset.
(h) Simulated Basis. The Program shall establish records of the aggregate adjusted
depletable basis of all Partners in each oil and gas property (as defined in Code § 614) at the
time the property is acquired by the Program (the “Simulated Basis”), and the Simulated
Basis for each property shall be adjusted from time to time, in the same manner as if the Simulated
Basis was the Program’s adjusted basis in the property, to reflect (i) additions to basis and (ii)
Simulated Depletion as provided in Section 6.1(h)(i), and the Simulated Basis, as adjusted,
shall be utilized to determine simulated gain or simulated loss, as provided in
Section 6.1(h)(ii).
(i) The Program shall compute a depletion allowance (“Simulated Depletion”) for each
taxable year based on the Simulated Basis, as theretofore adjusted, equal to either the (A) cost
depletion or (B) percentage depletion at the rate specified in Code § 613A(c)(5) (but otherwise
computed without regard to the limitations that theoretically could apply to less than all the
Partners) attributable to each oil or gas property, with
11
the method of depletion, cost or percentage, being determined on a property by property basis
in the first Program’s taxable year for which it is relevant for the property, with the treatment
being binding for all Program taxable years during which the oil and gas property is held by the
Program, and the Simulated Depletion allowance with respect to each oil or gas property shall be
treated as an expense of the Program and shall be allocated between the Partners pursuant to
Section 6.2, provided that in no event shall the aggregate Simulated Depletion allowances
with respect to an oil or gas property exceed the Program’s Simulated Basis of the property.
(ii) The Program shall compute gain or loss attributable to the sale or other taxable
disposition of an oil or gas property by the Program based on the difference between the amount
realized from the disposition and the Simulated Basis of the property, as theretofore adjusted.
6.2 Allocation of Net Profits and Net Loss From Operations. For purposes of maintaining the
Capital Accounts of the Partners and determining the rights of the Partners in the assets of the
Program, the Net Profit or Net Loss for each accounting period shall be allocated between the
Partners in the order of priority set forth below. Each item of income, gain, loss or expense
giving rise to the Net Profit or Net Loss shall be allocated between the Partners in the same
proportion that the Net Profit or Net Loss is allocated. Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, Net Profits or Net Losses shall be allocated between the Partners as follows:
(a) Allocation of Net Profits. Net Profit for any accounting period shall be
allocated between the Partners in accordance with their respective Proportionate Shares in effect
during the accounting period.
(b) Allocation of Net Loss. Net Loss for any accounting period shall be allocated
between the Partners with positive balances in their respective Capital Accounts in the same
amounts and in the same proportions as the net positive balances in the respective Capital Accounts
of the Partners. Any remaining Net Loss shall be allocated between the Partners in accordance with
their respective Proportionate Shares in effect during the accounting period.
(c) Allocation of Tax Credits. Any tax credits available to the Program and any tax
credit recaptures for any accounting period shall be allocated between the Partners in accordance
with their respective Proportionate Shares in effect during the accounting period.
6.3 Functional Allocations.
(a) General. In general, the IDC of the Program from its participation in the
drilling and completion of Project ▇▇▇▇▇ shall be allocated 100% to the Partnership, up to its
proportionate share of their drilling and completion costs, and the balance of IDC and 100% of the
Tangible Costs of the Program shall be allocated to DPI.
(b) Exceptions. The allocation of IDC and Tangible Costs pursuant to Section 6.3(a)
shall be subject to the following exceptions:
(i) If the IDC for any Project Well exceeds the Partnership’s proportionate share of its
drilling and completion costs, the excess shall be allocated to the DPI.
(ii) If the IDC for any Project Well fails to reach the Partnership’s proportionate share of
its drilling and completion costs, then Tangible Costs allocated to DPI shall be reallocated to the
Partnership until the combined IDC and Tangible Costs allocated to the Partnership for that Project
Well equals its proportionate share of those drilling and completion costs.
(iii) The combined IDC and Tangible Costs allocated to the Partnership for ay Project Well
shall in no event exceed its proportionate share of the drilling and completion costs for that
Project Well. A Partner’s proportionate share of drilling and completion costs for a Project Well
for purposes of this Section 6.3 shall be based on its working interest in that Project
Well, as determined under the Prospect Assignment.
6.4 Start Up Costs and Leasehold Acquisition Costs. All Start Up Costs of the Program shall
be allocated to DPI. Any leasehold acquisition costs borne by the Program under the Project JOA
shall be allocated to DPI.
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6.5 Allocations to Comply with Regulations. In order to comply with the provisions of
Treasury Regulation §§ 1.704-1(b), 1.704-lT and 1.704-2, the following special allocations of
income, gain, loss and expense shall be made, notwithstanding the provisions of
Section 6.2.
(a) Deficit Capital Account Allocations. Subject to the other provisions of this
Section 6.5, in accordance with Treasury Regulation § 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d), no allocation
of expenses or losses shall be made pursuant to Section 6.2 to the extent that, as of the
end of the period to which the allocation relates, the allocation would cause or increase a net
deficit balance in a Partner’s Capital Account in excess of any dollar amount of the net deficit
balance that the Partner is obligated to restore under this Agreement. The expenses and losses
shall instead be allocated to any other Partner not subject to this limitation. For purposes of
this Section 6.5(a), each Partner’s Capital Account balance shall be determined by:
(i) Adding to the Capital Account balance the amount of the Partner’s share (as determined
pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.704-2) of the Total Minimum Gain of the Program as of the end
of the period for which the determination is being made; and
(ii) Subtracting from the Capital Account balance (A) adjustments that are reasonably expected
to be made to the Partner’s Capital Account as of the end of the taxable year for depletion
allowances, loss or distribution of Code § 751 property or otherwise as provided in Treasury
Regulation § 1.704-1(b)(2)(d)(5), and (B) an amount equal to the excess of any distributions that,
as of the end of the period, reasonably are expected to be made to the Partner in any future period
over the Net Profits reasonably expected to be allocated to the Partner during (or prior to) the
period for which the distributions are expected to be made.
(b) Qualified Income Offset Provision. If a Partner unexpectedly receives an
adjustment, allocation or distribution under this Agreement that causes or increases a net deficit
balance in the Partner’s Capital Account as of the end of the period to which the adjustment,
allocation or distribution relates in excess, of any dollar amount of the net deficit balance that
the Partner is obligated to restore under this Agreement, the Partner will be allocated items of
income (including gross income) and gain in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the net
deficit balance as quickly as possible. The provisions of Section 6.5(a) shall apply for
purposes of determining whether any adjustment, allocation or distribution would cause or increase
a net deficit balance in a Partner’s Capital Account.
(c) Special Allocations of Nonrecourse Deductions. Notwithstanding any provision of
Section 6.2, Section 6.5(a) and Section 6.5(b), in compliance with Treasury
Regulation § 1.704-2, allocations of Nonrecourse Deductions shall be made between the Partners in
the same manner as Net Losses are allocated under Section 6.2.
(d) Minimum Gain Chargeback. If there is a net decrease in the Minimum Gain of the
Program during any period, as determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.704-2(f), then each
Partner shall be allocated items of income and gain in accordance with the provisions of Treasury
Regulation § 1.704-2(g).
(e) Special Allocations of Partner Nonrecourse Deductions. Notwithstanding any
provision of Section 6.2, Section6 5.(a) and Section 6.5(b), in compliance
with Treasury Regulation § 1.704-2(b), allocations of Partner Nonrecourse Deductions shall be made
between the Partners in accordance with the ratios in which the Partners or their affiliates share
the economic risk of loss with respect to the Partner Nonrecourse Liabilities to which the Partner
Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable.
(f) Partner Nonrecourse Liability Minimum Gain Chargeback. If there is a net decrease
in the Partner Nonrecourse Liability Minimum Gain during any period, as determined pursuant to
Treasury Regulation § 1.704-2(i) , then each Partner shall be allocated items of income and gain in
accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulation § 1.704-2(i).
(g) Subsequent Allocations. Any special allocations of items of income, gain, loss or
expense made pursuant to this Section 6.5 shall be taken into account in computing
subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss and expense pursuant to Section 6.2, so that
the net amount of any item of income, gain, loss and expense allocated to each Partner pursuant to
Section 6.2 and this Section 6.5 shall, to the extent possible, be equal to the
13
amount of the items of income, gain, loss and expense that would have been allocated to the
Partner pursuant to Section 6.2 if the special allocations of income, gain, loss or expense
required by this Section 6.5 had not been made.
(h) Interpretation of Regulatory Allocations. The provisions of this
Section 6.5 are intended to comply with the requirements of Treasury
Regulation §§ 1.704-1(b), 1.704-1 T and 1.704-2 and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
6.6 Federal Income Tax Allocations. The allocations of income, gain, loss and expense made
pursuant to Section 6.2 through Section 6.5 are allocations of book income to be
made for accounting purposes to determine the respective balances in the Capital Accounts of the
Partners and to establish the rights of the Partners between themselves in the assets of the
Program. These allocations may be different from the allocations between the Partners of the
income, gain, loss, deduction, tax preference and tax credits of the Program for federal income tax
purposes. Allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, tax preference and tax credits of the
Program for federal income tax purposes for each taxable year shall be made between the Partners as
follows:
(a) General Rules for Allocating Income, Loss, Etc. In general, all items of income,
gain, loss, deduction and tax preference of the Program for each taxable year shall be allocated
between the Partners for federal income tax purposes in the same manner as the book items that give
rise to the tax items are allocated between the Partners pursuant to Section 6.2 through
Section 6.5.
(b) Special Rules Where Tax Basis Differs From Book Value. If the Program’s adjusted
tax basis for federal income tax purposes in any of its property differs from the Book Value of the
property at the beginning of any taxable year, in determining each Partner’s distributive share of
the taxable income or loss (or items thereof) of the Program, each item of income, gain, loss or
deduction with respect to the property shall be allocated between the Partners in a manner that
takes into account the difference between the adjusted tax basis for federal income tax purposes of
the property and its Book Value, all as of the beginning of the taxable year, as required by
Code § 704(c) and any applicable Treasury Regulations thereunder or by Treasury
Regulation § 1.704-1(b)14)(i).
6.7 Allocation of Profits, Losses and Tax Credits Upon Transfer of Program Interest. The
items of income, gain, loss, expense, deduction, tax preference and tax credit allocable under any
provisions of Section 6.2 through Section 6.6 to any interest in the Program which
may have been transferred during any period shall be allocated among the Persons who were the
holders of the interest during the period in a manner that takes into account the varying interests
of the Partners in the Program during the period, all in accordance with any Treasury Regulations
promulgated under Code § 706(d); provided that the allocation of gain or loss on the disposition of
any property in which the Program has a direct or indirect interest shall, to the extent not
prohibited under those regulations, be allocated among the Persons who are Partners in the Program
on the date the event giving rise to the gain or loss occurs in accordance with the provisions of
Section 6.2 through Section 6.6.
6.8 Special Tax Audit Allocations. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to
the contrary, in the event that the federal taxable income of the Program (or any item thereof) is
adjusted as the result of an audit by the Service, the Partners’ Capital Accounts shall be adjusted
in a manner that reflects the adjustments as though corresponding book adjustments had been
originally reflected in the Net Profits or Net Losses of the Program determined pursuant to
Section 6.1.
6.9 Interest. If, pursuant to applicable law, a portion of the amounts paid with respect to
any Partner’s capital contribution to the Program shall be deemed to constitute interest rather
than principal for federal income tax purposes, the interest income attributable thereto shall be
allocated to the Partner who shall have made the deemed interest payments, and the amount of the
interest income shall be taken into account in determining the amount of capital contribution made
by the Partner to the Program.
6.10 Income Tax Effect. The Partners acknowledge the income tax consequences of the
allocations made by this Article VI and hereby agree to be bound by those provisions in
reporting their shares of Program profits and losses for federal income tax purposes.
6.11 Distribution of Cash. Any cash of the Program that is not required to meet the
obligations of the Program or to maintain any reserves established pursuant to
Section 4.1(b)(viii) and Section 6.12 shall be distributed
14
not less than quarterly to the Partners in accordance with their Proportionate Shares.
Pending distribution of funds, the Program Manager may, but shall not be required to, invest the
funds for the account of the Program in savings accounts, money market accounts, prime commercial
paper or U.S. government obligations.
6.12 Plugging and Abandonment Account. The Program Manager shall maintain an account to
provide for the Program’s future obligations under the Project JOA for its proportionate share of
the costs for plugging, abandoning and reclaiming the Project ▇▇▇▇▇ at the end of their economic
lives (the “P&A Account”). The P&A account shall be funded from the Program’s share of
production proceeds from each completed Project Well at the rate of $6,000 per Project Well,
payable by the Program in 60 equal monthly installments of $100 from its share of production
revenues from each completed Project ▇▇▇▇▇. If the Program owns less than 100% of the working
interests in a Project Well due to the exercise of third-party participation rights, the plugging
and abandonment fee payable by the Program for that Project Well shall be reduced proportionately.
If the P&A Account is inadequate to cover the Program’s share of plugging and abandonment costs for
all Project ▇▇▇▇▇, the Program will be obligated to satisfy the shortfall when all plugging,
abandonment and reclamation work is completed.
ARTICLE VII – LIMITATION ON TRANSFER OF PARTNERS’ INTERESTS
7.1 Limitation on Transferability. Except as provided herein, no Partner shall sell, assign,
transfer, mortgage, pledge, encumber or in any other manner dispose of all or any part of its
interest in the Program without the written consent of the other Partner.
7.2 Encumbrance. Nothing contained in this Article VII shall prohibit any Partner
from pledging, mortgaging or otherwise encumbering its interest in the Program.
7.3 Admission of Transferee. A transferee of an interest in the Program shall (a) assume all
of the obligations of its transferor with respect to the transferred interest, (b) acquire all the
rights and powers of its transferor with respect to the transferred interest, subject to all of the
restrictions applicable thereto, and (c) in all respects be considered a Partner hereunder with
respect to the transferred interest. The transferor Partner shall be responsible for all legal
fees and costs of the Program to effect the transfer. Each Partner hereby consents to the
execution on its behalf by the Program Manager of an amendment hereto and any other instruments
required for the purpose of admitting the transferee of any interest in the Program, and the
Program Manager is hereby granted the right to admit the transferee in accordance with the terms of
this Article VII.
ARTICLE VIII – ACCOUNTING MATTERS
8.1 Books and Records. During the term of the Program and for four years thereafter, the
Program Manager shall keep, or cause to be kept, full, accurate, complete and proper books and
accounts of all operations of the Program. The books shall be kept on an accrual basis-calendar
year. All Partners shall have access to the Program’s books and records at the Program’s principal
place of business during regular business hours and shall have the right to review and copy all or
part of them, except that any the audit shall be at the sole expense of the Partner or Partners
requesting same unless the audit is requested by the Partnership by vote of a majority-in-interest
of the Unitholders.
8.2 Accounting Basis for Tax Reporting Purposes. The books and records and the financial
statements and reports of the Program shall be kept on the accrual basis.
8.3 Elections. The Program Manager may cause the Program to make any elections required or
permitted to be made by the Program under the Code and not otherwise expressly provided for in this
Agreement in the manner that the Program Manager believes will be most advantageous to the
Partners.
8.4 Bank Accounts. All funds of the Program shall be deposited in an account or accounts at a
bank or other financial institution selected by the Program Manager. No funds of the Program shall
be commingled with the funds of any other Person. All withdrawals from any such account or
accounts shall be made only upon a check or draft signed by the Program Manager or by such Person
or Persons as may be designated from time to time by the Program Manager.
ARTICLE IX – DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
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9.1 Dissolution. The Program shall be dissolved and shall terminate and wind up its affairs
upon the first to occur of the following:
(a) a determination by the Program Manager that the Program should terminate, and the
concurrence in that determination by the other Partner;
(b) the sale, exchange, forfeiture or other disposition of all or substantially all the
properties of the Program;
(c) the bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation of any Partner, unless the other Partner elects
to continue the Program;
(d) 30 years from the date of this Agreement; or
(e) any event that results in the dissolution of the Program under the applicable law, unless
the Partners elect to continue the Program.
9.2 Liquidation.
(a) Appointment of Liquidator. If the Program is dissolved upon the occurrence of any
of the circumstances described in Section 9.1, no further business shall thereafter be
conducted by the Program except for taking any action deemed necessary by the Program Manager for
winding up of the affairs of the Program and distributing its assets to the Partners pursuant to
the provisions of this Article IX. Upon the Program’s dissolution, the Program Manager
shall act as liquidator or, if it is unable to act in that capacity, it shall appoint one or more
liquidators, any of whom shall have full authority to wind up the affairs of the Program and to
make final distributions as provided herein.
(b) Steps to Be Taken by Liquidator. Upon the dissolution of the Program, the
liquidator shall take the following steps:
(i) Determine the interest of the Program in the Project ▇▇▇▇▇ and other assets held by the
Program;
(ii) Determine which Program properties and assets should be retained or abandoned, and
dispose of all other Program properties and assets at the best cash price obtainable therefor:
(iii) Pay all Program debts and liabilities, or otherwise make adequate provision therefor;
(iv) Determine the fair market value of any remaining Program assets based on estimates to be
conducted by an independent appraiser, using appropriate appraisal techniques and taking into
account the nature of the appraised property interests and the recovery of any associated oil and
gas reserves by primary, secondary and tertiary techniques, to the extent deemed feasible in
accordance with industry standards;
(v) Adjust the Capital Account of each Partner, consistent with Section 9.2(b)(vi), to
reflect the fair market value of the Partner’s interest in any unliquidated assets of the Program,
by crediting or charging the Partner’s Capital Account with the amount that would have been
credited or charged to the Partner’s Capital Account if the Program’s properties and assets to be
distributed in kind had been sold at their fair market value immediately prior to the distribution;
(vi) Prepare a final statement of accounts showing the status of each Partner’s Capital
Account, as adjusted, and the amount, if any, owed by each Partner to the Program, provided that if
any Partner has a negative Capital Account after proper adjustments, then it shall be required to
make a capital contribution to the Program in the amount of its negative Capital Account; and
(vii) Distribute to each of the Partners the balance, if any, then remaining in its Capital
Account, as adjusted in accordance with this Section 9.2, provided that the distribution
may be made in cash or in
16
kind as provided in Section 9.2(c), and the proportion of the distribution made in
cash to the Partners may vary as determined by the liquidator in its sole discretion;
(c) Distributions in Kind. In the event the Program properties are not adequately
divisible to effect full repayment of the Capital Account balances of the Partners, then the
liquidator shall transfer to the Partners all of the cash of the Program, and shall convey and
assign to the Partners the remaining Program assets to be held by the Partners as tenants in
common, in either case in proportion to the balances in their respective Capital Accounts.
(d) Payment of a Partner’s Indebtedness. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of
this Section 9.2, if any Partner shall be indebted to the Program, then, until payment of
the indebtedness by that Partner, the liquidator shall retain the Partner’s distributive share of
Program properties and assets and, after applying the cost of operation of the properties and
assets during the period of the liquidation against the income therefrom, the balance of the income
and any cash assets shall be applied in liquidation of the indebtedness of the Partner, and if the
amount has not been paid or otherwise liquidated in full, the liquidator may sell the remaining
assets allocable to the Partner at public or private sale at the best price immediately obtainable,
as determined in the sole judgment of the liquidator. The proceeds of the sale that are necessary
to liquidate the Partner’s indebtedness shall then be so applied, and the balance of the proceeds,
if any, shall be distributed to the Partner, reduced by the amount of any debit balance in its
Capital Account.
(e) Termination of the Program. The liquidator shall otherwise comply with all
requirements of the Kentucky Act, or other applicable law, pertaining to the winding up of a
general partnership. Upon completion of the liquidation procedures, the Program shall be
terminated.
9.3 Compliance With Regulations.
(a) Timing. In the event the Program is liquidated within the meaning of Treasury
Regulation § 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), the following action shall be taken before the later of the last
day of the Program’s taxable year in which the liquidation occurred or the 90th day
following the date of the liquidation:
(i) Distributions shall be made to the Partners who have positive Capital Account balances in
compliance with Treasury Regulation § 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(2); and
(ii) If any Partner shall have a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the time (after
giving effect to all contributions, distributions and allocations for all taxable years including
the year during which the liquidation occurs), the Partner shall contribute the amount of the
deficit to the capital of the Program.
(b) Distributions in Trust. In the discretion of the Program Manager, distributions
pursuant to Section 9.3(a) may be made to a trust established for the benefit of the
Partners for the purposes of liquidating Program assets, collecting amounts owed to the Program and
paying any contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the Program or of the Partners,
provided it received an opinion of counsel to the effect that the trust will not be taxed as an
association taxable as a corporation. The assets of any the trust shall be distributed to the
Partners from time to time, in the reasonable discretion of the trustee of the trust, in the same
proportions as the amount distributed to the trust by the Program would otherwise have been
distributed to the Partners pursuant to this Agreement; and a portion or all of the assets may be
withheld by the trustee of the trust to provide a reasonable reserve for liabilities and expenses.
9.4 Return of Capital Contributions Solely Out of Program Assets. A Partner shall look solely
to the properties and assets of the Program for the return of its capital contribution and, if the
properties and assets of the Program remaining after the payment or discharge of the debts and
liabilities of the Program are insufficient to return its capital contribution, it shall have no
recourse against the Program Manager, its affiliates or any other Partner or Person for that
purpose.
9.5 Dissolution Followed by Continuation. In the event that the Program shall be dissolved by
reason of the occurrence of any of the circumstances described in Section 9.1 or for any
other reason, if the remaining Partners shall agree thereto, the Program shall not terminate and
wind up its affairs pursuant to Section 9.2 but shall be modified upon the terms mutually
agreed to by those Partners and, as so modified, shall continue its business as if
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the dissolution had not occurred.
ARTICLE X – MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
10.1 Notices. Notices, requests, reports or other communications required to be given or made
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be delivered when delivered by hand or when
properly addressed and posted by U.S. mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the
Person being given the notice at its last known address. Any notice to the Partnership or to the
Program Manager shall be given at the address shown as the Program’s principal office.
10.2 Nature of Interest of Partners. The interest of each Partner in the Program shall be
deemed to be personal property.
10.3 Waiver of Right to Partition. Each Partner waives the benefit of any provisions of law
that may provide for partition of real or personal property and agrees that it will not resort to
any action at law or equity to partition any property subject to this Agreement. The foregoing
waiver shall survive the termination and dissolution of the Program
10.4 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed in all
respects by the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
10.5 Successors in Interest. Each and all of the covenants, agreements, terms and provisions
of this Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and, to the
extent permitted by this Agreement, their respective successors and assigns.
10.6 Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties
pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and
understandings of the parties in connection herewith.
10.7 Amendments. Any amendment or supplement to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall
be signed by or on behalf of each of the parties. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 4.1(b) and Section 7.3, any amendment to this Agreement shall be effective
only if concurred in by all of the Partners.
10.7 Severability. If for any reason any provision of this Agreement that is not material to
the purpose or business of the Program is determined to be invalid and contrary to any existing or
future law, the invalidity shall not impair the operation of or affect those portions of this
Agreement that are not determined to be invalid.
10.8 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are inserted for descriptive purposes only and
shall not control or alter the meaning of any provision hereof.
10.9 Rights and Remedies Cumulative. The rights and remedies provided under this Agreement
are cumulative, and the use of any one right or remedy by a Partner shall not preclude or waive its
right to use any or all other remedies, whether provided for herein, by law or otherwise.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
| NGAS Partners ______, Ltd. | ||||||
| By: | ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Petroleum, Inc., | |||||
| Managing General Partner | ||||||
| By: | ||||||
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, | ||||||
| Chairman of the Board | ||||||
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Petroleum, Inc. | ||||||
| By | ||||||
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇ III, | ||||||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
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