EX-3.1 2 a18-16342_1ex3d1.htm EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

 

Execution Version

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

 

OF

 

KIMBELL ROYALTY PARTNERS, LP

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

2

 

 

 

Section 1.1

Definitions

2

Section 1.2

Construction

26

 

 

 

ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION

27

 

 

 

Section 2.1

Formation

27

Section 2.2

Name

27

Section 2.3

Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices

27

Section 2.4

Purpose and Business

27

Section 2.5

Powers

28

Section 2.6

Term

28

Section 2.7

Title to Partnership Assets

28

 

 

 

ARTICLE III RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

28

 

 

 

Section 3.1

Limitation of Liability

28

Section 3.2

Management of Business

29

Section 3.3

Outside Activities of the Limited Partners

29

Section 3.4

Rights of Limited Partners

29

 

 

 

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

30

 

 

 

Section 4.1

Certificates

30

Section 4.2

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates

31

Section 4.3

Record Holders

31

Section 4.4

Transfer Generally

32

Section 4.5

Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests

32

Section 4.6

Transfer of the General Partner Interest

33

Section 4.7

Restrictions on Transfers

34

Section 4.8

Eligibility Certificates; Ineligible Holders

34

Section 4.9

Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders

35

 

 

 

ARTICLE V CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

37

 

 

 

Section 5.1

Organizational Contributions

37

Section 5.2

Contributions by the Contributing Parties on the Closing Date and Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement

37

Section 5.3

Contributions by Limited Partners

37

Section 5.4

Deferred Issuance and Distribution

38

Section 5.5

Interest and Withdrawal

38

Section 5.6

Capital Accounts

38

 

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Section 5.7

Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests

41

Section 5.8

Preemptive Right

42

Section 5.9

Splits and Combinations

42

Section 5.10

Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests

43

Section 5.11

Deemed Capital Contributions by Partners

43

Section 5.12

Establishment of Series A Preferred Units

43

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

62

 

 

 

Section 6.1

Allocations for Capital Account Purposes

62

Section 6.2

Allocations for Tax Purposes

69

Section 6.3

Distributions to Record Holders

71

Section 6.4

Special Provisions Relating to the Series A Preferred Units

72

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS

73

 

 

 

Section 7.1

Management

73

Section 7.2

Replacement of Fiduciary Duties

75

Section 7.3

Certificate of Limited Partnership

75

Section 7.4

Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority to Sell Assets of the Partnership Group

75

Section 7.5

Reimbursement of the General Partner

76

Section 7.6

Outside Activities

77

Section 7.7

Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members

78

Section 7.8

Indemnification

78

Section 7.9

Liability of Indemnitees

80

Section 7.10

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

81

Section 7.11

Other Matters Concerning the General Partner

84

Section 7.12

Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests

84

Section 7.13

Reliance by Third Parties

84

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

85

 

 

 

Section 8.1

Records and Accounting

85

Section 8.2

Fiscal Year

85

Section 8.3

Reports

85

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX TAX MATTERS

86

 

 

 

Section 9.1

Tax Returns and Information

86

Section 9.2

Tax Elections

86

Section 9.3

Tax Controversies

86

Section 9.4

Withholding

87

 

 

 

ARTICLE X ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

87

 

 

 

Section 10.1

Admission of Limited Partners

87

 

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Section 10.2

Admission of Successor General Partner

88

Section 10.3

Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership

89

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI WITHDRAWAL OR REMOVAL OF PARTNERS

89

 

 

 

Section 11.1

Withdrawal of the General Partner

89

Section 11.2

Removal of the General Partner

91

Section 11.3

Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner

91

Section 11.4

Withdrawal of Limited Partners

92

 

 

 

ARTICLE XII DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

92

 

 

 

Section 12.1

Dissolution

92

Section 12.2

Continuation of the Business of the Partnership After Dissolution

93

Section 12.3

Liquidator

94

Section 12.4

Liquidation

94

Section 12.5

Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership

95

Section 12.6

Return of Contributions

95

Section 12.7

Waiver of Partition

95

Section 12.8

Capital Account Restoration

95

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

95

 

 

 

Section 13.1

Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner

95

Section 13.2

Amendment Procedures

97

Section 13.3

Amendment Requirements

97

Section 13.4

Special Meetings

98

Section 13.5

Notice of a Meeting

98

Section 13.6

Record Date

99

Section 13.7

Postponement and Adjournment

99

Section 13.8

Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes

99

Section 13.9

Quorum and Voting

100

Section 13.10

Conduct of a Meeting

100

Section 13.11

Action Without a Meeting

100

Section 13.12

Right to Vote and Related Matters

101

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIV MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

102

 

 

 

Section 14.1

Authority

102

Section 14.2

Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion

102

Section 14.3

Approval by Limited Partners

104

Section 14.4

Certificate of Merger or Certificate of Conversion

105

Section 14.5

Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion

105

 

 

 

ARTICLE XV RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

106

 

 

 

Section 15.1

Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests

106

 

 

 

ARTICLE XVI GENERAL PROVISIONS

108

 

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Section 16.1

Addresses and Notices; Written Communications

108

Section 16.2

Further Action

109

Section 16.3

Binding Effect

109

Section 16.4

Integration

109

Section 16.5

Creditors

109

Section 16.6

Waiver

109

Section 16.7

Third-Party Beneficiaries

109

Section 16.8

Counterparts

109

Section 16.9

Applicable Law; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury

109

Section 16.10

Invalidity of Provisions

110

Section 16.11

Consent of Partners

111

Section 16.12

Facsimile and Email Signatures

111

 

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SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP OF KIMBELL ROYALTY PARTNERS, LP

 

THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF KIMBELL ROYALTY PARTNERS, LP, dated as of July 12, 2018, is entered into by and among KIMBELL ROYALTY GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the General Partner, and with any other Persons who are or become Partners in the Partnership or parties hereto as provided herein.

 

WHEREAS, the General Partner and the other parties thereto entered into that certain First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership dated as of February 8, 2017 (the “Prior Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, Section 5.7(a) of the Prior Agreement provides that the Partnership may, for any Partnership purpose, at any time and from time to time, issue additional Partnership Interests (other than the General Partner Interest) for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as the General Partner shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited Partners;

 

WHEREAS, Section 5.7(b) of the Prior Agreement provides that each additional Partnership Interest authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.7(a) of the Prior Agreement may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any such classes, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be senior or junior to existing classes and series of Partnership Interests) as shall be fixed by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Partnership Interest; (v) whether such Partnership Interest 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 Interest shall be issued, evidenced by Certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Interest; and (viii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Interest to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Interest;

 

WHEREAS, Section 5.7(c) of the Prior Agreement provides that the General Partner shall (i) take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with each issuance of Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 5.7 of the Prior Agreement, and (ii) do all things necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Interests pursuant to the terms of the Prior 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 Common Units or other Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading;

 

WHEREAS, the General Partner, without the approval of any other Partner, may amend any provision of the Prior Agreement pursuant to (i) Section 13.1(d)(i) of the Prior Agreement to reflect a change that the General Partner determines does not adversely affect the Limited

 

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Partners considered as a whole or any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests in any material respect, and (ii) Section 13.1(g) of the Prior Agreement to reflect an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization or issuance of any class or series of Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 5.7 of the Prior Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors deems it advisable and in the best interests of the Partnership to enter into this Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, which provides for (i) (a) the authorization of a new class of Units to be designated as Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units and (b) fixes the preferences and the relative participating, optional and other special rights, powers and duties pertaining to the Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units, including, without limitation, the conversion of the Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units into Common Units in accordance with the terms described therein, (ii) the issuance of the Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units to the Purchasers pursuant to the Series A Purchase Agreement and (iii) such other matters as are provided therein;

 

WHEREAS, the General Partner has, pursuant to its authority under Section 13.1(d)(i) and 13.1(g) of the Prior Agreement, made the determinations required thereby and accordingly is adopting this Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership; and

 

WHEREAS, acting pursuant to the power and authority granted to it under Section 13.1(d) and Section 13.1(g) of the Prior Agreement, the General Partner has determined that this Amendment does not require the approval of any other Partner.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the General Partner does hereby amend and restate the Prior Agreement, pursuant to its authority under Section 13.1 of the Prior Agreement, to provide, in its entirety, as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1                Definitions. The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.

 

Accrual Election” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(i)(B).

 

Accumulated Distributions” means, with respect to any Series A Preferred Unit, as of any date, the aggregate amount of accrued and unpaid distributions added to the Series A Liquidation Preference in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(i)(B).

 

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Adjusted Capital Account” means, with respect to any Partner, the balance in such Partner’s Capital Account at the end of each taxable period of the Partnership, after giving effect to the following adjustments:

 

(a)         Credit to such Capital Account any amounts that such Partner is (x) obligated to restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) or (y) deemed obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5); and

 

(b)         Debit to such Capital Account the items described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6).

 

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 any Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such Partnership Interest was first issued.

 

Adjusted Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the quotient of (a) the sum, as of such date, of (i) Total Debt, plus (ii) the aggregate liquidation preference of all Outstanding Series A Senior Securities, and (b) EBITDAX for the period of the four fiscal quarters most recently ended as of such date for which financial information has been filed with the Commission.

 

Adjusted Property” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Section 5.6(d)(i) or Section 5.6(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. Without limiting the foregoing, for purposes of this Agreement, any Person that individually or together with its Affiliates, has the direct or indirect right to designate or cause the designation of at least one member to the Board of Directors, and any such Person’s Affiliates, shall be deemed to be Affiliates of the General Partner.

 

Agreed Allocation” means any allocation, other than a Required Allocation, of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1, including a Curative Allocation (if appropriate to the context in which the term “Agreed Allocation” is used).

 

Agreed Value” of (a) a Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property at the time of contribution and (b) an Adjusted Property means the fair market value of such Adjusted Property on the date of the Revaluation Event as described in Section 5.6(d), in each case as determined by the General Partner. The General Partner shall use such method as it determines to be appropriate to allocate the aggregate Agreed Value of Contributed Properties

 

3



 

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 Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Arrangement Fee” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Series A Purchase Agreement.

 

Asset Contributor” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(a).

 

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

 

Available Cash” means, with respect to any Quarter ending prior to the Liquidation Date:

 

(a)         the sum of:

 

(i)                       all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries on hand at the end of that Quarter; and

 

(ii)                    as determined by the General Partner, all cash or cash equivalents of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash for that Quarter resulting from Working Capital Borrowings made after the end of that Quarter;

 

(b)         less the amount of cash reserves established by the General Partner to:

 

(i)                       provide for the proper conduct of the business of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for future credit needs of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries) after that Quarter;

 

(ii)                    comply with applicable law or any debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or its assets are subject; and

 

(iii)                 provide funds for distributions under Section 6.3 or to the holders of Series A Preferred Units for any one or more of the next four Quarters; provided, however, that disbursements made by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of that Quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash for that Quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash, within that Quarter if the General Partner so determines.

 

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

 

Blocker Corporation” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(x)(A).

 

Blocker Merger” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(x)(A).

 

Board of Directors” means the board of directors or board of managers of the General Partner, if the General Partner is a corporation or limited liability company, or the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner of the General Partner, if the General Partner is a limited partnership, as applicable.

 

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 U.S. 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 shall be reflected by the difference between such Partner’s Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section 5.6 and the hypothetical balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained strictly in accordance with U.S. federal income tax accounting principles.

 

Business Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of Texas shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

 

Capital Account” means the capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Section 5.6. The “Capital Account” of a Partner in respect of any Partnership Interest shall be the amount that such Capital Account would be if such Partnership Interest were the only interest in the Partnership held by such Partner from and after the date on which such 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 or that is contributed or deemed contributed to the Partnership on behalf of a Partner (including, in the case of an underwritten offering of Units, the amount of any underwriting discounts or commissions).

 

Carrying Value” means (a) with respect to a Contributed Property or an Adjusted Property, the Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation, Simulated Depletion, amortization and other cost recovery deductions charged to the Partners’ Capital Accounts in respect of such property and (b) with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such property for U.S. federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination. In the case of any oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code), adjusted basis shall be determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.613A—3(e)(3)(iii)(C). The Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 5.6(d) 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.

 

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

 

Certificate” means a certificate, in such form (including global form if permitted by applicable rules and regulations) as may be adopted by the General Partner, issued by the Partnership evidencing ownership of one or more classes of Partnership Interests. The initial form of certificate approved by the General Partner for Common Units is attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement. Any modification to or replacement of such form of Certificate adopted by the General Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.

 

Certificate of Limited Partnership” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as referenced in Section 7.3, as such Certificate of Limited Partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Closing Date” means February 8, 2017.

 

Closing Price” means, in respect of any class of Limited Partner Interests, as of the date of determination, the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, regular way, as reported on the principal National Securities Exchange on which Limited Partner Interests of such class are listed or admitted to trading or, if Limited Partner Interests of such class are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, the last quoted price on such day, or if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the primary reporting system then in use with respect to Limited Partner Interests of such class, or, if on any such day Limited Partner Interests of such class are not quoted by any such system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in 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 Limited Partner Interests of such class, the fair value of such Limited Partner Interests on such day as determined by the General Partner.

 

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

 

Combined Interest” has the meaning given such term in Section 11.3(a).

 

Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Unit” means a Limited Partner Interest having the rights and obligations specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement.

 

Common Unitholder” means a Record Holder of Common Units.

 

Conflicts Committee” means a committee of the Board of Directors composed of two or more directors, each of whom (a) is not an officer or employee of the General Partner, (b) is not

 

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an officer, director or employee of any Affiliate of the General Partner (other than Group Members), (c) is not a holder of any ownership interest in the General Partner or its Affiliates or any Group Member other than (i) Common Units and (ii) awards that are granted to such director in his or her capacity as a director under any long-term incentive plan, equity compensation plan or similar plan implemented by the General Partner or the Partnership and (d) is determined by the Board of Directors to be independent under the independence standards for directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading (or if the Common Units are not listed or admitted to trading, the New York Stock Exchange).

 

Contributed Property” means each property, in such form as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed or deemed contributed to the Partnership. Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.6(d), such property shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.

 

Contributing Parties” means, collectively, the Equity Contributors and the Asset Contributors.

 

Contribution Agreement” means that certain Contribution, Conveyance, Assignment and Assumption Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2016, by and among the Partnership, the General Partner, Kimbell Intermediate GP, LLC, Kimbell Intermediate Holdings, LLC, Kimbell Royalty Holdings, LLC and the other parties named therein, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder.

 

Contribution Agreement Parties” means, collectively, the Contributing Parties, the General Partner and the Partnership Group.

 

Conversion” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(x)(A).

 

Conversion Price” means $18.50, as may be adjusted as set forth in Section 5.12(b)(v)(E).

 

Converted Entity” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(x)(A).

 

Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement dated as of January 11, 2017, among Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP, as the borrower, the several lenders thereto from time to time, and Frost Bank, as administrative agent and sole arranger, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (except in contravention hereof), together with any Replacement Credit Agreement.  Any term defined herein by reference to the Credit Agreement (and any embedded defined terms therein) shall have the meaning set forth in the Credit Agreement as of the Series A Issuance Date, giving effect to any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification dated as of the Series A Issuance Date.  When applying U.S. GAAP to the terms of this Agreement, including when referencing any calculation made under or in accordance with the Credit Agreement, U.S. GAAP will be deemed to treat leases that would have been classified as operating leases in accounting principles in the United States as in effect on December 31, 2015 in a manner consistent with the treatment of such leases under

 

7



 

general accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect on December 31, 2015, notwithstanding any modifications or interpretive changes thereto that may occur thereafter.

 

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

 

Current Market Price” means, as of any date, for any class of Limited Partner Interests, the average of the daily Closing Prices per Limited Partner Interest of such class for the 20 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date.

 

Customary Credit Facility” means a reserve-based revolving credit facility (including the Credit Agreement, as in effect as of the Series A Issuance Date, giving effect to any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification dated as of the Series A Issuance Date) (a) with a conforming borrowing base based on the normal and customary standards and practices of, and provided solely by an administrative agent and lenders that are, commercial banks that are regulated by the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and are in the business of valuing and re-determining the value of oil and gas properties in connection with conforming, reserve-based oil and gas loan transactions in the United States based upon, inter alia, the review by such lenders of the hydrocarbon reserves, royalty interests and assets and liabilities of the borrower and guarantors thereunder, with such valuation being determined at least semi-annually during each year and on such other occasions as may be required or provided for by the terms of the documentation therefor, (b) with respect to which all Indebtedness and other obligations under such credit facility are pari passu in right of payment, pricing, security and liquidation thereof, and (c) that does not carry any call protection (including, without limitation, any make-whole protection, prepayment premium, yield protection or similar protection or premium).

 

Deferred Issuance and Distribution” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.4.

 

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

 

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

 

Derivative Partnership Interests” means any options, rights, warrants, appreciation rights, tracking, profit and phantom interests and other derivative securities relating to, convertible into or exchangeable for Partnership Interests.

 

Distribution Rate” means 7.0% per annum, as may be adjusted as set forth in Section 5.12(b)(i)(B) and Section 5.12(b)(ix)(D).

 

EBITDAX” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Credit Agreement (including any embedded defined terms therein); provided, however, for purposes of calculating EBITDAX herein, EBITDAX (a) shall be calculated without giving effect to the add-backs provided under clauses (4), (5), (7) (other than on account of extraordinary losses for such period) and (8) of the

 

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definition of “EBITDAX” as provided in the Credit Agreement and (b) shall not be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis (as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement); provided that notwithstanding any limitations in the Credit Agreement, EBITDAX shall be determined with respect to the Partnership and all of its Subsidiaries (i.e., such calculation shall not be limited to Restricted Subsidiaries (as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement)).

 

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

 

Eligibility Certificate” means a certificate the General Partner may request a Limited Partner or a transferee of a Limited Partner Interest to execute as to such Person’s (or such Person’s beneficial owners’) nationality, citizenship or other related status for the purpose of determining whether such Limited Partner is an Ineligible Holder.

 

Equity Contributors” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(b).

 

Equity Securities” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any capital stock or other equity securities, (b) any securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock or other equity securities or containing any profit participation features, (c) any rights, options or incentive units, directly or indirectly, to subscribe for or to purchase any capital stock, other equity securities or securities containing any profit participation features or, directly or indirectly, to subscribe for or to purchase any securities, directly or indirectly, convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock, other equity securities or securities containing any profit participation features, or (d) any stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other similar rights.

 

Event Issue Value” means, with respect to any Common Unit as of any date of determination, (a) in the case of a Revaluation Event that includes the issuance of Common Units pursuant to a public offering and solely for cash, the price paid for such Common Units or (b) in the case of any other Revaluation Event, the Closing Price of the Common Units on the date of such Revaluation Event or, if the General Partner determines that a value for the Common Unit other than such Closing Price more accurately reflects the Event Issue Value, the value determined by the General Partner.

 

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

 

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

 

Exchange Agreement” means an Exchange Agreement to be entered into among the Partnership, the General Partner, Kimbell Royalty Operating, LLC, the Kimbell Art Foundation, Haymaker Minerals & Royalties, LLC, EIGF Aggregator III LLC, TE Drilling Aggregator LLC and Haymaker Management, LLC.

 

Excluded Amounts” means the Arrangement Fee.

 

Final Partnership Redemption Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(ix)(C).

 

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Forced Redemption Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(ix)(A).

 

General Partner” means Kimbell Royalty GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Partnership as general partner of the Partnership, in their capacity as the general partner of the Partnership.

 

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

 

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

 

Group” means two or more Persons that, with or through any of their respective Affiliates or Associates, have any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons), exercising investment power over or disposing of any Partnership Interests.

 

Group Member” means a member of the Partnership Group.

 

Group Member Agreement” means the partnership agreement of any Group Member, other than the Partnership, that is a limited or general partnership, the limited liability company agreement of any Group Member that is a limited liability company, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or similar organizational documents of any Group Member that is a corporation, the joint venture agreement or similar governing document of any Group Member that is a joint venture and the governing or organizational or similar documents of any other Group Member that is a Person other than a limited or general partnership, limited liability company, corporation or joint venture, as such may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Incumbent Board” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Series A Change of Control” in Section 1.1.

 

Indebtedness” of any Person shall mean, if and to the extent (other than with respect to clause (e) below) the same would constitute indebtedness or a liability in accordance with U.S. GAAP, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (c) the deferred purchase price of assets or services that in accordance with U.S. GAAP would be required to be shown as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person (other than (i) any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with U.S. GAAP and (ii) obligations resulting under firm transportation contracts or take or pay contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business),

 

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(d) the face amount of all letters of credit issued for the account of such Person and, without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder, (e) all Indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) described in the other clauses of this definition of any other Person secured by any lien on any property owned by such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness has been assumed by such Person (but if such Indebtedness has not been assumed, limited to the lesser of the amount of such Indebtedness and the fair market value of the property securing such Indebtedness), (f) the undischarged balance of any production payment created by such Person or for the creation of which such Person directly or indirectly received payment and (g) without duplication, all guarantee obligations of such Person in respect of Indebtedness of another Person of the types described in the other clauses of this definition); provided that Indebtedness shall not include (i) trade and other ordinary-course payables and accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business, (ii) deferred or prepaid revenues, (iii) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller, (iv) in the case of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, (A) all intercompany Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business and (B) intercompany liabilities in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, (v) production payments and reserve sales, (vi) in-kind obligations relating to net oil, natural gas liquids or natural gas balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business and (vii) any obligation in respect of a farm-in agreement or similar arrangement whereby such Person agrees to pay all or a share of the drilling, completion or other expenses of an exploratory or development well (which agreement may be subject to a maximum payment obligation, after which expenses are shared in accordance with the working or participation interest therein or in accordance with the agreement of the parties) or perform the drilling, completion or other operation on such well in exchange for an ownership interest in an oil or gas property.

 

Indemnitee” means (a) the General Partner, (b) any Departing General Partner, (c) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (d) any Person who is or was a manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of (i) any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or (ii) any Affiliate of any Group Member, the General Partner or any Departing General Partner, (e) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner or any Departing General Partner as a manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of another Person owing a fiduciary or contractual duty or standard of care to any Group Member; provided, however, that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, and (f) any Person the General Partner designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement because such Person’s status, service or relationship exposes such Person to potential claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings relating to the Partnership Group’s business and affairs.

 

Ineligible Holdermeans a Limited Partner whose nationality, citizenship or other related status the General Partner determines, upon receipt of an Eligibility Certificate or other requested information, has created or would create under any federal, state or local law or regulation to which a Group Member is subject, a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which a Group Member has an interest.

 

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Initial Accrual Period” means the period beginning on the Series A Issuance Date and ending on the last day of the fourth non-consecutive Quarter with respect to which an Accrual Election is made.  For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Accrual Election be made in consecutive Quarters.

 

Initial Public Offering” means the initial offering and sale of Common Units to the public, including any offer and sale of Common Units pursuant to the Underwriters’ Option, as described in the Registration Statement.

 

Interest Percentage” means the percentage set forth opposite each Contributing Party’s name on Exhibit A of the Contribution Agreement.

 

IRR” means, as of any measurement date, the cumulative internal rate of return, compounded annually, with respect to a Series A Preferred Unit (i.e., the annual discount rate for which the net present value of all cash inflows from all Capital Contributions  made to acquire such Series A Preferred Unit, and all cash outflows from all cash distributions in respect of such Series A Preferred Unit, are equal to $0), as calculated using the XIRR function in Microsoft Excel (or if such program is no longer available, such other software program for calculating a cumulative, annually-compounded internal rate of return approved by the Board of Directors, with the affirmative vote of the Record Holders of the Series A Required Voting Percentage, such affirmative vote not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) ((x) taking into account the respective dates of each such Capital Contribution  and distribution, as well as the IRR measurement date, (y) treating each such Capital Contribution  as a negative amount for purposes of such net present value calculation and (z) treating each such cash distribution in respect of any such Series A Preferred Unit as a positive amount for purposes of such net present value calculation). IRR shall be calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a 365-day year. In calculating IRR for all such Series A Preferred Units as of any particular date, (a) the aggregate cash amounts distributed pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(i). with respect to any such Series A Preferred Unit on such date, and all amounts previously distributed pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(i) with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit, shall be taken into account, (b) Excluded Amounts shall be disregarded and not included as Capital Contributions or distributions in respect of Series A Preferred Units, and (c) Capital Contributions and cash distributions in respect of Series A Preferred Units will be deemed to have been received or paid on the actual date of receipt or payment.

 

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

 

Limited Partner” means, unless the context otherwise requires, the Organizational Limited Partner prior to its withdrawal from the Partnership, each Contributing Party, each additional Person that becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and any Departing General Partner upon the change of its status from General Partner to Limited Partner pursuant to Section 11.3, in each case, in such Person’s capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership. For purposes of the Delaware Act, the Limited Partners shall constitute a single class or group of limited partners.

 

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Limited Partner Interest” means an ownership interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership, which may be evidenced by Common Units, Series A Preferred Units or other Partnership Interests (other than a General Partner Interest) or a combination thereof (but excluding Derivative Partnership Interests), and includes any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner is entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Limited Partner pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

Liquidation Date” means (a) in the case of an event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership of the type described in clauses (a) and (b) of the first sentence of Section 12.2, the date on which the applicable time period during which the holders of Outstanding Units have the right to elect to continue the business of the Partnership has expired without such an election being made and (b) in the case of any other event giving rise to the dissolution of the Partnership, the date on which such event occurs.

 

Liquidator” means one or more Persons selected by the General Partner to perform the functions described in Section 12.4 as liquidating trustee of the Partnership within the meaning of the Delaware Act.

 

Management Services Agreement” means the management services agreements, dated as of February 8, 2017, among the Partnership, Kimbell Operating Company, LLC and the other parties thereto.

 

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

 

Minimum IRR” means, as of any measurement date: (a) prior to the fifth anniversary of the Series A Issuance Date, a 13.0% IRR with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit; (b) on or after the fifth anniversary of the Series A Issuance Date and prior to the sixth anniversary of the Series A Issuance Date, a 14.0% IRR with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit; and (c) on or after the sixth anniversary of the Series A Issuance Date, a 15.0% IRR with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit.

 

Minimum Return Amount” means, at the applicable time of determination:

 

(1)                                 an amount in cash in the aggregate equal to the product of (A) the number of outstanding Series A Preferred Units multiplied by (B) for each such outstanding Series A Preferred Unit the greatest of (1) an amount (together with all prior distributions made in respect of such Series A Preferred Unit) necessary to achieve the Minimum IRR, (2) an amount (together with all prior distributions made in respect of such Series A Preferred Unit) necessary to achieve a Return on Investment equal to 1.2 times with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit and (3) the Series A Liquidation Preference with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit; and

 

(2)                                 on a per Series A Preferred Unit basis, an amount in cash equal to the quotient of (x) the aggregate amount calculated in accordance with clause (1) above and (y) the number of outstanding Series A Preferred Units.

 

National Securities Exchange” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act (or any successor to such Section) and any other securities

 

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exchange (whether or not registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) (or successor to such Section) of the Exchange Act) that the General Partner shall designate as a National Securities Exchange for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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 by the Partnership, the Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property (as adjusted pursuant to Section 5.6(d)(ii)) at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any Liabilities either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution.

 

Net Income” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.6(b) and shall include Simulated Gain (as provided in Section 6.1(d)(iii)), but shall not include Simulated Depletion, Simulated Loss, or items specially allocated under Section 6.1(c).

 

Net Loss” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.6(b) and shall include Simulated Gain (as provided in Section 6.1(d)(iii)), but shall not include Simulated Depletion, Simulated Loss, or any items specially allocated under Section 6.1(c).

 

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

 

Nonrecourse Built-in Gain” means with respect to any Contributed Properties or Adjusted Properties that are subject to a mortgage or pledge securing a Nonrecourse Liability, the amount of any taxable gain that would be allocated to the Partners pursuant to Section 6.2(c) 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 any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code), Simulated Depletion or Simulated Loss 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 given such term in Section 15.1(b).

 

NYMEX Pricing” means, as of any date of determination with respect to any month (a) for crude oil, the closing settlement price for the Light, Sweet Crude Oil futures contract for each month, and (b) for natural gas, the closing settlement price for the Henry Hub Natural Gas

 

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futures contract for such month, in each case as published by New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) on its website currently located at http://www.cmegroup.com/ or any successor thereto (as such pricing may be corrected or revised from time to time by the NYMEX in accordance with its rules and regulations)

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to, or the general counsel or other inside counsel of, the Partnership or the General Partner or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the General Partner or to such other Person selecting such counsel or obtaining such opinion.

 

Option Closing Date” means the date or dates on which any Common Units were sold by the Partnership to the Underwriters upon exercise of the Underwriters’ Option.

 

Organizational Limited Partner” means Rivercrest Royalties, LLC, in its capacity as the organizational limited partner of the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Outstanding” means, with respect to Partnership Interests, all Partnership Interests that are issued by the Partnership and reflected as outstanding in the Partnership’s Register as of the date of determination; provided, however, that if at any time any Person or Group (other than the General Partner or its Affiliates) beneficially owns 20% or more of the Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding, none of the Partnership Interests owned by such Person or Group shall be entitled to be voted on any matter or be considered to be Outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of Limited Partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under this Agreement, except that Partnership Interests so owned shall be considered to be Outstanding for purposes of Section 11.1(b)(iv) (such Partnership Interests shall not, however, be treated as a separate class of Partnership Interests for purposes of this Agreement or the Delaware Act); provided, further, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (a) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding directly from the General Partner or its Affiliates (other than the Partnership), (b) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of the Partnership Interests of any class then Outstanding directly or indirectly from a Person or Group described in clause (a) provided that the General Partner shall have notified such Person or Group in writing that such limitation shall not apply, (c) any Person or Group who acquired 20% or more of any class of Partnership Interests issued by the Partnership with the prior approval of the Board of Directors, (d) any of the Contributing Parties or their respective Affiliates, (e) any holder of Series A Preferred Units in connection with any vote, consent or approval of the holders of Series A Preferred Units as a separate class, or on an as-converted basis with the holders of the Common Units, on any matter, (f) any Person or Group who owns 20% or more of the Partnership Interests of a class as the result of (A) any redemption or purchase of any other Person’s or Persons’ Partnership Interests by the Partnership or other similar action by the Partnership or (B) any conversion of Series A Preferred Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(v)(B).

 

Partner Nonrecourse Debt” has the meaning given such term in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4).

 

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

 

Partner Nonrecourse Deductions” means any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (including any expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code), Simulated Depletion or Simulated Loss that, in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(1), are attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt.

 

Partners” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners.

 

Partnership” means Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

 

Partnership Group” means, collectively, the Partnership and its Subsidiaries.

 

Partnership Indebtedness Documents” shall mean any agreement, document or instrument governing or evidencing any Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Partnership or its Subsidiaries.

 

Partnership Interest” means any class or series of equity interest in the Partnership, which shall include any Limited Partner Interests and the General Partner Interest but shall exclude any Derivative Partnership Interests.

 

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

 

Partnership Redemption Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(ix)(D).

 

Partnership Series A Redemption Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(viii)(A).

 

Paying Agent” shall mean the Transfer Agent, acting in its capacity as paying agent for the Series A Preferred Units, and its successors and assigns, or any other Person appointed to serve as paying agent by the Partnership.

 

Percentage Interest” means, as of any date of determination, as to any Unitholder with respect to Units, the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the number of Units held by such Unitholder by (b) the total number of Outstanding Units. The Percentage Interest with respect to the General Partner Interest shall at all times be zero. For purposes of determining the Percentage Interest of any Unitholder with respect to Series A Preferred Units as of any date of determination, each Series A Preferred Unit shall be deemed to have converted into the number of Common Units into which such Series A Preferred Unit is convertible as of such date at the then applicable Series A Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(v)(A), and such Common Units shall be deemed to be Outstanding Units and such Series A Preferred Units shall be deemed not to be Outstanding Units.

 

Permitted Dispositions” means:

 

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(1)                                 sales, lease assignments, conveyances and other dispositions of oil and gas properties and related assets to which no Proved Developed Producing Reserves are attributable and farm-outs of undeveloped acreage to which no Proved Developed Producing Reserves are attributable and assignments in connection with such farm-outs; and

 

(2)                                 any exchange or swap of oil and gas properties; provided, that the consideration received in respect of such exchange or swap is equal to or greater than the fair market value of the oil and gas properties subject of such exchange or swap (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors).

 

Permitted Transactions” means:

 

(1)                                 any transaction or series of related transactions involving aggregate payments or consideration not in excess of $2,000,000;

 

(2)                                 any transaction on terms, taken as a whole, that are substantially as favorable to the Partnership or the applicable Subsidiary as it would obtain at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate;

 

(3)                                 employment and severance arrangements and health, disability and similar insurance or benefit plans between the Partnership and its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees or consultants (including management and employee benefit plans or agreements, subscription agreements or similar agreements pertaining to the repurchase of Units or other Equity Securities pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with current or former employees, officers, directors or consultants and equity option or incentive plans and other compensation arrangements), in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(4)                                 any issuance of Units or other equity interests or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities, Units or other Equity Securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, equity options and equity ownership plans approved by the General Partner;

 

(5)                                 transactions pursuant to the Management Services Agreements and any amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto that are not, taken as a whole, materially less favorable to Partnership and its Subsidiaries than such agreements as in effect on the Series A Issuance Date;

 

(6)                                 any transaction in respect of which the Partnership obtains an opinion from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm, in each case of nationally-recognized standing that is in the good faith determination of the Partnership qualified to render such opinion, which opinion states that such transaction is (i) fair, from a financial point of view, to the Partnership or the applicable Subsidiary and (ii) on terms, taken as a whole, that are no less favorable to the Partnership or the applicable Subsidiary than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate;

 

(7)                                 any transaction with an Affiliate if such transaction has been approved by the Conflicts Committee in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

 

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(8)                                 Pro Rata distributions in respect of, and Pro Rata redemptions or repurchases of, the Series A Preferred Units and other Units not prohibited by Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B);

 

(9)                                 amendments to this Agreement or the Certificate of Limited Partnership permitted by Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B)(14) and the other terms of this Agreement; and

 

(10)                          transactions contemplated by Section 5.12(b)(viii), that are also effected in compliance with Section 5.09 of the Series A Purchase Agreement.

 

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

 

Plan of Conversion” has the meaning given such term in Section 14.1.

 

Prior Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.

 

Privately Placed Units” means any Common Units issued for cash or property other than pursuant to a public offering.

 

Pro Rata” means when used with respect to (a) Units or any class thereof, apportioned equally among all designated Units in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, (b) all Partners or Record Holders, apportioned among all Partners or Record Holders in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, and (c) some but not all Partners or Record Holders, apportioned among such Partners or Record Holders in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests; provided, however, when used with respect to Series A Preferred Units, means apportioned among such Series A Preferred Units based on the number of Outstanding Series A Preferred Units or, if used with respect to Series A Preferred Units being redeemed or converted, apportioned among such Series A Preferred Units based on the number of such Series A Preferred Units being redeemed or converted.

 

Property” means all assets, properties and rights of any type owned or acquired by the Partnership at the time of determination.

 

Proved Developed Producing Reserves” shall have the meaning assigned such term in the SPE Definitions.

 

PV10” means, in respect of the Proved Developed Producing Reserves of the Partnership’s and its Subsidiaries’ oil and gas properties, the net present value of future cash flows (discounted at 10% per annum) as reasonably calculated in good faith by the Partnership, and, if requested by the Record Holders of the Series A Required Voting Percentage, certified in writing by an authorized officer of the Partnership to the Record Holders as true and correct, but provided that each calculation of such expected future cash flow shall be made in accordance with the then existing standards of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, provided, further, that in any event (a) appropriate deductions shall be made for severance and ad valorem taxes, and for operating, gathering, transportation and marketing costs required for the production and sale of such reserves, (b) the pricing assumptions used in determining PV10 for any particular reserves shall

 

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be based upon the Strip Price and (c) the cash-flows derived from the pricing assumptions set forth in clause (b) above shall be further adjusted to account for the historical basis differential.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Record Date” means the date established by the General Partner or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to receive 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 or by electronic transmission without a meeting, or entitled to exercise rights in respect of, any lawful action of Limited Partners (including voting) or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer.

 

Record Holder” means (a) with respect to any class of Partnership Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, the Person in whose name a Partnership Interest of such class is registered on the books of the Transfer Agent and in the Register as of the Partnership’s close of business on a particular Business Day or (b) with respect to other classes of Partnership Interests, the Person in whose name any such other Partnership Interest is registered in the Register as of the Partnership’s close of business on a particular Business Day.

 

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

 

Reference Date” means May 28, 2018.

 

Register” has the meaning given such term in Section 4.5(a).

 

Registration Statement” means the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-215458) as it has been 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 Public Offering.

 

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

 

Replacement Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B)(3).

 

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Reserve Report” means a Reserve Report (as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement) prepared by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. or Ryder Scott Company, L.P. (or any successor or, in the event that both have ceased to do business, any other independent petroleum engineer selected by the Board of Directors and reasonably approved by the Record Holders of the Series A Required Voting Percentage (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned)) that is prepared in connection with the second scheduled redetermination each calendar year under the Credit Agreement or, if the Credit Agreement ceases to exist or no longer includes such a requirement, that is prepared as of on or about the last day of each fiscal year, or in each case, at the option of the Board of Directors, prepared as of a more recent date.

 

Return on Investment” means, with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit, as of any measurement date, an amount equal to the quotient of (a) the aggregate cash distributions made by the Partnership in respect of such Series A Preferred Unit and (b) the Series A Issue Price.

 

Revaluation Event” means an event that results in an adjustment of the Carrying Value of each Partnership property pursuant to Section 5.6(d).

 

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

 

Series A Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(1)                                 the Limited Partners of the Partnership prior to any merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction (or series of related transactions) do not continue to own at least 50% of the Partnership or other surviving entity following such merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction (or series of related transactions) to which the Partnership is a party;

 

(2)                                 the acquisition, directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by any merger, consolidation or business combination), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of the voting equity interests of the General Partner (as measured by voting power rather than the number of shares, units or the like); provided, however, any such acquisition shall not constitute a Series A Change of Control if (i) the acquiring entity is an Affiliate of Rochelle Royalties, LLC, BGT Investments LLC or Double Eagle Interests, LLC as of the Series A Issuance Date and (ii) the beneficial owners of Rochelle Royalties, LLC (or their heirs or estates) as of the Reference Date beneficially own or control at least one-third of the voting equity interests (as measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like) of such acquiring entity;

 

(3)                                 any direct or indirect sale, lease, exchange, transfer, conveyance or other disposition by the Partnership, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

(4)                                 the removal of the General Partner as general partner of the Partnership by the Limited Partners of the Partnership; provided, however, any such removal shall not constitute a Series A Change of Control if (i) the successor General Partner is an Affiliate of Rochelle Royalties, LLC, BGT Investments LLC or Double Eagle Interests, LLC as

 

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of the Series A Issuance Date and (ii) the beneficial owners of Rochelle Royalties, LLC (or their heirs or estates) as of the Reference Date beneficially own or control at least one-third of the voting equity interests (as measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like) of the successor General Partner;

 

(5)                                 the Common Units are no longer listed or admitted to trading on a National Securities Exchange;

 

(6)                                 any dissolution or liquidation of the Partnership; or

 

(7)                                 individuals who, as of the Series A Issuance Date, constitute the Board of Directors (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that any individual becoming a member of the Board of Directors subsequent to such date who was appointed by Kimbell GP Holdings, LLC, shall be considered as though such individual was a member of the Incumbent Board.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, no transaction contemplated by Section 5.09 of the Series A Purchase Agreement shall constitute a Series A Change of Control.

 

Series A Conversion Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(v)(D).

 

Series A Conversion Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(v)(C)(1).

 

Series A Conversion Notice Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(v)(C)(1).

 

Series A Conversion Rate” means, (i) as of any time of determination pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(v)(A), the number of Common Units issuable upon the conversion of each Series A Preferred Unit, which shall be equal to (x) the Series A Liquidation Preference (on a per Series A Preferred Unit basis) divided by (y) the Conversion Price then in effect or (ii) as of any time of determination pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(v)(B), the number of Common Units issuable upon the conversion of each Series A Preferred Unit, which shall be equal to (x) the Minimum Return Amount (on a per Series A Preferred Unit basis) divided by (y) the Conversion Price then in effect.

 

Series A Conversion Unit” means a Common Unit issued upon conversion of a Series A Preferred Unit pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(v). Immediately upon such issuance, each Series A Conversion Unit shall be considered a Common Unit for all purposes hereunder.

 

Series A Converting Unitholder” means, a Series A Preferred Unitholder (a) who has delivered a Series A Conversion Notice to the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(v)(C)(1) or (b) to whom the Partnership has delivered a Series A Mandatory Conversion Notice in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(v)(C)(2).

 

Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(a) of this Agreement.

 

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Series A Distribution Amount” means, with respect to any Quarter ending on or after September 30, 2018, an amount per Series A Preferred Unit equal to the Series A Liquidation Preference multiplied by the Distribution Rate per annum (calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-, as the case may be) day year for the actual days elapsed) for such Quarter; provided, however, for purposes of determining the Series A Distribution Amount for the Quarter ending September 30, 2018, such Quarter shall be deemed to commence on the Series A Issuance Date and end on, and include, September 30, 2018 but calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-, as the case may be) day year as set forth above.

 

Series A Distribution Payment Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(i)(A).

 

Series A Issuance Date” means the Closing Date (as such term is defined in the Series A Purchase Agreement).

 

Series A Issue Price” means $1,000.00 per Series A Preferred Unit.

 

Series A Junior Securities” means any class or series of Partnership Interests that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Interests and distributions in respect of such Partnership Interests upon the liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Partnership, ranks junior to the Series A Preferred Units, and shall include the Common Units, but shall not include any Series A Parity Securities or Series A Senior Securities.

 

Series A Liquidation Preference” means, as of any date of determination, with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit an amount equal to (a) the Series A Issue Price plus (b) the Accumulated Distributions.

 

Series A Mandatory Conversion Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(v)(C)(2).

 

Series A Mandatory Conversion Notice Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(v)(C)(2).

 

Series A Parity Securities” means any class or series of Partnership Interests that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Interests or distributions in respect of such Partnership Interests upon the liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Partnership, ranks pari passu with (but not senior to) the Series A Preferred Units.  For the avoidance of doubt, classes or series of Partnership Interests may qualify as Series A Parity Securities irrespective of whether or not the record date, distribution payment date, distribution rate, distribution periods or payment mechanics of such class or series of Partnership Interests match those of any other class or series of Series A Parity Securities.

 

Series A Partial Period Distributions” means, with respect to a conversion or redemption of a Series A Preferred Unit, an amount equal to the Series A Distribution Amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days elapsed in the Quarter in which such conversion or redemption occurs and the denominator of which is the actual number of days in such Quarter.

 

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Series A Preferred Unitholder” means a Record Holder of Series A Preferred Units.

 

Series A Preferred Units” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(a).

 

Series A Purchase Agreement” means the Series A Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of the Reference Date, between the Partnership and the Series A Purchasers, as amended, supplemented and restated from time to time.

 

Series A Purchasers” means the Purchasers, as defined in the Series A Purchase Agreement.

 

Series A Quarterly Distribution” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(i)(B).

 

Series A Redemption Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(viii)(B).

 

Series A Redemption Price” means an amount per Series A Preferred Unit equal to the Minimum Return Amount applicable to such Series A Preferred Unit.

 

Series A Required Voting Percentage” means at least 66 2/3% of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units, voting separately as a single class.

 

Series A Senior Securities” means any class or series of Partnership Interests that, with respect to distributions on such Partnership Interests or distributions in respect of such Partnership Interests upon the liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Partnership, ranks senior to the Series A Preferred Units.

 

Series A Unitholder Redemption Right” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(ix)(A).

 

Series A Unitholder Redemption Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(ix)(B).

 

Series A Unitholder Redemption Units” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(ix)(B).

 

Simulated Basis” means the Carrying Value of any oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code).

 

Simulated Depletion” means, with respect to an oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code), a depletion allowance computed in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.611-2(a)(1) (as if the Simulated Basis of the property was its adjusted tax basis) and in the manner specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2), applying the cost depletion method. For purposes of computing Simulated Depletion with respect to any oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code), the Simulated Basis of such property shall be deemed to be the Carrying Value of such property, and in no event shall such allowance for Simulated Depletion, in the aggregate, exceed such Simulated Basis. If the Carrying Value of an oil and gas property is

 

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adjusted pursuant to Section 5.6(d) during a taxable period, following such adjustment Simulated Depletion shall thereafter be calculated under the foregoing provisions based upon such adjusted Carrying Value.

 

Simulated Gain” means the excess, if any, of the amount realized from the sale or other disposition of an oil or gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code) over the Carrying Value of such property and determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2).

 

Simulated Loss” means the excess, if any, of the Carrying Value of an oil or gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code) over the amount realized from the sale or other disposition of such property and determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2).

 

SPE Definitions” means, with respect to any term, the definition thereof adopted by the Board of Directors, Society for Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Inc., March 1997.

 

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

 

Special Purpose Person” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(x)(A).

 

“Strip Price” means, at any time of determination, (a) for the remainder of the current calendar year, the average NYMEX Pricing for the remaining months in the current calendar year, (b) for each of the succeeding four complete calendar years, the average NYMEX Pricing for the twelve months in each such calendar year, and (c) for the succeeding fifth complete calendar year, and for each calendar year thereafter, the average NYMEX Pricing for the twelve months in such fifth calendar year.

 

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 partner of such partnership, but only if such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, controls such partnership on the date of determination; 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.

 

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

 

Tax Matters Partner” has the meaning given such term in Section 9.3(a).

 

Total Debt” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Credit Agreement (including any embedded defined terms therein); provided that notwithstanding any limitations in the Credit

 

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Agreement, Total Debt shall be determined with respect to the Partnership and all of its Subsidiaries (i.e., such calculation shall not be limited to Restricted Subsidiaries (as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement)).

 

Trading Day” means a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which the referenced Partnership Interests of any class are listed or admitted for trading is open for the transaction of business or, if such Partnership Interests are not listed or admitted for trading on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City are not legally required to be closed.

 

Transaction Documents” has the meaning given such term in Section 7.1(b).

 

Transfer” has the meaning given 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 may be appointed from time to time by the General Partner to act as registrar and transfer agent for any class of Partnership Interests in accordance with the Exchange Act and the rules of the National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed (if any); provided, however that, if no such Person is appointed as registrar and transfer agent for any class of Partnership Interests, the General Partner shall act as registrar and transfer agent for such class of Partnership Interests.

 

Treasury Regulation” means the United States Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code.

 

Underwriter” means each Person named as an underwriter in Schedule 1 to the Underwriting Agreement who purchased Common Units pursuant thereto.

 

Underwriters’ Option” means the option to purchase additional Common Units granted to the Underwriters by the Partnership pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

 

Underwriting Agreement” means that certain Underwriting Agreement dated as of February 2, 2017, by and among the representative of the Underwriters, the Partnership, the General Partner and the other parties thereto, providing for the purchase of Common Units by the Underwriters in the Initial Public Offering.

 

Unit” means a Partnership Interest that is designated by the General Partner as a “Unit” and shall include Common Units and Series A Preferred Units.

 

Unit Majority” means a majority of the Outstanding Common Units and the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units voting on an as-converted basis, voting together as a class.

 

Unitholders” means the Record Holders of Units.

 

Unrealized Gain” attributable to any item of Partnership property means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.6(d)) over (b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 5.6(d) as of such date).

 

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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 5.6(d) as of such date) over (b) the fair market value of such property as of such date (as determined under Section 5.6(d)).

 

Unrestricted Person” means (a) each Indemnitee, (b) each Partner, (c) each Person who is or was a member, partner, director, officer, employee or agent of any Group Member, a General Partner or any Departing General Partner or any Affiliate of any Group Member, a General Partner or any Departing General Partner and (d) any Person the General Partner designates as an “Unrestricted Person” for purposes of this Agreement from time to time.

 

U.S. GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, as in effect from time to time, consistently applied.

 

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

 

“Wholly-owned Subsidiary” of a Person means any Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding capital stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) are owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more Wholly-owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

Working Capital Borrowings” means borrowings incurred pursuant to a credit facility, commercial paper facility or similar financing arrangement that are used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to the Partners; provided, however that when such borrowings are incurred it is the intent of the borrower to repay such borrowings within 12 months from the date of such borrowings other than from additional Working Capital Borrowings.

 

Section 1.2                Construction. Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” or words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and (d) the terms “hereof,” “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The General Partner has the power to construe and interpret this Agreement and to act upon any such construction or interpretation. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any construction or interpretation of this Agreement by the General Partner and any action taken pursuant thereto and any determination made by the General Partner in good faith shall, in each case, be conclusive and binding on all Record Holders and all other Persons for all purposes.

 

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ARTICLE II

 

ORGANIZATION

 

Section 2.1                Formation. The General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner have formed the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. The General Partner and the Organizational Limited Partner have previously entered into the Prior Agreement. The purpose of this Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership is to (a) establish the rights and obligations of Series A Preferred Units in connection with the issuance of such Partnership Interests and (b) make other miscellaneous revisions. 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, liabilities and obligations of the Partners and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Delaware Act.

 

Section 2.2                Name. The name of the Partnership shall be “Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP”. Subject to applicable law, the Partnership’s business may be conducted under any other name or names as determined by the General Partner, including the name of the General Partner. The words “Limited Partnership,” “LP,” “Ltd.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.

 

Section 2.3                Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices. Unless and until changed by the General Partner, the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at the Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 777 Taylor Street, Suite 810, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate. The address of the General Partner shall be 777 Taylor Street, Suite 810, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 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) engage directly in, or enter into or form, hold and dispose of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the General Partner, in its sole discretion, and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Delaware Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Partnership pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity, and (b) do anything necessary or appropriate to the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member; provided, however, that the General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that the General Partner determines

 

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would be reasonably likely to cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner has no obligation or duty to the Partnership or the Limited Partners to propose or approve, and may, in its sole discretion, decline to propose or approve, the conduct by the Partnership of any business in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

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                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 2.7                Title to Partnership Assets. Title to the assets of the Partnership, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity or its Subsidiaries, and no Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such assets of the Partnership or any portion thereof. Title to any or all assets of the Partnership may be held in the name of the Partnership, the General Partner, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more nominees of the General Partner or its Affiliates, as the General Partner may determine. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any assets of the Partnership 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 of the General Partner or its Affiliates 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 or one or more of the Partnership’s designated Affiliates 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, shall provide for the use of such assets in a manner satisfactory to any successor General Partner. All assets of the Partnership shall be recorded as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to such assets of the Partnership is held.

 

ARTICLE III

 

RIGHTS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

 

Section 3.1                Limitation of Liability. The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided in this Agreement or the Delaware Act.

 

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Section 3.2                Management of Business. No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Delaware 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. No action taken by any Affiliate of the General Partner or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, manager, member, general partner, agent or trustee of a Group Member, in its capacity as such, shall be deemed to be participating 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) nor shall any such action affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners under this Agreement.

 

Section 3.3                Outside Activities of the Limited Partners. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.6, each Limited Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Partnership Group. Neither the Partnership nor any of the other Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner.

 

Section 3.4                Rights of Limited Partners.

 

(a)         Each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related, as determined by the General Partner, to such Limited Partner’s interest as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand, and at such Limited Partner’s own expense:

 

(i)                       to obtain from the General Partner either (A) the Partnership’s most recent filings with the Commission on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K or (B) if the Partnership is no longer subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the information specified in, and meeting the requirements of, Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act or any successor or similar rule or regulation under the Securities Act (provided, however, that the foregoing materials shall be deemed to be available to a Limited Partner in satisfaction of the requirements of this Section 3.4(a)(i) if posted on or accessible through the Partnership’s or the Commission’s website);

 

(ii)                    to obtain a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner; and

 

(iii)                 to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments thereto.

 

(b)         To the fullest extent permitted by law, the rights to information granted the Limited Partners pursuant to Section 3.4(a) replace in their entirety any rights to information provided for in Section 17-305(a) of the Delaware Act and each of the Partners and each other Person or Group who acquires an interest in Partnership Interests hereby agrees to the fullest extent permitted by law that they do not have any rights as Partners to receive any information either

 

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pursuant to Sections 17-305(a) of the Delaware Act or otherwise except for the information identified in Section 3.4(a).

 

(c)          The General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner deems reasonable, (i) any information that the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes (A) is not in the best interests of the Partnership Group, (B) could damage the Partnership Group or its business or (C) that any Group Member is required by law or regulation 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).

 

(d)         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or Section 17-305 of the Delaware Act, each of the Partners, each other Person or Group who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement hereby agrees to the fullest extent permitted by law that they do not have rights to receive information from the Partnership or any Indemnitee for the purpose of determining whether to pursue litigation or assist in pending litigation against the Partnership or any Indemnitee relating to the affairs of the Partnership except pursuant to the applicable rules of discovery relating to litigation commenced by such Person or Group.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

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

 

Section 4.1                Certificates. Owners of Partnership Interests and, where appropriate, Derivative Partnership Interests, shall be recorded in the Register and, when deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors, ownership of such interests shall be evidenced by a physical certificate or book entry notation in the Register.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, unless the General Partner shall determine otherwise in respect of some or all of any or all classes of Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests, Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests shall not be evidenced by physical certificates. Certificates, if any, shall be executed on behalf of the Partnership by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or any Senior Vice President and the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, or other authorized officer of the General Partner.  The signatures of such officers upon a certificate may, to the extent permitted by law, be facsimiles.  In case any officer who has signed or whose signature has been placed upon such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Partnership with the same effect as if he or she were such officer at the date of its issuance. If a Transfer Agent has been appointed for a class of Partnership Interests, no Certificate for such class of Partnership Interests shall be valid for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent; provided, however, that, if the General Partner elects to cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests of such class in global form, the Certificate shall be valid upon receipt of a certificate from the Transfer Agent certifying that the Partnership Interests have been duly registered in accordance with the directions of the Partnership. With respect to any Partnership Interests that are represented by physical certificates, the General Partner may determine that such Partnership Interests will no

 

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longer be represented by physical certificates and may, upon written notice to the holders of such Partnership Interests and subject to applicable law, take whatever actions it deems necessary or appropriate to cause such Partnership Interests to be registered in book entry or global form and may cause such physical certificates to be cancelled or deemed cancelled.  The General Partner shall have the power and authority to make all such other rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration or replacement of Certificates.

 

Section 4.2                Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

If a Limited Partner fails to notify the General Partner within a reasonable period of time after such Limited Partner 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, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Limited Partner 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 names and addresses of Unitholders as they appear in the Register shall be the official list of Record Holders of the Partnership Interests for all purposes.

 

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The Partnership and the General Partner shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Partner 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 or Group, regardless of whether the Partnership or the General Partner shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person or Group in acquiring and/or holding Partnership Interests, as between the Partnership on the one hand, and such other Person on the other, such representative Person shall be the Limited Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest upon becoming the Record Holder in accordance with Section 10.1(a) and have the rights and obligations of a Partner hereunder as, and to the extent, provided herein, including Section 10.1(b).

 

Section 4.4                Transfer Generally.

 

(a)         The term “transfer,” when used in this Agreement with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall mean a transaction by which the holder of a Partnership Interest assigns all or any part of such Partnership Interest to another Person who is or becomes a Partner as a result thereof, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise, excluding a pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage but including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage.

 

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

 

(c)          Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent or limit a disposition by any stockholder, member, partner or other owner of the General Partner or any Limited Partner of any or all of such Person’s shares of stock, membership interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests in the General Partner or such Limited Partner and the term “transfer” shall not include any such disposition.

 

Section 4.5                Registration and Transfer of Limited Partner Interests.

 

(a)         The General Partner shall keep, or cause to be kept by the Transfer Agent on behalf of the Partnership, one or more registers in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe and subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(b), the registration and transfer of Limited Partner Interests, and any Derivative Partnership Interests, as applicable, shall be recorded (the “Register”).

 

(b)         The General Partner shall not recognize any transfer of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates until the Certificates evidencing such Limited Partner Interests are surrendered for registration of transfer. No charge shall be imposed by the General Partner for such transfer; provided, however, that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under

 

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this Section 4.5, the General Partner may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith. Upon surrender of a Certificate for registration of transfer of any Limited Partner Interests evidenced by a Certificate, and subject to the provisions of this Section 4.5(b), the appropriate officers of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Certificates evidencing Limited Partner Interests for which a Transfer Agent has been appointed, the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate number and type of Limited Partner Interests as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered. Upon the proper surrender of a Certificate, such transfer shall be recorded in the Register.

 

(c)          Upon the receipt by the General Partner of proper transfer instructions from the Record Holder of uncertificated Partnership Interests, such transfer shall be recorded in the Register.

 

(d)         By acceptance of the transfer of any Limited Partner Interests in accordance with this Section 4.5 and except as provided in Section 4.8, each transferee of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person) acknowledges and agrees to the provisions of Section 10.1(a).

 

(e)          Subject to (i) the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.5, (ii) Section 4.3, (iii) Section 4.7, (iv) with respect to any class or series of Limited Partner Interests, the provisions of any statement of designations or an amendment to this Agreement establishing such class or series, (v) any contractual provisions binding on any Limited Partner and (vi) provisions of applicable law, including the Securities Act, Limited Partner Interests shall be freely transferable.

 

Section 4.6                Transfer of the General Partner Interest.

 

(a)         Subject to Section 4.6(b), the General Partner may transfer all or any part of its General Partner Interest without the approval of any Limited Partner or any other Person.

 

(b)         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 under the Delaware Act or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed) and (iii) such transferee also agrees to purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of the partnership or membership interest owned by 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 10.2, be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner effective immediately prior to

 

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the transfer of the General Partner Interest, and the business of the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.

 

Section 4.7                Restrictions on Transfers.

 

(a)         Except as provided in Section 4.7(c), notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article IV, no transfer of any Partnership Interests shall be made if such transfer would (i) violate the then applicable U.S. federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the Commission, any state securities commission or any other governmental authority with jurisdiction over such transfer, (ii) terminate the existence or qualification of the Partnership under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation or (iii) cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).  The Partnership may issue stop transfer instructions to any Transfer Agent in order to implement any restriction on transfer contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b)         The General Partner may impose restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Interests if it determines, with the advice of counsel, that such restrictions are necessary or advisable to (i) avoid a significant risk of the Partnership’s becoming taxable as a corporation or otherwise becoming taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed) or (ii) preserve the uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof). The General Partner may impose such restrictions by amending this Agreement; provided, however, that any amendment that would result in the delisting or suspension of trading of any class of Limited Partner Interests on the principal National Securities Exchange on which such class of Limited Partner Interests is then listed or admitted to trading must be approved, prior to such amendment being effected, by the holders of at least a majority of the Outstanding Limited Partner Interests of such class.

 

(c)          Except as provided in Section 4.7(a), nothing contained in this Article IV, or elsewhere in this Agreement, shall preclude the settlement of any transactions involving Partnership Interests entered into through the facilities of any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.

 

(d)         In addition to any other restrictions on transfer set forth in this Agreement, transfers of Partnership Interests by a Series A Preferred Unitholder shall be subject to the restrictions imposed by Section 5.12(b)(vii).

 

Section 4.8                Eligibility Certificates; Ineligible Holders.

 

(a)         The General Partner may upon demand or on a regular basis require Limited Partners and transferees of Limited Partner Interests, in connection with a transfer, to execute an Eligibility Certificate or provide other information as is necessary for the General Partner to determine if any such Limited partners or transferees are Ineligible Holders.

 

(b)         If any Limited Partner fails to furnish to the General Partner within 30 days of its request an Eligibility Certificate or other requested information related thereto, or if upon receipt of such Eligibility Certificate or other requested information the General Partner determines that a Limited Partner or a transferee of a Limited Partner is an Ineligible Holder, the Limited Partner

 

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Interests owned by such Limited Partner shall be subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.9 or the General Partner may refuse to effect the transfer of the Limited Partner Interests to such transferee. In addition, the General Partner shall be substituted for any Limited Partner that is an Ineligible Holder as the Limited Partner in respect of the Ineligible Holder’s Limited Partner Interests.

 

(c)          The General Partner shall, in exercising voting rights in respect of Limited Partner Interests held by it on behalf of Ineligible Holders, distribute the votes in the same ratios as the votes of Limited Partners (including the General Partner and its Affiliates) in respect of Limited Partner Interests other than those of Ineligible Holders are cast, either for, against or abstaining as to the matter.

 

(d)         Upon dissolution of the Partnership, an Ineligible Holder 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 Ineligible Holder’s share of any distribution in kind. Such payment and assignment shall be treated for purposes hereof as a purchase by the Partnership from the Ineligible Holder of his, her or its Limited Partner Interest (representing the right to receive his, her or its share of such distribution in kind).

 

(e)          At any time after an Ineligible Holder can and does certify that he, she or it  no longer is an Ineligible Holder, he, she or it may, upon application to the General Partner, request that with respect to any Limited Partner Interests of such Ineligible Holder not redeemed pursuant to Section 4.9, such Ineligible Holder be admitted as a Limited Partner, and upon approval of the General Partner, such Ineligible Holder shall be admitted as a Limited Partner and shall no longer constitute an Ineligible Holder, and the General Partner shall cease to be deemed to be the Limited Partner in respect of such Limited Partner Interests.

 

(f)           This Section 4.8 does not apply with respect to the Series A Preferred Units and the Series A Conversion Units.

 

Section 4.9                Redemption of Partnership Interests of Ineligible Holders.

 

(a)         If at any time a Limited Partner fails to furnish an Eligibility Certificate or any information requested within 30 days (or such other period as the General Partner may determine) of receipt of a request from the General Partner to furnish an Eligibility Certificate, or if upon receipt of such Eligibility Certificate or such other information the General Partner determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Limited Partner is an Ineligible Holder, the Partnership may, unless the Limited Partner establishes to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such Limited Partner is not an Ineligible Holder or has transferred his, her or its Limited Partner Interests to a Person who is not an Ineligible Holder and who furnishes an Eligibility Certificate to the General Partner prior to the date fixed for redemption as provided below, redeem the Limited Partner Interest of such Limited Partner 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, at his, her or its last address designated in the Register 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

 

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Interests, the date fixed for redemption, the place of payment, that payment of the redemption price shall be made upon redemption of the Redeemable Interests (or, if later in the case of Redeemable Interests evidenced by Certificates, upon surrender of the Certificates evidencing the Redeemable Interests at the place specified in the notice) and that on and after the date fixed for redemption no further allocations or distributions to which the Limited Partner would otherwise be entitled in respect of the Redeemable Interests shall accrue or be made.

 

(ii)                    The aggregate redemption price for Redeemable Interests shall be an amount equal to the Current Market Price (the date of determination of which shall be the date fixed for redemption) of Limited Partner Interests of the class to be so redeemed multiplied by the number of Limited Partner Interests of each such class included among the Redeemable Interests. The redemption price shall be paid, as determined by the General Partner, in cash or by delivery of a promissory note of the Partnership in the principal amount of the redemption price, bearing interest at the rate of 5% annually and payable in three equal annual installments of principal together with accrued interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.

 

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

 

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

 

(b)         The provisions of this Section 4.9 shall also be applicable to Limited Partner Interests held by a Limited Partner as nominee, agent or representative of a Person determined to be an Ineligible Holder.

 

(c)          Nothing in this Section 4.9 shall prevent the recipient of a notice of redemption from transferring his, her or its Limited Partner Interest before the redemption date if such transfer is otherwise permitted under this Agreement and the transferor provides notice of such transfer to the General Partner. Upon receipt of notice of such a transfer, the General Partner shall withdraw the notice of redemption, provided, however, that the transferee of such Limited Partner Interest certifies to the satisfaction of the General Partner that such transferee is not an Ineligible Holder. If the transferee fails to make such certification within 30 days after the request, and, in any event, before the redemption date, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee on the original redemption date.

 

(d)         This Section 4.9 does not apply with respect to the Series A Preferred Units and the Series A Conversion Units.

 

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ARTICLE V

 

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCE OF
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

Section 5.1                Organizational Contributions. In connection with the formation of the Partnership on October 30, 2015 under the Delaware Act, the General Partner was admitted as the sole General Partner of the Partnership and the Organizational Limited Partner made an initial Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $1,000.00 in exchange for an initial Limited Partner Interest equal to a 100% Percentage Interest and was admitted as the Organizational Limited Partner of the Partnership. On the Closing Date, the initial Limited Partner Interest held by the Organizational Limited Partner was redeemed as provided for in the Contribution Agreement and the initial Capital Contribution of the Organizational Limited Partner was refunded, and all interest or other profit that may have resulted from the investment or other use of such initial Capital Contribution was distributed to the Organizational Limited Partner.

 

Section 5.2                Contributions by the Contributing Parties on the Closing Date and Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement.

 

(a)         On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, each Person set forth on Exhibit C of the Contribution Agreement (each, an “Asset Contributor”) contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, an overriding royalty, royalty or other mineral interest in the assets set forth opposite such Asset Contributor’s name on Exhibit C of the Contribution Agreement in exchange for (i) an amount of cash equal to the product of such Asset Contributor’s Interest Percentage and $83,700,000, (ii) the issuance by the Partnership of a number of Common Units equal to the product of such Asset Contributor’s Interest Percentage and 10,582,708 Common Units and (iii) the right to receive such Asset Contributor’s pro rata portion of the Deferred Issuance and Distribution, as further described in Section 5.4.

 

(b)         On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, each Person set forth on Exhibit B of the Contribution Agreement (each, an “Equity Contributor”) contributed to the Partnership, as a Capital Contribution, the equity interests set forth opposite such Equity Contributor’s name on Exhibit B of the Contribution Agreement in exchange for (i) an amount of cash equal to the product of such Equity Contributor’s Interest Percentage and $83,700,000, (ii) the issuance by the Partnership of a number of Common Units equal to the product of such Equity Contributor’s Interest Percentage and 10,582,708 Common Units and (iii) the right to receive such Equity Contributor’s pro rata portion of the Deferred Issuance and Distribution, as further described in Section 5.4.

 

Section 5.3                Contributions by Limited Partners.

 

(a)         On the Closing Date and pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, each Underwriter contributed cash to the Partnership in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units to each Underwriter, all as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

 

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(b)         Upon the exercise, if any, of the Underwriters’ Option, each Underwriter shall contribute cash to the Partnership on the applicable Option Closing Date in exchange for the issuance by the Partnership of Common Units to each Underwriter, all as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

 

(c)          No Limited Partner shall be required to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Section 5.4                Deferred Issuance and Distribution. Upon the exercise of the Underwriters’ Option, any Common Units not purchased by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriters’ Option were issued to the Contributing Parties in accordance with each such Contributing Party’s Interest Percentage. Upon the exercise of the Underwriters’ Option, the Partnership distributed to each Contributing Party an amount of cash equal to the product of (a) such Contributing Party’s Interest Percentage and (b) the net proceeds (after the underwriting discount and structuring fee incurred by the Partnership or the other Contribution Agreement Parties in connection therewith) of such exercise of the Underwriters’ Option (such net proceeds, together with any Common Units issued to the Contributing Parties pursuant to this Section 5.4, the “Deferred Issuance and Distribution”).

 

Section 5.5                Interest and Withdrawal. No interest shall be paid by the Partnership on Capital Contributions. No Partner 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 shall have priority over any other Partner either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions. Any such return shall be a compromise to which all Partners agree within the meaning of Section 17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.

 

Section 5.6                Capital Accounts.

 

(a)         The Partnership shall maintain for each Partner (or a beneficial owner of Partnership Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method acceptable to the General Partner) owning a Partnership Interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of all Capital Contributions made by the Partner with respect to such Partnership Interest, (ii) all items of Partnership income and gain computed in accordance with Section 5.6(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1, and (iii) the portion of any amount realized from the disposition of an oil and gas property that constitutes Simulated Gain allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest in accordance with Section 6.1(d)(iii) and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed Value of all actual and deemed distributions to the Partner of cash or property made with respect to such Partnership Interest, (y) all items of Partnership deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 5.6(b) and allocated with respect to such Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 6.1, and (z) Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss in accordance with Section 6.1(d)(ii).

 

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(b)         For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss, deduction, Simulated Depletion, Simulated Gain or Simulated Loss that 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 U.S. federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for that purpose), provided, that:

 

(i)                       Solely for purposes of this Section 5.6, the Partnership shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share (as determined by the General Partner based upon the provisions of the applicable Group Member Agreement) of all property owned by (x) any other Group Member that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and (y) any other partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes of which a Group Member is, directly or indirectly, a partner, member or other equity holder.

 

(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)                 The computation of all items of income, gain, loss, deduction, Simulated Depletion, Simulated Gain and Simulated Loss shall be made (x) except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), without regard to any election under Section 754 of the Code that may be made by the Partnership, and (y) 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 U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

(iv)                To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) of the Code (including pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.734-2(b)(l)) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment in the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or loss.

 

(v)                   In the event the Carrying Value of Partnership property is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.6(d), any Unrealized Gain resulting from such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain and any Unrealized Loss resulting from such adjustment shall be treated as an item of loss.

 

(vi)                Any income, gain, loss, Simulated Gain or Simulated 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 property’s Carrying Value as of such date.

 

(vii)             Any deductions for depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery attributable to any Contributed Property or Adjusted Property shall be determined under the rules prescribed

 

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by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d)(2) as if the adjusted basis of such property were equal to the Carrying Value of such property immediately following such adjustment. Simulated Depletion shall be computed in accordance with the provisions of the definition of Simulated Depletion.

 

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

 

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

 

(d)         (i) Consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(h)(2), on an issuance of additional Partnership Interests for cash or Contributed Property, the issuance of a Noncompensatory Option, the issuance of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services or the conversion of the Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant to Section 11.3(b), the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property; provided, however, that in the event of the issuance of a Partnership Interest pursuant to the exercise of a Noncompensatory Option where the right to share in Partnership capital represented by such Partnership Interest differs from the consideration paid to acquire and exercise such option, the Carrying Value of each Partnership property immediately after the issuance of such Partnership Interest shall be adjusted upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such Partnership property and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted in a manner consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s); provided further, however, that in the event of an issuance of Partnership Interests for a de minimis amount of cash or Contributed Property, in the event of an issuance of a Noncompensatory Option to acquire a de minimis Partnership Interest, or in the event of an issuance of a de minimis amount of Partnership Interests as consideration for the provision of services, the General Partner may determine that such adjustments are unnecessary for the proper administration of the Partnership. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests (or, in the case of a Revaluation Event resulting from the exercise of a Noncompensatory Option, immediately after the issuance of the Partnership Interest acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Noncompensatory Option) shall be determined by the General Partner using such method of valuation as it may adopt. In making its determination of the fair market values of individual properties, the General Partner may first determine an aggregate value for the assets of the Partnership that takes into account the current trading price of the Common Units, the fair market value of all other Partnership Interests at such time, and the amount of Partnership Liabilities. The General Partner may allocate such aggregate value among the individual properties of the Partnership (in such manner as it determines appropriate).

 

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Absent a contrary determination by the General Partner, the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership assets (including, without limitation, cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a Revaluation Event shall be the value that would result in the Capital Account for each Common Unit that is Outstanding prior to such Revaluation Event being equal to the Event Issue Value.

 

(ii)                    In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to any 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 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. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate fair market value of all Partnership property (including cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in the case of a distribution other than one made pursuant to Section 12.4 be determined in the same manner as that provided in Section 5.6(d)(i) or (B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section 12.4, be determined by the Liquidator using such method of valuation as it may adopt.

 

Section 5.7                Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests.

 

(a)         Subject to Section 5.12(b)(iii), the Partnership may issue additional Partnership Interests (other than the General Partner Interest) and Derivative Partnership Interests for any Partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as the General Partner shall determine, all without the approval of any Limited Partners.

 

(b)         Each additional Partnership Interest authorized to be issued by the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.7(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 or junior to existing classes and series of Partnership Interests), as shall be fixed by the General Partner, including (i) the right to share in Partnership profits and losses or items thereof; (ii) the right to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Partnership may or shall be required to redeem the Partnership Interest; (v) whether such Partnership Interest 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 Interest shall be issued, evidenced by Certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Percentage Interest as to such Partnership Interest; and (viii) the right, if any, of each such Partnership Interest to vote on Partnership matters, including matters relating to the relative rights, preferences and privileges of such Partnership Interest.

 

(c)          The General Partner shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with (i) each issuance of Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 5.7, (ii) the conversion of the Combined Interest to Common Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (iii) reflecting the admission of such additional Limited Partners in the Register as the Record Holders of such Limited Partner Interests and (iv) all additional issuances of Partnership Interests and Derivative Partnership Interests. The General

 

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Partner shall determine the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders of the Units or other Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests being so issued. The General Partner shall do all things necessary to comply with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any future issuance of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests or in connection with the conversion of Combined Interest 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 Common Units or other Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading.

 

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

 

Section 5.8                Preemptive Right. Except as provided in this Section 5.8 or as otherwise provided in a separate agreement by the Partnership, no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of any Partnership Interest, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter created. Other than with respect to the issuance of Partnership Interests in connection with the Initial Public Offering, 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 Interests from the Partnership whenever, and on the same terms that, the Partnership issues Partnership Interests 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 Interests.

 

Section 5.9                Splits and Combinations.

 

(a)         Subject to Section 5.12(b)(v)(E), the Partnership may make a Pro Rata distribution of Partnership Interests to all Record Holders or may effect a subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests so long as, after any such event, each Partner shall have the same Percentage Interest in the Partnership as before such event, and any amounts calculated on a per Unit basis or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted retroactively to the beginning of the Partnership.

 

(b)         Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Partnership Interests 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 (or such shorter periods as required by applicable law). The General Partner also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Partnership Interests to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The General Partner shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.

 

(c)          Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Partnership may issue Certificates or uncertificated Partnership Interests to the Record Holders of Partnership Interests as of the applicable Record Date representing the new number of Partnership Interests held by such Record Holders, or the General Partner may adopt such other procedures that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect such changes. If any such

 

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combination results in a smaller total number of Partnership Interests Outstanding, the Partnership shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of Partnership Interests represented by Certificates, 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 Partnership Interests. If a distribution, subdivision, combination or reorganization of Partnership Interests would result in the issuance of fractional Units but for the provisions of Section 5.7(d) and this Section 5.9(d), each fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall be rounded to the next higher Unit).

 

Section 5.10         Fully Paid and Non-Assessable Nature of Limited Partner Interests. All Limited Partner Interests issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article V shall be fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware Act.

 

Section 5.11         Deemed Capital Contributions by Partners. Consistent with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.83-6(d), if any Partner (or its successor) transfers property (including cash) to any employee or other service provider of the Partnership Group and such Partner is not entitled to be reimbursed by (or otherwise elects not to seek reimbursement from) the Partnership for the value of such property, then (a) such property shall be treated as having been contributed to the Partnership by such Partner and (b) immediately thereafter the Partnership shall be treated as having transferred such property to the employee or other service provider.

 

Section 5.12         Establishment of Series A Preferred Units.

 

(a)         General. There is hereby created a class of Units designated as “Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units” (the “Series A Preferred Units”), with the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, privileges, powers, duties and obligations as are set forth in this Agreement. A total of 110,000 Series A Preferred Units shall be issued by the Partnership on the Series A Issuance Date pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Series A Purchase Agreement. Each Series A Preferred Unit shall constitute a “security” within the meaning of, and governed by, (i) Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code (including Section 8-102(a)(15) thereof) as in effect from time to time in the State of Delaware, and (ii) the corresponding provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any other applicable jurisdiction that now or hereafter substantially includes the 1994 revisions to Article 8 thereof as adopted by the American Law Institute and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and approved by the American Bar Association on February 14, 1995.

 

(b)         Rights of Series A Preferred Units. The Series A Preferred Units shall have the following rights, preferences and privileges and the Series A Preferred Unitholders shall be subject to the following duties and obligations:

 

(i)                       Distributions.

 

(A)                Commencing with the Quarter ending on September 30, 2018 and continuing through the applicable Series A Conversion Date, subject to Section 5.12(b)(i)(D) each

 

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Record Holder of Series A Preferred Units as of an applicable Record Date for each Quarter shall be entitled to receive, in respect of each Series A Preferred Unit held by such Record Holder, cumulative distributions in cash in respect of such Quarter equal to the sum of (1) the Series A Distribution Amount for such Quarter and (2) the Accumulated Distributions with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit (collectively, the “Series A Quarterly Distribution”). Each Series A Quarterly Distribution shall be payable quarterly but no later than the earlier of (i) 45 days after the end of the applicable Quarter and (ii) the payment date of distributions, if any, on any Series A Parity Securities and Series A Junior Securities (each such payment date, a “Series A Distribution Payment Date”). If the General Partner establishes an earlier Record Date for any distribution to be made by the Partnership on other Partnership Interests in respect of any Quarter, then the Record Date established pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(i)(A) for a Series A Quarterly Distribution in respect of such Quarter shall be such earlier Record Date.

 

(B)                Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 5.12(b)(i)(A), prior to the end of the Initial Accrual Period, the Partnership may, at the sole election of the Board of Directors, with respect to any Series A Distribution Amount in respect of any Quarter, elect in any non-consecutive Quarters (an “Accrual Election”) to have an amount equal to the quotient of (i) (A) the amount that would have been payable if such Series A Distribution Amount had been paid in cash less (B) the amount actually paid in cash divided by (ii) 0.7 be Accumulated Distributions and added to the Series A Liquidation Preference in lieu of paying such Series A Distribution Amount in cash.  If the Partnership fails to pay or declare in its entirety a Series A Distribution Amount in respect of any Quarter prior to the end of the Initial Accrual Period and does not make an Accrual Election in respect thereof, the Partnership shall be deemed to have made an Accrual Election for all purposes of this Agreement if the Partnership did not make an Accrual Election with respect to the immediately preceding Quarter; provided, that if the Partnership (x) fails to pay in full, in cash and when due, (1) any Series A Quarterly Distribution that is required to be paid after the Initial Accrual Period or (2) any Series A Quarterly Distribution that is required to be paid during the Initial Accrual Period if an Accrual Election was made in the immediately preceding Quarter, or (y) materially breaches any of its covenants in this Agreement and such breach has not been cured by the Partnership within 30 days after notice thereof by a Record Holder of Series A Preferred Units, then the Distribution Rate during such Quarter and each of the following Quarters shall be increased to 20% per annum until all Accumulated Distributions are paid in full in cash, and any such material breach is no longer ongoing and (ii) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Partnership shall not be permitted to, and shall not, declare or make, any distributions, redemptions or repurchases in respect of any Series A Junior Securities at any time that there are any Accumulated Distributions.

 

(C)                Each Series A Preferred Unit will have the right to share in any special distributions by the Partnership of cash, securities or other property Pro Rata with the Common Units on an as-converted basis, provided that special distributions shall not include regular quarterly distributions paid in the normal course of business on the Common Units pursuant to Section 6.3 of this Agreement. No adjustment pursuant to

 

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Section 5.12(b)(v)(E) shall be made with respect to a special distribution referred to in this Section 5.12(b)(i)(C).

 

(D)                Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.12(b)(i) to the contrary, with respect to any Series A Preferred Unit that is converted into a Common Unit, (1) with respect to a distribution to be made to Record Holders as of the Record Date that precedes such conversion, the Record Holder of such Series A Preferred Unit as of such Record Date shall be entitled to receive such distribution in respect of such Series A Preferred Unit on the corresponding Series A Distribution Payment Date, but shall not be entitled to receive such distribution in respect of such Record Date established for Record Holders of Common Units in respect of the Common Units into which such Series A Preferred Unit was converted after such Record Date, and (2) with respect to a distribution to be made to Record Holders as of any Record Date that follows such conversion, the Record Holder of the Series A Conversion Units into which such Series A Preferred Unit was converted as of such Record Date shall be entitled to receive such distribution in respect of such Series A Conversion Units on the payment date thereof, but shall not be entitled to receive such distribution in respect of such Series A Preferred Unit on the corresponding Series A Distribution Payment Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if a Series A Preferred Unit is converted into Series A Conversion Unit pursuant to the terms of this Agreement after a Record Date but prior to the corresponding Series A Distribution Payment Date, then the Record Holder of such Series A Preferred Unit as of such Record Date shall nonetheless remain entitled to receive on the Series A Distribution Payment Date a distribution in respect of such Series A Preferred Unit pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(i)(A) and, until such distribution is received, Section 5.12(b)(i)(A) shall continue to apply.

 

(ii)                    Voting Rights.

 

(A)                Except as provided in Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B) and Section 5.12(b)(iii), the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units shall have voting rights that are identical to the voting rights of the Common Units into which such Series A Preferred Units would be converted at the then-applicable Series A Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(v)(A) (regardless of whether the Series A Preferred Units are then convertible), and shall vote as a single class with the holders of the Common Units on each matter with respect to which each Record Holder of a Common Unit is entitled to vote; provided that the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units shall not vote with the holders of Common Units on any matter requiring the approval of the Common Units pursuant to Section 13.3(c) of this Agreement. Except with respect to Section 13.3(c), each reference in this Agreement to a vote of Record Holders of Common Units shall be deemed to constitute a reference to the Record Holders of Common Units and Series A Preferred Units, voting together as a single class during any period in which any Series A Preferred Units are Outstanding.

 

(B)                Except as provided in Section 5.12(b)(ii)(C), notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in addition to all other requirements imposed by Delaware law, and all other voting rights granted under this Agreement, the affirmative vote of the Record Holders of the Series A Required Voting Percentage shall be required for the

 

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Partnership to, or to permit any of its Subsidiaries to (in each case, directly or indirectly, including by way of amendment to this Agreement, by merger, consolidation, reclassification or otherwise):

 

(1)                                 incur any Indebtedness for borrowed money (including under any Customary Credit Facility) that would be included in the definition of Total Debt (but assuming for such purposes that any undrawn letters of credit or bank guarantees constitute Total Debt), if (i) either clause of the proviso in Section 5.12(b)(i)(B) is applicable or (2) pro forma for such incurrence and the application of any proceeds thereof, the Adjusted Leverage Ratio would exceed 3.50;

 

(2)                                 borrow under the Credit Agreement, at any time, an amount exceeding 95% of the Partnership’s and its Subsidiaries’ PV10 calculated based on the most recent Reserve Report;

 

(3)                                 enter into any credit facility in replacement of or to refinance the Credit Agreement (a “Replacement Credit Agreement”) that is not a Customary Credit Facility or amend, restate, supplement or otherwise modify the Credit Agreement in any manner if the result thereof is that the Credit Agreement as so amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified fails to satisfy the definition of Customary Credit Facility;

 

(4)                                 incur any Indebtedness for borrowed money except for  Indebtedness under the Customary Credit Facility, except for:

 

(a)                                 Indebtedness among the Partnership and its Subsidiaries;

 

(b)                                 Indebtedness which, in the aggregate, together with all other Indebtedness permitted by this clause (4)(b), does not exceed $5,000,000 in principal amount outstanding;

 

(c)                                  Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases (as defined in the Credit Agreement) or purchase money financings in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time not to exceed $5,000,000;

 

(d)                                 Indebtedness consisting of the financing of insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(e)                                  any renewals, refinancings or extensions of any of the foregoing;

 

(5)                                 enter into, adopt or agree to any “restricted payment” provisions (or other similar provisions that restrict or limit the payment of distributions on, or the redemption of, the Series A Preferred Units) under any Partnership Indebtedness Document that would be more materially restrictive, taken as a whole, on the payment of dividends on, or

 

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redemption of, the Series A Preferred Units than those existing in the Partnership Indebtedness Documents as of the Series A Issuance Date (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any decrease in the amount available to make restricted payments under any such provisions that are the result of the Partnership utilizing capacity under such provisions or any decrease in capacity as a result of the operation of such provisions as set forth in the Partnership Indebtedness Documents as of the Series A Issuance Date, shall not require the consent of the Record Holders of the Series A Required Voting Percentage);

 

(6)                                 declare, or pay, any distribution on or repurchase or redeem any Series A Junior Securities (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Common Units) if (i) the pro forma Adjusted Leverage Ratio exceeds 3.50, immediately after giving effect thereto or (ii) either clause of the proviso in Section 5.12(b)(i)(B) is applicable;

 

(7)                                 declare, or pay, any special or one-time distribution with respect to any class of Series A Junior Securities, including any distribution that is not out of Available Cash, unless such special or one-time distribution is made on a pro rata basis to the Series A Preferred Units and any class of Series A Parity Securities;

 

(8)                                 form or create any Subsidiaries of the Partnership, other than Wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Partnership, issue, or permit to be issued, any Equity Securities of any Subsidiaries of the Partnership, other than to Wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Partnership, except as expressly contemplated by Section 5.09 of the Series A Purchase Agreement and the Partnership is permitted to own each of OGM Partners I, RCPTX, Ltd. and Oakwood Minerals I, L.P. as non-Wholly-owned Subsidiaries, in the proportions owned as of the date of the date hereof;

 

(9)                                 to the fullest extent permitted by law: (1) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (2) file a voluntary bankruptcy petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code; (3) file a petition or answer seeking for itself a liquidation, dissolution or similar relief (but not a reorganization) under any law; (4) file an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against it in a proceeding of the type described in the preceding clauses (1)-(3); or (5) seek, consent to or acquiesce in the appointment of a trustee (but not a debtor-in-possession), receiver or liquidator of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or of all or any substantial part of their properties; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to any of the Subsidiaries of the Partnership, if (a) the Partnership shall determine that the existence thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the bankruptcy or liquidation thereof is not adverse in any

 

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material respect to the Series A Preferred Unitholders or (b) if a Subsidiary is to be liquidated, such Subsidiary has no material assets.

 

(10)                          make, change or revoke any entity classification election in respect of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries for U.S. federal income tax purposes or relevant state or local income tax purposes, except as expressly provided in Section 5.09 of the Series A Purchase Agreement.

 

(11)                          except for Permitted Transactions, enter into, or modify, any agreement or transaction between or among the Partnership and/or its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the General Partner, its officers or employees or members of the Board of Directors and/or their respective Affiliates (other than the Partnership and its Wholly-owned Subsidiaries) on the other hand;

 

(12)                          except for Permitted Dispositions, sell, lease, assign, convey or otherwise dispose of (including by farmout or similar transaction) any oil and gas properties of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries having a fair market value in excess of $50 million in any fiscal year and $125 million in the aggregate while any Series A Preferred Units are outstanding;

 

(13)                          enter into a Series A Change of Control unless in connection therewith the Partnership redeems in full for cash all of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(vi); or

 

(14)                          except as expressly provided in Section 5.09 of the Series A Purchase Agreement, amend or amend and restate this Agreement or the Certificate of Limited Partnership (including by merger or otherwise or any amendment contemplated by and made in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(iii) if such amendment is materially adverse to any of the rights, preferences and privileges of the Series A Preferred Units. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, any amendment shall be deemed to have such a materially adverse impact if such amendment would:

 

(a)         reduce the Series A Distribution Amount or the Series A Quarterly Distribution, change the form of payment of distributions on the Series A Preferred Units, defer the date from which distributions on the Series A Preferred Units will accrue, cancel any accrued and unpaid distributions on the Series A Preferred Units or any interest accrued thereon (including any Accumulated Distributions or Series A Partial Period Distributions), or change the seniority rights of the Series A Preferred Unitholders as to the payment of distributions in relation to the holders of any other class or series of Partnership Interests;

 

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(b)         reduce the amount payable or change the form of payment to the Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Units upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or sale of all or substantially all of the assets, of the Partnership, or change the seniority of the liquidation preferences of the Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Units in relation to the rights of the holders of any other class or series of Partnership Interests upon the liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Partnership; or

 

(c)          make the Series A Preferred Units redeemable or convertible at the option of the Partnership other than as set forth in this Agreement.

 

(C)                Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.12(b)(ii), in no event shall the consent of the Series A Preferred Unitholders, as a separate class, be required in connection with any Series A Change of Control; provided, that, in connection with any Series A Change of Control, the Partnership shall be required to redeem in full for cash all of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(vi); provided, further, that nothing in the foregoing shall limit the voting rights of any Series A Preferred Unitholder in connection with any vote of Record Holders of Common Units and Series A Preferred Units together as a single class that may be required to approve such transaction.

 

(D)                Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.12(b)(ii), in no event shall the consent of the Series A Preferred Unitholders, as a separate class, be required in connection with any exchange made pursuant to the Exchange Agreement.

 

(iii)                 Issuances of Series A Senior Securities and Series A Parity Securities. The Partnership shall not, without the affirmative vote of the Record Holders of the Series A Required Voting Percentage, issue, authorize or create any (a) Series A Senior Securities or any obligation or security convertible into, exchangeable for or evidencing the right to purchase any Series A Senior Securities (or amend the provisions of any class of Partnership Interests to convert, reclassify or otherwise make such class of Partnership Interests a class of Series A Senior Securities), (b) Series A Parity Securities or any obligation or security convertible into, exchangeable for or evidencing the right to purchase any Series A Parity Securities (or amend the provisions of any class of Partnership Interests to convert, reclassify or otherwise make such class of Partnership Interests a class of Series A Parity Securities) or (c) additional Series A Preferred Units.  Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, subject to Section 5.12(b)(v)(E), the Partnership may, without any vote of the holders of Outstanding Series A Preferred Units voting as a separate class (but without prejudice to their rights to vote on an as-converted basis to the extent that the Common Units are entitled to vote on any such matter), create (by reclassification or otherwise) and issue Series A Junior Securities in an unlimited amount.

 

(iv)                Legends. Unless otherwise directed by the General Partner, each book entry or Certificate evidencing a Series A Preferred Unit shall bear a restrictive notation in substantially the following form (except that clause (C) and clause (I) shall not be included in such restrictive notation following any Conversion):

 

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THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF KIMBELL ROYALTY PARTNERS, LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE U.S. FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF KIMBELL ROYALTY PARTNERS, LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR (C) CAUSE KIMBELL ROYALTY PARTNERS, LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). THE GENERAL PARTNER OF KIMBELL ROYALTY PARTNERS, LP MAY IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT DETERMINES, WITH THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL, THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY OR ADVISABLE TO (I) AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF KIMBELL ROYALTY PARTNERS, LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES OR (II) PRESERVE THE UNIFORMITY OF THE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS OF KIMBELL ROYALTY PARTNERS, LP (OR ANY CLASS OR CLASSES OR SERIES THEREOF). THIS SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON ITS TRANSFER PROVIDED IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF KIMBELL ROYALTY PARTNERS, LP, AS AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED OR RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS SECURITY TO THE SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL PARTNER AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE PARTNERSHIP. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

 

(v)                   Conversion.

 

(A)                At the Option of the Series A Preferred Unitholders. Beginning with the earlier of (1) the second anniversary of the Series A Issuance Date and (2) immediately prior to the liquidation of the Partnership under Section 12.4 of this Agreement, the Series A Preferred Units owned by any Series A Preferred Unitholder shall be convertible, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time upon the request of such Series A Preferred Unitholder, but not more than once per Quarter by such Series A Preferred Unitholder (inclusive of any conversion by such Series A Preferred Unitholder’s Affiliates, with each Series A Preferred Unitholder and its Affiliates being entitled to a single conversion right per Quarter), into a number of Common Units determined by multiplying the number of Series A Preferred Units to be converted by the Series A

 

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Conversion Rate at such time; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be obligated to honor any such conversion request unless (i) such conversion will involve an aggregate number of Series A Preferred Units with an underlying value of Common Units equal to or greater than $10 million (taking into account and including any concurrent conversion requests by any other Series A Preferred Unitholders) based on the Closing Price of Common Units on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Series A Conversion Notice Date (or such lesser amount to the extent such exercise covers all of the Series A Preferred Units of such Series A Preferred Unitholder and its Affiliates) and (ii) the Closing Price of the Common Units on the principal National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are then listed for, or admitted to, trading exceeded 130% of the Conversion Price for any 20 Trading Days during the 30-Trading Day period immediately preceding the Series A Conversion Notice Date. Immediately upon the issuance of Series A Conversion Units as a result of any conversion of Series A Preferred Units hereunder, subject to Section 5.12(b)(i)(D), all rights of the Series A Converting Unitholder with respect to such Series A Preferred Units shall cease, including any further accrual of distributions, and such Series A Converting Unitholder thereafter shall be treated for all purposes as the owner of Common Units. Fractional Common Units shall not be issued to any Person pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(v)(A); provided, however, that instead of issuing any fractional Common Unit, the Partnership shall round down the number of Common Units issued to such Series A Preferred Unitholder to the nearest whole number and pay cash to such Person in lieu of issuing such fractional Common Unit (with the amount of such cash payment being equal to the such fractional interest multiplied by the Conversion Price).

 

(B)                At the Option of the Partnership. At any time on or after the second anniversary of the Series A Issuance Date, the Partnership shall have the option, at any time, to convert all or any portion of the Series A Preferred Units then Outstanding into a number of Common Units determined by multiplying the number of Series A Preferred Units to be converted by the Series A Conversion Rate at such time. Fractional Common Units shall not be issued to any Person pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(v)(B); provided, however, that instead of issuing any fractional Common Unit, the Partnership shall round down the number of Common Units issued to any applicable Series A Preferred Unitholder to the nearest whole number and pay cash to such Person in lieu of issuing such fractional Common Unit (with the amount of such cash payment being equal to the such fractional interest multiplied by the Conversion Price). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in order for the Partnership to exercise such option:

 

(1)                                 such conversion must involve an aggregate number of Series A Preferred Units with an underlying value of Common Units equal to or greater than $10 million based on the Closing Price of Common Units on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Series A Mandatory Conversion Notice Date (or such lesser amount to the extent such exercise covers all of the Series A Preferred Units of such Series A Preferred Unitholder and its Affiliates);

 

(2)                                 the Common Units must be listed for, or admitted to, trading on a National Securities Exchange;

 

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(3)                                 the Closing Price of the Common Units on the principal National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are then listed for, or admitted to, trading must exceed 160% of the Conversion Price for any 20 Trading Days during the 30-Trading Day period immediately preceding the Series A Mandatory Conversion Notice Date;

 

(4)                                 the average daily trading volume of the Common Units on the principal National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are then listed for, or admitted to, trading must exceed 100,000 Common Units (as such amount may be adjusted to reflect any Unit split, combination or similar event) for the 60 Trading Days immediately preceding the Series A Mandatory Conversion Notice Date;

 

(5)                                 the Partnership shall not have repurchased on any day in the 30-Trading Day period immediately preceding the Series A Mandatory Conversion Notice Date more than 10% of the 30-day trailing average trading volume of the Common Units on the principal National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are then listed for, or admitted to, trading (calculated as of the Series A Mandatory Conversion Notice Date); and

 

(6)                                 the Partnership must have an effective registration statement on file with the Commission covering resales of the underlying Common Units to be received by the applicable Series A Preferred Unitholders upon any such conversion; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not have the right to convert any Series A Preferred Units of a Series A Preferred Unitholder unless the Partnership simultaneously makes the allocation under Section 6.1(c)(ix) so that the Capital Account of each Series A Conversion Unit being converted equals that of the initial Outstanding Common Unit.

 

Nothing in this Section 5.12(b)(v)(B), however, is intended to limit or prevent a Series A Preferred Unitholder from electing to convert its Series A Preferred Units into Common Units in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(v)(A), and the Partnership shall not have any right to convert Series A Preferred Units from a Series A Preferred Unitholder to the extent such Series A Preferred Unitholder validly delivers to the Partnership a valid Series A Conversion Notice covering all of the Series A Preferred Units that are the subject of the applicable Series A Mandatory Conversion Notice prior to the Series A Conversion Date in respect of the applicable Series A Mandatory Conversion Notice.

 

(C)                Conversion Notice.

 

(1)                                 To convert Series A Preferred Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(v)(A), a Series A Converting Unitholder shall give written notice (a “Series A Conversion Notice,” and the date such notice is received, a “Series A Conversion Notice Date”) to the Partnership stating that such Series A Preferred Unitholder elects to so convert Series

 

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A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(v)(A), the number of Series A Preferred Units to be converted. The applicable Series A Conversion Units shall be issued in the name of the Record Holder of such Series A Preferred Units.

 

(2)                                 To convert Series A Preferred Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(v)(B), the Partnership shall give written notice (a “Series A Mandatory Conversion Notice,” and the date such notice is sent by the Partnership, a “Series A Mandatory Conversion Notice Date”) to each Record Holder of Series A Preferred Units stating that the Partnership elects to so convert Series A Preferred Units pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(v)(B), that the conditions for electing conversion have been satisfied and the number of Series A Preferred Units to be so converted. The applicable Series A Conversion Units shall be issued in the name of the Record Holder of such Series A Preferred Units.

 

(D)                Timing. If a Series A Conversion Notice is delivered by a Series A Preferred Unitholder to the Partnership or a Series A Mandatory Conversion Notice is delivered by the Partnership to a Series A Preferred Unitholder, each in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(v)(C), the Partnership shall issue the applicable Series A Conversion Units (i) no later than five Business Days after the Series A Conversion Notice Date or (ii) on the Series A Mandatory Conversion Notice Date, as the case may be (any date of issuance of Common Units upon conversion of Series A Preferred Units pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(v) or Section 5.12(b)(vi), a “Series A Conversion Date”). On any Series A Conversion Date, the Partnership shall instruct, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause, its Transfer Agent to electronically transmit the Series A Conversion Units issuable upon conversion to such Series A Preferred Unitholder, by crediting the account of the Series A Preferred Unitholder through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission system. The parties agree to coordinate with the Transfer Agent to accomplish this objective. Subject to Section 5.12(b)(i)(D), upon issuance of Series A Conversion Units to the Series A Converting Unitholder (or its designated recipient(s)), all rights of such Series A Converting Unitholder with respect to the converted Series A Preferred Units shall cease, and such Series A Converting Unitholder shall be treated for all purposes as the Record Holder of such Series A Conversion Units.

 

(E)                 Distributions, Combinations, Subdivisions and Reclassifications by the Partnership. If, after the Series A Issuance Date, the Partnership (1) makes a distribution on the Common Units payable in Common Units or other Partnership Interests, (2) subdivides or splits its Outstanding Common Units into a greater number of Common Units, (3) combines or reclassifies the Common Units into a lesser number of Common Units, (4) issues by reclassification of its Common Units any Partnership Interests (including any reclassification in connection with a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person), (5) effects a Pro Rata repurchase of Common Units, in each case other than in connection with a Series A Change of Control (which shall be governed by Section 5.12(b)(vi), (6) issues to holders of Common Units, in their capacity as holders of Common Units, rights, options or warrants entitling them to subscribe for or purchase Common Units at less than the

 

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market value thereof, (7) distributes to holders of Common Units evidences of indebtedness, Partnership Interests (other than Common Units) or other assets (including securities, but excluding any distribution referred to in clause (1) above, any rights or warrants referred to in clause (6) above, any consideration payable in connection with a tender or exchange offer made by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries and any distribution of Units or any class or series, or similar Partnership Interest, of or relating to a Subsidiary or other business unit of the Partnership in the case of certain spin-off transactions described below), or (8) consummates a spin-off, where the Partnership makes a distribution to all holders of Common Units consisting of Units of any class or series, or similar equity interests of, or relating to, a Subsidiary or other business unit of the Partnership, then the Series A Conversion Rate, the Series A Redemption Price and, solely for purposes of Section 5.12(b)(v)(B)(2), the Conversion Price, in each case, in effect at the time of the Record Date for such distribution or the effective date of any such other transaction shall be proportionately adjusted: (A) in respect of clauses (1) through (4) above, so that the conversion of the Series A Preferred Units after such time shall entitle each Series A Preferred Unitholder to receive the aggregate number of Common Units (or any Partnership Interests into which such Common Units would have been combined, consolidated, merged or reclassified, as applicable) that such Series A Preferred Unitholder would have been entitled to receive if the Series A Preferred Units had been converted into Common Units immediately prior to such Record Date or effective date, as the case may be, (B) in respect of clauses (5) through (8) above, in the reasonable discretion of the General Partner, to appropriately ensure that the Series A Preferred Units are convertible into an economically equivalent number of Common Units after taking into account the event described in clauses (5) through (8) above, and (C) in addition to the foregoing, in the case of a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person, the Partnership shall provide effective provisions to ensure that the provisions in this Section 5.12(b)(v)(E) relating to the Series A Preferred Units shall not be abridged or amended and that the Series A Preferred Units shall thereafter retain the same powers, economic rights, preferences and relative participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereon, that the Series A Preferred Units had immediately prior to such transaction or event. Notwithstanding the above, if any other terms of the Series A Preferred Units require adjustment to achieve the economic equivalence described above, such terms shall be proportionately adjusted in the manner determined in the General Partner’s reasonable discretion, to take into account any such subdivision, split, combination or reclassification. An adjustment made pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(v)(E) shall become effective immediately after the Record Date, in the case of a distribution, and shall become effective immediately after the applicable effective date, in the case of a subdivision, combination, reclassification (including any reclassification in connection with a merger, consolidation or business combination in which the Partnership is the surviving Person) or split. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever any event described above shall occur.

 

(F)                  No Adjustments for Certain Items. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Section 5.12(b)(v), no adjustment shall be made to the Series A Conversion Rate, the Series A Redemption Price or the Series A Issue Price pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(v)(E) of this Agreement as a result of any of the following:

 

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(1)                                 any cash distributions made to holders of the Common Units (unless made in breach of Section 5.12(b)(i)(B);

 

(2)                                 any issuance of Partnership Interests in exchange for cash;

 

(3)                                 any grant of Common Units or options, warrants or rights to purchase or receive Common Units or the issuance of Common Units upon the exercise or vesting of any such options, warrants or rights in respect of services provided to or for the benefit of the Partnership or its Subsidiaries, under compensation plans and agreements approved by the General Partner (including any long-term incentive plan);

 

(4)                                 any issuance of Common Units as all or part of the consideration to effect (A) the closing of any acquisition by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries of assets or equity interests of a third party in an arm’s-length transaction or from the Contributing Parties in a transaction approved by the Conflicts Committee in accordance with this Agreement or (B) the consummation of a merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Partnership with another entity in which the Partnership survives and the Common Units remain Outstanding, provided that any such transaction set forth in clause (A) or (B) of this Section 5.12(b)(v)(F)(4) is approved by the General Partner;

 

(5)                                 the issuance of Common Units upon conversion of Series A Preferred Units; or

 

(6)                                 the issuance of Series A Parity Securities.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (x) whenever the issuance of a Partnership Interest or other event would require an adjustment to the Series A Conversion Rate under one or more provisions of this Agreement, only one adjustment shall be made to the Series A Conversion Rate in respect of such issuance or event and (y) unless otherwise determined by the General Partner, no adjustment to the Series A Conversion Rate or the Series A Issue Price shall be made with respect to any distribution or other transaction described in Section 5.12(b)(v)(E) if the Series A Preferred Unitholders are entitled to participate in such distribution or transaction as if they held a number of Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Units immediately prior to such event at the then applicable Series A Conversion Rate, without having to convert their Series A Preferred Units.

 

(G)                Conversion of Series A Preferred Units.

 

(1)                                 The Partnership shall keep free from preemptive rights a sufficient number of Common Units to permit the conversion of all outstanding Series A Preferred Units into Common Units to the extent provided in, and in accordance with, this Section 5.12(b)(v).

 

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(2)                                 All Common Units delivered upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Units in accordance with this Section 5.12(b)(v) shall be (i) newly issued, (ii) duly authorized, validly issued fully paid and non-assessable Limited Partner Interests in the Partnership, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-303, 17-607 or 17-804 of the Delaware Act, and shall be free from preemptive rights and free of any lien, claim, rights or encumbrances, other than those arising under the Delaware Act or this Agreement, as amended by this Amendment and (iii) with respect to Common Units delivered upon a conversion in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(v)(B), registered for public resale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to an effective registration statement that is then-available for the resale of such Common Units.

 

(3)                           The Partnership shall comply with all applicable securities laws regulating the offer and delivery of any Common Units upon conversion of Series A Preferred Units and, if the Common Units are then listed or quoted on the New York Stock Exchange or any other National Securities Exchange or other market shall list or cause to have quoted and keep listed and quoted the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Units to the extent permitted or required by the rules of such exchange or market.

 

(vi)                Series A Change of Control. In the event of a Series A Change of Control, the Partnership shall redeem all (and not less than all) of the Series A Preferred Units for a cash amount per Series A Preferred Unit equal to the Series A Redemption Price. Any redemption pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(vi) shall be paid in cash.  No later than five (5) Trading Days prior to the consummation of such Series A Change of Control, the Partnership shall deliver a written notice to the Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Units stating the date on which the Series A Preferred Units will be redeemed and the Partnership’s computation of the amount of cash to be received by the Record Holder upon redemption of such Series A Preferred Units. The Partnership shall remit all such cash consideration to such Record Holders immediately prior to the consummation of such Series A Change of Control. The Record Holders shall deliver to the Partnership Certificates representing the Series A Preferred Units, if any, as soon as practicable following such redemption. Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Units shall retain all of the rights and privileges thereof unless and until the consideration due to such Record Holders as a result of such redemption is paid in full. After any such redemption and the payment in full of the consideration due as a result of such redemption, any such redeemed Series A Preferred Unit shall no longer constitute an issued and Outstanding Limited Partner Interest.

 

(vii)             Restrictions on Transfers of Series A Preferred Units.

 

(A)                Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5.12(b)(vii) (other than the restriction on transfers prior to any Conversion to a Person that is not a U.S. resident individual or an entity that is not treated as a U.S. corporation or partnership set forth in Section 5.12(b)(vii)(B), and subject to Section 4.7 of this Agreement, each Series A Preferred Unitholder shall be permitted to transfer any Series A Preferred Units owned by

 

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such Series A Preferred Unitholder to any of its respective Affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, the restrictions set forth in this Section 5.12(b)(vii) are in addition to such other restrictions set forth in this Agreement.

 

(B)                Without the prior written consent of the General Partner, except as specifically provided in this Agreement, each Series A Preferred Unitholder shall not: (1) prior to the first anniversary of the Series A Issuance Date, offer, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Series A Preferred Units; (2) prior to the first anniversary of the Series A Issuance Date, directly or indirectly engage in any short sales or other derivative or hedging transactions with respect to any class or series of Partnership Interests; or (3) prior to any Conversion, effect any transfer of Series A Preferred Units in a manner that violates the terms of this Agreement; provided, however, that any Series A Preferred Unitholder may at any time on and after the Series A Issuance Date, pledge all or any portion of its Series A Preferred Units to any holders of obligations owed by such Series A Preferred Unitholder, including to the trustee for, or agent or representative of, such Series A Preferred Unitholder, and, in each case, as applicable, subject to clause (3) above, any such pledge and any foreclosure, sale or other remedy exercised pursuant to the pledge thereon and/or subsequent transfer by any such pledgee on any such pledged Series A Preferred Units shall not be considered a violation or breach of this Section 5.12(b)(vii)(B); provided, further that any Series A Preferred Unitholder may (subject to complying with Clause (3) above) transfer any Partnership Interests to one or more of its Affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any transferee (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include any pledgee of Series A Preferred Units) receiving any Series A Preferred Units pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(vii)(B) (including upon any foreclosure upon pledged Series A Preferred Units) shall be obligated to agree to the restrictions set forth in this Section 5.12(b)(vii)(B) of this Agreement as a condition to such transfer. For the avoidance of doubt, in no way shall this Section 5.12(b)(vii)(B) of this Agreement or any other provision of this Agreement (i) prohibit changes in the composition of any Series A Preferred Unitholder or its direct or indirect owners, partners or members so long as such changes in composition only relate to changes in direct or indirect ownership of such Series A Preferred Unitholder, (ii) prohibit any direct or indirect owners, partners or members of the general partner of any Series A Preferred Unitholder from changing over time, (iii) prohibit limited partners or members of any ultimate fund that indirectly owns any Series A Preferred Unitholder from transferring interests to other Persons in the secondary market or (iv) prohibit any Series A Preferred Unitholder from exercising any rights set forth in Section 5.12(b)(ix).

 

(C)                Subject to Section 4.7 of this Agreement and compliance with any applicable securities laws or other provisions of this Agreement, at any time after the first anniversary of the Series A Issuance Date, the Series A Preferred Unitholders may freely transfer their Series A Preferred Units; provided, however, that this Section 5.12(b)(vii)(C) shall not eliminate, modify or reduce the obligations set forth in clauses (2) or (3) of Section 5.12(b)(vii)(B).

 

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(viii)          Partnership Optional Redemption.

 

(A)                Upon not less than 20 Business Days prior written notice (each, a “Partnership Series A Redemption Notice”), the Partnership may redeem all of the Series A Preferred Units, or less than all so long as any such redemption includes an aggregate number of Series A Preferred Units with an aggregate Minimum Return Amount that is equal to or greater than $20 million, at any time for a cash amount per Series A Preferred Unit equal to the Series A Redemption Price.

 

(B)                On and after any date fixed for redemption (each a “Series A Redemption Date”), provided that the Partnership has made available at the office of the Transfer Agent a sufficient amount of funds to effect the redemption, distributions will cease to accrue on the Series A Preferred Units called for redemption, such Series A Preferred Units shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of such units as holders of Series A Preferred Units shall cease except the right to receive the cash deliverable upon such redemption, without interest from the Series A Redemption Date. Notice of any redemption will be irrevocable and will be provided by the Partnership not less than twenty (20) Business Days prior to the Series A Redemption Date, addressed to the respective Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed at their respective addresses as they appear on the books and records of the Partnership. No failure to give such notice or any defect therein shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any Series A Preferred Units except as to any Series A Preferred Unitholder to whom the Partnership has failed to give notice or except as to any Series A Preferred Unitholder to whom notice was defective. In addition to any information required by applicable law, such notice shall state: (1) the Series A Redemption Date; (2) the Series A Redemption Price; and (3) whether all or less than all of the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units are to be redeemed, the aggregate amount of Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed and, if less than all Series A Preferred Units held by such Series A  Preferred Unitholder are to be redeemed, the number of Series A Preferred Units that will be redeemed. The notice may also require delivery of Certificates representing the Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed, if any, together with certification as to the ownership of such Series A Preferred Units. Upon the redemption of Series A Preferred Units pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(viii) and the payment in full of the consideration due as a result of such redemption, all rights of a Series A Preferred Unitholder with respect to the redeemed Series A Preferred Units shall cease, and such redeemed Series A Preferred Units shall cease to be Outstanding for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

(C)                If the Partnership defaults in the payment of the redemption price by failing to pay such price by the date specified in the notice of redemption, then the Series A Preferred Units that were called for redemption shall remain outstanding and continue to accumulate the Series A Distribution Amount and have all other rights, preferences and privileges of Series A Preferred Units.

 

(D)                Upon any redemption of Series A Preferred Units pursuant to this Section 5.12(b)(viii), the Partnership shall pay the Series A Redemption Price to the applicable Series A Preferred Unitholders by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified by each such Series A Preferred Unitholder in writing to the General Partner as requested in the notice of redemption.

 

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(E)                 Except as provided in Section 5.12(b)(ix) of this Agreement, no Series A Preferred Unitholder shall have the right to require the Partnership to redeem any Series A Preferred Units. Except as provided in this Section 5.12(b)(viii), the Partnership shall not have the right under any provision of this Agreement at its option to redeem Series A Preferred Units.

 

(ix)                Series A Preferred Unitholder Optional Redemption.

 

(A)                Commencing on the seventh anniversary of the Series A Issuance Date (the “Forced Redemption Date”) the Series A Preferred Unitholders shall have the right to cause the Partnership to redeem the Outstanding Series A Preferred Units (in whole or in part so long as any such redemption includes an aggregate number of Series A Preferred Units with an aggregate Minimum Return Amount that is equal to or greater than $20 million) (the “Series A Unitholder Redemption Right”) for cash in an aggregate amount equal to the number of Series A Preferred Units so redeemed multiplied by the Series A Redemption Price.

 

(B)                The Series A Preferred Unitholders may exercise the Series A Unitholder Redemption Right at any time after the Forced Redemption Date (but not more than once per Quarter by such Series A Preferred Unitholder (inclusive of any conversion by such Series A Preferred Unitholder’s Affiliates, with each Series A Preferred Unitholder and its Affiliates being entitled to a single redemption right per Quarter)) by delivering to the Partnership a notice of redemption (the “Series A Unitholder Redemption Notice”); provided, however, that no Series A Unitholder Redemption Notice will be valid if delivered less than ten Business Days before the date set for distributions pursuant to Section 6.3 of this Agreement. Such Series A Unitholder Redemption Notice shall be in writing and include the number of Units to be redeemed from the applicable Series A Preferred Unitholders (the “Series A Unitholder Redemption Units”).

 

(C)                Within five Business Days of a receipt of a Series A Unitholder Redemption Notice, the Partnership shall deliver a notice (the “Final Partnership Redemption Notice”) that states (i) the Series A Unitholder Redemption Date, (ii) the number of Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed (as set forth in the Series A Unitholder Redemption Notice) and (iii) the place where any Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed that are in certificated form are to be redeemed and shall be presented and surrendered for payment in cash therefor.   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and after delivery of any Series A Unitholder Redemption Notice, the Partnership shall not be permitted to, and shall not, declare or make, any distributions, redemptions or repurchases in respect of any Series A Junior Securities or Series A Parity Securities until the Partnership has paid and delivered in full an amount of cash sufficient to redeem each of the Series A Preferred Units included in the Series A Unitholder Redemption Notice.

 

(D)                The Partnership shall deposit with the Paying Agent cash sufficient to redeem each of the Series A Preferred Units as to which the Partnership has delivered a Final Partnership Redemption Notice in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(ix)(C) no later than the open of business on the fifth Business Day following the delivery of the Final

 

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Partnership Redemption Notice (such date, the “Partnership Redemption Date”), and the Partnership shall, at the time of such deposit, give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to deliver the cash consideration to the Series A Preferred Unitholders for each of their Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed as set forth in the Final Partnership Redemption Notice. If a Final Partnership Redemption Notice shall have been given, then from and after the Series A Unitholder Redemption Date, unless the Partnership defaults in providing to the Series A Preferred Unitholders cash for each of the Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed sufficient for such redemption at the time and place specified for payment pursuant to the Final Partnership Redemption Notice, (i) all dividends on such Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed shall cease to accrue, (ii) Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed shall be deemed no longer outstanding and (iii) all other rights with respect to the Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed, including the rights, if any, to receive notices, will terminate, except only the rights of Series A Preferred Unitholders thereof to receive the cash consideration for each of their Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed. If the Partnership defaults in providing to the Series A Preferred Unitholders cash for each of the Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed as set forth in the Final Partnership Redemption Notice, then the Series A Preferred Units included in the Series A Unitholder Redemption Notice that were called for redemption shall remain outstanding and continue to accumulate the Series A Distribution Amount and have all other rights, preferences and privileges of Series A Preferred Units; provided that (x) the Distribution Rate shall be 20% for the Quarter in which such default occurs and in all Quarters after such default with respect to such Series A Preferred Units and (y) the Partnership shall not be permitted to, and shall not, declare or make, any distributions, redemptions or repurchases in respect of any Series A Junior Securities or Series A Parity Securities (including, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to the Quarter in respect of which the Partnership first failed to pay in full the Series A Redemption Price in respect of the Series A Unitholder Redemption Units in cash when due). The Partnership shall be entitled to receive from the Paying Agent the interest income, if any, earned on such funds deposited with the Paying Agent (to the extent that such interest income is not required to pay the cash consideration for each of the Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed), and the holders of any Series A Preferred Units so redeemed shall have no claim to any such interest income. Any funds deposited with the Paying Agent hereunder by the Partnership for any reason, including redemption of Series A Preferred Units, that remain unclaimed or unpaid after two years after the Series A Unitholder Redemption Date, shall be, to the extent permitted by applicable law, repaid to the Partnership upon its written request, after which repayment the Series A Preferred Unitholders entitled to such redemption shall have recourse only to the Partnership. Notwithstanding any Final Partnership Redemption Notice, there shall be no redemption of any Series A Preferred Units called for redemption until funds sufficient to pay the full consideration with respect to each such share shall have been deposited by the Partnership with the Paying Agent.

 

(x)                   Structuring.

 

(A)                Blocker Merger.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, at the request of the Record Holder of the Series A Required Voting Percentage, in connection with any conversion of the Partnership or any successor thereto into a

 

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corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a “Conversion” and, following any such Conversion, the entity into which the Partnership shall be converted shall be referred to as the “Converted Entity”) by (i) the conversion of the Partnership into a corporation pursuant to Section 18-216 of the Delaware Act (or any successor Section thereto), (ii) the transfer by each Partner of Units held by such Partner to one or more corporations in exchange for shares of any such corporation (including by merger of the Partner into a corporation), (iii) the filing of an election to be classified as an association taxable as a corporation pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3(c), or (iv) any other structure or means by which to effect a Conversion, any Special Purpose Person that is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that directly or indirectly owns Series A Preferred Units (each,  a “Blocker Corporation”) shall be merged or consolidated into the Converted Entity in a tax-free reorganization or transfer as a condition precedent to the completion of such Conversion and on terms reasonably acceptable to such Record Holders of the Series A Required Voting Percentage (each such merger or consolidation, a “Blocker Merger”), and the owners of securities of such Blocker Corporation (A) shall be entitled to the same consideration (whether in the form of cash, publicly-traded property, non-publicly-traded property, or any combination thereof) that such Blocker Corporation would have received in, or owned following, the Conversion had the Conversion been effected without giving effect to such Blocker Merger and (B) shall be responsible for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Converted Entity and its Affiliates against, any liabilities of the Blocker Corporation, other than any liabilities arising from or relating to the ownership of the Series A Preferred Units (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any taxes with respect to taxable periods (or portions thereof) ending prior to the closing of such Blocker Merger). For purposes of this Section 5.12(b)(x)(A), a “Special Purpose Person” is an entity which demonstrates to the reasonable satisfaction of the Partnership that it was formed on or after May 25, 2018, for the sole purpose of owning (directly or indirectly) Series A Preferred Units and participating in the Blocker Merger (if any) and other reasons incidental to such purposes.

 

(B)                Up-C. In connection with the implementation of an “Up-C” structure by or with respect to the Partnership or any successor thereto and as a condition precedent of the completion of such transaction, at the request of the Record Holders of the Series A Required Voting Percentage, any Series A Preferred Unitholder shall be entitled to participate in such structure in a manner that is reasonably acceptable to such Record Holders of the Series A Required Voting Percentage and the General Partner such that the Series A Preferred Unitholder (i) owns interests in the pass-through entity conducting the business of the Partnership, with such interests having generally the same terms and economic entitlements as the Series A Preferred Units, (ii) has the right to exchange such Series A Preferred Units for cash or shares of the public vehicle, (iii) has the right to receive payments pursuant to any tax receivable or similar agreement, and (iv) to the extent that any Series A Preferred Unitholder receives shares of the public vehicle in addition to interests in the pass-through entity, makes such transfers to the public vehicle as are reasonably necessary to assure that the transactions incident to the actual or deemed incorporation of the public vehicle qualify under Section 351 of the Code; provided that any such transfer described in clause (iv) shall not have a material commercial impact on the Series A Preferred Unitholders; provided, further, that in the

 

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case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), any such terms afforded to the Series A Preferred Unitholders shall not be less favorable than those afforded to any other Person.

 

(C)                Liquidation Following Conversion.  Following a Conversion, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event of any liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Converted Entity, either voluntary or involuntary, the Series A Preferred Unitholders shall be entitled to receive, out of the assets of the Converted Entity available for distribution, prior to any distribution of any assets of the Converted Entity to the Common Unitholders or to the holders of any other class or series of Equity Securities of the Converted Entity, an amount per Series A Preferred Unit equal to Series A Redemption Price.

 

(D)                Termination of Allocations.  The provisions of Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 shall not apply to tax periods following a Conversion

 

(xi)                Fully Paid and Non-Assessable. Any Series A Conversion Unit(s) delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Act), and shall be free and clear of any liens, claims, rights or encumbrances other than those arising under the Delaware Act, or this Agreement or created by the holders thereof.

 

(xii)             Notices. For the avoidance of doubt, the Partnership shall distribute to the Record Holders of Series A Preferred Units copies of all notices, materials, annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements, information statements and any other documents distributed generally to the Record Holders of Common Units of the Partnership, at such times and by such method as such documents are distributed to such Record Holders of such Common Units.

 

(xiii)          Additional Information. Upon the affirmative vote of the Series A Required Voting Percentage and no more than once a quarter, the General Partner agrees to make available its chief executive officer, president or chief financial officer to discuss with the Series A Preferred Unitholders the Partnership’s financial condition and operations.

 

(xiv)         Termination.  Except for the right of a holder of Series A Preferred Units to receive Common Units and certain payments as expressly set forth in Section 5.12(b)(v), in the case of conversion of Series A Preferred Units, or Section 5.12(b)(vi), Section 5.12(b)(viii) or Section 5.12(b)(ix), in the case of redemption of Series A Preferred Units, Section 5.12 and Section 6.4 shall automatically terminate and be of no further force and effect at such time as no Series A Preferred Units remain Outstanding.

 

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, deduction, amount realized and Simulated Gain

 

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(computed in accordance with Section 5.6(b)) for each taxable period shall be allocated among the Partners, and the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted for Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss, as provided herein below.  Consistent with Section 5.6(d), the taxable periods for which allocations shall be made pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall include any taxable periods ending on a Series A Redemption Date or a Series A Conversion Date, as applicable, and any Series A Preferred Units being redeemed or converted on such date shall be treated as Outstanding as of the last day of the taxable period ending on such date for purposes of this Section 6.1.

 

(a)         Net Income.  After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(c) and Capital Account adjustments pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(ii), Net Income for each taxable period (including all items of income, gain, loss, and deduction and, to the extent provided in Section 6.1(d)(iii), Simulated Gain taken into account in computing Net Income for such taxable period) shall be allocated as follows:

 

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

 

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

 

(b)         Net Loss.  After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 6.1(c) and Capital Account adjustments pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(ii), Net Loss for each taxable period (including all items of income, gain, loss, deduction and, to the extent provided in Section 6.1(d)(iii), Simulated Gain taken into account in computing Net Loss for such taxable period) shall be allocated as follows:

 

(i)                       First, 100% to the Common Unitholders, Pro Rata, until the Adjusted Capital Account of each Common Unitholder is equal to zero;

 

(ii)                    Second, 100% to all Series A Preferred Unitholders, Pro Rata, until the Adjusted Capital Account of each Series A Preferred Unitholder is equal to zero; and

 

(iii)                 Third, the balance, if any, to the General Partner;

 

provided, that Net Loss shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(b) 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 period (or increase any existing deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account).

 

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

 

(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, gain and Simulated Gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and

 

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amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(f)(6), 1.704-2(g)(2) and 1.704-2(j)(2)(i), or any successor provision.  For purposes of this Section 6.1(c), each Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be determined, and the allocation of income, gain and Simulated Gain required hereunder shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(c) with respect to such taxable period (other than an allocation pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(vi)  and Section 6.1(c)(vii)).  This Section 6.1(c)(i) is intended to comply with the Partnership Minimum Gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

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

 

(iii)                 Priority Allocations.

 

(A)                Net Agreed Value.  If the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of any property distributed (except cash or property distributed pursuant to Section 12.4) with respect to a Unit exceeds the amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property distributed with respect to another Unit, 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 with respect to the Unit receiving the smallest distribution and (bb) the number of Units owned by the Unitholder receiving the greater distribution.

 

(B)                Series A Preferred Unitholder Periodic Allocations.  After the application of Section 6.1(c)(iii)(A), the remaining Partnership items of gross income and gain (including Unrealized Gain and Simulated Gain) for the taxable period shall be allocated to the Series A Preferred Unitholders, Pro Rata, in the following order:

 

(1)                                 first, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (x) the Minimum IRR from the Closing Date through the last day of such taxable period with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit that is Outstanding as of the last day of such taxable period, over (y) the cumulative gross income and gain allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iii)(B)(1) from

 

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all prior taxable periods and the cumulative Capital Contributions with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit that is Outstanding as of the last day of such taxable period; and

 

(2)                                 second, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (x) the cumulative amount of Net Loss allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(b) for all prior taxable periods with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit that is Outstanding as of the last day of such taxable period, over (y) the cumulative gross income and gain allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iii)(B)(2) for all prior taxable periods with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit that is Outstanding as of the last day of such taxable period.

 

(C)                Redemption Allocations.  If any Series A Preferred Units are redeemed pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(vi), (viii) or (ix) and the Capital Account with respect to each such Unit does not equal the Series A Redemption Price, then items of gross income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated to the Series A Preferred Unitholders whose Units are being redeemed, Pro Rata, in a manner such that, to the extent possible, the Capital Account balance with respect to each such Series A Preferred Unit equals the Series A Redemption Price; provided that such Capital Account balance shall be determined after giving effect to (x) all Capital Contributions made with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit, (y) all distributions made with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit, and (z) all allocations made pursuant to this Section 6.1 with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit for all periods.  If, after making such allocations, the Capital Account balance with respect to each such Series A Unit does not equal the Series A Redemption Price, then (i) to the extent the Series A Redemption Price exceeds such Capital Account balance, the Partnership will be deemed to make a guaranteed payment to the Series A Preferred Unitholders whose Series A Preferred Units are being redeemed in an aggregate amount equal to the amount of such excess for each Series A Preferred Unit being redeemed, and the deduction with respect to the deemed guaranteed payments will be allocated 100% to the Common Unitholders, Pro Rata, or (ii) to the extent such Capital Account balance exceeds the Series A Redemption Price, the Partnership will be deemed to make a guaranteed payment to the Common Unitholders, Pro Rata, in an aggregate amount equal to the amount of such excess for each Series A Preferred Unit being redeemed, and the deduction with respect to the deemed guaranteed payments will be allocated 100% to the Series A Preferred Unitholders, Pro Rata.

 

(D)                Liquidation Allocations.  If upon the liquidation of the Partnership, the Capital Account with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit does not equal the Series A Redemption Price, then items of gross income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated to the Series A Preferred Unitholders, Pro Rata, in a manner such that, to the extent possible, the Capital Account balance with respect to each such Series A Unit equals the Series A Redemption Price; provided that such Capital Account balance shall be determined after giving effect to (x) all Capital Contributions made with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit, (y) all distributions made with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit, and (z) all allocations made pursuant to this Section 6.1 with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit for all periods.  If, after making such allocations, the Capital Account balance with respect to each such Series A Unit does not equal the Series A Redemption

 

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Price, then (i) to the extent the Series A Redemption Price exceeds such Capital Account balance, the Partnership will make a guaranteed payment to the Series A Preferred Unitholders, Pro Rata, in an aggregate amount equal to the amount of such excess for each Series A Preferred Unit, and the deduction with respect to the guaranteed payments will be allocated 100% to the Common Unitholders, Pro Rata, or (ii) to the extent such Capital Account balance exceeds the Series A Redemption Price, the Partnership will make a guaranteed payment to the Common Unitholders, Pro Rata, in an aggregate amount equal to the amount of such excess for each Series A Preferred Unit, and the deduction with respect to the guaranteed payments will be allocated 100% to the Series A Preferred Unitholders, Pro Rata.

 

(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 gross 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; provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(iv) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if this Section 6.1(c)(iv) were not in this Agreement.

 

(v)                   Gross Income Allocations.  In the event any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any 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, gain and Simulated Gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(v) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit balance in its Capital Account after all other allocations provided for in this Section 6.1 have been tentatively made as if Section 6.1(c)(iv) and this Section 6.1(c)(v) were not in this Agreement.

 

(vi)                Nonrecourse Deductions.  Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Common Unitholders, Pro Rata.  If the General Partner determines that the Partnership’s Nonrecourse Deductions should be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the General Partner is authorized, upon notice to the other Partners, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio that does satisfy such requirements.

 

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

 

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such Partners in accordance with the ratios in which they share such Economic Risk of Loss.  This Section 6.1(c)(vii) is intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(1) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(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 Common Unitholders, Pro Rata.

 

(ix)                Code Section 754 Adjustments.  To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Section 734(b) of the Code (including pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.734-2(b)(1)) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution to a Partner in complete liquidation of such Partner’s interest in the Partnership, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain or Simulated Gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss or Simulated Loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) taken into account pursuant to Section 5.6, and such item of gain, loss, Simulated Gain or Simulated 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; Changes in Law.  For the proper administration of the Partnership and for the preservation of uniformity of the Limited Partner Interests (or any class or classes thereof), the General Partner shall (i) adopt such conventions as it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss; 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 6.1(c)(x) 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 Outstanding Limited Partner Interests or the Partnership.

 

(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 gross income, gain, loss, deduction, Simulated Depletion, Simulated Gain and Simulated Loss 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 and Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss had been included in the definition of Net Income and Net Loss.  In exercising its discretion under this Section 6.1(c)(xi)(A), the

 

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General Partner may take into account future Required Allocations that, although not yet made, are likely to offset other Required Allocations previously made.  Allocations pursuant to this Section 6.1(c)(xi)(A) shall only be made with respect to Required Allocations to the extent the General Partner determines that such allocations shall otherwise be inconsistent with the economic agreement among the Partners.

 

(B)                The General Partner shall, with respect to each taxable period, (1) apply the provisions of Section 6.1(c)(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(c)(xi)(A) among the Partners in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic distortions.

 

(xii)             Equalization of Capital Accounts With Respect to Privately Placed Units.  Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss deemed recognized as a result of a Revaluation Event shall first be allocated to the (A) Unitholders holding Privately Placed Units, Pro Rata, or (B) Unitholders holding Common Units (other than Privately Placed Units), Pro Rata, as applicable, to the extent necessary to cause the Capital Account in respect of each Privately Placed Unit then Outstanding to equal the Capital Account in respect of each Common Unit (other than Privately Placed Units) then Outstanding.

 

(xiii)          Allocations Regarding Certain Payments Made to Employees and Other Service Providers.  Consistent with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.83-6(d), if any Partner (or its successor) transfers property (including cash) to any employee or other service provider of the Partnership Group and such Partner is not entitled to be reimbursed by (or otherwise elects not to seek reimbursement from) the Partnership for the value of such property, then any items of deduction or loss resulting from or attributable to such transfer shall be allocated to the Partner (or its successor) that made such transfer and was deemed to have contributed such property to the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.11.

 

(xiv)         Converted Series A Preferred Units; Economic Uniformity.  With respect to any taxable period ending upon, or after, a Series A Conversion Date, items of Partnership income, gain, deduction and loss shall be allocated to each Series A Preferred Unitholder holding converted Series A Preferred Units until each such Partner has been allocated an amount of Partnership income, gain, deduction and loss that increases, or decreases, as the case may be, the Capital Account maintained with respect to such converted Series A Preferred Units to an amount equal to the product of (A) the number of converted Series A Preferred Units and (B) the capital amount attributable to one Common Unit.  For purposes of this Section 6.1(c)(xiv), the Capital Account maintained with respect to a converted Series A Preferred Unit shall give effect to (i) all Capital Contributions made with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit, (ii) all distributions made with respect to such Series A Preferred Unit, (iii) all allocations made pursuant to such converted Series A Preferred Unit for all periods, and (iv) all adjustments pursuant to Section 5.6(d).  The purpose for this allocation is to establish uniformity between the Capital Accounts underlying converted Series A Preferred Units and the Capital Accounts underlying Common Units.

 

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(d)         Simulated Basis; Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss; Simulated Gain; Amount Realized.

 

(i)                       Simulated Basis.  For purposes of determining and maintaining the Partners’ Capital Accounts, (i) the initial Simulated Basis of each oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code) of the Partnership shall be allocated among the Common Unitholders, Pro Rata and (ii) if the Carrying Value of an oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code) is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.6(d), the Simulated Basis of such property (as adjusted to reflect the adjustment to the Carrying Value of such property), shall be allocated to the Common Unitholders, Pro Rata.

 

(ii)                    Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss.  For purposes of applying clause (z) of the second sentence of Section 5.6(a), Simulated Depletion and Simulated Loss with respect to each oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code) of the Partnership shall reduce each Partner’s Capital Account in proportion to the manner in which the Simulated Basis of such property is allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i).

 

(iii)                 Simulated Gain.  For purposes of applying clause (iii) of the second sentence of Section 5.6(a), Simulated Gain for any taxable period shall be treated as included in either Net Income or Net Loss and allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or Section 6.1(b), as appropriate.

 

(iv)                Amount Realized.  For purposes of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2) and 1.704-1(b)(4)(iii), the amount realized on the disposition of any oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code) of the Partnership shall be allocated (i) first to the Partners in an amount equal to the remaining Simulated Basis of such property in the same proportions as the Simulated Basis of such property was allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i), and (ii) any remaining amount realized shall be allocated to the Partners in the same ratio as Simulated Gain from the disposition of such oil and gas property is allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or Section 6.1(b).

 

Section 6.2                Allocations for Tax Purposes.

 

(a)         Except as otherwise provided herein, for U.S. 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)         The deduction for depletion with respect to each separate oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code) shall be computed for U.S. federal income tax purposes separately by the Partners rather than by the Partnership in accordance with Section 613A(c)(7)(D) of the Code.  Except as provided in Section 6.2(c), for purposes of such computation (before taking into account any adjustments resulting from an election made by the Partnership under Section 754 of the Code), the adjusted tax basis of each oil and gas property (as defined in Section 614 of the Code) that is (i) a Contributed Property shall initially be allocated among the non-contributing Common Unitholders, Pro Rata, but not in excess of any such Partner’s share of Simulated Basis as determined pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i), and (ii) not a Contributed Property or an Adjusted Property shall initially be allocated to the Partners in proportion to each such Partner’s share of Simulated Basis as determined pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i).  If there is an event described in Section 5.6(d), the General Partner shall reallocate the adjusted tax basis of each oil and gas

 

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property in a manner (i) consistent with the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code and (ii) that maintains the U.S. federal income tax fungibility of the Units.

 

Each Partner shall separately keep records of his, her or its share of the adjusted tax basis in each oil and gas property, allocated as provided above, adjust such share of the adjusted tax basis for any cost or percentage depletion allowable with respect to such property, and use such adjusted tax basis in the computation of its cost depletion or in the computation of his, her or its gain or loss on the disposition of such property by the Partnership.

 

(c)          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 U.S. federal income tax purposes among the Partners in the manner provided under Section 704(c) of the Code, and the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code, as determined appropriate by the General Partner (taking into account the General Partner’s discretion under Section 6.1(c)(x)); provided that, in all events, the General Partner shall apply the “remedial allocation method” in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d).  For purposes of applying the “remedial allocation method” to oil and gas properties (i) the amount by which any Partner’s Capital Account is adjusted for Simulated Depletion shall be treated as an amount of book depletion allocated to such Partner and (ii) the amount of cost depletion computed by such Partner under Section 613A(c)(7)(D) of the Code shall be treated as an amount of tax depletion allocated to such Partner.

 

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

 

(e)          In accordance with Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1245-1(e) and 1.1250-1(f), 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.

 

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

 

(g)          Each item of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction shall, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be determined for each taxable period and prorated on a monthly basis and shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which the Partnership’s Units are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of each month; provided, however, such items for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the last day of the month in which the Closing Date occurs shall be allocated to the Partners who are issued Units as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement and the Underwriting Agreement; 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, gain, loss or deduction, as determined by the General Partner, shall be allocated to the Partners as of the opening of the National Securities Exchange on which the Partnership’s Units are listed or admitted to trading on the first Business Day of the month in which such item is recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  The General Partner may revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation to the extent permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code and the regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder, and the Partners hereby agree that any such methods selected by the General Partner are made by the “agreement of the partners” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.706-4(f).

 

(h)         Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Partner under the provisions of this Article VI shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of Partnership Interests held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the identity of such owner to the Partnership in accordance with Section 6031(c) of the Code or any other method determined by the General Partner.

 

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

 

Section 6.3                Distributions to Record Holders.

 

(a)         Except as provided in Section 5.12(b)(i), within 45 days following the end of each Quarter, an amount equal to 100% of Available Cash with respect to such Quarter shall be distributed in accordance with this Article VI by the Partnership to the Common Unitholders as of the Record Date selected by the General Partner. For the avoidance of doubt, distributions to the holders of Series A Preferred Units shall be made pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(i) and not this Section 6.3.

 

(b)         The Partnership shall make distributions of Available Cash pursuant to this Section 6.3, if any, to the holders of Common Units, Pro Rata.

 

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(c)          All distributions required to be made under this Agreement shall be made subject to Sections 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware Act.

 

(d)         Notwithstanding Section 6.3(b), in the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, cash shall be applied and distributed solely in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 12.4.

 

(e)          Each distribution in respect of a Partnership Interest shall be paid by the Partnership, directly or through any 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                Special Provisions Relating to the Series A Preferred Units.

 

(a)         Subject to any applicable transfer restrictions in Section 4.7 of this Agreement Section 5.12(b)(vii), the holder of a Series A Preferred Unit or a Series A Conversion Unit shall provide notice to the Partnership of the transfer of any such Series A Preferred Unit or Series A Conversion Unit, as applicable, by the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days following such transfer and (ii) the last Business Day of the calendar year during which such transfer occurred; provided, however, that no such notice will be required with respect to a transfer of a Series A Conversion Unit unless the Partnership has notified the Purchasers that it has made the allocation provided for under Section 6.1(c)(xiv) and was not able to cause the capital account of each Series A Conversion Unit to equal that of an Outstanding Common Unit. In connection with the condition imposed by this Section 6.4, the Partnership shall take whatever steps are required to provide economic uniformity to the Series A Conversion Unit in preparation for a transfer of such Unit; provided, however, that no such steps may be taken that would have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units (for this purpose the allocations of income, gain, loss and deductions, the making of any guaranteed payments or any reallocation of Capital Account balances, among the Partners in accordance with Section 5.6(d)(i), Article VI, and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(4) with respect to Series A Preferred Units or Series A Conversion Units will be deemed not to have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders holding Common Units).

 

(b)         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the holders of the Series A Preferred Units (i) shall (A) possess the rights and obligations provided in this Agreement with respect to a Limited Partner pursuant to Article III and Article VII and (B) have a Capital Account as a Partner pursuant to Section 5.6 and Article VI and all other provisions related thereto and (ii) shall not (A) be entitled to vote on any matters requiring the approval or vote of the holders of Outstanding Units, except as provided in this Agreement or (B) be entitled to any distributions other than as provided in Section 5.12 of this Agreement.

 

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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, but without limitation on the ability of the General Partner to delegate its rights and power to other Persons, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner in its capacity as such shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or that are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to Section 7.4, shall have full power and authority to do all things and on such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.5 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4, including the following and subject to any approval that may be required by Section 5.12(b)(ii):

 

(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 or exchangeable for Partnership Interests, 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 7.4 or Article XIV);

 

(iv)                the use of the assets of the Partnership (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including the financing of the conduct of the business or operations of the Partnership Group; subject to Section 7.7(a), the lending of funds to other Persons (including other Group Members); the repayment or guarantee of obligations of any Group Member; and the making of capital contributions to any Group Member;

 

(v)                   the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments (including instruments that limit the liability of the Partnership under contractual arrangements to all or particular assets of the Partnership, with the other party to the contract to have no recourse against the General Partner or its assets other than its interest in the Partnership, even if the same results in the terms of the transaction being less favorable to the Partnership than would otherwise be the case);

 

(vi)                the distribution of cash held by the Partnership;

 

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(vii)             the selection and dismissal of officers, employees, agents, internal and outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring;

 

(viii)          the maintenance of insurance for the benefit of the Partnership Group, the Partners and Indemnitees;

 

(ix)                the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of assets and the making of loans to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, limited liability companies or other Persons (including the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of assets 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, arbitration or mediation and the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation;

 

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

 

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

 

(xiii)          the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of Partnership Interests, or the issuance of Derivative Partnership Interests;

 

(xiv)         the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership’s participation in the management of any Group Member; and

 

(xv)            the entering into of agreements with any of its Affiliates, including any agreements to render services to a Group Member or to itself in the discharge of its duties as General Partner of the Partnership.

 

(b)         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, the Delaware Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, each of the Partners and each other Person who may acquire an interest in Partnership Interests or is otherwise bound by this Agreement hereby (i) approves, ratifies and confirms the execution, delivery and performance by the parties thereto of this Agreement and the Group Member Agreement of each other Group Member, the Management Services Agreements, the Underwriting Agreement, the Contribution Agreement and the other agreements described in or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are related to the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) (in each case other than this Agreement, without giving effect to any amendments, supplements or restatements thereof entered into after the date such Person becomes bound by the provisions of this Agreement); (ii) agrees that the General Partner (on its own or on behalf of the Partnership) is authorized to execute, deliver and perform

 

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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 other Persons who may acquire an interest in Partnership Interests or are otherwise bound by this Agreement; 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 or any other obligation of any type whatsoever 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 existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

 

Section 7.2                Replacement of Fiduciary Duties. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that, at law or in equity, the General Partner or any other Indemnitee would have duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Partnership, to another Partner, to any Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest or to any other Person bound by this Agreement, all such duties (including fiduciary duties) are hereby eliminated, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and replaced with the duties expressly set forth herein.  The elimination of duties (including fiduciary duties) and replacement thereof with the duties expressly set forth herein are approved by the Partnership, each of the Partners, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Partnership Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement.

 

Section 7.3                Certificate of Limited Partnership. The General Partner 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 on October 30, 2015. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent the General Partner determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do all things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership or other entity in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 3.4(a), the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.

 

Section 7.4                Restrictions on the General Partner’s Authority to Sell Assets of the Partnership Group. Except as provided in Article XII and Article XIV, the General Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions without the approval of holders of a Unit Majority; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude or limit the General Partner’s ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership Group and shall not apply to any disposition of any or all of the assets of the Partnership Group pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance.

 

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Section 7.5                Reimbursement of the General Partner.

 

(a)         Except as provided in this Section 7.5 and elsewhere in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as a general partner or managing member of any Group Member.

 

(b)         The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine, for (i) all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on behalf of the Partnership Group (including salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person, including Affiliates of the General Partner, to perform services for the Partnership Group or for the General Partner in the discharge of its duties to the Partnership Group), and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Partnership Group or otherwise incurred by the General Partner or its Affiliates in connection with managing and operating the Partnership Group’s business and affairs (including expenses allocated to the General Partner by its Affiliates). The General Partner shall determine the expenses that are allocable to the Partnership Group. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 7.5 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.8.  Any allocation of expenses to the Partnership by the General Partner in a manner consistent with its or its Affiliates past business practices shall be deemed to have been made in good faith. This provision does not affect the ability of the General Partner and its Affiliates to enter into an agreement to provide services to any Group Member for a fee or otherwise than for cost.

 

(c)          The General Partner, without the approval of the Limited Partners, may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership employee benefit plans, employee programs and employee practices (including plans, programs and practices involving the issuance of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests), or cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests 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 officers, employees and directors of the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership Group. The Partnership agrees to issue and sell to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates any Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests that the General Partner or such Affiliates are obligated to provide to any officers, employees, consultants and directors 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 Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests 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 7.5(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 7.5(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 Section 11.2 or the transferee of or successor to all of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 4.6.

 

(d)         The General Partner and its Affiliates may charge any member of the Partnership Group a management fee to the extent necessary to allow the Partnership Group to reduce the amount of

 

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any state franchise or income tax or any tax based upon the revenues or gross margin of any member of the Partnership Group if the tax benefit produced by the payment of such management fee or fees exceeds the amount of such fee or fees.

 

Section 7.6                Outside Activities.

 

(a)         The General Partner, for so long as it is the General Partner of the Partnership, (i) agrees that its sole business shall be to act as a general partner or managing member, as the case may be, of the Partnership and any other partnership or limited liability company of which the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner or member and to undertake activities that are ancillary or related thereto (including being a Limited Partner in the Partnership) and (ii) shall not engage in any business or activity or incur any debts or liabilities except in connection with or incidental to (A) its performance as general partner or managing member, if any, of one or more Group Members or as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, (B) the acquiring, owning or disposing of debt securities or equity interests in any Group Member or (C) the guarantee of, and mortgage, pledge or encumbrance of any or all of its assets in connection with, any indebtedness of any Group Member.

 

(b)         Subject to the terms of Section 7.6(c), each Unrestricted Person (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 otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to any Group Member or any Partner. None of any Group Member, any Limited Partner or any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, or the partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any Unrestricted Person.

 

(c)          Subject to the terms of Section 7.6(a), Section 7.6(b) and the Contribution Agreement, but otherwise notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the engaging in competitive activities by any Unrestricted Person (other than the General Partner) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.6 is hereby approved by the Partnership and all Partners, (ii) it shall be deemed not to be a breach of any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise, of the General Partner or any other Unrestricted Person for the Unrestricted Persons (other than the General Partner) to engage in such business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Partnership or any other Group Member and (iii) the Unrestricted Persons shall have no obligation hereunder or as a result of any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise, to present business opportunities to the Partnership or any other Group Member. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty existing at law or in equity, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any analogous doctrine, shall not apply to any Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner).  Except as provided for in the Contribution Agreement, no Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) who acquires knowledge of a potential transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for any Group Member, shall have any duty to communicate or offer such opportunity to any Group Member, and such Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) shall not be liable to the

 

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Partnership, to any Limited Partner or any other Person bound by this Agreement for breach of any duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such Unrestricted Person (including the General Partner) pursues or acquires for itself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to any Group Member, provided, however, that such Unrestricted Person does not engage in such business or activity using confidential or proprietary information provided by or on behalf of the Partnership to such Unrestricted Person.

 

(d)         The General Partner and each of its Affiliates may acquire Units or other Partnership Interests in addition to those acquired on the Closing Date and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, shall be entitled to exercise, at their option, all rights relating to all Units and/or other Partnership Interests acquired by them. The term “Affiliates” when used in this Section 7.6(d) with respect to the General Partner shall not include any Group Member.

 

(e)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall limit or otherwise affect any separate contractual obligations outside of this Agreement of any Person (including any Unrestricted Person) to the Partnership or any of its Affiliates.

 

Section 7.7                Loans from the General Partner; Loans or Contributions from the Partnership or Group Members.

 

(a)         The General Partner or any of its Affiliates may, but shall be under no obligation to, lend to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the 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 materially less favorable to the borrowing party than would be charged or imposed on the borrowing party by unrelated lenders on comparable loans made on an arm’s-length basis (without reference to the lending party’s financial abilities or guarantees), all as determined by the General Partner. The borrowing party shall reimburse the lending party for any costs (other than any additional interest costs) incurred by the lending party in connection with the borrowing of such funds. For purposes of this Section 7.7(a) and Section 7.7(b), the term “Group Member” shall include any Affiliate of a Group Member that is controlled by the Group Member.

 

(b)         The Partnership may lend or contribute to any Group Member, and any Group Member may borrow from the Partnership, funds on terms and conditions determined by the General Partner. No Group Member may lend funds to the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than another Group Member).

 

Section 7.8                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 threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or

 

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proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee and acting (or omitting or refraining to act) in such capacity on behalf of or for the benefit of the Partnership; provided, however, that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless pursuant to this Agreement if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful; provided, further, no indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.8 shall be available to any Indemnitee (other than a Group Member) with respect to any such Affiliate’s obligations pursuant to the Transaction Documents. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.8 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 7.8(a) in appearing at, participating in or defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Partnership prior to a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Partnership of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be ultimately determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized by this Section 7.8.

 

(c)          The indemnification provided by this Section 7.8 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under this Agreement, any other agreement, pursuant to any vote of the holders of Outstanding Limited Partner Interests, as a matter of law, in equity or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity (including any capacity under the 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, the Indemnitees 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 or any other Group Member’s activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Partnership or any other Group Member, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, the Partnership may enter into additional indemnification agreements with any Indemnitee.

 

(e)          For purposes of this Section 7.8, 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

 

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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 7.8(a); and action taken or omitted by it with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Partnership.

 

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

 

(g)          An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 7.8 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 7.8 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees and their heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.

 

(i)             No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 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 7.8 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.

 

(j)            This Section 7.8 shall not limit the right of the Partnership, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to, and purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, Persons other than Indemnitees.

 

Section 7.9                Liability of Indemnitees.

 

(a)         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, to the fullest extent allowed by law, no Indemnitee or any of its employees or Persons acting on its behalf shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the Partners, or any other Persons who have acquired interests in Partnership Interests or are bound by this Agreement, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred, of any kind or character, as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee or any of its employees or Persons acting on its behalf unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee or any of its employees or Persons acting on its behalf acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(b)         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,

 

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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 if such appointment was not made in bad faith.

 

(c)          To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee or any of its employees or Persons acting on its behalf has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners or to any other Persons who have acquired a  Partnership Interest or are otherwise bound by this Agreement, the General Partner and any other Indemnitee or any of its employees or Persons acting on its behalf acting in connection with the Partnership’s business or affairs shall not be liable to the Partnership, the Limited Partners, or any other Persons who have acquired interests in the Partnership Interests or are bound by this Agreement for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(d)         Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.9 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of the Indemnitees under this Section 7.9 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 7.10         Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties.

 

(a)         Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member or any Partner, on the other, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner or its Affiliates in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), (iii) determined by the Board of Directors to be on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv) determined by the Board of Directors to be fair and reasonable to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership). The General Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval or Unitholder approval of such resolution, and the General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval or Unitholder approval.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or applicable law, whenever the General Partner makes a determination to refer or not to refer any potential conflict of interest to the Conflicts Committee for Special Approval, to seek or not to seek Unitholder approval or to adopt or not to adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval or Unitholder approval, then the General Partner shall be entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, and the General Partner shall

 

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not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard or duty imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner in making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action shall be permitted to do so in its sole and absolute discretion.  If Special Approval is sought, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Conflicts Committee acted in good faith. If the Board of Directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) of this Section 7.10(a) or that a director satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a member of the Conflicts Committee, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Board of Directors acted in good faith.  In any proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or any other Limited Partner or the Partnership challenging any action by the Conflicts Committee with respect to any matter referred to the Conflicts Committee for Special Approval by the General Partner, any action by the Board of Directors in determining whether the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) of this Section 7.10(a) or whether a director satisfies the eligibility requirements to be a member of the Conflicts Committee, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming the presumption that the Conflicts Committee or the Board of Directors, as applicable, acted in good faith.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or equity, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in the Registration Statement are hereby approved by all Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any such duty.

 

(b)         Whenever the General Partner or the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof (including the Conflicts Committee), makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any Affiliate of the General Partner causes the General Partner to do so, in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement, then, unless another express lesser standard is provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, the Board of Directors or such committee or such Affiliates causing the General Partner to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any other or different duties or standards (including fiduciary duties or standards) imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. A determination or other action or inaction shall conclusively be deemed to be in “good faith” for all purposes of this Agreement, if the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action subjectively believe that the determination or other action or inaction is in, or not adverse to, the best interests of the Partnership Group; provided, however, that if the Board of Directors is making a determination or taking or declining to take an action pursuant to clause (iii) or clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 7.10(a), then in lieu thereof, such determination or other action or inaction shall conclusively be deemed to be in “good faith” for all purposes of this Agreement if the members of the Board of Directors making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action subjectively believe that the determination or other action or inaction meets the standard set forth in clause (iii) or clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 7.10(a), as applicable.

 

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(c)          Whenever the General Partner (including the Board of Directors or any committee thereof) makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner, the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, are entitled, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any duty (including any fiduciary or other duty) existing at law, in equity or otherwise or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, and the General Partner, the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action shall be permitted to do so in their sole and absolute discretion. By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrase, “the General Partner at its option,” or some variation of that phrase, is used in this Agreement, it indicates that the General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Partnership Interests, or refrains from voting or transferring its Partnership Interests, it shall be acting in its individual capacity.

 

(d)         The General Partner’s organizational documents may provide that determinations to take or decline to take any action in its individual, rather than representative, capacity may or shall be determined by its members, if the General Partner is a limited liability company, stockholders, if the General Partner is a corporation, or the members or stockholders of the General Partner’s general partner, if the General Partner is a partnership.

 

(e)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the General Partner and its Affiliates shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business or (ii) permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the General Partner and its Affiliates, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with such use. Any determination by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter into such contracts shall be at its option.

 

(f)           Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or expressly required by the Delaware Act, neither the General Partner, the Board of Directors, any committee thereof or any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Partnership or any Limited Partner (including without limitation, any Series A Preferred Unitholders) and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the General Partner or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of the General Partner or such other Indemnitee.

 

(g)          The Unitholders hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership as a general partner or managing member of a Group Member, to approve actions by the general

 

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partner or managing member of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the General Partner pursuant to this Section 7.10.

 

Section 7.11         Other Matters Concerning the General Partner.

 

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

 

(c)          The 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 or any Group Member.

 

Section 7.12         Purchase or Sale of Partnership Interests. Subject to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B)(6), the General Partner may cause the Partnership to purchase or otherwise acquire Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests. As long as Partnership Interests are held by any Group Member, such Partnership Interests 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 Interests for its own account, subject to the provisions of Article IV and Article X.

 

Section 7.13         Reliance by Third Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) 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, to the fullest extent permitted by law, 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 (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) dealing with the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or any such officer or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument

 

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

 

Section 8.2                Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be a fiscal year ending December 31.

 

Section 8.3                Reports.

 

(a)         Whether or not the Partnership is subject to the requirement to file reports with the Commission, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 105 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Partnership (or such shorter period as required by the Commission), the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnership’s or the Commission’s website) to each Record Holder of a Unit or other Partnership Interest as of a date selected by the General Partner, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership for such fiscal year of the Partnership, presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including a balance sheet and statements of operations, Partnership equity and cash flows, such statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner, and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of the Commission or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

(b)         Whether or not the Partnership is subject to the requirement to file reports with the Commission, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 50 days after the close of each Quarter (or such shorter period as required by the Commission) except the last Quarter of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed or made available, by any reasonable

 

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means (including posting on or accessible through the Partnership’s or the Commission’s website) to each Record Holder of a Unit, as of a date selected by the General Partner, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership and such other information as may be required by applicable law, regulation or rule of the Commission or any National Securities Exchange on which the Units are listed or admitted to trading, or as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

TAX MATTERS

 

Section 9.1                Tax Returns and Information. The Partnership shall timely file all returns of the Partnership that are required for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes on the basis of the accrual method and the taxable period or years that it is required by law to adopt, from time to time, as determined by the General Partner. In the event the Partnership is required to use a taxable period other than a year ending on December 31, the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to change the taxable period of the Partnership to a year ending on December 31. The tax information reasonably required by Record Holders for federal, state and local income tax reporting purposes with respect to a taxable period shall be furnished to them within 90 days of the close of the calendar year in which the Partnership’s taxable period ends. The classification, realization and recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Section 9.2                Tax Elections.

 

(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 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 Partnership Interest shall be deemed to be the lowest quoted closing price of the Partnership Interests on any National Securities Exchange on which such Partnership Interests are listed or admitted to trading during the calendar month in which such transfer is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 6.2(g) without regard to the actual price paid by such transferee.

 

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

 

Section 9.3                Tax Controversies.

 

(a)         Subject to the provisions hereof, the General Partner is designated as the “tax matters partner” (as defined in Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code) (the “Tax Matters Partner”) 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 Tax Matters

 

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Partner and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably required by the Tax Matters Partner to conduct such proceedings. Each Partner agrees that notice of or updates regarding tax controversies shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made by the Tax Matters Partner if the Partnership has either (i) filed the information for which notice is required with the Commission via its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system and such information is publicly available on such system or (ii) made the information for which notice is required available on any publicly available website maintained by the Partnership, whether or not such Partner remains a Partner in the Partnership at the time such information is made publicly available.

 

(b)         With respect to tax returns filed for taxable years beginning on or after December 31, 2017, the General Partner (or its designee) shall be designated as the “partnership representative” in accordance with the rules prescribed pursuant to Section 6223 of the Code and shall have the sole authority to act on behalf of the Partnership 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. The General Partner (or its designee) shall exercise, in its sole discretion, any and all authority of the “partnership representative” under the Code, including, without limitation, (i) binding the Partnership and its Partners with respect to tax matters and (ii) determining whether to make any available election under Section 6226 of the Code. The General Partner shall amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate to reflect the proposal or promulgation of Treasury Regulations implementing the partnership audit, assessment and collection rules adopted by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, H.R. 1314, Public Law Number 114-74, including any amendments to those rules.

 

Section 9.4                Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that may be required to cause the Partnership and other Group Members to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other U.S. federal, state or local law, including pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the extent that the Partnership is required or elects to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner (including by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), the General Partner may treat the amount withheld as a distribution of cash pursuant to Section 6.3 or Section 12.4(c) in the amount of such withholding from such Partner.

 

ARTICLE X

 

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

 

Section 10.1         Admission of Limited Partners.

 

(a)         By acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests transferred in accordance with Article IV or acceptance of any Limited Partner Interests issued in accordance with Article V or pursuant to a merger, consolidation or conversion pursuant to Article XIV, and except as provided in Section 4.8, each transferee of, or other such Person acquiring a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee, agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interests for the account of another Person or Group, which nominee, agent or representative shall be subject to Section

 

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10.1(b) below) (i) shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interests so transferred or issued to such Person when such Person becomes the Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interests so transferred or acquired, (ii) shall become bound, and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) shall be deemed to represent that the transferee or acquirer has the capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and (iv) shall be deemed to make any consents, acknowledgements or waivers contained in this Agreement, all with or without execution of this Agreement by such Person. The transfer of any Limited Partner Interests and the admission of any new Limited Partner shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement. A Person may become a Limited Partner without the consent or approval of any of the Partners. A Person may not become a Limited Partner without acquiring a Limited Partner Interest and becoming the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interest. The rights and obligations of a Person who is an Ineligible Holder shall be determined in accordance with Section 4.8.

 

(b)         With respect to Units that are held for a Person’s account by another Person that is the Record Holder (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), such Record Holder shall, in exercising the rights of a Limited Partner in respect of such Units, including the right to vote, on any matter, and unless the arrangement between such Persons provides otherwise, take all action as a Limited Partner by virtue of being the Record Holder of such Units in accordance with the direction of the Person who is the beneficial owner of such Units, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume such Record Holder is so acting without further inquiry.  The provisions of this Section 10.1(b) are subject to the provisions of Section 4.3.

 

(c)          The name and mailing address of each Record Holder shall be listed in the Register. The General Partner shall update the Register from time to time as necessary to reflect accurately the information therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do so, as applicable). A Limited Partner Interest may be represented by a Certificate, as provided in Section 4.1.

 

(d)         Any transfer of a Limited Partner Interest shall not entitle the transferee to share in the profits and losses, to receive distributions, to receive allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit or any similar item or to any other rights to which the transferor was entitled until the transferee becomes a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.1(a).

 

Section 10.2         Admission of Successor General Partner. A successor General Partner approved pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 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 (a) the withdrawal or removal of the predecessor or transferring General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2 or (b) 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 is hereby authorized to and shall, subject to the terms hereof, carry on the business of the members of the Partnership Group without dissolution.

 

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Section 10.3         Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership. To effect the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take all steps necessary or appropriate under the Delaware Act to amend the Register and any other 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.

 

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 General Partner Interest 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) through (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;

 

(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)  if 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)                if the General Partner is a partnership or a limited liability company, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the General Partner;

 

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(C)                if the General Partner is acting in such capacity by virtue of being a trustee of a trust, the termination of the trust;

 

(D)                if the General Partner is a natural person, his or her death or adjudication of incompetency; and

 

(E)                 otherwise upon the termination of the General Partner.

 

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

 

(b)         Withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances: (i) at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 12:00 a.m., Central Time, on December 31, 2026, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners; provided, however, that prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, the withdrawal is approved by Unitholders holding 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 under the Delaware Act or cause any Group Member to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously so treated or taxed); (ii) at any time after 12:00 a.m., Central Time, on December 31, 2026, the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in such notice; (iii) at any time that the General Partner ceases to be the General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(ii) or is removed pursuant to Section 11.2; or (iv) notwithstanding clause (i) of this sentence, at any time that the General Partner voluntarily withdraws by giving at least 90 days’ advance notice of its intention to withdraw to the Limited Partners, such withdrawal to take effect on the date specified in the notice, if at the time such notice is given one Person and its Affiliates (other than the General Partner and its Affiliates) own beneficially or of record or control at least 50% of the Outstanding Units. The withdrawal of the General Partner from the Partnership upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal shall also constitute the withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, if any, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members. If the General Partner gives notice of withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), the holders of a Unit Majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor General Partner. The Person so elected as successor General Partner shall automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. If, prior to the effective date of the General Partner’s withdrawal pursuant to Section 11.1(a)(i), a successor is not selected by the Unitholders as provided herein or the Partnership does not receive a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel, the Partnership shall be dissolved in accordance with Section 12.1, unless the business of the

 

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Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.1 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 10.2.

 

Section 11.2         Removal of the General Partner. The General Partner may be removed if such removal is both (i) for Cause and (ii) approved by the Unitholders holding at least 66 2/3% of the Outstanding Units (including Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) voting as a single class. Any such action by such holders for removal of the General Partner must also provide for the election of a successor General Partner by the Unitholders holding a Unit Majority. Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 10.2. The removal of the General Partner shall also automatically constitute the removal of the General 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 10.2, 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 10.2.

 

Section 11.3         Interest of Departing General Partner and Successor General Partner.

 

(a)         In the event of withdrawal of the General Partner under circumstances where such withdrawal does not violate this Agreement, if the successor General Partner is elected in accordance with the terms of Section 11.1, the Departing General Partner shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal of such Departing General Partner, to require its successor to purchase its General Partner Interest and its or its Affiliates’ general partner interest (or equivalent interest), if any, in the other Group Members (collectively, the “Combined Interest”) in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of such Combined Interest, such amount to be determined and payable as of the effective date of its withdrawal. If the General Partner is removed by the Unitholders pursuant to Section 11.2 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 Section 11.2 (or if the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 12.2 and the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner), such successor shall have the option, exercisable prior to the effective date of the withdrawal or removal of such Departing General Partner (or, in the event the business of the Partnership is continued, prior to the date the business of the Partnership is continued), to purchase the Combined Interest for such fair market value of such Combined Interest. In either event, the Departing General Partner shall be entitled to receive all reimbursements due such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 7.5, including any employee related liabilities (including severance liabilities), incurred in connection with the termination of any employees employed by the Departing General Partner or its Affiliates (other than any Group Member) for the benefit of the Partnership or the other Group Members.

 

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For purposes of this Section 11.3(a), the fair market value of the Combined Interest shall be determined by agreement between the Departing General Partner and its successor or, failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of such Departing General Partner’s withdrawal or removal, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the Departing General Partner and its successor, which, in turn, may rely on other experts, and the determination of which shall be conclusive as to such matter. If such parties cannot agree upon one independent investment banking firm or other independent expert within 45 days after the effective date of such withdrawal or removal, then the Departing General Partner shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, the Departing General Partner’s successor shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, and such firms or experts shall mutually select a third independent investment banking firm or independent expert, which third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert shall determine the fair market value of the Combined Interest. In making its determination, such third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert may consider the then current trading price of Units on any National Securities Exchange on which Units are then listed or admitted to trading, the value of the Partnership’s assets, the rights and obligations of the Departing General Partner and other factors it may deem relevant.

 

(b)         If the Combined Interest is not purchased in the manner set forth in Section 11.3(a), the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) shall become a Limited Partner and its Combined Interest shall be converted into Common Units pursuant to a valuation made by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected pursuant to Section 11.3(a), without reduction in such Partnership Interest (but subject to proportionate dilution by reason of the admission of its successor). Any successor General Partner shall indemnify the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on which the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes of this Agreement, conversion of the Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner to Common Units shall be characterized as if the Departing General Partner (or its transferee) contributed its Combined Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly issued Common Units.

 

Section 11.4         Withdrawal of Limited Partners. No Limited Partner shall have any right to withdraw from the Partnership; provided, however, that when a transferee of a Limited Partner’s Limited Partner Interest becomes a Record Holder of the Limited Partner Interest so transferred, such transferring Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner with respect to the Limited Partner Interest so transferred.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

 

Section 12.1         Dissolution. The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor 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, Section 11.2 or Section 12.2, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and such successor General

 

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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 a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel is received as provided in Section 11.1(b) or Section 11.2 and such successor is admitted to the Partnership pursuant to Section 10.2;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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 Section 11.1(a)(iii) and the failure of the Partners to select a successor to such Departing General Partner pursuant to Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, 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), Section 11.1(a)(v) or Section 11.1(a)(vi), then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a Unit Majority may elect to continue the business of the Partnership on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement by appointing as a successor General Partner a Person approved by the holders of a Unit Majority. Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above, the Partnership shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up its affairs. If such an election is so made, then:

 

(i)                       the Partnership shall continue without dissolution unless earlier dissolved in accordance with this Article XII;

 

(ii)                    if the successor General Partner is not the former General Partner, then the interest of the former General Partner shall be treated in the manner provided in Section 11.3; and

 

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

 

provided, however, that the right of the holders of a Unit Majority to approve a successor General Partner and to continue the business of the Partnership shall not exist and may not be exercised unless the Partnership has received an Opinion of Counsel that (x) the exercise of the right would not result in the loss of limited liability of any Limited Partner under the Delaware Act and (y) neither the Partnership nor any Group Member would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise be taxable as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of such right to continue (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).

 

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Section 12.3         Liquidator. Upon dissolution of the Partnership, in accordance with the provisions of Article XII, 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 the holders of a Unit Majority. The Liquidator (if other than the General Partner) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal approved by the holders of a Unit Majority. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be approved by the holders of a Unit Majority. The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article XII, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the General Partner under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers, other than the limitation on sale set forth in Section 7.4) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership as provided for herein.

 

Section 12.4         Liquidation. The Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the assets of the Partnership, discharge its liabilities and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as determined by the Liquidator, subject to Section 17-804 of the Delaware Act and the following:

 

(a)         The assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more Partners on such terms as the Liquidator and such Partner or Partners may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the Partner receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 12.4(c) to have received cash equal to its Net Agreed Value; and contemporaneously therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Partners. The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Partnership’s assets for a reasonable time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the Partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners. The Liquidator may distribute the Partnership’s assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners.

 

(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 (including cash equivalents) in excess of (x) that required to satisfy or discharge liabilities as provided in Section 12.4(b) and (y) that required to satisfy liquidation preferences of the Series A Preferred Units provided for under Section 6.1(c)(iii) or

 

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Section 5.12(b)(x)(C) 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 period 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 period (or, if later, within 90 days after said date of such occurrence).

 

Section 12.5         Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership. Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership cash and property as provided in Section 12.4 in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership, the Certificate of Limited Partnership and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.

 

Section 12.6         Return of Contributions. The General Partner shall not be personally liable for, and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners or Unitholders, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from assets of the Partnership.

 

Section 12.7         Waiver of Partition. To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of the Partnership property.

 

Section 12.8         Capital Account Restoration. No Limited Partner shall have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon liquidation of the Partnership.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT;
MEETINGS; RECORD DATE

 

Section 13.1         Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the General Partner. Each Partner agrees that the General Partner, without the approval of any other Partner, subject to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B), 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 office of the Partnership, the registered agent of the Partnership or the registered office of the Partnership;

 

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

 

(c)          a change that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue the qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that the Group Members shall not be treated as associations taxable as corporations or otherwise taxed as entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

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(d)         a change that the General Partner determines (i) does not adversely affect the Limited Partners considered as a whole or any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests in any material respect; provided that for purposes of determining whether an amendment satisfies the requirements of this Section 13.1(d), the General Partner may in its sole discretion disregard any adverse effect on any class or classes of Partnership Interests the holders of which have approved such amendment pursuant to Section 13.3(c), (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act) or (B) facilitate the trading of the 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 shall be listed or admitted to trading, (iii) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the General Partner pursuant to Section 5.9 or (iv) is required to effect the intent expressed in the Registration Statement or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(e)          a change in the fiscal year or taxable period of the Partnership and any other changes that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the fiscal year or taxable period 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)          an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization or issuance of any class or series of Partnership Interests or Derivative Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 5.7;

 

(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 or Plan of Conversion approved in accordance with Section 14.3;

 

(j)            an amendment that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for the formation by the Partnership of, or investment by the Partnership in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection with the conduct by the Partnership of activities permitted by the terms of Section 2.4 or Section 7.1(a);

 

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(k)         an amendment to Section 10.1 providing that any transferee of a Limited Partner Interest (including any nominee holder or an agent or representative acquiring such Limited Partner Interest for the account of another Person) shall be deemed to certify that the transferee is not an Ineligible Holder;

 

(l)             a merger, conveyance or conversion pursuant to Section 14.3(c) or Section 14.3(d); or

 

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

 

Section 13.2         Amendment Procedures. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the General Partner. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no obligation or duty to the Partnership or the Limited Partners to propose or approve, and may decline to propose or approve, any amendment to this Agreement in its sole discretion. An amendment to this Agreement shall be effective upon its approval by the General Partner and, except as otherwise provided by Section 13.1 or Section 13.3, the holders of a Unit Majority, unless a greater or different percentage of Outstanding Units 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 or class 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 class of Outstanding Units, as applicable, 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 amendments. The General Partner shall be deemed to have notified all Record Holders as required by this Section 13.2 if it has posted or made accessible such amendment through the Partnership’s or the Commission’s website.

 

Section 13.3         Amendment Requirements.

 

(a)         Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units or percentage of a particular class 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 (i) in the case of any provision of this Agreement other than Section 11.2 or Section 13.4, reducing such percentage or (ii) in the case of Section 11.2 or Section 13.4 increasing such percentages, unless such amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units (or holders of Outstanding Units of such applicable class, as the case may be) whose aggregate Outstanding Units (generally or of such applicable class, as the case may be) constitute (x) in the case of a reduction as described in subclause (a)(i) hereof, not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced, (y) in the case of an increase in the percentage in Section 11.2, not less than 66 2/3% of the Outstanding Units, or (z) in the case of an increase in the percentage in Section 13.4, not less than a majority of the Outstanding Units.

 

(b)         Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.1 and Section 13.2, no amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Limited Partner without its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 13.3(c) or (ii) enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce

 

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in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable to, the General Partner or any of its Affiliates without its consent, which consent may be given or withheld at its option.

 

(c)          Except as provided in Section 14.3, and without limitation of the General Partner’s authority to adopt amendments to this Agreement without the approval of any Partners 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 that such amendment shall not affect the limited liability of any Limited Partner under applicable partnership law of the state under whose laws the Partnership is organized.

 

(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 specific purposes for which the special meeting is to be called and the class or classes of Units for which the meeting is proposed. No business may be brought by any Limited Partner before such special meeting except the business listed in the related request. 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 or cause to be sent 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 time notice of the meeting is given as provided in Section 16.1. Limited Partners shall not be permitted to 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. If any such vote were to take place, to the fullest extent permitted by law, it shall be deemed null and void to the extent necessary so as not 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

 

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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 who are Record Holders of the class or classes of Limited Partner Interests 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 shall 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 or admitted to trading or U.S. federal securities laws, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange or U.S. federal securities laws shall govern) or (b) in the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which such Limited Partners are requested in writing by the General Partner to give such approvals. If the General Partner does not set a Record Date, then (a) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Limited Partners shall be the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, and (b) the Record Date for determining the Limited Partners entitled to give approvals without a meeting shall be the date the first written approval is deposited with the Partnership in care of the General Partner in accordance with Section 13.11.

 

Section 13.7         Postponement and Adjournment. Prior to the date upon which any meeting of Limited Partners is to be held, the General Partner may postpone such meeting one or more times for any reason by giving notice to each Limited Partner entitled to vote at the meeting so postponed of the place, date and hour at which such meeting would be held. Such notice shall be given not fewer than two days before the date of such meeting and otherwise in accordance with this Article XIII. When a meeting is postponed, a new Record Date need not be fixed unless the aggregate amount of such postponement shall be for more than 45 days after the original meeting date. Any meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned by the General Partner one or more times for any reason, including the failure of a quorum to be present at the meeting with respect to any proposal or the failure of any proposal to receive sufficient votes for approval. No vote of the Limited Partners shall be required for any adjournment. A meeting of Limited Partners may be adjourned by the General Partner as to one or more proposals regardless of whether action has been taken on other matters. 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 transaction of business at 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 call and notice in accordance with Section 13.4 and Section 13.5, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully

 

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called or convened; and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove of any matters submitted for consideration or to object to the failure to submit for consideration any matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if such objection is expressly made at the beginning of the meeting.

 

Section 13.9         Quorum and Voting. The presence, in person or by proxy, of 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 and its Affiliates) 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 the 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 at such meeting shall be deemed to constitute the act of all Limited Partners, unless a 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 different percentage or the act of the Limited Partners holding the requisite percentage of the necessary class, as applicable, shall be required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the restrictions in the definition of “Outstanding” that apply to Persons that beneficially own 20% or more of any class of Partnership Interests shall not restrict a Series A Preferred Unitholder from voting all, and being deemed present with respect to all, of his, her or its Series A Preferred Units on any matter, including, as applicable, on an as-converted basis with the holders of Common Units. 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 exit 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 or the act of the Limited Partners holding the requisite percentage of the necessary class, as applicable, specified in this Agreement.

 

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 submission and 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

 

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than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Units (including Units deemed owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates) 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 or admitted to trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such National Securities Exchange shall govern). Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Limited Partners who have not approved in writing. The General Partner may specify that any written ballot submitted to Limited Partners for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Partnership within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the General Partner. If a ballot returned to the Partnership does not vote all of the Outstanding Units held by such Limited Partners, the Partnership shall be deemed to have failed to receive a ballot for the Outstanding Units that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any permitted 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) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed 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 first 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) shall 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.

 

Section 13.12                                    Right to Vote and Related Matters.

 

(a)         Only those Record Holders of the Outstanding Units on the Record Date set pursuant to Section 13.6 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 that is the Record Holder (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), such Record Holder 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 in accordance with the direction of, the Person who is the beneficial owner of such Units, and the Partnership shall be entitled to assume such Record Holder is so acting without further inquiry. The provisions of this Section 13.12(b) (as well as all other provisions of this Agreement) are subject to the provisions of Section 4.3.

 

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ARTICLE XIV

 

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION

 

Section 14.1         Authority. The Partnership may merge or consolidate with or into one or more corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership)) or convert into any such entity, whether such entity is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States of America or any other country, pursuant to a written plan of merger or consolidation (“Merger Agreement”) or a written plan of conversion (“Plan of Conversion”), as the case may be, in accordance with this Article XIV.

 

Section 14.2         Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.

 

(a)         Merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership pursuant to this Article XIV requires the prior consent of the General Partner; provided, however, that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership and may decline to do so free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and, in declining to consent to a merger, consolidation or conversion, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Securities Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity, and the General Partner in determining whether to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion of the Partnership shall be permitted to do so in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

(b)         If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the merger or consolidation, the General Partner shall approve the Merger Agreement, which shall set forth:

 

(i)                       the name and state or country of domicile of each of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;

 

(ii)                    the name and state of domicile of the business entity that is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation (the “Surviving Business Entity”);

 

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

 

(iv)                the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (A) 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 interests, rights, securities or obligations of any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such general or limited partner interests, securities or rights are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion of their interests, securities or rights, and (B) in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such

 

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certificates, which cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered;

 

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

 

(vi)                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, however, that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of merger and stated therein); and

 

(vii)             such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

(c)          If the General Partner shall determine to consent to the conversion, the General Partner shall approve the Plan of Conversion, which shall set forth:

 

(i)                       the name of the converting entity and the converted entity;

 

(ii)                    a statement that the Partnership is continuing its existence in the organizational form of the converted entity;

 

(iii)                 a statement as to the type of entity that the converted entity is to be and the state or country under the laws of which the converted entity is to be incorporated, formed or organized;

 

(iv)                the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the converted entity;

 

(v)                   in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership of the Partnership;

 

(vi)                in an attachment or exhibit, the certificate of limited partnership, articles of incorporation, or other organizational documents of the converted entity;

 

(vii)             the effective time of the conversion, which may be the date of the filing of the articles of conversion or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Plan of Conversion (provided, however, that if the effective time of the conversion is to be later than the date of the filing of such articles of conversion, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such articles of conversion and stated therein); and

 

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(viii)          such other provisions with respect to the proposed conversion that the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

Section 14.3         Approval by Limited Partners.

 

(a)         Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e), the General Partner, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall direct that the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as applicable, 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 or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent and, subject to any applicable requirements of Regulation 14A pursuant to the Exchange Act or successor provision, no other disclosure regarding the proposed merger, consolidation or conversion shall be required.

 

(b)         Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e), the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a Unit Majority unless the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, effects an amendment to any provision of this Agreement that, if contained in an amendment to this Agreement adopted pursuant to Article XIII, 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 or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.

 

(c)          Except as provided in Section 14.3(d) and Section 14.3(e), after such approval by vote or consent of the Limited Partners, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger or articles of conversion pursuant to Section 14.4, the merger, consolidation or conversion may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.

 

(d)         Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV or in this Agreement, but subject to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B), the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to convert the Partnership or any Group Member into a new limited liability entity, to merge the Partnership or any Group Member into, or convey all of the Partnership’s assets to, another limited liability entity that shall be newly formed and shall have no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of such merger, conveyance or conversion 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, conveyance or conversion, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of limited liability under the laws of the jurisdiction governing the other limited liability entity (if that jurisdiction is not Delaware) of any Limited Partner as compared to its limited liability under the Delaware Act or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the sole purpose of such merger, conveyance or conversion is to effect a mere change in the legal form of the Partnership into another limited liability entity and (iii) the General Partner determines that the governing instruments of the new entity provide the Limited Partners and the General Partner with substantially the same rights and obligations as are herein contained.

 

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(e)          Additionally, notwithstanding anything else contained in this Article XIV, but subject to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B), or in this Agreement, the General Partner is permitted, without Limited Partner approval, to merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into another limited liability entity if (i) the General Partner has received an Opinion of Counsel that the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any Limited Partner under the laws of the jurisdiction governing the other limited liability entity (if that jurisdiction is not Delaware) as compared to its limited liability under the Delaware Act or cause the Partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (ii) the merger or consolidation would not result in an amendment to this Agreement, other than any amendments that could be adopted pursuant to Section 13.1, (iii) the Partnership is the Surviving Business Entity in such merger or consolidation, (iv) each Unit outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation is to be an identical Partnership Interest of the Partnership after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, and (v) the number of Partnership Interests to be issued by the Partnership in such merger or consolidation does not exceed 20% of the Partnership Interests Outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of such merger or consolidation.

 

(f)           Pursuant to Section 17-211(g) of the Delaware Act, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this Article XIV may (i) effect any amendment to this Agreement or (ii) effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for the Partnership if it is the Surviving Business Entity. Any such amendment or adoption made pursuant to this Section 14.3 shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.

 

Section 14.4         Certificate of Merger or Certificate of Conversion. Upon the required approval by the General Partner and the Unitholders of a Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, a certificate of merger or certificate of conversion or other filing, as applicable, shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or the appropriate filing office of any other jurisdiction, as applicable, in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act or other applicable law.

 

Section 14.5         Effect of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.

 

(a)         At the effective time of the 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;

 

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(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)         At the effective time of the conversion:

 

(i)                       the Partnership shall continue to exist, without interruption, but in the organizational form of the converted entity rather than in its prior organizational form;

 

(ii)                    all rights, title, and interests to all real estate and other property owned by the Partnership shall continue to be owned by the converted entity in its new organizational form without reversion or impairment, without further act or deed, and without any transfer or assignment having occurred, but subject to any existing liens or other encumbrances thereon;

 

(iii)                 all liabilities and obligations of the Partnership shall continue to be liabilities and obligations of the converted entity in its new organizational form without impairment or diminution by reason of the conversion;

 

(iv)                all rights of creditors or other parties with respect to or against the prior interest holders or other owners of the Partnership in their capacities as such in existence as of the effective time of the conversion shall continue in existence as to those liabilities and obligations and may be pursued by such creditors and obligees as if the conversion did not occur;

 

(v)                   a proceeding pending by or against the Partnership or by or against any of Partners in their capacities as such may be continued by or against the converted entity in its new organizational form and by or against the prior Partners without any need for substitution of parties; and

 

(vi)                the Partnership Interests that are to be converted into partnership interests, shares, evidences of ownership, or other securities in the converted entity as provided in the plan of conversion shall be so converted, and Partners shall be entitled only to the rights provided in the Plan of Conversion.

 

ARTICLE XV

 

RIGHT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

 

Section 15.1         Right to Acquire Limited Partner Interests.

 

(a)         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if at any time the General Partner and its Affiliates hold more than 80% of the total Limited Partner Interests of any class then Outstanding, the General Partner shall then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to the Partnership or any Affiliate of the General Partner, exercisable at its option, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such Limited Partner Interests of such class then

 

106



 

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 Business 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.

 

(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 applicable Transfer Agent or exchange agent notice of such election to purchase (the “Notice of Election to Purchase”) and shall cause the Transfer Agent or exchange 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), together with such information as may be required by law, rule or regulation, at least 10, but not more than 60, days prior to the Purchase Date.  Such Notice of Election to Purchase shall also be filed and distributed as may be required by the Commission or any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed.  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 shall 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 the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, or instructions agreeing to such redemption in exchange for payment, at such office or offices of the Transfer Agent or exchange agent as the Transfer Agent or exchange agent, as applicable, may specify, or as may be required by any National Securities Exchange on which such Limited Partner Interests are listed. Any such Notice of Election to Purchase mailed to a Record Holder of Limited Partner Interests at his, her or its address as reflected in the Register 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 or exchange 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 or redemption instructions shall not have been surrendered for purchase or provided, respectively, all rights of the holders of such Limited Partner Interests (including any rights pursuant to Article IV, Article V, Article VI, and Article 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 or the exchange agent of the Certificates representing such Limited Partner Interests, in the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, or instructions agreeing to such redemption, 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, in the Register, 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 Record Holder of all such Limited Partner Interests from and after the Purchase Date and shall have all rights as the Record Holder of such Limited Partner Interests (including

 

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all rights as owner of such Limited Partner Interests pursuant to Article IV, Article V, Article VI and Article XII).

 

(c)          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the terms of Article XV of this Agreement shall not apply so long as the Series A Preferred Units are Outstanding.

 

(d)         In the case of Limited Partner Interests evidenced by Certificates, 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, her or its Certificate evidencing such Limited Partner Interest to the Transfer Agent or exchange agent in exchange for payment of the amount described in Section 15.1(a), therefor, without interest thereon, in accordance with procedures set forth by the General Partner.

 

ARTICLE XVI

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 16.1         Addresses and Notices; Written Communications.

 

(a)         Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the Partner at the address described below. Except as otherwise provided herein, any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Partner hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such Partnership Interests at his, her or its address as shown in the Register, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such Partnership Interests by reason of any assignment or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) a Partner shall consent to receiving notices, demands, requests, reports or proxy materials via electronic mail or by the Internet or (ii) the rules of the Commission shall permit any report or proxy materials to be delivered electronically or made available via the Internet, any such notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials shall be deemed given or made when delivered or made available via such mode of delivery.  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 in the Register 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, her or its address) if they are available for the Partner at the principal office of the Partnership for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report to the other Partners. 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

 

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may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Partner or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.

 

(b)         The terms “in writing,” “written communications,” “written notice” and words of similar import shall be deemed satisfied under this Agreement by use of e-mail and other forms of electronic communication.

 

Section 16.2         Further Action. The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 16.3         Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

 

Section 16.4         Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.

 

Section 16.5         Creditors. None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership.

 

Section 16.6         Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

 

Section 16.7         Third-Party Beneficiaries. Each Partner agrees that (a) any Indemnitee shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Indemnitee and (b) any Unrestricted Person shall be entitled to assert rights and remedies hereunder as a third-party beneficiary hereto with respect to those provisions of this Agreement affording a right, benefit or privilege to such Unrestricted Person.

 

Section 16.8         Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto or, in the case of a Person acquiring a Limited Partner Interest, pursuant to Section 10.1(a) without execution hereof.

 

Section 16.9         Applicable Law; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury.

 

(a)         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.

 

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(b)         Each of the Partners and each Person or Group holding any beneficial interest in the Partnership (whether through a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing or otherwise):

 

(i)                       irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings (A) arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce the provisions of this Agreement or the duties, obligations or liabilities among Partners or of Partners to the Partnership, or the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, the Partners or the Partnership), (B) brought in a derivative manner on behalf of the Partnership, (C) asserting a claim of breach of a duty (including a fiduciary duty) owed by any director, officer, or other employee of the Partnership or the General Partner, or owed by the General Partner, to the Partnership or the Partners, (D) asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Act or (E) asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, any other court located in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction), in each case regardless of whether such claims, suits, actions or proceedings sound in contract, tort, fraud or otherwise, are based on common law, statutory, equitable, legal or other grounds, or are derivative or direct claims;

 

(ii)                    irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding;

 

(iii)                 agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding that (A) it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such courts or of any other court to which proceedings in such courts may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is improper;

 

(iv)                expressly waives any requirement for the posting of a bond by a party bringing such claim, suit, action or proceeding;

 

(v)                   consents to process being served in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding by mailing, certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices hereunder, and agrees that such services shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof; provided, however, nothing in this clause (v) shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law; and

 

(vi)                IRREVOCABLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUCH CLAIM, SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.

 

Section 16.10                                    Invalidity of Provisions. If any provision or part of a provision of this Agreement is or becomes for any reason, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions and/or parts thereof contained herein shall not be affected thereby, and this Agreement shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reformed and construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision, or part of a provision, had never been contained herein, and such provisions and/or parts shall be reformed so that it would be valid, legal and enforceable to the maximum extent possible.

 

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Section 16.11                                    Consent of Partners. Each Partner hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or consent of less than all of the Partners, such action may be so taken upon the concurrence of less than all of the Partners and each Partner shall be bound by the results of such action.

 

Section 16.12                                    Facsimile and Email Signatures. The use of facsimile signatures and signatures delivered by email in portable document format (.pdf) or similar format affixed in the name and on behalf of the Transfer Agent of the Partnership on certificates representing Common Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.

 

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

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

 

 

GENERAL PARTNER:

 

 

 

KIMBELL ROYALTY GP, LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. Davis Ravnaas

 

Name:

R. Davis Ravnaas

 

Title:

President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated

Agreement of Limited Partnership of Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP

 



 

EXHIBIT A

to the Second Amended and Restated

Agreement of Limited Partnership of

Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP

 

Certificate Evidencing Common Units

Representing Limited Partner Interests in

Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP

 

No.

Common Units

 

In accordance with Section 4.1 of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the “Partnership Agreement”), Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), hereby certifies that                      (the “Holder”) is the registered owner of             Common Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the “Common Units”) transferable on the books of the Partnership, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. The rights, preferences and limitations of the Common Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Common Units represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Partnership Agreement. Copies of the Partnership Agreement are on file at, and shall be furnished without charge on delivery of written request to the Partnership at, the principal offices of the Partnership located at 777 Taylor Street, Suite 810, Fort Worth, Texas 76102. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Partnership Agreement.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF KIMBELL ROYALTY PARTNERS, LP THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IF SUCH TRANSFER (AS DEFINED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT) WOULD (A) VIOLATE THE THEN APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY WITH JURISDICTION OVER SUCH TRANSFER, (B) TERMINATE THE EXISTENCE OR QUALIFICATION OF KIMBELL ROYALTY PARTNERS, LP UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR (C) CAUSE KIMBELL ROYALTY PARTNERS, LP TO BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATION TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE TO BE TAXED AS AN ENTITY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES (TO THE EXTENT NOT ALREADY SO TREATED OR TAXED). KIMBELL ROYALTY GP, LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF KIMBELL ROYALTY PARTNERS, LP, MAY IMPOSE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IF IT DETERMINES, WITH THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL, THAT SUCH RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO (A) AVOID A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF KIMBELL ROYALTY PARTNERS, LP BECOMING TAXABLE AS A CORPORATION OR OTHERWISE BECOMING TAXABLE AS AN ENTITY FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES OR (B) PRESERVE THE UNIFORMITY OF LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS (AS

 

A-1



 

DEFINED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT). THIS SECURITY MAY BE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON ITS TRANSFER PROVIDED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. COPIES OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS SECURITY TO THE SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL PARTNER AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICES OF THE PARTNERSHIP. THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY ENTERED INTO THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY IS LISTED OR ADMITTED TO TRADING.

 

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 and (iii) made the waivers and given the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement.

 

This Certificate shall not be valid for any purpose unless it has been countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar. This Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

Dated:

 

 

 

KIMBELL ROYALTY PARTNERS, LP

 

 

 

 

 

Countersigned and Registered by:

 

 

By:

KIMBELL ROYALTY GP, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

As Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

A-2



 

[Reverse of Certificate]

 

ABBREVIATIONS

 

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

 

TEN COM — as tenants in common

 

UNIF GIFT/TRANSFERS MIN ACT

TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties

 

_____________ Custodian _____________

JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

 

(Cust)                                  (Minor)

 

Under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to CD Minors Act (State)

 

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

 

ASSIGNMENT OF COMMON UNITS OF
KIMBELL ROYALTY PARTNERS, LP

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED,                  hereby assigns, conveys, sells and transfers unto

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address of assignee)

(Please insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee)

 

                          Common Units representing limited partner interests evidenced by this Certificate, subject to the Partnership Agreement, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint                          as its attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution to transfer the same on the books of Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP.

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

NOTE: The signature to any endorsement hereon must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Certificate in every particular. without alteration, enlargement or change.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15

 

 

 

(Signature)

 

 

 

 

 

(Signature)

 

 

 

A-3



 

No transfer of the Common Units evidenced hereby shall be registered on the books of the Partnership, unless the Certificate evidencing the Common Units to be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer.

 

A-4