-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, GPQQSox1H9qJk9f6huVNT4QDXIkhjXPC+UczTHTVRd+KHHeH4wQZ1Vau8sYURdzb Wg4RhHMRti9Z/JOS1nEb7Q== 0001037956-09-000006.txt : 20091117 0001037956-09-000006.hdr.sgml : 20091117 20090618170221 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001037956-09-000006 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: PRRN14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 FILED AS OF DATE: 20090618 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20090811 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CONCORD MILESTONE PLUS L P CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000808460 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: LESSORS OF REAL PROPERTY, NEC [6519] IRS NUMBER: 521494615 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: PRRN14A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-16757 FILM NUMBER: 09899260 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 200 CONGRESS PARK DRIVE STREET 2: SUITE 205 CITY: DELRAY BEACH STATE: FL ZIP: 33445 BUSINESS PHONE: 561-394-9260 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 200 CONGRESS PARK DRIVE STREET 2: SUITE 205 CITY: DELRAY BEACH STATE: FL ZIP: 33445 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: EVEREST PROPERTIES LLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001037956 IRS NUMBER: 954576844 STATE OF INCORPORATION: CA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: PRRN14A BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 199 S. LOS ROBLES AVE STREET 2: SUITE 200 CITY: PASADENA STATE: CA ZIP: 91101 BUSINESS PHONE: 626-585-5920 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 199 S. LOS ROBLES AVE STREET 2: SUITE 200 CITY: PASADENA STATE: CA ZIP: 91101 PRRN14A 1 concord_prrn14a061809.htm REVISED PRELIMINARY PROXY

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

(Rule 14a-101)

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) Securities

Exchange Act of 1934

 

Filed by the Registrant

/  /

Filed by a party other than the Registrant

/X/

 

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

/X/

Preliminary Consent Solicitation Statement

/  /

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only

(as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

/  /

Definitive Consent Solicitation Statement

/  /

Definitive Additional Materials

/  /

Soliciting material pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-12

 

CONCORD MILESTONE PLUS, L.P.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Everest Properties, LLC

Everest Management, LLC

                (Name of Person(s) Filing Consent Solicitation Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

/X/

No fee required

/  /

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

 

(1)

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

(2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transactions applies:

 

(3)

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined.)

 

(4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

(5)

Total Fee paid:

/  /

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials

/  /

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

(1)

Amount previously paid:

 

(2)

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

(3)

Filing party:

 


 

(4)

Date filed:

 


[PRELIMINARY COPY]

Everest Properties, LLC

Everest Management, LLC

199 S. Los Robles Ave., Suite 200

Pasadena, California 91101

 

June ___, 2009

Dear Unit Holder in

Concord Milestone Plus, L.P.

 

Enclosed is a Solicitation of Consents seeking the approval by written consent (the “Consents”) of the holders of Limited Partnership Interests and Beneficial Interests (the “Unit Holders”) of Concord Milestone Plus, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), to remove the current general partner, CM Plus Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“CM”) that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Milestone Properties, Inc. (collectively, “Milestone”), and to replace Milestone with a new general partner: Millenium Management, LLC (“Millenium”), a California limited liability company owned by Everest Properties, LLC. Everest Properties, LLC and Everest Management, LLC (collectively, “Everest”) hold approximately 11.3% of the Partnership’s Class A Units, and therefore Everest has a significant stake in seeing the Partnership provide the maximum distributions possible to all Unit Holders. Milestone holds virtually no Units, but collects significant management and administrative fees from the Partnership each year, and therefore Milestone’s interests are not aligned with the Unit Holders’ interests.

 

 

Everest is soliciting the Consents to remove and replace the current general partner because:

 

•   MILLENIUM WOULD MARKET EACH PROPERTY FOR SALE IMMEDIATELY. Prices for retail property such as the Partnership’s rose steadily and significantly from 2001 to its peak in 2007, but the current general partner failed to sell the Partnership’s two remaining retail properties during that time. The current general partner failed to take advantage of the historically high prices that were recently available for real estate. We believe that Milestone squandered the opportunity to liquidate during a strong market because it is more concerned with preserving its management fees than with serving the best interests of the Unit Holders. This Partnership has been around over 20 years!

 

IT APPEARS THAT MILESTONE INTENDS TO HAVE THE PARTNERSHIP HOLD ITS ASSETS FOR THE VERY LONG TERM, RATHER THAN LIQUIDATE THE ASSETS AND DISTRIBUTE PROCEEDS TO UNIT HOLDERS. In 2007, the Partnership sold one of its assets and, rather than distribute over $7 Million of available cash to Unit Holders and sell the other properties, Milestone had the Partnership use that cash to pay off the mortgages on its other assets, so now the Partnership’s properties carry no mortgage debt. That decision only makes sense when you intend to hold onto the property for a very long time.

 

THE CURRENT GENERAL PARTNER HAS A MAJOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST REGARDING THE LIQUIDATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP – IT IS IN MILESTONE’S FINANCIAL INTEREST TO KEEP COLLECTING FEES FROM THE PARTNERSHIP. If the Partnership liquidates, the general partner receives only 1% of the net proceeds, and will no longer be able to get the management fees and administrative charges that it collects from the Partnership every year. Those amounts were $193,165 in 2008, and $215,900 in 2007. So even if the Partnership’s assets could be sold for $15 Million (a price which Everest believes would be extremely high and unlikely in the current market for shopping centers), Milestone would only get $150,000 from that sale, which is much less than Milestone collects from the Partnership each and

 


every year. Milestone has no incentive to liquidate the Partnership and has every incentive to keep the Partnership around year after year, so that Milestone can collect substantial fees every year.

 

MILLENIUM, AS THE NEW GENERAL PARTNER, WILL AVOID THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT MILESTONE HAS BY USING INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL PROPERTY MANAGERS AND BECAUSE MILLENIUM’S OWNER HAS A STAKE AS AN INVESTOR. Millenium and the other Everest affiliates are the asset managers of a broad, national portfolio of investment properties; they have a significant equity investment in every property under their management, and they engage independent property managers to manage their properties, so they do not rely on property management fees for their income.

•    MILESTONE HAS NO MEANINGFUL STAKE IN THE PARTNERSHIP AS AN INVESTOR –MILESTONE’S PRINCIPAL BUSINESS APPEARS TO BE MANAGING PROPERTIES FOR THE FEES. According to its website, Milestone has been in the property management business for over 20 years, and manages 28 shopping centers. While Milestone also states that it wants to acquire and own shopping centers, it has no meaningful stake in the Partnership., according to its website. Millenium’s owner, Everest, has a significant investment in the Partnership. Millenium will devote the necessary resources and attention to properly manage the partnership and will be aligned with the interests of the Unit Holders. Millenium’s owner has one of the largest investment positions in the Partnership and therefore Millenium can be expected to pay greater attention to managing the Partnership diligently and disposing of its assets in order to maximize returns to the Unit Holders.

 

MILLENIUM WOULD REVIEW ALL AMOUNTS PAID TO THE CURRENT GENERAL PARTNER AND ITS AFFILIATES TO DETERMINE IF ANY MONEY HAS BEEN TAKEN IMPROPERLY. Millenium intends to review all fees, reimbursements and expense accruals, and will also review all payments between the Partnership and the general partner. Millenium believes, based on its own experience as an asset manager of commercial properties, including shopping centers, that the management and administrative fees charged by Milestone are significantly higher than Millenium would expect for the Partnership’s properties. If Millenium determines that any amounts have been paid improperly, then it intends to bring the appropriate claims to recover such amounts and for any resulting damages.

 

MILLENIUM’S PERSONNEL HAVE SUBSTANTIAL EXPERIENCE IN MANAGING COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. The personnel who would manage the Partnership have substantial experience as asset managers for shopping center properties and many other commercial properties.

 

We urge you to carefully read the enclosed Consent Solicitation Statement and to vote. Your vote is important. Failure to vote, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as a vote against the Proposal. To be sure your vote is represented, please sign, date and return the enclosed GREEN Consent form as promptly as possible in the enclosed, prepaid envelope. If you have any questions, please contact Everest at: (800) 611-4613

 

 

Very Truly Yours,

 

 

 

EVEREST PROPERTIES, LLC

 

EVEREST MANAGEMENT, LLC

 


SOLICITATION OF CONSENTS

of

UNIT HOLDERS

of

Concord Milestone Plus, L.P.

by

Everest Properties, LLC and Everest Management, LLC,

eacha California limited liability company

 

June ___, 2009

 

CONSENT SOLICITATION STATEMENT

 

Everest Properties, LLC and Everest Management, LLC, each a California limited liability company (collectively, “Everest”) is seeking the approval by written consent (the “Consents”) of the holders of Limited Partnership Interests and Beneficial Interests (the “Unit Holders”) of Concord Milestone Plus, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), to remove the current general partner and replace it with Millenium Management, LLC (“Millenium”), a California limited liability company, as the successor general partner of the Partnership. Millenium is wholly-owned by Everest.

 

Upon removal of the current general partner of the Partnership pursuant to this solicitation of Consents, Everest intends for Millenium to continue the partnership in accordance with Section 12.5 of the Partnership’s Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”). At such time, the current general partner shall become a special limited partner of the Partnership with no right to participate in the affairs of the Partnership, but retaining the economic rights that it held as a general partner. The Partnership would also have the option, but not the obligation, to purchase the general partner’s interest in the Partnership for a price equal to its fair market value, as determined pursuant to Section 12.4 of the Partnership Agreement.

 

This Consent Solicitation Statement and the accompanying GREEN Consent form are first being mailed to Unit Holders on or about June __, 2009. Unit Holders who are record owners of Limited Partnership Interests or Beneficial Interests, as defined in the Partnership Agreement, may execute and deliver a Consent.

 

Unit Holders are advised to read this entire Consent Solicitation Statement carefully and to consult with their investment and tax advisors before making a decision whether or not to consent. Please note that Everest can give no assurance that Unit Holder value will be increased by the election of Millenium as the successor general partner, although it is likely that Unit Holders will receive liquidating distributions much sooner than would occur if the current general partner remains.

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. Failure to vote will have the same effect as a vote against the Proposal.

 

The Consents are solicited upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Consent Solicitation Statement and the accompanying form of Consent. The Partnership Agreement provides that the removal of the current general partner and replacing it with Millenium as the successor general partner requires the consent of the record holders of a majority of the Class A Limited Partnership Interests (including Assigned Limited Partnership Interests, which are voted by the beneficial holders of Class A

 

 


Interests), and a majority of the Class B Limited Partnership Interests (including Assigned Limited Partnership Interests, which are voted by the beneficial holders of Class B Interests) (the “Required Consents”). If Everest receives the Required Consents, Everest will, or will cause Millenium to, complete the necessary requirements for Millenium to become the successor general partner, as provided in the Partnership Agreement and Delaware law, continue the Partnership and send written notice of all actions taken as a result of the Consents of the Unit Holders.

THIS SOLICITATION IS BEING MADE BY EVEREST AND NOT ON BEHALF OF THE PARTNERSHIP. CONSENTS SHOULD BE DELIVERED IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE PAID ENVELOPE TO EVEREST. PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR CONSENT TO THE PARTNERSHIP – EVEREST WILL DELIVER CONSENTS TO THE PARTNERSHIP.

 

 

YOUR CONSENT IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE VOTE TODAY!

 

THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL.

 

THIS SOLICITATION OF CONSENTS EXPIRES NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. PACIFIC TIME ON ____________ ___, 2009, UNLESS EXTENDED.

 

 

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PROPOSAL AND SUPPORTING STATEMENT

 

   The Unit Holders are being asked to approve by written consent the following proposal (the “Proposal”): the removal of the current general partner, which the Partnership’s most recent 10-K indicates is CM Plus Corporation, a Delaware corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Milestone Properties, Inc. (collectively, “Milestone”), and replacing the current general partner with Millenium Management, LLC (“Millenium”) as the successor general partner of the Partnership.

 

Why remove the current general partner?

 

Everest holds a substantial investment in the Partnership (about 11.3% of the Class A Units and 8.1% of the Class B Units), and has closely monitored how the Partnership has been managed. Everest believes that the current general partner has not been managing the Partnership in the best interest of the Unit Holders.

 

The current general partner failed to take advantage of the high prices that were recently available for real estate. Prices for retail property such as the Partnership’s rose steadily and significantly from 2001 to its peak in 2007, but the current general partner failed to sell the Partnership’s two remaining retail properties during that time. We believe that Milestone squandered the opportunity to liquidate during a strong market because it is more concerned with preserving its management fees than with serving the best interests of the Unit Holders. After more than 20 years of existence, the Partnership should have been liquidated.

 

The Partnership is holding over $1 Million in cash or cash equivalents, according to its last Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. In 2007 the general partner used the proceeds from the Partnership’s sale of the Green Valley Property to pay off the mortgages on the remaining two shopping center properties it owns. The current general partner has offered no explanation for why the Partnership did not distribute the net proceeds of over $7 Million. Unit Holders received taxable income from the sale of the Green Valley shopping center property but the general partner did not make cash distributions to Unit Holders in an amount sufficient to pay for these taxes. Everest believes the current general partner paid off the mortgages on the two properties because it is planning for the Partnership to hold the properties for a very long time so that Milestone can continue to collect fees for managing these properties and collect reimbursements for salaries and expenses it allocates to the Partnership.

 

If the Partnership liquidates, the general partner receives only 1% of the net proceeds, and will no longer be able to get the management and administrative fees that it collects from the Partnership every year. Those fees were $193,165 in 2008, and $215,900 in 2007. In the current real estate market, Everest believes it would be extremely unlikely that the Partnership could sell its remaining two properties for as high as $15 Million, which would represent a capitalization rate that is not supported by recent market data. But even if the Partnership’s assets could be sold for the high price of $15 Million, Milestone would only get one percent, or $150,000, from that sale, which is much less than Milestone collects from the Partnership each and every year. Milestone has no incentive to liquidate the Partnership and has every incentive to keep the Partnership around year after year, so that Milestone can collect those fees every year.

 

Why should Unit Holders expect Millenium to do better?

 

MILLENIUM WILL LIQUIDATE THE PARTNERSHIP’S REMAINING ASSETS AND DISTRIBUTE AS MUCH CASH AS POSSIBLE. Milestone has a conflict in interest regarding a

 

3

 


liquidation of the assets. Millenium will avoid the conflict of interest that Milestone has by using independent professional property managers and because Millenium’s owner has a stake in the Partnership as an investor. Millenium and the other Everest affiliates are the asset managers of a broad, national portfolio of investment properties, they have a significant equity investment in every property under their management, and they engage independent property managers to manage their properties, so they do not relying on property management fees for their income. Milestone, however, is a property manager that has no meaningful investment in the Partnership – Milestone’s business is to manage properties to collect management fees. Selling the Partnership’s properties would reduce Milestone’s management fee revenue, so it is in Milestone’s financial interest to hold the properties indefinitely.

 

MILLENIUM’S INTERESTS WILL BE BETTER ALIGNED WITH THE INTERESTS OF THE UNIT HOLDERS. Millenium’s owner, Everest, has one of the largest investment positions in the Partnership, and therefore Millenium can be expected to pay greater attention to managing the Partnership diligently and disposing of its assets promptly in order to maximize returns to the Unit Holders, since, as a Unit Holder with a significant investment at stake, Everest’s interests are aligned with the interests of the other Unit Holders.

 

MILLENIUM WOULD REVIEW ALL AMOUNTS PAID TO THE CURRENT GENERAL PARTNER AND ITS AFFILIATES. Millenium believes, based on its own experience as an asset manager of commercial properties, including shopping centers, that the management and administrative fees charged by Milestone are significantly higher than Millenium would expect for the Partnership’s properties. Millenium would review all fees, reimbursements and expense accruals, and will also review all payments between the Partnership and the general partner. If Millenium determines that any amounts have been paid improperly, then it intends to bring the appropriate claims to recover such amounts and for any resulting damages.

 

MILLENIUM’S PERSONNEL HAVE SUBSTANTIAL EXPERIENCE IN MANAGING COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. The personnel who would manage the Partnership have substantial experience as asset managers for shopping center properties and many other commercial properties. Millenium and the other Everest affiliates have a significant equity stake in every property under their management, which would also be true for the Partnership if the Unit Holders approve Millenium to replace the current general partner.

 

What other factors should be considered?

 

Everest cannot give any assurances that Unit Holder value will be increased by the election of Millenium as the successor general partner. However, Everest is confident that Millenium will do a much better job of managing and promptly liquidating the Partnership in the best interests of the Unit Holders.

 

Forward-Looking Statements. This Consent Solicitation Statement contains forward-looking statements. When used in this Consent Solicitation Statement, the words “may” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements; however, not all forward-looking statements will contain such expressions. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results or events in the future could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements as a result of difficulty in disposing of the Partnership’s assets, fluctuations in the market value of the properties in which the Partnership has invested, general economic conditions and other factors set forth in this Consent Solicitation Statement. Also, there may be additional factors that are not identified here but that may

 

4

 


affect actual results or events in the future to differ materially from the results and events described in this Consent Solicitation Statement.

 

Admission of Successor General Partner

 

If the Required Consents are obtained to remove the current general partner and replace it with Millenium as the successor general partner, such action takes effect on the date that Everest determines the Required Consents are received, at which time Everest will immediately notify the current general partner. The current general partner will not retain any of the rights, powers or authority accruing to the general partner following its removal as general partner; provided, however, that it will become a special limited partner of the Partnership and retain the rights that it held as a general partner to a share of Profits, Losses, Gains and other allocations and distributions. The Partnership would also have the option, but not the obligation, to purchase the general partner’s interest in the Partnership for a price equal to its fair market value, as determined pursuant to Section 12.4 of the Partnership Agreement. Millenium would have the power to determine whether or not the Partnership would exercise such right to purchase the general partner’s interest. If Everest receives the Required Consents, Everest will, or will cause Millenium to, execute any amendment to the Partnership Agreement or the Partnership’s certificate of limited partnership required in order to implement the succession by Millenium as the general partner of the Partnership.

 

Millenium, as the successor general partner, would NOT be entitled to any share of Profits, Losses, Gains and other allocations and distributions in its capacity as general partner; however, Millenium would be entitled to collect the same management and administrative fees and reimbursements that the current general partner receives under the Partnership Agreement, although Millenium intends to avoid the potential conflict of interest that collecting such fees and reimbursements would create by engaging an independent professional property manager to manage the properties, which is the standard policy and practice of Millenium, Everest and their affiliates. .

 

Millenium has indicated its desire to become the successor general partner as long as there is no material adverse change in the Partnership, such as bankruptcy, foreclosure or other material impairments on the value or operations of the Partnership’s assets. Millenium has reserved the right to withdraw before the Expiration Date in the event of a material adverse change in the Partnership.

 

 

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VOTING PROCEDURE FOR UNIT HOLDERS

 

Distribution and Expiration Date of Solicitation

 

This solicitation of Consents will expire at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the earlier to occur of the following dates (the “Expiration Date”): (i) __________, 2009 or such later date to which Everest determines to extend the solicitation or (ii) the date Everest determines the Required Consents are received. Everest reserves the right to extend this solicitation of Consents for such period or periods as it may determine in its sole discretion from time to time. Any such extension will be followed as promptly as practicable by press release or by written notice to the Unit Holders. During any extension of this solicitation of Consents, all Consents delivered to Everest will remain effective, unless validly revoked or changed by a later dated Consent or proper notice delivered to Everest prior to the Expiration Date.

 

Unit Holders who are record owners of Limited Partnership Interests or Beneficial Interests may execute and deliver a Consent, which shall remain valid unless the Unit Holder ceases to be a record owner prior to the Expiration Date. Everest reserves the right for any reason to terminate the solicitation of Consents at any time prior to the Expiration Date by giving written notice of such termination to the Unit Holders.

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Consent Solicitation Materials –

This Consent Solicitation Statement and form of Consent are available via the Internet at www.EverestWorld.com, under “Investor Sites.”

 

Voting Procedures and Required Consents

 

The Consent form included with this Consent Solicitation Statement is the ballot to be used by Unit Holders to cast their votes. Unit Holders should mark the box adjacent to the Proposal indicating that the Unit Holder votes “For” or “Against” the Proposal, or wishes to “Abstain.” All Consents that are properly completed, signed and delivered to Everest, and not validly revoked prior to the Expiration Date, will be given effect in accordance with the specifications thereof. If none of the boxes on the Consent is marked, but the Consent is otherwise properly completed and signed, the Unit Holder delivering such Consent will be deemed to have voted “For” the Proposal.

 

The Partnership Agreement provides that the removal of the current general partner and replacing it with Millenium as the successor general partner requires the consent of the record holders of a majority of the Class A Limited Partnership Interests (including Assigned Limited Partnership Interests, which are voted by the beneficial holders of Class A Interests), and a majority of the Class B Limited Partnership Interests (including Assigned Limited Partnership Interests, which are voted by the beneficial holders of Class B Interests) (the “Required Consents”). Accordingly, adoption of the Proposal requires the receipt without revocation of the Required Consents indicating a vote “For” the Proposal. Everest is seeking approval of the Proposal. The failure of a Unit Holder, or a broker, bank or nominee thereof, to deliver a Consent, or a vote to “Abstain,” will have the same effect as if such Unit Holder had voted “Against” the Proposal.

 

If interests to which a Consent relates are held of record by two or more joint holders, all such holders should sign the Consent, unless the interests are held as tenants in common, in which case all such holders must sign. If a Consent is signed by a trustee, partner, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person must so indicate when signing and must submit with the Consent form appropriate evidence

 

6

 


of authority to execute the Consent. In addition, if a Consent relates to less than the total number of interests held in the name of such Unit Holder, the Unit Holder must state the number of interests recorded in the name of such Unit Holder to which the Consent relates. If a Consent is executed by a person other than the record owner, then it must be accompanied by a valid proxy duly executed by the record owner.

 

Completion Instructions

 

Unit Holders are requested to complete, sign and date the GREEN Consent form included with this Consent Solicitation Statement and mail, fax, hand deliver or send by overnight courier the signed Consent to Everest Properties at 199 S. Los Robles Avenue, Suite 200, Pasadena, CA 91101, Fax No.: (626) 585-5929. Consents should be sent or delivered to Everest and not to the Partnership, at the address set forth on the back cover of this Consent Solicitation Statement. A prepaid, return envelope is included for your convenience.

 

Power of Attorney

 

Upon approval of the Proposal, Everest will be expressly authorized to prepare any and all documentation and take any further actions necessary to implement the actions contemplated under this Consent Solicitation Statement with respect to the approved Proposal. Furthermore, each Unit Holder who votes for the Proposal described in this Consent Solicitation Statement, by signing the attached Consent, constitutes and appoints Everest, acting through its officers and employees, as his or her attorney-in-fact for the purposes of executing any and all documents and taking any and all actions required under the Partnership Agreement in connection with this Consent Solicitation Statement or in order to implement the approved Proposal, including the execution of an amendment to the Partnership Agreement or certificate of limited partnership to reflect Millenium as the successor general partner of the Partnership. Everest will also be authorized to provide notice of the removal of the general partner under the Partnership Agreement.

 

Revocation of Consents

 

Consents may be revoked at any time prior to the Expiration Date, or a Unit Holder may change his or her vote on the Proposal, in accordance with the following procedures. For a revocation or change of vote to be effective, Everest must receive prior to the Expiration Date a written notice of revocation or change of vote (which may be in the form of a subsequent, properly executed Consent) at the address set forth on the Consent. The notice must specify the name of the record holder of the interests and the name of the person having executed the Consent to be revoked or changed (if different), and must be executed in the same manner as the Consent to which the revocation or change relates or by a duly authorized person that so indicates and that submits with the notice appropriate evidence of such authority. A revocation or change of a Consent shall be effective only as to the interests listed on such notice and only if such notice complies with the provisions of this Consent Solicitation Statement.

 

Everest reserves the right to contest the validity of any revocation or change of vote and all questions as to validity (including time of receipt) will be determined by Everest, subject to the provisions of the Partnership Agreement, as well as state and federal law.

 

ANY CONSENT OR REVOCATION SENT TO THE PARTNERSHIP SHALL NOT BE VALID UNLESS IT IS ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY EVEREST BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE.

 

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No Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal

 

Under the Partnership Agreement and Delaware law, Unit Holders do not have dissenters’ rights of appraisal in connection with the Proposal.

 

Solicitation of Consents

 

Neither the Partnership nor the current general partner are participants in this solicitation of Consents. Everest Properties, LLC and Everest Management, LLC, are the only participants in the solicitation. Everest Properties, LLC will initially bear all costs of this solicitation of Consents, but shall seek reimbursement for such costs from the Partnership to the extent allowed under the Partnership Agreement and applicable law. Consents may be solicited by mail, facsimile, telephone, e-mail, telegraph, in person and by advertisements. Solicitations may be made by certain directors, officers and employees of the participants, none of whom will receive additional compensation for such solicitation.

 

The total fees and expenses to be incurred by Everest in connection with this solicitation are estimated to be $__________. Everest has incurred fees and expenses in connection with this solicitation as of ______________, 2009 of approximately $_______.

 

Unit Holders are encouraged to contact Everest at the telephone number set forth on the back cover of this Consent Solicitation Statement with any questions regarding this solicitation of Consents and with requests for additional copies of this Consent Solicitation Statement and form of Consent.

 

INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PARTICIPANTS

AND THE PROPOSED NEW GENERAL PARTNER

 

Millenium is a California limited liability company that is wholly-owned by Everest Properties, LLC, a Unit Holder of the Partnership. Millenium was formed in 1998, and invests in and serves as the general partner of limited partnerships holding real estate investment properties. Millenium’s manager is Everest Properties II, LLC, a California limited liability company that is also wholly-owned by Everest Properties, LLC.

 

Everest Properties, LLC (“Everest Properties”) is a California limited liability company that was formed in 1996 to invest in limited partnerships that hold real estate, such as the Partnership, and to organize affiliates and private funds that also invest in and manage real estate. Everest Management, LLC, a California limited liability company, is such an affiliate.

 

Everest Properties and its affiliated investment funds have invested over two hundred million dollars in over four hundred real estate partnerships since 1996. In 2001, Everest Properties and its affiliates began taking over the management of real estate partnerships and properties in which it had more significant investment positions. Since 2001, Everest Properties and its affiliates have managed partnerships and limited liability companies holding 44 multifamily, self-storage and shopping center properties in the United States and Canada, of which 33 of such properties remain in the portfolio and 11 of such properties have been sold. The following are the resumes of the directors and officers of Everest Properties, who are also the directors and officers of Millenium. The principal office of Millenium, Everest and their affiliates, and the business address of each of the directors and officers, is 199 S. Los Robles Avenue, Suite 200, Pasadena, CA 91101; telephone (626) 585-5920.

 

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W. Robert Kohorst. Mr. Kohorst has been the President of Everest Properties since 1996. He is a lawyer by profession. From 1984 through 1990, Mr. Kohorst was the President of the Private Placement Group for Public Storage, Inc., a national U.S. real estate syndicator. Mr. Kohorst’s responsibilities included all structuring, marketing, investor services and accounting services for private placement syndications for Public Storage, Inc., and its affiliates. Upon leaving Public Storage, Inc. in 1990, Mr. Kohorst was the Chief Executive Officer and principal of two businesses, Tiger Shark Golf, Inc., a golf equipment manufacturer, and Masquerade International, Inc., a manufacturer of costumes. In 1991 Mr. Kohorst co-founded KH Financial, Inc., which engaged in the acquisition of general partner interests, real estate companies and related assets. Mr. Kohorst holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Dayton.

 

David I. Lesser. Mr. Lesser has been the Executive Vice President of Everest Properties since 1996. He is a lawyer by profession. From 1979 through 1986, Mr. Lesser practiced corporate and real estate law with Kadison, Pfaelzer, Woodard, Quinn & Rossi and Johnsen, Manfredi & Thorpe, two prominent Los Angeles law firms. From 1986 through 1995, Mr. Lesser was a principal and member of Feder, Goodman & Schwartz and its predecessor firm, co-managing the firm’s corporate and real estate practice. Between 1990 and 1992, Mr. Lesser was counsel to Howard, Rice, Nemerovski, Robertson, Canady & Falk. Mr. Lesser holds a Juris Doctor from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Rochester.

 

Christopher K. Davis. Mr. Davis is a Vice President and the General Counsel of Everest Properties, which he joined in 1998. He is a lawyer by profession. From 1991 to 1995, he practiced securities and corporate law with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, a prominent national law firm headquartered in Los Angeles. From 1995 through 1997, he served as Senior Staff Counsel and then Director of Corporate Legal of Pinkerton’s, Inc., a worldwide provider of security, investigation and related services. At Pinkerton, Mr. Davis was responsible for directing the corporate section of the legal department. Mr. Davis holds a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley.

 

Peter J. Wilkinson. Mr. Wilkinson is a Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer of Everest Properties, which he joined in 1996. He is an accountant by profession. From 1981 through 1987, he worked for Deloitte Haskins and Sells and Coopers and Lybrand in London and Sydney in their audit divisions, gaining significant experience in a variety of industry segments. From 1987 to 1990, he was the company secretary and controller of Gresham Partners, an Australian investment bank where, in addition to being responsible for all financial, tax and administrative matters, he was involved with analyzing leveraged buyout, property finance and business acquisitions. Mr. Wilkinson joined BankAmerica in the United States and from 1991 to 1996 held a number of positions, culminating in being the Division Finance Officer for the Corporate Trust and Mortgage and Asset Backed divisions. In this capacity, he was responsible for presentation of all financial information and financial due diligence during their divestiture. Mr. Wilkinson holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Nottingham University and is an English chartered accountant.

 

CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN THE PARTICIPANTS AND THE PARTNERSHIP

 

Except as set forth in this Consent Solicitation Statement, neither Everest, nor any of its affiliates: (i) directly or indirectly beneficially owns any units of interest of the Partnership; (ii) has had any

 

9

 


relationship with the Partnership in any capacity other than as a Unit Holder, or is or has been a party to any transactions, or series of similar transactions, since January 1, 2008, with respect to any units of interest; or (iii) knows of any transactions since January 1, 2008, currently proposed transaction, or series of similar transactions, to which the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries was or is to be a party, in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and in which any of them or their respective affiliates had, or will have, a direct or indirect material interest. In addition, other than as set forth herein, there are no contracts, arrangements or understandings entered into by Everest or any affiliates within the past year with any person with respect to any of the Partnership’s securities, including, but not limited to, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees against loss or guarantees of profit, division of losses or profits, or the giving or withholding of proxies or consents.

 

Except as set forth in this Consent Solicitation Statement, neither Everest, nor any affiliates, has entered into any agreement or understanding with any person with respect to (i) any future employment by the Partnership or its affiliates or (ii) any future transactions to which the Partnership or any of its affiliates will or may be a party.

 

INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PARTNERSHIP

 

Information contained in this section is based upon documents and reports publicly filed by the Partnership, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (the “Form 10-K”) and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2009 (the “Form 10-Q”). Although Everest has no information that any statements contained in this section are untrue, Everest has not independently investigated the accuracy of the Partnership’s statements. The Partnership, not Everest, is responsible for the accuracy, inaccuracy, completeness or incompleteness of any of the information contained in the Partnership’s Form 10-K and the Form 10-Q or for the failure by the Partnership to disclose events which may have occurred and may affect the significance or accuracy of any such information.

 

The Partnership and its Business

 

 

The Partnership is a limited partnership formed on December 12, 1986 under Delaware law.

 

The Partnership is engaged in the business of owning and operating shopping centers. The Partnership currently owns and operates two shopping centers (and the land they are situated on), one located in Searcy, Arkansas and the other located in Valencia, California. A third shopping center, located in Green Valley, Arizona was sold by the Partnership on May 23, 2007.

 

Current General Partner

 

The Partnership’s current general partner is CM Plus Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Milestone Properties, Inc. (“Milestone”). Milestone Property Management, Inc., an affiliate of the general partner, provides all management services for the Partnership and Milestone provides administrative services to the Partnership. Aside from its four officers, the general partner has no employees.

 

Outstanding Limited Partnership Interests

 

According to the Partnership’s Form 10-K, there were 1,518,800 Class A Interests, and 2,111,072 Class B Interests, issued and outstanding at March 15, 2009. A Unit Holder is entitled to one vote for each Limited Partnership Interest or Beneficial Interest owned by such Unit Holder. According to the Form

 

10

 


10-K,  the General Partner, together with its affiliates and the officers and directors of the General Partner, own less than 1% of the issued and outstanding Class A Interests and less than 1% of the issued and outstanding Class B Interests. According to the Form 10-K, the only persons or entities known to the Partnership to own beneficially in excess of 5% of the outstanding Class A Interests or Class B Interests are:

 

 

 

 

Title of Class

 

 

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

Amount and

Nature of

Beneficial

Ownership

 

 

Percent of

Class (*)

Class A

Everest Properties II, LLC
199 S. Los Robles Ave., #200
Pasadena, CA 91101

171,438 (1)

11.29%

Class A

MacKenzie Patterson Fuller LP
1640 School Street
Moraga, CA 94556

287,260 (2)

18.91%

Class A

Ira Gaines

3116 E. Shea Blvd.

Phoenix, AZ 85028

85,058 (3)

5.60%

Class B

The Guardian Life Insurance

Company of America

203 Park Avenue South

New York, NY 10003

572,292

27.11%

Class B

Everest Properties II, LLC
199 S. Los Robles Ave., #200
Pasadena, CA 91101

171,834 (4)

8.14%

Class B

MacKenzie Patterson Fuller LP
1640 School Street
Moraga, CA 94556

287,260 (5)

13.61%

Class B

Ira Gaines

3116 E. Shea Blvd.

Phoenix, AZ 85028

85,058 (6)

4.03%

 

 

________

 

 

*

Based on 1,518,800 Class A Interests and 2,111,072 Class B Interests outstanding as of March 15, 2009.

 

(1)

Includes 98,068 Class A Interests owned by Everest Properties, LLC and 73,370 Class A Interests owned by Everest Management, LLC. To the best of the Partnership’s knowledge, these entities are managed by Everest Properties II, LLC, which has the authority to vote and dispose of all of the Interests owned by these entities.

 

(2)

Includes 43,150 Class Interests owned by Sutter Opportunity Fund 3 LLC, 115,179 Class A Interests owned by SCM Special Fund LLC, 57,635 Class A Interest owned by MPF Flagship Fund 10 LLC, 8,184 Class A Interests owned by MPF NY 2006 LLC, 1,572 Class A Interests owned by MPF NY 2005 LLC, 4,300 Class A Interests owned by MPF Badger Acquisitions Co., LLC, 500 Class A Interests owned by Moraga Gold LLC, 1,880 Class A Interests owned by MPF NY 2007 LLC, 31,450 Class A Interests owned by MPF Senior Note Program LP, 22,410 Class A Interests owned by MPF DeWaay Fund 7 LLC, and 1,000 Class A Interests owned by MPF DeWaay Fund 5, LLC. To the best of the Partnership’s knowledge, these entities are owned or controlled by Mackenzie Patterson Fuller LP.

 

(3)

Includes 13,975 Class A Interests owned by Ira Gaines, 41,243 Class A Interests owned by Summit Ventures, LLC, 900 Class A Interests owned by Sunshine Wire & cable Defined Benefit Pension Plan, 14,000 Class A Interests owned by Paradise Wire & Cable Defined Benefit Pension Plan, 2,000 Class A Interests owned by IG Holdings, Inc., and 13,120 Class A Interests owned by Cheryl Hintzen. To the best of the Partnership’s knowledge, these entities are managed or controlled by Ira Gaines and Ms. Hintzen is or was employed by Mr. Gaines.

 

11

 


 

(4)

Includes 98,284 Class B Interests owned by Everest Properties, LLC and 73,550 Class B Interests owned by Everest Management, LLC. To the best of the Partnership’s knowledge, these entities are managed by Everest Properties II, LLC, which has the authority to vote and dispose of all of the Interests owned by theses entities.

 

(5)

Includes 43,150 Class B Interests owned by Sutter Opportunity Fund 3 LLC, 115,179 Class B Interests owned by SCM Special Fund LLC, 57,635 Class B Interests owned by MPF Flagship Fund 10 LLC, 8,184 Class B Interests owned by MPF NY 2006 LLC, 1,572 Class B interests owned by MPF NY 2005 LLC, 2,800 Class B Interests owned by MPF Badger Acquisition Co., LLC, 500 Class B Interests owned by Moraga Gold LLC, 1,880 Class B Interests owned by MPF NY 2007 LLC., 31,450 Class B Interests owned by MPF Senior Note Program LP, 22,410 Class B Interests owned by MPF DeWaay Fund 7 LLC, and 1,000 Class B Interests owned by MPF DeWaay Fund 5, LLC. To the best of the Partnership’s knowledge, these entities are owned or controlled by MacKenzie Patterson Fuller LP.

 

(6)

Includes 13,975 Class B Interests owned by Ira Gaines, 41,243 Class B Interests owned by Summit Ventures, LLC, 900 Class B Interests owned by Sunshine Wire & Cable Defined Benefit Pension Plan, 14,000 Class B Interests owned by Paradise Wire & Cable Defined Benefit Pension Plan, 2,000 Class B Interests owned by IG Holdings, Inc., and 13,120 Class B Interests owned by Cheryl Hintzen. To the best of the Partnership’s knowledge, these entities are managed or controlled by Ira Gaines and Ms. Hintzen is or was employed by Mr. Gaines.

 

The Partnership’s Form 10-K is incorrect insofar as it describes Everest Properties II, LLC, as having voting and disposition control of the interests held by Everest Properties, LLC, and Everest Management, LLC. Also, W. Robert Kohorst is the manager of Everest Properties, LLC, not Everest Properties II, LLC. Mr. Kohorst, as manager of Everest Properties, has the sole power to vote or dispose of the units held by Everest Properties. The members of Everest Management are David I. Lesser's Self-Directed Account in Everest Properties II, LLC Money Purchase Pension Plan Trust ("Lesser Account") and W. Robert Kohorst Self-Directed Account in Everest Properties II, LLC Money Purchase Pension Plan Trust ("Kohorst Account"). Everest Management's Operating Agreement requires the consent of the Lesser Account and the Kohorst Account to vote or dispose of the units held by Everest Management. Messrs. Kohorst and Lesser possess shared power to determine whether such consent will be given or withheld by the Lesser Account and the Kohorst Account.

 

 

12

 


SOLICITATION OF CONSENTS

of

UNIT HOLDERS

of

CONCORD MILESTONE PLUS, L.P.

a Delaware Limited Partnership

 

Questions and requests for assistance about procedures for consenting or other matters relating to this solicitation may be directed to Everest at the address and telephone number listed below. Additional copies of this Consent Solicitation Statement and form of Consent may be obtained from Everest as set forth below.

 

Deliveries of Consents, properly completed and duly executed, should be made to Everest at:

 

Everest Properties, LLC

199 S. Los Robles Avenue, Suite 200

Pasadena, CA 91101

 

Toll-Free: (800) 611-4613

 

No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representation not contained in this Consent Solicitation Statement regarding the solicitation of Consents made hereby, and, if given or made, any such information or representation should not be relied upon as having been authorized by Everest or any other person. The delivery of this Consent Solicitation Statement shall not, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the information set forth herein or in the affairs of Everest or the Partnership since the date hereof.

 

 

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[PRELIMINARY FORM OF CONSENT – DO NOT USE]

 

Concord Milestone Plus, L.P.

a Delaware Limited Partnership (the “Partnership”)

 

THIS CONSENT IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF

EVEREST PROPERTIES, LLC AND EVEREST MANAGEMENT, LLC

 

UNIT HOLDERS WHO RETURN A SIGNED CONSENT BUT FAIL TO INDICATE THEIR APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL AS TO ANY MATTER WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE VOTED TO APPROVE SUCH MATTER.

 

THIS CONSENT IS VALID FROM THE DATE OF ITS EXECUTION UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS DULY REVOKED. THIS CONSENT REVOKES ANY PREVIOUSLY EXECUTED CONSENT OR REVOCATION OF CONSENT.

 

The undersigned has received the Consent Solicitation Statement dated June __, 2009 (“Consent Solicitation Statement”) by Everest Properties, LLC, and Everest Management, LLC, each a California limited liability company (“Everest”), seeking the approval by written consent of the removal of the current general partner of the Partnership and the replacement of the current general partner with Millenium Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (“Millenium”), as the successor general partner of the Partnership.

 

Each of the undersigned, by signing and returning this Consent, hereby votes all limited partnership interests and beneficial interests of the Partnership held of record by the undersigned as follows for the proposal set forth above:

 

Proposal

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTAIN

Removal of the Current General Partner and Replacing It With Millenium as the Successor General Partner

[  ]

[  ]

[  ]

 

Each of the undersigned hereby directs Everest, the Partnership’s current general partner, and the Assignor Limited Partner of the Partnership, to vote the undersigned’s interests in accordance with this Consent; and in addition, constitutes and appoints Everest, acting through its officers and employees, as his or her attorney-in-fact for the purposes of executing any and all documents and taking any and all actions required under the Partnership Agreement in connection with this Consent and the Consent Solicitation Statement in order to implement the Proposal, if approved.

 

(Please sign exactly as your name appears on the Partnership’s records. Joint owners should each sign. Attorneys-in-fact, executors, administrators, trustees, guardians, corporation officers or others acting in representative capacity should indicate the capacity in which they sign and should give full title, and submit appropriate evidence of authority to execute the Consent)

 

 

Dated: _______________________

(Important-please fill in)

 

 

 

 

 

Signature / Title

 

 

 

Signature / Title

 

 

 

Telephone Number

 

[PRELIMINARY FORM – DO NOT USE]

 

 

 

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EVEREST

199 S. LOS ROBLES AVENUE, SUITE 200 - PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91101

TEL (626) 585-5920 - FAX (626) 585-5929

 

 

 

June 18, 2009

 

Via Facsimile: (202) 772-9203

and submitted via EDGAR

 

Melissa Duru, Special Counsel

Office of Mergers and Acquisitions

Securities and Exchange Commission

Station Place, 100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20549-3628

 

 

Re:

Concord Milestone Plus, L.P. (the “Partnership”)

PREN14A filed May 22, 2009,

by Everest Properties, LLC and Everest Management, LLC

File No. 1-16757

 

Dear Ms. Duru:

This letter responds to the Staff’s comments conveyed in your letter of June 2, 2009. As a preface to our specific responses, we note that we have ourselves filed several solicitations, and reviewed solicitations by others, that contained very similar proposals and other disclosure. For the present filing, the Staff has made many more comments than we have received in the past, and has commented on statements that we have made on numerous prior occasions without drawing comment. We also believe that several comments appear to be editorial or argumentative in a manner that we do not believe is appropriate for the review process.

Headings and numbered paragraphs below correspond to those in your letter.

PREN 14A filed May 22, 2009

General

1.         The first page of the consent solicitation has been amended in response to the comment.

2.         Everest Properties, LLC and Everest Management, LLC are the entities conducting and financing the solicitation. We have identified each person or entity as a participant that comprises “any committee or group which solicits proxies, any member of such committee or group, and any person whether or not named as a member who, acting alone or with one or more other persons, directly or indirectly takes the initiative, or engages, in organizing, directing, or arranging for the financing of any such committee or group,” in accordance with Instruction 3(a)(iii) to Item 4(b) of Schedule 14A.

 


The Partnership’s Form 10-K is incorrect: Everest Properties II, LLC, does not have voting or investment control of units owned by Everest Properties, LLC and Everest Management, LLC. Furthermore, the possession of voting or investment control of securities is not a criteria in the definition of “participant” or “participant in a solicitation” in accordance with Instruction 3(a) to Item 4(b) of Schedule 14A.

Millenium Management, LLC is not involved in the conduct or financing of the solicitation and does not meet any of the other criteria that would make it a “participant” or “participant in a solicitation” in accordance with Instruction 3(a) to Item 4(b) of Schedule 14A.

3.         A copy of the Partnership’s limited partnership agreement (“Partnership Agreement”), as provided to us, is being provided to the Staff with the faxed version of this letter. Section 11.2 of the Partnership Agreement provides for the removal and replacement of the General Partner. Section 17-302(e) of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act authorizes limited partners to act by written consent in the absence of any prohibition in the partnership agreement. There is no provision in the Partnership Agreement that prohibits actions by written consent.

We do not believe the Partnership Agreement or Delaware law provide any steps with which we need to comply in order to be permitted to solicit such written consents.

4.         We do not believe that the Partnership Agreement or Delaware’s limited partnership laws provide such detailed procedures as the comment requests. The solicitation sets forth, under “Voting Procedures for Unit Holders,” the manner in which unit holders should submit their consents. Also, the solicitation has been revised in “Admission of Successor General Partner” to set forth our understanding regarding the effectiveness of the removal of the general partner upon receipt of the Required Consents.

The Partnership Agreement and Delaware’s limited partnership laws are silent regarding deadlines for a solicitation of consents. As the party making the solicitation, as long as we are not violating a provision of the Partnership Agreement or applicable laws (which we are not), we believe we may make the solicitation on whatever terms we determine, including to limit the time period during which we are willing to solicit such consents from our fellow limited partners.

5.         In response to the comment, the referenced text and the first paragraph of “Admission of Successor General Partner” have been revised. Other than amendments to the Partnership Agreement and certificate of limited partnership, we are not aware of any other requirements to become the general partner, once elected.

6.         Section 11.2(c) of the Partnership Agreement contemplates that holders of a majority of the outstanding units may “remove the General Partner and elect a replacement therefor;” which is set forth in the Partnership Agreement as a single action. The Staff’s comment asks us to make our proposal in a way that differs from the voting rights expressly authorized in the Partnership Agreement, and is therefore not an appropriate request for the Staff to make.

 

 

2

 


Furthermore, Rule 14a-4(a)(3) requires that the form of proxy set forth “each separate matter intended to be acted upon.” We believe the Partnership Agreement contemplates the removal and election of a replacement taking place in a single action, and we do not intend for the limited partners to act separately on the removal of the general partner and on the appointment of Millenium as its successor.

We have reviewed the September 2004 interim supplement and believe it is applicable only to merger and acquisition transactions and the changes to “charter, bylaw and similar provisions” that result from such transactions. The consent solicitation does not relate to a merger and acquisition transaction, nor does it seek to approve any change to a provision of the Partnership Agreement, but rather the solicitation involves the exercise of rights that are already established in the Partnership Agreement.

Lastly, it would be a meaningless distinction to vote separately on removal of the general partner and electing Millenium, with each being conditioned on the other. In both cases (“bundled” and “unbundled”), the removal of the general partner will not occur unless limited partners approve Millenium as the new general partner, and vice versa. In this type of proposal, separating it into two parts would confuse the matter without providing any benefit to security holders.

Cover Letter

7.         In response to the comment, the referenced text has been revised. Please note that the solicitation statement does not contain any assertion regarding the sales prices obtainable for the company’s properties during such time.

8.         The assertion in the consent solicitation that the general partner “is more concerned with preserving its management fees than with serving the best interests of the Unit Holders” is clearly stated as an opinion, and the factual basis for such opinion is already described throughout the solicitation: the failure to liquidate the partnership during an extremely strong real estate market; the choice Milestone made to apply sales proceeds from the one asset that was sold to pay off the mortgage debt on the other properties, rather than make a significant distribution to investors; the fact that Milestone took those actions when investors have been stuck holding this investment for 20 years and would likely have preferred a liquidation, or at least a distribution of sales proceeds on which they got taxed; and the amount of management fees Milestone receives annually, compared to the one-time amount they might receive in a liquidation. The foregoing are all facts from which it is reasonable to form the opinion expressed in the solicitation.

 

9.

In response to the comment, the referenced text has been revised.

10.       We believe this comments mischaracterizes the contents of the solicitation, and we refer the Staff to our response in Paragraph 8 above regarding the basis for the opinions we have expressed in the solicitation. Further, it seems inappropriate to us that the Staff would express an opinion about the significance, or lack thereof, of the fees collected from this Partnership compared to Milestone’s fees from

 

 

3

 


other properties; or expect that we would have the factual basis to provide information on that subject. The solicitation does not make any statement that Milestone is “dependent” on the fees it collects from the Partnership, nor does the solicitation express a view as to how significant the fees from the Partnership are to Milestone’s property management business. The solicitation does describe why it is in Milestone’s financial self-interest to perpetuate such management fees rather than liquidate the Partnership. We believe the basis for the assertion is already satisfactorily explained in the solicitation.

11.       Please refer to our prior response. We do not believe the comment makes an appropriate request and, like the prior comment, is argumentative. The current general partner is able to disseminate its own materials and provide its own explanations for its actions, and could have done so in its prior reports to investors. We are under no obligation to anticipate or acknowledge that the general partner may have explanations that differ from our view of its conduct. In addition, it would be misleading for us to make such a statement, since we do not believe the general partner has other reasons for failing to liquidate the partnership. The general partner can speak for itself.

Proposal and Supporting Statement, page 3

12.       We do not believe this comment makes an appropriate request. The referenced text are correct factual statements as stated, and we made no statements about the distribution history of the Partnership, which unitholders presumably know already. Furthermore, we do not agree with the Staff’s speculation of how the factual statements being made might be interpreted by a unitholder, nor do we believe it is appropriate for the Staff to make editorial comments such as this one. This comment appears to promote an argument that the general partner might wish to make, but it is not a proper function of the review process to ask us to speculate on and present information that the incumbent general partner might like to see presented. The general partner can speak for itself.

13.       We believe it is not appropriate for the Staff to express editorial comments such as this one. We do not need to argue why we think a liquidation is better, we only need to disclose our intention to cause such a liquidation if Millenium is installed as the new general partner, which we have done. Each unitholder will be able to decide based on his or her own view of whether or not a near-term liquidation would be preferable, and his or her own conclusion about the other points we have made, and vote accordingly. Once again, this comment appears to promote an argument that the general partner might wish to make. The general partner can speak for itself.

“Why should Unit Holders expect Millenium to do better . . . ,” page 3

14.       We believe the statement is self-explanatory and do not understand what clarification is requested. Furthermore, we are not aware of any requirement that we recite provisions of the Partnership Agreement that do not relate to the matter we have proposed. Unitholders may be presumed to be familiar with the Partnership Agreement and the significance of the Class A and Class B units, and a discussion of such topic in this solicitation would be distracting and unnecessary.

 

 

4

 


15.       We believe it is not appropriate for the Staff to express editorial comments such as this one, and this comment appears to promote again an argument or point that the general partner might wish to make. Without intending to indicate any agreement with the comment, the solicitation has been amended at page 5.

16.       We believe that the solicitation already meets the standard described in the comment:

(i) “Milestone squandered the opportunity to liquidate during a strong market . . .” - the Partnership’s own reports indicate that they have not sold the remaining properties, and we also believe that the recent real estate boom (and its demise and the subsequent economic downturn) have received as much media coverage as 9/11, the Iraq war and the last presidential election and therefore the “strong market” that recently existed for real estate is self-evident;

(ii) the general partner’s conflict of interest regarding liquidation is explained repeatedly in the solicitation as the conflict between the amount of money that the general partner could receive in a liquidation versus the higher amount it receives every year that it continues to manage the properties for fees; and,

(iii) the basis for the opinion expressed regarding management and administrative fees is disclosed in the solicitation to be our own experience as asset managers, which experience is also described.

Admission of Successor General Partner, page 5

17.       It is not possible to describe every type of material adverse change that could occur. Transactions are frequently conditioned on the non-occurrence of a material adverse change – we believe that this term is widely used and understood, and that the text already provides an adequate example of the types of changes that are contemplated: “bankruptcy, foreclosure or other material impairments on the value or operations of the Partnership’s assets.”

18.       In response to the comment, the referenced text has been revised in order to clarify that Millenium does not reserve a right to withdraw once it is determined that the Required Consents are received.

Information Concerning the Participants and the Proposed New General Partner, page 8

19.       We believe it is not appropriate for the Staff to express editorial comments such as this one. It is in our own interests to convince unit holders that we are qualified to take over control of the Partnership, and we believe the disclosure is satisfactory for our purpose. We have disclosed the same biographical information in numerous prior filings, including solicitations to replace a general partner, without ever receiving such a comment.

Voting Procedures for Unit Holders, page 6

 

 

5

 


20.       All the means by which we intend to solicit consents are identified in the solicitation, as required. We understand the obligations of Rule 14a-6. Neither Item 4(a)(3) of Schedule 14A nor any other rule of which we are aware would require a specific statement as to whether we are or are not soliciting via the Internet, or to identify all the means by which we do not intend to solicit consents.

21.       We confirm that the materials will be posted on our publicly available website. Pursuant to Rule 14a-16(n), notice of such availability is being provided in “Distribution and Expiration Date of Solicitation.”

Completion Instructions, page 7

22.       The second page of the cover letter and Voting Procedure for Unit Holders (page 6) both provide the disclosure required by Item 21(b). We do not understand what is meant by the Staff’s comment that it notices that the consents are being delivered to Everest.

Schedule 13G filed May 5, 2000

 

23.

Corrective filings have been made.

Closing comments: While acknowledging the Staff’s positions, we respectfully decline to make the statements requested. There is no requirement that we do so. To the extent the requested statements are accurate statements of applicable law, there is no reason to obtain from filers a recitation of such law. To the extent the statements go beyond applicable law or reflect interpretations of law that may be open to dispute, it would not be fair or appropriate to require filers to make statements that might prejudice their right to take a contrary position at some later time, if the occasion arose.

We are filing a revised preliminary proxy solicitation concurrently with this letter. Please contact the undersigned if you have any questions regarding our responses to the Staff’s comments and to advise us if the Staff has any further comments.

Very truly yours,

 

/s/

Christopher K. Davis

Vice President and General Counsel

 

 

6

 

 

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