Exhibit 3.4
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
BEACON CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.
THE PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS OF THE LIMITED PARTNERS ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
OF 1933 OR UNDER THE SECURITIES OR "BLUE SKY" LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER
JURISDICTION, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED UNLESS THEY ARE REGISTERED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES OR "BLUE
SKY" LAWS, OR UNLESS AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. SUCH
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS ARE SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN
THIS AGREEMENT.
March 16, 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE 1 - DEFINED TERMS.........................................................................................1
ARTICLE 2 - ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS...............................................................................12
Section 2.1 Formation.............................................................................12
Section 2.2 Name..................................................................................12
Section 2.3 Registered Office and Agent; Principal Office.........................................12
Section 2.4 Power of Attorney.....................................................................12
Section 2.5 Term..................................................................................14
ARTICLE 3 - PURPOSE..............................................................................................14
Section 3.1 Purpose and Business..................................................................14
Section 3.2 Powers................................................................................14
ARTICLE 4 - CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS................................................................................15
Section 4.1 Capital Contributions of the Partners.................................................15
Section 4.2 Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests.........................................16
Section 4.3 Contribution of Proceeds of Issuance of REIT Shares...................................17
Section 4.4 Convertible Unit and Incentive Units..................................................18
Section 4.5 Capital Account Balances..............................................................19
ARTICLE 5 - DISTRIBUTIONS........................................................................................20
Section 5.1 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions.....................................20
Section 5.2 Amounts Withheld......................................................................20
Section 5.3 Distributions Upon Liquidation........................................................20
Section 5.4 Deficit Restoration by General Partner................................................20
Section 5.5 Revisions to Reflect Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests.....................21
ARTICLE 6 - ALLOCATIONS..........................................................................................21
Section 6.1 Allocations For Capital Account Purposes..............................................21
Section 6.2 Special Allocations In the Event of Redemption of Incentive Units.....................22
ARTICLE 7 - MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF BUSINESS................................................................22
Section 7.1 Management............................................................................22
Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership....................................................26
Section 7.3 Restrictions on General Partner Authority.............................................26
Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner and the Company; DRIP's and
Repurchase Programs...................................................................27
Section 7.5 Outside Activities of the General Partner.............................................28
Section 7.6 Contracts with Affiliates.............................................................28
Section 7.7 Indemnification.......................................................................29
Section 7.8 Liability of the General Partner......................................................31
Page
Section 7.9 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner..........................................31
Section 7.10 Title to Partnership Assets...........................................................32
Section 7.11 Reliance by Third Parties.............................................................32
ARTICLE 8 - RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF LIMITED PARTNERS...........................................................33
Section 8.1 Limitation of Liability...............................................................33
Section 8.2 Management of Business................................................................33
Section 8.3 Outside Activities of Limited Partners................................................33
Section 8.4 Return of Capital.....................................................................34
Section 8.5 Rights of Limited Partners Relating to the Partnership................................34
Section 8.6 Redemption Right......................................................................35
ARTICLE 9 - BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS...............................................................36
Section 9.1 Records and Accounting................................................................36
Section 9.2 Fiscal Year...........................................................................37
Section 9.3 Reports...............................................................................37
ARTICLE 10 - TAX MATTERS.........................................................................................37
Section 10.1 Preparation of Tax Returns............................................................37
Section 10.2 Tax Elections.........................................................................38
Section 10.3 Tax Matters Partner...................................................................38
Section 10.4 Organizational Expenses...............................................................40
Section 10.5 Withholding...........................................................................40
ARTICLE 11 - TRANSFERS AND WITHDRAWALS...........................................................................41
Section 11.1 Transfer..............................................................................41
Section 11.2 Transfer of the Company's General Partner Interest and Limited Partner
Interest; Extraordinary Transactions..................................................41
Section 11.3 Limited Partners' Rights to Transfer..................................................44
Section 11.4 Substituted Limited Partners..........................................................45
Section 11.5 Assignees.............................................................................45
Section 11.6 General Provisions....................................................................45
ARTICLE 12 - ADMISSION OF PARTNERS...............................................................................46
Section 12.1 Admission of Successor General Partner................................................46
Section 12.2 Admission of Additional Limited Partners..............................................47
Section 12.3 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership.........................47
ARTICLE 13 - DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION............................................................48
Section 13.1 Dissolution...........................................................................48
Section 13.2 Winding Up............................................................................49
Section 13.3 Rights of Limited Partners............................................................50
Section 13.4 Notice of Dissolution.................................................................50
Page
Section 13.5 Termination of Partnership and Cancellation of Certificate of Limited
Partnership...........................................................................51
Section 13.6 Reasonable Time for Winding-Up........................................................51
Section 13.7 Waiver of Partition...................................................................51
ARTICLE 14 - AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS........................................................51
Section 14.1 Amendments............................................................................51
Section 14.2 Meetings of the Partners..............................................................53
ARTICLE 15 - GENERAL PROVISIONS..................................................................................54
Section 15.1 Addresses and Notice..................................................................54
Section 15.2 Titles and Captions...................................................................54
Section 15.3 Pronouns and Plurals..................................................................54
Section 15.4 Further Action........................................................................54
Section 15.5 Binding Effect........................................................................54
Section 15.6 Creditors.............................................................................54
Section 15.7 Waiver................................................................................55
Section 15.8 Counterparts..........................................................................55
Section 15.9 Applicable Law........................................................................55
Section 15.10 Invalidity of Provisions..............................................................55
Section 15.11 Entire Agreement......................................................................56
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A - Partners Contributions and Partnership Interests
Exhibit B - Capital Account Maintenance
Exhibit C - Special Allocation Rules
Exhibit D - Notice of Redemption
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
BEACON CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.
THIS AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF BEACON CAPITAL
PARTNERS, L.P. (this "Agreement"), dated as of March 16, 1998, is entered into
by and among Beacon Capital Partners, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the
"Company"), and the Persons (as defined below) whose names are set forth on
Exhibit A attached hereto (as it may be amended from time to time).
WHEREAS, by this Agreement, the Company, as general partner, and the
Persons whose names are set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto, hereby form a
limited partnership pursuant to the laws of the State of Delaware;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that for good and adequate
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1 - DEFINED TERMS
The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise
clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.
"Act" means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as it
may be amended from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
"Additional Limited Partner" means a Person admitted to the Partnership
as a Limited Partner pursuant to Sections 4.2 and 12.2 hereof and who is shown
as such on the books and records of the Partnership.
"Adjusted Capital Account" means the Capital Account maintained for
each Partner as of the end of each Partnership taxable year (i) increased by any
amounts which such Partner is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of
this Agreement or is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the
penultimate sentences of Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5);
and (ii) decreased by the items described in Regulations 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 Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be
interpreted consistently therewith.
"Adjusted Capital Account Deficit" means, with respect to any Partner,
the deficit balance, if any, in such Partner's Adjusted Capital Account as of
the end of the relevant Partnership taxable year.
"Adjusted Property" means any property, the Carrying Value of which has
been adjusted pursuant to Exhibit B hereof.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any Person directly or
indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person.
For purposes of this definition, "control," when used with respect to any
Person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person,
directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise, and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have
meanings correlative to the foregoing. No officer, director or stockholder of
the General Partner shall be considered an Affiliate of the General Partner
solely as a result of serving in such capacity or being a stockholder of the
General Partner.
"Agreed Value" means (i) in the case of any Contributed Property as of
the time of its contribution to the Partnership, the 704(c) 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 (ii) in
the case of any property distributed to a Partner by the Partnership, the
Partnership's Carrying Value of such property 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 as
determined under Section 752 of the Code and the Regulations thereunder. The
aggregate Agreed Value of the Contributed Property contributed or deemed
contributed by each Partner as of the date hereof is as set forth in Exhibit A.
"Agreement" means this Agreement of Limited Partnership, as it may be
amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
"Assignee" means a Person to whom one or more Partnership Units have
been transferred in a manner permitted under this Agreement, but who has not
become a Substituted Limited Partner, and who has the rights set forth in
Section 11.5.
"Available Cash" means, with respect to any period for which such
calculation is being made, (i) the sum of:
(a) the Partnership's Net Income or Net Loss (as the case may
be) for such period (without regard to adjustments resulting from
allocations described in Sections 1.A through 1.E of Exhibit C);
(b) Depreciation and all other noncash charges deducted in
determining Net Income or Net Loss for such period;
(c) the amount of any reduction in the reserves of the
Partnership referred to in clause (ii)(f) below (including, without
limitation, reductions resulting because the General Partner determines
such amounts are no longer necessary);
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(d) the excess of proceeds from the sale, exchange,
disposition, or refinancing of Partnership property for such period
over the gain recognized from such sale, exchange, disposition, or
refinancing during such period (excluding Terminating Capital
Transactions); and
(e) all other cash received by the Partnership for such period
that was not included in determining Net Income or Net Loss for such
period;
(ii) less the sum of:
(a) all principal debt payments made by the Partnership during
such period;
(b) capital expenditures made by the Partnership during such
period;
(c) investments made by the Partnership during such period in
any entity (including loans made thereto) to the extent that such
investments are not otherwise described in clause (ii)(a) or (ii)(b);
(d) all other expenditures and payments not deducted in
determining Net Income or Net Loss for such period;
(e) any amount included in determining Net Income or Net Loss
for such period that was not received or disbursed by the Partnership
during such period;
(f) the amount of any increase in reserves during such period
which the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in
its sole and absolute discretion; and
(g) the amount of any working capital accounts and other cash
or similar balances which the General Partner determines to be
necessary or appropriate, in its sole and absolute discretion.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Available Cash shall not include any
cash received or reductions in reserves, or take into account any disbursements
made or reserves established, after commencement of the dissolution and
liquidation of the Partnership.
"BCPP, L.P." means Beacon Capital Participation Plan, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership, a Limited Partner of the Partnership and the holder of the
Convertible Unit.
"Business Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on
which commercial banks in New York, New York or Boston, Massachusetts are
authorized or required by law to close.
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"Capital Account" means the Capital Account maintained for a Partner
pursuant to Exhibit B hereof.
"Capital Contribution" means, with respect to any Partner, any cash,
cash equivalents or the Agreed Value of Contributed Property which such Partner
contributes or is deemed to contribute to the Partnership pursuant to Section
4.1, 4.2, or 4.3 hereof.
"Carrying Value" means (i) with respect to a Contributed Property or
Adjusted Property, the 704(c) Value of such property or book value of such
property as determined in accordance with Exhibit B hereto, reduced (but not
below zero) by all Depreciation with respect to such Contributed Property or
Adjusted Property, as the case may be, charged to the Partners' Capital Accounts
following the contribution of or adjustment with respect to such Property; and
(ii) with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such
property for federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination.
The Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in
accordance with Exhibit B hereof, 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.
"Cash Amount" means an amount of cash equal to the Value on the
Valuation Date of the REIT Shares Amount; provided, however, in the case of a
redemption of any Incentive Unit pursuant to Section 8.6A, the Cash Amount
attributable to such Incentive Unit being redeemed pursuant to Section 8.6A
shall be reduced to the extent there is insufficient Net Income (and gross
income) to make the maximum allocation provided for in Section 6.2 with respect
to such Incentive Unit. The Cash Amount of the Convertible Unit shall be zero.
"Certificate of Incorporation" means the Certificate of Incorporation
or other organizational document governing the General Partner, as amended or
restated from time to time.
"Certificate of Limited Partnership" means the Certificate of Limited
Partnership relating to the Partnership filed in the office of the Delaware
Secretary of State, as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms
hereof and the Act.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in
effect from time to time, as interpreted by the applicable regulations
thereunder. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code
shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of future
law.
"Consent" means the consent or approval of a proposed action by a
Partner given in accordance with Section 14.2 hereof.
"Contributed Property" means each property or other asset, in such form
as may be permitted by the Act (but excluding cash), contributed or deemed
contributed to the
4
Partnership. Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed Property is adjusted
pursuant to Exhibit B hereof, such property shall no longer constitute a
Contributed Property for purposes of Exhibit B hereof, but shall be deemed an
Adjusted Property for such purposes.
"Conversion Factor" means 1.0, provided that in the event that the
Company (i) declares or pays a dividend on its outstanding REIT Shares in REIT
Shares or makes a distribution to all holders of its outstanding REIT Shares in
REIT Shares; (ii) subdivides its outstanding REIT Shares; or (iii) combines its
outstanding REIT Shares into a smaller number of REIT Shares, the Conversion
Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the number of REIT Shares issued and outstanding on
the record date for such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination
(assuming for such purpose that such dividend, distribution, subdivision or
combination has occurred as of such time), and the denominator of which shall be
the actual number of REIT Shares (determined without the above assumption)
issued and outstanding on the record date for such dividend, distribution,
subdivision or combination. Any adjustment to the Conversion Factor shall become
effective immediately after the effective date of such event retroactive to the
record date, if any, for such event (provided, however, if a Notice of
Redemption is given prior to such a record date and the Specified Redemption
Date is after such a record date, then the adjustment to the Conversion Factor
shall, with respect to such redeeming Partner, be retroactive to the date of
such Notice of Redemption). It is intended that adjustments to the Conversion
Factor are to be made in order to avoid unintended dilution or anti-dilution as
a result of transactions in which REIT Shares are issued, redeemed or exchanged
without a corresponding issuance, redemption or exchange of Partnership Units.
If, prior to a Specified Redemption Date, Rights (other than Rights issued
pursuant to an employee benefit plan or other compensation arrangement) were
issued and have expired, and such Rights were issued with an exercise price
that, together with the purchase price for such Rights, was below fair market
value in relation to the security or other property to be acquired upon the
exercise of such Rights, and such Rights were issued to all holders of
outstanding REIT shares or the General Partner cannot in good faith represent
that the issuance of such Rights benefitted the Limited Partners, then the
Conversion Factor applicable upon a Notice of Redemption shall be equitably
adjusted in a manner consistent with antidilution provisions in warrants and
other instruments in the case of such a below market issuance or exercise price.
A similar equitable adjustment to protect the value of Partnership Units shall
be made in all events if any Rights issued under a "Shareholder Rights Plan"
became exercisable and expired prior to a Specified Redemption Date.
"Convertible Unit" means the Unit referred to in Section 4.4 hereof
which represents solely the right to convert into a certain number of Incentive
Units (if any), as determined under Section 4.4, and which shall not participate
in allocations of income or any distributions made to, or with respect to, other
classes of Units.
"Depreciation" means, for each taxable year, an amount equal to the
federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction
allowable with respect to an asset
5
for such year, except that if the Carrying Value of an asset differs from its
adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such year or
other period, Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such
beginning Carrying Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization,
or other cost recovery deduction for such year bears to such beginning adjusted
tax basis; provided, however, that if the federal income tax depreciation,
amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such year is zero,
Depreciation shall be determined with reference to such beginning Carrying Value
using any reasonable method selected by the General Partner.
"Effective Date" means the date of closing of the initial private
offering of REIT Shares by the Company.
"Extraordinary Transaction" shall mean, with respect to the Company,
the occurrence of one or more of the following events: (i) a merger (including a
triangular merger), consolidation or other combination with or into another
Person; (ii) the direct or indirect sale, lease, exchange or other transfer of
all or substantially all of its assets in one transaction or a series of
transactions; (iii) any reclassification, recapitalization or change of its
outstanding equity interests (other than a change in par value, or from par
value to no par value, or as a result of a split, dividend or similar
subdivision); (iv) any issuance of equity securities of the Company in exchange
for assets (other than an issuance of securities for cash or an issuance of
securities pursuant to an employee benefit plan); (v) any Change of Control (as
defined in the Company's Certificate of Incorporation) or (vi) the adoption of
any plan of liquidation or dissolution of the Company (whether or not in
compliance with the provisions of this Agreement).
"General Partner" means the Company, in its capacity as the general
partner of the Partnership, or its successors as general partner of the
Partnership.
"General Partner Interest" means a Partnership Interest held by the
General Partner, in its capacity as general partner. A General Partner Interest
may be expressed as a number of Partnership Units.
"IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service, which administers the
internal revenue laws of the United States.
"Incapacity" or "Incapacitated" means, (i) as to any individual
Partner, death, total physical disability or entry by a court of competent
jurisdiction adjudicating him incompetent to manage his or her Person or estate;
(ii) as to any corporation which is a Partner, the filing of a certificate of
dissolution, or its equivalent, for the corporation or the revocation of its
charter; (iii) as to any partnership which is a Partner, the dissolution and
commencement of winding up of the partnership; (iv) as to any estate which is a
Partner, the distribution by the fiduciary of the estate's entire interest in
the Partnership; (v) as to any trustee of a trust which is a Partner, the
termination of the trust (but not the substitution of a new trustee); or (vi) as
to
6
any Partner, the bankruptcy of such Partner. For purposes of this definition,
bankruptcy of a Partner shall be deemed to have occurred when (a) the Partner
commences a voluntary proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other
relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in
effect; (b) the Partner is adjudged as bankrupt or insolvent, or a final and
nonappealable order for relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law
now or hereafter in effect has been entered against the Partner; (c) the Partner
executes and delivers a general assignment for the benefit of the Partner's
creditors; (d) the Partner files an answer or other pleading admitting or
failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the
Partner in any proceeding of the nature described in clause (b) above; (e) the
Partner seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee,
receiver or liquidator for the Partner or for all or any substantial part of the
Partner's properties; (f) any proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or
other relief of or against such Partner under any bankruptcy, insolvency or
other similar law now or hereafter in effect has not been dismissed within one
hundred twenty (120) days after the commencement thereof; (g) the appointment
without the Partner's consent or acquiescence of a trustee, receiver or
liquidator has not been vacated or stayed within ninety (90) days of such
appointment; or (h) an appointment referred to in clause (g) which has been
stayed is not vacated within ninety (90) days after the expiration of any such
stay.
"Incentive Return" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4
hereof.
"Incentive Units" shall mean that class of Units referred to in Section
4.4(C) hereof, issued upon the conversion of the Convertible Unit in connection
with the Incentive Return.
"Indemnitee" means (i) any Person made a party to a proceeding by
reason of (A) his status as the General Partner, or as a director or officer of
the Partnership or the General Partner, or (B) his or its liabilities, pursuant
to a loan guarantee or otherwise, for any indebtedness of the Partnership or any
Subsidiary of the Partnership (including, without limitation, any indebtedness
which the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership has assumed or taken
assets subject to); and (ii) such other Persons (including Affiliates of the
General Partner or the Partnership) as the General Partner may designate from
time to time (whether before or after the event giving rise to potential
liability), in its sole and absolute discretion.
"Limited Partner" means any Person (including the Company) named as a
Limited Partner in Exhibit A attached hereto, as such Exhibit may be amended
from time to time, or any Substituted Limited Partner or Additional Limited
Partner, in such Person's capacity as a Limited Partner of the Partnership.
"Limited Partner Interest" means a Partnership Interest of a Limited
Partner in the Partnership representing a fractional part of the Partnership
Interests of all Partners and includes any and all benefits to which the holder
of such a Partnership Interest may be entitled, as provided in this Agreement,
together with all obligations of such Person to comply with the
7
terms and provisions of this Agreement. A Limited Partner Interest may be
expressed as a number of Partnership Units. The term "Limited Partner" includes
a holder of an Incentive Unit and the holder of the Convertible Unit.
"Liquidating Event" has the meaning set forth in Section 13.1.
"Liquidator" has the meaning set forth in Section 13.2.
"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
federal income tax accounting principles, subject to the specific adjustments
provided for in Exhibit B.
"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
federal income tax accounting principles, subject to the specific adjustments
provided for in Exhibit B.
"New Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2B.
"Nonrecourse Deductions" has the meaning set forth in Regulations
Section 1.704-2(b)(1), and the amount of Nonrecourse Deductions for a
Partnership taxable year shall be determined in accordance with the rules of
Regulations Section 1.704-2(c).
"Nonrecourse Liability" has the meaning set forth in Regulations
Section 1.752-1(a)(2).
"Notice of Redemption" means the Notice of Redemption substantially in
the form of Exhibit D to this Agreement.
"Partner" means a General Partner or a Limited Partner, and "Partners"
means the General Partner and the Limited Partners collectively.
"Partner Minimum Gain" means an amount, with respect to each Partner
Nonrecourse Debt, equal to the Partnership Minimum Gain that would result if
such Partner Nonrecourse Debt were treated as a Nonrecourse Liability,
determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3).
"Partner Nonrecourse Debt" has the meaning set forth in Regulations
Section 1.704-2(b)(4).
8
"Partner Nonrecourse Deductions" has the meaning set forth in
Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2), and the amount of Partner Nonrecourse
Deductions with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt for a Partnership taxable
year shall be determined in accordance with the rules of Regulations Section
1.704-2(i)(2).
"Partnership" means the limited partnership formed under the Act and
pursuant to this Agreement, as it may be amended and/or restated, and any
successor thereto.
"Partnership Interest" means an ownership interest in the Partnership
held by either a Limited Partner or the General Partner and includes any and all
benefits to which the holder of such a Partnership Interest may be entitled as
provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Person to
comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. A Partnership Interest
may be expressed as a number of Partnership Units, and shall include all
Partnership Units.
"Partnership Minimum Gain" has the meaning set forth in Regulations
Section 1.704-2(b)(2), and the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain, as well as
any net increase or decrease in a Partnership Minimum Gain, for a Partnership
taxable year shall be determined in accordance with the rules of Regulations
Section 1.704-2(d).
"Partnership Record Date" means the record date established by the
General Partner for the distribution of Available Cash pursuant to Section 5.1
hereof, which record date shall be the same as the record date established by
the Company for a distribution to its shareholders of some of all of its portion
of such distribution.
"Partnership Unit" or "Unit" means a fractional, undivided share of the
Partnership Interests of all Partners issued pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3
or 4.4, and shall include the Convertible Unit and any Incentive Units. The
number of Partnership Units outstanding and the Percentage Interest in the
Partnership represented by such Units are set forth in Exhibit A attached
hereto, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time. The ownership of
Partnership Units shall be evidenced by such form of certificate for units as
the General Partner adopts from time to time unless the General Partner
determines that the Partnership Units shall be uncertificated securities.
"Partnership Year" means the fiscal year of the Partnership, which
shall be the calendar year.
"Percentage Interest" means, as to a Partner, its interest in the
Partnership as determined by dividing the Partnership Units (other than the
Convertible Unit) owned by such Partner by the total number of Partnership Units
(other than the Convertible Unit) then outstanding and as specified in Exhibit A
attached hereto, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time.
9
"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust,
unincorporated organization, association or other entity.
"Redeeming Partner" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.6 hereof.
"Redemption Right" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.6
hereof.
"Regulations" means the Income Tax Regulations promulgated under the
Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including
corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).
"REIT" means a real estate investment trust under Section 856 of the
Code.
"REIT Share" shall mean a share of common stock, par value $.01 per
share, of the Company.
"REIT Shares Amount" shall mean a number of REIT Shares equal to the
product of the number of Partnership Units offered for redemption by a Redeeming
Partner, multiplied by the Conversion Factor in effect on the date of receipt by
the General Partner of a Notice of Redemption, provided that in the event the
Company issues to all holders of REIT Shares rights, options, warrants or
convertible or exchangeable securities entitling the shareholders to subscribe
for or purchase REIT Shares, or any other securities or property (collectively,
"Rights"), and the Rights have not expired at the Specified Redemption Date,
then the REIT Shares Amount shall also include the Rights that were issuable to
a holder of the REIT Shares Amount of REIT Shares on the applicable record date
relating to the issuance of such Rights.
"Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of "REIT
Shares Amount."
"704(c) Value" of any Contributed Property means the fair market value
of such property or other consideration at the time of contribution, as
determined by the General Partner using such reasonable method of valuation as
it may adopt.
"Specified Redemption Date" means the tenth (10th) Business Day after
receipt by the Company of a Notice of Redemption; provided that no Specified
Redemption Date shall occur before that date that is twelve (12) months after
the Effective Date.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation,
partnership or other entity of which a majority of (i) the voting power of the
voting equity securities; or (ii) the outstanding equity interests, is owned,
directly or indirectly, by such Person.
"Substituted Limited Partner" means a Person who is admitted as a
Limited Partner to the Partnership pursuant to Section 11.4.
10
"Terminating Capital Transaction" means any sale or other disposition
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership or a related series
of transactions that, taken together, result in the sale or other disposition of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership.
"Unrealized Gain" attributable to any item of Partnership property
means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (i) the fair
market value of such property (as determined under Exhibit B hereof) as of such
date; over (ii) the Carrying Value of such property (prior to any adjustment to
be made pursuant to Exhibit B hereof) as of such date.
"Unrealized Loss" attributable to any item of Partnership property
means, as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (i) the Carrying
Value of such property (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to Exhibit B
hereof) as of such date; over (ii) the fair market value of such property (as
determined under Exhibit B hereof) as of such date.
"Valuation Date" means the date of receipt by the General Partner of a
Notice of Redemption or, if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business
Day thereafter.
"Value" means, with respect to a REIT Share, the average of the daily
market price for the ten (10) consecutive trading days immediately preceding the
Valuation Date. The market price for each such trading day shall be: (i) if the
REIT Shares are listed or admitted to trading on any securities exchange or the
Nasdaq National Market System, the closing price on such day, or if no such sale
takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such
day; (ii) if the REIT Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any
securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market System, the last reported sale
price on such day or, if no sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation
source designated by the General Partner; (iii) if the REIT Shares are not
listed or admitted to trading on any securities exchange or the Nasdaq National
Market System and no such last reported sale price or closing bid and asked
prices are available, the average of the reported high bid and low asked prices
on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the
General Partner, or if there shall be no bid and asked prices on such day, the
average of the high bid and low asked prices, as so reported, on the most recent
day (not more than ten (10) days prior to the date in question) for which prices
have been so reported; or (iv) if there are no bid and asked prices reported
during the ten (10) days prior to the date in question, the Value of the REIT
Shares shall be determined by the General Partner acting in good faith on the
basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its
reasonable judgment, appropriate. In the event the REIT Shares Amount includes
Rights, then the Value of such Rights shall be determined by the General Partner
acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it
considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate, provided that the Value of
any rights issued pursuant to a "Shareholder Rights Plan" shall be deemed to
have no value unless a "triggering event" shall have occurred (i.e., if the
Rights issued pursuant thereto are no longer "attached" to the REIT Shares and
are able to trade independently).
11
ARTICLE 2 - ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
Section 2.1 Formation
---------
The Partnership is a limited partnership organized pursuant to the
provisions of the Act. The Partners hereby agree to operate the Partnership upon
the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Except as expressly
provided herein to the contrary, the rights and obligations of the Partners and
the administration and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the
Act. The Partnership Interest of each Partner shall be personal property for all
purposes.
Section 2.2 Name
----
The name of the Partnership is Beacon Capital Partners L.P. The
Partnership's business may be conducted under any other name or names deemed
advisable by the General Partner, including the name of the General Partner or
any Affiliate thereof. The words "Limited Partnership," "L.P.," "Ltd." or
similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership's name where
necessary for the purposes of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that
so requires. The General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion may change
the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify
the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the
Limited Partners.
Section 2.3 Registered Office and Agent; Principal Office
---------------------------------------------
The address of the registered office of the Partnership in the State of
Delaware and the name and address of the registered agent for service of process
on the Partnership in the State of Delaware is The Corporation Trust Company,
Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. The
principal office of the Partnership shall be 50 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA 02110,
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 deems advisable.
Section 2.4 Power of Attorney
-----------------
A. Each Limited Partner and each Assignee hereby constitutes and
appoints the General Partner, any Liquidator, and authorized officers and
attorneys-in-fact of each, and each of those acting singly, in each case with
full power of substitution, as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact,
with full power and authority in its name, place and stead to:
(1) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and
record in the appropriate public offices (a) all
certificates, documents and other
12
instruments (including, without limitation, this
Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership
and all amendments or restatements thereof) that the
General Partner or the Liquidator deems appropriate
or necessary to form, qualify or continue the
existence or qualification of the Partnership as a
limited partnership (or a partnership in which the
Limited Partners have limited liability) in the State
of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which
the Partnership may or plans to conduct business or
own property; (b) all instruments that the General
Partner deems appropriate or necessary to reflect any
amendment, change, modification or restatement of
this Agreement in accordance with its terms; (c) all
conveyances and other instruments or documents that
the General Partner or the Liquidator deems
appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution
and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, a certificate of cancellation; (d) all
instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal,
removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to,
or other events described in, Article 11, 12 or 13
hereof or the Capital Contribution of any Partner;
and (e) all certificates, documents and other
instruments relating to the determination of the
rights, preferences and privileges of Partnership
Interests; and
(2) execute, swear to, seal, acknowledge and file all
ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates
and other instruments appropriate or necessary, in
the sole and absolute discretion of the General
Partner or any Liquidator, to make, evidence, give,
confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval,
agreement or other action which is made or given by
the Partners hereunder or is consistent with the
terms of this agreement or appropriate or necessary,
in the sole discretion of the General Partner or any
Liquidator, to effectuate the terms or intent of this
Agreement.
Nothing contained herein shall be construed as authorizing the General Partner
or any Liquidator to amend this Agreement except in accordance with Article 14
hereof or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement.
B. The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable
and a power coupled with an interest, in recognition of the fact that each of
the Partners will be relying upon the power of the General Partner and any
Liquidator to act as contemplated by this Agreement in any filing or other
action by it on behalf of the Partnership, and it shall survive and not be
affected by the subsequent Incapacity of any Limited Partner or Assignee and the
transfer of all or any portion of such Limited Partner's or Assignee's
Partnership Units and shall extend to such Limited Partner's or Assignee's
heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. Each such Limited
Partner or Assignee hereby agrees to be bound by any representation made by the
General Partner or any Liquidator, acting in good faith
13
pursuant to such power of attorney, and each such Limited Partner or Assignee
hereby waives any and all defenses which may be available to contest, negate or
disaffirm the action of the General Partner or any Liquidator, taken in good
faith under such power of attorney. Each Limited Partner or Assignee shall
execute and deliver to the General Partner or the Liquidator, within fifteen
(15) days after receipt of the General Partner's or Liquidator's request
therefor, such further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as
the General Partner or the Liquidator, as the case may be, deems necessary to
effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Partnership.
Section 2.5 Term
----
The term of the Partnership commenced on March 16, 1998, the date on
which the Certificate of Limited Partnership was filed in the office of the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and shall continue until the
Partnership is dissolved pursuant to the provisions of Article 13 or as
otherwise provided by law.
ARTICLE 3 - PURPOSE
Section 3.1 Purpose and Business
--------------------
The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the
Partnership is (i) to conduct any business that may be lawfully conducted by a
limited partnership organized pursuant to the Act; provided, however, that such
business shall be limited to and conducted in such a manner as to permit the
Company at all times to be classified as a REIT, unless the Board of Directors
of the Company determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the
Company to continue to qualify as a REIT; (ii) to enter into any partnership,
joint venture, limited liability company or other similar arrangement to engage
in any of the foregoing or to own interests in any entity engaged, directly or
indirectly, in any of the foregoing; and (iii) to do anything necessary or
incidental to the foregoing. In connection with the foregoing, and without
limiting the Company's right, in its sole discretion, to cease to qualify as a
REIT, the Partners acknowledge the Company's current status as a REIT inures to
the benefit of all of the Partners and not solely the General Partner. The
General Partner shall also be empowered to do any and all acts and things
necessary or prudent to ensure that the Partnership will not be classified as a
"publicly traded partnership" for purposes of Section 7704 of the Code,
including but not limited to imposing restrictions on transfers and restrictions
on redemptions.
Section 3.2 Powers
------
The Partnership is 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 herein and
for the protection and benefit of the Partnership, including, without
limitation, full power and authority, directly or through its ownership
14
interest in other entities, to enter into, perform and carry out contracts of
any kind, borrow money and issue evidences of indebtedness whether or not
secured by mortgage, deed of trust, pledge or other lien, acquire, own, manage,
improve and develop real property, and lease, sell, transfer and dispose of real
property; provided, however, that the Partnership shall not take, and shall
refrain from taking, any action which, in the judgment of the General Partner,
in its sole and absolute discretion, (i) could adversely affect the ability of
the Company to continue to qualify as a REIT (including by reason of the
Partnership being taxable as a corporation pursuant to Section 7701 or Section
7704 of the Code); (ii) could subject the Company to any liability for
additional taxes under Section 857 or Section 4981 of the Code; or (iii) could
violate any law or regulation of any governmental body or agency having
jurisdiction over the Company or its securities, unless, in the case of each of
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), such action (or inaction) shall have been
specifically consented to by the General Partner in writing.
ARTICLE 4 - CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Section 4.1 Capital Contributions of the Partners
-------------------------------------
A. Initial Capital Contributions of the Partnership on the Effective
Date. On the Effective Date, or such later date as the General Partner
determines, the Company, as General Partner and as a Limited Partner, Beacon
Capital Participation Plan, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("BCPP, L.P."),
as a Limited Partner, and the other Persons listed on Schedule A will make
Capital Contributions to the Partnership as set forth therein.
B. General Partnership Interest. A number of Partnership Units held by
the Company equal to one percent (1%) of all outstanding Partnership Units
(exclusive of the Convertible Unit) shall be deemed to be the General Partner
Partnership Units and shall be the General Partnership Interest. All other
Partnership Units held by the Company shall be deemed to be Limited Partnership
Interests and shall be held by the General Partner in its capacity as a Limited
Partner in the Partnership.
C. Capital Contributions By Merger. To the extent the Partnership
acquires any property by the merger of any other Person into the Partnership,
Persons who receive Partnership Interests in exchange for their interests in the
Person merging into the Partnership shall become Partners and shall be deemed to
have made Capital Contributions as provided in the applicable merger agreement
and as set forth in Exhibit A, as amended to reflect such deemed Capital
Contributions.
D. No Obligation to Make Additional Capital Contributions. Each Partner
shall own the number of Partnership Units set forth for such Partner in Exhibit
A and shall have a Percentage Interest in the Partnership as set forth in
Exhibit A, which Percentage Interest shall be adjusted in Exhibit A from time to
time by the General Partner to the extent necessary to
15
reflect accurately redemptions, additional Capital Contributions, the issuance
of additional Partnership Units (pursuant to any merger or otherwise), or
similar events having an effect on any Partner's Percentage Interest. The number
of Partnership Units held by the General Partner, in its capacity as general
partner, (equal to one percent (1%) of all outstanding Partnership Units
(exclusive of the Convertible Unit) from time to time) shall be deemed to be the
General Partner Interest. Except as provided in Sections 4.2, 5.4 or 10.5, or
elsewhere in this Agreement, the Partners shall have no obligation to make any
additional Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership.
E. On the Effective Date, BCPP, L.P. shall be issued, in connection
with its purchase of Units and Capital Contribution to the Partnership and for
no additional consideration, Limited Partner Interests which shall have the
rights set forth in Section 4.4 hereof, and which Limited Partner Interests
shall represent a separate and distinct class of Unit of Limited Partner
Interests (the "Convertible Unit").
Section 4.2 Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests
---------------------------------------------
A. The General Partner is hereby authorized to cause the Partnership
from time to time to issue to the Partners (including the General Partner and
its Affiliates) or other Persons (including, without limitation, in connection
with the contribution of property to the Partnership) additional Partnership
Units or other Partnership Interests in one or more classes, or one or more
series of any of such classes, with such designations, preferences and relative,
participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties, including
rights, powers and duties senior to the Limited Partner Interests issued on the
Effective Date, all as shall be determined by the General Partner in its sole
and absolute discretion subject to Delaware law, including, without limitation,
(i) the allocations of items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and
credit to each such class or series of Partnership Interests; (ii) the right of
each such class or series of Partnership Interests to share in Partnership
distributions; and (iii) the rights of each such class or series of Partnership
Interests upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; provided that no
such additional Partnership Units or other Partnership Interests shall be issued
to the General Partner, unless either (a)(1) the additional Partnership
Interests are issued in connection with the grant, award or issuance of REIT
Shares or other equity interests by the Company, which REIT shares or other
equity interests have designations, preferences and other rights such that the
economic interests attributable to such REIT shares or other equity interests
are substantially similar to the designations, preferences and other rights of
the additional Partnership Interests issued to the General Partner in accordance
with this Section 4.2.A, and (2) the Company shall make a Capital Contribution
to the Partnership in an amount equal to the proceeds raised in connection with
such issuance, or (b) the additional Partnership Interests are issued to all
Partners in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests. In addition,
the Company may acquire Units from other Partners pursuant to this Agreement. In
the event that the Partnership issues Partnership Interests pursuant to this
Section 4.2.A, the General Partner shall make such revisions to this Agreement
(without any requirement of receiving approval of the Limited Partners)
including
16
but not limited to the revisions described in Section 5.5 hereof, as it deems
necessary to reflect the issuance of such additional Partnership Interests and
the special rights, powers and duties associated therewith. Unless specifically
set forth otherwise by the General Partner, any Partnership Interest issued
after the Effective Date shall have the same rights, powers and duties as the
Partnership Interests issued on the Effective Date.
B. From and after the date hereof, the Company shall not issue any
additional REIT Shares (other than REIT Shares issued pursuant to Section 8.6),
or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities
containing the right to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares (collectively "New
Securities") other than to all holders of REIT Shares unless (i) the General
Partner shall cause the Partnership to issue to the Company, Partnership
Interests or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities
of the Partnership having designations, preferences and other rights, all such
that the economic interests are substantially similar to those of the New
Securities; and (ii) the Company contributes to the Partnership the proceeds
from the issuance of such New Securities and from the exercise of rights
contained in such New Securities. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company is
expressly authorized to issue New Securities for no tangible value or for less
than fair market value, and the General Partner is expressly authorized to cause
the Partnership to issue to the Company corresponding Partnership Interests, so
long as (x) the General Partner concludes in good faith that such issuance is in
the interests of the Company and the Partnership (for example, and not by way of
limitation, the issuance of REIT Shares and corresponding Units pursuant to an
employee stock purchase plan providing for employee grants or purchases of REIT
Shares or employee stock options that have an exercise price that is less than
the fair market value of the REIT Shares, either at the time of issuance or at
the time of exercise); and (y) the Company contributes all proceeds, if any,
from such issuance and exercise to the Partnership.
Section 4.3 Contribution of Proceeds of Issuance of REIT Shares
---------------------------------------------------
In connection with the initial offering of REIT Shares by the Company
and any other issuance of New Securities pursuant to Section 4.2, the Company
shall contribute to the Partnership any proceeds (or a portion thereof) raised
in connection with such issuance; provided that if the proceeds actually
received by the Company are less than the gross proceeds of such issuance as a
result of any expenses paid or incurred in connection with such issuance, then
the Company shall be deemed to have made a Capital Contribution to the
Partnership in the amount equal to the sum of the net proceeds of such issuance
plus the amount of such other expenses paid by the Company (which expense shall
be treated as an expense for the benefit of the Partnership for purposes of
Section 7.4); provided however that the cost of the discount to NationsBanc
Montgomery Securities LLC as underwriter in connection with the initial offering
of REIT Shares by the Company (including any REIT Shares sold pursuant to the
overallotment option) shall be borne by the Company, and the Company shall not
be deemed to have made a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in an amount
equal to costs attributable thereto. In the case of employee acquisitions of New
Securities at a discount from fair market
17
value or for no value in connection with a grant of New Securities, the amount
of such discount representing compensation to the employee, as determined by the
General Partner, shall be treated as an expense of the Partnership of the
issuance of such New Securities.
Section 4.4 Convertible Unit and Incentive Units
------------------------------------
A Convertible Unit shall be issued to BCPP, L.P. on the Effective Date
for no additional consideration. At the end of the three year period following
the completion of the first calendar year following the Effective Date (the
"Determination Date"), the Convertible Unit shall automatically convert into a
number of Incentive Units (as defined herein) having an aggregate fair market
value equal to the Incentive Return (as defined herein). For purposes of the
foregoing, each such Incentive Unit shall be deemed to have a value equal to the
value of a REIT Share on a one-for-one basis, appropriately adjusted to reflect
any adjustments to the Conversion Factor.
A. The "Incentive Return" shall equal the product of (A) 12% of the
dollar amount by which (i) the Actual Return exceeds (ii) the Base Return;
multiplied by (B) the weighted average of shares of common stock of the Company
("Common Stock") and Units (other than the Convertible Unit) outstanding for the
12 months immediately preceding the Determination Date; multiplied by (C) the
Company's Multiple (as defined below).
For the purposes of calculating the Incentive Return:
"Actual Return" means the Funds from Operations (before the
Incentive Return) per share of Common Stock and per Unit for the 12
months immediately preceding the Determination Date;
"Base Return" means an amount equal to what the Funds from
Operations per share of Common Stock and per Unit would have been for
the twelve month period immediately preceding the Determination Date
assuming a benchmark cumulative rate of return on the offering price of
the Company's initial private offering (the "Offering Price") equal to
10% per annum, compounding quarterly, calculated since the beginning of
the calendar quarter following the date of closing of the Effective
Date;
"Funds from Operations"means net income per share of Common
Stock and per Unit (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains
(or losses) from debt restructuring and sales of property, plus
depreciation and amortization (in each case, only real estate-related
assets), and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and
joint ventures; and
"Multiple" means the price of the Company's Common Stock (as
defined below) divided by the Company's Funds from Operations for the
fiscal quarter ending on the Determination Date on an annualized basis.
18
For the purposes of calculating the Multiple, the price of the
Company's Common Stock will be calculated as follows:
(1) Where there exists a public market for the
Company's Common Stock, the price of the Company's Common
Stock will be the average of the closing bid and asked prices
of the Common Stock quoted in the Over-The-Counter Market
Summary or the last reported sale price of the Common Stock or
the closing price quoted on the NASDAQ System or on any
exchange on which the Common Stock is listed, whichever is
applicable, as published in The Wall Street Journal for the
ninety (90) days prior to the calculation of the Multiple.
(2) If no public market for the Common Stock exists
at the time of such exercise, the price of the Company's
Common Stock will be determined by a single, independent
appraiser to be selected by a committee of directors of the
Company who are not employees of the Company ("Independent
Directors"), which appraiser shall appraise the fair market
value of one share of the Company's Common Stock within thirty
(30) days of its selection within such guidelines as shall be
determined by the committee of Independent Directors.
B. In the event of a change in control of the Company (as such term is
defined in the Company's Certificate of Incorporation), the right to convert the
Convertible Unit shall automatically accelerate and the determination of the
Incentive Return shall be appropriately amended or adjusted to reflect such
acceleration as determined in the discretion of the Company's Compensation
Committee. The Company anticipates that the mechanism by which the Incentive
Return will be adjusted as a result of a change of control shall be established
by the Compensation Committee in advance of any such event.
C. The Incentive Units shall be a class of Units of Limited Partner
Interests issuable upon the conversion of the Convertible Unit and, upon
issuance, the Incentive Units (i) shall share with the other then outstanding
Units in allocations and distributions by the Partnership as provided for in
Articles 5 and 6 and (ii) shall be redeemable as provided for in Section 8.6.
Section 4.5 Capital Account Balances
------------------------
The Capital Account balance, as of the Effective Date, or such later
date as provided for in Section 4.1A, attributable to each Partner and the
number of Units held by each Partner is reflected on Exhibit A. As of the
Effective Date, the Capital Account balances of the Partners will be in
proportion to their Percentage Interests and the Capital Account balance
allocable to each Unit (other than the Convertible Unit) will be equal. The
Capital Account balance allocable to the Convertible Unit will be zero at all
times and the Capital Account balance allocable to any Incentive Units, as of
the time of their issuance pursuant to Section
19
4.4, will also be zero. Except as otherwise determined in good faith by the
General Partner, allocations of Net Income (or gross income) pursuant to Section
6.2 shall be allocated to the Capital Account balance attributable to the
Incentive Units being redeemed or liquidated, distributions in redemption or
liquidation of Units shall be allocated to the Capital Account balances
attributable to the Units being redeemed or liquidated, and other allocations
and distributions shall be allocated to the Capital Account balances
attributable to the appropriate Units which shall generally be in equal amounts
to each outstanding Unit.
ARTICLE 5 - DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 5.1 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions
-------------------------------------------------
The General Partner shall distribute at least quarterly an amount equal
to one hundred percent (100%) of Available Cash generated by the Partnership
during such quarter or shorter period to the Partners who are Partners on the
Partnership Record Date in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests
on such Partnership Record Date; provided that in no event may a Partner receive
a distribution of Available Cash with respect to a Partnership Unit if such
Partner is entitled to receive a distribution out of such Available Cash with
respect to a REIT Share for which such Partnership Unit has been exchanged and
such distribution shall be made to the Company. Unless otherwise expressly
provided for herein or in an agreement at the time a new class of Partnership
Interests is created in accordance with Article 4 hereof, no Partnership
Interest shall be entitled to a distribution in preference to any other
Partnership Interest.
Section 5.2 Amounts Withheld
----------------
All amounts withheld pursuant to the Code or any other provisions of
law with respect to any allocation, payment or distribution to the Partners or
Assignees shall be treated as a loan pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.5.
Section 5.3 Distributions Upon Liquidation
------------------------------
In the event the Partnership (or a Partner's interest therein) is
"liquidated" within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), then any distributions shall be made pursuant to this
Section 5.3 to the Partners (or such Partner, as appropriate), in accordance
with their positive Capital Account balances in compliance with Treasury
Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(2).
Section 5.4 Deficit Restoration by General Partner
--------------------------------------
In the event the General Partner's interest in the Partnership is
"liquidated" within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) (including, without limitation,
20
upon the liquidation of the Partnership) and the General Partner's Capital
Account has a deficit balance after giving effect to all contributions,
distributions and allocations for all taxable years, including the year during
which such liquidation occurs, the General Partner shall contribute to the
capital of the Partnership the amount necessary to restore such deficit balance
to zero in compliance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(3).
Section 5.5 Revisions to Reflect Issuance of Additional Partnership
-------------------------------------------------------
Interests
---------
In the event that the Partnership issues additional Partnership
Interests to the General Partner, any existing Limited Partner or any Additional
Limited Partner pursuant to Article 4 hereof, the General Partner shall make
such revisions to this Agreement and any Exhibits attached hereto as it deems
necessary to reflect the issuance of such additional Partnership Interests and
any special rights, duties or powers with respect thereto.
ARTICLE 6 - ALLOCATIONS
Section 6.1 Allocations For Capital Account Purposes
----------------------------------------
The Capital Accounts shall be maintained as provided for in Exhibit B
attached hereto and after giving effect to the special allocations set forth in
Section 1 of Exhibit C attached hereto and in Section 6.2, the Partnership's
items of income, gain, loss and deduction (computed in accordance with Exhibit B
attached hereto) shall be allocated among the Partners in each taxable year (or
portion thereof) as provided below:
A. Net Income shall be allocated (i) first, to the General Partner to
the extent that Net Losses previously allocated to the General Partner pursuant
to the last sentence of Section 6.1.B exceed Net Income previously allocated to
the General Partner pursuant to this clause (i) of Section 6.1.A; and (ii)
thereafter, Net Income shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with
their respective Percentage Interests.
B. Net Loss shall be allocated (i) to the Partners in proportion to
their Percentage Interests; and (ii) notwithstanding clause (i) of this Section
6.1B, no allocation shall be made to a Limited Partner pursuant to clause (i) of
this Section 6.1B to the extent that it shall cause or increase an Adjusted
Capital Account Deficit with respect to such Limited Partner. To the extent any
allocation of Net Loss is limited by the preceding sentence, such Net Loss shall
be allocated to the General Partner.
21
Section 6.2 Special Allocations In the Event of Redemption of Incentive
-----------------------------------------------------------
Units
-----
In the event of the redemption of any Incentive Units pursuant to
Section 8.6A or in the event of a liquidation of the Partnership (or a Partner's
interest therein) as described in Section 5.3, there shall be a special
allocation of Net Income (or items of gross income if there is insufficient Net
Income) to the Partner who holds the Incentive Units being redeemed or
liquidated with respect to such Incentive Units in an amount such that the
Capital Account balance allocable to each such Incentive Unit is equal to the
Capital Account balance allocable to each other Unit (other than any Incentive
Unit not being redeemed at such time). This Section 6.2 shall not apply if the
Company exercises its right to purchase such Incentive Units pursuant to Section
8.6B. However, this Section 6.2 shall apply if the Company or any other
transferee of an Incentive Unit subsequently has such Incentive Unit redeemed or
liquidated by the Partnership.
ARTICLE 7 - MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF BUSINESS
Section 7.1 Management
----------
A. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all
management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership are and shall
be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner shall have
any right to participate in or exercise control or management power over the
business and affairs of the Partnership. The General Partner may not be removed
by the Limited Partners with or without cause. In addition to the powers now or
hereafter granted a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable
law or which are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of
this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to Section 7.3 hereof, shall have
full power and authority to do all things deemed necessary or desirable by it to
conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in
Section 3.2 hereof and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 3.1
hereof, including, without limitation:
(1) the making of any expenditures, the lending or
borrowing of money (including, without limitation,
making prepayments on loans and borrowing money to
permit the Partnership to make distributions to its
Partners in such amounts as will permit the Company
(so long as the Company qualifies as a REIT) to avoid
the payment of any federal income tax (including, for
this purpose, any excise tax pursuant to Section 4981
of the Code) and to make distributions to its
shareholders in amounts sufficient to permit the
Company to maintain REIT status), the assumption or
guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness
and other liabilities, the issuance of evidence of
indebtedness (including the securing of the same by
deed, mortgage, deed of trust or other
22
lien or encumbrance on the Partnership's assets) and
the incurring of any obligations it deems necessary
for the conduct of the activities of the Partnership;
(2) 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, the
registration of any class of securities of the
Partnership under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and the listing of any debt
securities of the Partnership on any exchange;
(3) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge,
encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any assets
of the Partnership (including the exercise or grant
of any conversion, option, privilege, or subscription
right or other right available in connection with any
assets at any time held by the Partnership) or the
merger or other combination of the Partnership with
or into another entity (all of the foregoing subject
to any prior approval only to the extent required by
Section 7.3 hereof);
(4) the use of the assets of the Partnership (including,
without limitation, cash on hand) for any purpose
consistent with the terms of this Agreement and on
any terms it sees fit, including, without limitation,
the financing of the conduct of the operations of the
Company, the Partnership or any of the Partnership's
Subsidiaries, the lending of funds to other Persons
(including, without limitation, the Subsidiaries of
the Partnership and/or the Company) and the repayment
of obligations of the Partnership and its
Subsidiaries and any other Person in which it has an
equity investment, and the making of capital
contributions to its Subsidiaries;
(5) the management, operation, leasing, landscaping,
repair, alteration, demolition or improvement of any
real property or improvements owned by the
Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership;
(6) the negotiation, execution, and performance of any
contracts, conveyances or other instruments that the
General Partner considers useful or necessary to the
conduct of the Partnership's operations or the
implementation of the General Partner's powers under
this Agreement, including contracting with
contractors, developers, consultants, accountants,
legal counsel, other
23
professional advisors and other agents and the
payment of their expenses and compensation out of the
Partnership's assets;
(7) the distribution of Partnership cash or other
Partnership assets in accordance with this Agreement;
(8) holding, managing, investing and reinvesting cash and
other assets of the Partnership;
(9) the collection and receipt of revenues and income of
the Partnership;
(10) the establishment of one or more divisions of the
Partnership, the selection and dismissal of employees
of the Partnership (including, without limitation,
employees having titles such as "president," "vice
president," "secretary" and "treasurer" of the
Partnership), and agents, outside attorneys,
accountants, consultants and contractors of the
Partnership, and the determination of their
compensation and other terms of employment or hiring;
(11) the maintenance of such insurance for the benefit of
the Partnership, the Partner and directors and
officers thereof as it deems necessary or
appropriate;
(12) the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in,
and the contribution of property to, any further
limited or general partnerships, joint ventures or
other relationships that it deems desirable
(including, without limitation, the acquisition of
interests in, and the contributions of property to,
its Subsidiaries and any other Person in which it has
an equity investment from time to time);
(13) the control of any matters affecting the rights and
obligations of the Partnership, including the
settlement, compromise, submission to arbitration or
any other form of dispute resolution, or abandonment
of, any claim, cause of action, liability, debt or
damages, due or owing to or from the Partnership, the
commencement or defense of suits, legal proceedings,
administrative proceedings, arbitration or other
forms of dispute resolution, and the representation
of the Partnership in all suits or legal proceedings,
administrative proceedings, arbitrations or other
forms of dispute resolution, the incurring of legal
expense,
24
and the indemnification of any Person against
liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted
by law;
(14) the undertaking of any action in connection with the
Partnership's direct or indirect investment in its
Subsidiaries or any other Person (including, without
limitation, the contribution or loan of funds by the
Partnership to such Persons);
(15) the determination of the fair market value of any
Partnership property distributed in kind using such
reasonable method of valuation as the General Partner
may adopt;
(16) the exercise, directly or indirectly, through any
attorney-in-fact acting under a general or limited
power of attorney, of any right, including the right
to vote, appurtenant to any asset or investment held
by the Partnership;
(17) the exercise of any of the powers of the General
Partner enumerated in this Agreement on behalf of or
in connection with any Subsidiary of the Partnership
or any other Person in which the Partnership has a
direct or indirect interest, or jointly with any such
Subsidiary or other Person;
(18) the exercise of any of the powers of the General
Partner enumerated in this Agreement on behalf of any
Person in which the Partnership does not have an
interest pursuant to contractual or other
arrangements with such Person;
(19) the making, execution and delivery of any and all
deeds, leases, notes, mortgages, deeds of trust,
security agreements, conveyances, contracts,
guarantees, warranties, indemnities, waivers,
releases or legal instruments or agreements in
writing necessary or appropriate, in the judgment of
the General Partner, for the accomplishment of any of
the powers of the General Partner enumerated in this
Agreement; and
(20) the issuance of additional Partnership Units, as
appropriate, in connection with Capital Contributions
by Additional Limited Partners and additional Capital
Contributions by Partners pursuant to Article 4
hereof.
B. Each of the Limited Partners agrees that the General Partner is
authorized to execute, deliver and perform the above-mentioned agreements and
transactions on behalf of the
25
Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners,
notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (except as provided in
Section 7.3 or Section 8.7), the Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation,
to the fullest extent permitted under the Act or other applicable law, rule or
regulation. The execution, delivery or performance by the General Partner or the
Partnership of any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement shall
not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the General
Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons
under this Agreement or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity.
C. At all times from and after the date hereof, the General Partner may
cause the Partnership to establish and maintain at any and all times working
capital accounts and other cash or similar balances in such amounts as the
General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, deems appropriate and
reasonable from time to time.
D. In exercising its authority under this Agreement, the General
Partner may, but shall be under no obligation to, take into account the tax
consequences to any Partner of any action taken by it. The General Partner and
the Partnership shall not have liability to a Limited Partner under any
circumstances, as a result of an income tax liability incurred by such Limited
Partner as a result of an action (or inaction) by the General Partner taken
pursuant to its authority under this Agreement and in accordance with the terms
of Section 7.3 and Section 8.7. The Limited Partners expressly acknowledge that
the General Partner is acting on behalf of the Partnership, the Company and the
Company's stockholders collectively.
Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership
----------------------------------
The General Partner has previously filed the Certificate of Limited
Partnership with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by
the Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be
filed such other certificates or documents as may be reasonable and necessary or
appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a
limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited
liability) in the State of Delaware and any other state, or the District of
Columbia, in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To
the extent that such action is determined by the General Partner to be
reasonable and necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file
amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Limited Partnership and do
all of the things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a
partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws
of the State of Delaware and each other state, or the District of Columbia, in
which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the
terms of Section 8.5.A(4) hereof, the General Partner shall not be required,
before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Limited
Partnership or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner.
Section 7.3 Restrictions on General Partner Authority.
------------------------------------------
The General Partner may not take any action in contravention of an
express prohibition or limitation of this Agreement
26
without the written Consent of Limited Partners holding a majority of the
Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners (including Limited Partner
Interests held by the Company), or such other percentage of the Limited Partners
as may be specifically provided for under a provision of this Agreement.
Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner and the Company;
-----------------------------------------------------
DRIP's and Repurchase Programs
------------------------------
A. Except as provided in this Section 7.4 and elsewhere in this
Agreement (including the provisions of Articles 5 and 6 regarding distributions,
payments, and allocations to which it may be entitled), the General Partner
shall not be compensated for its services as general partner of the Partnership.
B. The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such
other basis as it may determine in its sole and absolute discretion, for all
expenses that it incurs relating to the ownership and operation of, or for the
benefit of, the Partnership (including, without limitation, (i) expenses
relating to the ownership of interests in and operation of the Partnership, (ii)
compensation of the Company's officers and employees including, without
limitation, payments under the General Partner's Stock Incentive Plans that
provide for stock units, or other phantom stock, pursuant to which employees of
the General Partner will receive payments based upon dividends on, or the value
of, REIT Shares, (iii) director fees and expenses and (iv) all costs and
expenses of being a public company, including costs of filings with the SEC,
reports and other distributions to its stockholders); provided that the amount
of any such reimbursement shall be reduced by any interest earned by the General
Partner with respect to bank accounts or other instruments or accounts held by
it on behalf of the Partnership. The Partners acknowledge that all such expenses
of the General Partner are deemed to be for the benefit of the Partnership. Such
reimbursement shall be in addition to any reimbursement made as a result of
indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7 hereof.
C. In the event that the Company shall elect to purchase from its
shareholders REIT Shares for the purpose of delivering such REIT Shares to
satisfy an obligation under any dividend reinvestment program adopted by the
Company, any employee stock purchase plan adopted by the Company, or any similar
obligation or arrangement undertaken by the Company in the future or for the
purpose of retiring such REIT Shares, the purchase price paid by the Company for
such REIT Shares and any other expenses incurred by the Company in connection
with such purchase shall be considered expenses of the Partnership and shall be
advanced to the Company or reimbursed to the Company, subject to the condition
that: (i) if such REIT Shares subsequently are sold by the Company, the Company
shall pay to the Partnership any proceeds received by the Company for such REIT
Shares (which sales proceeds shall include the amount of dividends reinvested
under any dividend reinvestment or similar program provided that a transfer of
REIT Shares for Units pursuant to Section 8.6 would not be considered a sale for
such purposes); and (ii) if such REIT Shares are not retransferred by the
Company within thirty (30) days after the purchase thereof, or the
27
Company otherwise determines not to retransfer such REIT Shares, the Company, as
General Partner, shall cause the Partnership to redeem a number of Partnership
Units held by the Company, as a Limited Partner, equal to the product obtained
by dividing the number of such REIT Shares by the Conversion Factor (in which
case such advancement or reimbursement of expenses shall be treated as having
been made as a distribution in redemption of such number of Units held by the
Company).
Section 7.5 Outside Activities of the General Partner
-----------------------------------------
The General Partner shall not directly or indirectly enter into or
conduct any business other than in connection with the ownership, acquisition
and disposition of Partnership Interests and the management of the business of
the Partnership, and such activities as are incidental thereto. The General
Partner and any Affiliates of the General Partner may acquire Limited Partner
Interests and shall be entitled to exercise all rights of a Limited Partner
relating to such Limited Partner Interests.
Section 7.6 Contracts with Affiliates
-------------------------
A. The Partnership may lend or contribute funds or other assets to its
Subsidiaries or other Persons in which it has an equity investment and such
Persons may borrow funds from the Partnership, on terms and conditions
established in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner. The
foregoing authority shall not create any right or benefit in favor of any
Subsidiary or any other Person.
B. Except as provided in Section 7.5, the Partnership may transfer
assets to joint ventures, other partnerships, corporations or other business
entities in which it is or thereby becomes a participant upon such terms and
subject to such conditions consistent with this Agreement and applicable law as
the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, believes are
advisable.
C. Except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, neither the General
Partner nor any of its Affiliates shall sell, transfer or convey any property
to, or purchase any property from, the Partnership, directly or indirectly,
except pursuant to transactions that are determined by the General Partner in
good faith to be fair and reasonable.
D. The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion and without
the approval of the Limited Partners, may propose and adopt, on behalf of the
Partnership, employee benefit plans, stock option plans, and similar plans
funded by the Partnership for the benefit of employees of the General Partner,
the Partnership, Subsidiaries of the Partnership or any Affiliate of any of them
in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the
Partnership, the General Partner, or any Subsidiaries of the Partnership.
28
E. The General Partner is expressly authorized to enter into, in the
name and on behalf of the Partnership, certain conflict avoidance agreements
with various Affiliates of the Partnership and the General Partner, on such
terms as the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, believes are
advisable.
Section 7.7 Indemnification
---------------
A. To the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, the Partnership
shall indemnify each Indemnitee from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including, without limitation,
attorneys fees and other legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines,
settlements, and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands,
actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative,
that relate to the operations of the Partnership or the Company as set forth in
this Agreement, in which such Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be
involved, as a party or otherwise, unless it is established that: (i) the act or
omission of the Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the
proceeding and either was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and
deliberate dishonesty; (ii) the Indemnitee actually received an improper
personal benefit in money, property or services; or (iii) in the case of any
criminal proceeding, the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act
or omission was unlawful. Without limitation, the foregoing indemnity shall
extend to any liability of any Indemnitee, pursuant to a loan guaranty (except a
guaranty by a limited partner of nonrecourse indebtedness of the Partnership or
as otherwise provided in any such loan guaranty) or otherwise for any
indebtedness of the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership (including
without limitation, any indebtedness which the Partnership or any Subsidiary of
the Partnership has assumed or taken subject to), and the General Partner is
hereby authorized and empowered, on behalf of the Partnership, to enter into one
or more indemnity agreements consistent with the provisions of this Section 7.7
in favor of any Indemnitee having or potentially having liability for any such
indebtedness. The termination of any proceeding by conviction of an Indemnitee
or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent by an Indemnitee, or an
entry of an order of probation against an Indemnitee prior to judgment, creates
a rebuttable presumption that such Indemnitee acted in a manner contrary to that
specified in this Section 7.7.A. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section
7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, and neither the
General Partner nor any Limited Partner shall have any obligation to contribute
to the capital of the Partnership, or otherwise provide funds, to enable the
Partnership to fund its obligations under this Section 7.7.
B. Reasonable expenses incurred by an Indemnitee who is a party to a
proceeding shall be paid or reimbursed by the Partnership in advance of the
final disposition of the proceeding upon receipt by the Partnership of (i) a
written affirmation by the Indemnitee of the Indemnitee's good faith belief that
the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Partnership as
authorized in Section 7.7.A. has been met, and (ii) a written undertaking by or
on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay the amount if it shall ultimately be
determined that the standard of conduct has not been met.
29
C. The indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in
addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee or any other Person may be
entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the Partners, as a matter
of law or otherwise, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to
serve in such capacity unless otherwise provided in a written agreement pursuant
to which such Indemnitee is indemnified.
D. The Partnership may, but shall not be obligated to, purchase and
maintain insurance, on behalf of the Indemnitees and such other Persons as the
General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted
against or expenses that may be incurred by such Person in connection with the
Partnership's activities, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the
power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of
this Agreement.
E. For purposes of this Section 7.7, the Partnership shall be deemed to
have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan
whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes
duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or
beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect
to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute fines
within the meaning of Section 7.7; and actions taken or omitted by the
Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of its
duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the interest of the
participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose
which is not opposed to the best interests of the Partnership.
F. In no event may an Indemnitee subject any of the Partners to
personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this
Agreement.
G. An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in
part under this Section 7.7 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the
transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction
was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
H. The provisions of this Section 7.7 are for the benefit of the
Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not
be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons. Any
amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.7 or any provision hereof
shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the Partnership's
liability to any Indemnitee under this Section 7.7, as in effect immediately
prior to such amendment, modification, or repeal with respect to claims arising
from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such
amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or
be asserted.
30
Section 7.8 Liability of the General Partner
--------------------------------
A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this
Agreement, the General Partner and its officers and directors shall not be
liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, any Partners or any Assignees
for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of errors in judgment
or of any act or omission if the General Partner acted in good faith.
B. The Limited Partners expressly acknowledge that, as stated in
Section 7.1.D, the General Partner is acting on behalf of the Partnership and
the shareholders of the Company collectively, that the General Partner is under
no obligation to consider the separate interests of the Limited Partners in
deciding whether to cause the Partnership to take (or decline to take) any
actions, and that the General Partner shall not be liable for monetary damages
for losses sustained, liabilities incurred, or benefits not derived by Limited
Partners in connection with such decisions, provided that the General Partner
has acted in good faith.
C. Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth
in Section 7.1.A hereof, 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. The General Partner shall
not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such
agent appointed by the General Partner in good faith.
D. Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any
provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the
limitations on the General Partner's and its officers' and directors' liability
to the Partnership and the Limited Partners under this Section 7.8 as in effect
immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to
claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior
to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may
arise or be asserted.
Section 7.9 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner
--------------------------------------------
A. The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in acting, or
refraining from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other
paper or document believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been
signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
B. The General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants,
appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers, architects, engineers,
environmental consultants and other consultants and advisers selected by it, and
any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the opinion of such
Persons as to matters which such General Partner reasonably believes to be
within such Person's professional or expert competence shall be conclusively
presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such
opinion.
31
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 and duly appointed attorneys-in-fact. Each such attorney shall, to the
extent provided by the General Partner in the power of attorney, have full power
and authority to do and perform all and every act and duty which is permitted or
required to be done by the General Partner hereunder.
D. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or the Act,
any action of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership or any decision
of the General Partner to refrain from acting on behalf of the Partnership,
undertaken in the good faith belief that such action or omission is necessary or
advisable in order (i) to protect the ability of the Company to continue to
qualify as a REIT; or (ii) to avoid the Company incurring any taxes under
Section 857 or Section 4981 of the Code, is expressly authorized under this
Agreement and is deemed approved by all of the Limited Partners.
Section 7.10 Title to Partnership Assets
---------------------------
Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and
whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership
as an entity, and no Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any
ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof. Title to
any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership,
the General Partner or one or more nominees, as the General Partner may
determine, including Affiliates of the General Partner. The General Partner
hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which legal title
is held in the name of the General Partner or any nominee or Affiliate of the
General Partner shall be held by the General Partner for the use and benefit of
the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided,
however, that the General Partner shall use its best efforts to cause beneficial
and record title to such assets to be vested in the Partnership as soon as
reasonably practicable if failure to so vest such title would have a material
adverse effect on the Partnership. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as
the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the
name in which legal title to such Partnership assets is held.
Section 7.11 Reliance by Third Parties
-------------------------
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person
dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General
Partner has full power and authority, without consent or approval of any other
Partner or Person, to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all
assets of the Partnership and to enter into any contracts on behalf of the
Partnership, and take any and all actions on behalf of the Partnership and such
Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner as if the General
Partner were the Partnership's sole party in interest, both legally and
beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives any and all defenses or other
remedies which may be available against such Person to contest, negate or
disaffirm any action of the General Partner in connection with any such dealing.
In no event shall any Person dealing with the General Partner or its
32
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 its representatives. Each and every
certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership
by the General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in
favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (i) at
the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or
instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect; (ii) 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
(iii) 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 8 - RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF LIMITED PARTNERS
Section 8.1 Limitation of Liability
-----------------------
The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement
except as expressly provided in this Agreement, including Section 10.5 hereof,
or under the Act.
Section 8.2 Management of Business
----------------------
No Limited Partner or Assignee (other than the General Partner, any of
its Affiliates or any officer, director, employee, agent or trustee of the
General Partner, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates, in their capacity
as such) shall take part in the operation, management or control (within the
meaning of the 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. The transaction of any such business by the General Partner, any of
its Affiliates or any officer, director, employee, partner, agent or trustee of
the General Partner, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates, in their
capacity as such, shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the
liability of the Limited Partners or Assignees under this Agreement.
Section 8.3 Outside Activities of Limited Partners
--------------------------------------
Subject to any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 7.6.E hereof
and any other agreements entered into by a Limited Partner or its Affiliates
with the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, any Limited Partner (other than
the Company) and any officer, director, employee, agent, trustee, Affiliate or
shareholder of any 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 that are in direct
competition with the Partnership or that are enhanced by the activities of the
Partnership. Neither the Partnership nor any Partners shall have any rights by
virtue of this Agreement in any business
33
ventures of any Limited Partner or Assignee. None of the Limited Partners (other
than the Company) nor any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this
Agreement or the Partnership relationship established hereby in any business
ventures of any other Person and such Person shall have no obligation pursuant
to this Agreement to offer any interest in any such business ventures to the
Partnership, any Limited Partner or any such other Person, even if such
opportunity is of a character which, if presented to the Partnership, any
Limited Partner or such other Person, could be taken by such Person.
Section 8.4 Return of Capital
-----------------
Except pursuant to the right of redemption set forth in Section 8.6, no
Limited Partner shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital
Contribution, except to the extent of distributions made pursuant to this
Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership as provided herein. Except to
the extent provided by Exhibit C hereof or as otherwise expressly provided in
this Agreement, no Limited Partner or Assignee shall have priority over any
other Limited Partner or Assignee, either as to the return of Capital
Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions.
Section 8.5 Rights of Limited Partners Relating to the Partnership
------------------------------------------------------
A. In addition to the other rights provided by this Agreement or by the
Act, and except as limited by Section 8.5.C hereof, each Limited Partner shall
have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner's
interest as a limited partner in the Partnership, upon written demand with a
statement of the purpose of such demand and at such Limited Partner's own
expense (including such copying and administrative charges as the General
Partner may establish from time to time):
(1) to obtain a copy of the most recent annual and
quarterly reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission by the Company pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934;
(2) to obtain a copy of the Partnership's federal, state
and local income tax returns for each Partnership
Year;
(3) to obtain a current list of the name and last known
business, residence or mailing address of each
Partner;
(4) to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the
Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments
thereto, together with executed copies of all powers
of attorney pursuant to which this Agreement, the
Certificate of Limited Partnership and all amendments
thereto have been executed; and
34
(5) to obtain true and full information regarding the
amount of cash and a description and statement of any
other property or services contributed by each
Partner and which each Partner has agreed to
contribute in the future, and the date on which each
became a Partner.
B. The Partnership shall notify each Limited Partner, upon request, of
the then current Conversion Factor and the REIT Shares Amount per Partnership
Unit and, with reasonable detail, how the same was determined.
C. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 8.5, the General
Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time
as the General Partner determines in its sole and absolute discretion to be
reasonable, any information that (i) the General Partner reasonably believes to
be in the nature of trade secrets or other information, the disclosure of which
the General Partner in good faith believes is not in the best interests of the
Partnership or could damage the Partnership or its business; or (ii) the
Partnership is required by law or by agreements with an unaffiliated third party
to keep confidential.
Section 8.6 Redemption Right
----------------
A. Subject to Sections 8.6.B and 8.6.C hereof, on or after that date
which is twelve (12) months after the Effective Date, each Limited Partner
(other than the Company) shall have the right (the "Redemption Right") to
require the Partnership to redeem on a Specified Redemption Date all or a
portion of the Partnership Units (other than the Convertible Unit) held by such
Limited Partner at a redemption price per Unit equal to and in the form of the
Cash Amount to be paid by the Partnership. The Redemption Right shall be
exercised pursuant to a Notice of Redemption delivered to the Partnership (with
a copy to the Company) by the Limited Partner who is exercising the redemption
right (the "Redeeming Partner"); provided, however, that the Partnership shall
not be obligated to satisfy such Redemption Right if the Company elects to
purchase the Partnership Units subject to the Notice of Redemption pursuant to
Section 8.6.B. A Limited Partner may not exercise the Redemption Right for less
than one thousand (1,000) Partnership Units or, if such Limited Partner holds
less than one thousand (1,000) Partnership Units, all of the Partnership Units
held by such Partner. The Redeeming Partner shall have no right, with respect to
any Partnership Units so redeemed, to receive any distributions paid on or after
the Specified Redemption Date. The Assignee of any Limited Partner may exercise
the rights of such Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 8.6, and such
Limited Partner shall be deemed to have assigned such rights to such Assignee
and shall be bound by the exercise of such rights by such Assignee. In
connection with any exercise of such rights by an Assignee on behalf of a
Limited Partner, the Cash Amount shall be paid by the Partnership directly to
such Assignee and not to such Limited Partner.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.6.A, a Limited Partner
that exercises the Redemption Right shall be deemed to have offered to sell the
Partnership Units
35
described in the Notice of Redemption to the Company, and the Company may, in
its discretion elect to purchase directly and acquire such Partnership Units by
paying to the Redeeming Partner either the Cash Amount or the REIT Shares
Amount, on the Specified Redemption Date, whereupon the Company shall acquire
the Partnership Units offered for redemption by the Redeeming Partner and shall
be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Partnership
Units; provided, however, that the election by the Company to purchase directly
and acquire an Incentive Unit by paying the Cash Amount or the REIT Shares
Amount pursuant to this Section 8.6B shall first be approved by the Independent
Directors of the Company. If the Company shall elect to exercise its right to
purchase Partnership Units under this Section 8.6.B with respect to a Notice of
Redemption, it shall so notify the Redeeming Partner within five (5) Business
Days after the receipt by it of such Notice of Redemption. Unless the Company
(as directed by the Partnership in its sole and absolute discretion) shall
exercise its right to purchase Partnership Units from the Redeeming Partner
pursuant to this Section 8.6.B, the Company shall not have any obligation to the
Redeeming Partner or the Partnership with respect to the Redeeming Partner's
exercise of the Redemption Right. In the event the Company shall exercise its
right to purchase Partnership Units with respect to the exercise of a Redemption
Right in the manner described in the first sentence of this Section 8.6.B, the
Partnership shall have no obligation to pay any amount to the Redeeming Partner
with respect to such Redeeming Partner's exercise of such Redemption Right, and
each of the Redeeming Partner, the Partnership, and the Company shall treat the
transaction between the Company and the Redeeming Partner as a sale of the
Redeeming Partner's Partnership Units to the Company. Each Redeeming Partner
agrees to execute such documents as the Company may reasonably require in
connection with the issuance of REIT Shares upon exercise of the Redemption
Right.
C. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.6.A and Section 8.6.B, a
Partner shall not be entitled to exercise the Redemption Right pursuant to
Section 8.6.A if the delivery of REIT Shares to such Partner on the Specified
Redemption Date by the Company pursuant to Section 8.6.B (regardless of whether
or not the Company would in fact exercise its rights under Section 8.6.B) would
be prohibited under the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
D. In the event that the Partnership issues additional Partnership
Interests pursuant to Section 4.2.A hereof, the General Partner shall make such
revisions to this Section 8.6 as it determines are necessary to reflect the
issuance of such additional Partnership Interests.
ARTICLE 9 - BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
Section 9.1 Records and Accounting
----------------------
The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal
office of the Partnership those records and documents required to be maintained
by the Act and other books
36
and records deemed by the General Partner to be appropriate with respect to the
Partnership's business, including, without limitation, all books and records
necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information, lists and copies
of documents required to be provided pursuant to Section 9.3 hereof. Any records
maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its
business may be kept on, or be in the form of, punch cards, magnetic tape,
photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device, provided
that the 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 and tax reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or such other basis as
the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.
Section 9.2 Fiscal Year
-----------
The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be the calendar year.
Section 9.3 Reports
-------
A. As soon as practicable, but in no event later than one hundred five
(105) days after the close of each Partnership Year, the General Partner shall
cause to be mailed to each Limited Partner as of the close of the Partnership
Year, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership, or of
the Company if such statements are prepared solely on a consolidated basis with
the Company, for such Partnership Year, presented in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, such statements to be audited by a nationally
recognized firm of independent public accountants selected by the General
Partner.
B. As soon as practicable, but in no event later than one hundred five
(105) days after the close of each calendar quarter (except the last calendar
quarter of each year), the General Partner shall cause to be mailed to each
Limited Partner as of the last day of the calendar quarter, a report containing
unaudited financial statements of the Partnership, or of the Company, if such
statements are prepared solely on a consolidated basis with the Company, and
such other information as may be required by applicable law or regulation, or as
the General Partner determines to be appropriate.
ARTICLE 10 - TAX MATTERS
Section 10.1 Preparation of Tax Returns
--------------------------
The General Partner shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing
of all returns of Partnership income, gains, deductions, losses and other items
required of the Partnership for federal and state income tax purposes and shall
use all reasonable efforts to furnish, within
37
ninety (90) days of the close of each taxable year, the tax information
reasonably required by Limited Partners for federal and state income tax
reporting purposes.
Section 10.2 Tax Elections
-------------
Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall, in its
sole and absolute discretion, determine whether to make any available election
pursuant to the Code. Notwithstanding the above, in making any such tax election
the General Partner shall take into account the tax consequences to the Limited
Partners resulting from any such election. The General Partner shall make such
tax elections on behalf of the Partnership as the Limited Partners holding a
majority of the Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners (excluding Limited
Partner Interests held by the Company) request, provided that the General
Partner believes that such election is not adverse to the interests of the
General Partner, including its interest in preserving its qualification as a
REIT under the Code. The General Partner shall have the right to seek to revoke
any tax election it makes (including, without limitation, the election under
Section 754 of the Code) upon the General Partner's determination, in its sole
and absolute discretion, that such revocation is in the best interests of the
Partners.
Section 10.3 Tax Matters Partner
-------------------
A. The General Partner shall be the "tax matters partner" of the
Partnership for federal income tax purposes. Pursuant to Section 6230(e) of the
Code, upon receipt of notice from the IRS of the beginning of an administrative
proceeding with respect to the Partnership, the tax matters partner shall
furnish the IRS with the name, address, taxpayer identification number, and
profit interest of each of the Limited Partners and the Assignees; provided,
however, that such information is provided to the Partnership by the Limited
Partners and the Assignees.
B. The tax matters partner is authorized, but not required:
(1) to enter into any settlement with the IRS with
respect to any administrative or judicial proceedings
for the adjustment of Partnership items required to
be taken into account by a Partner for income tax
purposes (such administrative proceedings being
referred to as a "tax audit" and such judicial
proceedings being referred to as "judicial review"),
and in the settlement agreement the tax matters
partner may expressly state that such agreement shall
bind all Partners, except that such settlement
agreement shall not bind any Partner (i) who (within
the time prescribed pursuant to the Code and
Regulations) files a statement with the IRS providing
that the tax matters partner shall not have the
authority to enter into a settlement agreement on
behalf of such Partner; or (ii) who is a "notice
partner" (as defined in Section 6231(a)(8) of the
38
Code) or a member of a "notice group" (as defined in
Section 6223(b)(2) of the Code);
(2) in the event that a notice of a final administrative
adjustment at the Partnership level of any item
required to be taken into account by a Partner for
tax purposes (a "final adjustment") is mailed to the
tax matters partner, to seek judicial review of such
final adjustment, including the filing of a petition
for readjustment with the Tax Court or the filing of
a complaint for refund with the United States Claims
Court or the District Court of the United States for
the district in which the Partnership's principal
place of business is located;
(3) to intervene in any action brought by any other
Partner for judicial review of a final adjustment;
(4) to file a request for an administrative adjustment
with the IRS and, if any part of such request is not
allowed by the IRS, to file an appropriate pleading
(petition or complaint) for judicial review with
respect to such request;
(5) to enter into an agreement with the IRS to extend the
period for assessing any tax which is attributable to
any item required to be taken account of by a Partner
for tax purposes, or an item affected by such item;
and
(6) to take any other action on behalf of the Partners or
the Partnership in connection with any tax audit or
judicial review proceeding to the extent permitted by
applicable law or regulations.
The taking of any action and the incurring of any expense by the tax
matters partner in connection with any such proceeding, except to the extent
required by law, is a matter in the sole and absolute discretion of the tax
matters partner and the provisions relating to indemnification of the General
Partner set forth in Section 7.7 of this Agreement shall be fully applicable to
the tax matters partner in its capacity as such.
C. The tax matters partner shall receive no compensation for its
services. All third party costs and expenses incurred by the tax matters partner
in performing its duties as such (including legal and accounting fees and
expenses) shall be borne by the Partnership. Nothing herein shall be construed
to restrict the Partnership from engaging an accounting firm to assist the tax
matters partner in discharging its duties hereunder, so long as the compensation
paid by the Partnership for such services is reasonable.
39
Section 10.4 Organizational Expenses
-----------------------
The Partnership shall elect to deduct expenses, if any, incurred by it
in organizing the Partnership ratably over a sixty (60) month period as provided
in Section 709 of the Code.
Section 10.5 Withholding
-----------
Each Limited Partner hereby authorizes the Partnership to withhold
from, or pay on behalf of or with respect to, such Limited Partner any amount of
federal, state, local, or foreign taxes that the General Partner determines that
the Partnership is required to withhold or pay with respect to any amount
distributable or allocable to such Limited Partner pursuant to this Agreement,
including, without limitation, any taxes required to be withheld or paid by the
Partnership pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445, or 1446 of the Code. Any
amount paid on behalf of or with respect to a Limited Partner shall constitute a
loan by the Partnership to such Limited Partner, which loan shall be repaid by
such Limited Partner within fifteen (15) days after notice from the General
Partner that such payment must be made unless (i) the Partnership withholds such
payment from a distribution which would otherwise be made to the Limited
Partner; or (ii) the General Partner determines, in its sole and absolute
discretion, that such payment may be satisfied out of the available funds of the
Partnership which would, but for such payment, be distributed to the Limited
Partner. Any amounts withheld pursuant to the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii)
shall be treated as having been distributed to such Limited Partner. Each
Limited Partner hereby unconditionally and irrevocably grants to the Partnership
a security interest in such Limited Partner's Partnership Interest to secure
such Limited Partner's obligation to pay to the Partnership any amounts required
to be paid pursuant to this Section 10.5. In the event that a Limited Partner
fails to pay any amounts owed to the Partnership pursuant to this Section 10.5
when due, the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion, elect to
make the payment to the Partnership on behalf of such defaulting Limited
Partner, and in such event shall be deemed to have loaned such amount to such
defaulting Limited Partner and shall succeed to all rights and remedies of the
Partnership as against such defaulting Limited Partner. Without limitation, in
such event the General Partner shall have the right to receive distributions
that would otherwise be distributable to such defaulting Limited Partner until
such time as such loan, together with all interest thereon, has been paid in
full, and any such distributions so received by the General Partner shall be
treated as having been distributed to the defaulting Limited Partner and
immediately paid by the defaulting Limited Partner to the General Partner in
repayment of such loan. Any amounts payable by a Limited Partner hereunder shall
bear interest at the lesser of (A) the base rate on corporate loans at large
United States money center commercial banks, as published from time to time in
The Wall Street Journal, plus four (4) percentage points, or (B) the maximum
lawful rate of interest on such obligation, such interest to accrue from the
date such amount is due (i.e., fifteen (15) days after demand) until such amount
is paid in full. Each Limited Partner shall take such actions as the Partnership
or the General Partner shall request in order to perfect or enforce the security
interest created hereunder.
40
ARTICLE 11 - TRANSFERS AND WITHDRAWALS
Section 11.1 Transfer
--------
A. The term "transfer," when used in this Article 11 with respect to a
Partnership Unit, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction by which the General
Partner purports to assign all or any part of its General Partner Interest to
another Person or by which a Limited Partner purports to assign all or any part
of its Limited Partner Interest to another Person, and includes a sale,
assignment, gift, pledge (except for a pledge in which the pledgor agrees not to
foreclose with respect to such Partnership Unit until after the first
anniversary of the initial public offering of the Company), encumbrance,
hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by operation of law
or otherwise. The term "transfer" when used in this Article 11 does not include
any redemption of Partnership Interests by the Partnership from a Limited
Partner or any acquisition of Partnership Units from a Limited Partner by the
Company pursuant to Section 8.6. No part of the interest of a Limited Partner
shall be subject to the claims of any creditor, any spouse for alimony or
support, or to legal process, and may not be voluntarily or involuntarily
alienated or encumbered except as may be specifically provided for in this
Agreement or consented to by the General Partner.
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 11.
Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in
accordance with this Article 11 shall be null and void.
Section 11.2 Transfer of the Company's General Partner Interest and
------------------------------------------------------
Limited Partner Interest; Extraordinary Transactions
----------------------------------------------------
A. The Company may not transfer any of its General Partner Interest or
withdraw as General Partner, or transfer any of its Limited Partner Interest, or
engage in an Extraordinary Transaction, except, in any such case, (i) if such
Extraordinary Transaction is, or such transfer or withdrawal is pursuant to an
Extraordinary Transaction that is, permitted under Section 11.2(B) or (ii) if
Limited Partners holding at least two-thirds of the Percentage Interests of the
Limited Partners (other than Limited Partner Interests held by the Company or
its Affiliates) consent to such transfer or withdrawal or Extraordinary
Transaction, or (iii) if such transfer is to an entity that is wholly-owned by
the Company and is a Qualified REIT Subsidiary under Section 856(i) of the Code.
B. The General Partner is permitted to engage in the following
Extraordinary Transactions without the approval or vote of the Limited Partners
except as provided in Section 11.2(C):
(i) an Extraordinary Transaction in connection with which
all Limited Partners either will receive, or will
have the right to elect to receive, for
41
each Partnership Unit an amount of cash, securities,
or other property equal to the product of the REIT
Shares Amount and the greatest amount of cash,
securities or other property paid to a holder of one
REIT Share in consideration of one REIT Share
pursuant to the terms of the Extraordinary
Transaction; provided that, if, in connection with
the Extraordinary Transaction, a purchase, tender or
exchange offer shall have been made to and accepted
by the holders of the outstanding REIT Shares, each
holder of Partnership Units shall receive, or shall
have the right to elect to receive, the greatest
amount of cash, securities, or other property which
such holder would have received had it exercised its
right to Redemption (as set forth in Section 8.6A)
and received REIT Shares in exchange for its
Partnership Units immediately prior to the expiration
of such purchase, tender or exchange offer and had
thereupon accepted such purchase, tender or exchange
offer and then such Extraordinary Transaction shall
have been consummated; and
(ii) a merger, or other combination of assets, with
another entity if: (w) immediately after such
Extraordinary Transaction, substantially all of the
assets directly or indirectly owned by the surviving
entity, other than Partnership Units held by such
General Partner, are owned directly or indirectly by
the Partnership or another limited partnership or
limited liability company which is the survivor of a
merger, consolidation or combination of assets with
the Partnership (in each case, the "Surviving
Partnership"); (x) the Limited Partners own a
percentage interest of the Surviving Partnership
based on the relative fair market value of the net
assets of the Partnership (as determined pursuant to
Section 11.2.E) and the other net assets of the
Surviving Partnership (as determined pursuant to
Section 11.2.E) immediately prior to the consummation
of such transaction; (y) the rights, preferences and
privileges of the Limited Partners in the Surviving
Partnership are at least as favorable as those in
effect immediately prior to the consummation of such
transaction and as those applicable to any other
limited partners or non-managing members of the
Surviving Partnership; and (z) such rights of the
Limited Partners include the right to exchange their
interests in the Surviving Partnership for at least
one of: (a) the consideration available to such
Limited Partners pursuant to Section 11.2.B(i) or (b)
if the ultimate controlling person of the Surviving
Partnership has publicly traded common equity
securities, such common equity securities, with an
exchange ratio based on the relative fair market
value of such securities (as determined pursuant to
Section 11.2.E) and the REIT Shares.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of any
Extraordinary Transaction described in clauses (i)
and (ii) of Section 11.2B, the amount
42
of consideration that each holder of Incentive Units
shall be entitled to receive with respect to the
Incentive Units shall be limited to consideration
with a value no greater than the value of the amount
of cash, securities or other property which such
holder would have received had it exercised its right
to Redemption (as set forth in Section 8.6A) and
received the Cash Amount in exchange for its
Partnership Units immediately prior to the expiration
of the consummation of the Extraordinary Transaction
or expiration of any purchase, tender or exchange
offer, as the case may be, and then such
Extraordinary Transaction shall have been
consummated.
C. The General Partner shall not consummate any Extraordinary
Transaction in connection with which it conducted a vote of its stockholders (a
"Stockholder Vote") unless the General Partner also conducts a vote of the
Partners of the Partnership (the "Partnership Vote") in which (i) the General
Partner provides the Partners with advance notice equal in time to the advance
notice given in the case of the Stockholder Vote, (ii) in connection with such
advance notice the General Partner provides the Partners with written materials
describing the proposed Extraordinary Transaction as well as the tax effect of
the consummation thereof on the Limited Partners, (iii) in such vote of the
Partners, the General Partner votes all Partnership Interests (General and
Limited) held by it in proportion to the manner in which all outstanding shares
of capital stock of the General Partner were voted at the Stockholder Meeting
(such votes to be "For," "Against," "Abstain" and "Not Present"), and (iv) the
total votes of the General and Limited Partners voted "For," "Against,"
"Abstain" and "Not Present" would be sufficient (measured in percentage terms),
if such vote were a vote by the Company of its stockholders, to approve the
Extraordinary Transaction. For purposes of the Partnership Vote, each holder of
a Partnership Interest shall be entitled to a number of votes equal to the total
votes such holder would have been entitled to at the Stockholder Meeting had
such holder presented its Partnership Interest for redemption and such
Partnership Interest had been acquired by the Company for the REIT Shares Amount
of REIT Shares prior to the record date therefor.
D. Without in any way limiting the exculpation from liability set forth
in Section 7.1.D and 7.8.B, in connection with any transaction permitted by
Section 11.2.B or Section 11.2.C hereof, the General Partner shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to structure such Extraordinary Transaction to
avoid causing the Limited Partners to recognize gain for federal income tax
purposes by virtue of the occurrence of or their participation in such
Extraordinary Transaction.
E. In connection with any transaction permitted by Section 11.2.B or
11.2.C, the relative fair market values shall be reasonably determined by the
General Partner as of the time of such transaction and, to the extent
applicable, shall be no less favorable to the Limited Partners than the relative
values reflected in the terms of such transaction.
43
Section 11.3 Limited Partners' Rights to Transfer
------------------------------------
A. Subject to the provisions of Sections 11.3.C, 11.3.D, 11.3.E, and
11.4, a Limited Partner (other than the Company) may, after the expiration of
one year from the Effective Date, transfer, with or without the consent of the
General Partner, all or any portion of its Partnership Interest, or any of such
Limited Partner's economic rights as a Limited Partner.
B. If a Limited Partner is subject to Incapacity, the executor,
administrator, trustee, committee, guardian, conservator or receiver of such
Limited Partner's estate shall have all of the rights of a Limited Partner, but
not more rights than those enjoyed by other Limited Partners, for the purpose of
settling or managing the estate and such power as the Incapacitated Limited
Partner possessed to transfer all or any part of his or its interest in the
Partnership. The Incapacity of a Limited Partner, in and of itself, shall not
dissolve or terminate the Partnership.
C. The General Partner may prohibit any transfer by a Limited Partner
of its Partnership Units if, in the opinion of legal counsel to the Partnership,
such transfer would require filing of a registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933 or would otherwise violate any federal or state
securities laws or regulations applicable to the Partnership or the Partnership
Units.
D. No transfer by a Limited Partner of its Partnership Units may be
made to any Person if (i) in the opinion of legal counsel for the Partnership,
it would result in the Partnership being treated as an association taxable as a
corporation; (ii) it is made within one year after the consummation of the
initial public offering of the Company; (iii) such transfer is effectuated
through an "established securities market" or a "secondary market (or the
substantial equivalent thereof)" within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code;
(iv) such transfer would cause the Partnership to become, with respect to any
employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA, a "party-in-interest" (as
defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA) or a "disqualified person" (as defined in
Section 4975(c) of the Code); (v) such transfer would, in the opinion of legal
counsel for the Partnership, cause any portion of the assets of the Partnership
to constitute assets of any employee benefit plan pursuant to Department of
Labor Regulations Section 2510.2-101; or (vi) such transfer would subject the
Partnership to be regulated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the
Investment Advisors Act of 1940 or the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, each as amended.
E. No transfer of any Partnership Units may be made to a lender to the
Partnership or any Person who is related (within the meaning of Section
1.752-4(b) of the Regulations) to any lender to the Partnership whose loan
constitutes a Nonrecourse Liability, without the consent of the General Partner,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
44
Section 11.4 Substituted Limited Partners
----------------------------
A. No Limited Partner shall have the right to substitute a transferee
as a Limited Partner in his place. The General Partner shall, however, have the
right to consent to the admission of a transferee of the interest of a Limited
Partner pursuant to this Section 11.4 as a Substituted Limited Partner, which
consent may be given or withheld by the General Partner in its sole and absolute
discretion. The General Partner's failure or refusal to permit a transferee of
any such interests to become a Substituted Limited Partner shall not give rise
to any cause of action against the Partnership or any Partner.
B. A transferee who has been admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner
in accordance with this Article 11 shall have all the rights and powers and be
subject to all the restrictions and liabilities of a Limited Partner under this
Agreement.
C. Upon the admission of a Substituted Limited Partner, the General
Partner shall amend Exhibit A to reflect the name, address, number of
Partnership Units, and Percentage Interest of such Substituted Limited Partner
and to eliminate or adjust, if necessary, the name, address and interest of the
predecessor of such Substituted Limited Partner.
Section 11.5 Assignees
---------
If the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, does not
consent to the admission of any permitted transferee as a Substituted Limited
Partner, as described in Section 11.4, such transferee shall be considered an
Assignee for purposes of this Agreement. An Assignee shall be deemed to have had
assigned to it, and shall be entitled to receive distributions from the
Partnership and the share of Net Income, Net Losses, and any other items, gain,
loss deduction and credit of the Partnership attributable to the Partnership
Units assigned to such transferee, but except as otherwise provided in Section
8.6.A hereof shall not be deemed to be a holder of Partnership Units for any
other purpose under this Agreement, and shall not be entitled to vote such
Partnership Units in any matter presented to the Limited Partners for a vote
(such Partnership Units being deemed to have been voted on such matter in the
same proportion as all other Partnership Units held by Limited Partners are
voted). In the event any such transferee desires to make a further assignment of
any such Partnership Units, such transferee shall be subject to all of the
provisions of this Article 11 to the same extent and in the same manner as any
Limited Partner desiring to make an assignment of Partnership Units.
Section 11.6 General Provisions
------------------
A. No Limited Partner may withdraw from the Partnership other than as a
result of a permitted transfer of all of such Limited Partner's Partnership
Units in accordance with this Article 11 or pursuant to redemption or transfer
of all of its Partnership Units under Section 8.6.
45
B. Any Limited Partner who shall transfer all of its Partnership Units
in a transfer permitted pursuant to this Article 11 shall cease to be a Limited
Partner upon the admission of all Assignees of such Partnership Units as
Substitute Limited Partners. Similarly, any Limited Partner who shall transfer
all of its Partnership Units pursuant to a redemption of all of its Partnership
Units under Section 8.6 shall cease to be a Limited Partner.
C. Transfers pursuant to this Article 11 may only be made on the first
day of a fiscal quarter of the Partnership, unless the General Partner otherwise
agrees.
D. If any Partnership Interest is transferred or assigned during any
quarterly segment of the Partnership's fiscal year in compliance with the
provisions of this Article 11 or redeemed or transferred pursuant to Section 8.6
on any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, then Net Income, Net
Losses, each item thereof and all other items attributable to such interest for
such Partnership Year shall be divided and allocated between the transferor
Partner and the transferee Partner by taking into account their varying
interests during the Partnership Year in accordance with Section 706(d) of the
Code. The General Partner may adopt such conventions relating to allocations in
connection with transfers, assignments or redemptions as it determines are
necessary or appropriate. All distributions of Available Cash attributable to
such Partnership Unit with respect to which the Partnership Record Date is
before the date of such transfer, assignment, or redemption shall be made to the
transferor Partner or the Redeeming Partner, as the case may be, and in the case
of a transfer or assignment other than a redemption, all distributions of
Available Cash thereafter attributable to such Partnership Unit shall be made to
the transferee Partner.
ARTICLE 12 - ADMISSION OF PARTNERS
Section 12.1 Admission of Successor General Partner
--------------------------------------
A successor to all of the General Partner Interest pursuant to Section
11.2 hereof who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner shall
be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective upon such
transfer. Any such transferee shall carry on the business of the Partnership
without dissolution. In each case, the admission shall be subject to the
successor General Partner executing and delivering to the Partnership an
acceptance of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and such other
documents or instruments as may be required to effect the admission. In the case
of such admission on any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, all
items attributable to the General Partner Interest for such Partnership Year
shall be allocated between the transferring General Partner and such successor
as provided in Section 11.6.D hereof.
46
Section 12.2 Admission of Additional Limited Partners
----------------------------------------
A. After the admission to the Partnership of the initial Limited
Partners on the date hereof, a Person who makes a Capital Contribution to the
Partnership in accordance with this Agreement shall be admitted to the
Partnership as an Additional Limited Partner only upon furnishing to the General
Partner (i) evidence of acceptance in form satisfactory to the General Partner
of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the power of attorney granted in Section 2.4 hereof and (ii) such
other documents or instruments as may be required in the discretion of the
General Partner in order to effect such Person's admission as an Additional
Limited Partner.
B. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 12.2, no
Person shall be admitted as an Additional Limited Partner without the consent of
the General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld in the General
Partner's sole and absolute discretion. The admission of any Person as an
Additional Limited Partner shall become effective on the date upon which the
name of such Person is recorded on the books and records of the Partnership,
following the consent of the General Partner to such admission.
C. If any Additional Limited Partner is admitted to the Partnership on
any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, then Net Income, Net
Losses, each item thereof and all other items allocable among Partners and
Assignees for such Partnership Year shall be allocated among such Additional
Limited Partner and all other Partners and Assignees by taking into account
their varying interests during the Partnership Year in accordance with Section
706(d) of the Code, using any convention permitted by law and selected by the
General Partner. All distributions of Available Cash with respect to which the
Partnership Record Date is before the date of such admission shall be made
solely to Partners and Assignees, other than the Additional Limited Partner, and
all distributions of Available Cash thereafter shall be made to all of the
Partners and Assignees, including such Additional Limited Partner.
Section 12.3 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited
-------------------------------------------------
Partnership
-----------
For the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General
Partner shall take all steps necessary and appropriate under the Act to amend
the records of the Partnership and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as
practical an amendment of this Agreement (including an amendment of Exhibit A)
and, if required by law, shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate
of Limited Partnership and may for this purpose exercise the power of attorney
granted pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof.
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ARTICLE 13 - DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION
Section 13.1 Dissolution
-----------
The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of Substituted
Limited Partners or Additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a
successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon
the withdrawal of the General Partner, any successor General Partner shall
continue the business of the Partnership. The Partnership shall dissolve, and
its affairs shall be wound up, only upon the first to occur of any of the
following ("Liquidating Events"):
A. an event of withdrawal of the General Partner, as defined in the Act
(other than an event of bankruptcy), unless, within ninety (90) days after such
event of withdrawal a majority in interest of the remaining Partners agree in
writing to continue the business of the Partnership and to the appointment,
effective as of the date of withdrawal, of a successor General Partner;
B. from and after the date of this Agreement through December 31, 2055,
an election to dissolve the Partnership made by the General Partner with the
Consent of Partners holding eighty-five percent (85%) of the Percentage
Interests of the Limited Partners (including Limited Partner Interests held by
the Company);
C. on or after January 1, 2056, an election to dissolve the Partnership
made by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion;
D. entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership
pursuant to the provisions of the Act;
E. the sale of all or substantially all of the assets and properties of
the Partnership; or
F. a final and non-appealable judgment is entered by a court of
competent jurisdiction ruling that the General Partner is bankrupt or insolvent,
or a final and non-appealable order for relief is entered by a court with
appropriate jurisdiction against the General Partner, in each case under any
federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency laws as now or hereafter in effect,
unless prior to the entry of such order or judgment all of the remaining
Partners agree in writing to continue the business of the Partnership and to the
appointment, effective as of a date prior to the date of such order or judgment,
of a substitute General Partner.
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Section 13.2 Winding Up
----------
A. Upon the occurrence of a Liquidating Event, the Partnership shall
continue solely for the purposes of winding up its affairs in an orderly manner,
liquidating its assets, and satisfying the claims of its creditors and Partners.
No Partner shall take any action that is inconsistent with, or not necessary to
or appropriate for, the winding up of the Partnership's business and affairs.
The General Partner, or, in the event there is no remaining General Partner, any
Person elected by a majority in interest of the Limited Partners (the General
Partner or such other Person being referred to herein as the "Liquidator"),
shall be responsible for overseeing the winding up and dissolution of the
Partnership and shall take full account of the Partnership's liabilities and
property and the Partnership property shall be liquidated as promptly as is
consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof, and the proceeds therefrom
(which may, to the extent determined by the General Partner, include shares of
common stock in the Company) shall be applied and distributed in the following
order:
(1) First, to the payment and discharge of all of the
Partnership's debts and liabilities to creditors
other than the Partners;
(2) Second, to the payment and discharge of all of the
Partnership's debts and liabilities to the General
Partner;
(3) Third, to the payment and discharge of all of the
Partnership's debts and liabilities to the other
Partners; and
(4) The balance, if any, to the General Partner and
Limited Partners in accordance with Section 5.3.
The General Partner shall not receive any additional compensation for any
services performed pursuant to this Article 13.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.2.A hereof which
require liquidation of the assets of the Partnership, but subject to the order
of priorities set forth therein, if prior to or upon dissolution of the
Partnership the Liquidator determines that an immediate sale of part or all of
the Partnership's assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the
Partners, the Liquidator may, in its sole and absolute discretion, defer for a
reasonable time the liquidation of any assets except those necessary to satisfy
liabilities of the Partnership (including to those Partners as creditors) and/or
distribute to the Partners, in lieu of cash, as tenants in common and in
accordance with the provisions of Section 13.2.A hereof, undivided interests in
such Partnership assets as the Liquidator deems not suitable for liquidation.
Any such distributions in kind shall be made only if, in the good faith judgment
of the Liquidator, such distributions in kind are in the best interest of the
Partners, and shall be subject to such conditions relating to the disposition
and management of such properties as the Liquidator deems reasonable and
equitable and to any agreements governing the operation of
49
such properties at such time. The Liquidator shall determine the fair market
value of any property distributed in kind using such reasonable method of
valuation as it may adopt.
C. In the discretion of the Liquidator, a pro rata portion of the
distributions that would otherwise be made to the General Partner and Limited
Partners pursuant to this Article 13 may be:
(1) distributed to a trust established for the benefit of
the General Partner and Limited Partners for the
purposes of liquidating Partnership assets,
collecting amounts owed to the Partnership, and
paying any contingent or unforeseen liabilities or
obligations of the Partnership or the General Partner
arising out of or in connection with the Partnership.
The assets of any such trust shall be distributed to
the General Partner and Limited Partners from time to
time, in the reasonable discretion of the Liquidator,
in the same proportions as the amount distributed to
such trust by the Partnership would otherwise have
been distributed to the General Partner and Limited
Partners pursuant to this Agreement; or
(2) withheld or escrowed to provide a reasonable reserve
for Partnership liabilities (contingent or otherwise)
and to reflect the unrealized portion of any
installment obligations owed to the Partnership,
provided that such withheld or escrowed amounts shall
be distributed to the General Partner and Limited
Partners in the manner and order of priority set
forth in Section 13.2.A as soon as practicable.
Section 13.3 Rights of Limited Partners
--------------------------
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Limited Partner
shall look solely to the assets of the Partnership for the return of its Capital
Contributions and shall have no right or power to demand or receive property
other than cash from the Partnership. Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, no Limited Partner shall have priority over any other Partner as to
the return of its Capital Contributions, distributions, or allocations.
Section 13.4 Notice of Dissolution
---------------------
In the event a Liquidating Event occurs or an event occurs that would,
but for the provisions of an election or objection by one or more Partners
pursuant to Section 13.1, result in a dissolution of the Partnership, the
General Partner shall, within thirty (30) days thereafter, provide written
notice thereof to each of the Partners.
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Section 13.5 Termination of Partnership and Cancellation of Certificate
----------------------------------------------------------
of Limited Partnership
----------------------
Upon the completion of the liquidation of the Partnership's assets, as
provided in Section 13.2 hereof, the Partnership shall be terminated, a
certificate of cancellation shall be filed, 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 13.6 Reasonable Time for Winding-Up
------------------------------
A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding-up of the
business and affairs of the Partnership and the liquidation of its assets
pursuant to Section 13.2 hereof, in order to minimize any losses otherwise
attendant upon such winding-up, and the provisions of this Agreement shall
remain in effect between the Partners during the period of liquidation.
Section 13.7 Waiver of Partition
-------------------
Each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of the Partnership
property.
ARTICLE 14 - AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS
Section 14.1 Amendments
----------
A. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed by the General Partner
or by any Limited Partners (other than the Company) holding twenty percent (20%)
or more of the Partnership Interests. Following such proposal, the General
Partner shall submit any proposed amendment to the Limited Partners. The General
Partner shall seek the written vote of the Partners on the proposed amendment or
shall call a meeting to vote thereon and to transact any other business that it
may deem appropriate. For purposes of obtaining a written vote, the General
Partner may require a response within a reasonable specified time, but not less
than fifteen (15) days, and failure to respond in such time period shall
constitute a vote which is consistent with the General Partner's recommendation
with respect to the proposal. Except as provided in Section 13.1.B, 14.1.B,
14.1.C or 14.1.D, a proposed amendment shall be adopted and be effective as an
amendment hereto if it is approved by the General Partner and it receives the
Consent of Partners holding a majority of the Percentage Interests of the
Limited Partners (including Limited Partner Interests held by the Company);
provided, that, an action shall become effective at such time as the requisite
consents are received even if prior to such specified time.
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B. Notwithstanding Section 14.1.A, the General Partner shall have the
power, without the consent of the Limited Partners, to amend this Agreement as
may be required to facilitate or implement any of the following purposes:
(1) to add to the obligations of the General Partner or
surrender any right or power granted to the General
Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner for
the benefit of the Limited Partners;
(2) to reflect the admission, substitution, termination,
or withdrawal of Partners in accordance with this
Agreement;
(3) to set forth and reflect in the Agreement the
designations, rights, powers, duties, and preferences
of the holders of any additional Partnership
Interests issued pursuant to Section 4.2.A hereof;
(4) to reflect a change that is of an inconsequential
nature and does not adversely affect the Limited
Partners in any material respect, or to cure any
ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision in
this Agreement not inconsistent with law or with
other provisions, or make other changes with respect
to matters arising under this Agreement that will not
be inconsistent with law or with the provisions of
this Agreement; and
(5) to satisfy any requirements, conditions, or
guidelines contained in any order, directive,
opinion, ruling or regulation of a federal or state
agency or contained in federal or state law.
The General Partner shall provide notice to the Limited Partners when any action
under this Section 14.1.B is taken.
C. Notwithstanding Section 14.1.A and 14.1.B hereof, this Agreement
shall not be amended without the Consent of each Partner adversely affected if
such amendment would (i) convert a Limited Partner's interest in the Partnership
into a General Partner Interest; (ii) modify the limited liability of a Limited
Partner in a manner adverse to such Limited Partner; (iii) alter rights of the
Partner (other than as a result of the issuance of Partnership Interests) to
receive distributions pursuant to Article 5 or Article 13 or the allocations
specified in Article 6 (except as permitted pursuant to Section 4.2 and Section
14.1.B(3) hereof); (iv) alter or modify the Redemption Right and REIT Shares
Amount as set forth in Sections 8.6 and 11.2.B, and the related definitions, in
a manner adverse to such Partner; (v) cause the termination of the Partnership
prior to the time set forth in Sections 2.5 or 13.1; or (vi) amend this Section
14.1.C. Further, no amendment may alter the restrictions on the General
Partner's authority set forth in Section 7.3.B without the Consent specified in
that section. In addition, Section 8.7 may only be amended as provided therein.
52
D. Notwithstanding Section 14.1.A or Section 14.1.B hereof, the General
Partner shall not (except in connection with amendments made to reflect the
issuance of additional Partnership Interests and the relative rights, powers and
duties incident thereto) amend Sections 4.2.A, 7.5, 7.6, 11.2 or 14.2 without
the Consent of Limited Partners holding a majority of the Percentage Interests
of the Limited Partners, excluding Limited Partner Interests held by the General
Partner or its Affiliates.
Section 14.2 Meetings of the Partners
------------------------
A. Meetings of the Partners may be called by the General Partner and
shall be called upon the receipt by the General Partner of a written request by
Limited Partners (other than the Company) holding twenty percent (20%) or more
of the Partnership Interests. The request shall state the nature of the business
to be transacted. Notice of any such meeting shall be given to all Partners not
less than seven (7) days nor more than thirty (30) days prior to the date of
such meeting. Partners may vote in person or by proxy at such meeting. Whenever
the vote or Consent of the Partners is permitted or required under this
Agreement, such vote or Consent may be given at a meeting of the Partners or may
be given in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Section 14.1.A hereof.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Consent of holders
of a majority of the Percentage Interests held by Limited Partners (including
Limited Partnership Interests held by the Company) shall control.
B. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the
Partners may be taken without a meeting if a written consent setting forth the
action so taken is signed by a majority of the Percentage Interests of the
Partners (or such other percentage as is expressly required by this Agreement).
Such consent may be in one instrument or in several instruments, and shall have
the same force and effect as a vote of a majority of the Percentage Interests of
the Partners (or such other percentage as is expressly required by this
Agreement). Such consent shall be filed with the General Partner. An action so
taken shall be deemed to have been taken at a meeting held on the effective date
so certified.
C. Each Limited Partner may authorize any Person or Persons to act for
him by proxy on all matters in which a Limited Partner is entitled to
participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating
at a meeting. Every proxy must be signed by the Limited Partner or his
attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of twelve (12)
months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy
shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Limited Partner executing it, such
revocation to be effective upon the Partnership's receipt of written notice of
such revocation from the Limited Partner executing such proxy.
D. Each meeting of the Partners shall be conducted by the General
Partner or such other Person as the General Partner may appoint pursuant to such
rules for the conduct of the meeting as the General Partner or such other Person
deems appropriate. Without limitation, meetings of Partners may be conducted in
the same manner as meetings of the shareholders of
53
the Company and may be held at the same time, and as part of, meetings of the
shareholders of the Company.
ARTICLE 15 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 15.1 Addresses and Notice
--------------------
Any notice, demand, request or report required or permitted to be given
or made to a Partner or Assignee under this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first
class United States mail or by other means of written communication to the
Partner or Assignee at the address set forth in Exhibit A or such other address
of which the Partner shall notify the General Partner in writing.
Section 15.2 Titles and Captions
-------------------
All article or section titles or captions in this Agreement are for
convenience only. They shall not be deemed part of this Agreement and in no way
define, limit, extend or describe the scope or intent of any provisions hereof.
Except as specifically provided otherwise, references to "Articles" and
"Sections" are to Articles and Sections of this Agreement.
Section 15.3 Pronouns and Plurals
--------------------
Whenever the context may require, 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.
Section 15.4 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 15.5 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.
54
Section 15.6 Creditors
---------
Other than as expressly set forth herein with respect to the
Indemnities, none of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit
of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership.
Section 15.7 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 or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.
Section 15.8 Counterparts
------------
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together
shall constitute one agreement binding on all of 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.
Section 15.9 Applicable Law
--------------
This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles
of conflicts of law.
Section 15.10 Invalidity of Provisions
------------------------
If any provision of this Agreement shall to any extent be held void or
unenforceable (as to duration, scope, activity, subject or otherwise) by a court
of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be deemed to be modified so as
to constitute a provision conforming as nearly as possible to the original
provision while still remaining valid and enforceable. In such event, the
remainder of this Agreement (or the application of such provision to persons or
circumstances other than those in respect of which it is deemed to be void or
unenforceable) shall not be affected thereby. Each other provision of this
Agreement, unless specifically conditioned upon the voided aspect of such
provision, shall remain valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by
law; any other provisions of this Agreement that are specifically conditioned on
the voided aspect of such invalid provision shall also be deemed to be modified
so as to constitute a provision conforming as nearly as possible to the original
provision while still remaining valid and enforceable to the fullest extent
permitted by law.
55
Section 15.11 Entire Agreement
----------------
This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement among
the Partners with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any other
prior written or oral understandings or agreements among them with respect
thereto.
56
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date first written above.
GENERAL PARTNER:
BEACON CAPITAL PARTNERS, INC.
By: /s/ Alan M. Leventhal
-----------------------------------------
Name: Alan M. Leventhal
Title: Chief Executive Officer
57
LIMITED PARTNER SIGNATURE PAGE
The undersigned, desiring to become one of the within named Limited
Partners of Beacon Capital Partners, L.P., hereby becomes a party to the
Agreement of Limited Partnership of Beacon Capital Partners, L.P. by and among
Beacon Capital Partners, Inc. and such Limited Partners, dated as of March 16,
1998. The undersigned agrees that this signature page may be attached to any
counterpart of said Agreement of Limited Partnership.
Signature Line for Limited Partner:
BEACON CAPITAL PARTICIPATION
PLAN, L.P.
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Address of Limited Partner: 50 Rowes Wharf
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
DOCSC\606188.7
58