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Exhibit
10.3
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
OF
BLACKSTONE HOLDINGS III
L.P.
Dated as of
August 10, 2007
THE PARTNERSHIP UNITS OF BLACKSTONE
HOLDINGS III L.P. HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S.
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY
STATE, PROVINCE OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS AND ARE
BEING SOLD IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS. SUCH UNITS MUST
BE ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE,
PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, SOLD, ASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME
EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH (I) THE SECURITIES ACT, ANY
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR PROVINCE, AND ANY OTHER
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS; AND (II) THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. THE UNITS
MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OF RECORD EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH
LAWS AND THIS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. THEREFORE, PURCHASERS
AND OTHER TRANSFEREES OF SUCH UNITS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE
RISK OF THEIR INVESTMENT OR ACQUISITION FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF
TIME.
Table of
Contents
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Page |
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
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SECTION 1.01.
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Definitions |
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1 |
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| ARTICLE II |
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| FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND
POWERS |
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SECTION 2.01.
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Formation |
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11 |
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SECTION 2.02.
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Name |
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11 |
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SECTION 2.03.
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Term |
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11 |
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SECTION 2.04.
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Offices |
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11 |
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SECTION 2.05.
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Agent for
Service of Process |
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12 |
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SECTION 2.06.
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Business
Purpose |
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12 |
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SECTION 2.07.
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Powers of
the Partnership |
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12 |
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SECTION 2.08.
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Partners;
Admission of New Partners |
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12 |
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SECTION 2.09.
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Withdrawal |
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12 |
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| ARTICLE III |
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| MANAGEMENT |
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SECTION 3.01.
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General
Partner |
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12 |
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SECTION 3.02.
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Compensation |
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13 |
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SECTION 3.03.
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Expenses |
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13 |
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SECTION 3.04.
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Officers |
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13 |
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SECTION 3.05.
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Authority
of Partners |
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14 |
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SECTION 3.06.
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Action by
Written Consent or Ratification |
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14 |
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| ARTICLE IV |
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| DISTRIBUTIONS |
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SECTION 4.01.
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Distributions |
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14 |
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SECTION 4.02.
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Liquidation Distribution |
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15 |
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SECTION 4.03.
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Limitations on Distribution |
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15 |
-i-
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| ARTICLE V |
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CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS;
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS;
TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX
MATTERS
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SECTION 5.01.
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Initial
Capital Contributions |
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16 |
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SECTION 5.02.
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No
Additional Capital Contributions |
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16 |
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SECTION 5.03.
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Capital
Accounts |
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16 |
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SECTION 5.04.
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Allocations of Profits and Losses |
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16 |
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SECTION 5.05.
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Special
Allocations |
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17 |
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SECTION 5.06.
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Tax
Allocations |
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18 |
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SECTION 5.07.
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Tax
Advances |
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18 |
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SECTION 5.08.
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Tax
Matters |
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19 |
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SECTION 5.09.
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Other
Allocation Provisions |
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19 |
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| ARTICLE VI |
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| BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS |
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SECTION 6.01.
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Books and
Records |
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19 |
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| ARTICLE VII |
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| PARTNERSHIP UNITS |
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SECTION 7.01.
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Units |
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20 |
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SECTION 7.02.
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Register |
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20 |
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SECTION 7.03.
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Registered Partners |
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20 |
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| ARTICLE VIII |
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| VESTING; FORFEITURE OF INTERESTS;
TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS |
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SECTION 8.01.
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Vesting
of Initial Unvested Units |
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21 |
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SECTION 8.02.
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Forfeiture of Units Held by Initial Limited
Partners |
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22 |
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SECTION 8.03.
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Limited
Partner Transfers |
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22 |
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SECTION 8.04.
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Minimum
Retained Ownership Requirement |
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24 |
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SECTION 8.05.
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Mandatory
Exchanges |
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25 |
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SECTION 8.06.
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Encumbrances |
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25 |
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SECTION 8.07.
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Further
Restrictions |
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25 |
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SECTION 8.08.
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Rights of
Assignees |
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26 |
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SECTION 8.09.
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Admissions, Withdrawals and Removals |
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26 |
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SECTION 8.10.
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Admission
of Assignees as Substitute Limited Partners |
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26 |
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SECTION 8.11.
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Withdrawal and Removal of Limited Partners |
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27 |
-ii-
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| ARTICLE IX |
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| DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND
TERMINATION |
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SECTION 9.01.
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No
Dissolution |
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27 |
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SECTION 9.02.
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Events
Causing Dissolution |
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27 |
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SECTION 9.03.
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Distribution upon Dissolution |
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28 |
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SECTION 9.04.
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Time for
Liquidation |
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28 |
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SECTION 9.05.
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Termination |
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28 |
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SECTION 9.06.
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Claims of
the Partners |
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28 |
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SECTION 9.07.
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Survival
of Certain Provisions |
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29 |
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| ARTICLE X |
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| LIABILITY AND
INDEMNIFICATION |
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SECTION 10.01.
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Liability
of Partners |
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29 |
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SECTION 10.02.
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Indemnification |
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30 |
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| ARTICLE XI |
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| MISCELLANEOUS |
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SECTION 11.01.
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Severability |
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31 |
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SECTION 11.02.
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Notices |
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32 |
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SECTION 11.03.
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Cumulative Remedies |
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32 |
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SECTION 11.04.
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Binding
Effect |
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33 |
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SECTION 11.05.
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Interpretation |
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33 |
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SECTION 11.06.
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Counterparts |
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33 |
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SECTION 11.07.
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Further
Assurances |
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33 |
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SECTION 11.08.
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Entire
Agreement |
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33 |
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SECTION 11.09.
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Governing
Law |
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33 |
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SECTION 11.10.
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Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial |
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33 |
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SECTION 11.11.
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Expenses |
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34 |
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SECTION 11.12.
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Amendments and Waivers |
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34 |
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SECTION 11.13.
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No Third
Party Beneficiaries |
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35 |
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SECTION 11.14.
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Headings |
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35 |
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SECTION 11.15.
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Construction |
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35 |
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SECTION 11.16.
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Power of
Attorney |
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35 |
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SECTION 11.17.
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Letter
Agreements; Schedules |
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36 |
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SECTION 11.18.
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Partnership Status |
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36 |
-iii-
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
OF
BLACKSTONE HOLDINGS III
L.P.
This AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement
”) of Blackstone Holdings III L.P. (the “
Partnership ”) is made as of the 10th day of August,
2007, by and among Blackstone Holdings III GP L.P., a limited
partnership formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, as
general partner, and the Limited Partners (as defined herein) of
the Partnership.
WHEREAS, the Partnership was
formed as a limited partnership pursuant to the Act, by the
execution of the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership
dated as of August 6, 2007 (the “ Original
Agreement ”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to that
certain Assignment, Transfer and Distribution Agreement, dated as
of the date hereof, among the Partnership, the General Partner
(defined herein), Blackstone Holdings III L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership (“ Existing Holdings III ”), and
Blackstone Holdings III GP Management L.L.C., a Delaware limited
liability company and the general partner of Existing Holdings III
and the General Partner, the Partnership has acquired and assumed
all of Existing Holdings III’s right, title and interest in
and to all of its assets and all of its duties, undertakings and
obligations pursuant to all of its liabilities (collectively, the
“ Transferred Interests ”) in exchange for
Class A Units (as defined herein) in the Partnership and
Existing Holdings III has distributed such Class A Units to
the General Partner and the Limited Partners; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto
desire to enter into this Amended and Restated Limited Partnership
Agreement of the Partnership and to permit the admission of the
Limited Partners to the Partnership.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the mutual promises and agreements herein made and
intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree to
amend and restate the Original Agreement in its entirety to read as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01.
Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein without
definition have the following meanings (such meanings being equally
applicable to both the singular and plural form of the terms
defined):
“ Act ”
means, the Civil Code and An Act respecting legal publicity of sole
proprietorships, partnerships and legal persons (Québec), as
they may be amended from time to time, and the laws of Québec
applicable to partnerships.
“ Additional Credit
Amount ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.01(b)(ii).
“ Adjusted Capital
Account Balance ” means, with respect to each Partner,
the balance in such Partner’s Capital Account adjusted
(i) by taking into account the adjustments, allocations and
distributions described in U.S. Treasury Regulations Sections
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c)(4), (5) and (6); and (ii) by adding
to such balance such Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum
Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, determined pursuant
to Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), any amounts
such Partner is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of
this Agreement or by applicable Law. The foregoing definition of
Adjusted Capital Account Balance is intended to comply with the
provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and
shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
“ Affiliate
” means, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person
that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such
specified Person.
“ Agreement
” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this
Agreement.
“ Amended Tax
Amount ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.01(b)(ii).
“ Assignee
” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.08.
“ Assumed Tax
Rate ” means the highest effective marginal combined U.S.
federal, state and local income tax rate for a Fiscal Year
prescribed for an individual or corporate resident in New York, New
York (taking into account (a) the nondeductiblity of expenses
subject to the limitation described in Section 67(a) of the
Code and (b) the character (e.g., long-term or short-term
capital gain or ordinary or exempt income) of the applicable
income, but not taking into account the deductibility of state and
local income taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes). For the
avoidance of doubt, the Assumed Tax Rate will be the same for all
Partners.
“ Available Cash
” means, with respect to any fiscal period, the amount of
cash on hand which the General Partner, in its reasonable
discretion, deems available for distribution to the Partners,
taking into account all debts, liabilities and obligations of the
Partnership then due and amounts which the General Partner, in its
reasonable discretion, deems necessary to expend or retain for
working capital or to place into reserves for customary and usual
claims with respect to the Partnership’s
operations.
“ Blackstone
Holdings Partnerships ” means each of the Partnership,
Blackstone Holdings I L.P., a Delaware limited partnership,
Blackstone Holdings II L.P., a Delaware limited partnership,
Blackstone Holdings IV L.P., a a Québec société en
commandite, and Blackstone Holdings V L.P., a Québec
société en commandite.
“ Capital
Account ” means the separate capital account maintained
for each Partner in accordance with Section 5.03
hereof.
“ Capital
Contribution ” means, with respect to any Partner, the
aggregate amount of money contributed to the Partnership and the
Carrying Value of any property (other than money), net of any
liabilities assumed by the Partnership upon contribution or to
which such property is subject, contributed to the Partnership
pursuant to Article V.
2
“ Carrying Value
” means, with respect to any Partnership asset, the
asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
except that the initial carrying value of assets contributed to the
Partnership shall be their respective gross fair market values on
the date of contribution as determined by the General Partner, and
the Carrying Values of all Partnership assets shall be adjusted to
equal their respective fair market values, in accordance with the
rules set forth in United States Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), except as otherwise provided
herein, as of: (a) the date of the acquisition of any
additional Partnership Interest by any new or existing Partner in
exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution;
(b) the date of the distribution of more than a de minimis
amount of Partnership assets to a Partner; (c) the date a
Partnership Interest is relinquished to the Partnership; or
(d) any other date specified in the United States Treasury
Regulations; provided , however, that adjustments pursuant
to clauses (a), (b) (c) and (d) above shall be made
only if such adjustments are deemed necessary or appropriate by the
General Partner to reflect the relative economic interests of the
Partners. The Carrying Value of any Partnership asset distributed
to any Partner shall be adjusted immediately before such
distribution to equal its fair market value. In the case of any
asset that has a Carrying Value that differs from its adjusted tax
basis, Carrying Value shall be adjusted by the amount of
depreciation calculated for purposes of the definition of
“Profits (Losses)” rather than the amount of
depreciation determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and
depreciation shall be calculated by reference to Carrying Value
rather than tax basis once Carrying Value differs from tax
basis.
“ Category 1 Limited
Partner ” means each of the Limited Partners identified
in the books and records of the Partnership as a Category 1 Limited
Partner.
“ Category 2 Limited
Partner ” means each of the Limited Partners identified
in the books and records of the Partnership as a Category 2 Limited
Partner.
“ Category 3 Limited
Partner ” means each of the Limited Partners identified
in the books and records of the Partnership as a Category 3 Limited
Partner.
“ Category 4 Limited
Partner ” means each of the Limited Partners identified
in the books and records of the Partnership as a Category 4 Limited
Partner.
“ Category 5 Limited
Partner ” means each of the Limited Partners identified
in the books and records of the Partnership as a Category 5 Limited
Partner.
“ Category 6 Limited
Partner ” means the Limited Partner identified in the
books and records of the Partnership as a Category 6 Limited
Partner.
“ Cause ”
means the occurrence or existence of any of the following as
determined fairly, reasonably, on an informed basis and in good
faith by the General Partner: (i) (w) any breach by an
Employed Limited Partner of any provision of this Agreement or the
Non-Competition Agreement attached hereto, (x) any material
breach of any rules or regulations applicable to senior managing
directors or employees, as applicable, of the Blackstone
3
Holdings Partnerships, their
subsidiaries and their affiliated entities, (y) an Employed
Limited Partner’s deliberate failure to perform his or her
duties to the Blackstone Holdings Partnerships, their subsidiaries
and their affiliated entities, or (z) an Employed Limited
Partner’s committing to or engaging in any conduct or
behavior that is or may be harmful to the Blackstone Holdings
Partnerships, their subsidiaries and their affiliated entities in
any material way (provided that, in the case of any of the
foregoing clauses (w), (x), (y) and (z), the General Partner
has given the Employed Limited Partner written notice (a “
Notice of Breach ”) within fifteen days after the
General Partner becomes aware of such action and such Employed
Limited Partner fails to cure such breach, failure to perform or
conduct or behavior within fifteen days after receipt by the
Employed Limited Partner of such Notice of Breach from the General
Partner (or such longer period, not to exceed an additional fifteen
days, as shall be reasonably required for such cure,
provided , that such Employed Limited Partner is diligently
pursuing such cure), (iii) any act of fraud, misappropriation,
dishonesty, embezzlement or similar conduct against the Blackstone
Holdings Partnerships, their subsidiaries and their affiliated
entities, or (iv) conviction (on the basis of a trial or by an
accepted plea of guilty or nolo contendere ) of a felony or
crime (including any misdemeanor charge involving moral turpitude,
false statements or misleading omissions, forgery, wrongful taking,
embezzlement, extortion or bribery), or a determination by a court
of competent jurisdiction, by a U.S. federal or state or comparable
non-U.S. regulatory body or by a self-regulatory body having
authority with respect to U.S. federal or state or comparable
non-U.S. securities laws, rules or regulations of the securities
industry, that such Employed Limited Partner individually has
violated any U.S. federal or state or comparable non-U.S.
securities laws or any rules or regulations thereunder, or any
rules of any such self-regulatory body (including, without
limitation, any licensing requirement), if such conviction or
determination has a material adverse effect on (A) such
Employed Limited Partner’s ability to function as a senior
managing director or employee, as applicable, of the Blackstone
Holdings Partnerships, their subsidiaries and their affiliated
entities, taking into account the services required of Employed
Limited Partner and the nature of the business of the Blackstone
Holdings Partnerships, their subsidiaries and their affiliated
entities or (B) the business of the Blackstone Holdings
Partnerships, their subsidiaries and their affiliated
entities.
“ Change of
Control ” means the occurrence of any Person, other than
a Person approved by the current Issuer General Partner, becoming
the general partner of the Issuer.
“ Charity
” means any organization that is organized and operated for a
purpose described in Section 170(c) of the Code (determined
without reference to Code Section 170(c)(2)(A)) and described
in Code Sections 2055(a) and 2522.
“ Civil Code
” means the Civil Code of Québec, RSQ ch. C-1991, as it
may be amended from time to time.
“ Class ”
means the classes of Units into which the interests in the
Partnership may be classified or divided from time to time pursuant
to the provisions of this Agreement.
4
“ Class A Units
” means the Units of partnership interest in the Partnership
designated as the “Class A Units” herein and having the
rights pertaining thereto as are set forth in this
Agreement.
“ Code ”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time.
“ Common Units
” means common units representing limited partner interests
of the Issuer.
“ Contingencies
” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(b).
“ Control
” (including the terms “ Controlled by ”
and “ under common Control with ”) means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause
the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor,
by contract or otherwise, including, without limitation, the
ownership, directly or indirectly, of securities having the power
to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar body
governing the affairs of such Person.
“ Credit Amount
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(ii) of
this Agreement.
“ Creditable
Non-U.S. Tax ” means a non-U.S. tax paid or accrued for
United States federal income tax purposes by the Partnership, in
either case to the extent that such tax is eligible for credit
under Section 901(a) of the Code. A non-U.S. tax is a
Creditable Non-U.S. Tax for these purposes without regard to
whether a partner receiving an allocation of such non-U.S. tax
elects to claim a credit for such amount. This definition is
intended to be consistent with the definition of “Creditable
Non-U.S. Tax” in Temporary Treasury Regulations
Section 1.704-1T(b)(4)(xi)( b ), and shall be
interpreted consistently therewith.
“Declaration”
means the declaration of registration of the Partnership filed with
the Registraire des entreprises (Québec) pursuant to the Act,
as amended from time to time.
“ Disability
” means, as to any Person, such Person’s inability to
perform in all material respects his or her duties and
responsibilities to the General Partner, or any of its Affiliates,
by reason of a physical or mental disability or infirmity which
inability is reasonably expected to be permanent and has continued
(i) for a period of six consecutive months or (ii) such
shorter period as the General Partner may reasonably determine in
good faith.
“ Disabling
Event ” means the General Partner ceasing to be the
general partner of the Partnership pursuant to Section 17-402
of the Act.
“ Dissolution
Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02 of
this Agreement.
“ Employed Limited
Partner ” means any Limited Partner that is employed by
or providing services to the Issuer General Partner, the Issuer,
the General Partner, the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries at
the time in question, and any Personal Planning Vehicle of such
Limited Partner.
5
“ Encumbrance
” means any mortgage, claim, lien, encumbrance, conditional
sales or other title retention agreement, right of first refusal,
preemptive right, pledge, option, charge, security interest or
other similar interest, easement, judgment or imperfection of title
of any nature whatsoever.
“ ERISA ”
means The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
“ Exchange Act
” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ Exchange
Agreement ” means the exchange agreement dated as of or
about the date hereof among the Issuer, the Blackstone Holdings
Partnerships and the limited partners of the Blackstone Holdings
Partnerships from time to time, as amended from time to
time.
“ Exchange
Transaction ” means an exchange of Units for Common Units
pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Exchange Agreement or, if
the Issuer and the exchanging Limited Partner shall mutually agree,
a Transfer of Units to the Issuer, the Partnership or any of their
subsidiaries for other consideration.
“ Final Tax
Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section
4.01(b)(ii).
“ Fiscal Year
” means (i) the period commencing upon the formation of
the Partnership and ending on December 31, 2007 or
(ii) any subsequent twelve-month period commencing on
January 1 and ending on December 31.
“ GAAP ”
means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
of America as in effect from time to time.
“ General
Partner ” means Blackstone Holdings III GP L.P., a
limited partnership formed under the laws of the State of Delaware
or any successor general partner admitted to the Partnership in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
“ Government
Official ” means a person who holds a high-level,
full-time position with a national, supranational, U.S. federal,
U.S. state or City of New York government.
“ Incapacity
” means, with respect to any Person, the bankruptcy,
dissolution, termination, entry of an order of incompetence, or the
insanity, permanent disability or death of such Person.
“ Initial Limited
Partner ” means each Limited Partner as of the date of
this Agreement.
“ Initial Units
” means, with respect to any Initial Limited Partner, the
aggregate number of Class A Units owned by such Initial
Limited Partner as of the date of this Agreement.
6
“ Initial Unvested
Units ” means, with respect to any Initial Limited
Partner, the aggregate number of Unvested Units owned by such
Initial Limited Partner as of the date of this
Agreement.
“ Initial Vested
Units ” means, with respect to any Initial Limited
Partner, the aggregate number of Vested Units listed in the books
and records of the Partnership as of the date of this Agreement,
and any additional Initial Units that have vested from time to time
in accordance with Section 8.01 of this Agreement.
“ Intangible
Assets ” means the assets of the Partnership that are
described in Section 197(d) of the Code.
“ Intangible Asset
Gain ” means the net gain recognized by the Partnership
with respect to the Partnership’s Intangible Assets in
connection with the actual or hypothetical sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Partnership, including but
not limited to net capital gain realized in connection with an
adjustment to the Carrying Value of Partnership assets;
provided , however , that any such gain shall
constitute “Intangible Asset Gain” only to the extent
that any such gain exceeds losses previously recognized in an
actual or hypothetical sale of Intangible Assets.
“ IPO ”
means the initial public offering and sale of Common Units, as
contemplated by the Issuer’s Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (File No. 333-141504).
“ Issuer ”
means The Blackstone Group L.P., a limited partnership formed under
the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor
thereto.
“ Issuer General
Partner ” means Blackstone Group Management L.L.C., a
limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of
Delaware and the general partner of the Issuer, or any successor
general partner of the Issuer.
“ Issuer Partnership
Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Agreement of
Limited Partnership of the Issuer to be dated substantially
concurrently with the consummation of the IPO, as such agreement of
limited partnership may be amended, supplemented or restated from
time to time.
“ Law ”
means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code,
executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or other order issued
or promulgated by any national, supranational, state, federal,
provincial, local or municipal government or any administrative or
regulatory body with authority therefrom with jurisdiction over the
Partnership or any Partner, as the case may be.
“ Limited
Partner ” means a special partner, as defined in the Act
and, more specifically, each of the Persons from time to time
listed as a limited partner in the books and records of the
Partnership, and, for purposes of Sections 8.01, 8.02, 8.03, 8.04,
8.05 and 8.06, any Personal Planning Vehicle of such Limited
Partner.
“ Liquidation
Agent ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03 of
this Agreement.
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“ Last Reported Sale
Price ” of the Common Units on any date means:
(a) the closing sale price
per unit on the New York Stock Exchange on that date (or, if no
closing sale price is reported, the last reported sale
price);
(b) if the Common Units are
not listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the closing
sale price (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the last
reported sale price) as reported on that date in composite
transactions for the principal national securities exchange
registered pursuant to Section 6(g) of the Exchange Act on
which the Common Units are listed;
(c) if the Common Units are
not so listed on a national securities exchange, the last quoted
bid price for the Common Units on that date in the over-the-counter
market as reported by Pink Sheets LLC or a similar organization;
or
(d) if the Common Units are
not so quoted by Pink Sheets LLC or a similar organization, the
average of the mid-point of the last bid and ask prices for the
Common Units on that date from a nationally recognized independent
investment banking firm selected by the General Partner for this
purpose.
“ Minimum Retained
Ownership Requirement ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 8.04(a).
“ Net Taxable
Income ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.01(b)(i).
“ Non-Competition
Agreement ” means collectively, the Senior Managing
Director Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement and
Contracting Employees Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation
Agreement dated on or about the date hereof by certain Employed
Limited Partners with each of the Blackstone Holdings Partnerships
and any agreement with respect to similar subject matter entered
into from time to time by an Employed Limited Partner.
“ Nonrecourse
Deductions ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury
Regulations Section 1.704-2(b). The amount of Nonrecourse
Deductions of the Partnership for a fiscal year equals the net
increase, if any, in the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain of the
Partnership during that fiscal year, determined according to the
provisions of Treasury Regulations
Section 1.704-2(c).
“ Original
Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of
this Agreement.
“ Partners
” means, at any time, each person listed as a Partner
(including the General Partner) on the books and records of the
Partnership, in each case for so long as he, she or it remains a
partner of the Partnership as provided hereunder.
“ Partnership
” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this
Agreement.
“ Partnership
Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury
Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).
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“ Partner
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain ” means an amount with
respect to each partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury
Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) equal to the Partnership
Minimum Gain that would result if such partner nonrecourse debt
were treated as a nonrecourse liability (as defined in Treasury
Regulations Section 1.752-1(a)(2)) determined in accordance
with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3).
“ Partner
Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning ascribed to the
term “partner nonrecourse deductions” set forth in
Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
“ Person ”
means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
partnership, limited liability company, limited company, joint
venture, trust, unincorporated or governmental organization or any
agency or political subdivision thereof.
“ Personal Planning
Vehicle ” means, in respect of any Limited Partner, any
estate, family limited liability company, family limited
partnership, or inter vivos or testamentary trust that holds Units
that is designated as a Personal Planning Vehicle of such Limited
Partner in the books and records of the Partnership.
“ Profits
” and “ Losses ” means, for each Fiscal
Year or other period, the taxable income or loss of the
Partnership, or particular items thereof, determined in accordance
with the accounting method used by the Partnership for U.S. federal
income tax purposes with the following adjustments: (a) all
items of income, gain, loss or deduction allocated pursuant to
Section 5.05 shall not be taken into account in computing such
taxable income or loss; (b) any income of the Partnership that
is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation and not otherwise taken
into account in computing Profits and Losses shall be added to such
taxable income or loss; (c) if the Carrying Value of any asset
differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, any gain or loss resulting from a disposition of such
asset shall be calculated with reference to such Carrying Value;
(d) upon an adjustment to the Carrying Value (other than an
adjustment in respect of depreciation) of any asset, pursuant to
the definition of Carrying Value, the amount of the adjustment
shall be included as gain or loss in computing such taxable income
or loss; (e) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from
its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the
amount of depreciation, amortization or cost recovery deductions
with respect to such asset for purposes of determining Profits and
Losses, if any, shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to
such Carrying Value as the U.S. federal income tax depreciation,
amortization or other cost recovery deductions bears to such
adjusted tax basis ( provided that if the U.S. federal
income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery
deduction is zero, the General Partner may use any reasonable
method for purposes of determining depreciation, amortization or
other cost recovery deductions in calculating Profits and Losses);
and (f) except for items in (a) above, any expenditures
of the Partnership not deductible in computing taxable income or
loss, not properly capitalizable and not otherwise taken into
account in computing Profits and Losses pursuant to this definition
shall be treated as deductible items.
“ Restricted
Period ,” with respect to each Limited Partner that is or
was an Employed Limited Partner, has the meaning set forth in such
Limited Partner’s Non-Competition Agreement.
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“ Restrictive
Covenant ,” with respect to each Limited Partner that is
or was an Employed Limited Partner, has the meaning set forth in
such Limited Partner’s Non-Competition Agreement.
“ Retirement
” (including the term “ Retire ”) means
retirement of an Employed Limited Partner from his or her
employment with the Issuer General Partner, the Issuer, the General
Partner, the Partnership or any of their subsidiaries after
(a) he or she has reached age 65 and has at least five full
years of service, or (b) (i) his or her age plus years of
service totals at least 65, (ii) he or she has reached age 50
and (iii) he or she has had a minimum of five years of
service; provided , however, that no Employed Limited
Partner will be eligible to Retire prior to June 30,
2010.
“ Securities Act
” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ Similar Law
” means any law or regulation that could cause the underlying
assets of the Partnership to be treated as assets of the Limited
Partner by virtue of its limited partner interest in the
Partnership and thereby subject the Partnership and the General
Partner (or other persons responsible for the investment and
operation of the Partnership’s assets) to laws or regulations
that are similar to the fiduciary responsibility or prohibited
transaction provisions contained in Title I of ERISA or
Section 4975 of the Code.
“ Tax Advances
” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.07.
“ Tax Amount
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.01(b)(i).
“ Tax
Distributions ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.01(b)(i).
“ Tax Matters
Partner ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.08.
“ Total Percentage
Interest ” means, with respect to any Partner, the
quotient obtained by dividing the number of Units (vested or
unvested) then owned by such Partner by the number of Units then
owned by all Partners.
“ Transfer
” means, in respect of any Unit, property or other asset, any
sale, assignment, transfer, distribution or other disposition
thereof, whether voluntarily or by operation of Law, including,
without limitation, the exchange of any Unit for any other
security.
“ Transferee
” means any Person that is a transferee of a Partner’s
interest in the Partnership, or part thereof.
“ Treasury
Regulations ” means the income tax regulations, including
temporary regulations, promulgated under the Code, as such
regulations may be amended from time to time (including
corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).
“ Units ”
means the Class A Units and any other Class of Units
authorized in accordance with this Agreement, which shall
constitute interests in the Partnership as
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provided in this Agreement
and under the Act, entitling the holders thereof to the relative
rights, title and interests in the profits, losses, deductions and
credits of the Partnership at any particular time as set forth in
this Agreement, and any and all other benefits to which a holder
thereof may be entitled as a Partner as provided in this Agreement,
together with the obligations of such Partner to comply with all
terms and provisions of this Agreement.
“ Unvested Units
” means those Units listed as unvested Units in the books and
records of the Partnership, as the same may be amended from time to
time in accordance with this Agreement.
“ Vested Percentage
Interest ” means, with respect to any Partner, the
quotient obtained by dividing the number of Vested Units then owned
by such Partner by the number of Vested Units then owned by all
Partners.
“ Vested Units
” means those Units listed as vested Units in the books and
records of the Partnership, as the same may be amended from time to
time in accordance with this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND
POWERS
SECTION 2.01.
Formation . The Partnership was formed as a limited
partnership under the provisions of the Act by the execution of the
Original Agreement. A Declaration was filed with the Registraire
des entreprises (Québec) as of August 6, 2007, in
accordance with the provisions of the Act. If requested by the
General Partner, the Limited Partners shall promptly execute all
certificates and other documents consistent with the terms of this
Agreement necessary for the General Partner to accomplish all
filing, recording, publishing and other acts as may be appropriate
to comply with all requirements for (a) the formation and
operation of a limited partnership under the laws of the Province
of Québec, (b) if the General Partner deems it advisable,
the operation of the Partnership as a limited partnership, or
partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability,
in all jurisdictions where the Partnership proposes to operate and
(c) all other filings required to be made by the
Partnership.
SECTION 2.02.
Name . The name of the Partnership shall be, and the
business of the Partnership shall be conducted under the name of,
Placements Blackstone III s.e.c. and, in its English version,
Blackstone Holdings III L.P.
SECTION 2.03.
Term . The term of the Partnership commenced on the date of
the Original Agreement, and the term shall continue until the
dissolution of the Partnership in accordance with Article IX. The
existence of the Partnership shall continue until dissolution of
the Partnership in the manner required by the Act.
SECTION 2.04.
Offices . The Partnership may have offices at such places
either within or outside the Province of Québec as the General
Partner from time to time may select. As of the date hereof, the
principal place of business and office of the Partnership is
located at 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154. The
Québec domicile of the Partnership shall be located at 1 Place
Ville Marie, 37 th Floor, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3B
3P4.
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SECTION 2.05.
Agent for Service of Process . The Partnership’s
registered agent for service of process in the Province of
Québec shall be as set forth in the Declaration, or such other
person as the General Partner shall designate in its sole
discretion from time to time.
SECTION 2.06.
Business Purpose . The Partnership was formed for the object
and purpose of, and the nature and character of the business to be
conducted by the Partnership is, engaging in any lawful act or
activity for which limited partnerships may be formed under the
Act.
SECTION 2.07.
Powers of the Partnership . Subject to the limitations set
forth in this Agreement, the Partnership will possess and may
exercise all of the powers and privileges granted to it by the Act
including, without limitation, the ownership and operation of the
assets contributed to the Partnership by the Partners, by any other
Law or this Agreement, together with all powers incidental thereto,
so far as such powers are necessary or convenient to the conduct,
promotion or attainment of the purpose of the Partnership set forth
in Section 2.06.
SECTION 2.08.
Partners; Admission of New Partners . Each of the Persons
listed in the books and records of the Partnership, as the same may
be amended from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, by
virtue of the execution of this Agreement, are admitted as Partners
of the Partnership. The rights, duties and liabilities of the
Partners shall be as provided in the Act, except as is otherwise
expressly provided herein, and the Partners consent to the
variation of such rights, duties and liabilities as provided
herein. A Person may be admitted from time to time as a new Partner
in accordance with Section 8.10; provided , however,
that each new Partner shall execute and deliver to the General
Partner an appropriate supplement to this Agreement pursuant to
which the new Partner agrees to be bound by the terms and
conditions of the Agreement, as it may be amended from time to
time.
SECTION 2.09.
Withdrawal . No Partner shall have the right to withdraw as
a Partner of the Partnership other than following the Transfer of
all Units owned by such Partner in accordance with Article VIII;
provided , however, that a new General Partner or substitute
General Partner may be admitted to the Partnership in accordance
with Section 8.09.
ARTICLE III
MANAGEMENT
SECTION 3.01.
General Partner . (a) The business, property and
affairs of the Partnership shall be managed under the sole,
absolute and exclusive direction of the General Partner, which may
from time to time delegate authority to officers or to others to
act on behalf of the Partnership.
(b) Without limiting the
foregoing provisions of this Section 3.01, the General Partner
shall have the general power to manage or cause the management of
the Partnership (which may be delegated to officers of the
Partnership), including, without limitation, the following
powers:
(i) to develop and prepare a
business plan each year which will set forth the operating goals
and plans for the Partnership;
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(ii) to execute and deliver
or to authorize the execution and delivery of contracts, deeds,
leases, licenses, instruments of transfer and other documents on
behalf of the Partnership;
(iii) the making of any
expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or
guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other
liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness and the
incurring of any other obligations;
(iv) to employ, retain,
consult with and dismiss personnel;
(v) to establish and enforce
limits of authority and internal controls with respect to all
personnel and functions;
(vi) to engage attorneys,
consultants and accountants for the Partnership;
(vii) to develop or cause to
be developed accounting procedures for the maintenance of the
Partnership’s books of account; and
(viii) to do all such other
acts as shall be authorized in this Agreement or by the Partners in
writing from time to time.
SECTION 3.02.
Compensation . The General Partner shall not be entitled to
any compensation for services rendered to the Partnership in its
capacity as General Partner.
SECTION 3.03.
Expenses . The Partnership shall bear and/or reimburse the
General Partner for any expenses incurred by the General Partner in
connection with serving as the general partner of the
Partnership.
SECTION 3.04.
Officers . Subject to the direction and oversight of the
General Partner, the day-to-day administration of the business of
the Partnership may be carried out by employees and agents who may
be designated as officers by the General Partner, with titles
including but not limited to “chief executive officer,”
“chief financial officer,” “chief legal
officer,” “chief administrative officer,”
“chief compliance officer,” “principal accounting
officer,” “chairman,” “senior
chairman,” “vice chairman,”
“president,” “vice president,”
“treasurer,” “assistant treasurer,”
“secretary,” “assistant secretary,”
“general manager,” “senior managing
director,” “managing director” and
“director,” as and to the extent authorized by the
General Partner. The officers of the Partnership shall have such
titles and powers and perform such duties as shall be determined
from time to time by the General Partner and otherwise as shall
customarily pertain to such offices. Any number of offices may be
held by the same person. All employees, agents and officers shall
be subject to the supervision and direction of the General Partner
and may be removed from such office by the General Partner and the
authority, duties or responsibilities of any employee, agent or
officer of the Partnership may be suspended by the General Partner
from time to time, in each case in the sole discretion of the
General Partner. The General Partner shall not cease to be a
general partner of the Partnership as a result of the delegation of
any duties hereunder. No officer of the Partnership, in its
capacity as such, shall be considered a general partner of the
Partnership by agreement, estoppel, as a result of the performance
of its duties hereunder or otherwise.
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SECTION 3.05.
Authority of Partners . Other than exercising a Limited
Partner’s rights and powers as a Limited Partner, as
contemplated in the Act, no Limited Partner, in its capacity as
such, shall participate in or have any control over the business of
the Partnership. Except as expressly provided herein, the Units do
not confer any rights upon the Limited Partners to participate in
the affairs of the Partnership described in this Agreement. Except
as expressly provided herein, the Limited Partners shall have no
right to vote on any matter involving the Partnership, including
with respect to any merger, consolidation, combination or
conversion of the Partnership. The conduct, control and management
of the Partnership shall be vested exclusively in the General
Partner. In all matters relating to or arising out of the conduct
of the operation of the Partnership, the decision of the General
Partner shall be the decision of the Partnership. Except as
required or permitted by Law, or expressly provided in the ultimate
sentence of this Section 3.05 or by separate agreement with
the Partnership, no Partner who is not also a General Partner (and
acting in such capacity) shall take any part in the management or
control of the operation or business of the Partnership in its
capacity as a Partner, nor shall any Partner who is not also a
General Partner (and acting in such capacity) have any right,
authority or power to act for or on behalf of or bind the
Partnership in his or its capacity as a Partner in any respect or
assume any obligation or responsibility of the Partnership or of
any other Partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership
may employ one or more Partners from time to time, and such
Partners, in their capacity as employees of the Partnership (and
not, for clarity, in their capacity as Limited Partners of the
Partnership), may take part in the control and management of the
business of the Partnership to the extent such authority and power
to act for or on behalf of the Partnership has been delegated to
them by the General Partner.
SECTION 3.06.
Action by Written Consent or Ratification . Any action
required or permitted to be taken by the Partners pursuant to this
Agreement shall be taken if all Partners whose consent or
ratification is required consent thereto or provide a ratification
in writing.
ARTICLE IV
DISTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 4.01.
Distributions . (a) The General Partner, in its sole
discretion, may authorize distributions by the Partnership to the
Partners, which distributions shall be made pro rata in
accordance with the Partners’ respective Total Percentage
Interests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any distributions in
respect of income of the Partnership earned on or prior to
December 31, 2009 shall be made each Fiscal Year
(A) first, to the General Partner until sufficient
distributions from the Partnership, together with distributions
from the other Blackstone Holdings Partnerships to their respective
general partners, have been so allocated to permit the Issuer to
make aggregate distributions to holders of Common Units of US$1.20
per Common Unit on an annualized basis for such Fiscal Year;
(B) second, to the Limited Partners until an amount of
distributions (on a per Unit basis) equivalent to the distributions
to the General Partner under clause (A) of this
Section 4.01 has been distributed in respect of each Limited
Partners’ respective Total Percentage Interests for such
Fiscal Year; and (C) third, pro rata in accordance with
the Partners’ respective Total Percentage
Interests.
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(b) (i) In addition to the
foregoing, if the General Partner reasonably determines that the
taxable income of the Partnership for a Fiscal Year will give rise
to taxable income for the Partners (“ Net Taxable
Income ”), the General Partner shall cause the
Partnership to distribute Available Cash in respect of
income tax liabilities (the “ Tax Distributions
”) to the extent that other distributions made by the
Partnership for such year were otherwise insufficient to cover such
tax liabilities. The Tax Distributions payable with respect to any
Fiscal Year shall be computed based upon the General
Partner’s estimate of the allocable Net Taxable Income in
accordance with Article V, multiplied by the Assumed Tax Rate (the
“ Tax Amount ”). For purposes of computing the
Tax Amount, the effect of any benefit under Section 743(b) of
the Code will be ignored.
(ii) Tax Distributions shall
be calculated and paid no later than one day prior to each
quarterly due date for the payment by corporations on a calendar
year of estimated taxes under the Code in the following manner
(A) for the first quarterly period, 25% of the Tax Amount,
(B) for the second quarterly period, 50% of the Tax Amount,
less the prior Tax Distributions for the Fiscal Year, (C) for
the third quarterly period, 75% of the Tax Amo
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