Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT
OF
EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP
as
amended through December 19, 2007
ORGANIZED UNDER THE DELAWARE
REVISED UNIFORM LIMITED
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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| SECTION
1 ORGANIZATION
MATTERS |
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1.1
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Formation of Partnership; Amended and Restated
Agreement
|
3
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1.2
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Name
|
4
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1.3
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Business Offices
|
4
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1.4
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Purpose and Business
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4
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1.5
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Filings
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4
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1.6
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Power of Attorney
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4
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1.7 |
Term |
5
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| SECTION
2 CAPITAL
CONTRIBUTIONS |
5
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2.1 |
Acquisition of Units; Holdings of Initial
Partners |
5
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2.2
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Transaction Costs
|
6
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2.3
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Property Contributions
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6
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2.4
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Other Contributions
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7
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2.5
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Capital Accounts
|
8
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2.6
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No Return of or on Capital
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8
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2.7
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Partner Loans
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8
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2.8 |
Administration and Investment of
Funds |
8
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SECTION
3
DISTRIBUTIONS
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8
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3.1
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Operating Distributions
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8
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3.2 |
Liquidating Distributions |
9
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3.3
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Withholding
|
9
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3.4
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Offset
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9
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| SECTION
4 BOOK AND
TAX ALLOCATIONS |
9
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4.1
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General Book Allocations
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9
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4.2
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Change in Partner's Units
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11
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4.3
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Deficit Capital Account and Nonrecourse Debt
Rules
|
11
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4.4 |
Federal Tax Allocations |
12
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4.5 |
Other Tax Allocations |
13
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| SECTION
5 ACCOUNTING,
FINANCIAL REPORTING AND TAX MATTERS |
13
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|
5.1 |
Fiscal Year |
13
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|
5.2 |
Method of Accounting for Financial Reporting
Purposes |
13
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5.3 |
Books and Records; Right of Partners to
Audit |
13
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5.4 |
Reports and Financial Statements |
14
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|
5.5 |
Method of Accounting for Book and Tax
Purposes |
14
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5.6 |
Taxation |
14
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5.7 |
Delegation |
16
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| SECTION
6
MANAGEMENT |
16
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|
6.1 |
Managing General Partner and Partnership Governance
Committee |
16
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6.2
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Limitations on Authority of General
Partners
|
17
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6.3
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Lack of Authority of Persons Other Than Managing
General Partner and Officers
|
17
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6.4
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Composition of Partnership Governance
Committee
|
18
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6.5
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Partnershp Governance Committee Meetings
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19
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6.6
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Partnership Governance Committee Quorum and General
Voting Requirement
|
20
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6.7
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Matters Required To Be Approved by Partnership
Governance Committee
|
20
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6.8 |
Control of Interested Partner Issues |
22
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6.9 |
Auxiliary Committees |
23
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6.10 |
Certain Limitations on Partner
Representatives |
24
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| SECTION
7 OFFICERS AND
EMPLOYEES |
24
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7.1 |
Partnership Officers |
24
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7.2
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Selection and Term of Executive Officers
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25
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7.3
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Removal of Executive Officers
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25
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7.4
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Duties
|
25
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7.5
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CEO
|
26
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7.6
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Other Officers
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26
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7.7
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Secretary
|
26
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7.8 |
Salaries |
27
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7.9 |
Delegation |
27
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7.10 |
[Intentionally Deleted.] |
27
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7.11 |
General Authority |
27
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SECTION 8
STRATEGIC PLANS, ANNUAL BUDGETS AND LOANS
|
27
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8.1
|
Strategic Plan
|
27
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8.2 |
Annual Budget |
28
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8.3
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Funding of Partnership Expenses
|
29
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8.4
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Implementation of Budgets and Discretionary
Expenditures by CEO
|
29
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8.5 |
Strategic Plan Deadlock |
29
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|
8.6 |
Loans |
30
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| SECTION 9
RIGHTS OF
PARTNERS |
31
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|
9.1
|
Delegation and Contracts with Related
Parties
|
31
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9.2
|
General Authority
|
31
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9.3
|
Limitation on Fiduciary Duty; Non-Competition; Right of
First Opportunity
|
31
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9.4 |
Limited Partners |
33
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9.5 |
Partner Covenants |
34
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|
9.6 |
Special Purpose Entities |
34
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| SECTION 10
TRANSFERS AND
PLEDGES |
34
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|
10.1 |
Restrictions on Transfer and Prohibition on
Pledge |
34
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10.2 |
Right of First Option |
35
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10.3 |
Inclusion of General or Limited Partner
Units |
36
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10.4 |
Rights of Transferee |
37
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10.5 |
Effective Date of Transfer |
37
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10.6
|
Transfer to Wholly Owned Affiliate
|
37
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10.7
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Invalid Transfer
|
38
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SECTION
11
DEFAULT
|
38
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11.1
|
Default
|
38
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11.2
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Remedies for Default
|
38
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11.3
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Purchase of Defaulting Partners' Units
|
39
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11.4 |
Liquidation |
39
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11.5 |
Certain Consequences of Default |
40
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| SECTION 12
DISSOLUTION,
LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION |
40
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12.1 |
Dissolution and Termination |
40
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12.2
|
Procedures Upon Dissolution
|
41
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12.3
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Termination of the Partnership
|
42
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12.4
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Asset and Liability Statement
|
42
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SECTION
13
MISCELLANEOUS
|
42
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13.1
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Confidentiality and Use of Information
|
42
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13.2
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Indemnification
|
44
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13.3 |
Third Party Claim Reimbursement |
46
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13.4 |
Dispute Resolution |
47
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13.5 |
EXTENT OF LIMITATION OF LIABILITY, INDEMNIFICATION,
ETC |
47
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13.6 |
Further Assurances |
47
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13.7
|
Successors and Assigns
|
47
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13.8 |
Benefits of Agreement Restricted to the
Parties |
47
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13.9
|
Notices
|
47
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13.10
|
[Reserved]
|
48
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13.11 |
Severability |
48
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13.12 |
Construction |
48
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13.13 |
Counterparts |
49
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13.14 |
Waiver of Right to Partition |
49
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13.15
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Governing Law
|
49
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13.16
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Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process;
Waiver
|
49
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13.17
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Expenses
|
49
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13.18 |
Waiver of Jury Trial |
49
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13.19 |
Payment Terms and Interest Calculations |
50
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13.20 |
Usury Savings Clause |
50
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13.21 |
Other Waivers |
50
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13.22 |
Special Joinder by OCC |
50
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13.23 |
Amendments |
51
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13.24 |
Certain Provisions of Prior Agreement
Unaffected |
51
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| SECTION
14 LAKE CHARLES
FACILITY |
51
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|
14.1 |
Lease Not in Force and Effect |
51
|
|
14.2 |
LC Partnership Provisions |
52
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|
14.3 |
No Rebuilding Termination |
52
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14.4 |
Other Redemption |
53
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| SECTION
15 ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS REGARDING THE LAKE CHARLES FACILITY |
53
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|
15.1 |
Receipt of Fee Title |
53
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15.2 |
Authority to Act |
53
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APPENDICES
APPENDIX
A - Defined Terms
APPENDIX
B - Partnership Financial Statements and Reports
APPENDIX
C - Executive Officers
APPENDIX
D - Dispute Resolution Procedures
APPENDIX
E - Division of Partnership Business
SCHEDULES
Schedule
2.3(e) – Capital Accounts
Schedule
2.4 – Per Unit Value for Capital Contributions Between
Effective Time and January 31, 2008
Schedule
8.6(A) – Form of Millennium Indemnity
Schedule
8.6(B) – Form of Indemnity Among Partners
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
OF
EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP
This
Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Equistar
Chemicals, LP dated December __, 2007 is entered into by and
among Lyondell LP4 Inc., a Delaware corporation (“
Lyondell LP4 ”) (formerly named Lyondell GP, as
defined below), Lyondell Petrochemical L.P. Inc., a Delaware
corporation (“ Lyondell LP ”),
Millennium Petrochemicals GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (“ Millennium GP ”), Millennium
Petrochemicals Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership
(“ Millennium LP1 ”), Lyondell (Pelican)
Petrochemical L.P.1, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“
Lyondell (Pelican) LP1 ”) (formerly named
Occidental LP1, as defined below) and Lyondell LP3 Partners,
LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Lyondell
LP3”).
The
definitions of capitalized terms used in this Agreement,
including the appendices hereto, are set forth in Appendix
A hereto.
WHEREAS , Lyondell GP, Lyondell LP, Millennium GP and
Millennium Petrochemicals LP LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (“ Millennium LP ” and together, the
“ Initial Partners ”) entered into the Limited
Partnership Agreement of Equistar Chemicals, LP dated October 10,
1997 (the “ Initial Agreement ”), pursuant to
the Initial Master Transaction Agreement between Lyondell Chemical
Company, a Delaware corporation (“ Lyondell ”),
the ultimate parent entity of each of Lyondell GP and Lyondell
LP, and Millennium Chemicals Inc., a Delaware corporation (“
Millennium ”), the ultimate parent entity of each of
Millennium GP and Millennium LP;
WHEREAS , the Initial Partners contributed to the
Partnership their Initial Assets on the Initial Closing Date and
the Initial Related Agreements relating to the Partnership and
their Contributed Businesses were entered into, all as provided in
the Initial Master Transaction Agreement;
WHEREAS , the Partnership, Occidental Petroleum
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ Occidental
”), at that time the ultimate parent entity of each of
Occidental Petrochem Partner GP, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(“ Occidental GP ”), PDG Chemical Inc., a
Delaware corporation (“ PDG GP ”), Occidental
Petrochem Partner 1, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“
Occidental LP1 ”), and Occidental Petrochem Partner 2,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Occidental LP2 ”
and together with Occidental GP, PDG GP and Occidental LP1, the
“ Occidental Partners ”), Lyondell and
Millennium entered into the Master Transaction Agreement dated
May 15, 1998 (the “ Second Master Transaction
Agreement ”), which provides, among other things, for the
admission of PDG GP as a general partner of the Partnership and of
each of Occidental LP1 and Occidental LP2 as a limited partner of
the Partnership, subject to and upon the terms and conditions set
forth therein;
WHEREAS , PDG GP, Occidental LP1 and Occidental LP2
contributed to the Partnership their Initial Assets and Contributed
Business and the Additional Related Agreements were entered into,
all as provided in the Occidental Contribution
Agreement;
WHEREAS , PDG GP originally received 295 Units in the
Partnership, and pursuant to an amendment to the partnership
agreement dated June 30, 1998, PDG GP converted 294 of its Units to
limited partner Units and transferred those units to Occidental
LP2, and PDG GP transferred its one remaining GP Unit to Occidental
GP, whereupon Occidental GP was admitted as a General Partner and
PDG GP withdrew as a General Partner;
WHEREAS , Lyondell and Occidental Chemical Holding
Corporation, a California corporation, Oxy CH Corporation, a
California corporation, and Occidental Chemical Corporation, a New
York corporation (“ OCC ”), entered into the
Occidental Partner Sub Purchase Agreement dated July 8, 2002 (the
“ Oxy Partner Sub Purchase Agreement ”), which
provides, among other things, for the sale of the stock of each of
Occidental GP, Occidental LP1 and Occidental LP2 to
Lyondell;
WHEREAS , in connection with the closing of the
transactions contemplated by the Oxy Partner Sub Purchase
Agreement, Lyondell, Millennium, Occidental, certain of their
affiliates, and the Partnership entered into a Letter Agreement
dated May 31, 2002 (the “ Letter Agreement ”),
which provides, among other things, for certain amendments to the
Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Equistar
Chemicals, LP dated August 24, 2002 and the execution and delivery
of an amended and restated limited partnership agreement of the
Partnership;
WHEREAS , effective as of August 22, 2002, ownership of
Occidental GP, Occidental LP1 and Occidental LP2 was sold, assigned
and delivered to Lyondell and as of that date Occidental and its
Affiliates are no longer the owners of any interest in the
Partnership;
WHEREAS , on September 6, 2002 Occidental GP was merged
with and into Lyondell GP with Lyondell GP the surviving
entity;
WHEREAS , on November 6, 2002, a Certificate of Amendment
to the Certificate of Incorporation of each of Occidental LP1 and
Occidental LP2 was filed with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware whereby the name of Occidental Petrochem Partner 1,
Inc. was changed to “Lyondell (Pelican) Petrochemical L.P.1,
Inc.” and the name of Occidental Petrochem Partner 2, Inc.
was changed to “Lyondell (Pelican) Petrochemical L.P.2,
Inc.”;
WHEREAS , at the close of business on December 31, 2002,
Lyondell LP3 was admitted to the Partnership as a limited partner
and both Lyondell LP and Occidental LP2 transferred portions of
their partnership interests to Lyondell LP3;
WHEREAS , on November 29, 2004, a Certificate of Amendment
to the Certificate of Incorporation of Lyondell GP was filed with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware whereby the name of
Lyondell Petrochemical G.P. Inc. was changed to “Lyondell LP4
Inc.” and Lyondell GP converted its Units to limited partner
Units;
WHEREAS, on March 28, 2004, Lyondell and Millennium
entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, providing for a
merger transaction pursuant to which Millennium became a wholly
owned subsidiary of Lyondell on November 30, 2004 (the “
Millennium Merger ”);
WHEREAS , effective immediately prior to the Millennium
Merger, an amended and restated partnership agreement of the
Partnership was entered into;
WHEREAS , pursuant to a series of transactions effected on
December 30, 2005 and December 31, 2005, Millennium LP’s
Units were transferred to Millennium LP1;
WHEREAS , on December 31, 2005, Occidental LP2 was merged
with and into Lyondell LP, with Lyondell LP the surviving
entity;
WHEREAS , on December 18, 2007, LP4 exercised its right
under Section 6.11 of the amended and restated limited partnership
agreement of the Partnership as amended through November 29, 2004,
to convert from a limited partner to a general partner of the
Partnership and to become Managing General Partner (as herein
defined);
WHEREAS , on July 16, 2007, Lyondell entered into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger with Basell AF (“ Basell
”) and BIL Acquisition Holdings Limited, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Basell (“ Merger Sub ”), pursuant
to which it is contemplated that Merger Sub will merge with and
into Lyondell, with Lyondell surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary
of Basell (the “ Merger ”), and in connection
with the Merger it is contemplated that numerous financing
transactions will occur, including involving the repayment of
certain indebtedness by the Partnership; and
WHEREAS , from time to time the Partnership is expected to
need capital contributions when some of its Partners are not able
or willing to fund pro rata capital contributions, while other
Partners are able and willing to fund the capital contributions in
full;
WHEREAS , the Partners have agreed to amend the
partnership agreement of the Partnership as heretofore amended and
restated in order to, among other things, (i) permit capital
contributions to the Partnership on a basis other than pro rata in
order to facilitate contributions of capital to the Partnership
which may be needed by the Partnership in connection with the
Merger financing transactions or for other purposes from time to
time, and (ii) provide for more flexibility in the composition
of the Partnership Governance Committee (as herein
defined);
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the
mutual covenants of the parties hereto, it is hereby agreed as
follows, effective on December 19, 2007 (the “Effective
Time”):
SECTION 1
ORGANIZATION MATTERS
1.1
Formation of Partnership; Amended and Restated Agreement
. The
Certificate of Limited Partnership was filed with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware on
October 17, 1997. The Initial Agreement was
entered into October 10, 1997. The Partners
desire to enter into this Agreement which amends and restates the
Initial Agreement and all amendments prior to the date hereof and
constitutes the limited partnership agreement of the Partnership as
of the Effective Time. 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. Subject to the restrictions set
forth in this Agreement, the Partnership shall have the power to
exercise all the powers and privileges granted by this Agreement
and by the Act, together with any powers incidental thereto, so far
as such powers and privileges are necessary, appropriate,
convenient or incidental for the conduct, promotion or attainment
of the purposes of the Partnership.
1.2
Name . The
name of the Partnership is “Equistar Chemicals,
LP” The Partnership’s business may be
conducted under such name or any other name or names deemed
advisable by the Partnership Governance Committee. The
General Partners will comply or cause the Partnership to comply
with all applicable laws and other requirements relating to
fictitious or assumed names.
1.3
Business Offices . The
principal place of business of the Partnership shall be
1221 McKinney Street, Houston, Texas 77010, or such
other place as the General Partners may from time to time
determine. The registered agent of the Partnership in
the State of Delaware is The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange
Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801.
1.4
Purpose and Business . The
business of the Partnership shall be to, directly or indirectly,
(i) engage in the Specified Petrochemicals Businesses, in the
United States and internationally, including research and
development, purchasing, processing and disposing
of feedstocks, and manufacturing, marketing
and distributing products, (ii) acquire and dispose of properties
and assets used or useful in connection with the foregoing and
(iii) do all things necessary, appropriate, convenient or
incidental in connection with the ownership, operation or financing
of such business and activities, or otherwise in connection with
the foregoing, as are permitted under the Act, including the
acquisition and operation of the Contributed
Businesses.
1.5
Filings . The
Managing General Partner shall, or shall cause the Partnership to,
execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file or record in public
offices and publish all such certificates, notices, statements or
other instruments, and take all such other actions, as may be
required by law for the formation, reformation, qualification,
registration, operation or continuation of the Partnership in any
jurisdiction, to maintain the limited liability of the Limited
Partners, to preserve the Partnership’s status as a
partnership for tax purposes or otherwise to comply with applicable
law. Upon request of the Managing General Partner, the
other Partners shall execute all such certificates and other
documents as may be necessary, in the sole judgment of the Managing
General Partner, in order for the Managing General Partner to
accomplish all such executions, swearings, acknowledgments,
deliveries, filings, recordings in public offices, publishings and
other acts. Each General Partner hereby agrees and
covenants that it will execute any appropriate amendment to the
Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership pursuant to
Section 17-204 of the Act to reflect any admission of a
Substitute General Partner in accordance with this
Agreement.
1.6
Power of Attorney . Each
Partner other than the Managing General Partner hereby irrevocably
makes, constitutes and appoints the Managing General Partner and
any successor thereto permitted as provided herein, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, as the true and lawful agent
and attorney-in-fact of such Partner, with full power and authority
in the name, place and stead of such Partner to execute, swear,
acknowledge, deliver, file or record in public offices and
publish: (i) all certificates and other instruments
(including counterparts thereof) which the Managing General Partner
deems appropriate to reflect any amendment, change or modification
of or supplement to this Agreement in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement; (ii) all certificates and other instruments and all
amendments thereto which the Managing General Partner deems
appropriate or necessary to form, qualify or continue the
Partnership in any jurisdiction, to maintain the limited liability
of the Limited Partners, to preserve the Partnership’s status
as a partnership for tax purposes or otherwise to comply with
applicable law; and (iii) all conveyances and other instruments or
documents which the Managing General Partner deems appropriate or
necessary to reflect the transfers or assignments of interests in,
to or under, this Agreement, including the Units, the dissolution,
liquidation and termination of the Partnership, and the
distribution of assets of the Partnership in connection therewith,
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
Each
Partner other than the Managing General Partner hereby agrees
to execute and deliver to the Managing General Partner within
five Business Days after receipt of a written request therefor
such other further statements of interest and holdings,
designations, powers of attorney and other instruments as the
Managing General Partner deems necessary. The power
of attorney granted herein is hereby declared irrevocable and
a power coupled with an interest, shall survive the
bankruptcy, dissolution or termination of such Partner and
shall extend to and be binding upon such Partner’s
successors and permitted assigns. Each such Partner
hereby (i) agrees to be bound by any representations made
by the agent and attorney-in-fact acting in good faith
pursuant to such power of attorney; and (ii) waives any
and all defenses which may be available to contest, negate, or
disaffirm any action of the agent and attorney-in-fact taken
in accordance with such power of attorney.
1.7
Term . The
term for which the Partnership is to exist as a limited partnership
is from the date the Partnership’s Certificate of Limited
Partnership was filed with the office of the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware through the dissolution of the Partnership in
accordance with the provisions of Section 12
.
SECTION 2
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
2.1
Acquisition of Units; Holdings of Initial Partners
. In
exchange for the contributions described in Section 2.3 ,
each Partner has received the number of Units set forth by their
names below, and effective on the date hereof, the Units are owned
as follows:
|
Partner
|
Units
|
|
|
Lyondell LP4
|
821
(1)
|
|
|
Millennium
GP
|
590
|
|
|
Lyondell
LP
|
33,056
(2)
|
|
|
Millennium
LP1
|
28,910
(3)
|
|
|
Lyondell
(Pelican) LP1
|
6,623
|
|
|
Lyondell
LP3
|
30,000
(4)
|
|
|
TOTAL
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
This
number includes the Unit previously held by Occidental GP and
originally held by PDG GP.
|
|
|
(2)
|
This
number includes 11,439 Units (294 of which were originally held by
PDG GP) held by Occidental LP2 (acquired pursuant to the merger of
Occidental LP2 with and into Lyondell LP).
|
|
|
(3)
|
This
number consists of the Units originally held by Millennium
LP.
|
|
|
(4)
|
This
number includes 11,437 Units transferred from Occidental LP2 and
18,563 Units transferred from Lyondell LP on December 31,
2002.
|
The
Units shall entitle the holder to the distributions set forth
in Section 3 and to the allocation of Profits,
Losses and other items as set forth in Section 4
. Units shall not be represented by
certificates.
2.2
Transaction Costs . If
the Partnership is entitled to deductions with respect to costs
described in either Section 6.10 of the Initial Master
Transaction Agreement or Section 6.10 of the Second Master
Transaction Agreement to which a Partner is not entitled to
reimbursement, the incurrence of such costs shall not increase the
Capital Account of such a Partner, and such Partner shall be
entitled to any deductions attributable to such costs.
2.3
Property Contributions .
(a)
Pursuant
to its Contribution Agreement, on October 10, 1997, Lyondell LP
contributed or caused to be contributed to the Partnership, the
Initial Assets contemplated thereby subject to the Assumed
Liabilities contemplated thereby.
(b)
Pursuant
to its Contribution Agreement, on October 10, 1997, Millennium LP
contributed or caused to be contributed to the Partnership, the
Initial Assets contemplated thereby subject to the Assumed
Liabilities contemplated thereby.
(c)
Pursuant
to their Contribution Agreement, on May 15, 1998, Occidental LP1,
Occidental LP2 and PDG GP contributed or caused to be contributed
to the Partnership, the Initial Assets contemplated thereby subject
to the Assumed Liabilities contemplated thereby (which involved, in
the case of Occidental LP2, the merger of Oxy Petrochemicals and
the Partnership, with the Partnership as the surviving
entity).
(d)
The
Partners intend that the contribution of assets subject to
liabilities heretofore made by the Partners to the Partnership
pursuant to Sections 2.3(a) through (c) has qualified as a
tax-free contribution under Section 721 of the Code in which
no Partner has recognized or will recognize gain or
loss. The Partners agree that the Partnership has so
filed its tax return, and each Partner agrees to file its tax
return on the same basis and to maintain such position consistently
at all times thereafter.
(e)
Immediately
after the contributions by PDG GP, Occidental LP1, and Occidental
LP2, the Capital Accounts of the Initial Partners were adjusted so
that each Partner’s Capital Account would be the same per
Unit as that of every other Partner on May 15, 1998 if on such date
the special capital distributions provided in Sections 3.1(e),
(f), and (g) of the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership
Agreement of Equistar Chemicals, LP dated May 15, 1998 had been
made. Schedule 2.3(e) sets forth the Capital Accounts of
the Partners as if the contributions and distributions were made,
as has since occurred.
2.4
Other Contributions
(a)
Any
Partner that reasonably believes in good faith that the Partnership
is, or in the foreseeable future will be, in need of funds may
elect in its discretion to make a capital contribution consisting
of immediately available funds to the Partnership, even in the
absence of Pro Rata capital contributions by other Partners (such
partner being referred to herein as the “ Contributing
Partner ”, and such a contribution being referred to
herein as a “ Unilateral Contribution ”);
provided however that the other Partners be given reasonably
opportunity by the Contributing Partner to make Pro Rata (or
lesser) capital contributions, in which event the Contributing
Partner’s capital contribution shall only be a Unilateral
Contribution to the extent, if any, it is in excess of what would
be the Contributing Partner’s Pro Rata share of all amounts
contributed. In the event that a Unilateral Contribution
is made between the Effective Time and January 31, 2008
(inclusive), the Contributing Partner shall automatically receive
an additional number of Units equal to the total amount of the
Unilateral Contribution divided by the per Unit value set forth on
Schedule 2.4 hereto (which value was determined by independent
third party appraisal), which number of Units may be subject to
adjustment as provided in Schedule 2.4. In
addition, any Partner that made or makes a loan to the Partnership
in accordance with Section 2.7 between December 13, 2007 and
January 31, 2008, may, in its sole discretion elect to convert all
or a portion of such loan into a Unilateral Contribution, which
shall be treated as a Unilateral Contribution between the Effective
Time and January 31, 2008 for purposes of determining the number of
additional Units such Partner shall receive. In the
event that a Unilateral Contribution is made after January 31,
2008, the Contributing Partner shall receive an additional number
of Units based on a valuation mutually agreeable to all of the
Partners. If the Partners are not able to reach such an
agreement, the Dispute Resolution Procedures set forth in Appendix
D to this Agreement shall apply to determine the number of
additional Units the Contributing Partner should
receive.
(b)
From
time to time and subject to the limitations of
Section 6.7 , if applicable, the Partnership Governance
Committee (or the CEO acting pursuant to Section 8.3 ), on
behalf of the Partnership, may issue a written notice (“
Funding Notice ”) to the Partners calling for an
additional capital contribution to the Partnership. Any
Funding Notice will set forth:
(i)
the
use of funds therefor;
(ii)
the
aggregate amount of the capital contribution required, which amount
shall be apportioned among the Partners Pro Rata; and
(iii)
the
date by which the capital contribution must be received by the
Partnership, which date will not be earlier than seven Business
Days from the date the Funding Notice is issued.
Each
Partner shall timely wire transfer its Pro Rata share of the
amount set forth in the Funding Notice to the
Partnership’s bank account.
(c)
Except
as expressly set forth in this Agreement, no Partner
shall be permitted or required to make any additional capital
contribution to the Partnership.
2.5
Capital Accounts . Each
Partner’s Capital Account shall be determined and maintained
in accordance with Regulation §1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) as reasonably
interpreted by the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters
Partner shall have the discretion, after consultation with the
Managing General Partner, to make those determinations, valuations,
adjustments and allocations with respect to each Partner’s
Capital Account as it deems appropriate so that the allocations
made pursuant to this Agreement will have substantial economic
effect as such term is used in Regulation
§1.704-1(b). If any Partner transfers all or a
portion of its Units in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of
the transferor to the extent such Capital Account relates to the
transferred Units.
2.6
No Return of or on Capital . Except
as provided in Section 3 and Section 4 , no
Partner shall receive any interest or other return on its capital
contributions or on the balance in its Capital Account and no
return of its capital contributions.
2.7
Partner Loans . A
Partner or its Affiliates may loan funds to the Partnership on such
terms and conditions as may be approved by the Partnership
Governance Committee, and, subject to other applicable law, have
the same rights and obligations with respect thereto as a Person
who is neither a Partner nor an Affiliate of a
Partner. The existence of such a relationship and acting
in such a capacity will not result in a Limited Partner being
deemed to be participating in the control of the business of the
Partnership or otherwise affect the limited liability of a
Partner. If a Partner or any Affiliate thereof is a
lender, in exercising its rights as a lender, including making its
decision whether to foreclose on property of the Partnership, such
lender will have no duty to consider (i) its status as a
Partner or an Affiliate of a Partner, (ii) the interests of
the Partnership, or (iii) any duty it may have to any other
Partner or the Partnership.
2.8
Administration and Investment of Funds . The
administration and investment of Partnership funds shall
be in accordance with the procedures and guidelines as shall be
adopted by the Partnership Governance Committee. The
Partnership may delegate to a third party (which may be an
Affiliate of one of the Partners) the responsibility for
administering and investing Partnership funds pursuant to such
guidelines.
SECTION 3
DISTRIBUTIONS
3.1
Operating Distributions . Subject
to Section 17-607 of the Act and other applicable law,
Available Net Operating Cash shall be distributed as soon as
practicable following the end of each month to the Partners Pro
Rata.
3.2
Liquidating Distributions . Distributions
to the Partners of cash or property arising from a liquidation of
the Partnership shall be made in accordance with the Capital
Account balances of the Partners as provided in
Section 12.2(d) .
3.3
Withholding . The
Partnership is authorized to withhold from distributions to a
Partner and to pay over to a foreign, federal, state or local
government, any amounts required to be withheld pursuant to the
Code or any provisions of any other foreign, federal, state or
local law. Any amounts so withheld shall be treated as
distributed to such Partner pursuant to this Section 3
for all purposes of this Agreement, and shall be offset against any
amounts otherwise distributable to such Partner.
3.4
Offset . Any
amount otherwise distributable to a Partner pursuant to this
Section 3 shall, unless otherwise agreed by two
Representatives of the Nonconflicted Designating Partner pursuant
to Section 6.8 , be applied by the Partnership to
satisfy any of the following obligations that are owed by such
Partner or its Affiliate to the Partnership and that are not paid
when due:
(a)
Other Notes . In the case of any Partner, the
failure to pay any interest or principal when due on any
indebtedness for borrowed money of such Partner or any Affiliate of
such Partner to the Partnership.
(b)
Contribution Agreement . In the case of any Partner, the
failure of such Partner or any Affiliate of such Partner to make
any payment pursuant to Section 6 of its Contribution
Agreement that has been Finally Determined to be due.
(c)
Contribution . In the case of any Partner, the
failure to make any capital contribution required pursuant to this
Agreement (other than pursuant to its Contribution
Agreement).
SECTION 4
BOOK AND TAX ALLOCATIONS
4.1
General Book Allocations . This
section controls partnership allocations for book
purposes. As used herein, “book” means the
allocations used to determine debits and credits to the Capital
Accounts of the Partners and to determine the amounts distributable
to the Partners pursuant to Section 3 and Section
12.2(d) . It does not refer to the method in which
books are maintained for financial reporting purposes pursuant to
Section 5.2 . Except as otherwise provided in
Section 4. 2 and Section 4.3 , Profits or Losses for
book purposes shall be allocated each year among the Partners Pro
Rata, subject to the following:
(a)
If
the tax basis in Partnership assets is increased as a result of the
distribution of $75 million to Millennium LP in May 1998, book
deductions equal to the tax deductions resulting from such increase
shall be allocated to Millennium LP until such time as gain or
income is allocable under (c) below.
(b)
If
the tax basis in Partnership assets is increased as a result of the
distribution of 43% of the proceeds of the Lyondell Note to
Millennium LP, book deductions equal to the tax deductions
resulting from such increase shall be allocated among the Initial
Partners in the ratio of the Units owned by each prior to May 15,
1998 until gain or income is allocable under (c)
below.
(c)
If
during any 12 month period the Partnership sells, distributes to
Partners, or otherwise disposes of more than 50% in value of the
assets it owned at the beginning of such period, gain or income
recognized in the taxable period of such sale, distribution or
other disposition or thereafter recognized from the sale,
distribution, or other disposition of property or from the
operation of other property shall be allocated to the Partners in
the ratio in which the aggregate amount of deductions described in
(a) and (b) above were allocated to the Partners until the
aggregate amount of such gain and income so allocated equals the
aggregate amount of such deductions.
(d)
[Intentionally
Deleted.]
(e)
The
initial agreed value of the Lease will be amortized ratably over
the term of the Lease, and the resulting deductions shall be
allocated to Lyondell (Pelican) LP1. Any gain recognized
on the disposition of the Lease shall be allocated to Lyondell
(Pelican) LP1. If, prior to such disposition, the
Partnership has made capital improvements to such assets that have
been borne by the Partners Pro Rata, then upon the disposition of
the Lease with such improvements, gain shall be deemed to be
attributable to such improvements to the extent of the excess of
its depreciated value for GAAP purposes at the time of the
disposition over its Book Value at such time, and such gain shall
be allocated to the Partners Pro Rata.
(f)
Deductions
attributable to the Book Value of the assets of the Partnership as
they exist immediately after the contributions described in
Section 2.3(a) other than the Lease will be allocated among
the Partners other than Lyondell (Pelican) LP1 in the ratio of the
Units owned by each, and any gain recognized on the disposition of
such contributed assets will be allocated to the Partners other
than Lyondell (Pelican) LP1 in the ratio of the Units owned by
each. If, prior to disposition of such asset sale, the
Partnership has made capital improvements to such assets that have
been borne by the Partners Pro Rata, then upon the disposition of a
contributed asset with such improvements, gain shall be deemed to
be attributable to such improvements to the extent of the excess of
its depreciated value for GAAP purposes at the time of disposition
over its Book Value at such time, and such gain shall be allocated
to the Partners Pro Rata.
(g)
To
the extent any contribution is made to the Partnership on behalf of
a Partner (the “ Beneficiary Partner ”) pursuant
to an indemnity provided under Section 8.6(b) , an amount of
Book items of loss, expense or deduction (other than Book loss,
depreciation or amortization with respect to any property
contributed by a Partner to the Partnership) shall be allocated to
the Beneficiary Partner.
4.2
Change in Partner’s Units . If
during a year Units are transferred or new Units issued,
allocations among the Partners shall be made in accordance with
their interests in the Partnership from time to time during such
year in accordance with Section 706 of the Code, using the
closing-of-the-books method, except that depreciation and other
amortization with respect to each Partnership asset shall be deemed
to accrue ratably on a daily basis over the entire period during
such year that the asset is owned and in service by the
Partnership. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Units issued
during December 2007 and January 2008 shall be treated on a pro
rata basis and no closing-of-the-books method shall be
applied.
4.3
Deficit Capital Account and Nonrecourse Debt Rules
. The
special rules in this Section 4.3 apply in the following
order to take into account the possibility of the Partners’
having deficit Capital Account balances for which they are not
economically responsible and the effect of the Partnership’s
incurring nonrecourse debt, directly or indirectly.
(a)
Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback . If there is a
net decrease in “partnership minimum gain” during any
year, determined in accordance with the tiered partnership rules of
Regulation §1.704-2(k), each Partner shall be allocated items
of income and gain for such year equal to such Partner’s
share of the net decrease in partnership minimum gain within the
meaning of Regulation §1.704-2(g)(2), except to the extent not
required by Regulation §1.704-2(f). To the extent
that this subsection (a) is inconsistent with Regulation
§1.704-2(f) or §1.704-2(k) or incomplete with respect to
such regulations, the minimum gain chargeback provided for herein
shall be applied and interpreted in accordance with such
regulations.
(b)
Partner Minimum Gain Chargeback . If there is a net
decrease in “partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain”
during any year, within the meaning of
Regulation § 1.704-2(i)(2), each Partner who has a
share of such gain, determined in accordance with
Regulation § 1.704-2(i)(5), shall be allocated items
of income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent
years) equal to such Partner’s share of the net decrease in
partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain. To the extent
that this subsection (b) is inconsistent with
Regulation § 1.704-2(i) or 1.704-2(k) or incomplete
with respect to such regulations, the partner nonrecourse debt
minimum gain chargeback provided for herein shall be applied and
interpreted in accordance with such regulations.
(c)
Deficit Account Chargeback and Qualified Income . If
any Partner has an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit at the end of
any year, including an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit for such
Partner caused or increased by an adjustment, allocation or
distribution described in Regulation §1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4),
(5) or (6), such Partner shall be allocated items of income and
gain (consisting of a pro rata portion of each item of Partnership
income, including gross income and gain) in an amount and manner
sufficient to eliminate such Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as
quickly as possible. This subsection (c) is
intended to constitute a “qualified income offset”
pursuant to Regulation §1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be
interpreted consistently therewith.
(d)
Partner Nonrecourse Deductions . Any partner
nonrecourse deductions for any year or other period shall be
allocated to the Partner who bears the economic risk of loss with
respect to the partner nonrecourse debt to which such partner
nonrecourse deductions are attributable in accordance with
Regulation §1.704-2(i) or §1.704-2(k).
(e)
Curative Allocations . The Allocations provided by
this Section 4.3 may not be consistent with the manner in
which the Partners intend to divide Profits, Losses and similar
items. Accordingly, Profits, Losses and other items will
be reallocated among the Partners (in the same year and to the
extent necessary, in subsequent years) in a manner consistent with
Regulation §1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2 so as to prevent such
allocations from distorting the manner in which Profits, Losses and
other items are intended to be allocated among the Partners
pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 4.2 .
(f)
Nonrecourse Debt Sharing . For purposes of this
Agreement, nonrecourse deductions, within the meaning of Regulation
§1.704-2(b), shall be deemed to be allocated among the
Partners Pro Rata. Solely for purposes of determining a
Partner’s proportionate share of the “excess
nonrecourse liabilities” of the Partnership within the
meaning of Regulation §1.752-3(a)(3), Partnership Profits are
allocated to the Partners Pro Rata.
4.4
Federal Tax Allocations .
(a)
General Rule . Except as otherwise provided in the
following paragraphs of this Section 4.4 , allocations
for federal income tax purposes of items of income, gain, loss and
deduction, and credits and basis therefor, shall be made in the
same manner as book allocations are made.
(b)
Elimination of Book/Tax Disparities . Taxable income
and tax deductions shall be shared among the Partners so as to take
into account the variation between the Book Value and the adjusted
tax basis of each property at the time it is contributed to the
Partnership and at each time it is revalued.
(i)
To
account for such variation, effective as of the formation of the
Partnership:
(A)
the
depreciation and other deductions attributable to the basis that
the contributing Partner had in each property at the time of
contribution shall be allocated to such Partner, and
(B)
upon
disposition of a contributed property, the excess of its Book Value
at such time over its tax basis at such time shall be allocated to
the Partner who contributed the property.
(ii)
If
the Book Value of a Partnership property is revalued as of a date
subsequent to the date of its acquisition by the Partnership, the
portion of its Book Value at the time of its disposition that is
attributable to the increase resulting from such
revaluation:
(A)
shall
be disregarded in applying Section 4.4(b)(i)(B) to the
partner who contributed such property, and
(B)
shall
be treated for purposes of this Section 4.4(b) as a separate
property that was contributed on the revaluation date by the
persons who were partners immediately prior to the revaluation
date.
(iii)
The
Partners agree that the foregoing allocations constitute a
reasonable method for purposes of Reg. 1.704-3(a)(1) and will be so
reported and defended by the Partnership and all Partners unless
and until the Partners otherwise agree or a court otherwise
requires; provided, however, upon a significant contribution of
cash that is not Pro Rata amongst the Partners, the Tax Matters
Partner may choose further permissible methods under Reg. 1.704-3
to the extent such cash is not applied to acquire
depreciable assets.
(c)
Allocation of Items Among Partners . Each item of
income, gain, loss, deduction and credit and all other items
governed by Section 702(a) of the Code shall be allocated among the
Partners in proportion to the allocation of Profits, Losses and
other items to such Partners hereunder, provided that any
gain treated as ordinary income because it is attributable to the
recapture of any depreciation or amortization shall be allocated
among the Partners in accordance with Prop. Treas. Reg.
§§ 1.1245-1(e)(2) and 1.1250-1(f), or, upon promulgation
of final regulations with respect to the matters covered therein,
such final regulations.
(d)
Section 754 Election Allocations . Income and
deductions of the Partnership that are attributable to the Section
754 election shall be allocated to the Partners entitled
thereto.
4.5
Other Tax Allocations . Items
of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit and tax preference for
state, local and foreign income tax purposes shall be allocated
among the Partners in a manner consistent with the allocation of
such items for federal income tax purposes in accordance with the
foregoing provisions of this Section.
SECTION 5
ACCOUNTING, FINANCIAL REPORTING AND TAX
MATTERS
5.1
Fiscal Year . The
fiscal year of the Partnership shall be the calendar
year.
5.2
Method of Accounting for Financial Reporting Purposes
. For
financial reporting purposes, the Partnership shall adopt a
standard set of accounting policies and shall maintain separate
books of account, all in accordance with GAAP. The
Partnership’s financial reports shall comply with
requirements of the SEC to the extent applicable to the Partnership
and any Partner or any controlling Person of such Partner, to the
extent such information is necessary, in conjunction with the
financial reporting obligations of such Person under applicable SEC
requirements.
5.3
Books and Records; Right of Partners to Audit .
(a)
Proper
and complete records and books of account of the
Partnership’s business, including all such transactions and
other matters as are usually entered into records and books of
account maintained by businesses of like character or as are
required by law, shall be kept by the Partnership at the
Partnership’s principal place of business. None of
the Partnership’s funds shall be commingled with the funds of
any Partner.
(b)
Each
Partner and its internal and independent auditors, at the expense
of such Partner, shall have full and complete access to the
internal and independent auditors of the Partnership and shall have
the right to inspect such books and records and the physical
properties of the Partnership during normal business hours and, at
its own expense, to cause an independent audit
thereof. The Partnership shall make all books and
records of the Partnership available to such Partner and its
internal and independent auditors in connection with such audit and
shall cooperate with such Partner and auditors and to provide any
assistance reasonably necessary in connection with such
audit.
5.4
Reports and Financial Statements . The
Partnership shall prepare and deliver to the Partners the
Partnership financial statements and reports described on
Appendix B as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event
on or prior to the due date indicated on
Appendix B.
5.5
Method of Accounting for Book and Tax Purposes
. For
purposes of making allocations and distributions hereunder
(including distributions in liquidation of the Partnership in
accordance with Capital Account balances as required by
Section 12.3 ), Capital Accounts and Profits, Losses
and other items described in Section 4.1 shall be
determined in accordance with federal income tax accounting
principles utilizing the accrual method of accounting, with the
adjustments required by Regulation §1.704-1(b) to properly
maintain Capital Accounts.
5.6
Taxation .
(a)
Status of the Partnership . The Partners acknowledge
that the Partnership is a partnership for federal, foreign and
state income tax purposes, and hereby agree not to elect to be
excluded from the application of Subchapter K of
Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the Code or any similar state
statute.
(b)
Tax Elections and Reporting .
(i)
Generally . The Partnership has made or shall make
the following elections under the Code and the Regulations and any
similar state statutes:
(A)
Adopt
the calendar year as the annual accounting period;
(B)
Adopt
the accrual method of accounting;
(C)
Elect
to deduct organization costs ratably over a 60-month period as
provided in Section 709 of the Code;
(D)
Adopt
the LIFO method of accounting for inventory; and
(E)
Make
any other elections available under the Code that the Partnership
Governance Committee determine are appropriate, with the
determination of whether an election is appropriate to be made
pursuant to the principle that each Partner shall be treated
equally (i.e., no Partner will receive preferential tax treatment
to the disadvantage of another Partner).
(ii)
Section 754 Election . The Partnership shall, upon
the written request of any Partner benefited thereby, cause the
Partnership to file an election under Section 754 of the Code and
the Regulations thereunder to adjust the basis of the Partnership
assets under Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code, and a
corresponding election under the applicable sections of state and
local law.
(c)
Tax Returns . The Tax Matters Partner, on behalf of
the Partnership, shall prepare and file the necessary tax and
information returns. Each Partner shall timely provide
such information, if any, as may be needed by the Partnership for
purposes of preparing such tax and information
returns. At least 75 days before the due date (as
extended) for the Partnership’s federal income tax return,
the Tax Matters Partner shall deliver a draft of such return to
each Partner. Each Partner shall have 15 Business Days
after receipt of the draft in which to furnish any objections or
comments on the draft to the Tax Matters Partner. The
Tax Matters Partner shall make its best efforts to finalize the
Partnership’s federal income tax return at least 30 days
before the due date for filing (as extended) of such return A
Partner may not report its share of any Partnership tax item in a
manner inconsistent with the Partnership’s reporting of such
item unless the Partner has timely furnished its objection to the
Tax Matters Partner as provided in the immediately preceding
sentence. If a Partner reports its share of any
Partnership tax item in a manner inconsistent with the
Partnership’s reporting of such item, such Partner shall
promptly notify the Partnership in writing at least 20 Business
Days prior to the filing of any statement with the IRS in which
such inconsistent position is reported. The Partnership
shall promptly deliver to each Partner a copy of the federal income
tax return for the Partnership as filed with the appropriate taxing
authorities and a copy of any material state and local income tax
return as filed.
(d)
Tax Audits .
(i)
Federal Tax Matters . The Partnership is authorized
to make such filings with the IRS as may be required to designate
the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner, as an
authorized representative of the Partnership, shall direct the
defense of any claims made by the IRS to the extent that such
claims relate to the adjustment of Partnership items at the
Partnership level. The Tax Matters Partner shall
promptly deliver to each Partner a copy of all notices,
communications, reports or writings of any kind (including, without
limitation, any notice of beginning of administrative proceedings
or any report explaining the reasons for a proposed adjustment)
received from the IRS relating to or potentially resulting in an
adjustment of Partnership items, as well as any other information
requested by a Partner that is commercially reasonable to
request. The Tax Matters Partner shall be diligent and
act in good faith in deciding whether to contest at the
administrative and judicial level any proposed adjustment of a
Partnership item and whether to appeal any adverse judicial
decision. The Tax Matters Partner shall keep each
Partner advised of all material developments with respect to any
proposed adjustment that comes to its attention. All
costs incurred by the Tax Matters Partner in performing under this
subsection (d) shall be paid by the
Partnership. The Tax Matters Partner shall have sole
authority to represent the Partnership in connection with all tax
audits, including the power to extend the statute of limitations,
to enter in any settlement, and to litigate any proposed
partnership adjustment, subject to the
following: (A) No settlement will be entered
into with respect to an item that would materially affect any
Partner adversely unless each Partner is first notified of the
terms of the settlement; and no Partner will be bound by any
settlement unless it consents thereto; (B) If a Partner
does not consent to a settlement, the settlement will nevertheless
be binding on all partners who do consent; and the non-consenting
Partner may, at its sole cost, pursue such administrative or
judicial remedies as it deems appropriate; (C) If the Tax Matters
Partner brings an action in any court, each Partner, at its sole
cost, shall have the right to intervene in the preceding to the
extent permitted by the court; and (D) If a settlement
or litigation causes Partners to be treated differently for tax
purposes with respect to certain tax issues of the Partnership, the
income and deductions of the Partnership thereafter arising will be
allocated among the Partners to reflect the varying manner in which
the issues were resolved.
(ii)
State and Local Tax Matters . The Partnership shall
promptly deliver to each Partner a copy of all notices,
communications, reports or writings of any kind with respect to
income or similar taxes received from any state or local taxing
authority relating to the Partnership which might, in the judgment
of the Tax Matters Partner, materially and adversely affect any
Partner, and shall keep each Partner advised of all material
developments with respect to any proposed adjustment of Partnership
items which come to its attention.
(iii)
Continuation of Rights . Each Partner shall continue
to have the rights described in this subsection (d) with
respect to tax matters relating to any period during which it was a
Partner, whether or not it is a Partner at the time of the tax
audit or contest.
(e)
Tax Rulings . No Person other than the Tax Matters
Partner shall request an administrative ruling (or similar
administrative procedures) from any taxing authority with respect
to any tax issue relating to the Partnership or affecting the
taxation of any other Partner unless such Person shall have
received written authorization from the Tax Matters Partner and any
such other Partner to make such request.
(f)
Tax Information . At the request of any Partner, the
Tax Matters Partner shall timely furnish all reasonably obtainable
information required to prepare annual earnings and profits
computations (as defined in Section 312 of the Code) with respect
to that Partner’s share of Partnership income.
5.7
Delegation . The
Partners agree that all of the tasks to be performed under this
Section (other than serving as Tax Matters Partner) may be
delegated to employees and consultants of the
Partnership.
SECTION 6
MANAGEMENT
6.1
Managing General Partner and Partnership Governance
Committee
(a)
Except
to the extent set forth in this Agreement, and subject to
Partnership Governance Committee Action to the extent required by
this Agreement, the Managing General Partner shall have full,
exclusive and complete discretion to manage and control the
business, property and affairs of the Partnership, to make all
decisions affecting the business, property and affairs of the
Partnership and to take all such actions as it deems necessary,
appropriate, convenient or incidental to accomplish the purpose of
the Partnership as set forth in Section 1.4 (as such
purpose may be expanded in accordance with
Section 6.7(i) ).
(b)
The
Partnership shall have a committee called the “
Partnership Governance Committee ”. The
Partnership Governance Committee shall act exclusively by means of
Partnership Governance Committee Action. As used in this
Agreement, “ Partnership Governance Committee Action
” means any action which the Partnership Governance Committee
is authorized and empowered to take in accordance with this
Agreement and the Act and which is taken by the Partnership
Governance Committee either (i) by action taken at a meeting
of the Partnership Governance Committee duly called and held in
accordance with this Agreement or (ii) by a formal written
consent complying with the requirements of Section 6.5(f)
. In no event shall the Partnership Governance Committee
be authorized to act other than by Partnership Governance Committee
Action, and any action or purported action by the Partnership
Governance Committee (including any authorization, consent,
approval, waiver, decision or vote) not constituting a Partnership
Governance Committee Action shall be null and void and of no force
and effect. Each Partnership Governance Committee Action
shall be binding on the Partnership.
(c)
The
Partnership Governance Committee shall adopt policies and
procedures, not inconsistent with this Agreement (including
Section 6.7 ) or the Act, governing
financial controls and legal compliance, including delegations of
authority (and limitations thereon) to the officers of the
Partnership as permitted hereby. Such policies and
procedures may be revised or revoked (in a manner consistent with
this Agreement and the Act) from time to time as determined by the
Partnership Governance Committee.
6.2
Limitations on Authority of General Partners
. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, each
General Partner agrees that its authority to manage and control the
Partnership shall be subject to the provisions hereof regarding the
Managing General Partner and Partnership Governance Committee
Action. Each General Partner agrees not to
exercise, or purport or attempt to exercise any authority
(i) to act for or incur, create or assume any obligation,
liability or responsibility on behalf of the Partnership or any
other Partner, (ii) to execute any documents on behalf of, or
otherwise bind, or purport or attempt to bind, the Partnership or
(iii) to otherwise transact any business in the
Partnership’s name, in each case unless any required
Partnership Governance Committee Action applicable thereto has been
duly obtained.
6.3
Lack of Authority of Persons Other Than Managing General Partner
and Officers . Except
as expressly set forth in this Agreement, no Person or Persons
other than (i) the Managing General Partner, acting in
conformity with this Agreement and any applicable Partnership
Governance Committee Action, and (ii) the officers of the
Partnership appointed in accordance with this Agreement and acting
as agents or employees, as applicable, of the Partnership in
conformity with this Agreement and any applicable Partnership
Governance Committee Action, shall be authorized (a) to
exercise the powers of the Partnership, (b) to manage the
business, property and affairs of the Partnership or (c) to
contract for, or incur on behalf of, the Partnership any debts,
liabilities or other obligations.
6.4
Composition of Partnership Governance Committee .
(a)
The
Partnership Governance Committee shall consist of between two and
four Representatives. Each Designating Partner shall, in
its sole discretion, designate one or two such Representatives
(each a “ Representative ”). All the
Representatives of both Designating Partners shall together
constitute the Partnership Governance Committee.
(b)
Each
Designating Partner may designate one or more individuals (each an
“ Alternate ”) who (i) shall be authorized,
in the event a Representative is absent from any meeting of the
Partnership Governance Committee (and in the order of succession
designated by the Partner so designating the Alternates), to attend
such meeting in the place of, and as substitute for, such
Representative and (ii) shall be vested with all the powers to
take action on behalf of such Partner which the absent
Representative could have exercised at such meeting. The
term “ Representative ,” when used herein with
reference to any Representative who is absent from a meeting of the
Partnership Governance Committee, shall mean and refer to any
Alternate attending such meeting in place of such absent
Representative.
(c)
Each
Designating Partner shall deliver to the other Partners a written
notice (i) designating the person(s) to serve as such
Partner’s initial Representative(s) and (ii) designating
the person or persons, if any, who are to serve as initial
Alternates and their order of succession.
(d)
Each
Designating Partner may, in its sole discretion and by written
notice delivered to the other Designating Partner and the
Partnership at any time or from time to time, remove or replace one
or more of its Representatives or change the number of its
Representatives from one to two or vice versa or change one or more
of its Alternates. If a Representative or Alternate
dies, resigns or becomes disabled or incapacitated, the Designating
Partner that designated such Representative or Alternate, as the
case may be, shall promptly designate a
replacement. Each Representative and each Alternate
shall serve until replaced by the Designating Partner that
designated such Representative or Alternate, as the case may
be.
(e)
Copies
of all written notices designating Representatives and Alternates
shall be delivered to the Secretary and shall be placed in the
Partnership minute books, but the failure to deliver a copy of any
such notice to the Secretary shall not affect the validity or
effectiveness of such notice or the designation described
therein.
(f)
Each
Representative, in his capacity as such, shall be the agent of the
Designating Partner that designated such
Representative. Accordingly, (i) each
Representative, as such, shall act (or refrain from acting) with
respect to the business, property and affairs of the Partnership
solely in accordance with the wishes of the Designating Partner
that designated such Representative and (ii) no
Representative, as such, shall owe (or be deemed to owe) any duty
(fiduciary or otherwise) to the Partnership or to any Designating
Partner other than the Designating Partner that designated such
Representative; provided , however , that nothing in
this Agreement is intended to or shall relieve or discharge any
Representative or Designating Partner from liability to the
Partnership or the Partners on account of any fraudulent or
intentional misconduct of such Representative. Nothing
in this Section 6.4(f) shall limit the duty owed to the
Partnership by any person acting in his capacity as an officer of
the Partnership (including any such officer who is also a
Representative).
(g)
Representatives
shall not receive from the Partnership any compensation for their
service or any reimbursement of expenses for attendance at meetings
of the Partnership Governance Committee.
6.5
Partnership Governance Committee Meetings .
(a)
Regular
meetings of the Partnership Governance Committee shall be held at
such times and at such places as shall from time to time be
determined in advance and committed to a written schedule by the
Partnership Governance Committee. The first regular
meeting of the Partnership Governance Committee of each fiscal year
shall be deemed to be the “ Annual Meeting
.” The Secretary shall deliver by commercial
courier service or other hand delivery or transmit by facsimile
transmission (with proof of confirmation from the transmitting
machine), an agenda for each regular meeting to the Representatives
prior to such meeting. To the extent practical, each
agenda for a regular meeting shall specify, to a reasonable degree,
the business to be transacted at such meeting. Subject
to Section 6.6 , at any regular meeting of the
Partnership Governance Committee at which a quorum is present, any
and all business of the Partnership may be transacted.
(b)
Special
meetings of the Partnership Governance Committee may be called by
any Representative by delivering by commercial courier service or
other hand delivery or transmitting by facsimile transmission (with
proof of confirmation from the transmitting machine), written
notice of a special meeting to each of the other Representatives
prior to such meeting. To the extent practical, each
notice of a special meeting shall specify, to a reasonable degree,
the business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, such
meeting. Notice of any special meeting may be waived
before or after the meeting by a written waiver of notice signed by
the Representative entitled to notice. A
Representative’s attendance at a special meeting shall
constitute a waiver of notice unless the Representative states at
the beginning of the meeting his objection to the transaction of
business because the meeting was not lawfully called or
convened. Special meetings of the Partnership Governance
Committee shall be held at the Partnership’s offices (or at
such other place or in such other manner as the Representatives
shall agree) at such time as may be stated in the notice of such
meeting. Subject to Section 6.6 , at any
special meeting of the Partnership Governance Committee at which a
quorum is present, any and all business of the Partnership may be
transacted.
(c)
One
Representative of each Designating Partner shall serve as a
co-chair of each meeting (regular and special) of the Partnership
Governance Committee. Either co-chair may instruct the
Secretary to include one or more items on a meeting agenda and
neither co-chair nor the Secretary may delete or exclude an agenda
item proposed by either co-chair.
(d)
Following
each meeting of the Partnership Governance Committee, the Secretary
shall promptly draft and distribute minutes of such meeting to the
Representatives for approval at the next meeting, and after such
approval shall retain the minutes in the Partnership minute
books.
(e)
Representatives,
at their discretion, may participate in or hold regular or special
meetings of the Partnership Governance Committee by means of a
telephone conference or any comparable device or technology by
which all individuals participating in the meeting may hear each
other, and participation in such a meeting shall constitute
presence in person at such meeting.
(f)
Any
action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the
Partnership Governance Committee may be taken without a meeting if
a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be
signed by all the Representatives of each Designating Partner, and
such consent shall have the same force and effect as a duly
conducted vote of the Partnership Governance
Committee. A counterpart of each such consent to action
shall be delivered promptly to each of the Representatives and to
the Secretary for placement in the minute books of the Partnership,
but the failure to deliver a counterpart of any such consent to
action to the Secretary shall not affect the validity or
effectiveness of such consent to action.
6.6
Partnership Governance Committee Quorum and General Voting
Requirement . The
presence of at least one Representative (including any duly present
Alternate) of each Designating Partner shall constitute a quorum of
the Partnership Governance Committee for the transaction of
business and the taking of appropriate Partnership Governance
Committee Actions at any meeting. No Partnership
Governance Committee Action may be taken at any meeting at which a
quorum is not present. Approval of any matter and the
taking of any action at any such meeting shall require the
affirmative vote or approval of all Representatives (including any
duly present Alternates) of each Designating Partner present at
such meeting.
6.7
Matters Required To Be Approved by Partnership Governance
Committee . Neither
the Partnership nor any subsidiary thereof, nor any General Partner
nor any person acting in the name or on behalf of any of them
directly or indirectly may take or commit to take, any of the
actions described below in this subsection (whether in a single
transaction or series of related transactions) unless and until the
Partnership Governance Committee has given its approval to such
action pursuant to and in accordance with Sections 6.5 and
6.6:
(i)
to
cause the Partnership, directly or indirectly, to engage,
participate or invest in any business outside the scope of its
business as described in Section 1.4 ;
(ii)
to
approve any Strategic Plan, as well as any amendments or updates
thereto (including the annual updates provided for in Section
8.1 );
(iii)
to
authorize any disposition of assets having a fair market value
exceeding $30 million in any one transaction or a series of
related transactions not contemplated in an approved Strategic
Plan;
(iv)
to
authorize any acquisition of assets or any capital expenditure
exceeding $30 million that is not contemplated in an approved
Strategic Plan;
(v)
to
require capital contributions to the Partnership (other than
contributions contemplated by the Contribution Agreements or an
approved Strategic Plan or to achieve or maintain compliance with
any HSE Law) within any fiscal year if the total of such
contributions required from the Partners within that year would
exceed $100 million or the total of such contributions required
from the Partners within that year and the immediately preceding
four years would exceed $300 million;
(vi)
to
authorize the incurrence of debt for borrowed money unless
(x) such debt is incurred pursuant to a revolving credit
facility or uncommitted line of credit and the aggregate amount of
debt outstanding under all such revolving credit facilities and
uncommitted lines of credit after giving effect to such borrowing
will not exceed $600 million; or (y) such debt is incurred to
refinance any debt for borrowed money of the Partnership existing
at such time, and the agreement relating to such debt does not
provide that the Transfer by a Partner of its Units (or a change of
control with respect to any Partner or any of its Affiliates) would
constitute a default thereunder, otherwise accelerate the maturity
thereof or give the lender or holder any “put rights”
or similar rights with respect thereto;
(vii)
to
enter into, terminate, replace or amend any accounts receivable
sale program or facility pursuant to which more than $30 million of
accounts receivable may be sold;
(viii)
to
enter into interest rate protection or other hedging agreements
(other than hydrocarbon hedging agreements in the ordinary
course);
(ix)
to
enter into any capitalized lease or similar off-balance sheet
financing arrangements involving payments (individually or in the
aggregate) by it in excess of $30 million
in any fiscal year;
(x)
to
cause the Partnership or any subsidiary of the Partnership to
issue, sell, redeem or acquire any Units or other equity securities
(or any rights to acquire, or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable for, Units or other equity securities), except
pursuant to Section 2.4(a);
(xi)
(x) to
make Partnership cash distributions in respect of any month in an
amount less than Available Net Operating Cash for that month,
subject to Section 17-607 of the Act and other applicable law, or
(y) to make non-cash distributions (except as contemplated by
Section 12 );
(xii)
to
appoint any Executive Officer (other than the CEO), or to discharge
or remove any Executive Officer;
(xiii)
to
approve material compensation and benefit plans and policies,
material employee policies and material collective bargaining
agreements for the Partnership’s employees;
(xiv)
to
initiate or settle any litigation or governmental proceedings if
the effect thereof would be material to the financial condition of
the Partnership;
(xv)
to
change the independent accountants for the
Partnership;
(xvi)
to
change the Partnership’s method of accounting as adopted
pursuant to Section 5.2 or to change the
Partnership’s method of accounting as provided in
Section 5.5 or to make the elections referred to in
Section 5.6(b)(i)(E) ;
(xvii)
to
create or change the authority of any Auxiliary
Committee;
(xviii)
to
merge, consolidate or convert the Partnership or any subsidiary
thereof with or into any other entity (other than a Wholly Owned
Subsidiary of the Partnership);
(xix)
to
file a petition in bankruptcy or seeking any reorganization,
liquidation or similar relief on behalf of the Partnership or any
subsidiary; or to consent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy
against the Partnership or any subsidiary; or to consent to the
appointment of a receiver, custodian, liquidator or trustee for the
Partnership or any subsidiary or for all or any substantial portion
of their property;
(xx)
to
exercise any power or right described in Section 6.8(a)(i) or
(ii) with respect to a Conflict Circumstance involving (a)
LYONDELL-CITGO Refining Company Ltd., its successors or assigns,
(b) Lyondell Methanol Company, L.P., its successors or assigns or
(c) any other Affiliate of Lyondell LP4 or Millennium GP if
such Affiliate’s actions with respect to such Conflict
Circumstance are not controlled by Lyondell or Millennium
respectively, other than a Conflict Circumstance involving the
exercise of any rights and remedies with respect to a default under
any agreement that is the subject of such Conflict
Circumstance;
(xxi)
to
cause the Partnership to repay either (a) any of its long-term
indebtedness (as defined for purposes of GAAP) or (b) any of its
long-term synthetic leases that are treated as debt for purposes of
federal income tax if, by doing so, the Partnership would reduce
the aggregate amount of all such indebtedness below $1.825 billion
prior to May 15, 2005, and, thereafter, below $1.5
billion.
The
Partners hereby acknowledge and confirm that any authorization
or approval by the Partnership Governance Committee pursuant
to this Section 6.7 of the execution, delivery and
performance of any agreement or contract entered into by the
Partnership shall be sufficient to authorize and approve any
future performance required by the terms of such agreement or
contract, with no further action being required under this
Article VI at the time of any such performance.
6.8
Control of Interested Partner Issues .
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, with respect to any Conflict Circumstance (other than a
Conflict Circumstance described in Section 6.7(xx) , which
shall be governed by Section 6.7 ), the Nonconflicted
Designating Partner (through its Representatives) shall, subject to
Section 6.8(b) , have the sole and exclusive power and
right for and on behalf, and at the sole expense, of the
Partnership (i) to control all decisions, elections, notifications,
actions, exercises or nonexercises and waivers of all rights,
privileges and remedies provided to, or possessed by, the
Partnership with respect to a Conflict Circumstance and (ii) in the
event of any potential, threatened or asserted claim, dispute or
action with respect to a Conflict Circumstance, to retain and
direct legal counsel and to control, assert, enforce, defend,
litigate, mediate, arbitrate, settle, compromise or waive any and
all such claims, disputes and actions. Accordingly,
Partnership Governance Committee Action with respect to a Conflict
Circumstance (other than a Conflict Circumstance described in
Section 6.7(xx) , which shall be governed by Section
6.7 ) shall require the approval of all of the Representatives
of the Nonconflicted Designating Partner. Each
Designating Partner shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, take
all such actions, execute all such documents and enter into all
such agreements as may be necessary or appropriate to facilitate or
further assure the accomplishment of this Section.
(a)
The
Nonconflicted Designating Partner, in exercising its control, power
and rights pursuant to this Section, shall act in good faith and in
a manner it believes to be in the best interests of the
Partnership; provided that it shall never be deemed to be in
the best interests of the Partnership not to pay, perform and
observe all of the obligations to be paid, performed or observed by
or on the part of the Partnership under the terms of any of the
Other Agreements (as defined in the Amended and Restated Parent
Agreement). The Nonconflicted Designating Partner shall
act through its Representatives, and the approval of two
Representatives acting for the Nonconflicted Designating Partner
will be sufficient for the Nonconflicted Designating Partner (and
therefore the Partnership Governance Committee on behalf of the
Partnership) to take any action in respect of the relevant Conflict
Circumstance. The Conflicted Designating Partner (or its
Affiliates) shall have the right to deal with the Partnership and
with the Nonconflicted Designating Partner on an arm’s-length
basis and in a manner it believes to be in its own best interests,
but in any event must deal with them in good faith.
6.9
Auxiliary Committees .
(a)
From
time to time, the Partnership Governance Committee may, by
Partnership Governance Committee Action, designate one or more
committees (“ Auxiliary Committees ”) or disband
any Auxiliary Committee. Each Auxiliary Committee shall
(i) operate under the specific authority delegated to it by
the Partnership Governance Committee (consistent with Section
6.7 ) for the purpose of assisting the Partnership Governance
Committee in managing (on behalf of the Designating Partners) the
business, property and affairs of the Partnership and
(ii) report to the Partnership Governance
Committee.
(b)
Each
Designating Partner shall have the right to appoint an equal number
of members on each Auxiliary Committee. Auxiliary
Committee members may (but need not) be members of the Partnership
Governance Committee. No Auxiliary Committee member
shall be compensated or reimbursed by the Partnership for service
as a member of such Auxiliary Committee.
(c)
Each
Partnership Governance Committee Action designating an Auxiliary
Committee shall be in writing and shall set
forth (i) the name of such Auxiliary Committee,
(ii) the number of members and (iii) in such detail as the
Partnership Governance Committee deems appropriate, the purposes,
powers and authorities (consistent with Section 6.7 ) of
such Auxiliary Committee; provided , however , that
in no event shall any Auxiliary Committee have any powers or
authority in reference to amending this Agreement, adopting an
agreement of merger, consolidation or conversion of the
Partnership, authorizing the sale, lease or exchange of all or
substantially all of the property and assets of the Partnership,
authorizing a dissolution of the Partnership or declaring a
distribution. Each Auxiliary Committee shall keep
regular minutes of its meetings and promptly deliver the same to
the Partnership Governance Committee.
6.10
Certain Limitations on Partner Representatives
. No
Representative or Alternate of a Partner who, as an officer,
director or employee of such Partner or any of its Affiliates,
participates in material operational decisions by such Partner or
Affiliate regarding a business or operation of such Partner or
Affiliate that competes with a business or operation of the
Partnership or of the other Partner or its Affiliates, or that
competes with a Business Opportunity offered pursuant to Section
9.3(c) or (d) , shall receive or have access to any
competitively sensitive information regarding the competing
business of the Partnership or of the other Partner or its
Affiliates or such Business Opportunity, nor shall such
Representative or Affiliate participate in any decision of the
Partnership Governance Committee relating to such business or
operation of the Partnership or the other Partner or its Affiliates
or such Business Opportunity.
SECTION 7
OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
7.1
Partnership Officers .
(a)
The
Partnership Governance Committee may select natural persons who are
(or upon becoming an officer will be) agents or employees of the
Partnership to be designated as officers of the Partnership, with
such titles as the Partnership Governance Committee shall
determine.
(b)
The
executive officers of the Partnership shall consist of a Chief
Executive Officer (“ CEO ”), and others as
determined from time to time by Partnership Governance Committee
(collectively, the “ Executive Officers
”).
(c)
The
Partnership Governance Committee also shall appoint a Secretary and
may appoint such other officers and assistant officers and agents
as may be deemed necessary or desirable and such persons shall
perform such duties in the management of the Partnership as may be
provided in this Agreement or as may be determined by Partnership
Governance Committee Action.
(d)
The
Partnership Governance Committee may leave unfilled any offices
except those of CEO and Secretary. Two or more offices
may be held by the same person except that the same person may not
hold the offices of CEO and Secretary.
7.2
Selection and Term of Executive Officers .
(a)
The
Executive Officers as of the date of this Agreement are listed on
Appendix C.
(b)
The
CEO shall hold office until December 31, 2010, subject to the
CEO’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Upon
the expiration of such term or earlier vacancy, the Managing
General Partner shall designate the CEO, provided that such person
shall be reasonably acceptable to the other Designating
Partner. The CEO shall not be required to be an employee
of the Partnership.
(c)
Each
Executive Officer (other than the CEO) shall hold office for a
five-year term, subject to such Officer’s earlier death,
resignation or removal. Upon the death, resignation or
removal of an Executive Officer, or the creation of a new Executive
Officer position, the CEO may nominate a person to fill the
vacancy, which shall be subject to Partnership Governance Committee
approval. Executive Officers shall not be required to be
employees of the Partnership. Any Executive Officer also
may serve as an officer or employee of any Partner or Affiliate of
a Partner.
7.3
Removal of Executive Officers .
(a)
The
CEO may be removed, at any time, by Partnership Governance
Committee Action taken pursuant to Section 6.7(xii) , with
or without cause, whenever in the judgment of the Partnership
Governance Committee the best interests of the Partnership would be
served thereby.
(b)
Any
Executive Officer (other than the CEO), or any other officer or
agent may be removed, at any time, by Partnership Governance
Committee Action taken pursuant to Section 6.7(xii) ,
with or without cause, whenever in the judgment of the Partnership
Governance Committee the best interests of the Partnership would be
served thereby.
(c)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in Sections 6.7(xii), 7.3(a) and
7.3(b) , either Designating Partner may, by action of two or
more of its Representatives, remove from office any Executive
Officer who takes or causes the Partnership to take any action
described in Section 6.7 that has not been approved by
Partnership Governance Committee Action as contemplated by
Section 6.7 . Any such removal shall be effected
by delivery by such Representatives of written notice of such
removal (i) to such Executive Officer and (ii) to the
Representatives of the other Designating Partner;
provided that such removal shall not be effective if such
action is rescinded or cured (to the reasonable satisfaction of the
Designating Partner who has delivered such notice) promptly after
such notice is delivered.
7.4
Duties .
(a)
Each
officer or employee of the Partnership shall owe to the
Partnership, but not to any Partner, all such duties (fiduciary or
otherwise) as are imposed upon such an officer or employee of a
Delaware corporation. Without limitation of the
foregoing, each officer and employee in any dealings with a Partner
shall have a duty to act in good faith and to deal fairly;
provided , that , no officer shall be liable to the
Partnership or to any Partner for his or her good faith reliance on
the provisions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, it is understood that any officer or employee of the
Partnership who is also a Representative of a Designating Partner
shall, in his capacity as a Representative, owe no duty (fiduciary
or otherwise) to any Person other than such Designating
Partner.
(b)
The
policies and procedures of the Partnership adopted by the
Partnership Governance Committee may set forth the powers and
duties of the officers of the Partnership to the extent not set
forth in or inconsistent with this Agreement. The
officers of the Partnership shall have such powers and duties,
except as modified by the Partnership Governance Committee, as
generally pertain to their respective offices in the case of a
publicly held Delaware corporation, as well as other such powers
and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Partnership
Governance Committee and by this Agreement. The CEO and
the other officers and employees of the Partnership shall develop
and implement management and other policies and procedures
consistent with this Agreement and the general policies and
procedures established by the Partnership Governance
Committee.
(c)
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, no Partner, Representative,
officer, employee or agent of the Partnership shall have the power
or authority, without specific authorization from the Partnership
Governance Committee, to undertake any of the
following:
(i)
to
do any act which contravenes (or otherwise is inconsistent with)
this Agreement or which would make it impracticable or impossible
to carry on the Partnership’s business;
(ii)
to
confess a judgment against the Partnership;
(iii)
to
possess Partnership property other than in the ordinary conduct of
the Partnership’s business; or
(iv)
to
take, or cause to be taken, any of the actions described in
Section 6.7 .
7.5
CEO . Subject
to the terms of this Agreement, the CEO shall have general
authority and discretion comparable to that of a chief executive
officer of a publicly held Delaware corporation of similar size to
direct and control the business and affairs of the Partnership,
including without limitation its day-to-day operations in a manner
consistent with the Annual Budget and the most recently approved
Strategic Plan. The CEO shall take steps to implement
all orders and resolutions of the Partnership Governance Committee
or, as applicable, any Auxiliary Committee. The CEO
shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on
behalf of the Partnership, (i) contracts or other instruments
authorized by Partnership Governance Committee Action and
(ii) contracts or instruments in the usual and regular course
of business (not otherwise requiring Partnership Governance
Committee Action), except in cases when the execution and delivery
thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Partnership Governance
Committee to some other officer or agent of the Partnership, and,
in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of CEO
as well as such other duties as from time to time may be assigned
to him or her by the Partnership Governance Committee or as are
prescribed by this Agreement.
7.6
Other Officers . The
President (if any) and the Vice Presidents shall perform such
duties as may, from time to time, be assigned to them by the
Partnership Governance Committee or by the CEO. In
addition, at the request of the CEO, or in the absence or
disability of the CEO, the President (if any) or any Vice
President, in any order determined by the Partnership Governance
Committee, temporarily shall perform all (or if limited through the
scope of the delegation, some of) the duties of the CEO, and, when
so acting, shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all
restrictions upon, the CEO.
7.7
Secretary . The
Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings (and copies of
written records of action taken without a meeting) of the
Partnership Governance Committee in minute books provided for such
purpose and shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement. The Secretary
shall be the custodian of the records and of the seal, if
any. The Secretary shall have general charge of books
and papers of the Partnership as the Partnership Governance
Committee may direct and, in general, shall perform all duties and
exercise all powers incident to the office of Secretary and such
other duties and powers as the Partnership Governance Committee or
the CEO from time to time may assign to or confer upon the
Secretary.
7.8
Salaries . Salaries
or other compensation of the other Executive Officers of the
Partnership shall be established by the CEO consistent with plans
approved by the Partnership Governance Committee. Except
as approved by the Partnership Governance Committee, all fees and
compensation of the officers and employees of the Partnership other
than the CEO with respect to their services as such officers and
employees shall be payable solely by the Partnership and no Partner
or its Affiliates shall pay (or offer to pay) any such fees or
compensation to any officer or employee, except to the extent that
the Partnership shall have agreed with a Partner or one of its
Affiliates pursuant to a separate agreement that a portion of the
compensation of such officer or employee shall be paid by such
Partner or Affiliate.
7.9
Delegation . The
Partnership Governance Committee may delegate temporarily the
powers and duties of any officer of the Partnership, in case of
absence or for any other reason, to any other officer of the
Partnership, and may authorize the delegation by any officer of the
Partnership of any of such officer’s powers and duties to any
other officer or employee of the Partnership, subject to the
general supervision of such officer.
7.10
[Intentionally
Deleted.]
7.11
General Authority . Persons
dealing with the Partnership are entitled to rely conclusively on
the power and authority of each of the officers as set forth in
this Agreement. In no event shall any Person dealing
with any officer with respect to any business or property of the
Partnership be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this
Agreement have been complied with, or be obligated to inquire into
the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the officer;
and every contract, agreement, deed, mortgage, security agreement,
promissory note or other instrument or document executed by the
officer with respect to any business or property of the Partnership
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/or delivery thereof, this Agreement was in full force
and effect, (ii) the instrument or document was duly executed in
accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is
binding upon the Partnership, and (iii) the officer was duly
authorized and empowered to execute and deliver any and every such
instrument or document for and on behalf of the
Partnership.
SECTION 8
STRATEGIC PLANS, ANNUAL BUDGETS AND
LOANS
8.1
Strategic Plan .
(a)
The
Partnership shall be managed in accordance with a five-year
strategic business plan (the “ Strategic Plan ”)
which shall be updated annually under the direction of the CEO and
presented for approval by the Partnership Governance Committee
pursuant to Section 6.7 as soon as practicable prior to
the start of the first fiscal year covered by the updated
plan.
(b)
The
Strategic Plan shall establish the strategic direction of the
Partnership, including plans relating to capital maintenance and
enhancement, geographic expansion, acquisitions and dispositions,
new product lines, technology, long-term supply and customer
arrangements, internal and external financing, environmental and
legal compliance, and plans, programs and policies relating to
compensation and industrial relations. The Strategic
Plan shall include projected income statements, balance sheets and
cash flow statements, including the expected timing and amounts of
capital contributions and cash distributions. The format
and level of detail of each Strategic Plan shall be consistent with
that of the initial Strategic Plan agreed to by the Initial
Partners on or prior to the Initial Closing Date or the Strategic
Plan most recently approved pursuant to Section 6.7
.
8.2
Annual Budget .
(a)
The
Executive Officers of the Partnership shall prepare an Annual
Budget (each, an “ Annual Budget ”) for each
fiscal year, including an Operating Budget and Capital Expenditure
Budget; provided that each Annual Budget shall be consistent
with the information for such fiscal year included in the Strategic
Plan most recently approved pursuant to Section 6.7 ;
and provided , further , that unless provided
otherwise in the most recently approved Strategic Plan, the Annual
Budget (including any Annual Budget prepared under Section
8.2(b) ) shall utilize a format and provide a level of detail
consistent with the Partnership’s initial Annual
Budget. The Annual Budget for each year shall be
submitted to the Partnership Governance Committee for approval at
least 30 days prior to the start of the fiscal year covered by such
budget. Each Annual Budget shall incorporate (i) a
projected income statement, balance sheet and a cash flow
statement, (ii) the amount of any corresponding cash
deficiency or surplus and (iii) the estimated amount, if any,
and expected timing for all required capital
contributions. Each proposed Annual Budget shall be
prepared on a basis consistent with the Partnership’s
financial statements.
(b)
If
for any fiscal year the Partnership Governance Committee has failed
to approve an updated Strategic Plan, then, subject to
Section 8.5 , for such year and each subsequent year
prior to approval of an updated Strategic Plan, the Executive
Officers of the Partnership shall prepare (and promptly furnish to
the Partnership Governance Committee) the Annual Budget consistent
with the projections and other information for that year included
in the Strategic Plan most recently approved pursuant to Section
6.7 ; provided , however , that the CEO, acting
in good faith, shall be entitled to modify any such Annual Budget
in order to satisfy current contractual and compliance obligations
and to account for other changes in circumstances resulting from
the passage of time or the occurrence of events beyond the control
of the Partnership; provided , further , that the CEO
shall not be authorized to cause the Partnership to proceed with
capital expenditures to accomplish capital enhancement projects
except to the extent that such expenditures would enable the
Partnership to continue or complete any such capital project
reflected in the last Strategic Plan that was approved by the
Partnership Governance Committee pursuant to
Section 6.7 .
(c)
Each
“Operating Budget” shall constitute an estimate for
each applicable period of all operating income, which shall include
expenses required to maintain, repair and restore to good and
usable condition the Partnership’s assets.
(d)
Each
“Capital Expenditure Budget” shall constitute an
estimate for the applicable period of the capital expenditures
required to (i) accomplish capital enhancement projects
included in the most recently approved Strategic Plan,
(ii) maintain and preserve the Partnership’s assets in
good operating condition and repair and (iii) achieve or
maintain compliance with any HSE Law.
8.3
Funding of Partnership Expenses . All
Partnership expenses (both operating and capital expenses),
regardless of whether included in any Strategic Plan or Annual
Budget, shall be funded from operating cash flows or authorized
borrowings under available lines of credit, unless otherwise agreed
by the Partnership Governance Committee. Subject to the
limitations of Section 2. 4 and Section 6.7(v) ,
if applicable, to the extent that the CEO determines at any time
that funds are needed to fund Partnership operations, the CEO may
issue a Funding Notice to the Partners calling for an additional
capital contribution. The Partners will take all steps
necessary to cause compliance with such Funding
Notice.
8.4
Implementation of Budgets and Discretionary Expenditures by
CEO .
(a)
After
a Strategic Plan and an Annual Budget have been approved by the
Partnership Governance Committee (or an Annual Budget has been
developed in accordance with Section 8.2(b) ), the CEO will
be authorized, without further action by the Partnership Governance
Committee, to cause the Partnership to make expenditures consistent
with such Strategic Plan and Annual Budget; provided ,
however , that all internal control policies and procedures,
including those regarding the required authority for certain
expenditures, shall have been followed.
(b)
In
any emergency, the CEO or the CEO’s designee shall be
authorized to take such actions and to make such expenditures as
may be reasonably necessary to react to the emergency, regardless
of whether such expenditures have been included in an approved
Strategic Plan or Annual Budget. Promptly after learning
of an emergency, the CEO or such designee shall notify the
Representatives of the nature of the emergency and the response
that has been made, or is committed or proposed to be made, with
respect to the emergency.
8.5
Strategic Plan Deadlock . If
the Partnership Governance Committee has not agreed upon and
approved an updated Strategic Plan, as contemplated by Sections
6.7 and Section 8.1 , by such date as is 12 months after
the beginning of the first fiscal year that would have been covered
by such plan, then the Designating Partners shall submit their
disagreements to non-binding mediation by a Neutral. If
the Designating Partners are unable to agree upon a mutually
acceptable Neutral within 30 days after a nomination of a Neutral
is made by one Designating Partner to the other, then such Neutral
shall upon the application of either Designating Partner be
appointed within 70 days of such nomination by the Center for
Public Resources, or if such appointment is not so made promptly
then promptly thereafter by the American Arbitration Association in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or if such appointment is not so made
promptly then promptly thereafter by the senior United States
District Court judge sitting in Wilmington,
Delaware. The fees of the Neutral shall be paid equally
by the Designating Partners. Within 20 days of selection
of the Neutral, two persons having decision-making authority on
behalf of each Designating Partner shall meet with the Neutral and
agree upon procedures and a schedule for attempting to resolve the
differences between the Designating Partners. They shall
continue to meet thereafter on a regular basis until (i) agreement
is reached by the Designating Partners (acting through their
Representatives) on an updated Strategic Plan