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Exhibit
10.3
EXECUTION COPY
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT
OF
VIRGIN MOBILE USA,
L.P.
Dated as of
October 16, 2007
THE PARTNERSHIP UNITS OF VIRGIN MOBILE
USA, L.P. HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED, THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR ANY OTHER
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS AND ARE BEING ISSUED IN RELIANCE UPON
EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT
AND SUCH LAWS. SUCH UNITS MUST BE ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND
MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, SOLD, ASSIGNED
OR TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH (I) THE
SECURITIES ACT, ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND ANY OTHER
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS; AND (II) THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF
THIS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. THE UNITS MAY NOT BE
TRANSFERRED OF RECORD EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH LAWS AND THIS
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT. THEREFORE, PURCHASERS OF SUCH UNITS
WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE RISK OF THEIR INVESTMENT FOR AN
INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.
Table of
Contents
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Page |
| ARTICLE I |
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| DEFINITIONS |
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SECTION 1.01.
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Definitions |
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1 |
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| ARTICLE II |
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| FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND
POWERS |
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SECTION 2.01.
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Conversion and Formation |
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7 |
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SECTION 2.02.
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Name |
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8 |
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SECTION 2.03.
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Term |
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8 |
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SECTION 2.04.
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Offices |
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8 |
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SECTION 2.05.
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Agent for
Service of Process |
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8 |
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SECTION 2.06.
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Business
Purpose |
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8 |
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SECTION 2.07.
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Powers of
the Partnership |
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9 |
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SECTION 2.08.
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Partners;
Admission of New Partners |
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9 |
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SECTION 2.09.
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Withdrawal |
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9 |
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| ARTICLE III |
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| MANAGEMENT |
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SECTION 3.01.
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General
Partner |
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9 |
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SECTION 3.02.
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Compensation |
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10 |
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SECTION 3.03.
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Expenses |
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10 |
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SECTION 3.04.
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Officers |
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10 |
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SECTION 3.05.
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Authority
of Partners |
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10 |
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SECTION 3.06.
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Action by
Written Consent |
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11 |
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| ARTICLE IV |
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| DISTRIBUTIONS and loans |
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SECTION 4.01.
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Distributions and Loans |
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11 |
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SECTION 4.02.
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Liquidation Distributions |
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12 |
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SECTION 4.03.
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Limitations on Distributions |
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12 |
-i-
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| ARTICLE V |
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CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS;
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS;
TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX
MATTERS
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SECTION 5.01.
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Initial
Capital Contributions |
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13 |
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SECTION 5.02.
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No
Additional Capital Contributions; Additional Funds |
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13 |
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SECTION 5.03.
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Capital
Accounts |
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14 |
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SECTION 5.04.
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Allocations of Profits and Losses |
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14 |
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SECTION 5.05.
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Special
Allocations |
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14 |
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SECTION 5.06.
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Curative
Allocations |
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15 |
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SECTION 5.07.
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Other
Allocation Rules |
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16 |
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SECTION 5.08.
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Tax
Allocations: Code Section 704(c) |
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16 |
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SECTION 5.09.
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Tax
Withholding |
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17 |
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SECTION 5.10.
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Successors in Interest |
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17 |
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SECTION 5.11.
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Tax
Matters |
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17 |
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SECTION 5.12.
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Tax
Classification |
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19 |
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SECTION 5.13.
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Tax
Elections |
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19 |
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SECTION 5.14.
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Continuation of VMU LLC |
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19 |
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| ARTICLE VI |
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| BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS |
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SECTION 6.01.
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Books and
Records |
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19 |
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| ARTICLE VII |
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| PARTNERSHIP UNITS |
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SECTION 7.01.
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Units |
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20 |
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SECTION 7.02.
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Register |
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20 |
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SECTION 7.03.
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Splits,
Distributions and Reclassifications |
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20 |
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SECTION 7.04.
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Cancellation of Class A Common Stock and Units |
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20 |
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SECTION 7.05.
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Incentive
Plans |
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20 |
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SECTION 7.06.
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Issuances
of Securities |
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21 |
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SECTION 7.07.
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Registered Partners |
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22 |
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SECTION 7.08.
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Exchange
of Units |
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22 |
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| ARTICLE VIII |
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| TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS |
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SECTION 8.01.
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Limited
Partner Transfers |
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24 |
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SECTION 8.02.
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Permitted
Transferees |
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24 |
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SECTION 8.03.
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Further
Restrictions |
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25 |
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SECTION 8.04.
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Rights of
Assignees |
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26 |
-ii-
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SECTION 8.05.
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Admissions, Withdrawals and Removals |
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26 |
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SECTION 8.06.
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Admission
of Assignees as Substitute Limited Partners |
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26 |
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SECTION 8.07.
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Withdrawal of Certain Partners |
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27 |
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| ARTICLE IX |
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| DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND
TERMINATION |
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SECTION 9.01.
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No
Dissolution |
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27 |
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SECTION 9.02.
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Events
Causing Dissolution |
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27 |
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SECTION 9.03.
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Distribution upon Dissolution |
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27 |
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SECTION 9.04.
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Time for
Liquidation |
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28 |
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SECTION 9.05.
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Termination |
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28 |
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SECTION 9.06.
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Claims of
the Partners |
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28 |
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SECTION 9.07.
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Survival
of Certain Provisions |
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28 |
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| ARTICLE X |
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| LIABILITY AND
INDEMNIFICATION |
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SECTION 10.01.
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Liability
of Partners |
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28 |
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SECTION 10.02.
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Indemnification |
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30 |
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| ARTICLE XI |
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| MISCELLANEOUS |
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SECTION 11.01.
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Severability |
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31 |
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SECTION 11.02.
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Notices |
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31 |
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SECTION 11.03.
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Cumulative Remedies |
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33 |
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SECTION 11.04.
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Binding
Effect |
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33 |
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SECTION 11.05.
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Interpretation |
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33 |
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SECTION 11.06.
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Counterparts |
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33 |
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SECTION 11.07.
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Further
Assurances |
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33 |
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SECTION 11.08.
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Entire
Agreement |
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33 |
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SECTION 11.09.
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Governing
Law |
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33 |
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SECTION 11.10.
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Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial |
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34 |
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SECTION 11.11.
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Expenses |
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35 |
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SECTION 11.12.
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Amendments and Waivers |
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35 |
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SECTION 11.13.
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No Third
Party Beneficiaries |
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36 |
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SECTION 11.14.
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Headings |
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36 |
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SECTION 11.15.
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Construction |
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36 |
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SECTION 11.16.
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Power of
Attorney |
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36 |
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SECTION 11.17.
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Partnership Status |
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37 |
-iii-
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT
OF
VIRGIN MOBILE USA,
L.P.
This LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) of Virgin Mobile
USA, L.P. (the “ Partnership ”) is made as of
the 16th day of October, 2007, by and among VMU GP I, LLC, a
limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of
Delaware, as general partner, Bluebottle USA Holdings L.P., a
limited partnership formed under the laws of the State of Delaware,
as a Limited Partner (as defined herein) of the Partnership, Virgin
Mobile USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as a Limited Partner of
the Partnership and the other Limited Partners of the Partnership
admitted in accordance with this Agreement.
W I T N E S S E T
H:
WHEREAS, Virgin Mobile USA,
LLC was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on
October 4, 2001 (“ VMU LLC ”);
WHEREAS, on or prior to the
date hereof, all necessary action was taken to authorize VMU
LLC’s conversion to the Partnership under the Third Amended
and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the LLC, dated
as of August 25, 2003 (as amended, the “ LLC
Agreement ”), and the Delaware Limited Liability Company
Act (the “ LLC Act ”);
WHEREAS, on the date hereof,
in connection with the IPO (as such term is defined herein), VMU
LLC was converted to a limited partnership (the
“Conversion”) pursuant to Section 17-217 of the
Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (6 Del. C.
§ 17-101, et seq .), as amended from time to time (the
“ Act ”), and Section 18-216 of the LLC Act
by causing the filing in the office of the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware of a Certificate of Conversion to Limited
Partnership of VMU LLC to the Partnership (the “
Conversion Certificate ”) and a Certificate of Limited
Partnership of the Partnership (the “ Certificate
”);
WHEREAS, the parties hereto
desire to enter into this Agreement in accordance with the terms
hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the mutual promises and agreements herein made and
intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01.
Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein without
definition have the following meanings (such meanings being equally
applicable to both the singular and plural form of the terms
defined):
“ Act ”
has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this
Agreement.
“ Affiliate
” means, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person
that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such
specified Person.
“ Additional
Funds ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.02(b).
“ Agreement
” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this
Agreement.
“ Assignee
” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.04.
“ Assumed Tax
Rate ” means a rate equal to the highest effective
marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate
prescribed for a corporate resident of New York, New
York.
“ Available Cash
” means, with respect to any fiscal period, the amount of
cash on hand which the General Partner, in its reasonable
discretion, deems available for distribution to the Partners,
taking into account all debts, liabilities and obligations of the
Partnership then due and amounts which the General Partner, in its
reasonable discretion, deems necessary to expend or retain for
working capital or to place into reserves for customary and usual
claims with respect to the Partnership’s
operations.
“ Beneficial
Ownership ” means such term as set forth in Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act.
“ Capital
Account ” means the separate capital account maintained
for each Partner in accordance with Section 5.03
hereof.
“ Capital
Contribution ” means, with respect to any Partner, the
aggregate amount of money contributed to the Partnership and the
Carrying Value of any property (other than money), net of any
liabilities assumed by the Partnership upon contribution or to
which such property is subject, contributed to the Partnership
pursuant to Article V.
“ Carrying Value
” means, with respect to any asset of the Partnership, such
asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
except that the Carrying Values of all assets of the Partnership
shall be adjusted to equal their respective fair market values as
determined by the General Partner, in accordance with the rules set
forth in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), except as
otherwise provided herein, as of: (i) the date of the
acquisition of any additional Units by any new or existing Partner
in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution;
(ii) the date of the distribution of more than a de
minimis amount of assets of the Partnership to a Partner in
redemption of Units; and (iii) any other date required by
Regulations; provided , however , that adjustments
pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above shall be made only
if the General Partner reasonably determines that such adjustments
are necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative economic
interests of the Partners and provided further , that such
adjustment shall be made upon the acquisition by the Ultimate
Parent of Units in the IPO. The Carrying Value of any asset of the
Partnership distributed to any Partner shall be adjusted
immediately prior to such
2
distribution to equal its
fair market value. The Carrying Value of any asset contributed (or
deemed contributed under Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(1)(iv)) by a Partner to the Partnership
will be the fair market value of such asset at the date of its
contribution thereto as determined in good faith by the General
Partner. Upon an adjustment to the Carrying Value of any asset
pursuant to this definition of Carrying Value, the amount of the
adjustment shall be included as gain or loss in computing book
income or loss in accordance with Regulation
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(e) for purposes of maintaining Capital
Accounts hereunder. Upon adjustment to the Carrying Value of any
asset pursuant to this definition, such Carrying Value shall
thereafter be adjusted by the depreciation, amortization or cost
recovery subsequently taken into account with respect to such asset
for purposes of computing Profits and Losses.
“ Certificate
” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this
Agreement.
“ Certificate of
Incorporation ” means the Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of the Ultimate Parent, to be filed on
or prior to the closing date of the IPO, with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the Delaware General
Corporation Law, as such certificate may be amended from time to
time.
“ Class A Common
Stock ” means Class A common stock, par value $0.01
per share, of the Ultimate Parent.
“ Class C Common
Stock ” means Class C common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of the Ultimate Parent.
“ Code ”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time.
“ Common Unit
” means a Unit issued pursuant to Section 2.01, 7.03,
7.05 or clause (x) of Section 7.06(a), with the rights,
powers and duties set forth herein.
“ Common Unit
Exchange Rate ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.08(a) of this Agreement.
“ Contingencies
” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(b).
“ Control
” (including the terms “ Controlled by ”
and “ under common Control with ”) means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause
the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor,
by contract or otherwise, including, without limitation, the
ownership, directly or indirectly, of securities having the power
to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar body
governing the affairs of such Person.
“ Conversion
” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this
Agreement.
“ Conversion
Certificate ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble
of this Agreement.
3
“ Disabling
Event ” means the General Partner ceasing to be the
general partner of the Partnership pursuant to Section 17-402
of the Act.
“ Dissolution
Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02 of
this Agreement.
“ Exchange Act
” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
“ Exchange Rate
” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.08(a) of this
Agreement.
“ Exchange
Transaction ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 8.01(b) of this Agreement.
“ Fiscal Year
” means the calendar year.
“ GAAP ”
means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
of America as in effect from time to time.
“ General
Partner ” means VMU GP I, LLC or any successor general
partner admitted to the Partnership in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, in its capacity as general partner of the
Partnership.
“ Incapacity
” means, with respect to any Person, the bankruptcy,
dissolution, termination, or with respect to any Person who is an
individual, entry of an order of incompetence, or the insanity,
permanent disability or death of such Person.
“ Incentive Plan
” means any equity incentive or similar plan pursuant to
which the Ultimate Parent may issue shares of Class A Common
Stock or other interest to existing and former directors, officers
and employees of the Ultimate Parent or its direct or indirect
subsidiaries from time to time.
“ IPO ”
means the initial public offering and sale of Class A Common
Stock by the Ultimate Parent, as contemplated by the Ultimate
Parent’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File
No. 333-124524).
“ Law ”
means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code,
executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or other order issued
or promulgated by any national, supranational, state, federal,
provincial, local or municipal government or any administrative or
regulatory body with authority therefrom with jurisdiction over the
Partnership or any Partner, as the case may be.
“ LLC Act
” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this
Agreement.
“ LLC Agreement
” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this
Agreement.
“ Limited
Partner ” means each of the Persons from time to time
listed as a limited partner in the books and records of the
Partnership, each in its capacity as a limited partner of the
Partnership. For purposes of the Act, the Limited Partners shall
constitute a single class, group or series of limited partners of
the Partnership.
4
“ Liquidation
Agent ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03 of
this Agreement.
“ Nonrecourse
Deductions ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury
Regulations Section 1.704-2(b). The amount of Nonrecourse
Deductions of the Partnership for a fiscal year equals the net
increase, if any, in the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain of the
Partnership during that fiscal year, determined according to the
provisions of Treasury Regulations
Section 1.704-2(c).
“ Partners
” means, at any time, each person listed as a Partner
(including the General Partner) on the books and records of the
Partnership, in each case for so long as he, she or it remains a
Partner as provided hereunder.
“ Partnership
” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this
Agreement.
“ Partnership
Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury
Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).
“ Partner
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain ” means an amount with
respect to each partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury
Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) equal to the Partnership
Minimum Gain that would result if such partner nonrecourse debt
were treated as a nonrecourse liability (as defined in Treasury
Regulations Section 1.752-1(a)(2)) determined in accordance
with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3).
“ Partner
Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning ascribed to the
term “partner nonrecourse deductions” set forth in
Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
“ Percentage
Interest ” means, with respect to any Partner, the
quotient obtained by dividing the number of Common Units then owned
by such Partner by the number of Common Units then owned by all
Partners.
“ Permitted
Transferee ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 8.02 of this Agreement.
“ Person ”
means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
partnership, limited liability company, limited company, joint
venture, trust, unincorporated or governmental organization or any
agency or political subdivision thereof.
“ Profits
” and “ Losses ” means, for each Fiscal
Year or other period, an amount equal to the Partnership’s
taxable income or loss for such year or period, determined in
accordance Code Section 703(a) and for this purpose, all items
of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately
pursuant to Code Section 703(a)(1) shall be included in
taxable income or loss, with the following adjustments:
(a) any income of the Partnership that is exempt from U.S.
federal income taxation and not otherwise taken into account in
computing Profits and Losses pursuant to this definition shall be
added; (b) any items of expenditure of the Partnership
described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) or items of expenditure
treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to
Regulations
5
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into
account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this definition,
shall be subtracted, (c) in the event the Carrying Value of
any property is adjusted pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), or
(iii) of that definition, the amount of such adjustment shall
be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such
property for purposes of computing Profits or Losses; (d) gain
or loss resulting from any disposition of property with respect to
which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes
shall be computed by reference to the Carrying Value of the
property disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis
of such property differs from its Carrying Value; (e) to the
extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership
asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code
Section 743(b) is required pursuant to Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) to be taken into account in
determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution other
than in liquidation of a Partner’s interest in the
Partnership, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an
item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset)
or loss (if the adjustment decreases the basis of the asset) from
the disposition of the asset and shall be taken into account for
purposes of computing Profits or Losses and (f) if the
Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for
U.S. federal income tax purposes the amount of depreciation,
amortization or cost recovery deductions with respect to such asset
for purposes of determining Profits and Losses shall be an amount
which bears the same ratio to such Carrying Value as the U.S.
federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost
recovery deductions bears to such adjusted tax basis (provided that
if the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other
cost recovery deduction is zero, the General Partner may use any
reasonable method for purposes of determining depreciation,
amortization or other cost recovery deductions in calculating
Profits and Losses).
Notwithstanding any other
provision of this definition, any items which are specially
allocated pursuant to Sections 5.05 and 5.06 shall not be taken
into account in computing Profits or Losses.
“ Regulations
” means the Income Tax Regulations, including Temporary
Regulations, promulgated under the Code, as such Regulations may be
amended (including corresponding provisions of succeeding
regulations).
“ Regulatory
Allocations ” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.07.
“ Securities
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.06(a).
“ Securities Act
” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ Securities
Issuer ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.06(a).
“ Tax
Distributions ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.01(b).
“ Tax Matters
Partner ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.12.
“ Transfer
” means, in respect of any Unit, property or other asset, any
sale, assignment, transfer, distribution or other disposition
thereof, whether voluntarily or by operation of Law, including,
without limitation, the exchange of any Unit for any other
security.
6
“ Transfer Agent
” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.08(a) of this
Agreement.
“ Transferee
” means any Person that is a transferee of a Partner’s
interest in the Partnership, or part thereof.
“ Ultimate
Parent ” means Virgin Mobile USA, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
“ Units ”
means units authorized in accordance with this Agreement, which
shall constitute partnership interests in the Partnership as
provided in this Agreement and under the Act, entitling the holders
thereof to the relative rights, title and interests in the profits,
losses, deductions and credits of the Partnership at any particular
time as set forth in this Agreement, and any and all other benefits
to which a holder thereof may be entitled as a Partner as provided
in this Agreement, together with the obligations of such Partner to
comply with all terms and provisions of this Agreement.
“ Unit Exchange
Rate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.08(a)
of this Agreement.
“ Virgin Tax
Receivable Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.06(b) of this Agreement.
“ VMU LLC
” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this
Agreement.
“ Withheld Taxes
” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.10(a).
“ Withholding
Loan ” shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.10(a).
ARTICLE II
FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND
POWERS
SECTION 2.01.
Conversion and Formation . (a) Effective as of the time
of the Conversion, (i) the LLC Agreement and all other
existing organizational documents of VMU LLC are replaced and
superseded in their entirety by this Agreement and the Certificate
in respect of all periods beginning on or after the Conversion,
(ii) VMU GP I, LLC is hereby admitted as a general partner of
the Partnership, and Virgin Mobile USA, Inc., Bluebottle USA
Holdings L.P. and Sprint Ventures, Inc. are hereby admitted as
limited partners of the Partnership, (iii) all of the limited
liability company interests in VMU LLC issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Conversion are converted to Common Units
in the Partnership and each of the Partners has the Common Units
set forth opposite its name on Schedule I hereto, and has a capital
account with the Partnership equivalent to the capital account that
it had with VMU LLC, (iv) the Partners continue the business
of VMU LLC without dissolution in the form of a Delaware limited
partnership governed by this Agreement, and (v) in accordance
with Section 17-217(g) of the Act, for all purposes of the
laws of the State of Delaware, the Partnership shall be deemed to
be the same entity as VMU LLC and for all applicable tax purposes
the Partnership is a continuation of VMU LLC.
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(b) The Partnership was
formed as a limited partnership under the provisions of the Act by
the filing on the date hereof of the Conversion Certificate and the
Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
If requested by the General Partner, the Limited Partners shall
promptly execute all certificates and other documents consistent
with the terms of this Agreement necessary for the General Partner
to accomplish all filing, recording, publishing and other acts as
may be appropriate to comply with all requirements for (a) the
formation and operation of a limited partnership under the laws of
the State of Delaware, (b) if the General Partner deems it
advisable, the operation of the Partnership as a limited
partnership, or partnership in which the Limited Partners have
limited liability, in all jurisdictions where the Partnership
proposes to operate and (c) all other filings required to be
made by the Partnership.
SECTION 2.02.
Name . The name of the Partnership shall be, and the
business of the Partnership shall be conducted under the name of,
Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. or such other name as the General Partner
shall reasonably determine.
SECTION 2.03.
Term . The term of the Partnership commenced on the date of
the filing of the Certificate, and the term shall continue until
the Partnership is dissolved pursuant to this Agreement, subject to
the provisions set forth in Article IX and applicable Law. The
existence of the Partnership as a separate legal entity shall
continue until cancellation of the Certificate in the manner
required by the Act.
SECTION 2.04.
Offices . The Partnership may have offices at such places
within or without the State of Delaware as the General Partner from
time to time may select.
SECTION 2.05. Agent
for Service of Process . The Partnership’s registered
agent for service of process in the State of Delaware shall be as
set forth in the Certificate, as the same may be amended by the
General Partner from time to time.
SECTION 2.06.
Business Purpose . The Partnership was formed for the object
and purpose of, and the nature of the business to be conducted by
the Partnership is, engaging in any lawful act or activity for
which limited partnerships may be formed under the Act. Except as
otherwise expressly permitted under this Agreement, each of the
Ultimate Parent and the General Partner shall conduct all of its
operational activities and hold all of its assets (other than
(x) equity interests in direct and indirect parent entities of
the General Partner and the Partnership and (y) the proceeds
of any distributions from the Partnership permitted under this
Agreement and any accrued interest thereon) through the Partnership
and its subsidiaries. The General Partner shall not hold any assets
other than its interest in the Partnership, and for U.S. federal
tax purposes shall take any steps necessary to qualify as and
remain an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner
under Section 301.7701-3 of the Regulations. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Ultimate Parent and its subsidiaries shall be
permitted to engage in non-operational activities (it being
understood that any such activities not specifically contemplated
by this Agreement are permitted pursuant to this Section 2.06
only if the holders of Units other than the Ultimate Parent and its
subsidiaries would not be prejudiced economically by such
activities as compared to holders of the Securities for which such
Units may be exchanged pursuant to Section 7.08 of this
Agreement) including, but not limited to (a) the ownership,
acquisition and disposition of Units, (b) the management of
the business and the affairs of the Partnership and its
subsidiaries, (c) the operation of the Ultimate Parent or any
of its direct or indirect subsidiaries as a reporting company with
a class (or classes) of
8
securities registered under the Exchange
Act, (d) financing (debt or equity) of the business of the
Partnership or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries,
(e) activities relating to maintaining corporate, limited
liability company, limited partnership or other entity existence of
the Ultimate Parent or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries,
or (f) any activities as are incidental thereto.
SECTION 2.07. Powers
of the Partnership . Subject to the limitations set forth in
this Agreement, the Partnership will possess and may exercise all
of the powers and privileges granted to it by the Act, by any other
Law and this Agreement, together with all powers incidental
thereto, so far as such powers are necessary or convenient to the
conduct, promotion or attainment of the purpose of the Partnership
set forth in Section 2.06.
SECTION 2.08.
Partners; Admission of New Partners . Each of the Persons
listed on Schedule I attached hereto, as the same may be amended
from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, by virtue of
the Conversion and the execution of this Agreement, are Partners of
the Partnership. The rights and liabilities of the Partners shall
be as provided in the Act, except as is otherwise expressly
provided herein. A Person may be admitted from time to time as a
new Partner in accordance with Section 8.05; provided ,
however, that each new Partner shall execute an appropriate
supplement to this Agreement pursuant to which the new Partner
agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Agreement, as
it may be amended from time to time.
SECTION 2.09.
Withdrawal . No Partner shall have the right to withdraw as
a Partner of the Partnership other than following the Transfer of
all Units owned by such Partner in accordance with Article VIII;
provided , however, that a new General Partner or substitute
General Partner may be admitted to the Partnership in accordance
with Section 8.05.
ARTICLE III
MANAGEMENT
SECTION 3.01.
General Partner . (a) The business, property and
affairs of the Partnership shall be managed under the sole,
absolute and exclusive direction of the General Partner, which may
from time to time delegate authority to officers or to others to
act on behalf of the Partnership.
(b) Without limiting the
foregoing provisions of this Section 3.01, the General Partner
shall have the general power to manage or cause the management of
the Partnership, which may be delegated to officers of the
Partnership, including, without limitation, the following
powers:
(i) to develop and prepare a
business plan each year which will set forth the operating goals
and plans for the Partnership;
(ii) to execute and deliver
or to authorize the execution and delivery of contracts, deeds,
leases, licenses, instruments of transfer and other documents on
behalf of the Partnership;
(iii) to employ, retain,
consult with and dismiss personnel;
9
(iv) to establish and enforce
limits of authority and internal controls with respect to all
personnel and functions;
(v) to engage attorneys,
consultants and accountants for the Partnership;
(vi) to develop or cause to
be developed accounting procedures for the maintenance of the
Partnership’s books of account; and
(vii) to do all such other
acts as shall be authorized in this Agreement or by the Partners in
writing from time to time.
(c) If the General Partner is
an entity, it shall be organized under the laws of the United
States or any political subdivision thereof. If the General Partner
is an individual, it shall be a citizen of the United
States.
SECTION 3.02.
Compensation . The General Partner shall not be entitled to
any compensation for services rendered to the Partnership in its
capacity as General Partner.
SECTION 3.03.
Expenses . The Partnership shall bear and/or reimburse the
General Partner for any expenses incurred by the General Partner
(in its capacity as the General Partner).
SECTION 3.04.
Officers . Subject to the direction of the General Partner,
the day-to-day administration of the business of the Partnership
may be carried out by employees and agents of the General Partner,
Ultimate Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries who may be
designated as officers of the Partnership by the General Partner,
Ultimate Parent or any of their respective subsidiaries, with
titles including but not limited to “chief executive
officer,” “president,” “vice
president,” “treasurer,” “assistant
treasurer,” “secretary,” “assistant
secretary,” “general manager,” “senior
managing director,” “managing director,”
“general counsel,” “director” and
“chief financial officer,” as and to the extent
authorized by the General Partner. The officers of the Partnership
shall have such titles and powers and perform such duties as shall
be determined from time to time by the General Partner and
otherwise as shall customarily pertain to such offices. Any number
of offices may be held by the same person. All officers shall be
subject to the supervision and direction of the General Partner and
may be removed from such office by the General Partner and the
authority, duties or responsibilities of any officer of the
Partnership may be suspended by the General Partner from time to
time, in each case in the sole discretion of the General
Partner.
SECTION 3.05.
Authority of Partners . No Limited Partner, in its capacity
as such, shall participate in or have any control over the business
of the Partnership. Except as expressly provided herein, the Units
do not confer any rights upon the Limited Partners to participate
in the conduct, control or management of the business of the
Partnership described in this Agreement, which conduct, control and
management shall be vested exclusively in the General Partner. In
all matters relating to or arising out of the conduct of the
operation of the Partnership, the decision of the General Partner
shall be the decision of the Partnership. Except as required or
permitted by Law, or expressly provided in a separate agreement
with the Partnership, no Limited Partner who is not also a General
Partner (and acting in such capacity) shall take any part in the
management or
10
control of the operation or business of
the Partnership in its capacity as a Limited Partner, nor shall any
Limited Partner who is not also a General Partner (and acting in
such capacity) have any right, authority or power to act for or on
behalf of or bind the Partnership in his or its capacity as a
Limited Partner in any respect or assume any obligation or
responsibility of the Partnership or of any other
Partner.
SECTION 3.06. Action
by Written Consent . Any action required or permitted to be
taken by the Partners pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken if
all Partners whose consent is required consent thereto in
writing.
ARTICLE IV
DISTRIBUTIONS AND
LOANS
SECTION 4.01.
Distributions and Loans . (a) The General Partner, in
its discretion, may authorize distributions by the Partnership to
the Partners holding Common Units, which distributions shall be
made pro rata in accordance with such Partners’
respective Percentage Interests at the record date for such
distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the General
Partner, in its discretion, may authorize cash distributions by the
Partnership to the Ultimate Parent (which distributions shall be
made without pro rata distributions to other Partners) be made in
amounts required for Ultimate Parent to pay (A) consideration,
if any, for redemption, repurchase, acquisition, cancellation or
termination of Class A Common Stock or Class C Common Stock in
accordance with Section 7.04 hereof; and
(B) (i) overhead, legal, accounting and other
professional fees and expenses, including any judgments,
settlements, penalties, fines or other costs and expenses in
respect of any claims against, or any litigation or proceedings
involving, the Ultimate Parent or any of its direct or indirect
subsidiaries, (ii) fees and expenses related to any securities
offering, investment or acquisition (whether or not successful)
authorized by the Board of Directors of the Ultimate Parent and
(iii) other fees and expenses in connection with the
maintenance of existence of the Ultimate Parent and any of its
direct and indirect subsidiaries other than the Partnership and its
subsidiaries (including, but not limited to, any costs or expenses
associated with being a public company listed on a national
securities exchange); provided , however , that the
amount of any such distributions shall be reduced, to the extent
practicable, by the amount of unused cash remaining from the prior
distributions by the Partnership to the Ultimate Parent, including
any interest earned thereon. Partners holding Units other than
Common Units shall be entitled to such distributions as provided in
the instruments governing the issuance of such Units, which terms
shall be determined by the General Partner in accordance with
Section 7.06. Subject to the last two sentences of this
Section 4.01(a), the General Partner, in its discretion, may
cause the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries to make loans to
the Ultimate Parent or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries
for any bona fide business purposes; provided ,
however , that if any loan to the Ultimate Parent or any of
its direct or indirect subsidiaries other than the Partnership and
its subsidiaries is cancelled or is not repaid within 90 days from
the date of such loan, such loan shall be deemed to constitute a
distribution to the Ultimate Parent and its direct and indirect
subsidiaries pursuant to the first sentence of this
Section 4.01(a) and the Partnership shall be required to make
pro rata distributions to all other Partners holding Common
Units in accordance with such Partners’ respective Percentage
Interests on the date of such loan. If the proceeds of any loan
described in the preceding sentence are used to make payments or
distributions other than as described in the second sentence of
this Section 4.01(a) and such loan is outstanding as of the
date
11
that a Partner (other than the Ultimate
Parent or its direct or indirect subsidiaries) exchanges any Units
pursuant to Section 7.08, such loan shall be deemed to
constitute a distribution to the Ultimate Parent and its direct and
indirect subsidiaries pursuant to the first sentence of this
Section 4.01(a) and the Partnership shall be required to make
pro rata distributions to all other Limited Partners in
accordance with such Partners’ respective Percentage
Interests as of the date of such loan. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the General Partner shall not be permitted to cause the
Partnership or any of its subsidiaries to make any loan to the
Ultimate Parent or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries if,
at any time from the time that such loan is made through and
including the time that any corresponding pro rata
distribution to other Partners pursuant to the immediately
preceding two sentences is or may become required to be made, the
making of any such corresponding pro rata distribution is or
would be prohibited. From and after the date of any loan permitted
by, and made in accordance with, the immediately preceding three
sentences, if any loan to the Ultimate Parent or any of its direct
or indirect subsidiaries remains outstanding, the Ultimate Parent
and the General Partner agree not to enter into any contractual or
other arrangement or otherwise take any action, or cause the
Partnership or any of its subsidiaries to do any of the foregoing,
that would cause the Partnership not to be permitted or able to
make any pro rata distribution to any Partner in accordance
with this Section 4.01(a).
(b) Tax Distributions
. To the extent of available cash (as determined by the General
Partner), at the election of the General Partner in its sole
discretion the Partnership may make cash distributions (“
Tax Distributions ”) to each Partner holding Common
Units at such times during the calendar year as shall enable such
Partners to use such Tax Distributions to satisfy their estimated
and final income tax liabilities for each taxable year. To the
extent any such Tax Distribution is made, such Partners the income
of which is included in the consolidated group of which the
Ultimate Parent is a member may receive, in the aggregate, Tax
Distributions in an amount up to the product of (i) the amount
of taxable income allocated to such Partners in respect of their
Common Units in such taxable year times (ii) the Assumed Tax
Rate, and each other Partner holding Common Units shall receive a
Tax Distribution which shall be proportionate to the distribution
made to such Partners, based upon relative Percentage Interests at
the record date of the distribution.
SECTION 4.02.
Liquidation Distributions . Distributions made upon
liquidation of the Partnership shall be made as provided in
Section 9.03.
SECTION 4.03.
Limitations on Distributions . Notwithstanding any provision
to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the General Partner
shall not cause the Partnership to make a Partnership distribution
to any Partner if such distribution would violate the Act or other
applicable Law.
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ARTICLE V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS;
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS;
TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX
MATTERS
SECTION 5.01.
Initial Capital Contributions . The Partners have made or
are deemed to have made, on or prior to the date hereof, Capital
Contributions and have acquired the number of Units as specified
opposite their respective names on Schedule I.
SECTION 5.02. No
Additional Capital Contributions; Additional Funds .
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Article V or Article
VII, no Limited Partner shall be required to make additional
Capital Contributions to the Partnership without the consent of
such Limited Partner or permitted to make additional capital
contributions to the Partnership without the consent of the General
Partner.
(b) The General Partner may,
at any time and from time to time, determine that the Partnership
requires additional funds (“ Additional Funds ”)
for such purposes relating to the Partnership’s business as
the General Partner may determine in its sole and absolute
discretion. Additional Funds may be obtained by the Partnership, at
the election of the General Partner, in any manner provided in, and
in accordance with, the terms of this Agreement without the
approval of any Limited Partners.
(c) The General Partner, on
behalf of the Partnership, may obtain any Additional Funds by
causing the Partnership, or arranging for any of the direct or
indirect subsidiaries of the Ultimate Parent other than the
Partnership, to incur indebtedness to any Person, in each case upon
such terms as the General Partner determines are appropriate,
including making such indebtedness convertible, redeemable or
exchangeable for Units; provided , however, that the
Partnership shall not incur any such indebtedness if (i) a
breach, violation or default of such indebtedness would be deemed
to occur by virtue of the Transfer of any partnership interest,
(ii) such indebtedness is recourse to any Partner (unless the
Partner otherwise agrees) or (iii) with respect to any
Partnership borrowing in place as of the date hereof or any
subsequent refinancing or replacement thereof (but not in excess of
such amounts as are in place as of the date hereof), any Partner or
related person would be permitted to guarantee a Partnership
borrowing or otherwise bear the “economic risk of loss”
that would result in an allocation of such borrowing to such
Partner under the principles of Section 752 of the Code. The
General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, may obtain any
Additional Funds by causing the Partnership to incur indebtedness
to the Ultimate Parent or any of its subsidiaries if such
indebtedness is, to the extent permitted by law, on substantially
the same terms and conditions (including interest rate, repayment
schedule, and conversion, redemption, repurchase and exchange
rights, but not including financial covenants) as indebtedness
incurred by the Ultimate Parent or any of its subsidiaries, the net
proceeds of which are loaned to the Partnership to provide such
Additional Funds; provided , however , that the
Partnership shall not use the proceeds of any such indebtedness to
pay, directly or indirectly, any principal amount or otherwise
repay or refinance any indebtedness of the Partnership outstanding
on the date hereof. Except as provided in the penultimate sentence
in Section 4.01(a), none of the Ultimate Parent or any of its
direct or indirect subsidiaries other than the Partnership and its
subsidiaries shall incur any indebtedness unless the net proceeds
of such indebtedness are loaned to the Partnership or its
subsidiaries on substantially the same terms and conditions (other
than financial covenants) as the underlying
indebtedness.
13
SECTION 5.03.
Capital Accounts . There has been established for each
Partner on the books of the Partnership, a capital account (each
being a “ Capital Account ”). The Capital
Account of each Partner shall be credited with Capital
Contributions made (or deemed to have been made) by such Partner,
all Profits allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.04
and any items of income or gain which are specially allocated
pursuant to Section 5.05 and 5.06; and shall be debited with
all Losses allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.04,
any items of loss or deduction of the Partnership specially
allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.05 and 5.06,
and all cash and the Carrying Value of any property (net of
liabilities assumed by such Partner and the liabilities to which
such property is subject) distributed by the Partnership to such
Partner. Any references in any section of this Agreement to the
Capital Account of a Partner shall be deemed to refer to such
Capital Account as the same may be credited or debited from time to
time as set forth above. In the event of any transfer of any
interest in the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of
the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred
interest.
SECTION 5.04.
Allocations of Profits and Losses . Except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement, Profits, Losses and, to the extent
necessary, individual items of income, gain, loss or deduction
shall be allocated in a manner such that the Capital Account of
each Partner, immediately after making such allocation is, as
nearly as possible, equal (proportionately) to (i) the
distributions that would be made pursuant to Section 4.01(a)
and Article IX if the Partnership were dissolved, its affairs wound
up and its assets sold for cash equal to their Carrying Values, all
Partnership liabilities were satisfied (limited with respect to
each non-recourse liability to the Carrying Value of the assets
securing such liability), including the Partnership’s share
of any liabilities of an entity treated as a partnership for U.S.
federal income tax purposes of which the Partnership is a partner
and the net assets of the Partnership were distributed in
accordance with Section 4.01(a) and Article IX to the Partners
immediately after making such allocation, minus (ii) such
Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, computed immediately prior to the
hypothetical sale of assets.
SECTION 5.05.
Special Allocations . The following special allocations
shall be made in the following order:
(a) Minimum Gain
Chargeback . If there is a net decrease in “partnership
minimum gain” (as that term is defined in
Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d) of the Regulations)
during any Fiscal Year, each Partner shall, to the extent required
by Section 1.704-2(f) of the Regulations, be specially
allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such Fiscal Year
(and, to the extent required by Section 1.704-2(j)(2)(iii) of
the Regulations, subsequent Fiscal Years) in an amount equal to
that Partner’s share of the net decrease in partnership
minimum gain. Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall
be made in accordance with Section 1.704-2(f)(6) of the
Regulations. This Section 5.05(a) is intended to comply with
the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Section 1.704-2(f)
of the Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently
therewith.
(b) Partner Minimum Gain
Chargeback . If there is a net decrease in “partner
nonrecourse debt minimum gain” (as that term is defined in
Sections 1.704-2(i)(2) and (3) of the
14
Regulations) during any Fiscal Year,
each Partner who has a share of that partner nonrecourse debt
minimum gain as of the beginning of the Fiscal Year shall, to the
extent required by Section 1.704-2(i)(4) of the Regulations,
be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain for
such Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent Fiscal Years) equal
to that Partner’s share of the net decrease in partner
nonrecourse debt minimum gain. Allocations pursuant to the previous
sentence shall be made in accordance with
Section 1.704-2(i)(4) of the Regulations. This
Section 5.05(b) is intended to comply with the requirement in
Section 1.704-2(i)(4) of the Regulations and shall be
interpreted consistently therewith.
(c) Nonrecourse
Deductions . “Nonrecourse deductions” (as that term
is defined in Sections 1.704-2(b)(1) and (c) of the
Regulations) for any Fiscal Year or other period shall be specially
allocated to the Partners in proportion to their Percentage
Interests.
(d) Partner Nonrecourse
Deductions . “Partner nonrecourse deductions” (as
that term is defined in Section 1.704-2(i) of the Regulations)
for any Fiscal Year or other period shall be specially allocated to
the Partner who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the
“partner nonrecourse debt” (as that term is defined in
Section 1.704-2(b)(4) of the Regulations) to which such
partner nonrecourse deductions are attributable, in accordance with
Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(1).
(e) Section 754
Adjustments . To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax
basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b)
or Code Section 743(b) is required, pursuant to Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in
determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to
Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the
adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the
adjustment decreases such basis) and such gain or loss shall be
specially allocated to the Partners in a manner consistent with the
manner in which their Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted
pursuant to such Section of the Regulations.
(f)
Matching
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