Exhibit 10.1
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
ASHFORD HOSPITALITY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
DATED: ________, 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PAGE
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1
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ARTICLE II PARTNERSHIP CONTINUATION; ADMISSION
OF LIMITED PARTNERS; NAME; PLACE OF BUSINESS AND REGISTERED
AGENT
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9
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9
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Section 2.2 CERTIFICATE OF LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP; OTHER FILINGS
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9
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Section 2.3 ADDITIONAL LIMITED
PARTNERS
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9
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Section 2.4 NAME, OFFICE AND REGISTERED
AGENT
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9
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ARTICLE III BUSINESS AND TERM OF
PARTNERSHIP
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9
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9
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10
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ARTICLE IV CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
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10
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Section 4.1 GENERAL PARTNER
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10
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Section 4.2 LIMITED PARTNERS
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10
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Section 4.3 ADDITIONAL CAPITAL
CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCES OF ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIP
INTERESTS
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10
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Section 4.4 ADDITIONAL FUNDING
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12
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12
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Section 4.6 RETURN OF CAPITAL
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13
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Section 4.7 PERCENTAGE INTEREST
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13
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ARTICLE V PROFITS, LOSSES AND
ACCOUNTING
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13
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Section 5.1 ALLOCATION OF PROFITS AND
LOSSES
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13
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14
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Section 5.3 PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
ACCOUNTS
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14
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Section 5.4 SECTION 754
ELECTIONS
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15
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ARTICLE VI POWERS, DUTIES, LIABILITIES,
COMPENSATION AND VOTING OF GENERAL PARTNER
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15
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Section 6.1 POWERS OF GENERAL
PARTNER
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15
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Section 6.2 DELEGATION OF
AUTHORITY
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19
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Section 6.3 DUTIES OF GENERAL
PARTNER
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19
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Section 6.4 LIABILITIES OF GENERAL PARTNER;
INDEMNIFICATION
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19
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Section 6.5 COMPENSATION OF GENERAL
PARTNER; REIMBURSEMENT
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22
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Section 6.6 RELIANCE ON ACT OF GENERAL
PARTNER
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22
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Section 6.7 OUTSIDE SERVICES; DEALINGS WITH
AFFILIATES; OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES
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22
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Section 6.8 ADDITIONAL LOANS TO THE
PARTNERSHIP
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23
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Section 6.9 CONTRIBUTION OF
ASSETS
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24
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i
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PAGE
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ARTICLE VII RIGHTS, PROHIBITIONS AND
REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO LIMITED PARTNERS
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24
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Section 7.1 RIGHTS OF LIMITED
PARTNERS
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24
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Section 7.2 PROHIBITIONS WITH RESPECT TO
THE LIMITED PARTNERS
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25
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Section 7.3 OWNERSHIP BY LIMITED PARTNER OF
CORPORATE GENERAL PARTNER OR AFFILIATE
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25
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Section 7.4 REDEMPTION RIGHT
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25
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Section 7.5 WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS
OF THE LIMITED PARTNERS
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28
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Section 7.6 INDEMNIFICATION BY LIMITED
PARTNERS
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28
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Section 7.7 NOTICE OF SALE OR
REFINANCING
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29
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Section 7.8 BASIS ANALYSIS AND LIMITED
PARTNER GUARANTEES
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29
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ARTICLE VIII DISTRIBUTIONS AND PAYMENTS TO
PARTNERS
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30
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Section 8.1 DISTRIBUTIONS OF CASH
FLOW
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30
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Section 8.2 REIT DISTRIBUTION
REQUIREMENTS
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30
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Section 8.3 NO RIGHT TO DISTRIBUTIONS IN
KIND
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30
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Section 8.4 DISPOSITION PROCEEDS
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30
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30
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ARTICLE IX TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS
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30
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Section 9.1 GENERAL PARTNER
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30
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Section 9.2 ADMISSION OF A SUBSTITUTE OR
ADDITIONAL GENERAL PARTNER
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32
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Section 9.3 EFFECT OF BANKRUPTCY,
WITHDRAWAL, DEATH OR DISSOLUTION OF A GENERAL PARTNER
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32
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Section 9.4 REMOVAL OF A GENERAL
PARTNER
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33
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Section 9.5 RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
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33
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Section 9.6 ADMISSION OF SUBSTITUTE LIMITED
PARTNER
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34
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Section 9.7 RIGHTS OF ASSIGNEES OF
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
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36
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Section 9.8 EFFECT OF BANKRUPTCY, DEATH,
INCOMPETENCE OR TERMINATION OF A LIMITED PARTNER
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36
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Section 9.9 JOINT OWNERSHIP OF
INTERESTS
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36
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37
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Section 9.11 ABSOLUTE
RESTRICTION
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37
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Section 9.12 INVESTMENT
REPRESENTATION
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37
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ARTICLE X TERMINATION OF THE
PARTNERSHIP
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37
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37
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Section 10.2 PAYMENT OF DEBTS
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38
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Section 10.3 DEBTS TO PARTNERS
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38
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Section 10.4 REMAINING
DISTRIBUTION
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38
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38
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Section 10.6 FINAL ACCOUNTING
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38
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39
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ii
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PAGE
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Section 11.1 AUTHORITY TO AMEND
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39
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Section 11.2 NOTICE OF
AMENDMENTS
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39
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ARTICLE XII POWER OF ATTORNEY
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40
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40
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Section 12.2 SURVIVAL OF POWER
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40
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ARTICLE XIII CONSENTS, APPROVALS, VOTING AND
MEETINGS
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41
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Section 13.1 METHOD OF GIVING CONSENT OR
APPROVAL
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41
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Section 13.2 MEETINGS OF LIMITED
PARTNERS
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41
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41
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Section 13.4 SUBMISSIONS TO
PARTNERS
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42
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ARTICLE XIV MISCELLANEOUS
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42
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Section 14.1 GOVERNING LAW
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42
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Section 14.2 AGREEMENT FOR FURTHER
EXECUTION
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42
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Section 14.3 ENTIRE AGREEMENT
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42
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Section 14.4 SEVERABILITY
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42
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42
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Section 14.6 TITLES AND CAPTIONS
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43
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Section 14.7 COUNTERPARTS
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43
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43
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Section 14.9 SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS
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43
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EXHIBIT A — List of Partners and Initial
Contributed Assets
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EXHIBIT B — Federal Income Tax
Matters
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EXHIBIT C — Notice of Exercise of
Redemption Right
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EXHIBIT D — Designation of Interests
Issued to Sea Turtle Inn Limited Partners
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iii
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
ASHFORD HOSPITALITY LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP
RECITALS:
Ashford
Hospitality Limited Partnership (the “Partnership”) was
formed as a limited partnership under the laws of the State of
Delaware by the filing of a Certificate of Limited Partnership with
the Secretary of State of Delaware on May 13, 2003.
The
General Partner and the Original Limited Partner entered into the
Agreement of Limited Partnership as of August 18, 2003, and
the General Partner and the Limited Partners entered into the
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership as of
August 29, 2003 which was amended by the First Amendment to
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated
October 16, 2003 and the Second Amendment to Amended and
Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Ashford Hospitality
Limited Partnership dated April 1, 2004; and
The
General Partner now desires to amend and restate such
agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the foregoing, of the mutual covenants between the
parties hereto, and of other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINED TERMS
Whenever used in this Agreement,
the following terms shall have the meanings respectively assigned
to them in this Article I, unless otherwise expressly provided
herein or unless the context otherwise requires:
“Act”
shall mean the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6
Del C. § 17-101, et. seq., as amended, supplemented or
restated from time to time, and any successor to such
statute.
“Additional
Funds” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4
hereof.
“Additional
Limited Partner” shall mean a Person admitted to this
Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to and in accordance with
Section 2.3(b) of this Agreement.
“Additional
Securities” means any additional REIT Shares (other than REIT
Shares issued in connection with a redemption pursuant to
Section 7.4 hereof) or rights, options, warrants or
convertible or exchangeable securities containing the right to
subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares, as set forth in
Section 4.3(a)(ii).
“Affiliate”
of another Person shall mean (a) any Person directly or
indirectly owning, controlling or holding with power to vote ten
percent (10%) or more of the outstanding voting securities of such
other Person; (b) any Person ten percent (10%) or more of
whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly
owned, controlled or held with power to vote by such other Person;
(c) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled
by, or under common control with, such other Person; (d) any
officer, director, member or partner of such other Person; and
(e) if such other Person is an officer, director, member or
partner in a company, the company for which such Person acts in any
such capacity.
“Agreed
Value” shall mean the fair market value of Contributed
Property as agreed to by the contributing partner and the
Partnership, using such reasonable method of valuation as they may
adopt.
“Agreement”
shall mean this Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Ashford Hospitality Limited Partnership, as amended
from time to time.
“Articles of
Organization” means the Certificate of Formation of the
General Partner filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, as amended or restated from time to time.
“Ashford OP
Limited Partner, LLC” means Ashford OP Limited Partner, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company.
“Bankruptcy
Code” shall mean the United States Bankruptcy Code, as
amended, 11 U.S.C. ss.ss. 101 ET SEQ., and as hereafter amended
from time to time.
“Business
Day” shall mean any day when the New York Stock Exchange is
open for trading.
“Capital
Account” shall mean, as to any Partner, the account
established and maintained for such Partner pursuant to
Section 5.3 hereof.
“Capital
Contribution” shall mean the amount in cash or the Agreed
Value of Contributed Property contributed by each Partner (or his
original predecessor in interest) to the capital of the Partnership
for his interest in the Partnership.
“Cash
Amount” means an amount of cash per Common Partnership Unit
equal to the Value on the Valuation Date of the REIT Common Shares
Amount.
“Cash
Flow” shall mean the excess of cash revenues actually
received by the Partnership in respect of Partnership operations
for any period, and the amount of any reduction in reserves of the
Partnership, over Operating Expenses for such period. Cash Flow
shall not include Disposition Proceeds.
“Code”
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and as
hereafter amended from time to time. Reference to any particular
provision of the Code shall mean that provision in the Code at the
date hereof and any succeeding provision of the Code.
2
“Commission”
shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common
Partnership Interest” shall mean an ownership interest in the
Partnership, other than a Preferred Partnership Interest, and
includes any and all benefits to which the holder of such an
ownership interest may be entitled as provided in this Agreement or
the Act, together with all obligations of such Person to comply
with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the
Act.
“Common
Partnership Unit” shall mean a fractional, undivided share of
the Common Partnership Interests of all Partners issued hereunder.
At all times there shall be maintained an equivalency of Common
Partnership Units and REIT Common Shares, except as otherwise
provided herein.
“Common
Percentage Interest” shall mean the percentage ownership
interest in the Common Partnership Units of each Partner, as
determined by dividing the Common Partnership Units owned by a
Partner by the total number of Common Partnership Units then
outstanding.
“Company”
means Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc., a Maryland
corporation.
“Contributed
Property” shall mean a Partner’s interest in property
or other consideration (excluding services and cash) contributed to
the Partnership by such Partner.
“Conversion
Factor” shall mean 1.0; provided, however, that in the event
the Company (i) declares or pays a dividend on its outstanding
REIT Common Shares in REIT Common Shares or makes a distribution to
all holders of its outstanding REIT Common Shares in REIT Common
Shares, (ii) subdivides its outstanding REIT Common Shares, or
(iii) combines its outstanding REIT Common Shares into a
smaller number of REIT Common Shares, the Conversion Factor shall
be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the number of REIT Common Shares issued
and outstanding on the record date for such dividend, distribution,
subdivision or combination (assuming for such purposes that such
dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination has occurred as
of such time), and the denominator of which shall be the actual
number of REIT Common Shares (determined without the above
assumption) issued and outstanding on the record date for such
dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination. Any adjustment
to the Conversion Factor shall become effective immediately after
the effective date of such event retroactive to the record date, if
any, for such event; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the General Partner
receives a Notice of Redemption after the record date, but prior to
the effective date of such dividend, distribution, subdivision or
combination, the Conversion Factor shall be determined as if the
General Partner had received the Notice of Redemption immediately
prior to the record date for such dividend, distribution,
subdivision or combination.
3
“Disposition
Proceeds” shall mean the excess of the proceeds received by
the Partnership from the sale, exchange or other disposition of all
or substantially all of the Partnership’s Property less any
expenses incurred or paid by the Partnership in connection with
such transaction.
“Event of
Bankruptcy” shall mean as to any Person the filing of a
petition for relief as to such Person as debtor or bankrupt under
the Bankruptcy Code or similar provision of law of any jurisdiction
(except if such petition is contested by such Person and has been
dismissed within ninety (90) days of the filing thereof);
insolvency of such Person as finally determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction; filing by such Person of a petition or
application to accomplish the same or for the appointment of a
receiver or a trustee for such Person or a substantial part of such
Person’s assets; commencement of any proceedings relating to
such Person as a debtor under any other reorganization,
arrangement, insolvency, adjustment of debt or liquidation law of
any jurisdiction, whether now in existence or hereinafter in
effect, either by such Person or by another, but if such proceeding
is commenced by another, only if such Person indicates his approval
of such proceeding, or such proceeding is contested by such Person
and has not been finally dismissed within ninety (90)
days.
“General
Partner” shall mean Ashford OP General Partner, LLC and any
Person who becomes a substitute or additional General Partner as
provided herein, and any of their successors as General
Partner.
“General
Partnership Interest” shall mean the ownership interest of a
General Partner in the Partnership, provided that the General
Partner shall have no interest in profits or losses of the
Partnership with respect to its General Partnership
Interest.
“Government
Obligations” shall mean securities that are (i) direct
obligations of the United States of America, for the payment of
which its full faith and credit is pledged, or
(ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and
acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of
America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a
full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America,
that are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer
thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a
bank or trust as custodian with respect to any such obligation held
by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository
receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian
is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to
the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by
the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the
specific payment of interest on or principal of the Government
Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
“Hotels”
means the hotel properties owned by the Partnership, directly or
through any other entity, from time to time.
“Indemnitee”
shall mean (i) any Person made a party to a proceeding by
reason of his or her status as (A) the General Partner or
(B) a director, officer, employee or agent of the Partnership
or the General Partner, and (ii) such other Persons (including
Affiliates of
4
the General Partner or the
Partnership) as the General Partner may designate from time to time
(whether before or after the event giving rise to potential
liability), in its sole and absolute discretion.
“Initial
Contributed Assets” shall mean those properties and asset
management and consulting agreements identified as Initial
Contributed Assets on Exhibit A hereto.
“IRS”
shall mean the Internal Revenue Service.
“Limited
Partner” shall mean any Person named as a Limited Partner on
Exhibit A attached hereto and any Person who becomes a
Substitute Limited Partner pursuant to Section 9.6 hereof or
an Additional Limited Partner pursuant to Section 2.3(b)
hereof, in such Person’s capacity as a Limited Partner in the
Partnership.
“Limited
Partnership Interest” shall mean the ownership interest of a
Limited Partner in the Partnership at any particular time,
including the right of such Limited Partner to any and all benefits
to which such Limited Partner may be entitled as provided in this
Agreement and in the Act, together with the obligations of such
Limited Partner to comply with all the provisions of this Agreement
and of the Act.
“Notice of
Redemption” shall mean the Notice of Exercise of Redemption
Right substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C
hereto.
“Offering”
shall mean the offer and sale by the Company and the purchase by
the Underwriters (as defined in the Prospectus) of REIT Common
Shares for sale to the public, consummated August 29,
2003.
“Operating
Expenses” shall mean (i) all administrative and
operating costs and expenses incurred by the Partnership,
(ii) those administrative costs and expenses of the General
Partner, including any salaries or other payments to directors,
officers or employees of the General Partner, and any accounting
and legal expense of the General Partner, which expenses, the
Partners have agreed, are expenses of the Partnership and not the
General Partner, and (iii) to the extent not included in
clause (ii) above, REIT Expenses; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
Operating Expenses shall not include any administrative costs and
expenses incurred by the General Partner that are attributable to
Properties or partnership interests in a Subsidiary that are owned
by the General Partner or the Company directly.
“Original
Limited Partner” shall mean Ashford OP Limited Partner,
LLC.
“Partner”
shall mean the General Partner or any Limited Partner.
“Partnership”
shall mean Ashford Hospitality Limited Partnership, a Delaware
limited partnership.
“Partnership
Interest” shall mean an ownership interest in the Partnership
and includes any and all benefits to which the holder of such an
ownership interest may be
5
entitled as provided in this
Agreement or the Act, together with all obligations of such Person
to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the
Act.
“Partnership
Record Date” shall mean the record date established by the
General Partner for the distribution of Cash Flow pursuant to
Section 8.1 hereof, which record date shall be the same as the
record date established by the General Partner for a distribution
to its member of some or all of its portion of such
distribution.
“Partnership
Unit” means a Common Partnership Unit, a Preferred
Partnership Unit or an other fractional, undivided share of the
Partnership Interests that the General Partner has authorized
pursuant to this Agreement. The Partnership Units of the Partners
shall be set forth on Exhibit A, as may be amended from time
to time.
“Person”
shall mean any individual, partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, trust or other entity.
“Preferred
Partnership Interest” shall mean an ownership interest in the
Partnership, having a preference in payment of distributions or on
liquidation, and includes any and all benefits to which the holder
of such an ownership interest may be entitled as provided in this
Agreement or the Act, together with all obligations of such Person
to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the
Act.
“Preferred
Partnership Unit” shall mean a fractional, undivided share of
the Preferred Partnership Interests of all Partners issued
hereunder.
“Preferred
Percentage Interest” shall mean the percentage ownership
interest in the Preferred Partnership Units of each Partner, as
determined by dividing the Preferred Partnership Units owned by a
Partner by the total number of Preferred Partnership Units then
outstanding.
“Preferred
Return” shall mean any payment made or to be made on any
Preferred Partnership Unit corresponding to any dividend paid or to
be paid on any preferred shares issued by the Company, in
accordance with Section 4.3 hereof.
“Property”
shall mean any hotel property or other investment in which the
Partnership holds an ownership interest.
“Prospectus”
shall mean the final prospectus, dated August 26, 2003,
delivered to purchasers of REIT Shares in the Offering.
“Public
Offering Price” shall mean the price for REIT shares set
forth in the Prospectus.
“Redeeming
Partner” shall have the meaning provided in
Section 7.4(a) hereof.
“Redemption
Right” shall have the meaning provided in Section 7.4(a)
hereof.
6
“REIT”
shall mean a real estate investment trust under Sections 856
through 860, inclusive, of the Code.
“REIT Common
Share” shall mean a share of the common shares of the
Company.
“REIT Common
Shares Amount” shall mean a whole number of REIT Common
Shares equal to the product of the number of Common Partnership
Units offered for redemption by a Redeeming Partner, multiplied by
the Conversion Factor in effect on the Specified Redemption Date
(rounded down to the nearest whole number in the event such product
is not a whole number); provided, however, that in the event the
Company at any time issues to all holders of REIT Common Shares
rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities
entitling the shareholders to subscribe for or purchase REIT Common
Shares, or any other securities or property (collectively, the
“Rights”), which Rights have not expired pursuant to
their terms, then the REIT Common Shares Amount thereafter shall
also include such Rights that a holder of that number of REIT
Common Shares would be entitled to receive.
“REIT
Expenses” means (i) costs and expenses relating to the
formation and continuity of existence of the Company and any
Subsidiaries thereof (which Subsidiaries shall, for purposes
hereof, be included within the definition of Company), including
taxes, fees and assessments associated therewith, any and all
costs, expenses or fees payable to any director, officer, or
employee of the Company, (ii) costs and expenses relating to
the public offering and registration of securities or private
offering of securities by the Company and all statements, reports,
fees and expenses incidental thereto, including underwriting
discounts and selling commissions applicable to any such offering
of securities, (iii) costs and expenses associated with the
preparation and filing of any periodic reports by the Company under
federal, state or local laws or regulations, including filings with
the Commission, (iv) costs and expenses associated with
compliance by the Company with laws, rules and regulations
promulgated by any regulatory body, including the Commission, and
(v) all other operating or administrative costs of the
Company, including, without limitation, insurance premiums, and
legal, accounting and directors’ fees, incurred in the
ordinary course of its business on behalf of or in connection with
the Partnership.
“REIT
Preferred Share” shall mean a share of the preferred shares
of the Company.
“REIT
Share” shall mean a REIT Common Share or a REIT Preferred
Share.
“Specified
Redemption Date” shall mean, with respect to a given Partner,
the tenth (10th) Business Day after receipt by the General Partner
of a Notice of Redemption, provided that no Specified Redemption
Date may occur with respect to any Unit before one year after such
Unit is issued by the Partnership.
7
“Subsidiary”
shall mean, with respect to any Person, any corporation or other
entity of which a majority of (i) the voting power of the
voting equity securities, or (ii) the outstanding equity
interests, are owned, directly or indirectly, by such
Person.
“Substitute
General Partner” has the meaning set forth in
Section 9.2.
“Substitute
Limited Partner” shall mean any Person admitted to the
Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 9.6
hereof.
“Surviving
Partner” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(c)
hereof.
“Transaction”
has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(b) hereof.
“Transfer”
has the meaning set forth in Section 9.5(a) hereof.
“Valuation
Date” shall mean the date of receipt by the General Partner
of a Notice of Redemption or, if such date is not a Business Day,
the first Business Day thereafter.
“Value”
shall mean, with respect to a REIT Common Share, the average of the
daily market price for the ten (10) consecutive trading days
immediately preceding the Valuation Date. The market price for each
such trading day shall be: (i) if the REIT Common Shares are
listed or admitted to trading on any securities exchange or the
NASDAQ National Market System, the closing price, regular way, on
such day, or if no such sale takes place on such day, the average
of the closing bid and asked prices on such day; (ii) if the
REIT Common Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any
securities exchange or the NASDAQ National Market System, the last
reported sale price on such day or, if no sale takes place on such
day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day,
as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the
General Partner; or (iii) if the REIT Common Shares are not
listed or admitted to trading on any securities exchange or the
NASDAQ National Market System and no such last reported sale price
or closing bid and asked prices are available, the average of the
reported high bid and low asked prices on such day, as reported by
a reliable quotation source designated by the General Partner, or
if there shall be no bid and asked prices on such day, the average
of the high bid and low asked prices, as so reported, on the most
recent day (not more than ten (10) days prior to the date in
question) for which prices have been so reported; provided,
however, that if there are no bid and asked prices reported during
the ten (10) days prior to the date in question, the Value of
the REIT Common Shares shall be determined by the General Partner
acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other
information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment,
appropriate. In the event the REIT Common Shares Amount includes
rights that a holder of REIT Common Shares would be entitled to
receive, and the General Partner acting in good faith determines
that the value of such rights is not reflected in the Value of the
REIT Common Shares determined as aforesaid, then the Value of such
rights shall be determined by the General Partner acting in good
faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it
considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate.
8
ARTICLE II
PARTNERSHIP CONTINUATION; ADMISSION OF LIMITED PARTNERS;
NAME; PLACE OF BUSINESS AND REGISTERED AGENT
Section 2.1
CONTINUATION. The Partners hereby agree to continue the Partnership
pursuant to the provisions of the Act and upon the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement. Except as expressly
provided herein, the rights and obligations of the Partners and the
administration and termination of the Partnership shall be governed
by the Act. The Partnership Interest of each Partner shall be
personal property for all purposes.
Section 2.2
CERTIFICATE OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; OTHER FILINGS. The General
Partner shall prepare (or caused to be prepared), execute,
acknowledge, record and file at the expense of the Partnership, a
Certificate of Limited Partnership and all requisite fictitious
name statements and notices in such places and jurisdictions as may
be required by the Act or necessary to cause the Partnership to be
treated as a limited partnership under, and otherwise to comply
with, the laws of each state or other jurisdiction in which the
Partnership conducts business.
Section 2.3
ADDITIONAL LIMITED PARTNERS. The General Partner shall in timely
fashion amend this Agreement and, if required by the Act, the
Certificate of Limited Partnership filed for record to reflect the
admission pursuant to the terms of this Agreement of a Person as a
Limited Partner.
Section 2.4
NAME, OFFICE AND REGISTERED AGENT. The name of the Partnership
shall be Ashford Hospitality Limited Partnership The principal
place of business of the Partnership shall be at 14180 Dallas
Parkway, 9th Floor, Dallas, Texas 75254. The General Partner may at
any time change the location of such office, provided the General
Partner gives notice to the Partners of any such change. The name
and address of the Partnership’s statutory agent for service
of process on the Partnership in Texas is Ashford OP General
Partner LLC, 14180 Dallas Parkway, 9th Floor, Dallas, Texas 75254.
The name and address of the Partnership’s statutory agent for
service of process on the Partnership in Delaware is Corporation
Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington,
Delaware 19808.
ARTICLE III
BUSINESS AND TERM OF PARTNERSHIP
Section 3.1
BUSINESS. The purpose and nature of the business of the Partnership
is to conduct any business that may lawfully be conducted by a
limited partnership organized pursuant to the Act; provided,
however, that such business shall be limited to and conducted in
such a manner as to permit the Company at all times to be qualified
as a REIT under the Code, unless the board of directors of the
Company determines to cease to qualify as a REIT. To consummate the
foregoing and to carry out the obligations of the Partnership in
connection therewith or incidental thereto, the General Partner
shall have the authority, in accordance with and subject to the
limitations set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, to make, enter
into, perform and carry out any
9
arrangements, contracts or
agreements of every kind for any lawful purpose, without limit as
to amount or otherwise, with any corporation, association,
partnership, limited liability company, firm, trustee, syndicate,
individual or any political or governmental division, subdivision
or agency, domestic or foreign, and generally to make and perform
agreements and contracts of every kind and description and to do
any and all things necessary or incidental to the foregoing for the
protection and enhancement of the assets of the
Partnership.
Section 3.2
TERM. The Partnership as herein constituted shall continue in
perpetuity and shall have perpetual existence, unless earlier
dissolved or terminated pursuant to law or the provisions of this
Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Section 4.1
GENERAL PARTNER.The General Partner has not contributed, and shall
not be required to contribute, cash or other assets to the capital
of the Partnership.
Section 4.2
LIMITED PARTNERS. The Limited Partners have contributed their
respective ownership interests in the Contributed Property to the
Partnership as identified on Exhibit A attached hereto. The
Agreed Values of the Limited Partners’ proportionate
ownership interest in the Contributed Properties as of the date of
contribution are set forth on Exhibit A attached
hereto.
Section 4.3
ADDITIONAL CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCES OF ADDITIONAL
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS. Except as provided in this Section 4.3
or in Section 4.4, the Partners shall have no preemptive or other
right or obligation to make any additional Capital Contributions or
loans to the Partnership. The General Partner or Ashford OP Limited
Partner, LLC may contribute additional capital or property to the
Partnership, from time to time, and receive additional Partnership
Interests in respect thereof, in the manner contemplated in this
Section 4.3.
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(a)
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ISSUANCES OF ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIP
INTERESTS.
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(i)
GENERAL. The General Partner is hereby authorized to cause the
Partnership to issue such additional Partnership Interests in the
form of Common Partnership Units and Preferred Partnership Units
for any Partnership purpose at any time or from time to time, to
the Partners or to other Persons for such consideration and on such
terms and conditions as shall be established by the General Partner
in its sole and absolute discretion, all without the approval of
any of the Limited Partners. Any additional Partnership Interest
issued thereby may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more
series of any of such classes, with such designations, preferences
and relative, participating, optional or other special rights,
powers and duties, including rights, powers and duties senior to
Limited Partnership Interests, all as shall be determined by
the
10
General Partner in its sole and absolute
discretion and without the approval of any Limited Partner, subject
to Delaware law, and all as shall be set forth in an Exhibit to
this Agreement, each of which Exhibit shall be incorporated into
and become part of this Agreement upon adoption by the General
Partner, including, without limitation, (i) the allocations of
items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit to
each such class or series of Partnership Interests; (ii) the
right of each such class or series of Partnership Interests to
share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights of each
class or series of Partnership Interests upon dissolution and
liquidation of the Partnership and (iv) the right to vote;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no additional Partnership Interests shall
be issued to the General Partner or Ashford OP Limited Partner, LLC
unless:
(ii)
(1) (A) The additional Partnership Interests are issued in
connection with an issuance of REIT Shares of or other interests in
the Company, all such that the economic interests are substantially
similar to the designations, preferences and other rights of the
additional Partnership Interests issued to the General Partner or
Ashford OP Limited Partner, LLC by the Partnership in accordance
with this Section 4.3 and (B) the Company shall make,
directly or through one or more Affiliates, a Capital Contribution
to the Partnership in an amount equal to the proceeds raised or
other property received by the Company, directly or through one or
more Affiliates, in connection with the issuance of such shares or
other interests in the Company, (2) the additional Partnership
Interests are issued in exchange for property owned by the Company,
the General Partner or Ashford OP Limited Partner, LLC, as the case
may be, with a fair market value, as determined by the General
Partner, in good faith, equal to the value of the Partnership
Interests, or (3) the additional Partnership Interests are
issued to all Partners in proportion to their respective Common
Percentage Interests or Preferred Percentage Interests, as
applicable.
Without limiting the foregoing,
the General Partner is expressly authorized to cause the
Partnership to issue Common Partnership Units or Preferred
Partnership Units for less than fair market value, so long as the
General Partner concludes in good faith that such issuance is in
the best interests of the Company and the Partnership.
(b)
UPON ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL SECURITIES. After the Offering, the
Company shall not issue any additional REIT Shares (other than REIT
Shares issued in connection with a redemption pursuant to
Section 7.4 hereof) or rights, options, warrants or
convertible or exchangeable securities containing the right to
subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares (collectively,
“Additional Securities”) other than to all holders of
REIT Shares, unless (A) the General Partner shall cause the
Partnership to issue to the Company or its Affiliates, Partnership
Interests or rights, options, warrants or convertible or
exchangeable securities of the Partnership having designations,
preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests
are substantially similar to those
11
of the
Additional Securities, and (B) the Company contributes,
directly or through one or more Affiliates, the proceeds or other
property received from the issuance of such Additional Securities
and from any exercise of rights contained in such Additional
Securities to the Partnership.
Without limiting the foregoing,
the Company may issue Additional Securities for less than fair
market value, and as a result the General Partner is expressly
authorized to cause the Partnership to issue to the Company or its
Affiliates corresponding Partnership Interests, so long as
(x) the Company concludes in good faith that such issuance is
in the best interests of the Company and the Partnership, and
(y) the Company, directly or through one or more Affiliates,
contributes all proceeds or other property received from such
issuance to the Partnership. For example, in the event the Company
issues REIT Common Shares for a cash purchase price and
contributes, directly or through one or more Affiliates, all of the
proceeds of such issuance to the Partnership as required hereunder,
the Company or its Affiliates shall be issued a number of
additional Common Partnership Units equal to the product of
(A) the number of such REIT Common Shares issued by the
Company, the proceeds of which were so contributed, multiplied by
(B) a fraction, the numerator of which is 100%, and the
denominator of which is the Conversion Factor in effect on the date
of such contribution.
(c)
CERTAIN DEEMED CONTRIBUTIONS OF PROCEEDS OF ISSUANCE OF REIT
SHARES. In connection with any and all issuances of REIT Shares,
the Company, directly or through one or more Affiliates, shall
contribute all of the proceeds raised in connection with such
issuance to the Partnership as Capital Contributions, PROVIDED THAT
if the proceeds actually received and contributed by the Company or
its Affiliates are less than the gross proceeds of such issuance as
a result of any underwriter’s discount or other expenses paid
or incurred in connection with such issuance, then the Company,
directly or through one or more Affiliates, shall be deemed to have
made Capital Contributions to the Partnership in the aggregate
amount of the gross proceeds of such issuance and the Partnership
shall be deemed simultaneously to have paid such offering expenses
in connection with the required issuance of additional Partnership
Units to the Company or its Affiliates for such Capital
Contributions pursuant to Section 4.3(a) hereof.
Section 4.4
ADDITIONAL FUNDING. If the General Partner determines that it is in
the best interests of the Partnership to provide for additional
Partnership funds (“Additional Funds”) for any
Partnership purpose, the General Partner may (i) cause the
Partnership to obtain such funds from outside borrowings, or
(ii) elect to have the General Partner provide such Additional
Funds to the Partnership through loans or otherwise.
Section 4.5
INTEREST. No interest shall be paid on the Capital Contribution of
any Partner.
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Section 4.6
RETURN OF CAPITAL. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement,
no Partner shall be entitled to demand or receive the return of his
Capital Contribution.
Section 4.7
PERCENTAGE INTEREST. If the number of outstanding Common
Partnership Units increases or decreases during a taxable year, the
General Partner shall adjust each holder of Common Partnership
Units’ Percentage Interest, as reflected on Exhibit A,
to a percentage equal to the number of Common Partnership Units
held by such Partner divided by the aggregate number of outstanding
Common Partnership Units.
ARTICLE V
PROFITS, LOSSES AND ACCOUNTING
Section 5.1
ALLOCATION OF PROFITS AND LOSSES. Except as otherwise provided
herein or in Exhibit B, profits earned and losses incurred by
the Partnership shall be allocated among the Partners as
follows:
(a)
Profits for each year shall be allocated among the Partners, and
shall be credited to the respective Capital Accounts of the
Partners, in the following order and priority:
(i)
First, to the Partners to the extent of losses, in the proportions
and in the reverse order in which losses were allocated to them
pursuant to Section 5.1(b), until the cumulative amounts
allocated to each Partner pursuant to this Section 5.1(a)(i) are
equal to the cumulative losses so allocated to such Partner;
and
(ii)
Second, any remaining profits shall be allocated to the holders of
Common Partnership Units in accordance with their Common Percentage
Interests.
(b)
Losses for each year shall be allocated among the Partners, and
shall be debited to the respective Capital Accounts of the
Partners, in the following order and priority:
(i)
First, to the holders of Common Partnership Units pro rata in
accordance with, and to the extent of, the positive balances in
their Adjusted Capital Account Balances (as defined in
Exhibit B hereto) attributable to Common Partnership Units;
and
(ii)
Thereafter any remaining losses will be allocated to the holders of
Common Partnership Units in accordance with their Common Percentage
Interests.
(c) In
the event that the Partnership issues additional Partnership Units
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, the General Partner
is hereby authorized to make revisions to this Section 5.1 as
it determines are necessary or
13
desirable to reflect the terms of the issuance
of such additional Partnership Units, including, without
limitation, making preferential allocations to certain classes of
Partnership Units.
Section 5.2
ACCOUNTING.
(a)
The books of the Partnership shall be kept on the accrual basis and
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied.
(b)
The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be the calendar
year.
(c)
The terms “profits” and “losses,” as used
herein, shall mean all items of income, gain, expense or loss as
determined utilizing federal income tax accounting principles and
shall also include each Partner’s share of income described
in Section 705(a)(1)(B) of the Code, any expenditures
described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, any
expenditures described in Section 709(a) of the Code which are not
deducted or amortized in accordance with Section 709(b) of the
Code, losses not deductible pursuant to Sections 267(a) and 707(b)
of the Code and adjustments made pursuant to Exhibit B
attached hereto.
(d)
The General Partner shall be the Tax Matters Partner of the
Partnership within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(7) of the
Code. As Tax Matters Partner, the General Partner shall have the
right and obligation to take all actions authorized and required,
respectively, by the Code for the Tax Matters Partner. The General
Partner shall have the right to retain professional assistance in
respect of any audit of the Partnership by the IRS, and all
out-of-pocket expenses and fees incurred by the General Partner on
behalf of the Partnership as Tax Matters Partner shall constitute
Operating Expenses of the Partnership. In the event the General
Partner receives notice of a final Partnership adjustment under
Section 6223(a)(2) of the Code, the General Partner shall
either (i) file a court petition for judicial review of such
final adjustment within the period provided under Section 6226(a)
of the Code, a copy of which petition shall be mailed to each
Limited Partner on the date such petition is filed, or
(ii) mail a written notice to each Limited Partner, within
such period, that describes the General Partner’s reasons for
determining not to file such a petition.
(e)
Except as specifically provided herein, all elections required or
permitted to be made by the Partnership under the Code shall be
made by the General Partner in its sole discretion.
(f)
Any Partner shall have the right to a private audit of the books
and records of the Partnership, provided such audit is made at the
expense of the Partner desiring it, and it is made during normal
business hours.
Section 5.3
PARTNERS’ CAPITAL ACCOUNTS.
(a)
There shall be maintained a Capital Account for each Partner in
accordance with this Section 5.3 and the principles set forth
in Exhibit B attached
14
hereto and made a part hereof. The amount of
cash and the Agreed Value of property contributed to the
Partnership by each Partner, net of liabilities assumed by the
Partnership or securing property contributed by such Partner, shall
be credited to its Capital Account, and from time to time, but not
less often than annually, the share of each Partner in profits,
losses and fair market value of distributions shall be credited or
charged to its Capital Account. The determination of
Partners’ Capital Accounts, and any adjustments thereto,
shall be made consistent with tax accounting and other principles
set forth in Section 704(b) of the Code and applicable regulations
thereunder and Exhibit B attached hereto.
(b)
Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or in a guarantee
of a Partnership liability, signed by a Limited Partner, no Limited
Partner shall be required to make any further contribution to the
capital of the Partnership to restore a loss, to discharge any
liability of the Partnership or for any other purpose, nor shall
any Limited Partner personally be liable for any liabilities of the
Partnership or of the General Partner except as provided by law or
this Agreement. All Limited Partners hereby waive their right of
contribution which they may have against other Partners in respect
of any payments made by them under any guarantee of Partnership
debt.
(c)
Immediately following the transfer of any Partnership Interest, the
Capital Account of the transferee Partner shall be equal to the
Capital Account of the transferor Partner attributable to the
transferred interest, and such Capital Account shall not be
adjusted to reflect any basis adjustment under Section 743 of
the Code.
(d)
For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain,
deduction or loss to be reflected in the Partners’ Capital
Accounts, the determination, recognition and classification of any
such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and
classification for federal income tax purposes, taking into account
any adjustments required pursuant to Section 704(b) of the Code and
the applicable regulations thereunder as more fully described in
Exhibit B attached hereto.
Section 5.4
SECTION 754 ELECTIONS. The General Partner shall elect, pursuant to
Section 754 of the Code, to adjust the basis of the
Partnership’s assets for all transfers of Partnership
Interests if such election would benefit any Partner or the
Partnership.
ARTICLE VI
POWERS, DUTIES, LIABILITIES, COMPENSATION AND VOTING OF
GENERAL PARTNER
Section 6.1
POWERS OF GENERAL PARTNER. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, the General Partner’s discretion
and authority are subject to the limitations imposed by law, and by
the General Partner’s
15
Articles of Organization and
operating agreement. Subject to the foregoing and to other
limitations imposed by this Agreement, the General Partner shall
have full, complete and exclusive discretion to manage and control
the business and affairs of the Partnership and make all decisions
affecting the business and assets of the Partnership. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing (but subject to the
restrictions specifically contained in this Agreement), the General
Partner shall have the power and authority to take the following
actions on behalf of the Partnership:
(a) to
acquire, purchase, own, manage, operate, lease and dispose of any
real property and any other property or assets that the General
Partner determines are necessary or appropriate or in the best
interests of conducting the business of the Partnership in each
case not inconsistent with the Company’s qualification as a
REIT;
(b) to
construct buildings and make other improvements (including
renovations) on or to the properties owned or leased by the
Partnership;
(c) to
borrow money for the Partnership, issue evidences of indebtedness
in connection therewith, refinance, guarantee, increase the amount
of, modify, amend or change the terms of, or extend the time for
the payment of, any indebtedness or obligation of or to the
Partnership, and secure such indebtedness by mortgage, deed of
trust, pledge or other lien on the Partnership’s
assets;
(d) to
pay, either directly or by reimbursement, for all Operating
Expenses to third parties or to the General Partner (as set forth
in this Agreement);
(e) to
lease all or any portion of any of the Partnership’s assets,
whether or not the terms of such leases extend beyond the
termination date of the Partnership and whether or not any portion
of the Partnership’s assets so leased are to be occupied by
the lessee, or, in turn, subleased in whole or in part to others,
for such consideration and on such terms as the General Partner may
determine;
(f) to
prosecute, defend, arbitrate, or compromise any and all claims or
liabilities in favor of or against the Partnership, on such terms
and in such manner as the General Partner may reasonably determine,
and similarly to prosecute, settle or defend litigation with
respect to the Partners, the Partnership, or the
Partnership’s assets; provided, however, that the General
Partner may not, without the consent of all of the Partners,
confess a judgment against the Partnership;
(g) to
file applications, communicate, and otherwise deal with any and all
governmental agencies having jurisdiction over, or in any way
affecting, the Partnership’s assets or any other aspect of
the Partnership business;
(h) to
make or revoke any election permitted or required of the
Partnership by any taxing authority;
16
(i) to
maintain such insurance coverage for public liability, fire and
casualty, and any and all other insurance for the protection of the
Partnership, for the conservation of Partnership assets, or for any
other purpose convenient or beneficial to the Partnership, in such
amounts and such types as the General Partner shall determine from
time to time;
(j) to
determine whether or not to apply any insurance proceeds for any
Property to the restoration of such Property or to distribute the
same;
(k) to
retain providers of services of any kind or nature in connection
with the Partnership business and to pay therefor such reasonable
remuneration as the General Partner may deem proper;
(l) to
negotiate and conclude agreements on behalf of the Partnership with
respect to any of the rights, powers and authority conferred upon
the General Partner, including, without limitation, management
agreements, franchise agreements, agreements with federal, state or
local liquor licensing agencies and agreements with operators of
restaurants and bars;
(m) to
maintain accurate accounting records and to file promptly all
federal, state and local income tax returns on behalf of the
Partnership;
(n) to
form or acquire an interest in, and contribute property to, any
further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures or other
relationships that it deems desirable (including, without
limitation, the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions
of property to, its Subsidiaries and any other Person in which it
has an equity interest from time to time);
(o) to
distribute Partnership cash or other Partnership assets in
accordance with this Agreement;
(p) to
establish Partnership reserves for working capital, capital
expenditures, contingent liabilities or any other valid Partnership
purpose;
(q) to
authorize, issue, sell, redeem or otherwise purchase any
Partnership Interests or any securities (including secured and
unsecured debt obligations of the Partnership, debt obligations of
the Partnership convertible into any class or series of Partnership
Interests, or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights
relating to any Partnership Interests) of the
Partnership;
(r)
subject to the provisions of Section 9.1, to merge,
consolidate or combine the Partnership with or into another Person
(to the extent permitted by applicable law);
(s) to
do any and all acts and things necessary or prudent to ensure that
the Partnership will not be classified as a “publicly traded
partnership” for purposes of Section 7704 of the
Code;
17
(t) to
issue additional Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 4.3
hereof;
(u) to
pay cash to redeem Partnership Units held by a Limited Partner in
connection with a Limited Partner’s exercise of its
Redemption Right under Section 7.4 hereof;
(v) to
amend and restate Exhibit A hereto to reflect accurately at
all times the Capital Contributions, Common Percentage Interests
and Preferred Percentage Interests of the Partners as the same are
adjusted from time to time to the extent necessary to reflect
redemptions, Capital Contributions, the issuance of Partnership
Units, the admission of any Additional Limited Partner or any
Substitute Limited Partner or otherwise, which amendment and
restatement, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, shall not be deemed an amendment to this Agreement, as
long as the matter or event being reflected in Exhibit A
hereto otherwise is authorized by this Agreement;
(w) to
take whatever action the General Partner deems appropriate to
maintain the economic equivalency of Common Partnership Units and
REIT Common Shares and Preferred Partnership Units and REIT
Preferred Shares, respectively; and
(x) to
take such other action, execute, acknowledge, swear to or deliver
such other documents and instruments, and perform any and all other
acts the General Partner deems necessary or appropriate for the
formation, continuation and conduct of the business and affairs of
the Partnership (including, without limitation, all actions
consistent with qualification of the Company as a REIT) and to
possess and enjoy all of the rights and powers of a general partner
as provided by the Act.
Each of the Limited Partners
agrees that the General Partner is authorized to execute, deliver
and perform the above-mentioned agreements and transactions on
behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote
of the Partners, notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Agreement (except as provided in this Section 6.1(r),
Section 9.1 or Article XI), the Act or any applicable
law, rule or regulation to the fullest extent permitted under the
Act or other applicable law, rule or regulation. The execution,
delivery or performance by the General Partner or the Partnership
of any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement shall
not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the
General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or
any other persons under this Agreement or of any duty stated or
implied by law or equity.
Except as otherwise provided
herein, to the extent the duties of the General Partner require
expenditures of funds to be paid to third parties, the General
Partner shall not have any obligations hereunder except to the
extent that Partnership funds are reasonably available to it for
the performance of such duties, and nothing herein contained shall
be deemed to authorize or require the General Partner, in its
capacity as such, to expend its individual funds for payment to
third parties or to undertake any individual liability or
obligation on behalf of the Partnership.
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Section 6.2
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. The General Partner may delegate any or
all of its powers, rights and obligations hereunder, and may
appoint, employ, contract or otherwise deal with any Person for the
transaction of the business of the Partnership, which Person may,
under supervision of the General Partner, perform any acts or
services for the Partnership as the General Partner may
approve.
Section 6.3
DUTIES OF GENERAL PARTNER.
(a)
The General Partner, subject to the limitations contained elsewhere
in this Agreement, shall manage or cause to be managed the affairs
of the Partnership in a prudent and businesslike manner and shall
devote sufficient time and effort to the Partnership
affairs.
(b) In
carrying out its obligations, the General Partner shall:
(i)
Render annual reports to all Partners with respect to the
operations of the Partnership;
(ii)
On or before March 31st of every year, mail to all persons who
were Partners at any time during the Partnership’s prior
fiscal year an annual report of the Partnership, including all
necessary tax information, and any other information regarding the
Partnership and its operations during the prior fiscal year deemed
by the General Partner to be material;
(iii)
Maintain complete and accurate records of all business conducted by
the Partnership and complete and accurate books of account
(containing such information as shall be necessary to record
allocations and distributions), and make such records and books of
account available for inspection and audit by any Partner or such
Partner’s duly authorized representative (at the sole expense
of such Partner) during regular business hours and at the principal
office of the Partnership; and
(iv)
Cause to be filed such certificates and do such other acts as may
be required by law to qualify and maintain the Partnership as a
limited partnership under the laws of the State of
Delaware.
(c)
The General Partner shall take such actions as it deems necessary
to maintain the economic equivalency of Common Partnership Units
and REIT Common Shares and Preferred Partnership Units and REIT
Preferred Shares, respectively, required by this
Agreement.
Section 6.4
LIABILITIES OF GENERAL PARTNER; INDEMNIFICATION.
(a)
The General Partner shall not be liable for the return of all or
any part of the Capital Contributions of the Limited Partners. Any
returns shall be made solely from the assets of the Partnership
according to the terms of this Agreement.
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(b)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this
Agreement, none of the General Partner or the Company nor any of
their officers, directors, agents or employees shall be liable or
accountable in damages or otherwise to the Partnership, any
Partners or any assignees, or any of their successors or assigns,
for any losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not
derived as a result of errors in judgment or mistakes of fact or
law or any act or omission if the General Partner acted in good
faith. The General Partner shall not be responsible for any
misconduct or negligence on the part on any agent appointed by it
in good faith pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof. The Limited
Partners expressly acknowledge that the General Partner is acting
on behalf of the Partnership, the General Partner, the General
Partner’s members and the Company’s shareholders
collectively, and that the General Partner is under no obligation
to consider the separate interests of the Limited Partners
(including, without limitation, the tax consequences to Limited
Partners or their assignees) in deciding whether to cause the
Partnership to take (or decline to take) any actions. In the event
of a conflict between the interests of the members of the General
Partner or shareholders of the Company on one hand and the Limited
Partners on the other, the General Partner shall endeavor in good
faith to resolve the conflict in a manner not adverse to either the
shareholders of the Company or the Limited Partners; provided,
however, that for so long as the Company owns a controlling
interest, directly or indirectly, in the Partnership, any such
conflict that cannot be resolved in a manner not adverse to either
the shareholders of the Company or the Limited Partners shall be
resolved in favor of the shareholders of the Company. The General
Partner shall not be liable for monetary damages for losses
sustained, liabilities incurred, or benefits not derived by Limited
Partners in connection with such decisions, provided that the
General Partner has acted in good faith.
(c)
The Partnership shall indemnify an Indemnitee to the fullest extent
permitted by law and save and hold it harmless from and against,
and in respect of, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(joint or several), expenses (including legal fees and expenses),
judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts arising from any
and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, that relate to the
operations of the Partnership as set forth in this Agreement in
which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be
involved, as a party or otherwise; provided, however, that this
indemnification shall not apply if: (A) the act or omission of
the Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the
proceeding and either was committed in bad faith or was the result
of active and deliberate dishonesty; (B) the Indemnitee
actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property
or services; or (C) in the case of any criminal proceeding,
the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act or
omission was unlawful. The termination of any proceeding by
judgment, order or settlement does not create a presumption that
the Indemnitee did not meet the requisite standard of conduct set
forth in this Section 6.4(c). The termination of any
proceeding by conviction or
20
upon
a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or an entry of an
order of probation prior to judgment, creates a rebuttable
presumption that the Indemnitee acted in a manner contrary to
that