THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF WELLS TIMBERLAND OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

Exhibit 10.3

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

WELLS TIMBERLAND OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

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THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

WELLS TIMBERLAND OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

RECITALS

Wells Timberland Operating Partnership, L.P., formerly know as Wells Timber Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “Partnership”), was formed as a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware, pursuant to a Certificate of Limited Partnership filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware effective as of November 9, 2005, and amended on November 16, 2006. The Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated as of March 27, 2007 superseded and replaced the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated as of August 22, 2006 between Wells Timberland REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation, formerly known as Wells Timber Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. (the “General Partner”), and the limited partner(s) set forth on Exhibit A hereto (the “Limited Partners”) and superseded and replaced the Agreement of Limited Partnership executed by the parties hereto as of November 9, 2005. This Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership is entered into this 5th day of August 2009 between the General Partner and the Limited Partners, but shall be effective as of July 31, 2009, and supersedes and replaces the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership executed by the parties hereto as of March 27, 2007.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, of 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

The following defined terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings specified below:

“Act” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as it may be amended from time to time.

“Additional Funds” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.03 hereof.

“Additional Securities” means any additional REIT Shares (other than REIT Shares issued in connection with an exchange pursuant to Section 8.05 hereof) or preferred stock or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities containing the right to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares or preferred stock.

“Administrative Expenses” means (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 expenses 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 Administrative 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 Partnership that are owned by the General Partner directly.

“Advisor” or “Advisors” means the Persons or Persons, if any, appointed, employed or contracted with by the General Partner and responsible for directing or performing the day-to-day business affairs of the General Partner, including any Person to whom the Advisor subcontracts substantially all of such functions.

“Advisory Agreement” means the agreement between the Partnership, the General Partner and the Advisor pursuant to which the Advisor will direct or perform the day-to-day business affairs of the General Partner.

“Affiliate” means, (i) any Person that, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person, (ii) any other Person that owns, beneficially, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the outstanding capital stock, shares or equity interests of such Person, or (iii) any officer, director, employee, partner or trustee of such Person or any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person (excluding trustees and persons serving in similar capacities who are not otherwise an Affiliate of such Person). For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including the correlative meanings of the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, through the ownership of voting securities or partnership interests or otherwise.

“Agreed Value” means the fair market value of a Partner’s non-cash Capital Contribution as of the date of contribution as agreed to by such Partner and the General Partner. The names and addresses of the Partners, number of Partnership Units or Special Partnership Units issued to each Partner, and the Agreed Value of non-cash Capital Contributions as of the date of contribution is set forth on Exhibit A .

“Appraised Value” means the fair market value of the assets (excluding any assets which may be readily marked to market) of the Partnership as determined by an appraisal made by an Independent Appraiser.

“Agreement” means this Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as amended or restated from time to time.

“Articles of Incorporation” means the Articles of Incorporation of the General Partner filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, as amended or restated from time to time.

“Capital Account” has the meaning provided in Section 4.04 hereof.

 

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“Capital Contribution” means the total amount of cash, cash equivalents, and the Agreed Value of any Property or other asset contributed or agreed to be contributed, as the context requires, to the Partnership by each Partner pursuant to the terms of the Agreement. Any reference to the Capital Contribution of a Partner shall include the Capital Contribution made by a predecessor holder of the Partnership Interest of such Partner.

“Cash Amount” means an amount of cash per Partnership Unit equal to the Value of the REIT Shares Amount on the date of receipt by the General Partner of a Notice of Redemption.

“Certificate” means any instrument or document that is required under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any other jurisdiction in which the Partnership conducts business, to be signed and sworn to by the Partners of the Partnership (either by themselves or pursuant to the power-of-attorney granted to the General Partner in Section 8.02 hereof) and filed for recording in the appropriate public offices within the State of Delaware or such other jurisdiction to perfect or maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership, to effect the admission, withdrawal, or substitution of any Partner of the Partnership, or to protect the limited liability of the Limited Partners as limited partners under the laws of the State of Delaware or such other jurisdiction.

“Code” means 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 successor provision of the Code.

“Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Common Partnership Units” means Partnership Units that are not Preferred Partnership Units.

“Conversion Factor” means 1.0, provided that in the event that the General Partner (i) declares or pays a dividend on its outstanding REIT Shares in REIT Shares or makes a distribution to all holders of its outstanding REIT Shares in REIT Shares, (ii) subdivides its outstanding REIT Shares, or (iii) combines its outstanding REIT Shares into a smaller number of REIT Shares, the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of REIT Shares issued and outstanding on the record date for such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination (assuming for such 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 Shares (determined without the above assumption) issued and outstanding on such date and, provided further, that in the event that an entity other than an Affiliate of the General Partner shall become General Partner pursuant to any merger, consolidation or combination of the General Partner with or into another entity (the “Successor Entity”), the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor by the number of shares of the Successor Entity into which one REIT Share is converted pursuant to such merger, consolidation or combination, determined as of the date of such merger, consolidation 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.

 

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“Event of Bankruptcy” as to any Person means the filing of a petition for relief as to such Person as debtor or bankrupt under the Bankruptcy Code of 1978 or similar provision of law of any jurisdiction (except if such petition is contested by such Person and has been dismissed within 90 days); insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person as finally determined by a court proceeding; 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 his assets; commencement of any proceedings relating to such Person as a debtor under any other reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, adjustment of debtor liquidation law of any jurisdiction, whether now in existence or hereinafter in effect, either by such Person or by another, provided that if such proceeding is commenced by another, such Person indicates his approval of such proceeding, consents thereto or acquiesces therein, or such proceeding is contested by such Person and has not been finally dismissed within 90 days.

“General Partner” means Wells Timberland REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation, 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” means a Partnership Interest held by the General Partner that is a general partnership interest.

“Indemnitee” means (i) any Person made a party to a proceeding by reason of its status as the General Partner, or a director, officer or employee of the General Partner or the Partnership, and (ii) such other Persons (including Affiliates of the General Partner or the Partnership) as the General Partner may designate from time to time, in its sole and absolute discretion.

“Independent Director” means a director of the General Partner who is not an officer or employee of the General Partner, any Affiliate of an officer or employee or any Affiliate of (i) any lessee of any property of the General Partner or any Subsidiary of the General Partner, (ii) any Subsidiary of the General Partner, or (iii) any partnership that is an Affiliate of the General Partner.

“Independent Appraiser” means an appraiser of real estate with no material current or prior business or personal relationship with the Advisor, the Partnership, the General Partner or the directors of the General Partner, that, in the determination of the General Partner, is qualified to appraise real estate by virtue of being engaged to a substantial extent in the business of rendering opinions regarding the value of assets of the type held by the Partnership. Membership in a nationally recognized appraisal society such as the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers or the Society of Real Estate Appraisers shall be conclusive evidence of such qualification.

“Issue Price” means the per share price at which the applicable REIT Shares were offered in the General Partner’s public offering pursuant to which they were issued, not reduced by any discounted selling commissions or reduced fees that the General Partner may pay to its Dealer Manager which may have applied to the purchase of such REIT Shares.

“Joint Venture” means any joint venture or general partnership arrangement in which the Partnership is a co-venturer or general partner which is established to acquire one or more real estate assets.

 

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“Limited Partner” means any Person named as a Limited Partner on Exhibit A attached hereto, and any Person who becomes a Substitute or Additional Limited Partner, in such Person’s capacity as a Limited Partner in the Partnership.

“Limited Partnership Interest” means 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 such Act.

“Listing” means the approval of the REIT Shares, issued by the General Partner pursuant to an effective Registration Statement, for trading on a national securities exchange. Upon such Listing, the shares shall be deemed “Listed.”

“Loss” has the meaning provided in Section 5.01(g) hereof.

“Minimum Limited Partnership Interest” means the lesser of (i) 1% or (ii) if the total Capital Contributions to the Partnership exceed $50 million, 1% divided by the ratio of the total Capital Contributions to the Partnership to $50 million; provided, however, that the Minimum Limited Partnership Interest shall not be less than 0.2% at any time.

“Mortgages” means, in connection with any mortgage financing provided, invested in, participated in or purchased by the Partnership, all of the notes, deeds of trust, mortgages, security interests or other evidences of indebtedness or obligations, which are secured by or, collateralized by, or applicable to any Property owned by the borrowers under such notes, deeds of trust, mortgages, security interests or other evidences of indebtedness or obligations.

“NASAA Guidelines” means the Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts published by the North American Securities Administrators Association.

“Net Assets” means the total assets of the Partnership (other than intangibles) at cost, before deducting depreciation, reserves for bad debts or other non-cash reserves, less total liabilities, calculated quarterly by the Partnership on a basis consistently applied.

“Net Sales Proceeds” means (i) in the case of a transaction described in clause (A)(i) of the definition of Sale, the proceeds of any such transaction less the amount of selling expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Partnership, including all real estate disposition fees, closings costs and legal fees and expenses; (A)(ii) in the case of a transaction described in clause (ii) of the definition of Sale, the proceeds of any such transaction less the amount of selling expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Partnership, including any legal fees and expenses and other selling expenses incurred in connection with such transaction; (iii) in the case of a transaction described in clause (A)(iii) of the definition of Sale, the proceeds of any such transaction actually distributed to the Partnership from the Joint Venture less the amount of any selling expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Partnership (other than those paid by the Joint Venture); (iv) in the case of a transaction described in clause (A)(iv) of the definition of Sale, the proceeds of any such transaction (including the aggregate of all payments under a Mortgage on or in satisfaction thereof other than regularly scheduled interest payments) less the amount of selling expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Partnership, including all commissions, closing costs and legal fees and expenses; (v) in the case of a transaction described in clause (A)(v) of the definition of Sale, the proceeds of any such transaction less the amount of selling expenses incurred by or on

 

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behalf of the Partnership, including any legal fees and expenses and other selling expenses incurred in connection with such transaction; and (vi) in the case of a transaction described in clause (B) of the definition of Sale, the proceeds of such transaction or series of transactions less all amounts generated thereby which are reinvested in one or more assets as described in clause (B) of the definition of Sale within 180 days thereafter and less the amount of any real estate commissions, closing costs, and legal fees and expenses and other selling expenses incurred by or allocated to the Partnership in connection with such transaction or series of transactions. Net Sales Proceeds shall also include any amounts that the General Partner determines, in its discretion, to be economically equivalent to the proceeds of a Sale. Net Sales Proceeds shall not include any reserves established by the Partnership in its sole discretion.

“Notice of Redemption” means the Notice of Exercise of Redemption Right substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B hereto.

“Offer” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(c) hereof.

“Offering” means the initial offer and sale by the General Partner and the purchase by the Dealer Manager (as defined in the Prospectus) of REIT for sale to the public.

“OP Unitholders” means all holders of Partnership Interests other than any holder of a Partnership Interest whose interest is represented solely by Special Partnership Units and/or Preferred Partnership Units.

“Partner” means any General Partner or Limited Partner.

“Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i). A Partner’s share of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5).

“Partnership” means Wells Timberland Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

“Partnership Interest” means an ownership interest in the Partnership held by either a Limited Partner or the General Partner and includes any and all benefits to which the holder of such a Partnership Interest may be entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Person to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

“Partnership Minimum Gain” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(d). In accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(d), the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain is determined by first computing, for each Partnership nonrecourse liability, any gain the Partnership would realize if it disposed of the property subject to that liability for no consideration other than full satisfaction of the liability, and then aggregating the separately computed gains. A Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(1).

“Partnership Record Date” means the record date established by the General Partner for the distribution of cash pursuant to Section 5.02 hereof, which record date shall be the same as the record date established by the General Partner for a distribution to its shareholders of some or all of its portion of such distribution.

 

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“Partnership Unit” means a fractional, undivided share of the Partnership Interests of all Partners issued hereunder (including Common and Preferred Partnership Units) excluding the Partnership Interests represented by Special Partnership Units. The allocation of Partnership Units among the Partners shall be as set forth on Exhibit A , as may be amended from time to time.

“Percentage Interest” means the percentage ownership interest in the Partnership 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. The Percentage Interest of each Partner shall be as set forth on Exhibit A , as may be amended from time to time.

“Person” means any individual, partnership, corporation, joint venture, trust or other entity.

“Preferred Partnership Unit” means (i) a Series A Preferred Partnership Unit, (ii) a Series B Preferred Partnership Unit and (iii) any other Partnership Unit issued after the date of this Agreement pursuant to Section 4.02 that is designated as a Preferred Partnership Unit.

“Profit” has the meaning provided in Section 5.01(g) hereof.

“Property” means any timberland or related property or other investment in which the Partnership holds an ownership interest.

“Prospectus” means the final prospectus delivered to purchasers of REIT Shares in the Offering.

“Redemption Amount” means either the Cash Amount or the REIT Shares Amount, as selected by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion pursuant to Section 8.05(b) hereof.

“Redemption Right” has the meaning provided in Section 8.05(a) hereof.

“Redeeming Partner” has the meaning provided in Section 8.05(a) hereof.

“Regulations” means the Federal Income Tax Regulations issued under the Code, as amended and as hereafter amended from time to time. Reference to any particular provision of the Regulations shall mean that provision of the Regulations on the date hereof and any successor provision of the Regulations.

“REIT” means a real estate investment trust under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.

“REIT Expenses” means (i) costs and expenses relating to the formation and continuity of existence and operation of the General Partner and any Subsidiaries thereof (which Subsidiaries shall, for purposes hereof, be included within the definition of General Partner), including taxes, fees and assessments associated therewith, any and all costs, expenses or fees payable to any director, officer, or employee of the General Partner, (ii) costs and expenses relating to any public offering and registration of securities by the General Partner and all statements, reports, fees and expenses incidental thereto, including, without limitation, underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to any such offering of securities, and

 

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any costs and expenses associated with any claims made by any holders of such securities or any underwriters or placement agents thereof, (iii) costs and expenses associated with any repurchase of any securities by the General Partner, (iv) costs and expenses associated with the preparation and filing of any periodic or other reports and communications by the General Partner under federal, state or local laws or regulations, including filings with the Commission, (v) costs and expenses associated with compliance by the General Partner with laws, rules and regulations promulgated by any regulatory body, including the Commission and any securities exchange, (vi) costs and expenses associated with any 401(k) plan, incentive plan, bonus plan or other plan providing for compensation for the employees of the General Partner, (vii) costs and expenses incurred by the General Partner relating to any issuing or redemption of Partnership Interests, and (viii) all other operating or administrative costs of the General Partner incurred in the ordinary course of its business on behalf of or in connection with the Partnership.

“REIT Share” means a share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, in the General Partner (or successor entity, as the case may be).

“REIT Shares Amount” means a number of REIT Shares equal to the product of the number of Partnership Units offered for exchange by a Redeeming Partner, multiplied by the Conversion Factor as adjusted to and including the Specified Redemption Date; provided that in the event the General Partner issues to all holders of REIT Shares rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities entitling the shareholders to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares, or any other securities or property (collectively, the “rights”), and the rights have not expired at the Specified Redemption Date, then the REIT Shares Amount shall also include the rights issuable to a holder of the REIT Shares Amount of REIT Shares on the record date fixed for purposes of determining the holders of REIT Shares entitled to rights.

“Sale” means (A) any transaction or series of transactions whereby: (i) the Partnership directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of any Property or portion thereof, including the ground lease of any Property and including any event with respect to any Property which gives rise to a significant amount of insurance proceeds or condemnation awards; (ii) the Partnership directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of all or substantially all of the interest of the Partnership in any Joint Venture; (iii) any Joint Venture directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) in which the Partnership as a co-venturer or partner sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of any Property or portion thereof, including any event with respect to any Property which gives rise to insurance claims or condemnation awards; (iv) the Partnership directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) sells, grants, conveys, or relinquishes its interest in any Mortgage or portion thereof (including with respect to any Mortgage, all payments thereunder or in satisfaction thereof other than regularly scheduled interest payments) of amounts owed pursuant to such Mortgage and any event which gives rise to a significant amount of insurance proceeds or similar awards; or (v) the Partnership directly or indirectly (except as described in any other subsections of this definition) sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of any other Property, Mortgage or other investment owner by the Partnership, directly or indirectly through one or more of its Affiliates, and any other investment made, directly or indirectly through one or more of its Affiliates, not previously described in this definition of any portion thereof, but (B) not including any transaction or series of transactions specified in clause (A)(i) through (v) above in which the proceeds of such transaction or series of transactions are reinvested by the Partnership in one or more such assets within 180 days thereafter.

 

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“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“ Series A Preferred Partnership Unit Priority Distribution ” means the aggregate distributions paid and payable with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock of the General Partner for the current year of the date of the relevant determination and all prior years, as provided in the Articles of Incorporation.

“ Series A Preferred Partnership Units ” means the Partnership Units issued to the General Partner in connection with the issuance of Series A Preferred Stock of the General Partner, which Partnership Units have the rights, preferences and privileges designated herein.

“ Series B Preferred Partnership Unit Priority Distribution ” means the aggregate distributions paid and payable with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock of the General Partner for the current year of the date of the relevant determination and all prior years, as provided in the Articles of Incorporation.

“ Series B Preferred Partnership Units ” means the Partnership Units issued to the General Partner in connection with the issuance of Series B Preferred Stock of the General Partner, which Partnership Units have the rights, preferences and privileges designated herein.

“Service” means the Internal Revenue Service.

“Special OP Unitholders” mean the holders of Special Partnership Units.

“Special Partnership Unit” means a unit of a series of Partnership Interests, designated as Special Partnership Units, originally issued to Wells Timberland Management Organization, LLC. The number of Special Partnership Units outstanding and the Special Percentage Interests in the Partnership represented by such Special Partnership Units are set forth on Exhibit A , as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time. A holder of a Special Partnership Unit shall have the same rights and preferences as a holder of a Partnership Unit under this Agreement that is a Limited Partner except as set forth in Sections 7.01(c), 8.05, 8.06 and 8.07.

“Special Percentage Interest” shall mean the percentage ownership interest in the Partnership of each Special OP Unitholder, as determined by dividing the Special Partnership Units owned by each Special OP Unitholder by the total number of Special Partnership Units then outstanding. The Special Percentage Interest of each Partner shall be as set forth on Exhibit A , as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time.

“Specified Redemption Date” means the first business day of the month that is at least 60 business days after the receipt by the General Partner of the Notice of Redemption.

“Subsidiary” means, 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 is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

“Subsidiary Partnership” means any partnership of which the partnership interests therein are owned by the General Partner or a wholly-owned subsidiary of the General Partner.

 

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“Substitute Limited Partner” means any Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 9.03 hereof.

“Successor Entity” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Conversion Factor” contained herein.

“Termination Event” means the termination or non-renewal of the Advisory Agreement (i) in connection with a merger, sale of assets or transaction involving the General Partner pursuant to which a majority of the General Partner’s directors then in office are replaced or removed, (ii) by the Advisor for “good reason,” as defined in the Advisory Agreement or (iii) by the General Partner or the Partnership other than for “cause,” as defined in the Advisory Agreement.

“Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(c) hereof.

“Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02(a) hereof.

“Value” means with respect to any security, the average of the daily market price of such security for the ten consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of such valuation. The market price for each such trading day shall be: (i) if the security is Listed, the sale 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, regular way, on such day, (ii) if the security is not Listed, 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 security is not Listed 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 days prior to the date in question) for which prices have been so reported; provided that if there are no bid and asked prices reported during the ten days prior to the date in question, the value of the security 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 security includes any additional rights, then the value of such rights shall be determined by the General Partner acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate. When the Value of a security is being determined for purposes of issuance to an Advisor that is an Affiliate, such Value as determined by the General Partner is required to be approved by a majority of the General Partner’s “Independent Directors” (as defined in the charter of the General Partner).

ARTICLE II

PARTNERSHIP FORMATION AND IDENTIFICATION

2.01 Formation . The Partners hereby agree to form the Partnership pursuant to the Act and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

2.02 Name, Office and Registered Agent . The name of the Partnership is Wells Timberland Operating Partnership, L.P. The specified office and place of business of the

 

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Partnership shall be 6200 The Corners Parkway, Norcross, Georgia 30092-3365. 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 registered agent is The Corporation Trust Company, Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801. The sole duty of the registered agent as such is to forward to the Partnership any notice that is served on him as registered agent.

2.03 Partners .

(a) The General Partner of the Partnership is Wells Timberland REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation. Its principal place of business is the same as that of the Partnership.

(b) The Limited Partners are those Persons identified as Limited Partners on Exhibit A hereto, as amended from time to time.

2.04 Term and Dissolution .

(a) The term of the Partnership shall continue in full force and effect until December 31, 2053, except that the Partnership shall be dissolved upon the first to occur of any of the following events:

(i) The occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to a General Partner or the dissolution, death, removal or withdrawal of a General Partner unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.03(b) hereof; provided that if a General Partner is on the date of such occurrence a partnership, the dissolution of such General Partner as a result of the dissolution, death, withdrawal, removal or Event of Bankruptcy of a partner in such partnership shall not be an event of dissolution of the Partnership if the business of such General Partner is continued by the remaining partner or partners, either alone or with additional partners, and such General Partner and such partners comply with any other applicable requirements of this Agreement;

(ii) The passage of 90 days after the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership (provided that if the Partnership receives an installment obligation as consideration for such sale or other disposition, the Partnership shall continue, unless sooner dissolved under the provisions of this Agreement, until such time as such note or notes are paid in full);

(iii) The exchange of all Limited Partnership Interests (other than any of such interests held by the General Partner or Affiliates of the General Partner); or

(iv) The election by the General Partner that the Partnership should be dissolved.

(b) Upon dissolution of the Partnership (unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.03(b) hereof), the General Partner (or its trustee, receiver, successor or legal representative) shall amend or cancel the Certificate and liquidate the Partnership’s assets and apply and distribute the proceeds thereof in accordance with Section 5.06 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the liquidating General Partner may either (i) defer liquidation of, or withhold from distribution for a reasonable time, any assets of the Partnership

 

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(including those necessary to satisfy the Partnership’s debts and obligations), or (ii) distribute the assets to the Partners in kind.

2.05 Filing of Certificate and Perfection of Limited Partnership . The General Partner shall execute, acknowledge, record and file at the expense of the Partnership, the Certificate and any and all amendments thereto and all requisite fictitious name statements and notices in such places and jurisdictions as may be 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.

2.06 Certificates Describing Partnership Units and Special Partnership Units . At the request of a Limited Partner, the General Partner, at its option, may issue a certificate summarizing the terms of such Limited Partner’s interest in the Partnership, including the number of Partnership Units and Special Partnership Units owned and the Percentage Interest and the Special Percentage Interest represented by such Partnership Units and Special Partnership Units as of the date of such certificate. Any such certificate (i) shall be in form and substance as approved by the General Partner, (ii) shall not be negotiable and (iii) shall bear a legend to the following effect:

This certificate is not negotiable. The Partnership Units and the Special Partnership Units represented by this certificate are governed by and transferable only in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement of Limited Partnership of Wells Timberland Operating Partnership, L.P., as amended from time to time.

ARTICLE III

BUSINESS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership is (i) to conduct any business that may be lawfully conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Act, provided, however, that such business shall be limited to and conducted in such a manner as to permit the General Partner at all times to qualify as a REIT, unless the General Partner otherwise ceases to qualify as a REIT, (ii) to enter into any partnership, joint venture or other similar arrangement to engage in any of the foregoing or the ownership of interests in any entity engaged in any of the foregoing and (iii) to do anything necessary or incidental to the foregoing. In connection with the foregoing, and without limiting the General Partner’s right in its sole and absolute discretion to cease qualifying as a REIT, the Partners acknowledge that the General Partner’s current status as a REIT and the avoidance of income and excise taxes on the General Partner inures to the benefit of all the Partners and not solely to the General Partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Limited Partners agree that the General Partner may terminate its status as a REIT under the Code at any time to the full extent permitted under the Articles of Incorporation. The General Partner shall also be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary or prudent to ensure that the Partnership will not be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” for purposes of Section 7704 of the Code.

 

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ARTICLE IV

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS

4.01 Capital Contributions . The Partners have made capital contributions to the Partnership in exchange for the Partnership Interests set forth opposite their names on Exhibit A , as amended from time to time.

4.02 Additional Capital Contributions and Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests . Except as provided in this Section 4.02 or in Section 4.03, the Partners shall have no right or obligation to make any additional Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership. The General Partner may contribute additional capital to the Partnership, from time to time, and receive additional Partnership Interests in respect thereof, in the manner contemplated in this Section 4.02.

(a) Issuances of Additional Partnership Interests .

(i) General . The General Partner is hereby authorized to cause the Partnership to issue such additional Partnership Interests in the form of Partnership Units for any Partnership purpose at any time or from time to time, to the Partners (including the General Partner) 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 Limited Partners. Any additional Partnership Interests 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 General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion and without the approval of any Limited Partner, subject to Delaware law, including, without limitation, (i) the allocations of items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit to each such class or series of Partnership Interests; (ii) the right of each such class or series of Partnership Interests to share in Partnership distributions; and (iii) the rights of each such class or series of Partnership Interests upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; provided, however, that no additional Partnership Interests shall be issued to the General Partner unless:

(1)(A) the additional Partnership Interests are issued in connection with an issuance of REIT Shares of or other interests in the General Partner, which shares or interests have designations, preferences and other rights, 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 by the Partnership in accordance with this Section 4.02 and (B) the General Partner shall make a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in an amount equal to the proceeds raised in connection with the issuance of such shares of stock or other interests in the General Partner;

(2) the additional Partnership Interests are issued in exchange for property owned by the General Partner with a fair market value, as determined by the General Partner, in good faith, equal to the value of the Partnership Interests; or

 

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(3) the additional Partnership Interests are issued to all Partners in proportion to their Percentage Interests.

In addition, the General Partner may acquire Partnership Interests from other Partners pursuant to this Agreement. In the event that the Partnership issues Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 4.02(a), the General Partner shall make such revisions to this Agreement (without any requirement of receiving approval of the Limited Partners) as it deems necessary to reflect the issuance of such additional Partnership Interests and any special rights, powers, and duties associated therewith.

Without limiting the foregoing, the General Partner is expressly authorized to cause the Partnership to issue 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 General Partner and the Partnership.

(ii) Upon Issuance of Additional Securities . The General Partner shall not issue any Additional Securities other than to all holders of REIT Shares, unless (A) the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to issue to the General Partner, as the General Partner may designate, Partnership Interests or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities of the Partnership having designations, preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests are substantially similar to those of the Additional Securities, and (B) the General Partner contributes the proceeds from the issuance of such Additional Securities and from any exercise of rights contained in such Additional Securities, directly and through the General Partner, to the Partnership; provided, however, that the General Partner is allowed to issue Additional Securities in connection with an acquisition of a property to be held directly by the General Partner, but if and only if, such direct acquisition and issuance of Additional Securities have been approved and determined to be in the best interests of the General Partner and the Partnership by a majority of the Independent Directors (as defined in the General Partner’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation). Without limiting the foregoing, the General Partner is expressly authorized to issue Additional Securities for less than fair market value, and to cause the Partnership to issue to the General Partner corresponding Partnership Interests, so long as (x) the General Partner concludes in good faith that such issuance is in the best interests of the General Partner and the Partnership, including without limitation, the issuance of REIT Shares and corresponding Partnership Units pursuant to an employee share purchase plan providing for employee purchases of REIT Shares at a discount from fair market value or employee stock options that have an exercise price that is less than the fair market value of the REIT Shares, either at the time of issuance or at the time of exercise, and (y) the General Partner contributes all proceeds from such issuance to the Partnership. For example, in the event the General Partner issues REIT Shares for a cash purchase price and contributes all of the proceeds of such issuance to the Partnership as required hereunder, the General Partner shall be issued a number of additional Partnership Units equal to the product of (A) the number of such REIT Shares issued by the General Partner, 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.

(b) Certain Deemed Contributions of Proceeds of Issuance of REIT Shares. In connection with any and all issuances of REIT Shares, the General Partner shall make Capital Contributions to the Partnership of the proceeds therefrom, provided that if the proceeds actually

 

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received and contributed by the General Partner are less than the gross proceeds of such issuance as a result of any (i) purchase price discount or (ii) selling commissions, dealer manager fees or other expenses paid or incurred in connection with such issuance, then the General Partner 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 accordance with Section 6.05 hereof and in connection with the required issuance of additional Partnership Units to the General Partner for such Capital Contributions pursuant to Section 4.02(a) hereof.

(c) Minimum Limited Partnership Interest. In the event that either an exchange pursuant to Section 8.05 hereof or additional Capital Contributions by the General Partner would result in the Limited Partners, in the aggregate, owning less than the Minimum Limited Partnership Interest, the General Partner and the Limited Partners shall form another partnership and contribute sufficient Limited Partnership Interests (other than Special Partnership Units) together with such other Limited Partners so that the limited partners of such partnership own at least the Minimum Limited Partnership Interest.

4.03 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 or any of its Affiliates provide such Additional Funds to the Partnership through loans or otherwise.

4.04 Capital Accounts . A separate capital account (a “Capital Account”) shall be established and maintained for each Partner in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). If (i) a new or existing Partner acquires an additional Partnership Interest in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution, (ii) the Partnership distributes to a Partner more than a de minimis amount of Partnership property as consideration for a Partnership Interest, or (iii) the Partnership is liquidated within the meaning of Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), the General Partner shall revalue the property of the Partnership to its fair market value (as determined by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, and taking into account Section 7701(g) of the Code) in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f). When the Partnership’s property is revalued by the General Partner, the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted in accordance with Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and (g), which generally require such Capital Accounts to be adjusted to reflect the manner in which the unrealized gain or loss inherent in such property (that has not been reflected in the Capital Accounts previously) would be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 5.01 if there were a taxable disposition of such property for its fair market value (as determined by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, and taking into account Section 7701(g) of the Code) on the date of the revaluation.

4.05 Percentage Interests . If the number of outstanding Common Partnership Units increases or decreases during a taxable year, each Partner’s Percentage Interest shall be adjusted by the General Partner effective as of the effective date of each such increase or decrease to a percentage equal to the number of Common Partnership Units held by such Partner divided by the aggregate number of Common Partnership Units outstanding after giving effect to such increase or decrease. If the Partners’ Percentage Interests are adjusted pursuant to this Section 4.05, the Profits and Losses for the taxable year in which the adjustment occurs shall be allocated between the part of the year ending on the day when the Partnership’s property is revalued by the General Partner and the part of the year beginning on the following day either (i) as if the taxable year had

 

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ended on the date of the adjustment or (ii) based on the number of days in each part. The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine which method shall be used to allocate Profits and Losses for the taxable year in which the adjustment occurs. The allocation of Profits and Losses for the earlier part of the year shall be based on the Percentage Interests before adjustment, and the allocation of Profits and Losses for the later part shall be based on the adjusted Percentage Interests.

4.06 No Interest on Contributions . No Partner shall be entitled to interest on its Capital Contribution, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

4.07 Return of Capital Contributions . No Partner shall be entitled to withdraw any part of its Capital Contribution or its Capital Account or to receive any distribution from the Partnership, except as specifically provided in this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, there shall be no obligation to return to any Partner or withdrawn Partner any part of such Partner’s Capital Contribution for so long as the Partnership continues in existence.

4.08 No Third Party Beneficiary . No creditor or other third party having dealings with the Partnership shall have the right to enforce the right or obligation of any Partner to make Capital Contributions or loans or to pursue any other right or remedy hereunder or at law or in equity, it being understood and agreed that the provisions of this Agreement shall be solely for the benefit of, and may be enforced solely by, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. None of the rights or obligations of the Partners herein set forth to make Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership shall be deemed an asset of the Partnership for any purpose by any creditor or other third party, nor may such rights or obligations be sold, transferred or assigned by the Partnership or pledged or encumbered by the Partnership to secure any debt or other obligation of the Partnership or of any of the Partners. In addition, it is the intent of the parties hereto that no distribution to any Limited Partner shall be deemed a return of money or other property in violation of the Act. However, if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any Limited Partner is obligated to return such money or property, such obligation shall be the obligation of such Limited Partner and not of the General Partner. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a deficit Capital Account of a Partner shall not be deemed to be a liability of such Partner nor an asset or property of the Partnership.

ARTICLE V

PROFITS AND LOSSES; DISTRIBUTIONS

5.01 Allocation of Profit and Loss .

(a) Allocating Profits and Losses. Profits (and items thereof) and Losses (and items thereof) for each fiscal year or other applicable period shall be allocated among the Partners’ Capital Accounts such that following all allocations pursuant to Sections 5.01(c), 5.01(d) and Section 5.01(e) and this Section 5.01(a), the ending Capital Account of each Partner, immediately after giving effect to such allocations and giving effect to any distributions to which such Partner is entitled to pursuant to 5.02(b), is, as nearly as possible, equal to the difference between (i) the amount of the distributions that would be made to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.06 if (A) the Partnership were dissolved and terminated at the end of the fiscal year or other applicable period, (B) its affairs were wound up and each asset on hand at the end of the fiscal year or other applicable period were sold for cash equal to its book value (as used in computing Profits and

 

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Losses and Capital Accounts), (C) all liabilities of the Partnership were satisfied (limited with respect to each nonrecourse liability to the fair market value of the assets securing such liability), and (D) the net assets of the Partnership were distributed to the Partners in accordance with Section 5.06 and (ii) such Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain.

(b) Intentionally Left Blank .

(c) Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, (i) any expense of the Partnership that is a “nonrecourse deduction” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(1) shall be allocated in accordance with the Partners’ respective Percentage Interests, (ii) any expense of the Partnership that is a “partner nonrecourse deduction” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2) shall be allocated to the Partner that bears the “economic risk of loss” of such deduction in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(1), (iii) if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minim