ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS, L.P.
108,159 Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests
We issued an aggregate of 121,159 of our common units in private
placements in January and March 2001. This prospectus relates to up to 108,159
of our common units that the selling unitholders named in the section entitled
"Selling Unitholders" of this prospectus may from time to time offer and sell
through public or private transactions, on or off the American Stock Exchange,
at prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. The selling
unitholders may elect to sell all, a portion or none of the common units offered
hereby. We are registering these common units for resale pursuant to our
contractual obligations to the selling unitholders. We will not receive any of
the proceeds from the sale of these common units.
Our common units are quoted on the American Stock Exchange under the
symbol "APL." On September 24, 2002, the last reported closing price of the
common units was $25.85.
You should read "Risk Factors" incorporated by reference into this
prospectus from our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 for a
discussion of important factors that you should consider before buying common
units.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is September 26, 2002
OUR COMPANY
General
We were formed in 1999 to acquire, own and operate intrastate natural
gas pipeline gathering systems in Eastern Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and Western
New York formerly owned by Atlas America and its affiliates, all of which are
subsidiaries of Resource America. As of December 31, 2001, our gathering
systems, in the aggregate, consisted of over 1,300 miles of intrastate
pipelines, including approximately 300 miles of intrastate pipelines we
constructed or acquired during the year ended December 31, 2001. Our gathering
systems served approximately 4,000 wells at December 31, 2001 with an average
daily throughput for the year then ended of 46,918 thousand cubic feet, or mcf,
of natural gas. Our gathering systems provide a means through which well owners
and operators can transport the natural gas produced by their wells to public
utility pipelines for delivery to customers. To a significantly lesser extent,
our gathering systems transport their natural gas directly to customers. During
the year ended December 31, 2001, the gathering systems transported 17.1 billion
cubic feet, or bcf, of natural gas.
Our gathering systems currently connect with public utility pipelines
operated by Peoples Natural Gas Company, National Fuel Gas Supply, Tennessee Gas
Pipeline Company, National Fuel Gas Distribution Company, East Ohio Gas Company,
Columbia of Ohio, Consolidated Natural Gas Co., Texas Eastern Pipeline and
Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. Public utility pipelines charge transportation
fees to the person having title to the natural gas being transported, typically
either the well owner, an intermediate purchaser such as a natural gas
distribution company, or a final purchaser. We do not have title to the natural
gas gathered and delivered by us and, accordingly, do not pay transportation
fees charged by public utility pipelines. We do not engage in storage or gas
marketing programs, nor do we engage in the purchase and resale for our own
account of natural gas transported through our gathering systems. We do not
transport any oil produced by wells connected to the gathering systems.
Our principal executive offices are located at 311 Rouser Road, Moon
Township, Pennsylvania 15108 and our telephone number is (412) 262-2830.
Recent Developments
On January 18, 2002, we entered into an agreement to acquire
substantially all of the equity interest in Triton Coal Company, L.P. from New
Vulcan Coal Holdings, L.L.C. and Vulcan Intermediary, L.L.C. On July 31, 2002,
we announced that we had terminated the agreement to acquire Triton. The related
purchase agreement for the sale of the interests held by Atlas America, Inc. in
our general partner also terminated.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON UNITS
The Units
The common units represent limited partner interests in us. The holders
of units are entitled to participate in partnership distributions and exercise
the rights or privileges available to limited partners under our partnership
agreement. For a description of the relative rights and preferences of holders
of common units and subordinated units to partnership distributions, together
with a description of the circumstances under which subordinated units may
convert into common units, see "Our Partnership Agreement--Cash Distribution
Policy" and "--Description of Subordinated Units." For a description of the
rights and privileges of limited partners under our partnership agreement, see
"Our Partnership Agreement."
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Transfer Agent and Registrar
Duties. American Stock Transfer and Trust Company is our registrar and
transfer agent for the common units. We pay all fees charged by the transfer
agent for transfers of common units, except that the following fees must be paid
by unitholders:
o surety bond premiums to replace lost or stolen certificates,
taxes and other governmental charges,
o special charges for services requested by a holder of a common
unit, and
o other similar fees or charges.
There is no charge to unitholders for disbursements of cash distributions.
We will indemnify the transfer agent, its agents and each of their
particular shareholders, directors, officers and employees against all claims
and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted in its capacity as
our transfer agent, except for any liability due to any negligence, gross
negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct of the indemnified person or
entity.
Resignation or Removal. The transfer agent may at any time resign by
notice to us or be removed by us. The resignation or removal of the transfer
agent becomes effective upon our appointment of a successor transfer agent and
registrar and its acceptance of the appointment. If we do not appoint a
successor within 30 days after resignation or removal of the previous transfer
agent, our general partner will act as the transfer agent and registrar until a
successor is appointed.
Transfer of Common Units
The transfer agent will not record a transfer of common units, and we
will not recognize the transfer, unless the transferee executes and delivers a
transfer application. The form of transfer application appears on the reverse
side of the certificates representing the common units. By executing and
delivering a transfer application, the transferee of common units:
o becomes the record holder of the common units and is an
assignee until admitted as a substituted limited partner,
o automatically requests admission as a substituted limited
partner,
o agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of our
partnership agreement,
o represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and
authority to enter into our partnership agreement,
o grants powers of attorneys to officers of the general partner
and our liquidator, as specified in our partnership agreement,
and
o makes the consents and waivers contained in our partnership
agreement.
An assignee will become a substituted limited partner as to the
transferred common units upon the consent of our general partner and the
recordation of the name of the assignee on our books and records. Our general
partner may withhold its consent in its sole discretion.
A transferees' broker, agent or nominee may complete, execute and
deliver the transfer applications to any assignment. We are entitled to treat
the nominee holder of a common unit as the absolute owner. In that case, the
beneficial holder's rights are limited solely to those that it has against the
nominee holder as a result of any agreement between the beneficial owner and the
nominee holder.
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Common units are securities and are transferable according to the laws
governing transfer of securities. In addition to the rights acquired upon
transfer, the transferor gives the transferee the right to request admission as
a substituted limited partner. A purchaser or transferee of common units who
does not execute and deliver a transfer application will have only
o the right to assign the common units to a purchaser or other
transferee and
o the right to transfer the right to seek admission as a
substituted limited partner.
Thus, a purchaser or transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver
a transfer application will not receive
o cash distributions or federal income tax allocations unless
the common units are held in a nominee or "street name"
account and the nominee or broker has executed and delivered a
transfer application and
o may not receive federal income tax information or reports
furnished to record holders of common units.
The transferor of common units must provide the transferee with all
information necessary to transfer the common units. The transferor will not be
required to insure the execution of the transfer application by the transferee
and will have no liability or responsibility if the transferee neglects or
chooses not to execute and forward the transfer application to the transfer
agent. See "Our Partnership Agreement--Status as Limited Partner or Assignee."
Until a common unit has been transferred on our books, we and the
transfer agent may treat the record holder of the unit as the absolute owner for
all purposes, except as otherwise required by law or stock exchange regulations,
even if either of us has notice of an attempted transfer.
OUR PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
The following is a summary of our current partnership agreement. Our
partnership agreement will be substantially amended in the Triton acquisition
occurs.
Organization and Duration
We were formed in May 1999. We will dissolve on December 31, 2098,
unless sooner dissolved under the terms of our partnership agreement.
Purpose
Our purpose under our partnership agreement is limited to serving as
the limited partner of our operating partnership and engaging in any business
activity that may be engaged in by our operating partnership or that is approved
by our general partner. The operating partnership agreement provides that our
operating partnership may, directly or indirectly, engage in:
o operations as conducted on February 2, 2000, including the
ownership and operation of the gathering systems formerly
owned, by Atlas America, Inc., Resource Energy, Inc. and
Viking Resources Corporation and their affiliates;
o any other activity approved by our general partner, but only
to the extent that our general partner reasonably determines
that, as of the date of the acquisition or commencement of the
activity, the activity generates "qualifying income" as that
term is defined in Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code;
or
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o any activity that enhances the operations described above.
Description of the Subordinated Units
The subordinated units are a separate class of interest and the rights
of holders to participate in distributions to partners differ from, and are
subordinated to, the rights of the holders of common units. For any given
quarter, any available cash is first distributed to our general partner and to
the holders of common units, plus any arrearages on the common units, and then
distributed to the holders of subordinated units.
Conversion of Subordinated Units. The subordination period will extend
until the first day of any quarter beginning after December 31, 2004 that each
of the following three events occurs:
o distributions of available cash from operating surplus on the
common units and the subordinated units equal or exceed the
sum of the minimum quarterly distributions on all of the
outstanding common units and the subordinated units for each
of the 12 consecutive quarters immediately preceding that
date;
o the adjusted operating surplus generated during each of the 12
immediately preceding quarters equals or exceeds the sum of
the minimum quarterly distributions on all of the outstanding
common units and the subordinated units during those periods
on a fully diluted basis and the related distributions on the
general partner interests during those periods; and
o there are no arrearages in the payment of the minimum
quarterly distribution on the common units.
Once the subordination period ends, all remaining subordinated units
will convert into common units on a one-for-one basis and will participate, pro
rata, with the other common units in distributions of available cash.
Limited Voting Rights. Holders of subordinated units generally vote as
a class separate from the holders of common units and have similarly limited
voting rights. During the subordination period, common units and subordinated
units will vote separately as a class on the following matters:
o a sale or exchange of all or substantially all of our assets;
o our dissolution or reconstitution;
o our merger;
o termination or material modification of the omnibus agreement,
master natural gas gathering agreement or distribution support
agreement; and
o substantive amendments to our partnership agreement, including
any amendment that would cause us to become taxable as a
corporation.
Only the common units are entitled to vote on approval of the removal
or voluntary withdrawal of our general partner or the transfer by our general
partner of its general partner interest or incentive distribution rights during
the subordination period, except that our general partner may transfer all of
its general partner interest and incentive distribution rights to an affiliate
or in connection with a merger of our general partner without approval of the
common unitholders. Removal of our general partner requires a two-thirds vote of
all outstanding common units, excluding those held by our general partner and
its affiliates. Our partnership agreement permits our general partner generally
to make amendments to it that do not materially adversely affect unitholders
without the approval of any unitholders.
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Cash Distribution Policy
Quarterly Distributions of Available Cash. Our operating partnership is
required under the terms of the operating partnership agreement to distribute to
us, within 45 days of the end of each fiscal quarter, all of its available cash
for that quarter. We, in turn, distribute to our partners all of the available
cash received from our operating partnership for that quarter.
Available cash generally means, for any of our fiscal quarters, all
cash on hand at the end of the quarter less cash reserves that our general
partner determines are appropriate to provide for our operating costs, including
potential acquisitions, and to provide funds for distributions to the partners
for any one or more of the next four quarters. We generally make distributions
of all available cash within 45 days after the end of each quarter to holders of
record on the applicable record date.
For each quarter during the subordination period, to the extent there
is sufficient available cash, the holders of common units have the right to
receive the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.42 per unit, plus any
arrearages on the common units, before any distribution is made to the holders
of subordinated units. This subordination feature enhances our ability to
distribute the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units during the
subordination period.
Until February 2, 2003, our general partner has agreed to contribute
capital to us in order to fund deficiencies in the amount of cash available for
the minimum quarterly distribution. Our general partner's obligation in any
quarter is limited to an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution on
the common units for that quarter multiplied by the 1,500,000 common units we
issued in our initial public offering. Our general partner's performance under
the distribution support agreement is supported by an irrevocable letter of
credit. The letter of credit expires June 1, 2003
We make distributions of available cash to unitholders regardless of
whether the amount distributed is less than the minimum quarterly distribution.
If distributions from available cash on the common units for any quarter during
the subordination period are less than the minimum quarterly distribution of
$0.42 per common unit, holders of common units will be entitled to arrearages.
Common unit arrearages will accrue and be paid in a future quarter after the
minimum quarterly distribution is paid for that quarter. Subordinated units will
not accrue any arrearages on distributions for any quarter.
The holders of subordinated units will have the right to receive the
minimum quarterly distribution only after:
o the common units have received the minimum quarterly
distribution plus any arrearages in payment of the minimum
quarterly distribution and
o repayment to our general partner of amounts of capital
contributed by it to us to fund deficiencies in the cash
available for the minimum quarterly distributions.
Upon expiration of the subordination period, the subordinated units will convert
into common units on a one-for-one basis, and will then participate pro rata
with the other common units in distributions of our available cash.
Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus. Cash
distributions are characterized as distributions from either operating surplus
or capital surplus. This distinction affects the amounts distributed to
unitholders relative to our general partner, and also determines whether holders
of subordinated units receive any distributions.
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Operating surplus means:
o our cash balance, excluding cash constituting capital surplus
less
o all of our operating expenses, debt service payments,
maintenance costs, capital expenditures and reserves
established for future operations.
Capital surplus means capital generated only by borrowings other than
working capital borrowings, sales of debt and equity securities (excluding
contributions of capital by our general partner pursuant to the distribution
support agreement), and sales or other dispositions of assets for cash, other
than inventory, accounts receivable and other assets disposed of in the ordinary
course of business.
We treat all available cash distributed from any source as distributed
from operating surplus until the sum of all available cash distributed since we
began operations equals the operating surplus as of the end of the quarter
before the distribution. This method of cash distribution avoids the difficulty
of trying to determine whether available cash is distributed from operating
surplus or capital surplus. We treat any excess available cash, irrespective of
its source, as capital surplus, which would represent a return of capital, and
we will distribute it accordingly. For a discussion of distributions of capital
surplus, see "--Distributions of Capital Surplus" below.
We distribute available cash from operating surplus for any quarter
during the subordination period in the following manner:
o first, 98% to the common units, pro rata, and 2% to our
general partner, until we have distributed for each
outstanding common unit an amount equal to the minimum
quarterly distribution for that quarter;
o second, 98% to the common units, pro rata, and 2% to our
general partner, until we have distributed for each
outstanding common unit an amount equal to any arrearages in
payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common
units;
o third, 100% to our general partner until it has received a
return of all amounts contributed by it to us pursuant to the
distribution support agreement;
o fourth, 98% to the subordinated units, pro rata, and 2% to our
general partner, until we have distributed for each
outstanding subordinated unit an amount equal to the minimum
quarterly distribution for that quarter; and
o after that, in the manner described in "--Incentive
Distribution Rights" below.
The 2% allocation of available cash from operating surplus to our
general partner includes our general partner's percentage interest in
distributions from us and our operating partnership on a combined basis,
exclusive of its interest as a unitholder.
We distribute available cash from operating surplus for any quarter
after the subordination period in the following manner:
o first, 98% to all units, pro rata, and 2% to our general
partner, until we have distributed for each unit an amount
equal to the minimum quarterly distribution for that quarter;
o second, 98% to the common units, pro rata, and 2% to our
general partner, until we have distributed for each
outstanding common unit an amount equal to any arrearages in
payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common
units;
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o third, 100% to our general partner until it has received a
return of all amounts contributed by it to us as capital
pursuant to the distribution support agreement; and
o after that, in the manner described in "--Incentive
Distribution Rights" below.
The subordination period will extend until the first day of any quarter
beginning after December 31, 2004 that each of the following three events
occurs:
o distributions of available cash from operating surplus on the
common units and the subordinated units equal or exceed the
sum of the minimum quarterly distributions on all of the
outstanding common units and subordinated units for each of
the 12 consecutive quarters immediately preceding that date;
o the adjusted operating surplus, as defined below, generated
during each of the 12 immediately preceding quarters equals or
exceeds the sum of the minimum quarterly distributions on all
of the outstanding common units and subordinated units during
those periods on a fully diluted basis and the related
distribution on the general partner interests in us and our
operating partnership during those periods; and
o there are no arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly
distribution on the common units.
When the subordination period ends, the subordinated units will convert
automatically into common units on a one-for-one basis and will then participate
pro rata with the other common units in distributions of available cash.
Adjusted operating surplus for any period generally means operating
surplus generated during that period, less:
o any net increase in working capital borrowings during that
period and
o any net reduction in cash reserves for operating expenditures
during that period not relating to an operating expenditure
made during that period,
and plus:
o any net decrease in working capital borrowings during that
period and
o any net increase in cash reserves for operating expenditures
during that period required by any debt instrument for the
repayment of principal, interest or premium.
Operating surplus generated during a period is equal to the difference
between:
o the operating surplus determined at the end of that period and
o the operating surplus determined at the beginning of that
period.
Incentive Distribution Rights. By "incentive distribution rights" we
mean the right to receive an increasing percentage of quarterly distributions of
available cash from operating surplus after we have made the minimum quarterly
distributions and we have met specified target distribution levels, as described
below. Our general partner currently holds the incentive distribution rights,
but may transfer them separately from its general partner interest subject,
during the subordination period, to the consent of a majority of the common
units and the subordinated units voting as separate classes. After the
subordination period no consent is required.
We make incentive distributions to our general partner for any quarter
in which each of the following occurs:
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o we have distributed available cash from operating surplus to
the common and subordinated unitholders in an amount equal to
the minimum quarterly distribution;
o we have distributed available cash from operating surplus on
the common units in an amount necessary to eliminate any
cumulative common unit arrearages; and
o we have distributed available cash from operating surplus to
our general partner in an amount necessary to repay any
capital contributed by it to us pursuant to the distribution
support agreement.
For any quarter in which these conditions to making incentive
distributions have been satisfied, we will distribute additional available cash
from operating surplus for that quarter among the unitholders and our general
partner as described below. The distributions to our general partner described
below that exceed its aggregate 2% general partner interest represent the
incentive distribution rights.
o First, 85% to all units, pro rata, and 15% to our general
partner, until each unitholder has received a total of $0.52
per unit for that quarter, in addition to any distributions to
common unitholders to eliminate any cumulative arrearages in
payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common
units;
o second, 75% to all units, pro rata, and 25% to our general
partner, until each unitholder has received a total of $0.60
per unit for that quarter, in addition to any distributions to
common unitholders to eliminate any cumulative arrearages in
payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common
units; and
o after that, 50% to all units, pro rata, and 50% to our general
partner.
Distributions from Capital Surplus. We distribute available cash from
capital surplus in the following manner:
o first, 98% to all units, pro rata, and 2% to our general
partner, until each common unit has received distributions
equal to $13.00 per unit;
o second, 98% to the common units, pro rata, and 2% to our
general partner, until each common unit has received an
aggregate amount equal to any unpaid arrearages in payment of
the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units; and
o after that, we will distribute all available cash from capital
surplus, as if it were from operating surplus.
When we make a distribution from capital surplus, we will treat it as
if it were a repayment of the unit price from our initial public offering,
regardless of the price you actually pay for your common units. To reflect
repayment we will adjust the minimum quarterly distribution and the target
distribution levels downward by multiplying each amount by a fraction,
determined as follows:
o the numerator is the unrecovered initial unit price of the
common units immediately after giving effect to the repayment
and
o the denominator is the unrecovered initial unit price of the
common units immediately before the repayment.
The unrecovered initial unit price means the initial public offering
price of $13.00 per common unit less any distributions from capital surplus.
This adjustment to the minimum quarterly distribution may accelerate the dates
at which the subordinated units convert into common units.
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A "payback" of the initial unit price occurs when the unrecovered
initial unit price of the common units is zero. After the minimum quarterly
distribution and the target distribution levels have been reduced to zero, we
will treat all distributions of available cash from all sources as if they were
from operating surplus. Because the minimum quarterly distribution and the
target distribution levels will have been reduced to zero, our general partner
will then be entitled to receive 50% of all distributions of available cash in
its capacity as general partner and holder of the incentive distribution rights,
in addition to any distributions to which it may be entitled as a holder of
units.
Distributions from capital surplus will not reduce the minimum
quarterly distribution or target distribution levels for the quarter in which
they are distributed.
Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution
Levels. In addition to adjustments made upon a distribution of available cash
from capital surplus, we will proportionately adjust each of the following
upward or downward, as appropriate, if any combination or subdivision of units
occurs:
o the minimum quarterly distribution,
o the target distribution levels,
o the unrecovered initial public offering unit price,
o the number of common units issuable upon conversion of the
subordinated units, and
o other amounts calculated on a per unit basis.
For example, if a two-for-one split of the common units occurs, we will reduce
the minimum quarterly distribution, the target distribution levels and the
unrecovered initial unit price of the common units to 50% of their initial
levels.
We will not make any adjustment for the issuance of additional common
units for cash or property.
We may also adjust the minimum quarterly distribution and the target
distribution levels if legislation is enacted or if existing law is modified or
interpreted in a manner that causes us or our operating partnership to become
taxable as a corporation or otherwise subject to taxation as an entity for
federal, state or local income tax purposes. In this event, we will reduce the
minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels for each
quarter after that time to amounts equal to the product of:
o the minimum quarterly distribution and each of the target
distribution levels multiplied by
o one minus the sum of:
o the highest marginal federal income tax rate which
could apply to the partnership that is taxed as a
corporation plus
o any increase in the effective overall state and local
income tax rate that would have been applicable in
the preceding calendar year as a result of the new
imposition of the entity level tax, after taking into
account the benefit of any deduction allowable for
federal income tax purposes for the payment of state
and local income taxes, but only to the extent of the
increase in rates resulting from that legislation or
interpretation.
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For example, assuming we are not previously subject to state and local income
tax, if we became taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes and
subject to a maximum marginal federal, and effective state and local, income tax
rate of 40%, then we would reduce the minimum quarterly distribution and the
target distribution levels to 60% of the amount immediately before the
adjustment.
Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation. When we commence dissolution
and liquidation, we will sell or otherwise dispose of our assets and we will
adjust the partners' capital account balances to reflect any resulting gain or
loss. We will first apply the proceeds of liquidation to the payment of our
creditors in the order of priority provided in our partnership agreement and by
law. After that, we will distribute the proceeds to the unitholders and our
general partner in accordance with their capital account balances, as so
adjusted.
Capital accounts are maintained in order to ensure that the
partnership's allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction are respected
under the Internal Revenue Code. The balance of a partner's capital account also
determines how much cash or other property the partner will receive on
liquidation of the partnership. A partner's capital account is credited with
(increased by) the following items:
o the amount of cash and fair market value of any property (net
of liabilities) contributed by the partner to the partnership,
and
o the partner's share of "book" income and gain (including
income and gain exempt from tax).
A partner's capital account is debited with (reduced by) the following items:
o the amount of cash and fair market value (net of liabilities)
of property distributed to the partner, and
o the partner's share of loss and deduction (including some
items not deductible for tax purposes).
Partners are entitled to liquidating distributions in accordance with
their capital account balances. The allocations of gains and losses upon
liquidation are intended, to the extent possible, to entitle common unitholders
to a preference over the subordinated unitholders upon our liquidation to the
extent required to permit common unitholders to receive the unrecovered initial
public offering unit price plus any unpaid arrearages in payment of the minimum
quarterly distributions. For the purposes of these calculations, the unrecovered
unit price will be the $13.00 unit price from our initial public offering,
regardless of the price you actually pay for your units. Thus, we will allocate
net losses recognized upon our liquidation to the holders of the subordinated
units to the extent of their capital account balances before we allocate any
loss to the holders of the common units. Also we will allocate net gains
recognized upon our liquidation first to restore negative balances in the
capital account of our general partner and any unitholders and then to the
common unitholders until their capital account balances equal the unrecovered
initial unit price plus unpaid arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly
distributions. However, we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient gain
upon our liquidation to enable the holders of common units to fully recover all
of these amounts, even though there may be cash available for distribution to
the holders of subordinated units.
The manner of the adjustment is as provided in our partnership
agreement. If our liquidation occurs before the end of the subordination period,
any gain, or unrealized gain attributable to assets distributed in kind, will be
allocated to the partners in the following manner:
o first, to our general partner and the holders of units who
have negative balances in their capital accounts to the extent
of and in proportion to those negative balances;
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o second, 98% to the common units, pro rata, and 2% to our
general partner, until the capital account for each common
unit is equal to the sum of:
o the unrecovered initial public offering unit price,
o the amount of the minimum quarterly distribution for
the quarter during which our liquidation occurs, and
o any unpaid arrearages in payment of the minimum
quarterly distribution;
o third, 100% to our general partner until the capital account
established for contributions made by our general partner
pursuant to the distribution support agreement is equal to the
aggregate capital our general partner has contributed for that
purpose;
o fourth, 98% to the subordinated units, pro rata, and 2% to our
general partner, until the capital account for each
subordinated unit is equal to the sum of:
o the unrecovered capital on that subordinated unit and
o the amount of the minimum quarterly distribution for
the quarter during which our liquidation occurs;
o fifth, 85% to all units, pro rata, and 15% to our general
partner, until there has been allocated under this paragraph
an amount per unit equal to:
o the excess of the $0.52 target distribution per unit
over the minimum quarterly distribution per unit for
each quarter of our existence less
o the cumulative amount per unit of any distribution of
available cash from operating surplus in excess of
the minimum quarterly distribution per unit that was
distributed 85% to the units, pro rata, and 15% to
our general partner for each quarter of our
existence;
o sixth, 75% to all units, pro rata, and 25% to our general
partner, until there has been allocated under this paragraph
an amount per unit equal to:
o the excess of the $0.60 target distribution per unit
over the $0.52 target distribution per unit for each
quarter of our existence less
o the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions
of available cash from operating surplus in excess of
the first target distribution per unit that was
distributed 75% to the units, pro rata, and 25% to
our general partner for each quarter of our
existence; and
o after that, 50% to all units, pro rata, and 50% to our general
partner.
If our liquidation occurs after the end of the subordination period, the
distinction between common units and subordinated units will disappear, so that
the third and fourth priorities above will no longer be applicable.
Upon our liquidation, any loss will generally be allocated to our
general partner and the unitholders in the following manner:
o first, 98% to holders of subordinated units in proportion to
the positive balances in their capital accounts and 2% to the
general partner, until the capital accounts of the holders of
the subordinated units have been reduced to zero;
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o second, 98% to the holders of common units in proportion to
the positive balances in their capital accounts and 2% to our
general partner, until the capital accounts of the common
unitholders have been reduced to zero; and
o after that, 100% to our general partner.
If our liquidation occurs after the subordination period, the distinction
between common units and subordinated units will disappear, so that all of the
first priority above will no longer be applicable.
In addition, we will make interim adjustments to the capital accounts
at the time we issue additional equity interests or make distributions of
property. We will base these adjustments on the fair market value of the
interests or the property distributed and we will allocate any gain or loss
resulting from the adjustments to the unitholders and our general partner in the
same manner as we allocate gain or loss upon liquidation. In the event that we
make positive interim adjustments to the capital accounts, we will allocate any
later negative adjustments to the capital accounts resulting from the issuance
of additional equity interests, our distributions of property, or upon our
liquidation, in a manner which results, to the extent possible, in the capital
account balances of our general partner equaling the amount which would have
been our general partner's capital account balances allocate if we had not made
any earlier positive adjustments to the capital accounts.
Power of Attorney
Each limited partner, and each person who acquires a unit from a
unitholder and executes and delivers a transfer application, grants to our
general partner and, if appointed, a liquidator, a power of attorney to, among
other things, execute and file documents required for our qualification,
continuance or dissolution and the amendment of our partnership agreement, and
to make consents and waivers under our partnership agreement.
Capital Contributions
Unitholders are not obligated to make additional capital contributions,
except as described below under "--Limited Liability."
Limited Liability
So long as a limited partner does not participate in the control of our
business within the meaning of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership
Act and otherwise acts in conformity with the provisions of our partnership
agreement, the limited partner's liability under the Delaware Act will be
limited to the amount of capital he is obligated to contribute to us for his
common units plus his share of any undistributed profits and assets. If it were
determined, however, that the right or exercise of the right by the limited
partners as a group
o to remove or replace our general partner,
o to approve some amendments to our partnership agreement, or
o to take other action under our partnership agreement
constituted "participation in control" of our business for purposes of the
Delaware Act, then the limited partners could be held personally liable for our
obligations under Delaware law to the same extent as our general partner. This
liability would extend only to persons who transact business with us who
reasonably believe that the limited partner is a general partner.
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Under the Delaware Act, we cannot make a distribution to a partner if,
after the distribution, all our liabilities, other than liabilities to partners
on account of their partnership interests and liabilities for which the recourse
of creditors is limited to specific property, exceed the fair value of our
assets. For the purpose of determining the fair value of the assets of a limited
partnership, the Delaware Act provides that the fair value of property subject
to liability for which recourse of creditors is limited shall be included in the
assets of the limited partnership only to the extent that the fair value of that
property exceeds the nonrecourse liability. The Delaware Act provides that a
limited partner who receives a distribution and knew at the time of the
distribution that the distribution was in violation of the Delaware Act is
liable to the limited partnership for the amount of the distribution for three
years. Under the Delaware Act, an assignee who becomes a substituted limited
partner is liable for the obligations of his assignor to make contributions to
the partnership, except the assignee is not obligated for liabilities unknown to
him at the time he became a limited partner and which he could not ascertain
from our partnership agreement.
Our operating partnership currently conducts business in New York, Ohio
and Pennsylvania. Limitations on the liability of limited partners for the
obligations of a limited partner have not been clearly established in many
jurisdictions. If it were determined that we were, by virtue of our limited
partner interest in our operating partnership or otherwise, conducting business
in any state under the applicable limited partnership statute, or that the right
or exercise of the right by the limited partners as a group to remove or replace
our general partner, to approve some amendments to our partnership agreement, or
to take other action under our partnership agreement constituted "participation
in the control" of our business for purposes of the statutes of any relevant
jurisdiction, then the limited partners could be held personally liable for our
obligations under the law of that jurisdiction to the same extent as our general
partner. We operate in a manner our general partner considers reasonable and
appropriate to preserve the limited liability of the limited partners.
Issuance of Additional Securities
Our partnership agreement generally authorizes us to issue an unlimited
number of additional limited partner interests and other equity securities for
the consideration and on the terms and conditions established by our general
partner in its sole discretion without the approval of any limited partners.
During the subordination period, we cannot issue more than 150,000 additional
common units or units on a parity with common units without the approval of the
holders of a majority of the common units and subordinated units, voting as
separate classes, subject to the exceptions described below. The 150,000
additional units may be issued for any purpose other than asset acquisitions or
capital improvements. We may issue an unlimited number of common units during
the subordination period in the following situations:
o upon conversion of subordinated units;
o pursuant to employee benefit plans;
o upon conversion of the general partner interests and incentive
distribution rights as a result of a withdrawal or removal of
our general partner;
o in the event of a combination or subdivision of common units;
o in connection with an acquisition or capital improvement that
would have resulted in no decrease in cash flow on a per unit
basis pro forma for the preceding four-quarter period; or
o upon our election to require Atlas America and Resource Energy
to provide us with construction financing.
We have funded, and will likely continue to fund, acquisitions through
the issuance of additional common units or other equity securities. Holders of
any additional common units we issue will be entitled to share equally with the
then-existing holders of common units in our distributions of available cash. In
addition, the issuance of additional partnership interests may dilute the value
of the interests of the then-existing holders of common units in our net assets.
In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of our partnership
agreement, we may also issue additional partnership securities that, in the sole
discretion of our general partner, may have special voting rights to which the
common units are not entitled.
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Upon issuance of additional partnership securities, our general partner
must make additional capital contributions to the extent necessary to maintain
its combined 2% general partner interest in us and in our operating partnership.
Moreover, our general partner will have the right, which it may from time to
time assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates, to purchase common
units, subordinated units or other equity securities whenever, and on the same
terms that, we issue those securities to persons other than our general partner
and its affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain its percentage interest
that existed immediately before each issuance. The holders of common units will
not have preemptive rights to acquire additional common units or other
partnership interests.
Limitations on Debt During Subordination Period
Our partnership agreement generally authorizes us to incur indebtedness
in support of our operations, to maintain or expand our gathering systems or for
other appropriate purposes. However, during the subordination period, our
partnership agreement prohibits us from incurring debt that will:
o result in an interest coverage ratio of less than four to one
or
o result in our aggregate indebtedness exceeding two times
EBITDA for the immediately preceding fiscal year, determined
on a pro forma basis giving effect to acquisitions completed
in the fiscal year.
The interest coverage ratio will be calculated as EBITDA for the
immediately preceding fiscal year, determined on a pro forma basis giving effect
to acquisitions completed in the year, divided by the annual interest payments
required under all debt to which we are subject, including interest required
under the proposed indebtedness. EBITDA means our income or loss before interest
expense, income taxes and depreciation, depletion and amortization.
Amendment of our Partnership Agreement
Amendments to our partnership agreement may be proposed only by or with
the consent of our general partner, which it may withhold in its sole
discretion. In order to adopt a proposed amendment, other than the amendments
discussed in "--No Unitholder Approval" below, our general partner must seek
written approval of the holders of the number of units required to approve the
amendment or call a meeting of the limited partners to consider and vote upon
the proposed amendment.
Prohibited Amendments. No amendment may be made that would:
o change the percentage of outstanding units required to take
partnership action, unless approved by the affirmative vote of
unitholders constituting at least the voting requirement
sought to be reduced;
o enlarge the obligations of any limited partner without its
consent, unless approved by at least a majority of the type or
class of limited partner interests so affected;
o enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by
or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable,
reimbursable or otherwise payable by us to our general partner
or any of its affiliates without its consent, which may be
given or withheld in its sole discretion;
o change our term;
o provide that we are not dissolved upon the expiration of our
term or upon an election to dissolve us by our general partner
that is approved by holders of a unit majority; or
o give any person the right to dissolve us other than our
general partner's right to dissolve us with the approval of
holders of a majority of the units.
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The provision of our partnership agreement preventing the amendments having the
effects described above can be amended upon the approval of the holders of at
least 90% of the outstanding units voting together as a single class.
No Unitholder Approval. Our general partner may make amendments to our
partnership agreement without the approval of the unitholders to reflect:
o a change in our name, the location of our principal place of
business, our registered agent or registered office;
o the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of partners
in accordance with our partnership agreement;
o a change that, in the sole discretion of our general partner,
is necessary to qualify us or continue our qualification as a
limited partnership under the laws of any state or to ensure
that neither we nor our operating partnership will be taxed as
a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for federal
income tax purposes;
o an amendment that is necessary, in the opinion of our counsel,
to prevent us or our general partner, or its directors,
officers, agents or trustees, from being subject to the
provisions of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or "plan
asset" regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974;
o an amendment that in the discretion of our general partner is
necessary for the authorization of additional limited or
general partner interests;
o any amendment expressly permitted in our partnership agreement
to be made by our general partner acting alone;
o an amendment necessitated by a merger agreement that has been
approved under the terms of our partnership agreement;
o any amendment that, in the discretion of our general partner,
is necessary for the formation by us of, or our investment in,
any corporation, partnership or other entity, other than the
operating partnership, as otherwise permitted by our
partnership agreement;
o a change in our fiscal year or taxable year and related
changes; and
o any other amendments substantially similar to any of the
matters described above.
In addition, our general partner may make amendments to our partnership
agreement without the approval of the unitholders if those amendments, in its
discretion:
o do not adversely affect the limited partners in any material
respect;
o are necessary to satisfy any requirements or guidelines
contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or
regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial
authority or contained in any federal or state statute;
o are necessary to facilitate the trading of limited partner
interests or to comply with any rule or guideline of any
securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which
the limited partner interests are or will be listed for
trading;
o are necessary for any action taken by our general partner
relating to splits or combinations of units under the
provisions of our partnership agreement; or
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o are required to effect the intent expressed in this prospectus
or the intent of the provisions of our partnership agreement
or are otherwise contemplated by our partnership agreement.
Opinion of Counsel and Unitholder Approval. Except in the case of the
amendments described above under "--No Unitholder Approval," amendments to our
partnership agreement will not become effective without the approval of holders
of at least 90% of the units unless we obtain an opinion of counsel to the
effect that the amendment will not affect the limited liability under applicable
law of any limited partner or cause us or our operating partnership to be
taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal
income tax purposes (to the extent not previously taxed as such). Subject to
obtaining the opinion of counsel, any amendment that would have a material
adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any type or class of outstanding
units in relation to other classes of units will require the approval of at
least a majority of the type or class of units so affected.
Merger, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets
Our general partner may not, without the prior approval of holders of a
majority of the outstanding common and subordinated units, voting as separate
classes, cause us to sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all of substantially
all of our assets, including by way of merger, consolidation or other
combination, or approve on our behalf the sale, exchange or other disposition of
all or substantially all of the assets of our operating partnership. However,
our general partner may mortgage or otherwise grant a security interest in all
or substantially all of our assets or sell all or substantially all of our
assets under a foreclosure without that approval. Furthermore, provided that
conditions specified in our partnership agreement are satisfied, our general
partner may merge us or any of our subsidiaries into, or convey some or all of
our and their assets to, a newly formed entity if the sole purpose of that
merger or conveyance changes our legal form into another limited liability
entity.
The unitholders are not entitled to dissenters' rights of appraisal
under our partnership agreement or applicable Delaware law in the event of a
merger or consolidation, a sale of substantially all of our assets or any other
transaction or event.
Termination and Dissolution
We will continue until December 31, 2098, unless terminated sooner upon:
o the election of our general partner to dissolve us, if
approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding
common and subordinated units, voting as separate classes;
o the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or
substantially all of our assets and those of our operating
partnership;
o the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of us; or
o the withdrawal or removal of our general partner or any other
event that results in its ceasing to be our general partner
other than because of a transfer of its general partner
interest in accordance with our partnership agreement or
withdrawal or removal following approval and admission of a
successor.
Upon a dissolution under the last item above, the holders of a majority of the
units may also elect, within specific time limitations, to reconstitute us by
forming a new limited partnership on terms identical to those in our partnership
agreement and having as general partner an entity approved by the holders of a
majority subject to our receipt of an opinion of counsel to the effect that:
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o the action would not result in the loss of limited liability
of any limited partner and
o we, the reconstituted limited partnership, and the operating
partnership would not be taxed as a corporation or otherwise
be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes upon the
exercise of that right to continue.
Liquidation and Distribution of Proceeds
Unless we are reconstituted and continued as a new limited partnership,
upon our liquidation the liquidator will, acting with all of the powers of our
general partner that the liquidator deems necessary or desirable in its good
faith judgment, liquidate our assets and apply the proceeds of the liquidation
as described in "--Cash Distribution Policy--Distributions of Cash Upon
Liquidation." The liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of our assets
for a reasonable period of time or distribute assets to partners in kind if it
determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the
partners.
Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner
Except as described below, our general partner will not withdraw
voluntarily as the general partner of us and our operating partnership during
the subordination period without obtaining the approval of the holders of at
least a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding common units held by
our general partner and its affiliates, and furnishing an opinion of counsel
regarding limited liability and tax matters. At the end of the subordination
period, our general partner may withdraw as our general partner without first
obtaining approval from the unitholders by giving 90 days' written notice. In
addition, our general partner may withdraw at any time without unitholder
approval upon 90 days' notice if at least 50% of the outstanding common units
are held or controlled by one person and its affiliates other than our general
partner and its affiliates. Our general partner may also sell or otherwise
transfer all of its general partner interests in us without the approval of the
unitholders as described below under "--Transfer of General Partner Interest and
Incentive Distribution Rights." Upon withdrawal, our general partner is entitled
to reimbursement for all expenses incurred by it on our behalf or allocable to
us in connection with operating our business.
If our general partner withdraws, other than as a result of a transfer
of all or a part of its general partner interests in us, the holders of a
majority of the common units may elect a successor to the withdrawing general
partner. If a successor is not elected, or is elected but an opinion of counsel
regarding limited liability and tax matters cannot be obtained, we will be
dissolved and liquidated, unless within 180 days after that withdrawal the
holders of a majority of the units agree in writing to continue our business and
to appoint a successor general partner. See "--Termination and Dissolution."
Our general partner may not be removed unless that removal is approved
by the vote of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% of the outstanding common
units, excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates,
and we receive an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax
matters. Any removal is also subject to the approval of a successor general
partner by the vote of the holders of a majority of the common units, excluding
common units held by our general partner and its affiliates. If our general
partner is removed under circumstances where cause does not exist and does not
consent to that removal:
o the subordination period will end and all outstanding
subordinated units will immediately convert into common units
on a one-for-one basis;
o our general partner's guarantee of the minimum quarterly
distributions, and the security for that guarantee, will
terminate;
o the agreements of Atlas America to connect wells to our
gathering systems will terminate;
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o the master natural gas gathering agreement with Atlas America
will not apply to any future wells drilled by Atlas America
although it will continue as to wells connected to the
gathering system at the time of removal;
o the obligations of Atlas America to provide financing and
other assistance for the extension of our gathering systems
and to provide assistance in the identification and
acquisition of gathering systems from third parties will
terminate;
o any existing arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly
distributions will be extinguished;
o the amount of any capital contribution made by our general
partner pursuant to the distribution support agreement which
has not been repaid, must be repaid; and
o our general partner will have the right to convert its general
partner interests and incentive distribution rights into
common units or to receive cash in exchange for those
interests from the successor general partner.
Our partnership agreement defines "cause" as existing where a court has
rendered a final, non-appealable judgment that our general partner has committed
fraud, gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct in its capacity as
general partner.
Withdrawal or removal of our general partner as our general partner
also constitutes its withdrawal or removal as the general partner of our
operating partnership.
In the event of removal of our general partner under circumstances
where cause exists or a withdrawal of our general partner that violates our
partnership agreement, a successor general partner will have the option to
purchase the general partner interests and incentive distribution rights of the
departing general partner for a cash payment equal to the fair market value of
those interests. Under all other circumstances where our general partner
withdraws or is removed, the departing general partner will have the option to
require the successor general partner to purchase those interests for their fair
market value. In each case, fair market value will be determined by agreement
between the departing general partner and the successor general partner. If no
agreement is reached, an independent expert selected by the departing general
partner and the successor general partner will determine the fair market value.
If the departing general partner and the successor general partner cannot agree
on an expert, then an expert chosen by agreement of the experts selected by each
of them will determine the fair market value. If the purchase option is not
exercised by either the departing general partner or the successor general
partner, the general partner interests and incentive distribution rights will
automatically convert into common units equal to the fair market value of those
interests. The successor general partner must indemnify the departing general
partner (or its transferee) from all of our debt and liability arising on or
after the date on which the departing general partner becomes a common
unitholder as a result of the conversion. Except for this limited indemnity
right and the right of the departing general partner to receive distributions on
its common units, no other payments will be made to our general partner after
withdrawal.
Transfer of General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights
Except for a transfer by our general partner of all, but not less than
all, of its general partner interests in us and our operating partnership to:
o an affiliate of our general partner or
o another person as part of the merger or consolidation of the
general partner with or into another person or the transfer by
the general partner of all or substantially all of its assets
to another person,
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our general partner may not transfer any part of its general partner interest in
us and our operating partnership to another person during the subordination
period without the approval of the holders of at least a majority of the
outstanding common units, excluding those held by our general partner and its
affiliates. After the subordination period ends, our general partner may
transfer all or any part of its general partner interest without obtaining the
consent of the common unitholders. As a condition to the transfer of a general
partner interest, either before or after the subordination period ends, the
transferee must assume the rights and duties of the general partner to whose
interest that transferee has succeeded, furnish an opinion of counsel regarding
limited liability and tax matters, agree to acquire all of the general partner's
interest in our operating partnership and agree to be bound by the provisions of
the partnership agreement of our operating partnership. Our general partner may
at any time, however, transfer its subordinated units without unitholder
approval. In addition, the members of our general partner may sell or transfer
all or part of their interest in our general partner to an affiliate without the
approval of the unitholders.
Our general partner or a later holder may transfer its incentive
distribution rights to an affiliate or another person as part of its merger or
consolidation with or into, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets
to, that person without the prior approval of the unitholders. However, the
transferee must agree to be bound by the provisions of our partnership
agreement. Before the end of the subordination period, other transfers of the
incentive distribution rights will require the affirmative vote of holders of a
majority of the outstanding common units, excluding those held by our general
partner and its affiliates. After the subordination period ends, the incentive
distribution rights will be freely transferable.
Atlas America and its affiliates have agreed that they will not divest
their interest in our general partner without also divesting to the same
acquiror their ownership interest in subsidiaries which act as the general
partner of general and limited partnerships sponsored by them.
Change of Management Provisions
Our partnership agreement contains specific provisions that are
intended to discourage a person or group from attempting to remove Atlas
Pipeline Partners GP, LLC as our general partner or otherwise change management.
If any person or group other than our general partner and its affiliates
acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of any class of units, that person
or group will lose voting rights on all of its units and the units will not be
considered outstanding for the purposes of noticing meetings, determining the
presence of a quorum, calculating required votes and other similar matters. In
addition, the removal of our general partner under circumstances where cause
does not exist and our general partner does not consent to that removal has the
adverse consequences described under "--Withdrawal or Removal of Our General
Partner."
Limited Call Right
If at any time not more than 20% of the outstanding limited partner
interests of any class are held by persons other than our general partner and
its affiliates, our general partner will have the right, which it may assign in
whole or in part to any of its affiliates or to us, to acquire all, but not less
than all, of the remaining limited partner interests of the class held by
unaffiliated persons as of a record date selected by our general partner, on at
least 10 but not more than 60 days' notice. The purchase price is the greater
of:
o the highest cash price paid by our general partner or any of
its affiliates for any limited partner interests of the class
purchased within the 90 days preceding the date on which our
general partner first mails notice of its election to purchase
those limited partner interest and
o the current market price as of the date three days before the
date the notice is mailed.
As a result of our general partner's right to purchase outstanding
limited partner interests, a holder of limited partner interests may have his
limited partner interests purchased at an undesirable time or price. The tax
consequences to a unitholder of the exercise of this call right are the same as
a sale by that unitholder of his common units in the market.
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Meetings; Voting
Except as described above for persons owning 20% or more of a class of
units, unitholders or assignees who are record holders of units on a record date
will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, meetings of our limited partners
and to act upon matters for which approvals may be solicited. Common units that
are owned by an assignee who is a record holder, but who has not yet been
admitted as a substituted limited partner, will be voted by our general partner
at the written direction of the record holder. Absent direction of this kind,
the common units will not be voted, except that, in the case of common units
held by our general partner on behalf of non-citizen assignees, our general
partner shall distribute the votes on those common units in the same ratios as
the votes of limited partners on other units are cast.
Any action to be taken by the unitholders may be taken either at a
meeting of the unitholders or without a meeting if consents in writing
describing the action so taken are signed by holders of the number of units as
would be necessary to take the action. Meetings of the unitholders may be called
by our general partner or by unitholders owning at least 20% of the outstanding
units of the class for which a meeting is proposed. Unitholders may vote either
in person or by proxy at meetings. The holders of a majority of the outstanding
units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called, represented
in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum unless any action by the
unitholders requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of the units,
in which case the quorum will be the greater percentage.
Except as described above under "--Change in Management Provisions,"
each record holder will have a vote in accordance with his percentage interest,
although additional limited partner interests having different voting rights
could be issued. See "--Issuance of Additional Securities." Common units held in
nominee or street name account will be voted by the broker or other nominee in
accordance with the instruction of the beneficial owner. Except as otherwise
provided in our partnership agreement, subordinated units will vote together
with common units as a single class.
We or the transfer agent will deliver any notice, report or proxy
material required or permitted to be given or made to record holders of common
units under our partnership agreement to the record holder.
Status as Limited Partner or Assignee
The common units will be fully paid, and, except as described above
under "--Limited Liability," unitholders will not be required to make additional
contributions.
An assignee of a common unit, after executing and delivering a transfer
application, but pending its admission as a substituted limited partner, is
entitled to an interest equivalent to that of a limited partner sharing in
allocations and distributions, including liquidating distributions. Our general
partner will vote and exercise other powers attributable to common units owned
by an assignee who has not become a substituted limited partner at the written
direction of the assignee. See "--Meetings; Voting." We will not treat
transferees who do not execute and deliver a transfer application as assignees
or as record holders of common units, and they will not receive cash
distributions, federal income tax allocations or reports furnished to record
holders. See "Description of the Common Units--Transfer of Common Units."
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Non-Citizen Assignees; Redemption
If we are or become subject to federal, state or local laws or
regulations that, in the reasonable determination of our general partner, create
a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property that we have an
interest in because of the nationality, citizenship or related status of any
limited partner or assignee, we may redeem the units held by the limited partner
or assignee at their current market price. In order to avoid any cancellation or
forfeiture, our general partner may require each limited partner or assignee to
furnish information about his nationality, citizenship or related status. If a
limited partner or assignee fails to furnish this information within 30 days
after a request for it, or our general partner determines after receipt of the
information that the limited partner or assignee is not an eligible citizen,
then the limited partner or assignee may be treated as a non-citizen assignee.
In addition to other limitations on the rights of an assignee who is not a
substituted limited partner, a non-citizen assignee does not have the right to
direct the voting of his units and may not receive distributions in kind upon
our liquidation.
Books and Reports
Our general partner keeps appropriate books on our business at our
principal offices. The books are maintained for both tax and financial reporting
purposes on an accrual basis. For tax and financial reporting purposes, our
fiscal year is the calendar year.
We furnish or make available to record holders of common units, within
120 days after the close of each fiscal year, an annual report containing
audited financial statements and a report on those financial statements by our
independent public accountants. Except for our fourth quarter, we also furnish
or make available summary financial information within 90 days after the close
of each quarter.
We furnish each record holder information reasonably required for tax
reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of each calendar year. We
expect to furnish information in summary form so that some complex calculations
normally required of partners can be avoided. Our ability to furnish this
summary information to unitholders depends on the cooperation of unitholders in
supplying us with specific information. We will furnish every unitholder with
information to assist him in determining his federal and state tax liability and
filing his federal and state income tax returns, regardless of whether he
supplies us with information.
Right to Inspect Our Books and Records
Our partnership agreement provides that a limited partner can, for a
purpose reasonably related to his interest as a limited partner, upon reasonable
demand and at his own expense, have furnished to him:
o a current list of the name and last known address of each
partner;
o a copy of our tax returns;
o information as to the amount of cash, and a description and
statement of the agreed value of any other property or
services, contributed or to be contributed by each partner and
the date on which each became a partner;
o copies of our partnership agreement, the certificate of
limited partnership and related amendments and powers of
attorney under which they have been executed;
o information regarding the status of our business and financial
condition; and
o other information regarding our affairs that is just and
reasonable.
Our general partner intends to keep confidential from the limited
partners trade secrets or other information the disclosure of which our general
partner believes in good faith is not in our best interests or which we are
required by law or by agreements with third parties to keep confidential.
Registration Rights
Under our partnership agreement, we have agreed to register for resale
under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws any common units,
subordinated units or other partnership securities proposed to be sold by our
general partner or any of its affiliates if an exemption from the registration
requirements is not otherwise available. We are obligated to pay all expenses
incidental to the registration, excluding underwriting discounts and
commissions.
21
TAX CONSIDERATIONS
This section is a summary of all of the material tax considerations
that may be relevant to prospective unitholders who are individual citizens or
residents of the United States and, to the extent set forth below under "--Legal
Opinions and Advice," expresses the opinion of Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C., counsel
to the general partner and us, insofar as it relates to matters of federal
income tax law and legal conclusions with respect thereto. In addition, all
statements, other than statements of fact, contained in this section, unless
otherwise noticed, are the opinion of Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C. This section is
based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, existing and
proposed regulations and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all
of which are subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. Later
changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary
substantially from the consequences described below. Unless the context
otherwise requires, references in this section to us are references to both us
and the operating partnerships.
We do not attempt in the following discussion to comment on all federal
income tax matters affecting us or unitholders. Moreover, the discussion focuses
on unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the United States and
has only limited application to corporations, estates, trusts, non-resident
aliens or other unitholders subject to specialized tax treatment, such as
tax-exempt institutions, foreign persons, individual retirement accounts, REITs
or mutual funds. Accordingly, you should consult, and should depend on your own
tax advisor in analyzing the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences
peculiar to you of the ownership or disposition of common units.
Legal Opinions and Advice
Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C. is of the opinion that, based on and in
reliance on the accuracy of factual representations made by us and subject to
the qualifications set forth in the detailed discussion that follows, for
federal income tax purposes:
o we will be treated as a publicly traded partnership;
o we and each operating partnership will each be treated as a
partnership;
o owners of common units, with some exceptions as described in
"Limited Partner Status" below, will be treated as our
partners; and
o allocations under our partnership agreement will be recognized
for federal income tax purposes; and
All other statements, except for statements of fact, contained in this
section are the opinion of Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C.
We have not requested and do not intend to request, a ruling from the
IRS regarding our classification as a partnership for federal income tax
purposes, whether our operations generate "qualifying income" under Section 7704
of the Internal Revenue Code or any other matter affecting us or prospective
unitholders. An opinion of counsel represents only that counsel's best legal
judgment and does not bind the IRS or the courts. Accordingly, we cannot assure
you that the opinions and statements made here would be sustained by a court if
contested by the IRS. Any contest of this sort with the IRS may materially and
adversely impact the market for the common units and the prices at which common
units trade. In addition, the costs of any contest with the IRS will be borne
directly or indirectly by the unitholders and the general partner. Furthermore,
counsel cannot assure you that the treatment of us, or an investment in us, will
not be significantly modified by future legislative or administrative changes or
court decisions. Any modifications may or may not be retroactively applied.
22
For the reasons set forth in the more detailed discussion as to each
item, Ledgewood Law, P.C. has not rendered an opinion with respect to the
following specific federal income tax issues:
o the treatment of a unitholder whose common units are loaned to
a short seller to cover a short sale of common units (see
"--Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership--Treatment of Short
Sales"),
o whether a unitholder acquiring common units in separate
transactions must maintain a single aggregate adjusted tax
basis in his or her common units (see "--Disposition of Common
Units--Recognition of Gain or Loss"),
o whether our monthly convention for allocating taxable income
and losses is permitted by existing Treasury Regulations (see
"--Disposition of Common Units--Allocations Between
Transferors and Transferees"), and
o whether our method for depreciating Section 743 adjustments is
sustainable (see "--Disposition of Common Units--Section 754
Election").
Partnership Status
A partnership is not a taxable entity and incurs no federal income tax
liability. Instead, each partner of a partnership is required to take into
account his or her allocable share of the partnership's items of income, gain,
loss and deduction in computing his or her federal income tax liability,
regardless of whether cash distributions are made. Distributions by a
partnership to a partner are generally not taxable unless the amount of cash
distributed is in excess of his or her adjusted basis in the partnership
interest immediately before the distribution.
We have not sought, and will not seek, a ruling from the IRS, and the
IRS has made no determination, as to our status and that of any operating
subsidiary as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. Instead, we have
relied on the opinion of counsel that, based upon the Code, its regulations,
published revenue rulings and court decisions and the representations described
below, we and our operating subsidiaries will be classified as a partnership not
taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.
In rendering its opinion, Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C. has relied on
factual representations made by us and our general partner. The representations
upon which counsel has relied are:
o neither we nor any operating subsidiary has elected or will
elect to be treated as an association or corporation;
o we and each operating subsidiary have been operated and will
be operated in accordance with all applicable partnership
statutes, its applicable partnership agreement or limited
liability company agreement; and
o for each taxable year, more than 90% of our gross income has
been and will be derived from:
o the exploration, development, production, processing,
refining, transportation or marketing of any mineral
or natural resource, including oil, gas or products
thereof, or
o other items of income as to which counsel has opined
or will opine are "qualifying income" within the
meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code.
23
Section 7704 of the Code provides that publicly-traded partnerships
such as us will, as a general rule, be taxed as corporations. However, an
exception, referred to as the "qualifying income exception" exists if at least
90% of a publicly-traded partnership's gross income for every taxable year
consists of "qualifying income." Qualifying income includes income and gains
derived from the transportation of crude oil, natural gas and products thereof.
Other types of qualifying income include interest from other than a financial
business, dividends, gains from the sale or lease of real property and gains
from the sale or other disposition of capital assets held for the production of
income that otherwise constitutes qualifying income. For this purpose, our share
of the gross income earned by our operating subsidiaries will be included in our
gross income as if we directly earned such income. We estimate that less than
10% of our gross income is qualifying income; however, this estimate could
change from time to time. Based upon and subject to this estimate, the factual
representations made by us, our general partner and a review of the applicable
legal authorities, Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C. is of the opinion that at least 90%
of our gross income will constitute qualifying income. Because this opinion is
based on future operations, it is impossible for the opinion to be more
definitive. Unless our business changes from that transporting natural gas it is
extremely unlikely that we would fail to meet the 90% test.
If we fail to meet the qualifying income exception, other than a
failure which is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and which is cured
within a reasonable time after discovery, we will be treated as if we had
transferred all of our assets, subject to liabilities, to a newly formed
corporation on the first day of the year in which we fail to meet the qualifying
income exception in return for stock in that corporation, and then distributed
that stock to our unitholders in liquidation of their units. This contribution
and liquidation should be tax-free to us and our unitholders so long as we, at
that time, do not have liabilities in excess of the tax basis of our assets.
Although the tax basis of our assets will be greater than our liabilities
immediately following the Triton acquisition, our tax basis will be reduced over
time by depletion and depreciation deductions. It is likely that the principal
balance of our indebtedness will be reduced at a lower rate, so that at some
time in the future our liabilities may exceed our tax basis in our assets. If
the deemed contribution and distribution in liquidation happened after such
time, our unitholders would be taxed on the excess of our liabilities over our
assets. Whether or not there is taxable income at the time of this event,
thereafter we would be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.
If we were treated as a corporation in any taxable year, either as a
result of a failure to meet the qualifying income exception or otherwise, our
items of income, gain, loss and deduction would be reflected only on our tax
return rather than being passed through to the unitholders, and our net income
would be taxed to us at corporate rates. In addition, any distribution made to a
unitholder would be treated as either taxable dividend income, to the extent of
our current or accumulated earnings and profits, or, in the absence of earnings
and profits, a nontaxable return of capital, to the extent of his or her tax
basis in his or her common units, or taxable capital gain, after his or her tax
basis in his or her common units is reduced to zero. Accordingly, treatment of
us as a corporation would result in a material reduction in a unitholder's cash
flow and after-tax return and, thus, would likely result in a substantial
reduction of the value of the units.
The discussion below is based on the assumption that we will be treated
as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
Limited Partner Status
Unitholders who have become our limited partners will be treated as our
partners for federal income tax purposes. Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C. is also of
the opinion, based upon and in reliance upon those same representations set
forth under "--Partnership Status," that
o assignees who have executed and delivered transfer
applications, and are awaiting admission as limited
partners, and
o unitholders whose common units are held in street
name or by a nominee and who have the right to direct
the nominee in the exercise of all substantive rights
attendant to the ownership of their common units,
24
will be treated as our partners for federal income tax purposes. As there is no
direct authority addressing assignees of common units who are entitled to
execute and deliver transfer applications and thereby become entitled to direct
the exercise of attendant rights, but who fail to execute and deliver transfer
applications, Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C.'s opinion does not extend to these
persons. Furthermore, a purchaser or other transferee of common units who does
not execute and deliver a transfer application may not receive some federal
income tax information or reports furnished to record holders of common units
unless the common units are held in a nominee or street name account and the
nominee or broker has executed and delivered a transfer application for those
common units.
A beneficial owner of common units whose units have been transferred to
a short seller to complete a short sale would appear to lose his or her status
as a partner with respect to such units for federal income tax purposes. See
"Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership--Treatment of Short Sales."
Income, gain, deductions or losses would not appear to be reportable by
a unitholder who is not a partner for federal income tax purposes, and any cash
distributions received by a unitholder who is not a partner for federal income
tax purposes would therefore be fully taxable as ordinary income. These holders
should consult their own tax advisors with respect to their status as our
partners for federal income tax purposes.
Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership
Flow-through of Taxable Income. We do not pay any federal income tax.
Instead, each unitholder is required to report on his or her income tax return
his or her allocable share of our income, gains, losses and deductions without
regard to whether we make cash distributions to that unitholder. Consequently,
we may allocate income to our unitholders although we have made no cash
distribution to them. Each unitholder will be required to include in income his
or her allocable share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our taxable
year ending with or within his or her taxable year.
Treatment of Distributions. Our distributions generally will not be
taxable for federal income tax purposes to the extent of a unitholders' tax
basis in his or her common units immediately before the distribution. Our cash
distributions in excess of that tax basis generally will be considered to be
gain from the sale or exchange of the common units, taxable in accordance with
the rules described under "--Disposition of Common Units" below. Any reduction
in a unitholder's share of our liabilities for which no partner, including the
general partner, bears the economic risk of loss, known as "nonrecourse
liabilities," will be treated as a distribution of cash to that unitholder. To
the extent our distributions cause a unitholder's "at risk" amount to be less
than zero at the end of any taxable year, the unitholder recaptures any losses
deducted in previous years. See "--Limitations on Deductibility of Our Losses."
A decrease in a unitholder's percentage interest in us because of our
issuance of additional common units will decrease his or her share of our
nonrecourse liabilities, and thus will result in a corresponding deemed
distribution of cash. A non-pro rata distribution of money or property may
result in ordinary income to a unitholder, regardless of his or her tax basis in
our common units, if the distribution reduces his or her share of our
"unrealized receivables," including depreciation recapture, or substantially
appreciated "inventory items," both as defined in Section 751 of the Internal
Revenue Code, known collectively as "Section 751 assets." To that extent, a
unitholder will be treated as having been distributed his or her proportionate
share of the Section 751 assets and having exchanged those assets with us in
return for the non-pro rata portion of the actual distribution made to him or
her. This latter deemed exchange will generally result in the unitholder's
realization of ordinary income under Section 751(b) of the Internal Revenue
Code. That income will equal the excess of:
o the non-pro rata portion of that distribution over
o his or her tax basis for the share of Section 751 assets
deemed relinquished in the exchange.
25
Ratio of Taxable Income to Distributions. In prior taxable years,
common unitholders received cash distributions that exceeded the amount of
taxable income allocated to the common unitholders. This excess was partially
the result of depreciation deductions, but was primarily the result of special
allocations to our general partner of taxable income earned by our operating
subsidiary of $2,778,000 for the 2000 taxable year and $1,603,000 for the 2001
taxable year which caused a corresponding reduction in the amount of taxable
income allocable to us. The operating agreement of our operating subsidiary
provides for a similar special allocation of $1,603,000 to be made to our
general partner for the 2002 taxable year. Upon future events specified in the
partnership agreement of our operating subsidiary, including the issuance of
additional interests or liquidation, the special allocations of taxable income
previously made to our general partner of $4,381,000 and the $1,603,000 to be
made for 2002 will be reversed by making special allocations of taxable income
to us. To the extent there is not sufficient income available in such years to
fully reverse the prior special allocations to the general partner, the general
partner will receive additional distributions upon our liquidation.
Consequently, it is possible that in future years common unitholders will
recognize taxable income in excess of cash distributions for the years in which
such reversal is made or have a reduction in liquidation distributions, or both.
Since this will depend upon the timing of future events and the distributions
made at such time, no more definitive conclusion can be made currently.
Tax Rates. In general the highest effective United States federal
income tax rate for individuals for 2002 is 38.6% and the maximum United States
federal income tax rate for net capital gains of an individual for 2002 is 20%
if the asset disposed of was held for more than 12 months at the time of
disposition.
Alternative Minimum Tax. Although it is not expected that we will
generate significant tax preference items or adjustments, each unitholder will
be required to take into account his distributive share of any items of our
income, gain, deduction or loss for purposes of the alternative minimum tax.
Basis of Common Units. A unitholder's initial tax basis for his or her
common units will be the amount he or she paid for the common units plus his or
her share of our nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will be increased by his or
her share of our income and by any increases in his or her share of our
nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will be decreased, but not below zero, by
our distributions to him or her, by his or her share of our losses, by any
decreases in his or her share of our nonrecourse liabilities and by his or her
share of our expenditures that are not deductible in computing taxable income
and are not required to be capitalized.
Limitations on Deductibility of Our Losses. The deduction by a
unitholder of his or her share of our losses will be limited to the tax basis in
his or her units and, in the case of an individual unitholder or a corporate
unitholder, if more than 50% of the value of its stock is owned directly or
indirectly by five or fewer individuals or some tax-exempt organizations, to the
amount for which the unitholder is considered to be "at risk" with respect to
our activities, if that is less than its tax basis. A unitholder must recapture
losses deducted in previous years to the extent that distributions cause his at
risk amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year. Losses
disallowed to a unitholder or recaptured as a result of these limitations will
carry forward and will be allowable to the extent that his tax basis or at risk
amount, whichever is the limiting factor, is subsequently increased. Upon the
taxable disposition of a unit, any gain recognized by a unitholder can be offset
by losses that were previously suspended by the at risk limitation but may not
be offset by losses suspended by the basis limitation. Any excess loss above
that gain previously suspended by the at risk or basis limitations is no longer
utilizable.
In general, a unitholder will be at risk to the extent of the tax basis
of his or her units, excluding any portion of that basis attributable to his or
her share of our nonrecourse liabilities, reduced by any amount of money he or
she borrows to acquire or hold the units, if the lender of those borrowed funds
owns an interest in us, is related to the unitholder or can look only to the
units for repayment. A unitholder's at risk amount will increase or decrease as
the tax basis of the unitholder's units increases or decreases, other than tax
basis increases or decreases attributable to increases or decreases in his or
her share of our nonrecourse liabilities.
26
The passive loss limitations generally provide that individuals,
estates, trusts and some closely-held corporations and personal service
corporations can deduct losses from passive activities, which are generally
activities in which the taxpayer does not materially participate, only to the
extent of the taxpayer's income from those passive activities. The passive loss
limitations are applied separately with respect to each publicly-traded
partnership. Consequently, any passive losses we generate will only be available
to offset our passive income generated in the future and will not be available
to offset income from other passive activities or investments, including other
publicly-traded partnerships, or salary or active business income. Passive
losses that are not deductible because they exceed a unitholder's share of our
income may be deducted in full when the unitholder disposes of his or her entire
investment in us in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party. The
passive activity loss rules are applied after other applicable limitations on
deductions, including the at risk rules and the basis limitation.
A unitholder's share of our net income may be offset by any of our
suspended passive losses, but it may not be offset by any other current or
carryover losses from other passive activities, including those attributable to
other publicly-traded partnerships. The IRS has announced that Treasury
Regulations will be issued that characterize net passive income from a
publicly-traded partnership as investment income for purposes of the limitations
on the deductibility of investment interest.
Limitations on Interest Deductions. The deductibility of a
non-corporate taxpayer's "investment interest expense" is generally limited to
the amount of that taxpayer's "net investment income." As noted, a unitholder's
share of our net passive income will be treated as investment income for this
purpose. In addition, a unitholder's share of our portfolio income will be
treated as investment income. Investment interest expense includes:
o interest on indebtedness properly allocable to property held
for investment;
o our interest expense attributed to portfolio income; and
o the portion of interest expense incurred to purchase or carry
an interest in a passive activity to the extent attributable
to portfolio income.
The computation of a unitholder's investment interest expense will take
into account interest on any margin account borrowing or other loan incurred to
purchase or carry a unit. Net investment income includes gross income from
property held for investment and amounts treated as portfolio income under the
passive loss rules, less deductible expenses, other than interest, directly
connected with the production of investment income, but generally does not
include gains attributable to the disposition of property held for investment.
Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction. In general, if we have
a net profit, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated
among the general partner and the unitholders in accordance with their
percentage interests in us. At any time that distributions are made to the
common units and not to the subordinated units, or that incentive distributions
are made to the general partner, gross income will be allocated to the
recipients to the extent of these distributions. If we have a net loss for the
entire year, the amount of that loss will generally be allocated first to the
general partner and the unitholders in accordance with their particular
percentage interests in us to the extent of their positive capital accounts and,
second, to the general partner.
As required by the Internal Revenue Code some items of our income,
deduction, gain and loss will be allocated to account for the difference between
the tax basis and fair market value of property contributed to us by the general
partner referred to in this discussion as "contributed property." The effect of
these allocations to a unitholder will be essentially the same as if the tax
basis of the contributed property were equal to its fair market value at the
time of contribution. In addition, specified items of recapture income will be
allocated to the extent possible to the partner who was allocated the deduction
giving rise to the treatment of that gain as recapture income in order to
minimize the recognition of ordinary income by some unitholders.
Finally, although we do not expect that our operations will result in
the creation of negative capital accounts, if negative capital accounts
nevertheless result, items of our income and gain will be allocated in an amount
and manner sufficient to eliminate the negative balance as quickly as possible.
27
Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C. is of the opinion that, with the exception of
the issues described in "--Disposition of Common Units--Section 754 Election"
and "--Disposition of Common Units--Allocations Between Transferors and
Transferees," allocations under our partnership agreement will be recognized for
federal income tax purposes in determining a partner's share of an item of our
income, gain, loss or deduction.
Entity-Level Collections. If we are required or elect under applicable
law to pay any federal, state or local income tax on behalf of any unitholder or
the general partner or any former unitholder, we are authorized to pay those
taxes from our funds. That payment, if made, will be treated as a distribution
of cash to the person on whose behalf the payment was made. If the payment is
made on behalf of a person whose identity cannot be determined, we are
authorized to treat the payment as a distribution to all current unitholders and
the general partner. We are authorized to amend the partnership agreement in the
manner necessary to maintain uniformity of units and to adjust later
distributions, so that after giving effect to these distributions, the priority
and characterization of distributions otherwise applicable under the partnership
agreement is maintained as nearly as is practicable. Payments by us as described
above could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf of a unitholder in
which event he could file a claim for credit or refund.
Treatment of Short Sales. A unitholder whose units are loaned to a
"short seller" to cover a short sale of units may be considered as having
disposed of ownership of those units. If so, the unitholder would no longer own
units for federal income tax purposes during the period of the loan and may
recognize gain or loss from the disposition. As a result, during this period:
o any of our income, gain, deduction or loss with respect to
those units would not be reportable by the unitholder;
o any cash distributions we make to that unitholder with respect
to those units would be fully taxable; and
o all of those distributions would appear to be treated as
ordinary income.
Unitholders desiring to assure ownership of their units for tax
purposes and avoid these consequences should modify any applicable brokerage
account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing their units. The IRS
has announced that it is actively studying issues relating to the tax treatment
of short sales of partnership interests. See also "--Disposition of Common
Units--Recognition of Gain or Loss." Because the IRS has not announced the
results of its study and there is no authority addressing the treatment of short
sales of partnership interests, Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C. is unable to opine on
the treatment of such short sales.
Tax Treatment of Operations
Accounting Method and Taxable Year. We use the accrual method of
accounting for federal income tax purposes. Since the beginning of our
operations, we have used the tax year ending September 30 as our tax year, which
is the tax year for Resource America and its subsidiaries. Section 706 of the
Internal Revenue Code generally requires that a partnership's taxable year
coincide with the taxable year of the partners holding a majority interest.
Each unitholder will be required to include in income his or her share of our
income, gain, loss and deduction for our taxable year(s) ending within or with
his or her taxable year. In addition, a unitholder who has a taxable year ending
on a date other than September 30, and who disposes of all of his or her units
following the close of our taxable year but before the close of his or her
taxable year, must include his or her share of our income, gain, loss and
deduction in income for his or her taxable year, with the result that he or she
will be required to report income for his or her taxable year for his or her
share of more than one year of our income, gain, loss and deduction.
28
Initial Tax Basis, Depreciation and Amortization. The tax basis of our
assets will be used for purposes of computing depreciation and cost recovery
deductions and, ultimately, gain or loss on the disposition of these assets. The
federal income tax burden associated with the difference between the fair market
value of property contributed and the tax basis established for that property
will be borne by the general partner. See "--Tax Treatment of
Unitholders--Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction."
To the extent allowable, we may elect to use the depreciation and cost
recovery methods that will result in the largest deductions being taken in the
early years after assets are placed in service. We will not be entitled to any
amortization deductions with respect to any goodwill conveyed to us on
formation. Property we subsequently acquire or construct may be depreciated
using accelerated methods permitted by the Internal Revenue Code.
If we dispose of depreciable property by sale, foreclosure, or
otherwise, all or a portion of any gain, determined by reference to the amount
of depreciation previously deducted and the nature of the property, may be
subject to the recapture rules and taxed as ordinary income rather than capital
gain. Similarly, a unitholder who has taken cost recovery or depreciation
deductions with respect to our property may be required to recapture those
deductions as ordinary income upon a sale of his units. See "--Tax Consequences
of Unit Ownership--Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction" and
"--Disposition of Common Units--Recognition of Gain or Loss."
Uniformity of Units. We must maintain economic and tax uniformity of
the units to all holders. A lack of tax uniformity can result from a literal
application of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.167(c)-1(a)(6) and 1.197-2(g)(3).
Any resulting non-uniformity could have a negative impact on the value of the
units by reducing the tax deductions available to a purchaser of units. See
"--Disposition of Common Units--Section 754 Election."
Consistent with recently finalized regulations, we intend to depreciate
or amortize the Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to unrealized
appreciation in the value of contributed property in a way that will avoid
non-uniformity of tax treatment among unitholders. See "--Disposition of Common
Units--Section 754 Election." If we determine that this position cannot
reasonably be taken, we may adopt a different position in an effort to maintain
uniformity. This could result in lower annual depreciation and amortization
deductions than would otherwise be allowable to some unitholders and risk the
loss of depreciation and amortization deductions not taken in the year that
these deductions are otherwise allowable. The IRS may challenge any method of
depreciating the Section 743(b) adjustment we adopt. If such a challenge were
made and sustained, the uniformity of units might be affected, and the gain from
the sale of units might be increased without the benefit of additional
deductions. See "--Disposition of Common Units--Recognition of Gain or Loss."
Valuation of Our Properties. The federal income tax consequences of the
ownership and disposition of units will depend in part on our estimates of the
relative fair market values of our assets. Although we may from time to time
consult with professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, we make many
of the relative fair market value estimates ourselves. These estimates are
subject to challenge and will not be binding on the IRS or the courts. If the
estimates of fair market value are later found to be incorrect, the character
and amount of items of income, gain, loss or deductions previously reported by
unitholders might change, and unitholders might be required to adjust their tax
liability for prior years.
Disposition of Common Units
Recognition of Gain or Loss. Gain or loss will be recognized on a sale
of units equal to the difference between the amount realized and the
unitholder's tax basis in the units sold. A unitholder's amount realized will be
measured by the sum of the cash or the fair market value of other property
received plus his or her share of our nonrecourse liabilities. Because the
amount realized includes a unitholder's share of our nonrecourse liabilities,
the gain recognized on the sale of units could result in a tax liability in
excess of any cash received from the sale.
29
Prior distributions from us in excess of cumulative net taxable income
for a common unit that decreased a unitholder's tax basis in that common unit
will, in effect, become taxable income if the common unit is sold at a price
greater than his tax basis in that common unit, even if the price is less than
his original cost.
Should the IRS successfully contest our method of depreciating or
amortizing the Section 743(b) adjustment, described under "--Disposition of
Common Units--Section 754 Election," attributable to contributed property, a
unitholder could realize additional gain from the sale of units than had our
method been respected. In that case, the unitholder may have been entitled to
additional deductions against income in prior years but may be unable to claim
them, with the result to him of greater overall taxable income than appropriate.
Due to the lack of final regulations, Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C. is unable to
opine as to the validity of the convention but believes a contest by the IRS is
unlikely because a successful contest could result in substantial additional
deductions to other unitholders.
Except as noted below, gain or loss recognized by a unitholder, other
than a "dealer" in units, on the sale or exchange of a unit held for more than
one year will generally be taxable as capital gain or loss. Capital gain
recognized by an individual on the sale of units held more than 12 months will
generally be taxed a maximum rate of 20%. A portion of this gain or loss, which
will likely be substantial, however, will be separately computed and taxed as
ordinary income under Section 751 of the Internal Revenue Code to the extent
attributable to assets giving rise to depreciation recapture or other
"unrealized receivables" or to "inventory items" we own. Ordinary income
attributable to unrealized receivables, inventory items and depreciation
recapture may exceed net taxable gain realized upon the sale of a unit and may
be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss realized on that sale. Thus, a
unitholder may recognize both ordinary income and a capital loss upon a
disposition of units. Net capital loss may offset no more than $3,000 of
ordinary income in the case of individuals and may only be used to offset
capital gain in the case of corporations.
The IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a
partnership in separate transactions must combine those interests and maintain a
single adjusted tax basis. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of
those interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated to the interests
sold using an "equitable apportionment" method. Although the ruling is unclear
as to how the holding period of these interests is determined once they are
combined, recently issued regulations would allow a selling unitholder who can
identify units transferred with an ascertainable holding period to use the
actual holding period of the units transferred. The regulations indicate that a
unitholder must maintain a single adjusted tax basis in his units. Thus, it is
unlikely that a unitholder will be unable to select high or low basis common
units to sell as would be the case with corporate stock.
Specific provisions of the Internal Revenue Code affect the taxation of
some financial products and securities, including partnership interests, by
treating a taxpayer as having sold an "appreciated" partnership interest, one in
which gain would be recognized if it were sold, assigned or terminated at its
fair market value, if the taxpayer or related persons enter into:
o a short sale;
o an offsetting notional principal contract; or
o a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership
interest or substantially identical property.
Moreover, if a taxpayer has previously entered into a short sale, an
offsetting notional principal contract or a futures or forward contract with
respect to the partnership interest, the taxpayer will be treated as having sold
that position if the taxpayer or a related person then acquires the partnership
interest or substantially identical property. The Secretary of Treasury is also
authorized to issue regulations that treat a taxpayer that enters into
transactions or positions that have substantially the same effect as the
preceding transactions as having constructively sold the financial position.
30
Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees. Our taxable income and
losses are determined annually, prorated on a monthly basis and apportioned
among the unitholders in proportion to the number of units owned by each of them
as of the opening of the American Stock Exchange on the first business day of
the month. However, gain or loss realized on a sale or other disposition of our
assets other than in the ordinary course of business is allocated among the
unitholders as of the opening of the American Stock Exchange on the first
business day of the month in which that gain or loss is recognized. As a result,
a unitholder transferring units may be allocated income, gain, loss and
deduction accrued after the date of transfer.
The use of this method may not be permitted under existing Treasury
Regulations. Accordingly, Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C. is unable to opine on the
validity of this method of allocating income and deductions between transferors
and transferees of units. If this method is not allowed under the Treasury
Regulations, or only applies to transfers of less than all of the unitholder's
interest, our taxable income or losses might be reallocated among the
unitholders. Under our partnership agreement, we are authorized to revise our
method of allocation between transferors and transferees, as well as among
partners whose interests otherwise vary during a taxable period, to conform to a
method permitted under future Treasury Regulations.
A unitholder who owns units at any time during a quarter and who
disposes of them prior to the record date set for a cash distribution for that
quarter will be allocated a share of our income, gain, loss and deductions
attributable to that quarter but will not be entitled to receive that cash
distribution.
Section 754 Election. We made the election permitted by Section 754 of
the Internal Revenue Code. That election is irrevocable without the consent of
the IRS. The election generally permits us to adjust a common unit purchaser's
tax basis in our assets ("inside basis") to reflect his or her purchase price.
This election does not apply to a person who purchases common units directly
from us. The adjustment belongs to the purchaser and not to other unitholders.
For purposes of this discussion, a partner's inside basis in our assets will be
considered to have two components:
o his or her share of our tax basis in our assets ("common
basis") and
o his or her Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis.
Treasury regulations under Section 743 of the Internal Revenue Code
require, if the remedial allocation method is adopted, a portion of the
adjustment attributable to recovery property to be depreciated over the
remaining cost recovery period for built-in gain. Nevertheless, the regulations
under Section 197 indicate that the adjustment attributable to an amortizable
Section 197 intangible should be treated as a newly-acquired asset placed in
service in the month when the purchaser acquires the unit. Under Treasury
Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6), an adjustment attributable to property
subject to depreciation under Section 167 of the Internal Revenue Code rather
than cost recovery deductions under Section 168 is generally required to be
depreciated using either the straight-line method or the 150% declining balance
method. A literal application of these different rules result in lack of
uniformity. Under our partnership agreement, our general partner is authorized
to adopt a position intended to preserve the uniformity of units even if that
position is not consistent with the Treasury Regulations. See "--Tax Treatment
of Operations--Uniformity of Units."
We intend to depreciate the portion of a Section 743(b) adjustment
attributable to unrealized appreciation in the value of contributed property, to
the extent of any unamortized book-tax disparity, using a rate of depreciation
or amortization derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful
life applied to the common basis of the property. If the contributed property is
not amortizable, we will treat that portion as non-amortizable. This method is
consistent with the regulations under Section 743. This method, however, is
arguably inconsistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6) and
Treasury Regulation Section 1.197-2(g)(3), neither of which is expected to
directly apply to a material portion of our assets. To the extent this Section
743(b) adjustment exceeds that amount, we will apply the rules described in the
Treasury Regulations and legislative history. If we determine that this position
cannot reasonably be taken, we may adopt a different position which could result
in lower annual depreciation or amortization deductions than would otherwise be
allowable to specified unitholders. See "--Tax Treatment of
Operations--Uniformity of Units."
31
The allocation of the Section 743(b) adjustment among our assets must
be made in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code. The IRS could seek to
allocate some or all of any Section 743(b) adjustment to goodwill not so
allocated by us. Goodwill, as an intangible asset, is generally amortizable over
a longer period of time or under a less accelerated method than our tangible
assets.
A Section 754 election is advantageous if the transferee's tax basis in
his or her units is higher than that units' share of the aggregate tax basis of
our assets immediately prior to the transfer. In that case, as a result of the
election, the transferee would have a higher tax basis in his or her share of
our assets for purposes of calculating, among other items, his or her
depreciation and depletion deductions and share of any gain or loss on a sale of
our assets. Conversely, a Section 754 election is disadvantageous if the
transferee's tax basis in his or her units is lower than that units' share of
the aggregate tax basis of our assets immediately prior to the transfer. Thus,
the fair market value of the units may be affected either favorably or adversely
by the election.
The calculations involved in the Section 754 election are complex and
we will make them on the basis of assumptions as to the value of our assets and
other matters. There is no assurance that the determinations we make will not be
successfully challenged by the IRS and that the deductions resulting from them
will not be reduced or disallowed altogether. Should the IRS require a different
basis adjustment to be made, and should, in our opinion, the expense of
compliance exceed the benefit of the election, we may seek permission from the
IRS to revoke our Section 754 election. If permission is granted, a subsequent
purchaser of units may be allocated more income than he would have been
allocated had the election not been revoked.
Notification Requirements. A unitholder who sells or exchanges units is
required to notify us in writing of that sale or exchange within 30 days after
the sale or exchange. We are required to notify the IRS of that transaction and
to furnish information to the transferor and transferee. However, these
reporting requirements do not apply to a sale by an individual who is a citizen
of the United States and who effects the sale or exchange through a broker.
Additionally, a transferor and a transferee of a unit will be required to
furnish statements to the IRS, filed with their income tax returns for the
taxable year in which the sale or exchange occurred, that describe the amount of
the consideration received for the unit that is allocated to our goodwill or
going concern value. Failure to satisfy these reporting obligations may lead to
the imposition of substantial penalties.
Dissolutions and Terminations
Upon our dissolution, our assets will be sold and any resulting gain or
loss will be allocated among the general partner and the unitholders. See "Tax
Consequences of Unit Ownership--Allocation of Income, Gain Loss and Deductions."
We will distribute all cash to the general partner and unitholders in
liquidation in accordance with their positive capital account balances. See
"Cash Distribution Policy--Distributions of Cash on Liquidation."
Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors
Ownership of units by employee benefit plans, other tax-exempt
organizations, nonresident aliens, foreign corporations, other foreign persons
and regulated investment companies raises issues unique to those investors and,
as described below, may have substantially adverse tax consequences.
Employee benefit plans and most other organizations exempt from federal
income tax, including individual retirement accounts and other retirement plans,
are subject to federal income tax on unrelated business taxable income.
Virtually all of our taxable income allocated to a unitholder which is a
tax-exempt organization will be unrelated business taxable income and thus will
be taxable to that unitholder.
32
A regulated investment company or "mutual fund" is required to derive
90% or more of its gross income from interest, dividends and gains from the sale
of stocks or securities or foreign currency or specified related sources. Under
current law, it is not anticipated that any significant amount of our gross
income will include that type of income.
Non-resident aliens and foreign corporations, trusts or estates that
own units will be considered to be engaged in business in the United States on
account of ownership of our units. As a consequence they will be required to
file federal tax returns reporting their share of our income, gain, loss or
deduction and pay federal income tax at regular rates on any net income or gain.
Generally, a partnership is required to pay a withholding tax on the portion of
the partnership's income that is effectively connected with the conduct of a
United States trade or business and which is allocable to foreign partners.
However, under rules applicable to publicly traded partnerships, we will
withhold (currently at the rate of 38.6%) on cash distributions made to foreign
unitholders. Each foreign unitholder must obtain a taxpayer identification
number from the IRS and submit that number to our transfer agent on a Form W-8
in order to obtain credit for the taxes withheld.
Because a foreign corporation that owns units will be treated as
engaged in a United States trade or business, that corporation may be subject to
United States branch profits tax a rate of 30%, in addition to regular federal
income tax, on its share of our income and gain, as adjusted for changes in its
"U.S. net equity," which are effectively connected with the conduct of a United
States trade or business. That tax may be reduced or eliminated by an income tax
treaty between the United States and the country in which the foreign corporate
unitholder is a "qualified resident." In addition, this type of unitholder is
subject to special information reporting requirements under Section 6038C of the
Internal Revenue Code.
Under a ruling of the IRS, a foreign unitholder who sells or otherwise
disposes of a unit will be subject to federal income tax on gain realized on the
disposition of that unit to the extent that this gain is effectively connected
with a United States trade or business of the foreign unitholder. Apart from the
ruling, a foreign unitholder will not be taxed or subject to withholding upon
the disposition of a unit if he has owned less than 5% in value of the units
during the five-year period ending on the date of the disposition and if the
units are regularly traded on an established securities market at the time of
the disposition.
Administrative Matters
Information Returns and Audit Procedures. We furnish to each
unitholder, within 90 days after the close of each calendar year, specific tax
information, including a Schedule K-1, which describes his or her share of our
income, gain, loss and deduction for our preceding taxable year. In preparing
this information, which is generally not be reviewed by counsel, we take various
accounting and reporting positions, some of which have been mentioned earlier,
to determine the unitholder's share of income, gain, loss and deduction. We
cannot assure you that any of those positions will yield a result that conforms
to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, regulations or administrative
interpretations of the IRS. Neither we nor counsel can assure prospective
unitholders that the IRS will not successfully contend in court that those
accounting and reporting positions are impermissible. Any challenge by the IRS
could negatively affect the value of the units.
The IRS may audit our federal income tax information returns.
Adjustments resulting from any such audit may require each unitholder to adjust
a prior year's tax liability, and possibly may result in an audit of that
unitholder's own return. Any audit of a unitholder's return could result in
adjustments not related to our returns as well as those related to our returns.
Partnerships generally are treated as separate entities for purposes of
federal tax audits, judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS and
tax settlement proceedings. The tax treatment of partnership items of income,
gain, loss and deduction are determined in a partnership proceeding rather than
in separate proceedings with the partners. The Internal Revenue Code provides
for one partner to be designated as the "tax matters partner" for these
purposes. The partnership agreement appoints the general partner as our tax
matters partner.
33
The tax matters partner will make some elections on our behalf and on
behalf of unitholders. In addition, the tax matters partner can extend the
statute of limitations for assessment of tax deficiencies against unitholders
for items in our returns. The tax matters partner may bind a unitholder with
less than a 1% profits interest in us to a settlement with the IRS unless that
unitholder elects, by filing a statement with the IRS, not to give that
authority to the tax matters partner. The tax matters partner may seek judicial
review, by which all the unitholders are bound, of a final partnership
administrative adjustment and, if the tax matters partner fails to seek judicial
review, judicial review may besought by any unitholder having at least a 1%
interest in profits and by the unitholders having in the aggregate at least a 5%
profits interest. However, only one action for judicial review will go forward,
and each unitholder with an interest in the outcome may participate. However,
despite our intention not to do so if we elect to be treated as a large
partnership, a unitholder will not have the right to participate in settlement
conferences with the IRS or to seek a refund.
A unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the
treatment of any item on his federal income tax return that is not consistent
with the treatment of the item on our return. Intentional or negligent disregard
of the consistency requirement may subject a unitholder to substantial
penalties. However, despite our intention not to do so if we elect to be treated
as a large partnership, the unitholders would be required to treat all
partnership items in a manner consistent with our return.
If we elect to be treated as a large partnership despite our intention
not to do so, each partner would take into account separately his share of the
following items, determined at the partnership level:
o taxable income or loss from passive loss limitation
activities;
o taxable income or loss from other activities (including
portfolio income or loss);
o net capital gains to the extent allocable to passive loss
limitation activities and other activities;
o tax exempt interest;
o a net alternative minimum tax adjustment separately computed
for passive loss limitation activities and other activities;
o general credits;
o low-income housing credit;
o rehabilitation credit;
o foreign income taxes;
o credit for producing fuel from a nonconventional source; and
o any other items the Secretary of Treasury deems appropriate.
Moreover, miscellaneous itemized deductions would not be passed through to the
partners and 30% of those deductions would be used at the partnership level.
34
A number of other changes have been made to the tax compliance and
administrative rules relating to electing large partnerships. Adjustments
relating to partnership items for a previous taxable year are generally taken
into account by those persons who were partners in the previous taxable year.
Each partner in an electing large partnership, however, must take into account
his share of any adjustments to partnership items in the year that adjustments
are made. Alternatively, a partnership could elect to or, in some circumstances
could be required to, directly pay the tax resulting from any adjustments of
this kind. In either case, therefore, unitholders could bear significant costs
associated with tax adjustments relating to periods predating their acquisition
of units. It is not expected that we will elect to have the large partnership
provisions apply to us because of the cost of their application.
Nominee Reporting. Persons who hold an interest in us as a nominee for
another person are required to furnish to us:
o the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the
beneficial owner and the nominee;
o whether the beneficial owner is
o a person that is not a United States person;
o a foreign government, an international organization or any
wholly owned agency or instrumentality of either of the
foregoing; or
o a tax-exempt entity;
o the amount and description of units held, acquired or
transferred for the beneficial owner; and
o specific information including the dates of acquisitions and
transfers, means of acquisitions and transfers, and
acquisition cost for purchases, as well as the amount of net
proceeds from sales.
Brokers and financial institutions are required to furnish additional
information, including whether they are United States persons and specific
information on units they acquire, hold or transfer for their own account. A
penalty of $50 per failure, up to a maximum of $100,000 per calendar year, is
imposed by the Internal Revenue Code for failure to report that information to
us. The nominee is required to supply the beneficial owner of the units with the
information furnished to us.
Registration as a Tax Shelter. The Internal Revenue Code requires that
"tax shelters" be registered with the Secretary of the Treasury. The temporary
Treasury Regulations interpreting the tax shelter registration provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code are extremely broad. It is arguable that we are not
subject to the registration requirement on the basis that we will not constitute
a tax shelter. However, the general partner has registered us as a tax shelter
with the Secretary of Treasury in the absence of assurance that we will not be
subject to tax shelter registration and in light of the substantial penalties
which might be imposed if registration is required and not undertaken. Our tax
shelter registration number is 99344000008.
Registration as a tax shelter may increase the likelihood of an audit
of our tax return or the tax return of a holder of common units. See
"--Administrative Matters--Information Returns and Audit Procedures."
Registration as a tax shelter could also result in penalties being assessed to a
holder of units if he does not comply with the rules discussed in the next
paragraph.
We will furnish the registration number to the unitholders, and a
unitholder who sells or otherwise transfers a unit in a later transaction must
furnish the registration number to the transferee. The penalty for failure of
the transferor of a unit to furnish the registration number to the transferee is
$100 for each failure. The unitholders must disclose our tax shelter
registration number on Form 8271 to be attached to the tax return on which any
deduction, loss or other benefit generated by us is claimed or on which any of
our income is included. A unitholder who fails to disclose the tax shelter
registration number on his return, without reasonable cause for that failure,
will be subject to a $250 penalty for each failure. Any penalties discussed are
not deductible for federal income tax purposes.
35
Issuance of this registration number does not indicate that an
investment in us or the claimed tax benefits have been reviewed, examined or
approved by the IRS.
Accuracy-related Penalties. An additional tax equal to 20% of the
amount of any portion of an underpayment of tax that is attributable to one or
more specified causes, including negligence or disregard of rules or
regulations, substantial understatements of income tax and substantial valuation
misstatements, is imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. No penalty will be
imposed, however, for portion of an underpayment if it is shown that there was a
reasonable cause for that portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith
regarding that portion.
A substantial understatement of income tax in any taxable year exists
if the amount of the understatement exceeds the greater of 10% of the tax
required to be shown on the return for the taxable year or $5,000 ($10,000 for
most corporations). The amount of any understatement subject to penalty
generally is reduced if any portion is attributable to a position adopted on the
return:
o for which there is, or was, "substantial authority" or
o as to which there is a reasonable basis and the pertinent
facts of that position are disclosed on the return.
More stringent rules apply to "tax shelters," a term that in this
context does not appear to include us. If any item of income, gain, loss or
deduction allocated to unitholders might result in that kind of an
"understatement" of income for which no "substantial authority" exists, we must
disclose the pertinent facts on our return. In addition, we will make a
reasonable effort to furnish sufficient information for unitholders to make
adequate disclosure on their returns to avoid liability for this penalty.
State, Local and Other Tax Considerations
In addition to federal income taxes, you will be subject to other
taxes, including state and local income taxes, unincorporated business taxes,
and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that may be imposed by the various
jurisdictions in which we do business or own property. Although an analysis of
those various taxes is not presented here, each prospective unitholder should
consider their potential impact on his or her investment in us. We currently own
property or do business in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. Each of these states
currently imposes a personal income tax. A unitholder will be required to file
state income tax returns and to pay state income taxes in some or all of these
states in which we do business or own property and may be subject to penalties
for failure to comply with those requirements. In some states, tax losses may
not produce a tax benefit in the year incurred and also may not be available to
offset income in subsequent taxable years. Some of the states may require us, or
we may elect, to withhold a percentage of income from amounts to be distributed
to a unitholder who is not a resident of the state. Withholding, the amount of
which may be greater or less than a particular unitholder's income tax liability
to the state, generally does not relieve a nonresident unitholder from the
obligation to file an income tax return. Amounts withheld may be treated as if
distributed to unitholders for purposes of determining the amounts distributed
by us. See "--Tax Treatment of Unitholders--Entity-Level Collections." Based on
current law and our estimate of our future operations, the general partner
anticipates that any amounts required to be withheld will not be material. We
may also own property or do business in other states in the future.
It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate the legal
and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent states and localities, of his
or her investment in us. Accordingly, each prospective unitholder should
consult, and must depend upon, his or her own tax counsel or other advisor with
regard to those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each unitholder to
file all state and local, as well as United States federal tax returns that may
be required of him or her. Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C. has not rendered an opinion
on the state or local tax consequences of an investment in us.
36
Investment by Employee Benefit Plans
An investment in us by an employee benefit plan is subject to
additional considerations because the investments of these plans are subject to
the fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA, and
restrictions imposed by Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code. For these
purposes the term "employee benefit plan" includes, but is not limited to,
qualified pension, profit-sharing and stock bonus plans, Keogh plans, simplified
employee pension plans and tax deferred annuities or IRAs established or
maintained by an employer or employee organization. Among other things,
consideration should be given to:
o whether the investment is prudent under Section 404(a)(1)(B)
of ERISA;
o whether in making the investment, that plan will satisfy the
diversification requirements of Section 404(a)(1)(C) of ERISA;
and
o whether the investment will result in recognition of unrelated
business taxable income by the plan and, if so, the potential
after-tax investment return.
The person with investment discretion with respect to the assets of an
employee benefit plan, often called a fiduciary, should determine whether an
investment in us is authorized by the appropriate governing instrument and is a
proper investment for the plan.
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code
prohibits employee benefit plans, and also IRAs that are not considered part of
an employee benefit plan, from engaging in specified transactions involving
"plan assets" with parties that are "parties in interest" under ERISA or
"disqualified persons" under the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the plan.
In addition to considering whether the purchase of common units is a
prohibited transaction, a fiduciary of an employee benefit plan should consider
whether the plan will, by investing in us, be deemed to own an undivided
interest in our assets, with the result that the general partners also would be
fiduciaries of the plan and our operations would be subject to the regulatory
restrictions of ERISA, including its prohibited transaction rules, as well as
the prohibited transaction rules of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Department of Labor regulations provide guidance with respect to
whether the assets of an entity in which employee benefit plans acquire equity
interests would be deemed "plan assets" under some circumstances. Under these
regulations, an entity's assets would not be considered to be "plan assets" if,
among other things,
o the equity interests acquired by employee benefit plans are
publicly offered securities, i.e., the equity interests are
widely held by 100 or more investors independent of the issuer
and each other, freely transferable and registered under some
provisions of the federal securities laws;
o the entity is an "operating company," i.e., it is primarily
engaged in the production or sale of a product or service
other than the investment of capital either directly or
through a majority-owned subsidiary or subsidiaries; or
o there is no significant investment by benefit plan investors,
which is defined to mean that less than 25% of the value of
each class of equity interest, disregarding some interests
held by the general partners, their affiliates, and some other
persons, is held by the employee benefit plans referred to
above, IRAs and other employee benefit plans not subject to
ERISA, including governmental plans.
37
Our assets should not be considered "plan assets" under these
regulations because it is expected that the investment will satisfy the first
requirements above.
Plan fiduciaries contemplating a purchase of common units should
consult with their own counsel regarding the consequences under ERISA and the
Internal Revenue Code is light of the serious penalties imposed on persons who
engage in prohibited transactions or other violations.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The proceeds from the sale of the common units by the selling
unitholders will be solely for their account; we will not receive any of the
proceeds from the sale of these units.
SELLING UNITHOLDERS
The following table sets forth the names of the selling unitholders and
the maximum number of common units that will be offered for the accounts of the
selling unitholders under this prospectus. The registration of the resale of
these common units hereby does not necessarily mean that the selling unitholders
will offer or sell any of them.
Common units Common units
owned before Common units owned after
Selling unitholder offering offered hereby offering(1)
--------------------------- -------------- ---------------- --------------
Kingston Oil Corporation.......................... 58,181 58,181 0
Interstate Gas Supply, Inc........................ 30,054 30,054 0
American Refining and Exploration Company......... 19,924 19,924 0
--------------------------
(1) Assumes the sale by the selling unitholders of all common units offered.
Because the selling unitholders may offer all, some or none of their common
units, no definitive estimate of the number of common units that will be
held by the selling unitholders after the offering can be provided.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are registering 108,159 shares of our common units on behalf of the
selling unitholders.
The selling unitholders have advised us that the sale or distribution
of the common units may be effected directly to purchasers or through one or
more underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents from time to time in one or more
types of transactions (which may involve crosses or block transactions). We will
bear all expenses of registering the common units for resale by the selling
unitholders, including fees for the selling unitholders' counsel up to an
aggregate of $20,000, but the selling unitholders will bear the costs of
brokerage commissions and similar expenses. The selling unitholders may sell the
common units by one or more of the following methods:
o on the American Stock Exchange or on another exchange,
o in negotiated transactions,
o through put or call options transactions relating to the
common units or derivatives thereof in connection with which
the selling unitholders may sell and deliver common units,
o an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the
applicable exchange,
o a combination of these methods of sale, at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices, or
o any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
38
These transactions may or may not involve brokers or dealers. The
selling unitholders have advised us that they have not entered into any
agreements, understandings or arrangements with any underwriters or
broker-dealers regarding the sale of their common units, nor is there an
underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale
of common units by the selling unitholders.
The selling unitholders may enter into hedging transactions with
broker-dealers or other financial institutions. In connection with these
transactions, broker-dealers or other financial institutions may engage in short
sales of the common units in the course of hedging positions they assume with
selling unitholders. The selling unitholders may also enter into options or
other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions which
require the delivery to those broker-dealers or other financial institutions of
common units offered by this prospectus, which common units the broker-dealer or
other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as amended
or supplemented to reflect such transaction).
The selling unitholders may sell common units directly to purchasers or
to or through broker-dealers, which may act as agents or principals. The
broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or
commissions from selling unitholders and/or the purchasers of common units for
whom the broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom they sell as principal, or
both. Compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of
customary commissions.
From time to time, one or more of the selling unitholders may pledge,
hypothecate or grant a security interest in some or all of the common units
owned by them. The pledgees, secured parties or person to whom the securities
have been hypothecated will, upon foreclosure in the event of default, be deemed
to be selling unitholders. The number of a selling unitholder's securities
offered under this prospectus will decrease as and when it takes such actions.
The plan of distribution for that selling unitholder will otherwise remain
unchanged.
The selling unitholders and any broker-dealers that act in connection
with the sale of common units may be deemed "underwriters" within the meaning of
Section 2(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, and any commissions received by
those broker-dealers or any profit on the resale of the common units sold by
them while acting as principals might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or
commissions under the Securities Act. The selling unitholders may agree to
indemnify any agent, dealer or broker-dealer that participates in transactions
involving sales of the shares against specified liabilities, including
liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
Because selling unitholders may be deemed "underwriters" within the
meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act, the selling unitholders may be
subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. We have
informed the selling unitholders that the anti-manipulation provisions of
Regulation M promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 may apply to
their sales in the market.
Selling unitholders also may resell all or a portion of the common
units in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities
Act, provided they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of Rule
144.
Upon notification to us by a selling unitholder that any material
arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of common
units through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or
secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, a supplement to this
prospectus will be filed, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
Securities Act, disclosing:
o the name of each such selling unitholder and of the
participating broker-dealer(s),
o the number of common units involved,
o the initial price at which such common units were sold,
39
o the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to
such broker-dealer(s), where applicable,
o that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation
to verify the information set out or incorporated by reference
in this prospectus, and
o other facts material to the transactions.
DISCLOSURE OF SEC POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION
FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES
Under the partnership agreement, in most circumstances, we will
indemnify the following persons, by reason of their status as such, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, from and against all losses, claims or damages
arising out of or incurred in connection with our business:
o our general partner;
o any departing general partner;
o any person who is or was an affiliate of our general partner
or any departing general partner;
o any person who is or was a member, partner, officer, director,
employee, agent or trustee of our general partner, any
departing general partner or the operating partnership or any
affiliate of a general partner, any departing general partner
or the operating partnership; or
o any person who is or was serving at the request of a general
partner or any departing general partner or any affiliate of a
general partner or any departing general partner as an
officer, director, employee, member, partner, agent, fiduciary
or trustee of another person.
Our indemnification obligation arises only if the indemnified person
acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in, and
not opposed to, our best interests. With respect to criminal proceedings, the
indemnified person must not have had reasonable cause to believe that the
conduct was unlawful.
Any indemnification under these provisions will be only out of our
assets. The general partner will not be personally liable for the
indemnification obligations and will not have any obligation to contribute or
loan funds to us in connection with it. Our partnership agreement permits us to
purchase insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by
persons for our activities, regardless of whether we would have the power to
indemnify the person against liabilities under the partnership agreement.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant
to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 with
respect to this offering of our common units. This prospectus only constitutes
part of the registration statement and does not contain all of the information
set forth in the registration statement, its exhibits, and its schedules.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over
the Internet at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and
copy any document we file at the SEC's public reference rooms. Please call the
SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for additional information on the public reference rooms.
40
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file
with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring to these documents. The information incorporated by reference is an
important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the
SEC will automatically update and supersede this information.
We incorporate the following documents by reference in this prospectus:
o our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2001 (including our Amended Annual Report on Form
10-K/A filed on August 26, 2002);
o our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the three months ended
March 31, 2002 and June 30, 2002;
o our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 22, 2002, May
15, 2002 and August 1, 2002; and
o future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act until all of the common
units offered by the selling unitholders have been sold.
You may obtain a copy of these filings without charge by writing or
calling us at:
Investor Relations
Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.
311 Rouser Road
P.O. Box 611
Moon Township, Pennsylvania 15108
(412) 262-2830
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or
provided in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you
with different information. We are not making an offer to sell these securities
or soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or
sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this
prospectus or the documents we have incorporated by reference is accurate as of
any date other than the date on the front of those documents.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the common units will be passed upon for us by
Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.
and subsidiaries as of and for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 have
been incorporated by reference in this prospectus in reliance upon the reports
of Grant Thornton LLP, independent certified public accountants, upon the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
41
No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or
to represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must not rely on any
unauthorized information or representations. . This prospectus is an offer to
sell only the common units offered hereby, but only under the circumstances and
in the jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Our Company.....................................1
Description of Our Common Units.................1
Our Partnership Agreement.......................3
Tax Considerations.............................22
Use of Proceeds................................38
Selling Unitholders............................38
Plan of Distribution...........................38
Disclosure of SEC Position
on Indemnification...........................40
Where You Can Find Additional
Information..................................40
Incorporation of Certain Documents
by Reference.................................41
Legal Matters..................................41
Experts........................................41
108,159 Common Units
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS, L.P
Representing Limited
Partner Interests
September 26, 2002