Unless the partnership agreement provides otherwise, a partnership may be a party to a statutory merger pursuant to this subtitle and may merge into one or more: Partnerships; Limited liability companies; Limited partnerships; Corporations having capital stock; or Business trusts having transferable units of beneficial interest. One or more partnerships, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, corporations having capital stock, or business trusts having transferable units of beneficial interest may merge into a partnership. Before a partnership may be a party to a statutory merger pursuant to this subtitle, such partnership must have on file with the Department either (1) a statement of authority filed pursuant to § 9A-303 of this title or (2) a certificate of limited liability partnership filed pursuant to § 9A-1001 of this title. The statutory merger provisions of this subtitle do not preclude a partnership from being converted or merged by agreement or by operation of law.