AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT OF BUFFALO RIDGE ENERGY, LLC Dated: Effective January 23, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I. THE COMPANY |
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1.1 Formation and Agreement |
1 | |||
1.2 Name |
1 | |||
1.3 Purpose; Powers |
1 | |||
1.4 Principal Place of Business |
1 | |||
1.5 Term |
1 | |||
1.6 Registered Agent |
2 | |||
1.7 Title to Property |
2 | |||
1.8 Payment of Individual Obligations |
2 | |||
1.9 Independent Activities; Transactions With Affiliates |
2 | |||
1.10 Definitions |
2 | |||
ARTICLE II. CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS |
8 | |||
2.1 Initial Capital Contributions |
8 | |||
2.2 Additional Capital Contributions; Additional Units |
8 | |||
2.3 Capital Accounts |
8 | |||
ARTICLE III. ALLOCATIONS |
9 | |||
3.1 Profits |
9 | |||
3.2 Losses |
9 | |||
3.3 Special Allocations |
9 | |||
3.4 Regulatory Allocations |
10 | |||
3.5 Loss Limitation |
10 | |||
3.6 Other Allocation Rules |
11 | |||
3.7 Tax Allocations: Code Section 704(c) |
11 | |||
3.8 Tax Credit Allocations |
11 | |||
ARTICLE IV. DISTRIBUTIONS |
12 | |||
4.1 Net Cash Flow |
12 | |||
4.2 Amounts Withheld |
12 | |||
4.3 Limitations on Distributions |
12 | |||
ARTICLE V. MANAGEMENT |
12 | |||
5.1 Board of Governors |
12 | |||
5.2 Number of Governors |
12 | |||
5.3 Election of Governors |
12 | |||
5.4 Authority of Governors |
14 | |||
5.5 Governor as Agent |
16 | |||
5.6 Authority of Managers |
16 | |||
5.7 Meetings |
16 |
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5.8 Notice |
17 | |||
5.9 Conduct of Meeting |
17 | |||
5.10 Quorum |
17 | |||
5.11 Manner of Acting; Informal Action |
17 | |||
5.12 Absentee Governor |
17 | |||
5.13 Presumption of Assent |
17 | |||
5.14 Removal of Governors |
18 | |||
5.15 Vacancies |
18 | |||
5.16 Compensation |
18 | |||
5.17 Committees; Authority |
18 | |||
5.18 Voting; Potential Financial Interest |
18 | |||
5.19 Duties and Obligations of Governors |
18 | |||
5.20 Officers |
19 | |||
5.21 Execution of Instruments |
20 | |||
5.22 Limitation of Liability; Indemnification |
20 | |||
ARTICLE VI. MEMBERSHIP UNITS; MEMBERS |
21 | |||
6.1 Membership Units |
21 | |||
6.2 Certificates; Surrender for Transfer |
21 | |||
6.3 Members |
21 | |||
6.4 Additional Members |
21 | |||
6.5 Members’ Voting Rights |
21 | |||
6.6 Member Meetings |
22 | |||
6.7 Place of Meeting |
22 | |||
6.8 Conduct of Meetings |
22 | |||
6.9 Notice |
22 | |||
6.10 Contents of Notice |
22 | |||
6.11 Adjourned Meetings |
22 | |||
6.12 Waiver of Notice |
23 | |||
6.13 Fixing of Record Date |
23 | |||
6.14 Quorum and Proxies |
23 | |||
6.15 Voting; Action by Members |
23 | |||
6.16 Termination of Membership |
23 | |||
6.17 Continuation of the Company |
23 | |||
6.18 No Member Right of Redemption or Return of Capital |
23 | |||
6.19 Waiver of Dissenters Rights |
24 | |||
6.20 Loans |
24 | |||
ARTICLE VII. ACCOUNTING, BOOKS AND RECORDS |
24 | |||
7.1 Accounting, Books and Records |
24 | |||
7.2 Delivery to Members and Inspection |
24 | |||
7.3 Reports |
25 | |||
7.4 Tax Matters |
25 | |||
ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS |
26 | |||
8.1 Amendments |
26 |
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ARTICLE IX. TRANSFERS |
26 | |||
9.1 Restrictions on Transfers |
26 | |||
9.2 Permitted Transfers |
26 | |||
9.3 Conditions Precedent to Transfers |
26 | |||
9.4 Prohibited Transfers |
28 | |||
9.5 No Dissolution or Termination |
28 | |||
9.6 Prohibition of Assignment |
28 | |||
9.7 Rights of Unadmitted Assignees |
28 | |||
9.8 Admission of Substitute Members |
28 | |||
9.9 Representations Regarding Transfers |
29 | |||
9.10 Distributions And Allocations In Respect of Transfer Units |
29 | |||
9.11 Additional Members |
30 | |||
ARTICLE X. DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP |
30 | |||
10.1 Dissolution |
30 | |||
10.2 Winding Up |
30 | |||
10.3 Compliance with Certain Requirements of Regulations; Deficit Capital
Accounts |
30 | |||
10.4 Deemed Distribution and Recontribution |
31 | |||
10.5 Rights of Unit Holders |
31 | |||
10.6 Allocations During Period of Liquidation |
31 | |||
10.7 Character of Liquidating Distributions |
31 | |||
10.8 The Liquidator |
31 | |||
10.9 Forms of Liquidating Distributions |
32 | |||
ARTICLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS |
32 | |||
11.1 Notices |
32 | |||
11.2 Binding Effect |
32 | |||
11.3 Construction |
32 | |||
11.4 Headings |
32 | |||
11.5 Severability |
32 | |||
11.6 Incorporation By Reference |
32 | |||
11.7 Variation of Terms |
32 | |||
11.8 Governing Law |
32 | |||
11.9 Waiver of Jury Trial |
32 | |||
11.10 Counterpart Execution |
33 | |||
11.11 Specific Performance |
33 | |||
11.12 No Third Party Rights |
33 |
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THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into effective
as of the 23rd of January, 2007, by and among Buffalo Ridge Energy, LLC, a South Dakota
limited liability company (the “Company”), each of the Persons identified as Members on attached
Exhibit “A,” and any other Persons that may from time-to-time be subsequently admitted as Members
of the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.10.
In consideration of the covenants and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. THE COMPANY
1.1 Formation and Agreement. The initial Members formed the Company as a South Dakota
limited liability company by filing Articles of Organization with the South Dakota Secretary of
State on April 27, 2006. The Members hereby agree that this Agreement constitutes a “Operating Agreement” within the meaning of
Section 47-34A-103 of the Act. To the extent that the rights
and obligations of any Member are different by reason of any provision of this Agreement than they
would be in the absence of such provision, this Agreement, to the extent permitted by the Act,
shall control.
1.2 Name. The name of the Company shall be “Buffalo Ridge Energy, LLC,” and all business
of the Company shall be conducted in such name.
1.3 Purposes; Powers. The nature of the business and purposes of the Company are to: (i)
own, construct, operate, lease, finance, contract with, and/or invest in ethanol production and
co-product production facilities; (ii) process feedstocks into ethanol and related co-products, and
market such ethanol and co-products; and (iii) engage in any other business and investment activity
in which a South Dakota limited liability company may lawfully be engaged, as determined by the
Board of Managers. The Company has the power to do any and all acts necessary, appropriate,
proper, advisable, incidental or convenient to, and in furtherance of, the purposes of the Company
as set forth in this Section 1.3 and has, without limitation, any and all powers that may be
exercised on behalf of the Company by the Board of Managers pursuant to Article V of this
Agreement.
1.4 Principal Place of Business. The Company shall continuously maintain a principal place
of business in South Dakota. The principal place of business of the Company shall be 000 Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx., Xxxxx 000, XX Xxx 000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx 00000 or elsewhere as the Managers may
determine. Any documents required by the Act to be kept by the Company shall be maintained at the
Company’s principal place of business.
1.5 Term. The term of the Company commenced on the date the Articles were filed with the
South Dakota Secretary of State, and shall continue until the winding up and liquidation of the
Company and its business is completed following a Dissolution Event as provided in Article X of
this Agreement.
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1.6 Registered Agent. The Company shall continuously maintain a registered office and a
registered agent for service of process in the State of South Dakota. The name and address of the
Company’s initial Registered Agent shall be Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, 000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000, P. O.
Xxx 000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx 00000.
1.7 Title to Property. All Property owned by the Company shall be owned by the Company as
an entity and not in the name of any Member, and no Member shall have any ownership interest in
such Property, except as a Member of the Company. Each Member’s interest in the Company shall be
personal property for all purposes.
1.8 Payment of Individual Obligations. The Company’s credit and assets shall be used
solely for the benefit of the Company, and no asset of the Company shall be Transferred or
encumbered for, or in payment of, any individual obligation of any Member or Manager.
1.9 Independent Activities; Transactions With Affiliates. The Managers shall be required
to devote such time to the business and affairs of the Company as may be necessary to manage and
operate the Company, and shall be free to serve any other Person or enterprise in any capacity that
they deem appropriate in their discretion. Neither this Agreement nor any activity undertaken
pursuant hereto shall: (i) prevent any Member or Manager or their Affiliates from engaging in
whatever activities they choose, whether the same are competitive with the Company or otherwise,
and any such activities may be undertaken without having or incurring any obligation to offer any
interest in such activities to the Company or any other Member; or (ii) require any Member or
Manager to permit the Company or any other Manager or Member or their Affiliates to participate in
any such activities. As a material part of the consideration for the execution of this Agreement
by each Member, each Member hereby waives, relinquishes and renounces any such right or claim of
participation. To the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, the Managers are hereby authorized to cause the Company to purchase Property from, sell
Property to, or otherwise deal with, any Member (including any Member who is also a Manager), or
any Affiliate of any Member; provided that any such purchase, sale or other transaction shall be
made on terms and conditions which are no less favorable to the Company than if the sale, purchase
or other transaction had been entered into with an independent third party in the same geographic
location who provides comparable goods or services which could reasonably be made available to the
Company. For such transactions the Managers shall, as fiduciaries, determine such arrangements are
in the best interest of the Company. All such transactions shall be embodied in a written
contract, the material terms of which shall be fully disclosed to the Members. Such a contract may
only be modified by vote of a majority of the then outstanding Membership Interest. Such a
contract shall contain a clause allowing termination without penalty on sixty (60) days notice.
Managers shall not engage in reciprocal business arrangements which circumvent any restrictions
contained in the Agreement against dealing with Affiliates. In addition, Officers and Managers can
only purchase the Company’s securities being sold to the public at a price equal to that paid by
unaffiliated purchasers.
1.10 Definitions. Capitalized words and phrases used in this Agreement have the following
meanings:
(a) “Act”
means the South Dakota Limited Liability Company Act,
Chapter Codified Law § 47-34A, South Dakota
Statutes (2004), as amended from time to time, or any corresponding provisions of any succeeding
law.
(b) “Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” means, with respect to any Unit Holder, the deficit
balance, if any, in such Unit Holder’s Capital Account as of the end of the relevant Fiscal Year,
after giving effect to the following adjustments: (i) crediting to such Capital Account any
amounts which such Unit Holder is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the next to the
last sentences of Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations; and (ii) debiting to
such Capital Account the items
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described in Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6)
of the Regulations. The foregoing definition is intended to comply with the provisions of Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(c) “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person or entity: (i) any Person directly or
indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person or entity; (ii) any
officer, Manager, general partner, member or trustee or employee of any such Person or entity; or
(iii) any Person or entity who is an officer, Manager, general partner, member or trustee of any
Person described in clauses (i) or (ii) of this sentence. For purposes of this definition, the
terms “controlling,” “controlled by” or “under common control with” shall mean the possession,
direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
a Person or entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise,
or the power to elect a majority of the Managers, Managers, or persons exercising similar authority
with respect to such Person or entities.
(d) “Agreement” means the Company’s Amended and Restated Operating Agreement, as amended
from time to time.
(e) “Articles” means the Company’s Articles of Organization on file with the South Dakota
Secretary of State’s Office, as amended from time to time.
(f) “Assignee” means a transferee of Units who is not admitted as a Substitute Member pursuant
to Section 9.8 of this Agreement.
(g) “Capital Account” means the separate capital account maintained for each Unit Holder in
accordance with Section 2.3 of this Agreement.
(h) “Capital Contributions” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of money (US
Dollars), and the initial Gross Asset Value of any assets or property other than money, contributed
by the Member or such Member’s predecessors in interest to the Company, (net of liabilities secured
by such contributed property that the Company is considered to assume or take subject to under Code
Section 752) with respect to the Units held or purchased by such Member, including additional
Capital Contributions.
(i) “Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time.
(j) “Company” means Buffalo Ridge Energy, LLC, a South Dakota limited liability company.
(k) “Company Minimum Gain” has the meaning given the term “partnership minimum gain” in
Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d) of the Regulations.
(l) “Debt” means: (i) any indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of
property as evidenced by notes, bonds or other instruments; (ii) obligations as lessee under
capital leases; (iii) obligations secured by any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance,
lien or charge of any kind existing on any asset owned or held by the Company, whether or not the
Company has assumed or become liable for the obligations secured thereby; (iv) any obligation under
any interest rate swap agreement; (v) accounts payable; and (vi) obligations, contingent or
otherwise, under direct or indirect guarantees of indebtedness or obligations of the kinds referred
to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v), above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, Debt
shall not include obligations in respect of any
3
accounts payable that are incurred in the ordinary course of the Company’s business and are not
delinquent or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.
(m) “Depreciation” means, for each Fiscal Year, an amount equal to the depreciation,
amortization, or other cost recovery deduction allowable with respect to an asset for such Fiscal
Year, except that if the Gross Asset Value of an asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal
income tax purposes at the beginning of such Fiscal Year, Depreciation shall be an amount which
bears the same ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax depreciation,
amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such Fiscal Year bears to such beginning
adjusted tax basis; provided, however, that if the adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes
of an asset at the beginning of such Fiscal Year is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with
reference to such beginning Gross Asset Value using any reasonable method selected by the Managers.
(n) “Dissolution Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.1 of this Agreement.
(o) “Effective Date” means November 6, 2006.
(p) “Facilities” means the ethanol and co-product production facilities to be constructed and
operated by the Company.
(q) “Fiscal Year” means: (i) any twelve-month period commencing on January 1 and ending on
December 31; and (ii) the period commencing on the immediately preceding January 1 and ending on
the date on which all Property is distributed to the Unit Holders pursuant to Article X of this
Agreement, or, if the context requires, any portion of a Fiscal Year for which an allocation of
Profits or Losses or a distribution is to be made.
(r) “GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States of
America from time to time.
(s) “Manager” means any Person who: (i) is appointed or elected as a Manager pursuant to
Article V of this Agreement or who has otherwise become a Manager pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement; and (ii) has not ceased to be a Manager pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. “Board
of Managers” or “Managers” mean all such Persons. A Manager shall be deemed to be an “Independent
Manager” if; (i) the Manager is not an officer or employee of the Company, its subsidiaries, if
any, or its affiliates and has not been an officer or employee of the Company, its subsidiaries, if
any, or its affiliates within the last two (2) years; (ii) is not a promoter as defined by the
North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA); and (iii) does not have a material
business or professional relationship with any of the Company’s affiliates, any such relationship
shall be deemed material per se if it exceeds five (5) percent of the Manager’s annual gross
revenue, derived from all sources, during either of the last two years, or the Manager’s net worth
on a fair market value basis.
(t) “Gross Asset Value” means with respect to any asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for
federal income tax purposes, except as follows: (i) The initial Gross Asset Value of any asset
contributed by a Member to the Company shall be the gross fair market value of such asset, as
determined by the Managers, provided that the initial Gross Asset Values of the assets contributed
to the Company pursuant to Section 2.1 of this Agreement shall be as set forth in such Section;
(ii) The Gross Asset Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross
fair market values (taking Code Section 7701(g) into account), as determined by the Managers as of
the following times: (A) upon the acquisition of an additional interest in the Company by any new
or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (B) upon the
distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de
4
minimis amount of Company Property as consideration for an interest in the Company; and (C) upon
the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g),
provided that an adjustment described in clauses (A) and (B) of this paragraph shall be made only
if the Managers reasonably determine that such adjustment is necessary to reflect the relative
economic interests of the Members in the Company; (iii) The Gross Asset Value of any item of
Company assets distributed to any Member shall be adjusted to equal the gross fair market value
(taking Code Section 7701(g) into account) of such asset on the date of distribution as determined
by the Managers; and (iv) The Gross Asset Values of Company assets shall be increased or decreased,
as applicable, to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Code
Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into
account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) and
subparagraph (vi) of the definition of “Profits” and “Losses” or Section 3.3(c) of this Agreement;
provided, however, that Gross Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this subparagraph (iv)
to the extent that an adjustment pursuant to subparagraph (ii) is required in connection with a
transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this subparagraph (iv). If
the Gross Asset Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (ii) or
(iv) of this paragraph, such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation
taken into account with respect to such asset, for purposes of computing Profits and Losses.
(u) “Issuance Items” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(h) of this Agreement.
(v) “Liquidation Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6 of this Agreement.
(w) “Liquidator” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.8 of this Agreement.
(x) “Member” means any Person: (i) whose name is set forth as such on Exhibit “A” initially
attached hereto or as it may be amended from time to time, or who has become a Member pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement; and (ii) who is the owner of one or more Units and has not ceased to
be a Member pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. “Members” means all such Persons.
(y) “Membership Financial Rights” means collectively, a Member’s share of “Profits” and
“Losses,” the right to receive distributions of the Company’s assets, and the right to information
concerning the business and affairs of the Company as required by the Act. The Membership
Financial Rights of a Member is quantified by the unit of measurement referred to herein as
“Units.”
(z) “Membership Interest” means collectively, the Membership Financial Rights and the
Membership Voting Interest.
(aa) “Membership Voting Interest” means collectively, a Member’s right to vote as set forth in
this Agreement or as required by the Act. The Membership Voting Interest of a Member shall mean as
to any matter to which the Member is entitled to vote hereunder or as may be required under the
Act, the right to One (1) vote for each Unit registered in the name of such Member as shown in the
Unit Holder Register.
(bb) “Net Cash Flow” means the gross cash proceeds of the Company less the portion thereof
used to pay or establish reserves for Company expenses, debt payments, capital improvements,
replacements and contingencies, all as reasonably determined by the Managers. “Net Cash Flow”
shall not be reduced by Depreciation, amortization, cost recovery deductions or similar allowances,
but shall be increased by any reductions of reserves previously established.
5
(cc) “Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.704-2(b)(1) of the
Regulations.
(dd) “Nonrecourse Liability” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.704-2(b)(3) of the
Regulations.
(ee) “Officer” means any Person who: (i) is appointed as an Officer pursuant to Section 5.19
of this Agreement or who has otherwise become an Officer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;
and (ii) has not ceased to be an Officer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. “Officers” mean
all such Persons.
(ff) “Permitted Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2 of this Agreement.
(gg) “Person” means any individual, general or limited partnership, joint venture, limited
liability company, corporation, trust, estate, association, nominee or other entity.
(hh) “Profits and Losses” mean, for each Fiscal Year, an amount equal to the Company’s taxable
income or loss for such Fiscal Year, determined in accordance with Code Section 703(a) (for this
purpose, all items of income, gain, loss, or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to
Code Section 703(a)(1) shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments
(without duplication): (i) Any income of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax and not
otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this definition of
“Profits” and “Losses” shall be added to such taxable income or loss; (ii) Any expenditures of the
Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(b) or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(b) expenditures
pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in
computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this definition of “Profits” and “Losses” shall be
subtracted from such taxable income or loss; (iii) In the event the Gross Asset Value of any
Company asset is adjusted pursuant to subparagraphs (ii) or (iii) of the definition of Gross Asset
Value above, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment
increases the Gross Asset Value of the asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases the
Gross Asset Value of the asset) from the disposition of such asset and shall be taken into account
for purposes of computing Profits or Losses; (iv) Gain or loss resulting from any disposition of
Property with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be
computed by reference to the Gross Asset Value of the Property disposed of, notwithstanding that
the adjusted tax basis of such Property differs from its Gross Asset Value; (v) In lieu of the
depreciation, amortization, and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such
taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation for such Fiscal Year,
computed in accordance with the definition of Depreciation; (vi) To the extent an adjustment to the
adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) is required, pursuant to
Regulations Section 1.704-(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital
Accounts as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Unit Holder’s interest in the
Company, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment
increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) from the
disposition of such asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or
Losses; and (vii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this definition, any items which are
specially allocated pursuant to Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of this Agreement shall not be taken into
account in computing Profits or Losses. The amounts of the items of Company income, gain, loss or
deduction available to be specially allocated pursuant to Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of this Agreement
shall be determined by applying rules analogous to those set forth in subparagraphs (i) through
(vi) above.
(ii) “Property” means all real and personal property acquired by the Company (including cash),
and any improvements thereto, and shall include both tangible and intangible property.
6
(jj) “Regulations” means the Income Tax Regulations, including Temporary Regulations,
promulgated under the Code, as such regulations are amended from time to time.
(kk) “Regulatory Allocations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4 of this Agreement.
(ll) “Related Party” means the adopted or birth relatives of any Person and such Person’s
spouse (whether by marriage or common law), if any, including without limitation
great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, children (including stepchildren and adopted children),
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren thereof, and such Person’s (and such Person’s spouse’s)
brothers, sisters, and cousins and their respective lineal ancestors and descendants, and any other
ancestors and/or descendants, and any spouse of any of the foregoing, each trust created for the
exclusive benefit of one or more of the foregoing, and the successors, assigns, heirs, executors,
personal representatives and estates of any of the foregoing.
(mm) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(nn) “Tax Matters Member” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4 of this Agreement.
(oo) “Tax Year” means: any (i) twelve-month period commencing on January 1 and ending on
December 31; and (ii) the period commencing on the immediately preceding January 1 and ending on
the date on which all property is distributed to the Unit Holders pursuant to Article X of this
Agreement.
(pp) “Transfer” means, as a noun, any voluntary or involuntary transfer, sale, pledge or
hypothecation or other disposition and, as a verb, to voluntarily or involuntarily transfer, give,
sell, exchange, assign, pledge, bequest, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of.
(qq) “Unit” means an ownership interest in the Company issued in consideration of a Capital
Contribution made as provided in Article II of this Agreement.
(rr) “Unit Holder” means any Person who is the owner of one or more Units. “Unit Holders”
means all such Persons.
(ss) “Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt” has the same meaning as the term “partner nonrecourse
debt” in Section 1.704-2(b)(4) of the Regulations.
(tt) “Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” means an amount, with respect to each Unit
Holder Nonrecourse Debt, equal to the Company Minimum Gain that would result if such Unit Holder
Nonrecourse Debt were treated as a Nonrecourse Liability, determined in accordance with Section
1.704-2(i)(3) of the Regulations.
(uu) “Unit Holder Nonrecourse Deductions” has the same meaning as the term “partner
nonrecourse deductions” in Sections 1.704-2(i)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(2) of the Regulations.
(vv) “Unit Holder Register” means the register maintained by the Company at its principal
office or by the Company’s duly appointed agent, setting forth the name, address and Capital
Contributions of each Unit Holder (or such Unit Holder’s predecessors in interest), and the number
of Units, certificate number(s) and date of issuance of Units issued to each Unit Holder, which
register shall be modified from time to time as additional Units are issued and as Units are
Transferred pursuant to this Agreement.
7
ARTICLE II. CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS
2.1 Initial Capital Contributions. The name, address, initial Capital Contribution and
initial Units quantifying the Membership Interest of each of the initial Members are set forth on
Exhibit “A” attached hereto, and shall also be set forth on the Unit Holder Register.
2.2 Additional Capital Contributions; Additional Units. No Unit Holder shall be obligated
to make any additional Capital Contributions to the Company or to pay any assessment to the
Company, other than any unpaid amounts on such Unit Holder’s original Capital Contributions, and no
Units shall be subject to any calls, requests or demands for capital. Subject to Section 5.6,
additional Units may be issued in consideration of Capital Contributions as agreed to between the
Managers and the Persons acquiring such Units. The Members shall have no preemptive rights
pursuant to the Act.
2.3 Capital Accounts. A Capital Account shall be maintained for each Unit Holder in
accordance with the following provisions:
(a) To each Unit Holder’s Capital Account there shall be credited: (i) such Unit Holder’s
Capital Contributions; (ii) such Unit Holder’s distributive share of Profits and any items in the
nature of income or gain which are specially allocated pursuant to Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of this
Agreement; and (iii) the amount of any Company liabilities assumed by such Unit Holder or which are
secured by any Property distributed to such Unit Holder;
(b) To each Unit Holder’s Capital Account there shall be debited: (i) the amount of money and
the Gross Asset Value of any Property distributed to such Unit Holder pursuant to any provision of
this Agreement; (ii) such Unit Holder’s distributive share of Losses and any items in the nature of
expenses or losses which are specially allocated pursuant to Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of this
Agreement; and (iii) the amount of any liabilities of such Unit Holder assumed by the Company or
which are secured by any Property contributed by such Unit Holder to the Company;
(c) In the event Units are Transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the
transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the
Transferred Units; and
(d) In determining the amount of any liability for purposes of subparagraphs (a) and (b) above
Code Section 752(c) and any other applicable provisions of the Code and Regulations shall be taken
into account.
The foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the
maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b), and
shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent therewith. In the event the Managers
determine that it is prudent to modify the manner in which Capital Accounts, or any debits or
credits thereto (including, without limitation, debits or credits relating to liabilities which are
secured by contributed or distributed property or which are assumed by the Company or any Unit
Holders), are computed in order to comply with such Regulations, the Managers may make such
modification, provided that it is not likely to have a material effect on the amounts distributed
to any Person pursuant to Article X of this Agreement upon the dissolution of the Company. The
Managers also shall: (i) make any adjustments that are necessary or appropriate to maintain
equality between the Capital Accounts of the Unit Holders and the amount of capital reflected on
the Company’s balance sheet, as computed for book purposes, in accordance with Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(q); and (ii) make any appropriate modifications in the event
8
unanticipated events might otherwise cause this Agreement not to comply with Regulations Section
1.704-1(b).
ARTICLE III. ALLOCATIONS
3.1 Profits. After giving effect to the special allocations in Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of
this Agreement, Profits for any Fiscal Year shall be allocated among the Unit Holders in proportion
to Units held.
3.2 Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations in Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of this
Agreement, Losses for any Fiscal Year shall be allocated among the Unit Holders in proportion to
Units held.
3.3 Special Allocations. The following special allocations shall be made in the following
order:
(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback. Except as otherwise provided in Section 1.704-2(f) of the
Regulations, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article III, if there is a net decrease in
Company Minimum Gain during any Fiscal Year, each Unit Holder shall be specially allocated items of
Company income and gain for such Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent Fiscal Years) in an
amount equal to such Unit Holder’s share of the net decrease in Company Minimum Gain, determined in
accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(g). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence
shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Unit Holder
pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Sections
1.704-2(f)(6) and 1.704-2(j)(2) of the Regulations. This Section 3.3(a) is intended to comply with
the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Section 1.704-2(f) of the Regulations and shall be
interpreted consistently therewith.
(b) Unit Holder Minimum Gain Chargeback. Except as otherwise provided in Section
1.704-2(i)(4) of the Regulations, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article III, if there
is a net decrease in Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to a Unit Holder
Nonrecourse Debt during any Fiscal Year, each Unit Holder who has a share of the Unit Holder
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to such Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt, determined in
accordance with Section 1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations, shall be specially allocated items of
Company income and gain for such Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent Fiscal Years) in an
amount equal to such Unit Holder’s share of the net decrease in Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt
Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4). Allocations
pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to
be allocated to each Unit Holder pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be
determined in accordance with Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2) of the Regulations. This
Section 3.3(b) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Section
1.704-2(i)(4) of the Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(c) Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustments,
allocations, or distributions described in Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4),
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6) of the Regulations, items of Company income and
gain shall be specially allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate,
to the extent required by the Regulations, the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as soon as
practicable, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 3.3(c) shall be made only if and
to the extent that the Member would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit after all other
allocations provided for in this Article III have been tentatively made as if this Section 3.3(c)
were not in the Agreement.
(d) Gross Income Allocation. In the event any Member has a deficit Capital Account at the end
of any Fiscal Year which is in excess of the sum of: (i) the amount such Member is obligated to
restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement; and (ii) the amount such Member is deemed to
be
9
obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and
1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations, then in such circumstance each such Member shall be specially
allocated items of Company income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible,
provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 3.3(d) shall be made only if and to the extent
that such Member would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other
allocations provided for in this Article III have been made as if Sections 3.3(c) and 3.3(d) were
not in this Agreement.
(e) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year or other period shall
be specially allocated among the Members in proportion to Units held.
(f) Unit Holder Nonrecourse Deductions. Any Unit Holder Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal
Year shall be specially allocated to the Unit Holder who bears the economic risk of loss with
respect to the Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt to which such Unit Holder Nonrecourse Deductions are
attributable in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(1).
(g) Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any
Company asset, pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b) is required, pursuant to
Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) or 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in
determining Capital Accounts as the result of a distribution to a Unit Holder in complete
liquidation of such Unit Holder’s interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment to Capital
Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset)
or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) and such gain or loss shall be specially allocated
to the Unit Holders in accordance with their interests in the Company in the event Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) applies, or to the Unit Holder to whom such distribution was made
in the event Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) applies.
(h) Allocations Relating to Taxable Issuance of Company Units. Any income, gain, loss or
deduction realized as a direct or indirect result of the issuance of Units by the Company to a Unit
Holder (the “Issuance Items”) shall be allocated among the Unit Holders so that, to the extent
possible, the net amount of such Issuance Items, together with all other allocations under this
Agreement to each Unit Holder shall be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to
each such Unit Holder if the Issuance Items had not been realized.
3.4 Regulatory Allocations. The allocations set forth in Sections 3.3(a), 3.3(b), 3.3(c),
3.3(d), 3.3(e), 3.3(f), 3.3(g) and 3.5 (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with
certain requirements of the Regulations. It is the intent of the Unit Holders that, to the extent
possible, all Regulatory Allocations shall be offset either with other Regulatory Allocations or
with special allocations of other items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to this
Section 3.4. Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article III (other than the
Regulatory Allocations), the Managers shall make such offsetting special allocations of Company
income, gain, loss or deduction in whatever manner they determine appropriate so that, after such
offsetting allocations are made, each Unit Holder’s Capital Account balance is, to the extent
possible, equal to the Capital Account balance such Unit Holder would have had if the Regulatory
Allocations were not part of the Agreement and all Company items were allocated pursuant to
Sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3(h).
3.5 Loss Limitation. Losses allocated pursuant to Section 3.2 of this Agreement shall not
exceed the maximum amount of Losses that can be allocated without causing any Unit Holder to have
an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit at the end of any Fiscal Year. In the event some but not all
of the Unit Holders would have Adjusted Capital Account Deficits as a consequence of an allocation
of Losses pursuant to Section 3.2 of this Agreement, the limitation set forth in this Section 3.5
shall be applied on a Unit Holder
10
by Unit Holder basis and Losses not allocable to any Unit Holder as a result of such limitation
shall be allocated to the other Unit Holders in accordance with the positive balances in such Unit
Holder’s Capital Accounts so as to allocate the maximum permissible Losses to each Unit Holder
under Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations.
3.6 Other Allocation Rules.
(a) For purposes of determining Profits, Losses and any other items allocable to any period,
Profits, Losses and any such other items shall be determined on a daily, monthly or other basis, as
determined by the Managers using any permissible method under Code Section 706 and the Regulations
thereunder.
(b) The Unit Holders are aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made by this
Article III and hereby agree to be bound by the provisions of this Article III in reporting their
shares of Company income and loss for income tax purposes.
(c) Solely for purposes of determining a Unit Holder’s proportionate share of the “excess
nonrecourse liabilities” of the Company within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3),
the Unit Holders’ aggregate interests in Company Profits shall be deemed to be as provided in the
Capital Accounts. To the extent permitted by Section 1.704-2(h)(3) of the Regulations, the
Managers shall endeavor to treat distributions of Net Cash Flow as having been made from the
proceeds of a Nonrecourse Liability or a Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt only to the extent that such
distributions would cause or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit for any Unit Holder.
(d) Profits and Losses to the Unit Holders shall be allocated among the Unit Holders in the
ratio which each Unit Holder’s Units bears to the total number of Units issued and outstanding.
3.7 Tax Allocations; Code Section 704(c). In accordance with Code Section 704(c) and the
Regulations thereunder, income, gain, loss, and deduction with respect to any Property contributed
to the capital of the Company shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated among the Unit Holders
so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such Property to the Company
for federal income tax purposes and its initial Gross Asset Value. In the event the Gross Asset
Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of the definition of Gross
Asset Value in Section 1.10(t) of this Agreement, subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss and
deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis
of such asset for federal income tax purposes and its Gross Asset Value in the same manner as under
Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations thereunder. Any elections or other decisions relating to
such allocations shall be made by the Managers in any manner that reasonably reflects the purpose
and intention of this Agreement. Allocations pursuant to this Section 3.7 are solely for purposes
of federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in
computing, any Unit Holder’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, other items or
distributions pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.
3.8 Tax Credit Allocations. All income tax credits with respect to the Company’s property
or operations shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with their respective Membership
Interests for the Fiscal Year during which the expenditure, production, sale or other event giving
rise to such credits occurs. This Section 3.8 is intended to comply with the applicable tax credit
allocation principles of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii) and shall be interpreted
consistently therewith.
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ARTICLE IV. DISTRIBUTIONS
4.1 Net Cash Flow. Subject to the terms and conditions of any applicable loan covenants
and restrictions, the Managers, in their sole discretion, shall make distributions of Net Cash
Flow, if any, to the Unit Holders in proportion to Units held. In determining Net Cash Flow, the
Managers shall endeavor to provide for cash distributions at such times and in such amounts as will
permit the Unit Holders to make timely payment of income taxes.
4.2 Amounts Withheld. All amounts withheld pursuant to the Code or any provision of any
state, local or foreign tax law with respect to any payment, distribution or allocation to the
Company or the Unit Holders shall be treated as amounts paid or distributed, as the case may be, to
the Unit Holders with respect to which such amount was withheld pursuant to this Section 4.2 for
all purposes under this Agreement. The Company is authorized to withhold from payments and
distributions, or with respect to allocations, to the Unit Holders and to pay over to any federal,
state, local or foreign government, any amounts required to be so withheld, and shall allocate any
such amounts to the Unit Holders with respect to which such amount was withheld.
4.3 Limitations on Distributions. The Company shall make no distributions to the Unit
Holders except as provided in this Article IV and in Article X of this Agreement. Notwithstanding
any other provision, no distribution shall be made if not permitted to be made under the Act.
ARTICLE V. MANAGEMENT
5.1 Managers. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or required by law, the
Managers shall direct the business and affairs and exercise all of the powers of the Company, and
shall adopt such policies, rules, regulations and actions as they deem advisable. Subject to
Section 5.6 of this Agreement or any other express provisions of this Agreement to the contrary,
the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Managers
and not by the Members. This provision can only be amended by an affirmative vote of all five (5)
Managers.
5.2 Number of Managers. The total number of Managers of the Company shall be five (5).
5.3 Appointment/Election of Managers.
(a) Appointed/Election; Terms. There shall be two (2) Class B Managers — such being upon the
execution hereof Xxxx XxxXxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxxxx and three (3) Class A Managers to be appointed by
Xxxxx Management, LLC — said three (3) appointed Managers as of the date hereof being Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxxx and Xxxx Core. The Class B Managers shall each serve until a successor is
elected, or until the earlier death, resignation, removal or disqualification of any such Class B
Manager. The Class A Managers shall each serve until a successor is appointed by Xxxxx Management,
LLC, or until the earlier death, resignation, removal or disqualification of any such Class A
Manager. Xxxxx Management, LLC can remove and appoint its respective three (3) appointed Class A
Managers at its discretion. If any Class A Manager position(s) open (because of death,
resignation, removal or disqualification of any such Manager) Xxxxx Management, LLC shall appoint
such successor Class A Manager.
The Members, except for Xxxxx Management, LLC who shall not have a right to vote on the
elected Managers, shall elect the two (2) Class B Managers for staggered terms of three (3) years
and until a successor is elected and qualified, or until the earlier death, resignation, removal or
disqualification of any such Class B Manager. The initial Class B Managers shall, by written
resolution prior to the first
12
annual or special meeting following the date of the Financial Closing (“Financial Closing” means
all equity has been received and all loans closed to fully fund construction of the planned ethanol
facility) and shall separately identify the Class B Manager position to be elected at the first
annual meeting or special meeting following the date of the Financial Closing, and shall so
classify each Class B Manager position as Group I or Group II, with such classification to serve as
the basis for the staggering of terms among the two elected Managers. The term of the Group I
Manager shall expire first (initial term of one (1) year with a three (3) year term thereafter),
followed by the term of the Group II Manager (initial term of two (2) years with a three (3) year
term thereafter).
(b) Limits on Modification. The amendment or repeal of this section 5.3 or the adoption of
any provision inconsistent therewith shall require an action by the Members pursuant to Section 8.1
of this Agreement and as long as they hold the right to appoint Managers the written agreement of
Xxxxx Management, LLC The requirement of written agreement by Xxxxx Management, LLC shall transfer
to its successors, assigns and transferees provided such successors, assigns and transferees
otherwise meet the terms hereof.
(c) A Manager appointed by Xxxxx Management, LLC under this section shall serve indefinitely
at the pleasure of the Member appointing him or her until a successor is appointed, or until the
earlier death, resignation, or removal of the Manager. Any Manager appointed under this section
may be removed for any reason by the Member appointing him or her, upon written notice to the Board
of Managers, which notice may designate and appoint a successor Manager to fill the vacancy, and
which notice may be given at a meeting of the Board of Managers attended by the person appointed to
fill the vacancy. Any such vacancy shall be filled within thirty (30) days of its occurrence by
the Member having the right of appointment. The appointment rights held by Xxxxx Management, LLC
shall remain in full force and effect for as long as Xxxxx Management, LLC owns at least ten (10)
units of Buffalo Ridge Energy, LLC. The appointment rights held by Xxxxx Management, LLC are
transferable and assignable by Xxxxx Management, LLC as independent rights severable and distinct
and transferable as such distinct rights. Any such transfer shall be documented by writing executed
by the party transferring or assigning said appointment rights and countersigned by any such person
or entity receiving such appointment rights. That written document, plus such other proof as may
reasonably be required by counsel of Buffalo Ridge Energy, LLC shall be provided to Buffalo Ridge
Energy, LLC with notice specifically given to the Board of Managers, the accounting firm and legal
counsel for Buffalo Ridge Energy, LLC. After such written document and reasonable proof is
provided to said parties, the right to appoint the three (3) Class A Managers shall vest in whom
such appointment was transferred or assigned; provided that any person or entity holding said
appointment rights must own at least ten (10) units in Buffalo Ridge Energy, LLC in order to
exercise said appointment rights. Except in the case of death or other extenuating circumstances,
any party intending to transfer or assign its rights to appoint Managers shall notify the Board of
Managers in writing of its intent to transfer or assign such appointment rights ninety (90) days in
advance of transferring or assigning said appointment rights. If the appointment rights are held
by an individual such are transferable as an asset in their estate. If for some reason the
appointment rights lapse or cannot be validly exercised, then the appointment rights held by such
entity or person shall terminate and the Managers that such entity or person had rights to appoint
will thereafter be elected by a majority of the Membership. If such election of Class A Managers
occurs, once such Managers are elected, any so elected Managers shall serve on staggered terms to
be elected at the annual meeting of the Members. Other terms and conditions in case Class A
Managers are elected may be established by amending this Operating Agreement by a Membership vote
held in accordance with Article 8.1.
(d) Nominations. Nominees for Manager positions up for election shall be named by the
then-current Managers or by a nominating committee established by the Managers. Nominations may
also be made by any Member entitled to vote in the election of Managers. Any Member that intends
to nominate a Person for election as a Manager may do so only if written notice of such Member’s
intent to
13
make such nomination is given, either by personal delivery or by United Stated mail, postage
prepaid, to the Secretary of the Company not less than Forty-five (45) nor more than Ninety (90)
days prior to the first day of the month corresponding to the anniversary date of the annual
meeting of the Company for the prior year. Each such notice shall set forth: (i) the name and
address of the Member who intends to make the nomination; (ii) a representation that the Member is
a holder of record of Units entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by
proxy at the meeting to nominate the Person specified in the notice; (iii) the name, age, address
and principal occupation/employment of each nominee; (iv) a description of all arrangements or
understandings between the Member and each nominee and any other Person(s) pursuant to which such
nominations are to be made; (v) such other information regarding each nominee as would be required
to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission; and (vi) the consent of each nominee to serve as a Manager if so elected; and
(vii) a nominating petition signed and dated by the holders of at least Five Percent (5%) of the
then outstanding Units and clearly setting forth the proposed nominee as a candidate for the
Manager’s seat to be filled. The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other
information as may reasonably be required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such
proposed nominee to serve as a Manager of the Company. The presiding Officer of the meeting may,
if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing
procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective
nomination shall be disregarded.
(e) Voting Requirement for Electing Managers. Nominees for open elected (Class B) Manager
positions shall be elected by a plurality vote of the Members present at a meeting at which a
quorum is present so that the nominees receiving the greatest number of votes relative to the votes
cast for their competitors shall be elected Managers. Provided that Xxxxx Management, LLC is not
allowed to vote its membership interests in electing such Managers.
(f) Vacancies. Except in the instance of representatives appointed to the Board of Managers
by Xxxxx Management, LLC; whenever a vacancy occurs other than from expiration of a term of office
or removal from office, a majority of the remaining Managers shall appoint a new Manager to fill
the vacancy for the remainder of such term.
5.4 Authority of Managers. Subject to the limitations and restrictions set forth in this
Agreement and the Act, the Managers shall direct the management of the business and affairs of the
Company and shall have all of the rights and powers which may be possessed by a “Manager” under the
Act including, without limitation, the right and power to do or perform, and the further right and
power by resolution to delegate to the Officers or such other Persons as the Managers deem
appropriate, the right and power to do or perform, the following:
(a) Conduct the business and carry on the operations of the Company, and have and exercise the
powers granted by the Act in any state, territory, district or possession of the United States, or
in any foreign country, which may be necessary or convenient to effect any or all of the purposes
for which the Company is organized;
(b) Acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise any real or personal property which may be
necessary, convenient, or incidental to the accomplishment of the purposes of the Company;
(c) Operate, maintain, finance, improve, construct, own, operate, sell, convey, assign,
mortgage and lease any real estate and any personal property necessary, convenient, or incidental
to the accomplishment of the purposes of the Company;
(d) Execute any and all agreements, contracts, documents, certifications and instruments
necessary or convenient in connection with the management, maintenance and operation of the
business
14
and affairs of the Company, including executing amendments to this Agreement and the Articles
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, both as Managers and where permitted, as
attorney-in-fact for the Members pursuant to any power of attorney granted by the Members to the
Managers;
(e) Borrow money and issue evidences of indebtedness necessary, convenient, or incidental to
the accomplishment of the purposes of the Company, and secure the same by mortgage, pledge or other
lien on any Company assets;
(f) Execute, in furtherance of any or all of the purposes of the Company, any deed, lease,
mortgage, deed of trust, mortgage note, promissory note, xxxx of sale, contract or other instrument
purporting to convey or encumber any or all of the Company assets;
(g) Prepay in whole or in part, refinance, increase, modify or extend any liabilities
affecting the assets of the Company and in connection therewith, execute any extensions or renewals
of encumbrances on any or all of such assets;
(h) Care for and distribute funds to the Members by way of cash income, return of capital or
otherwise, all in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and perform all matters in
furtherance of the objectives of the Company and this Agreement;
(i) Hire or contract on behalf of the Company for the employment and services of employees and
independent contractors, and delegate to such Persons the duty to manage or supervise any of the
assets or operations of the Company;
(j) Engage in any kind of activity and perform and carry out contracts of any kind necessary
or incidental to, or in connection with, the accomplishment of the purposes of the Company, as may
be lawfully carried on or performed by a limited liability company under the laws of each state in
which the Company is then formed or qualified;
(k) Take, or refrain from taking, all actions, not expressly proscribed or limited by this
Agreement or the Articles, as may be necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes of the
Company;
(l) Institute, prosecute, defend, settle, compromise and dismiss lawsuits or other judicial or
administrative proceedings brought on or in behalf of, or against, the Company, the Members or the
Managers or Officers in connection with activities arising out of, connected with, or incidental to
this Agreement, and engage counsel or others in connection therewith;
(m) Purchase, take, receive, subscribe for or otherwise acquire, own, hold, vote, use, employ,
sell, mortgage, lend, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, and otherwise use and deal in and with,
shares or other interests in or obligations of domestic or foreign corporations, associations,
general or limited partnerships, other limited liability companies, or individuals or direct or
indirect obligations of the United States or of any government, state, territory, government
district or municipality or of any instrumentality of any of them;
(n) Agree with any Person as to the form and other terms and conditions of such Person’s
Capital Contribution to the Company and cause the Company to issue Membership Interests and Units
in consideration for such Capital Contribution; and
15
(o) Indemnify Members, Managers or Officers, or former Members, Managers or Officers, and to
make any other indemnification that is authorized by this Agreement in accordance with, and to the
fullest extent permitted by, the Act.
5.5 Manager as Agent. Notwithstanding the power and authority of the Managers to manage
the business and affairs of the Company, no Manager shall have authority to act as agent for the
Company for the purposes of its business (including the execution of any instrument on behalf of
the Company) unless the Managers have authorized the Manager to take such action.
5.6 Authority of Managers.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Managers shall not
have authority to, and they covenant and agree that they shall not, do any of the following acts
without the unanimous consent of the Members:
(i) | Cause or permit the Company to engage in any activity that is not consistent with the purposes of the Company as set forth in Section 1.3 of this Agreement; | ||
(ii) | Knowingly engage in any act in contravention of this Agreement or which would make it impossible to carry on the ordinary business of the Company, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement; | ||
(iii) | Possess Company Property, or assign rights in specific Company Property, for other than a Company purpose; or | ||
(iv) | Cause the Company to voluntarily take any action that would cause a bankruptcy of the Company. |
(b) The Managers shall have authority to cause the Company to, without the consent or vote of
the Membership to:
(i) | Merge, consolidate, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Property, except for a liquidating sale of the Property in connection with the dissolution of the Company; | ||
(ii) | Confess a judgment against the Company; | ||
(iii) | Issue Units at a purchase price that is commercially reasonable; |
Provided, however, that in order for such to occur at least one of the elected (Class B)
Managers must vote affirmatively for the items described in this Article 5.6(b).
5.7 Meetings. A regular meeting of the Managers shall be held, without other notice than
this Section, immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of the Members.
Additionally, the Managers may, by resolution, prescribe the time and place for holding regular
meetings and may provide that such resolution constitutes notice thereof. If the Managers do not
prescribe the time and place for the holding of regular meetings, such regular meetings shall be
held at the time and place specified in the notice of each such regular meeting. Unless otherwise
prescribed by statute, special meetings may be called by, or at the request of, the President or
any Two (2) or more Managers. The Managers may designate any location as the place of any regular
or special meeting. If no designation is made, the place of meeting shall be the principal office
of the Company.
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5.8 Notice. Notice shall be given to each Manager with respect to any special meeting of
the Managers, stating the date, time and place of the meeting. Such notice shall be given at
least Two (2) days prior thereto and shall be in writing, unless oral notice is reasonable under
the circumstances. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered on the earlier of Five
(5) days after deposit in the U.S. mail addressed to the Manager’s address as shown on the
Company’s records with postage prepaid, or upon receipt. Any Manager may waive notice of any
meeting. Except as provided in the next sentence, the waiver must be in writing, signed by the
Manager entitled to notice, and filed with the minutes relating to the action taken. A Manager’s
attendance at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such
Manager attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business
because the meeting was not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at,
nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Managers need be specified in the notice
or waiver of notice of such meeting.
5.9 Conduct of Meeting. All Managers, to the extent possible, shall personally attend all
Managers meetings. However, any Manager may participate in any regular or special meeting by any
means of communication by which all Managers participating may simultaneously hear each other
during the meeting. A Manager participating in a meeting by this means is deemed to be present in
person.
5.10 Quorum. A majority of the duly elected/appointed and qualified Managers shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided, however, that at least two (2) of
the Class A Managers need to be present to constitute a quorum. If less than a quorum is
represented at a meeting, the Managers represented may adjourn the meeting and reschedule it for a
later date without further notice. At such adjourned and rescheduled meeting at which a quorum is
present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the
original meeting. Managers present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business
until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of Managers to leave less than a quorum.
5.11 Manner of Acting; Informal Action. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
the act of a majority of the Managers at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of
the Managers. Unless otherwise provided by law, any action required or permitted to be taken at a
meeting of the Managers may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the
action so taken is signed by all Managers entitled to vote with respect the subject matter thereof.
5.12 Absentee Manager. A Manager may give advance written consent or opposition to a
proposal to be acted on at a meeting of the Managers. If the Manager is not present at the
meeting, consent or opposition to a proposal does not constitute presence for purpose of
determining the existence of a quorum, but consent or opposition shall be counted as a vote in
favor of or against the proposal and shall be entered in the minutes or other record of action at
the meeting, if the proposal acted on at the meeting is substantially the same or has substantially
the same effect as the proposal to which the Manager has consented or objected.
5.13 Presumption of Assent. A Manager present at a meeting shall be presumed to have
assented to action taken, unless the dissent of such Manager is entered in the minutes of the
meeting or unless such Manager files a written dissent to such action with the other Managers
before the adjournment thereof or forwards such dissent by mail to the other Managers immediately
after the adjournment thereof. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Manager who voted in
favor of an action.
5.14 Removal of Managers. Neither the Members, nor the Board of Managers has authority to
remove any Class A (appointed) Manager. Only the Member with right to appoint the three (3) Class
A Managers (upon execution hereof such being Xxxxx Management, LLC) has a right to remove any such
Class A
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Managers. The Members may remove a Class B Manager, with or without cause, at a meeting called for
that purpose, if notice has been given that a purpose of the meeting is such removal.
5.15 Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring regarding a Class A Manager shall be filled by the
Member who has the appointment power regarding such Class A Manager (upon execution hereof said
party being Xxxxx Management, LLC). Any vacancy occurring in the Class B Managers may be filled by
the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Managers. A Manager elected to fill a vacancy
shall be elected for the unexpired term of such Manager’s predecessor in office.
5.16 Compensation. The Managers shall have authority to establish reasonable compensation
of all Managers for services to the Company as Managers, officers or otherwise, and to provide for
reimbursement to Managers of their reasonable expenses of attending Managers’ meetings.
5.17 Committees; Authority. The Managers may create such committees, and appoint such
Managers to serve on them, as the Managers deem appropriate. Each committee must have Two (2) or
more Managers, who serve at the pleasure of the Managers. The creation of a committee, and the
appointment of Managers to serve on it, must be approved by a majority of the Managers. The
procedural requirements for Board of Manager meetings under this Article V shall also apply to
committee meetings. Committees may exercise only those aspects of the Managers’ authority which
are expressly conferred by the Managers by express resolution. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
however, a committee may not, under any circumstances: (i) apportion or authorize distributions;
(ii) approve or propose any action for which the Act requires Member approval; (iii) elect
Officers; (iv) fill vacancies on the Board of Managers or on any of its committees; (v) adopt,
amend, or repeal the Articles or this Agreement; (vi) approve a plan of merger; (vii) authorize or
approve the reacquisition of Units, except according to a formula or method prescribed by the
Managers; or (ix) authorize or approve the issuance or sale or contract for sale of Units or
determine the designation and relative rights, preferences, and limitations of a class or series of
Units.
5.18 Voting; Potential Financial Interest. No Manager shall be disqualified from voting on
any matter solely by reason of such Manager’s (or his/her Affiliate’s) potential financial interest
or any other interest in the outcome of such vote, provided that the nature of such potential
financial interest or other interest was reasonably disclosed at the time of such vote.
5.19 Duties and Obligations of Managers. The Managers shall cause the Company to conduct
its business and operations separate and apart from that of any Manager or any Manager’s
Affiliates. The Managers shall take all actions which may be necessary or appropriate: (i) for
the continuation of the Company’s valid existence as a limited liability company under the laws of
the State of South Dakota and each other jurisdiction in which such existence is necessary to
protect the limited liability of Members or to enable the Company to conduct the business in which
it is engaged; and (ii) for the accomplishment of the Company’s purposes, including the
acquisition, development, maintenance, preservation, and operation of Company Property in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and applicable laws and regulations. Each Manager
shall have the duty to discharge the foregoing duties in good faith, in a manner the Manager
believes to be in the best interests of the Company, and with the care an ordinarily prudent person
in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances. The Managers shall have a fiduciary
responsibility for the safekeeping and use of all funds and assets of the Company, whether or not
in the Manager’s immediate possession or control. The Managers shall not employ, or permit another
to employ, such funds or assets in any manner except for the exclusive benefit of the Company. The
Company shall not permit Members to contract away the fiduciary obligation owed to Members by
Managers under the common law. The Managers shall be under no other fiduciary duty to the Company
or the Members to conduct the affairs of the Company in a particular manner. Managers shall not
receive any rebates or give-ups, nor may they participate in any reciprocal business arrangements.
No Manager shall directly or indirectly pay or award any commissions or other compensation to any
Person engaged to
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sell Units or give investment advice to potential Members, provided that this clause shall not
prohibit the payment to a registered broker-dealer or other properly licensed Person of normal
sales commissions for selling Units. All material and affiliated transactions and loans, and any
forgiveness of loans, must be approved by a majority of the Company’s independent Managers as
defined in Section 1.10(s) who do not have an interest in the transactions and who have access, at
the Company’s expense, to Company’s legal counsel.
5.20 Officers. The officers of the Company shall be appointed by the Managers and shall
include a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other Officers and
assistant Officers as the Managers shall determine. One person may simultaneously hold more than
one office. The Officers’ terms shall be specified by the Managers. If no term is specified, they
shall hold office until the first meeting of the Managers held after the next annual meeting of the
Members. If the appointment of Officers shall not be made at such meeting, such appointment shall
be made as soon thereafter as is convenient. Each Officer shall hold office until the officer’s
successor is duly appointed and qualified, until the Officer’s death, or until the Officer resigns
or is removed by the Managers. The designation of a specified term does not grant to an Officer
any contract rights; and unless otherwise provided in a signed contract with the Company, Officers
will be “at-will employees” subject to removal by the Managers at any time, with or without cause.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the President or the Secretary
of the Company. Unless otherwise noted in the notice, the resignation shall be effective upon
receipt.
The Officers, and their duties and responsibilities shall be as follows:
(a) President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company and shall,
subject to Managers’ control, generally supervise and control the Company’s business and affairs.
The President shall, when present, preside at all Managers’ and Member meetings, and shall perform
all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as may be prescribed by this
Agreement or by the Managers. For purposes of the Act, the President shall be deemed the Chief
Manager (as such term is defined and used in the Act) of the Company.
(b) The Vice President(s). If one or more Vice Presidents are appointed by the Managers, the
Vice President (or in the event there be more than one, the appropriate Vice President, as
designated by the Managers, or in the absence of any designation, then in the order of appointment)
shall perform the duties of the President in the event of the President’s absence, death, inability
or refusal to act. When so acting, a Vice President shall have all of the powers, and be subject
to all of the restrictions upon, the President. In addition, Vice Presidents shall perform such
other duties as may be prescribed by this Agreement or by the Managers.
(c) The Secretary. The Secretary shall: (i) keep the minutes of the Manager and Member
meetings; (ii) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with this Agreement and as
required by law; (iii) serve as the custodian of the Company’s records; (iv) when requested or
required, authenticate any Company records; (v) keep and maintain the Unit Holder Register and the
Unit transfer books of the Company; and (vi) perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary
and such other duties as may be prescribed by this Agreement or by the Managers.
(d) The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Company and
shall: (i) have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds and securities of the
Company; (ii) receive and give receipts for moneys due and payable to the Company, and deposit all
such moneys in the name of the Company in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as
shall be selected in
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accordance with this Agreement; and (iv) generally perform all duties incident to the office of
Treasurer and such other duties as may be prescribed by this Agreement or by the Managers.
(e) Other Assistants and Acting Officers. The Managers shall have the power to appoint any
Person to act as assistant to any Officer, or to perform the duties of such Officer, whenever for
any reason it is impracticable for such officer to act personally. Any such assistant or acting
Officer shall have the power to perform all the duties of the office to which he or she is
appointed to be an assistant, or as to which he or she is appointed to act, except as such power
may be otherwise defined or restricted by the Managers. Additionally, unless prohibited by a
resolution of the Managers, any Officer may delegate in writing some or all of the duties and
powers of such Officer’s position to other Persons. An Officer who delegates the duties or powers
of an office remains subject to the standard of conduct for such Officer with respect to the
discharge of all duties and powers so delegated.
Salaries of the Officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Managers, and no Officer
shall be prevented from receiving a salary due to the fact that such Officer is also a Manager.
5.21 Execution of Instruments. All deeds, mortgages, bonds, checks, contracts and other
instruments pertaining to the business and affairs of the Company shall be signed on behalf of the
Company by: (i) the President; or (ii) such other Officers or Persons who may be authorized to do
so by specific resolution of the Managers.
5.22 Limitation of Liability; Indemnification. To the maximum extent permitted under the
Act and other applicable law, no Member, Manager or Officer shall be personally liable for any
debt, obligation or liability of the Company merely by reason of being a Member, Manager or
Officer. Furthermore, no Manager or Officer shall be personally liable to the Company or its
Members for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty by such Manager or Officer; provided
that this provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a Manager or Officer for any of
the following: (i) any breach of the duty of loyalty to the Company or its Members; (ii) acts or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law;
(iii) a transaction from which the Manager or Officer derived an improper personal benefit (iv) a
wrongful distribution in violation of the Act; or (v) any act or
omission occurring before the Effective Date of this Agreement. To the maximum extent permitted
under the Act and other applicable law, the Company, its receiver, or its trustee (in the case of
its receiver or trustee, to the extent of Company Property) shall indemnify, save and hold
harmless, and pay all judgments and claims against each Manager or Officer relating to any
liability or damage incurred by reason of any act performed or omitted to be performed by such
Manager or Officer, in connection with the business of the Company, or in the event of any action
by a Unit Holder against a Manager, including a derivative suit, including reasonable attorneys’
fees incurred by such Manager or officer in connection with the defense of any action based on any
such act or omission, provided that (i) the Manager or officer has determined, in good faith, that
the course of conduct which caused the loss or liability was in the best interest of the Company;
(ii) the Manager or officer was acting on behalf of or performing services for the Company; (iii)
such liability or loss was not the result of negligence or misconduct by the Manager or officer;
and (iv) such indemnification or agreement to hold harmless is recoverable only out of Company net
assets and not from the holders of any Membership Interests. The advancement of Company funds to a
Manager or officer for legal expenses and other costs incurred as a result of any legal action for
which indemnification is being sought shall be allowed only if: (i) the legal action relates to
acts or omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on behalf of the Company;
(ii) the legal action is initiated by a third party who is not a holder of any Membership
Interests, or the legal action is initiated by a holder of a Membership Interest and a court of
competent jurisdiction specifically approves such advancement; and (iii) the Manager or officer
undertakes to repay the advanced funds to the Company, together with the applicable legal rate of
interest thereon, in cases in which such person is found not to be entitled to indemnification.
Notwithstanding anything to the
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contrary above, a Manager or officer shall be indemnified for losses, liabilities or expenses
arising from or out of an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws only if one or more
of the following conditions is met: (i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of
each count involving alleged securities law violations as to the particular indemnitee; (ii) such
claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to
the particular indemnitee; or (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the
claims against a particular indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and related
costs should be made, and the court of law considering the request for indemnification has been
advised of the position of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the published position of any
state securities regulatory authority in which securities of the Company were offered or sold as to
indemnification for violations of securities laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, no
Manager or officer shall be indemnified by the Company to the extent prohibited or limited by the
Act. The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Person in such Person’s
official capacity against any liability asserted against and incurred by such Person in or arising
from that capacity, so long as the Company does not incur the cost of that portion of liability
insurance which insures such Person for any liability as to which the Person is prohibited from
being indemnified under this paragraph.
ARTICLE VI. MEMBERSHIP UNITS; MEMBERS
6.1 Membership Units. The Company is initially organized with One (1) class of Membership
Interests, designated in Units, which Units are initially the only class of equity in the Company.
The Units shall have no par value and shall be of a single class with identical rights, except that
Xxxxx Management, LLC has the sole right to appoint the three (3) Class A Managers. The other
Membership Interests, which are also designated in Units, have no right to vote for or determine
the three (3) Class A Managers. The Company shall have a first lien on the Units of any Member for
any debt or liability owed by such Member to the Company. Additional or different classes of
Membership Interests represented by different Units may be created and issued to new or existing
Members on such terms and conditions as the Managers may determine. Such additional and different
classes may have different rights, powers and preferences (including, without limitation, voting
rights and distribution preferences), which may be superior to those of existing Members. Members
shall have no preemptive rights to acquire additional or newly created Units.
6.2 Certificates; Surrender for Transfer. The Company is not required to issue
Certificates, but may do so at its discretion. Certificates representing Units shall be in such
form as shall be determined by the Managers, in their discretion. If a certificate is lost,
destroyed or mutilated, a new one may be issued upon such terms and indemnity to the Company as the
Managers may prescribe. No new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate for a like
number of Units has been surrendered and canceled.
6.3 Members. Each Person who desires to become a Member must complete and execute a
signature page to this Agreement in the form of Exhibit “B” attached hereto and such other
documents as may be required by the Managers. Membership Interests and Units of the Members shall
be set forth on Exhibit “A” to this Agreement, as amended from time to time.
6.4 Additional Members. No Person shall become a Member without the approval of the
Managers. The Managers may refuse to admit any Person as a Member in their sole discretion. Any
such admission must comply with the requirements described in this Agreement and will be effective
only after such Person has executed and delivered to the Company such documentation as determined
by the Managers to be necessary and appropriate to effect such admission.
6.5 Members’ Voting Rights. Each Member shall be entitled to One (1) vote for each Unit
registered in the name of such Member (as shown in the Unit Holder Register) as to any matter for
which such
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Member is entitled to vote under this Agreement or the Act. Members do not have cumulative voting
rights as to any matter. Except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement, Members
shall not have any right or power to take part in the management or control of the Company or its
business and affairs or to act for or bind the Company in any way.
6.6 Member Meetings. Beginning with the fiscal year ending in calendar year 2007, or
sooner as determined by the Managers, and each Fiscal Year thereafter, an annual meeting of the
Members shall be held within One Hundred Eighty (180) days of the close of the Company’s Fiscal
Year, at a time and date determined by the Managers. Special meetings of the Members, for any
purpose(s) described in the meeting notice, may be called by the Managers, and shall be called by
the Managers at the request of not less than ten percent (10%) of all Members. A call by the
Members for a special meeting shall be in writing, signed by the persons calling for the same,
addressed and delivered to the Secretary, and shall state the time and purpose(s) of such meeting.
6.7 Place of Meeting. The Managers, or in the absence of action by the Managers, the
President, may designate any place within or without of the State of South Dakota as the place for
any meeting of the Members, unless by written consents, all Members entitled to vote at the meeting
designate a different place for the holding of such meeting. If no designation is made by the
Managers, the President or by unanimous action of the Members, the place of meetings shall be at
the principal office of the Company in the State of South Dakota.
6.8 Conduct of Meetings. All meetings of the Members shall be presided over by the
President. All meetings of the Members shall be conducted with such rules and procedures as may be
determined by the President in his or her discretion. Subject to the discretion of the Managers,
the Members may participate in any Member meeting by means of telephone conference or similar means
of communication by which all participants in the meeting can hear and be heard by all other
participants.
6.9 Notice. Written notice stating the place and time of any annual or special Member
meeting shall be delivered or mailed not less than Fifteen (15) nor more than Sixty (60) days prior
to the meeting date, to each Member of record entitled to vote at such meeting as of the close of
business on the day before said notice is delivered or mailed. Notice of a special meeting of the
Members shall be provided to the Members within Ten (10) days of the Secretary’s receipt of a call
by the Members for a specical meeting in accordance with Section 6.6. Such notices shall be deemed
to be effective upon the earlier of: (i) deposit postage-prepaid in the U.S. mail, addressed to
the Member at the Member’s address as it appears on the Unit Holder Register, or such other address
as may have been provided in writing to the Company by a Member; (ii) the date shown on the return
receipt if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested; or (iii) actual receipt.
6.10 Contents of Notice. The notice of each Member meeting shall include a description of
the purpose(s) for which the meeting is called. If a purpose of any Member meeting is to consider:
(i) a proposed amendment to or restatement of the Articles requiring Member approval; (ii) a plan
of merger or share exchange; (iii) the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all, or
substantially all of the Company’s Property; (iv) the dissolution of the Company; or (v) removal of
a Class B Manager, then the notice must so state and must be accompanied, as applicable, by a copy
or summary of the (1) amendment(s) to the Articles, (2) plan of merger or share exchange, (3)
documents relating to the transaction for the disposition of all the Company’s property, and/or (4)
plan and Articles of Dissolution.
6.11 Adjourned Meetings. If any Member meeting is adjourned to a different date, time or
place, notice need not be given of the new date, time or place, if the new date, time and place is
announced at the meeting before adjournment; provided that, if a new record date for the
adjourned meeting is or must be fixed, then notice must be given to new Members as of the new
record date.
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6.12 Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given to any Member under the
Act, the Articles or this Agreement, a waiver in writing, signed by such Member shall be deemed
equivalent to the giving of such notice. Furthermore, a Member’s attendance at a meeting waives
any objection that the Member might otherwise raise based on lack of notice or defective notice,
unless the Member: (i) objects at the outset of the meeting; or (ii) in the case of an objection
claiming that consideration of a particular matter is not within the purposes described in the
meeting notice, objects at the time such matter is presented, and in either case, thereafter does
not participate in the meeting.
6.13 Fixing of Record Date. For purposes of determining the Members entitled to notice of,
or to vote at, any Member meeting or any adjournment thereof, or for purposes of determining the
Members entitled to receive payment of any distribution, or in order to make a determination of the
Members for any other purpose, the Managers may provide that the Unit Transfer books shall be
closed for a stated period, not to exceed Sixty (60) days. If the Unit Transfer books shall be
closed for such purpose, such books shall be closed for at least Ten (10) days immediately
preceding such meeting. In lieu of closing the Unit Transfer books, the Managers may fix in
advance a date as the record date for any such determination of Members, such date in any case to
be not more than Sixty (60) days, and in case of a meeting of Members not less than Ten (10) days,
prior to the date on which the particular action requiring such determination is to be taken. If
the Unit Transfer books are not closed and no record date is fixed for the determination, the date
on which notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution of the Managers
declaring a dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such
determination. When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of the Members has
been made as provided in this Section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof,
unless the Managers fix a new record date, which it must do if the meeting is adjourned to a date
more than One Hundred Twenty (120) days after the date fixed for the original meeting.
6.14 Quorum and Proxies. The presence (in person or by proxy or mail ballot) of Members
representing at least thirty percent (30%) of the Membership Voting Interests is required for the
transaction of business at a meeting of the Members. Voting by proxy or by mail ballot shall be
permitted on any matter if authorized by the Managers.
6.15 Voting; Action by Members. If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority
of the Membership Voting Interests represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter
(including units represented in person, by proxy or by mail ballot when authorized by the Managers)
shall constitute the act of the Members, unless the vote of a greater or lesser proportion or
numbers is otherwise required by this Agreement.
6.16 Termination of Membership. If for any reason the membership of a Member is terminated
as provided in this Agreement or the Act, the Member whose membership has terminated loses all
Membership Voting Interests and shall be considered merely an unadmitted Assignee of the Membership
Financial Rights owned before the termination of membership, having only the rights provided for
unadmitted Assignees in Section 9.7 hereof.
6.17 Continuation of the Company. The Company shall not be dissolved upon the occurrence
of any event that is deemed to terminate the continued membership of a Member, but rather the
Company shall continue without dissolution, and its affairs shall not be required to be wound up.
6.18 No Member Right of Redemption or Return of Capital. Except as otherwise provided in
this Agreement or the Act, no Member or transferee of any Member shall have any right to demand or
receive a return of his/her/its Capital Contribution or to require the redemption of his/her/its
Units.
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6.19 Waiver of Dissenters Rights. To the fullest extent permitted by the Act, each Member
hereby disclaims, waives and agrees not to assert: (i) any dissenters’ or similar rights under the
Act; (ii) any right to require partition or appraisal of the Company or of any of its assets, or to
cause the sale of any Company Property; or (iii) any right to maintain any action for partition or
to compel any sale with respect to such Member’s Units, or with respect to any Company Property.
6.20 Loans. Any Member or Affiliate may, with the consent of the Managers, lend or advance
money to the Company, in which case the amount of any such loan or advance shall not be treated as
a contribution to the capital of the Company but rather shall be a debt due from the Company,
repayable out of the Company’s cash, and shall bear interest at a rate not in excess of the prime
rate established, from time to time, by any major bank selected by the Managers for loans to its
most creditworthy commercial borrowers, plus Four Percent (4%) per annum. If a Manager or an
Affiliate of a Manager is the lending Member, the rate of interest and the terms and conditions of
such loan shall be no less favorable to the Company than if the lender had been an independent
third party. None of the Members or their Affiliates shall be obligated to make any loan or
advance to the Company.
6.21 Required Ownership. A Member is required at all times to own at least ten (10) units.
Any person desiring to become a Member shall be allowed to become a Member only if they purchase a
minimum of ten (10) units. Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, a Member with more
than ten (10) units may sell provided they either retain at least ten (10) units or sell all units
so as to no longer be a Member. The Managers are authorized to refuse the transfer of any units if
the transfer does not follow the requirements established by this provision.
ARTICLE VII. ACCOUNTING, BOOKS AND RECORDS
7.1 Accounting, Books and Records. The books and records of the Company shall be kept, and
the financial position and the results of its operations recorded, in accordance with GAAP. The
books and records shall reflect all Company transactions and shall be appropriate and adequate for
the Company’s business. The Company shall maintain at its principal place of business: (i) a
current list of the full name and last known address of each Member and Assignee set forth in
alphabetical order, together with the Capital Contributions, Capital Account and Units of each
Member and Assignee, such list updated at least quarterly; (ii) the full name and address of each
Manager; (iii) a copy of the Articles and any and all amendments thereto, together with executed
copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which the Articles or any amendments thereto have been
executed; (iv) copies of the Company’s federal, state and local income tax and information returns
and reports, if any, for the Six (6) most recent taxable years; (v) a copy of this Agreement and
any and all amendments hereto, together with executed copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to
which this Agreement or any amendments hereto have been executed; and (vi) copies of the financial
statements of the Company, if any, for the Six (6) most recent Fiscal Years. The Company shall use
the accrual method of accounting in the preparation of its financial reports and for tax purposes
and shall keep its books and records accordingly.
7.2 Delivery to Members and Inspection. Any Member or such Member’s designated
representative shall have reasonable access during normal business hours to the information and
documents kept by the Company pursuant to Section 7.1 of this Agreement. Upon the request of any
Member for purposes reasonably related to such Member’s interest as a Member, the Managers shall
promptly deliver to the requesting Member, at the expense of the requesting Member, a copy of the
information required to be maintained under Section 7.1 of this Agreement. Each Member has the
right, upon reasonable request for purposes reasonably related to such Member’s interest as a
Member and for proper purposes, to: (i) inspect and copy during normal business hours any of the
Company records described in Section 7.1 of this Agreement; and (ii) obtain from the Managers,
promptly after their becoming available, copies of the Company’s federal, state and local income
tax and information returns for each Fiscal Year. Each
24
Assignee shall have the right to information regarding the Company only to the extent required by
the Act. Upon the request of a copy of a current Member list, such list shall be mailed to any
Member within ten (10) days of the request, such copy to be printed in alphabetical order, on white
paper and in a readily readable type size, with a reasonable charge for copy work. The purposes
for which a Member list may be requested include, without limitation, matters relating to Members’
voting rights under the Agreement and the exercise of Members’ rights under federal proxy laws.
Any Person who neglects or refuses to exhibit, produce, or mail a copy of the Member list as
requested shall be liable for costs, including attorney’s fees, incurred by the Member for
compelling the production of the Member list, and for actual damages suffered by any Member by
reason of such refusal or neglect. It shall be a defense that the actual purpose and reason for
the request for inspection is for the purpose of selling such list or copies thereof, or of using
the same for a commercial purpose other than in the interest of the applicant as a Member relative
to the affairs of the Company.
7.3 Reports. The Treasurer of the Company shall be responsible for causing the preparation
of financial reports of the Company and the coordination of financial matters of the Company with
the Company’s accountants. The Company shall cause to be delivered to each Member the financial
statements listed below, prepared, in each case (other than with respect to Member’s Capital
Accounts, which shall be prepared in accordance with this Agreement) in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied. Delivery of the financial statements shall occur as soon as practicable
following the end of each Fiscal Year (and in any event not later than 120 days after the end of
such Fiscal Year), and at such time as distributions are made to the Unit Holders pursuant to
Article X of this Agreement following the occurrence of a Dissolution Event. The financial
statements shall consist of a balance sheet of the Company as of the end of such Fiscal Year and
the related statements of operations, Unit Holders’ Capital Accounts and changes therein, and cash
flows for such Fiscal Year, together with appropriate notes to such financial statements and
supporting schedules, all of which shall be audited and certified by the Company’s accountants, and
in each case setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the immediately
preceding Fiscal Year end (in the case of the balance sheet) and the Two (2) immediately preceding
Fiscal Years (in the case of the statements). The report shall also contain (i) a report of the
activities of the Company during the period covered by the report; (ii) a table comparing
previously provided forecasts with actual results during the period covered by the report; (iii)
distributions to participants for the period, separately identifying distributions from cash flow
from operations during the period, cash flow from operations during a prior period which have been
held as reserves, proceeds from disposition of Company assets and reserves from the gross proceeds
of the offering originally obtained from the Members. The Company will also provide a report
within sixty (60) days of the end of the first six months of each fiscal year containing an
unaudited balance sheet, an unaudited statement of income for the period then ended, an unaudited
statement of Unit Holders’ Capital Accounts and changes therein, an unaudited statement of cash
flows for the period then ended and other pertinent material regarding the Company and its
activities during the period covered by the report. The Company will attempt to provide, within
forty-five (45) days after the end of each Tax Year, all information necessary for the preparation
of the Members’ federal income tax returns.
7.4 Tax Matters. The Managers shall, without any further consent of the Unit Holders being
required (except as specifically required herein), make any and all elections for federal, state,
local and foreign tax purposes as the Managers shall determine appropriate and shall have the right
and authority to represent the Company and the Unit Holders before taxing authorities or courts of
competent jurisdiction in tax matters affecting the Company or the Unit Holders in their capacities
as Unit Holders, and to file any tax returns and execute any agreements or other documents relating
to or affecting such tax matters, including agreements or other documents that bind the Unit
Holders with respect to such tax matters or otherwise affect the rights of the Company and the Unit
Holders. The Managers shall designate a Person to be specifically authorized to act as the “Tax
Matters Member” under the Code and in any similar capacity under state or local law; provided,
however, that the Managers shall have the authority to designate,
25
remove and replace the Tax Matters Member who shall act as the tax matters partner within the
meaning of and pursuant to Regulations Sections 301.6231(a)(7)-1 and -2 or any similar provision
under state or local law. Necessary tax information shall be delivered to each Unit Holder as soon
as practicable after the end of each Tax Year, the Company shall attempt to mail such within
forty-five (45) days after the end of each Tax Year.
ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS
8.1 Amendments. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed by the Managers or any
Member. Following any such proposal, the Managers shall submit to the Members a verbatim statement
of any proposed amendment, and the Managers shall include therewith a recommendation as to the
proposed amendment. The Managers shall seek the written vote of the Members on the proposed
amendment or shall call a meeting to vote thereon and to transact any other business that it may
deem appropriate. A proposed amendment shall be adopted and be effective as an amendment to this
Agreement only if approved by the affirmative vote of seventy-five percent (75%) of the Membership
Voting Interests of the Company. Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 8.1 to the
contrary, this Agreement shall not be amended without the consent of each Member adversely affected
if such amendment would modify the limited liability of a Member, or alter the Membership Financial
Rights of a Member. This Agreement cannot be amended to revoke or limit any of the rights to
appoint the three (3) Class A Managers as held by Xxxxx Management, LLC or as held by any
transferee, successor or assignee holding a valid right to appoint said three (3) Class A Managers.
ARTICLE IX. TRANSFERS
9.1 Restrictions on Transfers. Except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, no Member
shall Transfer all or any portion of such Member’s Units. In the event that any Member pledges or
otherwise encumbers all or any part of such Member’s Units as security for the payment of a Debt,
any such pledge or hypothecation shall be made pursuant to a pledge or hypothecation agreement that
requires the pledgee or secured party to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and all other agreements governing the rights and obligations of Unit Holders in the
event such pledgee or secured party becomes a Unit Holder hereunder.
9.2 Permitted Transfers. Subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth in this
Article IX, a Unit Holder may: (a) at any time Transfer all or any portion of such Unit Holder’s
Units (i) to the transferor’s administrator or trustee to whom such Units are Transferred
involuntarily by operation of law, or (ii) without consideration to or in trust for descendants of
a Member; or (b) at any time following the date on which substantial operations of the Facilities
commence, Transfer all or any portion of such Unit Holder’s Units (i) to any Person approved by the
Managers, in writing, or (ii) to any Affiliate or Related Party of such Unit Holder. Any such
Transfer set forth in this Section 9.2 and meeting the conditions set forth in Section 9.3 below is
referred to herein as a “Permitted Transfer.”
9.3 Conditions Precedent to Transfers. In addition to the conditions set forth above, no
Transfer of Units shall be effective unless and until all of the following conditions have been
satisfied:
(a) Except in the case of a Transfer involuntarily by operation of law, the transferor and
transferee shall execute and deliver to the Company such documents and instruments of Transfer as
may be necessary or appropriate in the opinion of counsel to the Company to affect such Transfer.
In the case of a Transfer of Units involuntarily by operation of law, the Transfer shall be
confirmed by presentation to the Company of legal evidence of such Transfer, in form and substance
satisfactory to counsel to the Company. In all cases, the transferor and/or transferee shall pay
all reasonable costs and expenses
26
connected with the Transfer and the admission of the Transferee as a Member and incurred as a
result of such Transfer, including but not limited to, legal fees and costs.
(b) The transferor and transferee shall furnish the Company with the transferee’s taxpayer
identification number, sufficient information to determine the transferee’s initial tax basis in
the Units Transferred, and any other information reasonably necessary to permit the Company to file
all required federal and state tax returns and other legally required information statements or
returns. The Company shall not be required to make any distribution otherwise provided for in this
Agreement with respect to any Transferred Units until it has received such information.
(c) Except in the case of a Transfer of any Units involuntarily by operation of law, either
(i) such Units shall be registered under the Securities Act, and any applicable state securities
laws, or (ii) the transferor shall provide an opinion of counsel, which opinion and counsel shall
be reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, to the effect that such Transfer is exempt from all
applicable registration requirements and that such Transfer will not violate any applicable laws
regulating the Transfer of securities.
(d) Except in the case of a Transfer of Units involuntarily by operation of law, the
transferor shall provide an opinion of counsel, which opinion and counsel shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Managers, to the effect that such Transfer will not cause the Company to be
deemed to be an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(e) Unless otherwise approved by the Managers and Members representing in the aggregate a 75%
majority of the Membership Voting Interests, no Transfer of Units shall be made except upon terms
which would not, in the opinion of counsel chosen by the Managers, result in the termination of the
Company within the meaning of Section 708 of the Code or cause the application of the rules of
Sections 168(g)(1)(B) and 168(h) of the Code or similar rules to apply to the Company. If the
immediate Transfer of such Unit would, in the opinion of such counsel, cause a termination within
the meaning of Section 708 of the Code, then if, in the opinion of such counsel, the following
action would not precipitate such termination, the transferor Member shall be entitled to (or
required, as the case may be): (i) immediately Transfer only that portion of its Units as may, in
the opinion of such counsel, be Transferred without causing such a termination; and (ii) enter into
an agreement to Transfer the remainder of its Units, in one or more Transfers, at the earliest date
or dates on which such Transfer or Transfers may be effected without causing such termination. The
purchase price for the Units shall be allocated between the immediate Transfer and the deferred
Transfer or Transfers pro rata on the basis of the percentage of the aggregate Units being
Transferred, each portion to be payable when the respective Transfer is consummated, unless
otherwise agreed by the parties to the Transfer. In the case of a Transfer by one Member to
another Member, the deferred purchase price shall be deposited in an interest-bearing escrow
account unless another method of securing the payment thereof is agreed upon by the transferor
Member and the transferee Member(s).
(f) No notice or request initiating the procedures contemplated by this Section 9.3 may be
given by any Member after a Dissolution Event has occurred. No Member may sell all or any portion
of its Units after a Dissolution Event has occurred.
(g) No Person shall Transfer any Unit if, in the determination of the Managers, such Transfer
would cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of
Section 7704(b) of the Code.
The Managers shall have the authority to waive any legal opinion or other condition required
in this Section 9.3 other than the Member approval requirement set forth in Section 9.3(e).
27
9.4 Prohibited Transfers. Any purported Transfer of Units that is not a Permitted Transfer
shall be null and void and of no force or effect whatsoever; provided that, if the Company
is required to recognize a Transfer that is not a Permitted Transfer (or if the Managers, in their
sole discretion, elect to recognize a Transfer that is not a Permitted Transfer): (i) the
transferee’s rights shall be strictly limited to the transferor’s Membership Financial Rights
associated with such Units; and (ii) the Company may offset against such Membership Financial
Rights (without limiting any other legal or equitable rights of the Company) any debts, obligations
or liabilities for damages that the transferor or transferee may have to the Company. In the case
of a Transfer or attempted Transfer of Units that is not a Permitted Transfer, the parties engaging
or attempting to engage in such Transfer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the
other Members from all cost, liability and damage that such parties may incur (including, without
limitation, incremental tax liabilities, attorneys’ fees and expenses) as a result thereof.
9.5 No Dissolution or Termination. The Transfer of Units pursuant to the terms of this
Article IX shall not dissolve or terminate the Company. No Member shall have the right to have the
Company dissolved or to have such Member’s Capital Contribution returned except as provided in this
Agreement.
9.6 Prohibition of Assignment. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article
IX, no Transfer of Units may be made if the Units sought to be sold, exchanged or Transferred, when
added to the total of all other Units sold, exchanged or Transferred within the period of Twelve
(12) consecutive months prior thereto, would result in the termination of the Company under Section
708 of the Code. In the event of a Transfer of any Units, the Members will determine, in their
sole discretion, whether or not the Company will elect pursuant to Section 754 of the Code (or
corresponding provisions of future law) to adjust the basis of the assets of the Company.
9.7 Rights of Unadmitted Assignees. A Person who acquires Units but who is not admitted as
a Substitute Member pursuant to Section 9.8 of this Agreement shall be entitled only to the
Membership Financial Rights with respect to such Units in accordance with this Agreement, and shall
not be entitled to the Membership Voting Interests with respect to such Units. In addition, such
Person shall have no right to any information or accounting of the affairs of the Company, shall
not be entitled to inspect the books or records of the Company, and shall not have any of the other
rights of a Member under the Act or this Agreement.
9.8 Admission of Substitute Members. As to Permitted Transfers, a transferee of Units
shall be admitted as a substitute Member provided that such transferee has complied with
the following provisions:
(a) The transferee shall, by written instrument in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Managers, agree to be bound by all of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement, and assume the obligations of the transferor Member hereunder with respect to the
Transferred Units.
(b) The transferee shall pay for or reimburse the Company for all reasonable legal,
filing and publication costs incurred in connection with the admission of the transferee as
a Member; and
(c) Except in the case of a Transfer involuntarily by operation of law, if required by
the Managers, the transferee shall deliver to the Company evidence of his/her/its authority
to become a Member.
28
(d) The transferee and transferor shall each execute and deliver such other instruments
as the Managers reasonably deem necessary or appropriate in connection with such Transfer.
9.9 Representations Regarding Transfers. Each Member hereby covenants and agrees with the
Company for the benefit of the Company and all Members, that: (i) it is not currently making a
market in Units and will not in the future make a market in Units; (ii) it will not Transfer its
Units on an established securities market, a secondary market (or the substantial equivalent
thereof) within the meaning of Code Section 7704(b) (and any Regulations, proposed Regulations,
revenue rulings, or other official pronouncements of the IRS or the Treasury Department that may be
promulgated or published thereunder); and (iii) in the event such Regulations, revenue rulings, or
other pronouncements treat any or all arrangements which facilitate the selling of Units (commonly
referred to as “matching services”) as being a secondary market or the substantial equivalent
thereof, no Member will Transfer any Units through a matching service that is not approved in
advance by the Company. Each Member further agrees that it will not Transfer any Units to any
Person unless such Person first agrees to be bound by this Article IX.
Each Member hereby represents and warrants to the Company and the Members that such Member’s
acquisition of Units hereunder is made as principal for such Member’s own account and not for
resale or distribution of such Units. Each Member further hereby agrees that the following legend,
as the same may be amended by the Managers in their sole discretion, may be placed upon any
counterpart of this Agreement, the Articles, or any other document or instrument evidencing
ownership of Units:
THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THE MEMBERSHIP UNITS REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS
RESTRICTED. SUCH UNITS MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, OR TRANSFERRED, AND NO ASSIGNEE,
VENDEE, TRANSFEREE OR ENDORSEE THEREOF WILL BE RECOGNIZED AS HAVING ACQUIRED ANY
SUCH UNITS FOR ANY PURPOSES, UNLESS AND TO THE EXTENT SUCH SALE, TRANSFER,
HYPOTHECATION, OR ASSIGNMENT IS PERMITTED BY, AND IS COMPLETED IN STRICT ACCORDANCE
WITH, APPLICABLE FEDERAL AND STATE LAW AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE
OPERATING AGREEMENT OF THE COMPANY, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME.
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE OR
TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED, AND UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR AN OPINION OF
COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM
REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND UNDER APPLICABLE
STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
9.10 Distributions And Allocations In Respect of Transferred Units. If any Units are
Transferred during any Fiscal Year in compliance with the provisions of this Article IX, Profits,
Losses, each item thereof, and all other items attributable to the Transferred Units for such
Fiscal Year shall be divided and allocated between the transferor and the transferee by taking into
account their varying interests during the Fiscal Year in accordance with Code Section 706(d),
using any conventions permitted by law and selected by the Managers. All distributions on or before
the date of such Transfer shall be made to the transferor, and all distributions thereafter shall
be made to the transferee. Solely for purposes of making such allocations and distributions, the
Company shall recognize such Transfer to be effective not later than the first day of the month
following the month in which all documents to effectuate the Transfer have
29
been executed and delivered to the Company, provided that, if the Company does not receive a notice
stating the date such Units were Transferred and such other information as the Managers may
reasonably require within Thirty (30) days after the end of the Fiscal Year during which the
Transfer occurs, then all such items shall be allocated, and all distributions shall be made, to
the person or entity who, according to the books and records of the Company, was the owner of the
Units on the last day of such Fiscal Year. Neither the Company nor any Member shall incur any
liability for making allocations and distributions in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 9.10, whether or not the Managers or the Company has knowledge of any Transfer of any
Units.
9.11 Additional Members. Additional Members may be admitted from time to time upon the
approval of the Managers, and in accordance with such terms and conditions, as the Managers may
determine. All Members acknowledge that the admission of additional Members may result in a
dilution of a Member’s Membership Interest. Prior to admission as a Member, a prospective Member
shall agree in writing to be bound by this Agreement shall and execute and deliver to the Company
an Addendum to this Agreement in the form of Exhibit “B” attached hereto. Upon the execution of
such Addendum, such additional Member shall be deemed to be a party to this Agreement as if such
additional Member had executed this Agreement on the original date hereof, and shall be bound by
all of the provisions set forth herein.
ARTICLE X. DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP
10.1 Dissolution. The Company shall dissolve and shall commence winding up and liquidating
upon the first to occur of any of the following (each a “Dissolution Event”): (i) the affirmative
vote of a 75% majority in interest of the Membership Voting Interests to dissolve, wind up and
liquidate the Company; or (ii) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution pursuant to the Act.
The Members hereby agree that, notwithstanding any provision of the Act, the Company shall not
dissolve prior to the occurrence of a Dissolution Event.
10.2 Winding Up. Upon the occurrence of a Dissolution Event, the Company shall continue
solely for the purposes of winding up its affairs in an orderly manner, liquidating its assets and
satisfying the claims of its creditors and Members; and no Member shall take any action that is
inconsistent with, or not necessary to or appropriate for, winding up of the Company’s business and
affairs. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Members acknowledge
and agree that all covenants and obligations set forth this Agreement shall continue to be fully
binding upon the Members until such time as the Property has been distributed pursuant to this
Section 10.2 and Articles of Dissolution have been filed pursuant to the Act. The Liquidator shall
be responsible for overseeing the prompt and orderly winding up and dissolution of the Company.
The Liquidator shall take full account of the Company’s liabilities and Property and shall cause
the Property or the proceeds from the sale thereof (as determined pursuant to Section 10.8 of this
Agreement), to the extent sufficient therefore, to be applied and distributed, to the maximum
extent permitted by law, in the following order: (i) first, to creditors (including Members and
Managers who are creditors, to the extent otherwise permitted by law) in satisfaction of all of the
Company’s Debts and other liabilities (whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for
payment thereof), other than liabilities for which reasonable provision for payment has been made;
and (ii) second, except as provided in this Agreement, to Members in satisfaction of liabilities
for distributions pursuant to the Act; (iii) third, the balance, if any, to the Unit Holders in
accordance with the positive balance in their Capital Accounts calculated after making the required
adjustment set forth in clause (ii)(C) of the definition of Gross Asset Value in Section 1.10 of
this Agreement, after giving effect to all contributions, distributions and allocations for all
periods.
10.3 Compliance with Certain Requirements of Regulations; Deficit Capital Accounts. In the
event the Company is “liquidated” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g),
distributions shall be made pursuant to this Article X to the Unit Holders who have positive
Capital Accounts in
30
compliance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(2). If any Unit Holder has a deficit
balance in such Member’s Capital Account (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions
and allocations for all Fiscal Years, including the Fiscal Year during which such liquidation
occurs), such Unit Holder shall have no obligation to make any contribution to the capital of the
Company with respect to such deficit, and such deficit shall not be considered a debt owed to the
Company or to any other Person for any purpose whatsoever. In the discretion of the Liquidator, a
pro rata portion of the distributions that would otherwise be made to the Unit Holders pursuant to
this Article X may be: (i) distributed to a trust established for the benefit of the Unit Holders
for the purposes of liquidating Company assets, collecting amounts owed to the Company, and paying
any contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the Company, in which case the assets of
any such trust shall be distributed to the Unit Holders from time to time, in the reasonable
discretion of the Liquidator, in the same proportions as the amount distributed to such trust by
the Company would otherwise have been distributed to the Unit Holders pursuant to Section 10.2 of
this Agreement; or (b) withheld to provide a reasonable reserve for Company liabilities (contingent
or otherwise) and to reflect the unrealized portion of any installment obligations owed to the
Company, provided that such withheld amounts shall be distributed to the Unit Holders as soon as
practicable.
10.4 Deemed Distribution and Recontribution. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Article X, in the event the Company is liquidated within the meaning of Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) but no Dissolution Event has occurred, the Property shall not be liquidated,
the Company’s Debts and other liabilities shall not be paid or discharged, and the Company’s
affairs shall not be wound up.
10.5 Rights of Unit Holders. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Unit
Holder shall look solely to the Property of the Company for the return of such Unit Holder’s
Capital Contribution and shall have no right or power to demand or receive Property other than cash
from the Company. If the assets of the Company remaining after payment or discharge of the debts
or liabilities of the Company are insufficient to return such Capital Contribution, the Unit
Holders shall have no recourse against the Company or any other Unit Holder or Managers.
10.6 Allocations During Period of Liquidation. During the period commencing on the first
day of the Fiscal Year during which a Dissolution Event occurs and ending on the date on which all
of the assets of the Company have been distributed to the Unit Holders pursuant to Section 10.2 of
this Agreement (the “Liquidation Period”), the Unit Holders shall continue to share Profits,
Losses, gain, loss and other items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction in the manner
provided in Article III of this Agreement.
10.7 Character of Liquidating Distributions. All payments made in liquidation of the
interest of a Unit Holder shall be made in exchange for the interest of such Unit Holder in
Property pursuant to Section 736(b)(1) of the Code, including the interest of such Unit Holder in
Company goodwill.
10.8 The Liquidator. The “Liquidator” shall mean a Person appointed by the Managers to
oversee the liquidation of the Company. Upon the consent of a majority in interest of the Members,
the Liquidator may be the Managers. The Company is authorized to pay a reasonable fee to the
Liquidator for its services performed pursuant to this Article X and to reimburse the Liquidator
for its reasonable costs and expenses incurred in performing those services. The Company shall
indemnify, save harmless, and pay all judgments and claims against such Liquidator and any
officers, Managers, agents and employees of the Liquidator relating to any liability or damage
incurred by reason of any act performed or omitted to be performed by the Liquidator, or any
officers, Managers, agents or employees of the Liquidator in connection with the liquidation of the
Company, including reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with the defense of any action
based on any such act or omission, which attorneys’ fees may be paid as incurred, except to the
extent such liability or damage is caused by fraud, intentional misconduct, or a knowing violation
of the laws which was material to the cause of action.
31
10.9 Forms of Liquidating Distributions. For purposes of making distributions required by
Section 10.2 of this Agreement, the Liquidator may determine whether to distribute all or any
portion of the Property in-kind or to sell all or any portion of the Property and distribute the
proceeds therefrom.
ARTICLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Notices. Any notice, payment, demand, or communication required or permitted to be
given by any provision of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
delivered, given, and received for all purposes (i) if delivered personally to the Person or to an
officer of the Person to whom the same is directed, or (ii) when the same is actually received, if
sent by regular or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by facsimile, if such facsimile is followed
by a hard copy of the facsimile communication sent promptly thereafter by regular or certified
mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows, or to such other address as such Person may from time
to time specify by notice to the Company: (a) If to the Company, to the address determined
pursuant to Section 1.4 of this Agreement; (b) If to the Managers, to the address set forth on
record with the Company; (c) If to a Unit Holder, either to the address set forth in the Unit
Holder Register or to such other address that has been provided in writing to the Company.
11.2 Binding Effect. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, every covenant, term
and provision of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the
Company and the Members, and their respective heirs, representatives, successors, transferees, and
assigns.
11.3 Construction. Every covenant, term, and provision of this Agreement shall be
construed simply according to its fair meaning and not strictly for or against the Company or any
Member.
11.4 Headings. Article, Section and other headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and are not intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope,
extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement.
11.5 Severability. Except as otherwise provided in the succeeding sentence, every
provision of this Agreement is intended to be severable, and if any term or provision of this
Agreement is illegal or invalid for any reason whatsoever, such illegality or invalidity shall not
affect the validity or legality of the remainder of this Agreement. The preceding sentence of this
Section 11.5 shall be of no force or effect if the consequence of enforcing the remainder of this
Agreement without such illegal or invalid term or provision would be to cause any Member to lose
the material benefit of its economic bargain.
11.6 Incorporation By Reference. Every recital, exhibit, schedule and appendix attached to
this Agreement and referred to herein is hereby incorporated into this Agreement by reference
unless this Agreement expressly provides otherwise.
11.7 Variation of Terms. All terms and variations thereof used in this Agreement shall be
deemed to refer to masculine, feminine, or neuter, singular or plural, as the context may require.
11.8 Governing Law. The laws of the State of South Dakota shall govern the validity of
this Agreement, the construction of its terms, and the interpretation of the rights and duties
arising hereunder.
11.9 Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Members irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, all rights to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim arising out
of or relating to this Agreement or the business and affairs of the Company.
32
11.10 Counterpart Execution. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts
with the same effect as if all of the Members had signed the same document. All counterparts shall
be construed together and shall constitute one agreement.
11.11 Specific Performance. Each Member acknowledges and agrees that the Company and the
other Members would be irreparably damaged if any of the provisions of this Agreement are not
performed in accordance with their specific terms, and that monetary damages would not provide an
adequate remedy in such event. Accordingly, it is agreed that, in addition to any other remedy to
which the Company and the non-breaching Members may be entitled hereunder, at law or in equity, the
Company and the non-breaching Members shall be entitled to injunctive relief to prevent
breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to specifically to enforce the terms and
provisions of this Agreement.
11.12 No Third Party Rights. None of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall be
deemed to be for the benefit of or enforceable by any third parties, including without limitation,
any creditors of any Member or the Company.
DULY ADOPTED by the Company’s Board of Managers effective as of January 23, 2007.
BUFFALO RIDGE ENERGY, LLC |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxx Xxxxxx | |||
Its: President | ||||
Attest: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||||
Its: Secretary | ||||
33
EXHIBIT “A”
Initial Membership List
Initial Membership List
Name and Address of Initial Members | Units | |||
Xxxxx Management, LLC |
1,560 | |||
000 X. Xxxxxxx 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000 |
||||
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx |
720 | |||
000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000 P. O. Xxx 000 Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
||||
Xxxxxxx XxxXxxxxx |
720 | |||
00000 000xx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 |
||||
TOTAL: |
3,000 |
34
EXHIBIT “B”
MEMBER SIGNATURE PAGE
The undersigned does hereby warrant, represent, covenant and agree that: (i) the undersigned,
as a condition to becoming a Member in Buffalo Ridge Energy, LLC, has received a copy of the
Amended and Restated Operating Agreement dated January 23, 2007, and, if applicable,
all amendments and modifications thereto; (ii) the undersigned shall be subject to and comply with
all terms and conditions of such Amended and Restated Operating Agreement in all respects, as
if the undersigned had executed said Amended and Restated Operating Agreement on the original
date thereof; and (iii) the undersigned is and shall be bound by all of the provisions of said
Amended and Restated Operating Agreement from and after the date of execution of this
Addendum.
Individuals:
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Entities: | |||
Name of Individual Member (Please Print)
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Name of Entity (Please Print) | |||
Signature of Individual
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Print Name and Title of Officer | |||
Name of Joint Individual Member (Please Print)
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Signature of Officer | |||
Agreed to and Accepted on Behalf of the
Company and its Members:
Company and its Members:
BUFFALO RIDGE ENERGY, LLC
By: |
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Its: |
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