LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF BIRGO REITURN FUND LLC (a Delaware limited liability company) EFFECTIVE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2022
Exhibit 2b
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
BIRGO REITURN FUND LLC
(a Delaware limited liability company)
EFFECTIVE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||||||||
Section 1.1 |
Definitions | 1 | ||||||||
Section 1.2 |
Construction | 6 | ||||||||
ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION |
6 | |||||||||
Section 2.1 |
Formation | 6 | ||||||||
Section 2.2 |
Name | 6 | ||||||||
Section 2.3 |
Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices | 6 | ||||||||
Section 2.4 |
Purposes | 6 | ||||||||
Section 2.5 |
Qualification in Other Jurisdictions | 7 | ||||||||
Section 2.6 |
Powers | 7 | ||||||||
Section 2.7 |
Power of Attorney | 7 | ||||||||
Section 2.8 |
Term | 8 | ||||||||
Section 2.9 |
Certificate of Formation | 8 | ||||||||
ARTICLE III MEMBERS AND UNITS |
9 | |||||||||
Section 3.1 |
Members | 9 | ||||||||
Section 3.2 |
Authorization to Issue Units | 10 | ||||||||
Section 3.3 |
No Certificates | 11 | ||||||||
Section 3.4 |
Record Holders | 11 | ||||||||
Section 3.5 |
Registration and Transfer of Units | 11 | ||||||||
Section 3.6 |
Splits and Combinations | 12 | ||||||||
Section 3.7 |
ERISA | 12 | ||||||||
Section 3.8 |
Agreements | 13 | ||||||||
ARTICLE IV DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS |
13 | |||||||||
Section 4.1 |
Distributions to Record Holders | 13 | ||||||||
Section 4.2 |
Distributions in Kind | 13 | ||||||||
Section 4.3 |
Valuations of In-Kind Distributions | 13 | ||||||||
Section 4.4 |
Redemption in Connection with ERISA | 13 | ||||||||
Section 4.5 |
Personal Conduct Repurchase Right | 14 | ||||||||
Section 4.6 |
Quarterly Unit Repurchase Program | 14 | ||||||||
Section 4.7 |
Redemption Plan | 16 | ||||||||
Section 4.8 |
Payment of Taxes | 16 | ||||||||
Section 4.9 |
Absence of Certain Other Rights | 16 | ||||||||
ARTICLE V MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS |
16 | |||||||||
Section 5.1 |
Power and Authority of the Manager | 16 |
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Section 5.2 |
Term and Removal of the Manager | 20 | ||||||||
Section 5.3 |
Determinations by the Manager | 21 | ||||||||
Section 5.4 |
Exculpation, Indemnification, Advances and Insurance | 21 | ||||||||
Section 5.5 |
Duties of the Manager and its Officers and Directors | 25 | ||||||||
Section 5.6 |
Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties of the Manager | 25 | ||||||||
Section 5.7 |
Outside Activities | 25 | ||||||||
Section 5.8 |
Reliance by Third Parties | 25 | ||||||||
Section 5.9 |
Certain Conflicts of Interest | 26 | ||||||||
Section 5.10 |
Fees Payable to the Manager or its Affiliates | 27 | ||||||||
Section 5.11 |
Reimbursement of Expenses | 27 | ||||||||
Section 5.12 |
Quarterly Determination of Net Asset Value | 28 | ||||||||
ARTICLE VI BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS |
29 | |||||||||
Section 6.1 |
Records and Accounting | 29 | ||||||||
Section 6.2 |
Fiscal Year | 29 | ||||||||
Section 6.3 |
Reports | 29 | ||||||||
ARTICLE VII TAX MATTERS |
29 | |||||||||
Section 7.1 |
Qualifying and Maintaining Qualification as a REIT | 29 | ||||||||
ARTICLE VIII DISSOLUTION, TERMINATION AND LIQUIDATION |
30 | |||||||||
Section 8.1 |
Dissolution and Termination | 30 | ||||||||
Section 8.2 |
Liquidator | 30 | ||||||||
Section 8.3 |
Liquidation of the Company | 31 | ||||||||
Section 8.4 |
Cancellation of Certificate of Formation | 31 | ||||||||
Section 8.5 |
Return of Contributions | 31 | ||||||||
Section 8.6 |
Waiver of Partition | 31 | ||||||||
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT |
32 | |||||||||
Section 9.1 |
General | 32 | ||||||||
Section 9.2 |
Super-Majority Amendments | 32 | ||||||||
Section 9.3 |
Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the Manager | 32 | ||||||||
Section 9.4 |
Certain Amendment Requirements | 34 | ||||||||
ARTICLE X MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION |
34 | |||||||||
Section 10.1 |
Authority | 34 | ||||||||
Section 10.2 |
Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion | 34 | ||||||||
Section 10.3 |
No Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal | 35 | ||||||||
Section 10.4 |
Certificate of Merger or Conversion | 35 | ||||||||
Section 10.5 |
Effect of Merger | 35 | ||||||||
Section 10.6 |
Roll-Up Transaction or Public Listing | 36 |
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ARTICLE XI MEMBERS’ VOTING POWERS AND MEETING |
36 | |||||||||
Section 11.1 |
Voting | 36 | ||||||||
Section 11.2 |
Voting Powers | 37 | ||||||||
Section 11.3 |
Meetings | 37 | ||||||||
Section 11.4 |
Record Dates | 37 | ||||||||
Section 11.5 |
Quorum and Required Vote | 37 | ||||||||
Section 11.6 |
Action by Written Consent | 37 | ||||||||
Section 11.7 |
Classes and Series | 38 | ||||||||
ARTICLE XII GENERAL PROVISIONS |
38 | |||||||||
Section 12.1 |
Addresses and Notices | 38 | ||||||||
Section 12.2 |
Further Action | 38 | ||||||||
Section 12.3 |
Binding Effect | 38 | ||||||||
Section 12.4 |
Integration | 39 | ||||||||
Section 12.5 |
Creditors | 39 | ||||||||
Section 12.6 |
Waiver | 39 | ||||||||
Section 12.7 |
Counterparts | 39 | ||||||||
Section 12.8 |
Applicable Law | 39 | ||||||||
Section 12.9 |
Invalidity of Provisions | 39 | ||||||||
Section 12.10 |
Consent of Members | 39 | ||||||||
Section 12.11 |
Electronic Signatures | 39 | ||||||||
ARTICLE XIII RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF XXXXX |
00 | |||||||||
Xxxxxxx 00.0 |
Definitions | 40 | ||||||||
Section 13.2 |
Ownership Limitations | 42 | ||||||||
Section 13.3 |
Remedies for Breach | 43 | ||||||||
Section 13.4 |
Notice of Restricted Transfer | 43 | ||||||||
Section 13.5 |
Owners Required To Provide Information | 43 | ||||||||
Section 13.6 |
Remedies Not Limited | 43 | ||||||||
Section 13.7 |
Ambiguity | 44 | ||||||||
Section 13.8 |
Exceptions | 44 | ||||||||
Section 13.9 |
Increase or Decrease in Aggregate Ownership and Common Unit Ownership Limits. | 45 | ||||||||
Section 13.10 |
Legend | 46 | ||||||||
Section 13.11 |
Transfer of Units in Trust | 47 | ||||||||
Section 13.12 |
Enforcement | 48 | ||||||||
Section 13.13 |
Non-Waiver | 49 | ||||||||
Section 13.14 |
Severability | 49 | ||||||||
Section 13.15 |
Applicability | 49 |
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THIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF Birgo Reiturn Fund LLC, is effective as of January 1, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and among each of the Persons listed on Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof, each of whom intend to be legally bound hereby and each other Person who is admitted as a Member in accordance with the terms of this Operating Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in Section 1.1 or Section 13.1.
WHEREAS, the Company was formed as a limited liability company under the Delaware Act by the filing on November 2, 2021 of a Certificate of Organization in the office of the Department of State of the State of Delaware; and
WHEREAS, the Members desire to enter into this Operating Agreement in order to govern the operations of the Company and the rights and obligations of the Members.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. Certain terms used in Article XIII of this Agreement are defined in that Article. In addition, the following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.
“Additional Member” means a Person admitted as a Member of the Company as a result of an issuance of Units to such Person by the Company.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Person in question. As used herein, the term “Control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Agreement” means this Limited Liability Company Agreement of Birgo Reiturn Fund LLC, as it may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Birgo Originator” means Birgo Capital, LLC.
“Birgo Sponsor” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals.
“Business Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the District of Columbia shall not be regarded as a Business Day.
“Capital Contribution” means with respect to any Member, the amount of cash and the initial gross fair market value (as determined by the Manager in its good faith discretion) of any other property contributed or deemed contributed to the capital of the Company by or on behalf of such Member, reduced by the amount of any liability assumed by the Company relating to such property and any liability to which such property is subject.
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“Certificate of Formation” means the Certificate of Formation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, as further amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of any successor law.
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Units” means any Units that are designated as “Common Units”.
“Company” means Birgo Reiturn Fund LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any successors thereto.
“Conflict of Interest” means any matter that the Manager believes may involve a conflict of interest, that is not otherwise addressed by the Company’s conflicts of interest policy and that is submitted to the Manager’s investment committee to determine whether the resolution of such matter is fair and reasonable to the Company and the Members.
“Delaware Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. Section 18-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
“DGCL” means the Delaware General Corporation Law, 8 Del. C. Section 101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Expenses and Liabilities” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.4(a). “Formation Expenses” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(a).
“Governmental Entity” means any court, administrative agency, regulatory body, commission or other governmental authority, board, bureau or instrumentality, domestic or foreign and any subdivision thereof.
“Indemnified Person” means (a) any Person who is or was an officer of the Company, if any, (b) the Manager (or any delegate of the Manager pursuant to Section 5.1), together with its officers, directors, members and managers, (c) the Sponsor, together with its officers, directors, unitholders and Affiliates, (d) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as an officer, director, member, manager, partner, tax matters partner, partnership representative, fiduciary or trustee of another Person (including any Subsidiary); provided, that a Person shall not be an Indemnified Person by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, and (e) any Person the Manager designates as an “Indemnified Person” for purposes of this Agreement.
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“Independent Representative” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.9(a).
“Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Liquidator” means one or more Persons selected by the Manager to perform the functions described in Section 8.2 as liquidating trustee of the Company, within the meaning of the Delaware Act.
“Manager” means Birgo Reiturn Fund Manager LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an affiliate of the Sponsor.
“Market Price” means, with respect to the Common Units on a particular date, (i) $100.00 per Common Unit until June 30, 2022 and will be updated no later than December 31, 2022 and, thereafter, the NAV per Unit in effect for the particular date as determined in accordance with Section 5.12 and disclosed by the Company in either a pricing supplement filed by the Company with the Commission or on the Company’s website.
“Member” means each Person admitted as a member of the Company, including, unless the context otherwise requires, Birgo Sponsor, each Substitute Member and each Additional Member, each in such Person’s capacity as a member of the Company.
“Merger Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.1. “NAV” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12.
“Offering” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.1(b).
“Offering Document” means, with respect to any class or series of Units, the prospectus, offering circular, offering memorandum, private placement memorandum or other offering document related to the initial offering of such Units, approved by the Manager, including any Offering Statement.
“Offering Statement” means the offering statement on Form 1-A, which was initially confidentially submitted to the Commission on [ _____ ], pursuant to which the Company will qualify for sale a maximum of $75,000,000.00 of its Common Units under Regulation A of the Securities Act, as such offering statement may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or such other offering statements that the Company may qualify or register under the Securities Act from time to time.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be regular counsel to the Company or any of its Affiliates) acceptable to the Manager.
“Original Operating Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
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“Outstanding” means, with respect to Units, all Units that are issued by the Company and reflected as Outstanding on the Register as of the date of determination and, for purposes of Article XIII, that are treated as outstanding for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, Governmental Entity or other entity; provided, however, that, solely for purposes of Article XIII, the term “Person” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.1.
“Plan of Conversion” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.1.
“Plan Member” means each Member any of the assets of which are subject to any Plan Governing Law.
“Plan Governing Law” means any of (a) Title I of ERISA, (b) Code Section 4975 or (c) the provisions of any state, local, non-U.S. or other federal law or regulations applicable to an “employee benefit plan,” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, that is not subject to Title I of ERISA (including non-U.S. employee benefit plans and government plans) that are similar to the provisions contained in Title I of ERISA and/or Code Section 4975, but only if the provisions of any such other law or regulation could reasonably be construed to provide that all or a portion of the assets of the Company could be deemed to constitute the assets of such employee benefit plan under such law or regulation by reason of the (direct or indirect) investment by such employee benefit plan in the Company.
“Record Date” means the date established by the Manager, in its discretion, for determining (a) the identity of the Record Holders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Members or entitled to exercise rights in respect of any lawful action of Members or (b) the identity of Record Holders entitled to receive any report or distribution or to participate in any offer.
“Record Holder” or “holder” means with respect to any Units, the Person in whose name such Units are registered on the books of the Company (or on the books of any Transfer Agent, if applicable) as of the opening of business on a particular Business Day.
“Redemption Plan” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.6.
“REIT” means a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.
“Reiturn Fund Platform” means the online investment platform located at xxx.xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx, which is owned by Birgo Reiturn Fund Manager, LLC, and administered and operated by the Sponsor.
“Register” means a membership register maintained by the Company upon which issued Units will be recorded.
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“Related Party Loan” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.9(b).
“Roll-Up Transaction” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.6(a).
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Unit” means a unit of the limited liability company interests in the Company issued by the Company that evidences a Member’s rights, powers and duties with respect to the Company pursuant to this Agreement and the Delaware Act. Units may be designated as Common Units, and may be issued in different classes or series.
“Unit Designation” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.2(a).
“Special Approval” means approval by a majority of the non-interested members of the Manager’s investment committee.
“Sponsor” means Birgo Realty LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person or the Company, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such Person or the Company owns or otherwise controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting units or other similar interests or a sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such Person.
“Substitute Member” means a Person who is admitted as a Member of the Company as a result of a transfer of Units to such Person.
“Surviving Business Entity” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.2(a)(ii).
“Transfer” means, with respect to a Unit, a transaction by which the Record Holder of a Unit assigns such Unit to another Person who is or becomes a Member, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise, including any transfer upon foreclosure of any pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or mortgage; provided, however, that, solely for purposes of Article XIII, the term “Transfer” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.1.
“Transfer Agent” means, with respect to any class of Units, such bank, trust company or other Person (including the Company or one of its Affiliates) as shall be appointed from time to time by the Company to act as registrar and transfer agent for such class of Units; provided that if no Transfer Agent is specifically designated for such class of Units, the Company shall act in such capacity.
“U.S. GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.
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Section 1.2 Construction. Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; and (c) the term “include” or “includes” means includes, without limitation, and “including” means including, without limitation.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.1 Formation. The Company has been formed as a limited liability company pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act.
Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties, liabilities and obligations of the Members and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Company shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Units shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes and a Member has no interest in specific Company property.
Section 2.2 Name. The name of the Company shall be “Birgo Reiturn Fund LLC.” The words “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Company’s name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The business of the Company may be conducted under any other name or names, as determined by the Manager. The Manager may change the name of the Company at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Members of such change in the next regular communication to the Members.
Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices. Unless and until changed by the Manager, the address of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware and its registered agent at such address are set forth in the Certificate of Formation, as the same may be amended from time to time. The principal office of the Company shall be located at 000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000, or such other place as the Manager may from time to time designate by notice to the Members. The Company may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the Manager determines to be necessary or appropriate.
Section 2.4 Purposes. The purposes of the Company shall be to (a) promote, conduct or engage in, directly or indirectly, any business, purpose or activity that lawfully may be conducted by a limited liability company formed pursuant to the Delaware Act, (b) acquire, hold and dispose of interests in any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other entity and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Company with respect to its interests therein, and (c) conduct any and all activities related or incidental to the foregoing purposes.
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Section 2.5 Qualification in Other Jurisdictions. The Manager may cause the Company to be qualified or registered in any jurisdiction in which the Company transacts business and shall be authorized to execute, deliver and file any certificates and documents necessary to effect such qualification or registration.
Section 2.6 Powers. The Company shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary and appropriate for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes described in Section 2.4.
Section 2.7 Power of Attorney. Each Member hereby constitutes and appoints the Manager and, if a Liquidator shall have been selected pursuant to Section 8.2, the Liquidator (and any successor to the Liquidator by merger, transfer, assignment, election or otherwise) and each of their authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be, with full power of substitution, as his true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his name, place and xxxxx, to:
(a) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices:
(i) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the Certificate of Formation and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof) that the Manager (or the Liquidator) determines to be necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Company as a limited liability company in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business or own property;
(ii) all certificates, documents and other instruments that the Manager or the Liquidator determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance with its terms, any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement;
(iii) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including conveyances and a certificate of cancellation) that the Manager (or the Liquidator) determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect the dissolution, liquidation and/or termination of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;
(iv) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the admission, resignation , removal or substitution of any Member pursuant to, or in connection with other events described in, Section 10.6 or Article III, Article IV or Article VIII;
(v) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of any class of Units issued pursuant to Section 3.2; and
(vi) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including agreements and a certificate of merger) relating to a merger, consolidation or conversion of the Company pursuant to Article X.
(b) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other instruments that the Manager (or the Liquidator) determines to be necessary or appropriate to (i) make, evidence, give, confirm or
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ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action that is made or given by the Members hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement or (ii) effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement; provided, that when required by Section 9.2 or any other provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of the Members or of the Members of any class or series, if any, required to take any action, the Manager (or the Liquidator) may exercise the power of attorney made in this Section 2.7(b) only after the necessary vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action of the Members or of the Members of such class or series, as applicable.
Nothing contained in this Section 2.7 shall be construed as authorizing the Manager (or the Liquidator) to amend, change or modify this Agreement except in accordance with Article IX or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement.
(c) The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and, to the maximum extent permitted by law, not be affected by the subsequent death, incompetency, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of any Member and the transfer of all or any portion of such Member’s Units and shall extend to such Member’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. Each such Member hereby agrees to be bound by any representation made by the Manager (or the Liquidator) acting in good faith pursuant to such power of attorney; and each such Member, to the maximum extent permitted by law, hereby waives any and all defenses that may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the Manager (or the Liquidator) taken in good faith under such power of attorney in accordance with this Section 2.7. Each Member shall execute and deliver to the Manager (or the Liquidator) within 15 days after receipt of the request therefor, such further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as the Manager (or the Liquidator) determines to be necessary or appropriate to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Company.
Section 2.8 Term. The term of the Company commenced on the day on which the certificate of formation of the Company was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act. The term of the Company shall be perpetual, unless and until it is dissolved or terminated in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII. The existence of the Company as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Formation as provided in the Delaware Act.
Section 2.9 Certificate of Formation. The Certificate of Formation of the Company has been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Delaware Act, such filings being hereby confirmed, ratified and approved in all respects. The Manager shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents that it determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited liability company in the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Company may elect to do business or own property. To the extent that the Manager determines such action to be necessary or appropriate, the Manager shall direct the appropriate officers to file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate of Formation and do all things to maintain the Company as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware or of any other state in which the Company may elect to do business or own property, and any such officer so directed shall be an “authorized person” of the Company within the meaning of the Delaware Act for purposes of filing any such certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Company shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate of Formation, any qualification document or any amendment thereto to any Member.
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ARTICLE III
MEMBERS AND UNITS
Section 3.1 Members.
(a) A Person shall be admitted as a Member and shall become bound by the terms of this Agreement if such Person purchases or otherwise lawfully acquires any Unit and becomes the Record Holder of such Unit in accordance with the provisions of Article III, Article IV and Article XIII hereof. A Person may become a Record Holder without the consent or approval of any of the Members. A Person may not become a Member without acquiring a Unit. Upon its execution of this Agreement, Birgo Sponsor hereby continues as a member of the Company.
(b) The name and mailing address of each Member shall be listed on the Register by the Company (or the Transfer Agent, if any). The Manager shall update the Register from time to time as necessary to reflect accurately the information therein (or shall cause the Transfer Agent to do so, as applicable).
(c) Except as otherwise provided in the Delaware Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and neither the Members nor the Manager shall be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being a member or manager of the Company.
(d) Unless otherwise provided herein (including, without limitation, in connection with any redemption or repurchase pursuant to Article IV or enforcement of the transfer and ownership restrictions contained in Article XIII), Members may not be expelled from or removed as Members of the Company. Except in connection with any Redemption Plan established pursuant to Section 4.6, Members shall not have any right to resign from the Company; provided, that when a transferee of a Member’s Units becomes a Record Holder of such Units, such transferring Member shall cease to be a Member of the Company with respect to the Units so transferred.
(e) Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement (including any Unit Designation): (i) no Member shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon dissolution and winding up of the Company may be considered as such by law and then only to the extent provided for in this Agreement; (ii) no Member holding any class or series, if any, of any Units of the Company shall have priority over any other Member holding the same class or series of Units either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to distributions; (iii) no interest shall be paid by the Company on Capital Contributions; and (iv) no Member, in its capacity as such, shall participate in the operation or management of the business of the Company, transact any business in the Company’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Company by reason of being a Member.
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(f) Notwithstanding any duty otherwise existing at law or in equity, except as may be otherwise agreed between the Company, on the one hand, and a Member, on the other hand, any Member shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Company, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Company. Neither the Company nor any of the other Members shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any such business interests or activities of any Member.
(g) For the avoidance of doubt, the Manager is not a Member of the Company by virtue of its position as “Manager” of the Company. The Manager will generally not be entitled to vote on matters submitted to the Members, and will not have any distribution, redemption, conversion or liquidation rights by virtue of its status as Manager.
Section 3.2 Authorization to Issue Units.
(a) The Company may issue Units, and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to Units, for any Company purpose at any time and from time to time to such Persons for such consideration (which may be cash, property, services or any other lawful consideration) or for no consideration and on such terms and conditions as the Manager shall determine, all without the approval of any Members, notwithstanding any provision of Section 9.1 or Section 9.2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the price for each Common Unit being offered pursuant to any Offering Statement shall equal the Market Price. Each Unit shall have the rights and be governed by the provisions set forth in this Agreement and, with respect to additional Units of the Company that may be issued by the Company in one or more classes or series, with such designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties (which may be junior to, equivalent to, or senior or superior to, any existing classes or series of Units of the Company), as shall be fixed by the Manager and reflected in a written action or actions approved by the Manager in compliance with Section 5.1 (each, a “Unit Designation”). Except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement (including any Unit Designation), no Units shall entitle any Member to any preemptive, preferential or similar rights with respect to the issuance of Units.
(b) A Unit Designation (or any resolution of the Manager amending any Unit Designation) shall be effective when a duly executed original of the same is delivered to the Manager for inclusion among the permanent records of the Company, and shall be annexed to, and constitute part of, this Agreement. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Unit Designation, the Manager may at any time increase or decrease the amount of Units of any class or series, but not below the number of Units of such class or series then Outstanding.
(c) Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Unit Designation, if any, the Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Units. All Units issued pursuant to, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Article III shall be validly issued Units in the Company, except to the extent otherwise provided in the Delaware Act or this Agreement (including any Unit Designation).
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(d) The Manager may, without the consent or approval of any Members, amend this Agreement and make any filings under the Delaware Act or otherwise to the extent the Manager determines that it is necessary or desirable in order to effectuate any issuance of Units pursuant to this Article III, including, without limitation, an amendment of Section 3.2(c).
(e) As of the date of this Agreement, all Units have been designated as Common Units. As of the date of this Agreement, 93.75 Common Units have been issued to Xxxxxx Xxxxx, 93.75 Common Units have been issued to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, and 62.50 Common Units have been issued to Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx. In total, 250 Common Units have been issued.
Section 3.3 No Certificates. No Units of the Company will be certificated, unless otherwise determined by the Manager.
Section 3.4 Record Holders. The Company shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the owner of a Unit and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such Unit on the part of any other Person, regardless of whether the Company shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule, regulation or guideline. Without limiting the foregoing, when a Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other representative capacity for another Person in acquiring and/or holding Units, as between the Company on the one hand, and such other Persons on the other, such representative Person shall be the Record Holder of such Units.
Section 3.5 Registration and Transfer of Units. Subject to the restrictions on transfer and ownership limitations contained below and in Article XIII hereof:
(a) The Company shall keep or cause to be kept on behalf of the Company a Register that will provide for the registration and transfer of Units. Unless otherwise provided in any Unit Designation, a Transfer Agent may, in the discretion of the Manager or as otherwise required by the Exchange Act, be appointed registrar and transfer agent for the purpose of registering Common Units and transfers of such Common Units as herein provided. Upon surrender of a Unit for registration of transfer of any Units, the Manager shall execute and deliver, and in the case of Common Units, the Transfer Agent, if any, shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the Record Holder’s instructions, the same aggregate number and type of Units as were so surrendered; provided, that a transferor shall provide the address and email address for each such transferee as contemplated by Section 12.1.
(b) The Company shall not recognize any transfer of Units until the transfer of the Units are recorded on the Register evidencing such Units, if any, are surrendered for registration of transfer. No charge shall be imposed by the Company for such transfer; provided, that as a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto.
(c) In the event that the Units are not evidenced by a Certificate, the Company shall not recognize any transfer of Units until it has received written documentation that the Manager, in its sole discretion, determines is sufficient to evidence the transfer of such Units.
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(d) By acceptance of the transfer of any Unit, each transferee of a Unit (including any nominee holder or an agent or representative acquiring such Units for the account of another Person) (i) shall be admitted to the Company as a Substitute Member with respect to the Units so transferred to such transferee when any such transfer or admission is reflected in the books and records of the Company, (ii) shall be deemed to agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, (iii) shall become the Record Holder of the Units so transferred, (iv) grants powers of attorney to the Manager and any Liquidator of the Company, as specified herein, and (v) makes the consents and waivers contained in this Agreement. The transfer of any Units and the admission of any new Member shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as (i) Birgo Reiturn Fund Manager LLC, or one of its Affiliates, remains the Manager of the Company, and (ii) access to the Reiturn Fund Platform and the ability to open accounts thereon is reasonably available to potential transferees, no transfer of Units shall be valid unless the transferee has established an account on the Reiturn Fund Platform.
Section 3.6 Splits and Combinations.
(a) Subject to Section 3.2 and Article IV, and unless otherwise provided in any Unit Designation, the Company may make a pro rata distribution of Units of any class or series of Units to all Record Holders of such class or series of Units, or may effect a subdivision or combination of Units of any class or series of Units, in each case, on an equal per-Unit basis and so long as, after any such event, any amounts calculated on a per-Unit basis or stated as a number of Units are proportionately adjusted.
(b) Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of Units is declared, the Manager shall select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination shall be effective and shall send notice thereof at least 20 days prior to such Record Date to each Record Holder as of a date not less than 10 days prior to the date of such notice. The Manager also may cause a firm of independent public accountants selected by it to calculate the number of Units to be held by each Record Holder after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The Manager shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.
(c) Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or combination, the Company may issue Certificates to the Record Holders of Units as of the applicable Record Date representing the new number of Units held by such Record Holders, or the Manager may adopt such other procedures that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect such changes. If any such combination results in a smaller total number of Units Outstanding, the Company shall require, as a condition to the delivery to a Record Holder of such new Certificate, the surrender of any Certificate held by such Record Holder immediately prior to such Record Date.
Section 3.7 ERISA. The Manager intends to limit the equity participation by “benefit plan investors” (as defined in Section 3(42) of ERISA) in the Company so that it is less than twenty-five percent (25%) of each class of equity interest in the Company (determined in accordance with the Plan Assets Regulation, including disregarding any holdings of Sponsor Affiliates, to the extent so required).
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Section 3.8 Agreements. The rights of all Members and the terms of all Units are subject to the provisions of this Agreement (including any Unit Designation).
ARTICLE IV
DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS
Section 4.1 Distributions to Record Holders.
(a) Subject to the applicable provisions of the Delaware Act and except as otherwise provided herein, the Manager may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, declare, make and pay distributions of cash or other assets of the Company to the Members. Subject to the terms of any Unit Designation (including, without limitation, the preferential rights, if any, of holders of any other class of Units of the Company) and of Article XIII, distributions shall be paid to the holders of Common Units on an equal per-Unit basis as of the Record Date selected by the Manager. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make a distribution to any Member on account of its interest in the Company if such distribution would violate the Delaware Act or other applicable law.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 4.1(a), in the event of the termination and liquidation of the Company, all distributions shall be made in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Section 8.3(a).
(c) Each distribution in respect of any Units of the Company shall be paid by the Company, directly or through its Transfer Agent, if any, or through any other Person or agent, only to the Record Holder of such Units as of the Record Date set for such distribution. Such payment shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the Company’s liability in respect of such payment, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason of an assignment or otherwise.
Section 4.2 Distributions in Kind. Subject to the terms of any Unit Designation or to the preferential rights, if any, of holders of any other class of Units, the Company may declare and pay distributions to holders of Units that consist of (1) Common Units and/or (2) other securities or assets held by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Section 4.3 Valuations of In-Kind Distributions. In the case of distributions of Common Units, the value of the Common Units included in such distribution will be calculated based on the Market Price per Unit at the time of the distribution payment date. In the case of distributions of other securities of the Company, the value of such securities included in such distribution will be determined by the Manager in good faith.
Section 4.4 Redemption in Connection with ERISA. Notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the contrary, upon demand by the Manager, the Company shall redeem any or all of the Units held by any Plan Member if either the Plan Member or the Manager shall obtain an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that it is more likely than not that all or any portion of the assets of the Company constitute “plan assets” of the Plan Member for the purposes of the applicable Plan Governing Law to substantially the same extent as if owned directly by the Plan Member. Such partial or whole redemption shall be effective ninety (90) days after the delivery of
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such Opinion of Counsel, unless the Manager shall have selected an earlier effective date. Each Plan Member shall only be redeemed by the Company pursuant to this Section 4.4 to the extent necessary in order to avoid the assets of the Company constituting assets of the Plan Member for the purposes of the applicable Plan Governing Law and the Manager shall cause any such redemption to be made among all Plan Members with respect to which the basis for redemption is applicable in a manner determined by the Manager in its sole discretion. The redemption price for any Units redeemed pursuant to this Section 4.4 will be the Market Price per Unit.
Section 4.5 Personal Conduct Repurchase Right.
(a) In the event that a Member fails to conform its personal conduct to common and accepted standards of good citizenship or conducts itself in a way that reflects poorly upon the Company, as determined by the Manager in its sole, but good faith, discretion, the Manager may elect, at its sole discretion, to cause the Company to repurchase all, but not less than all, of the Units held by such Member.
(b) In the event that the Manager elects to cause the Company to repurchase any Units pursuant to this Section 4.5, the Company shall, within fifteen Business Days of the Manager’s election, send written notice to the applicable Member stating that the Company is exercising its right to repurchase such Units pursuant to Section 4.5 of this Agreement.
(c) In connection with any repurchase by the Company of Common Units pursuant to this Section 4.5, the purchase price paid to the applicable Member shall be equal to the Market Price per Unit. Any purchase price paid pursuant to this Section 4.5 shall be delivered to the applicable Member within fifteen Business Days after the notice specified in Section 4.5(b) above is delivered to such Member. Any Common Units repurchased pursuant to this Section 4.5 will cease to accrue distributions or have voting rights and will not be treated as Outstanding, and the applicable Member will cease to be a member of the Company, as of the date that the purchase price is delivered to the applicable Member.
Section 4.6 Quarterly Unit Repurchase Program.
(a) ) We intend to have the following Quarterly Unit Repurchase Program. Unitholders could request that the Company up to 25% of their units quarterly while this offering is ongoing (the “Unit Repurchase Program”). The Company may make repurchases upon the death of a unitholder (referred to as “Exception Repurchases”; all other repurchases are referred to as “Ordinary Repurchases”). Unitholders could present for repurchase all or a portion of their units to the Company in accordance with the procedures outlined in this Section. Upon such presentation, The Company could, subject to the conditions and limitations described in this Section, repurchase the units presented to the Company for cash subject to the availability of cash to fund such repurchase, which would be determined by the Manager, in its full discretion. In the event there are insufficient funds to honor all requested unit repurchases, the Company will use the funds available and honor the repurchase requests on a pro-rata basis. The Manager or its affiliates will not receive any fees to complete any transactions under the Company’s Unit Repurchase Program.
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(b) The Company would make repurchases upon the death of a unitholder. For Ordinary Repurchases, the repurchase rate will depend upon how long a unitholder requesting redemption has held such units (the “Effective Repurchase Rate”). Exception Repurchases are not subject to any discount associated with the amount of time the units were held and would be repurchased at 100% of the most recently announced NAV per unit. The repurchase rates at which the Company will repurchase units are presented in the table below. Any fee charged to the Company by a third party in connection with a repurchase will be deducted from the total repurchase price. For purposes of determining the time period a unitholder has held each unit, the time period begins as of the date the unitholder acquired the unit.
Years Held |
Discount Percentage | |
Between 1-2 years | Redemptions at 95% of NAV | |
Between 2-3 years | Redemptions at 98% of NAV | |
After 3 years | Redemptions at 100% of NAV |
(c) In the event that a unitholder requests repurchase of 100% of the units owned by the unitholder on the date of presentment, The Company will waive the one-year holding period requirement for any units presented that were acquired through the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan and such unitholder will be deemed to have withdrawn from the distribution reinvestment plan. At any time that the Company is engaged in an offering of units, the price at which the Company will repurchase units will never be greater than the applicable per unit offering price in effect on the date of the unit repurchase. Repurchases of units will be made quarterly upon written request to us at least 30 days prior to the end of the applicable quarter and will be made within 45 days of the end of the applicable quarter, which is referred to as the “Repurchase Date”. Unitholders may withdraw their repurchase request any time prior to the Repurchase Date. If the Company agrees to honor a repurchase request, the units to be repurchased will cease to accrue distributions or have voting rights as of the repurchase date. If we are unable to honor a repurchase request, the unitholder can (i) withdraw the request for repurchase; or (ii) ask that the Company honors the request in a future quarter, if any, when such repurchase can be made pursuant to the limitation of the repurchase program when sufficient funds are available. The Company intends to limit the number of units to be repurchased during any calendar year to 5.0% of the weighted average number of units outstanding during the prior calendar year (or 1.25% per quarter, with excess capacity carried over to later quarters in the calendar year). During the period that this offering is ongoing, all unitholders who have held their units for at least one year may request the Company to repurchase up to 25% of their units quarterly, up to the aggregate quarterly and annual limitations discussed in this Agreement. Once the Company concluded this offering, the Company shall evaluate unit repurchase levels on a quarterly basis depending on its available cash.
(d) In addition, following the conclusion of this offering, the Manager may, in its sole discretion, amend, suspend or terminate the Unit Repurchase Program at any time. Reasons the Company may amend, suspend or terminate the Unit Repurchase Program include (i) to protect the Company’s operations and remaining unitholders, (ii) to prevent an undue burden on the Company’s liquidity, (iii) to preserve the Company’s status as a REIT, (iv) following any material decrease in the Company’s NAV, or (v) for any other reason. Following the conclusion of this offering, the Manager may also, in its sole discretion, decline any particular unit repurchase request if it believes such action is necessary to preserve the Company’s status as a REIT (for example, if a repurchase request would cause a non-repurchasing unitholder to violate the ownership limits in this Agreement or if a repurchase constitutes a “dividend equivalent repurchase” that could give rise to a preferential dividend issue).
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Section 4.7 Redemption Plan. The Manager may, in its sole discretion and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, cause the Company to establish a redemption plan (a “Redemption Plan”), pursuant to which a Member may request that the Company redeem all or any portion of their Units, subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions of the Redemption Plan. In its sole discretion and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, the Manager may set the terms, conditions and restrictions of any Redemption Plan and may amend, suspend, or terminate any such Redemption Plan at any time for any reason. The Manager may also, in its sole discretion and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, decline any particular redemption request made pursuant to a Redemption Plan if the Manager believes such action is necessary to preserve the Company’s status as a REIT.
Section 4.8 Payment of Taxes. If any Person exchanging Common Units wants the Company to register the Common Units in a different name than the registered name on Register, or if any Person wants the Company to change the name of the Record Holder for a Unit or Units, that Person must pay any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the issuance of the Units in another name, or by reason of the change to the Register, or establish, to the satisfaction of the Company or its agent, that the tax has been paid or is not applicable.
Section 4.9 Absence of Certain Other Rights. Other than pursuant to Section 4.7 or to the terms of any Unit Designation, holders of Common Units shall have no conversion, exchange, sinking fund, redemption or appraisal rights, no pre-emptive rights to subscribe for any securities of the Company and no preferential rights to distributions.
ARTICLE V
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
Section 5.1 Power and Authority of the Manager. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the power to direct the management, operation and policies of the Company shall be vested in the Manager. The Manager shall have the power to delegate any or all of its rights and powers to manage and control the business and affairs of the Company to such officers, employees, Affiliates, agents and representatives of the Manager or the Company as it may deem appropriate. Without limiting the foregoing, the Manager shall also have the power at any time in its sole discretion to appoint a board of managers or directors of the Company and the Manager shall have the power to delegate any or all of its rights and powers to manage and control the business and affairs of the Company to such board as it may deem appropriate. If at any time the Manager delegates any or all of its rights and powers in accordance with this Section 5.1, any such delegate shall be entitled to all of the rights, and privileges of, and afforded the same protections as, the Manager as set forth in this Agreement, including, without limitation, those set forth in Sections 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10, 5.11, and 8.5. The Manager and its officers and directors shall constitute “managers” within the meaning of the Delaware Act. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, no Member, by virtue of its status as such, shall have any management power over the business and affairs of the Company or actual or apparent authority to enter into, execute or deliver contracts on behalf of, or to otherwise bind, the Company. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, the authority and functions of the Manager with respect to the management of the business of the Company, on the one hand, and its officers
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and agents, on the other hand, shall be identical to the authority and functions of the board of directors and officers, respectively, of a corporation organized under the DGCL. In addition to the powers that now or hereafter can be granted to managers under the Delaware Act and to all other powers granted under any other provision of this Agreement, the Manager shall have full power and authority to do, and to direct its officers and agents to do all things and on such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Company, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 2.6 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 2.4. Without in any way limiting the foregoing, the Manager shall, either directly or by engaging its Sponsor, officers, Affiliates, agents or third parties, perform the following duties:
(a) Investment Advisory, Origination and Acquisition Services. The Manager shall:
(i) approve and oversee the Company’s overall investment strategy, which will consist of elements such as investment selection criteria, diversification strategies and asset disposition strategies;
(ii) serve as the Company’s investment and financial manager with respect to originating, investing in and managing a diversified portfolio of commercial real estate loans, preferred equity investments in commercial real estate and other select commercial real estate investments and real estate-related assets;
(iii) approve and oversee the Company’s debt financing strategies;
(iv) approve joint ventures, limited partnerships and other such relationships with third parties;
(v) approve any potential liquidity transaction;
(vi) obtain market research and economic and statistical data in connection with the Company’s investments and investment objectives and policies;
(vii) oversee and conduct due diligence processes related to prospective investments; and
(viii) negotiate and execute approved investments and other transactions.
(b) Offering Services. The Manager shall manage and supervise:
(i) the development of any offering of Units that is qualified or registered with the Commission (an “Offering”), including the Company’s initial Offering pursuant to Regulation A, including the determination of the specific terms of the securities to be offered by the Company, preparation of all offering and related documents, and obtaining all required regulatory approvals of such documents;
(ii) the preparation and approval of all marketing materials to be used by the Company or others relating to an Offering;
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(iii) the negotiation and coordination of the receipt, collection, processing, and acceptance of subscription agreements, commissions, and other administrative support functions;
(iv) the creation and implementation of various technology and electronic communications related to an Offering; and
(v) all other services related to an Offering.
(c) Asset Management Services. The Manager shall:
(i) investigate, select, and, on behalf of the Company, engage and conduct business with such Persons as the Manager deems necessary to the proper performance of its obligations hereunder, including but not limited to consultants, accountants, lenders, technical managers, attorneys, corporate fiduciaries, escrow agents, depositaries, custodians, agents for collection, insurers, insurance agents, developers, construction companies and any and all Persons acting in any other capacity deemed by the Manager necessary or desirable for the performance of any of the foregoing services;
(ii) monitor applicable markets and obtain reports (which may be prepared by the Manager or its Affiliates) where appropriate, concerning the value of the investments of the Company;
(iii) monitor and evaluate the performance of the investments of the Company, provide daily management services to the Company and perform and supervise the various management and operational functions related to the Company’s investments;
(iv) formulate and oversee the implementation of strategies for the administration, promotion, management, operation, maintenance, improvement, financing and refinancing, marketing, leasing and disposition of investments on an overall portfolio basis; and
(v) coordinate and manage relationships between the Company and any joint venture partners.
(d) Accounting and Other Administrative Services. The Manager shall:
(i) manage and perform the various administrative functions necessary for the day-to-day operations of the Company;
(ii) provide or arrange for administrative services, legal services, office space, office furnishings, personnel and other overhead items necessary and incidental to the Company’s business and operations;
(iii) provide financial and operational planning services and portfolio management functions;
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(iv) maintain accounting data and any other information concerning the activities of the Company as shall be required to prepare and file all periodic financial reports and returns required to be filed with the Commission and any other regulatory agency, including annual financial statements;
(v) maintain all appropriate books and records of the Company;
(vi) oversee tax and compliance services and risk management services and coordinate with appropriate third parties, including independent accountants and other consultants, on related tax matters;
(vii) make, change, and revoke such tax elections on behalf of the Company as the Manager deems appropriate, including, without limitation, (i) making an election be treated as a REIT or to revoke such status and (ii) making an election to be classified as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
(viii) supervise the performance of such ministerial and administrative functions as may be necessary in connection with the daily operations of the Company;
(ix) provide the Company with all necessary cash management services;
(x) manage and coordinate with the Transfer Agent (if any) the process of making distributions and payments to Members;
(xi) evaluate and obtain adequate insurance coverage based upon risk management determinations;
(xii) provide timely updates related to the overall regulatory environment affecting the Company, as well as managing compliance with regulatory matters;
(xiii) evaluate the corporate governance structure of the Company and appropriate policies and procedures related thereto; and
(xiv) oversee all reporting, record keeping, internal controls and similar matters in a manner to allow the Company to comply with applicable law.
(e) Unitholder Services. The Manager shall:
(i) determine the Company’s distribution policy and authorize distributions from time to time;
(ii) approve amounts available for redemptions of the Common Units;
(iii) manage communications with Members, including answering phone calls, preparing and sending written and electronic reports and other communications; and
(iv) establish technology infrastructure to assist in providing Member support and services.
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(f) Financing Services. The Manager shall:
(i) identify and evaluate potential financing and refinancing sources, engaging a third party broker if necessary;
(ii) negotiate terms of, arrange and execute financing agreements;
(iii) manage relationships between the Company and its lenders, if any; and
(iv) monitor and oversee the service of the Company’s debt facilities and other financings, if any.
(g) Disposition Services. The Manager shall:
(i) evaluate and approve potential asset dispositions, sales, or liquidity transactions; and
(ii) structure and negotiate the terms and conditions of transactions pursuant to which the assets of the Company may be sold.
Section 5.2 Term and Removal of the Manager.
(a) The Manager will serve as manager for an indefinite term, but the Manager may be removed by the Company, or may choose to withdraw as manager, under certain circumstances. In the event of the removal or withdrawal of the Manager, the Manager will cooperate with the Company and take all reasonable steps to assist in making an orderly transition of the management function.
(b) The Manager may assign its rights under this Agreement in its entirety or delegate certain or all of its duties under this Agreement to any of its Affiliates or in accordance with Section 5.1 without the approval of the Members so long as the Manager remains liable for any such Affiliate’s or other delegate’s performance, and if such assignment or delegation does not require the Company’s approval under the Investment Company Act. The Manager may withdraw as the Company’s manager if the Company becomes required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, with such withdrawal deemed to occur immediately before such event. The Manager shall determine whether any succeeding manager possesses sufficient qualifications to perform the management function.
(c) The Members shall have the power to remove the Manager for “cause” upon the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of two-thirds of the then issued and Outstanding Common Units. If the Manager is removed for “cause” pursuant to this Section 5.2(c), the Members shall have the power to elect a replacement Manager upon the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a majority of the then issued and Outstanding Common Units. For purposes of this Section 5.2(c), “cause” is defined as:
(i) the Manager’s continued breach of any material provision of this Agreement following a period of 30 days after written notice thereof (or 45 days after written notice of such breach if the Manager, under certain circumstances, has taken steps to cure such breach within 30 days of the written notice);
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(ii) the commencement of any proceeding relating to the bankruptcy or insolvency of the Manager, including an order for relief in an involuntary bankruptcy case or the Manager authorizing or filing a voluntary bankruptcy petition;
(iii) the Manager committing fraud against the Company, misappropriating or embezzling its funds, or acting, or failing to act, in a manner constituting bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard in the performance of its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that if any of these actions is caused by an employee, personnel and/or officer of the Manager or one of its Affiliates and the Manager (or such Affiliate) takes all necessary and appropriate action against such person and cures the damage caused by such actions within 30 days of the Manager’s actual knowledge of its commission or omission, then the Manager may not be removed; or
(iv) the dissolution of the Manager.
Unsatisfactory financial performance of the Company does not constitute “cause” under this Agreement.
Section 5.3 Determinations by the Manager. Except as may otherwise be required by law, the determination as to any of the following matters, made in good faith by or pursuant to the direction of the Manager consistent with this Agreement, shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Company and every holder of Units: the amount of the net income of the Company for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of distributions or redemption of Units; the amount of paid-in surplus, net assets, other surplus, annual or other cash flow, funds from operations, net profit, net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits or excess of profits over losses on sales of assets; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges shall have been created shall have been paid or discharged); any interpretation of the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers or rights, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of any class or series of Units; the fair value, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in determining the fair value of any asset owned or held by the Company or of any Units; the number of Units of any class or series of the Company; any matter relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the Company; the evaluation of any competing interests among the Company and its Affiliates and the resolution of any such conflicts of interests; or any other matter relating to the business and affairs of the Company or required or permitted by applicable law, this Agreement or otherwise to be determined by the Manager.
Section 5.4 Exculpation, Indemnification, Advances and Insurance.
(a) Subject to other applicable provisions of this Article V, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Indemnified Persons shall not be liable to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any officer of the Company or a Subsidiary, or any Member or any holder of any equity interest in any Subsidiary of the Company, for any acts or omissions by any of the Indemnified Persons arising from the exercise of their rights or performance of their duties and obligations in connection with the Company, this Agreement or any investment made or held
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by the Company, including with respect to any acts or omissions made while serving at the request of the Company as an officer, director, member, partner, tax matters partner, partnership representative, fiduciary or trustee of another Person or any employee benefit plan. The Indemnified Persons shall be indemnified by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by law, against all expenses and liabilities (including judgments, fines, penalties, interest, amounts paid in settlement with the approval of the Company and reasonable counsel fees and disbursements on a solicitor and client basis) (collectively, “Expenses and Liabilities”) arising from the performance of any of their duties or obligations in connection with their service to the Company or this Agreement, or any investment made or held by the Company, including in connection with any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other action, suit or proceeding to which any such Person may hereafter be made party by reason of being or having been a manager of the Company under Delaware law, a director or officer of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or the Manager, or an officer, director, member, partner, tax matters partner, partnership representative, fiduciary or trustee of another Person or any employee benefit plan at the request of the Company. Without limitation, the foregoing indemnity shall extend to any liability of any Indemnified Person, pursuant to a loan guaranty or otherwise, for any indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (including any indebtedness which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company has assumed or taken subject to), and the Manager (and its officers) are hereby authorized and empowered, on behalf of the Company, to enter into one or more indemnity agreements consistent with the provisions of this Section 5.4 in favor of any Indemnified Person having or potentially having liability for any such indebtedness. It is the intention of this Section 5.4(a) that the Company indemnify each Indemnified Person to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities of an Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, including Section 5.6, are agreed by each Member to modify such duties and liabilities of the Indemnified Person to the extent permitted by law.
(c) Any indemnification under this Section 5.4 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Company unless the Manager determines in the specific case that indemnification of the Indemnified Person is not proper in the circumstances because such person has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.4(a). Such determination shall be made in good faith by the Manager; provided that if the Manager or its Affiliates is the Indemnified Person, by a majority vote of the directors of the Sponsor who are not parties to the applicable suit, action or proceeding. To the extent, however, that an Indemnified Person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such Indemnified Person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection therewith, notwithstanding an earlier determination by the Manager that the Indemnified Person had not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.4(a).
(d) Notwithstanding any contrary determination in the specific case under Section 5.4(c), and notwithstanding the absence of any determination thereunder, any Indemnified Person may apply to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under Section 5.4(a). The basis of such indemnification by a court shall be a
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determination by such court that indemnification of the Indemnified Person is proper in the circumstances because such Indemnified Person has met the applicable standards of conduct set forth in Section 5.4(a). Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 5.4(c) nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a defense to such application or create a presumption that the Indemnified Person seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct. Notice of any application for indemnification pursuant to this Section 5.4(d) shall be given to the Company promptly upon the filing of such application. If successful, in whole or in part, the Indemnified Person seeking indemnification shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such application.
(e) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by an Indemnified Person in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized in this Section 5.4.
(f) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Section 5.4 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under this Agreement, or any other agreement, determination of the Manager, vote of Members or otherwise, and shall continue as to an Indemnified Person who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnified Person unless otherwise provided in a written agreement with such Indemnified Person or in the writing pursuant to which such Indemnified Person is indemnified, it being the policy of the Company that indemnification of the persons specified in Section 5.4(a) shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions of this Section 5.4 shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in Section 5.4(a) but whom the Company has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the Delaware Act.
(g) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Person entitled to indemnification under this Section 5.4 against any liability asserted against such Person and incurred by such Person in any capacity to which they are entitled to indemnification hereunder, or arising out of such Person’s status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Section 5.4.
(h) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 5.4 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of any person entitled to indemnification under this Section 5.4.
(i) The Company may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Manager, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Company and to the employees and agents of any Company Subsidiary or Affiliate similar to those conferred in this Section 5.4 to Indemnified Persons.
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(j) If this Section 5.4 or any portion of this Section 5.4 shall be invalidated on any ground by a court of competent jurisdiction the Company shall nevertheless indemnify each Indemnified Person as to expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal or administrative, including a grand jury proceeding or action or suit brought by or in the right of the Company, to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Section 5.4 that shall not have been invalidated.
(k) Each of the Indemnified Persons may, in the performance of his, her or its duties, consult with legal counsel and accountants, and any act or omission by such Person on behalf of the Company in furtherance of the interests of the Company in good faith in reliance upon, and in accordance with, the advice of such legal counsel or accountants will be full justification for any such act or omission, and such Person will be fully protected for such acts and omissions; provided that such legal counsel or accountants were selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company.
(l) An Indemnified Person shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 5.4 because the Indemnified Person had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
(m) Any liabilities which an Indemnified Person incurs as a result of acting on behalf of the Company (whether as a fiduciary or otherwise) in connection with the operation, administration or maintenance of an employee benefit plan or any related trust or funding mechanism (whether such liabilities are in the form of excise taxes assessed by the Internal Revenue Service, penalties assessed by the Department of Labor, restitutions to such a plan or trust or other funding mechanism or to a participant or beneficiary of such plan, trust or other funding mechanism, or otherwise) shall be treated as liabilities indemnifiable under this Section 5.4, to the maximum extent permitted by law.
(n) The directors and officers of the Manager shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Company and on such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Company by any of the officers or employees of the Company or the Manager or by any other Person as to matters the director or officer of the Manager reasonably believes are within such other Person’s professional or expert competence.
(o) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 5.4 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the liability of or other rights of any Indemnified Person under this Section 5.4 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted and provided such Person became an Indemnified Person hereunder prior to such amendment, modification or repeal.
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Section 5.5 Duties of the Manager and its Officers and Directors. The Manager shall have the right to exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it thereunder either directly or by or through its duly authorized officers, and the Manager shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence on the part of any such officer duly appointed or duly authorized by the Manager in good faith.
Section 5.6 Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties of the Manager. To the fullest extent permitted by law and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or under any applicable provisions of law or equity or otherwise, the Manager, in exercising its rights and performing its obligations hereunder in its capacity as the manager of the Company, shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation (fiduciary or otherwise) to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Company or any Members, and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby, under the Delaware Act or under any other applicable law or in equity. To the fullest extent permitted by law, including Section 18-1101(c) of the Delaware Act, and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or in any agreement contemplated herein or applicable provisions of law or equity or otherwise, the parties hereto hereby agree that the Manager shall owe no fiduciary duty to any Member or the Company; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not eliminate the duty to comply with the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
Section 5.7 Outside Activities. It shall be deemed not to be a breach of any duty (including any fiduciary duty) or any other obligation of any type whatsoever of the Manager or its officers and directors or Affiliates of the Manager or its officers and directors (other than any express obligation contained in any agreement to which such Person and the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company are parties) to engage in outside business interests and activities in preference to or to the exclusion of the Company or in direct competition with the Company; provided the Manager or such officer, director or Affiliate does not engage in such business or activity as a result of or using confidential information provided by or on behalf of the Company to the Manager or such officer, director or Affiliate. Neither the Manager nor its officers and directors shall have any obligation hereunder or as a result of any duty expressed or implied by law to present business opportunities to the Company that may become available to Affiliates of the Manager or its officers and directors.
Section 5.8 Reliance by Third Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Company shall be entitled to assume that the Manager and any officer authorized by the Manager to act on behalf of and in the name of the Company has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Company and to enter into any authorized contracts on behalf of the Company, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the Manager or any officer as if it were the Company’s sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Member hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the Manager or any officer in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the Manager or any of its officers or representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the Manager or any officer or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Company by the Manager or any officer or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and
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delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Company and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Company.
Section 5.9 Certain Conflicts of Interest.
(a) Except as may be provided herein or as otherwise addressed by the Company’s conflicts of interest policies, the Company may not engage in any transaction involving a Conflict of Interest without first submitting such transaction to the Manager’s investment committee for Special Approval. The resolution of any Conflict of Interest approved by Special Approval shall be conclusively deemed to be fair and reasonable to the Company and the Members and not a breach of any duty hereunder at law, in equity or otherwise. Notwithstanding the above, to the extent required by applicable law and as specifically required in this Section 5.9, the Manager shall appoint an independent representative (the “Independent Representative”) to review and approve any transaction involving certain Conflicts of Interest. Notwithstanding the requirements set forth in this Section 5.9(a), except as otherwise provided in Sections 5.9(b) and (c), without obtaining Special Approval, the Company may, acquire investments from any of its Affiliates with the approval of an Independent Representative.
(b) Notwithstanding any requirements set forth in Section 5.9(a), including any Special Approval, for purposes of acquiring investments, the Company may obtain a loan from an Birgo Originator or one of their Affiliates (a “Related Party Loan”) on commercially reasonable terms with the approval of an Independent Representative; provided, that, no such Independent Representative approval shall be required to the extent that any such unsecured Related Party Loans, in the aggregate, do not exceed $20 million and do not carry an interest rate that exceeds the then current applicable prime rate with respect to such loans.
(c) Notwithstanding any requirements set forth in Section 5.9(a), the Company may also acquire a loan from an Birgo Originator without Special Approval and without the approval of an Independent Representative if such loan is not in default and the Birgo Originator originated the loan and is selling it to the Company at the par value of the loan, either (i) prior to the time any payments of principal have been (or were required to be made) or (ii) after one or more principal payments have been made, if (A) all such principal payments were timely made and (B) the Birgo Originator forwards the Company an amount equal to all such previously paid principal payments. To the extent that any interest payments have been previously made to the Birgo Originator on such loans, the Birgo Originator may retain such interest payments and the Birgo Originator may increase the purchase price of the loan to the Company to cover any inter-period interest payments that would otherwise be owed to the Birgo Originator. Notwithstanding any requirements set forth in Section 5.9(a), at such time as the Company has commenced its operations as contemplated in this Agreement and has sufficient funds, without Special Approval or the approval of an Independent Representative, the Company may purchase loans from an Birgo Originator that it originated prior to the period that the Company began raising funds, provided that the purchase of such loans is on the same terms as contemplated in the preceding sentences of this Section 5.9(c).
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Section 5.10 Fees Payable to the Manager or its Affiliates. The Manager or its Affiliates shall be entitled to receive the fees set forth in this Section 5.10. The Manager or its Affiliates, in their sole discretion may defer or waive any fee payable to it under this Agreement. All or any portion of any deferred fees will be deferred without interest and paid when the Manager determines.
• | Asset Management Fee. Asset management fee payable quarterly in arrears equal to an annualized rate of 1.25%, which will be based on the Company’s NAV at the end of each prior quarter, as calculated pursuant to Section 5.12. |
Section 5.11 Reimbursement of Expenses. The Company shall pay or reimburse the Manager and its Affiliates for the following:
(a) Formation Expenses. All third party charges and out-of-pocket costs and expenses (collectively, “Formation Expenses”) incurred by the Company, the Manager and its Affiliates in connection with the formation of the Company, the offering of Units, and the admission of investors in the Company, including, without limitation, travel, legal, accounting, marketing, advertising, filing and all other expenses incurred in connection with the offer and sale of interests in the Company. Reimbursement shall be made, without interest, to the Sponsor, for the Formation Expenses that are incurred. With respect to offering costs, the Company shall reimburse the Sponsor on a quarterly basis for offering costs actually incurred at a rate equal to the aggregate proceeds raised in the applicable Offering as of the end of the prior quarter divided by the maximum offering amount of $75,000,000 (excluding any reimbursements made in previous quarters). With respect to formation and organization costs, the Company the Company shall reimburse the Sponsor for all formation and organization costs incurred.
(b) Operating Expenses. All third party charges and out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Manager or its Affiliate that are related to the operations of the Company, including, without limitation, those related to (i) forming and operating Subsidiaries, (ii) the investigation of investment opportunities, whether or not consummated, and whether incurred before or after the formation of the Company, (iii) the acquisition, ownership, management, financing, hedging of interest rates on financings, or sale of investments, (iv) meetings with or reporting to Members, (v) accounting, auditing, research, consulting, tax return preparation, financial reporting, and legal services, risk management services and insurance, including without limitation to protect the Company, the Sponsor, the Manager, its Affiliates, and Members in connection with the performance of activities related to Company, (vi) the Company’s indemnification of the Indemnified Parties pursuant to this Agreement, (vii) litigation, (viii) borrowings of the Company, (ix) liquidating the Company, (x) any taxes, fees or other governmental charges levied against the Company and all expenses incurred in connection with any tax audit, investigation, settlement or review of the Company, including, without limitation, license fees, fees associated with SEC reporting requirements, and Delaware taxes and filing fees, (xi) travel costs associated with investigating and evaluating investment opportunities (whether or not consummated) or making, monitoring, managing or disposing of investments, and (xii) the costs of any third parties retained to provide services to Company, including without limitation, administration fees and the fees for services of any Independent Representative.
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The Company shall not be required to pay, and the Manager shall not be entitled to reimbursement for, (i) ordinary and usual office overhead expenses of the Manager or any of its Affiliates (including rent, communications, etc.), (ii) salaries or other compensation of the employees of the Manager or any of its Affiliate, or (iii) expenses of the Manager’s or any of its Affiliate’s registration as an investment adviser or other compliance with the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or any corresponding state law. It is acknowledged that, concurrently with the formation of the Company, the Manager may form other investment vehicles that will have similar investment strategies to the Company. Formation Expenses of the Company and corresponding expenses relating to such vehicles shall be allocated among the Company and such vehicles in such manner as the Manager deems equitable. Generally, expenses that relate to a particular investment will be borne by the investment vehicle directly making that investment so that other participating investment vehicles bear their pro rata units, although the Manager may allocate them pro rata among such entities. Generally, expenses that relate only to a particular investment vehicle shall be allocated to such investment vehicle. Each Member other than Affiliates of the Manager shall be solely responsible for all costs and expenses incurred by such Member in considering and maintaining an investment in the Company, including any legal, accounting, advisory or other costs.
Section 5.12 Quarterly Determination of Net Asset Value. At the end of each fiscal quarter beginning no later than January 1, 2023, the Manager shall cause the Company’s accountants or their designees to calculate the Company’s net asset value (“NAV”) using a process that reflects, among other matters, (1) estimated values of each of the Company’s commercial real estate assets and investments, including related liabilities; (2) quarterly updates in the price of liquid assets for which third party market quotes are available; (3) accruals of quarterly or other periodic distributions, and (4) estimates of quarterly accruals, on a net basis, of the Company’s operating revenues, expenses and fees. The Market Price per Unit for a given fiscal quarter shall be determined by dividing the Company’s NAV at the end of the prior fiscal quarter by the number of Common Unit Outstanding as of the end of the prior fiscal quarter, after giving effect to any unit purchases, redemptions, contributions or distributions made through the end of the prior fiscal quarter.
The Manager may, in its discretion, retain an independent valuation expert to provide annual valuations of the commercial real estate assets and investments, including related liabilities, to be set forth in individual appraisal reports of the underlying real estate, and to update such reports if the Manager, in its discretion, determines that a material event has occurred that may materially affect the value of the Company’s commercial real estate assets and investments, including related liabilities.
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ARTICLE VI
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
Section 6.1 Records and Accounting. The Manager shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Company appropriate books and records with respect to the business of the Company, including all books and records necessary to provide to the Members any information required to be provided pursuant to this Agreement. Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Company in the regular course of its business, including the record of the Members, books of account and records of Company proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form of, computer disks, hard drives, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided, that the books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Company shall be maintained, for tax and financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Each Member shall only be entitled to obtain from the Company such Company information that is reasonably related to such Member’s interest as a member of the Company; provided, that the Manager shall be entitled to keep confidential from any Member, for a period of time as deemed reasonable by the Manager, any information that the Manager believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or other information the disclosure of which the Manager believes is not in the best interest of the Company or could damage the Company or its business or information which the Company is required by law or by agreement with a third party to keep confidential. Any costs and expenses incurred by the Company in providing any information to a Member pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall be paid to the Company by such requesting Member.
Section 6.2 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Company for tax and financial reporting purposes shall be a calendar year ending December 31 unless otherwise required by the Code. The fiscal year for financial reporting purposes of the Company shall be a calendar year ending December 31.
Section 6.3 Reports. The Manager shall cause the Company to prepare an annual report and deliver it to Members within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year. Such requirement may be satisfied by the Company through any annual reports otherwise required to be publicly filed by the Company pursuant to applicable securities laws.
ARTICLE VII
TAX MATTERS
Section 7.1 Qualifying and Maintaining Qualification as a REIT. From the effective date of the Company’s election to qualify as a REIT until the Restriction Termination Date (as defined in Article XIII) of the Company, the Manager and its officers shall take such action from time to time as the Manager determines is necessary or appropriate in order to maintain the Company’s qualification as a REIT; provided, however, if the Manager determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to continue to be qualified as a REIT, the Manager may authorize the Company to revoke or otherwise terminate its REIT election pursuant to Section 856(g) of the Code. It is intended that the Company will elect to be treated as a corporation that will elect to be taxed as a REIT commencing with the taxable year ending December 31, 2022 until the Restriction Termination Date of the Company.
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ARTICLE VIII
DISSOLUTION, TERMINATION AND LIQUIDATION
Section 8.1 Dissolution and Termination.
(a) The Company shall not be dissolved by the admission of Substitute Members or Additional Members. The Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:
(i) an election to dissolve the Company by the Manager (or, if the Manager has been removed for “cause” pursuant to Section 5.2, an election to dissolve the Company by an affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the Common Units then Outstanding entitled to vote thereon);
(ii) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act; or
(iii) at any time that there are no members of the Company, unless the Company is continued in accordance with the Delaware Act.
Section 8.2 Liquidator. Upon dissolution of the Company, the Manager shall select one or more Persons to act as Liquidator.
In the case of a dissolution of the Company, (i) the Liquidator (if other than the Manager) shall be entitled to receive such compensation for its services as may be separately approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the Common Units then Outstanding entitled to vote on such liquidation; (ii) the Liquidator (if other than the Manager) shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days’ prior notice and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal separately approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the Common Units then Outstanding entitled to vote on such liquidation; (iii) upon dissolution, death, incapacity, removal or resignation of the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall within 30 days thereafter be separately approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the Common Units then Outstanding entitled to vote on such liquidation. The right to approve a successor or substitute Liquidator in the manner provided herein shall be deemed to refer also to any such successor or substitute Liquidator approved in the manner herein provided. Except as expressly provided in this Article VIII, the Liquidator approved in the manner provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the Manager and its officers under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such powers) necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for and during the period of time required to complete the winding up and liquidation of the Company as provided for herein. In the case of a termination of the Company, other than in connection with a dissolution of the Company, the Manager shall act as Liquidator.
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Section 8.3 Liquidation of the Company. In connection with the liquidation of the Company, the Liquidator shall proceed to dispose of the Company’s assets, discharge its liabilities, and otherwise wind up its affairs in such manner and over such period as determined by the Liquidator, subject to Section 18-804 of the Delaware Act, the terms of any Unit Designation (if any) and the following:
(a) Liabilities of the Company include amounts owed to the Liquidator as compensation for serving in such capacity (subject to the terms of Section 8.2) and amounts to Members otherwise than in respect of their distribution rights under Article IV. With respect to any liability that is contingent, conditional or unmatured or is otherwise not yet due and payable, the Liquidator shall either settle such claim for such amount as it thinks appropriate or establish a reserve of cash or other assets to provide for its payment. When paid, any unused portion of the reserve shall be applied to other liabilities or distributed as additional liquidation proceeds.
(b) Subject to Section 8.3(c), the assets may be disposed of by public or private sale or by distribution in kind to one or more Members on such terms as the Liquidator and such Member or Members may agree. If any property is distributed in kind, the Member receiving the property shall be deemed for purposes of Section 8.3(c) to have received cash equal to its fair market value; and contemporaneously therewith, appropriate cash distributions must be made to the other Members. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement and subject to Section 8.3(c), the Members understand and acknowledge that a Member may be compelled to accept a distribution of any asset in kind from the Company despite the fact that the percentage of the asset distributed to such Member exceeds the percentage of that asset which is equal to the percentage in which such Member units in distributions from the Company. The Liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of the Company’s assets for a reasonable time if it determines that an immediate sale or distribution of all or some of the assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Members. The Liquidator may distribute the Company’s assets, in whole or in part, in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Members.
(c) Subject to the terms of any Unit Designation (including, without limitation, the preferential rights, if any, of holders of any other class of Units of the Company), all property and all cash in excess of that required to discharge liabilities as provided in Section 8.3(a) shall be distributed to the holders of the Common Units of the Company on an equal per-Unit basis.
Section 8.4 Cancellation of Certificate of Formation. Upon the completion of the distribution of Company cash and property in connection the winding up of the Company, the Certificate of Formation and all qualifications of the Company as a foreign limited liability company in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be canceled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Company shall be taken.
Section 8.5 Return of Contributions. Neither the Sponsor, the Manager, nor any of their officers, directors or Affiliates will be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Company to enable it to effectuate, the return of the Capital Contributions of the Members, or any portion thereof, it being expressly understood that any such return shall be made solely from Company assets.
Section 8.6 Waiver of Partition. To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Member hereby waives any right to partition of the Company property.
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ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT
Section 9.1 General. Except as provided in Section 9.2, Section 9.4, or in any Unit Designation, if any, this Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Manager in its sole discretion; provided, however, that in addition to the affirmative vote or written consent of the Manager, such amendment shall also require the affirmative vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the then issued and Outstanding Common Units if such amendment (i) affects the Members disproportionately or (ii) materially and adversely affects the rights of the Members. If the Manager desires to amend any provision of this Agreement in a manner that would require the vote or consent of Members, then it shall first adopt a resolution setting forth the amendment proposed, declaring its advisability, and then (i) call a special meeting of the Members entitled to vote in respect thereof for the consideration of such amendment or (ii) seek the written consent of the Members in accordance with Section 11.6. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by or with the written consent of the Manager. Such special meeting shall be called and held upon notice in accordance with Article XI of this Agreement. The notice shall set forth such amendment in full or a brief summary of the changes to be effected thereby, as the Manager shall deem advisable. At the meeting, a vote of Members entitled to vote thereon shall be taken for and against the proposed amendment. A proposed amendment shall be effective upon its approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority-in-interest of the Common Units of the Company then Outstanding, voting together as a single class, unless a greater percentage is required under this Agreement or by Delaware law.
Section 9.2 Super-Majority Amendments. Notwithstanding Section 9.1, any alteration or amendment to this Section 9.2 or Section 5.2 that (i) affects the Members disproportionately or (ii) materially and adversely affects the rights of the Members, will require the affirmative vote or written consent of the Manager and the holders of Outstanding Common Units of the Company representing at least two-thirds of the total votes that may be cast by all such Outstanding Common Units, voting together as a single class.
Section 9.3 Amendments to be Adopted Solely by the Manager. Without in any way limiting Section 9.1, the Manager, without the approval of any Member, may amend any provision of this Agreement, and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect the following (and any such amendment shall not be deemed to either affect the Members disproportionately or materially and adversely affect the rights of the Members):
(a) a change in the name of the Company, the location of the principal place of business of the Company, the registered agent of the Company or the registered office of the Company;
(b) the admission, substitution, resignation or removal of Members in accordance with this Agreement;
(c) a change that the Manager determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue the qualification of the Company as a limited liability company under the laws of any state or to ensure that the Company will continue to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
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(d) a change that, in the sole discretion of the Manager, it determines (i) does not adversely affect the Members (including adversely affecting the holders of any particular class or series of Units as compared to other holders of other classes or series of Units, if any classes or series are established) in any material respect, (ii) to be necessary or appropriate to satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute (including the Delaware Act), (iii) to be necessary, desirable or appropriate to facilitate the trading of the Units or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on which Units may be listed for trading, compliance with any of which the Manager deems to be in the best interests of the Company and the Members, (iv) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by the Manager pursuant to Section 3.6, or (v) is required to effect the intent expressed in any Offering Document or the intent of the provisions of this Agreement or is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;
(e) a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Company and any other changes that the Manager determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the fiscal year or taxable year of the Company;
(f) an amendment that the Manager determines, based on the advice of counsel, to be necessary or appropriate to prevent the Company, the Manager, the Sponsor or their officers, trustees or agents from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under ERISA, regardless of whether such are substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;
(g) an amendment that the Manager determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the issuance of any additional Units, the authorization, establishment, creation or issuance of any class or series of Units (including, without limitation, any class or series of Units issued in connection with the Company’s qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and the admission of Additional Members;
(h) an amendment that the Manager determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for the formation by the Company of, or investment by the Company in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection with the conduct by the Company of activities permitted by the terms of Section 2.4;
(i) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a Merger Agreement approved in accordance with Section 10.2;
(j) a merger, conversion or conveyance pursuant to Section 10.2;
(k) a Roll-Up Transaction pursuant to Section 10.6 (unless Member approval is required in such situation by law or regulations); and
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(l) any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing or any other amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made by the Manager acting alone.
Section 9.4 Certain Amendment Requirements.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9.1 and Section 9.3, no provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of reducing such voting percentage unless such amendment is approved by the affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate Outstanding Units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9.1 and Section 9.3, but subject to Section 9.2, no amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Member without its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to Section 9.3(c), (ii) change Section 8.1(a), (iii) change the term of the Company or, (iv) except as set forth in Section 8.1(a), give any Person the right to dissolve the Company.
ARTICLE X
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION
Section 10.1 Authority. The Company may merge or consolidate with one or more limited liability companies or “other business entities” as defined in Section 18-209 of the Delaware Act, or convert into any such entity, whether such entity is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States of America, pursuant to a written agreement of merger or consolidation (“Merger Agreement”) or a written plan of conversion (“Plan of Conversion”), as the case may be, in accordance with this Article X.
Section 10.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion. A merger, consolidation or conversion of the Company pursuant to this Article X requires solely the prior written approval of the Manager, and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no consent, vote or approval of any Member shall be required for any such merger, consolidation or conversion.
(a) If the Manager shall determine to consent to the merger or consolidation, the Manager shall approve the written Merger Agreement, which shall set forth:
(i) the names and jurisdictions of formation or organization of each of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;
(ii) the name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of the business entity that is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation (the “Surviving Business Entity”);
(iii) the terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;
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(iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the rights or securities of, or interests in, each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property, rights, or securities of or interests in, the Surviving Business Entity; and if any rights or securities of, or interests in, any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property, rights, or securities of or interests in, the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property, rights, or securities of or interests in, any limited liability company or other business entity which the holders of such rights, securities or interests are to receive, if any;
(v) a statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new constituent documents (the certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement, articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;
(vi) the effective time of the merger or consolidation, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger or consolidation pursuant to Section 10.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement (provided, that if the effective time of the merger or consolidation is to be later than the date of the filing of the certificate of merger or consolidation, the effective time shall be fixed no later than the time of the filing of the certificate of merger or consolidation or the time stated therein); and
(vii) such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation that the Manager determines to be necessary or appropriate.
(b) If the Manager shall determine to consent to the conversion, the Manager may approve and adopt a written Plan of Conversion containing such terms and conditions that the Manager determines to be necessary or appropriate.
(c) The Members hereby acknowledge and agree that they shall have no right or opportunity to approve a merger, consolidation, conversion, sale of substantially all assets or other significant transaction involving the Company authorized and approved by the Manager, unless required by a non-waivable provision of any applicable laws or regulations.
Section 10.3 No Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal. Members are not entitled to dissenters’ rights of appraisal in the event of a merger, consolidation or conversion pursuant to this Article X, a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of all the Company or the Company’s Subsidiaries, or any other similar transaction or event.
Section 10.4 Certificate of Merger or Conversion. Upon the required approval by the Manager of a Merger Agreement or a Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, a certificate of merger or certificate of conversion, as applicable, shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act.
Section 10.5 Effect of Merger. At the effective time of the certificate of merger:
(a) all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of the business entities that has merged or consolidated, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to any of those business entities shall be vested in the Surviving Business Entity and after the merger or consolidation shall be the property of the Surviving Business Entity and all other things and causes of action belonging to each of those business entities, shall be vested in the Surviving Business Entity to the extent they were of each constituent business entity;
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(b) the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in any of those constituent business entities shall not revert and is not in any way impaired because of the merger or consolidation;
(c) all rights of creditors and all liens on or security interests in property of any of those constituent business entities shall be preserved unimpaired; and
(d) all debts, liabilities and duties of those constituent business entities shall attach to the Surviving Business Entity and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.
Section 10.6 Roll-Up Transaction or Public Listing. The Manager may at any time in its discretion cause the Company to:
(a) enter into a transaction or series of related transactions designed to cause all or a portion of the Company’s assets and properties to be sold, transferred or contributed to, or convert the Company into, one or more alternative vehicles, through consolidation(s), merger(s) or other similar transaction(s) with other companies, some of which may be managed by the Manager, the Sponsor or its Affiliates (a “Roll-Up Transaction”); or
(b) list the Company’s Units (or securities issued in connection with any Roll-Up Transaction vehicle) on a national securities exchange.
In connection with a Roll-Up Transaction, Members may receive from the Roll-Up Transaction vehicle cash, stock, securities or other interests or assets of such vehicle, on such terms as the Manager deems fair and reasonable; provided, however, that the Manager shall be required to obtain approval of Members holding a majority of the Outstanding Common Units if required by applicable laws or regulations. Any cash, stock, securities or other interests or assets received by the Company in a Roll-Up Transaction may be distributed to the Members in liquidation of their interests in the Company.
ARTICLE XI
MEMBERS’ VOTING POWERS AND MEETING
Section 11.1 Voting. Common Units shall entitle the Record Holders thereof to one vote per Unit on any and all matters submitted to the consent or approval of Members generally. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or as otherwise required by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the Common Unit then Outstanding shall be required for all such other matters as the Manager, in its sole discretion, determines shall require the approval of the holders of the Outstanding Common Unit.
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Section 11.2 Voting Powers. The holders of Outstanding Unit shall have the power to vote only with respect to such matters, if any, as may be required by this Agreement or the requirements of applicable regulatory agencies, if any. Outstanding Units may be voted in person or by proxy. A proxy with respect to Outstanding Units, held in the name of two or more Persons, shall be valid if executed by any one of them unless at or prior to exercise of the proxy the Company receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Member shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger.
Section 11.3 Meetings. No annual or regular meeting of Members is required. Special meetings of Members may be called by the Manager from time to time for the purpose of taking action upon any matter requiring the vote or authority of the Members as herein provided or upon any other matter deemed by the Manager to be necessary or desirable. Written notice of any meeting of Members shall be given or caused to be given by the Manager in any form and at any time before the meeting as the Manager deems appropriate. Any Member may prospectively or retroactively waive the receipt of notice of a meeting.
Section 11.4 Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the Members who are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any adjournment thereof, or who are entitled to participate in any distribution, or for the purpose of any other action, the Manager may from time to time close the transfer books for such period, not exceeding thirty days (except at or in connection with the dissolution of the Company), as the Manager may determine; or without closing the transfer books the Manager may fix a date and time not more than ninety days prior to the date of any meeting of Members or other action as the date and time of record for the determination of Members entitled to vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof or to be treated as Members of record for purposes of such other action, and any Member who was a Member at the date and time so fixed shall be entitled to vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof or to be treated as a Member of record for purposes of such other action, even though he or she has since that date and time disposed of his or her Unit, and no Member becoming such after that date and time shall be so entitled to vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof or to be treated as a Member of record for purposes of such other action.
Section 11.5 Quorum and Required Vote. The holders of a majority of the Units entitled to vote on any matter shall be a quorum for the transaction of business at a Members’ meeting, but twenty-five percent shall be sufficient for adjournments. Any adjourned session or sessions may be held, within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting without the necessity of further notice. A majority of the Units entitled to vote on any matter voted at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall decide any matters presented at the meeting, except when a different vote is required or permitted by any express provision of this Agreement.
Section 11.6 Action by Written Consent. Any action taken by Members may be taken without a meeting if Members entitled to cast a sufficient number of votes to approve the matter as required by statute or this Agreement, as the case may be, consent to the action in writing or by electronic transmission. Such written or transmitted consents shall be filed with the records of the meetings of Members. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Members and shall bind all Members and their successors or assigns.
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Section 11.7 Classes and Series. The references in this Article XI to meetings, quorum, voting and actions by written consent (and any related matters) of Members shall be understood to apply separately to individual classes or series of Members where the context requires.
ARTICLE XII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 12.1 Addresses and Notices. Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy materials required or permitted to be given or made to a Member under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail, electronic mail or by other means of written communication to the Member at the address described below. Any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a Member hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such Units at his or her address (including email address) as shown on the records of the Company (or the Transfer Agent, if any), regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest in such Units by reason of any assignment or otherwise. An affidavit or certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the provisions of this Section 12.1 executed by the Company, the Transfer Agent (if any) or the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report. If any notice, payment or report addressed to a Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder appearing on the books and records of the Company (or the Transfer Agent, if any) is returned by the United States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver it, or is returned by the email server with a message indicating that the email server is unable to deliver the email, such notice, payment or report and any subsequent notices, payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or made without further mailing or emailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person notifies the Company (or the Transfer Agent, if any) of a change in his address (including email address)) if they are available for the Member at the principal office of the Company for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice, payment or report to the other Members. Any notice to the Company shall be deemed given if received by the Manager at the principal office of the Company designated pursuant to Section 2.3 or at the Company’s principal email address for Member communications, XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx. The Manager and its officers may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from a Member or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.
Section 12.2 Further Action. The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.
Section 12.3 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.
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Section 12.4 Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.
Section 12.5 Creditors. None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Company.
Section 12.6 Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.
Section 12.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto or, in the case of a Person acquiring a Unit, upon the execution of the subscription documents of such Unit, and the acceptance of such subscription by the Manager.
Section 12.8 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflict of laws. Each Member (i) irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction and venue of any Delaware state court or U.S. federal court sitting in Wilmington, Delaware in any action arising out of this Agreement and (ii) consents to the service of process by mail. Nothing herein shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any manner permitted by law or affect its right to bring any action in any other court.
Section 12.9 Invalidity of Provisions. If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.
Section 12.10 Consent of Members. Each Member hereby expressly consents and agrees that, whenever in this Agreement it is specified that an action may be taken upon the affirmative vote or consent of less than all of the Members, such action may be so taken upon the concurrence of less than all of the Members and each Member shall be bound by the results of such action.
Section 12.11 Electronic Signatures. The use of electronic signatures affixed in the name and on behalf of the Transfer Agent, if any, on certificates or other documents (if uncertificated) representing Units is expressly permitted by this Agreement.
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ARTICLE XIII
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF UNITS
Section 13.1 Definitions. For the purpose of this Article XIII, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Aggregate Ownership Limit” shall mean not more than 9.8 percent (in value or in number of units, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the Outstanding Units, or such other percentage determined by the Manager in accordance with Section 13.9.
“Beneficial Ownership” shall mean ownership of Units by a Person, whether the interest in the Units is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Sections 856(h)(1) and/or 544 of the Code, as modified by Sections 856(h)(1)(B) and 856(h)(3) of the Code, provided, however, that in determining the number of Units Beneficially Owned by a Person, no Unit shall be counted more than once. Whenever a Person Beneficially Owns Units that are not actually outstanding (e.g., units issuable upon the exercise of an option or the conversion of a convertible security) (“Option Units”), then, whenever this Agreement requires a determination of the percentage of Outstanding Units Beneficially Owned by such Person, the Option Units Beneficially Owned by such Person shall also be deemed to be Outstanding. The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.
“Charitable Beneficiary” shall initially mean the American Red Cross until such time as the Company designates one or more other beneficiaries of the Trust as determined pursuant to Section 13.11(f); provided that each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.
“Common Unit Ownership Limit” shall mean not more than 9.8 percent (in value or in number of unit, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the Outstanding Common Units, or such other percentage determined by the Manager in accordance with Section 13.9.
“Constructive Ownership” shall mean ownership of Units by a Person, whether the interest in the Units is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 318(a) of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code. The terms “Constructive Owner,” “Constructively Owns” and “Constructively Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.
“Excepted Holder” shall mean a Person for whom an Excepted Holder Limit is created by this Agreement or by the Manager pursuant to Section 13.8.
“Excepted Holder Limit” shall mean, provided that the affected Excepted Holder agrees to comply with any requirements established by the Manager pursuant to Section 13.8 and subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 13.8(d)(ii), the percentage limit established by the Manager pursuant to Section 13.8.
“Initial Date” shall mean the date of the closing of the Initial Offering of the Company.
“Initial Offering” shall mean the first issuance and sale for cash of Common Units of the Company to any Person other than an Affiliate of the Company pursuant to (i) a public offering registered under the Securities Act or (ii) a private offering or offering qualified, as applicable, in accordance with Rule 144A, Regulation A, Regulation D or Regulation S of the Securities Act.
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“Non-Transfer Event” shall mean any event or other changes in circumstances other than a purported Transfer, including, without limitation, any change in the value of any Units.
“One Hundred Unitholders Date” means the first day on which Units are beneficially owned by 100 or more Persons within the meaning of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code.
“Ownership Limits” means the Aggregate Unit Ownership Limit and the Common Unit Ownership Limit.
“Person” shall mean, solely for the purposes of this Article XIII, an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Sections 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other entity and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d) (3) of the Exchange Act and a group to which an Excepted Holder Limit applies.
“Prohibited Owner” shall mean with respect to any purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, any Person who, but for the provisions of Section 13.2, would Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Units and, if appropriate in the context, shall also mean any Person who would have been the Record Holder of the Units that the Prohibited Owner would have so owned.
“Restriction Termination Date” means the first day after the Initial Date on which the Manager determines in accordance with Section 7.1 that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to continue to qualify as a REIT or that compliance with any of the restriction and limitations on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfers of Units set forth in this Article XIII is no longer required in order for the Company to qualify as a REIT.
“Transfer” shall mean any issuance, sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition, as well as any other event that causes any Person to acquire or change its Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Units or the right to vote or receive distributions on Units, or any agreement to take any such actions or cause any such events, including (a) the granting or exercise of any option (or any disposition of any option) or entering into any agreement for the sale, transfer or other disposition of Units (or of Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Units), (b) any disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Units or any interest in Units or any exercise of any such conversion or exchange right and (c) Transfers of interests in other entities that result in changes in Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Units; in each case, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether owned of record, Constructively Owned or Beneficially Owned and whether by operation of law or otherwise. The terms “Transferring” and “Transferred” shall have the correlative meanings.
“Trust” shall mean any trust provided for in Section 13.11(a).
“Trustee” shall mean the Person that is unaffiliated with the Company or any Prohibited Owner, that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code and is appointed by the Company to serve as trustee of the Trust.
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Section 13.2 Ownership Limitations.
(a) Basic Restrictions.
(i) (1) No Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Units in excess of the Aggregate Ownership Limit, (2) no Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Common Units in excess of the Common Unit Ownership Limit and (3) no Excepted Holder shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Units in excess of the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder.
(ii) (1) No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Units to the extent that such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Units would result in the Company being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year, unless otherwise allowed under Section 13.8(e)), and (2) no Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Units to the extent that such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Units would result in the Company otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT (including, but not limited to, Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership that (A) would result in the Company owning (actually or Constructively) an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code or (B) would cause any income of the Company that would otherwise qualify as “rents from real property” for purposes of Section 856(d) of the Code to fail to qualify as such (including, but not limited to, as a result of causing any entity that the Company intends to treat as an “eligible independent contractor” within the meaning of Section 856(d)(9)(A) of the Code to fail to qualify as such), in either case causing the Company to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code).
(iii) During the period commencing on the One Hundred Unitholders Date, any Transfer of Units that, if effective, would result in the Units being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 Persons (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be void ab initio, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Units.
(b) Transfer in Trust. If any Transfer of Units or Non-Transfer Event occurs which, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning Units in violation of Section 13.2(a)(i) or (ii):
(i) then that number of Units the Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of which otherwise would cause such Person to violate Section 13.2(a)(i) or (ii) (rounded up to the nearest whole unit) shall be automatically transferred to a Trust for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary, as described in Section 13.11, effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the date of such Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, and such Person (or, if different, the direct or beneficial owner of such Units) shall acquire no rights in such Units (and shall be divested of its rights in such Units); or
(ii) if the transfer to the Trust described in clause (i) of this sentence would not be effective for any reason to prevent the violation of Section 13.2(a)(i) or (ii), then the Transfer of that number of Units that otherwise would cause any Person to violate Section 13.2(a)(i) or (ii) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be void ab initio, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Units.
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Section 13.3 Remedies for Breach. If the Manager shall at any time determine in good faith that a Transfer or Non-Transfer Event has taken place that results in a violation of Section 13.2 or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of any Units in violation of Section 13.2 (whether or not such violation is intended), the Manager shall take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer or Non-Transfer Event or otherwise prevent such violation, including, without limitation, causing the Company to redeem units, refusing to give effect to such Transfer or Non-Transfer Event on the books of the Company or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer or Non-Transfer Event; provided, however, that any Transfer or attempted Transfer or other event in violation of Section 13.2 (or Non-Transfer Event that results in a violation of Section 13.2) shall automatically result in the transfer to the Trust described in Section 13.2(b)(i), and, where applicable, such Transfer (or Non-Transfer Event) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be void ab initio as provided in in Section 13.2(b)(ii) irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Manager. Nothing herein shall limit the ability of the Manager to grant a waiver as may be permitted under Section 13.8.
Section 13.4 Notice of Restricted Transfer. Any Person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Units that will or may violate Section 13.2(a) or any Person who would have owned Units that resulted in a transfer to the Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 13.2(b) shall immediately give written notice to the Company of such event or, in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice, and shall provide to the Company such other information as the Company may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer or Non-Transfer Event on the Company’s qualification as a REIT.
Section 13.5 Owners Required To Provide Information. From the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date:
(a) every owner of five percent or more (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the U.S. Treasury Department regulations promulgated thereunder) of the Outstanding Units, upon request following the end of each taxable year, shall give written notice to the Company stating the name and address of such owner, the number of Units of each class and series Beneficially Owned and a description of the manner in which such Units are held. Each such owner shall promptly provide to the Company in writing such additional information as the Company may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership on the Company’s qualification as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Ownership Limits; and
(b) each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of Units and each Person (including the Member of record) who is holding Units for a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner shall promptly provide to the Company in writing such information as the Company may request, in good faith, in order to determine the Company’s qualification as a REIT and to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.
Section 13.6 Remedies Not Limited. Subject to Section 7.1, nothing contained in this Article XIII shall limit the authority of the Manager to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Company and the interests of the Members in preserving the Company’s qualification as a REIT.
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Section 13.7 Ambiguity. In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Article XIII, the Manager shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Article XIII with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it. In the event Article XIII requires an action by the Manager and this Agreement fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Manager shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of this Article XIII. Absent a decision to the contrary by the Manager (which the Manager may make in its sole and absolute discretion), if a Person would have (but for the remedies set forth in Section 13.3) acquired or retained Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Units in violation of Section 13.2, such remedies (as applicable) shall apply first to the Units which, but for such remedies, would have been Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned (but not actually owned) by such Person, pro rata among the Persons who actually own such Units based upon the relative number of the Units held by each such Person.
Section 13.8 Exceptions.
(a) Subject to Section 13.2(a)(ii), the Manager, in its sole discretion, may exempt (prospectively or retroactively) a Person from the Aggregate Ownership Limit and/or the Common Unit Ownership Limit, as the case may be, and may establish or increase an Excepted Holder Limit for such Person if the Manager determines, based on such representations and undertakings as it may require, that:
(i) subject to Section 13.8(e), such exemption will not cause the Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Units of the Company of any individual (as defined in Section 542(a)(2) of the Code as modified by Section 856(h)(3) of the Code) to violate Section 13.2(a)(ii); and
(ii) such Person does not and will not Constructively own an interest in a tenant (or a tenant of any entity owned or controlled by the Company) that would cause the Company to own, actually or Constructively, more than a 9.9% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code) in such tenant (for this purpose, a tenant from whom the Company (or an entity owned or controlled by the Company) derives (and is expected to continue to derive) a sufficiently small amount of revenue such that, in the opinion of the Manager, rent from such tenant would not adversely affect the Company’s ability to qualify as a REIT shall not be treated as a tenant of the Company).
(b) Prior to granting any exception pursuant to Section 13.8(a), the Manager may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or an Opinion of Counsel, in either case in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager in its sole discretion, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Company’s qualification as a REIT. Notwithstanding the receipt of any ruling or opinion, the Manager may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such exception or waiver or creating any Excepted Holder Limit.
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(c) Subject to Section 13.2(a)(ii), an underwriter which participates in a public offering or a private placement of Units (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Units ) may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Units (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Units) in excess of the Aggregate Ownership Limit, the Common Unit Ownership Limit, or both such limits, but only to the extent necessary to facilitate such public offering or private placement.
(d) The Manager may only reduce the Excepted Holder Limit for an Excepted Holder:
(i) with the written consent of such Excepted Holder at any time, or
(ii) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreements and undertakings entered into with such Excepted Holder in connection with the establishment of the Excepted Holder Limit for that Excepted Holder. No Excepted Holder Limit shall be reduced to a percentage that is less than the Common Unit Ownership Limit or Aggregate Ownership Limit, as applicable.
(e) Subject to Section 13.2(a)(ii)(2), the Manager, in its sole discretion, may exempt an Excepted Holder from the limitations in Section 13.2(a)(ii)(1) and Section 13.2(a)(i) on Beneficial Ownership and/or Constructive Ownership of Units that would result in the Company being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (determined without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year), but only during the first taxable year of the Company for which the Company elects to be a REIT under Section 856(c)(1) of the Code and only to the extent that such Beneficial Ownership and/or Constructive Ownership for such periods does not result in the Company failing to qualify as a REIT.
Section 13.9 Increase or Decrease in Aggregate Ownership and Common Unit Ownership Limits.
(a) Subject to Section 13.2(a)(ii), the Manager may from time to time increase or decrease the Common Unit Ownership Limit and the Aggregate Ownership Limit; provided, however, that any decreased Common Unit Ownership Limit and/or Aggregate Ownership Limit will not be effective for any Person whose percentage ownership in Common Units or Units is in excess of such decreased Common Unit Ownership Limit and/or Aggregate Ownership Limit until such time as such Person’s percentage of Common Units or Units equals or falls below the decreased Common Unit Ownership Limit and/or Aggregate Ownership Limit, but any further acquisition of Common Units or Units in excess of such percentage ownership of Common Units or Units will be in violation of the Common Unit Ownership Limit and/or Aggregate Ownership Limit; and provided further, that any increased or decreased Common Unit Ownership Limit and/or Aggregate Ownership Limit would not allow five or fewer Persons to Beneficially Own more than 49.9% in value of the Outstanding Unit.
(b) Prior to increasing or decreasing the Common Unit Ownership Limit or the Aggregate Ownership Limit pursuant to Section 13.9(a), the Manager may require such opinions of counsel, affidavits, undertakings or agreements, in any case in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager in its sole discretion, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Company’s qualification as a REIT.
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Section 13.10 Legend. Each certificate for Units, if certificated, or any written statement of information in lieu of a certificate delivered to a holder of uncertificated Units shall bear substantially the following legend:
“The Units represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on Beneficial Ownership and Constructive Ownership and Transfer for the purpose, among others, of the Company’s maintenance of its qualification as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Subject to certain further restrictions and except as expressly provided in the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Birgo Reiturn Fund LLC, as may be amended from time to time (the “Operating Agreement”), (i) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Common Units in excess of 9.8 percent (in value or number of units, whichever is more restrictive) of the Outstanding Common Units, unless such Person is exempt from such limitation or is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (ii) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Units in excess of 9.8 percent (in value or number of units, whichever is more restrictive) of the Outstanding Units, unless such Person is exempt from such limitation or is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (iii) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Units that would result in the Company being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year), or otherwise cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT; and (iv) any Transfer of Units that, if effective, would result in the Units being beneficially owned by less than 100 Persons (as determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be void ab initio, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Units.
Any Person who Beneficially Owns or Constructively Owns or attempts to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Units which causes or will cause a Person to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Units in excess or in violation of the above limitations must immediately notify the Company and Transfer Agent (if any) or, in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice. If any of the restrictions on transfer or ownership as set forth in (i) through (iii) above are violated, the Units in excess or in violation of the above limitations will be automatically transferred to a Trustee of a Trust for the benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. In addition, the Company may redeem Units upon the terms and conditions specified by the Manager in its sole discretion if the Manager determines that ownership or a Transfer or other event may violate the restrictions described above. Furthermore, upon the occurrence of certain events, attempted Transfers in violation of the restrictions described in (i) through (iii) above, to the fullest extent permitted by law, may be void ab initio. All capitalized terms in this legend have the meanings defined in the Operating Agreement, a copy of which, including the restrictions on transfer and ownership, will be furnished to each holder of Units on request and without charge. Requests for such a copy may be directed to the Manager at the Company’s principal office.”
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Instead of the foregoing legend, the certificate or written statement of information delivered in lieu of a certificate, if any, may state that the Company will furnish a full statement about certain restrictions on transferability to a Member on request and without charge.
Section 13.11 Transfer of Units in Trust.
(a) Ownership in Trust. Upon any purported Transfer or other event described in Section 13.2(b) that would result in a transfer of Units to a Trust, such Units shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Trustee as trustee of a Trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. Such transfer to the Trustee shall be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the purported Transfer or other event that results in the transfer to the Trust pursuant to Section 13.2(b). The Trustee shall be appointed by the Company and shall be a Person unaffiliated with the Company and any Prohibited Owner. Each Charitable Beneficiary shall be designated by the Company as provided in Section 13.11(f).
(b) Status of Units Held by the Trustee. Units held by the Trustee shall be issued and Outstanding Units. The Prohibited Owner shall have no rights in the units held by the Trustee. The Prohibited Owner shall not benefit economically from ownership of any Units held in trust by the Trustee, shall have no rights to distributions and shall not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the Units held in the Trust.
(c) Distribution and Voting Rights. The Trustee shall have all voting rights and rights to distributions with respect to Units held in the Trust, which rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. Any distribution paid prior to the discovery by the Company that the Units have been transferred to the Trustee shall be paid by the recipient of such distribution to the Trustee upon demand and any distribution authorized but unpaid shall be paid when due to the Trustee. Any distribution so paid to the Trustee shall be held in trust for the Charitable Beneficiary. The Prohibited Owner shall have no voting rights with respect to Units held in the Trust and, subject to Delaware law, effective as of the date that the Units have been transferred to the Trust, the Trustee shall have the authority (at the Trustee’s sole discretion) (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by a Prohibited Owner prior to the discovery by the Company that the Units have been transferred to the Trustee and (ii) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the Trustee acting for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary; provided, however, that if the Company has already taken irreversible limited liability company action, then the Trustee shall not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XIII, until the Company has received notification that Units have been transferred into a Trust, the Company shall be entitled to rely on its unit transfer and other Member records for purposes of preparing lists of Members entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes of Members.
(d) Sale of Units by Trustee. Within 20 days of receiving notice from the Company that Units have been transferred to the Trust, the Trustee of the Trust shall sell the Units held in the Trust to a Person, designated by the Trustee, whose ownership of the Units will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in Section 13.2(a). Upon such sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the Units sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and to the Charitable Beneficiary as provided in this Section 13.11(d). The Prohibited Owner shall receive the lesser of (1) the price paid by the
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Prohibited Owner for the Units or, if the event causing the Units to be held in the Trust did not involve a purchase of such Units at Market Price, the Market Price of the Units on the day of the event causing the Units to be held in the Trust and (2) the price per Unit received by the Trustee (net of any commissions and other expenses of sale) from the sale or other disposition of the Units held in the Trust. The Trustee may reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee pursuant to Section 13.11(c). Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner shall be immediately paid to the Charitable Beneficiary. If, prior to the discovery by the Company that Units have been transferred to the Trustee, such Units are sold by a Prohibited Owner, then (i) such Units shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the Trust and (ii) to the extent that the Prohibited Owner received an amount for such Units that exceeds the amount that such Prohibited Owner was entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 13.11(d), such excess shall be paid to the Trustee upon demand.
(e) Purchase Right in Units Transferred to the Trustee. Units transferred to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the Company, or its designee, at a price per Unit equal to the lesser of (i) the price per Unit in the transaction that resulted in such Transfer to the Trust (or, if the event that resulted in the Transfer to the Trust did not involve a purchase of such Unit at Market Price, the Market Price of such Units on the day of the event that resulted in the Transfer of such Units to the Trust) and (ii) the Market Price on the date the Company, or its designee, accepts such offer. The Company may reduce the amount payable to the Trustee by the amount of distributions which has been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee pursuant to Section 13.11(c) and may pay the amount of such reduction to the Trustee for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. The Company shall have the right to accept such offer until the Trustee has sold the Units held in the Trust pursuant to Section 13.11(d). Upon such a sale to the Company, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the Units sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner.
(f) Designation of Charitable Beneficiaries. By written notice to the Trustee, the Company shall designate one or more nonprofit organizations to be the Charitable Beneficiary of the interest in the Trust such that the Units held in the Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Section 13.2(a) in the hands of such Charitable Beneficiary. Neither the failure of the Company to make such designation nor the failure of the Company to appoint the Trustee before its automatic transfer provided for in Section 13.2(b) shall make such transfer ineffective; provided that the Company thereafter makes such designation and appointment. The designation of a nonprofit organization as a Charitable Beneficiary shall not entitle such nonprofit organization to serve in such capacity and the Company may, in its sole discretion, designate a different nonprofit organization as the Charitable Beneficiary at any time and for any or no reason. Any determination by the Company with respect to the application of this Article XIII shall be binding on each Charitable Beneficiary.
Section 13.12 Enforcement. The Company is authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of this Article XIII.
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Section 13.13 Non-Waiver. No delay or failure on the part of the Company or its Manager in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of the Company or its Manager, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically waived in writing.
Section 13.14 Severability. If any provision of this Article XIII or any application of any such provision is determined to be invalid by any federal or state court having jurisdiction over the issues, the validity of the remaining provisions shall not be affected and other applications of such provisions shall be affected only to the extent necessary to comply with the determination of such court.
Section 13.15 Applicability. The provisions of this Article XIII shall be applicable as if the Company was a REIT, even if the Manager has not elected to have the Company qualify as a REIT, and shall remain in full force and effect until prior to the Restriction Termination Date.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as of the date first written above.
MANAGER: | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Limited Liability Company Agreement of Birgo Reiturn Fund LLC]
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