THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF VISTA PROPPANTS AND LOGISTICS, LLC Dated as of [●], 2018
Exhibit 10.1
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
VISTA PROPPANTS AND LOGISTICS, LLC
Dated as of [●], 2018
THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY UNITS OF VISTA PROPPANTS AND LOGISTICS, LLC HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS AND ARE BEING SOLD IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS. SUCH UNITS MUST BE ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, SOLD, ASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH (I) THE SECURITIES ACT, ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION, AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS; (II) THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT; AND (III) ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREED TO IN WRITING BETWEEN THE MANAGING MEMBER AND THE APPLICABLE MEMBER. THE UNITS MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OF RECORD EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH LAWS; THIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT; AND ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREED TO IN WRITING BY THE MANAGING MEMBER AND THE APPLICABLE MEMBER. THEREFORE, PURCHASERS AND OTHER TRANSFEREES OF SUCH UNITS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE RISK OF THEIR INVESTMENT OR ACQUISITION FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.
Table of Contents
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
3 | |||||
Section 1.01. |
Definitions | 3 | ||||
ARTICLE II FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND POWERS |
10 | |||||
Section 2.01. |
Formation | 10 | ||||
Section 2.02. |
Name | 10 | ||||
Section 2.03. |
Term | 11 | ||||
Section 2.04. |
Offices | 11 | ||||
Section 2.05. |
Agent for Service of Process; Existence and Good Standing; Foreign Qualification | 11 | ||||
Section 2.06. |
Business Purpose | 11 | ||||
Section 2.07. |
Powers of the Company | 11 | ||||
Section 2.08. |
Members; Reclassification; Admission of New Members | 12 | ||||
Section 2.09. |
Resignation | 12 | ||||
Section 2.10. |
Investment Representations of Members | 12 | ||||
ARTICLE III MANAGEMENT |
12 | |||||
Section 3.01. |
Managing Member | 12 | ||||
Section 3.02. |
Compensation | 13 | ||||
Section 3.03. |
Expenses | 13 | ||||
Section 3.04. |
Officers | 13 | ||||
Section 3.05. |
Authority of Members | 14 | ||||
Section 3.06. |
Action by Written Consent or Ratification | 14 | ||||
ARTICLE IV DISTRIBUTIONS |
15 | |||||
Section 4.01. |
Distributions | 15 | ||||
Section 4.02. |
Liquidation Distribution | 16 | ||||
Section 4.03. |
Limitations on Distribution | 16 | ||||
ARTICLE V CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS |
16 | |||||
Section 5.01. |
Initial Capital Contributions | 16 | ||||
Section 5.02. |
No Additional Capital Contributions | 16 | ||||
Section 5.03. |
Capital Accounts | 16 | ||||
Section 5.04. |
Allocations of Profits and Losses | 17 | ||||
Section 5.05. |
Special Allocations | 17 | ||||
Section 5.06. |
Tax Allocations | 18 |
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Section 5.07. |
Tax Advances | 18 | ||||
Section 5.08. |
Tax Matters | 19 | ||||
Section 5.09. |
Other Allocation Provisions | 19 | ||||
ARTICLE VI BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS |
20 | |||||
Section 6.01. |
Books and Records | 20 | ||||
ARTICLE VII COMPANY UNITS |
21 | |||||
Section 7.01. |
Xxxxx | 00 | ||||
Xxxxxxx 7.02. |
Register | 22 | ||||
Section 7.03. |
Registered Members | 22 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS |
23 | |||||
Section 8.01. |
Member Transfers | 23 | ||||
Section 8.02. |
Mandatory Exchanges | 23 | ||||
Section 8.03. |
Encumbrances | 24 | ||||
Section 8.04. |
Further Restrictions | 24 | ||||
Section 8.05. |
Rights of Assignees | 25 | ||||
Section 8.06. |
Admissions, Resignations and Removals | 25 | ||||
Section 8.07. |
Admission of Assignees as Substitute Members | 26 | ||||
Section 8.08. |
Resignation and Removal of Members | 26 | ||||
ARTICLE IX DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION |
26 | |||||
Section 9.01. |
No Dissolution | 26 | ||||
Section 9.02. |
Events Causing Dissolution | 26 | ||||
Section 9.03. |
Distribution upon Dissolution | 27 | ||||
Section 9.04. |
Time for Liquidation | 28 | ||||
Section 9.05. |
Termination | 28 | ||||
Section 9.06. |
Claims of the Members | 28 | ||||
Section 9.07. |
Survival of Certain Provisions | 28 | ||||
ARTICLE X LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION |
28 | |||||
Section 10.01. |
Liability of Members | 28 | ||||
Section 10.02. |
Indemnification | 29 | ||||
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS |
32 | |||||
Section 11.01. |
Severability | 32 | ||||
Section 11.02. |
Notices | 32 | ||||
Section 11.03. |
Cumulative Remedies | 33 | ||||
Section 11.04. |
Binding Effect | 33 |
Section 11.05. |
Interpretation | 33 | ||||
Section 11.06. |
Counterparts | 34 | ||||
Section 11.07. |
Further Assurances | 34 | ||||
Section 11.08. |
Entire Agreement | 34 | ||||
Section 11.09. |
Governing Law | 34 | ||||
Section 11.10. |
Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial | 34 | ||||
Section 11.11. |
Expenses | 35 | ||||
Section 11.12. |
Amendments and Waivers | 35 | ||||
Section 11.13. |
No Third Party Beneficiaries | 36 | ||||
Section 11.14. |
Headings | 37 | ||||
Section 11.15. |
Power of Attorney | 37 | ||||
Section 11.16. |
Separate Agreements; Schedules | 37 | ||||
Section 11.17. |
Partnership Status | 37 | ||||
Section 11.18. |
Delivery by Facsimile or Email | 38 |
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF
VISTA PROPPANTS AND LOGISTICS, LLC
This THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) of Vista Proppants and Logistics, LLC (the “Company”), is made as of [●], 2018 (the “Effective Date”) by and among Vista Proppants and Logistics Inc., a Delaware corporation, as the Managing Member, and the Members whose names are set forth in the books and records of the Company.
R-E-C-I-T-A-L-S
WHEREAS, the Company was formed as a limited liability company pursuant to the Act upon the filing of the Certificate in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the execution of the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of March 10, 2017, which Limited Liability Company Agreement was amended and restated on March 20, 2017 (the “First Amended and Restated LLCA”);
WHEREAS, the First Amended and Restated LLCA was amended and restated on March 20, 2017 immediately after its adoption (as so amended, the “Prior Agreement”);
WHEREAS, on March 20, 2017, the Members entered into a Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company (the “Amended Agreement”), on November 3, 2017, the Members entered into Amendment No. 1 (“Amendment No. 1”) to the Amended Agreement and on December 4, 2016, the Members entered into Amendment No. 2 (“Amendment No. 2”) to the Amended Agreement (the Amended Agreement as amended by Amendment No. 1 and Amendment No. 2, the “Existing Agreement”);
WHEREAS, immediately prior to the effectiveness of this Agreement, (i) GHMR Operations, L.L.C. has transferred its Class A Unit (as defined in the Existing Agreement) to FR Sand Holdings LLC in exchange for a newly issued limited liability company interest in FR Sand Holdings LLC, whereupon GHMR Operations L.L.C. ceased to be a Member of or have any interest in the Company, and (ii) FR Sand Holdings LLC became the holder of such Class A Unit and was admitted to the Company as Class A Unitholder (as defined in the Existing Agreement);
WHEREAS, substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of this Agreement, ARCC VS Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Blocker Company”), has merged with and into a newly formed subsidiary of the Managing Member and the surviving entity was dissolved (the “Blocker Merger”) and, in the Blocker Merger, the parent of the Blocker Company has acquired one share of Class A Common Stock of the Managing Member for each Common Unit owned by the Blocker Company, and the Managing Member has acquired such Common Units whereupon the Blocker Company withdrew as a Member of, and has no further interest in, the Company;
WHEREAS, with effect upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, the Members have agreed to convert, exchange and/or reclassify all of the issued and outstanding Common Units (as defined in the Existing Agreement) and Class A Unit (as defined in the Existing Agreement) into Class A Units (as defined below); and
WHEREAS, Vista Proppants and Logistics Inc., by its execution and delivery of this Agreement, is hereby admitted to the Company as Managing Member, and in such capacity shall have the rights and obligations as provided in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 11.3 of the Existing Agreement, the Existing Agreement may be amended by a written instrument adopted, executed and agreed to by a Super Majority Required Interest (as defined in the Existing Agreement), and the signatories to this Agreement are Members of the Company representing such a Super Majority Required Interest;
WHEREAS, Section 11.3 of the Existing Agreement further provides that, any amendment, modification, supplement, restatement or waiver of the Class A Member Rights (as defined in the Existing Agreement) (other than in connection with a merger or business combination in which the Class A Member Rights are preserved in respect of a successor entity) to the extent such amendment, modification, supplement, restatement or waiver relates to, and adversely affects, the Class A Member Rights, shall be effective as to the Class A Member or the Class A Units only with the prior written consent of the Class A Member, and FR Sands Holdings LLC is a signatory to this Agreement and is the sole Class A Member of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Members desire to amend and restate the Existing Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein.
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and agreements of the parties set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Members and the Managing Member hereby agree to amend and restate the Existing Agreement to read in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the following meanings (such meanings being equally applicable to both the singular and plural form of the terms defined):
“Act” means, the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. Section 18-101, et seq., as it may be amended from time to time.
“Additional Credit Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(ii).
“Adjusted Capital Account Balance” means, with respect to each Member, the balance in such Member’s Capital Account adjusted (i) by taking into account the adjustments, allocations and distributions described in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6); and (ii) by adding to such balance such Member’s share of Company Minimum Gain and Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5), any amounts such Member is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or by applicable Law. The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Balance is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such specified Person.
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Amended Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Amendment No. 1” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Amendment No. 2” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Amended Tax Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(ii).
“Assignee” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05.
“Assumed Tax Rate” means the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate (including, without limitation, the “medicare” tax imposed under Section 1411 of the Code) for a Fiscal Year prescribed for an individual or corporate resident in New York, New York (taking into account (a) the nondeductiblity of expenses subject to the limitation described in Section 67(a) of the Code and (b) the character (e.g., long-term or short-term capital gain or ordinary or exempt income) of the applicable income, but not taking into account the deductibility of state and local income taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, if applicable). For the avoidance of doubt, the Assumed Tax Rate shall be the same for all Members.
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“Available Cash” means, with respect to any fiscal period, the amount of cash on hand which the Managing Member, in its sole discretion, deems available for distribution to the Members, taking into account all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company then due, amounts which the Managing Member, in its sole discretion, deems necessary to expend or retain for working capital or to place into reserves for customary and usual claims with respect to the Company’s operations.
“Capital Account” means the separate capital account maintained for each Member in accordance with Section 5.03 hereof.
“Capital Contribution” means, with respect to any Member, the aggregate amount of money contributed to the Company and the Carrying Value of any property (other than money), net of any liabilities assumed by the Company upon contribution or to which such property is subject, contributed to the Company pursuant to Article V.
“Carrying Value” means, with respect to any Company asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except that the initial carrying value of assets contributed to the Company shall be their respective gross fair market values on the date of contribution as determined by the Managing Member in its sole discretion, and the Carrying Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective fair market values, in accordance with the rules set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), except as otherwise provided herein, as of: (a) the date of the acquisition of any additional limited liability company interest in the Company by any new or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (b) the date of the distribution of more than a de minimis amount of Company assets to a Member; (c) the date a limited liability company interest in the Company is relinquished to the Company; or (d) any other date specified in the Treasury Regulations; provided, however, that adjustments pursuant to clauses (a), (b) (c) and (d) above shall be made only if such adjustments are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Managing Member in its sole discretion to reflect the relative economic interests of the Members. The Carrying Value of any Company asset distributed to any Member shall be adjusted immediately before such distribution to equal its fair market value. In the case of any asset that has a Carrying Value that differs from its adjusted tax basis, Carrying Value shall be adjusted by the amount of depreciation calculated for purposes of the definition of “Profits” and “Losses” rather than the amount of depreciation determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and depreciation shall be calculated by reference to Carrying Value rather than tax basis once Carrying Value differs from tax basis.
“Certificate” means the Certificate of Formation of the Company as filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 10, 2017, as amended.
“Class” means the classes of Units into which the limited liability company interests in the Company may be classified or divided from time to time by the Managing Member in its sole discretion pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement. As of the date of this
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Agreement the only Class is the Class A Units. Subclasses within a Class shall not be separate Classes for purposes of this Agreement. For all purposes hereunder and under the Act, only such Classes expressly established under this Agreement, including by the Managing Member in accordance with this Agreement, shall be deemed to be a class of limited liability company interests in the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that the Managing Member holds limited liability company interests of any Class, the Managing Member shall not be deemed to hold a separate Class of such interests from any other Member because it is the Managing Member.
“Class A Units” means the Units of limited liability company interest in the Company designated as the “Class A Units” herein and having the rights pertaining thereto as are set forth in this Agreement.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Company Minimum Gain” has the meaning ascribed to the term “partnership minimum gain” set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).
“Contingencies” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(a).
“Control” (including the terms “Controlled by” and “under common Control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or otherwise, including, without limitation, the ownership, directly or indirectly, of securities having the power to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar body governing the affairs of such Person.
“Credit Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(ii).
“Disabling Event” means the Managing Member ceasing to be the Managing Member of the Company.
“Dissolution Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02.
“Encumbrance” means any mortgage, hypothecation, claim, lien, encumbrance, conditional sales or other title retention agreement, right of first refusal, preemptive right, pledge, option, charge, security interest or other similar interest, easement, judgment or imperfection of title of any nature whatsoever.
“Equity Interests” means (a) capital stock, membership interests, partnership interests, other equity interests, rights to profits or revenue and any other similar interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, (b) any security or other interest convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any of the foregoing, whether at the time of issuance or upon the passage of time or the occurrence of some future event and (c) any warrant, option or other right (contingent or otherwise) to acquire any of the foregoing.
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“ERISA” means The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Exchange Agreement” means the exchange agreement dated as of or about the date hereof among the Company, Managing Member, the other Members of the Company from time to time party thereto, and the other parties thereto, as amended from time to time.
“Exchange Transaction” means an exchange of Units for shares of Class A common stock of the Managing Member pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Exchange Agreement or, if the Managing Member and the exchanging Member shall mutually agree, a Transfer of Units to the Managing Member, the Company or any of their subsidiaries for shares of Class A common stock of the Managing Member or other consideration otherwise than pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Exchange Agreement.
“Existing Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Final Tax Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(ii).
“Fiscal Year” means, unless otherwise determined by the Managing Member in its sole discretion in accordance with Section 11.12, (i) the period commencing upon the formation of the Company and ending on December 31, 2017 or (ii) any subsequent twelve-month period commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31.
“GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America as in effect from time to time.
“Incapacity” means, with respect to any Person, the bankruptcy, dissolution, termination, entry of an order of incompetence, or the insanity, permanent disability or death of such Person.
“Indemnitee” (a) the Managing Member, (b) any additional or substitute Managing Member, (c) any Person who is or was a Partnership Representative, officer or director of the Managing Member or any additional or substitute Managing Member, (d) any Person that is required to be indemnified by the Managing Member as an “indemnitee” in accordance with the By-Laws of the Managing Member as in effect from time to time, (e) any officer or director of the Managing Member or any additional or substitute Managing Member who is or was serving at the request of the Managing Member or any additional or substitute Managing Member as an officer, director, employee, member, Member, Partnership Representative, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided, that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, (f) any Officer or other Person the Managing Member in its sole discretion designates as an “Indemnitee” for purposes of this Agreement and (g) any heir, executor or administrator with respect to Persons named in clauses (a) through (f).
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“Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or other order issued or promulgated by any national, supranational, state, federal, provincial, local or municipal government or any administrative or regulatory body with authority therefrom with jurisdiction over the Company or any Member, as the case may be.
“Liquidation Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03.
“Managing Member” means Vista Proppants and Logistics Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor Managing Member admitted to the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in its capacity as the managing member of the Company.
“Managing Member Equity Issuance” means any issuance of Upstream Securities.
“Managing Member Incentive Plan” means the Vista Proppants and Logistics Inc. 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan and any successor or replacement equity incentive plan of the Managing Member.
“Member” means each of the Persons from time to time listed as a Member in the books and records of the Company.
“Members” means, at any time, each person listed as a Member (including the Managing Member) on the books and records of the Company, in each case for so long as he, she or it remains a Member of the Company as provided hereunder.
“Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” means an amount with respect to each partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) equal to the Company Minimum Gain that would result if such partner nonrecourse debt were treated as a nonrecourse liability (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-1(a)(2)) determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3).
“Member Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning ascribed to the term “partner nonrecourse deductions” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
“Net Taxable Income” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(i).
“Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(1). The amount of Nonrecourse Deductions of the Company for a Fiscal Year equals the net increase, if any, in the amount of Company Minimum Gain of the Company during that fiscal year, determined according to the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(c).
“Officer” means each Person designated as an officer of the Company by the Managing Member pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.04, subject to any resolutions of the Managing Member appointing such Person as an officer of the Company or relating to such appointment.
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“Partnership Representative” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.08.
“Person” means any individual, estate, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated or governmental organization or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Primary Indemnification” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02(a).
“Prior Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Profits” and “Losses” means, for each Fiscal Year or other period, the taxable income or loss of the Company, or particular items thereof, determined in accordance with the accounting method used by the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the following adjustments: (a) all items of income, gain, loss or deduction allocated pursuant to Section 5.05 shall not be taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss; (b) any income of the Company that is exempt from U.S. federal income taxation and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses shall be added to such taxable income or loss; (c) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any gain or loss resulting from a disposition of such asset shall be calculated with reference to such Carrying Value; (d) upon an adjustment to the Carrying Value (other than an adjustment in respect of depreciation) of any asset, pursuant to the definition of Carrying Value, the amount of the adjustment shall be included as gain or loss in computing such taxable income or loss; (e) if the Carrying Value of any asset differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the amount of depreciation, amortization or cost recovery deductions with respect to such asset for purposes of determining Profits and Losses, if any, shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such Carrying Value as the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions bears to such adjusted tax basis (provided that if the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction is zero, the Managing Member may use any reasonable method for purposes of determining depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deductions in calculating Profits and Losses); and (f) except for items in (a) above, any expenditures of the Company not deductible in computing taxable income or loss, not properly capitalizable and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits and Losses pursuant to this definition shall be treated as deductible items.
“Registration Rights Agreement” means the registration rights agreement dated as of or about the date hereof among the Managing Member and the stockholders from time to time party thereto, and the other parties thereto, as amended from time to time.
“Required Interest” means one or more Members holding Units having among them more than 90% of the Total Percentage Interest.
“Revised Partnership Audit Provisions” means Title XI, Section 1101, of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, P.L. 114-74 (together with any subsequent amendments thereto, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and published administrative interpretations thereof, and any comparable provisions of state or local tax law).
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“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Similar Law” means any law or regulation that could cause the underlying assets of the Company to be treated as assets of the Member by virtue of its limited liability company interest in the Company and thereby subject the Company and the Managing Member (or other persons responsible for the investment and operation of the Company’s assets) to laws or regulations that are similar to the fiduciary responsibility or prohibited transaction provisions contained in Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
“Stockholder Party” means a “Stockholder” under the Stockholders Agreement.
“Stockholders Agreement” means the stockholders agreement dated as of or about the date hereof among the Managing Member and the stockholders from time to time party thereto, and the other parties thereto, as amended from time to time.
“Tax Advances” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.07.
“Tax Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(i).
“Tax Distributions” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(i).
“Tax Receivable Agreement” means the Tax Receivable Agreement dated as of or about the date hereof among the Company, Managing Member and the other parties from time to time party thereto, as amended from time to time.
“Total Percentage Interest” means, with respect to any Member, the quotient obtained by dividing the number of Units (vested and unvested) then owned by such Member by the number of Units (vested and unvested) then owned by all Members.
“Transfer” means, in respect of any Unit, property or other asset, any sale, assignment, transfer, distribution, exchange, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition thereof, whether voluntarily or by operation of Law, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, including, without limitation, the exchange of any Unit for any other security.
“Transferee” means any Person that is a permitted transferee of a Member’s interest in the Company, or part thereof.
“Treasury Regulations” means the income tax regulations, including temporary and proposed regulations, promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).
“Units” means the Class A Units and any other Class of Units that is established in accordance with this Agreement, which shall constitute limited liability company interests in the Company as provided in this Agreement and under the Act, entitling the holders thereof to the relative rights, title and interests in the profits, losses, deductions and credits of the Company at any particular time as set forth in this Agreement, and any and all other
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benefits to which a holder thereof may be entitled as a Member as provided in this Agreement, together with the obligations of such Member to comply with all terms and provisions of this Agreement.
“Unvested Units” means those Units from time to time listed as unvested Units in the books and records of the Company.
“Upstream Securities” means Equity Securities of any type issued by the Managing Member, including shares of common and preferred stock whether vested or unvested.
“Vested Percentage Interest” means, with respect to any Member, the quotient obtained by dividing the number of Vested Units then owned by such Member by the number of Vested Units then owned by all Members.
“Vested Units” means those Units listed as vested Units in the books and records of the Company, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with this Agreement. For clarity, all of the Units issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement are Vested Units.
ARTICLE II
FORMATION, TERM, PURPOSE AND POWERS
Section 2.01. Formation. The Company was formed as a limited liability company under the provisions of the Act by the filing of the Certificate on March 10, 2017. If requested by the Managing Member, the Members shall promptly execute all certificates and other documents consistent with the terms of this Agreement necessary for the Managing Member to accomplish all filing, recording, publishing and other acts as may be appropriate to comply with all requirements for (a) the formation and operation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware, (b) if the Managing Member in its sole discretion deems it advisable, the operation of the Company as a limited liability company, or entity in which the Members have limited liability, in all jurisdictions where the Company proposes to operate and (c) all other filings required to be made by the Company. The rights, powers, duties, obligations and liabilities of the Members shall be determined pursuant to the Act and this Agreement. To the extent that the rights, powers, duties, obligations and liabilities of any Member are different by reason of any provision of this Agreement than they would be in the absence of such provision, this Agreement shall, to the extent permitted by the Act, control. The execution, delivery and filing of the Certificate and each amendment thereto is hereby ratified, approved and confirmed by the Members.
Section 2.02. Name. The name of the Company shall be, and the business of the Company shall be conducted under the name of “Vista Proppants and Logistics, LLC,” and all Company business shall be conducted in that name or in such other names that comply with applicable law as the Managing Member in its sole discretion may select from time to time. Subject to the Act, the Managing Member in its sole discretion may change the name of the Company (and amend this Agreement to reflect such change) at any time and from time to time without the consent of any other Person. Prompt notification of any such change shall be given to all Members.
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Section 2.03. Term. The term of the Company commenced on the date of the filing of the Certificate, and the term shall continue until the dissolution of the Company in accordance with Article IX. The existence of the Company shall continue until cancellation of the Certificate in the manner required by the Act.
Section 2.04. Offices. The Company may have offices at such places either within or outside the State of Delaware as the Managing Member from time to time may select in its sole discretion. As of the date hereof, the principal place of business and office of the Company is located at 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000.
Section 2.05. Agent for Service of Process; Existence and Good Standing; Foreign Qualification.
(a) The registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be located at 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx X, Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000. The name and address of the registered agent of the Company for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware shall be Capitol Services, Inc.
(b) The Managing Member in its sole discretion may take all action which may be necessary or appropriate (i) for the continuation of the Company’s valid existence as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware (and of each other jurisdiction in which such existence is necessary to enable the Company to conduct the business in which it is engaged) and (ii) for the maintenance, preservation and operation of the business of the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and applicable laws and regulations. The Managing Member in its sole discretion may file or cause to be filed for recordation in the proper office or offices in each other jurisdiction in which the Company is formed or qualified, such certificates (including certificates of formation and fictitious name certificates) and other documents as are required by the applicable statutes, rules or regulations of any such jurisdiction or as are required to reflect the identity of the Members. The Managing Member in its sole discretion may cause the Company to comply, to the extent procedures are available and those matters are reasonably within the control of the Officers, with all requirements necessary to qualify the Company to do business in any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.
Section 2.06. Business Purpose. The Company was formed for the object and purpose of, and the nature and character of the business to be conducted by the Company is, engaging in any lawful act or activity for which limited liability companies may be formed under the Act.
Section 2.07. Powers of the Company. Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Company will possess and may exercise all of the powers and privileges granted to it by the Act including, without limitation, the ownership and operation of the assets and other property contributed to the Company by the Members, by any other Law or this Agreement, together with all powers incidental thereto, so far as such powers are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the purpose of the Company set forth in Section 2.06.
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Section 2.08. Members; Reclassification; Admission of New Members. Each of the Persons listed in the books and records of the Company, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, by virtue of its execution of the Prior Agreement, the Amended Agreement, the Existing Agreement or this Agreement, are admitted as Members of the Company. With effect upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests in the Company are hereby reclassified into a total number of Class A Units as set forth in the books and records of the Company, and the respective number of Class A Units held by each Member at the effective time of this Agreement is as set forth in the books and records of the Company. The rights, duties and liabilities of the Members shall be as provided in the Act, except as is otherwise expressly provided herein, and the Members consent to the variation of such rights, duties and liabilities as provided herein. Subject to Section 8.07 with respect to substitute Members, a Person may be admitted from time to time as a new Member with the written consent of the Managing Member in its sole discretion. Each new Member shall execute and deliver to the Managing Member an appropriate supplement to this Agreement pursuant to which the new Member agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time. A new Managing Member or substitute Managing Member may be admitted to the Company solely in accordance with Section 8.06 or Section 9.02(e) hereof.
Section 2.09. Resignation. No Member shall have the right to resign as a member of the Company other than following the Transfer of all Units owned by such Member in accordance with Article VIII.
Section 2.10. Investment Representations of Members. Each Member hereby represents, warrants and acknowledges to the Company that: (a) such Member has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Company and is making an informed investment decision with respect thereto; (b) such Member is acquiring interests in the Company for investment only and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any distribution to the public or public offering thereof; and (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by such Member.
ARTICLE III
MANAGEMENT
Section 3.01. Managing Member
(a) The business, property and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the sole, absolute and exclusive direction of the Managing Member, which may from time to time delegate authority to Officers or to others to act on behalf of the Company.
(b) Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.01, the Managing Member shall have the general power to manage or cause the management of the Company (which may be delegated to Officers of the Company), including, without limitation, the following powers:
(i) to develop and prepare a business plan each year which will set forth the operating goals and plans for the Company;
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(ii) to execute and deliver or to authorize the execution and delivery of contracts, deeds, leases, licenses, instruments of transfer and other documents on behalf of the Company;
(iii) to make any expenditures, to lend or borrow money, to assume or guarantee, or otherwise contract for, indebtedness and other liabilities, to issue evidences of indebtedness and to incur any other obligations;
(iv) to establish and enforce limits of authority and internal controls with respect to all personnel and functions;
(v) to engage attorneys, consultants and accountants for the Company;
(vi) to develop or cause to be developed accounting procedures for the maintenance of the Company’s books of account; and
(vii) to do all such other acts as shall be authorized in this Agreement or by the Members in writing from time to time.
Section 3.02. Compensation. The Managing Member shall not be entitled to any compensation for services rendered to the Company in its capacity as Managing Member.
Section 3.03. Expenses. The Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, all costs, fees, operating expenses and other expenses of the Company (including the costs, fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants or other professionals) incurred in pursuing and conducting, or otherwise related to, the activities of the Company. The Company shall also, in the sole discretion of the Managing Member, bear and/or reimburse the Managing Member for (i) any costs, fees or expenses incurred by the Managing Member in connection with serving as the Managing Member and (ii) all other expenses allocable to the Company or otherwise incurred by the Managing Member in connection with operating the Company’s business (including expenses allocated to the Managing Member by its Affiliates). To the extent that the Managing Member determines in its sole discretion that such expenses are related to the business and affairs of the Managing Member that are conducted through the Company and/or its subsidiaries (including expenses that relate to the business and affairs of the Company and/or its subsidiaries and that also relate to other activities of the Managing Member), the Managing Member may cause the Company to pay or bear all expenses of the Managing Member, including, without limitation, compensation and meeting costs of any board of directors or similar body of the Managing Member, any salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to any Person including Affiliates of the Managing Member to perform services for the Company, litigation costs and damages arising from litigation, accounting and legal costs and franchise taxes, provided that the Company shall not pay or bear any income tax obligations of the Managing Member or any obligations of the Managing Member under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Reimbursements pursuant to this Section 3.03 shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the Managing Member as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 10.02.
Section 3.04. Officers. Subject to the direction and oversight of the Managing Member, the day-to-day administration of the business of the Company may be carried out by persons who may be designated as officers by the Managing Member, with titles including but not
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limited to “assistant secretary,” “assistant treasurer,” “chairman,” “chief executive officer,” “chief financial officer,” “chief operating officer,” “director,” “general counsel,” “general manager,” “managing director,” “president,” “principal accounting officer,” “secretary,” “senior chairman,” “senior managing director,” “treasurer,” “vice chairman,” “executive vice president” or “vice president,” and as and to the extent authorized by the Managing Member in its sole discretion. The officers of the Company shall have such titles and powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Managing Member and otherwise as shall customarily pertain to such offices. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. In its sole discretion, the Managing Member may choose not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable. All officers and other persons providing services to or for the benefit of the Company shall be subject to the supervision and direction of the Managing Member and may be removed, with or without cause, from such office by the Managing Member and the authority, duties or responsibilities of any employee, agent or officer of the Company may be suspended by the Managing Member from time to time, in each case in the sole discretion of the Managing Member. The Managing Member shall not cease to be a Managing Member of the Company as a result of the delegation of any duties hereunder. No officer of the Company, in its capacity as such, shall be considered a Managing Member of the Company by agreement, as a result of the performance of its duties hereunder or otherwise.
Section 3.05. Authority of Members. No Member (other than the Managing Member), in its capacity as such, shall participate in or have any control over the business of the Company. Except as expressly provided herein, the Units do not confer any rights upon the Members to participate in the affairs of the Company described in this Agreement. Except as expressly provided herein, no Member (other than the Managing Member) shall have any right to vote on any matter involving the Company, including with respect to any merger, consolidation, combination or conversion of the Company, or any other matter that a Member might otherwise have the ability to vote on or consent with respect to under the Act, at law, in equity or otherwise. The conduct, control and management of the Company shall be vested exclusively in the Managing Member. In all matters relating to or arising out of the conduct of the operation of the Company, the decision of the Managing Member shall be the decision of the Company. Except as required or permitted by Law, or expressly provided in the ultimate sentence of this Section 3.05 or by separate agreement with the Company, no Member who is not also the Managing Member (and acting in such capacity) shall take any part in the management or control of the operation or business of the Company in its capacity as a Member, nor shall any Member who is not also the Managing Member (and acting in such capacity) have any right, authority or power to act for or on behalf of or bind the Company in his or its capacity as a Member in any respect or assume any obligation or responsibility of the Company or of any other Member. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may from time to time appoint one or more Members as officers or employ one or more Members as employees, and such Members, in their capacity as officers or employees of the Company (and not, for clarity, in their capacity as Members of the Company), may take part in the control and management of the business of the Company to the extent such authority and power to act for or on behalf of the Company has been delegated to them by the Managing Member.
Section 3.06. Action by Written Consent or Ratification. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Members pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken if all Members whose consent or ratification is required consent thereto or provide a consent or ratification in writing.
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ARTICLE IV
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 4.01. Distributions
(a) The Managing Member, in its sole discretion, may authorize distributions by the Company to the Members, which distributions shall be made pro rata in accordance with the Members’ respective Total Percentage Interests.
(b) (i) In addition to the foregoing, if the Managing Member reasonably determines that the taxable income of the Company for a Fiscal Year will give rise to taxable income for the Members (“Net Taxable Income”), the Managing Member shall cause the Company to distribute Available Cash in respect of income tax liabilities (the “Tax Distributions”) to the extent that other distributions made by the Company for such year were otherwise insufficient to cover such tax liabilities. The aggregate Tax Distributions payable with respect to any Fiscal Year shall be computed based upon the Managing Member’s estimate of the allocable Net Taxable Income in accordance with Article V, multiplied by the Assumed Tax Rate (the “Tax Amount”) and shall be made to Members pro rata in accordance with the Members’ respective Total Percentage Interest; provided, however, that in the case of any Member or former Member that transferred any Units or consummated an Exchange Transaction with respect to any Units during the immediately preceding quarterly period (as such periods are described in Section 4.01(b)(ii)), the Company shall make such Tax Distribution pro rata in accordance with the Members’ and former Members’ daily weighted average Total Percentage Interests during such quarterly period; provided further that the aggregate amount received by the transferor and transferee Members pursuant to the immediately preceding proviso shall not exceed the Tax Distribution that the transferor Member would have received for such quarterly period had it not transferred or exchanged its Units. For purposes of computing the Tax Amount, the Net Taxable Income shall be determined without regard to any special adjustments of tax items required as a result of any election under Section 754 of the Code, including adjustments required by Sections 734 and 743 of the Code.
(ii) Tax Distributions shall be calculated and paid no later than one day prior to each quarterly due date for the payment by corporations on a calendar year of estimated taxes under the Code in the following manner (A) for the first quarterly period, 25% of the Tax Amount, (B) for the second quarterly period, 50% of the Tax Amount, less the prior Tax Distributions for the Fiscal Year, (C) for the third quarterly period, 75% of the Tax Amount, less the prior Tax Distributions for the Fiscal Year and (D) for the fourth quarterly period, 100% of the Tax Amount, less the prior Tax Distributions for the Fiscal Year. Following each Fiscal Year, and no later than one day prior to the due date for the payment by corporations of income taxes for such Fiscal Year, the Managing Member shall make an amended calculation of the Tax Amount for such Fiscal Year (the “Amended Tax Amount”), and shall cause the Company to distribute a Tax Distribution, out of Available Cash, to the extent that the Amended Tax Amount so calculated exceeds the cumulative Tax Distributions previously made by the Company in respect of such Fiscal Year. If the Amended Tax Amount is less than the cumulative Tax Distributions previously made by the Company in respect of the relevant Fiscal Year, then the difference (the “Credit Amount”) shall be applied against, and shall reduce, the amount of Tax Distributions made for subsequent Fiscal Years.
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Within 30 days following the date on which the Company files a tax return on Form 1065, the Managing Member shall make a final calculation of the Tax Amount of such Fiscal Year (the “Final Tax Amount”) and shall cause the Company to distribute a Tax Distribution, out of Available Cash, to the extent that the Final Tax Amount so calculated exceeds the Amended Tax Amount. If the Final Tax Amount is less than the Amended Tax Amount in respect of the relevant Fiscal Year, then the difference (“Additional Credit Amount”) shall be applied against, and shall reduce, the amount of Tax Distributions made for subsequent Fiscal Years. Any Credit Amount and Additional Credit Amount applied against future Tax Distributions shall be treated as an amount actually distributed pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) for purposes of the computations herein.
Section 4.02. Liquidation Distribution. Distributions made upon dissolution of the Company shall be made as provided in Section 9.03.
Section 4.03. Limitations on Distribution. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Managing Member shall not make a distribution to any Member if such distribution would violate Section 18-607 of the Act or other applicable Law.
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS;
TAX ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS
Section 5.01. Initial Capital Contributions. The Members have made, on or prior to the date hereof, Capital Contributions and, in exchange, the Company has issued to the Members the number of Class A Units as specified in the books and records of the Company.
Section 5.02. No Additional Capital Contributions. Except as otherwise provided in this Article V, no Member shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions to the Company without the consent of such Member or permitted to make additional capital contributions to the Company without the consent of the Managing Member, which may be granted or withheld in its sole discretion.
Section 5.03. Capital Accounts. A separate capital account (a “Capital Account”) shall be established and maintained for each Member in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). The Capital Account of each Member shall be credited with such Member’s Capital Contributions, if any, all Profits allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 5.04 and any items of income or gain which are specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.05; and shall be debited with all Losses allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 5.04, any items of loss or deduction of the Company specially allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 5.05, and all cash and the Carrying Value of any property (net of liabilities assumed by such Member and the liabilities to which such property is subject) distributed by the Company to such Member. Any references in any section of this Agreement to the Capital Account of a Member shall be deemed to refer to such Capital Account as the same may be credited or debited from time to time as set forth above. In the event of any transfer of any interest in the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred interest.
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Section 5.04. Allocations of Profits and Losses. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Profits and Losses (and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income, gain or loss or deduction of the Company) shall be allocated in a manner such that the Capital Account of each Member after giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 5.05 is, as nearly as possible, equal (proportionately) to (i) the distributions that would be made pursuant to Article IX if the Company were dissolved, its affairs wound up and its assets sold for cash equal to their Carrying Value, all Company liabilities were satisfied (limited with respect to each non-recourse liability to the Carrying Value of the assets securing such liability) and the net assets of the Company were distributed to the Members pursuant to this Agreement, minus (ii) such Member’s share of Company Minimum Gain and Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, computed immediately prior to the hypothetical sale of assets. For purposes of this Article V, each Unvested Unit shall be treated as a Vested Unit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Managing Member shall make such adjustments to Capital Accounts as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a Member’s interest in the Company.
Section 5.05. Special Allocations. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Article V:
(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback. If there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain or Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain (determined in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(d) and 1.704-2(i)) during any Company taxable year, the Members shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to their respective shares of such net decrease during such year, determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5). The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f). This Section 5.05(a) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirements in such Treasury Regulations Sections and shall be interpreted consistently therewith; including that no chargeback shall be required to the extent of the exceptions provided in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(f) and 1.704-2(i)(4).
(b) Qualified Income Offset. If any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6), items of Company income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the deficit balance in such Member’s Adjusted Capital Account Balance created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as promptly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.05(b) shall be made only to the extent that a Member would have a deficit Adjusted Capital Account Balance in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.05(b) were not in this Agreement. This Section 5.05(b) is intended to comply with the “qualified income offset” requirement of the Code and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(c) Gross Income Allocation. If any Member has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any Fiscal Year which is in excess of the sum of (i) the amount such Member is obligated to restore, if any, pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, and (ii) the amount such Member is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), each such Member shall be specially allocated items of
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Company income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.05(c) shall be made only if and to the extent that a Member would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if Section 5.05(b) and this Section 5.05(c) were not in this Agreement.
(d) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with their respective Total Percentage Interests.
(e) Member Nonrecourse Deductions. Member Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Member who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the liability to which such Member Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(j).
(f) Ameliorative Allocations. Any special allocations of income or gain pursuant to Sections 5.05(b) or 5.05(c) hereof shall be taken into account in computing subsequent allocations pursuant to Section 5.04 and this Section 5.05(f), so that the net amount of any items so allocated and all other items allocated to each Member shall, to the extent possible, be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each Member if such allocations pursuant to Sections 5.05(b) or 5.05(c) had not occurred.
Section 5.06. Tax Allocations. For income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction of the Company shall be allocated among the Members in the same manner as the corresponding items of Profits and Losses and specially allocated items are allocated for Capital Account purposes; provided that in the case of any asset the Carrying Value of which differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall be allocated solely for income tax purposes in accordance with the principles of Sections 704(b) and (c) of the Code (in any manner determined by the Managing Member and permitted by the Code and Treasury Regulations) so as to take account of the difference between Carrying Value and adjusted basis of such asset. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Managing Member shall make such allocations for tax purposes as it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate to ensure allocations are made in accordance with a Member’s interest in the Company.
Section 5.07. Tax Advances. To the extent the Managing Member reasonably believes that the Company is required by law to withhold or to make tax payments on behalf of or with respect to any Member or the Company is subjected to tax itself by reason of the status of any Member (including any taxes paid pursuant to Section 6225 of the Code) (“Tax Advances”), the Managing Member may cause the Company to withhold such amounts and cause the Company to make such tax payments as so required. All Tax Advances made on behalf of a Member shall be repaid by reducing the amount of the current or next succeeding distribution or distributions which would otherwise have been made to such Member or, if such distributions are not sufficient for that purpose, by so reducing the proceeds of liquidation otherwise payable to such Member. For all purposes of this Agreement such Member shall be treated as having received the amount of the distribution that is equal to the Tax Advance. Each Member hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the other Members from and against any liability (including, without limitation, any liability for taxes, penalties, additions to tax or interest other than any penalties,
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additions to tax or interest imposed as a result of the Company’s failure to withhold or make a tax payment on behalf of such Member which withholding or payment is required pursuant to applicable Law but only to the extent amounts sufficient to pay such taxes were not timely distributed to the Member pursuant to Section 4.01(b)) with respect to income attributable to or distributions or other payments to such Member. To the fullest extent permitted by law and not withstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each Member hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the other Members from and against any liability (including any liability for taxes, penalties, additions to Tax or interest) with respect to any such Tax Advance with respect to a Member. The obligations of a Member set forth in this Section 5.07 shall survive the withdrawal of a Member from the Company or any Transfer of a Member’s Interest.
Section 5.08. Tax Matters.The Managing Member shall be the initial “tax matters partner” within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code and the Managing Member shall be the “partnership representative” pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions (in either such capacity, the Person serving is hereafter referred to as the “Partnership Representative”), and shall have the power to exercise any and all rights that it is or may be entitled to exercise in that capacity. The Partnership Representative shall keep the other Members reasonably informed as to any material tax actions, examinations or proceedings relating to the Company and shall submit to the other Members, for their review and comment, any material settlement or compromise offer with respect to any disputed item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit of the Company. The Members shall cooperate as reasonably requested by the Partnership Representative in connection with any election or decision made by the Partnership Representative acting in that capacity (including by filing amended tax returns and providing information requested). In the event the Company incurs or is required to pay any liability for taxes, interest or penalties pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, then, to the extent such election is in the best interests of the Company and the Members, the Partnership Representative will cause the Company to make an election under Section 6226 of the Code (a “Section 6226 Election”). If a Section 6226 Election is made, the Partnership Representative shall provide to the Members the Members’ respective shares of any adjustment to income, gain, loss, deduction or credit (as determined in the notice of final partnership adjustment). If a Section 6226 Election is not available or such election is not in the best interests of the Company and the Members, then (i) the Partnership Representative shall use reasonable efforts to reduce under Section 6225(c) of the Code any Company-level assessment under the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions to reflect the particular tax status of any Member (or its constituent owners); (ii) the Members (including any former Member) to whom such liability relates shall indemnify the Company and other Members from and against such liability pursuant to Section 5.07.
Section 5.09. Other Allocation Provisions. Certain of the foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such regulations. In addition to amendments effected in accordance with Section 11.12 or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement, Sections 5.03, 5.04 and 5.05 may also, so long as any such amendment does not materially change the relative economic interests of the Members, be amended at any time by the Managing Member if necessary, in the opinion of tax counsel to the Company, to comply with such regulations or any applicable Law.
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ARTICLE VI
BOOKS AND RECORDS; REPORTS
Section 6.01. Books and Records
(a) At all times during the continuance of the Company, the Company shall prepare and maintain separate books of account for the Company in accordance with GAAP.
(b) Except as limited by Section 6.01(c), each Member shall have the right to receive, for a purpose reasonably related to such Member’s interest as a Member in the Company, upon reasonable written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at such Member’s own expense:
(i) a copy of the Certificate and this Agreement and all amendments thereto, together with a copy of the executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which the Certificate and this Agreement and all amendments thereto have been executed; and
(ii) promptly after their becoming available, copies of the Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns for the three most recent years.
(c) The Managing Member may keep confidential from the Members, for such period of time as the Managing Member determines in its sole discretion, (i) any information that the Managing Member reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or (ii) other information the disclosure of which the Managing Member believes is not in the best interests of the Company, could damage the Company or its business or that the Company is required by law or by agreement with any third party to keep confidential, including without limitation, information as to the Units held by any other Member. With respect to any schedules, annexes or exhibits to this Agreement, each Member (other than the Managing Member) shall only be entitled to receive and review any such schedules, annexes and exhibits relating to such Member and shall not be entitled to receive or review any schedules, annexes or exhibits relating to any other Member (other than the Managing Member).
(d) The Managing Member shall cause to be prepared and filed all necessary federal and state income tax returns for the Company, including making any tax elections. At the Company’s expense, the Managing Member, within 75 days of the close of the Fiscal Year, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to furnish to each Member that was a Member during such Fiscal Year a Schedule K-1 and such other tax information reasonably required for federal, state and local income tax reporting purposes. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide to each Person that was a Member during the Fiscal Year (a) by May 15th, August 15th and November 15th of such Fiscal Year, with an estimate of the taxable income, gains, deductions, losses and other items for, respectively, the first, second and third fiscal quarters that such Person will be required to include in its taxable income and (b) by February 15th of such Fiscal Year, with an estimate of the taxable income, gains, deductions, losses and other items of such Person to be reflected on the Schedule K-1 of such Person for the prior Fiscal Year. The Company also shall provide the Members with such other information as may be reasonably requested for purposes of allowing the Members to prepare and file their own tax returns, provided that any costs or expenses with respect to the foregoing shall be borne by the requesting Member.
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(e) The Managing Member shall make the following elections on the appropriate tax returns and shall not rescind them without the prior written consent of a Required Interest (provided that the election described in clause (ii) below cannot be rescinded without the prior written consent of the all the Members):
(i) to adopt an appropriate federal income tax method of accounting and to keep the Company’s books and records on such income-tax method;
(ii) to have in effect (and to cause each direct or indirect subsidiary that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) an election, pursuant to Section 754 of the Code, to adjust the tax basis of Company properties, for each taxable year in which an Exchange Transaction occurs; and
(iii) any other election consented to by a Required Interest.
No Member may make an election for the Company to be excluded from the application of the provisions of subchapter K of chapter 1 of subtitle A of the Code or any similar provisions of applicable state law, and no provision of this Agreement shall be construed to sanction or approve such an election.
ARTICLE VII
COMPANY UNITS
Section 7.01. Units.
(a) Limited liability company interests in the Company shall be represented by Units. At the execution of this Agreement, the Units are comprised of one Class: “Class A Units.”
(b) Except under the circumstances contemplated by and in compliance with Section 7.01(c) through (f), the Managing Member may not, without the prior written consent of a Required Interest, (i) create any new Class or series of Units, or other Equity Interests of the Company, (ii) issue additional Units or other Equity Interests of the Company to any Member or Person, (iii) amend the privileges, preference, duties, liabilities, obligations and rights of any existing Units, or (iv) retire or redeem any previously issued Units or other Equity Interests of the Company (other than in connection with an Exchange Transaction).
(c) Upon the occurrence of a Managing Member Equity Issuance, the Managing Member may, without the approval of any other Member, establish and issue additional Units, in one or more Classes or series of Units, or other Equity Interests of the Company, at such price, and with such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties (which may be senior to existing Units, Classes and series of Units or other Company securities), as shall be necessary to parallel the economic and other rights of the Upstream Securities issued in such Managing Member Equity Issuance, including (i) the right of such Units to share in Profits and Losses or items thereof; (ii) the right of such Units to share in
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Company distributions; (iii) the rights of such Units upon dissolution and liquidation of the Company; (iv) whether, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Company may or shall be required to redeem such Units (including sinking fund provisions); (v) whether such Units are issued with the privilege of conversion or exchange and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange; (vi) the terms and conditions upon which such Units will be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; (vii) the method for determining the Total Percentage Interest as to such Units; and (viii) the terms and conditions of the issuance of such Units (including, without limitation, the amount and form of consideration, if any, to be received by the Company in respect thereof, the Managing Member being expressly authorized, in its sole discretion, to cause the Company to issue such Units for less than fair market value).
(d) If at any time any previously issued Upstream Securities having any economic rights (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not including any Upstream Securities which only have voting rights) are retired or redeemed by the Managing Member, the Managing Member shall make such adjustments to the number of outstanding Units or other Equity Interests held by it as are necessary to reflect the retiring or redemption of such Upstream Securities, including (i) canceling Units previously issued to the Managing Member, and (ii) to amend this Agreement, to the extent necessary and to reflect the retirement of any Class or series of Units, including by adjusting the Total Percentage Interest.
(e) Notwithstanding anything otherwise to the contrary herein, in connection with the grant or settlement of any award under any Managing Member Incentive Plan, the Managing Member may, without the approval of any other Member, establish and issue additional Units, in one or more Classes or series of Units, or other Equity Interests of the Company, with such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties as shall be determined by the Managing Member in its sole discretion; provided, however, that without the prior written consent of all Members who are Stockholder Parties, the Managing Member may not issue Units under the Managing Member Incentive Plan to any Person if it would cause Units issued under the Managing Member Incentive Plan to be issued to more than 50 Persons at the time of issuance.
(f) In accordance with Sections 7.01(c) and 7.01(e), the Managing Member in its sole discretion, without the approval of any Member or any other Person, is authorized (i) to issue Units or other Company securities of any newly established Class or any existing Class to Members or other Persons who may acquire an interest in the Company and (ii) to amend this Agreement to reflect the creation of any such new Class, the issuance of Units or other Company securities of such Class, and the admission of any Person as a Member which has received Units or other Company securities. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement to the contrary, any reference to “Units” shall include the Class A Units and Units of any other Class or series that may be established in accordance with this Agreement. All Units of a particular Class shall have identical rights in all respects as all other Units of such Class, except in each case as otherwise specified in this Agreement.
Section 7.02. Register. The books and records of the Company shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit and all relevant information with respect to each Member. Unless the Managing Member in its sole discretion shall determine otherwise, Units shall be uncertificated and recorded in the books and records of the Company.
Section 7.03. Registered Members. The Company shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a Person registered on its records as the owner of Units for all purposes and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in Units on the part of any other Person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the Act or other applicable Law.
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ARTICLE VIII
TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS
Section 8.01. Member Transfers
(a) Except as otherwise agreed to in writing between the Managing Member and the applicable Member and reflected in the books and records of the Company or as otherwise provided in this Article VIII, no Member or Assignee thereof may Transfer (including pursuant to an Exchange Transaction) all or any portion of its Units or other interest in the Company (or beneficial interest therein) without the prior consent of the Managing Member, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions (including, without limitation, the receipt of such legal opinions and other documents that the Managing Member may require) as are determined by the Managing Member, in each case in the Managing Member’s sole discretion, and which consent may be in the form of a plan or program entered into or approved by the Managing Member, in its sole discretion. Any such determination in the Managing Member’s discretion in respect of Units shall be final and binding. Such determinations need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Members, whether or not such Members are similarly situated, and shall not constitute the breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise. Any purported Transfer of Units that is not in accordance with, or subsequently violates, this Agreement shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, null and void.
(b) Notwithstanding anything otherwise to the contrary in this Section 8.01, without the consent of the Managing Member or any other Person, each Member that is a Stockholder Party may Transfer all or any portion of its Units in a Transfer that complies with Section 8.04, unless the Managing Member timely and reasonably objects in accordance with Section 8.04.
(c) Notwithstanding anything otherwise to the contrary in this Section 8.01, each Member may Transfer Units in Exchange Transactions pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Exchange Agreement; provided that in the case of any Member other than a Stockholder Party, such Exchange Transactions shall be effected in compliance with reasonable policies that the Managing Member may adopt or promulgate from time to time (including policies requiring the use of designated administrators or brokers) in its sole discretion.
(d) Notwithstanding anything otherwise to the contrary in this Section 8.01, the Managing Member may implement policies and procedures to permit the Transfer of Units by the other Members for personal planning purposes and any such Transfer effected in compliance with such policies and procedures shall not require the prior consent of the Managing Member.
Section 8.02. Mandatory Exchanges. The Managing Member may in its sole discretion at any time and from time to time, without the consent of any Member or other Person, cause to be Transferred in an Exchange Transaction any and all Units, except for Units held by any Stockholder Party. Any such determinations by the Managing Member need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Members, whether or not such Members are similarly situated.
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Section 8.03. Encumbrances. No Member or Assignee may create an Encumbrance with respect to all or any portion of its Units (or any beneficial interest therein) other than Encumbrances that run in favor of the Member unless the Managing Member consents in writing thereto, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions as are determined by the Managing Member, in the Managing Member’s sole discretion. Consent of the Managing Member shall be withheld until the holder of the Encumbrance acknowledges the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Any purported Encumbrance that is not in accordance with this Agreement shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, null and void.
Section 8.04. Further Restrictions.
(a) Units issued from time to time after the date of this Agreement, including Units issued under equity incentive plans of the Company or the Managing Member (or upon settlement of awards granted under such plans), may be subject to such additional or other terms and conditions, including with regard to vesting, forfeiture, minimum retained ownership and Transfer, as may be agreed between the Managing Member and the applicable Member and reflected in the books and records of the Company. Such requirements, provisions and restrictions need not be uniform and may be waived or released by the Managing Member in its sole discretion with respect to all or a portion of the Units owned by any one or more Members at any time and from time to time, and shall not constitute the breach of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise.
(b) Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, in no event may any Transfer of a Unit be made by any Member or Assignee if the Managing Member determines that:
(i) such Transfer is made to any Person who lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own such Unit;
(ii) except pursuant to an Exchange Transaction, such Transfer would require the registration of such transferred Unit or of any Class of Unit pursuant to any applicable U.S. federal or state securities laws (including, without limitation, the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) or other non-U.S. securities laws (including Canadian provincial or territorial securities laws) or would constitute a non-exempt distribution pursuant to applicable provincial or state securities laws;
(iii) such Transfer would cause (i) all or any portion of the assets of the Company to (A) constitute “plan assets” (under ERISA, the Code or any applicable Similar Law) of any existing or contemplated Member, or (B) be subject to the provisions of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or any applicable Similar Law, or (ii) the Managing Member to become a fiduciary with respect to any existing or contemplated Member, pursuant to ERISA, any applicable Similar Law, or otherwise;
(iv) to the extent requested by the Managing Member, the Company does not receive such legal and/or tax opinions and written instruments (including, without limitation, copies of any instruments of Transfer and such Assignee’s consent to be bound by this Agreement as an Assignee) that are in a form satisfactory to the Managing Member, as determined in the Managing Member’s sole discretion; provided that no such legal and/or tax opinions shall be required for a Transfer by a Stockholder Party; or
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(v) the Managing Member shall reasonably determine that such Transfer would pose a material risk that the Company would be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
All determinations with respect to this Section 8.04 shall be made by the Managing Member in its sole discretion; provided, however, that all such determinations with respect to a Stockholder Party shall be made by the Managing Member exercising its reasonable discretion.
(c) In addition, notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, to the extent the Managing Member shall reasonably determine that interests in the Company do not meet the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.7704-1(h), the Managing Member may impose such restrictions on the Transfer of Units or other interests in the Company as the Managing Member may reasonably determine to be necessary or advisable so that the Company is not treated as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(d) To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Transfer in violation of this Article VIII shall be deemed null and void ab initio and of no effect.
Section 8.05. Rights of Assignees. Subject to Section 8.04(b), the Transferee of any permitted Transfer pursuant to this Article VIII will be an assignee only (“Assignee”), and only will receive, to the extent transferred, the distributions and allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit or similar item to which the Member which transferred its Units would be entitled, and such Assignee will not be entitled or enabled to exercise any other rights or powers of a Member, such other rights, and all obligations relating to, or in connection with, such interest remaining with the transferring Member. The transferring Member will remain a Member even if it has transferred all of its Units to one or more Assignees until such time as the Assignee(s) is admitted to the Company as a Member pursuant to Section 8.07.
Section 8.06. Admissions, Resignations and Removals
(a) No Person may be admitted to the Company as an additional Managing Member or substitute Managing Member without the prior written consent of each incumbent Managing Member, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions as are determined by each incumbent Managing Member, in each case in the sole discretion of each incumbent Managing Member. A Managing Member will not be entitled to resign as a Managing Member of the Company unless another Managing Member shall have been admitted hereunder (and not have previously been removed or resigned).
(b) No Member will be removed or entitled to resign from being a Member of the Company except in accordance with Section 8.08 hereof. Any additional Managing Member or substitute Managing Member admitted as a Managing Member of the Company pursuant to this Section 8.06 is hereby authorized to, and shall, continue the Company without dissolution.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in Article IX or the Act, no admission, substitution, resignation or removal of a Member will cause the dissolution of the Company. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any purported admission, resignation or removal that is not in accordance with this Agreement shall be null and void.
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Section 8.07. Admission of Assignees as Substitute Members. An Assignee will become a substitute Member only if and when each of the following conditions is satisfied:
(a) the Managing Member consents in writing to such admission, which consent may be given or withheld, or made subject to such conditions as are determined by the Managing Member, in each case in the Managing Member’s sole discretion;
(b) if required by the Managing Member, the Managing Member receives written instruments (including, without limitation, copies of any instruments of Transfer and such Assignee’s consent to be bound by this Agreement as a substitute Member) that are in a form satisfactory to the Managing Member (as determined in its sole discretion);
(c) if required by the Managing Member, the Managing Member receives an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Managing Member to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with this Agreement and all applicable Law; provided that no such opinion of counsel shall be required for a Transfer by a Stockholder Party; and
(d) if required by the Managing Member, the parties to the Transfer, or any one of them, pays all of the Company’s reasonable expenses connected with such Transfer (including, but not limited to, the reasonable legal and accounting fees of the Company); provided that no Stockholder Party shall be required to pay the Company’s reasonable expenses connected with a Transfer by such Stockholder Party.
Section 8.08. Resignation and Removal of Members. Subject to Section 8.05, if a Member (other than the Managing Member) ceases to hold any Units then such Member shall cease to be a Member and to have the power to exercise any rights or powers of a member of the Company, and shall be deemed to have resigned from the Company.
ARTICLE IX
DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND TERMINATION
Section 9.01. No Dissolution. Except as required by the Act, the Company shall not be dissolved by the admission of additional Members or resignation of Members in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Company may be dissolved, liquidated, wound up and terminated only pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, and the Members hereby irrevocably waive any and all other rights they may have to cause a dissolution of the Company or a sale or partition of any or all of the Company assets.
Section 9.02. Events Causing Dissolution. The Company shall be dissolved and its affairs shall be wound up upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each, a “Dissolution Event”):
(a) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Act upon the finding by a court of competent jurisdiction that it is not reasonably practicable to carry on the business of the Company in conformity with this Agreement;
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(b) any event which makes it unlawful for the business of the Company to be carried on by the Members;
(c) the written consent of all Members;
(d) at any time there are no Members, unless the Company is continued in accordance with the Act;
(e) the Incapacity or removal of the Managing Member or the occurrence of a Disabling Event with respect to the Managing Member; provided that the Company will not be dissolved or required to be wound up in connection with any of the events specified in this Section 9.02(e) if: (i) at the time of the occurrence of such event there is at least one other Managing Member of the Company who is hereby authorized to, and elects to, carry on the business of the Company; or (ii) all remaining Members consent to or ratify the continuation of the business of the Company and the appointment of another Managing Member of the Company, effective as of the event that caused the Managing Member to cease to be a Managing Member of the Company, within 120 days following the occurrence of any such event, which consent shall be deemed (and if requested each Member shall provide a written consent or ratification) to have been given for all Members if the holders of more than 50% of the Vested Units then outstanding agree in writing to so continue the business of the Company; or
(f) the determination of the Managing Member in its sole discretion; provided that in the event of a dissolution pursuant to this clause (f), the relative economic rights of each Class of Units immediately prior to such dissolution shall be preserved to the greatest extent practicable with respect to distributions made to Members pursuant to Section 9.03 below in connection with the winding up of the Company, taking into consideration tax and other legal constraints that may adversely affect one or more parties hereto and subject to compliance with applicable laws and regulations, unless, and to the extent that, with respect to any Class of Units, holders of not less than 90% of the Units of such Class consent in writing to a treatment other than as described above.
Section 9.03. Distribution upon Dissolution. Upon dissolution, the Company shall not be terminated and shall continue until the winding up of the affairs of the Company is completed. Upon the winding up of the Company, the Managing Member, or any other Person designated by the Managing Member (the “Liquidation Agent”), shall take full account of the assets and liabilities of the Company and shall, unless the Managing Member determines otherwise, liquidate the assets of the Company as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof. The proceeds of any liquidation shall be applied and distributed in the following order:
(a) First, to the satisfaction of debts and liabilities of the Company (including satisfaction of all indebtedness to Members and/or their Affiliates to the extent otherwise permitted by law) including the expenses of liquidation, and including the establishment of any reserve which the Liquidation Agent shall deem reasonably necessary for any contingent, conditional or unmatured contractual liabilities or obligations of the Company (“Contingencies”). Any such reserve may be paid over by the Liquidation Agent to any attorney-at-law, or acceptable party, as escrow agent, to be held for disbursement in payment of any Contingencies and, at the expiration of such period as shall be deemed advisable by the Liquidation Agent for distribution of the balance in the manner hereinafter provided in this Section 9.03; and
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(b) The balance, if any, to the Members, pro rata in accordance with the Members’ respective Total Percentage Interests.
Section 9.04. Time for Liquidation. A reasonable amount of time shall be allowed for the orderly liquidation of the assets of the Company and the discharge of liabilities to creditors so as to enable the Liquidation Agent to minimize the losses attendant upon such liquidation.
Section 9.05. Termination. The Company shall terminate when all of the assets of the Company, after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company, shall have been distributed to the holders of Units in the manner provided for in this Article IX, and the Certificate shall have been cancelled in the manner required by the Act.
Section 9.06. Claims of the Members. The Members shall look solely to the Company’s assets for the return of their Capital Contributions, and if the assets of the Company remaining after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company are insufficient to return such Capital Contributions, the Members shall have no recourse against the Company or any other Member or any other Person. No Member with a negative balance in such Member’s Capital Account shall have any obligation to the Company or to the other Members or to any creditor or other Person to restore such negative balance during the existence of the Company, upon dissolution or termination of the Company or otherwise, except to the extent required by the Act.
Section 9.07. Survival of Certain Provisions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the provisions of Sections 5.07, 10.02, 11.09 and 11.10 shall survive the termination of the Company.
ARTICLE X
LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
Section 10.01. Liability of Members
(a) No Member and no Affiliate, manager, member, employee or agent of a Member shall be liable for any debt, obligation or liability of the Company or of any other Member or have any obligation to restore any deficit balance in its Capital Account solely by reason of being a Member of the Company, except to the extent required by the Act.
(b) This Agreement is not intended to, and does not, create or impose any duty (including any fiduciary duty) on any of the Members (including without limitation, the Managing Member) hereto or on their respective Affiliates. Further, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or in equity, the parties hereto agree that no Member or Managing Member shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have duties (including fiduciary duties) to any other Member or to the Company, and in doing so, recognize, acknowledge and agree that their duties and obligations to one another and to the Company are only as expressly set forth in this Agreement; provided, however, that each Member shall have the duty to act in accordance with the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
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(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, any Member (including without limitation, the Managing Member) has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Company, to another Member or to another Person who is a party to or is otherwise bound by this Agreement, the Members (including without limitation, the Managing Member) acting under this Agreement will not be liable to the Company, to any such other Member or to any such other Person who is a party to or is otherwise bound by this Agreement, for their good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities relating thereto of any Member (including without limitation, the Managing Member) otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Members to replace to that extent such other duties and liabilities of the Members relating thereto (including without limitation, the Managing Member).
(d) The Managing Member may consult with legal counsel, accountants and financial or other advisors selected by it, and any act or omission taken by the Managing Member on behalf of the Company or in furtherance of the interests of the Company in good faith in reliance upon and in accordance with the advice of such Person as to matters the Managing Member reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such opinion or advice, and the Managing Member will be fully protected in so acting or omitting to act so long as such counsel or accountants or financial or other advisors were selected with reasonable care.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or otherwise applicable provision of law or equity, whenever in this Agreement the Managing Member is permitted or required to make a decision (i) in its “sole discretion” or “discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, such Managing Member shall be entitled to consider only such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Company or the Members, or (ii) in its “good faith” or under another expressed standard, such Managing Member shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standards.
Section 10.02. Indemnification.
(a) Exculpation and Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, whether express or implied, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Indemnitee shall be liable to the Company or any Member for any act or omission in relation to the Company or this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby taken or omitted by an Indemnitee unless such Indemnitee’s conduct constituted fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct. To the fullest extent permitted by law, as the same exists or hereafter be amended (but in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Company to provide prior to such amendment), the Company shall indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding
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(brought in the right of the Company or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal (hereinafter a “Proceeding”), including appeals, by reason of his or her or its status as an Indemnitee or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted to be taken by Indemnitee in such capacity, for and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals; provided that such Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification hereunder if, but only to the extent that, such Indemnitee’s conduct constituted fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02(c), the Company shall be required to indemnify an Indemnitee in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) (i) commenced by such Indemnitee only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such Indemnitee was authorized by the Managing Member, and (ii) by or in the right of the Company only if the Managing Member has provided its prior written consent. The indemnification of an Indemnitee of the type identified in clause (e) of the definition of Indemnitee shall be secondary to any and all indemnification to which such Indemnitee is entitled from the relevant other Person (including any payment made to such Indemnitee under any insurance policy issued to or for the benefit of such Person or Indemnitee) (the “Primary Indemnification”), and will only be paid to the extent the Primary Indemnification is not paid and/or does not provide coverage (e.g., a self-insured retention amount under an insurance policy). No such Person shall be entitled to contribution or indemnification from or subrogation against the Company. The indemnification of any other Indemnitee shall, to the extent not in conflict with such policy, be secondary to any and all payment to which such Indemnitee is entitled from any relevant insurance policy issued to or for the benefit of the Company or any Indemnitee.
(b) Advancement of Expenses. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall promptly pay reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any Indemnitee in appearing at, participating in or defending any Proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding, including appeals, upon presentation of an undertaking on behalf of such Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 10.02 or otherwise. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02(c), the Company shall be required to pay expenses of an Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or part thereof) (i) commenced by such Indemnitee only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such Indemnitee was authorized by the Managing Member and (ii) by or in the right of the Company only if the Managing Member has provided its prior written consent.
(c) Unpaid Claims. If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Section 10.02 is not paid in full within 30 days after a written claim therefor by any Indemnitee has been received by the Company, such Indemnitee may file proceedings to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the Company shall have the burden of proving that such Indemnitee is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable Law.
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(d) Insurance. (i) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person described in Section 10.02(a) against any liability asserted against such person, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Section 10.02 or otherwise.
(ii) In the event of any payment by the Company under this Section 10.02, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee from any relevant other Person or under any insurance policy issued to or for the benefit of the Company, such relevant other Person, or any Indemnitee. Each Indemnitee agrees to execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce any such rights in accordance with the terms of such insurance policy or other relevant document. The Company shall pay or reimburse all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such subrogation.
(iii) The Company shall not be liable under this Section 10.02 to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (including, but not limited to, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, and excise taxes with respect to an employee benefit plan or penalties) if and to the extent that the applicable Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under this Section 10.02 or any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
(e) Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The provisions of this Section 10.02 shall be applicable to all actions, claims, suits or proceedings made or commenced after the date of this Agreement, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring before or after its adoption. The provisions of this Section 10.02 shall be deemed to be a contract between the Company and each person entitled to indemnification under this Section 10.02 (or legal representative thereof) who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section 10.02 and the relevant provisions of applicable Law, if any, are in effect, and any amendment, modification or repeal hereof shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts or any action, suit or proceeding then or theretofore existing, or any action, suit or proceeding thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part on any such state of facts. If any provision of this Section 10.02 shall be found to be invalid or limited in application by reason of any law or regulation, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions hereof. The rights of indemnification provided in this Section 10.02 shall neither be exclusive of, nor be deemed in limitation of, any rights to which any person may otherwise be or become entitled or permitted by contract, this Agreement or as a matter of law, both as to actions in such person’s official capacity and actions in any other capacity, it being the policy of the Company that indemnification of any person whom the Company is obligated to indemnify pursuant to Section 10.02(a) shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law.
For purposes of this Section 10.02, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries.
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This Section 10.02 shall not limit the right of the Company, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to, and purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, persons other than persons described in Section 10.02(a).
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 10.02, in no event will the Company be required to indemnify or advance expenses to any Indemnitee with respect to any Proceeding arising out of such Indemnitee’s breach or failure to perform under the Exchange Agreement, the Stockholders Agreement, or the Registration Rights Agreement.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.01. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon a determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
Section 11.02. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by courier service (delivery receipt requested), by fax, by electronic mail or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 11.02):
(a) If to the Company, to:
Vista Proppants and Logistics, LLC
c/o Vista Proppants and Logistics Inc.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Email: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
With a copy to
Vista Proppants and Logistics, LLC
c/o Vista Proppants and Logistics Inc.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Email: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
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(b) If to any Member other than the Managing Member, to such Member at the address of such Member as set forth on Exhibit A
(c) If to the Managing Member, to:
Vista Proppants and Logistics Inc.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Email: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
With a copy to
Vista Proppants and Logistics, LLC
c/o Vista Proppants and Logistics Inc.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Email: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
Section 11.03. Cumulative Remedies. The rights and remedies provided by this Agreement are cumulative and the use of any one right or remedy by any party shall not preclude or waive its right to use any or all other remedies. Said rights and remedies are given in addition to any other rights the parties may have by Law.
Section 11.04. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of all of the parties and, to the extent permitted by this Agreement, their successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives and assigns.
Section 11.05. Interpretation. Throughout this Agreement, nouns, pronouns and verbs shall be construed as masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural, whichever shall be applicable. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to “Articles,” “Sections” and paragraphs shall refer to corresponding provisions of this Agreement.
Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that the parties hereto have participated collectively in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and that he or she or it has had the opportunity to draft, review and edit the language of this Agreement; accordingly, it is the intention of the parties that no presumption for or against any party arising out of drafting all or any part of this Agreement will be applied in any dispute relating to, in connection with or involving this Agreement. Accordingly, the parties hereby waive to the fullest extent permitted by law the benefit of any rule of law or any legal decision that would require that in cases of uncertainty, the language of a contract should be interpreted most strongly against the party who drafted such language.
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Section 11.06. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by email or facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Copies of executed counterparts transmitted by telecopy or other electronic transmission service shall be considered original executed counterparts for purposes of this Section 11.06.
Section 11.07. Further Assurances. Each Member shall perform all other acts and execute and deliver all other documents as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.
Section 11.08. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether oral or written, pertaining thereto (including, without limitation, the Existing Agreement).
Section 11.09. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware.
Section 11.10. Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) Any and all disputes which cannot be settled amicably with respect to this Agreement, including any action (at law or in equity), claim, litigation, suit, arbitration, hearing, audit, review, inquiry, proceeding or investigation or ancillary claims of any party, arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement or any matter arising out of or in connection with this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder or thereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder or thereunder brought by a party hereto or its successors or assigns, shall be brought and determined exclusively in the Delaware Chancery Court, if such court shall not have jurisdiction, any federal court located in the State of Delaware, or, if neither of such courts shall have jurisdiction, any other Delaware state court. Each of the parties hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such dispute for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the sole and exclusive personal jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and agrees that it will not bring any dispute relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than the aforesaid courts. Each party irrevocably consents to service of process in any dispute in any of the aforesaid courts by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by recognized overnight delivery service, to such party at such party’s address referred to in Section 11.02. Each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action brought by any party with respect to this Agreement (i) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts for any reason other than the failure to serve process in accordance with this Section 11.10; (ii) any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from the jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise); or (iii) any objection which such party may now or hereafter have (A) to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions arising out of or in connection with this Agreement brought in the courts referred to above; (B) that such action brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum and (C) that this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof or thereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.
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(b) To the extent that any party has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself, or to such party’s property, each such party hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of such party’s obligations with respect to this Agreement.
(C) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY AGREEING TO THE CHOICE OF DELAWARE LAW TO GOVERN THIS AGREEMENT AND TO THE JURISDICTION OF DELAWARE COURTS IN CONNECTION WITH PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT HEREUNDER. THE PARTIES INTEND THIS TO BE AN EFFECTIVE CHOICE OF DELAWARE LAW AND AN EFFECTIVE CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS UNDER 6 DEL. C. § 2708.
(d) EACH PARTY, FOR ITSELF AND ITS AFFILIATES, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR THEREOF.
Section 11.11. Expenses. Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred by the Members and the Company in connection with the preparation, negotiation, and operation of this Agreement.
Section 11.12. Amendments and Waivers
(a) This Agreement (including the Annexes hereto) may be amended, supplemented, waived or modified by the Managing Member in its sole discretion without the approval of any other Member or other Person; provided that no amendment, including any amendment effected by way of merger, consolidation or transfer of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, may materially and adversely affect the rights of a holder of Units, as such, other than on a pro rata basis with other holders of Units of the same Class without the consent of such holder (or, if there is more than one such holder that is so affected, without the consent of a majority in interest of such affected holders in accordance with their holdings of such Class of Units); provided further, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Managing Member may, without the written consent of any Member or any other Person, amend, supplement, waive or modify any provision of this Agreement and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect: (1) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the Managing Member determines in its reasonable discretion to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of Units or any Class or series of equity interest in the Company pursuant to Section 7.01(c) or Section 7.01(e) hereof; (2) the admission, substitution, or withdrawal of Members in accordance with this Agreement, pursuant to Section 8.07 hereof; (3) a change in the name of the Company, the location of the principal place of business of the Company, the registered agent of
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the Company or the registered office of the Company; (4) any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification that the Managing Member determines in its reasonable discretion to be necessary or appropriate to address changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation; and/or (5) a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Company and any other changes that the Managing Member determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in the Fiscal Year or taxable year of the Company including a change in the dates on which distributions are to be made by the Company; provided, further, that notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, including any amendment effected by way of merger, consolidation or transfer of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, may materially and adversely affect the rights of a Member that is a Stockholder Party without the consent of such Member. If an amendment has been approved in accordance with this agreement, such amendment shall be adopted and effective with respect to all Members. Upon obtaining such approvals as may be required by this Agreement, and without further action or execution on the part of any other Member or other Person, any amendment to this Agreement may be implemented and reflected in a writing executed solely by the Managing Member and the other Members shall be deemed a party to and bound by such amendment.
(b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder (other than a failure or delay beyond a period of time specified herein) shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by Law.
(c) The Managing Member may, in its sole discretion, unilaterally amend this Agreement on or before the effective date of the final regulations to provide for (i) the election of a safe harbor under Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.83-3(l) (or any similar provision) under which the fair market value of a Company interest (or interest in an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is transferred is treated as being equal to the liquidation value of that interest, (ii) an agreement by the Company and each of its Members to comply with all of the requirements set forth in such regulations and Notice 2005-43 (and any other guidance provided by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to such election) with respect to all Company interests (or interest in an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) transferred in connection with the performance of services while the election remains effective, (iii) the allocation of items of income, gains, deductions and losses required by the final regulations similar to Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(xii)(b) and (c), 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(b)(1) and any other related amendments.
(d) Except as may be otherwise required by law in connection with the winding-up, liquidation, or dissolution of the Company, each Member hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights that it may have to maintain an action for judicial accounting or for partition of any of the Company’s property.
Section 11.13. No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and successors and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity, any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement (other than pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof); provided, however that each employee,
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officer, director, agent or indemnitee of any Person who is bound by this Agreement or its Affiliates is an intended third party beneficiary of Section 11.10 and shall be entitled to enforce its rights thereunder.
Section 11.14. Headings. The headings and subheadings in this Agreement are included for convenience and identification only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
Section 11.15. Power of Attorney. Each Member, by its execution hereof, hereby makes, constitutes and appoints the Managing Member as its true and lawful agent and attorney in fact, with full power of substitution and full power and authority in its name, place and stead, to make, execute, sign, acknowledge, swear to, record and file (a) this Agreement and any amendment to this Agreement that has been consented to and adopted as herein provided; (b) all amendments to the Certificate required or permitted by law or the provisions of this Agreement; (c) all certificates and other instruments (including consents and ratifications which the Members have agreed to provide upon a matter receiving the agreed support of Members) deemed advisable by the Managing Member to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and Law or to permit the Company to become or to continue as a limited liability company or entity wherein the Members have limited liability in each jurisdiction where the Company may be doing business; (d) all instruments that the Managing Member deems appropriate to reflect a change or modification of this Agreement or the Company in accordance with this Agreement, including, without limitation, the admission of additional Members or substituted Members pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement; (e) all conveyances and other instruments or papers deemed advisable by the Managing Member to effect the liquidation and termination of the Company; and (f) all fictitious or assumed name certificates required or permitted (in light of the Company’s activities) to be filed on behalf of the Company.
Section 11.16. Separate Agreements; Schedules. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, including Section 11.12, the Managing Member in its sole discretion may, or may cause the Company to, without the approval of any Member or other Person, enter into separate subscription, letter or other agreements with individual Members with respect to any matter, which have the effect of establishing rights under, or altering, supplementing or amending the terms of, this Agreement. The parties hereto agree that any terms contained in any such separate agreement shall govern with respect to such Member(s) party thereto notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement. The Managing Member in its sole discretion may from time to time execute and deliver to the Members schedules which set forth information contained in the books and records of the Company and any other matters deemed appropriate by the Managing Member. Such schedules shall be for information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be part of this Agreement for any purpose whatsoever. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, this Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreement, and any other separate agreement described in this Section 11.16 shall constitute a “partnership agreement” within the meaning of Section 706(c) of the Code.
Section 11.17. Partnership Status. The Members intend to treat the Company as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no election to the contrary shall be made.
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Section 11.18. Delivery by Facsimile or Email. This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of a facsimile machine or email with scan or facsimile attachment, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or email to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or email as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract, and each such party forever waives any such defense.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have entered into this Agreement or have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers, in each case as of the date first above stated.
MANAGING MEMBER: | ||
VISTA PROPPANTS AND LOGISTICS INC. |
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
OTHER MEMBERS: | ||
[●] |
[Signature page – Limited Liability Company Agreement of Vista Proppants and Logistics, LLC]