OPERATING AGREEMENT
OF
GETTY INVESTMENTS CONTINUATION L.L.C.
This Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement (this “Agreement”) of GETTY INVESTMENTS CONTINUATION L.L.C. (the “Company”), a limited liability company formed pursuant to the Delaware
Limited Liability Company Act, by and among the Members whose names are listed on Schedule A (the “Members”)
attached hereto as part of this Agreement.
WHEREAS, the
Company was formed on October 4, 2006 in accordance with the Delaware Limited
Company Act;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof and by and between Getty Investments L.L.C. (the “Prior Company”) and the Company, the Prior Company will merge with and
into the Company, with the Company being the surviving entity (the “Merger”);
WHEREAS, the Members desire to set forth their agreement for the conduct of the Company’s
affairs in writing and agree that this Agreement shall be effective when executed
by or on behalf of the Members.
NOW THEREFORE,
in consideration of the mutual terms, covenants and conditions herein contained
and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. |
DEFINITIONS |
|
|
|
As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings: |
|
|
1.1 |
Acquisition Costs – Costs
of acquiring equity interests in a business pursuant to section 3.1, including
transaction costs and costs related to evaluating such investment opportunity. |
|
|
1.2 |
Act – The Delaware Limited
Liability Company Act, as amended from time to time. |
|
|
1.3 |
Articles – The Certificate of Formation of the Company and Amendments thereto and restatements thereof filed with the Delaware Secretary of State pursuant to the Act, the current form of which is attached hereto as
Exhibit 1.3. |
|
|
1.4 |
Assignee – A transferee of
the economic benefit and related obligations (but not the voting or management
rights) of a Membership Interest. |
1.5 |
Auditors – The firm of independent
certified public accountants chosen pursuant to Article 7.3 hereof. |
|
|
1.6 |
Bankruptcy – With respect
to any person, a Bankruptcy occurs when such Person: |
|
|
|
(a) |
makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
files voluntary petition in bankruptcy; |
|
|
|
|
(c) |
is adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or has entered against him an order for relief as the debtor, in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding; |
|
|
|
|
(d) |
files a petition or answer seeking for himself any insolvency reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any statute, law or regulation; |
|
|
|
|
(e) |
files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against him in any proceedings of the nature contemplated by this Article 1.6; or |
|
|
|
|
(f) |
seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee in bankruptcy, receiver or liquidator of the Member or of all or any substantial part if his properties. |
1.7 Board of Directors – The Directors of the Company or any Committee thereof, in each case duly appointed pursuant to Article 4.2. Each Director shall be a “Manager” of
the Company within the meaning of the Act.
1.8 |
Capital Account – The Capital Account on the books of the Company with respect to each Member’s Interest in the Company (each a “Capital Account”).
The Capital Account of each Member as of the date hereof is set forth on
Schedule A hereto. The Capital Account of each Member shall be maintained
as follows: |
|
|
|
(a) |
each Capital Account shall be increased by the amount of: |
|
|
|
|
|
(i) |
any additional Capital Contributions made
to the Company with respect to such Member’s Interests; and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
any GI Profit allocated to such Member pursuant to Article 9 of this Agreement; |
|
|
|
|
|
(b) |
each Capital Account shall be decreased by the amount of: |
|
|
|
|
|
(i) |
any Distribution received by such Member with respect to its Interest in the Company other than upon a partial or complete withdrawal; and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
any GI Loss allocated to such Member pursuant to Article 9 of this Agreement; |
|
|
|
|
|
(c) |
|
when any Interest in the Company is withdrawn, the amount
in the Capital Account attributable to such Interest (or withdrawn portion
of such Interest) shall be eliminated; and |
|
|
|
|
|
(d) |
|
to the extent a valid Section 754 election has been
made by the Company, each Capital Account shall be increased or decreased
where appropriate, to reflect any adjustments to the tax basis of the
Company Property pursuant to Section 734 or 743
of the Code. Such Capital Accounts are intended to, and shall, comply
with the requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). |
|
|
1.9 |
Capital Contribution or Contribution – Any
contribution of Money or other consideration made by or on behalf of a
Member to the Company under the terms of this Agreement. |
|
|
1.10 |
Code – The Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. |
|
|
1.11 |
Commitment – The Capital Contributions that a Member has made to date, the amount of which, and/or categories of which are set forth opposite such Member’s
name on Schedule B hereto plus the additional Capital Contributions which
a Member may be required to make from time to time pursuant to Article
5 and Article 8 hereof. |
|
|
1.12 |
Company – GETTY INVESTMENTS
CONTINUATION LLC, a limited liability company formed under the laws of
the State of Delaware. |
|
|
1.13 |
Company Liability – Any enforceable
debt or obligation for which the Company is liable or which is secured
by any property of the Company. |
|
|
1.14 |
Company Minimum Gain – The
amount, if any, that would be realized by the Company if it sold all of
the Company Property subject to any Company Nonrecourse Liability for an
amount equal to the amount of the Company Nonrecourse Liability secured
by such property, and determined in accordance with the Treasury Regulations
Section 1.704-2. |
|
|
1.15 |
Company Nonrecourse Liability – A
Company Liability to the extent that no Member or Related Person bears
the economic risk of loss (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-2)
with respect to the liability. |
|
|
1.16 |
Costs – All or any of, as
the context so admits, Acquisition Costs, the Lock Up Fees, Running Costs
and/or Exceptional Costs. |
|
|
1.17 |
Directors – The Directors
elected or appointed by the Members. |
|
|
1.18 |
Dissociation or Dissociate – The resignation, Bankruptcy or dissolution of a Member or occurrence of any other event under the Act (except assignment of a Member’s
Interest |
|
voluntarily or by operation of law) that terminates the continued membership of a Member in the Company. |
|
|
1.19 |
Dissolution Event – An event,
the occurrence of which will result in the dissolution of the Company under
Article 10. |
|
|
1.20 |
Distribution – A redemption of a Member’s
Interest (in whole or in part) by means of a transfer of Money or Property
to such Member in the Company. |
|
|
1.21 |
Exceptional Costs – Costs
incurred in connection with the obligations of the Company under Articles
5.13(b) and 7.6 hereof. |
|
|
1.22 |
Getty Images – Getty Images,
Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware. |
|
|
1.23 |
Getty Images Stock – Shares
or other securities, of whatever class may at the relevant date be authorized
in the share capital of Getty Images and, prior to the Scheme of Arrangement,
the Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares of Getty Communications
plc. |
|
|
1.24 |
GI Profit/(Loss) – The Company’s unconsolidated
net profit or net loss for the relevant fiscal year (or shorter fiscal period)
of the Company, which shall include the change in value of each portfolio investment
of the Company. The value of each portfolio investment of the Company shall
be adjusted to equal its fair market value (and in the case of the Company’s
holding of Getty Images common stock shall be “marked-to- market” based
on the price of Getty Images common stock listed and traded on the New York
Stock Exchange), as reported by the Officer from published sources (such as the
Wall Street Journal), as of the following times: (a) the end of the Company’s
fiscal year; (b)
the acquisition of an additional interest by any new or existing Member
in exchange for more than a de minimus Capital
Contribution; (c) the distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de
minimus amount of Property as consideration for an Interest; (d)
the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g); and (e) any other time determined by the Officer in his
good faith discretion. |
|
|
1.25 |
Indemnity Agreement – That
certain Indemnity Agreement dated 9 February 1998 between Getty Images,
the Company (as successor to the Prior Company) and the Members, as amended
from time to time. |
|
|
1.26 |
[Intentionally Deleted] |
|
|
1.27 |
Majority – With respect to
the Members, Members who own Interests entitling them to a majority of
all the Sharing Ratios attributable to the Interests of all Members. With
respect to the Board of Directors, a Majority shall consist of a majority
in number of the Directors. Assignees and, in the case of approvals to
withdrawal where consent of the remaining Members is required, dissociating
Members shall not be considered Members |
|
entitled to vote for the purpose of determining
a Majority. In the case of a Member who has disposed of that Member’s entire Membership Interest to an Assignee, but has not been removed as provided in this Agreement, the Sharing Ratio of
such Assignee shall be considered in determining a Majority and such member’s
vote or consent shall be determined by such Sharing Ratio. |
|
|
1.28 |
Member Minimum Gain – The
amount, if any, that would be realized by the Company if it sold all of
the Company Property subject to any Member Nonrecourse Liability of an
amount equal to the amount of the Member Nonrecourse Liability secured
by such Property, and determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations
Section 1.704-2. |
|
|
1.29 |
Member Nonrecourse Liability – Any
Company Liability to the extent the liability is nonrecourse under state
law, and on which a Member or Related Person bears the economic risk of
loss under Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-2 because, for example, the
Member or Related person is the creditor or a guarantor. |
|
|
1.30 |
Membership Interest or Interest – A
limited liability company interest in the Company which represents the
rights of a Member or, in the case of an Assignee, the rights of the assigning
Member to Distributions and allocations of the profits, losses, gains,
deductions, and credits of the Company. |
|
|
1.31 |
Money – Property, cash or
other legal tender of the United States or the United Kingdom, or any obligation
that is immediately reducible to legal tender without delay or discount.
Money shall be considered to have a fair market value equal to its face
amount. |
|
|
1.32 |
Person – An individual, trust,
estate, or any organization permitted to be a member of a limited liability
company under the laws of Delaware. |
|
|
1.33 |
Proceeding – Any administrative,
judicial, or other adversary proceeding, including without limitation,
litigation, arbitration, administrative adjudication, mediation, and appeal
or review of any of the foregoing. |
|
|
1.34 |
Property – Any property real
or personal, tangible or intangible, including money and securities and
any legal or equitable interest in such property, but excluding services
and promises to perform services in the future. |
|
|
1.35 |
Qualified Investments – |
|
|
|
(a) |
any bonds or obligations which as to principal and interest constitute direct obligations of or are guaranteed by the United States of America; |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
certificates of deposit of, or other accounts
in an amount not to exceed $100,000 with, banks or trust companies which are organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or under the laws of Great Britain and
which have capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000; |
|
(c) |
commercial paper or finance company paper
which is rated not less than prime- one or A-1 or their equivalents by
Xxxxx’x Investor Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s
Corporation or their successors; |
|
|
|
|
(d) |
a repurchase agreement secured by any one or more of the foregoing; |
|
|
|
|
(e) |
money market funds sponsored or affiliated with nationally recognized brokerage or investment advisory firms; and |
|
|
|
|
(f) |
narrower range investments within the meaning of Schedule 1 of the Trustee Investments Xxx 0000 of Great Britain. |
|
|
|
1.36 |
Registration Rights Agreement – That
certain Registration Rights Agreement dated as of 9 February 1998 between
the Company (as successor to the Prior Company) and Getty Images, as amended
from time to time. |
|
|
1.37 |
Related Person – A person
having a relationship to a Member shat is described in Section 1.752-4(b)
of the Treasury Regulations. |
|
|
1.38 |
Restated Option Agreement – That
certain Restated Option Agreement dated as of 9 February 1998 between the
Company (as successor to the Prior Company), Getty Images and Getty Communications
plc, as amended from time to time. |
|
|
1.39 |
[Intentionally Deleted] |
|
|
1.40 |
Running Costs – Those costs
incurred in connection with the day to day administration of the company
including without limitation the matters referred to in Article 5.13(a)
hereof. |
|
|
1.41 |
Scheme of Arrangement – The
scheme of arrangement under Section 425 of the Companies Act of 1985 pursuant
to which Ordinary Shares of Getty Communications plc are converted to shares
of common stock of Getty Images. |
|
|
1.42 |
Sharing Ratio(s) – With respect to any Member at any time, a fraction (expressed as a percentage ), the numerator of which is the balance of that Member’s
Capital Account at that time and the denominator is the balances of the
Capital Accounts of all the Members at that time. |
|
|
1.43 |
Stockholders Agreement – That
certain Stockholders Agreement dated as of 9 February 1998 among Getty
Images, the Company, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Crediton Limited, October
1993 Trust, PDI, L.L.C., Xxxx Xxxxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, as amended from
time to time. |
|
|
1.44 |
Subsidiary – A company where
the Company (or another Subsidiary) holds either a majority of the shares,
a majority of the votes or the right to appoint a majority of the members
of the board of directors. |
1.45 |
Substitute Member – A transferee
who has been admitted as a Member. |
|
|
1.46 |
Taxable Year – The taxable
year of the Company as determined pursuant to Section 706 of the Code. |
|
|
1.47 |
Taxing Jurisdiction – Any state, local, or foreign government that collects tax, interest or penalties, however designated, on any Member’s
share of the income or gain attributable to the Company. |
|
|
1.48 |
Transfer – Any sale, transfer
(whether voluntary or otherwise) or other disposition of any Interest or
any right to acquire or subscribe to any Interest or any interest (legal
or equitable) in any Membership Interest. |
|
|
1.49 |
Treasury Regulations – Except
where the context indicates otherwise, the permanent, temporary, proposed,
or proposed and temporary regulations of Department of the Treasury under
the Code as such regulations may be changed from time to time. |
|
|
2. |
FORMATION |
|
|
2.1 |
Organization – The Members
formed and continue the Company as a Delaware limited liability company
pursuant to the provisions of the Act. Except as otherwise specifically
provided herein, the Members agree that the rights, duties and liabilities
of the Members and Directors shall be as provided in the Act. The initial
Members were deemed admitted as Members of the Company on October 4, 2006,
effective upon their execution of a counterpart signature page to this
Agreement. |
|
|
2.2 |
Name – The name of the Company
is GETTY INVESTMENTS CONTINUATION LLC. Upon the consummation of the Merger,
the name of the Company will be Getty Investments L.L.C. and all business
of the Company shall be conducted under that name or under any other name
adopted by a Majority of the Members, but in any case, only to the extent
permitted by applicable law. |
|
|
2.3 |
Term – The Company shall be
dissolved and its affairs wound up in accordance with the Act and this
Agreement on October 5, 2007, unless the term shall be extended by unanimous
agreement of the Members by amendment to this Agreement for one or more
additional periods, not to exceed seven years in the aggregate, or unless
the Company shall be sooner dissolved and its affairs wound up in accordance
with the Act or this Agreement. The existence of the Company as a separate
legal entity shall continue until cancellation of the Articles in the manner
required by the Act. |
|
|
2.4 |
Registered Agent and Office – The
registered agent for the service of process and the registered office shall
be that person and location reflected in the Articles as filed in the office
of the Delaware Secretary of State. The Board of Directors may, from time
to time, change the registered agent or office through appropriate filings
with the Delaware Secretary of State. In the event the registered agent
ceases to act as such for any reason |
|
or the registered office shall change, the Board of Directors shall promptly designate a replacement registered agent or file a notice of change of address as the case may be. If the Board of Directors shall fail to designate a replacement
registered agent or change of address of the registered office, any Member may designate a replacement registered agent or file a notice of change of address. |
|
|
2.5 |
Principal Office – The principal
office of the company shall be located at 0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxx 000,
Xxxx, Xxxxxx 00000, or such other place that is not within the United Kingdom,
as the Board of Directors may designate by a Majority. The Board of Directors
will notify the Members of any change in the location of any such office. |
|
|
2.6 |
Officer – Xx. Xxx Xxxxx of
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxx, Xxxxxx 00000, is the current Officer
of the Company. |
|
|
2.7 |
Authorized Person – Xxxx Xxxxxxx is hereby designated as an “authorized person” within the meaning of the Act, and has executed, delivered and filed the Certificate of Formation of the Company with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (such filing being hereby approved and ratified in all respects). Upon the filing of the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, his powers as an “authorized
person” ceased and each Director thereupon became the designated “authorized person” and shall continue as a designated “authorized person” within
the meaning of the Act. |
|
|
3. |
NATURE OF BUSINESS |
|
|
3.1 |
The Company may engage in the business of acquiring, whether alone or jointly, equity positions in one or more businesses including without limitation Getty Images and any Subsidiary thereto, holding and exercising control over such interests,
and disposing of all or a portion of such interests in such businesses. The Company shall have the authority to do all things necessary, convenient or desirable to further this business and to operate its business as described in this Article 3
including, but not limited to, making Qualified Investments. The Company exists only for the purposes specified in this Article 3, and may not conduct any other business without the unanimous consent of the Members. The authority granted to the
Directors and Officers to bind the Company shall be limited to actions preparatory, necessary, convenient or incidental to this business. |
|
|
3.2 |
The Company may enter into and perform the Restated Option Agreement, the Stockholders Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indemnity Agreement and any agreements ancillary thereto as well as this Agreement, as amended, without
further act, vote or approval of any Member or Director, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement. |
|
|
3.3 |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company and Xxx X. Xxxxx on behalf of the Company, as an authorized officer of the Company, is hereby authorized to execute, deliver and perform the Agreement and Plan
of Merger |
|
between the Company and the Prior Company and to take any and all other actions to consummate the Merger all without the vote or consent of any Members. |
|
|
4. |
RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS |
|
|
4.1 |
Management Rights – All Members
(other than Assignees) who have not Dissociated shall be entitled to vote
on any matter submitted to a vote of the Members. |
|
|
4.2 |
Board of Directors and Chairman – Subject
to reduction as provided in this Article 4.2, the authorized number of
Directors on the Board shall be five (5). Four (4) of the Directors shall
be appointed by the Members of the Company, with each Member (the RFTA
Trustees and RFTB Trustees acting jointly and being deemed a single Member
solely for purposes of this Article 4.2) being entitled to appoint two
(2) Directors each, so long as such Member maintains a Sharing Ratio of
at least ten percent (10%) of the total of all Members (the ownership interests
of the RFTA Trustees and RFTB Trustees being combined for this purpose).
The intent of this provision is to permit each of the two branches of the
Getty Family owning Interests in the Company (i.e., the Xxxx Xx. family and the J. Xxxxxx family) to appoint its own family members to serve in two (2) directorship positions in the Company, so long as such family branch
maintains a Sharing Ratio of at least ten percent (10%) of the total of all Members. |
|
|
|
The initial appointments by the Members are as follows: |
|
|
|
CWT Trustee
RFTA Trustees and RFTB Trustees |
Xxxx Xxxxx and Xxxx Getty
Xxxx Xxxxxx and Pierre du
Preez |
|
|
|
The fifth Director is hereby appointed
by the Members to be Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx so long as he remains chief executive
officer of Getty Images. In the event Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx ceases to be the
chief executive officer of Getty Images, the fifth directorship position
shall be eliminated unless and until a Majority of Members votes to
appoint a successor director to fill such position. Xxxx Xxxxx shall
be the chairman of the Board so long as he serves as a Director, and
in the event he no longer serves as a Director the chairman shall be
selected from among the acting Directors by the Member then holding
the largest Sharing Ratio among all the Members.
Each Member with a right to appoint a Director shall
have the power to remove the Director appointed by it, to appoint a
substitute Director to attend any meeting of the Board and to appoint
a replacement Director in the event such Director resigns, is removed,
or otherwise ceases to be a Director. Such appointment or removal shall
be made by notice in writing to the Company at its office designated
pursuant to Article 2.5 to take effect from the time specified in such
notice. If a Member having the right to appoint Directors withdraws
from the Company or if its Sharing Ratio falls below [ten percent (10%)]
of the total of all Members (the ownership interests of the RFTA Trustees
and the RFTB Trustees being combined for this purpose), the right to
appoint Directors by such Member shall be eliminated and the authorized
number of Directors on the Board shall be reduced accordingly. |
|
The Board shall have the right to appoint committees
so long as the committee is comprised of at least one Director. In no
event shall a majority of Directors, or a majority of individuals serving
on a committee appointed by the Board, be residents of the United Kingdom.
Directors shall not be entitled to any compensation
for their services as such, and subject to Article 6 each Member shall
bear the out-of-pocket costs incurred by its own representative Directors,
including costs to attend meetings of the Board. |
|
|
4.3 |
Approval of Commitments – |
|
|
|
(a) |
Unless otherwise approved by a Majority of the Board, all Money of the Company, including without limitation, Capital Contributions pending their investment, all interest and dividends received with respect to all investments of the Company,
all cash realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of securities and other assets of the Company, and all miscellaneous income received from investment of idle funds, shall be invested in Qualified Investments to the extent they are not
required to provide for the purpose referred to in Article 8.2(b) hereof. |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
The Company shall not call down any Commitments for Acquisition Costs other than in connection with an investment in Getty Images Stock and shall not dispose of any Getty Images Stock other than as approved in Article 4.12 below. |
|
|
|
4.4 |
Liability of Members, Directors and Officers – Except
as provided in the Act, no Member, Director or Officer shall be liable
as such for the liabilities of the Company. To the fullest extent permitted
by law, failure of the Company to observe any formalities or requirements
relating to the exercise of its powers or management of its business or
affairs under this Agreement or the Act shall not be grounds for imposing
personal liability on the Members, Directors or Officers for liabilities
of the Company. |
|
|
4.5 |
Representations and Warranties – Each
Member hereby severally represents and warrants to the Company and each
other Member that for and as regards itself: |
|
|
|
(a) |
if that Member is an organization, that it is duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the law of its state of organization and that it has full organizational power to execute and agree to this Agreement and to perform its
obligations hereunder; |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
the Member is acquiring its Interest in
the Company for the Member’s own account as an investment and without
an intent to distribute its Interest; |
|
|
|
|
(c) |
the Member acknowledges that the Interests have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or any state securities laws, and may not be resold or |
|
|
transferred by the Member without appropriate registration or the availability of an exemption from such requirements; and |
|
|
|
|
(d) |
it understands and agrees that: |
|
|
|
|
|
(i) |
those Members who are trustees (the “Trustees”)
are entering into this Agreement in their capacity as trustees only and
not in their respective individual capacities; |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
the Trustees shall have no personal liability under or arising out of this Agreement; and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(iii) |
all payments to be made by the Trustees pursuant to this Agreement shall be made from and limited to the assets of the trust of which they are Trustees and not from the personal assets of the Trustees. |
|
|
|
|
4.6 |
Conflicts of Interest – |
|
|
|
(a) |
A Member shall be entitled to enter into transactions that may be considered to be competitive with or a business opportunity that may be beneficial to, the Company, it being expressly understood that some of the Members may enter into
transactions that are similar to the transactions into which the Company may enter. Notwith- standing the foregoing Members shall account to the Company and hold to the order of the Company any Property, profit or benefit derived by the Member,
without the consent of the other Members, from the use or appropriation b the Member of Company Property (including information developed exclusively for the Company and opportunities exclusively offered to the company) other than for the benefit of
the Company, unless the Board permits the use of such Company Property or turns down any opportunity offered to the Company. |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
A Member does not violate a duty or obligation
to the Company merely because the Member’s conduct furthers the Member’s
own interests. A Member may lend money to and transact other business with
the Company with the consent of a Majority of the Board of Directors. The
rights and obligations of a Member who lends money to or transacts business
with the Company are the same as those of a person who is not a Member,
subject to other applicable law. No transaction shall be voidable solely
because a Member has a direct or indirect interest in the transaction.
However, any such transactions must either be: |
|
|
|
|
|
(i) |
fair to the Company; or |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
authorized, approved or ratified by the
disinterested Members, knowing the material facts of the transaction and
the Member’s
interest. |
|
|
|
|
4.7 |
Special Meetings of Members; Action by Written Consent – |
|
(a) |
A special meeting of the Members may be
called by any Member. Such meeting shall be held upon not less than ten
(10) days’ notice
in writing, which may be given by telecopy or electronic transmission,
at such time and place as the Member convening the meeting shall determine,
provided the place is outside the United Kingdom. Members may participate
in any special meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications
equipment so long as all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute
presence in person at the meeting. Meetings at which conference telephone
or other communications equipment are utilized shall not be considered
to occur within the United Kingdom if a majority of participants entitled
to vote at such meeting are neither residents of the United Kingdom nor
individuals participating by conference telephone or other communications
equipment from within the United Kingdom. |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
On any matter that is to be voted on by the Members, the Members may take such action without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action to be taken, shall be signed by the
Members having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Members entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. |
|
|
|
|
(c) |
Each Member shall be responsible for its own costs in attending any meeting of the Members. |
|
|
|
4.8 |
Quorum for Meetings of Members – A
quorum of any special meeting of Members shall consist of a Majority of
Members (or their proxies). Subject to Articles 2.3, 3.1 and 12, decisions
of the Members shall be taken by a vote of (or in lieu of a meeting a written
resolution signed by) a Majority of Members. |
|
|
4.9 |
Record Date - For the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of Members or any adjournment thereof, or Members entitled to receive payment of any distribution, or in order to make a
determination of Members for any other purpose, the date on which notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution declaring such distribution is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of
Members. When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of Members has been made as provided in this Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof. |
|
|
4.10 |
Proxies – At all meetings
of Members a Member may vote in person or by proxy executed in writing
by the Member or by a duly authorized attorney-in-fact. Such proxy shall
be filed with the Board before or at the time of the meeting. No proxy
shall be valid after twelve months from the date of its execution, unless
otherwise provided in the proxy. |
|
|
4.11 |
Waiver of Notice – When any
notice is required to be given to any Member, a waiver thereof in writing
signed by the person entitled to such notice, whether before, at, or after
the time stated therein, shall be equivalent to the giving of such notice. |
4.12 |
Investment Decisions -
The principal asset of the Company is its holding of Getty Images Stock.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any
decisions regarding the purchase, sale, disposition, pledge or encumbrance
of Getty Images Stock or any other material asset by the Company shall
be approved in advance by a vote of a Majority of Members (although, for
the avoidance of doubt, in the case of a purchase of shares, no Member
not voting in favor of such purchase shall be obligated to make a Capital
Contribution to fund such acquisition). In connection with any purchase,
sale, disposition or encumbrance of Getty Images Stock, the Company shall
select an independent investment adviser who shall provide the Company
and the Members with market and industry advice and evaluation of Getty
Images and the proposed transaction. The objective in retaining the third
party adviser is to allow the Members to make informed decisions consistent
with their fiduciary responsibilities as trustees. In the case of the sale
or disposition of Getty Images Stock, the adviser will also consider the
effect that such transaction will have on reducing the size of the block
position of the remaining Getty Images Stock then held by the Company.
For purposes of this Article 4.12, “Getty
Images Stock” shall include the common stock of Getty Images, along
with any other securities, rights, options or warrants of Getty Images
or any other company issued in distribution, reclassification, readjustment,
conversion or exchange of the common stock of Getty Images. |
|
|
5. |
MANAGEMENT |
|
|
5.1 |
Board of Directors Management – The
Company shall be managed by the Board of Directors. Directors may not cumulate
their votes. |
|
|
5.2 |
Authority of the Directors - |
|
|
|
(a) |
Except as provided in this Agreement: |
|
|
|
|
|
(i) |
The Board of Directors shall have the
sole authority to manage the Company and is authorized to make any contracts,
enter into any transactions, and make and obtain any commitments on behalf
of the Company to conduct or further the Company’s business (including, without limitation, designating the Company’s representative to the Getty Images board of directors, approving the annual running costs budget for the Company (including costs of any independent investment
adviser or consultant), selecting the Company’s auditors, and approving the Company’s
financial statements); |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Each Director has one vote in Board decisions; and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(iii) |
Action by the Board requires either (A) a resolution approved by the affirmative vote of a Majority of the Directors at a meeting, (1) properly called pursuant to Articles 5.7 or 5.8, and (2) with a quorum present pursuant to Article 5.9, or
(B) a written consent, signed by at least that number of Directors necessary to adopt a resolution at a meeting properly called and attended by all the Directors. |
|
(b) |
The Board may delegate to a subcommittee
of Directors, an individual Director or an Officer of the Company any of
the Board’s responsibilities and authority except for those matters for which the board nominates as matters on which it
must decide as a whole. This provision does not alter or waive any duty that a Director may have to the Company concerning the Director’s
exercise of management authority. |
|
|
|
|
(a) |
Each Director must discharge his, her, or its duties in good faith, with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances, and in a manner the Director reasonably believes to be in the best
interests of the Company. |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
A Director may rely on information received
from other persons if that reliance is consistent with the Director’s
duties under Article 5.3(a). |
|
|
|
5.4 |
Non-liability of Directors and Officers for Acts or Omissions in Their Official Capacity – To the full extent permitted by Delaware law, all Directors and Officers are released from liability for damages and other
monetary relief on account of any act, omission, or conduct to the Director’s
or Officers managerial capacity. No amendment or repeal of this section affects
any liability or alleged liability of any Director or Officer for any acts, omission,
or conduct that occurred prior to amendment or repeal. |
|
|
5.5 |
No Authority of Members – Except
as authorized by the Board of Directors, no Member has the authority to
make any contracts, enter into any transactions, or make any commitments
on behalf of the Company. |
|
|
5.6 |
Officers – The Board may elect
one or more Officers of the Company, to serve at the pleasure of the Board,
who shall carry on the day-to-day business of the Company in accordance
with the instructions of the Board. The Chairman of the board shall not
be an Officer of the Company by virtue of holding such position. |
|
|
5.7 |
Regular Meetings of the Board –The Board shall have two (2) regularly-scheduled meetings each fiscal year of the Company’s
term, at such time and place (a) as may have been scheduled by the Board
in a preceding meeting, or (b) as the Chairman may designate in a written
notice to the Directors, which may be given by telecopy or electronic transmission,
delivered at least twenty (20) days in advance of the scheduled date of
such meeting. Locations of regular meetings shall normally be held in Seattle,
San Francisco or New York (or as otherwise agreed to by the Board). It
is intended that management from Getty Images will provide a presentation
to the Board regarding the financial and operational aspects of Getty Images
at least annually. Members of the Board may participate in any regular
meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment
so long as all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other,
and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence
in |
|
person at the meeting. Meetings at which conference telephone or other communications equipment are utilized shall not be considered to occur within the United Kingdom if a majority of participants entitled to vote at such meeting are neither
residents of the United Kingdom nor individuals participating by conference telephone or other communications equipment from within the United Kingdom |
|
|
5.8 |
Special Meetings of the Board – A special meeting of the Board may be called by any Director. Such meetings shall be held upon not less than ten (10) days’ notice
in writing, which may be given by telecopy or electronic transmission,
at such time and place as the Director convening the meeting shall determine
provided the place is outside the United Kingdom. Members of the Board
may participate in any special meeting by means of conference telephone
or other communications equipment so long as all persons participating
in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such
means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting. Meetings at which
conference telephone or other communications equipment are utilized shall
not be considered to occur within the United Kingdom if a majority of participants
entitled to vote at such meeting are neither residents of the United Kingdom
nor individuals participating by conference telephone or other communications
equipment from within the United Kingdom. |
|
|
5.9 |
Quorum for Meetings of the Board – A
quorum of any regular or special meeting of the Board shall consist of
a majority of authorized Directors present in person or by proxy, including
presence by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment.
Decisions of the Board may also be taken by written resolution signed by
the requisite number of Directors. |
|
|
5.10 |
Proxies – At all meetings
of Directors, a Director may be present or vote in person or by proxy executed
in writing by the Director or by a duly authorized attorney-in-fact. Such
proxy shall be filed with the Board before or at the time of the meeting.
No proxy shall be valid after twelve months from the date of its execution,
unless otherwise provided in the proxy. |
|
|
5.11 |
Waiver of Notice – When any
notice is required to be given to any Director, a waiver thereof in writing
signed by the person entitled to such notice (or his proxy) whether before,
at or after the time stated therein, shall be equivalent to the giving
of such notice. |
|
|
5.12 |
Authority of Members, Directors, and Officers to Bind the Company – The
Members hereby agree that only the Officers and authorized agents of the
Company shall have the authority to bind the Company and no Member or Director,
unless expressly authorized, may bind the company. No Member shall take
any unauthorized action as a Member to bind the Company, and shall indemnify
the Company for any costs or damages incurred by the Company as a result
of the unauthorized action of such Member. The Board may grant one or more
Offices of the Company the power, on behalf of the Company and subject
to the terms of this Agreement and to the overall authority of the Board,
whether by a specific authority, or a general authority, to do all things
necessary or convenient to carry to the business and affairs of the Company,
including, without limitation: |
|
(a) |
executing and delivering any agreement on behalf of the Company; |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
the institution, prosecution and defense
of any Proceeding in the Company’s name; |
|
|
|
|
(c) |
the purchase, receipt, lease or other acquisition, ownership, holding, improvement, use and other dealing with Property, wherever located; |
|
|
|
|
(d) |
the sale conveyance, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, and other disposition of Property; |
|
|
|
|
(e) |
the entering into contracts and guarantees; incurring liabilities; borrowing money, issuance of notes, bonds and other obligations; and the securing of any of its obligations by mortgage or pledge of any of its Property or income; |
|
|
|
|
(f) |
the conduct of the Company’s business,
the establishment of Company offices, and the exercise of powers of the
company within or without the State of Delaware; |
|
|
|
|
(g) |
the appointment of employees and agents of the Company, including Officers of the Company, the defining of their duties, the establishment of their compensation; |
|
|
|
|
(h) |
the payment or donation or any other act that furthers the business and affairs of the Company; |
|
|
|
|
(i) |
the participation in partnership agreements, joint ventures, or other associations of any kind with any person or persons; |
|
|
|
|
(j) |
the indemnification of Members or any other Person; and |
|
|
|
|
(k) |
the opening of bank accounts in the name of the Company. |
|
|
|
|
(a) |
The Company shall bear the Running Costs
out of further Contributions for Interests by Members, upon being called
to so contribute for such Interests by the Officer on behalf of the Company.
The anticipated Running Costs for any fiscal period shall be detailed in
a Budget to be prepared be the Officer and to be laid before the Board
for approval in respect of each fiscal period which Budget shall include,
but shall not be limited to, taxes imposed upon the Company (but not on
the Members) on account of the Company’s operations, the obligations
in Articles 7.1 to 7.5 hereof, costs incurred in connection with the maintenance
of Bank or Custodian Accounts, fees of any public accounting firm that
are incurred in connection with the annual audit personal property, taxes
on property, stamp |
|
|
duties, interest on any indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Company, salaries, rents and other overheads and other matters related to the costs of maintaining the existence of the Company; |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
The Company shall bear the Exceptional
Costs which shall include (to the extent not already included in clause
(a) of this Article 5.13) but not be limited to out-of- pocket costs and
expenses incurred in the purchase, holding or sale or exchange of Property
by the Company, all expenses that are not normal operating expenses, legal
fees, and expenses incurred in prosecuting Proceedings brought by or against
the Company and all costs and expenses arising out of or resulting from
the Company’s
indemnification of Indemnified Persons pursuant to Article 6 hereof but
shall not include the cost of those matters set out in Article 7.1 to 7.5
hereof. The Exceptional Costs will be borne out of further Contributions
for Interests by Members being called upon to so contribute for such interests
by the Officer on behalf of the Company; and |
|
|
|
|
(c) |
The Members may not be called upon to
make further Contributions exceeding $1.8 million in aggregate in respect
of Running Costs or Exceptional Costs without the prior approval of a Majority
of the Members of the Company. |
|
|
|
|
Unless the Members otherwise agree, the Commitments pursuant to this
Article 5.13 shall continue to be an obligation of any Person, notwithstanding
his withdrawal from Membership. |
5.14 |
Directors’ and Officers’ Standard
of Care – A Director’s or Officer’s duty of care in the discharge of the Director’s or Officer’s duties to the Company is limited to refraining from
engaging in grossly negligent or reckless conduct, intentional misconduct, a knowing violation of law, or a violation of this Agreement or the Restated Shareholders Agreement. In discharging his duties, a Director or Officer shall be fully protected
in relying in good faith upon the records required to be maintained under Article 7 and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements by any of its Officers, Directors, Members, or agents, as to xxxxxx the Director or Officer reasonably
believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence
who has been selected and supervised with reasonable care by or on behalf or
the Company, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the
value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Company
or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which
distributions to the Members might properly be paid. |
|
|
6. |
INDEMNIFICATION |
|
|
|
The Company agrees to indemnify, out of the
assets of the company only, the Members, Directors and Officers (each, and “Indemnified Person”)
to the fullest extent permitted by law and to save and hold them harmless form
and in respect of all (a) reasonable fees, costs, and expenses, including legal
fees, paid in connection with or resulting from any claim, action or demand
against the Indemnified Person that arise out of or in any way relate to the
Company, its Properties, business or affairs; and (b) such claims, actions,
and |
|
demands and any losses or damages resulting from such claims, actions, and demands, including amounts paid in settlement or compromise (if recommended by attorneys for the Company) of any such claim, action or demand; provided however, that
this indemnity shall not extend to conduct not undertaken in good faith to promote the best interests of the Company (except with respect to Directors (as such)), nor to any conduct which constitutes fraud willful misconduct, gross negligence or
breach of this Agreement or the Restated Shareholders Agreement or of a fiduciary duty to the Company or its Members. Expenses incurred by any Indemnified Person in defending a claim or proceeding covered by this paragraph shall be paid by the
Company in advance of the final disposition of such claim or proceeding provided the Indemnified Person undertakes to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that such person was not entitled to be indemnified. The provisions of this
Article 6 shall remain in effect as to each Indemnified Person whether or not such person continues to serve in the capacity that entitled such person to be indemnified. |
|
|
7. |
ACCOUNTING, RECORDS AND REPORTS |
|
|
7.1 |
Records to be Maintained – The
Company shall maintain the following records at the Principal Office: |
|
|
|
(a) |
a current list of the full name and last known business address of each member, Director and Officer separately identifying them in alphabetical order; |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
a copy of the filed Articles and all amendments thereto; |
|
|
|
|
(c) |
copies of the Company’s federal,
foreign, state and local income tax returns and reports, if any, for the
three most recent years; |
|
|
|
|
(d) |
copies of this Agreement and the Restated Shareholders Agreement including all amendments thereto; |
|
|
|
|
(e) |
any financial statements of the Company for the three most recent years; |
|
|
|
|
(f) |
minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the Members; and |
|
|
|
|
(g) |
copies of the books and records of the Company. |
|
|
|
7.2 |
Accounts – A record shall
be maintained of the Capital Accounts for each Member in accordance with
Article 8 and Article 9. |
|
|
7.3 |
Financial Accounting; Fiscal Year – The
accounting books and records of the company shall be kept in accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement and otherwise in accordance with
the accounting policies to be agreed but which will comply with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied and shall be audited
at the end of each fiscal year by a firm of independent certified public
accountants of |
|
|
|
recognized
national standing selected by a Majority of the Board of Directors. The
Company’s
fiscal year shall be the calendar year. |
|
|
7.4 |
Annual Report; Financial Statements of the Company – There
shall be transmitted to the Members within one hundred and eighty (180)
days after the close of the Company’s fiscal period a statement
of changes in net assets and various supplemental schedules which provide
transaction details by member. |
|
|
7.5 |
Tax Returns – The Company’s
federal, state and local tax returns, and IRS Form 1065 and Schedule
K-1 shall be prepared and delivered to the Members on or before August
1 of each year. |
|
|
7.6 |
Tax Matters Partner – The
Board shall from time to time appoint a Member to be the Company’s
tax matters partner under the Code and under any comparable provision
of state or foreign law. The tax matters partner shall employ experienced
tax counsel to represent the Company in connection with any audit or
investigation of the Company by the Internal Revenue Service or the Inland
Revenue Service and in connection with all subsequent administrative
and judicial proceedings arising out of such audit. If the tax matters
partner is required by law or regulation to incur fees and expenses in
connection with tax matters not affecting all the Members, then the Company
shall be entitled to reimbursement from those Members on whose behalf
such fees and expenses were incurred. The tax xxxxxx partner shall keep
the Members informed of all administrative and judicial proceedings,
as required by Section 6223(g) of the Code and under any comparable provisions
of state and foreign laws, and shall furnish to each member, if such
Member so requests in writing, a copy of each notice or other communication
received by the tax matters partner from the Internal Revenue Service
or the Inland Revenue Service except such notices or communications as
are sent directly to such requesting Members by the Internal Revenue
Service. The relationship of the tax matters partner has fiduciary obligations
to perform its duties as tax matters partner in such manner as will serve
the best interests of the Company and all of the Company’s Members. |
|
|
8. |
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS, CAPITAL CONTRIBUTINS,AND NON-
CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS |
|
|
8.1 |
Capital Accounts – An
individual Capital Account shall be maintained for each Member which
shall record, inter alia, all Capital Contributions made by such Member. |
|
|
8.2 |
Capital Contributions - |
|
(a) |
As of the date hereof, each Member has
made (or on the date hereof will make) the Capital Contributions set forth
on Schedule B. The remainder of the Commitments of Members shall be contributed
upon call from the Officer on behalf of the Company in accordance with
this Agreement upon ten days’ prior written notice. |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
The Officer shall be authorized to call for contributions of additional Commitments from the Members on behalf of the Company in accordance with the following: |
|
|
|
|
|
(i) |
calls may be made in the Sharing Ratios contained in Schedule A periodically in advance to fund the Running Costs to the extent that such Running Costs are of a type included in a budget for any fiscal period approved by a Majority of the
Board; |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
calls may be made in the Sharing Ratios
contained in Schedule A on ten (10) days’ written notice, which may
be given by telecopy or electronic transmission, to fund Exceptional Costs
or Acquisition Costs (provided, however, that no Member not voting in favor
of any acquisition of additional Getty Images Stock shall be obligated
to make a Contribution for Acquisition Costs in connection therewith and
failure by such Member to make a Contribution shall not be deemed a default
under Article 8.3). Calls for Acquisition Costs may only be made following
approval by a Majority of Members pursuant to Article 4 and shall be made
in accordance therewith. Calls for Exceptional Costs may only be made following
approval by a Majority of the Board, either of the costs in question or
generally either of the matter for which the costs were incurred or of
costs of that nature being incurred; and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(iii) |
Calls for Running Costs or Exceptional
Costs may not exceed $1.8 million in the aggregate without the prior
consent of a Majority of the Members. |
|
|
|
|
8.3 |
Non-contributing Members – |
|
|
|
(a) |
The Company shall be entitled to enforce
the obligations of each Member to pay the balance of the Contributions
set forth in Article 8.2, and the Company shall have all the remedies available
at law or in equity in the event any such Contribution is not so made.
If any legal proceedings relating to the failure of a Member to pay such
a Contribution are commenced, such Member shall pay all costs and expenses
incurred by the Company, including attorney’s fees, in connection
with such proceedings. |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
Additionally, should any Member fail to
make any of the Contributions required of it under this Agreement, such
member shall be in default and the other Members (the “Optionees”) shall have the right and option to acquire the
Interest of the defaulting Member (the “Optionor”), as follows: |
|
|
|
|
|
(i) |
If the default continues for five (5)
or more days after receipt by the Optionor of notice by the Officer of
the default, the Officer shall notify the Optionees of the default within
ten (10) days of the expiration of the aforesaid five (5) day notice period.
Such notice shall advise each Optionee of the portion and the price of
the Optionor’s
interest available to |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
it. The portion available to each Optionee
shall be that portion of the Optionor’s Interest that bears the same ratio to the Optionor’s entire Interest as each Optionee’s Sharing Ratio bears to the aggregate Sharing Ratio of all
Optionees. The aggregate price for the Optionor’s Interest shall be the lesser of (1) the amount of the Optionor’s Capital Account calculated as of the due date of the additional contribution, and (2) the aggregate amount of the
Optionor’s Capital Contributions actually made less any Distributions on or prior to such due date. The price for each Optionee shall be prorated according to the portion of the Optionor’s
Interest purchased by each Optionee. The option granted hereunder shall be exercisable
at any time within twenty-five (25) days of the date of the notice from the Officer
to the Optionees by delivery to the Optionor in care of the Officer of a notice
of exercise of option together with a non- recourse promissory note for the purchase
price and a security agreement in accordance with subparagraph (iv) below, which
notice and documents the Officer shall forward to the Optionor. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
Should any Optionee not exercise its option
within said twenty-five (25) day period provided in subparagraph (i), the
Officer shall immediately notify the other Optionees who have elected to
exercise their option, which Optionees shall have the right and option
rateably among them to acquire the portion of the Optionor’s Interest not so acquired (the “Remaining Portion”)
within ten (10) days of the date of the notice specified in this subparagraph
(ii) on the same terms as provided in subparagraph (i). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(iii) |
The amount of the Remaining Portion not
acquired by the Optionees pursuant to subparagraph (ii) may, if the Officer
deems it in the best interest of the Company, be sold to any other investor
of standing comparable to the other Members, on terms not more favorable
to such parties than those applicable to the Optionees’ option, and
such purchaser may become a Member to the extent of the Interest purchased
hereunder. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(iv) |
The price due from each of the Optionees
shall be payable by a non- interest bearing, non-recourse promissory note
(in such form as the Officer shall designate) due upon final dissolution
of the Company. Each such note shall be secured by the portion of the Optionor’s
Interest so purchased by its maker pursuant to a security agreement in
a form designated by the Officer and shall be enforceable by the Optionor
only against such security. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(v) |
Upon exercise of any option hereunder,
each Optionee (and, if applicable, any third party purchaser pursuant to
subparagraph (iii)) shall be obligated (1) to contribute to the Company
that portion of the additional Contribution then due from the Optionor
equal to the percentage of the Optionor’s Interest purchased by such
person, and (2) to pay the same |
|
|
|
percentage of any further
Contributions otherwise due from such Optionor on the date such contributions
are otherwise due. Each Person who purchases a portion of the Optionor’s interest shall
be deemed to have acquired such portion as of the due date of the additional
Contribution with respect to which the Optionor defaulted, and any Distribution
made after the due date on account of the Optionor’s Interest purchased
by such persons shall be distributed among such purchasers (and, unless
the entire interest was purchased, the Optionor) in accordance with their
ultimate respective interests in the Optionor’s interest. Distributions
a\otherwise allowable to the Optionor under the foregoing shall first
be used to offset any defaulted contribution of the Optionor still due
to the Company. Upon completion of any transaction hereunder, the Officer
shall cause Schedule A attached to this Agreement to be amended to reflect
all necessary changes resulting therefrom including, without limitation,
admission of a purchaser as a Member, and adjustment of Capital Account
balances, Commitment amounts and Interests as of the date of Optionor's
default to reflect the acquisition from Optionor of the appropriate pro
rata portion of each such item. The purchase and transfer of the interest
of the Optionor shall occur automatically upon exercise by any Optionee
or the Officer of its option hereunder, without any action by Optionor.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Member agrees that in the event it
fails to pay any Contribut5ion required of it under this Agreement, such
Member will execute any instruments or perform any other acts that are
or may be necessary to effectuate and carry out the transactions contemplated
by this Article 8.3. |
|
|
9. |
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS |
|
|
9.1 |
Distributions – |
|
|
|
(a) |
Unless a Majority of Members agree otherwise all income in the Company (which is not required to be set aside to meet liabilities including taxes) will be distributed by the Company to its Members and all realized gains of the Company (which
are not required to be set aside to meet liabilities including taxes) will, to the extent legally permitted, be paid into the Company in such a way so as to create Money in the Company which will distribute by the company to its Members (in
accordance with their Sharing Ratios), save to the extent it is required to be set aside to meet liabilities including taxes. |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
The Distribution shall be put into effect
by a redemption of part of the Member’s Interest equal to the amount
of the Distribution to such Member and the Capital Accounts of Members
shall be debited accordingly. |
|
|
|
|
(c) |
If a Member requests that a Distribution in specie of Getty Images Shares be made to such Member then except where such Distribution in specie has or could |
|
|
have a material adverse effect on the Company and/or
on the Members, and subject to agreeing the basis of such Distribution
and its effect on the remaining provisions of this Agreement, such Distribution
shall be made and the remaining provisions of this Article 9 shall apply
to such Distribution. In the event of any such Distribution any such
Member shall still remain obligated to make the Commitment pursuant to
Articles 5.13 and 8.2, unless a Majority of Members (other than the Member
wishing to be relieved of its Commitment) otherwise agree. |
9.2 |
Allocations for Tax Purposes – For each fiscal year (or shorter fiscal period as determined by the Officer) the Capital Account of each Member for such period shall be adjusted by crediting GI Profit or debiting GI
Loss (as the case may be) to the Capital Accounts of all the Members in proportion to their respective Sharing Ratios. For income tax purposes, items of income, deduction, gain, loss or credit shall be allocated among the Members in such manner as
to reflect equitably amounts credited or debited to each Member’s Capital Account for the current and prior fiscal years (or relevant portions thereof). Allocations for income tax purposes under this Article 9.2 shall be made pursuant to the
principles of Sections 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code and the Regulations thereunder. Appropriate adjustments shall be made by the Board of Directors in a manner consistent with the principles contained in the preceding sentence in the event less
than all of the Company’s Property is sold or distributed. The Board of Directors shall make the allocations provided for in this Article 9.2 in such a manner so that the allocations have substantial economic effect consistent with the
Members’ Interest and the Board of Director’s determination shall be
binding and conclusive on each Member. |
|
|
9.3 |
Company Minimum Gain Chargeback – If there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain for a Taxable Year, each Member must be allocated items of income and gain for that Taxable Year equal to that Member’s
share of the net decrease in Company Minimum gain as determined in accordance
with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2. |
|
|
9.4 |
Member Minimum Gain Chargeback – If during a Taxable Year there is a net decrease in Member Minimum Gain, any Member with a share of that Member Minimum Xxxx (as determined under Treasury Regulations Section
1.704-2(i)(5) as of the beginning of that Taxable Year must be allocated items of income and gain for that Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for succeeding Taxable Years) equal to that Member’s
share of the net decrease in the Company Minimum Gain as determined in accordance
with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2. |
|
|
9.5 |
Qualified Income Offset – In the event any Member receives any adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704- 1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5) or
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of a Company income and gain shall be specially allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate to the extent required by the Treasury Regulations, any deficit in such Member’s
Capital Account created by such adjustments, allocations or distributions as
quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Article 9.5
shall be |
|
|
|
made only if and to the extent that such Member would have deficit in his Capital Account, after all other allocations provided for in this Article 9 have been tentatively made as if this Article 9.5 were not in the Agreement. |
|
|
9.6 |
Withholding – the Company
may withhold taxes from any allocation or Distribution to any Member to
the extent required by the Code or any other applicable law. For purposes
of this Agreement, any taxes so withheld by the Company shall be deemed
to be a Distribution or payment to such Member, to reduce the amount otherwise
distributable or allowable to such Member pursuant to this Agreement and
to reduce the Capital Account of such Member. |
|
|
9.7 |
Limitations on Distributions – No
Distribution shall be declared and paid unless, after the distribution
is made, the assets of the Company are in excess of the liabilities of
the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Company shall not make a Distribution to any Member on account of its Membership
Interest if such Distribution would violate Section 18-607 of the Act. |
|
|
9.8 |
Members’ Obligations to Pay or
Return – Except
as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or applicable law, no
Member shall be obligated at any time to repay or restore to the Company
all or any part of any Distribution made to it from the Company in accordance
with the terms of this Article 9. |
|
|
10. |
DISSOCIATION, DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP |
|
|
10.1 |
Dissolution – The Company shall be dissolved and its affairs would up upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each, a “Dissolution Event”): |
|
|
|
(a) |
when the period fixed for the duration of the Company
shall expire; |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
by the written agreement of a Majority of Members at
any time; |
|
|
|
|
(c) |
Upon a Dissociation (provided however, that the business
of the Company may be continued by the written consent of a Majority
of the remaining Members within 90 days following the occurrence of such
Dissociation, in which case the Company shall be reconstituted); |
|
|
|
|
(d) |
The entry of a judicial decree under Section 18-802
of the Act; or |
|
|
|
|
(e) |
The sale of all or, if a Majority of the Members so
decide, a substantial part of the assets of the Company. |
|
|
|
10.2 |
Distribution of Assets Upon Dissolution – In
settling accounts after dissolution, the liabilities of the Company shall
be entitled to payment ( or the making of reasonable provision for payment
thereof including contingent, conditional and unmatured liability) in the
following order: |
|
|
|
(a) |
Those liabilities to creditors, in the order of priority as provided by law, except those to Members of the company on account of their Capital Contributions which shall be dealt with as set out in (b) below; and |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
To Members of the company with respect to their Sharing Ratios. |
|
|
|
10.3 |
Certificate of Cancellation – When all debts, liabilities and obligations have been paid and discharged or adequate provisions have been made therefore and all of the remaining Property and assets have been distributed
to the Members, a certificate of cancellation shall be executed and verified by a Member appointed by the Board from time to time (the “Appointee”)
to be the Person signing the certificate, which certificate shall set forth the
information required by the Act. Upon the issuance of the Certificate of cancellation
the existence of the Company shall cease. The Appointee shall thereafter be trustee
for the Members and creditors of the company and as such shall have authority
to distribute any Company Property discovered after dissolution convey real estate
and take such other action as may be necessary on behalf of and in the name of
the Company. |
|
|
10.4 |
Winding Up – Except as provided
by law, upon dissolution, each Member shall look solely to the Property
of the Company for the return of its Capital Contribution. If the Company
Property remaining after the payment or discharge of the debts and liabilities
of the Company is insufficient to return the Capital Contribution of each
member, such Member shall have no recourse against any other Member. Unless
otherwise specified by a Majority of the Members, the winding up of the
affairs of the Company and the distribution of its assets shall be conducted
exclusively by the Officers who are hereby authorized to take all actions
necessary to accomplish such distribution, including without limitation,
selling any Company assets the Officer deems necessary or appropriate to
sell. |
|
|
10.5 |
Reconstitution of Business – If
the business of the Company is continued following the Dissociation of
any Member, the Company shall either: |
|
|
|
(a) |
Redeem the Interest of such Dissociated
Member by payment of Money, Property or promissory note, in each case in
an amount equal to such Member’s Capital Account as of the date of
Dissociation; or |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
Permit the interest of such Dissociated Member to be transferred to an Assignee. |
|
|
|
|
If paid by promissory note, such note shall be payable not more than
three years from the date of Dissociation and shall bear interest at the
quoted reference rate of Bank America, N.A., San Francisco Main Branch. |
11. |
TRANSFER OF INTERESTS |
|
|
11.1 |
No Member shall transfer all or any part of its Interest except with the prior written consent of a Majority of the remaining Members (which consent a Majority of the remaining Members may grant or withhold in each of their sole and absolute)
(a |
|
|
|
“Permitted Transfer”). Any purported
transfer in violation of this Article 11 shall be null and void against the
Company, except as otherwise provided by law. |
|
|
11.2 |
Any transfer by a Member pursuant to the terms of this Article 11 shall, in addition to meeting the requirements of Article 11.1 above, satisfy the following conditions: |
|
|
|
(a) |
the transferor or transferee shall undertake to pay all expenses incurred by the Company in connection therewith; |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
the Company shall receive from the Person to whom such Transfer is made: |
|
|
|
|
|
(i) |
such documents, instruments and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Officer pursuant to which such transferee shall become bound by this Agreement; and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
such other documents, opinions, instruments and certificates as the Officer shall reasonably request; |
|
|
|
|
|
(c) |
such transferring Member shall prior to making any such Transfer, deliver to the Company the opinion of counsel described in Article 11.3 hereof; |
|
|
|
|
(d) |
if the Officer in his sole discretion so requires, any Member wishing to make a Transfer under this Article 11 shall guarantee the performance of its transferee or assignee as to all obligations applicable to a Member under this Agreement, and
in connection therewith shall execute and deliver such documents, instruments and certificates and opinions of counsel as the Officer shall reasonably request; and |
|
|
|
|
(e) |
such transfer will not result in the termination
of the Company’s tax year under Section 708(b)(1)(B) of the Code or the termination of the Company’s
status as a partnership for tax purposes. |
|
|
|
11.3 |
The opinion of counsel referred to in Article 11.2 hereof shall be in the form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Officer, and shall be substantially to the effect that the proposed transfer contemplated by the opinion: |
|
|
|
(a) |
will not violate any provisions of the Securities Act, or the securities laws of any state and other jurisdiction; |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
will not require that the Company register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; |
|
|
|
|
(c) |
will not violate the laws of any state or the rules and regulations of any governmental authority applicable to such transfers; and |
|
|
|
|
(d) |
will not breach Article 11.2(e) above. |
|
|
|
11.4 |
Any transferee of an Interest pursuant
to the terms of this Article 11 shall be admitted as a Substitute Member
as of the fifth day following the satisfaction of the foregoing conditions.
In such event, all references herein that shall be applicable to the transferor
shall be deemed to apply to such Substitute Member and such Substitute
Member shall succeed to a position (which shall equal the percentage Interest
transferred to such Substitute Member) of all of the Capital Account, rights
and obligations of such transferor. The transferee’s Capital Account,
rights and obligations shall thereafter become and be deemed to be those
of the transferee in addition to such amounts of the foregoing as such
transferee may already have in the event the transferee was already a Member). |
|
|
11.5 |
Withdrawal of Members – Without
the consent of a Majority of Members (other than the Member wishing to
take the following action), no Member shall have the right to: |
|
(a) |
withdraw or resign from the Company; |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
require the Company to redeem all or any part of its Interest; or |
|
|
|
|
(c) |
reduce its Commitment to the Company. |
|
|
12. |
AMENDMENTS - The terms and provisions
of this Agreement may be modified or amended at any time and from time
to time by a Majority of Members; provided however, that no amendment
of this Agreement shall: |
|
|
(a) |
increase or
extend any financial obligation or liability of a Member beyond that
set forth herein without such Member’s consent
or approval; |
|
|
(b) |
materially
or adversely affect the rights of a Member in a manner that discriminates
against such Member vis-à-vis
other Members without the consent or approval of such Member; |
|
(c) |
amend this Article 12 without the consent or approval of each Member; |
|
|
|
|
(d) |
amend Article 4.2, Article 4.3, Article 5.14 or Article 8.2 of this Agreement; or |
|
|
|
|
(e) |
create any new class of Interest or issue any further Interests. |
|
|
|
13. |
OTHER PROVISIONS |
|
|
13.1 |
Governing Law and Jurisdiction – This
Agreement is governed exclusively by Delaware law. |
|
|
13.2 |
Sole Agreement – It is the
express intention of the Members that this Agreement and the Agreements
referred to herein shall be the sole source of agreement of the parties,
and, except to the extent a provision of this Agreement expressly incorporates
Federal income |
|
|
|
tax rules by reference to sections of the Code or Treasury Regulations or is expressly prohibited or ineffective under the Act, this Agreement shall govern, even when inconsistent with, or different than, the provisions of the Act or any other
law or rule. To the extent any provision of this Agreement is prohibited or ineffective under the Act, this Agreement shall be considered amended to the smallest degree possible in order to make the agreement effective under the Act. In the event
the Act is subsequently amended or interpreted in such a way to make any provision of this Agreement that was formerly invalid valid, such provision shall be considered to be valid from the effective date of such interpretation or
amendment. |
|
|
13.3 |
Arbitration – To the fullest
extent permitted by law, any controversy or claim arising out of or relating
to this Agreement, or the beach thereof, except with respect to the valuation
of Company Property, shall be settled by mandatory, final and binding arbitration
in New York City, New York, USA under the auspices of and in accordance
with the rules, then obtaining, of the American Arbitration Association
to the extent not inconsistent with the Delaware Uniform Arbitration Act,
and judgment upon the award rendered may be entered in any court having
jurisdiction thereof. With the consent of a Majority of the Members, reasonable
fees, costs and expenses, including legal fees, incurred by any Member
in connection with such arbitration shall be borne by the Company. Nothing
in this Article 13.3 shall limit any right that any Member may otherwise
have to seek (on its own behalf or in the right of the Company) to obtain
preliminary injunctive relief in order to preserve the status quo pending
the disposition of any such arbitration proceeding. |
|
|
13.4 |
Execution and Filing of Documents – This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument. |
|
|
13.5 |
Other Instruments and Acts – The
Members agree to execute any other reasonable instruments or perform any
other reasonable acts that are or may be necessary to effectuate and carry
out this Agreement. |
|
|
13.6 |
Binding Agreement – This Agreement
shall be binding upon the transferees, successors, Assignees, and legal
representatives of the Members. |
|
|
13.7 |
Notices – Any notice or other communication that one Member desires to give to another Member shall be in writing, and shall be deemed effectively given upon personal delivery or three (3) days after deposit in any
United States mail box, by first class mail, postage prepaid, upon transmission by telegram, or upon confirmed delivery by overnight commercial courier service, addressed to the other Member at the address shown on Schedule A or at such other
address as a Member may designate by fifteen (15) days’ advance written
notice to the other Member; provided, however, that any notice to a member with
an address outside the United States shall be deemed effectively given only upon
personal delivery or upon transmission by telegram or telex with a confirmation
copy sent by air mail, or upon confirmed delivery by international commercial
courier service. |
13.8 |
All calculations made under this Agreement shall be
made in U.S. dollars. |
[signatures on the following page]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the 4th day of October, 2006.
THE
CHEYNE WALK TRUST |
|
Remainderman
Ltd., its trustee |
|
|
By: |
|
|
|
|
Xxx X. Xxxxx, Administrative Manager |
|
THE XXXXXX FAMILY TRUST A |
|
|
|
By: |
|
|
|
|
Name: |
|
|
Title: |
|
THE XXXXXX FAMILY TRUST B |
|
Remainderman Ltd., its co-trustee |
|
|
By: |
|
|
|
|
Xxx X. Xxxxx, Administrative Manager |
|
GFT LLC, its co-trustee |
|
|
By: |
|
|
|
|
Xxx X. Xxxxx, Secretary |