OPERATING AGREEMENT OF RAC ACCEPTANCE EAST, LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company
Exhibit 3.34
THE MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS REPRESENTED HEREBY (OR BY CERTIFICATES IF ANY ARE ISSUED) HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND WERE ISSUED WITHOUT REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (“SECURITIES ACT”), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE. THESE INTERESTS MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT AND PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAW OR IN THE EVENT THE COMPANY HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO IT THAT SUCH TRANSFER DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE LAWS.
OPERATING AGREEMENT
OF
RAC ACCEPTANCE EAST, LLC,
a Delaware Limited Liability Company
This OPERATING AGREEMENT of RAC Acceptance East, LLC, (hereinafter, “Agreement”) dated effective as of November 19, 2012, is adopted by Rent-A-Center East, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“RAC East”), as the sole Member.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The following terms, when used in this Agreement, shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Article unless the context otherwise requires:
Act means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended (or the corresponding provisions of any successor act).
Additional Capital Contribution shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2.
Affiliate means any Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another Person. The term “control,” as used in the immediately preceding sentence, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of the controlled Person through the ownership of at least ten percent (10%) of the voting rights attributable to the equity interests in such Person.
Article means any article in this Agreement.
Board means the Board of Managers of the Company.
Capital Contribution means any contribution by the Member to the capital of the Company and includes Initial Capital Contributions and Additional Capital Contributions.
Certificate means the Certificate of Formation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any corresponding provisions of any successor statute).
Company means RAC Acceptance East, LLC, the limited liability company created pursuant to the Certificate and governed by this Agreement.
DGCL means the Delaware General Corporation Law and any successor statute, as amended from time to time.
Initial Capital Contribution shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.
IRS Regulations means the U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code, as may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of successor IRS Regulations).
Manager means any Person named in the Certificate as the initial manager(s) of the Company and any Person hereafter elected as a manager serving on the Board as provided in this Agreement, but does not include any Person who has ceased to be a manager of the Company.
Member means RAC East so long as it shall continue as a member hereunder.
Membership Interest means a Member’s interest, expressed as a percentage in Section 4.1, in the voting rights and distributions of the Company as may be affected by the provisions of this Agreement and as may hereafter be adjusted.
Person shall have the meaning given that term in Section 18-101(12) of the Act.
Proceeding shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
Related Party of a party means (i) any Person (and any of such Person’s related parties) that is an Affiliate of such party or that otherwise directly or indirectly owns, is owned by, or is under common ownership with such party, (ii) an officer, director or employee of such party or (iii) a family member of such party.
Section means any section or subsection in this Agreement.
Securities Act shall have the meaning set forth in the legend on the first page of this Agreement.
Transfer means the sale, transfer, gift, conveyance, assignment, pledge, hypothecation, mortgage or other encumbrance or disposition of all or any part of a Membership Interest.
UCC means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
2.1 Formation.
(a) The Company has been organized as a Delaware limited liability company by the filing of the Certificate under and pursuant to the Act and the issuance of a certificate of limited liability company for the Company by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
(b) The rights and liabilities of the Member shall be as provided in the Act, except as may be expressly provided otherwise herein. Prior to transacting business in any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware, the Company shall qualify to do business in such other jurisdiction if such a procedure is provided by statute or regulation in such other jurisdiction.
(c) The Member’s Membership Interest in the Company shall be personal property for all purposes. Other than for federal income tax purposes and applicable provisions of state tax laws, all real and other property owned by the Company shall be deemed owned by the Company as an entity and the Member, individually, shall not have any ownership of such property.
2.2 Name. The name of the Company is “RAC Acceptance East, LLC” and all Company business must be conducted in that name or such other names that comply with applicable law as the Board may select from time to time.
2.3 Offices. The registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be the office of the initial registered agent named in the Certificate or such other office (which need not be a place of business of the Company) as the Board may designate from time to time in the manner provided by law. The registered agent of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be the initial registered agent named in the Certificate or such other Person or Persons as the Board may designate from time to time in the manner provided by law. The principal office of the Company shall be at 0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, or such other place as the Board shall designate from time to time, and the Company shall maintain records there as required by the Act. The Company may have such other offices as the Board may designate from time to time.
2.4 Term. The Company shall commence on the date the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware issued a certificate of limited liability company and shall continue in existence for the period fixed in the Certificate.
2.5 Mergers and Exchanges. The Company may be a party to (a) a merger, or (b) an exchange or acquisition of the type described in Section 18-209 of the Act.
2.6 No Partnership. The Member intends that the Company not be treated as or construed to be a partnership (including a limited partnership) or joint venture for purposes of the laws of any state, and that, in the event that the Company is or becomes owned by more than one
Member, no Member thereafter will be treated as a partner or joint venturer of any other Member, for any purposes from and after such date, other than for purposes of applicable United States tax laws and applicable provisions of state tax laws, and this Agreement may not be construed to suggest otherwise. For federal income tax purposes and applicable provisions of state tax laws, as of the date hereof and until such time as the Company becomes owned by more than one Member, the Company and the Member desire and intend that the Company be disregarded as an entity separate from the Member.
ARTICLE III
PURPOSES AND POWERS
3.1 Purpose of the Company. The purpose for which the Company is organized is to engage in any lawful business activities permitted to limited liability companies by the Act.
3.2 Powers of the Company. The Company purposes set forth in Section 3.1 hereof may be accomplished by taking any action which is permitted under the Act and which is customary or directly related to the business of the Company and the Company shall possess and may exercise all the powers and privileges necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business, purposes or activities of the Company.
ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP
4.1 Member. The initial and sole Member of the Company is RAC East, whose Membership Interest is 100%.
4.2 Liability to Third Parties. Except as may be expressly provided in a separate, written guaranty or other agreement executed by the Member or the Board, neither the Member nor any Manager of the Board shall be liable for the debts, obligations or liabilities of the Company, including under a judgment, decree or order of a court.
4.3 Lack of Authority. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Member shall not have the authority or power to act for or on behalf of or bind the Company or to incur any expenditures on behalf of the Company.
4.4 Action by Written Consent.
(a) Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the Member may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the Member and delivered to the Board. A telegram, telex, cablegram or similar transmission by the Member, or a photographic, photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of a writing signed by the Member, shall be regarded as signed by the Member for purposes of this Section 4.4.
(b) If any action by the Member is taken by written consent, any certificate or documents filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware as a result of the taking of the action shall state, in lieu of any statement required by the Act or the DGCL concerning any vote of the sole Member, that written consent has been given in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the DGCL and that any written notice required by the Act and the DGCL has been given.
ARTICLE V
CONTRIBUTIONS
5.1 Initial Contributions. The Member shall make an initial contribution to the Company of cash in an amount equal to one thousand dollars ($1,000) (“Initial Capital Contribution”).
5.2 Additional Capital Contributions. From time to time the Member may agree to contribute additional cash and/or property to the Company to fund the continued operations or activities of the Company. All additional contributions of cash and/or property contemplated by this Section 5.2 are hereinafter collectively referred to as “Additional Capital Contributions.”
5.3 Loans by a Member.
(a) If any additional funds are required for additional working capital to operate the Company, then, in lieu of borrowing funds from unaffiliated lenders or the Member otherwise making Additional Capital Contributions, the Board may cause the Company to borrow from the Member such amounts as may reasonably be required and as are necessary to operate the Company as shall be determined by the Board. Nothing herein shall obligate the Member to make any such loans to the Company.
(b) Any loans made to the Company by the Member shall be upon such terms and for such maturities as the Board and the Member deem reasonable in view of all the facts and circumstances. Any loans made to the Company by the Member shall be a debt of the Company. The Company shall be required to execute such documents as may be deemed reasonably necessary, desirable or required by the Member as a condition to such financing. All loans, including both principal and interest, so made by the Member to the Company, shall be repaid out of the Company’s funds as the same become available.
5.4 Interest. No interest shall be paid by the Company on any Capital Contributions or Additional Capital Contributions by the Member.
5.5 Return of Capital. The Member shall not be entitled to have any Capital Contribution or Additional Capital Contribution returned to it or to receive any distributions from the Company except in accordance with the express provisions of this Agreement. No unrepaid Capital Contribution or Additional Capital Contribution shall be deemed or considered to be a liability of the Company, any Manager or the Member.
ARTICLE VI
TAX MATTERS
6.1 Tax Matters. For United States federal income tax and all applicable state and local income tax purposes, as of the date hereof and until the Company is owned by more than one Member, RAC East shall take into account all income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of the Company directly on its federal, state and local income tax returns as if the Company were RAC East. The Member shall compile or cause to be compiled the Company’s financial results and information and reflect such results and information directly on its federal, state and local income tax returns. In addition, the Company shall separately prepare such other federal, state and local tax returns and reports as it may desire or as may otherwise be required to cause the Company to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
ARTICLE VII
DISTRIBUTIONS
7.1 Distributions. From time to time the Board shall determine in its reasonable judgment to what extent (if any) the Company’s cash on hand exceeds its current and anticipated needs, including, without limitation, for capital expenditures, operating expenses, debt service, and a reasonable contingency reserve. If such an excess exists, the Board may cause the Company to distribute to the Member an amount equal to or less than such excess.
7.2 Accounting Matters.
(a) The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year, with the first fiscal year of the Company ending on December 31, 2012. The books and records of account of the Company shall be, at the expense of the Company, (i) kept, or caused to be kept, by the Company at the principal place of business of the Company, (ii) reflect all Company transactions, and (iii) appropriate and adequate for conducting the Company business.
(b) Company books and records (including all files and documents), as well as any tangible assets of the Company, will be available for inspection by the Member or the Member’s duly authorized representative (at the expense of the Member) during business hours at (in the case of books and records) the principal office of the Company or (in the case of tangible assets) the place where such assets are physically located. The Member may request an audit of the Company’s books and records.
(c) Each Person who inspects the books and records of the Company shall maintain the confidentiality of the information received pursuant to or in connection with such inspection; provided that this provision shall not apply to such information that is or becomes generally available to the public or is required to be disclosed pursuant to a valid subpoena or court order or applicable governmental regulations, rules or statutes.
7.3 Maintenance of Books. The Company shall keep minutes of the proceedings of the Board and each committee (if any) of the Board.
ARTICLE VIII
BOARD AND OFFICERS
8.1 Management by the Board. Except for situations in which the approval of the Member is required by non-waivable provisions of applicable law, and subject to the provisions of Section 8.2, (i) the powers of the Company shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of, the Board, and (ii) the Board may make all decisions and take all actions for the Company not otherwise provided for in this Agreement, including, without limitation, the following:
(a) acquire, hold, manage, sell, exchange, lease or otherwise dispose of all property of the Company, real, personal and mixed, in the Company’s name, or in the name of a nominee or trustee for the Company;
(b) contract on behalf of the Company and execute and deliver on behalf of and in the name of the Company or in the name of a nominee or trustee for the Company, contracts, agreements, leases, mortgages, bills of sale, guaranties, indemnities, assignments, security agreements, certificates and assumed name certificates, and any and all other documents or instruments necessary, advisable or incidental to the conduct of the Company’s business or the performance of the Board’s duties or the exercise of the powers of the Board hereunder;
(c) perform, manage and contract for all accounting, clerical and ministerial functions of the Company, employ or engage such accountants, attorneys, brokers, agents and other management or service personnel and employees of or for the Company and generally incur such costs and expenses as may from time to time be required to carry on the business of the Company;
(d) collect and disburse all monies of the Company and establish, maintain and supervise the deposit and withdrawal of funds of the Company and bank accounts of the Company;
(e) to the extent that funds of the Company are available therefor, pay debts and obligations of the Company;
(f) procure and maintain such insurance as may be available in such amounts and covering such risks as are deemed appropriate by the Board;
(g) borrow money and refinance, extend or rearrange any Company loans, and pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, encumber and grant security interests in Company property and assets to secure the payment of Company borrowings;
(h) reinvest Company revenues for any valid purpose of the Company;
(i) compromise claims and institute or defend law suits;
(j) exercise all powers of the Company and make all decisions with respect to its business and the conduct of its business, subject to the Act and this Agreement; and
(k) take any and all other action that may be necessary, appropriate or advisable in furtherance of the purposes of the Company;
provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall obligate the Board to take any action on behalf of the Company that the Board deems (i) not in the best interests of the Company, or (ii) not reasonably necessary to accomplish the intended business of the Company.
8.2 Actions by the Board; Committees; Delegation of Authority and Duties.
(a) In managing the business and affairs of the Company and exercising its powers, the Board shall act (i) collectively through meetings and written consents pursuant to Sections 8.5 and 8.7; (ii) through committees pursuant to Subsection 8.2(b); and (iii) through any Manager to whom authority and duties have been delegated pursuant to Subsection 8.2(c).
(b) The Board may, from time to time, designate one or more committees, each of which shall be comprised of one or more Managers. Any such committee, to the extent provided in such resolution or in the Certificate or this Agreement, shall have and may exercise all of the authority of the Board, subject to the limitations set forth in the Act and the DGCL. At every meeting of any such committee, the presence of a majority of all the committee members shall constitute a quorum, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the committee members present shall be necessary for the adoption of any resolution. The Board may dissolve any committee at any time unless otherwise provided in the Certificate or this Agreement.
(c) Any Person dealing with the Company, other than the Member, may rely on the authority of any Manager or officer of the Company in taking any action in the name of the Company without inquiry into the provisions of this Agreement or compliance herewith, regardless of whether that action actually is taken in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
8.3 Number and Term of Office of Managers.
(a) The number of Managers of the Board shall be determined from time to time by the Member; provided, however, that in no event shall there be more than five (5) or less than two (2) Managers. If the Member makes no such determination, the number of Managers shall correspond to the number of Managers named in Subsection 8.3(b). Each Manager shall initially hold office until his or her successor has been elected and qualifies, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Act and this Agreement. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate, a Manager need not be a Member or resident of the State of Delaware.
(b) The initial Managers of the Company shall be Xxxx X. Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx.
8.4 Removal; Vacancies; Resignation of Managers. Any Manager may be removed, with or without cause, by the Member. Any vacancy occurring in the Board may be filled by the Member. Any Manager may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing and shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if no time be specified, at the time of its receipt by the Board and the Member. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective, unless expressly so provided in the resignation.
8.5 Meetings of the Board.
(a) Unless otherwise required by law or provided in the Certificate or this Agreement, a majority of the Managers of the Board fixed by, or in the manner provided in, the Certificate or this Agreement shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Board, and the act of a majority or more of the Managers of the Board fixed by, or in the manner provided in, this Agreement shall be the act of the Managers (unless this Agreement, the Certificate, the Act or other applicable law requires the approval of a greater number of the Managers of the Board for such action).
(b) Meetings of the Board shall be held at the Company’s principal place of business or at such other place or places as shall be determined from time to time by the Board. At all meetings of the Board, business shall be transacted in such order as shall from time to time be determined by the Board. Attendance of a Manager at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a Manager attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
(c) Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and places as shall be designated from time to time by the Board. Notice of such regular meetings shall not be required.
(d) Special meetings of the Board may be called by any Manager on at least two business days’ notice to each other Manager, together with a reasonably detailed statement of the purpose or purposes of, and the business to be transacted at, such meeting.
8.6 Approval or Ratification of Acts or Contracts by the Member. The Board in its discretion may submit any act or contract for approval or ratification by the Member, and any act or contract that shall be approved or be ratified by the Member shall be as valid and as binding upon the Company and upon the Member as if it shall have been approved in the first instance.
8.7 Action by Written Consent or Telephone Conference. Any action permitted or required by the Act, the DGCL, the Certificate or this Agreement to be taken at a meeting of the Board or any committee designated by the Board may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action to be taken, is signed by the Managers or committee members, as the case may be, having not fewer than the minimum votes that would be necessary to take the action at a meeting at which all Managers or committee members, as the case may be, entitled to vote on the action were present and voted. Such consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote at a meeting and may be stated as such in any document or instrument filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and the execution of such consent shall constitute attendance or presence in person at a meeting of the Board or any such committee, as the case may be. Subject to the requirements of the Act, the DGCL, the Certificate or this Agreement for notice of meetings, unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate, the Board, or members of any committee designated by the Board, may participate in and hold a meeting of the Board or any committee of the Board, as the case may be, by means of a telephone conference or similar communications equipment by means of which all Persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in such meeting shall constitute attendance and presence in person at such meeting, except where a Person participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
8.8 Compensation. Managers of the Board as such shall not receive any stated salary for their service in the capacity of Managers, but by resolution of the Board, a fixed sum and reimbursement for reasonable expenses of attendance, if any, may be allowed for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board or at any meeting of the executive committee of Board, if any, to which such Manager may be elected; but nothing herein shall preclude any Manager from serving the Company in any other capacity or receiving compensation therefor.
8.9 Officers.
(a) The Board may, from time to time, designate and remove one or more persons as officers of the Company and assign titles to particular officers. An officer may be, but no officer need be, a resident of the State of Delaware, a Member or a Manager. Any officers so designated shall have such authority and perform such duties as provided in this Agreement or as the Board may, from time to time, delegate to them. Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement or unless the Board decides otherwise, if an officer’s title is one commonly used for officers of a business corporation formed under the DGCL, the assignment of such title to an officer of the Company shall constitute the delegation to such person of the authority and duties provided in this Agreement and the authority and duties that would be held by a person with such title in a business corporation formed under the DGCL.
(b) The initial officers of the Company may consist of a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and Treasurer and, in addition, such other officers and assistant officers and agents as may be deemed necessary or desirable. Officers shall be elected or appointed by the Board in accordance with this Agreement, including, but not limited to the provisions set forth below.
(c) Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. In their discretion, the Board may leave any office unfilled. A vacancy in any office for any reason may be filled by the Board. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor has been chosen and qualifies, or until his or her death, resignation, or removal.
(d) Any officer may resign as such at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing and shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if no time be specified, at the time of its receipt by the Board. The acceptance of a resignation shall
not be necessary to make it effective, unless expressly so provided in the resignation. Any officer may be removed as such, either with or without cause, by the Board whenever in their judgment the best interests of the Company will be served thereby; provided, however, that such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Designation of an officer shall not of itself create contract rights.
(e) The following officers of the Company shall have such powers and duties, except as modified by the Board, as generally pertain to their offices, respectively, as well as such powers and duties as from time to time shall be conferred by the Board and by this Agreement:
(i) The President. The President of the Company shall be the Company’s chief executive officer and, subject to the control of the Board, shall have the responsibility for the general direction of the affairs of the Company, and general supervision over its several other officers. The President may sign and execute in the name of the Company (i) all contracts or other instruments authorized by the Board, and (ii) all contracts or instruments in the usual and regular course of business, except in cases when the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated or permitted by the Board or by this Agreement to some other officer or agent of the Company, and, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of chief executive officer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board or as are prescribed by this Agreement.
(ii) The Vice Presidents. At the request of the President, or in his or her absence or disability, the Vice Presidents, in the order of their election, shall perform the duties of the President, and, when so acting, shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all restrictions upon, the President. Any action taken by a Vice President in the performance of the duties of the President shall be conclusive evidence of the request by the President to so act. The Vice Presidents shall perform such other duties as may, from time to time, be assigned to them by the Board or the President. A Vice President may sign, with the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, any or all certificates representing Membership Interests, as such certificates are described in Article IX. A Vice President may be designated as the “Chief Financial Officer” of the Company. In such capacity, such Vice President will be responsible for all financial matters of the Company.
(iii) Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Member, the Board and of the executive committee, if any, of the Board, in one or more books provided for such purpose and shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or as required by law. The Secretary shall be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal (if any) of the Company and see, if the Company has a seal, that the seal of the Company is affixed to all documents the execution of which on behalf of the Company under its seal is duly authorized; shall have general charge of the minute books, transfer books and certificate of Membership Interest ledgers, and
such other books and papers of the Company as the Board may direct; and in general shall perform all duties and exercise all powers incident to the office of the Secretary and such other duties and powers as the Board or the President from time to time may assign to or confer on the Secretary.
(iv) Treasurer. The Treasurer shall keep complete and accurate records of account, showing at all times the financial condition of the Company. The Treasurer shall be the legal custodian of all money, notes, securities and other valuables which may from time to time come into the possession of the Company. The Treasurer may be designated as the “Chief Financial Officer” of the Company. In such capacity, the Treasurer will be responsible for all financial matters of the Company. The Treasurer shall furnish at meetings of the Board, or whenever requested, a statement of the financial condition of the Company, and shall perform such other duties as this Agreement may require or the Board or the president may prescribe.
(v) Assistant Officers. Any Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer appointed by the Board shall have the power to perform, and shall perform, all duties incumbent upon the Secretary or Treasurer of the Company, respectively, subject to the general direction of such respective officers, and shall perform such other duties as this Agreement may require or the Board or the President may prescribe.
(f) The salaries or other compensation of the officers, if any, shall be fixed from time to time by the Board. No officer shall be prevented from receiving such salary or other compensation by reason of the fact that such officer is also a Manager of the Company.
(g) The Board may secure the fidelity of any officer of the Company by bond or otherwise, on such terms and with such surety or sureties, conditions, penalties or securities as shall be deemed proper by the Board.
(h) The Board may delegate temporarily the powers and duties of any officer of the Company, in case of his or her absence or for any other reason, to any other officer, and may authorize the delegation by any officer of the Company of any of his or her powers and duties to any agent or employee, subject to the general supervision of such officer.
8.10 Reimbursements. The Board and the officers shall be entitled to be reimbursed for any and all reasonable, duly substantiated, direct out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Company paid or incurred by a Manager or officer on behalf of the Company and within the scope of its business and this Agreement.
8.11 Limitations of Liability. The Member and any persons serving as Managers or officers of the Company and their respective shareholders, interest holders, officers, directors, agents, employees and representatives shall not be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Company, the Member or any Manager or officer of the Company for any
mistake of fact or judgment in operating the business of the Company or for any act performed (or omitted to be performed) in good faith (including, without limitation, pursuant to advice of legal counsel) and within the scope of this Agreement, unless such actions or inactions shall have resulted from gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or breach of this Agreement.
8.12 Board Decisions. For all purposes of this Agreement, the phrases “approval” of or by the Board, “consent” of or by the Board, “action” of or by the Board and phrases of like import, or references to actions to be or which may be taken by “the Board,” shall mean written approval by a majority of the Managers of the Board fixed by, or in the manner provided for in, this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX
MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS
9.1 Certificates Representing Membership Interests. Membership Interests may be represented by certificates in such form or forms as the Board may approve, provided that such form or forms shall comply with all applicable requirements of law or of the Certificate. Such certificates shall be signed by the President or a Vice President, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company (or by at least two Managers, if the Company has not appointed such officers) and may be sealed with the seal of the Company or imprinted or otherwise marked with a facsimile of such seal. The signature of any or all of the foregoing officers of the Company may be represented by a printed facsimile thereof. If any officer whose signature, or a facsimile thereof, shall have been set upon any certificate shall cease, prior to the issuance of such certificate, to occupy the position in right of which his or her signature, or facsimile thereof, was so set upon such certificate, the Company may nevertheless adopt and issue such certificate with the same effect as if such officer occupied such position as of such date of issuance; and issuance and delivery of such certificate by the Company shall constitute adoption thereof by the Company. The certificates shall be consecutively numbered, and as they are issued, a record of such issuance shall be entered in the books of the Company.
9.2 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The Company may issue a new certificate for Membership Interests in the place of any certificate theretofore issued and alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, but the Board may require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his, her or its legal representative, to furnish an affidavit as to such loss, theft, or destruction and to give a bond in such form and substance, and with such surety or sureties, with fixed or open penalty, as the board may direct, in order to indemnify the Company and its transfer agents and registrars, if any, against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of such certificate.
ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION
10.1 Right to Indemnification. Subject to the limitations and conditions provided in this Article X, each Person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative (hereinafter a “Proceeding”), or any appeal in such a Proceeding or any inquiry or investigation that could lead to such a Proceeding, by reason of the fact that such Person is or was a Member, Manager, officer, employee or agent of the Company or while a Member, Manager, officer, employee or agent of the Company is or was serving at the request of the Company as a Manager, director, officer, partner, venturer, proprietor, trustee, employee, agent, or similar functionary of another foreign or domestic limited liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall be indemnified, defended and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by the Act and the DGCL, as the same exist or may hereinafter 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 said law permitted the Company to provide prior to such amendment) against claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, penalties (including excise and similar taxes and punitive damages), fines, settlements and reasonable costs or expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) actually incurred by such Person in connection with such Proceeding, whether or not such Person is acting in such capacity at the time such liability or expense is paid or incurred, if, in the matter giving rise to such Proceeding, the Person acted, or omitted to act, in good faith and in a manner the Person reasonably believed to be not opposed to the best interest of the Company. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order or settlement shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Person did not act, or omit to act, in good faith and in a manner that the Person reasonably believed to be not opposed to the best interest of the Company. The right of indemnification provided herein shall be cumulative of, and in addition to, any and all rights to which any Person may otherwise be entitled by contract or as a matter of law or equity and shall extend to his, her or its heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. It is expressly acknowledged that the indemnification provided in this Article X could involve indemnification for negligence of the Person indemnified or under theories of strict liability.
10.2 Advance Payment. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the right to indemnification conferred in this Article X shall include the right to be paid or reimbursed by the Company the reasonable expenses incurred by a Person of the type entitled to be indemnified under Section 10.1 in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding and without any determination as to the Person’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification; provided, however, that the payment of such expenses incurred by any such Person in advance of the final disposition of a Proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of a written affirmation by such Person of such Person’s good faith belief that such Person has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification under this Article X and a written undertaking, by or on behalf of such Person, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article X or otherwise.
10.3 Insurance. The Company may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any Person of the type entitled to be indemnified under Section 10.1, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such Person against such expense, liability or loss under Section 10.1.
10.4 Member Notification. To the extent required by law, any indemnification of or advance of expenses to a Person in accordance with this Article X shall be reported in writing to
the Member within ten (10) days immediately following the date of the indemnification or advance.
10.5 Savings Clause. If this Article X or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify and hold harmless each Person indemnified pursuant to this Article X as to costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article X that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
ARTICLE XI
TRANSFERS
11.1 Transfer of Membership Interest. Subject to applicable law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act, and any agreement restricting the transfer of the Membership Interests hereunder to which the Member may be a party, the Member may at any time Transfer in whole or in part its Membership Interest. If the Member Transfers any portion of its Membership Interest pursuant to this Section 11.1, the transferee shall be admitted to the Company upon its execution of an instrument signifying its agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Such admission shall be deemed effective as of the date of the Transfer.
ARTICLE XII
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
12.1 Dissolution of the Company. The Company shall be dissolved upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a) The determination by the Member that the Company be dissolved;
(b) The expiration of the period fixed for the duration of the Company set forth in the Certificate; or
(c) Entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Act.
12.2 Liquidation and Termination. On dissolution of the Company, the Board shall act as liquidator or may appoint the Member as liquidator. The liquidator shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in the Act. The costs of liquidation shall be borne as a Company expense. Until final distribution, the liquidator shall continue to operate the Company with all of the power and authority of the Board. Maintenance of property, borrowings and expenditures of Company funds for legitimate Company purposes to effectuate or facilitate the winding up or the liquidation of the Company affairs shall be authorized if the liquidator, in the exercise of his, her or its business judgment, believes that the interest of the Company would be best served thereby and shall not be construed
to involve a continuation of the Company. Upon dissolution of the Company, a true and final accounting of all transactions relating to the business of the Company shall be made. Liabilities of the Company shall be paid and assets of the Company shall be distributed in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.3 hereof as soon as is reasonably possible after the dissolution of the Company.
12.3 Payment of Liabilities and Distribution of Assets. Upon dissolution of the Company, the liquidator shall determine and report to the Member the assets of the Company and the value of Company assets. The assets of the Company remaining after the payment of all Company debts shall be distributed to the Member.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
13.1 Notices. All notices, demands, requests or other communications that may be or are required to be given, served or sent pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be mailed by first-class, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, facsimile transmission or electronic transmission addressed as set forth on the signature pages hereof. The Member may designate by notice in writing a new address to which any notice, demand, request or communication may thereafter be so given, served or sent. Each notice, demand, request or communication that is mailed, delivered or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent and received for all purposes at such time as it is delivered to the addressee with the return receipt, the delivery receipt, the affidavit of messenger or (with respect to a facsimile or electronic transmission) the answer back being deemed conclusive evidence of such delivery or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation.
13.2 Amendment or Modification. This Agreement may be amended or modified from time to time only by a written instrument adopted by the Board and executed and agreed to by the Member.
13.3 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement, and all the terms and provisions hereof, shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Member and its respective personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
13.4 Construction. The captions used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be construed in interpreting this Agreement. Wherever the context so requires, the masculine shall include the feminine and the neuter, and the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, unless the context clearly requires a different interpretation.
13.5 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
13.6 Severability. This Agreement is intended to be performed in accordance with, and only to the extent permitted by, all applicable laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which the Company does business. In the event of a direct conflict between the
provisions of this Agreement and (a) any provision of the Certificate, or (b) any mandatory provision of the Act or (to the extent such statutes are incorporated into the Act) of the DGCL, the applicable provision of the Certificate, the Act, or the DGCL shall control. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstances is for any reason and to any extent invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to the other Persons or circumstances will not be affected thereby, but rather are to be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.
13.7 No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the exclusive benefit of the Member and its personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns, and nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as creating any rights or benefits in or to any third party.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the sole Member has executed this Agreement this 26th day of November, 2012, to be effective as of the date first set forth above.
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SOLE MEMBER: | ||||
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Rent-A-Center East, Inc., | ||||
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a Delaware corporation | ||||
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By: |
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
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Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, President | |||
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Address: |
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx | |||
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Plano, Texas 75024 | |||
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