OPERATING AGREEMENT OF AMAIZING ENERGY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC Dated: Effective January 23, 2007
Exhibit 3.2
OF
Dated: Effective January 23, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
ARTICLE I. THE COMPANY |
1 | |||
1.1 Formation |
1 | |||
1.2 Name |
1 | |||
1.3 Purpose; Powers |
1 | |||
1.4 Principal Place of Business |
1 | |||
1.5 Term |
1 | |||
1.6 Registered Agent |
1 | |||
1.7 Title to Property |
1 | |||
1.8 Payment of Individual Obligations |
2 | |||
1.9 Independent Activities; Transactions With Affiliates |
2 | |||
1.10 Definitions |
2 | |||
ARTICLE II. CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS |
7 | |||
2.1 Membership Interests |
7 | |||
2.2 Initial Capital Contributions |
7 | |||
2.3 Additional Capital Contributions; Additional Units |
7 | |||
2.4 Capital Accounts |
7 | |||
2.5 Loans By Members |
8 | |||
2.6 Compensation of Members; Interest on Capital Contributions; Withdrawal |
8 | |||
ARTICLE III. ALLOCATIONS |
8 | |||
3.1 Profits |
8 | |||
3.2 Losses |
8 | |||
3.3 Special Allocations |
8 | |||
3.4 Regulatory Allocations |
10 | |||
3.5 Loss Limitation |
10 | |||
3.6 Other Allocation Rules |
10 | |||
3.7 Tax Allocations: Code Section 704(c) |
10 | |||
3.8 Tax Credit Allocations |
11 | |||
ARTICLE IV. DISTRIBUTIONS |
11 | |||
4.1 Net Cash Flow |
11 | |||
4.2 Amounts Withheld |
11 | |||
4.3 Limitations on Distributions |
11 | |||
ARTICLE V. MANAGEMENT |
11 | |||
5.1 Directors |
11 | |||
5.2 Classes of Directors; Number of Total Directors |
12 | |||
5.3 Special Right of Appointment for Certain Members |
12 |
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5.4 Election of Directors |
14 | |||
5.5 Director’s Fiduciary Duty |
15 | |||
5.6 Authority of Directors |
15 | |||
5.7 Director as Agent |
17 | |||
5.8 Restriction on Authority of Directors |
17 | |||
5.9 Meetings |
17 | |||
5.10 Notice |
18 | |||
5.11 Conduct of Meeting |
18 | |||
5.12 Quorum |
18 | |||
5.13 Manner of Acting; Informal Action |
18 | |||
5.14 Presumption of Assent |
19 | |||
5.15 Compensation |
19 | |||
5.16 Committees; Authority |
19 | |||
5.17 Voting; Potential Financial Interest |
19 | |||
5.18 Duties and Obligations of Directors |
19 | |||
5.19 Officers |
20 | |||
5.20 Execution of Instruments |
21 | |||
5.21 Limitation of Liability |
22 | |||
5.22 Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
22 | |||
5.23 Removal of Directors |
23 | |||
ARTICLE VI. MEMBERSHIP UNITS; MEMBERS |
23 | |||
6.1 Membership Units |
23 | |||
6.2 Certificates; Surrender for Transfer |
23 | |||
6.3 Members |
23 | |||
6.4 Members’ Voting Rights |
23 | |||
6.5 Member Meetings |
24 | |||
6.6 Place of Meeting |
24 | |||
6.7 Conduct of Meetings |
24 | |||
6.8 Notice |
24 | |||
6.9 Contents of Notice |
24 | |||
6.10 Adjourned Meetings |
24 | |||
6.11 Waiver of Notice |
24 | |||
6.12 Fixing of Record Date |
25 | |||
6.13 Quorum and Proxies |
25 | |||
6.14 Voting; Action by Members |
25 | |||
6.15 Action by Members Without a Meeting |
25 | |||
6.16 Activities With the Company |
25 | |||
6.17 Termination of Membership |
25 | |||
6.18 Continuation of the Company |
26 | |||
6.19 Waiver of Dissenters Rights |
26 | |||
ARTICLE VII. ACCOUNTING, BOOKS AND RECORDS |
26 | |||
7.1 Accounting, Books and Records |
26 | |||
7.2 Delivery to Members and Inspection |
26 | |||
7.3 Reports |
26 | |||
7.4 Tax Matters |
27 |
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ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS |
27 | |||
8.1 Amendments |
27 | |||
ARTICLE IX. TRANSFERS |
27 | |||
9.1 Restrictions on Transfers |
27 | |||
9.2 Permitted Transfers |
28 | |||
9.3 Conditions Precedent to Transfers |
28 | |||
9.4 Prohibited Transfers |
29 | |||
9.5 No Dissolution or Termination |
29 | |||
9.6 Prohibition of Assignment |
29 | |||
9.7 Rights of Unadmitted Assignees |
30 | |||
9.8 Admission of Substitute Members |
30 | |||
9.9 Representations Regarding Transfers |
30 | |||
9.10 Distributions And Allocations In Respect of Transferred Units |
31 | |||
9.11 Additional Members |
31 | |||
ARTICLE X. DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP |
31 | |||
10.1 Dissolution |
31 | |||
10.2 Winding Up |
32 | |||
10.3 Compliance with Certain Requirements of Regulations; Deficit Capital Accounts |
32 | |||
10.4 Deemed Distribution and Recontribution |
32 | |||
10.5 Rights of Unit Holders |
32 | |||
10.6 Allocations During Period of Liquidation |
33 | |||
10.7 Character of Liquidating Distributions |
33 | |||
10.8 The Liquidator |
33 | |||
10.9 Forms of Liquidating Distributions |
33 | |||
ARTICLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS |
33 | |||
11.1 Notices |
33 | |||
11.2 Binding Effect |
33 | |||
11.3 Construction |
34 | |||
11.4 Headings |
34 | |||
11.5 Severability |
34 | |||
11.6 Incorporation By Reference |
34 | |||
11.7 Variation of Terms |
34 | |||
11.8 Governing Law |
34 | |||
11.9 Waiver of Jury Trial |
34 | |||
11.10 Counterpart Execution |
34 | |||
11.11 Specific Performance |
34 | |||
11.12 No Third Party Rights |
34 | |||
11.13 Entire Agreement |
34 |
iii
THIS
OPERATING AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into
effective as of the 23rd day of
January, 2007 (the “Effective Date”), by and among Amaizing Energy Holding Company, LLC, an Iowa
limited liability company (the “Company”), each of the Persons identified as Members on attached
Exhibit “A,” and any other Persons that may from time-to-time be subsequently admitted as Members
of the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.10.
In consideration of the covenants and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. THE COMPANY
1.1 Formation. The Company was formed as an Iowa limited liability company by filing
Articles of Organization with the Iowa Secretary of State on December 27, 2006.
1.2 Name. The name of the Company shall be “Amaizing Energy Holding Company, LLC,” and all
business of the Company shall be conducted in such name.
1.3 Purposes; Powers. The nature of the business and purposes of the Company are to: (i)
directly or indirectly, own, construct, operate, lease, finance, contract with, and/or invest in
ethanol production and by-product production facilities; (ii) process feedstock into ethanol and
related by-products, and market such ethanol and by-products; and (iii) engage in any other
business and investment activity in which an Iowa limited liability company may lawfully be
engaged, as determined by the Directors. The Company has the power to do any and all acts
necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental or convenient to, and in furtherance of, the
purposes of the Company as set forth in this Section 1.3 and has, without limitation, any and all
powers that may be exercised on behalf of the Company by the Directors pursuant to Article V of
this Agreement.
1.4 Principal Place of Business. The Company shall continuously maintain a principal place
of business in either the State of Iowa, at such location as the Directors may determine. The
initial principal place of business of the Company shall be at 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx 00, Xxxxxxx, Xxxx,
00000 or elsewhere as the Directors may determine. Any documents required by the Act to be kept by
the Company shall be maintained at the Company’s principal place of business.
1.5 Term. The term of the Company commenced on the date the Articles were filed with the
Iowa Secretary of State, and shall continue until the winding up and liquidation of the Company and
its business is completed following a Dissolution Event as provided in Article X of this Agreement.
1.6 Registered Agent. The Company shall continuously maintain a registered office and a
registered agent for service of process in the State of Iowa and in any other state in which it is
required by law to do so. The name and address of the Company’s initial Registered Agent in Iowa
shall be Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000.
1.7 Title to Property. All Property owned by the Company shall be owned by the Company as
an entity and not in the name of any Member, and no Member shall have any ownership interest in such Property, except as a Member of the Company. Each Member’s interest in
the Company shall be personal property for all purposes.
1.8 Payment of Individual Obligations. The Company’s credit and assets shall be used
solely for the benefit of the Company, and no asset of the Company shall be Transferred or
encumbered for, or in payment of, any individual obligation of any Member.
1.9 Independent Activities; Transactions With Affiliates. The Directors shall be required
to devote such time to the business and affairs of the Company as may be necessary to manage and
operate the Company, and shall be free to serve any other Person or enterprise in any capacity that
they deem appropriate in their discretion. Neither this Agreement nor any activity undertaken
pursuant hereto shall: (i) prevent any Member or Director or their Affiliates from engaging in
whatever activities they choose, whether the same are competitive with the Company or otherwise,
and any such activities may be undertaken without having or incurring any obligation to offer any
interest in such activities to the Company or any other Member; or (ii) require any Member or
Director to permit the Company or any other Director or Member or their Affiliates to participate
in any such activities. As a material part of the consideration for the execution of this
Agreement by each Member, each Member hereby waives, relinquishes and renounces any such right or
claim of participation. To the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the provisions of
this Agreement, the Directors are hereby authorized to cause the Company to purchase Property from,
sell Property to, or otherwise deal with, any Member (including any Member who is also a Director),
or any Affiliate of any Member; provided that any such purchase, sale or other transaction shall be
made on terms and conditions which are no less favorable to the Company than if the sale, purchase
or other transaction had been entered into with an independent third party.
1.10 Definitions. Capitalized words and phrases used in this Agreement have the following
meanings:
(a) “Act” means the Iowa Limited Liability Company Act, as amended from time to time, or any
corresponding provisions of any succeeding law.
(b) “Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” means, with respect to any Unit Holder, the deficit
balance, if any, in such Unit Holder’s Capital Account as of the end of the relevant Fiscal Year,
after giving effect to the following adjustments: (i) crediting to such Capital Account any
amounts which such Unit Holder is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the next to the
last sentences of Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations; and (ii) debiting to
such Capital Account the items described in Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4),
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6) of the Regulations. The foregoing definition
is intended to comply with the provisions of Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations and
shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(c) “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person or entity: (i) any Person directly or
indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person or entity; (ii) any
officer, director, general partner, member or trustee of any such Person or entity; or (iii) any
Person or entity who is an officer, director, general partner, member or trustee of any Person
described in clauses (i) or (ii) of this sentence. For purposes of this definition, the terms
“controlling,” “controlled by” or “under common control with” shall mean the possession, direct or
indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person
or entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, or the
power to elect a majority of the directors, managers, or persons exercising similar authority with
respect to such Person or entities.
(d) “Agreement” means the Company’s Operating Agreement, as amended from time to time.
(e) “Articles” means the Company’s Articles of Organization on file with the Iowa Secretary of
State’s Office, as amended from time to time.
(f) “Assignee” means a transferee of Units who is not admitted as a Substitute Member pursuant
to Section 9.8 of this Agreement.
(g) “Capital Account” means the separate capital account maintained for each Unit Holder in
accordance with Section 2.4 of this Agreement.
(h) “Capital Contributions” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of money (US
Dollars), and the initial Gross Asset Value of any assets or property other than money, contributed
by the Member or such Member’s predecessors in interest to the Company, (net of liabilities secured
by such contributed property that the Company is considered to assume or take subject to under Code
Section 752) with respect to the Units held or purchased by such Member, including additional
Capital Contributions.
(i) “Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time.
(j) “Company” means Amaizing Energy Holding Company, LLC, an Iowa limited liability company.
(k) “Company Minimum Gain” has the meaning given the term “partnership minimum gain” in
Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d) of the Regulations.
(l) “Debt” means: (i) any indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of
property as evidenced by notes, bonds or other instruments; (ii) obligations as lessee under
capital leases; (iii) obligations secured by any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance,
lien or charge of any kind existing on any asset owned or held by the Company, whether or not the
Company has assumed or become liable for the obligations secured thereby; (iv) any obligation under
any interest rate swap agreement; (v) accounts payable; and (vi) obligations, contingent or
otherwise, under direct or indirect guarantees of indebtedness or obligations of the kinds referred
to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v), above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, Debt
shall not include obligations in respect of any accounts payable that are incurred in the ordinary
course of the Company’s business and are not delinquent or are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings.
(m) “Depreciation” means, for each Fiscal Year, an amount equal to the depreciation,
amortization, or other cost recovery deduction allowable with respect to an asset for such Fiscal
Year, except that if the Gross Asset Value of an asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal
income tax purposes at the beginning of such Fiscal Year, Depreciation shall be an amount which
bears the same ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax depreciation,
amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such Fiscal Year bears to such beginning
adjusted tax basis; provided, however, that if the adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes
of an asset at the beginning of such Fiscal Year is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with
reference to such beginning Gross Asset Value using any reasonable method selected by the
Directors.
(n) “Director” means any Person who: (i) is elected as a Director pursuant to Article V of
this Agreement or who has otherwise become a Director pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and
(ii) has not ceased to be a Director pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. “Directors” means
all such Persons. For purposes of the Act, the Directors shall be deemed to be the “managers” (as
such term is defined and used in the Act) of the Company.
(o) “Dissolution Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.1 of this Agreement.
(p) “Effective Date” means January 23, 2007.
(q) “Facilities” means the ethanol and by-product production facilities which are presently in
operation and those facilities to be constructed and operated by the Company or its Affiliates.
(r) “Fiscal Year” means: (i) any twelve-month period commencing on October 1 and ending on
September 30; and (ii) the period commencing on the immediately preceding October 1 and ending on
the date on which all Property is distributed to the Unit Holders pursuant to Article X of this
Agreement, or, if the context requires, any portion of a Fiscal Year for which an allocation of
Profits or Losses or a distribution is to be made. The Directors may establish a different Fiscal
Year so long as the Fiscal Year chosen is not contrary to the Code or any provision of any state or
local tax law.
(s) “GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States of
America from time to time.
(t) “Gross Asset Value” means with respect to any asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for
federal income tax purposes, except as follows: (i) The initial Gross Asset Value of any asset
contributed by a Member to the Company shall be the gross fair market value of such asset, as
determined by the Directors, provided that the initial Gross Asset Values of the assets contributed
to the Company pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement shall be as set forth in such Section;
(ii) The Gross Asset Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross
fair market values (taking Code Section 7701(g) into account), as determined by the Directors as of
the following times: (A) upon the acquisition of an additional interest in the Company by any new
or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (B) upon the
distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de minimis amount of Company Property as
consideration for an interest in the Company; and (C) upon the liquidation of the Company within
the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), provided that an adjustment described in
clauses (A) and (B) of this paragraph shall be made only if the Directors reasonably determine that
such adjustment is necessary to reflect the relative economic interests of the Members in the
Company; (iii) The Gross Asset Value of any item of Company assets distributed to any Member shall
be adjusted to equal the gross fair market value (taking Code Section 7701(g) into account) of such
asset on the date of distribution as determined by the Directors; and (iv) The Gross Asset Values
of Company assets shall be increased or decreased, as applicable, to reflect any adjustments to the
adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b), but only to
the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to
Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) and subparagraph (vi) of the definition of “Profits” and
“Losses” or Section 3.3(c) of this Agreement; provided, however, that Gross Asset Values shall not
be adjusted pursuant to this subparagraph (iv) to the extent that an adjustment pursuant to
subparagraph (ii) is required in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an
adjustment pursuant to this subparagraph (iv). If the Gross Asset Value of an asset has been
determined or adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (ii) or (iv) of this paragraph, such Gross Asset
Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such
asset, for purposes of computing Profits and Losses.
(u) “Issuance Items” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(h) of this Agreement.
(v) “Liquidation Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6 of this Agreement.
(w) “Liquidator” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.8 of this Agreement.
(x) “Member” means any Person: (i) whose name is set forth as such on Exhibit “A” attached
hereto as it may be amended from time to time, or who has become a Member pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement; and (ii) who is the owner of one or more Units and has not ceased to be a Member
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. “Members” means all such Persons.
(y) “Membership Economic Interest” means collectively, a Member’s share of “Profits” and
“Losses,” the right to receive distributions of the Company’s assets, and the right to information
concerning the business and affairs of the Company as required by the Act. The Membership Economic
Interest of a Member is quantified by the unit of measurement referred to herein as “Units.”
(z) “Membership Interest” means collectively, the Membership Economic Interest and the
Membership Voting Interest.
(aa) “Membership Voting Interest” means collectively, a Member’s right to vote as set forth in
this Agreement or as required by the Act. The Membership Voting Interest of a Member shall mean as
to any matter with respect to which the Member is entitled to vote hereunder or as may be required
under the Act, the right to one (1) vote for each Unit registered in the name of such Member as
shown in the Unit Holder Register.
(bb) “Net Cash Flow” means the gross cash proceeds of the Company less the portion thereof
used to pay or establish reserves for Company expenses, debt payments, capital improvements,
replacements, contingencies and other investment, all as reasonably determined by the Directors.
“Net Cash Flow” shall not be reduced by Depreciation, amortization, cost recovery deductions or
similar allowances, but shall be increased by any reductions of reserves previously established.
(cc) “Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.704-2(b)(1) of the
Regulations.
(dd) “Nonrecourse Liability” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.704-2(b)(3) of the
Regulations.
(ee) “Officer” means any Person who: (i) is appointed as an Officer pursuant to Section 5.19
of this Agreement or who has otherwise become an Officer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;
and (ii) has not ceased to be an Officer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. “Officers” mean
all such Persons.
(ff) “Permitted Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2 of this Agreement.
(gg) “Person” means any individual, general or limited partnership, joint venture, limited
liability company, corporation, cooperative, trust, estate, association, nominee or other entity.
(hh) “Profits and Losses” mean, for each Fiscal Year, an amount equal to the Company’s taxable
income or loss for such Fiscal Year, determined in accordance with Code Section 703(a) (for this
purpose, all items of income, gain, loss, or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to
Code Section 703(a)(1) shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments
(without duplication): (i) Any income of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax and not
otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this definition of
“Profits” and “Losses” shall be added to such taxable income or loss; (ii) Any expenditures of the
Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(b) or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(b) expenditures
pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in
computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this definition of “Profits” and “Losses” shall be
subtracted from such taxable income or loss; (iii) In the event the Gross Asset Value of any
Company asset is adjusted pursuant to subparagraphs (ii) or (iii) of the definition of Gross Asset
Value above, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment
increases the Gross Asset Value of the asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases the
Gross Asset Value of the asset) from the disposition of such asset and shall be taken into account
for purposes of computing Profits or Losses; (iv) Gain or loss resulting from any disposition of
Property with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be
computed by reference to the Gross Asset Value of the Property disposed of, notwithstanding that
the adjusted tax basis of such Property differs from its Gross Asset Value; (v) In lieu of the
depreciation, amortization, and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable
income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation for such Fiscal Year, computed in
accordance with the definition of Depreciation; (vi) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted
tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) is required, pursuant to Regulations
Section 1.704-(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a
result of a distribution other than in
liquidation of a Unit Holder’s interest in the Company, the
amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the
basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) from the disposition of such
asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or Losses; and (vii)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this definition, any items which are specially allocated
pursuant to Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of this Agreement shall not be taken into account in computing
Profits or Losses. The amounts of the items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction available
to be specially allocated pursuant to Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of this Agreement shall be determined by
applying rules analogous to those set forth in subparagraphs (i) through (vi) above.
(ii) “Property” means all real and personal property owned or acquired by the Company
(including cash), and any improvements thereto, and shall include both tangible and intangible
property.
(jj) “Regulations” means the Income Tax Regulations, including Temporary Regulations,
promulgated under the Code, as such regulations are amended from time to time.
(kk) “Regulatory Allocations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4 of this Agreement.
(ll) “Related Party” means the adopted or birth relatives of any Person and such Person’s
spouse (whether by marriage or common law), if any, including without limitation
great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, children (including stepchildren and adopted children),
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren thereof, and such Person’s (and such Person’s spouse’s)
brothers, sisters, and cousins and their respective lineal ancestors and descendants, and any other
ancestors and/or descendants, and any spouse of any of the foregoing, each trust created for the
exclusive benefit of one or more of the foregoing, and the successors, assigns, heirs, executors,
personal representatives and estates of any of the foregoing.
(mm) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(nn) “Tax Matters Member” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4 of this Agreement.
(oo) “Transfer” means, as a noun, any voluntary or involuntary transfer, sale, pledge or
hypothecation or other disposition and, as a verb, to voluntarily or involuntarily transfer, give,
sell, exchange, assign, pledge, bequest, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of.
(pp) “Unit” means an ownership interest in the Company issued in consideration of a Capital
Contribution made as provided in Article II of this Agreement.
(qq) “Unit Holder” means any Person who is the owner of one or more Units. “Unit Holders”
means all such Persons.
(rr) “Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt” has the same meaning as the term “partner nonrecourse
debt” in Section 1.704-2(b)(4) of the Regulations.
(ss) “Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” means an amount, with respect to each Unit
Holder Nonrecourse Debt, equal to the Company Minimum Gain that would result if such Unit Holder
Nonrecourse Debt were treated as a Nonrecourse Liability, determined in accordance with Section
1.704-2(i)(3) of the Regulations.
(tt) “Unit Holder Nonrecourse Deductions” has the same meaning as the term “partner
nonrecourse deductions” in Sections 1.704-2(i)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(2) of the Regulations.
(uu) “Unit Holder Register” means the register maintained by the Company at its principal
office or by the Company’s duly appointed agent, setting forth the name, address and Capital
Contributions of each Unit Holder (or such Unit Holder’s predecessors in interest), and the number
of
Units, certificate number(s) and date of issuance of Units issued to each Unit Holder, which
register shall be modified from time to time as additional Units are issued and as Units are
Transferred pursuant to this Agreement.
ARTICLE II. CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS
2.1 Membership Interests. There shall be one class of Membership Interests in the Company.
Each Member shall make an initial Capital Contribution to the Company in exchange for its
Membership Interest. A Member’s Membership Interest in the Company shall be held in the form of
Units. The name and number of Units quantifying the Membership Interest of each Member are listed
on Exhibit A attached hereto, and shall also be set out in the Unit Holder Register. If following
the date hereof, any Person is admitted as a Member or the number of Units held by any Member
changes, the Board of Directors shall amend the Unit Holder Register to reflect such new
information.
2.2 Initial Capital Contributions. The name, address, Capital Contribution and Units
quantifying the Membership Interest of each of the Members shall be set forth on the Unit Holder
Register.
2.3 Additional Capital Contributions; Additional Units. No Unit Holder shall be obligated
to make any additional Capital Contributions to the Company or to pay any assessment to the
Company, other than any unpaid amounts on such Unit Holder’s original Capital Contributions, and no
Units shall be subject to any calls, requests or demands for capital. Additional Units may be
issued in consideration of Capital Contributions as agreed to between the Directors and the Persons
acquiring such Units. Each Person to whom additional Units are issued shall be admitted as a
Member in accordance with this Agreement. Upon such Capital Contributions, the Directors shall
cause Exhibit A and the Unit Holder Register to be appropriately amended.
2.4 Capital Accounts. A Capital Account shall be maintained for each Unit Holder in
accordance with the following provisions:
(a) To each Unit Holder’s Capital Account there shall be credited: (i) such Unit Holder’s
Capital Contributions; (ii) such Unit Holder’s distributive share of Profits and any items in the
nature of income or gain which are specially allocated pursuant to Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of this
Agreement; and (iii) the amount of any Company liabilities assumed by such Unit Holder or which are
secured by any Property distributed to such Unit Holder;
(b) To each Unit Holder’s Capital Account there shall be debited: (i) the amount of money and
the Gross Asset Value of any Property distributed to such Unit Holder pursuant to any provision of
this Agreement; (ii) such Unit Holder’s distributive share of Losses and any items in the nature of
expenses or losses which are specially allocated pursuant to Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of this
Agreement; and (iii) the amount of any liabilities of such Unit Holder assumed by the Company or
which are secured by any Property contributed by such Unit Holder to the Company;
(c) In the event Units are Transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the
transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the
Transferred Units; and
(d) In determining the amount of any liability for purposes of subparagraphs (a) and (b)
above, Code Section 752(c) and any other applicable provisions of the Code and Regulations shall be
taken into account.
The foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the
maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b), and
shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent therewith. In the event the Directors
determine that it is prudent to modify the manner in which Capital Accounts, or any debits or
credits thereto (including, without
limitation, debits or credits relating to liabilities which are
secured by contributed or distributed property or which are assumed by the Company or any Unit
Holders), are computed in order to comply with such Regulations, the Directors may make such
modification, provided that it is not likely to have a material effect on the amounts distributed
to any Person pursuant to Article X of this Agreement upon the dissolution of the Company. The
Directors also shall: (i) make any adjustments that are necessary or appropriate to maintain
equality between the Capital Accounts of the Unit Holders and the amount of capital reflected on
the Company’s balance sheet, as computed for book purposes, in accordance with Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(q); and (ii) make any appropriate modifications in the event unanticipated events
might otherwise cause this Agreement not to comply with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b).
2.5 Loans By Members. No provision of this Agreement shall be construed so as to prevent a
Member from making a secured or unsecured loan to the Company or guaranteeing any loan or
indebtedness of the Company, except that no Member shall make any loan to the Company without the
prior consent or approval of the Board of Managers. Loans by Members to the Company shall not be
Capital Contributions to the Company nor shall loans be credited to the Capital Account of the
lending Member or entitle such lending Member to any increase in such Member’s share of the
Company’s profits or of the distributions of the Company or subject such Member to any greater
proportion of the losses which the Company may sustain. Loans in accordance with the foregoing
sentence shall be a debt due from the Company to such lending Member and shall be, together with
accrued interest thereon, reimbursed to the Member making such loan prior to any distribution to
the Members in connection with the dissolution of the Company. If a Director or an Affiliate of a
Director is the lending Member, the rate of interest and the terms and conditions of such loan
shall be no less favorable to the Company than if the lender had been an independent third party.
None of the Members or their Affiliates shall be obliged to make any loan or advance to the
Company.
2.6 Compensation of Members; Interest on Capital Contributions; Withdrawal. No Member
shall receive any interest with respect to such Member’s Capital Contributions or Capital Account
or any compensation for services rendered on behalf of the Company or otherwise in such Member’s
capacity as a Member of the Company, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement. Except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement or the Act, no Member or transferee of any Member shall have
any right to receive any distributions from the Company except as provided in Articles III, IV and
X or to demand or receive a return of his/her/its Capital Contribution or to require the redemption
of his/her/its Units.
ARTICLE III. ALLOCATIONS
3.1 Profits. After giving effect to the special allocations in Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of
this Agreement, Profits for any Fiscal Year shall be allocated among the Unit Holders in proportion
to Units held.
3.2 Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations in Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of this
Agreement, Losses for any Fiscal Year shall be allocated among the Unit Holders in proportion to
Units held.
3.3 Special Allocations. The following special allocations shall be made in the following
order:
(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback. Except as otherwise provided in Section 1.704-2(f) of the
Regulations, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article III, if there is a net decrease in
Company Minimum Gain during any Fiscal Year, each Unit Holder shall be specially allocated items of
Company income and gain for such Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent Fiscal Years) in an
amount equal to such Unit Holder’s share of the net decrease in Company Minimum Gain, determined in
accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(g). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence
shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Unit Holder
pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Sections
1.704-2(f)(6) and 1.704-2(j)(2) of the Regulations. This Section 3.3(a) is intended to comply with
the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Section 1.704-2(f) of the Regulations and shall be
interpreted consistently therewith.
(b) Unit Holder Minimum Gain Chargeback. Except as otherwise provided in Section
1.704-2(i)(4) of the Regulations, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article III, if there
is a net decrease in Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to a Unit Holder
Nonrecourse Debt during any Fiscal Year, each Unit Holder who has a share of the Unit Holder
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to such Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt, determined in
accordance with Section 1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations, shall be specially allocated items of
Company income and gain for such Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent Fiscal Years) in an
amount equal to such Unit Holder’s share of the net decrease in Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt
Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4). Allocations
pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to
be allocated to each Unit Holder pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be
determined in accordance with Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2) of the Regulations. This
Section 3.3(b) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Section
1.704-2(i)(4) of the Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(c) Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustments,
allocations, or distributions described in Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4),
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6) of the Regulations, items of Company income and
gain shall be specially allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate,
to the extent required by the Regulations, the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as soon as
practicable, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 3.3(c) shall be made only if and
to the extent that the Member would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit after all other
allocations provided for in this Article III have been tentatively made as if this Section 3.3(c)
were not in the Agreement.
(d) Gross Income Allocation. In the event any Member has a deficit Capital Account at the end
of any Fiscal Year which is in excess of the sum of: (i) the amount such Member is obligated to
restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement; and (ii) the amount such Member is deemed to
be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and
1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations, then in such circumstance each such Member shall be specially
allocated items of Company income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible,
provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 3.3(d) shall be made only if and to the extent
that such Member would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other
allocations provided for in this Article III have been made as if Sections 3.3(c) and 3.3(d) were
not in this Agreement.
(e) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year or other period shall
be specially allocated among the Members in proportion to Units held.
(f) Unit Holder Nonrecourse Deductions. Any Unit Holder Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal
Year shall be specially allocated to the Unit Holder who bears the economic risk of loss with
respect to the Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt to which such Unit Holder Nonrecourse Deductions are
attributable in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(1).
(g) Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any
Company asset, pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b) is required, pursuant to
Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) or 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in
determining Capital Accounts as the result of a distribution to a Unit Holder in complete
liquidation of such Unit Holder’s interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment to Capital
Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset)
or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) and such gain or loss shall be specially allocated
to the Unit Holders in accordance with their interests in the Company in the event Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) applies, or to the Unit Holder to whom such distribution was made
in the event Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) applies.
(h) Allocations Relating to Taxable Issuance of Company Units. Any income, gain, loss or
deduction realized as a direct or indirect result of the issuance of Units by the Company to a Unit
Holder (the “Issuance Items”) shall be allocated among the Unit Holders so that, to the extent
possible, the net amount of such Issuance Items, together with all other allocations under this
Agreement to each Unit Holder shall be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to
each such Unit Holder if the Issuance Items had not been realized.
3.4 Regulatory Allocations. The allocations set forth in Sections 3.3(a), 3.3(b), 3.3(c),
3.3(d), 3.3(e), 3.3(f), 3.3(g) and 3.5 (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with
certain requirements of the Regulations. It is the intent of the Unit Holders that, to the extent
possible, all Regulatory Allocations shall be offset either with other Regulatory Allocations or
with special allocations of other items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to this
Section 3.4. Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article III (other than the
Regulatory Allocations), the Directors shall make such offsetting special allocations of Company
income, gain, loss or deduction in whatever manner they determine appropriate so that, after such
offsetting allocations are made, each Unit Holder’s Capital Account balance is, to the extent
possible, equal to the Capital Account balance such Unit Holder would have had if the Regulatory
Allocations were not part of the Agreement and all Company items were allocated pursuant to
Sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3(h).
3.5 Loss Limitation. Losses allocated pursuant to Section 3.2 of this Agreement shall not
exceed the maximum amount of Losses that can be allocated without causing any Unit Holder to have
an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit at the end of any Fiscal Year. In the event some but not all
of the Unit Holders would have Adjusted Capital Account Deficits as a consequence of an allocation
of Losses pursuant to Section 3.2 of this Agreement, the limitation set forth in this Section 3.5
shall be applied on a Unit Holder by Unit Holder basis and Losses not allocable to any Unit Holder
as a result of such limitation shall be allocated to the other Unit Holders in accordance with the
positive balances in such Unit Holder’s Capital Accounts so as to allocate the maximum permissible
Losses to each Unit Holder under Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations.
3.6 Other Allocation Rules.
(a) For purposes of determining Profits, Losses and any other items allocable to any period,
Profits, Losses and any such other items shall be determined on a daily, monthly or other basis, as
determined by the Directors using any permissible method under Code Section 706 and the Regulations
thereunder.
(b) The Unit Holders are aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made by this
Article III and hereby agree to be bound by the provisions of this Article III in reporting their
shares of Company income and loss for income tax purposes.
(c) Solely for purposes of determining a Unit Holder’s proportionate share of the “excess
nonrecourse liabilities” of the Company within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3),
the Unit Holders’ aggregate interests in Company Profits shall be deemed to be as provided in the
Capital Accounts. To the extent permitted by Section 1.704-2(h)(3) of the Regulations, the
Directors shall endeavor to treat distributions of Net Cash Flow as having been made from the
proceeds of a Nonrecourse Liability or a Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt only to the extent that such
distributions would cause or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit for any Unit Holder.
(d) Profits and Losses to the Unit Holders shall be allocated among the Unit Holders in the
ratio which each Unit Holder’s Units bears to the total number of Units issued and outstanding.
3.7 Tax Allocations; Code Section 704(c). In accordance with Code Section 704(c) and the
Regulations thereunder, income, gain, loss, and deduction with respect to any Property contributed
to the capital of the Company shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated among the Unit Holders
so as to take
account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such Property to the Company
for federal income tax purposes and its initial Gross Asset Value. In the event the Gross Asset
Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of the definition of Gross
Asset Value in Section 1.10(dd) of this Agreement, subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss and
deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis
of such asset for federal income tax purposes and its Gross Asset Value in the same manner as under
Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations thereunder. Any elections or other decisions relating to
such allocations shall be made by the Directors in any manner that reasonably reflects the purpose
and intention of this Agreement. Allocations pursuant to this Section 3.7 are solely for purposes
of federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in
computing, any Unit Holder’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, other items or
distributions pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.
3.8 Tax Credit Allocations. All income tax credits with respect to the Company’s property
or operations shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with their respective Membership
Interests for the Fiscal Year during which the expenditure, production, sale or other event giving
rise to such credits occurs. This Section 3.8 is intended to comply with the applicable tax credit
allocation principles of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii) and shall be interpreted
consistently therewith.
ARTICLE IV. DISTRIBUTIONS
4.1 Net Cash Flow. The Directors, in their sole discretion, shall make distributions of
Net Cash Flow, if any, to the Unit Holders in proportion to Units held subject to and to the extent
permitted by any loan covenants or restriction on such distributions agreed to by the Company in
any loan agreements with the Company’s lenders from time to time in effect. In determining Net
Cash Flow, the Directors shall endeavor to provide for cash distributions at such times and in such
amounts as will permit the Unit Holders to make timely payment of income taxes. No distribution
shall be made if it is not permitted to be made under the Act.
4.2 Amounts Withheld. All amounts withheld pursuant to the Code or any provision of any
state, local or foreign tax law with respect to any payment, distribution or allocation to the
Company or the Unit Holders shall be treated as amounts paid or distributed, as the case may be, to
the Unit Holders with respect to which such amount was withheld pursuant to this Section 4.2 for
all purposes under this Agreement. The Company is authorized to withhold from payments and
distributions, or with respect to allocations, to the Unit Holders and to pay over to any federal,
state, local or foreign government, any amounts required to be so withheld, and shall allocate any such amounts
to the Unit Holders with respect to which such amount was withheld.
4.3 Limitations on Distributions. The Company shall make no distributions to the Unit
Holders except as provided in this Article IV and in Article X of this Agreement. Notwithstanding
any other provision, no distribution shall be made if not permitted to be made under the Act.
ARTICLE V. MANAGEMENT
5.1 Directors. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or required by law, the
Directors shall have full and complete authority, power and discretion to manage and control the
business, affairs and properties of the Company, to make all decisions regarding those matters, to
perform any and all other acts or activities customary or incident to the management of the
Company’s business, and shall adopt such policies, rules, regulations and actions as they deem
advisable. Subject to Section 5.8 of this Agreement and any other express provisions of this
Agreement to the contrary, the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by and under
the direction of the Directors and not by the Members. Unless authorized to do so by this
Agreement or by the Directors, no Member, attorney-in-fact, employee, or agent of the Company shall
have any power or authority to bind the Company in any way, to pledge its credit, or to render it
liable for any purpose.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the amendment or repeal
of this Section 5.1 or the adoption of any provision inconsistent herewith shall require the
approval of two-thirds of the Membership Voting Interests held by the Members.
5.2 Classes of Directors; Number of Total Directors.
(a) There shall initially be four classes of Directors, as provided in Section 5.3 of this
Agreement. The total number of Directors of the Company shall be a minimum of nine (9) and a
maximum of nineteen (19). The Board of Directors shall initially consist of a total of seventeen
(17) Directors. Initially, the seventeen (17) Directors shall be appointed pursuant to Section 5.3
of this Agreement. However, the rights of appointment shall expire on the five (5) year
anniversary of the Effective Date of this Agreement, and thereafter there shall be only one class
of Directors and the size of the Board of Directors shall be reduced to a total of nine (9)
Directors, all of which shall be generally elected by the Members pursuant to Section 5.4 of this
Agreement.
Additionally, each Member satisfying the requirements of Section 5.3(d) shall also be entitled
to appoint one Director. The right of appointment contained in Section 5.3(d) shall expire on the
five (5) year anniversary of the Effective Date of this Agreement along with the other rights of
appointment pursuant to Section 5.3.
The Board of Directors shall initially be composed of the Persons set forth on Exhibit B
attached hereto.
(b) At any annual or special meeting following the expiration of the rights of appointment
contained in Section 5.3 on the five (5) year anniversary of the Effective Date of this Agreement,
the Members may increase or decrease the number of Directors last approved, including above or
below the last approved range of minimum and maximum Directors, and may change from a variable
range to a fixed number or visa versa by majority vote of the Membership Voting Interests held by
the Members. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Directors may at any time increase or decrease the
number of Directors within the applicable range of minimum and maximum Directors upon majority vote
of the Directors
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the amendment or
repeal of this Section 5.2 or the adoption of any provision inconsistent herewith shall require the
approval of two-thirds of the Membership Voting Interests held by the Members.
5.3 Special Right of Appointment of Certain Members.
The four initial classes of Directors shall be the Class A Directors, the Class B Directors,
the Class C Director, and Class D Directors. A Class A, Class B, Class C, or Class D Director
appointed by an appointing Member under this paragraph (b) shall serve at the pleasure of the
appointing Member or the other members of his or her respective class of directors, as applicable
below, until a successor is appointed, or until the earlier death, resignation, or removal of such
Director. Any such Director appointed by a Member may be removed for any reason by the appointing
Member or the other members of his or her respective class of directors, as applicable below, upon
written notice to the Directors. Any vacancy of a Class A, Class B, Class C, or Class D Director
seat shall be filled according to the provisions below governing the respective class within thirty
(30) days of its occurrence. The rights of appointment contained in this Section 5.3 are not
transferable to any other Person.
(a) Class A Directors. Commencing on the Effective Date of this Agreement, Amaizing Energy,
L.L.C. or its designee (“Amaizing Energy”) shall be entitled to appoint thirteen (13) Directors
(the “Class A Directors”). However, such right of appointment shall expire no later than the five
(5) year anniversary of the Effective Date of this Agreement. Subject to the expiration of the
right of appointment, a Director appointed by Amaizing Energy under this Section shall serve at the
pleasure of
the other Class A directors until a successor is appointed, or until the earlier death,
resignation, or removal of such Director. Any Director appointed by Amaizing Energy may be removed
for any reason by the affirmative vote of seventy-five percent (75%) of the other Class A
directors, upon written notice to the Directors. Any vacancy of a Class A Director seat shall be
filled by the affirmative vote of seventy-five percent (75%) of the remaining Class A Directors
within thirty (30) days of its occurrence. At the time the right of appointment provided under
this paragraph (a) of this Section terminates, such Director seat shall thereafter be filled by a
Person generally elected by the Members of the Company pursuant to Section 5.4.
(b) Class B Directors. Commencing on the Effective Date of this Agreement, Atlantic Energy,
LLC or its designee (“Atlantic Energy”) shall be entitled to appoint three (3) Directors (the
“Class B Directors”); provided, however, that the Persons so appointed shall have primary
residences located south of U.S. Interstate 80 in the State of Iowa. Such right of appointment by
the Atlantic Energy Members shall expire no later than the five (5) year anniversary of the date of
the first appointment by Atlantic Energy or its designee. Subject to the expiration of the right
of appointment, a Director appointed by Atlantic Energy under this Section shall serve at the
pleasure of Atlantic Energy until a successor is appointed, or until the earlier death,
resignation, or removal of such Director. Any Director appointed by Atlantic Energy may be removed
for any reason by Atlantic Energy, upon written notice to the Directors. Any vacancy of a Class B
Director seat shall be filled by the unanimous vote of the remaining Class B Directors within
thirty (30) days of its occurrence. At the time the right of appointment provided under this
paragraph (a) of this Section terminates, such Director seat shall thereafter be filled by a Person
generally elected by the Members of the Company pursuant to Section 5.4 and Atlantic Energy shall
thereafter collectively elect Directors in the same manner as the other Members.
(c) Class C Director. Commencing on the Effective Date of this Agreement, NEK-SEN Energy, LLC
(“NEK-SEN”) shall be entitled to appoint one (1) Director (the “Class C Director”), for so long as
NEK-SEN is the holder of five million (5,000,000) Units in the Company and is a separate legal
entity. However, such right of appointment shall expire no later than the five (5) year
anniversary of the date of the first appointment by NEK-SEN. Subject to the expiration of the
right of appointment, a Director appointed by NEK-SEN under this Section shall serve at the
pleasure of NEK-SEN until a successor is appointed, or until the earlier death, resignation, or
removal of such Director. Any Director appointed by NEK-SEN may be removed for any reason by NEK-SEN, upon written notice to the
Directors. Any vacancy of the Class C Director seat shall be filled by the board of directors of
NEK-SEN Energy, LLC within thirty (30) days of its occurrence. At the time the right of
appointment provided under this paragraph (a) of this Section terminates, such Director seat shall
thereafter be filled by a Person generally elected by the Members of the Company pursuant to
Section 5.4 and NEK-SEN shall thereafter collectively elect Directors in the same manner as the
other Members.
(d) Class D Directors. Commencing on the Effective Date of this Agreement, the first two (2)
Members whose subscriptions are accepted by the Company and who hold a number of Units, all of
which were purchased by such Member from the Company during the Company’s initial registered
offering filed with the Securities Exchange Commission, for which the initial subscription price
was fifteen million ($15,000,000) or more shall be entitled to appoint one (1) Director (each a
“Class D Director” and collectively the “Class D Directors”), provided the appointing Member
continues to hold the threshold number of Units. However, such right of appointment shall expire
on the five (5) year anniversary of the Effective Date of this Agreement, regardless of the date on
which the Class D Directors were first appointed. Units held by an Affiliate or Related Party of a
Member shall not be included in the determination of whether the Member holds the requisite number
of Units for purposes of this paragraph (d). Only the first two (2) Members who acquire the
requisite number of Units from the Company in its initial registered offering are granted
appointment rights hereunder. The “initial registered offering” shall mean the Company’s offering
of registered securities filed with the Securities Exchange Commission in 2007. Accordingly, any
Member who subsequently acquires the requisite number of Units, or who acquires the requisite
number of Units other than by acquisition from the Company in its initial registered offering,
shall not be entitled to appoint any Directors, regardless of the number of Units held by such
Member. A Director appointed by a Member under this paragraph (d) shall serve at the pleasure of
the Member appointing him or her until a successor is appointed, or until the earlier death,
resignation, or removal of such Director. Any Director appointed under this paragraph (d) may be
removed for any reason by the Member appointing him or her, upon written notice to the Directors,
which shall designate and appoint a successor Director to fill the vacancy. Any such vacancy shall
be filled within thirty (30) days of its occurrence by the Member having the right of appointment.
In the event that the number of Units held by a Member with a right of appointment under this
paragraph (d) falls below the threshold number of Units required by this paragraph (d), or in any
event, at the expiration of the five (5) year period, the term of any such Director appointed by
such Member shall terminate, the seat shall dissolve, and the Member shall thereafter elect
Directors in the same manner as the other Members in accordance with Section 5.4.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the amendment or
repeal of this Section 5.3 or the adoption of any provision inconsistent herewith shall require the
approval of two-thirds of the Membership Voting Interests held by the Members.
5.4 Election of Directors.
(a) Election; Terms. The Directors appointed pursuant to Section 5.3 shall serve until the
first meeting of the Members following the five (5) year anniversary of the Effective Date of this
Agreement. . At the first annual or special meeting of the members following the expiration of
such rights of appointment on the five (5) year anniversary of the Effective Date of this
Agreement, the number of Directors shall be reduced to nine (9) in accordance with Section
5.2. After the expiration of the appointed terms of the Directors, the classes of
Directors described in Section 5.3 shall terminate and at each annual meeting of the Members
thereafter, one class of Directors shall be elected by the Members for staggered terms of three (3)
years and until a successor is elected and qualified or until the earlier death, resignation,
removal or disqualification of such Director. Directors shall be elected by a plurality vote of
the Membership Voting Interests of the Members so that the nominees receiving the greatest number
of votes relative to all other nominees are elected. Prior to the expiration of the rights of
appointments granted in Section 5.3, the Directors shall conduct a lottery for the purpose of
classifying each of the nine (9) Director positions to be elected at the first meeting of the
Members following the expiration of the rights of appointment as a Group I, Group II or Group III Director, with such
classification to serve as the basis for the staggering of terms among the elected Directors. The
term of Group I Directors shall expire first (initial term of one (1) year with successors elected
to three (3) year terms thereafter), followed by those of Group II Directors (initial term of two
(2) years with successors elected to three (3) year terms thereafter), and then Group III Directors
(initial and subsequent terms of three (3) years). If at any time the number of Directors is
changed as provided in this Article V, the number of Group I, Group II and Group III Directors
shall be adjusted, as necessary, so that approximately one-third (1/3) of the Directors are elected
at each annual meeting of the Members.
(b) Members Entitled to Elect Directors. Elected Directors shall be elected by the Members,
voting collectively, at the annual meeting of Members when a vacancy exists; provided, however,
that any Member having the right to appoint a Director in accordance with Section 5.3 shall not be
entitled to vote for the election of any Director that the Members are entitled to elect, and the
Units held by such Member shall not be included in determining the election of Directors pursuant
to paragraph (a) of this Section.
(c) Nominations. Prior to the annual meeting of the Members, one or more nominees for the
Director positions up for election shall be named by the then current Board of Directors or by a
nominating committee established by the Board of Directors. Nominations for the election of
Directors may also be made by any Member entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors.
Any Member that intends to nominate a Person for election as a Director may do so only if written
notice of such Member’s intent to make such nomination is given not less than sixty (60) nor more
than ninety (90) days prior to the date which would be one year from the date of the past year’s
annual meeting of the
Members. Each such notice shall set forth: (i) the name and address of the
Member who intends to make the nomination; (ii) a representation that the Member is a holder of
record of Units entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the
meeting to nominate the Person specified in the notice; (iii) the name, age, address and principal
occupation/employment of each nominee; (iv) a description of all arrangements or understandings
between the Member and each nominee and any other Person(s) pursuant to which such nominations are
to be made; (v) such other information regarding each nominee as would be required to be included
in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission;
(vi) the consent of each nominee to serve as a Director if so elected; and (vii) a nominating
petition signed and dated by the holders of at least five percent (5%) of the then outstanding
Units and clearly setting forth the proposed nominee as a candidate for the Director’s seat to be
filled.
The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may
reasonably be required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to
serve as a Director. The presiding Officer of the meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine
that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, and if so determined,
the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
(d) Vacancies. Any vacancy in an elected Director seat other than from expiration of a term
of office may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors. A
Director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of such Director’s
predecessor in office.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the amendment or
repeal of this Section 5.4 or the adoption of any provision inconsistent herewith shall require the
approval of two-thirds of the Membership Voting Interests held by the Members.
5.5 Director’s Fiduciary Duty. No provision in this Operating Agreement shall be construed
in any manner to diminish or restrict a Director’s fiduciary duty to the Company, regardless of
whether the Director was appointed by a Member.
5.6 Authority of Directors. Subject to the limitations and restrictions set forth in this
Agreement and the Act, the Directors shall direct the management of the business and affairs of the
Company and shall have all of the rights and powers which may be possessed by a “manager” under the
Act including, without limitation, the right and power to do or perform the following and, to the
extent permitted by the Act or this Agreement, the further right and power by resolution of the
Directors to delegate to the Officers or such other Persons as the Directors deem appropriate, the
right and power to do or perform, the following:
(a) Conduct the business and carry on the operations of the Company, and have and exercise the
powers granted by the Act in any state, territory, district or possession of the United States, or
in any foreign country, which may be necessary or convenient to effect any or all of the purposes
for which the Company is organized;
(b) Open any bank accounts or trading accounts necessary for the operation of the Company;
(c) Acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise any real or personal property which may be
necessary, convenient, or incidental to the accomplishment of the purposes of the Company;
(d) Operate, maintain, finance, improve, construct, own, operate, sell, convey, assign,
mortgage and lease any real estate and any personal property necessary, convenient, or incidental
to the accomplishment of the purposes of the Company;
(e) Execute any and all agreements, contracts, documents, certifications and instruments
necessary or convenient in connection with the management, maintenance and operation of the
business and affairs of the Company, including executing amendments to this Agreement and the
Articles in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, both as Directors and where permitted, as
attorney-in-fact for the Members pursuant to any power of attorney granted by the Members to the
Directors;
(f) Borrow money and issue evidences of indebtedness necessary, convenient, or incidental to
the accomplishment of the purposes of the Company, and secure the same by mortgage, pledge or other
lien on any Company assets;
(g) Execute, in furtherance of any or all of the purposes of the Company, any deed, lease,
mortgage, deed of trust, mortgage note, promissory note, xxxx of sale, contract or other instrument
purporting to convey or encumber any or all of the Company assets;
(h) Prepay in whole or in part, refinance, increase, modify or extend any liabilities
affecting the assets of the Company and in connection therewith, execute any extensions or renewals
of encumbrances on any or all of such assets;
(i) Care for and distribute funds to the Members by way of cash income, return of capital or
otherwise, all in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and perform all matters in
furtherance of the objectives of the Company and this Agreement;
(j) Contract on behalf of the Company for the employment and services of employees and
independent contractors, and delegate to such Persons the duty to manage or supervise any of the
assets or operations of the Company;
(k) Engage in any kind of activity and perform and carry out contracts of any kind necessary
or incidental to, or in connection with, the accomplishment of the purposes of the Company, as may
be lawfully carried on or performed by a limited liability company under the laws of each state in
which the Company is then formed or qualified;
(l) Take, or refrain from taking, all actions, not expressly proscribed or limited by this
Agreement or the Articles, as may be necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes of the
Company;
(m) Institute, prosecute, defend, settle, compromise and dismiss lawsuits or other judicial or
administrative proceedings brought on or in behalf of, or against, the Company, the Members or the
Directors or Officers in connection with activities arising out of, connected with, or incidental
to this Agreement, and engage counsel or others in connection therewith;
(n) Purchase, take, receive, subscribe for or otherwise acquire, own, hold, vote, use, employ,
sell, mortgage, lend, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, and otherwise use and deal in and with,
shares or other interests in or obligations of domestic or foreign corporations, associations,
general or limited partnerships, other limited liability companies, or individuals or direct or
indirect obligations of the United States or of any government, state, territory, government
district or municipality or of any instrumentality of any of them;
(o) Agree with any Person as to the form and other terms and conditions of such Person’s
Capital Contribution to the Company and cause the Company to issue Membership Interests and Units
in consideration for such Capital Contribution; and
(p) Indemnify Members, Directors or Officers, or former Members, Directors or Officers, and to
make any other indemnification that is authorized by this Agreement in accordance with, and to the
fullest extent permitted by, the Act.
5.7 Director as Agent. Notwithstanding the power and authority of the Directors to manage
the business and affairs of the Company, no Director shall have authority to act as agent for the
Company for the purposes of its business (including the execution of any instrument on behalf of
the Company) unless the Directors have authorized the Director to take such action. The Directors
may also delegate authority to manage the business and affairs of the Company (including the
execution of instruments on behalf of the Company) to such Person or Persons (including to any
Officers) designated by the Directors, and such Person or Persons (or Officers) shall have such
titles and authority as determined by the Directors.
5.8 Restrictions on Authority of Directors.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Directors shall not
have authority to, and they covenant and agree that they shall not, do any of the following acts
without the unanimous consent of the Members:
(i) | Cause or permit the Company to engage in any activity that is not consistent with the purposes of the Company as set forth in Section 1.3 of this Agreement; | ||
(ii) | Knowingly engage in any act in contravention of this Agreement or which would make it impossible to carry on the ordinary business of the Company, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement; | ||
(iii) | Possess Company Property, or assign rights in specific Company Property, for other than a Company purpose; or | ||
(iv) | Cause the Company to voluntarily take any action that would cause a bankruptcy of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Directors of the Company may, subject to Article X hereof, declare bankruptcy or cause the Company to proceed to Chapter 11 reorganization if deemed necessary as a result of the financial condition of the Company. |
(b) The Directors shall not have authority to, and they covenant and agree that they shall not
cause the Company to, without the consent of at least a majority of the Membership Voting
Interests:
(i) | Merge, consolidate, exchange or otherwise dispose of at one time, or in a series of related transactions, all or substantially all of the Property, except for a liquidating sale of the Property in connection with the dissolution of the Company; or | ||
(ii) | Cause the Company to acquire any equity or debt securities of any Director or any of its Affiliates, or otherwise make loans to any Director or any of its Affiliates. |
The actions specified herein as requiring the consent of the Members shall be in addition to
any actions by the Director that are specified in the Act as requiring the consent or approval of
the Members. Unless otherwise required by this Agreement or the Act, any such required consent or
approval may be given by a vote of a majority of the Membership Voting Interests.
5.9 Meetings. An annual meeting of the Directors shall be held, without other notice than
this Section, immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of the Members.
Meetings of the Directors shall be held at such times and places from time to time determined by
the Directors. Meetings of the Directors may also be called by the Chairman and/or Chief Executive
Officer and/or President and General Manager of the Company or by any two or more Directors. If
the date, time, and place of the meeting of the Directors has been announced at a previous meeting,
no notice shall be required. In other
cases, forty eight (48) hours written notice of meetings,
stating the date, time and place thereof and any other information required by law or desired by
the Person(s) calling the meeting, shall be given to each Director. Additionally, the Directors
may, by resolution, prescribe the time and place for holding regular meetings and may provide that
such resolution constitutes notice thereof. If the Directors do not prescribe the time and place
for the holding of regular meetings, such regular meetings shall be held at the time and place
specified in the notice of each such regular meeting. The Directors may designate any location as
the place of any regular or special meeting. If no designation is made, the place of meeting shall
be the principal office of the Company.
5.10 Notice. Except as provided in Section 5.10, notice shall be given to each Director
with respect to any meeting of the Directors, stating the date, time and place of the meeting.
Such notice shall be given at least forty-eight (48) hours prior thereto and shall be in writing,
unless oral notice is reasonable under the circumstances. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed
to be delivered on the earlier of three (3) days after deposit in the U.S. mail addressed to the
Director’s address as shown on the Company’s records with postage prepaid, or upon receipt. If
sent by electronic mail or facsimile such notice shall be deemed to be delivered on the eariler of
three (3) days after transmission to the Director’s electronic mail address or fascimille number as
shown on the Company’s records or upon receipt. Any Director may waive notice of any meeting. A
waiver of notice by a Director is effective whether given before, at, or after the meeting, and
whether given in writing or attendance at such meeting. Except as provided in the next sentence,
the waiver must be in writing, signed by the Director entitled to notice, and filed with the
minutes relating to the action taken. A Director’s attendance at a meeting shall constitute a
waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such Director attends the meeting for the express
purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting was not lawfully called
or convened and does not participate thereafter in the meeting. Neither the business to be
transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Directors need be
specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
5.11 Conduct of Meeting. All Directors, to the extent possible, shall personally attend
all Directors meetings. However, any Director may participate in any meeting of the Directors by
any means of telephonic conference or similar means of communication by which all Directors participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. A Director
participating in a meeting by this means is deemed to be present in person.
5.12 Quorum. A majority of all of the Directors shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. If less than a quorum is represented at a meeting, the Directors
represented may adjourn the meeting and reschedule it for a later date without further notice. At
such adjourned and rescheduled meeting at which a quorum is present or represented, any business
may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting. Directors present at a
duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the
withdrawal of Directors to leave less than a quorum.
5.13 Voting; Manner of Acting; Informal Action. Each Director shall be entitled to one (1)
vote as to any matter for which such Director is entitled to vote under this Agreement or the Act;
provided, however, that any Class A, Class B, or Class D Member who is entitled to appoint more
than one Class A, Class B or Class D Director may elect in writing to authorize one or more
Directors appointed by such Member to exercise the total number of votes to which Directors
appointed by that Member would be entitled. Such written election must be provided to the Company
prior to the exercise of the election. For example, if a Member is entitled to appoint four (4)
directors, such member may authorize just one (1) person to act as Director and grant that person
four (4) Director votes. The Company will not accept consolidation of Director positions unless
timely written notice of such consolidation is provided to the Company. For purposes of
determining quorum for actions by the Directors, each additional vote allowed to be cast shall each
be counted as one (1) Director present at the meeting, provided that at least one (1) Director
authorized to cast those additional votes is present. Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, the act of a majority of the Directors at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall
be the
act of the Directors. Unless otherwise provided by law, any action required or permitted to
be taken at a meeting of the Directors may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing
setting forth the action so taken is signed by all Directors entitled to vote with respect the
subject matter thereof. A Director may give advance written consent or opposition to a proposal to
be acted on at a meeting of the Directors. If the Director is not present at the meeting, consent
or opposition to a proposal does not constitute presence for purpose of determining the existence
of a quorum, but consent or opposition shall be counted as a vote in favor of or against the
proposal and shall be entered in the minutes or other record of action at the meeting, if the
proposal acted on at the meeting is substantially the same or has substantially the same effect as
the proposal to which the Director has consented or objected.
5.14 Presumption of Assent. A Director present at a meeting shall be presumed to have
assented to action taken, unless the dissent of such Director is entered in the minutes of the
meeting or unless such Director files a written dissent to such action with the other Directors
before the adjournment thereof or forwards such dissent by mail to the other Directors immediately
after the adjournment thereof. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in
favor of an action.
5.15 Compensation. The Directors shall have authority to establish reasonable compensation
of all Directors for services to the Company as Directors, officers or otherwise, and to provide
for reimbursement to Directors of their reasonable expenses of attending Directors’ meetings.
5.16 Committees; Authority. The Directors may create such committees including an
Executive Committee, and appoint such Directors or other Member appointees to serve on them, as the
Directors deem appropriate. Each committee must have two (2) or more Directors or other Member
appointees, who serve at the pleasure of the Directors. The creation of a committee, and the
appointment of Directors or other Member appointees to serve on it, must be approved by a majority
of the Directors. The procedural requirements for Board meetings under this Article V shall also
apply to committee meetings. Board committees may exercise only those aspects of the Directors’
authority which are expressly conferred by the Directors by express resolution. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, however, a committee may not, under any circumstances: (i) apportion or authorize
distributions; (ii) approve or propose any action for which the Act requires Member approval; (iii)
elect Officers; (iv) fill vacancies on the Board or on any of its committees; (v) adopt, amend, or
repeal the Articles or this Agreement; (vi) approve a plan of merger; (vii) authorize or approve
the reacquisition of Units, except according to a formula or method prescribed by the Directors; or
(ix) authorize or approve the issuance or sale or contract for sale of Units or determine the
designation and relative rights, preferences, and limitations of a class or series of Units.
5.17 Potential Financial Interest. No contract or transaction between the Company or one
of its Directors, or between the Company and any Person, in which one of its Directors is a
director or officer, or has a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason,
or solely because such Director is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board of
Directors at which the contract or transaction is authorized, or solely because such Director’s
vote is counted for such purpose, and such Director will not be obligated to account to the Company
for any profit or benefit derived by such Director provided that the material facts as to such
Director’s relationship are disclosed to the Board of Directors at the time of such vote, and the
disinterested Directors authorize such contract or transaction.
5.18 Duties and Obligations of Directors. The Directors shall cause the Company to conduct
its business and operations separate and apart from that of any Director or any Director’s
Affiliates. The Directors shall take all actions which may be necessary or appropriate: (i) for
the continuation of the Company’s valid existence as a limited liability company under the laws of
the State of Iowa and each other jurisdiction in which such existence is necessary to protect the
limited liability of Members or to enable the Company to conduct the business in which it is
engaged; and (ii) for the accomplishment of the Company’s purposes, including the acquisition,
development, maintenance, preservation, and operation of Company Property in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement and applicable laws and regulations. Each Director shall have the
duty to discharge the foregoing duties in good faith, in a manner the Director believes to be in
the best interests of the Company, and with the care an ordinarily prudent
person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances. The Directors shall be under no other
fiduciary duty to the Company or the Members to conduct the affairs of the Company in a particular
manner.
5.19 Officers. The Board of Directors may delegate to one or more individuals such
authority and duties as the Board of Directors may deem advisable to (a) conduct the meetings of
the Board of Directors and (b) carry out the day-to-day business of the Company and enter into
contracts with such individuals for such purpose. The Board of Directors may assign titles to the
individuals authorized to conduct meetings of the Board of Directors (including Chairman, Vice
Chairman and Secretary) and titles to the individuals to conduct the day to day business of the
Company (including Chief Executive Officer, President and General Manager, Vice-President,
Secretary, Treasurer, CFO, and such other Officers and assistant Officers as the Directors shall
determine). One person may simultaneously hold more than one office and persons delegated under
this Section need not be residents of the State of Iowa or Members of the Company. The Officers’
terms shall be specified by the Directors. If no term is specified, they shall hold office until
the first meeting of the Directors held after the next annual meeting of the Members. If the
appointment of Officers shall not be made at such meeting, such appointment shall be made as soon
thereafter as is convenient. Each Officer shall hold office until the officer’s successor is duly
appointed and qualified, until the Officer’s death, or until the Officer resigns or is removed by
the Directors. The designation of a specified term does not grant to an Officer any contract
rights; and unless otherwise provided in a signed contract with the Company, Officers will be
“at-will employees” subject to removal by the Directors at any time, with or without cause.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chief Executive Officer or
the Secretary of the Company. Unless otherwise noted in the notice, the resignation shall be
effective upon receipt.
The Officers, and their duties and responsibilities shall be as follows:
(a) Chairman/Vice Chairman. The Directors from their own number shall select a Chairperson
and a Vice Chairperson. Unless provided otherwise by a resolution adopted by the Directors, the
Chairman shall preside at meetings of the Directors and the Members; shall see that all orders and
resolutions of the Directors are carried into effect; may maintain records of and certify
proceedings of the Directors and Members; and shall perform such other duties as may from time to
time be prescribed by the Directors. The Vice Chairman shall, in the absence or disability of the
Chairman, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chairman and shall perform such other
duties as the Directors or the Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
(b) Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall have general
supervision of the business, affairs and property of the Company, and over its several officers.
In general, the Chief Executive Officer shall have all authority incident to the office of Chief
Executive Officer and shall have such other authority and perform such other duties as may from
time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors or by any duly authorized committee of
directors. The Chief Executive Officer shall have the power to fix the compensation of elected
officers whose compensation is not fixed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof and also
to engage, discharge, determine the duties and fix the compensation of all employees and agents of
the Company necessary or proper for the transaction of the business of the Company. If the Chief
Executive Officer is not also the Chairman of the Board, then the Chief Executive Officer shall
report to the Chairman of the Board or the Vice Chairman, as the case may be.
(c) President and General Manager. The President and General Manager shall have general
supervision of the operations of the Company and shall have, subject to any contractual
restriction, all authority incident to the office of the President and General Manager. The
President and General Manager shall, subject to Directors’ control, perform such duties as the
Directors may from time to time
prescribe, including without limitation, the management of the day-to-day operations of the Company. The President and General Manager shall perform all duties
incident to the office of President and General Manager and such other duties as may be prescribed
by this Agreement or by the Directors. The President and General Manager shall report to the Chief
Executive Officer.
(d) The Vice President(s). If one or more Vice Presidents are appointed by the Directors,
the Vice President (or in the event there be more than one, the appropriate Vice President, as
designated by the Directors, or in the absence of any designation, then in the order of
appointment) shall perform the duties of the President in the event of the President’s absence,
death, inability or refusal to act. When so acting, a Vice President shall have all of the powers,
and be subject to all of the restrictions upon, the President. In addition, Vice Presidents shall
perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Agreement or by the Directors.
(e) The Secretary. The Secretary shall: (i) keep the minutes of the Director and Member
meetings and, when necessary, certify all proceedings of the Directors and Members; (ii) see that
all notices are duly given in accordance with this Agreement and as required by law; (iii) serve as
the custodian of the Company’s records; (iv) when requested or required, authenticate any Company
records; (v) keep and maintain the Unit Holder Register and the Unit transfer books of the Company;
and (vi) perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as may be
prescribed by this Agreement or by the Directors.
(f) The Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall: (i) have charge and
custody of, and be responsible for, all funds and securities of the Company; (ii) receive and give
receipts for moneys due and payable to the Company, and deposit all such moneys in the name of and
to the credit of the Company in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Directors
shall designate from time to time; (iii) disburse Company funds and issue checks and drafts in the name of the Company
as ordered by the Directors, (iv) keep accurate financial records for the Company; (v) account and
prepare reports of all transactions and of the financial condition of the Company; and (iv)
generally perform all duties incident to the office of Chief Financial Officer and such other
duties as may be prescribed by this Agreement or by the Directors. The Chief Financial Officer
shall report to the President and the Board of Directors.
(g) The Treasurer: The Treasurer shall generally perform all duties incident to the office of
Treasurer and such other duties as may be prescribed by this Agreement or by the Directors.
(h) Other Assistants and Acting Officers. The Directors shall have the power to appoint any
Person to act as assistant to any Officer, or to perform the duties of such Officer, whenever for
any reason it is impracticable for such officer to act personally. Any such assistant or acting
Officer shall have the power to perform all the duties of the office to which he or she is
appointed to be an assistant, or as to which he or she is appointed to act, except as such power
may be otherwise defined or restricted by the Directors. Additionally, unless prohibited by a
resolution of the Directors, any Officer may delegate in writing some or all of the duties and
powers of such Officer’s position to other Persons. An Officer who delegates the duties or powers
of an office remains subject to the standard of conduct for such Officer with respect to the
discharge of all duties and powers so delegated.
Salaries of the Officers may be fixed from time to time by the Directors, and no Officer shall
be prevented from receiving a salary due to the fact that such Officer is also a Director.
5.20 Execution of Instruments. All deeds, mortgages, bonds, checks, contracts and other
instruments pertaining to the business and affairs of the Company shall be signed on behalf of the
Company by: (i) the Chairman; or (ii) when authorized by resolution(s) of the Directors, the Chief
Executive Officer; and/or such other Officers or Directors who may be authorized to do so by
specific resolution of the Directors.
5.21 Limitation of Liability. To the maximum extent permitted under the Act and other
applicable law, no Member or Director of this Company shall be personally liable for any debt,
obligation or liability of this Company merely by reason of being a Member or Director or both. No
Director of this Company shall be personally liable to this Company or its Members for monetary
damages for a breach of fiduciary duty by such Director; provided that this provision shall not
eliminate or limit the liability of a Director for any of the following: (i) receipt of an improper
financial benefit to which the Director is not entitled; (ii) intentional infliction of harm on the
Company or the Members; (iii) liability for receipt or payment of distributions in violation of the
articles of organization, this Agreement or the Act; or (iv) an intentional violation of criminal
law.
5.22 Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
(a) Right to Indemnification. To the maximum extent permitted under the Act and other
applicable law, no Member, Director, or Officer of this Company shall be personally liable for any
debt, obligation or liability of this Company merely by reason of being a Member, Director or
Officer. No Director or Officer of this Company shall be personally liable to this Company or its
Members for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty by such Director or Officer; provided
that this provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a Director or Officer for any of
the following: (i) receipt of an improper financial benefit to which the Director is not entitled;
(ii) intentional infliction of harm on the Company or the Members; (iii) liability for receipt or
payment of distributions in violation of the articles of organization, this Agreement or the Act;
or (iv) an intentional violation of criminal law. To the maximum extent permitted under the Act
and other applicable law, the Company, its receiver, or its trustee (in the case of its receiver or
trustee, to the extent of Company Property) shall indemnify, save and hold harmless, and pay all
judgments and claims against each Director or Officer relating to any liability or damage incurred
by reason of any act performed or omitted to be performed by such Director or Officer in connection
with the business of the Company, including reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by such Director or
Officer in connection with the defense of any action based on any such act or omission, which
attorneys’ fees may be paid as incurred, including all such liabilities under federal and state
securities laws as permitted by law. To the maximum extent permitted under the Act and other
applicable law, in the event of any action by a Unit Holder against any Director, including a
derivative suit, the Company shall indemnify, save harmless, and pay all costs, liabilities,
damages and expenses of such Director, including reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in the defense
of such action. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, no Director shall be indemnified by the
Company to the extent prohibited or limited (but only to the extent limited) by the Act. The
Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Person in such Person’s official
capacity against any liability asserted against and incurred by such Person in or arising from that
capacity, whether or not the Company would otherwise be required to indemnify the Person against
the liability.
(b) Enforcement of Indemnification. In the event that the Company refuses to indemnify
any Person who may be entitled to be indemnified or to have expenses advanced under this Section
5.23, such Person shall have the right to maintain an action in any court of competent jurisdiction
against the Company to determine whether or not such Person is entitled to such indemnification or
advancement of expenses hereunder. If such court action is successful and the person is determined
to be entitled to such indemnification or advancement of expenses, such Person shall be reimbursed
by the Company for all fees and expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably
incurred in connection with any such action (including, without limitation, the investigation,
defense, settlement or appeal of such action).
(c) Advancement of Expenses. Expenses (including attorneys fees) reasonably incurred in
defending an action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or
appellate, shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
proceeding upon
receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Person to repay such amount if it ultimately be
determined that such Person is not entitled to indemnification by the Company. In no event shall
any advance be made in instances where the Board of Directors, the Members or independent legal
counsel reasonably determine that such a person would not be entitled to indemnification hereunder.
(d) Non-Exclusivity. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by this Section
5.23 shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or
advancement of expenses may be entitled under any statute or any agreement, Board of Directors
vote, Member vote, policy of insurance, or otherwise, both as to action in official capacity and as
to action in another capacity while holding the respective offices, and shall not limit in any way
any right or obligation that the Company may have to make additional indemnifications with respect
to the same or different Persons or classes of Persons. The indemnification and advancement of
expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 5.23 shall continue as to a Person who
has ceased to be a Director or Officer, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and
administrators of such Person.
(e) Amendment and Vesting of Rights. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
the terms and provisions of Section 5.23 shall not be amended or repealed and the rights to
indemnification and advancement of expenses created hereunder shall not be changed, altered or
terminated, except by the unanimous approval of the Members.
5.23 Removal of Directors. Any Director may be removed by the majority vote of the
remaining Directors for cause. In the event of the removal of an appointed Director, the
appointing Member, shall appoint a new Director, within ten (10) days of the removal of the
appointed Director. “For Cause” shall mean the Director’s material breach of this Agreement or the
Director’s conviction of, or the entering of a guilty plea or plea of no contest with respect to a
felony or the equivalent thereof.
ARTICLE VI. MEMBERSHIP UNITS; MEMBERS
6.1 Membership Units. A Member’s Membership Interest in the Company shall be designated in
Units. There shall be one class of Units in the Company. The Units shall have no par value and
shall have identical rights, obligations and privileges, except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement. The Company shall have a first lien on the Units of any Member for any debt or
liability owed by such Member to the Company. Additional and different classes of Membership
Interests represented by different Units may be created and issued to new or existing Members on
such terms and conditions as the Directors may determine. Such additional and different classes
may have different rights, powers and preferences (including, without limitation, voting rights and
distribution preferences), which may be superior to those of existing Members. Members shall have
no preemptive rights to acquire additional or newly created Units.
6.2 Certificates; Surrender for Transfer. Certificates representing Units shall be in such
form as shall be determined by the Directors, in their discretion. If a certificate is lost,
destroyed or mutilated, a new one may be issued upon such terms and indemnity to the Company as the
Directors may prescribe. No new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate for a
like number of Units has been surrendered and canceled.
6.3 Members. Each Person who desires to become a Member must complete and execute a
signature page to this Agreement in the form of Exhibit “C” attached hereto and such other
documents as may be required by the Directors. Membership Interests and Units of the Members shall
be set forth on Exhibit “A” to this Agreement, as amended from time to time.
6.4 Members’ Voting Rights. Each Member shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each Unit
registered in the name of such Member (as shown in the Unit Holder Register) as to any matter for
which such
Member is entitled to vote under this Agreement or the Act. Members do not have cumulative voting
rights as to any matter. Except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement, Members
shall not have any right or power to take part in the management or control of the Company or its
business and affairs or to act for or bind the Company in any way.
6.5 Member Meetings. An annual meeting of the Members shall be held within one hundred
eighty (180) days of the close of the Company’s Fiscal Year, at a time and date determined by the
Directors. Special meetings of the Members, for any purpose(s) described in the meeting notice,
may be called by the Directors, and shall be called by the Directors at the request of not less
than thirty percent (30%) of all Members or Members holding at least 75% of the outstanding Units.
A call by the Members for a special meeting shall be in writing, signed by the persons calling for
the same, addressed and delivered to the Secretary, and shall state the time and purpose(s) of such
meeting.
6.6 Place of Meeting. The Directors, or in the absence of action by the Directors, the
Chairman, Vice-Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer, may designate any place as the place for
any meeting of the Members, unless by written consents, a majority of all Members entitled to vote
at the meeting designate a different place for the holding of such meeting. If no designation is
made by the Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or by unanimous action of the Members, the place
of meetings shall be at the principal office of the Company.
6.7 Conduct of Meetings. Subject to the discretion of the Directors, the Members may
participate in any Member meeting by means of telephone conference or similar means of
communication by which all participants in the meeting can hear and be heard by all other
participants.
6.8 Notice. Written notice stating the place and time of any annual or special Member
meeting shall be delivered, mailed (including electronic mail) or faxed not less than five (5) nor
more than sixty (60) days prior to the meeting date, to each Member of record entitled to vote at
such meeting as of the close of business on the day before said notice is delivered or mailed.
Such notices shall be deemed to be effective upon the earlier of: (i) deposit postage-prepaid in
the U.S. mail, addressed to the Member at the Member’s address as it appears on the Unit Holder
Register, or such other address as may have been provided in writing to the Company by a Member;
(ii) the date shown on the return receipt if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested; or (iii) actual receipt.
6.9 Contents of Notice. The notice of each Member meeting shall include a description of
the purpose(s) for which the meeting is called. If a purpose of any Member meeting is to consider:
(i) a proposed amendment to or restatement of the Articles requiring Member approval; (ii) a
proposed amendment or restatement of this Operating Agreement requiring Member approval; (iii) a
plan of merger or share exchange; (iv) the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all, or
substantially all of the Company’s Property; (v) the dissolution of the Company; or (vi) removal of
a Director, then the notice must so state and must be accompanied, as applicable, by a copy
or summary of the (1) amendment(s) to the Articles, (2) amendment(s) to the Operating Agreement,
(3) plan of merger or share exchange, (4) documents relating to the transaction for the disposition
of all the Company’s Property, and/or (5) plan and Articles of Dissolution.
6.10 Adjourned Meetings. If any Member meeting is adjourned to a different date, time or
place, notice need not be given of the new date, time or place, if the new date, time and place is
announced at the meeting before adjournment; provided that, if a new record date for the
adjourned meeting is or must be fixed, then notice must be given to new Members as of the new
record date.
6.11 Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given to any Member under the
Act, the Articles or this Agreement, a waiver in writing, signed by such Member whether given
before, during or after the meeting shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
Furthermore, a Member’s attendance at a meeting waives any objection that the Member might
otherwise raise based on lack of notice or defective notice, unless the Member: (i) objects at the
outset of the meeting to the transaction of
business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened; or (ii) in the case of an
objection claiming that consideration of a particular matter is not within the purposes described
in the meeting notice, objects at the time such matter is presented, and in either case, thereafter
does not participate in the meeting.
6.12 Fixing of Record Date. For purposes of determining the Members entitled to notice of,
or to vote at, any Member meeting or any adjournment thereof, or for purposes of determining the
Members entitled to receive payment of any distribution, or in order to make a determination of the
Members for any other purpose, the Directors may provide that the Unit Transfer books shall be
closed for a stated period, not to exceed sixty (60) days. If the Unit Transfer books shall be
closed for such purpose, such books shall be closed for at least ten (10) days immediately
preceding such meeting. In lieu of closing the Unit Transfer books, the Directors may fix in
advance a date as the record date for any such determination of Members, such date in any case to
be not more than sixty (60) days, and in case of a meeting of Members not less than ten (10) days,
prior to the date on which the particular action requiring such determination is to be taken. If
the Unit Transfer books are not closed and no record date is fixed for the determination, the date
on which notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution of the Directors
declaring a dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such
determination. When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of the Members has
been made as provided in this Section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof,
unless the Directors fix a new record date, which it must do if the meeting is adjourned to a date
more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the date fixed for the original meeting.
6.13 Quorum and Proxies. The presence (in person or by proxy or mail ballot) of Members
representing at least a majority of the Membership Voting Interests is required for the transaction
of business at a meeting of the Members. Voting by proxy or by mail ballot shall be permitted on
any matter if authorized by the Directors.
6.14 Voting; Action by Members. If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority
of the Membership Voting Interests represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter
(including units represented in person, by proxy or by mail ballot when authorized by the
Directors) shall constitute the act of the Members, unless the vote of a greater or lesser
proportion or numbers is otherwise required by this Agreement.
6.15 Action By Members Without a Meeting. Action required or permitted to be taken at a
meeting of Members may be taken without a meeting if the action is evidenced by one or more written
consents describing the action taken, signed by all the Members authorized to take action on the
matter and delivered to the Company for inclusion in the Company records.
6.16 Activities With the Company. Any Member or Affiliate thereof may be employed or
retained by the Company and may otherwise deal with the Company and may receive from the Company
compensation or other payment therefore, and neither the Company nor any of the Members, as such
shall have any rights in and or to any income or profits derived therefrom.
6.17 Termination of Membership. If for any reason the membership of a Member is terminated
as provided in this Agreement or the Act, the Member whose membership has terminated loses all
Membership Voting Interests and shall be considered merely an unadmitted Assignee of the Membership
Economic Interest owned before the termination of membership, having only the rights provided for
unadmitted Assignees in Section 9.7 hereof. No Member whose membership in the Company terminates,
not any transferee of such Member, shall have any right to demand or receive a return of such
terminated Member’s Capital Contributions or to require the purchase or redemption of the Member’s
Membership Interest. The other Members and the Company shall not have any obligation to purchase
or redeem the Membership Interest of any such terminated Member or transferee of any such
terminated Member.
6.18 Continuation of the Company. The Company shall not be dissolved upon the occurrence
of any event that is deemed to terminate the continued membership of a Member, but rather the
Company shall continue without dissolution, and its affairs shall not be required to be wound up.
6.19 Waiver of Dissenters Rights. To the fullest extent permitted by the Act, each Member
hereby disclaims, waives and agrees not to assert: (i) any dissenters’ or similar rights under the
Act; (ii) any right to require partition or appraisal of the Company or of any of its assets, or to
cause the sale of any Company Property; or (iii) any right to maintain any action for partition or
to compel any sale with respect to such Member’s Units, or with respect to any Company Property.
ARTICLE VII. ACCOUNTING, BOOKS AND RECORDS
7.1 Accounting, Books and Records. The books and records of the Company shall be kept, and
the financial position and the results of its operations recorded, in accordance with GAAP. The
books and records shall reflect all Company transactions and shall be appropriate and adequate for
the Company’s business. The Company shall maintain at its principal place of business: (i) a
current list of the full name and last known address of each Member and Assignee set forth in
alphabetical order, together with the Capital Contributions, Capital Account and Units of each
Member and Assignee; (ii) the full name and address of each Director; (iii) a copy of the Articles
and any and all amendments thereto, together with executed copies of any powers of attorney
pursuant to which the Articles or any amendments thereto have been executed; (iv) copies of the
Company’s federal, state and local income tax and information returns and reports, if any, for the
six (6) most recent taxable years; (v) a copy of this Agreement and any and all amendments hereto,
together with executed copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which this Agreement or any
amendments hereto have been executed; and (vi) copies of the financial statements of the Company,
if any, for the six (6) most recent Fiscal Years. The Company shall use the accrual method of
accounting in the preparation of its financial reports and for tax purposes and shall keep its
books and records accordingly.
7.2 Delivery to Members and Inspection. Any Member or such Member’s designated
representative shall have reasonable access during normal business hours to the information and
documents kept by the Company pursuant to Section 7.1 of this Agreement. The rights granted to a
Member pursuant to this Section 7.2 are expressly subject to compliance by such Member with the
safety, security and confidentiality procedures and guidelines of the Company, as such procedures
and guidelines may be amended from time to time. Upon the request of any Member for purposes
reasonably related to such Member’s interest as a Member, the Directors shall promptly deliver to
the requesting Member, at the expense of the requesting Member, a copy of the information required
to be maintained under Section 7.1 of this Agreement. Each Member has the right, upon reasonable
request for purposes reasonably related to such Member’s interest as a Member and for proper
purposes, to: (i) inspect and copy during normal business hours any of the Company records
described in Section 7.1 of this Agreement; and (ii) obtain from the Directors, promptly after
their becoming available, copies of the Company’s federal, state and local income tax and
information returns for each Fiscal Year. Each Assignee shall have the right to information
regarding the Company only to the extent required by the Act.
7.3 Reports. The CFO of the Company shall be responsible for causing the preparation of
financial reports of the Company and the coordination of financial matters of the Company with the
Company’s accountants. The Company shall cause to be delivered to each Member the financial
statements listed below, prepared, in each case (other than with respect to Member’s Capital
Accounts, which shall be prepared in accordance with this Agreement) in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied. Delivery of the financial statements shall occur as soon as practicable
following the end of each Fiscal Year (and in any event not later than one hundred twenty (120)
days after the end of such Fiscal Year), and at such time as distributions are made to the Unit
Holders pursuant to Article X of this Agreement following the occurrence of a Dissolution Event.
The financial statements shall consist of a balance sheet of the Company as of the end of such
Fiscal Year and the related statements of operations, Unit Holders’ Capital Accounts and changes
therein, and cash flows for such Fiscal Year, together with appropriate notes to
such financial statements and supporting schedules, all of which shall be audited and certified by
the Company’s accountants, and in each case setting forth in comparative form the corresponding
figures for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year end (in the case of the balance sheet) and the
two (2) immediately preceding Fiscal Years (in the case of the statements). Public access to the
financial statements through either the Company’s or the Securities and Exchange Commission’s
website shall constitute delivery pursuant to this Section 7.3.
7.4 Tax Matters. The Directors shall, without any further consent of the Unit Holders
being required (except as specifically required herein), make any and all elections for federal,
state, local and foreign tax purposes as the Directors shall determine appropriate and shall have
the right and authority to represent the Company and the Unit Holders before taxing authorities or
courts of competent jurisdiction in tax matters affecting the Company or the Unit Holders in their
capacities as Unit Holders, and to file any tax returns and execute any agreements or other
documents relating to or affecting such tax matters, including agreements or other documents that
bind the Unit Holders with respect to such tax matters or otherwise affect the rights of the
Company and the Unit Holders. The Directors shall designate a Person to be specifically authorized
to act as the “Tax Matters Member” under the Code and in any similar capacity under state or local
law; provided, however, that the Directors shall have the authority to designate, remove and
replace the Tax Matters Member who shall act as the tax matters partner within the meaning of and
pursuant to Regulations Sections 301.6231(a)(7)-1 and -2 or any similar provision under state or
local law. Necessary tax information shall be delivered to each Unit Holder as soon as practicable
after the end of each Fiscal Year, but not later than three (3) months after the end of each Fiscal
Year.
ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS
8.1 Amendments. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed by the Directors or any
Member. Following any such proposal, the Directors shall submit to the Members a proposed
amendment (provided that counsel for the Company shall have approved of the same in writing as to
form), and the Directors shall include therewith a recommendation as to the proposed amendment.
The Directors shall seek the written vote of the Members on the proposed amendment or shall call a
meeting to vote thereon and to transact any other business that it may deem appropriate. A
proposed amendment shall be adopted and be effective as an amendment to this Agreement only if
approved by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Membership Voting Interests (a) represented
at a Member meeting at which a quorum of the Members is present, or (b) in the form of a written
ballot or vote. Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 8.1 to the contrary, this Agreement
shall not be amended without the consent of each Member adversely affected if such amendment would
(i) modify the limited liability of a Member, or (ii) modify the special appointment rights of a
Member; provided, however, that the requirement of an adversely affected Member’s consent shall not
apply to any alteration resulting from a change in the number of outstanding Units or an adjustment
to the Capital Accounts as provided in this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX. TRANSFERS
9.1 Restrictions on Transfers. Except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, no Member
shall Transfer all or any portion of its Units. In the event that any Member pledges or otherwise
encumbers all or any part of its Units as security for the payment of a Debt, any such pledge or
hypothecation shall be made pursuant to a pledge or hypothecation agreement that requires the
pledgee or secured party to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Article IX. In the
event such pledgee or secured party becomes the Unit Holder hereunder pursuant to the exercise of
such party’s rights under such pledge or hypothecation agreement, such pledgee or secured party
shall be bound by all terms and conditions of this Operating Agreement and all other agreements
governing the rights and obligations of Unit Holders. In such case, such pledgee or secured party,
and any transferee or purchaser of the Units held by such pledgee or secured party, shall not have
any Membership Voting Interest attached to such Units unless and until the Directors have approved
in writing and admitted as a Member hereunder, such pledgee, secured party, transferee or purchaser
of such Units. A Member will be deemed to have transferred its
Membership Interests if it sells its assets or stock, merges, or in any way alters its structure so
as to have the effect of changing at least fifty-percent (50%) of the control of the member from
the control as it existed at the time such entity became a Member. Each Member hereby acknowledges
the reasonableness of the restrictions on Transfer of Membership Interests imposed by this
Agreement in view of the Company’s purposes and the relationship of the Members. Accordingly, the
restrictions on Transfer contained herein shall be specifically enforceable. Any purported
Transfer of an interest in the Company in violation of the terms of this Agreement shall be null
and void and of no effect.
9.2 Permitted Transfers. Subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth in this
Article IX, a Unit Holder may at any time Transfer all or any portion of such Unit Holder’s Units
(i) to the transferor’s administrator or trustee to whom such Units are Transferred involuntarily
by operation of law, (ii) without consideration to or in trust for the Member and/or the Member’s
descendants or the spouse of a Member, or (iii) to any Person approved by the Directors, in
writing. Any such Transfer set forth in this Section 9.2 and meeting the conditions set forth in
Section 9.3 and 9.8 below is referred to herein as a “Permitted Transfer.”
9.3 Conditions Precedent to Transfers. In addition to the conditions set forth above and
the conditions in Sections 9.8 and 9.9, no Transfer of Units shall be effective unless and until
all of the following conditions have been satisfied:
(a) Except in the case of a Transfer involuntarily by operation of law, the transferor and
transferee shall execute and deliver to the Company such documents and instruments of Transfer as
may be necessary or appropriate in the opinion of counsel to the Company to affect such Transfer.
In the case of a Transfer of Units involuntarily by operation of law, the Transfer shall be
confirmed by presentation to the Company of legal evidence of such Transfer, in form and substance
satisfactory to counsel to the Company. In all cases, the transferor and/or transferee shall pay
all reasonable costs and expenses connected with the Transfer and the admission of the Transferee
as a Member and incurred as a result of such Transfer, including but not limited to, legal fees and
costs.
(b) The transferor and transferee shall furnish the Company with the transferee’s taxpayer
identification number, sufficient information to determine the transferee’s initial tax basis in
the Units transferred, and any other information reasonably necessary to permit the Company to file
all required federal and state tax returns and other legally required information statements or
returns. The Company shall not be required to make any distribution otherwise provided for in this
Agreement with respect to any Transferred Units until it has received such information.
(c) Except in the case of a Transfer of any Units involuntarily by operation of law, either
(i) such Units shall be registered under the Securities Act, and any applicable state securities
laws, or (ii) the transferor shall provide an opinion of counsel, which opinion and counsel shall
be reasonably satisfactory to the Directors, to the effect that such Transfer is exempt from all
applicable registration requirements and that such Transfer will not violate any applicable laws
regulating the Transfer of securities.
(d) Except in the case of a Transfer of Units involuntarily by operation of law, the
transferor shall provide an opinion of counsel, which opinion and counsel shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Directors, to the effect that such Transfer will not cause the Company to be
deemed to be an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(e) Unless otherwise approved by the Directors and Members representing in the aggregate a 75%
majority of the Membership Voting Interests, no Transfer of Units shall be made except upon terms
which would not, in the opinion of counsel chosen by the Directors, result in the termination of
the Company within the meaning of Section 708 of the Code or cause the application of the rules of
Sections
168(g)(1)(B) and 168(h) of the Code or similar rules to apply to the Company. If the
immediate Transfer of such Unit would, in the opinion of such counsel, cause a termination within
the meaning of Section 708 of the Code, then if, in the opinion of such counsel, the following
action would not precipitate such termination, the transferor Member shall be entitled to (or
required, as the case may be): (i) immediately Transfer only that portion of its Units as may, in
the opinion of such counsel, be Transferred without causing such a termination; and (ii) enter into
an agreement to Transfer the remainder of its Units, in one or more Transfers, at the earliest date
or dates on which such Transfer or Transfers may be effected without causing such termination. The
purchase price for the Units shall be allocated between the immediate Transfer and the deferred
Transfer or Transfers pro rata on the basis of the percentage of the aggregate Units being
Transferred, each portion to be payable when the respective Transfer is consummated, unless
otherwise agreed by the parties to the Transfer. In the case of a Transfer by one Member to
another Member, the deferred purchase price shall be deposited in an interest-bearing escrow
account unless another method of securing the payment thereof is agreed upon by the transferor
Member and the transferee Member(s).
(f) No notice or request initiating the procedures contemplated by this Section 9.3 may be
given by any Member after a Dissolution Event has occurred. No Member may sell all or any portion
of its Units after a Dissolution Event has occurred.
(g) No Person shall Transfer any Unit if, in the determination of the Directors, such Transfer
would cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of
Section 7704(b) of the Code.
The Directors shall have the authority to waive any legal opinion or other condition required
in this Section 9.3 other than the Member approval requirement set forth in Section 9.3(e).
9.4 Prohibited Transfers. Any purported Transfer of Units that is not a Permitted
Transfer shall be null and void and of no force or effect whatsoever; provided that, if the Company
is required to recognize a Transfer that is not a Permitted Transfer (or if the Directors, in their
sole discretion, elect to recognize a Transfer that is not a Permitted Transfer), the Units
Transferred shall be strictly limited to the transferor’s Membership Economic Interests as provided
by this Agreement with respect to the transferred Units, which Membership Economic Interests may be
applied (without limiting any other legal or equitable rights of the Company) to satisfy any debts,
obligations, or liabilities for damages that the transferor or transferee of such Membership
Interest may have to the Company. In the case of a Transfer or attempted Transfer of Units that is
not a Permitted Transfer, the parties engaging or attempting to engage in such Transfer shall be
liable to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the other Members from all cost, liability,
and damage that any of such indemnified Members may incur (including, without limitation,
incremental tax liabilities, lawyers’ fees and expenses) as a result of such Transfer or attempted
Transfer and efforts to enforce the indemnity granted hereby.
9.5 No Dissolution or Termination. The Transfer of Units pursuant to the terms of this
Article IX shall not dissolve or terminate the Company. No Member shall have the right to have the
Company dissolved or to have such Member’s Capital Contribution returned except as provided in this
Agreement.
9.6 Prohibition of Assignment. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article
IX, no Transfer of Units may be made if the Units sought to be sold, exchanged or Transferred, when
added to the total of all other Units sold, exchanged or Transferred within the period of twelve
(12) consecutive months prior thereto, would result in the termination of the Company under Section
708 of the Code. In the event of a Transfer of any Units, the Members will determine, in their
sole discretion, whether or not the Company will elect pursuant to Section 754 of the Code (or
corresponding provisions of future law) to adjust the basis of the assets of the Company.
9.7 Rights of Unadmitted Assignees. A Person who acquires Units but who is not admitted as
a substitute Member pursuant to Section 9.8 of this Agreement shall be entitled only to the
Membership Economic Interests with respect to such Units in accordance with this Agreement, and
shall not be entitled to the Membership Voting Interests with respect to such Units. In addition,
such Person shall have no right to any information or accounting of the affairs of the Company
except as required by the Act, shall not be entitled to inspect the books or records of the
Company, and shall not have any of the other rights of a Member under the Act or this Agreement.
9.8 Admission of Substitute Members. As to Permitted Transfers, a transferee of Units
shall be admitted as a substitute Member provided that such transferee has complied with
the following provisions:
(a) The transferee shall, by written instrument in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Directors, accept and agree to be bound by all of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement, and assume the obligations of the transferor Member hereunder with respect to the
Transferred Units.
(b) The transferee shall pay for or reimburse the Company for all reasonable legal, filing and
publication costs incurred in connection with the admission of the transferee as a Member; and
(c) Except in the case of a Transfer involuntarily by operation of law, if required by the
Directors, the transferee shall deliver to the Company evidence of his/her/its authority to become
a Member and to be bound by all the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
(d) The transferee and transferor shall each execute and deliver such other instruments as the
Directors reasonably deem necessary or appropriate in connection with such Transfer.
9.9 Representations Regarding Transfers. Each Member hereby covenants and agrees with the
Company for the benefit of the Company and all Members, that: (i) it is not currently making a
market in Units and will not in the future make a market in Units; (ii) it will not Transfer its
Units on an established securities market, a secondary market (or the substantial equivalent
thereof) within the meaning of Code Section 7704(b) (and any Regulations, proposed Regulations,
revenue rulings, or other official pronouncements of the IRS or the Treasury Department that may be
promulgated or published thereunder); and (iii) in the event such Regulations, revenue rulings, or
other pronouncements treat any or all arrangements which facilitate the selling of Units (commonly
referred to as “matching services”) as being a secondary market or the substantial equivalent
thereof, no Member will Transfer any Units through a matching service that is not approved in
advance by the Company. Each Member further agrees that it will not Transfer any Units to any
Person unless such Person first agrees to be bound by this Article IX.
Each Member hereby represents and warrants to the Company and the Members that such Member’s
acquisition of Units hereunder is made as principal for such Member’s own account and not for
resale or distribution of such Units. Each Member further hereby agrees that the following legend,
as the same may be amended by the Directors in their sole discretion, may be placed upon any
counterpart of this Agreement, the Articles, or any other document or instrument evidencing
ownership of Units:
THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THE MEMBERSHIP UNITS REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS
RESTRICTED. SUCH UNITS MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, OR TRANSFERRED, AND NO ASSIGNEE,
VENDEE, TRANSFEREE OR ENDORSEE THEREOF WILL BE RECOGNIZED AS HAVING ACQUIRED ANY
SUCH UNITS FOR ANY PURPOSES, UNLESS AND TO THE EXTENT SUCH SALE, TRANSFER,
HYPOTHECATION, OR ASSIGNMENT IS PERMITTED BY,
AND IS COMPLETED IN STRICT ACCORDANCE WITH, APPLICABLE FEDERAL AND STATE LAW AND THE
TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE OPERATING AGREEMENT OF THE COMPANY, AS AMENDED
FROM TIME TO TIME.
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE OR
TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED, AND UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR AN OPINION OF
COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM
REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND UNDER APPLICABLE
STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
9.10 Distributions And Allocations In Respect of Transferred Units. If any Units are
Transferred during any Fiscal Year in compliance with the provisions of this Article IX, Profits,
Losses, each item thereof, and all other items attributable to the Transferred Units for such
Fiscal Year shall be divided and allocated between the transferor and the transferee by taking into
account their varying interests during the Fiscal Year in accordance with Code Section 706(d),
using any conventions permitted by law and selected by the Directors. All distributions on or
before the date of such Transfer shall be made to the transferor, and all distributions thereafter
shall be made to the transferee. Solely for purposes of making such allocations and distributions,
the Company shall recognize such Transfer to be effective not later than the first day of the month
following the month in which all documents to effectuate the Transfer have been executed and
delivered to the Company, provided that, if the Company does not receive a notice stating the date
such Units were Transferred and such other information as the Directors may reasonably require
within thirty (30) days after the end of the Fiscal Year during which the Transfer occurs, then all
such items shall be allocated, and all distributions shall be made, to the person or entity who,
according to the books and records of the Company, was the owner of the Units on the last day of
such Fiscal Year. Neither the Company nor any Member shall incur any liability for making
allocations and distributions in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.10, whether or
not the Directors or the Company has knowledge of any Transfer of any Units.
9.11 Additional Members. Additional Members may be admitted from time to time upon the
approval of the Directors, and in accordance with such terms and conditions, as the Directors may
determine. All Members acknowledge that the admission of additional Members may result in a
dilution of a Member’s Membership Interest. Prior to admission as a Member, a prospective Member
shall agree in writing to be bound by this Agreement shall and execute and deliver to the Company
an Addendum to this Agreement in the form of Exhibit “C” attached hereto. Upon the execution of
such Addendum, such additional Member shall be deemed to be a party to this Agreement as if such
additional Member had executed this Agreement on the original date hereof, and shall be bound by
all of the provisions set forth herein. Upon the admission of a Member the Directors shall cause
the Unit Holder Register and Exhibit A to be appropriately amended. Such amendments shall not be
considered amendments pursuant to Section 8.1 of this Agreement and will not require Member action
for purposes of Section 8.1.
ARTICLE X. DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP
10.1 Dissolution. The Company shall dissolve and shall commence winding up and liquidating
upon the first to occur of any of the following (each a “Dissolution Event”): (i) the affirmative
vote of a majority of the Membership Voting Interests to dissolve, wind up and liquidate the
Company; or (ii) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution pursuant to the Act. The Members
hereby agree that,
notwithstanding any provision of the Act, the Company shall not dissolve prior to the occurrence of
a Dissolution Event.
10.2 Winding Up. Upon the occurrence of a Dissolution Event, the Company shall continue
solely for the purposes of winding up its affairs in an orderly manner, liquidating its assets and
satisfying the claims of its creditors and Members; and no Member shall take any action that is
inconsistent with, or not necessary to or appropriate for, winding up of the Company’s business and
affairs. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Members acknowledge
and agree that all covenants and obligations set forth this Agreement shall continue to be fully
binding upon the Members until such time as the Property has been distributed pursuant to this
Section 10.2 and Articles of Dissolution have been filed pursuant to the Act. The Liquidator shall
be responsible for overseeing the prompt and orderly winding up and dissolution of the Company.
The Liquidator shall take full account of the Company’s liabilities and Property and shall cause
the Property or the proceeds from the sale thereof (as determined pursuant to Section 10.8 of this
Agreement), to the extent sufficient therefor, to be applied and distributed, to the maximum extent
permitted by law, in the following order: (i) first, to creditors (including Members and Directors
who are creditors, to the extent otherwise permitted by law) in satisfaction of all of the
Company’s Debts and other liabilities (whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for
payment thereof), other than liabilities for which reasonable provision for payment has been made;
and (ii) second, except as provided in this Agreement, to Members in satisfaction of liabilities
for distributions pursuant to the Act; (iii) third, the balance, if any, to the Unit Holders in
accordance with the positive balance in their Capital Accounts calculated after making the required
adjustment set forth in clause (ii)(C) of the definition of Gross Asset Value in Section 1.10 of
this Agreement, after giving effect to all contributions, distributions and allocations for all
periods.
10.3 Compliance with Certain Requirements of Regulations; Deficit Capital Accounts. In the
event the Company is “liquidated” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g),
distributions shall be made pursuant to this Article X to the Unit Holders who have positive
Capital Accounts in compliance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(2). If any Unit
Holder has a deficit balance in such Member’s Capital Account (after giving effect to all
contributions, distributions and allocations for all Fiscal Years, including the Fiscal Year during
which such liquidation occurs), such Unit Holder shall have no obligation to make any contribution
to the capital of the Company with respect to such deficit, and such deficit shall not be
considered a debt owed to the Company or to any other Person for any purpose whatsoever. In the
discretion of the Liquidator, a pro rata portion of the distributions that would otherwise be made
to the Unit Holders pursuant to this Article X may be: (i) distributed to a trust established for
the benefit of the Unit Holders for the purposes of liquidating Company assets, collecting amounts
owed to the Company, and paying any contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the
Company, in which case the assets of any such trust shall be distributed to the Unit Holders from
time to time, in the reasonable discretion of the Liquidator, in the same proportions as the amount
distributed to such trust by the Company would otherwise have been distributed to the Unit Holders
pursuant to Section 10.2 of this Agreement; or (b) withheld to provide a reasonable reserve for
Company liabilities (contingent or otherwise) and to reflect the unrealized portion of any
installment obligations owed to the Company, provided that such withheld amounts shall be
distributed to the Unit Holders as soon as practicable.
10.4 Deemed Distribution and Recontribution. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Article X, in the event the Company is liquidated within the meaning of Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) but no Dissolution Event has occurred, the Property shall not be liquidated,
the Company’s Debts and other liabilities shall not be paid or discharged, and the Company’s
affairs shall not be wound up.
10.5 Rights of Unit Holders. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Unit
Holder shall look solely to the Property of the Company for the return of such Unit Holder’s
Capital Contribution and
shall have no right or power to demand or receive Property other than cash from the Company. If
the assets of the Company remaining after payment or discharge of the debts or liabilities of the
Company are insufficient to return such Capital Contribution, the Unit Holders shall have no
recourse against the Company or any other Unit Holder or Directors.
10.6 Allocations During Period of Liquidation. During the period commencing on the first
day of the Fiscal Year during which a Dissolution Event occurs and ending on the date on which all
of the assets of the Company have been distributed to the Unit Holders pursuant to Section 10.2 of
this Agreement (the “Liquidation Period”), the Unit Holders shall continue to share Profits,
Losses, gain, loss and other items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction in the manner
provided in Article III of this Agreement.
10.7 Character of Liquidating Distributions. All payments made in liquidation of the
interest of a Unit Holder shall be made in exchange for the interest of such Unit Holder in
Property pursuant to Section 736(b)(1) of the Code, including the interest of such Unit Holder in
Company goodwill.
10.8 The Liquidator. The “Liquidator” shall mean a Person appointed by the Directors to
oversee the liquidation of the Company. Upon the consent of a majority of the Membership Voting
Interests, the Liquidator may be the Directors. The Company is authorized to pay a reasonable fee
to the Liquidator for its services performed pursuant to this Article X and to reimburse the
Liquidator for its reasonable costs and expenses incurred in performing those services. The
Company shall indemnify, save harmless, and pay all judgments and claims against such Liquidator
and any officers, directors, agents and employees of the Liquidator relating to any liability or
damage incurred by reason of any act performed or omitted to be performed by the Liquidator, or any
officers, directors, agents or employees of the Liquidator in connection with the liquidation of
the Company, including reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with the defense of any
action based on any such act or omission, which attorneys’ fees may be paid as incurred, except to
the extent such liability or damage is caused by fraud, intentional misconduct, or a knowing
violation of the laws which was material to the cause of action.
10.9 Forms of Liquidating Distributions. For purposes of making distributions required by
Section 10.2 of this Agreement, the Liquidator may determine whether to distribute all or any
portion of the Property in-kind or to sell all or any portion of the Property and distribute the
proceeds therefrom; provided, however, no Member shall be required to accept more than its, his, or
her pro rata share of any Property in-kind.
ARTICLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Notices. Any notice, payment, demand, or communication required or permitted to be
given by any provision of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
delivered, given, and received for all purposes (i) if delivered personally to the Person or to an
officer of the Person to whom the same is directed, or (ii) when the same is actually received, if
sent by regular or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by electronic mail or facsimile, if such
electronic mail or facsimile is followed by a hard copy of the electronic mail or facsimile
communication sent promptly thereafter by regular or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows, or to such other address as such Person may from time to time specify by notice to the
Company: (a) If to the Company, to the address determined pursuant to Section 1.4 of this
Agreement; (b) If to the Directors, to the address set forth on record with the Company; (c) If to
a Unit Holder, either to the address set forth in the Unit Holder Register or to such other address
that has been provided in writing to the Company.
11.2 Binding Effect. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, every covenant, term
and provision of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the
Company and the Members, and their respective heirs, representatives, successors, transferees, and
assigns.
11.3 Construction. Every covenant, term, and provision of this Agreement shall be
construed simply according to its fair meaning and not strictly for or against the Company or any
Member.
11.4 Headings. Article, Section and other headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and are not intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope,
extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement.
11.5 Severability. Except as otherwise provided in the succeeding sentence, every
provision of this Agreement is intended to be severable, and if any term or provision of this
Agreement is illegal or invalid for any reason whatsoever, such illegality or invalidity shall not
affect the validity or legality of the remainder of this Agreement. The preceding sentence of this
Section 11.5 shall be of no force or effect if the consequence of enforcing the remainder of this
Agreement without such illegal or invalid term or provision would be to cause any Member to lose
the material benefit of its economic bargain.
11.6 Incorporation By Reference. Every recital, exhibit, schedule and appendix attached to
this Agreement and referred to herein is hereby incorporated into this Agreement by reference
unless this Agreement expressly provides otherwise.
11.7 Variation of Terms. All terms and variations thereof used in this Agreement shall be
deemed to refer to masculine, feminine, or neuter, singular or plural, as the context may require.
11.8 Governing Law. The laws of the State of Iowa shall govern the validity of this
Agreement, the construction of its terms, and the interpretation of the rights and duties arising
hereunder.
11.9 Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Members irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, all rights to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim arising out
of or relating to this Agreement or the business and affairs of the Company.
11.10 Counterpart Execution. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts
with the same effect as if all of the Members had signed the same document. All counterparts shall
be construed together and shall constitute one agreement.
11.11 Specific Performance. Each Member acknowledges and agrees that the Company and the
other Members would be irreparably damaged if any of the provisions of this Agreement are not
performed in accordance with their specific terms, and that monetary damages would not provide an
adequate remedy in such event. Accordingly, it is agreed that, in addition to any other remedy to
which the Company and the non-breaching Members may be entitled hereunder, at law or in equity, the
Company and the non-breaching Members shall be entitled to injunctive relief to prevent
breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to specifically enforce the terms and
provisions of this Agreement.
11.12 No Third Party Rights. None of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall be
deemed to be for the benefit of or enforceable by any third parties, including without limitation,
any creditors of any Member or the Company.
11.13 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Members
as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous meanings.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Members have adopted this Operating Agreement of the Company as of
January 23, 2007.
EXHIBIT “A”
Membership List
Name and Units of Members
Name of Member | Units Held | |||
Amaizing Energy Cooperative |
60,789,140 | |||
Xxxxx Energy, Inc. |
5,135,337 | |||
Energy Partners, LLC |
21,535,285 | |||
Capitaline Renewable Energy, LP |
9,939,362 | |||
ICM, Inc |
4,969,681 | |||
NEK-SEN Energy, LLC |
5,000,000 | |||
Atlantic Energy, LLC |
500,000 |
EXHIBIT “B”
Appointment Rights
Number of | ||||
Name of Member | Appointed Directors | |||
Amaizing Energy, L.L.C. |
13 | |||
Atlantic Energy, LLC |
3 | |||
NEK-SEN Energy, LLC |
1 |
Board of Directors
1. | Xxxxx Constant | |
2. | Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
3. | Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
4. | Xxx Xxxxxxx | |
5. | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
6. | Xxxx Xxxxxxx | |
7. | Xxxxx Xxxxx | |
8. | Xxxx Xxxxxxx | |
9. | Xxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
10. | Xxxx Xxxxx | |
11. | Xxx Xxxxx | |
12. | Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
13. | Xxxx XxxxxxXxxxxx | |
14. | Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
15. | Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
16. | Xxx Xxxxxxx | |
17. | Xxxx Xxxxxxx | |
18. | $15 Million Investor Appointee | |
19. | $15 Million Investor Appointee |
EXHIBIT “C”
MEMBER SIGNATURE PAGE
The undersigned does hereby warrant, represent, covenant and agree that: (i) the undersigned,
as a condition to becoming a Member in Amaizing Energy Holding Company, LLC, has received a copy of
the Operating Agreement dated effective January 23, 2007, and, if applicable, all amendments and
modifications thereto; (ii) the undersigned, along with the other parties to the Operating
Agreement, shall be subject to and comply with all terms and conditions of such Operating Agreement
in all respects, as if the undersigned had executed said Operating Agreement on the original date
thereof; and (iii) the undersigned is and shall be bound by all of the provisions of said Operating
Agreement from and after the date of execution of this Addendum.
Individuals:
|
Entities: | |||||
Amaizing Energy Cooperative | ||||||
Name of Individual Member (Please Print)
|
Name of Entity (Please Print) | |||||
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, President | ||||||
Signature of Individual
|
Print Name and Title of Officer | |||||
/s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxxx 1/23/07 | ||||||
Name of Joint Individual Member (Please Print)
|
Signature of Officer | |||||
Signature of Joint Individual Member |
Agreed to and Accepted on Behalf of the Company and its Members: | ||||||
AMAIZING ENERGY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC | ||||||
By: |
||||||
Its: | ||||||
EXHIBIT “C”
MEMBER SIGNATURE PAGE
The undersigned does hereby warrant, represent, covenant and agree that: (i) the undersigned,
as a condition to becoming a Member in Amaizing Energy Holding Company, LLC, has received a copy of
the Operating Agreement dated effective January 23, 2007, and, if applicable, all amendments and
modifications thereto; (ii) the undersigned, along with the other parties to the Operating
Agreement, shall be subject to and comply with all terms and conditions of such Operating Agreement
in all respects, as if the undersigned had executed said Operating Agreement on the original date
thereof; and (iii) the undersigned is and shall be bound by all of the provisions of said Operating
Agreement from and after the date of execution of this Addendum.
Individuals:
|
Entities: | |||||
Xxxxx Energy, Inc. | ||||||
Name of Individual Member (Please Print)
|
Name of Entity (Please Print) | |||||
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Board Rep. | ||||||
By Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||||||
Signature of Individual
|
Print Name and Title of Officer | |||||
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||||||
Name of Joint Individual Member (Please Print)
|
Signature of Officer | |||||
Signature of Joint Individual Member |
Agreed to and Accepted on Behalf of the Company and its Members: | ||||||
AMAIZING ENERGY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC | ||||||
By: |
||||||
Its: | ||||||
EXHIBIT “C”
MEMBER SIGNATURE PAGE
ADDENDUM TO THE
OPERATING AGREEMENT OF
AMAIZING ENERGY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
OPERATING AGREEMENT OF
AMAIZING ENERGY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
The undersigned does hereby warrant, represent, covenant and agree that: (i) the undersigned,
as a condition to becoming a Member in Amaizing Energy Holding Company, LLC, has received a copy of
the Operating Agreement dated effective January 23, 2007, and, if applicable, all amendments and
modifications thereto; (ii) the undersigned, along with the other parties to the Operating
Agreement, shall be subject to and comply with all terms and conditions of such Operating Agreement
in all respects, as if the undersigned had executed said Operating Agreement on the original date
thereof; and (iii) the undersigned is and shall be bound by all of the provisions of said Operating
Agreement from and after the date of execution of this Addendum.
Individuals:
|
Entities: | |||||
Capitaline Renewable Energy | ||||||
Name of Individual Member (Please Print)
|
Name of Entity (Please Print) | |||||
Xxxxx Xxxxx President | ||||||
Signature of Individual
|
Print Name and Title of Officer | |||||
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | ||||||
Name of Joint Individual Member (Please Print)
|
Signature of Officer | |||||
Signature of Joint Individual Member |
Agreed to and Accepted on Behalf of the Company and its Members: | ||||||
AMAIZING ENERGY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC | ||||||
By: |
||||||
Its: | ||||||
EXHIBIT “C”
MEMBER SIGNATURE PAGE
ADDENDUM TO THE
OPERATING AGREEMENT OF
AMAIZING ENERGY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
OPERATING AGREEMENT OF
AMAIZING ENERGY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
The undersigned does hereby warrant, represent, covenant and agree that: (i) the undersigned,
as a condition to becoming a Member in Amaizing Energy Holding Company, LLC, has received a copy of
the Operating Agreement dated effective January 23, 2007, and, if applicable, all amendments and
modifications thereto; (ii) the undersigned, along with the other parties to the Operating
Agreement, shall be subject to and comply with all terms and conditions of such Operating Agreement
in all respects, as if the undersigned had executed said Operating Agreement on the original date
thereof; and (iii) the undersigned is and shall be bound by all of the provisions of said Operating
Agreement from and after the date of execution of this Addendum.
Individuals:
|
Entities: | |||||
Energy Partners, LLC | ||||||
Name of Individual Member (Please Print)
|
Name of Entity (Please Print) | |||||
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx Manager | ||||||
Signature of Individual
|
Print Name and Title of Officer | |||||
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||||
Name of Joint Individual Member (Please Print)
|
Signature of Officer | |||||
Signature of Joint Individual Member |
Agreed to and Accepted on Behalf of the Company and its Members: | ||||||
AMAIZING ENERGY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC | ||||||
By: |
||||||
Its: | ||||||
EXHIBIT “C”
MEMBER SIGNATURE PAGE
ADDENDUM TO THE
OPERATING AGREEMENT OF
AMAIZING ENERGY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
OPERATING AGREEMENT OF
AMAIZING ENERGY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
The undersigned does hereby warrant, represent, covenant and agree that: (i) the undersigned,
as a condition to becoming a Member in Amaizing Energy Holding Company, LLC, has received a copy of
the Operating Agreement dated effective January 23, 2007, and, if applicable, all amendments and
modifications thereto; (ii) the undersigned, along with the other parties to the Operating
Agreement, shall be subject to and comply with all terms and conditions of such Operating Agreement
in all respects, as if the undersigned had executed said Operating Agreement on the original date
thereof; and (iii) the undersigned is and shall be bound by all of the provisions of said Operating
Agreement from and after the date of execution of this Addendum.
Individuals:
|
Entities: | |||||
NEK-SEN Energy, LLC | ||||||
Name of Individual Member (Please Print)
|
Name of Entity (Please Print) | |||||
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Appointed Director | ||||||
Signature of Individual
|
Print Name and Title of Officer | |||||
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||||||
Name of Joint Individual Member (Please Print)
|
Signature of Officer | |||||
Signature of Joint Individual Member |
Agreed to and Accepted on Behalf of the Company and its Members: | ||||||
AMAIZING ENERGY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC | ||||||
By: |
||||||
Its: | ||||||