FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF CHENIERE GP HOLDING COMPANY, LLC (a Delaware Limited Liability Company)
Exhibit 10.2
FORM OF
AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
CHENIERE GP HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
(a Delaware Limited Liability Company)
[—], 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Article I Definitions | 2 | |||||
SECTION 1.01 |
Definitions | 2 | ||||
SECTION 1.02 |
Construction | 5 | ||||
Article II Organization | 5 | |||||
SECTION 2.01 |
Continuation | 5 | ||||
SECTION 2.02 |
Name | 6 | ||||
SECTION 2.03 |
Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office | 6 | ||||
SECTION 2.04 |
Purposes | 6 | ||||
SECTION 2.05 |
Term | 6 | ||||
SECTION 2.06 |
No State Law Partnership | 7 | ||||
SECTION 2.07 |
Title to Company Assets | 7 | ||||
SECTION 2.08 |
Liability of Members, Directors And Officers | 7 | ||||
Article III Membership | 7 | |||||
SECTION 3.01 |
Membership Interests; Additional Members | 7 | ||||
SECTION 3.02 |
Access To Information | 8 | ||||
SECTION 3.03 |
Liability | 8 | ||||
Article IV Capital Contributions | 8 | |||||
SECTION 4.01 |
Initial Capital Contributions | 8 | ||||
SECTION 4.02 |
Loans | 8 | ||||
SECTION 4.03 |
Return of Contributions | 9 | ||||
Article V Distributions | 9 | |||||
SECTION 5.01 |
Distributions | 9 | ||||
SECTION 5.02 |
Varying Interests | 9 | ||||
SECTION 5.03 |
Limitations on Distributions | 9 | ||||
Article VI Management | 9 | |||||
SECTION 6.01 |
Management by Board of Directors | 9 | ||||
SECTION 6.02 |
Number; Qualification; Tenure | 10 | ||||
SECTION 6.03 |
Regular Meetings | 10 | ||||
SECTION 6.04 |
Annual Meetings | 10 | ||||
SECTION 6.05 |
Special Meetings | 10 | ||||
SECTION 6.06 |
Action By Consent of Board or Committee of Board | 10 | ||||
SECTION 6.07 |
Conference Telephone Meetings | 11 | ||||
SECTION 6.08 |
Quorum | 11 | ||||
SECTION 6.09 |
Vacancies; Increases in the Number of Directors | 11 | ||||
SECTION 6.10 |
Committees | 11 | ||||
SECTION 6.11 |
Resignation or Removal | 12 | ||||
SECTION 6.12 |
Compensation | 12 | ||||
Article VII Officers | 12 | |||||
SECTION 7.01 |
Elected Officers | 12 |
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SECTION 7.02 |
Election and Term of Office | 13 | ||||
SECTION 7.03 |
Chairman of the Board | 13 | ||||
SECTION 7.04 |
Chief Executive Officer | 13 | ||||
SECTION 7.05 |
President | 14 | ||||
SECTION 7.06 |
Chief Financial Officer | 14 | ||||
SECTION 7.07 |
Chief Operating Officer | 14 | ||||
SECTION 7.08 |
Vice Presidents | 14 | ||||
SECTION 7.09 |
Treasurer | 14 | ||||
SECTION 7.10 |
Secretary | 15 | ||||
SECTION 7.11 |
Powers of Attorney | 15 | ||||
SECTION 7.12 |
Delegation of Authority | 15 | ||||
SECTION 7.13 |
Compensation and Expenses | 15 | ||||
SECTION 7.14 |
Removal | 16 | ||||
SECTION 7.15 |
Vacancies | 16 | ||||
Article VIII Member Meetings | 16 | |||||
SECTION 8.01 |
Meetings | 16 | ||||
SECTION 8.02 |
Notice of a Meeting | 16 | ||||
SECTION 8.03 |
Action by Consent of Members | 16 | ||||
SECTION 8.04 |
Member Vote | 17 | ||||
SECTION 8.05 |
Designation of Directors | 17 | ||||
SECTION 8.06 |
Cheniere Separation Event; Effect | 17 | ||||
Article IX Indemnification of Directors, Officers, Employees and Agents |
17 | |||||
SECTION 9.01 |
Indemnification | 17 | ||||
Article X Taxes, Books, Records, Reports, and Bank Accounts |
19 | |||||
SECTION 10.01 |
Federal Income Tax Treatment | 19 | ||||
SECTION 10.02 |
Maintenance of Books | 19 | ||||
SECTION 10.03 |
Reports | 20 | ||||
SECTION 10.04 |
Bank Accounts | 20 | ||||
Article XI Dissolution, Winding-Up, Termination and Conversion |
20 | |||||
SECTION 11.01 |
Dissolution | 20 | ||||
SECTION 11.02 |
Winding-Up and Termination | 21 | ||||
SECTION 11.03 |
Certificate of Cancellation | 22 | ||||
Article XII Transfer Of Membership Interest |
22 | |||||
Article XIII General Provisions |
22 | |||||
SECTION 13.01 |
Offset | 22 | ||||
SECTION 13.02 |
Notices | 22 | ||||
SECTION 13.03 |
Entire Agreement; Superseding Effect | 23 | ||||
SECTION 13.04 |
Effect of Waiver or Consent | 23 | ||||
SECTION 13.05 |
Amendment or Restatement | 23 | ||||
SECTION 13.06 |
Binding Effect | 24 | ||||
SECTION 13.07 |
Governing Law; Severability | 24 | ||||
SECTION 13.08 |
Further Assurances | 24 | ||||
SECTION 13.09 |
Counterparts | 24 |
ii
AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
CHENIERE GP HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
A Delaware Limited Liability Company
This AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (as further amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, this “Agreement”) of CHENIERE GP HOLDING COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), dated as of [—], 2013, is adopted, executed and agreed to by Cheniere Energy Partners LP Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Cheniere Holdings”), and Cheniere LNG Terminals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Terminals”), as the Members of the Company.
WHEREAS, Cheniere Energy Partners GP, Inc. (the “Corporation”) was formed as a Delaware corporation pursuant to the filing of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 28, 2012 (the “Certificate of Incorporation”);
WHEREAS, the Corporation’s business was to act as the sole member of Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC;
WHEREAS, by written consent, the board of directors of the Corporation adopted a resolution adopting and approving the conversion of the Corporation to a Delaware limited liability company, pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “DGCL”);
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Corporation was converted to a limited liability company (the “Conversion”) pursuant to Section 266 of the DGCL and Section 18-214 of the Act, by the filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of a Certificate of Conversion to Limited Liability Company and a Certificate of Formation of the Company (the “Certificate”);
WHEREAS, effective simultaneously with the Conversion, Cheniere Development, Inc. (“Cheniere Inc.”), the sole stockholder of the Corporation immediately prior to the Conversion, was admitted to the Company as a member of the Company in accordance with the Initial Agreement and received all of the Class B Membership Interests in exchange for all of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Contribution Agreement between Cheniere Inc. and Terminals (the “Contribution Agreement”), Cheniere Inc. contributed all of the Class B Membership Interests to Terminals, Terminals was admitted as a member of the Company, Cheniere Inc. ceased to be a member of the Company, and the Company continued without dissolution;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Joinder between LNG Inc. and Terminals, the Class A Membership Interests were issued to Cheniere LNG, Inc. (“LNG Inc.”) and LNG Inc. was admitted as a member of the Company;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement between LNG Inc. and Cheniere Holdings (the “Merger Agreement”), LNG Inc. merged into Cheniere Holdings, Cheniere Holdings was thereby admitted as a member of the Company and became the successor-in-interest to the Class A Membership Interests with the resulting ownership as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto; and
WHEREAS, the Members now desire to amend and restate in its entirety the Initial Agreement by executing this Agreement to provide for the governance and operation of the Company from and after the date hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below or set forth in the Sections referred to below (unless otherwise expressly provided herein):
“Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. Sections 18-101, et seq., as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Agreement” has the meaning given such term in the preamble.
“Applicable Law” means any United States federal, state, local or foreign law, statute, rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction, judgment, decree or permit of any Governmental Authority.
“Bankruptcy” or “Bankrupt” means, with respect to any Person, that (a) such Person (i) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (ii) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition; (iii) becomes the subject of an order for relief or is declared insolvent in any federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings; (iv) files a petition or answer seeking for such Person a reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any Applicable Law; (v) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against such Person in a proceeding of the type described in subclauses (i) through (iv) of this clause (a); or (vi) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of such Person’s properties; or (b) a proceeding seeking reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any Applicable Law has been commenced against such Person and 120 Days have expired without dismissal thereof or with respect to which, without such Person’s consent or acquiescence, a trustee, receiver or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of such Person’s properties has been appointed and 90 Days have expired without such appointment having been vacated or stayed, or 90 Days have expired after the date of expiration of a stay, if the appointment has not previously been vacated. The foregoing definition of “Bankruptcy” is intended to replace and shall supersede and replace the definition of “Bankruptcy” set forth in the Act.
“Board” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.01.
“Business Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of Texas shall not be regarded as a Business Day.
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“Capital Contribution” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of money and the agreed fair value of any property (other than money) contributed to the Company by such Member in respect of the issuance of a Membership Interest to such Member. Any reference in this Agreement to the Capital Contribution of a Member shall include a Capital Contribution of its predecessors in interest.
“Certificate” has the meaning given to such term in the recitals.
“Certificate of Incorporation” has the meaning given such term in the recitals.
“Cheniere Inc.” has the meaning given such term in the recitals.
“Cheniere Separation Event” means the occurrence of any event or series of related events that result in Cheniere Energy, Inc. ceasing to own greater than 25% of the outstanding Common Shares (as defined in the Company Agreement) or ceasing to own greater than 25% of the outstanding Voting Shares (as defined in the Company Agreement).
“Cheniere Holdings” has the meaning given such term in the preamble.
“Class A Directors” has the meaning given such term in Section 8.05.
“Class B Director” has the meaning given such term in Section 8.05.
“Class A Member” means a Member who holds a Class A Membership Interest in its capacity as such a holder.
“Class B Member” means a Member who holds a Class B Membership Interest in its capacity as such a holder.
“Class A Membership Interest” means, with respect to any Class A Member at any time, (a) that Class A Member’s status as a Class A Member; (b) all rights, benefits and privileges enjoyed by that Class A Member (under the Act, this Agreement or otherwise) in its capacity as a Class A Member, including that Class A Member’s rights to vote, consent and approve and otherwise to participate in the management of the Company; and (c) all obligations, duties and liabilities imposed on that Class A Member (under the Act, this Agreement or otherwise) in its capacity as a Class A Member. For the avoidance of doubt, no Class A Member shall be entitled to any share of the income, gain, loss, deduction and credits of the Company or have the right to receive distributions from the Company.
“Class B Membership Interest” means, with respect to any Class B Member at any time, (a) that Class B Member’s status as a Class B Member; (b) that Class B Member’s share of the income, gain, loss, deduction and credits of, and the right to receive distributions from, the Company; (c) all other rights, benefits and privileges enjoyed by that Class B Member (under the Act, this Agreement or otherwise) in its capacity as a Class B Member, including that Class B Member’s rights to vote, consent and approve and otherwise to participate in the management of the Company; and (d) all obligations, duties and liabilities imposed on that Class B Member (under the Act, this Agreement or otherwise) in its capacity as a Class B Member, including any obligations to make Capital Contributions.
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“Company” has the meaning given such term in the preamble.
“Company Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Cheniere Holdings, dated as of [—], 2013, as the same may be further amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Company Property” means any and all property, both real and personal, tangible and intangible, whether contributed or otherwise acquired, owned by the Company.
“Contribution Agreement” has the meaning given such term in the recitals.
“Conversion” has the meaning given such term in the recitals.
“Corporation” has the meaning given such term in the recitals.
“Day” means a calendar day; provided, however, that, if any period of Days referred to in this Agreement shall end on a Day that is not a Business Day, then the expiration of such period shall be automatically extended until the end of the next succeeding Business Day.
“Director” or “Directors” has the meaning given such term in Section 6.02.
“Dissolution Event” has the meaning given such term in Section 11.01(a).
“DGCL” has the meaning given such term in the recitals.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States.
“Governmental Authority” or “Governmental” means any federal, state, local or foreign court or governmental or regulatory agency or authority or any arbitration board, tribunal or mediator having jurisdiction over the Company or its assets or Members.
“Indemnitee” means (a) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the Company, (b) any Person who is or was a member, partner, officer, director, employee, agent or trustee of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company and (c) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company as an officer, director, employee, member, partner, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided, however, that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services.
“Initial Agreement” means that certain Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company effective as of [—], 2013, as amended, restated or otherwise modified prior to the date of this Agreement.
“LNG Inc.” has the meaning given such term in the recitals.
“Members” means (i) prior to a Cheniere Separation Event, the Class A Members, Class B Members and any Person hereafter admitted to the Company as a member as provided in this Agreement and (ii) after a Cheniere Separation Event, the Class B Members and any Person hereafter admitted to the Company as a member as provided in this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, such term does not include any Person who has ceased to be a member of the Company, including pursuant to Section 8.06.
“Membership Interests” means (i) prior to a Cheniere Separation Event, the Class A Membership Interests and the Class B Membership Interests and (ii) after a Cheniere Separation Event, the Class B Membership Interests.
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“Merger Agreement” has the meaning given such term in the recitals.
“Officer” means any person elected as an officer of the Company as provided in Section 7.01, but such term does not include any person who has ceased to be an officer of the Company.
“Person” means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, Governmental Authority or political subdivision thereof or other entity.
“Registered Public Accountants” means a firm of independent registered certified public accountants selected from time to time by the Board.
“Sharing Ratio” means, subject in each case to adjustments in accordance with this Agreement, (a) in the case of a Member executing this Agreement as of the date of this Agreement or a Person acquiring such Member’s Membership Interest, the percentage specified for that Member as its Sharing Ratio on Exhibit A, and (b) in the case of Membership Interests issued pursuant to Section 3.01, the Sharing Ratio established pursuant thereto; provided, however, that the total of all Sharing Ratios shall always equal 100%. The Class A Member shall have a Sharing Ratio equal to 0%.
“Term” has the meaning given such term in Section 2.05.
“Terminals” is defined in the preamble.
SECTION 1.02 Construction.
Unless the context requires otherwise, (a) the gender of all words used in this Agreement includes the masculine, feminine and neuter; (b) the singular forms of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (c) all references to Articles and Sections refer to articles and sections in this Agreement, each of which is made a part for all purposes; (d) all references to Applicable Laws refer to such Applicable Laws as they may be amended from time to time, and references to particular provisions of an Applicable Law include any corresponding provisions or any succeeding Applicable Law; (e) references to money refer to the legal currency of the United States of America; and (f) the term “include” or “includes” means includes, without limitation, and “including” means including, without limitation.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
SECTION 2.01 Continuation.
The Company was previously formed as a limited liability company pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act and the Members hereby ratify and confirm all of the actions described in the recitals hereto and amend and restate the Initial Agreement in its entirety. This amendment and restatement shall become effective on the date of this Agreement. Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights, duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Members and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Company shall be governed by the Delaware Act. All Membership Interests shall constitute personal property of the owner thereof for all purposes. Terminals was admitted as a Member upon its execution of the Contribution Agreement, and upon its execution of a counterpart signature page to this Agreement, Terminals shall continue as a Member. Cheniere Holdings was admitted as a Member upon its execution of the Merger Agreement, and upon its execution of a counterpart signature page to this Agreement, Cheniere Holdings shall continue as a Member.
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SECTION 2.02 Name.
The name of the Company is “Cheniere GP Holding Company, LLC” and all Company business must be conducted in that name or such other names that comply with Applicable Law as the Directors may select.
SECTION 2.03 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office.
The name of the Company’s registered agent for service of process is Corporation Service Company, and the address of the Company’s registered office and registered agent in the State of Delaware is 0000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000. The principal place of business of the Company shall be located at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000. The Board may change the Company’s registered agent or the location of the Company’s registered office or principal place of business as the Board may from time to time determine by filing an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Formation. The Company may have such other offices as the Board may designate.
SECTION 2.04 Purposes.
The purposes of the Company are to act as the sole member of the general partner of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and to engage in any lawful business or activity ancillary or related thereto. The Company shall possess and may exercise all of the powers and privileges granted by the Act, by any other Applicable Law or by this Agreement, together with any powers incidental thereto, including such powers and privileges as are necessary or appropriate to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the businesses, purposes or activities of the Company.
SECTION 2.05 Term.
The period of existence of the Company (the “Term”) commenced upon the filing of the Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of Delaware and shall end at such time as a certificate of cancellation is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with Section 11.03.
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SECTION 2.06 No State Law Partnership.
It is intended that the Company shall be a limited liability company formed under the Applicable Laws of the State of Delaware and shall not be a partnership (including a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that no Member shall be a partner or joint venturer of any other party for any purposes other than federal, state, local and foreign income tax purposes, and this Agreement may not be construed to suggest otherwise.
SECTION 2.07 Title to Company Assets.
Title to Company assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Company as an entity, and no Member shall have any ownership interest in such Company assets or portion thereof.
SECTION 2.08 Liability of Members, Directors And Officers.
No Member, Director or Officer, solely by reason of being a Member, Director or Officer, shall be liable, under a judgment, decree or order of a court, or in any other manner, for a debt, obligation or liability of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, or for the acts or omissions of any other Member, Director, Officer, agent or employee of the Company or its Affiliates. The failure of the Company to observe any formalities or requirements relating to the exercise of its powers or management of its business or affairs shall not be grounds for imposing liability for any such debts, obligations or liabilities of the Company.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 3.01 Membership Interests; Additional Members.
Cheniere Holdings is the current Class A Member and Terminals is the current Class B Member, holding the respective Membership Interests as reflected on Exhibit A hereto. Additional Person(s) may be admitted to the Company as Members upon the unanimous approval of the existing Members, without any approval of the Board, on such terms and conditions as the Members determine at the time of such admission. The terms of admission or issuance of limited liability company interests in the Company must specify the Sharing Ratios applicable thereto and may provide for the creation of different classes or groups of Members or limited liability company interests in the Company having different rights, powers and duties. The Members may reflect the creation of any new class or group in an amendment to this Agreement, executed in accordance with Section 13.05, indicating the different rights, powers and duties thereof. Any such amendment shall be approved and executed by the Members. Any such admission is effective only after such new Member has executed and delivered to the Members and the Company an instrument containing the notice address of the new Member and such new Member’s ratification of this Agreement and agreement to be bound by it. Upon the admission of a new Member, Exhibit A will be updated to reflect such admission.
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SECTION 3.02 Access To Information.
Each Member shall be entitled to receive any information that it may request concerning the Company, for any purpose reasonably related to its interest in the Company; provided, however, that this Section 3.02 shall not obligate the Company to create any information that does not already exist at the time of such request (other than to convert existing information from one medium to another, such as providing a printout of information that is stored in a computer database). Each Member shall also have the right, upon reasonable notice and at all reasonable times during usual business hours, to inspect the properties of the Company and to audit, examine and make copies of the books of account and other records of the Company, for any purpose reasonably related to its interest in the Company. Such right may be exercised through any agent or employee of such Member designated in writing by it or by an independent public accountant, engineer, attorney or other consultant so designated. All costs and expenses incurred in any inspection, examination or audit made on such Member’s behalf shall be borne by such Member.
SECTION 3.03 Liability.
Except as otherwise required under the Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and no Member or beneficial owner of any Membership Interest shall be personally liable for or otherwise obligated with respect to any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company by reason of being a Member or beneficial owner of such Membership Interest. The Members and beneficial owners agree that their rights, duties and obligations in their capacities as Members and beneficial owners are only as set forth in this Agreement and as otherwise arise under the Act. Furthermore, the Members and beneficial owners agree that the existence of any rights of a Member or beneficial owner, or the exercise or forbearance from exercise of any such rights shall not create any duties or obligations of the Member or beneficial owner in their capacities as such, nor shall such rights be construed to enlarge or otherwise alter in any manner the duties and obligations of the Member or beneficial owner.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 4.01 Initial Capital Contributions.
Cheniere Holdings and Terminals are deemed to have made the Capital Contributions as reflected on Exhibit A in exchange for all of the Class A Membership Interests and Class B Membership Interests in the Company, respectively. Upon the admission of a subsequent Member, Exhibit A shall be updated to reflect the Capital Contribution attributable to such Member. After admission as a Member, no Member shall be obligated to make any additional capital contributions to the Company.
SECTION 4.02 Loans.
If the Company does not have sufficient cash to pay its obligations, any Member may advance all or part of the needed funds to or on behalf of the Company. An advance described in this Section 4.02 constitutes a loan from the Member to the Company, shall bear interest, if any, at a rate comparable to the rate the Company could obtain from third parties, from the date of the advance until the date of payment, and is not a Capital Contribution.
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SECTION 4.03 Return of Contributions.
Except as expressly provided herein, no Member is entitled to the return of any part of its Capital Contributions or to be paid interest in respect of its Capital Contributions. An unrepaid Capital Contribution is not a liability of the Company or of any Member. A Member is not required to contribute or to lend any cash or property to the Company to enable the Company to return any Member’s Capital Contributions.
ARTICLE V
DISTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 5.01 Distributions.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.02, cash may be distributed at such time and in such amounts as the Board shall determine to the Members in accordance with their respective Sharing Ratios. Such distributions shall be made concurrently to such Members as reflected on the books of the Company on the date set for purposes of such distribution.
SECTION 5.02 Varying Interests.
All distributions shall be made, to the Persons shown on the records of the Company to have been Members as of the last calendar day of the period for which the distribution is to be made.
SECTION 5.03 Limitations on Distributions.
No distribution shall be declared and paid unless, after the distribution is made, the fair value of assets of the Company would exceed the liabilities of the Company, except liabilities to the Members on account of their Capital Contributions. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make a distribution to any Member on account of its interest in the Company if such distribution would violate any Applicable Law.
ARTICLE VI
MANAGEMENT
SECTION 6.01 Management by Board of Directors.
The business and affairs of the Company shall be fully vested in, and managed by, a Board of Directors (the “Board”) and, subject to the discretion of the Board, Officers elected pursuant to Article VII. The Directors and Officers shall collectively constitute “managers” of the Company within the meaning of the Act. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, no Member, by virtue of having the status of a Member, shall have or attempt to exercise or assert any management power over the business and affairs of the Company or shall have or attempt to exercise or assert actual or apparent authority to enter contracts on behalf of, or to otherwise bind, the Company. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the
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authority and functions of the Board, on the one hand, and of the Officers, on the other hand, shall be identical to the authority and functions of the board of directors and officers, respectively, of a corporation organized under the DGCL. The Officers shall be vested with such powers and duties as are set forth in Article VII and as are specified by the Board. Accordingly, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of the Board, and the day-to-day activities of the Company shall be conducted on the Company’s behalf by the Officers who shall be agents of the Company.
SECTION 6.02 Number; Qualification; Tenure.
The number of directors constituting the Board shall be four (4) (each a “Director” and, collectively, the “Directors”). A Director need not be a Member nor a resident of the State of Delaware. Each Director shall be designated by the Members in accordance with Section 8.05 and shall serve as a Director of the Company until their death or removal from office or until their successors are elected and qualified. The Board in its discretion may elect from among the Directors a chairman of the Board of Directors who shall preside at meetings of the Directors.
SECTION 6.03 Regular Meetings.
Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at such time and place as shall be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board. Notice of such regular meetings shall not be required.
SECTION 6.04 Annual Meetings.
Annual meetings of the Board shall be held, without further notice, immediately following the annual meeting of the Members, and at the same place, or at such other time and place as shall be fixed with the consent in writing of all of the Directors.
SECTION 6.05 Special Meetings.
A special meeting of the Board or any committee thereof may be called by any member of the Board or a committee thereof on at least three (3) days notice to the other members of such Board or committee, either personally or by mail, telephone, telegraph or electronic mail. Any such notice, or waiver thereof, need not state the purpose of such meeting, except for amendments to this Agreement and as may otherwise be required by Applicable Law. Attendance of a Director 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 on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
SECTION 6.06 Action By Consent of Board or Committee of Board.
Subject to Article XIII, and to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board or any committee thereof may be
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taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, so long as a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, are signed by at least as many members of, and the types of members of, the Board or committee thereof as would have been required to take such action at a meeting of the Board or such committee thereof at which all members of the Board or committee were present.
SECTION 6.07 Conference Telephone Meetings.
Directors or members of any committee of the Board may participate in and hold a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of conference telephone, video conference or similar communications equipment by means of which all Persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
SECTION 6.08 Quorum.
A majority of all Directors, present in person or participating in accordance with Section 6.07, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, unless a greater number is required by Applicable Law; but if at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice, other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. Except as otherwise required by Applicable Law, all decisions of the Board, or any committee thereof, shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board, or any committee thereof, respectively, present at a meeting duly called in accordance with this Article VI. The Directors present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Directors to leave less than a quorum.
SECTION 6.09 Vacancies; Increases in the Number of Directors.
Vacancies shall be filled by the Members in accordance with Section 8.05. Any Director so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election and until his successor shall be duly elected and shall qualify, unless sooner displaced.
SECTION 6.10 Committees.
(a) The Board may establish committees of the Board and may delegate any of its responsibilities, except as otherwise prohibited by Applicable Law, to such committees.
(b) A majority of any committee, present in person or participating in accordance with Section 6.07, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of such committee, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the committee members present shall be necessary for the adoption by it of any resolution, unless the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of any such committee is required by Applicable Law or otherwise.
(c) A majority of any committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings unless the Board shall otherwise provide. Notice of such meetings shall be given to each member of the committee in the manner provided for in Section 13.02. The Board shall have power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve any such committee.
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(d) Any committee established pursuant to this Section 6.10 shall choose its own chairman and keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board when requested.
(e) The Board may designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any committee who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.
Nothing herein shall be deemed to prevent the Board from appointing one or more committees consisting in whole or in part of persons who are not Directors; provided, however, that no such committee shall have or may exercise any authority of the Board.
SECTION 6.11 Resignation or Removal.
Any Director may resign at any time upon written notice to the Board or any Director or Officer of the Company. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified in such written notice, and unless otherwise specified therein, no acceptance of such resignation shall be necessary to make it effective.
Any Director or the entire Board may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Member designating such Director; provided, that the Class A Directors shall be removed immediately upon a Cheniere Separation Event without any further action by the Members.
Vacancies in the Board caused by any such resignation or removal shall be filled in accordance with Section 6.09.
SECTION 6.12 Compensation.
The members of the Board who are neither Officers nor employees of the Company or any Affiliate thereof shall be entitled to compensation for their service as directors and committee members at rates established from time to time by resolution of the Board and shall be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending meetings of the Board or committees thereof.
ARTICLE VII
OFFICERS
SECTION 7.01 Elected Officers.
The Officers of the Company shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. Such Officers shall have the authority and duties delegated to each of them, respectively, by the Board from time to time. No Officer need be a Member or Director. Any number of Offices may be held by the
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same Person. The Officers of the Company shall be a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers (including, without limitation, a President, a Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents) as the Board from time to time may deem proper.
The Chairman of the Board shall be chosen by the Board from among the Directors. All Officers elected by the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article VII and shall perform such additional duties as the Board may, from time to time, delegate to them. The Board or any committee thereof may from time to time elect or appoint, as the case may be, such other Officers (including one or more Vice Presidents, Controllers, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers) and agents, as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Company. Such other Officers and agents shall have such duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as shall be provided in this Agreement or as may be prescribed by the Board or such committee, as the case may be.
SECTION 7.02 Election and Term of Office.
The Officers of the Company shall be elected annually by the Board at the regular meeting of the Board held after the annual meeting of the Members or at such time and for such term as the Board shall determine. Each Officer shall hold office until such Person’s successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified or until such Person’s death or until he or she shall resign or be removed pursuant to Section 7.14.
SECTION 7.03 Chairman of the Board.
The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board. If the Chairman is unable to preside at a meeting of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer is also unable to preside at such meeting pursuant to Section 7.04 and the President is also unable to preside at such meeting pursuant to Section 7.05, then the Directors may appoint another Director to preside at such meeting. The Directors also may elect a Vice-Chairman to act in the place of the Chairman upon his absence or inability to act.
SECTION 7.04 Chief Executive Officer.
The Chief Executive Officer shall be responsible for the general management of the affairs of the Company and shall perform all duties incidental to such Person’s office that may be required by Applicable Law and all such other duties as are properly required of him or her by the Board. The Chief Executive Officer shall supervise generally the affairs of the Company, its other Officers, employees and agents and may take all actions that the Company may legally take. He or she shall make reports to the Board and the Members and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board and of any committee thereof are carried into effect. The Chief Executive Officer shall have full authority to execute all deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, documents or other instruments, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board to some other Officer or agent of the Company or shall be required by Applicable Law to be otherwise executed. The Chairman of the Board may serve in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer. If the Chairman of the Board does not so serve, then the Chief Executive Officer, if he or she is also a Director, shall, in the absence of or because of the inability of the Chairman of the Board to act, perform all duties of the Chairman of the Board and preside at all meetings of the Board.
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SECTION 7.05 President.
The Chief Executive Officer may serve in the capacity as President. If the Chief Executive Officer does not so serve, then the President shall assist the Chief Executive Officer in the administration and operation of the Company’s business and general supervision of its policies and affairs. The President shall have full authority to execute all deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, documents or other instruments, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board to some other Officer or agent of the Company or shall be required by Applicable Law to be otherwise executed. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board and a Chief Executive Officer, the President, if he or she is also a Director, shall preside at all meetings of the Board.
SECTION 7.06 Chief Financial Officer.
The Chief Financial Officer shall be responsible for financial reporting for the Company and shall perform all duties incidental to such Person’s office that may be required by Applicable Law and all such other duties as are properly required by of him or her by the Board. He or she shall make reports to the Board and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board and any committee thereof relating to financial reporting are carried into effect. He or she shall also render to the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, whenever any of them request it, an account of all of his or her transactions as Chief Executive Officer and of the financial condition of the Company. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the same power as the Chief Executive Officer to execute documents on behalf of the Company.
SECTION 7.07 Chief Operating Officer.
The Chief Operating Officer of the Company shall assist the President and Chief Executive Officer in the administration and operation of the Company’s business and general supervision of its policies and affairs.
SECTION 7.08 Vice Presidents.
Each Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President and any Vice President shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board, the President or the Chief Executive Officer.
SECTION 7.09 Treasurer.
(a) The Treasurer shall exercise general supervision over the receipt, custody and disbursement of Company funds. The Treasurer shall, in general, perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and shall have such further powers and duties and shall be subject to such directions as may be granted or imposed from time to time by the Board and the Chief Financial Officer.
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(b) Assistant Treasurers shall have such authority and perform such duties of the Treasurer as may be provided in this Agreement or assigned to them by the Board or the Treasurer. Assistant Treasurers shall assist the Treasurer in the performance of the duties assigned to the Treasurer and, in assisting the Treasurer, each Assistant Treasurer shall for such purpose have the powers of the Treasurer. During the Treasurer’s absence or inability or refusal to act, the Treasurer’s authority and duties shall be possessed by such Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Treasurers as the Board may designate.
SECTION 7.10 Secretary.
(a) The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, in one or more books provided for that purpose, the minutes of all meetings or actions of the Board, the committees of the Board and the Members. The Secretary shall (i) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and as required by Applicable Law; (ii) be custodian of the records and the seal of the Company and affix and attest the seal to all documents to be executed on behalf of the Company under its seal; (iii) see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by Applicable Law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and (iv) in general, perform all of the duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the Secretary by the Board.
(b) Assistant Secretaries shall have such authority and perform such duties of the Secretary as may be provided in this Agreement or assigned to them by the Board or the Secretary. Assistant Secretaries shall assist the Secretary in the performance of the duties assigned to the Secretary, and in assisting the Secretary, each Assistant Secretary shall for such purpose have the powers of the Secretary. During the Secretary’s absence or inability or refusal to act, the Secretary’s authority and duties shall be possessed by such Assistant Secretary or Assistant Secretaries as the Board may designate.
SECTION 7.11 Powers of Attorney.
The Company may xxxxx xxxxxx of attorney or other authority as appropriate to establish and evidence the authority of the Officers and other Persons.
SECTION 7.12 Delegation of Authority.
Unless otherwise provided by this Agreement or by resolution of the Board, no Officer shall have the power or authority to delegate to any Person such Officer’s rights and powers as an Officer to manage the business and affairs of the Company.
SECTION 7.13 Compensation and Expenses.
The salaries or other compensation, if any, of the Officers and agents of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Board; provided, however, that no such Officer or agent shall have any contractual rights against the Company for compensation by virtue of such election or appointment beyond the date of the election or appointment of such Person’s successor, such Person’s death, such Person’s resignation or such Person’s removal, whichever event shall first occur, except as otherwise provided in an employment contract or under an employee deferred compensation plan.
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The Officers and agents shall be entitled to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in the course of their service hereunder.
SECTION 7.14 Removal.
Any Officer elected, or agent appointed, by the Board may be removed, either with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board whenever, in their judgment, the best interests of the Company would be served thereby.
SECTION 7.15 Vacancies.
A newly created elected office and a vacancy in any elected office because of death, resignation or removal may be filled by the Board for the unexpired portion of the term at any meeting of the Board.
ARTICLE VIII
MEMBER MEETINGS
SECTION 8.01 Meetings.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all acts of the Members to be taken hereunder shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article VIII. An annual meeting of the Members for the election of Directors and the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Board shall specify from time to time. Special meetings of the Members may be called by the Board or by any Member. A Member shall call a meeting by delivering to the Board one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Member wishes to call a meeting and indicating the general or specific purposes for which the meeting is to be called.
SECTION 8.02 Notice of a Meeting.
Notice of a meeting called pursuant to Section 8.01 shall be given to the Members in writing by mail or other means of communication in accordance with Section 13.02. The notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when deposited in the mail or sent by other means of communication.
Attendance of a Member at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a Member attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
SECTION 8.03 Action by Consent of Members.
Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Article VIII, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Members may be taken without a meeting if a written consent setting forth such action is signed by the Members holding not less than the minimum percentage of the Membership Interests that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all of the Members entitled to vote on such matter were present and voted.
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SECTION 8.04 Member Vote.
Unless a provision of this Agreement specifically provides otherwise, prior to a Cheniere Separation Event, any provision of this Agreement requiring the authorization of, or action taken by, the Members shall require the approval of the Members holding a majority of the Class A Membership Interests.
SECTION 8.05 Designation of Directors.
Prior to a Cheniere Separation Event, (a) the Class A Members shall have the right to designate three (3) Directors (the “Class A Directors”), who shall initially be [—], [—] and [—], and (b) the Class B Members shall have the right to designate one (1) Director (the “Class B Director”), who shall initially be [—]. After a Cheniere Separation Event, the Class B Members shall have the right to designate all of the Directors.
SECTION 8.06 Cheniere Separation Event; Effect.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Cheniere Separation Event, the Class A Membership Interests shall be redeemed by the Company in their entirety for an aggregate of one dollar ($1), effective concurrently with the consummation of the Cheniere Separation Event. Upon any such redemption, the Class A Membership Interests shall no longer constitute issued and outstanding Membership Interests and the Class A Members shall cease to be Members of the Company.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, at any time after a Cheniere Separation Event, the rights, powers and obligations of the Class A Members under this Agreement shall vest in the remaining Members and any provision herein that requires a Member to make a delivery to, or to obtain the consent of, the other Members of the Company shall be disregarded until such time as an additional Person is admitted as Member of the Company.
ARTICLE IX
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS,
OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS
SECTION 9.01 Indemnification.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, whether joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of the Indemnitee’s serving or having served, or taking or having taken any action or inaction in, any capacity that causes or caused the Indemnitee to be an Indemnitee; provided, however, that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 9.01, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith, engaged in fraud or willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal
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matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 9.01 shall be made only out of the assets of the Company, it being agreed that the Members shall not be liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Company to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 9.01(a) in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding, upon receipt by the Company of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Section 9.01.
(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 9.01 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, as a matter of law or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.
(d) The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of the Company, its Affiliates, the Board, the Officers and such other Persons as the Board shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against, or expense that may be incurred by, such Person in connection with the Company’s activities or such Person’s activities on behalf of the Company, regardless of whether the Company would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) For purposes of this Section 9.01, (i) the Company shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by the Indemnitee of its duties to the Company also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, the Indemnitee to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; (ii) excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to Applicable Law shall constitute “fines” within the meaning of Section 9.01(a); and (iii) action taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of the Indemnitee’s duties for a purpose reasonably believed by such Indemnitee to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Company.
(f) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 9.01 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
(g) The provisions of this Section 9.01 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.
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(h) No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 9.01 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Company, nor the obligations of the Company to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.01 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Company, the Members or any other Persons who have acquired limited liability company interests in the Company or are otherwise bound by this Agreement, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitee’s conduct was criminal.
(j) Subject to its obligations and duties as set forth in Article VI, the Board and any committee thereof may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through the Company’s Officers or agents, and neither the Board nor any committee thereof shall be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such Officer or agent appointed by the Board or any committee thereof in good faith.
(k) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnitee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Company, such Indemnitee, acting in connection with the Company’s business or affairs, shall not be liable to the Company or to any Member for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or otherwise modify or eliminate the duties and liabilities of an Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Members to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Indemnitee.
(l) Any amendment, modification or repeal of subsections (i), (j) (k) or (l) of this Section 9.01 shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on liability under such subsections as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
ARTICLE X
TAXES, BOOKS, RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS
SECTION 10.01 Federal income Tax Treatment.
For federal income tax purposes, the Company shall be disregarded as an entity separate from its owner. No federal income tax return shall be filed by the Company.
SECTION 10.02 Maintenance of Books.
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(a) The Board shall cause to be kept a record containing the minutes of the proceedings of the meetings of the Board and of the Members, appropriate registers, books of records and accounts and such supporting documentation of transactions as may be necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the Company and as are required to be maintained by Applicable Law.
(b) The books of account of the Company shall be (i) maintained on the basis of a fiscal year that is the calendar year, (ii) maintained on an accrual basis in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied and (iii) audited by the Registered Public Accountants at the end of each calendar year.
SECTION 10.03 Reports.
With respect to each calendar year, the Board shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, and deliver, or cause to be delivered, to each Member such reports, forecasts, studies, budgets and other information as the Members may reasonably request from time to time.
SECTION 10.04 Bank Accounts.
Funds of the Company shall be deposited in such banks or other depositories as shall be designated from time to time by the Board. All withdrawals from any such depository shall be made only as authorized by the Board and shall be made only by check, wire transfer, debit memorandum or other written instruction.
ARTICLE XI
DISSOLUTION, WINDING-UP, TERMINATION AND CONVERSION
SECTION 11.01 Dissolution.
(a) The Company shall dissolve and its affairs shall be wound up on the first to occur of the following events (each, a “Dissolution Event”):
(i) the unanimous consent of the Board;
(ii) entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Act; or
(iii) the termination of the legal existence of the last remaining Member of the Company or the occurrence of any other event which terminates the continued membership of the last remaining member of the Company in the Company, unless the Company is continued without dissolution in a manner permitted by this Agreement or the Act.
(b) No other event shall cause a dissolution of the Company.
(c) Upon the occurrence of any event that causes the last remaining Member to cease to be a Member of the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the personal representative of the last remaining Member is hereby authorized to, and shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of the last remaining
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Member in the Company, agree in writing (i) to continue the Company and (ii) to the admission of the personal representative or its nominee or designee, as the case may be, as a substitute Member of the Company, effective as of the occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of the last remaining Member in the Company.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Bankruptcy of a Member shall not cause such Member to cease to be a member of the Company and, upon the occurrence of such an event, the Company shall continue without dissolution.
SECTION 11.02 Winding-Up and Termination.
(a) On the occurrence of a Dissolution Event of the type described in Section 11.01, the Board shall select one or more Persons to act as liquidator. The liquidator shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in the Act. The costs of winding up shall be borne as a Company expense. Until final distribution, the liquidator shall continue to operate the Company properties with all of the power and authority of the Board. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidator are as follows:
(i) as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final winding up, the liquidator shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public accountants of the Company’s assets, liabilities and operations through the last Day of the month in which the dissolution occurs or the final winding up is completed, as applicable;
(ii) the liquidator shall discharge from Company funds all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company (including all expenses incurred in winding up) or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including the establishment of a cash escrow fund for contingent liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidator may reasonably determine); and
(iii) all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Members as follows:
(A) the liquidator may sell any or all Company Property, including to Members; and
(B) all Company Property (including cash) shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with their respective Sharing Ratios.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the distribution of cash or property to a Member in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.02 constitutes a complete return to the Member of its Capital Contributions and a complete distribution to the Member of its Membership Interest and all of the Company’s property and constitutes a compromise to which all Members have consented pursuant to Section 18-502(b) of the Act. To the extent that a Member returns funds to the Company, it has no claim against any other Member for those funds.
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SECTION 11.03 Certificate of Cancellation.
Upon completion of the distribution of Company assets as provided herein, the Members (or such other Person or Persons as the Act may require or permit) shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the existence of the Company. Upon the filing of such certificate of cancellation, the existence of the Company shall terminate (and the Term shall end), except as may be otherwise provided by the Act or by Applicable Law.
ARTICLE XII
TRANSFER OF MEMBERSHIP INTEREST
The Members may sell, assign or otherwise transfer all or any portion of such Members’ Membership Interest at any time to any Person.
ARTICLE XIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 13.01 Offset.
Whenever the Company is to pay any sum to any Member, any amounts that Member owes the Company may be deducted from that sum before payment.
SECTION 13.02 Notices.
Except as expressly set forth to the contrary in this Agreement, all notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals or other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder or that are given with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally served, delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, telex, facsimile or electronic mail, addressed as set forth below, or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Notice shall be deemed given on the date of service or transmission if personally served or transmitted by telegram, telex, facsimile or electronic mail. Notice otherwise sent as provided herein shall be deemed given upon delivery of such notice:
To the Company:
Cheniere GP Holding Company, LLC
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attn: President
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
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To Cheniere Holdings:
Cheniere Energy Partners LP Holdings, LLC
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attn: President
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
To Terminals:
Cheniere LNG Terminals, LLC
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attn: President
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Whenever any notice is required to be given by Applicable Law, the Certificate or this Agreement, a written waiver thereof, signed by the Person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
SECTION 13.03 Entire Agreement; Superseding Effect.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Members, in such capacity, relative to the formation, operation and continuation of the Company and supersedes all prior contracts or agreements, including the Initial Agreement, with respect to such subject matter, whether oral or written.
SECTION 13.04 Effect of Waiver or Consent.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, a waiver or consent, express or implied, to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of its obligations with respect to the Company is not a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person with respect to the Company. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, failure on the part of a Person to complain of any act of any Person or to declare any Person in default with respect to the Company, irrespective of how long that failure continues, does not constitute a waiver by that Person of its rights with respect to that default until the applicable statute-of-limitations period has run.
SECTION 13.05 Amendment or Restatement.
This Agreement or the Certificate may be amended or restated only by a written instrument executed (or, in the case of the Certificate, approved) by all of the Members.
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SECTION 13.06 Binding Effect.
This Agreement is binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the Members and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
SECTION 13.07 Governing Law; Severability.
THIS AGREEMENT IS GOVERNED BY AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICT-OF-LAWS RULE OR PRINCIPLE THAT MIGHT REFER THE GOVERNANCE OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION. In the event of a direct conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and any mandatory, non-waivable provision of the Act, such provision of the Act shall control. If any provision of the Act provides that it may be varied or superseded in a limited liability company agreement (or otherwise by agreement of the members or managers of a limited liability company), such provision shall be deemed superseded and waived in its entirety if this Agreement contains a provision addressing the same issue or subject matter. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is held invalid or unenforceable to any extent, (a) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of that provision to other Person or circumstances is not affected thereby and that provision shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by Applicable Law, and (b) the Members or Directors (as the case may be) shall negotiate in good faith to replace that provision with a new provision that is valid and enforceable and that puts the Members in substantially the same economic, business and legal position as they would have been in if the original provision had been valid and enforceable.
SECTION 13.08 Further Assurances.
In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Member shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and those transactions.
SECTION 13.09 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signing parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and constitute the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Members have executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
MEMBERS | ||
CHENIERE ENERGY PARTNERS LP HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | [—] | |
Title: | [—] | |
CHENIERE LNG TERMINALS, LLC | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | [—] | |
Title: | [—] |
EXHIBIT A
MEMBER |
CLASS A MEMBERSHIP INTEREST |
CLASS B MEMBERSHIP INTEREST |
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION |
SHARING RATIOS |
||||||||||||
100 | % | 0 | % | $ | 0 | 0 | % | |||||||||
Cheniere LNG Terminals, LLC |
0 | % | 100 | % | $ | 1,000.00 | 100 | % |