OPERATING AGREEMENT FOR PERFORMANCE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC A CALIFORNIA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 NOR REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER ANY STATE...
EXHIBIT
1
FOR
PERFORMANCE
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
A
CALIFORNIA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
THE
SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 NOR REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES
LAWS. SUCH SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, DELIVERED AFTER SALE,
TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS QUALIFIED AND REGISTERED UNDER
APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS OR UNLESS, IN THE OPINION OF
COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY, SUCH QUALIFICATION AND REGISTRATION IS NOT
REQUIRED. ANY TRANSFER OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS AGREEMENT IS
FURTHER SUBJECT TO OTHER RESTRICTIONS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS WHICH ARE SET FORTH
HEREIN.
FOR
PERFORMANCE
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
A
CALIFORNIA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
THIS
OPERATING AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made as of July _ , 2001, by and among
PERFORMANCE ASSET MANAGEMENT FUND, LTD., a California limited partnership,
PERFORMANCE ASSET MANAGEMENT FUND II, LTD., a California limited partnership,
PERFORMANCE ASSET MANAGEMENT FUND III, LTD., a California limited partnership,
PERFORMANCE ASSET MANAGEMENT FUND IV, LTD., a California limited partnership,
and PERFORMANCE ASSET MANAGEMENT FUND V, LTD., a California limited partnership,
with reference to the following facts:
RECITALS
A. On
July__, 2001, Articles of Organization for Performance Capital Management, LLC,
a California limited liability company (the "Company"), were filed with the
California Secretary of State.
B. The
Members (as hereinafter defined) desire to adopt and approve an operating
agreement for the Company to establish their rights and responsibilities and to
govern their relationships.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the
Members hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I - DEFINITIONS
When used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below
(all terms used in this Agreement that are not defined in this Article I shall
have the meanings set forth elsewhere in this Agreement):
1.1 "Act"
shall mean the Xxxxxxx-Xxxxxx Limited Liability Company Act, codified in the
California Corporations Code, Section 17000 et seq., as the same may be amended
from time to time.
1.2 "Adjusted
Capital Account Deficit" shall mean, with respect to any Member, the deficit
balance, if any, in such Member's Capital Account as of the end of the relevant
fiscal year, after giving effect to the following adjustments:
(a) decrease such deficit by (i) the amount, if
any, that such Member is obligated to contribute upon liquidation of such
Member's Membership Interest, and (ii) any amounts that such Member is deemed to
be obligated to restore pursuant to Regulation Section l.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) or
the penultimate sentence of each of Regulation Sections 1.704-2(i)(5) and
1.704-2(g)(l); and
(b)
increase such deficit by such Member's share of the items described in
Regulation Sections 1.704-l(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6).
The
foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is intended to comply
with the provisions of Regulation Section 1.704-l(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be
interpreted consistently therewith.
1.3 "Affiliate"
shall mean any individual, partnership, corporation, trust or other entity or
association, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries,
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, a Member. The term
"control," as used in the immediately preceding sentence, means, with respect to
a corporation or limited liability company, the right to exercise, directly or
indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting rights attributable to
the controlled corporation or limited liability company and, with respect to any
individual, partnership, trust, other entity or association, the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management or policies of the controlled entity.
1.4 "Agreement"
shall mean this Operating Agreement, as originally executed and as amended
and/or restated from time to time.
1.5 "Applicable
Law" shall mean, as to any Person, all provisions of laws, statutes, ordinances,
rules, regulations, permits, certificates or orders of any governmental
authority applicable to such Person or any of its assets or property and all
judgments applicable to such Person.
1.6 "Approval
of the Board of Directors" and "Approved by the Board of Directors" shall mean
an affirmative vote by a majority of the number of Directors present at a
meeting duly held at which a quorum is present or a consent in writing by a
number of Directors sufficient to approve such action at a meeting at which all
Directors are present.
1.7 "Articles"
shall mean the Articles of Organization for the Company originally filed with
the California Secretary of State on July _, 2001, as the same shall be amended
and/or restated from time to time.
1.8 "Bankruptcy"
shall mean, with respect to any Person, when (a) such Person shall commence any
case, proceeding or other action (i) under any existing or future law of any
jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, conservatorship or relief of debtors seeking to have an order
for relief entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or
insolvent, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up,
liquidation, dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its
debts, or (ii) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian,
conservator or other similar official for it or for all or any substantial part
of its assets, or such Person shall make a general assignment for the benefit of
its creditors; (b) there shall be commenced against such Person any case,
proceeding or other action of a nature referred to in clause (a) above that (i)
results in the entry of an order for relief or any such adjudication or
appointment or (ii) remains undismissed or undischarged for a period of sixty
(60) days; or (c) there shall be commenced against such Person any case,
proceeding or other action seeking issuance of a warrant of attachment,
execution or similar process against all or any substantial part of its assets
that results in the entry of an order for any such relief that shall not have
been vacated, discharged, or stayed or bonded pending appeal within sixty (60)
days from the entry thereof.
2
1.9 "Board
of Directors" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company created pursuant
to Article V.
1.10 "Business
Day" shall mean any day other than Saturday, Sunday, and any other day on which
banks in California are not open for business.
1.11 "Capital
Account" shall mean with respect to any Member the capital account that the
Company establishes and maintains for such Member pursuant to Section
3.3.
1.12 "Capital
Contribution" shall mean the total value of cash and fair market value (as
determined by the Board of Directors) of property contributed to the Company by
a Member, with the initial Capital Contribution of each Member set forth on
Exhibit A.
1.13 "Code"
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time, the provisions of succeeding law and to the extent applicable, the
Regulations.
1.14 "Company"
shall mean Performance Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability
company.
1.15 "Company
Minimum Gain" shall have the meaning set forth in Regulation Sections
1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d)(l) for the phrase "partnership minimum
gain."
1.16 "Corporations
Code" shall mean the California Corporations Code, as amended from time to time,
and the provisions of succeeding law.
1.17 "Economic
Interest" shall mean an interest in the profits, losses and distributions of the
Company pursuant to this Agreement and the Act, but shall not include any other
rights of a Member including, without limitation, the right to vote or
participate in the management or, except as provided in Section 17106 of the
Corporations Code, any right to information concerning the business and affairs
of Company.
1.18 "Economic
Interest Owner" shall mean the owner of an Economic Interest who is not a
Member.
1.19 "Effective
Date" shall mean the date of this Agreement.
1.20 "Effective
Date Unreturned Capital" shall mean, with respect to each Member, the amount of
each such Member's unreturned Capital Contributions as of the Effective Date.
The Effective Date Unreturned Capital of the Members is set forth on Exhibit D.
After the completion of the transfers contemplated by Section 6.5 below, the
Effective Date Unreturned Capital of the Members shall be as set forth on
Exhibit D-1.
1.21 "ERISA"
shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
1.22 "Expenses"
shall include, without limitation, attorneys' fees, disbursements and retainers,
court costs, transcript costs, fees of accountants, experts and witnesses,
travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs', telephone
charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other expenses of the types
customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to
prosecute or defend, investigating, or being or preparing to be a witness or
other participant in a Proceeding.
3
1.23 "Family
Member" shall include any child, grandchild, parent, spouse, former spouse,
grandparent, sibling (in each case, including adoptive or step relationships),
trust in which any of the foregoing persons have more than a 50% beneficial
interest, and any other entity in which any of the foregoing persons own a
controlling person.
1.24 "Indebtedness"
shall mean, with respect to any Person, (i) all indebtedness of such Person for
borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services with
respect to which a Person is liable, contingent or otherwise, as obligor or
otherwise (other than obligations to trade creditors incurred in the ordinary
course of business which are not more than 30 days past due), (ii) all
obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, (iii)
all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title
retention agreements with respect to property acquired by such Person, (iv) any
commitment by which a Person assures a creditor against loss (including
contingent reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit), (v) any
obligations under capitalized leases with respect to which a Person is liable,
contingently or otherwise, (vi) any unsatisfied obligation for "withdrawal
liability" to a "multi-employer plan" as such terms are defined under ERISA or
for other liabilities under Title IV of ERISA, and (vii) any indebtedness of
another described in (i) through (vi) above guaranteed in any manner by such
Person (including, without limitation, guarantees in the form of an agreement to
repurchase or reimburse) or which is secured by a lien or encumbrance on such
Person's assets to the extent of the indebtedness guaranteed or the assets
subject to such lien or encumbrance.
1.25 "Member"
shall mean each Person who (a) is an initial signatory to this Agreement, has
been admitted to the Company as a Member in accordance with the Articles or this
Agreement, or is an assignee who has become a Member in accordance with Article
VI, and (b) has not resigned, withdrawn, been expelled or, if other than an
individual, dissolved.
1.26 "Member
Minimum Gain" shall mean minimum gain attributable to a Member Nonrecourse Debt
determined in accordance with Regulation Section 1.704-2(1) with respect to
"partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain."
1.27 "Member
Nonrecourse Debt" shall have the meaning set forth in Regulation Section
1.704-2(b)(4) for the phrase "partner nonrecourse debt."
1.28 "Member
Nonrecourse Deductions" shall have the meaning set forth in Regulation Section
1.704-2(i) for the phrase "partner nonrecourse deductions."
1.29 "Membership
Interest" shall mean a Member's entire interest in the Company including the
Member's Economic Interest, the right to vote on or participate in the
management and the right to receive information concerning the business and
affairs of the Company.
1.30 "Net
Profits" and "Net Losses" shall mean the net profits and net losses,
respectively, of the Company, as determined for book purposes in accordance with
Section .
4
1.704-1(b)(iv) of the Regulations (and
for these purposes, Nonrecourse Deductions shall be treated in the same manner
as other deductions).
1.3 "Nonrecourse
Deductions" shall mean deductions as described in Regulation Section
1.704-2(b)(1).
1.32 "Percentage
Interest" shall mean, as of any date and with respect to each Member, that
fraction, expressed as a percentage, having as its numerator the number of LLC
Units then held by such Member and having as its denominator the number of LLC
Units then held by all Members. The Percentage Interest of each Member as of the
date hereof is set forth on Exhibit C. The Company shall update Exhibit C from
time to time.
1.33 "Person"
shall mean an individual, general partnership, limited partnership, limited
liability company, corporation, trust, estate, real estate investment trust
association or any other entity.
1.34 "Plan
of Reorganization" shall mean that certain Joint Plan of Reorganization for
Performance Asset Management Fund, Ltd., a California limited Partnership,
Performance Asset Management Fund II, Ltd., a California limited Partnership,
Performance Asset Management Fund III, Ltd., a California limited partnership,
Performance Asset Management Fund IV, Ltd., a California limited partnership,
Performance Asset Management Fund V, Ltd., a California limited partnership, and
Performance Capital Management, Inc., a California corporation, that was
confirmed by the United States Bankruptcy Court on_________, 2001.
1.35 "Proceeding"
shall mean any action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution
mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or other proceeding, whether
civil, criminal administrative or investigative in nature, except a proceeding
initiated by a Person pursuant to Section 9.4.2 of this Agreement to enforce
such Person's rights under this Agreement.
1.36 "Regulations"
shall mean, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the regulations
currently in force from time to time as final or temporary that have been issued
by the U.S. Department of Treasury pursuant to its authority under the
Code.
1.37 "Substantial
Assets" shall mean assets valued in excess of $50,000.
1.38 "Transfer"
shall mean, when used as a noun, any sale, hypothecation, pledge, assignment,
attachment, disposal, loan, gift, levy or other transfer, and, when used as a
verb, to sell, hypothecate, pledge, assign, attach, dispose, loan, gift, levy or
otherwise transfer.
ARTICLE
II - ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
2.1 Formation.
Pursuant to the Act, the Members have formed a California limited liability
company under the laws of the State of California by filing the Articles with
the California Secretary of State and entering into this Agreement. The rights
and liabilities of the Members shall be determined pursuant to the Act and this
Agreement. To the extent that the rights or liabilities of any Member are
different by reason of any provision of this Agreement than they would be in the
absence of such provision, this Agreement shall, to the extent permitted by the
Act, control.
5
2.2 Name.
The name of the Company is "Performance Capital Management, LLC." The business
of the Company may be conducted under that name or, upon compliance with
Applicable Law, any other name that the Company deems appropriate or
advisable.
2.3 Term.
The term of the Company commenced on July__, 2001, and the Company will continue
and have perpetual existence unless it is sooner dissolved as provided in this
Agreement.
2.4 Office
and Agent. The Company shall continuously maintain an office and registered
agent in the State of California as required by the Act. The principal office of
the Company shall be as Approved by the Board of Directors. The Company also may
have such offices, anywhere within and without the State of California, as
Approved by the Board of Directors. The registered agent shall be as stated in
the Articles or as otherwise Approved by the Board of Directors.
2.5 Addresses
of the Members. The respective addresses of the Members are set forth on Exhibit
A.
2.6 Purpose
of Company. The purpose of the Company is to engage in any lawful activity for
which a limited liability company may be organized under the Act.
2.7 Management
of the Company. The Company shall be governed and managed by the Board of
Directors, the members of which shall constitute managers of the Company for
purposes of the Act.
2.8 Limited
Liability. Except as required under the Act or as expressly set forth in this
Agreement, no Member shall be personally liable for any debt, obligation, or
liability of the Company, regardless of whether that debt, obligation, or
liability arises in contract, tort or otherwise.
ARTICLE
III - CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
3.1 Capital
Contributions. The Members shall contribute capital to the Company, as
follows:
3.1.1 Initial
Capital Contributions. The Members shall contribute, or agree to contribute, to
the Company the property and/or funds as provided on Exhibit A upon the
effective date set forth in the Plan of Reorganization.
3.1.2 Additional
Capital Contributions. The Members are not required to make any additional
Capital Contributions to the Company. However, the Members may make additional
Capital Contributions to the Company at any time upon the Approval of the Board
of Directors. To the extent that a Member makes additional Capital Contributions
to the Company pursuant to this Section 3.1.2, the Company shall revise Exhibit
A of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, including this Section
3.1.2, are intended to benefit the Members and, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, shall not be construed as conferring any benefit upon any creditor of
the Company (and no such creditor of the Company shall be a third-party
beneficiary of this Agreement) and the Members shall not have any duty or
obligation to any creditor of the Company to make any additional Capital
Contributions to the Company.
6
3.2 Withdrawal
of Capital. Except for distributions under Article VIII no Member may, without
the Approval of the Board of Directors, withdraw any capital.
3.3 Capital
Accounts. The Company shall establish an individual Capital Account for each
Member. The Company shall determine and maintain each Capital Account in
accordance with Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) of the Regulations and any successor
provision. If a Member transfers all or a part of such Member's Economic
Interest in accordance with this Agreement, such Member's Capital Account
attributable to the transferred Economic Interest shall carry over to the new
owner of such Economic Interest pursuant to Regulation Section
1.704-l(b)(2)(iv)(l).
3.4 No
Interest. No Member shall be entitled to receive any interest on such Member's
Capital Contributions.
3.5 LLC
Units. The Membership Interest of each of the Members in the Company shall
consist of a number of "LLC Units." Except as expressly set forth in this
Agreement, each LLC Unit shall include (i) the right to cast one vote on all
issues that are submitted to a vote of the Members, (ii) the right to share in
the Net Fronts, Net Losses and/or similar items of the Company, to receive
distributions from the Company pursuant to Article VIII and to receive such
other distributions as may be appropriate pursuant to Article XI in light of the
Capital Account associated with such LLC Units, and (iii) the right to demand
information concerning the business and affairs of the Company, as provided in
this Agreement and under the Act.
The
number of LLC Units to be held initially by each Member as of the date hereof is
set forth on Exhibit C. The Company shall update Exhibit C from time to time to
reflect the issuance of additional LLC Units to Members and to new Members
admitted pursuant to Section 4.2, and the transfer of LLC Units pursuant to
Article VI. The Company shall not issue fractional LLC Units. The Company shall
have the authority to round the number of LLC Units to which any Member is
entitled to the nearest whole LLC Unit and to make adjustments (not exceeding
one LLC Unit in each case) in the number of LLC Units to the extent necessary to
avoid over issuance or under issuance of the total number of LLC Units involved
in any one transaction.
ARTICLE
IV - MEMBERS
4.1 Limited
Liability. Except as required under the Act or as expressly set forth in this
Agreement, no Member shall be personally liable for any debt, obligation, or
liability of the Company, whether that debt, obligation, or liability arises in
contract, tort, or otherwise.
4.2 Admission
of Additional Members. The Board of Directors may admit to the Company
additional Members, who shall obtain Membership Interests and participate in the
management, allocations, and distributions of the Company on such terms as are
Approved by the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise Approved by the Board of
Directors, any such issuance of new Membership Interests by the Company shall
dilute the Percentage Interest of all Members pro rata in accordance with their
Percentage Interests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no Person shall become
an additional Member until such Person has made such Person's required Capital
Contribution, if any, and has executed such instruments as the Board of
Directors may request, which may include an instrument pursuant to which such
Person agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, and (ii) substitute
Members may he admitted only in accordance with the provisions of Article
VI,
7
4.3 Members
are Not Agents. Pursuant to Article V and the Articles, the management of the
Company is vested in the Board of Directors. No Member, acting solely in the
capacity as a Member, is an agent of the Company and no Member, acting solely in
the capacity as a Member, is authorized to bind or execute any instrument on
behalf of the Company or render the Company liable for any purpose.
4.4 Transactions
with the Company. A Member or an Affiliate may lend money to and transact other
business with the Company only in accordance with this Agreement or with the
prior approval of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors after full
disclosure of the involvement of the Member or the Affiliate. Subject to
Applicable Law, such Member or Affiliate has the same rights and obligations
with respect thereto as a Person who is not a Member or an
Affiliate.
4.5 No
Withdrawal. Except as required by Applicable Law, no Member may resign or
withdraw from the Company without the Approval of the Board of
Directors.
4.6 Certain
Matters Reserved to the Members. No Member, acting solely in the capacity as a
Member, shall have the right to take part in the management of the Company or
transact any business on its behalf. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Members
shall have the right to vote upon the following matters:
(a)
Admission of any successor Director,
(b)
Amendment of the Articles;
(c)
Dissolution of the Company as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17350 of
the Corporations Code;
(d)
Merger of the Company as provided in Section 17551 of the Corporations Code;
and
(e) Sale
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
4.7 Meetings
and Voting.
4.7.1 Meetings
of Members. The annual meeting of the Members shall be held on the first
Business Day in November of each year at the hour of 10:00 a.m. Pacific Standard
Time, at such place within the State of California as the Board of Directors may
fix from time to time, for the purposes of electing directors and transacting
such other business as properly may come before the meeting. If the day fixed
for the annual meeting is a legal holiday, that meeting shall be held on the
next succeeding Business Day. A different time for holding the annual meeting of
the Members may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. Special
meetings may be called by the Board of Directors or by a Member or Members who
in the aggregate hold Percentage Interests equal to or greater than ten percent
(10%). Special meetings may be held at such date, time, and place within the
State of California as the Board may fix.
8
4.7.2 Notice
of Meetings.
(a) Written or printed notice stating
the place, date, and hour of the meeting of the Members, and in the case of a
special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall
be given to each Member entitled to vote at the meeting not less than 10 days
nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting. Each such notice shall be
given either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors in the case of the annual meeting, and by or at the direction of the
Board or the person or persons calling the meeting in the case of a special
meeting. If mailed, notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the
United States mail addressed to the Member at its address as it appears on the
records of the Company, with postage thereon prepaid. If delivered (rather than
mailed) to that address, notice shall be deemed to be given when so
delivered.
(b) When a meeting is adjourned to
another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the
time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is
taken, unless the adjournment is for more than 30 days or a new record date is
fixed for the adjourned meeting.
4.7.3 Waiver
of Notice. A waiver of notice of a meeting of the Members, in writing and signed
by a Member entitled to notice, whether signed before, at, or after the time of
the meeting as stated therein, shall be deemed to be equivalent to giving
notice. Attendance of a Member in person or by proxy at a meeting of the Members
constitutes a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Member or its
proxy objects (i) at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any
business at the meeting; or (ii) when a matter is presented that is not within
the purpose or purposes described in the meeting notice, to considering that
matter.
4.7.4 Quorum
and Vote Required for Action. Members present in person or by proxy whose
aggregate Percentage Interests exceed one-half of the aggregate Percentage
Interests of all Members entitled to vote at a meeting of the Members shall
constitute a quorum at that meeting. If a quorum is present at a meeting, the
act of Members present whose aggregate Percentage Interests constitute a
majority of the aggregate Percentage Interests of all Members present at that
meeting shall be the act of the Members, unless a different number of votes is
required by Applicable Law or this Agreement. If a quorum is not present at a
meeting, then Members present whose aggregate Percentage Interests constitute a
majority of the aggregate Percentage Interests of all Members present at that
meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. At an
adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted
that might have been transacted at the original meeting.
4.7.5 Proxies.
Every Member entitled to vote at a meeting may authorize another person or
persons to act by proxy with respect to his or her Membership Interest. No proxy
shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof unless
otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy continues in full force and effect
until revoked by the Member executing it prior to the vote pursuant thereto,
except as otherwise herein provided. Such revocation may be effected by a
writing delivered to the Company stating that the proxy is revoked or by a
subsequent proxy executed by the Member who executed the prior proxy and
presented to the meeting, or as to any meeting by attendance at such meeting and
voting in person by the person executing the proxy. The dates contained on the
forms of proxy presumptively determine the order of execution, regardless of the
postmark dates on the envelopes in which they are mailed. A proxy is not revoked
by the death or incapacity of the Member unless, before the vote is counted,
written notice of such death or incapacity is received by the Company. The
revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be
governed by the provisions of Sections 703(e) and 705(f) of the Corporations
Code.
9
4.7.6 Action
Without Meeting. Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, any action
required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Members may be taken
without a meeting, if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is
signed and delivered to the Company by Members having no less than the minimum
number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take that action at a
meeting at which all Members entitled to vote on that action at a meeting were
present and voted. Actions taken under this Section 4.7.6 shall be effective at
the time specified in the consent, or if not so specified, when the consent is
signed by Members having the required Percentage Interest. After having been
signed, each consent shall be delivered to the Company for filing with the
Company records.
ARTICLE V
- MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF THE COMPANY
5.1 Management
of the Company by Managers. Subject to the provisions of the Articles, this
Agreement, and the Act:
(a) All the business, property, and
affairs of the Company shall be managed and all powers of the Company shall be
exercised by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, the members of
which shall constitute the managers of the Company for purposes of the Act;
and
(b) No Director acting alone in his
capacity as a director or manager shall be an agent of the Company, and no
Director acting alone in his capacity as a director or manager is authorized to
bind or execute any instrument on behalf of the Company or render the Company
liable for any purpose.
5.2 Board
of Directors.
5.2.1 Authority.
The Board of Directors shall, subject to the limitations set forth below, have
the authority to exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful
acts and things as may be done by the managers of a limited liability company
under the Act and as are not by statute, by the Articles, or by this Agreement
directed or required to be exercised or done by or with the consent of the
Members.
10
5.2.2 Number.
The number of Directors shall initially be, and shall remain at not less than,
seven (7), which number may be changed from time to time by a two-thirds vote of
the Board of Directors.
5.2.3 Appointment
of Initial Directors. By entering into this Agreement, the Members hereby elect
the individuals set forth on Exhibit B as the initial Directors of the Company.
The Company shall revise Exhibit B from time to time to reflect changes in the
composition of the Board of Directors.
5.2.4 Term.
Unless a Director resigns or is removed by the affirmative vote of Members who
in the aggregate hold a majority of the Percentage Interests at a meeting called
expressly for that purpose, such Director shall serve in such capacity for the
coming year and shall serve until his or her successor is duly elected at the
next annual meeting of Members.
5.2.5 Compensation.
Until changed by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors, the Company shall
compensate Directors in the amount of $___ per meeting for attending meetings of
the Board of Directors. Except as specified in this Agreement or upon the
Approval of the Board of Directors, no Director is entitled to any additional
compensation for serving as a Director; provided, however, that the Company
shall reimburse Directors for actual reasonable expenses incurred in connection
with attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors. The Company shall obtain
directors' and officers' insurance for its Directors and officers.
5.2.6 Duty
of Care. Each Director's duty of care in the discharge of his duties to the
Company and the Members is limited to discharging his duties pursuant to this
Agreement in good faith, with the care a corporate director of like position
would exercise under similar circumstances, in the manner he reasonably believes
to be in the best interests of the Company. In discharging his duties, no
Director shall be liable to the Company or to any Member for any mistake or
error in judgment or for any act or omission believed in good faith to be within
the scope of authority conferred by this Agreement or approved by the
Members.
5.3 Meetings
of, and Voting by, the Board of Directors.
5.3.1 Meetings.
Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by any Director of the Company.
Ail meetings shall be held upon seven (7) days notice by mail or twenty-four
(24) hours notice delivered personally or by telephone, telegraph or facsimile.
Meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any place within the State of
California that has been designated in the notice of the meeting or at such
place as may be Approved by the Board of Directors. A notice need not specify
the purpose of the meeting. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any
Director who signs a waiver of notice or a consent to holding the meeting or an
approval of the minutes thereof, whether before or after the meeting, or who
attends the meeting without protesting, prior to its commencement, the lack of
notice to such Director. All such waivers, consents and approvals shall be filed
with the Company records or made a part of the minutes of proceedings of the
Board of Directors. A majority of the Directors present, whether or not a quorum
is present, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place. If the meeting is
adjourned for more than twenty-four (24) hours, notice of any adjournment shall
be given prior to the time of the adjourned meeting to the Directors who are not
present at the time of the adjournment.
11
5.3.2 Quorum
and Vote Required for Action. A majority of the authorized number of Directors
constitutes a quorum of the Board of Directors for the transaction of business,
and subject to the provisions of Section 4.4.
Section
5.2.2, Section 5.2.5, and Section 9.6(a), every act or decision done or made
with the approval of at least a majority of the number of Directors present at a
meeting duly held at which a quorum is present, is the act of the Board of
Directors.
5.3.3
Action Without Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by
the Articles or this Agreement, any action required or permitted to be taken at
any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if such
action is consented to in writing by the number of Directors sufficient to
approve such action at a meeting at which all Directors are present, the Company
provides notice of such action to all other Directors, and such written consent
is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.
5.3.4 Attendance
by Conference Telephone. Directors may participate in any regular or special
meeting of the Board of Directors by means of conference telephone or
teleconference, or any similar means of communications through 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.
5.4 Officers.
5.4.1 Appointment.
The Board of Directors may appoint officers of the Company at any time and from
time to time, including, without limitation, a Chairman, Chief Operations
Officer, Chief Information Officer, and Chief Officer of Human Resources. The
officers shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, which may remove
an officer with or without cause, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer
under any contract of employment. An officer may resign at anytime, subject to
the rights, if any, of the Company under any contract of employment, and in such
event the Board of Directors may appoint a successor. The officers shall
exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to
time by the Board of Directors as permitted or authorized in this
Agreement.
5.4.2 Authority.
Subject to the provisions of the Articles, this Agreement, and the Act
(including, without limitation, the provisions of Section 5.4.3 and those
provisions relating to actions or decisions required to be taken or made by, or
with the approval of, the Board of Directors or the Members), the officers are
authorized as follows:
(a) The officers shall have the powers
expressly delegated to them by the Board of Directors and, subject to any
restrictions imposed by the Board of Directors, shall have all necessary powers
to manage and carry out the purposes, business, property, and affairs of the
Company; and
(b) Any officer, acting alone, shall
have the authority to endorse checks, drafts, and other evidences of
indebtedness made payable to the order of the Company, but only for the purpose
of deposit into the Company's accounts. Any officer, acting alone, shall have
the authority to sign any check, draft, or instrument obligating the Company to
pay money in an amount less than $2,500, while any two individuals who are
officers, acting together, shall have the authority to sign any check, draft, or
instrument obligating the Company to pay money in an amount less than $25,000.
Any two of the Chief
Operations Officer, the Chief Officer of Human Resources or the Chief
Information Officer, acting together, shall have the authority to sign any other
obligation, contract, agreement, certificate, or other document on behalf of the
Company.
12
5.4.3 Limitations
on Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary expressed or implied in
this Agreement, unless Approved by the Board of Directors, no officer
shall:
(a) Cause
the Company to borrow, enter into credit agreements, or incur other Indebtedness
(other than ordinary course trade debt);
(b)
Mortgage, pledge, or otherwise encumber the assets of the Company;
(c) Make
any material change in the nature of the Company's business;
(d) Cease
the Company's operations at any given location, or initiate operations at a new
location;
(e) Sell,
exchange, or otherwise dispose of any Substantial Assets of the Company outside
of the ordinary course of business;
(f) Cause
the Company to engage in any dissolution, liquidation, merger, consolidation, or
reorganization;
(g)
Declare, pay, make or cause to be paid or made any distributions or dividends to
any Member,
(h) Take
any act that would make it impossible to carry on the ordinary business
activities of the Company;
(i) Cause
the Company to make a loan in excess of $25,000 to, or guarantee a debt in
excess of $25,000 of, any Person;
(j) Cause
the Company to enter into any contract, agreement or arrangement providing for
payments by the Company in excess of $50,000 other than in connection with
ordinary course trade debt, which shall include the purchase of debt
portfolios;
(k)
Compromise (i) an obligation of a Member to make a Capital Contribution or
return money or property paid or distributed in violation of the Act, or (ii) an
obligation of an officer under this Agreement or otherwise, whether in his
capacity as officer, Member, or otherwise;
(1) Cause
the Company to take any action to initiate a Bankruptcy of the
Company;
(m) Cause
the Company to confess any judgment;
13
(n) Cause the Company to issue any new
Membership Interests, or to alter the relative rights of existing Membership
Interests; or
(o) Amend the Company's Articles or
other governing documents.
5.4.4 Compensation.
No officer is entitled to compensation for providing management or other
services to the Company, except as Approved by the Board of Directors or as
provided in any employment contract between such person and the
Company.
5.4.5 Authority
to Grant LLC Units to Officers. Except as otherwise provided in this Section
5.4.5, the Board of Directors is authorized and empowered to grant to an
officer, as part of such officer's compensation package with the Company, LLC
Units upon such terms and conditions as are determined by the Board of Directors
in its sole and absolute discretion. The LLC Units obtained by officers pursuant
to this Section 5.4.5 shall include all of the rights set forth in Section 3.5
above, including, without limitation, the right to share in the Net Profits, Net
Losses and/or similar items of the Company, with the exception that such LLC
Units shall not include the right to share in the capital of the Company unless
the holder of such LLC Units makes a Capital Contribution, and then such LLC
Units shall include the right to share in the capital of the Company only to the
extent of such holder's Capital Contribution. In no event shall the aggregate
amount of LLC Units granted to officers pursuant to this Section 5.4.5 exceed
ten percent (10%) of the outstanding LLC Units of the Company. Any officer who
acquires a Membership Interest pursuant to a grant under this Section 5.4.5
shall be admitted to the Company as a Member pursuant to the provisions of
Section 4.2 above.
5.5 Limited
Liability. No officer, Director or Member shall be personally liable under any
judgment of a court, or in any other manner, for any debt, obligation, or
liability of the Company, whether that debt, obligation, or liability arises in
contract, tort, or otherwise, solely by reason of participating in the
management of the Company or being a Member, Director or an officer of the
Company or both.
5.6 Devotion
of Time. No Member or Director is obligated to devote all of his time or
business efforts to the affairs of the Company, but shall devote such time,
effort, and skill as he or she deems appropriate for the operation of the
Company.
5.7 Competing
Activities. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in an employment
agreement, any Member or Director may engage or invest in, independently or with
others, any business activity of any type or description, including, without
limitation, those that might be the same as or similar to the Company's business
and that might be in direct or indirect competition with the Company. Neither
the Company nor any Member shall have any right in or to such other ventures or
activities or to the income or proceeds derived therefrom. No Member or Director
shall be obligated to present any investment opportunity or prospective economic
advantage to the Company, even if the opportunity is of the character that, if
presented to the Company, could be taken by the Company. Any Member or Director
shall have the right to hold any investment opportunity or prospective economic
advantage for such Member's or Director's own account or to recommend such
opportunity to Persons other than the Company. Each Member acknowledges that the
other Members and Directors might own or manage other businesses, including
businesses that may compete with the Company for the time of the Member or
Director. Each Member hereby waives any and all rights and claims that he may
otherwise have against the other Members or Directors as a result of any such
permitted activities.
14
6.1 Transfer
of Interests. No Member shall be entitled to Transfer all or any part of its
Membership Interest except with the prior Approval of the Board of Directors,
which approval may be given or withheld, conditioned or delayed (as allowed by
this Agreement or the Act), as the Board of Directors may determine in its sole
discretion; provided, however, that a Member may assign, without the Approval of
the Board of Directors (but subject to the satisfaction of the requirements set
forth in Section 6.2), all or any of such Member's Membership Interest to such
Member's Affiliates, Family Members, partners, shareholders, or members of the
transferring Member or entities controlled by one of the foregoing.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no Transfer of a
Membership Interest in the Company shall be made if such Transfer or the
transferee's ownership of such Membership Interest in the Company, as the case
may be, would:
(a) result by itself, or in combination
with any other previous Transfers, in the termination of the Company as a
partnership for federal income tax purposes;
(b) result in the violation of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any other applicable federal or state
laws;
(c) constitute a violation of or a
default (or an event that, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would
constitute a default) under, or result in an acceleration of any Indebtedness or
payment under, any contract, agreement, note, mortgage, loan agreement,
instrument, or document to which the Company is a party; or
(d) be a Transfer to an individual who
is not legally competent or who has not achieved his or her majority under the
law of the state (excluding trusts for the benefit of minors).
6.2 Effect
of a Permitted Transfer of Membership Interest.
6.2.1 Substitution
of Members. A transferee of a Membership Interest shall become a substitute
Member only after each and all of the following conditions are
satisfied:
(a) a
duly executed and acknowledged instrument of assignment that is reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to the Board of Directors is filed with the
Company setting forth the intention of the transferor to Transfer its interest
in the Company;
(b) the
transferor and transferee execute and acknowledge such other instruments as the
Board of Directors may request, which may include an instrument pursuant to
which the transferee agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement;
and
(c) the
assignee pays to the Company the reasonable costs and expenses of the Company
incurred in connection with such assignment. The admission of a
substitute Member shall not result in the release of the Member who assigned the
Membership Interest from any liability that such Member may have to the
Company.
15
6.2.2 Effective
Date of Permitted Transfer. The Transfer of all or any portion of a Membership
Interest shall be effective as of the date upon which the requirements of
Sections 6.1 and 6.2.1 have been satisfied. Any transferee of a Membership
Interest shall take subject to the restrictions on transfer imposed by this
Agreement.
6.3 Transfer
of Economic Interest. If a Member who is an individual dies or is adjudged by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be incompetent to manage the Member's person
or property, or if a Member that is corporation, trust, or other entity
dissolves or terminates, such Member's executor, administrator, guardian,
conservator, or other legal representative in the event the Member is an
individual, and such Member's legal representative or successor in the event the
Member is a corporation, trust, or other entity, shall have only the rights of
an Economic Interest Owner, which entitles the holder to share in the income,
gains, losses, deductions, credits, or similar items of, and to receive
distributions from, the Company, but does not provide any other rights of a
Member, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to participate in
management, or, except as provided in the Act, any right to information
concerning the business and affairs of the Company. An Economic Interest Owner
shall have no right to become a substitute Member without the approval that is
otherwise required pursuant to this Agreement.
6.4 Effect
of Non-Compliance. An attempted Transfer that is in violation of this Article VI
shall be null and void ab initio.
6.5 Transfers
Pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization. Each Member intends to transfer its
entire Membership Interest in the Company to its partners promptly after the
effective date set forth in the Plan of Reorganization. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained in this Agreement, each Member may transfer its entire
Membership Interest in the Company to its partners without the Approval of the
Board of Directors and without complying with the requirements of Section 6.2,
provided that such transfers are effectuated pursuant to the Plan of
Reorganization. After the completion of such transfers, the Capital Contribution
and Percentage Interest of, and number of LLC units owned by, each Member shall
be as set forth in Exhibit C-1 attached hereto.
ARTICLE
VTI - ALLOCATIONS OF NET PROFITS AND NET LOSSES
7.1 Allocation
of Net Profits. For each fiscal year, the Net Profits of the Company shall be
allocated as follows:
(a) First, to the Members to the extent
of, and in proportion to, the amount by which the aggregate Net Losses allocated
to the Members pursuant to Section 7.2(b) exceeds the aggregate Net Profits
previously allocated to the Members pursuant to this Section
7.1(a);
(b) Second, to the Members to the
extent of, and in proportion to, the amount of their respective Effective Date
Unreturned Capital until the aggregate amount of Net Profits allocated to each
Member under this Section 7.1(b) for all fiscal years equals the Effective Date
Unreturned Capital for such Member; and
16
7.2 Allocation
of Net Losses. For each fiscal year, the Net Losses of the Company shall be
allocated as follows:
(a) First, to the Members to the extent
of, and in proportion to, the amount by which the aggregate Net Profits
allocated to the Members pursuant to Section 7.1(c) exceed the aggregate Net
Losses previously allocated to the Members pursuant to this Section 7.2(a);
and
(b) Thereafter, to the Members in
proportion to their respective Percentage Interests.
7.3 Special
Allocations. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article
VII:
7.3.1 Regulatory
Allocations.
(a) If there is a net decrease in (1)
Company Minimum Gain or (2) Member Minimum Gain during any fiscal year, the
Members shall be allocated items of Company income and gain for such year (and,
if necessary, for subsequent years) in accordance with Regulation Section
1.704-2(f) or Section 1.704-2(i)(4), as applicable. It is intended that this
Section 7.3.1 (a) qualify and be construed as a "minimum gain chargeback" and a
"chargeback of partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain" within the meaning of the
Regulations, which shall be controlling in the event of a conflict between such
regulations and this Section 7.3.1 (a).
(b) Any Nonrecourse Deductions for any
fiscal year shall be specially allocated to the Members in accordance with their
Percentage Interests. Any Member Nonrecourse Deductions for any fiscal year
shall be specially allocated to the Members) who bears the economic risk of loss
(within the meaning of Regulation 1.704-2) with respect to the Member
Nonrecourse Debt to which such Member Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable,
in accordance with Regulation Section 1.704-2(1).
(c) If any Member unexpectedly receives
an adjustment, allocation or distribution described in Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6), items of Company income and gain shall be
allocated, in accordance with Regulation Section 1.704-l(b)(2)(ii)(d), to the
Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required
by such Regulation, the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit of the Member as
quickly as possible. It is intended that this Section 7.3.1 (c) qualify and be
construed as a "qualified income offset" within the meaning of Regulation
Section 1.704- l(b)(2)(ii)(d), which shall be controlling in the event of a
conflict between such Regulation and this Section 7.3.l(c).
(d) If, and only to the extent, any
allocation of Net Losses would cause or increase an Adjusted Capital Account
Deficit as to any Member, such allocation of Net Losses shall be reallocated
among the other Members in accordance with their relative Percentage
Interests.
17
(e) The allocations set forth in
Sections 7.3.1 (a), (b), (c), and (d) (the "Special Regulatory Allocations") are
intended to comply with certain regulatory requirements, including the
requirements of Regulation Sections 1.704-1 (b) and 1.704-2. Notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 7.1 or Section 7.2, the Special Regulatory Allocations
shall be taken into account in allocating other items of income, gain, loss and
deduction among the Members so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of
such allocations of other items and the Special Regulatory Allocations to each
Member shall be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each
such Member if the Special Regulatory Allocations had not occurred.
(f) For any fiscal year during which
any part of a Membership Interest is transferred by a Member (or by a successor
in interest to a Member), the portion of the Net Profits and Net Losses of the
Company that is allocable in respect of such transferred interest shall be
apportioned between the assignor and the assignee of such interest under any
method allowed pursuant to Section 706 of the Code and the applicable
Regulations as determined by the Company.
(g) For purposes of determining a
Member's proportional share of the Company's "excess nonrecourse liabilities"
within the meaning of Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), each Member's interest
in the Company's profits shall be such Member's Percentage
Interest.
7.3.2 Code
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 Regulation Section l.704-l(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into
account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the
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 Members in a
manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital Accounts are required
to be adjusted pursuant to such section of the Regulations.
7.3.3 Recourse
Deductions. In the event any Member voluntarily agrees to make additional
Capital Contributions or to become personally liable for Company Indebtedness,
allocations of losses to that Member may be made which result in a deficit in
its Capital Account and which will not be subject to the qualified income offset
provisions under Section 7.3. l(c); provided, however, that no such allocation
of losses shall be made to that Member unless a written agreement is made by
which that Member agrees voluntarily to such loss allocation.
7.3.4 Curative
Allocations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Regulatory Allocations shall be taken into account in allocating items of
income, gain, loss and deduction among the Members so that, to the extent
possible, the net amount of such allocations of other items and the Regulatory
Allocations to each Member shall be equal to the net amount that would have been
allocated to each such Member if the Regulatory Allocations had not
occurred.
18
7.3.5 Contributed
Property. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Members
shall cause depreciation and or cost recovery deductions and gain or loss
attributable to property contributed by a Member or revalued by the Company to
be allocated among the Members for income tax purposes in accordance with
Section 704(c) of the Code and the Regulations promulgated
thereunder.
7.3.6 Recapture
Income. The portion of each Member's distributive share of Net Profits that is
characterized as ordinary income pursuant to Section 1245 or 1250 of the Code
shall be proportionate to the amount of Net Profits or Net Losses that included
the corresponding depreciation deductions that were allocated to such Member as
compared with the amount of depreciation deductions allocated to all
Members.
7.3.7 Allocation
of Company Items. Except as otherwise provided herein, whenever a proportionate
part of Net Profits or Net Losses is allocated to a Member, every item of
income, gain, loss or deduction entering into the computation of such Net
Profits or Net Losses, and every item of credit or tax preference related to
such allocation and applicable to the period during which such Net Profits or
Net Losses was realized shall be allocated to the Member, in the same proportion
and consistent with the applicable provisions of this Article VII.
ARTICLE
VIII - DISTRIBUTIONS
8.1 Distributions
by the Company. Subject to Applicable Law and any limitations contained
elsewhere in this Agreement, the Board of Directors may elect from time to time
to make distributions, in cash or property, to the Members in the following
order of priority:
(a) First, to the Members to the extent
of, and in proportion to, their unreturned Capital Contributions;
and
(b) Thereafter, to the Members in
proportion to their respective Percentage Interests.
8.2 Form
of Distribution. In the event of a distribution, no right is given to any Member
to demand and receive property in any form other than money. The Board of
Directors may determine, however, in its sole and absolute discretion, to make a
distribution in kind of Company assets to the Members. Such assets shall be
distributed in accordance with their fair market value at the time of the
distribution (as determined by the Board of Directors, in its sole and absolute
discretion, whose determination shall be final and binding on all parties in the
absence of manifest error).
8.3 Distributees:
Liability for Distributions. All distributions made pursuant to this Article
VIII shall be made only to the Persons who, according to the books and records
of the Company, hold the Membership Interests in respect of which such
distributions are made on the actual date of distribution. Neither the Company
nor any Director shall incur any liability for making distributions in
accordance with this Article VIII.
8.4 Return
of Distributions. Except for distributions made in violation of the Act or this
Agreement, or as otherwise required or prohibited by Applicable Law, no Member
shall be obligated to return any distribution to the Company or to pay the
amount of any distribution for the account of the Company or to any creditor of
the Company.
19
8.5 Right
to Withhold. The Company may withhold from any distribution such amounts as are
required to be withheld by the Applicable Laws of any taxing jurisdiction. Any
amounts withheld shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement (i) as a
distribution of cash to be charged against current distributions to which such
Member would otherwise have been entitled, or (ii) if current distributions are
insufficient, as a demand loan to such Member in the amount of such
insufficiency.
ARTICLE
IX - INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE
9.1 Indemnification
of Members, Directors and Officers. The Company shall indemnify any Member,
Director or officer of the Company who was or is a party or is threatened to be
made a party to, or otherwise becomes involved in, any Proceeding (including a
Proceeding by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that such
Member, Director or officer is or was an agent of the Company against all
Expenses, amounts paid in settlement, judgments, fines, penalties and ERISA
excise taxes actually and reasonably incurred by or levied against such Member,
Director or officer in connection with such Proceeding if such Member, Director
or officer acted in good faith and in a manner such Member, Director or officer
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company
and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe
such Member's, Director's or officer's conduct was unlawful. The termination of
any Proceeding, whether by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a
plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that a Member, Director or officer did not act in good faith and in
a manner that he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that a
Member, Director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that such Member's,
Director's or officer's conduct was unlawful. To the fullest extent permitted by
Applicable Law, a Member, Director or officer shall be conclusively presumed to
have met the relevant standards of conduct, as defined by the laws of the State
of California or other applicable jurisdictions, for indemnification pursuant to
this Section 9.1, unless and until a court of competent jurisdiction, after all
appeals, finally determines to the contrary, and the Company shall bear the
burden of proof of establishing by clear and convincing evidence that such
Member, Director or officer failed to meet such standards of conduct. In any
event, the Member, Director or officer shall be entitled to indemnification from
the Company to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, including,
without limitation, any amendments thereto subsequent to the date of this
Agreement that increase the protection of Members, Directors and officers
allowable under such laws.
9.2 Successful
Defense. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent
that a Member, Director or officer of the Company has been successful on the
merits or otherwise in defense of any Proceeding referred to in Section 9.1, or
in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such Member, Director or
officer shall be indemnified against Expenses actually and reasonably incurred
in connection therewith to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State
of California or other applicable jurisdictions, including, without limitation,
any amendments thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement that increase
the protection of Members, Directors and officers allowable under such
laws.
20
9.3 Indemnification
of Other Agents. The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, indemnify any
Person (other than a Member, Director or officer of the Company ) who was or is
a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or otherwise becomes involved
in, any Proceeding {including any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company)
by reason of the fact that such Person is or was an agent of the Company,
against all Expenses, amounts paid in settlement, judgments, fines, penalties
and ERISA excise taxes actually and reasonably incurred by such Person in
connection with such Proceeding under the same circumstances and to the same
extent as is provided for or permitted in this Article IX with respect to a
Member, Director or officer of the Company, or with respect to such
circumstances and on such terms as are Approved by the Board of
Directors.
9.4 Right
to Indemnification Upon Application.
9.4.1 Timing.
Any indemnification or advance under Section 9.1 shall be made promptly, and in
no event later than sixty (60) days, after the Company's receipt of the written
request of a Member, Director or officer of the Company therefor, unless, in the
case of an indemnification, a determination shall have been made as provided in
Section 9.1 that such Member, Director or officer has not met the relevant
standard for indemnification set forth in that Section.
9.4.2 Enforcement.
The right of a Person to indemnification or an advance of Expenses as provided
by this Article IX shall be enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction.
The Company shall have the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence
that indemnification or advances are not appropriate. Neither the failure by the
Board of Directors, Members of the Company or its independent legal counsel to
have made a determination that indemnification or an advance is proper in the
circumstances, nor any actual determination by the Board of Directors, Members
of the Company or its independent legal counsel that indemnification or an
advance is not proper, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption
that the relevant standard of conduct has not been met. In any such action, the
Person seeking indemnification or advancement of Expenses shall be entitled to
recover from the Company any and all expenses of the types described in the
definition of Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such Person in such
action, but only if such Person prevails therein. A Person's Expenses incurred
in connection with any Proceeding concerning such Person's right to
indemnification or advances in whole or in part pursuant to this Agreement shall
also be indemnified by the Company regardless of the outcome of such Proceeding,
unless a court of competent jurisdiction finally determines that each of the
material assertions made by such Person in the Proceeding was not made in good
faith or was frivolous.
9.5 Payment
of Expenses in Advance. Expenses incurred by a Member, Director or officer of
the Company in connection with a Proceeding shall be paid by the Company in
advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding upon receipt of a written
undertaking by or on behalf of such Member, Director or officer to repay such
amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Member, Director or
officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized in this
Article IX.
9.6 Limitations
on Indemnification. No payments pursuant to this Agreement shall be made by the
Company:
21
(a) To indemnify or advance funds to any
Person with respect to a Proceeding initiated or brought voluntarily by such
Person and not by way of defense, except as provided in Section 9.4.2 with
respect to a Proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to
indemnification under this Agreement, otherwise than as required under
California law, but indemnification or advancement of Expenses may be provided
by the Company in specific cases if a determination is made that such
indemnification or advancement is appropriate. The determination as to whether
any such indemnification or advancement of Expenses is appropriate shall be made
(i) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of
Directors who were not parties to such Proceeding, or (ii) if such quorum is not
obtainable or, even if obtainable, a quorum of such disinterested Directors so
directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion;
(b) To indemnify or advance funds to
any Person for any Expenses, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines,
penalties or ERISA excise taxes resulting from the such Person's conduct that is
finally adjudged to have been willful misconduct, knowingly fraudulent or
deliberately dishonest; or
(c) If a court of competent
jurisdiction finally determines that any indemnification or advance of Expenses
hereunder is unlawful.
9.7 Other
Terms of Indemnification.
9.7.1 Partial
Indemnification. If a Person is entitled under any provision of this Article IX
to indemnification by the Company for a portion of Expenses, amounts paid in
settlement, judgments, fines, penalties or ERISA excise taxes incurred by such
Person in any Proceeding but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the
Company shall nevertheless indemnify such Person for the portion of such
Expenses, amounts paid in settlement, judgments, fines, penalties or ERISA
excise taxes to which such Person is entitled, except that no indemnification
shall be given for Expenses in connection with a Proceeding brought by the
Company if the Person is found liable on any portion of the claims in such
Proceeding.
9.7.2 Indemnity
Not Exclusive. The indemnification and advancement of Expenses provided by, or
granted pursuant to, the provisions of this Article IX shall not be deemed
exclusive of any rights to which any Person seeking indemnification or
advancement of Expenses may be entitled under any agreement, Approval of the
Board of Directors, or otherwise, both as to action in such Person's capacity as
an agent of the Company and as to action in another capacity while serving as an
agent.
9.7.3 Insurance.
The Company shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance or make
other financial arrangements on behalf of any Person who is or was an agent of
the Company against any liability asserted against such Person and incurred by
such Person in any such capacity, or arising out of such Person's status as an
agent, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such Person
against such liability under the provisions of this Article IX or the Act. In
the event a Person shall receive payment from any insurance carrier or from the
plaintiff in any action against such Person with respect to indemnified amounts
after payment on account of all or part of such indemnified amounts having been
made by the Company pursuant to this Article IX, such Person shall reimburse the
Company for the amount, if any, by which the sum of such payment by such
insurance carrier or such plaintiff and payments by the Company to such Person
exceeds such indemnified amounts; provided, however, that such portions, if any,
of such insurance proceeds that are required to be reimbursed to the insurance
carrier under the terms of its insurance policy shall not be deemed to be
payments to such Person hereunder. In addition, upon payment of indemnified
amounts under the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company shall be
subrogated to such Person's rights against any insurance earner with respect to
such indemnified amounts (to the extent permitted under such insurance
policies). Such right of subrogation shall be terminated upon receipt by the
Company of the amount to be reimbursed by such Person pursuant to the second
sentence of this Section 9.7.3.
22
9.7.4 Heirs,
Executors and Administrators. The indemnification and advancement of Expenses
provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article IX shall, unless otherwise
provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a Person who has ceased to
be an agent of the Company and shall inure to the benefit of such Person's
heirs, executors and administrators.
ARTICLE X
- ACCOUNTING, RECORDS, REPORTING BY MEMBERS
10.1 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 the accounting methods followed for federal income tax purposes. The books
and records of the Company shall reflect all the Company transactions and shall
be appropriate and adequate for the Company's business. The Company shall
maintain at its principal office in California all of the
following:
(a) A current list of the full name and
last known business or residence address of each Member and Economic Interest
Owner set forth in alphabetical order, together with the Capital Contributions
and Capital Account of each Member and Economic Interest Owner;
(b) 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;
(c) A copy of the Company's federal,
state, and local income tax or information returns and reports, if any, for the
six most recent taxable years;
(d) 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 thereto have been
executed;
(e) A copy of the financial statements
of the Company, if any, for the six most recent Fiscal Years; and
(f) The Company's books and records as
they relate to the internal affairs of the Company for at least the current and
past four Fiscal Years.
10.2 Access
to Records. Each Member has the right, upon reasonable request for purposes
reasonably related to the interest of the Member to inspect and copy, at its own
expense, during normal business hours any of the Company records described in
Section 10.1.
23
10.3 Financial
and Other information. The Company shall provide such financial and other
information relating to the Company as a Member may reasonably
request.
10.4 Filings.
The Board of Directors shall cause the income tax returns for the Company to be
prepared and timely filed with the appropriate authorities. The Board of
Directors, at Company expense, shall cause to be prepared and timely filed, with
appropriate federal and state regulatory and administrative bodies, amendments
to, or restatements of, the Articles and all reports required to be filed by the
Company with those entities under the Act or other then current applicable laws,
rules, and regulations.
10.5 Bank
Accounts. The Board of Directors shall maintain the funds of the Company in one
or more separate bank accounts in the name of the Company, and shall not permit
the funds of the Company to be commingled in any fashion with the funds of any
other Person.
10.6 Tax
Matters Member. The Members hereby appoint _________________to act as the "Tax
Matters Partner" as that term is defined in Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code. The
Tax Matters Partner is authorized, at the Company's expense, to represent the
Company and the Members in connection with all examinations of the Company
affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial
proceedings, and to expend Company funds for professional services and costs
connected therewith; provided, however, that (a) each Member shall have the
option of having its officers and other representatives present at any meeting
between tax authorities and the Tax Matters Partner and (b) the Tax Matters
Partner may not enter into any settlement of any judicial or other proceeding
with respect to the tax affairs of the Company.
ARTICLE
XI - DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP
11.1 Mutual
Agreement. Upon the approval of a majority of the Percentage Interests of the
Members, or upon the occurrence of an event of dissolution under Section 11.2,
the Company shall be dissolved and the assets liquidated. The Company shall
engage in no further business thereafter other than that necessary to wind up
the business and distribute the assets. The maintenance of offices shall not be
deemed a continuation of the business for purposes of this Section 11.1. The
Members shall continue to divide Net Profits and Net Losses during the
winding-up period in the same ratio as prior to dissolution.
24
11.2 Dissolution
of the Company. The Company shall dissolve:
(a) Upon
the happening of an event of dissolution specified in the Articles;
(b) Upon
the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution;
(c) Upon
the expiration of the term of the Company; or
25
11.3 Liquidation
of Assets. Upon a dissolution and termination of the Company, the Board of
Directors (or m case there is no Board of Directors, the Members) shall take
full account of the Company assets and liabilities, shall liquidate the assets
as promptly as is consisted with obtaining the fair market value thereof, and
shall apply and distribute the proceeds therefrom in the following
order:
(a) To the payment of creditors of the
Company, including Members who are creditors to the extent permitted by law, but
excluding secured creditors whose obligations will be assumed or otherwise
transferred on the liquidation of Company assets;
(b) To the setting up of any reserves
as required by law for any liabilities or obligations of the Company; provided,
however, that said reserves shall be deposited with a bank or trust company in
escrow at interest for the purpose of disbursing such reserves for the payment
of any of the aforementioned contingencies and, at the expiration of a
reasonable period, for the purpose of distributing the balance remaining in
accordance with remaining provisions of this Section 11.3; and
(c) To the Members in accordance with
the provisions of Section 8.1.
The
Members acknowledge that the provisions of this Section 11.3 may not comply with
Code Section 704 and the Regulations promulgated thereunder. If upon
liquidation, the provisions of this Section 11.3 do not comply with Code Section
704 and the Regulations promulgated thereunder, the Board of Directors is
authorized and empowered to use its best efforts to allocate Net Profits and Net
Losses and make distributions, in cash or property, to the Members in such a
manner that does so comply with Code Section 704 and the Regulations promulgated
thereunder while giving effect to the intent of these provisions, which is to
provide for the allocation of Net Profits and distributions to the Members pro
rata based on unreturned Capital Contributions until all Members have received
back their respective Capital Contribution and thereafter to the Members in
accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.
11.4 Distributions
Upon Dissolution. Each Member shall look solely to the assets of the Company for
all distributions and its Capital Contributions, and shall have no recourse
therefor (upon dissolution or otherwise) against any past or present Director or
Member.
11.5 Liquidation
of Member's Interest. In no event may a Member liquidate its interest in the
Company without the prior Approval of the Board of Directors, which approval may
be given or withheld, conditioned or delayed (as allowed by this Agreement or
the Act), as the Board of Directors may determine in its sole
discretion.
11.6 Certificates
of Dissolution and Cancellation. The Board of Directors or, if none, the Members
shall file Certificates of Dissolution and Cancellation in the office of, and on
a form prescribed by, the California Secretary of State.
26
ARTICLE
XII - MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, and all so executed
shall constitute one Agreement, binding on all of the parties hereto,
notwithstanding that all of the parties are not signatory to the original or the
same counterpart.
12.2 Successors
and Assigns. The terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon
and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the respective
Members.
12.3 Severability.
In the event any sentence or Section of this Agreement is declared by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be void, such sentence or Section shall be deemed
severed from the remainder of this Agreement and the balance of this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect.
12.4 Notices.
All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given to the
Member or Economic Interest Owner entitled thereto by the United States mail,
posted to the address maintained by the Company for such person or at such other
address as he or she may specify in writing. Notices given in accordance with
this Section 12.4 shall be deemed received three days after deposit in the
United States mail.
12.5 Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any conflict of laws
provisions.
12.6 Captions.
Section titles or captions contained in this Agreement are inserted only as a
matter of convenience and reference. Such titles and captions in no way define,
limit, extend or describe the scope of this Agreement nor the intent of any
provisions hereof.
12.7 Gender.
Whenever required by the context hereof, the singular shall include the plural,
and vice versa, the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter
genders, and vice versa.
12.8 Time.
Time is of the essence with respect to this Agreement.
12.9 Additional
Documents. Each Member, upon the request of the Board of Directors, shall
perform any further acts and execute and deliver any documents which may be
reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement, including,
but not limited to, providing acknowledgment before a Notary Public of any
signature made by a Member.
12.10 Descriptions.
All descriptions referred to in this Agreement are expressly incorporated herein
by reference as if set forth in full, whether or not attached
hereto.
12.11 Jurisdiction.
Any and all disputes arising out of, related to, or in connection with this
Agreement shall be heard and determined before an appropriate federal or state
court located in Orange County, California. In any action or proceeding arising
out of, related to, or in connection with this Agreement, the Members consent to
be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal and state
courts in Orange County, California. Each of the Members consents to the service
of process in any action commenced hereunder by certified or registered mail,
return receipt requested, or by any other method or service acceptable under
federal law or the laws of the State of California.
27
12.12 Attorneys'
Fees. In the event that any dispute between the Company and the Members or among
the Members should result in litigation or arbitration, the prevailing party in
such dispute shall be entitled to recover from the other party all reasonable
fees, costs and expenses of enforcing any right of the prevailing party,
including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses.
12.13 Partition.
The Members agree that the assets of the Company are not and will not be
suitable for partition. Accordingly, each of the Members hereby irrevocably
waives any and all rights that they may have, or may obtain, to maintain any
action for partition of any of the assets of the Company.
12.14 Integrated
and Binding Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding and
agreement among the Members with respect to the subject matter hereof, and there
are no other agreements, understandings, representations or warranties among the
Members other than those set forth herein. This Agreement may be amended only as
provided in this Agreement.
12.15 Consistent
Tax Reporting. All Members agree not to take any position on their income tax
returns that are inconsistent with the position taken of the Company's tax
returns and Form K-l's. The Members shall abide by any good faith decision
and/or requests of the Company regarding consistent reporting of tax matters. In
the event that any disagreement arises as a result of any tax position, the
parties hereby agree to work in good faith to resolve any inconsistency or
disagreement.
28
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, all of the Members of Performance Capital Management, LLC, a
California limited liability company, have executed this Agreement, effective as
of the date written above.
PERFORMANCE
ASSET MANAGEMENT FUND, LTD.,
|
a
California limited partnership
|
By:
|
Its:
|
By:
|
Its:
|
PERFORMANCE
ASSET MANAGEMENT
|
FUND
II, LTD., a California limited
|
partnership
|
By:
|
Its:
|
By:
|
Its:
|
PERFORMANCE
ASSET MANAGEMENT
|
FUND
III, LTD., a California limited
|
partnership
|
By:
|
Its:
|
By:
|
Its:
|
29
PERFORMANCE
ASSET MANAGEMENT
|
FUND
IV, LTD., a California limited
|
partnership
|
By:
|
Its:
|
By:
|
Its:
|
30
31