SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF CCE HOLDINGS, LLC dated as of _______, 2006
SECOND
AMENDED AND RESTATED
OF
CCE
HOLDINGS, LLC
dated
as of _______, 2006
LLC
Agreement.DOC
SECOND
AMENDED AND RESTATED
OF
CCE
HOLDINGS, LLC
This
Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of CCE Holdings,
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”),
is
entered into as of this ___ day of ________, 2006, by and between Energy
Transfer Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, CCE Acquisition, LLC,
a
Delaware limited liability company, and CCEA Corp., a Delaware
corporation.
W
I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS,
the Certificate of Formation of the Company was filed with the Secretary of
State of Delaware on May 14, 2004, in accordance with the Delaware Limited
Liability Company Act;
WHEREAS,
the parties hereto are the sole members of the Company; and
WHEREAS,
the parties hereto desire to amend and restate the limited liability company
agreement of the Company as set forth herein in order to provide for the manner
in which the Company shall be governed and operated subsequent to the date
hereof; and
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises hereof, and of the mutual covenants
and agreements contained herein, the receipt, adequacy and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
I.
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Defined
Terms.
The
following terms have the meanings hereinafter indicated whenever used in this
Agreement with initial capital letters:
“Accepting
Member”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section
5.1(b)(i).
“Act”
shall
mean the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, at Del. Code Xxx., Title 6,
Section 18-101, et seq.,
as
amended.
“Adjusted
Capital Account”
shall
mean, with respect to any Member, the balance in such Member’s Capital Account
as of the end of the relevant Fiscal Year, after giving effect to the following
adjustments:
(a) Crediting
to such Capital Account any amounts that such Member is obligated to restore
pursuant to this Agreement or is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant
to
Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(3), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c),
1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5); and
(b) Debiting
to such Capital Account the items described in Regulations Sections
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii) (d)(4), (5) and (6).
The
foregoing definition of “Adjusted Capital Account” is intended to comply with
the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)
and
shall
be interpreted consistently therewith.
“Adjusted
Capital Account Deficit”
shall
mean, with respect to any Member, the deficit balance, if any, in such Member’s
Adjusted Capital Account.
“Administrative
Services Agreement”
shall
mean the Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement substantially
in
the form of Exhibit
C
or in
such other form as shall be approved by the Executive Committee.
“Administrative
Services Provider”
shall
mean the Person that from time to time shall be a party to the Administrative
Services Agreement with the Company.
“Affiliate”
shall
mean, with respect to a Person, another Person that directly or indirectly
controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such first Person.
For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative
meanings, the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control
with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly,
of the power to vote a majority of the securities having voting power for the
election of directors of such Person or otherwise to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of that Person, whether through
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Aggregate
Percentage Interest”
shall
mean, with respect to each Member, its proportionate interest, expressed as
a
percentage, in the residual Profits, Losses and distributions of the Company
to
which the Members are entitled. The Aggregate Percentage Interests of the
Members are set forth on Exhibit
A.
“Agreement”
shall
mean this Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, including
all exhibits and schedules attached hereto, as amended, modified or otherwise
supplemented, from time to time.
“Asset
Value”
shall
mean, with respect to any asset of the Company (other than cash), the adjusted
basis of such asset as of the relevant date for federal income tax purposes,
except as follows:
(a) the
initial Asset Value of any asset (other than cash) contributed by a Member
to
the Company shall be the fair market value of such asset (as determined by
the
Members) at the time of contribution;
(b) the
Asset
Values of all Company assets (including intangible assets such as goodwill)
shall be adjusted to equal their respective fair market values as of the
following times:
2
(i) the
acquisition of an additional interest in the Company by any new or existing
Member in exchange for a Capital Contribution;
(ii) the
distribution by the Company to a Member of an amount of money or Company
property as consideration for an interest in the Company; or
(iii) the
liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g);
(c) the
Asset
Value of any Company asset distributed in kind to any Member shall be adjusted
to equal the gross fair market value of such asset on the date of distribution,
as determined by the Members;
(d) the
Asset
Values of any Company assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any
adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b)
or Code Section 743(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken
into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m); provided
that
Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to Code Section 743(b) to the extent
that the Members make a corresponding adjustment under subparagraph (b)(ii);
and
(e) if
the
Asset Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to subsection
(a), (b) or (d) above, such Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the
Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset for purposes of
computing Profits and Losses and other items allocated pursuant to Article
VII.
The
foregoing definition of “Asset Value” is intended to comply with the provisions
of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) and shall be interpreted and applied
consistently therewith.
“Bankruptcy
Event”
shall
be deemed to occur with respect to any Person if (a) such Person shall
institute a voluntary case seeking liquidation or reorganization under
Bankruptcy Law, or shall consent to the institution of an involuntary case
thereunder against it; (b) such Person shall file a petition or consent or
shall
otherwise institute any similar proceeding under any other applicable Federal
or
state law, or shall consent thereto; (c) such Person shall apply for, or by
consent there shall be an appointment of, a receiver, liquidator, sequestrator,
trustee or other officer with similar powers for itself or any substantial
part
of its assets; (d) such Person shall make an assignment for the benefit of
its
creditors; (e) such Person shall admit in writing its inability to pay its
debts
generally as they become due; (f) an involuntary case shall be commenced seeking
liquidation or reorganization of such Person under Bankruptcy Law or any similar
proceedings shall be commenced against such Person under any other applicable
Federal or state law and (i) the petition commencing the involuntary case
is not dismissed within 60 days of its filing, (ii) an interim trustee is
appointed to take possession of all or a portion of the property, and/or to
operate all or any part of the business of such Person and such appointment
is
not vacated within 60 days, or (iii) an order for relief shall have been issued
or entered therein; (g) a decree or order of a court having jurisdiction in
the
premises for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee
or
other officer having similar powers of such Person or all or a part of its
property shall have been entered; or (h) any other similar relief shall be
granted against such Person under any applicable Federal or state
law.
3
“Bankruptcy
Law”
means
Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of
debtors.
“Business
Day”
shall
mean any day that is neither a Saturday nor a Sunday nor a legal holiday on
which commercial banking institutions are authorized or required by law,
regulation or executive order to be closed in the States of New York or
Texas.
“Capital
Account”
shall
mean, with respect to any Member (and without duplication), the Capital Account
maintained for such Member in accordance with the following
provisions:
(a) From
time
to time, the Capital Account of each Member shall be increased by (i) the amount
of any cash contributed by the Member to the Company, (ii) the Asset Value
(as
determined by the Members) of any property contributed by the Member to the
Company (net of liabilities that the Company is deemed to have assumed or taken
subject to, under and pursuant to Section 752 of the Code), and (iii)
allocations to the Member of Profit (or items thereof) and other income and
gain
pursuant to Section
7.1,
including income and gain exempt from tax, and income and gain described in
Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g), but excluding items of income and
gain
described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(i).
(b) The
Capital Account of each Member shall be decreased by (i) the amount of any
cash
distributed to such Member, (ii) the Asset Value (as determined by the Members)
of any property distributed to such Member (net of any liabilities that such
Member is deemed to have assumed or taken subject to, under and pursuant to
Section 752 of the Code), (iii) allocations to the Member of expenditures
described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, and (iv) allocations to the
Member of Loss (or items thereof) and other loss and deductions pursuant to
Section
7.1,
including loss and deduction described in Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g), but excluding items described in clause (iii) above,
tax
items of loss and deduction described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(i),
and items of deduction described in Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(4)(iii).
(c) A
single
Capital Account shall be maintained for each Member, which Capital Account
shall
reflect all allocations, distributions, or other adjustments required by this
definition with respect to the Membership Interest owned by such
Member.
(d) Upon
any
transfer of all or part of a Membership Interest as permitted by this Agreement,
the Capital Account (or portion thereof) of the transferor that is attributable
to the transferred interest (or portion thereof) shall carry over to the
transferee as prescribed by Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(l).
(e) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this definition, it is the intention of the Members
that the Capital Accounts of the Members be maintained strictly in accordance
with the capital account maintenance requirements of Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv), and that such Capital Accounts be adjusted to the extent
required by the provisions of such Regulations or any successor provisions
thereto.
“Capital
Contribution”
shall
mean the total amount of money and the net fair market value of property (as
determined by the Executive Committee) contributed by each Member to the Company
pursuant to this Agreement.
4
“Cash
Flow”
shall
mean, with respect to any period, all cash received by the Company (other than
from the liquidation of any assets pursuant to Article
X)
plus
all cash
withdrawn from reserves (as determined to be appropriate by the Executive
Committee or, if the Executive Committee does not approve the amount of such
reserves, no withdrawal from reserves will be made for such period),
less
(a) all
operating expenses of the Company (including amounts payable under the
Administrative Services Agreement but excluding capital expenditures), (b)
any
amounts withheld by the Company in accordance with Section
6.2,
(c)
additions to reserves made during such period (as determined to be appropriate
by the Executive Committee or, if the Executive Committee does not approve
the
amount of such reserves, no addition to reserves will be made for such period)
and (d) all payments of interest and scheduled principal in respect of
Indebtedness of the Company.
“CCE”
shall
mean CCE Acquisition, LLC,
a
Delaware limited liability company, and any of its Affiliates that are
Members.
“Certificate”
shall
mean the Certificate of Formation of the Company.
“Citrus
Corp.”
shall
mean Citrus Corp., a Delaware corporation.
“Class
A Executive Committee Member”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section
4.1(c).
“Class
A Member”
shall
mean each Person listed on Exhibit
A
hereto
and indicated as such, its respective permitted successors and assigns, and
any
other Person that is hereafter admitted as a Class A Member pursuant to
Article
VIII.
“Class
A Membership Interest”
shall
mean a Class A Member’s entire interest in the Company including such Class A
Member’s right to share in the Profits and Losses and distributions of the
Company, and the Class A Member’s right to vote or consent to, or otherwise
participate in, any decision or action of or by the Class A Members granted
pursuant to this Agreement or the Act.
“Class
A Percentage Interest”
shall
mean a Class A Member’s proportionate interest, expressed as a percentage, in
the residual Profits, Losses, and distributions of the Company to which the
Class A Members are entitled. The Class A Percentage Interests of the Class
A
Members are set forth on Exhibit
A.
“Class
A Prohibited Transferee”
shall
mean any Persons designated on Exhibit
B
as a
Class A Prohibited Transferee and any Affiliate or successor
thereof.
“Class
B Executive Committee Member”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section 4.1(c).
“Class
B Member”
shall
mean each Person listed on Exhibit
A
hereto
and indicated as such, its respective permitted successors and assigns, and
any
other Person that is hereafter admitted as a Class B Member pursuant to
Article
VIII.
5
“Class
B Membership Interest”
shall
mean a Class B Member’s entire interest in the Company including such Class B
Member’s right to share in the Profits and Losses and distributions of the
Company, and the Class B Member’s right to vote or consent to, or otherwise
participate in, any decision or action of or by the Class B Members granted
pursuant to this Agreement or the Act.
“Class
B Percentage Interest”
shall
mean a Class B Member’s proportionate interest, expressed as a percentage, in
the residual Profits, Losses, and distributions of the Company to which the
Class B Members are entitled. The Class B Percentage Interests of the Class
B
Members are set forth on Exhibit
A.
“Class
B Prohibited Transferee”
shall
mean any Persons designated on Exhibit
B
as a
Class B Prohibited Transferee and any Affiliate or successor
thereof.
“Code”
shall
mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any
successor statutory provisions.
“Company”
shall
have the meaning assigned thereto in the preamble to this
Agreement.
“Company
Minimum Gain”
shall
mean the amount determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(d)
by
(a) computing with respect to each Nonrecourse Liability of the Company the
amount of income or gain, if any, that would be realized by the Company if
it
disposed of the property securing such Nonrecourse Liability in full
satisfaction thereof, and (b) aggregating all separate amounts so
computed.
“Company
Subsidiaries”
shall
mean CrossCountry, CrossCountry Alaska, LLC, CrossCountry Energy Services,
LLC,
Transwestern Holding Company, LLC, Transwestern and CrossCountry Citrus, LLC;
provided,
however,
that
none of the foregoing shall be considered a “Company Subsidiary” at such time as
the Company shall have disposed of its ownership interests therein.
“Contribution
Offer Expiration Date”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section
5.1(b)(i).
“Contribution
Offer Notice”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section
5.1(b)(i).
“CrossCountry”
shall
mean CrossCountry Energy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company.
“Credit
Facilities”
shall
mean such loan agreements and instruments to which the Company or any Company
Subsidiary shall be a party from time to time.
“Depreciation”
shall
mean, for each Fiscal Year or part thereof, an amount equal to the depreciation,
amortization, or other cost recovery deduction allowable for federal income
tax
purposes with respect to an asset for such Fiscal Year or part thereof, except
that if the Asset Value of an asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal
income tax purposes at the beginning of such Fiscal Year, the depreciation,
amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such Fiscal Year or part
thereof shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such Asset Value as
6
the
federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction
for such Fiscal Year or part thereof bears to such adjusted tax basis. If such
asset has a zero adjusted tax basis, the depreciation, amortization or other
cost recovery deduction for each Fiscal Year shall be determined under a method
selected by the Members.
“EBITDA”
shall
mean for any period the consolidated net income of the Company determined in
accordance with GAAP plus
(a) its
reported interest expense, plus
(b) its
reported income tax expense, plus
(c) the
amount it reported as depreciation of assets, plus
(d) the
amount it reported as the amortization of intangibles, plus
(e) 50%
of Citrus Corp.’s reported interest expense, plus
(f) 50%
of the amount Citrus Corp. reported as income tax expense, plus
(g) 50%
of the amount Citrus Corp. reported as depreciation of assets, plus
(g) 50%
of the amount Citrus Corp. reported as the amortization of intangibles, in
each
case as determined in accordance with GAAP.
“ERISA”
shall
mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated there under.
“ETP”
shall
mean Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any
of
its Affiliates that are Members.
“Exchange
Act”
shall
mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Executive
Committee”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section
4.1(a).
“Executive
Committee Members”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section
4.1(a).
“Fiscal
Year”
shall
mean the taxable year of the Company, which initially shall be the calendar
year.
“GAAP”
shall
mean United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently
applied.
“Governmental
Authority”
shall
mean any court, tribunal, agency, commission, official or other instrumentality
of the United States or any state or political subdivision thereof.
“Indebtedness”
shall
mean, with respect to any Person, (A) all obligations for borrowed money of
the
such Person, (B) all obligations for the deferred purchase or acquisition price
of property or services, other than trade accounts payable (other than for
borrowed money) arising, and accrued expenses incurred, in the ordinary course
of business so long as such trade accounts payable are payable within 90 days
of
the date the respective goods are delivered or the respective services are
rendered, (C) the capitalized amount (determined in accordance with GAAP) of
all
obligations such Person is required to pay or other amounts under any lease
of
(or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property,
or
a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and
accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP,
(D) all obligations for borrowed money secured by any lien upon or in any
property owed by such Person whether or not such Person has assumed or become
liable for the payment of such obligations for borrowed money and (E) all
obligations of the type described in any of clauses (A) through (D) above which
are guaranteed, directly or
7
indirectly,
or endorsed (otherwise than for collection or deposit in the ordinary course
of
business) or discounted with recourse by such Person.
“Liquidating
Trustee”
shall
have the meaning specified in the Act.
“Managing
Member”
shall
mean the Member designated pursuant to Section
4.3.
“Material
Regulatory Filing”
shall
mean any filing with any Governmental Authority which, if determined adversely
to the Company, would have a material adverse effect on the business, assets
or
financial condition of the Company.
“Member
Nonrecourse Debt”
shall
mean debt of the Company determined in accordance with the principles of
Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4).
“Member
Nonrecourse Deductions”
shall
mean any and all items of loss, deduction or expenditure (described in Section
705(a)(2)(B) of the Code) that, in accordance with the principles of Regulations
Section 1.704-2(i)(2), are attributable to a Member Nonrecourse
Debt.
“Members”
shall
mean each of the Persons set forth on Exhibit
A
and any
other Person that hereafter is admitted as a Member pursuant to Article
VIII.
“Membership
Interest”
and
“Membership
Interests”
shall
mean, individually the Class A Membership Interest or the Class B Membership
Interest and, collectively, the Class A Membership Interests and the Class
B
Membership Interests, as the context requires.
“Minimum
Gain Attributable to Member Nonrecourse Debt”
shall
mean that amount determined in accordance with the principles of Regulations
Sections 1.704-2(i)(3), (4) and (5).
“Nonrecourse
Deductions”
shall
mean that amount determined in accordance with Regulations Section
1.704-2(b)(1).
“Nonrecourse
Liability”
shall
mean any liability of the Company treated as a nonrecourse liability under
Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(3).
“Person”
shall
mean any individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust
or other entity.
“Profits”
and
“Losses”
shall
mean, for each Fiscal Year or other period, an amount equal to the Company’s
taxable income or loss for such Fiscal Year or period, determined in accordance
with Code Section 703(a) (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss,
or
deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Code Section 703(a)(1)
shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following
adjustments:
(a) Any
income of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax and not otherwise
taken into account in computing Profits and Losses shall be added to such
taxable income or loss;
8
(b) Any
expenditures of the Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) or treated
as
Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits
or Losses, shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;
(c) In
the
event the Asset Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to clause (b)
or
clause (c) of the definition thereof, the amount of such adjustment shall be
taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset for
purposes of computing Profits and Losses;
(d) Gain
or
loss resulting from any disposition of Company property with respect to which
gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be computed
by
reference to the Asset Value of the property disposed of, notwithstanding that
the adjusted tax basis of such property differs from its Asset
Value;
(e) In
lieu
of depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into
account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into
account Depreciation for such Fiscal Year or other period;
(f) To
the
extent an adjustment to any adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant
to
Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b) is required pursuant to Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) to be taken into account in determining Capital
Accounts as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Member’s
Membership Interest in the Company, the amount of the adjustment shall be
treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset)
or loss (if the adjustment decreases the basis of the assets) from the
disposition of the asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of
computing Profits and Losses; and
(g) Any
items
which are specially allocated pursuant to Section
7.1(c)
shall
not be taken into account in computing Profits and Losses.
“Prohibited
Transferee”
shall
mean those Persons set forth on Exhibit
B
and any
Affiliate or successor thereof.
“Rate
Filing”
shall
mean any application, notice or other submission filed with or otherwise
delivered to any Governmental Authority relating to the establishment of, or
modification or supplement to, the rates, tariffs or charges for services or
commodities provided by any Company Subsidiary; provided,
however,
that
“Rate Filing” shall not include any of the foregoing unless the intended or
expected effect thereof is (i) to increase the revenues of the applicable
Company Subsidiary by more than 10% per annum, (ii) to increase or decrease
the
rates chargeable for transportation of natural gas through the applicable
Company Subsidiary’s pipeline facilities by more than 10%, (iii) the offering by
the applicable Company Subsidiary of a new service or (iv) the expansion or
addition of capacity of, or the increase in the pressure of, the applicable
Company Subsidiary’s pipeline facilities.
“Redemption
Agreement”
shall
mean the Redemption Agreement, dated as of September 14, 2006, between the
Company and ETP.
9
“Regulatory
Allocations”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
7.1(c)(vii).
“Regulations”
shall
mean any and all temporary and final regulations promulgated under the Code,
as
amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding
regulations).
“Securities
Act”
shall
mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“SUG”
shall
mean Southern Union Company, a Delaware corporation.
“Tax
Matters Member”
shall
mean the Member designated to serve as such pursuant to Section
7.5.
“Third
Party Purchaser”
shall
mean any Person (other than a Member or an Affiliate of a Member) that has
expressed an interest to purchase any of the Class A Membership Interests or
Class B Membership Interests.
“Third
Party Purchaser Notice”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section
8.2.
“Transfer”
shall
mean any, direct or indirect, sale, assignment, gift, hypothecation, pledge
or
other disposition, whether voluntary or by operation of law (including through
the state law conversion of the legal status of a Member), of a Membership
Interest or any portion thereof including as a result of a sale or transfer
of
the equity interests in a Member or its direct or indirect parent, but the
term
“Transfer” shall not include any sale or transfer of equity interests in ETP or
SUG.
“Transferee”
shall
mean any Person that receives a Membership Interest as the result of a Transfer
from a Transferring Member.
“Transferring
Member”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section
8.2.
“Transwestern”
shall
mean Transwestern Pipeline Company, LLC.
1.2 Interpretative
Matters.
In this
Agreement, unless otherwise specified or where the context otherwise
requires:
(a) the
headings of particular provisions of this Agreement are inserted for convenience
only and will not be construed as a part of this Agreement or serve as a
limitation or expansion on the scope of any term or provision of this
Agreement;
(b) the
singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular
wherever appropriate;
(c) words
importing any gender shall include other genders;
(d) the
words
“include,” “includes” or “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words
“without limitation”;
10
(e) the
words
“hereof,” “herein” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall, unless
otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not
to
any particular provision of this Agreement;
(f) references
to “Sections”, “Articles”, “Exhibits” and “Appendices” shall be to Sections,
Articles, Exhibits and Appendices of or to this Agreement;
(g) references
to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of such
Person;
(h) the
use
of the words “or,” “either” and “any” shall not be exclusive;
(i) wherever
a conflict exists between this Agreement and any other agreement, this Agreement
shall control but solely to the extent of such conflict;
(j) references
to any agreement or contract, unless otherwise stated, are to such agreement
or
contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance
with the terms hereof and thereof; and
(k) the
parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of
this
Agreement; accordingly, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or
interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly
by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise
favoring or disfavoring any party hereto by virtue of the authorship of any
provisions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE
II.
ORGANIZATIONAL
MATTERS
2.1 Formation.
The
Company has been formed and exists for the limited purposes described herein
and
shall be governed by and operated in accordance with the Act. The Members shall
execute and the Managing Member shall make, or cause to be made, all filings
required by the Act or other applicable law with respect to the formation and
operation of the Company.
2.2 Name.
The
name of the Company is CCE Holdings, LLC.
2.3 Principal
Place of Business.
The
principal place of business of the Company shall be located at 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000. The Members may change the principal place of business
of the Company at any time and from time to time.
2.4 Registered
Office and Agent.
The
registered office of the Company shall be located at 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 and the registered agent for
the
Company at such office shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The Executive
Committee may change the registered office of the Company or the registered
agent for the Company at any time, and from time to time.
2.5 Term.
The
term of the Company shall commence upon the filing of the Certificate and shall
continue until dissolved in accordance with Article
X
or the
Act.
11
ARTICLE
III.
BUSINESS
OF THE COMPANY
3.1 Purpose.
The
business of the Company shall be to, directly and indirectly, own and manage
ownership interests in the Company Subsidiaries, and their respective assets,
and to engage in any business necessary or incidental thereto.
ARTICLE
IV.
MANAGEMENT
OF COMPANY
4.1 Executive
Committee.
(a) Establishment.
There
is hereby established a committee of Member representatives (the “Executive
Committee”)
comprised of natural Persons (the “Executive
Committee Members”)
having
the authority and duties set forth in this Agreement. Any decisions to be made
by the Executive Committee shall require the unanimous approval of the Executive
Committee Members; provided,
however,
that in
the case of any action or decision by the Executive Committee relating to (i)
the commencement of any legal or arbitration proceedings against a Member or
an
Affiliate thereof, (ii) entering into any transaction with a Member or any
of
its Affiliates of the type referred to in Section
4.2(g)
or (iii)
the enforcement or waiver of any rights of the Company under any material
agreement with a Member or any of its Affiliates, the Executive Committee
Members appointed by the Class of Membership Interests held by such Member
(and
respecting which such Member is entitled to exercise voting rights as provided
in Section
4.2(a)(ii)
and
Section
4.2(a) (iii))
shall
not participate in any decisions by the Executive Committee in respect of such
matters and such Executive Committee Members shall be disregard for purposes
of
this Section
4.1(a)
and
Section
4.2(d)(iv)
to the
extent of any Executive Committee meetings or decisions relating to any such
matters. Absent authority granted by the Executive Committee, no Member or
Executive Committee Member shall have the power to act for or on behalf of,
or
to bind, the Company. At each meeting of the Executive Committee, the Executive
Committee shall designate a person to preside over such meeting.
(b) Powers.
The
business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction
of the Executive Committee, except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement. The Executive Committee shall have the power on behalf and in the
name of the Company to carry out any and all of the objectives and purposes
of
the Company contemplated by Section 3.1
and to
perform all acts that the Executive Committee may deem necessary or advisable
in
connection therewith.
(c) Composition
of the Executive
Committee and Appointment of Executive Committee Members.
The
Executive Committee shall consist of four members, two of whom shall be
appointed by the Class A Members (the “Class
A Executive Committee Members”),
and
two of whom shall be appointed by the Class B Members (the “Class
B Executive Committee Members”).
In
addition, the Class A Members and the Class B Members may appoint one or more
alternates for the Class A Executive Committee Members and the Class B Executive
Committee Members, respectively, and each such alternate shall have all of
the
powers of a Executive Committee Member in such Executive Committee Member’s
absence or inability to
12
serve.
The Class A Members shall have the power to remove any Class A Executive
Committee Member, and the Class B Members shall have the power to remove any
Class B Executive Committee Member. Any vacancy on the Executive Committee
shall
be filled by the Class A Members if the vacancy shall be in respect of a Class
A
Executive Committee Member, or by the Class B Members if the vacancy shall
be in
respect of a Class B Executive Committee Member. The Class A Members shall
notify the Class B Members, and the Class B Members shall notify the Class
A
Members, of their respective appointments or removals of Executive Committee
Members as provided in this Section
4.1(c).
In
addition to the Executive Committee Members, the Class A Members and the Class
B
Members shall each be entitled to appoint one individual who shall be entitled
to attend each meeting of the Executive Committee and receive all notices and
other information provided to the Executive Committee Members, but no such
observer shall be entitled to any other rights or privileges granted to the
Executive Committee Members hereunder or pursuant hereto. The Class A Members
and the Class B Members shall be entitled to remove and replace their respective
Executive Committee observers from time to time. The Class A Members shall
notify the Class B Members, and the Class B Members shall notify the Class
A
Members, of their respective appointments or removals of their Executive
Committee observers as provided in this Section
4.1(c).
(d) Meetings
of the Executive Committee.
Regular
meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held at least four times in each
Fiscal Year and may be held at such place, within or without the State of
Delaware, as shall from time to time be determined by unanimous consent of
the
Executive Committee. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called
by or at the request of any Executive Committee Member. Notice of each such
regular or special meeting shall be mailed to each Executive Committee Member,
addressed to such Executive Committee Member at his or her residence or usual
place of business, at least five days before the date on which the meeting
is to
be held, or shall be sent to such Executive Committee Member at such place
by
personal delivery, telephone, electronic mail or telecopier, not later than
five
days (or, in the case of meetings held by telephone, one day) before the day
on
which such meeting is to be held. Each such notice shall state the time and
place of the meeting and, as may be required, the purposes thereof.
(i) Any
Executive Committee Member who is present at a meeting shall be conclusively
presumed to
have
waived notice of such meeting except when such member attends for the express
purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of
any
business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Such Executive
Committee Member shall be conclusively presumed to have assented to any action
taken unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting
or unless his or her written dissent to such action shall be filed with the
person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof
or
shall be forwarded by registered mail to the Managing Member of the Company
immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall
not apply to any Executive Committee Member who voted in favor of such
action.
(ii) Executive
Committee Members may participate in and act at any meeting of the Executive
Committee through the use of a conference telephone or other communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting
13
can
hear
each other, and participation in the meeting pursuant to this Section 4.1(d)
shall
constitute presence in person at the meeting.
(iii) Unless
otherwise restricted by this Agreement or the Act, any action required or
permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Executive Committee may be taken
without a meeting if all the Executive Committee Members consent thereto in
writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings
of the Executive Committee.
(iv) At
each
meeting of the Executive Committee, the presence of at least one Class A
Executive Committee Member and each Class B Executive Committee Member shall
constitute a quorum and be required for the transaction of business, subject
to
the provisions of Section
4.1(a)
in
respect of decisions to be made by the Executive Committee.
(e) Compensation
of Executive Committee Members.
Executive Committee Members shall not receive any compensation from the Company
for their services but may be reimbursed for any expenses related to attendance
at each meeting of the Executive Committee.
4.2 Actions
Requiring Executive Committee Approval
The
following actions by the Company shall require the approval of the Executive
Committee:
(a) commencing,
or any other material action with respect to, a Bankruptcy Event of the Company
or of any Company Subsidiaries;
(b) transferring
any assets of the Company to satisfy any liabilities of any of the Members
or
their respective Affiliates (or any trade or business, whether or not
incorporated, that is treated as a single employer together with such Member
or
its Affiliates (under section 414 of the Code or section 4001(b) of ERISA))
arising from ERISA;
(c) selling,
exchanging, licensing as licensor, leasing as lessor, or disposing of any assets
of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries in excess of $30
million;
(d) engaging
in, or acquiring any material assets related to, any business other than the
business historically conducted by CrossCountry with a value in excess of $30
million, other than assets sold or exchanged in the ordinary
course;
(e) redeeming
any ownership interest in the Company;
(f) making
any non-pro rata distribution
of cash, income, assets or rights to any Member, except to the extent permitted
under this Agreement, and making any other distribution not expressly permitted
by Article VI hereof (other than the distribution contemplated by Section 5.1(c)
of the Redemption Agreement);
(g) entering
into any material transactions (including purchases, sales or leases of assets)
by the Company or any Company Subsidiaries with or for the benefit of a Member
or an Affiliate thereof;
14
(h) incurring
or assuming any Indebtedness by the Company or any Company Subsidiary in excess
of $50 million in the aggregate, excluding the Indebtedness incurred prior
to
the date hereof in connection with the acquisition of the Company Subsidiaries
by the Company;
(i) any
repayment (other than (i) repayments in accordance with scheduled maturity
or
which are otherwise mandatory pursuant to the terms of any document to which
the
Company or a Company
Subsidiary
is a party and (ii) paydowns on any revolving credit facility), voluntary
prepayment or redemption of, or any refinancing or other modification of the
terms of, any indebtedness pertaining to the Company or a Company
Subsidiary;
(j) initiating
any material legal proceedings or arbitration on behalf of the Company or a
Company Subsidiary, or agreeing to the settlement of any claim by or against
the
Company or a Company Subsidiary with respect to claims in excess of $3 million,
or which includes requests for any material injunction, specific performance
or
other equitable relief;
provided, however, that if the vote of the Executive Committee results in a
tie,
the Class A Executive Committee Members shall prevail on any such votes relating
solely to any Company Subsidiary (other than Transwestern), or any entity owned
by Citrus Corp. and the Class B Executive Committee Members shall prevail on
any
such votes relating solely to Transwestern;
(k) entering
into any confession of a judgment
in excess of $3 million against the Company or a Company Subsidiary; provided,
however, that if the vote of the Executive Committee results in a tie, the
Class
A Executive Committee Members shall prevail on any such votes relating solely
to
any Company Subsidiary (other than Transwestern), or any entity owned by Citrus
Corp. and the Class B Executive Committee Members shall prevail on any such
votes relating solely to Transwestern;
(l) adopting
each annual budget for the Company and each Company Subsidiary, and any
amendment or other modification to any such budget; provided,
that if
the Executive Committee is unable to agree on the annual budget for any year
for
the Company or any Company Subsidiary, the Company or such Company Subsidiary,
as the case may be, shall adopt an annual budget equal to the annual budget
in
effect in the immediately preceding year, subject to the discretion of the
Managing Member to increase one or more line items by not more than 5% (and
subject to the limitation that the budgeted EBITDA for the new year shall not
be
less than 90% of the budgeted EBITDA for the preceding year);
(m) the
making of any Rate Filing or any Material Regulatory Filing with any
Governmental Authority by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, except to
the
extent such filing is required to be made by applicable law; provided, however,
that if the vote of the Executive Committee results in a tie, the Class A
Executive Committee Members shall prevail on any such votes relating solely
to
any Company Subsidiary (other than Transwestern) or any entity owned by Citrus
Corp. and the Class B Executive Committee Members shall prevail on any such
votes relating solely to Transwestern;
(n) implementing
any material change in accounting policies or practices in respect of the
Company or any Company Subsidiary, in each case except to the extent that such
change is required to be made by GAAP or applicable law, or terminating the
engagement of the Company’s principal independent auditors; and
15
(o) the
entry
into any new line of business by the Company.
4.3 Management
of the Company.
(a) Managing
Member.
Day-to-day management of the Company in accordance with the polices established,
and direction given, by the Executive Committee from time to time, and subject
to the limitations provided elsewhere in this Agreement, shall be the
responsibility of a managing Member (the “Managing
Member”).
In
addition, the Managing Member shall provide to any Executive Committee Member
such additional information as such Executive Committee Member may reasonably
request from time to time to the extent that (i) such requested information
relates to the operation of the Company or any Company Subsidiary and (ii)
the
Managing Member has such information or can acquire it without unreasonable
effort. Subject to the next following sentence, the Managing Member shall be
CCE. If at any time (x) CCE and its Affiliates shall cease to hold at least
80%
of the Class A Membership Interests, or (y) CCE or any of its Affiliates that
is
a Member shall breach in any material respect any of its obligations under
this
Agreement, Members holding not less than a majority of the Class B Membership
Interests (taking into the account the provisions of Section
4.4(a)(iii))
shall
have the right (but not the obligation) to designate a replacement Managing
Member by written notice to CCE, which replacement shall be effective
immediately or at such other time as shall be specified in such written notice
to CCE. In the case of any such replacement, CCE shall cooperate fully in the
transition to such new Managing Member.
(b) Administrative
Services Agreement.
Simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, the Company shall enter
into the Administrative Services Agreement with the Administrative Services
Provider. Subject to the next following sentence, the Administrative Services
Provider shall be an Affiliate of CCE that is designated by CCE and is qualified
to perform the duties required of it under the Administrative Services
Agreement. Members holding not less than a majority of the Class B Membership
Interests shall have the right (but not the obligation) to designate a
replacement Administrative Services Provider (that may be an Affiliate of ETP)
by written notice to CCE and the then current Administrative Services Provider,
which replacement shall be effective immediately or at such other time as shall
be specified in such written notice to CCE and the Administrative Services
Provider, (i)
upon
the Administrative Service Provider’s material breach of its obligations under
the Administrative Services Agreement, and the Administrative Service Provider’s
failure to cure such breach within 60 days following the Administrative Service
Provider’s receipt of written notice from the Company setting forth in
reasonable detail the relevant conduct or failure, (ii) upon any of the
representations and warranties of the Administrative Service Provider contained
in the Administrative Services Agreement proving to be materially false,
incomplete or misleading, and not reasonably subject to cure in a manner that
will result in no material harm to the Company, (iii)
upon the Administrative Service Provider committing a material violation of
any
law applicable to Company or any Company Subsidiary,
(iv)
if
SUG,
or its Affiliates, cease to own beneficially at least a majority of the Class
A
Membership Interests
or (v)
in the event of a failure by the Company or any Company Subsidiary to pay
principal or interest as and when due under any credit facility (subject to
applicable grace periods). It
is
expressly understood and agreed that the foregoing provisions shall be in
addition to, and shall not otherwise limit, any other remedies that may be
available to the Company or any other Member (other than CCE or any of its
Affiliates) upon any breach of the Administrative Services Agreement by the
16
Administrative
Services Provider, CCE or any of its Affiliates. In the case of any such
replacement, CCE shall cause its Affiliate Administrative Services Provider
to
cooperate fully in the transition to such new Administrative Services Provider.
(c) Transwestern
Matters.
At the
request of the Class B Member, representatives of the Managing Member and the
Class B Member shall meet weekly. During such meetings, the Class B Member
shall
be entitled to provide guidance to the Managing Member with respect to material
decisions involving, or otherwise relating to, Transwestern, including decisions
with respect to commercial, financial, regulatory, operational and other general
policy matters involving, or otherwise relating to, Transwestern.
4.4 Member
Rights and Obligations.
(a) Voting
Rights.
Except
as provided in this Agreement or as otherwise required by applicable
law;
(i) the
Class
A Members and the Class B Members shall vote together without distinction as
to
class, and any action requiring the approval of the Members shall require the
affirmative vote of the Class A Members and Class B Members holding a
majority of the Class A Membership Interests and the Class B
Membership Interests;
(ii) all
actions requiring the approval of the Class A Members, and unless expressly
provided otherwise, all other actions to be taken by the Class A Members
(including, without limitation, any direction to be given to the Executive
Committee Members appointed by the Class A Members),shall require the
affirmative vote of Members holding a majority of the Class A Membership
Interests; provided,
however,
that in
the case of any vote by the Class A Members,
whether
pursuant to this Section or any other provision of this Agreement, ETP
and
any of its Affiliates holding any Class A Membership Interests shall not be
entitled to participate in such vote and the Class A Membership Interests held
by them shall be disregarded for all purposes of such vote; and
(iii) all
actions requiring the approval of the Class B Members, and unless expressly
provided otherwise, all other actions to be taken by the Class B Members
(including, without limitation, any direction to be given to the Executive
Committee Members appointed by the Class B Members), shall require the
affirmative vote of Members holding a majority of the Class B Membership
Interests; provided,
however,
that in
the case of any vote by the Class B Members, whether pursuant to this Section
or
any other provision of this Agreement, CCE and any of its Affiliates holding
any
Class B Membership Interests shall not be entitled to participate in such vote
and the Class B Membership Interests held by them shall be disregarded for
all
purposes of such vote.
(b) Actions
Requiring Unanimous Approval of Members.
The
following actions by the Company shall require the unanimous approval of all
of
the Members:
(i) amending
the Certificate or this Agreement;
17
(ii) requiring
any Member to contribute additional capital; and
(iii) issuing
any Membership Interests or other equity securities of the Company to any
Member.
(c) Actions
Requiring Approval of Two-Thirds of Class A Members and Class B
Members.
The
following actions by the Company shall require the approval of Members holding
at least two-thirds of the Class A Membership Interests and Members holding
at
least two-thirds of the Class B Membership Interests:
(i) dissolving,
terminating or liquidating the Company or any Company Subsidiary;
(ii) selling
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary;
and
(iii) merging,
consolidating or changing the form of entity of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary, whether or not involving a change of control.
(d) Members’
Meetings.
Meetings of the Members may be called from time to time by the affirmative
vote
of the Executive Committee Members or upon written request of any Member having
an Aggregate Percentage of not less than 20% delivered
to any member of the Executive Committee. If action is to be taken at a duly
called meeting of the Members, notice of the time, date and place of meeting
shall be given by the Managing Member, at the direction of the Executive
Committee, to each other Member by personal delivery, telephone, electronic
mail
or telecopier sent to the address of each Member set forth on Exhibit
A
at least
five business days in advance of the meeting; provided,
however,
that no
notice need be given to a Member who waives notice before or after the meeting
or who attends the meeting without protesting at or before its commencement
the
inadequacy of notice to such Member. The Members may attend a meeting in person
or by proxy. Meetings of the Members shall be held at the Company’s principal
place of business during normal business hours, or at such other place and
time
as unanimously agreed by the Members; provided,
however,
that
the Members may participate in and act at any meeting of the Members through
the
use of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of
which all individuals participating in the meeting can hear each other, and
such
participation in the meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Members
may
be taken without a meeting if one or more written consents to such action shall
be signed by Members whose affirmative vote at a meeting would be sufficient
to
approve such action. Such written consents shall be delivered to the principal
office of the Company and, unless otherwise specified, shall be effective on
the
date when the first consent is delivered.
(e) Limitation
of Authority.
Except
in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, no Member shall have any
right or authority to act for or bind the Company.
4.5 Limitation
of Liability.
No
Member, Managing Member, Executive Committee Member or any Affiliate, agent,
officer, partner, employee, member, representative, director or shareholder
of
any of the foregoing shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages
or
otherwise to the Company or any Member for (i) any act performed in good faith
within the
18
scope
of
the authority conferred by this Agreement, (ii) any failure or refusal to
perform any acts except those required by the terms of this Agreement or (iii)
any performance or omission to perform any acts in reliance in good faith on
the
advice of independent accountants or legal counsel for the Company.
4.6 Indemnification.
In any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding to which a Member,
Managing Member, Executive Committee Member or any Affiliate, agent, officer,
partner, employee, member, representative, director or shareholder of any of
the
foregoing was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party by reason of
the
fact that such Person is or was acting on behalf of the Company (other than
an
action by or in the right of the Company), the Company shall indemnify such
Member, Managing Member, Executive Committee Member or any Affiliate, agent,
officer, partner, employee, member, representative, director or shareholder
of
any of the foregoing against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such Person
in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding to the maximum extent permitted
by applicable law, provided
that
such Person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in
or
not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and that the conduct giving
rise to the liability for which indemnification is sought does not constitute
fraud, gross negligence or gross misconduct.
ARTICLE
V.
CONTRIBUTIONS
5.1 Capital
Contribution.
Unless
unanimously agreed to by the Members in writing, no Member shall be required
to
make additional Capital Contributions to the Company. In addition, no Member
shall be allowed to make additional Capital Contributions to the Company without
the approval of CCE (but only so long as it shall be a Member) and of ETP (but
only so long as it shall be a Member).
5.2 No
Right to Interest or Return of Capital.
Except
as set forth herein, no Member shall be entitled to any return of, or interest
on, Capital Contributions to the Company. No Member shall have any liability
for
the return of the Capital Contribution of any other Member and each Member
shall
look only to the assets of the Company for return of its Capital
Contribution.
5.3 No
Third Party Rights.
The
obligations or rights of the Company or the Members to make any Capital
Contribution under this Article
V
shall
not grant any rights to or confer any benefits upon any Person who is not a
Member.
ARTICLE
VI.
DISTRIBUTIONS
6.1 Cash
Flow.
Subject
to Sections
6.2,
6.3
and
11.2,
Cash
Flow shall be distributed at such times as shall be determined by the
affirmative vote of the Executive Committee to each Class A Member and Class
B
Member in proportion to their respective Aggregate Percentage Interests.
Distributions to each Member shall be sent via wire transfer to such account
identified by such respective Member in writing to the Managing Member from
time
to time.
19
6.2 Amounts
Withheld for Taxes.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Company
is required to pay, with respect to or on behalf of any Member or any other
Person, any amount required to be withheld by the Company in respect of taxes
based on or measured by income under federal, state, or local law or any
estimated tax or similar amount, such Member or other Person shall, upon demand
of the Company, promptly reimburse the Company for such amount. To the extent
that such Member or other Person has not so reimbursed the Company, any and
all
amounts so paid by the Company may be withheld from and offset against
distributions to such Member or other Person and shall be considered for all
purposes of this Agreement to have been distributed to such Member or other
Person pursuant to this Article VI.
6.3 Minimum
Distribution for Taxes.
To the
extent permitted by applicable Credit Facilities and other obligations of the
Company, the Company shall distribute in accordance with Section
6.1,
with
respect to each Fiscal Year and during the period commencing on the first day
of
such Fiscal Year and ending on the 15th day of the third month following the
end
of such Fiscal Year, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) (i) the Company's
Cash
Flow for such Fiscal Year less (ii) the aggregate amount of all quarterly
distributions of Cash Flow previously made during such Fiscal Year and (b)
40%
(or such other percentage as may be determined by the Executive Committee)
of
the taxable income of the Company for such Fiscal Year. For purposes of this
Section 6.3, the taxable income of the Company for each Fiscal Year shall be
computed as though the Company were a corporation which did not file
consolidated Federal income tax returns, as though such corporation did not
make
any of the elections specified in Code Section 703(b), as though Code Section
243(a)(1) and Code Section 243(c) (if applicable), rather than Code Section
243(a)(3), applied to "qualifying dividends" (as defined in Code Section
243(b)(1)), without regard to any carryover or carryback of any net operating
loss, capital loss, investment credit, unused foreign tax, excess charitable
contribution, passive loss or credit, or other item from any other year, and
without regard to the provisions of Code Section 703(a).
ARTICLE
VII.
ALLOCATIONS
7.1 Book
Allocations.
Sections
7.1(a)
and
(b)
set
forth the general rules for book allocations to the Members. Section
7.1(c)
sets
forth various special rules that supercede the general rules of Sections
7.1(a)
and
(b).
(a) Profit.
Profits
for each Fiscal Year shall be allocated to the Members in the following order
of
priority:
(i) first,
each
Class A Member and Class B Member shall be allocated Profits (in proportion
to
the aggregate Losses allocated to such Members under Section
7.1(b)(ii)
for all
Fiscal Years) until the aggregate allocations made to each Class A Member and
Class B Member pursuant to this Section
7.1(a)(i)
is equal
to the aggregate Losses allocated to the Member pursuant to Section
7.1(b)(ii)
for all
Fiscal Years; and
(ii) thereafter,
each
Class A Member and each Class B Member shall be allocated Profits in proportion
to its Aggregate Percentage Interests.
20
(b) Losses.
Losses
for each Fiscal Year shall be allocated to the Members in the following order
of
priority:
(i) first,
to the
Class A Members and Class B Members, if any, having positive balances in their
Adjusted Capital Accounts, in proportion to and to the extent of, such positive
balances; and
(ii) thereafter,
to the
Class A Members and Class B Members in proportion to their Aggregate Percentage
Interests.
(c) Special
Rules.
Notwithstanding Sections
7.1(a)
and
(b),
the
following special allocation rules shall apply under the circumstances
described:
(i) Limitation
on Loss Allocations.
The
Losses allocated to any Member pursuant to Section
7.1(b)
with
respect to any Fiscal Year shall not exceed the maximum amount of Losses that
can be so allocated without causing such Member to have an Adjusted Capital
Account Deficit at the end of such Fiscal Year. All items of loss or deduction
in excess of the limitation set forth in this Section
7.1(c)(i)
shall be
allocated first, to the Member who will not be subject to this limitation,
and
second, any remaining amount to the Members in the manner required by the Code
and the Regulations. To the extent that items of loss and deduction are
allocated pursuant to this Section
7.1(c)(i)
to a
Member, such Member shall be allocated a corresponding amount of income and
gain
as may be available in the earliest subsequent Fiscal Year to offset such
allocation of loss and deduction.
(ii) Company
Minimum Gain.
Except
as otherwise provided in Regulations Section 1.704-2(f), if there is a net
decrease in Company Minimum Gain during any Company taxable period, each Member
shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for such period
(and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in proportion to and to the extent
of,
an amount equal to the portion of such Member’s share of the net decrease in
Company Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with Regulations Section
1.704-2(g). This Section
7.1(c)(ii)
is
intended to comply with the charge back of items of income and gain requirement
in Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently
therewith.
(iii) Minimum
Gain Attributable to Member Nonrecourse Debt.
Except
as otherwise provided in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4), if there is a net
decrease in Minimum Gain Attributable to Member Nonrecourse Debt during any
Company taxable period, each Member with a share of Minimum Gain Attributable
to
Member Nonrecourse Debt shall be specially allocated items of Company income
and
gain for such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in proportion
to,
and to the extent of, an amount equal to the portion of such Member’s share of
the net decrease in the Minimum Gain Attributable to Member Nonrecourse Debt,
determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4). This
Section
7.1(c)(iii)
is
intended to comply with the charge back of items of income and gain requirement
in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently
therewith.
21
(iv) Qualified
Income Offset.
In the
event any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or
distributions described in Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4),(5)
or
(6), and such adjustment, allocation or distribution causes or increases an
Adjusted Capital Account Deficit for such Member, then before any other
allocations are made under this Agreement or otherwise, such Member shall be
allocated items of Company income and gain (consisting of a pro rata portion
of
each item of Company income, including gross income and gain) in an amount
and
manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Regulations,
such
Adjusted Capital Account Deficit of such Member as quickly as
possible.
(v) Nonrecourse
Deductions.
Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated to the Members
in the same ratios that Profit is allocated for the taxable year in accordance
with Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(1). If the Executive Committee determines
in
its good faith discretion that the Nonrecourse Deductions must be allocated
in a
different ratio to satisfy the safe harbor requirements of the Regulations
promulgated under Section 704(b) of the Code, the Executive Committee is
authorized to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest ratio
that
does satisfy such requirements.
(vi) Member
Nonrecourse Deductions.
Member
Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the
Member that bears the economic risk of loss (as described in Regulations Section
1.704-2(b) with respect to the Member Nonrecourse Debt to which such Member
Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Regulations Section
1.704-2(i)). If more than one Member bears the economic risk of loss with
respect to a Member Nonrecourse Debt, such Member Nonrecourse Deductions
attributable thereto shall be allocated between or among such Members in
accordance with the ratios in which they share such economic risk of
loss.
(vii) Curative
Allocations.
The
allocations set forth in Sections
7.1(c)(i)
through
7.1(c)(vi)
(the
“Regulatory
Allocations”)
are
intended to comply with certain requirements of Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)
and 1.704-2(b). Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section
7.1(c)
(other
than the Regulatory Allocations), the 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 Regulatory Allocations (including anticipated future
Regulatory Allocations) to each Member shall be equal to the net amount that
would have been allocated to such Member if the Regulatory Allocations had
not
occurred.
(viii) Change
in Regulations.
If the
Regulations incorporating the Regulatory Allocations are hereafter changed
or if
new Regulations are hereafter adopted, and such changed or new Regulations,
in
the opinion of independent tax counsel for the Company, make it necessary to
revise the Regulatory Allocations or provide further special allocation rules
in
order to avoid a significant risk that a material portion of any allocation
set
forth in this Article VII would not be respected for federal income tax
purposes, the Executive Committee shall make such reasonable amendments to
this
22
Agreement
as, in the opinion of such counsel, are necessary or desirable, taking into
account the interests of the Members as a whole and all other relevant factors,
to avoid or reduce significantly such risk to the extent possible without
materially changing the amounts allocable and distributable to any Member,
pursuant to this Agreement.
(ix) Non-Recourse
Liabilities.
“Excess
non-recourse liabilities” of the Company within the meaning of Regulations
Section 1.752-3(a)(3) shall be allocated in the same ratio that Profit is
allocated for the taxable year.
7.2 Tax
Allocations.
(a) In
General.
Allocations for tax purposes of items of income, gain, loss, deduction and
basis
therefor, shall be made in the same manner as allocations for book purposes
set
forth in Section
7.1.
Allocations pursuant to this Section
7.2
are
solely for purposes of federal, state and local income taxes and shall not
affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Member’s Capital
Account or share of Profits, Losses, other items or distributions pursuant
to
any provision of this Agreement.
(b) Special
Rules.
(i) Elimination
of Book/Tax Disparities.
In
determining a Member’s allocable share of Company taxable income, the Member’s
allocable share of each item of Profit and Loss shall be properly adjusted
to
reflect the rules and principles of Code Section 704(c) and Regulations Section
1.704-3. This Section
7.2(b)(i)
is
intended to comply with the requirements of Code Section 704(c) and Regulations
Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(d) and (f) and shall be interpreted consistently
therewith. Any elections or other decisions relating to such allocations shall
be made by the Members in any manner that reasonably reflects the purpose and
intention of this Agreement.
(ii) Allocation
of Items Among Members.
Except
as otherwise provided in Section
7.2(b)(i),
each
item of income, gain, loss and deduction and all other items governed by Code
Section 702(a) shall be allocated among the Members in proportion to the
allocation of Profits, Losses and other items to the Members hereunder,
provided
that any
gain recognized from any disposition of a Company asset that is treated as
ordinary income because it is attributable to the recapture of any depreciation
or amortization shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with
Regulations Section 1.1245-1(e), if applicable, or with any other applicable
provision of the Regulations and, if no such provision is applicable, in the
same ratio as the prior allocations of Profits and Losses and other items that
included such depreciation or amortization, but not in excess of the gain
otherwise allocable to each Member.
(c) Conformity
of Reporting.
The
Members are aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made by
this
Section
7.2
and
hereby agree to be bound by the provisions of this Section
7.2
in
reporting their shares of Company profits, gains, income, losses, deductions,
credits and other items for income tax purposes.
7.3 Transferred
Interests.
If any
Membership Interest (or portion thereof) is sold, assigned or transferred during
any Fiscal Year, then Profit, Loss, each item thereof and all other
23
items
realized by the Company during such Fiscal Year shall be divided and allocated
between the Members by taking into account their varying interests during the
Fiscal Year in accordance with Code Section 706(d), using any conventions
permitted by law and selected by the Members.
7.4 Section
754 Election.
In the
event of a Transfer of a Membership Interest permitted under this Agreement,
the
Company shall, at the request of the transferee Member, file an election under
Section 754 of the Code to adjust the basis of the assets of the Company in
accordance with the provisions of Section 743 of the Code. Any costs associated
with such election (such as accounting fees) shall be borne by the transferee
Member.
7.5 Tax
Matters Member.
(a) For
purposes of Code Sections 6221 through 6223, the Managing Member from time
to
time shall also be, and is hereby designated as, the “tax matters partner” of
the Company (the “Tax
Matters Member”).
(b) The
Tax
Matters Member shall make an election under Code Section 6231(a)(i)(B)(ii)
with
the Company’s first tax return to be filed after the effective date of this
Agreement to have Code Sections 6221 to 6234, inclusive, apply to the
Company.
(c) The
Tax
Matters Member shall, within ten days (or such shorter period of time as is
reasonably practicable) of the receipt of any notice from the Internal Revenue
Service in any administrative proceeding at the Company level relating to the
determination of any Company item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit,
deliver a copy of such notice to each Member. The Tax Matters Member shall
cooperate with any Member, and shall take such action as may be required to
be
taken by the Tax Matters Member, to cause such Member to become a “notice
partner” within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(8) of the Code. The Tax Matters
Member shall inform each Member of all significant matters that may come to
its
attention in its capacity as Tax Matters Member by giving written notice thereof
within 10 business days (or such shorter period of time as is reasonably
practicable) after becoming aware thereof and, within that time, shall forward
to each other Member copies of all significant written communications it may
receive in its capacity as Tax Matters Member.
(d) The
Tax
Matters Member shall not take any action that may be taken by a “tax matters
partner” under Code Section 6221 through 6234 unless (i) it has first given the
other Members written notice of the contemplated action at least ten business
days prior to the applicable due date of such action and (ii) it has received
the unanimous written consent of the other Members to such contemplated action;
provided,
however,
that
unless the Tax Matters Member is notified otherwise no later than two business
days prior to any date by which the Tax Matters Member must act as set forth
in
any notice received from the Internal Revenue Service, the Code or the
regulations promulgated thereunder, such other Members shall be deemed to have
given their consent.
(e) At
least
20 days prior to the due date for the filing of any federal income tax return
of
the Company, the Tax Matters Member shall provide a proposed draft of such
return to the Members for their approval. If the Members approve such return,
the return shall be filed as approved. Failure to provide the Tax Matters Member
with written notice that the
24
Members
do not approve such return within 10 days from the receipt thereof by the
Members shall be deemed approval by the Members. In the event the Members do
not
approve such return, and the Members and Tax Matters Member are otherwise unable
to resolve their differences with regard to such return, the matter shall be
submitted to an independent, nationally recognized accounting firm, the decision
of which shall be final. The cost of retaining such accounting firm with respect
to resolving such dispute shall be borne by the Company. The Tax Matters Member
shall provide a draft or final copy of any tax return to a Member upon written
request by such Member.
(f) Without
limiting and in addition to the foregoing, for tax proceedings, matters and
claims in excess of $3 million, the Tax Matters Member shall not initiate any
legal or administrative proceedings on behalf of the Company or a Company
Subsidiary in respect of or relating to any tax proceedings or other tax
matters, or agree to the settlement of any claims in respect of or relating
to
any tax proceedings or other tax matters, without first consulting with the
Executive Committee a reasonable period of time prior to taking any such
action.
ARTICLE
VIII.
TRANSFER/ADMISSION
MATTERS
8.1 Transfer
Restrictions.
ETP,
CCE and any other Person holding, directly or indirectly, a Class A Membership
Interest or Class B Membership Interest may Transfer all or any portion of
its
Membership Interest only in accordance with the provisions of this Article
VIII;
provided,
that
ETP, CCE and any other Person holding, directly or indirectly, a Class A
Membership Interest or Class B Membership Interest may Transfer all or any
portion of its Membership Interest to an Affiliate with prior notice to the
Executive Committee and upon satisfaction of the provisions of Section
8.3.
Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, no Class A Member may
Transfer any Membership Interest to any person that is a Class A Prohibited
Transferee and no Class B Member may Transfer any Membership Interest to any
person that is a Class B Prohibited Transferee.
8.2 Right
of First Offer.
If any
Class A Member or Class B Member (a “Transferring
Member”)
desires to Transfer all or any portion of its Class A Membership Interest or
Class B Membership Interest, as applicable (the “Specified
Interest”),
to
any Third Party Purchaser, such Transferring Member shall first give notice
thereof (the “Offer
Notice”)
to the
other Class A Members and Class B Members (the “Non-Transferring
Members”),
specifying the price (the “Specified
Price”)
and
other terms (the “Specified
Terms”)
at and
on which such Transferring Member is willing to sell the Specified Interest.
The
delivery of the Offer Notice by the Transferring Member to the Non-Transferring
Members shall constitute an offer by the Transferring Member to negotiate in
good faith to sell to the Non-Transferring Members the Specified Interest at
the
Specified Price upon the Specified Terms. The Non-Transferring Members shall
each have 30 Business Days (the “Acceptance
Period”)
from
and including the date it receives the Offer Notice to accept such offer, which
acceptance shall be in the form of a written notice (the “Acceptance
Notice”)
to the
Transferring Member. Each Non-Transferring Member wishing to accept such offer
(each, an “Accepting
Member”)
shall
thereafter negotiate in good faith with the Transferring Member. If more than
one Non-Transferring Member shall wish to purchase the Specified Interest,
each
such Non-Transferring Member shall be entitled to purchase a proportionate
share
of the Specified Interest on the basis of its Aggregate Percentage
25
Interest.
If the Accepting Member(s) and the Transferring Member fail to execute a
definitive purchase agreement within 30 Business Days following receipt by
the
Transferring Member of the applicable Acceptance Notice(s), or if the sale
of
the Specified Interest to the Non-Transferring Member(s) is not consummated
within 60 days following such receipt of the Acceptance Notice, the offer set
forth in this Section
8.2
shall
then automatically expire, and such Transferring Member may Transfer the
Specified Interest, subject to the other terms of this Agreement, for a price
and on terms and conditions substantially no more favorable to the purchaser
than those offered by the Transferring Member; provided,
however,
that if
the Transferring Member shall fail to sell the Specified Interest or any portion
thereof within 180 days from such expiration, the Specified Interest or such
non-transferred portion of the Specified Interest shall again be subject to
the
right of first offer contained in this Section
8.2.
8.3 Transfer
Requirements.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company shall
not
recognize for any purpose any purported Transfer of all or any portion of a
Member’s Membership Interest unless:
(a) the
Company shall have been furnished with the documents effecting such Transfer
executed and acknowledged by both transferor and transferee, together the
written agreement of the transferee to become a party to and be bound by this
Agreement, which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the
Executive Committee;
(b) such
Transfer shall have been made in accordance with all applicable laws and
regulations and all necessary governmental consents shall have been obtained
and
requirements satisfied, including without limitation, compliance with the
Securities Act, and applicable state blue sky and securities laws, and such
Transfer will not cause the Company to breach or violate any applicable
law;
(c) such
Transfer will not cause the Company to have more than 100 partners (within
the
meaning of Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)) or does not otherwise cause the
Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of
Section 7704 of the Code;
(d) such
Transfer will not result in a termination of the Company for purposes of Section
708 of the Code ;
(e) all
necessary instruments reflecting such admission shall have been filed in each
jurisdiction in which such filing is necessary in order to qualify the Company
to conduct business or to preserve the limited liability of the Members;
and
(f) such
Transfer will not result in the occurrence of an event of default or similar
occurrence (whether immediately or with the giving of notice, the passage of
time or both) under the terms of any of the Credit Facilities;
provided,
however, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.3 shall not apply
to
the Transfers contemplated by the Redemption Agreement.
The
Executive Committee may request an opinion of counsel (which counsel shall
be
chosen by the non-transferring Member but shall be reasonably satisfactory
to
the transferee Member) with
26
respect
to any of the foregoing or any other matters that the Executive Committee
reasonably deems appropriate in respect of any such Transfer. In addition,
the
Executive Committee, upon unanimous consent, may waive any of the foregoing
provisions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Transferring Member need not comply
with Section
8.3(d)
if such
Transferring Member indemnifies each other Member in a manner and amount
reasonably satisfactory to each such other Member for any adverse tax effects
that would result from such termination.
8.4 Admission
of a Member.
A
Person may be admitted as Class A Member or a Class B Member upon satisfaction
of the relevant requirements of this Article
VIII
or with
the unanimous written consent of the Class A Members and the Class B Members.
Upon such admission, such Member shall be designated as either a Class A Member
or a Class B Member, and the Managing Member shall amend Exhibit
A
appropriately to reflect the admission of such Person as a Member.
8.5 Cooperation
by Members.
If any
Member wishes to Transfer all or a portion of its Membership Interest in
accordance with the provisions of this Article VIII, each other Member shall
use
its reasonable efforts to assist the Member seeking to make such Transfer as
such Member may reasonably request.
ARTICLE
IX.
BOOKS
AND RECORDS; BANK ACCOUNTS
9.1 Books
and Records.
The
books and records of the Company shall, at the cost and expense of the Company,
be kept or caused to be kept by the Managing Member at the principal place
of
business of the Company. Such books and records will be kept on the basis of
a
calendar year, and will reflect all Company transactions and be appropriate
and
adequate for conducting the Company’s business. By February 28 of each year, the
Tax Matters Member shall provide each Member of Holdings with an estimate of
its
allocable share of the preceding year’s taxable income, loss, credit and certain
other information necessary for the Members to file a complete tax
return.
9.2 Reporting
Requirements.
(a) Members
Holding 5% Membership Interests.
The
Managing Member shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, and shall deliver a
financial report (audited in the case of a report sent as of the end of a Fiscal
Year and unaudited in the case of a report sent as of the end of a quarter)
to
each holder of 5% or more of the outstanding Class A Membership Interests and
to
each holder of 5% or more of the outstanding Class B Membership Interests within
120 days after the end of each Fiscal Year (commencing after the date of this
Agreement) and 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of
each
Fiscal Year (commencing with the first full quarter after the date of this
Agreement), setting forth for such Fiscal Year or quarter:
(i) the
assets and liabilities of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, on a
consolidated and consolidating basis, as of the end of such Fiscal Year or
quarter;
(ii) the
net
profit or net loss of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, on a
consolidated and consolidating basis, for such Fiscal Year or quarter;
27
(iii) the
cash
flows of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, on a consolidated and
consolidating basis, for such Fiscal Year or quarter; and
(iv) in
the
case of a Fiscal Year only, such Class A Member’s or such Class B Member’s
closing Capital Account balance as of the end of such Fiscal Year.
(b) Members
Holding 20% Membership Interests.
The
Managing Member shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, and shall deliver to
each Member holding 20% or more of the outstanding Class A Membership Interests
and to each Member holding 20% or more of the outstanding Class B Membership
Interests as promptly as practicable such information regarding the Company
and
each Company Subsidiary as such Member shall reasonably request.
9.3 Bank
Accounts.
All
funds of the Company will be deposited in its name in an account or accounts
maintained with such bank or banks selected by the Executive Committee. The
funds of the Company will not be commingled with the funds of any other Person.
Checks will be drawn upon the Company account or accounts only for the purposes
of the Company and shall be signed by authorized representatives of the
Company.
ARTICLE
X.
DISSOLUTION
AND LIQUIDATION
10.1 Dissolution.
The
Company shall be dissolved upon the approval of the Members required by
Section
4.4(c)(i).
10.2 Distribution
on Dissolution.
(a) Upon
dissolution of the Company, no further business shall be conducted except for
the taking of such action as shall be necessary for the winding up of the
affairs of the Company and the distribution of assets pursuant to the provisions
of this Section. So long as it shall then be a Member, CCE shall act as the
Liquidating Trustee. If CCE shall not then be a Member or if it is unable to
act
as Liquidating Trustee, then the Members shall appoint another Liquidating
Trustee. The Liquidating Trustee shall have full authority to wind up the
affairs of the Company and to make distributions provided herein.
(b) Upon
dissolution of the Company, the Liquidating Trustee shall either sell the assets
of the Company at the best price available, or the Liquidating Trustee may
distribute to the Members all or any portion of the Company’s assets in kind. If
any assets are to be distributed in kind, the Liquidating Trustee shall
ascertain the fair market value (by appraisal or other reasonable means) of
such
assets, and each Member’s Capital Account shall be charged or credited, as the
case may be, as if such asset had been sold for cash at such fair market value
and the Profit or Loss recognized thereby had been allocated to and among the
Members in accordance with Article VII.
(c) All
assets of the Company shall be applied and distributed in the following
order:
28
(i) first,
to the
payment and discharge of all the Company’s debts and liabilities to creditors,
including liabilities to Members who are creditors, to the extent otherwise
permitted by law;
(ii) second,
to
establish such reserves as the Liquidating Trustee may deem reasonably necessary
(and if the Liquidating Trustee shall be a Member, with the approval of Members
holding at least two-thirds of all Membership Interests) for contingent or
unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the Company; and
(iii) thereafter,
to the
Class A Members and the Class B Members in accordance with Section
6.1.
10.3 Cancellation
of Certificate.
Upon
the completion of the distribution of Company assets as provided in this
Article
X,
the
Company shall be terminated, and the Members shall cause the cancellation of
the
Certificate and all amendments thereto, and shall take such other actions as
may
be necessary or appropriate to terminate the Company.
ARTICLE
XI.
GENERAL
11.1 Title
to Company Property.
All
property owned by the Company, including, whether real or personal, tangible
or
intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Company as an entity, and no
Member, individually, shall have any ownership of such property. The Company
may
hold any of its assets in its own name or in the name of its nominee, which
nominee may be one or more Persons.
11.2 Severability.
Every
provision of this Agreement is intended to be severable. Any provision of this
Agreement which is illegal, invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction will, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such
illegality, invalidity, prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating
or
impairing the remaining provisions hereof or affecting the validity or
enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. If any term or
provision hereof is illegal or invalid for any reason whatsoever, such
illegality or invalidity will not affect the validity of the remainder of this
Agreement.
11.3 Governing
Law.
This
Agreement and rights and obligations of the parties hereto with respect to
the
subject matter hereof will be interpreted and enforced in accordance with,
and
governed exclusively by, the law of the State of Delaware, excluding the
conflicts of law provisions thereof.
11.4 Successors
and Assigns.
This
Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their permitted successors, heirs and assigns.
11.5 Waiver
of Action for Partition.
Each of
the Members irrevocably waives during the term of the Company any right that
he
may have to maintain any action for partition with respect to any property
of
the Company.
29
11.6 Headings.
The
headings of the Articles, Sections and paragraphs of this Agreement have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and do not constitute a part of
this
Agreement.
11.7 Counterparts;
Facsimile.
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties
in separate counterparts, with the same effect as if all parties had signed
the
same documents, each of which will be considered an original, but all such
counterparts together will constitute but one and the same Agreement. Any
facsimile copies hereof or signature hereon shall, for all purposes, be deemed
originals.
11.8 Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect
to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement and the exhibits hereto supersede
all prior written and all prior and contemporaneous oral agreements,
understandings, negotiations and representations between the parties with
respect to such subject matter.
11.9 Amendment.
Except
in the case of a modification of Exhibit
A
to be
made by the Managing Member as expressly contemplated by the terms of this
Agreement, including Section 5.2, this Agreement may be amended only by an
instrument in writing signed by all of the Members. Promptly following any
amendment to this Agreement (including any modification to Exhibit
A
by the
Managing Member), the Managing Member shall provide a true and complete copy
thereof to each other Member.
11.10 Securities
Law Matters.
The
Members agree and acknowledge that their Membership Interests are being acquired
by them for investment purposes only and not with a view to any sale thereof;
that they have had adequate opportunity to obtain from representatives of the
Company and others all information necessary for purposes of evaluating the
merits and risks of holding a Membership Interest; that they are able to bear
the economic risk of holding their Membership Interests hereunder for an
indefinite period; that the Membership Interests are illiquid assets and that
there is no market in which to effectuate a resale thereof or any portion
thereof; and that, in any event, the resale of their Membership Interests cannot
be effectuated except pursuant to compliance with the registration requirements
under the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom.
11.11 Notices.
(a) Each
notice or other communication required or permitted to be given pursuant to
this
Agreement shall be in writing and delivered in person or by first class United
States mail, postage prepaid, to the party to whom addressed or by any
nationally known overnight courier service to the address specified on Exhibit
A
or to such other address as the party may advise the Executive Committee, the
Managing Member and the other Members as its address for notice
hereunder.
(b) All
notices shall be deemed given upon the earlier to occur of: (i) the date of
actual receipt; (ii) the date of refusal of delivery; and (iii) (A) as to hand
delivery, the date of delivery, (B) as to facsimile, when such facsimile is
transmitted to the facsimile number specified herein and the appropriate
confirmation is provided, (C) as to overnight courier service,
30
the
date
following the deposit with the overnight courier service, and (D) as to the
US
Mails, three business days after depositing in the US Mails.
11.12 Construction.
None of
the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or enforceable
by,
any creditors of the Company or other third parties.
11.13 Submission
to Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.
(a) Any
claims or disputes which may arise or result from, or be connected with, this
Agreement, any breach or default hereunder, or the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement, and any and all Actions related to the foregoing shall be filed
and maintained exclusively in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of New York sitting in New York County or the Commercial Division,
Civil Branch, of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New
York
County and any appellate court from any thereof.
(b) The
parties hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, any objection which they may now or hereafter
have
to the laying of venue of any dispute arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement brought
in
any court specified in paragraph (a) above, or any defense of inconvenient
forum
for the maintenance of such dispute. Each of the parties hereto agrees that
a
judgment in any such dispute may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit
on
the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
(c) Each
of
the parties hereto hereby consents to process being served by any party to
this
Agreement in any suit, action or proceeding by the mailing of a copy thereof
in
accordance with the provisions of Section 11.11.
11.14 No
Consequential or Punitive Damages.
No
party hereto (or its Affiliates) shall, under any circumstance, be liable to
any
other party (or its Affiliates) for any consequential, exemplary, special,
incidental or punitive damages claimed by such other party under the terms
of or
due to any breach of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, loss of
revenue or income, cost of capital, or loss of business reputation or
opportunity.
11.15 Waiver.
No
consent or waiver, express or implied, by any Member to or of any breach or
default by any other Member in the performance by such other Member of its
obligations under this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to be a consent
to
or waiver of any other breach or default in the performance by such other Member
of the same or any other obligation of such other Member under this Agreement.
Failure on the part of any Member to complain of any act or failure to act
of
any other Member or to declare any other Member in default, irrespective of
how
long such failure continues, shall not constitute a waiver by such Member of
its
rights under this Agreement.
11.16 Confidentiality.
Each
Member shall hold, and shall cause its Affiliates to hold, in strict confidence,
unless compelled to disclose by judicial or administrative process or by other
requirements of law, the contents of any reports, financial statements, budgets
or other information delivered to any Member pursuant to Section
9.2
(“Confidential
Information),
except
to the extent that such Confidential Information (i) has been or has become
(A)
generally available to the public other than as a result of disclosure by any
party hereunder or an Affiliate
31
of
a
party or (B) available to the public on a non-confidential basis from a source
other than an Affiliate of a party entitled to the protection offered hereby,
or
(ii) is required to be disclosed under applicable law or stock exchange rules;
provided,
however,
the
applicable Member shall use, and shall cause its Affiliates to use, commercially
reasonable efforts to give each other Member prior notice of any such disclosure
in sufficient time to enable each other Member to protect any such information.
However, nothing contained in this Section shall preclude the disclosure of
Confidential Information, on the condition that it remain confidential, to
auditors, attorneys, lenders, financial advisors, members, limited partners
and
other Persons in connection with the performance of their duties as delegated
or
requested by any Member hereof.
11.17 Public
Announcement.
The
Members shall consult with each other before issuing any press release relating
to the Company or the Company Subsidiaries and shall not issue any such press
release or make any such public statement without the prior consent of the
other
Members, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed; provided,
however,
that a
Member may, without consulting with any other Member and without the prior
consent of the other Members, issue such press release or make such public
statement as may, upon the advice of counsel, be required by applicable law
or
stock exchange rules if it has used all reasonable efforts to consult with
the
other Members.
32
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
by
their duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above
written.
CLASS
A MEMBERS
CCE
ACQUISITION, LLC
By:____________________
Name:
Title:
CCEA
CORP.
By:____________________
Name:
Title:
CLASS
B MEMBER
ENERGY
TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
By:
Energy Transfer Partners, GP, L.P.,
its
general partner
By:
Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C.,
its
general partner
By:____________________
Name:
Title:
Signature
Page
Second
Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of CCE Holdings,
LLC
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Pages
|
||
Article
I.
|
DEFINITIONS
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
1
|
1.1
|
Defined
Terms
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
1
|
1.2
|
Interpretive
Matters
....................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
10
|
Article
II.
|
ORGANIZATIONAL
MATTERS
.............................................................................................................................................................................
|
11
|
2.1
|
Formation
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
11
|
2.2
|
Name
.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
11
|
2.3
|
Principal
Place of Business
.......................................................................................................................................................................................
|
11
|
2.4
|
Registered
Office and Agent
....................................................................................................................................................................................
|
11
|
2.5
|
Term
.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
11
|
Article
III.
|
BUSINESS
OF THE COMPANY
..............................................................................................................................................................................
|
12
|
3.1
|
Purpose
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
12
|
Article
IV.
|
MANAGEMENT
OF COMPANY
...........................................................................................................................................................................
|
12
|
4.1
|
Executive
Committee
..................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
12
|
4.2
|
Actions
Requiring Executive Committee Approval
..............................................................................................................................................
|
14
|
4.3
|
Management
of the Company
..................................................................................................................................................................................
|
16
|
4.4
|
Member
Rights and Obligations
..............................................................................................................................................................................
|
17
|
4.5
|
Limitation
of Liability
.................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
18
|
4.6
|
Indemnification
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
19
|
Article
V.
|
CONTRIBUTIONS
......................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
19
|
5.1
|
Capital
Contributions
.................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
19
|
5.2
|
No
Right to Interest or Return of Capital
................................................................................................................................................................
|
19
|
5.3
|
No
Third Party Rights
................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
19
|
Article
VI.
|
DISTRIBUTIONS
........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
19
|
6.1
|
Cash
Flow
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
19
|
6.2
|
Amounts
Whithheld for Taxes
.................................................................................................................................................................................
|
20
|
6.3
|
Minimum
Distribution for Taxes
...............................................................................................................................................................................
|
20
|
Article
VII.
|
ALLOCATIONS
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
20
|
7.1
|
Book
Allocations
........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
20
|
7.2
|
Tax
Allocations
............................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
23
|
7.3
|
Transferred
Interests
..................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
23
|
7.4
|
Section
754 Election
....................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
24
|
i
7.5
|
Tax
Matters Member
..................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
24
|
Article
VIII.
|
TRANSFER/ADMISSION
MATTERS
...................................................................................................................................................................
|
25
|
8.1
|
Transfer
Restrictions
.................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
25
|
8.2
|
Right
of First Offer
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
25
|
8.3
|
Transfer
Requirements
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
|
26
|
8.4
|
Admission
of a Member
...........................................................................................................................................................................................
|
27
|
8.5
|
Cooperation
by Members
.........................................................................................................................................................................................
|
27
|
Article
IX.
|
BOOKS
AND RECORDS; BANK ACCOUNTS
....................................................................................................................................................
|
27
|
9.1
|
Books
and Records
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
27
|
9.2
|
Reporting
Requirements
...........................................................................................................................................................................................
|
27
|
9.3
|
Bank
Accounts
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
28
|
Article
X.
|
DISSOLUTION
AND LIQUIDATION
...................................................................................................................................................................
|
28
|
10.1
|
Dissolution
.................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
28
|
10.2
|
Distribution
on Dissolution
.....................................................................................................................................................................................
|
28
|
10.3
|
Cancellation
of Certificate
........................................................................................................................................................................................
|
29
|
Article
XI.
|
GENERAL
...................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
29
|
11.1
|
Title
to Company Property
......................................................................................................................................................................................
|
29
|
11.2
|
Severability
................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
29
|
11.3
|
Governing
Law
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
29
|
11.4
|
Successors
and Assigns
.........................................................................................................................................................................................
|
29
|
11.5
|
Waiver
of Action for Partition
................................................................................................................................................................................
|
29
|
11.6
|
Headings
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
30
|
11.7
|
Counterparts;
Facsimile
...........................................................................................................................................................................................
|
30
|
11.8
|
Entire
Agreement
......................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
30
|
11.9
|
Amendment
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
30
|
11.10
|
Securities
Law Matters
............................................................................................................................................................................................
|
30
|
11.11
|
Notices
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
30
|
11.12
|
Construction
.............................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
31
|
11.13
|
Submission
to Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process
..............................................................................................................................
|
31
|
11.14
|
No
Consequential or Punitive Damages
...............................................................................................................................................................
|
31
|
11.15
|
Waiver
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
31
|
11.16
|
Confidentiality
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................
|
31
|
11.17
|
Public
Announcement
.............................................................................................................................................................................................
|
32
|
ii