RIDGEWOOD ENERGY A-1 FUND, LLC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT Dated as of March 2, 2009
Exhibit
3.3
RIDGEWOOD
ENERGY A-1 FUND, LLC
Dated
as of March 2, 2009
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
ARTICLE
1.
|
THE
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
|
1
|
|||
Section
1.1.
|
Name
|
1
|
|||
Section
1.2.
|
Registered
Office; Registered Agent, Other Offices
|
1
|
|||
Section
1.3.
|
Purpose
|
1
|
|||
Section
1.4.
|
Powers
|
2
|
|||
Section
1.5.
|
Term
|
3
|
|||
Section
1.6.
|
Power
of Attorney
|
3
|
|||
Section
1.7.
|
Title
to Fund Assets
|
4
|
|||
ARTICLE
2.
|
CAPITALIZATION;
SHARES; ADDITIONAL ISSUANCES OF SHARES
|
5
|
|||
Section
2.1.
|
Capital
Structure Generally; Limited Liability Shares and Investor GP
Shares
|
5 | |||
Section
2.2.
|
Membership
Certificates
|
5
|
|||
Section
2.3.
|
Designations
of Series; Additional Issuances of Shares
|
5
|
|||
ARTICLE
3.
|
PROJECT
ACCOUNTS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; PERCENTAGE INTERESTS
|
5 | |||
Section
3.1.
|
General
|
5
|
|||
Section
3.2.
|
Capital
Accounts
|
6
|
|||
Section
3.3.
|
Deficit
Restoration Obligation of the Manager
|
7
|
|||
ARTICLE
4.
|
ALLOCATION
OF NET PROFITS AND NET LOSSES
|
7
|
|||
Section
4.1.
|
Net
Profits from Operations
|
7
|
|||
Section
4.2.
|
Net
Losses from Operations
|
7
|
|||
Section
4.3.
|
Net
Profits from Capital Transactions
|
7
|
|||
Section
4.4.
|
Net
Losses from Capital Transactions
|
8
|
|||
Section
4.5.
|
Net
Profits from Temporary Investments
|
8
|
|||
Section
4.6.
|
Regulatory
Allocations
|
8
|
|||
Section
4.7.
|
Curative
Allocations
|
9
|
|||
Section
4.8.
|
Other
Allocation Rules
|
9
|
|||
Section
4.9.
|
Tax
Allocations
|
10
|
|||
Section
4.10.
|
TMP;
Elections
|
10
|
|||
Section
4.11.
|
Partnership
Treatment
|
10
|
|||
ARTICLE
5.
|
DISTRIBUTIONS
|
10
|
|||
Section
5.1.
|
Distributions
of the Early Investment Incentive and Advance Distribution
|
10
|
|||
Section
5.2.
|
Distributions
of Available Cash from Operations.
|
11
|
|||
Section
5.3.
|
Distributions
of Available Cash from Capital Transactions
|
11
|
|||
Section
5.4
|
Distributions
of Available Cash from Temporary Investments
|
11
|
|||
Section
5.5.
|
Liquidating
Distributions
|
12
|
|||
Section
5.6.
|
Treatment
of Amortization, Etc. and Loans
|
12
|
|||
Section
5.7.
|
Amounts
Withheld
|
12
|
|||
Section
5.8.
|
Limitations
on Distributions
|
12
|
|||
Section
5.9.
|
Distributions
in Kind
|
12
|
|||
ARTICLE
6.
|
MANAGEMENT
AND OPERATIONS
|
13
|
|||
Section
6.1.
|
Management
of the Fund
|
13
|
|||
Section
6.2.
|
Manager’s
Powers
|
13
|
|||
Section
6.3.
|
Limitations
on the Powers of the Manager
|
15
|
|||
Section
6.4.
|
Delegation
by Manager
|
15
|
i
Section
6.5.
|
Compensation
of the Manager; Reimbursement of Expenses of the Manager
|
15 | |||
Section
6.6.
|
Other
Activities of the Manager and Affiliates of the Manager
|
16
|
|||
ARTICLE
7.
|
RIGHTS
OF MEMBERS
|
17
|
|||
Section
7.1.
|
Rights
of the Members Generally
|
17
|
|||
Section
7.2.
|
Member
Approval
|
17
|
|||
Section
7.3.
|
Voting
Rights of Members
|
17
|
|||
Section
7.4.
|
Meetings
|
17
|
|||
Section
7.5.
|
Names
of Members
|
18
|
|||
ARTICLE
8.
|
WITHDRAWALS.
|
18
|
|||
Section
8.1.
|
Withdrawals
|
18
|
|||
ARTICLE
9.
|
TRANSFERS
|
19
|
|||
Section
9.1.
|
Transfers
of Membership Interests
|
19
|
|||
Section
9.2.
|
Conditions
to Transfer
|
19
|
|||
Section
9.3.
|
Opinion
of Counsel
|
20
|
|||
Section
9.4.
|
Involuntary
Transfers
|
21
|
|||
Section
9.5.
|
Substitute
Members
|
21
|
|||
Section
9.6.
|
Transfers
by the Manager
|
21
|
|||
Section
9.7.
|
Transfers
in Violation of Agreement Not Recognized
|
21
|
|||
Section
9.8.
|
Certain
Changes in Record Ownership
|
22
|
|||
ARTICLE
10.
|
BOOKS
OF ACCOUNT; TAX AND FINANCIAL REPORTS; CONFIDENTIALITY
|
22 | |||
Section
10.1.
|
Maintenance
of Books and Records, Etc.
|
22
|
|||
Section
10.2.
|
Tax
Information
|
22
|
|||
Section
10.3.
|
Confidentiality
|
23
|
|||
Section
10.4.
|
Investor
Access to Information
|
24
|
|||
ARTICLE
11.
|
INDEMNIFICATION;
EXCULPATION
|
25
|
|||
Section
11.1.
|
Indemnified
Representatives
|
25
|
|||
Section
11.2.
|
Exculpation
of Covered Persons
|
25
|
|||
Section
11.3.
|
Liability
to the Members and the Fund
|
25
|
|||
Section
11.4.
|
Indemnification
of Covered Persons
|
25
|
|||
Section
11.5.
|
Reliance
|
25
|
|||
Section
11.6.
|
Additional
Indemnification Matters
|
25
|
|||
Section
11.7
|
Manager’s
Indemnification of Holders of Investor GP Shares
|
26
|
|||
ARTICLE
12.
|
DISSOLUTION
AND WINDING UP
|
26
|
|||
Section
12.1.
|
Event
of Dissolution
|
26
|
|||
Section
12.2.
|
Winding
Up
|
26
|
|||
Section
12.3.
|
Deemed
Distribution and Recontribution
|
26
|
|||
Section
12.4.
|
Rights
of Members
|
26
|
|||
Section
12.5.
|
Termination
|
27
|
|||
ARTICLE
13.
|
DEFAULT
|
26
|
|||
Section
13.1.
|
Default
|
26
|
|||
Section
13.2.
|
Rights
of the Manager and Other Members Upon Default
|
27
|
|||
ARTICLE
14.
|
NOTICES
|
28
|
|||
Section
14.1.
|
Notices
|
28
|
ii
ARTICLE
15
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
28
|
|
Section
15.1.
|
Conversion
to Corporate Form
|
28
|
|
Section
15.2.
|
Further
Action
|
28
|
|
Section
15.3.
|
Waiver
of Action for Partition; No Xxxx for Accounting
|
28
|
|
Section
15.4.
|
Binding
Effect
|
28
|
|
Section
15.5.
|
Severability
|
28
|
|
Section
15.6.
|
Incorporation
by Reference
|
29
|
|
Section
15.7.
|
Entire
Agreement
|
29
|
|
Section
15.8.
|
Amendment
|
29
|
|
Section
15.9.
|
No
Waiver
|
29
|
|
Section
15.10.
|
Additional
Remedies
|
30
|
|
Section
15.11.
|
Construction
|
30
|
|
Section
15.12.
|
Headings;
References
|
30
|
|
Section
15.13.
|
Counterparts;
Fax Signatures
|
30
|
|
Section
15.14.
|
Jurisdiction
and Venue
|
30
|
|
Section
15.15.
|
Governing
Law
|
30
|
|
Section
15.16.
|
Arbitration
|
30
|
|
ANNEX I | DEFINITIONS |
iii
RIDGEWOOD
ENERGY A-1 FUND, LLC
THIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) relates
to Ridgewood Energy A-1 Fund, LLC, a limited liability company formed under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the “Fund”), and is
entered into as of March 2, 2009 (the “Effective Date”), by
and among Ridgewood Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Ridgewood Energy
Corporation”), and the Persons who subscribe as investors in the Fund
(individually, an “Investor” so long as
each such Person is a Member of the Fund and, collectively, the “Investors”). The
Manager and the Investors are sometimes referred to herein, individually, as a
“Member” and
sometimes referred to herein, collectively, as the “Members”).
WHEREAS, capitalized words and
phrases used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have the
meanings set forth in Annex I hereto;
and
WHEREAS, the Fund was formed
by the filing of the Certificate of Formation in Delaware on February 3, 2009
(the “Formation
Date”); and
WHEREAS, the Members desire to
reflect certain other matters with respect to the Fund in this Agreement,
including with respect to the affairs of the Fund and the conduct of its
business, and this Agreement shall constitute a “Limited Liability Company
Agreement” within the meaning of the Act;
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, the
parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
1. THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Section
1.1. Name. The name of the Fund shall be Ridgewood
Energy A-1 Fund, LLC, or such other name or names determined by the Manager, and
all business of the Fund shall be conducted in such name(s).
Section 1.2. Registered
Office; Registered Agent; Other Offices. Unless and until
changed by the Manager, the registered office of the Fund in the State of
Delaware shall be located at 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, and
the registered agent for service of process on the Fund in the State of Delaware
at such registered office shall be Christiana Corporate Services,
Inc. The Fund may maintain offices at such other place or places
within or outside the State of Delaware as the Manager determines to be
necessary or appropriate.
Section
1.3. Purpose.
1.3.1. The
Fund’s purpose is to acquire, drill, construct and develop natural gas and oil
prospects, including pipelines, platforms and other infrastructure projects, in
shallow and deep U.S. waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Although the Fund
will focus primarily on exploratory oil and natural gas projects, the Fund, in
the Manager’s discretion, will investigate and, if appropriate, invest in other
projects, including non-exploratory projects including, without limitation,
proven projects that have undeveloped reserves or proven projects that need
additional capital to construct, install or acquire the necessary infrastructure
assets, such as rigs, pipelines or other equipment, needed to gather, process
and transport oil or natural gas. All projects in which the Fund may invest, as
described herein are collectively referred to herein as “Projects” The
Fund intends to generate cash distributions to Members from the activities at,
including the sale of oil and natural gas produced from, such Projects and shall
include the doing of any and all things incident thereto or connected therewith
including, but not limited to, pre-development and other preparatory activities
for the Projects, including without limitation, evaluation, investigation, due
diligence activities, permitting, and other development
activities. The Fund may effect any of these transactions on its own,
together with Affiliates, or together with non-Affiliates.
1.3.2. In
carrying out its purposes, the Fund has the power to perform any act that is
necessary, advisable, customary or incidental thereto. It may invest in a
passive or active manner in, develop, plan, construct, manage, operate, advise,
transfer or dispose of, any facility or interest and produce or market products
or services. The Fund may act independently, through subsidiary
organizations, in cooperation with others or through business entities in which
others have interests whether as principal, agent, partner, owner, member,
associate, joint venturer or otherwise. When related to its purposes, the Fund
may also guarantee obligations of other Persons, supply collateral for those
obligations or for the issuance of letters of credit or surety bonds benefiting
other Persons, enter into leases as lessor or lessee or acquire goods or
services for the use or benefit of other Persons.
1.3.3. The
Fund may make interim investments of funds and may take all action necessary,
advisable or appropriate to maintain its existence, enforce this Agreement and
its rights or the rights of the Members and comply with legal
requirements.
Section
1.4. Powers. Subject to the other provisions of
this Agreement, the Fund shall be and hereby is authorized and empowered to do
or cause to be done any and all acts determined by the Manager to be necessary,
advisable, convenient or incidental in furtherance of the purposes of the Fund,
without any further act, approval or vote of any Person, including any Investor;
and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Fund (and the Manager
on behalf of the Fund) is hereby authorized and empowered:
1.4.1. to
acquire, hold, transfer, manage, vote and own Working Interests, Royalty
Interests, Temporary Investments, and any other assets held by the Fund, in
accordance with and subject to the Fund’s purposes as set forth in Section 1.3 hereof
and to manage, vote, and otherwise deal with the assets held by the Fund as may
be necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental to further the purposes of the
Fund;
1.4.2. to
establish, maintain or close one or more offices within or without the State of
Delaware and in connection therewith to rent or acquire office space and to
engage personnel;
1.4.3. to
open, maintain and close bank, brokerage and money market accounts, to draw
checks or other orders for the payment of moneys, and to invest such funds as
are temporarily not otherwise required for Fund purposes in Temporary
Investments;
1.4.4. to
set aside funds for reasonable reserves, anticipated contingencies and working
capital;
1.4.5. to
bring, defend, settle and dispose of Proceedings;
1.4.6. to
engage or discharge consultants, custodians, attorneys, placement agents,
accountants and other agents and employees, including Persons that may be
Members or Affiliates thereof or, subject to ERISA, Affiliates of the Manager,
and to authorize each such agent and employee (who may be designated as
officers) to act for and on behalf of the Fund;
1.4.7. to
execute, deliver and perform its obligations under contracts and agreements of
every kind, and amendments thereto, necessary or incidental to the offer and
sale of interests in the Fund, to the acquisition, holding and transfer of
Working Interests, Royalty Interests, Temporary Investments or other assets held
by the Fund, or otherwise to the accomplishment of the Fund’s purposes, and to
take or omit to take such other actions in connection with such offer and sale,
with such acquisition, holding or transfer, or with the investment and other
activities of the Fund, as may be necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental
to further the purposes of the Fund;
2
1.4.8. to
borrow money, to issue guarantees, to enter into agreements with respect to
obligations of the Fund or one or more Projects, to pledge assets of the Fund
and to enter into any instrument or arrangements in connection therewith,
including entering into any pledge, security, assignment or indemnity agreement
and any modification, extension or renewal thereof;
1.4.9. to
prepare and file all tax returns of the Fund; to make such elections under the
Code (including an election under Section 743(e) or 754 of the Code) and other
relevant tax laws as to the treatment of items of Fund income, gain, loss,
deduction and credit, and as to all other relevant matters, as the Manager deems
necessary or appropriate; and, subject to other provisions of this Agreement, to
select the method of accounting and bookkeeping procedures to be used by the
Fund;
1.4.10. to
take all action that may be necessary, advisable, convenient or incidental for
the continuation of the Fund’s valid existence as a limited liability company
under the Act and in each other jurisdiction in which such action is necessary
to protect the limited liability of the Members or to enable the Fund,
consistent with such limited liability, to conduct the investment and other
activities in which it is engaged;
1.4.11. to
carry on any other activities necessary to, in connection with, or incidental to
any of the foregoing or the Fund’s investment and other activities;
and
1.4.12. to
exercise any and all powers granted to a limited liability company under this
Agreement or applicable law, including the Act, in carrying out its
purposes.
Section
1.5. Term. The term of the Fund shall continue
until the winding up and liquidation of the Fund in accordance with Article 12 of this
Agreement.
Section 1.6. Power of
Attorney. Each Member hereby constitutes and appoints the
Manager and its authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact, as the case may be,
with full power of substitution, as such Member’s true and lawful agent and
attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in such Member’s name, place and
stead, to:
1.6.1. execute,
swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public
offices:
1.6.1.1. all
certificates, documents and other instruments (including this Agreement and the
Certificate of Formation and all amendments or restatements hereof or thereof)
that the Manager determines to be necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or
continue the existence or qualification of the Fund as a limited liability
company in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the
Fund may conduct business or own property;
1.6.1.2. all
certificates, documents and other instruments that the Manager determines to be
necessary or appropriate to use assumed names;
1.6.1.3. all
certificates, documents and other instruments that the Manager determines to be
necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance with its terms, any
amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement;
3
1.6.1.4. all
certificates, documents and other instruments (including conveyances and a
certificate of cancellation) that the Manager determines to be necessary or
appropriate to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Fund pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement;
1.6.1.5. all
certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the admission,
withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Member pursuant to, or other events
described in this Agreement; and
1.6.1.6. all
certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination of
the rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of Shares issued
pursuant to this Agreement;
1.6.2. execute,
swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record all ballots, consents,
approvals, waivers, certificates, documents and other instruments that the
Manager determines to be necessary or appropriate to (i) make, evidence, give,
confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action that is
made or given by the Members hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this
Agreement or (ii) effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement; provided, however, that when
required by this Agreement that establishes a percentage of the Members or of
the Members of any class or series required to take any action, the Manager may
exercise the power of attorney made in this Section 1.6.2 only
after the necessary vote, consent or approval of the Members or of the Members
of such class or series, as applicable.
Nothing
contained in this Section 1.6 shall be
construed as authorizing the Manager to amend this Agreement except as may be
otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement.
The
foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power
coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and, to the maximum extent
permitted by law, not be affected by the subsequent death, incompetency,
disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of any Member and
the Transfer of all or any portion of such Member’s Shares and shall extend to
such Member’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal
representatives. Each such Member hereby agrees to be bound by any
representation made by the Manager, acting in good faith pursuant to such power
of attorney; and each such Member, to the maximum extent permitted by law,
hereby waives any and all defenses that may be available to contest, negate or
disaffirm the action of the Manager, taken in good faith under such power of
attorney. Each Member shall execute and deliver to the Manager, within 15 days
after receipt of the request therefor, such further designation, powers of
attorney and other instruments as the Manager determines to be necessary or
appropriate to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the
Fund.
Section 1.7. Title to Fund
Assets. Title to Fund assets, whether real, personal or mixed
and whether tangible or intangible (in the aggregate being referred to as the
“Fund Assets”),
shall be deemed to be owned by the Fund. Title to any or all of the
Fund Assets may be held in the name of the Fund or one or more nominees, as the
Manager may determine. The Fund hereby declares and warrants that any
Fund Assets for which record title is held in the name of one or more of its
Affiliates or one or more nominees shall be held by such Affiliates or nominees
for the use and benefit of the Fund in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement; provided, however, that the
Manager shall use reasonable efforts to cause record title to such Fund Assets
(other than those assets in respect of which the Manager determines that the
expense and difficulty of conveyancing makes transfer of record title to the
Fund impracticable) to be vested in the Fund as soon as reasonably
practicable. All Fund Assets shall be recorded as the property of the
Fund in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which record title to
such Fund assets is held.
4
ARTICLE
2. CAPITALIZATION; SHARES; ADDITIONAL ISSUANCES OF
SHARES
Section 2.1. Capital
Structure Generally; Limited Liability Shares and Investor
GP Shares. The Fund is hereby authorized to issue Membership
Interests denominated in Shares with such rights, preferences, limitations, and
privileges as set forth herein and as may be determined by the Manager
consistent herewith. The initial target capitalization of the Fund is
$50,000,000 (250 Shares) but can be expanded at the discretion of the Manager to
$80,000,000 (400 Shares) or more. Each full Share shall require a
Capital Contribution of $200,000 and the Manager, in its discretion, can offer
fractional Shares. Each Share (or fraction thereof) may, at the
discretion of each Investor, be either a Limited Liability Share or an Investor
GP Share. Each Investor GP Shareholder shall be subject to personal
unlimited liability for the debts, obligations and Liabilities of the Fund (to
the extent that such debts, obligations and Liabilities are not satisfied out of
Fund Assets) that accrue before such Investor GP Share is converted into a
Limited Liability Share. Investor GP Shares shall be automatically
converted to Limited Liability Shares by the Manager when drilling activities
that generate deductions are complete or at a time and in a manner prescribed by
the Manager. Except with respect to the Early Investment Incentive
and Advance Distribution, each Share, whether a Limited Liability Share or an
Investor GP Share, shall have identical rights to allocations and distributions
(including allocations and distributions upon liquidation, dissolution or other
winding up of the Fund). Investors shall have no voting rights as
Members or as holders of Shares, except as provided in Article 7 or
otherwise as specifically provided in this Agreement or the Act. The
names of the Members and their respective number of Shares, as such names and
number may change from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, shall be
set forth on the Fund’s books and records. The Manager, in its sole
discretion, may issue fractions of a Share, but is not required to do
so.
Section 2.2. Membership
Certificates. A Person having or acquiring Shares shall not be
issued membership certificates to denominate such Person’s Shares, unless
otherwise determined by the Manager. The form of any such certificate
shall be as determined by the Manager.
Section 2.3. Designations
of Series; Additional Issuances of Shares.
2.3.1. From
time to time, the Fund, at the discretion of the Manager, may issue Shares in
the form of series (each, a “Series”). A
holder of Shares within a particular Series shall be entitled to the economic
rights (including rights to share in the Net Profits from Operations, Net Losses
from Operations, Net Profits from Capital Transactions, Net Losses from Capital
Transactions, Available Cash from Operations, Available Cash from Capital
Transactions, and other items of expenses, deductions, gains, and income) of the
Fund’s Projects corresponding to such Series and shall not be entitled to any
economic rights associated with the Projects that do not correspond to such
Series.
2.3.2. The
Manager shall take all actions that it determines to be necessary or appropriate
in connection with: (i) each issuance of Shares, and (ii) the admission of
additional Members. The Manager shall determine the relative
designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of the holders of the
Shares being so issued. The Manager shall do all things necessary to
comply with the Act and is authorized and directed to do all things that it
determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any issuance of
Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including compliance with any
statute, rule, regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other
governmental agency.
ARTICLE
3. CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; PERCENTAGE INTERESTS
Section
3.1. General. Except with respect to any Investor
GP Shareholder and except as otherwise expressly provided in this Article 3 with
respect to the Manager or pursuant to a separate agreement executed by a Member:
(i) no Member shall have any obligation to make contributions of capital (other
than such Member’s Capital Contribution), loan money or otherwise provide
financing to the Fund, (ii) no Member shall have any personal liability for the
repayment of any Capital Contributions of, or loan to the Fund by, any other
Member, (iii) no Member shall be liable for the debts, Liabilities, contracts,
or any other obligations of the Fund, and (iv) no Member shall have any
5
obligation
to restore any negative balance in such Member’s Capital Account. The
Members shall not demand or receive, and shall have no right to receive, a
return of any Member’s Capital Contributions, or to receive interest on any
Capital Contribution at any time made to the Fund or on the balance of their
respective Capital Accounts, except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement. Except with respect to the Investor GP Shareholders that
are required to satisfy the Liabilities of the Fund jointly and severally,
neither the Fund nor any Member shall, by execution of this Agreement, assume or
bear responsibility or liability for any indebtedness or obligation of any other
Member incurred or arising either before or after the execution of this
Agreement. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be considered to
constitute any Member as the agent of any other Member.
Section 3.2. Capital
Accounts. The Fund shall establish and maintain separate
accounts (each, a “Capital Account”) for
each of the Members in accordance with the following provisions:
3.2.1. To
each Member’s Capital Account there shall be credited: (i) such Member’s Capital
Contributions, (ii) such Member’s distributive share of Net Profits from
Operations and Net Profits from Capital Transactions in which such Member is
entitled to participate pursuant to this Agreement, (iii) such Member’s
distributive share of Net Profits from Temporary Investments, (iv) any items in
the nature of income or gain that are specially allocated pursuant to Sections 4.6, 4.7, and/or 4.8, hereof, (v) such
Member’s distributive share of Simulated Gain or, if the Manager elects to use
Actual Depletion Deductions pursuant to Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(3) of the
Regulations, such Member’s Actual Gains, and (vi) the amount of any Fund
Liabilities assumed by such Member or secured by any Fund Assets distributed to
such Member;
3.2.2. To
each Member’s Capital Account there shall be debited: (i) the amount distributed
to such Member, (ii) such Member’s distributive share of Net Losses from
Operations and Net Losses from Capital Transactions in which such Member is
entitled to participate pursuant to this Agreement, (iii) such Member’s
distributive share of Net Losses from Temporary Investments, (iv) any items in
the nature of deduction or loss that are specially allocated pursuant to Sections 4.6, 4.7, and/or 4.8, hereof, (v)
either such Member’s distributive share of Simulated Losses and Simulated
Depletion Deductions or, if the Manager elects to use Actual Depletion
Deductions pursuant to Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(3) of the Regulations, such
Member’s Actual Losses and Actual Depletion Deductions, and (vi) the amount of
any Liabilities of such Member assumed by the Fund or which are secured by any
property contributed by such Member to the Fund;
3.2.3. In
the event all or a portion of a Member’s Membership Interest is transferred in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the
Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred
Membership Interest;
3.2.4. In
determining the amount of any liability for purposes of this Section 3.2, there
shall be taken into account Code Section 752(c) and any other applicable
provisions of the Code and Regulations; and
3.2.5. For
purposes of computing the Members’ Capital Accounts, Simulated Depletion
Deductions, Simulated Gains, and Simulated Losses for each Project shall be
allocated among the Members in the same proportions as they (or their
predecessors in interest) were allocated the basis of such Project pursuant to
Code Section 613A(c)(7)(D), the Regulations thereunder, and Section
1.704-1(b)(4)(v) of the Regulations. In accordance with Code Section
613A(c)(7)(D) and the Regulations thereunder and Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(v) of the
Regulations, the adjusted basis of each Project shall be shared by the Members
in the same proportions as they share Net Losses from Capital Transactions
pursuant to Section
4.4 hereof for such Project.
6
The
foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the
maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Regulations Section
1.704-1(b), and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with
such Regulations. In the event the Manager shall determine that it is
prudent to modify the manner in which the Capital Accounts, or any debits or
credits thereto (including, without limitation, debits or credits relating to
Liabilities that are secured by contributed or distributed property or that are
assumed by the Fund or the Members), are computed in order to comply with such
Regulations, the Manager may make such modification, provided that it is not
likely to have a material effect on the amounts distributable to any Member
pursuant to Article
12 hereof upon the dissolution of the Fund. The Manager also
shall: (i) make any adjustments that are necessary or appropriate to maintain
equality between the Capital Accounts of the Members and the amount of Fund
capital reflected on the Fund’s balance sheet, as computed for book purposes in
accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g), and (ii) make any
appropriate modifications in the event unanticipated events might otherwise
cause this Agreement not to comply with Regulations Section
1.704-1(b).
Section 3.3. Deficit
Restoration Obligation of the Manager. If, upon liquidation,
the Capital Account of the Manager and/or any Investor that is holding one or
more Investor GP Shares as of the date of the liquidation has a deficit balance
(after giving effect to all contributions, distributions, and allocations for
all Accounting Periods, including the Accounting Period in which the liquidation
occurs), the Manager and each such Investor shall make an additional Capital
Contribution to the Fund in the amount necessary to restore such deficit balance
to zero in compliance with Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(3).
ARTICLE
4. ALLOCATION OF NET PROFITS AND NET LOSSES
Section 4.1. Net Profits
from Operations. Except as otherwise required by Sections 4.6, 4.7, and 4.8, all items of Net
Profits from Operations, if any, for each Accounting Period, shall be allocated
fifteen percent (15%) to the Manager and eighty-five percent (85%) to the
Investors in proportion to their respective Ownership Percentages; provided, however, that the Net
Profits from Operations allocable to the Investors pursuant to this Section 4.1 shall be
allocated among the Investors in the amount of and in proportion to their
sharing of the Early Investment Incentive and Advance Distribution until such
time that the Investors have been allocated an amount of Net Profits from
Operations equal to the Early Investment Incentive and Advance Distribution that
such Investors actually received.
Section 4.2. Net Losses
from Operations. Except as otherwise required by Sections 4.6, 4.7, and 4.8, all items of Net
Losses from Operations, if any, for each Accounting Period, shall be allocated
fifteen percent (15%) to the Manager and eighty-five percent (85%) to the
Investors in proportion to their respective Ownership Percentages.
Section 4.3. Net Profits
from Capital Transactions. Except as otherwise
required by Sections
4.6,
4.7, and
4.8, all items of Net Profits from Capital Transactions, if any, for each
Accounting Period, shall be allocated to the Members in the following amounts
and in the following priorities:
4.3.1. First,
to the extent that distributions of Available Cash from Capital Transactions are
made pursuant to Section 5.3, in the
amount of and in the manner consistent with such distributions;
4.3.2. Second,
to the extent that distributions of Available Cash from Capital Transactions are
not made pursuant to Section 5.3, in the
amount of and in the manner consistent with the distributions which would have
been made pursuant to Section
5.3;
7
4.3.3. Third,
to the Investors and the Manager in accordance with the distributions of
Available Cash from Capital Transactions to which each would be entitled under
Section 5.3 if
the amount of such Net Profit from Capital Transactions for such Accounting
Period had been distributed as Available Cash from Capital Transactions pursuant
to Section 5.3;
and
4.3.4. Thereafter,
the balance shall be allocated fifteen percent (15%) to the Manager and
eighty-five percent (85%) to the Investors in proportion to their respective
Ownership Percentages.
Section 4.4. Net Losses
from Capital Transactions. Except as otherwise required by
Sections 4.6,
4.7, and 4.8, all items of Net
Losses from Capital Transactions, if any, for each Accounting Period, shall be
allocated one percent (1%) to the Manager and ninety-nine percent (99%) to the
Investors in proportion to their respective Ownership Percentages.
Section 4.5. Net Profits
from Temporary Investments. Net Profits that are attributable
to Temporary Investments shall be allocated one percent (1%) to the Manager and
ninety-nine percent (99%) to the Investors in proportion to their respective
Ownership Percentages.
Section 4.6. Regulatory
Allocations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in Sections
4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, and 4.5, Net Profits and
Net Losses shall be specially allocated to the extent necessary to comply with
the applicable provisions of the Regulations under Code Section 704(b) (the
“Regulatory
Allocations”), which such Regulatory Allocations shall include, without
limitation, the following:
4.6.1. Minimum Gain
Chargeback. Except as otherwise provided in Section 1.704-2(f)
of the Regulations, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 4, if there
is a net decrease in Fund Minimum Gain during any Accounting Period, each Member
shall be specially allocated items of Fund income and gain for such Accounting
Period (and, if necessary, subsequent Accounting Periods) in an amount equal to
such Member’s share of the net decrease in Fund Minimum Gain, as determined in
accordance with Section 1.704-2(g) of the Regulations. Allocations
pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective
amounts required to be allocated to each Member pursuant thereto. The
items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Sections
1.704-2(f)(6) and 1.704-2(j)(2) of the Regulations. This Section 4.6.1 is
intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Section
1.704-2(f) of the Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently
therewith.
4.6.2. Member Minimum Gain
Chargeback. Except as otherwise provided in Section
1.704-2(i)(4) of the Regulations, notwithstanding any other provision of this
Article 4, if
there is a net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to
a Member Nonrecourse Debt during any Accounting Period, each Member who has a
share of the Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to such Member
Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Section 1.704-2(i)(5) of the
Regulations, shall be specially allocated items of Fund income and gain for such
Accounting Period (and, if necessary, subsequent Accounting Periods) in an
amount equal to such Member’s share of the net decrease in Member Nonrecourse
Debt, determined in accordance with Section 1.704-2(i)(4) of the
Regulations. Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be
made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each
Member pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be
determined in accordance with Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2) of the
Regulations. This Section 4.6.2 is
intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Section
1.704-2(i)(4) of the Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently
therewith.
4.6.3. Qualified Income
Offset. In the event any Member unexpectedly receives any
adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in Sections
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6) of
the Regulations, items of Fund income and gain shall be specially allocated to
such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent
required by the Regulations, any Adjusted Capital Account Deficit of the Member
as quickly as possible; provided, however, that an
allocation pursuant to this Section 4.6.3 shall
be made only if and to the extent that the Member would have an Adjusted Capital
Account Deficit after all other allocations provided for in this Section 4.6 have been
tentatively made as if this Section 4.6.3 were
not in this Agreement.
8
4.6.4. Nonrecourse
Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any Accounting Period
shall be specially allocated to the Members in proportion to their respective
Ownership Percentages.
4.6.5. Member Nonrecourse
Deductions. Any Member Nonrecourse Deductions for any
Accounting Period shall be specially allocated to the Member who bears the
economic risk of loss with respect to the Member Nonrecourse Debt to which such
Member Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance
with Section 1.704-2(i)(1) of the Regulations.
Section 4.7. Curative
Allocations.
4.7.1. The
Regulatory Allocations are intended to comply with the requirements of the
Regulations under Code Section 704(b). Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Article 4 (other than
the Regulatory Allocations), Net Profits and Net Losses (and, if necessary,
gross income and specific deductions) shall be specially allocated, when and as
reasonably determined by the Manager, so that, after such offsetting allocations
are made, each Member’s Capital Account balance is, to the extent possible,
equal to the Capital Account balance such Member would have had if the
Regulatory Allocations, and any losses re-allocated pursuant to Section 4.8.1, were
not part of this Agreement and all items were allocated pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, and 4.5.
4.7.2. In
exercising the Manager’s discretion under this Section 4.7, the
Manager shall take into account likely future Regulatory Allocations under Section 4.6 that,
although not yet made, are likely to offset other Regulatory Allocations
previously made under Section
4.6.
Section 4.8. Other
Allocation Rules.
4.8.1. Net
Losses allocated pursuant to Sections 4.2 and/or
Section 4.4
hereof shall not exceed the maximum amount of Net Losses that can be allocated
without causing any Member to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit at the
end of any Accounting Period. In the event that some but not all of
the Members would have Adjusted Capital Account Deficits as a consequence of an
allocation of Net Losses pursuant to Sections 4.2 and/or
4.4 hereof, the
limitation set forth in this Section 4.8.1 shall
be applied on a Member by Member basis and Net Losses not allocated to any
Member as a result of such limitation shall be allocated to the other Members in
accordance with the positive balances in such Members’ Capital Accounts so as to
allocate the maximum permissible Net Losses to each Member under Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations.
4.8.2. In
the event that the Members’ respective Ownership Percentage changes during any
Accounting Period, the Net Profits or Net Losses, as the case may be, allocated
to the Members for each such Accounting Period shall be allocated among the
Members using the “closing of the books” method in order to account for such
changes (unless another permissible method under Code Section 706 and the
Regulations thereunder is approved by the Manager).
4.8.3. To
the extent possible, and except as otherwise provided in other sections of this
Agreement, each item of Net Profits and Net Losses, and income, gain, deduction
and loss shall be allocated to each Member in proportion to such Member’s
percentage, if any, in the total amount of Net Profits and Net Losses, and
income, gain, deduction and loss so allocated.
9
Section 4.9. Tax
Allocations.
4.9.1. Allocations
shall be made in accordance with Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations
thereunder if and to the extent necessary to take into account any variation
between the adjusted tax basis of any Fund Asset and such asset’s fair market
value, using any method approved by the Manager, so long as such method is
permissible under Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations
thereunder.
4.9.2. For
federal income tax purposes, all items of deduction and all items of income
shall be allocated, as nearly as is practicable, in accordance with the manner
in which such items were either deducted from or added to the Capital
Accounts.
4.9.3. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in the event a Member
withdraws all or part of such Member’s Capital Account or otherwise withdraws
from the Fund, the Manager, in the Manager’s sole discretion, may make a special
allocation to such withdrawing Member for federal income tax purposes of net
capital gains recognized by the Fund in such a manner as will reduce or
eliminate the amount, if any, by which: (i) the amount paid to such Member
exceeds (ii) such Member’s federal income tax basis before such special
allocation in the applicable portion of such Member’s Membership
Interest.
4.9.4. Allocations
pursuant to this Section 4.9 are
solely for purposes of federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect, or
in any way be taken into account in computing, any Member’s Capital Account or
share of Net Profits, Net Losses, other items, or distributions pursuant to any
provision of this Agreement.
Section 4.10. TMP;
Elections. For purposes of Code Section 6231(a)(7), the “tax
matters partner” shall be the Manager (in such capacity, the “TMP”); provided, however, that the
Manager may, at any time and for any period of time, designate any other Member
as the TMP in lieu of the original TMP, and any Member so designated shall cease
to be the TMP whenever the Manager designates any other Person to be the
successor TMP in accordance with this Section
4.10. The TMP is specifically directed and authorized (i) to
take whatever steps may be necessary or desirable to perfect the TMP’s
designation as the “tax matters partner”, including filing any forms or
documents with the Internal Revenue Service, and (ii) to take such other action
as may from time to time be required under the Code and
Regulations. Any elections or other decisions relating to any tax
matter shall be made by the TMP in any manner that reasonably reflects the
purpose and intention of this Agreement, as approved by the
Manager.
Section 4.11. Partnership
Treatment. The Members are aware that it is intended that the
Fund shall be treated as a partnership for purposes of being taxable in
accordance with the provisions of subchapter K of the Code, or any comparable
provision, and are aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made
by this Article
4 and each Member hereby agrees to be bound by the provisions of this
Article 4 in
reporting such Member’s share of Fund income and loss for income tax
purposes.
ARTICLE
5. DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 5.1. Distributions
of the Early Investment Incentive and Advance
Distribution. The Fund shall, at such time or times as
determined by the Manager, distribute Available Cash from Operations to
Investors who invest early in the Fund as an early investment incentive (for
those Investors eligible an “Early Investment Incentive”) or to Investors
eligible for an advance distribution (an “Advance Distribution”) in the
following amounts and under the following terms:
10
5.1.1. For
each Investor who subscribes to the Fund between March 2, 2009 and April 30,
2009 and has fully paid his, her, or its Capital Contribution, an Early
Investment Incentive equal to $16,000 (8%) per $200,000 Share purchased by such
Investor.
5.1.2. For
each Investor who subscribes to the Fund between May 1, 2009 and the closing of
the Fund and has fully paid his, her, or its Capital Contribution, an Advance
Distribution equal to $6,000 (3%) per Share purchased by such
Investor.
5.1.3. The
Manager anticipates that the Early Investment Incentive and the Advance
Distribution shall be paid concurrently and either monthly or quarterly and
begin when, and will continue so long as, the Manager determines that the Fund
has sufficient Available Cash from Operations to make such
distributions. All such Available Cash from Operations distributable
to the Investors, as set forth in Section 5.2, will be distributed among the
Investors in proportion to their relative shares of the Early Investment
Incentive and the Advance Distribution until such Early Investment Incentive and
Advance Distribution have been paid in full and thereafter, all Investors shall
share in distributions of the Fund in accordance with Sections 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, and/or 5.5.
5.1.4. Other
than any right to receive an Early Investment Incentive, an Advance
Distribution, and any liability or indemnification associated with Investor GP
Shares, as set forth in Section 2.1, all other rights, privileges and
obligations of Investors of the Fund shall remain as described in this
Agreement.
5.1.5. The
Manager shall have the right, without the necessity of amending this Agreement,
to offer Early Investment Incentives,, Advance Distributions, or similar
incentives, payments or distributions, with respect to any subsequent Series in
accordance with the offering materials applicable to such Series. Any
Early Investment Incentive, Advance Distribution, or similar incentive, payment
or distribution in any subsequent Series shall be governed by the provisions of
such offering materials.
Section 5.2. Distributions
of Available Cash from Operations. At such times during any
Fiscal Year as the Manager determines, the Fund may make distributions up to the
amount of the undistributed Available Cash from Operations. Any
distribution of Available Cash from Operations pursuant to Section 5.1 and this
Section 5.2
shall be made fifteen percent (15%) to the Manager and eighty-five percent (85%)
to the Investors which, except as otherwise required pursuant to Section 5.1, shall be
distributed to the Investors in proportion to their respective Ownership
Percentages.
Section 5.3. Distributions
of Available Cash from Capital Transactions. At such times
during any Fiscal Year as the Manager determines, the Fund may make
distributions up to the amount of the undistributed Available Cash from Capital
Transactions to the Members. Any distribution pursuant to this Section 5.3 shall be
made in or up to the following amounts and with the following
priorities:
5.3.1. First,
one percent (1%) to the Manager and ninety-nine percent (99%) to the Investors,
in proportion to their respective Ownership Percentages, until each Investor has
received aggregate distributions of Available Cash from Operations pursuant to
Section 5.2 and
Available Cash from Capital Transactions pursuant to this Section 5.3.1 for the
current and all prior Fiscal Years equal to the aggregate Capital Contributions
made by such Investor; and
5.3.2. Thereafter,
the balance shall be distributed fifteen percent (15%) to the Manager and
eighty-five percent (85%) to the Investors in proportion to their respective
Ownership Percentages.
Section 5.4. Distributions
of Available Cash from Temporary Investments. At such times
during any Fiscal Year as the Manager determines, the Fund may make
distributions up to the amount of the undistributed Available Cash from
Temporary Investments to the Members. Any distribution pursuant to
this Section
5.4 shall be made one percent (1%) to the Manager and ninety-nine percent
(99%) to the Investors in proportion to their respective Ownership
Percentages.
11
Section 5.5. Liquidating
Distributions. Upon the liquidation or other disposition of
the Fund Assets after the occurrence of an Event of Dissolution as contemplated
in Article 12
of this Agreement, the Total Available Cash from such liquidation, along with
any in-kind distributions pursuant to Section 12.2 and any
other amounts available upon the liquidation of the Fund, (i) up to an amount
equal to the total of all of the Capital Accounts shall be distributed to the
Members in proportion to their respective positive Capital Account balances, and
(ii) any remaining amount shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with
Section 5.3.2;
provided, however, that
distributions pursuant to this Section 5.5 shall be
made such that the allocations of Net Losses and Net Profits under Article 4
have “substantial economic effect” under the Regulations under Code Section
704(b) upon the liquidation of the Fund.
Section 5.6. Treatment of
Amortization, Etc. and Loans.
5.6.1. Available
Cash from Operations and Available Cash from
Capital
Transactions shall not be reduced by depreciation, amortization, cost recovery
deductions, or similar allowances.
5.6.2. It
is understood that amounts paid by the Fund to a Person (including a Member) as
a result of transactions denominated as a “loan” shall be a debt payment, but
that amounts paid by the Fund to a Person (including a Member) as a result of
transactions denominated as a “capital contribution” shall not be a debt
payment.
Section 5.7. Amounts
Withheld. The Fund is authorized to withhold from
distributions to the Members, and to pay over to the applicable federal, state
or local government authorities, any amounts required to be so withheld pursuant
to the Code, Regulations or any provisions of any other federal, state or local
law and shall allocate such amounts to the Members with respect to which such
amount was withheld. All amounts withheld pursuant to the Code, the
Regulations or any provisions of any other federal, state or local tax law with
respect to any payment, distribution, or allocation to the Fund or the Members
shall be treated as amounts distributed to the Members pursuant to this Article 5 for all
purposes under this Agreement.
Section 5.8. Limitations
on Distributions.
5.8.1. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, no distribution pursuant
to this Agreement shall be made if such distribution would result in a violation
of the Act or other applicable law.
5.8.2. In
the event that a distribution is not made as a result of the application of
Section 5.8.1,
all amounts so retained by the Fund shall continue to be subject to all debts
and obligations of the Fund. The Fund shall make such distribution
(with accrued interest actually earned thereon) as soon as such distribution
would not be prohibited pursuant to this Section
5.8.
Section 5.9. Distributions
in Kind. No right is given to any Member to demand or receive
property other than cash as provided in this Agreement. Except as
otherwise provided in Section 12.2 or
elsewhere in this Agreement, a distribution in kind of any Fund Asset to any
Member shall require the approval of the Manager.
12
ARTICLE
6. MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS
Section 6.1. Management of the Fund.
6.1.1. Appointment of a
Manager. To the fullest extent
permitted by law, management of the Fund shall be vested in a “manager” (the
“Manager”), who may but
need not be a Member. Ridgewood Energy Corporation is hereby appointed as the Manager effective as of the
Effective Date and until Ridgewood Energy Corporation shall resign, be removed,
or otherwise ceases to be the Manager. Whenever the Manager is a
Member, the Manager may be referred to as the “Managing
Member”.
6.1.2. Resignation. The
Manager may resign at any time by giving written
notice to the Members. Any resignation shall take effect upon the
date specified in that notice (which date may not be less than three (3)
business days after the date such notice is sent to the Members) or the date
three (3) business days after such notice is sent to the Members; and, unless
otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not
be necessary to make it effective. In the event that the
Manager resigns hereunder, such resigning Manager shall be entitled to a cash
payment from the Fund within 30 days from such resignation equal to its Capital
Account balance, including any accrued items and any earned but unpaid
management fee and any other fees or reimbursement to which the resigning
Manager is entitled as of the effective date of resignation.
6.1.3. Removal. The
Manager may be removed as Manager by the Members, but only after: (i) a vote of
a Majority of the Shares approves such removal; and (ii) the Manager has been
found by a court of law to have acted illegally, or with gross negligence, or
committed an act of willful misconduct with respect to the Fund and such
negligence or act of misconduct has had a material adverse effect on the Fund or
the ability of the Fund to carry out its business purposes. In the event that the Manager is
removed hereunder, such removed Manager shall be entitled to a cash payment from
the Fund within 30 days from such removal equal to its Capital Account balance,
including accrued items and including any earned but unpaid management fee and
any other fees or reimbursement to which the removed Manager is entitled as of
the effective date of removal.
6.1.4. Vacancies. In
the event that a Manager resigns, is removed, or otherwise ceases to be the
Manager, for whatever reason, a new Manager may be designated by a vote of a
Majority of the Shares; provided, however, that if and
so long as there is no Manager in office, the Fund shall be managed, and the
functions of the Manager under this Agreement shall be fulfilled, by Members
holding of record a Majority of the Shares. The ceasing to be the
Manager by a Person who is also a Member shall not affect such Person’s rights
as a Member and shall not constitute a withdrawal by such Person.
Section 6.2. Manager’s
Powers.
6.2.1. Manager’s General Powers and
Certain Specific Powers. Except as provided in Section 7.3, the
Manager shall have the full, complete and exclusive authority, power and
discretion to manage and control the business, property and affairs of the Fund,
to make all decisions regarding those matters, to perform any and all other acts
or activities customary or incident to the management of those matters and shall
have the right and authority to bind the Fund and to negotiate, execute and
deliver any and all contracts, instruments and certificates on behalf of the
Fund in furtherance of the Fund’s business or affairs including without
limitation, acquiring and participating in the Projects. The Manager
shall also have the powers and duties as may be prescribed by other sections of
this Agreement, by law, or by the Members by consent. Not in
limitation of the generality of this Section 6.2.1, the
Manager shall have the powers, without the prior consent of the Investors, to do
any of the following:
13
(i)
To direct or supervise the Fund and the Fund's agents in the exercise of any
action relating to the Fund's affairs, including without limitation the powers
described in Section
1.4;
(ii)
To lend money to the Fund (without being obligated to do so) if such loan bears
interest at a reasonable rate not exceeding the interest cost to the Manager or
the amount that would be charged to the Fund by an unrelated lender on a
comparable loan for the same purpose; provided, however, that the
Manager may not receive points or other financing charges or fees regardless of
the amount loaned to the Fund;
(iii) To
approve in its sole discretion any Transfer of Shares;
(iv) To
admit Investors to the Fund and to terminate the offering of Shares at any
time;
(v)
To withdraw the offering of Shares at any time as provided for in this
Agreement;
(vi) To
acquire such assets or properties, real or personal, as the Manager in its sole
discretion deems necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the Fund's business
and to sell, exchange, hedge or distribute to the Members in kind or otherwise
dispose of all or substantially all of the Fund Assets, as the Manager in its
sole discretion deems necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the Fund's
business, notwithstanding that such sale, exchange, hedge or distribution may
result in a liquidation of the Fund;
(vii)
To operate any Project or other Fund Asset acquired by the Fund, or to contract
for operation under Section 6.3, or to
engage non-Affiliates to operate any Project or other Fund Asset on such terms
as they may determine in their sole discretion;
(viii)
To waive any fees or compensation payable to
it;
(ix) To
provide, or arrange for the provision of, managerial assistance to the Projects
in which the Fund invests;
(x)
To invest in, on behalf of another Ridgewood Energy fund, Working Interests in
oil and natural gas xxxxx that are in the same lease block as, but are not part
of, Fund Assets;
(xi) To
establish valuation principles and to periodically apply such principles to the
Fund's Projects;
(x)
To form, or acquire an interest in, contribute Fund Assets to, and/or make loans
to, any limited or general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, limited
liability companies or other relationships for the purposes of promoting the
purposes of the Fund;
(xiii) To
issue and sell Shares for such consideration as the Manager in its sole
discretion shall deem appropriate and create series or classes of Shares and
provide for the rights and privileges of any such series or class of Shares
(including class or series voting rights) as the Manager, in its sole
discretion, deems appropriate;
(xiv) To
purchase or redeem Shares on such terms as the Manager, in its sole discretion,
may deem appropriate; and
14
(xv) To
engage in any other lawful activity that the Manager determines in its sole
discretion, reasonably exercised, is necessary to enable the Manager to perform
its other duties and obligations to the Fund as required hereunder.
6.2.2. Power to Bind. The Manager shall have the power to
act for or bind the Fund, including without limitation to enter into promissory
notes, loan agreements and other contracts and instruments on behalf of the Fund
and in the Fund’s name. Persons dealing with the Fund are entitled to
rely conclusively on the power and authority of the Manager as set forth in this
Agreement. So long as there is a Manager, no
Person other than the Manager or an officer of the Fund appointed by the
Manager, shall have the authority to bind the Fund, unless specifically set
forth in a written delegation signed by the Manager.
Section 6.3. Limitations
on the Powers of the Manager. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Agreement, the Manager shall not, on behalf of the
Fund, perform any actions that require the consent of the Members pursuant to
Section 7.3
without the consent of the Members as set forth in Section
7.3.
Section 6.4. Delegation by
Manager. The Manager shall have the power and authority to
delegate to one or more Persons, agents and employees, such rights and powers to
manage and control the business and affairs of the Fund as the Manager
determines in the Manager’s sole discretion. The Manager shall have
the power and authority, in its sole discretion, to appoint individuals to serve
as officers of the Fund from time to time and determine their respective powers
and authorities. Subject to the rights, if any, of any such Person
under an employment agreement or other contract with the Fund, the power and
authority of any such Person, agent or employee may be reduced or terminated,
either with or without cause, by the Manager at any time in the Manager’s sole
discretion.
Section 6.5. Compensation
of the Manager; Reimbursement of Expenses of the Manager. With
respect to any Series of Shares, the Manager shall be entitled to the following
compensation and reimbursement:
6.5.1. Investment
Fee. The Fund shall pay the Manager out of Capital
Contributions a one-time investment fee in an amount equal to 4.5% of the total
Capital Contributions, without considering any discounts or waivers of fees (the
“Investment
Fee”). The Investment Fee is intended to pay for the Manager’s
services associated with locating, investigating, evaluating, and negotiating
investment opportunities and effecting related
transactions. The fee shall be payable on the Effective Date as
to the Shares purchased through that date and on each date thereafter on which
the Fund receives and collects full payment for additional accepted
subscriptions for Shares.
6.5.2. Organizational, Distribution
and Offering Fee. The Fund shall
pay the Manager out of Capital Contributions a one-time organizational,
distribution and offering fee in an amount equal to 3.5% of the total Capital
Contributions, without considering any discounts or waivers of fees (the
“Organizational, Distribution
and Offering Fee”). The
Organizational, Distribution and Offering Fee is intended to cover all Organizational Expenses of the Fund incurred
directly by the Manager in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares,
including outside legal expenses, outside accounting expenses, consulting fees,
printing, filing, postage and other expenses of organizing the Fund,
distribution and selling costs and closing costs for the offering of the
Shares. The fee shall be payable on the Effective Date as to the
Shares purchased through that date and on each date thereafter on which the Fund
receives and collects full payment for additional accepted subscriptions for
Shares. If the Organizational Expenses exceed 3.5% of the aggregate
Capital Contributions, the Manager shall pay such excess.
15
6.5.3. Management
Fee. For each 12-month period beginning on the date the
offering of Shares is commenced, and ending upon the winding up of the Fund's
business, the Fund shall pay the Manager a management fee (the “Management Fee”),
payable in advance in monthly installments, at the annual rate of 2.5% of the
aggregate of Capital Contributions, net of Dry-Hole Costs, if any, incurred by
the Fund. The Management Fee will be payable by the Fund from Total
Available Cash, if any, or from other Fund Assets, including without limitation,
Capital Contributions and interest earned on Temporary
Investments. The Management Fee shall be in lieu of any reimbursement
to the Manager for administrative, advisory and overhead expenses, including
without limitation postage, communication, computer service, accounting,
regulatory reporting and compensation costs of the Manager allocable to the
Fund. The Management Fee does not defray direct Expenses of the Fund,
including insurance, bank fees, third-party engineers and other outside legal,
outside accounting and consulting expenses, including amounts paid by the Fund
to Persons other than the Manager or any Affiliate of the Manager, the Fund or
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx for performing due diligence or identifying investment
opportunities for the Fund. Amounts not defrayed by the Management
Fee shall be borne by the Fund as more fully set forth in this
Agreement.
6.5.4. Placement Agent and other
Selling Commissions. (a) The Fund shall pay out of Fund
Assets to Ridgewood Securities Corporation or to any broker-dealer who effects
the sale of one or more whole or fractional Shares, cash selling commission in
the aggregate amount equal to 8% of the base amount of each Capital
Contribution. The base amounts are computed at the rate of $200,000
of Capital Contributions per Share. For serving as Placement
Agent, Ridgewood Securities Corporation shall in addition be entitled to receive
out of Fund Assets a fee in the amount equal to 1% of each Capital
Contribution. Such commissions shall be payable on the Effective Date
as to the Shares purchased through that date and on each date thereafter on
which the Fund receives and collects full payment for additional accepted
subscriptions for Shares.
(b)
Ridgewood may pay additional compensation to registered
broker-dealers assisting in the sale of Shares out if its own funds, including a
portion of the cash otherwise distributable to it hereunder or the fees payable
to it by the Fund hereunder. In addition, Ridgewood, in its sole
discretion, may waive or pay over to certain Investors a portion of
distributions or fees the Fund would otherwise pay to Ridgewood.
6.5.5. Direct
Expenses. The Fund shall reimburse the Manager for direct Expenses
actually incurred for operational or project development services provided by
Manager to the extent (i) the charges for the services do not exceed amounts
that would be charged by unrelated firms offering similar services and (ii) the
Projects do not reimburse the Manager for those expenses. In respect
of the acquisition or disposition of all or a portion of the Fund Assets, the
Fund may be required to or may find it advantageous to and is authorized to,
engage a broker or similar adviser and to pay a brokerage fee to the broker or
other persons responsible for bringing the acquisition or disposition
opportunity to the Fund’s attention or for investigating, evaluating or
negotiating the acquisition or disposition of the Fund’s interest
therein.
6.5.6.
Timing of
Payments. As of the Effective Date, the Capital Contributions
from the initial sale of Shares may be used to pay the fees referred to in Section 6.5 then
due.
6.5.7.
Discounts.
The Manager shall have the right, but not the obligation, in its sole
discretion to pay over to certain Investor(s) a portion of the fees to which the
Manager is otherwise entitled hereunder for any reason the Manager deems
reasonable including, but not limited to, circumstances in which an Investor
purchases a large block of Shares, provided however, that the any discounting or
waiver of fees to one Investor shall not obligate the Manager to provide any
such discounting or waiver to any other Investor.
16
Section 6.6. Other
Activities of the Manager and Affiliates of the Manager.
6.6.1.
Ability to
Engage in Other Activities. Each Member expressly agrees that
the Manager and the Manager’s Affiliates may engage independently or with
others, for its or their own accounts and for the accounts of others, in other
business ventures and activities of every nature and description whether such
ventures are competitive with the business of the Fund or otherwise, including,
without limitation, purchasing, selling or holding Working Interests for the
account of any other Person or enterprise or for its or his own
account. Neither the Fund nor any Member shall have any rights or
obligations by virtue of this Agreement in and to such independent ventures and
activities or the income or profits derived therefrom.
6.6.2.
No
Obligation to Disclose Opportunities. The Manager shall not be obligated
to disclose to the Fund any particular investment opportunity, whether or not
any such opportunity is of a character which could be taken by the
Fund.
6.6.3.
Conflicts of
Interest. While the Manager
intends to avoid situations involving conflicts of interest, each Member
acknowledges that there may be situations in which the interests of the Fund, in
a Project or otherwise, may conflict with the interests of the Manager or any
Affiliate of the Manager. The Manager and its Affiliates will attempt, in
good faith, to resolve all conflicts of interest in a fair and equitable manner
with respect to all persons affected by those conflicts of
interest. Furthermore, each
Member agrees that the activities of the Manager and any Affiliate of the
Manager specifically authorized by or described in this Agreement may be engaged
in by the Manager and/or such Affiliate and will not, in any case or in the
aggregate, be deemed a breach of this Agreement or any duty owed by the Manager
or such Affiliate to the Fund or to any Member.
ARTICLE
7. RIGHTS OF MEMBERS
Section 7.1. Rights of the
Members Generally. No Member who is not the Manager shall or
may: (i) act in the name of, or as the representative of, the Fund, (ii) deal
with the Fund Assets in any way, (iii) incur any obligation for which the Fund
or the other Members will or may be liable, or (iv) otherwise bind the Fund or
the other Members. Any violation of this Section 7.1 by a
Member who is not the Manager, shall be deemed to constitute willful
misconduct.
Section 7.2. Member
Approval. Whenever this Agreement requires or contemplates
action or approval by the Members, an affirmative vote or consent of a Majority
of the Shares shall be required for such action or approval, unless this
Agreement expressly requires a higher percentage.
Section 7.3. Voting Rights
of Members. Members shall have no voting rights except as
holders of Shares. To the extent permitted by this Agreement or
required by law, holders of Shares shall have one vote for each whole Share and
if fractional Shares are issued as provided by this Agreement, fractional Shares
shall have a fraction of one vote equal to the fraction of a Share it
represents. Votes by Members may be cast at a meeting or effected by
the written consent of the required percentage, and in either case written
notice of the action taken shall be provided to the Manager. Whenever
any vote or consent of Members is required or contemplated pursuant to this
Agreement, the Shares of any Defaulting Member, or of any Person which is an
assignee of any Shares but is not a Member, shall be deemed not to be entitled
to vote for purposes of calculating whether a sufficient vote or consent was
achieved. The Manager shall not, without the approval of the holders
of the Majority of the Shares, take any actions as provided in Sections 8.1.2, 15.1, or 15.8. The
Members shall also have the voting rights with respect to actions set forth in
Section 6.1.3
and elsewhere in this Agreement.
Section
7.4. Meetings.
7.4.1. Meetings of
Members. The Manager may call meetings of the Members (as
holders of Shares) or any holders of any series or class of Shares thereof
concerning any matter on which they may vote as provided by this Agreement or by
law or to receive and act upon a report of the Manager on matters pertaining to
the Fund’s business and activities. Investors holding twenty-five
percent (25%) or more of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote on the matter
may also call meetings by giving notice to the Fund demanding a meeting and
stating the purposes therefore. After calling a meeting or within
twenty (20) days after receipt of a written request or requests meeting the
requirements of the preceding sentence, the Fund shall mail to all Members
entitled to vote on the matter written notice of the place and purposes of the
meeting, which shall be held on a date not less than fifteen (15) days nor more
than forty-five (45) days after the Fund mails the notice of meeting to the
Members. Any Member entitled to vote on the matter may appear and
vote or consent at a meeting by proxy, provided that such authority is granted
by a writing signed by the Member and delivered to the Fund at or prior to the
meeting.
17
7.4.2. Consents. Any
consent required by this Agreement or any vote or action by the Members (as
holders of Shares) or any holders of any series or class of Shares may be
effected without a meeting by a consent or consents in writing in lieu of a
meeting signed by the persons required to give such consent, vote or take
action. Only the Manager may solicit consents in lieu of a
meeting. The Fund shall effect a solicitation of consents by giving
those Members (as holders of Shares) who may consent a notice of solicitation
stating the purpose of the consent, a form of consent and the date on which the
consents are to be tabulated, which shall be not less than fifteen (15) days nor
more than forty-five (45) days after the Fund transmits the notice of
solicitation of consents.
7.4.3. General. To the
extent not inconsistent with this Agreement, Delaware law governing meetings,
proxies and consents for corporations shall apply as to the procedure, validity
and use of meetings, proxies and consents. Any Member may waive
notice of or attendance at any meeting or notice of any consent, whether before
or after an action is taken. The Manager may fix a date which shall
be the record date for determining Members entitled to notice of a meeting or to
receive notice of consent in lieu of a meeting. Such record date
shall not be more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting or date of
tabulation of consents in lieu of a meeting. If the Manager shall not
fix a record then the record date shall be the date on which the Fund transmits
the notice of meeting or notice soliciting consents. A list of the
names, addresses and holdings of Shares of all Members shall be maintained as
part of the Fund’s books and records.
7.4.4. Interested
Parties. A Member may vote Shares held by it on any question
permitted under this Agreement regardless of whether that Member, Affiliates of
the Member or other persons associated with or related to that Member have a
personal interest in the subject matter of the transaction. Delaware
law governing the voting of shares in a corporation shall determine the legal
effect of a vote by a Member having an interest described in the preceding
sentence.
7.4.5. Record
Holders. Only Members who are holders of record on the record
date of Shares entitled to vote or execute a consent in lieu of a meeting shall
be entitled to vote or execute such consent and receive the notice of meeting
and related solicitation material or solicitation of consent.
Section 7.5. Names of
Members. Each Member acknowledges and agrees that the Fund
may, in its sole discretion, disclose the name(s) of one or more of the Members
to governmental entities and in connection with security clearances and as
required by other applicable law or regulations.
ARTICLE
8. WITHDRAWALS
Section
8.1. Withdrawals.
8.1.1. Voluntary Withdrawal
Generally. No Member shall be permitted to voluntarily
withdraw from the Fund without the consent of the Manager, which such consent
may be withheld for any reason or for no reason at all.
18
8.1.2. Mandatory Withdrawal
Generally. The Manager may require
any Member (and/or any assignee of a Member) to withdraw from the
Fund:
(i) at
any time on not less than 10 days’ notice if the Manager, in the Manager’s sole
discretion, deems that it is in the best interests of the Fund to require the
withdrawal of any Member (and/or assignee of a Member) for any reason or no
reason at all, which such withdrawal shall be effective on the date specified in
such notice; or
(ii) at
any time on less than 10 days’ notice if the Manager, in the Manager’s sole
discretion, deems it to be in the best interests of the Fund to require the
withdrawal of any Member (and/or assignee of a Member) because the continued
participation of such Member (or assignee) in the Fund might cause the Fund to
violate any law, rule or regulation or expose the Fund to the risk of
litigation, arbitration, administrative proceedings or any similar action or
proceeding;
provided, however, that, except
cases in which Article
13 applies, the Manager shall not require any Member (or assignee) to
withdraw pursuant to this Section 8.1 without
the vote of a Majority of the Shares in favor of such removal.
8.1.3. Amounts due to Withdrawing
Member. Except as otherwise provided in any other agreement
between the Fund and such withdrawing Member and except cases in which a Member
is a “Defaulting Member” (in which case, other provisions of this Agreement
shall apply to any transfer of the Member’s Shares), upon a Member (or assignee)
being so required to withdraw pursuant to Section 8.1.2, the
Fund shall purchase, and such Member (or assignee) shall sell, all of the Shares
of such Member (or assignee) to the Fund for a purchase price equal to the fair
market value of such Shares computed as of the date on which such Member’s (or
assignee’s) withdrawal shall become effective.
ARTICLE
9. TRANSFERS
Section 9.1. Transfers of
Membership Interests. Except as set forth in this Article 9 or
elsewhere in this Agreement, no Investor may Transfer all or any part of such
Investor’s Shares; provided, however, that an
Investor may, with the prior written consent of the Manager, which consent may
be withheld or denied for any reason, and upon compliance with this Article 9, Transfer
all or a portion of such Investor’s Shares. In the case of any
attempted or purported Transfer of a Share not in compliance with this
Agreement, the transferring Investor may be designated as a “Defaulting
Member”. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless agreed to by the
Manager in writing, no Investor may enter into, create, sell or Transfer any
financial instrument or contract the value of which is determined in whole or in
part by reference to the Fund (including the amount of Fund distributions, the
value of the Fund Assets, or the results of Fund operations), within the meaning
of Section 1.7704-1(a)(2)(i)(B) of the Regulations.
Section 9.2. Conditions to
Transfer. Any purported Transfer of a Share by an Investor
pursuant to the terms of this Article 9 shall, in
addition to requiring the prior written consent referred to in Section 9.1, be
subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
9.2.1. the
Investor that proposes to effect such Transfer (a “Transferor”) or the
Person to whom such Transfer is to be made (a “Transferee”) shall
have paid all expenses incurred by the Fund, the Manager or the Manager in
connection therewith (whether or not such proposed Transfer is
consummated);
9.2.2. the
Manager shall have been given at least 30 days’ prior written notice of the
proposed Transfer;
19
9.2.3. the
Fund shall have received from the Transferee and, in the case of clause (C)
below, from the Transferor to the extent specified by the Manager, (A) such
assignment agreement and other documents, instruments and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by the Manager, pursuant to which such Transferee shall
have agreed to be bound by this Agreement, including if requested a counterpart
of this Agreement executed by or on behalf of such Transferee, (B) a certificate
or representation to the effect that the representations set forth in the
Subscription Agreement of such Transferor are (except as otherwise disclosed to
and consented to by the Manager) true and correct with respect to such
Transferee as of the date of such Transfer and (C) such other documents,
opinions, instruments and certificates as the Manager shall have reasonably
requested;
9.2.4. such
Transferor or Transferee shall have delivered to the Fund the opinion of
counsel, which counsel and opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Manager, described in Section
9.3;
9.2.5. each
of the Transferor and the Transferee shall have provided a certificate or
representation to the effect that: (A) the proposed Transfer will not be
effected on or through (1) a U.S. national, regional or local securities
exchange, (2) a non U.S. securities exchange or (3) an interdealer quotation
system that regularly disseminates firm buy or sell quotations by identified
brokers or dealers, and (B) it is not, and its proposed Transfer or acquisition
(as the case may be) will not be made by, through or on behalf of (1) a Person,
such as a broker or a dealer, making a market in interests in the Fund or (2) a
Person that makes available to the public bid or offer quotes with respect to
interests in the Fund;
9.2.6. (A)
such Transfer will not be made on a “secondary market or the substantial
equivalent thereof” within the meaning of Section 1.7704-1 of the Regulations,
unless: (i) such Transfer is disregarded in determining whether interests in the
Fund are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent
thereof under Section 1.7704-1 of the Regulations (other than Section
1.7704-1(e)(1)(x) thereof), or (ii) the Fund satisfies the requirements of
Section 1.7704-1(h) of the Regulations at all times during the taxable year of
such Transfer, and (B) such Transfer will not be made on an “established
securities market” within the meaning of Section 1.7704-1 of the Regulations;
and
9.2.7.
(A) such Transfer will not cause the Fund to constitute “plan assets” for
purposes of ERISA, if the assets of the Fund are not considered by the Manager
to be plan assets under ERISA at the time of Transfer, or (B) to the extent the
assets of the Fund are considered by the Manager to be “plan assets” under the
DOL Regulations at the time of Transfer, if requested by the Manager, any
Transferee that is subject to ERISA has taken such action as is necessary, if
any, to appoint the Manager as investment manager (as defined in Section 3(38)
of ERISA) and fiduciary (as defined in Section 3(21) of ERISA) with respect to
the portion of the Fund’s assets deemed to be assets of such
Transferee.
The
Manager may in its sole discretion waive any or all of the conditions set forth
in this Section
9.2, other than the conditions set forth in Section
9.2.6.
Section 9.3. Opinion of
Counsel. The opinion of counsel referred to in Section 9.2 with
respect to a proposed Transfer shall, unless otherwise specified by the Manager,
be substantially to the effect that:
9.3.1. such
Transfer will not require registration under the Securities Act or violate any
provision of any applicable non U.S. securities laws;
9.3.2. the
Transferee is a Person that is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined
in Section 501 of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended;
20
9.3.3. such
Transfer will not require the Manager or any Affiliate of the Manager to
register as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended, if such Person is not already so registered;
9.3.4. such
Transfer will not cause the Fund to be treated as a corporation under the Code;
and
9.3.5. such
Transfer will not violate either this Agreement or the laws, rules or
regulations of any state or any governmental authority applicable to the
Transferor, the Transferee or such Transfer.
In giving
such opinion, counsel may, with the consent of the Manager, rely as to factual
matters on certificates of the Transferor, the Transferee and the Manager and
may include in its opinion customary qualifications and
limitations.
Section 9.4. Involuntary
Transfers. Upon an involuntary Transfer of all or part of a
Investor’s Shares, including by reason of (i) death; (ii) court order; (iii)
dissolution of a Member which is an entity, (iv) Bankruptcy, (v) divorce, (vi)
foreclosure, or (vii) any other Transfer by operation of law, such Shares shall
be permitted to pass directly to the Transferee, and the Transferee shall
thereupon become an assignee of such Shares and shall be subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, including the purchase provisions of this
Article 9, but
such Transferee shall not become a Member unless and until admitted as a
Substitute Member pursuant to Section
9.5.
Section 9.5. Substitute
Members. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, a Transferee may be admitted to the Fund as a substitute Investor of
the Fund (a “Substitute Member”)
only with the consent of the Manager, which consent may be withheld in the
Manager’s sole discretion. Unless the Manager, the Transferor and the
Transferee otherwise agree, in the event of the admission of a Transferee as a
Substitute Member, all references herein to the Transferor shall be deemed to
apply to such Substitute Member, and such Substitute Member shall succeed to all
of the rights and obligations of the Transferor hereunder, provided that the
Transferor shall continue to remain subject to the confidentiality provisions of
this Agreement. A Person shall be deemed admitted to the Fund as a
Substitute Member at the time that the foregoing conditions are satisfied as
acknowledged in writing by the Manager.
Section 9.6. Transfers by
the Manager. The Manager may not Transfer all or any part of
its interest in the Fund, provided that the Manager may Transfer all or a
portion of its interest in the Fund to a Person directly or indirectly
controlled by the Manager. If the Manager Transfers its entire
interest in the Fund pursuant to this Section 9.6, the
Transferee shall automatically be admitted to the Fund as a replacement manager
immediately prior to such Transfer without any further action, approval or vote
of any Person, including any other Member, upon execution of a counterpart of
this Agreement and such Transferee shall continue the investment or other
activities of the Fund without dissolution of the Fund.
Section 9.7. Transfers in
Violation of Agreement Not Recognized. Unless effected in
accordance with and as permitted by this Agreement, no attempted Transfer or
substitution shall be recognized by the Fund, any purported Transfer or
substitution not effected in accordance with and as permitted by this Agreement
shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be void and the Fund shall
recognize no rights of the purported Transferee, including the right to receive
distributions (directly or indirectly) from the Fund or to acquire an interest
in the capital or profits of the Fund. In addition, as a result of
such attempted Transfer, the Manager may designate the purported Transferor as a
“Defaulting Member”.
21
Section 9.8. Certain
Changes in Record Ownership.
9.8.1. A
change in record ownership of an interest in the Fund by reason of a change in
the identity of the trustee, custodian or other fiduciary of an ERISA Member or
public plan member shall not be deemed a Transfer within the meaning of this
Article 9,
provided that the Investor affected by such change shall notify the Manager in
writing of such change promptly and in no event later than 30 days after such
event. The records of the Fund shall be changed by the Manager to
reflect the identity of the new trustee, custodian or other fiduciary upon
receipt of such notice and the execution and delivery of such documents as the
Manager shall require in connection with such change. Pending the
receipt of such notice and documentation, the Fund and the Manager shall be
entitled to rely on the records of the Fund for all purposes in connection with
the affected interest.
9.8.2. In
the event that the Fund is required to make an adjustment under Section 743 of
the Code with respect to all or any portion of a Member’s interest in the Fund,
such Member shall promptly provide the Fund with the information specified in
Section 1.743-1(k)(2) of the Regulations (or any successor provision) in the
manner specified by such regulation and, to the extent applicable, comply with
IRS Notice 2005-32 (and any official guidance subsequently
issued). In the event that the Fund elects to be treated as an
“electing investment partnership” (within the meaning of Section 743(e) of the
Code) and there is a “transfer” of an interest in the Fund (within the meaning
of Section 743(e) of the Code), the Member that holds such interest at the end
of the Fund’s taxable year shall promptly obtain from the Transferor (and any
prior transferors of such interest) and provide to the Fund such information as
shall enable the Fund to comply with its obligations under Section 6031(f) of
the Code with respect to such Transferred interest and otherwise comply with
(and require the Transferor of such interest to comply with) IRS Notice 2005-32
(and any official guidance subsequently issued).
ARTICLE
10. BOOKS OF ACCOUNT; TAX AND FINANCIAL REPORTS;
CONFIDENTIALITY
Section
10.1. Maintenance of Books and Records, Etc.
10.1.1. Maintenance of Books and
Records. The Fund shall maintain books and records in such
manner as is utilized in preparing the Fund’s United States federal information
tax return in compliance with Section 6031 of the Code, and such other records
as may be required in connection with the preparation and filing of the Fund’s
required United States federal, state and local income tax returns or other tax
returns or reports of foreign jurisdictions, including, without limitation, the
records reflecting the Capital Accounts and adjustments
thereto. The Fund may keep its records
in other than written form if capable of conversion into written form within a
reasonable time
10.1.2. Access. Subject
to Section 10.3
and Section
10.4, all such books and records shall at all times be made available at
the principal office of the Fund and shall be open to the reasonable inspection
and examination of the Members or their duly authorized representatives during
normal business hours upon five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to the
Manager stating the purpose of such inspection and examination and how it
relates to the Member’s interest as a Member in the Fund. The Manager
shall have the authority to establish limitations on the scope and duration of
such inspection and examination, including retaining certain information as
confidential.
10.1.3. Banking. All
funds of the Fund may be deposited in such bank, brokerage or money market
accounts as shall be established by the Manager. Withdrawals from and
checks drawn on any such account shall be made upon such signature or signatures
as the Manager may designate.
22
Section 10.2. Tax
Information. Subject to Section 10.3 and
Section 10.4
and subject to the Manager receiving all necessary information from third
parties, within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, the Manager
shall send each Person who was a Member at any time during the Fiscal Year then
ended (including any permitted assignee of a Member who so requests in writing,
whether or not a Substitute Member) a Schedule K-1 and such Fund tax information
as the Manager reasonably believes shall be necessary for the preparation by
such Person of his, her or its United States federal, state and local tax
returns in accordance with any applicable laws, rules and regulations then
prevailing. Such information shall include a statement showing such
Person’s share of distributions, income, gain, loss, deductions and expenses and
other relevant fiscal items of the Fund for such fiscal
year. Promptly upon the request of any Member, the Manager will
furnish to such Member:
10.2.1. all
United States federal, state and local income tax returns or information
returns, if any, which the Fund is required to file; and
10.2.2. such
other information as such Member may reasonably request for the purpose of
applying for refunds of withholding taxes, including to the extent not already
set forth on the Schedule K-1.
Section
10.3. Confidentiality.
10.3.1. Confidentiality
Generally. In addition to and not
in limitation of any other agreement or covenant relating to confidentiality
entered into by any Investor, each Investor shall maintain all information
relating to the Fund contained in the non-public financial reports and books and
records of the Fund, in records of any governmental body, or in any other
document or record, in strict confidence and, without the express prior written
consent of the Manager, shall not disclose any of such information (however
obtained from the Fund, the Manager, another Investor, governmental body, a
vendor of the Fund or otherwise) to any third party other than such Investor’s
attorneys and certified public accountants who have agreed: (i) to keep such
information confidential and (ii) not to use such information for their own
benefit or for the benefit of the Investor. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in this Agreement or in any document relating to the Fund which
prohibits an Investor from disclosing any confidential information regarding the
Fund or the offering of its securities, each Investor (and each employee,
representative or other agent of an Investor) may:
(a) disclose
to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and
tax structure of (i) the Fund and (ii) the offering of its securities, and all
materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are
provided to the Investors relating to such tax treatment and tax structure;
provided, however, that the
preceding clause is intended to cause the securities of the Fund not to be
treated as having been offered under conditions of confidentiality for purposes
of Regulations Sections 1.6011-4(b)(3) and 301.6111-2(a)(2)(ii) (or any
successor provisions) and shall be construed in a manner consistent with such
purpose; and
(b) disclose
information contained in any filing by the Fund under Section 12(b), 12(g),
13(a) or 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and
the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) thereunder
which is publicly available through the SEC.
10.3.2. No Tender
Offers. No Investor may utilize any list of Members to conduct
any tender offer for Shares (or any class or series thereof) which are
registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act except a tender offer conducted
in compliance with Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
10.3.3. Remedies. If
an Investor violates the provisions of this Section 10.3, the
Manager shall be entitled to recover from such Investor legal and professional
fees incurred by the Manager and the Fund to enforce this Section 10.3 against
such Investor and the amount determined in good faith by the Manager of the
damages suffered by the Fund and the Manager as result of the breach by such
Investor of this Section 10.3 and to
obtain such equitable relief as a court may grant. Each Investor
acknowledges by becoming an Investor that money damages will not adequately
compensate the Manager and the Fund for breaches by an Investor of this Section
10.3.
23
Section
10.4. Investor
Access to Information
10.4.1 Available
Information.
Subject to Section 10.3, each Investor is entitled
to obtain the following information from the Fund upon reasonable written demand
stating the purpose of the demand, which purpose must be reasonably related to
the Investor's interest in the Fund:
(i)
True and full information regarding the Fund’s business and financial condition,
as such information is reasonably related to the Investor’s stated
purpose;
(ii)
Promptly after becoming available, a copy of the Fund’s federal, state and local
income tax returns or information returns for the preceding year and prior years
to the extent reasonably available, provided however, that information that
would otherwise not be available to an Investor hereunder shall not become
available by reason of it being appended or attached to or part of such tax
returns; and
(iii) A
copy of the Certificate of Formation and this Agreement and all amendments
thereto; and
10.4.2. Limitations.
(a)
Trade Secrets/Project
Information. Investors
are not entitled to agreements, technical information, trade secrets and other
confidential information relating to the Fund’s development of the Projects, or
to the acquisition or transaction documents related thereto, unless the Manager,
in its sole discretion, determines that disclosure will not harm the Fund or the
Projects or violate any confidentiality provisions contained in such
documents. The Fund may keep confidential from Investors for such
period of time as it deems reasonable any other information that it reasonably
believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or other information that the Fund
in good faith believes would not be in the best interests of the Fund to
disclose or that could damage the Fund or its business or that the Fund is
required by law or by agreement with a third party to keep
confidential.
(b)
Investor
Information. No Investor or
other person acting in the right of or for the benefit of an Investor is
entitled to receive from the Fund or the Manager any information concerning any
other Investor or offeree of the Fund’s Shares, without the prior written
consent of the other Investor or offeree.
10.4.3 Standards. The
Fund may establish reasonable standards governing, without limitation, the
information and documents to be furnished and the time and the location, if
appropriate, of furnishing that information and documents. Costs of providing
information and documents shall be borne by the requesting Investor except for
de minimis amounts consistent with the Fund’s ordinary practices. The Fund shall
be entitled to reimbursement for its direct, out-of-pocket expenses incurred in
declining unreasonable requests (in whole or in part) for
information.
10.4.4. Waiver. Providing
information to one Investor or to persons outside the Fund does not act as a
waiver of the Fund’s rights to withhold information from another
Investor.
24
ARTICLE
11. INDEMNIFICATION; EXCULPATION
Section 11.1. Indemnified
Representatives. As used in this Agreement, “Indemnified
Representative” means:
(i) any
Manager of the Fund, including any former Manager; and
(ii) any
other Person designated as an “Indemnified Representative” by the Manager (which
may, but need not, include any Person serving, at the request of the Fund, as a
member, officer, employee, consultant, agent, fiduciary or trustee of the Fund
or another limited liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, employee benefit plan or other entity or enterprise).
Section 11.2. Exculpation
of Covered Persons. Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, no Member, former Member or Indemnified Representative of the Fund,
or any of their respective Affiliates, representatives or agents (each, a “Covered Person”)
shall be liable to the Fund or any other Covered Person for any loss, damage or
claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such
Covered Person; provided, however, that this
sentence shall not limit or eliminate liability for any negligent act or
omission or one that constitutes a violation of the implied contractual covenant
of good faith and fair dealing.
Section 11.3. Liability to
the Members and the Fund. In the performance of its duties and
obligations under this Agreement and Act, the Manager shall have no fiduciary or
other obligations or duties to the Fund except an implied contractual covenant
of good faith and fair dealing. The Manager does not, in any way,
guarantee the return of the Members’ Capital Contributions or a profit for the
Members from the operations of the Fund.
Section
11.4. Indemnification of Covered Persons. Except as
set forth in Section
11.7, the Fund shall defend, indemnify, save harmless, and pay all
judgments and claims against the Covered Persons relating to any Liabilities
incurred by reason of any act performed or omitted to be performed by any of
them in connection with the business of the Fund, including reasonable
attorneys’ fees incurred by any of them in connection with the defense of any
Proceeding, which attorneys’ fees shall be paid as incurred; provided, however, that there
shall be no indemnification of a Person pursuant to this Section 11.4 from any
liability arising out of any negligent act or omission of such Person or one
that constitutes a breach of the implied contractual covenant to the Fund, its
Members, or the Manager of good faith and fair dealing.
Section
11.5. Reliance. A Covered Person shall be fully
protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Fund and upon such
information, opinion, reports or statements presented to the Fund by any Person
as to matters the Covered Person reasonably believes are within such other
Person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with
reasonable care by or on behalf of the Fund, including information, opinions,
reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, Liabilities,
profits, losses or net cash flow or any other facts pertinent to the existence
and amount of assets from which distributions to Members might properly be
paid.
Section 11.6. Additional
Indemnification Matters. If a Covered Person is entitled to
indemnification in respect of a portion, but not all, of any Liabilities to
which such Person may be subject, the Fund shall indemnify such Covered Person
to the maximum extent for such portion of the Liabilities. The
termination of a Proceeding by settlement shall not create a presumption that
the Covered Person is not entitled to indemnification. This Article 11 shall
survive any termination of this Agreement and any termination, liquidation or
dissolution of the Fund.
25
Section 11.7. Manager’s
Indemnification of Holders of Investor GP
Shares. In addition to and not in limitation
of any other indemnification provided in this Agreement, the Manager shall
defend, indemnify, save harmless, and pay all judgments and claims against the
Investor GP Shareholders relating to any Liabilities incurred by them in
connection with the business of the Fund and as a result of their status as
Investor GP Shareholders, including reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by any
of them in connection with the defense of any Proceeding, which attorneys’ fees
shall be paid as incurred; provided, however, that there
shall be no indemnification of an Investor GP Shareholder pursuant to this Section 11.7 or any
other indemnification provision hereof from any Liabilities arising out of any
negligent act or omission of such Investor GP Shareholder or that constitutes a
breach of this Agreement and such Investor GP Shareholder shall be liable to the
Fund, the Manager and Investors for any Liabilities resulting
therefrom.
ARTICLE
12. DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP
Section 12.1. Event of
Dissolution. The Fund shall continue until dissolved upon the
earliest to occur of the following events (each, an “Event of
Dissolution”):
(i)
when dissolution of the Fund is required by law; or
(ii) upon the determination of the Manager to terminate and
dissolve the Fund.
Section 12.2. Winding
Up. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Dissolution, the Fund
shall continue solely for the purposes of winding up its affairs in an orderly
manner, liquidating its assets, and satisfying the claims of its creditors and
Members. No Member shall take any action that is inconsistent with,
or not necessary to or appropriate for, the winding up of the Fund’s business
and affairs. To the extent not inconsistent with the foregoing, all
covenants and obligations in this Agreement shall continue in full force and
effect until such time as the Fund Assets have been distributed pursuant to this
Section 12.2
and the Certificate of Formation has been canceled in accordance with the
Act. Either the Manager or a Person appointed by the Manager or, if
the Manager does not so act or appoint someone within a reasonable period of
time, a Person appointed by a Majority of the Shares (the “Liquidating Trustee”)
shall be responsible for overseeing the winding up and dissolution of the Fund,
shall take full account of the Fund’s Liabilities and assets, shall cause the
Fund Assets to be liquidated as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the
fair value thereof, and shall cause the net proceeds therefrom, to the extent
sufficient therefor, to be applied and distributed as provided in Article 5 of this
Agreement. In the event that the Liquidating Trustee determines that
a particular Fund Asset cannot be sold on terms which are acceptable to the
Liquidating Trustee in the Liquidating Trustee’s sole discretion, the
Liquidating Trustee may have such particular Fund Asset appraised and may
distribute such Fund Asset in-kind to one or more Members.
Section 12.3. Deemed
Distribution and Recontribution. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained in this Article 12, in the
event the Fund is “terminated” within the meaning of the Code or the Regulations
but no Event of Dissolution has occurred, the Fund Assets shall not be
liquidated, the Fund’s Liabilities shall not be paid or discharged, and the
Fund’s affairs shall not be wound up. Instead, solely for federal
income tax purposes, the Fund shall be deemed to have contributed the Fund
Assets in kind to a new limited liability company which shall be deemed to have
assumed and taken the Fund Assets subject to all Fund Liabilities, in exchange
for interest in the new limited liability company. Immediately
thereafter, such interests shall be deemed to have been distributed to the
Members all in accordance with the Regulations under Code Section
708.
Section 12.4. Rights of
Members. Each Member shall look solely to the Fund Assets and
not to the Manager or the other Members for the return of such Member’s
respective contributions to the Fund and returns or interest thereon and shall
have no right or power to demand or receive property other than cash from the
Fund.
26
Section
12.5. Termination. The Fund shall terminate when
all of the Fund Assets shall have been disposed of and the proceeds therefrom
shall have been distributed as provided in this Article
12. The Liquidating Trustee shall then execute and cause to be
filed a Certificate of Cancellation of the Fund in accordance with the
Act.
ARTICLE
13. DEFAULT
Section
13.1. Default. Not in limitation of any provision
of this Agreement in which a Member is otherwise designated a “Defaulting Member,”
if a Member fails to perform any of such Member’s obligations under this
Agreement or violates any of the terms of this Agreement (an “Event of Default”),
then the Manager shall have the right (in addition to all of its other rights
and remedies under this Agreement, at law or in equity) to give the Member so
failing to perform written notice of such default at any time prior to the
curing of such default. Unless such Member cures such default within
ten (10) days after receipt of such notice, then such Member shall be a “Defaulting Member”
hereunder. Notwithstanding the previous two sentences, in the event
that a Member commits an Event of Default which constitutes gross negligence or
willful misconduct, then such Member shall immediately be deemed to be a
Defaulting Member and shall not be entitled to receive notice of such default or
an opportunity to cure such default.
Section 13.2. Rights of
the Manager and Other Members Upon Default. If a Member is a
Defaulting Member as that term is defined or used in this Article 13 or
elsewhere in this Agreement, then the Manager and, in the case of an Event of
Default by the Manager, any one or more of the Members, or one or more of the
other Members may do one or more of the following, at the same or different
times, in addition to all of their other rights and remedies under this
Agreement, at law or in equity:
(i)
bring any proceeding in the nature of specific performance, injunction or other
equitable remedy, it being acknowledged by each of the Members that damages at
law may be an inadequate remedy for an Event of Default under this Agreement and
that the Defaulting Member may be compelled to cure such default;
(ii)
bring any action by or on behalf of the Members or the Fund,
individually or collectively, as may be permitted by law in order to recover
damages, and the Defaulting Member shall be liable for all damages suffered by
the Fund and the other Members as a result of such default;
(iii) require,
by written notice to the Fund from the Manager or from any one or more of the
other Members, that any amount otherwise payable by the Fund to the Defaulting
Member shall be paid to the other Members, the Manager, or the Fund in an amount
equal to the amount (including damages) owing from the Defaulting Member to the
other Members, the Manager or the Fund;
(iv) require,
by written notice to the Fund from the Manager or from any one or more of the
other Members, that any amount otherwise payable by the Fund to the Defaulting
Member shall be paid into an escrow account, which shall be a commercial bank,
until the amount (including damages) owing from the Defaulting Member to the
other Members, to the Manager or to the Fund has been determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction or agreement among the parties, and shall then be paid to
such Members, to the Manager or to the Fund in such amount; and
(v) require,
by written notice to the Defaulting Member, the mandatory withdrawal of the
Defaulting Member from the Fund pursuant to Section 8.1.2, except
that the provisions in Section 8.1.2
requiring the vote of a Majority of the Shares shall not apply in cases when
such Member is a Defaulting Member.
27
ARTICLE
14. NOTICES
Section
14.1. Notices. All notices or other communications
required or permitted to be given under any of the provisions of this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally
received by the intended recipient or (i) when delivered by messenger or
nationally recognized delivery service (with confirmation of receipt), (ii) when
delivered via e-mail or telecopy (and promptly confirmed by mail) or (iii) three
(3) business days after having been mailed by first class registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the
applicable party at the address indicated on Schedule A hereto, or
to any other address or addressee as any party may in the future specify by
notice to the other parties (with notice of change of address or addressee not
being valid until actually received).
ARTICLE
15. MISCELLANEOUS
Section 15.1. Conversion
to Corporate Form. If the Manager determines, but only with
the affirmative vote of a Majority of the Shares, that it is desirable or
helpful for the business of the Fund to be conducted in a corporate rather than
in a limited liability company form, the Manager shall have the power to
incorporate the Fund or take such other action as the Manager may deem advisable
in light of such changed conditions, including dissolving the Fund, creating one
or more subsidiaries of the newly formed corporation and transferring to such
subsidiaries any or all of the Fund Assets. In connection with any
such incorporation of the Fund, the Members shall receive, in exchange for their
respective Membership Interests, shares of capital stock of such corporation or
its subsidiaries having the same relative economic interest as is set forth in
this Agreement, as among the holders of Membership Interests, subject in each
case to (i) any modifications required solely as a result of the conversion to
corporate form and (ii) any modifications to conform to the provisions relating
to actions of shareholders and a board of directors set forth in the
jurisdiction of incorporation. At the time of such conversion, all of
the Members shall enter into a shareholders agreement providing for reasonably
equivalent powers, restrictions and other provisions to those set forth in this
Agreement.
Section 15.2. Further
Action. Each Member, at the request of the Fund, agrees to
perform all further acts and execute, acknowledge and deliver any documents
which may be reasonably necessary, appropriate or desirable to carry out the
provisions and purposes of this Agreement.
Section 15.3. Waiver of
Action for Partition; No Xxxx for Accounting. Each of the
Members irrevocably waives any right that such Member may have to maintain any
action for partition with respect to any Fund Asset. To the fullest
extent permitted by law, each Member covenants that such Member will not file a
xxxx for accounting.
Section 15.4. Binding
Effect. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, every
covenant, term and provision of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the Members and their respective heirs, legatees, legal
representatives, successors, and permitted transferees and assigns.
Section
15.5. Severability. If any provision of this
Agreement shall be deemed invalid or unenforceable as written, it shall be
construed, to the extent possible, in a manner which shall render it valid and
enforceable, and any limitations on the scope or duration of any such provision
necessary to make it valid and enforceable shall be deemed to be part thereof;
no invalidity or unenforceability shall affect any other portion of this
Agreement unless the provision deemed to be so invalid or unenforceable is a
material element of this Agreement, taken as a whole. Any provision
of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall,
as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement
or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other
jurisdiction.
28
Section
15.6. Incorporation by Reference. Every Exhibit,
Schedule and other Appendix attached to this Agreement and referred to herein is
incorporated in this Agreement by reference unless this Agreement expressly
otherwise provides.
Section 15.7. Entire
Agreement. This Agreement, together with Annex I and any
Exhibits and Schedules hereto, together with any agreements referred to herein
and any consulting, employment, confidentiality and/or restrictive covenant
agreement(s) entered into between a Member and the Fund or entered into between
a Member and any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by,
or under common control with, the Fund, contain the entire agreement among the
parties hereto with respect to the Fund and supersede all prior agreements,
covenants, arrangements, letters, communications, representations or warranties,
whether oral or written, by any party hereto with respect to the Fund or its
business. No party shall be bound by any condition, definition,
warranty or representation, unless and only to the extent (i) expressly set
forth or provided for in this Agreement or in any other agreement entered into
by a party on or subsequent to the Effective Date, set forth in writing and
signed by the party to be bound thereby, or (ii) this Agreement (including the
Exhibits and Schedules hereto), or such other agreements, are amended pursuant
to their terms.
Section
15.8. Amendment.
15.8.1.
This Agreement may be amended by the Manager, without notice
to or the approval of the holders of the Shares, from time to time for the
following purposes: (1) to cure any ambiguity, formal defect or
omission or to correct or supplement any provision herein that may be
inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in the Memorandum or
to effect any amendment without notice to or approval by Investors, as specified
in other provisions of this Agreement; (2) to make such other changes or
provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Agreement that
will not materially and adversely affect the interest of any Investor; (3) to
otherwise equitably resolve issues arising under the Memorandum or this
Agreement, so long as similarly situated holders of Shares are not treated
materially differently; (4) to maintain the federal tax status of the Fund and
any of its Members (so long as no liability of any holder of Shares is
materially increased without such holder’s consent); (5) as otherwise provided
in this Agreement; or (6) to comply with law.
15.8.2. Other
amendments to this Agreement may be proposed by either the Manager or any holder
or holders holding twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the outstanding Shares
entitled to vote, in each case by calling a meeting or requesting consents under
Section 7.4 and
specifying the text of the amendment and the reasons therefore. No
amendment under this Section 15.8.2 that
increases the liability of any holder of Shares, changes the Capital
Contributions required of any holder of Shares or such holder’s rights in the
Net Profits, Net Losses, deductions, credits, revenues or distributions of the
Fund in more than a de minimis manner, such holder’s rights on dissolution, or
any voting or management rights set forth in this Agreement shall become
effective as to that holder of Shares without such holder’s written approval
thereof. Unless otherwise provided herein, all other amendments must
be approved by the holders of a Majority of the Shares and, if the terms of a
Series of Shares or securities so require, by the vote of the holders of such
class, Series or group specified therein.
15.8.3. The
Manager has power to construe this Agreement and to act upon any such
construction. Its construction of the same and any action taken
pursuant thereto by the Fund or a Manager in good faith shall be final and
conclusive.
Section 15.9. No
Waiver. No waiver of any breach or default hereunder shall be
considered valid unless in writing and signed by the party giving such waiver,
and no waiver shall be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach or default of
the same or similar nature. No failure on the part of any party to
exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other
or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or
privilege.
29
Section 15.10. Additional
Remedies. All remedies, rights, powers and privileges, either
under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded the parties to this
Agreement, shall be cumulative and shall not be exclusive of any remedies,
rights, powers and privileges provided by law. Each party hereto may
exercise all such remedies afforded to it in any order or priority.
Section
15.11. Construction. In the event an ambiguity or
question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed
as if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof shall
arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of
the provisions of this Agreement. Unless the context otherwise
requires, the singular and plural forms in this Agreement shall be mutually
inclusive, and the masculine, feminine and neuter forms in this Agreement shall
be mutually inclusive. The words including, includes, and included
shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without
limitation”. The terms of this Agreement are intended to embody the
economic relationship among the Members and shall not be subject to modification
by, or be conformed with, any actions by the Internal Revenue Service except as
this Agreement may be explicitly so amended and except as may relate
specifically to the filing of tax returns.
Section 15.12. Headings;
References. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and are not intended to define or limit the contents of any
article, section or paragraph. Unless otherwise expressly stated
herein, references to Articles and Sections shall refer to articles and sections
of this Agreement.
Section
15.13. Counterparts; Fax Signatures. This Agreement
may be executed in separate counterparts, none of which need contain the
signatures of all parties, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and
all of which taken together constitute one and the same
instrument. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this
Agreement to produce or account for more than the number of counterparts
containing the respective signatures of, or on behalf of, all of the parties
hereto. All executed signature pages transmitted by facsimile shall
be deemed an original, and shall be binding.
Section
15.14. Jurisdiction and Venue. Each of the parties
to this Agreement irrevocably (i) except as provided in Section 15.16,
consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the State of
Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware in any
and all actions between or among any of the parties, whether arising hereunder
or otherwise, except as otherwise directed by such court, and (ii) consents to
service of process by first-class certified mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, to the address at which such party is to receive notices in
accordance with Article 14 of this
Agreement.
Section 15.15. Governing
Law. This Agreement and any amendments hereof shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the internal law (both substantive
and procedural) of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be
performed therein and limited liability companies formed
thereunder.
Section
15.16. Arbitration.
15.16.1. Binding
Arbitration.
30
(a) Except
for equitable relief sought by the Manager pursuant to any provision of this
Agreement or under any applicable securities laws, any individual claim or
dispute (collectively, “Claims”) of every
type (whether under statute, in contract, tort or otherwise and whether for
money damages, penalties or declaratory or equitable relief) arising from or
related in any way to this Agreement, including any question regarding its
existence, validity or termination, or the operation and management of the Fund
by the Fund or the Manager, or their employees, officers, directors, agents or
assigns, shall be resolved by binding arbitration governed by the Federal
Arbitration Act and conducted in accordance with rules of the American
Arbitration Association; provided, however, that if the
Federal Arbitration Act should be held inapplicable for any reason, including
the ruling of the court, then the laws of the State of Delaware shall apply to
such arbitration hearing and proceeding. The number of arbitrators
shall be three (3), with each party having the right to appoint one arbitrator,
who shall together appoint a third neutral arbitrator, each such arbitrator
having experience in the field of securities law and offerings, including
private securities offerings. Such arbitration hearing and
proceedings shall be conducted in New York, New York.
(b) There
will be no written record or transcript of the proceedings required, unless
otherwise requested by the parties to the arbitration (each a “Party” and together
the “Parties”)
or a Party, who shall bear the costs thereof. All of the arbitrators’
orders and decisions may be enforceable in, and judgment upon any award that may
be rendered in the arbitration proceeding, may be confirmed and entered by, a
court having proper jurisdiction. Except as required by law, the
Parties agree that all arbitration proceedings concluded hereunder and the
decision of the arbitrators shall be kept confidential and not disclosed to any
third party, except for a Party’s affiliates, accountants and
lawyers.
(c) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the arbitrators shall have no
authority or power to award consequential, special, indirect, treble, exemplary
or punitive damages of any type, the Parties hereby waiving their rights, if
any, to recover consequential, special, indirect, treble, exemplary or punitive
damages with respect to this Agreement.
15.16.2. No Class
Action. The Parties expressly agree that no Claim may be
brought or submitted to arbitration or heard by an arbitration panel pursuant to
Section 15.16
as a class action, or consolidated with any other Claims and the arbitrators or
arbitration panel shall have no authority to consolidate claims or certify a
class of Claims. Each Member expressly waives any right such Member
may have to submit or consolidate his, her or its Claim with those of other
Members and shall be limited to submitting such Member’s individual claim to
arbitration. No arbitrator or arbitration panel shall have the power
or authority to interpret the legality or enforceability of this Section 15.16 and any
such dispute regarding the applicability, legality or enforceability of this
Section 15.16
shall be submitted to and exclusively determined by a court of law in accordance
with the requirements of Sections 15.14 and
15.15. If
this Section
15.16 is found by a court of law to be invalid or enforceable under any
law or statute, then the entirety of Section 15.16 shall
be null and void with respect to any Claims and, thereafter, all Claims shall
only be resolved by filing an action in a court of law in accordance with Sections 15.14 and
15.15
hereof. The Parties agree that any arbitration shall be postponed
during the pendency of any appeal of a court’s ruling regarding the legality or
enforceability of this Section
15.16.
15.16.3. Notwithstanding
anything contrary contained herein, nothing in this Section 15.16 is
intended to be a waiver or shall act as a waiver of any right that an Investor
may have specifically under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 or other
applicable federal securities law which right is not subject to waiver
thereunder.
31
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have
executed this Limited Liability Company Agreement as of the date first written
above.
By:
__________________________________
32
ANNEX
I
DEFINITIONS
1.
|
“Accounting
Period” means (i) any period (A) commencing on each date on which a
Member is admitted or withdraws from the Fund and, if different,
commencing the first day of each Fiscal Year, and (B) ending on the date
immediately preceding the date of commencement of a new Accounting Period,
and (ii) any portion of any period described in clause (i) of this
sentence for which the Fund is required to allocate Net Profits, Net
Losses, and other items of Fund income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant
to Article
4 of this Agreement.
|
2.
|
“Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act,
as amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of
succeeding law).
|
3.
|
“Actual Depletion
Deductions” means, with respect to any Member, such Member’s actual
depletion allowance with respect to the Fund’s oil and gas properties,
provided that, such Member’s Actual Depletion Deductions with respect to
any single Fund oil or gas property shall not exceed the adjusted basis of
such oil or gas property allocated to such Member (or such Member’s
predecessor in interest) pursuant to Code Section 613A(c)(7)(D). Each
Member shall notify the Fund of the amount of its Actual Depletion
Deductions within sixty (60) days of the end of each Fiscal
Year.
|
4.
|
“Actual Gains”
or “Actual
Losses” means, respectively and with respect to any Member: (i) the
excess, if any, of such Member’s share of the total amount realized from
the disposition of any Fund oil or gas property over such Member’s
remaining adjusted tax basis in such property, or (ii) the excess, if any,
of such Member’s remaining adjusted tax basis in such property over such
Member’s share of the total amount realized by the Member from the
disposition of such property. A Member’s share of the total amount
realized from the disposition of Fund oil or gas property shall be
determined pursuant to Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(v).
|
5.
|
“Adjusted Capital
Account Deficit” means, with respect to any Member, the deficit
balance, if any, in such Member’s Capital Account as of the end of the
relevant Accounting Period, after giving effect to the following
adjustments: (i) credit to such Capital Account of any amounts which such
Member is obligated to restore or is deemed to be obligated to restore to
the Fund pursuant to the penultimate sentences in Sections 1.704-2(g)(1)
and 1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations; and (ii) debit to such Capital
Account the items described in Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4),
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6) of the
Regulations.
|
6.
|
“Advance
Distribution” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.1.2.
|
7.
|
“Affiliate”
means, with respect to any Person, (i) any Person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, the referenced
Person, (ii) any Person which has a 10% or more beneficial, or voting,
interest in the referenced Person or any Person in which the referenced
Person has a 10% or more beneficial, or voting, interest; (iii) any
officer or director of, or partner or member in, either the referenced
Person or any Person described in (i) or (ii) above, and (iv) any Person
who would be a related taxpayer to the referenced Person under Code
Section 267. For purposes of the above, “control” (including
“controlling” and “controlled”) means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or to cause the direction of the
management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of
voting interests, by contract or otherwise. For purposes of
this definition, each Member and such Member’s Affiliates shall not be
considered to be an Affiliate of any other Member or such other Member’s
Affiliates by virtue of being a Member of the
Fund. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Agreement, each investment fund for which the Manager serves as the
manager or the general partner shall be considered an “Affiliate” of the
Manager.
|
33
8.
|
“Agreement” has
the meaning provided in the
Preamble.
|
9.
|
“Available Cash from
Capital Transactions” shall mean, with respect to each Project, the
amount by which: (a) the sum of (i) the total cash proceeds received by
the Fund in connection with Capital Transactions of such Project, plus
(ii) the proceeds of any insurance payments or financing transactions that
are not otherwise used to construct, replace or repair such Project,
exceed (b) the amount that the Manager determines is necessary to be
retained by the Fund (i) to satisfy any debt or other obligation of the
Fund that is secured by, attributable to or otherwise connected with the
Project disposed of (including Member loans, if any) and (ii) to establish
reasonable reserves (including the Salvage Fund) for actual or contingent
obligations of the Fund that are attributable to such
Project.
|
10.
|
“Available Cash from
Operations” shall mean, with respect to each Project, the total
cash received by the Fund from the Operations of such Project, less (i)
all operating expenses and other cash expenditures attributable to such
Project, and (ii) such reserves (including the Salvage Fund) for operating
expenses, debt service and other actual or contingent obligations and
Liabilities of the Fund as the Manager may determine are necessary or
advisable in connection with such
Project.
|
11.
|
“Available Cash from
Temporary Investments” shall mean the total cash received by the
Fund from Temporary Investments.
|
12.
|
“Bankruptcy”
shall be deemed to have occurred as to a Person when (i) such Person shall
have commenced a voluntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now
constituted or hereafter amended or replaced, or under any other
applicable federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency law, or (ii) a decree
or order for relief under any of such laws shall have been entered by any
court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of such Person, or a
receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee or similar official
shall have been appointed for such Person or any substantial part of such
Person’s property, or the winding-up or liquidation of such Person’s
affairs shall have been ordered, and in connection with the foregoing
provisions of this clause (ii) either such Person shall have applied for
or consented to such decree, order or appointment or such decree, order or
appointment shall have continued unstayed and in effect for a period of
ninety (90) days (whether or not consecutive), or (iii) such Person shall
have made an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (iv) such Person
shall have generally admitted in writing the inability to pay such
Person’s debts as such debts become
due.
|
13.
|
“Capital
Account” has the meaning provided in Section
3.2.
|
14.
|
“Capital
Contribution” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of
money, and the fair market value as approved by the Manager of any other
property, (i) contributed to the Fund by such Member prior to the
Effective Date or (ii) contributed to the Fund after the Effective Date by
such Member in accordance with this Agreement or any other agreement to
which the Fund is a party.
|
15.
|
“Capital
Transaction” means a transaction involving, related to or in
connection with the acquisition, transfer, injury, distribution,
condemnation, or other disposition of Fund Assets or interest therein
(other than Temporary Investments) that is made other than in the ordinary
course of the Fund’s business, specifically including but not limited to,
transactions involving, related to or in connection with the drilling and
development of Projects (i.e., natural gas or oil
xxxxx).
|
34
16.
|
“Certificate of
Formation” means the Certificate of Formation of the Fund as
originally filed with the State of Delaware, as such Certificate may be
amended from time to time in accordance with this
Agreement.
|
17.
|
“Claims” has the
meaning provided in Section
15.16.
|
18.
|
“Code” means the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (or any
corresponding provisions of any succeeding
law).
|
19.
|
“Covered Person”
has the meaning provided in Section
11.2.
|
20.
|
“Defaulting
Member” means a Member designated as such pursuant to Sections 8.5,
9.1,
9.6,
13.1, or
elsewhere in this Agreement.
|
21. “DOL Regulations”
means the regulations of the United States Department of Labor included within 29 C.F.R.
Section 2510.3-101.
22.
|
“Dry-Hole Costs”
means the cost incurred by the Fund to drill an exploratory or
developmental well that was found to be
incapable of producing either oil or gas in sufficient quantities to
justify completion as an oil or gas
well
|
23.
|
“Early Investment
Incentive” has the meaning set forth in Section
5.1.1.
|
24. “Effective Date” has
the meaning provided in the Preamble.
25. “ERISA” means the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
26. “Event of Default” has
the meaning provided in Section
13.1.
27. ”Event of Dissolution”
has the meaning provided in Section
12.1.
28. “Exchange Act” has the
meaning provided in Section
10.3.
29.
|
“Expenses” means
all direct and indirect costs of any type or
nature whatsoever (including all attorneys’ fees and disbursements,
accounting fees and disbursements, expert fees and disbursements,
placement agents’ fees and commissions (including placement agent fees and
commissions to Affiliates of the Manager), other out-of-pocket costs and
reasonable compensation for time spent by a Person for which such Person
is not otherwise compensated by the Fund or any third party), and amounts
paid in settlement by or on behalf of a Person, but shall not include any
final judgments, fines or penalties actually levied against a
Person.
|
30.
|
“Fiscal Year”
means (i) the period commencing on the Formation Date and ending on the
first December 31 thereafter and (ii) any subsequent twelve (12) month
period commencing on January 1 and ending on December
31.
|
31. “Formation Date” has
the meaning provided in the Preamble.
32. “Fund” has the meaning
provided in the Preamble.
33. “Fund Assets” has the
meaning provided in Section
1.7.
35
34. “Fund Minimum Gain”
has the meaning given the term “partnership minimum gain” in Sections 1.704-2(b)(2)
and 1.704-2(d) of the Regulations.
35. “GAAP” means, as of
any point in time, generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United
States at such time.
36.
|
“Indemnified
Capacity” means any and all past, present and future service by a
Person in one or more capacities as a member, manager, director, officer,
employee, consultant or agent of the Fund, or, at the request of the Fund,
as a member, manager, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or
trustee of another limited liability company, corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other entity or
enterprise.
|
37. “Indemnified
Representative” has the meaning provided in Section
11.1.
38. “Investment Fee” has
the meaning provided in Section
6.5.
39. “Investor” and “Investors” each have
the meanings provided in the Preamble.
40.
|
“Investor GP
Share” means a Share of Membership Interest whereby the holder is
personally obligated for any and all of the debts, obligations, and
Liabilities of the Fund: (i) that accrue before such Share is converted
into a Limited Liability Share pursuant to this Agreement; and (ii) to the
extent that such debts, obligations, and Liabilities are not satisfied by
the Fund Assets.
|
41.
|
“Investor GP
Shareholder” means an Investor that has purchased an Investor GP
Share.
|
42
|
“Liabilities”
means any Expenses and any other damages, judgments, amounts paid in
settlement, fines, penalties, punitive damages, excise taxes, or costs or
expenses of any nature (including attorneys’ fees and
disbursements).
|
43.
|
“Limited Liability
Share” means a Share of Membership Interest whereby the holder is
not personally obligated for any and all of the debts, obligations, and
Liabilities of the Fund except to the extent of such holder’s investment
in the Fund.
|
44. “Liquidating Trustee”
has the meaning provided in Section
12.2.
45.
|
“Majority of the
Shares” means, as of any point in time and with respect to any
matter, any combination of Investors holding more than fifty percent (50%)
of the combined voting
power of all of the Shares that are entitled to vote at such time on such
matter.
|
46. “Manager” has the
meaning provided in Section
6.1.
47. “Management Fee” has
the meaning provided in Section
6.5.
48. “Member” and “Members” each have
the meanings provided in the Preamble.
49. “Member Nonrecourse
Debt” has the same meaning as the term “partner nonrecourse debt” in Section
1.704-2(b)(4) of the Regulations.
50.
|
“Member Nonrecourse
Debt Minimum Gain” means an amount, with respect to each Member
Nonrecourse Debt, equal to the Fund Minimum Gain that would result if such
Member Nonrecourse Debt were treated as a Nonrecourse Liability,
determined in accordance with Section 1.704-2(i)(3) of the
Regulations.
|
36
51.
|
“Member Nonrecourse
Deductions” has the same meaning as the term
“partner nonrecourse deductions” in Sections 1.704-2(i)(1) and
1.704-2(i)(2) of the Regulations.
|
52.
|
“Membership
Interest” means, as to each Member, such Member’s entire right,
title and interest in the Fund, generally represented by Shares, including
(i) such Member’s Capital Account, (ii) such Member’s rights to share in
the Net Profits and Net Losses and rights, if any, to receive
distributions of cash and other Fund Assets, and (iii) such Member’s
rights to participate in the management and affairs of the Fund as and to
the extent provided in this
Agreement.
|
53.
|
“Memorandum”
means the Confidential Private Placement Memorandum dated March 2, 2009 of
the Fund, as amended from time to
time.
|
54.
|
“Net Profits”
and “Net
Losses” respectively, mean, for each Accounting Period for each
Project, (i) an amount equal to the Fund’s taxable income or
loss for such Accounting Period and Project as determined in accordance
with Code Section 703(a) (and all items of income, gain, loss or deduction
required to be separately stated pursuant to Code Section 703(a)(1) shall
be included in taxable income or loss); plus (ii) any income that is
exempt from tax; and minus (iii) any expenditures that are described in
Code Section 705(a)(2)(B).
|
55.
|
“Net Profits from
Capital Transactions” and “Net Losses from
Capital Transactions” means, with respect to each Project, the Net
Profits and Net Losses that are attributable to Capital Transactions
associated with such Project.
|
56.
|
“Net Profits from
Operations” and “Net Losses from
Operations” means, with respect to each Project, the Net Profits
and Net Losses that are attributable to the Operations of the
Project.
|
57.
|
“Net Profits from
Temporary Investments” means, with respect to each Series, the Net
Profits that are attributable to the Temporary Investments of the Fund
that are attributable to such
Series.
|
58. “Nonrecourse
Deductions” has the meaning provided in Section 1.704-2(b)(1) of the Regulations.
59. “Nonrecourse
Liability” has the meaning provided in Section 1.704-2(b)(3) of the Regulations.
60. “Operations” means,
with respect to each Project, the operations of the Project in the ordinary course of
business.
61. “Organizational, Distribution
and Offering Fee” has the meaning provided in Section
6.5.
62.
|
“Organizational
Expenses” means (i) all organizational expenses of the Fund and
expenses incurred in connection with the formation of the Fund and (ii)
all expenses of the Fund incurred in connection with the preparation and
negotiation of this Agreement.
|
63.
|
“Ownership
Percentage” means, with respect to each Investor in each Series,
the percentage interest in a Series as determined by dividing the
aggregate number of Shares attributable to such Series owned by such
Investor by the total number of Shares of the Series then issued and
outstanding. The Ownership Percentage of each Investor shall be
set forth in the books and records of the
Fund.
|
64. “Party” and “Parties” have the
meanings provided in Section
15.16.
37
65.
|
“Person” means
any individual, firm, association, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, trust, estate or other
entity.
|
66. “Preamble” means the
introductory clauses of this Agreement.
67.
|
“Proceeding”
means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, appeal or other
proceeding of any nature, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, whether formal or informal, and whether brought by or in
the right of the Fund, a class of its Members or security holders or
otherwise, in which a Person may be involved as a party or otherwise by
reason of the fact that such Person is or was serving in an Indemnified
Capacity.
|
68. “Projects” has the
meaning provided in Section
1.3.
69.
|
“Regulations”
means the income tax regulations, including temporary regulations,
promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time
to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding
regulations).
|
70. “Regulatory
Allocations” has the meaning provided in Section
4.6.
71. “Ridgewood Energy
Corporation” has the meaning provided in the Preamble.
72.
|
“Royalty
Interest” means an interest in oil, natural gas or other minerals
that entitles the owner of the underlying real property to a specified
fraction of production, in kind or in value, free of the expense of
development and operation, and which is payable out of the leasehold
interest after deduction of the cost of processing, transporting and
marketing such production.
|
73.
|
“Salvage Fund”
means that separate interest-bearing account that has a portion of the
Fund’s net revenue, if any, that the Fund may receive from the production
and sale of oil or natural gas from each Project in which the Fund has
invested until such time as such account contains an amount equal to the
Fund’s anticipated salvage value of dismantling production platforms,
plugging and abandoning the platform xxxxx, and removing the platforms and
platform xxxxx in respect of each such Project after its useful life, in
accordance with applicable federal and state law and
regulations.
|
74. “SEC” has the meaning
provided in Section
10.3.
75. “Series” has the
meaning provided in Section
2.2.
76. “Share” means each of
a Limited Liability Share and an Investor GP Share.
77.
|
“Simulated Depletion
Deductions” means the simulated depletion allowance computed by the
Fund with respect to its oil and gas properties pursuant to Section
1.704-(1)(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2) of the Regulations. In computing such
amounts, the Manager shall have complete and absolute discretion to make
any and all permissible elections.
|
78.
|
“Simulated
Gains” or “Simulated
Losses” means, respectively, the simulated gains or simulated
losses computed by the Fund with respect to its oil and gas properties
pursuant to Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)(2) of the Regulations. In
computing such simulated gains or losses, the Manager shall have complete
and absolute discretion to make any and all permissible
elections.
|
79. “Substitute Member”
has the meaning provided in Section
9.5.
38
80.
|
“Temporary
Investments” shall mean investments by the Fund in: (a) securities
that are obligations of or guaranteed by the U.S. government or an
instrumentality thereof; (b) domestic, corporate or governmental
indebtedness rated Aa or Prime-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by
Xxxxx’x Investors Service Inc. or A-I (or its equivalent) or better by
Standard & Poor’s Corporation; (c) certificates of deposit, money
market accounts, savings accounts, checking accounts or any combination
thereof in banks which have total assets of $100,000,000 or more (or in
banks insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”)
which have total assets of less than $100,000,000 if the amount of the
Fund’s funds deposited in such bank is fully insured by the FDIC); or (d)
any other securities that the Manager determines are appropriate for short
term investments.
|
81.
|
“Total Available
Cash” means, in the aggregate, the Available Cash from Temporary
Investments, the Available Cash from Operations, and the Available Cash
from Capital Transactions.
|
82, “TMP” has the meaning
provided in Section
4.10.
83.
|
“Transfer” means
to, or any attempt to, sell, assign, give away, place in trust, place in
joint names, transfer, mortgage, pledge, alienate, hypothecate, devise,
distribute or in any way encumber or dispose of (including encumbrances or
dispositions, in Bankruptcy or otherwise, by operation of law or court
order) any Membership Interest or part thereof, currently owned or
hereafter acquired.
|
84. “Transferee” has the
meaning provided in Section
9.2.
85. “Transferor” has the
meaning provided in Section
9.2.
86.
|
“Working
Interests” shall mean an interest under a oil or natural gas well,
in which the holders of such interest bear 100% of the costs of exploring,
drilling, developing and operating the well and are entitled to receive
revenues derived from the oil or natural gas production of the well which
remain after deduction of the cost of processing, transporting and
marketing such oil or natural gas, including royalty
payments.
|
39