LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY/JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT OF BR HAWTHORNE SPRINGHOUSE JV, LLC A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DATED AS OF DECEMBER [3], 2009
Exhibit 10.8
LIMITED
LIABILITY COMPANY/JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT
OF
BR
HAWTHORNE SPRINGHOUSE JV, LLC
A
DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
DATED AS
OF DECEMBER [3],
2009
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Page
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Section
1.
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Definitions
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1
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Section
2.
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Organization
of the Company
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8
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2.1
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Name
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8
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2.2
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Place
of Registered Office; Registered Agent
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8
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2.3
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Principal
Office
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9
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2.4
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Filings
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9
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2.5
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Term
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9
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2.6
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Expenses
of the Company
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9
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Section
3.
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Purpose
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9
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Section
4
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Conditions
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9
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4.1
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Bluerock
Conditions
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9
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4.2
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Hawthorne
Conditions
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10
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Section
5.
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Capital
Contributions, Loans, Percentage Interests and Capital
Accounts
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10
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5.1
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Initial
Capital Contributions
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10
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5.2
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Additional
Capital Contributions
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10
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5.3
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Percentage
Ownership Interest
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13
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5.4
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Return
of Capital Contribution
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13
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5.5
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No
Interest on Capital
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13
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5.6
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Capital
Accounts
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13
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5.7
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New
Members
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14
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Section
6.
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Distributions
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14
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6.1
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Distribution
of Distributable Funds
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14
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Section
7.
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Allocations
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15
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7.1
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Allocation
of Net Income and Net Losses Other than in Liquidation
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15
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7.2
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Allocation
of Net Income and Net Losses in Liquidation
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15
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7.3
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U.S.
Tax Allocations
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15
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Section
8.
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Books,
Records, Tax Matters and Bank Accounts
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16
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8.1
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Books
and Records
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16
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8.2
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Reports
and Financial Statements
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16
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8.3
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Tax
Matters Member
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16
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8.4
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Bank
Accounts
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17
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8.5
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Tax
Returns
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17
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8.6
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Expenses
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17
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Section
9.
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Management
and Operations
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17
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9.1
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Management
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17
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9.2
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Management
Committee
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18
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9.3
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Annual
Business Plan
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20
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9.4
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Implementation
of Plan by Property Manager
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20
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9.5
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Affiliate
Transactions
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21
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2
9.6
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Other
Activities
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21
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9.7
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Management
Agreement
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21
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9.8
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Operation
in Accordance with REOC/REIT Requirements
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22
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9.10
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FCPA
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24
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Section
10.
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Confidentiality
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25
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Section
11.
|
Representations
and Warranties
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26
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11.1
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In
General
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26
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11.2
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Representations
and Warranties
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26
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Section
12.
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Sale,
Assignment, Transfer or other Disposition
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29
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12.1
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Prohibited
Transfers
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29
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12.2
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Affiliate
Transfers
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29
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12.3
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Admission
of Transferee; Partial Transfers
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30
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12.4
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Withdrawals
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31
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Section
13.
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Dissolution
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31
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13.1
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Limitations
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31
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13.2
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Exclusive
Events Requiring Dissolution
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32
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13.3
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Liquidation
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32
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13.4
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Continuation
of the Company
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33
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Section
14.
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Indemnification
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33
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14.1
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Exculpation
of Members
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33
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3
14.2
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Indemnification
by Company
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33
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14.3
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Indemnification
by Members for Misconduct
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34
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14.4
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General
Indemnification by the Members
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34
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14.5
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Pledge
of Hawthorne Interest
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34
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Section
15.
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Sale
Rights
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35
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15.1
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Push
/ Pull Rights
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35
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15.2
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Forced
Sale Rights
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37
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Section
16.
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Miscellaneous
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38
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16.1
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Notices
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38
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16.2
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Governing
Law
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39
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16.3
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Successors
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40
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16.4
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Pronouns
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40
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16.5
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Table
of Contents and Captions Not Part of Agreement
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40
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16.6
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Severability
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40
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16.7
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Counterparts
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40
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16.8
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Entire
Agreement and Amendment
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40
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16.9
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Further
Assurances
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40
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16.10
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No
Third Party Rights
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41
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16.11
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Incorporation
by Reference
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41
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4
16.12
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Limitation
on Liability
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41
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16.13
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Remedies
Cumulative
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41
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16.14
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No
Waiver
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41
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16.15
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Limitation
On Use of Names
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41
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16.16
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Publicly
Traded Partnership Provision
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42
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16.17
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Uniform
Commercial Code
|
42
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16.18
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Public
Announcements
|
42
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16.19
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No
Construction Against Drafter
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42
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Section
17.
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Insurance
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42
|
5
OF
BR
HAWTHORNE SPRINGHOUSE JV, LLC
THIS
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT of BR HAWTHORNE SPRINGHOUSE JV, LLC
(“JV” or
“Company”) is
made and entered into and is effective as of December [3], 2009, by and between
BR Springhouse Managing Member,
LLC (“Bluerock”) and Hawthorne Springhouse, LLC, a
North Carolina limited liability company (“Hawthorne”) (this
“Agreement”). Capitalized
terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in this
Agreement.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS,
the Company was formed on September 28, 2009, pursuant to the Act;
WHEREAS,
the Members desire to participate in the Company for the purposes described
herein;
WHEREAS,
Hawthorne Residential Partners, LLC (“Property Manager”) has agreed to provide
management services to the Company on the terms set forth in the Management
Agreement; and
WHEREAS,
it is agreed that Property Manager shall provide such management services to the
Company as an independent contractor.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and covenants set forth herein,
and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section
1.
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Definitions.
As used in this Agreement
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“Act” shall mean the
Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (currently Chapter 18 of Title 6 of the
Delaware Code), as amended from time to time.
“Adjusted Capital Account
Deficit” shall mean, with respect to any Member, the deficit balance, if
any, in such Member’s Capital Account as of the end of the applicable Fiscal
Year after (i) crediting such Capital Account with any amounts which such Member
is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to Regulations Sections
1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), and (ii) debiting such Capital Account by the
amount of the items described in Regulations
Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6). The foregoing
definition of Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is intended to comply with the
provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted
consistently therewith.
“Advisor” shall mean
any accountant, attorney or other advisor retained by a Member.
“Affiliate” shall mean
as to any Person any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with such first Person. For
the purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to control another
Person if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management, policies and/or decision making of such
other Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise. In addition, “Affiliate” shall include as to any Person
any other Person related to such Person within the meaning of Code Sections
267(b) or 707(b)(1). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Hawthorne and
Property Manager shall not be considered to be “Affiliates” of each
other.
“Agreed Upon Value”
shall mean the fair market value (net of any debt) agreed upon pursuant to a
written agreement between the Members of property contributed by a Member to the
capital of the Company, which shall for all purposes hereunder be deemed to be
the amount of the Capital Contribution applicable to such property
contributed.
“Agreement” shall mean
this Limited Liability Company Agreement, as amended from time to
time.
“Annual Business Plan”
shall mean the business plan for a Fiscal Year of the Company prepared by
Property Manager and approved by the Members as further described in Section
9.3.
“Applicable Adjustment
Percentage” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.2(b)(3).
“Bankruptcy Code”
shall mean Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended or any other
applicable bankruptcy or insolvency statute or similar law.
“Bankruptcy/Dissolution
Event” shall mean, with respect to the affected party, (i) the entry of
an Order for Relief under the Bankruptcy Code, (ii) the admission by such party
of its inability to pay its debts as they mature, (iii) the making by it of an
assignment for the benefit of creditors generally, (iv) the filing by it of a
petition in bankruptcy or a petition for relief under the Bankruptcy Code or any
other applicable federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency statute or any
similar law, (v) the expiration of sixty (60) days after the filing of an
involuntary petition under the Bankruptcy Code without such petition being
vacated, set aside or stayed during such period, (vi) an application by such
party for the appointment of a receiver for the assets of such party, (vii) an
involuntary petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or
readjustment of its debts under any other federal or state insolvency law,
provided that the same shall not have been vacated, set aside or stayed within
sixty (60) days after filing, (viii) the imposition of a judicial or statutory
lien on all or a substantial part of its assets unless such lien is discharged
or vacated or the enforcement thereof stayed within sixty (60) days after its
effective date, (ix) an inability to meet its financial obligations as they
accrue, or (x) a dissolution or liquidation.
“Beneficial Owner”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
5.7.
2
“Bluerock” shall have
the meaning provided in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Bluerock Transferee”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
12.2(b)(ii).
“BR REIT” shall have
the meaning provided in Section
12.2(b)(ii).
“BR SOIF II” shall
mean Bluerock Special Opportunity + Income Fund II, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company.
“Capital Account”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
5.6.
“Capital Contribution”
shall mean, with respect to any Member, the aggregate amount of (i) cash, and
(ii) the Agreed Upon Value of other property contributed by such Member to the
capital of the Company net of any liability secured by such property that the
Company assumes or takes subject to.
“Cash Flow” shall
mean, for any period for which Cash Flow is being calculated, gross cash
receipts of the Company (but excluding Capital Contributions, less the following
payments and expenditures (i) all payments of operating expenses of the Company,
(ii) all payments of principal of, interest on and any other amounts due with
respect to indebtedness, leases or other commitments or obligations of the
Company (and other loans by Members to the Company), (iii) all sums expended by
the Company for capital expenditures, (iv) all prepaid expenses of the Company,
and (v) all sums expended by the Company which are otherwise
capitalized.
“Certificate of
Formation” shall mean the Certificate of Formation of the Company, as
amended from time to time.
“Code” shall mean the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including the
corresponding provisions of any successor law.
“Collateral Agreement”
shall mean any agreement, instrument, document or covenant concurrently or
hereafter made or entered into under, pursuant to, or in connection with this
Agreement and any certifications made in connection therewith or amendment or
amendments made at any time or times heretofore or hereafter to any of the same
(including, without limitation, the Management Agreement).
“Company” shall mean
BR Hawthorne Springhouse JV, LLC a Delaware limited liability company organized
under the Act.
“Company Minimum Gain”
shall have the meaning given to the term “partnership minimum gain” in
Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).
“Confidential
Information” shall have the meaning provided in Section
10(a).
“Cure Period” means
(1) ten (10) days after written notice specifying the nature of a default or
breach in connection with a monetary default that is not a "Noncurable Default"
(as
3
hereinafter
defined); (2) thirty (30) days after written notice specifying the nature of a
default or breach under this Agreement or a Collateral Agreement, in connection
with a non-monetary default that is not a Noncurable Default (provided, however,
that if such non-monetary default is not a Noncurable Default and cannot
reasonably be cured within such 30-day period, and the defaulting party promptly
commences the cure of such default and diligently pursues such cure to
completion, then such 30-day period shall be extended to the extent reasonably
necessary (but in no event after the date that is 60 days after such written
notice)); and (3) no period at all for a Noncurable Default. A
“Noncurable Default” means any of the following: (a) a knowing breach
or material unknowing breach of a representation or warranty, (b) a breach of
any restriction on assignment, hypothecation or other transfer, (c) a breach
constituting fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct, (d) taking action that is
beyond the scope of authority established by this Agreement or any Collateral
Agreement, (e) a Bankruptcy/Dissolution Event, or (f) the failure to make a
Capital Contribution required under this Agreement within the time periods
provided herein.
“Default Amount” shall
have the meaning provided in Section
5.2(b).
“Default Loan” shall
have the meaning provided in Section
5.2(b)(1).
“Default Loan Rate”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
5.2(b)(1).
“Defaulting Member”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
5.2(b).
“Delaware UCC” shall
mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Delaware from time
to time.
“Dissolution Event”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
13.2.
“Distributable Funds”
with respect to any month or other period, as applicable, shall mean the sum of
(x) an amount equal to the Cash Flow of the Company for such month or other
period, as applicable, as reduced by reserves for anticipated capital
expenditures, future working capital needs and operating expenses, contingent
obligations and other purposes, the amounts of which shall be reasonably
determined from time to time by the Management Committee.
“Distributions” shall
mean the distributions payable (or deemed payable) to a Member (including,
without limitation, its allocable portion of Distributable Funds).
“ERISA” shall mean the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to
time.
“Fiscal Year” shall
mean each calendar year ending December 31.
“Flow Through Entity”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
5.7.
“Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act” shall mean the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of the United States,
15 U.S.C. Sections 78a, 78m, 78dd-1, 78dd-2, 78dd-3, and 78ff, as amended, if
applicable, or any similar law of the jurisdiction where the Property is located
or where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries transacts business or any other
jurisdiction, if applicable.
4
“Hawthorne” shall have
the meaning provided in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Hawthorne Transferee”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
12.2(b)(i).
“Imputed Closing
Costs” means an amount (not to exceed one and one quarters percent
(1.25%) of the purchase price) that would normally be incurred by a Subsidiary
if the Property were sold for an amount specified in Section 15.1 or Section 15.2 (as
applicable), for title insurance premiums, survey costs, brokerage commissions,
legal fees, and other commercially reasonable closing costs.
“Income” shall mean
the gross income of the Company for any month, Fiscal Year or other period, as
applicable, including gains realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition
of the Company’s assets.
“Indemnified Party”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
14.4(a).
“Indemnifying Party”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
14.4(a).
“Indemnity Collateral”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
14.5(a).
“Inducement
Agreements” shall have the meaning provided in Section
14.4(a).
“Inducement
Obligations” shall have the meaning provided in Section
14.5(a).
“Initiating Member”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
15.2(a).
“Interest” of any
Member shall mean the entire limited liability company interest of such Member
in the Company, which includes, without limitation, any and all rights, powers
and benefits accorded a Member under this Agreement and the duties and
obligations of such Member hereunder.
“Key Individuals”
shall mean Xx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx.
“Loss” shall mean the
aggregate of losses, deductions and expenses of the Company for any month,
Fiscal Year or other period, as applicable, including losses realized on the
sale, exchange or other disposition of the Company’s assets.
“Major Decision” means
any decision for the Company to take, or refrain from taking, any action or
incurring any obligation with respect to the following matters (or the
effectuation of any such action or obligation):
|
(i)
|
any
merger, conversion or consolidation involving the Company or any
Subsidiary or the sale, lease, transfer, exchange or other disposition of
all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or all of the Interests
of the Members in the Company, in one or a series of related
transactions;
|
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(ii)
|
except
as expressly provided in Section 12 with
respect to Transfers by Bluerock or a Bluerock Transferee to a Bluerock
Transferee and with respect to Transfers
|
5
|
by
Hawthorne as permitted thereunder, the admission or removal of any Member
or the Company’s issuance to any third party of any equity interest in the
Company (including interests convertible into, or exchangeable for, equity
interests in the Company);
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(iii)
|
except
upon the occurrence of any Dissolution Event, any liquidation, dissolution
or termination of the Company;
|
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(iv)
|
giving,
granting or undertaking any options, rights of first refusal, deeds of
trust, mortgages, pledges, ground leases, security or other interests in
or encumbering a Property, any portion thereof or any other material
assets;
|
|
(v)
|
selling,
conveying, refinancing or effecting any other direct or indirect transfer
of a Property or other material asset of the Company or any portion
thereof or the entering into of any agreement, commitment or assumption
with respect to any of the
foregoing;
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|
(vi)
|
acquiring
by purchase, ground lease or otherwise, any real property or other
material asset or the entry into of any agreement, commitment or
assumption with respect to any of the foregoing, or the making or posting
of any deposit (refundable or non-refundable);
or
|
|
(vii)
|
taking
any action by the Company that is reasonably likely to result in any
Member or any of its Affiliates having individual liability under any so
called “bad boy” guaranties or similar agreements provided to third party
lenders in respect of financings relating to the Company, the Subsidiaries
or any of their assets which provide for recourse as a result of willful
misconduct, fraud or gross negligence or failure to comply with the
covenants or any other provisions of such “bad boy”
guaranties.
|
“Management Agreement”
shall mean that certain property management agreement attached hereto as Exhibit C to be
entered into between the Company (or a Subsidiary of the Company), as owner, and
Property Manager, as manager, pursuant to which Property Manager will provide
certain management services for the Properties.
“Management Committee”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
9.2(a).
“Manager” shall have
the meaning provided in Section
9.1(a).
“Member” and “Members” shall mean
Bluerock, Hawthorne and any other Person admitted to the Company pursuant to
this Agreement. For purposes of the Act, the Members shall constitute
a single class or group of members.
“Member in Question”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
16.12.
“Member Minimum Gain”
shall mean an amount, determined in accordance with Regulations
Section 1.704-2(i)(3) with respect to each Member Nonrecourse Debt, equal
to the Company Minimum Gain that would result if such Member Nonrecourse Debt
were treated as a Nonrecourse Liability.
6
“Member Nonrecourse
Debt” shall have the meaning given the term “partner nonrecourse debt” in
Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4).
“Member Nonrecourse
Deductions” shall have the meaning given the term “partner nonrecourse
deductions” in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i).
“Net Income” shall
mean the amount, if any, by which Income for any period exceeds Loss for such
period.
“Net Loss” shall mean
the amount, if any, by which Loss for any period exceeds Income for such
period.
“New York UCC” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
16.17.
“Non-Initiating
Member” shall have the meaning provided in Section
15.2(a).
“Offer” shall have the
meaning provided in Section
15.2(a).
“Offeror” shall have
the meaning provided in Section
15.1(b).
“Offeree” shall have
the meaning provided in Section
15.1(b).
“Ownership Entity”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
15.2(a).
“Nonrecourse
Deduction” shall have the meaning given such term in Regulations Section
1.704-2(b)(1).
“Nonrecourse
Liability” shall have the meaning given such term in Regulations Section
1.704-2(b)(3).
“Percentage Interest”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
5.3.
“Person” shall mean
any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association,
joint-stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated
organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any
other legal entity.
“Pledge Agreement”
shall have the meaning provided in Section 14.5(a).
“Property” shall have
the meaning provided in Section
3.
“Property Manager”
shall mean Hawthorne Residential Partners, LLC, so long as the Management
Agreement is in full force and effect and thereafter, the entity performing
similar services for the Company with respect to the Property.
“Property Manager
Reports” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
8.2(c).
“Pursuer” shall have
the meaning provided in Section
10(c).
“REIT” shall mean a
real estate investment trust as defined in Code Section 856.
7
“REIT Member” shall
mean any Member, if such Member is a REIT or a direct or indirect subsidiary of
a REIT.
“REIT Requirements”
shall mean the requirements for qualifying as a REIT under the Code and
Regulations.
“Regulations” shall
mean the Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Code, as amended from
time to time, including the corresponding provisions of any successor
regulations.
“Representatives”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
9.2(a).
“Response Period”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
15.2(b).
“Sale Notice” shall
have the meaning provided in Section
15.2(a).
“Securities Act” shall
mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Subsidiary” shall
mean any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of
which fifty percent (50%) of which at least a majority of the capital stock or
other equity securities is owned by the Company or more is owned by the
Company.
“Tax Matters Member”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
8.3.
“Total Investment”
shall mean the sum of the aggregate Capital Contributions made by a
Member.
“Transfer” means, as a
noun, any transfer, sale, assignment, exchange, charge, pledge, gift,
hypothecation, conveyance, encumbrance or other disposition, voluntary or
involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise and, as a verb, voluntarily or
involuntarily, by operation of law or otherwise, to transfer, sell, assign,
exchange, charge, pledge, give, hypothecate, convey, encumber or otherwise
dispose of.
“Valuation Amount”
shall have the meaning provided in Section
15.1(b).
Section
2.
|
Organization
of the Company.
|
2.1 Name. The
name of the Company shall be “BR Hawthorne Springhouse JV,
LLC”. The business and affairs of the Company shall be
conducted under such name or such other name as the Members deem necessary or
appropriate to comply with the requirements of law in any jurisdiction in which
the Company may elect to do business.
2.2 Place of Registered Office;
Registered Agent. The address of the registered office of the
Company in the State of Delaware is 0000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
00000. The name and address of the registered agent for service of
process on the Company in the State of Delaware is Corporation Service Company,
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000. The Management
Committee may at any time on five (5) days
8
prior
notice to all Members change the location of the Company’s registered office or
change the registered agent.
2.3 Principal
Office. The principal address of the Company shall be c/o
Bluerock Real Estate, L.L.C., 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 and the
principal office of Property Manager shall be c/o Hawthorne Residential
Partners, 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000, or,
in each case, at such other place or places as may be determined by the
Management Committee from time to time.
2.4 Filings. On or before
execution of this Agreement, an authorized person within the meaning of the Act
shall have duly filed or caused to be filed the Certificate of Formation of the
Company with the office of the Secretary of State of Delaware, as provided in
Section 18-201 of the Act, and the Members hereby ratify such
filing. The Manager shall use its best efforts to take such other
actions as may be reasonably necessary to perfect and maintain the status of the
Company as a limited liability company under the laws of
Delaware. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary,
the Company shall not do business in any jurisdiction that would jeopardize the
limitation on liability afforded to the Members under the Act or this
Agreement.
2.5 Term. The
Company shall continue in existence from the date hereof until January 30, 2059,
unless extended by the Members, or until the Company is dissolved as provided in
Section 13,
whichever shall occur earlier.
2.6 Expenses of the
Company. Other than the reimbursement of costs and expenses as
provided herein and the fees described in Section 9.7, no fees, costs or
expenses shall be payable by the Company to any Member (or its
Affiliates).
Section
3.
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Purpose.
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The
purpose of the Company, subject in each case to the terms hereof, shall be to
engage in the business of acquiring, owning, operating, developing, renovating,
repositioning, managing, leasing, selling, financing and refinancing the real
estate and any real estate related investments (or portions thereof) known as
Springhouse at Newport News, 000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000,
which are either held by the Company directly or through entities in which the
Company owns a majority of the interests (any property acquired as aforesaid
shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Property”), and all
other activities reasonably necessary to carry out such purpose. The
acquisition of the Property will be effected through the utilization of a
special purpose entity formed this express purpose and, to the extent
practicable, will be structured in a tax efficient manner for each Member, in
each case as determined by the Management Committee.
Section
4.
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Conditions.
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4.1 Bluerock
Conditions. The obligation of Bluerock to consummate the
transactions contemplated herein and to make the initial Capital Contributions
under Section
5.1 is subject to fulfillment of all of the following conditions on or
prior to the date hereof:
9
(a) Hawthorne
shall deposit in the Company’s bank account or the designated escrow account of
First American Title Insurance Company of New York (“Title Company”) the amount
of its initial Capital Contribution set forth on Exhibit A
hereto;
(b) The
Management Agreement shall have been executed by the Company and Property
Manager;
(c) All
of the representations and warranties of Hawthorne and Property Manager
contained in this Agreement and the Collateral Agreements shall be true and
correct as of the date hereof; and
(d) The
Company shall have received the loan proceeds contemplated by the loan documents
to be entered into between BR Springhouse, LLC and CWCapital LLC and its further
assignee, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.
(e) [SPREADER/CONTRIBUTION
AGREEMENT]
4.2 Hawthorne
Conditions. The obligation of Hawthorne to consummate the
transactions contemplated herein and to make the initial Capital Contributions
under Section
5.1 is subject to fulfillment of all of the following conditions on or
prior to the date hereof:
(a) Bluerock
shall deposit into the Company’s bank account or Title Company’s designated
escrow account the amount of its initial Capital Contribution set forth on Exhibit A
hereto;
(b) The
Company shall have received the loan proceeds contemplated by the loan documents
to be entered into between BR Springhouse, LLC and CWCapital LLC and its further
assignee, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation;
(c) The
Management Agreement shall have been executed between the Company and Property
Manager;
(d) All
of the representations and warranties of Bluerock contained in this Agreement
and the Collateral Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date hereof;
and
(e) [SPREADER/CONTRIBUTION
AGREEMENT]
Section
5.
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Capital
Contributions, Loans, Percentage Interests and Capital
Accounts.
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5.1 Initial Capital
Contributions. Subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4, upon
execution of this Agreement, Bluerock and Hawthorne shall each make an initial
Capital Contribution to the Company of cash in the amounts set forth in Exhibit A attached
hereto. The initial Capital Contribution of the Members to the Company may
include amounts for working capital.
5.2 Additional Capital
Contributions. Additional Capital Contributions may be called
for from the Members by the Management Committee by written notice to the
Members from time to time as and to the extent capital is necessary to effect an
investment or
10
expenditures
approved by the Management Committee. Except as otherwise agreed by
the Members, such additional Capital Contributions shall be in an amount for
each Member equal to the product of the amount of the aggregate Capital
Contribution called for multiplied by seventy-five (75%) percent in the case of
Bluerock and twenty-five (25%) percent in the case of Hawthorne. The
Capital Contributions required to be made by Hawthorne shall be contributed or
advanced, as the case may be, in cash by Hawthorne from its own sources (and
shall not be borrowed or constitute proceeds from a Transfer of a direct or
indirect interest in Hawthorne or the Interest of Hawthorne or
otherwise). Such additional Capital Contributions shall be payable by
the Members to the Company upon the earlier of (i) twenty (20) days after
written request from the Company, or (ii) the date when the Capital Contribution
is required, as set forth in a written request from the
Company.
(b) If
a Member (a “Defaulting Member”)
fails to make a Capital Contribution that is required as provided in Section 5.2(a) within
the time frame required therein (the amount of the failed contribution and
related loan shall be the “Default Amount”), the
other Member, provided that it has made the Capital Contribution required to be
made by it, in addition to any other remedies it may have hereunder or at law,
shall have one or more of the following remedies:
(1) to
advance to the Company on behalf of, and as a loan to the Defaulting Member, an
amount equal to the Default Amount to be evidenced by a promissory note in form
reasonably satisfactory to the non-failing Member (each such loan, a “Default
Loan”). The Capital Account of the Defaulting Member shall be
credited with the amount of such Default Amount attributable to a Capital
Contribution and the aggregate of such amounts shall constitute a debt owed by
the Defaulting Member to the non-failing Member. Any Default Loan
shall bear interest at the rate of twenty (20%) percent per annum, but in no
event in excess of the highest rate permitted by applicable laws (the “Default Loan Rate”),
and shall be payable by the Defaulting Member on demand from the non-failing
Member and from any Distributions due to the Defaulting Member
hereunder. Interest on a Default Loan to the extent unpaid, shall
accrue and compound on a quarterly basis. A Default Loan shall be
prepayable, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time without
penalty. Any such Default Loans shall be with full recourse to the
Defaulting Member and shall be secured by the Defaulting Member’s interest in
the Company including, without limitation, such Defaulting Member’s right to
Distributions. In furtherance thereof, upon the making of such
Default Loan, the Defaulting Member hereby pledges, assigns and grants a
security interest in its Interest to the non-failing Member and agrees to
promptly execute such documents and statements reasonably requested by the
non-failing Member to further evidence and secure such security
interest. Any advance by the non-failing Member on behalf of a
Defaulting Member pursuant to this Section 5.2(b)(1)
shall be deemed to be a Capital Contribution made by the Defaulting Member
except as otherwise expressly provided herein. All Distributions to
the Defaulting Member hereunder shall be applied first to payment of any
interest due under any Default Loan and then to principal until all amounts due
thereunder are paid in full. While any Default Loan is outstanding,
the Company shall be obligated to pay directly to the non-failing Member, for
application to and until all Default Loans have been paid in full, the amount of
(x) any Distributions payable to the
11
(2) subject
to any applicable thin capitalization limitations on indebtedness of the
Company, to treat its portion of such Capital Contribution as a loan to the
Company (rather than a Capital Contribution) and to advance to the Company as a
loan to the Company an amount equal to the Default Amount, which loan shall be
evidenced by a promissory note in form reasonably satisfactory to the
non-failing Member and which loan shall bear interest at the Default Loan Rate
and be payable on a first priority basis by the Company from available Cash Flow
and prior to any Distributions made to the Defaulting Member. If each
Member has loans outstanding to the Company under this provision, such loans
shall be payable to each Member in proportion to the outstanding balances of
such loans to each Member at the time of payment. Any advance to the
Company pursuant to this Section 5.2(b)(2)
shall not be treated as a Capital Contribution made by the Defaulting
Member;
(3) to
make an additional Capital Contribution to the Company equal to the Default
Amount whereupon the Percentage Interests of the Members shall be recalculated
to (i) increase the non-defaulting Member’s Percentage Interest by the
percentage (“Applicable Adjustment
Percentage”) determined by dividing one hundred fifty percent (150%) of
the Default Amount by the sum of the Members’ Total Investment (taking into
account the actual amount of such additional Capital Contribution) and by
increasing its Capital Account by one and one-half of the amount of the Default
Amount, and (ii) to reduce the Defaulting Member’s Percentage Interest by the
Applicable Adjustment Percentage and by decreasing its Capital Account by
one-half of the amount of the Default Amount; or
(4) in
lieu of the remedies set forth in subparagraphs (1), (2) or (3), revoke its
portion of such additional Capital Contribution, whereupon the portion of the
Capital Contribution made by the non-failing Member shall be returned within ten
(10) days with interest computed at the Default Loan Rate by the
Company.
(c) Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.2, no
additional Capital Contributions shall be required from any Member if (i) the
Company or any other Person shall be in default (or with notice or the passage
of time or both, would be in default) in any material respect under any loan,
indenture, mortgage, lease, agreement or instrument to which the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company (or any of its
Subsidiaries) or any of its properties or assets is or may be bound, (ii) any
other Member, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be insolvent or
bankrupt or in the process of liquidation, termination or dissolution, (iii) any
other Member, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be subjected to any
pending litigation (x) in which the amount in controversy exceeds $500,000, (y)
which litigation is not being defended by an insurance company who would be
responsible for the payment of any judgment in such litigation, and (z) which
litigation if adversely determined could have a material adverse effect on such
other Member and/or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and/or could
interfere with their ability to perform their obligations hereunder or under any
Collateral Agreement, (iv) there has been a material adverse change in
(including, but not limited to, the financial condition of) any other Member
(and/or its Affiliates)
12
which, in
Member’s reasonable judgment, prevents such other Member (and/or its Affiliates
from performing, or substantially interferes with their ability to perform,
their obligations hereunder or under any Collateral Agreement. If any
of the foregoing events shall have occurred and any Member elects not to make a
Capital Contribution on account thereof, then any other Member which has made
its pro rata share of such Capital Contribution shall be entitled to a return of
such Capital Contribution from the Company.
5.3 Percentage Ownership
Interest. The Members shall have the initial percentage
ownership interests (as the same are adjusted as provided in this Agreement, a
“Percentage
Interest”) in the Company set forth on Exhibit A
immediately following the Capital Contributions provided for in Section
5.1. The Percentage Interests of the Members in the Company
shall be adjusted monthly so that the respective Percentage Interests of the
Members at any time shall be in proportion to their respective cumulative Total
Investment made (or deemed to be made) pursuant to Sections 5.1 and
5.2, as the
same may be further adjusted pursuant to Section
5.2(b)(3). Percentage Interests shall not be adjusted by
distributions made (or deemed made) to a Member.
5.4 Return of Capital
Contribution. Except as approved by each of the Members, no
Member shall have any right to withdraw or make a demand for withdrawal of the
balance reflected in such Member’s Capital Account (as determined under Section 5.6) until
the full and complete winding up and liquidation of the business of the
Company.
5.5 No Interest on Capital. Interest earned on
Company funds shall inure solely to the benefit of the Company, and no interest
shall be paid upon any Capital Contributions nor upon any undistributed or
reinvested income or profits of the Company.
5.6 Capital
Accounts. A separate capital account (the “Capital Account”)
shall be maintained for each Member in accordance with Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)
of the Regulations. Without limiting the foregoing, the Capital Account of each
Member shall be increased by (i) the amount of any Capital Contributions
made by such Member, (ii) the amount of Income allocated to such Member and
(iii) the amount of income or profits, if any, allocated to such Member not
otherwise taken into account in this Section
5.6. The Capital Account of each Member shall be reduced by
(i) the amount of any cash and the fair market value of any property distributed
to the Member by the Company (net of liabilities secured by such distributed
property that the Member is considered to assume or take subject to), (ii) the
amount of Loss allocated to the Member and (iii) the amount of expenses or
losses, if any, allocated to such Member not otherwise taken into account in
this Section
5.6. The Capital Accounts of the Members shall not be
increased or decreased pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) to
reflect a revaluation of the Company’s assets on the Company’s books in
connection with any contribution of money or other property to the Company
pursuant to Section
5.2 by existing Members. If any property other than cash is
distributed to a Member, the Capital Accounts of the Members shall be adjusted
as if such property had instead been sold by the Company for a price equal to
its fair market value, the gain or loss allocated pursuant to Section 7, and the
proceeds distributed in the manner set forth in Section 6.1 or Section
13.3(e)(iii). No Member shall be obligated to restore any negative
balance in its Capital Account. No Member shall be compensated for
any positive balance in its Capital Account except as otherwise expressly
provided herein. The foregoing provisions and the other provisions of
this Agreement
13
relating
to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with the
provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2) and shall be interpreted
and applied in a manner consistent with such Regulations.
5.7 New
Members. The Company may issue additional Interests and
thereby admit a new Member or Members, as the case may be, to the Company, only
if such new Member (i) has delivered to the Company its Capital Contribution,
(ii) has agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement by
becoming a party hereto, and (iii) has delivered such additional documentation
as the Company shall reasonably require to so admit such new Member to the
Company. Without the prior written consent of each then-current
Member, a new Member may not be admitted to the Company if the Company would, or
may, have in the aggregate more than one hundred (100) members. For
purposes of determining the number of members under this Section 5.7, a Person
(the “beneficial
owner”) indirectly owning an interest in the Company through a
partnership, grantor trust or S corporation (as such terms are used in the
Code) (the “flow-through entity”)
shall be considered a member, but only if (i) substantially all of the value of
the beneficial owner’s interest in the flow-through entity is attributable to
the flow-through entity’s interest (direct or indirect) in the Company and (ii)
in the sole discretion of the Management Committee, a principal purpose of the
use of the flow-through entity is to permit the Company to satisfy the
100-member limitation.
Section
6.
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Distributions.
|
6.1 Distribution of
Distributable Funds
(a) The
Management Committee shall calculate and determine the amount of Distributable
Funds for each applicable period. Except as provided in Sections 5.2(b), 6.1(b),
6.1(c) or 13.3 or otherwise
provided hereunder, Distributable Funds, if any, shall be distributed to the
Members, in proportion to their Percentage Interests, on the 15th day
of each month or from time to time as determined by the Management
Committee.
(b) Any
distributions otherwise payable to a Member under this Agreement shall be
applied first to satisfy amounts due and payable on account of the indemnity
and/or contribution obligations of such Member under this Agreement and/or any
other agreement delivered by such Member to the Company or any other Member but
shall be deemed distributed to such Member for purposes of this
Agreement.
6.2 Distributions in
Kind. In the discretion of the Management Committee,
Distributable Funds may be distributed to the Members in cash or in kind and
Members may be compelled to accept a distribution of any asset in kind even if
the percentage of that asset distributed to it exceeds a percentage of that
asset that is equal to the percentage in which such Member shares in
distributions from the Company. In the case of all assets to be
distributed in kind, the amount of the distribution shall equal the fair market
value of the asset distributed as determined by the Management
Committee. In the case of a distribution of publicly traded property,
the fair market value of such property shall be deemed to be the average closing
price for such property for the thirty (30) day period immediately prior to the
distribution, or if such property has not yet been publicly traded for thirty
(30) days, the average closing price of such property for the period prior to
the distribution in which the property has been publicly traded.
14
Section
7.
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Allocations.
|
7.1 Allocation of Net Income and
Net Losses Other than in Liquidation. Except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement, Net Income and Net Losses of the Company for each
Fiscal Year shall be allocated among the Members in a manner such that, as of
the end of such Fiscal Year and taking into account all prior allocations of Net
Income and Net Losses of the Company and all distributions made by the Company
through such date, the Capital Account of each Member is, as nearly as possible,
equal to the distributions that would be made to such Member pursuant to Section 6.1 if the
Company were dissolved, its affairs wound up and assets sold for cash equal to
their tax basis (or book value in the case of assets that have been revalued in
accordance with Section 704(b) of the Code), all Company liabilities were
satisfied, and the net assets of the Company were distributed in accordance with
Section 6.1
immediately after such allocation.
7.2 Allocation of Net Income and
Net Losses in Liquidation. Net Income and Net Losses realized
by the Company in connection with the liquidation of the Company pursuant to
Section 13
shall be allocated among the Members in a manner such that, taking into account
all prior allocations of Net Income and Net Losses of the Company and all
distributions made by the Company through such date, the Capital Account of each
Member is, as nearly as possible, equal to the amount which such Member is
entitled to receive pursuant to Section
13.3(d)(iii).
7.3 U.S. Tax Allocations.
(a) Subject
to Section 704(c) of the Code, for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes,
all items of Company income, gain, loss, deduction and credit shall be allocated
among the Members in the same manner as the corresponding item of income, gain,
loss, deduction or credit was allocated pursuant to the preceding paragraphs of
this Section
7.
(b) Code Section
704(c). In accordance with Code Section 704(c) and the
Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, income and loss with respect to any
property contributed to the capital of the Company (including, if the property
so contributed constitutes a partnership interest, the applicable distributive
share of each item of income, gain, loss, expense and other items attributable
to such partnership interest whether expressly so allocated or reflected in
partnership allocations) shall, solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be
allocated among the Members so as to take account of any variation between the
adjusted basis of such property to the Company for U.S. federal income tax
purposes and its Agreed Upon Value at the time of contribution. Such
allocation shall be made in accordance with such method set forth in Regulations
Section 1.704-3(b) as the Manager in its reasonable discretion
approves.
Any
elections or other decisions relating to such allocations shall be made by
Bluerock in any manner that reasonably reflects the purpose and intention of
this Agreement. Allocations pursuant to this Section 7.3. are
solely for purposes of U.S. federal, state and local income taxes and shall not
affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Member’s share of
Net Income, Net Loss, other items or distributions pursuant to any provisions of
this Agreement.
15
Section
8.
|
Books,
Records, Tax Matters and Bank Accounts.
|
8.1 Books and
Records. The books and records of account of the Company shall
be maintained in accordance with industry standards and shall be based on the
Property Manager Reports. The books and records shall be maintained
at the Company’s principal office or at a location designated by the Management
Committee, and all such books and records (and the dealings and other affairs of
the Company and its Subsidiaries) shall be available to any Member at such
location for review, investigation, audit and copying, at such Member’s sole
cost and expense, during normal business hours on at least twenty-four (24)
hours prior notice. In connection with such review, investigation or
audit, such Member (and its representatives and agents) shall have the
unfettered right to meet and consult with any and all employees of Property
Manager (or any of their respective Affiliates) and to attend meetings and
independently meet and consult with any and all third parties having dealings or
any other relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or with
Property Manager in respect of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.
8.2 Reports and Financial Statements.
(a) Within
ninety (90) days of the end of each Fiscal Year, the Manager shall cause each
Member to be furnished with two sets of the following additional annual reports
computed as of the last day of the Fiscal Year:
|
(i)
|
An
unaudited balance sheet of the
Company;
|
|
(ii)
|
An
unaudited statement of the Company’s profit and loss;
and
|
|
(iii)
|
A
statement of the Members’ Capital Accounts and changes therein for such
Fiscal Year.
|
(b) Within
twenty (20) days of the end of each quarter of each Fiscal Year, the Property
Manager shall cause to be furnished to Bluerock such information as requested by
Bluerock as is necessary for any REIT Member to determine its qualification as a
REIT and its compliance with REIT Requirements as shall be requested by
Bluerock.
(c) The
Members acknowledges that the Property Manager is obligated to perform
Project-related accounting and furnish Project-related accounting statements
under the terms of the Management Agreement (the “Property Manager
Reports”). Manager shall be entitled to rely on the Property Manager
Reports with respect to its obligations under this Section 8, and the Members
acknowledge that the reports to be furnished shall be based on the Property
Manager Reports, without any duty on the part of the Manager to further
investigate the completeness, accuracy or adequacy of the Property Manager
Reports.
8.3 Tax Matters
Member. Bluerock is hereby designated as the “tax matters
partner” of the Company and the Subsidiaries, as defined in Section 6231(a)(7)
of the Code (the “Tax
Matters Member”) and shall prepare or cause to be prepared all income and
other tax returns of the Company and the Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms and
conditions of Section 8.5.
16
Except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement, all elections required or permitted
to be made by the Company and the Subsidiaries under the Code or state tax law
shall be timely determined and made by Bluerock. The Members intend
that the Company be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal, state and local
tax purposes, and the Members will not elect or authorize any person to elect to
change the status of the Company from that of a partnership for U.S. federal,
state and local income tax purposes. Bluerock agrees to consult with
Hawthorne with respect to any written notice of any material tax elections and
any material inquiries, claims, assessments, audits, controversies or similar
events received from any taxing authority. In addition, upon the
request of any Member, the Company and each Subsidiary shall make an election
pursuant to Code Section 754 to adjust the basis of the Company’s property in
the manner provided in Code Sections 734(b) and 743(b). The Company
hereby indemnifies and holds harmless Bluerock from and against any claim, loss,
expense, liability, action or damage resulting from its acting or its failure to
take any action as the “tax matters partner” of the Company and the
Subsidiaries, provided that any
such action or failure to act does not constitute gross negligence or willful
misconduct.
8.4 Bank
Accounts. All funds of the Company are to be deposited in the
Company’s name in such bank account or accounts as may be designated by the
Management Committee and shall be withdrawn on the signature of such Person or
Persons as the Management Committee may authorize.
8.5 Tax
Returns. Manager shall cause to be prepared all income and
other tax returns of the Company and the Subsidiaries required by applicable law
and shall submit such returns to the Management Committee for its review,
comment and approval at least thirty (30) days prior to the due date thereof
(but in no event later than March 10 of each year for the preceding Fiscal Year)
and shall thereafter cause the same to be filed in a timely manner (including
extensions). No later than May 31 (for review, comment and approval)
and June 10 (in final form) of each year with respect to the preceding Fiscal
Year, Manager shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each Member a copy of
the tax returns for the Company and such Subsidiaries with respect to such
Fiscal Year, together with such information with respect to the Company and such
Subsidiaries as shall be necessary for the preparation by such Member of its
U.S. federal and state income or other tax and information returns.
8.6 Expenses. Notwithstanding
any contrary provision of this Agreement, the Members acknowledge and agree that
the reasonable expenses and charges incurred directly or indirectly by or on
behalf of the Manager in connection with its obligations under this Section 8 will be
reimbursed by the Company to the Manager.
Section
9.
|
Management
and Operations.
|
9.1 Management.
(a) The
Company shall be managed by Bluerock (“Manager”), who shall
have the authority to exercise all of the powers and privileges granted by the
Act, any other law or this Agreement, together with any powers incidental
thereto, and to take any other action not
17
prohibited
under the Act or other applicable law, so far as such powers or actions are
necessary or convenient or related to the conduct, promotion or attainment of
the business, purposes or activities of the Company. Manager shall
manage the operations and affairs of the Company, subject to the oversight and
reversal by, and direction from, the Management Committee and/or
Bluerock. Decisions on the matters set forth in Exhibit E require the
express approval of the Management Committee and Bluerock and shall be made
solely by the Management Committee and Bluerock as provided
therein. To the extent that Bluerock or a Bluerock Transferee
Transfers all or a portion of its Interest in accordance with Section 12 to a
Bluerock Transferee, such Bluerock Transferee may be appointed as a co-Manager
under this Section 9.1(a) by Bluerock or a Bluerock Transferee then holding all
or a portion of an Interest without any further action or authorization by any
Member.
(b) The
Management Committee may appoint individuals to act on behalf of the Company
with such titles and authority as determined from time to time by the Management
Committee. Each of such individuals shall hold office until his or
her death, resignation, replacement by the Member who appointed the individual
to the Management Committee, or removal by a vote of the Management Committee
(in which case the Member who appointed such individual shall promptly appoint a
replacement).
9.2 Management
Committee.
(a) Bluerock
and Hawthorne hereby establish a management committee (the “Management
Committee”). The Management Committee shall consist of four
(4) individuals appointed to act as “representatives” of the Member that
appointed him or her (the “Representatives”) as
follows: (i) Bluerock shall be entitled to designate two (2) Representatives to
represent Bluerock; and (ii) Hawthorne shall be entitled to designate two (2)
Representatives to represent Hawthorne. The initial members of the
Management Committee are set forth on Exhibit
X. Xxxxxxxxx represents, warrants and covenants that the
Representatives designated by Hawthorne on Exhibit A have, and
shall at all times have, the full power and authority to make decisions and vote
as a member of the Management Committee, and that such Representatives’ votes as
members of the Management Committee will be binding on Hawthorne and any
transferee of all or a portion of Hawthorne’s Interest; unless and until such
time as Hawthorne or its transferee notifies Bluerock of a change in a
Representative, after which time this sentence shall apply only with respect to
the replacement Representative.
(b) Each
member of the Management Committee, subject to Section 9.1(b), shall
hold office until death, resignation or removal at the pleasure of the Member
that appointed him or her. If a vacancy occurs on the Management
Committee, the Person with the right to appoint and remove such vacating
Representative shall appoint his/her or her successor. A Member shall
lose its right to have representatives on the Management Committee, and its
representatives on the Management Committee shall be deemed to be automatically
removed, as of the date on which such Member ceases to be a Member or as
otherwise provided in this Agreement. If Bluerock or a Bluerock
Transferee Transfers all or a portion of its Interest to a Bluerock Transferee
pursuant to Section
12.2, such Bluerock Transferee shall automatically, and without any
further action or authorization by any Member, succeed to the rights and powers
of Bluerock under this Section 9 as may be
agreed to between Bluerock or the Bluerock Transferee which is transferring the
Interest, on the hand, and the Bluerock Transferee to which the Interest
18
is being
transferred, on the other hand, including the shared or unilateral right to
appoint the Representatives that Bluerock was theretofore entitled to appoint
pursuant to Section
9.2(a).
(c) The
Management Committee shall meet once every quarter (unless waived by mutual
agreement of the Members) and at such other times as may be necessary for the
conduct of the Company’s business on at least five (5) days prior written notice
of the time and place of such meeting given by any Representative. Notice of
regular meetings of the Management Committee are not
required. Representatives may waive in writing the requirements for
notice before, at or after a special meeting, and attendance at such a meeting
without objection by a Representative shall be deemed a waiver of such notice
requirement.
(d) The
Management Committee shall have the right, but not the obligation, to elect one
of the Representatives or another person to serve as Secretary of the Management
Committee. Such person shall hold office until his/her or her death,
resignation or removal by a vote of the Management Committee. The
Secretary or a person designated by him or her shall take written minutes of the
proceedings of the meetings of the Management Committee, and such minutes shall
be filed with the records of the Company.
(e) The
only Representatives required to constitute a quorum for a meeting of the
Management Committee shall be one (1) Representative appointed by Bluerock and
one (1) Representative appointed by Hawthorne; provided, however, that if
Hawthorne has not appointed at least one (1) Representative to the Management
Committee at the time of such meeting (for example, if each Hawthorne
Representative has been removed and not replaced), then a quorum for a meeting
of the Management Committee shall be one (1) Representative appointed by
Bluerock. Each of the two (2) Representatives appointed by Bluerock
shall be entitled to cast two (2) votes on any matter that comes before the
Management Committee and each of the Representatives appointed by Hawthorne
shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote on any matter that comes before the
Management Committee. Approval by the Management Committee of any
matter shall require the affirmative vote (including votes cast by proxy) of at
least a majority of the votes of the Representatives then in office voting at a
duly held meeting of the Management Committee, except as specifically set forth
on Exhibit
E. Exhibit E may only be
amended to remove items specified therein by a unanimous vote of the
Representatives.
(f) Any
meeting of the Management Committee may be held by conference telephone call,
video conference or through similar communications equipment by means of which
all persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each
other. Participation in a telephonic and/or video conference meeting
held pursuant to this Section shall
constitute presence in person at such meeting.
(g) Any
action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Management
Committee may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a
vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken,
shall be signed by the Representatives having not less than the minimum of votes
that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which
all Representatives entitled to vote thereon were present and
voted. All consents shall be filed with the minutes of the
proceedings of the Management Committee.
19
(h) Except
as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, none of the Members or their
Representatives (in their capacities as members of the Management Committee)
only, shall have any duties or liabilities to the Company or any other Member
(including any fiduciary duties), whether or not such duties or liabilities
otherwise arise or exist in law or in equity, and each Member hereby expressly
waives any such duties or liabilities; provided, however, that this
Section 9.2(h)
shall not eliminate or limit the liability of such Representatives or the
Members (A) for acts or omissions that involve fraud, intentional misconduct or
a knowing and culpable violation of law, or (B) for any transaction not
permitted or authorized under or pursuant to this Agreement from which such
Representative or Member derived a personal benefit unless the Management
Committee has approved in writing such transaction in accordance with this
Agreement; provided, further, however, that the
duty of care of each of such Representatives and the Members is to not act with
fraud, intentional misconduct or a knowing and culpable violation of
law. Except as provided in this Agreement, whenever in this Agreement
a Representative of a Member and/or a Member is permitted or required to make a
decision affecting or involving the Company, any Member or any other Person,
such Representative and/or such Member shall be entitled to consider only such
interests and factors as he, she or it desires, including a particular Member’s
interests, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, have no
duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors
affecting the Company or any Member.
9.3 Annual Business
Plan. No later than thirty (30) days prior to the end of the
then current Fiscal Year (except for the 2010 Annual Business Plan, a copy of
which is attached hereto as Exhibit D), Property
Manager shall prepare (or cause to be prepared) and shall deliver to the
Management Committee and Bluerock for approval pursuant to Section 9.1 (and
Exhibit D) the
annual business plan for the next Fiscal Year. If Property Manager
fails to deliver a proposed annual business plan or if the plan proposed is
unacceptable to the Management Committee or Bluerock, the Management Committee
and/or Bluerock shall have the right to prepare, for approval by the Management
Committee and/or Bluerock, a proposed annual business plan (a plan approved by
the Management Committee and Bluerock, is referred to herein as the “Annual Business
Plan”). The Annual Business Plan shall be updated on a quarterly
basis. No material changes or departures from any item in an Annual
Business Plan approved by the Management Committee shall be made by Property
Manager without the prior approval of the Management Committee. Each
Annual Business Plan shall include the information set forth in Exhibit
B.
9.4 Implementation of Plan by
Property
Manager. Property Manager shall, subject to the limitations
contained herein, the availability of operating revenues and other cash flow and
any other matters outside of the reasonable control of Property Manager,
implement and shall not vary or modify the then applicable Annual Business Plan
without the approval of the Management Committee and Bluerock. Property Manager
shall promptly advise and inform the Management Committee of any transaction,
notice, event or proposal directly relating to the management and operation of
any Property, other assets of the Company or the Company or any Subsidiary which
does or is likely to significantly affect, either adversely or favorably, such
Property, other assets of the Company or the Company or such Subsidiary or cause
a significant deviation from the Annual Business Plan. Nothing
contained herein shall in any way diminish the obligations or duties of Property
Manager hereunder.
20
9.5 Affiliate
Transactions. No agreement shall be entered into by the
Company or any Subsidiary with a Member or any Affiliate of a Member and no
decision shall be made in respect of any such agreement (including, without
limitation, the enforcement or termination thereof) unless such agreement or
related decision shall have been approved in writing by the Management
Committee. Without limiting the foregoing, any such agreement shall
be on arm’s length terms and conditions, be terminable on fifteen (15) days’
notice without penalty and the terms and conditions of such agreement shall be
disclosed to all Representatives prior to the execution and delivery
thereof. Further, the written approval of Bluerock shall be required
prior to the use of the name “Bluerock” in connection with any matter or
transaction.
9.6 Other Activities.
(a) Right to Participation in
Other Member Ventures. Neither the Company nor any Member (or
any Affiliate of any Member) shall have any right by virtue of this Agreement
either to participate in or to share in any other now existing or future
ventures, activities or opportunities of any of the other Members or their
Affiliates, or in the income or proceeds derived from such ventures, activities
or opportunities. Neither the Company nor any Member (or any
Affiliate of any Member) shall have any right by virtue of this Agreement either
to participate in or to share in any other now existing or future ventures,
activities or opportunities of any of the other Members or their Affiliates, or
in the income or proceeds derived from such ventures, activities or
opportunities.
(b) Limitation on Actions of
Members; Binding Authority. No
Member shall, without the prior written consent of the other Members, take any
action on behalf of, or in the name of, the Company, or enter into any contract,
agreement, commitment or obligation binding upon the Company, or, in its
capacity as a Member or Manager of the Company, perform any act in any way
relating to the Company or the Company’s assets, except in a manner and to the
extent consistent with the provisions of this
Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the
contrary and without the need for any additional consent from any Person, the
Company, are hereby authorized to execute, deliver and perform that certain
Consent and Agreement of the Company attached to the Pledge
Agreement.
9.7 Management Agreement.
(a) The
Company has entered into the Management Agreement for the Property with Property
Manager (which Management Agreement shall be updated and supplemented from time
to time) pursuant to which Property Manager will provide the development and
management services described therein to the Company.
(b) The
Management Agreement shall be terminable by the Company and/or Bluerock for any
reason on thirty (30) days’ notice from the Management Committee or Bluerock to
Property Manager. Any delegation of the responsibilities of Property Manager or
the subcontracting for such services will be subject to Bluerock’s prior written
consent. Separate agreements may also be entered into with Hawthorne,
Bluerock, their respective Affiliates, or with third parties for certain
services to be provided to the Company, including leasing, construction
management, property management, asset management, technology services,
etc. Such arrangements shall be at market rates, and shall be entered
into only with the Management Committee’s prior written approval of the
Management
21
Committee
and Bluerock, consistent with an approved budget and business plan for each
asset. Unless otherwise agreed, all such contracts will be payable on
a monthly basis and will be terminable upon thirty (30) day’s notice for any
reason or no reason.
9.8 Operation in Accordance with
REOC/REIT Requirements.
(a) The
Members acknowledge that Bluerock or one or more of its Affiliates (an “BR
Affiliate”) intends to qualify as a “real estate operating company” or “venture
capital operating company” within the meaning of U.S. Department of Labor
Regulation 29 C.F.R. §2510.3-101 (a “REOC”), and agree that the Company and its
Subsidiaries shall be operated in a manner that will enable Bluerock and such BR
Affiliate to so qualify. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not take, or refrain from
taking, any action that would result in Bluerock or a BR Affiliate from failing
to qualify as a REOC. The Members acknowledge and agree that Bluerock
may assign any or all of its rights or powers under this Agreement as Manager,
to designate committee representatives, to provide consents and approvals, or
any other rights or powers to one or more of its BR Affiliates as it deems
appropriate, and the exercise of any such rights or powers by a BR Affiliate
shall have full force and effect under this Agreement without the need for any
further consent or approval. Hawthorne (a) shall not fund any Capital
Contribution "with the 'plan assets' of any 'employee benefit plan' within the
meaning of Section
3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
or any 'plan' as defined by Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended", and (b) shall comply with any requirements specified by Bluerock in
order to ensure compliance with this Section
9.9.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, unless specifically agreed to by the
Management Committee in writing, neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries shall
hold any investment, incur any indebtedness or otherwise take any action that
would cause any Member of the Company (or any Person holding an indirect
interest in the Company through an entity or series of entities treated as
partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) to realize any “unrelated
business taxable income” as such term is defined in Code Sections 511 through
514. All consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings
of the Management Committee.
(c) The
Company (and any
direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company) may not engage in any activities
or hold any assets that would constitute or result in the occurrence of a REIT
Prohibited Transaction as defined herein. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained in this Agreement, during the time a REIT Member is a
Member of the Company, neither the Company, any direct or indirect Subsidiary of
the Company,
nor any Member of the Company shall take or refrain from taking any action
which, or the effect of which, would constitute or result in the occurrence of a
REIT Prohibited Transaction by the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary thereof,
including without limiting the generality of the foregoing, but in amplification
thereof:
(i) Entering
into any lease, license, concession or other agreement or permitting any
sublease, license, concession or other agreement that provides for rent or other
payment based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person,
excluding for this
22
purpose a
lease that provides for rent based in whole or in part on a fixed percentage or
percentages of gross receipts or gross sales of any person without reduction for
any costs of the lessee (and in the case of a sublease, without reduction for
any sublessor costs);
(ii) Leasing
personal property, excluding for this purpose a lease of personal property that
is entered into in connection with a lease of real property where the rent
attributable to the personal property is less than 15% of the total rent
provided for under the lease;
(iii) Acquiring
or holding any debt investments, excluding for these purposes “debt” solely
between wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company, unless (I) the amount of
interest income received or accrued by the Company under such loan does not,
directly or indirectly, depend in whole or in part on the income or profits of
any person, and (II) the debt is fully secured by mortgages on real property or
on interests in real property. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein, in the case of debt issued to the Company by a Subsidiary which
is treated as a “taxable REIT subsidiary” of the REIT Member, such debt shall be
secured by a mortgage or similar security interest, or by a pledge of the equity
ownership of a subsidiary of such taxable REIT subsidiary;
(iv) Acquiring
or holding, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the outstanding securities
of any one issuer (by vote or value) other than an entity which either (i) is
taxable as a partnership or a disregarded entity for United States federal
income tax purposes, (ii) has properly elected to be a taxable REIT subsidiary
of the REIT Member by jointly filing with REIT, IRS Form 8875, or (iii) has
properly elected to be a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income
tax purposes;
(v) Entering
into any agreement where the Company receives amounts, directly or indirectly,
for rendering services to the tenants of any property that is owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Company other than (i) amounts received for services that are
customarily furnished or rendered in connection with the rental of real property
of a similar class in the geographic areas in which the Property is located
where such services are either provided by (A) an Independent Contractor (as
defined in Section 856(d)(3) of the Code) who is adequately compensated for such
services and from which the Company or REIT Member do not, directly or
indirectly, derive revenue or (B) a taxable REIT subsidiary of REIT Member who
is adequately compensated for such services or (ii) amounts received for
services that are customarily furnished or rendered in connection with the
rental of space for occupancy only (as opposed to being rendered primarily for
the convenience of the Property’s tenants);
(vi) Entering
into any agreement where a material amount of income received or accrued by the
Company under such agreement, directly or indirectly, does not qualify as either
(i) “rents from real property” or (ii) “interest on obligations secured by
mortgages on real property or on interests in real property,” in each case as
such terms are defined in Section 856(c) of the Code;
(vii) Holding
cash of the Company available for operations or distribution in any manner other
than a traditional bank checking or savings account;
23
(viii) Selling
or disposing of any property, subsidiary or other asset of the Company prior to
(i) the completion of a two
(2) year holding
period with such period to begin on the date the Company acquires a direct or
indirect interest in such property and begins to hold such property, subsidiary
or asset for the production of rental income, and (ii) the satisfaction of any
other requirements under Section 857 of the Code necessary for the avoidance of
a prohibited transaction tax on the REIT; or
(ix) Failing to make current cash
distributions to REIT Member each year in an amount which does not at least
equal the taxable income allocable to REIT Member for such year.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.9(c), the Company may enter into a
REIT Prohibited Transaction if it receives the prior written approval of the
REIT Member specifically acknowledging that the REIT Member is approving a REIT
Prohibited Transaction pursuant to this Section 9.9(c). For purposes
of this Section 9.9(c), “REIT Prohibited Transactions” shall mean any of the
actions specifically set forth in this Section 9.9(c)
9.9 FCPA.
(a) In
compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, each Member will not, and
will ensure that its officers, directors, employees, shareholders, members,
agents and Affiliates, acting on its behalf or on the behalf of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates do not, for a corrupt purpose, offer,
directly or indirectly, promise to pay, pay, promise to give, give or authorize
the paying or giving of anything of value to any official representative or
employee of any government agency or instrumentality, any political party or
officer thereof or any candidate for office in any jurisdiction, except for any
facilitating or expediting payments to government officials, political parties
or political party officials the purpose of which is to expedite or secure the
performance of a routine governmental action by such government officials or
political parties or party officials. The term “routine governmental
action” for purposes of this provision shall mean an action which is ordinarily
and commonly performed by the applicable government official in (i) obtaining
permits, licenses, or other such official documents which such Person is
otherwise legally entitled to; (ii) processing governmental papers; (iii)
providing police protection, mail pick-up and delivery or scheduling inspections
associated with contract performance or inspections related to transit of goods
across country; (iv) providing phone service, power and water supply, loading
and unloading of cargo, or protecting perishable products or commodities from
deterioration; or (v) actions of a similar nature.
The term
routine governmental action does not include any decision by a government
official whether, or on what terms, to award new business to or to continue
business with a particular party, or any action taken by an official involved in
the decision making process to encourage a decision to award new business to or
continue business with a particular party.
(b) Each
Member agrees to notify immediately the other Member of any request that such
Member or any of its officers, directors, employees, shareholders, members,
agents or Affiliates, acting on its behalf, receives to take any action that may
constitute a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
24
Section
10.
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Confidentiality.
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(a) Any
information relating to a Member’s business, operation or finances which are
proprietary to, or considered proprietary by, a Member are hereinafter referred
to as “Confidential Information”. All Confidential Information in
tangible form (plans, writings, drawings, computer software and programs, etc.)
or provided to or conveyed orally or visually to a receiving Member, shall be
presumed to be Confidential Information at the time of delivery to the receiving
Member. All such Confidential Information shall be protected by the
receiving Member from disclosure with the same degree of care with which the
receiving Member protects its own Confidential Information from
disclosure. Each Member agrees: (i) not to disclose such
Confidential Information to any Person except to those of its employees or
representatives who need to know such Confidential Information in connection
with the conduct of the business of the Company and who have agreed to maintain
the confidentiality of such Confidential Information and (ii) neither it nor any
of its employees or representatives will use the Confidential Information for
any purpose other than in connection with the conduct of the business of the
Company; provided that such restrictions shall not apply if such Confidential
Information:
(x) is
or hereafter becomes public, other than by breach of this
Agreement;
(y) was
already in the receiving Member’s possession prior to any disclosure of the
Confidential Information to the receiving Member by the divulging Member;
or
(z) has
been or is hereafter obtained by the receiving Member from a third party not
bound by any confidentiality obligation with respect to the Confidential
Information;
provided, further, that nothing
herein shall prevent any Member from disclosing any portion of such Confidential
Information (1) to the Company and allowing the Company to use such Confidential
Information in connection with the Company’s business, (2) pursuant to judicial
order or in response to a governmental inquiry, by subpoena or other legal
process, but only to the extent required by such order, inquiry, subpoena or
process, and only after reasonable notice to the original divulging Member, (3)
as necessary or appropriate in connection with or to prevent the audit by a
governmental agency of the accounts of Hawthorne or Bluerock, (4) in order to
initiate, defend or otherwise pursue legal proceedings between the parties
regarding this Agreement, (5) necessary in connection with a Transfer of an
Interest permitted hereunder or (6) to a Member’s respective attorneys or
accountants or other representative.
(b) The
Members and their Affiliates shall each act to safeguard the secrecy and
confidentiality of, and any proprietary rights to, any non-public information
relating to the Company and its business, except to the extent such information
is required to be disclosed by law or reasonably necessary to be disclosed in
order to carry out the business of the Company. Each Member may, from
time to time, provide the other Members written notice of its non-public
information which is subject to this Section
10(b).
(c) Without
limiting any of the other terms and provisions of this Agreement (including,
without limitation, Section 9.6), to the
extent a Member (the “Pursuer”) provides
the other Member with information relating to a possible investment opportunity
then being actively pursued by the Pursuer on behalf of the Company, the other
Member receiving such information shall not use such information
25
to pursue
such investment opportunity for its own account to the exclusion of the Pursuer
so long as the Pursuer is actively pursuing such opportunity on behalf of the
Company and shall not disclose any Confidential Information to any Person
(except as expressly permitted hereunder) or take any other action in connection
therewith that is reasonably likely to cause damage to the
Pursuer.
Section
11.
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Representations
and Warranties.
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11.1 In
General. As of the date hereof, each of the Members hereby
makes each of the representations and warranties applicable to such Member as
set forth in Section
11.2. Such representations and warranties shall survive the
execution of this Agreement.
11.2 Representations and
Warranties. Each Member hereby represents and warrants
that:
(a) Due Incorporation or
Formation; Authorization of Agreement. Such Member is a
corporation duly organized or a partnership or limited liability company duly
formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction
of its incorporation or formation and has the corporate, partnership or company
power and authority to own its property and carry on its business as owned and
carried on at the date hereof and as contemplated hereby. Such Member
is duly licensed or qualified to do business and in good standing in each of the
jurisdictions in which the failure to be so licensed or qualified would have a
material adverse effect on its financial condition or its ability to perform its
obligations hereunder. Such Member has the corporate, partnership or
company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform
its obligations hereunder, and the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership or
company action. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligation of such Member.
(b) No Conflict with
Restrictions; No Default. Neither the execution, delivery or
performance of this Agreement nor the consummation by such Member (or any of its
Affiliates) of the transactions contemplated hereby (i) does or will conflict
with, violate or result in a breach of (or has conflicted with, violated or
resulted in a breach of) any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any law,
regulation, order, writ, injunction, decree, determination or award of any
court, any governmental department, board, agency or instrumentality, domestic
or foreign, or any arbitrator, applicable to such Member or any of its
Affiliates, (ii) does or will conflict with, violate, result in a breach of or
constitute a default under (or has conflicted with, violated, resulted in a
breach of or constituted a default under) any of the terms, conditions or
provisions of the articles of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreement or
operating agreement of such Member or any of its Affiliates or of any material
agreement or instrument to which such Member or any of its Affiliates is a party
or by which such Member or any of its Affiliates is or may be bound or to which
any of its properties or assets is subject, (iii) does or will conflict with,
violate, result in (or has conflicted with, violated or resulted in) a breach
of, constitute (or has constituted) a default under (whether with notice or
lapse of time or both), accelerate or permit the acceleration of (or has
accelerated) the performance required by, give (or has given) to others any
material interests or rights or require any consent, authorization or approval
under any
26
indenture,
mortgage, lease, agreement or instrument to which such Member or any of its
Affiliates is a party or by which such Member or any of its Affiliates or any of
their properties or assets is or may be bound or (iv) does or will result (or
has resulted) in the creation or imposition of any lien upon any of the
properties or assets of such Member or any of its Affiliates.
(c) Governmental
Authorizations. Any registration, declaration or filing with,
or consent, approval, license, permit or other authorization or order by, or
exemption or other action of, any governmental, administrative or regulatory
authority, domestic or foreign, that was or is required in connection with the
valid execution, delivery, acceptance and performance by such Member under this
Agreement or consummation by such Member (or any of its Affiliates) of any
transaction contemplated hereby has been completed, made or obtained on or
before the date hereof.
(d) Litigation. There
are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending, or, to the
knowledge of such Member or any of its Affiliates, threatened against or
affecting such Member or any of its Affiliates or any of their properties,
assets or businesses in any court or before or by any governmental department,
board, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, or any arbitrator which
could, if adversely determined (or, in the case of an investigation could lead
to any action, suit or proceeding which if adversely determined could)
reasonably be expected to materially impair such Member’s ability to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or to have a material adverse effect on the
consolidated financial condition of such Member; such Member or any of its
Affiliates has not received any currently effective notice of any default, and
such Member or any of its Affiliates is not in default, under any applicable
order, writ, injunction, decree, permit, determination or award of any court,
any governmental department, board, agency or instrumentality, domestic or
foreign, or any arbitrator which could reasonably be expected to materially
impair such Member’s (or any of its Affiliate’s) ability to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or to have a material adverse effect on the
consolidated financial condition of such Member.
(e) Investigation. Such
Member is acquiring its Interest based upon its own investigation, and the
exercise by such Member of its rights and the performance of its obligations
under this Agreement will be based upon its own investigation, analysis and
expertise. Such Member is a sophisticated investor possessing an
expertise in analyzing the benefits and risks associated with acquiring
investments that are similar to the acquisition of its Interest.
(f) Broker. No
broker, agent or other person acting as such on behalf of such Member was
instrumental in consummating this transaction and that no conversations or prior
negotiations were had by such party with any broker, agent or other such person
concerning the transaction that is the subject of this Agreement.
(g) Investment Company
Act. Neither such Member nor any of its Affiliates is, nor
will the Company as a result of such Member holding an interest therein be, an
“investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
27
(h) Securities
Matters.
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(i)
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None
of the Interests are registered under the Securities Act or any state
securities laws. Such Member understands that the offering,
issuance and sale of the Interests are intended to be exempt from
registration under the Securities Act, based, in part, upon the
representations, warranties and agreements contained in this
Agreement. Such Member is an “accredited investor” as such term
is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities
Act.
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(ii)
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Neither
the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission
has approved the Interests or passed upon or endorsed the merits of the
offer or sale of the Interests. Such Member is acquiring the
Interests solely for such Member’s own account for investment and not with
a view to resale or distribution thereof in violation of the Securities
Act.
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(iii)
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Such
Member is unaware of, and in no way relying on, any form of general
solicitation or general advertising in connection with the offer and sale
of the Interests, and no Member has taken any action which could give rise
to any claim by any person for brokerage commissions, finders’ fees
(without regard to any finders’ fees payable by the Company directly) or
the like relating to the transactions contemplated
hereby.
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(iv)
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Such
Member is not relying on the Company or any of its officers, directors,
employees, advisors or representatives with regard to the tax and other
economic considerations of an investment in the Interests, and such Member
has relied on the advice of only such Member’s
advisors.
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(v)
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Such
Member understands that the Interests may not be sold, hypothecated or
otherwise disposed of unless subsequently registered under the Securities
Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from
registration is available. Such Member agrees that it will not
attempt to sell, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise dispose of all or
any portion of the Interests in violation of this
Agreement.
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(vi)
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Such
Member has adequate means for providing for its current financial needs
and anticipated future needs and possible contingencies and emergencies
and has no need for liquidity in the investment in the
Interests. Except for Bluerock, such Member was not formed for
the specific purpose of acquiring the
Interests.
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(vii)
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Such
Member has significant prior investment experience, including investment
in non-listed and non-registered securities. Such Member is
knowledgeable about investment considerations and has a sufficient net
worth to sustain a loss of such Member’s entire investment in the Company
in the event such a loss should occur. Such Member’s overall
commitment to investments which are not readily marketable is not
excessive in view of such Member’s net worth and financial circumstances
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28
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and
the purchase of the Interests will not cause such commitment to become
excessive. The investment in the Interests is suitable for such
Member.
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(viii)
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Such
Member represents to the Company that the information contained in this
subparagraph (h) and in all other writings, if any, furnished to the
Company with regard to such Member (to the extent such writings relate to
its exemption from registration under the Securities Act) is complete and
accurate and may be relied upon by the Company in determining the
availability of an exemption from registration under federal and state
securities laws in connection with the sale of the
Interests.
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Section
12.
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Sale,
Assignment, Transfer or other
Disposition.
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12.1 Prohibited
Transfers. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 12, Sections 5.2(b) or
14.5 or as
approved by the Management Committee, no Member shall Transfer all or any part
of its Interest, whether legal or beneficial, in the Company, and any attempt to
so Transfer such Interest (and such Transfer) shall be null and void and of no
effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either Member shall have the
right, with the consent of the other Member, at any time to pledge to a lender
or creditor, directly or indirectly, all or any part of its Interest in the
Company for such purposes as it deems necessary in the ordinary cause of its
business and operations.
12.2 Affiliate
Transfers.
(a) Subject
to the provisions of Section 12.2(b) hereof, and subject in each case to the
prior written approval of each Member (such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld), any Member may Transfer all or any portion of its Interest in the
Company at any time to an Affiliate of such Member, provided that such Affiliate
shall remain an Affiliate of such Member at all times that such Affiliate holds
such Interest. If such Affiliate shall thereafter cease being an
Affiliate of such Member while such Affiliate holds such Interest, such
cessation shall be a non-permitted Transfer and shall be deemed void ab initio, whereupon the
Member having made the Transfer shall, at its own and sole expense, cause such
putative transferee to disgorge all economic benefits and otherwise indemnify
the Company and the other Member(s) against loss or damage under any Collateral
Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the following Transfers
shall not require the approval set forth in Section 12.2(a):
(i) Any
Transfer by Hawthorne of up to forty-nine percent (49%) of its Interest as of
the date of this Agreement to any Person (a “Hawthorne
Transferee”); and
(ii) Any
Transfer by Bluerock or a Bluerock Transferee of up to one hundred percent
(100%) of its Interest to any Affiliate of Bluerock, including but not limited
to (A) Bluerock Enhanced Multifamily Trust, Inc. (“BR REIT”) or any
Person that is directly or indirectly owned by BR REIT; and/or (B) Bluerock
Special Opportunity + Income Fund II, LLC
29
(“BR SOIF II”) or any
Person that is directly or indirectly owned by BR SOIF II (collectively, a
“Bluerock
Transferee”);
provided
however, as to subparagraphs (b)(i) and (b)(ii), and as to subparagraph (a), no
Transfer shall be permitted and shall be void ab initio if it shall
violate any “Transfer” provision of any applicable Collateral Agreement with
third party lenders.
(c) Upon the
execution by any such Hawthorne Transferee or Bluerock Transferee of such
documents necessary to admit such party into the Company and to cause the
Hawthorne Transferee or Bluerock Transferee (as applicable) to become bound by
this Agreement, the Hawthorne Transferee or Bluerock Transferee (as applicable)
shall become a Member, without any further action or authorization by any
Member.
(d) The
Transfer of any interest in Manager and any transferee of an interest in Manager
shall be recognized and permitted under this Agreement and by the Members,
without any further action or authorization by any Member.
12.3 Admission of
Transferee;
Partial Transfers. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 12 to the
contrary and except as provided in Sections 5.2(b), and
14.5, no
Transfer of Interests in the Company shall be permitted unless the potential
transferee is admitted as a Member under this Section
12.3:
(a) If a
Member Transfers all or any portion of its Interest in the Company, such
transferee may become a Member if (i) such transferee executes and agrees to be
bound by this Agreement, (ii) the transferor and/or transferee pays all
reasonable legal and other fees and expenses incurred by the Company in
connection with such assignment and substitution and (iii) the transferor and
transferee execute such documents and deliver such certificates to the Company
and the remaining Members as may be required by applicable law or otherwise
advisable; and
(b) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any Transfer or purported Transfer of any Interest, whether to
another Member or to a third party, shall be of no effect and void ab initio, and such
transferee shall not become a Member or an owner of the purportedly transferred
Interest, if the Management Committee determines in its sole discretion
that:
(i) the
Transfer would require registration of any Interest under, or result in a
violation of, any federal or state securities laws;
(ii) the
Transfer would result in a termination of the Company under Code
Section 708(b); provided, however, that any such determination under this
Section 12.3(b)(ii) shall require the reasonable determination and approval of
at least one (1) Representative appointed by Hawthorne.
(iii) as
a result of such Transfer the Company would be required to register as an
investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or any
rules or regulations promulgated thereunder;
30
(iv) if
as a result of such Transfer the aggregate value of Interests held by “benefit
plan investors” including at least one benefit plan investor that is subject to
ERISA, could be “significant” (as such terms are defined in U.S. Department of
Labor Regulation 29 C.F.R. 2510.3-101(f)(2)) with the result that the assets of
the Company could be deemed to be “plan assets” for purposes of
ERISA;
(v) as
a result of such Transfer, the Company would or may have in the aggregate more
than one hundred (100) members and material adverse federal income tax
consequences would result to a Member. For purposes of determining
the number of members under this Section 12.3(b)(v), a
Person (the “beneficial owner”)
indirectly owning an interest in the Company through a partnership, grantor
trust or S corporation (as such terms are used in the Code) (the “flow-through entity”)
shall be considered a member, but only if (i) substantially all of the value of
the beneficial owner’s interest in the flow-through entity is attributable to
the flow-through entity’s interest (direct or indirect) in the Company and (ii)
in the sole discretion of the Management Committee, a principal purpose of the
use of the flow-through entity is to permit the Company to satisfy the
100-member limitation; or
(vi) the
transferor failed to comply with the provisions of Sections 12.2(a) or
(b).
The
Management Committee may require the provision of a certificate as to the legal
nature and composition of a proposed transferee of an Interest of a Member and
from any Member as to its legal nature and composition and shall be entitled to
rely on any such certificate in making such determinations under this Section
12.3.
12.4 Withdrawals. Each
of the Members does hereby covenant and agree that it will not withdraw, resign,
retire or disassociate from the Company, except as a result of a Transfer of its
entire Interest in the Company permitted under the terms of this Agreement and
that it will carry out its duties and responsibilities hereunder until the
Company is terminated, liquidated and dissolved under Section
13. No Member shall be entitled to receive any distribution or
otherwise receive the fair market value of its Interest in compensation for any
purported resignation or withdrawal not in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.
Section
13.
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Dissolution.
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13.1 Limitations. The
Company may be dissolved, liquidated and terminated only pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 13, and, to
the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the terms of this Agreement,
the parties hereto do hereby irrevocably waive any and all other rights they may
have to cause a dissolution of the Company or a sale or partition of any or all
of the Company’s assets.
13.2 Exclusive Events Requiring
Dissolution. The Company shall be dissolved only upon the
earliest to occur of the following events (a “Dissolution
Event”):
(a) the
expiration of the specific term set forth in Section
2.5;
31
(b) at
any time at the election of the Management Committee in writing;
(c) at
any time there are no Members (unless otherwise continued in accordance with the
Act); or
(d) the
entry of a decree of judicial dissolution pursuant to Section 18-802 of the
Act.
13.3 Liquidation. Upon
the occurrence of a Dissolution Event, the business of the Company shall be
continued to the extent necessary to allow an orderly winding up of its affairs,
including the liquidation of the assets of the Company pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 13.3, as
promptly as practicable thereafter, and each of the following shall be
accomplished:
(a) The
Management Committee shall cause to be prepared a statement setting forth the
assets and liabilities of the Company as of the date of dissolution, a copy of
which statement shall be furnished to all of the Members.
(b) The
property and assets of the Company shall be liquidated or distributed in kind
under the supervision of the Management Committee as promptly as possible, but
in an orderly, businesslike and commercially reasonable manner.
(c) Any
gain or loss realized by the Company upon the sale of its property shall be
deemed recognized and allocated to the Members in the manner set forth in Section
7.2. To the extent that an asset is to be distributed in kind,
such asset shall be deemed to have been sold at its fair market value on the
date of distribution, the gain or loss deemed realized upon such deemed sale
shall be allocated in accordance with Section 7.2 and the
amount of the distribution shall be considered to be such fair market value of
the asset.
(d) The
proceeds of sale and all other assets of the Company shall be applied and
distributed as follows and in the following order of priority:
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(i)
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to
the satisfaction of the debts and liabilities of the Company (contingent
or otherwise) and the expenses of liquidation or distribution (whether by
payment or reasonable provision for payment), other than liabilities to
Members or former Members for
distributions;
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(ii)
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to
the satisfaction of loans made pursuant to Section 5.2(b)
in proportion to the outstanding balances of such loans at the time of
payment;
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(iii)
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the
balance, if any, to the Members in accordance with Sections
6.1.
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13.4 Continuation of the
Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the death, retirement, resignation, expulsion, bankruptcy, dissolution
or removal of a Member shall not in and of itself cause the dissolution of the
Company, and the Members are expressly authorized to continue the business of
the Company in such event, without any further action on the part of the
Members.
32
Section
14.
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Indemnification.
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14.1 Exculpation of
Members. No Member, Manager, Representative or officer of the
Company shall be liable to the Company or to the other Members for damages or
otherwise with respect to any actions or failures to act taken or not taken
relating to the Company, except to the extent any related loss results from
fraud, gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct on the part of such
Member, Manager, representative or officer or the willful breach of any
obligation under this Agreement.
14.2 Indemnification by
Company. The Company hereby indemnifies, holds harmless and
defends the Members, the Manager, Representatives, the officers and each of
their respective agents, officers, directors, members, partners, shareholders
and employees from and against any loss, expense, damage or injury suffered or
sustained by them (including but not limited to any judgment, award, settlement,
reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs or expenses incurred in connection
with the defense of any actual or threatened action, proceeding or claim) by
reason of or arising out of (i) their activities on behalf of the Company or in
furtherance of the interests of the Company, including, without limitation, the
provision of guaranties to third party lenders in respect of financings relating
to the Company or any of its assets (but specifically excluding from such
indemnity by the Company any so called “bad boy” guaranties or similar
agreements which provide for recourse as a result of failure to comply with
covenants, willful misconduct or gross negligence, (ii) their status as Members,
Managers, representatives, employees or officers of the Company, or (iii) the
Company’s assets, property, business or affairs (including, without limitation,
the actions of any officer, director, member or employee of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries), if the acts or omissions were not performed or omitted
fraudulently or as a result of gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct
by the indemnified party or as a result of the willful breach of any obligation
under this Agreement by the indemnified party. For the purposes of
this Section 14.2,
officers, directors, employees and other representatives of Affiliates of a
Member who are functioning as representatives of such Member in connection with
this Agreement shall be considered representatives of such Member for the
purposes of this Section
14. Reasonable expenses incurred by the indemnified party in
connection with any such proceeding relating to the foregoing matters shall be
paid or reimbursed by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such
proceeding upon receipt by the Company of (x) written affirmation by the Person
requesting indemnification of its good faith belief that it has met the standard
of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Company and (y) a written
undertaking by or on behalf of such Person to repay such amount if it shall
ultimately be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Person
has not met such standard of conduct, which undertaking shall be an unlimited
general obligation of the indemnified party but need not be
secured.
14.3 Indemnification by Members for Misconduct.
(a) Hawthorne
hereby indemnifies, defends and holds harmless the Company, Bluerock, each
Bluerock Transferee and each of their subsidiaries and their agents, officers,
directors, members, partners, shareholders and employees from and against all
losses, costs, expenses, damages, claims and liabilities (including reasonable
attorneys’ fees) as a result of or arising out of any fraud, gross negligence or
willful or wanton misconduct on the part of, or by,
33
Hawthorne,
any Key Individual, any entity controlled directly or indirectly by one or more
of the Key Individuals that directly or indirectly controls Hawthorne, or any
Representative appointed by Hawthorne.
(b) Bluerock
hereby indemnifies, defends and holds harmless the Company, Hawthorne, Hawthorne
Transferee and each of their subsidiaries and their agents, officers, directors,
members, partners, shareholders and employees from and against all losses,
costs, expenses, damages, claims and liabilities (including reasonable
attorneys’ fees) as a result of or arising out of any fraud, gross negligence or
willful or wanton misconduct on the part of, or by, Bluerock or any
Representative appointed by Bluerock.
14.4 General Indemnification by
the Members.
(a) Notwithstanding
any other provision contained herein, each Member (the “Indemnifying Party”)
hereby indemnifies and holds harmless the other Members, the Company and each of
their subsidiaries and their agents, officers, directors, members, partners,
shareholders and employees (each, an “Indemnified Party”)
from and against all losses, costs, expenses, damages, claims and liabilities
(including reasonable attorneys’ fees) as a result of or arising out of (i) any
breach of any obligation of the Indemnifying Party under this Agreement, or (ii)
any breach of any obligation by or any inaccuracy in or breach of any
representation or warranty made by the Indemnifying Party, whether in this
Agreement or in any other agreement with respect to the conveyance, assignment,
contribution or other transfer of the Properties (or interests therein), assets,
agreements, rights or other interests conveyed, assigned, contributed or
otherwise transferred to the Company (collectively, the “Inducement
Agreements”).
(b) Except
as otherwise provided herein or in any other agreement, recourse for the
indemnity obligation of the Members under this Section 14.4 shall be
limited to such Indemnifying Party’s Interest in the Company; provided, however,
that recourse against Bluerock under its indemnity obligations under this
Agreement or otherwise shall be further limited to an aggregate amount equal to
the value of Hawthorne’s Interest as determined by and being limited to the then
current liquidation value of Hawthorne’s Interest assuming the Company were
liquidated in an orderly fashion and all net proceeds thereof were distributed
in accordance with Article 6.
(c) The
indemnities, contributions and other obligations under this Agreement shall be
in addition to any rights that any Indemnified Party may have at law, in equity
or otherwise. The terms of this Section 14 shall
survive termination of this Agreement.
14.5 Pledge of Hawthorne
Interest.
(a) As
security for the indemnity obligations of Hawthorne under Sections 14.3(a) (the “Inducement
Obligation”), Hawthorne shall execute and deliver to Bluerock a certain
Pledge Agreement (the “Pledge Agreement”)
and related documents pursuant to which Hawthorne grants to Bluerock a lien upon
and a continuing interest in Hawthorne’s Interest in the Company including all
payments due or to become due to Hawthorne hereunder from and after the entry of
a judgment described in Section 14.5(c) and such
other rights pledged under the Pledge Agreement (collectively, the “Indemnity
Collateral”). Any Transfer by Hawthorne of its
34
Interest
shall be subject to the lien and security interest granted hereby until and
unless such lien and security interest are released by
Bluerock.
(b) Hawthorne
shall, on the date hereof, have prepared and filed UCC financing statements and
such other documents and have taken such other action necessary to grant to
Bluerock a fully perfected first priority security interest in all of
Hawthorne’s Interest in the Company. Each Indemnified Party shall
have all of the rights now or hereafter existing under applicable law, and all
rights as a secured creditor under the Uniform Commercial Code in all relevant
jurisdictions, with respect to the Indemnity Collateral, and Hawthorne agrees to
take all such actions as may be reasonably requested of it by an Indemnified
Party to ensure that the Indemnified Parties can realize on such security
interest.
(c) In
the event an Indemnified Party obtains a judgment on account of an Inducement
Obligation, then Bluerock shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be
deemed, without payment of further consideration or the taking of further action
by Hawthorne or any of its Subsidiaries, to have acquired from Hawthorne such
portion of the Indemnity Collateral as shall be equal in value to the amount of
the judgment; provided, at the request of Bluerock, Hawthorne shall execute and
deliver to Bluerock an amendment to this Agreement to reflect the change in the
Interests and Percentage Interests of the Members.
Section
15.
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Sale
Rights
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15.1 Push / Pull Rights.
(a) Availability of
Rights. At any time (i) after the third anniversary of this
Agreement or (ii) that the Members are unable to agree on a Major Decision and
such failure to agree has continued for fifteen (15) days after written notice
from one Member to the other Member indicating an intention to exercise rights
under this Section
15.1, either Member may exercise its right to initiate the provisions of
this Section
15.1. In addition, upon the occurrence of a Hawthorne Change
Event, Bluerock may exercise its right to initiate the provisions of this Section
15.1.
(b) Exercise. The
Member wishing to exercise its rights pursuant to this Section 15.1 (the
“Offeror”)
shall do so by giving notice to the other Member (the “Offeree”) setting
forth a statement of intent to invoke its rights under this Section 15.1, stating
therein the aggregate dollar amount (the “Valuation Amount”)
that the Offeror would be willing to pay for the assets of the Company as of the
Closing Date (as defined below) free and clear of all liabilities, and setting
forth all oral or written offers and inquiries received by the Offeror during
the previous twelve-month period relating to the financing, disposition or
leasing of any Company property (including proposals for the formation of a new
entity for the ownership and operation of the Property).
(c) Offeree
Response. After receipt of such notice, the Offeree shall
elect to either (i) sell its entire Interest to the Offeror for an amount equal
to the amount the Offeree would have been entitled to receive if the Company had
sold its assets for the Valuation Amount on the Closing Date and the Company had
immediately paid all Company liabilities and Imputed Closing Costs and
distributed the net proceeds of sale to the Members in satisfaction of their
Interests pursuant to Section 13.3, or (ii)
purchase the entire Interest of the Offeror for an amount equal to the amount
the Offeror would have been entitled to receive if the Company had sold all of
its assets for the Valuation Amount on the Closing Date and the Company had
immediately paid all Company liabilities and Imputed Closing Costs and
distributed the net proceeds of the sale to the Members in satisfaction of
35
their
Interests pursuant to Section
13.3. The Offeree shall have thirty (30) days from the giving
of the Offeror’s notice in which to exercise either of its options by giving
written notice to the Offeror. If the Offeree does not elect to
acquire the Offeror’s Interest within such time period, the Offeree shall be
deemed to have elected to sell its Interest to the Offeror as provided in
subsection (i) above.
(d) Xxxxxxx
Money. Within five (5) business days after an election has
been made or deemed made under Section 13.1(c), the
acquiring Member shall deposit with a mutually acceptable third-party escrow
agent a non-refundable xxxxxxx money deposit in the amount of five percent (5%)
of the amount the selling Member is entitled to receive for its Interest under
this Section
15.1, which amount shall be applied to the purchase price at
closing. If the acquiring Member should thereafter fail to consummate
the transaction for any reason other than a default by the selling Member or a
refusal by any lender of the Company who has a right under its loan documents to
consent to such transfer to so consent, (i) (A) the xxxxxxx money deposit shall
be distributed from escrow to the selling Member, free of all claims of the
acquiring Member, as liquidated damages and constituting the sole and exclusive
remedy available to the selling Member because of a default by the acquiring
Member or (B) the selling Member may, by delivering to the acquiring Member
written notice thereof, elect to buy the acquiring Member’s entire Interest for
an amount equal to the amount the acquiring Member would have been entitled to
receive if the Company had sold all of its assets for the Valuation Amount and
the Company had immediately paid all Company liabilities and Imputed Closing
Costs and distributed the net proceeds of the sale to the Members in
satisfaction of their Interests pursuant to Section 13.3, in
which case, the Closing Date therefor shall be the date specified in the selling
Member’s notice, and (ii) if the acquiring Member was the Offeror, the
non-refundable xxxxxxx money deposit for any future election by the acquiring
Member to buy the selling Member’s Interest shall be twenty percent (20%) of the
amount the selling Member is entitled to receive for its Interest in connection
with such future election.
(e) Closing. The
closing of an acquisition pursuant to this Section 15.1 shall be
held at the principal place of business of the Company on a mutually acceptable
date (the “Closing
Date”) not later than sixty (60) days (or, if the Offeree is the
acquiring Member, ninety (90) days) after an election has been made or deemed
made under Section
15.1(c). At such closing, the following shall
occur:
(i) The
selling Member shall assign to the acquiring Member or its designee the selling
Member’s Interest in accordance with the instructions of the acquiring Member,
and shall execute and deliver to the acquiring Member all documents which may be
required to give effect to the disposition and acquisition of such interests, in
each case free and clear of all liens, claims, and encumbrances, with covenants
of general warranty; and
36
(ii) The
acquiring Member shall pay to the selling Member the consideration therefor in
cash.
(f) Enforcement. It
is expressly agreed that the remedy at law for breach of the obligations of the
Members set forth in this Section 15.1 is
inadequate in view of (i) the complexities and uncertainties in measuring the
actual damage to be sustained by reason of the failure of a Member to comply
fully with such obligations, and (ii) the uniqueness of the Company’s business
and the Members’ relationships. Accordingly, each of such obligations
shall be, and is hereby expressly made, enforceable by an order of specific
performance.
15.2 Forced Sale
Rights.
(a) Offers. If,
at any time following the third anniversary of the date that a Property is
acquired by a Subsidiary, (i) either Member desires to offer the Property for
sale on specified terms, or (ii) receives from an unaffiliated purchaser a bona fide written cash offer
(i.e., not seller financed) for the purchase of such Property on terms that such
Member desires for the Company, or the Subsidiaries that own such Property
(individually or collectively, the “Ownership Entity”) to
accept (such specified terms or bona fide offer being herein
called the “Offer”), then the
Member desiring to make or accept the Offer (the “Initiating Member”)
shall provide written notice of the terms of such Offer (the “Sale Notice”) to the
other Member (the “Non-Initiating
Member”). Any offer must be in an amount at least equal to the
amount of any indebtedness secured by such Property plus the aggregate
Unreturned Investment Amount.
(b) Response. The
Non-Initiating Member shall have thirty (30) days from the date of the Sale
Notice (the “Response
Period”) to provide written notice to the Initiating Member of whether
the Ownership Entity should make or accept the Offer; the failure to timely
deliver such notice shall be deemed to constitute an election to accept the
Offer and sell such Property or Properties on the terms of the
Offer.
(c) Offer
Unacceptable. If the Non-Initiating Member does not wish for
the Company, or the Ownership Entity, to make or accept the Offer, the
Initiating Member may elect to sell its Interest to the Non-Initiating Member,
in which case the Non-Initiating Member must purchase the Initiating Member’s
Interest for an amount equal to the amount that would be distributable to the
Initiating Member if the Company had accepted the Offer, closed the sale
pursuant to such Offer and wound up its affairs pursuant to Section
13.
For
purposes of the foregoing calculations, the purchase price for a sale shall be
reduced by Imputed Closing Costs therefor. The Initiating Member must
exercise this option, if at all, by delivering written notice thereof to the
Non-Initiating Member within twenty (20) days after the end of the Response
Period. The Non-Initiating Member shall pay the Company cash for each
Ownership Entity or the Initiating Member cash for its Interest, as the case may
be. Closing shall take place on or before the date specified in the
Sale Notice, but if the Non-Initiating Member is purchasing the Initiating
Member’s Interest or one or more Ownership Entities, the Non-Initiating Member
shall have until 120 days after the Sale Notice in which to close. If
the Initiating Member or the Non-Initiating Member defaults at closing, the
non-defaulting party shall have the right to bring suit for damages, for
specific performance, or
37
exercise
any other remedy available at law or in equity. Upon payment at
closing, the Initiating Member shall execute and deliver all documents
reasonably required to transfer the interest being sold.
(d) Offer
Acceptable. If the Non-Initiating Member consents (or is
deemed to have consented) to the Company or the Ownership Entities selling the
Property on the terms of the Offer, then the Initiating Member shall be allowed
to sell such Property for cash on the terms of the Offer for a period of up to
one hundred eighty (180) days following the expiration of the Response
Period. If the Initiating Member obtains a bona fide third party contract to
sell any such Property on the terms of the offer within such one hundred eighty
(180) day period, the Initiating Member shall have an additional period of
ninety (90) days after the date of such contract (that is, not to exceed 270
days after the expiration of the Response Period) in which to consummate the
sale. If after having received the consent (or deemed consent) of the
Non-Initiating Member to the sale of such Property on the terms of the Offer,
the Initiating Member is unable to obtain a bona fide contract within such one
hundred eighty (180) day period, or if after having obtained such bona fide contract, the Initiating
Member is unable to consummate such sale within 270 days after the expiration of
the Response Period, then the Initiating Member must again submit an Offer to
the Non-Initiating Member under the terms of this Section 15.2 before
it may sell such Property.
Section
16.
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Miscellaneous.
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16.1 Notices.
(a) All
notices, requests, approvals, authorizations, consents and other communications
required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be (as
elected by the Person giving such notice) hand delivered by messenger or
overnight courier service, mailed (airmail, if international) by registered or
certified mail (postage prepaid), return receipt requested, or sent via
facsimile (provided such facsimile is immediately followed by the delivery of an
original copy of same via one of the other foregoing delivery methods) addressed
to:
If to
Bluerock:
c/o Bluerock Real Estate, L.L.C.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxx Xxxx
with a
copy to:
c/o
Bluerock Real Estate, L.L.C.
000 0xx
Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx, Esq.
38
If to
Hawthorne:
Hawthorne
Residential Partners
000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
with a
copy to:
K&L Gates, LLP.
Hearst Tower, 47th
Floor
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
E-mail: xxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
(b) Each
such notice shall be deemed delivered (a) on the date delivered if by hand
delivery or overnight courier service or facsimile, and (b) on the date upon
which the return receipt is signed or delivery is refused or the notice is
designated by the postal authorities as not deliverable, as the case may be, if
mailed (provided, however, if such actual delivery occurs after 5:00 p.m. (local
time where received), then such notice or demand shall be deemed delivered on
the immediately following business day after the actual day of
delivery).
(c) By
giving to the other parties at least fifteen (15) days written notice thereof,
the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns shall have the
right from time to time and at any time during the term of this Agreement to
change their respective addresses.
16.2 Governing
Law. This Agreement and the rights of the Members hereunder
shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State
of Delaware. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the
jurisdiction of the New York State courts and the Federal courts sitting in the
State of New York and agree that all matters involving this Agreement shall be
heard and determined in such courts. Each of the parties
hereto waives irrevocably the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance
of such action or proceeding. Each of the parties hereto designates
CT Corporation System, 1600 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, as
its agent for service of process in the State of New York, which designation may
only be changed on not less than ten (10) days’ prior notice to all of the other
parties.
16.3 Successors. This
Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties and
their successors and permitted assigns. Except as otherwise provided
herein, any Member who Transfers its Interest as permitted by the terms of this
Agreement shall
39
have no
further liability or obligation hereunder, except with respect to claims arising
prior to such Transfer.
16.4 Pronouns. Whenever
from the context it appears appropriate, each term stated in either the singular
or the plural shall include the singular and the plural, and pronouns stated in
either the masculine, the feminine or the neuter gender shall include the
masculine, feminine and neuter.
16.5 Table of Contents and
Captions Not Part of Agreement. The table of contents and
captions contained in this Agreement are inserted only as a matter of
convenience and in no way define, limit or extend the scope or intent of this
Agreement or any provisions hereof.
16.6 Severability. If
any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable
in any jurisdiction or in any respect, then the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way
be affected or impaired, and the Members shall use their best efforts to amend
or substitute such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision with enforceable
and valid provisions which would produce as nearly as possible the rights and
obligations previously intended by the Members without renegotiation of any
material terms and conditions stipulated herein.
16.7 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed
an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
16.8 Entire Agreement and
Amendment. This Agreement and the other written agreements
described herein between the parties hereto entered into as of the date hereof,
constitute the entire agreement between the Members relating to the subject
matter hereof. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement or
such other written agreements, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall
govern and control. Bluerock may amend this Agreement at any time
provided that no amendment (other than an amendment necessary to implement the
rights of the parties and/or any decisions made hereunder) which would have a
material adverse effect on Hawthorne shall be effective without the prior
written consent of Hawthorne. No amendment or waiver by Bluerock
shall be enforceable against Bluerock unless it is in writing and duly executed
by Bluerock.
16.9 Further
Assurances. Each Member agrees to execute and deliver any and
all additional instruments and documents and do any and all acts and things as
may be necessary or expedient to effectuate more fully this Agreement or any
provisions hereof or to carry on the business contemplated
hereunder.
16.10 No Third Party
Rights. The provisions of this Agreement are for the exclusive
benefit of the Members and the Company, and no other party (including, without
limitation, any creditor of the Company) shall have any right or claim against
any Member by reason of those provisions or be entitled to enforce any of those
provisions against any Member.
40
16.11 Incorporation by
Reference. Every Exhibit and Annex attached to this Agreement is
incorporated in this Agreement by reference.
16.12 Limitation on
Liability. Except as set forth in Section 14 and with
respect to a Default Loan as set forth in Section 5.2(b), the
Members shall not be bound by, or be personally liable for, by reason of being a
Member, a judgment, decree or order of a court or in any other manner, for the
expenses, liabilities or obligations of the Company, and the liability of each
Member shall be limited solely to the amount of its Capital Contributions as
provided under Section
5. Except as set forth in Section 14.3(a) and
with respect to a Default Loan as set forth in Section 5.2(b), any
claim against any Member (the “Member in Question”)
which may arise under this Agreement shall be made only against, and shall be
limited to, such Member in Question’s Interest, the proceeds of the sale by the
Member in Question of such Interest or the undivided interest in the assets of
the Company distributed to the Member in Question pursuant to Section 13.3(d)
hereof. Except as set forth in Section 14.3(a) and
with respect to a Default Loan as set forth in Section 5.2(b), any
right to proceed against (i) any other assets of the Member in Question or (ii)
any agent, officer, director, member, partner, shareholder or employee of the
Member in Question or the assets of any such Person, as a result of such a claim
against the Member in Question arising under this Agreement or otherwise, is
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waived.
16.13 Remedies
Cumulative. The rights and remedies given in this Agreement
and by law to a Member shall be deemed cumulative, and the exercise of one of
such remedies shall not operate to bar the exercise of any other rights and
remedies reserved to a Member under the provisions of this Agreement or given to
a Member by law. In the event of any dispute between the parties
hereto, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the other party
reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred in connection
therewith.
16.14 No
Waiver. One or more waivers of the breach of any provision of
this Agreement by any Member shall not be construed as a waiver of a subsequent
breach of the same or any other provision, nor shall any delay or omission by a
Member to seek a remedy for any breach of this Agreement or to exercise the
rights accruing to a Member by reason of such breach be deemed a waiver by a
Member of its remedies and rights with respect to such breach.
16.15 Limitation On Use of
Names. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement or
otherwise to the contrary, each of Bluerock and Hawthorne as to itself agree
that neither it nor any of its Affiliates, agents, or representatives is granted
a license to use or shall use the name of the other under any circumstances
whatsoever, except such name may be used in furtherance of the business of the
Company but only as and to the extent unanimously approved by the
Members. Any change in the Name of the Property must be approved by
Management Committiee.
16.16 Publicly Traded Partnership
Provision. Each Member hereby severally covenants and agrees
with the other Members for the benefit of such Members, that (i) it is not
currently making a market in Interests in the Company and will not in the future
make such a market and (ii) it will not Transfer its Interest on an established
securities market, a secondary market or an over-the-counter market or the
substantial equivalent thereof within the meaning of
41
Code
Section 7704 and the Regulations, rulings and other pronouncements of the U.S.
Internal Revenue Service or the Department of the Treasury
thereunder. Each Member further agrees that it will not assign any
Interest in the Company to any assignee unless such assignee agrees to be bound
by this Section
and to assign such Interest only to such Persons who agree to be similarly
bound.
16.17 Uniform Commercial
Code. The interest of each Member in the Company shall be an
“uncertificated security” governed by Article 8 of the Delaware UCC and the UCC
as enacted in the State of New York (the “New York UCC”),
including, without limitation, (i) for purposes of the definition of a
“security” thereunder, the interest of each Member in the Company shall be a
security governed by Article 8 of the Delaware UCC and the New York UCC and (ii)
for purposes of the definition of an “uncertificated security”
thereunder.
16.18 Public
Announcements. Neither Hawthorne nor any of its Affiliates
shall, without the prior approval of Bluerock, issue any press releases or
otherwise make any public statements with respect to the Company or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except as may be required by
applicable law or regulation or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement
with any national securities exchange so long as Hawthorne or such Affiliate has
used reasonable efforts to obtain the approval of Bluerock prior to issuing such
press release or making such public disclosure.
16.19 No Construction Against
Drafter. This Agreement has been negotiated and prepared by
Bluerock and Hawthorne and their respective attorneys and, should any provision
of this Agreement require judicial interpretation, the court interpreting or
construing such provision shall not apply the rule of construction that a
document is to be construed more strictly against one party.
Section
17. Insurance.
During
the Term, Property Manager, on behalf of and at the expense of the Company,
shall procure and maintain insurance as is determined to be appropriate by
either Bluerock or the Management Committee (in form and with endorsements,
waivers and deductibles and with insurance companies, designated or approved by
Bluerock) naming the Company, Bluerock and Hawthorne as insureds
thereunder.
42
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed by the Members, effective as of the
date first set forth above.
BR
SPRINGHOUSE MANAGING MEMBER,
|
||
LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
|
||
By:
Bluerock Real Estate, L.L.C., a Delaware
limited
liability company, its manager
|
||
|
||
By: |
Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
|
|
Title:
President
|
||
HAWTHORNE
SPRINGHOUSE, LLC, a North
|
||
Carolina
limited liability company
|
||
By: | Hawthorne Springhouse II, LLC, a North | |
Carolina limited liability company, its manager | ||
|
||
By: |
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
||
For
purposes of Sections 8.2(b), 9.3 and 9.4
only
and only for the term Hawthorne
Residential
Partners, LLC is Property
Manager
under the Management Agreement.
|
||
HAWTHORNE
RESIDENTIAL PARTNERS,
|
||
LLC,
a North Carolina limited liability company
|
||
|
||
By: |
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
||
43
EXHIBIT
A
Initial Capital
Contributions and Percentage Interests
Member Name
|
Initial
Capital
Contribution
|
Vl
|
Percentage Interest
|
||||||
BR
Springhouse Managing Member, LLC
|
$ | [ ] | [ ] | % | |||||
Hawthorne
Springhouse, LLC
|
$ | [ ] | [ ] | % |
Management Committee
Representatives
Bluerock:
Xxxxx X.
Xxxx, III
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx:
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
EXHIBIT
B
Annual Business Plan
Information
|
1.
|
a
narrative description of any acquisitions or sales that are planned and
any other activities proposed to be
undertaken;
|
|
2.
|
a
projected annual income statement (accrual basis) on a quarter-by-quarter
basis;
|
|
3.
|
a
projected balance sheet as of the end of the next Fiscal
Year;
|
|
4.
|
a
schedule of projected operating cash flow (including itemized operating
revenues, project costs and project expenses) for such Fiscal Year on a
quarter-by-quarter basis, including a schedule of projected operating
deficits, if any;
|
|
5.
|
a
marketing plan indicating the portions of the Properties that Hawthorne
recommends be made available for sale or lease and the proposed terms and
conditions relating thereto;
|
|
6.
|
a
detailed budget reflecting on a line by line basis all projected operating
expenses and any proposed construction and capital expenditures for the
Properties, including projected dates for commencement and completion of
the foregoing;
|
|
7.
|
a
description of the proposed investment of any funds of the Company which
are (or are expected to become) available for
investment;
|
|
8.
|
a
description, including the identity of the recipient (if known) and the
amount and purpose, of all fees and other payments proposed, expected or
projected to be paid for professional services and, if a fee or payment
exceeds $25,000, for other services rendered to or on behalf of the
Company by third parties;
|
|
9.
|
a
projection of the amount of any anticipated additional Capital
Contributions which may be called for pursuant to Section 5.2(a)
and the purposes for which such additional Capital Contributions may be
used; and
|
|
10.
|
such
other information requested from time to time by any
Member.
|
EXHIBIT
C
Management
Agreement
EXHIBIT
D
Initial Annual Business
Plan
Certain Rights of Management
Committee
Notwithstanding
anything contained herein or elsewhere to the contrary (but without limitation
of the independent rights of Bluerock set forth in this Agreement), the
Management Committee shall have the authority to affirmatively cause to occur or
take action with respect to all or any of the following matters, and no act
shall be taken, sum expended, decision made or obligation incurred by the
Company (and the Company shall not permit any act to be taken, sum expended,
decision made or obligation incurred by any Subsidiary) with respect to the
following matters without (x) the approval of the Management Committee, with
such heightened approval requirements as set forth below, and (y) the additional
written approval of Bluerock acting in its capacity as a Member, in each case
from time to time and whether or not set forth in the Annual Business Plan or
previously approved by the Management Committee:
(i) any
merger, conversion or consolidation involving the Company or any Subsidiary or
the sale, lease, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the Company’s assets or all of the Interests of the Members in the
Company, in one or a series of related transactions;
(ii) except
as expressly provided in Section 12, the
admission or removal of any Member or the Company’s issuance to any third party
of any equity interest in the Company (including interests convertible into, or
exchangeable for, equity interests in the Company);
(iii) any
amendment of this Agreement or the Certificate of Formation;
(iv) except
as provided in Section
13, any liquidation, dissolution or termination of the
Company;
(v) employing
any individual or establishing or entering into any employment contracts,
agreements with respect to salaries or bonus compensation or other employee
benefit plans;
(vi) the
incurrence by the Company or any Subsidiary, in an amount in excess of US
$25,000, of any indebtedness for borrowed money or any capitalized lease
obligation or the entry into of any agreement, commitment, assumption or
guarantee with respect to any of the foregoing;
(vii) expenditures
or distributions of cash or property by the Company or any Subsidiary, in an
amount in excess of US $25,000, which are not otherwise provided for in this
Agreement or the establishment of any reserves;
(viii) entering
into any material agreement, including without limitation any management
agreement or development agreement, contract, license or lease that could result
in an obligation or liability of the Company or any Subsidiary in excess of US
$25,000;
(ix) doing
any act which would make it impossible or unreasonably burdensome to carry on
the business of the Company;
(x) any
material change in the strategic direction of the Company or any material
expansion of the business of the Company, whether into new or existing lines of
business or any change in the structure of the Company;
(xi) adoption
of, and any supplement to, revision of, or deviation from the Annual Business
Plan, and any activity by the Company, which is inconsistent with the Annual
Business Plan in any material respect;
(xii) constructing
any new discretionary capital improvements on any Property or replacing on a
discretionary basis an existing capital improvement following completion of
construction thereof or the entering into of any contract or agreement
therefor;
(xiii) giving
or granting any options, rights of first refusal, deeds of trust, mortgages,
pledges, ground leases, security or other interests encumbering a Property or
any portion thereof;
(xiv) selling,
conveying, refinancing or effecting any other transfer of a Property or other
material asset of the Company or any portion thereof or the entering into of any
agreement, commitment or assumption with respect to any of the foregoing;
provided, however, that any decision with regard to this item (xiv) will require
the approval of at least one (1) Representative appointed by
Hawthorne.
(xv) confessing
a judgment against the Company (or any Subsidiary), submitting a Company (or
Subsidiary) claim to arbitration or engaging, terminating and/or replacing
counsel to defend or prosecute on behalf of the Company (or any Subsidiary) any
action or proceeding;
(xvi) acquiring
by purchase, ground lease or otherwise, any real property or other material
asset or the entry into of any agreement, commitment or assumption with respect
to any of the foregoing, or the making or posting of any deposit (refundable or
non-refundable);
(xvii) entering
into, renewing or terminating any property management, leasing or development
contract, including the Management Agreement;
(xviii) the
amount of, whether and when to make, contributions to the Company (other than
the contributions under Section 5.1(a) made
contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement) and Distributions by the
Company; or
(xix) without
limiting any of the foregoing, any other matter determined from time to time by
any Member to require the approval of, or be subject to the modification by, the
Management Committee (including, without limitation, the establishment of rules
and procedures relating to the affairs and dealings of the Company and its
Subsidiaries).