EXHIBIT 3.2
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EXECUTION COPY
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
EOTT ENERGY LLC
MARCH 1, 2003
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AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
EOTT ENEGY LLC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS............................................................ 2
Section 1.1 Amendment and Restatement............................................... 2
Section 1.2 Delaware Act; Personal Property......................................... 2
Section 1.3 Name.................................................................... 2
Section 1.4 Registered Office; Principal Office..................................... 2
Section 1.5 Power of Attorney....................................................... 2
Section 1.6 Term.................................................................... 3
Section 1.7 Possible Restrictions on Transfer....................................... 3
ARTICLE II. DEFINITIONS...................................................................... 4
ARTICLE III. PURPOSE......................................................................... 11
Section 3.1 Purpose and Business.................................................... 11
Section 3.2 Powers.................................................................. 12
ARTICLE IV. CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS............................................................ 12
Section 4.1 Issuances of Additional Units, and Other Securities..................... 12
Section 4.2 Limited Preemptive Rights............................................... 13
Section 4.3 Capital Accounts........................................................ 13
Section 4.4 Interest................................................................ 15
Section 4.5 No Withdrawal........................................................... 16
Section 4.6 Loans from Members...................................................... 16
Section 4.7 No Fractional Units..................................................... 16
Section 4.8 Splits and Combinations................................................. 16
ARTICLE V. ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS..................................................... 17
Section 5.1 Allocations for Capital Account Purposes................................ 17
Section 5.2 Allocations for Tax Purposes............................................ 20
Section 5.3 Distributions........................................................... 22
ARTICLE VI. MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS............................................. 22
Section 6.1 Management of the Company's Affairs..................................... 22
Section 6.2 Board of Directors...................................................... 23
Section 6.3 Required Board Approval................................................. 26
Section 6.4 Officers................................................................ 26
Section 6.5 Compensation............................................................ 28
Section 6.6 Interested Officers or Directors........................................ 28
Section 6.7 Indemnification......................................................... 28
Section 6.8 Exculpation of Liability of Officers and Directors...................... 31
Section 6.9 Duties of Officers and Directors........................................ 31
Section 6.10 Facsimile Signatures.................................................... 32
Section 6.11 Title to Company Assets................................................. 32
Section 6.12 Purchase or Sale of Units............................................... 32
Section 6.13 Reliance by Third Parties............................................... 32
ARTICLE VII. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS............................................... 33
Section 7.1 Limitation of Liability................................................. 33
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Section 7.2 Management of Business.................................................. 33
Section 7.3 Outside Activities...................................................... 33
Section 7.4 Return of Capital....................................................... 33
Section 7.5 Rights of Members Relating to the Company............................... 33
ARTICLE VIII. BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS......................................... 34
Section 8.1 Records and Accounting.................................................. 34
Section 8.2 Fiscal Year............................................................. 34
Section 8.3 Reports................................................................. 34
ARTICLE IX. TAX MATTERS...................................................................... 35
Section 9.1 Preparation of Tax Returns.............................................. 35
Section 9.2 Tax Elections........................................................... 35
Section 9.3 Organizational Expenses................................................. 35
Section 9.4 Withholding............................................................. 35
Section 9.5 Entity-Level Arrearage Collections...................................... 35
Section 9.6 Opinions of Counsel..................................................... 36
ARTICLE X. CERTIFICATES...................................................................... 36
Section 10.1 Certificates............................................................ 36
Section 10.2 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange..................... 36
Section 10.3 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates....................... 37
Section 10.4 Record Holder........................................................... 37
ARTICLE XI. TRANSFER OF INTERESTS............................................................ 38
Section 11.1 Transfer................................................................ 38
Section 11.2 Transfer of Units....................................................... 38
Section 11.3 Restrictions on Transfers............................................... 38
Section 11.4 Citizenship Certificates; Non-citizen Assignees......................... 39
Section 11.5 Redemption of Interests................................................. 39
ARTICLE XII. ADMISSION OF MEMBERS............................................................ 40
Section 12.1 Admission of Substituted Members........................................ 40
Section 12.2 Admission of Additional Members......................................... 41
Section 12.3 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Liability Company..... 41
ARTICLE XIII. WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERS.......................................................... 41
ARTICLE XIV. DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION..................................................... 41
Section 14.1 Dissolution............................................................. 41
Section 14.2 Liquidation............................................................. 42
Section 14.3 Distributions in Kind................................................... 43
Section 14.4 Cancellation of Certificate of Formation................................ 43
Section 14.5 Reasonable Time for Winding Up.......................................... 43
Section 14.6 No Capital Account Restoration.......................................... 43
Section 14.7 Waiver of Partition..................................................... 43
ARTICLE XV. AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT;.......................................................... 43
Section 15.1 Amendment to be Adopted Solely by the Board of Directors................ 43
Section 15.2 Amendment Procedures.................................................... 44
Section 15.3 Amendment Requirements.................................................. 45
Section 15.4 Meetings................................................................ 45
Section 15.5 Notice of a Meeting..................................................... 46
Section 15.6 Record Date............................................................. 46
Section 15.7 Adjournment............................................................. 46
Section 15.8 Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes.............. 46
Section 15.9 Quorum.................................................................. 46
Section 15.10 Conduct of Meeting..................................................... 47
Section 15.11 Action Without a Meeting............................................... 47
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Section 15.12 Voting and Other Rights................................................ 47
ARTICLE XVI. MERGER.......................................................................... 48
Section 16.1 Authority............................................................... 48
Section 16.2 Procedure for Merger or Consolidation................................... 48
Section 16.3 Approval by Members of Merger or Consolidation.......................... 49
Section 16.4 Certificate of Merger................................................... 49
Section 16.5 Effect of Merger........................................................ 49
ARTICLE XVII. GENERAL PROVISIONS............................................................. 50
Section 17.1 Addresses and Notices................................................... 50
Section 17.2 References.............................................................. 50
Section 17.3 Pronouns and Plurals.................................................... 50
Section 17.4 Further Action.......................................................... 50
Section 17.5 Binding Effect.......................................................... 50
Section 17.6 Integration............................................................. 51
Section 17.7 Creditors............................................................... 51
Section 17.8 Waiver.................................................................. 51
Section 17.9 Counterparts............................................................ 51
Section 17.10 Applicable Law......................................................... 51
Section 17.11 Invalidity of Provisions............................................... 51
Certificate for Common Units................................................................. Exhibit A
Warrant Agreement............................................................................ Exhibit B
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AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
EOTT ENERGY LLC
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF EOTT
ENERGY LLC, dated as of March 1, 2003, is entered into by and among the Member,
together with any other Persons who become Members in EOTT Energy LLC (the
"COMPANY") or parties hereto as provided herein. In consideration of the
covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby
agree as follows:
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company was formed on November 14, 2002 as a wholly owned
subsidiary of EOTT Energy Partners, L.P. ("EOTT ENERGY").
WHEREAS, on October 8, 2002, EOTT Energy filed voluntary bankruptcy
cases under Chapter 11 of Title 11 U.S. Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for
the Southern District of Texas ("BANKRUPTCY COURT").
WHEREAS, Section 22 of the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the
Company dated as of November 14, 2002 ("ORIGINAL AGREEMENT") permits the
Original Agreement to be amended or restated with the approval of the sole
member of the Company, EOTT Energy;
WHEREAS, the sole member of the Company, EOTT Energy, has approved the
amendment and restatement of the Original Agreement as provided in this
Agreement,
WHEREAS, the Plan of Reorganization, which is subject to confirmation
by the Bankruptcy Court, provides for, among other things:
(a) The cancellation of all of the general and limited
partnership interest and other equity interests in EOTT Energy;
(b) The issuance of all of the equity interests in the
Company to certain former holders of debt securities of EOTT Energy and
to certain former holders of equity securities of EOTT Energy;
(c) The issuance of the Warrants to certain former
holders of equity securities of EOTT Energy; and
(d) The issuance of the general and limited partner
interests in EOTT Energy to the Company and EOTT Energy General
Partner, L.L.C, wholly-owned limited liability company subsidiary of
the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to and as provided for in the Plan of
Reorganization, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
SECTION 1.1 AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT. The agreement of limited
liability company of the Company is hereby amended and restated as set forth
herein.
SECTION 1.2 DELAWARE ACT; PERSONAL PROPERTY. Except as expressly
provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the rights and obligations of the
Members and the administration, dissolution and termination of the Company shall
be governed by the Delaware Act. All Interests shall constitute personal
property of the owner thereof for all purposes.
SECTION 1.3 NAME. The name of the Company shall be "EOTT Energy
LLC". The Company's business may be conducted under any other name or names
deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors. The words "Limited
Liability Company," "L.L.C." or similar words or letters shall be included in
the Company's name where necessary for the purposes of complying with the laws
of any jurisdiction that so requires. The Board of Directors, in its sole
discretion, may change the name of the Company at any time and from time to time
and shall notify the Members of such change in the next regular communication to
Members.
SECTION 1.4 REGISTERED OFFICE; PRINCIPAL OFFICE. Unless and until
changed by the Board of Directors, the registered office of the Company in the
State of Delaware shall be located at 0 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
00000 and the registered agent for service of process on the Company in the
State of Delaware at such registered office shall be National Registered Agents,
Inc. The principal office of the Company shall be located at, and the address of
the Board of Directors shall be, 0000 Xxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxxx
000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, or such other place as the Board of Directors may
from time to time designate by notice to the Members. The Company may maintain
offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as
the Board of Directors deems necessary or appropriate.
SECTION 1.5 POWER OF ATTORNEY.
(a) Each Member and each Assignee hereby constitutes and appoints
each of the Chief Executive Officer and President and, if a Liquidator shall
have been selected pursuant to Section 4.2, the Liquidator severally (and any
successor to either thereof by merger, transfer, assignment, election or
otherwise) and each of their attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution,
as his true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority
in his name, place and xxxxx, to:
(i) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and
record in the appropriate public offices (A) all certificates,
documents and other instruments (including, without limitation, this
Agreement and the Certificate of Formation and all amendments or
restatements thereof) that the Chief Executive Officer and President or
the Liquidator deems necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or
continue the existence or qualification of the Company as a limited
liability company in the State of Delaware and in all other
jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business or own
property; (B) all certificates, documents and other instruments that
the Chief Executive Officer and President or the Liquidator deems
necessary or appropriate to reflect, in accordance with its terms, any
amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement; (C)
all certificates, documents and other instruments (including, without
limitation, conveyances and a certificate of cancellation) that the
Chief Executive Officer and President or the Liquidator deems necessary
or appropriate to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the
Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; (D) all certificates,
documents and other instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal,
removal or substitution of any Member
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pursuant to, or other events described in, Article XI, XII, XIII or XIV
or the Capital Contribution of any Member; (E) all certificates,
documents and other instruments relating to the determination of the
rights, preferences and privileges of any class or series of Units or
other Company Securities issued pursuant to Section 4.1; and (F) all
certificates, documents and other instruments (including, without
limitation, agreements and a certificate of merger) relating to a
merger or consolidation of the Company pursuant to Article XVI; and
(ii) execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and
record all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates,
documents and other instruments necessary or appropriate, in the sole
discretion of the Chief Executive Officer and President or the
Liquidator, to make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote,
consent, approval, agreement or other action that is made or given by
the Members hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement
or is necessary or appropriate, in the sole discretion of the Chief
Executive Officer and President or the Liquidator, to effectuate the
terms or intent of this Agreement; provided, however, when required by
Section 15.3 or any other provision of this Agreement that establishes
a percentage of the Members or of the Members of any class or series
required to take any action, the Chief Executive Officer and President
or the Liquidator may exercise the power of attorney made in this
Section 1.5(a)(ii) only after the necessary vote, consent or approval
of the Members or of the Members of such class or series, as
applicable.
Nothing contained in this Section 1.5(a) shall be construed as
authorizing the Chief Executive Officer and President to amend this Agreement
except in accordance with Article XV or as may be otherwise expressly provided
for in this Agreement.
(b) The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be
irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and not
be affected by the subsequent death, incompetency, disability, incapacity,
dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of any Member or Assignee and the
transfer of all or any portion of such Member's or Assignee's Interest and shall
extend to such Member's or Assignee's heirs, successors, assigns and personal
representatives. Each such Member or Assignee hereby agrees to be bound by any
representation made by the Chief Executive Officer and President or the
Liquidator acting in good faith pursuant to such power of attorney, and each
such Member or Assignee hereby waives any and all defenses that may be available
to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the Chief Executive Officer and
President or the Liquidator taken in good faith under such power of attorney.
Each Member or Assignee shall execute and deliver to the Chief Executive Officer
and President or the Liquidator, within 15 days after receipt of the Chief
Executive Officer's, President's or the Liquidator's request therefor, such
further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as the Board of
Directors or the Liquidator deems necessary to effectuate this Agreement and the
purposes of the Company.
SECTION 1.6 TERM. The Company shall continue in existence until
the close of Company business on March 31, 2084, or until the earlier
termination of the Company in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV.
SECTION 1.7 POSSIBLE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in the event of (a) the
enactment (or imminent enactment) of any legislation, (b) the publication of any
temporary or final regulation by the Treasury Department, (c) any ruling by the
Internal Revenue Service or (d) any judicial decision, that, in any such case,
in the Opinion of Counsel, would result in the taxation of the Company as an
association taxable as a corporation or would otherwise result in the Company's
being taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes, then, the Board of
Directors may impose such restrictions on the transfer of Units or Interests as
may be required, in the Opinion of Counsel, to prevent the Company from being
taxed as an association taxable as a corporation
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or otherwise as an entity for federal income tax purposes, including, without
limitation, making such amendments to this Agreement as the Board of Directors
in its sole discretion may determine to be necessary or appropriate to impose
such restrictions; provided, however, any such amendment to this Agreement that
would result in the delisting or suspension of trading of any class of Units on
any National Securities Exchange on which such class of Units is then traded
must be approved by the holders of at least two-thirds of the Outstanding Units
of such class.
ARTICLE II.
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise
clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.
"ADDITIONAL MEMBER" means a Person admitted to the Company as a Member
pursuant to Section 12.2 and who is shown as such on the books and records of
the Company.
"ADJUSTED CAPITAL ACCOUNT" means, with respect to each Member, the
Capital Account maintained for such Member as of the end of each fiscal year of
the Company, (a) increased by any amounts that such Member is obligated to
restore under the standards set by Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (or is deemed obligated to restore under Treasury
Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i)(5)) and (b) decreased by (i) the
amount of all losses and deductions that, as of the end of such fiscal year, are
reasonably expected to be allocated to such Member in subsequent years under
Code Sections 704(e)(2) and 706(d) and Treasury Regulation Section
1.751-1(b)(2)(ii), and (ii) the amount of all distributions that, as of the end
of such fiscal year, are reasonably expected to be made to such Member in
subsequent years in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or otherwise to
the extent they exceed offsetting increases to such Member's Capital Account
that are reasonably expected to be made (other than increases as a result of a
minimum gain chargeback pursuant to Section 5.1(d)(i) or 5.1(d)(ii)). The
foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the
provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be
interpreted consistently therewith. The "Adjusted Capital Account" in respect of
a Common Unit or any other specified interest in the Company shall be the amount
that such Adjusted Capital Account would be if such Common Unit or other
interest in the Company were the only interest in the Company held by a Member.
"ADJUSTED PROPERTY" means any property the Carrying Value of which has
been adjusted pursuant to Section 4.3(d)(i) or 4.3(d)(ii). Once an Adjusted
Property is deemed distributed by, and recontributed to, the Company for federal
income tax purposes upon a termination thereof pursuant to Code Section 708,
such property shall thereafter constitute a Contributed Property until the
Carrying Value of such property is subsequently adjusted pursuant to Section
4.3(d)(i) or 4.3(d)(ii).
"AFFILIATE" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control
with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term "control" means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership
of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
"AGREED ALLOCATION" means any allocation, other than a Required
Allocation, of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to the
provisions of Section 5.1, including, without limitation, a Curative Allocation
(if appropriate to the context in which the term "Agreed Allocation" is used).
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"AGREED VALUE" means, with respect to any Contributed Property, the
fair market value of such property or other consideration at the time of
contribution as determined by the Board of Directors using such reasonable
method of valuation as it may adopt; provided, however, that the Agreed Value of
any property deemed contributed to the Company for federal income tax purposes
upon termination and reconstitution thereof pursuant to Code Section 708 shall
be determined in accordance with Section 4.3(c)(i). Subject to Section
4.3(c)(i), the Board of Directors shall, in its sole discretion, use such method
as it deems reasonable and appropriate to allocate the aggregate Agreed Value of
Contributed Properties contributed to the Company in a single or integrated
transaction among each separate property on a basis proportional to the fair
market value of each Contributed Property.
"AGREEMENT" means this Limited Liability Company Agreement of EOTT
Energy LLC, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
"ASSIGNEE" means a Non-citizen Assignee or a Person to whom one or more
Units have been transferred in a manner permitted under this Agreement and who
has executed and delivered a Transfer Application as required by this Agreement,
but who has not become a Substituted Member.
"BOARD OF DIRECTORS" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.1.
"BOOK-TAX DISPARITY" means, with respect to any item of Contributed
Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the
difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted
Property and the adjusted basis thereof for federal income tax purposes as of
such date. A Member's share of the Company's Book-Tax Disparities in all of its
Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference
between such Member's Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Section
4.3 and the hypothetical balance of such Member's Capital Account computed as if
it had been maintained strictly in accordance with federal income tax accounting
principles.
"BUSINESS DAY" means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a
legal holiday recognized as such by the government of either the United States
or either of the states of New York or Texas shall not be regarded as a Business
Day.
"CAPITAL ACCOUNT" means, with respect to each Member, the capital
account maintained for such Member pursuant to Section 4.3.
"CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION" means any cash, cash equivalents or the Net
Agreed Value of Contributed Property that a Member contributes to the Company
pursuant to Sections 4.1 or 4.3(c)(i) as of the date of such contribution.
"CARRYING VALUE" means, (a) with respect to a Contributed Property, the
Agreed Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all depreciation,
amortization and cost recovery deductions charged to the Members' and Assignees'
Capital Accounts in respect of such Contributed Property, and (b) with respect
to any other Company property, the adjusted basis of such property for federal
income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination. The Carrying Value of
any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Sections
4.3(d)(i) and 4.3(d)(ii) and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments
to the Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Company properties,
as deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.
"CAUSE" means, with respect to any Director, a court of competent
jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding such Director
liable for actual fraud, gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct in its
capacity as a Director.
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"CERTIFICATE" means a certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit
A to this Agreement or in such other forms as may be adopted by the Board of
Directors in its sole discretion, issued by the Company evidencing ownership of
one or more Common Units, or a certificate, in such form as may be adopted by
the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, issued by the Company evidencing
ownership of one or more other Units.
"CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION" means the Certificate of Formation of the
Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, as such
Certificate of Formation may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to
time.
"CITIZENSHIP CERTIFICATION" means a properly completed certificate in
such form as may be specified by the Board of Directors by which an Assignee or
a Member certifies that he (and if he is a nominee holding for the account of
another Person, that to the best of his knowledge such other Person) is an
Eligible Citizen.
"CLAIM HOLDER" means a holder of EOTT Energy's 11% Senior Notes due
2009 entitled to receive Initial Units pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization.
"CLOSING DATE" has the meaning provided in the Plan of Reorganization.
"CLOSING PRICE" means, for any day, the last sale price on such day,
regular way, or in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices on such day, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed on the principal National Securities Exchange on which the
Units of such class are listed or admitted to trading or if the Units of such
class are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange,
the last quoted price on such day or, if not so quoted, the average of the high
bid and low asked prices on such day in the over-the-counter market, as reported
by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation
System or such other system then in use, or if on any such day the Units of such
class are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid
and asked priced on such day as furnished by a professional market maker making
a market in the Units of such class selected by the Board of Directors, or if on
any such day no market maker is making a market in the Units of such class, the
fair value of such Units on such day as determined reasonably and in good faith
by the Board of Directors.
"CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in
effect from time to time, as interpreted by the applicable regulations
thereunder. Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code
shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of future
law.
"COMMISSION" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"COMMON UNIT" means a Unit representing a fractional part of the
Interests of all Members and Assignees and having the rights and obligations
specified with respect to Common Units in this Agreement.
"COMPANY MINIMUM GAIN" means that amount determined in accordance with
the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(d).
"COMPANY SECURITIES" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
4.1(a).
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"CONTRIBUTED PROPERTY" means each property or other asset, in such form
as may be permitted by the Delaware Act, but excluding cash, contributed to the
Company (or deemed contributed to the Company on termination and reconstitution
thereof pursuant to Code Section 708). Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed
Property is adjusted pursuant to Section 4.3(d), such property shall no longer
constitute a Contributed Property, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property.
"CURATIVE ALLOCATION" means any allocation of an item of income, gain,
deduction, loss or credit pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.1(d)(xi).
"CURRENT MARKET PRICE" means, as of any date of any class of Units
listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, the average
of the daily Closing Prices per Unit of such class for the 20 consecutive
Trading Days immediately prior to such date.
"DELAWARE ACT" means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as
amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such
statute.
"DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board of Directors, but such term does
not include any Person who has ceased to be a member of the Board of Directors.
"ECONOMIC RISK OF LOSS" has the meaning set forth in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.752-2(a).
"ELIGIBLE CITIZEN" means a Person qualified to own interests in real
property in jurisdictions in which the Company or the Operating Subsidiaries do
business or proposes to do business from time to time, and whose status as a
Member or Assignee does not or would not subject the Company or the Operating
Subsidiaries to a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any of its
properties or any interest therein.
"GROUP" means a "group" of Persons as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
"INITIAL UNITS" means approximately 12,317,340 Common Units to be
issued to the Claim Holders and Interest Holders pursuant to the Plan of
Reorganization.
"INTEREST" means an interest in the Company, which shall include Common
Units, or other Company Securities, or a combination thereof or interest
therein, as the case may be.
"INTEREST HOLDERS" means a holder of common units in EOTT Energy
entitled to receive Initial Units pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization.
"LIQUIDATOR" means the Person approved pursuant to Section 14.2 who
performs the functions described therein.
"MEMBER" means, unless the context otherwise requires, each existing
Member; each Substituted Member; each Additional Member; and solely for purposes
of Articles IV, V and VI, and Sections 14.2 and 14.3, an Assignee.
"MEMBER NONRECOURSE DEBT" has the meaning set forth in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(2).
"MEMBER NONRECOURSE DEBT MINIMUM GAIN" has the meaning set forth in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704(i)(2).
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"MEMBER NONRECOURSE DEDUCTIONS" means any and all items of loss,
deduction or expenditure (including, without limitation, any expenditure
described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B)) that, in accordance with the principles
of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i), are attributable to a Member
Nonrecourse Debt.
"MERGER AGREEMENT" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
16.1.
"NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE" means an exchange registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 6(a) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any
successor to such statute.
"NET AGREED VALUE" means, (a) in the case of any Contributed Property,
the Agreed Value of such property reduced by any liabilities either assumed by
the Company upon such contribution or to which such property is subject when
contributed, and (b) in the case of any property distributed to a Member or
Assignee by the Company, the Company's Carrying Value of such property (as
adjusted pursuant to Section 4.3(d)(ii) at the time such property is
distributed), reduced by any indebtedness either assumed by such Member or
Assignee upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time
of distribution, in either case, as determined under Code Section 752.
"NET INCOME" means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the
Company's items of income and gain (other than those items attributable to
dispositions constituting Termination Capital Transactions) for such taxable
period over the Company's items of loss and deduction (other than those items
attributable to dispositions constituting Termination Capital Transactions) for
such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall
be determined in accordance with Section 4.3(b) and shall not include any items
specially allocated under Section 5.1(d). Once an item of income, gain, loss or
deduction that has been included in the initial computation of Net Income is
subjected to a Required Allocation or a Curative Allocation, Net Income or Net
Loss, whichever the case may be, shall be recomputed without regard to such
item.
"NET LOSS" means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the
Company's items of loss and deduction (other than those items attributable to
dispositions constituting Termination Capital Transactions) for such taxable
period over the Company's items of income and gain (other than those items
attributable to dispositions constituting Termination Capital Transactions) for
such taxable period. The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be
determined in accordance with Section 4.3(b) and shall not include any items
specially allocated under Section 5.1(d). Once an item of income, gain, loss or
deduction that has been included in the initial computation of Net Loss is
subjected to a Required Allocation or a Curative Allocation, Net Income, or Net
Loss, whichever the case may be, shall be recomputed without regard to such
item.
"NET TERMINATION GAIN" means, for any taxable period, the sum, if
positive, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the
Company (including, without limitation, such amounts recognized through the
Operating Subsidiaries) from Termination Capital Transactions occurring in such
taxable period. The items included in the determination of Net Termination Gain
shall be determined in accordance with Section 4.3(b) and shall not include any
items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 5.1(d). Once an
item of income, gain or loss that has been included in the initial computation
of Net Termination Gain is subjected to a Required Allocation or a Curative
Allocation, Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss, whichever the case may
be, shall be recomputed without regard to such item.
8
"NET TERMINATION LOSS" means, for any taxable period, the sum, if
negative, of all items of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the
Company (including, without limitation, such amounts recognized through the
Operating Subsidiaries) from Termination Capital Transactions occurring in such
taxable period. The items included in the determination of Net Termination Loss
shall be determined in accordance with Section 4.3 (b) and shall not include any
items of income, gain or loss specially allocated under Section 5.1(d). Once an
item of gain or loss that has been included in the initial computation of Net
Termination Loss is subjected to a Required Allocation or a Curative Allocation,
Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss, whichever the case may be, shall
be recomputed without regard to such item.
"NON-CITIZEN ASSIGNEE" means a Person who the Board of Directors has
determined in its sole discretion does not constitute an Eligible Citizen and as
to whose Interest the Company has become the Substituted Member, pursuant to
Section 11.4.
"NONRECOURSE BUILT-IN GAIN" means, with respect to any Contributed
Properties or Adjusted Properties that are subject to a mortgage or pledge
securing a Nonrecourse Liability, the amount of any taxable gain that would be
allocated to the Members pursuant to Section 5.2(b)(i)(A), 5.2(b)(ii)(A) or
5.2(b)(iv) if such properties were disposed of in a taxable transaction in full
satisfaction of such liabilities and for no other consideration.
"NONRECOURSE DEDUCTIONS" means any and all items of loss, deduction or
expenditures (described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B)) that, in accordance with
the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b), are attributable to a
Nonrecourse Liability.
"NONRECOURSE LIABILITY" has the meaning set forth in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.752-1(a)(2).
"NOTES" means the Company's 9% Senior Notes due 2010.
"OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES" means EOTT Energy Operating Limited
Partnership, EOTT Energy Pipeline Limited Partnership, EOTT Energy Canada
Limited Partnership and EOTT Energy Liquids, L.P., each of which is a Delaware
limited partnership, every successor by merger, purchase or otherwise, to such
partnership and every entity formed after the date hereof, so long as the
Company, directly or indirectly, owns all of the capital stock or other equity
interest entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or persons
performing similar functions for such successor or entity.
"OPERATING SUBSIDIARY AGREEMENTS" means, with respect to each Operating
Subsidiary, the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership for such
Operating Subsidiary, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time
to time or the certificate of incorporation, by-laws, limited liability company
agreement or similar formation documents of the Operating Subsidiary Agreements.
"OPINION OF COUNSEL" means a written opinion of counsel acceptable to
the Board of Directors.
"OUTSTANDING" means, with respect to the Units or other Company
Securities, all Units or other Company Securities that are issued by the Company
and reflected as outstanding on the Company's books and records as of the date
of determination.
"PER UNIT CAPITAL AMOUNT" means, as of any date of determination, the
Capital Account, stated on a per Unit basis, underlying any Unit held by a
Person who holds Units.
"PERCENTAGE INTEREST" means, with respect to any Member or Assignee as
of the date of such determination, the quotient of the number of Units held by
such Member or Assignee divided by the total number of all Units then
Outstanding; provided, however, following any issuance of additional Company
9
Securities by the Company in accordance with Section 4.1, proper adjustment
shall be made to the Percentage Interest represented by each Unit to reflect
such issuance, and as to the holders of additional Company Securities issued by
the Company in accordance with Section 4.1, the percentage established as a part
of such issuance.
"PERSON" means a natural person, a corporation, limited liability
company, partnership, trust, unincorporated organization, association or other
entity.
"PLAN OF REORGANIZATION" means the Third Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan
of the Debtors, dated December 6, 2002, filed with the Bankruptcy Court by EOTT
Energy, as amended.
"PURCHASE DATE" means the date determined by the Board of Directors as
the date for purchase of all Outstanding Units pursuant to Article XVII.
"RECAPTURE INCOME" means any gain recognized by the Company (computed
without regard to any adjustment required by Code Section 734 or 743) upon the
disposition of any property or asset of the Company, which gain is characterized
as ordinary income because it represents the recapture of deductions previously
taken with respect to such property or asset.
"RECORD DATE" means the date established by the Board of Directors for
determining (a) the identity of the Record Holder entitled to notice of, or to
vote at, any meeting of Members or entitled to vote by ballot or give approval
of Company action in writing without a meeting or entitled to exercise rights in
respect of any lawful action of Members or (b) the identity of Record Holders
entitled to receive any report or distribution.
"RECORD HOLDER" means the Person in whose name a Unit is registered on
the books of the Company or the Transfer Agent.
"REDEEMABLE UNITS" means any Units for which a redemption notice has
been given, and has not been withdrawn, under Section 11.4.
"REQUIRED ALLOCATIONS" means any allocation (or limitation imposed on
any allocation) of an item of income, gain, deduction or loss pursuant to (a)
Section 5.1(b)(ii) or (b) Sections 5.1(d)(i), 5.1(d)(ii), 5.1(d)(iv), 5.1(d)(v),
5.1(d)(vi), 5.1(d)(vii) and 5.1(d)(ix), such allocations (or limitations
thereon) being directly or indirectly required by the Treasury regulations
promulgated under Code Section 704(b).
"RESIDUAL GAIN" or "RESIDUAL LOSS" means any item of gain or loss, as
the case may be, of the Company recognized for federal income tax purposes
resulting from a sale, exchange or other disposition of a Contributed Property
or Adjusted Property, to the extent such item of gain or loss is not allocated
pursuant to Sections 5.2(b)(i)(A) or 5.2(b)(ii)(A), respectively, to eliminate
Book-Tax Disparities.
"SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
supplemented or restated from time to time and any successor to such statute.
"SUBSTITUTED MEMBER" means a Person who is admitted as a Member
pursuant to Section 12.1 in place of and with all the rights of a Member and who
is shown as a Member on the books and records of the Company, but such term does
not include any Person who has ceased to be a Record Holder of a Unit.
"SURVIVING BUSINESS ENTITY" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 16.2(b).
10
"TERMINATION CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS" means any sale, transfer or other
disposition of property of the Company or the Operating Subsidiaries occurring
upon or incident to the liquidation and winding up of the Company and the
Operating Subsidiaries pursuant to Article XIV.
"TRADING DAY" means a day on which the principal National Securities
Exchange on which the Units of any class are listed or admitted to trading is
open for the transaction of business or, if Units of a class are not listed or
admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking
institutions in New York City generally are open.
"TRANSFER AGENT" means such bank, trust company or other Person as
shall be appointed from time to time by the Company to act as registrar and
transfer agent for the Units.
"TRANSFER APPLICATION" means an application and agreement for transfer
of Units in the form set forth on the back of a Certificate or in a form
substantially to the same effect in a separate instrument.
"UNIT" means an Interest of a Member or Assignee in the Company
representing a fractional part of the Interests of all Members and Assignees and
shall include, without limitation, Common Units; provided, however, each Common
Unit at any time Outstanding shall represent the same fractional part of the
Interests of all Members and Assignees holding Common Units as each other Common
Unit.
"UNIT OPTION PLAN" means a plan to purchase Common Units in the form
approved by the Board of Directors.
"UNREALIZED GAIN" means with respect to any item of Company property,
as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market
value of such property as of such date (as determined under Sections 4.3(d) over
(b) the Carrying Value of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment
to be made pursuant to Section 4.3(d) as of such date).
"UNREALIZED LOSS" means, with respect to any item of Company property,
as of any date of determination, the excess, if any, of (a) the Carrying Value
of such property as of such date (prior to any adjustment to be made pursuant to
Section 4.3(d) as of such date) over (b) the fair market value of such property
as of such date (as determined under Section 4.3(d)).
"WARRANTS" means warrants issued under the Warrant Agreement in the
form of Exhibit B.
"WORKING CAPITAL INDEBTEDNESS" means indebtedness incurred to support
working capital, but shall exclude indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose
of permitting the Company to make distributions to Unitholders.
ARTICLE III.
PURPOSE
SECTION 3.1 PURPOSE AND BUSINESS. The purpose and nature of the
business to be conducted by the Company shall be (a) to serve as a general
partner or limited partner of the Operating Subsidiaries and, in connection
therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Company
as a general partner or limited partner in the Operating Subsidiaries pursuant
to the Operating Subsidiaries Agreements or otherwise, (b) to engage directly
in, or to enter into or form (by merger, conversion or otherwise) any
corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other
arrangement to engage in, any business activity that the Operating Subsidiaries
are permitted to engage in by the Operating Subsidiaries Agreements and, in
connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers
11
conferred upon the Company pursuant to the agreements relating to such business
activity, (c) to engage directly in, or to enter or form into any corporation,
partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to
engage in, any business activity that is approved by the Board of Directors and
that lawfully may be conducted by a limited liability company organized pursuant
to the Delaware Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights
and powers conferred upon the Company pursuant to the agreements relating to
such business activity, and (d) to do anything necessary or appropriate to the
foregoing, including, without limitation, the making of capital contributions or
loans to the Operating Subsidiaries. The members of the Board of Directors have
no obligation or duty to the Company, the Members, or the Assignees to propose
or approve, and in their sole discretion may decline to propose or approve, the
conduct by the Company of any business.
SECTION 3.2 POWERS. The Company shall be empowered to do any and
all acts and things necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or
convenient for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business
described in Section 3.1 and for the protection and benefit of the Company.
ARTICLE IV.
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 4.1 ISSUANCES OF ADDITIONAL UNITS, AND OTHER SECURITIES.
(a) On the Closing Date, all outstanding Interests in the Company
will be cancelled and terminated and immediately therafter the Company will
issue the Initial Units to the Claim Holders and Interest Holders pursuant to
the Plan of Reorganization. In addition, the Company shall issue the Warrants to
the Interest Holders as provided in the Plan of Reorganization.
(b) Subject to Section 4.1(d), the Board of Directors is hereby
authorized to cause the Company to issue such additional Units, or classes or
series thereof, or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating
thereto, or any other type of equity security that the Company may lawfully
issue, any unsecured or secured debt obligations of the Company convertible into
any class or series of equity securities of the Company (collectively, "COMPANY
SECURITIES"), for any Company purpose, at any time or from time to time, to the
Members or to other Persons for such consideration and on such terms and
conditions as shall be established by the Board of Directors in its sole
discretion, all without the approval of any Members. The Board of Directors
shall have sole discretion, subject to the guidelines set forth in this Section
4.1 and the requirements of the Delaware Act, in determining the consideration
and terms and conditions with respect to any future issuance of Company
Securities.
(c) Additional Company Securities to be issued by the Company
pursuant to this Section 4.1 shall be issuable from time to time in one or more
classes, or one or more series of any of such classes, with such designations,
preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights,
powers and duties, including, without limitation, rights, powers and duties
senior to existing classes and series of Company Securities (except as provided
in Section 4.1(d)), all as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors in the
exercise of its sole discretion, subject to Delaware law and Section 4.1(d),
including, without limitation, (i) the allocations of items of Company income,
gain, loss, deduction and credit to each such class or series of Company
Securities; (ii) the right of each such class or series of Company Securities to
share in Company distributions; (iii) the rights of each such class or series of
Company Securities upon dissolution and liquidation of the Company; (iv) whether
such class or series of additional Company Securities is redeemable by the
Company and, if so, the price at which, and the terms and conditions upon which,
such class or series of additional Company Securities may be redeemed by the
Company; (v) whether such class or series of additional Company Securities is
issued with the privilege of
12
conversion and, if so, the rate at which, and the terms and conditions upon
which, such class or series of Company Securities may be converted into any
other class or series of Company Securities or other property; (vi) the terms
and conditions upon which each such class or series of Company Securities will
be issued, evidenced by certificates and assigned or transferred; and (vii) the
right, if any, of each such class or series of Company Securities to vote on
Company matters, including, without limitation, matters relating to the relative
rights, preferences and privileges of each such class or series.
(d) Notwithstanding the terms of Sections 4.1(b) and 4.1(c), the
Company shall not issue additional Company Securities without the prior approval
of the Holders of at least two-thirds of the Outstanding Common Units, other
than up to 1.2 million Common Units to be issued under the Unit Option Plan, and
up to 957,981 Common Units to be issued upon exercise of the Warrants.
(e) The Board of Directors is hereby authorized and directed to
take all actions that it deems necessary or appropriate in connection with each
issuance of Units, or other Company Securities pursuant to Section 4.1(b) and to
amend this Agreement in any manner that it deems necessary or appropriate to
provide for each such issuance, to admit Additional Members in connection
therewith and to specify the relative rights, powers and duties of the holders
of the Units, or other Company Securities being so issued.
(f) The Board of Directors shall do all things necessary to comply
with the Delaware Act and is authorized and directed to do all things it deems
to be necessary or advisable in connection with any future issuance of Company
Securities, including, without limitation, compliance with any statute, rule,
regulation or guideline of any federal, state or other governmental agency or
any National Securities Exchange on which the Units or other Company Securities
are listed for trading.
SECTION 4.2 LIMITED PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS. No Person shall have any
preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to (a) additional
Capital Contributions; (b) issuance or sale of any class or series of Units, or
other Company Securities, whether unissued, held in the treasury or hereafter
created; (c) issuance of any obligations, evidences of indebtedness or other
securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for, or carrying or
accompanied by any rights to receive, purchase or subscribe to, any such Units,
or other Company Securities; (d) issuance of any right of subscription to or
right to receive, or any warrant or option for the purchase of any such Units,
or other Company Securities; or (e) issuance or sale of any other securities
that may be issued or sold by the Company.
SECTION 4.3 CAPITAL ACCOUNTS.
(a) The Company shall maintain for each Member (or a beneficial
owner of Units held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished
the identity of such owner to the Company in accordance with Code Section
6031(c) or any other method acceptable to the Board of Directors in its sole
discretion) owning an Interest a separate Capital Account with respect to such
Interest in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Such Capital Account shall be increased by (i) the amount of
all Capital Contributions made to the Company with respect to such Interest
pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) all items of Company income and gain
(including, without limitation, income and gain exempt from tax) computed in
accordance with Section 4.3(b) and allocated with respect to such Interest
pursuant to Section 5.1, and decreased by (x) the amount of cash or Net Agreed
Value of all actual and deemed distributions of cash or property made with
respect to such Interest pursuant to this Agreement and (y) all items of Company
deduction and loss computed in accordance with Section 4.3(b) and allocated with
respect to such Interest pursuant to Section 5.1.
13
(b) For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income,
gain, loss or deduction to be reflected in the Members' Capital Accounts, the
determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same
as its determination, recognition and classification for federal income tax
purposes (including, without limitation, any method of depreciation, cost
recovery or amortization used for that purpose), provided, that:
(i) Solely for purposes of this Section 4.3, the Company
shall be treated as owning directly its proportionate share (as
determined by the Board of Directors based upon the provisions of the
Operating Company Agreements) of all property owned by the Operating
Subsidiaries.
(ii) All fees and other expenses incurred by the Company
to promote the sale of (or to sell) an Interest that can be neither
deducted nor amortized under Code Section 709, if any, shall, for
purposes of Capital Account maintenance, be treated as an item of
deduction at the time such fees and other expenses are incurred and
shall be allocated among the Members pursuant to Section 5.1.
(iii) Except as otherwise provided in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-1(b(2)(iv)(m), the computation of all items of income,
gain, loss and deduction shall be made without regards to any election
under Code Section 754 that may be made by the Company and, as to those
items described in Code Section 705(a)(1)(B) or 705(a)(2)(B), without
regards to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income
or are neither currently deductible nor capitalized for federal income
tax purposes.
(iv) Any income, gain or loss attributable to the taxable
disposition of any Company property shall be determined as if the
adjusted basis of such property as of such date of disposition were
equal in amount to the Company's Carrying Value with respect to such
property as of such date.
(v) In accordance with the requirements of Code Section
704(b), any deductions for depreciation, cost recovery or amortization
attributable to any Contributed Property shall be determined as if the
adjusted basis of such property on the date it was acquired by the
Company were equal to the Agreed Value of such property. Upon an
adjustment pursuant to Section 4.3(d) to the Carrying Value of any
Company property subject to depreciation, cost recovery or
amortization, any further deductions for such depreciation, cost
recovery or amortization attributable to such property shall be
determined (A) as if the adjusted basis of such property were equal to
the Carrying Value of such property immediately following such
adjustment and (B) using a rate of depreciation, cost recovery or
amortization derived from the same method and useful life (or, if
applicable, the remaining useful life) as is applied for federal income
tax purposes; provided, however, if the asset has a zero adjusted basis
for federal income tax purposes, depreciation, cost recovery or
amortization deductions shall be determined using any reasonable method
that the Board of Directors may adopt.
(vi) If the Company's adjusted basis in a depreciable or
cost recovery property is reduced for federal income tax purposes
pursuant to Code Section 48(q)(1) or 48(q)(3), the amount of such
reduction shall, solely for purposes hereof, be deemed to be an
additional depreciation or cost recovery deduction in the year such
property is placed in service and shall be allocated among the Members
pursuant to Section 5.1. Any restoration of such basis pursuant to Code
Section 48(q)(2) shall, to the extent possible, be allocated in the
same manner to Members to whom such deemed deduction was allocated.
14
(c) A transferee of an Interest shall succeed to a pro rata
portion of the Capital Account of the transferor relating to the Interest so
transferred; provided, however, if the transfer causes a termination of the
Company under Code Section 708(b)(1)B), the Company's properties shall be deemed
to have been distributed in liquidation of the Company to the Members (including
any transferee of an Interest that is a party to the transfer causing such
termination) pursuant to Sections 14.2 and 14.3 and recontributed by such
Members in reconstitution of the Company. Any such deemed distribution shall be
treated as an actual distribution for purposes of this Section 4.3. In such
event, the Carrying Values of the Company properties shall be adjusted
immediately prior to such deemed distribution pursuant to Section 4.3(d)(ii) and
such Carrying Values shall then constitute the Agreed Values of such properties
upon such deemed contribution to the reconstituted Company. The Capital Accounts
of such reconstituted Company shall be maintained in accordance with the
principles of this Section 4.3.
(d) (i) Consistent with the provisions of Treasury
Registration Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), on an issuance of additional Units
for cash or Contributed Property or upon exercise of Warrants or pursuant to the
Unit Option Plan, the Capital Account of all Members and the Carrying Value of
each Company property immediately prior to such issuance shall be adjusted
upward or downward to reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss
attributable to such Company property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized
Loss had been recognized on an actual sale of each such property immediately
prior to such issuance and had been allocated to the Members at such time
pursuant to Section 5.1. In determining such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss,
the aggregate cash amount and fair market value of all Company assets
(including, without limitation, cash or cash equivalents) immediately prior to
the issuance of additional Units shall be determined by the Board of Directors
using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt; provided, however,
the Board of Directors, in arriving at such valuation, must take fully into
account the fair market value of the Interests of all Members at such time. The
Board of Directors shall allocate such aggregate value among the assets of the
Company (in such manner as it determines in its sole discretion to be
reasonable) to arrive at a fair market value for individual properties.
(ii) In accordance with Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), immediately prior to any actual or deemed
distribution to a Member of any Company property (other than a
distribution of cash that is not in redemption or retirement of an
Interest), the Capital Accounts of all Members and the Carrying Value
of such Company property shall be adjusted upward or downward to
reflect any Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such
Company property, as if such Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss had
been recognized in a sale of such property immediately prior to such
distribution for an amount equal to its fair market value, and had been
allocated to the Members, at such time, pursuant to Section 5.1. Any
Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such property shall
be allocated in the same manner as Net Termination Gain or Net
Termination Loss pursuant to Section 5.1(c); provided, however, that,
in making any such allocation, Net Termination Gain or Net Termination
Loss actually realized shall be allocated first. In determining such
Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss the aggregate cash amount and fair
market value of all Company assets (including, without limitation, cash
or cash equivalent) immediately prior to a distribution shall (A) in
the case of a deemed distribution occurring as a result of a
termination of the Company pursuant to Code Section 708, be determined
and allocated in the same manner as that provided in Section 4.3(d) or
(B) in the case of a liquidating distribution pursuant to Section 14.2
or 14.3, be determined and allocated by the Liquidator using such
reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt.
SECTION 4.4 INTEREST. No interest shall be paid by the Company on
Capital Contributions or on balances in Members' Capital Accounts.
15
SECTION 4.5 NO WITHDRAWAL. No Member shall be entitled to
withdraw any part of his Capital Contributions or its Capital Account or to
receive any distribution from the Company, except as provided in Section 4.1,
Articles V, VII, XIII and XIV.
SECTION 4.6 LOANS FROM MEMBERS. Loans by a Member to the Company
shall not constitute Capital Contributions. If any Member shall advance funds to
the Company in excess of the amounts required hereunder to be contributed by it
to the capital of the Company, the making of such excess advances shall not
result in any increase in the amount of the Capital Account of such Member. The
amount of any such excess advances shall be a debt obligation of the Company to
such Member and shall be payable or collectible only out of the Company assets
in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which such advances are made.
SECTION 4.7 NO FRACTIONAL UNITS. No fractional Units shall be
issued by the Company.
SECTION 4.8 SPLITS AND COMBINATIONS.
(a) Subject to Section 4.8(d), the Board of Directors may make a
pro rata distribution of Units or other Company Securities to all Record Holders
or may effect a subdivision or combination of Units or other Company Securities;
provided, however, after any such distribution, subdivision or combination, each
Member shall have the same Percentage Interest as before such distribution,
subdivision or combination.
(b) Whenever such a distribution, subdivision or combination of
Units or other Company Securities is declared, the Board of Directors shall
select a Record Date as of which the distribution, subdivision or combination
shall be effective and shall send notice of the distribution, subdivision or
combination at least twenty days prior to such Record Date to each Record Holder
as of the date not less than ten days prior to the date of such notice. The
Board of Directors also may cause a firm of independent public accountants
selected by it to calculate the number of Units to be held by each Record Holder
after giving effect to such distribution, subdivision or combination. The Board
of Directors shall be entitled to rely on any certificate provided by such firm
as conclusive evidence of the accuracy of such calculation.
(c) Promptly following any such distribution, subdivision or
combination, the Board of Directors may cause Certificates to be issued to the
Record Holders of Units as of the applicable Record Date representing this new
number of Units held by such Record Holders, or the Board of Directors may adopt
such other procedures as it may deem appropriate to reflect such distribution,
subdivision or combination; provided, however, if any such distribution,
subdivision or combination results in a smaller total number of Units
Outstanding, the Board of Directors shall require, as a condition to the
delivery to a Record Holder of such new Certificate, the surrender of any
Certificate held by such Record Holder immediately prior to such Record Date.
(d) The Company shall not issue fractional Units upon any
distribution, subdivision or combination of Units. If a distribution,
subdivision or combination of Units would result in the issuance of fractional
Units but for the provisions of Section 4.7 and this Section 4.8(d), each
fractional Unit shall be rounded to the nearest whole Unit (and a 0.5 Unit shall
be rounded to the next higher Unit).
16
ARTICLE V.
ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 5.1 ALLOCATIONS FOR CAPITAL ACCOUNT PURPOSES. For
purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of
the Members among themselves, the Company's items of income, gain, loss and
deduction (computed in accordance with Section 4.3(b)) shall be allocated among
the Members in each taxable year (or portion thereof) as provided hereinbelow.
(a) Net Income. After giving effect to the special allocations set
forth in Section 5.1(d), Net Income for each taxable period and all items of
income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Income for
such taxable period shall be allocated as follows:
(i) First, 100% to the Members holding Common Units, in
accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, until the
aggregate Net Income allocated to such Members pursuant to this Section
5.1(a)(i) for the current taxable year and all previous taxable years
is equal to the aggregate Net Losses allocated to such Members pursuant
to Section 5.1(b)(ii) for all previous taxable years; and
(ii) Second, the balance, if any, 100% to the Members in
accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.
(b) Net Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations set
forth in Section 5.1(d), Net Losses for each taxable period and all items of
income, gain, loss and deduction taken into account in computing Net Losses for
such taxable period shall be allocated as follows:
(i) First, 100% to the Members, in accordance with their
respective Percentage Interests, until the aggregate Net Losses
allocated pursuant to this Section 5.1(b)(i) for the current taxable
year and all previous taxable years is equal to the aggregate Net
Income allocated to such Members pursuant to Section 5.1(a)(ii) for all
previous taxable years; and
(ii) Second, 100% to the Members holding Common Units in
accordance with their respective Percentage Interests; provided,
however, Net Losses shall not be allocated pursuant to this Section
5.1(b)(ii) to the extent that such allocation would cause any Member to
have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of
such taxable year (or increase any existing deficit balance in its
Adjusted Capital Account).
(c) Net Termination Gains and Losses. After giving effect to the
special allocations set forth in Section 5.1(d), all items of income gain, loss
and deduction taken into account in computing Net Termination Gain or Net
Termination Loss for such taxable period shall be allocated in the same manner
as such Net Termination Gain or Net Termination Loss is allocated hereunder. All
allocations under this Section 5.1(c) shall be made after Capital Account
balances have been adjusted by all other allocations provided under this Section
5.1 and after all distributions provided under Section 5.3 have been made with
respect to the taxable period ending on the date of the Company's liquidation
pursuant to Section 14.2.
(i) If a Net Termination Gain is recognized (or deemed
recognized pursuant to Section 4.3(d) from Termination Capital
Transactions, such Net Termination Gain shall be allocated among the
Members in the following manner (and the Adjusted Capital Accounts of
the Members shall be increased by the amount so allocated in each of
the following subclauses, in the order listed, before an allocation is
made pursuant to the next succeeding subclause):
17
(A) First, to each Member having a deficit
balance in its Adjusted Capital Account, in the proportion
that such deficit balance bears to the total deficit balances
in the Adjusted Capital Accounts of all Members, until each
such Member has been allocated Net Termination Gain equal to
any such deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account; and
(B) Second, any remaining amount 100% to all
Members, in accordance with their relative Percentage
Interests.
(ii) If a Net Termination Loss is recognized (or deemed
recognized pursuant to Section 4.3(d)) from Termination Capital
Transactions, such Net Termination Loss shall be allocated to the
Members in the following manner:
(A) First, 100% to all Members holding Common
Units, in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests
until the Adjusted Capital Account in respect of each Common
Unit then Outstanding has been reduced to zero; and
(B) Second, the balance, if any, 100% to the
Members holding Common Units in accordance with their relative
Percentage Interests.
(d) Special Allocations. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Section 5.1, the following special allocations shall be made for such
taxable period:
(i) Company Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Section 5.1, if there is a net decrease in
Company Minimum Gain during any Company taxable period, each Member
shall be allocated items of Company income and gain for such period
(and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and amounts
provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704(f)(6), 1.704(g)(2) and
1.704-2(j)(2)(i), or any successor provision. For purposes of this
Section 5.1(d), each Member's Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be
determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder
shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations
pursuant to this Section 5.1(d) with respect to such taxable period
(other than an allocation pursuant to Sections 5.1(d)(vi) and
5.1(d)(vii)). This Section 5.1(d)(i) is intended to comply with the
Company Minimum Gain chargeback requirement in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(ii) Chargeback of Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain.
Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 5.1 (other than
Sections 5.1(d)(i)), except as provided in Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-2(i)(4), if there is net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt
Minimum Gain during any Company taxable period, any Member with a share
of Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such
taxable period shall be allocated items of Company income and gain for
such period (and, if necessary, subsequent periods) in the manner and
amounts provided in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and
1.704-2(j)(2)(ii), or any successor provisions. For purposes of this
Section 5.1(d), each Member's Adjusted Capital Account balance shall be
determined, and the allocation of income or gain required hereunder
shall be effected, prior to the application of any other allocations
pursuant to this Section 5.1(d), other than Sections 5.1(d)(i) and
other than an allocation pursuant to Sections 5.1(d)(vi) and
5.1(d)(vii), with respect to such taxable period. This Section
5.1(d)(ii) is intended to comply with the chargeback of items of income
and gain requirement in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and
shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
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(iii) Priority Allocations. If the amount of cash or the
Net Agreed Value of any property distributed (except cash or property
distributed pursuant to Section 14.2 or 14.3) to any Member with
respect to a taxable year is greater (on a per Unit basis) than the
amount of cash or the Net Agreed Value of property distributed to the
other Members (on a per Unit basis), then each Member receiving such
greater cash or property distribution shall be allocated gross income
in an amount equal to the product of (aa) the amount by which the
distribution (on a per Unit basis) to such Member exceeds the
distribution (on a per Unit basis) to the Members receiving the
smallest distribution and (bb) the number of Units owned by the Member
receiving the greater distribution.
(iv) Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Member
unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions
described in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(d)(4),
1.704-(b)(2)(d)(5) or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Company income
and gain shall be specifically allocated to such Member in an amount
and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the
Treasury Regulations promulgated under Code Section 704(b), the deficit
balance, if any, in its Adjusted Capital Account created by such
adjustments, allocations or distributions as quickly as possible unless
such deficit balance is otherwise eliminated pursuant to Section
5.1(d)(i) or (ii).
(v) Gross Income Allocations. In the event any Member has
a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account at the end of any
Company taxable period, such Member shall be specially allocated items
of Company gross income and gain in the amount of such excess as
quickly as possible; provided, however, an allocation pursuant to this
Section 5.1(d)(v) shall be made only if and to the extent that such
Member would have a deficit balance in its Adjusted Capital Account
after all other allocations provided for in this Section 5.1 have been
tentatively made as if this Section 5.1(d)(v) were not in this
Agreement.
(vi) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for
any taxable period shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with
their respective Percentage Interests. If the Board of Directors
determines in its good faith discretion that the Company's Nonrecourse
Deductions must be allocated in a different ratio to satisfy the safe
harbor requirements of the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Code
Section 704(b), the Board of Directors is authorized, upon notice to
the Members, to revise the prescribed ratio to the numerically closest
ratio that does satisfy such requirements.
(vii) Member Nonrecourse Deductions. Member Nonrecourse
Deductions for any taxable period shall be allocated 100% to the Member
that bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to the Member
Nonrecourse Debt to which such Member Nonrecourse Deductions are
attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i).
If more than one Member bears the Economic Risk of Loss with respect to
a Member Nonrecourse Debt, such Member Nonrecourse Deductions
attributable thereto shall be allocated between or among such Members
in accordance with the manner in which they share such Economic Risk of
Loss.
(viii) Nonrecourse Liabilities. For purposes of Treasury
Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3), Nonrecourse Liabilities of the
Company in excess of the sum of (A) the amount of Company Minimum Gain
and (B) the total amount of Nonrecourse Built-in Gain shall be
allocated among the Members in accordance with their respective
Percentage Interests.
(ix) Code Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an
adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to
Code Section 734(b) or 743(b) is required, pursuant to Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in
determining
19
Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts
shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the
basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis),
and such item of gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the
Members in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital
Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such Section of the
Treasury Regulations.
(x) Economic Uniformity. At the election of the Board of
Directors with respect to any taxable period, all or a portion of the
remaining items of Company gross income or gain for such taxable
period, if any, shall be allocated 100% to each Member that holds Units
that have been issued pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant or pursuant
to the Unit Option Plan, such allocation to be made in the manner
determined by the Board of Directors, until each such Member has been
allocated an amount of gross income or gain that increases the Capital
Account maintained with respect to such to the Capital Accounts of
Units that were issued prior thereto. The purpose of this allocation is
to establish uniformity between the Capital Accounts underlying the
Units issued pursuant to Warrants and the Unit Option Plan and the
Capital Accounts underlying Units immediately prior to this issuance.
(xi) Curative Allocation.
(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 5.1, other than the Required Allocations, the Required
Allocations shall be taken into account in making the Agreed
Allocations so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of
items of income, gain, loss and deduction allocated to each
Member pursuant to the Required Allocations and the Agreed
Allocations, together, shall be equal to the net amount of
such items that would have been allocated to each such Member
under the Agreed Allocations had the Required Allocations and
the related Curative Allocation not otherwise been provided in
this Section 5.1. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence,
Required Allocations relating to (1) Nonrecourse Deductions
shall not be taken into account except to the extent that
there has been a decrease in Company Minimum Gain and (2)
Member Nonrecourse Deductions shall not be taken into account
except to the extent that there has been a decrease in Member
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Allocations pursuant to this
Section 5.1(d)(xi)(A) shall be made with respect to Required
Allocations only to the extent the Board of Directors
reasonably determines that such allocations will otherwise be
inconsistent with the economic agreement among the Members.
Further, allocations pursuant to this Section 5.1(d)(xi)(A)
shall be deferred with respect to allocations pursuant to
clauses (1) and (2) hereof to the extent the Board of
Directors reasonably determines that such allocations are
likely to be offset by subsequent Required Allocations.
(B) The Board of Directors shall have reasonable
discretion, with respect to each taxable period, to (1) apply
the provisions of Section 5.1(d)(xi)(A) in whatever order is
most likely to minimize the economic distortions that might
otherwise result from the Required Allocations, and (2) divide
all allocations pursuant to Section 5.1(d)(xi)(A) among the
Members in a manner that is likely to minimize such economic
distortions.
SECTION 5.2 ALLOCATIONS FOR TAX PURPOSES.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, for federal income tax
purposes, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated among
the Members in the same manner as its correlative item of "book" income, gain,
loss or deduction is allocated pursuant to Section 5.1.
20
(b) In an attempt to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities attributable
to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, items of income, gain, loss,
depreciation, amortization and cost recovery deductions shall be allocated for
federal income tax purposes among the Members as follows:
(i) (A) In the case of a Contributed Property, such
items attributable thereto shall be allocated among the Members in the
manner provided under Code Section 704(c) that takes into account the
variation between the Agreed Value of such property and its adjusted
basis at the time of contribution; and (B) except as otherwise provided
in Section 5.2(b)(iv), any item of Residual Gain or Residual Loss
attributable to a Contributed Property shall be allocated among the
Members in the same manner as its correlative item of "book" gain or
loss is allocated pursuant to Section 5.1.
(ii) (A) In the case of an Adjusted Property, such
items shall (1) first, be allocated among the Members in a manner
consistent with the principles of Code Section 704(c) to take into
account the Unrealized Gain or Unrealized Loss attributable to such
property and the allocations thereof pursuant to Section 4.3(d)(i) or
(ii), and (2) second, in the event such property was originally a
Contributed Property, be allocated among the Members in a manner
consistent with Section 5.2(b)(i)(A); and (B) except as otherwise
provided in Section 5.2(b)(iv), any item of Residual Gain or Residual
Loss attributable to an Adjusted Property shall be allocated among the
Members in the same manner as its correlative item of "book" gain or
loss is allocated pursuant to Section 5.1.
(iii) Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.2(b)(iv),
all other items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated
among the Members in the same manner as their correlative item of
"book" gain or loss is allocated pursuant to Section 5.1. Such
allocations are intended to comply with, and shall be effected by the
Board of Directors in accordance with the principles of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.704-3(c) and Treasury Regulation Section
1.704-3(d).
(iv) Any items of income, gain, loss or deduction
otherwise allocable under Section 5.2(b)(i)(B), 5.2(b)(ii)(B) or
5.2(b)(iii) shall be subject to allocation by the Board of Directors in
a manner designed to eliminate, to the maximum extent possible,
Book-Tax Disparities in a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property
otherwise resulting from the application of the "ceiling" limitation
(under Code Section 704(c) or Section 704(c) principles) to the
allocations provided under Section 5.2(b)(i)(A) or 5.2(b)(ii)(A).
(c) For the proper administration of the Company and for the
preservation of uniformity of the Units (or any class or classes thereof), the
Board of Directors shall have sole discretion to (i) adopt such conventions as
it deems appropriate in determining the amount of depreciation, amortization and
cost recovery deductions; (ii) make special allocations for federal income tax
purposes of income (including, without limitation, gross income) or deductions;
and (iii) amend the provisions of this Agreement as appropriate (x) to reflect
the proposal or promulgation of Treasury regulations under Code Section 704(b)
or Code Section 704(c) or (y) otherwise to preserve or achieve uniformity of the
Units (or any class or classes thereof). The Board of Directors may adopt such
conventions, make such allocations and make such amendments to this Agreement as
provided in this Section 5.2(c) only if such conventions, allocations or
amendments would not have a material adverse effect on the Members, the holders
of any class or classes of Units issued and Outstanding or the Company, and only
if such allocations are consistent with the principles of Code Section 704.
(d) The Board of Directors in its sole discretion may determine to
depreciate or amortize the portion of an adjustment under Code Section 743(b)
attributable to unrealized appreciation in any
21
Adjusted Property (to the extent of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a
predetermined rate derived from the depreciation or amortization method and
useful life applied to the Company's common basis of such property, if the Board
of Directors determines that such reporting position can reasonably be taken. If
the Board of Directors determines that such reporting position cannot reasonably
be taken, the Board of Directors may adopt depreciation and amortization
conventions under which all purchasers acquiring Units in the same month would
receive depreciation and amortization deductions, based upon the same applicable
rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in the Company's property. If
the Board of Directors chooses not to utilize such aggregate method, the Board
of Directors may use any other reasonable depreciation and amortization
conventions to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of
any Units that would not have a material adverse effect on the Members or the
Record Holders of any class or classes of Units.
(e) Any gain allocated to the Members upon the sale or other
taxable disposition of any Company asset shall, to the extent possible, after
taking into account other required allocations of gain pursuant to this Section
5.2, be characterized as Recapture Income in the same proportions and to the
same extent as such Members (or their predecessors in interest) have been
allocated any deductions directly or indirectly giving rise to the treatment of
such gains as Recapture Income.
(f) All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit
recognized by the Company for federal income tax purposes and allocated to the
Members in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be determined without
regard to any election under Code Section 754 that may be made by the Company;
provided, however, such allocations, once made, shall be adjusted as necessary
or appropriate to take into account those adjustments permitted or required by
Code Sections 734 and 743.
(g) Each item of Company income, gain, loss and deduction
attributable to transferred Units shall, for federal income tax purposes, be
determined on an annual basis and prorated on a monthly basis and shall be
allocated to the Members as of the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on the
first Business Day of each month; provided, however, gain or loss on a sale or
other disposition of any assets of the Company other than in the ordinary course
of business shall be allocated to the Members as of the opening of the New York
Stock Exchange on the first Business Day of the month in which such gain or loss
is recognized for federal income tax purposes. The Board of Directors may
revise, alter or otherwise modify such methods of allocation as it determines
necessary, to the extent permitted or required by Code Section 706 and the
regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.
(h) Allocations that would otherwise be made to a Member under the
provisions of this Article V shall instead be made to the beneficial owner of
Units held by a nominee in any case in which the nominee has furnished the
identity of such owner to the Company in accordance with Code Section 6031(c) or
any other method acceptable to the Board of Directors in its sole discretion.
SECTION 5.3 DISTRIBUTIONS. The Board of Directors may, from time
to time, declare and pay such distributions to the Holders of Units as the Board
of Directors deems appropriate.
ARTICLE VI.
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSINESS
SECTION 6.1 MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY'S AFFAIRS. All management
powers over the business and affairs of the Company shall be exclusively vested
in a Board of Directors (the "BOARD OF DIRECTORS") and, subject to the direction
of the Board of Directors, the Officers. The Directors and Officers shall
collectively constitute the "managers" of the Company within the meaning of the
Act. No Member, by virtue of its status as a Member, shall have any management
power over the business and affairs of the
22
Company or actual or apparent authority to enter into, execute or deliver
contracts on behalf of, or to otherwise bind, the Company. Except as otherwise
specifically provided in this Agreement, the authority and functions of the
Board of Directors, on the one hand, and of the Officers, on the other, shall be
identical to the authority and functions of the board of directors and officers,
respectively, of a corporation organized under the General Corporation Law of
Delaware (the "GCLD"). Thus, except as otherwise specifically provided in this
Agreement, the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the
direction of the Board of Directors, and the day-to-day activities of the
Company shall be conducted on the Company's behalf by the Officers, who shall be
agents of the Company with such authority as specifically provided in this
Agreement or as authorized by the Board of Directors. In addition to the powers
that now or hereafter can be granted to managers under the Act and to all other
powers granted under any other provision of this Agreement, the Board of
Directors shall have full power and authority to do, and to direct the Officers
to do, all things on such terms as it, in its sole discretion, may deem
necessary or appropriate to conduct, or to cause to be conducted, the business
and affairs of the Company, including the making of any expenditures, the
lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other
contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences
of indebtedness and the incurring of any other obligations; the making of tax,
regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other reports to
governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets
of the Company; subject to the requirements of Article XVI, the merger or other
combination of the Company with or into, or the sale, lease or exchange of all
or substantially all of the assets to, another Person; the use of the assets of
the Company (including cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms
of this Agreement and the repayment of obligations of the Company; the
negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other
instruments; the declaration and payment of any distribution (in cash or
otherwise); the selection, engagement and dismissal of Officers, employees and
agents, outside attorneys, accountants, engineers, consultants and contractors
and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or
hiring; the maintenance of such insurance for the benefit of the Company, as it
deems necessary or appropriate; the acquisition or disposition of assets; the
formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, or the contribution of property
to, any entity; the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations
of the Company, including the commencement, prosecution and defense of actions
at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation and the
incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation; the
indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the
extent permitted by law; and the entering into of listing agreements with any
National Securities Exchange or other securities exchange and the delisting of
some or all of the Interests from, or requesting that trading be suspended on,
any such National Securities Exchange or other securities exchange.
SECTION 6.2 BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
(a) Composition; Term; Initial Directors. The Board of Directors
shall consist of not less than three nor more than fifteen natural persons. Each
Director shall be elected as provided in Section 6.2(b) and shall serve in such
capacity until his successor has been duly elected and qualified or until such
Director dies, resigns or is removed. The Board of Directors may from time to
time determine the number of Directors then constituting the whole Board of
Directors, but the Board of Directors shall not decrease the number of Persons
that constitute the whole Board of Directors if such decrease would shorten the
term of any Director. The Board of Directors immediately following the
confirmation of the Plan of Reorganization shall consist of the directors
contemplated by the Plan of Reorganization.
23
(b) Election of Directors. At each annual meeting of the Members,
each Director shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the next
annual meeting of Members. To be elected as a Director, a natural person must
(a) (i) be elected in accordance with Section 6.2(c) or (ii) have been properly
nominated for a position as a Director in accordance with Section 6.2(e), and
(b) must receive a majority of the votes cast in respect of Interests for the
position at a meeting of Members held for such purpose at which a quorum is
present in Person or by proxy, or if there are more than two nominees for such
position, a plurality of the votes cast in respect of Interests for the
position.
(c) Vacancies and Removal. Subject to applicable law and the
rights of the holders of any series of Interests, vacancies existing on the
Board of Directors (including a vacancy created by virtue of an increase in the
size of the Board of Directors) may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the Directors then serving, even if less than a quorum. Any Director
chosen to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next annual meeting of
Members and until his successor has been duly elected and qualified or until
their earlier resignation or removal. Subject to the rights of the holders of
any series of Interests, any Director, and the entire Board of Directors, may be
removed from office at any time by the affirmative vote of the Record Holders of
a majority of the voting power of the Company.
(d) Nominations; Qualifications. Before a meeting of the Members
at which an election of Directors is to be held, the Board of Directors shall
nominate its slate of persons to be presented for election at such meeting.
Other nominations for Directors may be made by any Member, but any Member
nominations must be in writing, in proper form and delivered to the Secretary of
the Company not less than 120 days before the anniversary of the date on which
proxy materials were first mailed to Members in connection with the previous
year's annual meeting of the Members at which an election of Directors was held.
To be in proper form, such Member nomination must set forth in writing as to
each person whom such Member proposes to nominate for election or re-election as
a Director all information relating to such person as is required to be
disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of Directors, or is otherwise
required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor regulation promulgated thereunder, and
Rule 14a-11 thereunder (including such person's written consent to being named
in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected).
Directors need not be Members. The Board of Directors may, from time to time and
by the adoption of resolutions, establish qualifications for Directors.
(e) Voting; Quorum; Required Vote for Action. Unless otherwise
required by the Delaware Act, other law or the provisions hereof,
(i) each member of the Board of Directors shall have one
vote;
(ii) the presence at a meeting of the Board of Directors
of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute
a quorum at any such meeting for the transaction of business; and
(iii) the act of a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which a
quorum is present shall be deemed to constitute the act of the Board of
Directors.
(f) Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors and any
committee thereof shall be held at such times and places as shall be designated
from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors or such committee.
Notice of such regular meetings shall not be required. Special meetings of the
Board of Directors or meetings of any committee thereof may be called by the
Chairman of the Board, the President (should the President be a Director) or on
the written request of any two Directors or committee members, as applicable, to
the Secretary, in each case on at least twenty-four hours personal,
24
written, facsimile, electronic, telegraphic, cable or wireless notice to each
Director or committee member, which notice may be waived by any Director. Any
such notice, or waiver thereof, need not state the purpose of such meeting
except as may otherwise be required by law. Attendance of a Director at a
meeting (including pursuant to the last sentence of this Section 6.2(f)) shall
constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such Director
attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of
any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board of
Directors, or any committee thereof, 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, are signed by all members of the Board of Directors
or committee. Members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may
participate in and hold a meeting by means of conference telephone, video
conference or similar communications equipment by means of which all Persons
participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in such
meetings shall constitute presence in Person at the meeting.
(g) Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more
committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the Directors. The Board
of Directors may designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any
committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified Director at any meeting of
such committee. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of
the Board of Directors or in this Agreement, shall have and may exercise all
powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business
and affairs of the Company, and may authorize the seal of the Company to be
affixed to all papers that require it; but no such committee shall have the
power or authority in reference to the following matters: approving or adopting,
or recommending to the Members, any action or matter expressly required by this
Agreement or the Delaware Act to be submitted to the Members for approval or
adopting, amending or repealing any provision of this Agreement. Unless
specified by resolution of the Board of Directors, any committee designated
pursuant to this Section 6.2(g) shall choose its own chairman, shall keep
regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors
when requested, and, subject to Section 6.2(f), shall fix its own rules or
procedures and shall meet at such times and at such place or places as may be
provided by such rules. At every meeting of any such committee, the presence of
a majority of all the members thereof shall constitute a quorum and the
affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary for the
adoption by the committee of any resolution.
(h) Chairman. The Board of Directors may elect one of its members
as Chairman of the Board (the "CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD"). The Chairman of the
Board, if any, and if present and acting, shall preside at all meetings of the
Board of Directors and of Members, unless otherwise directed by the Board of
Directors. If the Board of Directors does not elect a Chairman, the President,
if present and a Director, or any other Director chosen by the Board of
Directors, shall preside. Unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise, the
Chairman of the Board shall be an Officer and shall have the same power and
authority as the President.
(i) Tax Matters Member.
(i) The Board of Directors shall designate one Director
or Officer who is a Member to be the "tax matters partner" of the
Company pursuant to Code Section 6231(a)(7) (any Director or Officer
who is designated as the "tax matters partner" is referred to herein as
the "TAX MATTERS MEMBER"). The Tax Matters Member shall represent the
Company (at the Company's expense) in connection with all examinations
of the Company's affairs by tax authorities, including resulting
administrative and judicial proceedings, and may expend Company funds
for professional services and costs associated therewith. Each Member
agrees to cooperate with the Tax Matters Member and to do or refrain
from doing any or all things reasonably required by the Tax Matters
Member to conduct such proceedings.
25
(ii) Notwithstanding Section 6.2(i)(i), the Tax Matters
Member shall not be liable to the Company or the Member for monetary
damages for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any
act or omission by the Tax Matters Member, unless such act or omission
(i) was not performed in good faith, (ii) involved intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law or (iii) constituted gross
negligence.
SECTION 6.3 REQUIRED BOARD APPROVAL. Except as otherwise
expressly permitted by this Agreement or by resolution of the Board of
Directors, no Director or group of Directors shall have any actual or apparent
authority to enter into contracts on behalf of, or to otherwise bind, the
Company, nor take any action in the name of or on behalf of the Company or
conduct any business of the Company other than by action of the Board of
Directors taken in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and no
Director shall have the power or authority to delegate to any Person such
Director's rights and powers as a Director to manage the business and affairs of
the Company. The Board of Directors, by resolution, may establish policies
regarding the authority of the Company to take action without approval of the
Board of Directors.
SECTION 6.4 OFFICERS.
(a) Generally. The Board of Directors, as set forth below, shall
appoint agents of the Company, having the authority set forth in this Agreement
or otherwise as authorized by the Board of Directors, which agents are referred
to as "OFFICERS." Unless provided otherwise by resolution of the Board of
Directors, the Officers shall have the titles, power, authority and duties
described below in this Section 6.4.
(b) Titles and Number. The Officers shall be the Chairman of the
Board (unless the Board of Directors provides that the Chairman shall not be an
officer), the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any and all Vice
Presidents, the Secretary and any Treasurer, any and all Assistant Secretaries
and Assistant Treasurers and any other officer position or title as the Board of
Directors may desire. There shall be appointed from time to time, in accordance
with Section 6.4(c), such Vice President, Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries,
Treasurers, Assistant Treasurers and other officers as the Board of Directors
may desire. Any Person may hold two or more offices.
(c) Appointment and Term of Office. The Officers shall be
appointed by the Board of Directors at such times and for such terms as the
Board of Directors shall determine. Any Officer may be removed, with or without
cause, only by the Board of Directors. Vacancies in any office may be filled
only by the Board of Directors.
(d) Chairman of the Board. Subject to the limitations imposed by
this Agreement, any employment agreement, any employee plan or any determination
or resolution of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board shall preside
at all meetings of the Members and the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the
Board shall have full authority to execute all documents and take all actions
that the Company may legally take. The Chairman of the Board shall exercise such
other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by this
Agreement or the Board of Directors, including any duties and powers stated in
any employment agreement approved by the Board of Directors.
(e) Chief Executive Officer. Subject to the limitations imposed by
this Agreement, any employment agreement, any employee plan or any determination
or resolution of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, subject to
the direction of the Board of Directors, shall be the chief executive officer of
the Company and, as such, shall supervise generally the President and the other
Officers and shall have full authority to execute all documents and take all
actions that the Company may legally take.
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The Chief Executive Officer shall exercise such other powers and perform such
other duties as may be assigned to him by this Agreement or the Board of
Directors, including any duties and powers stated in any employment agreement
approved by the Board of Directors.
(f) President. Subject to the limitations imposed by this
Agreement, any employment agreement, any employee plan or any determination or
resolution of the Board of Directors, the President, subject to the direction of
the Board of Directors, shall be responsible for the management and direction of
the day-to-day business and affairs of the Company, its other Officers,
employees and agents, shall supervise generally the affairs of the Company and
shall have full authority to execute all documents and take all actions that the
Company may legally take. The President shall exercise such other powers and
perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by this Agreement or the
Board of Directors, including any duties and powers stated in any employment
agreement approved by the Board of Directors.
(g) Vice Presidents. In the absence of the President and the
Chairman of the Board (if one is appointed), each Vice President appointed by
the Board of Directors shall have all of the powers and duties conferred upon
the President, including the same power as the President to execute documents on
behalf of the Company. Each such Vice President shall perform such other duties
and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned to him
by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President. Vice
Presidents may be designated Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents,
or any other title determined by the Board of Directors.
(h) Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall
record or cause to be recorded in books provided for that purpose the minutes of
the meetings or actions of the Board of Directors and Members, shall see that
all notice are duly given in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement
and as required by law, shall be custodian of all records (other than
financial), shall see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and all
other documents and records required by applicable Law are properly kept and
filed, and, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of
Secretary and such other duties as may, from time to time, be assigned to him by
this Agreement, the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the
President. The Assistant Secretaries shall exercise the powers of the Secretary
during that Officer's absence or inability or refusal to act. Each of the
Assistant Secretaries shall possess the same power as the Secretary to sign all
certificates, contracts, obligations and other instruments of the Company. If no
Secretary or Assistant Secretary is appointed and serving or in the absence of
the appointed Secretary and Assistant Secretary, such other Officer as the Board
of Directors shall select shall have the powers and duties conferred upon the
Secretary.
(i) Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers. The Treasurer shall keep
or cause to be kept the books of account of the Company and shall render
statements of the financial affairs of the Company in such form and as often as
required by this Agreement, the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or
the President. The Treasurer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors,
shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the Company. The Treasurer
shall perform all other duties commonly incident to his office and shall perform
such other duties and have such other powers as this Agreement, the Board of
Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President shall designate from time
to time. The Assistant Treasurers shall exercise the power of the Treasurer
during that Officer's absence or inability or refusal to act. Each of the
Assistant Treasurers shall possess the same power as the Treasurer to sign all
certificates, contracts, obligations and other instruments of the Company. If no
Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer is appointed and serving or in the absence of
the appointed Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, such other Officer as the Board
of Directors shall select shall have the powers and duties conferred upon the
Treasurer.
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(j) Powers of Attorney. The Company may xxxxx xxxxxx of attorney
or other authority as appropriate to establish and evidence the authority of the
Officers and other Persons.
(k) Delegation of Authority. Unless otherwise provided by
resolution of the Board of Directors, no Officer shall have the power or
authority to delegate to any Person such Officer's rights and powers as an
Officer to manage the business and affairs of the Company.
SECTION 6.5 COMPENSATION. The Officers shall receive such
compensation for their services as may be designated by the Board of Directors.
In addition, the Officers shall be entitled to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket
costs and expenses incurred in the course of their service hereunder. The
members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of the Company or its
subsidiaries shall receive such compensation for their services as Directors or
committee members as the Board of Directors shall determine. In addition, the
members of the Board of Directors shall be entitled to be reimbursed for
out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in the course of their service
hereunder.
SECTION 6.6 INTERESTED OFFICERS OR DIRECTORS. No contract or
transaction between the Company and one or more of its Officers or Directors, or
between the Company and any other entity in which one or more such Officers or
Directors owns a financial interest or of which such Officer or Director is an
Affiliate, officer, director or employee, shall be void or voidable or be deemed
to constitute a breach of duty if:
(a) The material facts as to his or her relationship or interest
and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of
Directors or any committee thereof and the Board of Directors or committee in
good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a
majority of the disinterested Directors, even though the disinterested Directors
be less than a quorum and even though interested directors are present at or
participate in the meeting that authorizes the contract or transaction;
(b) The material facts as to his or her relationship or interest
and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Members
entitled to vote thereon and the contract or transaction is specifically
approved in good faith by vote of the Members; or
(c) The contract or transaction is fair as to the Company as of
the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the Board of Directors, a
committee of the Board of Directors or the Members.
Interested Directors may be counted in determining the presence of a
quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof that
authorizes the contract or transaction in question.
SECTION 6.7 INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the
limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify
any Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or complete action, suit or proceeding (each an
"INDEMNITEE"), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other
than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that
such Indemnitee is or was a Director, Officer or Tax Matters Member against
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection
with such action, suit or proceeding if such Indemnitee acted in good faith and
in a manner that such Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such Indemnitee's conduct was
unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order,
settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its
28
equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnitee did
not act in good faith and in a manner that such Indemnitee reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, or, with respect
to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe such
Indemnitee's conduct was unlawful. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section
6.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Company.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law but subject to the
limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify
any Indemnitee who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or complete action or suit by or in the right of the Company
to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such Indemnitee is
or was a Director, Officer or Tax Matters Member against expenses (including
attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in
connection the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such Indemnitee
acted in good faith and in a manner that such Indemnitee reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, except that no
indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to
which such Person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless
and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such
action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such
Person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses that the
Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
(c) The Company may indemnify any employee or agent of the
Company, or any Person serving at the request of the Company as an employee or
agent of another entity, in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Company is required, pursuant to Sections 6.7(a) and 6.7(b), to indemnify
Directors, Officers and the Tax Matters Member.
(d) To the extent that any Indemnitee has been successful on the
merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in
Sections 6.7(a) and 6.7(b), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein,
such Indemnitee shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorney's
fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection
therewith.
(e) Any indemnification under subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d) of
this Section 6.7 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Company only
as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of
the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because such Indemnitee has met
the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 6.7(a) and 6.7(b). Such
determination shall be made, with respect to an Indemnitee who is a Director,
Officer or Tax Matters Member at the time of such determination, promptly (i) by
a majority vote of the Directors who are not parties to such action, suit or
proceeding, even though less than a quorum; (ii) by a committee of such
Directors designated by majority vote of such Directors, even though less than a
quorum; or (iii) if there are no such Directors or if such Directors so direct,
by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iv) by the Members.
(f) Expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by a Person who
is a potential Indemnitee in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be paid by
the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
proceeding upon receipt by the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of such
Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that the
such Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized in
this Section 6.7.
(g) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by,
or granted pursuant to, this Section 6.7 shall not be deemed exclusive of any
other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses
may be entitled under any agreement, vote of Members or disinterested
29
Directors, as a matter of law or otherwise, both as to actions in the
Indemnitee's official capacity and as to action in another capacity while
holding such office or position, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has
ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs,
successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.
(h) The Company may purchase and maintain insurance, on behalf of
any Person who is or was a member of the Board of Directors or an Officer and on
behalf of such other Persons as the Board of Directors shall determine, against
any liability that may be asserted against or expense that may be incurred by
such Person in connection with the Company's activities, regardless of whether
the Company would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability
under the provisions of this Agreement.
(i) For purposes of this Section 6.7, the Company shall be deemed
to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit
plan whenever the performance by the Indemnitee of such Indemnitee's duties to
the Company also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, the
Indemnitee to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise
taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan
pursuant to applicable law shall constitute "FINES" within the meaning of this
Section 6.7; action taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to an
employee benefit plan in the performance of such Indemnitee's duties for a
purpose reasonably believed by such Indemnitee to be in the interest of the
participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose
which is in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company.
(j) In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Members to personal
liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this
Agreement.
(k) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or
in part under this Section 6.7 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the
transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction
was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
(l) The provisions of this Section 6.7 are for the benefit of the
Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not
be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.
(m) No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 6.7 or
any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair either the
right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Company
or the obligation of the Company to indemnify any such Indemnitee under and in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.7 as in effect immediately
prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising
from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, before such
amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may be
asserted.
(n) THE PROVISIONS OF THE INDEMNIFICATION PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION
6.7 ARE INTENDED BY THE PARTIES TO APPLY EVEN IF SUCH PROVISIONS HAVE THE EFFECT
OF EXCULPATING THE INDEMNITEE FROM LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF
SUCH PERSON'S OWN SIMPLE, FULL, PARTIAL OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE.
30
SECTION 6.8 EXCULPATION OF LIABILITY OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 6.9, no Director or Officer shall be
liable to the Company or the Members for monetary damages for losses sustained
or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission constituting a breach
of such Director's or Officer's fiduciary duty, except:
(i) For a breach of the Director's or Officer's duty of
loyalty to the Company or the Members;
(ii) For acts or omissions not in good faith or that
involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; or
(iii) For any transaction from which the Director or
Officer derived in improper personal benefit.
If the Delaware Act is amended after the date of this Agreement to
authorize Delaware limited liability companies to further eliminate, limit or
decrease the personal liability of members or managers of Delaware limited
liability companies beyond that permitted under Section 102(b)(7) of the
Delaware Act, then the liability of a Director or an Officer to the Company, in
addition to the personal liability limitation provided herein, shall be further
limited to the fullest extent permitted under the Delaware Act as so amended.
(b) Subject to its obligations and duties as set forth in this
Article VI, the Board of Directors and any committee thereof may exercise any of
the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed
upon it hereunder either directly or by or through the Company's agents, and
neither the Board of Directors nor any committee thereof shall be responsible
for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by the
Board of Directors or any committee thereof in good faith.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 6.9, the Board of Directors and any
Officer may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon
any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by
it or him to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party
or parties. Notwithstanding Section 6.9, the Board of Directors and any Officer
of the Company may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers,
management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers
selected by it or him, and any opinion of any such Person as to matters that the
Board of Directors or such Officers reasonably believes to be within such
Person's professional or expert competence shall be full and complete
authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or
omitted by the Board of Directors or such Officers hereunder in good faith and
in accordance with such opinion.
(d) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 6.8 or
any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect
the limitations on liability under this Section 6.8 as in effect immediately
prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising
from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, before such
amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may be
asserted.
SECTION 6.9 DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.
(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided in Sections 6.6, 6.7
and 6.8, the duties and obligations owed to the Company and to the Members by
the Officers and Directors, and any such duties
31
that may be owed by any Member or by any Affiliates of any Member, shall be the
same as the respective duties and obligations owed to a corporation organized
under GCLD by its officers and directors and any such duties that may be owed to
such corporation by any similarly situated stockholder or Affiliate thereof,
respectively.
(b) A Director, or a member of any committee of the Board of
Directors, shall, in the performance of such Director's duties be fully
protected in relying in good faith on the records of the Company and on such
information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Company by any
Officers or the Company's employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or
by any other Person as to matters the Director reasonably believes are within
such other Person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected
with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company.
SECTION 6.10 FACSIMILE SIGNATURES. In addition to the provisions
for the use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in this
Agreement, facsimile signatures of any Officer may be used whenever and as
authorized by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 6.11 TITLE TO COMPANY ASSETS. Title to Company assets,
whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be
deemed to be owned by the Company as an entity, and no Member or Assignee,
individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Company
assets or any portion thereof.
SECTION 6.12 PURCHASE OR SALE OF UNITS. The Board of Directors may
cause the Company to purchase or otherwise acquire Units. As long as Units are
held by the Company or the Operating Subsidiaries, such Units shall not be
considered Outstanding for any purpose, except as otherwise provided herein.
SECTION 6.13 RELIANCE BY THIRD PARTIES. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Company shall be
entitled to assume that the members of the Board of Directors and any Officer
authorized by the Board of Directors to act on behalf and in the name of the
Company has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any
manner any and all assets of the Company and to enter into any contracts on
behalf of the Company, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the
Director or any such Officer as if it were the Company's sole party in interest,
both legally and beneficially. Each Member hereby waives any and all defenses or
other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest, negate or
disaffirm any action of the Director or any such Officer in connection with any
such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the Board of Directors
or any such Officer or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the
terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity
or expedience of any act or action of the Board of Directors or any such
Officer. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on
behalf of the Company by the Board of Directors or any such Officer shall be
conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming
thereunder that (a) at the time of the execution and delivery of such
certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and
effect; (b) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or
instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the
Company; and (c) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and
delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is
binding upon the Company.
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ARTICLE VII.
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS
SECTION 7.1 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The Members and the
Assignees shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly
provided in this Agreement or the Delaware Act.
SECTION 7.2 MANAGEMENT OF BUSINESS. No Member or Assignee (other
than a Director or Officer, if such Person shall also be a Member or Assignee)
shall participate in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of
the Delaware Act) of the Company's business, transact any business in the
Company's name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the
Company. The transaction of any such business by a Director or Officer in its
capacity as such, shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the
liability of the Members or Assignees under this Agreement.
SECTION 7.3 OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES. Except as otherwise provided in
this Agreement, any Member or Assignee shall be entitled to and may have
business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those
relating to the Company, including, without limitation, business interests and
activities in direct competition with the Company, including, without
limitation, business interests and activities in direct competition with the
Company or the Operating Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of the other
Members or Assignees shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any
business ventures of any Member or Assignee.
SECTION 7.4 RETURN OF CAPITAL. No Member or Assignee shall be
entitled to the withdrawal or return of his Capital Contribution, except to the
extent, if any, that distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon
termination of the Company may be considered as such by law and then only to the
extent provided for in this Agreement. Except to the extent provided by Article
V or as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, no Member or Assignee
shall have priority over any other Member or Assignee either as to the return of
Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions. Any such return
shall be a compromise to which all Members and Assignees agree with the meaning
of Section 17-502(b) of the Delaware Act.
SECTION 7.5 RIGHTS OF MEMBERS RELATING TO THE COMPANY.
(a) In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by
applicable law, and except as limited by Section 7.5(b), each Member shall have
the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Member's interest as a
Member in the Company, upon reasonable demand and at such Member's own expense:
(i) to obtain true and full information regarding the
status of the business and financial condition of the Company:
(ii) promptly after becoming available, to obtain a copy
of the Company's federal, state and local tax returns for each year;
(iii) to have furnished to him, upon notification to the
Board of Directors, a current list of the name and last known business,
residence or mailing address of each Member;
(iv) to have furnished to him, upon notification to the
Board of Directors, a copy of this Agreement, and the Certificate of
Formation and all amendments thereto, together with a copy of the
executed copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which this
Agreement, the Certificate of Formation and all amendments thereto have
been executed;
33
(v) to obtain true and full information regarding the
amount of cash and description and statement of the Agreed Value of any
other Capital Contribution by each Member and that each Member has
agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which each became a
Member; and
(vi) to obtain such other information regarding the
affairs of the Company as is just and reasonable.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Board of Directors may keep confidential from the Members and Assignees, for
such period of time as the Board of Directors deems reasonable, any information
that the Board of Directors reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade
secrets or other information the disclosure of which the Board of Directors in
good faith believes is not in the best interests of the Company or the Operating
Subsidiaries or could damage the Company or the Operating Subsidiaries or that
the Company or the Operating Subsidiaries are required by law or by agreements
which third parties to keep confidential (other than agreements with Affiliates
the primary purpose of which is to circumvent the obligations set forth in this
Section 7.5).
ARTICLE VIII.
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
SECTION 8.1 RECORDS AND ACCOUNTING. The Board of Directors shall
keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Company appropriate
books and records with respect to the Company's business, including, without
limitation, all books and records necessary to provide to the Members any
information, lists and copies of documents required to be provided pursuant to
Section 7.5(a). Any books and records maintained by or on behalf of the Company
in the regular course of its business, including, without limitation, the record
of the Record Holders and Assignees of Units or other Company Securities, books
of account and records of Company proceedings, may be kept on, or be in the form
of, computer disks, hard drives, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs,
micrographics or any other information storage device, provided, however, the
books and records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written
form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Company shall be
maintained, for financial reporting purposes, in accordance with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles and the release of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, as in effect from time to time.
SECTION 8.2 FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Company shall be
the calendar year.
SECTION 8.3 REPORTS.
(a) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days
after the close of each fiscal year of the Company, the Board of Directors shall
cause to be mailed to each Record Holder of a Unit as of a date selected by the
Board of Directors in its sole discretion, an annual report containing financial
statements of the Company for such fiscal year of the Company, presented in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including a balance
sheet and statements of operations, Members' equity and cash flows, such
statements to be audited by a firm of independent public accountants selected by
the Board of Directors.
(b) As soon as practicable, but in no event later 90 days after
the close of each calendar quarter except the last calendar quarter of each
year, the Board of Directors shall cause to be mailed to each Record Holder of a
Unit, as of a date selected by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, a
report containing unaudited financial statements of the Company and such other
information as may be
34
required by applicable law, regulation or rule of any National Securities
Exchange on which the Units are listed for trading, or as the Board of Directors
determines to be necessary or appropriate.
ARTICLE IX.
TAX MATTERS
SECTION 9.1 PREPARATION OF TAX RETURNS. The Board of Directors
shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all returns of Company
income, gains, deductions, losses and other items required of the Company for
federal and state income tax purposes and shall use all reasonable efforts to
furnish, within 90 days of the close of each taxable year of the Company, the
tax information reasonably required by holders of Outstanding Units for federal
and state income tax reporting purposes. The classification, realization and
recognition of income, gain, losses and deductions and other items shall be on
the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes. The taxable
year of the Company shall be the calendar year.
SECTION 9.2 TAX ELECTIONS. Except as otherwise provided herein,
the Board of Directors shall in its sole discretion, determine whether to make
any available election pursuant to the Code; provided, however, the Board of
Directors shall make the election under Code Section 754 in accordance with
applicable regulations thereunder. The Board of Directors shall have the right
to seek to revoke any such election (including, without limitation, the election
under Code Section 754) upon the Board of Directors' determination in its sole
discretion that such revocation is in the best interests of the Members and
Assignees: For purposes of computing the adjustments under Code Section 743(b),
the Board of Directors shall be authorized (but not required) to adopt a
convention whereby the price paid by a transferee of Units will be deemed to be
the lowest quoted closing price of the Units on any National Securities Exchange
on which such Units are traded during the calendar month in which such transfer
is deemed to occur pursuant to Section 5.2(g) without regard to the actual price
paid by such transferee.
SECTION 9.3 ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENSES. The Company shall elect to
deduct expenses, if any, incurred by it in organizing the Company ratably over a
60-month period as provided in Code Section 709.
SECTION 9.4 WITHHOLDING. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, the Board of Directors is authorized to take any action that it
determines in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate to cause the
Company and the Operating Subsidiaries to comply with any withholding
requirements established under the Code or any other federal state or local law
including, without limitation, pursuant to Code Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and
1446. To the extent that the Company is required to withhold and pay over to any
taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of
income to any Member or Assignee (including, without limitation, by reason of
Code Section 1446), the amount withheld shall be treated as a distribution of
cash pursuant to Section 5.3 in the amount of such withholding from such Member.
SECTION 9.5 ENTITY-LEVEL ARREARAGE COLLECTIONS. If the Company is
required by applicable law to pay any federal, state or local income tax on
behalf of, or withhold such amount with respect to, any Member or Assignee or
any former Member or Assignee (a) the Board of Directors shall cause the Company
to pay such tax on behalf of such Member or Assignee or former Member or
Assignee from the funds of the Company; (b) any amount so paid on behalf of, or
withhold with respect to, any Member or Assignee shall constitute a distribution
to such Member or Assignee pursuant to Section 5.3; and (c) to the extent any
such Member or Assignee (but not a former Member or Assignee) is not then
entitled to such distribution under this Agreement, the Board of Directors shall
be authorized, without the approval of any Member or Assignee, to amend this
Agreement insofar as is necessary to maintain the uniformity
35
of intrinsic tax characteristics as to all Units and to make subsequent
adjustments to distributions in a manner which, in the reasonable judgment of
the Board of Directors, will make as little alteration as practicable in the
priority and amount of distributions otherwise applicable under this Agreement,
and will not otherwise alter the distributions to which Members and Assignees
are entitled under this Agreement. If the Company is permitted (but not
required) by applicable law to pay any such tax on behalf of, or withhold such
amount with respect to, any Member or Assignee or former Member or Assignee, the
Board of Directors shall be authorized (but not required) to cause the Company
to pay such tax from the funds of the Company and to take any action consistent
with this Section 9.6. The Board of Directors shall be authorized (but not
required) to take all necessary or appropriate actions to collect all or any
portion of a deficiency in the payment of any such tax that relates to prior
periods and that is attributable to Persons who were Members or Assignees when
such deficiencies arose, from such Persons.
SECTION 9.6 OPINIONS OF COUNSEL. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, if the Company or any of the Operating Subsidiaries
is treated as an association taxable as a corporation at any time or is
otherwise taxable for federal income tax purposes as an entity at any time and,
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, an Opinion of Counsel would
otherwise be required to the effect that an action will not cause the Company or
any of the Operating Subsidiaries to become so treated as an association taxable
as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax
purposes, such requirement for an Opinion of Counsel shall be deemed
automatically waived.
ARTICLE X.
CERTIFICATES
SECTION 10.1 CERTIFICATES. Upon the Company's issuance of Units to
any Person, the Company shall issue one or more Certificates in the name of such
Person evidencing the number of such Units being so issued. Certificates shall
be executed on behalf of the Company by the President. Unless otherwise provided
by the Board of Directors, no Common Unit Certificate shall be valid for any
purpose until it has been countersigned by the Transfer Agent.
SECTION 10.2 REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.
(a) The Company shall keep or cause to be kept a register that,
subject to such requirements as the Board of Directors may prescribe and subject
to the provisions of Section 10.2(b), will provide for the registration and
transfer of Units. The Transfer Agent is hereby appointed registrar and transfer
agent for the purpose of registering Units and transfers of such Units as herein
provided. The Company shall not recognize transfers of Units unless same are
effected in the manner described in this Section 10.2. Upon surrender for
registration of transfer of any Certificate, and subject to the provisions of
Section 10.2(b), the appropriate officer of the Company shall execute, and the
Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the
designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the Record
Holder's instructions, one or more new Certificates evidencing the same
aggregate number of Units as was evidenced by the Certificate so surrendered.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.5, the Company
shall not recognize any transfer of Units until the Certificates evidencing such
Units are surrendered for registration of transfer and such Certificates are
accompanied by a Transfer Application duly executed by the transferee (or the
transferee's attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing). No charge shall be
imposed by the Company for such transfer, provided, however, as a condition to
the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 10.2, the Board of
Directors may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed with respect thereto.
36
SECTION 10.3 MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN CERTIFICATES.
(a) If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Transfer
Agent, an Officer, on behalf of the Company, shall execute, and upon its request
the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor, a new
Certificate evidencing the same number of Units as the Certificate so
surrendered.
(b) An Officer on behalf of the Company shall execute, and upon
its request the Transfer Agent shall countersign and deliver a new Certificate
in place of any Certificate previously issued if the Record Holder of the
Certificate:
(i) makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Board of Directors, that a previously issued
Certificate has been lost, destroyed or stolen;
(ii) requests the issuance of a new Certificate before the
Company as notice that the Certificate has been acquired by a purchaser
for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;
(iii) if requested by the Board of Directors (or an Officer
delegated authority under this Section), delivers to the Company a
bond, in form and substance satisfactory to the Board of Directors (or
an Officer delegated authority under this Section), with surety or
sureties and with fixed or open penalty as the Board of Directors (or
an Officer delegated authority under this Section) may reasonably
direct, in its sole discretion to indemnify the Company, the Board of
Directors and the Transfer Agent against any claim that may be made on
account of the alleged loss, destruction or theft of the Certificate;
and
(iv) satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed
by the Board of Directors (or an Officer delegated authority under this
Section).
If a Member or Assignee fails to notify the Company within a reasonable
time after he has notice of the loss, destruction or theft of a
Certificate, and a transfer of the Units represented by the Certificate
is registered before the Company, the Board of Directors or the
Transfer Agent receives such notification, the Member or Assignee shall
be precluded from making any claim against the Company, the Board of
Directors or the Transfer Agent for such transfer or for a new
Certificate.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Certificate under
this Section 10.3, the Board of Directors (or an Officer delegated authority
under this Section) may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax
or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any
other expenses (including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of the
Transfer Agent) reasonably connected therewith.
SECTION 10.4 RECORD HOLDER. In accordance with Section 10.2(b),
the Company shall be entitled to recognize the Record Holder as the Member or
Assignee with respect to any Units and accordingly, shall not be bound to
recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such Units on the part
of any other Person, whether or not the Company shall have actual or other
notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law or any applicable rule,
regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange on
which the Units are listed for trading. Without limited the foregoing, when a
Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or
an agent of any of the foregoing) is acting as nominee, agent or in some other
representative capacity for another Person in acquiring and/or holding Units, as
between the Company on the one hand and such other Persons on the
37
other hand, such representative Person (a) shall be the Member or Assignee (as
the case may be) of record and beneficially, (b) must execute and deliver a
Transfer Application and (c) shall be bound by this Agreement and shall have the
rights and obligations of a Member or Assignee (as the case may be) hereunder
and as provided for herein.
ARTICLE XI.
TRANSFER OF INTERESTS
SECTION 11.1 TRANSFER.
(a) The term "TRANSFER," when used in this Article XI with respect
to an Interest, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction by which the holder of
a Unit assigns such Unit to another Person who is or becomes an Assignee, and
includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage,
exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise.
(b) No Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except
in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article XI. Any
transfer or purported transfer of an Interest not made in accordance with this
Article XI shall be null and void.
(c) Nothing contained in this Article XI, or elsewhere in this
Company Agreement, shall preclude the settlement of any transactions involving
Common Units entered into through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange.
SECTION 11.2 TRANSFER OF UNITS.
(a) Units may be transferred only in the manner described in
Section 10.2. The transfer of any Units and the admission of any new Member
shall not constitute an amendment to this Agreement.
(b) Until admitted as a Substituted Member pursuant to Article
XII, the Record Holder of a Unit shall be an Assignee in respect of such Unit.
Members may include custodians, nominees, or any other individual or entity in
its own or any representative capacity.
(c) Each distribution in respect of Units shall be paid by the
Company, directly or through the Transfer Agent or through any other Person or
agent, only to the Record Holders thereof as of the Record Date set for the
distribution. Such payment shall constitute full payment and satisfaction of the
Company's liability in respect of such payment, regardless of any claim of any
Person who may have an interest in such payment by reason of an assignment or
otherwise.
(d) A transferee who has completed and delivered a Transfer
Application shall be deemed to have (i) requested admission as a Substituted
Member; (ii) agreed to comply with and be bound by and to have executed this
Agreement; (iii) represented and warranted that such transferee has the right,
power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity to enter into this
Agreement; (iv) made the powers of attorney set forth in this Agreement; and (v)
given the consents and approvals and made the waivers contained in this
Agreement.
SECTION 11.3 RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS. Notwithstanding the other
provisions of this Article XI, no transfer of any Unit or interest therein of
any Member or Assignee shall be made if such transfer would (a) violate the then
applicable federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or any other
governmental authorities with jurisdiction over such transfer; (b) result in the
taxation of the Company or any of the
38
Operating Subsidiaries as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise
subject the Company or any of the Operating Subsidiaries to entity-level
taxation for federal income tax purposes; or (c) affect the Company's or any of
the Operating Subsidiaries' existence or qualification as a limited liability
company or limited partnership under the Delaware Act.
SECTION 11.4 CITIZENSHIP CERTIFICATES; NON-CITIZEN ASSIGNEES.
(a) If the Company or any of the Operating Subsidiaries is or
becomes subject to any federal, state or local law or regulation that, in the
reasonable determination of the Board of Directors, provides for the
cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which the Company or any of the
Operating Subsidiaries has an interest based on the nationality, citizenship or
other related status of a Member or Assignee, the Board of Directors may request
any Member or Assignee to furnish to the Board of Directors, within 30 days
after receipt of such request, an executed Citizenship Certification or such
other information concerning his nationality, citizenship or other related
status (or, if the Member or Assignee is a nominee holding for the account of
another Person, the nationality, citizenship or other related status of such
Person) as the Board of Directors may request. If a Member or Assignee fails to
furnish to the Board of Directors within the aforementioned 30-day period such
Citizenship Certification or other requested information or if upon receipt of
such Citizenship Certification or other requested information the Board of
Directors determines, with the advice of counsel, that a Member or Assignee is
not an Eligible Citizen, the Units owned by such Member or Assignee shall be
subject to redemption in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.5. In
addition, the Board of Directors may require that the status of any such Member
or Assignee by changed to that of a Non-citizen Assignee, and, thereupon, the
Company shall be substituted for such Non-citizen Assignee as the Member in
respect of his Units.
(b) The Board of Directors shall, in exercising voting rights in
respect of Units held by the Company on behalf of Non-citizen Assignees,
distribute the votes in the same ratios as the votes of Members in respect of
Units other than those of Non-citizen Assignees are cast, either for, against or
abstaining as to the matter.
(c) Upon dissolution of the Company, a Non-citizen Assignee shall
have no right to receive a distribution in kind pursuant to Section 14.3 but
shall be entitled to the cash equivalent thereof, and the Board of Directors
shall provide cash in exchange for an assignment of the Non-citizen Assignee's
share of the distribution in kind. Such payment and assignment shall be treated
for Company purposes as a purchase by the Board of Directors from the
Non-citizen Assignee of his Interest (representing his right to receive his
share of such distribution in kind).
(d) At any time after he can and does certify that he has become
an Eligible Citizen, a Non-citizen Assignee may, upon application to the Board
of Directors, request admission as a Substituted Member with respect to any
Units of such Non-citizen Assignee not redeemed pursuant to Section 11.5, and
upon his admission pursuant to Section 12.1, the Company shall cease to be
deemed to be the Member in respect of the Non-citizen Assignee's Units.
SECTION 11.5 REDEMPTION OF INTERESTS.
(a) If at any time a Member or Assignee fails to furnish a
Citizenship Certificate or other information requested within the 30-day period
specified in Section 11.4(a), or if upon receipt of such Citizenship
Certification or other information the Board of Directors determines, with the
advice of counsel, that a Member or Assignee is not an Eligible Citizen, the
Company may, unless the Member or Assignee establishes to the satisfaction of
the Board of Directors that such Member or Assignee is an Eligible Citizen or
has transferred his Units to a Person who furnishes a Citizenship Certification
to the
39
Board of Directors prior to the date fixed for redemption as provided below,
redeem the Interest of such Member or Assignee as follows:
(i) The Board of Directors shall, not later than the 30th
day before the date fixed for redemption, give notice of redemption to
the Member or Assignee, at his last address designated on the records
of the Company or the Transfer Agent, by registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid. The notice shall be deemed to have been given when so
mailed. The notice shall specify the Redeemable Units, the date fixed
for redemption, the place of payment, that payment of the redemption
price will be made upon surrender of the Certificate evidencing the
Redeemable Units and that on and after the date fixed for redemption no
further allocations or distributions to which the Member or Assignee
would otherwise be entitled in respect of the Redeemable Units will
accrue or be made.
(ii) The aggregate redemption price for Redeemable Units
shall be an amount equal to the Current Market price (the date of
determination of which shall be the date fixed for redemption) of Units
of the class to be so redeemed multiplied by the number of Units of
each such class included among the Redeemable Units. The redemption
price shall be paid, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors,
in cash or by delivery of a promissory note of the Company in the
principal amount of the redemption price, bearing interest at the rate
of 5% annually and payable in three equal annual installments of
principal together with accrued interest, commencing one year after the
redemption date.
(iii) Upon surrender by or on behalf of the Member or
Assignee, at the place specified in the notice of redemption, of the
Certificate evidencing the Redeemable Units, duly endorsed in blank or
accompanied by an assignment duly executed in blank, the Member or
Assignee or his duly authorized representative shall be entitled to
receive the payment therefor.
(iv) After the redemption date, Redeemable Units shall no
longer constitute issued and Outstanding Units.
(b) The provisions of this Section 11.5 shall also be applicable
to Units held by a Member or Assignee as nominee of a Person determined to be
other than an Eligible Citizen.
(c) Nothing in this Section 11.5 shall prevent the recipient of a
notice of redemption from transferring his Units before the redemption date if
such transfer is otherwise permitted under this Agreement. Upon receipt of
notice of such a transfer, the Board of Directors shall withdraw the notice of
redemption, provided, the transferee of such Units certifies in the Transfer
Application that he is an Eligible Citizen. If the transferee fails to make such
certification, such redemption shall be effected from the transferee on the
original redemption date.
ARTICLE XII.
ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
SECTION 12.1 ADMISSION OF SUBSTITUTED MEMBERS. By transfer of a
Unit in accordance with Article XI, the transferor shall be deemed to have given
the transferee the right to seek admission as a Substituted Member subject to
the conditions of, and in the manner permitted under, this Agreement. A
transferor of a Certificate shall, however, only have the authority to convey to
a purchaser or other transferee who does not execute and deliver a Transfer
Application (a) the right to negotiate such Certificate to a purchaser or other
transferee and (b) the right to transfer the right to request admission as a
Substituted Member to such purchaser or other transferee in respect of the
transferred Units. Each
40
transferee of a Unit (including, without limitation, any nominee holder or an
agent acquiring such Unit for the account of another Person) who executes and
delivers a Transfer Application shall, by virtue of such execution and delivery,
be an Assignee and be deemed to have applied to become a Substituted Member with
respect to the Units so transferred to such Person. Such Assignee shall become a
Substituted Member (x) at such time as the Board of Directors consents thereto,
which consent may be given or withheld in the Board of Directors' sole
discretion, and (y) when any such admission is shown on the books and records of
the Company. If such consent is withheld, such transferee shall be an Assignee.
An Assignee shall have an interest in the Company equivalent to that of a Member
with respect to allocations and distributions, including, without limitation,
liquidating distributions, of the Company. With respect to voting rights
attributable to Units that are held by Assignees, the Company shall be deemed to
be the Member with respect thereto and shall, in exercising the voting rights in
respect of such Units on any matter, vote such Units at the written direction of
the Assignee who is the Record Holder of such Units. If no such written
direction is received, such Units will not be voted. An Assignee shall have no
other rights of a Member.
SECTION 12.2 ADMISSION OF ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.
(a) A Person who makes a Capital Contribution to the Company in
accordance with this Agreement shall be admitted to the Company as an Additional
Member only upon furnishing to the Board of Directors (i) evidence of acceptance
in form satisfactory to the Board of Directors of all of the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the power of
attorney granted in Section 1.4; and (ii) such other documents or instruments as
may be required in the discretion of the Board of Directors to effect such
Person's admission as an Additional Member.
(b) The admission of any Person as an Additional Member shall
become effective on the date upon which the name of such Person is recorded as
such in the books and records of the Company, following compliance with the
requirements of this Agreement.
SECTION 12.3 AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT AND CERTIFICATE OF LIMITED
LIABILITY COMPANY. The admission of a Person as an Additional Member shall not
be deemed an amendment of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XIII.
WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERS
No Member shall have any right to withdraw from the Company; provided,
however, when a transferee of a Member's Units becomes a Record Holder, such
transferring Member shall cease to be a Member with respect to the Units so
transferred.
ARTICLE XIV.
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
SECTION 14.1 DISSOLUTION. The Company shall not be dissolved by
the admission of Substituted Members or Additional Members in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement. The Company shall dissolve, and (subject to Section
14.2) its affairs shall be wound up, upon:
(a) the expiration of its term as provided in Section 1.5;
41
(b) an election to dissolve the Company by the Board of Directors
that is approved by at least a majority of the Outstanding Units (and all
Members hereby expressly consent that such approval may be effected upon written
consent of said applicable percentage of the Outstanding Units);
(c) entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company
pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act; or
(d) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets and
properties of the Company and the Operating Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
SECTION 14.2 LIQUIDATION. Upon dissolution of the Company, a
liquidator or liquidating committee selected by the Board of Directors shall be
the Liquidator. The Liquidator shall be entitled to receive such compensation
for its services as may be approved by a majority of the Outstanding Units. The
Liquidator shall agree not to resign at any time without 15 days' prior notice
and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by notice of removal
approved by the Board of Directors. Upon dissolution, removal or resignation of
the Liquidator, a successor and substitute Liquidator (who shall have and
succeed to all rights, powers and duties of the original Liquidator) shall
within 30 days thereafter be selected by the Board of Directors. Except as
expressly provided in this Article XIV, the Liquidator selected in the manner
provided herein shall have and may exercise, without further authorization or
consent of any of the parties hereto, all of the powers conferred upon the Board
of Directors under the terms of this Agreement (but subject to all of the
applicable limitations, contractual and otherwise, upon the exercise of such
powers) to the extent necessary or desirable in the good faith judgment of the
Liquidator to carry out the duties and functions of the Liquidator hereunder for
and during such period of time as shall be reasonably required in the good faith
judgment of the Liquidator to complete the winding-up and liquidation of the
Company as provided for herein. The Liquidator shall liquidate the assets of the
Company, and apply and distribute the proceeds of such liquidation in the
following order of priority, unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions
of applicable law:
(a) the payment to creditors of the Company, including, without
limitation, Members who are creditors, in the order of priority provided by law;
and the creation of a reserve of cash or other assets of the Company for
contingent liabilities in an amount, if any, determined by the Liquidator to be
appropriate for such purposes; and
(b) to all Members in accordance with, and to the extent of, the
positive balances in their respective Capital Accounts, as determined after
taking into account all Capital Account adjustments (other than those made by
reason of this clause) for the taxable year of the Company during which the
liquidation of the Company occurs (with the date of such occurrence being
determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g)); and
such distribution shall be made by the end of such taxable year (or, if after,
within 90 days after said date of such occurrence).
42
SECTION 14.3 DISTRIBUTIONS IN KIND.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 14.2, which require
the liquidation of the assets of the Company, but subject to the order of
priorities set forth therein, if prior to or upon dissolution of the Company the
Liquidator determines that an immediate sale of part or all of the Company's
assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Members, the
Liquidator may, in its absolute discretion, defer for a reasonable time the
liquidation of any assets except those necessary to satisfy liabilities of the
Company (including, without limitation, those to Members as creditors) and/or
distribute to the Members or to specific classes of Members, in lieu of cash, as
tenants in common and in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.2,
undivided interests in such Company assets as the Liquidator deems not suitable
for liquidation. Any such distributions in kind shall be made only if, in the
good faith judgment of the Liquidator, such distributions in kind are in the
best interest of the Member, and shall be subject to such conditions relating to
the disposition and management of such properties as the Liquidator deems
reasonable and equitable and to any agreements governing the operation of such
properties at such time. The Liquidator shall determine the fair market value of
any property distributed in kind using such reasonable method of valuation as it
may adopt.
(b) In accordance with Code Section 704(c)(1)(B), in the case of
any deemed distribution occurring as a result of a termination of the Company
pursuant to Code Section 708(b)(1)(B), to the maximum extent possible consistent
with the priorities of Section 14.2, the Board of Directors shall have sole
discretion to treat the deemed distribution of Company assets to Members as
occurring in a manner that will not cause a shift of the Book-Tax disparity
attributable to a Company asset existing immediately prior to the deemed
distribution to another asset upon the deemed contribution of assets to the
reconstituted Company, including, without limitation, deeming the distribution
of any Company assets to be made either to the Member who contributed such
assets or to the transfer of such Member.
SECTION 14.4 CANCELLATION OF CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION. Upon the
completion of the distribution of Company cash and property as provided in
Sections 14.2 and 14.3 in connection with the liquidation of the Company, the
Company shall be terminated and the Certificate of Formation and all
qualifications of the Company as a foreign limited liability company in
jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be cancelled and such other
actions as may be necessary to terminate the Company shall be taken.
SECTION 14.5 REASONABLE TIME FOR WINDING UP. A reasonable time
shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of business and affairs of the
Company and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Section 14.2 in order to
minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding up, and the provisions
of this Agreement shall remain in effect between the Members during the period
of liquidation.
SECTION 14.6 NO CAPITAL ACCOUNT RESTORATION. No Member shall have
any obligation to restore any negative balance in its Capital Account upon
liquidation of the Company.
SECTION 14.7 WAIVER OF PARTITION. Each Member hereby waives any
right to partition of the Company property.
ARTICLE XV.
AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT;
MEETINGS; RECORD DATE
SECTION 15.1 AMENDMENT TO BE ADOPTED SOLELY BY THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS. Each Member agrees that the Board of Directors, without the approval
of any Member or Assignee, may amend any
43
provision of this Agreement, and execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file
and record whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to
reflect:
(a) a change in the name of the Company, the location of the
principal place of business of the Company, the registered agent of the Company
or the registered office of the Company;
(b) admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of Members in
accordance with this Agreement;
(c) a change that, in the sole discretion of the Board of
Directors, is reasonable and necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue the
qualification of the Company as a limited liability company or a Company in
which the Members have limited liability under the laws of any state or that is
necessary or advisable in the opinion of the Board of Directors to ensure that
the Company and each of the Operating Subsidiaries will not be treated as an
association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for federal
income tax purposed;
(d) a change (i) that, in the sole discretion of the Board of
Directors, does not adversely affect the Members in any material respect; (ii)
that is necessary or desirable to satisfy any requirements, conditions or
guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of
any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or
state statute (including, without limitation, the Delaware Act) or that is
necessary or desirable to facilitate the trading of the Units (including,
without limitation, the division of Outstanding Units into different classes to
facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of Units) or
comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National
Securities Exchange on which the Units are or will be listed for trading,
compliance with any of which the Board of Directors determines in its sole
discretion to be in the best interests of the Company and the Members; or (iii)
that is required to effect the extent of the provisions of this Agreement or is
otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;
(e) an amendment that is necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel, to
prevent the Company or its Directors or Officers from in any manner being
subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or "PLAN ASSET" regulations
adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended,
whether or not substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied
or proposed by the United States Department of Labor;
(f) any amendment expressly permitted in this Agreement to be made
by the Board of Directors acting alone;
(g) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a
Merger Agreement approved in accordance with Section 16.3;
(h) an amendment that, in the sole discretion of the Board of
Directors, is necessary or desirable to reflect, account for and deal with
appropriately the formation by the Company of, or investment by the Company in,
any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other
entity other than the Operating Subsidiaries, in connection with the conduct by
the Company of activities permitted by the term of Section 3.1; or
(i) any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing.
SECTION 15.2 AMENDMENT PROCEDURES. Except as provided in Sections
15.1 and 15.3, all amendments to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with
the following requirements.
44
Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by or with the following
requirements. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by or with the
consent of the Board of Directors. A proposed amendment shall be effective upon
its approval by the holders of at least two-thirds of the Outstanding Units
unless a greater or different percentage is required under this Agreement. Each
proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders or a specified
percentage of Outstanding Units shall be set forth in a writing that contains
the text of the proposed amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, the Board
of Directors shall seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of
Outstanding Units or call a meeting of the Members to consider and vote on such
proposed amendment. The Board of Directors shall notify all Record Holders upon
final adoption of any such proposed amendments.
SECTION 15.3 AMENDMENT REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 15.1 and 15.2, no
provision of this Agreement that establishes a percentage of Outstanding Units
required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or
rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of reducing such voting
requirement unless such amendment is approved by the written consent or the
affirmative vote of holders of Outstanding Units whose aggregate Outstanding
Units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 15.1 and 15.2, no
amendment to this Agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any Member
without its consent; (ii) change Section 14.1(a) or (b); (iii) restrict in any
way any action by or rights of the Board of Directors as set forth in this
Agreement; or (iv) change the term of the Company or, except as set forth in
Section 14.1(b), give any Person the right to dissolve the Company.
(c) Notwithstanding of any other provision of this Agreement,
except for amendments pursuant to Section 15.1 and except as otherwise provided
by Section 16.3(b), no amendments shall become effective without the approval of
the holders of at least 95% of the Outstanding Units unless the Company obtains
an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (a) such amendment will not cause the
Company or the Operating Subsidiaries to be treated as an association taxable as
a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes
and (b) such amendment will not affect the limited liability of any Member or
any Member of the Operating Subsidiaries under applicable law.
(d) This Section 15.3 shall be amended only with the approval of
the holders of not less than 95% of the Outstanding Units.
SECTION 15.4 MEETINGS. All acts of Members to be taken hereunder
shall be taken in the manner provided in this Article XV. Meetings of the
Members may be called by the Board of Directors or by Members owning 20% or more
of the Outstanding Units of the class or classes for which a meeting is
proposed. Members shall call a meeting by delivering to the Board of Directors
one or more requests in writing stating that the signing Members wish to call a
meeting and indicating the general or specific purposes for which the meeting is
to be called. Within 60 days after receipt of such a call from Members or within
such greater time as may be reasonably necessary for the Company to comply with
any statutes, rules, regulations, listing agreements or similar requirements
governing the holding of a meeting or the solicitation of proxies for use at
such a meeting, the Board of Directors shall send a notice of the meeting to the
Members either directly or indirectly through the Transfer Agent. A meeting
shall be held at a time and place determined by the Board of Directors on a date
not more than 60 days after the mailing of notice of the meeting. Members shall
not vote on matters that would cause the Members to be deemed to be taking part
in the management and control of the business and affairs of the Company so as
to
45
jeopardize the Members' limited liability under the Delaware Act or the law of
any other state in which the Company is qualified to do business.
SECTION 15.5 NOTICE OF A MEETING. Notice of a meeting called
pursuant to Section 15.4 shall be given to the Record Holders in writing by mail
or other means of written communication in accordance with Section 17.1. The
notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when deposited in the mail
or sent by other means of written communication.
SECTION 15.6 RECORD DATE. For purposes of determining the Members
entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the Members or to give
approvals without a meeting as provided in Section 15.11, the Board of Directors
may set a Record Date, which shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days
before (a) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any
rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any National Securities Exchange
on which the Units are listed for trading, in which case the rule, regulation,
guideline or requirement of such exchange shall govern) or (b) in the event that
approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which Members are requested
in writing by the Board of Directors to give such approvals.
SECTION 15.7 ADJOURNMENT. When a meeting is adjourned to another
time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting and a new
Record Date need not be fixed, if the time and place thereof are announced at
the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless such adjournment shall be
for more than 45 days. At the adjourned meeting, the Company may transact any
business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the
adjournment is for more than 45 days or if a new Record Date is fixed for the
adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in
accordance with this Article XV.
SECTION 15.8 WAIVER OF NOTICE; APPROVAL OF MEETING; APPROVAL OF
MINUTES. The transactions of any meeting of Members, however called and noticed,
and whenever held, shall be as valid as if had at a meeting duly held after
regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy,
and if, either before or after the meting, Members representing such quorum who
were present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote, sign a written waiver
of notice or an approval of the holding of the meeting or an approval of the
minutes thereof. All waivers and approvals shall be filed with the Company
records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting. Attendance of a Member at
a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the
Member does not approve, at the beginning of the meeting, of the transaction of
any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened; and except
that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove the
consideration of matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting,
but not so included, if the disapproval is expressly made at the meeting.
SECTION 15.9 QUORUM. The holders of two-thirds of the Outstanding
Units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called represented in
person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Members of such
class or classes unless any such action by the Members requires approval by
holders of a majority in interest of such Units, in which case the quorum shall
be a majority. At any meeting of the Members duly called and held in accordance
with this Agreement at which a majority of the Outstanding Units entitled to
vote and be present in person or by proxy at such meeting shall be deemed to
constitute the act of all Members, unless a greater or different percentage is
required with respect to such action under the provisions of this Agreement, in
which case the act of the Members holding Outstanding Units that in the
aggregate represent at least such greater or different percentage shall be
required. The Members present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum
is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding
the withdrawal of enough Members to leave less than a quorum, if any action
taken (other than adjournment) is approved by the required percentage of
Outstanding Units specified in this Agreement. In the absence of a quorum, any
meeting of
46
the Members may be adjourned from time to time by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the Outstanding Units represented either in person or by proxy, but
no other business may be transacted, except as provided in Section 15.7.
SECTION 15.10 CONDUCT OF MEETING. The Board of Directors shall have
full power and authority concerning the manner of conducting any meeting of the
Members or solicitation of approvals in writing, including, without limitation,
the determination of Persons entitled to vote, the existence of a quorum, the
satisfaction of the requirements of Section 15.4, the conduct of voting, the
validity and effect of any proxies and the determination of any controversies,
votes or challenges arising in connection with or during the meeting or voting.
The Board of Directors shall designate a Person to serve as chairman of any
meeting and shall further designate a Person to take the minutes of any meeting.
All minutes shall be kept with the records of the Company maintained by the
Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may make such other regulations
consistent with applicable law and this Agreement as it may deem advisable
concerning the conduct of any meeting of the Members or solicitation of
approvals in writing, including, without limitation, regulations in regard to
the appointment of proxies, the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes
and approvals, the submission and examination of proxies and other evidence of
the right to vote, and the revocation of approvals in writing.
SECTION 15.11 ACTION WITHOUT A MEETING. Any action that may be
taken at a meeting of the Members may be taken without a meeting if an approval
in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by Members owning not
less than the minimum percentage of the Outstanding Units that would be
necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the Members
were present and voted. Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting
shall be given to the Members who have not approved in writing. The Board of
Directors may specify that any written ballot submitted to Members for the
purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Company
within the time period, which shall be not less than 20 days, specified by the
Board of Directors. If a ballot returned to the Company does not vote all of the
Units held by the Member, the Company shall be deemed to have failed to receive
a ballot for the Units that were not voted. If approval of the taking of any
action by the Members is solicited by any Person other than by or on behalf of
the Board of Directors, the written approvals shall have no force and effect
unless and until (a) they are deposited with the Company in care of the Board of
Directors; (b) approvals sufficient to take the action proposed are dated as of
a date not more than 90 days prior to the date sufficient approvals are
deposited with the Company; and (c) an Opinion of Counsel is delivered to the
Board of Directors to the effect that the exercise of such right and the action
proposed to be taken with respect to any particular matter (i) will not
jeopardize the status of the Company as a Company under applicable tax laws and
regulations and (ii) is otherwise permissible under the state statutes then
governing the rights, duties and liabilities of the Company and the Members.
SECTION 15.12 VOTING AND OTHER RIGHTS.
(a) Only those Record Holders of Units on the Record Date set
pursuant to Section 15.6 (and also subject to the limitations contained in the
definition of "OUTSTANDING") shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a
meeting of Members or to act with respect to matters as to which the holders of
the Outstanding Units have the right to vote or to act. All references in this
Agreement to votes of, or other acts that may be taken by, the Outstanding Units
shall be deemed to be references to the votes or acts of the Record Holders of
such Outstanding Units.
(b) With respect to Units that are held for a Person's account by
another Person (such as a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing
corporation, or an agent of any of the foregoing), in whose name such Units are
registered, such broker, dealer or other agent shall, in exercising the voting
rights in respect of such Units on any matter, and unless the arrangement
between such Persons provides otherwise, vote such Units in favor of, and at the
direction of, the Person who is the beneficial owner, and
47
the Company shall be entitled to assume it is so acting without further inquiry.
The provisions of this Section 15.12(b) (as well as all other provisions of the
Agreement) are subject to the provisions of Section 10.4.
ARTICLE XVI.
MERGER
SECTION 16.1 AUTHORITY. The Company may merge or consolidate with
one or more corporations, business trusts or associations, real estate
investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including,
without limitation, a partnership, limited partnership or limited liability
company, formed under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of
the United States of America, pursuant to a written agreement of merger or
consolidation ("MERGER AGREEMENT") in accordance with this Article XVI.
SECTION 16.2 PROCEDURE FOR MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION. Merger or
consolidation of the Company pursuant to this Article XVI requires the prior
approval of the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors shall determine,
in the exercise of its sole discretion, to consent to the merger or
consolidation, the Board of Directors shall approve the Merger Agreement, which
shall set forth:
(a) The names and jurisdictions of formation or organization of
each of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;
(b) The name and jurisdictions of formation or organization of the
business entity that is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation (the
"SURVIVING BUSINESS ENTITY");
(c) The terms and conditions of the proposed merger or
consolidation;
(d) The manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity
securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or
general or limited partnership interests, rights, securities or obligations of
the Surviving Business Entity; and (i) if any general or limited partnership
interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be
exchanged or converted solely for, or into cash, property or general or limited
partnership interests, rights, securities or obligations of any limited
partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust or other entity
(other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such general or
limited partnership interest are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion
of, their securities or rights; and (ii) in the case of securities represented
by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property
or general or limited partnership interests, rights, securities or obligations
of the Surviving Business Entity or any limited partnership, limited liability
company, corporation, trust or other entity (other than the Surviving Business
Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered;
(e) A statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the
adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or certificate of
incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement
of limited partnership or limited liability company or other similar charter or
governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such
merger or consolidation;
(f) The effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the
filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 16.4 or a later date
specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement (provided,
that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the
filing of the certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed no later
than the time of the filing of the certificate of merger and stated therein);
and
48
(g) Such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or
consolidation as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 16.3 APPROVAL BY MEMBERS OF MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION.
(a) The Board of Directors, upon its approval of the Merger
Agreement, shall direct that the Merger Agreement be submitted to a vote of
Members whether at a meeting or by written consent, in either case in accordance
with the requirements of Article XV. A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement
shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a meeting or the written
consent.
(b) The Merger Agreement shall be approved upon receiving the
affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least a majority of the
Outstanding Units unless the Merger Agreement contains any provision that, if
contained in an amendment to this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement or
the Delaware Act would require the vote or consent of a greater percentage of
the Outstanding Units or of any class of Members, in which case such greater
percentage vote or consent shall be required for approval of the Merger
Agreement; provided, however, in the case of a merger or consolidation in which
the surviving entity is a corporation or other entity intended to be treated as
an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for
federal income tax purposes, if in the opinion of the Board of Directors it is
necessary to effect, in contemplation of such merger or consolidation, an
amendment that would otherwise require a vote pursuant to Section 15.3(d), no
such vote pursuant to Section 15.3(d) shall be required unless such amendment by
its terms will be applicable to the Company in the event the merger or
consolidation is abandoned or unless such amendment will be applicable to the
Company during a period in excess of 10 days prior to the merger or
consolidation.
(c) After such approval by vote or consent of the Members, and at
any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section
16.4, the merger or consolidation may be abandoned pursuant to provisions
therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement.
SECTION 16.4 CERTIFICATE OF MERGER. Upon the required approval by
the Board of Directors and the Members of a Merger Agreement, a certificate of
merger shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the Delaware Act.
SECTION 16.5 EFFECT OF MERGER.
(a) At the effective time of the certificate of merger:
(i) all of the rights, privileges and powers of each of
the business entities that has merged or consolidated, and all
property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to any of those
business entities and all other things and causes of action belonging
to each of those business entities shall be vested in the Surviving
Business Entity and after the merger or consolidation shall be the
property of the Surviving Business Entity to the extent they were of
each constituent business entity;
(ii) the title to any real property vested by deed or
otherwise in any of those constituent business entities shall not
revert and is not in any way impaired because of the merger or
consolidation;
(iii) all rights of creditors and all liens on or security
interest in property of any of those constituent business entities
shall be preserved unimpaired; and
49
(iv) all debts, liabilities and duties of those
constituent business entities shall attach to the Surviving Business
Entity, and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the
debts liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.
(b) A merger or consolidation effected pursuant to this Article
XVI shall not be deemed to result in a transfer or assignment of assets or
liabilities from one entity to another having occurred.
ARTICLE XVII.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 17.1 ADDRESSES AND NOTICES. Any notice, demand, request,
report or proxy material required or permitted to be given or made to a Member
or Assignee under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given
or made when delivered in person or when sent by first-class United States mail
or by other means of written communication to the Member or Assignee at the
address described below. Any notice, payment or report to be given or made to a
Member or Assignee hereunder shall be deemed conclusively to have been given or
made, and the obligation to give such notice or report or to make such payment
shall be deemed conclusively to have been fully satisfied, upon sending of such
notice, payment or report to the Record Holder of such Unit as his address as
shown on the records of the Transfer Agent or as otherwise shown on the records
of the Company, regardless of any claim of any Person who may have an interest
in such Unit by reason of any assignment or otherwise. An affidavit or
certificate of making of any notice, payment or report in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 17.1 executed by the President, the Transfer Agent or
the mailing organization shall be prima facie evidence of the giving or making
of such notice, payment or report. If any notice, payment or report addressed to
a Record Holder at the address of such Record Holder appearing on the books and
records of the Transfer Agent or the Company is returned by the United States
Post Office marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable
to deliver it, such notice, payment or report and any subsequent notices,
payments and reports shall be deemed to have been duly given or make without
further mailing (until such time as such Record Holder or another Person
notifies the Transfer Agent or the Company of a change in his address) if they
are available for the Member or Assignee at the principal office of the Company
for a period of one year from the date of the giving or making of such notice,
payment or report to the other Members and Assignees. Any notice to the Company
shall be deemed given if received by the Board of Directors at the principal
office of the Company designated pursuant to Section 1.3. The Board of Directors
may rely and shall be protected in relying on any notice or other document from
a Member, Assignee or other Person if believed by it to be genuine.
SECTION 17.2 REFERENCES. Except as specifically provided
otherwise, references to "ARTICLES" and "SECTIONS" are to Articles and Sections
of this Agreement.
SECTION 17.3 PRONOUNS AND PLURALS. Whenever the context may
require, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding
masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns
and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa.
SECTION 17.4 FURTHER ACTION. The parties shall execute and deliver
all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as
may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.
SECTION 17.5 BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors,
administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.
50
SECTION 17.6 INTEGRATION. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto.
SECTION 17.7 CREDITORS. None of the provisions of this Agreement
shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the
Company.
SECTION 17.8 WAIVER. No failure by any party to insist upon the
strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this
Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof
shall constitute waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty,
agreement or condition.
SECTION 17.9 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all
the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to
the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this
Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto or, in the case of a
Person acquiring a Unit, upon accepting the certificate evidencing such Unit or
executing and delivering a Transfer Application as herein described,
independently of the signature of any other party.
SECTION 17.10 APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in
accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without
regard to the principles of conflicts of law.
SECTION 17.11 INVALIDITY OF PROVISIONS. If any provision of this
Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not be affected thereby.
51
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date first written above.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
____________________________________
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
____________________________________
Xxxxx X. Sample
____________________________________
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
WITHDRAWING MEMBER:
EOTT Energy Partners, L.P.
By: EOTT Energy Corp., its general
partner
____________________________________
Xxxx X. Xxxxx, President
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE EVIDENCING UNITS
REPRESENTING LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS IN
EOTT ENERGY LLC
No. _______
________Units
EOTT Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "Company"),
hereby certifies that ___________________________________ (the "Holder") is the
registered owner of _______________________________ Units representing limited
liability company interests in the Company (the "Units") transferable on the
books of the Company, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender
of this Certificate properly endorsed. The designations, preferences and
relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties
relating to the Units are set forth in, and this Certificate and the Units
represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms
and provisions of, the Limited Liability Company Agreement of EOTT Energy LLC,
as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time (the "Agreement"). Copies
of the Agreement are on file at, and will be furnished without charge on
delivery of written request to the Company at, the principal office of the
Company located at 0000 Xxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx
00000. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings
given to them in the Agreement.
The Holder, by accepting this Certificate, is deemed to have (i)
executed and agreed to comply with, and to become bound by, the Agreement; (ii)
represented and warranted that the Holder has all right, power and authority
and, if an individual, the capacity, necessary to enter into the Agreement;
(iii) appointed any Person duly authorized by the Board of Directors to act as
the true and lawful representative and attorney-in-fact of the Holder, in the
name, place and stead of the Holder, to make, execute, sign, deliver and file
(a) any amendment of the Certificate of Formation, (b) any amendment to the
Agreement made in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, and (c) all such
other instruments, documents and certificates that may from time to time be
required by law to effectuate, implement and continue the valid and subsisting
existence of the Company or for any other purpose consistent with the Agreement
and the transactions contemplated thereunder; (iv) given the powers of attorney
provided for in the Agreement; and (v) made the waivers and given the consents
and approvals contained in the Agreement.
This certificate shall not be valid for any purpose unless it has been
countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent of the Units.
Dated:___________________________
Countersigned and Registered by: EOTT Energy LLC
..
[ ]
as Transfer Agent and Registrar By:____________________________
of the Units Authorized Officer
By:______________________________ By:____________________________
Authorized Signature Authorized Officer
[Reverse of Certificate]
ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face
of this Certificate, shall be construed as follows according to applicable laws
or regulations:
TEN COM - as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - _______________
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties (Cust) (Minor)
JT TEN - as joint tenants with right under Uniform Gifts to
of survivorship and not as Minors Act of ________
tenants in common (State)
Additional abbreviations, though not in the above list, may also be
used.
2
STOCK POWER
For Value Received, ___________________________________________ hereby sells,
assigns and transfers unto______________________________________________________
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE, AND PLEASE INSERT
SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER TAXPAYER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE)
____________________ Units represented by the Certificate and does hereby
irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________ as attorney-in-fact, to
transfer the said Units on the books of the within named Company and with full
power of substitution in the premises.
Dated:____________________________
NOTICE:
THE SIGNATURE(S) TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME(S) AS WRITTEN
UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR WITHOUT ALTERATION OR
ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATSOEVER.
__________________________________
(SIGNATURE)
__________________________________
(SIGNATURE)
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS,
STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN
AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE
17Ad-15.
SIGNATURE(S) GUARANTEED BY:______________________________________________
3
