OPERATING AGREEMENT OF SILICA TECH, LLC A CONNECTICUT LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (as amended)
OF
SILICA
TECH, LLC
A
CONNECTICUT LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
(as
amended)
August
23, 2005
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE
I – DEFINITIONS.
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5
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ARTICLE
II - FORMATION OF COMPANY
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7
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2.1
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Formation
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7
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2.2
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Name
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7
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ARTICLE
III - BUSINESS OF COMPANY
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8
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3.1
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Permitted
Businesses
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8
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ARTICLE
IV - NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF MEMBERS
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8
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ARTICLE
V - RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF MANAGERS
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8
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5.1
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Management
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8
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5.2
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Officers
and Employees
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8
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5.3
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Certain
Powers of Managers
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9
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5.4
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Managers
Have No Exclusive Duty to Company
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10
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5.5
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Bank
Accounts
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10
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5.6
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Company
Books
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10
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5.7
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Indemnity
of Managers
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10
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5.8
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Resignation
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10
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5.9
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Removal
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10
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5.10
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Vacancies
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10
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5.11
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Compensation
of Managers
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10
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ARTICLE
VI - RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS
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11
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6.1
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Limitation
of Liability
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11
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6.2
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List
of Members
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11
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6.3
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Approval
of Sale of All Assets
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11
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6.4
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Priority
and Return of Capital
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11
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6.5
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Round
One Investors
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11
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ARTICLE
VII - CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMPANY AND CAPITAL ACCOUNTS 12
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7.1
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Member's
Capital Contributions
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12
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7.2
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Additional
Contributions
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12
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7.3
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Capital
Accounts
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12
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ARTICLE
VIII - ALLOCATIONS, INCOME TAX AND DISTRIBUTIONS
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13
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8.1
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Allocations
of Profits and Losses from Operations
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13
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8.2
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Distributions
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14
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8.3
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Limitation
Upon Distributions
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14
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8.4
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Interest
On and Return of Capital Contributions
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14
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8.5
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Loans
to Company
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14
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8.6
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No
Right to Distribution
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14
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ARTICLE
IX – ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS
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15
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9.1
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Accounting
Period
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15
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9.2
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Records,
Audits and Reports
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15
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9.3
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Returns
and Other Elections
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15
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ARTICLE
X – TRANSFERABILITY
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16
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10.1
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General
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16
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10.2
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Transferee
Not Member in Absence of Consent
of Holders of Majority Interest
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17 | |
ARTICLE
XI - ADDITIONAL MEMBERS
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17
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ARTICLE
XII - DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION
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18
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12.1
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Dissolution
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18
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12.2
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Winding-
Up
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19
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12.3
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Deficit
Capital Accounts
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19
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12.4
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Non-Recourse
to Other Members
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19
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12.5
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Termination
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19
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ARTICLE
XIII - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
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20
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13.1
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Notices
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20
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13.2
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Application
of Connecticut Law
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20
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13.3
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Waiver
of Action for Partition
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20
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13.4
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Amendments
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20
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13.5
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Execution
of Additional Instruments
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20
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13.6
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Construction
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20
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13.7
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Headings
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21
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13.8
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Waivers
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21
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13.9
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Rights
and Remedies Cumulative
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21
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13.10
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Severability
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21
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13.11
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Heirs,
Successors, and Assigns
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21
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13.12
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Creditors
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21
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13.13
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Counterparts
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21
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13.14
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Rule
Against Perpetuities
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21
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13.15
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Drafting
Ambiguities
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21
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13.16
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Tax
Consequences
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21
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13.17
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Agent
Indemnification
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22
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13.18
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Company
Counsel
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22
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3
13.19
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Attorney’s
Fees
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22
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13.20
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Confidential
Information
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22
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13.21
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Power
of Attorney
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23
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EXHIBIT A
– ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION
EXHIBIT B
– MEMBERS
EXHIBIT C
– OFFICERS
EXHIBIT D
– FORM OF MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATE
4
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
The
following terms used in this Operating Agreement shall have the following
meanings (unless otherwise expressly provided herein);
(a) "Articles
of Organization" shall mean the Articles of Organization of Silica Tech, L.L.C.,
a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of
Connecticut, as those Articles of Organization are filed with the Secretary of
the State of Connecticut, and as the same may be amended from time to time. A
copy of the Articles of Organization is attached hereto as Exhibit
A.
(b) "Capital
Account" as of any given date shall mean the Capital Contribution to the Company
by a Member as adjusted up to the date in question pursuant to Article
VII.
(c) "Capital
Contribution" shall mean any agreed contribution to the capital of the Company
in cash, property, or services by a Member, whenever made. "Initial Capital
Contribution" shall mean the initial contribution to the capital of the Company
pursuant to this Operating Agreement as set forth on Exhibit B attached
hereto.
(d) "Company
Interest" shall mean with respect to each Member, such Member's interest in the
profits and losses of the Company as set forth on Exhibit B attached
hereto.
(e) "Code"
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or
corresponding provisions of subsequent superseding federal revenue
laws.
(f) "Connecticut
Act" shall mean the Connecticut Limited Liability Company Act (P.A.
93-267).
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(g)
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"Company"
shall refer to L.L.C.
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(h) “Company
Recoveries” shall mean any proceeds the Company receives in connection with the
sale, license, disposition, or any other transaction with respect to assets the
Company acquires from FiberCore, Inc., including the settlement of
litigations.
(h) "Deficit
Capital Account" shall mean, with respect to any Member, the deficit balance, if
any, in such Member's Capital Account as of the end of the taxable
year.
(i) "Distributable
Cash" means all cash, revenue and funds received by the Company from Company
operations, less the sum of the following to the extent paid or set aside by the
Company: (i) all principal and interest payments on indebtedness of
the Company and all other sums paid to lenders; (ii) all cash
expenditures incurred incident to the normal operation of the Company's
business; (iii) such Reserves as the Managers deem reasonably
necessary to the proper operation of the Company's business.
5
(j)
"Economic Interest" shall mean a Member's Economic Interest in the
Company's Net Profits, Net Losses and distributions of the Company's assets
pursuant to this Operating Agreement and the Connecticut Act, but shall not
include any right to participate in the management or affairs of the Company,
including the right to vote on, consent to or otherwise participate in any
decision of the Members or Managers.
(k) "Economic
Interest Owner" shall mean the owner of an Economic Interest who is not a
Member.
(l)
"Entity" shall mean a general partnership, a limited partnership, a domestic or
foreign limited liability company, a trust, an estate, an association, a
corporation, or any other legal or commercial entity.
(m) "Event
of Dissociation" means an event that causes a person to cease to be a Member, as
provided in Section 41 of the Connecticut Act.
(n) "Fiscal
Year" shall mean the Company's fiscal year, which shall be the calendar year,
unless modified by a vote of a Majority Interest of Members of the
Company.
(o) “Future
Business Strategy” shall mean the future business strategy described in the
Private Placement Memorandum.
(p) "Gifting
Member" shall mean any Member or Economic Interest Owner who gifts, bequeaths or
otherwise transfers for no consideration (by operation of law or otherwise,
except with respect to bankruptcy) all or any part of its Membership Interest or
Economic Interest.
(q) "Majority
Interest" shall mean one or more Interests of Members which taken together
exceed 50% of the aggregate of all Company Interests.
(r)
"Manager" shall mean one or more managers designated in the manner provided in
Article V of this Agreement.
(s) "Member"
shall mean each of the parties who execute a counterpart of this Operating
Agreement as a Member and each of the parties who may hereafter become Members
as permitted herein. To the extent a Manager has acquired a Membership Interest
in the Company, he will have all the rights of a Member with respect to such
Membership Interest, and the term "Member" as used herein shall include a
Manager whether or not the Manager has purchased such Membership Interest in the
Company. If a Person is a Member immediately prior to the purchase or other
acquisition by such Person of an Economic Interest, such Person shall have all
the rights of a Member with respect to such purchased or otherwise acquired
Membership Interest or Economic Interest, as the case may be.
(t)
"Membership Interest" shall mean a Member's entire interest in the Company
including such Member's Economic Interest and the right to participate in the
management of the business and affairs of the Company, including the right to
vote on, consent to, or otherwise participate in any decision or action of or by
the Members granted pursuant to this Operating Agreement or the Connecticut
Act.
6
(u) “Net
Profits” and “Net Losses” shall mean, with respect to a Fiscal Year, the income
or loss, as the case may be, of the Company for Federal income tax purposes
(without taking into account any items of income, gain, loss or deduction
attributable to gross income or gross deduction specially allocated for such
Fiscal Year), adjusted (i) in accordance with the principles of
Section 1.704-l(b)(2)(iv)(m) of the Treasury Regulations (ii) by
including in the calculation any income or gain exempt from Federal income tax
and any expenditures of the Company described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of
the Code or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures as provided
in Treasury Regulation Section 1-704-l(b)(2)(iv)(i), (iii) by
determining items of income, gain, loss or deduction attributable to any of the
Company’s assets as if the adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes of
such assets as of the time of determination were equal to the Company’s Book
Value for such assets as of such time, and (iv) in the event that the Book
Value of any Company asset is adjusted due to a revaluation of the Company, the
amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the
disposition of such asset.
(v)
“Offering Material” shall mean the Subscription Agreement, Private Placement
Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, Confidential Memorandum, and the Operating
Agreement.
(x)
"Operating Agreement" shall mean this Operating Agreement as originally executed
and as amended from time to time.
(y) "Person"
shall mean an individual or Entity, and the heirs, executors, administrators,
legal representatives, successors, and assigns of such "Person" where the
context so permits.
(z) "Reserves"
shall mean, with respect to any fiscal period, funds set aside or amounts
allocated during such period to reserves which shall be maintained in amounts
deemed sufficient by the Managers for capital expenditures, working capital and
to pay taxes, insurance, debt service or other costs or expenses incident to the
ownership or operation of the Company's business.
(aa) “Round
One Investors” shall mean the Members whose name is followed by an asterisk
(“*”) on Exhibit B hereto.
(bb) "Selling
Member" shall mean any member or Economic Interest Owner, which sells, assigns,
or otherwise transfers for consideration all or any portion of its Membership
Interest or Economic Interest.
(cc) "Transferring
Member" shall collectively mean a Selling Member and a Gifting
Member.
(dd) "Treasury
Regulations" shall include proposed, temporary and final regulations promulgated
under the Code in effect as of the date of filing the Articles of Organization
and the corresponding sections of any regulations subsequently issued that amend
or supersede such regulations.
ARTICLE
II
FORMATION OF
COMPANY
Section
2.1 – Formation - The Company was formed as a limited liability company
under the Connecticut Act by the filing of its Articles of Organization with the
Secretary of the State of Connecticut on September 9,
2004.
SECTION
2.2 – NAME - The name of the Company shall be Silica Tech, LLC or such other
name as the Members may determine in accordance with the Act.
7
ARTICLE
III
BUSINESS
OF COMPANY
Section
3.1 Permitted Businesses - The business of the Company shall be as set
forth in its Articles of Organization.
ARTICLE
IV
NAMES
AND ADDRESSES OF MEMBERS
Section
4.1 Names and Addresses - The names and addresses of the initial Members,
together with their Initial Capital Contributions, type of Company Interest and
percentage Company Interest, are as set forth on Exhibit B attached
hereto and incorporated herein by reference. From time to time when Members are
added or subtracted or when Capital Contributions are made, the Manager shall
prepare an Amended Exhibit B, dated as
of the date of the event, setting forth the new information.
ARTICLE
V
RIGHTS
AND DUTIES OF MANAGERS
Section
5.1 Management - The management of the business and affairs of the
Company shall vest in a Manager. The Manager shall direct, manage, and control
the business of the Company to the best of its ability. Except for situations in
which the approval of the Members is expressly required by this Operating
Agreement or by non-waivable provisions of applicable law, the Manager shall
have full and complete authority, power and discretion to manage and control the
business, affairs and properties of the Company, to make all decisions regarding
those matters and to perform any and all other acts or activities customary or
incident to the management of the Company's business. The Manager shall have
sole and exclusive power and authority to act for or to bind the Company. Third
parties dealing with the Company may rely conclusively upon any signature of the
Manager, including the signature of its officers and/or owners, to the effect
that it is operating on behalf of the Company. The signature of the Manager,
including the signature of its officers and/or owners shall be sufficient to
bind the Company in any manner to any agreement or document. The Manager shall
be Silica Tech Holdings, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability
company.
Section
5.2 – Officers and Employees - The Manager may appoint officers of the
Company from time to time and to remove such officers at the Manager’s
discretion. Such officers shall have full power and authority to carry on the
day-to-day business of the Company and to execute all agreements, instruments,
and documents as authorized by the Manager. The Manager shall be authorized to
hire employees of the Company or to retain agents and consultants to the
Company. Officers, employees, and consultants shall receive compensation from
the Company as the Manager may reasonably determine. The individuals on Exhibit C hereto
shall be appointed to the positions set forth opposite their names on Exhibit
C.
8
The
Manager shall hold office until its successor shall have been elected and
qualified or such earlier time as the Manager may resign pursuant to Section 5.8 herein or
be removed pursuant to Section 5.9 herein. A
Manager shall be elected by the affirmative vote or written consent of Members
holding at least 65% of all Company Interests. A Manager need not be a natural
person but shall be a Member with a Company Interest of at least
1%.
Section
5.3 -Certain Powers of Managers - Without limiting the generality of
Section 5.1, the Managers shall have power and authority on behalf of the
Company:
(a)
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To
acquire property from any Person as the Managers may
determine.
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(b)
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To
borrow money on behalf of the Company from banks, other lending
institutions, vendors, the Managers, Members, or affiliates of the
Managers or Members, or any other source of financing, on such terms as
the Managers deem appropriate, and in connection therewith, to mortgage,
hypothecate, encumber and grant security interests in the assets of the
Company to secure repayment of the borrowed
sums.
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(c)
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To
purchase liability and other insurance to protect the Company's property,
business, employees, officers, and the Manager or for any other
purpose;
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(d)
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To
hold and own any Company real and/or personal properties in the name of
the Company;
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(e)
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To
invest any Company funds temporarily (by way of example but not
limitation) in time deposits, short-term governmental obligations,
commercial paper, or other
investments;
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(f)
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Upon
the affirmative vote or written consent Members holding at least 65% of
all Company Interests, to sell or otherwise dispose of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company as part of a single
transaction or plan;
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(g)
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To
execute on behalf of the Company all instruments and documents, including,
without limitation, checks; drafts; notes and other negotiable
instruments; mortgages or deeds of trust; security agreements; financing
statements; documents providing for the acquisition, mortgage or
disposition of the Company's property; assignments; bills of sale; leases;
partnership agreements, operating agreements of other limited liability
companies; and any other instruments or documents necessary or
appropriate, in the opinion of the Managers, to the business of the
Company;
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(h)
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To
employ accountants, legal counsel, managing agents or other experts and
consultants to perform services for the Company and to compensate them
from Company funds;
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(i)
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To
enter into any and all other agreements on behalf of the Company, with any
other Person for any purpose, in such forms as the Managers may approve;
and
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(j)
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To
do and perform all other acts as may be necessary or appropriate to the
conduct of the Company's business.
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Unless
authorized to so do by this Operating Agreement or by written authorization of
the Manager, no attorney-in-fact, employee or other agent of the Company shall
have any power or authority to bind the Company in any way, to pledge its
credit, or to render it liable for any purpose. No Member (other than a Member
who is also a Manager) shall have any power or authority to bind the Company
unless the Member has been authorized by the Manager to act as an agent of the
Company in accordance with the previous sentence.
9
Section
5.4 Managers Have No Exclusive Duty to Company - The Manager shall not be
required to manage the Company as its sole and exclusive function and may have
other business interests and may engage in other activities in addition to those
relating to the Company, provided, however, that such other activity shall not
compete with or in any way conflict with the interests of the Company or the
duty which the Manager owes to the Company, except to the extent disclosed in
the Offering Material.
Section
5.5 Bank Accounts - The Members may from time to time open bank accounts
in the name of the Company, and the Manager shall be the sole signatories
thereon, unless the Manager determines otherwise.
Section
5.6 Company Books - In accordance with Section 9.2 herein, the Manager
shall maintain and preserve, during the term of the Company, and for three (3)
years thereafter, all accounts, books, and other relevant Company documents.
Upon reasonable request, each Member and Economic Interest Owner shall have the
right, during ordinary business hours, to inspect and copy such Company
documents at the requesting Member's and Economic Interest Owner's
expense.
Section
5.7 Indemnity of Manager - The Company shall indemnify the Manager,
including its owners and officers, and each officer and employee of the Company
(each an “Indemnified Party” and collectively the “Indemnified Parties”) from
and against any claims and demands arising from any acts or omissions or alleged
acts or omissions in connection with the business and affairs of the Company,
including costs and attorneys fees, to the maximum extent permitted by
applicable law. In no event shall an Indemnified Party be entitled to indemnity
if a court definitively determines that such Indemnified Party is guilty of
malfeasance, defalcation, fraud, or other willful or wanton conduct injurious to
the Company. The Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to receive from the
Company advance payment of such person’s liability, including costs and
attorney’s fees, to the full extent provided under applicable law.
Section
5.8 Resignation - The Manager of the Company may resign at any time by
giving written notice to the Members of the Company. The resignation of any
Manager shall take effect upon receipt of notice thereof or at such later time
as shall be specified in such notice; and, unless otherwise specified therein,
the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
The resignation of a Manager who is also a Member shall not, by itself, affect
the Manager's rights as a Member and shall not constitute a withdrawal of a
Member.
Section
5.9 Removal - Any Manager may be removed at any time, with or
without cause, by the affirmative vote or written consent of Members holding at
least 65% of all Company Interests. The removal of a Manager who is also a
Member shall not, by itself, affect the Manager’s rights as a Member and shall
not constitute a withdrawal of a Member.
Section
5.10 Vacancies - Any vacancy occurring for any reason in the number of
Managers of the Company may be filled by the affirmative vote or written consent
of Members holding at least 65% of all Company Interests.
10
Section
5.11Manager Compensation - As compensation, the Manager shall be entitled
to an incentive management fee, which shall be treated as a Company expense,
equal to 10% of the consideration received by the Company from any sale,
recovery, or other disposition by the Company of the Collateral or any portion
thereof, including license fees, distributions from joint venture activities,
and other such income. Without limitation of the foregoing, in the event the
Company engages directly in manufacturing or in other similar activities,
involving a similar cost structure, the Manager shall receive 10% of the
operating income from such activity. The Manager shall also receive a fee, equal
to (i) 10% of the cash equity contributed to the Company, for structuring,
negotiating, documenting, and providing other services with respect to the
transaction, payable to the Manager at the time such cash equity is contributed
to the Company, and (ii) an annual management fee equal to $300,000. The Manager
shall be reimbursed for all expenses incurred by Manager on behalf of the
Company, including, but not limited to, travel and travel related expenses,
promotional costs, telephone, and the retainer of consultants. The Company shall
provide the principals of the Manager with health insurance at the Company’s
expense
ARTICLE
VI
RIGHTS
AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS
Section
6.1 Limitation of Liability - Each Member's liability shall be limited as
set forth in this Operating Agreement, the Connecticut Act, and other applicable
law.
Section
6.2 List of Members - Upon written request of any Member, the Manager
shall provide a list showing the names, addressees and Membership Interests and
Economic Interests of all Members.
Section
6.3 Approval of Sale of All Assets - The Members shall have the right, by
the affirmative vote or written consent of Members holding at least 65% of all
Company Interests, to approve the sale, exchange or other disposition of all, or
substantially all, of the Company's assets which is to occur as part of a single
transaction or plan.
Section
6.4 Priority and Return of Capital - Except as may be expressly provided
in this Agreement, no Member or Economic Interest Owner shall have priority over
any other Member or Economic Interest Owner, either as to the return of Capital
Contributions or as to Net Profits, Net Losses or distributions; provided that
this Section shall not apply to repayment of loans (as distinguished from
Capital Contributions) which a Member has made to the Company.
Section 6.5
Membership Certificates –
Membership Interests shall be evidenced by membership certificates substantially
in the form of Exhibit
D
hereto. Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to
the Company of the ownership and the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
any certificate evidencing a Membership Interest, and in the case of any such
loss, theft or destruction, upon receipt of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to
the Company, or, in the case of any such mutilation upon surrender of such
certificate, the Company shall (at its expense) execute and deliver in lieu of
such certificate a new certificate of like kind reflecting the Membership
Interest represented by such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate
and dated the date of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate, and
distributions, if any, shall accrue on the Membership Interests represented by
such new certificate from the date up to which dividends have been fully paid on
such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate.
11
Section 6.6
Special Rights of Round One Investors – Notwithstanding any
provision in this Agreement, Round One Investors shall receive the following
additional rights:
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(a)
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The
distribution preference set forth in Section 8.2(b);
and
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(b)
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If
the Company engages in subsequent equity offerings of up to $4,000,000 at
a purchase price lower than the purchase price paid by the Round One
Investors (based on a valuation of the Company (as adjusted for stock
splits and recapitalizations) prior to inclusion of such subsequent
capital contributions) then the ownership interests of the Round One
Investors shall be proportionately increased as if they had paid the same
purchase price paid such subsequent
investors.
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ARTICLE
VII
CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THE COMPANY AND CAPITAL ACCOUNTS
Section
7.1 Members' Capital Contributions - Each Member shall contribute such
cash in exchange for a membership in the Company, as is set forth on Exhibit B hereto as
its share of the Initial Capital Contribution, except as provided
herein.
Section
7.2 Additional Contributions - Except as set forth in Section 7.1, no
Member shall be required to make any Capital Contribution. The Managers may
determine from time to time that additional Capital Contributions are necessary
or appropriate in connection with the conduct of the Company's business
(including without limitation, expansion or diversification or to meet operating
deficits). In such event, the Members shall have the opportunity (but not the
obligation), to make further Capital Contributions in accordance with their
Company Interests, and those who choose to do so shall receive additional
Company Interests in proportion to their contributions, proportionately diluting
the non-contributing Members.
Section
7.3 Capital Accounts
(a) A
separate Capital Account will be maintained for each Member. In general, each
Member's Capital Account will be: (1) increased by (a) the amount of
money contributed by such Member to the Company; and (b) allocations to such
Member of Net Profits and; (2)) decreased by (a) the amount of money distributed
to such Member by the Company; and (b) allocations to the account of such Member
net Losses. Capital Accounts will be maintained in accordance with the
requirements of 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated
thereunder.
(b) In
the event of a permitted sale or exchange of a Membership Interest or an
Economic Interest in the Company, the Capital Account of the transferor shall
become the Capital Account of the Transferee to the extent it relates to the
transferred Membership Interest or Economic Interest in accordance with Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) of the Treasury Regulations.
12
(c) Upon
liquidation of the Company (or the Member's Membership Interest or Economic
Interest Owner's Economic Interest) pursuant to the terms of this Operating
Agreement, liquidating distributions will be made in accordance with the
positive Capital Account balances of the Members and Economic Interest Owners,
as determined after taking into account all Capital Account adjustments for the
Company's taxable year during which the liquidation occurs. Liquidation proceeds
will be paid within sixty days of the end of the taxable year (or, if later,
within 120 days after the date of the liquidation). The Company may offset
damages for breach of this Operating Agreement by a Member or Economic Interest
Owner whose interest is liquidated (either upon the withdrawal of the Member or
the liquidation of the Company) against the amount otherwise distributable to
such Member.
(d) Except
as otherwise required in the Connecticut Act (and subject to Section 7.1 and 7.2
hereof), no Member or Economic Interest Owner shall have any liability to
restore all or any portion of a deficit balance in such Member's or Economic
Interest Owner's Capital Account.
(e) The
Manager shall not be required to make an Initial Capital Contribution, as
provided in Section 7.1, and shall not be entitled to any distributions with
respect to the return of Capital Contributions, but shall be entitled to share
with respect to the Company’s Net Profits to the extent of the Manager’s
membership interest, as provided herein. The Manager will be allocated losses to
the extent of undistributed profits and shall be entitled to membership voting
rights equal to its profit participation.
ARTICLE
VIII
ALLOCATIONS,
INCOME TAX AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Section
8.1 Allocations of Profits and Losses –
(a)
General - The Net Profits and Net Losses of the Company for each Fiscal Year
will be allocated to the Members in the manner described in this
section.
(b) Allocations of Net Profits - Except as
otherwise provided in this Article and Section 7.3 (e), the Net Profits for each
Fiscal Year shall be allocated to Members in the ratio of their Membership
Interests.
(c)
Allocation of Net Losses - Except as
otherwise provided in this Article and Section 7.3 (e), the Net Losses for each Fiscal Year shall be
allocated to Members in the ratio of their Membership Interests.
(d) Allocation of Taxable Income - Any
item of taxable income, gain, loss or deduction of the Company as determined for
Federal income tax purposes shall be allocated in the same manner as the
corresponding income, gain, loss or deduction is allocated under this Article,
except to the extent otherwise required by the principles of, and Treasury
Regulations under, Section 704(b) and (c) of the Code. Any Member who
unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation or distribution described in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-l(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6) that
creates or increases a deficit balance in its Capital Account (adjusted by any
amount that a Member is treated as being obligated to restore under
Sections 1-704-2(g) and (i)(5) of the Treasury Regulations) shall be
specially allocated gross income of the Company if necessary to eliminate such
deficit balance consistent with the “qualified income offset” provisions of
Section 1.704-l(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Treasury Regulations. Any special
allocation pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be taken into account in
computing subsequent allocations pursuant to this Article, so that to the extent
it is in accordance with the Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) of
the Code, the net adjustment to the Capital Account of each Member pursuant to
the allocations of this Article shall be equal to the net adjustment to
such Capital Account of each Member pursuant to the provisions of this Article
if the allocations pursuant to the preceding sentence had not
occurred.
13
(e) Minimum Gain Chargeback -
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VI, if during any
Fiscal Year there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain (as defined in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(d)), each Member shall be allocated
gross income for such Fiscal Year (and, if necessary subsequent Fiscal Years) in
the manner provided for in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VI, if during any
Fiscal Year there is a net decrease in a Member’s “Partner Non-recourse Debt
Minimum Gain” attributable to such Member’s “Partner Non-recourse Debt” (as such
terms are defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2) and (b)(4),
respectively), the Members shall be allocated gross income for such Fiscal Year
(and, if necessary subsequent Fiscal Years) to the extent and in the manner
provided for in Treasury Regulations
Section 1.704-2(i).
Section
8.2 Distributions -
(a) The Manager shall be solely responsible
for making all determinations of amounts and timing of all distributions to
Members and shall have sole discretion to determine
amounts available for distribution. Distributions shall be made at such times
and intervals as the Manager in its sole discretion shall determine. In the sole
discretion of the Manager, securities, assets, or other property in kind may be
distributed to the Members. Each distribution in kind of securities, assets or
other property shall be distributed in accordance with this paragraph as if
there had been a sale of such property for an amount of cash equal to the Fair
Market Value of such property followed by an immediate distribution of such cash
proceeds. Distributions consisting of cash, securities, assets, and/or other
property shall be made, to the extent practicable, in pro rata portions as to
each Member receiving such distributions. For purposes of the preceding
sentence, securities, assets, or other property having a different tax basis
than like securities, assets or other property shall be considered to be
securities, assets or other property of a different type.
(b)
Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, distributions made pursuant to
Section 8.2(a) from profits and/or other sources, if any, in cash shall be
applied in the following manner:
|
(i)
|
first,
to the Round One Investors, until each Round One Investor has received
cumulative distributions equal to 125% of such investor’s Initial Capital
Contribution;
|
(ii)
|
second,
to subsequent investors according to their initial rate of return as
determined by the Manager in its sole discretion,provided, however, that
such initial rate of return shall not exceed 120% of the Initial Capital
Contribution of such subsequent investors unless such rate of return has
been approved in writing by the Round One Investors holding a
majority interest; and
|
(iii)
|
third,
the balance of the distribution amount will be distributed to the Members,
including the Manager, as their ownership interests
appear.
|
Section
8.3 Limitation Upon Distributions - No distribution shall be declared and
paid unless, after the distribution is made, the assets of the Company are in
excess of all liabilities of the Company, except liabilities to Members on
account of their contributions.
Section
8.4 Interest On and Return of Capital Contributions - No Member shall be
entitled to interest on its Capital Contribution or to return of its Capital
Contribution, except as otherwise specifically provided for herein.
Section
8.5 Loans to Company - Nothing in this Operating Agreement shall prevent
any Member from making secured or unsecured loans to the Company by agreement
with the Company.
Section
8.6 No Right to Distribution - Anything in this Agreement or in Section
30 of the Connecticut Act to the contrary notwithstanding, no Member shall be
entitled to receive any distribution of money or other property in excess of
$1.00 by reason of such persons ceasing to be a Member, except (i) upon
dissolution of the Company, or (ii) upon affirmative vote or written consent of
Members holding a Majority Interest.
14
ARTICLE
IX
ACCOUNTING
AND REPORTS
Section
9.1 Accounting Period - The Company's accounting period shall be the
calendar year, unless the Fiscal Year is changed as provided hereinabove, in
which case the accounting period shall be coordinated with the Fiscal
Year.
Section
9.2 Records and Reports - The Manager shall maintain records and accounts
of all operations and expenditures of the Company. At a minimum the Company
shall keep at its principal place of business the following
records:
(a) A
current and a past list setting forth in alphabetical order the full name and
last known business, residence, or mailing address of each Member, Economic
Interest Owner and Manager, both past and present;
(b) A
copy of the Articles of Organization of the Company and all amendments thereto,
together with executed copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which any
articles of amendment have been executed;
(c) Copies
of the Company's federal, state, and local income tax returns and financial
statements for the three most recent years, or, if such returns or statements
were not prepared for any reason, copies of the information and statements
provided to, or which should have been provided to, the members to enable them
to prepare their federal, state and local tax returns for such
period.
(d) Copies
of the Company's current effective written Operating Agreement and all
amendments thereto and copies of any written operating agreements no longer in
effect.
(e) A
writing setting forth the amount of cash, if any, and a statement of the agreed
value of other property or services contributed by each member and the times at
which or the events upon the happening of which any additional contributions are
to be made by each Member;
(f) A
writing stating events, if any, upon the happening of which the Company is to be
dissolved and its affairs wound up;
(g) Other
writings, if any, prepared pursuant to a requirement in this
Agreement.
Section
9.3 Returns and Other Elections - The Manager shall cause the
preparation and timely filing of all returns required to be filed by the Company
pursuant to the Code and all other tax returns deemed necessary and required in
each jurisdiction in which the Company does business. Copies of such returns, or
pertinent information therefrom, shall be furnished to the Members as soon as
practical after the end of the Company's fiscal year but in any event prior to
the date upon which Federal and Connecticut State tax returns are required to be
filed by Members.
15
All
elections permitted to be made by the Company under federal or state laws shall
be made by the Manager in its sole discretion, provided that the Manager shall
make any tax election requested by Members owning at least 65% of all Company
Interests.
ARTICLE
X
TRANSFERABILITY
Section
10.1General - Neither a Member nor an Economic Interest Owner shall have
the right to:
(a) sell,
assign, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, exchange or otherwise transfer for
consideration, (collectively, "sell"), or
(b) gift,
bequeath or otherwise transfer for no consideration (whether or not by operation
of law, except in the case of bankruptcy) all or any part of its Membership
Interest or Economic Interest without the vote or written consent of at least
65% of all Company Interests.
(c) In
the event of either the purchase of the Selling Member's interest in the Company
by a third party purchaser or the gift of an interest in the Company (including
an Economic Interest), and as a condition to recognizing one or more of the
effectiveness and binding nature of any such sale or gift and (subject to
Section 10.2, below) substitution of a new Member as against the Company or
otherwise, the remaining Members may require the Selling Member or Gifting
Member and the proposed purchaser, donee, or successor-in-interest, as the case
may be, to execute, acknowledge and deliver to the remaining Members such
instruments of transfer, assignment and assumption and such other certificates,
representations and documents, and to perform all such other acts which the
remaining Members may deem necessary or desirable to:
(i) constitute
such purchaser, as a Member, donee, or successor-in-interest as
such;
(ii) confirm
that the person desiring to acquire an interest or interests in the Company, or
to be admitted as a Member, has accepted, assumed and agreed to be subject and
bound by all of the terms, obligations and conditions of the Operating
Agreement, as the same may have been further amended (whether such Person is to
be admitted as a new Member or will merely be an Economic Interest
Owner);
(iii) preserve
the Company after the completion of such sale, transfer, assignment, or
substitution under the laws of each jurisdiction in which the Company is
qualified, organized or does business;
(iv) maintain
the status of the Company as a partnership for federal tax purposes;
and
(v) assure
compliance with any applicable state and federal laws including securities laws
and regulations.
(d) Any
sale or gift of a Membership Interest or Economic Interest or admission of a
Member in compliance with this Article X shall be deemed effective as of the
last day of the calendar month in which the remaining Members' consent thereto
was given.
16
(e) The
Selling Member hereby indemnifies the Company and the remaining Members against
any and all loss, damage, or expense (including, without limitation, tax
liabilities or loss of tax benefits) arising directly or indirectly as a result
of any transfer or purported transfer in violation of this Article
X.
(f) A
Transferring Member may gift all or any portion of its Membership Interest and
Economic Interest without regard to Section 10.1 (a) and (b) provided that the
donee or other successor-in-interest (collectively, "donee") complies with
Section 10.1 (c) and further provided that the donee is either the Gifting
Member's spouse, former spouse, or lineal descendent (including adopted
children). In the event of the gift of all or any portion of a Gifting Member's
Membership Interest or Economic Interest to one or more donees who are under 25
years of age, one or more trusts shall be established to hold the gifted
interest(s) for the benefit of such donee(s) until all of the donee(s) reach the
age of at least 25 years.
(g) The
Manager, in order to attract key employees, may gift a portion of its Membership
Interest without regard to section 10.1 (a) and (b).
Section
10.2 Transferee Not Member in Absence of Consent of Holders of Majority Interest
-
(a) Notwithstanding
anything contained herein to the contrary (including, without limitation,
Section 10.2 hereof), if Members holding at least 65% of all Company Interests
do not approve, by written consent, of the proposed sale or gift of the
Transferring Member's Membership Interest or Economic Interest to a transferee
or donee which is not a Member immediately prior to the sale or gift, then the
proposed transferee or donee shall have no right to participate in the
management of the business and affairs of the Company or to become a
Member. The transferee or donee shall be merely an Economic Interest
Owner. No transfer of a Member's interest in the Company (including any transfer
of the Economic Interest or any other transfer which has not been approved by
written consent of the Members holding at least 65% of all Company Interests)
shall be effective unless and until written notice (including the name and
address of the proposed transferee or donee and the date of such transfer) has
been provided to the Company and the non-transferring Members.
(b) Upon
and contemporaneously with any sale or gift of a Transferring Member's Economic
Interest in the Company which does not at the same time transfer the balance of
the rights associated with the Economic Interest transferred by the Transferring
Member (including, without limitation, the rights of the Transferring Member to
participate in the management of the business and affairs of the Company), the
Company), the Company shall purchase from the Transferring Member, and the
Transferring Member shall sell to the Company for a purchase price of $100.00,
all remaining rights and interests retained by the Transferring Member which
immediately prior to such sale or gift were associated with the transferred
Economic Interest.
17
ARTICLE
XI
ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS
Section
11.1 - Additional
Members Except for additional members related to the
Subsequent Offering, as described in the Private Placement Memorandum, from the
date of the formation of the Company, any person or entity acceptable to Members
holding at least 65% of all Company Interests by their written consents may
become a Member in the Company either by the issuance by the Company of
Membership Interests for such consideration as the Members holding at least 65%
of all Company Interests by their written consents shall determine,
or as a transferee of a Member's Membership Interest or any portion thereof,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Operating Agreement. No
new Members shall be entitled to any retroactive allocation of losses, income or
expense deductions incurred by the Company. The Manager may, at their option, at
the time a Member is admitted, close the Company books (as though the Company's
tax year had ended) or make pro-rata allocations of loss, income and expense
deductions to a new Member for that portion of the Company's tax year in which a
Member was admitted in accordance with the provisions of Section 706(d) of the
Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
ARTICLE
XII
DISSOLUTION
AND TERMINATION
Section
12.1 Dissolution –
(a) The
Company shall be dissolved and its affairs shall be wound up upon the happening
of any of the first to occur of the following:
(I) at
the time specified in its Articles of Organization;
(ii) written
consent of Members holding at least 65% of all
Company Interests; or
(iii) an
Event of Dissociation of a Member, unless there are at least two remaining
Members and the business of the Company is continued by the written consent of
remaining Members holding a Majority Interest within 90 days after the Event of
Dissociation, and
(iv) entry of
a decree of final dissolution under Section 43 of the Connecticut
Act.
Each of
the Members hereby agrees that within the 60 days after the occurrence of an
Event of Dissociation, they will promptly consent, in writing, to continue the
business of the Company. Each of the Members further agrees promptly to consent,
in writing, to continue the business of the Company upon a sale or gift either
of a Member's entire Economic Interest to which all of the remaining Members do
not consent within 45 days after the occurrence of such a sale or gift or upon a
sale or gift of a Transferring Member's entire Membership Interest. Such
consents shall be mailed or hand delivered to the principal place of business of
the Company set forth in Section 2.3 hereof (or to such other address designated
by the Managers) no later than 50 days after each Withdrawal Event or transfer
by Member of its entire Economic Interest or Membership Interest). The sole
remedy for breach of a Member's obligation to consent to continue the business
of the Company under this Section shall be money damages (and not specific
performance).
(b) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Operating Agreement, if a Member or Members
owning Company Interests which in the aggregate constitute not less than 65% of
all Company Interests vote or consent in writing to dissolve the Company, then
all of the Members shall agree in writing to dissolve the Company as soon as
possible (but in any event not more than 10 days) thereafter.
18
(c) As
soon as possible following the occurrence of any of the events specified in this
Section 12.1 affecting the dissolution of the Company, the Managers shall
proceed to wind up the Company's business in accordance with the Section 45 of
the Connecticut Act.
(d) Except
as expressly permitted in this Operating Agreement, a Member shall not
voluntarily resign or take any other voluntary action, which directly causes an
Event of Dissociation. Unless otherwise approved in writing by Members owning at
least 65% of all Company Interests. A Member who resigns (a "Resigning Member")
or whose Membership Interest is otherwise terminated by virtue of an Event of
Dissociation, regardless of whether such Event of Dissociation was the result of
a voluntary act by such Member, shall not be entitled to receive any
distributions to which such Member would not have been entitled had such Member
remained a Member. A Resigning Member shall become an Economic Interest Owner,
except as otherwise expressly provided herein. Damages for breach of this
Section 12.1(e) shall be monetary damages only (and not specific performance).
Further, such damages may be offset against distributions by the Company to
which the Resigning Member would otherwise be entitled.
SECTION 12.2 Winding Up - Upon the
dissolution of the Company, the Manager may, in the name of and for and on
behalf of the Company, prosecute and defend suits, whether civil, criminal or
administrative, sell and close the Company’s business, dispose of and convey and
distribute to the Members any remaining assets of the Company, all without
affecting the liability of Members. Upon winding up of the Company, the assets
shall be distributed as follows:
(a) To creditors, including Members and the
Manager who are creditors, to the extent permitted by law, in satisfaction of
liabilities of the Company, whether by payment or by making of reasonable
provision for payment thereof, other than liabilities for which reasonable
provision for payment has been made and liabilities to Members and former
Members for distributions under (Sections 18-601 or 18-604 of the
Act);
(b) To Members and former Members in
satisfaction of liabilities for distributions under (Sections 18-601 or
18-604 of the Act); and
(c) To Members pro rata in accordance with
Article 8
SECTION 12.3 Deficit Capital Accounts -
Upon a liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Section 1.704-l
(b)(2)(ii)(g) of the Treasury Regulations, if any Member has a deficit Capital
Account (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions, allocations
and other adjustments for all Fiscal Years, including the Fiscal Year in which
such liquidation occurs), the Member shall have no obligation to make any
Capital Contribution, and the negative balance of any Capital Account shall not
be considered a debt owed by the Member to the Company or to any other Person
for any purpose.
SECTION 12.4 Non-recourse to Other
Members - Except as provided by applicable law or as expressly provided in this
Agreement, upon dissolution, each Member shall receive a return of its Capital
Contribution solely from the assets of the Company. If the assets of the Company
remaining after the payment or discharge of the debts and liabilities of the
Company are insufficient to return any Capital Contribution of any Member, such
Member shall have no recourse against any other Member.
SECTION 12.5 Termination - Upon
completion of the dissolution, winding up, liquidation and distribution of the
assets of the Company, the Company shall be deemed
terminated.
19
ARTICLE
XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
Section
13.1 Notices - Any notice, demand, or communication required or permitted
to be given by any provision of this Operating Agreement shall be deemed to have
been sufficiently given or served for all purposes if delivered personally to
the party or to an executive officer of the party to whom the same is directed
or, if sent by registered or certified mail, postage and charges prepaid,
addressed to the Member's and/or Company's address, as appropriate, which is set
forth in this Operating Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, any such
notice shall be deemed to be given three business days after the date on which
the same was deposited in a regularly maintained receptacle for the deposit of
United States mail, addressed and sent as aforesaid.
Section
13.2 Application of Connecticut Law - This Operating Agreement, and the
application of interpretation hereof, shall be governed exclusively by its terms
and by the laws of the State of Connecticut, and specifically the Connecticut
Act.
Section
13.3 Waiver of Action for Partition - Each Member and Economic Interest
Owner irrevocably waives during the term of the Company any right that it may
have to maintain any action for partition with respect to the property of the
Company.
Section
13.4 Amendments - This Operating Agreement may not be amended except by
the written agreement of at least 65% of all Company Interests; provided,
however, that no amendment shall be permitted if the effect of such amendment
would be to increase the duties or liabilities of any Member or materially
adversely affect any Member’s interest in Net Profits, Net Losses, Company
assets, distributions, Manager’ rights and compensation, or voting rights,
except as agreed by that Member. In addition, and notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Manager shall have the right to
amend this Agreement, without the vote or consent of any of the Members, if, in
the reasonable judgment of the Manager, such amendment does not adversely affect
the rights of Members, including an amendment to cure any ambiguity, to correct
or supplement any provision, which may be inconsistent with any other provision,
or to make any other provisions for matters and questions arising under this
Agreement, which will not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.
..
Section
13.5 Execution of Additional Instruments - Each Member hereby agrees to
execute such other and further statements of interest and holdings,
designations, powers of attorney and other instruments necessary to comply with
any laws, rules, or regulations. Each Member acknowledges that, by executing
this Agreement, The Manager has been constituted and appointed, with full power
and authority to act in their name and on its behalf in the execution,
acknowledgment and filing of documents relating to the Company and its business.
Each Member further acknowledges that, by executing this Agreement, the power of
attorney granted to the manager under this section: (i) is a special power of
attorney, coupled with an interest, which is irrevocable, and (ii) may be
exercised by the Manager either by signing separately as attorney-in-fact for
each Member, or, after listing all the Members, executing any instrument by the
signatures of the Manager acting as attorney-in-fact for all of
them.
Section
13.6 Construction - Whenever the singular number is used in this
Operating Agreement and when required by the context, the same shall include the
plural and vice versa, and the masculine gender shall include the feminine and
neuter genders and vice versa.
20
Section
13.7 Headings - The headings in this Operating Agreement are inserted for
convenience only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define, or
limit the scope, extent or intent of this Operating Agreement or any provision
hereof.
Section
13.8 Waivers - The failure of any party to seek redress for
violation of or to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant or
condition of this Operating Agreement shall not prevent a subsequent act, which
would have originally constituted a violation, from having the effect of an
original violation.
Section
13.9 Rights and Remedies Cumulative - The rights and remedies provided by
this Operating Agreement are cumulative and the use of any one right or remedy
by any party shall not preclude or waive the right to use any or all other
remedies. Said rights and remedies are given in addition to any other rights the
parties may have by law, statute, ordinance or otherwise.
Section
13.10 Severability - If any provision of this Operating Agreement or
the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall be invalid, illegal
or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Operating Agreement and
the application there of shall not be affected and shall be enforceable to the
fullest extent permitted by law.
Section
13.11 Heirs, Successors, and Assigns - Each and all of the covenants,
terms, provisions and agreements herein contained shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and, to the extent permitted by this
Operating Agreement, their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors
and assigns.
Section
13.12 Creditors - None of the provisions of this Operating Agreement
shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any creditors of the
Company.
Section
13.13 Counterparts - This Operating Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
Section
13.14 Rule Against Perpetuities - The parties hereto intend that the Rule
against Perpetuities (and any similar rule of law) not be applicable to any
provisions of this Operating Agreement; however, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Operating Agreement, if any provision in this Operating
Agreement would be invalid or unenforceable because of the Rule against
Perpetuities or any similar rule of law but for this Section 13.14, the parties
hereto hereby agree that any future interest which is created pursuant to said
provision shall cease if it is not vested within twenty-one years after the
death of the survivor of the group composed of the initial Members who are
individuals and their issue who are living on the date of this Operating
Agreement and their issue, if any, who are living on the effective date of this
Operating Agreement.
SECTION
13.15 DRAFTING AMBIGUITIES - Each party to this Agreement and its legal counsel
has had an opportunity to review this Agreement. The rule of construction that
ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party may not be employed in
the interpretation of this Agreement or any amendment to this
Agreement.
SECTION
13.16 TAX CONSEQUENCES - Neither the Company, the Manager, the other Members,
nor the partners, shareholders, affiliates, members, officers, employees,
agents, consultants, or attorneys of nay of them will be responsible or liable
for the tax consequences of any Member of an investment in the Company. The
Member shall look solely to and rely on, the Members’ own advisors with respect
to the tax consequences of this investment.
21
SECTION
13.17 AGENT INDEMNIFICATION - The Company shall indemnify its consultants,
agents, professional advisers, and any other person that is or was serving at
the request of the Company (“Agent”) who is a party or is threatened to be made
a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or other proceeding
from and against any claims and demands arising from any acts or omissions or
alleged acts or omissions in connection with the business and affairs of the
Company, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. In no event shall an
Agent be entitled to indemnity for malfeasance, defalcation, fraud, or other
willful or wanton conduct injurious to the Company. The Agent who is entitled to
indemnification under this Section shall receive from the Company advance
payment of such person’s costs to the full extent provided under applicable
law.
SECTION
13.18 COMPANY COUNSEL - Counsel to the Company is also counsel to the Manager.
Each Member acknowledges that the Company’s counsel does not represent any
Member other than the Manager in the absence of a clear and explicit agreement
to such effect between the Member and the Company Counsel, and that in the
absence of any such agreement Company Counsel owes no duty directly to a Member.
If any dispute or controversy arises between any Members and the Company, or
between any Members and the Company, on the one hand, and the Manager (or its
members) that Company Counsel represents, on the other hand, then each Member
agrees that the Company Counsel may represent either the Company or the Manager
(or its members), or both, in any dispute or controversy to the extent provided
by professional standards, and each Member consents to such representation. Each
Member further acknowledges that Company Counsel has not represented the
interests of any Member other than the Manager in the preparation of Offering
Material. The Members waive any conflicts of interest that may arise as a result
of Company Counsel’s involvement in this matter.
Section
13.19 ATTORNEY’S FEES - The prevailing party in any litigation, arbitration,
bankruptcy, insolvency or other proceeding (“Proceeding”) relating to the
enforcement or interpretation of this Agreement may recover from the
unsuccessful party all costs, expenses, and actual attorney’s fees (including
expert witness and other consultants’ fees and costs) relating to or arising out
of (i) the Proceeding (whether or not the Proceeding proceeds to judgment), and
(ii) any post-judgment or post-award proceeding including one to enforce or
collect any judgment or award resulting from the Proceeding. All such judgments
and awards shall contain a specific provision for the recovery of all such
subsequent incurred costs, expenses, and actual attorney’s fees.
SECTION
13.20 CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION - For purposes of this Agreement, the term
“Confidential Information” will mean and refer to any information, technical
data or know-how, patentable and un-patentable, including, but not limited to,
software, machinery, research, product plans, product services, customer lists,
marketing materials, developments, inventions, process designs, finances, or
other trade secrets of the Company or similar items relating to the Company’s
business and litigation activities, or that of any supplier, customer or
prospective customer, which Confidential Information is designated in writing to
be confidential or proprietary, or if given orally, to a Member under
circumstances reasonably demonstrating or suggesting the confidential or
proprietary nature of such information. The restrictions in this Section shall
not apply to information, which (i) prior to or after the time of disclosure
becomes part of the public knowledge or literature, not as a result of any
inaction or action of a Member; (ii) must be delivered in response to a valid
order by a court or governmental body, (iii) became or becomes generally
available to the recipient on a non-confidential basis from a source other than
the Company; or (iv) is approved by the Company, in writing, for release. Each
Member covenants and agrees not to use any Confidential Information for his own
use or benefit (directly or indirectly), or for the benefit of any party other
than Company. No Member may disclose Confidential Information to third parties
except employees, consultants, or professional advisers of the Company in
connection with Company business who are required to have the information in
order to carry out their duties for the Company. Each Member agrees that it will
take all reasonable measures to protect the secrecy of and avoid disclosure or
use of Confidential In formation of the Company in order to prevent the
Confidential Information from falling into the public domain or the possession
of persons other than those persons authorized hereunder to have such
information, which measures shall include the highest degree of care that
Members use to protect theirs own Confidential Information of a similar nature.
Each Member agrees to immediately notify the Company in writing of any misuse or
misappropriation of the Confidential Information, which may come to such
Member’s attention. All proceeds from a misuse or disclosure of the Company’s
Confidential Information will be recoverable from the responsible Member. In
addition, the responsible Member shall be liable to the Company to the fullest
extent of the law.
22
SECTION
13.21 POWER OF ATTORNEY - Each Member acknowledges that, by executing this
Agreement, the Manager has been constituted and appointed, with full power and
authority to act in their name and on its behalf in the execution,
acknowledgment, and filing of documents relating to the Company and its business
as follows: (a) any instrument that may be required to be filed by the Company
under appropriate state law or by any governmental agency; or (b) any documents
that may be required to be filed by the Company in connection with the admission
or substitution of additional Members, or the dissolution or termination of the
Company, provided the dissolution or termination are in accordance with this
Agreement. Each Member further acknowledges that, by executing this Agreement,
the power of attorney granted to the Manage under this paragraph: (i) is a
special power of attorney, coupled with an interest, which is irrevocable, and
(ii) may be exercised by the Manager either by signing separately as
attorney-in-fact for each Member or, after listing all of the Members, executing
any instrument by the signatures of the Manager acting as attorney-in- fact for
all of them.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, signing this Operating Agreement of Silica
Tech, LLC, in counterpart, do hereby agree with the Company and with each other
signer to become bound by the terms hereof, and do hereby set their hands and
seals as of the date set forth next to their names.
DATE:
___________
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NAME:
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||||
(Print
or Type name)
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|||||
SIGNATURE:
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|||||
ADDRESS:
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|||||
(Print
or Type Address)
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|||||
23
EXHIBIT
B
Membership
Interests
Date: August
23, 2005
Name and Address
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Initial Capital
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Percentage Company
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||
of Member
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Contribution
|
Interest
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||
Available
upon Request
EXHIBIT
C
Officers of the
Company
Manager - Silica Tech
Holdings, LLC, – managing members:
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
XxXxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
The
managing members of Silica Tech Holdings, LLC will serve as managing directors
of the Company.
EXHIBIT
D
Form of Membership
Certificate
Certificates
have been distributed to each member.
Amendment
#1, dated, March 12, 2007
2nd Round
Investment Offering – (includes 5th
investor letter)
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1.
|
Silica
is seeking up to $2 million in capital and is offering a 5% equity
interest per million, or any part thereof, to accredited investors, only,
(the “Round Two Investors”). The minimum investment is $25,000 for those
investors that invested in Round One and $50,000 for new
investors.
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|
2.
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Round
Two Investors shall be valuation - protected should Silica engage in
subsequent equity offerings, up to $2 million, at a purchase price lower
than the purchase price paid by the Round Two Investors. The price
adjustment, determined on a weighted average, will be based on a valuation
of the Company (as adjusted for stock splits and recapitalizations) prior
to inclusion of such subsequent capital
contributions.
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|
3.
|
Distributions
to Round Two Investors shall have a priority to distributions to Silica
Tech Holdings, LLC, the Manager of Silica, but shall follow distributions
to the Round One Investors, pursuant to the Operating Agreement. Such
priority distributions to Round Two Investors shall equal 115% of their
Round Two Investment.
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|
4.
|
Under
Silica’s present plan, the funds invested from the Round Two Investors
will be used primarily to further commercialize its intellectual property,
including the making of silicon samples, the building of the first
production machines for making silicon and/or crystalline silicon ingots
from silicon tetrachloride, and for funding, to the extent reasonable,
overhead expenses associated with the commercialization. Some of this work
may be sub-contracted to, or a strategic alliance(s) formed with, third
parties. In addition, when, as, and if the Jetion $5 million is received
and depending on the Round Two investment amount, such total funds may be
used for payables, provided, however, that the amount used for payables
may not exceed (i) 15% of the Round Two Investment up to $250,000 or (ii)
up to a total of $500,000 if the Jetion $5 million is also
received.
|
(Note: As
Silica continues to commercialize its technology, additional funds will be
needed, from time to time, for equipment, new patent filings, and other
technology improvements. To the extent possible, Silica will continue to raise
such funds via the Jetion approach that is, receiving advances against sales
orders, which approach does not result in equity dilution. Moreover, the Manager
believes that once Silica has produced competitive quality samples and started
shipping product, bank loans and other fund raising avenues will
surface.)
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5.
|
Investments
from Round Two Investors are expected on or about March 15th,
but not later than March 30; however, Silica reserves the right to extend
the offering period.
|
|
6.
|
Round
Two Investors shall receive a Subscription Agreement and related
disclosure documents, including, but not limited to a
Confidential Investor Summary, a Power Point Presentation, financial
material, and other material in addition to the Recent Events
attachment.
|
|
7.
|
Round
Two Investors will acknowledge that they have read all material requested
and/or provided and that they have been permitted the opportunity to
evaluate and ask questions about the material
received.
|
Part of
Amendment #1
Recent
Events (Post the 4th
Investor Letter, dated October 31, 2006)
|
1.
|
Silica
and Jetion Holdings Limited (‘Jetion’), a Chinese manufacturer that
currently produces solar cells and modules and that plans an estimated $80
million IPO on the London AIM (the “Alternate Investment Market”), and
Silica have agreed in principal to the forming of a joint venture in China
and the advancing of $5 million to Silica, pursuant to the attached term
sheet. A Joint Venture Agreement is currently being finalized for an
anticipated closing on or about the end of
March.
|
|
2.
|
Silica’s
patent counsel, Xxxxxx Xxxxx, just recently filed a full utility and a PCT
(Patent Cooperation Treaty) filing on the silicon/polycrystalline patent
application and is preparing to file by April 6th a
full utility and PCT filing on the thin-film application. The filings will
cover, at least, United States, Western Europe, China, Malaysia, Thailand,
India, Russia, and Taiwan.
|
|
3.
|
There
have been no material changes with respect to the on-going Silica vs.
J-Fiber litigation and outside of reaching a settlement, which Silica is
open to, there are no material expected to occur until year end or the
beginning of 2008 when discovery proceedings should continue. However,
Silica understands that recently J-Fiber has been sending indemnification
letters to its fiber customers, agreeing to indemnify them in the event of
a patent infringement claim by
Silica.
|
Amendment
#2, dated, April 24, 2008
Round 2 (B) Investment
Offering
|
1.
|
Silica
is seeking up to $1.5 million in capital and is offering a 4.55% equity
interest per million, or any part thereof, to accredited investors, only,
(the “Round Two (B) Investors”). The minimum investment is $25,000 for
those investors that invested in Round One and $50,000 for new
investors.
|
|
2.
|
Round
Two (B) Investors shall be valuation - protected should Silica engage in
subsequent equity offerings, up to $3 million, at a purchase price lower
than the purchase price paid by the Round Two (B) Investors. The price
adjustment, determined on a weighted average, will be based on a valuation
of the Company (as adjusted for stock splits and recapitalizations) prior
to inclusion of such subsequent capital
contributions.
|
|
3.
|
Distributions
to Round Two (B) Investors shall have a priority to distributions to
Silica Tech Holdings, LLC, the Manager of Silica, but shall be after
distributions made to the Round One and Round 2 (A) Investors, pursuant to
the Operating Agreement.
|
|
4.
|
Under
Silica’s present plan, approximately $600 thousand of the funds invested
from the Round Two (B) Investors will be used primarily for developing a
one or two step process for the making of ingots; the balance of the funds
will be used for working capital.
|
(Note: As
Silica continues to commercialize its technology, additional funds will be
needed, from time to time, for equipment, new patent filings, other technology
improvements and working capital. It is expected that these achievements will
increase the value of Silica such that new investors will pay a higher price. To
the extent possible Silica will intends to raise funds by way of receiving
advances against sales orders, which approach does not result in equity
dilution. Moreover, the Manager believes that once Silica has produced
competitive quality samples and started shipping product, bank loans and other
fund raising avenues will surface.)
|
5.
|
Investments
from Round Two (B) Investors are expected by May 1, 2008; however, Silica
reserves the right to extend the offering period and/or to increase the
offering price.
|
6.
|
Silica
plans to be publicly traded by year-end, which will result in the
conversion of Silica from a limited liability to a corporation.
Accordingly, in exchange for providing market liquidity to Round Two (B)
Investors, Points 2 and 3 will be reduced and/or
eliminated.
|
|
7.
|
Round
Two Investors shall receive a Subscription Agreement and related
disclosure documents, including, but not limited to a Confidential
Investor Memorandum, a Power Point Presentation, financial material,
investor letters, and other
material.
|
|
8.
|
Round
Two (B) Investors will acknowledge that they have read all material
requested and/or provided and that they have been permitted the
opportunity to evaluate and ask questions about the material
received.
|