Zea Capital Fund LLC First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement December 18, 2009
First
Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement
December
18, 2009
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
ARTICLE
II
ORGANIZATION;
ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
SECTION 2.1. | FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. | 6 |
SECTION 2.2. | NAME. | 6 |
SECTION 2.3. | PRINCIPAL AND REGISTERED OFFICE. | 6 |
SECTION 2.4. | DURATION. | 6 |
SECTION 2.5. | PURPOSE, NATURE OF BUSINESS AND POWERS. | 6 |
SECTION 2.6. | BOARD OF DIRECTORS. | 7 |
SECTION 2.7. | MEMBERS. | 7 |
SECTION 2.8. | BOTH DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS. | 8 |
SECTION 2.9. | LIMITED LIABILITY. | 8 |
SECTION 2.10. | AUTHORITY TO DO BUSINESS. | 8 |
ARTICLE
III
MANAGEMENT
SECTION 3.1. | MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL. | 8 |
SECTION 3.2. | ACTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. | 10 |
SECTION 3.3. | MEETINGS OF MEMBERS. | 11 |
SECTION 3.4. | CUSTODY OF ASSETS OF THE COMPANY. | 12 |
SECTION 3.5. | OTHER ACTIVITIES OF MEMBERS AND DIRECTORS. | 12 |
SECTION 3.6. | DUTY OF CARE. | 13 |
SECTION 3.7. | INDEMNIFICATION. | 13 |
SECTION 3.8. | NO BOND REQUIRED OF DIRECTORS | 14 |
SECTION 3.9. | NO DUTY OF INVESTIGATION; NO NOTICE IN COMPANY INSTRUMENTS, ETC. | 14 |
SECTION 3.10. | RELIANCE ON EXPERTS, ETC. | 14 |
SECTION 3.11. | FEES, EXPENSES AND REIMBURSEMENT. | 15 |
ARTICLE
IV
TRANSFERS
AND REPURCHASES
SECTION 4.1. | TRANSFER OF UNITS. | 15 |
SECTION 4.2. | REPURCHASE OF UNITS. | 17 |
ARTICLE
V
CAPITAL
SECTION 5.1. | CONTRIBUTIONS TO CAPITAL. | 17 |
SECTION 5.2. | RETURN OF UNUTILIZED CONTRIBUTIONS. | 18 |
SECTION
5.3.
|
DEFAULTING CLASS B MEMBERS. | 18 |
i
SECTION 5.4. | RIGHTS OF MEMBERS TO CAPITAL. | 20 |
SECTION 5.5. |
CAPITAL
ACCOUNTS.
|
20 |
SECTION 5.6. | ALLOCATION OF CERTAIN INCOME, NET PROFIT AND NET LOSS. | 21 |
SECTION 5.7. |
ALLOCATION
OF CERTAIN EXPENDITURES.
|
21 |
SECTION 5.8. | RESERVES. | 22 |
SECTION
5.9.
|
TAX ALLOCATIONS. | 22 |
SECTION 5.10. |
TRANSFER
OF OR CHANGE IN INTERESTS.
|
22 |
SECTION 5.11. | REGULATORY AND RELATED ALLOCATIONS. | 22 |
SECTION 5.12. | CURATIVE ALLOCATIONS. | 22 |
SECTION
5.13.
|
FEDERAL INCOME TAX. | 23 |
SECTION 5.14. | DEEMED SALE OF ASSETS. | 23 |
SECTION 5.15. |
CERTAIN
DETERMINATIONS BY TAX MATTERS PARTNER.
|
23 |
SECTION 5.16. | DISTRIBUTIONS. | 23 |
SECTION 5.17. | WITHHOLDING. | 24 |
ARTICLE
VI
DISSOLUTION
AND LIQUIDATION
SECTION 6.1. | DISSOLUTION. | 24 |
SECTION 6.2. | WINDING UP. | 24 |
ARTICLE
VII
ACCOUNTING,
VALUATIONS AND BOOKS AND RECORDS
SECTION 7.1. | ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS. | 25 |
SECTION
7.2.
|
VALUATION OF NET ASSETS. | 25 |
ARTICLE
VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
SECTION 8.1. | AMENDMENT OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT. | 26 |
SECTION
8.2.
|
SPECIAL
POWER OF ATTORNEY.
|
27 |
SECTION 8.3. | NOTICES. | 28 |
SECTION
8.4.
|
AGREEMENT BINDING UPON SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. | 28 |
SECTION 8.5. |
APPLICABILITY
OF 1940 ACT.
|
28 |
SECTION
8.6.
|
CHOICE OF LAW; ARBITRATION. | 28 |
SECTION 8.7. | NOT FOR BENEFIT OF CREDITORS. | 29 |
SECTION 8.8. |
CONSENTS.
|
29 |
SECTION 8.9. | MERGER AND CONSOLIDATION. | 29 |
SECTION
8.10.
|
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS. | 30 |
SECTION 8.11. | PRONOUNS; USAGE; GENERIC TERMS. | 31 |
SECTION
8.12.
|
CONFIDENTIALITY. | 31 |
SECTION 8.13. |
CERTIFICATION
OF NON-FOREIGN STATUS.
|
32 |
SECTION 8.14. | SEVERABILITY. | 32 |
SECTION 8.15 | FILING OF RETURNS. | 32 |
SECTION
8.16.
|
TAX
DECISIONS AND TAX MATTERS PARTNER.
|
32 |
SECTION 8.17. | COUNTERPARTS. | 33 |
ii
FIRST
AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
THIS
FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT of ZEA CAPITAL
FUND LLC, is made as of December 18, 2009 (the “Effective
Date”).
W I T N E
S S E T H:
WHEREAS,
the Company has been formed to carry on business as set forth more particularly
hereinafter and is authorized to issue an unlimited number of its limited
liability company interests all in accordance with the provisions
hereof;
WHEREAS,
the parties hereto intend that the Company created by the filing of the
Certificate (defined below) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
on March 23, 2009 shall constitute a limited liability company under the
Delaware Limited Liability Company Act; and
WHEREAS,
the Company adopted a Limited Liability Company Agreement on July 24, 2009 (the
“Original
Agreement”), and the Board of Directors and the sole Member, pursuant to
Section 8.1 of the Original Agreement, wish to amend and restate the Original
Agreement and adopt this agreement as the governing instrument of the
Company.
NOW,
THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants
hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt
and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, it is hereby agreed as
follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
For
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
“Adjusted Capital Account
Deficit” means, with respect to any Member, the deficit balance, if any,
in such Member’s Capital Account as of the end of the relevant Fiscal Year,
after giving effect to the following adjustments:
(i) Credit
to such Capital Account any amounts which such Member is obligated to restore or
is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences in
Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(2(i)(5) and pursuant to Regulation
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c); and
(ii) Debit
to such Capital Account the items described in Regulation Sections
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4),(5) and (6).
The
foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is intended to comply
with the provisions of Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be
interpreted consistently therewith.
“1933 Act” means the
Securities Act of 1933 and the rules thereunder, as amended from time to
time.
“1934 Act” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder, as amended from time
to time.
“1940 Act” means the
Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules thereunder, including any
applicable orders thereunder, as amended from time to time.
“Adviser” means a
person who at any particular time serves as an investment adviser to the Company
pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement, initially AAVIN Equity Advisors,
LLC.
“Affiliate” has the
meaning given to such term in the 1940 Act.
“Agreement” means this
First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, as amended or
supplemented from time to time.
“BDC” means a business
development company, as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the 1940
Act.
“Board of Directors”
means the Board of Directors established pursuant to Section 2.6 of this
Agreement.
“Business Day” means
any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banks in New
York, New York are required by law to be closed. All references to
Business Day herein shall be based on the time in New York, New
York.
“By-Laws” are those
provisions adopted as such by the Board pursuant to Section 3.1(i).
“Capital Account”
means, with respect to each Member, the capital account(s) established and
maintained on behalf of each Member pursuant to Section 5.5 hereof.
“Capital Contribution”
means a contribution of capital by a Person to the Company pursuant to Section
5.1.
“Capital Contribution
Percentage” means, with respect to a Member, the Member’s Capital
Contributions divided by the aggregate amount of all Members’ Capital
Contributions.
“Capital Commitment”
means the amount of capital a Person agrees to contribute to the Company as a
Capital Contribution as provided in such Person’s Subscription Agreement, as
adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 5.1 and any other applicable
provisions of this Agreement.
“Certificate” means
the Certificate of Formation of the Company dated March 23, 2009, and any
amendments thereto as filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware.
“Class A Units” means
Units having the rights and obligations of such class as provided
herein.
“Class A Member” means
a Person who is admitted as a Member and who holds Class A Units.
“Class B Units” means
Units having the rights and obligations of such class as provided
herein.
“Class B Member” means
a Person who is admitted as a Member and who holds Class B Units.
“Closing Date” means
the first date on or as of which the first Member, who is not an Affiliate of
the Company or the Adviser, is admitted to the Company.
“Code” means the
United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or
any successor law.
“Company” means Zea
Capital Fund LLC, the Delaware limited liability company formed pursuant to the
filing of the Certificate and operated pursuant to this Agreement.
“Company Expenses”
means all of the Company’s organizational and operational expenses, including
those associated with its investment activities and fees for Management
Services.
“Confidential
Information” shall have the meaning ascribed in Section 8.12(c)
hereof.
“Defaulting Class B
Member” means a Class B Member with respect to which an Event of Default
has occurred.
“Defaulting Class B Member
Distribution Percentage” means, with respect to a Defaulting Class B
Member, the ratio (i) the amount all distributions received by such Defaulting
Class B Member bears to (ii) all Capital Contributions made by such Defaulting
Class B Member.
2
“Default Rate” means
the greater of (i) the prime rate, plus 5.0% or (ii) 18%.
“Delaware Act” means
the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as in effect on the date hereof and
as amended from time to time, or any successor law.
“Director” means an
individual designated and qualified as a Director of the Company pursuant to the
provisions of Section 2.6 of this Agreement and who serves on the Board of
Directors of the Company.
“Disinterested Non-Party
Director” means a Director that is not an “interested person” of the
Company (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 0000 Xxx) or a party to any
agreement or proceeding in question.
“Dispute” is defined
in Section 8.6(c).
“Distribution
Percentage” means the ratio (i) the amount all distributions received by
all Members bears to (ii) all Capital Contributions made by all
Members.
“Drawdown” is defined
in Section 5.1(d)(i)(A).
“Effective Date” shall
have the meaning ascribed above.
“ERISA” means the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“Event of Default”
means one of the events described in Section 5.3(a).
“Excess Distributions”
means the amount, in Dollars, required to make a Defaulting Class B Member’s
Defaulting Class B Member Distribution Percentage equal to the Distribution
Percentage.
“Fiscal Period” means
the period commencing on the Closing Date, and thereafter each period commencing
on the day immediately following the last day of the preceding Fiscal Period,
and in each case ending at the close of business on the first to occur of the
following dates: (i) the last day of a Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year; (ii) the
last day of a tax year; (iii) the day preceding any day on which a contribution
to the capital of the Company is made pursuant to Section 5.1; or (iv) the day
on which a substituted Member is admitted; or (v) any day (other than one
specified in clause (vi) above) on which this Agreement provides for any amount
to be credited to or debited against the Capital Account of any Member other
than an amount to be credited to or debited against the Capital Accounts of all
Members in accordance with their respective Investment
Percentages..
“Fiscal Quarter” means
each three-month period ending each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December
31 (or on the date of a final distribution pursuant to Section 6.2
hereof). The first Fiscal Quarter of the Company shall commence on
the Effective Date and end as of the first quarterly end date mentioned above to
occur.
“Fiscal Year” means
the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on December 31, 2009, and
thereafter each 12-month period ending on December 31, 2009 (or on the date of a
final distribution pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof), unless the Board of
Directors shall elect another Fiscal Year for the Company.
“Fundamental Policies”
shall mean the investment policies and restrictions as set forth from time to
time in any Registration Statement of the Company filed with the SEC and
designated as fundamental policies therein, as they may be amended from time to
time in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
“Funding Notice” is as
defined in Section 5.1(d)(i)(A).
“Independent
Directors” means those Directors who are not “interested persons” of the
Company, as such term is defined in the 1940 Act.
“Initial Investments”
means investments, including income thereon, made by the Company as permitted to
be made by BDCs under the 1940 Act which are not Primary
Investments.
3
“Investment Management
Agreement” means a separate written agreement, subject to Section 15 of
the 1940 Act, between the Company and an Adviser, pursuant to which the Adviser
provides Management Services to the Company.
“Investment
Percentage” means, with respect to a Member, the number of Units held by
such Member, divided by the total number of Units outstanding.
“Investment Period”
means the period beginning on the Closing Date and terminating upon the earliest
to occur of (i) the sixth anniversary of the Closing Date, (ii) the date on
which the aggregate Remaining Capital Commitments of all Class B Members have
been contributed to the Company for the purpose of making Initial Investments or
Primary Investments or paying for Company Expenses or have been formally
reserved for such purposes or are otherwise unavailable to be so invested, and
(iii) the date the Company is dissolved and its affairs wound up as provided in
Article VI.
“Majority Vote” means
the affirmative vote of Members holding (i) 67% or more of the outstanding Units
present at any duly called meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the
outstanding Units are present or represented by proxy; or (ii) more than 50% of
the outstanding Units, whichever is the less; or such greater or lesser
percentage vote as defined and currently in effect under the 1940
Act.
“Management Services”
means such investment advisory and other services as the Adviser is required to
provide to the Company pursuant to an Investment Management
Agreement.
“Member” means any
person admitted to the Company as a member (which may include any Director in
such person’s capacity as a member of the Company) or a substituted Member; such
term includes the Adviser or any of its Affiliates, in their capacity as a
member of the Company, to the extent they make one or more capital contributions
to the Company and shall have been admitted to the Company as a
Member. Persons seeking to be admitted to the Company as Members, or
seeking to make additional contributions to the Company pursuant to Section 5.1
hereof, shall be required to provide such subscription materials in the form and
substance as the Company may require from time to time.
“Net Assets” means,
(i) in the case of Initial Investments, the total value of all assets that
constitute the Initial Investments as determined pursuant to Section 7.2, less
all amount of the accrued debts, liabilities and obligations incurred by the
Company to acquire, hold or dispose of Initial Investments and, (ii) in the case
of Primary Investments, the total value of all assets (other than Initial
Investments) of the Company as determined pursuant to Section 7.2, less all
amount of the accrued debts, liabilities and obligations (other than described
in (i) above) of the Company, excluding in the case of (i) and (ii) any amounts
borrowed for investment purposes.
“Net Profit” or “Net Loss” means with
respect to the Initial Investments or the Primary Investments, as the case may
be, the amount by which the Net Assets as of the close of business on the last
day of a Fiscal Period exceed (in the case of Net Profit) or are less than (in
the case of Net Loss) the Net Assets as of the commencement of the same Fiscal
Period (or, with respect to the initial Fiscal Period of the Company, at the
close of business on the Closing Date). All expenses, other than
direct costs incurred by the Company to acquire, hold or dispose of Initial
Investments, are attributable to the Net Profit or Net Loss with respect to the
Primary Investments.
“Pass-Thru Member” is
defined in Section 8.16(c).
“Person” means a
natural person, partnership, corporation, business trust, joint stock company,
trust, unincorporated association, limited liability company, joint venture, or
other entity of whatever nature.
“Permitted Transfer”
is defined in Section 4.1(d).
“Portfolio Company”
means the issuer of a Primary Investment.
“Primary Investments”
means investments made by the Company which are permitted to be made by a BDC
under the 1940 Act in companies comprising the Company’s target investments as
described in the Company’s registration statement filed with the
SEC.
4
“Principal Member” is
defined in Section 8.10(b).
“Registration
Statement” means a registration statement filed by the Company with the
SEC, as amended or supplemented from time to time, for purposes of issuing
securities of the Company.
“Regulation(s)” means
those regulations issued by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service pursuant to the
Code, as they may be amended from time to time.
“Regulatory
Allocations” is defined in Section 5.12.
“Remaining Capital
Commitment” means, as to any Class B Member on any date, an amount equal
to the positive excess, if any, of (i) such Class B Member’s Capital Commitment,
over (ii) the aggregate amount of all Capital Contributions made by such Class B
Member to the Company pursuant to Section 5.1, as adjusted from time to time
pursuant to Section 5.1 and any other applicable provisions of this
Agreement.
“Remaining Commitment
Fraction” means, as to any Class B Member at any time, a fraction, the
numerator of which is such Class B Member’s Remaining Capital Commitment and the
denominator of which is the aggregate Remaining Capital Commitments of all Class
B Members.
“SEC” means the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” means
securities (including, without limitation, equities, debt obligations, options,
and other “securities” as that term is defined in section 2(a)(36) of the 0000
Xxx) and any contracts for forward or future delivery of any security, debt
obligation or currency, or commodity, all types of derivative instruments and
any contracts based on any index or group of securities, debt obligations or
currencies, or commodities, and any options thereon.
“Subscription
Agreement” means an agreement between a Class B Member and the Company
under which such Class B Member agrees to make a Capital Contribution to the
Company and which contains a Capital Commitment.
“Subscription Member”
means a Class B Member who has an outstanding Capital Commitment.
“Transfer” means,
directly or indirectly, the assignment, transfer, sale, encumbrance, pledge or
other disposition of Units, in whole or in part, or including any right to
receive any distributions attributable to any Units.
“Transfer
Restrictions” means the restrictions on Transfer of Units in Article IV
and in the Unit Transfer Policy.
“Units” means the
limited liability company interests of Members in the Company.
“Unit Transfer Policy”
means the policies and conventions respecting the Transfer of Units established
by the Board from time to time and reflected in Exhibit
A.
“Valuation Date” means
the last Business Day of each Fiscal Period and any other date, designated by
the Board of Directors, on which the Company determines the value of its
Units.
ARTICLE II
5
ORGANIZATION;
ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
SECTION
2.1. FORMATION
OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.
Each
member of the Board of Directors, any officer of the Company and any other
person authorized and designated by the Board of Directors shall be considered
an “authorized person” within the meaning of the Delaware Act, and may execute
and file in accordance with the Delaware Act any amendment to the Certificate
and may execute and file with applicable governmental authorities any other
instruments, documents and certificates that, in the opinion of the Company’s
legal counsel, may from time to time be required by the laws of the United
States of America, the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction in which the
Company shall determine to do business, or any political subdivision or agency
thereof, or which such legal counsel may deem necessary or appropriate to
effectuate, implement and continue the valid existence and business of the
Company.
SECTION
2.2. NAME.
The name
of the Company shall be “ZEA CAPITAL FUND LLC” or such other name as the Board
of Directors may hereafter adopt upon causing an appropriate amendment to the
Certificate to be filed in accordance with the Delaware Act.
SECTION
2.3. PRINCIPAL
AND REGISTERED OFFICE.
The
Company shall have its principal office at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000, or at such other place designated from time to time by the
Board of Directors.
The
Company shall have its registered office in Delaware at 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx,
Xxxxx 000, Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 and shall have National Registered Agents, Inc.
as its registered agent for service of process in Delaware, unless a different
registered office or agent is designated from time to time by the Board of
Directors. Said agent shall act under the direction of the Adviser,
the Board of Directors and the Company’s legal counsel in all matters arising
out of or pertaining to said agency.
SECTION
2.4. DURATION.
The term
of the Company commenced on the filing of the Certificate with the Secretary of
State of Delaware and shall continue until the Company is dissolved pursuant to
Section 6.1 hereof.
SECTION
2.5. PURPOSE,
NATURE OF BUSINESS AND POWERS.
(a) The
purposes of the Company and the business to be carried on by it, subject to the
limitations contained elsewhere in this Agreement, are to engage in any business
lawful for a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of
Delaware, including to act as an investment company.
(b) The
Company shall have the power to do any and all acts necessary, appropriate,
proper, advisable, incidental or convenient to or for the furtherance of the
purposes and business described herein and for the protection and benefit of the
Company, and shall have, without limitation, any and all of the powers of a
limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of
Delaware.
(c) All
property owned by the Company, real or personal, tangible or intangible, shall
be deemed to be owned by the Company as an entity, and no Member or Director,
individually, shall have any ownership of such property.
6
SECTION 2.6.
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS.
(a) The
number of Directors shall be determined by a written instrument signed by a
majority of the Directors then in office, provided that the number of Directors
shall be no less than two or more than fifteen, and further provided that the
Adviser shall nominate two Directors. No reduction in the number of
Directors shall have the effect of removing any Director from office prior to
the expiration of his or her term. An individual nominated as a
Director shall be at least 21 years of age and not older than 80 years of age at
the time of nomination and not under legal disability. Directors need
not own Units and may succeed themselves in office. Each Director
shall be a “Manager” of the Company for purposes of the Delaware
Act.
(b) The
Directors shall be elected at meetings of the Members called by the Board of
Directors from time to time in their sole discretion for that purpose, except as
provided in Section 2.6(d) of this Article, and each Director elected shall hold
office until his or her successor shall have been elected and shall have
qualified. The term of office of a Director shall terminate and a
vacancy shall occur in the event of the death, resignation, removal, bankruptcy,
adjudicated incompetence or other incapacity to perform the duties of the
office, or removal, of a Director.
(c) Any
of the Directors may resign (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by
an instrument in writing signed by such Director and delivered or mailed to the
Directors or the Chairman, if any, the President or the Secretary and such
resignation shall be effective upon such delivery, or at a later date according
to the terms of the instrument. Any of the Directors may be removed
(provided the aggregate number of Directors after such removal shall not be less
than the minimum number required by Section 2.6(a) hereof) for cause only, and
not without cause, and only by action taken by a majority of the remaining
Directors followed by the vote of Members holding at least seventy-five percent
(75%) of the outstanding Units then entitled to vote in an election of such
Director. Upon the resignation or removal of a Director, each such
resigning or removed Director shall execute and deliver such documents as the
remaining Directors shall require for the purpose of effecting such resignation
or removal.
(d) Whenever
a vacancy in the Board of Directors shall occur, the remaining Directors may
fill such vacancy by appointing an individual having the qualifications
described in this Section by a written instrument signed by a majority of the
Directors then in office or may leave such vacancy unfilled or may reduce the
number of Directors; provided the aggregate number of Directors after such
reduction shall not be less than the minimum number required by Section 2.6(a)
hereof; provided, further, that if the Members of any class or series of Units
are entitled separately to elect one or more Directors, a majority of the
remaining Directors or the sole remaining Director elected by that class or
series may fill any vacancy among the number of Directors elected by that class
or series. Any vacancy created by an increase in Directors may be
filled by the appointment of an individual having the qualifications described
in Section 2.6(a) made by a written instrument signed by a majority of the
Directors then in office. No vacancy shall operate to annul this
Agreement. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Directors shall occur,
until such vacancy is filled as provided herein, the Directors in office,
regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Directors
and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Directors by this
Agreement.
SECTION
2.7.
MEMBERS.
The Board
of Directors or its authorized delegate may admit one or more Members as
determined by the Board of Directors as in accordance with applicable
law. All subscriptions are subject to the receipt of cleared funds on
or before the acceptance date in the full amount of the subscription, plus the
applicable sales charge, if any. Each potential Member must execute a
signature page of this Agreement or of the Company’s subscription agreement
pursuant to which such Member agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions
hereof. The Board of Directors or its authorized delegate may, in its
sole discretion, reject any subscription for Units. The Board of
Directors may, in its sole discretion, suspend subscriptions for Units at any
time and from time to time, for any reason. The admission of any
person as a Member shall be effective upon the Unit records of the Company
(which may be maintained by an agent consistent with the Delaware Act) to
reflect the name and the contribution to the capital of the Company of such
additional Member. No act, vote or approval of any Member of the
Company is required to admit a new Member in accordance with this Section
2.7.
7
SECTION 2.8.
BOTH
DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS.
A Person
may at the same time be a Director and a Member, in which event such Person’s
rights and obligations in each capacity shall be determined separately in
accordance with the terms and provisions hereof or as provided in the Delaware
Act.
SECTION
2.9. LIMITED
LIABILITY.
No Member
of the Company shall be subject in such capacity to any personal liability
whatsoever to any Person in connection with property of the Company or the acts,
obligations or affairs of the Company. Members shall have the same
limitation of personal liability as is extended to stockholders of a private
corporation for profit incorporated under the Delaware General Corporation
Law. No Director or officer of the Company shall be subject in such
capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person, save only liability
to the Company or its Members arising from bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross
negligence or reckless disregard for his duty to such Person; and, subject to
the foregoing exception, all such Persons shall look solely to the property of
the Company for satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in connection with
the affairs of the Company. If any Member, Director or officer, as
such, of the Company, is made a party to any suit or proceeding to enforce any
such liability, subject to the foregoing exception, he shall not, on account
thereof, be held to any personal liability. Any repeal or
modification of this Section 2.9 shall not adversely affect any right or
protection of a Director or officer of the Company existing at the time of such
repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such
repeal or modification.
SECTION
2.10. AUTHORITY
TO DO BUSINESS.
If
determined to be in the interest of the Company by the Board of Directors, an
officer shall execute, deliver and file any other certificates (and any
amendments and/or restatements thereof) necessary for the Company to qualify to
do business in any jurisdiction in which the Company may wish to conduct
business.
ARTICLE
III
MANAGEMENT
SECTION
3.1. MANAGEMENT
AND CONTROL.
(a) Management
and control of the business of the Company shall be vested in the Board of
Directors, which shall have the right, power and authority, on behalf of the
Company and in its name, to exercise all rights, powers and authority of
“Managers” under the Delaware Act and to do all things necessary and proper to
carry out the objective and business of the Company and their duties
hereunder. No Director shall have the authority individually to act
on behalf of or to bind the Company except within the scope of such Director’s
authority as delegated by the Board of Directors. The parties hereto
intend that, except to the extent otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) each
Director shall be vested with the same powers, authority and responsibilities on
behalf of the Company as are customarily vested in a director of a Delaware
corporation and (ii) each Independent Director shall be vested with the same
powers, authority and responsibilities on behalf of the Company as are
customarily vested in each director of a closed-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act who is not an “interested person” of such company as
such term is defined in the 1940 Act. During any period in which the
Company shall have no Directors, the Adviser may continue to serve as the
Adviser to the Company and to provide the Management Services to the
Company.
(b) The
Directors shall owe to the Company and its Members the same fiduciary duties as
directors of corporations owe to such corporations and their stockholders under
the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Directors may perform such
acts as in their sole discretion are proper for conducting the business of the
Company. The enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be
construed as limiting the aforesaid power. Such powers of the
Directors may be exercised without order of or resort to any court.
(c) The
Directors shall have power, subject to the Fundamental Policies in effect from
time to time with respect to the Company, to:
8
(1) manage,
conduct, operate and carry on the business of an investment
company;
(2) subscribe
for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, hold, pledge, sell,
assign, Transfer, exchange, distribute or otherwise deal in or dispose of any
and all sorts of property, tangible or intangible, including but not limited to
securities of any type whatsoever, whether equity or non-equity, of any issuer,
evidences of indebtedness of any person and any other rights, interests,
instruments or property of any sort and to exercise any and all rights, powers
and privileges of ownership or interest in respect of any and all such
investments of every kind and description, including, without limitation, the
right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate
one or more Persons to exercise any of said rights, powers and privileges in
respect of any of said investments. The Directors shall not be
limited by any law limiting the investments which may be made by
fiduciaries.
(d) The
Board of Directors shall have the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem,
retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, Transfer, and
otherwise deal in, Units, including Units in fractional denominations, and,
subject to the more detailed provisions set forth in this Agreement, to apply to
any such repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation or acquisition of
Units any funds or property whether capital or surplus or otherwise, to the full
extent now or hereafter permitted corporations formed under the Delaware General
Corporation Law.
(e) Subject
to the Fundamental Policies in effect from time to time with respect to the
Company, the Directors shall have the power to borrow money or otherwise obtain
credit or utilize leverage to the maximum extent permitted by law or regulation
as such may be needed from time to time and to secure the same by mortgaging,
pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the assets of the Company,
including the lending of portfolio securities, and to endorse, guarantee, or
undertake the performance of any obligation, contract or engagement of any other
person, firm, association or corporation.
(f) The
Directors shall have the power, consistent with their continuing exclusive
authority over the management of the Company and the property of the Company, to
delegate from time to time to such of their number or to officers, employees or
agents of the Company the doing of such things, including any matters set forth
in this Agreement, and the execution of such instruments either in the name of
the Company or the names of the Directors or otherwise as the Directors may deem
expedient. The Directors may designate one or more committees which
shall have all or such lesser portion of the authority of the entire Board of
Directors as the Directors shall determine from time to time except to the
extent action by the entire Board of Directors or particular Directors is
required by the 0000 Xxx.
(g) The
Directors shall have power to collect all property due to the Company; to pay
all claims, including taxes, against the property of the Company or the Company,
the Directors or any officer, employee or agent of the Company; to prosecute,
defend, compromise or abandon any claims relating to the property of the Company
or the Company, or the Directors or any officer, employee or agent of the
Company; to foreclose any security interest securing any obligations, by virtue
of which any property is owed to the Company; and to enter into releases,
agreements and other instruments. Except to the extent required for a
corporation formed under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Members shall
have no power to vote as to whether or not a court action, legal proceeding or
claim should or should not be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class
action on behalf of the Company or the Members.
(h) The
Directors shall have power to incur and pay out of the assets or income of the
Company any expenses which in the opinion of the Directors are necessary or
incidental to carry out any of the purposes of this Agreement, and the business
of the Company, and to pay reasonable compensation from the funds of the Company
to themselves as Directors. The Directors shall fix the compensation
of all officers, employees and Directors. The Directors may pay
themselves such compensation for special services, including legal,
underwriting, syndicating and brokerage services, as they in good faith may deem
reasonable and reimbursement for expenses reasonably incurred by themselves on
behalf of the Company.
(i) The
Directors shall have the exclusive authority to adopt and from time to time
amend or repeal By-Laws for the conduct of the business of the
Company.
(j) The
Directors shall have the power to: (a) employ or contract with such
Persons as the Directors may deem desirable for the transaction of the business
of the Company; (b) enter into joint ventures, partnerships and any
other
9
combinations
or associations; (c) purchase, and pay for out of property of the Company,
insurance policies insuring the Members, Directors, officers, employees, agents,
investment advisers, distributors, selected dealers or independent contractors
of the Company against all claims arising by reason of holding any such position
or by reason of any action taken or omitted by any such Person in such capacity,
whether or not constituting negligence, or whether or not the Company would have
the power to indemnify such Person against such liability; (d) establish
pension, profit-sharing, Unit purchase, and other retirement, incentive and
benefit plans for any Directors, officers, employees and agents of the Company;
(e) make donations, irrespective of benefit to the Company, for charitable,
religious, educational, scientific, civic or similar purposes; (f) to the extent
permitted by law, indemnify any Person with whom the Company has dealings,
including without limitation any Adviser, administrator, manager, transfer
agent, custodian, distributor or selected dealer, or any other person as the
Directors may see fit to such extent as the Directors shall determine; (g)
guarantee indebtedness or contractual obligations of others; and (h) determine
and change the Fiscal Year of the Company and the method in which its accounts
shall be kept.
(k) The
Directors shall have the power to conduct the business of the Company and carry
on its operations and maintain offices both within and without the State of
Delaware, in any and all states of the United States of America, in the District
of Columbia, and in any and all commonwealths, territories, dependencies,
colonies, possessions, agencies or instrumentalities of the United States of
America and of foreign governments, and to do all such other things and execute
all such instruments as they deem necessary, proper or desirable in order to
promote the interests of the Company although such things are not herein
specifically mentioned. Any determination as to what is in the
interests of the Company made by the Directors in good faith shall be
conclusive. In construing the provisions of this Agreement, the
presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the
Directors. The Directors will not be required to obtain any court
order to deal with the property of the Company.
(l) Each
Member agrees not to treat, on his personal income tax return or in any claim
for a tax refund, any item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit in a
manner inconsistent with the treatment of such item by the
Company. The Tax Matters Partner, subject to the supervision of the
Board of Directors, shall make such elections under the Code and other relevant
tax laws as to the treatment of items of Company income, gain, loss, deduction
and credit, and as to all other relevant matters, as may be provided herein or
as the Tax Matters Partner deems necessary or appropriate, including, without
limitation, elections referred to in Section 754 of the Code, determination of
which items of cash outlay are to be capitalized or treated as current expenses,
and selection of the method of accounting and bookkeeping procedures to be used
by the Company.
(m) Members
shall have no right to participate in and shall take no part in the management
or control of the Company’s business and shall have no right, power or authority
to act for or bind the Company. Members shall have the right to vote
on any matters only as provided in this Agreement or on any matters that require
the approval of the holders of “voting securities” under the 1940
Act.
(n) The
Directors shall elect a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer and may elect a
Chairman or Vice Chairman who shall serve at the pleasure of the Directors or
until their successors are elected. The Directors may elect or
appoint or may authorize the Chairman, if any, the Vice Chairman, if any, or
President to appoint such other officers or agents with such powers as the
Directors may deem to be advisable. A Chairman and any Vice Chairman
shall, and the President, Secretary and Treasurer may, but need not, be a
Director. The term of office of an officer shall terminate and a
vacancy shall occur in the event of the death, resignation, removal, bankruptcy,
adjudicated incompetence or other incapacity to perform the duties of the
office, or removal, of an officer.
SECTION
3.2. ACTIONS
BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
(a) Meetings
of the Directors shall be held from time to time upon the call of the Chairman,
if any, or the President or any two Directors. Regular meetings of
the Directors may be held without call or notice at a time and place fixed by
the By-Laws or by resolution of the Directors. Notice of any other
meeting shall be given by the Secretary and shall be delivered to the Directors
orally not less than 24 hours, or in writing not less than 72 hours, before the
meeting, but may be waived in writing by any Director either before or after
such meeting. The attendance of a Director at a meeting shall
constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except where a Director attends a
meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business
on the ground that the meeting has not been properly called or
convened. Any time there is more than one Director, a quorum for all
meetings of the Directors shall be one-third, but not
10
less than
two, of the Directors. Unless provided otherwise in this Agreement
and except as required under the 1940 Act, any action of the Directors may be
taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the Directors present (a quorum
being present) or without a meeting by written consent of a majority of the
Directors.
Any
committee of the Directors, including an executive committee, if any, may act
with or without a meeting. A quorum for all meetings of any such
committee shall be one-third, but not less than two, of the members
thereof. Unless provided otherwise in this Agreement, any action of
any such committee may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the
committee members present (a quorum being present).
With
respect to actions of the Directors and any committee of the Directors,
Directors who are Interested Directors in any action to be taken may be counted
for quorum purposes under this Section and shall be entitled to vote to the
extent not prohibited by the 1940 Act.
All or
any one or more Directors may participate in a meeting of the Directors or any
committee thereof by means of a conference telephone or similar communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other; participation in a meeting pursuant to any such communications
system shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
(b) Any
action which may be taken by Directors by vote may be taken without a meeting if
that number of the Directors, or members of a committee, as the case may be,
required for approval of such action at a meeting of the Directors or of such
committee consent to the action in writing and the written consents are filed
with the records of the meetings of Directors. Such consent shall be
treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Directors.
SECTION
3.3. MEETINGS
OF MEMBERS.
(a) The
Company may hold meetings of Members at any time called by a majority of the
Directors and shall be called by any Director for any proper purpose upon
written request of Members holding in the aggregate not less than fifty-one
percent (51%) of the outstanding Units having voting rights on the matter, such
request specifying the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is to be
called. Any Member meeting shall be held within or without the State
of Delaware on such day and at such time as the Directors shall
designate.
(b) Members
shall have no power to vote on any matter except matters on which a vote of
Members is required by applicable law, this Agreement or resolution of the
Directors. This Agreement expressly provides that no matter for which
voting is required by the Delaware Act in the absence of the contrary provision
in the Agreement shall require any vote. Except as otherwise provided
herein, any matter required to be submitted to Members and affecting one or more
classes or series of Units shall require approval by the required voting power
of all the affected classes and series of Units voting together as a single
class; provided, however, that as to any matter with respect to which a separate
vote of any class or series of Units is required by the 1940 Act, such
requirement as to a separate vote by that class or series of Units shall apply
in addition to a vote of all the affected classes and series voting together as
a single class. Members of a particular class or series of Units
shall not be entitled to vote on any matter that affects only one or more other
classes or series of Units. There shall be no cumulative voting in
the election or removal of Directors.
(c) Notice
of all meetings of Members, stating the time, place and purposes of the meeting,
shall be given by the Directors by regular or electronic mail to each Member of
record entitled to vote thereat at its registered address or electronic address
provided by such Member, mailed at least 10 days and not more than 90 days
before the meeting or otherwise in compliance with applicable
law. Only the business stated in the notice of the meeting shall be
considered at such meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held as
adjourned one or more times without further notice not later than 120 days after
the record date. For the purposes of determining the Members who are
entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting the Directors may, without
closing the transfer books, fix a date not more than 90 days nor less than 10
days prior to the date of such meeting of Members as a record date for the
determination of the Persons to be treated as Members of record for such
purposes.
(d) The
holders of a majority of the outstanding Units entitled to vote on any matter at
a meeting present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at such
meeting of the Members for purposes of conducting business on such
matter. The absence from any meeting, in person or by proxy, of a
quorum of Members for action upon any given matter
11
shall not
prevent action at such meeting upon any other matter or matters which may
properly come before the meeting, if there shall be present thereat, in person
or by proxy, a quorum of Members in respect of such other matters.
Subject
to any provision of applicable law, this Agreement or a resolution of the
Directors specifying a greater or a lesser vote requirement for the transaction
of any item of business at any meeting of Members, (i) the affirmative vote of
Members holding a majority of the outstanding Units present in person or
represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act
of the Members with respect to such matter, and (ii) where a separate vote of
one or more classes or series of Units is required on any matter, the
affirmative vote of Members holding a majority of the outstanding Units of such
class or series of Units present in person or represented by proxy at the
meeting shall be the act of the Members of such class or series with respect to
such matter.
(e) At
any meeting of Members, any holder of Units entitled to vote thereat may vote by
properly executed proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting
unless it shall have been placed on file with the Secretary, or with such other
officer or agent of the Company as the Secretary may direct, for verification
prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a
resolution of a majority of the Directors, proxies may be solicited in the name
of one or more Directors or one or more of the officers or employees of the
Company. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months
from the date thereof, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Only
Members of record shall be entitled to vote. Each full Unit shall be
entitled to one vote and fractional Units shall be entitled to a vote of such
fraction. When any Unit is held jointly by several persons, any one
of them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Unit,
but if more than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by
proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote
to be cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such
Unit. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Member
shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the
burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. If the
holder of any such Unit is a minor or a person of unsound mind, and subject to
guardianship or to the legal control of any other person as regards the charge
or management of such Unit, he may vote by his guardian or such other person
appointed or having such control, and such vote may be given in person or by
proxy.
(f) The
Directors shall cause to be prepared at least annually and more frequently to
the extent and in the form required by law or applicable regulation a report of
operations containing a balance sheet and statement of income of the Company
prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and an
opinion of an independent public accountant on such financial
statements.
(g) The
records of the Company shall be open to inspection by Members to the same extent
as is permitted stockholders of a corporation formed under the Delaware General
Corporation Law.
(h) Any
action which may be taken by Members by vote may be taken without a meeting if
the holders entitled to vote thereon of the proportion of Units required for
approval of such action at a meeting of Members pursuant to this Section 3.3
consent to the action in writing and the written consents are filed with the
records of the meetings of Members. Such consent shall be treated for
all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Members.
SECTION
3.4. CUSTODY
OF ASSETS OF THE COMPANY.
The
physical possession of all funds, Securities or other properties of the Company
shall at all times, be held, controlled and administered by one or more
custodians retained by the Company in accordance with the requirements of the
1940 Act and the rules thereunder.
SECTION
3.5. OTHER
ACTIVITIES OF MEMBERS AND DIRECTORS.
(a) The
Directors shall not be required to devote full time to the affairs of the
Company, but shall devote such time as may reasonably be required to perform
their obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Any
Member, Director, Adviser, and any Affiliate of any of them, may engage in or
possess an interest in other business ventures or commercial dealings of every
kind and description, independently or with others, including, but not limited
to, acquisition and disposition of Securities, provision of investment advisory
or brokerage services, serving as directors, officers, employees, Advisers or
agents of other companies, partners of any partnership, members of any
limited
12
liability
company, or trustees of any trust, or entering into any other commercial
arrangements. No Member or Director shall have any rights in or to
such activities of any other Member, Director or Adviser or any Affiliate
thereof, or any profits derived therefrom.
SECTION
3.6. DUTY
OF CARE.
(a) No
Director or officer of the Company shall be liable to the Company or to any of
its Members for any loss or damage occasioned by any act or omission in the
performance of his or her services to the Company as a Director, unless it shall
be determined by final judicial decision on the merits from which there is no
further right to appeal that such loss is due to an act or omission of such
Director or officer constituting willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such
Director’s or officer’s office.
(b) Members
not in breach of any obligation hereunder or under any agreement pursuant to
which the Member subscribed for Units shall be liable to the Company, any Member
or third parties only as provided under the Delaware Act.
SECTION
3.7. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The
Company hereby agrees to indemnify each person who at any time serves as a
Director, Adviser or officer of the Company (each such person being an “indemnitee”) against
any liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of
judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and reasonable counsel fees
reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with the defense or
disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal,
before any court or administrative or investigative body in which such
indemnitee may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with
which such indemnitee may be or may have been threatened, while acting in any
capacity set forth in this Section 3.7 by reason of the indemnitee having acted
in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which the
indemnitee shall not have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that the
indemnitee’s action was in the best interest of the Company or, in the case of
any criminal proceeding, as to which the indemnitee shall have had reasonable
cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful, provided, however, that no
indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder against any liability to any person or
any expense of such indemnitee arising by reason of (i) willful
misfeasance, (ii) bad faith, (iii) gross negligence, or (iv) reckless disregard
of the duties involved in the conduct of the indemnitee’s position (the conduct
referred to in such clauses (i) through (iv) being sometimes referred to as
“disabling
conduct”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any
action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any indemnitee as
plaintiff, indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution of such
action, suit or other proceeding by such indemnitee (1) was authorized by a
majority of the Directors or (2) was instituted by the indemnitee to enforce his
or her rights to indemnification hereunder in a case in which the indemnitee is
found to be entitled to such indemnification. The rights to
indemnification set forth in this Agreement shall continue as to a person who
has ceased to be a Director or officer of the Company and shall inure to the
benefit of his or her heirs, executors and personal and legal
representatives. No amendment or restatement of this Agreement or
repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate any of the benefits
provided to any person who at any time is or was a Director or officer of the
Company or otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder in respect of any act
or omission that occurred prior to such amendment, restatement or
repeal.
(b) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no indemnification shall be made hereunder unless there has been
a determination (i) by a final decision on the merits by a court or other body
of competent jurisdiction before whom the issue of entitlement to
indemnification hereunder was brought that such indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification hereunder or, (ii) in the absence of such a decision, by (1) a
majority vote of a quorum of those Directors who are Disinterested Non-Party
Directors that the indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or (2)
if such quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, if such majority so
directs, independent legal counsel in a written opinion concludes that the
indemnitee should be entitled to indemnification hereunder. All
determinations to make advance payments in connection with the expense of
defending any proceeding shall be authorized and made in accordance with the
immediately succeeding paragraph (c) below.
(c) The
Company shall make advance payments in connection with the expenses of defending
any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought hereunder if
the Company receives a written affirmation by the indemnitee of the indemnitee’s
good faith belief that the standards of conduct necessary for indemnification
have been
13
met and a
written undertaking to reimburse the Company unless it is subsequently
determined that the indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification and if a
majority of the Directors determine that the applicable standards of conduct
necessary for indemnification appear to have been met. In addition,
at least one of the following conditions must be met: (i) the
indemnitee shall provide adequate security for his or her undertaking, (ii) the
Company shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful
advances, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of the Disinterested Non-Party
Directors, or if a majority vote of such quorum so direct, independent legal
counsel in a written opinion, shall conclude, based on a review of readily
available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is
substantial reason to believe that the indemnitee ultimately will be found
entitled to indemnification.
(d) The
rights accruing to any indemnitee under these provisions shall not exclude any
other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under this Agreement,
the By-Laws of the Company, any statute, agreement, vote of Members or Directors
who are “disinterested persons” (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 0000 Xxx)
or any other right to which he or she may be lawfully entitled.
(e) Subject
to any limitations provided by the 1940 Act and this Agreement, the Company
shall have the power and authority to indemnify and provide for the advance
payment of expenses to employees, agents and other Persons providing services to
the Company or serving in any capacity at the request of the Company to the full
extent corporations organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law may
indemnify or provide for the advance payment of expenses for such Persons,
provided that such indemnification has been approved by a majority of the
Directors.
(f) Each
Member covenants for itself and its successors, assigns, heirs and personal
representatives that such Person shall, at any time prior to or after the
dissolution of the Company, whether before of after such Member’s withdrawal
from the Company, pay to the Company and/or the Tax Matters Partner on demand
any amount which the Company or the Tax Matters Partner, as the case may be, is
required to pay in respect of taxes (including withholding taxes and, if
applicable, interest, penalties and costs and expenses of contesting any such
taxes) imposed upon income of or distributions to such Member.
SECTION
3.8. NO
BOND REQUIRED OF DIRECTORS. No
Director shall, as such, be obligated to give any bond or other security for the
performance of any of his or her duties hereunder.
SECTION
3.9. NO
DUTY OF INVESTIGATION; NO NOTICE IN COMPANY INSTRUMENTS, ETC.
No
purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other person dealing with the Directors or
with any officer, employee or agent of the Company shall be bound to make any
inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be made by the
Directors or by said officer, employee or agent or be liable for the application
of money or property paid, loaned, or delivered to or on the order of the
Directors or of said officer, employee or agent. Every obligation,
contract, undertaking, instrument, certificate, Unit, other security of the
Company, and every other act or thing whatsoever executed in connection with the
Company shall be conclusively taken to have been executed or done by the
executors thereof only in their capacity as Directors under this Agreement or in
their capacity as officers, employees or agents of the Company. The
Directors may maintain insurance for the protection of the property of the
Company, the Members, Directors, officers, employees and agents in such amount
as the Directors shall deem adequate to cover possible tort liability, and such
other insurance as the Directors in their sole judgment shall deem advisable or
is required by the 1940 Act.
SECTION
3.10. RELIANCE
ON EXPERTS, ETC.
Each
Director and officer or employee of the Company shall, in the performance of his
or duties, be fully and completely justified and protected with regard to any
act or any failure to act resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books
of account or other records of the Company, upon an opinion of counsel, or upon
reports made to the Company by any of the Company’s officers or employees or by
any Adviser, administrator, manager, distributor, selected dealer, accountant,
appraiser or other expert or consultant selected with reasonable care by the
Directors, officers or employees of the Company, regardless of whether such
counsel or expert may also be a Director.
14
SECTION 3.11. FEES, EXPENSES AND
REIMBURSEMENT.
(a) The
Board of Directors may cause the Company to compensate each Director for his or
her services as such. In addition, the Directors shall be reimbursed
by the Company for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in
performing their duties under this Agreement.
(b) The
Company shall bear all expenses incurred in its business and operations, other
than those specifically required to be borne by the Adviser pursuant to an
Investment Management Agreement or by any other service provider to the Company
pursuant to a duly authorized Agreement with the Company. Expenses to
be borne by the Company include, but are not limited to, organizational and
initial offering expenses; ongoing offering expenses; Directors’ fees; costs of
directors and officers/errors and omissions insurance; fidelity bond expenses;
administrative expenses; legal, tax, custodial, audit, professional, escrow,
internal and external fund accounting, transfer agency and valuation expenses;
corporate licensing and printing expenses; record keeping expenses; expenses
incurred in communicating with Members, including the costs of preparing,
printing and mailing reports to Members; and extraordinary
expenses. Company expenses will also include investment-related
expenses, including, but not limited to, brokerage commissions, dealer xxxx-ups,
and other transactions costs on its cash management or any direct investment in
Securities; and interest expense on any borrowings it may make. The
Adviser shall be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for any of the
Company’s expenses that it pays on behalf of the Company other than those
required to be borne by the Adviser pursuant to the Investment Management
Agreement.
(c) Subject
to procuring any required regulatory approvals, from time to time the Company
may, alone or in conjunction with other accounts for which the Adviser, or any
Affiliate of the Adviser, acts as general partner or investment adviser,
purchase insurance in such amounts, from such insurers and on such terms as the
Board of Directors shall determine.
(d) From
time to time, pursuant to Article III, Members, including the Adviser if a
Member, may perform services for the Company, and the compensation provided to
such Members in exchange for services shall be deemed solely for income tax
purposes as guaranteed payments as that term is defined by Section 707(c) of the
Code. Any time a guaranteed payment is made to a Member, such payment
shall not be subject to withholding tax and shall instead be reported as a
guaranteed payment on the respective income tax returns.
ARTICLE
IV
TRANSFERS
AND REPURCHASES
SECTION
4.1. TRANSFER
OF UNITS.
(a) Except
with the express written consent of the Board of Directors, which may be
withheld, a Member may not Transfer any of its Units or any attributes of its
Units in whole or in part to any Person, except by last will and testament or by
operation of law. Any Transfer made in violation of this Section 4.1
shall be void and of no effect. No transferee of any Unit shall
become a Member except upon admission pursuant to this Agreement upon the
consent of the Board of Directors.
(b) Any transferee that acquires Units by
operation of law as the result of the death, divorce, bankruptcy, insolvency,
adjudication of incompetence, dissolution, merger, reorganization or termination
of a Member or otherwise shall be entitled to the allocations and distributions
allocable to Units so acquired and to Transfer such Units in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, but to the extent permitted by applicable law
(including the 0000 Xxx) shall not be entitled to the other rights of a Member
unless and until such transferee becomes a substituted Member. If a
Member transfers Units with the approval of the Board of Directors (or its
delegates), the Board of Directors shall promptly take all necessary actions so
that the transferee is admitted to the Company as a Member. Each
Member effecting a Transfer and its transferee agree to pay all expenses,
including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees, incurred by the Company in
connection with such Transfer.
15
(c) Each
Member shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Board of Directors,
the Adviser, each other Member and any Affiliate of the foregoing against all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including legal or
other expenses incurred in investigating or defending against any such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses or any judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement), joint or several, to which such persons may become
subject by reason of or arising from (i) any Transfer made by such Member in
violation of this Section 4.1 and (ii) any misrepresentation by such Member in
connection with any such Transfer.
(d) The
Directors shall not approve, and the Company shall not recognize for any
purpose, any purported Transfer of Units unless and until the Transfer
Restrictions, consisting of the provisions of this Article VI and the Unit
Transfer Policy, have been satisfied or the Board has by resolution specifically
waived any unsatisfied provision, condition or restriction. A Transfer of Units
approved by the Board that satisfies, in the sole discretion of the Board, the
provisions and conditions of the Transfer Restrictions (or if any unsatisfied
condition is waived), shall be referred to in this Agreement as a “Permitted
Transfer.”
(e) Notwithstanding
the Transfer Restrictions, a Unit Holder may pledge, xxxxx x xxxx on all or any
portion of its Units as security for the payment of debt, provided that a
subsequent foreclosure or transfer to the secured party in lieu of foreclosure
or otherwise shall be considered a Transfer and thereby subject to the terms of
this Agreement.
(f) If
a Transfer or attempted Transfer of Units is not a Permitted Transfer, the
Member and the prospective transferee engaging or attempting to engage in the
Transfer is liable to and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the
other Members from all cost, liability, and damage that the Company and any of
the other Members may incur (including incremental tax liabilities, attorneys’
fees and expenses) as a result of the Transfer or attempted Transfer and efforts
to prohibit the transfer or enforce the indemnity.
(g) Units
held by a transferee are subject to the Transfer Restrictions subsequent to a
transfer permitted under this Article.
(h) The
Unit Transfer Policy shall be developed by the Board and impose conditions and
restrictions on Transfers to: (1) preserve the tax status of the Company; (2)
comply with state or federal securities laws; (3) require appropriate
information from the transferor and transferee regarding the Transfer; and (4)
require appropriate representations from the transferor and/or transferee
regarding the Transfer. The Unit Transfer Policy also shall state the permitted
method and conventions that shall be used in allocating Net Profits, and Net
Losses and all other items attributable between the transferor and the
transferee. The Unit Transfer Policy may be amended by the Board without Member
approval.
(i) A
transferee of Units, pursuant to a Permitted Transfer, shall be admitted as a
substitute Member provided that such
transferee has complied with the following provisions:
(i) The
transferee shall, by written instrument in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Board, agree to be bound by all of the terms and provisions
of this Agreement, and assume the obligations of the transferor Member hereunder
with respect to the Transferred Units.
(ii) The
transferee shall pay for or reimburse the Company for all reasonable legal,
filing and publication costs incurred in connection with the admission of the
transferee as a Member.
(iii) Except
in the case of a Transfer involuntarily by operation of law, if required by the
Board, the transferee shall deliver to the Company evidence of his/her/its
authority to become a Member.
(iv) The
transferee and transferor shall each execute and deliver such other instruments
as the Board reasonably deems necessary or appropriate in connection with such
Transfer.
16
SECTION 4.2. REPURCHASE OF UNITS.
Except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Member or other person holding Units
shall have the right to require the Company to redeem its Units.
ARTICLE
V
CAPITAL
SECTION
5.1. CONTRIBUTIONS
TO CAPITAL.
(a) The
minimum initial Capital Contribution by a Member shall be as provided in a
resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. The amount of the
initial Capital Contribution of each Member shall be recorded on the books and
records of the Company upon acceptance as a Capital Contribution. The
Directors shall not be entitled to make voluntary Capital Contributions as
Directors of the Company, but may make voluntary Capital Contributions as
Members.
(b) Members
may make additional Capital Contributions in increments of such amount as the
Board of Directors or its delegate, in their respective discretion, may
determine from time to time, effective as of such times as the Board of
Directors, in its discretion, may permit, subject to the limitations applicable
to the admission of Members pursuant to Section 2.7 hereof, but no Member other
than a Subscription Member shall be obligated to make any additional Capital
Contributions.
(c) Except
as otherwise permitted by the Board of Directors, (i) initial and any additional
Capital Contribution by any Member shall be payable in cash or in such
Securities as the Board of Directors, in its absolute discretion, may agree to
accept on behalf of the Company, and (ii) initial and any additional Capital
Contributions in cash shall be payable in readily available funds at the date of
the proposed acceptance of the Capital Contribution. The value of
contributed Securities shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.2
hereof.
(d) (i) Subject
to the provisions of this Section 5.1 and Section 5.3, each Class B Member
agrees to make Capital Contributions to the Company up to the amount of its
Remaining Capital Commitment at any time or from time to time for the purpose of
satisfying Company Expenses or, during the Investment Period, for the purpose of
making a Primary Investment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Class B Member
agrees to make Capital Contributions to the Company subsequent to the Investment
Period for the purpose of making Primary Investments (x) in one or more existing
Portfolio Companies or (y) in respect of Primary Investments which were
committed to in writing prior to the termination of the Investment Period. Such
Capital Contributions shall be made in the amounts and in the manner set forth
below:
(A) The
Adviser shall deliver to each Class B Member a notice (a “Funding Notice”) that
Capital Contributions are to be made to the Company (a “Drawdown”) at least
10 business days prior to the date of such Drawdown (except as otherwise
provided in Section 5.3), which Funding Notice shall comply with Section
5.1(d)(iii).
(B) Subject
to Section 5.3, each Class B Member’s required Capital Contribution in respect
of a Primary Investment or for Company Expenses, as the case may be, shall be
equal to the lesser of [a] such Class B Member’s Remaining Capital Commitment
and [b] such Class B Member’s pro rata share (determined with reference to the
sum of the aggregate Capital Commitments of all Class B Members) of the
aggregate amount required for the Company to make such Primary Investment or to
pay such Company Expenses, and the Remaining Capital Commitment of each Class B
Member shall be reduced by the amount of Capital Contributions contributed by
such Class B Member for Primary Investments and for Company Expenses;
and
(C) each
Class B Member shall contribute to the Company, in cash or by wire transfer of
immediately available funds, in each case in U.S. Dollars and in the case of a
wire transfer, to the bank account of the Company as shall be designated in the
Funding Notice for such Drawdown on or prior to
17
the date
of the Drawdown as specified in such Funding Notice, the U.S. Dollar amount
specified for such Class B Member in such Funding Notice.
(ii) If
the Adviser in its discretion deems it advisable, it may proportionately reduce
the amount of or cancel any call for Capital Contributions by giving notice to
each Class B Member. No amount not contributed to the Company by reason thereof
shall reduce any Class B Member’s Remaining Capital Commitment.
(iii) All
Funding Notices shall contain statements which specify or describe:
(A) the
U.S. Dollar amount of such Class B Member’s proportionate share of such
Drawdown, which shall be calculated in the manner described in section
5.1(d)(i);
(B) the
date of such Drawdown;
(C) the
bank account of the Company to which such Drawdown is to be paid;
and
(D) the
purpose of such Drawdown.
(iv) At
the end of the Investment Period, subject to Section 5.1(d)(v), each Class B
Member will be released from any further obligation to make Capital
Contributions other than Capital Contributions to satisfy Company Expenses, to
fund any Primary Investment contemplated by the second sentence of Section
5.1(d)(i), or to fund deficit Capital Accounts pursuant to Section
5.5(e).
(v) In
the event the Board of Directors determines to dissolve the Company pursuant to
Section 6.1(2), then the Board of Directors may require all Class B Members to
contribute to the Company prior to such dissolution an amount up to each Class B
Member’s Remaining Capital Commitment, pro-rata among all Class B Members, in an
aggregate amount sufficient to result, upon final distributions to all Members,
in each class of Units outstanding, as a class, receiving aggregate
distributions similar in proportion to such class’s aggregate Capital
Contributions.
(e) All
Persons who are Members as of the Effective Date agree their capital interests
in the Company designated as Units in the Original Agreement shall be designated
as Class A Units as of the Effective Date, equal in number to the number of
Units held by such Members prior to the Effective Date.
SECTION
5.2. RETURN
OF UNUTILIZED CONTRIBUTIONS.
(a) If
the Adviser determines that a proposed Primary Investment in respect of which
Class B Members have made Capital Contributions will not be consummated, the
Adviser may cause the Company to refund to the Class B Members that made such
Capital Contributions the amounts of such Capital Contributions. If
the Adviser determines that a proposed Primary Investment in respect of which
Class B Members have made Capital Contributions will not require the full amount
of Capital Contributions made therefore, the Adviser may cause the Company to
refund to the Class B Members that made such Capital Contributions, pro rata to
the amounts of such Capital Contributions, the amount of such Capital
Contributions which exceeds the portion required to consummate such Primary
Investment.
(b) For
purposes of determining the Remaining Capital Commitment of a Class B Member,
and for purposes of determining the amount of Capital Contribution made by a
Class B Member pursuant to Section 5.2(a), the amount refunded shall be treated
as never having been contributed to the Company. If during the period
between the contribution and a refund of such amount, the Class B Members have
made Capital Contributions for another Primary Investment or for any other
purpose in ratios that were incorrect in light of the preceding sentence, then
the Adviser shall require such additional Capital Contributions and shall refund
such amounts, as are necessary to adjust the Capital Contributions of Class B
Members for such other Primary Investment to the correct ratio.
SECTION
5.3. DEFAULTING
CLASS B MEMBERS.
(a) The
failure by any Class B Member to make, when due, all or any portion of the
Capital Contribution required to be contributed by such Class B Member pursuant
to this Agreement or any other payment required to be made by it to the Company
shall constitute an “Event of Default” by
such Class B Member. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, such
Class B Member may be deemed a “Defaulting Class B
Member” and the following provisions of this
18
Section
5.3 shall apply. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may choose not to
designate any Class B Member as a Defaulting Class B Member and may agree to
waive or permit the cure of any Event of Default by a Class B Member, subject to
such conditions as the Board of Directors and such Class B Member may agree
upon.
(b) A
Defaulting Class B Member may, in the discretion of the Board of Directors, be
charged an additional amount on the unpaid balance of any overdue Capital
Contributions or other payments, including interest thereon, at the Default Rate
from the date such balance was due and payable through the date full payment for
such contribution or payment is actually made. No such additional
amount or interest shall be treated as a Capital Contribution hereunder or
reduce the Remaining Capital Commitment of such Defaulting Class B
Member.
(c) Whenever
the vote, consent or decision of a Class B Member or of the Members is required
or permitted pursuant to this Agreement, except as required by the Delaware Act,
a Defaulting Class B Member shall not be entitled to participate in such vote or
consent, or to make such decision, and such vote, consent or decision shall be
tabulated or made as if such Defaulting Class B Member were not a
Member.
(d) The
Board of Directors shall have the right in its sole discretion to determine that
a Defaulting Class B Member shall forfeit all its Class B Units (including the
Capital Account balance of the Defaulting Class A Member and all distributions
that such Defaulting Class B Member would otherwise receive), effective upon the
Event of Default, in which event (i) the Defaulting Class B Member shall cease
to be a Member with respect to such forfeited Class B Units (provided, however,
that such forfeited Defaulting Class B Member shall cease to have any liability
for the payment of the forfeited percentage of any Capital Contributions due at
such time or in the future), (ii) the forfeited Capital Accounts shall be
allocated among the non-defaulting Members and (iii) the distributions withheld
from the Defaulting Class B Member shall be allocated and distributed to the
other Members [a] in proportion to their Investment Percentages, or [b] if such
distribution is not attributable to a Primary Investment, in proportion to their
respective proportionate interests in the Company property or funds that
produced such distribution, as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors,
or [c] in the case of a distribution upon liquidation, in proportion to the
liquidating distributions to them pursuant to Section 6.2. All
amounts so allocated to the Capital Accounts of the non-defaulting Members shall
be deemed, for the purposes of calculating distributions pursuant to Section
5.16 of this Agreement, to be Capital Contributions by such non-defaulting
Members. The Capital Accounts of the Members shall be adjusted
pursuant to Section 5.5 to take account of changes to the Members’ Capital
Accounts pursuant to this paragraph.
(e) Upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Board of Directors may require all of
the non-defaulting Class B Members to increase their Capital Contributions by an
aggregate amount equal to the Capital Contribution of the Defaulting Class B
Member on which it defaulted; provided that no Class B Member will be required
to fund amounts in excess of its Remaining Capital Commitment. If the
Board of Directors elects to require such increase, the Board of Directors shall
deliver to each nondefaulting Class B Member written notice of such default as
promptly as practicable after its occurrence and, thereafter, with respect to
each Primary Investment, the Board of Directors shall as promptly as practicable
deliver to each such non-defaulting Class B Member a Funding Notice in respect
of the Capital Contribution which the Defaulting Class B Member failed to
make. Subject to the proviso set forth above in this Section 5.3(e),
such notice shall (i) call for a Capital Contribution by each such
non-defaulting Class B Member for an amount equal to the total amount of such
Drawdown multiplied by such non-defaulting Class B Member’s Remaining Commitment
Fraction and (ii) specify the date for such Capital Contribution, which date
shall be at least five business days from the date of delivery of such Funding
Notice by the Board of Directors. If any Class B Member is not
required to make a Capital Contribution in accordance with this Section 5.3(e)
because such Capital Contribution would be in excess of such Class B Member’s
Remaining Capital Commitment, then the provisions of this Section 5.3(e) shall
operate successively until either all Class B Members able to participate in
such Primary Investment are subject to the constraints set forth above or the
full amount of the Capital Contributions of the Defaulting Class B Member has
been provided for.
(f) Upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Board of Directors may require a
Defaulting Class B Member to repay to the Company any Excess Distributions, and
any such repaid Excess Distributions shall be allocated among all other Members’
Capital Accounts. The Capital Accounts of the Members shall be
adjusted pursuant to Section 5.5 to take account of changes to the Members’
Capital Accounts pursuant to this paragraph.
19
(g) Other
than as provided in this Section 5.3, the obligations of any Defaulting Class B
Member to the Company hereunder shall not be extinguished as a result of the
existence of the rights, or the occurrence of one or more of the transactions,
contemplated by this Section 5.3.
(h) The
Board of Directors shall have full power, in its discretion, without prejudice
to any other rights or remedies the Board of Directors or the Company may
have:
(i) to
require, subject to the 1940 Act, the Defaulting Class B Member to sell to the
Company or to all of the other Class B Members (other than Defaulting Class B
Members) who wish to purchase, on a pro rata basis based on their respective
Capital Commitments, the Defaulting Class B Member’s Class B Units at a purchase
price equal to the lesser of (x) the cost of such Defaulting Class B Member’s
Class B Units or (y) such price as the Board of Directors determines in its
discretion is fair and reasonable under the circumstances; or
(ii) to
require, subject to the 1940 Act, the Defaulting Class B Member to sell its
Class B Units to the Company or to a third party or third parties designated by
the Board of Directors, at a purchase price equal to the lesser of (x) the cost
of such Defaulting Class B Member’s Class B Units or (y) such price as the Board
of Directors determines in its discretion is fair and reasonable under the
circumstances, provided that prior to such sale all of the Members other than
the Defaulting Class B Member (or any other Defaulting Class B Member) shall
have been offered an opportunity in writing to purchase the Defaulting Class B
Member’s Class B Units as aforesaid, and such sale to the Company or such third
party shall be made to the extent that such Members have declined to make such
purchase or have not indicated their acceptance of such offer to the Company
within fifteen business days of the delivery of such offer.
(i) The
Board of Directors shall have the right to commence legal proceedings against
the Defaulting Class B Member to collect all amounts owed by such Defaulting
Class B Member to the Company or any other Person, pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement, together with interest thereon at the maximum rate permitted by law
up to twenty-five percent (25%) per annum from the date of default plus all
collection expenses, including attorneys’ fees.
(j) No
right, power or remedy conferred upon the Board of Directors in this Section 5.3
shall be exclusive, and each such right, power or remedy shall be cumulative and
in addition to every other right, power or remedy whether conferred in this
Section 5.3 or now or hereafter available at law or in equity or by statute or
otherwise. No course of dealing between the Board of Directors and
any Defaulting Class B Member and no delay in exercising any right, power or
remedy conferred in this Section 5.3 or now or hereafter existing at law or in
equity or by statute or otherwise shall operate as a waiver or otherwise
prejudice any such right, power or remedy.
(k) Each
Class B Member acknowledges by its execution hereof that it has been admitted to
the Company in reliance upon its agreements under this Agreement, that the Board
of Directors and the Company may have no adequate remedy at law for a breach
hereof and that damages resulting from a breach hereof may be impossible to
ascertain at the time hereof or of such breach.
SECTION
5.4. RIGHTS
OF MEMBERS TO CAPITAL.
No Member
shall be entitled to interest on any Capital Contribution, nor shall any Member
be entitled to the return of any Capital Contribution except upon the
liquidation of the Company’s assets pursuant to Section 6.2
hereof. Except as provided by Section 5.3 or applicable law, no
Member shall be liable for the return of any such capital properly paid to such
Member. No Member shall have the right to require partition of the
Company’s property or to compel any sale or appraisal of the Company’s
assets.
SECTION
5.5. CAPITAL
ACCOUNTS.
(a) The
Company will maintain a separate Capital Account for each Member.
(b) Each
Member’s Capital Account will have an initial balance equal to the amount
constituting such Member’s initial Capital Contribution.
20
(c) Each
Member’s Capital Account will be increased by the sum of (i) the amount of cash
constituting additional Capital Contributions by such Member permitted or
required pursuant to Sections 5.1 and 5.3 hereof, plus (ii) all amounts credited
to such Member’s Capital Account pursuant to Sections 5.6 through
5.8.
(d) Each
Member’s Capital Account will be reduced by the sum of (i) distributions to such
Member pursuant to Sections 5.16 and 6.2 hereof (net of any liabilities secured
by any asset distributed that such Member is deemed to assume or take for
purposes of Section 752 of the Code), plus (ii) any amounts debited against such
Capital Account pursuant to Sections 5.6 through 5.8 hereof.
(e) No
Member shall be required to pay to the Company or to any other Member or person
any deficit in such Member’s Capital Account upon dissolution or otherwise,
except (i) as may be required as a consequence of the operation of Section 5.3,
or (ii) that Class B Members may be required to make Capital Contributions up to
their Remaining Capital Commitments in order to bring their negative Capital
Account balances to zero.
(f) Before
decreasing a Member’s Capital Account (as described in this Article V) with
respect to the distribution of any property (other than cash) to such Member,
all Members’ Capital Accounts shall be adjusted as provided in Section
5.14.
(g) In
determining the amount of any liability for purposes of this Section 5.5, there
shall be taken into account Code Section 752 and any other applicable provisions
of the Code and any Regulations promulgated thereunder.
(h) Members’
Capital Accounts shall be adjusted in accordance with, and upon the occurrence
of an event described in Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) to reflect a
revaluation of the Company’s assets on the Company’s books. Such
adjustments to the Members’ Capital Accounts shall be made in accordance with
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g) for allocations of depreciation,
depletion, amortization and gain or loss with respect to such revalued
property.
(i) All
provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are
intended to comply with the Regulations under Section 704 of the Code, and shall
be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such
Regulations. The Tax Matters Partner, subject to the supervision of
the Board of Directors, shall make any appropriate modifications in the event
unanticipated events might otherwise cause this Agreement not to comply with the
Regulations promulgated under Section 704 of the Code.
SECTION
5.6. ALLOCATION
OF CERTAIN INCOME, NET PROFIT AND NET LOSS.
(a) Net
Profit and Net Loss attributable to Initial Investments shall be allocated among
the Members according to their respective Capital Contribution
Percentages.
(b) After
any allocations required by Section 5.6(a), if any, as of the last day of each
Fiscal Period, any Net Profit or Net Loss for the Fiscal Period attributable to
Primary Investments shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with
their respective Investment Percentages for such Fiscal Period.
(c) Notwithstanding
any other provisions of Article V, the Board of Directors may, in its
discretion, make such allocations of Net Profit or Net Loss among the Members as
it deems necessary or appropriate to effectuate the result intended by Section
5.1(d)(v).
SECTION
5.7. ALLOCATION
OF CERTAIN EXPENDITURES.
Except as
otherwise provided for in this Agreement and unless prohibited by the 1940 Act,
any expenditures payable by the Company, to the extent determined by the Board
of Directors to have been paid or withheld on behalf of, or by reason of
particular circumstances applicable to, one or more but fewer than all of the
Members, shall be charged only to those Members on whose behalf such payments
are made or whose particular circumstances gave rise to such
payments. Such charges shall be debited from the Capital Accounts of
such Members as of the close of the Fiscal Period during which any such items
were paid or accrued by the Company.
21
Section
5.8.
RESERVES.
Appropriate
reserves may be created, accrued and charged against Net Assets by the Board of
Directors for any liabilities, including those contingent liabilities where the
contingency has occurred and is recognizable, as of the date any such liability
becomes known to the Adviser or the Board of Directors, such reserves to be in
the amounts that the Board of Directors (or its authorized delegate), in its
sole discretion, deems necessary or appropriate. The Board of
Directors (or its authorized delegate) may increase or reduce any such reserves
from time to time by such amounts as the Board of Directors (or its authorized
delegate), in its sole discretion, deems necessary or appropriate.
SECTION
5.9. TAX
ALLOCATIONS.
(a) Except
as otherwise provided in this Section 5.9, as of the end of each Fiscal Year,
the Company’s income, gain, loss, deductions and credits, all as determined for
federal income tax purposes, shall be allocated among the Members in a manner
consistent with the economic allocations of Section 5.6 and giving effect to
Sections 704(b) and (c) of the Code and the Regulations thereunder and Section
706(c)(1) of the Code as determined by the Tax Matters Partner.
(b) The
Tax Matters Partner may, subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors,
adopt such methods and procedures as it deems appropriate to allocate items of
gain and loss to eliminate the difference between the Members’ respective
Capital Account balances and their respective tax bases in their Units, in
accordance with approaches described in Regulation Section
1.704-3(e)(3).
(c) Allocations
pursuant to this Section 5.9 are solely for U.S. federal, state and local income
tax purposes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in
computing, any Member’s Capital Account(s) or share of Net Profit (and items
thereof) or Net Loss (and items thereof). The Members are aware of
the tax consequences of the allocations made by this Section 5.9 and hereby
agree to be bound by the provisions of this Section 5.9 in reporting their
shares of items of Company income, gain, loss, deduction and
expense.
SECTION
5.10. TRANSFER
OF OR CHANGE IN INTERESTS.
The Tax
Matters Partner, subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors, is
authorized to use any convention or combination of conventions likely to be
upheld for federal income tax purposes regarding the allocation of items of
Company income, gain, loss, deduction and expense with respect to a new Member’s
Unit, a transferred Unit and a withdrawn Unit. A transferee who takes
all or part of a Member’s Unit shall succeed to the Capital Account of the
transferor Member to the extent it relates to the whole or partial Unit
transferred.
SECTION
5.11. REGULATORY
AND RELATED ALLOCATIONS.
Notwithstanding
anything expressed or implied to the contrary in this Agreement, the following
special allocations shall be made, if and to the extent required by the
Regulations pursuant to Section 704 of the Code, in the following
order: (A) “minimum gain
chargeback”; (B) “partner minimum gain
chargeback”; and (C) “qualified income
offset” (each as defined in the Regulations under Section 704 of the
Code). No allocation of Net Loss (or items thereof) shall be made to
any Member to the extent that such allocation would create or increase an
Adjusted Capital Account Deficit with respect to such Member. In
addition, all nonrecourse deductions (within the meaning of such Regulations)
for any Fiscal Period shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with any
permissible method under the applicable Regulations, and all “partner nonrecourse
deductions” (within the meaning of such Regulations) for any Fiscal
Period shall be allocated to the Member who bears the economic risk of loss with
respect to the “partner nonrecourse
debt” (within the meaning of such Regulations) to which such partner
nonrecourse deductions are attributable in accordance with the Regulations under
Section 704 of the Code.
SECTION
5.12. CURATIVE
ALLOCATIONS.
The
allocations set forth in Section 5.11 (the “Regulatory
Allocations”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of
Regulations promulgated under Section 704 of the
Code. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the
Regulatory Allocations shall be taken into account in allocating other profits,
losses and items of income,
22
gain,
loss and deduction among the Members so that, to the extent possible, the net
amount of such allocations of other profits, losses and other items and the
Regulatory Allocations to each Member shall be equal to the net amount that
would have been allocated to each such Member if the Regulatory Allocations had
not occurred.
SECTION
5.13. FEDERAL
INCOME TAX.
It is the
intent of this Company and its Members that this Company will be governed by the
applicable provisions of Subchapter K, of Chapter 1, of the Code. The
Members intend that the Company shall not be a partnership (including a limited
partnership) or joint venture, and that no Member or Members shall be a partner
or joint venturer of any other Member or Members, for any purpose other than
federal and, if applicable, state tax purposes, and this Agreement shall not be
construed to the contrary. The Members intend that the Company shall
be treated as a partnership for federal and, if applicable, state income tax
purposes, and each Member and the Company shall file all tax returns and shall
otherwise take all tax and financial reporting positions in a manner consistent
with such treatment and shall exercise commercially reasonable efforts to cause
the Company to remain classified as a partnership for federal and, if
applicable, state income tax purposes.
SECTION
5.14. DEEMED
SALE OF ASSETS.
For all
purposes of this Agreement, any property (other than cash) that is distributed
or to be distributed in-kind to one or more Members for a Fiscal Period
(including, without limitation, any non-cash asset which shall be deemed
distributed immediately prior to the dissolution and winding up of the Company
so as to permit the unrealized gain or loss inherent in such assets to be
allocated to the Members), or that is constructively distributed on termination
of the Company pursuant to Section 708(b)(1)(B) of the Code, shall be deemed to
have been sold for cash equal to its fair market value, and the unrealized gain
or loss inherent in such assets shall be treated as recognized gain or loss for
purposes of determining the Net Profits and Net Loss of the Company to be
allocated pursuant to Section 5.6 hereof for such Fiscal Period.
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SECTION
5.15.
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CERTAIN
DETERMINATIONS BY TAX MATTERS
PARTNER.
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All
matters concerning the computation of Capital Accounts, Loss Carryforward
Accounts, the allocation of Net Profit (and items thereof) and Net Loss (and
items thereof), the allocation of items of Company income, gain, loss, deduction
and expense for tax purposes and the adoption of any accounting procedures not
expressly provided for by the terms of this Agreement shall be determined by the
Tax Matters Partner subject to the supervision of the Board of
Directors. Such determination shall be final and conclusive as to all
Members.
Notwithstanding
anything expressed or implied in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event
the Tax Matters Partner shall determine, subject to the supervision of the Board
of Directors, that it is prudent to modify the manner in which the Members’
Capital Accounts, or any debits or credits thereto, and/or allocations of items
of income, gain, loss, deduction or expense are computed in order to effectuate
the intended economic sharing arrangement of the Members as reflected in
Sections 5.6(a) and (b), the Tax Matters Partner may make such
modification.
SECTION
5.16. DISTRIBUTIONS.
(a) The
Company shall distribute, from time to time and at least quarterly, to the
Members an amount equal to each such Member’s undistributed Net Profit less any
Net Losses attributable to such Member’s share of the Initial Investments
according to their respective Capital Contribution Percentages.
(b) In
addition to any distributions made by the Company pursuant to Section 5.16(a),
the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may authorize the Company to
make distributions in cash at any time to all of the Members on a pro rata basis
in accordance with the Members’ Investment
Percentages. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision
contained in this Agreement, the Company, and the Board of Directors on behalf
of the Company, shall not be required to make a distribution to a Member in
respect of its Units if such distribution would violate the Delaware Act or
other applicable law.
23
SECTION
5.17. WITHHOLDING.
(a) Notwithstanding
anything expressed or implied to the contrary in this Agreement, the Tax Matters
Partner is authorized to take any action that it determines to be necessary or
appropriate to cause the Company to comply with any foreign or United States
federal, state or local withholding requirement with respect to any allocation,
payment or distribution by the Company to any Member or other
Person. All amounts so withheld, and, in the manner determined by the
Tax Matters Partner, subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors,
amounts withheld with respect to any allocation, payment or distribution by any
Person to the Company, shall be treated as distributions to the applicable
Members under the applicable provision of this Agreement. If any such
withholding requirement with respect to any Member exceeds the amount
distributable to such Member under this Agreement, or if any such withholding
requirement was not satisfied with respect to any item previously allocated,
paid or distributed to such Member, or any successor or assignee with respect to
such Member’s Unit, the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold harmless
the Tax Matters Partner, the other Members and the Company for such excess
amount or such amount required to be withheld, as the case may be, together with
any applicable interest, additions or penalties thereon.
(b) The
Tax Matters Partner shall not be obligated to apply for or obtain a reduction of
or exemption from withholding tax on behalf of any Member that may be eligible
for such reduction or exemption. To the extent that a Member claims
to be entitled to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, a withholding tax
pursuant to an applicable income tax treaty, or otherwise, the Member shall
furnish the Tax Matters Partner with such information and forms as such Member
may be required to complete when necessary to comply with any and all laws and
regulations governing the obligations of withholding tax agents. Each
Member represents and warrants that any such information and forms furnished by
such Member shall be true and accurate and agrees to indemnify the Company and
each of the Members from any and all damages, costs and expenses resulting from
the filing of inaccurate or incomplete information or forms relating to such
withholding taxes.
ARTICLE
VI
DISSOLUTION
AND LIQUIDATION
SECTION
6.1. DISSOLUTION.
The
Company will be dissolved:
(1) upon
the affirmative vote to dissolve the Company by not less than 80% of the
Directors (including a majority of the Independent Directors);
(2) upon
the unanimous determination of the entire Board of Directors that (i) the
Company’s operational expenses over a period are projected to be disproportional
to the projected returns on the Company’s remaining assets over such period, and
(ii) the Company is able to sell its remaining assets consistent with the 1940
Act at such time at a price which, in the Board of Director’s discretion,
provides a reasonable return to Members in light of the determination made
pursuant to Section 6.1(2)(i); or
(3) as
required by the Delaware Act or other applicable law.
Dissolution
of the Company will be effective on the day on which the event giving rise to
the dissolution shall occur, but the existence of the Company as a separate
legal entity shall not terminate until the assets of the Company have been
liquidated in accordance with Section 6.2 hereof and the Certificate has been
canceled.
SECTION
6.2. WINDING
UP.
(a) Upon
the dissolution of the Company as provided in Section 6.1 hereof, the Board of
Directors (or its delegate), acting as the liquidator, shall wind up the
business and administrative affairs of the Company, except that if the Board of
Directors is unable to perform this function (or to designate an appropriate
delegate to do so), a liquidator elected by Members holding a majority of the
outstanding Units eligible to vote shall promptly wind up the business
and
24
administrative
affairs of the Company. Net Profit and Net Loss during the period of
winding up shall be allocated pursuant to Section 5.6 hereof. The
proceeds from liquidation of the Company’s assets shall be distributed in the
following manner:
(1) first, the debts of the
Company, other than debts, liabilities or obligations to Members, and the
expenses of liquidation (including legal and accounting expenses incurred in
connection therewith and amounts, if any, owed to Affiliates of the Company), up
to and including the date that distribution of the Company’s assets to the
Members has been completed, shall first be satisfied (whether by payment or
reasonable provision for payment thereof) on a pro rata basis;
(2) second, such debts,
liabilities or obligations as are owing to the Members shall next be paid in
their order of seniority and on a pro rata basis;
(3) third, the Initial
Investments if distributed in kind pursuant to Section 6.2(b), or any proceeds
received by the Company from the liquidation of the Initial Investments, net of
any costs directly incurred by the Company to purchase, hold or sell such
Initial Investments, shall be distributed to each Member or their legal
representatives according to each Member’s respective Capital Contribution
Percentage; and
(4) fourth, to the Members or
their legal representatives in accordance with their respective Investment
Percentages.
(b) Anything
in this Section 6.2 to the contrary notwithstanding, but subject to the Delaware
Act, upon dissolution of the Company, the Board of Directors or other liquidator
may distribute ratably in kind any assets of the Company; provided, however,
that if any in-kind distribution is to be made (i) the assets distributed in
kind shall be valued pursuant to Section 7.2 hereof as of the actual date of
their distribution and charged as so valued and distributed against amounts to
be paid under Section 6.2(a) above, and (ii) any profit or loss attributable to
property distributed in kind shall be included in the Net Profit or Net Loss for
the Fiscal Period ending on the date of such distribution.
ARTICLE
VII
ACCOUNTING,
VALUATIONS AND BOOKS AND RECORDS
SECTION
7.1. ACCOUNTING
AND REPORTS.
(a) The
Company will maintain its books and records on the accrual method of accounting
based upon generally accepted accounting principles except as otherwise
described in this Agreement; provided that the Board of Directors may adopt any
accounting method determined by the Board of Directors to be in the best
interests of the Company, in its sole discretion. The Company’s
accounts shall be maintained in U.S. currency. The Company shall
cause annual financial statements prepared in accordance with this Section
7.1(a), subject always to any requirements of the 1934 Act and 1940 Act, to be
accompanied by a report of independent public accountants based upon an audit
performed in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
(b) After
the end of each tax year, the Company shall furnish to each Member such
information regarding the operation of the Company and such Member’s Units as is
determined by the Board of Directors to be reasonably necessary for Members to
complete federal, state and local income tax or information returns and any
other tax information required by federal, state or local law.
(c) Except
as otherwise required by the 1940 Act, or as may otherwise be permitted by rule,
regulation or order, the Company shall furnish to each Member such reports
containing the information required by the 1940 Act and/or the 1934
Act. The Company may furnish to each Member such other periodic
reports as it deems necessary or appropriate in its discretion.
SECTION
7.2. VALUATION
OF NET ASSETS.
25
(a) Except
as may be required by the 1940 Act, the Board of Directors shall value or have
valued any Securities or other assets and liabilities of the Company as of the
close of business on the last Business Day of each quarter prior to such date as
determined from time to time by the Adviser in accordance with such valuation
procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Board of Directors
and that conform to the requirements of the 1940 Act. In determining
the value of the assets of the Company, no value shall be placed on the goodwill
or name of the Company, or the office records, files, statistical data or any
similar intangible assets of the Company not normally reflected in the Company’s
accounting records.
(b) The
Company will value its Securities, in accordance with policies and procedures
adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors.
(c) The
value of Securities and other assets of the Company and the net asset value of
the Company as a whole determined pursuant to this Section 7.2 shall be
conclusive and binding on all of the Members and all parties claiming through or
under them.
ARTICLE
VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
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SECTION
8.1.
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AMENDMENT
OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
AGREEMENT.
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(a) Except
as otherwise provided in this Section 8.1, this Agreement may be amended, in
whole or in part, with: (i) the approval of a majority of the Board
of Directors (including the approval of a majority of the Independent Directors,
if required by the 0000 Xxx) and (ii) if required by the 1940 Act, the approval
of the Members by such vote as is required by the 0000 Xxx.
(b) Any
amendment that would
(1) increase
the obligation of a Member to make any contribution to the capital of the
Company; or
(2) reduce
the Capital Account of a Member;
may be
made only if (i) the written consent of each Member adversely affected thereby
is obtained prior to the effectiveness thereof or (ii) such amendment does not
become effective until (A) each affected Member has received written notice of
such amendment and (B) any such Member objecting to such amendment has been
afforded a reasonable opportunity (pursuant to such procedures as may be
prescribed by the Board of Directors) to tender all of its Units for repurchase
by the Company.
(c) No
amendment, supplement or other modification may be made to Section 2.6(a), this
Section 8.1(c), Section 8.9 and Section 8.10 of this Agreement and no amendment
may be made to this Agreement which would change any rights with respect to any
Units by reducing the amount payable thereon upon liquidation of the Company or
by diminishing or eliminating any voting rights pertaining thereto (except that
this provision shall not limit the ability of the Directors to authorize, and to
cause the Company to issue, Units and other securities pursuant to Section 6.2),
except after a majority of the Directors have approved a resolution therefore
which thereafter is approved by the affirmative vote of Members holding not less
than seventy-five percent (75%) of the outstanding Units of each affected class
or series outstanding, voting as separate classes or series, unless such
amendment has been approved by eighty percent (80%) of the Directors, in which
case approval by a Majority Vote of each affected class or series outstanding
shall be required. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall permit
the amendment of this Agreement to impair the exemption from personal liability
of the Members, Directors, officers, employees and agents of the Company or to
permit assessments upon Members. Any amendment that would affect any
Director’s right to indemnification under this Agreement may only be effected by
the written consent of such Director.
26
(1) restate
this Agreement together with any amendments hereto that have been duly adopted
in accordance herewith to incorporate such amendments in a single, integrated
document; and
(2) amend
this Agreement (other than with respect to the matters set forth in Section
8.1(b) hereof) to effect compliance with any applicable law or regulation,
including to reflect any relaxation of the requirements of applicable
law.
(3) amend
this Agreement to make such changes as may be necessary or advisable for federal
tax purposes, including, without limitation, to ensure that (i) the Company will
not be treated as an association or as a publicly traded partnership taxable as
a corporation as defined in section 7704(b) of the Code (or any successor
provision) and (ii) the allocation provisions hereunder are respected for
Federal income tax purposes, provided that such changes do not materially reduce
any Member’s allocations or distributions hereunder.
(e) After
the Closing, the Board of Directors shall cause written notice to be given of
any amendment to this Agreement (other than any amendment of the type
contemplated by clause (1) of Section 8.1(d) hereof) to each Member, which
notice shall set forth (i) the text of the amendment or (ii) a summary thereof
and a statement that the text thereof will be furnished to any Member upon
request.
SECTION
8.2. SPECIAL
POWER OF ATTORNEY.
(a) Each
Member hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Adviser, with full
power of substitution, the true and lawful representative and attorney-in-fact
of, and in the name, place and stead of, such Member, with the power from time
to time to make, execute, sign, acknowledge, swear to, verify, deliver, record,
file and/or publish:
(1) any
amendment to this Agreement that complies with the provisions of this Agreement
(including the provisions of Section 8.1 hereof);
(2) any
amendment to the Certificate required because this Agreement is amended,
including, without limitation, an amendment to effectuate any change in the
membership of the Company; and
(3) all
such other instruments, documents and certificates that, in the opinion of legal
counsel to the Company, may from time to time be required by the laws of the
United States of America, the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction in
which the Company shall determine to do business, or any political subdivision
or agency thereof, or that such legal counsel may deem necessary or appropriate
to effectuate, implement and continue the valid existence and business of the
Company as a limited liability company under the Delaware Act.
(b) Each
Member is aware that the terms of this Agreement permit certain amendments to
this Agreement to be effected and certain other actions to be taken or omitted
by or with respect to the Company without such Member’s consent. If
an amendment to the Certificate or this Agreement or any action by or with
respect to the Company is taken in the manner contemplated by this Agreement,
each Member agrees that, notwithstanding any objection that such Member may
assert with respect to such action, the attorney-in-fact appointed hereby is
authorized and empowered, with full power of substitution, to exercise the
authority granted above in any manner that may be necessary or appropriate to
permit such amendment to be made or action lawfully taken or
omitted. Each Member is fully aware that each Member will rely on the
effectiveness of this special power of attorney with a view to the orderly
administration of the affairs of the Company.
(c) This
power of attorney is a special power of attorney and is coupled with an interest
in favor of the Adviser and as such:
27
(2) shall
survive the delivery of a Transfer by a Member of all or portion of such
Member’s Units, except that when the transferee thereof has been approved by the
Board of Directors for admission to the Company as a substituted Member, this
power of attorney given by the transferor shall survive the delivery of such
assignment for the sole purpose of enabling the Adviser to execute, acknowledge
and file any instrument necessary to effect such substitution.
SECTION
8.3. NOTICES.
Any and
all notices to which any Member hereunder may be entitled and any and all
communications shall be deemed duly served or given if (a) mailed by regular
mail or commercial courier, postage prepaid, addressed to any Member of record
at his last known address as recorded on the applicable register of the Company;
or (b) transmitted electronically through a method authorized by the Board of
Directors and by the Member who is to receive the electronic
communication. Notices that may be or are required to be provided
under this Agreement to the Board of Directors or the Adviser shall be made by
hand delivery, registered or certified mail return receipt requested, commercial
courier service, or telecopier (receipt confirmed), and shall be addressed to
the respective parties hereto at their addresses as set forth in the books and
records of the Company. Notices shall be deemed to have been provided
when delivered by hand, on the date indicated as the date of receipt on a return
receipt or when received if sent by regular mail, commercial courier service, or
telecopier. A document that is not a notice and that is required to
be provided under this Agreement by any party to another party may be delivered
by any reasonable means.
SECTION
8.4. AGREEMENT
BINDING UPON SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and each Member of the Company and their respective heirs, successors, assigns,
executors, trustees or other legal representatives, but the rights and
obligations of the parties hereunder may not be Transferred or delegated except
as provided in this Agreement and any attempted Transfer or delegation thereof
that is not made pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be
void.
SECTION
8.5. APPLICABILITY
OF 1940 ACT.
The
parties hereto acknowledge that this Agreement is not intended to, and does not,
set forth the substantive provisions contained in the 1940 Act that affect
numerous aspects of the conduct of the Company’s business and of the rights,
privileges and obligations of the Members. Each provision of this
Agreement shall be subject to and interpreted in a manner consistent with the
applicable provisions of the 1940 Act.
SECTION
8.6. CHOICE
OF LAW; ARBITRATION.
(a) Notwithstanding
the place where this Agreement may be executed by any of the parties thereto,
the parties expressly agree that all the terms and provisions hereof shall be
construed in accordance with the laws of Delaware without regard to principles
of conflict of laws thereof that would mandate the application of the laws of
another jurisdiction and, without limitation thereof, that the Delaware Act as
now adopted or as may be hereafter amended shall govern the limited liability
company aspects of the Agreement.
(b) TO
THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, UNLESS OTHERWISE AGREED IN WRITING, EACH
MEMBER AGREES TO SUBMIT ALL CONTROVERSIES ARISING BETWEEN MEMBERS OR ONE OR MORE
MEMBERS AND THE COMPANY TO ARBITRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS SET
FORTH BELOW AND UNDERSTANDS THAT:
(1) ARBITRATION
IS FINAL AND BINDING ON THE PARTIES;
28
(2) THE
PARTIES ARE WAIVING THEIR RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES IN COURT, INCLUDING THE RIGHT
TO A JURY TRIAL;
(3) PRE-ARBITRATION
DISCOVERY IS GENERALLY MORE LIMITED AND DIFFERENT FROM COURT
PROCEEDINGS;
(4) THE
ARBITRATOR’S AWARD IS NOT REQUIRED TO INCLUDE FACTUAL FINDINGS OR LEGAL
REASONING AND A PARTY’S RIGHT TO APPEAL OR TO SEEK MODIFICATION OF RULINGS BY
ARBITRATORS IS STRICTLY LIMITED; AND
(5) THE
PANEL OF ARBITRATORS WILL TYPICALLY INCLUDE ARBITRATORS WHO WERE OR ARE
AFFILIATED WITH THE SECURITIES INDUSTRY.
(c) ALL
DISPUTES, CONTROVERSIES OR CLAIMS THAT MAY ARISE AMONG MEMBERS AND/OR ONE OR
MORE MEMBERS AND THE COMPANY CONCERNING OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
BREACH, TERMINATION OR VALIDITY THEREOF, OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF
DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES HERETO
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY DISPUTES REGARDING THE VALIDITY OR SCOPE OF
THIS AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE (EACH A “DISPUTE”) SHALL BE
FINALLY DETERMINED BY ARBITRATION IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
RULES THEN OBTAINING OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS CODE OF
ARBITRATION PROCEDURE, (THE “NASD CODE”), EXCEPT
AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN. IF THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY REGULATORY
AUTHORITY DOES NOT ACCEPT THE DISPUTE FOR ARBITRATION UNDER THE NASD CODE, THE
ARBITRATION SHALL BE HELD, AND DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES THEN
OBTAINING OF, THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CONFLICT PREVENTION AND RESOLUTION
RULES FOR NON-ADMINISTERED ARBITRATION IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. THE
FEDERAL ARBITRATION ACT (9 U.S.C. SECTION 1 ET SEQ.) SHALL APPLY TO
ANY ARBITRATION HEREUNDER, AND JUDGMENT ON ANY AWARD OF ANY SUCH ARBITRATION MAY
BE ENTERED AND ENFORCED IN ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION. ANY NOTICE
OF SUCH ARBITRATION OR THE CONFIRMATION OF ANY AWARD IN ANY ARBITRATION SHALL BE
SUFFICIENT IF GIVEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
AGREEMENT. EACH MEMBER AGREES THAT THE DETERMINATION OF THE
ARBITRATORS SHALL BE FINAL, BINDING AND CONCLUSIVE UPON THEM.
(d) THE
COMPANY AND EACH MEMBER HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE
ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY
DISPUTE. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND EACH MEMBER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES
THAT IT HAS RECEIVED FULL AND SUFFICIENT CONSIDERATION FOR THIS PROVISION AND
THAT THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR SUCH PARTY’S ENTERING INTO THIS
AGREEMENT.
SECTION
8.7. NOT
FOR BENEFIT OF CREDITORS.
The
provisions of this Agreement are intended only for the regulation of relations
among past, present and future Members, Directors and the
Company. This Agreement is not intended for the benefit of non-Member
creditors and no rights are granted to non-Member creditors under this
Agreement.
SECTION
8.8. CONSENTS.
Any and
all consents, agreements or approvals provided for or permitted by this
Agreement shall be in writing and a signed copy thereof shall be filed and kept
with the books of the Company.
SECTION
8.9. MERGER
AND CONSOLIDATION.
(a) The
Company may merge or consolidate with or into one or more limited liability
companies formed under the Delaware Act or other business entities pursuant to
an agreement of merger or consolidation that has been approved by two-thirds of
the Directors and in the manner contemplated by Section 18-209(b) of the
Delaware Act.
29
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, the Company may effect such merger or
consolidation without a vote of the Members, unless otherwise required by the
0000 Xxx.
(b) If
approved by the Board of Directors (and subject always to any requirements or
limitations imposed by the 1940 Act), notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained elsewhere in this Agreement, an agreement of merger or consolidation
approved in accordance with Section 18-209(b) of the Delaware Act may, to the
extent permitted by Section 18-209(f) of the Delaware Act, (i) effect any
amendment to this Agreement, (ii) effect the adoption of a new limited liability
company agreement for the Company if it is the surviving or resulting limited
liability company in the merger or consolidation, or (iii) provide that the
limited liability company agreement of any other constituent limited liability
company to the merger or consolidation (including a limited liability company
formed for the purpose of consummating the merger or consolidation) shall be the
limited liability company agreement of the surviving or resulting limited
liability company.
SECTION
8.10. CERTAIN
TRANSACTIONS.
(a) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement and subject to the exceptions provided in
paragraph (d) of this Section, the types of transactions described in paragraph
(c) of this Section shall require the affirmative vote or consent of a majority
of the Directors then in office followed by the affirmative vote of the Members
holding not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the outstanding Units of
each affected class or series outstanding, voting as separate classes or series,
when a Principal Member (as defined in paragraph (b) of this Section) is a party
to the transaction. Such affirmative vote or consent shall be in
addition to the vote or consent of the holders of Units otherwise required by
law or by the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, whether now or
hereafter authorized, or any agreement between the Company and any national
securities exchange.
(b) The
term “Principal
Member” shall mean any corporation, Person or other entity which is the
beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of five percent (5%) or more of the
outstanding Units of all outstanding classes or series and shall include any
affiliate or associate, as such terms are defined in clause (ii) below, of a
Principal Member. For the purposes of this Section, in addition to
the Units which a corporation, Person or other entity beneficially owns
directly, (a) any corporation, Person or other entity shall be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of any Units (i) which it has the right to acquire pursuant to
any agreement or upon exercise of conversion rights or warrants, or otherwise
(but excluding unit options granted by the Company) or (ii) which are
beneficially owned, directly or indirectly (including Units deemed owned through
application of clause (i) above), by any other corporation, Person or entity
with which its “affiliate” or “associate” (as defined below) has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or
disposing of Units, or which is its “affiliate” or “associate” as those
terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
1934 Act, and (b) the outstanding Units shall include Units deemed owned through
application of clauses (i) and (ii) above but shall not include any other Units
which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, or upon exercise of conversion
rights or warrants, or otherwise.
(c) This
Section shall apply to the following transactions:
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(1)
|
The
merger or consolidation of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company
with or into any Principal Member;
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(2)
|
The
issuance of any securities of the Company to any Principal Member for cash
(other than pursuant to any automatic dividend reinvestment
plan);
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(3)
|
The
sale, lease or exchange of all or any substantial part of the assets of
the Company to any Principal Member (except assets having an aggregate
fair market value of less than two percent (2%) of the total assets of the
Company, aggregating for the purpose of such computation all assets sold,
leased or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a
twelve-month period.); and
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(4)
|
The
sale, lease or exchange to the Company or any subsidiary thereof, in
exchange for securities of the Company, of any assets of any Principal
Member (except assets having an aggregate
fair
|
30
|
market
value of less than two percent (2%) of the total assets of the Company,
aggregating for the purposes of such computation all assets sold, leased
or exchanged in any series of similar transactions within a twelve-month
period).
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(d) The
provisions of this Section shall not be applicable to (i) any of the
transactions described in paragraph (c) of this Section if eighty percent (80%)
of the Directors shall by resolution have approved a memorandum of understanding
with such Principal Member with respect to and substantially consistent with
such transaction, in which case approval by a Majority Vote shall be the only
vote of Members required by this Section, or (ii) any such transaction with any
entity of which a majority of the outstanding securities of all classes and
series of a stock normally entitled to vote in elections of directors is owned
of record or beneficially by the Company and its subsidiaries.
(e) The
Board of Directors shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes
of this Section on the basis of information known to the Company whether (i) a
corporation, person or entity beneficially owns five percent (5%) or more of the
outstanding Units of any class or series, (ii) a corporation, person or entity
is an “affiliate” or “associate” (as defined above) of another, (iii) the assets
being acquired or leased to or by the Company or any subsidiary thereof
constitute a substantial part of the assets of the Company and have an aggregate
fair market value of less than two percent (2%) of the total assets of the
Company, and (iv) the memorandum of understanding referred to in paragraph (d)
hereof is substantially consistent with the transaction covered
thereby. Any such determination shall be conclusive and binding for
all purposes of this Section.
SECTION
8.11. PRONOUNS;
USAGE; GENERIC TERMS.
All
pronouns shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular
or plural, as the identity of the person or persons, firm or corporation may
require in the context thereof. The words “herein,” “hereby,” “hereof
“ and “hereto,” and words of similar import, refer to this Agreement in its
entirety and not to any particular paragraph, clause or other subdivision,
unless otherwise specified. The word “including” shall mean
“including without limitation” unless otherwise specified. Section
references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.
SECTION
8.12. CONFIDENTIALITY.
(a) A
Member may obtain from the Company such information regarding the affairs of the
Company as is just and reasonable under the Delaware Act, subject to reasonable
standards (including standards governing what information and documents are to
be furnished, at what time and location and at whose expense) established by the
Board of Directors.
(b) Each
Member covenants that, except as required by applicable law or any regulatory
body, it will not divulge, furnish or make accessible to any other person the
name and/or address (whether business, residence or mailing) of any Member
without the prior written consent of the Board of Directors, which consent may
be withheld in its sole discretion.
(c) Each
of the Members wishes to maintain maximum confidentiality with respect to their
investment in the Company. Accordingly, pursuant to Section 18-
305(g) of the Delaware Act, the Members desire to restrict the rights of Members
to obtain information as otherwise provided in Section 18-305(a) of the Delaware
Act. The Members, therefore, agree that each Member shall only be
entitled to the information and reports provided pursuant to Article VII hereof
and shall not be entitled to any other information concerning the Company or its
business or affairs or the Members or their Units in the Company whether
pursuant to Section 18-305(a) of the Delaware Act or
otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each
Member agrees that it shall have no access to, and shall not be entitled to
know, the name and/or address (whether business, residence or mailing) of any
other Member. If, notwithstanding the foregoing restriction, any
Member shall obtain any information concerning the Company or its business or
affairs or any other Member or such Member’s Units in the Company or any other
information other than that provided pursuant to Article VII hereof, such Member
agrees that it will not divulge, furnish or make accessible to any other person
any such information (all such information being referred to herein as “Confidential
Information”) without the prior written consent of the Board of Directors
which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Board of
Directors.
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(d) Each
Member recognizes that in the event that this Section 8.12 is breached by any
Member or any of its principals, partners, members, directors, officers,
employees or agents or any of its affiliates, including any of such affiliates’
principals, partners, members, directors, officers, employees or agents,
irreparable injury may result to the non-breaching Members and the
Company. Accordingly, in addition to any and all other remedies at
law or in equity to which the non-breaching Members and the Company may be
entitled, such Members and the Company shall also have the right to obtain
equitable relief, including, without limitation, injunctive relief, to prevent
any disclosure of Confidential Information, plus reasonable attorneys’ fees and
other litigation expenses incurred in connection therewith. In the
event that any non-breaching Member or the Company determines that any of the
other Members or any of its principals, partners, members, directors, officers,
employees or agents or any of its affiliates, including any of such affiliates’
principals, partners, members, directors, officers, employees or agents should
be enjoined from or required to take any action to prevent the disclosure of
Confidential Information, each of the other non-breaching Members agrees to
pursue in a court of appropriate jurisdiction such injunctive
relief. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any
Member or authorized representative may disclose to any and all persons, without
limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Company and
all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are
provided to such Member relating to such tax treatment or tax structure;
provided that the foregoing does not constitute an authorization to disclose
information identifying the Company, the Members or any parties to transactions
engaged in by the Company (except to the extent relating to such tax structure
or tax treatment) any non-public commercial or financial
information.
SECTION
8.13. CERTIFICATION
OF NON-FOREIGN STATUS.
Each
Member or transferee of Units from a Member shall certify, upon admission to the
Company and at such other times thereafter as the Tax Matters Partner may
request, whether such Member is a “United States Person” within the meaning of
section 7701(a)(30) of the Code on forms to be provided by the Company, and
shall notify the Company within 30 days of any change in such Member’s
status. Any Member who shall fail to provide such certification when
requested to do so by the Tax Matters Partner may be treated as a non-United
States Person for purposes of U.S. federal tax withholding.
SECTION
8.14. SEVERABILITY.
If any
provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction
not to be enforceable in the manner set forth in this Agreement, each Member
agrees that it is the intention of the Members that such provision should be
enforceable to the maximum extent possible under applicable law. If
any provisions of this Agreement are held to be invalid or unenforceable, such
invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability
of any other provision of this Agreement (or portion thereof).
SECTION
8.15. FILING
OF RETURNS.
The Tax
Matters Partner or its designated agent, subject to the supervision of the Board
of Directors, shall prepare and file, or cause the Adviser or accountants of the
Company to prepare and file, on behalf of the Company, a federal information tax
return in compliance with section 6031 of the Code and any required state and
local income tax and information returns for each tax year of the
Company.
SECTION
8.16. TAX
DECISIONS AND TAX MATTERS PARTNER.
(a) All
decisions for the Company relating to tax matters, including, without
limitation, whether to make any tax elections (including the election under
Section 754 of the Code), the positions to be made on the Company’s tax and
information returns and the settlement or further contest or litigation of any
audit matters raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing
authority, shall be made by the Tax Matters Partner, subject to the supervision
of the Board of Directors.
(b) The
Adviser shall be designated on the Company’s annual federal income tax
information return, and have full powers and responsibilities, as the Tax
Matters Partner of the Company for purposes of section 6231(a)(7) of the
Code. The Tax Matters Partner for the Company for purposes of Section
6231(a)(7) of the Code shall be subject to the
32
supervision
of the Board of Directors. The Tax Matters Partner for the Company
under section 6231(a)(7) of the Code shall be indemnified and held harmless by
the Company from any and all liabilities and obligations that arise from or by
reason of such designation.
(c) Each
person (for purposes of this Section 8.16, called a “Pass-Thru Member”)
that holds or controls Units on behalf of, or for the benefit of, another person
or persons, or which Pass-Thru Member is beneficially owned (directly or
indirectly) by another person or persons, shall, within 10 days following
receipt from the Tax Matters Partner of any notice, demand, request for
information or similar document, convey such notice or other document in writing
to all holders of beneficial interests in the Company holding such interests
through such Pass-Thru Member. In the event the Company shall be the
subject of an income tax audit by any federal, state or local authority, to the
extent the Company is treated as an entity for purposes of such audit, including
administrative settlement and judicial review, the Tax Matters Partner shall be
authorized to act for, and its decision shall be final and binding upon, the
Company and each Member thereof. All expenses incurred in connection
with any such audit, investigation, settlement or review shall be borne by the
Company. Each Member who elects to participate in such proceedings
shall be responsible for any expenses incurred by such Member in connection with
such participation. The costs of any resulting audits or adjustments
of a Member’s tax return shall be borne solely by the affected
Member.
SECTION
8.17. COUNTERPARTS.
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as
if all parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall
be construed together and shall constitute one instrument.
EACH OF
THE UNDERSIGNED ACKNOWLEDGES HAVING READ THIS AGREEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE
SIGNING, INCLUDING THE PRE-DISPUTE ARBITRATION CLAUSE SET FORTH IN SECTION 8.6
AND THE CONFIDENTIALITY CLAUSE SET FORTH IN SECTION 8.12.
[Signature
page to follow]
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Limited Liability Company
Agreement of the Company as of the day and year identified in the preamble
hereto.
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
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/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
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Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
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/s/ Xxx Xxxxxxx
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/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Xxx
Xxxxxxx
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Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
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/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
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/s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
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Xxx
X. Xxxxxxx
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||
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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/s/ Xxxx Xxxxx
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Xxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
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Xxxx
Xxxxx
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/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
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/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
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Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
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W.
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
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/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
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BEING
ALL OF THE DIRECTORS
IOWA CORN
OPPORTUNITIES, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxx X.
Xxxxx
Name:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title:
Chief Operating Officer
BEING
THE SOLE MEMBER
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