EXHIBIT 2.6
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT
OF
PRESIDENT XXXXXXXXXX HOTEL, L.L.C.
THE UNITS REPRESENTED BY THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
OPERATING AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION AS PROVIDED IN THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR AS
PROVIDED IN ANY STATE SECURITIES LAW. WITHOUT REGISTRATION, THE UNITS MAY NOT
BE TRANSFERRED, EXCEPT UPON DELIVERY TO THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OF
ADVANCE NOTICE OF THE INTENDED TRANSFER AND, IF REQUESTED BY THE AUTHORIZED
PERSON, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE AUTHORIZED PERSON THAT
NEITHER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, NOR STATE SECURITIES LAWS
REQUIRE REGISTRATION OF THE TRANSFER AND THAT THE TRANSFER WILL NOT VIOLATE
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
IN ADDITION, THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING
AGREEMENT CONTAINS CERTAIN OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF SUCH UNITS.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1 -- DEFINITIONS...............................................- 1 -
ARTICLE 2 -- ORGANIZATION..............................................- 6 -
2.1 Organization of the Company.............................- 6 -
2.2 Name....................................................- 6 -
2.3 Principal Office........................................- 6 -
2.4 Term....................................................- 6 -
2.5 Title to Company Assets.................................- 7 -
2.6 Registered Agent and Registered Office..................- 7 -
ARTICLE 3 -- CONTRIBUTIONS.............................................- 7 -
3.1 Member Contributions....................................- 7 -
3.2 Initial Contribution....................................- 7 -
3.3 Additional Contributions................................- 7 -
3.4 Maintenance of Capital Accounts.........................- 7 -
3.5 No Priority.............................................- 7 -
3.6 No Third Party Beneficiaries............................- 7 -
3.7 Classes of Units........................................- 7 -
3.8 Redemption of Class B Unit..............................- 8 -
ARTICLE 4 -- MANAGEMENT................................................- 8 -
4.1 Management Vested in Managers and Not in Members........- 8 -
4.2 Management of Company Business..........................- 8 -
4.3 Compensation............................................- 9 -
4.4 Right to Rely on Manager................................- 9 -
4.5 No Liability...........................................- 10 -
4.6 Indemnification........................................- 10 -
ARTICLE 5 -- RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS.............................- 10 -
5.1 Representations and Warranties of Members..............- 10 -
5.2 Approval Rights........................................- 11 -
5.4 Transfers..............................................- 12 -
5.5 Rights of an Assignee..................................- 13 -
5.6 Voluntary Withdrawal...................................- 13 -
5.7 Distributions to Members Who Have Withdrawn............- 13 -
ARTICLE 6 -- MEETINGS; APPROVALS WITHOUT A MEETING....................- 13 -
ARTICLE 7 -- SINGLE PURPOSE ENTITY PROVISIONS.........................- 14 -
ARTICLE 8 -- OTHER BUSINESS VENTURES..................................- 17 -
ARTICLE 9 -- RECORDS, ACCOUNTING, TAX MATTERS.........................- 17 -
9.1 Books and Records......................................- 17 -
9.2 Data Storage...........................................- 17 -
9.3 Tax Reports............................................- 17 -
9.4 Tax Matters Partner....................................- 18 -
9.5 Election of Basis Adjustment...........................- 18 -
9.6 Organizational Expenses................................- 18 -
9.7 Fiscal and Taxable Year................................- 18 -
9.8 Accounts...............................................- 18 -
9.9 Tax Status.............................................- 18 -
ARTICLE 10 -- DISTRIBUTION AND ALLOCATION RULES.......................- 19 -
10.1 Cash Available for Distribution; Cash from
Sale or Refinancing....................................- 19 -
10.2 Allocations of Income, Gain, and Profit................- 19 -
10.3 Allocations of Loss and Deduction......................- 19 -
10.4 Tax Regulation Allocations.............................- 19 -
10.5 Curative Allocations...................................- 21 -
10.6 Change of Units........................................- 21 -
10.7 Contributed Property Adjustments and Revalued
Asset Adjustments......................................- 21 -
ARTICLE 11 -- DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND WINDING UP.................- 21 -
11.1 Dissolution............................................- 21 -
11.2 Liquidation and Termination............................- 22 -
ARTICLE 12 -- GENERAL.................................................- 23 -
12.1 Amendment..............................................- 23 -
12.2 Arbitration............................................- 23 -
12.3 Benefit................................................- 24 -
12.4 Computation of Time....................................- 24 -
12.5 Confidentiality........................................- 24 -
12.6 Construction...........................................- 24 -
12.7 Governing Law..........................................- 24 -
12.8 Entire Agreement.......................................- 24 -
12.9 Equitable Relief.......................................- 24 -
12.10 Execution..............................................- 24 -
12.11 Exhibits...............................................- 24 -
12.12 Expenses of Prevailing Party...........................- 25 -
12.13 Further Assurances.....................................- 25 -
12.14 Invalidity of Provisions...............................- 25 -
12.15 No Waiver..............................................- 25 -
12.16 Notices................................................- 25 -
12.17 Waiver of the Right to Jury Trial......................- 25 -
EXHIBIT A -- CONTRIBUTIONS............................................- 27 -
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT
The Members enter into this Agreement as of the Effective Date. The
Members mutually agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1 -- DEFINITIONS
The definitions below govern this Agreement unless the context
unambiguously requires otherwise.
"Act" means the Mississippi Limited Liability Company Act, as amended
from time to time, and any successor statute, as applicable to the Company.
"Adjusted Capital Account Deficit" means the negative balance in a
Member's Capital Account at the end of a particular taxable year, after
increasing the Capital Account with the amount, if any, of such negative
balance the Member is obligated to restore under this Agreement, and the
amount of such negative balance the Member is deemed to be obligated to
restore under Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), and
reducing the Capital Account with the items described in Regulations Sections
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5), and (6).
"Affiliate" means, with respect to a Person, (i) any Person directly or
indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such
Person, (ii) any Person owning or controlling directly or indirectly ten
percent (10%) or more of the outstanding voting securities of such Person,
(iii) any officer, director or partner of such Person, or (iv) any officer,
director or partner of a Person described in the foregoing clauses (i) or
(ii).
"Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company
Operating Agreement, as amended from time to time.
"Approval Rights" means the rights of a Member to vote, approve, or
consent to the matters described in Section 5.2.
"Assignee" means a transferee of a Unit who has not become a Member.
"Bankruptcy" means the entry of an order for relief by the court in a
proceeding under the United States Bankruptcy Code, Title 11, U.S.C., as
amended, or its equivalent under a state insolvency act or a similar law of
other jurisdictions.
"BHI" means Xxxxxxxxxx Hotel, Inc., a Mississippi corporation.
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"Biloxi Property" means certain real property located in the City of
Biloxi, Second Judicial District of Xxxxxxxx County, State of Mississippi,
transferred by JECA to the Company as its initial Contribution.
"Capital Account" means an account maintained for each Member in
accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Members' Capital Accounts will be adjusted in
accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g) for allocations to
the Members of depreciation, depletion, amortization and gain or loss, as
computed for book purposes with respect to contributed property and revalued
Company assets.
"Capital Event" means a sale or exchange of all or substantially all of
the Company's property, including a foreclosure or condemnation.
"Cash" means money and equivalents, such as checks, but only when
collected, and bank transfers.
"Cash Available for Distribution" means Cash from Operations less
Expenses.
"Cash from Operations" means all sums provided by operations and either
received in Cash or converted to Cash by the Company during any fiscal period,
including sums released from Reserves, but excluding Contributions, Cash from
Sales or Refinancings and loans or advances by Members to the Company.
"Cash from Sales or Refinancings" means the net Cash realized by the
Company from a Capital Event (including principal and interest payments from
any note or other obligation received by the Company in connection with a
Capital Event), from any refinancing of Company property, or from insurance
proceeds from an extraordinary event, in each case, after retirement of debt,
after subtracting all expenses related to the transaction and after making an
allowance for reserves for repairs, replacements, contingencies and
anticipated obligations (including debt service, lost rent, and costs of
improvements).
"Class A Unit" means any of the Class A Units described in Section 3.7.
"Class B Unit" means the Class B Unit described in Section 3.7.
"Certificate of Formation" means the certificate of formation referred to
in section 00-00-000 of the Act, filed with the Mississippi Secretary of State
for the purpose of forming the Company, as the same may be amended or restated
from time to time as provided in the Act.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time (including any successor statute or statutes
2
constituting the United States tax laws), as applicable to the Company and the
Members.
"Company" means the Mississippi limited liability company governed by
this Agreement and the Act, having the name specified in Section 2.2.
"Company Minimum Gain" means an amount computed as described in
Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).
"Contribution" means Cash, other property (net of each liability assumed
by the Company in connection with the Contribution and net of each liability
subject to which the Company received the Contribution), or any other valuable
consideration Transferred by a Person to the Company as a condition of
becoming a Member and any subsequent Transfer to the Company by a Person as a
Member.
"Effective Date" means the date that this Amended and Restated Limited
Liability Company Operating Agreement is executed by all initial parties
hereto.
"Event of Dissociation" means any of the following:
(a) a Member voluntarily withdraws from the Company;
(b) a Member: makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; is the
subject of a Bankruptcy; files a petition or answer seeking any
reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation,
or similar relief under any statute, law or regulation or files an
answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the
material allegations of a petition filed in such a proceeding; or
seeks, approves of or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee,
receiver or liquidator of the Member or of all or any substantial
part of the Member's property;
(c) one hundred twenty (120) days after the start of any proceeding
against a Member seeking reorganization, arrangement, composition,
readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any
statute, law or regulation, if the proceeding has not been
dismissed, or if within ninety (90) days after the appointment of a
trustee, receiver or liquidator of the Member or of all or any
substantial part of the Member's property, without the Member's
approval, the appointment is not vacated or stayed, or within ninety
(90) days after the expiration of any such stay, the appointment is
not vacated;
(d) if a Member is a natural person: the Member's death; or the entry
by a court of competent jurisdiction
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adjudicating the Member incompetent to manage the Member's person or
estate;
(e) if a Member is a trust, the termination of the trust but not merely
the substitution of a new trustee;
(f) if a Member is a general or limited partnership or a limited
liability company, the dissolution and commencement of winding up
thereof;
(g) if a Member is a corporation, the filing of a certificate of
dissolution, or its equivalent, for the corporation or revocation of
its charter and the lapse of one hundred eighty (180) days after
notice to the corporation of revocation without a reinstatement of
its charter;
(h) if a Member is an estate, the distribution by the fiduciary of all
of the estate's Units; or
(i) assignment by a Member of all of its Units.
"Expenses" means for any fiscal period, the amount of Cash disbursed in
the period in order to operate the Company (including capital expenditures and
debt service) and to pay expenses of the Company (excluding expenditures in
connection with Capital Events) and amounts set aside for the period for
working capital and to pay taxes, insurance and other costs and expenses
incident to the operation of the Company, including Reserves.
"JECA" means J. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Associates, Inc., a Pennsylvania
corporation.
"Xxxxxx Indebtedness" means that certain indebtedness to be incurred by
the Company to Xxxxxx Brothers Holdings Inc. or its Affiliates, in the
original principal amount of $30,000,000 (plus all interest, charges, fees and
expenses with respect thereto) and to be secured by the Xxxxxx Mortgage.
"Xxxxxx Mortgage" means that certain Deed of Trust, Security Agreement
and Fixture Filing from the Company to Xxxxxx Brothers Holdings Inc. or its
Affiliates, on the Biloxi Property.
"LIBOR" means, with respect to a given Priority Return Period, the rate
per annum (rounded upwards, if not already in even one-sixteenths of one
percent, to the nearest one-sixteenth of one percent) published in the Money
Rates section of The Wall Street Journal for the date which is two (2) LIBOR
Business Days prior to the first day of such Priority Return Period, as the
London Interbank Offered Rate for U.S. dollar deposits having designated
maturity of one (1) month (or if such publication shall cease to be publicly
available or if the information contained in such publication, in JECA's
judgment, shall cease to accurately reflect such London interbank Offered
Rate, then JECA
4
may select any publicly available source of similar market data that, in
JECA's sole judgment, accurately reflects such London Interbank Offered Rate).
"LIBOR Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a
day on which banks in the City of London, England are required or permitted to
be closed for interbank or foreign exchange transactions.
"Lockbox Account" means the lockbox account described in the Lockbox
Agreement.
"Lockbox Agreement" means that certain Security Agreement and Lockbox
Agreement dated as of July 22, 1997 among the Company, Xxxxxx Brothers
Holdings Inc. and X.X. Xxxxxx Company, Inc.
"Manager" means the Person designated, appointed or elected as such as
provided by this Agreement.
"Member" means any Person that signs this Agreement in person or by an
attorney-in-fact, or otherwise is a party to this Agreement at the time the
Company is formed and is identified as a Member in this Agreement and any
Person who is subsequently admitted as a Member, until an Event of
Dissociation occurs with respect to such Person.
"Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain" means an amount of partner
nonrecourse debt minimum gain determined in accordance with Regulations
Section 1.704-2(i)(3).
"Organization" means any Person other than an individual.
"Permitted Voluntary Withdrawal" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 5.6.
"Person" includes individuals, partnerships, domestic or foreign limited
partnerships, domestic or foreign limited liability companies, domestic or
foreign corporations, trusts, business trusts, real estate investment trusts,
estates and other associations or business entities.
"Priority Return" means, with respect to a given Priority Return Period,
an amount equal to the product of the Priority Return Percentage, the
Redemption Price and the number of days in such Priority Return Period,
divided by the number of days in the calendar year of which the Priority
Return Period is a part.
"Priority Return Percentage" means, with respect to a given Priority
Return Period, a percentage per annum equal to the greater of (i) eight and
three-fourths percent (8.75%) or (ii) a percentage equal to four percent (4%)
plus LIBOR.
"Priority Return Period" means (i) with respect to the first Priority
Return to be distributed by the Company, the period
5
commencing on July 24, 1997 and continuing through August 31, 1997, and (ii)
with respect to the calculation of each subsequent Priority Return
distribution, the calendar month or portion thereof with respect to which such
Priority Return is to be distributed.
"Qualified Entity" means, with respect to a Member, (i) each corporation
with respect to which the Member or one or more Qualified Entities with
respect to such Member elects and has the unqualified legal right to elect a
majority of the board of directors without regard to the vote of any other
holder of any securities of such corporation; and (ii) each partnership or
limited liability company all of the equity securities of which are owned by
the Member or one or more Qualified Entities with respect to such Member and
such Member and/or Qualified Entities shall have control of such partnership
or limited liability company. The term "control" as used in clause (ii) of
the immediately preceding sentence means the possession of the power to direct
or cause the direction of management and policies of such partnership or
limited liability company, whether through the ownership of an equity
interest, by contract or otherwise.
"Redemption Date" means such day on which the Xxxxxx Indebtedness shall
be fully and finally discharged and the Xxxxxx Mortgage is released.
"Redemption Price" means the sum of $10,000,000.
"Regulations" means the Income Tax Regulations promulgated under the
Code, as amended from time to time, including corresponding provisions of
succeeding regulations.
"Reserves" means any sums which the Manager sets aside for the payment of
taxes, future expenses (including capital expenditures and debt service) or
any other purposes as the Manager, in its sole discretion, deems desirable for
the Company.
"Securities Laws" means all applicable federal and state securities laws,
including the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any regulations
promulgated thereunder.
"Tax Matters Partner" has the meaning specified in Code Section
6231(a)(7).
"Tax Regulation Allocations" means the allocations described in Section
10.4.
"Transfer", when used as a noun, means any sale, exchange, gift,
assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation, or any other type of disposition
or encumbrance, whether with or without consideration, whether voluntary or
involuntary, and in the case of an individual, whether during lifetime or at
death, any event that causes a revocable trust holding a Unit to become an
irrevocable trust and, when used as a verb, means the corresponding verb.
6
"Unit" means any of the Class A Units or the Class B Unit.
"Voluntary Dissociation" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.6.
"Wrongful Voluntary Dissociation" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.6.
ARTICLE 2 -- ORGANIZATION
2.1 Organization of the Company. The Company has organized as a limited
liability company under the Act and desires that the Company continue to
qualify as a limited liability company. JECA executed that certain Limited
Liability Company Agreement of President Xxxxxxxxxx Hotel, L.L.C. on July 10,
1997 (the "Prior Agreement"). This Agreement supersedes and replaces the
Prior Agreement. The Manager shall confirm the filing of a Certificate of
Formation and all necessary conforming documents and such other filing,
recording, publishing and other acts as are necessary to comply with all
requirements for the formation and operation of a limited liability company in
Mississippi and all other jurisdictions where the Company desires to conduct
its business.
2.2 Name. The name of the Company is "PRESIDENT XXXXXXXXXX HOTEL,
L.L.C."
2.3 Principal Office. The Company will locate its principal office in
Biloxi, Mississippi or such other place designated by the Manager.
2.4 Term. The Company shall have a perpetual existence.
2.5 Title to Company Assets. The Company will hold title to assets in
the name of the Company or such nominees as the Manager determines
appropriate.
2.6 Registered Agent and Registered Office. The registered agent and
the registered office for the Company will be as reflected in the Certificate
of Formation.
ARTICLE 3 -- CONTRIBUTIONS
3.1 Member Contributions. Each Member has made or will make an initial
Contribution of money and/or other property as of the Effective Date in the
amounts and form set forth in Exhibit A to this Agreement.
3.2 Initial Contribution. If a Member fails to make the Member's
initial Contribution on a timely basis, then the Member's Unit(s) will be
adjusted to reflect such failure.
3.3 Additional Contributions. The Members have not agreed to make any
additional Contributions. The Members may
7
require additional contributions to the Company with the approval of the
Members as provided by Section 5.2.
3.4 Maintenance of Capital Accounts. The Company shall maintain for
each Member a Capital Account in accordance with the rules applicable to
partnerships in the Regulations.
3.5 No Priority. Except as specifically provided in this Agreement, no
Member may either demand a distribution from the Company or have the right to
withdraw from the Company or to demand the return of any Contribution or have
priority over any other Member either as to the return of any Contribution or
as to distributions.
3.6 No Third Party Beneficiaries. The contribution obligation of the
Members under this Article is not intended to create any obligation to third
party beneficiaries. No creditor may rely on that obligation unless the
Member against whom the obligation is asserted has expressly agreed in writing
that the creditor may do so.
3.7 Classes of Units. The Units of the Company shall be divided into
the following classes, having the rights, powers and preferences therein
described:
(a) Class A Units. The Company shall issue a single Class A Unit to
Xxxxxxxxxx Hotel, Inc. and thereafter may issue Class A Units in
such amounts, at such times, to such Persons and on such other terms
and conditions as the Manager may determine. Ownership of one or
more Class A Units shall entitle a Member only to such Approval
Rights as are expressly set forth in Section 5.2 of this Agreement.
Each Class A Unit shall entitle its holder to share in the
allocations and distributions of the Company as described in
Articles 10 and 11.
(b) Class B Unit. The Company shall issue one (1) Class B Unit to JECA.
Ownership of the Class B Unit shall entitle JECA only to such
Approval Rights as are expressly set forth in Section 5.2 of this
Agreement. The Class B Unit shall entitle its holder to share in
the allocations and distributions of the Company as described in
Articles 10 and 11. The Company shall redeem the Class B Unit on
the terms and conditions set forth in Section 3.8.
3.8 Redemption of Class B Unit. The Company shall purchase, and the
holder thereof shall sell, the Class B Unit on the Redemption Date for the
Redemption Price. The Redemption Price shall be paid by certified check or
wire transfer of immediately available funds. The purchase and sale of the
Class B Unit shall be in complete liquidation of the interest in the Company
of the holder of the Class B Unit.
8
ARTICLE 4 -- MANAGEMENT
4.1 Management Vested in Managers and Not in Members. Management of the
Company is vested in the Manager and not in the Members. BHI will serve as
the initial Manager. Except as provided below, a Manager will hold office
indefinitely. A Manager may resign at any time. A resignation of a Manager
as Manager is not an Event of Dissociation and has no effect on the Manager's
status as a Member. The Members may select a replacement Manager to fill a
vacancy created by a resignation or otherwise with the approval of the Members
as provided by Section 5.2. The Manager will devote such time and attention
to the Company as the Manager deems reasonably necessary and advisable to
manage the affairs of the Company to its best advantage.
4.2 Management of Company Business. Subject to the Approval Rights of
the Members to the extent specifically required by Section 5.2 and the
provisions of Article 7, the Manager will have the power, on behalf of the
Company, to do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the business
and affairs of the Company, including the following:
(a) to operate a hotel, marina, golf course and restaurant;
(b) to Transfer or acquire property or the use of property;
(c) to enter into leases, contracts and guaranties;
(d) to borrow money, including from any Manager or Member or their
Affiliates on such terms and conditions as the Manager may
determine, and to issue notes, bonds, and other obligations and to
secure any of the same by mortgage or pledge of Company property or
income;
(e) to lend money, to invest and reinvest the Company's funds, and to
receive and hold property as security for repayment;
(f) to open bank accounts and designate the number and identity of the
individuals authorized to write checks and make withdrawals of
funds;
(g) to hire employees and appoint agents of the Company;
(h) to designate a replacement registered agent or file a change of
registered office;
(i) to pay, collect, compromise, arbitrate, prosecute or defend legal
actions with respect to, or otherwise adjust, claims or demands of
or against the Company;
(j) to indemnify any Person;
9
(k) to purchase liability and other insurance to protect the Company's
property and business;
(l) to participate in Organizations of any kind with any Person;
(m) to make donations to the public welfare or for religious,
charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes; and
(n) to execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all instruments
appropriate to the foregoing, and to apply Company assets.
4.3 Compensation. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the
Manager will receive no compensation from the Company without the approval of
the Members as provided by Section 5.2; provided that the Company will
reimburse the Manager for reasonable expenses incurred in managing and
operating the Company.
4.4 Right to Rely on Manager. Any Person dealing with the Company may
rely (without duty of further inquiry) upon a certificate signed by the
Manager as to:
(i) The identity of any Manager or Member;
(ii) The existence or nonexistence of any fact or facts which
constitute a condition precedent to acts by the Manager or
which are in any other manner germane to the affairs of the
Company;
(iii) The Persons who are authorized to execute and deliver any
instrument or document of the Company; or
(iv) Any act or failure to act by the Company or any other matter
whatsoever involving the Company, the Manager or any Member.
Except as otherwise required by law, the signature of the Manager shall be
sufficient to constitute execution of a document on behalf of the Company, and
all of the Members agree that a copy of this Agreement may be shown to the
appropriate parties in order to confirm the same, and further agree that the
signature of the Manager shall be sufficient to execute any document necessary
to effectuate this or any other provision of this Agreement. The Manager
shall have the power and authority to execute on behalf of the Company, the
Manager and/or the Members any document to be filed with the Secretary of the
State of Mississippi pursuant to the Act. All of the Members do hereby
appoint the Manager as their attorneys-in-fact for the execution of any or all
of the documents described in this Section 4.4.
10
4.5 No Liability. Unless specifically assumed in writing, no Member or
Manager will have personal liability for the liabilities of the Company. The
failure of the Company to observe any formalities or requirements relating to
the exercise of its powers or management of its business or affairs under this
Agreement or the Act will not result in the imposition of personal liability
on any Member or Manager. Neither the Company nor the Manager will have any
liability to any Member resulting either from any acts or omissions made
within the scope of authority granted the Manager under this Agreement or from
the disallowance or adjustment of any deductions or credits in the income tax
returns of the Company or the Members. The Manager will discharge its duties
in good faith, with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position
would exercise under similar circumstances, in a manner it reasonably believes
to be in the best interest of the Company.
4.6 Indemnification. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless the
Manager from and against any loss, expense, damage, or injury suffered or
sustained by any of them by reason of any acts, errors in judgment, omissions,
or alleged acts or omissions related to the business of the Company to the
fullest extent allowed by law. The Company's duty to indemnify will include
any judgment, award, settlement, reasonable legal fees, and other costs and
expenses related to the defense of any actual or threatened action,
proceeding, or claim and including any payments made by the Manager, or by
reason of any disallowance by any taxing authority of any deduction taken on
any Company tax return.
ARTICLE 5 -- RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS
5.1 Representations and Warranties of Members. Each Member represents
and warrants to the Company and each other Member as follows:
(a) If that Member is an Organization, that it is duly organized,
validly existing, and in good standing under the law of the jurisdiction of
its organization and that it has full power to execute the Agreement and to
perform its obligations under the Agreement.
(b) The Member has such knowledge of business and financial affairs as
is necessary to enable the Member to understand the risks associated with the
Company's business and an investment in the Company's securities and to
understand the particular financial, legal and tax implications of the
Company's business and ownership of a Unit, and has had the opportunity to
consult with the Member's own legal, tax and other advisors to determine
whether the purchase of a Unit is consistent with the Member's objectives, and
has had access to any and all information concerning the Company which the
Member and the Member's legal, tax and other advisors have requested and
consider necessary to make appropriate evaluation of this investment.
11
(c) The Member understands that the Company has not registered the Units
under the Securities Laws in reliance on exemptions from registration under
various provisions of applicable statutes, rules and regulations. The Member
understands that its Unit(s) may not be resold unless registered or unless an
exemption from registration is available. The Member represents that the
Unit(s) are being acquired for investment for the Member's own account with no
present intention of reselling or otherwise disposing of the same and
understands that the reliance of the Members and the Company upon such
exemptions is predicated upon the lack of such intention. The Member further
acknowledges that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
the statutory basis for one such exemption would not be present, if,
notwithstanding this representation, the Member contemplates its acquiring the
Unit(s) for resale upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of some event.
(d) The Member acknowledges that no trading market for Unit(s) in the
Company does or will exist at any time and that any Transfer of such Unit(s)
may result in adverse tax consequences.
(e) The Member acknowledges that other provisions of this Agreement
restrict the Transfer of such Unit(s).
5.2 Approval Rights. Each Member holding Units will have only the
Approval Rights set forth in this Section.
(a) The following actions require the approval of Members holding in the
aggregate a majority of all Class A Units then issued and outstanding:
(i) a Capital Event;
(ii) if required by Section 11.2, the designation of the liquidating
trustee in a dissolution and winding up of the Company;
(iii) if the Company is manager-managed, the removal of a Manager and
the selection of a replacement Manager;
(iv) the admission of a Member;
(v) a voluntary withdrawal of a Member;
(vi) a voluntary dissolution of the Company;
(vii) a revaluation of Company assets;
(viii) a merger or consolidation with another Person;
(ix) a change in the status of the Company from one in which
management is vested in one or more managers to one in which
management is vested in the members, or vice versa;
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(x) the making of an election for the Company to be classified for
income tax purposes as an association taxable as a corporation;
(xi) the continuation of the Company after a Capital Event; or
(xii) any amendment to this Agreement, other than an amendment which
directly and adversely impacts the holder of the Class B Unit.
Provided, however, that if the Company shall be in default under any of
its obligations under the Xxxxxx Indebtedness or hereunder to the holder of
the Class B Unit, the holder of the Class B Unit shall, for so long as such
default exists and is continuing, have the sole power to exercise the Approval
Rights granted to the holder of the Class A Units under this Section 5.2(a).
(b) The following actions require the approval of (A) Members holding in
the aggregate a majority of all Class A Units then issued and outstanding and
(B) the Member holding the Class B Unit:
(i) any additional mandatory Contributions; or
(ii) any amendment to this Agreement which directly and adversely
impacts the holder of the Class B Unit, including, but not
limited to, any amendment which would modify the allocations,
distributions or Priority Returns to which the Class B Unit is
entitled.
Unless otherwise required by this Agreement or by law, Members holding in the
aggregate a majority of all Class A Units then issued and outstanding may
approve any other matter submitted for the approval of the Members.
5.3 Admission of Members. Upon the approval of the Members as provided
by Section 5.2, an Assignee or any other Person may be admitted as a Member;
provided, however, that if the Assignee is a Qualified Entity, the approval of
the Members is not required and such Assignee shall automatically become a
Member upon satisfying the requirements of Section 5.4. If the approved
Person is not an Assignee, this approval will indicate the Contribution
required for the Person to become a new Member. The Assignee or other Person
to be admitted will become a substitute or new Member, as the case may be,
only after signing this Agreement, and, if a new Member, after making any
required Contribution. Notwithstanding this Section, the Members need not
approve the Transfer (which Transfer complies with Section 5.4) of a Unit from
one Member to another Member for the transferee
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Member to exercise the increased Approval Rights (or Management Rights, if
management is vested in the Members) associated with the Transferred Unit.
5.4 Transfers. No Member or Assignee will voluntarily Transfer any Unit
to an Assignee until the Company receives from the proposed Assignee such
information and agreements that the Company may reasonably require, including
any taxpayer identification number and any agreement that federal, state or
local tax laws may require and the proposed Assignee's written agreement to be
bound by all of the terms of the Agreement as an Assignee, and, if admitted as
a Member, as a Member. No Member or Assignee will voluntarily Transfer any
Unit to an Assignee in a Transfer which constitutes a sale or exchange for
federal income tax purposes until the Company receives an opinion of counsel
to the Company that any such Transfer, alone or when combined with other
transactions, would not result in a termination of the Company within the
meaning of Code Section 708 (or, if so, that no material adverse tax
consequences would result to the Company or the Members by reason of such
termination), the Company's losing its status as a partnership for income tax
purposes or the taxation of the Company as a publicly-traded partnership for
income tax purposes, unless the Manager waives this requirement in writing.
An attempted Transfer in violation of this Article is void. If a Member
Transfers all of such Member's Units to an Assignee, the Member will cease to
be a Member, even if the Transfer does not result in an Event of Dissociation.
5.5 Rights of an Assignee. Unless and until admitted as a Member as
provided in Section 5.3, an Assignee will have no Approval Rights. An
Assignee that has not become a Member will receive, to the extent Transferred,
the share of allocations and distributions (including the allocations and
distributions as provided in Article 10 and any distributions representing the
return of contributions) to which the assignor would otherwise be entitled or
for which the Assignee would otherwise be responsible for with respect to the
Transferred Unit. The Company will treat an Assignee as a Member for the
terms of Article 9 concerning record keeping and tax reporting.
5.6 Voluntary Withdrawal. Each Member hereby covenants and agrees that
such Member shall not voluntarily take any action which would constitute an
Event of Dissociation with respect to such Member (a "Voluntary
Dissociation"); provided, that any Member may make a Voluntary Dissociation
from the Company upon giving ninety days' prior written notice of withdrawal
to the other Members as provided in the Act (a "Permitted Voluntary
Dissociation"). Unless a Voluntary Dissociation is a Permitted Voluntary
Dissociation, the Voluntary Dissociation will violate this Agreement (a
"Wrongful Voluntary Dissociation"). A withdrawn Member who shall have made a
Voluntary Dissociation shall have the rights of an Assignee.
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5.7 Distributions to Members Who Have Withdrawn. Upon any Event of
Dissociation the withdrawn Member shall not be entitled to any special
distribution, including without limitation a distribution of the fair value of
the withdrawn Member's Units, but instead its Assignee shall have the right to
share in distributions and profits and losses as provided in Section 5.5;
provided, that distributions to a Member who has made a Wrongful Voluntary
Dissociation shall be reduced by any damages suffered by the Company or its
Members as a result of the withdrawn Member's violation of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 6 -- MEETINGS; APPROVALS WITHOUT A MEETING
Unless otherwise required by law, the Members or Managers may take any
action or vote without a meeting. Members holding in the aggregate a majority
of the Class A Units then issued and outstanding may call a meeting of the
Members to take action or vote on matters related to the Company by giving
(10) days' prior written notice of the time and place to all the Members
eligible to attend. Any action or vote which must be taken at a meeting of
the Members or Managers, as the case may be, may be taken without a meeting if
a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by all of
the Members or Managers, as the case may be, entitled to act or vote with
respect to such matter. Such consent will have the same effect as an act or
vote of such Members or Managers, as the case may be.
ARTICLE 7 -- SINGLE PURPOSE ENTITY PROVISIONS
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary,
for so long as any part of the Xxxxxx Indebtedness is outstanding, the
following provisions shall be in effect:
(a) Purpose. The Company's business and purpose shall consist solely
of the acquisition, ownership, operation and management of a real estate
project known as Xxxxxxxxxx Beach Hotel and Resort, the Xxxxxxxxxx East
Towers, the Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx and the Sun Golf Course located on the Biloxi
Property, and such activities as are necessary, incidental or appropriate in
connection therewith.
(b) Powers and Duties. Without the consent of all Members, no Manager
shall have authority to:
(i) do any act in contravention of this Agreement;
(ii) do any act which would make it impossible to carry on the
ordinary business of the Company, except as otherwise provided
in this Agreement;
15
(iii) possess the Biloxi Property, or assign rights in the Biloxi
Property, for other than a Company purpose;
(iv) borrow money on behalf of the Company other than in the
ordinary course of business, or grant consensual liens on the
Company's property; except, however, that the Manager is hereby
authorized to secure financing for the Company pursuant to the
terms of the Xxxxxx Mortgage and other indebtedness expressly
permitted in this Article 7 or in the documents related to the
Xxxxxx Mortgage, and to grant a mortgage, lien or liens on the
Biloxi Property to secure the Xxxxxx Indebtedness;
(v) dissolve or liquidate the Company;
(vi) sell or lease, or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Company;
(vii) file a voluntary petition or otherwise initiate proceedings to
have the Company adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent, or consent
to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings
against the Company, or file a petition seeking or consenting
to reorganization or relief of the Company as debtor under any
applicable federal or state law relating to bankruptcy,
insolvency, or other relief for debtors with respect to the
Company; or seek or consent to the appointment of any trustee,
receiver, conservator, assignee, sequestrator, custodian,
liquidator (or other similar official) of the Company or of all
or any substantial part of the properties and assets of the
Company, or make any general assignment for the benefit or
creditors of the Company, or admit in writing the inability of
the Company to pay its debts generally as they become due or
declare or effect a moratorium on the Company debt or take any
action in furtherance of any action;
(viii) amend, modify or alter this Agreement;
(ix) merge or consolidate with any other entity.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing and so long as any obligations secured
by the Xxxxxx Mortgage remain outstanding and not discharged in full, no
Manager or Member shall have authority (1) to take any action in items (iv)
through (ix) above unless such action has been approved by a unanimous vote of
all Members, or (2) to take any action in items (iv) through (vi) and (viii)
and (ix) without the written consent of the holder of the Xxxxxx Mortgage.
(c) Title to Company Property. All property owned by the Company shall
be owned by the Company as an entity and, insofar as permitted by applicable
law, no Member shall have any ownership interest in any Company property in
its individual name or right, and each Member's Unit(s) shall be personal
property for all purposes.
(d) Separateness/Operation Matters. The Company shall conduct its
business and operations in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) the Company will not assume liability for the debts of any
other Person, and the Company will not hold itself out as being
liable for the debts of any other Person;
(ii) none of the liabilities of the Company shall be paid from the
funds of its Members or any other Person without the Company
being obligated for such liabilities;
(iii) the Company shall not guarantee the debt or the performance
of any obligation of any of its Members or any other Person.
The Company will not pledge any of the Company assets for the
benefit of any of its Members or any other Person, and no
Person shall pledge its assets for the benefit of the Company;
(iv) the Company shall conduct its affairs strictly in accordance
with this Agreement and shall observe all necessary,
appropriate, and customary Company formalities, including, but
not limited to, maintaining accurate and separate books,
records and accounts (including, but not limited to,
transaction accounts with any Affiliate of the Company);
(v) the books, records, and accounts of the Company will at all
times be maintained
17
in a manner permitting the assets and liabilities of the
Company to be easily separated and readily ascertained from
those of any other Person;
(vi) the Company will hold itself out to creditors and the public as
a legal entity separate and distinct from any other entity, and
will not hold itself out to the public or to any of its
individual creditors as being a unified entity with assets and
liabilities in common with any other Person; and
(vii) the Company shall not commingle its assets or funds with those
of any other Person.
(e) Effect of Bankruptcy, Death or Incompetency of Member. The
bankruptcy, death, dissolution, liquidation, termination or adjudication of
incompetency of a Member shall not cause the termination or dissolution of the
Company and the business of the Company shall continue. Upon any such
occurrence, the trustee, receiver, executor, administrator, committee,
guardian or conservator of such Member shall have all the rights of such
Member for the purpose of settling or managing its estate or property, subject
to satisfying conditions precedent to the admission of such assignee as a
substitute Member. The transfer by such trustee, receiver, executor,
administrator, committee, guardian or conservator of any Unit shall be subject
to all of the restrictions hereunder to which such transfer would have been
subject if such transfer had been made by such bankrupt, deceased, dissolved,
liquidated, terminated or incompetent Member.
(f) Manager Consent. Without the consent of BHI and all of the Members,
the Company shall not file a voluntary petition or otherwise initiate
proceedings to have the Company adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent, or consent
to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against the
Company, or file a petition seeking or consenting to reorganization or relief
of the Company as debtor under any applicable federal or state law relating to
bankruptcy, insolvency, or other relief for debtors with respect to the
Company; or seek or consent to the appointment of any trustee, receiver,
conservator, assignee, sequestrator, custodian, liquidator (or other similar
official) of the Company or of all or any substantial part of the properties
and assets of the Company, or make any general assignment for the benefit or
creditors of the Company, or admit in writing the inability of the Company to
pay its debts generally as they become due or declare or effect a moratorium
on the Company debt or take any action in furtherance of any action.
ARTICLE 8 -- OTHER BUSINESS VENTURES
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Any Member or Manager may engage in or possess an interest in independent
ventures of any kind and neither the Company nor any of the Members or
Managers will have any right by virtue of this Agreement or the Act in or to
such independent ventures or to the income, profits, or benefits derived
therefrom. No Member shall have any obligation to present to the Company any
investment opportunity which may come to such Member's attention, even if such
opportunity is of such character as to be a suitable investment for the
Company.
ARTICLE 9 -- RECORDS, ACCOUNTING, TAX MATTERS
9.1 Books and Records. The Manager will keep proper and complete
records and books of account in which it will record all transactions and
other matters relative to the Company's business in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, or in accordance with
such other accounting method customarily used by businesses similar to the
Company. The Manager will maintain a Capital Account for each Member as
provided in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). As required by the Act,
the Company will keep at its principal place of business the following:
(a) a current list of the full name and last known street address
of each Member and Manager;
(b) a copy of the Certificate of Formation and all certificates of
amendment and restatement thereof, together with executed
copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which any
certificate has been executed; and
(c) copies of this Agreement, and all amendments thereto;
9.2 Data Storage. The Company may compile the data for any books,
accounts, or records required by this Agreement in any form (including in
electronic media) from which a Person may retrieve such information into a
readily usable form.
9.3 Tax Reports. The Manager will cause the Company to submit to the
official or agency administering the tax laws of each applicable jurisdiction
any information, reports or other documents required or requested to be filed,
as and when due. The Manager will cause the Company to pay all taxes,
interest and additions to tax or penalties due from the Company to any such
jurisdiction. The Company will bear the cost of preparing such information,
reports or other documents. Within seventy-five (75) days after the close of
each taxable year of the Company, the Manager will prepare and deliver to each
Member a report containing all Company information necessary to prepare the
Member's federal income tax returns. Except for the elections described in
Sections 9.5 and 9.6, the Manager will make such tax
19
elections and determinations on behalf of the Company as the Manager deems
appropriate.
9.4 Tax Matters Partner. The Manager will designate the Tax Matters
Partner. The Tax Matters Partner will represent the Company and its Members
before federal, state, and local taxing authorities, and before courts of
competent jurisdiction, in tax matters affecting the Company, the Members in
their capacity as Members, or both, and may execute agreements or other
documents relating to or affecting such tax matters including agreements or
consents to extend the period of limitations on assessment of deficiencies
with respect to "partnership items" or "affected items," as such terms are
defined in Code Section 6231, and other agreements or documents that bind the
Members with respect to such tax matters or otherwise affect the rights of the
Company, the Members, or both. The Members will cooperate and do or refrain
from doing anything reasonably requested by the Tax Matters Partner to conduct
such proceedings. The Tax Matters Partner may retain accountants, attorneys,
and other professionals to assist him in such matters. The Company will pay
for or reimburse the Tax Matters Partner for all expenses incurred in
performing the duties described in this Section.
9.5 Election of Basis Adjustment. On the first U.S. Partnership Return
of Income (Form 1065) filed by the Company, the Company will elect under Code
Section 754 that the basis of the Company assets be adjusted for federal
income tax purposes pursuant to Code Sections 734 and 743.
9.6 Organizational Expenses. The Company will elect to deduct expenses
incurred in organizing the Company ratably as provided in Code Section 709.
9.7 Fiscal and Taxable Year. The fiscal and taxable year of the Company
will end on the last day of February.
9.8 Accounts. Subject to any contrary provisions contained in any
document required in connection with the Xxxxxx Indebtedness, the Company will
deposit its funds in such bank account or accounts, or invested in such
interest-bearing investments established and maintained in the name of the
Company only, as designated by the Manager. Only the Manager or agents of the
Manager may make a withdrawal from any account or investment. In no event
will Company funds be commingled with those of any other Person.
9.9 Tax Status. Unless the Members approve an election by the Company
to be classified for income tax purposes as an association taxable as a
corporation in accordance with Section 5.2, the Company will be classified as
a partnership for income tax purposes and will be subject to all provisions of
Subchapter K of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the Code; provided, however, the
filing of partnership tax returns with any jurisdiction will not be construed
to expand the non-tax
20
obligations or liabilities of the Company or its Members. No Member will take
any action that would cause the Company to be excluded from the application of
Subchapter K of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the Code, or any similar provision
of the tax laws of any other jurisdiction. The Members intend this Agreement
to be construed as appropriate to classify the Company as a partnership for
tax purposes. The Members do not intend to form a partnership under the
Uniform Partnership Law or the Mississippi Limited Partnership Act, or any
similar partnership or limited partnership law of any other jurisdiction.
ARTICLE 10 -- DISTRIBUTION AND ALLOCATION RULES
10.1 Cash Available for Distribution; Cash from Sale or Refinancing.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.2, the Company will distribute Cash
Available for Distribution and Cash from Sale or Refinancing to the Members as
follows:
(a) First, to the extent funds are available in the Lockbox Account and
provided to be applied to Priority Returns in accordance with the Lockbox
Agreement, on the first day of each month beginning on September 1, 1997 and
ending on the Redemption Date, to JECA, an amount equal to its unpaid Priority
Returns; provided, however, that (i) in no event whatsoever shall the Company
distribute to JECA in the aggregate in any calendar year more than One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000) (or, in the case of calendar year 1997, more than
$441,096, or, in the case of the calendar year in which the Xxxxxx
Indebtedness is finally paid in full, more than a pro rata portion of One
Million Dollars ($1,000,000) based on the number of days in such calendar year
during which any part of the Xxxxxx Indebtedness was outstanding) pursuant to
this Agreement or otherwise, (ii) any distribution which would have been made
to JECA pursuant to this Section 10.1 but for the application of the foregoing
clause (i) shall bear interest from the date on which such distribution would
have been made to JECA pursuant to this Section 10.1 but for the application
of the foregoing clause (i) at a rate per annum equal to the Priority Return
Percentage until such distribution is made to JECA, and (iii) if the Company
fails to make any distribution to which JECA is otherwise entitled pursuant to
this Section 10.1 for any reason other than the application of the foregoing
clause (i), then (A) all subsequent distributions made by the Company to JECA
pursuant to this Section 10.1 prior to the next anniversary of the Company's
incurrence of the Xxxxxx Indebtedness shall be applied to all distributions
remaining unpaid in the order in which such distributions were to be made, and
(B) the aggregate distributions remaining unpaid as of the next anniversary of
the Company's incurrence of the Xxxxxx Indebtedness shall bear interest from
such anniversary at a rate per annum equal to the Priority Return Percentage
until such distributions are made to JECA; provided, further, however, the
Company shall make no payment of interest (which term does not include any
unpaid Priority Return) accruing by reason of the foregoing clauses (ii) or
(iii) until all of the Xxxxxx Indebtedness has been paid in full; and
21
(b) Last, at such times as the Manager designates, to BHI.
10.2 Allocations of Income, Gain, and Profit. Each year after making
the Tax Regulation Allocations, the Company will allocate Company net taxable
income (and book income), including each item required to be separately stated
under Code Section 702, as follows:
(a) First, to JECA, until the aggregate amount so allocated under this
subsection in the current year and in all prior years, equals the total
Priority Returns; and
(b) Last, to BHI.
10.3 Allocations of Loss and Deduction. Each year after making the Tax
Regulation Allocations, the Company will allocate Company net taxable loss
(and book loss), including each item required to be separately stated under
Code Section 702, solely to BHI.
10.4 Tax Regulation Allocations. The Company will make the following
allocations in the following order:
(a) Company Minimum Gain Chargeback. If Company Minimum Gain has a net
decrease during any Company taxable year, the Company will allocate items of
income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, for subsequent years) to
each Member in the amounts required by Regulations Sections 1.704-2(f) and
1.704-2(g)(2).
(b) Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain Chargeback. If Member
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain has a net decrease during any Company taxable
year, the Company will allocate to each Member who has a share of the Member
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain items of income and gain for such year (and, if
necessary, for subsequent years) in the amounts required by Regulations
Section 1.704-2(i).
(c) Qualified Income Offset. If a Member unexpectedly receives an
adjustment, allocation, or distribution described in Regulations Sections
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6), the Company will allocate to the Member
items of Company income and gain (consisting of a pro rata portion of each
item of Company income, including gross income, and gain for such year) in an
amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the Adjusted Capital Account
Deficit, if any, caused by such adjustment, allocation, or distribution, as
quickly as possible as required by Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d).
(d) Nonrecourse Deductions. The Company will allocate each nonrecourse
deduction, as defined in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(1) and determined in
accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(c), in the same manner in which
the Company allocates net taxable loss.
22
(e) Member Nonrecourse Deductions. The Company will allocate each
member nonrecourse deduction, as defined in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2),
to the Members who bear the economic risk of loss with respect to the
liability to which such member nonrecourse deductions are attributable as
provided in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(1).
(f) Code Section 704(c) Allocations. If any Member contributes property
(other than money) to the Company (or is deemed so to contribute under
applicable income tax principles) and the fair market value of such property
at the time it is contributed differs from the contributing Member's adjusted
tax basis in the property, the Company will allocate items of income, gain,
profit, depreciation, cost recovery and depletion relating to such property in
the manner required by Code Section 704(c). The Company will not offset these
Code Section 704(c) allocations by any curative allocations described in
Section 10.5. The Company will make these Code Section 704(c) allocations
solely for purposes of federal, state and local taxes. Such allocations shall
be made using the "traditional method," the "traditional method with curative
allocations," the "remedial allocation method" and/or another reasonable
allocation method as provided in Regulations Section 1.704-3, as the Manager
shall determine. The Company will not take these Code Section 704(c)
allocations into account in computing any Member's Capital Account or share of
distributions.
(g) Revaluation Allocations. The Company will revalue Company assets
upon the approval of the Members as provided by Section 5.2. The Company will
determine the Members' distributive shares of depreciation, depletion,
amortization and gain or loss, as computed for tax purposes, with respect to
Company assets that are revalued, so as to take account of the variation
between the adjusted tax basis and book value of such revalued Company assets
in the same manner as under Code Section 704(c) and Section 10.4(f).
(h) Allocation of Cancellation of Debt Income. The Company will
allocate any cancellation of debt income realized by the Company among the
Members in proportion to the allocation among the Members (as provided in Code
Section 752) of the debt to which such income is attributable.
(i) Calculation of Minimum Gain. To the extent permitted by Regulations
Section 1.704-2(h)(3), the Company will treat distributions of Cash as having
been made from the proceeds of a nonrecourse liability or a Member nonrecourse
liability only to the extent that such distributions would cause or increase
an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit for any Member.
10.5 Curative Allocations. The Tax Regulation Allocations are intended
to comply with Regulation Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2. The Tax Regulation
Allocations may not be consistent with the manner in which the Members intend
to divide Company distributions. Accordingly, the Manager, to the
23
extent not inconsistent with Code Section 704(b), may allocate income, gain,
profit, loss, deduction and other items among the Members so as to effect the
economic objectives of the Members, and to offset any distortion of such
objectives otherwise resulting from the Tax Regulation Allocations.
10.6 Change of Units. Upon the issuance, increase, decrease or Transfer
of a Unit during any year the Company will allocate items of income, gain,
loss, deduction, and credit (or basis) allocable to that Unit in proportion to
the number of calendar days in the year that the holder was recognized as the
owner for federal income tax purposes of that Unit, without regard for the
results of Company operations during the portion of the year in which the
holder was recognized as the owner for federal income tax purposes of that
Unit, and without regard for the date, amount, or recipient of any
distributions made with respect to that Unit. The foregoing allocation rule
will not apply if the transferor and transferee agree to an allocation based
on the results as of the record date of the Transfer and agree to reimburse
the Company for the cost of making and reporting their agreed allocation; the
Transfer of the Unit causes a termination of the Company within the meaning of
Code Section 708; or Code Section 706(d) requires different allocations of
certain cash basis items.
10.7 Contributed Property Adjustments and Revalued Asset Adjustments.
The Members' Capital Accounts will be adjusted in accordance with Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g) for allocations to the Members of depreciation,
depletion, amortization, and gain or loss, as computed for book purposes, with
respect to contributed property and revalued assets.
ARTICLE 11 -- DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND WINDING UP
11.1 Dissolution. Subject to Article 7 hereof, the dissolution of the
Company will occur upon any of the following events:
(a) the happening of the events specified in this Agreement or in the
Certificate of Formation as grounds for dissolution, including the
expiration of the term provided for in Section 2.4;
(b) the written approval of the Members as provided by Section 5.2;
(c) a Capital Event unless the business of the Company is continued
either under a right to continue stated in the Certificate of
Formation and in this Agreement, or by the approval of the remaining
Members as provided by Section 5.2 within ninety (90) days after the
Capital Event;
24
(d) an Event of Dissociation of a Member unless there are at least two
remaining Members, in which case the Company shall automatically
continue;
(e) entry of a decree of dissolution under Section 00-00-000 of the Act;
or
(f) when the Company is not the surviving entity in a merger or
consolidation.
Dissolution will take effect on the date of the event giving rise to the
dissolution, but the Company will not terminate until its assets have been
distributed pursuant to Section 11.2.
11.2 Liquidation and Termination. In a dissolution and winding up of
the Company, the Manager (or if no Manager, a liquidating trustee approved by
the Members as provided by Section 5.2), will proceed diligently to wind up
the affairs of the Company and distribute its assets pursuant to this Section
11.2. During the interim, the Manager will continue to exercise the rights of
and operate the Company consistently with the liquidation thereof, exercising
all the power and authority vested by the Act. As expeditiously as possible
after the dissolution of the Company:
(a) The Manager will make or cause to be made a complete accounting of
the assets, liabilities and operations of the Company as of the last day of
the month in which the dissolution occurs.
(b) The Manager will pay all liabilities of the Company (including loans
from Members but excluding Member Contributions and Member Capital Accounts)
and establish a Reserve, if the Manager deems a Reserve necessary, for payment
of future or contingent Company obligations.
(c) The Company will allocate its estimated net loss for the year and
any loss realized by the Company on liquidation, including any book adjustment
loss under Section 11.2(e), in accordance with Article 10 and its estimated
net gain for the year and any gain realized upon liquidation, including any
book adjustment gain under paragraph 11.2(e) of this Section, in accordance
with Article 10.
(d) The Manager will distribute the balance of the proceeds of the
liquidation after allocating gain or loss under Section 11.2(c) as follows:
(i) First, to JECA, until the aggregate amount so distributed
equals the sum of (A) the total unpaid Priority Returns, and (B) the
Redemption Price; and
(ii) Last, to the Members in accordance with the positive balance
in each Member's Capital Account, after taking into account amounts
distributed under Section 11.2(d)(i) and the
25
allocation of all gains and losses related to the liquidation of the Company
and the in-kind distribution, if, any, of capital assets.
Distributions of Company assets may be made in Cash or in kind, in the sole
and absolute discretion of the Manager, but, if in kind, they will be deemed
distributed at their fair market values on the date of distribution (for
federal income tax purposes).
(e) If any Company property is distributed to the Members in kind, for
purposes of reflecting the allocation of gain or loss from liquidation in the
Members' Capital Accounts, the Company will make a book adjustment with
respect to the property distributed in kind as provided in the Regulations
Code Section 704(b).
(f) All salable assets of the Company may be sold in connection with any
liquidation at public or private sale, at such price and upon such terms as
the Manager deems advisable. Any Member or Manager and any Person related to
any Member or Manager may purchase assets at such sale.
ARTICLE 12 -- GENERAL
12.1 Amendment. Subject to Section 5.2 and Article 7 hereof, the
Members may amend this Agreement in whole or in part only by a written
agreement specifically referring to this Agreement.
12.2 Arbitration. If a dispute arises out of this Agreement between or
among the Members or any Manager, and if the disputants cannot settle this
dispute through negotiation, the disputants will try in good faith to settle
the dispute through mediation administered by the Commercial Mediation Rules
of the American Arbitration Association. If the parties fail to resolve the
dispute within twenty-one (21) days after starting mediation, then upon notice
by any disputant to the others, the disputants will settle the dispute by
binding arbitration conducted in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration
Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The county and state of the
Company's principal place of business will serve as the place of the
arbitration. An arbitrator may not consolidate arbitration proceedings under
this Agreement with other pending arbitration proceedings without the prior
written consent of all disputants. A panel of three arbitrators with at least
five years of experience in the relevant area will handle the arbitration.
Subject to the control of the arbitrators or as the disputants may otherwise
mutually agree, the disputants will have the right to conduct reasonable
discovery for a period of forty-five (45) days after the filing of an answer
or other responsive pleading. The arbitrators may not award punitive damages
and may not make any ruling, finding or award inconsistent with this
Agreement. Any disputant may enter a judgment upon the award rendered by the
arbitrators in any court having jurisdiction over the dispute. Neither a
party nor an arbitrator may disclose the existence,
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content, or results of any arbitration proceeding. A non-prevailing disputant
will reimburse a prevailing disputant's legal and arbitration fees and
expenses. The award of the arbitrators will include a reasoned opinion. This
Agreement involves interstate commerce and is therefore enforceable as
provided in the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Section 1 et seq.
12.3 Benefit. This Agreement binds and benefits the parties, their
heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
12.4 Computation of Time. In computing any period of time, the day of
the act, event or default from which the designated period of time begins to
run will not be included. The last day of the period so computed will be
included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, and, if so, the
period will run until the end of the next day not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal
holiday.
12.5 Confidentiality. Each party agrees to use its best efforts to
maintain confidential the terms of this Agreement.
12.6 Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires, when used in
the Agreement, the singular includes the plural and vice versa, the whole
includes the part and vice versa, and the masculine includes the feminine (and
neuter) and vice versa. The words "include", "includes", and "including" will
be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation". Captions are
inserted for convenience only and will have no legal effect. Each reference
to a statute will be deemed to be followed by the words "and the regulations
thereunder." "Will" is a mandatory word denoting an obligation to pay or
perform. "May" is a permissive word denoting an option. The parties jointly
prepared this Agreement. Any uncertainty or ambiguity will not be interpreted
against any party but will be interpreted according to the application of the
rules of interpretation for arm's length agreements.
12.7 Governing Law. The substantive law of Mississippi will govern this
Agreement without regard to its choice of laws rules except to the extent
preempted by federal law.
12.8 Entire Agreement. This instrument constitutes the entire agreement
among the Members concerning the Company. The Members have made no
representations, warranties, understandings or agreements concerning the
Company other than those expressly included in this Agreement.
12.9 Equitable Relief. The Company and each Member will have the right
to seek and obtain equitable relief to enforce this Agreement.
12.10 Execution. The parties may execute this Agreement in any number
of counterparts, and each counterpart
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will, for all purposes, be deemed an original instrument. All such
counterparts together will constitute but one and the same Agreement.
Facsimile transmission of any original signed counterpart and retransmission
of any signed facsimile transmission will be the same as transmission of an
original counterpart. At the request of any party, the parties will confirm
facsimile transmitted signatures by signing an original Agreement.
12.11 Exhibits. All exhibits referred to and attached to this Agreement
are incorporated into the Agreement by this reference.
12.12 Expenses of Prevailing Party. The prevailing party in any
arbitration and/or litigation in connection with this Agreement may recover
legal fees and costs incurred in conducting, prosecuting or defending such
arbitration or litigation from the nonprevailing party.
12.13 Further Assurances. Each of the parties to this Agreement will
execute, acknowledge, deliver, file, record and publish such further
certificates, instruments, agreements and other documents, and will take all
such further action required by law or necessary in furtherance of the
Company's purposes and the intent of this Agreement.
12.14 Invalidity of Provisions. The invalidity, illegality, or
unenforceability of any term of the Agreement will not affect the validity,
legality or enforceability of the remaining terms of the Agreement; provided
that if permitted by applicable law, any invalid, illegal, or unenforceable
provision may be considered in determining the intent of the parties with
respect to other provisions of this Agreement.
12.15 No Waiver. The failure or delay of any party to this Agreement in
requiring strict performance by any other party of any term of this Agreement
will not constitute a waiver of the term or of the right to require strict
performance of the term or any other term.
12.16 Notices. A party may only effect a notice, approval or other
communication required or permitted under this Agreement by giving such notice
in writing, postage or charges prepaid, and addressed to the address following
the Person's name on Exhibit A, and delivering it in person, by certified mail
(return receipt requested), or by overnight express delivery service.
Delivery by messenger or courier will constitute personal delivery. A Member
may change the Member's address for the purpose of this Section by notice to
the Company at its principal office in the manner provided in this Section. A
notice will become effective two (2) days after it is deposited in the mail,
one (1) day after it is consigned to an overnight delivery service, or upon
receipt of personal delivery.
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12.17 Waiver of the Right to Jury Trial. THE PARTIES WAIVE THE RIGHT TO
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING, OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY
AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY ON ANY MATTER ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
RELATIONSHIP OF THE PARTIES CREATED HEREUNDER.
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THIS CONTRACT CONTAINS A BINDING ARBITRATION PROVISION WHICH MAY BE
ENFORCED BY THE PARTIES.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the Effective Date.
XXXXXXXXXX HOTEL, INC. J. XXXXXX XXXXXXXX ASSOCIATES, INC.
By /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx By /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Name: Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Title: Title: Vice President
------------------------------- -------------------------------
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EXHIBIT A -- CONTRIBUTIONS
Member Number and Class
Name and Address Contribution of Units
Xxxxxxxxxx Hotel, Inc. $5,000,000 cash One Class A Unit
c/o President Casinos, Inc.
000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xx. Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
and Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
J. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx The exchange of a portion, One Class B Unit
Associates, Inc. valued at $10,000,000, of
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx JECA's previous ownership in
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 the Company described in
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx the Prior Agreement. For
and Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx purposes of Code Section
704(c), JECA's adjusted tax
basis in all of the property
contributed to the Company
(whether real, personal, tangible
or intangible) was $19,464,370
at the time of JECA's contribution.
31
