HEATH XS, LLC AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT DATED AUGUST 29, 2008
HEATH
XS, LLC
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
DATED
AUGUST 29, 2008
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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ARTICLE
I
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Defined
Terms; Operation of Company
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1
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Section
1.01
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Definitions
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1
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Section
1.02
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Other
Definitions
|
5
|
Section
1.03
|
Formation;
Name
|
6
|
Section
1.04
|
Registered
Agent and Office; Principal Office
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6
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Section
1.05
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Purpose
|
6
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Section
1.06
|
Term
|
6
|
Section
1.07
|
Title
to Property
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6
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Section
1.08
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Waiver
of Partition
|
6
|
Section
1.09
|
Partnership
Status
|
6
|
ARTICLE
II
|
Capital
Contributions; Units; Capital Accounts
|
7
|
Section
2.01
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Class
of Units; Capital Contributions
|
7
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Section
2.02
|
Additional
Capital Contributions
|
8
|
Section
2.03
|
Ownership
Percentage Interests
|
8
|
Section
2.04
|
Capital
Accounts
|
8
|
Section
2.05
|
Compliance
with Regulations
|
9
|
Section
2.06
|
No
Interest
|
9
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Section
2.07
|
No
Deficit Make-Up
|
9
|
ARTICLE
III
|
Distributions
|
9
|
Section
3.01
|
Distributions
of Net Distributable Proceeds
|
9
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Section
3.02
|
Amounts
Withheld
|
10
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Section
3.03
|
Tax
Distributions
|
10
|
ARTICLE IV
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Profits
and Losses
|
10
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Section
4.01
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General
Allocation of Profits and Losses
|
10
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Section
4.02
|
Special
Allocations
|
11
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Section
4.03
|
Allocation
During Year
|
12
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Section
4.04
|
Tax
Allocations
|
12
|
Section
4.05
|
754
Election
|
12
|
ARTICLE V
|
Management
of Company
|
13
|
Section
5.01
|
General
Provisions Concerning Management
|
13
|
Section
5.02
|
Appointment,
Term and Actions of Managers
|
13
|
Section
5.03
|
Resignation
and Removal of Managers
|
13
|
Section
5.04
|
Actions
Requiring Consent of Managers and Members
|
13
|
Section
5.05
|
Meetings
of Managers and Members; Written Consents
|
15
|
Section
5.06
|
Fiduciary
Duties
|
16
|
Section
5.07
|
Actions
of Members
|
16
|
Section
5.08
|
Contracts
with Affiliates
|
16
|
Section
5.09
|
Company
Expenses
|
16
|
ARTICLE VI
|
Books
and Records; Tax and Financial Matters
|
16
|
i
Section 6.01
|
Bank
Accounts
|
16
|
Section
6.02
|
Books
and Records
|
16
|
Section
6.03
|
Fiscal
Year
|
17
|
Section
6.04
|
Reports
|
17
|
Section
6.05
|
Tax
Matters
|
18
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ARTICLE
VII
|
Transfers,
Admissions, and Withdrawals
|
19
|
Section
7.01
|
Transfers
|
19
|
Section
7.02
|
Admissions
|
19
|
Section
7.03
|
No
Withdrawal
|
19
|
Section
7.04
|
Permitted
Transfers
|
19
|
Section
7.05
|
Put/Call
Option
|
20
|
Section
7.06
|
Right
of Co-Sale
|
21
|
Section
7.07
|
Drag-Along
Rights
|
22
|
Section
7.08
|
Miscellaneous
Transfer Restrictions
|
24
|
ARTICLE VIII
|
Termination and
Dissolution
|
25
|
Section
8.01
|
Dissolution
Events
|
25
|
Section
8.02
|
Liquidation
|
25
|
Section
8.03
|
Distribution
In-Kind
|
25
|
Section
8.04
|
Certificate
of Cancellation
|
25
|
Section
8.05
|
Effect
of Filing of Certificate of Cancellation
|
26
|
Section
8.06
|
Return
of Contribution Nonrecourse to Other Members
|
26
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ARTICLE
IX
|
Exculpation
And Indemnification
|
26
|
Section
9.01
|
Liability
of Members
|
26
|
Section
9.02
|
Indemnification
of Covered Persons
|
26
|
Section
9.03
|
Indemnification
Procedure
|
27
|
ARTICLE X
|
Representations
|
27
|
Section 10.01
|
General
|
27
|
Section 10.02
|
Investment
Representations
|
28
|
ARTICLE XI
|
Miscellaneous
|
29
|
Section 11.01
|
Notices
|
29
|
Section 11.02
|
Parties
Bound; No Third Party Beneficiaries
|
29
|
Section
11.03
|
Applicable
Law
|
29
|
Section
11.04
|
Amendment
|
30
|
Section
11.05
|
Entire
Agreement
|
30
|
Section
11.06
|
Severability
|
30
|
Section
11.07
|
Counterparts
|
30
|
Section
11.08
|
Construction
|
30
|
Section
11.09
|
Headings
and Captions
|
31
|
Section
11.10
|
No
Waiver
|
31
|
Section
11.11
|
Other
Business and Investment Ventures
|
31
|
Section
11.12
|
Additional
Instruments
|
31
|
Section
11.13
|
Publicity
|
31
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Section
11.14
|
Specific
Performance
|
31
|
ii
HEATH
XS, LLC
Amended
and Restated Operating Agreement
This
Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Heath
XS, LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company (the “Company”),
is
entered into effective as of the 29th
day of
August, 2008, by and among the parties whose names are set forth as Members
on
Exhibit “A” attached hereto (each, a “Party”
and
collectively, the “Parties”).
BACKGROUND:
WHEREAS,
the initial Member, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, caused the Company to be formed by the
filing of a certificate of formation with the New Jersey Department of Treasury
on December
13, 2001.
WHEREAS,
on August 29, 2008, Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. acquired 80% of the
ownership interests and voting rights in the Company.
WHEREAS,
the Members have decided to reclassify the ownership interest in the Company
as
Units.
WHEREAS,
the Parties hereto desire to enter into this limited liability company agreement
to effect the reclassification of the ownership interests in the Company and
to
set forth their respective rights, duties and obligations with respect
thereto.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises of the Parties hereto and
of
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are
hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties
hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
Defined
Terms; Operation of Company
Section
1.01 Definitions.
Within
the context of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
“Act”
means
the New Jersey Limited Liability Company Act.
“Adjusted
Capital Account”
means a
Member’s Capital Account, adjusted as follows: (a) any deficit balance in a
Member’s Capital Account shall be reduced by any amount that the Member is
obligated to restore to the Company, or any amount the Member is treated as
obligated to restore to the Company under Regulation § 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c),
Regulation §1.704-2(g) and Regulation §1.704-2(i)(5); and (b) a Member’s Capital
Account shall be adjusted for items specified in subsections (4), (5), and
(6)
of Regulation §1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d).
“Affiliate”
means
any
Person that Controls, is Controlled by or under common Control with another
Person.
“Agreement”
means
this limited liability company agreement, as the same may be amended from time
to time.
“Board
of Managers”
means
the board of managers of the Company. The Board of Managers may be referred
to
as the “Board of Directors”.
“Book
Value”
means
the adjusted basis of the Company’s property for federal income tax purposes,
with the adjustments provided in accordance with Section 2.04(d) of this
Agreement.
“Business”
means
the
business of providing professional underwriting management services, policy
issuance and other insurance carrier functions related to excess automobile
and
umbrella liability insurance.
“Capital
Account”
means
the account established and maintained for each Member in accordance with
Section 2.04 of this Agreement.
“Capital
Contribution”
means
the amount of money and the fair market value of any property contributed to
the
Company by a Member (net of any liabilities to which such property is subject
or
that are assumed by the Company in connection with such
contribution).
“Certificate”
means
the certificate of formation for the Company, and any amendments
thereto.
“Class”
means
Class A, Class B or any other Class of Member that may be established with
respect to the Company, as the context requires.
“Class
A Manager”
means
any Manager appointed by the Class A Members in accordance with Section 5.02
of
this Agreement.
“Class
A Member”
means
each Person designated as a Class A Member on Exhibit “A” attached hereto, and
any Person who has been approved as a substitute Member of a Class A Member
in
accordance with this Agreement. Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. will be the
initial Class A Member.
“Class
A Units”
means
Units initially issued to a Class A Member in such Person’s capacity as a Class
A Member.
“Class
B Manager”
means
any Manager appointed by the Class B Members in accordance with Section 5.02
of
this Agreement.
“Class
B Member”
means
each Person designated as a Class B Member on Exhibit “A” attached hereto, and
any Person who has been approved as a substitute Member of a Class B Member
in
accordance with this Agreement. Heath Holdings, LLC shall be the initial Class
B
Member.
“Class
B Units”
means
Units initially issued to a Class B Member in such Person’s capacity as a Class
B Member.
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company”
means
the limited liability company formed and operated pursuant to the terms of
this
Agreement.
“Company
Minimum Gain”
has the
same meaning as “partnership minimum gain” set forth in Regulation
§1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).
“Control” means
the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise and “controlling” and
“controlled” shall have the meanings correlative hereto.
2
“Covered
Person” means
a
Member, a Manager, any Affiliate of a Member or Manager, any officers,
directors, shareholders, partners or members of a Member or Manager or their
respective Affiliates.
“Depreciation”
means
the amount determined for each Year or other period as an amount equal to the
depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction allowable with
respect to any Company property for such Year or other period, except that,
if
the Book Value of any property differs from its adjusted tax basis for federal
income tax purposes at the beginning of such Year or other period, Depreciation
shall be an amount that bears the same ratio to such beginning Book Value as
the
federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction
for such Year or other period bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis;
provided, however, that if the adjusted tax basis of a property at the beginning
of a Year is zero, Depreciation shall be determined for such property with
reference to Book Value using any reasonable method selected by the
Managers.
“Electronic
Transmission”
means
any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission
of
paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by
a
recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such
a
recipient through an automated process.
“Family
Member”
means,
with respect to any natural person, such person’s spouse, lineal descendants,
ancestors, siblings, nephews and nieces, parents and grandparents, and
stepchildren and stepparents, including any such persons by adoptive
relationships.
“Majority-In-Interest”
of
the
Members means those Members holding more than fifty percent (50%) of the
applicable Class of Units in the Company.
“Managers”
means
the Persons designated as members of the Board of Managers of the Company in
accordance with Section 5.02 of this Agreement. Except as specifically provided
herein, all actions and decisions of the Managers shall require the approval
of
more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes of the Managers.
“Members”
means
the Persons designated as members on Exhibit “A” attached to this Agreement, and
any Person subsequently admitted as a member in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement.
“Member
Nonrecourse Debt”
has the
same meaning as “partner nonrecourse debt” as set forth in Regulation
§1.704-2(b)(4).
“Member
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain”
has the
same meaning as “partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain” as set forth in
Regulation §1.704-2(i)(3).
“Member
Nonrecourse Deductions”
has the
same meaning as “partner nonrecourse deductions” as set forth in Regulation
§1.704-2(i)(2).
“Net
Distributable Proceeds”
means
gross cash or property received by the Company from all sources, increased
by
reductions in Reserves that reduced Net Distributable Proceeds for prior
periods, and reduced by the portion used (i) to pay Company expenses, including
principal and interest payments under any of the Company’s debt obligations,
(ii) to make investments and capital expenditures, (iii) to fund Reserves and
(iv) to fund the Company’s normal working capital requirements.
3
“Nonrecourse
Deductions”
has the
meaning set forth in Regulation §1.704-2(b)(1).
“Ownership
Percentage Interest”
means
the percentage determined in accordance with Section 2.03 of this
Agreement.
“Person”
means
any individual or any partnership, corporation, estate, trust, limited liability
company or other legal entity.
“Profits”
and
“Losses”
mean,
for each Year or other period, an amount equal to the Company’s taxable income
or loss for such Year or period, determined in accordance with §703(a) of the
Code (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss, or deduction required
to be stated separately pursuant to §703(a)(1) of the Code shall be included in
taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments:
(a) Any
income that is exempt from federal income tax and not otherwise taken into
account in computing Profits and Losses shall be added to such taxable income
or
loss.
(b) Any
expenditures described in §705(a)(2)(B) of the Code or treated as §705(a)(2)(B)
expenditures pursuant to Regulation §1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise
taken into account in computing Profits and Losses shall be subtracted from
such
taxable income or loss.
(c) If
the
Book Value property is adjusted pursuant to Section 2.04(d)(ii) of this
Agreement, the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain
or
loss from the disposition of such property for purposes of computing Profits
or
Losses.
(d) Gain
or
loss resulting from any disposition of property with respect to which gain
or
loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be computed by
reference to the Book Value of the asset disposed of, notwithstanding that
the
adjusted tax basis of such asset differs from its Book Value.
(e) In
lieu
of the depreciation, amortization, and other cost recovery deductions taken
into
account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into
account Depreciation for such Year or other period as determined in accordance
with this Agreement.
(f) To
the
extent adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to
§734(b) or §743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Regulations
§1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts,
the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an
item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if
the adjustment decreases such basis) and such gain or loss shall be allocated
to
the Members in a manner consistent with the manner in which their Capital
Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such section of the
Regulations.
(g) Items
of
income, gain, loss or deduction allocated pursuant to Section 4.02 shall be
excluded from Profits and Losses.
“Regulations”
or “Treasury Regulations”
means
the income tax regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations
may
be amended from time to time.
4
“Reserves”
means
amounts set aside (a) to pay future costs or expenses that are anticipated
to
exceed cash available to pay such costs or expenses when due or (b) for such
other reasonable and legitimate business purposes, in each case as determined
in
the sole discretion of the Managers.
“Sale
of the Company”
means
the sale of the Company to an un-Affiliated Person or group of un-Affiliated
Persons pursuant to which such party or parties acquire (i) all of the issued
and outstanding Units (whether by merger, consolidation or Transfer of Units)
or
(ii) all or substantially all of the Company’s assets determined on a
consolidated basis.
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any similar Federal statute then
in
effect, and any reference to a particular section thereof shall include a
reference to the comparable section, if any, of any such similar Federal
statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Subsidiary”
of the
Company means any other Person whose (a) securities having ordinary voting
power
to elect a majority of the board of directors, managers or general partners
(or
other persons having similar functions) or (b) other ownership interests
(including partnership and limited liability company interests) ordinarily
constituting a majority interest in the capital, profits, distributions or
cash
flow of such Person, are at the time, directly or indirectly, owned or
controlled by the Company, or by one or more other Subsidiaries of the Company,
or by the Company and one or more of its Subsidiaries.
“Transfer”
means to
sell, convey, transfer, syndicate, assign, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or
otherwise encumber or dispose of in any way, including pursuant to equitable
or
other distribution after divorce or separation or by operation of law or
otherwise, any Unit.
“Unit”
means an
ownership interest in the Company, including all of the rights and obligations
in connection therewith under this Agreement and the Act.
“Year”
means
the fiscal year of the Company as set forth in Section 6.03 of the
Agreement.
Section
1.02 Other
Definitions.
Each of
the following defined terms has the meaning given such term in the Section
set
forth opposite such defined term:
Section
|
||||
Annual
Budget
|
5.04
|
(f)
|
||
Claim
|
9.03
|
(a)
|
||
Communications
|
11.01
|
|||
Damages
|
9.02
|
|||
Drag-Along
Members
|
7.07
|
(a)
|
||
Drag-Along
Notice
|
7.07
|
(a)
|
||
Indemnified
Party
|
9.03
|
(a)
|
||
New
Units
|
2.01
|
(c)(i)
|
||
Notice
|
9.03
|
(a)
|
||
Offered
New Units
|
2.01
|
(b)(i)
|
||
Participating
Member
|
7.07
|
|||
Preemptive
Members
|
2.01
|
(b)(i)
|
||
Preemptive
Notice of Acceptance
|
2.01
|
(b)(ii)
|
||
Preemptive
Offer
|
2.01
|
(b)(i)
|
||
Proportionate
Percentage
|
2.01
|
(b)(i)
|
||
Preemptive
Offer Closing Date
|
2.01
|
(b)(i)
|
||
Tax
Distribution
|
3.04
|
|||
6.05
|
(a)
|
|||
Transferring
Member
|
7.06
|
(a)
|
5
Section
1.03 Formation;
Name.
The
Company was formed by the filing of the Certificate by an authorized Person.
The
Members hereby agree to operate the Company as a limited liability company
under
the terms of this Agreement and the Act. Whenever the terms of this Agreement
conflict with the Act, the terms of this Agreement shall control, except with
respect to any matters contained in the Act that cannot be modified or waived
by
a limited liability company agreement. The Company shall be operated under
the
name “Heath XS, LLC.” The Managers or an authorized Person shall file such other
certificates and documents as are necessary to qualify the Company to conduct
business in any jurisdiction in which the Company conducts business. A copy
of
the Certificate shall be provided to any Member on request.
Section
1.04 Registered
Agent and Office; Principal Office.
The
registered agent and office of the Company required under the Act shall be
as
designated in the Certificate, and may be changed by the Managers in accordance
with the Act. The principal business office of the Company shall be located
at
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxx., Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000, or such other address as shall
be
designated by the Managers.
Section
1.05 Purpose.
The
purpose and business of the Company is to engage in the Business. The Company
is
authorized to engage in any business or activity that may be engaged in by
a
limited liability company under the Act, and do any and all acts and things
necessary, appropriate, incidental to, or convenient for the furtherance and
accomplishment of its purposes.
Section
1.06 Term.
The term
of the Company commenced on the date of filing of the Certificate, and the
Company shall continue until the Company is terminated in accordance with
Article VIII.
Section
1.07 Title
to Property.
All real
and personal property owned by the Company shall be owned by the Company as
an
entity and no Member shall have any ownership interest in such property in
the
Member’s individual name or right, and each Member’s Units shall be personal
property for all purposes. The Company shall hold all of its real and personal
property in the name of the Company and not in the name of any
Member.
Section
1.08 Waiver
of Partition.
No
Member shall either directly or indirectly take any action to require partition
or appraisement of the Company or of any of its assets or properties or cause
the sale of any Company property, and notwithstanding any provisions of
applicable law to the contrary, each Member hereby irrevocably waives any and
all right to maintain any action for partition or to compel any sale with
respect to such Member’s Units, or with respect to any assets or properties of
the Company, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
Section
1.09 Partnership
Status.
The
Members intend that the Company shall be treated as a partnership for United
States federal, state and local tax purposes to the extent such treatment is
available, and agree to file all tax returns and take all tax positions in
a
manner consistent with such treatment. The Members agree to take such actions
as
may be necessary to receive and maintain such treatment and refrain from taking
any actions inconsistent with such treatment.
6
ARTICLE
II
Capital
Contributions; Units; Capital Accounts
Section
2.01 Class
of Units; Capital Contributions.
The
Company shall initially issue Class A Units and Class B Units.
(a) Class
A
Units and Class B Units shall be issued in exchange for Capital Contributions,
the amount of which shall be as set forth in the books and records of the
Company.
(b) Preemptive
Rights.
(i) In
the
event that the Company shall propose after the date hereof to issue and sell
any
Units or any rights to subscribe for or purchase pursuant to any option or
otherwise any Units (collectively “New
Units”)
or
enter into any contracts relating to the issuance or sale of any New Units,
each
of the Class A Members and Class B Members (“Preemptive
Members”)
shall
have the right to purchase, at the price and on the terms that the Company
proposes to issue and sell the New Units, a number of the additional New Units
based on each such Preemptive Member’s Ownership Percentage Interest
(“Proportionate
Percentage”).
The
Company shall offer to sell to each Preemptive Member its Proportionate
Percentage of such New Units (“Offered
New Units”)
at
the
price and on the terms described above, which shall be specified by the Company
in a written notice delivered to each Preemptive Member (“Preemptive
Offer”).
The
Preemptive Offer shall by its terms remain open for a period of at least fifteen
(15) calendar days from the date of delivery thereof and shall specify the
date
(“Preemptive
Offer Closing Date”)
on
which
the Offered New Units will be sold to accepting Preemptive Members (which shall
be at least thirty (30) calendar days but not more than ninety (90) calendar
days from the date written notice of the Preemptive Offer is delivered). In
the
event that the Offered New Units consist of more than one Class of Units being
offered, each Preemptive Member exercising such Preemptive Member’s preemptive
rights hereunder shall be required to purchase an equal percentage of each
such
Class of such Offered New Units.
(ii)
Each
Preemptive Member shall have the right, during the period prior to the
Preemptive Offer Closing Date to purchase any or all of its Proportionate
Percentage of the Offered New Units at the purchase price and on the terms
stated in the Preemptive Offer. Notice by any Preemptive Member of its
acceptance, in whole or in part, of a Preemptive Offer shall be in writing
(a
“Preemptive
Notice of Acceptance”)
signed
by such Preemptive Member and delivered to the Company prior to the Preemptive
Offer Closing Date, setting forth the number of Offered New Units such
Preemptive Member elects to purchase.
(iii)
Each
Preemptive Member shall have the additional right to offer in its Preemptive
Notice of Acceptance to purchase any of the Offered New Units not accepted
for
purchase by any other Preemptive Members, in which event such Offered New Units
not accepted by such other Preemptive Members shall be deemed to have been
offered to and accepted by the Preemptive Members exercising such additional
right under this paragraph Section 2.01(b)(iii), pro rata in accordance with
their respective Proportionate Percentages (determined without regard to those
Preemptive Members not electing to purchase their full respective Proportionate
Percentages under the foregoing Section 2.01(b)(ii)) on the same terms and
conditions as those specified in the Preemptive Offer, but in no event shall
any
such electing Preemptive Member be allocated a number of New Units in the
Company in excess of the maximum number of Offered New Units such Preemptive
Member has elected to purchase in its Preemptive Notice of
Acceptance.
7
(iv)
In
the
case of any Preemptive Offer, if Preemptive Notices of Acceptance given by
the
Preemptive Members do not cover in the aggregate all of the Offered New Units,
the Company may during the ninety (90) calendar day period following the
Preemptive Offer Closing Date sell to any other Person or Persons all or any
part of the New Units not covered by the Preemptive Notices of Acceptance,
but
only on the terms and conditions that are no more favorable to such Person
or
Persons than those set forth in the Preemptive Offer and subject to and
conditioned upon such Person(s) compliance with Section 7.02 with respect to
admission as a new Member.
(v)
The
preemptive rights established by this Section 2.01(b) shall have no application
to the issuance and sale by the Company of any Units or other equity securities
of the Company: (a) in connection with any distribution or recapitalization
of
the Company; (b) to banks, equipment lessors or other financial institutions
pursuant to a debt financing or equipment leasing transaction approved by the
Managers (in their sole discretion); (c) to employees, officers,
consultants or other Persons performing services for the Company (if issued
solely because of any such Person’s status as an employee, officer, consultant
or other Person performing services for the Company and not as part of any
offering of Units or equity securities) whether or not pursuant to or any equity
incentive plan approved by the Managers (in their sole discretion) and (d)
in
connection with a merger, consolidation, acquisition or similar business
combination approved by the Managers (in their sole discretion).
(vi)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall neither issue
nor
sell any Class B Units other than the Class B Units issued to the Class B Member
on the date of this Agreement.
Section
2.02 Additional
Capital Contributions.
No
Member shall be obligated to make any additional Capital Contributions to the
Company.
Section
2.03 Ownership
Percentage Interests.
Each
Member shall have the Ownership Percentage Interest in the Company determined
by
dividing the number of Units owned by such Member by the total number of Units
issued and outstanding. The Ownership Percentage Interest of each Member shall
be set forth next to such Member’s name on Exhibit “A” attached
hereto.
Section
2.04 Capital
Accounts.
A
Capital Account shall be maintained and adjusted for each Member in accordance
with the following provisions:
(a) Additions
to Capital Accounts.
To each
Member’s Capital Account there shall be added the Member’s Capital Contributions
and the Member’s distributive share of Profits and any items of income or gain
which are allocated separately from Profits under Section 4.02.
(b) Subtractions
from Capital Accounts.
From
each Member’s Capital Account there shall be subtracted the amount of money and
the Book Value of any Company property distributed to the Member (net of any
liabilities to which the property is subject or that are assumed by the Member
in connection with the distribution), and the Member’s distributive share of
Losses and any items of expenses or losses which are allocated separately from
Losses under Section 4.02.
(c) Transfers.
If any
Unit is transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the
transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent
it relates to the transferred Unit.
8
(d) Book
Values.
For
purposes of determining a Member’s Capital Contributions and Capital Account,
property held by the Company shall be taken into account in accordance with
the
following provisions:
(i) The
Book
Value of any property contributed by a Member to the Company initially shall
be
the gross fair market value of the property.
(ii) The
Book
Value of all Company property shall be adjusted to equal the respective gross
fair market values of the property as of the following times, unless the
Managers determine that such adjustment is not necessary to reflect the economic
arrangement among the Members: (A) the acquisition of an additional Unit by
any
new or existing Member in exchange for services or more than a de minimis
Capital
Contribution; (B) the distribution by the Company to a Member of more than
a
de minimis
amount
of cash or property as consideration for a Unit; or (C) the liquidation of
the
Company within the meaning of Regulation §1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g). If any property
is distributed to a Member, the Book Value of such property shall be adjusted
to
equal the gross fair market value of such property immediately before such
distribution.
(iii) The
Book
Values of Company property shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any
adjustments to the adjusted basis of such property pursuant to §734(b) or
§743(b) of the Code, but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken
into
account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Regulation
§1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m).
(iv) The
Book
Value of Company property shall be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into
account with respect to such property.
Section
2.05 Compliance
with Regulations.
The
foregoing provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital
Accounts are intended to comply with §704(b) of the Code and the Regulations
issued thereunder, and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent
with such Regulations. If the Managers determine that it is appropriate to
modify the manner in which the Capital Accounts are computed or any items are
allocated under Article 4 in order to comply with such Regulations, the Managers
may make such modification, provided that such modification shall not have
a
material effect on the amounts distributable to any Member.
Section
2.06 No
Interest.
No
interest shall be paid on any Capital Contributions or Capital Account balance
of any Member.
Section
2.07 No
Deficit Make-Up.
No
Member shall be obligated to the Company or to any other Member solely because
of a deficit balance in such Member’s Capital Account.
ARTICLE
III
Distributions
Section
3.01 Distributions
of Net Distributable Proceeds.
Net
Distributable Proceeds shall be distributed to the Members at such times, but
in
no event less than at least annually (which annual distributions can be deferred
at the option of the Board of Managers until a date no later than 20 business
days following finalization of the annual audit of the consolidated financial
statements of the Class A Member), and in such amounts as shall be determined
by
the Managers. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Net Distributable Proceeds
shall be distributed to the Class B Member upon the occurrence of the Option
Closing as set forth in Section 7.05 of this Agreement. Net Distributable
Proceeds shall be distributed among the Members in proportion to their Ownership
Percentage Interests.
The
foregoing shall be subject to the provisions of Section 3.04.
9
Section
3.02 Amounts
Withheld.
The
Company is authorized to withhold from distributions or with respect to
allocations and pay over to any federal, state, local or foreign government
any
amounts required to be withheld with respect to any Member pursuant to any
provisions of federal, state, local or foreign law. All amounts so withheld
shall be treated as amounts distributed to the Members pursuant to Section
3.01
of this Agreement, depending upon the source of the income that gives rise
to
the withholding obligation. To the extent any amount withheld with respect
to a
Member pursuant to this Section 3.02 for any Year exceeds the amount
distributable to such Member pursuant to Section 3.01 for such Year, such Member
shall repay such excess to the Company within ten (10) days after such Member
receives written notice from the Company of the amount of such
excess.
Section
3.03 Tax
Distributions. The
Managers shall cause the Company to distribute to each Member for each Year
to
the extent cash is available for distribution an amount of cash which equals
(A)(i) the amount of net taxable income allocable to the Member in respect
of
such Year multiplied by (ii) the combined effective maximum individual federal,
state and local income tax rate attributable to such taxable
income (determined as if all Members were residents of New Jersey and
taking into account the deductibility of state and local income taxes for
federal income tax purposes), reduced by (B) any amounts withheld by the Company
for federal, state and local income taxes with respect to the Member for such
year (the “Tax
Distribution”).
Tax
Distributions shall be made no later than ninety (90) days after the end of
the
Year, and shall be made quarterly during the Year based upon the Managers’
estimates of the net taxable income for the Year. Tax Distributions shall be
treated as an advance against and correspondingly reduce amounts otherwise
distributable to the Member (other than amounts to be distributed as a return
of
capital) and not as additional distributions.
Section
3.04 Indemnification
Set Off.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx fails to make
all
or a portion of an applicable indemnification payment to the Class A Member
(or
the election of the Class A Member, the Company) under the Purchase Agreement,
the Managers shall be required, at the election of the Class A Member, to pay
any Net Distributable Proceeds otherwise distributable to the Class B Member
under Section 3.01 directly to the Class A Member (or to retain such amounts
in
the Company) in the amount of the defaulted amount until such time as such
defaulted amount is fully satisfied.
ARTICLE
IV
Profits
and Losses
Section
4.01 General
Allocation of Profits and Losses.
After
taking into account any special allocations pursuant to Section 4.02 and subject
to any limitations contained therein, Profits, Losses and, to the extent
necessary, individual items of income, gain, loss or deduction, of the Company
shall be allocated among the Members in a manner such that the Capital Account
of each Member, immediately after making such allocation, is, as nearly as
possible, equal (proportionately) to the distributions that would be made to
such Member if the Company were dissolved, its affairs wound up and its assets
sold for cash equal to their Book Value, all Company liabilities were satisfied
(limited with respect to each nonrecourse liability to the Book Value of the
assets securing such liability), and the net assets of the Company were
distributed in accordance with Article III to the Members immediately after
making such allocation.
10
Section
4.02 Special
Allocations.
(a) Limitation
on Allocation of Items of Loss or Deduction.
No items
of loss or deduction may be allocated to any Member to the extent such
allocation would result in an Adjusted Capital Account deficit balance for
such
Member. Any items of loss or deduction that are prohibited to be allocated
to a
Member under the preceding sentence shall be reallocated among the other Members
to whom such limitation does not apply in accordance with their relative
Ownership Percentage Interests. If, at the end of a Year, any Member has an
Adjusted Capital Account deficit balance, such Member shall be allocated items
of gross income and gain to the extent necessary to eliminate such deficit
balance.
(b) Nonrecourse
Deductions and Company Minimum Gain Chargeback.
Nonrecourse Deductions shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with
their Ownership Percentage Interests. If there is a net decrease in Company
Minimum Gain for any Year, each Member shall be allocated the next available
items of income and gain for such Year (and for subsequent Years if necessary)
equal to such Member’s share of the net decrease in Company Minimum Gain as
determined in accordance with Regulation §1.704-2(g) and the “minimum gain
chargeback” requirement of Regulation §1.704-2(f).
(c) Member
Nonrecourse Deductions and Chargeback.
Member
Nonrecourse Deductions for any Year shall be allocated to the Member who bears
the economic risk of loss with respect to the Member Nonrecourse Debt to which
such Member Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable as determined under
Regulation §1.704-2(i). If there is a net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt
Minimum Gain in any Year, each Member shall be allocated items of income and
gain for such Year (and for subsequent Years if necessary) equal to such
Member’s share of the net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain in
accordance with Regulation §1.704-2(i)(4).
(d) Qualified
Income Offset.
Any
Member who unexpectedly receives, with respect to the Company, an adjustment,
allocation, or distribution of any item described in subsections (4), (5),
or
(6) of Regulation §1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) shall be allocated items of income and
gain in an amount sufficient to eliminate such Member’s Adjusted Capital Account
deficit balance arising thereby as quickly as possible, in accordance with
the
“qualified income offset” rule of Regulation
§1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(3).
(e) Gross
Income Allocation.
In the
event any Member has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any Year which
is
in excess of the sum of (i) the amount such Member is obligated to restore
pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and (ii) the amount such Member
is
deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of
Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations, each such
Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain in the
amount of such excess as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation
pursuant to this Section 4.02(e) shall be made only if and to the extent that
such Member would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after
all
other allocations provided for in this Article IV have been made as if Section
4.02(d) hereof and this Section 4.02(e) were not in the Agreement.
(f) Curative
Allocations.
The
special allocations set forth in this Section 4.02 are intended to comply with
the requirements of the Regulations under §704(b) of the Code. It is the intent
of the Members that all such special allocations shall be offset with other
special allocations. Accordingly, to the extent consistent with the Regulations,
to the extent that any such special allocations are made to a Member, subsequent
offsetting special allocations shall be made to such Member such that the net
amount of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction allocated to each Member
is the same that would have been allocated to each Member if no special
allocations had been made to any Member, taking into account future special
allocations that, although not yet made, are likely to offset previous special
allocations.
11
Section
4.03 Allocation
During Year.
For
purposes of determining Profits, Losses, or any other items allocable to any
period ending on a date other than the last day of the Company’s Year, Profits,
Losses, and any such other items shall be allocated among such periods using
such method permitted by §706 of the Code and the Regulations thereunder as
shall be chosen by the Managers.
Section
4.04 Tax
Allocations.
(a) General
Allocation.
Except
as otherwise provided in this Section 4.04, items of income, gain, loss and
deduction as determined for federal income tax purposes shall be allocated
in
the same manner as the related items of Profits, Losses, or specially allocated
items. Tax credits shall be allocated in accordance with Regulation
§1.704-1(b)(4)(ii).
(b) Contributed
Property.
In
accordance with §704(c) of the Code and the Regulations thereunder, income,
gain, loss, and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the
capital of the Company shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated among the
Members so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of
such property to the Company for federal income tax purposes and its Book
Value.
(c) Revaluations.
If the
Book Value of any property is adjusted pursuant to Section 2.04(d)(ii) of this
Agreement, income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such property shall
be allocated among the Members so as to take account of any variation between
the adjusted basis of such property for federal income tax purposes and its
Book
Value in the same manner as under §704(c) of the Code and the Regulations
thereunder.
(d) No
Effect on Capital Accounts.
Allocations pursuant to this Section 4.04 are solely for purposes of federal,
state, and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account
in computing, any Member’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, or other
items or distributions pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.
(e) Allocation
Method.
The
method for making allocations pursuant to Section 4.04(b) and Section 4.04(c)
shall be such method permitted by Regulation Section 1.704-3 as shall be
selected by the Managers. The provisions of this Section 4.04(e) (and other
related provision in this Agreement) pertaining to the allocation of items
of
Company income, gain, loss, deductions, and credits shall be interpreted
consistently with the Treasury Regulations, and to the extent unintentionally
inconsistent with such Treasury Regulations, shall be deemed to be modified
to
the extent necessary to make such provisions consistent with the Treasury
Regulations.
Section
4.05 754
Election. The
Managers (based on the vote of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Managers)
shall have the sole discretion to determine whether the Company should make
an
election under Section 754 of the Code.
12
ARTICLE
V
Management
of Company
Section
5.01 General
Provisions Concerning Management.
The
powers of the Company shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and
the
business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of,
the
Managers. No Member (other than in such Person’s capacity as a Manager) has the
authority or power to act for or on behalf of the Company, to do any act that
would be binding on the Company or to incur any expenditures on behalf of the
Company.
Section
5.02 Appointment,
Term and Actions of Managers.
The
Company shall have a Board of Managers consisting of three (3) Managers, two
(2)
of whom will be appointed by the affirmative vote of a Majority-in-Interest
of
the Class A Members (the “Class
A Managers”)
and
one (1) of whom will be appointed by the affirmative vote of a
Majority-in-Interest of the Class B Members (the “Class
B Managers”).
The
initial Class A Managers shall be Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx.
The
initial Class B Manager shall be Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx. The
Board
of Managers will have three (3) votes. Each Manager shall have one (1)
vote.
The
Class A Member may expand the Board of Managers to a size not to exceed five
(5)
Managers, and all such additional seats shall be designated solely by the Class
A Member.
Section
5.03 Resignation
and Removal of Managers.
Each
Manager shall serve until death, resignation, or removal in accordance with
this
Agreement. A Manager may resign at any time upon giving written notice of
resignation to the Members and all other Managers. A Class A Manager may be
removed at any time (with or without cause) by the affirmative vote of a
Majority-in-Interest of the Class A Members. A Class B Manager may be removed
at
any time (with or without cause) by the affirmative vote of a
Majority-in-Interest of the Class B Members. If a Manager ceases to serve as
a
Manager at any time for any reason, the resulting vacancy shall be filled by
a
Manager appointed in accordance with Section 5.02 (i.e., the Class A Members
shall designate the individual(s) to fill any vacancy resulting from the removal
or other cessation of service of a Manager originally appointed by the Class
A
Members).
Section
5.04 Actions
Requiring Consent of Managers and Members.
All
actions of the Managers, including but not limited to the matters set forth
in
this Section 5.04 shall require the consent of more than fifty percent (50%)
of
the votes of the Managers; provided, however that the actions set forth in
Section 5.04(b) shall require the unanimous consent of the Members. Except
as
required by applicable law, or as otherwise set forth herein, the Managers
may
delegate the day-to-day operations of the Company to the President (or other
officers of the Company, as properly designated by the Managers and/or the
President at the direction of the Managers), who will be appointed by the
Managers. To the extent any such agreement is in effect, the President’s duties
and terms of employment will be as set forth in such employment agreement
between the Company and/or its Subsidiaries and the President..
(a) The
actions requiring the approval of the Managers are:
(i) any
act
other than in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries material to the financial condition or operation of the Company
or
any of its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(ii) borrowing
money in the name of the Company or any Subsidiary or guaranteeing obligations
of any Person or utilizing assets of the Company or any Subsidiary as security
for any loans or other obligations whether such loans or obligations are those
of the Company or of any other Person;
(iii) the
review and approval of an annual business plan to be submitted by the President
within forty-five (45) days prior to the end of each Year (and any updates
to
that plan during the year as required), which shall include, but not be limited
to, an approval of an operations budget, capital expenditures, debt financing
requirements and capital lease arrangements (the “Annual
Budget”);
13
(iv) the
approval of any action that may result in a material deviation from the Annual
Budget;
(v) the
purchase, lease or other acquisition, use or benefit of: assets, properties,
rights or privileges, whether any of the foregoing be real or personal, tangible
or intangible, of any kind or description, whether income-producing or not
if
such purchase, lease or other acquisition involves a transaction or series
of
transactions valued in excess of $50,000, and except for transactions accounted
for in the Annual Budget;
(vi) declaration
or payment of any distribution to any Member, except as otherwise required
by
the terms of this Agreement;
(vii) entering
into contracts or other agreements by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
with any Manager, Member or any Person related to or Affiliated with any Manager
or Member;
(viii) commencement
of any litigation or filing of any counterclaim in respect of then existing
litigation, other than for the collection of accounts receivable;
(ix) approval
of the creation of any Subsidiaries and the adoption of governance agreements
or
arrangements in respect thereof, or any other investment in, or the acquisition
of stocks or bonds of, other Persons or any equity interest in any other
Person;
(x) loaning
money to any Person;
(xi) assuming
on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries any binding obligations
with
respect to a collective bargaining agreement;
(xii) adoption,
approval or termination of any employee benefit plan (as defined in the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder) or material welfare plans for any employees
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including retirement plans (including
any plans relating to post retirement medical benefits other than as required
by
law), severance plans, deferred compensation plans and health plans;
(xiii) Actions
(whether or not permitted to be taken without the consent of the Managers
pursuant to any exception above) determined by the Chief Executive Officer
of
the Class A Member, or by the Managers of the Company, to require the consent
of
the Managers.
(b) The
actions requiring unanimous consent of the Members are:
(i) the
authorization or approval of any voluntary declaration of bankruptcy of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(ii) the
divestiture on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any business,
operation or entity (whether by asset purchase, stock purchase, merger or
otherwise) material to the Company and its Subsidiaries collectively; including
without limitation the sale to any third party of certain equity securities
in
the Company’s Subsidiaries, which for the avoidance of doubt shall not be
subject to the provisions of Section 2.01(c) of the Agreement;
14
(iii) the
sale,
pledge, mortgage, lease, exchange, or grant options for the purchase, lease
or
exchange, of any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries’ assets material to
the business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, other than
in
the ordinary course of business; provided that for purposes of clause (ii)
and
(iii), “material” shall mean assets, business or operations representing more
than 50% of the Pre-Tax Income of the Company, Hardscrabble,
LLC and their Subsidiaries;
(iv) causing
the Company to purchase any Member’s Units, other than in respect of any
purchase pursuant to Article VII;
(v) approval
of any Additional Capital Contributions;
(vi) unless
such change does not materially adversely affect the Class B Member, approval
of
any tax elections of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including any
election that would result in the Company being taxed as other than a
“partnership” for federal income tax purposes, including electing to be taxed as
other than a “partnership” by filing Internal Revenue Service Form 8832, “Entity
Classification Election”;
(vii) approving
or adopting any revocation of the Certificate of Formation or, unless such
change does not adversely affect the rights of the Class B Member or conflict
with any provision herein, approving or adopting any amendment or restatement
of
the Certificate of Formation of the Company;
(viii) the
authorization or approval of any plan of dissolution of the Company or any
of
its Subsidiaries, any liquidating distribution of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries’ assets or other action relating to the dissolution or liquidation
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(ix) changing
the location of the Company’s principal business office, unless such change does
not require the Class B Manager’s principal place of business to relocate more
than ten miles from Basking Ridge, New Jersey;
(x) in
the
event the Class A Member or any Affiliate of the Class A Member becomes the
carrier with respect to any business, decreasing the commission on gross written
premium, less cancellations and returned premiums according to the Company's
books and records below the greater of (A) twenty-three percent (23%) written
on
a non-admitted basis and twenty-two and one-half percent (22.5%) written on
an
admitted basis and (B) the commission rate in effect with any carrier at the
time the Class A Member or any Affiliate of the Class A Member becomes the
carrier.
Section
5.05 Meetings
of Managers and Members; Written Consents.
Meetings
of the Managers may be called by any Manager upon 24 hours advance notice by
phone or email or other reasonable means. Meetings of the Members may be called
by any Manager or at the request of Members holding at least fifty percent
(50%)
of the Class A Units or Class B Units upon 24 hours advance notice by phone
or
email or other reasonable means. Any Manager or Member may participate in a
meeting by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment
by
means of which all Persons participating in the meeting can hear and speak
to
each other at the same time or in sequence, and participation in a meeting
pursuant to this provision shall constitute presence at the meeting. Any action
required or permitted to be taken at a meeting may be taken without a meeting
if
a consent, in writing, setting forth the action so taken shall be signed by
the
Managers or Members required to approve such action.
A quorum
of the Board of Managers shall be 2 Managers. Both Members shall be present
at a
meeting of the Members. Approval of matters at any meeting of the Members shall
requires the consent of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Units,
subject to any matters that require unanimous consent of the Members pursuant
to
Section 5.04(b).
15
Section
5.06 Fiduciary
Duties.
Except
as expressly provided in this Agreement, notwithstanding any other provision
of
law or equity, each Member and Manager shall, to the maximum extent permitted
by
the Act, owe no duties (including no fiduciary duties) to the Company or any
other Person bound by this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to
the
extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities of a Covered
Person to the Company or its Members otherwise existing at law or in equity,
are
agreed by the Parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of
such Covered Person.
Section
5.07 Actions
of Members.
The
Members hereby agree and acknowledge that any actions which the Members are
permitted to take pursuant to the terms of the Act shall be superseded by the
terms of this Agreement to the extent that the Agreement provides the Managers
the right to take all such actions without the Members’ approval.
Section
5.08 Contracts
with Affiliates.
The
Company may enter into contracts and agreements for property or services in
the
ordinary course of business with any Manager, Member or any Person related
to or
Affiliated with any Manager or Member, provided such contracts and agreements
are on terms and conditions which are on arms length terms or otherwise approved
by a majority of the disinterested Managers.
If the
Board of Managers determines that the Company requires additional funding,
the
Class A Member may make loans to the Company on prevailing market terms as
determined by the Board of Managers.
Section
5.09 Company
Expenses.
Each
Manager or Member shall be reimbursed for all expenses incurred by the Manager
or Member for or on behalf of the Company consistent with the corporate policies
of the Class A Member, including reasonable travel expenses of any Member or
Manager to attend meetings at the Company’s principal business office or other
locations as determined by the Managers.
ARTICLE
VI
Books
and Records; Tax and Financial Matters
Section
6.01 Bank
Accounts.
All
funds of the Company shall be deposited in a bank account or accounts opened
in
the Company’s name. The Managers shall determine the institution or institutions
at which the accounts will be opened and maintained, the types of accounts,
and
the Persons who will have authority with respect to the accounts and the funds
therein.
Section
6.02 Books
and Records.
During
the term of existence of the Company, the Managers shall keep or cause to be
kept complete and accurate books and records of the Company and supporting
documentation of the transactions with respect to the conduct of the
Company’s business.
The books and records shall be maintained in accordance with GAAP and shall
be
available at the Company’s principal office for examination by any Member or the
Member’s duly authorized representative for any purpose reasonably related to
such Member’s Units in the Company at any and all reasonable times during normal
business hours. The Company will maintain the following records, among others,
at its principal office:
16
(a) A
current
list of
the full
name and last known business address of each Member;
(b) A
copy of
the Certificate of Formation and all amendments thereto together with executed
copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which such Certificate of Formation
has been executed;
(c) Copies
of
the Company’s federal, foreign, state and local income tax returns and reports,
if any, for the three most recent Years;
(d) Copies
of
this Agreement including all amendments thereto;
(e) Any
financial statements of the Company for the seven most recent fiscal Years
of
the Company or such longer period as the Managers may determine;
(f) A
writing
or other data compilation from which information can be obtained through
retrieval devices into reasonable usable form setting forth the
following:
(i) the
amount of cash and a description and statement of the agreed value of the other
property or services contributed by each Member and which each Member has agreed
to contribute;
(ii) the
times
at which or events on the happening of which any Additional Capital
Contributions agreed to be made by any Member are to be made; and
(iii) A
record
of the Capital Account of each Member.
Section
6.03 Fiscal
Year.
The
fiscal year of the Company shall be the twelve months ending December 31. A
fiscal quarter shall be a period of three months ending on the last day of
the
fiscal year and on the last day of March, June and September,
respectively.
Section
6.04 Reports.
The
Managers shall be responsible for the preparation of financial reports of the
Company and the coordination of financial matters of the Company with the
Company’s accountants. The Managers shall have the right to select the Company’s
independent certified public accountants (which may be the same as the
independent certified public accountants of the Class A Member with respect
to
its annual audit) .
(a) The
Company shall make available to the Class A Members and Class B Members within
thirty (30) days of the end of each quarter (other than the last month of the
Company’s fiscal year) the following financial statements:
(i) a
balance
sheet of the Company as of the last day of the month;
(ii) a
statement of income or loss of the Company for such month and for the entire
fiscal year through the end of the month; and
(iii) a
statement of the Company’s cash flow for such month and for the entire fiscal
year through the end of the month.
(b) The
quarterly financial statements provided for above need not be reviewed or
audited by Company’s independent certified public accountants, but shall be
prepared in accordance with GAAP, applied on a consistent
basis.
17
(c) As
soon
as practicable after the close of each fiscal Year of the Company, the Company
shall cause to be prepared a financial report of the Company for such fiscal
Year, including a balance sheet as of the last day of such fiscal Year, a
statement of income and loss of the Company for the fiscal Year and a statement
of the Company’s cash flow for the fiscal Year, and a schedule of distributions
to the Members and allocations of Profit or Loss during the fiscal Year. Such
balance sheet, statement of income and loss and statement of cash flow shall
be
prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis and shall be
audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by the
Company’s firm of independent public accountants and the cost thereof shall be
borne by the Company. Such annual financial reports of the Company shall be
promptly (but in no event later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the
end
of the Year) transmitted to each Class A Member and Class B Member.
Section
6.05 Tax
Matters.
(a) The
Member holding a majority of Class A Unitts shall serve as the tax matters
partner (the “Tax
Matters Partner”)
within
the meaning of Section 6231 of the Code. The Tax Matters Partner shall represent
the Company on behalf of the Members in connection with all administrative
and
judicial proceedings with respect to Company affairs involving or resulting
from
examinations by any and all federal, state or other tax authorities (including,
but not limited to, examinations by the Internal Revenue Service), and may
expend Company funds for reasonable professional services and costs in
connection therewith as it deems advisable and necessary; provided,
however, that,
except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or by law, the Tax Matters
Partner does not assume any obligations or responsibilities with respect to
the
foregoing. Any Member other than the Tax Matters Partner who wishes to
participate in the administrative proceedings at the partnership level may
do
so, and any legal, accounting or other expenses incurred by such Member in
connection therewith shall be borne by the Company. The Tax Matters Partner
shall promptly take such action as may be necessary to cause each Member to
become a “notice partner” within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(8) of the Code.
The Tax Matters Partner shall furnish to each Member a copy of all notices
or
other written communications received by the Tax Matters Partner from the
Internal Revenue Service (except such notices or communications as are sent
directly to the Member by the Internal Revenue Service). The Tax Matters Partner
shall give to Members prompt written notice upon receipt of advice that the
Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority intends to examine any
Company tax return or the books and records
of the Company. The Company and the Members hereby severally agree to indemnify
and hold harmless the Tax Matters Partner from and against any claim, loss,
expense, liability, action or damage resulting from its acting or failing to
take any action in its capacity as the Tax Matters Partner, provided that any
such action or failure to act was not fraudulent, in bad faith, a result of
wanton or willful misconduct or gross negligence by such Member.
(b) Each
of
the Members, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, agree to
furnish or cause to be furnished to each other, as promptly as practicable
such
information and assistance as is reasonably necessary for the preparation and
filing of any return, claim for refund or other required or optional filings
relating to tax matters, for the preparation for and proof of facts during
any
tax audit, for the preparation for any tax protest, for the prosecution or
defense of any suit or other proceeding relating to tax matters and for the
answer to any governmental or regulatory inquiry relating to tax
matters.
(c) Each
tax
return and any other statement to be filed by the Company with the Internal
Revenue Service or any other taxing authority shall be prepared by the
accountants (including outside accountants) for the Company, whose expenses
shall be borne by the Company. Draft copies of each such tax return and
statement shall be distributed to the Members not later than thirty (30) days
before the date on which the same is required to be filed, including any
extensions of such filing date.
18
(d) The
provisions of this Section 6.05 shall be subject to the covenants set forth
in
Section 7.7 of the Purchase Agreement
ARTICLE
VII
Transfers,
Admissions, and Withdrawals
Section
7.01 Transfers.
Except
as provided in Section 7.04 or Section 7.05 hereof, no Member shall,
directly or indirectly, Transfer all or any portion of his Units including
any
rights to receive distributions or other similar or dissimilar rights or
interest, without the consent of the Managers and
other
than in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Article VII. A Transfer
or issuance of Equity Securities of a Member, or an Indirect Owner of a Member,
that is an entity shall be deemed to be an indirect Transfer of Units; provided
that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Transfer or issuance of
Equity Securities of the Class A Member or of any owner or shareholder of the
Class A Member shall not constitute a Transfer of Units. Any such attempted
prohibited Transfer not permitted hereunder shall be null and void ab
initio
and the
Company shall not register or effect such Transfer and the Member making the
purported Transfer shall indemnify and hold the Company and the other Members
harmless from any against any federal, state or local income taxes, or transfer
taxes arising as a result of, or caused directly or indirectly by, such
purported Transfer. In
the
event that any prohibited involuntary transfer of title or beneficial ownership
of any Units shall occur by court order, Law or otherwise than a voluntary
decision of a Member (an “Involuntary
Transfer”)
that
purports to override the provisions of this Section
7.01,
the
person or entity to whom any such Units have been Involuntarily Transferred
shall be subject to the obligations set forth in this Article VII.
Section
7.02 Admissions.
(a) Subject
to Section 7.02(b), no transferee of a Unit shall be admitted as a Member of
the
Company without the written consent of the Managers.
(b) A
transferee will only be admitted as a Member if the transferee agrees to be
legally bound by this Agreement as a Member and executes and delivers to the
Company such documents and instruments as are necessary or appropriate in
connection with the transferee becoming a Member.
(c) Any
transferee of a Unit who is not admitted as a Member shall have the rights
of an
assignee with respect to distributions and Profits, Losses, and other
allocations attributable to the transferred Unit, but shall have no rights
as a
Member under this Agreement or the Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Units
of the assignee shall be subject to the restrictions contained in this Agreement
applicable to Units held by a Member.
Section
7.03 No
Withdrawal.
No
Member shall have the right to withdraw from the Company prior to the
dissolution and winding up of the Company.
Section
7.04 Permitted
Transfers.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, any Member may transfer all or part
of
such Member’s Units to (i) such Member’s Family Members or trusts for the
benefit of such Member’s Family Members or (ii) any limited liability company,
partnership or corporation Controlled by the Member, without the consent of
the
Managers; provided that, until such time as the Heath
Put-Call Option expires, the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.04
shall not apply. Any transferee of Units that is a permitted transferee under
this Section 7.04 may, subject to Section 7.02, become a substituted Member.
Further, the Parties hereto understand and agree that the permitted transfer
provisions of this Section 7.04 shall not be effective or valid to accomplish
an
indirect transfer of legal or beneficial ownership intended to be subject to
the
restrictions of this Article VII.
19
Section
7.05 Put/Call
Option.
(a) At
any
time on or following the earlier of (i) the fourth anniversary of the date
here
of, (ii) the termination by the Company of the employment of Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
with the Company or (ii) a Hallmark Change of Control, and until the tenth
anniversary of the Closing (the “Option
Expiration Date”),
(a)
the Class A Member shall have the right (the “Call
Right”)
to
purchase from the Class B Member all, but not less than all, equity interests
in
the Company held by the Class B Member (the “Remaining
Heath Group Securities”)
and
(b) the Class B Member shall have the right (the “Put
Right”)
to
sell to the Class A Member all, but not less than all, of the Remaining Heath
Group Securities, in each case ((a) and (b)) for a price equal to the Adjusted
Option Price (the foregoing, the “Heath
Put-Call Option”).
If
the Class A Member elects to exercise the Call Right, the Class B Member
shall
sell to the Class A Member all of the Remaining Heath Group Securities at
the
Adjusted Option Price. If the Class B Member elects to exercise the Put Right,
the Class A Member shall purchase from the Class B Member all of the Remaining
Heath Group Securities at the Adjusted Option Price. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Put Right shall not apply if the employment of Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxx
with the Company is terminated by the Company with cause (as defined in the
employment agreement then in effect between Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx and the Company).
Further notwithstanding the foregoing, the Call Right shall not apply if
the
employment of Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx with the Company is terminated by the Company
without cause.
A
Party
shall make its respective election hereunder to purchase or sell, as the
case
may be, Remaining Heath Group Securities hereunder by written notice (the
“Option
Notice”)
to
other Party referencing this Section
7.05.
The
closing of the purchase and sale of Remaining Heath Group Securities hereunder
(an “Option
Closing”)
shall
take place at the Class A Member’s offices not later than 30 calendar days
following delivery to the Class B Member of the Option Notice, or at such
other
place and such other time as the Parties may mutually agree; provided that,
the
Option Closing shall be delayed to a later date in the Class A Member’s
discretion if the Class A Member’s counsel reasonably determines that any third
party or regulatory consents are required or advisable in connection with
the
Option Closing. At an Option Closing, the applicable Parties shall execute
and
deliver such instruments as shall be appropriate to transfer Remaining Heath
Group Securities to the Class A Member (it being understood that the Class
B
Member shall make customary representations and warranties with respect to
such
transfer documents and shall make customary ownership and title representations
with respect to the Remaining Heath Group Securities), and the Class A Member
shall deliver to the Class B Member by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to the bank account set forth on a notice given to the Class A Member
by
the Class B Member at least three (3) business days prior to the Option Closing.
The parties agree to cooperate to obtain, and shall bear expenses pro rata
for
their relative ownership (on a pre Option Closing basis) of the Companies
with
respect to obtaining, any consents deemed required or advisable to obtain
in
connection with an Option Closing. Prior to or upon the occurrence of the
Option
Closing, the Managers shall cause the Company to distribute any and all accrued
but unpaid Net Distributable Proceeds due to the Class B Member. The Heath
Put-Call Option pursuant to this Agreement shall be exercised only in
conjunction with the Hardscrabble Put-Call Option pursuant to the Hardscrabble
Data Solutions, LLC Operating Agreement dated of even date
herewith.
20
(b) For
purposes of Section
7.05(a):
“Adjusted
Option Price”
shall
mean the product of (x) nine (9) times (y) the average of Pre-Tax Income for
the
most recent trailing twelve (12) quarters ending prior to the date of the Option
Closing times (z) the Class B Member’s Ownership Percentage Interest of the
Company. In the event Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx’x employment with the Company is
terminated after the first month of any quarter, such quarter shall be included
in the twelve quarters preceding the date of the Option Closing for the purpose
of calculating the Adjusted Option Price. In the event Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx’x
employment is terminated prior to the date which is twelve (12) quarters from
the Closing Date, the period of time set forth in (y) above shall be the most
recent trailing twelve (12) months ending prior to the date of the Option
Closing.
“Pre-Tax
Income”
shall
mean: (i) the total amount of gross written premium written on an admitted
basis
multiplied by 22.5% (less cancellations and returned premiums), plus (ii) the
total amount of gross written premium written on a non-admitted basis multiplied
by 23.0% (less cancellations and returned premiums), plus (iii) investment
income, plus (iv) fee income, less (v) operating expenses (including acquisition
costs and other reasonable, mutually agreed allocations of business and
corporate expenses, including corporate audit expenses).
“Hallmark
Change in Control” shall
mean the consummation of a transaction following which an entity or person
(other than Newcastle Partners, L.P., Newcastle Capital Management, L.P., Xxxx
Xxxxxxx or any affiliate of any of the foregoing (the “Newcastle
Parties”))
shall
alone, or together with its affiliates (other than any Newcastle Parties),
beneficially own more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding common stock
of the Class A Member.
Section
7.06 Right
of Co-Sale.
(a) Subject
to the provisions of this Article VII, if during the term of this Agreement
a
Member desires to transfer, directly or indirectly any such Member’s Units (the
“Transferring
Member”)
to a
third-party purchaser in a transaction or series of related transactions
involving the Transfer of Units representing in the aggregate at least
twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding Units at such time, the
Transferring Member(s) shall first give not less than twenty (20) calendar
days
prior written notice to each of the other Members (the “Co-Sale
Members”).
Such
notice (the “Co-Sale
Notice”)
shall
set forth the terms and conditions of such proposed Transfer, including the
name
of the proposed transferee, the number of Co-Sale Units, the purchase price
per
Unit proposed to be paid therefor and the payment terms and type of transfer
to
be effectuated. Nothing set forth herein shall be construed to override the
restrictions on Transfer set forth in Section 7.01 and 7.04.
(b) Within
ten (10) calendar days of delivery of the Co-Sale Notice by the Transferring
Member(s), each Co-Sale Member shall, by written notice to the Transferring
Member(s), have the opportunity and right to sell to the proposed transferee
in
such proposed Transfer (upon the same terms and conditions as the Transferring
Member(s), subject to Section 7.06(c)) up to that number of Units owned by
such
Co-Sale Member as shall equal the product of (x) a fraction, the numerator
of
which is the number of Co-Sale Units and the denominator of which is the
aggregate number of Units owned of record by the Transferring Members as of
the
date of the Co-Sale Notice, multiplied
by (y)
the number of Units owned of record by such Co-Sale Member as of the date of
the
Co-Sale Notice. Such written notice shall state the aggregate number of Units
that such Co-Sale Member proposes to include in such Transfer.
21
(c) If
any
Co-Sale Member exercises its rights pursuant to this Section 7.06, then the
Transferring Member(s) will attempt to obtain the same agreements and
commitments from the proposed transferee for the benefit of any such Co-Sale
Member as such Transferring Member(s) obtained from the proposed transferee
in
respect of its Transfer. To the extent the Transferring Member(s) cannot obtain
such agreements and commitments from such proposed transferee, the Transferring
Member(s) and the Co-Sale Members shall reduce the number of Units being sold
by
such Transferring Member(s) and Co-Sale Members such that each Transferring
Member and Co-Sale Member sells a number of Units as is determined by
multiplying (x) a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the number of
Units such Transferring Member or Co-Sale Member, as the case may be, would
have
sold if the Transferring Member(s) had obtained such agreements and commitments
from such proposed transferee, and the denominator of which is equal to the
total number of Units that would have been sold by all of the Transferring
Members and Co-Sale Members if the Transferring Member(s) had obtained such
agreements and commitments from such proposed transferee, times
(y) the
total number of Units that such proposed transferee is in fact acquiring from
all Transferring Members and Co-Sale Members.
(d) The
closing of the Transfer of the Units with respect to which rights have been
exercised by a Co-Sale Member pursuant to this Section 7.06 is subject to,
and
will take place concurrently with, the closing of the Transfer of the Co-Sale
Units to the proposed transferee. At such closing, each Co-Sale Member electing
to Transfer Units shall deliver to the proposed transferee, free and clear
of
all liens, the Units to be sold and shall receive in exchange therefor, the
consideration to be paid by the proposed transferee in respect of such Units
as
described in the Co-Sale Notice.
(e) The
right
of co-sale granted pursuant to this Section 7.06 shall be deemed to be extended
to all Permitted Transferees. The right of co-sale granted pursuant to this
Section 7.06 shall not apply with respect to Transfers to Permitted Transferees
or pursuant to the exercise of Drag-Along Rights pursuant to Section
7.07.
Section
7.07 Drag-Along
Rights.
(a) Subject
to the provisions of Section 7.01 hereof, if at any time Members holding more
than fifty percent (50%) of the Class A Units (“Drag-Along
Members”)
shall
receive an offer constituting a Sale of the Company and the Drag Along Members
propose to accept such offer to consummate a Sale of the Company, then each
Member (“Obligated
Member”)
shall,
if requested by the Drag Along Members, sell all (but not less than all) of
the
Units owned by such Obligated Member in such transaction on the same terms
and
for the same type and form of consideration as to be paid and given to the
Drag-Along Members.
(b) The
Drag-Along Members shall give each Obligated Member written notice (the
“Drag-Along
Notice”)
of any
Sale of the Company transaction at least twenty (20) calendar days prior to
the
date on which such transaction shall be consummated, including the terms and
conditions thereof, and each Obligated Member shall have the obligation to
sell
its Units on such same terms and conditions in accordance with the instructions
set forth in such notice. If the Transfer referred to in the Drag-Along Notice
is not consummated within ninety (90) calendar days from the date of the
Drag-Along Notice, the Drag-Along Members must deliver another Drag-Along Notice
in order to exercise its rights pursuant to this with respect to such Transfer
or any other Transfer.
(c) The
following terms and conditions shall also apply to the exercise of rights under
this Section 7.07:
22
(i) if
such
transaction requires Member approval, with respect to all Units that each
Obligated Member owns or over which each Obligated Member otherwise exercises
voting power, each Obligated Member shall vote (in person, by proxy or by action
by written consent, as applicable) all Units in favor of, and adopt, such Sale
of the Company transaction and vote in opposition to any and all other proposals
that could reasonably be expected to delay or impair the ability of the Company
to consummate such Sale of the Company transaction;
(ii)
each
Obligated Member shall execute and deliver all related documentation and take
such other action in support of the Sale of the Company transaction as shall
reasonably be requested by the Company and/or the Drag-Along Members in order
to
carry out the terms and provision of this Section 7.07, including executing
and
delivering instruments of conveyance and transfer, and any purchase agreement,
merger agreement, indemnity agreement, escrow agreement, consent, waiver,
governmental filing, share certificates duly endorsed for transfer (free and
clear of impermissible liens, claims and encumbrances) and any similar or
related documents;
(iii)
each
Obligated Member shall not deposit, and shall cause its Affiliates not to
deposit, except as provided in this Agreement, any Units owned by such party
or
Affiliate in a voting trust or subject any Units to any arrangement or agreement
with respect to the voting of such Units, unless specifically requested to
do so
by the acquiring party in connection with the Sale of the Company transaction;
(iv)
each
Obligated Member shall refrain from exercising any dissenters’ rights or rights
of appraisal under applicable law at any time with respect to such Sale of the
Company;
(v)
if
the
consideration to be paid in exchange for the Units pursuant to this Section
7.07
includes any securities and due receipt thereof by any Obligated Member would
require under applicable law (x) the registration or qualification of such
securities or of any person as a broker or dealer or agent with respect to
such
securities or (y) the provision to any Member of any information other than
such
information as a prudent issuer would generally furnish in an offering made
solely to Accredited Investors as defined by the Securities Act, the Company
may
cause to be paid to any such Obligated Member in lieu thereof, against surrender
of the Units which would have otherwise been sold by such Obligated Member,
an
amount in cash equal to the fair value (as determined in good faith by the
Company) of the securities which such Obligated Member would otherwise receive
as of the date of the issuance of such securities in exchange for the Units;
and
(vi)
each
Member will bear its pro
rata
share
(based on the net proceeds received) of the costs incurred by the Company in
connection with such Sale of the Company to the extent that such costs are
incurred for the benefit of all Members and are not otherwise paid by the
Company or the acquiring party.
(d) Each
Obligated Member hereby constitutes and appoints the Drag-Along Members, with
full power of substitution, as its proxy with respect to votes regarding any
Sale of the Company transaction pursuant to this Section 7.07, and hereby
authorizes the Drag-Along Members to represent and to vote, if and only if
such
Member (i) fails to vote or (ii) attempts to vote (whether by proxy, in person
or by written consent) in a manner which is inconsistent with the terms of
this
Agreement, all of such Obligated Member’s Units in favor of the approval of any
Sale of the Company transaction pursuant to and in accordance with the terms
and
provisions of this Section 7.07. The proxy granted pursuant to the immediately
preceding sentence is given in consideration of the agreements and covenants
of
the Company and the parties in connection with the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement and, as such, is coupled with an interest and shall be
irrevocable unless and until this Agreement terminates. Each party hereto hereby
revokes any and all previous proxies with respect to the Units and shall not
hereafter, unless and until this Agreement terminates, purport to grant any
other proxy or power of attorney with respect to any of the Units, deposit
any
of the Units into a voting trust or enter into any agreement (other than this
Agreement), arrangement or understanding with any Person, directly or
indirectly, to vote, grant any proxy or give instructions with respect to the
voting of any of the Units, in each case, with respect to any of the matters
set
forth herein.
23
(e) The
Obligated Members shall deliver when available all documents reasonably required
to be executed by the Drag-Along Members in order to consummate the Sale of
the
Company transaction contemplated by this Section 7.07. Each Obligated Member
shall execute and deliver to the Company at least five (5) calendar days prior
to the proposed sale, all documents previously furnished to the Obligated Member
for execution in connection with the proposed sale. If any Obligated Member
fails to execute and deliver such documents to the Company, and such Transfer
is
subsequently consummated (a “Defaulting
Obligated Member”),
(i)
the Company may receive the consideration that would otherwise be paid to the
Defaulting Obligated Member and the Defaulting Obligated Member shall be deemed
to have appointed the Managers as such Member’s agent to Transfer all of its
Units to the purchaser and to receive the consideration in trust for such
Defaulting Obligated Member; (ii) the receipt by the Company of the
consideration for the Units owned by such Defaulting Obligated Member shall
be a
good discharge to the purchaser and the validity of the proceedings shall not
be
questioned by any Person; and (iii) the Defaulting Obligated Member shall be
entitled to receive the consideration for its Units without interest at such
time as the Defaulting Obligated Member executes all of the applicable documents
requested by the Company, the Drag-Along Members or the purchaser.
Section
7.08 Miscellaneous
Transfer Restrictions. Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Agreement, no Transfer of any Units (including
pursuant to a Permitted Transfer) may be made unless:
(a) such
Transfer would not result in a violation of applicable law, including the
Securities Act and any state securities or “Blue Sky” laws applicable to the
Company or the Units to be transferred;
(b) such
Transfer would not cause the Company to lose its exemption from the registration
requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
(c) such
Transfer would not cause the Company to lose its status as a partnership for
federal income tax purposes and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, such transfer will not be effected on or through an “established
securities market” or a “secondary market or the substantial equivalent
thereof,” as such terms are used in Section 1.7704-1 of the Treasury Regulations
promulgated under the Code, and the transferring Member and the transferee
shall
each have provided a certificate to that effect;
(d) such
Transfer would not result in the Company being required to register under
Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;
(e) the
Transferring Member and the transferee shall have agreed in writing to provide
the Company with any information requested by the Managers relating to the
Company’s obligation to make basis adjustments under Section 743 of the Code
(including the Company’s obligations under Section 6031 of the Code);
and
24
(f) if
requested by the Managers, the transferring Member shall have provided an
opinion of counsel (at the transferring Member’s sole cost and expense)
satisfactory to the Company as to the matters set forth in clauses (a)-(e)
of
this Section 7.08.
ARTICLE
VIII
Termination
and Dissolution
Section
8.01 Dissolution
Events.
The
Company shall be terminated and dissolved only upon the unanimous election
of
the Managers, or the entry of a final decree of judicial dissolution under
the
Act. The happening of any event that terminates the continued membership of
a
Member shall not cause a dissolution of the Company.
Section
8.02 Liquidation.
(a) Winding
Up.
Upon the
dissolution of the Company, the Company’s business shall be liquidated in an
orderly manner. The Managers shall determine which Company property shall be
distributed in-kind and which Company property shall be liquidated. The
liquidation of Company property shall be carried out as promptly as is
consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof.
(b) Payments
and Distributions.
Company
property or the proceeds therefrom, to the extent sufficient therefor, shall
be
applied and distributed in the following order of priority, with no distribution
being made in any category set forth below until each preceding category has
been satisfied in full:
(i) To
the
payment and discharge of all of the Company’s debts and liabilities, including
any debts and liabilities owed to any Member, and to the expenses of
liquidation;
(ii) To
the
establishment of Reserves (which Reserves, to the extent no longer needed by
the
Company, shall be distributed in accordance with the order of priority set
forth
in subsection (iii) below);
(iii) To
and
among the Members in accordance with Article III of this Agreement.
Section
8.03 Distribution
In-Kind.
If the
Managers determine that a portion of the Company’s property should be
distributed in-kind to the Members, the Managers shall obtain an independent
third-party appraisal of the fair market value of each such property as of
a
date reasonably close to the date of liquidation. Any unrealized appreciation
or
depreciation with respect to any property to be distributed in-kind shall be
allocated pro rata among the Members (assuming that such property was sold
for
the appraised value) and taken into consideration in determining the balance
in
the Members’ Capital Accounts as of the date of final liquidation.
Section
8.04 Certificate
of Cancellation.
When
all
debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company have been paid and discharged
or adequate provisions have been made therefor and all of the remaining property
and assets of the Company have been distributed, a certificate of cancellation
as required by the Act shall be executed and filed by the Managers with the
Secretary of the State of New Jersey.
25
Section
8.05 Effect
of Filing of Certificate of Cancellation.
Upon the
filing of a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of the State of
Delaware, the existence of the Company shall cease, except for the purpose
of
suits, other proceedings and appropriate action as provided in the Act. The
Managers shall have the authority to distribute any Company property discovered
after dissolution, to convey real estate and to take such other action as may
be
necessary on behalf of and in the name of the Company.
Section
8.06 Return
of Contribution Nonrecourse to Other Members.
Except
as provided by law or as expressly provided in this Agreement, upon dissolution,
each Member shall look solely to the assets of the Company for the return of
his
Capital Contributions. If the Company property remaining after the payment
or
discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Company is insufficient to return
the Capital Contributions of one or more Members, such Member or Members shall
have no recourse against any other Member.
ARTICLE
IX
Exculpation
And Indemnification
Section
9.01 Liability
of Members.
Except
as otherwise provided by the Act or this Agreement, the Members and the Managers
shall not be liable, responsible or otherwise accountable for damages to the
Company or to any Member or Manager for any action taken or failure to act
on
behalf of the Company, unless such acts or omissions were fraudulent, in bad
faith, a result of wanton or willful misconduct or gross negligence by such
Member or Manager.
Section
9.02 Indemnification
of Covered Persons.
To the
fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless each Covered Person from and against any and all debts, losses, claims,
damages, costs, demands, fines, judgments, contracts (implied and expressed,
written and unwritten), penalties, obligations, payments, liabilities of every
type and nature (whether known or unknown, fixed or contingent), including
those
arising out of any lawsuit, action or proceeding (whether brought by a party
to
this Agreement or by any third party), together with any reasonable costs and
expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees, out-of-pocket expenses and other
reasonable costs and expenses incurred in investigating, preparing or defending
any pending or threatened lawsuit, action or proceeding) incurred in connection
with the foregoing (collectively “Damages”)
suffered or sustained by him/her/it by reason of any act, omission or alleged
act or omission by him/her/it arising out of his/her/its activities taken
primarily on behalf of the Company, or at the request or with the approval
of
the Company, or primarily in furtherance of the interests of the Company;
provided, however, that
the
acts, omissions or alleged acts or omissions upon which such actual or
threatened actions proceedings or claims are based were performed or omitted
in
good faith and were not fraudulent, in bad faith, a result of wanton and willful
misconduct or gross negligence, by such Covered Person. Expenses (including,
reasonable attorneys’ fees, out-of-pocket expenses and other reasonable costs
and expenses incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any pending
or
threatened lawsuit, action or proceeding) incurred by a Covered Person in
defending any lawsuit, action or proceeding shall be paid by the Company in
advance of the final disposition of such lawsuit, action or proceeding upon
receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such Covered Person, to repay
such
amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Covered Person is not
entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized by this Section
9.02.
26
Section
9.03 Indemnification
Procedure.
(a) A
party
seeking indemnification from the Company pursuant to this Article IX (an
“Indemnified
Party”)
shall
give prompt notice to the Company of the assertion of any claim, including
any
claim brought by a third party, in respect of which indemnity may be sought
hereunder (a “Claim”)
and
shall give the Company such information with respect thereto as the Company
may
reasonably request, but no failure to give such notice shall relieve the Company
of any liability hereunder (except to the extent the Company has suffered actual
prejudice thereby). The Company shall have the right, exercisable by written
notice (the “Notice”)
to the
Indemnified Party (which notice shall state that the Company expressly agrees
that as between the Company and the Indemnified Party, the Company shall be
solely obligated to satisfy and discharge the Claim) within thirty (30) days
of
receipt of notice from the Indemnified Party of the commencement of or assertion
of any Claim, to assume the defense of such Claim, using counsel selected by
the
Company; provided that the Company shall not have the right to assume the
defense of a Claim (A) seeking an injunction, restraining order, declaratory
relief or other nonmonetary relief against the Indemnified Party (whether or
not
the Company is also named as a party) or (B) if the named parties to any such
action (including any impleaded parties) includes both the Indemnified Party
and
the Company and the Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that
there are one or more legal or equitable defenses available to the Indemnified
Party, which are different from those available to the Company; in which case
such Indemnified Party shall have the right to participate in the defense of
a
Claim of the type set forth in clause (A) and/or (B) above and all Damages
in
connection therewith shall be reimbursed by the Company. In addition, if the
Company fails to give the Indemnified Party the Notice complying with the
provisions stated above within the stated time period, the Indemnified Party
shall have the right to assume control of the defense of the Claim and all
Damages in connection therewith shall be reimbursed by the Company upon demand
of the Indemnified Party. In any event, no party assuming the defense of any
Claim shall have the right to compromise or settle any claim for non-monetary
relief against the other party or any claim for monetary relief against another
party without such party’s consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld or denied) unless such monetary relief is paid in full by the settling
party (without any expectation of reimbursement therefor from the consenting
party).
(b) If
at any
time after the Company assumes the defense of a Claim any of the conditions
set
forth above are no longer satisfied, the Indemnified Party shall have the same
rights as if clause (A) or (B) above had been satisfied and the Company never
assumed the defense of such Claim.
(c) The
Company or the Indemnified Party, as the case may be, shall in any event have
the right to participate, at its own expense, in the defense of any Claim which
the other is defending.
(d) Whether
or not the Indemnifying Party chooses to defend or prosecute any Claim involving
a third party, all the Parties hereto shall cooperate in the defense or
prosecution thereof and shall furnish such records, information and testimony,
and attend such conferences, discovery proceedings, hearings, trials and appeals
as may be reasonably requested in connection therewith.
ARTICLE
X
Representations
Section
10.01 General.
As of
the date hereof, each of the Members makes each of the representations and
warranties applicable to such Member as set forth in this Section 10.01, and
such representations and warranties shall survive the execution of this
Agreement.
27
(a) Due
Incorporation or Formation; Authorization of Agreement.
If such
Member is a corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, or
other
legal entity, it is duly organized or formed, validly existing, and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation
and has the power and authority to own property and carry on its business as
owned and carried on at the date hereof and as contemplated hereby. Such Member
is duly licensed or qualified to do business and in good standing in each of
the
jurisdictions in which the failure to be so licensed or qualified would have
a
material adverse effect on its ability to perform its obligations hereunder,
and
the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement has been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate or partnership or company action. This
Agreement constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of such
Member.
(b) No
Conflict or Default.
The
execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and the consummation
by
such Member of the transactions contemplated hereby (i) will not conflict with,
violate, or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions, or provisions
of
any law, regulation, order, writ, injunction, decree, determination, or award
of
any court, any governmental department, board, agency, or instrumentality,
or
any arbitrator, applicable to such Member, and (ii) will not conflict with,
violate, result in a breach of, or constitute a default under any of the terms,
conditions, or provisions of the articles of incorporation, bylaws, partnership
agreement, operating agreement, or other organizational documents of such
Member, or of any material agreement or instrument to which such Member is
a
party or by which such Member is or may be bound or to which any of its material
properties or assets are or may be subject.
(c) Governmental
Authorizations.
Any
registration, declaration or filing with or consent, approval, license, permit
or other authorization or order by, any governmental or regulatory authority
that is required in connection with the valid execution, delivery, acceptance,
and performance by such Member under this Agreement or the consummation by
such
Member of any transaction contemplated hereby has been completed, made, or
obtained on or before the effective date of this Agreement.
(d) Litigation.
There
are no actions, suits, proceedings, or investigations pending or, to the
knowledge of such Member, threatened against or affecting such Member or any
of
such Member’s properties, assets, or businesses in any court or before or by any
governmental department, board, agency, instrumentality, or arbitrator which,
if
adversely determined, could (or in the case of an investigation could lead
to
any action, suit, or proceeding which, if adversely determined, could)
reasonably be expected to materially impair such Member’s ability to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.
Section
10.02 Investment
Representations.
(a) Each
Member represents and warrants that it has acquired its Units for its own
account as part of a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities
Act, and applicable state law for investment purposes and not with a view to
the
resale or distribution thereof, and that it has had access to any and all
information necessary to arrive at its decision to acquire its Units. In
addition to the restrictions on transfer of Units otherwise set forth in this
Agreement, no Unit may be sold, transferred, assigned or otherwise disposed
of
by any Member in the absence of registration under the Securities Act and
applicable state law, or an opinion of counsel experienced in securities matters
and satisfactory to the Members that such assignment or other disposition will
not be in violation of the Securities Act or state laws. No Member shall have
any right to require registration of its Units under said Securities Act or
applicable state law and, in view of the nature of the Company and its business,
such registration is neither contemplated nor likely. Each Member further
acknowledges that it understands that the effect of the foregoing representation
and warranty and restriction on assignment or other disposition is generally
to
require that such Units be held indefinitely unless they are registered or
an
exemption from registration is available.
28
(b) The
Units
being acquired by each Member in the Company are being acquired for its own
account solely for investment and not with a present view to resale or
distribution thereof.
(c) Each
Member (either alone or together with any advisors retained by such Member
in
connection with evaluating the merits and risks of prospective investments)
has
sufficient knowledge and experience in financial and business matters so as
to
be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of purchasing Units, and is able
to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Company for an indefinite
period of time, including a complete loss of capital.
(d) Each
Member has been given the opportunity (i) to ask questions of, and receive
answers from, the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the offering
of
Units and other matters pertaining to an investment in the Company, and (ii)
to
obtain any additional information which the Company can acquire without
unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to evaluate the merits and
risks of an investment in the Company.
(e) The
foregoing representations, warranties and agreements shall survive the date
of
each Member’s admission to the Company.
ARTICLE
XI
Miscellaneous
Section
11.01 Notices.
All
notices, approvals, consents, requests, instructions, and other communications
(collectively “Communications”)
required to be given in writing pursuant to this Agreement shall be validly
given, made or served only when delivered personally or by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by a reputable
overnight or same day courier, addressed to the Company or the Member at the
address that is on record at the principal office of the Company, or by
facsimile to the number that is on record at the principal office of the
Company. Any such Communication shall be treated as given under this Agreement
when the Communication is delivered to such address or received at such
facsimile number. The designation of the Person to receive such Communication
on
behalf of a Member or the address of any such Person for the purposes of such
Communication may be changed from time to time by written notice given to the
Company pursuant to this Section.
Section
11.02 Parties
Bound; No Third Party Beneficiaries.
This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon all of the
Parties and their respective heirs, successors and assigns. Except for the
Covered Persons, no provision of this Agreement is intended to or shall be
construed to grant or confer any right to enforce this Agreement or any remedy
for breach of this Agreement to or upon any Person other than the Parties
hereto.
Section
11.03 Applicable
Law.
This
Agreement, including the validity hereof and the rights and obligations of
the
Parties hereto, and all matters arising out of or relating to this Agreement
and/or any and all related documents shall be governed by, and construed and
enforced in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of New Jersey,
without regard to its otherwise applicable principles of conflicts of laws.
The
Parties hereto irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state
and federal courts located in the State of New Jersey in any and all actions,
proceedings and disputes whether arising hereunder or under any other related
agreement, instrument or document. The Parties hereto hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally waive any rights they may have to a jury trial in any and all
disputes whether arising hereunder or under any other agreements, notes, papers,
instruments or documents heretofore or hereafter executed whether similar or
dissimilar.
29
Section
11.04 Amendment.
No
change or modification to this Agreement shall be valid unless the same is
in
writing and signed by the holders of majority of the Ownership Percentage
Interests of the Members. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment to this
Agreement shall either (w) amend or modify Article III, Article V, Section
7.05
or this Section 11.04 (other than nonmaterial modifications thereto), (x) reduce
material rights or economic interests of a Member in the Company, (y) adversely
impact in a disproportionate manner, any rights or economic interests of a
Member in the Company or (z) subject a Member to personal liability for any
obligations of the Company, in each case without the consent of the affected
Member.
Section
11.05 Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement together with the Purchase Agreement and Heath Employment Agreement
contains the entire understanding among the Parties and supersedes any prior
understandings and agreements between them respecting the subject matter hereof.
There are no representations, agreements, arrangements, or understandings,
oral
or written, between or among the Parties hereto relating to the subject matter
of this Agreement which are not fully expressed herein.
Section
11.06 Severability.
If any
provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or
circumstance shall, for any reason and to any extent, be invalid or
unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such
provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby but
rather shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.
Section
11.07 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts with the same effect
as if
all of the Members had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be
construed together and shall constitute one and the same instrument. The
exchange of copies of this Agreement and of signature pages by facsimile or
Electronic Transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of
this Agreement as to the parties and may be used in lieu of the original
Agreement for all purposes. Signatures of the parties transmitted by facsimile
or Electronic Transmission shall be deemed to be their original signatures
for
all purposes.
Section
11.08 Construction.
Words in
the singular include the plural and in the plural include the singular. The
words “including,” “includes,” “included” and “include,” when used, are deemed
to be followed by the words “without limitation”. Whenever the context may
require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and
neuter forms. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar
import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole
and
not to any particular provision of this Agreement. All accounting terms not
defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings determined by GAAP. Unless
otherwise expressly provided herein, any agreement, instrument or statute
defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred
to herein means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time
amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or
instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession
of
comparable successor statutes, and all attachments thereto and instruments
incorporated therein.
30
Section
11.09 Headings
and Captions.
The
headings and captions contained in this Agreement are inserted only as a matter
of convenience and in no way define, limit or extend the scope or intent of
this
Agreement or any provisions hereof.
Section
11.10 No
Waiver.
The
failure of any Member to insist upon strict performance of a covenant hereunder
or of any obligation hereunder or to exercise any right or remedy hereunder,
regardless of how long such failure shall continue, shall not be a waiver of
such Member’s right to demand strict compliance therewith in the future unless
such waiver is in writing and signed by the Member giving the same.
Section
11.11 Other
Business and Investment Ventures.
Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement or any other agreement to which a Member
is a party (which other agreement shall control), each Member may engage in
other business or investment ventures, including business or investment ventures
in competition with the Company, and neither the Company nor the other Members
shall have any rights in such business or investment ventures.
Section
11.12 Additional
Instruments.
Each
Member agrees to execute and deliver such additional agreements, certificates,
and other documents as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the intent
and purposes of this Agreement.
Section
11.13 Publicity.
No
Member shall make any publicity, media communications, press releases or other
public announcements regarding the transactions contemplated hereby or with
respect to this Agreement unless such publicity, media communications, press
releases or other public announcements first shall be approved, in writing,
by
the Managers.
Section
11.14 Specific
Performance.
Each
Member acknowledges and agrees that his respective remedies at law for a breach
or threatened breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement would be
inadequate and, in recognition of that fact, agrees that, in the event of a
breach or threatened breach by a Member of the provisions of this Agreement,
in
addition to any remedies at law, the Company or any other Member shall, without
posting any bond, be entitled to obtain equitable relief in the form of specific
performance, a temporary restraining order, a temporary or permanent injunction
or any other equitable remedy which may then be available.
[SIGNATURE
PAGE FOLLOWS]
31
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first
above written.
Class
A Member::
|
|
HALLMARK
FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
Class
B Member:
|
|
HEATH
HOLDINGS, LLC
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
|
Title:
Manager
|
|
Company
|
|
Heath
XS, LLC
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
|
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
|
Heath
XS, LLC.
Exhibit
“A”
Capital
Contributions, Units and Ownership Percentage
Interests
Class
|
Units
|
Ownership
Percentage
Interest
|
|||||
Class
A Members
|
|||||||
Hallmark
Financial Services, Inc.
|
800
|
80
|
%
|
||||
Class
B Members
|
|||||||
Heath
Holdings, LLC
|
200
|
20
|
%
|
||||
Total
|
1,000
|
100
|
%
|
A-1