Operating Agreement Effective Upon Adoption
Page | ||||||
OPERATION, MANAGEMENT, AND
INTERESTS IN THE COMPANY
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ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS
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1 | |||||
Section 1.1
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Reference to Certain Terms | 1 | ||||
Section 1.2
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Definitions | 1 | ||||
ARTICLE 2. FORMATION, PURPOSE,
POWERS
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3 | |||||
Section 2.1
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Formation | 3 | ||||
Section 2.2
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Name | 3 | ||||
Section 2.3
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Purpose; Powers | 4 | ||||
Section 2.4
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Principal Place of Business | 4 | ||||
Section 2.5
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Term | 4 | ||||
Section 2.6
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Filings; Agent for Service of Process | 4 | ||||
Section 2.7
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Title to Property | 5 | ||||
Section 2.8
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No Payments of Individual Obligations | 5 | ||||
Section 2.9
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Independent Non-Competitive Activities | 5 | ||||
Section 2.10
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Limited Liability | 5 | ||||
Section 2.11
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Members And Unitholders Bound Without Execution | 6 | ||||
ARTICLE 3. UNITS, UNITHOLDERS,
FINANCIAL RIGHTS
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6 | |||||
Section 3.1
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Rights and Obligations of Unitholders | 6 | ||||
Section 3.2
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Units | 6 | ||||
Section 3.3
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Capital Contributions | 7 | ||||
Section 3.4
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No Certificate For Units | 7 | ||||
Section 3.5
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Unit Ledger | 7 | ||||
Section 3.6
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Allocations and Distributions | 7 | ||||
Section 3.7
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Unitholder Conditions And Limitations | 8 | ||||
Section 3.8
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Restrictions On Transfers | 9 | ||||
ARTICLE 4. MEMBERS AND MEMBER
VOTING
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11 | |||||
Section 4.1
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Rights and Obligations of Members | 11 | ||||
Section 4.2
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Minimum Required Unit Holding by Members | 12 | ||||
Section 4.3
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Admission of Members | 12 | ||||
Section 4.4
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Member Voting | 13 | ||||
Section 4.5
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Member Meetings | 13 | ||||
Section 4.6
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Termination of Membership | 15 | ||||
Section 4.7
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Resignation | 16 | ||||
Section 4.8
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Continuation of the Company | 16 |
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ARTICLE 5. MANAGEMENT OF
COMPANY
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17 | |||||
Section 5.1
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Governance By Board, CEO | 17 | ||||
Section 5.2
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Actions By Board; Committees; Reliance On Authority | 18 | ||||
Section 5.3
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The Board | 19 | ||||
Section 5.4
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Board Meetings | 21 | ||||
Section 5.5
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Officers | 22 | ||||
Section 5.6
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Liability And Indemnification Of Managers And Officers | 23 | ||||
Section 5.7.
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Contracts With Managers Or Their Affiliates | 24 | ||||
ARTICLE 6. AMENDMENTS
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24 | |||||
Section 6.1
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Amendments | 24 | ||||
ARTICLE 7. DISSOLUTION AND
WINDING UP
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25 | |||||
Section 7.1
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Dissolution Commencement | 25 | ||||
Section 7.2
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Winding Up | 25 | ||||
Section 7.3
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Rights Of Unitholders | 26 | ||||
Section 7.4
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Notice Of Dissolution | 26 | ||||
Section 7.5
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Allocations During Period Of Liquidation | 26 | ||||
Section 7.6
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The Liquidator | 26 | ||||
Section 7.7.
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Form Of Liquidating Distributions | 27 | ||||
ARTICLE 8.
MISCELLANEOUS
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27 | |||||
Section 8.1
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Notices | 27 | ||||
Section 8.2
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Binding Effect | 27 | ||||
Section 8.3
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Construction | 27 | ||||
Section 8.4
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Time | 27 | ||||
Section 8.5
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Headings | 28 | ||||
Section 8.6
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Severability | 28 | ||||
Section 8.7
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Incorporation By Reference | 28 | ||||
Section 8.8
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Variation Of Terms | 28 | ||||
Section 8.9
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Governing Law | 28 | ||||
Section 8.10
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Specific Performance | 28 | ||||
Section 8.11
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Consent To Jurisdiction | 29 | ||||
Section 8.12
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Waiver Of Jury Trial | 29 | ||||
APPENDICES
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Appendix
A
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Principal Place of Business of Bootheel Agri-Energy, LLC | X-0 | ||||
Xxxxxxxx
X
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Agent for Service of Process of Bootheel Agri-Energy, LLC | B-1 | ||||
Appendix
C
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Unit Transfer Policy of Bootheel Agri-Energy, LLC | C-1 | ||||
Appendix
D
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Board of Managers of Bootheel Agri-Energy, LLC | D-1 | ||||
Appendix
E
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Allocations, Distributions, Tax Matters, and Accounting | E-1 |
C-ii
Bootheel
Agri-Energy, LLC
Operating Agreement
Operating Agreement
THIS OPERATING AGREEMENT of Bootheel Agri-Energy, LLC
(the “Company”) is adopted and made effective upon
adoption by the initial Board of Managers.
OPERATION,
MANAGEMENT, AND INTERESTS
IN THE COMPANY
IN THE COMPANY
ARTICLE 1.
Definitions
Section 1.1 Reference
to Certain Terms.
For purposes of this Agreement: (1) references to
“Articles” and “Sections” are to those
Articles and Sections appearing in this Agreement unless
explicitly indicated otherwise; and (2) references to
statutes include all rules and regulations under those statutes,
and all amendments and successors to those statutes.
Section 1.2 Definitions.
The definitions in this Section 1.2 (and the definitions in
Section 1.10 of Appendix E) apply throughout this
Agreement unless the context requires otherwise.
“Act” means the Missouri Limited Liability
Company Act as set forth in the Revised Statutes of Missouri
(commencing with Section 347.010 of the Revised Statutes of
Missouri), as amended from time to time (or any corresponding
provision or provisions of any succeeding law).
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person:
(1) a Business Entity directly or indirectly Controlling,
Controlled by or under common Control with the Person;
(2) an officer, director, general partner, or trustee of a
Person that is a Business Entity; or (3) a Person or a
representative who is an officer, director, general partner, or
trustee of the Business Entity described in clauses (1) or
(2) of this sentence.
“Agreement” means this Operating Agreement of
the Company, as amended, modified, or restated from time to time.
“Articles of Organization” means the articles
of organization of the company as amended or restated and filed
with the Missouri Secretary of State pursuant to the Act.
“Board” or “Board of Managers”
means the individuals who are named, appointed or elected as
Managers of this Company under Section 5.3 acting
collectively pursuant to this Agreement.
“Business Entity” means a partnership (whether
general or limited), joint venture, association, cooperative,
corporation, trust, estate, limited liability company, limited
liability partnership, unincorporated association, governmental
entity, or any other legal entity, including an individual
acting as a sole proprietorship or as a business.
“CEO” means the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company appointed by the Board.
“Class” is the designated division in Interests
as provided in Section 3.2(a).
“Class A Member” means a Person who holds
Class A Units, meets the requirements of
Section 4.2(a), is admitted as a Class A Member and
has not ceased to be a Class A Member.
“Class A Members” mean all Persons who
hold Class A Units, meet the requirements of
Section 4.2(a), are admitted as Class A Members and
have not ceased to be Class A Members.
“Class A Units” mean Units that are
designated as Class A Units pursuant to Section 3.2(a).
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“Company” means Bootheel Agri-Energy, LLC, the
limited liability company formed by the filing of the Articles
of Organization in accordance with the Act and the limited
liability company continuing the business of this Company in the
event of dissolution of the Company as provided in this
Agreement and the Act.
“Confidential Information” is defined in
Section 4.1(c).
“Control,” “Controlling,”
“Controlled by” and “under common Control
with” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of a Business Entity, whether through the ownership of
voting securities, by contract, or otherwise, or the power to
elect at least fifty percent (50%) of the Board of Directors, or
persons exercising similar authority with respect to the
Business Entity.
“Dissolution Event” has the meaning given in
Section 7.1(a).
“Distribution” means a payment of cash or
property to a Unitholder based on the Unitholder’s Interest
in the Company as provided in this Agreement.
“Effective Date” is the date this Agreement is
adopted as provided in the introductory paragraph.
“Event of Disassociation” has the meaning given
in Section 4.6(a).
“Interest” means, collectively, the
Unitholders’ financial rights to Profits, Losses and other
allocation items, and to receive Distributions and, with respect
to Members, the right of the Members to vote on matters and to
receive information concerning the business and affairs of the
Company as provided for in this Agreement.
“Lien” means a security interest, lien or other
encumbrance in Units pledged or granted for the purpose of
securing debt financing.
“Liquidator” has the meaning given in
Section 7.6(a).
“Managers” is defined in Section 5.3.
“Member” means a Person who is admitted as a
Member under Section 4.3, and who has not ceased to be a
Member.
“Members” mean all Persons who are admitted as
a Member under Section 4.3, and who have not ceased to be a
Member.
“Person” means any individual natural person,
or a Business Entity.
“Property” means all real and personal property
acquired by the Company, including cash and any improvements to
the Property, and includes both tangible and intangible property.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of
1933.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any
Business Entity, any corporation, partnership, joint venture,
limited liability company, association or other entity
Controlled by the Business Entity.
“Transfer” means, as a noun, any voluntary or
involuntary transfer, sale, or other disposition or other
transfer, whether by operation of law (e.g., pursuant to a
merger) or otherwise, and, as a verb, voluntarily or
involuntarily to convey, sell, or otherwise dispose of, but does
not include a pledge or grant of a Lien.
“Transfer Restrictions” means the restrictions
on Transfer of Units in Section 3.8 and the Unit Transfer
Policy attached as Appendix C.
“Unit” means the unit of measurement within a
Class into which Interests in the Company are divided as
provided in Section 3.2(a).
“Unit Ledger” has the meaning given in
Section 3.5.
“Unit Transfer Policy” is the policy for
Transferring Units attached as Appendix C.
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“Unitholder” means a Person who holds Units,
whether or not the Person is a Member.
“Unitholders” mean all Persons holding Units.
Unitholders may be designated with respect to specific types or
classes of Units held.
ARTICLE 2.
Formation,
Purpose, Powers
Section 2.1 Formation.
The Company was formed as a Missouri limited liability company
pursuant to the Act.
Section 2.2 Name.
The name of the Company is stated in the Articles of
Organization and all business of the Company shall be conducted
in that name or under other names as the Board, without Member
approval, may determine. The Board, without Member approval, may
change the name of the Company in accordance with the Act.
Section 2.3 Purpose;
Powers.
(a) Purpose. The Company has been formed
for the purpose of, and the nature of the business to be
conducted by the Company is, engaging in any lawful act or
activity for which limited liability companies may be formed
under the Act and engaging in any activities necessary,
convenient or incidental to this purpose.
(b) Powers. The Company shall possess and
may exercise all the powers and privileges granted by the Act,
by any other law, or by this Agreement, together with any lawful
powers incidental to those powers and privileges, including the
powers and privileges as are necessary or convenient to the
conduct, promotion or attainment of the business, purposes or
activities of the Company.
Section 2.4 Principal
Place of Business.
The principal place of business of the Company shall be at the
place or places stated in the Principal Place of Business
attached as Appendix A and incorporated as part of this
Agreement. The Principal Place of Business may be amended or
changed by resolution of the Board without Member approval. The
records required by the Act shall be maintained at one of the
Company’s principal offices.
Section 2.5 Term.
The term of the Company shall continue until the winding up and
liquidation of the Company and its business is completed
following a Dissolution Event as provided in this Agreement.
Section 2.6 Filings;
Agent for Service of Process.
(a) Maintenance of Missouri Status. The
Board shall take any actions reasonably necessary to perfect and
maintain the status of the Company as a limited liability
company under the laws of the State of Missouri. The Board shall
cause amendments to the Articles of Organization to be filed
whenever required by the Act.
(b) Maintenance of Status in Other
Jurisdictions. The Board shall take any and all
other actions as may be reasonably necessary to perfect and
maintain the status of the Company as a limited liability
company or similar type of entity under the laws of any other
jurisdictions in which the Company engages in business.
(c) Agent For Service of Process. The
name and address of the agent for service of process on the
Company in the State of Missouri shall be stated in the Agent
for Service of Process attached as Appendix B and
incorporated as part of this Agreement, which shall be amended
by the Board, without Member approval, to reflect the
appointment of any successor.
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(d) Filings Upon Dissolution. Upon the
dissolution and completion of the winding up and liquidation of
the Company, the Board shall cause to be filed Articles of
Termination in accordance with the Act and cause similar filings
as necessary to be made under the laws of any other
jurisdictions.
Section 2.7 Title
to Property.
All Property owned by the Company is owned by the Company as an
entity, and a Unitholder, Member, or Manager does not have any
ownership interest in the Property in their individual name. The
Company shall hold title to all of its Property in the name of
the Company and not in the name of any Unitholder, Member, or
Manager.
Section 2.8 No
Payments of Individual Obligations.
The Company’s credit and assets shall be used solely for
the benefit of the Company, and an asset of the Company shall
not be Transferred or encumbered for, or in payment of, any
individual obligation of any Unitholder, Member, or Manager.
Section 2.9 Independent
Non-Competitive Activities.
Neither this Agreement nor any activity under this Agreement
shall prevent a Unitholder, Member, or Manager or any of their
Affiliates, acting on their own behalf, from engaging in
whatever activities they choose, unless the activities are
competitive with the Company or the Company’s Affiliates as
determined by the Board. Activities, other than activities that
are competitive with the Company, or the Company’s
Affiliates, may be undertaken by a Unitholder, Member, or
Manager without having or incurring any obligation to:
(1) offer any interest in the activities to the Company or
any other Unitholder or Member; or (2) require the
Unitholder, Member, or Manager undertaking the activity to allow
the Company, the Company’s Affiliates, or other
Unitholders, Members, Managers, or their Affiliates to
participate in any of those activities. As a material part of
the consideration for becoming a Unitholder, Member, or Manager,
each Unitholder, Member, or Manager shall not have any right or
claim of participation in another Unitholder’s,
Member’s or Manager’s activities.
Section 2.10 Limited
Liability.
Except as otherwise expressly provided by the Act, this
Agreement, or agreed to under another written agreement, the
debts, obligations, and liabilities of the Company, whether
arising in contract, tort or otherwise, are solely the debts,
obligations, and liabilities of the Company, and a Unitholder,
Member, or Manager of the Company is not obligated personally
for any debt, obligation, or liability of the Company solely by
reason of being a Unitholder or Member or by acting as a Manager
of the Company. The failure of the Company to observe any
formalities or requirements relating to the exercise of its
powers or management of its business or affairs under this
Agreement or the Act shall not be grounds for imposing liability
on the Unitholders, Members, or Managers for any debt,
obligation, or liability of the Company.
Section 2.11 Members
And Unitholders Bound Without Execution.
A Member or Unitholder who has Interests in the Company shall be
bound by this Agreement without the necessity of executing a
physical copy of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 3.
Units,
Unitholders, Financial Rights
Section 3.1 Rights
and Obligations of Unitholders.
The respective rights and obligations of the Unitholders will be
determined pursuant to the Act and this Agreement. To the extent
that any right or obligation of any Unitholder is different by
reason of any provision
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of this Agreement than it would be in the absence of that
provision, this Agreement, to the extent permitted by the Act,
will control.
Section 3.2 Units.
(a) Unitholder Interests and Units. The
Interests of the Unitholders will be divided into one or more
classes (“Classes”), with the initial Class designated
as Class A, and with subsequent Classes as may be
established by the Board designated as Class B,
Class C and sequentially lettered. Interests within each
Class will be divided into units (the “Units”)
designated as Class A Units (with respect to Class A),
Class B Units (with respect to Class B), Class C
Units (with respect to Class C), and sequentially lettered.
With respect to the Class B and subsequent Classes of
Units, the Board of Managers without Member approval is granted
the express authority, by resolution and conforming amendments
to this Agreement, to fix and establish the designations,
powers, preferences, and governance and veto rights including
Member voting rights and rights to appoint or elect Managers to
the Board, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of each
additional Class of Units (and the corresponding obligation to
fix and establish these designations, powers, preferences,
governance and other rights, qualifications, limitations and
restrictions whenever any additional Class is established). The
power of the Board extends to and includes the express authority
to create Classes and Units, without Member approval, which have
terms granting the additional Class and the Units (and the
holders of the Units) rights, powers, preferences and privileges
greater than the rights, powers, preferences and privileges
associated with any previously established and designated Class
or issued Units. The rights, powers, preferences and privileges
are the same for all Units within a Class except as expressly
provided otherwise in this Agreement, the Class designation
approved by the Board, or the subscription or other agreement
regarding the Units approved by the Board.
(b) Additional Units. The Board may issue
additional Units without Member approval, including Class A
Units, to existing or new Unitholders in exchange for Capital
Contributions as provided in Section 3.3(b).
(c) Adjustment of Books and Records and Amendment of
this Agreement. Upon acceptance of Capital
Contributions under Section 3.3, the issuance of additional
Units, or any change in Unitholders or Members, the Board shall
cause the books and records of the Company and the Unit Ledger
to be appropriately adjusted, and the Board shall amend this
Agreement, without Member approval, to reflect the terms and
conditions of the Capital Contributions and the issuance of
Units, including any changes to the percentages of allocations
and Distributions to different Classes or Units.
Section 3.3 Capital
Contributions.
(a) Initial Unitholders. Those persons
satisfying the conditions of Section 4.3(a) of this
Agreement shall be the initial Unitholders of the Company.
(b) By Unitholders For Additional
Units. Each Unitholder’s Capital
Contribution, if any, may be any consideration, whether in cash
or a form other than cash (including past or future services),
upon execution of any documents and on any other terms and
conditions (including, in the case of Units issued to employees
and consultants, any vesting and forfeiture provisions) as the
Board determines to be appropriate, without Member approval.
(c) Additional Contributions Not
Required. A Unitholder is not obligated to make
any additional Capital Contributions to the Company or to pay
any assessment to the Company, other than the unpaid portion of
a Unitholder’s written agreement to make Capital
Contributions. Units and their holders are not subject to any
mandatory assessment, requests or demands for capital.
Section 3.4 No
Certificate For Units.
The Units of the Company are not certificated Units unless
otherwise determined by the Board. If the Board determines that
the Units shall be certificated, the Board shall have the power
and authority to make rules and regulations, not inconsistent
with this Agreement or the Act, as the Board deems appropriate
relating to the issuance, Transfer, conversion, and registration
of certificates of the Company, including legend
C-5
requirements or the appointment or designation of one or more
transfer agents and one or more registrars. The Company may act
as its own transfer agent and registrar.
Section 3.5 Unit
Ledger.
The Board shall prepare, amend, and supplement a Unit Ledger
without approval of the Members that states the Unitholders and
the Class and number of Units held by each Unitholder, the
Capital Contribution of the Unitholder, and those Unitholders
who are Members of each Class.
Section 3.6 Allocations
and Distributions.
(a) Generally. The provisions relating to
allocations of Profits, Losses and other allocation items of
profit and loss, and Distributions are provided in this
Section 3.6 and Article 7; Appendix C as to
Transfers; and in Article III, Article IV, and
Article XII of Appendix E. The provisions of this
Section 3.6 may be amended by the Board, without Member
approval, to conform with Class designations under
Section 3.2(a). Appendix E is attached and
incorporated as part of this Agreement. Appendix E may be
amended by the Board without Member approval.
(b) Distributions. Distributions other
than Liquidating Distributions will be made on a
Class Percentage and then unitary basis in proportion to
the Units held in any Class, subject to Section 3.6(a).
(c) Liquidating
Distributions. Liquidating Distributions will be
made to the Unitholders in accordance with their positive
Capital Account balances, subject to Section 3.6(a), after
payment of any obligations.
(d) Offset. The Company may offset any
debts, liabilities, or amounts owed by a Unitholder to the
Company in amounts and at times determined by the Board in their
discretion against Distributions or other amounts owed or to be
paid to a Unitholder.
Section 3.7 Unitholder
Conditions And Limitations.
(a) Interests Are Personal Property. The
interests of a Unitholder (whether or not a Member) in the
Company are personal property for all purposes.
(b) No Compensation or
Reimbursement. Except as otherwise provided in a
written agreement or policy approved by the Board and except for
compensation employees receive as employees of the Company, a
Unitholder, whether or not a Member, in the status as Unitholder
or Member shall not receive any salary, fee, or draw for
services rendered to or on behalf of the Company and shall not
be reimbursed for any expenses incurred by the Unitholder or
Member on behalf of the Company.
(c) Advances to Company. A Unitholder or
Affiliate of the Unitholder may, with the consent of the Board,
lend or advance money to the Company. If any Unitholder or
Affiliate of the Unitholder loans or advances money to the
Company on its behalf, the amount of any loan or advance shall
not be treated as a contribution to the capital of the Company
but shall be a debt due from the Company. The amount of the loan
or advance by a lending Unitholder or Affiliate shall be
repayable out of the Company’s cash and shall bear interest
at a rate agreed upon by the Board and the Unitholder. The
Unitholders or their Affiliates are not obligated to make any
loan or advance to the Company.
(d) No Return of Distributions. Except as
required by law, a Unitholder (whether or not a Member) is not
obligated by this Agreement to return any Distribution to the
Company or pay the amount of any Distribution for the account of
the Company or to any creditor of the Company; provided,
however, that if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that,
notwithstanding this Agreement, any Unitholder is obligated to
return or pay any part of any Distribution, the obligation will
bind the Unitholder alone and not any other Unitholder. The
provisions of the immediately preceding sentence are solely for
the benefit of the Unitholders and will not be construed as
benefiting any third party. The amount of any Distribution
returned to the Company by a Unitholder or upon approval of the
Board paid by a Unitholder for the account of the Company or to
a creditor of the Company will be added to the account or
accounts from which it was subtracted when it was distributed to
the Unitholder.
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(e) Redemption. The Company, by
resolution of the Board, may redeem the Units of a Class of a
Unitholder that are not held by a Member of that Class. Unless
otherwise provided by resolution of the Board, a Unitholder
(whether or not a Member), or any transferee of a Unitholder,
does not have a right to: demand, withdraw or receive a return
of the Unitholder’s (or transferee’s) Capital
Contributions or Capital Account; to require the purchase or
redemption of the Unitholder’s (or transferee’s) Units
or Interest; or to receive a Distribution in partial or complete
redemption of the fair value of the Unitholder’s Units or
Interest in the Company, (except in all cases a redemption
authorized by the resolution of the Board under this
Section 3.7(e) or as provided in Appendix E,
Article XII, or Article 7 of this Agreement following
a Dissolution Event), notwithstanding any provisions of the Act
or any other provision of law. The other Unitholders and the
Company do not have any obligation to purchase or redeem the
Units or Interest of any Unitholder or transferee. Each
Unitholder (whether or not a Member), as a condition of becoming
a Unitholder, has no right to receive a Distribution in partial
or complete redemption of the fair value of the Units or
Interest of any Unitholder upon an Event of Disassociation or
otherwise, in the absence of the provisions in this Agreement,
it would otherwise be afforded by a provision of the Act.
(f) Rights of Unitholders Who Are Not
Members. Unless admitted as a Member pursuant to
Section 4.3, a Person who acquires Units, or a Person who
holds Units and ceases to be a Member, has only the rights of an
“unadmitted assignee” and is only entitled to
allocations and Distributions with respect to the Units in
accordance with this Agreement, and does not have any right to
any information or accounting of the affairs of the Company, and
is not entitled to inspect the books or records of the Company,
and does not have any of the rights of a Member under the Act or
this Agreement. Units held by a Person who is not a Member are
subject to the Transfer Restrictions.
(g) Specific Limitations. A Unitholder
(whether or not a Member) does not have the right, power or
authority to: (1) reduce the Unitholder’s Capital
Account, except as a result of the dissolution of the Company or
as otherwise provided by law or in this Agreement; (2) make
voluntary Capital Contributions to the Company except when
authorized by the Board; (3) bring an action for partition
against the Company or any Company assets; (4) cause the
termination and dissolution of the Company, except as set forth
in this Agreement; (5) require that any Distribution to the
Unitholder be made in the form of property other than cash; (6)
(in the Unitholder’s capacity as a Unitholder or Member)
take part in or interfere in any manner with the management of
the business and affairs of the Company; (7) (in the
Unitholder’s capacity as a Unitholder or Member) act for or
bind the Company; and (8) have any contractual appraisal
rights under the Act. Each Unitholder (whether or not a Member)
by becoming a Unitholder shall have irrevocably waived each of
the rights contained in clauses (1) through (8) of
this Section 3.7(g).
Section 3.8 Restrictions
on Transfers.
(a) General Restrictions. The Board shall
not approve, and the Company shall not recognize for any
purpose, any purported Transfer of Units unless and until the
Transfer Restrictions, consisting of the provisions of this
Section and the Unit Transfer Policy, have been satisfied or the
Board has by resolution specifically waived any unsatisfied
provision, condition or restriction. A Transfer of Units
approved by the Board that satisfies the provisions and
conditions of the Transfer Restrictions (or if any unsatisfied
condition is waived), shall be referred to in this Agreement as
a “Permitted Transfer”.
(b) Not Binding Until Entered in Company
Books. A Transfer of Units is not binding on the
Company without the approval of the Board and not until the
Transfer is entered in the books and records of the Company.
(c) Pledge of Units
Allowed. Notwithstanding the Transfer
Restrictions, a Unitholder may pledge, xxxxx x Xxxx on all or
any portion of its Units as security for the payment of debt,
provided that a subsequent foreclosure or transfer to the
secured party in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise shall be
considered a Transfer.
(d) Unless Permitted, Transfers Void. A
purported Transfer of Units that is not a Permitted Transfer is
null and void and of no force or effect whatsoever; provided
that, if the Company is required to recognize a Transfer that is
not a Permitted Transfer (or if the Board, in its sole
discretion, elects to recognize a Transfer that is not a
Permitted Transfer), the Units Transferred shall be strictly
limited to the transferor’s rights to
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allocations and Distributions as provided by this Agreement with
respect to the transferred Units, which allocations and
Distributions may be applied or set off against (without
limiting any other legal or equitable rights of the Company) to
satisfy any debts, obligations, or liabilities for damages that
the transferor or transferee of the Units may have to the
Company.
(e) Indemnification of Company. If a
Transfer or attempted Transfer of Units is not a Permitted
Transfer, the Unitholder and the prospective transferee engaging
or attempting to engage in the Transfer is liable to and shall
indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the other
Unitholders from all cost, liability, and damage that the
Company and any of the other Unitholders may incur (including
incremental tax liabilities, lawyers’ fees and expenses) as
a result of the Transfer or attempted Transfer and efforts to
prohibit the transfer or enforce the indemnity.
(f) Transferee Subject to Transfer
Restrictions. Units held by a transferee are
subject to the Transfer Restrictions.
(g) Unit Transfer Policy. The Unit
Transfer Policy shall be consistent with this Agreement and
impose conditions and restrictions on Transfers to:
(1) preserve the tax status of the Company; (2) comply
with state or federal securities laws; (3) require
appropriate information from the transferor and transferee
regarding the transfer; (4) require representations from
the transferor and/or transferee regarding the Transfer; and
(5) allow the Board to determine whether or not the
transferee is a competitor of the Company or the Company’s
Affiliates. The Unit Transfer Policy also shall state the
permitted method and conventions that shall be used in
allocating Profits, Losses, and each item of Profits, and Losses
and all other items attributable between the transferor and the
transferee. The Unit Transfer Policy is attached as
Appendix C, and incorporated as part of this Agreement. The
Unit Transfer Policy may be amended by the Board without Member
approval.
ARTICLE 4.
Members and
Member Voting
Section 4.1 Rights
and Obligations of Members.
(a) Authority. The respective rights and
obligations of Members will be determined pursuant to the Act
and this Agreement. To the extent that the rights or obligations
of any Member are different by reason of any provision of this
Agreement than they would be in the absence of any provision of
this Agreement, to the extent permitted by the Act, this
Agreement shall control. A Member, other than a Member acting in
his or her capacity as an officer of the Board or an officer of
the Company pursuant to delegated authority, does not have the
power or authority to act for or on behalf of the Company, to
bind the Company by any act, or to incur any expenditures on
behalf of the Company, except with the prior consent of the
Board.
(b) Access to Records. The Company shall
provide to a Member upon written request of the Member:
(1) the Class and Number of Units held by the Member;
(2) the percentage or share of annual Distributions to
which the Member is entitled based upon the Units held by the
Member; (3) the voting rights of the Member for each Class
of Units held; (4) the most recent audited financial
statements of the Company; and (5) copies or internet
access to any annual, quarterly, and special reports filed by
the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
Board shall prescribe the form and format in which the
information in clauses (1) to (5) is transmitted to
the Member. For all other information, upon the request of a
Member for a proper purpose related to the Member’s
Interest as determined by the Board, the Board will allow the
Member and its designated representatives or agents, upon at
least ten (10) business days prior written notice to the
Board and during reasonable business hours, to examine the
Company’s books and records to the extent required by the
Act for the proper purpose at the Member’s sole cost and
expense. Each Member and Unitholder has an expectation of
privacy that information about them or their Interests in the
Company will not be shared with other Members for an improper
purpose. The Member’s request for information and right to
inspect information is subject to any reasonable standards as
may be established by the Board on a case by case basis or from
time to time and the inspection rights will be restricted by the
Board to protect the rights of other Members and the Company
from damage by the requesting Member. The Board has the
authority and shall
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restrict access to and protect Confidential Information of the
Company in a manner consistent with this Section 4.1(b) and
Section 4.1(c) as deemed appropriate by the Board.
(c) Nondisclosure. Except as otherwise
consented to by the Board, all non-public information furnished
to the Member pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise regarding
the Company or its business that is not generally available to
the public (“Confidential Information”) will be kept
confidential and will not be disclosed by the Member, or by any
of the Member’s agents, representatives or employees, in
any manner, in whole or in part, except that: (1) a Member
will be permitted to disclose Confidential Information to those
of the Member’s agents, representatives and employees who
need to be familiar with the information in connection with the
Member’s investment in the Company and who are charged with
an obligation of confidentiality and nondisclosure to other
Persons; (2) a Member will be permitted to disclose
Confidential Information to the Member’s partners and
equity holders so long as they agree to keep the information
confidential on the terms set forth in this Agreement;
(3) a Member will be permitted to disclose Confidential
Information to the extent required by law, so long as the Member
will have first provided the Company a reasonable opportunity to
contest the necessity of disclosing the information; and
(4) a Member will be permitted to disclose Confidential
Information with prior written notice to the Company regarding
the Persons and the nature of and restrictions on the
Confidential Information to be disclosed, only to the Persons
and to the extent necessary for the enforcement of any right of
the Member arising under this Agreement.
Section 4.2 Minimum
Required Unit Holding by Members.
(a) Class A Members. Class A
Members must hold at least 20,000 Class A Units.
(b) Other Classes. A Unitholder must hold
the minimum number and Class of Units required for membership as
stipulated in the designation of another Class.
Section 4.3 Admission
of Members.
(a) Initial Members. Each Person who
submits a properly executed subscription agreement to purchase
Units, pays for such Units in full, and who satisfies the
requirements of Section 4.2 is admitted as a Class A
Member upon approval of the Board.
(b) Additional Members. Additional
Persons may, upon the approval of the Board, be admitted as
Members of the Company with respect to any Class of Units:
(1) by meeting the requirements for membership with respect
to any Class under Section 4.2 and otherwise under this
Agreement including any subscription and payment for Units as
determined by the Board; (2) by submitting documents
required by the Board to evaluate membership approval; and
(3) by submitting an executed document approved by the
Board agreeing to be bound by this Agreement. A Person is not
admitted as a Member of any Class by the Board unless and until
an officer of the Company, acting under authority from the
Board, has countersigned the Person’s application,
subscription agreement, or other document required by the Board
for admission as a Member of any Class. The Board in its sole
discretion may refuse to admit any Person as a Member of any
Class.
(c) Admission of Transferees as
Members. A transferee of Units will be admitted
as a Member with respect to a Class of Units (if not already a
Member) if: (1) the Transfer Restrictions are satisfied
with respect to the applicable Transfer; (2) the
requirements of Section 4.2 are satisfied with respect to
the transferee and the Class of Units, (3) the Board
approves the membership of the transferee (which approval may be
granted, delayed, considered or withheld in the sole discretion
of the Board); and (4) the transferee executes any
instruments and satisfies any other requirements that the Board
deems reasonably necessary or desirable for admission of the
transferee as a Member. In the absence of satisfying the
foregoing requirements, the transferee will be a non-member
Unitholder with only the rights of an unadmitted assignee as
provided in Section 3.7(f).
Section 4.4 Member
Voting.
(a) Voting Rights Restricted. A Member
does not have any voting rights except with respect to those
matters requiring a Member vote or approval for: (1) the
election and removal of Managers; (2) approval of
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certain mergers or consolidations as provided in
Section 5.1(c); (3) approval of certain dispositions
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company under
Section 5.1(c); (4) approval of the dissolution of the
Company under Article 7; and (5) approval of certain
amendments to this Agreement under Article 6, or as
specifically provided for in this Agreement.
(b) Class A Member Voting Rights. A
Class A Member is entitled to one (1) vote for each
Class A Unit held by the Member; provided, however, that a
Class A Member’s number of votes is at all times
capped at two percent (2%) of the outstanding Class A
Units. Cumulative voting of the votes for Class A Units is
not permitted. A Member of any other Class will be entitled to
any additional voting rights as may be stipulated in the
designations governing other Classes of Units held.
(c) Voting Method for Classes. Subject to
the governance rights of the designation of any other Class of
Units, Members shall vote by Class, and the Members shall take
action by the affirmative vote of the majority of voting power
of each Class authorized to vote as provided in this Agreement
for: (1) approval of certain mergers or consolidations as
provided in Section 5.1(c); (2) approval of certain
dispositions of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company under Sections 5.1(c); (3) approval of
dissolution of the Company under Article 7; and
(4) approval of certain amendments of this Agreement under
Article 6. In the election (or removal) of Managers by the
Members under Section 5.3(b), Members shall take action by
the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the
Class or Classes electing (or removing) the Manager, present
either in person, by proxy, or by mail ballot, at a duly held
meeting of the Members at which a quorum is present for the
transaction of business.
(d) Voting on Procedural and Other
Matters. Except for Class voting matters in
Section 4.4(c), the Members shall take action at a Members
meeting on procedural and other matters as determined by the
Chair by the affirmative vote of the Members (each Member with
one vote), without regard to the Class or the Units held, unless
objected to by the majority of the voting power of any Class
present at the meeting.
Section 4.5
Member Meetings.
(a) Place and Manner of Meeting. All
meetings of Members shall be held at a time and place, within or
without the State of Missouri, as stated in the notice of the
meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice. Presence in
person, or by proxy or mail ballot, constitutes participation in
a meeting, except where a person participates in the meeting for
the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of business
on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully convened.
(b) Conduct of Meetings. The meetings of
the Members shall be presided over by the Chair and shall be
conducted in general accordance with the most recent edition of
Xxxxxxx’ Rules of Order, or other rules and
procedures as may be determined by the Board in its discretion.
Resolutions to be voted on by the Members shall be limited to
those that have been approved by the Board for presentation to
the Members and contained in the notice of the meeting.
(c) Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of
the Members shall be held on a date determined by the Board.
Failure to hold the annual meeting at the designated time is not
grounds for dissolution of the Company.
(d) Special Meetings. Special meetings of
the Members may be called at any time by the Chair or the Board,
or by the Secretary upon the request of thirty-three percent
(33%) of all Members (total Members without respect to Class)
regardless of the number of Units held by the requesting
Members. The special meeting request shall state a proper
purpose or purposes of the special meeting and the matters if
any proposed to be acted on at the special meeting. Except as
may be required by applicable law, the Board in its discretion
may determine whether a special meeting request contains a
proper purpose. If the Board determines the purpose is not
proper, the Board shall notify the Person requesting the special
meeting in writing of the reasons that the requestor’s
purpose was not proper, and may either revise the purpose and
proceed with the procedures to call a special meeting or decline
to call a special meeting until a proper purpose is requested.
(e) Notice. The Secretary shall cause a
written or printed notice, reviewed by the Company’s legal
counsel, stating the place, day and time of the meeting and, in
the case of a special meeting, the proper
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purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. The notice
shall be delivered not less than ten (10) nor more than
sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting either
personally or by mail, to each Member entitled to vote at the
meeting. If mailed, the notice shall be deemed to be delivered
when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the
Member at the Member’s address as it appears on the records
of the Company, with postage prepaid. If the purpose of the
meeting is to consider any item requiring Class voting of
Members under Section 4.4(c), the notice shall be in a form
that is approved by the Board and shall state the purpose,
identify the Manager if the purpose is removal, and a summary of
the transaction to be considered or a verbatim statement of the
amendment to be considered must accompany the notice.
(f) Quorum. At any annual or special
meeting of the Members, a quorum necessary for the transaction
of business is present if: (1) when the Board has
authorized the use of mail ballot or proxies, Members with
twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power are present;
and (2) in any other case, Members with ten percent (10%)
or more of the voting power are present. If a vote of more than
one Class is required, the quorum requirement will be applied to
the Members of each Class. The Members present at a duly
organized meeting at which a quorum is present may transact
business until adjournment, notwithstanding the departure or
withdrawal of Members leaving less than a quorum, provided
however, if the question of a quorum is called and the Chair
determines a quorum is not present, the meeting shall be
adjourned. The registration of Members eligible to vote shall be
verified by the Secretary and shall be reported in the minutes
of the meeting.
(g) Record Date. For the purpose of
determining Members entitled to notice of or to vote at any
meeting of Members or to make a determination of Members for any
other proper purpose, the Board may designate a record date or
provide that the record books shall be closed for a stated
period not exceeding sixty (60) days. If the record books
shall be closed for the purpose of determining Members entitled
to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Members, the books shall
be closed for a period not exceeding the period immediately
preceding the meeting starting on the date when the notice is
mailed or transmitted from the Company and the date of the
meeting. In lieu of closing the record books, the Board may fix
in advance a date as the record date for determination of
Members. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, if the record
books are not closed and a record date is not fixed for the
determination of Members entitled to notice of or to vote at a
meeting of Members, the date on which notice of the meeting is
first mailed or transmitted from the Company, as the case may
be, shall be the record date for the determination of Members.
When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting
of Members has been made as provided in this Section, the
determination applies to the reconvening of an adjournment,
except where the determination has been made through the closing
of record books and the stated period of closing has expired.
(h) Ballots; Proxies. If and to the
extent authorized by the Board, a Member may vote at a meeting
of Members by alternative ballot (mail or otherwise) or by proxy
granted by the Member or by the Member’s duly authorized
attorney-in-fact. If authorized by the Board, a proxy may be
granted in writing, by means of electronic transmission, or as
otherwise permitted by applicable law. A proxy shall be filed
with the Secretary of the Company before the meeting is
convened, as determined by the Board. A proxy shall be
considered filed with the Company when received by the Company
at its executive offices or other place designated by the Board,
unless later revoked. A proxy is not valid after eleven months
from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in the
proxy. A proxy is revocable at the discretion of the Member
executing the proxy. While the right to vote can be exercised by
proxy, only a Member has the right to be recognized in a meeting
of the Members unless otherwise determined by the Chair in the
Chair’s sole discretion.
Section 4.6 Termination
of Membership.
(a) Termination Events. Membership as to
any Class may be terminated by the Board upon a determination by
the Board that the requirements to be a Member of that Class are
not met. Membership in the Company (membership in all Classes)
is terminated if any of the following events occur (any of the
events are referred to as an “Event of
Disassociation”):
(1) a Member does not meet the requirements to be a Member
with regard to at least one of the Classes of Units held by the
Member as determined by the Board;
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(2) a Member that is an individual dies, or a member that
is not an individual ceases to exist as a Business Entity, and
leaves no successor qualified as determined by the Board to be a
Member;
(3) a Member Transfers all of the Member’s Units;
(4) the Member resigns as a Member with respect to all
Classes of Units held under Section 4.7; or
(5) the Board by resolution finds that a Member:
(i) has intentionally or repeatedly violated any provision
of this Agreement;
(ii) has breached any agreement with or obligation to the
Company;
(iii) has intentionally or repeatedly taken actions that
will impede the Company from accomplishing its purposes;
(iv) is a Person who is a competitor of the Company or a
competitor of an Affiliate of the Company;
(v) is a Person who is detrimental to the interests of the
Company or an Affiliate of the Company; or
(vi) has willfully obstructed any lawful purpose or
activity of the Company.
(b) Unitholder rights upon Event of
Disassociation. Upon membership termination under
clauses (1), (4) or (5) in Section 4.6(a), the
Unitholder’s rights shall be those granted in
Section 3.7 (f).
Section 4.7
Resignation.
A Member may resign as a Member of any Class or all Classes at
any time. A resignation must be made in writing delivered to the
Secretary of the Company, and will take effect at the time
specified in the resignation or, if no time is specified, upon
receipt. The acceptance of a resignation will not be necessary
to make it effective, unless expressly so provided in the
resignation. The resignation as a Member does not terminate or
cancel any contractual or other obligations of the resigning
Member to the Company or obligate the Company to make any
distributions to the resigning Member under the Act or
otherwise, except as approved by resolution of the Board.
Section 4.8 Continuation
of the Company.
The occurrence of an Event of Disassociation or any other event
which is deemed to terminate the continued membership of a
Member in one or all Classes, will not dissolve the Company, the
Company’s affairs shall not be required to be wound up, and
the Company will continue without dissolution.
ARTICLE 5.
Management of Company
Section 5.1 Governance
by Board, CEO.
(a) General Authority. As provided in
this Agreement, the powers and privileges of the Company shall
be exercised by or under the authority of the Board, and the
business and affairs of the Company shall be governed by the
Board, and management of the Company shall be delegated to the
CEO. The Company shall not be governed or managed by the
Members, except those matters for which consent or approval of
the Members is required by this Agreement or any nonwaivable
provisions of the Act. The Board by resolution and employment
agreement shall allocate and delegate governance and management
of the Company between the Board and the CEO. Any delegation or
allocation by the Board shall not cause the individuals
constituting the Board to cease to be “managers” of
the Company for purposes of the Act.
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(b) Policies, Rules, Regulations. The
Board may adopt policies, rules, and regulations and may take
actions as it deems advisable in furtherance of the purposes of
the Company, provided that the Board shall not act in a manner
contrary to this Agreement.
(c) Board Actions Requiring Member
Consent. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, the following actions will not be taken by the
Company without a resolution describing and authorizing the
action that is approved by the Board and is also approved by the
Members:
(1) mergers or consolidations with or into any other
Business Entity which is not an Affiliate of the Company,
whether or not the Company is the surviving entity;
(2) dispositions (whether effected by merger, sale of
assets, lease, equity exchange or otherwise) of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company, other than
through a pledge, security, transfer to a subsidiary under the
control of the Company or transfer to effect a securitization of
the Company’s assets for purposes of debt financing;
(3) amendments of this Agreement requiring approval by the
Members to the extent provided in Article 6; and
(4) dissolution of the Company under Section 7.1.
(d) Duty to the Company. The Board shall
cause the Company to conduct its business and operations
separate and apart from that of any Member, Manager, or any of
their Affiliates. The Board shall take all actions which may be
necessary or appropriate: (1) for the continuation of the
Company’s valid existence as a limited liability company
under the laws of the State of Missouri and each other
jurisdiction in which the existence is necessary to protect the
limited liability of Members and Unitholders or to enable the
Company to conduct the business in which it is engaged; and
(2) for the accomplishment of the Company’s purposes,
including the acquisition, development, maintenance,
preservation, and operation of Company property in accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement and applicable laws and
regulations. Each Manager shall have the duty to discharge the
foregoing duties in good faith, in a manner the Manager
reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the Company,
and with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like
position would exercise under similar circumstances. A Manager
is not under any other duty to the Company or the Members to
conduct the affairs of the Company in a particular manner.
(e) Duty of Care and Loyalty. Without
limiting the applicability of Section 5.1(d) or any other
provision of this Agreement, the following provisions will be
applicable to the Board and to the Managers in their capacity as
Managers:
(1) the Board and the Managers and the decisions of the
Board will have the benefit of the business judgment rule to the
same extent as the Board, the Managers and the decisions would
have the benefit of the rule if the Board were a board of
directors of a Missouri corporation and the Managers were
directors; and
(2) the Board and the Managers will have the same duties of
care and loyalty as they would have if they were a board of
directors and directors of a Missouri corporation, but in no
event will any member of the Board be liable for any action or
inaction for which this Agreement expressly waives liability for
the Manager.
Section 5.2 Actions
by Board; Committees; Reliance on Authority.
(a) Board Action. In taking any action
under this Agreement, the Managers shall act:
(1) collectively through meetings of the Board held and
conducted pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement or by
written action taken pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement; (2) through committees established pursuant to
Section 5.2(b); and (3) through officers of the Board,
and through the CEO by resolutions of delegated and reserved
authorities and employment agreement. The Board shall take
action by the affirmative vote of the Managers present at a duly
held meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present.
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(b) Committees. The Board, by resolution
approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Managers
then holding office, may from time to time establish one or more
committees, each of which shall be comprised of one or more
natural persons who may but need not be Managers or Members,
provided that a majority of committee members on each committee
must be a Manager or Member. Any committee shall have and may
only exercise the authority and duties to the extent provided by
the Board in the resolution establishing the committee, subject
at all times to the limitations set forth in the Act, this
Agreement and to the direction and control of the Board. Unless
otherwise provided by the Board, the presence of a majority of
the members of the committee constitutes a quorum for the
transaction of business at a meeting of the committee, and the
committee shall act by the affirmative vote of a majority of
committee members present at a duly held meeting. In other
matters of procedure the provisions of this Agreement shall
apply to committees and their members to the same extent they
apply to the Board and Managers, including the provisions with
respect to meetings and notice, absent members, written actions,
and valid acts. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its
proceedings and report the same to the Board. The Board may
dissolve any committee at any time.
(c) Reliance on Authority. A Person
dealing with the Company, may rely on the authority of an
officer of the Board or an officer of the Company in taking an
action in the name of the Company without inquiry into the
provisions of this Agreement or compliance with this Agreement,
regardless of whether the action is actually taken in accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement, unless the Person dealing
with the Company has actual knowledge that the officer lacks
authority to act or the Act establishes that the officer lacks
authority to act.
Section 5.3 The
Board.
(a) Manager Election and Appointment. The
Board shall consist of individuals appointed or elected under
this Section (“Managers”) who are the
“managers” of the Company for all purposes under the
Act. Managers shall be appointed by the Board and elected by the
Members at the times, in the manner, and for the terms as
prescribed by this Agreement. A Manager is not required to be a
Member. The initial Managers comprising the initial Board who
shall serve until the first Annual Meeting of the Members in the
manner and as prescribed by this Agreement consists of the
individuals, terms, and classification as provided in the Board
attached as Appendix D and incorporated as part of this
Agreement. The Board may appoint Advisory Managers as provided
in Section 5.3(d). Other than the initial appointment
(which may only be for a term that ends with the next election
of Managers by the Members), Managers and Advisory Managers
appointed by the Board shall have one year terms beginning and
ending at the Annual Members meeting, Managers and Advisory
Managers appointed by Members shall be appointed by Members at
the Annual Meeting of Members, and Managers and Advisory
Managers appointed by the Board, shall be appointed by the Board
within 30 days after the Annual Meeting of Members. The
Board may adopt written procedures for determining the
qualification and nomination of Managers. The Board, without
Member approval, shall amend Appendix D to comply with any
change in Managers. For purposes of this Agreement, the initial
Managers in Appendix D shall be deemed to have been elected
by the Class A Members.
(b) Term. The elected Managers
shall serve three-year terms and until their successors are duly
elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation
or removal. In order to preserve continuity of governance and
the harmonious transition of the initial Board to the elected or
appointed Board, the terms of the initial Managers may be
staggered, with all subsequent terms for elected Managers to be
for a period of three years. The Board shall adopt nomination,
reporting, and other election procedures and policies for the
Company in its sole discretion and which may be amended or
modified by the Board in its sole discretion.
(c) Number. The initial Board shall
consist of twenty three (23) Managers. After the first
Annual Meeting of the Members, the Board shall consist of not
less than nine (9) Managers. The Board by resolution may
establish additional Managers to be elected by the Members. The
designations for any Class under Section 3.2(a) may
establish additional Managers on the Board elected by the
Members or appointed by the Board or by one or more Members. At
each Annual Meeting of the Members, elections will be held to
fill all vacancies on the Board for elected Managers.
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(d) Advisory Managers. The Board
may also appoint “Advisory Managers” (who may be
invited by the Board to serve the Board in an advisory capacity
and attend meetings of the Board, but who will not be members of
the Board or “Managers” as used in this Agreement or
the Act and who will have no voting rights on the Board).
(e) Independent Non-Competitive
Activities. A Manager is only required to devote
the time to the affairs of the Company as are necessary to
govern the business and affairs of the Company in accordance
with this Agreement, and shall be free to serve any other
Business Entity or enterprise in any capacity that the Manager
deems appropriate in his or her discretion, provided that the
other Business Entity or enterprise or one of their Affiliates
is not a competitor of the Company or one of the Company’s
Affiliates as determined by the Board.
(f) Resignation. A Manager may
resign at any time. The resignation must be made in writing and
shall take effect at the time specified in the written
resignation or, if a time is not specified then at the time of
its receipt by the Chair or the Secretary of the Company. The
acceptance of a resignation is not necessary to make it
effective, unless expressly provided in the written resignation.
(g) Removal. A Manager elected by
the Members may be removed for any reason at any special meeting
of Members by the affirmative vote of the majority of the voting
power of the class of Members who elected the Manager. A Manager
appointed by one or more Members pursuant to a Class designation
may be removed at any time by the appointing Member or Members
or as otherwise provided in the Class designation. A Manager
appointed by the Board may be removed by the affirmative
majority vote of the Managers excluding the Manager to be
removed. A Manager elected or appointed by the Members may be
removed at any special meeting of the Board by the affirmative
vote of two-thirds
(2/3)
of the Managers who are not subject to removal for an act or
failure to act in a manner that constitutes any of the
following: (1) a willful failure to deal fairly with the
Company or its Members in connection with a matter in which the
Manager or officer has a material conflict of interest;
(2) a violation of criminal law, unless the Board
determines the Manager had reasonable cause to believe that the
Manager’s or officer’s conduct was lawful or no
reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful;
(3) a transaction from which the Manager derived an
improper personal profit; or (4) willful misconduct. The
notice of the meeting shall state that the removal will be
discussed and acted upon at the meeting, and must also be
provided to the Manager in question at least 10 days in
advance of the meeting. The Manager in question has a right to
be heard at the meeting.
(h) Vacancies. A vacancy occurring
on the Board (whether by reason of an increase in the number of
Managers or by reason of a vacancy in an existing Manager seat)
may be filled by appointment through an affirmative vote of a
majority of the remaining Managers, though less than a quorum. A
Manager appointed by the Board to fill a vacancy for an elected
Manager shall serve until a successor is elected and qualified
at the next annual or special meeting of the Members held for
the purpose of electing Managers. At the next annual meeting or
special meeting of the Members called for the purpose of
electing a Manager, the Members shall elect a Manager to fill
the unexpired term of the vacant Manager’s position.
Section 5.4 Board
Meetings.
(a) Meetings. Regular meetings of the
Board shall be held from time to time as determined by the
Board. Special meetings of the Board shall be held upon the call
of the Chair or two (2) or more Managers. Board meetings
shall be held at the principal office of the Company or at
another place, either within or without the State of Missouri,
as designated by the person calling the meeting and stated in
the notice of the meeting or a duly executed waiver of notice of
the meeting. Managers may participate in a Board meeting by
means of video or audio conferencing or similar communications
equipment whereby all Managers participating in the meeting can
hear each other.
(b) Notice. Notice of each meeting of the
Board, stating the place, day and hour of the meeting, shall be
given to each Manager at least three (3) days before the
day on which the meeting is to be held. The notice may be given
orally, in writing, by facsimile transmission, by electronic
mail or by any other form or means of communication that
provides reasonable assurances of effective communication.
Except as expressly
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required in this Agreement, the notice or waiver of notice of
any special or regular meeting of the Board does not need to
specify the business to be transacted or the purpose of the
meeting.
(c) Waiver. Whenever a notice is required
to be given to a Manager under the provisions of this Agreement,
a waiver of the notice in writing signed by the Manager, whether
before or after the meeting time stated in the notice, shall be
deemed equivalent to the giving of the notice. Attendance of a
Manager at a meeting of the Board constitutes a waiver of notice
of the meeting by the Manager, except where the Manager attends
a meeting for the express purpose of stating his or her
objection to the transaction of any business because the meeting
is not lawfully called or convened.
(d) Quorum. One-half of the Managers in
office constitute a quorum necessary for the transaction of
business at any regular or special meeting of the Board. If less
than a quorum is present, those Managers present may adjourn the
meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.
(e) Voting and Act of the Board. Each
Manager has one (1) vote, without regard to the Class or
Classes of Members that elected or appointed the Manager, unless
otherwise provided in a Class designation. The Board shall take
action by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Managers
present at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present.
Provided that a quorum is present, there is no requirement that
any action of the Board be approved by Managers elected or
appointed by a certain Class of Members, unless otherwise
provided in a Class designation.
(f) Action Without a Meeting. An action
required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board may
be taken by written action signed by the Managers with a
majority of the voting power of the Managers comprising the
Board, unless this Agreement prescribes a greater Manager
approval for the action to be taken.
(g) Compensation. The Board may fix the
compensation, if any, of Managers. Managers shall also be
entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in
attending meetings of the Board or conducting other business of
the Company.
Section 5.5 Officers.
(a) Qualification; Election. Officers of
the Board, and the CEO must be natural persons, and shall be
elected or appointed by the Board. The officers of the Company
shall consist of the following persons:
(1) officers of the Board, elected on an annual basis, who
shall consist of a Chair and a Vice Chair, who must be Managers,
and a Secretary and a Treasurer who need not be a Manager and
may be appointed by the Board;
(2) the CEO who may be appointed by the Board when
determined necessary; and
(3) a chief financial officer and other officers and
assistant officers of the Company, who shall be appointed by the
CEO.
(b) Bonds and Insurance. The Board may
require all officers, agents and employees charged by this
Company with responsibility for the custody of its funds or
property to give bonds. Bonds shall be furnished by a
responsible bonding company and approved by the Board, and the
cost shall be paid by the Company. The Board shall cause the
Company to provide for insurance of the property of the Company,
or property which may be in the possession of the Company and
not otherwise adequately insured by the owner of the property.
In addition, the Board shall cause the Company to provide for
insurance covering liability of the Company to all employees and
the public, in a commercially reasonable amount as is customary
for businesses similar to the Company.
(c) Term of Office. An officer appointed
by the Board, other than the CEO, shall hold office for a term
of one year and until a successor is duly elected or appointed,
unless prior to the end of the term the officer has resigned,
deceased or has been removed from office.
(d) Removal and Vacancies. Any officer
elected or appointed by the Board may be removed, with or
without cause, at any time by a resolution of the Board;
provided that the removal is subject to the termination
procedures of any written employment agreement with the Company.
A vacancy in an office of the Board or
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the CEO shall be filled by a resolution of the Board. The CEO
may remove any officer appointed by the CEO. An officer may
resign at any time by giving written notice to the Company. The
resignation is effective without acceptance when the notice is
given to the Company, unless a later effective date is specified
in the notice.
(e) Chief Executive Officer. The CEO
shall have direct and general charge and supervision of all
business and administrative operations of the Company and all
other duties, responsibilities, authorities and privileges as
are set forth in the CEO’s employment agreement, if any, as
amended from time to time, in addition to those duties,
responsibilities, authorities and privileges as are delegated to
the CEO by the Board by resolution, or that a CEO of a Missouri
corporation would have in respect of a Missouri corporation in
the absence of a specific delegation of the duties,
responsibilities, authorities and privileges. The CEO may be an
officer of any Business Entity in which the Company owns an
interest. The CEO shall also perform other duties that may be
assigned by the Board to the extent consistent with this
Agreement and the CEO’s employment agreement, if any, as
amended from time to time.
(f) Duties of Other Officers. Unless
provided otherwise by a resolution adopted by the Board, the
officers of the Company, other than the CEO, shall have the
duties as are customarily associated with their respective
offices and shall perform other duties as may from time to time
be prescribed by any officer to whom the officer reports.
(g) Delegation. Unless prohibited by a
resolution of the Board, an officer elected or appointed by the
Board may delegate in writing some or all of the duties and
powers of the person’s management position to other
persons. An officer who delegates the duties or powers of an
office remains subject to the standard of conduct for an officer
with respect to the discharge of all duties and powers so
delegated.
Section 5.6 Liability
and Indemnification of Managers and Officers.
(a) Liability Limitation. A Manager or
officer of the Company is not personally liable to the Company
or its Members for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary
duty by the Manager or officer; provided that this provision
does not eliminate or limit the liability of a Manager or
officer for an act or failure to act in a manner that
constitutes any of the following: (1) a willful failure to
deal fairly with the Company or its Members in connection with a
matter in which the Manager or officer has a material conflict
of interest; (2) a violation of criminal law, unless the
Manager had reasonable cause to believe that the Manager’s
or officer’s conduct was lawful and had no reasonable cause
to believe that the conduct was unlawful; (3) a transaction
from which the Manager derived an improper personal benefit or
profit; or (4) willful misconduct.
(b) Indemnification. To the fullest
extent permitted or required by law, the Company, its receiver,
or its trustee (in the case of its receiver or trustee, to the
extent of Company Property) shall indemnify, defend, save
harmless, and pay all judgments and claims against, and
reasonable expenses of, each present and former Manager or
officer relating to any liability or damage or reasonable
expenses incurred with respect to a proceeding if the Manager or
officer (or former Manager or officer) was a party to the
proceeding as a result of or in connection with (1) his or
her capacity as a Manager or officer of the Company (which
reasonable expenses including reasonable attorneys’ fees
may be paid as incurred); or (2) his or her service of any
other Person at the request of the Company. Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions, the Company shall not indemnify, defend,
save harmless, or pay any portion of any judgments or claims
against, or any expenses of, a Manager or officer (or former
Manager or officer) under the foregoing provisions where the
judgments and claims or proceedings arise out of or are related
to an act or failure to act of the Manager or officer in a
manner that constitutes any of the following: (1) a willful
failure to deal fairly with the Company or its Members in
connection with a matter in which the Manager or officer has a
material conflict of interest; (2) a violation of criminal
law, unless the Manager or officer had reasonable cause to
believe that the Manager’s conduct was lawful or no
reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful;
(3) a transaction from which the Manager or officer derived
an improper personal profit; or (4) willful misconduct.
(c) Insurance. The Company may purchase
and maintain insurance on behalf of a person in the
person’s official capacity against any liability or expense
asserted against or incurred by the person in or arising from
that capacity, whether or not the Company would be required to
indemnify the person against the liability.
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Section 5.7. Contracts
with Managers or Their Affiliates.
A contract or transaction between the Company or an Affiliate of
the Company and a Manager or the Manager’s Affiliate or
between the Company and the Company’s Affiliate and any
other entity in which a Manager or the Manager’s Affiliate
has a material financial interest, is not void or voidable and
does not require the Manager to account to the Company and hold
as trustee for the Company any profit or benefit derived from
the contract or transaction solely for this reason, or solely
because the Manager is present at or participates in the Board
meeting at which the contract or transaction is authorized, if:
(1) the material facts of the Manager’s material
financial interest are disclosed to the Board; and (2) the
contract or transaction is authorized or approved by two-thirds
of all of the disinterested Managers. The presence of the
interested Manager may be counted in determining the presence of
a quorum at the meeting at which the contract or transaction is
authorized but the interested Manager’s presence or vote
may not be counted in determining the authorization or approval
of the contract or transaction by the necessary two-thirds
quantum of consent.
ARTICLE 6.
Amendments
Section 6.1 Amendments.
(a) Procedure For Amendments. Other than
amendments by the Board under Section 6.1(b), amendments to
this Agreement shall be proposed solely by the Board and
approved by the Members. Following the Board’s approval of
any proposed amendment, the Board shall submit to the Members a
verbatim statement of the proposed amendment, providing that
counsel for the Company has approved of the amendment in writing
as to form. The Board shall include in any submission to the
Members a recommendation as to the proposed amendment. The Board
shall seek the approval of the Members on the proposed amendment
by consent (written or electronic affirmation as determined by
the Board) of the required number of Members or shall call a
meeting of the Members to vote on the proposed amendment and to
transact any other business deemed appropriate. A proposed
amendment is adopted and is effective as an amendment of this
Agreement if the amendment is approved by Members of each Class
entitled to vote on the amendment. The Board shall incorporate
any amendment as a restated Agreement effective as of the
effective date of the amendment.
(b) Amendments By Board. This Agreement
may be amended by the Board, without Member approval, to the
extent provided in: Section 2.4 for the Principal Place of
Business; Section 2.6(c) for the Agent for Service of
Process; Section 3.2(a), 3.2(b) and Section 3.2(c) for
designations of Classes and issuance of Units; Section 3.6
as to Class designations under Section 3.2(a).
Section 3.8(g) for the Unit Transfer Policy; and
Section 5.3(a) as to the change in Managers; which includes
the authority of the Board to amend Appendices A, B, C, D,
and E without Member approval.
(c) Amendments Of Sections By Specified
Percentage. A provision of this Agreement that
requires the approval or consent of a specified percentage or
number in interest of the Members or any Class of Members may
not be amended without the affirmative vote of Members holding
at least the specified percentage or number of voting rights of
all of the Members or of the specified Class.
(d) Amendment Of This Section. This
Section shall not be amended without the approval or consent of
at least two-thirds
(2/3)
of the voting power of Members holding each Class of Units.
ARTICLE 7.
Dissolution and Winding Up
Section 7.1 Dissolution
Commencement.
(a) Dissolution Event. The Company shall
dissolve and shall commence winding up and liquidating upon the
first to occur of either of the following (each a
“Dissolution Event”): (1) the affirmative vote of
the
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Board and a majority of the voting power of each class of
Members to dissolve, wind up, and liquidate the Company; or
(2) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution pursuant
to the Act.
(b) No Dissolution Prior To Dissolution
Event. The Members agree that, notwithstanding
any provision of the Act, the Company shall not dissolve prior
to the occurrence of a Dissolution Event.
Section 7.2 Winding
Up.
Upon the occurrence of a Dissolution Event, the Company shall
continue solely for the purposes of winding up its affairs in an
orderly manner, liquidating its assets, and satisfying the
claims of its creditors, Unitholders and Members, and no
Unitholder or Member shall take any action that is inconsistent
with, or not necessary to or appropriate for, the winding up of
the Company’s business and affairs, provided that all
covenants contained in this Agreement and obligations provided
for in this Agreement shall continue to be fully binding upon
the Unitholders and Members until the time as the Property has
been distributed pursuant to this Section and the Articles of
Organization has been canceled pursuant to the Act. The
Liquidator shall be responsible for overseeing the prompt and
orderly winding up and dissolution of the Company. The
Liquidator appointed under Section 7.6 shall take full
account of the Company’s liabilities and Property and shall
cause the Property or the proceeds from the sale of the
Property, to be applied and distributed, to the maximum extent
permitted by law, in the following order (subject to any
priority Distributions applicable to Units of any specific Class
or Classes):
(1) first, to creditors (including Managers,
Unitholders, Members and Affiliates of Unitholders and Members
who are creditors, to the extent otherwise permitted by law) in
satisfaction of all of the Company’s debts, obligations and
liabilities (whether by payment or making of reasonable
provision for payment of the liabilities); and
(2) second, the excess of the amount paid in
Section 7.2(1) above, subject to any priorities in the
designation of Unit Classes, to the Unitholders in accordance
with the positive balance in their Capital Accounts, as provided
in Appendix E, Article XII.
Section 7.3 Rights
of Unitholders.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, in winding up
under Section 7.2 each Unitholder shall look solely to the
Property of the Company for any Distribution and has no right or
power to demand or receive Property other than cash from the
Company. If the assets of the Company remaining after payment or
discharge of the debts, obligations and liabilities of the
Company are insufficient to return the Capital Contributions,
the Unitholders shall have no recourse against the Company or
any other Unitholder or Unitholders.
Section 7.4 Notice
of Dissolution.
(a) Notice to Unitholders and
Claimants. Within thirty (30) days after the
occurrence of a Dissolution Event, the Board shall provide
written notice of the Dissolution Event to each of the Members
and any Unitholders who are not Members, and the Board may
notify its known claimants
and/or
publish notice as further provided in the Act.
(b) Certificate of Cancellation. Upon
completion of the distribution of the Company’s Property as
provided in this Article 7, the Company shall be
terminated, and the Liquidator shall cause the filing of a
Certificate of Cancellation in accordance with the Act and shall
take all other actions as may be necessary to terminate the
Company.
Section 7.5 Allocations
During Period of Liquidation.
During the period commencing on the first day of the Fiscal Year
during which a Dissolution Event occurs and ending on the date
on which all of the assets of the Company have been distributed
to the Unitholders pursuant to Section 7.2 (the
“Liquidation Period”), the Unitholders shall continue
to share Profits,
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Losses, gain, loss and other items of Company income, gain, loss
or deduction in the manner provided in Article 3 and
Appendix E.
Section 7.6 The
Liquidator.
(a) Definition. The
“Liquidator” shall mean a Person appointed by the
Board to oversee the liquidation of the Company. The Liquidator
may be the Board or a committee of three or more Managers
appointed by the Board.
(b) Fees. The Company is authorized to
pay a reasonable fee to the Liquidator for its services
performed pursuant to this Article 7 and to reimburse the
Liquidator for its reasonable costs and expenses incurred in
performing those services.
(c) Indemnification. The Company shall
indemnify, save harmless, and pay all judgments and claims
against the Liquidator or any officers, directors, agents or
employees of the Liquidator relating to any liability or damage
incurred by reason of any act performed or omitted to be
performed by the Liquidator, or any officers, directors, agents
or employees of the Liquidator in connection with the
liquidation of the Company, including reasonable attorneys’
fees incurred by the Liquidator, officer, director, agent or
employee in connection with the defense of any action based on
any act or omission, which attorneys’ fees may be paid as
incurred, except to the extent the liability or damage is caused
by the fraud, intentional misconduct of, or a knowing violation
of the laws by the Liquidator which was material to the cause of
action.
Section 7.7. Form of
Liquidating Distributions.
For purposes of making Distributions required by
Section 7.2, the Liquidator may determine whether to
distribute all or any portion of the Property in kind or to sell
all or any portion of the Property and distribute the proceeds
from the sale.
ARTICLE 8.
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
Section 8.1 Notices.
A notice, payment, demand, or communication required or
permitted to be given by any provision of this Agreement shall
be in writing, facsimile or electronic communication, as
determined by the Board, and shall be deemed to have been
delivered, given, and received for all purposes: (1) if
delivered personally to the Person or to an officer of the
Business Entity to whom the same is directed; or (2) when
the same is actually delivered to the recipient’s address
on record with the Company. Notices, payments and demands shall
be transmitted or sent: (1) if to the Company, to the
address determined pursuant to Section 2.4; and (2) if
to the Unitholders or Members, to the address of the Unitholder
or Member on record with the Company.
Section 8.2 Binding
Effect.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, every covenant,
term, and provision of this Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the Members and Unitholders and their
respective successors, transferees, and assigns, without the
necessity of physical execution of this Agreement.
Section 8.3 Construction.
Every covenant, term, and provision of this Agreement shall be
construed simply according to its fair meaning and not strictly
for or against any Member or Unitholder.
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Section 8.4 Time.
In computing any period of time pursuant to this Agreement, the
day of the act, event or default from which the designated
period of time begins to run shall not be included, but the time
shall begin to run on the next succeeding day. The last day of
the period so computed shall be included, unless it is a
Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, in which event the period
shall run until the end of the next day which is not a Saturday,
Sunday or legal holiday.
Section 8.5 Headings.
Section and other headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and are not intended to describe,
interpret, define, or limit the scope, extent, or intent of this
Agreement or any provision of this Agreement.
Section 8.6 Severability.
Every provision of this Agreement is intended to be severable,
and, if any term or provision of this Agreement is illegal or
invalid for any reason whatsoever, the illegality or invalidity
shall not affect the validity or legality of the remainder of
this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the illegality
or invalidity would be to cause the Members to lose the material
benefit of their economic bargain, then the Members agree to
negotiate in good faith to amend this Agreement in order to
restore the lost material benefit.
Section 8.7 Incorporation
by Reference.
Every exhibit, schedule, and other appendix attached to this
Agreement and referred to in this Agreement is not incorporated
in this Agreement by reference unless this Agreement expressly
provides that the exhibit, schedule or appendix is to be
incorporated as part of this Agreement.
Section 8.8 Variation
of Terms.
All terms and any variations of the terms shall be deemed to
refer to masculine, feminine, or neuter, singular or plural, as
the identity of the term may require.
Section 8.9 Governing
Law.
The laws of the State of Missouri shall govern the validity of
this Agreement, the construction of its terms, and the
interpretation of the rights and duties arising under this
Agreement.
Section 8.10 Specific
Performance.
Each Member and Unitholder agrees that the other Members and
Unitholders would be irreparably damaged if any of the
provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance
with their specific terms and that monetary damages would not
provide an adequate remedy. Accordingly, it is agreed that, in
addition to any other remedy to which the Company on behalf of
the nonbreaching Members may be entitled, at law or in equity,
the Company on behalf of the nonbreaching Members shall be
entitled to injunctive relief to prevent breaches of the
provisions of this Agreement and specifically to enforce the
terms and provisions of this Agreement in any action instituted
in any court of the United States or any state having subject
matter jurisdiction.
Section 8.11 Consent
to Jurisdiction.
All actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or based upon
this Agreement or the subject matter of this Agreement if
brought by a person other than the Company shall be brought and
maintained exclusively in the federal courts located in the
State of Missouri, provided that upon determination by the Board
of Managers, the Company has the right to bring, maintain, or
remove any action, suit, or proceeding arising out of or based
on this Agreement or the subject matter of this Agreement to any
state or federal court located in the State of Missouri. Each of
the Unitholders and Members: (1) shall irrevocably be
subject to the jurisdiction of the
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federal courts located in the State of Missouri for the purpose
of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or based upon
this Agreement or the subject matter of this Agreement; and
(2) waives to the extent not prohibited by applicable law,
and shall not be entitled to assert, by way of motion, as a
defense or otherwise, in any action, suit or proceeding, any
claim that he, she, or it is not subject personally to the
jurisdiction of one of the above-named courts, that he, she, or
it is immune from extraterritorial injunctive relief or other
injunctive relief, that he, she, or its property is exempt or
immune from attachment or execution, that any action, suit or
proceeding may not be brought or maintained in one of the
above-named courts should be dismissed on the grounds of forum
non conveniens, should be transferred to any court other than
one of the above-named courts, should be stayed by virtue of the
pendency of any other action, suit or proceeding in any court
other than one of the above-named courts, or that this Agreement
or the subject matter of this Agreement may not be enforced in
or by any one of the above-named courts. Each Unitholder,
Member, or other party to this Agreement shall be subject to
service of process in any suit, action or proceeding in any
manner permitted by the laws of the State of Missouri, shall be
subject to service of process by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, at the address specified in or
pursuant to this Agreement on the records of the Company (on
grounds that it is reasonably calculated to give actual notice)
and waives and shall not be entitled to assert by way of motion,
as a defense or otherwise, in any action, suit or proceeding any
claim that service of process made in accordance with this
Agreement does not constitute good and sufficient service of
process. The provisions of this Section shall not restrict the
ability of any party to enforce in any court any judgment
obtained in the federal courts located in the State of Missouri.
Section 8.12 Waiver
of Jury Trial.
To the extent not prohibited by applicable law which cannot be
waived, the Company and each of the Unitholders and Members
waive and shall not be entitled to assert (whether as plaintiff,
defendant or otherwise) any right to trial by jury in any forum
in respect of any issue, claim, demand, action or cause of
action arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the
subject matter of this Agreement, whether now existing or
arising later and whether sounding in tort or contract or
otherwise.
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