AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT OF ONE EARTH ENERGY, LLC Dated: Effective July 10, 2006
EXHIBIT 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT
OF
ONE EARTH ENERGY, LLC
Dated: Effective July 10, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I. THE COMPANY |
1 | |||
1.1 Formation |
1 | |||
1.2 Name |
1 | |||
1.3 Purpose; Powers |
1 | |||
1.4 Principal Place of Business |
1 | |||
1.5 Term |
1 | |||
1.6 Registered Agent |
1 | |||
1.7 Title to Property |
1 | |||
1.8 Payment of Individual Obligations |
2 | |||
1.9 Independent Activities; Transactions With Affiliates |
2 | |||
1.10 Definitions |
2 | |||
ARTICLE II. CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS |
7 | |||
2.1 Initial Capital Contributions |
7 | |||
2.2 Additional Capital Contributions; Additional Units |
7 | |||
2.3 Capital Accounts |
7 | |||
ARTICLE III. ALLOCATIONS |
8 | |||
3.1 Profits |
8 | |||
3.2 Losses |
8 | |||
3.3 Special Allocations |
8 | |||
3.4 Regulatory Allocations |
10 | |||
3.5 Loss Limitation |
10 | |||
3.6 Other Allocation Rules |
10 | |||
3.7 Tax Allocations: Code Section 704(c) |
10 | |||
3.8 Tax Credit Allocations |
11 | |||
ARTICLE IV. DISTRIBUTIONS |
11 | |||
4.1 Net Cash Flow |
11 | |||
4.2 Amounts Withheld |
11 | |||
4.3 Limitations on Distributions |
11 | |||
ARTICLE V. MANAGEMENT |
11 | |||
5.1 Directors |
11 | |||
5.2 Classes of Directors; Number of Total Directors |
11 | |||
5.3 Appointment of Class A Directors and Terms |
12 | |||
5.4 Election of Directors |
12 | |||
5.5 Authority of Directors |
14 | |||
5.6 Director as Agent |
15 | |||
5.7 Restriction on Authority of Directors |
15 |
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5.8 Meetings |
16 | |||
5.9 Notice |
16 | |||
5.10 Conduct of Meeting |
17 | |||
5.11 Quorum |
17 | |||
5.12 Manner of Acting; Informal Action |
17 | |||
5.13 Presumption of Assent |
17 | |||
5.14 Removal of Elected Class B Directors |
17 | |||
5.15 Vacancies |
17 | |||
5.16 Compensation |
17 | |||
5.17 Committees; Authority |
17 | |||
5.18 Voting; Potential Financial Interest |
18 | |||
5.19 Duties and Obligations of Directors |
18 | |||
5.20 Officers |
18 | |||
5.21 Execution of Instruments |
19 | |||
5.22 Limitation of Liability |
19 | |||
5.23 Indemnification of Directors |
19 | |||
ARTICLE VI. MEMBERSHIP UNITS; MEMBERS |
20 | |||
6.1 Membership Units |
20 | |||
6.1 Membership Units |
20 | |||
6.2 Certificates; Surrender for Transfer |
20 | |||
6.3 Members |
20 | |||
6.4 Additional Members |
20 | |||
6.5 Members’ Voting Rights |
20 | |||
6.6 Member Meetings |
20 | |||
6.7 Place of Meeting |
21 | |||
6.8 Conduct of Meetings |
21 | |||
6.9 Notice |
21 | |||
6.10 Contents of Notice |
21 | |||
6.11 Adjourned Meetings |
21 | |||
6.12 Waiver of Notice |
21 | |||
6.13 Fixing of Record Date |
21 | |||
6.14 Quorum and Proxies |
22 | |||
6.15 Voting; Action by Members |
22 | |||
6.16 Termination of Membership |
22 | |||
6.17 Continuation of the Company |
22 | |||
6.18 No Member Right of Redemption or Return of Capital |
22 | |||
6.19 Waiver of Dissenters Rights |
22 | |||
6.20 Loans |
22 | |||
ARTICLE VII. ACCOUNTING, BOOKS AND RECORDS |
22 | |||
7.1 Accounting, Books and Records |
22 | |||
7.2 Delivery to Members and Inspection |
23 | |||
7.3 Reports |
23 | |||
7.4 Tax Matters |
23 |
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ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS |
24 | |||
8.1 Amendments |
24 | |||
ARTICLE IX. TRANSFERS |
24 | |||
9.1 General Restrictions on Transfers; Conversion of Class A Units Upon
Transfer |
24 | |||
9.2 Right of First Refusal for Class A Members |
24 | |||
9.3 Permitted Transfers |
25 | |||
9.4 Conditions Precedent to Transfers |
25 | |||
9.5 Prohibited Transfers |
26 | |||
9.6 No Dissolution or Termination |
27 | |||
9.7 Prohibition of Assignment |
27 | |||
9.8 Rights of Unadmitted Assignees |
27 | |||
9.9 Admission of Substitute Members |
27 | |||
9.10 Representations Regarding Transfers |
27 | |||
9.11 Distributions And Allocations In Respect of Transfer Units |
28 | |||
9.12 Additional Members |
28 | |||
ARTICLE X. DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP |
29 | |||
10.1 Dissolution |
29 | |||
10.2 Winding Up |
29 | |||
10.3 Compliance with Certain Requirements of Regulations; Deficit
Capital Accounts |
29 | |||
10.4 Deemed Distribution and Recontribution |
30 | |||
10.5 Rights of Unit Holders |
30 | |||
10.6 Allocations During Period of Liquidation |
30 | |||
10.7 Character of Liquidating Distributions |
30 | |||
10.8 The Liquidator |
30 | |||
10.9 Forms of Liquidating Distributions |
30 | |||
ARTICLE XI. FARMERS ENERGY INCORPORATED |
30 | |||
11.1 Application |
30 | |||
11.2 Preemptive Rights; Right to Participate |
31 | |||
11.3 Right to Participate in Sales (Tag-Along Rights) |
31 | |||
11.4 Special Right of Appointment of 1 Class B Director For Farmers Energy |
32 | |||
11.5 Accounting, Books and Records, Reports |
32 | |||
11.6 Amendment of Article XI |
32 | |||
ARTICLE XII. MISCELLANEOUS |
32 | |||
12.1 Notices |
32 | |||
12.2 Binding Effect |
32 | |||
12.3 Construction |
32 | |||
12.4 Headings |
32 | |||
12.5 Severability |
32 | |||
12.6 Incorporation By Reference |
33 |
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12.7 Variation of Terms |
33 | |||
12.8 Governing Law |
33 | |||
12.9 Waiver of Jury Trial |
33 | |||
12.10 Counterpart Execution |
33 | |||
12.11 Specific Performance |
33 | |||
12.12 No Third Party Rights |
33 |
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THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into effective as
of the 10th day of July, 2006, by and among One Earth Energy, LLC, an Illinois limited liability
company (the “Company”), each of the Persons identified as Members on attached Exhibit “A,” and any
other Persons that may from time-to-time be subsequently admitted as Members of the Company in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.10.
In consideration of the covenants and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. THE COMPANY
1.1 Formation. The Company was formed as an Illinois limited liability company by filing
Articles of Organization with the Illinois Secretary of State on November 28, 2005.
1.2 Name. The name of the Company shall be “One Earth Energy, LLC,” and all business of
the Company shall be conducted in such name.
1.3 Purposes; Powers. The nature of the business and purposes of the Company are to: (i)
own, construct, operate, lease, finance, contract with, and/or invest in ethanol production and
by-product production facilities; (ii) process feedstock into ethanol and related by-products, and
market such ethanol and by-products; and (iii) engage in any other business and investment activity
in which a Illinois limited liability company may lawfully be engaged, as determined by the
Directors. The Company has the power to do any and all acts necessary, appropriate, proper,
advisable, incidental or convenient to, and in furtherance of, the purposes of the Company as set
forth in this Section 1.3 and has, without limitation, any and all powers that may be exercised on
behalf of the Company by the Directors pursuant to Article V of this Agreement.
1.4 Principal Place of Business. The Company shall continuously maintain a principal place
of business in either the State of Illinois, at such location as the Directors may determine. The
initial principal place of business of the Company shall be at 0000 Xxxx 0xx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, or elsewhere as the Directors may determine. Any documents required
by the Act to be kept by the Company shall be maintained at the Company’s principal place of
business.
1.5 Term. The term of the Company commenced on the date the Articles were filed with the
Illinois Secretary of State, and shall continue until the winding up and liquidation of the Company
and its business is completed following a Dissolution Event as provided in Article X of this
Agreement.
1.6 Registered Agent. The Company shall continuously maintain a registered office and a
registered agent for service of process in the State of Illinois and in any other state in which it
is required by law to do so. The name and address of the Company’s initial Registered Agent in
Illinois shall be Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, 0000 Xxxx 0xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000.
1.7 Title to Property. All Property owned by the Company shall be owned by the Company as
an entity and not in the name of any Member, and no Member shall have any ownership interest in
such Property, except as a Member of the Company. Each Member’s interest in the Company shall be
personal property for all purposes.
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1.8 Payment of Individual Obligations. The Company’s credit and assets shall be used
solely for the benefit of the Company, and no asset of the Company shall be Transferred or
encumbered for, or in payment of, any individual obligation of any Member.
1.9 Independent Activities; Transactions With Affiliates. The Directors shall be required
to devote such time to the business and affairs of the Company as may be necessary to manage and
operate the Company, and shall be free to serve any other Person or enterprise in any capacity that
they deem appropriate in their discretion. Subject to any confidentiality agreements with or for
the benefit of the Company, neither this Agreement nor any activity undertaken pursuant hereto
shall: (i) prevent any Member or Director or their Affiliates from engaging in whatever activities
they choose, whether the same are competitive with the Company or otherwise, and any such
activities may be undertaken without having or incurring any obligation to offer any interest in
such activities to the Company or any other Member; or (ii) require any Member or Director to
permit the Company or any other Director or Member or their Affiliates to participate in any such
activities. As a material part of the consideration for the execution of this Agreement by each
Member, each Member hereby waives, relinquishes and renounces any such right or claim of
participation. To the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, the Directors are hereby authorized to cause the Company to purchase Property from, sell
Property to, or otherwise deal with, any Member (including any Member who is also a Director), or
any Affiliate of any Member; provided that any such purchase, sale or other transaction shall be
made on terms and conditions which are no less favorable to the Company than if the sale, purchase
or other transaction had been entered into with an independent third party.
1.10 Definitions. Capitalized words and phrases used in this Agreement have the following
meanings:
(a) “Act” means the Illinois Limited Liability Company Act, as amended from time to time, or
any corresponding provisions of any succeeding law.
(b) “Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” means, with respect to any Unit Holder, the deficit
balance, if any, in such Unit Holder’s Capital Account as of the end of the relevant Fiscal Year,
after giving effect to the following adjustments: (i) crediting to such Capital Account any
amounts which such Unit Holder is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the next to the
last sentences of Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations; and (ii) debiting to
such Capital Account the items described in Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4),
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6) of the Regulations. The foregoing definition
is intended to comply with the provisions of Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations and
shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(c) “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person or entity: (i) any Person directly or
indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person or entity; (ii) any
officer, director, general partner, member or trustee of any such Person or entity; or (iii) any
Person or entity who is an officer, director, general partner, member or trustee of any Person
described in clauses (i) or (ii) of this sentence. For purposes of this definition, the terms
“controlling,” “controlled by” or “under common control with” shall mean the possession, direct or
indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person
or entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, or the
power to elect a majority of the directors, managers, or persons exercising similar authority with
respect to such Person or entities.
(d) “Agreement” means the Company’s Operating Agreement, as amended from time to time.
(e) “Articles” means the Company’s Articles of Organization on file with the Illinois
Secretary of State’s Office, as amended from time to time.
(f) “Assignee” means a transferee of Units who is not admitted as a Substitute Member pursuant
to Section 9.8 of this Agreement.
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(g) “Capital Account” means the separate capital account maintained for each Unit Holder in
accordance with Section 2.3 of this Agreement.
(h) “Capital Contributions” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of money (US
Dollars), and the initial Gross Asset Value of any assets or property other than money, contributed
by the Member or such Member’s predecessors in interest to the Company, (net of liabilities secured
by such contributed property that the Company is considered to assume or take subject to under Code
Section 752) with respect to the Units held or purchased by such Member, including additional
Capital Contributions.
(i) “Class A Director” means any Person who: (i) is referred to as such in Section 5.3 of
this Agreement or who has become a Class A Director pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and
(ii) has not ceased to be a Class A Director pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. “Class A
Directors” means all such Persons.
(j) “Class B Director” means any Person who: (i) is referred to as such in Section 5.4 of
this Agreement or who has become a Class B Director pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and
(ii) has not ceased to be a Class B Director pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. “Class B
Directors” means all such Persons.
(k) “Class A Member” means any Person: (i) whose name is set forth as such on Exhibit “A”
attached hereto or as it may be amended from time to time, or who has become a Class A Member
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and (ii) who is the owner of one or more Class A Units and
has not ceased to be a Member pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. “Class A Members” means all
such Persons.
(l) “Class B Member” means any Person: (i) whose name is set forth as such on Exhibit “A”
attached hereto or as it may be amended from time to time, or who has become a Class B Member
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and (ii) who is the owner of one or more Class B Units and
has not ceased to be a Member pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. “Class B Members” means all
such Persons.
(m) “Class A Unit” means a Unit having all of the rights and obligations as all other Units,
and having those additional rights with respect to the appointment of Directors as set forth in
Section 5.3 hereof , and subject to any specific limitations set forth elsewhere herein.
(n) “Class B Unit” means all Units other than Class A Units.
(o) “Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time.
(p) “Company” means One Earth Energy, LLC, an Illinois limited liability company.
(q) “Company Minimum Gain” has the meaning given the term “partnership minimum gain” in
Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d) of the Regulations.
(r) “Debt” means: (i) any indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of
property as evidenced by notes, bonds or other instruments; (ii) obligations as lessee under
capital leases; (iii) obligations secured by any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance,
lien or charge of any kind existing on any asset owned or held by the Company, whether or not the
Company has assumed or become liable for the obligations secured thereby; (iv) any obligation under
any interest rate swap agreement; (v) accounts payable; and (vi) obligations, contingent or
otherwise, under direct or indirect
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guarantees of indebtedness or obligations of the kinds referred
to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v), above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, Debt
shall not include obligations in respect of any accounts payable that are incurred in the ordinary
course of the Company’s business and are not delinquent or are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings.
(s) “Depreciation” means, for each Fiscal Year, an amount equal to the depreciation,
amortization, or other cost recovery deduction allowable with respect to an asset for such Fiscal
Year, except that if the Gross Asset Value of an asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal
income tax purposes at the beginning of such Fiscal Year, Depreciation shall be an amount which
bears the same ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax depreciation,
amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such Fiscal Year bears to such beginning
adjusted tax basis; provided, however, that if the adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes
of an asset at the beginning of such Fiscal Year is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with
reference to such beginning Gross Asset Value using any reasonable method selected by the
Directors.
(t) “Director” means any Person who: (i) is elected as a Director pursuant to Article V of
this Agreement or who has otherwise become a Director pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and
(ii) has not ceased to be a Director pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. “Directors” means
all such Persons, and includes without limitation, all Class A Directors and all Class B Directors.
For purposes of the Act, the Directors shall be deemed to be the “managers” (as such term is
defined and used in the Act) of the Company.
(u) “Dissolution Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.1 of this Agreement.
(v) “Effective Date” means February 16, 2006.
(w) “Facilities” means the ethanol and by-product production facilities to be constructed and
operated by the Company.
(x) “Fiscal Year” means: (i) any twelve-month period commencing on November 1 and ending on
October 31; and (ii) the period commencing on the immediately preceding November 1 and ending on
the date on which all Property is distributed to the Unit Holders pursuant to Article X of this
Agreement, or, if the context requires, any portion of a Fiscal Year for which an allocation of
Profits or Losses or a distribution is to be made. The Directors may establish a different Fiscal
Year so long as the Fiscal Year chosen is not contrary to the Code or any provision of any state or
local tax law.
(y) “GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States of
America from time to time.
(z) “Gross Asset Value” means with respect to any asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for
federal income tax purposes, except as follows: (i) The initial Gross Asset Value of any asset
contributed by a Member to the Company shall be the gross fair market value of such asset, as
determined by the Directors, provided that the initial Gross Asset Values of the assets contributed
to the Company pursuant to Section 2.1 of this Agreement shall be as set forth in such Section;
(ii) The Gross Asset Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross
fair market values (taking Code Section 7701(g) into account), as determined by the Directors as of
the following times: (A) upon the acquisition of an additional interest in the Company by any new
or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (B) upon the
distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de
minimis amount of Company Property as consideration for an interest in the Company; and (C)
upon the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g),
provided that an adjustment described in clauses (A) and (B) of this paragraph shall be made only
if the Directors reasonably determine that such adjustment is necessary to reflect the relative
economic interests of the Members in the Company; (iii) The Gross Asset Value of any item of
Company assets distributed to any Member shall be adjusted to equal the gross fair market value
(taking Code Section 7701(g) into account)
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of such asset on the date of distribution as determined
by the Directors; and (iv) The Gross Asset Values of Company assets shall be increased or
decreased, as applicable, to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant
to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are
taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) and subparagraph (vi) of the definition of “Profits” and “Losses” or Section
3.3(c) of this Agreement; provided, however, that Gross Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant
to this subparagraph (iv) to the extent that an adjustment pursuant to subparagraph (ii) is
required in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to
this subparagraph (iv). If the Gross Asset Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted
pursuant to subparagraph (ii) or (iv) of this paragraph, such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be
adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset, for purposes of
computing Profits and Losses.
(aa) “Issuance Items” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(h) of this Agreement.
(bb) “Liquidation Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6 of this Agreement.
(cc) “Liquidator” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.8 of this Agreement.
(dd) “Member” means any Person: (i) whose name is set forth as such on Exhibit “A” attached
hereto as it may be amended from time to time, or who has become a Member pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement; and (ii) who is the owner of one or more Units and has not ceased to be a Member
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. “Members” means all such Persons, and includes without
limitation, all Class A Members and all Class B Members.
(ee) “Membership Economic Interest” means collectively, a Member’s share of “Profits” and
“Losses,” the right to receive distributions of the Company’s assets, and the right to information
concerning the business and affairs of the Company as required by the Act. The Membership Economic
Interest of a Member is quantified by the unit of measurement referred to herein as “Units.”
(ff) “Membership Interest” means collectively, the Membership Economic Interest and the
Membership Voting Interest.
(gg) “Membership Voting Interest” means collectively, a Member’s right to vote as set forth in
this Agreement or as required by the Act. The Membership Voting Interest of a Member shall mean as
to any matter with respect to which the Member is entitled to vote hereunder or as may be required
under the Act, the right to one (1) vote for each Unit registered in the name of such Member as
shown in the Unit Holder Register.
(hh) “Net Cash Flow” means the gross cash proceeds of the Company less the portion thereof
used to pay or establish reserves for Company expenses, debt payments, capital improvements,
replacements and contingencies, all as reasonably determined by the Directors. “Net Cash Flow”
shall not be reduced by Depreciation, amortization, cost recovery deductions or similar allowances,
but shall be increased by any reductions of reserves previously established.
(ii) “Nonrecourse Deductions” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.704-2(b)(1) of the
Regulations.
(jj) “Nonrecourse Liability” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.704-2(b)(3) of the
Regulations.
(kk) “Officer” means any Person who: (i) is appointed as an Officer pursuant to Section 5.19
of this Agreement or who has otherwise become an Officer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;
and (ii) has not ceased to be an Officer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. “Officers” mean
all such Persons.
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(ll) “Permitted Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3 of this Agreement.
(mm) “Person” means any individual, general or limited partnership, joint venture, limited
liability company, corporation, trust, estate, association, nominee or other entity.
(nn) “Profits and Losses” mean, for each Fiscal Year, an amount equal to the Company’s taxable
income or loss for such Fiscal Year, determined in accordance with Code Section 703(a) (for this
purpose, all items of income, gain, loss, or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to
Code Section 703(a)(1) shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments
(without duplication): (i) Any income of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax and not
otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this definition of
“Profits” and “Losses” shall be added to such taxable income or loss; (ii) Any expenditures of the
Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(b) or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(b) expenditures
pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in
computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this definition of “Profits” and “Losses” shall be
subtracted from such taxable income or loss; (iii) In the event the Gross Asset Value of any
Company asset is adjusted pursuant to subparagraphs (ii) or (iii) of the definition of Gross Asset
Value above, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment
increases the Gross Asset Value of the asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases the
Gross Asset Value of the asset) from the disposition of such asset and shall be taken into account
for purposes of computing Profits or Losses; (iv) Gain or loss resulting from any disposition of
Property with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be
computed by reference to the Gross Asset Value of the Property disposed of, notwithstanding that
the adjusted tax basis of such Property differs from its Gross Asset Value; (v) In lieu of the
depreciation, amortization, and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such
taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation for such Fiscal Year,
computed in accordance with the definition of Depreciation; (vi) To the extent an adjustment to the
adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) is required, pursuant to
Regulations Section 1.704-(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital
Accounts as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Unit Holder’s interest in the
Company, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment
increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) from the
disposition of such asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or
Losses; and (vii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this definition, any items which are
specially allocated pursuant to Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of this Agreement shall not be taken into
account in computing Profits or Losses. The amounts of the items of Company income, gain, loss or
deduction available to be specially allocated pursuant to Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of this Agreement
shall be determined by applying rules analogous to those set forth in subparagraphs (i) through
(vi) above.
(oo) “Property” means all real and personal property owned or acquired by the Company
(including cash), and any improvements thereto, and shall include both tangible and intangible
property.
(pp) “Regulations” means the Income Tax Regulations, including Temporary Regulations,
promulgated under the Code, as such regulations are amended from time to time.
(qq) “Regulatory Allocations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4 of this Agreement.
(rr) “Related Party” means the adopted or birth relatives of any Person and such Person’s
spouse (whether by marriage or common law), if any, including without limitation
great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, children (including stepchildren and adopted children),
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren thereof, and such Person’s (and such Person’s spouse’s)
brothers, sisters, and cousins and their respective lineal ancestors and descendants, and any other
ancestors and/or descendants, and any spouse of any of the foregoing, each trust created for the
exclusive benefit of one or more of the foregoing, and the successors, assigns, heirs, executors,
personal representatives and estates of any of the foregoing.
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(ss) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(tt) “Tax Matters Member” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4 of this Agreement.
(uu) “Transfer” means, as a noun, any voluntary or involuntary transfer, sale, pledge or
hypothecation or other disposition and, as a verb, to voluntarily or involuntarily transfer, give,
sell, exchange, assign, pledge, bequest, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of.
(vv) “Unit” means an ownership interest in the Company issued in consideration of a Capital
Contribution made as provided in Article II of this Agreement, and includes, without limitation,
all Class A Units and all Class B Units.
(ww) “Unit Holder” means any Person who is the owner of one or more Units. “Unit Holders”
means all such Persons.
(xx) “Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt” has the same meaning as the term “partner nonrecourse
debt” in Section 1.704-2(b)(4) of the Regulations.
(yy) “Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” means an amount, with respect to each Unit
Holder Nonrecourse Debt, equal to the Company Minimum Gain that would result if such Unit Holder
Nonrecourse Debt were treated as a Nonrecourse Liability, determined in accordance with Section
1.704-2(i)(3) of the Regulations.
(zz) “Unit Holder Nonrecourse Deductions” has the same meaning as the term “partner
nonrecourse deductions” in Sections 1.704-2(i)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(2) of the Regulations.
(aaa) “Unit Holder Register” means the register maintained by the Company at its principal
office or by the Company’s duly appointed agent, setting forth the name, address and Capital
Contributions of each Unit Holder (or such Unit Holder’s predecessors in interest), and the number
of Units, certificate number(s) and date of issuance of Units issued to each Unit Holder, which
register shall be modified from time to time as additional Units are issued and as Units are
Transferred pursuant to this Agreement.
ARTICLE II. CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS
2.1 Initial Capital Contributions. The name, address, Capital Contribution and Units
quantifying the Membership Interest of each of the Members shall be set forth on the Unit Holder
Register.
2.2 Additional Capital Contributions; Additional Units. No Unit Holder shall be obligated
to make any additional Capital Contributions to the Company or to pay any assessment to the
Company, other than any unpaid amounts on such Unit Holder’s original Capital Contributions, and no
Units shall be subject to any calls, requests or demands
for capital. Subject to Section 5.6, additional Units may be issued in consideration of Capital
Contributions as agreed to between the Directors and the Persons acquiring such Units.
2.3 Capital Accounts. A Capital Account shall be maintained for each Unit Holder in
accordance with the following provisions:
(a) To each Unit Holder’s Capital Account there shall be credited: (i) such Unit Holder’s
Capital Contributions; (ii) such Unit Holder’s distributive share of Profits and any items in the
nature of income or gain which are specially allocated pursuant to Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of this
Agreement; and (iii) the amount of any Company liabilities assumed by such Unit Holder or which are
secured by any Property distributed to such Unit Holder;
7
(b) To each Unit Holder’s Capital Account there shall be debited: (i) the amount of money and
the Gross Asset Value of any Property distributed to such Unit Holder pursuant to any provision of
this Agreement; (ii) such Unit Holder’s distributive share of Losses and any items in the nature of
expenses or losses which are specially allocated pursuant to Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of this
Agreement; and (iii) the amount of any liabilities of such Unit Holder assumed by the Company or
which are secured by any Property contributed by such Unit Holder to the Company;
(c) In the event Units are Transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the
transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the
Transferred Units; and
(d) In determining the amount of any liability for purposes of subparagraphs (a) and (b)
above, Code Section 752(c) and any other applicable provisions of the Code and Regulations shall be
taken into account.
The foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the
maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b), and
shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent therewith. In the event the Directors
determine that it is prudent to modify the manner in which Capital Accounts, or any debits or
credits thereto (including, without limitation, debits or credits relating to liabilities which are
secured by contributed or distributed property or which are assumed by the Company or any Unit
Holders), are computed in order to comply with such Regulations, the Directors may make such
modification, provided that it is not likely to have a material effect on the amounts distributed
to any Person pursuant to Article X of this Agreement upon the dissolution of the Company. The
Directors also shall: (i) make any adjustments that are necessary or appropriate to maintain
equality between the Capital Accounts of the Unit Holders and the amount of capital reflected on
the Company’s balance sheet, as computed for book purposes, in accordance with Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(q); and (ii) make any appropriate modifications in the event unanticipated events
might otherwise cause this Agreement not to comply with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b).
ARTICLE III. ALLOCATIONS
3.1 Profits. After giving effect to the special allocations in Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of
this Agreement, Profits for any Fiscal Year shall be allocated among the Unit Holders in proportion
to Units held.
3.2 Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations in Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of this
Agreement, Losses for any Fiscal Year shall be allocated among the Unit Holders in proportion to
Units held.
3.3 Special Allocations. The following special allocations shall be made in the following
order:
(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback. Except as otherwise provided in Section 1.704-2(f) of the
Regulations, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article III, if there is a net decrease in
Company Minimum Gain during any Fiscal Year, each Unit Holder shall be specially allocated items of
Company income and gain for such Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent Fiscal Years) in an
amount equal to such Unit Holder’s share of the net decrease in Company Minimum Gain, determined in
accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(g). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence
shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Unit Holder
pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Sections
1.704-2(f)(6) and 1.704-2(j)(2) of the Regulations. This Section 3.3(a) is intended to comply with
the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Section 1.704-2(f) of the Regulations and shall be
interpreted consistently therewith.
(b) Unit Holder Minimum Gain Chargeback. Except as otherwise provided in Section
1.704-2(i)(4) of the Regulations, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article III, if there
is a net decrease
8
in Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to a Unit Holder
Nonrecourse Debt during any Fiscal Year, each Unit Holder who has a share of the Unit Holder
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to such Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt, determined in
accordance with Section 1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations, shall be specially allocated items of
Company income and gain for such Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent Fiscal Years) in an
amount equal to such Unit Holder’s share of the net decrease in Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt
Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4). Allocations
pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to
be allocated to each Unit Holder pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be
determined in accordance with Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2) of the Regulations. This
Section 3.3(b) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Section
1.704-2(i)(4) of the Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(c) Qualified Income Offset. In the event any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustments,
allocations, or distributions described in Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4),
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6) of the Regulations, items of Company income and
gain shall be specially allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate,
to the extent required by the Regulations, the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as soon as
practicable, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 3.3(c) shall be made only if and
to the extent that the Member would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit after all other
allocations provided for in this Article III have been tentatively made as if this Section 3.3(c)
were not in the Agreement.
(d) Gross Income Allocation. In the event any Member has a deficit Capital Account at the end
of any Fiscal Year which is in excess of the sum of: (i) the amount such Member is obligated to
restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement; and (ii) the amount such Member is deemed to
be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and
1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations, then in such circumstance each such Member shall be specially
allocated items of Company income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible,
provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 3.3(d) shall be made only if and to the extent
that such Member would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other
allocations provided for in this Article III have been made as if Sections 3.3(c) and 3.3(d) were
not in this Agreement.
(e) Nonrecourse Deductions. Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year or other period shall
be specially allocated among the Members in proportion to Units held.
(f) Unit Holder Nonrecourse Deductions. Any Unit Holder Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal
Year shall be specially allocated to the Unit Holder who bears the economic risk of loss with
respect to the Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt to which such Unit Holder Nonrecourse Deductions are
attributable in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(1).
(g) Section 754 Adjustments. To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any
Company asset, pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b) is required, pursuant to
Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) or 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in
determining Capital Accounts as the result of a distribution to a Unit Holder in complete
liquidation of such Unit Holder’s interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment to Capital
Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset)
or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) and such gain or loss shall be specially allocated
to the Unit Holders in accordance with their interests in the Company in the event Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) applies, or to the Unit Holder to whom such distribution was made
in the event Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) applies.
(h) Allocations Relating to Taxable Issuance of Company Units. Any income, gain, loss or
deduction realized as a direct or indirect result of the issuance of Units by the Company to a Unit
Holder (the “Issuance Items”) shall be allocated among the Unit Holders so that, to the extent
possible, the net amount of such Issuance Items, together with all other allocations under this
Agreement to each Unit
9
Holder shall be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to
each such Unit Holder if the Issuance Items had not been realized.
3.4 Regulatory Allocations. The allocations set forth in Sections 3.3(a), 3.3(b), 3.3(c),
3.3(d), 3.3(e), 3.3(f), 3.3(g) and 3.5 (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with
certain requirements of the Regulations. It is the intent of the Unit Holders that, to the extent
possible, all Regulatory Allocations shall be offset either with other Regulatory Allocations or
with special allocations of other items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to this
Section 3.4. Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article III (other than the
Regulatory Allocations), the Directors shall make such offsetting special allocations of Company
income, gain, loss or deduction in whatever manner they determine appropriate so that, after such
offsetting allocations are made, each Unit Holder’s Capital Account balance is, to the extent
possible, equal to the Capital Account balance such Unit Holder would have had if the Regulatory
Allocations were not part of the Agreement and all Company items were allocated pursuant to
Sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3(h).
3.5 Loss Limitation. Losses allocated pursuant to Section 3.2 of this Agreement shall not
exceed the maximum amount of Losses that can be allocated without causing any Unit Holder to have
an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit at the end of any Fiscal Year. In the event some but not all
of the Unit Holders would have Adjusted Capital Account Deficits as a consequence of an allocation
of Losses pursuant to Section 3.2 of this Agreement, the limitation set forth in this Section 3.5
shall be applied on a Unit Holder by Unit Holder basis and Losses not allocable to any Unit Holder
as a result of such limitation shall be allocated to the other Unit Holders in accordance with the
positive balances in such Unit Holder’s Capital Accounts so as to allocate the maximum permissible
Losses to each Unit Holder under Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations.
3.6 Other Allocation Rules.
(a) For purposes of determining Profits, Losses and any other items allocable to any period,
Profits, Losses and any such other items shall be determined on a daily, monthly or other basis, as
determined by the Directors using any permissible method under Code Section 706 and the Regulations
thereunder.
(b) The Unit Holders are aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made by this
Article III and hereby agree to be bound by the provisions of this Article III in reporting their
shares of Company income and loss for income tax purposes.
(c) Solely for purposes of determining a Unit Holder’s proportionate share of the “excess
nonrecourse liabilities” of the Company within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3),
the Unit Holders’ aggregate interests in Company Profits shall be deemed to be as provided in the
Capital
Accounts. To the extent permitted by Section 1.704-2(h)(3) of the Regulations, the Directors
shall endeavor to treat distributions of Net Cash Flow as having been made from the proceeds of a
Nonrecourse Liability or a Unit Holder Nonrecourse Debt only to the extent that such distributions
would cause or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit for any Unit Holder.
(d) Profits and Losses to the Unit Holders shall be allocated among the Unit Holders in the
ratio which each Unit Holder’s Units bears to the total number of Units issued and outstanding.
3.7 Tax Allocations; Code Section 704(c). In accordance with Code Section 704(c) and the
Regulations thereunder, income, gain, loss, and deduction with respect to any Property contributed
to the capital of the Company shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated among the Unit Holders
so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such Property to the Company
for federal income tax purposes and its initial Gross Asset Value. In the event the Gross Asset
Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of the definition of Gross
Asset Value in Section 1.10(t) of this Agreement, subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss and
deduction with respect to such asset shall
10
take account of any variation between the adjusted basis
of such asset for federal income tax purposes and its Gross Asset Value in the same manner as under
Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations thereunder. Any elections or other decisions relating to
such allocations shall be made by the Directors in any manner that reasonably reflects the purpose
and intention of this Agreement. Allocations pursuant to this Section 3.7 are solely for purposes
of federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in
computing, any Unit Holder’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, other items or
distributions pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.
3.8 Tax Credit Allocations. All income tax credits with respect to the Company’s property
or operations shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with their respective Membership
Interests for the Fiscal Year during which the expenditure, production, sale or other event giving
rise to such credits occurs. This Section 3.8 is intended to comply with the applicable tax credit
allocation principles of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii) and shall be interpreted
consistently therewith.
ARTICLE IV. DISTRIBUTIONS
4.1 Net Cash Flow. Subject to the terms and conditions of any applicable loan covenants
and restrictions, the Directors, in their sole discretion, shall make distributions of Net Cash
Flow, if any, to the Unit Holders in proportion to Units held. In determining Net Cash Flow, the
Directors shall endeavor to provide for cash distributions at such times and in such amounts as
will permit the Unit Holders to make timely payment of income taxes.
4.2 Amounts Withheld. All amounts withheld pursuant to the Code or any provision of any
state, local or foreign tax law with respect to any payment, distribution or allocation to the
Company or the Unit Holders shall be treated as amounts paid or distributed, as the case may be, to
the Unit Holders with respect to which such amount was withheld pursuant to this Section 4.2 for
all purposes under this Agreement. The Company is authorized to withhold from payments and
distributions, or with respect to allocations, to the Unit Holders and to pay over to any federal,
state, local or foreign government, any amounts required to be so withheld, and shall allocate any
such amounts to the Unit Holders with respect to which such amount was withheld.
4.3 Limitations on Distributions. The Company shall make no distributions to the Unit
Holders except as provided in this Article IV and in Article X of this Agreement. Notwithstanding
any other provision, no distribution shall be made if not permitted to be made under the Act.
ARTICLE V. MANAGEMENT
5.1 Directors. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or required by law, the
Directors shall direct the business and affairs and exercise all of the powers of the Company, and
shall adopt such policies, rules, regulations and actions as they deem advisable. Subject to
Section 5.6 of this Agreement and any other express provisions of this Agreement to the contrary,
the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by and under the direction of the
Directors and not by the Members.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the amendment or repeal
of this Section 5.1 or the adoption of any provision inconsistent herewith shall require the
unanimous approval of the Membership Voting Interests held by the Class A Members and a majority of
the Membership Voting Interests held by the Class B Members.
5.2 Classes of Directors; Number of Total Directors. There shall be two classes of
Directors: Class A Directors and Class B Directors. The initial Board of Directors shall consist
of ten (10) Class A Directors appointed by the Class A Members pursuant to Section 5.3 of this
Agreement. Following the first annual or special meeting of the Members at which Class B Directors
are elected pursuant to Section 5.4 of this Agreement, the number of Class A Directors shall be
equal to two (2) Directors for each Class
11
A Member from time to time (subject to the provisions of
Section 5.3 with respect to merger or consolidation of Class A Members); and the number of Class B
Directors shall be fixed at a number that is one (1) less than the number of Class A Directors from
time to time. All Directors will be required to execute a confidentiality agreement in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company with and for the benefit of the Company prior to
becoming a Director. At any annual or special meeting, the Members may increase or decrease the
number of Directors last approved and may change from a variable range to a fixed number or visa
versa by majority vote of the total Membership Voting Interests entitled to vote pursuant to this
Agreement. However, the relative ratio of the number of Class A Directors to Class B Directors
shall always result in a majority of Class A Directors.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the amendment or repeal
of this Section 5.2 or the adoption of any provision inconsistent herewith shall require the
unanimous approval of the Membership Voting Interests held by the Class A Members and a majority of
the Membership Voting Interests held by the Class B Members.
5.3 Appointment and Term of Class A Directors. Each Class A Member shall be entitled to
appoint two (2) Class A Directors. Each Class A Director appointed by a Class A Member under this
Section shall serve indefinitely at the pleasure of the Class A Member appointing him or her until
a successor is appointed, or until the earlier death, resignation, or removal of such Class A
Director. Any Class A Director appointed under this Section may be removed for any reason by the
Class A Member appointing him or her, upon written notice to the Directors, which notice shall
designate and appoint a successor Class A Director to fill the vacancy. Any vacancy in a Class A
Director’s position shall be filled within thirty (30) days of its occurrence by the Class A Member
having the right of appointment. In the event that any Class A Member transfers any of his, her or
its Class A Units, the term of any Class A Directors appointed by such Member shall terminate, and
the Class A Director seats previously reserved for such Class A Member will be appointed by the
remaining Class A Directors. In the event of a merger or consolidation of two (2) or more Class A
Members, the surviving Class A Member shall thereafter be entitled to appoint two (2) Class A
Directors for each Class A Member that was a party to such merger or consolidation.
5.4 Election of Class B Directors.
(a) Election; Terms. Beginning with the first annual or special meeting of the
Members following the date on which substantial operations of the Facilities commence and at each
annual meeting
of the Members thereafter, the Class B Members (other than “Appointing Class B Members” as defined
in Section 5.4(c) below) shall elect Directors (“Class B Directors”) for staggered terms of three
(3) years (except as hereafter provided with respect to the initial terms of Group I and Group II
Directors) and until a successor is elected and qualified, or until the earlier death, resignation,
removal or disqualification of any such Class B Director. The Class A Directors shall conduct a
lottery to separately identify the Class B Director positions to be elected at the first annual
meeting following the date on which substantial operations of the Facilities commence, and shall so
classify each such Class B Director position as Group I, Group II or Group III, with such
classification to serve as the basis for the staggering of terms among the elected Class B
Directors. The term of Group I Directors shall expire first (initial term of one (1) year with
successors elected to three (3) year terms thereafter), followed by those of Group II Directors
(initial term of two (2) years with successors elected to three (3) year terms thereafter), and
then Group III Directors (initial and subsequent terms of three (3) years). If at any time the
number of Class B Directors is changed as provided in this Article V, the number of Group I, Group
II and Group III Directors shall be adjusted, as necessary, so that approximately one-third (1/3)
of the Class B Directors are elected at each annual meeting of the Members.
(b) Nominations for Class B Directors. Prior to the first annual or special meeting
of the Members following the date on which substantial operations of the Facilities commence, one
or more nominees for Class B Director positions up for election shall be named by the then current
Class A Directors or by a nominating committee established by the Class A Directors. With respect
to all
12
elections of Class B Directors occurring thereafter, one or more nominees for Class B
Director positions up for election shall be named by the then current Class B Directors or by a
nominating committee established by the Class B Directors. Nominations for Class B Directors may
also be made by any Class B Member entitled to vote in the election of Class B Directors. Any
Class B Member that intends to nominate a Person for election as a Class B Director may do so only
if written notice of such Class B Member’s intent to make such nomination is given not less than
sixty (60) nor more than ninety (90) days prior to the annual meeting of the Company at which such
elections are to be held. Each such notice shall set forth: (i) the name and address of the Class
B Member who intends to make the nomination; (ii) a representation that the Class B Member is a
holder of record of Class B Units entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person
or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the Person specified in the notice; (iii) the name, age,
address and principal occupation/employment of each nominee; (iv) a description of all arrangements
or understandings between the Class B Member and each nominee and any other Person(s) pursuant to
which such nominations are to be made; (v) such other information regarding each nominee as would
be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities
and Exchange Commission; (vi) the consent of each nominee to serve as a Director if so elected; and
(vii) a nominating petition signed and dated by the holders of at least five percent (5%) of the
then outstanding Units and clearly setting forth the proposed nominee as a candidate for the Class
B Director’s seat to be filled.
The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may
reasonably be required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to
serve as a Director. The presiding Officer of the meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine
that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, and if so determined,
the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
(c) Special Right of Appointment of Class B Directors for Certain Class B Members.
Commencing with the first annual or special meeting of the Members following the date on which
substantial operations of the Facilities commence, and subject at all times to Farmers Energy’s
rights pursuant to Section 11.4 below, the first four (4) Class B Members whose subscriptions are
accepted by the Company and who hold a number of Units, all of which were purchased by such Member
from the Company during the Company’s initial registered offering filed with the Securities
Exchange Commission, for which the initial subscription price was three million dollars
($3,000,000) or more (hereafter referred to as an “Appointing Class B Members”), shall be entitled
to appoint one (1) Director, for so long as the Appointing Member is the holder of such number of
Units. Units held by an Affiliate
or Related Party of a Member shall not be included in the determination of whether the Member holds
the requisite number of Units for purposes of this Section. Subject to Farmers Energy’s rights
pursuant to Section 11.4 below, only the first four (4) Members who acquire the requisite number of
Units from the Company in its initial registered offering are granted appointment rights hereunder.
Accordingly, any Member who subsequently acquires the requisite number of Units, or who acquires
the requisite number of Units other than by acquisition from the Company in its initial registered
offering, shall not be entitled to appoint any Directors, regardless of the number of Units held by
such Member. A Class B Director appointed by an Appointing Class B Member under this Section
shall serve indefinitely at the pleasure of the Appointing Class B Member appointing him or her
until a successor is appointed, or until the earlier death, resignation, or removal of such Class B
Director. Any Class B Director appointed under this Section may be removed for any reason by the
Appointing Class B Member appointing him or her, upon written notice to the Directors, which notice
shall designate and appoint a successor Class B Director to fill the vacancy. Any such vacancy
shall be filled within thirty (30) days of its occurrence by the Appointing Class B Member having
the right of appointment. In the event that, at any time the number of Units held by an Appointing
Class B Member falls below the threshold number of Units required to become an Appointing Class B
Member under this Section 5.4(c), the term of any Class B Director appointed by such Appointing
Class B Member shall terminate, the seat shall dissolve, and the Appointing Class B Member shall
thereafter elect Class B Directors in the same manner as the other Class B Members in accordance
with Section 5.4(a).
13
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, Appointing Members
shall not be entitled to vote for the elected Class B Directors.
(d) Amendment of Section. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the
contrary, the amendment or repeal of this Section 5.4 or the adoption of any provision inconsistent
herewith shall require the unanimous approval of the Membership Voting Interests held by the Class
A Members and a majority of the Membership Voting Interests held by the Class B Members.
5.5 Authority of Directors. Subject to the limitations and restrictions set forth in this
Agreement and the Act, the Directors shall direct the management of the business and affairs of the
Company and shall have all of the rights and powers which may be possessed by a “manager” under the
Act including, without limitation, the right and power to do or perform, and the further right and
power by resolution to delegate to the Officers or such other Persons as the Directors deem
appropriate, the right and power to do or perform, the following:
(a) Conduct the business and carry on the operations of the Company, and have and exercise the
powers granted by the Act in any state, territory, district or possession of the United States, or
in any foreign country, which may be necessary or convenient to effect any or all of the purposes
for which the Company is organized;
(b) Open any bank accounts or trading accounts necessary for the operation of the Company;
(c) Acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise any real or personal property which may be
necessary, convenient, or incidental to the accomplishment of the purposes of the Company;
(d) Operate, maintain, finance, improve, construct, own, operate, sell, convey, assign,
mortgage and lease any real estate and any personal property necessary, convenient, or incidental
to the accomplishment of the purposes of the Company;
(e) Execute any and all agreements, contracts, documents, certifications and instruments
necessary or convenient in connection with the management, maintenance and operation of the
business and affairs of the Company, including executing amendments to this Agreement and the
Articles in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, both as Directors and where permitted, as
attorney-in-fact for the Members pursuant to any power of attorney granted by the Members to the
Directors;
(f) Borrow money and issue evidences of indebtedness necessary, convenient, or incidental to
the accomplishment of the purposes of the Company, and secure the same by mortgage, pledge or other
lien on any Company assets;
(g) Execute, in furtherance of any or all of the purposes of the Company, any deed, lease,
mortgage, deed of trust, mortgage note, promissory note, xxxx of sale, contract or other instrument
purporting to convey or encumber any or all of the Company assets;
(h) Prepay in whole or in part, refinance, increase, modify or extend any liabilities
affecting the assets of the Company and in connection therewith, execute any extensions or renewals
of encumbrances on any or all of such assets;
(i) Care for and distribute funds to the Members by way of cash income, return of capital or
otherwise, all in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and perform all matters in
furtherance of the objectives of the Company and this Agreement;
14
(j) Contract on behalf of the Company for the employment and services of employees and
independent contractors, and delegate to such Persons the duty to manage or supervise any of the
assets or operations of the Company;
(k) Engage in any kind of activity and perform and carry out contracts of any kind necessary
or incidental to, or in connection with, the accomplishment of the purposes of the Company, as may
be lawfully carried on or performed by a limited liability company under the laws of each state in
which the Company is then formed or qualified;
(l) Take, or refrain from taking, all actions, not expressly proscribed or limited by this
Agreement or the Articles, as may be necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes of the
Company;
(m) Institute, prosecute, defend, settle, compromise and dismiss lawsuits or other judicial or
administrative proceedings brought on or in behalf of, or against, the Company, the Members or the
Directors or Officers in connection with activities arising out of, connected with, or incidental
to this Agreement, and engage counsel or others in connection therewith;
(n) Purchase, take, receive, subscribe for or otherwise acquire, own, hold, vote, use, employ,
sell, mortgage, lend, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, and otherwise use and deal in and with,
shares or other interests in or obligations of domestic or foreign corporations, associations,
general or limited partnerships, other limited liability companies, or individuals or direct or
indirect obligations of the United States or of any government, state, territory, government
district or municipality or of any instrumentality of any of them;
(o) Agree with any Person as to the form and other terms and conditions of such Person’s
Capital Contribution to the Company and cause the Company to issue Membership Interests and Units
in consideration for such Capital Contribution; and
(p) Indemnify Members, Directors or Officers, or former Members, Directors or Officers, and to
make any other indemnification that is authorized by this Agreement in accordance with, and to the
fullest extent permitted by, the Act.
5.6 Director as Agent. Notwithstanding the power and authority of the Directors to manage
the business and affairs of the Company, no Director shall have authority to act
as agent for the Company for the purposes of its business (including the execution of any
instrument on behalf of the Company) unless the Directors have authorized the Director to take such
action.
5.7 Restrictions on Authority of Directors.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Directors shall not
have authority to, and they covenant and agree that they shall not, do any of the following acts
without the unanimous consent of the Members:
(i) | Cause or permit the Company to engage in any activity that is not consistent with the purposes of the Company as set forth in Section 1.3 of this Agreement; | ||
(ii) | Knowingly engage in any act in contravention of this Agreement or which would make it impossible to carry on the ordinary business of the Company, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement; | ||
(iii) | Possess Company Property, or assign rights in specific Company Property, for other than a Company purpose; or |
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(iv) | Cause the Company to voluntarily take any action that would cause a bankruptcy of the Company. |
(b) The Directors shall not have authority to, and they covenant and agree that they shall not
cause the Company to, without the consent of a majority of the Membership Voting Interests:
(i) | Merge, consolidate, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Property, except for a liquidating sale of the Property in connection with the dissolution of the Company; | ||
(ii) | Confess a judgment against the Company in an amount in excess of $500,000; | ||
(iii) | Issue Units at a purchase price that is less than thirty percent (30%) of the purchase price offered to investors in the Company’s initial registered offering of Units filed with the Securities Exchange Commission; | ||
(iv) | Issue an aggregate number of Units that is greater than one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the maximum number of Units to be offered to investors in the Company’s initial registered offering of Units | ||
(v) | Cause the Company to acquire any equity or debt securities of any Director or any of its Affiliates, or otherwise make loans to any Director or any of its Affiliates; or | ||
(vi) | Issue any additional Class A Units. |
The actions specified herein as requiring the consent of the Members shall be in addition to
any actions by the Director that are specified in the Act as requiring the consent or approval of
the Members. Unless otherwise required by this Agreement or the Act, any such required consent or
approval may be given by a vote of a majority of the Membership Voting Interests.
5.8 Meetings. A regular meeting of the Directors shall be held, without other notice than
this Section, immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of the Members.
Additionally, the Directors may, by resolution, prescribe the time and place for holding regular
meetings and may provide that such resolution constitutes notice thereof. If the Directors do not
prescribe
the time and place for the holding of regular meetings, such regular meetings shall be held at the
time and place specified in the notice of each such regular meeting. Unless otherwise prescribed
by statute, special meetings may be called by, or at the request of, the President/CEO or one-third
(1/3) or more of the Directors. The Directors may designate any location as the place of any
regular or special meeting. If no designation is made, the place of meeting shall be the principal
office of the Company.
5.9 Notice. Notice shall be given to each Director with respect to any special meeting of
the Directors, stating the date, time and place of the meeting. Such notice shall be given at
least two (2) days prior thereto and shall be in writing, unless oral notice is reasonable under
the circumstances. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered on the earlier of five
(5) days after deposit in the U.S. mail addressed to the Director’s address as shown on the
Company’s records with postage prepaid, or upon receipt. Any Director may waive notice of any
meeting. Except as provided in the next sentence, the waiver must be in writing, signed by the
Director entitled to notice, and filed with the minutes relating to the action taken. A Director’s
attendance at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such
Director attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any
business because the meeting was not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be
transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Directors need be
specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
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5.10 Conduct of Meeting. All Directors, to the extent possible, shall personally attend
all Directors meetings. However, any Director may participate in any regular or special meeting by
any means of communication by which all Directors participating may simultaneously hear each other
during the meeting. A Director participating in a meeting by this means is deemed to be present in
person.
5.11 Quorum. A majority of all of the Directors, and a majority of the Class A Directors,
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If less than a quorum is represented at
a meeting, the Directors represented may adjourn the meeting and reschedule it for a later date
without further notice. At such adjourned and rescheduled meeting at which a quorum is present or
represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original
meeting. Directors present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until
adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of Directors to leave less than a quorum.
5.12 Manner of Acting; Informal Action. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
the act of a majority of the Directors at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act
of the Directors. Unless otherwise provided by law, any action required or permitted to be taken
at a meeting of the Directors may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting forth
the action so taken is signed by all Directors entitled to vote with respect the subject matter
thereof.
5.13 Presumption of Assent. A Director present at a meeting shall be presumed to have
assented to action taken, unless the dissent of such Director is entered in the minutes of the
meeting or unless such Director files a written dissent to such action with the other Directors
before the adjournment thereof or forwards such dissent by mail to the other Directors immediately
after the adjournment thereof. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in
favor of an action.
5.14 Removal of Elected Class B Directors. The Class B Members entitled to vote for the
election of Class B Directors may remove an elected Class B Director, with or without cause, at a
meeting called for that purpose, if notice has been given that a purpose of the meeting is such
removal. Class B Directors who are appointed by an Appointing Class B Member pursuant to Section
5.4(c) above may be removed only as provided in Section 5.4(c).
5.15 Vacancies. Any vacancy in a Class B elected Director seat may be filled by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Class B elected Directors. A Class B Director
elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of such Director’s predecessor in
office. Any vacancy to be filled by reason of any increase in the number of Class B Directors
shall be filled by election at an annual or special meeting of the Members called for that purpose.
Any vacancy in a Class A Director seat shall be filled in accordance with Section 5.3. Any
vacancy in a Class B Director seat shall be filled in accordance with Section 5.4(c).
5.16 Compensation. The Directors shall have authority to establish reasonable compensation
of all Directors for services to the Company as Directors, officers or otherwise, and to provide
for reimbursement to Directors of their reasonable expenses of attending Directors’ meetings.
5.17 Committees; Authority. The Directors may create such committees, and appoint such
Directors to serve on them, as the Directors deem appropriate. Each committee must have Two (2) or
more Directors, who serve at the pleasure of the Directors. The creation of a committee, and the
appointment of Directors to serve on it, must be approved by a majority of the Directors. The
procedural requirements for Board meetings under this Article V shall also apply to committee
meetings. Board committees may exercise only those aspects of the Directors’ authority which are
expressly conferred by the Directors by express resolution. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
however, a committee may not, under any circumstances: (i) apportion or authorize distributions;
(ii) approve or propose any action for which the Act requires Member approval; (iii) elect
Officers; (iv) fill vacancies on the Board or on any of its committees; (v) adopt, amend, or repeal
the Articles or this Agreement; (vi) approve a plan of merger; (vii) authorize or approve the
reacquisition of Units, except according to a formula or method prescribed
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by the Directors; or
(ix) authorize or approve the issuance or sale or contract for sale of Units or determine the
designation and relative rights, preferences, and limitations of a class or series of Units.
5.18 Voting; Potential Financial Interest. No Director shall be disqualified from voting
on any matter solely by reason of such Director’s (or his/her Affiliate’s) potential financial
interest in the outcome of such vote, provided that the nature of such potential financial interest
was reasonably disclosed at the time of such vote.
5.19 Duties and Obligations of Directors. The Directors shall cause the Company to conduct
its business and operations separate and apart from that of any Director or any Director’s
Affiliates. The Directors shall take all actions which may be necessary or appropriate: (i) for
the continuation of the Company’s valid existence as a limited liability company under the laws of
the State of Illinois and each other jurisdiction in which such existence is necessary to protect
the limited liability of Members or to enable the Company to conduct the business in which it is
engaged; and (ii) 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 Director shall have the
duty to discharge the foregoing duties in good faith, in a manner the Director 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. The Directors shall be under no other
fiduciary duty to the Company or the Members to conduct the affairs of the Company in a particular
manner.
5.20 Officers. The officers of the Company shall be appointed by the Directors and shall
include a President/CEO, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer/CFO, and such other Officers
and assistant Officers as the Directors shall determine. One person may simultaneously hold more
than one office. The Officers’ terms shall be specified by the Directors. If no term is
specified, they shall hold office until the first meeting of the Directors held after the next
annual meeting of the Members. If the appointment of Officers shall not be made at such meeting,
such appointment shall be made as soon thereafter as is convenient. Each Officer shall hold office
until the officer’s
successor is duly appointed and qualified, until the Officer’s death, or until the Officer resigns
or is removed by the Directors. The designation of a specified term does not grant to an Officer
any contract rights; and unless otherwise provided in a signed contract with the Company, Officers
will be “at-will employees” subject to removal by the Directors at any time, with or without cause.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the President/CEO or the
Secretary of the Company. Unless otherwise noted in the notice, the resignation shall be effective
upon receipt.
The Officers, and their duties and responsibilities shall be as follows:
(a) President/CEO. The President/CEO shall be the principal executive officer of the Company
and shall, subject to Directors’ control, generally supervise and control the Company’s business
and affairs. The President/CEO shall, when present, preside at all Directors’ and Member meetings,
and shall perform all duties incident to the office of President/CEO and such other duties as may
be prescribed by this Agreement or by the Directors.
(b) The Vice President(s). If one or more Vice Presidents are appointed by the Directors, the
Vice President (or in the event there be more than one, the appropriate Vice President, as
designated by the Directors, or in the absence of any designation, then in the order of
appointment) shall perform the duties of the President/CEO in the event of the President/CEO’s
absence, death, inability or refusal to act. When so acting, a Vice President shall have all of
the powers, and be subject to all of the restrictions upon, the President/CEO. In addition, Vice
Presidents shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Agreement or by the
Directors.
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(c) The Secretary. The Secretary shall: (i) keep the minutes of the Director and Member
meetings; (ii) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with this Agreement and as
required by
law; (iii) serve as the custodian of the Company’s records; (iv) when requested or required,
authenticate any Company records; (v) keep and maintain the Unit Holder Register and the Unit
transfer books of the Company; and (vi) perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and
such other duties as may be prescribed by this Agreement or by the Directors.
(d) The Treasurer/CFO. The Treasurer/CFO shall: (i) have charge and custody of, and be
responsible for, all funds and securities of the Company; (ii) receive and give receipts for moneys
due and payable to the Company, and deposit all such moneys in the name of the Company in such
banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall be selected in accordance with this
Agreement; and (iv) generally perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer/CFO and such
other duties as may be prescribed by this Agreement or by the Directors.
(e) Other Assistants and Acting Officers. The Directors shall have the power to appoint any
Person to act as assistant to any Officer, or to perform the duties of such Officer, whenever for
any reason it is impracticable for such officer to act personally. Any such assistant or acting
Officer shall have the power to perform all the duties of the office to which he or she is
appointed to be an assistant, or as to which he or she is appointed to act, except as such power
may be otherwise defined or restricted by the Directors. Additionally, unless prohibited by a
resolution of the Directors, any Officer may delegate in writing some or all of the duties and
powers of such Officer’s position to other Persons. An Officer who delegates the duties or powers
of an office remains subject to the standard of conduct for such Officer with respect to the
discharge of all duties and powers so delegated.
Salaries of the Officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Directors, and no Officer
shall be prevented from receiving a salary due to the fact that such Officer is also a Director.
5.21 Execution of Instruments. All deeds, mortgages, bonds, checks, contracts and other
instruments pertaining to the business and affairs of the Company shall
be signed on behalf of the Company by: (i) the President/CEO; or (ii) such other Officers or
Persons who may be authorized to do so by specific resolution of the Directors.
5.22 Limitation of Liability. To the maximum extent permitted under the Act and other
applicable law, no Member or Director of this Company shall be personally liable for any debt,
obligation or liability of this Company merely by reason of being a Member or Director or both. No
Director of this Company shall be personally liable to this Company or its Members for monetary
damages for a breach of fiduciary duty by such Director; provided that this provision shall not
eliminate or limit the liability of a Director for any of the following: (i) receipt of an improper
financial benefit to which the Director is not entitled; (ii) liability for receipt of
distributions in violation of the articles of organization, this Agreement or the Act; (iii) a
knowing violation of law; or (iv) acts or omissions constituting willful misconduct, recklessness,
fraud or bad faith.
5.23 Indemnification of Directors. To the maximum extent permitted under the Act and other
applicable law, the Company, its receiver, or its trustee (in the case of its receiver or trustee,
to the extent of Company Property) shall indemnify, save and hold harmless, and pay all judgments
and claims against each Director or officer relating to any liability or damage incurred by reason
of any act performed or omitted to be performed by such Director or officer in connection with the
business of the Company, including reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by such Director or officer
in connection with the defense of any action based on any such act or omission, which attorneys’
fees may be paid as incurred, including all such liabilities under federal and state securities
laws as permitted by law. To the maximum extent permitted under the Act and other applicable law,
in the event of any action by a Unit Holder against any Director, including a derivative suit, the
Company shall indemnify, save harmless, and pay all costs, liabilities, damages and expenses of
such Director, including reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in the
19
defense of such action.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, no Director shall be indemnified by the Company to the
extent prohibited or limited (but only to the extent limited) by the Act. The Company may purchase
and maintain insurance on behalf of any Person in such Person’s official capacity against any
liability asserted against and incurred by such Person in or arising from that capacity, whether or
not the Company would otherwise be required to indemnify the Person against the liability.
ARTICLE VI. MEMBERSHIP UNITS; MEMBERS
6.1 Membership Units. A Member’s Membership Interest in the Company shall be
designated in Units. There shall be two classes of Units in the Company: Class A Units and Class
B Units. The Class A Units and Class B Units shall have no par value and shall have identical
rights, obligations and privileges, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement. The Company
shall have a first lien on the Units of any Member for any debt or liability owed by such Member to
the Company. Additional and different classes of Membership Interests represented by different
Units may be created and issued to new or existing Members on such terms and conditions as the
Directors may determine. Such additional and different classes may have different rights, powers
and preferences (including, without limitation, voting rights and distribution preferences), which
may be superior to those of existing Members. Except as otherwise provided in Article XI of this
Agreement, Members shall have no preemptive rights to acquire additional or newly created Units.
6.2 Certificates; Surrender for Transfer. Certificates representing Units shall be in such
form as shall be determined by the Directors, in their discretion. If a certificate is lost,
destroyed or mutilated, a new one may be issued upon such terms and indemnity to the Company as the
Directors may prescribe. No new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate for a
like number of Units has been surrendered and canceled.
6.3 Members. Each Person who desires to become a Member must complete and execute a
signature page to this Agreement in the form of Exhibit “B” attached hereto and such other
documents as may be required by the Directors. Membership Interests and Units of the Members shall
be set forth on Exhibit “A” to this Agreement, as amended from time to time.
6.4 Additional Members. No Person shall become a Member without the approval of the
Directors. The Directors may refuse to admit any Person as a Member in their sole discretion. Any
such admission must comply with the requirements described in this Agreement and will be effective
only after such Person has executed and delivered to the Company such documentation as determined
by the Directors to be necessary and appropriate to effect such admission.
6.5 Members’ Voting Rights. Each Member shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each Unit
registered in the name of such Member (as shown in the Unit Holder Register) as to any matter for
which such Member is entitled to vote under this Agreement or the Act. Members do not have
cumulative voting rights as to any matter. Except as otherwise expressly provided for in this
Agreement, Members shall not have any right or power to take part in the management or control of
the Company or its business and affairs or to act for or bind the Company in any way.
6.6 Member Meetings. Beginning with the fiscal year ending in calendar year 2008, or
sooner as determined by the Directors, and each Fiscal Year thereafter, an annual meeting of the
Members shall be held within one hundred eighty (180) days of the close of the Company’s Fiscal
Year, at a time and date determined by the Directors. Special meetings of the Members, for any
purpose(s) described in the meeting notice, may be called by the Directors, and shall be called by
the Directors at the request of not less than thirty percent (30%) of all Members. A call by the
Members for a special meeting shall be in writing, signed by the persons calling for the same,
addressed and delivered to the Secretary, and shall state the time and purpose(s) of such meeting.
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6.7 Place of Meeting. The Directors, or in the absence of action by the Directors, the
President/CEO, may designate any place as the place for any meeting of the Members, unless by
written consents, a majority of all Members entitled to vote at the meeting designate a different
place for the holding of such meeting. If no designation is made by the Directors, the
President/CEO or by unanimous action of the Members, the place of meetings shall be at the
principal office of the Company.
6.8 Conduct of Meetings. Subject to the discretion of the Directors, the Members may
participate in any Member meeting by means of telephone conference or similar means of
communication by which all participants in the meeting can hear and be heard by all other
participants.
6.9 Notice. Written notice stating the place and time of any annual or special Member
meeting shall be delivered or mailed not less than five (5) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to
the meeting date, to each Member of record entitled to vote at such meeting as of the close of
business on the day before said notice is delivered or mailed. Such notices shall be deemed to be
effective upon the earlier of: (i) deposit postage-prepaid in the U.S. mail, addressed to the
Member at the Member’s address as it appears on the Unit Holder Register, or such other address as
may have been provided in writing to the Company by a Member; (ii) the date shown on the return
receipt if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested; or (iii) actual receipt.
6.10 Contents of Notice. The notice of each Member meeting shall include a description of
the purpose(s) for which the meeting is called. If a purpose of any Member meeting is to consider:
(i) a proposed amendment to or restatement of the Articles requiring Member approval; (ii) a
proposed amendment or restatement of this Operating Agreement requiring Member approval; (iii) a
plan of merger or share exchange; (iv) the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all, or
substantially all of the Company’s Property; (v) the dissolution of the Company; or (vi) removal of
a
Director, then the notice must so state and must be accompanied, as applicable, by a copy
or summary of the (1) amendment(s) to the Articles, (2) amendment(s) to the Operating Agreement,
(3) plan of merger or share exchange, (4) documents relating to the transaction for the disposition
of all the Company’s Property, and/or (5) plan and Articles of Dissolution.
6.11 Adjourned Meetings. If any Member meeting is adjourned to a different date, time or
place, notice need not be given of the new date, time or place, if the new date, time and place is
announced at the meeting before adjournment; provided that, if a new record date for the
adjourned meeting is or must be fixed, then notice must be given to new Members as of the new
record date.
6.12 Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given to any Member under the
Act, the Articles or this Agreement, a waiver in writing, signed by such Member shall be deemed
equivalent to the giving of such notice. Furthermore, a Member’s attendance at a meeting waives
any objection that the Member might otherwise raise based on lack of notice or defective notice,
unless the Member: (i) objects at the outset of the meeting; or (ii) in the case of an objection
claiming that consideration of a particular matter is not within the purposes described in the
meeting notice, objects at the time such matter is presented, and in either case, thereafter does
not participate in the meeting.
6.13 Fixing of Record Date. For purposes of determining the Members entitled to notice of,
or to vote at, any Member meeting or any adjournment thereof, or for purposes of determining the
Members entitled to receive payment of any distribution, or in order to make a determination of the
Members for any other purpose, the Directors may provide that the Unit Transfer books shall be
closed for a stated period, not to exceed sixty (60) days. If the Unit Transfer books shall be
closed for such purpose, such books shall be closed for at least ten (10) days immediately
preceding such meeting. In lieu of closing the Unit Transfer books, the Directors may fix in
advance a date as the record date for any such determination of Members, such date in any case to
be not more than sixty (60) days, and in case of a meeting of Members not less than ten (10) days,
prior to the date on which the particular action requiring such determination is to be taken. If
the Unit Transfer books are not closed and no record date is fixed for the determination, the date
on which notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution of the Directors
declaring a
21
dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such
determination. When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of the Members has
been made as provided in this Section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof,
unless the Directors fix a new record date, which it must do if the meeting is adjourned to a date
more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the date fixed for the original meeting.
6.14 Quorum and Proxies. The presence (in person or by proxy or mail ballot) of Members
representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the Membership Voting Interests held by Class A
Members and at least thirty percent (30%) of the Membership Voting Interests held by Class B
Members is required for the transaction of business at a meeting of the Members. Voting by proxy
or by mail ballot shall be permitted on any matter if authorized by the Directors.
6.15 Voting; Action by Members. If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of (a) a
majority of the Membership Voting Interests held by Class A Members, and (b) a majority of the
Membership Voting Interests held by Class B Members, represented at the meeting and entitled to
vote on the matter (including Units represented in person, by proxy or by mail ballot when
authorized by the Directors) shall constitute the act of the Members, unless the vote of a greater
or lesser proportion or numbers is otherwise required by this Agreement.
6.16 Termination of Membership. If for any reason the membership of a Member is terminated
as provided in this Agreement or the Act, the Member whose membership has terminated loses all
Membership Voting Interests and shall be considered merely an
unadmitted Assignee of the Membership Economic Interest owned before the termination of membership,
having only the rights provided for unadmitted Assignees in Section 9.7 hereof.
6.17 Continuation of the Company. The Company shall not be dissolved upon the occurrence
of any event that is deemed to terminate the continued membership of a Member, but rather the
Company shall continue without dissolution, and its affairs shall not be required to be wound up.
6.18 No Member Right of Redemption or Return of Capital. Except as otherwise provided in
this Agreement or the Act, no Member or transferee of any Member shall have any right to demand or
receive a return of his/her/its Capital Contribution or to require the redemption of his/her/its
Units.
6.19 Waiver of Dissenters Rights. To the fullest extent permitted by the Act, each Member
hereby disclaims, waives and agrees not to assert: (i) any dissenters’ or similar rights under the
Act; (ii) any right to require partition or appraisal of the Company or of any of its assets, or to
cause the sale of any Company Property; or (iii) any right to maintain any action for partition or
to compel any sale with respect to such Member’s Units, or with respect to any Company Property.
6.20 Loans. Any Member or Affiliate may, with the consent of the Directors, lend or
advance money to the Company, in which case the amount of any such loan or advance shall not be
treated as a contribution to the capital of the Company but rather shall be a debt due from the
Company, repayable out of the Company’s cash, and shall bear interest at a rate not in excess of
the prime rate established, from time to time, by any major bank selected by the Directors for
loans to its most creditworthy commercial borrowers, plus four percent (4%) per annum. If a
Director or an Affiliate of a Director is the lending Member, the rate of interest and the terms
and conditions of such loan shall be no less favorable to the Company than if the lender had been
an independent third party. None of the Members or their Affiliates shall be obligated to make any
loan or advance to the Company.
ARTICLE VII. ACCOUNTING, BOOKS AND RECORDS
7.1 Accounting, Books and Records. The books and records of the Company shall be kept, and
the financial position and the results of its operations recorded, in accordance with GAAP. The
books and records shall reflect all Company transactions and shall be appropriate and adequate for
the Company’s
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business. The Company shall maintain at its principal place of business: (i) a
current list of the full name and last known address of each Member and Assignee set forth in
alphabetical order, together with the Capital Contributions, Capital Account and Units of each
Member and Assignee; (ii) the full name and address of each Director; (iii) a copy of the Articles
and any and all amendments thereto, together with executed copies of any powers of attorney
pursuant to which the Articles or any amendments thereto have been executed; (iv) copies of the
Company’s federal, state and local income tax and information returns and reports, if any, for the
six (6) most recent taxable years; (v) a copy of this Agreement and any and all amendments hereto,
together with executed copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which this Agreement or any
amendments hereto have been executed; and (vi) copies of the financial statements of the Company,
if any, for the six (6) most recent Fiscal Years. The Company shall use the accrual method of
accounting in the preparation of its financial reports and for tax purposes and shall keep its
books and records accordingly.
7.2 Delivery to Members and Inspection. Any Member or such Member’s designated
representative shall have reasonable access during normal business hours to the information and
documents kept by the Company pursuant to Section 7.1 of this Agreement. The rights granted to a
Member pursuant to this Section 7.2 are expressly subject to compliance by such Member with the
safety, security and confidentiality procedures and guidelines of the Company, as such
procedures and guidelines may be amended from time to time. Upon the request of any Member for
purposes reasonably related to such Member’s interest as a Member, the Directors shall promptly
deliver to the requesting Member, at the expense of the requesting Member, a copy of the
information required to be maintained under Section 7.1 of this Agreement. Each Member has the
right, upon reasonable request for purposes reasonably related to such Member’s interest as a
Member and for proper purposes, to: (i) inspect and copy during normal business hours any of the
Company records described in Section 7.1 of this Agreement; and (ii) obtain from the Directors,
promptly after their becoming available, copies of the Company’s federal, state and local income
tax and information returns for each Fiscal Year. Each Assignee shall have the right to
information regarding the Company only to the extent required by the Act.
7.3 Reports. The Treasurer/CFO of the Company shall be responsible for causing the
preparation of financial reports of the Company and the coordination of financial matters of the
Company with the Company’s accountants. The Company shall cause to be delivered to each Member the
financial statements listed below, prepared, in each case (other than with respect to Member’s
Capital Accounts, which shall be prepared in accordance with this Agreement) in accordance with
GAAP consistently applied. Delivery of the financial statements shall occur as soon as practicable
following the end of each Fiscal Year (and in any event not later than ninety (90) days after the
end of such Fiscal Year), and at such time as distributions are made to the Unit Holders pursuant
to Article X of this Agreement following the occurrence of a Dissolution Event. The financial
statements shall consist of a balance sheet of the Company as of the end of such Fiscal Year and
the related statements of operations, Unit Holders’ Capital Accounts and changes therein, and cash
flows for such Fiscal Year, together with appropriate notes to such financial statements and
supporting schedules, all of which shall be audited and certified by the Company’s external
auditors, who shall be a registered independent accounting firm with the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board, and in each case setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for
the immediately preceding Fiscal Year end (in the case of the balance sheet) and the two (2)
immediately preceding Fiscal Years (in the case of the statements). Public access to the financial
statements through either the Company’s or the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website shall
constitute delivery pursuant to this Section 7.3.
7.4 Tax Matters. The Directors shall, without any further consent of the Unit Holders
being required (except as specifically required herein), make any and all elections for federal,
state, local and foreign tax purposes as the Directors shall determine appropriate and shall have
the right and authority to represent the Company and the Unit Holders before taxing authorities or
courts of competent jurisdiction in tax matters affecting the Company or the Unit Holders in their
capacities as Unit Holders, and to file any tax returns and execute any agreements or other
documents relating to or affecting such tax matters, including agreements or other documents that
bind the Unit Holders with respect to such tax matters or otherwise
23
affect the rights of the
Company and the Unit Holders. The Directors shall designate a Person to be specifically authorized
to act as the “Tax Matters Member” under the Code and in any similar capacity under state or local
law; provided, however, that the Directors shall have the authority to designate, remove and
replace the Tax Matters Member who shall act as the tax matters partner within the meaning of and
pursuant to Regulations Sections 301.6231(a)(7)-1 and -2 or any similar provision under state or
local law. Necessary tax information shall be delivered to each Unit Holder as soon as practicable
after the end of each Fiscal Year, but not later than three (3) months after the end of each Fiscal
Year.
ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS
8.1 Amendments. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed by the Directors or any
Member. Following any such proposal, the Directors shall submit to the Members a verbatim
statement of any proposed amendment (provided that counsel for the Company shall have approved of
the same in writing as to form), and the Directors shall include therewith a recommendation as to
the proposed amendment. The Directors shall seek the written vote of the Members on the proposed
amendment or shall call a meeting to vote thereon and to transact any other business that it may
deem
appropriate. Except as provided in Section 11.6 below, a proposed amendment shall be adopted and
be effective as an amendment to this Agreement only if approved by the affirmative vote of the
Members as provided in Section 6.15 above. Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 8.1 to
the contrary, this Agreement shall not be amended without the consent of each Member adversely
affected if such amendment would modify the limited liability of a Member, or alter the Membership
Economic Interest of a Member.
ARTICLE IX. TRANSFERS
9.1 General Restrictions on Transfers; Conversion of Class A Units Upon Transfer. Except
as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, no Member shall Transfer all or any portion of such
Member’s Units. In the event that any Member pledges or otherwise encumbers all or any part of
such Member’s Units as security for the payment of a Debt, any such pledge or hypothecation shall
be made pursuant to a pledge or hypothecation agreement that requires the pledgee or secured party
to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and all other agreements governing
the rights and obligations of Unit Holders in the event such pledgee or secured party becomes a
Unit Holder hereunder.
9.2 Right of First Refusal for Class A Members. A Class A Member may not Transfer any
Class A Units owned by such Class A Member unless and until such Class A Member shall have
satisfied all of the following requirements:
(a) A Class A Member who desires to Transfer all or any portion of its Units to a third party
purchaser, including another Member, shall obtain from such third party purchaser (“Third Party
Purchaser”) a bona fide written offer to purchase such Units, stating the terms and conditions upon
which the purchase is to be made and the consideration offered therefore (“Third Party Offer”).
The selling Class A Member shall give written notification (“Notice of Sale”) to the Company and
the other Class A Members, by certified mail or personal delivery, of his/her/its intention to so
Transfer such Units (the “Offered Units”). The Notice of Sale shall be accompanied by a copy of
the Third Party Offer. If any portion of the purchase price consists of consideration other than
cash or a promissory note, then the Notice of Sale also shall be accompanied by a good faith
appraisal of the fair market value of such consideration provided by an independent third-party
appraiser.
(b) Upon receipt of a Notice of Sale, each of the other Class A Members shall have the right
(“Member Buy Option”), exercisable within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Notice of Sale
(“Member Option Period”), to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Offered Units. A Class A
Member that desires to exercise its Member Buy Option shall do so by giving notice thereof (“Member
Buy Notice”) to the selling Class A Member and all other Class A Members. If more than one Class A
Member timely
24
delivers a Member Buy Notice, then each such notifying Class A Member shall purchase
his/her/its pro rata share of the Offered Units as provided herein, determined by multiplying the
Offered Units by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Class A Units owned or held by
such Class A Member and the denominator of which is the total number of Class A Units owned or held
by all Class A Members exercising their purchase rights.
(c) If a Member Buy Notice is not issued, the Transferring Class A Member shall be entitled to
consummate the sale of the Offered Units to the Third Party Purchaser in strict accordance with the
terms set forth in the Third Party Offer, at any time within ninety (90) days following the
expiration of the Member Option Period, after which time, if such transaction shall not have
closed, such Offered Units shall again become subject to the terms of this Section 9.2.
(d) If a Class A Member exercises its Member Buy Option, the Company shall designate the time,
date, and place of closing which shall be not more than ninety (90) days after receipt of the
Member Buy Notice as applicable. At closing, the Purchaser shall purchase, and the selling Class A
Member shall sell, the Offered Units for an amount equal to the purchase price designated in the
Third Party Offer and in accordance with such other terms and conditions as are set forth in the
Third Party Offer and in this Section 9.2.
Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, upon the Transfer of any
Class A Units, such Units, shall automatically and immediately be converted to Class B Units for
all purposes under this Agreement, unless such Class A Units were transferred to another Class A
Member after complying with this Section 9.2, in which case such transferred Class A Units shall
remain Class A Units.
9.3 Permitted Transfers. Subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth in this
Article IX, a Unit Holder may: (a) at any time Transfer all or any portion of such Unit Holder’s
Units (i) to the transferor’s administrator or trustee to whom such Units are Transferred
involuntarily by operation of law, or (ii) without consideration to or in trust for descendants of
a Member; or (b) at any time following the date on which substantial operations of the Facilities
commence, Transfer all or any portion of such Unit Holder’s Units (i) to any Person approved by the
Directors, in writing, or (ii) to any Affiliate or Related Party of such Unit Holder. Any such
Transfer set forth in this Section 9.3 and meeting the conditions set forth in Section 9.4 below is
referred to herein as a “Permitted Transfer.”
9.4 Conditions Precedent to Transfers. In addition to the conditions set forth above, no
Transfer of Units shall be effective unless and until all of the following conditions have been
satisfied:
(a) Except in the case of a Transfer involuntarily by operation of law, the transferor and
transferee shall execute and deliver to the Company such documents and instruments of Transfer as
may be necessary or appropriate in the opinion of counsel to the Company to affect such Transfer.
In the case of a Transfer of Units involuntarily by operation of law, the Transfer shall be
confirmed by presentation to the Company of legal evidence of such Transfer, in form and substance
satisfactory to counsel to the Company. In all cases, the transferor and/or transferee shall pay
all reasonable costs and expenses connected with the Transfer and the admission of the Transferee
as a Member and incurred as a result of such Transfer, including but not limited to, legal fees and
costs.
(b) The transferor and transferee shall furnish the Company with the transferee’s taxpayer
identification number, sufficient information to determine the transferee’s initial tax basis in
the Units Transferred, and any other information reasonably necessary to permit the Company to file
all required federal and state tax returns and other legally required information statements or
returns. The Company shall not be required to make any distribution otherwise provided for in this
Agreement with respect to any Transferred Units until it has received such information.
25
(c) Except in the case of a Transfer of any Units involuntarily by operation of law, either
(i) such Units shall be registered under the Securities Act, and any applicable state securities
laws, or (ii) the transferor shall provide an opinion of counsel, which opinion and counsel shall
be reasonably satisfactory to the Directors, to the effect that such Transfer is exempt from all
applicable registration requirements and that such Transfer will not violate any applicable laws
regulating the Transfer of securities.
(d) Except in the case of a Transfer of Units involuntarily by operation of law, the
transferor shall provide an opinion of counsel, which opinion and counsel shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the
Directors, to the effect that such Transfer will not cause the Company to be deemed to be an
“investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(e) Unless otherwise approved by the Directors and Members representing in the aggregate a 75%
majority of the Membership Voting Interests, no Transfer of Units shall be made except upon terms
which would not, in the opinion of counsel chosen by the Directors, result in the termination of
the Company within the meaning of Section 708 of the Code or cause the application of the rules of
Sections 168(g)(1)(B) and 168(h) of the Code or similar rules to apply to the Company. If the
immediate Transfer of such Unit would, in the opinion of such counsel, cause a termination within
the meaning of Section 708 of the Code, then if, in the opinion of such counsel, the following
action would not precipitate such termination, the transferor Member shall be entitled to (or
required, as the case may be): (i) immediately Transfer only that portion of its Units as may, in
the opinion of such counsel, be Transferred without causing such a termination; and (ii) enter into
an agreement to Transfer the remainder of its Units, in one or more Transfers, at the earliest date
or dates on which such Transfer or Transfers may be effected without causing such termination. The
purchase price for the Units shall be allocated between the immediate Transfer and the deferred
Transfer or Transfers pro rata on the basis of the percentage of the aggregate Units being
Transferred, each portion to be payable when the respective Transfer is consummated, unless
otherwise agreed by the parties to the Transfer. In the case of a Transfer by one Member to
another Member, the deferred purchase price shall be deposited in an interest-bearing escrow
account unless another method of securing the payment thereof is agreed upon by the transferor
Member and the transferee Member(s).
(f) No notice or request initiating the procedures contemplated by this Section 9.3 may be
given by any Member after a Dissolution Event has occurred. No Member may sell all or any portion
of its Units after a Dissolution Event has occurred.
(g) No Person shall Transfer any Unit if, in the determination of the Directors, such Transfer
would cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of
Section 7704(b) of the Code.
The Directors shall have the authority to waive any legal opinion or other condition required
in this Section 9.3 other than the Member approval requirement set forth in Section 9.3(e).
9.5 Prohibited Transfers. Any purported Transfer of Units that is not a Permitted Transfer
shall be 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 Directors, in their
sole discretion, elect to recognize a Transfer that is not a Permitted Transfer): (i) the
transferee’s rights shall be strictly limited to the transferor’s Membership Economic Interests
associated with such Units; and (ii) the Company may offset against such Membership Economic
Interests (without limiting any other legal or equitable rights of the Company) any debts,
obligations or liabilities for damages that the transferor or transferee may have to the Company.
In the case of a Transfer or attempted Transfer of Units that is not a Permitted Transfer, the
parties engaging or attempting to engage in such Transfer shall indemnify and hold harmless the
26
Company and the other Members from all cost, liability and damage that such parties may incur
(including, without limitation, incremental tax liabilities, attorneys’ fees and expenses) as a
result thereof.
9.6 No Dissolution or Termination. The Transfer of Units pursuant to the terms of this
Article IX shall not dissolve or terminate the Company. No Member shall have the right to have the
Company dissolved or to have such Member’s Capital Contribution returned except as provided in this
Agreement.
9.7 Prohibition of Assignment. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article
IX, no Transfer of Units may be made if the Units sought to be sold, exchanged or Transferred, when
added to the total of all other Units sold, exchanged or Transferred within the period of twelve
(12) consecutive months prior thereto, would result in the termination of the Company under Section
708 of the Code. In the event of a Transfer of any Units, the Members will determine, in their
sole discretion, whether or not the Company will elect pursuant to Section 754 of the Code (or
corresponding provisions of future law) to adjust the basis of the assets of the Company.
9.8 Rights of Unadmitted Assignees. A Person who acquires Units but who is not admitted as
a Substitute Member pursuant to Section 9.8 of this Agreement shall be entitled only to the
Membership Economic Interests with respect to such Units in accordance with this Agreement, and
shall not be entitled to the Membership Voting Interests with respect to such Units. In addition,
such Person shall have no right to any information or accounting of the affairs of the Company
except as required by the Act, shall not be entitled to inspect the books or records of the
Company, and shall not have any of the other rights of a Member under the Act or this Agreement.
9.9 Admission of Substitute Members. As to Permitted Transfers, a transferee of Units
shall be admitted as a substitute Member provided that such transferee has complied with
the following provisions:
(a) The transferee shall, by written instrument in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Directors, agree to be bound by all of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement, and assume the obligations of the transferor Member hereunder with respect to the
Transferred Units.
(b) The transferee shall pay for or reimburse the Company for all reasonable legal,
filing and publication costs incurred in connection with the admission of the transferee as
a Member; and
(c) Except in the case of a Transfer involuntarily by operation of law, if required by
the Directors, the transferee shall deliver to the Company evidence of his/her/its authority
to become a Member.
(d) The transferee and transferor shall each execute and deliver such other instruments
as the Directors reasonably deem necessary or appropriate in connection with such Transfer.
9.10 Representations Regarding Transfers. Each Member hereby covenants and agrees with the
Company for the benefit of the Company and all Members, that: (i) it is not currently making a
market in Units and will not in the future make a market in Units; (ii) it will not Transfer its
Units on an established securities market, a secondary market (or the substantial equivalent
thereof) within the meaning of Code Section 7704(b) (and any Regulations, proposed Regulations,
revenue rulings, or other official pronouncements of the IRS or the Treasury Department that may be
promulgated or published thereunder); and (iii) in the event such Regulations, revenue rulings, or
other pronouncements treat any or all arrangements which facilitate the selling of Units (commonly
referred to as “matching services”) as being a secondary market or the substantial equivalent
thereof, no Member will Transfer any Units
27
through a matching service that is not approved in
advance by the Company. Each Member further agrees that it will not Transfer any Units to any
Person unless such Person first agrees to be bound by this Article IX.
Each Member hereby represents and warrants to the Company and the Members that such Member’s
acquisition of Units hereunder is made as principal for such Member’s own account and not for
resale or distribution of such Units. Each Member further hereby agrees that the following legend,
as the
same may be amended by the Directors in their sole discretion, may be placed upon any
counterpart of this Agreement, the Articles, or any other document or instrument evidencing
ownership of Units:
THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THE MEMBERSHIP UNITS REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS
RESTRICTED. SUCH UNITS MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, OR TRANSFERRED, AND NO ASSIGNEE,
VENDEE, TRANSFEREE OR ENDORSEE THEREOF WILL BE RECOGNIZED AS HAVING ACQUIRED ANY
SUCH UNITS FOR ANY PURPOSES, UNLESS AND TO THE EXTENT SUCH SALE, TRANSFER,
HYPOTHECATION, OR ASSIGNMENT IS PERMITTED BY, AND IS COMPLETED IN STRICT ACCORDANCE
WITH, APPLICABLE FEDERAL AND STATE LAW AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE
OPERATING AGREEMENT OF THE COMPANY, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME.
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE OR
TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED, AND UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR AN OPINION OF
COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM
REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND UNDER APPLICABLE
STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
9.11 Distributions And Allocations In Respect of Transferred Units. If any Units are
Transferred during any Fiscal Year in compliance with the provisions of this Article IX, Profits,
Losses, each item thereof, and all other items attributable to the Transferred Units for such
Fiscal Year shall be divided and allocated between the transferor and the transferee by taking into
account their varying interests during the Fiscal Year in accordance with Code Section 706(d),
using any conventions permitted by law and selected by the Directors. All distributions on or
before the date of such Transfer shall be made to the transferor, and all distributions thereafter
shall be made to the transferee. Solely for purposes of making such allocations and distributions,
the Company shall recognize such Transfer to be effective not later than the first day of the month
following the month in which all documents to effectuate the Transfer have been executed and
delivered to the Company, provided that, if the Company does not receive a notice stating the date
such Units were Transferred and such other information as the Directors may reasonably require
within thirty (30) days after the end of the Fiscal Year during which the Transfer occurs, then all
such items shall be allocated, and all distributions shall be made, to the person or entity who,
according to the books and records of the Company, was the owner of the Units on the last day of
such Fiscal Year. Neither the Company nor any Member shall incur any liability for making
allocations and distributions in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.10, whether or
not the Directors or the Company has knowledge of any Transfer of any Units.
9.12 Additional Members. Additional Members may be admitted from time to time upon the
approval of the Directors, and in accordance with such terms and conditions, as the Directors may
determine. All Members acknowledge that the admission of additional Members may result in a
dilution of a Member’s Membership Interest. Prior to admission as a Member, a prospective Member
shall agree in writing to be
28
bound by this Agreement shall and execute and deliver to the Company
an Addendum to this Agreement in the form of Exhibit “B” attached hereto. Upon the execution of
such Addendum, such additional Member shall be deemed to be a party to this Agreement as if such
additional Member had executed this Agreement on the original date hereof, and shall be bound by
all of the provisions set forth herein.
ARTICLE X. DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP
10.1 Dissolution. The Company shall dissolve and shall commence winding up and liquidating
upon the first to occur of any of the following (each a “Dissolution Event”): (i) the affirmative
vote of a 75% majority of the Membership Voting Interests to dissolve, wind up and liquidate the
Company; or (ii) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution pursuant to the Act. The Members
hereby agree that, notwithstanding any provision of the Act, the Company shall not dissolve prior
to the occurrence of a Dissolution Event.
10.2 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 and Members; and no Member shall take any action that is
inconsistent with, or not necessary to or appropriate for, winding up of the Company’s business and
affairs. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Members acknowledge
and agree that all covenants and obligations set forth this Agreement shall continue to be fully
binding upon the Members until such time as the Property has been distributed pursuant to this
Section 10.2 and Articles of Dissolution have been filed pursuant to the Act. The Liquidator shall
be responsible for overseeing the prompt and orderly winding up and dissolution of the Company.
The Liquidator shall take full account of the Company’s liabilities and Property and shall cause
the Property or the proceeds from the sale thereof (as determined pursuant to Section 10.8 of this
Agreement), to the extent sufficient therefor, to be applied and distributed, to the maximum extent
permitted by law, in the following order: (i) first, to creditors (including Members and Directors
who are creditors, to the extent otherwise permitted by law) in satisfaction of all of the
Company’s Debts and other liabilities (whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for
payment thereof), other than liabilities for which reasonable provision for payment has been made;
and (ii) second, except as provided in this Agreement, to Members in satisfaction of liabilities
for distributions pursuant to the Act; (iii) third, the balance, if any, to the Unit Holders in
accordance with the positive balance in their Capital Accounts calculated after making the required
adjustment set forth in clause (ii)(C) of the definition of Gross Asset Value in Section 1.10 of
this Agreement, after giving effect to all contributions, distributions and allocations for all
periods.
10.3 Compliance with Certain Requirements of Regulations; Deficit Capital Accounts. In the
event the Company is “liquidated” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g),
distributions shall be made pursuant to this Article X to the Unit Holders who have positive
Capital Accounts in compliance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(2). If any Unit
Holder has a deficit balance in such Member’s Capital Account (after giving effect to all
contributions, distributions and allocations for all Fiscal Years, including the Fiscal Year during
which such liquidation occurs), such Unit Holder shall have no obligation to make any contribution
to the capital of the Company with respect to such deficit, and such deficit shall not be
considered a debt owed to the Company or to any other Person for any purpose whatsoever. In the
discretion of the Liquidator, a pro rata portion of the distributions that would otherwise be made
to the Unit Holders pursuant to this Article X may be: (i) distributed to a trust established for
the benefit of the Unit Holders for the purposes of liquidating Company assets, collecting amounts
owed to the Company, and paying any contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the
Company, in which case the assets of any such trust shall be distributed to the Unit Holders from
time to time, in the reasonable discretion of the Liquidator, in the same proportions as the amount
distributed to such trust by the Company would otherwise have been distributed to the Unit Holders
pursuant to Section 10.2 of this Agreement; or (b) withheld to provide a reasonable reserve for
Company liabilities
29
(contingent or otherwise) and to reflect the unrealized portion of any
installment obligations owed to the Company, provided that such withheld amounts shall be
distributed to the Unit Holders as soon as practicable.
10.4 Deemed Distribution and Recontribution. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Article X, in the event the Company is liquidated within the meaning of Regulations Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) but no Dissolution Event has occurred, the Property shall not be liquidated,
the Company’s Debts and other liabilities shall not be paid or discharged, and the Company’s
affairs shall not be wound up.
10.5 Rights of Unit Holders. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Unit
Holder shall look solely to the Property of the Company for the return of such Unit Holder’s
Capital Contribution and shall have 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
or liabilities of the Company are insufficient to return such Capital Contribution, the Unit
Holders shall have no recourse against the Company or any other Unit Holder or Directors.
10.6 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 Unit Holders pursuant to Section 10.2 of
this Agreement (the “Liquidation Period”), the Unit Holders shall continue to share Profits,
Losses, gain, loss and other items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction in the manner
provided in Article III of this Agreement.
10.7 Character of Liquidating Distributions. All payments made in liquidation of the
interest of a Unit Holder shall be made in exchange for the interest of such Unit Holder in
Property pursuant to Section 736(b)(1) of the Code, including the interest of such Unit Holder in
Company goodwill.
10.8 The Liquidator. The “Liquidator” shall mean a Person appointed by the Directors to
oversee the liquidation of the Company. Upon the consent of a majority of the Membership Voting
Interests, the Liquidator may be the Directors. The Company is authorized to pay a reasonable fee
to the Liquidator for its services performed pursuant to this Article X and to reimburse the
Liquidator for its reasonable costs and expenses incurred in performing those services. The
Company shall indemnify, save harmless, and pay all judgments and claims against such Liquidator
and any officers, directors, agents and 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 in connection with the defense of any
action based on any such act or omission, which attorneys’ fees may be paid as incurred, except to
the extent such liability or damage is caused by fraud, intentional misconduct, or a knowing
violation of the laws which was material to the cause of action.
10.9 Forms of Liquidating Distributions. For purposes of making distributions required by
Section 10.2 of this Agreement, 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 therefrom.
ARTICLE XI. FARMERS ENERGY INCORPORATED
11.1 Application. The provisions of this Article XI are contingent upon complete
performance and compliance by Farmers Energy One Earth, LLC, an Ohio limited liability company
(“Farmers Energy”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Farmers Energy Incorporated, a Delaware
corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of XXX Stores Corporation, a Delaware corporation, of
Farmers Energy’s duties and obligations (as successor-in-interest to Farmers Energy Incorporated)
pursuant to that certain Letter Agreement dated May 26, 2006 between Farmers Energy Incorporated
and the Company (the “Letter
30
Agreement”), and admission of Farmers Energy as a Class B Member of
the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions of such Letter Agreement and this
Agreement. In the event Farmers Energy is not admitted as a Class B Member of the Company in
accordance therewith and herewith, this Article XI shall be null and void and shall be of no force
or effect.
11.2 Preemptive Rights; Right to Participate.
(a) Preemptive Rights. In the event that the Company, at any time in the future while
Farmers Energy is a Class B Member and holds at least 27.89% of the Company’s issued and
outstanding Units, offers any additional Units, or any securities convertible into additional
Units, Farmers Energy shall have the preemptive right to subscribe for and purchase, on the same
terms and conditions as are offered to other investors (except as provided in the immediately
following sentence), such number of additional Class B Units or securities convertible into Class B
Units as would be necessary to maintain Farmers Energy’s percentage Membership Interest in the
Company as it exists immediately prior to such offering. Within five (5) days of the effective
date of any offering subject to this Section 11.2(a), the Company must provide Farmers Energy with
a copy of the offering documents. Farmers Energy shall notify the Company in writing of its
intention to purchase securities in such offering and shall execute and comply with any necessary
subscription materials within thirty (30) days of receipt of such offering documents; and in the
event Farmers Energy fails to do so, the Company shall be free to proceed with the offering and to
sell such securities free and clear of any rights of Farmers Energy pursuant to this Section
11.2(a).
(b) Right to Participate. In the event that the Company, at any time in the future
while Farmers Energy is a Class B Member and holds at least 27.89% of the Company’s issued and
outstanding Units, offers securities of the Company or in any wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Company that intends to engage in ethanol or biodiesel production, Farmers Energy shall have the
right to subscribe for and purchase, on the same terms and conditions as are offered to other
investors (except as provided in the immediately following sentence), such number of such
securities as would be necessary to acquire an ownership interest in such securities that would be
equal to Farmers Energy’s percentage Membership Interest in the Company as it exists immediately
prior to such offering. Within five (5) days of the effective date of any offering subject to this
Section 11.2(b), the Company must provide Farmers Energy with a copy of the offering documents.
Farmers Energy shall notify the Company in writing of its intention to purchase securities in such
offering and shall execute and comply with any necessary subscription materials within thirty (30)
days of receipt of such offering documents; and in the event Farmers Energy fails to do so, the
Company shall be free to proceed with the offering and to sell such securities free and clear of
any rights of Farmers Energy pursuant to this Section 11.2(b).
11.3 Right to Participate in Sales (Tag-Along Rights). In the event that, at any time in
the future while Farmers Energy is a Class B Member and holds at least 27.89% of the Company’s
issued and outstanding Units: (i) any Member or group of Members agree(s) to sell or otherwise
transfer Units constituting a majority interest in the Company to any person or entity in a single
transaction or series of related transactions, or (ii) any person or entity agrees to purchase or
otherwise acquire, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, a majority of the
Units of the Company, Farmers Energy shall have the option to participate as a seller and to
require the purchaser of such Units to purchase all or a portion of the Units owned by Farmers
Energy for the same price per Unit and on the same terms and conditions as the purchaser’s purchase
of the other Units being acquired. Prior to any sale or transfer of any Units subject to this
Section 11.3, the transferring Member(s) and the Company must provide Farmers Energy at least
thirty (30) days written
notice of the proposed sale or transfer which notice shall include a copy of the documents relating
to the proposed sale and a summary of the general terms thereof. Farmers Energy shall notify the
Company and the selling Member(s) in writing of its intention to participate in the transaction
within thirty (30) days of receipt of such notice of sale; and in the event
31
Farmers Energy fails to
do so, the parties shall be free to proceed with the proposed sale or transfer free and clear of
any rights of Farmers Energy pursuant to this Section 11.3.
11.4 Special Right of Appointment of 1 Class B Director For Farmers Energy. So long as
Farmers Energy is a Class B Member and holds at least 27.89% of the Company’s issued and
outstanding Units, Farmers Energy shall be deemed to be an Appointing Class B Member and shall have
the right to appoint one (1) Class B Director in accordance with Section 5.4(c) above. In such
event, there shall be no more than three (3) other Appointing Class B Members.
11.5 Accounting, Books and Records; Reports. So long as Farmers Energy is a Member, if
the financial statements of the Company do not sufficiently allow Farmers Energy to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), then Farmers Energy shall have the right, at
its own expense, to have access to the Company’s books, records, accounts and internal controls in
order to cause the Company’s financial statements to be prepared in accordance with the Exchange
Act. Additionally, the Company agrees that Farmers Energy has the right to have its own
accountants audit, at its expense, the books, records, accounts and internal controls of the
Company.
11.6 Amendment of Article XI. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the
contrary, this Article XI shall not be modified or amended except with the prior written consent of
Farmers Energy.
ARTICLE XII. MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 Notices. Any notice, payment, demand, or communication required or permitted to be
given by any provision of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
delivered, given, and received for all purposes (i) if delivered personally to the Person or to an
officer of the Person to whom the same is directed, or (ii) when the same is actually received, if
sent by regular or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by facsimile, if such facsimile is followed
by a hard copy of the facsimile communication sent promptly thereafter by regular or certified
mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows, or to such other address as such Person may from time
to time specify by notice to the Company: (a) If to the Company, to the address determined
pursuant to Section 1.4 of this Agreement; (b) If to the Directors, to the address set forth on
record with the Company; (c) If to a Unit Holder, either to the address set forth in the Unit
Holder Register or to such other address that has been provided in writing to the Company.
12.2 Binding Effect. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, every covenant, term
and provision of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the
Company and the Members, and their respective heirs, representatives, successors, transferees, and
assigns.
12.3 Construction. Every covenant, term, and provision of this Agreement shall be
construed simply according to its fair meaning and not strictly for or against the Company or any
Member.
12.4 Headings. Article, 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.
12.5 Severability. Except as otherwise provided in the succeeding sentence, 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, such illegality or invalidity shall not
affect the validity or legality of the remainder of this Agreement. The preceding sentence of this
Section 12.5 shall be of no force or effect if the consequence of enforcing the remainder of this
Agreement without such illegal or invalid term or provision would be to cause any Member to lose
the material benefit of its economic bargain.
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12.6 Incorporation By Reference. Every recital, exhibit, schedule and appendix attached to
this Agreement and referred to herein is hereby incorporated into this Agreement by reference
unless this Agreement expressly provides otherwise.
12.7 Variation of Terms. All terms and variations thereof used in this Agreement shall be
deemed to refer to masculine, feminine, or neuter, singular or plural, as the context may require.
12.8 Governing Law. The laws of the State of Illinois shall govern the validity of this
Agreement, the construction of its terms, and the interpretation of the rights and duties arising
hereunder.
12.9 Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Members irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, all rights to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim arising out
of or relating to this Agreement or the business and affairs of the Company.
12.10 Counterpart Execution. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts
with the same effect as if all of the Members had signed the same document. All counterparts shall
be construed together and shall constitute one agreement.
12.11 Specific Performance. Each Member acknowledges and agrees that the Company and the
other Members 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 in such event. Accordingly, it is agreed that, in addition to any other remedy to
which the Company and the non-breaching Members may be entitled hereunder, at law or in equity, the
Company and the non-breaching Members shall be entitled to injunctive relief to prevent
breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to specifically to enforce the terms and
provisions of this Agreement.
12.12 No Third Party Rights. None of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall be
deemed to be for the benefit of or enforceable by any third parties, including without limitation,
any creditors of any Member or the Company.
DULY
ADOPTED by the Company as of July 10, 2006.
ONE EARTH ENERGY, LLC | ||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx
|
|||||
Its: | President |
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EXHIBIT “A”
Membership List
Membership List
Name and Address of Members
Topflight Grain Cooperative, Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Xxxxxx Farmers Grain & Coal Company
0xx Xxxx Xxxxxx
X.X. Xxx 0
Xxxxx, XX 00000
0xx Xxxx Xxxxxx
X.X. Xxx 0
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Grand Prairie Co-op, Inc.
1st Xxxxxxx
X.X. Xxx X
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
1st Xxxxxxx
X.X. Xxx X
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Ludlow Cooperative Elevator Company
000 X. Xxxxxx
X.X. Xxx 000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
000 X. Xxxxxx
X.X. Xxx 000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Alliance Grain Co.
0000 Xxxx 0xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
0000 Xxxx 0xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
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EXHIBIT “B”
MEMBER SIGNATURE PAGE
The undersigned does hereby warrant, represent, covenant and agree that: (i) the undersigned,
as a condition to becoming a Member in One Earth Energy, LLC, has received a copy of the Operating
Agreement dated February 16, 2006, and, if applicable, all amendments and modifications thereto;
(ii) the undersigned shall be subject to and comply with all terms and conditions of such Operating
Agreement in all respects, as if the undersigned had executed said Operating Agreement on the
original date thereof; and (iii) the undersigned is and shall be bound by all of the provisions of
said Operating Agreement from and after the date of execution of this Addendum.
Individuals:
|
Entities: | |||||
Agreed to and Accepted on Behalf of the |
||||||
Company and its Members: |
||||||
ONE EARTH ENERGY, LLC |
By: |
||||
Its: |
||||
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