Exhibit (25)(2)(a)(2)
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GROSVENOR REGISTERED MULTI-STRATEGY
FUND (TE), LLC
(A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY)
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LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 30, 2009
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XXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXX
XXXXXX, XX 00000
(000) 000-0000
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION; ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
2.1 Formation of Limited Liability Company.............................. 7
2.2 Name................................................................ 7
2.3 Principal and Registered Office..................................... 7
2.4 Duration............................................................ 7
2.5 Objective and Business of the Company............................... 7
2.6 Board of Directors.................................................. 8
2.7 Members............................................................. 8
2.8 Organizational Member............................................... 9
2.9 Both Directors and Members.......................................... 9
2.10 Limited Liability................................................... 9
ARTICLE III
MANAGEMENT
3.1 Management and Control.............................................. 9
3.2 Actions by the Board of Directors................................... 10
3.3 Officers............................................................ 10
3.4 Meetings of Members................................................. 11
3.5 Custody of Assets of the Company.................................... 12
3.6 Other Activities of Members and Directors........................... 12
3.7 Duty of Care........................................................ 12
3.8 Indemnification..................................................... 13
3.9 Fees, Expenses and Reimbursement.................................... 15
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ARTICLE IV
TERMINATION OF STATUS OF
DIRECTORS, TRANSFERS AND REPURCHASES
4.1 Termination of Status of a Director................................. 15
4.2 Removal of the Directors............................................ 16
4.3 Transfer of Interests of Members.................................... 16
4.4 Repurchase of Interests............................................. 17
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL
5.1 Contributions to Capital............................................ 19
5.2 Rights of Members to Capital........................................ 20
5.3 Capital Accounts.................................................... 20
5.4 Allocation of Net Profit and Net Loss............................... 21
5.5 Allocation of Certain Expenditures.................................. 21
5.6 Reserves............................................................ 21
5.7 Tax Allocations..................................................... 22
5.8 Distributions....................................................... 23
5.9 Withholding......................................................... 23
ARTICLE VI
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
6.1 Dissolution......................................................... 24
6.2 Liquidation of Assets............................................... 25
ARTICLE VII
ACCOUNTING, VALUATIONS AND BOOKS AND RECORDS
7.1 Accounting and Reports.............................................. 26
7.2 Determinations by the Board of Directors............................ 26
7.3 Valuation of Assets................................................. 26
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ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
8.1 Amendment of Limited Liability Company Agreement.................... 27
8.2 Special Power of Attorney........................................... 28
8.3 Notices............................................................. 29
8.4 Agreement Binding Upon Successors and Assigns....................... 30
8.5 Applicability of 1940 Act and Form N-2.............................. 30
8.6 Choice of Law; Arbitration.......................................... 30
8.7 Not for Benefit of Creditors........................................ 31
8.8 Consents............................................................ 31
8.9 Merger and Consolidation............................................ 31
8.10 Pronouns............................................................ 32
8.11 Confidentiality..................................................... 32
8.12 Certification of Non-Foreign Status................................. 32
8.13 Severability........................................................ 33
8.14 Filing of Returns................................................... 33
8.15 Tax Matters Partner................................................. 33
8.16 Section 754 Election................................................ 34
8.17 Member Tax Basis.................................................... 34
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GROSVENOR REGISTERED MULTI-STRATEGY FUND (TE), LLC
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
THIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT of Grosvenor Registered
Multi-Strategy Fund (TE), LLC (the "Company") is dated as of November 30, 2009
by and among Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxx X. Xxxxx XX, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx., Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, and those Persons hereinafter admitted as Members.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore been formed as a limited liability
company under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act pursuant to an initial
Certificate of Formation (the "Certificate") dated and filed with the Secretary
of State of Delaware on October 26, 2009;
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing and the
mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, it is hereby agreed as follows:
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
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For purposes of this Agreement:
1940 ACT The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the
rules, regulations and orders thereunder, as amended
from time to time, or any successor law.
ADMINISTRATOR The Person who provides administrative services to the
Company pursuant to an administrative services
agreement.
ADVISERS ACT The Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the rules,
regulations and orders thereunder, as amended from time
to time, or any successor law.
AFFILIATE An affiliated Person of a Person, as such term is
defined in the 1940 Act.
AGREEMENT This Limited Liability Company Agreement, as amended
from time to time.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Board of Directors established pursuant to Section
2.6.
CAPITAL ACCOUNT With respect to each Member, the capital account
established and maintained on behalf of each Member
pursuant to Section 5.3 hereof.
CERTIFICATE The Certificate of Formation of the Company and any
amendments thereto as filed with the office of the
Secretary of State of Delaware.
CLOSING DATE The first date on or as of which a Member other
than the Organizational Member is admitted to the
Company.
CODE The United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time, or any successor law.
COMPANY The limited liability company governed hereby, as such
limited liability company may from time to time be
constituted.
DELAWARE ACT The Delaware Limited Liability Company Act as in
effect on the date hereof and as amended from time to
time, or any successor law.
DIRECTOR An individual designated or elected as a director of
the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.6
of this Agreement and who serves on the Board of
Directors of the Company.
FISCAL PERIOD Each period commencing on the day immediately following
the last day of the preceding Fiscal Period, and ending
at the close of business on the first to occur of the
following dates:
(1) the last business day of a calendar month;
(2) the last day of a Fiscal Year;
(3) the last day of a Taxable Year;
(4) the day preceding any day as of which a
contribution to the capital of the Company is
made pursuant to Section 5.1;
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(5) any day on which the Company repurchases any
Interest or portion of an Interest of any
Member
(6) any day (other than one specified in clause
(2) above) as of which this Agreement
provides for any amount to be credited to or
debited against the Capital Account of any
Member, other than an amount to be credited
to or debited against the Capital Accounts of
all Members in accordance with their
respective Investment Percentages.
FISCAL YEAR Each period commencing on April 1 of each year and
ending on March 31 of each year (or on the date of a
final distribution pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof),
unless the Board of Directors shall elect another
fiscal year for the Company.
FORM N-2 The Company's Registration Statement on Form N-2
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as
amended from time to time.
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS Those Directors who are not "interested persons" of the
Company as such term is defined in the 1940 Act.
INTEREST The entire ownership interest in the Company at any
particular time of a Member, or other Person to whom an
Interest of a Member or portion thereof has been
transferred pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof, including
the rights and obligations of such Member or other
Person under this Agreement and the Delaware Act.
INVESTMENT FUNDS Unregistered investment funds and registered investment
companies.
INVESTMENT MANAGERS Investment advisers who enter into advisory agreements
to manage a designated portfolio of investments for the
Company or who manage Investment Funds in which the
Company has invested.
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INVESTMENT PERCENTAGE A percentage established for each Member on the
Company's books as of the first day of each Fiscal
Period. The Investment Percentage of a Member for a
Fiscal Period shall be determined by dividing the
balance of the Member's Capital Account as of the
commencement of such Fiscal Period by the sum of the
Capital Accounts of all of the Members as of the
commencement of such Fiscal Period. The sum of the
Investment Percentages of all Members for each Fiscal
Period shall equal 100%.
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT A separate written agreement entered into by the
Company pursuant to which the Management Services
Provider provides Management Services to the Company.
MANAGEMENT SERVICES Such administrative and other services as the
Management Services Provider is required to provide to
the Company pursuant to the Management Agreement.
MANAGEMENT SERVICES The Person who at any particular time provides
PROVIDER non-investment advisory related management services and
certain administrative services to the Company pursuant
to a Management Agreement.
MEMBER Any Person who shall have been admitted to the Company
as a member (including any Director in such Person's
capacity as a member of the Company but excluding any
Director in such Person's capacity as a Director of the
Company) until the Company repurchases the entire
Interest of such Person as a member pursuant to Section
4.4 hereof or a substituted Member or Members are
admitted with respect to any such Person's entire
Interest as a member pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof;
such term includes the Management Service Provider to
the extent the Management Service Provider makes a
capital contribution to the Company and shall have been
admitted to the Company as a member.
NET ASSETS The total value of all assets of the Company, less an
amount equal to all accrued debts, liabilities and
obligations of the Company, calculated before giving
effect to any repurchases of Interests.
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NET PROFIT OR NET LOSS The amount by which the Net Assets as of the close of
business on the last day of a Fiscal Period exceed (in
the case of Net Profit) or are less than (in the case
of Net Loss) the Net Assets as of the commencement of
the same Fiscal Period (or, with respect to the initial
Fiscal Period of the Company, at the close of business
on the Closing Date), such amount to be adjusted to
exclude any items to be allocated among the Capital
Accounts of the Members on a basis which is not in
accordance with the respective Investment Percentages
of all Members as of the commencement of such Fiscal
Period pursuant to Sections 5.5 and 5.6 hereof.
OFFICER An individual designated as an officer of the Company
pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.3 of the
Agreement and who serves as an officer of the Company.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBER Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
PERSON A corporation, limited liability company, association,
joint venture, partnership, trust, any other entity or
individual.
SECURITIES Securities (including, without limitation, equities,
debt obligations, options, and other "securities" as
that term is defined in Section 2(a)(36) of the 0000
Xxx) and any contracts for forward or future delivery
of any security, debt obligation or currency, or
commodity, all manner of derivative instruments and any
contracts based on any index or group of securities,
debt obligations or currencies, or commodities, and any
options thereon, as well as shares of or interests in
Investment Funds, including but not limited to another
Investment Fund that has the same investment objective
and substantially the same investment policies as the
Company.
SUBADVISER Any Person or Persons who from time to time shall have
contracted with the Adviser to provide investment
advisory or investment management services to the
Company pursuant to an investment subadvisory
agreement.
TAXABLE YEAR The 12-month period ending December 31 of each year.
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TRANSFER The assignment, transfer, sale, encumbrance, pledge or
other disposition of all or any portion of an Interest,
including any right to receive any allocations and
distributions attributable to an Interest.
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ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION; ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
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2.1 FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.
The Board of Directors shall execute and file in accordance with the
Delaware Act any amendment to the Certificate and shall execute and file with
applicable governmental authorities any other instruments, documents and
certificates that, in the opinion of the Company's legal counsel, may from time
to time be required by the laws of the United States of America, the State of
Delaware or any other jurisdiction in which the Company shall determine to do
business, or any political subdivision or agency thereof, or that such legal
counsel may deem necessary or appropriate to effectuate, implement and continue
the valid existence and business of the Company.
2.2 NAME.
The name of the Company shall be "Grosvenor Registered Multi-Strategy
Fund (TE), LLC" or such other name as the Board of Directors may hereafter adopt
upon (i) causing an appropriate amendment to the Certificate to be filed in
accordance with the Delaware Act and (ii) sending notice thereof to each Member.
2.3 PRINCIPAL AND REGISTERED OFFICE.
The Company shall have its principal office at Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx, XX 00000, or at such other place designated from time to time by the
Board of Directors.
The Company shall have its registered office in Delaware at 000 Xxxxx
XxXxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, and shall have National Corporate
Research, Ltd. as its registered agent for service of process in Delaware,
unless a different registered office or agent is designated from time to time by
the Board of Directors.
2.4 DURATION.
The term of the Company commenced on the filing of the Certificate
with the Secretary of State of Delaware and shall continue until the Company is
dissolved pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof.
2.5 OBJECTIVE AND BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY.
(a) The objective and business of the Company is to purchase, sell
(including short sales), invest and trade in Securities, on margin or otherwise,
and to engage in any financial or derivative transactions relating thereto or
otherwise. The Company may execute, deliver and perform all contracts,
agreements, subscription documents and other undertakings and engage in
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all activities and transactions as may in the opinion of the Board of Directors
be necessary or advisable to carry out its objective or business. The Company
shall be operated subject to any applicable restrictions of the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended. Subject to approval by the Board of Directors,
the Company may pursue its investment objective by investing substantially all
of its assets in another Investment Fund that has the same investment objective
and substantially the same investment policies as the Company.
(b) The Company shall operate as a closed-end, diversified, management
investment company in accordance with the 1940 Act and subject to any
fundamental policies and investment restrictions set forth in the Form N-2.
2.6 BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
(a) The Board of Directors may, subject to the provisions of
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 2.6 with respect to the number of and
vacancies in the position of Director and the provisions of Section 3.4 hereof
with respect to the election of Directors to the Board of Directors by Members,
designate any person who shall agree to be bound by all of the terms of this
Agreement as a Director. The names and mailing addresses of the Directors shall
be set forth in the books and records of the Company. The number of Directors
shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors.
(b) Each Director shall serve on the Board of Directors for the
duration of the term of the Company, unless his or her status as a Director
shall be sooner terminated pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof. In the event of any
vacancy in the position of Director, the remaining Directors may appoint an
individual to serve in such capacity, so long as immediately after such
appointment at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors then serving would have
been elected by the Members. The Board of Directors may call a meeting of
Members to fill any vacancy in the position of Director, and shall do so within
60 days after any date on which Directors who were elected by the Members cease
to constitute a majority of the Directors then serving on the Board of
Directors.
(c) In the event that no Director remains to continue the business of
the Company, the Management Services Provider shall promptly call a meeting of
the Members, to be held within 60 days after the date on which the last Director
ceased to act in that capacity, for the purpose of determining whether to
continue the business of the Company and, if the business shall be continued, of
electing the required number of Directors to the Board of Directors. If the
Members shall determine at such meeting not to continue the business of the
Company or if the required number of Directors is not elected within 60 days
after the date on which the last Director ceased to act in that capacity, then
the Company shall be dissolved pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof and the assets of
the Company shall be liquidated and distributed pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof.
2.7 MEMBERS.
The Board of Directors may admit one or more Members as of the first
day of each month or more or less frequently in the sole discretion of the Board
of Directors. Subject to the foregoing terms, Members may be admitted to the
Company subject to the condition that each
8
such Member shall execute an appropriate signature page of this Agreement or of
the Company's subscription agreement pursuant to which such Member agrees to be
bound by all the terms and provisions hereof. The Board of Directors may in its
absolute discretion reject any subscription for Interests. The admission of any
Person as a Member shall be effective upon the revision of the books and records
of the Company to reflect the name and the contribution to the capital of the
Company of such additional Member.
2.8 ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBER.
The initial contribution of capital to the Company by the
Organizational Member shall be represented by an Interest, which Interest shall
have the same rights as other Interests.
2.9 BOTH DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS
A Member may at the same time be a Director and a Member, in which
event such Member's rights and obligations in each capacity shall be determined
separately in accordance with the terms and provisions hereof or as provided in
the Delaware Act.
2.10 LIMITED LIABILITY
Except as provided under applicable law, a Member shall not be liable
for the Company's debts, obligations and liabilities in any amount in excess of
the Capital Account balance of such Member, plus such Member's share of
undistributed profits and assets. Except as provided under applicable law, a
Director shall not be liable for the Company's debts, obligations and
liabilities.
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ARTICLE III
MANAGEMENT
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3.1 MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL.
(a) Management and control of the business of the Company shall be
vested in the Board of Directors, which shall have the right, power and
authority, on behalf of the Company and in its name, to exercise all rights,
powers and authority of Directors under the Delaware Act and to do all things
necessary and proper to carry out the objective and business of the Company and
their duties hereunder. No Director shall have the authority individually to act
on behalf of or to bind the Company except within the scope of such Director's
authority as delegated by the Board of Directors. The parties hereto intend
that, except to the extent otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) each
Director shall be vested with the same powers, authority and responsibilities on
behalf of the Company as are customarily vested in each director of a Delaware
corporation and (ii) each Independent Director shall be vested with the same
powers, authority and responsibilities on behalf of the Company as are
customarily vested in each director of a closed-end management investment
company registered under the 1940 Act that is organized as a Delaware
corporation who is not an "interested person" of such company as
9
such term is defined in the 1940 Act. During any period in which the Company
shall have no Directors, the Management Services Provider shall continue to
serve as the Management Services Provider to the Company and to provide the
Management Services to the Company.
(b) Each Member agrees not to treat, on such Member's personal income
tax return or in any claim for a tax refund, any item of income, gain, loss,
deduction or credit in a manner inconsistent with the treatment of such item by
the Company. The Board of Directors shall have the exclusive authority and
discretion to make any elections required or permitted to be made by the Company
under any provisions of the Code or any other revenue laws.
(c) Members shall have no right to participate in and shall take no
part in the management or control of the Company's business and shall have no
right, power or authority to act for or bind the Company. Members shall have the
right to vote on any matters only as provided in this Agreement or on any
matters that require the approval of the holders of voting securities under the
1940 Act or as otherwise required in the Delaware Act.
(d) The Board of Directors may delegate to any other Person any
rights, power and authority vested by this Agreement in the Board of Directors
to the extent permissible under applicable law, and may appoint persons to serve
as Officers.
3.2 ACTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
(a) Unless provided otherwise in this Agreement, the Board of
Directors shall act only: (i) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
Directors (including the vote of a majority of the Independent Directors if
required by the 0000 Xxx) present at a meeting duly called at which a quorum of
the Directors shall be present (in person or, if in person attendance is not
required by the 1940 Act, by telephone) or (ii) by unanimous written consent of
all of the Directors without a meeting, if permissible under the 0000 Xxx.
(b) The Board of Directors may designate from time to time a Principal
Director who shall preside at all meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors
may be called by the Principal Director or by any two Directors, and may be held
on such date and at such time and place as the Board of Directors shall
determine. Each Director shall be entitled to receive written notice of the
date, time and place of such meeting within a reasonable time in advance of the
meeting. Notice need not be given to any Director who shall attend a meeting
without objecting to the lack of notice or who shall execute a written waiver of
notice with respect to the meeting. Directors may attend and participate in any
meeting by telephone except where in person attendance at a meeting is required
by the 1940 Act. A majority of the Directors shall constitute a quorum at any
meeting.
3.3 OFFICERS.
(a) The Board of Directors may elect one or more Officers. The Board
of Directors may also delegate to an Officer the authority to appoint, remove or
fix the duties, compensation or terms of office of, one or more other Officers
as the Board of Directors shall at any time and from time to time deem to be
advisable. A person holding more than one office may not act in more than one
capacity to execute, acknowledge or verify on behalf of the
10
Company any instrument required by law to be executed, acknowledged and verified
by more than one Officer. No Officer need also be a Director.
(b) Each Officer shall hold office until his successor is elected or
appointed or until his earlier displacement from office by resignation, removal
or otherwise; provided, that if the term of office of any Officer shall have
been fixed by the Board of Directors, or by an Officer acting under authority
delegated by the Board of Directors, such Officer shall cease to hold such
office no later than the date of expiration of such term, regardless of whether
any other person shall have been elected or appointed to succeed him. Any
Officer may resign at any time by written notice to the Company. Any Officer may
be removed at any time by the Board of Directors or by an Officer acting under
authority delegated by the Board of Directors if in its or his judgment the best
interest of the Company would be served thereby, but such removal shall be
without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.
Election or appointment of an Officer shall not of itself create contract rights
between the Company and such Officer.
(c) If the office of any Officer becomes vacant for any reason, the
vacancy may be filled by the Board of Directors or by the Officer acting under
authority delegated by the Board of Directors. Each Officer elected or appointed
to fill a vacancy shall hold office for the balance of the term for which his
predecessor was elected or appointed.
(d) All Officers as between themselves and the Company shall have such
powers, perform such duties and be subject to such restrictions, if any, in the
management of the Company as may be provided in this Agreement or, to the extent
not so provided, as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or by the
Officer acting under authority delegated by the Board of Directors.
3.4 MEETINGS OF MEMBERS.
(a) Actions requiring the vote of the Members may be taken at any duly
constituted meeting of the Members at which a quorum is present. Meetings of the
Members may be called by the Board of Directors or by Members holding 25% or
more of the total number of votes eligible to be cast by all Members, and may be
held at such time, date and place as the Board of Directors shall determine. The
Board of Directors shall arrange to provide written notice of the meeting,
stating the date, time and place of the meeting and the record date therefor, to
each Member entitled to vote at the meeting within a reasonable time prior
thereto. Failure to receive notice of a meeting on the part of any Member shall
not affect the validity of any act or proceeding of the meeting, so long as a
quorum shall be present at the meeting, except as otherwise required by
applicable law. Only matters set forth in the notice of a meeting may be voted
on by the Members at a meeting. The presence in person or by proxy of Members
holding a majority of the total number of votes eligible to be cast by all
Members as of the record date shall constitute a quorum at any meeting. In the
absence of a quorum, a meeting of the Members may be adjourned by action of
Members present at such meeting in person or by proxy holding a majority of the
total number of votes eligible to be cast by such Members, without additional
notice to the Members. Except as otherwise required by any provision of this
Agreement or of the 1940 Act, (i) those candidates receiving a plurality of the
votes cast at any meeting of Members shall be elected as Directors and (ii) all
other actions of the Members taken at a
11
meeting shall require the affirmative vote of Members holding a majority of the
total number of votes eligible to be cast by those Members who are present in
person or by proxy at such meeting.
(b) Each Member shall be entitled to cast at any meeting of Members a
number of votes equivalent to such Member's Investment Percentage as of the
record date for such meeting. The Board of Directors shall establish a record
date not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the date of any meeting of
Members to determine eligibility to vote at such meeting and the number of votes
that each Member will be entitled to cast thereat, and shall maintain for each
such record date a list setting forth the name of each Member and the number of
votes that each Member will be entitled to cast at the meeting.
(c) A Member may vote at any meeting of Members by a proxy properly
executed in writing by the Member and filed with the Company before or at the
time of the meeting. A proxy may be suspended or revoked, as the case may be, by
the Member executing the proxy by a later writing delivered to the Company at
any time prior to exercise of the proxy or if the Member executing the proxy
shall be present at the meeting and decide to vote in person. Any action of the
Members that is permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Members may be taken
without a meeting if consents in writing, setting forth the action taken, are
signed by Members holding a majority of the total number of votes eligible to be
cast or such greater percentage as may be required in order to approve such
action.
3.5 CUSTODY OF ASSETS OF THE COMPANY.
The physical possession of all funds, Securities or other properties
of the Company shall at all times, be held, controlled and administered by one
or more custodians retained by the Company in accordance with the requirements
of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder.
3.6 OTHER ACTIVITIES OF MEMBERS AND DIRECTORS.
(a) The Directors shall not be required to devote full time to the
affairs of the Company, but shall devote such time as may reasonably be required
to perform their obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Any Member or Director, and any Affiliate of any Member or
Director, may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures or
commercial dealings of every kind and description, independently or with others,
including, but not limited to, acquisition and disposition of Securities,
provision of investment advisory or brokerage services, serving as directors,
officers, employees, advisors or agents of other companies, partners of any
partnership, members of any limited liability company, or trustees of any trust,
or entering into any other commercial arrangements. No Member or Director shall
have any rights in or to such activities of any other Member or Director, or any
profits derived therefrom.
3.7 DUTY OF CARE.
(a) A Director shall not be liable to the Company or to any of its
Members for any loss or damage occasioned by any act or omission in the
performance of his or her services
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under this Agreement, unless it shall be determined by final judicial decision
on the merits from which there is no further right to appeal that such loss is
due to an act or omission of such Director constituting willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of such Director's office.
(b) Members not in breach of any obligation hereunder or under any
agreement pursuant to which the Member subscribed for an Interest shall be
liable to the Company, any Member or third parties only as provided under the
Delaware Act.
3.8 INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall, subject
to Section 3.8(b) hereof, indemnify each Director and officer (including for
this purpose his or her respective executors, heirs, assigns, successors or
other legal representatives), against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities,
costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, amounts paid in satisfaction
of judgments, in compromise, or as fines or penalties, and reasonable counsel
fees, incurred in connection with the defense or disposition of any action,
suit, investigation or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any
judicial, arbitral, administrative or legislative body, in which such indemnitee
may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise, or with which such
indemnitee may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by
reason of being or having been a Director or officer of the Company or the past
or present performance of services to the Company by such indemnitee, except to
the extent such loss, claim, damage, liability, cost or expense shall have been
finally determined in a decision on the merits in any such action, suit,
investigation or other proceeding to have been incurred or suffered by such
indemnitee by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or
reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such indemnitee's
office. The rights of indemnification provided under this Section 3.8 shall not
be construed so as to provide for indemnification of a Director or officer for
any liability (including liability under federal securities laws which, under
certain circumstances, impose liability even on Persons that act in good faith)
to the extent (but only to the extent) that such indemnification would be in
violation of applicable law, but shall be construed so as to effectuate the
applicable provisions of this Section 3.8 to the fullest extent permitted by
law.
(b) Expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, so incurred by any
such indemnitee (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in
compromise, or as fines or penalties), may be paid from time to time by the
Company in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit,
investigation or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of
such indemnitee to repay to the Company amounts so paid if it shall ultimately
be determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under
Section 3.8(a) hereof; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) such indemnitee shall provide
security for such undertaking, (ii) the Company shall be insured by or on behalf
of such indemnitee against losses arising by reason of such indemnitee's failure
to fulfill such undertaking, or (iii) a majority of the Directors (excluding any
Director who is either seeking advancement of expenses hereunder or is or has
been a party to any other action, suit, investigation or proceeding involving
claims similar to those involved in the action, suit, investigation or
proceeding giving rise to a claim for advancement of expenses hereunder) or
independent legal counsel in a written opinion shall determine based on a review
of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry) that there
is reason to believe such indemnitee ultimately will be entitled to
indemnification.
13
(c) As to the disposition of any action, suit, investigation or
proceeding (whether by a compromise payment, pursuant to a consent decree or
otherwise) without an adjudication or a decision on the merits by a court, or by
any other body before which the proceeding shall have been brought, that an
indemnitee is liable to the Company or Members by reason of willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of such indemnitee's office, indemnification shall be provided pursuant
to Section 3.8(a) hereof if (i) approved as in the best interests of the Company
by a majority of the Directors (excluding any Director who is either seeking
indemnification hereunder or is or has been a party to any other action, suit,
investigation or proceeding involving claims similar to those involved in the
action, suit, investigation or proceeding giving rise to a claim for
indemnification hereunder) upon a determination based upon a review of readily
available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry) that such indemnitee
acted in good faith and in the reasonable belief that such actions were in the
best interests of the Company and that such indemnitee is not liable to the
Company or its Members by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such
indemnitee's office, or (ii) the Board of Directors secures a written opinion of
independent legal counsel based upon a review of readily available facts (as
opposed to a full trial-type inquiry) to the effect that such indemnification
would not protect such indemnitee against any liability to the Company or its
Members to which such indemnitee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of such indemnitee's office.
(d) Any indemnification or advancement of expenses made pursuant to
this Section 3.8 shall not prevent the recovery from any indemnitee of any such
amount if such indemnitee subsequently shall be determined in a decision on the
merits in any action, suit, investigation or proceeding involving the liability
or expense that gave rise to such indemnification or advancement of expenses to
be liable to the Company or its Members by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of such indemnitee's office. In (i) any suit brought by a Director (or
other Person entitled to indemnification hereunder) to enforce a right to
indemnification under this Section 3.8 it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in
any suit in the name of the Company to recover any indemnification or
advancement of expenses made pursuant to this Section 3.8 the Company shall be
entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the Director
or other Person claiming a right to indemnification under this Section 3.8 has
not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Section 3.8. In any
such suit brought to enforce a right to indemnification or to recover any
indemnification or advancement of expenses made pursuant to this Section 3.8,
the burden of proving that the Director or other Person claiming a right to
indemnification is not entitled to be indemnified, or to any indemnification or
advancement of expenses, under this Section 3.8 shall be on the Company (or any
Member acting derivatively or otherwise on behalf of the Company or its
Members).
(e) An indemnitee may not satisfy any right of indemnification or
advancement of expenses granted in this Section 3.8 or to which such indemnitee
may otherwise
14
be entitled except out of the assets of the Company, and no Member shall be
personally liable with respect to any such claim for indemnification or
advancement of expenses.
(f) The rights of indemnification provided hereunder shall not be
exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any Person may be entitled by
contract or otherwise under law. Nothing contained in this Section 3.8 shall
affect the power of the Company to purchase and maintain liability insurance on
behalf of any Director or other Person.
3.9 FEES, EXPENSES AND REIMBURSEMENT.
(a) So long as the Management Services Provider provides Management
Services to the Company, it shall be entitled to receive fees for such services
as may be agreed to by the Management Services Provider and the Company pursuant
to the Management Agreement.
(b) The Board of Directors may cause the Company to compensate each
Director who is not an officer or employee of the Management Services Provider
(or of any Affiliate of the Management Services Provider) for his or her
services as such. In addition, the Directors shall be reimbursed by the Company
for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in performing their
duties under this Agreement.
(c) The Company shall bear all of its own operating expenses other
than those specifically required to be borne by the Management Services Provider
or another party pursuant to the Management Agreement or another agreement with
the Company. The Management Services Provider shall be entitled to reimbursement
from the Company for any expenses that it pays on behalf of the Company.
(d) Subject to procuring any required regulatory approvals, from time
to time the Company may, alone or in conjunction with other accounts for which
the Management Services Provider, or any Affiliate of the Management Services
Provider, acts as general partner or investment adviser, purchase insurance in
such amounts, from such insurers and on such terms as the Board of Directors
shall determine.
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ARTICLE IV
TERMINATION OF STATUS OF
DIRECTORS, TRANSFERS AND REPURCHASES
----------
4.1 TERMINATION OF STATUS OF A DIRECTOR.
The status of a Director shall terminate if the Director (i) shall
die; (ii) shall be adjudicated incompetent; (iii) shall voluntarily withdraw as
a Director (upon prior written notice to the other Directors); (iv) shall be
removed; (v) shall be certified by a physician to be mentally or physically
unable to perform his or her duties hereunder; (vi) shall be declared bankrupt
by a court with appropriate jurisdiction, file a petition commencing a voluntary
case under any bankruptcy law or make an assignment for the benefit of
creditors; (vii) shall have a receiver
15
appointed to administer the property or affairs of such Director; or (viii)
shall otherwise cease to be a Director of the Company under the Delaware Act.
4.2 REMOVAL OF THE DIRECTORS.
Any Director may be removed either by (a) the vote or written consent
of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors not subject to the removal vote or
(b) the vote or written consent of Members holding not less than two-thirds
(2/3) of the total number of votes eligible to be cast by all Members.
4.3 TRANSFER OF INTERESTS OF MEMBERS.
(a) An Interest of a Member may be transferred only (i) by operation
of law pursuant to the death, divorce, bankruptcy, insolvency or dissolution of
such Member or (ii) with the written consent of the Board of Directors (which
may be withheld in its sole discretion); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Board of
Directors may not consent to any Transfer other than a Transfer (i) in which the
tax basis of the Interest in the hands of the transferee is determined, in whole
or in part, by reference to its tax basis in the hands of the transferor (E.G.,
certain Transfers to affiliates, gifts and contributions to family entities),
(ii) to members of the Member's immediate family (brothers, sisters, spouse,
parents and children), or (iii) relating to a distribution from a qualified
retirement plan or an individual retirement account, unless it consults with
counsel to the Company and counsel to the Company confirms that such Transfer
will not cause the Company to be treated as a "publicly traded partnership"
taxable as a corporation.
(b) The Board of Directors may not consent to a Transfer of an
Interest or a portion thereof of a Member unless: (i) the Person to whom such
Interest is transferred is a Person whom the Company believes is an accredited
investor, as such term is defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act of
1933 or any successor thereto; (ii) the Person to whom such Interest is
transferred (or each of such Person's beneficial owners if such a Person is a
"private investment company" as defined in paragraph (d)(3) of Rule 205-3 under
the Advisers Act) is a Person whom the Company believes meets the requirements
of paragraph (d)(1) of Rule 205-3 under the Advisers Act and all then applicable
qualification requirements to invest in the Company as established by the Board
of Directors; and (iii) the entire Interest of the Member is transferred to a
single transferee or, after the Transfer of a portion of an Interest, the
balance of the Capital Account of each of the transferee and transferor is not
less than $50,000. Any transferee that acquires an Interest by operation of law
as the result of the death, divorce, bankruptcy, insolvency or dissolution of a
Member or otherwise, shall be entitled to the allocations and distributions
allocable to the Interest so acquired, to Transfer such Interest in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement and to tender the Interest for repurchase by
the Company, but shall not be entitled to the other rights of a Member unless
and until such transferee becomes a substituted Member. If a Member transfers an
Interest with the approval of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors
shall promptly take all necessary actions so that the transferee to whom such
Interest is transferred is admitted to the Company as a Member. Each Member
effecting a Transfer and its transferee agree to pay all expenses, including
attorneys' and accountants' fees, incurred by the Company in connection with
such Transfer.
16
(c) Each Member shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the
Directors, the Management Services Provider, each other Member and any Affiliate
of the foregoing against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and
expenses (including legal or other expenses incurred in investigating or
defending against any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and
expenses or any judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement), joint or
several, to which such Persons may become subject by reason of or arising from
(i) any Transfer made by such Member in violation of this Section 4.3 and (ii)
any misrepresentation by such Member in connection with any such Transfer.
4.4 REPURCHASE OF INTERESTS.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Member or other
Person holding an Interest or portion thereof shall have the right to withdraw
or tender to the Company for repurchase that Interest or portion thereof. The
Board of Directors from time to time, in its complete and exclusive discretion
and on such terms and conditions as it may determine, may cause the Company to
repurchase Interests or portions thereof pursuant to written tenders. However,
the Company shall not offer to repurchase Interests on more than four occasions
during any one Fiscal Year unless it has been advised by counsel to the Company
to the effect that such more frequent offers would not cause any adverse tax
consequences to the Company or the Members. In determining whether to cause the
Company to repurchase Interests or portions thereof pursuant to written tenders,
the Board of Directors shall consider the recommendation of the Management
Services Provider, and shall also consider the following factors, among others:
(1) whether any Members have requested to tender Interests or
portions thereof to the Company;
(2) the liquidity of the Company's assets;
(3) the investment plans and working capital requirements of the
Company;
(4) the relative economies of scale with respect to the size of
the Company;
(5) the history of the Company in repurchasing Interests or
portions thereof;
(6) the economic condition of the securities markets; and
(7) the anticipated tax consequences of any proposed repurchases
of Interests or portions thereof.
The Board of Directors shall cause the Company to repurchase Interests or
portions thereof pursuant to written tenders only on terms fair to the Company
and to all Members or one or more classes of Members (including Persons holding
Interests acquired from Members), as applicable.
17
(b) A Member who tenders for repurchase only a portion of such
Member's Interest shall be required to maintain a Capital Account balance at
least equal to $50,000, or such lesser amount as may be established by the Board
of Directors.
(c) The Management Services Provider may tender its Interest or a
portion thereof as a Member under Section 4.4(a) hereof.
(d) The Board of Directors may cause the Company to repurchase an
Interest or portion thereof of a Member or any Person acquiring an Interest or
portion thereof from or through a Member in the event that the Board of
Directors determines or has reason to believe that:
(1) such an Interest or portion thereof has been transferred in
violation of Section 4.3 hereof, or such an Interest or
portion thereof has vested in any Person by operation of law
as the result of the death, divorce, dissolution, bankruptcy
or adjudication of incompetence of a Member;
(2) ownership of such an Interest by a Member or other Person
will cause the Company to be in violation of, or require
registration of any Interest or portion thereof under, or
subject the Company to additional registration or regulation
under, the securities laws of the United States or any other
relevant jurisdiction;
(3) continued ownership of such an Interest may be harmful or
injurious to the business or reputation of the Company, the
Directors, the Management Services Provider or the
Subadviser, or may subject the Company or any of the Members
to an undue risk of adverse tax or other fiscal
consequences;
(4) any of the representations and warranties made by a Member
in connection with the acquisition of an Interest or portion
thereof was not true when made or has ceased to be true;
(5) it would be in the best interests of the Company, as
determined by the Board of Directors in its absolute
discretion, for the Company to repurchase such an Interest
or portion thereof; or
(6) the value of a Member's Interest is less than an amount that
the Board of Directors determines to be a minimum investment
in the Company, or more than an amount that the Board
determines to be a maximum investment in the Company; or
(7) such repurchase is necessary to correct an administrative
error made by the Company or its agent in connection with
the sale or purchase of an Interest.
18
(e) Repurchases of Interests or portions thereof by the Fund shall be
payable in such time and such manner as the Board of Directors in its discretion
shall determine. Payment of the purchase price for an Interest or portion
thereof may consist of: (i) cash or a promissory note, which need not bear
interest, in an amount equal to such percentage, as may be determined by the
Board of Directors, of the estimated unaudited net asset value of the Interest
(or portion thereof) repurchased by the Company determined as of the valuation
date for such repurchase (the "INITIAL PAYMENT"); and, if determined to be
appropriate by the Board of Directors or if the Initial Payment is less than
100% of the estimated unaudited net asset value of the repurchased Interest,
(ii) a contingent payment in cash or a promissory note, which need not bear
interest, equal to the excess, if any, of (x) the net asset value of the
Interest (or portion thereof) repurchased by the Company as of the valuation
date for such repurchase, as subsequently determined (which determination may
but need not be based on the audited financial statements of the Company for the
Fiscal Year in which such repurchase was effective), over (y) the Initial
Payment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Company, in the
discretion of the Board of Directors, may pay all or any portion of the
repurchase price in Securities (or any combination of Securities and cash) of
equivalent value. All such repurchases shall be subject to any and all
conditions as the Board of Directors may impose and shall be effective as of a
date set by the Board of Directors. The amount due to any Member whose Interest
or portion thereof is repurchased shall be equal to the value of such Member's
Capital Account or portion thereof as applicable as of the valuation date for
such repurchase, after giving effect to all allocations to be made to such
Member's Capital Account as of such date.
(f) In the event that the Company does not at least once during any
24-month period repurchase any of the Interests tendered in accordance with the
procedures described above, the Board of Directors will call a meeting of
Members for the purpose of determining whether the Company should be dissolved,
as contemplated by Section 6.1(3) hereof.
----------
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL
----------
5.1 CONTRIBUTIONS TO CAPITAL.
(a) The minimum initial contribution of each Member to the capital of
the Company shall be such amount as the Board of Directors, in its discretion,
may determine from time to time, but in no event shall be less than $50,000. The
amount of the initial contribution of each Member shall be recorded on the books
and records of the Company upon acceptance as a contribution to the capital of
the Company. The Directors shall not be entitled to make voluntary contributions
of capital to the Company as Directors of the Company, but may make voluntary
contributions to the capital of the Company as Members. The Management Services
Provider may make voluntary contributions to the capital of the Company as a
Member.
(b) The Members and the Management Services Provider, as a Member, may
make additional contributions to the capital of the Company of at least $10,000,
effective as of
19
such times as the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may permit, subject to
the limitations applicable to the admission of Members pursuant to Section 2.7
hereof, but no Member shall be obligated to make any additional contribution to
the capital of the Company except to the extent provided in Section 5.6 hereof.
(c) Except as otherwise permitted by the Board of Directors, (i)
initial and any additional contributions to the capital of the Company by any
Member shall be payable in cash or in such Securities that the Board of
Directors, in its absolute discretion, may agree to accept on behalf of the
Company, and (ii) initial and any additional contributions in cash shall be
payable in readily available funds at the date of the proposed acceptance of the
contribution. The Company shall charge each Member making a contribution in
Securities to the capital of the Company such amount as may be determined by the
Board of Directors not exceeding 2% of the value of such contribution in order
to reimburse the Company for any costs incurred by the Company by reason of
accepting such Securities, and any such charge shall be due and payable by the
contributing Member in full at the time the contribution to the capital of the
Company to which such charges relate is due. The value of contributed Securities
shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.3 hereof as of the date of
contribution.
(d) The minimum initial and additional contributions set forth in (a)
and (b) of this Section 5.1 may be reduced by the Board of Directors in
accordance with such schedule of reductions as may be adopted by the Board of
Directors in its sole discretion.
5.2 RIGHTS OF MEMBERS TO CAPITAL.
No Member shall be entitled to interest on any contribution to the
capital of the Company, nor shall any Member be entitled to the return of any
capital of the Company except (i) upon the repurchase by the Company of a part
or all of such Member's Interest pursuant to Section 4.4 hereof, (ii) pursuant
to the provisions of Section 5.6(c) hereof or (iii) upon the liquidation of the
Company's assets pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof. No Member shall be liable for
the return of any such amounts. No Member shall have the right to require
partition of the Company's property or to compel any sale or appraisal of the
Company's assets.
5.3 CAPITAL ACCOUNTS.
(a) The Company shall maintain a separate Capital Account for each
Member.
(b) Each Member's Capital Account shall have an initial balance equal
to the amount of cash and the value of any Securities (determined in accordance
with Section 7.3 hereof) (net of any liabilities secured by such Securities that
the Company is considered to assume or take subject to under Section 752 of the
Code) constituting such Member's initial contribution to the capital of the
Company.
(c) Each Member's Capital Account shall be increased by the sum of (i)
the amount of cash and the value of any Securities (determined in accordance
with Section 7.3 hereof) (net of any liabilities secured by such Securities that
the Company is considered to assume or take subject to Section under 752 of the
Code) constituting additional contributions by such Member to the capital of the
Company permitted pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, plus (ii) all amounts credited
to such Member's Capital Account pursuant to Sections 5.4 through 5.6 hereof.
20
(d) Each Member's Capital Account shall be reduced by the sum of (i)
the amount of any repurchase of the Interest, or portion thereof, of such Member
or distributions to such Member pursuant to Sections 4.4, 5.8 or 6.2 hereof
which are not reinvested (net of any liabilities secured by any asset
distributed that such Member is deemed to assume or take subject to under
Section 752 of the Code), plus (ii) any amounts debited against such Member's
Capital Account pursuant to Sections 5.4 through 5.6 hereof.
5.4 ALLOCATION OF NET PROFIT AND NET LOSS.
As of the last day of each Fiscal Period, any Net Profit or Net Loss
for the Fiscal Period shall be allocated among and credited to or debited
against the Capital Accounts of the Members in accordance with their respective
Investment Percentages for such Fiscal Period.
5.5 ALLOCATION OF CERTAIN EXPENDITURES.
Except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement and unless
prohibited by the 1940 Act, any expenditures payable by the Company, to the
extent determined by the Board of Directors to have been paid or withheld on
behalf of, or by reason of particular circumstances applicable to, one or more
but fewer than all of the Members, shall be charged to only those Members on
whose behalf such payments are made or whose particular circumstances gave rise
to such payments. Such charges shall be debited from the Capital Accounts of
such Members as of the close of the Fiscal Period during which any such items
were paid or accrued by the Company.
5.6 RESERVES.
(a) Appropriate reserves may be created, accrued and charged against
Net Assets and proportionately against the Capital Accounts of the Members for
contingent liabilities, if any, as of the date any such contingent liability
becomes known to the Management Services Provider or the Board of Directors,
such reserves to be in the amounts that the Board of Directors, in its sole
discretion, deems necessary or appropriate. The Board of Directors may increase
or reduce any such reserves from time to time by such amounts as the Board of
Directors, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or appropriate. The amount of
any such reserve, or any increase or decrease therein, shall be proportionately
charged or credited, as appropriate, to the Capital Accounts of those parties
who are Members at the time when such reserve is created, increased or
decreased, as the case may be; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if any such individual
reserve item, adjusted by any increase therein, exceeds the lesser of $500,000
or 1% of the aggregate value of the Capital Accounts of all such Members, the
amount of such reserve, increase, or decrease shall instead be charged or
credited to those parties who were Members at the time, as determined by the
Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, of the act or omission giving rise
to the contingent liability for which the reserve was established, increased or
decreased in proportion to their Capital Accounts at that time.
(b) If at any time an amount is paid or received by the Company (other
than contributions to the capital of the Company, distributions or repurchases
of Interests or portions thereof) and such amount exceeds the lesser of $500,000
or 1% of the aggregate value of the Capital Accounts of all Members at the time
of payment or receipt and such amount was not
21
accrued or reserved for but would nevertheless, in accordance with the Company's
accounting practices, be treated as applicable to one or more prior Fiscal
Periods, then such amount shall be proportionately charged or credited, as
appropriate, to those parties who were Members during such prior Fiscal Period
or Fiscal Periods.
(c) If any amount is required by paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section
5.6 to be charged or credited to a party who is no longer a Member, such amount
shall be paid by or to such party, as the case may be, in cash, with interest
from the date on which the Board of Directors determines that such charge or
credit is required. In the case of a charge, the former Member shall be
obligated to pay the amount of the charge, plus interest as provided above, to
the Company on demand; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) in no event shall a former
Member be obligated to make a payment exceeding the amount of such Member's
Capital Account at the time to which the charge relates; and (ii) no such demand
shall be made after the expiration of three years since the date on which such
party ceased to be a Member. To the extent that a former Member fails to pay to
the Company, in full, any amount required to be charged to such former Member
pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b), whether due to the expiration of the
applicable limitation period or for any other reason whatsoever, the deficiency
shall be charged proportionately to the Capital Accounts of the Members at the
time of the act or omission giving rise to the charge to the extent feasible,
and otherwise proportionately to the Capital Accounts of the current Members.
5.7 TAX ALLOCATIONS.
For each Fiscal Year, items of income, deduction, gain, loss or credit
shall be allocated for income tax purposes among the Members in such manner as
to reflect equitably amounts credited or debited to each Member's Capital
Account for the current and prior Fiscal Years (or relevant portions thereof).
Allocations under this Section 5.7 shall be made pursuant to the principles of
Sections 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code, and Treasury Regulations Sections
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and (g), 1.704-1(b)(4)(i) and 1.704-3(e) promulgated
thereunder, as applicable, or the successor provisions to such Section and
Treasury Regulations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, there shall be allocated to the Members such gains or income as shall
be necessary to satisfy the "qualified income offset" requirements of Treasury
Regulations 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d).
If the Company realizes ordinary income and/or capital gains
(including short-term capital gains) for Federal income tax purposes
(collectively, "income") for any Fiscal Year during or as of the end of which
all the Interests of one or more Positive Basis Members (as hereinafter defined)
are repurchased by the Company pursuant to Article IV, the Board of Directors,
in its sole discretion, may allocate such income as follows: (i) to allocate
such income among such Positive Basis Members, PRO RATA in proportion to the
respective Positive Basis (as hereinafter defined) of each such Positive Basis
Member, until either the full amount of such income shall have been so allocated
or the Positive Basis of each such Positive Basis Member shall have been
eliminated; and (ii) to allocate any income not so allocated to Positive Basis
Members to the other Members in such manner as shall equitably reflect the
amounts allocated to such Members' Capital Accounts pursuant to Section 5.3.
22
If the Company realizes deductions, ordinary losses and/or capital
losses (including long-term capital losses) for Federal income tax purposes
(collectively, "losses") for any Fiscal Year during or as of the end of which
all the Interests of one or more Negative Basis Members (as hereinafter defined)
are repurchased from the Company pursuant to Article IV, the Board of Directors
may elect to allocate such losses as follows: (i) to allocate such losses among
such Negative Basis Members, PRO RATA in proportion to the respective Negative
Basis (as hereinafter defined) of each such Negative Basis Member, until either
the full amount of such losses shall have been so allocated or the Negative
Basis of each such Negative Basis Member shall have been eliminated; and (ii) to
allocate any losses not so allocated to Negative Basis Members to the other
Members in such manner as shall equitably reflect the amounts allocated to such
Members' Capital Accounts pursuant to Section 5.3.
As used herein: (i) the term "Positive Basis" shall mean, with respect
to any Member and as of any time of calculation, the amount by which the value
of its Interest as of such time plus an amount equal to any deemed distributions
to such Member for Federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 752 of the
Code exceeds its "adjusted tax basis," for Federal income tax purposes, in its
Interest as of such time (determined without regard to such Member's share of
the liabilities of the Company under Section 752 of the Code); and (ii) the term
"Positive Basis Member" shall mean any Member whose Interest is repurchased by
the Company and who has Positive Basis as of the effective date of its
withdrawal (determined prior to any allocations made pursuant to this Section).
As used herein: (i) the term "Negative Basis" shall mean, with respect
to any Member and as of any time of calculation, the amount by which its
Interest as of such time plus an amount equal to any deemed distributions to
such Member for Federal income tax purposes pursuant to Section 752 of the Code
is less than its "adjusted tax basis," for Federal income tax purposes, in its
Interest as of such time (determined without regard to such Member's share of
the liabilities of the Company under Section 752 of the Code); and (ii) the term
"Negative Basis Member" shall mean any Member whose Interest is repurchased by
the Company and who has Negative Basis as of the effective date of its
withdrawal (determined prior to any allocations made pursuant to this Section).
5.8 DISTRIBUTIONS.
The Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may authorize the
Company to make distributions in cash at any time to all of the Members on a PRO
RATA basis in accordance with the Members' Investment Percentages.
5.9 WITHHOLDING.
(a) The Board of Directors may withhold and pay over to the Internal
Revenue Service (or any other relevant taxing authority) taxes from any
distribution to any Member to the extent required by the Code or any other
applicable law.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, any taxes so withheld by the
Company with respect to any amount distributed by the Company to any Member
shall be deemed to be a distribution or payment to such Member, reducing the
amount otherwise distributable to such
23
Member pursuant to this Agreement and reducing the Capital Account of such
Member. If the amount of such taxes is greater than any such distributable
amounts, then such Member and any successor to such Member's Interest shall pay
to the Company as a contribution to the capital of the Company, upon demand of
the Board of Directors, the amount of such excess.
(c) The Board of Directors shall not be obligated to apply for or
obtain a reduction of or exemption from withholding tax on behalf of any Member
that may be eligible for such reduction or exemption. To the extent that a
Member claims to be entitled to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, a
withholding tax pursuant to an applicable income tax treaty, or otherwise, the
Member shall furnish the Board of Directors with such information and forms as
such Member may be required to complete where necessary to comply with any and
all laws and regulations governing the obligations of withholding tax agents.
Each Member represents and warrants that any such information and forms
furnished by such Member shall be true and accurate and agrees to indemnify the
Company and each of the Members from any and all damages, costs and expenses
resulting from the filing of inaccurate or incomplete information or forms
relating to such withholding taxes.
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ARTICLE VI
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION
----------
6.1 DISSOLUTION.
The Company shall be dissolved:
(1) upon the affirmative vote to dissolve the Company by the
Board of Directors;
(2) upon the failure of Members to elect a successor Director at
a meeting called by the Management Services Provider in
accordance with Section 2.6(c) hereof when no Director
remains to continue the business of the Company;
(3) upon the affirmative vote of a "majority of the outstanding
voting securities" of the Company, as such term is defined
in the 1940 Act, at a meeting of Members called by the Board
of Directors for the purpose of determining whether the
Company should be dissolved in the event that the Company
does not at least once during any 24-month period repurchase
any of the Interests tendered in accordance with the
procedures determined by the Board of Directors from time to
time; or
(4) as required by operation of law.
24
Dissolution of the Company shall be effective on the later of the day on which
the event giving rise to the dissolution shall occur or the conclusion of any
applicable 60 day period during which the Board of Directors and Members may
elect to continue the business of the Company as provided above, but the Company
shall not terminate until the assets of the Company have been liquidated in
accordance with Section 6.2 hereof and the Certificate has been canceled.
6.2 LIQUIDATION OF ASSETS.
(a) Upon the dissolution of the Company as provided in Section 6.1
hereof, the Board of Directors shall promptly appoint the Management Services
Provider as the liquidator, and the Management Services Provider shall liquidate
the business and wind up the affairs of the Company, except that if the Board of
Directors does not appoint the Management Services Provider as the liquidator,
or the Management Services Provider is unable to perform this function, a
liquidator elected by Members holding a majority of the total number of votes
eligible to be cast by all Members shall promptly liquidate the business and
administrative affairs of the Company. Net Profit and Net Loss during the period
of liquidation shall be allocated pursuant to Section 5.4 hereof. The proceeds
from liquidation (after establishment of appropriate reserves for contingencies
in such amount as the Board of Directors or the liquidator shall deem
appropriate in its sole discretion as applicable) shall be distributed in the
following manner:
(1) the debts of the Company, other than debts, liabilities or
obligations to Members, and the expenses of liquidation
(including legal and accounting expenses incurred in
connection therewith), up to and including the date that
distribution of the Company's assets to the Members has been
completed, shall first be paid on a PRO RATA basis;
(2) such debts, liabilities or obligations as are owing to the
Members shall next be paid in their order of seniority and
on a PRO RATA basis; and
(3) the Members shall next be paid on a PRO RATA basis in
accordance with their respective Capital Accounts after
giving effect to all allocations to be made to such Members'
Capital Accounts for the Fiscal Period ending on the date of
the distributions under this Section 6.2(a)(3).
(b) Anything in this Section 6.2 to the contrary notwithstanding, upon
dissolution of the Company, the Board of Directors or other liquidator may
distribute ratably in kind any assets of the Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if
any in-kind distribution is to be made (i) the assets distributed in kind shall
be valued pursuant to Section 7.3 hereof as of the actual date of their
distribution and charged as so valued and distributed against amounts to be paid
under Section 6.2(a) above, and (ii) any profit or loss attributable to property
distributed in-kind shall be included in the Net Profit or Net Loss for the
Fiscal Period ending on the date of such distribution.
25
----------
ARTICLE VII
ACCOUNTING, VALUATIONS AND BOOKS AND RECORDS
----------
7.1 ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS.
(a) The Company shall adopt for tax accounting purposes any accounting
method that the Board of Directors shall decide in its sole discretion is in the
best interests of the Company. The Company's accounts shall be maintained in
U.S. currency.
(b) After the end of each Taxable Year, the Company shall furnish to
each Member such information regarding the operation of the Company and such
Member's Interest as is necessary for Members to complete Federal, state and
local income tax or information returns and any other tax information required
by Federal, state or local law.
(c) Except as otherwise required by the 1940 Act, or as may otherwise
be permitted by rule, regulation or order, within 60 days after the close of the
period for which a report required under this Section 7.1(c) is being made, the
Company shall furnish to each Member a semi-annual report and an annual report
containing the information required by the 1940 Act. The Company shall cause
financial statements contained in each annual report furnished hereunder to be
accompanied by a certificate of independent public accountants based upon an
audit performed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The
Company may furnish to each Member such other periodic reports as it deems
necessary or appropriate in its discretion.
7.2 DETERMINATIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
(a) All matters concerning the determination and allocation among the
Members of the amounts to be determined and allocated pursuant to Article V
hereof, including any taxes thereon and accounting procedures applicable
thereto, shall be determined by the Board of Directors unless specifically and
expressly otherwise provided for by the provisions of this Agreement or required
by law, and such determinations and allocations shall be final and binding on
all the Members.
(b) The Board of Directors may make such adjustments to the
computation of Net Profit, Net Loss or any components comprising either of the
foregoing as it considers appropriate to reflect fairly and accurately the
financial results of the Company and the intended allocation thereof among
Members.
7.3 VALUATION OF ASSETS.
(a) Except as may be required by the 1940 Act, the Board of Directors
shall value or have valued any Securities or other assets and liabilities of the
Company as of the close of business on the last day of each Fiscal Period in
accordance with such valuation procedures as
26
shall be established from time to time by the Board of Directors and which
conform to the requirements of the 1940 Act. In determining the value of the
assets of the Company, no value shall be placed on the goodwill or name of the
Company, or the office records, files, statistical data or any similar
intangible assets of the Company not normally reflected in the Company's
accounting records, but there shall be taken into consideration any items of
income earned but not received, expenses incurred but not yet paid, liabilities,
fixed or contingent, and any other prepaid expenses to the extent not otherwise
reflected in the books of account, and the value of options or commitments to
purchase or sell Securities or commodities pursuant to agreements entered into
prior to such valuation date.
(b) The value of Securities and other assets of the Company and the
net worth of the Company as a whole determined pursuant to this Section 7.3
shall be conclusive and binding on all of the Members and all parties claiming
through or under them.
----------
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
----------
8.1 AMENDMENT OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 8.1, this Agreement
may be amended, in whole or in part, with: (i) the approval of the Board of
Directors (including the vote of a majority of the Independent Directors, if
required by the 0000 Xxx) and (ii) if required by the 1940 Act, the approval of
Members by such vote as is required by the 0000 Xxx.
(b) Any amendment that would:
(1) increase the obligation of a Member to make any contribution
to the capital of the Company;
(2) reduce the Capital Account of a Member other than in
accordance with Article V; or
(3) modify the events causing the dissolution of the Company;
may be made only if (i) the written consent of each Member adversely affected
thereby is obtained prior to the effectiveness thereof or (ii) such amendment
does not become effective until (A) each Member has received written notice of
such amendment and (B) any Member objecting to such amendment has been afforded
a reasonable opportunity (pursuant to such procedures as may be prescribed by
the Board of Directors) to tender its entire Interest for repurchase by the
Company.
(c) The power of the Board of Directors to amend this Agreement at any
time without the consent of Members as set forth in paragraph (a) of this
Section 8.1 shall specifically include the power to:
27
(1) restate this Agreement together with any amendments hereto
that have been duly adopted in accordance herewith to
incorporate such amendments in a single, integrated
document;
(2) amend this Agreement (other than with respect to the matters
set forth in Section 8.1(b) hereof) to effect compliance
with any applicable law or regulation, including but not
limited to, to satisfy the requirements, or to reflect any
relaxation of such requirements in the future, of the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, or other U.S.
banking laws, or any regulations, guidelines or policies or
interpretations of the banking regulatory agencies or the
staff thereof, or to cure any ambiguity or to correct or
supplement any provision hereof that may be inconsistent
with any other provision hereof; and
(3) amend this Agreement to make such changes as may be
necessary or advisable to ensure that the Company will not
be treated as an association or as a publicly traded
partnership taxable as a corporation as defined in Section
7704(b) of the Code.
(d) The Board of Directors shall cause written notice to be given of
any amendment to this Agreement (other than any amendment of the type
contemplated by clause (1) of Section 8.1(c) hereof) to each Member, which
notice shall set forth (i) the text of the amendment or (ii) a summary thereof
and a statement that the text thereof will be furnished to any Member upon
request.
8.2 SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY.
(a) Each Member hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints
each Director, acting severally, and any liquidator of the Company's assets
appointed pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof with full power of substitution, the
true and lawful representatives and attorneys-in-fact of, and in the name, place
and stead of, such Member, with the power from time to time to make, execute,
sign, acknowledge, swear to, verify, deliver, record, file and/or publish:
(1) any amendment to this Agreement that complies with the
provisions of this Agreement (including the provisions of
Section 8.1 hereof);
(2) any amendment to the Certificate required because this
Agreement is amended, including, without limitation, an
amendment to effectuate any change in the membership of the
Company; and
(3) all such other instruments, documents and certificates that,
in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, may from
time to time be required by the laws of the United States of
America, the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction in
which the Company shall determine to do business, or any
political subdivision or agency thereof, or that such legal
counsel may deem necessary or
28
appropriate to effectuate, implement and continue the valid
existence and business of the Company as a limited liability
company under the Delaware Act.
(b) Each Member is aware that the terms of this Agreement permit
certain amendments to this Agreement to be effected and certain other actions to
be taken or omitted by or with respect to the Company without such Member's
consent. If an amendment to the Certificate or this Agreement or any action by
or with respect to the Company is taken in the manner contemplated by this
Agreement, each Member agrees that, notwithstanding any objection that such
Member may assert with respect to such action, the attorneys-in-fact appointed
hereby are authorized and empowered, with full power of substitution, to
exercise the authority granted above in any manner that may be necessary or
appropriate to permit such amendment to be made or action lawfully taken or
omitted. Each Member is fully aware that each Member will rely on the
effectiveness of this special power-of-attorney with a view to the orderly
administration of the affairs of the Company.
(c) This power-of-attorney is a special power-of-attorney and is
coupled with an interest in favor of each of the Directors and as such:
(1) shall be irrevocable and continue in full force and effect
notwithstanding the subsequent death or incapacity of any
party granting this power-of-attorney, regardless of whether
the Company or Board of Directors shall have had notice
thereof; and
(2) shall survive the delivery of a Transfer by a Member of the
whole or any portion of such Member's Interest, except that
where the transferee thereof has been approved by the Board
of Directors for admission to the Company as a substituted
Member, this power-of-attorney given by the transferor shall
survive the delivery of such assignment for the sole purpose
of enabling the Board of Directors to execute, acknowledge
and file any instrument necessary to effect such
substitution.
8.3 NOTICES.
Notices that may be or are required to be provided under this
Agreement shall be made, if to a Member, by regular mail, or if to the Board of
Directors or the Management Services Provider, by hand delivery, registered or
certified mail return receipt requested, commercial courier service, telex or
telecopier, and shall be addressed to the respective parties hereto at their
addresses as set forth in the books and records of the Company. Notices to the
Company shall be deemed to have been provided when delivered by hand, on the
date indicated as the date of receipt on a return receipt or when received if
sent by regular mail, commercial courier service, telex or telecopier. Notices
to Members shall be deemed to have been provided when mailed to Members at their
addresses as set forth in the books and records of the Company. A document that
is not a notice and that is required to be provided under this Agreement by any
party to another party may be delivered by any reasonable means. Each Member
agrees to notify the Company (or its designated agent) of any change of address.
29
8.4 AGREEMENT BINDING UPON SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors, assigns, executors,
trustees or other legal representatives, but the rights and obligations of the
parties hereunder may not be transferred or delegated except as provided in this
Agreement and any attempted Transfer or delegation thereof that is not made
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be void.
8.5 APPLICABILITY OF 1940 ACT AND FORM N-2.
The parties hereto acknowledge that this Agreement is not intended to,
and does not, set forth the substantive provisions contained in the 1940 Act and
the Form N-2 that affect numerous aspects of the conduct of the Company's
business and of the rights, privileges and obligations of the Members. Each
provision of this Agreement shall be subject to and interpreted in a manner
consistent with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Form N-2.
8.6 CHOICE OF LAW; ARBITRATION.
(a) Notwithstanding the place where this Agreement may be executed by
any of the parties hereto, the parties expressly agree that all the terms and
provisions hereof shall be construed under the laws of the State of Delaware,
including the Delaware Act without regard to the conflict of law principles of
such State.
(b) Unless otherwise agreed in writing, each Member agrees to submit
all controversies arising between Members or one or more Members and the Company
to arbitration in accordance with the provisions set forth below and understands
that:
(1) arbitration is final and binding on the parties;
(2) they are waiving their right to seek remedies in court,
including the right to a jury trial;
(3) pre-arbitration discovery is generally more limited and
different from court proceedings;
(4) the arbitrator's award is not required to include factual
findings or legal reasoning and a party's right to appeal or
to seek modification of rulings by arbitrators is strictly
limited; and
(5) the panel of arbitrators will typically include a minority
of arbitrators who were or are affiliated with the
securities industry.
(c) All controversies that may arise among Members and one or more
Members and the Company concerning this Agreement shall be determined by
arbitration in New York City in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act, to
the fullest extent permitted by law. Any arbitration under this Agreement shall
be determined before and in accordance with the rules then obtaining of either
the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE") or the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA"), as the Member or entity instituting the
30
arbitration may elect. If the NYSE or FINRA does not accept the arbitration for
consideration, the arbitration shall be submitted to, and determined in
accordance with the rules then obtaining of, the Center for Public Resources,
Inc. in New York City. Judgment on any award of any such arbitration may be
entered in the Supreme Court of the State of New York or in any other court
having jurisdiction of the Person or Persons against whom such award is
rendered. Any notice of such arbitration or for the confirmation of any award in
any arbitration shall be sufficient if given in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement. Each Member agrees that the determination of the arbitrators
shall be binding and conclusive upon them.
(d) No Member shall bring a putative or certified class action to
arbitration, nor seek to enforce any pre-dispute arbitration agreement against
any Person who has initiated in court a putative class action; or who is a
member of a putative class who has not opted out of the class with respect to
any claims encompassed by the putative class action until: (i) the class
certification is denied; (ii) the class is decertified; or (iii) the Member is
excluded from the class by the court. Such forbearance to enforce an agreement
to arbitrate shall not constitute a waiver of any rights under this Agreement
except to the extent stated herein.
8.7 NOT FOR BENEFIT OF CREDITORS.
The provisions of this Agreement are intended only for the regulation
of relations among past, present and future Members, Directors and the Company.
This Agreement is not intended for the benefit of non-Member creditors and no
rights are granted to non-Member creditors under this Agreement.
8.8 CONSENTS.
Any and all consents, agreements or approvals provided for or
permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and a signed copy thereof shall
be filed and kept with the books of the Company.
8.9 MERGER AND CONSOLIDATION.
(a) The Company may merge or consolidate with or into one or more
limited liability companies formed under the Delaware Act or other business
entities pursuant to an agreement of merger or consolidation that has been
approved in the manner contemplated by Section 18-209(b) of the Delaware Act.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in
this Agreement, an agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance
with Section 18-209(b) of the Delaware Act may, to the extent permitted by
Section 18-209(f) of the Delaware Act, (i) effect any amendment to this
Agreement, (ii) effect the adoption of a new limited liability company agreement
for the Company if it is the surviving or resulting limited liability company in
the merger or consolidation, or (iii) provide that the limited liability company
agreement of any other constituent limited liability company to the merger or
consolidation (including a limited liability company formed for the purpose of
consummating the merger or consolidation) shall be the limited liability company
agreement of the surviving or resulting limited liability company.
31
8.10 PRONOUNS.
All pronouns shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine,
neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the Person or Persons may require
in the context thereof.
8.11 CONFIDENTIALITY.
(a) A Member may obtain from the Company such information regarding
the affairs of the Company as is just and reasonable under the Delaware Act,
subject to reasonable standards (including standards governing what information
and documents are to be furnished, at what time and location and at whose
expense) established by the Board of Directors.
(b) Each Member covenants that, except as required by applicable law
or any regulatory body, it will not divulge, furnish or make accessible to any
other Person the name and/or address (whether business, residence or mailing) of
any Member (collectively, "Confidential Information") without the prior written
consent of the Board of Directors, which consent may be withheld in its sole
discretion.
(c) Each Member recognizes that in the event that this Section 8.11 is
breached by any Member or any of its principals, partners, members, directors,
officers, employees or agents or any of its Affiliates, including any of such
Affiliates' principals, partners, members, directors, officers, employees or
agents, irreparable injury may result to the non-breaching Members and the
Company. Accordingly, in addition to any and all other remedies at law or in
equity to which the non-breaching Members and the Company may be entitled, such
Members shall also have the right to obtain equitable relief, including, without
limitation, injunctive relief, to prevent any disclosure of Confidential
Information, plus reasonable attorneys' fees and other litigation expenses
incurred in connection therewith. In the event that any non-breaching Member or
the Company determines that any of the other Members or any of its principals,
partners, members, directors, officers, employees or agents or any of its
Affiliates, including any of such Affiliates' principals, partners, members,
directors, officers, employees or agents should be enjoined from or required to
take any action to prevent the disclosure of Confidential Information, each of
the other non-breaching Members agrees to pursue in a court of appropriate
jurisdiction such injunctive relief.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each
Member (and each employee, representative, or other agent of such Member) may
disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax
treatment and tax structure of (i) the Company and (ii) any of its transactions,
and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that
are provided to the Member relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.
8.12 CERTIFICATION OF NON-FOREIGN STATUS.
Each Member or transferee of an Interest from a Member shall certify,
upon admission to the Company and at such other times thereafter as the Board of
Directors may request, whether such Member is a "United States Person" within
the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code on forms to be provided by the
Company, and shall notify the Company within 30 days of any change in such
Member's status. Any Member who shall fail to
32
provide such certification when requested to do so by the Board of Directors may
be treated as a non-United States Person for purposes of U.S. federal tax
withholding.
8.13 SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction not to be enforceable in the manner set forth in this
Agreement, each Member agrees that it is the intention of the Members that such
provision should be enforceable to the maximum extent possible under applicable
law. If any provisions of this Agreement are held to be invalid or
unenforceable, such invalidation or unenforceability shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement (or portion
thereof).
8.14 FILING OF RETURNS.
The Board of Directors or its designated agent shall prepare and file,
or cause the Administrator or accountants of the Company to prepare and file, a
Federal information tax return in compliance with Section 6031 of the Code and
any required state and local income tax and information returns for each tax
year of the Company.
8.15 TAX MATTERS PARTNER.
(a) A Director who is a Member shall be designated on the Company's
annual Federal information tax return, and have full powers and
responsibilities, as the Tax Matters Partner of the Company for purposes of
Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code. In the event that no Director is a Member, a
Member shall be so designated. Should any Member be designated as the Tax
Matters Partner for the Company pursuant to Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code, it
shall, and each Member hereby does, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
delegate to a Director selected by the Board of Directors all of its rights,
powers and authority to act as such Tax Matters Partner and hereby constitutes
and appoints such Director as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with power
to act in its name and on its behalf, including the power to act through such
agents or attorneys as it shall elect or appoint, to receive notices, to make,
execute and deliver, swear to, acknowledge and file any and all reports,
responses and notices and to do any and all things required or advisable, in the
Director's judgment, to be done by such a Tax Matters Partner. Any Member
designated as the Tax Matters Partner for the Company under Section 6231(a)(7)
of the Code shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any and
all liabilities and obligations that arise from or by reason of such
designation.
(b) Each Person (for purposes of this Section 8.15, called a
"Pass-Thru Member") that holds or controls an interest as a Member on behalf of,
or for the benefit of, another Person or Persons, or which a Pass-Thru Member is
beneficially owned (directly or indirectly) by another Person or Persons, shall,
within 30 days following receipt from the Tax Matters Partner of any notice,
demand, request for information or similar document, convey such notice or other
document in writing to all holders of beneficial interests in the Company
holding such interests through such Pass-Thru Member. In the event the Company
shall be the subject of an income tax audit by any Federal, state or local
authority, to the extent the Company is treated as an entity for purposes of
such audit, including administrative settlement and judicial review, the Tax
Matters Partner shall be authorized to act for, and its decision shall be final
and binding
33
upon, the Company and each Member thereof. All expenses incurred in connection
with any such audit, investigation, settlement or review shall be borne by the
Company.
8.16 SECTION 754 ELECTION.
In the event of a distribution of Company property to a Member or an
assignment or other transfer (including by reason of death) of all or part of
the interest of a Member in the Company, the Board of Directors, in its
discretion, may cause the Company to elect, pursuant to Section 754 of the Code,
or the corresponding provision of subsequent law, to adjust the basis of the
Company's property as provided by Sections 734 and 743 of the Code.
8.17 MEMBER TAX BASIS.
Upon request of the Board of Directors, each Member agrees to provide
to the Board of Directors information regarding its adjusted tax basis in its
interest in the Company along with documentation substantiating such amount.
34
EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED ACKNOWLEDGES HAVING READ THIS AGREEMENT IN ITS
ENTIRETY BEFORE SIGNING, INCLUDING THE PRE-DISPUTE ARBITRATION CLAUSE SET FORTH
IN SECTION 8.6 AND THE CONFIDENTIALITY CLAUSE SET FORTH IN SECTION 8.11.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first above written.
DIRECTORS:
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxx
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxx
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx XX
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxx XX
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
MEMBERS:
Each Person who shall sign a Member
Signature Page and who shall be accepted
by the Board of Directors to the Company
as a Member.
35
