SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT OF UNITY BUSINESS NETWORKS, L.L.C., an Arizona limited liability company DATED: July 25, 2007
SECOND
AMENDED AND RESTATED
OF
UNITY
BUSINESS NETWORKS, L.L.C.,
an
Arizona limited liability company
DATED:
July 25, 2007
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
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Section
I Formation; Name and Office; Purpose; Partnership
Treatment
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2
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1.1
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Formation
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2
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1.2
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Name
and Registered Office
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2
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1.3
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Purpose
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2
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1.4
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Treatment
as a Partnership
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2
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1.5
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Qualification
in Other Jurisdictions
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2
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Section
II Definitions
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3
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Section
III Capital Contributions; Shares
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10
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3.1
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Capital
Accounts
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10
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3.2
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Capital
Contributions
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11
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3.3
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Withdrawal
or Return of Capital Contributions
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12
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3.4
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Form
of Return of Capital
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13
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3.5
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Salary
or Interest
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13
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Section
IV Series A Preferred Shares
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13
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4.1
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Series
A Preferred Shares
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13
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4.2
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Voting
Rights
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13
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4.3
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Conversion
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14
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4.4
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Distributions
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17
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4.5
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Subsequent
Offerings
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17
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4.6
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Registration
Rights
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17
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4.7
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Information
Rights
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17
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4.8
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Option
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17
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4.9
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Termination
of the Series A Preferred Rights
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18
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Section
V Allocations and Distributions
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18
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5.1
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Allocations
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18
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5.2.
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Section
704(c) Allocations
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19
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5.3
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Regulatory
Allocations
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20
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5.4
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Non-Liquidating
Distributions
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21
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5.5
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Distributions
From a Liquidation Event
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21
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5.6
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General
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22
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Section
VI Management
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23
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6.1.
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Board
of Managers
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23
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6.2.
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Number,
Tenure, and Qualifications
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23
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6.3.
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Certain
Powers of the Board
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24
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6.4.
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Actions
Requiring Special Approvals
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25
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6.5.
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Meetings
of the Board
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27
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6.6
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Quorum
and Acts of the Board
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27
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6.7
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Electronic
Communications
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27
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-i-
6.8
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Managers
Have No Exclusive Duty to Company
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27
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6.9.
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Resignation
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27
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6.10.
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Removal
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28
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6.11.
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Vacancies
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28
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6.12.
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Compensation
and Expenses
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28
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6.13.
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Books
and Records
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28
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6.14.
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Access
to Books and Records
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29
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6.15.
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Returns
and Other Elections
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29
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6.16.
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Fiscal
Year
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29
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6.17.
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Reports
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29
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6.18.
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Tax
Matters Partner
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29
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6.20
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Management
Fee
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29
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6.21
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Chairman
of the Board.
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30
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Section
VII Members
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30
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7.1.
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Meetings
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30
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7.2.
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Place
of Meetings
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30
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7.3.
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Notice
of Meetings
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30
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7.4.
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Meeting
of All Members
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30
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7.5.
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Record
Date
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30
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7.6.
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Quorum
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30
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7.7.
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Voting
Rights of Members
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31
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7.8.
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Manner
of Acting
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31
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7.9.
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Proxies
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31
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7.10.
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Action
by Members without a Meeting
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31
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7.11.
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Telephonic
Communication
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31
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7.12.
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Waiver
of Notice
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31
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7.13
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Names
and Addresses of Members
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32
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7.14
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Voting
Agreement
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32
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Section
VIII Transfers and Withdrawals
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33
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8.1.
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Transfers
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33
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8.2.
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Withdrawal
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33
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8.3.
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Right
of First Refusal
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33
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8.4
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Option
on Death or Bankruptcy
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34
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8.5
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Conditions
of Transfer
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35
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8.6
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No
Transfer of Membership Rights
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35
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8.7
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Substitute
and Additional Members
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35
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8.8
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Distributions
on Withdrawal
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36
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Section
IX Dissolution and Termination
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36
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9.1
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Dissolution
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36
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9.2
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Distributions
and Other Matters
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36
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9.3
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Deficit
Capital Accounts
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37
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9.4
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Rights
of Interest Holders—Distributions of Property
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37
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9.5
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Articles
of Termination
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37
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-ii-
Section
X Other Interests of an Interest Holder or a Manager
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37
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10.1
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Other
Interests Permitted
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37
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10.2
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Non-Competition/Non-Disclosure/Non-Solicitation
Provisions
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38
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Section
XI Indemnity
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41
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11.1
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Indemnity
Rights
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41
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11.2
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Notice
and Defense
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41
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11.3
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Expenses
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42
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11.4
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Other
Sources
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42
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11.5
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Survival
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42
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Section
XII Miscellaneous
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42
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12.1
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Notices
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42
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12.2
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Bank
Accounts
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42
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12.3
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Partial
Invalidity
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42
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12.4
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Governing
Law; Parties in Interest
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43
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12.5
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Amendment
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43
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12.6
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Execution
in Counterparts
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43
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12.7
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Titles
and Captions
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43
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12.8
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Pronouns
and Plurals
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43
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12.9
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Waiver
of Action for Partition
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43
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12.10
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Entire
Agreement
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43
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12.11
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Estoppel
Certificate
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43
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Section
XIII Arbitration
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43
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Section
XIV Agreement of Spouses of Members
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44
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EXHIBITS:
Exhibit
A
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—
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Members,
Capital Contribution, Percentage Interests and Shares
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Exhibit
B
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—
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Purchase
Price Determination Pursuant to Section 7.4
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—
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MT
Note
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Exhibit
D
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—
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Percentage
Interests and Common Share Ownership after MT Loan Paid in
Full
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-iii-
SECOND
AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT
OF
UNITY
BUSINESS NETWORKS, L.L.C.
an
Arizona limited liability company
THIS
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT
(this
“Agreement”)
is
made and entered into effective as of the __ day of July, 2007, by and among
(a)
each of the persons and/or entities listed on Exhibit
A
and
executing this Agreement or a counterpart thereof as Members, and (b) each
of
the persons executing this Agreement or a counterpart thereof as Managers,
of
UNITY BUSINESS NETWORKS, L.L.C., an Arizona limited liability company (the
“Company”).
WHEREAS,
the
Company was formed on October 1, 2003, and the Company and its initial Members
entered into that certain Operating Agreement of the Company, dated October
1,
2003, which original operating agreement was subsequently amended and restated
pursuant to the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Company dated
as
of February 28, 2007 (collectively, the “Original
Agreement”);
WHEREAS,
the
Company and Zoom Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Purchaser”)
have
entered into that certain Series A Preferred Share Purchase Agreement, dated
as
of the date hereof (the “Purchase
Agreement”),
pursuant to which the Purchaser will purchase and the Company will issue and
sell to Purchaser Series A Preferred Shares;
WHEREAS
the
Company, the Purchaser, and the holders of the Company’s common shares have
entered into that certain Investor’s Rights Agreement, dated as of the date
hereof (the “Investor’s
Rights Agreement”),
which
agreement sets forth the various rights of the Series A Preferred Shares,
including registration rights, information rights and rights to participate
in
future share issuances;
WHEREAS,
the
Company and the Purchaser have entered into that certain Option Agreement,
dated
as of the date hereof (the “Option
Agreement”),
pursuant to which the Purchaser is granted an option to purchase the remaining
ownership interests in the Company upon the terms and conditions set forth
in
the Option Agreement; and
WHEREAS,
in
connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Members and the Company desire
to
amend and restate in its entirety the Original Agreement to reflect certain
changes in the capital structure and management of the Company and to create
the
Series A Preferred Shares and prescribe the rights and preferences of the Series
A Preferred Shares.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein, the Members
and Managers hereby agree as follows:
Section
I
Formation;
Name and Office; Purpose; Partnership Treatment
1.1 Formation.
Pursuant to the Arizona Limited Liability Company Act, A.R.S. Sections 29-601
through 29-857 (the “Act”),
the
parties have formed an Arizona limited liability company effective upon the
filing of the Articles of Organization of this Company (the “Articles”)
with
the Arizona Corporation Commission. The parties have executed this Agreement
to
serve as the “Operating Agreement” of the Company, as that term is defined in
A.R.S. Section 29-601(12), and subject to any applicable restrictions set forth
in the Act, the business and affairs of the Company and the relationships of
the
parties to one another shall be operated in accordance with and governed by
the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. The parties agree to execute
all amendments of the Articles, and do all filing, publication, and other acts
as may be appropriate from time to time hereafter to comply with the
requirements of the Act.
1.2 Name
and Registered Office.
The
Company shall be conducted under the name of UNITY BUSINESS NETWORKS, L.L.C.,
and the registered office of the Company, as registered with the Arizona
Secretary of State, shall be at 0000 Xxxxx 00xx Xxx., Xxxxxxx, XX 00000, or
such
other place as the Board may from time to time determine.
1.3 Purpose.
The
purpose and business of the Company shall be to transact the business of
internet voice-mail and phone services to small business through voice over
IP,
and any other related activities. The Company shall have the power to do any
and
all acts and things necessary, appropriate, or incidental to the furtherance
of
such purpose. The Company may engage in other business or acquire other assets
only on the vote of a Majority in Interest of the Members.
1.4 Treatment
as a Partnership.
It is
the intent of the Members that the Company shall always be operated in a manner
consistent with its treatment as a partnership for federal and state income
tax
purposes, but that the Company shall not be operated or treated as a partnership
for purposes of the federal bankruptcy code. No Member or Manager shall take
any
action inconsistent with this intent.
1.5 Qualification
in Other Jurisdictions.
The
Board shall cause the Company to be qualified or registered under assumed or
fictitious name statutes or similar laws in any jurisdiction in which the
Company is required to so qualify or register by reason of the nature of the
business conducted by the Company in such jurisdiction. The Board shall cause
the execution, delivery and filing of any certificates (and any amendments
and/or restatements thereof) necessary for the Company to qualify to do business
in any jurisdiction in which the Company is required to so qualify. The Board
shall cause the Company to withdraw or cancel its qualification, formation
or
registration under assumed or fictitious name statutes or similar laws in any
jurisdiction in which the Company ceases to transact business. The Board shall
cause the execution, delivery and filing of any certificates and other required
documents necessary for the Company to withdraw its authority to do business
in
any jurisdiction in which the Company ceases to conduct business.
2
Section
II
Definitions
The
following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this Section
II:
“AAA”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section XIII.
“Acquisition”
means
(i)
any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation
or
other entity, or any other limited liability company reorganization, in which
the members of the Company immediately prior to such consolidation, merger
or
reorganization, own less than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the
surviving or successor entity (or in the event stock or ownership interests
of
an Affiliate are issued in such transaction, less than fifty percent (50%)
of
the voting power of such Affiliate) immediately after such consolidation, merger
or reorganization; or (ii) any transaction or series of related transactions
to
which the Company is a party in which in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the
Company’s outstanding voting power is transferred; provided,
however,
that an
Acquisition shall not include (x) any consolidation or merger effected
exclusively to change the domicile of the Company, (y) any Company Conversion,
or (z) any transaction or series of transactions principally for bona fide
equity financing purposes in which cash is received by the Company or any
successor or indebtedness of the Company is cancelled or converted or a
combination thereof.
“Act”
means
the Arizona Limited Liability Company Act, A.R.S. Sections 29-601 through
29-857, as amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of
succeeding law).
“Adjusted
Book Value”
means
with respect to Company Property, the Property's Initial Book Value with the
adjustments required under this Agreement.
“Adjusted
Capital Account Deficit”
means,
with respect to any Interest Holder, the deficit balance, if any, in the
Interest Holder's Capital Account as of the end of the relevant Fiscal Year,
after giving effect to the following adjustments:
(i)
|
the
Capital Account shall be increased by the amounts which the Interest
Holder is obligated to restore under this Agreement or is deemed
obligated
to restore pursuant to Regulation Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and (i)(5)
(i.e.,
the Interest Holder's share of Minimum Gain and Member Minimum Gain);
and
|
(ii)
|
the
Capital Account shall be decreased by the items described in Regulation
Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and
(6).
|
This
definition of Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is intended to comply with
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Treasury Regulations and shall be
interpreted and applied in a manner consistent therewith.
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any Interest Holder or Manager, any Person: (i) who is a member
of the Interest Holder's or Manager's Family; (ii) which owns more than fifty
percent (50%) of the voting or economic interests in the Interest Holder or
Manager; (iii) in which the Interest Holder or Manager owns more than fifty
percent (50%) of the voting or economic interests; or (iv) in which more than
fifty percent (50%) of the voting or economic interests are owned by a Person
who has a relationship with the Interest Holder or Manager described in clause
(i), (ii), or (iii) above.
3
“Articles”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
“as
converted basis”
of
the
Preferred Shares means that, the Preferred Shares shall be treated as that
number of Common Shares issuable upon conversion thereof, as determined in
accordance with Section 4.3.
“Asset
Transfer”
means
a
sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the
assets of the Company or the exclusive licensing of substantially all of the
Company’s intellectual property.
“Board”
means
the Board of Managers of the Company, which shall be composed of the persons
appointed for such purpose under Section 6.2 and any other person that succeeds
such person in that capacity.
“Capital
Account”
means
the account maintained by the Company for each Interest Holder in accordance
with the provisions of Section III.
“Capital
Contribution”
means
the total amount of cash and the fair market value of any other assets
contributed (or deemed contributed under Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(d)) to the Company by an Interest Holder, net of liabilities
secured by the contributed Property that the Company is considered to assume
or
take subject to under Section 752 of the Code.
“Cash
Flow”
means
all cash funds derived from operations of the Company (including interest
received on reserves), without reduction for any noncash charges, but less
cash
funds used to pay current operating expenses and to pay or establish reasonable
reserves for future expenses, debt payments, capital improvements, and
replacements as determined by the Board. Cash Flow shall be increased by the
reduction of any reserve previously established.
“Change
of Control”
means
any Acquisition or Asset Transfer.
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any corresponding provision
of
any succeeding law.
“Common
Member”
means
any holder of Common Shares, but solely in its capacity as a holder of Common
Shares, without giving effect to the conversion features of any Preferred Shares
or other securities until converted in accordance with the terms and provisions
thereof or this Agreement.
“Common
Member Shares”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 7.14.1.1.
4
“Company
Minimum Gain”
has the
meaning set forth in Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(2) and Section 1.704-2(d)
for
“partnership minimum gain.”
“Company
Offer Period” has
the
meaning set forth in Section 8.3.2.
“Common
Percentage Interest(s)”
means
with respect to a Member’s Percentage Interest of all outstanding Common Shares,
the quotient obtained by dividing the number of Common Shares held by such
Member by the total number of outstanding Common Shares.
“Common
Share Equivalents” has
the
meaning set forth in Section 4.3.2.
“Common
Shares”
means
those Shares designated as such by the Board and having those rights specified
in Section 3.1.
“Company
Conversion”
means
(i) the conversion of the Company’s business form from a limited liability
company to a corporation, (ii) the merger of the Company with or into a new
or
previously-established but dormant corporation having no assets or liabilities,
debts or other obligations of any kind whatsoever other than those associated
with its formation and initial capitalization, or (iii) the contribution of
the
assets and liabilities of the Company to a corporation in exchange for one
class
of common stock in such corporation, followed by a liquidation of the Company
and a distribution of such corporation’s common stock to the members of the
Company.
“Conditions
of Transfer” has
the
meaning set forth in Section 8.5.
“Confidential
Information”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 10.2.1.
“Conversion
Price”
means
the Series A Original Issue Price for the applicable Preferred Shares, as
adjusted pursuant to Section 4.3.
“Conversion
Rights”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.3.
“Covered
Person” has
the
meaning set forth in Section 11.1.
“Event
of Withdrawal”
means
those events and circumstances listed in Section 29-733 of the Act other
than subparagraphs 4 or 5 thereof.
“Exempt
Transfers”
means
the following Transfers: (1) the pledge of the Company’s membership interests
pursuant to the MT Pledge Agreement; and (2) the transfer of the Common Shares
to the Preferred Member in connection with the Preferred Member’s exercise of
the Option.
“Family”
means
a
Person's spouse, lineal ancestors or descendants by birth or adoption, siblings,
and trusts for the benefit of such Person or any of the foregoing
individuals.
“Fiscal
Year”
means
the fiscal year of the Company, as determined under
Section 6.16.
5
“Founder”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 10.2.4.1.
“Free
Transfer Period” has
the
meaning set forth in Section 8.3.5.
“Interest”
means a
Person's share of the Profits and Losses (and specially allocated items of
income, gain, and deduction) of, and the right to receive distributions from,
the Company.
“Interest
Holder”
means
any Person who holds an Interest, whether as a Member or as an unadmitted
assignee of a Member.
“Initial
Book Value”
means,
with respect to Property contributed to the Company by an Interest Holder,
the
Property's fair market value at the time of contribution and, with respect
to
all other Property, the Property's adjusted basis for federal income tax
purposes at the time of acquisition.
“Investor
Shares”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 7.14.1.2.
“Investor’s
Rights Agreement”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.
“Liquidation
Event”
means
the occurrence of any of the following events: a liquidation, dissolution,
or
winding up of the Company, its business or its affairs, whether voluntary or
not
and including pursuant to Section IX herein.
“Loss”
see
definition of “Profit”
and
“Loss”
below.
“Majority
Owner”
means
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, but only prior to the repayment in full of the MT Note,
whereupon this definition will no longer apply.
“Majority
in Interest”
means
one or more Members who own, collectively, a simple
majority
of the Percentage Interests held by Members.
“Manager”
means
that person or those persons designated as such pursuant to Section VI of
this Agreement.
“Member”
means
each Person signing this Agreement and any Person who subsequently is admitted
as a Member (whether a Common Member or a Preferred Member) of the Company,
until such time as an Event of Withdrawal has occurred with respect to such
Member.
“Member
Nonrecourse Debt”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 1.704-2(b)(4) of the Treasury Regulations for
“partner nonrecourse debt.”
“Member
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain”
has the
meaning set forth in Regulation Section 1.704-2(i) for “partner nonrecourse debt
minimum gain.”
“Member
Nonrecourse Deductions”
has the
meaning set forth in Regulation Section 1.704-2(i) for “partner nonrecourse
deductions.”
6
“Member
Offer Period” has
the
meaning set forth in Section 8.3.4.
“Membership
Rights”
means
all of the rights of a Member in the Company, including a Member's: (i)
Interest, (ii) right to inspect the Company's books and records, and (iii)
right
to vote on matters coming before the Company.
“MT”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.2.3.
“MT
Note”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.2.3.
“MT
Pledge Agreement”
means
that certain Pledge of Limited Liability Company Interests in Unity Business
Networks, L.L.C., dated as of October 1, 2003, among the MT Family Limited
Partnership and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx.
“Nonrecourse
Deductions”
has the
meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(1). The amount
of
Nonrecourse Deductions shall be determined according to the provisions of
Regulation Section 1.704-2(c).
“Nonrecourse
Liability”
has the
meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-2(b)(3).
“Offer”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 8.3.1.3.
“Option”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 4.8 hereof.
“Option
Agreement”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.
“Original
Agreement”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.
“Percentage
Interest”
means,
as to a Member or an Interest Holder, the quotient obtained by dividing the
number of Shares held by such Member or Interest Holder (on an as converted
basis) by the total number of outstanding Shares (on an as converted basis).
“Person”
means
and includes an individual, corporation, partnership, association, limited
liability company, trust, estate, or other entity.
“Preferred
Member”
means
any holder of Preferred Shares, but solely in its capacity as a holder of
Preferred Shares.
“Preferred
Shares”
means
the Series A Preferred Shares.
“Profit”
and
“Loss”
means,
for each Fiscal Year of the Company (or other period for which Profit or Loss
must be computed), the Company's taxable income or loss determined in accordance
with Code Section 703(a), with the following adjustments:
(i)
|
all
items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit required to be
stated
separately pursuant to Code Section 703(a)(1) shall be included in
computing taxable income or loss;
|
7
(ii)
|
any
tax-exempt income of the Company, not otherwise taken into account
in
computing Profit or Loss, shall be included in computing Profit or
Loss;
|
(iii)
|
any
expenditures of the Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B)
(or
treated as such pursuant to Treasury Regulation
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i)) and not otherwise taken into account in
computing Profit or Loss, shall be included in computing Profit or
Loss;
|
(iv)
|
if
the Adjusted Book Value of Company Property differs from its adjusted
basis for federal income tax purposes, then gain or loss resulting
from
any taxable disposition of Company property shall be computed by
reference
to the Adjusted Book Value of the Property disposed of rather than
the
adjusted basis of the property for federal income tax
purposes;
|
(v)
|
if
the Adjusted Book Value of Company Property differs from its adjusted
basis for federal income tax purposes, then in lieu of the depreciation,
amortization, or cost recovery deductions allowable in computing
taxable
income or loss, the depreciation, amortization (or other cost recovery
deduction) shall be an amount that bears the same ratio to the Adjusted
Book Value of such Property as depreciation, amortization (or other
cost
recovery deduction) computed for federal income tax purposes for
such
period bears to the adjusted tax basis of such Property. If the Property
has a zero adjusted tax basis, the depreciation, amortization (or
other
cost recovery deduction) of such Property shall be determined under
any
reasonable method selected by the Board;
and
|
(vi)
|
any
items which are specially allocated pursuant to Sections 5.2 and
5.3
hereof shall not be taken into account in computing Profit or
Loss.
|
“Property”
means
all real and personal property (including cash) owned or subsequently acquired
by the Company, and any improvements thereto, and all rights associated
therewith.
“Purchase
Agreement”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.
“Purchaser”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.
“Regulation”
see
definition of Treasury Regulation below.
“Remaining
Members” has
the
meaning set forth in Section 8.3.1.
“SAR
Plan”
means
that certain Stock Appreciation Rights Plan of the Company dated October 1,
2005.
“Series
A Manager”
means
any member of the Board who has been appointed by the holders of the Series
A
Preferred Shares pursuant to Section 6.2.
8
“Series
A Liquidation Preference”
means,
with respect to any Series A Preferred Share, an amount equal to the Series
A
Original Issue Price, minus any distributions received by the Preferred Member
with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares to date (other than distributions
pursuant to Section 5.4.2).
“Series
A Original Issue Date”
means
the date upon which the Series A Preferred Shares are first issued.
“Series
A Original Issue Price”
means
$0.058388 per Series A Preferred Share, as adjusted for any combinations,
splits, reorganizations, recapitalizations or the like or in respect of any
Company Conversion.
“Series
A Preferred Shares”
means
the Preferred Shares denominated as such by the Board and having those rights,
privileges, preferences and limitations specified in Section IV.
“Share(s)”
shall
be the unit of measurement for determining a Person’s Interest in the Company,
with each Share evidencing a proportional part of certain rights in the Company
during its existence, and in the assets of the Company upon dissolution. All
Interests in the Company shall be evidenced by Shares, which may be designated
in one or more classes or series and with such rights, privileges, preferences
and limitations as determined by the Board. If held by a Member, Shares evidence
such Member’s Membership Rights; if held by an Interest Holder that is not a
Member, Shares evidence Interest only. In the event of a Company Conversion,
“Share(s)” shall instead mean and include the securities of the resulting
corporation into which the relevant Shares of the Company are converted or
for
which they are exchanged in connection with such Company
Conversion.
“Subject
Shares” has
the
meaning set forth in Section 7.14.2.
“Substitute
Member” has
the
meaning set forth in Section 8.7.
“Tax
Distribution Amount”
means,
with respect to each Member, for any Fiscal Year, an amount equal to (i) the
taxable income of the Company (including items that are separately stated under
Code Section 702) allocated by the Company to such Member on the Company’s
Federal income tax return for that year reduced by any taxable loss of the
Company (including items that are separately stated under Code Section 702)
allocated by the Company to such Member on the Company’s Federal income tax
returns in prior years (and that have not been so applied to reduce the Tax
Distribution Amount for any prior years), multiplied by (ii) the highest
combined Federal, state and local income tax rate applicable to an individual
in
his or her state of residence or to a corporation in the state where it is
domiciled or, in the case of a corporation, in any state in which the Company
is
engaged in business (after taking into account the deductibility of state and
local income taxes for Federal income tax purposes) or, in the case of a Person
treated as a “partnership” for Federal and state income tax purposes, to the
individual and non-individual Persons that are the “partners” of such
partnership for Federal and state income tax purposes, assuming all Members
to
be in the maximum federal and the highest applicable State income tax
bracket.
“Tax
Matters Partner”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 6.18.
9
“Transfer”
means,
when used as a noun, any voluntary or involuntary sale, hypothecation, pledge,
assignment, attachment, or other transfer, and, when used as a verb, means
voluntarily or involuntarily to sell, hypothecate, pledge, assign, or otherwise
transfer.
“Transfer
Notice” has
the
meaning set forth in Section 8.3.1.
“Transfer
Purchase Price” has
the
meaning set forth in Section 8.3.1.3.
“Transferee”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 8.3.1.
“Transferee
Offer”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 8.3.1.
“Transferor”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 8.3.1.
“Treasury
Regulations”
or
“Regulations”
means
the income tax regulations, including any temporary regulations, promulgated
under the Code as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including
corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).
“Undistributed
Tax Distribution Amount”
means,
on a given measurement date, for each Member (i) the Member’s cumulative share
of the Tax Distribution Amount for the current and all prior Fiscal Years less
(ii) any amounts actually distributed to the Member pursuant to Section 5.4
prior to the measurement date.
“Withdraw”
or
“Withdrawal”
see
definition of “Event
of Withdrawal”
above.
Section
III
Capital
Contributions; Shares
3.1 Capital
Accounts.
A
Capital Account shall be maintained for each Interest Holder in accordance
with
the following provisions:
3.1.1 An
Interest Holder's Capital Account shall be credited with the amount of money
contributed by the Interest Holder to the Company; the fair market value of
the
Property contributed by the Interest Holder to the Company (net of liabilities
secured by such contributed Property that the Company is considered to assume
or
take subject to under Section 752 of the Code); the Interest Holder's allocable
share of Profit and items of income and gain specially allocated to the Interest
Holder pursuant to Section V (other than Section 5.2); and the amount of Company
liabilities that are assumed by the Interest Holder under Regulation Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(c);
3.1.2 An
Interest Holder's Capital Account shall be debited with the amount of money
distributed to the Interest Holder; the fair market value of any Company
property distributed to the Interest Holder (net of liabilities secured by
such
distributed Property that the Interest Holder is considered to assume or take
subject to under Section 752 of the Code); the Interest Holder's allocable
share
of Loss and items of deduction and loss specially allocated to the Interest
Holder pursuant to Section V (other than Section 5.2); and the amount of the
Interest Holder's liabilities that are assumed by the Company under Regulation
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(c);
10
3.1.3 If
Company Property is distributed to an Interest Holder, the Capital Accounts
of
all Interest Holders shall be adjusted as if the distributed Property had been
sold in a taxable disposition for the gross fair market value of such Property
on the date of distribution (taking into account Section 7701 of the Code)
and
the Profit or Loss from such disposition allocated to the Interest Holders
as
provided in Section V.
3.1.4 If
money
or other Property (other than a de
minimis
amount)
is (i) contributed to the Company by a new or existing Interest Holder in
exchange for an interest in the Company; or (ii) distributed by the Company
to a
retiring or continuing Interest Holder as consideration for an interest in
the
Company; then, if the Members deem by Majority in Interest vote such an
adjustment to be necessary to reflect the economic interests of the Interest
Holders, the Book Value of the Company's Property shall be adjusted to equal
its
gross fair market value on such date (taking into account Section 7701(g) of
the
Code) and the Capital Accounts of all Interest Holders shall be adjusted in
the
same manner as if all the Company Property had been sold in a taxable
disposition for such amount on such date and the Profit or Loss allocated to
the
Interest Holders as provided in Section V. If there is a conversion pursuant
to
Section 4.3, then pursuant to Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s) such
conversion will be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, and
the
Capital Account of the Interest Holders shall be adjusted in a manner consistent
with the manner in which the Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted
pursuant to that Section of the Regulations and Exhibit
A
shall be
revised accordingly.
3.1.5 To
the
extent an adjustment to the tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code
Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b) is required, pursuant to Regulation
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital
Accounts, the Book Value of the Company's Property and the Capital Account
of
the Interest Holders shall be adjusted in a manner consistent with the manner
in
which the Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to that Section
of the Regulations.
If
any
Shares are transferred pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the transferee
shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent the Capital
Account is attributable to the transferred Shares. It is intended that the
Capital Accounts of all Interest Holders shall be maintained in compliance
with
the provisions of Regulation Section 1.704-1(b), and all provisions of this
Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts or the Adjusted Book
Value of Company Property shall be interpreted and applied in a manner
consistent with that Section of the Regulations.
3.2 Capital
Contributions.
3.2.1 Common
Shares.
In
consideration of their initial and any subsequent Capital Contributions to
the
Company, as set forth on Exhibit
A
(which
Exhibit
A
is, by
this reference, made a part of this Agreement), the Company has issued to the
Common Members the number of Common Shares set forth next to each Common
Member’s name on Exhibit
A.
Each
Common Member shall be entitled to one vote per one Common Share held of record
on the Company’s books as to matters that come before the Members for a vote.
The holders of the Common Shares shall be entitled to distributions as provided
in Section V.
11
3.2.2 Preferred
Shares.
In
consideration of its initial Capital Contribution to the Company, as set forth
on Exhibit
A,
the
Company has issued to the Preferred Member the number of Series A Preferred
Shares set forth next to the Preferred Member’s name on Exhibit
A.
The
Series A Preferred Shares shall have such distribution rights, liquidation
preferences, redemption provisions, voting rights, conversion and exchange
rights and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations, restrictions
and
other terms and provisions as set forth in Section IV.
3.2.3 Common
Shares and MT Family Limited Partnership Loan.
As of
the date hereof, the Company owes approximately $711,000 to the MT FAMILY
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, an Arizona limited partnership (“MT”),
under
the Amended and Restated Promissory Note, dated as of May 1, 2007, and attached
as Exhibit
C
to this
Agreement (the “MT
Note”),
which
MT Note is by this reference made a part hereof. The Company is obliged to
pay
off the MT Note in full prior to the closing of transferring of all remaining
interests in the company to the Preferred Member, after Preferred Member’s
exercise of the Option. Preferred Member agrees to provide no less than one
week
advance written notice to the Company prior to the closing of transferring
such
remaining interests, and further agrees to cooperate with the Company
(including, if necessary, to fund the Company with sufficient cash) regarding
the payoff of the MT Note and any obligation of the Company under the SAR Plan.
The Members agree that any such direct funding by Preferred Member to the
Company of sufficient funds to satisfy the obligations under the MT Note and
the
SAR Plan prior to closing will reduce the aggregate purchase price of the
remaining interests by the amount of such funding by Preferred Member. At such
time as the MT Note is fully satisfied and has been paid off, such number of
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx’x Common Shares shall be transferred on the books of the
Company, in equal proportions, to Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx,
such
that immediately following the pay-off of the MT Note, each of these three
Common Members will own approximately an equal number of Common Shares, as
further set forth in Exhibit
D
to this
Agreement, but the aggregate number Common Shares owned by Xx. Xxxxxxxx, Xx.
Xxxxxxx and Xx. Xxxxxx remain the same.
3.2.4 No
Additional Capital Contributions.
No
Member will be required to make additional Capital Contributions.
3.3 Withdrawal
or Return of Capital Contributions.
Except
as specifically provided in this Agreement, no Interest Holder shall have the
right to withdraw or reduce the Capital Contributions such Interest Holder
makes
to the Company. Upon dissolution of the Company or liquidation of such Interest
Holder’s Shares, each Interest Holder shall look solely to the assets of the
Company for return of such Interest Holder’s Capital Contributions and, if the
Company's property remaining after the payment or discharge of the debts,
obligations, and liabilities of the Company is insufficient to return the
Capital contributions of each Interest Holder, no Interest Holder shall have
any
recourse against the Company, any Interest Holder, or Manager, except for gross
negligence, malfeasance, bad faith, or fraud.
12
3.4 Form
of Return of Capital.
Under
circumstances requiring a return of any Capital Contributions, no Interest
Holder shall have the right to receive property other than cash except as may
be
specifically provided herein.
3.5 Salary
or Interest.
Except
as otherwise expressly provided in Section 6.12 of this Agreement, no Interest
Holder or Manager shall receive any interest, salary, or drawing with respect
to
his or her Capital Contributions or his or her Capital Account, or for services
rendered on behalf of the Company.
Section
IV
Series
A Preferred Shares
4.1 Series
A Preferred Shares.
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company issued and sold 18,154,412
Series A Preferred Shares to the Preferred Member. The Series A Preferred Shares
have the distribution rights, liquidation preferences, voting rights, conversion
and exchange rights and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations,
restrictions and other terms and provisions as are set forth in this Section
IV.
4.2 Voting
Rights.
4.2.1. Except
as
may be otherwise provided in this Section 4.2 or by law, each holder of the
Series A Preferred Shares shall have one vote per Series A Preferred Share
(determined on an as converted to Common Shares basis) together with all other
classes and series of Shares of the Company (whether Common Shares or Preferred
Shares) as a single class on all actions to be taken by the Members of the
Company.
4.2.2. For
so
long as any Series A Preferred Shares remain outstanding, in addition to any
other vote or consent required herein or by law, the vote or written consent
of
the holders of at least a Majority in Interest of the outstanding Series A
Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, will be necessary for effecting
or
validating the following actions (either directly or indirectly by amendment
of
this Agreement or the Articles, merger, consolidation, reorganization,
recapitalization or otherwise):
4.2.2.1 any
issuance or any designation, whether by reclassification or otherwise, of any
new class or series of Shares or any other securities convertible into equity
securities of the Company ranking on a parity with or senior to the Series
A
Preferred Shares in right of liquidation preference, redemption, voting,
distributions or dividends;
4.2.2.2 any
amendment, alteration, or repeal of any provision of this Agreement or the
Articles (or taking any other action) that would adversely affect the rights,
preferences and privileges of holders of the Series A Preferred
Shares;
4.2.2.3 any
action that results in the payment or declaration of a distribution with respect
to any Shares (other than a distribution payable only in Common Shares), unless
a pari passu distribution is made in respect of the Series A Preferred Shares
on
an as converted basis, and except for distributions pursuant to Section 5.4.2
(Tax Distributions);
13
4.2.2.4 redeem,
purchase, or otherwise acquire any Preferred Shares or Common Shares or any
other equity security of the Company; provided,
however,
that
this restriction shall not apply to (A) the repurchase of Shares from employees,
officers, Managers, consultants or other Persons performing services for the
Company or any subsidiary pursuant to agreements under which the Company has
the
option to repurchase such Shares at or below cost or at or below cost upon
the
occurrence of certain events, such as the termination of employment, or (B)
the
exercise by the Company of contractual rights of first refusal over such
Shares;
4.2.2.5 any
Liquidation Event or Change of Control;
4.2.2.6 any
increase or decrease in the number of authorized Series A Preferred Shares
or
Common Shares;
4.2.2.7 any
increase or decrease in the number of members of the Board;
4.2.2.8 any
amendment of this Agreement;
4.2.2.9 an
increase in new indebtedness for borrowed money in excess of $500,000;
4.2.2.10 any
payment under the MT Note other than (A) pursuant to the Company’s regular
payment schedule thereunder, (B) a partial or full prepayment of the MT Note
pursuant to a refinancing of the MT Note, or (C) upon exercise of the Preferred
Member’s Option (as such term is defined in Section 4.8); and
4.2.2.11 a
decision to conduct the initial public offering of the Company or register
any
class or series of the Company’s Shares or other equity securities under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (except, in the latter case, as
may
be required by applicable law).
4.2.3 The
voting rights set forth in Section 4.2.2 shall terminate in the event, and
on
the date on which, the Option (as such term is defined in Section 4.8) expires
unexercised despite the Company’s revenues (calculated pursuant to the revenue
calculation rules set forth in the Option Agreement) for the Fiscal Year 2008
reaching $9,000,000 or more.
4.3 Conversion.
The
holders of the Series A Preferred Shares shall have conversion rights as follows
(the “Conversion
Rights”):
4.3.1 Optional
Conversion.
Subject
to and in compliance with the provisions of this Section 4.3, any Series A
Preferred Shares may, at the option of the holder, be converted at any time
into
Common Shares. The number of Common Shares to which a holder of Series A
Preferred Shares will be entitled upon conversion pursuant to this Section
4.3
will be determined by dividing the Series A Original Issue Price by the
Conversion Price applicable to such Shares, in effect on the date of such
conversion. The initial Conversion Price for each Series A Preferred Share
shall
be the Series A Original Issue Price, as applicable; provided,
however,
that
the Conversion Price for the Series A Preferred Shares shall be subject to
adjustment as set forth below.
14
4.3.2 Adjustments
for Share Splits.
In the
event the Company should at any time or from time to time after the Series
A
Original Issue Date fix a record date for the effectuation of a split or
subdivision of the outstanding Common Shares or the determination of Members
entitled to receive a distribution payable in additional Common Shares or other
securities or rights convertible into, or entitling the holder thereof to
receive directly or indirectly, additional Common Shares (hereinafter referred
to as “Common
Share Equivalents”)
without payment of any consideration by such holder for the additional Common
Shares or the Common Share Equivalents (including the additional Common Shares
issuable upon conversion or exercise thereof), then, as of such record date
(or
the date of such dividend distribution, split or subdivision if no record date
is fixed), the applicable Conversion Price of the Series A Preferred Shares
shall be appropriately decreased so that the number of Common Shares on
conversion of each Series A Preferred Share shall be increased in proportion
to
such increase of the aggregate of Common Shares outstanding and those issuable
with respect to such Common Share Equivalents.
4.3.3 Adjustments
for Combinations.
If the
number of Common Shares outstanding at any time after the Series A Original
Issue Date is decreased by a combination of the outstanding Common Shares,
then,
following the record date of such combination, the Conversion Price for the
Series A Preferred Shares shall be appropriately increased so that the number
of
Common Shares issuable on conversion of each Series A Preferred Share shall
be
decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding Shares.
4.3.4 Adjustments
for Distributions.
In the
event the Company shall declare a distribution payable in securities of other
Persons, evidences of indebtedness issued by the Company or other Persons,
assets (excluding cash distributions), then, in each such case for the purpose
of this Section, the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares shall be entitled
to a proportionate share of any such distribution as though they were the
holders of the number of Common Shares of the Company into which their Series
A
Preferred Shares are convertible as of the record date fixed for the
determination of the holders of Common Shares entitled to receive such
distribution.
4.3.5 Adjustments
for Recapitalization, Reclassification and Other Events.
If at
any time or from time to time after the Series A Original Issue Date the Common
Shares issuable upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Shares are changed
into the same or a different number of Shares of any series, class or classes
of
Shares whether by recapitalization, reclassification or otherwise (other than
a
Change of Control or a subdivision, distribution, reorganization, merger,
consolidation or sale of assets provided for elsewhere in this Section 4.3),
then in any such event each holder of Series A Preferred Shares shall have
the
right thereafter to convert such Shares into the kind and amount of securities
and property receivable upon such recapitalization, reclassification or other
change by holders of the number of Common Shares into which such Series A
Preferred Shares could have been converted immediately prior to such
recapitalization, reclassification, or change, all subject to further adjustment
as provided herein or with respect to such other securities or property by
the
terms thereof.
4.3.6 Adjustments
for Reorganizations, Mergers or Consolidations.
If at
any time or from time to time after the Series A Original Issue Date there
is a
reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company (other than a Change
of
Control or a subdivision, distribution, reorganization, recapitalization,
reclassification, exchange or substitution of interests provided for elsewhere
in this Section 4.3), then, as a part of such reorganization, merger or
consolidation, provision shall be made so that the holders of the Series A
Preferred Shares thereafter shall be entitled to receive, upon conversion of
the
Series A Preferred Shares, the number of securities or property of the Company,
or of such successor Entity resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation, to which a holder of Common Shares deliverable upon conversion
would have been entitled on such reorganization, merger or consolidation
(subject to adjustment in respect of such Shares or securities by the terms
thereof). In any such case, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the
application of the provisions of this Section 4.3.6 with respect to the rights
of the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares after the reorganization, merger
or consolidation to the end that the provisions of this Section 4.3.6 (including
adjustment of the applicable Conversion Price then in effect and number of
Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares) shall be
applicable after that event and be as nearly equivalent to the provisions hereof
as may be practicable. This Section 4.3.6 shall similarly apply to successive
reorganizations, mergers and consolidations.
15
4.3.7 Certificate
of Adjustment.
In each
case of an adjustment or readjustment of the Conversion Price for the Series
A
Preferred Shares, the Company, at its expense, will compute such adjustment
or
readjustment in accordance with the provisions hereof and prepare a certificate
showing such adjustment or readjustment, and will mail such certificate, by
first class mail, postage prepaid, to each holder of Series A Preferred Shares
at the holder’s address as shown in the Company’s books. The certificate will
set forth such adjustment or readjustment, showing the material facts upon
which
such adjustment or readjustment is based, including a statement of the Common
Shares issuable to such holder upon conversion of such holder’s Series A
Preferred Shares following such adjustment.
4.3.8 No
Dilution or Impairment.
The
Company will not, by amendment of this Agreement or its Articles or through
any
reorganization, recapitalization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger,
dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid
or
seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed
or performed hereunder by the Company, but will at all times in good faith
assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Section 4.3 and in
the
taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect
the conversion rights of the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares against
impairment.
4.3.9 Termination
of Conversion Rights.
In the
event of a Liquidation Event or Change of Control, the Conversion Rights shall
terminate at the close of business on the last full day preceding the date
fixed
for the payment of any such amounts distributable on such Liquidation Event
or
in connection with such Change of Control, as applicable, to the holders of
Series A Preferred Shares.
4.3.10 Fractional
Shares.
No
fractions of Common Shares are to be issued upon conversion of the Series A
Preferred Shares, but in lieu thereof the Company will round-down for fractions
less than one-half and round-up for fractions equal to or greater than one-half.
No cash settlements shall be made with respect to any fractional Shares
eliminated by rounding.
16
4.3.11 Reservation
of Common Shares.
The
Members agree to amend this Agreement as shall be necessary to issue such number
of Common Shares as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the
conversion of all Series A Preferred Shares from time to time
outstanding.
4.3.12 Notices
of Record Date.
In the
event of any taking by the Company of a record of the holders of any class
of
securities for the purpose of determining the holders thereof who are entitled
to receive any dividend or other distribution (other than a cash distribution),
any right to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any Shares of any
class or any other securities or property, or to receive any other right, the
Company shall mail to each holder of Series A Preferred Shares, at least 20
days
prior to the date specified therein, a notice specifying the date on which
any
such record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution or
right, and the amount and character of such dividend, distribution or
right.
4.3.13 Automatic
Conversion.
All
Series A Preferred Shares shall automatically be converted into Common Shares,
based on the then-effective Conversion Price, immediately upon the earliest
to occur
of (a) the affirmative election of a majority of the outstanding Series A
Preferred Shares (voting as a separate class on an as converted basis); (b)
the
closing of an underwritten public offering with aggregate proceeds in excess
of
$25,000,000; or (c) 30 days
following the date on which the Company’s audited financial statements for the
Fiscal Year 2009 are delivered to the Preferred Members. Upon the occurrence
of
any of the events specified in the preceding sentence, the outstanding Series
A
Preferred Shares shall be converted automatically without any further action
by
the holders of such Series A Preferred Shares.
4.3.14 Effect
of Conversion.
In the
event that any Series A Preferred Shares shall be converted pursuant to this
Section 4.3, the Series A Preferred Shares so converted shall be cancelled
and
shall not be issuable by the Company. Upon such a conversion, the Preferred
Members shall be deemed to be Common Members hereunder for all purposes with
respect to the Series A Preferred Shares so converted and shall have no further
rights as holders of Series A Preferred Shares with respect to such converted
Series A Preferred Shares.
4.4 Distributions.
The
Company shall not make any distribution in respect of Common Shares without
including the Series A Preferred Shares in such distribution on an as converted
basis.
4.5 Subsequent
Offerings.
The
Series A Preferred Shares (and the Common Shares, as applicable) shall have
the
rights regarding subsequent offerings set forth in Section 4 of Investor’s
Rights Agreement.
4.6 Registration
Rights.
The
Series A Preferred Shares shall have the registration rights set forth in
Section 2 of the Investor’s Rights Agreement.
4.7 Information
Rights.
The
Series A Preferred Shares shall have the information rights set forth in the
Section 2 of Investor’s Rights Agreement.
4.8 Option.
The
Preferred Member shall have the option to purchase the remaining Shares in
the
Company upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Option Agreement (the
“Option”).
17
4.9 Termination
of the Series A Preferred Rights.
The
rights of the Series A Preferred Shares set forth in Section 4.2.2 (Voting
Rights) shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of (a) a Liquidation Event;
(b) a Change of Control; (c) the effective date of the registration statement
pertaining to the initial public offering of the Company’s securities; or (d)
conversion of the Series A Preferred Shares to Common Shares pursuant to Section
4.3. The
rights of the Series A Preferred Shares contained in the Investor’s Rights
Agreement or the Option Agreement shall terminate as set forth in the Investor’s
Rights Agreement and the Option Agreement, as applicable.
Section
V
Allocations
and Distributions
5.1 Allocations.
After
making any special allocations contained in Section 5.3, remaining Profits
and
Losses shall be allocated for any Fiscal Year in the following
manner:
5.1.1 Profits.
5.1.1.1 First,
to
the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares in proportion to the cumulative
Losses allocated among the holders of Series A Preferred Shares under Section
5.1.2.3 until the cumulative Profits allocated to each holder of Series A
Preferred Shares under this subparagraph equal the cumulative Losses previously
allocated to each holder of Series A Preferred Shares under Section
5.1.2.3;
5.1.1.2 Second,
among the holders of Common Shares in proportion to the cumulative Losses
previously allocated among the holders of Common Shares under Section 5.1.2.2
until the cumulative Profits allocated to each holder of Common Shares under
this subparagraph equal the cumulative Losses previously allocated to each
holder of Common Shares under Section 5.1.2.2;
5.1.1.3.
Thereafter, Profits shall be allocated to the Interest Holders in accordance
with their Percentage Interests.
5.1.2 Losses.
5.1.2.1 First,
Losses shall be allocated to the Interest Holders in proportion to the
cumulative Profits previously allocated to the Interest Holders under Section
5.1.1.3 until the cumulative Losses allocated pursuant to this subparagraph
to
each Interest Holder are equal to the cumulative Profits previously allocated
to
each Interest Holder under Section 5.1.1.3;
5.1.2.2 Second,
Losses shall be allocated to the holders of Common Shares in accordance with
their Common Percentage Interests until their Capital Account balances equal
zero;
5.1.2.3 Third,
Losses shall be allocated to the holders of Series A Preferred Shares in
proportion to the number of Series A Preferred Shares held by them until their
Capital Account balances equal zero;
18
5.1.2.4. Thereafter,
Losses shall be allocated to the Interest Holders in accordance with their
Percentage Interests.
In
the
event of a Conversion under Section 4.3, all Profits and Losses (after any
required adjustments to Capital Accounts under Section 3.1.4) will be allocated
to the Interest Holders in accordance with their Percentage
Interests.
5.1.3 Loss
Limitations.
5.1.3.1 No
Losses
shall be allocated to any Interest Holder pursuant to Section 5.1 if the
allocation causes the Interest Holder to have an Adjusted Capital Account
Deficit or increases the Interest Holder's Adjusted Capital Account Deficit.
All
Losses in excess of the limitations set forth in this Subsection shall be
allocated to the other Interest Holders in accordance with the other Interest
Holders' Percentage Interests until all Interest Holders are subject to the
limitation of this Subsection, and thereafter, in accordance with the Interest
Holders' interest in the Company as determined by the Board. If any Losses
are
allocated to an Interest Holder because of this Subsection, then notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, all subsequent Profits shall be allocated
to the Interest Holders pro
rata
based on
Losses allocated to them pursuant to this Subsection until each Interest Holder
has been allocated an amount of Profits pursuant to this Subsection equal to
the
Losses previously allocated to that Interest Holder under this
Subsection.
5.1.3.2 If
the
Company is on the cash method of accounting and more than 50% of the Company's
Losses in any year would be allocable to Interest Holders who are limited
entrepreneurs (within the meaning of § 464(e)(2) of the Code), then except
as otherwise provided in Section 5.1.3.1, the Losses in excess of 50% otherwise
allocable to those Interest Holders shall be specially allocated among the
other
Interest Holders in the ratio that each shares in Losses. If any Losses are
allocated to an Interest Holder under this Subsection, then notwithstanding
any
other provision of this Agreement, all subsequent Profits shall be allocated
to
the Interest Holders pro
rata
based on
Losses allocated to them pursuant to this Subsection until each Interest Holder
has been allocated an amount of Profits pursuant to this Subsection in the
current and previous Fiscal Years equal to the Losses allocated to that Interest
Holder pursuant to this Subsection in previous Fiscal Years.
5.2. Section
704(c) Allocations.
5.2.1 Contributed
Property.
In
accordance with Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations thereunder, as well
as
Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(d)(3), income, gain, loss, and deduction
with respect to any property contributed (or deemed contributed) to the Company
shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated among the Interest Holders so
as to
take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of the property to
the
Company for federal income tax purposes and its fair market value at the date
of
contribution (or deemed contribution).
5.2.2 Adjustments
to Book Value. If
the
Adjusted Book Value of any Company asset is adjusted as provided in Section
3.1.4, subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss, and deduction with respect
to the asset shall, solely for tax purposes, take account of any variation
between the adjusted basis of the asset for federal income tax purposes and
its
Adjusted Book Value in the manner as provided under Code Section 704(c) and
the
Regulations thereunder.
19
5.3 Regulatory
Allocations.
The
following allocations shall be made in the following order:
5.3.1 Company
Minimum Gain Chargeback.
Except
as set forth in Regulation Section 1.704-2(f)(2), (3), (4), and (5), if during
any Fiscal Year there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain, each Interest
Holder, prior to any other allocation pursuant to this Section V, shall be
specially allocated items of gross income and gain for such taxable year (and,
if necessary, succeeding taxable years) in an amount equal to that Interest
Holder's share of the net decrease of Company Minimum Gain, computed in
accordance with Regulation Section 1.704-2(g)(2). Allocations of gross income
and gain pursuant to this Subsection shall be made first from gain recognized
from the disposition of Company assets subject to Nonrecourse Liabilities to
the
extent of the Minimum Gain attributable to those assets and, thereafter, from
a
pro
rata
portion
of the Company's other items of income and gain for the taxable year. It is
the
intent of the parties hereto that any allocation pursuant to this Subsection
shall constitute a “minimum gain chargeback” under Regulation Section
1.704-2(f).
5.3.2 Member
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain Chargeback.
Except
as set forth in Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4), if during any Fiscal Year
there is a net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, each Interest
Holder with a share of that Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain (determined
under Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(5)) as of the beginning of the Fiscal Year
shall be specially allocated items of income and gain for such Fiscal Year
(and,
if necessary, succeeding Fiscal Years) in an amount equal to that Interest
Holder's share of the net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain,
computed in accordance with Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4). Allocations of
gross income and gain pursuant to this Subsection shall be made first from
gain
recognized from the disposition of Company assets subject to Member Nonrecourse
Debt to the extent of the Member Minimum Gain attributable to those assets
and,
thereafter, from a pro
rata
portion
of the Company's other items of income and gain for the Fiscal Year. It is
the
intent of the parties hereto that any allocation pursuant to this Subsection
shall constitute a “minimum gain chargeback” under Regulation Section
1.704-2(i)(4).
5.3.3 Qualified
Income Offset.
If an
Interest Holder unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation, or distribution
described in Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5), or (6), then
to
the extent required under Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(d), such Interest
Holder shall be allocated items of income and gain of the Company (consisting
of
a pro
rata
portion
of each item of Company income, including gross income and gain for that Fiscal
Year) before any other allocation is made of Company items for that Fiscal
Year,
in the amount and in proportions required to eliminate the Interest Holder's
Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as quickly as possible. This Subsection is
intended to comply with, and shall be interpreted consistently with, the
“qualified income offset” provisions of the Regulations promulgated under Code
Section 704(b).
20
5.3.4 Nonrecourse
Deductions.
Nonrecourse Deductions for a Fiscal Year or other period shall be allocated
among the Interest Holders in proportion to their Percentage
Interests.
5.3.5 Member
Nonrecourse Deductions.
Any
Member Nonrecourse Deduction for any Fiscal Year or other period attributable
to
a Member Nonrecourse Liability shall be allocated to the Interest Holder who
bears the risk of loss for the Member Nonrecourse Debt in accordance with
Regulation Section 1.704-2(i).
5.3.6 Regulatory
Allocations.
The
allocations contained in Section 5.3 are contained herein to comply with the
Regulations under Section 704(b) of the Code. In allocating other items of
Profit or Loss, the allocations contained in Section 5.3 shall be taken into
account so that to the maximum extent possible the net amount of Profit or
Loss
allocated to each Interest Holder will be equal to the amount that would have
been allocated to each Interest Holder if the allocations contained in Section
5.3 had not been made.
5.4 Non-Liquidating
Distributions.
Except
for tax distributions that shall be made in accordance with Section 5.4.2 and
distributions in connection with a Liquidation Event, distributions shall be
made to the Interest Holders at such times and in such amounts as determined
by
the Board in its sole discretion; provided,
however,
that
all Cash Flow for each Fiscal Year of the Company shall be distributed to the
Interest Holders no later than seventy-five (75) days after the end of such
Fiscal Year. All distributions shall be made in the following order and
priority:
5.4.1 Priority.
Subject
to Section IX (Dissolution) and Section 5.4.2, to the Interest Holders
pro
rata
in
proportion to their Percentage Interests.
5.4.2 Tax
Distributions.
During
each Fiscal Year, to the extent permitted under applicable law, and to the
extent consistent with the Board’s fiduciary duties, the Board shall distribute
to the Members their Undistributed Tax Distribution Amounts. Such distributions
shall be made to the Members in accordance with and in proportion to their
Undistributed Tax Distribution Amounts. All Undistributed Tax Distribution
Amounts shall be distributed prior to any distributions otherwise required
pursuant to Section 5.4.1 and shall be treated as advances against and shall
reduce amounts to which the Members are otherwise entitled to receive pursuant
to Section 5.4.1. Undistributed Tax Distribution Amounts shall not be
distributed prior to any distributions required pursuant to Section
5.5.
5.5 Distributions
From a Liquidation Event. To
the
extent permitted under applicable law, distributions in connection with a
Liquidation Event shall be made by the Company as follows:
5.5.1 first,
to
the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares, in proportion to their holdings
of
Series A Preferred Shares, an amount equal to the greater of (i) the number
of
Series A Preferred Shares outstanding multiplied by the Series A Liquidation
Preference, calculated on a per share basis, and (ii) the amount to be
distributed pursuant to this Section 5.5 multiplied by the Percentage Interest
of the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares; and
21
5.5.2 thereafter,
among the Common Members in proportion to their respective Common Percentage
Interests.
5.6 General.
5.6.1 Timing
and Amount of Distributions.
Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, distributions shall be made to the
Interest Holders at such times and in such amounts as determined by the Board
in
its sole discretion; provided,
however,
that no
distributions may be made on Common Shares until and unless a pro rata
distribution has been made on the Series A Preferred Shares except as otherwise
provided herein.
5.6.2 Form
of Distribution.
In
connection with any distribution, no Interest Holder shall have the right to
receive Property other than cash except as may be specifically provided herein.
If any assets of the Company are distributed in kind to the Interest Holders,
those assets shall be valued on the basis of their fair market value, and any
Interest Holder entitled to any interest in those assets shall receive that
interest as a tenant-in-common with all other Interest Holders so entitled.
Unless the Interest Holders otherwise agree, the fair market value of the assets
shall be determined by an independent appraiser who shall be selected by the
Board.
5.6.3 Withholding.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall be
entitled to withhold and pay over, or otherwise pay, any withholding or other
taxes payable by the Company at such times and based upon such rates as the
Board of Managers determines to be appropriate. If the Company makes a payment
of tax for any accounting period with respect to any Member or as a result
of
any Member’s participation in the Company, such Member shall be deemed for all
purposes of this Agreement to have received the amount of such payment as a
distribution from the Company on the last day of the period for which the tax
is
withheld and paid or, if earlier, on the last day on which such Member owned
any
Shares. Any deemed distribution to a Member pursuant to this Section 5.6.3
shall
be treated (to the extent not repaid to the Company) as an advance of, and
shall
offset, an equal amount of distributions that would otherwise thereafter be
made
to such Member pursuant to the foregoing provisions of Section 5.4, Section
5.5
or Section 9, as the case may be, in the order that such distributions would
otherwise have been made. To the extent that the aggregate of such distributions
to a Member for any month exceeds the distributions to which such Member would
otherwise be entitled for such month, the amount of such excess shall be repaid
by such Member to the Company within thirty (30) days after the end of such
month.
5.6.4 Varying
Interests; Distributions and Allocations in Respect to Transferred
Shares.
Profits, Losses, and other items shall be calculated on a monthly, daily, or
other basis permitted under Code Section 706 and the Regulations. If any Shares
are sold, assigned, or transferred during any accounting period in compliance
with the provisions of this Agreement, Profits, Losses, each item thereof,
and
all other items attributable to such Shares for such period shall be divided
and
allocated between the transferor and the transferee by taking into account
their
varying interests during the period in accordance with Code Section 706(d),
using any conventions permitted by law and selected by the Board. All
distributions on or before the date of such transfer shall be made to the
transferor, and all distributions thereafter shall be made to the transferee.
Solely for purposes of making such allocations and distributions, the Company
shall recognize such transfer not later than the end of the calendar month
during which it is given notice of such transfer, provided
that
if the
Company does not receive a notice stating the date such Shares were transferred
and such other information as it may reasonably require within thirty (30)
days
after the end of the Fiscal Year during which the transfer occurs, then all
of
such items shall be allocated, and all distributions shall be made, to the
person who, according to the books and records of the Company, on the last
day
of the Fiscal Year during which the transfer occurs, was the owner of the
Shares. Neither the Company nor any Interest Holder or Manager shall incur
any
liability for making allocations and distributions in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, whether or not any Interest Holder, Manager, or
the
Company has knowledge of any transfer of ownership of any Shares.
22
5.6.5 Knowledge.
The
Interest Holders acknowledge that they understand the economic and income tax
consequences of the allocations and distributions under this Agreement and
agree
to be bound by the provisions of this Section V in reporting their taxable
income and loss from the Company.
5.6.6 Amendment.
The
Board is hereby authorized, upon the advice of the Company's tax counsel, to
amend this Section V to comply with the Code and the Regulations promulgated
under Code Section 704(b); provided,
however,
that no
amendment shall materially affect the distributions to an Interest Holder
without the Interest Holder's prior written consent.
Section
VI
Management
6.1. Board
of Managers.
Subject
to the limitations and restrictions contained herein and in the Act, the Board
shall have the power and authority, on behalf of the Company, to manage and
control the business, affairs and properties of the Company, to make all
decisions regarding those matters, and to perform any and all other acts or
activities customary or incident to the management of the Company’s business.
The members of the Board shall be determined as provided in Section 6.2, each
of
whom shall be a “statutory manager” by the Members for all purposes of the Act.
The Board shall not be required to conduct the day to day business of the
Company, but shall be responsible for general policies of the Company and the
management and oversight of its business and affairs. The Board may delegate
any
rights and powers to manage the Company on a day to day basis and its control
of
the day to day business and affairs of the Company delegated to it by the
Members or pursuant to this Agreement to the officers appointed by the Board
and
then serving from time to time, each of whom shall be an agent of the Company
with the powers to conduct the day to day business and affairs of the Company
set forth herein or in any enabling resolution or other evidence of action
of
the Board.
6.2. Number,
Tenure, and Qualifications.
The
number of Managers of the Company shall be fixed at five (5); provided, however,
that the number of Managers shall be reduced to four (4) upon the conversion
of
the Series A Preferred Shares into Common Shares pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof.
Each Manager shall hold office until his death, resignation or removal. Managers
need not be residents of the State of Arizona or Members of the Company. The
members of the Board shall be determined as follows:
6.2.1 For
so
long as any Series A Preferred Shares are outstanding, the Preferred Members,
voting as a separate class, shall be entitled to appoint one (1) member of
the
Board and to remove from office such Manager and to fill any vacancy caused
by
the resignation, death or removal of such Manager, with such designee initially
being Xxxxx Xxxxxxx. The Preferred Members’ right set forth in this Subsection
6.2.1. will terminate upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Shares
into
Common Shares pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof.
23
6.2.2 The
Common Members, voting as a separate class, shall be entitled to appoint four
(4) members of the Board and to remove from office such Managers and to fill
any
vacancy caused by the resignation, death or removal of such Managers, with
such
designees initially being Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx,
and
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx.
6.2.3 The
Managers will elect a Chairman of the Board to serve as set forth in Section
6.21. The initial Chairman will be Xxxxx Xxxxxxx.
6.3. Certain
Powers of the Board.
Subject
to any provisions of this Agreement that require the consent or approval of
one
or more Members and any other limitations contained in this Agreement, the
Board
shall have the exclusive right, power and authority to direct the business
and
affairs of the Company and to make all decisions with respect thereto. Except
as
may be otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, in no event shall any
Member, in its capacity as such, have any right or authority to act for or
bind
the Company, and no Member in its capacity as such shall take part in or
interfere in any manner with the management of the business and affairs of
the
Company. To the fullest extent permitted by Arizona law, but subject to any
specific provisions hereof granting rights to Members and any other limitations
contained in this Agreement, the Board shall have the power to do any and all
acts, statutory or otherwise, with respect to the Company or this Agreement
that
would otherwise be possessed by the Members under the laws of the State of
Arizona. Subject to the particular provisions of this Agreement that require
the
consent or approval of one or more Members and any other limitations contained
in this Agreement, the power and authority granted to the Board hereunder shall
include all those necessary or convenient for the furtherance of the purposes
of
the Company and shall include the power to make all decisions with regard to
the
management, operations, assets, financing and capitalization of the Company.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board shall have power
and
authority on behalf of the Company:
6.3.1 To
acquire property from and sell property to any Person as the Board may
determine. The fact that a Member or a Manager is directly or indirectly
affiliated or connected with any such Person shall not prohibit the Board from
dealing with that Person, provided
that
the
requirements of Section 6.4 are satisfied;
6.3.2 To
borrow
money for the Company from banks, other lending institutions, the Interest
Holders, Managers, or Affiliates of the Interest Holders or Managers on such
terms as the Board may deem appropriate, provided
that
the
requirements of Section 6.4 are satisfied, and in connection therewith, to
hypothecate, encumber, and grant security interests in the assets of the Company
to secure repayment of the borrowed sums, provided
that
the
requirements of Section 6.4 are satisfied. No debt or other obligation shall
be
contracted or liability incurred by or on behalf of the Company except with
the
Majority in Interest approval of the Members;
24
6.3.3 To
purchase liability and other insurance to protect the Board and the Company's
property and business;
6.3.4 To
hold
and own any Company real and personal property in the name of the
Company;
6.3.5 To
execute on behalf of the Company all instruments and documents, including,
without limitation, checks, drafts, notes, and other negotiable instruments,
mortgages, or deeds of trust, security agreements, financing statements,
documents providing for the acquisition, mortgage, or disposition of the
Company's property, assignments, bills of sale, leases, partnership agreements,
and any other instruments or documents necessary, in the opinion of the Board,
to accomplish the purposes of the Company;
6.3.6 To
employ
accountants, legal counsel, managing agents, or other experts to perform
services for the Company and to compensate them from Company funds;
6.3.7 To
enter
into any and all other agreements on behalf of the Company, with any other
Person for any purpose, in such forms as the Board may approve;
6.3.8 To
do and
perform all other acts as may be necessary or appropriate to accomplish the
purposes of the Company; and
6.3.9 To
take
such other actions permitted under applicable laws as do not expressly require
the consent of the Members under this Agreement.
A
Manager
may act by a duly authorized attorney-in-fact. Unless authorized to do so by
this Agreement or by the Board, no Member, agent, or employee of the Company
shall have any power or authority to bind the Company in any way, to pledge
its
credit, or to render it liable for any purpose. Notwithstanding
the above, the Board may delegate its binding authority to any officer of the
Company for any purpose, so long as such binding authority does not obligate
the
Company in an amount that is greater than $25,000.00.
6.4. Actions
Requiring Special Approvals.
6.4.1 Actions
Requiring Approval of the Members.
In
addition to those actions for which this Agreement specifically requires the
consent of the Members, and in addition to the restrictions of Section 4.2
hereof, the Board shall not take any of the following actions without first
obtaining the approval of a Majority in Interest of the Members:
6.4.1.1 Amend
the
Articles or this Agreement, except that any amendments required under the Act
to
correct an inaccuracy in the Articles may be filed at any time by the Board
without the Members’ approval;
6.4.1.2 Approve
an Asset Transfer or an Acquisition;
6.4.1.3 Authorize
the Company to make an assignment for the benefit of creditors of the Company,
file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, or consent to the appointment of a
receiver for the Company or its assets;
25
6.4.1.4 Enter
into any contract or agreement between the Company and any Manager, Interest
Holder, or Affiliate of a Manager or Interest Holder without the consent of
a
Majority in Interest of the Interest Holders not involved in such contract
or
agreement; or
6.4.2 Veto
Rights of the Majority Owner.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from the date hereof
until the earliest
to occur
of (i) the consummation of a Liquidation Event or Change of Control, (ii) the
completion of an initial public offering of the Company’s securities, or (iii)
the repayment in full of the MT Note, the Board shall not take any of the
following actions without first obtaining the approval of the Majority
Owner:
6.4.2.1 any
redemptions or repurchases of Shares except for purchases at cost upon
termination of service or the exercise by the Company of contractual rights
of
first refusal over such Shares;
6.4.2.2 any
Liquidation Event or Change of Control;
6.4.2.3 an
increase or decrease in the authorized number of any of the Shares;
6.4.2.4 any
adverse change to the rights, preferences, and privileges of the Common
Shares;
6.4.2.5 an
increase or decrease in the size of the Board;
6.4.2.6 any
amendment of this Agreement that results in an adverse change to the rights,
preferences, or privileges of the Common Shares;
6.4.2.7 a
decision to conduct the initial public offering of the Company’s securities or
register any class or series of the Company's securities under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (except, in the latter case, as may be required
by law);
6.4.2.8. any
change in the Company's bookkeeper, outside legal counsel or independent
auditing firm; or
6.4.2.9 the
incurrence of an obligation against the Company in an amount which exceeds
$25,000.
The
Majority Owner hereby constitutes, appoints and authorizes MT as its true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and proxy, with full power of substitution and
appointment, for and in the name, place and stead of the Majority Owner, to
exercise the above set forth veto rights of the Majority Owner in the event
Majority Owner is unavailable for a period of time such that an unreasonable
delay in taking the actions requiring Majority Owner’s approval under this
Section 6.4.2 would result. The foregoing power of attorney is coupled with
an
interest.
26
The
Majority Owner's veto rights set forth in this Section 6.4.2 will terminate
upon
the earliest
to occur
of (i) the consummation of a Liquidation Event or Change of Control, (ii) the
completion of an initial public offering of the Company’s securities, or (iii)
the repayment in full of the MT Note.
6.5. Meetings
of the Board.
The
Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without
the
State of Arizona. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice
at
such time and at such place as shall be scheduled by the Board for each Fiscal
Year. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman or by any
Manager upon 24 hour notice
to
each Manager, either personally, by telephone, by mail, by facsimile (with
confirmation of each Manager’s receipt), e-mail (with confirmation of each
Manager’s receipt), or by any other means of communication.
6.6 Quorum
and Acts of the Board.
At all
meetings of the Board, a majority of the members of the Board shall constitute
a
quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is present, the affirmative
vote of a majority of all of the Managers present shall constitute an action
of
the Board. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board, the
Managers present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without
notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or
of
any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all of the members
of
the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and
the
writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board
or
committee.
6.7 Electronic
Communications. The
Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may hold a meeting, or one
or
more Managers may participate in a meeting of the Board, or any committee,
by
means of telephone conference, video conference or similar communications
equipment by means of which all Persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other, and such participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute
presence in person at the meeting.
6.8 Managers
Have No Exclusive Duty to Company.
No
Manager shall be required to manage the Company as the Manager's sole and
exclusive function and any Manager may engage in other business and investment
activities in addition to those relating to the Company. Neither the Company
nor
any Interest Holder shall have any right, solely by virtue of this Agreement
or
its relationship to a Manager or the Company, to share or participate in any
such other investments or activities of such Manager or to the income or
proceeds derived therefrom. No Manager shall have an obligation to disclose
any
such other investments or activities to the Board and the Interest Holders
unless it is competitive with or otherwise actually or potentially adversely
affects the business or property of the Company.
6.9. Resignation.
A
Manager may resign as a Manager at any time by giving at least fifteen (15)
days' written notice of his resignation to all the Members. The resignation
of a
Manager shall take effect upon receipt of written notice thereof or at such
later time as shall be specified in such written notice; and, unless otherwise
specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary
to
make it effective. The resignation of any Manager who is also a Member shall
not
affect such Manager’s rights as a Member and shall not by itself cause a
dissolution of the Company under Section IX.
27
6.10. Removal.
A
Manager may be removed, with or without cause, on fifteen (15) days' written
notice by the affirmative vote of a Majority in Interest of the Members, without
liability or obligation except as may be provided in any written contract
between such Manager and the Company, provided such contract has been approved
by the Members as provided herein.
6.11. Vacancies.
Unless
and until filled by a Majority in Interest of the Members, any vacancy in the
Board, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement
of
the Board, may be filled by vote of a majority of the Managers then in office,
although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Manager. A Manager elected
to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his predecessor
in
office, and a Manager chosen to fill a position resulting from an increase
in
the number of Managers shall hold office until the next regular meeting of
the
Members and until his successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier
death, resignation or removal.
6.12. Compensation
and Expenses.
The
Company may enter into management or employment contracts, under such terms
and
conditions and providing for such compensation as shall be approved by the
Members as provided herein, with one or more Managers or Interest Holders or
Persons Affiliated with a Manager or an Interest Holder.
6.13. Books
and Records. At
the
expense of the Company, the Board shall keep or cause to be kept complete and
accurate books and records of the Company and supporting documentation of
transactions with respect to the conduct of the Company's business. The books
and records shall be maintained in accordance with sound accounting practices
and kept at the Company's principal place of business or such other location
or
locations as the Board shall from time to time determine. At a minimum the
Company shall keep at its principal place of business the following
records:
6.13.1 A
current
list of the full name and last known business, residence, or mailing address
of
each Member and each Manager;
6.13.2 A
copy of
the initial Articles and all amendments thereto and restatements
thereof;
6.13.3 Copies
of
the Company's federal, state, and local income tax returns and reports, if
any,
for the three most recent fiscal years;
6.13.4 Copies
of
this Agreement and all amendments hereto or restatements hereof, including
any
prior operating agreements no longer in effect;
6.13.5 Copies
of
any documents relating to a Member's obligation to contribute cash, property,
or
services to the Company;
6.13.6 Copies
of
any financial statements of the Company for the three most recent fiscal years;
and
28
6.13.7 Copies
of
minutes of all meetings of the Members and the Managers and all written consents
obtained from Members and Managers for actions taken by Members and Managers
without a meeting.
6.14. Access
to Books and Records.
Upon
written request to the Board, each Member shall have the right, during normal
business hours, to inspect and copy, at the Member's expense, the Company's
books and records.
6.15. Returns
and Other Elections.
The
Board shall cause the preparation and timely filing of all tax returns required
to be filed by the Company pursuant to the Code and all other tax returns deemed
necessary and required in each jurisdiction in which the Company does business.
All elections permitted to be made by the Company under federal or state laws
shall be made by the Board in its sole discretion.
6.16. Fiscal
Year. The
annual accounting period of the Company shall be its Fiscal Year. The Company's
Fiscal Year shall be selected by the Board, subject to the requirements and
limitations of the Code.
6.17. Reports.
Within
seventy-five (75) days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Company, the
Board shall cause to be sent to each Person who was a Member at any time during
the Fiscal Year then ended a complete accounting of the affairs of the Company
for the Fiscal Year then ended. In addition, within seventy-five (75) days
after
the end of each Fiscal Year of the Company, the Board shall cause to be sent
to
each Person who was an Interest Holder at any time during the Fiscal Year then
ended, that tax information concerning the Company which is necessary for
preparing the Interest Holder's income tax returns for that year. At the request
of any Member, and at the Company's expense, the Board shall cause an audit
of
the Company's books and records to be prepared by independent accountants chosen
by a Majority in Interest of the Members of the Company requesting the audit
for
the period requested by the Member.
6.18. Tax
Matters Partner.
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx shall be the Company's tax matters partner (“Tax
Matters Partner”)
unless
the Members designate another person to serve in this capacity. The Tax Matters
Partner shall have all powers and responsibilities provided in Code Section
6221, et
seq.
The Tax
Matters Partner shall keep all Members informed of all notices from government
taxing authorities which may come to the attention of the Tax Matters Partner.
The Company shall pay and be responsible for all reasonable third-party costs
and expenses incurred by the Tax Matters Partner in performing those duties.
A
Member shall be responsible for any costs incurred by the Member with respect
to
any tax audit or tax-related administrative or judicial proceeding against
such
Member, even though it relates to the Company. The Tax Matters Partner shall
not
compromise any dispute with the Internal Revenue Service without the approval
of
a Majority in Interest of the Members.
6.20 Management
Fee.
The
Company shall not be required to pay a management fee to any Manager for its
duties as a Manager of the Company, but shall be required to reimburse each
Manager for all out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred in the performance
of
such Manager’s duties hereunder during each tax year.
29
6.21 Chairman
of the Board.
The
Chairman of the Board, if any, shall preside as chairman at meetings of the
Members and the Board. He shall, in addition, have such other duties as the
Board may prescribe that he perform.
Section
VII
Members
7.1. Meetings.
Unless
otherwise prescribed by the Act, meetings of the Members may be called, for
any
purpose or purposes, by the Chairman, by any Manager or by a Majority in
Interest of the Members.
7.2. Place
of Meetings.
Whoever
calls the meeting may designate any place, either within or outside the State
of
Arizona, as the place of meeting for any meeting of the Members.
7.3. Notice
of Meetings.
Except
as provided in this Agreement, written notice stating the date, time, and place
of the meeting, and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called,
shall be delivered not less than three (3) nor more than fifty (50) days before
the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, facsimile, or overnight
or next-day delivery services by or at the direction of the Board or the person
or persons calling the meeting, to each Member entitled to vote at such meeting.
If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered two (2) days after
deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the Member
at
its, his or her address as it appears on the books of the Company. If
transmitted by way of facsimile, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered
on
the date of such facsimile transmission to the fax number, if any, for the
respective Member which has been supplied by such Member to the Board and
identified as such Member's facsimile number. If transmitted by overnight or
next-day delivery, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered on the next
business day after deposit with the delivery service addressed to the Member
at
its address as it appears on the books of the Company. When a meeting is
adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned
meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which
the
adjournment is taken, unless the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days.
At the adjourned meeting the Company may transact any business which might
have
been transacted at the original meeting.
7.4. Meeting
of All Members.
If all
of the Members shall meet at any time and place, including by conference
telephone call, either within or outside of the State of Arizona, and consent
to
the holding of a meeting at such time and place, such meeting shall be valid
without call or notice.
7.5. Record
Date.
For the
purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting
of Members or any adjournment thereof, the date on which notice of the meeting
is mailed shall be the record date for such determination of Members. When
a
determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of Members has been
made as provided in this Section, such determination shall apply to any
adjournment thereof, unless notice of the adjourned meeting is required to
be
given pursuant to Section 7.3.
7.6. Quorum.
A
Majority in Interest of the Members, represented in person or by proxy, shall
constitute a quorum at any meeting of Members, provided
that
a
minimum of one Member other than a single Member who holds a Majority in
Interest is present. Business may be conducted once a quorum is
present.
30
7.7. Voting
Rights of Members.
Each
Member shall be entitled to vote based on its Percentage Interest. If all or
a
portion of Shares is transferred to an assignee who does not become a Member,
the Member from whom the Shares are transferred shall no longer be entitled
to
vote the Shares transferred nor shall the transferred Shares be considered
outstanding for any purpose pertaining to meetings or voting. No withdrawn
Member shall be entitled to vote nor shall such Member's Shares be considered
outstanding for any purpose pertaining to meetings or voting.
7.8. Manner
of Acting.
Unless
otherwise provided in the Act, the Articles, or this Agreement, the affirmative
vote of a Majority in Interest of the Members at a meeting at which a quorum
is
present shall be the act of the Members.
7.9. Proxies.
At all
meetings of Members, a Member may vote in person or by proxy executed in writing
by the Member or by a duly authorized attorney-in-fact. Such proxy shall be
filed with the Board before or at the time of its exercise. No proxy shall
be
valid after eleven (11) months from the date of its execution, unless otherwise
provided in the proxy.
7.10. Action
by Members without a Meeting.
Any
action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of Members may be taken
without a meeting if the action is evidenced by one or more written consents
describing the action taken, circulated to all the Members with an explanation
of the background and reasons for the proposed action, signed by the Members
having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to
authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Shares entitled to
vote
thereon were present and voted. Any such written consents shall be delivered
to
the Board of the Company for inclusion in the minutes or for filing with the
Company records. Action taken by written consent under this Section shall be
effective on the date the required percentage or number of the Members have
signed and delivered the consent to the Board, unless the consent specifies
a
different effective date. The record date for determining Members entitled
to
take action without a meeting shall be the date the written consent is
circulated to the Members. Prompt notice of the taking of the member action
without a meeting by less than unanimous consent shall be given to those Members
who have not consented in writing. Any action taken pursuant to such written
consent of the Members shall have the same force and effect as if taken by
the
Members at a meeting thereof.
7.11. Telephonic
Communication.
Members
may participate in and hold a meeting by means of conference telephone or
similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating
in
the meeting can hear each other, and participation in such meeting shall
constitute attendance and presence in person, except where the Member
participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the
transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully
called or convened.
7.12. Waiver
of Notice.
When
any notice is required to be given to any Member, a waiver thereof in writing
signed by the Person entitled to such notice, whether before, at, or after
the
time stated therein, shall be equivalent to the giving of such
notice.
31
7.13 Names
and Addresses of Members.
The
names and addresses of the Members and number of Shares held by each Member
are
listed on Exhibit
A
attached
hereto, which Exhibit A
shall be
updated from time to time by the Board without the consent of the Members to
reflect additional Members and Substitute Members.
7.14 Voting
Agreement.
7.14.1 Common
Shares and Preferred Shares.
7.14.1.1 The
Common Members each agree to hold all Shares of the Company registered in their
respective names or beneficially owned by them as of the date hereof and any
and
all other securities of the Company legally or beneficially acquired by each
of
the Common Members after the date hereof (hereinafter collectively referred
to
as the “Common
Member Shares”)
subject to, and to vote the Common Member Shares in accordance with, the
provisions of this Agreement.
7.14.1.2 The
Preferred Members each agree to hold all Shares of the Company (including but
not limited to all Common Shares issued in exchange for or upon conversion
of
the Series A Preferred Shares) registered in their respective names or
beneficially owned by them as of the date hereof and any and all other
securities of the Company legally or beneficially acquired by each of the
Preferred Members after the date hereof (hereinafter collectively referred
to as
the “Investor
Shares”)
subject to, and to vote the Investor Shares in accordance with, the provisions
of this Agreement. The Common Member Shares and the Investor Shares are
sometimes referred to as “Subject
Shares.”
7.14.2 Election
of Managers.
On all
matters relating to the election of Managers of the Company, the Common Members
and the Preferred Members agree to vote all Subject Shares held by them (or
the
holders thereof shall consent pursuant to an action by written consent of the
holders of Shares of the Company) so as to elect members of the Board as
follows:
7.14.2.1 At
each
election of Managers in which the holders of Common Shares and holders of Series
A Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class, or separately as
individual classes, are entitled to elect Managers of the Company, the Common
Members and the Preferred Members shall vote the Subject Shares held by them
so
as to elect (A) four (4) individuals designated by the Common Members and (B)
one (1) individual designated by the Preferred Members, to the Board. Any vote
taken to remove any Manager elected pursuant to this Section 7.14 or to fill
any
vacancy created by the resignation, removal or death of a Manager elected
pursuant to this Section 7.14, shall also be subject to the provisions of this
Section 7.14.
7.14.2.2 None
of
the parties hereto and no officer, director, stockholder, partner, employee
or
agent of any party makes any representation or warranty as to the fitness or
competence of the designee of any party hereunder to serve on the Board by
virtue of such party’s execution of this Agreement or by the act of such party
in voting for, nominating or designating such designee pursuant to this
Agreement.
The
provisions of this Section 7.14 shall terminate upon the conversion of the
Series A Preferred Shares to Common Shares pursuant to Section 4.3
hereof.
32
Section
VIII
Transfers
and Withdrawals
8.1. Transfers.
Except
as otherwise provided in this Section VIII (and except for Exempt Transfers
to
which this Section 8.1 does not apply), no Member or Interest Holder may
Transfer all, or any portion of, or any interest or rights in, the Shares owned
by such Member or Interest Holder, without the prior written consent of a
Majority in Interest of the Members, which consent may be withheld in the
Members' sole and absolute discretion. Any sale or foreclosure of a security
interest will itself constitute a Transfer independent of the grant of security.
Each Member hereby acknowledges the reasonableness of this prohibition in view
of the purposes of the Company and the relationship of the Members. The Transfer
of any Shares in violation of the prohibition contained in this Section VIII
shall be deemed invalid, null, and void, and of no force or effect. Any Person
to whom Shares are attempted to be transferred in violation of this Section
VIII
shall not be entitled to vote the Shares on matters coming before the Members,
participate in the management of the Company, act as an agent of the Company,
receive allocations or distributions from the Company, or have any other rights
in or with respect to the Shares.
8.2. Withdrawal.
Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Member shall have the right or
power
to Withdraw from the Company. Any such Withdrawal shall constitute a material
breach of this Agreement and the Company shall have the right to recover damages
from the withdrawn Member and to offset the damages against any amounts
otherwise distributable to such Member under this Agreement.
8.3. Right
of First Refusal.
8.3.1 If
an
Interest Holder (individually, a “Transferor”)
receives a bona
fide
written
offer (the “Transferee
Offer”)
from
any Person (a “Transferee”)
to
purchase all or any portion of, or any interest or rights in, the Transferor's
Shares for a purchase price denominated and payable in United States dollars,
then, prior to any Transfer of the Transferor’s Shares, the Transferor shall
give the Board and the other Members (the “Remaining
Members”)
written notice (the “Transfer
Notice”)
containing each of the following:
8.3.1.1 the
Transferee's identity;
8.3.1.2 a
true
and complete copy of the Transferee Offer; and
8.3.1.3 the
Transferor's offer (the “Offer”)
to
sell the Transferor’s Shares to the Company, or if the Company does not accept
the Offer, to the Remaining Members, for a total price equal to the price set
forth in the Transferee Offer (the “Transfer
Purchase Price”),
which
shall be payable in accordance with the payment terms set forth in the
Transferee Offer.
8.3.2 The
Offer
to the Company shall be and remain irrevocable for a period (the “Company
Offer Period”)
ending
at 11:59 P.M. local time at the Company's principal office, on the thirtieth
(30th) day following the date the Transfer Notice is given to the Company.
At
any time during the Company Offer Period, the Company may, by the vote of a
Majority in Interest of the Remaining Members, accept the offer by giving
written notice of its acceptance. The Transferor shall not be deemed a Member
for the purpose of the vote on whether the Company shall accept the Offer.
If
the Company accepts the Offer, then the Company shall fix a closing date for
the
purchase, which shall not be more than ninety (90) days after the expiration
of
the Company Offer Period.
33
8.3.3 If
the
Company rejects the Offer or fails to accept the Offer (within the time and
in
the manner specified in this Section), then the Transferor shall offer to sell
the Transferor’s Shares to the Remaining Members for the Transfer Purchase
Price, which shall be payable in accordance with the payment terms set forth
in
the Transferee Offer.
8.3.4 The
Offer
shall be and remain irrevocable for a period (the “Member
Offer Period”)
ending
at 11:59 P.M. local time at the Company's principal office, on the thirtieth
(30th) day following the date the Company Offer expired. At any time during
the
Member Offer Period, any Remaining Member may accept the offer by notifying
the
Transferor in writing that the Remaining Member intends to purchase all, but
not
less than all, of the Transferor’s Shares. If two (2) or more Remaining Members
desire to accept the Offer, then, in the absence of an agreement between or
among them, each such Remaining Member shall purchase the Transferor’s Shares in
the proportion that his respective Percentage Interest bears to the total
Percentage Interests of all of the Remaining Members who desire to accept the
Offer. If one or more Remaining Members accept the Offer, then the parties
shall
fix a closing date for the purchase, which shall not be more than ninety (90)
days after the expiration of the Member Offer Period.
8.3.5 If
no
Remaining Member accepts the Offer (within the time periods and in the manner
specified in this Section), then the Transferor shall be free for a period
(the
“Free
Transfer Period”)
of
thirty (30) days after the expiration of the Member Offer Period to Transfer
the
Transferor’s Shares to the Transferee, for the same or greater price and on the
same terms and conditions as set forth in the Transfer Notice. The Transfer
shall be subject, however, to the Conditions of Transfer contained in Section
8.5. If the Transferor does not Transfer the Transferor’s Shares within the Free
Transfer Period, the Transferor's right to Transfer the Transferor’s Shares
pursuant to this Section shall cease and terminate.
8.3.6 Any
Transfer by the Transferor after the last day of the Free Transfer Period or
without strict compliance with the terms, provisions, and conditions of this
Section and the other terms, provisions, and conditions of this Agreement,
shall
be null and void and of no force or effect.
8.4 Option
on Death or Bankruptcy.
On the
death, bankruptcy, or similar event described in Section 29-733(4) or (5) of
the
Act (whether voluntary or involuntary) of a Member or Interest Holder, the
Member or Interest Holder (or if an individual, such Person's estate) shall
offer, or shall automatically be deemed to have offered, to sell the Member's
or
Interest Holder's Shares to the Company or its nominee. Upon the approval of
a
Majority in Interest of the Members other than the offering Member, the Company
or its nominee shall have the right and option, within seventy-five (75) days
after the Members' actual knowledge of the death, bankruptcy, or similar event,
to acquire the Shares, for the purchase price and on the terms set forth in
Exhibit
B
attached hereto and made a part hereof. If the Shares are not purchased by
the
Company or its nominee, the Shares shall be transferred to the assignee of
the
Shares but shall remain fully subject to and bound by the terms of this
Agreement.
34
8.5 Conditions
of Transfer.
After
satisfying the other restrictions contained in Section VIII, a Person may
Transfer all or any portion of or any interest or rights in the Person's Shares
only after the following conditions (“Conditions
of Transfer”)
are
satisfied:
8.5.1 A
duly
executed and acknowledged written instrument of assignment is filed with the
Company;
8.5.2 The
transferee agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
including without limitation the provisions of this Section VIII;
8.5.3 The
Managers, Members, and the Company are reimbursed prior to the Transfer for
any
reasonable expenses incurred in connection with such Transfer. (There shall
be
no reimbursement for appraisal costs as allocated between the Company and the
offering Member pursuant to Section 8.4 and Exhibit “B”. In any event, all
reasonable expenses shall not exceed $12,000.);
8.5.4 The
transferor and transferee agree in writing to indemnify and hold the Managers,
Members, and the Company harmless for, from, and against, any loss, liability,
claim, or expense arising out of the Transfer;
8.5.5 The
Transfer will not cause a termination of the Company under Section 708 of the
Code; provided,
however,
that
the requirement of this Subsection 8.5.5 shall be waived if the Company receives
the written opinion of its attorney that such termination will not have a
material adverse effect on the Company or its Interest Holders; and
8.5.6 The
Transfer will not require registration of the Shares under any applicable
federal or state securities laws.
8.6 No
Transfer of Membership Rights.
The
Transfer of Shares shall not result in the Transfer of any of the Transferring
Member's Membership Rights, other than the Interest represented by the Shares,
if any, and unless the transferee is admitted as a Member pursuant to Section
VIII of this Agreement, the transferee shall only be entitled to receive, to
the
extent transferred, the share of distributions, including distributions
representing the return of contributions, and the allocation of Profits and
Losses (and other items of income, gain, or deduction), to which the
Transferring Member would have otherwise been entitled with respect to the
Transferring Member's Shares. The transferee shall have no right to participate
in the management of the business and affairs of the Company or to become or
to
exercise any rights of a Member.
8.7 Substitute
and Additional Members.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, an assignee
of
a Member may only be admitted as a substitute Member (“Substitute
Member”)
upon
the consent of the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an assignee of Shares
assigned by a Member that is also a Manager may only be admitted as a Substitute
Member on the written consent of a Majority in Interest of the non-transferring
Members, which may be withheld in the Members' sole and absolute discretion.
The
Company shall not issue additional Shares without the written consent or
approval of the Board and the Series A Preferred Members as set forth in Section
4.2 (if applicable).
35
8.8
Distributions on Withdrawal.
Upon
the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal with respect to a Member, the withdrawn
Member shall not be entitled to receive a withdrawal distribution, but the
withdrawn Member (or the withdrawn Member's personal representatives,
successors, and assigns) shall be entitled to receive the share of
distributions, including distributions representing a return of Capital
Contributions, and the allocation of Profits and Losses, to which the withdrawn
Member otherwise would have been entitled if the Event of Withdrawal had not
occurred, during the continuation of the business of the Company and during
and
on completion of winding up. If the Event of Withdrawal violated this Agreement,
the distributions paid to the withdrawn Member shall be offset by any damages
suffered by the Company or its Members as a result of the Event of
Withdrawal.
Section
IX
Dissolution
and Termination
9.1 Dissolution.
9.1.1 Events
of Dissolution.
The
Company will be dissolved upon the occurrence of any of the following
events:
9.1.1.1 Upon
the
written consent of a Majority in Interest of the Members;
9.1.1.2 Upon
the
entry of a decree of dissolution under Section 29-785 of the Act or an
administrative dissolution under Section 29-786 of the Act;
9.1.1.3 Upon
the
sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets
and receipt by the Company of the proceeds therefrom; or
9.1.1.4 Upon
the
occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal of the last remaining Member, unless within
90 days all assignees of Shares in the Company consent in writing to admit
at
least one Member pursuant to A.R.S. Section 29-731(B)(4) to continue the
business of the Company.
9.2 Distributions
and Other Matters.
The
Company shall not terminate until its affairs have been wound up and its assets
distributed as provided herein. Promptly upon the dissolution of the Company,
the Board shall cause a Notice of Winding Up to be executed and filed with
the
Arizona Corporation Commission in accordance with Section 29-781 of the Act,
and
the Board shall liquidate the assets of the Company and apply and distribute
the
proceeds of such liquidation, or distribute the Company's assets in kind, as
follows and in the following order:
9.2.1 Ordinary
Debts.
To
payment of the debts and liabilities of the Company, including debts owed to
Interest Holders or Managers, in the order of priority provided by law;
provided
that
the
Company shall first pay, to the extent permitted by law, liabilities with
respect to which any Interest Holder or Manager is or may be personally
liable;
36
9.2.2 Reserves.
To the
setting up of such reserves as the Board may deem reasonably necessary for
any
contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the Company arising
out
of or in connection with the Company business; and
9.2.3 Distributions.
The
balance of the proceeds shall be distributed to the Interest Holders in
accordance with Section 5.5, as applicable, but in any event, in accordance
with
the positive balance in their Capital Accounts, determined as though all of
the
Company assets were sold for cash at their fair market value as of the date
of
distribution. Any such distributions shall be made in accordance with the timing
requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(2).
9.3 Deficit
Capital Accounts.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if any Interest
Holder's Capital Account has a deficit balance (taking into account all
contributions, distributions, and allocations for the year in which a
liquidation occurs), the Interest Holder shall not be obligated to make any
contribution to the capital of the Company and the negative balance of such
Interest Holder's Capital Account shall not be considered a debt owed by the
Interest Holder to the Company or to any other person for any purpose
whatsoever.
9.4 Rights
of Interest Holders—Distributions of Property.
Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Interest Holder shall look solely
to the assets of the Company for the return of his or her Capital Contribution
and shall have no right or power to demand or receive property other than cash
from the Company. No Interest Holder shall have priority over any other Interest
Holder for the return of its, his or her Capital Contributions, distributions,
or allocations.
9.5 Articles
of Termination.
When
all the assets of the Company have been distributed as provided herein, the
Board shall cause Articles of Termination to be executed and filed as required
by the Act.
Section
X
Other
Interests of an Interest Holder or a Manager
10.1 Other
Interests Permitted.
Subject
to the covenants and restrictions set forth in Section 10.2 below, any Interest
Holder or any Manager may engage in or possess interests in other business
ventures of every nature and description, independently or with others. Neither
the Company nor any Interest Holder or Manager shall have any right to any
independent ventures of any other Interest Holder or Manager or to the income
or
Profits derived therefrom. The fact that an Interest Holder or a Manager, a
member of his or her Family, or an Affiliate is employed by, or owns, or is
otherwise directly or indirectly interested in or connected with, any person,
firm, or corporation employed or retained by the Company to render or perform
services, including without limitation, management, contracting, mortgage
placement, financing, brokerage, or other services, or from whom the Company
may
buy property or merchandise, borrow money, arrange financing, or place
securities, or may lease real property to or from the Company, shall not
prohibit the Company from entering into contracts with or employing that person,
firm, or corporation or otherwise dealing with him or it, and neither the
Company nor any of the Interest Holders or Managers as such shall have any
rights in or to any income or Profits derived therefrom provided that the
transaction or agreement is approved as provided in Section 6.4.
37
10.2 Non-Competition/Non-Disclosure/Non-Solicitation
Provisions.
10.2.1 Acknowledgments
by Members.
All of
the Members acknowledge that each Member will occupy a position of trust and
confidence in the Company and will become familiar with the following, any
and
all of which constitute “Confidential
Information”
of
the
Company:
10.2.1.1 Any
and
all trade secrets concerning the business and affairs of the Company, product
specifications, data, know-how, formulae, compositions, processes, designs,
sketches, photographs, graphs, drawings, samples, inventions and ideas, past,
current and planned research and development, current and planned manufacturing
and distribution methods and processes, customer lists, current and anticipated
customer requirements, price lists, market studies, business plans, computer
software and programs (including object code and source code), computer software
and database technologies, systems, structures and architectures (and related
processes, formulae, compositions, improvements, devices, know-how, inventions,
discoveries, concepts, ideas, designs, methods and information of the Company
and any other information, however documented, of the Company that is a trade
secret within the meaning of the Arizona Trade Secrets Act;
10.2.1.2 Any
and
all information concerning the businesses and affairs of the Company, which
includes historical financial statements, financial projections and budgets,
historical and budget sales, capital spending, budgets and plans, the names
and
backgrounds of key personnel, personnel training and techniques and materials,
however documented; and
10.2.1.3 Any
and
all notes, analysis, compilations, studies, summaries and other material
prepared by or for the Company.
The
Members agree that the provisions of this Section 10.2 are reasonable and
necessary to protect and preserve the Company's business activities and the
Company would be irreparably if any of the Members were to breach such covenants
set forth herein.
10.2.2 Confidential
Information.
The
Members acknowledge and agree that all Confidential Information known or
obtained by each Member, whether before or after the date hereof, is the
property of the Company. Therefore, each Member agrees that it will not, at
any
time, disclose to any unauthorized persons, or use for his or her own account
or
for the benefit of any third party, any Confidential Information, whether the
Member has such information in Member's memory or embodied in writing or other
physical form, without the Board’s written consent, unless and to the extent
that such information ceases to be Confidential Information because it is or
it
becomes generally known to and available for use of the public other than as
a
result of the Member's fault or the fault of any other person bound by a duty
of
confidentiality to the Company. Each Member agrees to deliver to the Company
all
documents, memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, and any other
documentation, models, components, devices, or computer software or hardware,
whether embodied in a disc or in other form (and all copies of all of the
foregoing) relating to the business, operations or affairs of the Company and
any other Confidential Information that the Member may possess or have under
the
Member's control at such time as the Member withdraws from the
Company.
38
10.2.3 Preferred
Member’s Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation Covenants.
During
the period commencing on the date hereof and continuing until the Option expires
or is terminated, Preferred Member agrees that it will not, without the approval
of the Board, make any investment in, or enter into any sales contract with,
any
entity whose revenues from the sales of hosted IP PBX services to businesses
via
direct sales in the states of Colorado, Minnesota, or Oregon represent 8% or
more of such entity’s revenues. Preferred Member also agrees that, (i) except
pursuant to the exercise of the Option, during the time it is a member of the
Company and for one year after its withdrawal as a member of the Company,
Preferred Member will not, directly or indirectly, either for itself or for
any
other person, induce or attempt to induce any employee or independent contractor
of the Company to leave the employ or services of the Company and (ii) during
such time as a representative of Preferred Member serves on the Board and for
one year after Preferred Member ceases to have a representative serving on
the
Board, Preferred Member will not, for the purpose of selling hosted IP PBX
services to businesses in Colorado, Minnesota, or Oregon, solicit business
from
any person or entity that is a customer of the Company on, or that was a
customer of the Company within six (6) months before, the date on which
Preferred Member ceases to have a representative on the Board.
10.2.4 Founders’ Non-Compete
and Non-Solicitation Covenants.
10.2.4.1. Each
of
Xx. Xxxxxx, Xx. Xxxxxxx, and Xx. Xxxxxxxx (each a “Founder”
and
collectively, the “Founders”)
agrees
that during the period of such Founder’s employment with the Company and for one
year after termination thereof, such Founder will not:
(i) recruit
or solicit, offer employment to, or employ, any person who is an employee or
independent contractor of the Company on, or was an employee or independent
contractor of the Company within six (6) months before, the date of termination
of such Founder’s employment with the Company, or
(ii) work
for,
or solicit or accept business from, any person or entity that is a customer
of
the Company on, or was a customer of the Company within six (6) months before,
the date of termination of such Founder’s employment, or
(iii) compete
with the Company anywhere in the United States in the business of hosted IP
PBX
services for businesses.
10.2.4.2. Each
Founder agrees that he will not engage in the activities prohibited in clauses
(i), (ii) and (iii) above, directly or indirectly (by being associated with
any
person or entity as owner, partner, employee, agent, consultant, director,
officer, stockholder (other than as the owner of less than 2% of the outstanding
stock of a publicly-traded corporation) or in any other capacity or manner
whatsoever). If a Founder violates any restriction contained in this Subsection
10.2.4, the period of restriction shall be extended until a period of one year
has expired without any violation. The provisions of clauses (i), (ii) and
(iii)
above will terminate effective immediately upon either (a) the exercise of
the
Option, if the Founder is not offered continued employment with the Company
(or
a successor entity) or if such Founder’s employment has a material reduction in
responsibilities, compensation or quantity of direct reports within the Company
compared to the employment terms in effect immediately prior to the exercise
of
the Option; or (b) termination of such Founder’s employment with the Company (or
a successor entity) following the exercise of the Option, either by the Company
(or the successor entity) without “cause” or by the Founder following a material
decrease in such Founder’s employment responsibilities, compensation or the
quantity of his direct reports.
39
10.2.5 Xxxxxxx’x
Non-Compete and Non-Solicitation Covenants.
10.2.5.1 Xx.
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx agrees that during the period he provides part-time consulting services
to the Company and for one year after termination thereof, he will not recruit
or solicit, offer employment to, or employ, any person who was an employee
or
independent contractor of the Company on, or within six (6) months before,
the
termination of his engagement with the Company.
10.2.5.2 If
Xx.
Xxxxxxx violates any restriction contained in this Subsection 10.2.5, the period
of restriction shall be extended until a period of one year has expired without
any violation. The provisions of this Subsection 10.2.5 will terminate effective
immediately upon either (a) the exercise of the Option, if Xx. Xxxxxxx is not
offered continued engagement with the Company (or a successor entity) or if
such
engagement has a material reduction in responsibilities, compensation or
quantity of direct reports within the Company compared to the engagement terms
in effect immediately prior to the exercise of the Option; or (b) termination
of
Xx. Xxxxxxx’x engagement with the Company (or a successor entity) following the
exercise of the Option, either by the Company (or the successor entity) without
“cause” or by Xx. Xxxxxxx following a material decrease in Xx. Xxxxxxx’x
responsibilities, compensation or the quantity of his direct
reports.
10.2.5.3 In
addition, if at any time during Xx. Xxxxxxx’x engagement with the Company, Xx.
Xxxxxxx is offered the opportunity to be employed by, or consult to, or serve
as
an officer or director or advisory board member to, any person or entity that
competes with the Company directly or indirectly anywhere in the United States
in the business of hosted IP PBX services for businesses and Xx. Xxxxxxx plans
to accept such offer, Xx. Xxxxxxx shall provide prompt notice to the Company
of
such fact, whereupon the Company may remove Xx. Xxxxxxx from the Board, or
as an
officer, or may otherwise restrict Xx. Xxxxxxx’x access to confidential and
proprietary information of the Company.
10.2.5.4. In
the
event Xx. Xxxxxxx commences working more than 35 hours per week for the Company,
the provisions of this Subsection 10.2.5 shall terminate and Xx. Xxxxxxx shall
be subject to the restrictions of subsection 10.2.4 as if he were a “Founder”
subject to the restrictions of Subsection 10.2.4.
10.2.6 Remedies.
If any
Member breaches any of the provisions of this Section 10.2, the Company will
be
entitled to all of the following remedies:
10.2.6.1 The
Company will be entitled to offset any and all amounts then-owing by the Company
to the withdrawing Member against any damages resulting from the Member’s
violation of this Section 10.2.
40
10.2.6.2 The
Company will have rights to damages and any rights to obtain injunctive or
equitable relief to restrain any breach or threatened breach of this Section
10.2, or otherwise to specifically enforce the provisions of this Section 10.2,
it being understood that money damages alone would be inadequate to compensate
the Company and the remaining Members for such breach.
10.2.6.3 The
rights and remedies of the parties to this Agreement are cumulative and not
alternative.
Section
XI
Indemnity
11.1 Indemnity
Rights.
To the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify and
hold
harmless each Manager, Interest Holder, any Affiliate of a Manager or an
Interest Holder, any shareholders, members, partners, employees, directors,
officers, managers, representatives or agents of a Manager or Interest Holder
or
their respective Affiliates, or any employee or agent of the Company or its
Affiliates (the “Covered
Person”)
who
was or is a party to or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative, or investigative, by reason of its, his or her actions or
omissions performed or omitted in good faith on behalf of the Company and in
a
manner reasonably believed to be within the scope of authority conferred on
such
Covered Person by this Agreement, or by reason of its, his or her actions or
omissions performed or omitted in good faith while serving at the request of
the
Company as a director, officer, manager, employee, or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, and in
a
manner reasonably believed to be within the scope of authority conferred on
such
Covered Person, against expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, and
against judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by it, him or her in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding;
provided
that
the acts
of such Covered Person were not committed with fraud, gross negligence or
willful misconduct, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding,
such
Covered Person had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was
unlawful; provided
further,
that,
any
indemnity under this Section 11.1 shall be provided out of and to the extent
of
Company assets only, and no Covered Person shall have any personal liability
or
any obligation to make any Capital Contribution on account thereof. The
termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement,
or conviction, or upon a plea of no contest or its equivalent, shall not, in
and
of itself, create a presumption that the Covered Person acted with gross
negligence or willful misconduct, or with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was
unlawful.
11.2 Notice
and Defense.
Any
Covered Person who is or may be entitled to indemnification hereunder shall
give
timely written notice to the Board that a claim has been or is about to be
made
against it, him or her, shall permit the Company to defend it, him or her
through legal counsel of the Company’s own choosing, and shall cooperate with
the Company in defending against the claim. The Board (or, in the event a
Manager is seeking indemnity, a majority of the other Managers), shall have
the
sole power and authority to determine the terms and conditions of any settlement
of the claim.
41
11.3 Expenses.
The
to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall advance from
time to time expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements)
incurred by a Covered Person in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or
proceeding prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit
or
proceeding upon receipt by the Company of a written undertaking by or on behalf
of the Covered Person to repay such amount if it shall be finally determined
that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in
Section 11.1.
11.4 Other
Sources. The
indemnification provided for herein shall apply only in the event, and to the
extent that, the Covered Person is not entitled to indemnification, or other
payment, from any other source (including insurance), and the Company's
indemnity obligations hereunder shall be in excess of any indemnification or
other payment provided by such other source.
11.5 Survival.
The
indemnification provided for herein shall continue as to a Covered Person who
has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the
successors, heirs, executors, and administrators of such Covered
Person.
Section
XII
Miscellaneous
12.1 Notices.
Any
notice, demand, offer, or other communication which any person is required
or
may desire to give to any other person shall be delivered in person or by United
States mail, facsimile, or overnight or next-day delivery service. If mailed,
such notice shall be deemed to be delivered two (2) days after deposited in
the
United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the person at his or her
address as it appears on the books of the Company. If transmitted by way of
facsimile, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered on the date of such
facsimile transmission to the fax number, if any, for the Person which has
been
supplied by such Person and identified as such Person's facsimile number. If
transmitted by overnight or next-day delivery, such notice shall be deemed
to be
delivered on the next business day after deposit with the delivery service
addressed to the Person at its, his or her address as it appears on the books
of
the Company.
12.2 Bank
Accounts.
All
funds of the Company shall be deposited in a bank account or accounts opened
in
the Company's name. The Board shall determine the institution or institutions
at
which the accounts will be opened and maintained, the types of accounts, and
the
Persons who will have authority with respect to the accounts and the funds
therein.
12.3 Partial
Invalidity.
The
invalidity of any portion of this Agreement will not affect the validity of
the
remainder hereof.
42
12.4 Governing
Law; Parties in Interest.
This
Agreement will be governed by and construed according to the laws of the State
of Arizona without regard to conflicts of law principles, and it will bind
and
inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns, and personal
representatives of the parties.
12.5 Amendment.
This
Agreement may only be amended, restated, or revoked by the consent of a Majority
in Interest of the Members.
12.6 Execution
in Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which taken together shall
be
deemed one original.
12.7 Titles
and Captions.
All
article, section, or paragraph titles or captions contained in this Agreement
are for convenience only and are not deemed part of the context
thereof.
12.8 Pronouns
and Plurals.
All
pronouns and any variations thereof are deemed to refer to the masculine,
feminine, neuter, singular, or plural as the identity of the Person or Persons
may require.
12.9 Waiver
of Action for Partition. The
Board
and each of the Interest Holders irrevocably waives any right that it, he or
she
may have to maintain any action for partition with respect to any of the Company
Property.
12.10 Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement contains the entire understanding among the parties, and supersedes
any prior understandings and agreements between or among them with respect
to
the subject matter hereof.
12.11 Estoppel
Certificate. Each
Member shall, within ten (10) days after written request by any Member or a
Manager, deliver to the requesting Person a certificate stating, to the Member's
knowledge, that: (a) this Agreement is in full force and effect; (b) this
Agreement has not been modified except by any instrument or instruments
identified in the certificate; and (c) there is no default hereunder by the
requesting Person, or if there is a default, the nature and extent
thereof.
Section
XIII
Arbitration
If
the
parties are unable to resolve any dispute arising out of this Agreement either
during or after its term informally, including the question as to whether any
particular matter is arbitrable, the parties agree to submit the matter to
binding arbitration. In the event the parties have not agreed upon an arbitrator
within twenty (20) days after a party has demanded arbitration, a party may
file
a demand for arbitration with the Denver regional office of the American
Arbitration Association (“AAA”),
and a
single arbitrator shall be appointed in accordance with the then existing
Commercial Arbitration Rules of the AAA. Discovery may be conducted either
upon
mutual consent of the parties, or by order of the arbitrator upon good cause
being shown. In ruling on motions pertaining to discovery, the arbitrator shall
consider that the purpose of arbitration is to provide for the efficient and
inexpensive resolution of disputes, and the arbitrator shall limit discovery
whenever appropriate to insure that this purpose is pre-served. The dispute
among the parties shall be submitted for determination within sixty (60) days
after the arbitrator has been selected. The decision of the arbitrator shall
be
rendered within thirty (30) days after the conclusion of the arbitration
hearing. The decision of the arbitrator shall be in writing and shall specify
the factual and legal basis for the decision. Upon stipulation of the parties,
or upon a showing of good cause by a party, the arbitrator may lengthen or
shorten the time periods set forth herein for conducting the hearing or for
rendering a decision. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding
upon the parties. Judgment to enforce the decision of the arbitrator, whether
for legal or equitable relief, may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
thereof, and the parties hereto expressly and irrevocably consent to the
jurisdiction of the Colorado Courts for such purpose. The arbitrator shall
conduct all proceedings pursuant to the then existing Commercial Arbitration
Rules of the AAA, to the extent such rules are not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Section XIII. The Uniform Rules of Procedure Arbitration
shall not apply to any arbitration proceeding relating to the subject matter
or
terms of the documents. In the event a dispute is submitted to arbitration
pursuant to this Section, the prevailing party shall be entitled to the payment
of its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, as determined by the arbitrator.
Each of the parties shall keep all disputes and arbitration proceedings strictly
confidential, except for disclosures of information required by applicable
law
or regulation.
43
Section
XIV
Agreement
of Spouses of Members
By
executing this Agreement, the spouse of each Interest Holder acknowledges and
consents to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and agrees, for himself
or herself and for the community of himself and herself and the Interest Holder,
to be bound hereby. Each spouse of an Interest Holder, for himself or herself
and the community of which he or she is a member, hereby irrevocably appoints
the Interest Holder as attorney-in-fact with an irrevocable proxy coupled with
an interest to vote on any matter to come before the Members or to agree to
and
execute any amendments of this Agreement without further consent or
acknowledgment of the spouse and to execute proxies, instruments, or documents
in the spouse's name as may be required to effect the same. This power of
attorney is intended to be durable and shall not be affected by disability
of
the spouse.
44
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
Managers and Members have executed this Second Amended and Restated Operating
Agreement, effective as of the date first set forth above.
MANAGERS:
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|||
XXXXX
XXXXXXX
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
|
|||
XXXXXXX
X. XXXXXXXX
|
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|||
XXXXXX
XXXXX XXXXXXX
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
|||
XXXXXXX
XXXXXX XXXXXX
|
/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|||
XXXXX
XXXXXXX
|
COMMON MEMBERS: |
SPOUSES
OF COMMON MEMBERS:
|
||
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
XXXXX XXXXXXX |
XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX |
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX |
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX |
/s /Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXX |
XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX |
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
XXXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX |
XXXXXXX XXXXXX
|
D-1
PREFERRED
MEMBERS:
ZOOM
TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
Title:
Chief
Executive Officer
|
D-2