AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
THIS
AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is
entered into as of the ● day of December, 2009 (the “Execution Date”) by
and between Zea Capital Fund LLC, a Delaware limited liability company having
its principal place of business at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx XX, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxx 00000 (the “Company”), and AAVIN
Equity Advisors, LLC, an Iowa limited liability company having its principal
place of business at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx XX, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
(the “Adviser”).
WHEREAS,
the Company may publicly offer its securities in an offering registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) and
applicable state laws (the “IPO”), and after such
IPO, would operate as a non-diversified management investment company and
would elect treatment as a business development company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the “1940
Act”);
WHEREAS,
the Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”);
and
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Adviser entered into that Investment Advisory Agreement
dated August 17th,
2009 (the “Original
Agreement”) and now wish to amend and restate in its entirety the
Original Agreement and succeed its terms with this Agreement.
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged,
the parties agree as follows:
1. Appointment
of Adviser; Effectiveness.
The
Company appoints the Adviser to act as manager and investment adviser to the
Company for the period and on the terms herein set forth. The Adviser
accepts such appointment and agrees to render the services herein set forth, for
the compensation herein provided. The duties and the obligations of
the parties hereunder shall commence upon the date the Company receives any
proceeds from the IPO (the “Effective
Date”).
2. Duties of
the Adviser.
Subject
to the overall supervision and review of the Board of Directors of the Company
(“Board”), the
Adviser will regularly provide the Company with investment research, advice and
supervision and will furnish continuously an investment program for the Company,
consistent with the investment objective and policies of the Company set forth
(i) in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form N-2, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and
certain states respecting the IPO, as the same may be amended from time to time;
and (ii) in any other subsequent registration statements filed by the Company on
Form N-2 with the Commission and any states in connection with any other
offering of the Company’s securities (the “Registration
Statement”). The Adviser will provide, at its expense and on
behalf
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of the
Company and as required under the 1940 Act, any managerial assistance requested
by the portfolio companies of the Company (“Managerial
Assistance”). The Adviser will determine from time to time what
securities shall be purchased for the Company, what securities shall be held or
sold by the Company and what portion of the Company’s assets shall be held
uninvested as cash or in other liquid assets, subject always to the provisions
of the Company’s Certificate of Formation, Limited Liability Company Agreement
(the “LLC
Agreement”), and the Registration Statement, and to the investment
objectives of the Company, as each of the same shall be from time to time in
effect, and subject, further, to such policies and instructions as the Board may
from time to time establish. To carry out such determinations, the Adviser will
exercise full discretion and act for the Company in the same manner and with the
same force and effect as the Company itself might or could do with respect to
purchases, sales or other transactions, as well as with respect to all other
things necessary or incidental to the furtherance or conduct of such purchases,
sales or other transactions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the Adviser shall, during the term and subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, (i) determine the composition of the portfolio of the Company,
the nature and timing of the changes therein and the manner of implementing such
changes; (ii) identify, evaluate and negotiate the structure of the
investments made by the Company; (iii) perform due diligence on prospective
portfolio companies; (iv) monitor the Company’s investments;
(v) provide the Company with such other investment advisory, research and
related services as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably require for
the investment of its funds.
3. Administrative
Duties of the Adviser.
The
Adviser agrees to furnish office facilities and clerical and administrative
services necessary to the operation of the Company (other than services provided
by the Company’s custodian, accounting agent, administrator, dividend and
interest paying agent and other service providers). The Adviser is authorized to
conduct relations with the Company’s custodians, depositaries, underwriters,
brokers, dealers, placement agents, banks, insurers, accountants, attorneys,
pricing agents, and other persons as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the
Adviser in carrying out its duties hereunder. To the extent requested by the
Company, the Adviser shall (i) oversee the performance of, and payment of
the fees to, the Company’s service providers, and make such reports and
recommendations to the Board concerning such matters as the parties deem
desirable; (ii) respond to inquiries and otherwise assist such service
providers in the preparation and filing of regulatory reports, proxy statements,
unitholder communications and the preparation of Board materials and reports;
(iii) establish and oversee the implementation of borrowing facilities or other
forms of leverage authorized by the Board; and (iv) supervise any other
aspect of the Company’s administration as may be agreed upon by the Company and
the Adviser. The Company shall, except with respect to furnishing office
facilities and clerical and administrative services necessary to the operation
of the Company, reimburse the Adviser or its affiliate for all out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in providing the services set forth in this
Section 3. In discharging any of its duties under this
Agreement, the Adviser may utilize the services of attorneys, accountants,
custodians and others, in accordance with customary practices.
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4. Delegation
of Responsibilities.
The
Adviser is authorized to delegate any or all of its rights, duties and
obligations under this Agreement to one or more sub-advisers or other agents,
and may enter into agreements with sub-advisers or other agents, and may replace
any such sub-advisers or other agents from time to time in its discretion, in
accordance with the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, and rules and regulations
thereunder, as such statutes, rules and regulations are amended from time to
time or are interpreted from time to time by the staff of the Commission, and if
applicable, exemptive orders or similar relief granted by the Commission, and
upon receipt of approval of such sub-advisers or other agents by the Board and
by unitholders (unless any such approval is not required by such statutes,
rules, regulations, interpretations, orders or similar relief).
5. Independent
Contractors.
The
Adviser and any sub-advisers and each of their respective officers, employees,
members, managers and agents shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be
independent contractors and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or
authorized in this Agreement or otherwise, have no authority to bind, obligate,
represent or otherwise act for or represent the Company in any way.
6. Compliance
with Applicable Requirements.
In
carrying out its obligations under this Agreement, the Adviser shall at all
times conform to:
a. all
applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, any applicable rules
and regulations adopted thereunder and applicable provisions of comparable state
laws that are applicable to the Adviser’s services to be provided
hereunder;
b. the
provisions of any registration statement of the Company, as the same may be
amended from time to time under the 1933 Act, including without limitation, the
investment objectives set forth therein;
c. the
provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Formation, as the same may be amended
from time to time;
d. the
provisions of the Company's LLC Agreement, as the same may be amended from time
to time;
e. all
policies, procedures and directives adopted by the Board in conformity with
applicable law; and
f. any
other applicable provisions of state, federal or foreign law.
7. Policies
and Procedures.
The
Adviser represents to the Company that is has adopted and implemented written
policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the federal
securities laws (as that term is
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used in
Rule 38a-1 adopted under the 0000 Xxx) by the Adviser and its supervised
persons. The Adviser shall provide the Company, at such times as the Company
shall reasonably request, with a copy of such policies and procedures and a
report of such policies and procedures; such report shall be of sufficient scope
and in sufficient detail as may reasonably be required to comply with
Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act and to provide reasonable assurance that any
material inadequacies would be disclosed by such examination, and, if there are
no such inadequacies, the reports shall so state.
8. Brokerage.
With
respect to the Company’s portfolio securities, the Adviser is responsible for
decisions to buy and sell securities for the Company; and as applicable,
broker-dealer selection, and negotiation of brokerage commission rates. The
Adviser’s primary consideration in effecting a security transaction will be to
obtain the best execution as determined under the applicable provisions of the
Advisers Act or other applicable law. In selecting a broker-dealer to execute a
particular transaction, the Adviser will take the following into consideration:
the best net price available; the reliability, integrity and financial condition
of the broker-dealer; the size of and the difficulty in executing the order; and
the value of the expected contribution of the broker-dealer to the investment
performance of the Company on a continuing basis. Accordingly, the price to the
Company in any transaction may be less favorable than that available from
another broker-dealer if the difference is reasonably justified by other aspects
of the execution services offered.
Subject
to such policies as the Board may from time to time determine, the Adviser shall
not be deemed to have acted unlawfully, or to have breached any duty created by
this Agreement or otherwise, solely by reason of its having caused the Company
to pay a broker or dealer that provides brokerage and research services to the
Adviser an amount of commission for effecting a Company investment transaction
in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have
charged for effecting that transaction, if the Adviser determines in good faith
that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the
brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in
terms of either that particular transaction or the Adviser’s overall
responsibilities with respect to the Company and to other clients of the Adviser
as to which the Adviser exercises investment discretion. The Adviser is further
authorized to allocate the orders placed by it on behalf of the Company to such
brokers and dealers who also provide research or statistical material or other
services to the Company, the Adviser or to any sub-adviser. Such allocation
shall be in such amounts and proportions as the Adviser shall determine and the
Adviser will report on said allocations regularly to the Board indicating the
brokers to whom such allocations have been made and the basis
therefore.
9. Books and
Records.
The
Adviser will maintain complete and accurate records in respect of all
transactions relating to the Company’s portfolio in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act and applicable
provisions of state law. The Adviser will keep or will cause to be kept records
in respect of all such portfolio transactions executed on behalf of the Company.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Adviser shall provide access to
its books and records relating to the Company as the Company may reasonably
request. The Adviser shall have access
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at all
reasonable times to books and records maintained for the Company to the extent
necessary for the Adviser to comply with all applicable securities or other laws
to which it is subject, and further provided that the Company shall produce
copies of such records and books whenever reasonably required to do so by the
Adviser for the purpose of legal proceedings or dealings with any governmental
or regulatory authorities or for its internal compliance
procedures.
10. Compensation.
For the
services, payments and facilities to be furnished hereunder by the Adviser, the
Adviser shall receive from the Company the following compensation:
a.
Base Management Fee.
The Adviser shall receive monthly a base management fee (the “Base Management Fee”)
equal to 2.50% per annum of the Company’s Gross Assets. “Gross Assets” shall
mean the Company’s total assets, including both cash contributions made by the
Company’s Members and the amounts of any unfunded commitments to make capital
contributions to the Company by its Members, and including investments made with
the proceeds of any borrowings, less any uninvested cash or cash equivalents
resulting from borrowings. The Base Management Fee shall be
calculated monthly and paid monthly in arrears on the first business day of the
immediately following month, and will be calculated based on the value of the
Company’s Gross Assets as of the end of the applicable month; provided that any
fees the Adviser or its personnel receive from the Company’s portfolio companies
for providing Managerial Assistance or other services to portfolio companies
shall be credited against the Base Management Fee otherwise owing by the
Company.
b.
Incentive Fee.
The Adviser shall receive an incentive fee (the “Incentive
Fee”). For purposes of this Section,
“Contributions” shall
mean the aggregate capital contributions received by the Company with respect to
the sale of the Company’s securities.
“Excluded Assets”
shall mean cash, cash equivalents, other temporary short term investments, or
any other investment not within the Company’s investment objective as provided
in its Registration Statement.
“Net Managed Assets”
shall mean the Company’s total assets, less any indebtedness of the Company and
Excluded Assets.
“Outstanding
Contributions” shall mean the aggregate amount of Contributions received
by the Company less the amount of any distributions to holders of the Company’s
securities that are treated as a return of such holders’ capital
contribution.
“Pre-Incentive Fee Net
Investment Income” shall mean interest income, dividend income, and any
other income (including accrued income that the Company has not yet received in
cash (such as original issue discount, debt instruments with
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pay in
kind interest and zero coupon securities), any fees such as commitment,
origination, syndication, structuring, diligence, monitoring, and consulting
fees or other fees that the Company is entitled to receive from portfolio
companies) accrued during the applicable year, minus the Company’s operating
expenses for such year (including the Base Management Fee, expenses payable
pursuant to Section 11 below, any interest expense, any tax expense, and
dividends paid on issued and outstanding preferred equity, if any, but excluding
the Incentive Fee payable hereunder); provided, however, Pre-Incentive Fee Net
Investment Income shall not include any interest income, dividend income, and
any other income derived from Excluded Assets.
The
Incentive Fee shall consist of two parts, as follows:
(1) Investment Income
Fee. The Adviser shall receive an investment income fee (the “Investment Income
Fee”) which is calculated and payable annually in arrears within thirty
(30) days of the end of each calendar year, with the fee first accruing on
the first December 31 following the Effective Date, as follows:
(A) 100%
of the amount of the Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that
exceeds 8.0% of the Company’s Net Managed Assets, but is less than 10.0% in any
calendar year; and
(B) 20%
of the amount of the Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that
exceeds 10.0% in any calendar year.
The
Investment Income Fee calculation shall be adjusted appropriately on the basis
of the number of calendar days in the first period the fee accrues or the
calendar year during which this Agreement is in effect in the event of
termination of the Agreement during any calendar year.
(2) Capital Gains Fee.
After the Company has made to its members, on a cumulative basis, (A)
distributions equal to all Contributions and (B) a return on all Outstanding
Contributions of an annual rate of 8% on a cumulative basis (with (A) and (B)
together, the “Member
Returns”), the Company shall pay the Adviser a capital gains fee (the
“Capital Gains
Fee”) equal to 20% of:
(I) (a)
the Company’s net realized capital gain (realized capital gains less realized
capital losses) on a cumulative basis from the Effective Date to the end of any
fiscal year in which all Member Returns have been made, less (b) any unrealized
capital depreciation at the end of such fiscal year, less
(II) the
aggregate amount of any Capital Gains Fees paid in all prior fiscal
years.
For the
purposes of this Section 10(b)(2),
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(A)
realized capital gains on a security shall be calculated as the excess of the
net amount realized from the sale or other disposition of such security over the
original cost for the security;
(B)
realized capital losses on a security shall be calculated as the amount by which
the net amount realized from the sale or other disposition of such security is
less than the original cost of such security;
(C)
unrealized capital depreciation on a security shall be calculated as the amount
by which the Company’s original cost of such security exceeds the fair value of
such security at the end of a fiscal year; and
(D) in
the event a change in the amount of the Outstanding Contributions occurs during
any fiscal year, the 8% annual hurdle rate of return shall be appropriately
applied on a pro-rata basis to the varying levels of Outstanding Contributions
during the year.
The
Capital Gains Fee shall be calculated and payable annually within thirty
(30) days of the end of each calendar year. In the event this
Agreement is terminated, the Capital Gains Fee calculation shall be undertaken
as of, and any resulting Capital Gains Fee shall be paid, within fifteen
(15) days of the date of termination.
The
Adviser may, from time to time, waive or defer all or any part of the
compensation described in this Section 10. The parties do hereby expressly
authorize and instruct the Company’s administrator, or its successors, to
calculate the fee payable hereunder and to remit all payments specified herein
to the Adviser.
11. Expenses
of the Adviser.
The
compensation and allocable routine overhead expenses of all investment
professionals of the Adviser and its staff, when and to the extent engaged in
providing investment advisory services required to be provided by the Adviser
under Section 2 hereof, will be provided and paid for by the Adviser and
not by the Company. It is understood that the Company will pay all expenses
other than those expressly stated to be payable by the Adviser hereunder, which
expenses payable by the Company shall include, without limitation the
following:
a. other
than as set forth in the first sentence of this Section 11 above, expenses
of maintaining the Company and continuing its existence and related
overhead,
b. commissions,
spreads, fees and other expenses connected with the acquisition, holding and
disposition of securities and other investments including placement and similar
fees in connection with direct placements entered into on behalf of the
Company,
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c. auditing,
accounting and legal expenses,
d. taxes
and interest,
e. governmental
fees,
f. expenses
of issue, sale, repurchase and redemption (if any) of interests in the Company,
including expenses of conducting tender offers for the purpose of repurchasing
Company securities,
g. expenses
of registering and qualifying the Company and its securities under federal and
state securities laws and of preparing and filing registration statements and
amendments for such purposes,
h. expenses
of communicating with unitholders, including website expenses and the expenses
of preparing, printing, and mailing press releases, reports and other notices to
unitholders and of meetings of unitholders and proxy solicitations
therefore,
i. expenses
of reports to governmental officers and commissions,
j. insurance
expenses,
k. association
membership dues,
l. fees,
expenses and disbursements of custodians and subcustodians for all services to
the Company (including without limitation safekeeping of funds, securities and
other investments, keeping of books, accounts and records, and determination of
net asset values),
m. fees,
expenses and disbursements of transfer agents, dividend and interest paying
agents, unitholder servicing agents and registrars for all services to the
Company,
n. compensation
and expenses of directors of the Company who are not members of the Adviser’s
organization,
o. pricing,
valuation, and other consulting or analytical services, including legal
services, employed in considering and valuing the actual or prospective
investments of the Company,
p. all
expenses incurred in leveraging of the Company’s assets through a line of credit
or other indebtedness or issuing and maintaining preferred
securities,
r. all
expenses incurred in connection with the organization of the Company and any
offering of securities, and
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s. such
non-recurring items as may arise, including expenses incurred in litigation,
proceedings and claims and the obligation of the Company to indemnify its
directors, officers and unitholders with respect thereto.
12. Covenants
of the Adviser.
The
Adviser represents that it is, and covenants that it shall remain during the
term of this Agreement, registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers
Act. The Adviser agrees that its activities will at all times be in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws
governing its operations and investments.
13. Non-Exclusivity.
The
Company understands that the persons employed by the Adviser to assist in the
performance of the Adviser’s duties under this Agreement may not devote their
full time to such service and nothing contained in this Agreement shall be
deemed to limit or restrict the right of the Adviser or any manager, partner,
officer, employee or other affiliate of the Adviser to engage in and devote time
and attention to other businesses or to render services of whatever kind or
nature, or to receive any fees or compensation in connection therewith
(including fees for providing Managerial Services (“Fees”), subject to
applicable law and provided that to the extent the Adviser receives Fees from a
portfolio company in which another account managed by the Adviser has also
invested, that the Adviser will apportion any Fees among the Company and such
other accounts) so long as the Adviser’s services to the Company are not
impaired by the provision of such services to others. The Company further
understands and agrees that officers and directors of the Adviser may serve as
officers or directors of the Company, and that officers or directors of the
Company may serve as officers or directors of the Adviser to the extent
permitted by law; and that the officers and directors of the Adviser are not
prohibited from engaging in any other business activity, including, without
limitation, the direct or indirect sponsorship or management of other investment
based accounts or commingled pools of capital, however structured, having
investment objectives similar to those of the Company, or from rendering
services to any other person, or from serving as partners, officers or directors
of any other firm or company, including other investment advisory companies, so
long as the Adviser’s services to the Company hereunder are not impaired
thereby. The Adviser covenants to provide written notification to the
Company prior to entering into an advisory relationship with another fund having
a similar investment strategy.
14. Effective
Date, Term and Approval.
This
Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date. This Agreement shall
continue in force and effect for two years from the Execution Date, and may be
continued from year to year thereafter, provided that the continuation of the
Agreement is specifically approved at least annually:
a. (i) by
the Board or (ii) by the vote of “a majority of the outstanding voting
securities” of the Company (as defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the 0000
Xxx); and
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b. by
the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors who are not parties to this
Agreement or “interested persons” (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of a party to
this Agreement (other than as directors of the Company), by votes cast in person
at a meeting specifically called for such purpose.
15. Termination.
This
Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time, without the payment of
any penalty by the Company, by vote of the Board or by vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Company, on no more than sixty
(60) days’ written notice to the Adviser. This Agreement may be terminated
by the Adviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty by the Adviser,
on no less than sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Company. The notice
provided for herein may be waived by the party entitled to receipt thereof. This
Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment, the term
“assignment” for purposes of this paragraph having the meaning defined in
Section 2(a)(4) of the 1940 Act. Upon termination pursuant to this
Section 15, the Adviser must deliver all copies of books and records
maintained in accordance with this Agreement and applicable law. In
the event of a termination of this Agreement, the provisions of Sections 17 and
18 shall survive.
16. Amendment.
No
amendment of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing and
signed by the party against which enforcement of the amendment is sought. No
amendment to Section 10 or Section 11 of this Agreement shall be effective
unless it is approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Company.
17. Liability
of Adviser.
The
Adviser (and its
officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members
and any other person or entity affiliated with the Adviser) will not be
liable in any way for any default, failure or defect in any of the securities
comprising the Company’s portfolio if it has satisfied the duties and the
standard of care required under applicable law. However, the Adviser
shall be liable to the Company for any loss, damage, claim, cost, charge,
expense or liability to the extent resulting from the Adviser’s willful
misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence or reckless disregard by the Adviser
of the Adviser’s duties or standard of care, diligence and skill set forth in
this Agreement (as the same shall be determined in accordance with the 1940 Act
and any interpretations or guidance by the Commission or its staff
thereunder).
18. Indemnification.
The
Company (“Indemnifying
Party”) shall indemnify the Adviser, each of the Adviser’s officers,
employees, members, managers and agents (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”)
and hold the Indemnified Parties harmless from and against any expense, loss,
cost, liability or damage, including reasonable attorneys’ fees (collectively,
“Expenses”),
arising out of any claim asserted or threatened to be asserted in connection
with the Adviser’s services or performance hereunder or otherwise as an
investment adviser of the Company; provided, however, that no
Indemnified Party shall be entitled to any such indemnification with respect to
any Expense to
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the
extent caused by any Indemnified Party’s own gross negligence, bad faith, breach
of fiduciary duty, violation of applicable law, willful misconduct or reckless
disregard with respect to any of its obligations under this Agreement (as the
same shall be determined in accordance with the 1940 Act and any interpretations
or guidance by the Commission or its staff thereunder), and provided, further, that the
satisfaction of any such indemnification shall be from and limited to the assets
of the Company.
With
respect to any claim made or threatened against an Indemnified Party, or
compulsory process or request or other notice of any loss, claim, damage or
liability served upon an Indemnified Party, for which such Indemnified Party is
or may be entitled to indemnification under this Section 18, such Indemnified
Party shall:
a. give
written notice to the Indemnifying Parties of such claim within ten (10) days
after such claim is made or threatened, which notice shall specify in reasonable
detail the nature of the claim and the amount (or an estimate of the amount) of
the claim; provided, however, that the
failure of any Indemnified Party to provide such notice to the Indemnifying
Parties shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this
Section 9 except to the extent the each Indemnifying Party is materially
prejudiced or otherwise forfeits rights to defenses by reason of such
failure;
b. provide
the Indemnifying Parties such information and cooperation with respect to such
claim as the Indemnifying Parties may reasonably require, including, but not
limited to, making appropriate personnel available to the Indemnifying Parties
at such reasonable times as the Indemnifying Parties may request;
c. cooperate
and take any such steps as the Indemnifying Parties may reasonably request to
preserve and protect any defense to such claim;
d. in
the event suit is brought with respect to such claim, upon reasonable prior
notice, afford to the Indemnifying Party the right, which the Indemnifying
Parties may exercise in their sole discretion and at their expense, to
participate in the investigation, defense and settlement of such
claim;
e. neither
incur any material expense to defend against any such claim (unless the
Indemnifying Parties refuse to assume the defense as provided below) or make any
admission with respect thereto (other than routine or incontestable admissions
or factual admissions the failure to make which would expose such Indemnified
Party to unindemnified liability) nor permit a default or consent to the entry
of any judgment in respect thereof, in each case without the prior written
consent of the Indemnifying Parties; and
f. upon
reasonable prior notice, afford to such Indemnifying Party the right, in its
sole discretion and at its sole expense, to assume the defense of such claim,
including, but not limited to, the right to designate counsel reasonably
acceptable to such Indemnified Party and to control all negotiations,
litigation, arbitration, settlements, compromises and appeals of such claim;
provided, that
if such Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of such claim, it shall not be
liable for any fees and expenses of counsel for any Indemnified
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Party
incurred thereafter in connection with such claim except that if such
Indemnified Party reasonably determines that counsel designated by the
Indemnifying Party has a conflict of interest representing (A) such Indemnified
Party and (B) the Indemnifying Party, such Indemnifying Party shall pay the
reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel (in addition to any local
counsel) separate from its own counsel for all Indemnified Parties in connection
with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same
jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances; and
provided, further, that the
Indemnifying Parties shall not enter into any final settlement or compromise,
without the prior written consent of such Indemnified Party (which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) unless such settlement or compromise
provides for an absolute and unconditional release of such Indemnified Party
from liability.
In the
event that any Indemnified Party waives its right to indemnification hereunder,
the Indemnifying Parties shall not be entitled to appoint counsel to represent
such Indemnified Party nor shall the Indemnifying Parties reimburse such
Indemnified Party for any costs of counsel to such Indemnified
Party.
19. Notices.
Any
notices under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and delivered,
telecopied or mailed postage paid, to the other party entitled to receipt
thereof at such address as such party may designate for the receipt of such
notice. Until further notice to the other party, it is agreed that the address
of the Company and that of the Adviser are each set forth in the preamble to
this Agreement.
20. Questions
of Interpretation.
Any
question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a
counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act or
the Advisers Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the
1940 Act or the Advisers Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the
United States courts or in the absence of any controlling decision of any such
court, by rules, regulations or orders of the Commission issued pursuant to said
Acts. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act or the
Advisers Act reflected in any provision of the Agreement is revised by rule,
regulation or order of the Commission, such provision shall be deemed to
incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order. Subject to the
foregoing, this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws (without reference to conflicts of law provisions) of the State of
Delaware.
21. Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts. Any single
counterpart or a set of counterparts signed in either case by the parties hereto
shall constitute a full and original Agreement for all purposes.
[Signature
page to follow.]
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in
duplicate by their respective duly authorized officers as of the Execution
Date.
ZEA
CAPITAL FUND, LLC
|
AAVIN
EQUITY ADVISORS, LLC
|
By:
____________________
|
By:
______________________
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Chairman
|
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Manager
|
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